>>5189197>>5189084>>5188810As you approach Roth’s door, hesitant even to knock, you’ve been putting this off for a while. The Dragonblooded Reptilian, masquerading as a blacksmith for decades now at this forge, is your man point of contact. He ahs been ally, brother-in-arms, almost a mentor to you… A lover to you on at least one occasion. One thing he has never failed to be, however, is your harshest critic. You do not relish what si to come.
‘We could just, ya’ know… Not tell him any a’ the bad stuff?’ irinnile suggest.
It would hamper his ability to deliver you useful counsel to do so, though. You gulp, steeling yourself, and rap upon the portal. As always, it takes the old Dragonblooded One time to open his many, many locks and latches. Normally you’d mock such paranoia but, well… he Has been kidnapped twice in the last month or so.
“Yes, how can I—” Roth asks he opens the door, looking almost chipper… Only for his voice and expression to drop as he looks down and sees you. “Oh.”
“Yesss,” you sa with a smile. “That ‘oh’.”
“Well, don’t’ just stand there,” he huff, “come in.”
To your surprise, Roth actually begins to pour you a drink as soon as you are inside—a gesture he has never, EVR even hinted at. You didn’t even realize he had alcohol on the premises! As he hands you a tumbler, you sniff it, and find it… Surpsisingly mild, fruity, and floral.
“Our kind handle alcohol more poorly tan these grain-muching surface savages,” he notes.
‘Aw shit, is THAt what it is?’ Irinnile muses. ‘I just thought you were a lightweight!’
“Why are you offering me this kindnessss?” you ask.
Roth huffs, looking away and sipping his own drink. “I heard what happened at the Gala. You’ve not returned since. No golems have descended upon us, nor Paladins nor Inquisitors.”
He looks at you with… Almost, ALMOST respect.
“You succeeded,” he says, in your True Speech. “Excellent work, Infiltrator.”
Irinnile laughs aloud the sound rattling around your brain. ‘That ain’t the half of it!”
