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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3436477" data-attributes="member: 11760">As the wizards and gnome set out, the Wizard of Green Mountain groans and holds up one finger."Tsk, just one last thing." The wizard begins casting a spell, a blank look on his face."He's doing something sinister, isn't he?" Renraw hisses to Bufer."Hey!" the gnome shouts in alarm, leaping forward and reaching up to grab the older wizard's wrists. "What do you think you're doing?"Bufer's body blocks Renraw's view of Khenemet-Apep, preventing the younger wizard from discerning what spell the Wizard of Green Mountain was attempting to cast."I have corns, young gnome! It's simply a spell to cushion them for the walk ahead," the Wizard of Green Mountain says in a hurt voice. "Honestly, all of this mistrust and nervousness disappoints me, especially since Renraw has done nothing to be ashamed of. Why, in my homeland, he would be hailed as a hero. I simply sought to council him in his secret task, including warning him of the risks."He looks at Renraw beseechingly."I think your gnomish friend will be proud of you when he knows what you've committed yourself to: Nothing less than saving Maidensbridge and Wit's End single-handedly! Of course, he beards the dragon in its den to do so, by making the rulers of Green Mountain believe that he has betrayed the barony. If word got out as to what he was doing -- and the woods have ears, believe you me -- his life would be worth nothing, and the town would be unprotected."He claps a hand on Bufer's shoulder."I tell you this only because you, gnome, are known among the kobolds as a would-be peace-maker, and you should know that the clandestine negotiations Renraw did in the woods, he did for you and your folk. He is a proud man, and reluctant to plunge others into the danger he so eagerly took upon himself, but there it is. If you can keep his secret safe and thus, perhaps, save his very life, then you too may end up being a hero of legend."I have my own part to play in all of this, but the kobolds must not suspect either myself or Renraw to have broken from the plan or have entered into an agreement without intention to honor it. They sent me here to magically bind him into their agreement, but I strictly translated their leader's commands from Draconic into the language of the empire. As I had told Renraw prior to you showing up, while I was trussing him up for the benefit of the kobold spies who were then watching, so long as the condition of the spell cast on him never comes true, he will never face its effects. And all he has to do is work to prevent the attack from ever happening to begin with -- which is what he was working to do anyway!"Khenemet-Apep grins ear to ear, beaming at Bufer while puffing on his battered cigarette."I was upset that you had shown up, possibly wrecking the clever subterfuge Renraw had arranged, but now I see that you, peacemaker, are the perfect one to bring into the plan. I must caution you, though, not to tell others of what is happening: The kobolds have spies throughout the barony and perhaps even Wit's End. The person you share information with may be the one who slits Renraw's throat later on."The wizard stands up, smiling, clapping a hand on Renraw's shoulder as well, his cigarette smoke wreathing the younger wizard's face a moment as he does so."Excellent, so are we agreed to keep this just between us? As you are now part of our plan, I will be happy to bring you to the Black Tower and educate you about the Green Mountain Kobolds, just as I had previously agreed to tutor Renraw about some of the spells he will need in the coming days if he is to heroically prevent the kobolds from casting their great summoning spell.""A noble effort," Renraw smirks. "Truly. That was weaseling almost on par with my great grandfather Ronklin. But you're found out. Bufer? Let's do that zone of truth thing, shall we?"Khenemet-Apep looks bewildered."So ... you want to stand in the cathedral, with the sheriff, baron and bishop there, and tell them that you agreed to betray Maidensbridge and Wit's End, knowing that they will only wait long enough to get you out of the church to execute you? Because, Renraw, that is exactly what you'll be forced to tell them in the zone of truth. Have you suddenly been consumed with a death wish?" The wizard looks despairingly at Bufer. "I will go along with whatever you decide, cleric. But I think Renraw has taken leave of his senses. Would I tell you all that I have, and risk my life, and his, if it were not true? What benefit is there to me in losing my own life in this way?"Katadid is out of breath as he runs up to the edge of the graveyard. If he has any idea of what he's interrupting, it doesn't show. The letter in his hands has become soft from sweat and constant crumpling."Kem," he gasps, stumbling toward Khenemet-Apep. "Mirrors -- hidden ... cairns? Tips on ..."Kat seems to just about be able to catch his breath when he notices where he is. His lips quiver and he looks back and forth between the trio and to the stones of the graveyard."DAMNATION!" he says, and runs off to quickly count the tombstones.Khenemet-Apep blinks as he watches Katadid turn to go count tombstones."This is the strangest town ..."</blockquote>

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