5.20.2005
Greyhelm: Cinder's Story, Conclusion
The Thief's Challenge.
Okay Cinder, you head back down the hall, through a door, and down yet more stairs. How big is this place anyway? You come out into a huge underground gymnasium, multi-level. You're on the second of two levels, which is a little rampart. Across the gym, about 50 meters away, is another rampart. Up there you can see a guard patrolling, and a couple doors. Off in a corner two guys are sparring, and with you are two other guards, crossbows out, in case you try any funny business. Apparently, this guy Grimes is pretty serious about his tests. You head down a short flight of stairs to the ground level, cross over to the stone mock-castle wall, and get to work.
Okay, you climb the wall. It'd be pretty embarrassing if you couldn't get that part down. Up and over, away from the guard, you tiptoe across the rampart and hide in shadows. As the guard comes by, you nab the key off his belt. He's not much of a guard, as he's a little portly and stinks of gin. Anyway, key obtained. You use it to open a large door marked 'Treasure Room' (you're starting to wonder about the accuracy of his simulation here), sneak inside, and promptly step on a pressure plate and triggers a crossbow trap! Christ almighty, it's actually a real trap, and you get shot for 5 hp in the calf. You find a poison needle- yeah, what the hell, a working poison needle trap on the chest, remove it, pick the lock on the treasure chest and get a big bag of... stones. Terrific. You limp outside, smack into Mr. Gin. He begins to draw a broadsword, but takes your bribe, even going as far as to help you remove the crossbow bolt, bandage your wound, and help you over to the wall. You slide back down, head up the other stairs, and dump out all the little stones on Fink's boots.
He gives you a golf-clap and says "not bad, Stewart."
...
You guys return to Grimes' office, but Fink goes in first to convey a report you're guessing. Then Jen comes and gets the two of you and shows you in.
"Well done Mr. Cinder. 'Cinder', 'Cinder'," he says, as if tasting the word. "I like it. Pizzazz. Flair. Cinder... what remains after the flames. Smoking, smoldering, just barely under control, hidden beneath. I think it's a great name. I mean, sure, you probably were born with some rather insipid name like 'Bob Crumke' or something, I can see why you'd want it changed, especially now in these days, these times, given our choice of occupation." You're not sure if he's making fun of you or complementing you. You let it go for now as he continues.
"As I just said, well done. First order of business: welcome to the Blackwall Thiefs! Here's how it works. Whenever you've got an itching for a bit of the old business, as Bennett used to say, you just come to us. You like the job? You take the job. You do the job. We get 30%. You need a place to crash? We've got safehouses. You need a bit of poison that the old Potion Guild won't sell to dainty hands? Just head upstairs, Dirk will take care of you. And that, as I said, is how it works. You don't want to commit crime? Then god bless your honest heart. And when the sun rises in the morning, we'll be here with more work for you to do." That sort of makes sense and sounds like a pretty good deal.
"Second order of business: don't worry about the DuMont Chess Club. We'll sort this whole Stewart thing out, just between gentlemen. I know Mr. DuMont, good chap, I'll be twice damned if we don't meet every Thursday to sort out mutual problems. No need to have a guild war because you forgot to retrieve your sword from someone's stomach, now, is there? But, and this is an important but, aside from my professional and personal relations with Mr. DuMont, conflicts may occur. So worry somewhat about the Chess Clubbers, especially if it's a, mm... hot deal about to break. You're not the only playa."
"Third order of business: a business order. A refill lovely lady, if it pleases you." Jen fills his glass. "Something very interesting indeed has come up, something that someone new in town would be perfect for. It's a job that involves disguise, infiltration, reconnaissance... it's a classic! Tomorrow night, the Potion Guild is having a large gala event. Something big is going to be unveiled at their annual... well, it's a meeting of some kind. Many Potion Guildsmen are in attendance. But alas, one 'Master Yves Meifer' from the DMC is unable to attend, if you will correctly interpret my euphanism. But only I know that, and now you know that, so maybe good Master Yves will be able to show up after all!" He winks at you and does like a 'shooter' thing with his thumb and finger.
"We've got the robes, the credentials, and some official potions. All you have to do is go in, keep a cool head, and see what's being unveiled. Then report back here. If you can make a drawing or get some plans, there's a bonus. If you can get part of, well, whatever it is, or the whole thing even... well shit Cinder, I'll personally give you a bottle of the finest scotch known TO GOD."
Fink hoists a large leather backpack. "All the shit is in here, Stew" he says, still calling you that. I guess he thinks it's funny? Because it's really not. "If you want the job, take the pack, and we'll see you late tomorrow night. If Haggi's is out of the way, or something comes up, you can check in at The Wiffle Bat- meet with Marv- or at the Guild of Candles over by the lake, ask for Master Franklin. Have fun at the nerd party."
Let me know what you do. Then, it's time to head over to Odin's place to meet Brogg and the undead.
Okay Cinder, you head back down the hall, through a door, and down yet more stairs. How big is this place anyway? You come out into a huge underground gymnasium, multi-level. You're on the second of two levels, which is a little rampart. Across the gym, about 50 meters away, is another rampart. Up there you can see a guard patrolling, and a couple doors. Off in a corner two guys are sparring, and with you are two other guards, crossbows out, in case you try any funny business. Apparently, this guy Grimes is pretty serious about his tests. You head down a short flight of stairs to the ground level, cross over to the stone mock-castle wall, and get to work.
Okay, you climb the wall. It'd be pretty embarrassing if you couldn't get that part down. Up and over, away from the guard, you tiptoe across the rampart and hide in shadows. As the guard comes by, you nab the key off his belt. He's not much of a guard, as he's a little portly and stinks of gin. Anyway, key obtained. You use it to open a large door marked 'Treasure Room' (you're starting to wonder about the accuracy of his simulation here), sneak inside, and promptly step on a pressure plate and triggers a crossbow trap! Christ almighty, it's actually a real trap, and you get shot for 5 hp in the calf. You find a poison needle- yeah, what the hell, a working poison needle trap on the chest, remove it, pick the lock on the treasure chest and get a big bag of... stones. Terrific. You limp outside, smack into Mr. Gin. He begins to draw a broadsword, but takes your bribe, even going as far as to help you remove the crossbow bolt, bandage your wound, and help you over to the wall. You slide back down, head up the other stairs, and dump out all the little stones on Fink's boots.
He gives you a golf-clap and says "not bad, Stewart."
...
You guys return to Grimes' office, but Fink goes in first to convey a report you're guessing. Then Jen comes and gets the two of you and shows you in.
"Well done Mr. Cinder. 'Cinder', 'Cinder'," he says, as if tasting the word. "I like it. Pizzazz. Flair. Cinder... what remains after the flames. Smoking, smoldering, just barely under control, hidden beneath. I think it's a great name. I mean, sure, you probably were born with some rather insipid name like 'Bob Crumke' or something, I can see why you'd want it changed, especially now in these days, these times, given our choice of occupation." You're not sure if he's making fun of you or complementing you. You let it go for now as he continues.
"As I just said, well done. First order of business: welcome to the Blackwall Thiefs! Here's how it works. Whenever you've got an itching for a bit of the old business, as Bennett used to say, you just come to us. You like the job? You take the job. You do the job. We get 30%. You need a place to crash? We've got safehouses. You need a bit of poison that the old Potion Guild won't sell to dainty hands? Just head upstairs, Dirk will take care of you. And that, as I said, is how it works. You don't want to commit crime? Then god bless your honest heart. And when the sun rises in the morning, we'll be here with more work for you to do." That sort of makes sense and sounds like a pretty good deal.
"Second order of business: don't worry about the DuMont Chess Club. We'll sort this whole Stewart thing out, just between gentlemen. I know Mr. DuMont, good chap, I'll be twice damned if we don't meet every Thursday to sort out mutual problems. No need to have a guild war because you forgot to retrieve your sword from someone's stomach, now, is there? But, and this is an important but, aside from my professional and personal relations with Mr. DuMont, conflicts may occur. So worry somewhat about the Chess Clubbers, especially if it's a, mm... hot deal about to break. You're not the only playa."
"Third order of business: a business order. A refill lovely lady, if it pleases you." Jen fills his glass. "Something very interesting indeed has come up, something that someone new in town would be perfect for. It's a job that involves disguise, infiltration, reconnaissance... it's a classic! Tomorrow night, the Potion Guild is having a large gala event. Something big is going to be unveiled at their annual... well, it's a meeting of some kind. Many Potion Guildsmen are in attendance. But alas, one 'Master Yves Meifer' from the DMC is unable to attend, if you will correctly interpret my euphanism. But only I know that, and now you know that, so maybe good Master Yves will be able to show up after all!" He winks at you and does like a 'shooter' thing with his thumb and finger.
"We've got the robes, the credentials, and some official potions. All you have to do is go in, keep a cool head, and see what's being unveiled. Then report back here. If you can make a drawing or get some plans, there's a bonus. If you can get part of, well, whatever it is, or the whole thing even... well shit Cinder, I'll personally give you a bottle of the finest scotch known TO GOD."
Fink hoists a large leather backpack. "All the shit is in here, Stew" he says, still calling you that. I guess he thinks it's funny? Because it's really not. "If you want the job, take the pack, and we'll see you late tomorrow night. If Haggi's is out of the way, or something comes up, you can check in at The Wiffle Bat- meet with Marv- or at the Guild of Candles over by the lake, ask for Master Franklin. Have fun at the nerd party."
Let me know what you do. Then, it's time to head over to Odin's place to meet Brogg and the undead.
