"Keep him alive, I have a few more questions for him. If you would."
He began already admiring their enemy just a scosh more. It was a smart plan infiltrating each of the local gangs, and even leaving them there, It seemed their foe was a plotter and a planner.
Yes. You gain the name of his contact. A withered old drow prophetess who passes her twilight years telling the fortunes of merchants and passers-by.
So, we pay her a visit for the next name in line?
Vicalan looks over at the half orc.
"Why?"
He asked the question, predicting the answer. Their were better ways and truthfully what was the point of destroying this particular gang. They had showed some cunning, but their numbers were low as was their worth. What benefit was to be had in dogging them, their were better uses of time and resources.
A strange coughing-laugh reverberates through the room, and Hakk looks at Vicalan from his claw-making graffiti.
"WHY? Because if we do not, we LOOK WEAK. We are new here, so we must establish ourselves. So we must be the Spider, not the Fly my dear wizard. I would think living in city of Drow should have taught you THAT by now. From MY perspective, politics aside of course, it would just be fun. Besides, this enemy leader sounds like he should have plenty of magical toys for you to play with once he's gone. So is that 'incentive' enough for you?"
Vicalan glances over at the draegloth.
"So you think and act like every other drow in this city. These are not nobles and this is not a house. No one cares if we look weak, which is exactly what they used to their advantage. Just like they expect you to come after them and they will have another trap waiting. Making themselves appear weak allows them to lure in victims. They did not trust this pawn with anything worth while. The next pawn will be the same and they will draw you in again with some planted seed for this very scenario. Making you a victim yet again."
He places a gloved palm between his brows, applying pressure. He was missing the soothing baths already. Spiders and flies, nonsense, this was a game of strategy and maneuvers. Vermin had no thoughts, only instinct and their was always something that preyed upon them. Only thinking beings broke away from the food chain, rising beyond their abilities by way of more then what nature and their birth granted them.
"I do not let arrogance or greed get in the way of my mind. Treasure means nothing if your dead. Explain to me how you obtained a group, then trusted that they were loyal to any degree in such a short amount of time? Did you even learn their names? Their abilities and skills? Their reasons for not simply turning on you? Make no mistake, they have those reasons now more then they did before."
He had made his own mistake by rushing into things. He expected they were prepared, now he was finding that was not the case. One does not build a power base over night or haphazardly. Running after this group like a beast with the scent of blood would lead to self destruction. Their are many ways, certainly better ways. They had gained a resource and were squandering it away on making a power play. He would like to know the reason.
"I may be late to this little party. Would someone enlighten me as to why this group must be destroyed at all cost? Aside from the remarks of pride and showing weakness of course."
Nathaniel watches the two--drow and demon--with an amused expression on his bearded face.
Hakk laughs again and smiles dreadfully at the conjuror and raises a hairy eyebrow.
"Pride? Arrogance? Greed? I have none of those things! Not anymore at least since mother died. Either way, I like you Vic! You speak your mind most clearly. Typical Wizard attitude however: No faith in Loth's way or will. This world, and most others as I understand, will always be: Devour or be Devoured, like it or not. Organize, and 'think ahead' all you want. I promise that Chaos in all it's glory will welcome you into its embrace. Stay...leave...trust...hate...all your choice. But take NO chances and you earn no REAL rewards. You want to suggest tactics? Then do so! Be my guest, there are those here more than willing to listen. Such things are not my specialty. Obviously. But do not insult our intelligence, or mine, with YOUR pride or arrogance: YOU missed the trap too my good sir."
"Remind me who not only asked me to come, but rushed me."
He says coolly. What he missed was judging them to be competent. A mistake he will not be repeating. As ever their was no reasoning with a fanatic, he would leave it at that. It was a pointless to do otherwise.
Phaenox listens to the back and forth, with both sides making decent points. He turns to Vicalan "Well, I believe the idea was an attempt to re-establish ourselves. Right now, we are just a band of House-less misfits. And while yes, I could go back to my life as a minor agent of my House, I am hoping to use this opportunity to raise my station. Why are you still here Vic? If I recall correctly, you're not even from this city. What's keeping you around, as surely it's not our warm companionship?"
He stretches and places his hands behind his head. Answering Phaenox.
"I have gained nothing for my trouble. At the very least I must gain something for myself as well as my masters. Abandoning you before I have collected on the investment of my time and effort is poor judgement. As is attempting to return home with little resources."
"I can see that your masters may disapprove of that." Saeras grunted at the wizard. Then he pinched his own nose and continued in a high pitch voice. "'Apprentive Vicalan! Why did you let that dumb house be destroyed?! We gave them a crate of our best dung to let you study and now you have nothing to show for it. Shame!' *cough* Yeah I can accept that." Good to know we are not the only ones screwed over... The tired man sighed and threw his feet up on the nearest furniture. "For something more useful - the strike was in retaliation for the murder of our Matron. Feeble as it turned out, it was the appropriate gesture. Displaying weakness doesn't just signal *them* that we are easy prey but every other degenerate scum like us. We can't afford to let that happen. But ... We *did* burn down their lair at least so we could probably get away with just that. But then the question becomes - what's next?"