Role

Chapter 14

The next few pages of the research journal are quite odd. There seems to
have been a page given over to some kind of scheme or mutual arrangement
with an individual identified as Zanzar, though much of it seems to have
been blotted out in a fit of temper. In bold letters, scrawled in a quite
uncharacteristically uneven hand across the top of the page are the words:

"The useless human goes missing. Put on hold indefinitely. Why am I ever
surrounded by unreliable imbeciles?"

The next page however seems far more in line with the writer's usual style, the script small and meticulous.

The bounty office recently posted an interesting listing. I rarely devote
much interest to such matters; often the sums are paltry to an individual
of my means, and are typically over some petty matter or another. However,
I have grown to rather loathe this Kingpin of Galadon for his constant
attempts to truss me up like some raunchy specimen from his native homeland.
It is quite undignified, and so seeing his name atop the list with a
herald of all things gained my interest.

The elf in question was all too pleased to divulge all the details to me. A
war between the thieves guild of Dagdan and Galadon over some small
political matter, and one they currently believe Galadon shall win without
difficulty.

That just won't do.

Well. The victor doesn't matter. But it ending won't do.

Wars cause people problems as a matter of course, and causing this
'Kingpin' problems is reason enough for me to get involved. Perpetuating
the conflict for as long as possible will be just the thing, and making it
messier in the process would surely be to my good.

I have begun the cultivation of an asset to take over the Hamsah guild.
This Nijanna has some highly irritating behaviours even for one of its
lowly birth, but as a tool in this subterfuge it should serve my purposes.

The Blackclaw guild also has a new leader, though his identity or other
details concerning him are as of yet unknown. This will need to be
determined, for perhaps he can also be useful, even if Blackclaw is
practically a hovel besides the architectural wonders of Galadon and Hamsah
Mu'tazz. I am told he is a duergar, which already gives me little hope.
Such a dirty, ill spoken, mentally unsound people on average, but perhaps
he shall divert from the norm.

Beyond that, I will need to reach out to my old acquaintence Gwenhowyvar to
gauge whether I will be able to nudge the conflict to continue from his
side of the matter, or whether I should throw false backing behind Galadon
to inspire some additional bravado.

Decisions, decisions...