The market closes beneath sagging awnings and wavering torchlight. Comaetho finds the silk-route merchant beside his bales, one hand pressed protectively over the packet beneath his belt.
The Silk-Route Merchant
You returned. Good. I have seen the same watcher near three stalls, always silent, always looking toward me.
Across the lane, a lean young adult man in a dark brown cloak stands beside a shuttered pottery stall. His narrow face is clean-shaven, and a pale scar cuts through one eyebrow.
The Silk-Route Merchant
I will not name the packet’s purpose. I know only that danger has followed it into Rome, and perhaps followed me instead.
The Silk-Route Merchant
Remain nearby while I complete an ordinary sale. If he watches me, I will know. If he watches the goods, you will know.
The merchant turns toward a neighboring stall where a matron counts bronze coins for folded silk. The scarred watcher, a human young adult man with short black hair and a dark tunic beneath his cloak, does not move, but his eyes shift from the merchant to Comaetho.
The Silk-Route Merchant
Please. Let the sale look ordinary. Then we may learn which of us carries the danger.
✓ Quest Accepted
Prevent the merchant's arrest
“"It is awfully bold of you to provide me with orders, merchant. Do not soon forget you are indebted to me for keeping you breathing." Delivered calm, and quiet, but intentionally audible enough for the scarred watcher behind me to hear. I remain beside the merchant as he requested however, and whisper into his ear. "If there is to be danger lurking, you will face it on your lonesome. I shall not save you from death twice."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intimidation, rolled +1)
Comaetho
It is awfully bold of you to provide me with orders, merchant. Do not forget that you are indebted to me for keeping you breathing.
The words remain quiet, yet carry cleanly across the lane. The silk-route merchant stiffens beside his bales, while the scarred watcher’s attention fixes fully upon Comaetho.
Comaetho
If there is danger lurking, you will face it on your lonesome. I shall not save you from death twice.
The Silk-Route Merchant
Yes, lord. I understand. I will make the sale, and I will not presume upon your protection.
The silk-route merchant turns back to the matron, a middle-aged woman with a sturdy build, warm brown skin, dark hair bound in a wrapped braid, and a russet shawl over a cream dress and forces his hands steady over the folded silk. His voice resumes its ordinary bargaining tone, but sweat gathers beneath his collar.
The Scarred Watcher
A generous warning for a man who claims no part in the matter.
The scarred watcher leaves the pottery stall at last, advancing only far enough to stand beneath the next awning. His scarred brow remains raised, and his gaze measures Comaetho rather than the goods.
“A pause. Then I turn slowly toward the scarred watcher's direction, and approach beneath the awning without warning. "You are the observer in question." Spoken plainly, but slow. "Do you watch for your own purpose, or someone else's?"”
SUCCESS (Superb Oratory, rolled -1)
Comaetho turns slowly toward the scarred watcher and crosses beneath the awning. The market’s noise thins around his towering black silhouette, while the scarred watcher holds his ground.
Comaetho
You are the observer in question. Do you watch for your own purpose, or someone else's?
The Scarred Watcher
Someone else's. I was told to find the merchant, confirm the packet entered Rome, and mark who guarded him.
The scarred watcher’s raised brow lowers. He glances once toward the merchant’s bargaining hands, then returns his attention to Comaetho, measuring the danger in plain sight.
The Scarred Watcher
No name was given to me. Payment came through a freedman near the Forum, as such payments often do. I was promised more for certainty.
The Scarred Watcher
Now I have certainty. The merchant is watched by a man who does not pretend to be ordinary. I will report that, and withdraw.
He steps back beneath the pottery stall’s shadow, abandoning his position without haste. The merchant continues his sale, unaware that the scarred watcher’s purpose has been plainly exposed.
“My eyes follow the scarred watcher's every movement with an unsettling focus behind my statuesque stillness. A small smirk appears on my lips. "A wise decision. Efficiency delivered in truth." Another pause. "Might you return, I look forward to it."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intimidation, rolled +0)
Comaetho’s eyes follow every retreating movement with unsettling precision. Behind his statuesque stillness, the market’s torchlight catches a small, deliberate smirk upon his lips.
Comaetho
A wise decision. Efficiency delivered in truth. Might you return? I look forward to it.
The scarred watcher stops beneath the awning. Comaetho’s quiet promise settles over him more heavily than a shouted threat, and the color drains subtly from his face.
The Scarred Watcher
I expect you will. I have no wish to test whether that welcome is meant for me.
He lowers his gaze first, then turns away from the pottery stall and threads through the closing market without another glance. His withdrawal is swift, careful, and final.
The Silk-Route Merchant
Lord, was he truly only an observer? He looked ready to flee Rome itself.
At the neighboring stall, the matron accepts the merchant’s coins and gathers the folded silk. The sale concludes ordinarily, though the merchant’s attention remains fixed upon the vanished watcher.
“"You need not concern yourself with that information. Know only his visit has concluded with a different purpose than he arrived with." I do not look at the merchant while I answer. Then I turn around; but before continuing into the street and away: "This is our final encounter, merchant. Do not seek to find me again. If you choose to do so, your consequence will be swift and soundless."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intimidation, rolled -2)
Comaetho
You need not concern yourself with that information. Know only his visit has concluded with a different purpose than he arrived with.
Comaetho does not look at the merchant. He turns from the stall and moves toward the street, his black toga passing through torchlight like a closing shadow.
Comaetho
This is our final encounter, merchant. Do not seek to find me again. If you choose to do so, your consequence will be swift and soundless.
The merchant’s sale is complete, but the matron now watches Comaetho instead of the silk. His warning has secured obedience, while making his presence a story the market will repeat.
The Silk-Route Merchant
No, lord. I will not seek you. I will not speak your name, either, unless silence becomes more dangerous.
The merchant gathers his remaining bales with hurried hands. He keeps the packet beneath his robe and retreats toward the inner market, carrying fear, obedience, and a new suspicion of the stranger who protected him.
Quest Complete
Prevent the merchant's arrest
Skill Upgrade: Oratory Superb→Legendary