Part 104: Trading Places
Chapter 11: Trading Places
Famous Adventurer posted:
I just spent some time talking to the kid who was kind enough to bring me
the slap in the face I needed to get out of this funk. He’s already saved
four lands, and looks well placed to save a fifth, but get this, he says he’s
only been at this for a year. A year! Can you believe it? That gets pretty
near my old record. Hell, even I wasn’t that productive my first year out.
And it looks like he’s set himself up to retire in style, assuming he wants to.
Just a year out, and he’s got enough stories to fill a book. Five books,
maybe. So as a way of saying thanks, the last story I write will be his.
Now, this is a story all about how the kid’s life was practically flipped;
turned upside down. This story may take some time, so go ahead and sit
down, make yourself comfortable while I relate the story of how the kid
became the Prince of the city called Shapeir. In western Mordavia he was
born and raised, in the shop run by his parents he spent most of his days.
He spent his time hanging out with other children his age, running about the
town, and practicing the various skills that would eventually serve him well
in the future. He must have fallen in with a bad crowd, however, as he started
making trouble in his neighborhood. He broke into one single house and his
mom got scared, telling him to move in with his relatives in El Bair. He
begged and pleaded, but it came to nothing, as she had already packed his
clothes up. She gave him a kiss goodbye, followed by a map out of the valley,
and at this point the kid realized that he was most certainly going, so he made
sure to take a lockpick and a dagger. In Spielburg, the kid noticed that the
Katta, along with the merchant Abdulla Doo enjoyed a certain amount of
comfort, such as coffee served in a ceramic mug, and that got him wondering
just how nice the appointments might be if he were to travel to Shapeir. “In
fact,” he mused, “this might me alright.” He took down the brigands and gave
Abdulla’s treasures back to him, including a carpet with the word “FRESH”
stitched into the pattern, and fuzzy dice hanging off the tassels. While he did
notice an odd scent in the weave, he decided to ignore it, instead going along
with his friends to Shapeir. They reached the city near sunset, where he
departed from their company for some time in order to solve that kingdom’s
troubles. In the end, he defeated the wizard, and was adopted by the sultan to
be the prince of Shapeir.
Something I should add at this point is that messing around with the ghost in the tavern got paladin Nike past 400 honor, which gives him the Peace ability. Basically, it works just the same as Calm, but it draws from Stamina and you can cast it with your sword out.
Assuming you can’t get into the thieves’ guild, the bank gets robbed on day 3 or later, depending on when you enter it next.
Wait, the bank was robbed?
I still can’t believe it. A guy just waltzed in here past the street guards, who naturally didn’t see a thing. What are we paying taxes for, blind men? And considering the odds that the guards will ever catch the guy, I’ll end up begging on the streets again soon. So someone managed to get past that huge vault door? Yeah. Last night, somewhere around dawn, a guy picks the lock on the door and breaks in. He figured out some way to disarm the trap and crack the safe that had a written guarantee which said it couldn’t be picked by thieves. The guy took everything, including the guarantee paper. Probably intends on collecting the money back guarantee himself. Are there any sort of clues or anything? Well, it looked like he was in a great hurry, ‘cause he spilled some coins around and left things a mess. My luck to be robbed by such a slob. I’m not any sort of detective, though, so if you want to look around, be my guest. There’s a reward for the capture of the robber. And if you figure out who did it, make sure you get the money back. Lots of unhappy folks around here want their cash. Yeah. That was my money he stole, too. If you see anything suspicious, let the guards know. We’ve got to get that guy.
Look familiar?
What about this toolkit here? Is this yours? What? No, it must have been left by the robber. But how could that help anything? Don’t worry, I’ve got a couple friends who could work from this.
Shakra, did you hear about the robbery?
I did. A shame about the people’s money. I store my valuables in an extradimensional pocket, but it is still a tragedy. I found this at the bank. Do you know what it is? It seems to be a set of tools for lockpicking. So you found it at the bank? Perhaps you should show this to Erasmus. He may be able to tell you more than I. He has a few spells that let him judge the past of an object. Sure, I’ll give that a shot.
If ever there was a question to save before answering, this is it.
Perfect timing. You are most welcome right now. Fenris and I have just finished a game of Wizard’s Whirl.
Erasmus was losing, so he blew up the game. I just got a little over-enthusiastic, that’s all. Now, what can I do for you? Did you hear about the bank robbery? Contemplating a crime, eh? Fenris, you can be rather irritating at times. That’s ir-rat-tating. We rodents don’t gnaw when to quit. You can be irascible at times, yourself. Fenris, you would try the patience of a pachyderm. Could we get back to— Oh, I have a new joke today, do you want to hear it? Wait, let me tell one today! A man walked up to a healer. He had a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear, and a banana in his right ear. “Healer, healer, what’s the matter with me?” he asked. “You’re not eating properly,” replied the healer. That’s great, really, but— Did I tell you about being a cor-rat-spondent for the Rodent Anti-defamation League? I’m about to cover a real story. Three visually challenged mice are about to sue the life partner of an agricultural engineer for mutilating them unmercifully. They’re sure to win. They’ve got a first-rat lawyer. Take a look at this box, please. Oh? Hmm, where did you find this little kit? At the bank. After the robbery. Shakra says you have a spell that can help me find the guy who dropped it. Well then, shall we see what we can learn from this? That’s why he showed you that thing, after all.
This spell will show us something about the previous owner of this rather quaint toolbox.
Uh, guys?
Guys! Yes, Nike? Did you see that giant hand that waved around? I got to “hand” it to you, that’s some clue. It’s clearly the “Case of the Purloining Palm Reader.” He’ll soon be under “a wrist.” Don’t be absurd. This clearly means something. I only wish we could help you more. Well, thanks for that much, anyway. You know, speaking of robberies, I, too, had an item of importance stolen from this house while we were in Spielburg. I am missing the “Prophecy Stone,” a magical rock I was researching. It had something to do with the destruction of Atlantis, I believe. Someone with magical aid managed to sneak into my castle without the cloud guardian seeing him. I was most displeased, let me tell you. Don’t ever get Erasmus really angry. It’s not a pleasant sight… “Prophecy Stone?” Is it dangerous at all? Not at all. Well, probably not. Actually, that’s why I was researching the thing. Great. But back to the spell; what do you think the waving hand meant? Well, the spell usually reveals something significant about the person who owned the item upon which the spell is cast. It may be a bit obscure, but the clue is important. Be careful. Sounds like a “wristy” business. And after all, forewarned is forearmed. But I thought four-armed was half an octopus. Wait ‘till that hand-some felon meets up with the long arm of the law. I think I’ve had enough of the hand puns. Farewell. I wish we could have been of more assistance. Let me think…a toolkit, a hand…I know! It must have been the handyman. You see, the “fix” was in.
Damn, no good leads all day, and now…hey, where’s that one-armed pirate guy going?
Doesn’t look like he’s noticed me.
Aha, a secret passage!
The fighter/paladin could simply force the door and take the trap’s damage, but nuts to that. I’ll stick with the Trigger/Open combo, thank you.
Man, there’s a whole building hidden back here! What’s this dummy for?
Hey, what be you doin’ here? This place ain’t fer the likes o’ you. Get out! You’re…Arestes, from the tavern, right? So what if I be? A retired seaman and honest merchant all I be, and there be no proof to the contrary! Now, ya ain’t got no right ta be here, and I’ll not be welcoming ya, so get out of here! Honest merchant? What kind of honest merchant hides behind a secret door with a trap on it? Why should I be tellin’ ya anything? You’re naught but a landlubbin’, lilly-livered revenuer and I gots nothin’ ta say ta ya. You’re not helping your case much. What do you know about the bank robbery that happened at dawn this morning? What are ya tryin’ ta say? Why should I be knowin’ anything about the bank robbery? There’s none that ever saw me near the bank. Oh really? And what if I said I had some proof that you were there? Proof? What sort o’ proof ye be talkin’ about? Ye ain’t got nothin’ ta pin on me. I’ve got this fancy little toolkit here. Ya found a tool, and ya think it’s mine? Ya still gots no proof. I happens ta sell such tools here. Anyone could o’ owned it. Yeah, but then I got a spell cast on it, and the giant floating hand probably means that it’s a one-handed guy who did the job. Magic? Ya mean that “pull a rabbit outta a hat, pick a card” sort o’ ruck? Who do ya gets ta do yer spells, a gnome? They’re tricksy sorts, and no one trusts ‘em. No, I got Erasmus the archmage to do it. That crazy wizard with a talkin’ rat? Oh, I saw him come ta town after the king were offed. He just appeared right in the middle o’ the Hall of Kings. He’s the real thing, sure enough. I’m not messin’ with magic. I’ve no desire ta be a toad the rest o’ me life. And a toad with no arm might have a bit o’ trouble hoppin’, or so I thinks. I’ll go quietly with ya, while I still be walkin’ on me own legs.*You lead the thief to the guard post above and have the guards place him under arrest. You are soon summoned to the Hall of Kings. After explaining the situation to the guards, you are sent to the bank the next morning.*
That’s good, then. I also heard you helped catch the crook that robbed the bank. Good job. The reward money of 2000 drachmas has been automatically deposited to your savings account. You are getting quite the sum in there. Everything’s going good, then? It’s going great! Now that the money is back (and I can collect on the guarantee for the safe), things are going my way again. I may even be able to buy a better safe. Care to make a deposit to your savings account? You know it’s safe, because we got all the money back the last time. Sure, I’ve got some on me. By the way, what happens to the guy who did it? They put the crook away in the jail by West Gate. He only had one arm, and he could crack the best safe in Silmaria. Guess they don’t make safe traps like they used to. Hmm. Well, see you later, Sam. Goodbye. Now go out there and make some more money. Can’t have too much in savings, you know.For the fighter and the wizard, this is the end to this sidequest. For the paladin, however, there is one extra bit…
Oh, hey. So you got put in here, Arestes? Aye. Come ta gloat? Ya gots me fair and square. I’m not here to gloat, I just figured you might want some company. How are they treating you in there? Ain’t as bad as it could be. Ain’t starvin’. I imagine it’s ‘cause they gots back all the money, so they let me off cheap. I only be in here fer twenty. Might even live that long, if I be lucky. But why did you steal from the bank? Couldn’t you make money some honest sort of way? It were a livin’. Better’n starvin’. I didn’t want ta be a thief, but there ain’t no work fer a one-armed sailor, ya know? How did you lose it? Bah, lost it when some riggin’ on the sails got tangled in a storm. I was gettin’ it loose when the wind shifted. I was knocked aft and me arm were smashed. Like to die, I was. Fact is, I pulled the bank job tryin’ ta get money fer a new arm. Reckon I’ll never get one now. Sorry, man, but I am a paladin. Plus it was kind of personal, since the money in the bank was partly mine, too. I’m sorry you lost your arm and couldn’t find anything better than thievery to make money, but it’s still not a good thing to do, you know? You broke the law and took what wasn’t yours. It’s only fitting you get caught and have to pay for what you did. Guess you’re right. Okay, no hard feelings. Ya did yer job, matey. Thanks. Maybe I’ll see you around again sometime. Yeah, bye. Seems like me worst enemy’s me only friend, right now.
I was robbed last night! Well, that is, the bank was robbed. Thief cleaned out the safe completely. Was a pretty professional job of it, too. Hey, Sam. Rough times, huh? What are you so cheerful about? Your money was stolen from here, too. Actually, I didn’t have any in at the moment. You remember how I withdrew all my savings yesterday? Oh yeah, right. Well, you’re just about the only lucky one. The money’s all gone. People are coming in all the time demanding their cash back, and I haven’t got it. They seem to think it’s my fault that the money’s been stolen. All in all, I’ve had better days. Sounds rough. Should I really be keeping my funds here? Don’t worry, please, the bank is still a really safe place to save money. We get more in every day. And I’ve switched the combination on the safe. That robber will never steal from here again. Plus all the guards are out looking for the crook. We can’t let him get away with all that money. He’s got to get caught! Well, good luck with that. By the way, I’d like to make a deposit.
Really? Thanks. You know, this amount is more than was lost from the safe last night. Where did you get all of this? Well…um…I…killed a bunch of things outside and took their stuff. Yeah. Wow. Sure am glad there are heroes like you making the world a safer place. You know, there is a reward for the capture of the thief, if you’d like to help search for him. I’ll…keep that in mind. Thanks. Keep your eyes open for anyone suspicious, okay?