Time Well Spent

[Tom Cashel]

Her smile fades into a frown; her laughing eyes turn fiery. "You're a better actor than you are a jester."

She turns and starts walking back toward the stalls.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

I run after her and grab her and say forcefully, but quietly in elven:

"Wait Vel'larien! I am a liar and a trickster. I've deceived men, women, dwarves, elves, and halflings from here to Waterdeep. And I would deceive you if it meant a chance to bed with you.

"But in this, I swear by Mystra's Might and Tymora's Smile: Calumn sent me to find his hourglass. By his ancient, pointy teeth, it is the truth."

[I'd also like to sense motive on her sometime during the conversation. Evil intentions or good?]

 

[Tom Cashel]

"You'll find truthfulness a better way to bed me, human. All right, let's say Calumn himself sent you after the hourglass...stranger things have certainly happened. What help do you need from me?"

[You get the strong hunch that she has good intentions and a noble heart.]

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

"Well, to be honest, I need you to help me find it. Wait ... Didn't you come to find me? I'm sure my good looks played a part, but why come looking for me?

"And truth be told, I'm worried about giving Calumn the hourglass. Any idea what it does? Whatever it does, giving it to an vampire nether archmage can't be good. But if I don't... I'm likely to be made into one of his minions and all my friends are likely to be killed..."

 

[Tom Cashel]

[Send a Charisma check! I did like that roll.]

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

edit

 

[Tom Cashel]

"Vampire Nether archmage, eh? You've got all the bases covered." She shrugs. "No reason not to work together, I suppose. Do you have any idea where the timepiece is now?"

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

"Hold a moment, Lady. While I need as much help as I can get... who are you? Why would you want to help me? Are you some sort of Harper or something? I though they were all dead...

"And what does the timepiece do?"

 

[Tom Cashel]

Once again you elicit a musical laugh from Vel'larien. "Yes, in fact, I am 'some sort of Harper.' The kind that still lives, and plans to live quite a while longer.

"What is your impression of this Calumn? Do you believe he wishes to return the timepiece to the City of Shade? If his intention is to keep it away from the Shadovar, then your goals and mine are a match.

"As for what it does...I cannot tell you exactly. Legends say the possessor of the hourglass can control the flow of time...slowing it down, speeding it up, even stopping it. If the tales are true, eternal life may also be part of the bargain.

"For now, all I have deduced is that Goodman Handervump is selling high-priced seats at a private auction...and I'd bet Khelben's staff the Shadovar have a ticket."

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

"I'm not sure what the 'Shadovar' are .. but I can tell you this: Calumn is trapped on the Etheral plane. And I gather he's been there for quite some time. He's already got eternal life, so my guess is that he wants to use the timepiece to escape his prison. Or perhaps to go back in time to where the Nether ruled Faerun.

"I may be just a simple entertainer, but I can tell you this: I doubt his goals and the Harpers' goals are ever going to be aligned."

I smile again.

"And how is old Blackstaff? I met him a long time ago in Waterdeep ... I doubt he even remembers me. But, er, you'd probably better not mention to him that you know where I am.

"So.... do you think the Harpers might be willing to lend me the 5,000 gold to get into the auction?"

I beam at her.