Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

The sun beams down weakly, halfway through its descent and marking the approach of dusk. A cool breeze drifts across the rural farming town of Beregost as merchants in the marketplace start the process of packing up their stalls before nightfall. The large genasi warrior, known to many as 'The Mountain', walks idly around the marketplace perusing fresh produce half-heartedly, looking to temporarily sate his hunger before his night-time meal. A pair of darkly clad and well armed adventurers, both with black hoods drawn over their heads, steals his attention away from the merchant stand. Listening intently, Kayne casts an inconspicuous sidelong glance at the two in an attempt to pick up what he can.

"Talisen," a woman with a familiar voice says to the other adventurer as she walks up to greet him.

"Hmm? Aha..." A man smiles in recognition of the woman. "Been a while."

She replies nonchalantly, almost as if deflecting details. "Got caught up in a few things."

The man named Talisen nods his head in reinforced affirmation to his words as he speaks, "Good to have you. I could say the same, really... so not entirely your fault. Have I missed anything?"

The cloaked woman smiles faintly. "Heard Arkaine finally got what was coming to him. Stupid mule."

"That's a bit charitable for Arkaine, don't you think?" he remarks rhetorically with a grin. "Men have been hanged for far less than what he has done in his lifetime."

A smirk creeps across the edge of the woman's lips as she speaks. "I'm thinking of running an anonymous smear campaign. Anyone who thinks they can be led by that brute is clearly barmy." The smirk fades and contorts into a faint sneer. "I'm surprised his gods haven't shart on him."

"A smear campaign towards Arkaine..." The man replies reflectively, stroking the his chin in contemplation, "I'm not sure that would have much of an effect. After all, what you said is true. Most people are probably already aware of it, I imagine..."

"Make him mad as hell, though. That seems worth it," the woman remarks somewhat playfully, though her grim facial expression betrays the tone.

"Posters would be a nice gesture..." the man teased.

"Indeed." The woman pauses for a moment and ponders aloud, "Maybe they'll elect someone with some sense, then." She then adds in a grumbling undertone, "Bloody paladins."

The earthsoul, still standing idly at the merchant stall, perks his dusty hairless eyebrows up a bit while listening in on the conversation between the two. Kayne turns his head to allow himself a more convenient glance to view the pair more directly. "Unlikely," he chimes in, his deep tone separating him from the general public in the local area.

The woman immediately turns her brooding grey eyes towards him and Kayne is taken aback. The large swordsman cannot help but feel he met this woman before as an aura of familiarity surrounds her. Several small scars mar her slender and deceivingly delicate facial features, the most prominent is a nick on her upper lip. Dark iron plates adorn her treated and blackened leather armor, with several belts wrapped around her lithe form. Many of the belts hold various pouches, each holding a variety of vials most likely containing potions, poisons, and other alchemical mixtures. At her hip rests a scabbard, sheathing a very large and simple looking bastard sword.

"Oooh, an audience." The man turns away from the elven swordswoman and grins up at Kayne as the hulking warrior takes a few steps away from the stall towards them. Now having a better look at Talisen, the genasi notices his eyes appear to be completely black, much like his own, but dark like the abyss. His hair is fairly long, seeing a few strands of blonde and black running down to his shoulders beneath the cowl. Two small lumps in the drawn cowl give Kayne reason to believe he is of an abyssal bloodline. His armor is blackened leather with red trim and a large spiked pauldron on his right shoulder. The man appears to be a walking armory, with a variety of weapons held in various sheathes attached to belts fastened in various places throughout his armor. Noting the scrutinizing gaze of the swordsman, his grin widens and he ventures a guess in reply to the earthsoul's remark, "Why's that? Besides general stubbornness and ignorance amongst them... yes?"

"Fools like to be led by fools..." the hulking genasi remarks in a flat tone matter-of-factly.

The silvery-haired elf pipes in, "Not all of them are barmy. I think. But hells if there are any sane heads left in that Chapterhouse."

In response to her, the tiefling shakes his head. "Most of those are long gone. If they ever existed."

Kayne lifts his swordhand and waves it in front of his eyes mockingly. "Those like the one you mentioned are so blinded by self-righteousness, they couldn't see the gods-rotted truth even if it bit them in the ruddy arse."

"They should be cleaned out and replaced, honestly." The blond haired man nods to himself and pauses for a moment, then adds, "But on the other hand, I can't remember them having any members I felt were very beneficial, either... those have always been the exception to the norm." He stops and blinks his inhumanly black eyes, then states in a dark undertone, "I learned that in Triel..."

"Not even one?" The skinny elven warrior looks at Talisen and blurts out abruptly, "Wait... what happened in Triel?""

"They were too short sighted then," he remarks simply with a sigh. "This is going to get me started on a rant, so forgive me." The roguish man clears his throat dramatically before he begins speaking. "Triel was the time the Radiant Heart and Zhentarim's combined short-sightedness and stubborness got an entire village wiped off the map. If they'd taken a moment to work together, even though it was distasteful to them, they could've saved the village, something they both wanted. Instead, they quarreled with one another over a petty dispute, and hundreds died at the hands of orcs. They stood their with small armies pointed at one another, while their true foe came around and flanked them, then struck..." Talisen pauses to moisten his lips before he adds his own thoughts to the story. "They had weeks of warnings to have averted it, but they chose not to."

"Sounds about right..." Kayne mutters, wrinkling his nose and spitting onto the raised cobblestone of the marketplace.

Talisen picks up where he left off after a short pause, as if he never lost any momentum in his rant. "They refused to see the situation for what it was until the very end, and ultimately a petty distrust of one another - even when they had nowhere else to turn, and no disadvantage to trying - doomed them. By the time they did see, and did join forces... well, it was too late." The blonde haired abyssal looks past the elven woman and to her right. "Ah, hello," he says in a quick change of tone as the man known as Cromis emerges from a small crowd of commoners and walks into view of the trio.

The Doombringer smiles slightly. "Talisen, and... Farryn?" he says with an unsure edge to his voice when regarding the woman.

The lithe elven woman glances back over her shoulder and gives a stoic nod, lips quirking faintly. "Cromis. It's been a while."

The hulking swordsman's gaze shifts to the right, observing the Priest of Hoar as he approaches the pair just a few strides away from him. Stepping forward he utters a name in greeting, his tone flat as bedrock at the edge of a waterfall. "Cromis..."

The dark-eyed tiefling quirks a brow and asks in surprise, "You two know one another?"

"New threads, boss." The woman known as Farryn declares and gestures lazily to the Doombringer's attire.

Cromis nods his head absently in responce and glances over to the large man walking towards them. "Kayne, a welcome sight. Have ye met...?" he asks gesturing to Farryn and Talisen.

The earthsoul nods his head shallowly in acknowledgement, but remarks, "I have only just met these two through conversation. I do not know them."

"Ye should," Cromis replied somewhat imperatively.

"We've met once before..." Farryn states as she nods her head in Kayne's direction. "...In brief."

The earthsoul narrows his eyes and views Farryn under more careful scrutiny and nods to himself as he recognizes the brooding elf, "I thought you looked familiar..."

The Doombringer looks past Farryn to the door of the Inn, then motions toward it with a flourish. "Shall we continue this indoors?"

"Works for me..." Talisen responds.

"Aye, no need to stand about in the middle of the lane." Cromis asserts, looking around at the most traveled portion of Beregost where they were standing. The Priest of Hoar heads south, away from the marketplace and the growing shadow of The Song of the Morning, leading the small group towards the inn.

As the hoarites sits down at a table in the Risen Phoenix Inn, a vivacious-looking waitress sets a piece of parchment fancily designed in the centre of the table... almost like a business card; words are written in a neat, precise hand.

Are you fed up with bullying half-orcs abusing their duty and title to cause more suffering and misery in the world? Does it seem like life is empty of newshounds willing to prompt a legitimate smear campaign against those terribly-tempered blokes impeding the true conceptualization of justice? Then brood no further, and rely upon The Herald for adequate good-provoking mudslinging. Better letter Dave!

The note concludes with an address of the Helm and Cloak, and Dave Counterpunch's contact information.

Kayne holds the door open, following directly behind the blonde haired abyssal. The massive swordsman's cloak billows around his large frame as a breeze forces its way past him through the entryway of The Risen Phoenix Tavern and Inn. Patrons turn to face the quartet with interest, curious to see who is disturbing their meals. As they make their way to a table in the rear of the Inn, several pairs of eyes linger on the party as they settle into seats.

Tegeus Cromis smiles to the barkeep who makes his way to greet the small group. The Doombringer intercepts the man and tosses him a few coins before settling down at the table. "A round for me and my companions, Sam."

Kayne makes his way to the table, the floorboards of the Inn pounding loudly with the heavy footfalls of the inhumanely large warrior. After settling onto a chair, it creaks in protest as it bears the weight of the heavily armored genasi. Kayne glances down briefly with his obsidian-like eyes and spies a small piece of parchment with precise and elegant penmanship. Being a man of exceptional intelligence he reads it over with disinterest, then turns his attention to the three sitting around him; Talisen already seated and yawning loudly, Farryn settling gracefully into a chair, and Cromis just arriving at the final open chair.

The Priest of Hoar takes a slow and careful seat, placing his cloak carefully under him as he sits. He glances up to Sam as their drinks arrive and gives him a forced smile.

Talisen grabs for his drink and quickly takes a deep gulp, sinking back into his seat. "So. Introduce us."

Nodding his head and speaking in a lowered voice so as to not carry about the room, Cromis begins by gesturing his hand to the elf on his left. "Farryn, a devoted of the Lord of Three Thunders and quite skilled with the long blade." He then nods to the tiefling across from him and proclaims, "Talisen, another of our number and an accomplished investigator." The Priest then raises his hand to wave in the Genasi's direction who sets his mug of Mesemban Dark on top of the piece of parchment, using it as a coaster. "...and Kayne. He does not worship the Doombringer but he does his work, and uses his great blade with much power and skill."

The silver-haired elven woman dips her head. "Very Good."

Kayne gives Farryn a once over, appraising her slim features, to which she lifts her chin. Turning his attention to Talisan, his gaze shifts to the egg-white orb dangling from the chain around his neck, before he tucks it back into his collar. The genasi says nothing and sits in taciturn silence, waiting for a reason to speak.

Talisen nods his head to the swordsman on his left. "A pleasure to meet you." Raising a brow in curiosity, he queries, "Interesting. Who do you follow, if you don't mind me asking?"

"My options are open..." Kayne states simply in an effort to deflect a potential religious debate.

"Yet ye venerate one over another, do ye not?" the dark-eyed rogue persists.

The hulking earthsoul grunts in irritation and a slight hint of a scowl forms on the edges of his lips. His words are spoken in a flat tone, devoid of any emotion despite his less stoic facial features, "I have had a predilection to Torm's code of Honor and Loyalty."

"Fair enough. I'm not one to try and convert someone unless they seek it. Tormite or not, you seem smart enough to know the flaws of the Radiant Heart, so I see no disagreement there."

The Mountain wrinkles his nose and reaches for his drink. His swordhand closes around the stein, the heavily gauntleted left hand resting on top of the outstretched arm lazily. Kayne nods his head thankfully in Talisen's direction, but says nothing more and turns to the Doombringer as he begins to speak.

Talisen offers off-handedly after his brief exchange with the swordsman, "The Radiant Heart's code is their own, and should not be applied to all who venerate common deities."

Farryn interrupts her own brooding for a moment and proposes, "The Grandmaster of the Radiant Heart needs to be replaced. Perhaps through politics. Were there any others who were to take up the position after the debacle with their previous leader?"

Talisen smirks. "Seems Arkaine has driven the Order into the ground quite effectively. They seem to have little activity or interest these days. They need new, less corrupt blood."

The genasi breaks his silence and a slight hint of a smirk reaches the corner of the typically stoic warrior's lip. "Rumour has it there was a scrap outside of the Gate involving him. The sodding twit got his arse handed to him."

Tegeus Cromis glances to Kayne and a similar smirk crosses his lips.

"Do they even have anyone left aside from Erza?" Farryn inquires, continuing on with the conversation.

"No one worth knowing by name. At least, not so far as I know."

"Perhaps it is time we recruit someone for them," the grey-eyed elf suggests. "Someone we can put in his shoes."

The Doombringer shifts his gaze from right to left, looking from Kayne to Talisen, then to Farryn. "How do ye mean, Farryn?"

"We send in someone we can trust. Not an infiltration, but an actual paladin or even an ex-member. Someone whom we can nudge and poke and mold to the correct ideals," Farryn replies, her intelligent grey eyes gleaming. "Create ourselves a strong ally and give the people someone they deserve."

"Our version of correct ideals might not be the correct ideals of the Radiant Heart..." Talisen interjects with a hint of a frown. "Someone who actually follows their ideals; That could be done, if we can find someone."

"That is my thought," Farryn replies with a slight nod. "Either way, even having someone who understands our cause might be enough."

Cromis nods and offers his thoughts. "My disagreements with the ideals of the Radiant Heart are not significant in theory, but their actions are inexcusable."

"Technically, the order is supposed to follow the paladin's code. Arkaine is the exact opposite of this. I think if we were to find a replacement, we could then tear down Arkaine and have him replaced."

Kayne's eyes shift between speakers, sitting in habitual reticence. He removes his gauntleted left arm from atop his swordam, then lifts the stein to his lips. Leaning back slightly, he dumps an ample amount of ale into his gullet and slams the mug down. The swordsman lifts his ungauntleted arm to his face and wipes the dribble from his mouth with the back of his hand, letting out a content sigh.

Cromis glances over to Kayne in response to the loud slam and grimaces in conjunction with a few patrons disturbed by the sound, but then looks back to the Elf in silence.

The elven swordswoman continues uninterrupted, "It would take time of course. The replacement would have to build themselves up within the order, unless they were an old member returning."

"Considering that the Zhents managed to take it over... I don't see why not," the tiefling remarks with a smirk.

"Merely a thought," Farryn retorts. "Perhaps something to keep in mind, should any paladin or ex-members even remain on the Coast."

The Priest of Hoar squints his eyes. "That would be... an ambitious operation, but one that I would enjoy seeing completed."

"I do not know any who fit the profile you would want," Kayne states in a regret undertone.

"When it is time, we will find whom we need."

"Valiant?" Talisen chuckles as he glances down to his cup, to which Tegeus Cromis frowns visibly.

Farryn snorts. "You make a terrible jest."

"I hope that we will," the priest replies in earnest. "The Sunite Erza Scarlet is the only member of that Order I know of who is not of Arkaine's ilk, but she is unlikely to be sympathetic to our cause. She..." Cromis pauses and lets out a brief sigh. "...disagrees with our ideals, but she would be better than the incumbent."

"I will keep an eye out." The grey-eyed elf nods stoically. "I have ideas should we find a suitable target."

"It's sad when the Zhentarim plant seemed to do a better job than the incumbent..." Talisen asserts off-handedly.

"I heard he was killed. Some priest was talking about it the other day," Farryn divulges after the mention of the previous leader.

"Aye, slain after a battle for his very soul between Bane and Tyr," Cromis offers in response.

Farryn shrugs her shoulders faintly. "Killed by his former squire or something. I don't know. I was on the way out, so I wasn't really listening."

Looking from speaker to speaker, the genasi growls in frustration after remaining silent through most of the conversation, "I doubt I will be of any aid in this endeavor. My skillset is... limited..." Kayne lifts his stein once more, leaning back slightly while tipping the remainder of the alcoholic beverage into his mouth. A small amount dribbles down the sides of his mouth and splashes onto the chest plate of his armor. Setting the mug back down onto the parchment, made coaster, he takes his cloak and wipes away some of the spattered ale from his chest piece before wiping his mouth again.

"Everyone's got their talents," the tiefling chimes in, to which Farryn nods her head.

"Yer skill with the blade is not forgotten, nor useless, Kayne," the Doombringer reinforces in affirmation.

"Indeed. I believe everyone at this table has a unique skillset. At any rate, what else have we missed?" she asks, staring at Tegeus Cromis in wait.

A light breeze suddenly enters The Risen Phoenix, ruffling loose cloth as the door to the front entrance swings open. The eyes of the quartet immediately shoot towards the newcomer as he steps past several tables towards the bar. Talisen, Farryn, and Kayne all stare after him in ungesturing silence, with Cromis offering the man a shallow nod. The man politely tips his hat, confers with the a man at the bar, then leaves a gold coin on the bar.

Talisen quirks a brow and then squints a little before muttering, "...nice hat." Yawning again, he wonders aloud, "Any more word on our pirate friends?"

"We know pirates?" Cromis asks, whether in earnest or rhetoric is unclear.

Farryn answers his question regardless, a faint smirk finding its way to her lips. "The skanky wench."

The Cleric sighs slightly, "Ah... our privateer associates."

"Word on the other pirates, actually..." the rogue chuckles. "The Northmen."

"Ah, of course." Cromis nods slowly.

Farryn lets out a brief, "Hmm?"

Reaching for his empty mug, the genasi plays around with it absent-mindedly. He places it on the edge of its bottom rim and rolls it from hand to hand. The stein rolls away from his hand and off the edge of the table, clattering loudly as it strikes the ground. Luckily it doesn't shatter and the large warrior retrieves it, setting it back on the table upright. His gaze then goes to the Doombringer. His tone is flat, but his furrowed brow intimates an inquisitive nature to the word, "Northmen?"

Cromis glances between Kayne and Farryn, then turns back to Talisen. "I do not believe they are aware of the operation, Lord Talisen."

The tiefling rubs the stubble on his chin and pronounces, "Mmm... well. It might be wise to inform them. We may need their assistance. Depending on how things turn out."

Tegeus Cromis smirks slightly and nods in Talisen's direction. "Farryn, have ye heard of them?"

"I have not," she responds simply.

The Doombringer of Hoar nods swiftly and looks down for a moment, his eyes wander for a moment. "They are a nation of searaiders from the far west, across the sea. Along the Moonshae Isles, they terrorize the native Ffolk peoples and sacrifice them to the Lord of Murder." Cromis leans forward on the table and his gaze shifts between Farryn and Kayne as he delivers his tirade. "There is a young merchant with... some talent in the arcane arts..." He glances to Farryn briefly as he says, "A good man, by all testimonies including my own. His name is Gwydion, he came to the Sword Coast recently... when exactly I do not know... but he left his native Isles of Moonshae because his village was razed, his family and friends slain by a band of these Northlanders."

The elven woman's lips twitch briefly. Her nose wrinkles in a slight sneer at mention of the arcane.

Cromis's eyes hover on Talisen for a moment before continuing on their circuit about the table. "Since then, I noted an arrival in the Roaringshore..." he pauses as Kayne speaks and turns to him.

"Are we to deal swift justice to these wretched sods?" A sly, almost sadistic smirk creeps across the edges of the genasi warrior's lips as he reaches back and taps the hilt of the massive blade with his index finger.

"Aye, we are." The Priest of Hoar clears his throat and continues, "I noticed the arrival of a vessel in the Roaringshore. It was of foreign make, one I've not seen before in all the North, East, and South, and bore the markings of Bhaal. A fortnight past, Talisen, Gwydion and I were able to track down one crew member of the ship. He was cast off of the band, a band we now know as the Goreskulls, and..." Cromis glances around the room and lowers his voice again. "...and we gathered what information we could from him, then gave him his just reward."

Talisen pipes in with a humorously feigned notion of insult, "Give me some credit for besting him in the arena and dumping him down the toilet hatch, now..."

The Priest's eyes settle on the tiefling across the table again. "I believe that is where ye were in the tale, Talisen." He smirks slightly. "Ye fought well."

"You didn't see. He mostly just kept calling me cheater." The rogue says as he grins wide which slowly fades to a smirk. "Anyway... It was fair and square. But, ah... the tale now. Well, we managed to learn that the rest of the crew had set sail, and we know now their destination as well as their associates. We intend to watch, and possibly intercept them, upon landing. That remains to be seen."

"Since then, I do have news that is unknown to all of ye, I believe..." Cromis begins to states before pausing as the familiar breeze forces its way into the Inn, following the entry of another patron, the faint scent of lavender following.

The silent and stoic earthsoul watches the patron with intrigue, his stone-like face betraying his curiosity. The newcomer was a woman of average height and most-likely athletic in build, if the curvature of her black and crimson armor could serve as an indicator. Her armor seems to be well maintained if you disregard the caked up dirt, mud, blood, and the gods know what else she carried with her from the battlefield. Despite the filth on her armor, her visage was practically flawless. Violet eyes regard the four at the table behind pristine ivory skin. Raven black hair falls raggedly around her face, giving off the appearance of what Kayne would consider a dark angel.

Talisen's words break the large warrior's trance. "Information?" he asks not paying much mind to the sound of the door opening, only pausing when he hears the woman's voice behind him.

"What's this? An assasin meeting?" laughs the woman.

The tiefling glances over his shoulder and smirks. "That's harsh."

The violet-eyed woman sidles towards their table and places a hand on Talisen's shoulder. "Good to see you again."

The silver-haired swordswoman turns slightly and stares at the woman through narrow unblinking eyes. Her lithe elven body tenses ever so slightly, her fingers inching toward the hilt of her blade.

"A fine round of drinks, that is all," Cromis remarks nonchalantly as he offers a slight smile.

"What are you all drinking?" the strange woman asks curiously.

The Doombringer lifts his mug to her. "Marsemban dark is what was ordered."

"Sam!" The darkly armored woman yells towards the bar. "A round on me! ...for Talisen's companions."

Talisen quirks a brow and states in a tone that seems hesitant, "Thank you..."

The large genasi's eyes continue to look over in the direction of the woman, but he remains silent, his arms crossed as he leans back in the chair. His gaze shifts to regard the Doombringer who casts a sidelong to Talisen, throwing him a curious frown.

"I bid you goodnight, just a few jobs..." the stranger proclaims before offering a bow. Without another word, she tosses some gold to the barkeep and turns on her heel and exits the Risen Phoenix Inn unceremoniously.

"Take care, then..." the tiefling says with a slight cough.

The Priest of Hoar glances up as the drinks arrive, and mutters a few divinations as they are set upon the table. He offers a faint nod and discerns, "They are safe to drink if ye yet have thirst."

"I don't drink anything bought by a stranger," Farryn growls as she pushes away the drink set down in front of her, spilling some of it. The brooding elf shakes her head slowly, her fingers finally moving from the area surrounding her blade to scratch irritably at her neck.

Talisen shrugs slightly once the woman leaves. "Met her a few times. Not someone I know well..." He pauses briefly in silent thought, then remarks, "That's rather odd, actually." He shrugs once more, reaches for the mug in front of him, and takes a sip.

Kayne remains sitting motionless with his arms folded across his chest. The large warrior doesn't bother reaching for the drink, thinking better of it, and simply observes Talisen's nervous reaction in silent observation.

"Ah, where were we?" the rogue muses aloud as he composes himself. "We know where they are headed. Not too far from here, actually. Where they go once they make landfall, and what we do, remains to be seen... but you said you had new information?" Talisen then gives Tegeus a meaningful glance.

"Yes, I spoke with a navigator... The landing site is quite close." The Doombringer speaks slowly, his gaze shifting between the three before him. "We had guessed where it was, but he was able to confirm out suspicions; the only stretch of coast between the Roaringshore and Athkatla is just north of here, near Candlekeep. The only stretch that matches the pirates' description, that is."

"Figures," Talisen remarks. "Are we decided on our course of action once they do make landfall? Observation at first?"

"Reconnaissance is of the utmost importance for this enemy that we know so poorly. We don't yet know their purpose, nor their strength in men. It may be that we would do well to delay our attack for another day, in fact, though I doubt this." Cromis licks his lips, looks at his mug, then shakes his head to slightly and continues. "In any case, we will not simply charge them upon the beach."

"Of course. We can observe them for as long as possible, and only strike when we have to."

A slight frown appears on the genasi's dusty face, a sign of disappointment. The Doombringer cants his head and glances at the earthsoul beside him. "Ye will have plenty of opportunities to test yer strength against those unwise enough to earn our ire, Kayne." Talisen grins a little as the rogue looks between the two men.

"The only thing I want to test is their bodies' resistance to my blade cleaving them in half..." Kayne mutters in a low tone, practically growling.

Tegeus smirks slightly at Kayne's comment and is rendered speechless for a second before he continues, "There is... one other matter that has developed since I last met Kayne and Farryn..." The priest nods to them in turn. "...a matter I would not discuss within a tavern."

The tiefling grins even wider, but says nothing for a moment. He finally offers, "We can go elsewhere if it is preferable... or save it for later."

"I am eager to hear," Farryn utters.

Cromis nods his head and stands up, then stalks across the room to speak with another man, to whom he mutters something in a low voice. The priest retrieves a few coins from his purse and hands them to the man, who hands him a key from the wall in return. Tegeus turns to face the trio seated at the table and nods swiftly, gesturing in the direction of the door to the stairs leading to the rooms on the floor above them.

The chair creaks in relief as Kayne stands, the burden of supporting the hulking genasi's weight finally lifted. The swordsman plucks a few gold pieces from his coin purse and drops them on the table, the precious metal currency clanging loudly as they bounce along the wooden table. One gold coin spirals violently long after the others stop, spinning off of the table and onto the floor, where it rolls into the boot of a cloaked man watching the quartet ascend the stairs of the Risen Phoenix.

Dave moved forwards upon the twisting carpet of spring-grass, pedestrians sweeping towards the brilliant black outline on the close, close horizon. The sun was full of forbidden fire; swatting any rivalry to a state of cowering unrest; and reallocating the remainder to the indestructible banner of domineering vengeance.

The grunge-looking town was full of promise, chaos had the upperhand for a temporal time frame (perhaps forever). Some townsfolks complained with rage about unfairly superimposed tax raises, but Dave half-listened, passing a beautifully sculpted statue beside a mighty horse. (he loved those creatures, the only downside was they ate too much, and one shouldn’t depend on the innocent beasts for mobility overly much or you’ll forget how to beat an expeditious retreat) He held his gaze on Thunderhammer for a delayed moment, then entered the Risen Phoenix Inn (it took great discipline for him not to pet that mare, he figured if he merely said his name was Dave Counterpunch; Thunderhammer would of called him a hero).

Dave ordred a drink of evidently exquisite tea (scorched the lips, how unexpected), and picked a booth. (second one from the back-left corner; the shafts of bright light could not ease the habitual darkness here)

He browsed the menu, in divine broodmode.

Smile, you soulless villain...

Dave reached a hand into the subtly-placed slip within his tunic, setting a folder titled: The Grandmaster onto the table, opened it, then scribbled doodlings on the paper with a gold-handled penknife.

The waitress put a plate of sunny side up eggs and a new glass of tea before Dave. (green hair, tall, angular nose, hazel eyes) “Thank you for the chemicals soaring though my mind. Outstanding service like justice; honest and fair.”

Laughter like a hammer dropping from an anvil, “I’ll be nearby,” her tone kindhearted.

Customers and staff were nowhere near the busiest stage of the day, and Dave broke open a sugar packet to pour inside the searing hot tea. He had his amnian chair rocked on its rear legs against the almost clean wall; a smirking ketchup line sagging down it, as the abyssal-blooded Lord of Thunderous Vengeance stepped smoothly silent into the alcohol-smelling environment.

Talisen appraoched teh table, and sat down.

Dave grinned, took a deep swallow of tea, and spoke promptly: “Can I get you anything to drink, and thanks for coming. I assure you I have an undying committment to our mutual goals, nothing to regret by meeting me, Judge Talisen. I will just fast pace into this then. I have had alot of success in discovering others who all had their distinguishable bemoanings about this pig, Arkaine. Let me say right off the fencing-board; I don’t have enough mud. This is where you and your silver-tongued, ball-rolling confidants arrive into the porcelain portrait. Let’s face it; you are the investigators, I am too, but you know guys that know guys. Don’t hesitate to bring intel to me, your role is just as important as mine if not more. I’m only the media-person. I need accountability achieved through objectivity; meaning people with no political strings to ensure intensification of authentic news. Which is what this is, no-holds-barred. The message of Hoar is inspiring, I’m moved by it. I’ve done alot of thinking and I can’t deny this profound sense he’s opening up divine signaling. A symbol; something evoking confusion, fear, and chaos. He has to see it regularly, it has to affect him on an inward-level. I don’t mean Hoar’s either.”

Talisen is quiet at first, considering the implications of what is said. “How much mud,” he asks, “is enough mud?”

“As far as being politically unaligned, that’s not so true of anyone, is it? It’s hard to find someone without an agenda. There’s folk in Roaringshore who could say more about Arkaine, but that’s hardly unaligned… nor are the Zhentarim. I have a couple of ideas of other leads you could pursue, but I’ll need to talk to them first, to see what they say. Arkaine's unjust behavior goes back so far, you’ll find someone with a story about him practically everywhere you look. It’s hard not to find them!”

Talisen sits in his chair as though he doesn’t particularly like his surroundings, but he remains courteous, if a little withdrawn, all the while. He never lowers his hood, keeping his horns hidden beneath.

“What you are doing is the work of vengeance, in a way… less directly than I might, but it is justice, if done truly. And I do not doubt Hoar’s pleasure in that.”

Talisen answers whatever other questions Dave might have to be best of his ability, and listens to whatever else he says. He seems intrigued by his mention of a symbol, as to something which would trouble Arkaine.

“If you want a symbol that will upset Arkaine… hells, that’s the easiest question you’ve asked.” The tiefling laughs. “Everything upsets Arkaine… the Temple of Umberlee upsets Arkaine. Get together a group of priests of Umberlee to perform a ritual in full view of him, fully compliant with the law, and see if he doesn’t go mad and quite possibly attack someone! Likewise of Jergal, or Talona… if someone’s beliefs don’t fit his own, it doesn’t matter what the word of the law is. He only knows violence.Anything he considers 'evil,' no matter how vaguely, is going to get him upset and violent..."

Dave grinned ecstatic, "Well, psychologically striking symbol, I don't believe for a minute that grumpy badger is immune to fear. Umberlee rally, I kind of like that idea. I will look into that."

Dave lowered his voice, "What do you think about getting a (....)”

Talisen blinks a few time at the mention of (...). "Uh, I suppose... but what would be the goal of it? That'd sure as hells send him into a flying rage. Likely a very violent, bloody rage."

Dave gestures expansively, "It does two things; spawns a rage that cannot be suppressed, and people pick up a paper, read about the Grandmaster being(...), and start thinking... If so many are not happy with his term at the Radiant Heart, why is he still allowed there? A strong political message that is tricky to refute. And I am worried about people's safety, just need to make certain we have enough swords to control him. But I highly advise to not kill him, at least yet."

Dave frowns at the ketchup stained wall, "Meeting elsewhere would be nice next time.”

Talisen and Dave stand, heading towards the exit, leaving behind a waitress in awe, as she stares down at her thousand-gold tip.

Talisen lowered his voice, "He has no love for Arkaine, and would love to see his reputation tarnished, I have no doubt. His information would lead even more credence to our smear of Arkaine... Probably, yes. He dwells there quite often."
"Excellent. Thank you for bringing this forwards. have had a few reports of Arkaine attacking earth genasi. Chopping of a kid's hand for stealing, or advocating for it... By the way. If I do this altar article for Cara... what are the chances of you getting some people together to (...)"
Talisen trails off and blinks. "Why? Te'alis is aware of many of Arkaine's crimes. He tried to kill him for a reason. He would be able to inform you of a great deal of things... I mean... it'd be entertaining. But dangerous..."
"I told you why, but I think if we have enough people to keep him from manhandling everything around him in his violent antics...It would also be damaging reputation-wise. Te'alis... Sounds like great potential."
"Maybe... but it will lead to a great deal of danger...And possibly a massacre. Arkaine may snap, and attack the crowd... but that's even more smears on his reputation, right?
"It might, there is a hazard...." He thinks how to put it. "Either more people keep dying for years and years, and people follow him onto the field of "Valor", or we can be heroes..."
Gestures. "And stop this now."
"I have an idea, actually."

Dave grinned. When the doomreporter finally got up from the table, he noticed he'd been clasping the arm of the chair so hard he'd dented nail-marks in the wood. This was going better than he'd thought. He was rallying the vengeance-seekers for the last few final touches on his masterpiece, he was bringing Cecilia's candor and righteous rage to the Chaperhouse.

(song intended for multiple heroes! )