Day Three:
Hall-ee-mor Dargess walked casually through the low market of Bral, taking in everything he could see. The low market was known for being a rather run-down place, where business was conducted as much by a dagger as by currency. Still, Hall couldn't help but relate to the strange place. In many ways it reminded him of Irilian, the city from which he came. A city that was trillions of miles away.
"Mr. Dargess?" a voice called.
Hall turned around fast to see a lakshu looking at him. The sight of the green-haired warrior woman startled the bard, but not for long.
"How may I help you?" he asked.
"My mistress has instructed me to find you and deliver this," the lakshu said, as she handed Hall a small scroll. "She has a business proposition she wishes to discuss with you." At that the lakshu bowed respectfully.
Hall perched on a shipping crate and read the scroll. The message did sound interesting.
"I'll speak with your mistress," Hall said. "But be warned, I can smell a trick from miles away."
"You have nothing to be concerned about," the lakshu said.
"Very well," Hall said. "Lead on." Indeed, nothing about the lakshu or the message on the scroll sounded alarming. That fact caused Hall to be extra wary of what was going on about him.
After a few minutes the lakshu led Hall to one of the docks, where an elaborately decorated hammership was docked. Hall noticed the standard on the ship's flag as the Conorg symbol. Clearly this lakshu was working for Conorg, in some capacity. The lakshu led Hall onto the ship where he was escorted into the saloon. It was ornately decorated, with Arabian style tapestries, elegant furniture, and the slight, pleasant smell of incense. A few minutes later, the lakshu pushed aside a curtain separating the saloon from an adjacent room.
A female arcane entered. She was very regal, and gave the impression of pure dignity. Hall recognized her as the arcane Blaise had spoken with at the dinner party.
"That will be all, Pyr, thank you," she said, as the lakshu bowed and vanished behind the curtain. The arcane seated herself on a low, well-crafted chair and poured herself a small drink.
"Can I get you anything?" she asked.
"No, thank you," Hall said, slightly confused.
"My name is Hypathia," the arcane said. "I'm an old friend of Blaise's. He's told me much about you, which is why I have called you here."
"I'm honored to make your acquaintance," Hall said, bowing courteously and kissing the arcane woman's hand. "What nature of business do you have in mind?"
The arcane smiled and lifted a small box. She hesitated for only a minute before opening it. From inside the box she withdrew a brass colored, ring-shaped object, and held it up for Hall to see.
Hall was flabbergasted. He knew what this object was...
"The Key of Darran-Koor... you have one of the five segments!" he whispered.
"And I am prepared to sell it to you," the arcane said. "For 250,000 gp, and a favor."
Hall was even more flabbergasted at this. Considering the value of the Key, even one of the segments, Hypathia was practically giving it away.
"Will you accept Cartanian Ingot?" he asked, stumbling over his words.
"Certainly."
"Why are you, well, selling it for so low a price, considering it's value?" Hall asked, when he finally got his mind together.
Hypathia chuckled for a moment, then her face became very serious.
"Short term profits are not the issue here, Mr. Dargess. I acquired this object from the GATH, using somewhat unethical methods."
The mention of the GATH sent chills up Hall's spine.
"Conorg has made me one of its primary merchants in the Pentiacate," Hypathia continued. "Simply put, I couldn't allow the Key, or any part of it, to fall into the hands of the Black Nimar or any of their associates. GATH was prepared to sell this to the neogi. My assistants stopped them. If arcane business is to continue in the Pentiacate, Solaris must remain under the ostensible control of the White Nimar, or their allies."
"For you, then, selling me the key is an investment in the future," Hall commented.
"Exactly," Hypathia said with a smile. "We arcane are accused of having shaky ethics, but's it has been my experience that those who adhere to causes of good tend to be more successful in the long run, and therefore make better customers. I have always played for the long run."
"You mentioned my doing you a favor," Hall said with his typical rogue smile.
"I need information," Hypathia said. "You have access to information that I can not reach. The fact that I am arcane alone makes me a target."
"What information do you need?" Hall asked. He was indeed curious about this. He had never heard of an arcane who needed the help of others in gathering information.
"The neogi of Solaris," she said plainly. "You have access to a source of information regarding them."
Hall suddenly went cold.
"How did you learn about that?" he asked.
"The elders," she answered, as if that would answer everything. Hypathia sighed and hunched her shoulders.
"Mr. Dargess," she said heavily, "the arcane never take sides in the political battles of other races, unless we are directly affected. This is one of those cases. If the Solaris neogi succeed in their current endeavors, which they will do if they are not intercepted first, then the Black Nimar will have an advantage that may decide the fate of Solaris."
"I don't understand," Hall said truthfully. He knew things were bad in Solaris, but he didn't know just how much.
"The Tower of the White Nimar," Hypathia said, "is under siege by the neogi and their humanoid allies."
"WHAT?!?" Hall exclaimed. "When did they find it?!?"
"About three months ago," Hypathia answered. "It was by accident, but that doesn't matter. They do not have enough strength to break through the tower's magical defenses, but with reinforcements they will soon have that strength. I need to know where the neogi base is, so I can inform the people who can destroy it."
Hall had to pause to take this in. The tower had been lost for several centuries. It was an artificial structure built on the spherewall of Solaris... a tiny speck of sand on a beach, that would decide the fate of everyone who lived inland of that shore. Finally, Hall stood up and faced Hypathia.
"I'll get the information," he said, "but I can not be followed, magically or physically. I don't know how you found out I knew these things, but I can not allow my 'source' to be compromised."
"Understood and acceptable," Hypathia said. "The key will be safe with me until you return to claim it."
"I'll leave tonight," Hall said.
A few minutes later, Hall was rushing back to the Wanderer, mentally planning out his upcoming trip.
Later that day, Hall packed a small bag and started to prepare the Wanderer's small shuttle. Belieth stood in front of the ki helm, in the final stages of a spell. By the time Hall was finished checking over the shuttle, Belieth emerged.
"That should do it," she said. "Your bardic magic will work on the helm for about two days, after which it will revert to a ki helm."
"Two days is more than I need," Hall said quietly.
"I wish you wouldn't go alone," she said.
"Normally I wouldn't," Hall answered. "It's just that Cohmot is, well, what he is. If I show up with someone else he will probably hide. Besides, with all the security ships flying around I'm not likely to run into any trouble."
"Don't hesitate to use the teleport gem if things get nasty," she advised. Belieth wasn't happy about her husband going off alone like this, even if only for a day. What's more, she knew nothing of this 'Cohmot,' except that he was someone that Hall had helped some time back. She knew full well that his mission wasn't dangerous, but enemies can emerge from anywhere, and at anytime. She had prepared a special gem with a one-way teleport spell: right to their quarters on the Wanderer.
"I won't," he said softly. "I'll be OK. You can even see the place I'm going." Hall pointed at a point in the sky. It was clearly another asteroid, about two hours away at tactical speed.
"Under any other circumstances I wouldn't let you go alone," Belieth stated plainly.
"If I get into trouble," Hall said with a grin, "then I expect you to come to my rescue, just like I came to yours."
Belieth laughed.
"Get going, you fool," she chuckled. At that the two kissed for a moment, then Hall walked into the hexagonal shuttle and strapped himself into the improvised helm. Belieth stepped away from the small ship and watched it ascend into the night sky, toward the small asteroid in the distance.
