** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[Chris1234]

"We were looking for an expert forger." replies Karlene, playing for a bit of time to let things sink in. She looked at Idrys, to let him flesh out the ide that he's had about trying to drive a wedge between at least two of their enemies.

[spike]

Spider: "Mmmm, indeed. While my own skill is fairly impressive, you would be wanting the skill of Eldan Quilion. He is a bit of a mute, lost his voice as a child poor sap. Was being bullied by some gangs. Unfortunately he is indosposed on account of being in the Harby jailhouse for forging a million gold coin painting. However I have a means of his...premature escape if you have the stones to effect it. A simple plan, really for the likes of two dhampir. I am curious to see you both in action. We will need some horses and disguises.You can leave the disguises to me. However I ought to give you a heads up that Eldan is a bit of a conceited forger, and he only accepts very large sums of monies up front. This of course can be easily remedied if a certain witch were to put a charm on the useful old fart"

The hooded woman named Sybil says "I am wiilling, though I too require a tithe from these both since it benefits their plans. I wish to study one of you for my own edificatiion. I have heard of dhampir but have never met one, and would like to perform some simple tests. I will subject you to simple cantrips, in order to guage your reactions. I have heard of some of your ilk having extraordinary magic resistance."

[TristenC]

Idrys lowers his voice, The reason we needed the forger is that we have a plan to drive a wedge between Karnak and a man named Scaldar. Idrys relates the gist of those letters to the group. I would allow a few simple cantrips and testing on myself so long as you share your conclusions based on the testing.

[spike]

Sybil said "Of course, young warrior" she caressed Idrys hand and said "brace yourself" when a white ray of positive energy darted forth out of her eyes. The beam struck Idrys square in the torso, he felt a peculiar burning sensation, intense heat, intense cold, and his flesh looked as if it was corroded. He felt intense agony then as each second passed, the damage began to regenerate entirely. Sybil said "That was a disrupt undead cantrip, while it did some slight damage to you initially, since you are not true undead, your human side and soul actually repulsed the magic. Intriguing"

[TristenC]

Idrys takes a slow, deep breath; accepting the pain as it comes instead of fighting it. He allows the agony to wash over him, quickly fading as the spell ends. That was a cantrip? he asks, hoarsely. Feeling his body regenerate, he makes sure Karlene doesn't make any move against Sybil.

[Chris1234]

"Test me and not him," Karlane says simply, leaving any threat unspoken. "Idrys, please." she adds to forestall his noble protests.
"That's one. Two more," Karlane addresses to the witch.

[spike]

Sybil nodded affirmatively, touching Karlene on the hand you felt and sensed raw power flow out of the witch and pierce you up the arm. It felt like white hot light flooded your being and nourished every part of your body, every inch felt infused with rejuvenating power. Sybil said "most intriguing, that was a touch of fatigue cantrip, any ordinary person would have been overcome with fatigue. Instead it had the reverse effect. And yes, that was a necromatic cantrip, Idrys. Few know it, but I do, No more this day, I do not wish to overextend myself." she paused then said "you both will pique the interest and attention of many you encounter, for good or ill. One thing is clear, you will come to a time when you will decide to follow the path of your kindred, the vampire or mortals. You cannot walk in both worlds and survive for very long"

[spike]

Sybil nodded affirmatively, touching Karlene on the hand you felt and sensed raw power flow out of the witch and pierce you up the arm. It felt like white hot light flooded your being and nourished every part of your body, every inch felt infused with rejuvenating power. Sybil said "most intriguing, that was a touch of fatigue cantrip, any ordinary person would have been overcome with fatigue. Instead it had the reverse effect. And yes, that was a necromatic cantrip, Idrys. Few know it, but I do, No more this day, I do not wish to overextend myself." she paused then said "you both will pique the interest and attention of many you encounter, for good or ill. One thing is clear, you will come to a time when you will decide to follow the path of your kindred, the vampire or mortals. You cannot walk in both worlds and survive for very long"

Spider said "If you are quite finished molesting these two with your lesser spells I would be delighted to carry on my dear" the halfling tossed a leather drawstring pouch to you both, filled with black powder. "Use this, its the Gnomic black powder, courtesty of the Gnome King himself. Use it wisely, a little should suffice to destroy better part of a wall. Afraid you are going to sully yourselves and aquire some horses" when, a loud voiced baritone caught his attention, a soldier nearby was speaking recruitment jargon to all within earshot, something he was muttering gained Spiders immediate notice.

The soldier was saying "A hundred gold a head to any man here worth his salt, sword work for the worthy unafraid to slaughter some pesky orcs and brigands. House Succundus does not scrimp on coin! Come on you lazy turds, earn your bread and sweat for the day!"

Spider motioned for the both of you "finish those drinks and follow me, this could potentially be interesting"

The hooded ranger, up til now silent, removed his hood and rolled his eyes, yet grinned none the less "thats what you said last time, when we ended up in Lord Gallisters dungeon almost tortured and starved to death!"

[TristenC]

Idrys shrugs at his sister and limbers up his longswords, keeping hands casually near but not on the hilts.

[spike]

Spider leads you both out of the front door and to the rear of the Copper, passes a few apartment buildings and into a large park where a cluster of tents are errected, forming a tiny tent town He moved purposely toward a garrish flashy tent, where two bored looking guads stood outside gambling their wages over a game of dice. The halfling entered the tent and unraveled a invisible chest at the base of a very large bed. You both notice he uses a dagger to cut the padlock off and the dagger sliced right through as if cutting butter.

Lifting the lid of the trunk within were six leather bags full of coin, and a small pouch containing two.black pearls.

The halfling miraculously seemed to devour all the contents of the chest as a mouse eats cheese from a trap, vacuuming everything into a leather satchel at his side "excuse my little excursion, it would be a breach of character had I not taken that loud fools gold. Chock it up to banditry!"

Sybil said 'on your guards, bandits approaching from the north and west"

Spider arched a brow, "how many?"

Sybil: fifty easily

Spider says "well witch, summon your fiery friends and try not to burn any houses this time"

Bane, the ranger turned toward the both of you and whispered 'never a dull moment!' removing a bow and knocking two arrows to the string, "what now, mistress?"

Sybil: these brigands attack at the behest of Karnak, as a distracttion. I sense a greater duplicity at work by our mutual enemies. Black guard units approach from the north, after the brigands cause theirr mischief the black cloaks will step in to play hero, to engender the townsfolks good will and to be rid of the bandits whose usefulness has ended"

What do you do??

[Chris1234]

OOC: What will I do? Perhaps hope for a scene to play out before the GM forces things along while the player is asleep. We talked about this before and, Spike, did you not say that you would only post about every 3 days unless all players have responded to a schene? Forcing the pace at breakneck speed destroys players' sense of continuity and involvement and almost takes it to the point where you don't need players because you're writing a book yourself.
Your plots and text are very good. But for God's sake give me time to enjoy it and fully interact with each schene
.

[TristenC]

Ooc: that also gives us a chance to find out what the npcs are up to and decide whether or not to become accomplices...

[spike]

OOC: Idrys indicates that he limbered along, so I assumed Karlene went with him (or not, which case shes still back at the Inn)

so decide what you wish to do going forward per your laundry task list of desired things.

[Chris1234]

In the commonroom below, you bypass several tables occupied by townfolk farmers, merchants, and down on their luck mercenaries.

Circumventing the crowd to reach Spider who is seated near the roaring hearth, he greets you with a warm genuine smile. A handsome regal looking halfling clad as a lordly figure, exuding a quiet calm about him and an easy affable air. He is accompanied by two he introduces as Bane and Sybil, one a ranger and the other: a blind witch.

The barmaid brought two mugs of mulled wine, and a platter of assorted cheese, bread, and dates. Spider half sneered at her, “bacon and other sweat meats” he said calmly.

Turning to you both, he turned serious and says “Ive heard a good deal about you two, heard about your activities in the bogs, your confrontation with black cloaks, and your penchant for drawing far too much attention to yourselves. Gaining the ire and notice of Lomag by depriving his servants of a very important sacrifice for one. I figured if you were insistent on crashing through life causing all sorts of chaos and mayhem, might as well do it professionally. You can join our prestigious ranks, yet you need to pass an audtion first.

First things first, Idrys I know you have designs to go explore Draxcon, I must delay your plan to do this. Why? There is a army of black orcs that rule the snake river from here to there, and they would decimate you easily. Nevermind the fact once you are actually there, in Draxcon a number of perils await you. Kobolds, two entire tribes and a level of Dwarven engineered death traps. I mean no disrespect when I say you simply are ill prepared for such an undertaking.

Sybil here counsels me to send you both to meet Hedge, who is her former tutor. He, in turn will unlock some of your potential. That is to say, he will increase your power and knowledge considerably.

After you have met and trained with Hedge, you will be far more prepared to undertake Draxcon.

As an incentive, the Watchers offer you this as a sort of reward if you will.

If you drink the blood of an Elven child on the eve of a sanquine mood, or blood moon, you will arouse the dormant power of regeneration that sleeps inside of you. This was actually a gift from your dear friend Nyra who strongly persuaded me to extend myself. Mind you the child must also be of royal lineage. Oh looky I just happen to have two vials here in my purse...” he tosses both with one hand, but you note that both vials split apart to land in either of your hands. Then he spoke again “After you meet with Hedge, I do have positions open for you to fill. However, you will need to further delay your Draxcon mission to undertake more crucial work, the work your own queen would be strongly in favor of, Karlene. Something to mull over, whichever course you decide is yours to make. Whatever happens, happens”

How long to the next blood moon?
What does Thyz do?
And Karlane asks about the things on her list.

Sybil nodded affirmatively, touching Karlene on the hand you felt and sensed raw power flow out of the witch and pierce you up the arm. It felt like white hot light flooded your being and nourished every part of your body, every inch felt infused with rejuvenating power. Sybil said "most intriguing, that was a touch of fatigue cantrip, any ordinary person would have been overcome with fatigue. Instead it had the reverse effect. And yes, that was a necromatic cantrip, Idrys. Few know it, but I do, No more this day, I do not wish to overextend myself." she paused then said "you both will pique the interest and attention of many you encounter, for good or ill. One thing is clear, you will come to a time when you will decide to follow the path of your kindred, the vampire or mortals. You cannot walk in both worlds and survive for very long"

So what happens if we chose the mortal way?

[spike]

Sybil nodded affirmatively, touching Karlene on the hand you felt and sensed raw power flow out of the witch and pierce you up the arm. It felt like white hot light flooded your being and nourished every part of your body, every inch felt infused with rejuvenating power. Sybil said "most intriguing, that was a touch of fatigue cantrip, any ordinary person would have been overcome with fatigue. Instead it had the reverse effect. And yes, that was a necromatic cantrip, Idrys. Few know it, but I do, No more this day, I do not wish to overextend myself." she paused then said "you both will pique the interest and attention of many you encounter, for good or ill. One thing is clear, you will come to a time when you will decide to follow the path of your kindred, the vampire or mortals. You cannot walk in both worlds and survive for very long"

So what happens if we chose the mortal way?

Sybil: then you will become enemies of the vampire kingdom, who will go to great lengths to have you and your brother obliterated. Typically the vampire royal houses use dhampir to destroy one another, and that is the only reason your ilk are born to existence for some consider you to be abomination. If you think about it, vampires are much like dragons really. They live in their lair amassing copious amounts of treasure and gain power from sleeping through the centuries. They do not abide half breeds capable of hunting them down and slaughtering them in their sleep, possibly bringing mortals to their doorsteps.

The witch pauses then says "The next blood moon is a month from now"

When you inquire about Thyriz Bane tells you that hes a spy or assassin type working for Karnak.

The ranger answers some of Karlenes queries: Lomag often times appears in random locations in and around Harby, it is not possible to determine when or where precisely as he usually commits ritual sacrifice in various altars he errects to his foul master, and to create these altars requires ritual sacrifice of innocents. Each time he wears a mask and his minions protect him while he makes his escape, usually through secret doors and illusionary ones. We came close to ferreting him out in the sewers recently but he gave us the slip, and his squad of masked killers are not easy to put down. They are skilled killers and experts in ambush"

Bane points at the mention of House Succundus on Karlenes list: The noble house of the Lord Duke of Lor, he is a influential fighter-lord in Lor and typically involves his hands in Watcher operations, though our pat'hs cross time to time it is a friendly way and we end up working alongside eachother. One of the best sword fighters in the north."