Logs > Gamma Logs > You're Both Good Guys, Right?

You're Both Good Guys, Right?

[Eberk Lane, Kemstead]
Rolling hills are dotted with picturesque farms and small stone cottages to the east of this pretty lane. A thicket of fruit trees can be seen behind one farm on the side of a small hill about a stone's throw away. One errant apple tree casts its shade across the road, while its branches extend themselves towards the closest gate. Also here is Tad.
Obvious exits are southwest and northwest.

You ponder a gate.

> open gate
The gate won't budge.

> time

'Tis quarter till nine o'clock in the evening
upon Friarsday the twenty-ninth day of Thistle.
The Age of Dreams has held ascendancy for the past 636 years.

You knock on a gate.
You say, "I don't know if they can even hear this knocking from the house."

> look tad
Tad is a female halfelf in her teens with hazel eyes, long dirty blonde hair, slender ears, and a pale complexion.
She is holding a black-iron poniard in her right hand.
She is wearing a straw hat, a black suede healer's satchel, a large dark scarf, a rawhide water skin, some small dark rabu skin gloves, some oiled suede boots, a plain faded black knit purse, some black leather breeches, a shiny steel scabbard, a brilliant blue flower, and a grey wool cloak.

Tad sits down on the cobblestones.
You say, "Give me that."
You whap Tad in the nose.
Tad asks, "What?"
You say, "My poniard."
Tad asks, "Yours?"
Tad glances at her black-iron poniard.
You clench your fist.
You raise your fist.
You say, "Right in the nose."
Tad asks, "Are you accusing me of theft?"
You snort.
You turn to face a gate.
You knock on a gate.
Tad looks offended.
Tad tosses her black-iron poniard in the air and catches it deftly.
Tad gets back on her feet.
You ask, "Can you put it back without my noticing?"
You ponder Tad's existence.
Tad shakes her head at you.
You say, "Hm."
Tad offers her black-iron poniard to you.
You accept Tad's offer.
You put a black-iron poniard in your dark leather baldric.
You say, "Thanks."
You knock on a gate.
You shake a gate.
You notice Tad trying to open your black suede chirurgeon's satchel!
You notice Tad slip into hiding.
You yell, "Housecarl Traiver!"
You mutter.
You say, "I loathe shouting."
You knock on a gate.
Tad says, "I'll do it."
You say, "You'd think he'd be in."
Tad grins.
You say, "No, you'd better not."
Tad yells, "Traiver!!"
You say, "Supposing someone hears you."
You wince.
Tad shakes a gate.
Tad knocks on a gate.
Tad knocks on a gate.
Tad knocks on a gate.
You shrug at Tad.
You pace back and forth.
Tad knocks on a gate.
You sigh.
You lean on an apple tree.

> time
'Tis nine minutes till nine o'clock in the evening
upon Friarsday the twenty-ninth day of Thistle.
The Age of Dreams has held ascendancy for the past 636 years.

You say, "We may as well try again later."
Tad says, "I suppose."
Tad leans on a gate.
Tad opens a gate.
Tad glances at you.
You open your mouth as if to say something.
Tad grabs you by the arm, motioning for you to follow.
Tad goes through the twisted wrought iron gate.
You go through the twisted wrought iron gate.

[Green Apple Gables, Kemstead]
An overgrown cobblestone path leads up to an old gray fieldstone cottage complete with thatched roof. A pair of arched wood doors, the perfect shade of apple green are flanked by two elegant stone benches. Each of the tiny gabled windows has an overflowing flower box painted to match the entry. There is a single iron gate in the twisted deep green ambergris fence bordering the cottage. Also here is Tad.

The sweet scent of fairy-slippers mingled with apple tickles your nose.

Tad mutters.
Tad knocks on a set of double doors.
Tad yells, "Hello?"
Tad closes a gate.
Tad knocks on a set of double doors.
You say, "Wait a moment, if the gate's open, someone will come out in a bit."
You pace back and forth.
You act: Jurion hooks his fingers behind his belt-buckle.
You loiter around a bit.
Tad knocks on a set of double doors.
You say, "It's a pity she hasn't got a letter-box or a bell by the gate."
You say, "Although I imagine a bell would ring all night."
You rub your chin.
You knock on a set of double doors.
Tad laughs.
You say, "I wish we could get Merow up here."
Tad says, "Haven't seen him."
You say, "Nor I."
Tad asks, "So...how long does it take for them to answer usually?"
You say, "Quarter hour, mayhap a little more."
Tad says, "Why so long, I wonder."
You say, "I was writing... I'm not sure how long it took."
Tad mutters, "Rich folks."
You say, "I don't know how big the house is. They might not hear the knock."
Tad says, "I bet the lock on the door is really good."
Tad peers at a set of double doors.
You glance at Tad.
You say, "I hope you'll confine that thought to your head."
You say, "And not try and find out."
Tad says, "Whatever."
Tad sits down on a stone bench.
You pace back and forth.
The moon Tempest rises in the east.
You look up at the sky.

[In the Sky]
Rising in the east, the faintly visible new disk of Tempest broods.
A million points of light fill the velvet backdrop of the night sky.

Tad says, "I wonder if she'll have anything to eat."
Tad's belly makes a loud gurgling noise.
You say, "We're not here for tea. We might not even see her."
You ask, "D'you want a pretzel?"
You ask, "Or a drell?"
Tad says, "No, I need real food."
Tad rubs her abdomen.
You knock on a set of double doors.
You ask, "Did you talk to Rusty?"
Tad says, "Briefly."
Tad stares at a set of double doors.
You pace back and forth.
You scratch your nose.
You say, "I feel like I've been stood up at a ball."
You sit down on a stone bench.
You fidget.
Tad says, "Well, it's not like you're important."
Tad smiles at you.
You grin at Tad.
You say, "No."
You say, "You, on the other hand..."
Tad says, "The gate was unlocked, though. That doesn't happen by itself."
You say, "So we wait."
You knock on a set of double doors.
Tad seems to be waiting for something.
Tad says, "If things get too hot in this town, I might have to leave."
Tad glances at you.
Tad says, "You know that."
You nod to Tad.
You say, "I'm hoping once Traiver hears this, he won't need you again."
Tad asks, "This should make me happy?"
You say, "On the other hand, they may want you to speak in public about it."
Tad asks, "Public?"
Tad says, "You're kidding."
You shrug at Tad.
Tad says, "Gods, I hope not."
You say, "I hope not, either."
Tad knocks on a set of double doors.
Tad carefully begins to inspect the set of double doors.
You pace back and forth, obviously frustrated.
Tad says, "Hm."
Tad lies down on a stone bench.
Tad closes her eyes.
You stand up.
You walk over to a stone bench.
You pat Tad on the back.
Tad asks, "Why was I born so damn nosy?"
You say, "I wish I knew."
You knock on a set of double doors.
Tad sits up on a stone bench.
Tad opens her eyes.
You say, "I'm just hoping no one gets it into their head to find out where you're at."
You say, "Although I suppose we could say we just came for tea."
You knock on a set of double doors.
Tad says, "'Yes, we have tea with the duchess EVERY Friarsday.'"
Tad laughs haughtily.
You say, "She invites all sorts of people over here. Look at Suiarr."
You say, "She's not exactly noble."
Tad says, "No, but she's re'har."
You pace back and forth, obviously frustrated.
Tad knocks on a set of double doors.
Tad sits down on a stone bench.
You knock on a set of double doors.
You pace back and forth.
You look up at the sky.
Tad stands up.
Tad walks over to a gate.
Tad glances at you.
Tad shakes her head.
Tad shakes a gate.
Tad sits down on a stone bench.
You ask, "It's not locked again, is it?"
Tad nods to you.
You stand up.
You say, "It is."
Tad nods.
The gate won't budge.
You act: Jurion laughs!
You say, "Well."
You say, "I suppose we are waiting, then."
You turn to face a set of double doors.
You knock on a set of double doors.
You ask, "I wonder if it's ensorcelled?"
You glance at a gate.
You say, "Maybe she has a set calling hour, or something."
Tad says, "Well, it hardly matters."
You pace back and forth, obviously frustrated.
Tad stands up.
Tad knocks on a set of double doors.
Tad opens a black suede healer's satchel.
Tad asks, "Or what?"
You say, "Or we're liable to end up in jail."
Tad says, "We're locked in here, in case you haven't noticed."
You ask, "D'you think he's going to listen to you if he catches you picking the gate or the door?"
Tad says, "It's not like we're here to steal anything."
You groan.
You sit down on a stone bench.
Tad puts a brass file lockpick in her black suede healer's satchel.
Tad puts a shiny brass wrench in her black suede healer's satchel.
Tad closes a black suede healer's satchel.
Tad mutters.
A gate opens.
You glance at a gate.
Traiver the Housecarl comes through the twisted wrought iron gate.
Traiver the Housecarl scratches his chin.
Traiver the Housecarl nods to you.
You're already standing.
You nod to Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad.
Tad stands up.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Good eve."
You say, "Er, it was open, so we came in."
Tad says, "Hiya."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to you.
Tad advances into melee with you.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "No problem, nice place to rest."
Traiver the Housecarl sits down on a stone bench.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "As i shall now do."
Tad hides behind Jurion.
Traiver the Housecarl chuckles to himself.
You say, "This is the lass I was talking to you about the other day."
Tad peers at Traiver the Housecarl.
You say, "He's not going to eat you. Come out from behind there."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Oh, the one with the good ears."
Traiver the Housecarl closes a gate.
Tad says, "They've been nothin' but trouble to me."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You have nothing to fear."
Tad says, "Beggin' yer pardon."
Traiver the Housecarl smiles politely.
You act: Jurion hooks his fingers behind his belt-buckle.
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "Now then, explain to me what was overheard?"
Tad glances at you.
You nod to Tad.
Tad asks, "Which time?"
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
You say, "Tell him the same as you told Merow."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Every time."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Information if vital."
Tad says, "Well...um."
Tad sits down on a stone bench.
Traiver the Housecarl pats Tad on the back.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You are safe here."
Tad says, "First, I heard Teru talkin' about how he wanted to teach the Guard a lesson."
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
Tad says, "I guess some guards got rough with him."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Yes i recall the incident."
Tad says, "He mentioned he was originally gonna try and get a noble close to the Prince arrested for something."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad.
Tad says, "I guess he meant the Duchess."
Tad runs her hand through her hair.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Thats our guess."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad.
Tad says, "Um...I told Merow all about it."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Or better stated, our assumption."
Tad nods to Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Do continue."
Traiver the Housecarl smiles.
Tad says, "After I told Merow, he went up to the Green, where Teru was, to shake him down."
Tad says, "Rade was there. The tax collector."
Traiver the Housecarl nods slowly.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Yes, i know the man."
Tad says, "He and Teru walked off to talk."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad.
Tad says, "It took me a bit, but I finally found them in the Silver Tankard. I missed most of the good stuff, I'm afraid."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad slowly.
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "Well, what exactly did you hear?"
Tad says, "However, I heard Rade say, 'Remember, I win, you win,' to Teru."
Tad says, "Then he mentioned that Teru didn't need to worry about taxes any more."
Traiver the Housecarl scratches his head.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Well, that is quite interesting."
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "And you believe that there is some joining of forces between the two?"
Tad says, "I get the impression their talk had to do with gettin' Rade's sister attached to the Prince."
Tad nods to Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad slowly.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Very interesting."
Tad says, "Well, yeah. Teru's plotting sedition, and I guess Rade's gonna scratch his back as long as Teru does the same in return."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "That appears to be the sound of things."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You were right in coming forth with this information."
Tad says, "Rade said, as he was leaving, 'I expect not to hear rumors of this conversation with myself around town.'"
Tad says, "Or something of the sort."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad.
You say, "I suppose it's possible that they were talking about something entirely unrelated, but given Teru's leanings and Rade's personality..."
You shrug.
Tad glances at you.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Yes, yes indeed."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to you.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "We do appreciate you coming forth with such information."
Tad asks, "Rade won't try and hurt me, will he?"
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
Tad says, "Jurion said I was in danger."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "If Rade finds this out."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You are in grave danger."
Tad mutters.
Tad peers at her oiled suede boots.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "It is highly important that you only talk to those you trust."
Tad nods.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Rade is a very powerful man, for a tax collector."
Tad asks, "Can't he just be fired?"
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "On what grounds could we do that?"
Tad asks, "Conspiracy?"
Tad raises an eyebrow.
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "Certainly, but where's the proof?"
Tad says, "Even giving favor, insofar as taxes are concerned, to Teru? I heard that much clearly."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Yes, that could call for reprimand."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "But it would be your word versus Rade's."
You say, "Pity you can't just send him off to Never to collect taxes following a reprimand of that sort."
You scratch your chin.
Tad says, "Maybe he'd fall into the crevasse."
Tad giggles.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Rade, despite his position is a very powerful man."
Tad looks suddenly serious.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "He seems to have amassed friends, and ears, everywhere."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You must remain very careful in this delicate situation."
Tad nods slowly.
Tad asks, "So what do I do now?"

> look traiver
Traiver the Housecarl is a huge gharkin male with gray skin, who stands close to eight feet tall and has long black spikes. His stern, cold and calculating brown eyes compliment long sharp tusks that curve upwards.
Traiver the Housecarl is holding an imperial issue longsword in his right hand and an engraved lanakin key necklace in his left hand.
He is wearing some polished black leather boots, an imperial issue steel shield, an imperial issue leather sheath, some polished imperial issue plate, and an imperial issue cloak.

Traiver the Housecarl says, "Talk to nobody, be very careful of whom you trust."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Continue on as normal."
Tad says, "I can try to find out more."
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Most importantly, do not let the rumor of this get traced back to yourself."
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "You can?"
Tad says, "I can try, yeah."
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "At personal risk?"
Tad glances at you.
Tad shifts her eyes to Traiver the Housecarl.
You shrug at Tad.
Tad says, "Well...yeah."
You say, "It's up to you, Tad."
Tad says, "I'm scared. But I also know what's right."
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad slowly.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "That much is appreciated, the stakes are."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Well, they are obvious."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "I just fear for your safety in such situations."
Tad smiles slightly.
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "How do you plan on learning more?"
Tad says, "Just bein' sneaky, I guess. I know someone who's close to Teru."
Tad frowns.
Traiver the Housecarl nods to Tad.
Tad says, "I can ask her stuff, I guess. If it seems appropriate."
You say, "You'd have to overhear another meeting with Rade, I suppose. It would still be his word against yours, though."
Tad nods to you.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Well, if you could find out further information, that of course would be good."
You say, "Unless you can get her to admit what she knows."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "But try not to put yourself at risk."
Tad nods to Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "I know for a fact that Rade can make things dissapear."
Tad asks, "Do you know anyone close to Rade that I should watch out for?"
Traiver the Housecarl scratches his chin.
Traiver the Housecarl asks, "Everyone?"
Tad rubs her eyes.
Tad says, "That's not the answer I was lookin' for."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "For slime, he's a well friended man."
Tad asks, "He who has the gold makes the rules. Right?"
Traiver the Housecarl says, "I really cannot say much on that subject, given my position."
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "I didnt say it."
Traiver the Housecarl smiles slightly.
Tad asks, "So how do I contact you if I hear anything more?"
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Lets just say he seems rather well off, for a city official and an officer."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You will need to come here."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "It is safe here."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "You can talk to myself, or Sarafina."
Tad says, "Okay."
Tad asks, "You're both...uh, good guys. Right?"
Tad glances at Traiver the Housecarl.
Traiver the Housecarl chuckles to himself.
You chuckle.
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Indeed."
Tad says, "Alright, then."
Tad stands up.
Tad advances into melee with Traiver the Housecarl.
Tad advances into close quarters with you.
Traiver the Housecarl stands up.
Traiver the Housecarl bows to Tad.
Traiver the Housecarl bows to you.
Tad curtsies to Traiver the Housecarl.
You bow to Traiver the Housecarl.
You say, "Thank you for hearing her out, sir."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Thank you greatly for coming forward."
Tad says, "I'll do what I can."
Traiver the Housecarl says, "Any and everytime."
Tad looks worried.
Traiver the Housecarl smiles politely.
Traiver the Housecarl unlocks a gate.
You grab Tad by the arm, motioning for her to follow.
Traiver the Housecarl opens a gate.
Tad waves.
You throw open the iron gate and go through.