Fools' Ebony, Part the Fourth                                   Frincheps                                                       naughty                                                                                            )	 (  X      :  
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#  d%      Fools' Ebony  Part The  Fourth         Dramatis Personae   Prologue The Adventurer, A Dark Elf Rascal Komon, A Priest of Akatosh Lheban, Another Priest of Akatosh Epilogue Stete, A Priest of Julianos Raic, Another Priest of Julianos Shub, A Mage Shub, A Different Mage of the Same Name Nephron, A Somewhat Sleazy Merchant 5 Armorers Ortho Crunn, Husband of Millie A Lusty Contessa Millie, Innkeep and Philosopher Gurnsey, Bovine Wench Assorted Wenches and Cads of the Taverns Soldiers Dwarves Giants     Part The Fourth - Mercantile Dealings,                   The Armorers Involve     Themselves. After some     general discussion and     verbal dancing around,     finally the topic of     Fools' Ebony is     explored ...                  Somewhere near the market, in the back of a store called "Nephron's General Mercantile".   The day after.   (Enter Prologue, the Adventurer, and Nephron)   Prologue:   Whilst the actors playing the Adventurer             and the merchant Nephron dramatically       move their mouths to pantomime a       conversation, it is on poor Prologue's       shoulders to update the audience on the       play's actions in its first three acts.       The Adventurer, a rogue of a Dark Elf,       has been hired two different groups --       four inebriated priests and two greedy       mages -- to delay the other group, and       find the lost cache of Fools' Ebony in       the Wrothgarian Mountains. Now, picture       this clownishly decorated set as the       back room at a prosperous merchant's       shop. And before the Adventurer and       Nephron develop lockjaw, Prologue will       leave you thus.   Adventurer: So you see, friend Nephron, just what an             opportunity we have here. We have this       new commodity, for which you agree there       will be a huge demand.   Nephron:    Especially from the Royals -- once one             of them has something new, they all want       it, of course.   Adventurer: And do not forget the Armorers for their             forges, and the Alchemists for their       retorts and whatnots...   Nephron:    You seem to have the Mages lined up             nicely, got their location, memorized       the access map, and so on - you know,              we merchants have had a suspicion for       quite some time that those old twits       had some deep dark secret of interest       to us...             Now, the priests - the School of Julianos       we already work well with, hand and       glove, you might say. But of course we       shall cut them out of the major profits       -- maybe let them distribute some to       their flocks?  And their Temples make       good, how can I say? -- storehouses?       But the Akatosh Chantry is a problem,       always running off and doing things on       their own initiative, no cooperation,             just crazy people ... we really need to       do something about them, to ... er ...             ensure their cooperation ...   Adventurer: I have a suggestion that might help ...             you recall how old Komon left and             apparently dragged off some little blonde             lamppost girl ... just suppose, that just             by chance, in his state of ...             befuddlement ... he dragged off someone       important by mistake..? Might be a lot of       trouble for the Chantry, if word got out?   Nephron:    Hmmm. Indeed ... there's this silly             little blonde Royal who's all excited by       the 'real life' down in these parts of       town. Disguises herself (or so she             thinks), comes on down here and plays at             being poor.  Stupid little twit ... Komon             is still in hiding with his blonde, right?   Adventurer: Yes, in that 'retreat' the Priests have,             down near the waterfront.   Nephron:    Oh yes, I know that place - often sell             them some 'spiritual powders' and so on       ... Good ... you see, just imagine what             would happen if Komon, by mistake, had             grabbed this slumming little Contessa             ... Akatosh Chantry would have no end of             trouble from the palace if something             nasty happened to her ... and then we             could move in, offer to 'help' the Chantry             during their hard times ... Hmmm.             Yes! Leave it to me, I shall contact a few             of my ... er ... business associates, as             it were ... make some arrangements.   Adventurer: And I'll keep up chatting with the             priests, get them to support our little             business venture?   Nephron:    Right!  And I should introduce you to some             of the more senior members of our             Brotherhood ... excuse me, Guild.  Let me             contact you in a few days, when everything             is all set. You are here every evening?   Adventurer: Yes, not particularly safe outside after             dark these days.   Nephron:    I see. We shall have to arrange some ...             protection for you. Well, in a few days,       then.   (Exit Nephron, inconspicuously) (Enter Five Armorers) (Armorers and the Adventurer fight) (The Adventurer falls) (The Armorers tie the Adventurer up and then wake him up)   Armorer 1:  OK, fellow. Lets not spriggen-foot around!             We know about this Fools' Ebony thing. And             about the Mages who apparently discovered              the location. And we have been watching you             dance around with the Priests, the Mages,             the Merchants. Just about everyone with two       feet!   Armorer 2:  And how you are really working with Nephron.   Armorer 3:  And how you are double-crossing the Priests             and Mages ...   Armorer 2:  You and Nephron are really doing a good job             on the Akatosh Chantry, we must admit.   Armorer 1:  But now, we want that Fool's Ebony supply.             We need it to increase our production, our             quality -- and our prices.  We can work             with Nephron and his gang, we need             warehouses and distribution anyway.   Armorer 4:  We could torture it out of you ...    Armorer 3:  We could let the Priests know about your             plans -- they would throw you to the       Afterdark Society in a flash!   Armorer 5:  We could let the Mages know -- they would             send you to Oblivion for a very, very long       time!   Armorer 1:  But we would rather you 'joined' our             Guild. We cannot afford to leave Daggerfall             for some hairy wilderness trip. Too much             demand these days, for our sevices.   Armorer 2:  But we can send a group of our apprentices             along to keep you company.   Armorer 4:  Our apprentices usually test all our             products ... and will be just itching to             test out there.   Adventurer: Gentlemen, gentlemen! Please - I really was             going to give the whole deal to you, once I             had gotten gold from everyone else.   (Armorer 5 slaps the Adventurer with a hot poker)               Ohhh ... well, I thought of it...   Armorer 5:  Sure!  And I'm a Nymph!   Adventurer: Yes, Yes, Yes, you are very persuasive.             I would welcome an ... er ... escort and             guard of such tough gentlemen. Be very             handy out there.   Armorer 1:  Good. Thought you would see it our way!             Some of our other members are presently             having a little ... chat with Nephron. We             can handle him. And from now on, two of             our bigger apprentices will always be       close at hand.  Protection, of course --             this town can be quite dangerous at       night ...   Armorer 3:  So continue with your arrangements, work             with Nephron. You can always leave word             about your departure date with any weapons             shop.  And about any problems you may       have ...   Adventurer: Certainly, gentlemen. Yes, you are indeed             very persuasive. I shall keep you up to             date.  And, er...thanks for the protection.   (Enter Ortho, the very large apprentice) (The Adventurer is untied) (Exeunt Five Armorers)   Adventurer: Hello, who are you?   Ortho:      Me am Ortho!   Adventurer: My ... protection?   Ortho:      Me am Ortho!   Adventurer: You look very familiar to me for some             reason. Have you every been to Morrowind?   Ortho:      Me am Ortho!   Adventurer: Fine then.             (aside)       My old man used to say the very worst       thing that can happen to a fellow is       an evening spent in the company of an       earnest politician. This, I think, is       a close second.   (Exeunt the Adventurer and Ortho) (Enter Epilogue)   Epilogue:   Our play has six parts, and we've just             finished the fourth. It's interesting             I think that the Lusty Contessa has       not made an appearance yet. You don't       suppose our playwrite forgot he put her       in the Dramatis Personae, do you? Well,       you'll only know if you come back for       The Fools' Ebony, Part the Fiveth. And       if your neighbor decides not to return,       don't tell him what happened. We actors       have to make a living too, you know.       Don't forget to tip your wenches while       we change the scene.   (Exit Epilogue)                           So Endeth Part The Fourth 