Ardenas listens with interest for how the shopkeeper will reply to that.

In reply to Mancini (msg # 20):

"That part was an addendum, and not formalized by my employer's associates. Rather a bunch of moon worshippers  added that clause.
As to my employer,  he's been around for a long time, he is a man of wealth, and taste."

"Well, if I was not aware of the consequences of making a bargain with your employer, I would been keen to make his acquaintance. Perhaps I would still like to meet him, for curiosity's sake."

Mancini shrugged. "Yet I would never be so calloused as to indulge my curiosity at the expense of my friends and organization."

Ardenas frowns slightly.  "Cryptic hints, but no actual answer.  Seems that description could cover many people of power."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 24):

"If he does not want to talk, hand him over and stop wasting time..."

Ooc: Mancini passed a roll for the shortest route to the Haedereum from the current location. Any info please?

"I agree, Sederic.  Let him play games with the Hadereum and their truth magic.  Or, if he's blocked from speaking on certain subjects by other magic, let their spells compete against those on him."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 27):

Be about a fifteen minute walk through Artisan. The priest from the other group seems to know the same path.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:25, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 27):

"Which does leave us with a question... where too from here?"

Mancini whispers the directions into Norman's ears and lets him lead the prisoner to the Haedereum by swordpoint. Mancini moves back behind Norman and the prisoner to be out of the way.

"You mean after the Hadereum?  If I were setting up a shop like the one we just closed, I'd probably have more than one.  Not just multiple entrances, but a whole separate shop."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 31):

"Maybe. But I doubt he would allow anyone from this plane there, even if he gets away from the Hades."

"I was thinking more along the lines of a completely independent shop, under another shopkeeper.  Eggs and baskets, so to speak."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 33):

The shopkeeper is moving slower and slower, and becoming frailer and more hunched over by the minute.

In reply to Johan Faustus (msg # 34):

"Looks like we might have to throw him on a cart. What deal did you make with the devil he is now collecting on?"

He looks around for a cart to hire.

"All the years you've been working for the ruin of good folk catching up with you?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 36):

"I thought I had them beaten, I wished to be immortal, and they added fine print that it only applied within the shop. I feel faint...."

Ashen, he begins to crumble into dust.

In reply to Johan Faustus (msg # 37):

"Well, looks like we will not be taking him anywhere. Guess we get to see who his boss is by the type of deal he made..."

"And now I wonder just how long he's been running that shop.  Centuries?  Longer?

"In the meantime, is there any point in continuing to the Hadereum now?  Or should be just pick up the next spoor?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 39):

The shopkeeper's robes collapse around a pile of dust.

The young cleric looks at the bundle Oly is holding.
"The Hadereum, as much as you despise them, would pay a bounty to destroy those items. If you don't wish to deal with them, I can colloect the bounty in your name. I suppose we should bring the remains, such as they are; the priests of Hades have a thing about burials."

In reply to Nodwin Zideqick (msg # 40):

"Some of us were too busy killing a demon to grab rubbish."

In reply to Nodwin Zideqick (msg # 40):

Oh, uh I dink I'll led Zpielgud have a look firzd, bud I may dake ya up on dad.

Nodwin kneels to examine the dust.
"Does anyone have a good container we can use for his remains?  I ave a pouch in my backpack we could use.  We should not leave him here, out of respect for the dead, but also out of respect for the living.  I don't know that the city folk would want to trample his remains around town.  I do not sense any evil on them, but I cannot say if they have magical residue."

OOC If no one else makes a move to provide a better container, Nodwin will open his backpack and look for an empty pouch.  Not sure how much dust a man disintegrates into.

Oly looks but can't find anything.

In reply to Oly (msg # 44):

Sederic does care enough to look. He offers to take the cloak...