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Post by cactapus on Jan 30, 2015 13:57:11 GMT -7
One table in the Golden Plow always seems to covered with more detritus than the others. Much to Duade's chagrin, said detritus is named Hayden Hailean. His normal state of being seems to be broke, cheerful, and drunk; so he fits in with everyone else at the plow on those 'merits' alone. Though friendly to fault, his dim wits get him into trouble so often that it's a wonder he's still alive. Somehow, through an uncanny ability to pick the best possible direction to blunder into, and sheer dumb luck, he's made a bit of a name for himself among the rook city guards and the council.
As you approach Hayden waves you over, the same way he does to anyone who makes eye contact, or even just walks by his table,
"Hey, you're a new face, that's a lovely coat, it doesn't look like it was made here. Where are you from? Oh... you've lived two blocks down your whole life? Well it's still a nice coat. Anyway, my point is that you look like an up and coming adventurer, and you know what every adventurer needs? Magic Items. It just so happens that I make the very finest magic items this side of the Golden Plow"
Seeing as how the Golden Plow is a bar and has nothing to do with craftsmen, you immediately begin to doubt the quality of his wares.
"Oh fine, you don't have to buy anything right now, but here, at least let me fill your glass and tell you a story", he says as he waves his hands over your tankard causing a fine ale to appear.
"So there, I was, surrounded by goblins, each one strapped with enough explosives to level a building, and all I had with me was my rapier, net and rugged good looks...."
Five beers and a dozen stories later, you've just paid Hayden to craft you "an infinite chalice of ale" that you never realized how much you wanted before. There's no way you'll regret this purchase tomorrow.
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781 
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Post by diskelemental on Jan 30, 2015 15:38:17 GMT -7
Naya put the journal back in her pathfinder pouch, and headed downstairs. The Plow was bustling with activity, people were laughing and drinking, a middle-aged man in cheap robes lectured in one of the corners, a throng of novice adventurers crowded around the notice board, like a pack of lapdogs waiting for a treat. Naya glanced around the room, going from face to face, looking for any surveillance.
Any of these people could be a spy, at least one of them probably is.
She pushed through the crowd, and up to the table where Hayden was sitting, "can we talk, in private?" She asked quietly.
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Post by cactapus on Jan 30, 2015 16:28:58 GMT -7
"Look, if you lost some stored items in that extra dimensional pouch I made you, I already told you I can't be held responsible. I couldn't understand the squiggles in your book, and no matter how many times you told me to project R^4 into three-space, the result wasn't going to get any better." Hayden rambled defensively.
"Have you tried turning it inside out?"
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781
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Post by diskelemental on Jan 30, 2015 18:21:54 GMT -7
She half-smiled, "the bag works fine; it's about the enchantments you wanted. In order to add the keen edge to your rapier, I had to rebalance the blade. I did the best I could, but if it doesn't feel right, I'd rather know now so that I can fix it."
Hayden please, this is important.
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Post by cactapus on Jan 31, 2015 10:33:31 GMT -7
"You took apart Suzanne?! Why?! I just asked you to sharpen her!", Hayden exclaimed loud enough to get some looks from those at nearby tables.
"Where's your workshop? We need to go fix this right this second."
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781
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Post by diskelemental on Jan 31, 2015 14:56:36 GMT -7
"Upstairs," Naya replies, heading halfway up the stairs, then turning, and waiting for Hayden to follow.
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Post by cactapus on Jan 31, 2015 16:31:34 GMT -7
Visibly nonplussed, and plainly worried about the fate of his rapier, Hayden follows.
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781
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Post by diskelemental on Feb 1, 2015 20:04:25 GMT -7
The pair continues up the stairs, and into Naya's room. Upon entering, she slams the door and locks it. Seeing Hayden's distress, she hastily explains, "your weapon's fine, I should be done with it tomorrow. I just needed an excuse to get you up here."
She pauses for a moment, and takes a deep breath, "I'm in over my head, and I need your help. The Thieves Guild isn't out of the picture, in fact, I believe everything that's happened, is all part of the plan. A plan that's nearly a century in the making; with the end goal of completely destroying Rook."
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Post by cactapus on Feb 2, 2015 17:55:24 GMT -7
Hayden breaths a sigh of relief, as he listens to Naya his eyebrow raises at the mention of the Thieves Guild and he instantly seems to sober up.
"Alright, slow down. What have you dug up on them? They're a personal enemy of mine, and I've been been at the scene of more than a few tragedies caused by the devils they summon. I don't know what you mean about them being out of the picture, the devil attacks haven't exactly slowed down recently. You're saying you've discovered their overarching plans?."
Hayden pauses and considers for a moment,
"You remember Farhan, right? After he lost his daughter, he swore a vendetta against the guild. I'm sure he'd be interested in knowing as well."
Before Naya has a chance to respond, also points a thumb at the door and whispers, "Oh, and if you're trying to be subtle, slamming that in the face of wood-be pursuers is more likely to get attention than acting naturally."
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781
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Post by diskelemental on Feb 2, 2015 22:41:36 GMT -7
"Sorry, ever since I got back, I've been seeing spies in every shadow. There-there's no way they could know that I have the information; it's just... I know what the Guild does to its enemies. It's hard not to be paranoid. The fact that I haven't slept in nearly four days isn't helping."
"But, back to the matter at hand. The journal I found, discusses a plan to undermine the public's confidence in the government, by raiding shops, murdering nobles, doing whatever they can to instill fear. After that, they cultivate a mercenary community in Rook, and allow mercenary forces to foil their plans again, and again, in order to make the guards look utterly incompetent? Like, didn't you ever wonder why we were able to waltz into their base and clear it out? Why didn't the devil attack us? Why did they leave a spy to protect the base, rather than-than a guardian? Why did they hand the little girl back to us?"
"Because it was all part of the plan. They wanted us to clear out the base, while their main force humiliated the guard. They wanted the spy to record us, so they'd have proof of how 'competent' we are. They handed us the girl so that they could throw it back in Tardis's face 'look, the mercenaries were able to avenge your friend's death, when you couldn't.' Do you understand? Every move we, and every adventurer has made, was all part of the plan. Every attempt to stop them has made their victory more complete."
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Post by shroudb on Feb 3, 2015 4:29:47 GMT -7
With Farhan on his mind, Naya's words suddenly bring a chill down to Hayden's spine.
Uneasily he rummages through his stuff and retrieves an old letter, back from when he first met Farhan.
A pack of those letters were given to his comrades, with details when and how to reach the thieves' cove, all signed by Anne, whom they later found to be Farhan's daughter. There was much rejoicing when they cleared that place.
A few days later, Hayden saw for the first time Farhan, who put the same letter on Hayden's pocket, only marked this time with his ugly handwriting. Marked with a single phrase saying "this is not my daughter's handwriting".
(Ooc: I didn't know if you remembered that, but since you brought up Farhan and Naya brought up you being used during the assault, you remember it automatically)
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Post by cactapus on Feb 3, 2015 10:56:44 GMT -7
"You've gone four days without sleeping? How do you intend to evade these spies if you're too tired to think?" Hayden asks as he casts Lesser Restoration.
"Well, that certainly meshes with what I've seen of their motives, but what more can we do? I don't know any way to get at the guild's leadership, and we can't exactly stop helping people when devils arrive. Maybe we should bring a guard presence along, and let them take the credit?"
"I don't know what your plans are, but I think the first thing we should do is contact Tardis and Farhan, get them involved in the plan. The more people are aware of what's going on, the harder it will be for the guild to suppress our activity. Do you have any proof of their plans? If we bring it to the attention of the common people, we might be able to undo some of the hostility towards the guards."
OOC: @shroud Yeah, I remembered that the writing wasn't hers, but wasn't the body of the sacrifice actually her? At the very least the guild did kill the real Anne and Farhan is actively working against them and has some sway over that half-petrified witch 'Pirate Queen'.
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781
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Post by diskelemental on Feb 3, 2015 11:28:52 GMT -7
Naya interrupts Hayden as soon as he starts to cast, "I've been using my own, save your spell."
After listening to Hayden's proposal, she spoke up, "That's an excellent plan, or it would be, if it wasn't for what I'm about to tell you. Undermining the guards was just step one of the plan, step two involves a double agent on the lower council, taking advantage of the confusion and making a power play. I highly doubt Tardis is in on the plot, but someone on the council is and if we tell Tardis, there's a good chance the traitor will find out, and then we're all dead."
"If-if you really think Farhan is trustworthy, then talk to him, we need all the help we can get. I'll let Atis know you're willing to help. In the mean time, I'm trying to get in contact with Jotunn and Slag. Jotunn has a lifetime of experience as a spy, and Slag... well, when things inevitably go to hell, I want Slag to have my back. After that, I'm going to go after the noble. My family still has some contacts in high-society, so I'm going to see if there's any dirt I can dig up on the lower council."
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Post by cactapus on Feb 3, 2015 11:57:23 GMT -7
"Well, I'm not caught up on politics, but maybe you could put together a shortlist of the previously unknown councilors who are on the up and up? It wouldn't be wise to tip our hand and interrogate them, but if there are only a handful of candidates, maybe we could follow them around and find who they're reporting to? The smell of brimstone would be a dead give away."
Hayden thinks for a moment, "I don't think he's trustworthy, but he's a man with a personal grudge and some hold over a powerful witch. Him betraying us would only hurt his chances of getting back at the guild and recovering his daughter's head."
"There's also the matter of the Oread tomb that the devils seemed to have an interest in. Did you find out any more information about how that plays into the thieves guild's plans?"
"Jotunn was a spy? I thought he was a paladin? Must have been a damn good spy to sneak into their ranks. Ah, have you filled Slag in on the details? He's great with a bow, but his vow of truth makes it difficult for him to hold a secret."
"Oh good, you should make use of your connections, but be discrete, maybe just have your non-adventurer family members be the ones asking questions. I don't know about you, but if I were to develop a sudden interest in politics, I'm sure whoever is plotting this would take notice. What do you need my help with? I don't have any sway in high society, but could probably listen in on conversations going on in bars, see which way the winds are moving."
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Post by shroudb on Feb 3, 2015 12:06:21 GMT -7
OOC: @shroud Yeah, I remembered that the writing wasn't hers, but wasn't the body of the sacrifice actually her? At the very least the guild did kill the real Anne and Farhan is actively working against them and has some sway over that half-petrified witch 'Pirate Queen'. Ooc: correct. Farhan's daughter was the actual sacrifice. It was just that her name was used to ruse the adventurers to go to the cove in the first place. And despite you seeing her whole, when the guards who went after you returned to took she was missing her head. He doesn't exactly have a sway over the queen, his real relation with her isn't yet uncovered. |
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diskelemental
Lich
Banned
A better world, whether you want it or not.
Posts: 781
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Post by diskelemental on Feb 3, 2015 14:33:34 GMT -7
"That was the plan. It's been a while, but I was semi-involved in political volunteer work when I was younger. I could probably hunt down one of my old colleagues, and get some information from them."
Naya thinks for a moment, "if you don't think Farhan'll betray us, then talk to him. We're grasping at straws here."
"I haven't found anything linking the tomb to the Guild, but the sudden appearance of *two* devil-binders, operating out of the same city probably isn't a coincidence. Though, for our sake I pray it is."
Naya chuckles quietly, "I've given up on trying to figure out what Jotunn really is, but he's claimed to be a spy, and the things he's told me about 'his' exploits match up with the records of a fairly successful, if rather minor, Drow assassin called "the Spider." Either he's pretending to be the reincarnation of a female Drow, or he actually is, not sure which option is worse." Naya thinks for a moment, "I haven't talked to Slag yet, but I don't plan on telling him the details. He's not one for subtlety which means at this point he's a liability rather than asset, I'll just prepare him for the inevitable conflict."
"On the political end, I'll see what I can do. My father's many things, but he's no diplomat. Depending on his mood, and whether or not he's pissed off any nobles recently,this might be a matter I have to handle myself."
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Post by cactapus on Feb 3, 2015 14:50:33 GMT -7
"Alright, let me know what you find. I'll see what kind of help I can get out of Farhan, if any. I'll try not to draw any more attention to myself than usual, so I won't be going around questioning strangers. I'd also like to find out what ever happened to that Oread's tomb, wasn't the body recovered by those fanatical sounding guards that sent us there in the first place? Could be worth it to check up with them and see what they find. Any insight as to why the devils were interested in it beyond 'causing mayhem' could be useful"
"Well, if I see Jotunn around, I'll be sure to ask him for advice. Though I'm a little concerned at just how many voices he must be hearing inside that head of his. Anyway, unless you have any better suggestions on where to dig, I think I have my plans for the next few days in order. If you need to talk to me in private again, pretend to hire me to make you some magic items, or just buy me a drink like any of the other fine ladies do when they want me to come up to their room." Hayden says with a smirk as he walks to the door.
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