Chapter the First: Six Degrees of Joachim Ebellos — Legacy Forums

Re: TBA Game

#41

Iskander listened to the merchant's chatter while he helped himself to essentially a mirror image of Nisher's choice. The wine remained in the bottle while he devoured the snails with great gusto. He simply raised his eyebrows at Nisher's comments - insults rarely led to opportunity.

He had no cards he wished to play at this time, so simply listened.

Re: TBA Game

#42

Saano found the food not entirely to his liking, but had definitely had worse. Both snail and wine quickly made themselves scarce from his presence. This had the double advantage of both filling his stomach and keeping him from the conversation of his lunch-companions. He understood the basics of trade, but a conversation on the relative merits of tariffs in another place entirely held no particular interest for him. And as a wise sage had once said, rare is the time when a man makes a fool of himself by being silent.

Re: TBA Game

#43

Ebellos smiled widely at Zuan’s concise summation on matters of northern trade relations, nodding his head eagerly.

“Indeed. Indeed.” he said, and called for more wine to be poured.

“Such boorish talk” he then added, meaning Nisher Stryne… “You should know that the book you carry betrays your attempt at disguise, as the sharp-eyed Iskander here mentioned earlier. Please, feel free to be yourself. Surely you have come to Abodroc to determine what has happened to your fellow Spellwriters, no? Did you not say yourself, that you came here to speak to the master of this abode, regarding a certain house on the Street of Warm Shadows? ”

He paused studying Nish…

“What if I told you that there has been an investigation of sorts, since their disappearance? The spellwriters in fact, were last seen in Canagadi. Why they had travelled to that mountain-drowned country however, so suddenly and en masse, alas, we do not know.”

To Iskander he said in between bites of rabbit haunch, “You are an able man to be sure, having guarded my body ably these last three weeks. I have learned recently that the danger I thought I faced has…subsided however”, Ebellos did his best to ignore Zuan’s raised eyebrows, “Therefore, we can consider our contract complete and finished. I do wish to offer you further employment of a sort, if you would be interested in listening to my proposal, that is.”

Saano meanwhile attempted to be patient, but began withdrawing into himself, listening to all this talk that didn’t concern him.

“Master Dealonar here” Ebellos suddenly added gesturing toward the Midnight Guardsman, “I have hired for reasons I will now tell you. It has to do with my sister, Zuan, the poor thing needs---my help. And as you well know, St. Hurdegilda’s Keep is only a few miles east of Canagadi…”

“Do you begin to see, Zuan, why I suddenly thought, why not have this dinner?” Finally Ebellos quieted, leaving his ultimate point unsaid. There seemed to be a lot Ebellos left unsaid.

Re: TBA Game

#44

"Canagadi...?" Nisher paused, his wine half-raised to his mouth and his expression pensive for a change, "It is odd. Yes, a satellite enclave like that on the Street of Warm Shadows would only hold perhaps a dozen, perhaps up to two-dozen Spellwrites. Yet, to pack up all things and leave is odd. Perhaps they have heard of a Focal Inspiration point and have gone to investigate.'
The Spellwriter lowered his wine and placed it absently on the table, forgotten. "Ah, you see," Nish explained, "As spellwriters, our craft is guided by our interaction with the real world. Things which amaze us or affect us emotionally - either positively or negatively..." The man paused, his eyes glazed for a second before snapping back to focus, " Yes, positive or negative. We find such things much easier to translate into our books as tangible mage-craft. As such, we tend to keep an ear out for any strange happenings in the world around us. Disappearances; strange creature sightings; Signs of war, conflict. The bizarre and unexplained. It's possible that my, er, comrades, will have heard of such a thing in Canagadi and have decided to move to further study. It is odd for them to completely abandon Abodroc, though."

At Ebellos's final comment to Zuan, Nish snapped back into his old, obnoxious self and plastered an over-exaggerated grin on his face at the Trade Priest, expressing his insight as to the situation "Ah, you see don't you Zuan, The man seeks to enlist me as one of his hired help! He will have us all as travelling companions for some epic adventure to defend his sweet sister! How exciting!" Nish chuckled, his eyes darting back and forth between all those present.

He found himself peering at Saano Dealanor with intent - one person he had hardly hear speak the entire meal. His attitude subsiding into thoughtfulness once more, the Spellwriter cocked his head to one side, "But what of you, ink-man? The portly priest has his god and party tricks to help," Nish nodded towards Zuan Coursi, "And this fearsome fellow next to me seems like he could slit my throat with a spoon, should the need arise," Stryne raised his hand to pat Iskander on the shoulder, then caught a glance at the man's eyes and thought better, lowering it instead to gently stroke his spellbook, "What is your place in this rag-tag ensemble?"

Nisher had no more interest in either food or drink - his thoughts now on the people around him, and just what he was getting himself into.

Re: TBA Game

#45

Zuan looked thoughtfully at Ebellos. The cleric was more of a family man that he, close to his sister where Zuan had all but abandoned his family on following the Way. Coursi empathized with his brother priest, but only just so. The void of emotion ebbed at his thoughts.

"I am sorry to hear of your sister, Joachim," he said, touching a hand to his breast. "Would that you have told me earlier that I might more quickly lend my help." Zuan glanced around the table. It was strange fortune that the robber happened to be a spellwriter, but fortune nonetheless: the Divine Broker must have put His Invisible Hand here and moved goods into Ebellos' favor. For Zuan to ignore such auspices would be poor investment.

He leaned forward, sipping wine from his goblet, watching carefully the others. If, as Stryne had suggested, they were to create a sort of outfit in the path to Canagadi, he had to know which of these men were trustworthy of his friend's cause - and his own stake in such enterprises.

Re: TBA Game

#46

Saano raised an eyebrow at the inquisitive spellwriter. "What of me?" he parroted back in an almost sing-song voice. "I am here because I was hired to help the poor girl currently suffering at St. Hurdegilda’s. I see little need for any other reason." He took another light sip of the wine, examining Nisher in more detail. "You, however, appear to have little cause to join on such an expedition, especially considering the danger involved."

Re: TBA Game

#47

"That," said Iskander, answering both Nish and Ebellos, "the danger. Danger earns gold, and I am always interested in that. You have my answer Ebellos. My blade and bow are your service. This fine assortment of ... gentlemen," a glance at Nish, " may have need of my courser hands."

Of course, he would inquire about the balance of his salary, but at a more discreet moment.

Re: The Unusual Suspects

#48

The Neverending Luncheon aka The Road to Canagadi
Beware of the fool whose volume of words is as that of ten men, a hundred arrows shot and each one wide of the target. If thou art wise, shoot one and that one straight. The Great Sa'di

"...It is odd for them to completely abandon Abodroc, though."

"Hmm, yes." Ebellos said, "Indeed....quite odd", he muttered toward Stryne and for a moment his eyes glazed over. "Now that you know, I imagine you will want to investigate further, am I right?" Ebellos said, misjudging Stryne perhaps, "So when I saw you this afternoon, and you mentioned your accomplices, I thought, well, here is a man on his way to Canagadi, you see?"

To Zuan, Ebellos seemed out of sorts and not himself, though perhaps this was due to his distress over his sister.

"My friends, my sister has been unwell. She is a Silent Woman in St. Hurdegilda's Keep, as Saano Dealonar has just shared. His--kind," Ebellos was now gesturing toward the red-eyed Midnight Guardsman, "are trained and equipped to deal with such matters, and so I ask him now, in your company, if he would travel to Canagadi to investigate and deal with this matter, before the Silent Women take drastic measures...as I said, my sister seems to be haunted by some supernatural forces. Or did I say?"

"Meanwhile, Zuan, when you had first mentioned Don V. Sonno's spice route on my balcony this afternoon, it made me think---mayhaps my friend Zuan is bound to take the Road to Canagadi as well sooner not later, and well----" he left off again, as was his infuriating habit.

The plates and trays of food were now being whisked away and dessert bowls came next, various berries buried beneath dollops of frozen cream, flavored with some exotic spices.

"Naturally," Ebellos began again, "I will speak to the right Bursars, as mentioned, and recommend you Zuan, in the meantime. In fact what better way to win the Bursar's favor than to be traveling the very roads in question, when they ask your current whereabouts, eh?" Ebellos smiled widely.

"And as we all know my friends, old and new, the Road to Canagadi is dark and full of terror." That last was way too dramatically stated by Ebellos, yet indeed, the wild lands between the enlightened cities of the Ban-Ral-Sab were infested and plagued by bandits and creatures most dire.

"And for this reason mainly, I would not take no for an answer, my dear Zuan, I ask now, in all your company for Iskander here, to accompany you. For he is, as he says, a man who knows when courser hands are needed" at this Ebellos looked at Iskander. "Three weeks travel, is it? I believe so", Ebellos now spread a vellum map on the table. "Three weeks to Canagadi, three weeks to St. Hurdegilda's Keep. I will pay you two hundred rindods now, and two hundred rindods upon your safe return if you will accompany, and defend if need be, my friend Zuan here as he traverses his potential new trade route and in his dealing with the northerners. From what I heard of you Iskander, you have contacts everywhere, no? Now, Saano Dealonar here, also needs to reach his destination--that is, my sister--safely. So I thought--" Ebellos spread his arms satisfied with himself.

Why Ebellos was suddenly was so eager for Zuan to have this minor trade route, Coursi could not guess. Neither could Stryne guess why the corpulent trade-priest would care two tails about the disappeared spellwriters.

"The Divine Broker be blessed. What a serendipitous dinner this is." Ebellos concluded, stuffed the last of his berries into his mouth, all the while eye-ing his guests, one at a time, intently, and then rose, inviting them all to join him in his avian menagerie for spiced brandy.

Re: TBA Game

#49

Saano's comment suggesting Nish should shy away from the danger of the trip, caused an amused smile to quirk on the Spellwriter's face. Of course Nisher Stryne was fully ready to blow off the entire suggestion of travelling to Canagadi and to St. Hurdegilda's Keep - though it wasn't danger which deterred him; simply, he had only just arrived in Abodroc, and the thought of chasing a school of dust-skulled Spellwriters on the small chance they had found something worth investigating was not worth it to Nish.
He was just ready to rudely voice this opinion too, but hesitated as Ebellos made mention of his sister being haunted. Nish paused, drumming his fingers on the table in thought - his frozen dessert forgotten and untouched.
Some things had a natural appeal to Nish. A haunting tweaked a particular part of his brain and he imagined that he felt a tingling sensation along his writing hand.
"Yes, yes..." He mentioned off-handedly, "Maybe a trip up to Canagadi would be a good idea." He listened in, his mouth slowly widening agape as the portly Trade Priest discussed Iskander's exorbitant (To Nisher) wages.
Well, the man seemed unnaturally eager to have Nisher along on this journey... Let's see just how much he wants him along. The shifty spellwriter glanced cautiously at Ebellos and then tried his luck; "Alas... I do not have the funds for such a trip so soon - I spent my savings just getting to Abodroc... If I could have but a small donation for supplies, I could perhaps help protect your... friend, here" Nisher nodded towards Zuan, although this time his attention lies solely on Ebellos to study his reaction to the request.

Re: TBA Game

#50

Zuan tugged thoughtfully at his beard. Joachim's actions were puzzling. If indeed his sister was so afflicted, why would he send such a makeshift company to deal with the Silent Women? No doubt that particular order was known for its zeal, and if there were any suspicious of demonic possession the sister's life could be forfeit. Yet why not send a diplomatic delegation to deal with the abbess at St. Hurdegilda's? Why a thief, a exorcist, and a soldier? And why the insistence that he, a mere fellow merchant priest, accompany? No, something more was wrong.

He caught quickly up with Ebellos on the way to the menagerie. "Friend," he said quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder, "I appreciate your intercession on my behalf with the Bursars, and I am glad to help how I may be able with your sister. But you must tell me truly what is happening here. How can I try to make a trade when I know not what is in my own stock, eh?"

Re: TBA Game

#51

For a moment Ebellos hooded his eyes like a snake studying Stryne, then he smiled again, as he rose, “Well, yes. Yes, of course. You see, I have interest in seeing the spellwriters found, though I shan’t say more on that. Let us say knowing your colleagues’ whereabouts or ultimate fate would—help me—in a certain way. It may potentially profit me, while greatly—inconveniencing a rival of mine. You see?”

“And so yes, good-man Stryne, if you would act upon your own curiosity and search, I would merely ask that you do so with my interest in mind as well. And so,” Ebellos came to the point, “A small donation of supplies and—some funds, shall be yours of course. You may think of me as your patron.” He grinned.

“A token gesture then…” he added, then took a silver tail from his kaftan pocket swirling it in his fingers for Stryne to see. He then handed the cylindrical coin to Stryne, and as he held his palm out, the silver Tail was no more, but now a platinum Bezoom.” Ebellos grinned again.

----------

Pausing to listen, Ebellos studied his friend as Zuan spoke. Then in reply, “Yes, yes. The truth of it, you deserve that. Like in any good trade, Zuan, I seek to maximize my odds at profit. Truth be told I was hoping..”, he paused to make sure the others were out of earshot, “that you could lend a hand to the Midnight Guardsman with my sister. While his Order’s reputation is impressive, still no one can out-bargain a follower of the Divine Broker. And after all Zuan, demons, they barter and haggle twist words and lie, and I am too old and sick to travel myself, you see? Your tongue is of silver gilded in gold, Zuan, and I thought you could help with the poor wretch’s Dispiritation.”

They had entered the menagerie now.

“I was not sure how to ask you, really. Offering you payment, seemed—banal—so I thought, why not offer you the Canagadi spice route in return.” He smiled then, as if the Canagadi route was suddenly his to assign. "The rest of--this--is odd coincidence, Zuan."

"Now, gentle-friends" he turned to address the others and raised his brandy goblet, "Shall then we seal this venture with a toast? I am sure you are all eager to prepare for the journey in however way each of you do."

Re: TBA Game

#52

Iskander smiled and held up the goblet and took perhaps the barest of sips, though only one looking for such subterfuge would notice. Iskander happily imbibed in liquor, but only from those he trusted. His current employer was not in that category.

He indeed would be preparing this evening - there were questions that needed answering. A favor or two to collect upon, and of course, a visit to Enethae.

Re: TBA Game

#53

Nisher's faintly smiling expression did not falter as the Tail was switched with a Bezoom. A WHOLE Bezoom! - he would have expected a couple of tails, the equivalent of two hundred was a significant price to pay to a man who just earlier in the day was caught sneaking around the garden. Nisher snatched the bird-shaped trinket from Ebellos's hand and slid it securely beneath his belt.
And then the matter of that expression; Aah, a glimpse of the real Ebellos behind the accomodating exterior: a man who takes offense at a - lets face it - unkempt thief asking after some of his well-earned coin.

Nisher offered a nod to Ebellos and withdrew, being uncharacteristically quiet. He said not another word until the toast, after which he offered a subdued, "Cheers!" and drowned the entire goblet, giving a wheezing cough from the powerful liquid inside. "And with that, friends, I must go make arrangements and collect my things. Where shall I meet you all; at the gate at dawn? Sounds good to me!"
Nisher Stryne turned to walk out of the Manse of Joachim Ebellos, deep in thought. What was Ebellos's real motive here? Why did he need Nish so much that he would offer to go against his nature and donate money? And what of the others? No doubt all getting paid a significant fee for their efforts. Many questions, but none appropriate for asking.
Nisher had much to think about. In fact, he was so deep in thought, he 'forgot' to put his expensive looking brandy goblet down before he left.

Re: TBA Game

#54

Zuan nodded his assent to Ebellos. "Consider it a spoken contract, then," he agreed - a solemn vow for one of their order. "I shall negotiate in whatever way I can in regards to your sister, and you shall do the same in securing my contract with the Bursars." They had no need to shake hands, the agreement stood between them as sacred an oath as any priest would declare before his god.

He toasted along with the others. "May the Divine Broker bless our venture with bountiful wealth and profitable exchange," he declared, throwing back the glass. "And with that," he said, handing it back to Ronsalvo, "I too should be off. We shall assemble a plan tomorrow?" He looked with purpose at Saano. "Yes, I think we shall. Rest well, my fellows - we shall certainly need the sleep."

Coursi rode Hezzab back to his quarters slowly, pondering and planning at what might lie ahead.

Re: TBA Game

#55

Saano eyed Zuan sideways as they completed their toast. A priest, even one of the trade-god, would come in handy. Especially if this really was a b'kakor. Exorcism without a priest was exceptionally difficult, and never guaranteed. He would still need to get some quicksilver, though.

"I have some supplies to gather as well. Hopefully the trip to Canagadi will be more uneventful than today has been. I'll meet you all at the gates on the morrow." He nodded to Zuan and Ebellos in turn, then made his way to the streets below. Time to go shopping.