Puzzling inquiries.

[Larando]

The mage rubbed at his bald head, completely puzzled. I just don't understand it! So many people I've asked guardedly. Yet, not a one has offered a favorable response. Perhaps they really do not know. Or perhaps there is some greater cover-up. This crazed ranting had been driving at hims some time now. Even his ability to focus on his spellcasting had been greatly affected.

It started out as a simple curiousity about powerful mages of the realms that he had neither seen nor heard from in some time. Two names had come to mind. It didn't take long for him to start his inquiries. And it didn't take long for these two names to become a great mistery he was destined to uncover.

It is time, I suppose, to take my search to a more public forum, Larando convinced himself. He gathered up his things, changing into something a bit more apporpriate for a wizard and left the room he had been calling home for some time bound for Sundren City. His first stop would be Four Lanterns Inn. It seemed the most logical start.

The mage was quick into his questionings soon after his arrival. In fact, he immediately began asking people if they had any knowledge of the necromancer, Samantha or the sorceress, Kathryn Blake. It didn't take long for him to draw the attention he had looked for. When asked why he saught them, Larando simply replied, "It is wise for a wizard to keep an eye on those more powerful than he."

I will find out what has become of the two of them. Perhaps one has done away with the other? No, that is not likely, but I will find out all the same. Someone must know!

[Larando]

Larando continues his pursuit of the two mages in a somewhat aggrivated state. He spent far too long in the Four Lanterns Inn entrapped in more meaningless jibber-jabber than any wizard shoulr ever have too. How dare they put me to the question as if I were some threat to society! The nerve of the paladins in this land sometimes! It had come as no surprise that the attention drawn was not the desired response. But, he had grown tired of waiting on his own sources (few as they were) and the hours of hunting down certain individuals that carried sensitive information. Besides, who cares if he's asking about people? It's not like that's illegal.

As he wandered Sundren City, he made a stop in Jimmy's Dice Den. Just the place to stop and have a chat with people who know a thing or two he thought to himself. Upon entering, he was hit with familiar sounds and smells. It brought back memories of a time when he walked this city more frequently...a time he had spent quite a bit of time in this fine establishment (and far more money than any mage should spend on such trivial pleasures).

Larando was quickly warned against making trouble when he approached the bouncer. It's good to know I'm not forgotten, the bald mage thought ruefully to himself. He quickly diffused the bouncer's aprehension and spilled into why he had come here in the first place. The bouncer never flinched until he heard the name, Samantha. The worthless meatbag didn't really know anything. But he did point out a couple of individuals to ask about Samantha. Nothing about Katie. Perhaps they are right. Maybe she has left these lands. But Samantha... Larando looked in the direction of the two people the bouncer pointed out: one in a corner by themselves, and the other sitting with a group of two others drinking as they shared in a mildly humorous conversation.

Armed with this new find, and a hope of finally getting some solid information and not the rumors that had plagued him, Larando started toward the other end of the room.

((I wanted to clear up what this actually is. I've been talking to a DM and there's a little something we have going on the side. There is another person curretly involved. We have been in tells and need to meet. However, we both have reservations about staging a meeting for this particular encounter. So, we were waiting on an actual in-game chance encounter. With my current timeframe issues and such, we thought it best to initiate our encounter on the boards. And, basically that's what I'm doing (mainly to prevent us from metagaming). So, all of this is for the encounter of a particular person. However, anyone wanting to respond, please do so. I would be more than happy to involve any and all peopleno matter alignment or whatever.

You should know that the steps leading up to the plan were initiated by me and the DM working with me can't be directly involved. However, there will be another DM involved. So, this is very much a sort of freestyle deal. And you are hereby warned that your character can get in serious trouble by getting involved in my plans (as my signature clearly states). I hope that this is as clear as mud, now. I just didn't want people thinking I was randomly doing this and not leading to something

EDIT: On a side note, I did leave the two potential encounters genderless in case someone wanted to take one of those roles))

[Urithrand]

Kolomar Biddle sat in the Four Lanterns looking at his rabbit in concern. Zugo had been ill for some time now, and his condition seemed to be getting worse. He knelt on the floor and filled a small saucer with a potion he had prepared in advance to ease the poor young koney's pain, and he lapped it up gratefully. During his moments on the floor however, he just caught a snippet of a conversation that made his interest snap like a whip. Sitting up slowly, he focused his attentions on the commentor, pretending to continue poring over the massive tome he had laid out on the table, surrounded by metal limbs and a curious metal sphere.

"Asking about that necromancer Samantha." There! That name again! He had heard it before, it was in connection with the Necronomicon. The creator of the foul book was imprisoned from what he could make out, but he had pondered on that name for many hours since his brief ownership. "Larando, aye that's his name. Been askin' about her quite openly he has, the paladins were terrible curious about his interest." Biddle scribbled the name into his book, determined to remember it. Zugo sneezed violently on the floor, bringing his attention back to his suffering familiar, but he did not stop thinking about the necromancer and the curious individual asking after her.

"I must seek this man out." He thought to himself as he stroked Zugo sadly.