Post by mcian on Feb 13, 2024 0:10:18 GMT -5
The gilded mace, scepter, or even short spear, as it could appear as any of those who wielded it, clumped heavily upon the oaken table behind which the Inquisitor, Kerridan, sat. The one who dropped it nodded and smiled with satisfaction. "It is yours, your Grace, as you requested," he boasted.
With a smile of his own, Kerridan lifted it and examined it closely. Yes, the rune sigils were there; the jewels glimmered; the shape, size, and weight were perfect. He looked up at the armored man and nodded, awaiting his report.
"It worked just as planned. The Warden Captain arrived but with a group of others. Seems he knew it was a trap. As soon as he..."
Kerridan snarled, "Forget about that! Tell me about the acquisition. Was it on him or at Glengarry as we were told it would be!"
"It was at Glengarry. The one who let us enter and allowed us to rummage for it knew it would be there."
"Did you clear up the evidence?"
"Yes, we planted the false scepter in its place. They will use it as evidence but find it devoid of blood, unless they stain it themselves."
Kerridan shook his head. "That Warden imbecile is too "righteous" to think of that even if he discovers it is a fake, and our informant will be sure to tell us all about anything that transpires subsequent."
The henchman nodded and waited.
"Ah yes, payment," he commented. He lifted a sack of gems from beside him and laid it on the table. "Be sure it is distributed fairly! Do not... I repeat... do not skim off any for yourself. Pay the thieves as well but make sure the mercenaries get their promised share."
"They took some damage your Grace. Several were slain."
"Then give their share to their kin or fellows... I don't care. Just make sure they are paid well. I am sure to need their services again. The last thing I want is unhappy allies. I shall hold you responsible for this."
"Yes your Grace," he affirmed, taking the large bag and placing it into his back pack. "Is there aught sire?"
"What of Itannar?"
Chuckling, the henchman grinned. "He will be out for a goodly while. They beat him mercilessly."
"He is not dead then?"
"I wish I could say yes, sire, but it seems a healer got to him first, one of those who defended him."
Kerridan nodded. "Who were they? Could you tell?"
"I learned they were of the Emerald Fist. The Governor of Trinsic was among them."
"No wonder the defeat then. So they know about this. That is not good. But I shall prepare more for them, for sticking their nose in where it does not belong. I want Trinsic in flames, do you hear? I don't care who you have to hire, even those smelly goblins! I want the citizens of Trinsic to know no peace or feel secure. Is that clear?"
"Yes your Grace. I shall see to it at once."
"I want payment in gems. I have plenty saved. Enough to hire an army if I wished, but this shall do for now," he stated. "Go now, and make the payment. Send word to the informant at Glengarry that I wish to speak to him. He must be kept very close. He might be working for us under pretense. If so, I shall learn of it," he concluded, turning the mace around in his hand, allowing the light from the nearby candelabra effuse the item with a shimmering glow. "This will tell me all I need to know about him."
With a smile of his own, Kerridan lifted it and examined it closely. Yes, the rune sigils were there; the jewels glimmered; the shape, size, and weight were perfect. He looked up at the armored man and nodded, awaiting his report.
"It worked just as planned. The Warden Captain arrived but with a group of others. Seems he knew it was a trap. As soon as he..."
Kerridan snarled, "Forget about that! Tell me about the acquisition. Was it on him or at Glengarry as we were told it would be!"
"It was at Glengarry. The one who let us enter and allowed us to rummage for it knew it would be there."
"Did you clear up the evidence?"
"Yes, we planted the false scepter in its place. They will use it as evidence but find it devoid of blood, unless they stain it themselves."
Kerridan shook his head. "That Warden imbecile is too "righteous" to think of that even if he discovers it is a fake, and our informant will be sure to tell us all about anything that transpires subsequent."
The henchman nodded and waited.
"Ah yes, payment," he commented. He lifted a sack of gems from beside him and laid it on the table. "Be sure it is distributed fairly! Do not... I repeat... do not skim off any for yourself. Pay the thieves as well but make sure the mercenaries get their promised share."
"They took some damage your Grace. Several were slain."
"Then give their share to their kin or fellows... I don't care. Just make sure they are paid well. I am sure to need their services again. The last thing I want is unhappy allies. I shall hold you responsible for this."
"Yes your Grace," he affirmed, taking the large bag and placing it into his back pack. "Is there aught sire?"
"What of Itannar?"
Chuckling, the henchman grinned. "He will be out for a goodly while. They beat him mercilessly."
"He is not dead then?"
"I wish I could say yes, sire, but it seems a healer got to him first, one of those who defended him."
Kerridan nodded. "Who were they? Could you tell?"
"I learned they were of the Emerald Fist. The Governor of Trinsic was among them."
"No wonder the defeat then. So they know about this. That is not good. But I shall prepare more for them, for sticking their nose in where it does not belong. I want Trinsic in flames, do you hear? I don't care who you have to hire, even those smelly goblins! I want the citizens of Trinsic to know no peace or feel secure. Is that clear?"
"Yes your Grace. I shall see to it at once."
"I want payment in gems. I have plenty saved. Enough to hire an army if I wished, but this shall do for now," he stated. "Go now, and make the payment. Send word to the informant at Glengarry that I wish to speak to him. He must be kept very close. He might be working for us under pretense. If so, I shall learn of it," he concluded, turning the mace around in his hand, allowing the light from the nearby candelabra effuse the item with a shimmering glow. "This will tell me all I need to know about him."