Chapter 1
"Here in Larnmarn..."
Here in Larnmarn, in every inn"Here in Larnmarn..."
we sing all day, like we always did,
songs about gold and better old time,
about great maidens and brave lads!
Refrain: Larnmarn, Larnmarn,
I will give you my gold!
Larnmarn, Larnmarn,
and it's fine folk!
Here in Larnmarn, on every street,
you may meet either archmage or twit,
both kings and jesters drinks together here,
until famous floor of our taverns, they meet!
Here in Lanmarn, you will lose your gold,
not always in pretty way, but... hey! - you know,
we don't let them hurt you, this isn't savage land,
this is your old Larnmarn, full of thieves like us!
And after this short song, you finally know,
something about Larnmarn, I did my job,
now it is time, to pay for my words,
buy me some beer and you are free to go!
by Kailravo, Bard of Mist.
Larnmarn was cold as every morning. Lake surrounding city was and still is main cause behind cold temperature, even in middle of summer. People learned to accept that. 'It is just one of it's charms', they say. Well... in your safehouse you didn't feel that cold - dwarven pipes and masonry keep warm air inside of buildings. And even if you would want to get rid of that air - you don't have any windows in it, so only way would be just opening ventilation shafts and waiting.
Last day, you just waited for a little after Regreh served some good dish... not that you even remember what it was, some sort of meat. This isn't important, anyway. Castor didn't came back, but that was easy to predict... Council want to keep him safe. Some random house in Dwarf Ward isn't safe enough.
Anyway, instead of worring about little lying demonologist, you decided to collect last pieces of informations that you ordered and finally have better look at this whole thing.
Larnmarn and it's situation: Nothing really new outside of that you learned - demons attack, it harms trade and make people scared. More and more mercs come to replace those that die every attack. Dwarves are still creating new pipes all around their Ward. Council meetings are rumored to happend every week, instead of two.
City Guards are allowed to use lethal force on anyone that try to get into any secured area. Thieves and Assassins now have official permission to do it. (Not that they ever needed it. It is just formality) Prices for food are very stable. Wizards do less of their public lectures in their Ward.
Well, there are also some interesting informations about bunch of nobles from Lords that want to escape from Larnmarn as soon as shit become to dangerous for them and they want to hire most of smugglers to work for them, when people will want to escape from city if everything fails and demons will get into other Wards.
Known World informations: Not much happend in Known World since your disapperance... at least some people could say so. But those people would be blind. You aren't one of them.
Shonzang Empire want to made some sort of deal, as you learned from Samer, back in Ravenhord (they sent someone to Circle to make a deal).
Some sects from South Kingdoms became a bit more active and started to support new king, out of blue. Interesting... and suprising. They were in conflict for many years with king now. It may be interesting enough to look at.
Dragon Empire announced that they want to form new generation of famous Dragon Spear. Many people responded and tournament to get best ones is still in progress. (legendary force of 150 soldiers armed with spears and trained in advanced combat techniques. Each 50 years they are formed again and old ones retires. But even more famous thing then their skills are their magical boots - rumored to give man an speed and stamina of an horse for around 24 hour each week. Charge of soldiers running with their spears aimed at you, when they are as fast and strong as horses... yeah, it makes you want to be in other place. Any other place then direction to their charge. Their boots are so well guarded by Dragon Empire that they always organize hunting party to get anyone outside their ranks that manage to either stole or get it other way).
Dwarves priests sings that their Pantheon became bigger - new godlike child was born. When Regreh himself heard about this, he ran away to town, you found him drunk as fuck. You never saw any dwarf so happy. Yes, this is something big.
Something happend in Free Tribunat, but not much details came with those rumors. Some people say that big fleet of people from Far North came and pillaged at least three of those towns and then retreated. Some other people say that they came there, escaping from something. Other people say - it was just an layover and they are traveling to some other place (most of people think that they are going to attack Sand People desert towns, far away on south, beyond Barrier in South Kingdoms.
Also, Masked came back/his body was found! This is fresh one. One day, Circle just send message about that rewards will no longer be provided to anyone. Huh, interesting... yes? No? Why, ma'am? You heard about this... I'm so sorry...
Guardians (large group of people that dedicated their lives to protect rest of lands from those Void creatures that managed to get on Zinoth by Rift) warned kingdoms around Void Wasteland about increased activity of void creatures. Some of those were supposed to appear outside of Wastelands.
Your disapperance, infromations about yourself: You tried to dig deep, among many of your aliases and covers, but you found nothing. Some people spread rumors about Ravenhord and truth behind it, but most of people either don't believe or don't care. Except Council and Circle that pay for those informations. Probably those that survived explossion are talking about it around.
About Hiri and other agents from old House: This matter was probably most important for you... you spend most of your 'information fee' gold on it. You also tried to dig on your own... and surprisingly, you found something. Some of beggars that you hired told you something about girl very, very similiar to Hiri that also hired some of them. She was searching for someone, woman. You heard enough to know that it as about you, even if she didn't knew either color of her eyes or hair - it is actually thing that make that woman you. She appeared two months ago with party of some people, from what beggars says, those were her friends, but they were far to young to be any of your agents. She spend some time, around month searching for that woman, but suddenly, she and her party get away from town in one night, probably after some information... direction? Well, most of beggars says they went either south or east.
About anyone else from old House - nothing.
Blue Eyes and his death: Again, nothing but one thing - Silver Towers mostly either refers to either one of sects in South Kingdoms or... to Dragon Empire caverns, one of those were one of wyrms sleeps. You managed to find both main temple and those caverns and marked those on your private map.
City Guards are allowed to use lethal force on anyone that try to get into any secured area. Thieves and Assassins now have official permission to do it. (Not that they ever needed it. It is just formality) Prices for food are very stable. Wizards do less of their public lectures in their Ward.
Well, there are also some interesting informations about bunch of nobles from Lords that want to escape from Larnmarn as soon as shit become to dangerous for them and they want to hire most of smugglers to work for them, when people will want to escape from city if everything fails and demons will get into other Wards.
Known World informations: Not much happend in Known World since your disapperance... at least some people could say so. But those people would be blind. You aren't one of them.
Shonzang Empire want to made some sort of deal, as you learned from Samer, back in Ravenhord (they sent someone to Circle to make a deal).
Some sects from South Kingdoms became a bit more active and started to support new king, out of blue. Interesting... and suprising. They were in conflict for many years with king now. It may be interesting enough to look at.
Dragon Empire announced that they want to form new generation of famous Dragon Spear. Many people responded and tournament to get best ones is still in progress. (legendary force of 150 soldiers armed with spears and trained in advanced combat techniques. Each 50 years they are formed again and old ones retires. But even more famous thing then their skills are their magical boots - rumored to give man an speed and stamina of an horse for around 24 hour each week. Charge of soldiers running with their spears aimed at you, when they are as fast and strong as horses... yeah, it makes you want to be in other place. Any other place then direction to their charge. Their boots are so well guarded by Dragon Empire that they always organize hunting party to get anyone outside their ranks that manage to either stole or get it other way).
Dwarves priests sings that their Pantheon became bigger - new godlike child was born. When Regreh himself heard about this, he ran away to town, you found him drunk as fuck. You never saw any dwarf so happy. Yes, this is something big.
Something happend in Free Tribunat, but not much details came with those rumors. Some people say that big fleet of people from Far North came and pillaged at least three of those towns and then retreated. Some other people say that they came there, escaping from something. Other people say - it was just an layover and they are traveling to some other place (most of people think that they are going to attack Sand People desert towns, far away on south, beyond Barrier in South Kingdoms.
Also, Masked came back/his body was found! This is fresh one. One day, Circle just send message about that rewards will no longer be provided to anyone. Huh, interesting... yes? No? Why, ma'am? You heard about this... I'm so sorry...
Guardians (large group of people that dedicated their lives to protect rest of lands from those Void creatures that managed to get on Zinoth by Rift) warned kingdoms around Void Wasteland about increased activity of void creatures. Some of those were supposed to appear outside of Wastelands.
Your disapperance, infromations about yourself: You tried to dig deep, among many of your aliases and covers, but you found nothing. Some people spread rumors about Ravenhord and truth behind it, but most of people either don't believe or don't care. Except Council and Circle that pay for those informations. Probably those that survived explossion are talking about it around.
About Hiri and other agents from old House: This matter was probably most important for you... you spend most of your 'information fee' gold on it. You also tried to dig on your own... and surprisingly, you found something. Some of beggars that you hired told you something about girl very, very similiar to Hiri that also hired some of them. She was searching for someone, woman. You heard enough to know that it as about you, even if she didn't knew either color of her eyes or hair - it is actually thing that make that woman you. She appeared two months ago with party of some people, from what beggars says, those were her friends, but they were far to young to be any of your agents. She spend some time, around month searching for that woman, but suddenly, she and her party get away from town in one night, probably after some information... direction? Well, most of beggars says they went either south or east.
About anyone else from old House - nothing.
Blue Eyes and his death: Again, nothing but one thing - Silver Towers mostly either refers to either one of sects in South Kingdoms or... to Dragon Empire caverns, one of those were one of wyrms sleeps. You managed to find both main temple and those caverns and marked those on your private map.
Pretty big collection of information... not always useful, but you know that searching informations is like trying to find golden powder in sand - it takes time and a lot of patience to strain informations and rumors. Anyway, you write those to your journal in your own code and decides to look around... until you heard knock.
'Hey, is somebody home?. Hello?' you heard male voice. Young male, probably young adult. You slowly come to door, with your blade hidden behind you. Looking though eyehole you see pretty face. Blue eyes. Blonde, short hair. Short beard. Blue cloak and scale armor, pretty nice work... standard equipment of Larnmarn City Guard. You decide to open door.
'Yes?' you look at him, now looking at his whole body. Higher then you, but to be honest, you aren't biggest woman in Known World... but you are still pretty high! Hard to say how well builded he is under that armor, but he is rather strong. Designations on his armlet points out that he is one of lower officers.
'Oh...' he offers you an troubled smile. 'Ma'am... Black?' he looks at sheet of paper in his hand. Huh, using your old fake alias? Interesting.
'Maybe... depends who ask.' you tighten your grip on blade. He takes something from his pocket and shows to you... Council sigil. So he is one of their agents... 'Then, yes. Come in, please.' you open door and let him in. He thanks you with nod and still troubled smile.
'I'm Falr.' he looks around your safehouse and then turn his eyes on you. 'I will be your... contact with Council, ma'am. Also, I'm connection to everything you may need from our forces.'
'Everything I may need? This is new. Anything else... why not an little lecture for new colleague?' you grins to him, trying to get him into one of oldest spy jokes. You would scold him for teaching you how to work, but sadly, he brokes it with his words.
'My masters told me about that you worked for them in past, ma'am, so I did not thought you would want this... but, if you really want, I can remind you...' he scratches his beard, a little bit more troubled then before. You shake your head with disappointment and sighs. 'Oh. And by everything... I mean everything. If you will need some sort of support from Guard in some matter, inform me. If you will need something official, like document or license, inform me. And so on. Every Guild is for... most of your requests. I will try to ask Council for support.'
Huh, they really were serious about this work... working alone is one thing. But commaning entire guilds to help you finding those damn anchors? Damn. Well, not ENTIRE guilds and not commanding, but requesting a bit of their help, but hey! It make you feel important.
'I see. Impressive. So you are my contact. Nice to meet you... you can call me Weaver, this is how most of people do it these days. But in public, please use Black or Laizne.' you put your blade into scabbard. He looks at it, suprised.
'Damn it... I see you are ready for everything, Weaver. I would be dead if you would want it. Anyway, I'm not only our contact... I was send there to work with you, all time. As officer of Guard I can do many things even as myself, without any support of other guilds. I hope you don't mind.' he looks at you, waiting for response.
Yeah, you could predict that Council would want their man as a part of group that search anchors. You smile to him and hake your head.
'No, I don't mind. I knew something like this will happend. Anyway, welcome in our group. I think my... well... other part of group, dwarf Regreh is somewhere in Ward... probably "collecting informations". Or like normal people call it - drinking.' he chuckles and nods.
'Good to know... So, maybe we will go around Drunk Ward, I suppose you want to meet Profe...' knock. Knock, knock. You both of you look at door, but nobody respond. You nod to him and points at other site of the door, so he will be hidden behind it. He nods and try to silently get into that place... hard thing to do with armor. Clicking scales are loud. Damn it...
You look though keyhole to see pair of people. Man and woman, wearing black, leather armors and cloaks. Simple scabbards and blades in those... at least woman have blades, two short swords. You don't see any weapon on man. Man have short, black hair and beard, brown eyes. Woman hair are also black, but way longer, almost reach her shoulder. Her eyes are... woah. You heard about purple eyes, but never saw any like those. Really pretty.
Your sensitive eyes also let you see little, hidden crossbows under their cloaks... huh. Assassins. You whisper decide to open door, but before that you warn Falr. He nods and takes his long sword in his hands.
Slowly opening door you looks at assassins... and they look at you.
'Weaver?' woman voice is almost painful for your ears... she sounds like damn harpy. Actually, it is almost pretty voice, but you heard people like that too many times - confidence, perfection and big ego. 'Alexander send us. We are here to help you.'
You look at them, suprised, when they show you private sigil of Varnemo family, not Assassins Guild. Man, instead of cold eyes as his companion, offers you small smile.
'May we come in?' you slowly open door, hidding your blade again. Falr, suprised, do same thing. Pair of assassins get looks at him and welcome him with same nods.
'I'm Avian and this is Natrila... Alex... I mean, Alexander send us to help you with your job. We aren't officaly there, of course. Oh and if you have any doubt that he send us... well, welcome... Auntie.' Avian chuckles while Natrila only shakes her head and place her hand on forehead, sighing... Aunite... damn this little brat.
'Uh, anyway... we were talking about where we should go today... we must start our work, ma'am Weaver. Many people want to talk with you. You must see many things.' Falr scratches his head, troubled... yes. Who the hell he means? Before you can even ask, Avian interrupts.
'Oh... and Weaver. Alexander asked us to ask you if you can drop by and meet with him soon. He want to talk with you.' Avian adds quickly.
You sighs... welcome back, Weaver. Time to work.
***
Time to choose...
1. You must decide where you will go today, as you don't have infinite time to spend on talking and searching informations. While you could use some help from Avian and Natrila, Guilds are probably too busy to help you with those things, for now (unless I point out that you may send Falr to contact those and get response next update). Update itself timeskips by three days, so you have some time too choose and meet or search something or someone. Some activities take whole day, some only part of it.First day - (put choosen thing there, if you send someone else to deal with it, write name next to like "Informations about X (Avian))
Second -
Third -
a) Visting Castor in Drunk District (includes information about state of district, looking around and everything you can think of and tell me you want to do there) - 3/4 of day or whole day if you choose some more activity there. (You MUST choose this one) - possible only for you, but adding others may give more results.
b) Information directly from Guilds - 1/4 of day each one. (Thieves, Assassins, Guard, Council Mercenaries, Whores/Beggars, Wizards) - May send Falr, but you can't do Castor activity same time.
c) Visiting someone that want to meet you - 1/4 of day each (Alexander, Katarina Cook, Kardim Brotheron, leaders of Thieves and Wizard Guilds) - possible only for you.
d) Searching most possible points for placing anchors - 1/2 of day each Ward. - May send Guard, Wizards or do it with your group. Each one may give other results.
e) Try to find anyone connected to demons and leading to more traces - 1/2 of day - Possible for you as Circle don't want thing about anchor spread. May give you new choices and leads.
f) Nevill plan
g) Freeform. (Give me an idea, I will give you activity time and possible people)
2. Eating... uh... sucking? You must tell Council how much people you want.
a) Enough to feed you without killing them
b) Enough to feed you with sucking them dry.
c) A little more then you need to get more Soul points - Max five people each two weeks.
Hope you like this update!
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