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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sanzuo" data-source="post: 4829125" data-attributes="member: 66180"><img src="http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/462/renaissanceballroombyma.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> <a href="http://maxetormer.deviantart.com/art/Renaissance-ballroom-99655468" target="_blank">"Renaissance Ballroom" by maxetor mer</a>A melodious performance played by nine brightly dressed minstrels rang through the ballroom. Piping hot, meaty hors d'oeuvres were brought fresh out of the kitchen on silver plates. The guests, lavishly dressed patricians, merchants, and débutantes from all over the city, laughed, danced and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The word on everyone's lips was the horrible fate that befell the barge a week earlier. Subjects avoided by the aristocrats so soon after such a tragedy were becoming less candid and spoken in excited tittering voices to one another.“I have heard the high priest has been resurrected.” One guest said to another. “Is it not a shame? The church can afford to bring back the dead while the others have to suffer the loss of their loved ones. The city should provide a service or something.”“Oh please.” The other guest said. “Those that cannot afford a simple resurrection are clearly better off being dead, dear. Plus, it is clear the the church knows who deserves a resurrection and who does not. The dead ones clearly did not have enough faith.”And so on.What was on Jakob Kellin's mind, however were several other unrelated things. First was the letter from Lieutenant Ulrik that a Greywarden was going to come looking for him, the second was a report that Lurtz had been beaten to within an inch of his life and thrown in prison. The third thing on his mind was the report that never came about how his crew of highly reputable hitmen that he had hired had fared. He had a feeling that one didn't work out either. Nevertheless, Jakob was more than prepared should the worst come to pass. He had thrown this ball at the spur of the moment to give himself as much publicity as possible.His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden crash of one of the ballroom doors being violently flung open. There were several gasps and a shatter of a dropped wine goblet.Right on cue. Jakob Kellin thought.“No, no, no, no, no!”Lord Kellin's reeve waved his arms wildly as he walked toward Kezzek Stone in a near panic.“You can't come in that way! I don't care what your emergency is, you guards are suppose to go through the proper procedure!”Kezzek nearly shoved the poor reeve to the ground shoving passed him.“I'm not a guard, and I'm here for Jakob Kellin.” Kezzek said.“That's Lord Kellin!” Another man angerly shouted.A voice rose calmly over the others.“Now, now. Everyone stop shouting.” Lord Kellin emerged from the crowd, walking towards Kezzek. “This man is a Greywarden, and he is a guest of honor.”That seemed to throw the Greywarden off. Lord Kellin was a tall man, taller than even the half-orc, though nowhere near his bulk. He took advantage of his height to leer down at the Greywarden.“How do you do? I am Lord Jakob Kellin. Officer Kezzek Stone of the Greywardens, I presume?” Kellin extended a hand.“Er... yes. Yes I am.” Kezzek mumbled as he took Lord Kellin's hand. “I must to inform you that I have come to take you into custody.”“Arrest me?” Kellin said. “Oh dear, under what charge?”“For the sale and distribution of the highly dangerous alchemical substance known as Agony, among others.”Kellin made an exaggerated shrug. “Why, I don't even know what that is!”“It's a drug.” Kezzek turned and appeared to address the listening croud. “It is said to be the distilled essence of pain, made material through magic. It is generally only used by sorcerers and the very rich. Its effects are highly dangerous and even fatal. Normally in places like the Freeholds it can cost up to two hundred gold coins per dose. Yet you are making it available to the general populous for mere pennies on the gold.”Lord Kellin quirked an eyebrow. “Mere pennies? That doesn't sound very profitable at all. Why on earth would I do that?”“I... don't know.” Kezzek admitted. “But that hardly matters. The fact is you are doing it. I can think about 'why' later.”“Fact? These accusations are pretty bold, Kezzek Stone. I'd like to hear what facts you actually have. If you attempt to arrest me without just cause then there may be a problem with the local authority.”Kezzek held back his temper and explained. “I have many pieces of evidence in the form of vials commonly used to contain Agony...”“...or any other sort of alchemical brew, like for example potions of healing you are undoubtedly carrying.” Lord Kellin finished.“I have a suspect that I obtained...”“...beat savagely...”“...who confessed beforehand to selling the drug and many others. That lead me to others who's statements led me to you.”Lord Kellin laughed and shook his head in bemusement.“Sir Stone, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. This is Marshal Colton.” Lord Kellin gestured to the middle-aged man who had spoken up before.Colton stepped forward.“Greywarden, these 'facts' you have brought forward are unsettling to be sure... but this accusation that you have brought against Lord Kellin, a prestigious member of our noble society, simply will not do. You're off the handle, my friend.”“You're protecting him?” Kezzek growled, his hackles rising.Yes, show these people what a brute you are. Lord Kellin thought approvingly.Marshal Colton tried a softer approach.“Greywarden, your kind are a great boon in the uncivilized lands. We are all thankful for your long and noble history of protection. Why, even our fine nation of Northmand would probably not exist if it were not for your people back in the age of lawlessness. However, this is a civilized land. We are civilized people with our own laws and protocol. In order to bring charges against someone like Lord Kellin, one would need to be a member of our own guard and would need to be given authorization by a Marshal, like myself, and the council. You are a foreigner here. You are interfering with our system, and in that way, you are breaking the law.”Kezzek growled as he thought for a moment.“I was ambushed by six swordsman in an alley yesterday.”“And did they tell you who hired them?” Marshal Colton asked.“No... they're all dead.” Kezzek replied.“Unfortunate.” Said Lord Kellin. “Had you used a more tactful approach from the begging perhaps you could have gotten more information instead of corpses.”Lord Kellin's face grew dark. He spoke in a quieter tone.“You really have nothing on me. Marshal Colton is here telling you that you have nothing. The methods that worked for you out there among the peasants don't work with nobility. If you were smart you probably would have prepared better than to just march into my home at your convenience and haul me in.I can assure you that if you try anything tonight, you will be one who is arrested. Marshal Colton here will have you banned from any civilized city in Northmand – if you are lucky. And if you simply murder me here, well I don't think I can tell you what will happen then. Either way if you try anything at all it will undoubtedly leave a black mark on your prestigious record, am I correct?”Kezzek said nothing.“I thought so.” Lord Kellin sneered. “Your kind really are dumb brutes are you not? No matter how badly you try to fit into society you can't help but show your true, 'green' side. Even though the Greywardens were kind enough to accept you into their ranks the only thing you are really capable of is brawling, bullying and breaking things. You poor animal. Now get out of my sight, you are upsetting my guests.”Kezzek said nothing. He reached into one of his pouches and pulled out two sheets of rolled up paper.“What is that?” Lord Kellin asked.Marshal Colton took the papers and began reading them. When he was finished he started reading them again.“What is that?” Lord Kellin demanded in a rising voice.“It is a writ. It is signed by Marshal Spartus – and the Council! It says Kezzek Stone has lawful permission to conduct an investigation into the Agony 'ring.'”Damn. Ulrik! He got to him. Lord Kellin thought.“What is the other one?”Marshal Colton look up palely at Kezzek and swallowed hard.“It is a warrant for the arrest of you and me, signed by the Council...” He said. “and permission to use deadly force if we resist.”No! Lord Kellin looked incredulously at the Greywarden.Kezzek said nothing.___________________The End!</blockquote>

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