[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Thirty-Seven
Appearing Characters: Billy Bright, Feugen, Gilveradin Windrunner, Grobbulus, Hedanis Poisonbloom, Jubeka Shadowbreaker, Kanrethad Ebonlocke, Lance Beckett, Maraad, Putricide, Remnii, Seria, Sigilith Avernicious, Tehd Shoemaker, Toren Snapjoint, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Veneratus, Victor Prestor
October 15th
As everyone settled into the newly opened mansion, Vel announced that their best first steps would likely be to just get a read on the city and its mage lord politics so they could establish which of the mage lords were potential allies or enemies of Heigan, and if they could get any information on Heigan in general. She suggested Uther could likely go with Lance to the warehouse, as he had shown to have a continually good track record of masquerading as a normal workman. Uther agreed he was happy to do so.
Lance pointed out that he ultimately no longer looked alive and he was alive when he left, but Vel assured him that particular aspect was well within their means to disguise.
Vel also announced that, concerning the Grom Hellscream situation, she simply wanted to make it known that, if they were even considering humoring the idea of sending Grom to the Broken Isles, she wanted at least enough from the Horde that it would be equivalent to a prisoner exchange for a man of his station, as aiding the orc in any capacity for nothing after what he had done was effectively a betrayal to all the people he had harmed. Uther acknowledged the feeling, and Maraad also spoke up that he had faced Grom in the past, and he had similar opinions about the man given what she had seen him capable of.
Remnii assured them that she intended on talking with Go’el about it more, as it part of a longer discussion.
Everyone split off into at least pairs after Vel established an upcasted [Telepathic Bond] over the group. Gil and Seria went out to find a good central location, and Gil informed Series he intended on announcing himself as an up and coming mage lord as he figured it would be loud and distracting.
Gil was able to find an amazing location called Chronomancy Square, which seemed to be something of a city square. There were storefronts and shops with illusions and billboards advertising all sorts of things. There were bubbles of magic that seemed to have different time dilations to allow for things to go faster or slower. There were mage duels going on that appeared to be some sort of sport between rival teams. Familiars were flitting around all over the area, and the entire square was alive.
Gil informed Seria to make sure no one stabbed him in the back, and he promptly conjured an [Illusory Dragon]. The dragon leaped into the sky and released a massive roar. There were gasps in the crowd, and many people started to run. He also noticed several VMH agents hone in on him, their hands on weapons and foci.
Someone called out asking if he meant it literally or metaphorically, and he said the answer was simply “yes”. The mage hunters had settled down and were now simply watching. Individuals that had started to run also stopped, realizing it was a performance, and a crowd gathered around Gil.
All of a sudden, the cheers quieted down, and one section of the crowd parted for a man to enter. He was clapping as he strolled forward. He was a well-dressed human man in a pinstriped black and purple suit with a bright green tie and pocket square. He had a cane and top hat with a well-trimmed beard. He was smiling broadly.
There was another series of claps and cheers as the man closed the distance. He flashed Gil another smile.
In his travels, Gil had heard the surname Ebonlocke before. They were a Stormwind noble family that traced their lineage to the area that was now known as Duskwood. Specifically, the village of Darkshire, formerly Grand Hamlet, was the region they were barons of. Ello Ebonlocke was the mayor of the town.
He lowered his voice.
Gil grins.
Gil got the sense that the man was completely deceived by him, and he wanted to help him flourish so that when he succeeded he could win something from it.
Seria stepped forward from the crowd, and Kanrethad smiled.
He kissed the back of Seria’s hand.
Seria nodded. Kanrethad smiled and clapped his hands together eagerly as he led the duo away. Gil heard chatter about how he was talking with Ebonlocke, and Kanrethad took them to a bench where another human woman was seated. She had a cane and a pair of shaded glasses. She was wearing a nice dress with a spellbook at her hip.
She looked up at Ebonlocke and mused that it appeared he had encountered his new hyper fixation for the evening.
He looked at Seria.
Jubeka stood, her weight heavily on her cane, and Kanrethad offered her his arm. Kanrethad said his estate was only a few blocks away, and they could enjoy the brisk autumn air on the way there. Kanrethad continued to talk if he wasn’t interrupted, thus Gil and Seria got something of a guided tour, including his involvement in donating to various establishments.
Gil relayed a great deal of the information over the telepathic bond, including the names, and asked if there was anything he should focus on. Vel suggested he try to get information from Kanrethad concerning the other mage lords of the city.
Uther happened to know the surname Shadowbreaker, as he knew there was a prominent paladin with the same surname. However, he didn’t know much beyond that. Vel happened to know the first name, it was Lord Greyson Shadowbreaker, who was an extremely high ranking paladin that Turalyon had spoken of in the past. Most likely, in Turalyon’s absence, Greyson was in charge of the paladins around Stormwind. After Vel said something, it all came flooding back to Uther.
As they walked, Jubeka deliberately fell back and walked next to Seria. She mused on how her companion wanted to be a mage lord, but she wanted to know Seria’s story. Seria said she was just making sure her companion didn’t get himself killed, and Jubeka asked who he was to her. Seria just said he was a friend.
Jubeka smirked.
She gave Seria a wink.
They reached a tall, jet black gate which had a powerful magic seal over top of it. It was distinctively fel magic. Kanrethad effortlessly unlocked the seal, and the gates swung open. It wasn’t a massive estate, but it was a vertical one that was somewhat comparable to Vel’s own manor. About four felguards were standing guard out front and patrolling the grounds. There were a few topiary trees, and one was being pruned by an imp wearing a gardeners apron.
Gil asked over the telepathic bond if felguards would be able to see through disguises, and Vel said that felguards shouldn’t natively, but given the power of the mage lords, it wasn’t unreasonable to think there may be other things that could.
Kanrethad mused that one of his guest rooms was occupied by an acquaintance of his, who would also be joining them for dinner. He apparently wasn’t familiar with Azeroth cuisine and Kanrethad was going out of his way to have a breadth of samples for him.
They entered the manor, and there were two succubi who bowed to Kanrethad and offered to take Gil and Seria’s belongings. Gil said he didn’t have anything to hand over, and they said that was fine, but if he needed anything, he shouldn’t hesitate to ask. Kanrethad took Gil to the study for a brief moment, and Gil saw all sorts of ancient texts and demon skulls with fel seals. Jubeka waved her hand, and a long shadow crept out of the wall: it was a strange elemental creature that almost leaked out of the shadows to reach something on the shelf that she could not reach. The shadowy figure handed the book to her.
Jubeka waved her hand again, and the creature disappeared as Jubeka sat down with the book. She periodically looked up at Gil, but Kanrethad was continuing to chatter. They heard a door open, and a bed of light blue, rubbery tentacles moved in through the doorway. Kanrethad stood up.
He held up a puzzle book.
The creature handed over the puzzle book, and Kanrethad said he was glad that he had enjoyed the human brain teasers. He introduced “Camtheas”, and the creature loomed right in front of Gil and offered a wide toothy grin before offering a tentacle. Gil took it.
Gil said he could tell him what he knew, and Veneratus seemed quite pleased. A succubus informed them dinner was ready, and there was also an asura present with bright red skin who came out with a full spread of food with a chef’s apron on. The asura bowed and proclaimed dinner was served.
It was a delicious meal.
Kanrethad then looked at Veneratus and requested some privacy with his new friend, and Veneratus informed Gil they would speak at a later time. Kanrethad then looked back at Gil.
Kanrethad said he was lucky he was the mage lord in the square at the time, as he could only imagine what would have happened if someone else got their hands on him. However, he was certain he’d be talked about. It wasn’t every day a stranger strolled in and threw around tier eight magic, particularly with the source he utilized.
Gil asked what Kanrethad intended on doing with him, and Kanrethad said he wanted to know why Gil was trying to get everyone’s attention. Gil said it was to make his intentions clear, and Kanrethad said he was talking about “Camtheas’s” *true* intentions, as there was more to being a mage lord than being able to cast power magic.
Kanrethad said he had only just begun. Gil did ask if Kanrethad what other mage lords he should watch out for, and Kanrethad said that sounded like advice, and Gil had said he didn’t need that. Jubeka smirked.
Jubeka chuckled.
Seria looked at him, deadpan, and Gil admitted she was right. Gil said he was willing to offer other terms aside from his name, and Kanrethad said if he could bring him other things of interest, he could give him that information. They made some small talk, and Kanrethad said that if he needed any help, he knew where to find him.
Gil relayed everything to Vel, and it was clear that Gil intended to introduce Vel to Kanrethad. He also expressed that he hated mages and their politics, and Vel countered that it was ultimately mage politics the city. Victor also added Gil literally dove right into them, and Seria sighed over the link.
In person, Victor exchanged a look with Vel and expressed he hoped Gil wasn’t going to get himself killed. Vel looked quite tired, but said that was why Seria was with him.
Meanwhile, Vel and Victor were sweeping Venetia for broad information on the mage lords. They learned of a powerful conjurer that was known to bind creatures from many planes of existence into his service. She was a hedge mage, and it was said she covered her entire body in otherworldly runes that bind to multiple planes of existence. Her name was Novos the Summoner, and she was a high elf.
They also learned about a mage lord who was not a mage at all. He had powerful mages and creations at his disposal. He was a kobold named King Togwaggle.
The general opinion of Heigan Capless with the populace was generally the same opinion someone would have of any mage lord. He was not particularly known favorably or unfavorably, but he was a relatively new mage lord. However, amongst the other mage lords, it seems they even despise him or enjoy him. There were also rumors about him, and the most prominent one was that he wasn’t real. There were people who believed that Heigan, who didn’t really have public appearances, were actually several people pretending to be Heigan. Effectively, the identity was a cover for a group of individuals. Another was that Capless Feather Grains produced an abundance of pollution, but he made it disappear in suspect ways. The third one was that he was a frequenter of the Silent Auction.
The Silent Auction was an event that took place for one week during every month. It was a quiet affair that only the richest attended, and individuals would peddle unique and exotic goods that normally went for great sums of money. Knowledge of them was also relatively quiet, as in order to go to the Silent Auction, there was a front in the form of a week long nightly ball that was held at the estate of Harold Kirtonos. It occasionally moved to other estates, but Kirtonos had done the last several for over a year. The Silent Auction seemed to have already begun.
The Silent Auction ended at midnight on the 17th.
Remnii and Maraad, meanwhile, had headed toward the church. As they arrived, a bunch of people had ended in what appeared to be a sermon. Maraad got the sense that they should be nervous about the situation, and the people there were not dressed for church. They were instead dressed in their finest. Everyone filled in on very comfortable, plush pews.
A voice called out, welcoming everyone and telling them to turn their eyes to Reverend Billy Bright. A bright light glowed up from the top of the cathedral, and a handsome middle-aged human man with a perfectly manicured mustache in a clean white suit descended on radiant wings.
However, they weren’t actually wings. He was being lowered by two angelic figures before they disappeared in a wash of bright feathers.
The man went into a legitimately good sermon, and he also seemed to be a very powerful cleric. Halfway into the sermon, he claimed to have a vision, and there was actually some faith healing that went on. There was legitimate magic being used, but it was likely that the symptoms were fake.
Remnii quietly addressed Maraad and asked what he thought of the pageantry, and Maraad admitted he was disgusted that a man like him could wield the Light, but in a way it was better than the Crusaders. However, it was clear he had no small amount of influence. Remnii asked if he thought it was worth speaking to him.
Maraad acknowledged it was clear the man had a great deal of influence and power.
Remnii smiled graciously and dropped an expensive piece of coral in the basket as it passed her. The basket bearers' eyes widened, and they mouthed “thank you” at Remnii.
At the end of the sermon, Billy Bright announced that he released them into the cold dark world, but the Light would protect them, and even if they fell to sin again, they would always be there for them. Remnii listened to the banter as they left, and there were people actively talking about going to the club and other “sinful” activities.
Maraad and Remnii stood around until the crowd dispersed, speaking in draenic. But then they started to approach reverend Billy Bright at the end of the line.
Billy said they looked to be new faces, and one of his helpers had informed him that Remnii was quite generous, and the Light thanked her for that. Remnii put a hand on her chest and nodded.
Maraad blushed.
She nodded solemnly.
They made introductions, and Remnii introduced herself as Remnyrah, while Maraad introduced himself as Marcos. Billy once again thanked her for her generous donation, and Remnii requested a question of him.
Remnii noticed a look on Billy’s face that indicated he was actively trying to hide something from her.
She looked around.
The reverend chewed his lip and got very quiet.
Remnii offered a jade piece, and Billy thanked her for her generosity again. Remnii said his compassion was appreciated. Remnii got the sense that Billy had an interpretation was was embellished and over the top, but he was not an evil man. He earnestly sees himself as the archbishop of his own splinter faction, and she could tell the wrath at the other people trying to intimidate him was very genuine.
Remnii assured him that she would inform him if she heard anything more, and Reverend Billy Bright assured her that his doors were always open. They left, but the last thing Remnii caught was that she could tell that some of the other people there were his own private force of templars.
Remnii asked Maraad how he felt as they got some street food, and Maraad acknowledged he didn’t like the man, but he didn’t think he would be a problem. Remnii said that she believed if things ran as deep as some speculated, they’d likely be seeing him again as a sort-of ally.
Maraad said he didn’t like Venetia, and Remnii said he didn’t have to, but she wanted to thank him for coming anyway. Maraad asked her if it reminded her of Argus, and Remnii froze, then slowly nodded. Maraad said he hoped they could be done with the place quickly.
Remnii reported the information over the telepathic bond.
Meanwhile, Uther and Lance headed towards the Capless Feather Grains warehouse. It was a sizable facility constructed out of stone and wood. Lance said it was where he did most of his work. He was mostly a messenger, but the warehouse was where the grains were packaged and sent out. Lance asked what Uther’s story was, whether he was looking for work or what.
Uther smiled and said it had worked for him in the past, and ultimately if this was the distribution facility they had to be infecting the grains somewhere. Lance said he wasn’t much of a snooper, and Uther didn’t seem like the type either. Uther replied that he wasn’t good at it conventionally, but he could do it in other ways. He liked to call it “stoombling”.
Uther explained on his first day, he wasn’t very bright, and he could easily get lost. Which was how it had worked in the past. Lance acknowledged he understood, and he could introduce him to one of the foremen.
They entered the warehouse, and it was a massive facility. There were magic platforms that were being moved about, and there was a truly obscene amount of grain. People recognized Lance, and Lance made his way to the foreman: a dwarf man named Toren Snapjoint who had no hair whatsoever.
He scowled at Lance and wanted to know what he was doing there, as he had the week off. Lance said he did, but on his journeys he ran into a hardworking young man that was interested in helping out. His name was Seamus. Snapjoint looked Uther up and down, and then Lance up and down.
Snapjoint asked what happened to the cart and horse that went with Lance, and Lance said he lost them. Uther contributed that they were attacked by orcs. Snapjoint furrowed his brow and asked what happened to the orcs after. Uther said he didn’t know, because when orcs showed up, he started running. Snapjoint said it was coming out of Lance’s paycheck, and Uther said that it should come out of the orcs’ paychecks.
Snapjoint chuffed and asked where Seamus was from. Uther explained he was from a small town outside Lordaeron, but he had left a long while ago. He said he was a citizen of the Eastweald, in a sense. Snapjoint nodded, and asked what qualifications Uther had. Uther said that he could pick “it” up. Snapjoint asked for clarification.
Snapjoint asked if he could read.
Snapjoint nodded and said there were some places for him. After all, there were a few shortages on the night shift. He asked how attached he was to a night’s rest. Uther explained he was adaptable as well as he was allowed to go to bed at some point. Snapjoint was pleased, and ordered Uther to follow him.
He said they were short on muscle to bring the crates in for sorting, but he needed to make sure he was strong enough to lift the crates alone. Uther walked over and lifted the crate. It was very heavy, and Uther followed after Snapjoint to an area for it be set down. However, there was a small collection of smaller crates cordoned off from the rest.
Snapjoint acknowledged Uther seemed like he had it well enough for temp work. He explained that he’d be paid according to the amount of crates he moved. He also warned Uther to stay away from the machines, as his limbs would be hacked off.
Snapjoint then asked Lance if he planned on taking his vacation. Lance asked over the telepathic link if he should take the vacation, and Vel said that ultimately if he wanted to perhaps get more information it would be worthwhile. Lance acknowledged, and told Snapjoint he wanted to help out the company.
Uther was left to his work, and Snapjoint eventually traded off with another foreman. When it quieted down, he started to look around and start his “stoombling” using his divine sense. It immediately kicked off as he approached some of the smaller crates, and he got an immediate aura of desecration. He looked at it closer, and he didn’t see anything notable, but then he used [See Invisibility], and when he opened his eyes again, he saw an invisible glyph in a language he didn’t understand. He managed to sketch it out, and then he wandered over to find the bathroom so he could see if he could tell where the plagued grain was being brought in.
Uther meandered toward the production area where the grain underwent its first stage. He slipped his way in, acting as if he was nervous about the dark. He noticed another individual had slipped in, and the door hadn’t closed all the way. Uther followed. It was where the grain was washed and gristed, and the first thing he heard was ominous chanting.
He snuck forward, and saw a horrifying sight. Employers were bringing small amounts of grain to a separate gristing area, and there was a lumbering, glurbering sound along with a hiss. He could see the glow of evil magics, and he felt the tingle of his divine sense.
He rounded the corner slowly, and he saw a tube where two different types of grain were being combined. There was a handful of individuals chanting, and a lumbering, faceless figure with a metallic bolt over its head. It’s corpulous form had one big arm that had been cut off and replaced with a tank, and another with a massive syringe. It plugged the syringe into the tube, and a green gas fumigated in it.
Other employees were recording, as if it was an experiment.
At that moment, Uther’s divine sense flared from directly behind him. A massive hand grabbed his entire head, and picked him up. Uther started the panicked shrieking of a country boy way over his head. He was turned around, and he was face to face with a horrible, distended creature.
Uther started to blabber about how sorry he was he was just looking for the bathroom and he begged the creature to not eat him. The creature looked at him blankly, and then dragged Uther forward. A handful of robed individuals looked over, and one stepped forward and demanded to know what was going on.
Uther continued to babble about how he was looking for the bathroom, and he realized Toren Snapjoint was the one who had spoken. He said he wasn’t supposed to wander from the places he was supposed to go. One of the other workers asked if they should let him go, and Uther continued to cry and beg.
Uther saw them whispering to each other. Toren sighed and walked over to Uther. He pulled his hood back. There was some face paint he didn’t have before. Toren informed Uther he didn’t think he meant to stumble in the back, and he also knew that he was standing in restricted areas as they were company secrets. Toren said he should go take his break and clean up his trousers, and then get back to work. Toren assured him he wasn’t in trouble, he just wasn’t to go poking his head in places he wasn’t supposed to.
Toren touched his shoulder, and Uther felt a tiny sting. Uther jerked back and asked what that was for. Toren smiled and assured him it was just to calm his nerves. Uther had noticed him casting a spell, but he wasn’t sure what it was.
Toren led him to a break room so he could get himself situated, but he didn’t try to sneak anymore. He got another break later with all the other workers on shift, and the room Uther was working in was locked.
When he went back in after his break, all the plagued crates were gone.
Vel spent the evening putting together the pieces they had found and actively worrying about Uther, as he had not come back that night. Remnii and Maraad also stayed in.
Gil went out to experience the nightlife, along with Hedanis, Tehd Shoemaker, and Sig. Victor wanted to go, but he decided he didn’t trust himself to do so.
Gil bought drinks and drugs for everyone in several bars. He wasn’t entirely sure where he ended up, but they were very high class bars. There was one where people were actively drinking poison, dying, and then people gave them reincarnation potions that lasted for a night before they reverted to how they were. There was a place where you could experience thought strands of all varieties and debauchery. There was a sensory deprivation brothel, and really anything else he could imagine.
During one instance, he reached euphoria through some means or another, and he cast [Fly] on everyone in the building. They all took off into the night sky, and it was so legendary he made three contacts in the upper class.
In the morning, he woke up surrounded by people in a pile of gold and silver. He recuperated all the money he spent carousing.
October 16th
The next day, Gil and Uther came back, but Lance Beckett did not. Vel sent him, trying to get a read on where he was, but she didn’t get a response. Vel called on Seria to pull out her scrying bowl, and they attempted to scry on Lance.
The spell opened, and they saw Lance Beckett. Magic no longer obscured his form, and he was on a rack in a dark chamber that was lit with bluish green lighting. It appeared to be a laboratory of some kind. Fear was evident on his face.
Nothing seemed to happen initially. But eventually, there was a spark of electricity, and a light kicked on.
Lance jolted up and demanded to know who they were. The voice said they were another employee, and they would be very well acquainted. He said Lance could call him Professor. The new man was visibly undead, and got very close.
He turned toward the scrying sensor, and his lens zoomed in.
He pointed his finger at the scrying sensor, and the sensor was dispelled. Vel said they needed to work quickly, as they likely couldn’t leave Lance for long. The group agreed, and Uther relayed everything he had learned before Gil, Remnii, and Vel set off to go talk to Kanrethad while Uther slept from his night shift.
They made their way back to Kanrethad’s estate. They happened to arrive just in time to see Kanrethad on his way home outside the gates. He smiled at Gil.
Kanrethad’s eyes shifted over to Vel and Remnii.
He was wearing a suit that was identical to the one from yesterday, but the colors were simply reversed and he had a fedora on instead of a top hat. He introduced himself with a flourish, and Remnii and Vel both introduced themselves by their aliases. He took both of their hands in turn and planted kisses upon them, before he dispelled the ward to his estate and welcomed them inside.
One of the felguards did a double take at Remnii, recognizing her as a draenei. The succubi maids also greeted them at the door and complemented both Remnii and Vel on their hair before they dispersed again. Kanrethad guided them into his study, where Jubeka was once again seated in the same spot she was the prior day. Introductions were made again, and Gil took an opportunity to make some small talk with Kanrethad so Vel could get a full read on him. She managed to assess his bond: “All knowledge should be shared with the responsible, so long as they use it responsibly.”
Vel mused she had been told Kanrethad was well-informed, and he confirmed one had to be in order to be a mage lord of Venetia. She said that the arrangement Kanrethad had at his estate was impressive, and they made some small talk about their expertises, as it seemed he himself favored chaos magic. He confirmed that was something he was particularly talented in, though he ultimately dabbled in all so-called dark magics.
He smirked.
Vel caught a small smirk on Jubeka’s face and a clear expression of “oh, I like her”, though Kanrethad was completely oblivious to it.
Kanrethad raised an eyebrow.
Kanrethad grinned.
Kanrethad chuffed.
He looked over at his companion, who simply nodded.
Vel explained that Heigan was actively infecting people in the Eastweald with a plague of undeath. Gil added it was one that spread through all living things. Kanrethad admitted he had heard rumors of the walking dead in Lordaeron, and that was part of the reason he returned to Venetia: to see if there was anything involved with the mage lords, and here he was finding out it was in fact one of their own.
Kanrethad confirmed, and said that if they explained what they knew, he would answer questions for them.
Vel explained the plague was being transmitted through the grains produced by Heigan’s company, Capless Feather Grains. Once someone was infected, their body fluids became contagious, which meant a bite or a transmission of blood was all it took for the infection to spread. That also included animals, as any animals that became infected also became undead vectors. Kanrethad asked if Heigan had tried the plague in Venetia yet, and Vel admitted they didn’t yet know, though it was something they were keeping their eye on. From what they were able to find out, the grains sent to Andorhal were the first stage of whatever experiment Heigan was trying to run. She also added there was a cult that had emerged around it, and Kanrethad admitted he wasn’t surprised. She said that the goal she had been provided with was that they were trying to weed out the weak so that the strong could arise.
Kanrethad visibly rolled his eyes.
Gil said he believed the hard part wasn’t going to be stopping the company, it was going to be ensuring none of them slipped away. Kanrethad agreed, though the issue was also stopping Heigan himself, as he was a prodigious mage and a necromancer on top of it, even if it wasn’t an uncommon specialty.
Vel explained they had started to look at who his potential allies were along with those that were not fond of them so that they could possibly turn more direct ire towards Heigan. Kanrethad said his allies were few and far between, and most of them were in his own company as he had a tendency to buy them out. He wasn’t a popular mage lord. Many worked with him just out of convenience, but there were ultimately few friends between mage lords as given their nature of rising and falling, it was better to not get too attached. Kanrethad said Heigan’s most likely ally was likely Harold Kirtonos, but that was because he did not make enemies or allies. He only made contacts.
Vel mentioned she had come across the fact that Kirtonos was the one presiding over the Silent Auction recently, and Kanrethad confirmed, though he seemed to not be a fan of the event. He described it as a dreadful place as it was just a complex way of selling things that were displeasurable to sell in public: living creatures, sapient or otherwise, cursed objects, and similarly dreadful things. Vel mused that it made sense why Heigan was a frequent attendee, and Kanrethad replied he wouldn’t have been surprised if he also put his own objects there.
Kanrethad expressed he didn’t hold it against Kirtonos, but he didn’t trust him as he was a man who was a businessman first and foremost. Vel asked if he was someone that would be willing to trade one contact out for another, and Kanrethad confirmed if the new contact was interesting enough, he would. And he ultimately had a vested interest in the safety of Venetia, but he would seek to win no matter how it played out.
He said he had an invitation to the auction, and he could hand it over to them, but ultimately the talk had made him curious. However, if they were to speak to Kirtonos, they could potentially get their own invitation, as he had a tendency to hand them out to people who caught his interest. However, Kanrethad was receptive to any other information they could give him that would help him ensure a plague didn’t break out in Venetia as well.
Vel also asked if Kanrethad was familiar with Arellas Fireleaf, and Kanrethad confirmed he was another mage lord, but he was unsure if he directly dealt with Heigan at all. However, Arellas had not been in the city often since the fall of Quel’thalas. He also offered apologies to Vel about the fall of her homeland, which she thanked him for before she explained that he had been confirmed to be associated with the Scarlet Crusade that had been active in Lordaeron. The news was unexpected.
Gil said he thought Venetia was a place they would want to handle, and Kanrethad confirmed the city was full of things they would hate. Ultimately, even though they couldn’t march through the defenses around Venetia, a mage lord being allied with them could bring representatives into the city with little problem, and even a small force could rapidly become an issue. He said he’d speak to some of his colleagues about that as well.
However, one of the struggles in Venetia was that mage lords moving against other mage lords was difficult without breaking one of the few rules established in the city. But an outsider could have an easier time doing so, even if they still needed an amount of evidence.
Vel produced some of the samples of the plague she had taken from Lordaeron, and Kanrethad said he was happy to do some studies of his own, even if he doubted he would find anything she hadn’t. Jubeka stood up with her cane to take a closer look at it, and she expressed that it was exceedingly fascinating.
Vel said the main danger with it was that it was incredibly contagious and volatile, and the disease it caused was a wasting one that broke down the body and promptly animated the resulting corpse as a mindless undead.
A small smirk touched Vel’s lips.
Kanrethad and Jubeka exchanged a look, and they seemed to have an entire conversation between themselves in just a matter of a few expressions.
Kanrethad agreed to send a messenger to them if he found out anything further from his contacts, and Jubeka took the vial to look at it more closely.
Vel and Kanrethad exchanged a handshake, and as she glanced over at Jubeka, it became clear she was actively thinking, especially after Vel implied she had a way to give an undead their mind back even after they were turned by the plague.
Gil asked Kanrethad how he recognized his magic, and he explained he was an expert of esoteric magics, but he had also seen dragon magic first hand on a few occasions. Most common folk likely wouldn’t be able to recognize it in the same way he did, but he couldn’t make the same promise for other mage lords. After all, it was quite possible there were dragonsworn living within the city itself, or even dragons in disguise. He truthfully wouldn’t have been surprised if a dragon was even a mage lord. Gil admitted he would need to be more careful, as he wasn’t used to people being able to look so deeply.
They made a bit more small talk, and Veneratus made another appearance so that Gil could talk to him more about cheese. Vel had never seen an observer before, and she engaged in polite conversation about what plane he was from. He explained he was a native aberration to the Great Dark Beyond, even if he was not from the Void. They were unsure where the first of them came from, but they now believed they were spawned from the dreams of their predecessors, and he had spent all of his long life traveling the planes and acquiring knowledge. Remnii, however, had seen other observers on Argus.
