A Problematic Event

                            Chris Hagner
    
  
       
Dharmas had walked through the tunnels of the darklands, visited the Kingdom of Geb, and traded with people on the plane of shadow. But none of that had tested his patience or resolve like the soul crushing boredom of attending a ball in Cheliax.

Dharmas had long ago developed a hatred of the empty pleasantries and false smiles. His vampire master had often thrown parties like these, and Dharmas had always disliked them.

Unfortunately the client wanted the delivery of his goods to be unobtrusive, thus Dharmas was here at some lords estate dressed as a nobleman looking for a chance to slip out to a certain room to leave a certain item.

If I had known the client was going to be such a pain I would have told Morthas to send someone else to do it, Dharmas brooded.

Of course there were few in the guild that could pass as pure human, let alone as a member of high society, so he got stuck with the job of delivery boy this time. At least Dharmas did blend in easily, with his pale skin, dark hair, and good looks; he easily could play the part of a charming minor nobleman.

But it seemed he was attracting a bit more attention than he expected, several of the ladies who he had been flirting with earlier were now watching his every move with a dedication that any sentry would envy, making it impossible for him to slip out unnoticed.

So Dharmas mingled with the crowd and waited for his opportunity to get to the meet, as his irritation and thirst grew throughout the evening.   "You look terrible Sir. Here, this will make you feel better," one of the waiters, said as they handed him a glass.

Dharmas glanced at the waiter, ready to decline, but then caught the faint smell of blood coming from the glass. Dharmas quickly took a sip before looking more carefully at the waiter, he didn't recognize him, but that wasn't surprising.    
   
      "Is that you, Laeth?" Dharmas asked, although he was sure he was correct.

"Yes, of course. I figured your thirst would start getting to you by now. So I brought something to calm it." Laeth replied.

Dharmas took another drink, pretending he was fine. If there was one thing he hated about being a Dhampir, it was his hunger for blood; it had caused him to lose his composure at exactly the wrong time far too often.
Dharmas didn't ask what Laeth was doing here nor how he got in this place. As a Doppelganger, such things were easy for him. Instead Dharmas concentrated on what use he could make of this unexpected help. "Have you checked out the meet?" Dharmas asked.

"Yes, nothing unusual. An unused smoking room with a single door, no sign of secret doors or traps." Laeth stated with a nod, as if agreeing with something Dharmas had said.

"I don't suppose you could make the drop?" Dharmas asked as he surveyed the crowd.

"Sorry, waiters aren't allowed in the house proper. You have to do this yourself." Laeth said with mock sympathy.

Dharmas glared at Laeth. He knew perfectly well that Laeth could slip through all but the most strident security he was just enjoying watching Dharmas jump through a client's hoop for once.

Dharmas sighed and said, "Then distract my admirers if you please, so I can get on with it."

"Of course, give me a moment." Laeth said.

Dharmas handed him the empty glass, and Laeth promptly vanished into the crowd.Dharmas waited patiently until a lady's outraged shriek split the air. All heads turned to see what the commotion was, but Dharmas didn't bother to try and see what going on. Laeth would gleefully tell him what he had done later anyway, so instead Dharmas silently left the well-lit party for the dim empty hall.

A moment later Dharmas was walking down a corridor lined with antique armor stands. Dharmas warily eyed each set of armor as he passed making sure someone wasn't hiding behind them, paranoid perhaps but he had learned the value of paranoia the hard way. He was relieved when he got to the smoking room with out incident.

Dharmas quickly slipped inside the pitch-black room.
The darkness was no problem for a Dhampir, and he quickly scanned the room. There was not much in it, just several dusty chairs and tables a few decorative vases and a cat sleeping on one of the chairs.

Dharmas went to one of the vases and reached inside. Feeling around carefully, he soon pulled out a small bag of gems. After examining the contents he put them in one of his vest pockets he then, from another pocket pulled out a bag of Vayav, a highly addictive intoxicant made by the drow. He then placed the drug in the vase and turned to go. As he was shutting the door, Dharmas caught a glimpse of the cat watching him from its chair. It made him wonder idly how the cat had gotten in the closed room in the first place. Perhaps it had slipped in when the client or his agent had placed the gems?

Dharmas had no difficulty retracing his steps and had just reached the ballroom and struck up a conversation with a couple of merchants from Korvosa when he heard a shout from the hallway he had just left.

Dharmas hoped it was just Laeth creating another distraction, but had a sinking feeling it was something more serious as he joined the crowd. Sure enough, the mob led back to the smoking room where he could just see through the open door a nobleman and a Hellknight examining the head and torso of a corpse. Dharmas swore mentally. An investigation could bring him to the notice of the authorities and blow his cover; or worse yet it could get him executed for this murder.

"Was that the client?" Laeth asked quietly from behind Dharmas. "I don't know." Dharmas responded just as softly without turning around. Dharmas moved closer to get a better look as the Hellknight searched the room. He tensed to leave as the knight reached the vase where the Vayav was hidden, but the knight found nothing and moved on.  

The killer must have taken it. But how had they learned about the drop in the first place, Dharmas wondered. Were there any clues? Was anything out of place, had anyone behaved suspiciously? As his mind raced, Dharmas saw the cat sitting in front of one of armor stands watching the crowd.  
That's it, Dharmas thought, and then said casually with a slight nod. "Laeth, go drop the armor stand over there on that cat."

Most people would have paused and wondered about this strange request, but not Laeth. He seemed eager to cause more trouble as he vanished into the crowd without a word. A few seconds later the armor suit fell over, right onto the cat startling everyone, and causing the Hellknight to burst out of the room sword drawn.

A good thing he did, as before the eyes of the startled crowd, the cat expanded into a massive serpentine form. It snarled at the crowd, who quite sensibly ran.   

Dharma watched as several people moved to fight the creature and decided now was a good time for him to leave as well. As the Hellknight and what looked to be a cleric of Asmodeus engaged the creature in battle, Dharmas headed for the closest exit.

He blended into the fleeing crowd heading for where his rented carriage was located.

As Dharmas slipped away from the rest of the guests and headed for the door out he wondered where in the nine hells the Protean had come from in the first place. Summoned perhaps, but hardly the type of creature one expected a Chelaxians to use. Dharmas thought.

As Dharmas reached his rented carriage, he found he had a new driver waiting for him. It took him a second to recognize Laeth who was wearing a different coat and a slightly different face to go with it.

"What kept you?" Laeth said as he opened the carriage with the aplomb of a professional coachman.

Laeth demonstrated he was quite a skilled driver as he skillfully avoided the other carriages even as he careened away from the house and through the gate and down the road at breakneck speed.  

"Did you know that was going to happen?" Laeth asked after they had made some distance down the road. From his tone Dharmas couldn't tell whether he was angry or thrilled about what had happened.

"No, I thought the cat was someone's familiar and the attack would have revealed whose it was. I never expected the cat to turn into a Protean." Dharmas explained.

"A what?" Laeth asked, confused.

"A creature from the Maelstrom, a creature of pure chaos." Dharmas explained.

"Oh, like me." Laeth said cheerfully. Dharmas laughed, the first good laugh he'd had since his arrival in Cheliax.

"Yes, you probably are related after all." Dharmas mused.

"By the way Laeth, what did you do to cause that distraction earlier?" Dharmas asked out of curiously.

"Rat." Laeth said nonchalantly.

"Rat."  Dharmas repeated in disbelief. "Where did you come by a rat?"

"I brought it with me. You have to have right tools with visiting a lords manor." Laeth said smugly.  

Dharmas burst out laughing again but soon his thoughts turned inevitably to the mess behind him. So much for the client's desire for anonymity. Dharmas thought.

"How will I explain this to Morthas." Dharmas said unhappily. Dharmas had long taken pride in his work and wasn't used to leaving disaster in his wake, unless that was what he had been hired for in the first place.

Since he had joined the Outcast Guild he had completed his missions smoothly without problems. Whether it was leading an expedition through the Darklands or the retrieval of some rare or strange goods from exotic lands, Dharmas had always maintained his professionalism. But this job had turned out to be the most problematic mission he had done so far.

"Well did you deliver the merchandise and get the payment?" Laeth asked.
"Yes." Dharmas replied.
"Well then, don't sweat the small details. " Laeth said cheerfully. Dharmas opened his mouth to point out the ramifications of this incident to Laeth, but instead took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. "You're right. For now at least it's not our problem. "I'll discuss this with Morthas and- "

"Then it will be his problem." Laeth interrupted.

"I was thinking more along the lines that he would provide some instruction on how to proceed, but I suppose your view is just as accurate." Dharmas replied to Laeth wryly.

"Where should I take you?" Laeth asked as he slowed down the horses to a more comfortable trot.

"Drop me off in Westcrown, I'll arrange transportation from there. Oh, and Laeth make sure you ditch the carriage in a unobtrusive manner."

"You worry too much Dharmas, relax I know what I'm doing" Laeth said.
"Aren't you supposed to be in Andoran buying grain for are next expedition into the darklands," Dharmas said pointedly.

"Well we uh, finished early. And anyway they told me they didn't need my help anyway" Laeth said defensively.

Dharmas wasn't surprised to hear that. Laeth was good when danger was around but when bored he found rather annoying ways to amuse himself. Dharmas still remembered in horror the time Laeth had decided to spice up dinner, to this day Dharmas couldn't look at radishes without feeling heartburn.

"Just do it Laeth, then go back to guild without stealing anything or framing anyone." Dharmas said sternly.

"Oh, come on that merchant deserved to go to prison." Laeth protested.
"Laeth!" Dharmas said getting testy.

"As you wish sir I shall endeavor to be a perfect gentleman." Laeth replied in a perfect imitation of a Chelaxian servant.

"You don't have to go that far Laeth, just don't do anything that will get you arrested or killed and meet me back at the guild." Dharmas said tiredly.
"All right but I expect a night of drunken debauchery when we get home." Laeth said.

"You don't need my help to find that Laeth, now I'm going to get some rest, the sun will be up soon and I'll need my strength." Dharmas said settling more comfortably into his seat. Laeth glanced back, a sympathetic look on his face, but for once said nothing.

Dharmas arrived in the Andoran city of Augustana without any problems a week later and headed for the older part of town where the guild house was located.

The Outcast Guild {or more properly Orthin's Tradesmen Guild} was currently headquartered in the city of Augustana in Andoran. There were several reasons for that, ranging from Andoran fabled tolerance to the active seaport, but the most important reason the guild ended up in Augustana was simple, that was were they found a building they could afford back then.

Personally Dharmas wished the guild was located somewhere less open, or at least a place where cloaks were more in fashion, his hat wasn't keeping as much of the sun off him as he liked and his pale skin made him look ill in the daylight attracting more attention than he liked.

As Dharmas walked down the street the buildings got older and the residents poorer, not as bad off as Dharmas had seen in other cites but one could tell this was not the best part of town. The neighborhood changed again as he walked farther down the street, the building were still old and warn but better maintained, he also saw an increase in the number of half-orcs and foreigners. This was a place you found in every city no matter how rich and prosperous, a ghetto were the undesirables huddled out of the way of everyone else.

In Andoran this often meant Chelaxian refugees, some of whom had lived in Augustana for decades, still laboring under the suspicion of being secret devil worshipers, and half-orcs, suffering much the same level of prejudice as the Chelaxians, they also ended up in the same predicament as their neighbors, with the added problem that no amount time or effort would allow them to pass as human.  

Which was why the half-orc Orthin had created his guild so half-orcs would have someone to rely on when no one else would step forward. Despite having joined the guild Dharmas still had difficulty understanding what had motivated Orthin to not just try and help his fellows but to expand it to anyone. Dharmas had been raised to trust no one and rely only on himself and subsequent experience since leaving his vampire master had reinforced that view, at least until he had encountered the Outcast Guild.
Dharmas shook off his musings as he reached the guildhall.

It was a large old building three stories high and made of stone. At one point it had been quite an impressive example of old Taldorian architecture but time and neglect had all but destroyed that history, now it was unpainted and missing the decorative statues that had once stood in its alcoves, instead it was covered with moss and more than a few cracks. A faded sign hanging over the door proclaimed it the Orthin's Tradesmen Guild.
Dharmas though, found it more welcoming than the fanciest inn.
Dharmas reached the large doors witch had been left ajar enough to slip in without opening them farther.

Inside it looked like a dimly lit tavern with a large number of half-orcs as patrons.
Almost all the people inside were guild members the exceptions being, the people who had come to the guild to try the exotic darkland cuisine that could be found nowhere else in Augustana.

Dharmas walked toward the bar where he knew the guildmaster waited, nodding in greeting to the people who called out to him.

The bartender at first glance could be taken for an unusually tall dwarf, although a closer look showed overly large golden eyes and pointed ears that no dwarf possessed.

In fact Morthas was a mongrelman, a race which seemed to combine strange traits from a hundred races, most lived as scavengers and outcasts which made Morthas rise to the rank of guildmaster all the more remarkable.
Morthas looked up from the glass he was cleaning and said.
"I heard you had some trouble."

"Well Laeth did show up." Dharmas joked.

Morthas cocked an eyebrow at the joke before saying. "It must have been quite a mess if your resorting to jokes. "

Dharmas winced and nodded. I knew Laeth was wrong about lightning the mood first. Dharmas thought.

Dharmas took a breath and preceded to give a detailed report, Morthas listened pensively then poured Dharmas a drink saying. "Relax Dharmas, I am not some undead monster who eats subordinates who fail. You handled it well, in fact perhaps to well."

Dharmas relaxed and took a drink, although he realized Morthas was not a harsh taskmaster Dharmas was used to failure equating death. Then the rest of what Morthas said registered. "What do you mean by "to well?" Dharmas asked confused.

Morthas looked at Dharmas saying. "The client wants you to go back to Chelax and find out who stole his goods."

"That's strange." Dharmas said.
That was an understatement. The guilds clients usually saw the Outcast Guild as a mercantile business where strange goods could be procured, most had little idea how dangerous the trips to the Darklands were or how skilled some of the guild members were to make them.

" Someone who is rich enough to pay the fees we charged to get the Vayav could easily hire his own people." Dharmas mused.

Morthas shrugged and said, "I think the client is just afraid of his own shadow and wants to keep his anonymity. But I agree something is definitely going on, Darkland goods are rare and hard to get, but this is still an excessive amount of interest as well as caution." Morthas paused for a moment in thought before continuing. "All right, take Selaya, Dar and Arza with you as backup, find out what going on and at first sign of trouble pull out. We'll abandon trade in Chelax if we have to."

Dharmas nodded slowly at Morthas orders. Privately Dharmas felt if things went that badly he would deal with it personally. After all it wouldn't be his first assassination.

Dharmas looked around asking. "Where are they now?" In truth he had pretty good idea where to find them but Morthas would know better.
Morthas picked up Dharmas now empty cup and began cleaning it before saying, "Dar is acting as Miza's bodyguard for today, Selaya is at the temple and Arza is playing mage ball."

Dharmas sighed at that last. Mage Ball was a local game started by Arza, essentially she cast featherfall on a ball and bounced it around until the spell wore off, and whomever had it when the spell failed lost. Dharmas found it baffling to use magic for such a simple game but Arza and the street kids loved it. "Well I better go tell them." Dharmas said.

"Good luck, and Dharmas, you aren't alone anymore so don't act like it." Morthas said sternly.

Dharmas turned away saying simply. "I know."

He looked for Arza first since she was the easiest to find, just head for the smell of sulfur and the sounds of battle, Arza had a fondness for violent games and often ended up using her magic to add some "excitement."
Arza was a tiefling sorcerer, a rather young and powerful one at that. Dharmas found her easer to handle than Laeth, but still her youth and impulsiveness meant he had to keep a close eye on her, but despite all that she was the strongest sorcerer in the guild so he often found himself taking her on missions.

It didn't take Dharmas long to find a gang of kids and teens playing Arza strange game. The game looked like a normal ball game until you noticed how slowly the ball was drifting toward the ground, not that it got close to ground very often before someone kicked or grabbed it. The ball moved oddly, like it was weightless, and he noticed that the people touching the ball apparently were affected by the same spell, since he was certain that kids didn't naturally hang in the air that long.  
"Arza, we have a job." Dharmas shouted.

Arza turned and looked at him then said a few words to her friends and ran over. "Are we leaving now?" Arza asked.

"No, we'll leave tomorrow for Chelax but you should start preparing now. " Dharmas said eyeing Arza, she could pass as young human girl with dark hair and dusky skin especially as she was clad in regular workman attire, only a close observer would notice that she had small claws instead of nails on her hands and her teeth were sharper than normal. In fact the thing that most marked her as a tiefling was her eyes, the pupils were silver and slitted like a cats, and if that wasn't enough where most races eyes had white Arza eyes were pitch black.

Arza blew a stray hair away from her eye and said. "Okay, give me moment to wrap up."

"Fine, just meet me at guild tomorrow morning." Dharmas said. Arza nodded and ran off.

Dharmas then headed to the temple of Shelyn to find Selaya who he hoped was not too busy to meet with him.
The temple of Shelyn in Augustana was an old building made long ago, but it still was beautiful. Dharmas had brought art pieces to the temple on occasion and had no trouble getting permission to enter. Dharmas walked through the temple heading to the back where the art studio was located.

He stopped at the entrance and waited for one of the priests to notice him. As he waited he watched the artist work, they were an odd group ranging from devout followers of Shelyn to the classic starving artist, the only thing they had in common was their dedication to restoring the art pieces that had been damaged either by time or neglect to their original splendor.

Selaya was one of these artists, the half-orc face a mask of concentration as she worked on cleaning a painting. Selaya half-orc parents had been members of the Outcast Guild and involved in numerous expeditions, so Selaya had grownup hearing stories of mysterious places and seeing many weird, disturbing and beautiful art pieces gathered from the Darklands and beyond. When she was old enough she had started going into the Darklands herself and soon her love of art eventually developed into her becoming a priestess of Shelyn, but Selaya still continued to go on expeditions for the guild. Selaya finished and stretched and got up to speak to Dharmas.
"I take it were heading out?" She asked.

"In a matter of speaking." Dharmas said then he proceeded to explain the situation.
Selaya listened and said. "I'll be ready by tomorrow, I'll see if my contacts can learn what going on."

"Thank you, if you have any news I'll be waiting at the guild." Dharmas replied.

He turned to leave then paused before saying. "Oh, could you keep an eye on Arza, I don't want her causing trouble in Chelax when I am not around. "
"I'll try, but you and Morthas about the only ones who truly intimidates her." Selaya explained.

"That's why I'm in charge, I scare children, pets and monsters." Dharmas said ominously.

"Well it doesn't works on Laeth." Selaya quipped.
Dharmas laughed as he went through the door.

Dharmas ate dinner while he waited for Dar to get back, he split his attention between eating and the door. He had always enjoyed Darkland food, probably because of large amount of blood that was used in Darkland cuisine. These blood sausages are excellent. Dharmas thought as he ate. He glanced back at the door in time to see Dar arrive.

Dar was an Oread an earth touched race, he looked like a big bald human with a angular face and a dark grayish tinge to his skin, he was also noted in the guild for his skill as a guide through the Darklands. Dharmas gestured to get his attention then waited for him to join him. Once Dar set down Dharmas asked.

"Would you like something to eat?"

Dar nodded. "If you're paying." Dharmas waved to the waitress. Before he could say anything else Dar spoke. "I already heard about the job from Laeth, I'll be ready by tomorrow."

"When did Laeth get back?" Dharmas said surprised that Laeth had come back without bothering him.

Dar shrugged before saying. "I think he caused some trouble in Chelax so he's avoiding you."

Dharmas gritted his teeth saying. "Wise of him."

Dar simply nodded and waited for the waitress to take his order. Dharmas sighed and finished his food and headed to see Morthas and find out if he would have another problem to fix.

The next day Dharmas waited at the guildhall back door with an assortment goods and disguises for them to use to get into and out of Chelax. As he checked to make sure everything was ready Arza sauntered up in her servants attire and peered at the bags before asking. "Is all this stuff really necessary to get into that devil country?"

"To enter, no its not, to enter without attracting attention that's another matter. And don't call it that, the natives are not known for a good sense of humor." Dharmas chided.

"But they are devil worshippers." Arza protested.

"Remember you, Selaya and Dar are going together as my employees so no talking back to anyone or attracting attention." Dharmas warned.

Arza glared at him before snarling. "I know, I'm not an idiot."
Dharmas raised an eyebrow saying. "Its not your intelligence that worries me but your temper. Treat this trip as if were going to darklands and you'll do fine." Arza muttered something that Dharmas pretended he didn't hear.
Dar and Selaya walked up both dressed as mercenaries, Selaya looked rather good in her outfit to Dharmas while Dar looked intimidating.

"All right here are your papers and some emergency funds does anyone hav-"  

"Hey, what about me?" A feminine voice interjected from behind him.
Dharmas didn't turn around as he said. "Your not going Laeth, Morthas already choose the people to go and you weren't on the list."

"Because I got back late, come on I even came as your favorite red head."
As Arza snickered Dharmas ignored Laeth saying. "If you want to go talk to Morthas if he agrees-" Dharmas was again interrupted by Laeth.

"Already did, so lets go. After all you know I'll come in handy." Laeth practically purred.

Dharmas sighed in frustration, saying. "I thought doppelgangers were supposed to be subtle masters of intrigue and deception, what happened to you Laeth?"

"Dropped on his head" Selaya interjected.

"Ate to many strange mushrooms" Dar added.

"Hung around you to much, Dharmas" Arza said.

"Arza wins the round." Laeth said not insulted in the least.

Dharmas looked at the innocent expression of his "servants" and shook his head.
"Well I'm glad you're all in good spirits, let's go before I think of way to change that."

Laeth and Arza started to laugh until Dar pointed out Dharmas was serious.

The sea voyage to Chelax went smoothly, Dharmas had no trouble convincing the port authorities that he was foreign trader or that the others were his employees. They soon settled in and began working on their real mission.
Selaya and Laeth went out to gather information from their contacts in Westcrown, while Dharmas went to meet the client.

The meeting place was an old park after dusk. The park once well tended, now showing signs of neglect was a perfect place to meet.

Dharmas went to the specified trail and walked down it looking for a marked tree which would tell to leave the trail for the woods, wondering all the while what madman thought this much security was necessary. I have met priests of Norgorber who were less secretive. Dharmas thought.

Dharmas soon left the trail and headed through the woods until he reached a glade. Although he didn't see anyone he sensed he wasn't alone.

"Are you from the Orthin's Tradesmen Guild?" A voice said from the shadows.
"Yes I am, and can we dispense with these games."
Dharmas said irrateted.

A nondescript Halfling stepped from behind a tree saying. "I'm sorry but my master has many enemies and would prefer this matter to be as quite as possible."

Dharmas watched him move closer noting the ease with witch the Halfling moved despite the darkness and the way his hand hovered over a concealed throwing knife by his belt. Why us. Dharmas thought. Why if you have someone this skilled, why bother to ask us for help.

Several possibility raced through his mind unfortunately most ended with him being turned over too the authorities. Oh well, if that happens I'll just have to kill a lot of people. Dharmas thought darkly.

"What should I call you?" Dharmas asked.

"My name is Tariss, and I will help you with the investigation."

"I see anyone in particular you believe would steal your Vayav? " Dharmas queried as he moved to a better position.

"No, oh though the creature that attacked lord Mariss manor was summoned, so some form of spellcaster is involved." Tariss said.

"Can you get me a list of the guests?" Dharmas asked.
Tariss promptly handed him a bundle of papers.

"Here is a list of all the guests but none seem to be involved."
So you already checked out the guests, interesting. Dharmas thought as put the papers in his vest pocket.

"You seem to have this matter well in hand, why contact us?" Dharmas asked as he watched Tariss to see his reaction.

"Unfortunately that's not the case, we currently have no idea on who is behind this. My master feels your particular skills will be quite useful." Tariss answered calmly.

Dharmas doubted that, in fact he was beginning to suspect that the client knew far more about the theft than he was telling.

Dharmas started to ask more when he senses something familiar.

"I sense undead."  Dharmas said drawing two long knives hidden behind his coat.
Tariss sad nothing as he vanished up a tree. A rather good idea. A pity that I'm too large for these trees. Dharmas thought as he turned a slow circle.

Dharmas soon heard something, a low murmur, which grew in strength until it seemed to burst out of the woods followed by a horde of small gray dead creatures that babbled inanely to each other.  Undead goblins, someone has a very annoying idea of what makes a good zombie. Dharmas thought as he tossed one of his blades at a nearby goblin and reached into his bag of holding for something more effective. The goblin seem confused perhaps because he was a Dhampir or perhaps because zombie goblins were even worse at following orders than regular goblins.

He didn't care really which it was he was glad the hesitation had allowed him time to get his sword. His sword was souvenir of his time in Geb, it radiated negative energy, which normally hurt living things, but because of his Dhampir nature it healed him, of course it would do the same to the zombies but he was confident he could still dismember them.

The creatures sniffed around and then ran right past him heading for the tree where Tariss was hiding in and began scrambling up the tree, except for one in the back which seemed to be trying to do something with its hands.

For a second Dharmas hesitated, the zombies were ignoring him and he could slip away but even as the thought entered his head he rejected it, he had no reason yet to believe the client or his servant had betrayed him and until they did something to cross the guild, he would treat them as allies.
Dharmas moved forward bringing his sword down on a goblin's head as he did he caught a whiff of its odor and realized what it was trying to do, swearing he through himself away from it right before it burst into flames.

Shouting to Tariss. "Get out of the tree, now." Dharmas watched as several more goblins managed to light the oil they were soaked in and burst into flames.

Several burning goblins broke away from the tree Tariss was in and ran toward Dharmas howling.

I guess I made them angry. Dharmas mused as he hurled his dagger at the lead goblin before wrapping his scarf around his mouth and nose to keep out the smoke. Although fighting flaming zombie goblins was new to him it wasn't that more difficult than fighting regular zombies and he had no trouble cutting them to pieces unfortunately burning goblins were running around setting the woods around him ablaze.

This is not good. Dharmas thought as he looked around at the burning woods. The goblins weren't that dangerous but the smoke was starting to be a problem. I'll suffocate if I stay here. Dharmas realized.

"Tariss if you're still alive make a break for it!"  Dharmas shouted before following his own advice and heading for a gap in the flames.

As he ran toward the gap a dozen blazing goblins appeared in front of him.
"Damn." Dharmas swore he was having trouble breathing and he didn't know if there were more threats out there if there were he didn't have time to waste. He had just readied his sword and was weighing his options when the sky opened up with a rain of hailstones smashing the goblins and damping the fire.

"What were saying about keeping a low profile?" Arza said as she appeared from the woods with Laeth and Dar.

Dharmas had a coughing fit but still managed to retort. "What kept you?"

Back at the inn after Dharmas had gotten cleaned up, he had a meal brought up to his room and while he was eating the others gathered around him to hear what happened.

"Thanks for the rescue." Dharmas said after finishing his story.

"Your welcome." Laeth cheerfully responded.

"Hey, I was the one who saved him." Arza objected.

"I'm sure Dharmas could have gotten out of that mess himself." Selaya  interjected.

" I'm more concerned with where did those zombies come from in first place?" Dar said.

Ignoring Arza and Laeth skeptical looks at Selaya statement, Dharmas responded to Dar.

"This my guess, the thief is deliberately targeting the client. Whomever is behind this seems to be well informed about the client's activities, that's why the client wants us involved, we're an unknown factor. "

"So this is some type of private feud?" Selaya asked with distaste.
"Possibly, if it is a feud they are using proxies to fight instead of their own people." Dharmas responded.

"Well that would explain the dead Paladin." Laeth said.

"What Paladin?" Dharmas bewildered by Laeth's statement.

"Oh right, the guy we saw in pieces was a Paladin Iomedae. Nobody knew where he came from or what he was doing there, but he wasn't on the guess list." Laeth explained.

"I see." Dharmas said speculatively.

"Did you find out anything else useful, Laeth?" Dharmas asked after a moment.

Laeth shook his head.

""How about you Selaya?" asked.

"Nothing immediately relevant. Although there are hidden priests and paladins who fight evil in Chelax, perhaps they are somehow involved in this matter."  Selaya remarked.

"Can you contact any of them?" Dharmas inquired.

"Yes, but it will take time." Selaya said.

"Do it." Dharmas said before continuing.

"Alright, here is what we know. There is a powerful spellcaster involved, who doesn't seem to be Chelaxian. The spellcaster wanted the Vayav and killed a paladin who may or may not have been involved to get it. When I went to meet the clients agent he seemed most interested in identifying the thief that retrieving their property."  

"You left out the fact that the client almost got you roasted." Arza interrupted angrily.

"Perhaps, but we don't have any proof that he knew that an attack was likely and even if he did I should have realized that the client precaution weren't completely groundless. Dharmas said mildly.

"I don't give a damn if he knew or not, let's track him down and ask." Arza said her eyes seemed to flash with anger. No, Dharmas realized they had literally started to glow red.

"That's amazing Arza, you've got to teach me that trick." Laeth said excitedly.

Arza blinked confused, the glow vanishing as suddenly as it came. "What trick?" Arza said confused.

"The one were you lose your temper and start leaking magic." Dharmas said sternly.

"Don't lose control of your magic on a mission again Arza, you never know who is watching." Dharmas lectured. Arza shifted uncomfortably in her seat but kept her retort under her breath.

Seeing that Arza had at least heard his warning. Dharmas continued more gently.

"You do have a point Arza. But at the moment we have to find more information and make some plans."

"What do you have in mind?" Selaya asked.

"First Arza, I want you to teleport yourself and Dar back to Morthas and find out what he's learned, and see if he has found some Vayav to replace the drugs the client lost." As Dharmas spoke he slipped a note to Laeth who subtly passed it on to Arza, who pocketed the note without acknowledging it.

"Selaya I also want you use your contacts to find a good smuggling route." Selaya nodded in response to Dharmas statement.

Dharmas tapped his finger twice on the table to signal Laeth before saying.
"Laeth I want you to go track down a Halfling going by the name Tariss, find out what happened to him."

Laeth, someone is being watched either the client, or us, find out which it is and how its being done. Dharmas thought confident that Laeth had read his signal and was reading his mind.

"On it." Laeth said.

"As for me, I'll send another message to client, hopefully we can arrange a meet, without someone trying to kill us this time."

"Good luck with that." Laeth quipped.

"Alright, any questions? None, good then lets meet again tomorrow." Dharmas said with finality.

Dharmas had just finished a rather profitable meeting with a merchant and was congratulating himself on opening a new market for the guild. No well-bred Chelaxian would buy goods made by a half-orc or a mongreman, but they would stoop to buy those made by a foreigner. Dharmas had decided to celebrate with dinner when he spied Tariss walking down the street toward him.

The Halfling didn't look injured nor did he look surprised to see Dharmas. He made a slight gesture with his hand to indicating an ally as he passed by Dharmas but made no other acknowledgement.

Dharmas nodded slightly in reply and walked down the road until he could double back and get to the ally without being seen.

"I take you are of opinion that the thief is having you followed?" Dharmas queried Tariss after he arrived.

"My master has taken steps to prevent scrying. I believe the wizard is using summoned creatures to track are movements." Tariss explained.

"If that's the case we would be better off meeting somewhere warded, or would that waste your effort to lure the thief out so you can track him."

Dharmas said to Tariss expressionless face.
"It must have annoyed you greatly when all you got last time was a hoard mindless zombies."  Dharmas continued hoping to provoke a reaction.
Tariss responded unapologetically "I thought the prospect of more Vayav would lure him out but apparently he saw through it."

"Is that why you abandoned me to the fire? Well if you think I will continue to be bait for you your sadly mistaken. Tell me what's really going on or I'm leaving, and the guild will end its business with your master." Dharmas said.

Tariss stiffened but replied calmly. "Several months ago an item was stolen from my master, I was to track the thief down and retrieve the item, that's where your guild came in. We knew the thief wanted Vayav and would try and steal it."

Dharmas raised an eyebrow saying. "And how did you know that the thief wanted Vayav? "

"That's not important, but he will try to obtain more therefore we will use that to lure him into a trap." Tariss said.

"You failed before, what makes you think it will work better this time?" Dharmas asked.

"We wont make the same mistake." Tariss replied a hint of anger leaking through his mask of professionalism.

Dharmas eyed Tariss before saying. "That's right because my people will arrange the trade this time. I'll send you the details later."

Tariss hesitated but soon nodded saying. "Very well." With that he turned and left. Dharmas watched him go wondering whom he worked for and what was so important that they would risk an entire manor full of minor nobles to get it.

Back in his room he was still pondering what was really going on. "How did they know the Vayav would be targeted?" Dharmas wondered aloud. Tariss seemed to know nothing about the thief except his interest in the Vayav. Yet if the thief was an addict that should make it easy to find him, just track down his supplier and you have him.

"You want me to tell you?" A smug voice said from thin air.

"You shouldn't waste an invisibility spell Arza" Dharmas chided to cover his surprise.

"And how else was I to get in the inn undetected?" Arza shot back as she ended the spell.

"What did you learn?" Dharmas said ignoring her comeback.

Arza looked like she was going to argue more but instead said. "Morthas found some information in the records. Around fifty years ago the guild sold a drow spellbook to a collector. According to our records the book mentioned-"

Dharmas snapped his fingers interrupting Arza. "A spell component, that's how the client knew the thief wanted the Vayav. But I never heard of Vayav being used as a regent so it must be an unusual spell." Dharmas mused.
Arza glared saying. "Don't interrupt." Dharmas gestured in apology and then for her to continue.

Arza hesitated for a second, as if to see if was going to say something then she continued. "The collector was a Chelaxian who likes his privacy and has connections to the Chelaxian government, he used to buy goods from us all the time but has slowed down in the last twenty years. Morthas thinks it's the same person as our mysterious client."

After Arza finished Dharmas asked. "Any idea on the exact nature of the spell?"

Arza shook her head.

"How about you Laeth, any ideas?" Dharmas asked. Arza whipped her head around in surprise.

Laeth, who currently looked like a boy about Arza age, grinned saying. "Admit it, you just noticed me."

"Answer the question, Laeth." Dharmas said ignoring Laeth statement.
Laeth shook his head before answering. "No, but I talked to Selaya and she thinks that the wizard may be part of a rebel movement."

Dharmas said. "That would make sense, did you find out if we are being watched?"

"No, but I am sure Tariss is being watched." Lath answered.

Dharmas tapped his finger twice on his armchair before leaning back and losing himself in thought.

After a moment Dharmas said. "Alright, Laeth contact Tariss and tell him the goods will arrive tomorrow the meeting place will be in one of Council of Thieves old smuggling dens. Arza you have the scrolls I asked you to get?"

"Yes." She responded.

"All right, then when Dar and Selaya, arrive we finalize the plans and prepare to, what Arza?" Dharmas stopped to glare at the girl.

"Nothing, you really like being the leader, don't you?" Arza said grinning.

Dharmas replied without missing a beat. "Yes I do, and I'd like it even more if some people idea of following orders did not include sending me their bill."

Arza and Laeth both started guiltily. "You got the bill already?" Laeth said tentatively.

Dharmas sighed and massaged his forehead saying. "Not yet Laeth, but anticipation is part of my job."

Arza shifted from foot to foot before saying brightly. "Want some candy?"


Dharmas waited in the dark underground storage area with Dar beside him. Both were dressed for battle wearing gear they usually only used for trips to the Darkland.

"You think the wizard will show?" Dar asked as he casually rested his foot on a crate.

"No but he will send agents to attack us, we just have to capture one of them." Dharmas replied. As he looked around he saw movement, a few minutes later Tariss appeared followed by several men. Dharmas tensed as they approached, none of them had a torch, which was odd for a group of humans led by a Halfling.

"Get ready." Dharmas said to Dar as he went to meet Tariss.

"Do you have the Vayav?" Tariss asked as he Dharmas approached.

"No I left it somewhere safe." Dharmas answered as he readied his throwing knife.

Tariss sighed and signaled his men. "I knew you would make this difficult."
Dharmas smiled politely and asked. I'm curios were you a spy from the start or did you kill the real Tariss and take his place?"

"Guess." Tariss said as he threw a knife at Dharmas who dodged the blade and drew his sword.

Replaced in the fire. The Halfling I met in the woods was more skilled. Dharmas thought.

"Kill them." Tariss shouted. The effect on the men was startling they suddenly shrieked like the damned and charged Dar and Dharmas without any concern for their safety. Dharmas threw his knife in the throat of one of men and stabbed his sword into the other man who, ignoring the wound and the negative energy burn, swung wildly at Dharmas who barely managed to duck. How is he still able to fight? Dharmas thought as he cut the leg out from under the man attacking him only to feel a pain in his back his leather armor had stopped most of it and he could feel his sword healing him already. Dharmas spun slicing through the neck of the man who had just stabbed him.

"Dharmas look out." Dar shouted as brought his handaxe down on his opponent's skull.

Dharmas whirled in time to see two men he'd put down rising.
The men stood smiling despite their injuries then as one they charged forward.

Well at least I have a good idea what the spell does. Dharmas thought as he sidestepped one warrior's blow and brought his sword across the throat of the other one. To Dharmas surprise the man caught the blade with his hand and pulled it away from his throat before Dharmas could finish his cut. Strong, fast and impervious to pain, now what's their weakness? Dharmas thought as he danced back twisting his blade free, as he did he then flicked the blood off his blade into the eyes of other man who still had Dharmas dagger in his throat.

Enough of this, Dharmas thought, as the blinded man swung at him Dharmas grabbed his dagger ripping it free and opening a fatale wound. Even as he killed the one man he caught the other mans blade with his sword forcing it down then Dharmas buried his dagger in the man's eye.

Dharmas looked around but saw Dar was finished as well he then turned his attention to Tariss.

"Impressive you're more formable than I thought. It will be a shame to waste you." Tariss said.

"What do you mean by that?" Dharmas asked as he readied his weapon.
Tariss pulled out a vial shook it. "This stuff is quite useful, one sniff and you have an army of mindless obedient warriors unfortunately they burn out rather quickly."  

Dharmas saw movement and glanced down at his feet the men were moving despite their fatal wounds then they abruptly stopped their bodies withering into husks.

"See, they don't last but while they do, they're stronger, faster and almost impossible to kill." Tariss said.

"How nice, except you really don't need a spell to create berserkers." Dharmas replied reading another throwing knife.

Several things happened at once, Dharmas threw his dagger at Tariss who ducked and popped the cork off the vial, at the same time Selaya voice came from behind one of crates creating a wall of wind around the Halfling trapped the gas with the Halfling.

I was right it creates a cloud effect. A rather useful spell, if you want to cause chaos in a crowded city.  Dharmas thought.

From Arza came a green ray that hit Tariss preventing him from teleporting.
Tariss snarled like a beast and transformed into a familiar reptilian form.
"Now." Dharmas shouted.

Selaya started chanting a banishment spell while Arza went with something more destructive, dropping a fireball on the Protean. The creature hissed in pain and anger and for a moment it looked like it would attack Arza but recognizing Selaya's spell the Protean instead dispelled the dimensional anchor and a second later it vanished.

"Damn, It got away." Arza complained.

"Well that was the plan." Selaya said putting away the banishment scroll.

"Did the teleport trap work."  Dar asked.

"It should, the client has no reason to provide us a defective spell." Dharmas replied.

"I wanted to kill it." Arza complained.

"Our job was to provide information about the theft, not to kill things Arza. Selaya chided.

"Lets meet up with Laeth, he was with the client so he'll know if this job is over." Dharmas said.

They soon returned to the inn but saw no sign of Laeth.
Several hours later they were discussing whether to go look for him when a bedraggled Laeth arrived at the inn.

"What happened to you?" Arza exclaimed upon seeing Laeth. In truth Dharmas was just as shocked as Arza how drab Laeth looked.

"Nothing much I just had tea, with a dragon, and discussed the finer points of scented oils and fashion, for hours." Laeth said as listlessly as anyone had ever seen him.

"I take it the client was a dragon." Dar said with remarkable understatement.

Laeth nodded. "He has a huge collection of junk, and he was happy to have someone to show it too. I have to come back tomorrow and model some cloths for him." Laeth said unhappily.

"Poor Laeth, it must have been awful." Selaya said fighting laughter, Arza didn't even try as she burst into giggles.

Fighting his own laughter Dharmas asked. "Did you receive the Protean?"

"Yah,  the dragon put it in a box to look at later." Laeth said.

Put it in a box? Dharmas thought before refocusing on important matters.
"Was the clien- er, dragon satisfied?"

Laeth seemed to brighten at the question saying. "Well he doubled our payment and asked if we help him collect an entire set of fiends."

Dharmas shuddered thinking, I hope Morthas turns him down.

"Did you find out who the spellcaster was?" Selaya asked.

Laeth shook his head. "I didn't, but I saw a Hellknight show up to talk to the dragon so I imagine somebody is on his trail."

"That's fine we have done our job so now lets go home." Even as Dharmas said that he doubted it would be that simple. I'll go with Laeth to see the dragon, maybe I can get more information on this wizard and find out if he is still a threat to the guild. Dharmas thought.

"Hey Dharmas how much of the money Morthas gave you do you have?" Laeth asked.

"Why" Dharmas replied warily.

"Well I figured we'd throw a party." Laeth said.

"Good idea Laeth." Arza joined in.

"Alright, but your explaining the bill to Morthas." Dharmas said.

"Sure no problem." Laeth replied.

Dharmas sighed and signaled a waitress for something to drink he had a feeling he'd need it.