Great Bazaar Suffers a Rash of Thefts

[*A. Thereal]

[OOC: This plot will continue. Please have patience while I address client issues.]

[*A. Thereal]

[Until client-side issues are resolved, weÂ’ll continue here.]

AlathraÂ’s and RedfangÂ’s plot succeeds, their planted jewels apparently stolen by the King as they intended. The scent of beetle entrails is easy enough for Redfang to follow throughout the alleys of the ClerkÂ’s Ward and into the Hive where the trail splits in twain. One trail follows the southerly street, while the other break away toward the north. But scents are equally strong.

[*Felight]

Suspicious for the many trails meaning many followers expecting an ambush and a false trail Redfang goes undercover to find out where the trails go by using a volunteer 'blind' gnome lady as a decoy and coloring to look like a dirty crossbreed mutt rather than the bred well groomed tracking hound.

Drawing out paths they take around the hive ward, circling around the huge area to call out the cold areas on his search grid to focus on the hot spots, marking the trails of smell and quickly mapping out any paths made by the stolen items.

After the mapping has been done of where the trails have been sensed it was brought to barracks by the real Redfang and his helper. Trying to tie the leads down and give any his findings before he is put to regular training from his bazaar watch.

(( Back to work for 2 weeks, only forum access

[*A. Thereal]

Redfang and disguised Jessaly meticulously track the skein of trails throughout the Hive to discover a frustrating result. Many of the trails lead to the local taverns, two lead to the local Faction headquarters – the Mortuary and Gatehouse – and one even ends at Abigail Winter’s clinic for the needy. But most lead into derelict shacks that smell of grime and waste. Unfortunately their efforts also inspire a new inconvenience. As they circuit the Hive, they begin to note dark individuals watching them from shadowy corners and alleys. These figures aren’t making any effort to hide themselves, or the tell-tale signs of their Doomguard membership. One man burly man’s cruel eyes especially watch Redfang, perhaps recognizing the Harmonium hound through his disguise.

Meanwhile back in the Great Bazaar Khazeet turns to find another of his precious whiskey bottles missing, and in place is a letter. Tarion reaches for a scroll, and finds a copy of the same letter. Minerva finds the letter where her purse ought to be. Throughout the Bazaar merchants suddenly outcry as they find the same uniform missive where valuables had previously been.

“That’s it!” Shouts Tarion, “I’ve had enough of this! You there,” he says to a passing Harmonium patrol. “You can tell your Fated co-conspirators that they’ll not receive another coin in taxes from me until you all provide services paid for!” He hurls his letter at the guardsman and troops into Khazeet’s for a drink.

“Here here!”

“Agreed!”

“‘Bout time!” Shout the other Bazaar shop keepers, each one now committing to the cause.

The Harmonium patrolman opens and reads the scrolls before immediately rushing off to the barracks.

[Letter content found here: http://z13.invisionfree.com/nwn2planesc ... topic=6633]

[*Melancholy_Dreamer]

Is stopped several times in the course of her wanderings in the Bazaar. Fortunately, no evidence exists she is involved.

"Thank you very much", she mutters. "I come to the Bazaar to relax, not work. "

The young tiefling makes an effort to, instead of listening quietly from rooftops or eaves, unseen, to being seen and heard and obvious. This week, at least.

She keeps hear ears open, of course, if any Dark comes her way about these jobs being pulled. :ph43r:

[*Melancholy_Dreamer]

~A shadow flits from rootop to rooftop.~ :ph43r:

[*A. Thereal]

Khazeet suddenly roars in frustration, interrupting his patronsÂ’ drinks. He stands rigid behind his counter, glaring at another note. Once again he reads aloud:

“Khazeet, read this precisely as written, just like last time. That’s a good boy. Cagers! Adventurers! Red monkeys! What is this tripe posted throughout the Wards? Savoir? Liberator? I’m The King and kings do not save nor liberate. We claim, conquer and rule. And that’s precisely what I’m doing. I care nothing for Cagers outside the Hive, I care nothing for any man or woman who has never felt the cold blade of desperation. This is why I target the fops of the Great Bazaar while the Hivers benefit! This is why I’ve demanded that Mover Amaku Yamikaze immediately resign her commission!

“The current Hive chaos is lamentable, but is the necessary result of Mover Yamikaze’s refusal to face the consequences of her actions, and Factol Sarin’s monumental lack of leadership and responsibility. The Mover in question organized a dangerous and incendiary plot just outside a Hive orphanage to play cat and mouse with an insignificant journalist. There was fire! There were soldiers! There was intent for blood! Just outside an orphanage’s doors – the children weren’t even evacuated! I will not stand for such mistreatment of my people within my own domain!

“Let it be known to all that the Great Bazaar will continue to suffer loss of property on an escalating scale until Mover Amaku Yamikaze publically resigns her commission and marches unarmed and unarmored into the Hive to pay the price for her pettiness and incompetence. If she complies I’ll grant the Great Bazaar a reprieve from my campaign. You have my word as king.

“You know what to do, Khazeet.”

“Argh!” The efreet growls and slams his fist down onto the parchment, instantly burning it to ash. “I’ll have ye know I found this where my purse ought to be!” He hollers at any nearby Harmonium. “Ye better see to this King’s demands ‘r ye’ll have a riot on ye hands!”

[*A. Thereal]

Following the venture of Nyrralah, Brogar, and Mara into the Hive several new rumors have begun circulating, the most frightening of which is that The King apparently steals via a strange form of teleportation and that the trio watched him steal away a manÂ’s still-beating heart from his chest. Despite the rumorÂ’s troubling nature, the merchants of the Great Bazaar have begun employing the use of wards against scrying and teleportation. Much to their delight The KingÂ’s thefts have since ceased.

[*A. Thereal]

The Great Bazaar merchants havenÂ’t suffered thefts since the implementation of scrying and teleportation wards. Either the combination effectively prevents The KingÂ’s thieving methods, or he has stopped for mysterious reasons. The merchants have ceased their harassment and petitions against the Harmonium, and resumed paying their taxes. However, they are clearly favoring adventurers at the moment, since it was they and not the authorities that provided the means to thwart The King.