1991.07.31
Betrayal (RP)
By Matthew Sibole
Valestis is called to Malagant’s study.
“My friend, there has been another attack. Not the same as the revenge weeks attacks, more similar to the one at the Swaggering Swine four nights ago. This time, however, the victims didn’t put up as much of a fight as your teammates. Three of my guards were overcome. They were only new recruits, barely trained enough to even respond to such a ferocious attack. We need to act immediately to infiltrate the Crescent Moon guild and set up a procedure to warn us before such attacks happen again. The Moon guild is becoming less of a thieves’ guild and more of a self-appointed militia.”
You think back to a few nights ago when Tarin and Edea were attacked and successfully fended off 6 rogues bent on killing them. In all your time around cities, you’d never seen an organized guild act with such reckless abandon. The fact that this guild was so willing to openly challenge Malagant’s reign was unnerving. You are taking this in and formulating a plan when you notice someone else in the room. She is the red-headed woman soldier from the Lanceboard game half a year ago at the old Baron’s passing. She is pouring over some books. No wait, they are journals that you’ve kept on the encounters we had against the guild since you’ve arrived, along with Tarin and Dycannus’s similar experiences. She looks up at you but before you can speak, Malagant starts again.
“I don’t want you to take this as a lack of faith in your abilities. Of anyone in the group, I know that I can trust your actions to be almost predictable in their purity and valor. It makes you very dependable and valuable to me. However, I think I need a military mind to fight what is becoming a military battle. Captain Sivora Landrin will be assuming control and command of our covert team as an offshoot of my Talon guard. There will be no uniform changes. I have given her your files on Edea and the recruits. I want you to go over your knowledge of the other members, Dycannus and the ranger. Tell her everything you know about them.”
“Here is what we want you to do. Put the word out that Edea is being hunted by us. Don’t be seen with her. Have the contact be made by the bard. It is known that he is an employee of the Swine, so you can communicate with him through Tiara. We must be very careful not to expose her or Zander to danger. We will always be a step behind should they need us, but we can no longer afford to be seen with them.”
“Continue to train and be seen with the two recruits and Dycannus. If you can rope the ranger into being seen in public, it will help. The guild knows you are close with him, and I think that he, not she, was the focus of the attack the other night in the Swine. This should enforce in their mind that the task force is made up of the five of you and allow Zander and Edea more autonomy. Sivora will take over for the loss of Makil. I don’t blame you for his death, but he is a perfect example of where a little better intelligence information gathering would have saved a valuable life.”
“Have Edea and Zander report back when possible; at least once a day. They can leave messages at any of the guard towers, with Chuwie, or with Raven at the Swine. That should give them plenty of places to slip by as long as the guild doesn’t whisk them away to a foreign land.”
You consider Malagant’s words as you walk towards the Swine. You are disappointed, but almost a little relieved that Sivora will call the shots. You are more than willing to lay your life on the line in this battle, but having other lives depend on you is a heavy burden to carry. You didn’t even think about how Makil’s death was really your fault until Malagant told you he didn’t blame you for it. It was not his time. He should be serving the baron, not Kelemvor.
Your feet have led you back to a familiar place. Maybe they hoped to see a familiar face. Raven smiles from behind some bar glasses. Tia is at home with a rare day off. She said she was going to spend it shopping. You would have spent it with her, but Malagant summoned you just after breakfast for your meeting. You see Tarin sitting at his table, working the seat back and forth. He still hasn’t gotten over the loss of his favorite chair. As you walk up, the chair across from Tarin is kicked out onto its back. You approach, pick the chair up and set it on its legs, and sit down. Thank goodness some things are predictable. The unpredictability of these strange guild tactics were wearing on your brain. You were always a better order taker than giver. Yes, you decide. This is better.
“So, what’s the long face for? You look like someone took away your favorite holy symbol.”
After you explain this morning’s meeting to Tarin, he beckons Raven over.
“We’re gonna need drinks. Stop shaking your head, paladin, it’s not an affront to your god. You are drinking with me.” You begrudgingly accept. You don’t drink to the point of loss of control, but a break from reality would be welcome. Besides, you are not in charge anymore. Raven returns with two mugs. “Thanks dark angel.” Tarin says. He half-stands as he drops too many coins on her tray and as he kisses her cheek. Were they getting close? You were sometimes so wrapped up in your own world of countering the guild and fostering your growing relationship with Tia that you missed things going on with your friends and compatriots.
“Here’s to looking out for your own ass.” Tarin says and raises his mug. “I’m about to tell you something. Now you can take this as a good thing, or a bad. If you are open-minded, it’s a great thing. You’ll come with me, we’ll pack up our shit, and leave town to lay low for a few months. I’ll teach you how to relax. We don’t need to be here when this shit hits the ground. Or, you can take it the bad way and you can play the hero. Just don’t insult me by playing the hero because you think you have to live up to some ideal. You’d better mean it.”
“Valestis, there is something rotten afoot. Why would Malagant bring in someone over your head? You are a goddamn paladin, trained in combat and general good-guy’edness. Because, paladin, there is a spy in our midst and the baron thinks it’s you. He’s eliminating you from the group. He tells you, ‘Don’t talk directly to Edea or Zander,’ ‘Be seen with the cleric.’ Sure, because he’s so warped and follows the same god as the baron. What if he’s being controlled by the head of the guild for the same reason? And he’s the one supposed to keep and eye on you, and me. I mean, I could understand if he wanted me out, I am pricklier when it comes to orders. I’d be an obvious snitch if I hadn’t already taken so many heads. You’ve done nothing but follow his orders.”
You consider this briefly. At first you don’t, but then you believe Tarin’s words. There is a traitor in our midst. Not on the team, you would have detected it. Or would you? It could be anyone. Why does he know this and not you? You begin to think of all the time Tarin spends on his sabbaticals. But no, the first time you encountered him he was defeating thieves bent on impaling you upon their swords. And that was before you’d been in town long enough to make enemies. He suspects Dycannus, but you believe the cleric to be pure of heart, but he is almost fanatical in his devotion to Heironeous. What if the secret leader of the guild was pulling his strings without him knowing? This must be why Malagant wanted you to report on your friends, so Sivora would be able to put an unbiased point of view on things.
“Well, are you going to comment, or just sit there and stare me to death with those white orbs of yours?”
Tarin’s frustration grows with your answers. “I believed that we had a kindred spirit; something that the other could empathize with and respect. Maybe I was wrong. I don’t like this at all. It’s not fun anymore. I quit.” He leaves in the direction of the inn. You know that he won’t be in town for more time than it takes to pack, settle up with Ham, and walk through the city gates. Other than the first swig, he didn’t touch his ale. Of course, neither did you. Never could stomach the taste. You consider the ranger’s advice. Could you just leave? Take Tia and go? You made a fine life here very quickly; perhaps you could do it again elsewhere. There are more people who are in line to meet Kelemvor other than thieves. (ask for decision) But you can’t. If Tarin’s right and there is a traitor who caused Unron’s death and all of the other attacks, it is his turn to meet your god.
You walk back through and meet Raven in the kitchen. You give her the instructions to tell Zander about his orders and to pass them along to Edea. You are still in shock from Tarin’s reaction. Just when you thought he was really coming into the fold, spending more time in town and even chatting up others besides you in his spare time. All except Dycannus, of course. He’d hated the boy from day one. But he’d never really snapped at you until now. You look at Raven. She’s glued to everything you do, and the ranger obviously likes her. But he still stormed out without saying good-bye. Was he trying to tell you something about her? Does she ask Tia about you and what you do? Did she turn down the place at the mansion to keep herself out of harm’s way? Her bruises were real enough, but with the battle JS gave you, she would have fallen quickly. She meets your gaze.
“Honey, you better get the weight of the world off them shoulders or you are going to hurt your back. I’ll make sure the pretty boy finds that little girl and gives her this message. You know you can count on me, darlin’.” She hugs you and you like the feel the warmth of her love for you. She was like having your big sister around again. You hug her back, happy for the companionship. All of your doubts melt away. She would never betray you or Tia by putting you in danger. Not only were her bruises real, but so were her tears for you. Ugh, your head is about to split. This was not a good day. You decide to see if you can catch Tia in the marketplace and forget what has happened. Then you’ll go back to the mansion and start taking orders, from Captain Landrin.
Cut to Edea and Zander.
Later that evening, Zander has just finished his set. The late crowd loved a story to finish the night and he’d just wrapped up a sad tale of a human boy and an elf princess who’d fallen in love on a ship from Neverwinter, only to have the ship crash against an iceberg and sink into the blackness of the ocean. The elf survived, but the boy drowns. Big tears welled up in Tia’s eyes. She was sitting in the front row, having only three patrons left and all of them were at the table in front with her listening intently. They applauded when you ended it somewhat happily, with the elf princess killing herself rather than living forever without her love. You always thought it was sickeningly sappy, but it was a lady-killer. Perform check. 5 gp per 5 points. 50 xp per 5 points over 10.
After everyone is shooed away, Tia walks over with still puffy eyes. “Did you know the princess?” she asks innocently. Too precious.
“Way to lighten up the evening, Zander. You really killed. By the way, I don’t like story time because people tend to drink faster with your faster paced performances. Remember, the more ale consumed the better I can pay your in gold at the end of the week. Otherwise you’ll have to settle for other forms of payment.”
If you say something lewd, she smiles, pinches your ass, and says “Just keep it up, sugar buns. By the way, your other boss wanted you to have this. Guess it means you’ll be taking a leave of absence. Don’t be a stranger, ya hear?”
You open up the parchment. It restates all the details of your mission and the various protocols to follow when reporting back gathered information to the baron and the new captain, Sivora Swordwraith. What happened to Valestis? Maybe he got run out of town! You’d seen the new commander ride into town yesterday evening when you were flirting with one of the few female guards in the guard post. Sivora was very hot in a “I command you to take me roughly” kind of way. You think this is a much better work environment, two women bosses. One of ‘em has to fall for you.
About this time of night, Edea was usually just getting started. You had taken a special interest in the rogue since that night you cheered her on as she kicked much Crescent Moon ass. She didn’t believe it at first, but then when you sang for her while she trained, her dagger throws were more accurate and plunged deeper into the crotches of the wooden dummy targets. She was tight lipped about her past, not giving you anything to compose about and impress her with. The most disappointing thing was that the only thing tighter than her lips was her belt. You hadn’t even got a feel of that milky white skin, other than the inside of the palm once or twice.
You strap on your weapons and walk over to the Vulgar Monkey. You liked the place because the women were free to serve without the restrictions of clothing. Some of the seamstress apprentices made good coin at night, showing up hung over for work the next morning. You think Edea liked to hang out there because #1, no one would look for her there and #2 because the men were so enamored by the naked breasts that they didn’t pay attention to her dealing cards from the bottom of the deck and taking their gold from them. You see her pulling a pile of silver and copper off the table and into a small sack. It was almost time to cash in. The patrons usually quit when they realized that they could not buy her favor with gold and they could get ass in their face for what they had left in their purses. You pass on the information on your mission to Edea. She agrees and you decide to let the word of her bounty hit the street before you approach the guild. Two days ought to do it.
You perform at the Swine both nights. Edea shows up so it will not look too strangely when the two of you ask for admittance into the guild together. You start pulling ruses on people in the market. You distract them with a song as she slices away their change purses. You two work extremely well together, but she turns down your almost constant advances. You do notice her shifting uncomfortably when you are singing your love ballads and looking at Tia. Jealousy, you think. Women are like a lute. You just have to know where to place your fingers and how gently to blow…