Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 2, 2004 14:05:17 GMT -5
Somewhere in the back streets of the Market Ward stands Vinnie's. It is not a large establishment, neither is it particularly special. The outside is covered in a nondescript paint of a shade used pretty much everywhere. The interior is filled with low tables and lit by torches. There are several nooks annd crannies where two, three - or even more - people can stand without being seen by others.
The place is frequented by a wide cross-section of the residents of Sigil. Thee are bashers, merchants - not usually successful ones - and many more of the citizenry of Sigil pass through.
It is utterly unremarkable, and there is nothing special about the place. Not that it is really easy to slip in and out unseen, if that is what you want. Not that it is virtually impossible to hear what anyone more than 5 feet away from you is saying. And certainly not that the staff at Vinnies are so discreet that they would rather be eaten by the Lady of Pain than betray a client's secrets.
Nothing remarkable at all. If you do not look far beneath the surface...
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 2, 2004 16:20:59 GMT -5
"You're late."
He was sitting in a recessed alcove back from the entrance. Not very easy to spot that it was there at all, he had been waiting for 20 minutes past the appointed time, having turned up some two hours before and getting himself thrown out for aggressive behaviour.
The other man smiled. This was not a pleasant sight as his teeth were not in good condition.
"We have to take our precautions, yes." The man's voice comes out in a hoarse whisper. "A drink, perhaps? Wine? Or something stronger?"
"As you wish."
Not long after this, a waitress brings a bottle of distilled spirits. The newcomer breaks the seal and pours two glasses. The firstcomer chooses one, and they drink.
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 2, 2004 16:40:25 GMT -5
"So. Rumour has it that you are in the market for - a book of self-improvement."
"Rumour. Like a running dog, it flees far and wide from its master, the truth.
"Ah, but where there is smoke, most often you will find it caused by a fire, no?"
"True.
A friend of a friend of a very good friend of mine has a business associate who's grandfather seeks to acquire one of these items. If the price is right."
The other man shakes his head. "Your friend's associate's grandfather must be a rich man to seek one of these."
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 2, 2004 18:31:01 GMT -5
"Well, if you have sought me out on the strength of a vague rumour about the possibility I may be looking for this, you may have one. So, do you?"
"I do not. But I have a cousin who works for a man who is friendly with some - shall we say, diligent grave robber types - who do?"
"Ah, and what do your cousin's employer's friends want for their book, and how much do I have to pay you to arrange this?"
"It just so happens that I was talking with my cousin yesterday, and posed that question - purely hypothetically, of course.
While it is very difficult to pt a monetary value on such things, he thinks his employers friends may nbe willing to part with it if it would get them what they desire."
"And that is?"
"A magestaff. And not just any old staff. The magestaff."
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 2, 2004 19:26:09 GMT -5
He sat there maintaining his smooth face while he ran over all the magi he knew or heard had acquired such a staff. Eventually he settled on Vescozzir - he knew the old dodder had such an item because he had procured it for him. Also there was the matter of that little outstanding debt he had welched on. Inwardly he grinned.
"I see. It may so happen that I can lay my hands on a Magestaff. If I can - do we have a deal?"
"I need to confirm with my cousin. I can get a message to you here; yes or no; tomorrow. If it is yes, when will you have the Staff?"
"It will take me two days, but I can do the preparations while waiting for your approval. One day from the goahead."
"Then we have a deal. I will get you the message through Vinnie tomorrow.
Another drink?"
He nodded. The waitress brought another sealed bottle. This time he opened it and poured while the other man chose which to drink.
"To a mutually profitable endeavour."
"Indeed."
He left the booth ten minutes later, and made his way through the streets. He was not being followed he knew; not because he thought himself safe but because he continually checked for tails.
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
|
Post by Shadow on Aug 3, 2004 7:36:40 GMT -5
He limped into Vinnies. Going to the bar he ordered a glass of house white. The barman, a longstanding employee, brought the wine.
"20 jink please."
He paid without blinking, and took the wine, retiring to a corner table where, under cover of sitting down, he slipped the message the barman had handed him into his pouch.
He sat and drank the wine, then left.
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Post by Merestil Haye on Aug 26, 2004 19:28:44 GMT -5
* Gendorial's nose wrinkles at the combination of odours. How could they live like this, he wonders?
Going to the bar he ordered a drink. The barman serves the drink, taking the measure of him.
Gendorial takes his drink to a table and sits, sipping. *
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 26, 2004 19:36:50 GMT -5
He had been waiting for three quarters of an hour - only some of that due to his habit of arriving early. He watched the people coming and going and waited. Perhaps he would turn up today - and perhaps not.
Finally he picked out the unhappy-looking man with the sash - a visitor, no less - sitting drinking something and looking around.
He sent a message to Vinny asking him to send the stranger a drink with his compliments.
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Post by Merestil Haye on Aug 26, 2004 19:46:40 GMT -5
* Gendorial accepts the drink. Having had the other pointed out, he rises and goes over. He looks over the man carefully as he approaches. *
Thank you. Can I be of any assistance to you?
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 26, 2004 19:54:57 GMT -5
"Sit down sir."
He waited while Gendorial complied.
"A friend of mine recently heard a rumour that a gentleman was searcng for something very special in the bibligraphic world. I wonder whether you might be that man. Tell me, where did you hear about here?"
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Post by Merestil Haye on Aug 26, 2004 19:59:25 GMT -5
Why, an elderly friend of mine asked me to come here and find out about a rumour that he had heard from an acquaintance.
* Here Gendorial describes the messenger who had called at the Centre a few days ago. *
A rare book was indeed mentioned by this fellow, and as he left he said he would be here. Do you know him?
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 26, 2004 20:05:10 GMT -5
"Why yes I recognise the fellow. I do beleve I might have spoken to him about book collections. But do not worry - he is a discreet fellow, provided he has reasons to be.
One wonders- if your elderly friend is interested in acquiring the rare book on acquisitions that I have, what might he be prepared to offer in exchange?
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Post by Merestil Haye on Aug 26, 2004 20:16:37 GMT -5
My friend is a man of great resources.
Perhaps you might wish for some monetary reward? If so name a price.
Alternatively my friend has, or can lay his hands on, many items which have been empowered by spellcasters down the ages. He may be willing to trade one or more for this book.
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Shadow
Junior Member
Spymaster
Banker, master trader, spy. Take your pick.
Posts: 62
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Post by Shadow on Aug 26, 2004 20:36:10 GMT -5
"You pose an interesting question. It is very difficult to put a value on this kind of volume, as the secret of the construction of this kind of work has been lost in the mists of time. My friend - the one who owns the book we are talking about - he would be happier parting with it if he could get something equivalent. Would your eldery friend have a similar kind of book he might be willing to trade?
If not, if we were talking about monetary compensation, I do not think we could possibly come to any agreement as valuation would be impossible. And without a valuation one party might evetually comne to feel that the other had defrauded him. Not a desirable state of affairs.
The same goes for - more common and easily manufactured items. It is relatively simple to obtain agreed value for those items, based on the difficulty of creation - how much personal power the maker has to expend.
So I really do not think that anything except another such book, or an item such as the magestaff, would be acceptable.
So, do you have one?"
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Post by Merestil Haye on Aug 26, 2004 20:43:36 GMT -5
I believe he might.
There are several types of this kind of book. My friend recently came into one which, if I recall aright, was written for arcane casters.
Would such a book be acceptable?
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