Dust and blood

[Anastasia]

The door opens. Within is a comfortable room. Large and well decorated, even with a window that lets in sunshine. A feat for a deep basement floor to say the least. A rather corpulent man sits, sweaty and a bit greasy. He has sparse black hair and a florid face, perhaps 50 and human. At least human enough, despite eyes of pure bright orange. He wears white and green, including a little vest to go over his shirt.

He licks his lips slowly, "You're the ones I was told about?"

"We are. I'm Emily Aryn and this is Alyssa Songsteel," Emily steps in. "It's nice to meet you, sir."

"No it isn't, and call me..." he pauses, "Oh, what's the point if you're here? Estan." Taking out a handkerchief to wipe at his forehead, "I'm the lucky one, I got away from Gargauth. That's what you're here for?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"In a way. We're interested in his magic and how he subverts mortals. Would you be willing to let us spend some time asking you questions and investigating his magic?"

[Anastasia]

"I have no more of his magic on me, but I'll tell you what I know. Part of my repentance. " He answers, "Ask me what you like."

[Iron Dragoon]

"There may be residual changes from his magic that could enlighten us as well, but questions for now. Please, start with how he approached you and how things progressed."

[Anastasia]

"It was years ago," Estan begins. "I was born into a merchant family and took up the family trade. I was good at it, willing to do what it took to get a profit. One season I invested in hardwoods but the warehouse burned down, so my stock was wiped out. I had put most of my money into that, since forest fires made them rare to the east."

He pauses here, going to a nearby table to have a cup of chilled water. After a drink and pressing the cup to his forehead, "I needed money so I called in some old debts. Only one of them was able to pay, and he paid in good gold. So I used that to buy new stock and start over - and a few days later, I was arrested for fraud by the Khendan's men. My gold had turned to lead. The gold I collected was fake, cursed."

"Go on," Emily coaxes as she listens.

"I was to pay back the sum in one month plus a fine, or be sentenced to ten years imprisonment and hard labor, as well as the confiscation of my property." Estan reflects, "I was in a blind panic - and they just didn't care who I got the gold from, it was my fault for using it. It was then a man approached me. Charming, rich, friendly, and I was fairly deep in my cups that night. He had a friend who could help, if I'm just willing to visit him."

A beat, a drink. "Why not? I had no better options."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa finds his behavior odd and subtly uses Alter Reality to cast Arcane Conversion, swapping out Synostodweomer for Greater Arcane Sight to watch him for any magic effects.

[Anastasia]

There's warding in the room and around it, but he's clean.

"His friend didn't call himself by his true name, but it was Gargauth. A hint of compassion and a simple offer of an interest free loan if I just sign this contract. I did, much to my great stupidity." He goes on, "He gave me more than enough gold to settle my debts and get going again. I went and did so and..." Here he pauses, "In five days all the gold turned to lead. I remember how all I could taste was stomach bile in my throat when the soldiers came for me."

A sip of water, then a longer drink. "I cursed them, screaming that they'd burn for this."

A longer pause. "They burst right into flames before me. Gargauth's voice was then heard, that I could speak and have things happen, so I could eliminate all of this. Sort out my problems and live rich. All I had to do was keep going."

Here he pauses, "My mother taught me one thing above all else - that as dirty as moneymaking can be, you don't kill. It's a line you don't go over. I..." Here he pauses, "I knew I was in the grasp of something terrible. I tried to go to a local holy temple of Selune, and then of Tyr. I grew pained as I went, and couldn't bring myself to enter. More guards would come and I would either die by their hand or kill them with a word."

He takes a long breath, "I chose a third path. I went to a magic shop and spoke again, demanding the shopkeep give me treasures. He did and one of them was what I hoped for - a magic ring that was whispered could take you to another world. It hurt so much to look at, but I had nothing else. I bled when I put it on and I lost control of myself. All I could do was pray for mercy, even to Waukeen, who looks over merchants. Somehow that was enough to activate the ring, and it brought me to Brightwater, even as I bled."

"And then?" Emily asks.

"Ultimately my life was saved and I was given a chance to make amends. I did so in the end, but only barely dodged assassins and devils. I only got that far because Waukeen blessed me. I managed to save myself and divest myself of what Gargauth gave me once I made things right. Gargauth took it as a personal insult, but none of the deities of Brightwater would allow him to bully a soul away once fairly earned. So I spend my mortal life here, under the most extreme protection, as well as a further penance for what I did. A lifetime's imprisonment is a fair punishment for murder."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Do you remember the face he wore?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," he says, "Brown hair, beard and mustache, both well kept but just a little overgrown, like he hadn't shaved today. Brown eyes, big eyebrows. He almost had a peasant look to him, but he spoke so well that it put to rest any thoughts he was one. He was easy to listen to and knew how to listen to me, and freely offered good advice. He was right, I shouldn't have had all my stock in one warehouse, even if it would've cost more to split it up. But he wasn't cruel about it, he did it in a way where it felt like he was being helpful."

"Devils are skilled at that," Emily points out, "Many of them could sell water to a water elemental."

"Maybe, maybe," Estan agrees, wiping his brow again. "Even now, this here?" He holds up his handkerchief, "I'll feel a little of Hell's heat until the day I die. So that I never forget what I did. My choice. I don't want to forget. I can't forget. How can I forget the smell as those guards burned? How can I let myself forget?" He looks square at Emily, "I need this, so I always remember why I'm here and what mistakes I made. So that I'll forget what I dreamed of as I sought to make things right - that with a word I could have what Gargauth offers, but there would be no going back this time."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa works a bit of magic to create an image based on the description, "I'd like you to help me get this as accurate as possible. It's possible this is a face he uses consistently, so it may help us in finding him."

[Anastasia]

"A little bigger, and the ears are too big," he says, "Work on those."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa makes adjustments as directed until it's right.

[Anastasia]

It's soon right, "There," Estan says, "That's it."

Emily eyes it, "Thank you."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa considers, "What name did he use? And did he ever mention any locations?"

[Anastasia]

"Sangar," Is his answer, "And no. We met in a comfortable lodge, but I felt strange. They believe I was subtly moved to another world for it."