Jasper II's page

"What do you think I need the lab for?" He says with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Oh yeah I checked the poison supplies. Standard stuff, nothing that would cause an epidemic. We're just worried about that stuff, and artifacts or spying equipment. Been running into a lot of scrying focuses lately." He points to a pile of paper on a desk in the corner. "Just record what you use and how much so we need to restock. Beyond that, go wild. I mean, have some common courtesy. If you're making something with fumes or potentially explosive make sure you're cut off and everybody else knows what you're doing. The general rule in here is 'Don't be a dick'. Beyond that just record and I don't really care what you do." He jabs his thumb at a sealed metal door in the back corner. "Oh and the back room if off limits."

Jasper snickers. "Whatever noble intentions the council preaches, we do a lot of stuff that requires poison. As for help, you can get advice and directions, but if you're looking for laborers you're out of luck. We're not quite as big with traps but most raw materials you'll need are down the hall."

"If you don't mind my prying, though, do I have to worry about anything in that back room responding poorly if I have an accident?"

Jasper chuckles. "No it should...well if you...no it should be fine...well just let me go through there real quick first..." He stands and silently sweeps away from the table, giving a mocking bow to the council and waving Pazeek to follow after.

Pazeek you will be shown to an elaborate alchemists lab with nearly any ingredient you can desire. It has multiple layers and dozens of rooms and has other people present there as well.

"A week, feel free to use my lab. What's mine is yours. Except the back room." Jasper says with a chuckle.

"You would not need to buy the countries, Heff. For Dalton's plan to work, all one would need to do is pay the second and third largest mercenary companies to attack the first largest. Mercenaries are contentious and fragmented by their very nature."

"Yeah that's what I said. Just have them all kill each other. Too bad we still can't compete with that much money, plus it's still a short term solution. More mercenaries will always spring up."

"I wonder if you can make one comment without insulting us." Jasper chuckles. "Not that I care, I'm honestly curious if it's even possible."

Jasper growls. "You better be f~&!ing with us Gearsmith."

"Free. Running amok. Whatever. Sky Forge."

"Adamantium is expensive not only for its rarity but also it's potent properties. Perhaps Calios seeks to armor himself in it, or perhaps this Malose is building some kind of weapon."

"We have to assume Calios is out. Anything less would be folly. Malose seems to be even more troubling. Fiends are bad, liches are worse, and I can't imagine a combination. I've never heard of this person though, and if he has such terrible power it's very surprising he could go under the radar."

Drosil looks up sharply as Dalton talks about what he said. Jasper chuckles. "I don't think you realize that Drosil was complimenting your abilities, and criticizing Heff's misuse of them."

Jasper scoffs at Heff. "It's just an utter waste of resources. Kill the heads and let the body die. Entertaining the idea of war is-" He falls silent as the party walks in, giving one of his twisted grins and slipping back into his seat. "The heroes return!"

"We have plenty of those lying around. I'm not much for crafting, but I can't imagine making one look like a holy symbol should be too hard."

They will have one crafted for you for half price (250gp).

Jasper bares his fangs in agreement with Bjorkus and Toramin. "He's caused enough damage. He needs to be put down like the rabid dog he is."

Jasper grins at the idea. "I love the idea. I've only gotten to work with that bastard once, and he does damn fine work."

Jasper hisses. "The bastard captured Ianna and orchestrated the death of two of them. His face is known and he's active again. We shouldn't just tell them, we should put out posters of the f#*$er to every active Aestheric in Erandor. Open your damn mouth Heff."

"You don't get a personal representative. You can vote like everybody else or you can put in your own bid to be a council member. Until then, we will decide what matters are important and what must be done."

"And this is why I don't like paladin recruits. Your last point is the only one that matters. The Aestherics have been active for longer than you've known, and we've always steered Erandor towards peace and safety. You're here for a few months and you think you understand us. Imagine a child pretending to know how the Voices operate, that's what you sound like. Heff, either tell him or I will."

"Yeah, and you guys were lucky we were prepared for a battle that size. Without our arrival you would have been butchered by the white cloaks. We will be teaching you leverage. How to properly apply your power for the maximum effectiveness."

Jasper raises a brow and surprisingly stops scowling. "I suppose that's fair enough."

"Training would be welcome. We are not good spies. I would evaluate our spycraft as poor."

Jasper barks a sarcastic laugh. "Poor? Nonexistent. Not to mention your utter lack of respect for how we operate. When I get back I'm going to whip your asses into shape." Drosil gives a small nod.

Jasper smirks at the compliment, but shakes his head. "Sorry, information like that is Heff's department."

At the mention of poison the council once again turns to Jasper, who barks a laugh. "I would feel insulted if you weren't right. I have a small stock of antitoxin, I'll bring some."

At the mention of smuggling the council turns in unison to Jasper. He pauses a moment, then grumbles. "Yeah yeah, I'll dig one up."

Jasper breaks out in laughter, shattering the seriousness of the gathering. The others stare at him, and after a moment he manages to reign in his amusement to an occasional chuckle. "You know - haha - he's right you know. Well the second part anyways. As for the first part, you'll most likely lead any other forces we send in if we decide to make a move on Targ."

"Indeed, you noticed Heff's work in Xilres. We only helped organize and empower the people there that already wanted to revolt. We agreed with their cause so we helped them. Andril is the only nation that is aware of us, that we are aware of."

I'll answer Toramin in a bit, sorry bud.

"I'm in the business of killing people and I can't stand the way he works."

Jasper barks another laugh. "Both, that's a new one. You sound like a man who has to deal with too much politics." His smile fades, but he almost appears friendlier for it. "He likes to call it 'preventative measures'. Although I do agree with him. The slavers in Yenrick have always ruled their personal domains with an iron fist and the power struggle between them has been never-ending. But one of them is trying to unite the rest of the major slavers, but for what we don't know." He puts his smirk back on, but it's an edge less mocking. "Press him for something, he's been wanting to get this done for awhile now."

Jasper goes back to smirking at the party. "So what has he offered you? Has he been vague or just told you it's for 'good reasons'"?

Jasper barks a quick laugh, speaking with a mocking edge. "Yes, just your style. Kicking in the door and turning the entire area into a pool of blood. Oh you would have been right at home." Krokar frowns, but holds his tongue.