The Guild Master
BY Alexander Robinson
Our story starts on the rough streets of Deepholem, where a young man of 17 was making his way much better than most. Seth is a gifted psyonisist, one who can create and command kinetic energy (he would say quite proficiently), using a technique known as telekinesis. He was gifted from birth with all the other powers of a psyonisist. The art of mindreading came easy to him. He had acquired a house and a fair bit of money by using his illusions to con people.
This particular night started like any other, taking money from the drunks in the room at the local bar - The Filled Scabard. Seth did not view his job as evil, but “those who are stupid enough to be tricked” deserve to lose their money. After a long night with little profit he decided to pack it in for the night. The streets of Deepholem were dimly lit with flickering light post. Around the shadows the revealing light danced as it was their bane. For some reason, the ominous streets were making Seth very uncomfortable. Every step made a clack on the street that was deafening in the dead silence of the night. With his heart racing from walking faster he looked cautiously up and down every alley. After about a minute, he saw two eyes on a shadowy form (that seemed unsubstantial). Responding to this Seth sent a bolt of kinetic energy to the point where the eyes were. By making himself invisible with one of his illusions it gave him time to run into a nearby bar. The bar was dimly lit with three men playing cards in the back. Quickly, he walked to a table in the back across from the card players. No-one paid any attention to him. After 15 minutes Seth had calmed down and told himself that his mind was playing tricks on him. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise. A man walked in, his eyes darting about, seemingly surveying everything around him. The man walked past his table, then over to the card playing men, sat down and began playing. After another tense minute, Seth stood up and saw a medium sized box on the ground. Never one to miss an opportunity he quickly snatched it up and tried to open it. It was locked. Using his telekinesis it opened within minutes. Inside was a small gem that he pocketed leaving the bar and the empty box behind. Seth walked home quickly, sending at least ten images of himself as red herrings. When he got home he flopped down on his bed and fell into a nightmare ridden sleep.
Later that same night, the same man that Seth had seen in the bar, walked into a room. Inside there was a man sitting at a desk, whose name was better known than any in other in Deepholem; however , a name most rarely spoken - Dustin Drake, the leader of a huge thieves guild know as the “Drake’s Fangs”.
“Sooo, what news of Seth do have Valkenheim?” Drake said with fained disinterest.
“He sent out some fairly strong telekinesis to unlock the box you gave me with ease and he was able to elude me with frustrating illusions”, Valkenheim replied obediently.
Drake snapped. “It is the item inside that is used to measure the power of those who possess it. If it is bright blue with silver, recruit him. Otherwise, he is to be removed”, Drake stated drawing out the last word wickedly.
“As you wish sir. I will return tomorrow with Seth, dead or alive”.
After a few days of lying low at his house, Seth decided to run his cup and ball table at The Filled Scabard. The bar was bustling with activity as he set up and started his game. Three hours later, with full pockets weighed down with money, he left. The event from a few days ago was forgotten. That is until he was away from the happy sights and sounds from the bar were no longer audible. All of a sudden he felt a strong presence. Turning around he saw Valkenheim only a few feet away from him.
“Hello, I believe you have something of mine. It is a small gem that you found in a locked box that I had dropped a few days ago”, Valkenheim stated with a chilled calm not even making eye contact with Seth.
