[Gameplay] 4. The Canny Jackal

'We should be ready in case talk in not an option.' As the cleric speaks there's another pulse of energy from the symbol.

'.. dp we want to talk or just rush. Khepri and I can aid us in a fight, but the blessing will only last a few moments'

Tabat senses no deception on his part.

"Right. If you'll be ok here, we'll see to this matter," Tabat says gesturing to the door. He looks to his friends. "Are you ready?" If they affirm they are, he'll ask Iseret to check for traps before leading through the door.

Iseret does as she is bidden.

The door is unlocked. When you sneak in, you find a u-shaped room opening to the east and then the south. Spying around that corner you see a masked man in studded leather armor lounging in repose.

Finely crafted antique furniture from many different periods crowds this chamber, and the smell of rich food hangs in the air. Books and charts crowd one cedar table, while a half finished banquet of fruit and roasted meats sits on another. A living area with a bed and other furniture fills the southern portion of the room.

Tabat focuses on the man lounging in the chair, seeking to sense whether this man is evil.

He's evil, at least a human level of evil.

Tabat checks with the others, then when they are ready he approaches the man, his khopesh and shield drawn. "Do not raise arms against us, you are outnumbered. You are the leader of the Silver Chain, are you not? If so, you stand charged in the eye of Horus with crimes of kidnapping and harm upon your fellow citizen of Wati. What have you to say?" He levels his sword at the main, awaiting a response.

'..Why did you take the priest in the first place. Especially with the dead rising, when all are needed?' Khadi speaks as she carefully watches Ekram, trying to sense if he is being genuine in his deal.

Ptemenib, from well in the back, tells you that Wati’s grave-robbing gangs are a personal interest of Ptemenib’s, so when an agent of the Silver Chainabruptly left the auction, Ptemenib followed him into the Veins. Ptemenib had planned only on gathering intelligence about the group’s hideout, but he was discovered by these cultists masquerading as Silver Chain members, and was captured.

adds, curious as to what you will do, that not wanting to draw undue attention to themselves, and perhaps hoping the priest might be of some later use, he decided to keep Ptemenib alive for now. "And here you are, looking. Perhaps we should have rid ourselves of him disposed of the body elsewhere."

'Perhaps you should not have been a grave robber, or cultist, in the first place? I'm just saying that your fault was not in kidnapping a priest, but starting down the path that led you to that. Come with us, turn yourself in and then perhaps you can start on a different path.

"I would not take your payoff, particularly knowing where that money likely came from," Tabat says, "But as it happens, I believe everyone should be offered opportunities to better themselves. The law should have you, but the law has currently other problems to concern itself with. We are here instead, and so I think it right we, on behalf of this city, the laws of its people, and the Gods we represent, pass judgement here an now." Tabat's eyes bore into the man, deciding whether or not the evil-doer might be trusted to better his ways. "If we allow you to leave here, and leave Wati, would you commit to giving this life of theft, kidnapping, and other crime behind you? To lead a life to better the people of our land?"

Tabat relaxes slightly. "What do you think, friends?" he asks the others, "I want to believe him, and give him this chance, if for no other reason than there are greater issues in the city to deal with right now."

Khadi frowns, not sure if they can truts. 'Some of the others, they said you are a cultist, that you took over recently? To what purpose? If.. you don't seem a threat to the city then.. perhaps we can focus on other issues first.'

He shrugs, and says, "I'm a devotee of Nephthys. It's possible that they sensed that."

Tabat senses the twitch in Khadi's eye. Something was off. He waits for her to speak or act, tightening the grip on his spear.