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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 2822240" data-attributes="member: 198">Session 29 - Mugged and Bugged (or "+18? At 4th lvl?")After seeing Raskalorn enter the Citadel, Nameless and Korm'akhan head back to meet up with Gareth and Six. The four of them then head up to Carosten Park, where they find Luna waiting. She says that she changed into a bird once outside, to make it easier to follow the bearded man. He left the two men he was with and headed south, eventually descending to Lower Menthis. Once there, he moved through streets (quite purposefully, as if going to an intended location, thought Luna) till he eventually headed into a dark side street. Luna flew to the other end to await his reappearance, but he never came out. After a bit, she flew in and checked out the area. Though there was no sign of him, she did pick up a scent that disappeared midway down the street. There were a couple of closed doors nearby, but she couldn't be sure if the scent ended at one of them. In fact, she thinks it ended a little before the doors.The others tell Luna what they saw with Ras and then the group splits up as usual. When Gareth reaches Coldflame Keep, he meets Cedric, who says that Flim Turen came by to ask about the Children of Winter's involvement with the epidemic and Cedric's involvement with their defeat. He asks Gareth how Flim found out and Gareth relates what happened at Carosten Park. Cedric says that he was just curious and has told Flim the entire story. He also checks about Korm, saying that he's curious how the big orc is doing in Sharn, and then leaves Gareth.***The next morning, the Angels receive their next message from Talleon. This one tells them to go to a casino in the Dragoneyes district of Lower Tavick's the next day, where Ras will be at 7 pm. The group should go in a little earlier and stay there till Ras leaves, at which point they are to guard him till he gets back to the Citadel. As usual, there is a hidden section, which adds that Ras should be heading to Chance from the Citadel at about 5:30 pm, and at least one person should keep an eye on him from that time. It also says that "the halfling you were introduced to" would like to meet with the group at the Lucky Nines casino at 7 pm this evening. A couple of the adventurers wonder aloud how good an idea it is to be seen talking to Talleon by Killian. Nameless points out, "Look on the positive side - if Killian shows any signs of knowing about the Citadel job, that'll be a really good excuse to kill him."After having read and discussed the message, the group splits up again. Gareth heads to the Cathedral, where he sets up an appointment with the Archierophant. Since he has to wait for a couple of hours, he drops in on Bodo, who is still boyfully striving to carry out his duties as a novice. Some time later, Gareth is ushered into Ythana Morr's office. After exchanging greetings, he asks, "Can you tell me what divinations you have access to?"The Archierophant raises an eyebrow and says a little frostily, "You asked for an appointment to ask me that? Why?"Gareth goes on to explain that he's concerned about potentially being a fiend. This time, Ythana raises both eyebrows. "A paladin of the Flame asking me to check whether he is a fiend. I have not had that request since, well, ...""...ever?" completes Gareth, smiling despite the seriousness of his request."Yes," says Ythana with a small smile. "But why this concern?"Gareth explains what the daelkyr said to him and repeats the specific phrase: "Fool! You cannot consume me, and no fiend can stand against me." Ythana asks a few more questions and then points out, "You do realize that you're depending on a translation from your companion Nameless, and that too of a creature that is the embodiment of insanity?"  Gareth agrees but says that he is still concerned about what it said. "After all, it had no particular reason to lie to me." He asks again if the Archierophant has anything that she can use to detect if there is something unusual about him."Very well," she says. "Of course, as a paladin of the Flame, you can detect if there is anything tainted about you. And you would not remain a paladin if you were tainted." She stops and again quirks an eyebrow, "You are still a paladin of the Flame ... right?""Yes, the Flame does still favor me with its blessing. But then, I have heard of cases where evil priests have retained their clerical powers under the Flame."Ythana simply says, "Yes," her expression clearly saying that she has no interest in pursuing that subject, and she casts a detect evil spell. Focusing on Gareth, she says, "Well, at least you do not appear to have an evil aura. Do you mind if I try something that would hurt you, if you are tainted?""No. Please go ahead."Ythana rises and casts what Gareth recognizes as a holy smite, bringing down a stream of holy power around Gareth. The spell has absolutely no effect on him, and she says, "That would affect you even if something was hiding your alignment, so you must still be retaining your purity."Gareth thanks her, though he isn't completely reassured. Ythana promises to consider further if there is any way to work out what the daelkyr may have meant or whether something is different about Gareth. She also asks him to let her know if anything else of import occurs, and he says he will do so.Six, meanwhile, visits the weaponsmith to whom he had given the drawing and plans for the drow scorpion chain. The man says that after some experimenting he thinks that he can make it and has already begun work. He promises to have it ready for Six in another two days time. He also asks a number of questions about where Six got the idea for it. Six explains that he was recently in Xen'drik and saw a number of drow using the weapon. The weaponsmith is very interested in the story and comments that it's a pity Six couldn't bring back a specific example or two. He also comments that he doesn't really think there's a market for the weapon in Sharn due to its unusual nature and the likelihood that it would take significant training and practice to use correctly. It might however, he says, get more interest from some of the goblinoids, especially the Dhakaani, who use an unusually large number of chain weapons.Nameless makes a number of visits that day. He first visits the Guild of Starlight and Shadows. There, he meets a couple of members who have heard about the expedition's presentation at Morgrave University and are fairly interested in their findings, and also checks on the availability of scrolls of spells that he might add to the Necklace of the Phantom Library later.  From the Guild, he travels to Overlook in Upper Dura, where he visits the Shrine of il-Yannah. One of the kalashtar guards recognizes him and takes him to the aged seer Havakhad. The latter is evidently uninformed about the Angels' return and seems quite pleased to see Nameless. He asks about Nameless' adventures since their last meeting, which occurred exactly two months ago. Nameless suggests he get some tea, since it'll take a while, and settles down to relate much of what happened.Once he is done, Nameless says that he is here to ask Havakhad's opinion about something. He goes on to relate the dream he had that Gareth also saw a version of, and asks Havakhad, "Do you think the quori might be involved with this in some way?"Havakhad asks a few questions about details and then says, "I cannot think right now of something the quori would gain from sending you two that dream, but it is difficult to say what their aims and plans are. It is clearly not a natural dream. While it is theoretically possible that two people's dreamscapes might intersect, for two people near each other in Khorvaire to end up having dreamscapes right next to each other on Dal Quor, which is effectively infinite, is a little too much of a coincidence."Nameless smiles mirthlessly and agrees. "I don't believe in coincidences. Only the appearance thereof."Havakhad nods and says that he will consider it and see if his powers can tell him anything. He also tells Nameless that in the time since the Angels left, he has been in contact with kalashtar groups across Khorvaire and warned them of the newfound quori ability to possess unwilling targets. There has been a situation or two that have revealed that the quori ability is more limited than he originally feared and dependent on significant preparation and use of resources. Havakhad thanks Nameless again for his aid and that of his companions in revealing the threat and in ensuring that Havakhad survived it.Nameless says, "No thanks necessary. And let me know if I can help in any way. I don't like people controlling me, so I owe the quori some pain."Havakhad nods (as he tends to do regularly, whether speaking or listening). "Thank you. As I have said, we kalashtar do not ask outsiders to involved themselves in our war, but if offered, the aid of skilled people like yourself is a welcome boon. I will let you know if I think of any way you can help. And I will continue to think on the meaning of your dreams."Nameless thanks Havakhad in turn and takes his leave. He then walks across to the Clifftop district, heading for a building he has heard of but never been to. It is a modest shop near the gleaming tower of the Esoteric Order, quite inconspicuous amongst the bright displays and attractions of the nearby magical businesses that give the area the name of the Mystic Market. A small sign outside the doorway says "The Augury". It clearly caters only to those who know what is contained within, rather than advertising widely to the curious.Entering the shop, Nameless finds himself in a comfortable sitting area, with a number of doors leading inwards. One of the two people sitting at a table and talking greets him and asks how they can help. Nameless introduces himself and requests a meeting with Kestia. A few minutes later, Nameless is seated across a table from an elderly elf, whose fashionable attire and demeanor do not really fit her reputation as the most powerful arcanist in Sharn, albeit within the limited focus of the magewright. Her dress does nothing to hide the aberrant dragonmark on her neck, due to which she was expelled from House Phiarlan. Nameless explains to Kestia that he wishes her to use her divinatory abilities to aid with a particular mystery. He goes on to relate the details of Arrok's murder, also mentioning the issue of the tattoo that was taken from Arrok's corpse and showing his own to Kestia. The magewright is quite interested in the case and the tattoo, which she scans with an apparently permanent arcane sight that she possesses. Having done so and asked a few questions about Arrok, she also has a long discussion with Nameless about the abilities she can provide and the considerable costs that it will entail. Since no magic will simply answer the question of who killed Arrok and it is a fairly open-ended case, she suggests starting with some of the minor divinations she is capable of, and then (depending on their success or lack thereof) deciding whether to attempt significantly more powerful magic. Kestia says that she is ultimately capable of using a contact other plane dweomer, which is not only very dependent on the questions asked but is both taxing and risky, so she would rather not use it immediately. Nameless says that he is rapidly increasing his own powers as an arcanist, though divination is not his primary focus, and he hopes to be able to access the same spell soon, in which case she may not need to cast it for him. He hopes, however, that with her reputation as a very experienced diviner, she can find ways to make the eventual use of that spell more likely to succeed. Kestia promises to do what she can and says that she will contact him within a few days. Nameless thanks her and leaves, after handing over 500 galifars to cover her initial efforts.After gathering at Trillia's home in the evening, the group heads down to Firelight and the Lucky Nines. With their habitual visits, many of the staff recognize them by now. While they are depositing their weapons in the foyer, one of the people on duty there comments that some people from the Watch were asking questions about them about a week ago, and asks what happened. Nameless says that someone they knew was murdered, to which the surprised man says, "Oh, I'm very sorry! Was it the friend of yours who used to come here too?" Realizing that he's speaking of Corven, Nameless says that he is fine (to some indistinct muttering from Luna of "more fine than we are, for sure!") and that it was someone else.The Angels then proceed into the main gaming area, where they see Killian at his usual table, speaking to a dandyish halfling. For once, Killian looks just the slightest bit surprised, but quickly hides it, smiling and waving at the group. Another person waving is Talleon (in halfling form) from across the room, and the Angels head to his table. Once they join him, Talleon is quickly down to business, checking on what they discovered during the visit to Mizano Rupa's. He makes detailed notes of everything the group mentions, asking a number of questions of those who split up to do different things while trailing Ras and the bearded man. After he is done, Six says that perhaps the Lucky Nines isn't the best place for them to meet, since they're known here. Talleon says that he knows that, since they'd mentioned being here before to meet with the information broker they'd mentioned to him, and he specifically chose it because he was curious about who the other person was. Nameless says Killian is present and points him out. Talleon quite obviously turns around to stare at him, before turning back to the adventurers, a broad grin on his face for the first time that they've seen. He says, "I know you've only been in Sharn for a short time, so I think it's safe to say you don't have that much information about the political figures here. Right?""Right. Why?""Well, let's just say that you might find it interesting to check on the people on the Sharn city council. Especially Thurik Davandi, the councilor from Upper Menthis.""Thur ... ik?" says Nameless, before beginning to smile himself. "Yes, Thurik. Davandi. And his family." Talleon's grin then disappears as quickly as it appeared and he adds, "The Citadel is not in the habit of providing payment for services rendered. But consider that a little piece of good faith on my part. And don't let it interfere with your work for us.""We won't," says Nameless. "And thank you."Talleon then says that he needs to leave and does so. As soon as he is out of the door, Killian (whose halfling friend has gone back to the gaming tables) rises and heads towards the group. "Nobody mention that name," says Nameless quietly to the group, as he arrives."Well, well, well," says Killian, smiling broadly, "I must say I wasn't expecting to see you here today." Then he pops up into the seat Talleon vacated and adds, "So, who's that friend of yours?""Just a friend of ours," says Nameless, even as Luna and Korm simultaneously say, "Can we go now?"Killian makes a valiant, but abortive, attempt to keep the Angels in their seats and talking to him, but in less than a minute he's alone at the table, with Gareth the only one still present. "Well, your friends seem to be in a big hurry! Are you busy with anything important now?""Not really.""Ah, so you might be available for a job?""It depends on what kind of job.""Of course. Tell you what - I'll think on it and if I can think of something that can fit your skills, I'll let you know. By the way, since your friends don't seem that keen on the idea, what do you think of working with someone else that I could arrange?"Gareth considers for a moment and says, "Well - that would depend on the people."Killian smiles and says, "Excellent. I’ll have Flan drop in on you when I come up with something. You're at Coldflame Keep now, right?"Unsurprised at Killian being informed of his change in location, Gareth simply nods. He then takes his leave too, joining the rest of the Angels, who are waiting outside and making idle bets about what Gareth's getting - or trying to get - them into now. Once he rejoins them, Luna simply says, "I can't believe you keep talking to that guy! Gah!" Korm doesn't say anything, but the expression on his face says it all.As the group heads outside, Six comments, "You know, I'd been thinking that Killian might be government."Surprised, Gareth asks, "When did you think of that?""It's been a while. Some of the jobs, and especially the way that drug den job went down, was a lot more like someone in the city government getting things done under the table, rather than someone connected to the gangs.""Hmm - wish you'd said something earlier. Anyway, the Sharn government's not that bad, so Killian - or Thurik - might not be as bad as you guys think. If he's a city councilor, it means that people voted for him."Nameless actually stops dead at that comment, causing Korm to walk into him and almost knock him over. "You do know that doesn't necessarily follow, right? Sheesh!" Six, Luna and Korm promptly crack up.That little exchange ends the discussion and the group splits up.</blockquote>

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