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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Seravin" data-source="post: 2312018" data-attributes="member: 6783">Dark Meetings…or A Cold Day in CorleanArguable, the Gaming House is one of the most public places in Corlean; however because it hosts high-stakes games the gambling den has some of the most secure and private of rooms to be found in the city.This evening the house’s largest such private room was reserved by a minor merchant known for his indulgence for card games.  If confronted about this reservation the merchant would have smiled and nodded and waved off the questions with cries of too much drink and too little luck with visitors from out of town.  The reservation was his alibi while he was doing …darker things that evening; an alibi his good friend Grandal Deverex was only too arrange for a small price.The location was choosen as a central yet inconspicuous meeting point and was agreed to via vaguely written notes and quick one-on-one meetings.  No one thought of it as neutral ground as the owners would be attending this meeting, but the gained advantage was considered insignificant at best.They each arrived in their own way as previously arranged and agreed to. Quereth Holtson was the first, arriving at the back door via his private carriage and making his way through hidden corridors that let into the room.  The dark-haired, forty-something owner sat quietly in the room for several hours considering his visitors and their past meetings.  A finely dressed older gentleman and his guard, a burly, swarthy looking man, were the next to arrive via the front entrance.  They made their way to a private table where the old man availed himself of a light dinner.  After his meal, Grandal Deverex greeted them both politely and invited the gentleman to small game of chance.  The invitation was gratefully accepted and the man and his guard were escorted to the private room.  Grandal then left the two guests to deal with other matters.Once settled into the room the guard pulled out a small, black leather bag from beneath his vest.  He opened it and empty the contents into his palm; a palm-sized crystal cut into an oval shape and polished smooth.  The guard, who didn’t look much like a guard now, nodded to the older man who then pulled out what appeared to be a metal gauntlet made of chain links forge from some blackened metal – adamantine perhaps.  The old man put on the gauntlet and began to intone in a strange language that sounded awfully like a prayer.Quereth observed his first two guests with some amount of curiosity.  The older gentleman was Ker Aruk, the advisor to Baron Toruk Roth who was the recently announced betrothed to the lady Gabrella Hilmaron, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Larence.  He was apparently a companion of the Baron Roth’s father and later the tutor of the current Baron.  It was apparently his advice that sent Baron Roth to the Duke for aid in repelling bandits from the surrounding lands (his own lands were currently safe thanks to a small but determined militia).Aruk was fit but the many lines in his face said that he was perhaps in his fifth decade. Whatever color his hair had been, it was now steel gray with age.  Aruk’s glittering black eyes were his most arresting feature though.  It was easy to see this man as some sort of retired warrior who had traded in his sword with age and now advised the younger generation.  There was a fire in this Aruk and he seemed to have the ability to pass it on.  The Duke apparently thought so too for it was said that Aruk now had the ear of Hilmaron.  Aruk’s guard, Imtithal was an enigma though.  Investigation had revealed little beyond that he had arrived at the Baron’s keep with two brothers shortly before the Baron came south to ask the Duke for aid.  The Baron, with Aruk's advice, had accepted their service and had taken them south with him.  Imtithal was a tall, burly looking man with the dark features of someone from Relk.  Imtithal’s presence was such that he looked too small for his body however.  Like Aruk, he dressed in dark clothes that were kept scrupulously neat.  At his side was a longsword but it was carried more as an ornament then as something that was to be used.  Imtithal didn’t look like he would need the sword if trouble broke out.  Imtithal noticed Quereth’s appraising glance and smiled widely.  “I like you so I offer this freely.  Your man has other loyalties and is just waiting for you to die.  You should reconsider his service with you.”  The words were part mocking, but there was a sense of truth behind them that hit Quereth like a punch to the stomach.Quereth had no doubt that the foreigner meant Grandal.  He was aware of Grandal’s other communications but hadn’t considered them necessarily traitorous.  It could be some ploy to divide his organization, but perhaps it was time to take a closer look at Grandal’s activities.  He considered the man’s words in silence while Aruk continued his prayer.  Quereth would no doubt have been interested in learning that one of Imtithal’s names translated to ‘Polite Poison’.Presently Aruk’s intonation was done and he looked up, straring off into a point somewhere ten feet beyond the wall.  His eyes were completely black.“We are ready.  The gem is set.  Come soon.”Aruk then exhaled as his shoulders slumped and his vision returned to normal.  He then half turned to Quereth, bowed a greeting, and seated himself into a nearby chair.  “They should be here momentarily.  You will remember that they are not like you and I.  Do not be alarmed, they are eminently rational creatures and understand the value of allies.”Quereth nodded.  “Can I offer you a drink?  There’s a cabinent over there.”Aruk nodded and glanced to Imtithal.  “Would you please?”  Imtithal nodded and crossed the room to the indicated cabinet.  He then proceeded to pick a bottle and then poured three glasses.Quereth noted that in privacy the old man spoke to his ‘guard’ as an equal but said nothing of it.  Instead he passed the short wait in idle chit-chat until their guests arrived.It wasn’t long, perhaps only a few minutes.  Quereth’s keen eyes noted a darkening of the gem that Imtithal had placed on the table just before the creatures silently appeared in a fluttering of heavy velvet robes the color of the morning sky.They were man sized, though a little on the tall and spindly side.  The hoods were up and pulled low over their face, but Quereth was well practiced in peering through shadows and caught the movement of writhing tentacles where the mouth would be as well as eyes that were far larger than any he had seen before.  There was a smell not unlike fish that accompanied them.  The two creatures looked to Aruk first and then Imtithal and finally to Quereth.  He wasn't sure but the old rogue thought he saw them freeze as they looked him.*We are representatives of the Shaobath and are here to discuss strategy in Corlean.  We were told there would another.* The words were not spoken aloud.Aruk nodded.  “He will be here soon, he is presently…”  He was interrupted by the opening of the door.  “Ah.  Here he is now.”Grandal’s eyes had already swept the room to determine who was there.  He had closed and was locking the door behind him as Aruk finished speaking.  He then walked to another chair near Quereth and sat down.  Neither Imtithal nor the two creatures deigned to sit in the provided chairs.  Instead Imtithal stood behind Aruk like some looming shadow; while the two newcomers shifted a bit and drew their legs up into a cross-legged position beneath their robes without so much as shifting vertically.  The hem of their robes  levitated perhaps two finger-breadths over the carpeted floor.Grandal stared at the display for only a moment before speaking.  “As agreed, I’m going to cast a spell to verify that there are no extraneous enchantments on anyone and that the wards are still intact.”  So saying he began his castings.The right most creature observed this with interest and then turned to Quereth.  *He would be valuable.  Name the price of your thrall.*Quereth gritted his teeth.  He wasn’t sure if Grandal had heard or not, but the divisive attempts were becoming too obvious.  “That is inappapropriate.”  He started.*The thrall cannot hear this conversation as it would make it unnecessarily difficult to control.  The thrall is of obvious value.  We have found that the granting of long life is considered a valuable payment by your kind.* “Again, that is inappropriate.  I will not discuss that now.”  Quereth then looked at Aruk who was looking askance at his exchange.  “They were making a side offer that is not relevant to this discussion.”*Very well.  Our offer will stay open.  We can provide an example if you care.*Grandal looked at his friend and boss and then to the creatures then shrugged.  Quereth would tell him later.  He then opened up the meeting.  “I believe things are proceeding apace.  As agreed we provided a building for the use of the Shaobath.  Does it meet your requirements?”*It is sufficient.  Already it has drawn those with the talent we are seeking and they are learning as fast as can be expected.*“Good.”  He turned to Aruk.  “I believe you found the information we provided on the various personages useful?”The older man made a gratified smile.  “Quite useful.  Imtithal and his brothers were able to expand quite readily upon it.  So much so that I believe we can offer you a gift.”Grandal paused.  “Oh?  How so?”“I understand you went through a bit of trouble about a month ago.  We have some information that you might find useful on the one called Ashimar.”Grandal snorted.  “He’s dead.  The temple of Sarath buried him yesterday.”Aruk smiled broadly.  “Even better.  It seems that Ashimar did some bad things when he was younger.  What would you say if I offered you a way to revenge yourself?”“I would ask how much?”“This time it is a gift.  A thank you for your help.  If you are interested in further business though, Imtithal has had some thoughts on regaining your...stolen monies, but that thought will cost you a percentage of the return.”Quereth interrupted.  “I think we would both be interested in hearing these thoughts.  Let us finish our discussions and then we can talk about this when we’re done.”It was a long meeting, but fruitful for all involved.</blockquote>

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