NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Haraash Saan" data-source="post: 3346337" data-attributes="member: 46615">As we gazed at our destination we saw a tall tower on a hill that overlooked the ramshackle town. This was undoubtedly Novorod’s Tower, home of arcane knowledge and its three guardians. Spiralling outward from the tower were all manner of buildings. Some were just shacks that even from this distance looked as if they should have collapsed. Perhaps they were held together by magic? Others were grand mansions circled by high walls. But the most unusual thing about the Port of the Warlock was quite simply the vast array of architectural styles. I had only travelled in central Guerney and from there to Halfast and then Yorath, but this town was unlike anything I had seen. Unfortunately I cannot even begin to describe the types of houses as most seemed very odd and I had nothing to compare them to. The only constant seemed to be that there were many more walled houses nearer to the tower. An obvious sign of wealth and prestige, I thought.As we docked a busy and officious round man hurried along the pier to greet us. His little legs travelling so briskly that he swayed rather violently with each step. Two burly sorts followed him at what one might call a respectful distance, but their bored expressions showed no respect whatsoever.The little butterball stopped in front of us, pausing only to mop his sweaty brow with a kerchief, “Good day. Welcome to the Port of the Warlock,” he began haughtily. “I am here to ensure that all of your cargo is legitimate and to collect any fees that you and your goods incur.”Argonne, puffing out his chest as if impersonating a pigeon, spoke up on our behalf. Captaincy had given him some ill conceived idea that he was our spokesman. “We’ve no cargo other than us.”The bureaucrat sniffed at this, sensing that there was little profit to made from us. He inclined his head to his two toughs and they immediately went to work searching the boat for cargo. “So if you come with no cargo, what is your business?” he asked.Argonne opened his mouth but I managed to interject, “We are here simply to seek magical assistance. I understand this is the place to come for such help?”He admitted that it was and proceeded to collect a sickle from each of us as entry fee into the town. He had almost finished when Argonne spoke up once more. “You wouldn’t know where to buy drugs would you?”I am not sure who was shocked the most, the other members of the Hydra, or the little fat man. He, unfortunately, reacted first. “Drugs? We don’t allow that sort of thing to occur in our town. Can’t have wizards that are not completely in control of their facilities running around now can we? Who knows what would happen! Ah boys’,“ he beckoned once more to his large assistants, “I think you should search this lot. Look for anything suspicious.” Argonne is truly a buffoon. The Baron Yorath’s words echoed in my mind “Draw no attention to yourselves.” What chance of success did we have if simple instructions could not be followed? I would have to buy Argonne a gag, as the mask he wore to hide his face did not muffle the fool enough.Not surprisingly our biggest concern was Moxadder. The man was probably carrying all manner of narcotics to support himself. And by the look of him he knew he was in trouble. I could see his eyes darting about looking for a way of escape. They searched me roughly. I bit my tongue and held my pride in check, it would do no good to complain. It was obvious that they were not trying very hard to find anything, they were just going through the motions, probably thinking of having a nap whilst waiting for the next boat to come in. Unfortunately they soon got to Moxadder, who had somehow managed to be the last to be examined. He controlled himself quite well, until they found his stash that is. He snatched it back, eyeballs frantic now. Argonne leapt in once more, “Ah that’s for personal use, isn’t that right Moxie?” Moxadder stood mute. His shock and fear did not allow him to utter a word. The official and his men turned to face Argonne who had just spoken. Moxadder edged further down the pier, out of arms reach. They saw him move and our podgy friend said menacingly, “Hand it over son. You’re coming for a little trip to the lock up.”At that point things got really strange. Strav, who had been quiet throughout the entire discussion suddenly pulled down his mask and revealed himself. All of us were stunned, none more so than Morgan. Strav’s skin was black as night, while his hair was white, as though bleached by an eternity in the sun. His eyes burned a vibrant crimson. Structurally his face was that of an elf; fine, angled, chiselled features, long and thin nose and of course elongated ears ending in a slight point.Morgan’s sword quickly rasped out of it’s scabbard. He was livid! The Fastendian glared at us as he asked “What is the meaning of this? Did any of you know that this,” he paused in mid bluster,” this thing, was in our company?” No one answered so he continued his tirade. “This thing is a Black Elf. Evil to the core and a servant of the Dominion! My people have been fighting these creatures for a hundred years!”“Morgan!” I hissed with urgency, “Now is not the time! We can discuss it later.”“Yes.” Agreed the port official. “I couldn’t care less about your bickering. But rest assured,“ he shifted his focus to look squarely at Strav, “I know your kind, and whilst they are accepted here, they are not welcome. I’ll be watching you so stay out of trouble. But right now there is another issue that needs to be dealt with. Boys, grab him and take him to the gaol,” he ordered, pointing to Moxadder who had managed to edge a long way down the pier. “Come now sir.” I said, “Surely this is just a misunderstanding. Perhaps I can, offer you a little something to ease your mind about such a trifling matter?”“Boys, rack off!” he order his lackey’s and then added more softly as they shrugged and headed back down the pier,  “what have you got in mind? I’ll not let those drugs into my town!”“If we just get rid of the drugs, then they were never really here. Were they? Perhaps this gromit would guarantee that, hmmm?” I said.With a greedy glint in his eye he snatched the gold coin from my palm and said, “Throw them in the water, and this never happened.”Moxadder’s eyes widened but he reluctantly threw the bag and its precious contents into the water. Or so it seemed to the official. I saw Moxadder secret the pouch in his shirt as he pretended to throw it. In the end it was a good result. We had no more trouble with the Port’s authorities  and I suppose Moxadder was happy. He retained his beloved stash.</blockquote>

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