WAS: Sit next to the stranger
From Create Your Own Story
As you approach you see an elderly black skinned man, short, bald as a rock and clad in grey robes. He motions for you to sit down, and offers you a mouthpiece to his hookah.
“Beautiful, is she not?” he then asks with a toothless grin. “I have traveled far and wide in my lifetime, but the women of Uruveh will forever remain my favorites.”
“What do you want of me?” you demand flatly. There was a reason this man called you over, and until you know it you won’t waste any pleasantries.
“A quick one, is he?” he snickers maliciously. “I like that. It means your head isn’t in the clouds. I saw you enter just now, and immediately noticed you aren't from here. You walk with confidence and power, the like which cannot be found amongst this pack of scoundrels and rascals. Foreigners always come here looking to make money, and since you wandered into this slum I can only assume you aren’t picky with how that money is earned.”
“Get to the point, old man.” You interrupt him and take a puff on the hookah. Its smoke tastes of cinnamon and dry tobacco, and seems to make you calmer. You immediately put the mouthpiece away on the floor.
“Very well; I need you. Inside the palace of Ashurabi lies a jewel that men call the Python’s Fang. You are a foreigner, which I place more trust in than I would with my own nephews, and so I want you to break into the palace along with my servant and steal the gem for me. Do this and I will pay you eight barrels of silver.”
One could buy a palace of their own with such wealth, and then you could live out your days in luxury and comfort. Yet, there was something odd with the request. “Me being a foreigner cannot possibly be enough for you to hire me. What are you hiding?”.
The old man snickered again, though this time there was annoyance in his eyes. “A quick one indeed. Fine; you are new to the city, so obviously you haven’t heard of Ashurabis palace before. Uruveh is home to more bold thieves than anywhere else in this world, but even they shy away from the palace, and with good reason. Thanks to the sorcerer Nubi-dagan, Ashurabis advisor, there are few guards in the royal household; that is, no human guards. But whatever enchantments and beasts that demon of a mage has called forth surely roam the corridors and dungeons guarding the jewel, and they make even the bravest warrior shy away in fear.”
“Then I want thrice the payment you offered,” You reply “as well as weapons and equipment for the heist.”
The bald elder’s eyes widen in amazement, and he stumbles on his words: “C-certainly! Of course! Anything need!-… But don’t you fear the rumors?”
“I fear only that which I can see and touch. Let fools worry about myths and legends, if the beasts do exist then they will die by my hand like the rest of the vermin that have crossed my path.”
“I was right to choose you, stranger.” He grins, placing a handful of coins on the floor in front of you. “This should be enough to purchase a room for the night. Meet me here tomorrow evening, after the sun has gone down. We will go over our break-in then.”
