Book Seven, Chapter Three �Sir Martyn develops a cunning plan�

�� 11/02/2006

We are in Golotha and it�s the 17^th of Kelen. We are missing Martin due to a suspected e-mail mix up, so Aruth is missing. Aruth got drunk, got into a fight, got arrested and is banged up in a Church jail. Now that is embarrassing, nicked for breaking the law in Golotha. Will this be the penalty for missing a game from now on? If we�re in a town you�re nicked for something embarrassing.

Robin talked to each of us individually. What was that about then? And why did he borrow my Gods of Harn book? Why is Sir Martyn studiously reading the naughty bits about Agrik? Is this relevant to the game or indeed anything at all? Why is Sir Martyn in the kitchen nicking food? (Mike�s stomach has finally arrived in Brum.) Why am I writing this drivel?

Sulla sends us a note asking us to meet her in the Temple of the Eight Demons, where we had diner the other evening. Well we�re here for a while so we turn up. She has some info we may find useful and a job offer, since we are in town for a few days. Please don�t mention what you are about to hear, especially around town. That would embarrass me, and you wouldn�t like that.

Velner, the high commander of the Cohorts of Gashang, the Fighting Order of Sulla�s mob, he was appointed by the Grand Master of the order. Sulla doesn�t get on with the Grand Master, who wants to return the town he�s based in to the Thardic Republic, would put Sulla in a dangerous position. She wants Velner be replaced by someone she appointed. Assassination, or butchery, is not what is needed here. In the last few days he has come into the position of three religious relics. Three gems from three different religious backgrounds, one from Larani, one from Siem, and one from Save-K�nor. They will be shipped to Semsom, the town where the fighting order is based, next week. If he was to lose these items it would make his position difficult, and she would be able to dismiss him. Velner lives in the Temple complex.

Our connection with Sulla is known (under our aliases) and we can move in the Clerical parts of the complex. We could join as sort of honorary members of the Fighting Order, which would give access to most of the rest. There then followed a long discussion about this.

So if we find out where the gems are we could nick them and leave some money behind or perhaps not. We could Charm or Suggest he does a sequence of things, calumniating in giving us the gems that he then forgets all about. A great many plans of tortuous nature were discussed; eventually they were simplified into practicality. Oh look here comes the Intuitions spell, probably. Or not as the case may be, that�s not due to the use of the word probably in the spell description. Ah, now Agrikan fire drills what interesting concept.

This is the final plan, and it took 6 hours to finalise:

Shake hands on the way in and on the way out of the audience of Velner meeting the new boys, which is when Sir Martyn casts �Master of Kind�. He asks him to make a donation of all his cash to the Orphan�s Appeal Fund, which proves he�s been got. Make him write the note ((�By now you should have received the items that I have sent you. I trust that you are now satisfied and that I shall not be hearing from you again. V�)) Ask where the gems are, if they are in his office he gives them to us. If they are not in his office then we get him to go and get them, and put them in a pouch (if they aren�t already) and then tell him to tell us (this is so we can truthfully say he told us to) to do him a favour which is to take the pouch to a �park bench somewhere near the Temple of Morgath�, which we do but the gems are in the secret compartment in the wagon not in the pouch. He then forgets everything about meeting us except hello and goodbye and some idle chit chat.

Robin was not feeling very well so it�s noted for next time.

�By now you should have received the items that I have sent you. I trust that you are now satisfied and that I shall not be hearing from you again. V�