Sir Chalest's page

Sounds right. I think there would have been a bunch of paranoid checking for spells and traps, but am more than happy to skip over it.
'Sir Chalest' froze when he woke up in the comfortable double bed, still clean from his bath the night before. It took him a minute to realise the bell on the inside of the door was still ringing slightly - presumably the wake up call he had requested. he hobbled over with bleary eyes, dispelled his security precautions, and opened the door to find a manservant with a covered trolley fragrant with the aroma of fresh bread and well cured bacon.
"I understand you elected to take your meal in your room, sir." the Manservant offered, coming in to set up the tray. "The southwest drawing room is at your groups disposal from 9 am on. The time is currently 7, as requested. I took the liberty of having a simple but portable lunch prepared."
With a bow the manservant refused a proffered tip and excused himself, ignoring the tear that rand down Sir Chalest's ruddy face.
'Well. I'd forgotten what life c'n be like. 'Least if I'm planted today it started better'n any I c'n remember.'

"To my knowledge you are now one of six people aware of this secret. I can only pray I have made the right decision."

I like the fact Aral picked up what an issue this could be - I hadn't realised the full implications of what we did until now.

Not sure if Hal needs to make a bluff check for his post. Technically everything is the truth or supposition, but he's definitely slanting what he's saying to look more sympathetic.

Sir Chalest considers the answer for a few seconds, then moves on, speaking quietly and with minimal movement of his lips.

"Very well. A long... a very long time ago... I was affiliated with the Hand of the Reaper. Not an assassin of course - just a specialist. When I tried to leave the Reaps tried to kill me, very nearly succeeded, and believe me dead. I now seek to take them down, partly in atonement for my sins, partly because they will kill me and probably everyone I care about if they find out I still live."
"If those who guard the Crown investigate me as well as they damn well should, they will find out my background. When they find out someone who was - and presumably still is - a member of the Reaps is looking into the King's security they will kill me. If they do not then the Reaps' sources will reveal I am alive and they will kill me."

The old man gives a grin that has nothing to do with mirth "And they do have sources, Count Aral, even there. I am, to my knowledge, the foremost expert on the Reaps, so when I say they have sources everywhere, believe me. As far as I can tell, the only difference from when I was co-opted is that now they've started playing at politics as well as simply murder for hire."

Sir Chalest's eyes drift for a moment, before snapping back again.

"The only reason I care about money my lord, is that it helps me with my goal. If somehow, impossibly, I succeed in destroying the single most dangerous mortal group in the world without dying, then I will surrender myself to serve out my sentence. I can't even send money to my family, because doing so might alert the Reaps I still live. I do care about you however, as you appear to be a politician with actual principles and common sense, and therefore more precious than any amount of gold."

"Now - if my candour has worn out my welcome I will not take it amiss if you would have me move on. I should add that my companions are innocent of my youthful stupidity. I owe my life to them, and for all my sins I am a man who pays his debts."

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
"As to whether this information should be passed on to the Royal Court... I have no idea whether the King uses such magics in the security system that preserves his life, and frankly that is a question I would prefer not to have the answer to. I..."
Sir Chalest trails off, his eyes drifting to the apparently empty air at the noble's right side. A few moments later they snap back.
"How far can I trust you, Count Aral, with knowledge that could easily be my death?"

knowledge:arcana: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
spellcraft: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33
bluff: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 30 to make it sound as if he's using common language rather than technical terms to make it clearer for Count Aral, rather than because he doesn't know them.
With some reluctance Sir Chalest expounds upon the mechanisms used, concluding with "So as you can see it is not so much that this is a way of co-opting all teleportation protections so much as cleverly taking advantage of a weakness with this particular type of setup. The real lesson here is to ensure that security set ups are tested for weaknesses by highly skilled experts - but this in turn requires one to trust the experts in question." He shrugs "The eternal dilemma in the creation of all complex security systems."

"Sewers?" Sir Chalest complains, shuddering "I hate sewers. If we're doing anything with the sewers we must keep an eye on the clouds - and under no circumstances will I enter during a storm. I learned that lesson when I nearly drowned in one when I was young."

"You are too kind, Madame." Chalest gestures with his hand, as if talking about the estate, and continues "I understood that Beaumont had already been fed false information? If so, I suspect such trickery would be significantly more difficult."

he coughs once, politely. "Would the book be sufficient? Could not the Duke simply claim it a forgery? Would a noble of the Beaumont's status be subjected to truth-telling spells?"

Chalest fakes a laugh for possible eavesdroppers. Thoughtfully he continues. "I wonder if perhaps the mutual betrayal by esteemed councillors might be a way to nudge the King's policies back towards peace?"

"Also, forgive me my lord, but to be clear; we have evidence the Reaps are involved in these matters. If you, hypothetically, intended to hire specialists to see they meet their just ends I urge you to extreme caution. Again, please forgive me my lord, I doubt such is your intention, but I would be remiss not to give warning."

reusing an old avatar, hope no-one minds. Sticking to the variant on the Hal name, sortof.
"Indeed my lord." Hal's act slips a little once they are away from the servants, uncomfortable with such familiarity with a noble he has never met. "Honoured to meet you in person."

"Fascinating - I would love to hear more about the interior of Belzken, so much history goes on in our savage neighbours' lands that we know nothing of. Do you have any evidence or artefacts of the true story?"

"Daramid? From Leipstadt? Well, well. A year or two probation and I'm sure she'll make you members of the Leipstadt chapter."

"Oh? Oh! Thank you young man! Are you a member? I don't recall seeing you before..."