Episode 38 – Topper
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 3rd Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 3rd Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 2nd / 2nd LE (CE emerging) (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 4th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | The River Snag Hostel, returning from Simpkin's party. |
| Date | 6th Growfest, 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Early Morning |
All in all Simpkin's party had been a most excellent affair.
Keldirk's night had begun slowly but, after viewing the grisly death of a thief he had sworn to kill, his spirits soared and from that moment on he was in the mood to celebrate. It didn't take much effort for the other thieves to include Keldirk in their drinking games and the young assassin took to their play with unparalleled gusto.
Craven spent the early hours in Azareth's company but left the mage to his own devices when a comely young thief named Tiffany caught his eye. Craven engaged Tiffany in an artful conversation that resulted in a lustful dalliance behind Simpkin's barn. They spent the remainder of the party in each other's company, sharing laughter, ale and a generous dose of physical contact.
Craven's primal desires meant Azareth had to find company elsewhere and it wasn't long before the mage was engaged in a heated argument with a pompous, middle aged forger in Simpkin's employ. Initially the forger was under the false impression that he knew everything there was to know about the Eastern Oerid Migration but after two hours with a fired up, slightly intoxicated Azareth, he went away feeling like an undereducated oaf, little better informed than a common street urchin.
Creighton partied as he always did - with a total commitment to the mass consumption of ale. Soon after Fitz's execution, Creighton and Ursh Fraxx - the half-orc bounty hunter - commandeered a large barrel of ale and set about demolishing it. Together they took great delight tormenting party-goers who foolishly ventured into their vicinity. One such group of men took such umbrage to the duo's taunts that a fight broke out. It was a brief, playful show of strength from which Creighton and Ursh emerged victorious.
Hours later, a little after sunrise, the assassins left the party and staggered home to the River Snag Hostel. They had all drunk too much ale but Creighton, as always, had imbibed more than his fair share. The great warrior was barely able to stand on his own two feet and it took Keldirk and Craven considerable effort to literally carry him all the way from Simpkin's farm to the city. Their efforts were all the more meritorious since they, too, were more than a little inebriated.
| Keldirk | (holding Creighton's legs) Gods, Creighton's heavy. |
| Craven | I don't know what you're complaining about; you've got the light end. (heaving under the warrior's weight, adjusts his hold on Creighton's jerkin) Next time we leave the drunkard behind. |
| Keldirk | Agreed. (belches) |
| Creighton | (being carried up the stairs, oblivious) |
| Azareth | (squeezes up the stairs and past the others, trying his utmost to appear sober) I'll get the door. |
| Keldirk | (sarcastically - his words slurred) Don't go to any trouble. |
| Azareth | Oh, 's'no trouble, no trouble at all. |
| Craven | (accidentally loses his hold on Creighton's jerkin and drops the warrior's head on a step) |
| Creighton | (eyes flash open at the sudden sensation but close in drunken protest to the lantern light) |
| Keldirk | (smiles at Creighton's pained facial expression) Do it again. |
| Craven | (dimly) Do what again? (hoists Creighton up by his jerkin) |
| Keldirk | Drop his head again - I won't tell anyone. (sways drunkenly) |
| Craven | (flashes Keldirk a besotted smile and releases his hold of Creighton's jerkin) Oops. |
| Creighton | (head slams into the stairs) Huh? (eyes flick open for an instant before slamming shut) |
| Keldirk | (giggling like a school girl, tightens his hold on Creighton's legs and starts to drag him up the stairs) |
| Creighton | (head banging on each step, too comatose to react) |
| Craven | (leans heavily against the railing, laughter making his knees weak) |
| Azareth | (comes down the stairs, trying his damnedest to remain upright) Watcha laughin' at? |
| Keldirk | (heaving under Creighton's weight, continues to drag the warrior up the stairs) Creight'n. |
| Azareth | (watches as Creighton's head bangs on each step) Hey, look at his head bounce! (smiles inanely before trying to assume a serious expression) You better hope he doesn't find out. |
| Craven | (smiles broadly) I won't be telling him. |
| Keldirk | Me neither. |
| Azareth | (barely contains his mirth) My lips are sealed. |
That afternoon the assassins stumbled out of bed, their heads pounding with the after affects of too much alcohol.
| Creighton | (rubbing the back of his head) Damned cheap ale. |
| Craven | (pulling on his jerkin) Huh? |
| Creighton | Simpkin's ale - it was low grade swill. |
| Craven | What makes you say that? I thought it tasted okay. |
| Creighton | Sure it tasted okay, but it's given me one hell of a hangover. It feels like someone has bashed me over the head with a fence post. |
| Azareth | (coughs) Erm, perhaps you fell over. |
| Creighton | (thinks, his face straining with the effort) Nope. I don't think so. (rubs his head some more) Hey, there are some big bumps back here! |
| Keldirk | (innocently) Really? |
| Creighton | Yeah. (suspiciously) What happened to me, last night? |
| Azareth | Um... |
| Craven | Maybe you fell off the horse. |
| Creighton | What horse? |
| Craven | The horse you rode back to Del Mord. Don't you remember? |
| Creighton | (confused) Um, no. I don't remember no horse. |
| Craven | It's no wonder; you were really drunk last night. |
| Creighton | (scratches his stubble) Are you sure there was a horse? |
| Craven | (nods) Absapositively. |
| Keldirk | (looking to change the subject, withdraws Runcas' pouch from his backpack) Hey guys! You might want to take a look at this. |
| Azareth | What is it? |
| Keldirk | Runcas' pouch. I took it from his corpse just before Craven chopped him into itty-bitty Goblin chunks. |
| Craven | And? What's in it? |
| Keldirk | Not much. (empties the pouch onto Craven's bed and sorts through the contents) Let's see: a rat skull, a bronze bracelet, a strip of leather, a snake skin, a dead spider, a couple of teeth, a handful of copper pieces, a sliver of wood and this tattered scrap of parchment. |
| Azareth | Parchment? (pushes closer) Let me see that. (takes the scrap) |
| Keldirk | I think it's a map. |
| Azareth | So you've looked at it, already? |
| Keldirk | Briefly, yes. |
| Azareth | (carefully unfolds the parchment and examines it closely) Hmm. |
| Craven | What? |
| Azareth | Keldirk's right, it looks like a map. |
| Craven | (peers over Azareth's shoulder) A pretty crude map. |
| Azareth | But a map, nonetheless. I wonder which way is up? |
| Keldirk | (shrugs) Those wavey lines there look like water - let's assume that's the bottom. |
| Azareth | (spins the map around) Okay. |
| Craven | So, where does it lead? |
| Azareth | How the hell would I know? |
| Keldirk | (points to a series of lines at the top of the map) I was thinking that this could be a ladder and this (points to a circle at the top of the ladder) is a manhole. And these lines could represent the sewers or some underground complex. |
| Azareth | (nods) Hmm, perhaps. |
| Keldirk | As for these other scribbles, your guess is as good as mine. |
| Azareth | (points to two symbols near the bottom of the map) These look like runes. |
| Craven | Runes, what kind of runes? |
| Azareth | I don't know. I'll take a copy of them to the library and see if I can have them deciphered. |
| Craven | Good idea. (to Keldirk) You say that could be a manhole. There are hundreds of manholes in Del Mord. Any idea which one it could be? |
| Keldirk | My bet is that it's the one near The Whistler. That's where Runcas spent most of his time and it'd be as good a place to start as any. |
| Craven | I guess so. |
| Azareth | (retrieves a sheet of parchment and stick of charcoal and makes a copy of the runes) I'll go to the library this afternoon and, if all goes well, I will be able to shed some light on the matter. |
| Keldirk | (examining the map over Craven's shoulder) Perhaps, by creating this map, Runcas has unwittingly left us some clue as to the Ghost's true motive in all of this. |
| Azareth | What do you mean, 'true motive'? |
| Keldirk | Only that I don't think the ghost has told us everything there is to know, that's all. I mean, it wants us to bring it a magical staff that will supposedly allow it to break through some barrier so it can find eternal rest. |
| Azareth | Sounds plausible so far. |
| Keldirk | (nods) I agree it sounds plausible but I think there's more to it. (shrugs) It's a gut feeling. |
| Craven | I have absolutely no doubt there is more to the ghost's story than it's letting on. But we haven't got much of choice now, have we? If we don't get the Cardass Staff for the ghost, it'll start killing the workmen in The Whistler. And if workmen start dying the whole Whistler project will fail which will make Simpkin very angry. And none of you need to be reminded what happens to those who get on Simpkin's wrong side. |
| Azareth | That's for sure. (remembering Fitz's execution) |
| Craven | That said, I agree with Keldirk. We needn't proceed in the dark and maybe this map will lead to a place that will provide further information as to the ghost's real agenda. I say we follow the map. Agreed? |
| Keldirk | I'm in. |
| Azareth | Why not. Creighton? |
| Creighton | (rubbing the lumps on the back of his head) I don't remember no horse. |
Later that afternoon Azareth ventured to the library in the hope to decipher the runes, but returned to the River Snag Hostel shortly thereafter, empty-handed. He was able to learn, however, that the runes were written in a little-known goblin dialect. The librarian on-duty - a helpful, personable soul with a nasally voice - told Azareth that his best avenue to success would be to visit a professional linguist.
| Keldirk | So, are you going to go to this linguini-fellow? |
| Azareth | Linguist. |
| Keldirk | Whatever. Are you going to go? |
| Azareth | Perhaps. Right now I plan to get some more sleep; I'm still feeling the effects of last night's festivities. |
| Craven | (with a massive hangover) You're not alone on that score, Azareth. |
| Creighton | (rolls his eyes) Amateurs. (straps on his weapon's belt) I'll see you girls later. I'm going to the Green Dragon to meet Shayne, Macca and Calahan. We have some serious drinking to catch up on. (leaves the room) |
| Azareth | (shakes his head) That boy has the constitution of an ox. |
| Keldirk | (rolls over in bed) And the brains of a goat. |
Just before sundown, two days later, the assassins left the River Snag Hostel and made their way across town to the Foreign Quarter. Tonight was the night that Keldirk had arranged for Jock to lead them into the Old City to find Topper. Keldirk left the others in The Warhorse while he went to find Slick.
| Creighton | (watches Keldirk leave the tavern) Okay. Now that he's gone can somebody tell me what we're doing here? |
| Azareth | Certainly. During your recent convalescence Keldirk arranged with Slick to lead us into the poor quarter where we will meet with a fellow named Topper. |
| Creighton | Topper? Who's that? |
| Azareth | Topper is a guide who works in the Old City. He's the guy who led somebody to Rose Petal's home the night she died. |
| Creighton | Rose Petal? (slaps his forehead) Now, I just know I'm supposed to know that name. |
| Craven | (smiles) |
| Azareth | (patiently) Rose Petal was the prostitute who was raped outside of Argos' window the night he died. We want to ask Topper who it was that he lead to Rose Petal's place. |
| Craven | (leans in) Keep your voices down, guys. This is a public place. |
| Creighton | (hushed) So, let me get this straight. We wanna find Topper and ask him who he lead to Rose's place 'cos we think that guy might be the same guy who killed Rose? |
| Azareth | Yes. |
| Craven | More importantly we think that the guy might be the current host of the Trill. |
| Creighton | Trill? That was the wormy thing that crawled out of Argos, right? |
| Azareth | (nods) Correct. And we need to find the Trill for the Marque de'Ahb. |
| Creighton | (thinks for a moment) I think I understand, now. |
| Azareth | Glad to be of service. |
| Craven | (smiles) |
A few minutes passed before Keldirk opened the door to the tavern and waved the trio outside. Creighton finished their drinks and followed Craven and Azareth into the street.
| Slick | (leaning against the wall of The Warhorse a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth) |
| Keldirk | (ushers the others in close and whispers) Slick will lead us to a place near the Old City where we'll hook up with Jock. From there Jock will take us to Topper. |
| Craven | (to Slick) How's business, Slick? |
| Slick | So-so. (looks up and down the alley) Ready to go? |
A little over an hour later the four assassins, lead by Slick, entered a run down hovel on the edge of the Poor Quarter. They found Jock waiting inside, warming his hands by a fire.
| Slick | How'ya goin', Jock? |
| Jock | Where the hell have you been? I've been waiting for hours. |
| Slick | (raises his hands in supplication) Settle, settle. Just think of the money, that'll make the waiting all worthwhile. |
| Jock | (looks the four assassins over then points to a pile of rags lying in the corner of the room) Put those cloaks on. |
| Azareth | (moves forward and examines the rags) You have got to be kidding? |
| Jock | Put them on or the deal's off. |
| Slick | (nods) Trust me guys, it's a good idea. If you walk around the Poor Quarter looking like that you'll be the target of every two-bit thief, cutthroat and thug you come across. |
| Azareth | (picks up one of the tattered cloaks between two fingers) Eww. |
| Keldirk | (pushes Azareth aside and dons a cloak) Put it on, mage and stop being such a bloody prude. |
| Azareth | (wraps the cloak over his shoulders and pinches his nostrils) |
| Craven | (tosses Creighton a cloak and dons one himself) |
| Keldirk | Okay, Slick, your job is done. Piss off. |
| Slick | Huh? |
| Keldirk | I don't want you to know anymore than you already do. (ushers Slick outside) Bye, bye. |
| Slick | Okay, okay, hands off the merchandise. (nods over his shoulder to Jock) I'll see you soon, pal. |
| Jock | (waits for Slick to leave) Okay, what's the plan? |
| Keldirk | Now listen carefully, I'm only going to go through this once. Number One: think of a nice quiet place in the Old City where we can make a little noise and you can be sure we won't be disturbed. |
| Jock | That's easy, the abattoir or the tannery; both places are deserted at this time of night. |
| Keldirk | Okay, the abattoir it is. Two: you lead us to Topper. Craven and I will go in and meet him while you lead the others to the abattoir. Three: when Topper, Craven and I arrive at the abattoir Creighton and Azareth will ambush us. During all the commotion we'll capture Topper and, ah, ask him a few polite questions. |
| Jock | What am I supposed to be doing when you capture him? |
| Keldirk | Staying the hell out of our way, that's what. |
| Jock | I can do that. |
| Keldirk | Four: once we've finished with him, you'll lead us back here. Understand? |
| Jock | (nods) You're going to kill him, right? That was part of the deal. |
| Keldirk | No problem. |
| Jock | Good. Sounds like a plan. (looks over the four assassins and adjusts Creighton's cloak to better hide his armour) Let's get going. |
Jock led the four assassins deep into the Old City, further than any of the assassins had been before. This time they were being led into the very heart of the Del Mord slums. Their destination was a tavern called The Witch's Hut, a place where Jock knew Topper could be found. Topper, like Jock, was an opportunist who had found a niche guiding outsiders around the Old City.
| Craven | Jock, can you guarantee the abattoir will be deserted? |
| Jock | (nods) It smells so bad in there that no-one can stand it, not even the homeless. |
| Keldirk | Okay. Now, tell me how to identify Topper. |
| Jock | He's got dark skin, real dark like he's been workin' with coal only it don't wash off. There are a few like him in this part of town and they mostly stick together. Like it as not, he'll be at a table with others of his kind. |
| Azareth | Are you absolutely sure he will be there? |
| Jock | (nods emphatically) My sources tell me he was there earlier this evenin'. And he was drinkin' pretty heavily, you know? So it's my guess he'll be there now. |
| Azareth | But it is conceivable he may have opted to seek entertainment elsewhere? |
| Jock | (shakes his head) It's possible, I s'pose, but I doubt it. The Witch's Hut is his favourite haunt. (looks around at his surroundings) Okay boys, we have to cut the chatter. We're getting into some pretty dangerous territory and I want to try and get us through unmolested. So, shut your traps and follow me closely. |
Jock led the assassins through a maze of filth-choked streets and twisting alleys for a little over twenty minutes. On their way they passed several large street gangs and more than a few troublemakers. Jock's knowledge of the area served them well, however, and they were able to pass through unharmed. Suddenly he brought the group to a halt at the entrance to an open area, little larger than the size of a river barge. From all appearances the locals had utilised this space well. The refuse was piled higher here and the lack of over-hangs obviously allowed ample sunlight into the area which permitted the garbage to rot nicely. Where the tight alleyways smelled damp and unpleasant, this area smelled sweet with putrid, rotted filth. Jock leaned against a rickety wall and pointed to a well-lit building across from the alley where they had stopped.
| Jock | (points) That's it, The Witch's Hut. You'll find Topper inside. |
| Craven | (to Azareth and Creighton) Keldirk and I will meet you at the abattoir. I'm not sure how long it will take us to get there so keep your eyes open. (to Keldirk) Ready? |
| Keldirk | (pats his weapons and wraps his ragged cloak tightly about his shoulders) Born ready. |
| Craven | Jock, one last thing. |
| Jock | What? |
| Craven | I need the name or description of a notable landmark near here. |
| Jock | Like what? |
| Craven | A fountain, a statue, even a well - anything along those lines. |
| Jock | Hmm. (scratches his ear and thinks) How about Jebediah's Statue? |
| Craven | What is it? |
| Jock | An ugly looking hunk of rock that's s'posed to look like a guy on a horse - only the rider's head is missin'. 'Tis about ten minutes that-a-way. |
| Craven | Thanks. (to Keldirk) Let's go. |
| Azareth | Try not to get yourselves killed. |
Craven and Keldirk negotiated a path through the filth-choked courtyard and entered The Witch's Hut. As soon as they pushed open the door it was obvious that they did not belong. Despite Jock's tattered cloaks it was all too apparent that their clothes were too good, their weapons too well maintained and their faces too clean. They quickly surveyed the room and located a table occupied by five of the dark skinned humans that Jock had described. Every eye was on them as they crossed the room. It was an uncomfortable, unnerving experience which highlighted to the assassins just how far from the River Quarter they were.
| Craven | Ahem. (to one man) We're looking for a fellow named Topper. Heard of him? |
| Man #1 | You lost? |
| Craven | (shakes his head) We were told that we might find him here. Is that true? |
| Man #2 | (looks Keldirk up and down) Man, I haven't seen boots that fine since Amos' funeral. Remember that, Sav? (laughs) |
| Sav | (chuckles) That was a while ago, Caf. But you're right (indicates Keldirk) those are mighty fine boots. |
| Craven | Are you able to help us or not? |
| Caf | Maybe we can. Maybe we can't. (chuckles) What's do ya want with him? |
| Keldirk | Directions. |
| Man #3 | (laughs) Damn right you need directions. This aint no place for you Up-Towners. Bad things tend to happen to folk like you down here. |
| Caf | (places a hand on Man #3's shoulder) Now Dirac, no need to give these fine people reason to feel threatened. I'm sure they know exactly how far from home they are. That's why they need Topper, right? (looks to the assassins) |
| Craven | (smiles nervously) Exactly. Your friend Caf has the right of it. We need directions and we were told Topper could provide them. |
| Man #4 | You found your way here alright. Shouldn't be too hard to find your way out? |
| Keldirk | We don't want to go out, we want to go... elsewhere. |
| Man #4 | Where? |
| Keldirk | None of your damned business. |
| Craven | (smoothly) Unless your name's Topper, of course? |
| Man #4 | Let's cut the crap. I'm the man you're looking for. Where is it you wanna go? |
| Keldirk | So, you're Topper? |
| Topper | I said I was, didn't I? |
| Keldirk | Just making sure. |
| Topper | So? Where do ya wanna go? |
| Keldirk | We'd prefer to talk in private. |
| Topper | (smiles unpleasantly) You'll tell me here. |
| Craven | We need to get to Jebediah's Statue. |
| Topper | (nods) I've heard of it. |
| Keldirk | (sarcastically) That's swell. But do you know where it is? |
| Topper | Yep. (turns and studies both Keldirk and Craven) It'll cost you a silver piece each. |
| Keldirk | That's bullshit, one silver for us both. I'm sure that's more money than you could make in a week. |
| Sav | (laughs) Don't be so sure. |
| Topper | (stares at Keldirk, a nasty glint in his eye) Do I need to remind you where you are? One silver each or I go back to drinking with my friends. (sneers) And if I do that you may as well kiss your arses goodbye. |
| Sav | That's for sure. |
| Craven | Two silver? We haven't got that kind of money. How about one silver and six copper. |
| Keldirk | That's all we have. |
| Topper | Jebediah's Statue? (thinks for a moment) Done! (slides back his chair and stands) I'll be back soon, boys. (to the assassins) You two, follow me. |
Topper retrieved a rusty lantern from beneath the table, lit it and walked outside the tavern. Once outside he crossed the courtyard and began walking through the streets, Craven and Keldirk a few steps behind.
| Keldirk | (careful to ensure that they aren't being followed) |
| Craven | Topper, wait. |
| Topper | (stops walking and turns warily to the assassin) What? |
| Craven | Forget the statue. |
| Topper | Huh? |
| Craven | I said forget the statue, we want you to take us somewhere else. |
| Topper | Screw you! (begins walking back to the tavern) You boys are on your own. |
| Keldirk | There's a gold in it if you take us where we want to go. |
| Topper | (stops and faces the two assassins) Show me the money. |
| Keldirk | (reaches in to his pouch and removes a single gold coin) |
| Topper | Gimme a look at that? (holds out his hand) |
| Keldirk | By all means. (hands over the coin) |
| Topper | (holds the coin up to the lantern before handing it back to Keldirk) Okay, where do you want to go? |
| Craven | The abattoir. |
| Topper | (whistles incredulously) The abattoir? That's a helluva long walk, you know? (thinks for a moment, weighing his options) Okay, I'll do it but it's gonna cost you an extra silver. |
| Keldirk | No way- |
| Craven | (places his hand on Keldirk's shoulder) Deal. We don't have much choice, Val. |
| Keldirk | (tries his best to look unhappy with the deal) |
| Topper | (slips the gold coin into a pocket) Gimme the rest of my money? |
| Keldirk | (spits) You get that once we get to the abattoir. |
| Topper | (nods) Let's go. |
After ten or so minutes Topper increased his pace and led the two assassins through areas within the slums that seemed devoid of people; entire blocks of ruined buildings and burnt out shells. All around them was destruction and desolation, and through it all nothing could be heard save their footfalls through the debris filled alleys. Topper was not a considerate guide; he walked swiftly and carried himself with the confidence of a man in his element. Occasionally, Craven and Keldirk struggled to keep pace with the dark-skinned human but they were careful to keep him in sight.
Before long they left deserted area behind and found themselves in what appeared to be a run-down commercial district of Del Mord. They had just passed alongside a dilapidated smelter when Topper slowed his pace. The poorly maintained roads were wider here than in the rest of the slums and the distinct lack of wagon ruts indicated minimal mercantile traffic. Topper stopped Keldirk and Craven when he reached a tall, wooden fence and pointed to an entranceway some thirty yards further along.
| Topper | That's the entry to the abattoir. Now give me the rest of the money, I'm out of here. |
It was at that moment when four men approached the group from out of the shadows. Three of the men fanned out across the street behind them while the fourth man - a larger, more impressive figure - lumbered down the road from abattoir's entrance. Topper, Keldirk and Craven looked furtively around and quickly determined that the men effectively blocked off any avenue of escape. The large warrior brandished two longswords and twisted his face into an ugly smile.
| Creighton | (grinning widely) What's this I hear about money? |
| Topper | (fearful) |
| Keldirk | (carefully, quietly, withdraws his sap but holds it hidden beneath his cloak) |
| Craven | (recognises Creighton's voice and turns to face the three other men) You gentlemen have picked the wrong travelers to waylay. I suggest you turn around and return from whence you came. (draws his rapier and sabre) |
| three men | (draw their swords and continue to advance) |
| Topper | (stands beside Keldirk and faces Creighton) Back off! You don't know who you're messing with, brother! |
| Creighton | (chuckles and continues to close, his swords weaving threateningly) |
| Keldirk | (eases back a yard) |
| Craven | (baffled as to the identity of the three men but comforted by Creighton's lack of concern) Hey! I said you three had better stop right there! |
| three men | (fan out and engage Craven, their swords glinting dully in the moonlight) |
| Craven | (dances back, deftly parrying their clumsy blows - concerned at the odds) Whoa! |
| Topper | (produces a rusty knife from the folds of his cloak, looks about nervously) I have nothing to do with these two. Let me go free and I'll make it worth your while. |
| Creighton | (smiles evilly) Nope, we pretty much want to hurt you too. (charges forward, his swords waving maniacally in the air) |
| Topper | (screams and prepares to fight Creighton) |
| Keldirk | (approaches Topper from behind and brings his sap down on the unsuspecting guide's head) |
| Topper | (collapses to the ground unconscious) |
| Creighton | (stops his advance and sheathes his sword) Howdy Keldirk. |
| Keldirk | (whispers harshly) My name is Valrorn, you dolt! (turns to help Craven) |
| Craven | (fiercely battling the three men, forced to concentrate only on defence) Hey guys! I could use a hand here! |
Suddenly the three men around Craven disappeared without a sound. Keldirk whistled in surprise and took a step back. Creighton laughed at Craven's baffled expression even as Azareth emerged from behind a nearby wall. The mage had a satisfied smile on his face and clapped Creighton companionably on the back as he approached the group.
| Azareth | (smiles) Flawless. (to Keldirk) Is our prisoner secure? |
| Keldirk | (bends to bind Topper's hands and feet) He will be in a minute. |
| Craven | (to Azareth) Those three men were your creation? |
| Azareth | (proudly) Yes. Impressive phantasms, eh? |
| Craven | (trying to appear unimpressed) They weren't that good, truth be told. Their fighting styles were a little one-dimensional and they seemed to have no idea on team tactics. (pats Azareth on the shoulder) You need a little practice, Az. |
| Creighton | (laughs) Bullshit. They had you completely fooled, Craven. |
| Craven | (rolls his eyes) I was just pretending to be concerned, Creighton. Sheesh. |
| Creighton | (sarcastically) Sure you were. |
| Craven | (indicates Topper) Is he still alive? |
| Keldirk | (finishes his rope work) Yeah, but he'll be out cold for a while. (to Azareth) Where do we take him, mage? |
| Azareth | (points to the entrance of the abattoir) In there. Jock's waiting for us inside. |
| Craven | (nods) Do we really want Jock to hear any of this? |
| Azareth | (shakes his head) No. Once the questioning begins we'll send him away and instruct him to return in three hours. (to Keldirk) Will three hours be long enough for you to extract the information we require. |
| Keldirk | (nods, an evil glint in his eye) Three hours should just about do it. |
Creighton hoisted Topper onto his broad shoulders and followed Azareth into the abattoir. The stench of excrement and death was overpowering and all four assassins covered their noses with their sleeves. The passed along several corridors and rooms before Jock greeted them with a smile.
| Jock | (excitedly) That's him. That's him. (pokes Topper in the ribs) Who's laughing now, arsehole. (to Keldirk) You're going to kill him, right? |
| Keldirk | (nods calmly) |
| Jock | (claps his hands with delight) |
| Azareth | It's best if you leave, now. Wait for us outside. |
| Jock | (leaves) |
| Keldirk | Actually, it's probably a good idea if you all leave. The next few hours won't be pretty. (opens his backpack, withdraws and unrolls a leather satchel containing scalpels, pliers and other wicked looking instruments) Creighton, secure him on the table. |
| Creighton | (places Topper atop the table and ties the unconscious man's limbs to the solid legs) |
| Keldirk | (methodically examines each of his torture instrument before turning to the others) Alright, I'm ready to begin. I'll meet you outside when I'm finished. |
The others left Keldirk to his devices and joined Jock at the front of the abattoir. Some two and a half- hours later Keldirk emerged looking weary but pleased with himself.
| Craven | How did you go? |
| Keldirk | I'll give you a full report when we're alone. |
| Jock | So... so it's over? Topper is dead? |
| Keldirk | Topper is dead. |
| Jock | (smiles) You're absolutely sure? |
| Keldirk | (laughs coldly) Believe me, Jock, I'm absolutely positive. Topper is dead. |
| Jock | (genuinely pleased) Alright, let's go. |
A little under an hour later, Jock said his farewells at the boundary between the Poor and the Foreign Quarters and the assassins continued on to their room at the River Snag Hostel.
| Craven | (slumps on his bed, exhausted) Okay, Keldirk, what did you learn? |
| Keldirk | (lies on his bed and kicks off his boots) Furious Brown. |
| Craven | Huh? |
| Keldirk | Furious Brown is the guy who killed Rose Petal. It took a fair bit of coaxing but, near the end, Topper was very forthcoming with information. (smiles grimly) |
| Azareth | I'm sure. (shudders) |
| Keldirk | Topper said Furious was a very strange man, slightly crazy with an all consuming desire to find Rose. Topper was paid ten gold pieces to lead Furious to Rose's home where, Topper presumes, he killed her. |
| Creighton | Ten gold pieces? That would be like a king's ransom to Topper, I'd guess. |
| Keldirk | (nods) |
| Craven | What do you mean, 'presumes he killed her'? |
| Keldirk | Topper didn't actually see Furious kill Rose, but he said that Furious was inside her home for a little over an hour and emerged with a fair bit of blood over his clothes. But when you're paid ten gold pieces you don't ask any questions. |
| Craven | So, what now? Where will we find Furious Brown? |
| Keldirk | I don't know. Topper didn't know. But I'll have a talk to Slick tomorrow and ask him to make a few discreet inquires on our behalf. |
| Creighton | So we still don't know why Rose was killed, do we? |
| Keldirk | I have a theory. |
| Creighton | Go on. |
| Keldirk | Imagine Argos is back in his room in The Warhorse. He's just come home to find the Black Scroll on his bed. He knows that the Black Scroll means his death. So, what does he do? |
| Creighton | (shrugs) |
| Keldirk | He hears some noise outside his window. He opens the window, looks down and sees a guy having his way with a prostitute. He grabs his crossbow and kills the guy. The prostitute - Rose Petal - flees the scene. |
| Craven | Go on. |
| Keldirk | And then Argos takes his own life. The Trill emerges, crawls across the floor and out the window. |
| Craven | (nods) And then it enters the dead man's body - Furious Brown's body - and reanimates it. |
| Azareth | Based on what Otto said of Trills, that sounds plausible. |
| Creighton | (baffled) So why does the Trill bother to hunt down Rose? What benefit could possibly be gained from that? |
| Keldirk | Perhaps Rose fled the scene but only after she saw the Trill emerge from the window. And the Trill knows that we'd hunt it down so it killed Rose to tie up that loose end. |
| Azareth | Then why didn't Furious kill Topper? Surely he could be considered a loose end, too? |
| Keldirk | Because as soon as Furious emerged from Rose's home, covered in blood, Topper fled. And I guess Furious couldn't find him. |
| Craven | Not surprising, really. |
| Azareth | Well. (rubs his chin in thought) It is a fair theory and one I think we should embrace. (to Keldirk) Can you be sure that Slick will be discreet? It wouldn't do to warn Furious that we're onto him. |
| Keldirk | As much as it pains me to say, I think we can trust Slick. |
| Creighton | And when we find Furious, what do we do with him? |
| Keldirk | We do what we were asked to do; we remove his face with the diamond garrottes and send it to the Marque de'Ahb. |
| Creighton | Oh. (looks around the room) All that walking as made me thirsty. Anybody care to join me for a nightcap or three? |
| Normal Text | Character's words or descriptive text if part of a paragraph |
| Italic Text | Character's thoughts or actions if surrounded by parenthesis |
| Bold Text | Character is shouting. |