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Archiv => Archiv - Online-RPGs D&D/d20 3E => Drow Campaign => Thema gestartet von: Zanan am 18.10.2005, 17:34:44
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Feel free to start conversations between the PCs here while the story rattles on.
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"Talice, do you know the fate of the vermin that created and infested these halls?" asks Keth
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The scout shakes her head. "There are still a number of dwarves infesting a view caverns near the surface, known for training batriders ... of all people. There is a series of large chasms and caverns there. But that is far to the west of here. We will bypass the old capital of Oghrann via the old mines, as Araulurrin is now the place where those dragons dwell. And I am in no mood to meet up with any of them." After a few moments of silence, she gets a dagger out and begins to draw what looks like a map of the region. Pointing at the southern edges of the Marsh of Tun she adds: "This is were we are. And there," Talice places the tip of the dagger a good few paces to the west of the marsh, "Lies Skullport."
(If you have a map of Faerûn handy, look at the region right to the South of Anauroch, west of Cormyr, and east of the Sunset Mountains and the Far Hills. Just above Proskur lies the Marsh of Tun.)
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"That is a good distance, how many more portals will we be passing through?" asks Keth
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"Only the one in the mines. Then it is a footwalk, about three days I would say. That will get is into the region. I just hope they won't kill us on sight ..."
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"Who should not kill us on sight?"
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Talice looks over to Sheiriya, somewhat irritated. "That is for malla Kethryllia to answer, if she wants to."
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+++ CUT +++
This is the discussion near the entrance to Maerimydra, taking place between Kethryllia, Nata'al, Draezen, Sheiriya, and Rou'sun (plus anyone who wants to partake too). (Page 54 & 55 of the Main thread)
Keth
"That is good," says Keth to Geirildin, still waiting for a response from the hooded male, the serpents of her scourge hissing in agitation at him.
Sheiriya
Waiting for a respond from the leader and maybe some more information, Sheiriya looks at Keth.
Keth
"As to where we will go after this, that will be determined by the results of the foray into the city. We will either be heading back to the Northdark or to a different location." says Keth to Sheiriya.
"Rou'sun, are you interested in going back into the city with us? Another mage could be of use." says Keth to Rou'sun.
Rou'sun
Surprised by the question Rou'sun nods. "Yes, I'd like to do so. When do you want to move on?"
Draezen
"I am Draezen Drezz'Lynur of the drow city of Drezz'Lynur in the Segmented City known as Undrek'Thoz. As for why I am here is simple. It is for nothing other than to please our beloved Lady of of Chaos, the Queen of Spiders. An elamshin great priestess."
He pauses momentarily, pursing his lips in thought. "If you wish a demonstration of my skills. I'd be more than happy to show you what I'm capable of."
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Keth says to Draezen in a disinterested tone, "I currently have no need for a plaything, therefore I don't need a demonstration of your skills. One of the others might."
Keth says to Rou'sun, "As soon as everyone is prepared, we will enter the city."
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"Given the state of Maerimydra," Nata'al puts in, "ye will be able to demonstrate yer skills soon enough." She looks towards the others again, "I take it that Geirildin, Jhalashar, and Sheiriya will guard this lot and our escape route. We will find a way to contact ye, should we decide to take another route out of the city." The drow looks for Keth to check whether the yathrin agrees on this.
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Rou'sun nods and moves to pick up a pair of saddle bags from a corner. Then he waits for the others.
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Draezen smirks and leans forward slightly in a short bow, his eyes never leaving the eyes of the party. He then turns his attention to the troll-thing running through the tunnels.
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"Good enough" says Keth to Nata'al
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Before various members of the party decamp...
Keth goes up to each person in turn, saying "A reward from the Goddess."
Handing each the following...
Draezen - a sai-like jet-black dagger
Malifice - a single-edge dark red-bladed shortsword
Narzen - a ruby wrought into silvery chain
Nata'al - a simple adamantine chain made of tiny spiders
Rou'sun - a pair of bracers
Talice - a composite shortbow made of bones
Zhadristan - a set of spider silk armor
Zouhlnor - an amulet made of mthril and gold
Geirildin - a plain brass ring
Sheiriya - a pair of adamantine bracers
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"'Reward' sounds well to me. And it would even sound better if you could tell me that these are more than metal."
Sheiriya says when she gets the bracers from Keth.
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"Why it'll make you my thrall of course," says Keth to Sheiriya with a wink, "you're a smart girl, you should be able to figure it out."
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Zhadristan accepts the armor and examines it somewhat suspiciously after Keth moved on.
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The Temptress
(Let's move that part of the intro this place, shall we. AT least till the others have signed up and enter this inn.)
The scout, after freezing in place for half a second, looks on - a wary look in her eyes. She notes the male who stands up, as well as letting her eyes rest on a few others.
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The sellswords who visit this place looking for an assignment all know how potential customers make their choices. Thus, no-one is surprised when the female drow ventures through the rows of tables and whispers a few words to them, pointing towards a room dedicated for more private discussions at the back of the inn. Some of those she speaks to shake their heads immediately, others make their way towards the room.
All in all, about a dozen people assemble in the private chamber, standing in front of the drow. A fair mixture of races are in attendance, duergar, kuo-toa, drow, half-drow, a human-looking lass, and even an orog.
Assume that all potential group members have been addressed by the drow and are in that room.
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"Take the spider with you, please." whispers something into the pale drow's (Rommal's character) ear when he wants to go to the other room.
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Tarinyon looks quite confused down at the spider. But then he shrougs and picks the arachnid gently with his hands. The creatures of Lolth musn't be harmed and he didn't wan't to break official rules.
With the creature in his hands, he walks into the other room.
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Farviaan is the last person who the female drow talks to. He considers her offer for a moment. Then, his head almost touching the low ceiling when he stands up, he seems to sort out his long limbs before following the drow into the other room. There, he remains standing beside the door, eyeing and assessing the other creatures.
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The drow closes the door and turns her eyes on the assembled sellswords.
"You are all looking for good coin and this is what my employer can offer."
One of the duergars interrupts: "Speaking of which, who is it?"
Turning her two white eyes on the dwarf, yet replying to all in the room: "A priestess of the Dark Mother will offer the coin. Enough to enchant your fine axe ..."
The duergar waves his hand, nods to his fellows, and they head out of the room. As does the orog.
"That solved, anyone else got a problem to offer his or her services to a priestess of the Spider Queen? We will be leaving the city a soon as the deal with those who want to join up is struck, so make your decision now."
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Tarinyon remains quiet. It didn't matter to him who the employer was, although he didn't really like the Clerics of Lolth.
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"I don't like working for one of the powers." states Farviaan with a hoarse voice hovering between normal speech and a whisper. He leans against the wall and crosses his arms in front of his chest. "But if there's fighting and jink involved, I'm in", he continues. "And while we're at it: What are we supposed to do and how much will you pay me?"
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Tavia turns to the last speaker: "Well, you won't work for a power, you'll work for one of her priestesses. No need to be concerned on religious matters ... though I cannot speak for the yathrin." She pauses for a few heartbeats, then continues: "Neither can I tell you how much you will earn per day, but to my understanding, it will be much more than the going rates for the likes of yours ... no insult intended."
"With regard to our mission, the yathrin will present all the details to those who sign up. We are to escort someone to a location within the deep realms of Har'oloth, so it might be challenging, though I actually doubt that."
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"I don't think there is a typical payment for something like me, Tavia of the Dark Path." a voice says laughing in Tavia's mind. "But I think I'll sign up for that escort."
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For about half a moment, the looks on the scout's face seems to ask "Did you hear that?". She shakes her head slightly and waits for more replies.
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Tarinyon never talks very often and so he just stands there and looks into the eyes of the Yatrin. He seems to agree with teh circumstances of the hire.
The fact is, that he defenitley needs money and people like him couldn't choose between a lot of missions.
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Farviaan bares his teeth at the woman after hearing her answer. "If you are just the errand... girl," he growls, "why are we even talking to you? Let's go and find this 'yathrin' of yours. Maybe she'll be willing to tell us something." He pushes himself from the wall and gets ready to leave.
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"Thank you. Could you now put me down?" With that words, again whispered in Tarinyon's ear, the spider statuette begins to move again.
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Tarinyon obey the words ofd the spider an puts it down. Then he looks forward to other in structions of the Yathrin.
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On Draezen's behalf:
Emerging from the shadows of a dark corner of the inn, a slender male drow with short cropped silver-white hair and corded muscles that look as hard as blackened steel, tales a seat at a more well-lit table. Taking a moment to adjust the high collar of his sleeveless black silk vest, the drow sets his intense ruby red eyes on the scout.
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"The errand girl?" Tavia pauses as if she needs to think about this. "Well, the yathrin bade me to look for some suitable mercenaries, so I did what I was asked. Once she's done with her work at the temple, she will come over here and see for herself. Maybe she finds you suitable too ..."
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Overhearing part of the scout's conversation with the other drow, Szordrin walks over to the pair and interupts.
"Excuse me, did I overhear that you were in need of mercenaries?"
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Tavia looks at the drow and takes the measure of him. "Yes we are indeed. That is, my employer needs able males and females, able in warcraft, or able in spellcraft. She will pay in good coin."
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A pale woman thus far having kept to her own company approaches Tavia, with each step appearing as though she was about to punch her feet through the floor, even as she walks on her toes like a dancer -- or a hunting beast.
"A pilgrim, no mercenary, Gaess is my name," she says in little more than a whisper, her eyes cast downward, "I would welcome coin for my services, and a promise of pain to sate my mistress, ally of the Queen of Spiders."
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Szordrin glances at the pale humanoid for moment, studying her unusual features. Not being able to place her race, he turns his attention back on Tavia.
"Well then meat, if you're looking for a merc, look no further, for the Black Lady (Lolth) has guided you to me. I am Szordrin of the mercenary band Bregan D'Arthe and my price is high. So let us hope that your mistress' coin and gems are better than merely good, for our band's services are much more than that," Szordrin says, as a limb from the black, purple and red phantom-like spider "tattoo" slides down from his shoulder blade to his steel hard abdomen in what seems to be a gentle caress.
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We now switch back to the main/sticky thread ...
"A simple escort," she said
... as the yathrin has arrived
Mikayla -> 13 Sep 2006 07:15 pm
Thanks.
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First :D !
While the others get themselves into the yathrin's good books, Tavia and Xune take a few steps backward and start a silent dialogue (well, I hope):
Good to see you again, fellow sister! I was concerned that you could not make it back in time. Anyone briefed you on this venture?
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Good to see you doing well. Nothing beyond it being an escort, they didn't even tell me where to! Just that there was an Yathrin involved and hirelings. So what exactly are we doing sister? Xune signals back to Tavia
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Well, the yathrin is not actually the one we are going to escort, though she will be the one in command. We are first going to a place near Faerrinal's Gorge to meet another Dalharil. She will hand us the person to be escorted and tell us where to escort that person. Some place in the Deepdark I was told. Tavia seems unconcerned about any onlookers. It should not be that difficult, but given the number of hired hands ... who knows. Her attention turns to the spider. How is the little one doing?
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She has been doing fine, though lately it seems like she wants to taste everything and everybody. So we are going into the Deep Dark? I do not like that much, its always so COLD down there. Xune signs to Tavia
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The scout answers the last remark with a grin. Speaking of escorts and hunger, they (nodding at the Dalharil) asked me to buy some four pounds of fresh rothe ham. She points towards her bag. Maybe the little one will get some before we arrive at the meeting site. Tavia adds with a conspirative look on her face.
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I am sure she will appreciate it signs Xune with a grin and as always I will do my best to back you up.
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Noting the last words of the Dalharil, Tavia signals a short: Alas we can go. I never liked being in this city. It is like a cage with no exits.
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I Agree, signs Xune
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Farviaan turns his head to Zhadristan and answers: "I don't care about nicking someone with a dagger, or stealing someone's soul. But the Silver Void is home to all githyanki. Blundering about in there because some clueless berk doesn't know her way around isn't going to accomplish anything and would be outright dangerous.
"Your races' obsession with the status of males is stupid. Our 'leaders excluded the only expert for the Astral Plane in the group - me - from the details of the deal because of that. Well, bad luck for the rest of you. If we run into a dreadnought, I only have to be faster than the rest of you. And make no mistake: no one moves faster in the Void than a githyanki."
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"And if you are that someone? It is a lot more than just stupid, but when you as a male do business with them you will have to live with it. And you are not even drow", he says. He lowers his voice then. "The way I see it might makes right and it determines our status. While that devil is around our status is pretty clear to me. So for now I think we should just play along - that is what we are paid for anyway. Things may change when the devil is gone."
"Now, listen, you are the expert for the Astral Plane, no doubt, but you are nowhere near in charge. Do not tell the yathrin what to do, [/i]suggest what you think is the wisest thing to do or even better, should you manage - but I think you will not -, " Zhadristan says and a slight chuckle escapes him, "steer her to figure it out herself and we will be fine."
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"If you're all dead, no one will pay me." the githyanki responds,
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"That is for sure. Talking about it, what is a dreadnought?"
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"You don't wanna know. You'll know when you see one."
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"Yes, I think I will be able to tell when I see you running." Zhadristan laughs.
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"True," Farviaan says and grins.
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Szordrin talking to Naedragard during the rest, shortly before entering the Plane of Shadows again.
Earlier: Szordrin looks at Naedragard (when she asks to wield his shyrlass) and grins.
"Sure you can touch my blades." He draws them from their snake leather sheaths. "As I run them through your black heart and brain. That is of course if you have a brain devil," he says, pointing the blades to the center of Naedragard's temple and her left breast.
The female cocks her head at the drow's reaction. Then she mockingly applauds Szordrin: "Well that was really quick. Impressively quick, so to speak." Her eyes move along the blades' edges and back to Szordrin again. "Thanks for that look, mortal. For the moment, I and your goddess need my brain more than you though, I'm afraid." Without further ado, she walks closer to Xune and watches her drawing the tattoo, yet not disrupting the female.
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Szordrin says to Naedragard as she walks away. "Lolth's will is fickle devil. It may not be long before my goddess decides you are of no more use to her." Szordrin chuckles. "It is on that day that you'll get a much closer look at my blades than you'd find comfortable with them sticking through your eyes."
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Naedragard waves a hand and replies: "694 and counting ..."
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Switch to the Call of the Banshee Queen campaign:
Let's move the Sign-you-up (or not) debate to this thread for the time being. I do hope you get along well enough during the debate ... I'll get the group going in the main thread and add important stuff later on if need be.
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Zhadristan lays down his pack and finds himself a more or less comfortable spot to sit. "Despite ending up, well, wherever we are, I think you still deserve thanks for your timely appearance", he tells Paval.
"We've worked well in the past," Paval* says. "Well," he chuckles, "we've not killed one another yet, at least deliberately."
"It was a timely appearance but it also made sense. If you had been caught then you may well have given them information about me.
"Now we are here. I have been given a task by my goddess. It is urgent and I need to make haste. I ask you, all of you to consider assisting me. If you do, I shall be in your debt. However, it may be worth mentioning that any help you give me will bring rewards."
* - I'm not sure how long Paval is appearing as Pavalla. If it's permanent, Zanan let me know.
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* - I'm not sure how long Paval is appearing as Pavalla. If it's permanent, Zanan let me know.
(Unless I am mistaken, it was a potion and hence the change will have worn off by now or will right now.)
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"Then you should tell us more about it." Sheiriya tells Paval and adds in his mind only "Like for a start who your goddess is." She waits for the male to reply.
3
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"I have heard similar promises only recently and what did I ultimately get?", Zhadristan says and answers his own question by sweeping his arm around to refer to his current whereabouts.
"So, yes", he says in support of Sheiriya, "you will have to explain yourself more than just that."
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"As regards promises, I make very few. I do, however, say that my mission will bring rewards. I can not say what those rewards are.
"In the short term, you, like me, needed to leave Sschindylryn. There were too many who wanted to ask us questions. If you want to leave now, then I won't sand in your way.
For myself, I have to get to the Forest of Mir. There is someone there I need to speak with. It is important to my quest."
Paval concentrates for a moment as if there was something on his mind.
"The information I have came to me in trance, during my prayers. I have to get to the Forest of Mir and once there, I have to find a female drow."
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"You speak much, but you say little", Zhadristan replies. "They did not want to ask us questions, but you. I take it they would not like to see you succeed on your quest?"
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"They were after you too. They were asking after all of us.
"Perhaps, you'd care to go back, if you don't believe me?"
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"Oh, I believe that. I also believe it was all because of you", Zhadristan says than laughs, "but this is actually your benefit, because I am thinking I might just come along to their annoyance."
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"Company is always welcome," Paval replies. "Good company is even better. I think and i would hope that I can count on you as good company. Certainly, we have travelled together before."
Paval pauses, as if thinking about something.
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"You can count me as better company than your undead for sure", Zhadristan says in the pause with a hint of dislike in his voice.
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Paval looks around him, "I don't see any undead."
"There are probably better things you could compare yourself to, although, of course, it does depend on which particular undead we are talking about. Some vampires can be quite charming, so I'm told. I, personally, don't have too much time for them."
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Zhadristan nods, apparently satisfied.
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Sheiriya looks at Paval a moment longer before she turns away telling him "I've got the most strong feeling that I should disguise myself when I enter a city dedicated to the spider-queen next time." That said she walks away to find a place to rest and uses device to get herself perfectly clean again.
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"There is only one presence in here, thank you very much," Jhaelvirr 'thinks' back. "Do you think I'd get myself possessed?"
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"Not that kind of possession. I can hear your 'spirits' talking to you and would like to have a little chat with them," the voice replies.
During that conversation there is nothing special to be seen about Sheiriya.
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"You can hear them?" Jhaelvirr answers surprised. "That's odd. How do you do that?"
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"Oh that is no problem since I read your mind," the voice answeres in a good temper. "There is just the problem that I seem not to be able to contact them directly. So I try it through you."
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Reading my mind, eh? Interesting ability. I'd appriciate if you'd stop it, though. Else, it could be a bit uncomfortable for you. As for the spirits: Of course you can't talk to them. They are too weak to do that, even the demonic ones. I wouldn't be myself anymore if they took over."
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Uncomfortable? What, would you think about yourself being naked? But beside this unpleasant thought, then why do you not shoo then away when they are so weak?
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Why would I do that? I can use them. They want me to use them.
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But surely they demand payment. Are they so weak that this doesn't matter? And if they are, what could they do at all?
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Payment? No payment. They just want to be more than just spirits, to feel again. And for that, I can use their abilities. A very nice trade-off, don't you think?
Well, the demons I use probably aren't that desperate. But what's it to me?
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"I have to admit that it sounds nice. Maybe I could have a deal with then myself..."
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Moving about in the bazaar, Sheiriya can gather some info about a caravan taking off a wee while back heading for your general direction. Some sort of mercenary guild people recruiting folk for "special" missions, as well as looking for "gladiators". The people you spoke to say that you may very well catch up to them at one of the surface strongholds.
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So we are back in business ::)