Zeal's Evil Campaign

[sonofzeal]

"Come see Santhil", the billboards said. "A land of opportunity", the flyers exclaimed. Opportunity for some, maybe. Opportunity for the Great Houses, certainly. But here you are, down on your luck and running from the law. Rain falls drearily from the grey sky, already threatening Beachhead's overburdened sewage system, as you walk past a store for magic trinkets beside one selling tickets to see a chess-playing "mechanikal automaton".

Some of you have lived here all your lives, and some of you have traveled great distances, from the open plains known only to the Wildling natives, or from the Old World of the Humans and Elves. What unites you is merely that you have thoroughly failed to find a place for yourself in the burgeoning colonial city of Beachhead... and that you (individually, at separate times and places) have just now been approached by an abnormally tall and slender man dressed in a concealing trench coat, who palmed off a single slip of paper to you as he passed. On this paper are two things - tomorrow's date, and the address "816-1i Crow Lane".

At the address you find a fairly sedate small business selling pipe fixtures. The secretary, a female foxkin with a nervous look about her (not unusual for foxkin), ushers you through to a meeting room. Sitting at the head of the table is the man who gave you the paper, a human by appearances. "Welcome, I am Dr Maru. Please, make yourselves at home until all four of you have arrived." He then sits back and calmly waits...

(ooc - Welcome, evil ones! Please describe yourself, and feel free to introduce yourselves to Dr Maru and to eachother)

CHARACTER SHEETS
An Enemy Spy - Wrackspurt the Sly, Gnome Rogue
Ascension - Horace Greenfield, Halfling Swordsage
ColonelFuster - Cameron Galder, Human Rogue/Sorcerer
SoD - Amana, Human Rogue/Cleric
Zarpasphankaris - Ugruk, Oxfolk Druid

[An Enemy Spy]

I sit down at the table and make a mental note to steal the magical trinkets.

[Ascension]

A halfling walks into the room. He is clad entirely in black, and his hair is as dark as his clothing. A wicked-looking barbed chain wraps around his waist in a cruel mockery of a proper belt.

"Greetings, gnome," he says to the room's current occupant. His voice is low and even.

He then turns to the foxkin secretary.

"Don't worry about the belt, ma'am. I won't ruin your upholstery."

Rather than sit, he simply leans against the wall.

He does not appear to have noticed Dr. Maru's presence at all.

[An Enemy Spy]

The fair haired gnome slams his small fist on the table! "where the bleedin 'ell are the other two?!" he shouts with a tne of impatience and irritation. He turn to the dark clad halfling. "and who are you suppos'd ta be?"

[Ascension]

"Patience, my gnomish friend," Horace says, his voice calm, "Our time will come soon enough. My name's Horace. Horace Greenhilt. And while we're on the subject of names, I don't believe you mentioned yours, friend gnome..."

[Zarpasphankaris]

At that moment an overly large, shaggy creature walks into the room. He sits down on to a chair, crushing it immediately and decides to stand.

'ey! He barks loudly. Don'tcha have any thing to sit on for someone my size!?

[sonofzeal]

The foxkin scurries around frantically. "Apologies, apologies! Dr Maru told me to prepare for an Oxfolk, but it completely slipped my mind!" She quickly returns pushing a seat larger than she is, designed more for bearing extreme loads than for comfort.

Dr Maru himself watches the proceedings impassively.

[Ascension]

Horace watches the business with the chair with some amusement.

"When you're determining our pay at the end of this job, remember that I chose not to sit down."

[An Enemy Spy]

The gnome turns to the foxkin. "While yer gettin chairs, doggy, bring me some'tin more comfy! And get some ale while yer at it."

[Ascension]

Horace takes a step towards the table, one hand falling to the loose end of his "belt."

"Apologize to the lady, gnome. She has done nothing to occasion your rudeness. Save your poor manners for our employer's enemies, not his friends."

[An Enemy Spy]

The gnome dismisses him with a wave of his hand but says nothing

[sonofzeal]

The foxkin secretary quivers in obvious terror before scampering off somewhere. Dr Maru, on the other hand, leans back permissively, with a subtle smile on his face. A little violence, even here, seems to be of no significant threat to him or his plans... and might serve to rid him of the less capable combatant.

[Ascension]

"I came here for the chance to watch someone die..." Horace says, glaring at the gnome, "I'm not particular who it is who does the dying. Don't force me to make you my victim. Even criminals have no right to mistreat ladies."

[An Enemy Spy]

"Fine" Wrackpsurt says with the accent out of his voice I didn't come here to kill fashionless halflings."

[Ascension]

Horace pulls the spiked chain free and brandishes it before him.

"A deadly weapon is always a fashionable accessory, gnome. I don't see you wearing one. Better move fast if you want to catch up with the latest trends."

[An Enemy Spy]

"Perhaps, but it must be a bitch to bend over with that on."

[Ascension]

"That's why I bow to no man."

[An Enemy Spy]

"That was really a stretch. But witty banter aside," the accent returns to his voice as he turns to Dr. Maru. What the bleedin 'ell did ya tell us all ta come 'ere for anyway?!

[sonofzeal]

Dr. Maru strikes up a surprisingly jovial tone. "I had hoped to wait for the others, but I suppose we can start. To put it briefly, I need certain items, and will pay you generously to acquire them for me. You have all been chosen because I believe you are all capable - to some degree or another - and because you share no association to any of the Great Houses.

"Here is how it will work. I have in front of me contracts for each of you to sign. These are not magically compelling, but they will be filed in our office on the plane of Mechanus. I am sure some of you at least are aware of what this means." He clears his throat. "The first contract specifies that you may not reveal by any means the nature or fact of your contact with me, or of the errands you perform, to anyone except my associates and I. The second contract is for the specific mission in question, that you will return with the requested item for the agreed-upon price. The price is, of course, negotiable before the contract is signed, and you will have full rights to re-negotiate or decline on any future contract.

"Here are the details of the first mission. Your target is a small black stone kept by a wealthy human by the name of Mr DeFoe. The stone itself functions as a luckstone for him, but be warned that it is not what it appears and is worse than useless in the wrong hands. Unfortunately, due to unsavory circumstances surrounding his family, he is quite paranoid and his property has a rotating guard from House Gomeric. At any given time two Wolfkin will be at the main gate, and two Rattakin will be on the roof. Also of note are a butler and gardener, who stay in the servant's quarters, and two others who perform minor duties during the day and depart at night. The stone is likely to be on Mr DeFoe's person at all times. You may use whatever means are necessary, but bring me the stone undamaged.

"I am telling you all of this now because you will not be permitted to leave without signing at least the first contract. Rest assured that my associates and I would regret your untimely demise should you refuse. If you wish to decline the second, that is your right and Mrs Rene will see you to the door."

He passes the contracts to each of you, then looks around the room. "Are there any questions?"

[SoD]

Amana

A voice strikes up from the doorway: "I've got a few questions, Maru. Three questions: One: could the gardener, butler, and guards be bribed, and do we have enough. Two: What's our time frame for the mission, and three: Why was I not contacted?" Within the doorway stand a fairly attractive (but not stunningly so) woman, with blonde hair. She smiles a small smile at the collected group.

[sonofzeal]

"Bribery is, of course, an option I will leave to your discretion. Your pay will certainly be sufficient, however do not expect to be reimbursed if there were other avenues available. The time frame is a week, but can be extended by collective agreement; none of us would want the contract to default due to unforeseen circumstances. And you were not contacted because I became a little weary of every item recovered bearing scorch marks. But you are here, and my associates and I are glad of it. Please do try to be more discrete in your methods though."

[An Enemy Spy]

"Is "e te kind of man 'oo would give us the stone in exchange for one of 'is family members?

[sonofzeal]

"My associates say yes. However, he is the last known member of his line."

[An Enemy Spy]

"Is 'e married?"

[sonofzeal]

"No, nor is he known to leave the property. Allegedly he spends most of his days in meditation, seeking a transcendent experience."

[An Enemy Spy]

"Are we allowed ta kill 'im?"

[Ascension]

"I should hope so," Horace chimes in, "Killing him would be the simplest way to get what we need... and the most entertaining. Hostages, bribery... too much fuss. Just kill them all and watch as they writhe in pain in pools of blood..."

[sonofzeal]

"As I previously said, you may use whatever means are necessary." He glances over at Amana. "...as long as the target object remains undamaged, of course. My associates assure me that both he and the butler are well capable of defending themselves, but I am certain such fine adventurers as yourselves will have no difficulty. The gardener and other servants are of no physical threat, as long as they do not raise an alarm."

[Ascension]

"Then I suppose we'll have to kill them quietly. Shame. It's fascinating to listen to a man's final screams. I don't mean just hear them, I mean really listen to them. It's a strange sort of symphony of agony... I could demonstrate with the gnome, if you'd like a sample..."

[An Enemy Spy]

The Gnome glares at him. "Make one move an we'll see jus' 'ow green yer blood is!"