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Samuel Hutchinson |
![Aredil Sultur](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9543-Aredil_500.jpeg)
Samuel stands on top of a cart given to him at a very reasonable discount but a street vendor. This is now his stage and he needs to work for his supper for the first time in months. Luckily he was not inexperienced at this.
He takes out three gold coins and begins juggle them psychically. When enough bored streetgoers and ignorant rubes stopped in front of him, he clears his throat
“My dear Ustalavic hosts! I issue a challenge! Ten gold coins to whoever can stop me from casting a spell to create a magical burst of light. You have three tries. If I win then everyone who tried must give me one silver each. Who here can stop the might of my magic?”
“I can,” replies a confident youth. He can't be more than 16. “I know how stop a wizard; you just bind their hands. That’s what the guards do.”
Samuel chuckles theatrically. “Of course, dear boy. An excellent suggestion. This is of course the most common answer so I have this rope here. Come here, dear boy, and feel the rope.” The boy does as told and shows the crowd the strength of the rope. “Now come bind my hand nice and tight. Let everyone know that Samuel Hutchinson is not a cheat.”
Once the boy has done so Samuel grins and a bright flare of light bursts out in of the youth. He staggers back and nearly falls onto an older woman. The crowd has a good laugh as the young man rights himself and apologizes to the lady.
“One silver then, there’s a good lad. Who else challenges my might? You sir? Ma’am?”
A woman who appeared to be in her early thirties chimed in. “The guards also gag mages.”
“That they do! So many good citizens so keenly aware of how criminals are treated. Very interesting…” After the crowd gives a few half-hearted laughs at his little joke. The woman then gags Samuel with a cloth that Samuel provides. She of course proved to the crowd that it was real before doing so. Still Samuel is able to cast the brilliant light.
“Is there still someone who would challenge me or may I collect my silver?” Samuel says after the gag was removed.
Then another woman speaks up. This woman is younger than the other and thinner too yet feels older. This is perhaps due to the impressive robes she wares or the short cropping of her hair. “I have a test for you, oh great mage. Cast your spell ten times then attempt it again while bound and gagged. I will pay all the silver of everyone if you can.”
Samuel genuinely grins at this challenge. This was a far more intelligent test; everyone knew that mages can only cast so much magic in one day. On a normal mage, this test would deplete the spell slots given to silent or still versions of the Flare spell forcing him to use the normal version of the spell which required speech to cast. But Samuel Hutchinson is no ordinary mage. Even the woman, clearly a mage herself, is shocked when Samuel passed her test handily.
Samuel bows before the stunned audience and bids them farewell after collecting his silver. He had made 12 pieces in total. "Never forget the name Samuel Hutchinson for someday you may tell your grandchildren you knew the name before everyone else did."
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Osyck sees a crowd, gathered in front of an impromptu stage. Wandering over, while stuffing his face with greasy gobbets of meat-pie, he watches Hutchinson finish his act.
He scrutinizes the crowd, trying to pick out this man's accomplices, no doubt casting spells through some kind of enchanted talisman.
I don't expect that we actually need to 'meet' just yet, but we might cross paths once or twice before actual play begins .
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Arvanya Pertovi |
![Vorrea Talminari](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9274-Vorrea2_500.jpeg)
It is a truly awful day on the 21st of Kuthona as the revelry of Lepidstadt commences.
At 8:14 am a black carriage is pulled onto the grounds by a sickly looking mare and a corpse-like coachman. The coachman detaches the animal and leads it off, leaving the carriage unattended.
At 9:00 am the carriage remains, silent and still, its black curtains drawn.
By 10:00, two individuals have approached. The first, a young boy, endeavors to climb to its door, but spontaneously bursts into tears and is pulled away by his mother. The second, the widow Upswitch, tries to peak through the curtains. She jumps back, startled, and continues on her way.
By 11, no living thing has stirred.
But at precisely 11:13 and one-half minutes, the carriage door creaks open, and from it emerges a young girl. She wears a white dress with a black satin belt, and simple black leather shoes. Her skin is porcelain. Her long silver hair seems to glow the ghastly light of the winter moon. Silently, she floats into the crowd. A child begins to cry.
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
There's no trickery: its a kind of magic that draws upon the power of the mind.
Turning, Osyck glares at the woman who had slipped behind him: a somewhat glacial and distant beauty in the conservative dress of a well-to-do merchant woman.
Mistress Winter.
Osyck makes a small, stiff bow.
Did our friends like their gift?
Osyck visibly pales, before answering, in a whisper.
That was Morallon's Whispers of the Void , the unexpurgated first edition!
Yes, a very entertaining read; I could get you a copy, if you like. The chapter about 'The Shrouded Court' is very edifying.
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Samuel Hutchinson |
![Aredil Sultur](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9543-Aredil_500.jpeg)
Samuel steps off his impromptu stage and into the larger crowd. It wouldn't do to challenge the crowd again after seeing so many so thoroughly embarrassed. The field should lay fallow for an hour or so.
For now there were the sights to see and information to gather. Perhaps he could find a library in this semi-civilized land.
His thoughts are broken by a conversation between sloppy man and well-dress woman. Such a mismatched pair would be somewhat noticeable on its own but when he heard about "editions" and "copies" he knew he couldn't pass up this opportunity.
"I'm terribly sorry to intrude but did I hear something about books? If one of you is a bookseller, I in the market for some particular titles I have found myself quite unable to procure as of yet."
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Samuel Hutchinson |
![Aredil Sultur](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9543-Aredil_500.jpeg)
Samuel gives a winning smile. "As a proud Taldane, how can I be anything else? But my knowledge of Ustalav's culture is sadly lacking. I would quite interested any literature regarding the history and nobility of this land. Failing that there are other more...esoteric subjects I am interested in as well."
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Samuel Hutchinson |
![Aredil Sultur](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9543-Aredil_500.jpeg)
Samuel turns to face Jhanek. I have no idea what Jhanek looks like. Samuel will judge based on appearance. "Well then I shall have to meet this 'Kralus' there. Good day, Madam; Sir."
With that, Samuel turned and walked away. He soon found the Risen Rat Tavern, his favorite local house of ill repute, and stepped inside.
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Jhanek is the medieval equivalent of a nerd: thin, sallow, in ill-fitting clothes that look they could use a good washing.
Mistress Winter strides away, like war galley sailing to battle.
Osyck stands alone, in the middle of the square, the very picture of irresolution.
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Curse that woman, and her infernal schemes! Jhanek mutters to himself, as he drinks. That Taldane will be sorry that he got caught in her infernal net!
He pays his bill, and staggers out into a night that already promises a frosty morn.
I had better see what trouble Kralus is getting up to!
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
The brisk, frosty air soon clears his head, as Jhanek makes his way to
the shop of the book-seller, Ossaneus. Going around to the back door, he knocks; and the door is opened, just slightly; from the shadows within he can hear a wheezing, intake of breath.
I hear that the Queen in Red may dance here tonight?
Upon hearing the agreed upon pass-phrase, Ossaneus opens the door, admitting Jhanek into the dusty back-room of his shop.
Has a strutting popinjay of a Taldane shown up here tonight? Jhanek asks, as he accepts a hooded cloak from the old book-seller; really a silly affection, Jhanek thinks, as pretty much everyone here knows each other.
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Samuel Hutchinson |
![Aredil Sultur](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9543-Aredil_500.jpeg)
Samuel dusts off his jacket and approaches the bookseller. After sharing the codephrase, he makes his way to the back-room. Though confused by the need for a cloak, he doesn't turn it down.
Now in proper attire, he addresses those gathered. "I thank you for the invitation to your gathering. Though I must say, this is quite a bit of trouble for literature."
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Jhanek frowns, as, cloaked and cowled, he ascends the narrow stairs to the upstairs room where 'the circle' gathers.
There is portly Kralus. Hmmm, is it just the dim light, or does does the debris of many a ruined night's sleep show in the dark rings beneath his eyes?
And of course Cyameana is here, inky locks of hair spilling out from under her hood, framing her pale, bloodless face. Could it be true what she hints, that she has a lover who is an 'aristocrat of the night'?
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Kralus stares, somewhat haughtily, at the brash young man.
I am Kralus. I cannot imagine what it is you have to tell me that I would find the least bit interesting.
His voice is dripping with icy sarcasm.
Seeing the color raise in the Taldane's face, Jhanek speaks.
I have it a on a good authority that he has...'unique' powers, which might possess some efficacy in alleviating your sister's distress.
It would almost be worth it to let Kralus continue to insult Master Hutchinson, who I'm sure would re-pay that pompous jackass with a good thrashing; but I'm sure that is not why Mistress Winter sent him here tonight.
Kralus appears to dwindle within his cloak.
Ahh. Interesting. We'll have to talk about this later then. Please, take a place at the table Samuel Hutchinson of Taldor.
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Samuel Hutchinson |
![Aredil Sultur](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9543-Aredil_500.jpeg)
Samuel raises an eyebrow at Kralus' sarcasm. "I must protest, my good man. I did not come to tell but to buy. I was told I can acquire what I seek here."
After Kralus invites him to sit, he lets out a dramatic sigh. "Very well then, I can wait through a meeting. I've been been waiting for years to know what I seek to learn here; may as well wait a while longer."
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Jhanek takes a seat at the table. He sees cadaverous Renaurd, sitting to the left of wan Cyameana, fidgeting with a small cube of dull grey...metal...stone?
Ossaneus closes the door softly behind him, and takes his place at the table.
For a moment, nothing is said, and then, without preamble, Kralus begins.
So, Jhanek was able to provide me with a copy of Mihrond's Night Beyond Night, which I have found, very illuminating. In it he says that 'The Veiled Realms' are always close; the vast masses of humanity have trained themselves to not see that dominion, or its inhabitants.
Mihrond...hmmm, didn't he burn out his own eyes with acid? Renaurd interjects, a sly smile on his thin lips; with the cube between the first two fingers and the thumb of his left hand, he raps the dusty table-top.
Yes, Cyameana coos, But the visions he had hoped to shut out still continued to come to him; isn't that true Jhanek, or do I remember wrongly?
Jhanek nods grimly.
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Kralus snorts derisively.
A legend meant to frighten those seekers of truth who followed after him: there are accounts of him living a long and comfortable life. Anyway, we are not timid old fish-wives to rattle our prayer-beads and lock our shutters tight when the sun goes down!
Ossaneus continues to absently play with his gray stone.
Is the wind raising outside? Jhanek is distracted by something white that fluttered by the room's one narrow window.
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Jhanek Oscyk |
![Roldare](http://cdn.paizo.com/image/avatar/PZO9520-Roldare.jpg)
Kralus: Well said! There are great secrets hidden in the shadows, where the timid and near-sighted fear to look!
Jhanek is coming to regret that third tankard of ale he had before coming here tonight, as he is feeling a head-ache coming on; and will Renaurd not put that dam stone away!