I Read What?!

So last time, we had a reunion or two. Plus a cameo from one of Ed Greenwood's stable of magic demi-goddesses. Admittedly Alustriel is probably still less of a blatant Mary Sue type than Drizzt himself, so it works out.



So this time, we're actually in Calimport. It's a "simple wooden structure" at the end of "Rogues Circle", and all the windows are boarded and barred. There's nothing to identify the building, but everyone in the city knows what it is.

It's the Thieves' Guild of course. And it's as palatial on the inside as it is bland on the outside.

The questionably named Pasha Pook is the guildmaster. And he seems to have a taste for the grandiose. He even has a pet leopard! Swanky. We're told his clothes are the finest silk, but aside from a fastening brooch, he's not wearing any jewelry. He has solid gold teeth though, which seems impractical. He also has four hill giant eunuchs lining the hall, because of course he does.

So anyway, Pook is pacing back and forth until he's interrupted by a loud knock. He hesitates, solely to make the other person squirm a little. Or at least that's what he tells himself, he's actually composing himself. He lets the person in.

So this guy is interesting. He's a lanky fighter sort named Rassiter, and per the narrative, he's a wererat. He's got a rotten smile "that revealed his lowly heritage" and isn't fond of the leopard.

Anyway, Rassiter's reporting in about a job and it's a little interesting:

Pook's smile faded, but he was satisfied. "It is done?" he asked the man.

Rassiter danced a circle and nearly laughed out loud. "Of course," he answered, and he pulled a pearl necklace from his pouch.

Pook frowned at the sight, just the expression the sly fighter had expected. "Must you kill them all?" the guildmaster said in a hiss.

Rassiter shrugged and replaced the necklace. "You said you wanted her removed. She is removed."

Pook's hands clutched the arms of the throne. "I said I wanted her taken from the streets until the job was completed!"

"She knew too much," Rassiter replied, examining his fingernails.

"She was a valuable wench," Pook said, back in control now. Few men could anger Pasha Pook as did Rassiter, and fewer still would have left the chamber alive.

"One of a thousand," chuckled the lanky fighter.

I'm going to enjoy seeing this guy die. I hope Guen gets to eat him.

It is interesting though that Pook isn't the "kill everyone and laugh about it" sort. Maybe he can be reasoned with...probably not though.

They're interrupted by another fellow, this one wearing purple robes embroidered with stars and quartermoons, and has a turban with a diamond in it. Oh dear. Anyway, his name is LaValle and he's adamant that he must see Pook. Pook waves him off though, and the guy immediately leaves.

Rassiter is amused by this and invites Pook to a full moon feast.

Pook shuddered to think of the macabre table that Rassiter and his fellow wererats planned to set. Perhaps the wench was not yet dead ....

Ew.

But anyway, the gist I'm getting from the conversation is that Rassiter is a member of a different guild, but Pook brought them in under the thieves' guild umbrella. Rassiter and his fellows are prospering.

Pook's not entirely stupid though. When Rassiter leaves, he decides to summon the wizard back. He knows that LaValle wouldn't have interrupted if it was important.

This thing about the dead girl seems more significant than I thought. LaValle immediately asks if she's been killed, and Pook simply responds that he despises Lassiter. But they can't deny that Rassiter's wererats have given him a lot of power.

Pook also apparently has a harem, and the option of going to them to get over the trial of meeting Rassiter comes up more than once. This may be useful knowledge.

Anyway LaValle gets to dramatically give his message, and interestingly Pook puts up with the dramatics because he's the closest thing Pook has to a friend: Entreri is returning. WITH Regis and the pendant. Pook may not be as dependent on Rassiter anymore soon.

...it does occur to me that per Pook and LaValle's conversation, Entreri's been gone three years. The alliance with Rassiter is two years old. Entreri may not approve of this whole set up.

Pook has another trick in his sleeve too. Something called a "Taros Hoop" which is a relic capable of displacing its owner or his enemies through the planes of existence. It feeds on life force.

Anyway, Pasha Pook is delighted by this:

How he longed to see the treacherous halfling again! To have his plump hands around Regis's little neck! The guild had fallen on tough times after Regis had run off with the magical pendant. In truth, the problems had come mostly from Pook's own insecurity in dealing with people without the gem, so long had he been using it, and from the guildmaster's obsessive - and expensive - hunt to find the halfling. But to Pook, the blame fell squarely upon Regis. He even blamed the halfling for the alliance with the wererats' guild, for certainly he wouldn't have needed Rassiter if he had had his pendant.

Interestingly, LaValle has the same thought I do. He asks how Entreri will feel about their new friends. Pook notes that they're in the same business so Entreri should accept them.

"Rassiter disturbs everyone he meets," the wizard reminded him. "Suppose that he crosses Entreri?"

Pook laughed at the thought. "I can assure you that Rassiter will cross Artemis Entreri only once, my friend."

"And then you shall make arrangements with the new head of the wererats," LaValle snickered.

This is pretty amusing, but I don't think we need the last line. I don't think any of us think that this fellow is a match for Entreri.

So anyway, Pook goes off to his harem, and LaValle contemplates things. Entreri is his main rival. Since he's been gone, LaValle's moved up in the world. He's even staying in the room that used to be Entreri's. That said though, he and Entreri actually get along pretty well. They've even helped each other out regularly. (As examples: LaValle has shown Entreri quick routes to targets, and Entreri took out a competing wizard at a very convenient time.)

Pook pops his head in suddenly to make a strange order. He wants LaVelle to contact the carpenter's guild. LaValle is confused until Pook elaborates: Pook's not giving up his harem, treasury or chamber. And Entreri will want his room back, and will get it after his success. But LaValle won't be sent back to the lower levels. Instead, he'll get to design his OWN room!

I begin to see why Pook is an effective guildmaster after all. LaVelle is moved to tears and even more determined to track down Entreri and Regis for his reports.

The chapter ends here.