Gaiven, Frank and Iridia arrive in the dark slums of Rimuldar, loot in tow as they slither down a muddy, garbage-packed back alley. They're not far from the Raven's Claw, the street gang's hangout and fence for stolen goods. The storm has passed, but the wind still howls and blows and thunderheads boom above.

Gaiven trudged along behind Iridia and Frank. Though he had ideas of where he wanted to go, he couldn't really communicate them. And they'd probably visit the right places sooner or later.

An glowing amber of wood falls from under Frank's sod-stained hood. Still he is smiling, thinking about the money he will make selling the booty of their heist.

[Private to GM: Exactly how much money DID we make off of this?]

Iridia was breathing heavily. That run through uptown took a toll on her stamina. She cupped her breasts and squeezed a bit, making sure that what she looted was still there. When that was done, she stopped in her tracks. "Hey guys, come over here for a second."

One the two came over. Iridia took the two gold necklaces from her pockets, and gave one to Gaiven and one to Frank. She then leaned closer and kissed them lightly on their cheek. "Thats for a job well done." Iridia smiled, "Now as for what the merchant remarked about the Merchant's tooth... Are we still selling it for thirty pieces?"

Iridia had to admit that after going through that job, she felt a little closer to these two, and it pained her to see them go away with only ten gold pieces. So she decided to share some of the loot she privately stashed away.

Frank falls silent and turns slightly red after Iridia kiss, but quickly recovers his composure when she asks about the tooth. "I dink that he's holding out on us. We should question him befohe we sell, see what he knows about this rock."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:15, Wed 01 Oct 2008.

Iridia's mind didn't let her notice; but Frank does when she places the "necklace" in his hand: it's a common, ordinary chain like one a person would use to keep a mean dog.

It doesn't take the trio long to discover that the "treasure" in Frank's chest is worthless, rusted metal junk, not the sparkling jewels, rings, and necklaces they saw in the merchant's house...

...it was another illusion.

That leaves Gaiven's two bags of loot and the Dragon's Tooth, plus anything else found along the way other than from the chest from the merchant's room. However, the chest itself is also extremely fine, being decorated heavily in ornate silver.

Gaiven simply smiles at Iridia's kiss, and is about to give her his answer to his question, when the group discovers the illusions.

However, that just makes his decision even more clear. He emphatically shakes his head.

Then he motions his companions to follow.

"Eh! No way!" Iridia exclaimed. With one sweep, Iridia took all the diamonds she collected from her bra and examined them closely. And there it was, fakes!

"I can't believe this!" Iridia said as she threw them away before following Giaven. "So that leaves us with the Dragon's Tooth and whatever you guys seem to have in the loot bags. I really want to demand more gold for the Tooth, but a deal is a deal."

As Gaiven walks, he jabs a thumb over his shoulder towards the street they just came from, then makes a slit-throat gesture, and points at himself, then Iridia and finally Frank. After a pause, he then makes the universal gesture, used by hagglers everywhere, for "more money".

The gestures are smooth and not as exaggerated as those he used during the break-in. Seems like the sing-language version of small-talk. In contrast to that, Gaiven's face seems quite hard-bitten.

Frank gives Gaiven a weird look. "Eh, yeah, I like a clean capeh too, but I don't dink dehe's any point in going back and wasting that fatso now. Let's just go to de fence. Maybe we can still make a buck off our fancy chests."

Through the twisting back-allies and winding streets of Rimuldar's outer slums the three walk, eyes on the lookout more for rival gang members than for soldiers. Rain turned dirt to mud hours ago and the heavy smell of sewage and garbage hangs in the air.

In other words, the three burglars are home.

It's warm for an autumn night, but there is still a chill in the air. Mist gathers low to the ground, shrouding everything in its tendrils. It's a couple hours past midnight, and few windows have the flickering glow of a lit candle within them.

One of those windows is the back room of the Raven's Claw Pawn and Consignment, a run-down shack where members of the streetgang hang out. The old gargoyle who runs the shop -- and claims to own it -- is a spindly, gaunt buzzard except for his big, round paunch. The gargoyle, Zuul is his name, acts as a fence to gang members, paying them bottom dollar prices for their ill-gotten loot and selling it for a bargain price.

In the night, the gargoyle works on clocks and tinkers with jewelry in his tiny, cramped shop. Burglars looking to fence their loot slip in through the window.

"Well, look who returned from the war!" the gargoyle hisses in his gravelly, raspy voice. "And what worthless junk and trinkets have you three hoodlums drug in for me tonight?"

Even though the three made it back safely and with the Dragon Tooth, Iridia felt anger at the merchant, who must be laughing his huge belly off imagining the look on the thieves' faces when they discover his enchantments. She could go back right now and kick him on his belly a few dozen times.

Nonetheless, now that the group is back at the hideout, there were more important matters at hand.

"Hello, ugly." Iridia smiled at Gargoyle, "We got it."

"Never doubted you. Bring it out here and lemme see it."

The buzzard pulls out an eye glass and sticks it in his socket.

"Hold on dere. Fihst we wanna know some dings about dat rock. We went drough heck to get it, and dat makes 30 gold seem a little bit small of a sum."

"Bah. You three filchies wouldn't know what to do with more gold. You ain't never even seen 30 pieces of gold at one time. Anyways, I got a buyer lined up already who says it ain't worth what I'm giving you three sewer rats.

"Now, we ain't got all night. Anytime the Upper Ward gets hit the Guard's here within a couple hours. Hurry up and show me what you got."

Gaiven doesn't seem to have any intention of handing over the pouch with the tooth, now once again safely enshrined within the formerly magic box.

He simply remains nonchalantly leaning against the door post, soundlessly whistling and studying his nails on one hand.

"Dat is bullcrap. If he didn't dink it was wohth 90 gold, you couldn't make a profit, and as a matteh of fact, I have seen '30 pieces of gold at one time'. The Joiseybuhg bank once opened their vault-door while I was present.

"Very well," Zull says in a hurried voice. "If you didn't get the Tooth, that's understandable." The gargoyle quickly takes out his eye glass and blows out the candle on his desk, leaving only a hanging lantern. The small, junk-cramped workshop plunges into shadow. "Hurry up and be gone with ye before the Guard gets here. Gods know they're scouring the city for that thing. By the way, better get rid of those sacks and that big ugly box of yours. The Guard calls them 'clues.'

"Don't worry. I won't tell them who you are. Just because you're only initiates dosen't mean 'ol Zuul's a snitch. And, don't worry about your mates either. They'll probably just give you another chance to win your membership. No hard feelings."

Something in his voice says he's not being entirely honest.

"Listen gramps, it is with us. But the Dragon Tooth is not a diamond cut into a tooth just for looks. Its not a normal stone. We have seen it. Almost died because of it too." Iridia said, moving closer to the man, "You wouldn't lie to us about the stone would you? It would ruin your chances for more business."

-----------

[Private to GM: Iridia Silvermane rolled 9 using 3d6. Diplomacy (12 - 9 = 3). ]

"Ha, ha! Oh no! What ever will I do if you ruin your chances of business with me! I'll simply fold up!"

The gargoyle continues to guffaw as he stands up in his stool, lighting a small candle from the lantern.

"Now, you three children run along and be careful on your way home. The streets are dangerous. There's a robber around every corner."

He then blows out the lantern, leaving only the flickering light of his candle.

"I know, I robbed someone last nigh. We never said we din have de rock, just dat we wanna know more about ih. I wouldn't have lived de life of a cat-burglar if I wasn curious."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Sat 04 Oct 2008.

"Curiosity killed the cat, my boy. Now, off with ya! Shop's closed for business!"

"Alright, alright, we'll do it your way... again."
The frustration in Frank is building and the signal to Gaiven to show Dragon's Tooth isn't so much a elbow-nudge as it is a jab.

Gaiven looks soundlessly at Frank for one second. Then two. Then three. It's hard to judge what is going on behind those dark brown eyes, but then he flips the box open, revealing the silk pouch to Frank.

When Frank produces the Dragon's Tooth, it gleams and glitters in the flickering candle light. Equally shiny in the dim glow is the gargoyle's toothy grin as it widens to crack his face from one side to the other. Without saying a word, the smirking devil re-lights the lantern and adjusts its flame. Still smiling, he climbs back down and takes his seat on his stool at the workbench.

"Now lay her down here and let me have a look-see," Zuul says as he replaces his eyeglass and digs a black cloth out of the front pocket of his vest. He lays it neatly on the wooden desk, then re-lights the large candle to his side. Frank obliges, but not without reservations.

Zuul examines the diamond under his eyeglass. Quickly, his smile turns into a scrutinizing grimace. "Hmph. Now I see why my buyer said it's not worth thirty pieces! Internally flawless indeed!" he scorns then sets the diamond back down on the table and removes his eyeglass. With his other hand, he pulls out a small purse and throws it on the table. "Twenty five and not a copper more. I'm feeling generous seeings how you gave me that hard-luck sob story."

Without waiting to hear if the three accept his lower offer, the gargoyle turns in his stool and looks at the silver chest and bags of loot. "Now, what junk do you have here that you want to pedal off on me? Quickly, now! Get it out."

---

^{OOC: The purse and diamond is within Frank or Iridia's grasp, if either takes a step and reaches for it. It's in little danger of being kept by Zuul.}

A suddenly angry look on his face, Gaiven pushes off the wall, and begins striding towards the table.

The old gnarled gargoyle looks up, a sneer on his face. If he's at all worried, he's not showing it.

Iridia noticed Gaiven striding heavily toward's the table and made no attempt to stop him, instead she tried to back him up by taking out her knife and slams its hilt on the table before snatching the Diamond with the other hand. "Listen, ugly, you either stop your word play, or things can get uncivilized."

----

[Private to GM: Iridia Silvermane rolled 13 using 3d6. Intimidation.]

Frank would have pulled his knife as well, only to remember he had lost his. Still he clenched his fists, mostly in frustration, and bangs in on the table, next to Iridia's knife.

[Private to GM: PS: Is the gargoyle an actual stone-to-flesh batlike church-ornament, or is it still just a figure of speech for really ugly. Also warn me went I really need to roll against self-control, because the way things look, that could be very soon.]

Zuul bursts into laughter. "Ha, ha, ha! I like your style of negotiation, young lass. Very feisty!

"I'll split the difference with you three." Zuul reaches into his vest and flicks out three glittering gold coins, which chime and spin on the table before coming to a rest near the purse. "Twenty eight pieces." In a more sinister voice, the grinning fence continues, "and I do suggest you take it."

He sits back in his stool and blows the candle out on his desk. "We can barter over the rest of your loot tomorrow. You can leave it where it sits."


[Private to Frank the Fiddler: OOC: They are flesh and bone.]

The three gold coins skipping across the table makes Gaiven hesitate. Sure, there were twenty five more in the purse, but that had been intellectual knowledge, easily overshadowed by the worth the merchant had put on the stone. However, those three coins were unmistakably real. Zuul's earlier quip that they had never seen 30 gold in one place wasn't far from the truth in Gaiven's case. Hell, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had 3 gold worth of coins at any one time. If he ever had.

Hesitating behind his two companions, Gaiven tries to gauge their reaction, without giving Zuul too much of an indication how the coins has affected him.

Iridia withdraws, beckoning her partners into a huddle. "I say we look for another fence.." Iridia whispered to them. She hated the Gargoyle, he toyed with her pride and her patience, and would be willing to take no gold in order not to please him. The possibility that he was tricking them was very high. "Or, alternatively, we ask around for the diamond's real worth, then come back."

Gaiven's face screws up in a complicated expression. Either he just heard something he doesn't like, or he outright disagrees. He raises his hands, as if to sign, then hesitates and looks frustrated. Making an irritated shrug, he raises his hands and this time fires off a series of signs half of which you haven't seen before.

[Private to Iridia Silvermane: He seems to be disagreeing, but you don't really understanding the message.][Private to Frank the Fiddler: You're not sure, but he seems to indicate that no one else might want the diamond, and that you might not be able to come back.]
[Private to Stripe: Applied a -4 modifier to the Int roll to understand, since I figured its a pretty complicated message.]

"Yeah and if we don't take his offer now, he'll pay even less next time. But if you want, I can at least offer de small mohal victohy of having seen 30 gold... if dere really is 25 gold pieces in the bag."

"So its two against one. Lets do sell it then. But I am looking for another fence for the next job." Iridia said to her companions. Eight gold pieces each wasn't really that bad, to a novice poor theif, not that Iridia wasn't, but she keeps comparing it to what she used to play around with long ago. She may have lost a battle against that fence now, but she is not ending the war.

Frank steps out of the hurdle and grabs the gold. True to his word, he takes out 2 other gold coins and shows all of them to the group. "Not only have I seen it, I've actually touched it." He puts his 2 coins back in his pouch and takes out some silver, and divides the money evenly.

"Pleasure doing business with you," the gargolye says with a wicked grin as he accepts the diamond from the not-so-pleased Iridia. "Be back here at midnight tomorrow and I'll let you unload that other junk off on me. Oh, and I gots someone who wants to meet you three. So, don't be late."

---

^{OOC: I don't have time to write more at this time. We'll continue in this thread at midnight the next day. If you have anything more to post IC, that's fine too.}

The next day, the three meet up and spend some time together, but keep a low profile. Soldiers seem to eye them with suspicion, and the Guard's patrols seem to have been increased in the area.

"Hey, I need a new knife, and some things other dings form de market, yous gois wanna come?"

"Hey!" Iridia greeted her fellow thieves cheerfully. She wore the same gray top and light shoes from the last day, but had replaced her permuda trousers with a knee-length white plain skirt. "I really don't think its such a good idea, Franky. The investigators must know that one of us have lost his knife back in that pig's villa. They may have tipped off the weapon merchants. You never know... Why don't we go shop for cloths instead? I am dying for a fur coat. Or maybe long leather boots."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Thu 09 Oct 2008.

"What's whong wid de stuff yous werin? You look dang fine to me. Besides I just need a few dings, dings dat won't be missed. At least not while I'm still around."

"Thanks." Iridia smiled and blushed lightly as she rubbed her chin, pondering on what to do. "Well, let us go see what you want to buy. Although since we have the gold, it ain't a really good idea to risk getting the lash for a knife barely worth a couple of silver coins."

Gaiven looks out of the window of the rundown room that he is renting in the bad part of the lower ward. The place might have a bit of a draft on windy days, but it was cheap and it was home.

Having agreed to meet the other again at Raven's Claw Pawn and Consignment a bit later, the mute thief considers a bit of shopping. Rent had been paid, beforehand for one, and savings had been squirreled away in various safe spots, but he still has some silver coins adding weight to his pouch. For once he won't have to shrimp and save, he can go out and buy something.

After the last misadventure, a lantern is pretty high on his list. He has the extra money for a special one of the kind too, and knows just where to get it. Still being in the good graces of Zuul is handy. However, there also are some other items he might want.

Rolling up the warm blanket on his bed, he stuffs the roll through a hole in the wall. He liked the blanket, and in this part of time, there always were the chance that somebody would check out his room for valuables while he was gone. For some, a warm blanket was counted as valuables

Feeling to make sure that the pouch is still stuffed safely within his tunic, out of reach from pickpockets, he leaves the room, walks down the stairs, and exits into the alleyway that holds his tenements main entrance. There wasn't a proper general store in his neighborhood, but he had to time to make the trip.

To Gaiven, who's so familiar with the slums of the Lower Ward that he can navigate them blindfolded, it seems as if there are an awful lot of soldiers on patrol today. Perhaps it's his imagination over reacting on account of last night's caper.

...Perhaps.

When Gaiven rounds the next corner, he nearly runs into the rear flank of a horse... An Imperial centurion's horse. The helmeted soldier, seated atop his black steed like an ebony statue in the capital city, turns to cast a haughty glare down at Gaiven; the wanted burglar can practically feel the soldier's seething contempt radiating from the slits of his visor.

"Move along, urchin." His voice is stern and commanding; no doubt he is well practiced giving orders on the battlefield.

Gaiven needs no further cue. The mute does his best impression of a law-abiding "urchin" and leaves.

When he's assured that no ones following him, he begins to make his way through the winding streets and back allies to the Raven's Claw. He finds the crotchety old gargoyle at the front desk. The bull's-eye lantern was in the same spot it had been for the last few years, a heavy layer of dust settled upon it's hood.

"That, my boy, isn't just a lantern; it's a piece of history!" Zuul begins, and starts in telling Gaiven about how this, his favorite lantern, was used by a supposedly-well-known constable to track down a famous murderer some twenty years ago. Gaiven had heard of the murderer, The Butcher of Rimuldar, but whether or not the lantern played any part in his capture was doubtful. Of course, Zuul starts off asking an outrageous sum for it, and when Gaiven finishes haggling, he probably still manages to get it: two and five. Outside the store, Gaiven inspects the light and finds it to be of the finest quality -- it makes no clinking or rattling when shaken -- perfect for what he wants. It's light but sturdy. There's no rust on it, it just requires some cleaning and a bit of butter on its hinges.

Gaiven has much better luck with the clerk at the closest general store. He finds three one-pint bottles of lantern oil on sale -- buy two, get one free -- and a tiny box of 50 matches. The matches sell for two coppers and the bottles of oil for four total. He also selects a nice, new backpack for six pieces of silver. The store owner throws in two canvas sacks for free since Gaiven was spending so much. The clerk even volunteers to write out a proper bill of sale, "...since the Guard's on the prowl today. We don't want those buggers hasslin' a nice young man like yourself, now do we?" Gaiven makes it out of the store six and six lighter.

Soon, he is back in the Lower Ward, having evaded any trouble from the law or other gang members.

Now, whether or not Frank and Iridia share such luck remains to be seen...


[Private to Gaiven the Dumb: OOC: Notice that you spent a bit less than was decided in OOC.]

Noon. The sun shines down on the hustle and bustle of Market Street as merchants hawk their wares from carts and wagons. "Fresh fish!" one calls near Iridia, who walks near frank. "Today's catch! Walleye! Catfish! Fesh today!"

Over the din of the crowded street, another holds up a ham and yells, "Roasted! Glazed! Sweat as you like! Roasted ham! Get your roasted ham!"

There are several dozen carts and wagons, with hawkers selling and trading everything from fur to fine silk; jewelry to candle sticks; nuts, berries and eggs to... knives.

Frank sees a knife maker's stand he's eyed numerous times before for the gleaming blades on display. Some were stuck point first into two stumps, one on each side of the two-wheeled cart. Most were under glass in cases beneath the wagon's roof. Frank had spoke with the man before. The merchant said he travels to Garinham where he buys knives imported by boat from Cantlin, a town far to the south renown for its steel.

Actually, the merchant didn't tell Frank any of that; he overheard him telling a customer. The knife maker wouldn't give frank -- a skinny, squirrelly-looking hoodlum in threadbare rags -- a second's notice except to eye him cautiously lest he make off with one of his knives.

Iridia, on the other hand, spies one of her favorite coat stores nearby. When she thinks of fur coats, this is the shop that sells her heart's desire. Once, she even saw a well-known noblewoman come out of the store, escorted by four towering bodyguards, wearing a gorgeous lynx coat that had been on display.

While the department store has its fair share of traveling furs, more rugged and practical than beautiful, it also has carries a lavish selection of fine coats that only the most wealthy can afford. Beaver, fox, rabbit, mink, wolf -- this store has it all with price tags ranging from a gold piece to more than ten crowns.

---

^{OOC: You're neither at the knife stand nor in the fur shop. You'll have to tell me where, if either, you go. Of course, you can split up if you wish.}

[Private to Iridia Silvermane: This place has a lot of pictures of fur coats if you want to show me what you're looking for: http://www.furcenter.com/shop.asp]

Frank was thinking things over. There were a lot of guards around, and he really couldn't use trouble right now. Maybe he should just buy it. But a slob like him would draw suspicion buying a knife at any time, here he'd stand out like a sore thumb. He could wait for latter in the evening, when the saleman start packing up their goods for the night. But then all the other shoppers would have gone home, making him that much more obvious, and there wouldn't be enough time left to buy a backpack at a general store. Maybe if there was some sort of distraction, like a very rich and demanding customer. Maybe... maybe Iridia could pass for one once she has her new coat?

[Private to Iridia Silvermane: OOC: I'm not sure about Gaiven, but Frank has no bonuses for appearance.]

"Don't act agitated Frank, you would draw the guards' eyes." Iridia told Frank, "Just be upright, we have the money, and I have the looks. Try acting like my bodyguard or servant. You can act, can you?"

While Iridia was confident in her acting skills, she wasn't too sure about Frank, and considered separating from him if she wanted to go in the fur shop as his plain looks would draw unwanted eyes.

"eh, no, I'm a poor actor. But I don't dink bodyguads are supposed to do anyding other dan stand around and look mean, so we'll be alight." Franks draws a face like a bulldog, but on his skinny frame, it just looks like he ate a sour apple.

[Private to Iridia Silvermane: Wait, hang on, are we going to buy or steal a knife?]

"Well, its not really that hard. Just broaded your shoulders, stand behind me, and don't let anyone near me. Try to give off a meany aura." Iridia eyed Frank. He was skinny and plain, certainly not her type, nor a bodyguard type. "On second thoughts, put that hood on, hide your eyes, try and look more sinister. Here, let me do it." Iridia approached Frank, and started adjusting his clothes accordingly, "The rest is just the same. Just don't talk a lot."

Iridia, followed closely by Frank, walked towards the knives shop. She took a place directly opposite to the salesman, politely shoving away any customers. She then tried to get the merchant's attention with a bright smile and an adorable wave.

"Good day, my lady!" the merchant says, returning Iridia's smile. She does catch a glance over at her shadow, however. But, he starts right in on her, guessing that she's looking for a blade to skin game or butcher meat. Most of his knives are hand crafted in his shop in a neighboring village.

He has a wide assortment of blades, from those used in the kitchen to those used on the trail, but he doesn't mention the knives that could be considered defensive weapons. They are in a glass case to the top.

A large, stag-handled bowie knife has a price tag of four and four. A plain-looking bowie with a brass cross guard has a price tag of a little more than half that: two and six. The butcher knife he showed Irirdia has a price of two and four.

Frank doesn't pay much attention to the merchant as he talks about knives for slaughter. His eyes are captured by two, long, thin, kriss-bladed daggers -- both acid-etched and blackened. Their hilt is stained black and their cross guard is a dark silver. The snaking, wavy blade is complemented by a pommel decorated with a black snake; its scales and coils giving the wielder a better grip. They do not have a price tag.

There are other fine blades in that case, one large, threatening knife has a spider etched into it's pommel. It's four and four. A set of three matching throwing daggers, with skulls decorating the end of the pommel, have a price of six and six for all.

"Good day, mister." Iridia returned the greetings, "I'd like to see what kind of dueling blades do you have. You know, ones that are used on the off hand to parry and stab. Stilettoes are what they are called, I believe." While Iridia had her fair share of knowledge of knives and short blades, she tried to come across as relatively new to them.

Without waiting for the merchant's response, Iridia started eyeing the collection, hovering her finger quickly over the blades one by one.

[Private to GM: Iridia Silvermane rolled 10 using 3d6. Acting. ]

The merchant obliges.

Frank watches the blades as the merchant pulls them from behind the counter. Time to make his pick. The Large Knife he had lost was of mediocre quality, but this merchant seemed to be seemed proud of his stock, and should all to gladly show his very finest to a nice young lady. It would be worth the extra effort of waiting for a real ringer to be drawn from storage.

[Private to Stripe: I'm not sure how to go about picking a target and then stealing it. So I'll roll for Filch and if you need any more specific detail, I'd expect you'd let me know.
Frank the Fiddler rolled 14 using 3d6. Filch: 13.
Oh crap.]

Midnight. Casting bright silver rays down upon the city of Rimuldar, a full moon sits atop its throne of darkness.

Gaiven waited alone outside the Raven's Claw for his two friends to arrive, but they never showed. Like he had done a dozen times before, the cat burglar slips through a window in back of the shop and into Zuul's workshop.

The gnarled old gargoyle sits at his workbench. He looks up when Gaiven arrives.

"Where are the other two?"

Gaiven raises an eyebrow, then shrugs.

"What do you mean, you don't know, you mute bastard! I told you three to be here at midnight. 'Don't be late,' I said. You don't have any idea where they're at?"

Throwing his hands into the air, Gaiven shakes his head.

Knowing that the gargoyle can't understand sign language, Gaiven begins to make a few simple gestures anyway at Zull's continued insistence.

Zuul dismisses him with a wave of his hand. "Oh, don't go twiddling your stubby little fingers at me." He exhales loudly. "Go lock that window and pull the drape."

Gaiven does, but when he turns around, there's two other people standing in a corner of the room as if they'd been there all along. The first is a middle-aged man in a fine yet well-worn business suit of a slightly outdated style. His gray-streaked black hair is parted in the middle and hangs to his shoulders.  Gaiven's seen him before around the Claw... Durgin.

The other is an average-looking young man dressed in simple clothes with brown hair that hangs in front of his eyes. That is, he would be average looking if his face weren't scarred as if it had been burned. Though they are of similar age, Gaiven's not sure he's ever seen him before. But, Rimuldar's a big city.

"Gaiven, this is Whisper," Durgin says in his scratchy, gravelly voice as if he's known Gaiven for years. "You two will have time to become acquainted later."

Briefly, Durgin congratulates Gaiven on acquisitioning the Dragon's Tooth. He then moves on to another subject.

"Normally, someone with more experience and seniority would get to take this, but it's your lucky night. There's a coach going through town tomorrow night that's carrying something of value. That is, something of value to the right people: a necklace. Whisper'll know it when he sees it.

"Of this I'm quite certain: it will pass under the hangman's tree at midnight tomorrow, coming from Brecconary. Now, common highwaymen would simply rob the coach at arrow point. I'm sure the four of you will have more finesse than that." Dugin smiles.

Gaiven nods to Whisper when he is presented, then quickly nods to Durgin.

Gaiven gives another nod, this one in thanks, as Durgin congratulations him on the tooth. Then listens as Zul explains the job.

Once the briefing is complete, Gaiven raises an eyebrow, and makes the universal trader's gesture for money.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Wed 15 Oct 2008.

"Of course!" Durgin laughs. "I'm prepared to offer one hundred gold pieces for the necklace."

"Bah!" Zuul interjects. "Pearls to the swine!" He resumes his tinkering with a pocket watch.

Doing a quick bit of math within his head, Whisper nearly had his portion of the money spent before the job had even been accepted.  He sent a nod towards Gaiven and as he began his gesturing Whisper realized the reason behind the man's lack of speech.

"Do we know who has the necklace and who will be on the coach?"

Whisper began to take mental notes to help draw up a plan.

"Good questions, my young lad. Questions, for which, I'm afraid, I have no answer.

"We would appreciate the necklace being acquired without the knowledge of its current possessor, whomever he or she is. Think you lads and your friends can manage that?"

Gaiven simply scratches his nose in thought, offering no input.

"Just how long are we talking? The rest of their trip or for several days?"

"Long enough." Durgin says with a grin and a spread of his hands.

"I see," Whisper rubbed his hidden chin "Long enough so they dont realize it's gone."

"Well, I'm sure you boys have some preperations to make. Let Zuul know when you make your acquisition. If you'd like, I'm certain he'll be happy to hold it for you."

The next day is quite eventful. Gaiven and Whisper learn that the other two are in the stocks after being captured trying to steal a knife. Apparently, the merchant noticed Frank trying to filch it from his cart. The soldiers roughed the pair up quite a bit, but were seemingly unaware of their connection with the Upper Ward burglary.

At dusk, Iridia and Frank are released from their punishment. The four meet in a Lower Ward alley and discuss Durgin's proposal. It's decided that they should take a look at the Hangman's Tree outside town some distance. Only Whisper is unaware of it's location, not being a native of the city.

The Hangman's Tree is located beside a bricked road outside of town. The road is a major throughway running into and out of Rimuldar. Merchants traveling between the city and Brecconary most often take the road.

The forest was cleared away from the road by order of the city's last king before the empire arrived. The empire keeps the practice as a deterrent for brigands and highwaymen.

If it weren't standing alone beside the brick road, it would look like any other tree. Sometimes, someone will throw a noose over a branch, but none hangs there now. No one has been met their end here for a year or longer.

Grumpy and penniless, Iridia Silvermane walked down to the rendevous location to meet with Gaiven and another guy. She kept her distance from Frank, as for now, she did not feel like talking to him after messing up a simple filch. She has never been humiliated like this ever in her life, so it would take some time before she speaks to Frank again.

Once there, Iridia points at Gaiven, "Don't ask." Iridia blushed, it felt embarassing to be caught performing a simple act. She then eyed the new man, trying to measure his worth, and looks.

Frank was bobbing along a few feet behind Iridia. He knows who was at fault for the fine and the time, and his self-loathing only aggravates his temper. No words are necessary to convey that not a word is to be spoken about the ordeal.
"So, now what?"

At Iridia's "Don't Ask." Gaiven simply lifts an eyebrow. Then he turns to overlook the site again.

Frank tries to break the tense silence by putting some stress on Whisper.
"So who's de new goi? Hey Newbie, who are you, what do you do and why are we standing around like dis?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:56, Thu 16 Oct 2008.

Whisper ignored Frank as he paced around the tree getting his bearings, measuring the distance to the treeline.  Just before Frank got angry, Whisper spoke,

"You may call me Whisper. And we have a job to do."

Whisper squatted and looked at the bricks that paved the road, checking betweeen them at the ground below.

Standing again he continued, "Good money in it for all of us. Simple job too.  Are you in?"

'Who exactly is the novice here?!' Iridia thought Frank's bossy attitude was ridiculous for his skills as a thief.

"Okay, so what kind of job are we talking about? Can we have some details first, please?" Iridia asked the man.

Once Whisper explained what was said to him and Gaiven, Iridia took a few seconds to take it all in and then replied, "So, the client wants us to steal a necklace from a wagon without them knowing it happened. All for one hundred gold. Thats thirty three three ways... Oh sorry, twenty five four ways, didn't see you back there, Master Frank." Iridia said sarcasticly, "Sounds to me like this can be done in several ways. I can think of a few on the top of my mind. One, we can set a trap that will cripple the wagon, then move in, acting as travellers who want to help, and have one of us snatch it when they get the chance. Two, we can go in tough and rob them dry, highway men style. Three, we can arrange a little scene that could get me aboard the wagon. If we go with three, I am going to need to go back and fetch some fashionable clothes to complete the act. So what do you guys think?"

Iridia was currently in her working attire. Bermuda trousers and baggy belt on. It made her look more tough than damsel-in-distress.

After the fiasco, Frank had something to prove and quickly adds:
"Or we could jump down on dem fhom de tree."

It took but a few moments to inform the two latecomers of the job that had been offered them.

"People offering help at midnight seems a bit odd dont you think? I had thought of something a bit more..... "

Whisper's voice trailed off as he looked both directions down the road.

[Private to Stripe:
Secret Roll: Whisper rolled 9 using 3d6. Illusion spell.

If no one is visible, I will create an Illusion.

An image of a hanged man, his neck broken and the bones jutting out of his skin, standing between the three.  His skin is pale and drawn in, very much like a skeleton within a thin layer of tight skin.  It's mouth hangs open, showing his black tongue that wiggles in a lurid manner over his blackening teeth.]

Gaiven nods to Iridia, and holds up three fingers, then makes a nod towards Frank.

Suddenly, from out of the darkness beside the tree shambles a drunken man...

...No, not drunken...

...By the gods, the man's a grusome, walking corpse. His neck broken and the bones jutting out of his skin, the zombie lurks beside the three. It's mouth hangs open, revealing a black tongue that wiggles in a lurid manner over his rotten teeth. His skin is pale and drawn in, very much like a skeleton within a thin layer of tight skin.

---

OOC: Roll Fright Check and if failed, roll again and consult the table before making your next IC post.

Gaiven takes a hasty two steps back, but then stops. The shambling doesn't make the zombie very fast, and he'd like to think before he just runs away.

[Private to GM: Though Gaiven is ready to run head over heels, if the zombie is faster than he thinks.

This is also assuming that the zombie is a fair distance away. I'm assuming we aren't standing right next to the tree.]

"Kyaaaaa!" Iridia screamed when she realized what she just saw, and then instinctively took a step back, which made her trip over her own foot and fall down on her butt. The fall on the ground apparently snapped Iridia out of her shock. She quickly scrambled on her fours and crawled behind Gaiven, seeking protection... Or a meatshield.

It seems a certain princess is not as experienced as she thought she is.

---

(OOC: yes, thats a cutesy anime style scream.)

[Private to GM: 05:01, Today: Iridia Silvermane rolled 14 using 3d6. Fright check.
14-12 (Will) = 2 + 4 = level 6 fright. One second stun, roll against unmodified will for next second to snap out of stun.

05:11, Today: Iridia Silvermane rolled 11 using 3d6. Fright check, 2nd second.
11-12 = -1, out of stun.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

Frank is disgusted by the zombie, but not really frightened.
"So dis is it huh, de Undead oogieboogieboogie. Can I borrow a knife so I put dis bloody ding out off our misery?"
All big and angry words from Frank, but he's in no rush to take on the festering corpse. Still, Frank is showing some initiative, and looks to the others for a blade.

"That will not be necessary."

Whisper walked forward and reached out with his hand and touched the zombie.
As quickly as it had appeared the zombie blinked from existance.

"Twas not truly here."

Whisper smiled beneath his mask at the reaction from most of those present.

"Rise from your knees girl. We still have much planning to do.  I am a wizard, not a world cracking one, but a wizard non-the-less."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:35, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

Gaiven had grabbed Iridia's hand reassuringly, when she dived for cover behind him.

However, when Whisper reveals his powers, Gaiven takes a quick couple of steps away from him, almost dragging Iridia with him.

Though regarding the mage with suspicion, the thief doesn't say a word.

"Dat was YOU! What de heck is whong wid you? What you dink 'oh, gonna meet some new people. Betta bring something dat smells, kills, and will land de lot off us in jail'!"
The idea of an experienced wizard among them is a bigger shock to Frank then the zombie ever was. In his mind, a wizards oddity to be feared, the final nasty surprise of an already difficult break in a ridiculously high tower.
After the shear surprise of starring one in the face, without being pelted with fireballs and lighting-bolts, wears down, Frank regains his composure and bad manners. "Why does a wizard do petty crimes?"

Peeking out her head from Gaiven's thigh, Iridia put on the most extremely confused face she could muster, "Haaaah?" She gaped, "Y-you mean... Oh, I get it! That was just an illusion."

Iridia rose up from her hiding spot behind Gaiven, making sure to give him a light slap of appreciation on his butt before jogging towards Whisper. "Wow! So you are a mage?! That monster you just summoned seemed so real! Can you do any other magic tricks? Can you create gold? Can you fly? can you make yourself look invisible? Can you teach me? Please..." Iridia bombarded Whisper with torrents of questions, some sound and reasonable, others were not, but the method of delivery did not differ. To Whisper, Iridia probably looked like a child meeting a superhuman hero for the first time in her life.

----

OOC: This was supposed to go before Frank's post, but something went wrong with rpol.net and it was rolled back a few minutes for me.

Note 2: Gaiven gained reputation points with Iridia. Still a long way though.

"I am a thief first, wizard second.  Besides, tutors are expensive."  Whisper turned to Iridia before continuing, "Gold is out for now, but the rest is possible.  If you have the gift for being a wizard, perhaps."

Whisper turned back to the tree, "Now do you think you'd leave a coach if THAT was in there with you?

"Yeah, but dey would be a tad suspicious when it just pops into existence. So let's save dat for plan B. Speaking of of ordeh, why don't we try sevehal plans in sequence? Iridia could go first, with her hitch-hiker-ding, gaiven could sabotagy the wagon, I could jump down fhom de tree and if all dat fails, Whisper can use the zombie to stop dem!"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:49, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

"I am sure I can have something arranged." Iridia said slyly as she leaned a bit closer, trying to get a better look at Whisper. She almost regretted it. The wizard was ugly, very ugly. That alone was enough to make Iridia scratch any special payment methods out.

"Lets discuss this after we finish this job, shall we?" Iridia turned on her heels and moved to the center of the group, "Frank, I doubt we have enough time and space to do all of that... Tell me again, is it okay if we jump the wagon and bind everyone's eyes and limbs so they can't see us and then look for the necklace?"

"No."

Whisper moved closer to the group, "We have to get the necklace without them knowing.  Hopefully, no one will be wearing the necklace as my illusions cannot stand the touch of anyone.  So if it is upon someone's neck, traditional thievery may be our only option."

"An illusion may get them to stop, perhaps of a broken down coach with our young lady and her bodyguard at her side.  When they stop to pick up our pair, a third can drop upon the top and the other follow."

Whisper rubbed his chin, giving the matter some thought.

"Sounds good to me." Iridia nodded a few times, "So do you know when the carriage will pass here?"

"Midnight."

Whisper laughed a bit, "That's what gave me the idea of a zombie or ghost moving about."

"And how are you going to use the monster illusion?" Iridia replied, she has now calmed down after being frightened by the zombie, "What other magic tricks can you do too? maybe one of them is more suitable."

"I dink we should spread our odds out, try at least 2 different approaches. Remember, dey might know dere cargo is importaint and refuse to pull over for anything. If dey don't pick up hitch-hikers, we can still stop them trough sabotage, making it dat much easier to steal/rob. If we can't get it to stop, den we can still jump on it. But if dey are weahing de necklace being on top of the coach is no good. Dat is where a 'new passenger would be best. So we put Iridia up de road, to cover de inside. If dat don't wohk, we can jump on it and go drough de baggage. And if we fall off, we can cut down a tree down de road, leaving de last chop for a when de coach comes, and den Force dem to stop. It would be foolproof."

Gaiven makes a "no" gesture. Holding up one finger, he points at Iridia. Holding up a second finger, he has one hand "jump" atop his other. Holding up a third finger, he hesitates, then points at Whisper.

"So you are saying that I should jump on the wagon, and whisper should do what?" Iridia tried to reflect what Gaiven said.

Gaiven emphatically shake his head and makes negative hand gestures. Then scratches his head as he thinks. Then he points at Frank, makes the jumping gesture, and points at Whisper and waves his arms in the air like a very bad actor playing a wizard casting a spell.

"Oh I sees, Iridia fihst, me and Gaiven will jump second, and Whisper will use his illusion as last resoht. But will de coach be big enough both of us to jump on? If not, we would waste an oppohtunity by not also thying to sabotagy de wagon.

Gaiven doesn't look quite satisfied with what Frank says, but doesn't make any move to object.

After a moment of charades, the mute's plan becomes a little more clear. Gaiven wants Iridia to try to get aboard under the tree, and then have Frank jump atop the coach. According to the plan, Whisper and he will hide a couple of minutes farther along the trail. When the coach shows up, Whisper works his magic.

"But won't dey notice de bumb of me landing on the wagon if it's not moving?"

"Not if you drop down when she is entering the coach.  Someone going into a coach tends to make it move quite a bit."

Whisper moved off the road and inspected the tree, insuring it would hold the other thief.

"If that's the plan, then that's the plan.  I do need to acquire something in town before all this though."

[Private to Stripe: I want to find a ring (or other item) of Lend Energy]

"</darkblue>So we're sttled? Den lets have dinna, I'm stahvin.<darkblue>"

[Private to GM: Just before mightnight, Frank will be in the tree, obviously.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:23, Sun 19 Oct 2008.

"You kind of forgot that we are broke, Frank." Iridia said, giving Frank an impatient eye, "We may have to do this on an empty stomach. Anyways, I have to go back home to change into something more appropriate for the job."

Iridia figured that she would need to dress into something more fancy if she is going to hitchhike her way inside the coach. Her theif clothes would make her look like a peasant, and thats no good.

"You just make suhe you got yous stohy sthaight dis time. So Gaiven, know any good chow-houses?"
Frank will take out some money from his stash to pay for his dinner, whether somebody tags along or not.

PS: OOC: I'm assuming food is covered under the CoL, but I'm not sure.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:23, Sat 25 Oct 2008.