Who Came Through - 14/08/2024 - Archie’s Extract
Aug 17, 2024 21:44:22 GMT
Yinmaris, Tom M, and 2 more like this
Post by Andy D on Aug 17, 2024 21:44:22 GMT
On The Fate of Those That Do Business of a Questionable Nature
There are those amongst the criminal underclass that use the term businessman to colour their activities as respectable. Activities including; fraud, theft, murder and more. For such people, deception and violence seem to become permissible methods of engagement when cloaked under the description of ‘business’. I would guess that criminals who speak of their crimes as if they were regular enterprises are purposely fooling themselves to ignore the reality of the harm their endeavours create. I think it fair to describe such people as morally compromised.
However, there are, to some degree, exceptional circumstances where I would conclude that certain ‘business’ minded criminals are otherwise decent people with a reasonable moral code, who for environmental reasons have found themselves in a life of crime. Weasel is an interesting case-study in the matter.
I do not in truth know much about the man known as Weasel. But, when he talks openly of his fraud, describing himself as honest too; I do not find myself disagreeing with his claim of honesty. This is no upstanding citizen mind you - Weasel deserves jail time for his crimes. However, for all his crimes, and those against criminals as well, I do not agree with the torture he was subjected to by The Hekrati, who he swindled, and was tortured by for doing so.
A group of adventurers led by fellow wizard Fern, freed Weasel from his captivity, making an enemy of The Hekrati at the same time. We also didn’t ally ourselves with Jane Redfeather’s organisation well, either.
I sense Jane Redfeather will not besiege us adventurers with her pickpockets in retaliation for not delivering Weasel to her. Nor will her associate, the silent assassin be sent after us, too. The Hekrati, on the other hand, will be a problem, one which the wider community of adventurers will need to deal with soon. The sooner the better, as I suspect their demonic cult grows stronger as they continue undisturbed by the law, and worryingly secreted amongst law-enforcers, if Weasel is to be believed - and once again, though Weasel is a criminal, I do not doubt his honesty.
The Weasel Locator and Retrieval Team
Archie (myself) - I enjoy casting the Enhance Ability spell on my teammates. On this occasion it was Eagle’s Splendor that I felt the team would benefit the most from. A number of my allies on this occasion, one could see immediately in the way they carried themselves, were charismatic people. I felt that magically enhancing their natural charisma to help persuade the man known as Luke ‘Two Fingers’ to help us, would be a good call.
I was able to use the Teleport spell to end an impending combat that could have increased tensions between the adventuring party and The Hekrati further. Though we rescued The Hekrati’s captive, Weasel, by not additionally killing the captors, I hope we have reduced the scale of retaliation that may very likely follow.
Fernleaf - My young friend, and lizardfolk fellow wizard learned that their kidnapping (of sorts) that landed them in Daring Heights, was a mistake, and the merchant that took them to this city, had seemingly mistaken Fern for the intended individual that was supposed to be taken here. The logistics of the matter were known to Fern to have been handled by Weasel. Fern was hoping to learn more from Weasel, but he really didn’t know much.
Fern, having learned all they could in their hometown, left home to learn more magic. Despite the unintended nature of Fern’s arrival to Daring Heights, they have managed to end up in perhaps exactly the right spot for them!
I will continue to assist Fern in spell-learning. I am also pleased to see Fern learn smithing from my good friend, Mendal. Fern with mastery of magic and manual skill could shape up to be a wonderful member of our city.
Keros - I did not expect to see my Eagle’s Splendor spell, which I casted on Keros and Safire, end up being used by Safire to score a devastating verbal blow on Keros that sent him storming out of the Three Headed Dragon. The situation, as I understood it, was a pretence of sorts to try and ingratiate ourselves with Luke ‘Two Fingers’. It seemed though that the lines between acting and reality were blurred - unintentionally so, I should mention, as Safire later apologised to Keros.
Keros has a moral code that’s almost entirely black and white. The imposing paladin found it very frustrating being in a situation where his law-abiding, honest nature was expected to negotiate with the cultish and criminal Hekrati. I sympathise with this, and pray he maintains his oath to law and good society. We adventurers, on occasion, find ourselves in moral nuance, and in those times it is important to maintain sight of wrong and right - people like Keros, one hopes, will remain reliable here.
Safire - The half-elf weather sorcerer has a radiating charisma about her. I hope it is not this quality about her that is allowing me to see her pirating nature through rose-tinted lenses, and find it acceptable. Regardless, Safire contributes greatly to an adventuring team with her force of personality and magical prowess. Safire cast a thunderous, building shaking spell as I teleported the team and Weasel away from the Hekrati safe-house… I may need to reassess how aggrieved the Hekrati are with us, now that I remember this parting gift of Safire’s!
Zasper - My high-elf, viol instructor and musically magical friend worries me far greater than the young Mittens McKittens ever has. I hear Mittens is maturing splendidly. I should check in with the young fellow soon.
Zasper, gives me the impression that he requires a chaperone at all times, (and a handy-haversack!). It says something about Zasper that I worry more for the danger he can cause in social settings than the danger Mittens used to cause in combative situations. Advised to not mention his name to The Hekrati, Zasper did the very thing - although given my understanding of elvish; it seems highly likely Zasper is not the man’s real name.
Zasper’s marriage proposals, I fear, will be his undoing. The innocent mistake with Keros is one thing, Zasper’s proposal to an ancient archwyrm is quite the other, and fortunately said archwyrm or any similarly powerful suitor was not present to make Zasper regret his foolishness. I pray Zasper’s eagerness to marry will not lead to diplomatic chaos for the Dawnlands.
