Flipz

Observations:

This city is in an awful state--the Pogs are raiding the town, murdering and pillaging at will, and no one can stop them. Saunterton said they likely have a contact inside the city--we need to figure that out, and put a stop to it.

Oh, geez--the dwarf started a barfight, of all things. Thank heavens I've kept myself distanced from the Heroes--I don't know if anyone in town would trust me if I'd gotten roped into the fight.

Note to self: ask the Heroes what they each learned in the bar. We're going to need all the info we can get if we're to accomplish anything of note.

There are too many blank spaces in our knowledge of the situation--we don't know what anyone wants, and until we know that, we can't figure out who the city should go to. Something weird is afoot here--I can feel it--but we just don't have enough information. Hell, I don't even know where to go next. This whole thing is so confusing...

"It is no small thing to celebrate a simple life." Out of everything Dala said, this seemed the most truthful. What the hell am I doing with my life? Wandering...following orders, whether from Heroica or the Watch...is that really the path I want to walk? But what other path is there?

I'm warming up to that Witch. I still don't trust her, but I suspect that's just memories of Wren and Baba and Atramor talking--she doesn't seem to care, but from what I can tell, she has no reason to bring harm to the town. They ARE her customers, after all.

Dala's outlook on R'kliff's future is rather grim. I hope this resistance leader offers some hope for the place...

Huh. That's strange--Ellaria wasn't out here when we left the blacksmith. I guess she found another lead.

It's late--Ahvialyn and I should head for the inn. I get the feeling it's going to be a long night...hopefully the others will have found some information, so we can swap notes...

Odd--is that Throlar at the front desk? Why isn't anyone else with him? Surely they know better than to let this lunatic roam the streets unwatched...

That dream...there was something different about it. It was surely one of the dreams of my youth...and perhaps of the Spirit Pools. If only I had had time to speak more with Vipera, or Passion, to learn more...no. I can't think of that time. Only the future awaits.

The Resistance seems insecure, but ready. I'm impressed. Shawe doesn't have as much imagination as I thought he would, but Nerwen and I were able to talk him around (I don't know what Boomingham was doing). If we can convince Lady Calaryl as well, we can negotiate at the inn to forge an alliance of Elves and Men to lead against our enemies and bring peace to R'kilf.

"Hope is not a wish or wanting or desire, but a trust in a promise and a looking forward with joy to its coming to pass." I can honestly say I've never heard that perspective before. Lady Nerwen is a truly unique individual.

Oh my...the citadel is beautiful. I'm loathe to admit it, but I can see why the Elves would not wish to leave this place. But they cage themselves in, and speak to no other souls--how can they stand such loneliness? This is a place of beauty, but also of sadness--a tragic masterpiece, every last detail gilt in grief.

By some miracle, our negotiations were successful, and the Elves and the Resistance have agreed to work together. Now we go to face the Pongcanis, and the Dread Pirate Indiacca.

*detailed drawings of troop movements and battle orders* I've turned my magical skills back to those useful to troop command. I haven't done this since Dastan--and what a rush it is. If I could do this sort of thing for the Watch, I'd never go home. *more detailed drawings*

Dammit! Indiacca got away in the end--and a certain dwarf is to blame...

So, Khaderin and the Mopags made their move while the rest of us were busy fighting Pogs. We won, of course, but still. There's tragedy here. But I'm too mad to truly appreciate it. We need to wrap this mess up and go home, so I don't have to deal with the dwarf anymore. We did what we came here to do--it's time we reap the rewards.

...gods, I need a drink.

People:

I like Sergeant Saunterton. He shares my name. Seemed pretty reasonable to me--good point of contact for the Mopags. We'll likely have his support if we have to ask the Mopags for help.

Commander Pinnock seems stern and strict, but otherwise fully devoted to his Duty. An admirable trait...or is it? Do I really see myself being like him, advancing through the ranks of the Watch over the years until Duty is all I know? ...I should keep an eye on him, see what his life is like.

A-Turburtus--a mercenary who hires himself out to passing merchants seeking protection. Quiet, but keen. He says the Elves think they control the town, even though they don't, and that they rely too much on their supposed infallibility. From what I know of this lot, that's fairly accurate. Definitely want to chat with him sometime when the Dwarf is not tearing someone to shreds in the same room.

There's something about that gorgon Witch Dala...she knows much. Her words ring of wisdom...but can I truly trust a Witch? Ever?

Well, Dala is a good source of information, that's for sure. Her shop has been untouched by the attacks--she says no one dares to attack her. I have to wonder, though...is it for fear of her Petrifying gaze...or does she hold some darker secret?

The Pongcanae are led by the "Dread Pirate Indiacca". Good to have a name, at least...but how did Dala come to learn it?

Holy crap. ChenmoHwi'nuH the blacksmith is my new favorite person on the island. If I can spare the Gold, I'm definitely going back there before we leave town.

...Oh, and he's a good source of information as well. Blunt, but at this point that's exactly what we need.

Ahvialyn's been awfully quiet today. I wonder what she thinks of all this?

Shawe...he's an interesting one. Hopefully he'll have a bit more sense than the leaders of his House have...and hopefully he'll send his regards to said House when we're done here. Nonetheless, out of everyone in town, he seems the most trustworthy.

Lady Calaryl has the patience of...I can't think of metaphors right now, I'm too ticked off. I don't know what Throlar's trying to pull, but he's sabotaging our mission left and right. Thankfully, Calaryl seems willing to forgive, but I swear, if he does one more stupid thing...

Indiacca's a monster. I look forward to killing him.

No more second chances. I'm that sort of a man. Throlar got what's coming to him, and so will the Mopags.

Idiot. Warlord Khaderin didn't have a chance, the arrogant megablocks. At least his death allows Saunterton to take charge, so maybe there will be hope there.

Factions:

The Mopags seem to be the most militarily-minded folks we've met so far. They hate the Pogs, at least. Could be good muscle to defend the town, if they're willing to work with or for one of the other factions.

The Pogs care only about rampaging and killing--they don't want to rule R'kliff, they want to rob it of everything of value and then raze it to the ground. This is one faction we'll need to eliminate if the city is to have any hope of survival--and I have to admit, getting vengeance for Triad will be well worth it.

The mercenary in the bar said that the Mopags are indifferent to what's going on in the city. That indicates to me that as soon as the Pogs are dealt with, they'll happily go home. We may need to look at other options for a defensive force...

Keveak's elves are all holed up in their keep. We won't get much out of them unless we can convince them we're here to help them--and I'm not certain whether or not we are.

Rumor has it that the resistance is being led by a "knight" who is also a "nobleman". I'll ask around the Marketplace tomorrow about him, and the resistance in general.

From what Dala and ChenmoHwi'nuH tell me, the elves are a bunch of wimpy sissies. Wimpy sissies with enough military might to wipe the floor with most folks, but they're all too scared to use that might to do anything but hole up and hide. Not exactly the sort I'd want ruling this town--or any other, for that matter. I'm starting to think we'd be doing Lord Normorn a favor if we got the elves and the Pogs to wipe each other out for us--the town would be saved from the Pogs, and Lord Normorn wouldn't have to deal with leading a bunch of cowering cowards who cower cowardly in cowardice in cowardly citadels.

Let's see--elves, Mopag, Pogs, 'the resistance', the Hinckwells and Lion Knights are purposely staying out of it...why do I feel like I've heard this story before? Oh, that's right--De'kra. I should write to him before I go to bed, see what his take on things is.

Nerwen seems to believe the Elves can be convinced to see reason. I don't buy it, but she knows Elves better than I, obviously. And if we can avoid bloodshed...

The resistance is being led by Isaac Shawe--now THAT name's a blast from the past. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't get to speak to De'kra before--I don't think he'd approve of our working together, and yet he's the only one with a legitimate claim to the town.

So apparently, Shawe has the support of a group of noblemen called the Knights of Patuqun. Hopefully we will get to meet them soon, though it seems several other Heroes have had encounters with them.

Having finally met the Knights of Patuqun, I have to say I like the men, a lot. Not as much as Lord Boomingham, of course, but I've had my suspicions about his true affections for a while. (Lord Boomingham, if ever you read this: I jest, I jest.) I hope they find success in their mission--as long as they don't cause trouble for my friends in the Lion Knights, of course.

Mafia Roles

Cinderella (Good Guy Doctor) in Sandy's Mafia School: A Bedtime Story--killed Night 2. Lost, but Passed!

-This was an epic failure of trust and logical fallacies, in which I single-handedly ruined the Town. But I passed anyway!

Roron Corobb, loyal Jedi in Masked Builder's Jedi Temple Mafia--killed Night 2. Again. Lost.

-Scum was Over-Powered through some utter megablocks behind-the-scenes. Also, Tammo shall not survive Night 1 ever again in any game I play.