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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 9548612" data-attributes="member: 6696971">We'll go ahead and go with your surmise here for interesting, while I'll make it useful.So how is it useful?The sound of heavy horses slowing from a gallop.Mailed boots clomp up the stairs outside.The door opens and one of Neverember's sellsword cavalry appears in the foyer threshold.  The bard's song abruptly stops as does the hushed conversation.<Cut to the booth and the shrouded figure.  The voice is low, gravely, impenetrable; "it shall be done."  The figure scoops the coin purse and "melts" like dark smoke through the exterior wall.  The sound of a phantasmal neigh and a singular, soft gallop from outside that same wall.  Then...nothing.>The creepy horse-neigh has all eyes in the room looking all around, even up at the open ceiling joists.  That fright momentarily takes in the patrons, but then their eyes settle back upon Neverember's man-at-arms.  He tosses something upon the ground in the common room.  It clangs, rolls awkwardly, comes to a stop.Cymril's mask."Take heart citizens," he declares jovially.  A few chuckles can be heard in the street behind him."Cymril is no more.  This silly insurgency can come to an end.  We look to the coming dawn with hope.  All will be forgiven.  All baleful acts pardoned."The massive, plate-clad cavalryman looks around the hushed room and lets this news soak in."Tomorrow, we expect an abundance of former enemies turned ally.  See yourselves to The Protector's Enclave at first light.  There is many a social work and restoration project to be done on behalf of our beleaguered, beautiful Neverwinter.  You will be handsomely rewarded in both spirit and bank note, I assure you."Back at the boothe, where the shrouded stranger has disappeared, Twyll registers that Casimir has drawn a 3 inch blade and has murder in his eyes.  Bogdana's hand and stern look tries to stay him...[HR][/HR]What do you do, if anything?  Or do you let this play out?1) ([USER=20459]@Nephis[/USER] ) What here is not what it appears to be?Twyll's attention is most strongly on the booth and what took place there when Neverember's soldier arrives.  In particular, that cloaked figure.  She is surprised about the money exchange: she'd initially thought the cloaked figure was hiring them, not vice versa. And he doesn't seem like a normal ... err ... human.Manbearcat Answer:  Two things:* The long, flowing locks and the feminine hand that seeps out of the cloaked cowl and sleeve betrays a "she," not a "he."* Further still, when the figure leans forward and scoops up the coin, it becomes clear that the ashen-colored shrouding is an overgarment.  Beneath they're wearing a red cloak or robe.2) ([USER=20459]@Nephis[/USER] ) What here is useful or valuable to me?Twyll scans the crowd in the tavern looking for grief, shock, elation, etc: Re any reactions to the throwing down of Cymril's mask.Manbearcat Answer:  Theryis, the half-elven (eladrin) half-sister of the Harper cell leader (Toram) in Neverwinter shutters a very silent weeping from behind the counter.  Perhaps fear of what this will mean for him?  Or for his use of her establishment (she owns and operates The House of a Thousand Faces) in insurgent affairs?Twyll narrows her eyes in seeing that, filing away her thoughts for further reflection.3) ([USER=20459]@Nephis[/USER] ) Who or what is really in control here?Twyll scans the room once again, including the various games of chance. So much going on in one location: who or what is really in control here? Are they all just puppets? Is the puppeteer here? Manbearcat Answer:  Yup, they are (puppets).  Lady Lily-Rose (puppeteer) is running all kinds of games here.  Not just the aforementioned "Disappearing Mammon Coin Trick" should she endure the loss of a hand of cards, but she is also employing various magical legerdemain and tiny critters to lighten pockets, purses, and steel stray brooches and cufflinks!It is incredibly subtle, and she is careful not to overdo it, but she must really need a big score (desperation?) to employ all of these means.</blockquote>

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