Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 11, 2012 17:18:29 GMT -7
Avarice enters Alice's shoppe. He pauses after entering, holding a letter in his hand and searching the area within.
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 11, 2012 17:22:43 GMT -7
Alice emerges from a back room with a yawn, then stops, somewhat surprised to see a Tiefling in her store.
"Oh, hi there, fiend- er, sir. Looking for potions?"
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Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 11, 2012 18:13:38 GMT -7
Avarice approaches Alice uncertainly, finally resolving to go through with this course of action.
"Not a potion... not today. I actually was hoping that you may be able to assist me in a matter that I'm having trouble managing at the moment."
Avarice places the letter on the desk, sliding it over to Alice.
"I received this letter somewhere around 2 weeks ago. In it was a red powder and an offer to sell merchandise and receive a 10% cut. I accepted, as I'm sure you've gathered. I followed the next letter to Warehouse 7, which contained 3 Jade Statues that I discovered were clerical statues of Malar. I attempted to sell them to a merchant named Polliver ,who turned out to be a Malarite. His men and mine clashed 2 nights ago down by the docks... it was a slaughter. I awoke in the middle of a forest to the Southwest of Sweetgrove some time later to the sounds of hounds and hunting horns. I was able to make it back to town, but there was another note waiting for me when I awoke this morning, advising me to take my own life. I'm not the type to be indebted to anyone, but this situation has spiraled beyond my control. I need to find and neutralize whoever is sending me these notes, and afterwards I will utterly annihilate any and all worshippers of Malar that I can find. I don't expect your help with the second task, but I truly need it on the first."
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 11, 2012 18:59:16 GMT -7
"Oh, YOU'RE the one who turned that red. So much for necromancers!"
Her eyes narrow at the mention of a warehouse.
"One of the warehouses connects to the undercity. How've you been getting these letters?"
She pulls out a tattered journal with some pages missing, others covered in ink. She mumbles to herself, "Here, the warehouse, the river, Blackwell's..." She leans forward across the counter and waves Avarice closer.
"There's an infestation in the Undercity, fiendling. Some kind of guild. I think it's a guild of torturers, like a cult of Loviatar, but I'm not sure. Normally, I wouldn't care about cloaked men traipsing around the city secretly. I might even join in. But they broke the Wizard Lock on my undercity entrance," her voice turns into a hiss, "and I don't appreciate having my Wizard Locks broken!" She looks around the shop hastily, as if expecting someone to be listening in. She glares at the door to her own back room, and then continues. "McGinty's in on it, or he used to be. He won't admit it, and don't you dare let him know that I know. I don't think he's against us, but he's terrified of them, whoever they are. We have to play dumb, anyone could be an agent."
Alice heads to the window of her shop and flips her sign to 'closed'. Then she peeks her head in the back room and tells Pansy that she's having a secret meeting, and to bark real loud if someone comes through the trapdoor.
((Incoming info dump and half-true conspiracy theories))
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 11, 2012 19:22:18 GMT -7
"Let me step back and start at the beginning," Alice takes a deep breath. "Underneath this city is a series of tunnels and ruins from an older city, and that's probably on top of an even older one. These tunnels stretch all under Sweetgrove and into the surrounding countryside. I found out about them when some of us in the Adventurer's Guild were hunting a slaving ring that was using the tunnels to hide from the guards. Other criminals turned up down there, too. If it weren't already occupied by these mystery people, it'd be a great place to hide. I'm not entirely certain if they're the ones who are after you now, but the warehouse and the T signature sure make me think they are, or at least that your pursuers are working through the Undercity."
"I know of four entrances, to this Undercity, but there are doubtless others. Fletcher probably knew the most, but he has... forgotten. One entrance is here, in my shop. I put a magic ward on it that should have permitted only me to pass through, but someone broke the ward and came through my shop without taking anything, according to my dog - er, assistant. Another is in a warehouse, as I've mentioned. The third is on a hill outside of town. The fourth I've never been through, but Fletcher's journal says the river connects to it, and there's definitely a river down there."
She digs into a bag and pulls out a murky white potion and slides it across the counter. "This is a potion of ESP. It takes some time before you can start reading surface thoughts, so it's best to make use of it in a bar or something, not in a battle," she whispers. "If anyone asks, there's no such thing as a potion of ESP and I don't know how to make them. The less people know about them, the less guarded their thoughts will be."
"As far as safety goes, I'm afraid this place isn't too safe, what with the hole in my basement. "
"I doubt anything will happen to you openly at McGinty's, but he knows the Undercity well, and vanished the last time the city came under siege. I suspect he might have an entrance right in his tavern."
"Bishop Joachim is hiding some serious talons, but I don't think he's in with the torture goddess Loviatar. My guess is he's a priest of Myrkul, but you didn't hear it from me. He's sure not saying anything. He could protect you if he wanted, but he's not interested in much, so he might be impossible to convince."
"Ironically, you might be best suited sticking to the guards or Pelorites. They might not like a guy of your..." she coughs, "heritage, but the guards' job is to guard people, and I'm sure they'd be unhappy to hear about a secret torturers' guild."
"If you manage to capture one of these people, bring him here or send word to me. I'll wring answers out of them!"
She leans back again and continues in a conversational tone, "Also, next time you have clerical stuff, you can bring it to me and I'll see if it's something worth making an offer! I don't think I'd have use for Malar's statues or whatever, but I can sure use some scrolls or such."
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Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 11, 2012 19:46:49 GMT -7
Avarice slowly shakes his head. He takes a deep breath, trying to wrap his head around everything that he was just told. "Wait, so you're saying that whoever "T" is, that it's possible that they might be using the undercity to move around, and that there's an entrance to said Undercity not only in the Warehouse, but also within your SHOP?! Ok... let me think here a minute...." Avarice takes another breath, slowly exhaling before continuing. "Pierre's the one who sent me to see that miserable wretch Polliver about the statues in the first place! That lice-ridden git... I'll flay his children as he watche-" Avarice stops abruptly and composes himself, remembering that he's not the only one in the room. "I mean, I'll be very disappointed if he was involved. You mentioned Fletcher before... will he follow you if you ask him to investigate the undercity, assuming we're able to find a member of this cult?" - Avarice shakes his head, negating his last statement -"... no, that won't do us any good at this point... you mentioned this potion will allow me to read thoughts?" - Avarice takes a sip - "I'd like to be able to guage the effects before I try it in public... also, if you have a flask to place it in it would be much more inconspicuous... will storing this in a metal flask spoil it's effectiveness? Sorry to bombard you with questions like this... I'm still trying to take all of this in."
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 12, 2012 6:14:26 GMT -7
Alice shrugs, "It sounds more like they wanted you to fence some hot merchandise and you accidentally tried to sell it to its owner, or someone from its owner's cult. If this T person really did want you to sell something for him or her, I doubt he'd intentionally lead you to someone who'd attack you instead - at least, not someone who'd attack you before could pay them back."
Alice looks thoughtful, "It sounds like it's too late to pay them, but I guess you could try. Where did it say to leave your money. and how much did they ask for?"
"As for the potion, it's the only one I have at the moment, and I can't guarantee its effectiveness if you split it up, so you might be better off just taking my word for it. Putting it in another container would be...." ((I'll ask about that in Q & A))
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Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 12, 2012 8:50:44 GMT -7
"Interesting... thank you for all of your help, Alice. I'm glad that I chose the right person to go to with all of this. I'll use this potion tonight and see what I can find out... how long should the effects last?"
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 12, 2012 9:48:49 GMT -7
Alice shrugs, "Potions aren't always consistent, but it should work for an hour or two. It only let's you read surface.thoughts, and only if you concentrate on your subject for some time, I'm afraid, so make sure you have a plan when you use it."
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Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 12, 2012 10:41:52 GMT -7
Avarice nods, recapping the potion and placing it in his pouch. As he does, he notices the other potion that he found during his flight from the hunters.
"I will, rest assured. Now that I have a better idea of what I'm up against, I won't be so brash during certain situations. I had no idea this backwater town was so full of intrigue... but I see it clearly, now. I wonder, would you be able to identify this potion for me? I'm not sure what it is, and I'd rather not drink it until I know for sure."
Avarice pulls the unknown potion out of his pouch, handing it to Alice as he finishes his sentence.
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 12, 2012 12:45:48 GMT -7
"Normally I don't give.free potions and identification is very costly, but since you're investigating a secret organization for me even though they want you to die, you deserve a little help. Besides," she mumbles, I don't want you going to that Trebbelos brat."
Alice casts <Analyze> on a potion, apparently too cool for sipping today.
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Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 12, 2012 13:41:54 GMT -7
"I appreciate your help, Alice. I'll be sure to reciprocate, if the need arises."
Avarice waits patiently for the results
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 12, 2012 14:06:48 GMT -7
((Last post must've been swallowed))
"It grants some kind of control over plants. I would gladly give you 150 coins for it, but you might find it handy next time Malarites chase you through a forest"
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Kelz
Superhero
Posts: 311
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Post by Kelz on Dec 12, 2012 15:15:54 GMT -7
"Actually, I'll take the money if you're serious. Seeing as I was robbed recently, money is sort of high on the list of things to re-appropriate. It's better off here, at any rate, than on me for the off-chance that I need it. Plus, you should be able to benefit from learning how it's mixed, I'd wager."
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Dustin
Myrmidon
Currently Playing: Alice, Witch. On Hold: Marinelle, Elf
Posts: 112
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Post by Dustin on Dec 12, 2012 15:21:49 GMT -7
Alice shrugs, gets some money from a chest, and pays him the 150 gold.
"Pleasure doing business! Good luck out there, and feel free to check in if you find anything, or if you don't."
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