Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3374363" data-attributes="member: 143">Talen will be taking levels in the Purple Dragon Knight PrC, without the Purple. Allera will have to coach him some on the Negotiator aspect first, though.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> Dar will be heading in a different direction, at least for now, where we'll get to see an interesting clash between his new "tendencies" and his inherent nature. We'll get back to him next week. I have a few surprises up my sleeve...  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> * * * * * Chapter 114A DARK AND STORMY NIGHTA constant patter of rain on the sheet metal roof filled the dim outline of the cavernous, empty warehouse.  Other than the noise of the rain, and the occasional gust of wind through the gaping, empty doorways on either side of the building, the night was quiet.  The floor was canted slightly but obviously; the ground at one end of the building was about three feet higher than that on the far end.  That was a common phenomenon on Camar’s South Docks.  Originally built on reclaimed land to add to the crowded port’s capacity, the planning that went into the construction was ultimately flawed by poor organization, corruption, and simple incompetence.  After about half of the actual docks had sunk into the harbor with a few years of opening, most of the rest of the area had been abandoned.  Now the seedier tiers of Camar’s society made use of the place, and everyone else gave it a very wide berth. Several dark forms materialized out of the rain and wind, walking into the interior of the warehouse.  Their bootsteps echoed off the cavernous interior of the place.  They carried no light, but the protruding shapes of what might have been weapons were visible under the heavy oilcloth cloaks that they wore.  There were five of them.  The strangers engaged in conversation in low voices, speaking in a dialect thick with lilting vowels and short, guttural exclamations.  One of them, a reed of a man with a head shaved bald, asked a question of the leader. “I am here, gentlemen,” came a voice from the shadows. The five strangers shifted to face the figure that emerged from the deeper darkness along the far wall, into the only dim light that made it through the side doors.  The leader stepped forward to meet him, his companions spreading out in a wary half-circle behind him.  “You conduct business in odd places,” the man said in thickly-accented Common, drawing back the hood of his cloak to reveal his face.  His skin was the color of fresh-tilled earth.  A finely-trimmed beard ran along the edges of his jaw, jutting forward to a dagger-shaped point that protruded several inches beyond his chin. “Both of us engage in trades that are not always... understood, in the bright light of the day,” Licinius Varo said.  “Still, Master Alzoun, I appreciate your willingness to meet me on such short notice.” “My contact said that you had something to make it worth my while,” the dusky foreigner replied.  Varo nodded, and drew out a leather backpack he’d been carrying under his cloak.  Unfastening the clasps on the top of the satchel, he drew out a long bundle wrapped in heavy cloth.  It became quickly clear that the pack was no ordinary object, as the bundle ended up being longer than its container by several feet.  Varo laid the bundle down on the ground between himself and Alzoun, and unwrapped it to reveal its contents.  In the shadowly light, the objects inside were merely vague outlines.The trader made a small motion, and one of his men came forward.  Bending low over the bundle, he drew out a small object that cast a thin, highly focused light upon the bundle.  The light revealed what they were; weapons, a half-dozen morningstars that sprouted vicious-looking spikes from their business ends.  The man examined them quickly and efficiently, pausing briefly to mutter arcane words as he passed his hands over them.  Then he extinguished the light and stepped back.  “Unholy morningstars,” he reported to Alzoun.  “The taint is very strong.”The trader nodded.  “Potent magic.  Given the prominence of the church of the Father in these lands, I can see why you would not be eager to draw attention to your possession of such objects." “I assume that you have a market for such?”“As you well know, my friend, there is a market for everything, if one can but find it.”“It would be better if they were not used within the borders of Camar,” Varo said.  “It could make things... complicated.”“I can assure you that by the coming of dawn, they will already be far away from these shores.  There is a powerful monastic sect in Drusia, that has enemies.”  He didn’t offer anything more; he didn’t have to.“And my request?” Varo asked. Alzoun waved a hand.  “The items you seek are exceptionally rare.  If it even became hinted that I had taken the stones outside of the borders of Razhur... my life would be forfeit, and I would never be able to return to my homeland.”“I am known for my discretion,” Varo said.  “And for my impatience with those who would seek to cheat me.”The trader inclined his head slightly.  “I would not dream of challenging either,” he said.  “But while these,” he indicated the weapons, “are powerful, they do not equal what you ask for.  Perhaps half of the number of devices that you requested—” “I will have the full quantity,” Varo interrupted.  He reached under his cloak again—drawing a subtle reaction of alarm from the trader’s guards at the motion—and drew out another object. Alzoun made another small gesture to his wizard, who came forward and took the item.  He held it gingerly, and made a small exclamation in his own language.  This time, he did not have to draw out his light or cast a spell.  He held the object out to Alzoun, so the trader could see it clearly.  Even in the weak light, the greed that shone in the man’s eyes was palpable. “I have never seen the like,” he said.  “A mask of the skull...”“I have seen it used,” Varo said.  “It is... effective.”“A very unique item.  May I ask where you acquired it?”“You may ask,” Varo said, the implication clear in how he said it. Alzoun chuckled.  “Never mind, then.  We have a trade.”  He gestured back to another of his men, who came forward, drawing out a small iron box from under his cloak.  Varo could see that there were runes etched into its surface. The trader marked his scrutiny.  “Sometimes it is better to ensure that certain things are beyond notice, even when one is far away from those who would look,” he said.  “You may have the box, as well, as part of the bargain.”“Open it,” the cleric said.  The man complied, working the lock a bit awkwardly, as he held the box on one arm.  When it opened, Varo came forward and looked inside.  The box was lined heavily with velvet cloth, and was empty save for six metal rings, each set with a dark round gemstone.  The cleric summoned the magic of his god, scanning the rings, and then he nodded to the armsman, who shut the box, handing both it and the key to the cleric. Alzoun’s men had already gathered up the bundle of weapons.  “May Dagos be with you,” the trader said, with a slight bow.  As he straightened, a small metal object came out from under his cloak, dangling from a thin metal chain.  The symbol matched the one that Varo wore around his neck. “And with you as well,” Varo said.  Sliding the box into his handy haversack, he took up the burden and walked toward one of the exits out into the night rain.  Alzoun and his men headed in the opposite direction, departing via the far exit. Neither group looked back, and within a few seconds, the abandoned warehouse was once again empty and silent, save for the constant patter of the rain.</blockquote>

Verification