Rings and Dark Intel
Log Info
- Title: Rings and Dark Intel
- Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise
- Summary: Rune comes to Mikilos to purchase an enchanted ring, and ends up sharing intel on the current situation with Blue Moon Ale.
The air is damp and heavy, making the glow of the shop sign blur in the mist. The windows are still open, and a small charm sets the air in the shop circulating. Mikilos stands behind the counter, idle reading a newspaper, muttering absently to himself.
Rune has had a fair number of stops during her visit to Alexandros, and this seems to be one of the last. Her hair is still damp and skin fresh from a recent trip to the TaRaCe and even her travel clothes look laundered. The glow of the shop sign lures her in even through the mist. "The mist is getting pretty thick out there." Her voice announces her arrival as she steps in.
"Evening." She offers in greeting, pulling back her hood as she steps in. Her blue eyes look between the mage, his newspaper, and back again, "Something the matter?"
Mikilos glances up from his reading and smiles, leaving the paper open as he moves to the ceter of the counter. "Mist always builds up this time of year, gets damp into everything, but not terrible if you're ready for it. Anyway, was just reading the report about Blue Moon Ale and the connection to lycanthropy. Any case, what brings you by?"
"I've been in Am'shere the past few weeks, just back recently." Rune explains with a soft smile, "The mist doesn't cling to the jungles as much as it does the city." Giving a tap of her boots so that she doesn't drag anything into the shop, Rune then steps forward, "I was hoping you might be able to help me with something of a magical nature. Since you were so helpful last time with my mysterious Fey problem."
A small smirk plays on the edge of her lips, "I actually know a thing or two about that. I might be able to offer some information, there." Then, her expression goes more serious for a second as she looks aorund, "If... you have ways of securing this place from outside eyes and ears?"
Mikilos nods thoughtfully. "Mountains and trees both make a wall for the mist to build up against, but the results are different. And solving problems of a magical nature is sort of what I do." The wizard frowns mildly, considering a moment, then shrugs. "The shop has minor wards against scrying, but a determined diviner can get past them. The back room has stronger wards, or can set up something particular if you have specific concerns."
"I've heard of rings that offer some measure of magical enhancements to a person's defenses. Alaryn said she doesn't work in rings at the moment, so I thought maybe you might?" Rune asks, "Nothing too powerful, as I don't have the coin for advanced enchantments, but every little bit helps."
As he elaborates on the sort of protections that the shop has, Rune does another of those cautious looks around before noting, "There's a certain individual who has both scrying abilities, but also can turn invisible. He's been known to spy on people. While I doubt I'm even on his radar, it's always better to be safe than sorry."
Mikilos nods thoughfully, considering a moment before heading to the end of the counter, opening the door to the back room. "The shop wards are likely fine, but no reason to not take advantage if just means stepping into the other room. Little harder to stop someone from hanging around and listening in, but far, far easier to detect if they try." The wizard taps the side of his head and smiles, eyes glowing blue with arcane energy for a moment. "Rings, yes, easy enough in theory, but so little material to work with it takes special techniques. Now when you say defenses, you mean along the lines of magical armor, or avoiding spell effects? I can do both, but the later is a bit more elaborate."
The fact that Mikilos seems to accept her concerns rather than dismissing them is heartening. It's far too easy to assume that she may very well be paranoid. "Thank you." She moves to follow, being careful to keep her ears trained incase anything might be following. "Let's just say that this individual has struck from his invisible state multiple times, so there's a few of us who are more than a little wary." The blue glow somewhat reminds her of the strange magic that Cor'lana also has for seeing that which wishes to be unseen. "More magic?"
Then, as they shift to the topic of her purchase, the rogue's brows furrow, "I don't know much about magic or enchantments, but I think it's more along the lines of armor." Reaching beneath her armor, she pulls out an amulet that looks as if it were made with some sort of lizard scales. "Alaryn made me this, but she recommended a ring that would have other capabilities."
The back room is little more than a storagev area, with a number of crates and bags piled up in stacks. However visible wards are placed upon the walls at regular intervals, similar, but far stronger, than the hidden wards out front.
Mikilos nods. "Had troubles with invisible demons myself, placed a perminant enchantment on my eyes. Arcane sight as well. Hasn't really come up yet, but nice to know I'm not likely to overlook anything." The wizard peers at the amulet a moment and nods. "The end result is the same, weapons are less likely to hit you, but the technical details are different. I don't have any on hand, but can forge a Ring of Protection easily enough. They're typically plain gold, but if you've any style preferance there's a fair bit of leeway in how it will look."
Tucking the amulet away again, Rune nods her head, seeming glad enough that he seems to understand what it is she's asking for. "Nothing too flashy, if you can help it. I sometimes have to go unnoticed, so it's important that it doens't catch the light too much." She explains, "I already wear onyx jewelry, if that matters." Rune leans one ear in his direction so he can see the jewelry she already has. "Give me a price and I'd be glad to commission it."
Then, feeling safer within the confines of the warded room, Rune leans against one of the crates and explains a bit. "I think that may have been a team I'm working with that leaked that information to the Tribune." She explains, "We've been looking for a way of dealing a blow to their ability to earn coin to fuel the werewolf army. Cor'lana and I were working on spreading negative rumors, but... I think that intel may have come from the other half of our team."
Mikilos nods, considering. "I could certainly set onyx pieces into the ring, but I don't think could make the full ring from onyx. Not easily, anyway. Too brittle a material. But, silver with a dusting of onyx powder should have a similar look. The material costs are trivial, the enchantment will run you one thousand, two hundred gold, whatever we end up making it from. Will take about two days for the crafting and enchantment."
He frowns mildly. "Should have guessed Cor'lana was involved. I don't suppose you know the ingredients used? Or where I could still find a sample of the ale? If they've found a way to bottle lycanthropy, I'm very curious how they've gone about it. I also have some ideas for a counteragent, but I'd need to know more before trying to brew anything. The Tribune was vague on several details, understandably so."
"Of course. I have silver in my earrings as well, so that works fine by me." With the price given, Rune reaches into one of her bags and begins to count out a series of platinum coins to hand over, "I appreciate it. Things got a bit too close during a recent fight, and I promised Harkashan that I'd do what I could to keep that from happening again." Easier said than done.
Once business is taken care of, though, she seems to settle into her role offering intel on the whole Blue Moon issue. "I'm afraid I don't, but I know who you could ask. Telamon is our likely suspect. He and Harkashan were working on methods of convincing people to stop carrying Blue Moon Ale in their inns and taverns. I'd bet they found more than they were expecting while doing so." It sounds as if Rune doesn't know for sure, bit certainly seems a likely possibility.
Mikilos nods. "I appericate the information. I could have asked the Tribune itself, but they'd understandably be reluctant to give out information on their sources. If nothing else Telamon is likely to have an idea of who the source is, if it's not himself. Now, you said there's been someone lurking around invisible? Who? I'd not heard of that tactic popping up recently."
"With the threats of retaliation, there's also good reason to keep the sources from being outright obvious." Rune agrees with a nod of her head, reaching to fidget with the familiar necklace that Mikilos had seen the last time that she had visited his shop. "It's the same reason Cor'lana and I have been keeping ourselves under unfamiliar disguises while we were spreading rumors about the stuff."
Her lip quirks with some amusement, "Obviously, I trust that you aren't working for the enemy." One would hope so, at least.
"The invisible one is Marsward Seraquoix. He's one of those leading the werewolves. He's also the one that recently attacked Telamon and Cor'lana's home directly." She bites at her lower lip, thoughtful. "He has some sort of advanced magic. Scrying, divination, turning invisible, and he seems to get much of his power from a scarab familiar of his. So watch out for unusual insects."
After a pause, she adds, "He's also the one behind Blue Moon Ale."
Mikilos nods, frowning. "I'd heard they were attacked, but not who by. I doubt he'd try anything here, but I'll keep a wary eye open, just in case. I have my pride, but Telamon and Cor'lana are hardly easy targets. Anyone willing to attack them is either a fool or a powerful foe. Perhaps a touch of both."
"I'd say both." Rune agrees, but there is some worry in her expression. "Right now, our goals are to try to cut off as much of the resources as we can feeding into the werewolf activity. Helping villages in the Vast that they might be raiding for resources or who might be feeding them funds, and cutting off Blue Moon as a source of revenue." She sighs and runs a hand through her dyed hair, "But yeah, talk to Telamon. He's going to explain it far better than I am."
Mikilos nods. "I'll see if can track him down for a chat. Thank you for what you have told me, is far more than I knew before. and I am reminded, what's the best way to get the ring to you once it is completed?"
That is a difficult question and it causes Rune to pause briefly. "Uh... I'm actually heading back to Am'shere shortly as I have a ... few things to deal with over there." There is some reluctance to go into that, so she simply furrows her brow, thinking. "You could leave it for me at the Temple of Eluna? I should be able to pick it up from there when I'm back in Alexandria."
Mikilos nods. "That works. Though do you mind if I ask what you're doing in Am'shere? Nice enough place to visit, but can't say I prefer it there."
There is a brief hint of hesitation before Rune explains, "A few things. Tracking down some smugglers who have been bringing monsters into Alexandros is the primary reason." She plucks at that necklace again, "Second is to help Harkashan with a strange connection he has to a draconic being. Third is trying to track down that Fey creature we made contact with. The Golden Fate. I think there might be some connection to Am'shere so we're planning to speak with some Fey creatures there to see what they know."
Mikilos nods, frowning. "Monsters smuggled into Alexandros? I recall something of that several months back, and thought the issue resolved. Suppose this could be a new case. Do you happen to have information on who's behind such?"
"We do." Rune confirms with a nod, "We tracked it to an individual running a pit-fighting ring here in Alexandros. He fled before we could confront him and he's currently hiding at a camp in Am'shere. We have plans to confront him and take him into custody, but we have to deal with some of his Makari friends first." She blows a huff of air out, moving some hair out of her eyes, "Hopefully we can do so without bloodshed, but we'll see."
Mikilos nods seriously. "Be careful. If it's the same individual, he's not only very charming, but make a point to follow the letter of the law, if not the spirit. You might find youself facing down law enforcement."
"I doubt this is the same fellow. We had the Guards with us when we raided his home, so they are most definitely on our side." Though it does seem curious that there was a similar circumstance in the recent past. Rune seems thoughtful, "I'll have to look into this other smuggler and see if there's any connection."
With that said, she pushes herself up, "I should get going. It's getting late and I have a few more things to finalize before I set off tomorrow morning." With a nod, she adds, "Thank you, again, for the commission. I'll let you know if I hear anything else."
Mikilos nods. "My pleasure. I'll see if can track down Telamon, find out what else he can tell me. Either way, best wishes for your trip, may it be successful and you return safely."