Chapter 1: The Shadow Moot

Tomas guides Nulgha up by her hand, "Yes, of course! The letter should be much easier, much safer... Can you forge a signature, or get your hands on a seal? Address it from someone of standing in the Guild, perhaps this Nicastro himself! And to some fictional third party, as if talking frankly for business? I will tell my father I came across it while pursuing a bounty! Your message gets to his ears ... or eyes then... and neither of us is implicated with involvement in the Guild." he pulls her close again, "And you did not overreach, I am glad you trust me enough and can come to me with something like this." he plants a kiss on her mouth.
...

The Wolsing estate sits among several other villas belonging to wealthy merchants in the south westerly quadrant of the Garden District. As Zachary and Gord approach they can tell it likely used to be an impressive holding, though now it has languished for some time in neglect. Grasses have grown tall and wild with no sheep or goats around anymore to keep them down, weeds overtake the edges of a well-paved path, a split rail fence ringing the property has rotted and fallen in places, even the building seems to be just a shade of prior greatness, paint and plaster faded and chipping.

...

Tomas Heimart grins with half his mouth, "It was your idea, sweet. I just want to be sure it doesn't cause us too much trouble. It seems this is a delicate thing we are embroiled in." he nods as Nulgha works out the details with herself, and ultimately at the mention of the library.

The Great Library of Greyhawk sits just north and east of the Collegium grounds, near the city wall. It looks rather like an imposing great stone building is in the process of eating a beautifully ornate wooden one. Several decades ago a great stone addition was constructed so as to abut the graceful original wood building, more than tripling it's size, but probably halving it's beauty. It is a busy structure, Clerkburg in general is constantly abuzz with some goings on or another, but the Library in particular - receiving students and public interests alike, is absolutely humming on the outside. City criers, public lectures, the wealthy, students, and even the not-so-wealthy are swarming all about it's grounds.

...

Tomas leaves with the letters in his hand, kissing Nulgha gently on the cheek before exiting the Library. All that is left to that now is to wait and see what strength can be had in those sheafs of vellum.

...The roads that wind through the Garden District are fairly lively, if not particularly busy, even once away from the central High Market. Even if the vast majority of folk in Greyhawk can't afford to go to the grand performance house or the exotic gardens or the races held at the Circuit, or any of the other numerous attractions, they still like to walk it's streets and feel as if they can. There is also a higher Guard presence noticeable in the District, even the occasional knots of soldiers using the broad roads to practice formations. As Zachary and Gord walk southwesterly down Garden Road it feels like a very different city here.

As Gord walks the Circuit grounds, he can see they are immaculately kept. The grass low from grazing, but not overly so. The trees lining the lane approaching the racing track itself have grown over it and are spaced closely giving a tunnel-like effect, the hedges and fencing behind them, all sharply manicured angles. The buildings on the grounds have tall stone foundations, with shining white-washed timbers intricately stacked on top, and sloping red tiled roofing. The stables alone could pass for a landed noble's estate if one didn't know what they were looking at. Carlod looks over from the group of stable-workers he is embroiled in a boisterous conversation with as Gord approaches, the athletic man bows to them as he backs away with a smile on his face, and they continue on. He walks over next to some piled sacks of grain and picks up a harness and a couple of tools, his eyes following the Fence with sideways glances.

Carlod glances from side to side perfunctorily, there's an ongoing din in the stables, he shrugs continuing to fiddle with the leatherwork, "Les talk den. I can give ye da patrol schedules, nearby guard posts, pro'lly even a smol cart an' broken-in ass, if ye think we're needin' it?", he doesn't look up from the work.

He sniffs and shrugs, "Da Capo says it's jus' the young Wolsing, 'is wife, a kid, an' a servant dere. Can't afford a personal guard no more. 'Sa big house for jus' dat, but I guess it used to be better times for 'em...", he finishes tooling the leather and throws it over his shoulder and works his neck from side to side, "As for where, I figur a man 'oo cares dat much about 'is leaf is bound ta have a fancy pine box for it some'ere 'at'll stay cool, an a house dat big's gotta have a root cellar some'ere about it." he shrugs, bringing his arms up above his head with the rolling motion, "Beyond 'at, can't rightfully say."