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Message: <blockquote data-quote="spyscribe" data-source="post: 2463546" data-attributes="member: 5808">Part the One-Hundred Forty-ThirdIn which: Lira makes a proposal.“We will renew our agreement to assist you in finding a contact here in Siunethrit.  We won’t try to end your existence and you won’t try to end ours.”“And in return?”  Gemil asks suspiciously.“You will owe us a favor.”“A favor.  What sort of favor?”Lira shrugs.  “Whatever.  If you’re right and you do become the big necromantic power player in Ebis, I’m sure you could help us out at some time in the future.”Gemil considers.  “It would have to be a favor commensurate with the favor you have done me.”“Agreed.  And naturally for the negotiation of said favor our truce would go back into effect.”“Natrually…”  The golden skull leers.  “Who would determine the equity of the arrangement?”“How about Anvil?”  Lira shoots a look over at the man in question who nods.Gemil muses for a moment.  “Alright.  It is agreed.  You will uncover a contact of mine in Siunethrit willing to take me in, and at some point in the future I will do you a favor equivalent to the service you have done me.”  He gives Lira a sly look.  “Shall we shake on it?”**********Gemil has two theories for how the party can best accomplish their goal.  They can return to the tailor shop and attempt to convince Faaris to cooperate, or they can go a “more direct route.”When pressed, Gemil admits that the more direct route involves breaking into the Necropolis and confronting whoever has taken over in his absence.  Partially out of an unwillingness to deal with Gemil’s enemies for him, and partially due to the knowledge that grave-robbing is a capital crime in Ebis, the party elects to see if they can induce Faaris to help them.(DM’s NOTE: >sigh<  And curse their scaly little hides for it.  Woulda been *awesome*.)###The party returns to find that Faaris has reopened his shop.  Deciding that their best chance of cooperation lies in maximum subterfuge, Lira and Annika go in first, alone.  Lira activates her hat of disguise and Annika casts disguise self to appear as two rich matrons, desperately in need of fine clothing.They enter, and Faaris greets them warmly.“Ah!  Ladies.  And how can my humble shop cater to your needs this afternoon?”“Actually,” says Lira archly, “we’re just looking for the moment.  My daughter is getting married and we have many shops to visit.”“Of course…” Faaris guides them to a rack in the corner where bolts of very fine linen have been laid out for inspection.  “You’ll find no better quality in the city.  And, for a price, I can even arrange for imported Karonian silk, although, of course that would require payment in advance.”“Naturally,” Lira replies.  As Faaris seems determined to stick by and be as helpful as possible, Lira waves him off.  “Leave us.  I will summon you if we require assistance.”“Of course,” Faaris smiles sincerely and leaves the ladies to their shopping.  And, as soon as his back is turned, both Lira and Annika cast charm person at him.Faaris pauses, slowly turns around and looks over his shoulder.  “I’m sorry…” he begins.  “Are you sure that there isn’t anything I can do for you?”Lira smiles, she’s not sure whose spell went off, but she’s hoping that it doesn’t matter.  “Actually, there is something.”“Yes?”“I find the nights are colder than I like.  Can you make a cloak to warm them?”Faaris’s face falls.  He looks quickly around the shop, but there are no other customers.  Still, when he speaks, his voice is barely audible.“Are… are you sure?”Lira nods, and removes her hat, revealing the red-haired young woman who asked him the same question the day before.  “It’s okay,” she tells him.  “But maybe we should go someplace where we can speak privately.  We wouldn’t want someone to overhear us and misunderstand.”Faaris nods, and turns glumly towards the door, where he finds the rest of the party waiting.  He looks at Lira, quite concerned.  She smiles.  “You can let them in.  They’re friends.”Faaris reluctantly does, and locks the door behind them.  He shows Lira and the rest of the party into his back room.###“You have to understand,” Faaris pleads, as he practically collapses on a low stool in the back of his shop. “I was young, and very foolish.”Kiara looks at him skeptically.  “I can’t imagine being that foolish.”He shakes his head.  “I haven’t been involved in any of that for years.  I’m married now, with a son—”“We don’t care what you used to do,” Lira assures him.  “We didn’t really intend to get stuck with this job either.”“Job?  What job?”“Hello, Faaris.”The tailor’s face goes ashen as he turns to where Anvil has brought Gemil’s skull out of his pack.“You… You…”“Yes,” Gemil replies.  “Me.”“But… no one had heard from you in more than ten years.  Everyone assumed you were dead.”“Clearly,” Gemil replies acidly.  “And who has taken advantage of my absence?”“I… I really don’t…”“Who?”“Hamidi.”Gemil grinds his teeth.“What happened to Nabihah?”“He’s dead.”“And Qudsiyah?”“Dead.”“Thaquib?”Faaris gulps.  “Very dead,” he whispers.“I can see why you got out of this business,” Eva mutters under her breath. “What about Shadya?” Gemil demands suddenly.  “Hamidi wouldn’t have dared get rid of her.”Faaris shakes his head.  “No… no I don’t think so.  I don’t know if I can get a message to her though.  I haven’t been in touch with anyone in the organization in years.” He turns pleading to the party members.  “You have to believe me.”Gemil’s tone is icy.  “Try.”Faaris nods.  “I— I will.  Please, return to your inn, I will send word within the day.”Gemil is safely returned to his sack and Faaris ushers the party out through the front of the shop.  As they pass though, though, something catches Lira’s eye.  She pauses.“What is it?” Eva asks her.Lira blushes.  “Well, it does get pretty cold here at night…”A few moments later the party leaves Faaris’ shop, new cloaks bundled up under their arms.###That evening, a message comes back from Shadya.  She has agreed to take Gemil, and indicates a place and time for the exchange.“Will we meet her?” Anvil wants to know.Faaris shakes his head, fearfully.  “She said she’ll send someone.”###The party arrives at the exchange point under cover of darkness.  At precisely midnight a cloaked figure approaches.   Male or female is impossible to tell under the voluminous robes, but the figure’s slow, shuffling gait is unmistakable.Eva swears quietly.  “She sent a zombie.”The figure arrives before the party, and slowly holds out a brown and withered hand.  Anvil brings forth the sack with Gemil’s skull within.  Before handing it over, he opens it one last time.  Gemil’s ruby eyes glint darkly in the moonlight.“Kettenek’s Justice be upon you, Gemil,” Anvil intones.Gemil grins up at him.  “Ta ta.”The rest of the party watches in silence as Anvil hands over the bag, and the messenger slowly shuffles away.</blockquote>

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