"I'm sorry, lass…" A gravelly voice apologised, "You want me to do what?"
"There's a cave not far from the city that I've been using as a base." Lieze explained, "Only, the entrance leaves much to be desired in the way of convenience. I'd like for you to tunnel me a more straightforward path into the caverns."
"You're out of your mind if you think I'll agree to do somethin' like that!" The voice exclaimed, "T' say nothin' of the labour involved, the whole bloody thing might come down on our heads if we aren't careful!"
"I thought Dwarves were supposed to be excellent miners?"
"Excellence notwithstanding, when the message came from ol' Rummy that a fuckin' necromancer was about to drop by, I was expecting you to ask for something within reason!"
One of Baccharum's contacts--a Dwarven stonemason by the name of Rüt, was barking at Lieze regarding her request to make some renovations to the Kobold cave. He didn't attempt to manage the volume of his voice despite the two of them standing along the city's main thoroughfare in an open-air smithy.
"How much gold would it take?" She cut straight to the chase.
"It's not a matter of gold, lass!"
"-So you say. But I'm not about to take 'no' for an answer. Just how much work does a Dwarven stonemason get in Tonberg, anyway?"
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
"The priesthood despises nonhumans. I can imagine you've lost quite a few clients to the fact that very few people are willing to tolerate paying you."
"...Hah." The short, bearded man sighed, "Aye… I won't argue with you there. Wouldn't be workin' with Rummy if that weren't the case…"
"Then here's my offer to you." She began, "-If you can complete my request in one week, I'll pay double whatever it would normally cost."
"Double!?" Rüt screamed, "You haven't even asked me how much I wanted!"
"...Then, how much do you want?"
"200 gold pieces, at the minimum!" He answered, crossing his arms, "So that'll be 400 coins if you want us done in a week!"
"I could buy a house for that much money."
"Then why don't you?" He scoffed, "Oh, I know why--'cause you need somewhere private to conduct your awful bloody business. I could charge you 500, if that's what you want?"
"No." Lieze declined, reaching for her Bag of Holding, "400? I can pay that right now, provided you're willing to get to work right away."
"I can't promise the cave won't collapse if we're workin' that fast. And don't come to me expectin' a refund when I've already given you a fair warning."
"The only thing I expect from you is to be finished within the week, whether you're successful or not."
"Knew I should have never left home. Accepting money from a necromancer… what's the world coming to?"
It had been a day since Lieze's stint as a nun. The scale had granted her enough power for the girl to start focusing on the bigger picture--which is to say, how she planned on growing her undead army to a point where it was a force to be reckoned with. To that end, she set about future-proofing the Kobold cave to accommodate her ever-growing strength. Eventually, she would have to make the move to a more secure hideout--ideally one of the fallen Sovereign Cities, but there was still plenty she wanted to accomplish in Tonberg until then.
Alma continued to nest deep in her mind; the motherly nun who seemed more than content with her lot in life, and yet, according to the scale, dabbled in forbidden sorcery. She would be a fine ally if Lieze could figure out a way to confront her without raising suspicion.
When Rüt's payment was finally counted out, the man sighed heavily, "...Suppose we'd best get to work, then."
"I would appreciate that." Lieze replied, "And don't worry about the cavern's occupants. They won't attack you as long as you don't do anything to upset them."
"By the Gods…" Mumbling to himself, the old Dwarf wandered further into the smithy, "Should have asked for 500 after all…"
Fools incapable of considering the long term--Dwarves like Rüt were exactly the type of people Lieze loved the most. They cared little for the consequences of indirectly aiding the Order, focused entirely on their profits at the end of the day and maintaining the illusion that their wealth would somehow excuse them from the approaching conflict. She almost pitied Ricta, knowing that if his citizens simply worked together as a whole, the Order could be defeated in a matter of weeks.
The middling chatter of the streets sickened her. A city filled to bursting with royalist dogs hypnotised by the scent of freshly-baked bread and the allure of gold. The Golden Flagon disgusted her the most. Would-be heroes sacrificing themselves for glory without purpose or meaningful ambition. As she wandered through the doors, the receptionist greeted her with a smile once again.
"Miss Lieze." She welcomed, "I have to congratulate you again for slaying that Koorin. Knowing that Friedrick and his companions didn't go unavenged puts everyone's minds at ease."
"Well… I arrived in time to see just how fierce of a fight they were putting up." Lieze averted her eyes, "But I wasn't fast enough. In fact, if it wasn't for Friedrick leaping in front of me to take a blow, even I wouldn't have made it back alive."
"It's a shame their bodies couldn't be retrieved… but members know the risks when they step beyond the walls, especially with everything that's been happening recently." She lowered her head, "It seems you've been having some rather poor luck with your allies."
"There's no need to draw that much attention to it…" Lieze suppressed an annoyed frown, "That's true. I think I'll be questing solo from now on."
"I see. Just don't go forgetting that you have allies here at the tavern."
Her words weren't without weight. Ever since she had exploited Friedrick's party and passed it off as a failed, yet heroic attempt to save them from biting off more than they could chew, Lieze had received a number of requests to join established groups within the guild. Rumours had begun to spread about the cloaked, ashen-haired girl who was more capable than she appeared at first glance.
"I'm drawing too much attention… I suppose it was only a matter of time." She thought to herself, "If there's even a single royalist who recalled my face during the siege, it won't be long before I'm discovered… it might be time to pick up the pace a little."
Lieze thought it important to temper her expectations regarding her plans. There was only so much one necromancer could accomplish--which made seeking like-minded allies a tempting venture. After scanning the guild's request board for any future opportunities, she departed from the tavern and made her way through the busy streets towards the dilapidated church. The old priest was outside, and welcomed her with a warm smile.
"May the Dragon bless you on this fine day." He greeted, "May I help you?"
"Doesn't he recognise me? Is this old fool blind?" Lieze blinked, "Is Alma in today?"
"Sister Alma? Yes, she's preparing the nave for a sermon we'll be holding in just a few hours. Do you have some business with her?"
"...I'm sorry, but--don't you recognise me, Father? I was the nun who helped out the other day."
"Hm?" The priest's gaze tightened, "...Oh! Of course! I didn't recognise you without your habit! My sincerest apologies…"
"It's not a problem. May I see Alma?"
"Of course. You're always welcome in this church." He gestured for her to enter, "I suppose it must have been the hair… or maybe my old eyes really are starting to fail me…"
As the doddering old priest muttered to himself, Lieze welcomed herself into the building, noticing that some work had been done to make the hall seem a little less rundown than before. Her echoing footsteps quickly caught the attention of Alma, who was busying herself with dusting the floors, "...Oh, hello ther- er, I mean, may the Dragon's blessing be with you on this fine day."
"The priest said that to me as well. Is it some kind of new greeting?" Lieze asked.
"Hm?" Alma blinked, "...I-Is that you, Miss Lieze?"
"What- don't tell me you didn't recognise me, either?"
"Well, you were wearing a-"
"-A habit, yes. I know. Is my hair really that strange?"
"I've certainly never seen a girl with white hair before…" She admired, "Where are you from?"
"I'm not sure. My mother is a thousands-year-old corpse unearthed from an ancient crypt, so perhaps that had something to do with it?"
"Haha… that would be something, wouldn't it?" She laughed nervously, "Have you come by to help again? I would appreciate that."
"Actually, I wanted to speak to you."
"Me?" Alma smiled, wrapping both hands around her broom, "Well--I'm flattered. There are still a few hours left until the sermon later today, so what would you like to talk about?"
"Would you mind if I asked you a rather strange question?"
"That… depends on how strange it is, I suppose."
"What are your opinions on forbidden sorcery?"
"Forbidden… you mean, necromancy?" Her smile disappeared, "I wouldn't say they're at all different from the opinions of anyone else."
"What about resurrection spells?" Lieze pushed, "By definition, they belong to the school of necromancy, and the priesthood makes liberal use of them whenever a Dragon Cardinal falls in battle."
"Resurrection is one thing. But… most necromancers simply want to desecrate the bodies of the dead for their own purposes."
"What happens if someone in the city is accused of being a necromancer?"
"That's not a light accusation." Alma explained, "The city takes any reports of necromancy very seriously. If someone's found to be a necromancer, they're given the death penalty without a trial."
"They investigate the accused?"
"I believe so, yes."
"Then, if I accused you, what would happen?"
"Wha-"
Lieze didn't break eye contact with Alma as she spoke. From beneath her welcoming facade trickled an almost-undetectable fear.
"I don't have time to be breaking bread with would-be 'allies'." Lieze thought, "I already know this girl is a necromancer. There's no need for us to be friends--I simply have to threaten her into helping me."
"I-I don't understand…" Alma feigned, "Where is this coming from, all of a sudden?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Lieze tilted her head, "I'm just interested in hearing about the process. Do they search the home of the accused?"
"Perhaps? I wouldn't know, myself…"
"It would be a terrible shame if a priest raided your home and found the remains of a family member or a former friend wandering around in the cellar, wouldn't it?" She pushed, "You'd be walking towards the gallows in chains barely an hour later--nobody to save you or vouch for your innocence. Most would be ecstatic to see you hang."
"Miss Lieze…" Alma furrowed her brow in a poor attempt to seem intimidating, "What is the meaning of this…?"
"Is there something wrong?" She replied, "You're acting a little strange…"
Her innocent worry for the young lady juxtaposed against the venomous description of her future left Alma unsure of what to think. Lieze's eyes simultaneously appeared accusatory yet innocently unaware.
"I just… I didn't appreciate being the subject of your example, is all."
"It is the duty of acolytes like ourselves to report those we find suspicious, isn't it? Just look at how we handle the confessional…" She pointed out, "Even if it's not substantiated, I would feel more at ease working with someone if the priesthood could declare without exemption that you aren't… someone you don't claim to be."
"Come, now." Alma exhaled through her nose, "I don't think that's necessary…"
"Well, a little investigation can't hurt, can it? I'll just mention it to a guard whenever I-"
"No…" She interrupted meekly, as if uncertain of her next words, "Please don't do that."
"It's time. She's on the verge of breaking down." Lieze considered her next move carefully, "I have the absolute advantage here. There's very little she won't do to save her skin."
"Alma…" She began, "I know you practise necromancy."
"Stop! That's not…" She whimpered, "...Why are you doing this?"
"You aren't denying it?"
"-Because you already know!" She exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes, "But how!? How do you know!? What do you want from me!?"
"It's alright." Lieze soothed, "I just wanted you to be truthful with me. I know how to keep a secret… in fact, I think the two of us stand to benefit from helping one-another."
"I-I don't understand…" Alma's thoughts were a shambles. Lieze's accusations and forgivings had tossed her to-and-fro like a ragdoll, "You aren't going to turn me in?"
"Of course not. At least, not for as long as you do what I tell you to." She answered, "Don't worry--I'm not going to hurt you. You may even like the proposition I have in mind."
"That… sounds a little ominous…"
Quest 'Small Beginnings' Complete!
Reward - 400xp
Level Up!
You are now level [7]
HP+20 MP+20