"How racist is this mayor?" Zaelinor says, whose priorities are clearly not on finding missing uncles.

"I doubt he will give you trouble if I am with you," Lastergon replies confidently. "He may display hostility if he feels we are a threat to this cult, depending on his involvement, but I am confident he will not do so due to you being a varim when you are in the company of a knight of the crown."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

"I am not well acquainted with the mayor," Calsia replies to Zaelinor, ignoring Lastergon. "But most of the people of these regions are mistrusting of varim, so I fear your chances of him treating you based on your conduct rather than your race are not high."

"If he won't give me trouble if I am with you, then my vote is we see the mayor," Zaelinor picks his side without hesitation. "I'm certainly sticking with you and not them. At the very least if you upset him, he will send off someone to warn his cult allies. Then, instead of wandering blindly, we can just follow whoever he sends."

"Exactly," says Lastergon, pleased to see that even a varim can see the reason in his logic. "However," he adds to Dorin a moment later, appearing to be uncomfortable about speaking in front of Zaelinor, "I will need you to hand over your piece of that... object we spoke of in your residence. I cannot risk it falling into the hands of these cultists in the event that you are captured or killed in the mines."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

"Ye will be getting nothing, laddie," Dorin says. "If one of his kind be siding with ye, then it's plain to this old dwarf which side right stands, and that's the truth, ain't no sugarcoating it."

"You are being a bit racist, Dorin," Calsia chides. "This poor varim hasn't done anything worse than 'Sir Lastergon of the crown' here."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:50, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

"Were it a matter of right and wrong I would not argue with your logic, Master Dwarf," Lastergon shrugs. "However this is hardly a moral issue. It is a matter of the most tactical way to approach this, and no one ever argued that varim were not intelligent."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:48, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

Zaelinor puffs up menacingly, before seeming to remember that taking offense at being called a 'poor varim' who has 'not done anything worse than Lastergon' may not actually benefit him.

Nevertheless, Zaelinor sends Calsia a dark glare.

(He looks much more pleased by the acknowledgement of his probable intelligence, an evaluation Zaelinor clearly agrees with.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:21, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

"Ye tactics of discussing things nicely with killers and cultists over a pot of tea might be yer style, Sir Knight, but it ain't being mine."

Lastergon eyes Dorin darkly for a moment, before sighing.

"Fine. We'll do things your way, dwarf. Just don't blame me when you get yourself or the girl here killed. And now, I think I have had quite enough of tasteless oak cakes and poor planning for one evening, and shall retire to my quarters. Goodnight."

With that he strides to the doorway and sweeps from the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:17, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

"Where am I resting?" Zaelinor complains to Lastergon's back, clearly peeved at losing his designated bodyguard.

Lastergon glances back impatiently, but even as he opens the door, he almost bowls over a cloaked figure who appears to have been listening at the keyhole, who quickly darts backwards before bolting off down the corridor towards the stairs.

"Hey, you there!" Lastergon shouts, sweeping out his greatsword as he gives chase.

Zaelinor's eyes slit as the varim launches himself out of his chair in hot pursuit of Lastergon as well. (Or as "hot" as he can in his current condition, anyway.)

Not to be left out if there's a fight on, Dorin hefts his axe, food forgotten, and puffs his way after them.

Zaelinor reaches the corridor in time to see the cloaked figure dart down the stairs with surprising agility. Lastergon sprints after him, and a series of thuds and crashes follow that sound disturbingly like the knight falling down the flight of stairs.

OOC: Cultist rolled 24. Balance Check.
Lastergon Aravor rolled 5. Balance Check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Sat 04 Mar 2023.

With a curse, Dorin bounces downstairs after the knight, launching himself to his feet at the bottom to continue his pursuit.

OOC: Dorin Durendil, rolled 9.  Balance check (DC 15).

Zaelnor, wisely, comes to a limping halt at the top of the stairs.

Whispering arcane words softly, the varim sketches a gesture, forming a flickering "Z" in iridescent purple light, which lasts a moment, then vanishes. The varim makes a sweeping gesture with one hand, launching it in the direction of the cultist.

Still limping, the varim descends the stairs to join Lastergon.

OOC: Zaelinor has cast "Arcane Mark."
Zaelinor Orthran rolled 40. Spellcraft check (Arcane Mark).
Zaelinor Orthran rolled 100. Arcane spell failure check (50%).
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:28, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

Lastergon picks himself up as Dorin crashes down the stairs behind him, and it appears the only injury he has suffered is to his dignity as he scoops up his greatsword and begins to hurry to the rear door of the taproom through which the cultist has darted through and into the misty gloom outside. Lastergon makes his way partway along the street, before deciding the eavesdropper has well and truly escaped and coming to a halt as Dorin comes up beside him.

"No sign of him," Lastergon pants, shaking his head.

"Damned skulkers," Dorin says darkly.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Calsia stands beside Zaelinor at the top of the stairs, sheathing her sword as she sends the varim a quizzical glance.

"So, you're a sorcerer?"

"No, I'm a Thanian knight, couldn't you tell?" Zaelinor sneers.

"Well," says Lastergon, limping slightly as he returns up the stairs shortly afterwards, "there goes our element of surprise."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:49, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

"But there, too, goes theirs. Because if he is your typical Thanian, he will have as much grasp of the high arcane arts as boar does on flight. If he is a fool, he will return to his masters to report his failure. If he is both, we can trace him and find him as soon as tomorrow. Always assuming, of course, that you are willing to hire my services to lead you to him, which are extremely reasonably-priced right now, for reasons I imagine are self-apparent."