Interlude: A Quiet Proposition

Zia looks about her accommodations. The polished white marble floors run up to a series of marble pillars supporting a roof of elegant, dark wood. Beyond the pillars lies a clear view of a beautiful sunset over the ocean. Indeed, her room was quite stunning, though that was to be expected when staying at the famed pleasure palace of Acrae.

Zia stands, moving over to the pillars, and gazing at the sunset.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A man's voice says behind her, startling her.

She whirls, pulling a small danger from the folds of her gown, and finds herself facing a man wearing a simple, smiling, wooden mask.

"Who are you?" She demands, brandishing the knife.

"I am me. Or, at least I was. Now I am only some of me, where once I was all of me. Do you understand?"

Zia very much does not understand, but she presses on regardless.

"What are you doing here?"

The masked man spreads his arms in a flourish. "I have come to give you a proposition."

"And why should I hear your proposition? Why shouldn't I call the paladins right now and have them execute you?"

The masked man sighs. "Because if you call the paladins, my agents will reveal to the Archprophetess that your seal, your wealth, your whole lineage really, is a forgery."

Zia's eyes widen, her secret revealed. The masked man continues. "But I don't want that to happen, so please, put down the knife and let's talk like civilized people, yes?"

Her mind searches frantically, but she sees no way out. He knows her secret, and he has people ready to reveal it if she doesn't comply with his demands. He could be bluffing, but she can't afford to take that risk. She drops the knife.

"Let's hear it."

The masked man elatedly speaks once more. "Wonderful, you've seen reason! Very well, here is what I propose: In this world there are many items of great power. Some of these items are relics of a civilization long forgotten. One such item, as forgotten as it's creators, resides deep in the forests of Estara, hidden in ruins near the city of Arlheim. I need you to find it, and destroy it."

"And why can't you do it yourself, if you know so much?" Zia asks, suspicious.

"Ah, well, I'm afraid the artifact is quite repellent to people of my;" He gestures to his body. "Particular nature."

"Alright," Zia begins, nodding. "So I destroy this thing and we are done? No more ****?"

The smiling mask bobs up and down. "Absolutely, you will be free of me, and-" He produces a gold coin and flips it before catching it with his other hand. "-With more gold than you can dream of."

Zia grunts.

"You should have lead with that. Why do you want this thing destroyed anyway? Most of the time when people ask me to find an artifact, they want me to bring it to them."

"Let's just say..." The masked man begins. "I'm playing the long game."

Zia shakes her head, frustrated by his evasiveness, but aware that pressing him would be useless.

"Right, so, ancient ruins, near Arlheim, no men allowed. Anything else I should know?"

"Nothing pressing, but do be careful in Arlheim, I hear they are having a bear problem."

There is a knock at the door. Zia glances to it, and when she looks back, the masked man is nowhere to be found.