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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Thale" data-source="post: 9141164" data-attributes="member: 6804768">Falen:Leaving his room, he stepped down the stairs and corridor into the great hall of the Manor Stormgrove. The Dark Lanterns intrigued him, and he watched them as he attended to his hunger. Disciplined. Alert. And decidedly not noisy.A bowl of hot porridge, some nuts, a pickled egg, a potato, an olive or two, a few grapes and an actual banana, and some bread. Comfort food as much as survival food. He took some of the nuts and some of the bread and placed into a pouch to snack on later. He had a single small cup of red wine and several cups of water. Refreshing.He was mulling spells over in his head, ones he’d seen but wasn’t quite there yet for himself, as well as some he’d researched. He was careful not to look as obvious as a wizard.He informed the Dark Lantern commander of the watch as well as the estate manager what Oakfirst had asked of him to tell the others, that he would see them after dinner. Falen asked that they inform others as they found them, especially Sobla and Mutt, and to remain close to the manor. Falen asked the estate manager whether the estate maintained a leathersmith. Wise choice, as they kept one on retainer, and as fate would have it, he was finishing his day at the manor working on a saddle. Falen asked him if he could provide a potion / vial bandoleer as well as leather straps to anchor sheaths to his backpack or his belt. The magical properties of either presented a challenge, but the leathersmith said he would return shortly with the bandoleer and several leather straps that would tie on to his belt or backpack as well as his arrow quiver to the backpack. He would purchase the leather goods upon the leathersmith’s return, assuming he could come to an agreeable price.A courier arrived with a partial inventory of the captured items for the Exemplars and their comrades to pick from. He removed the magical “dancing dagger” from his person, and he hailed the courier to remain. Studying the list, he marked items he was interested in, provided it to the courier, and told him to take it to every Exemplar on the grounds, and then back to the palace or armory holding the material.He summoned the estate manager again and inquired as to where he might find purveyors of less available magic weapons. He also requested some cleaning rags, some grime-dissolving diluted lye, a wash pot of boiling water, and the use of one of the fire pits outside. He set about cleaning the Bane Dagger thoroughly. The magical poison properties exhausted for the day, he wanted to clean some of the filth from the blade without hurting himself. It was an ugly weapon. Not even the most righteous and thorough cleaning would fix that. It smelled as well of poison, despite its magical origin. Reptiles would often musk a predator; it was not terribly unlike that. Fortunately, once sheathed, it masked the odor. And when properly cleaned, it was bearable in polite company. He thought seriously of putting it back into the treasury; however, he hadn’t fully made up his mind. Perhaps the estate manager would become a valuable contact in finding less common and more interesting things. Nevertheless, he scrubbed it for an hour, thinking of several things going on around him.Vitus:At first opportunity when Vitus returned, he motioned for Vitus to visit with him, “I hope that my disappearing did not create consequences with the Delegacy or Casca. My intent was to not involve others until I understood what was happening. I got a little side-tracked alongside the Exemplars.”He speaks to Vitus, but in earshot of others in case they can add some clarity.“I need to see Lady O Nazaria regardless, and I could use support in that regard. Perhaps others might come also. I believe that the Rising Swords and the Dusk are in league in killing Avitus. I can’t be entirely sure to what end, but I have a working theory on the how, as in how the killer accessed the Delegacy. We noticed tunnels connecting the candle shop and the warehouse, no? I wonder….”Commander Oakfirst:“Commander, my regards to Captain Camburn.As to your query, my first oath is already spoken for. As you shall recall, I’m here by errand of Max Thale, Earl of Ravenhill to provide message to the late Legatus Avitus. I serve at the behest of my mentor, and I remain eternally loyal. It appears that Bluffside’s enemies are responsible for Avitus’ demise, and it is part of a larger plot afoot that we find ourselves entangled. To that end, I am your humble servant, and I can offer my experience and counsel in assistance. If you can accept that allegiance, I indeed offer it. I must tell you, though, it is not righteousness that guides our fight, and I need to make sure that you are not under that illusion, or we’ll endanger many more people.If the people of Bluffside, both aristocrat and commoner, are inclined in the slightest to regard this as rebellion, then something must have provided the soil in which that grew, with or without Waldo. That must be voiced. However, in this particular situation, I’m inclined to ask several things of this Rebellion: How much of all this is righteous? Where is the money? And how much of this is magical thrall? What I saw at Crossed Candles may have started as a payroll, but when we encountered it, it was much more.Did you see this?”“While on the subject, who the hell is this candlemaker, and is he even real? Tuck and I captured papers, ledgers, and the like that are too perfect.”Falen allows Commander Oakfirst to digest the disparate parts of the conversation. Assuming a proper response, Falen continues: “Commander, I request that you place Maggard Vonner’s guard unit under watch by your men. Particularly, by those that you know are loyal and as well, outrank and can outfight Vonner definitively. Watch the unit’s movements, both public and private. Don’t interfere. Also, find a reason to pull Romanus Dacus and reassign him. I’d like him assessed as a fighter and leader. Vonner is a thug who works for money. That is a path to figuring out the money. I witnessed Dacus show discretion and good judgment while still following orders. If suitable, I’d like him among us. And I’d like a liaison to the Dark Lanterns. Several hours into their care, and I find myself quite taken with them.”Falen makes no attempt at explaining the Dacus or Vonner situation. Falen wants to return a favor and reward behavior that is good for Bluffside while slowly and inexorably knee-capping Vonner and his merry band of brigands.And finally, to nobody in particular, and everyone in attendance when the most of the Exemplars et al are present, “Would anybody be able to provide me with more information about Lady Nazaria? She is related, evidently, to Legatus Avitus. However, something about this doesn’t fit. I’m tardy in her receiving me, and I’d like to know what I might expect.”</blockquote>

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