Nivalldier, Captain of Discovery -- Episode 05: What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have

“You must tell me all about the Regent’s most interesting vices.”

This time, it was High Priest Jeroff’s words that echoed, but in a small, tinny way. They accompanied a miniature image of the priest and the Regent’s favorite playing across the ale-stained tabletop of the last booth of the Ravenous Wyvern, so the lack of resonance could be forgiven. The priest’s image flailed through a wall of incense that drifted between the dwarf’s empty tankard of ale and a half-eaten bowl of potato and eel soup.

Nival harrumphed, then picked up his ceremonial Rod of Discovery, the baton that conveyed his position as Royal Discoverer. At a twist of one of the golden bands, the image of Jeroff faded into the end of the rod, where the spell of Remote Vision had been stored.

“Neat little trick, that,” Nival said. “It sure helps to have a spell that can tell you what people say behind closed doors.”

“When they’re magically-locked, spell-guarded doors, that’s an even better trick.” The human opposite Nival looked with satisfaction at the rod. “I told you I could make it work. Although, I’m still surprised that your bearded rock-god allowed me to cast it into one of his cherished magick items.” He popped a disgusting-looking piece of green eel into his mouth, then licked his fingers clean. “I half-expected a huge backlash from Mister Adamantite. I guess he’s not as jealous as he used to be.”

The dwarf shifted uncomfortably on the bench. “There’s a lot of things that are different with Moradin these days.” He raised his tankard absently, and the bartender reached the table as if Nival had held up a bag of golden dragons. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”

“Certainly, Nival.” The human pulled his thick cloak about him, as if its folds could conceal him from any repercussions that often came from loose talk about a god’s powers, or lack thereof. The cloak seemed to be all of a deep dark blue cloth, but upon closer inspection, contained many small woven sigils: star constellations, archaic hieroglyphics...

(more later)