Marcus Veritis's page

Marcus steps into the armory, his eyes immediately drawn to the rows of weapons and armor displayed on the walls. A slow grin spreads across his face as he admires the craftsmanship, taking a moment to scan the detailed plaques and the history behind each piece.

"Well, well. Looks like Ghaf wasn’t just collecting secrets-he’s got himself quite the collection of steel too."

When Fey calls out to him, Marcus chuckles and nods. "Might as well make sure we’ve got the right tools for the job, eh?" He carefully selects a well-balanced rapier, testing the grip and weight with a satisfied look. Afterwards, he picks up a fancy-looking dagger, just in case.

Leaning casually against the wall, Marcus listens as Rem reports the sounds behind the door. He nods thoughtfully, "Escape route then. Something tells Marcus that Ghaf’s secrets are more likely behind one of these solid, closed-off ones."

Marcus watches as Rem and Fey work with precision. When the door opens and reveals a more extensive hallway than expected, he raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

"Well, what do you know? Full of surprises, you lot."

Marcus checks in on Tiqi to make sure she's doing okay.

Marcus steps closer to the relief, his gaze narrowing as he examines the claw marks on the frame. "Well, that’s curious." he says, reaching out to trace one of the marks with his fingertip. "Looks like something’s been fiddling with this mirror before we got here. Maybe even trying to get in or out."

Turning his attention to the lizard display, he takes a closer look at the cards and figures. "These little critters are dressed better than half the nobles in Oppara." he jokes. "And they’re playing cards. Makes you wonder if we’re supposed to play a hand ourselves ... or if there’s something hidden among the cards?"

Marcus steps forward, eyes narrowing on the odd mirror on the northern wall. When someone pushes their hand through the surface with no resistance, Marcus lets out a low whistle.

"Now that’s a neat trick. A perfect fake, just like everything else in this house."

He begins to look at trinkets and oddities and comments "With Ghaf, nothing’s ever just for show. I’d bet my last gold there’s something here that gets us through that door. Maybe one of these trinkets is the key, or a combination of them."

Marcus then points to the clock and the dagger. "Those two stand out to Marcus. Either the time means something, or that thread does."

Marcus follows the group up the stairs, keeping quiet for the moment. When Fey asks about Ghaf, Marcus gives a small shrug, his expression contemplative. "Before things got weird, yeah, sure, Ghaf was a decent enough boss. Paid well, didn’t ask too many questions. Seemed fair."

As the voices from the west interrupt the conversation, Marcus tries to identify them. Does Marcus recognize the voices? Has he ever been on this floor before and know the layout?

He glances at the others, keeping his voice low. "We doing this the easy way or the hard way?"

Marcus crosses his arms, and recounts his experience ""About a year ago, Ghaf started acting... different. More secretive, paranoid, and people began to notice. He kept to himself more, and rumors started spreading. A few months ago, Marcus noted people started disappearing. Marcus got curious and started poking around, asking questions and trying to figure out what was going on. That didn’t go over too well. Next thing Marcus knows, he's thrown in that cell."

He pauses, glancing around at the group. "No one visits that place-no guards, no staff. The only person Marcus ever saw was Ghaf's butler, Zeedran. He showed up not long after Ghaf went into recluse mode. Zeedran’s the one who brings the food and empties the bucket. Never says a word to Marcus or Tiqi, just does his job and leaves."

"So, whatever fake-Ghaf’s up to, it’s big enough that he’s got everyone in the dark, including his own staff."

As soon as the mirror is set down, Marcus straightens up, rolling his shoulders and stretching. He picks off a few stray bits of hay from his clothes, his eyes scanning the room with sharp curiosity. "Ohhhhh it feels good to be out. Thank you all, Marcus is in your debt."

When Fey introduces herself, Marcus grins, offering a slight bow in return. "Marcus Veritas." he says smoothly, the usual charm back in full force. "And no need for apologies."

As the large mirror is hefted up by Fabian and Jassim, Marcus immediately falls in line behind it, moving in such a way that shows he is clearly practiced (or lucky) with this type of movement. For the first time he shuts his trap and becomes silent, his previous playful demeanor shifting into one of focused seriousness as he carefully positions himself out of sight.

He stays low, keeping his movements smooth and quiet, ensuring that not even a whisper betrays his presence. Every now and then, he glances at Tiqi, offering a reassuring nod as he tries to keep them both moving in tandem tandem with the mirror.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"So who is the best at Gaslighting people?"

Marcus listens to the group's plan with interest. His smirk returns and he bows with a flourish, "Ah, now you're speaking Marcus's language! Deception, misdirection, the fine art of making people see what you want them to see, no?" he says with a grin."Let’s just say there might be some experience in that department."

He turns his attention to Jassim, nodding toward the mirror. "Your guards aren’t exactly the most... alert, are they? If we time this right, they might not notice two extra bodies slipping out behind a mirror. And if they do? Well, Marcus can be very convincing when the need arises."

Marcus watches as Tiqi embraces Rem and allows himself a small, genuine smile. He nods approvingly as she steps away from the cage, finally free after what seemed like an eternity in that damp, confining cell. When Rem directs his attention back to him, he responds "Why is Marucs in here? People were disappearing and someone needed to figure out what was going on. Being the curious type, started poking around, asking questions. Turns out, Ghaf didn’t appreciate the extra attention." He chuckles dryly, but there’s no humor in it. "He decided Marcus was getting a bit too close to something... so here I am. Except.... Marcus hearing now that the Ghaf who locked him up is not the real Ghaf? This would make sense then."

He gestures to the mirrors, then shrugs. "The mirrors were here before I arrived. I didn’t give them much thought. Marcus did not know that mirror-Ghaf was always here? This is quite confusing and Marcus is wondering if he might be asleep and dreaming."

The man stares curiously at Fey as she interacts with the mirror, trying to keep up with whatever is going on.

"What action on her part should I find reassuring? Why isn't she talking? Something doesn't seem right. And should I be worried you don't refer to yourself as 'I"? Nothing makes sense here."

Marcus raises an eyebrow at Rem's skepticism, leaning casually against the bars of his cell. He chuckles lightly, but there's an understanding behind his eyes as he tries to ease the tension. He nods to the catfolk and says, "Fair enough, nothing about this situation does make sense." he admits, his tone a bit more grounded. "As for Tiqi... she's cautious. Smart, really. You’ve been locked up long enough, you start to wonder who you can trust, and maybe talking too much doesn’t seem like the best move." He glances at the girl, then back to Rem. "Her silence? That’s her playing it safe. Trust me, if you were in her shoes, you’d do the same."

He turns to Tiqi and nods his head, as if he's telling her it's okay to talk to the strangers who are breaking them out of prison.

Marcus, sensing the hesitation and the girl’s silence, steps up to fill the gap "She shouldn’t be left in here, regardless. Marcus can guarantee she’s not here by choice."

He leans slightly closer to the bars, his voice dropping just enough to emphasize the gravity of the situation. "You don’t need her to say it. You’re doing the right thing by letting her out." He gives Rem a knowing look. "Sometimes, actions speak louder than words."

Marcus watches the group's efforts with growing interest, his eyes flicking between them as they work on the locks.

"Appreciate the effort." he says, tone laced with dry humor. "Locks can be tricky things, but you're getting close."

After the brief reunion, Jassim seems to be lost in his thoughts. He manages to get out a simple "But... why are you here? How long?"

Marcus scratches the back of his head, trying to recall the exact timeline but eventually shrugs. "Honestly, Jassim, we haven't been counting the days too closely. Somewhere between two and three weeks, maybe? Every day in here blends together—same walls, same silence, same dreary meals. Hard to tell when nothing changes."

He watches the kobold pick the lock with ease and gives a quiet round of applause. "Bravo. Well done. One must respect the art."

When Endoin turns to study them, Marcus leans in and whispers.

"By the way... That girl over there?" He nods toward Tiqi. "Marcus has a hunch she’s someone important—maybe a princess, ambassador's daughter, something along those lines. She’s been keeping quiet, but you can tell by the way she holds herself. Regal, practiced... she’s not some commoner who stumbled into this mess."

He pauses a moment and adds "Marcus is not sure of your intentions be it coin, prestige or revenge. Freeing her in all three seem like a smart move, no?"

"Just sightseeing currently," he replies, still clearly a bit distracted. "Unless you happen to have a mirror."

"A mirror, you say? You'd be surprised how little they offer in the way of amenities here. But Marcus appreciates the honesty-sightseeing, is it? A fine tour, indeed. Watch your step before you find yourselves on this side of the bars. It happens ... surprisingly fast."

"Marcus? Is that you? I thought you quit and moved north. What is happening here?"

As soon as Marcus sees it is Jassim approaching and not the butler, his smirk falters, and he quickly stands up, brushing off the dirt from his worn trousers. His mind races, realizing that might just be his ticket out of the cell. He strides closer to the bars, his tone shifting to something more serious.

"Jassim! Marcus wishes he had quit, truly. But it wasn’t exactly a decision, you see." He taps the bars lightly, giving a rueful chuckle. "Ghaff didn’t take too kindly to poking around where his nose didn’t belong. So, instead of a nice farewell, Marcus got a one-way trip to this lovely accommodation."

He nods toward Tiqi in the opposite cell, his tone softening slightly. "Almost a kidnapping, you could say. Poor Tiqi over there got the same treatment, it seems. Something’s not right with Ghaf, Jassim, and Marcus knows it better than most." His eyes lock with Jassim's, a flicker of hope in his gaze. "Now, how about getting out of here, old friend? Seems you might be Marcus's best chance at some fresh air."

The man sitting in the northeast cell sits casually. His posture is relaxed, almost too relaxed for someone imprisoned, with one arm draped over his knee and a slight, playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. His dark hair is slightly disheveled, and his eyes, sharp and filled with a mischievous glint, follow each of the newcomers as they enter. He’s dressed in a simple, worn shirt and trousers, but there’s a certain confidence about him, even behind bars.

He leans forward slightly, tilting his head to get a better look at the eclectic group. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he drawls, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Marcus didn’t expect company today. Come to bail Marcus out, or just sightseeing?" His grin widens, "Hope you brought snacks. It’s dreadfully boring in here."