Pontius Grachius's page

Pontius doesn't know much of his past. He remembers his parents names, their faces and that they we're kind to him.
But that's pretty much it. He has been living with his uncle, Valerius Grachius, since the fateful day his parents were both killed by the shadows that creep up in the darkness around Westcrown.

He doesn't know how this could have happened ... his uncle didn't either ... or never spoke of it.

Valerius Grachuis was an actor for the most part, but that was mostly his front. His real occupation was a thieving scoundrel and part-time con artist. He had kept this part of his life secret to the young Pontius for a long time. Until one evening he almost got caught. It seemed the watch, and particularly the Hell Knights, had been waiting
for him. He had been growing a bit careless. Perhaps ... it was time for a partner in crime.

He knew he could not trust anyone he knew, since that included mostly nobles, actors and even some Hell Knights. With which he keeps up his charade. And it works wonderful. He gains their trust, gets easy access to their houses and then has an easy time of robbing them over time.

But ... if they are on to him, he should lay low for a while.

Perhaps it was time to let Pontius in on the show. He had already showed a remarkable talent to talk his way out of most situations. Whether in bars when he was chatting up the wrong woman, or against the either the dottari or hell knights. Besides that, he had inherited his uncles good looks. In this line of work a charming smile is everything.

He sent word to his friends that he was going on a trip, to see something of the world. In reality he wanted to lay low in a far away city, to recruit young Pontius. Perhaps it was even time to tell the
lad what had happened to his parents. He shuddered at the thought, but it had been a secret for too long. It might even drive him towards his goals. If he altered the story just a little ...

Initially he just told Pontius he wanted to travel to another city and he wanted to know if Pontius was ready for it. Pontius had gotten himself into a small complicated love triangle, with the father of the lovely Asmodia, out for his head. He was eager to leave ... as fast as possible. Once again Valerius had to chuckle, Pontius reminded him of his own youth.

They traveled to the lands of Taldar, to the main capital Oppara. It seemed quite like the decadent Westcrown, but without the curfew. Not before long Valerius found a way to make a little money, honest money this time, by starring in a local play. He took on Pontius as his stagehand, doing odd jobs and without him knowing teaching him the tricks of the acting trade.

One night he decided it was time to let Pontius in on his, not so little, secret. Pontius was shocked to hear about his uncles real ventures. Shocked, because he had never mentioned this to him. And was a little awed by the fact he had been able to keep this a secret. When he was mingling with the people he had been robbing for years.

When his uncle told him the reason of this little trip, the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. The odd jobs, the "advice" ... this trip ... he could not believe his ears. His uncle, a criminal ... and now here he was, asking him to join him in a life of crime. He stood up angrily and wanted to run away, out of the house. To clear his thoughts. He had almost made it outside, when he heard his uncle shout aloud.

"I'm doing this to get back at the snobbish and decadent people who had made your parents life miserable!"
"They are responsible for their deaths at the hands of the ghastly shadows who prowl the streets at night!"

This made Pontius halt and turn around slowly, and asked to be told the full story of what had happened to his parents.

Valerius had planned this from the start, he wasn't an actor for nothing, and so he sat the lad down and begin spinning his partly real, partly made up story.

Your parents we're both servants in the house of [fill in noble name here], who had a reputation of mistreating it's servants badly. For a low pay they had to do most of the horrible tasks in the household. The main attraction had been the weekly gatherings of the family. Inviting a host of others to take bets on servants who would make it to the city and back, at night, without getting killed by the shadows beasts. The amount of money offered to the servants was large enough to leave the household and start an easier life. At the fateful day your father was asked one night to take the large amount of money to take "The Trip", but he refused. He said some inspiring things to the gathered guests. But this only made things worse, and not only was he made to make the trip. They also made his wife, your mother, take the trip with him.

I do not know what has been said excactly, but I heard the story told by a "friend" of mine who had attended the party. So I do not know the excact details, but enough to know that your parents had been sent to their deaths, because of a wager. A decadent wager, where the deaths of the common folk are nothing more then amusement.

After finding out the truth bhind your parents death a few months later, I made it my life's work to get under their skin. Take them for all they've got. Unfortunately at this party a few Hell Knights and even some high ranking Dottari were present. So I could not take this story to the authorities. Perhaps they were but rumors ... But I could not ignore it. Your parents would never willingly go out at night. Putting their lives at risk, and leaving you behind. I thought of a plan to get rich at their expense and have them all but clueless who was stealing their money.

All had been going quite well, until last month, I think they are on to me. So I decided to leave for awhile, laying low and telling you the truth. Now I'm getting older, perhaps it's time for you to join me, and in time take over. I can introduce you into the ranks of nobles. Tell you of their secrets. And how to effectively rob them without them ever knowing it was you. If not for me, do it for your parents.

Valerius had been telling quite a tale, and Pontius fully believed the lies his uncle was spinning. He didn't hesitate to say yes ... he didn't even think about it. Not for long anyway. His uncle presented to him a life of excitement and money. And if he played his cards right, all the rich women he wanted.

Over the following months Valerius taught him all the tricks of the trade. They tried several scams in Oppara, to a great success. When Valerius declared he could teach him no more. They went back to Westcrown. Ready to take whatever was for the taking. Valerius did what he had told, he took Pontius to every play, party and afterparty and
introduced Pontius to everyone he knew. Saying Pontius was his heir and was following in his footsteps as an actor.

Not long after the introductions Pontius starred in his first play, a small production, but it a play nonetheless. Together they got into the fanciest of parties, and took whatever they wanted. Money, jewelry, whatever was for the taking. Leaving counterfeits, or false coin to mask the theft. They we're their own alibi's. Both would testify for
one another. It was all too easy, and it didn't take long before Valerius fell into a trap. He was caught red handed with the ladies, very expensive, pendant. He was immidiatly taken to Citadel Rivad. It didn't take long for him to confess to anything they asked. At the cost of his life however he managed to keep Pontius part in everything a secret. Taking the blame for everything.

Since that day, Pontius got spooked, it took a few weeks to get a grip of himself. To continue to go to the parties and star in the plays. To avoid being fingered as a possible accomplice. For awhile he just did his acting, trying very hard to act surprised of his uncles thieving ways when he was asked. As with all things in Westcrown, when the excitement is over, the news has grown old, his uncle thefts was forgotten. Replaced by other news and gossip.

At this point Pontius started to get back into his old ways, starting out small. He was just making the arrangements for a new scam. A low profile con, to get back in shape. He had been starring in a new small play, of which he had heard that a particular rich merchant would attend. He would invite the man to the party, hearing him out and getting on his good side. After the play, he was about to step up to the merchant but was intercepted by a woman. She introduced herself as Janiven. Ever since his uncle had been caught, she had some rumors about Pontius and Valerius.

Not to fear, she was not out to get him behind bars. She had heard of his uncles escapades, and wanted to meet him in person. But since he was dead, and the rumors she had heard made her think that Pontius perhaps knew more than he let on. If Pontius had the same contacts and friends as Valerius, she would love for him to join him at at the insert tavern name here tavern. She would be having a meal there with several others. She could nog tell him much, other than if the rumors are true, he would find that coming to the meeting would prove beneficial for both parties. Everything will be explained there.

She emphasizes that Pontius keep the location and time to himself. She would not want that information to fall into the wrong hands. Especially in the hands of the Hell Knights.

Janiven bids him goodbye for now and hopes he will attend.

He has never seen the woman before, and is a bit anxious to join. It's all a bit odd ... it could be a trap. But then again, she mentioned that the location were not to fall in the hands of the Hell Knights.

Pontius, always in for adventure and excitement mulls over the invitation a short while.

At last deciding to come to this meeting, but to arrive a bit early and stake out the place. See if it's a trap or not. The worst that can happen is an afternoon spent outside watching a tavern ... Or perhaps denying ever knowing someone named Janiven.