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…and they had their eyes on the Common Sector…
Standing in the safehouse, we found several letters from “Tol Vair” to others. I kept the letters, which were addressed to Countess Jaden, Duke Ashbru, Tol Vair on Merchant Row, and Marcus. Marcus’ letter was especially interesting, since it was listed as a “payoff.” The idea that we had been working with the one responsible for all of this made me angry enough to chew nails. We decided to investigate an address which the letter said that was drop point for Tol Vair’s addictive drug.
We headed to Merchant Row, and, on the pretext of looking for clothing, checked out the back room area. Aza was doing his own thing again. Osborn found something, but he got caught, so we covered for him while he tried again.
I believe he was successful, since he showed up again, moments later, and said that we had to leave – now. Sure enough, we left, got two houses away, and Aza showed up. He said that the top floor of the house was on fire. Osborn calmly said that he’d found drugs, and decided to torch the place.
I was a little undecided as to our next action. On the one hand, I was staunchly opposed to those who peddle poisons, but at the same time, it bothered me that we were murdering and burning without any proof after the fact. Aza suggested that we go inform the guards ourselves.
We arrived at the gate, and demanded to see Marcus. Instead, we got a newly-promoted Lieutenant Taren, and we explained as much as we safely could. I didn’t like him for some reason. Whatever his alliance, he told us that Marcus was nowhere around, and that we were not to go near the Countess’ home. He did, however, give us a map of a subdivision that she paid to have built in the Common Sector.
Around that time, a rather drunk figure came stumbling through the noble’s gate – as if he had come from there. That was odd, but he kept walking past us. Osborn gave him a gold piece, and then followed him. Tristan, fool that he can be, felt he had to go with Osborn “to keep him out of trouble.” It took me telling him that Osborn was okay, and Aza going, to about to talk him from going after Osborn.
Malachi, Tristan, and I went on to the subdivision. It was a run-down place; the kind that breeds crime. Just after getting there, Osborn came running up. We got inside by virtue of our writs of nobility alone. Osborn went inside a small wood in the center of the place, but came back without any information. Tristan did the same thing, looking for something.
After a few minutes, Tristan came out and said that someone had been hurt in the woods. I kid had stabbed another kid. He grilled Osborn, going so far as to imply the dagger was one of his. Osborn had all of his daggers, though. I was beginning to think that something was really wrong with Tristan. It seemed like he wanted to cause trouble between all of us.
He strode purposefully toward the stairs that led to the apartment he needed to visit. Osborn and I decided that we were going to Eats, so that we could check the place out. Malachi chose to do some investigating on his own.
Inside of the pub, it was quickly apparent that we couldn’t sit and eat. The place was filthy. I tossed a silver piece at the proprietor, and he quickly cleaned off a spot.
We hadn’t been there long when Malachi came in and said that there had been a murder. Going to check it out, we found that a poor soul, hooked on drugs, murdered a member of the high guard. We still saw no sign of Tristan.
Going back to Eats, we didn’t have to wait for long before Tristan showed up. He seemed inordinately interested in the dead guard, though, and left again. At that point, though, all thoughts of Tristan’s antics evaporated.
A man in black entered the pub, and had an air around him. We were somewhat close, so we caught enough information to realize that something might be going on. Osborn tailed them, while the rest of us circled around the pub in the other direction.
Peeking around the final corner, I saw Osborn listening at the door. Suddenly, he took a fighting stance, and waved us over. At that moment, the black stranger came back out of the back of the pub.
As we began to clash, Aza and the drunkard from earlier showed up. They definitely helped turn the tide. The drunk had to be a monk, since he was using no weapons. I had often seen monks, since they also worshipped Ilmater, but never had I seen any who enjoyed imbibing alcohol as much as this one did. His smell alone would catch fire.
Tristan showed up finally, but the fight was over. Before it could be ended entirely, though, he had the proprietor call for help on a strange crystal device. Ironically, the responding help were members of the High Guard who happened to be working for the Countess that afternoon. Aza said he’d meet us back at the Merchant’s Gate Inn.
I went back to the Merchant’s Gate Inn, and had dinner with Aza and Melissa. Soon, the others showed up, and we learned more details about what had been going on. Marcus showed up, and briefed us on what had been going on as well.
Checking on the situation with Dimitru, I learned that a friend of his, Byron, stole some jewels from the Archduke. Dimitru himself put Byron to the question, and Byron admitted taking the gems. They were given back, and all was forgiven. The odd thing was the gems that were stolen were the kind that had powers, if they were activated. These gems were.
I learned that the entire city was aware that the temple of Delá had been reopened as a real faith. I took some delight in his obvious displeasure. I would have been more understated if I could have been, but I felt that I had to what I did, the way I did.
After dinner, I accompanied Osborn back to the Aesthir Palace so that I could get Diesel. I had inadvertently left him there since we had gotten back Saturday night.
Diesel really is a good mount. I found myself thinking that I owed him considerably for the faithful service he had given me so far. Sure, he was mean-tempered, and liked to bite everyone but me, but he was loyal and a constant.
When we arrived at the stables, the groom brought Diesel out. He commented that Diesel had been biting the stablehands, but never enough to break the skin. It was almost as if Diesel was taunting the hands by implying that he could hurt them if he wanted.
I walked up to Diesel, and suddenly, words formed in my mind. I had a vision of a knight’s charger, of a woodsman’s hunting dog, of a druid’s wolf. I silently prayed the words as I saw them, and I could immediately feel Diesel’s presence. He turned, and looked me square in the eye, and I knew what he was thinking.
“Took you long enough, didn’t it? You’re hopeless if this is the fastest you can do even the simplest of things,” Diesel’s voice spoke into my mind. It wasn’t a voice so much as a general feeling combined with images of events, places, and people. I knew then what I could do for him while I was stuck in town: I reached my hand out, patted him on his neck, and bade him go to the celestial plane where Delá and Ilmater awaited. While there, he could rest and enjoy himself, and I would know he was out of harm’s way.
The stablehand was stunned. “Where did he go? What did you do?” he stammered at me. I replied that I just sent him where he was supposed to be. I got a feeling that I did the right thing, but I had to wonder who was smiling down: Ilmater or Delá.
I left the stables, bid good evening to Osborn, and left. My destination was the Avenue of All Gods, and the temple that was there. Tristan, who had followed to check on his horses, went with me. I did not mind it so much, simply because everyone has a need for prayer from time to time. I just wondered if his deity – Paladine, according to him – would hear him, or if he was without a sympathetic ear as I initially was.
Walking up to the temple, I saw a line stretching into the road. I had to use my badge of nobility to get allowed in at all. I told Tristan where he could go to do his devotions. I headed for the temple of Delá. Upon arriving, I found a line stretching out of the temple, and back down the hall. I was allowed right on in, mainly because they knew this was my fault.
There was a considerable number of people in here, praying. Word on the street had it that miracles were happening daily. I found a cushion near the altar itself, and knelt down to pray. I heard some people muttering, but I couldn’t really tell what they had to say. I wasn’t worried, though. I knew my place. I just wanted to spend some quiet time with my deity.
After a few moments, I heard footsteps behind me, and looked up to see Tristan. I found it odd that he was already through with the devotions to his deity. Of course, it’s hard when you find yourself in a strange land, and your god doesn’t answer like he used to. He said that he was offering thanks to Delá, and I told him to kneel if he was doing so. To do otherwise would be disrespectful.
I spent the next several hours in silent meditation, planning what my next moves would be. At one point, the attendant who was watching the door for Delá’s temple tried to have everyone leave. I stopped that, and sent him on his way.
I went to bed that night feeling considerably better, but something still nagged at the back of my mind. My dreams that night were untroubled; indeed, I didn’t remember them at all.
Everyone had some time for themselves, so I went to a bathhouse and cleaned up. Since I realized I was going to be in Stahl for a while, I went back to Arwé’s shop, and purchased enough clothes to keep me from looking like a beggar.
Until lunch time, I read some in Rituals and Practices of Delá. I had lunch, and then decided that I needed to check in on the Sorcerer’s Guild, and see if I could meet Dimitru. The old High Priest of Delá mentioned, “Events that have been and are not yet have begun again.” I would bet my life that he’s referring to Dimitru, or the events that led to it, at least.
Of course, my life might be what it comes to…
Standing in the safehouse, we found several letters from “Tol Vair” to others. I kept the letters, which were addressed to Countess Jaden, Duke Ashbru, Tol Vair on Merchant Row, and Marcus. Marcus’ letter was especially interesting, since it was listed as a “payoff.” The idea that we had been working with the one responsible for all of this made me angry enough to chew nails. We decided to investigate an address which the letter said that was drop point for Tol Vair’s addictive drug.
We headed to Merchant Row, and, on the pretext of looking for clothing, checked out the back room area. Aza was doing his own thing again. Osborn found something, but he got caught, so we covered for him while he tried again.
I believe he was successful, since he showed up again, moments later, and said that we had to leave – now. Sure enough, we left, got two houses away, and Aza showed up. He said that the top floor of the house was on fire. Osborn calmly said that he’d found drugs, and decided to torch the place.
I was a little undecided as to our next action. On the one hand, I was staunchly opposed to those who peddle poisons, but at the same time, it bothered me that we were murdering and burning without any proof after the fact. Aza suggested that we go inform the guards ourselves.
We arrived at the gate, and demanded to see Marcus. Instead, we got a newly-promoted Lieutenant Taren, and we explained as much as we safely could. I didn’t like him for some reason. Whatever his alliance, he told us that Marcus was nowhere around, and that we were not to go near the Countess’ home. He did, however, give us a map of a subdivision that she paid to have built in the Common Sector.
Around that time, a rather drunk figure came stumbling through the noble’s gate – as if he had come from there. That was odd, but he kept walking past us. Osborn gave him a gold piece, and then followed him. Tristan, fool that he can be, felt he had to go with Osborn “to keep him out of trouble.” It took me telling him that Osborn was okay, and Aza going, to about to talk him from going after Osborn.
Malachi, Tristan, and I went on to the subdivision. It was a run-down place; the kind that breeds crime. Just after getting there, Osborn came running up. We got inside by virtue of our writs of nobility alone. Osborn went inside a small wood in the center of the place, but came back without any information. Tristan did the same thing, looking for something.
After a few minutes, Tristan came out and said that someone had been hurt in the woods. I kid had stabbed another kid. He grilled Osborn, going so far as to imply the dagger was one of his. Osborn had all of his daggers, though. I was beginning to think that something was really wrong with Tristan. It seemed like he wanted to cause trouble between all of us.
He strode purposefully toward the stairs that led to the apartment he needed to visit. Osborn and I decided that we were going to Eats, so that we could check the place out. Malachi chose to do some investigating on his own.
Inside of the pub, it was quickly apparent that we couldn’t sit and eat. The place was filthy. I tossed a silver piece at the proprietor, and he quickly cleaned off a spot.
We hadn’t been there long when Malachi came in and said that there had been a murder. Going to check it out, we found that a poor soul, hooked on drugs, murdered a member of the high guard. We still saw no sign of Tristan.
Going back to Eats, we didn’t have to wait for long before Tristan showed up. He seemed inordinately interested in the dead guard, though, and left again. At that point, though, all thoughts of Tristan’s antics evaporated.
A man in black entered the pub, and had an air around him. We were somewhat close, so we caught enough information to realize that something might be going on. Osborn tailed them, while the rest of us circled around the pub in the other direction.
Peeking around the final corner, I saw Osborn listening at the door. Suddenly, he took a fighting stance, and waved us over. At that moment, the black stranger came back out of the back of the pub.
As we began to clash, Aza and the drunkard from earlier showed up. They definitely helped turn the tide. The drunk had to be a monk, since he was using no weapons. I had often seen monks, since they also worshipped Ilmater, but never had I seen any who enjoyed imbibing alcohol as much as this one did. His smell alone would catch fire.
Tristan showed up finally, but the fight was over. Before it could be ended entirely, though, he had the proprietor call for help on a strange crystal device. Ironically, the responding help were members of the High Guard who happened to be working for the Countess that afternoon. Aza said he’d meet us back at the Merchant’s Gate Inn.
I went back to the Merchant’s Gate Inn, and had dinner with Aza and Melissa. Soon, the others showed up, and we learned more details about what had been going on. Marcus showed up, and briefed us on what had been going on as well.
Checking on the situation with Dimitru, I learned that a friend of his, Byron, stole some jewels from the Archduke. Dimitru himself put Byron to the question, and Byron admitted taking the gems. They were given back, and all was forgiven. The odd thing was the gems that were stolen were the kind that had powers, if they were activated. These gems were.
I learned that the entire city was aware that the temple of Delá had been reopened as a real faith. I took some delight in his obvious displeasure. I would have been more understated if I could have been, but I felt that I had to what I did, the way I did.
After dinner, I accompanied Osborn back to the Aesthir Palace so that I could get Diesel. I had inadvertently left him there since we had gotten back Saturday night.
Diesel really is a good mount. I found myself thinking that I owed him considerably for the faithful service he had given me so far. Sure, he was mean-tempered, and liked to bite everyone but me, but he was loyal and a constant.
When we arrived at the stables, the groom brought Diesel out. He commented that Diesel had been biting the stablehands, but never enough to break the skin. It was almost as if Diesel was taunting the hands by implying that he could hurt them if he wanted.
I walked up to Diesel, and suddenly, words formed in my mind. I had a vision of a knight’s charger, of a woodsman’s hunting dog, of a druid’s wolf. I silently prayed the words as I saw them, and I could immediately feel Diesel’s presence. He turned, and looked me square in the eye, and I knew what he was thinking.
“Took you long enough, didn’t it? You’re hopeless if this is the fastest you can do even the simplest of things,” Diesel’s voice spoke into my mind. It wasn’t a voice so much as a general feeling combined with images of events, places, and people. I knew then what I could do for him while I was stuck in town: I reached my hand out, patted him on his neck, and bade him go to the celestial plane where Delá and Ilmater awaited. While there, he could rest and enjoy himself, and I would know he was out of harm’s way.
The stablehand was stunned. “Where did he go? What did you do?” he stammered at me. I replied that I just sent him where he was supposed to be. I got a feeling that I did the right thing, but I had to wonder who was smiling down: Ilmater or Delá.
I left the stables, bid good evening to Osborn, and left. My destination was the Avenue of All Gods, and the temple that was there. Tristan, who had followed to check on his horses, went with me. I did not mind it so much, simply because everyone has a need for prayer from time to time. I just wondered if his deity – Paladine, according to him – would hear him, or if he was without a sympathetic ear as I initially was.
Walking up to the temple, I saw a line stretching into the road. I had to use my badge of nobility to get allowed in at all. I told Tristan where he could go to do his devotions. I headed for the temple of Delá. Upon arriving, I found a line stretching out of the temple, and back down the hall. I was allowed right on in, mainly because they knew this was my fault.
There was a considerable number of people in here, praying. Word on the street had it that miracles were happening daily. I found a cushion near the altar itself, and knelt down to pray. I heard some people muttering, but I couldn’t really tell what they had to say. I wasn’t worried, though. I knew my place. I just wanted to spend some quiet time with my deity.
After a few moments, I heard footsteps behind me, and looked up to see Tristan. I found it odd that he was already through with the devotions to his deity. Of course, it’s hard when you find yourself in a strange land, and your god doesn’t answer like he used to. He said that he was offering thanks to Delá, and I told him to kneel if he was doing so. To do otherwise would be disrespectful.
I spent the next several hours in silent meditation, planning what my next moves would be. At one point, the attendant who was watching the door for Delá’s temple tried to have everyone leave. I stopped that, and sent him on his way.
I went to bed that night feeling considerably better, but something still nagged at the back of my mind. My dreams that night were untroubled; indeed, I didn’t remember them at all.
Everyone had some time for themselves, so I went to a bathhouse and cleaned up. Since I realized I was going to be in Stahl for a while, I went back to Arwé’s shop, and purchased enough clothes to keep me from looking like a beggar.
Until lunch time, I read some in Rituals and Practices of Delá. I had lunch, and then decided that I needed to check in on the Sorcerer’s Guild, and see if I could meet Dimitru. The old High Priest of Delá mentioned, “Events that have been and are not yet have begun again.” I would bet my life that he’s referring to Dimitru, or the events that led to it, at least.
Of course, my life might be what it comes to…
