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 Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:32 am
Tal reappraised his opinion of the other drow when he saw the change in his expression, until now Mica always seemed to have a dopey grin on his face, which had caused Tal to wonder if he was actually capable of the job. Seeing Mica become more thoughtful and seeming to actually take teh matter seriously, Tal began to hope this might all work out as he planned, if everything came together at least.
"Time sadly is not in our favour, you will have only two days to get it. The ring in question is due to be auctioned off on the third day from today, but before that there will be a special demonstration of it's power. I must have the ring before then, or at the very least the real one must be exchanged for my fake. Getting the real one back is a major perk but my primary goal is exchanging it for the real one before the demonstration."
Tal would admit two days was little time to plan things out, but he had been reluctant to delegate the job to another and had spent a considerable amount of time and effort trying to find away to get the ring. Eventually he realised his nemesis was too well prepared against another mage moving against him, but had perhaps left openings that a common thief might be able to exploit.
"To our advantage I have gathered a considerable amount of information about your target, how much will be of use to you I've no idea, but I know the layout of his home and workshop as well as the location of a number of his... let us call them 'security measures'" If by security measure one meant death trap that is, still so long as this thief avoided them a white lie made little harm and of he did encounter one he wouldn't be in much shape to care; about anything really.
"So do you think you can do it?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:24 pm
Only two days? Miccareth hoped his disapproval of the time frame did not show up too much. Two days was a task better handed to a master thief, a suicidal b*****d, or a fool you really wanted dead.
"Two days is hardly enough time to even become familar with a target." Of course... Micarreth was thinking more along the lines of his choosen trade. You needed more time then two days to arrange a blameless death. This was just a theft job though...
If it was just a matter of getting the ring, he could have just purchased it. Barrith had more then enough gold to ensure a single ring coulr be bought. But the key element was that this drow did not want it to be used in demonstration. That is what made it difficult.
Micarreth flipped his hand up and twitched two fingers towards himself in a 'Give' gesture.
"Let me see this information you gathered. I'll also need to know the nature of the ring. I want to know what it does and why you don't want it used in the demonstration. Once I have everything I need to know I'll let you know if I can pull it off."
At the very least Micarreth could use his brother, or some of Barrith's assets to aid him in this.
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:16 pm
Tal tensed a little when Mica first said two days wasn't enough time, but it passed as the other Drow gave it more thought and asked for the info he had gathered. But that moment of tension was nothing compared to how Tal froze at mention of the rings abilities. For several long moments Tal stood stock still debating how much he dared say, eventually remembering his earlier decision that deception ill suited him, so he might as well be open about this.
Moving again Tal sighed and left his spot by teh door, sitting on teh edge of teh bed in teh room. Balancing his staff across his knees, Tal rummaged in his robes, eventually pulling out a large bundle of sheets. Tals notes were obsessively thorough, containing maps of the premises, the mages regular day to day schedule, lists of associates ad places he frequented. Tal had stalked this pray for quite a while before giving up and turning to outside help. In truth it was mostly due to desperation as the window of opportunity closed that had forced Tal to seek out a thief with the skills Tal lacked.
"The ring... bother... Very well. As you are no doubt aware we Drow have a natural resistance to spells, but resistance is not teh same as immunity. That resistance improves teh odds of surviving a spell, but if a powerful mage wants you dead, that natural ability is only going to slow him down a bit. The ring boosts this natural resistance, considerably. To teh point where a mage wearing one is near untouchable to any form of arcane magic. Even someone uninitiated in teh arcane arts would receive considerable protection from it." It was obvious from Tal's expression that the notion disturbed him greatly.
"The mage who invented it has already grown considerably in power and influence by using it to take out rivals, but that just made him an object of envy. Now he intends to sell teh secret to teh ring, that's the nature of teh auction. It will no doubt make his incredibly rich, but that's not teh real problem. The real problem is power. I'm not attractive to be a concubine, or as physically developed as a warrior, or dexterous like a rogue. All I have is my mind, my magic. Males like me can only achieve anything approaching real power by force of magic, so what would mages like me do in a society that no longer feared teh destructive power of magic?!"
"Basically I like the status quo and this mage will ruin it all! That is why teh ring must be retrieved before the demonstration. Houses from all over are sending representatives to bid, but also mages to test teh ring. At teh demonstration the day of teh auction, he'll activate it and then the mages blast him with all they have, he walks away unharmed and people throw fortunes at him for teh secret." At this stage a nasty smile crossed Tals face as he actually rubbed his hands together in glee.
"That's where you come in. By replacing teh ring with this clever forgery, he'll never know teh difference, until the very moment they launch their spells and tear him to pieces. At best he's killed instantly, worst he's maimed, weakened and can be finished off later, either way his ring is made to look like a hoax or failure and the natural balance of power is maintained. so do you see why it's so important to me that the switch be made without detection?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:39 pm
Micarreth listened, quite intently really. His silver head tilted to one side as his amber eyes narrowed in though. Yes, he could see the definate drawback to such a ring. If there was a ring that granted one such immunity to magic...
Mica crossed the step and a half to the bed, and sat himself down unhesitatingly beside Tal. He had quite a lot in the way of papers. Notes and such. Mica reached out to randomly select one of those papers so he could casually glance over it. With all this informationg it just might make up for the fact he could not stalk the mage on his own. He could spend the night studying and getting a hazy idea on where to go after this mage. "Sounds like this mage is thinking more about profit then power. Ignorant fool..."
Oh...yes...the idea had already flickered through Mica's mind. A ring like that would be undeniably useful for a person like himself. It would make his jobs easier when it came to dealing with wizards. Lend him a bit of a mysterious aura too so long as he never betrayed the secret. Micarreth knew damn well how to keep a secret.
There was a moment of flickering amusement in Micarreths eyes as he flipped the page back into Tal's lap. Those lips of his tilting into a sideways grin at the words of the mage. "Oh I don't know. Some men may find you pretty enough to take a tumble with. Don't sell yourself short mage. Many is the warrior that likes something soft and delicate between his legs. Heh." He really should not taunt, or flirt, in such a way with the man. They were conducting business after all!
Micarreth turned his attention to another sheet of paper. His interest was mostly directed at the schedual kept by this other mage. "Hnnnn... So he is actually going to let other mages take a shot at...." Micarreths head lifted to look over at Tal. "Does it work on the dead? Do you know if the ring will protect a dead individual?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:06 pm
When Mica sat on the bed Tal instinctively edged away a few inches. Even if he didn't believe Mica had any ill intent towards him, Tal would be a fool to not show caution when a random stranger he only just met in a bar, sat down close enough to plunge a dagger in his back. Silently he waited as mica read over some of the notes, wondering if the thief would back down now that he knew the difficulty of the task.
Tal chose to remain silent in response to Micas comment about the ring makers greed, in his own opinion Tal believed money was a form of power. And if the rumours were true, the prices being offered for the ring exceeded what some of the lesser houses made in a year, enough for a Drow to live out their days in a decadently luxurious lifestyle.
Tal paused for a moment when he heard Micas next comment, eyes narrowing Tal glared at the thief out of the corner of his eye, unsure if that was meant as some kind of compliment or an insult. Slowly a twisted grin spread across Taliesin's face as he leaned a little closer to Mica. "Did you know there are spells for altering the size of certain parts of the anatomy? they're rather.. entertaining. Probably thought up by consort hoping to please his Mistress. Though I've far more amusing uses for such spells. Suffice to say that you'll need a looking glass to prove your gender if you don't watch your words..." Tal gave Mica a gentle jab with his staff, before returning his attention to the notes before him.
The smile finished quickly with Micas next, rather odd question. "Dead?!" Tal scratched his right ear for a moment as he thought it over before shaking his head, turning sideways on the bed to look Mica in the face. "No. the ring is an active rather than passive device, it's not 'on' all the time, just when the wearer chooses. That might be the only weakness to it, if you managed to take the wearer by surprise, but it's a slim window as it probably only requires the user to think a specific word or phrase to activate the ring. But as such it wouldn't work for a corpse, they have no will no mind, a dead body can't do anything. If you mean undead that would be different altogether. A Vampire or Liche could use the ring just as anyone else... But why is that important?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:14 pm
Micarreth paid no heed to the slight schooting away done by Tal. Oh he noticed it though, and it made him feel a little warm and sharp inside. He had also been expecting some form of aggressive response to his words. had be been complimenting? Had he been insulting? Had he been insinuating? Abyss yes! He had been doing all of the above. The only thing that Micarreth would admitt to himself was that he was grateful the mage was nothing like his brother. With a sideways glance. Micarreth let his eyes rake over Tal's upper half. "I thought you said that enchantments were not your school Thatantar?" He asked with a rather candid tone.
He was being side tracked from his plotting though. Micarreth had a idea forming, even as he continued to look through the papers. Obviously Tal had picked up on that.
"It is important because I do not go into a job with just a single plan hinging on the outcome." Micarreth explained vaugely while holding a paper up at arms length in examination.
"If I can not manage to secure the ring before the demonstration, I can offer to at least ensure it is not a success and he does not survive."
Micarreth set the sheet of paper back down in Tal's lap. He shifted on the bed to tuck one leg under him and swivled to face the other drow as he explained.
"The ring protects from only magical attacks. A brazen nimrod who is openly accepting challenges from any and all mages in order to prove his object is as powerful as he say's is not going to have a tight control on the situation. I would anticipate a ungodly barrage of powerful spells that will leave the area he is standing in a crater." Mica gestured with his left hand to pull the red scarf away from his waist a bit. From the loosened folds a very slender corked metal tube about six inchs in length rolled into his other waiting hand. With nimble fingers Micarreth spun the tube about like a miniture baton.
"Poison. I can hit him with a small dart right before the first spells fly. If I select the right poison, it will sieze up his mind. He won't be able to think clearly, hence the ring will not activate, and he'll be obliterated from the first barrage of what I would be assuming would be everyones more deadly spells. Either that or I can select a poison that will kill him a few seconds after being struck. The same effect will occur, he'll die from the poison, but the barrage of spells will completely eradicate any evidence."
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:18 pm
Something about teh way Mica looked at him just there made Tal want to blush as a slight knot formed in his stomach. "Erm! Well em.. actually, enchantment would only make something appear to change, with transmutation one physically change the er... size." For some accursed reason Tal could feel a blush wanting to start, but was keeping it in check purely by force of will, teh last thing he needed was for something that embarrassing to happen now.
Focusing back on the matter at hand, Tal thought over Micas idea, a sly grin spreading over his face as he saw it's appeal. "I hadn't considered that, I'd thought of hiring an assassin if worst came to worst, but not of employing one in such a way.... Yes, that could work perfectly, assuming you don't get caught. But you're right with this auction he's arranged there will be people from all over the place and the show-off is holding it in a public square so it shouldn't be hard to get in."
Tal had to admit it was a perfect plan, no doubt the mage would be more focused on the demonstration, unaware of any waiting assassins. A quick blow-dart and teh matter would be resolved easily. Assuming Mica could pull it off, of course. "Are you sure you could do it? While the mage might not be expecting trouble, there will be a number of powerful houses there. I doubt any Matrons will waste their time appearing in person, but some of the representatives could be influential members of their houses and have large entourages of bodyguards with them. If you get caught, you'll probably be killed on the spot." Tal began to wonder if he should start looking for an assassin as well, he'd let the thief try and steal away the ring, but failing that Tal could have a professional assassin waiting in the wings as a fail safe.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:54 pm
The papers were still important. Micarreth had to remind himself. He still had to read and understand all of this. For there were other uses besides this little theft attempt. With the plans of the House, well...Byrryna might find a good use for this information.
Tal's slight problem with speaking, just for a moment, caught Mica's attention. Was the mage stuttering? His amber eyes lifted once more from the pages. Was the mage swayed by other males? Seemed lately Micarreth was discovering that a lot of males were like that. To test and see just what sort of...result...could be had, Micarreth placed his hand on the bed nearer to Tal, and shifted himself closer to the mage. His gold colored eyes locking onto the mages features with a studious gaze.
"It is always wise to have more then one plan ready." Though, he admitted to himself, it was hard to commit to the first plan when the second one seemed so much easier!
"I won't be caught. In fact I doubt anyone would notice me. I would have perfect cover and a good line of sight on your pesky rival. I know this plan will succeed. However.... I will see if I can carry out the theft first. It makes no sense to rely on a back up plan. Two attempts ensure success to be more likely then a single one don't you think Thatantar?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:56 am
Wrapped up in thoughts of assassins as he gazed down at the sheets in his lap, Tal was brought out of it when he felt teh bed shift under Mica's weight. Looking up suddenly, his eyes locked on the thief's and froze like a deer caught in headlights. Though outwardly there was no change to his expression beyond the slow fading of his grin, Tal's mind was spinning in circles over what Mica was up to. Was he closer to be in easy reach of the notes? No, he was already close enough to take any he wanted. Was it so he could talk in hushed whispers to avoid being overheard? But then why hadn't the thief shown any concern earlier? And why, oh why, was he looking at Tal like that?
Under other circumstances it might not have bothered Tal in teh least, it was only for teh fact Mica had commented about some men finding Tal pretty. Had Mica been insinuating his own interest or had he been implying Tal was beneath the interest of any female? As this thought whirled around his mind Tal started to examine Mica, not as a potential threat or liability or as a thief for a job, but as a male. An admittedly youthful and very attractive male. Attractive?! Almost as soon as he the thought Tal jumped on it and tried to strangle it from existence, but you couldn't unthink a thought.
Tal turned his gaze from Mica, focusing it solely on the papers in his lap in order to hide the blush he feared was slowly creeping up from his neck. Tal told himself he was here to get a job done, not be befuddled by some pretty boy who was probably just having some sport at Tal's expense. Clearing his throat Tal nodded his agreement. "Yes, yes. Two attempts would make more sense and guarantee success. So is there anything else we need to discuss?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:39 pm
Micarreth could not read the mage too well. He cursed inwardly for his lack of skill in this sort of game. Still, there were some signs he could pick up. Tal had not shifted away. His smile may have faded but he was certainthat he had detected a faint blush on his cheek's before he turned away. Tal may have been a older male in comparison to himself, but that meant absolutly nothing to Micarreth.
There came a question at this point that Micarreth needed to answer. This mage was none that he knew of, so he was unaware of any ties that he may have with other Houses. Plus, he was not certain of any reputation he had. It would do well to do a little research on the mage for their future meeting.
Micarreth took Tal's redirection of his gaze as a sign to press on with the matter at hand. If he pursued this angle too much it was quite possible to put a edge on Tal. So as to make him more guarded, or to outright reject him. Then Micarreth would get no where with him.
His hand reached out again for Tal's lap in order to brush up all of the papers there and collect them. And...well...if his fingers happened to brush upon the tops of his thighs that was just to be expected.
"Then I'll just take these and read them over someplace where there is less distractions present." Mica nodded his head while being careful not to let his eyes wander over to the mage again.
"I think there is only one thing that needs to be settled. I would believe I need your real name. Seeing as how you will owe me a favor of some sort later on I think it is important that I know exactly who owes me don't you?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:27 pm
As Mica took up the papers, Tal tried not to think about how close the thief's hands came to his crotch and failed miserably, imagining a slight tingle across his leg where teh thief had brushed against him. Perhaps Tal was imagining the innuendos and implied attraction, still what else might Mica have meant by distractions?
When Mica finally asked for Tal's real name, teh mage wasn't surprised, in fact he was only surprised by the fact Mica had waited this long before asking. Sighing Tal returned his gaze to Mica's face, wondering how he had never noticed how attractive teh other Drow was before now. Because I had more sense than to care for such details! Or at least that's what he told himself, but now that he had noticed those details seemed rather prominent, even pushing Tal's vendetta against that accursed ring down a priority.
"Tell me, was I really that bad? Have you been able to see through me this whole time? I guess it doesn't matter. My name is... Hmm.. Actually if I'm to be entirely honest with you, I'd like you to be honest with me about something. Answer my question and I'll tell you my real name. Do you find me attractive, or have I been imagining it all? Or has this all be a twisted little game for you?"
Tal had always prided himself on being able to keep a level head and stay focused on his goals, but in just a short span of time this thief had left him completely befuddled and Tal wanted to bring things to a head quickly so that he could be free of distractions... or maybe make thins a hell of a lot more complicated for himself depending on the answer.
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:05 pm
He was unsettled. This was what Mica first thought when the mage held off answering his question. The slight hints and minor suggestions had gotten under his skin, or into his head. Perhaps both. It seemed this drow was not the sort to be happy with silent guessing either.
This did not hinder Micarreths intentions, nor did it throw any sort of kink into his plans. Things can not become kinked when you are working on the fly. Since Micarreth had collected the papers, he took a moment to shift on the bed and laid them neatly on the small wooden nightstand.
Then with a deliberate motion, Micarreth turned back to Tal. He once more fixed a steady gaze on the others face. Various responses flickered through his mind. Ways to speak or even act upon. However Micarreth did not wish to make a mistake. he wanted to be certain his actions always got him the responses he desired. This mage... it would be a problem if he made a mistake.
Micarreth chose to lift a hand, boldly reaching towards Tal's face so he could attempt to just very lightly brush his fingertips over the arch of his cheekbone. Providing he allowed the touch at all that is.
"You want honesty? Very well then. You are attractive in the manner of males." Micarreth withdrew his hand so he could make a slight gesture with it in the air as he shrugged his shoulders slightly. A motion he attempted to appear as coy, though he was not certain if he was very successful in it's execution. "However, I am not exactly a expert on male beauty, as I've never involved myself with one before. I'm afraid my precarious situation has kept me unhappily preoccupied."
Micarreth tilted his head slightly towards the papers, as a nudging reminder as to the current purpose of their meeting.
"Now then Thatantar...your name?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:11 am
Tal chose to stare into Mica's eyes the whole time and made no move to pull away from Mica's hand, in fact a small smile crossed his lips in response to teh touch. Hearing Mica's answer, Tal sat in thought for a time, an eyebrow slightly cocked as the smile on his face steadily grew until Tal finally let out a short chuckle as he finally took his gaze from the handsome young thief. Tal had to give Mica credit, his choice of words was masterful, it had answered Tal's question fully, yet still left teh mage unsure of the others motives. It didn't really confirm or deny Mica's interest in Tal. In one sense all Mica had said was that for a guy Tal was handsome, while clearly stating that the thief had never had a male lover nor taken much interest in male appearances. Yet at teh same time Mica had said he found his current situation unhappy, suggesting an interest of some sort in other males and then there had been that touch.
Taliesin was getting the suspicion he was developing a real liking for teh young thief regardless of what Micas own intentions might be. Regardless of anything Tal might want it was now obvious Mica was in no rush and it was a while since Tal had last played a game like this. Tal decided it might be interesting to try and decipher Micas real intent rather than worry about it and drive himself mad over it. If nothing came of it then what harm?
Finally Tal came back out of his thoughts and looked at Mica with a casual smile on his face. "Very well. My given name is Taliesin D'Bren. But you can feel free to call me Tal." Tal went silent in thought for a moment, lightly stroking his chin. "If there's nothing else we can go our separate paths for now. We'll meet up in this bar again in four days time, the day after teh demonstration should take place." By which time Tal would know for certain whether Mica was successful or not.
"Should the theft be successful and you have the ring for me that day I would be overjoyed and I'm sure I could come up with some kind of bonus to show you my gratitude." With that last remark a lopsided grin grew on Tal's face as he let his eyes momentarily wander over Mica's body.
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Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:54 pm
Micarreth felt a easeing in the muscles of his back. He had not realised how tense he had become over the last few minutes. Young as he was, and in the family he was in, his 'training' when it came to wordplay had truely been untested.
It seemed he had managed well enough though. Tal's amusement dod not seem to hide any sort of anger or scorn. Or suspicion... None that he could detect anyways. Mica assumed the name given to him had to be his real name, as he had included a last name as well as a first. It would be easy enough to do a little research on the name to see what it turned up after all.
"Tal it shall be then. You may call me Mica." As of the moment he choose not to offer his own last name. It would continue to serve his purpose in appearing to be a houseless thief in this manner.
Micarreth nodded his head shortly after Tal offered a close to their little meeting. "A sound idea. I am confident your rivals elimination will be successful reguardless of the theft..." Micarreth stilled as Tal allowed his gaze to rake over his body openly. In fact he leaned himself backwards just a fraction upon the bed. A cool smile teased the corners of his lips.
"A bonus? Well then, I'll certainly have to do my best to obtain the ring then..." Which he had planned from the begining of course. A ring like that...mmm, oh no. He was not going to let a chance slip away to get that particular item!
"Shall I leave first, or do you want to?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:49 am
Tal's smile broadened slightly when he saw Mica's reaction to his stares, now that he had managed to get over his hangup about whether the young thief liked him or not, Tal realised he could have a lot of fun here, regardless of how far Mica was willing to go with a male. Tal rarely thought of others in any kind of romantic or sexual sense since he didn't think anyone saw him in that light, but now that he was in that frame of mind.... Tal's grin broadened again as a flame seemed to ignite in his eyes, which were once again studying Mica.
With a soft sigh, Taliesin took his staff in hand and rose to his feet, then shrugged in answer to Mica's question. "Any number of people from teh bar saw us come in together, what does it matter if they see us leave together?" Tal didn't mind being sen with the thief, after all no one suspected him of anything yet. If Mica got spotted, well any number of people could have hired him for the job, Tal was unlikely to be the last person Mica spoke to between now and then and given the thief's apparent preference to stalk his foes for a while, it was conveivable Mica had been hired several days ago. Regardless Tal had made arrangements to get as far from teh city as possible, should the demonstration go as planned and teh mage survive.
Thinking of plots and deceptions an idea struck Tal, a mischievous grin on his face. "In fact it might appear suspicious if we did leave separately, anyone who noticed us coming and going might wonder what we're trying to hide?" Stepping closer to teh bed, Tal offered a hand to Mica. "If we left together we could make it seem we came back here for just a quick rumble?" Tal smirked as his eyes glance towards teh head of the bed.
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