The Thief of Alvera
You pocket the jewel and take a deep, very deep breath to calm yourself down. You then consider your options, you could either keep the jewel and spend the night on the streets as usual, but the streets are not their usual self this confounded night. So you decide to go with your best option and try to remember the route to Andon's home from where you stand. After a few minutes of thinking, you decide upon the best route and make your way to the familiar building through the winding lanes and by-lanes of the Eastern district slums.
Alvera was located on the eastern coast of Galatia and was of critical economical importance. The city was built around a big lagoon which opened into the sea and thereby provided an ideal spot to house the bulk of the Royal Navy. The dockyards were located in the eastern distrcit of Alvera and was expected the land value of the region crashed to absurd levels and the area soon developed into a slum.
Andon's house borders the eastern district and the northern district.
You walk cauiously towards your destination and soon find yourself in homely territory. You turn a corner and see Andon's house - a squat two-storeyed house with a thatched roof and uncovered brickwalls. It resembled a rundown warehouse more than it resembled a house. You knock at the wooden gate and few moments later, the small slit on the door opens and you see alert eyes peer through.
"Reon, is this you", the man asked in a coarse whisper.
"Yes, its me Andon, open the door", you reply.
The man hastens to unbolt the door and ushers you in quickly.
Andon's house had a 3 floor basement. The ground floor and the first level of the basement functioned as a brothel. Andon's personal quarters are in the first floor. The second level of the basement and the third level are hiding places for the thieves and also doubled as storage for their loot.
Andon is a fat man with a balding head and golden teeth. Wrinkles adorn his face now, a sign of advancing age and his finery and ornaments appear to be almost too heavy for him. He walks with a slight bend and his garish purple silk cloak hangs loosely upon his drooping shoulders as if it would fall off any moment.
"You want to hide till the trail cools off again?", he asks you with a sly smile.
You notice that the ground floor is now empty and all the gaudy furniture of the brothel have been replaced by homely chairs and tables. Apparently, there was a raid since the last time you visited.
"I do need shelter. But I also need to talk to you in private. Immediately.", you say, desperation welling up in you. Even Andon's home didn't feel any safer to you now, than the streets did earlier. You're still haunted by the same fear.
He recognises the note of urgency in your voice and nods,"Come with me to the first floor. No one can hear us there".
You follow him to the backroom and climb up the stairs to his private rooms. The stairs lead to a carpeted room adorned with chairs and soft cushions and a divan in a corner. Andon sits down on the divan and you follow suit.
"Now tell me what distresses you so my dear boy", he says to you.
You narrate the whole story, not leaving out even the tiniest of details.
Andon's face assumes a worried expression once you finish your narration. "Show me the jewel", he says.
You promptly take it out of your pocket and hand it to him. He glances at it, the jewel seems to arouse his curiosity too. The most unusual characteristic of the jewel is it's dull glow. You notice that it's glow has gone up a notch or two in intensity since you saw it first but then you assume it may have seemd dull to you because you didn't have a clear view of it.
"I think you should just sell it. Make good money and get rid of it at the same time.", he suggests.
While the prospect seems attractive, your sense of responsibility makes you consider it a violation of the trust the man placed in you. It was his last wish and you are hesitant to just shrug it off.
(Now it is upto you readers to decide the course of action)
Alvera was located on the eastern coast of Galatia and was of critical economical importance. The city was built around a big lagoon which opened into the sea and thereby provided an ideal spot to house the bulk of the Royal Navy. The dockyards were located in the eastern distrcit of Alvera and was expected the land value of the region crashed to absurd levels and the area soon developed into a slum.
Andon's house borders the eastern district and the northern district.
You walk cauiously towards your destination and soon find yourself in homely territory. You turn a corner and see Andon's house - a squat two-storeyed house with a thatched roof and uncovered brickwalls. It resembled a rundown warehouse more than it resembled a house. You knock at the wooden gate and few moments later, the small slit on the door opens and you see alert eyes peer through.
"Reon, is this you", the man asked in a coarse whisper.
"Yes, its me Andon, open the door", you reply.
The man hastens to unbolt the door and ushers you in quickly.
Andon's house had a 3 floor basement. The ground floor and the first level of the basement functioned as a brothel. Andon's personal quarters are in the first floor. The second level of the basement and the third level are hiding places for the thieves and also doubled as storage for their loot.
Andon is a fat man with a balding head and golden teeth. Wrinkles adorn his face now, a sign of advancing age and his finery and ornaments appear to be almost too heavy for him. He walks with a slight bend and his garish purple silk cloak hangs loosely upon his drooping shoulders as if it would fall off any moment.
"You want to hide till the trail cools off again?", he asks you with a sly smile.
You notice that the ground floor is now empty and all the gaudy furniture of the brothel have been replaced by homely chairs and tables. Apparently, there was a raid since the last time you visited.
"I do need shelter. But I also need to talk to you in private. Immediately.", you say, desperation welling up in you. Even Andon's home didn't feel any safer to you now, than the streets did earlier. You're still haunted by the same fear.
He recognises the note of urgency in your voice and nods,"Come with me to the first floor. No one can hear us there".
You follow him to the backroom and climb up the stairs to his private rooms. The stairs lead to a carpeted room adorned with chairs and soft cushions and a divan in a corner. Andon sits down on the divan and you follow suit.
"Now tell me what distresses you so my dear boy", he says to you.
You narrate the whole story, not leaving out even the tiniest of details.
Andon's face assumes a worried expression once you finish your narration. "Show me the jewel", he says.
You promptly take it out of your pocket and hand it to him. He glances at it, the jewel seems to arouse his curiosity too. The most unusual characteristic of the jewel is it's dull glow. You notice that it's glow has gone up a notch or two in intensity since you saw it first but then you assume it may have seemd dull to you because you didn't have a clear view of it.
"I think you should just sell it. Make good money and get rid of it at the same time.", he suggests.
While the prospect seems attractive, your sense of responsibility makes you consider it a violation of the trust the man placed in you. It was his last wish and you are hesitant to just shrug it off.
(Now it is upto you readers to decide the course of action)