Underdark- Black Web Region

Kingdom of Zeren'gor Territory- City of Nythi Thalas

District of Pleasure- Last Chance

Three days had passed, and Aaron was nearing exhaustion before he had finally made it back to the city. All the Barons had been dealt with though and any support Jonas had depended on from them had been removed. The information he had found though had proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jonas needed to be replaced. "You look like shit!!" Thiera commented as she entered the room.

Aaron gave her a tired smile, "Don't hold back, tell me how you really feel." Aaron smirked at her causing her to frown.

"Now children, behave while in my home. If you wish to spill blood, leave." Mistress Jocylon admonished them.

"I am sorry mother...' Aaron responded with a winning smile causing the owner of the Last Chance to laugh before shaking her finger at him while patting her whip. 'All the Barons have been accounted for and Jonas cannot count on them to support him or his plans. Quincy is now one of my Barons and will be coming to Nythi Thalas in the next day or so. He will bring another dozen fighters and two or three Mages as well." Aaron told them causing Thiera to smile for the first time.

"Good, how many of your Thieves will be ready?" the Priestess asked and Aaron grimaced. Locals could join the Thieves Guild at level ten, Immortals twenty, but he only had about two dozen he would trust to bring to a fight. Most of them were in the mid-twenties now even with running multiple Dungeons. Aaron himself had managed to crawl up too level thirty-three over the last couple of days.

"Not as many as I had hoped, but hopefully enough to make a difference. After I get some rest, as our learned colleague has pointed out I need, I plan on overseeing some combat training. Now, what has happened since I left?" Aaron replied quickly.

Mistress Jocylon smiled, "Jonas is very paranoid at best and your antics have caused him to go to ground. He is sure you are behind everything, but he has no proof. So he relocated to the Undercity to the section he had his people seal off. I have no idea how many he has with him, but all his inner circle is there with him. He left orders for you to be killed on sight if you go to the Peach Pit, so I would avoid it for now." Mistress Jocylon informed him.

Aaron grunted in acknowledgment, "Do you think whoever is there will actually follow those orders? I know Willy won't." Aaron told her.

"Ar you really willing to risk death so close to completion of our plans?" Thiera asked.

Aaron stared at her, "The Thieves Guild and anything associated with it is my problem. I will deal with it as I see fit.' Aaron told the Priestess who looked on the verge of blowing up. 'However, you are correct. I will not deal with the Peach Pit, or any hold outs there, now. It can wait for a later date after everything has been settled with Jonas." Aaron told her causing the Priestess to grumble under her breath about males and idiots.

Aaron chuckled as he stood, "Ladies unless there is anything else, I plan on seeking my bed." Aaron told them and Mistress Jocylon dismissed him before Thiera could say anything else.

Twelve long, hard-earned, hours of sleep later Aaron woke to another male Drow in his room staring at him with a smirk. He didn't recognize him, but if he wanted to harm him, he would have done it in his sleep. "Well, hello there," Aaron told him earning a smirk.

"Lolth did tell me you were arrogant and impertinent, you would call it being a smart ass I believe." the Drow responded earning a smile from Aaron as he rolled out of bed and started checking all his gear.

"Very true, so who are you. I assume you are a part of the Drow Pantheon considering you mentioned Lolth. What do you want?" Aaron replied back before plucking a fruit from a nearby table and started carving it up. He tossed a piece to the other Drow who caught it and smelled it before taking a bite.

"I want to help you out. Jonas killed someone I favored and invested in and I want to assure his downfall." the Drow responded and Aaron snorted.

"With Gods, it is never that simple. With the Drow Pantheon, that rule applies even more so. So want to try again?" Aaron replied and the Drow laughed.

"I am serious Aaron Sumner. You have the potential to go very far, even without my assistance. You found the Treads of the Ghost without any assistance from me, I can help you find the other pieces of the set and help find his stash. With that, you could become King." the Drow responded and Aaron chuckled.

Aaron sat down and faced the Drow, "That position is rumor only, even if it existed, the Prince's and Princesses would not follow me. As far as Jonas goes, I can deal with him and the Chaos Priests on my own without your assistance." Aaron told the God.

"Those Priests and what Jonas has done are mere symptoms of what is coming. It's going to be far worse before we have a chance for it to get any better Aaron. With my help, you can help the Guild prepare for what is to come. You are going to be doing what I want anyway, so you might as well receive some perks." the Drow responded and Aaron frowned.

"Why are you really doing this Vhaeraun? I am not evil, nor will I become evil." Aaron retorted and Vhaeraun laughed.

"You are a Thief, you steal from others to enrich yourself. That is considered evil. I want to help you because Jonas and his allies killed Jerimiah. Someone I considered both as a friend and someone I had invested in as an agent on the Mortal Plane. He should not have died, but he did. Now, will you accept my Blessing or not?" Vhaeraun asked and Aaron considered it. Any Blessing of any God was permanent until they removed it.

"What would you expect in return for your Favor?" Aaron asked as he sat back to start negotiating with the God.

Vhaeraun smiled but it did not placate Aarons worries at all, "Keep doing what you are doing. Once in a while, I will send a Quest your way. More than likely it will help you and not hinder you." The God responded and Aaron snorted.

"I decide if I take the Quests and you won't cause any problems if I decide not to accept the Quests. No repercussions by your actions or anyone you can command, blackmail, call in favors for, etc..." Aaron hedged and the smile grew.

"Of course not, your words are beginning to hurt my feelings, Aaron.' Vhaeraun replied but then he made an odd gesture and a cape appeared in the bed next to Aaron. 'Go ahead and look at it and pull up its information. Consider it an incentive to accepting my proposal." Aaron frowned, the cape was made of similar materials as his boots.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Cape of the Ghost (Unique Set 1 of 5)

Quality: Ancient Artifact (Scalable)

Armor Type: Light/Cape

Armor Rating: +20

Properties: Increase Dexterity and Agility by (Level X.3)

Properties: Decrease Falling Damage by 50%

Properties: Increase Elemental* Resistance by 10%

Properties: Increase Dodge Chance by 10%

Properties: Increase Fame gains by 10%

Secondary Properties: Increase Physical/Magical/Poison Resistance by 5% per Set piece worn

Secondary Properties: +15% Decreased Chance of being Seen/Heard while Stealth is active (Requires 2 Pieces)

Secondary Properties: All Skill costs are Reduced by 25% (Requires 3 Pieces)

Secondary Properties: Increase the Chance that Pick Pocket/Lock Picking/Disarm Trap will Succeed by 10% (Requires 4 Pieces)

Secondary Properties: Increase Luck sub-Stat by 10 (Requires 5 Pieces)

Soulbound: ---

Requirement: Thief, Level 20, Dexterity and Agility 30

Durability: 500/500

Description: The Ghost was one of the most prolific Thieves in the history of Ithea, he stole from the Dwarves, Humans, Elves, Orcs, Drow, and some say even Dragons. He didn't care about the worth of the item, but the uniqueness of the item and the challenge in taking it.

Note* Elemental= Fire, Earth, Water/Ice, Air/Lightning

Note* The Ghost Set consists of the Cowl of the Ghost, Cape of the Ghost, Wristguards of the Ghost, Gloves of the Ghost, and Treads of the Ghost

"Consider that as a gift and little bit of what we could do working together.' Vhaeraun added after Aaron sat back after reading the stats. 'We both know in a straight fight, you can and will kill Jonas, but this isn't going to be a straight fight in a back alleyway. This is going to be an all-out grudge match and those Chaos Priests are going to fight at his side. They invested in him and his control of the Thieves Guild here. You need a counterweight to balance everything out. Do the smart thing, Aaron." Vhaeraun told him and Aaron nodded his head in agreement.

"Don't treat me like a servent and don't expect me to jump when you snap your fingers. Deal with me in good faith and I won't betray you. Agreed?" Aaron asked the God who smiled and nodded.

Alert...

You have received...

Vhaeraun's Favor

You have gained...

Infamy +100

Fame +100

Alert...

Note* You can only have one Favor at a time. Only the God giving it can remove it. See your Character Sheet for more information about the Favor you have gained.

"Good, now that that's out of the way. Make sure you kill that bastard, I liked Jerimiah he was a good man and deserved a better death than the one he got. I would say good luck, but I already helped you with that. Until we see each other again." Vhaeraun winked and disappeared. Aaron sighed and hoped he had made the right choice, then he brought up the information of Vhaeraun's Favor and nearly choked on his drink as he read.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Vhaeraun's Favor

Description: I Vhaeraun, the God of Male Drow, Thieves, and Evil (Due to being a Thief or Male in a Female dominated society, I don't know) give my Favor too Aaron Sumner. This boon shall help you in bringing Jonas Ele'tharamas and those like him that have betrayed the Thieves Guild, to justice and on your journey as a Thief. Remember the lessons Jerimiah taught you and we will get along fine.

Benefit 1: Increase the Rate that Pick Pocket/Lock Picking/Trap Detection/Trap Disarm Skill will grow

Benefit 2: Increase Perception and Charisma sub-Stats by +10

Benefit 3: Increase Luck sub-Stat by +20

Someone knocked on the door then came in as Aaron stood and conjured a dagger. Mistress Jocylon smirked at him, "Jumpy are we?" Aaron snorted and dismissed the dagger as he picked up his new cape and added it to the wardrobe before pulling out a coin purse and putting ten gold into it before tossing it to Jocylon.

"Keep that for me. Its a bet against myself that I just made an agreement that will someday come back to bite me in the ass. Hopefully, I never come to collect it. Feel like breakfast?" Aaron told her, causing her to raise an inquisitive eyebrow at the remark but didn't say anything.