In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
A shady looking man is needing some help with a little diversion. He is wanting to rob a local business of their money. The catch is that he is wanting the owner out of the store. So, a diversion is needed to get the many out of the building. Do your best to get the man out!
[attr="class","shadowsSub"]Details
Maximum Number of Players: 2 [break]Minimum Word Count: 1,500 [break]Location: Rogues refuge [break]Special Requirements: If you are wanting to kill the man, you must get the man out of sight. Though, your main priority is to get the man out of the store.
[attr="class","shadowsSub"]NPC Information
What NPCs are in this mission? Please fill out the template for any notable NPCs. While those you have to socially interact with during the mission are not required any enemy that is presented in the mission must be listed in here. [break][break] Name of NPC: Store Owner
[break] [break]Health Limit: Intermediate [break]Physical Speed: 5 m/s [break]Physical Damage: 1/2 Junior [break]Magic Element and Types: Steel | Attack Creation [break]Combat Style: A man who utilizes is Magic to create swords to defend himself [break]Additional Information: He is an old man whos been around the block or two. Do not take his old age lightly. Old dogs can still teach new dogs tricks.
"So, you wish us to use a bit of misdirection to waylay the proprietor of this establishment in hopes of securing some favorable items? This is the mission for which you are hiring experts such as we?"
Amelie looked at the man straight on in the eyes. He was a rough and tumble sort. Gold toothed grin, scraggly 5'oclock shadow, and a mess of greasy black hair thrown under a cap.
"Aye. Aye no idea what you just said, but just keep 'em occupied runt! That or kill 'im! Don't care much either way to be true."
Scowling with a small pout, Amelie spoke under her breath.
"That's exactly what I just said... idiot..."
Turning to Beatrice, Amelie kept her voice low.
“Follow him and make sure he completes the job. Regardless of what he says, we need our share of the cut for our war chest and we can’t have this… moron… getting himself apprehended and ruining the entire scheme! I’ll distract the owner using a bit of magic, which of course will be effortlessly flawless, but whatever the case, we must succeed! This is the first step in bringing down all of Clover!”
Having said her piece, Amelie returned her attention to the accomplice.
“Very well, I’ll have the two of you get into position. Wait for mark. The term will be, “the law extends throughout the kingdom”. Once I say those words begin the opertation. If you do not mind, gentle accomplice, I believe that we should leave the naming to me. Yes, I think that would be quite appropriate… now lets’ see.”
The thief that had hired Amelie was beginning to look a bit angry and very annoyed.
“Yes, Operation Dupe Dupe seems well enough. Very well, into position Beatrice and Accomplice! Signal me when ready I shall change costumes and begin the pehr-foh-mounce! Now go.”
Amelie shooed the accomplice and Beatrice away so they could get into position.
Leaning in close, Ms. Beatrice, Ninja Supreme loudly whispered back to the master she was currently supporting with multiple part-time jobs.
"As you command Lady A- uhm- Engima, yes!"
Beatrice, the cheery ninja, gave her mistress a peppy salute. Pointer and middle fingers extended, she tapped her heart. She then leaned in even closer and whispered over the back of her hand.
"And let me just say that I am very happy to see you out in the fresh air and moving! I had become worried that you had become a muttering shut in, but this is very encouraging yes! For the glory of Phantasma Brigade...!"
Scruffy Dougless or whatever his name was could only raise an eyebrow as Beatrice trotted next to his side like a puppy.
"Uh ms, that's real nice of ya and all but you'll only slow me---"
"I will not." The ninja smiles her best service industry smile.
"Er--"
"I will not."
"Right... well let's get to it then." It was around then that Scruffy Dougless remembered the family he walked out on----and almost regretted it. Shoulda went straight yesterday, he thought, now trapped in a job with these two young women. But it was too late to call it off, he needed the money. He had a tab.
And so, Scruffy sauntered off into position with young Beatrice in tow. They were hiding in an ally behind some crates when Beatrice began to strip.
"Wha- the hell you doing girlie?"
"Hm? I always keep my infiltration gear under my civilian attire, is that not how it is done?"
"Spirit king help me..."
"Unnecessary. Lady Engima is a master of strategy, our victory is already assured."
Completely missing the point, Beatrice packed her waitress uniform in her backpack. It was a well made garment, very breezy, and easy to move around in. Beatrice admired the lack of resistance the thin cloth gave her as she performed her job. Of course Beatrice had completely missed the point on why such an outfit would have such attributes in the first place.
"You seem ready Mr. Employer, I shall now perform the signal."
Holding her hands at an in front of the sunlight, Beatrice made a shadow puppet and used its mouth to send Amelie a morse code message:
Good, Beatrice and the fool are in place. I suppose now, I shall begin my grand performance!
Hiding behind a building out of sight of anyone on the street, Amelie began to cast her spell.
"Prisma Magic, Liar's Charade: Magic Knight!"
All around Amelie panes of different colored class, like painted mirrors arose reflecting not the small girl's own visage but that of another, a stoutly but low-ranking member of the Crimson Lions. Suddenly the panes would shatter into nothingness leaving only the man where the girl had once stood.
"Not bad... not bad... of course, I'm not sure how wise it is to take on the guise of a Magic Knight and town filled with rogues..."
Amelie's voice had been gruff and rugged matching her new exterior. Reaching down, Amelie threw a a large dilapidated sheet around herself and fastened it at the neck so it looked like a cloak.
"That should work, now then, let's begin..."
Being sure to keep her face hidden, Amelie walked across the street calmly, then walked towards the door, and entered. The store was about as well kept as anything else a town of vagrants. The clean but worn shop carried a variety of weapons. Long swords, battle axes, and polearms lined the walls while a plethora of daggers, sharpening oils, and other tools of a thief's trade were well stocked on shelves.
"Hmmm... quite the selection..."
"Didn't hear ya' come in. You buying or selling? If neither get out. There's no loitering in my store, and if ya have any disagreements..."
The store's owner pulled out a large knife, placed it on the counter top, and scowled.
"Now, now, now, my good man. There's no reason for the theatrics..."
Amelie approached the man's counter confidently.
"You see, there's only one reason I'm here... and that's for you."
Throwing off her cloak, in the man's face to distract him quickly, Amelie grabbed the knife holding it to her side. As the man tore the makeshift cloak from his face, his eyes widened then he spat.
"A fool of a magic knight if I ever saw one! Your justice doesn't reach this far outside your precious castles and manors, swine!"
For a moment it looked like the man was about to lunge at Amelie but she held up the knife she had taken from the man almost playfully. With a grin, she pointed the knife at the man.
"I'm sure you know that the Crimson Lions are not the type to play games... and for that matter..."
Amelie held out a finger. She didn't have any spells that could mimic the look of fire, but she could fake it a little if she tried. Holding up a finger, Amelie created a tiny flame, smaller than her finger, made of sparkling shards of orange, blue, and yellow glass. She held it out to the owner while still holding the knife.
"Beautiful isn't it? Fire magic but with a glass oddity? Surely you know of the Crimson Lion's talent for burning things away..."
Amelie let out a chuckle.
"Now then, this is what will happen. First, you a hereby under arrest for selling arms and armaments to some of the most heinous criminals the Kingdom of Clover has ever seen."
Then owner started to speak up, but Amelie cut in.
"No, no, no, this isn't the part where you talk. You'll only be doing the listening now... unless you want me to plunge this knife into your gut then burn away the rest of you into ash?"
Then man quieted.
"Good, we understand each other. Now before you go and get any smart ideas... I'm not the only magic knight here to take you down today. You see we figured you would have some tricks up your sleeves, so we decided to use some of our own tricks. There are three member of the Azure Deer surrounding this place. I'm sure you know them right? Quite good at masking themselves, and when necessary... assassination. One wrong move and you'll be a pincushion."
The owner's eyes went wide. Sweat began to bead down his face.
"Excellent. You really do catch on quickly, you know that? Well then, if you want to keep your life this is what I suggest you do. First, you'll lie on the floor with your hands behind your back. I'll grab my cloak and put it back on. Can't be wearing my mantle in a town filled with rogues you know? After that, we're going to take a little walk out the back of the store and into the trees. There I'm going to ask you a few questions. If you're good, I'll let you go. If not, well..."
Amelie acted as if she was testing the blades sharpness.
"We'll see how well this thing cuts. Now then, how does all of that sound?"
The owner, obviously terrified, nodded.
"Wonderful! I'm glad we could come to an agreement. Now on the floor if you please."
The owner did as Amelie said. Grabbing the makeshift cloak, Amelie threw it over herself.
"Crawl forward three feet."
The owner did so. Amelie would then move behind the man.
"Good, now stand up slowly and start walking."
Doing as he was told, the owner slowly stood then began walking forward. As he did, Flora made sure to poke him gently with the knife blade once in a while.
"Excellent you're doing so well..."
Exiting through the back of the store, Amelie continued to move the man towards an area shrouded in trees and greenery. As they moved, Amelie spoke a voice loud enough for the other two to hear.
"And just so we're clear, 'the law extends throughout the kingdom'."
The sign had been given for the other two to begin.
Name of Spell: Odd Hours Sweeping Technique Elemental Type: Explosion Rank & Spell Type: Junior & Sensory (Illusion) Range & Speed: 10x10x10 meter sphere aoe + 10 meters per 10 Sensory & 10 meters per second. Mana Cost: 10, 5 sustained Stats Effected: Sight (Illusion) (Blind), Sensory (Junior Debuff) Applicable Perks: Master of Illusions Description:
A homemaking-type spell modified for the sweeping of larger targets. This spell channels explosive energy to emit a field which distorts the vision of those around them, concealing themselves from sight. With this spell, the Ersatz help were able to flawlessly perform their tasks without forcing their masters and mistresses to lay eyes on their lowly forms. This is only the introductory level of the technique and Beatrice greatly fears that its advanced forms have been lost to her forever.
1 + 1 per 5 of Beatrice's control targets within the aoe will suffer a -4 debuff to sensory (Junior Rank).
So long as the spell is maintained, targets within the aoe will be unable to see Beatrice. To be seen an observer must meet a sensory check of 15 + 2 per 10 control Beatrice possesses. This threshold is reduced by 2 for every turn the observer is within the illusion.
Seeing through the illusion will uncover the true structure of the spell causing a bright flash. This flash effect can potentially blind a target for one round should Beatrice's power be 10 higher than the opponent's sensory. This blind may only affect a target once per casting of the spell.
Beatrice may sculpt the spell around one person for every 15 control she possesses. This will allow the avoided person to avoid all of the spell effects.
Finally, Beatrice may also create 1 per 15 control additional copies of this spell per the ammo rules. These copies may be applied to others to conceal them as well. The sensory checks are shared across all instances of the spell and will resolve at the same shared rate regardless of positioning.
"That is the signal and thus the sign! So begins the game of shadows! Explosion magic! Odd Hours Sweeping Technique!"
"Wait wait wait explosion?! What're you doing?!"
"Hush! I know what I am doing! Using the art of explosion ninjutsu, I have concealed us from the eyes of anyone within roughly twenty score! Only sight however! But all we shall need to accomplish our assigned mission, yes! Let us begin the infiltration!"
"Er right, so, we're invisbody?"
"Hm Hm! For twenty odd score!"
"Alright, then I'm walking in the front door, no sense in complicating things."
"Very wise!"
"Er, yeah... I guess..."
Sighing, the man simply walked into the front door with the ninja girl in tow.
"So girlie whaddya know about looting? You really don't strike me as the rough and tumble type."
As he spoke, the man was placing things in a bag. Some part of it was curiosity and the rest was to fill the air between his back and the one eye of the young girl staring into the back of it. She was like a puppy in her excitement, if she had a tail it would be wagging. As for the panting, she might have been, she was very excited to be on her ninja mission. Assigned by her mistress no less!
"Oh! I am more from a cleaning background actually!"
"Gottdam! How can you say that with a smile? Are ya even human? No offense."
"None taken! I do not consider myself human, I am my mistress' instrument after all!"
The man left it at that, he felt the conversation getting dangerous, though they had definitely missed some mixed wires he might have been too far off the mark.
"Got it."
"A medal?"
"Yeah... it's mine... well it was... and I guess it is again."
Beatrice nodded where she stood.
"...And we'll be taking the rest of these drawers as well, these are all collateral missy, so if we take it all, it won't go being traced on back to me."
"I see. This has been a very valuable lesson."
"Aint that nice, more importantly this has been profitable, now let's scoot."
"You do not wish to take any weapons for a further diversion?"
"Don't like em, not no more."
"Then let us be off."
"Yeah..."
And so, they exited the shop, making their way toward the rendezvous point.
wc- 395
t- 776
Last Edit: Aug 29, 2020 14:34:13 GMT -5 by Beatrice
"You're full of shite if you think your law extends to this 'ere den o' rogues!"
"Now, now, now, no need to get loud my friend."
Amelie poked him with the dagger once more. A little harder this time but not enough to break the skin. The man jumped when he felt the point.
"Let's not forget who is the captured prisoner is now. Ah, but just in case you forgot, it's not me."
"You Magic Knights are scum."
"I could say the same about you rogue types. Hiding in the shadows only to surface and take what doesn't belong to you. You're like rats, feeding off the scraps of our great Kingdom. Nothing but pests, and at times pests must be culled..."
Amelie was getting very into her role at this point. Tapping into the anger she felt at the Magic Knights for decimating her family was making her a little crueler than she typically was, though of course she did have control of herself. Amelie was a noble after all, and part of noble training was to always keep a calm face, no matter how you felt inside. Still, this was the kind of power she craved, the power to make others bow before her whim, and though she was doing this with a knife due to her own magic being fairly weak, it felt good, exceptionally so. Ah, so this is what it is to be feared... oh bon sang... I could get very used to this.
Grinning, Amelie ordered the man down on to the ground, then took a few steps backwards.
"Now then, before I decide that you should indeed be flayed alive, how about you tell me a little about yourself? Who are your common customers? Where do you come from? How did you get into this trade? I'm very interested to hear all of that."
"I don't ask for names and don't keep them swine. I'm an honest businessman and keep my clientele's identities secret. You won't get nothin' from me!"
Amelie chuckled.
"An honest businessman? You didn't tell me you were a comedian as well. An honest merchant that sells good, probably stolen I might add, as well as the tools of thieves and assassins. Yes, please tell me how your business benefits the Kingdom? Do you donate your earnings to charity? I'm sure you do, please tell me how you're blood money funds the orphans of Clover."
The business owner looked furious, as if he were about to risk his whole life just to land one good punch on Amelie's disguised magic knight face.
"Nuh, uh. Face down please. If you move even an inch, I'll have no choice to end you instantly"
The business owner kept his face down though gritted his teeth hard.
"Now then... where, oh gods they've found us!"
Suddenly, Amelie stopped. As if she had just heard something. Of course, this was part of her ploy.
Still in her transformed Magic Knight form, Amelie quickly ran into the forest. After she was a short way away, she would release her disguise reverting back to her true form. Then walking in a large circle, would return to the man.
"Who goes there! Is someone back there!"
Running up to the business owner, who was still face down in the ground, Amelie would run to him and shake him.
"You! Shop owner! What are you doing! What's happened!"
The shop owner, realizing that the magic knight had left turned over quickly and began shouting.
"MAGIC KNIGHTS! MAGIC KNIGHTS HAVE INFILTRATED THE TOWN! THE BASTARDS TRIED TO KIDNAP ME AND GET INFORMATION BUT I DIDN'T TELL THEM A GODS DAMNED THING!"
Amelie scowled while trying to hold back a grin.
"Magic knights! Here! Then it's time for a hunt!"
Holding out her hand to the shop owner, Amelie helped him up. Then began giving directions.
"I'll have that magic knights head on my wall! Go inform the town's people we've been infiltrated! I'll head in their direction and try to sniff them out!"
"Aye! Be careful girl, they've got Azure Deer with them, you don't want to become the hunted."
"Fufufu, do not underestimate my power! I'll be back to sell you the bastard's mantle!"
With that Amelie dashed into the woods... and towards the rendezvous point.
Name of Spell: Prisma Magic: Liar's Charade: Magic Knight Elemental Type: Paint Rank & Spell Type: Junior, Transformation Range & Speed: 25 meters, 10 m/s Mana Cost: 10, 5 Stats Effected: Applicable Perks: Elemental Oddity, Perfect Transformation Description: The spell causes the target to be transformed to look like a male low-ranking member of the Crimson Lion's Magic Knight squad. This spell can be cast on one's self, or on others including enemies. If cast on an enemy, the spell is treated as a transformation debuff and the target must overcome Amelie's control to resist the spell. This spell does no damage and does not affect stats in anyway, it simply changes the look of the target into that of a magic knight in the Crimson Lion squad.
Amalie stole this magic knights look while in Hage. The magic knight happened to be travelling through the Forsaken Lands when Amalie approached him acting the part of a child beggar. The magic knight, on a mission and very busy ignored Amalie and even pushed her away when she clung to him asking for assistance. This exchange gave Amalie ample time to study and steal his appearance.
Amalie uses this appearance to try to frame magic knights for her crimes.
Beatrice, the man, and a sack of stolen loot each sat in a collection of large, tall bushes at the rendezvous point. In his hand, was the medal which he was turning over with his thumb, again and again and again... almost as if he were trying to rub it out of existence, into dust. Something had come over him on this mission, no maybe even before. A man with no money, just a drunk, had actually hired a pair of people to steal something with money he didn’t have. Everything had been riding on this success. The medal continued to turn in silence before the man removed a flask from his jacket, took a sip, and began to speak. For some reason, once again, his mind returned to his former family. He had a daughter, she might be just about Beatrice’s age now…
“I hope your friend isn’t over doing it, this is supposed to be a simple job, in and out, but she’s sure taking her sweet time."
“To be graced with such precious time such as hers will surely give just cause for the man to not seek retaliation! Yes! My mistress Enigma certainly goes the extra mile! What cunning! To serve her is everyday an even greater and greater honor...”
“Yeah, forget I asked, girlie. I was going to wait for her to get here but I’ll get right to the point. This sack? All yours. You guys take it.”
“Why so?” Beatrice tilted her head. “To violate the contract against your favor is highly irregular activity, I am forced to believe this is a trap. Yes.”
The man held up both hands as the ninja girl’s single uncovered eye gradually formed a hawkish glare.
“Originally… Originally, I said, that I would pay upfront for the services, and you guys’d get one third of the loot as well, well, I never had the money. Aye, I tricked you. Me giving you this bag is me literally begging for my life.”
“...”
Beatrice did not move as the temperature in the area seemed to drop.
“To fool me is, through my own lack of training----my own fault... ...but to force Lady Engima the very thought of the trouble of pretending to be fooled... to make her feel obligated to go so very far out of her way so as to humor your gross excuse for a joke in order to protect your meager dignity as required by such a beautiful woman of fine manners... is enough to make me sick. You are man of dust, and only through a satisfactory answer so blessed by the spirits which have for some reason seen fit grant you speech will my hand be stayed from its rightful course of rendering your form of filth as minutiae upon the wind, away from this existence, so as to defend my lady from her allergy of low-born refuse… explain yourself you flea upon the back of the dog of Clover.
To his credit, the man held his ground.
“I’m all that and more, a drunk for instance, but I’m still beggin' for my life here and offering you lot far more than what you stood to gain before. This medal is all I need alright? Can we call that square and even?”
“...if that is your explanation, than I shall simply take the medal from your wasted existence in addition to the prize, it was clearly worth something before, and it shall make a second service in the place of your useless excuse for a life.”
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk, just drop the big words will ya? Gottdamn it reminds me of the war, with all those squawking nobles er… your lady… excluded of course.”
Beatrice waited, not moving a muscle.
“It’s a medal from the diamond-clover war… which, I fought in… yeah…”
Beatrice’s guard sharpened. But the man simply continued, it almost seemed like he’d been trying to get this off of his chest for awhile.
“There weren’t enough magic knights so Clover asked for enlisters, offered we forsaken bastards just enough to make our families comfortable… if we returned. Well, I got lucky, aye, lucky enough to fall d*** first in a hole ‘neath a great big pile o’ the dead, and so I got this… for my service...”
The man held up the medal.
“...and for the trouble buryin my fellow village men in a mass grave. Now I drink and I aint ever going home. Let my family think I’m dead, spirits know I feel it. Say girlie, if you’re really gonna off me, think you could buy me a drink first? Aint it cruel to off a drunk right when he’s feelin hung over? Whaddya say?”
“...”
Beatrice raised her arm only to hear a rustle behind her. Likely Amelie arriving at the rendezvous point. How much had she heard?
Amelie came out of the brush cackling. It seemed she was quite tickled by this turn of events.
"Oh, no need to repeat the tale, I've had quite the pleasure from already hearing it once. A simple pup joins the knights in order to feed his family only to realize that there's nothing noble about playing hero, in fact I would venture to say there are no real heroes in this world. Only those that hold power and those who believe they do."
Amelie began pacing.
"And look at what that fool's dream has brought you? The dream of serving a kingdom of murderers decorated in finery that believe themselves powerful because of rank and legacy. Pathetic."
Rushing up to the man, Amelie would knock him down to the ground putting one foot on his chest and smirking.
"Pathetic just like you fallen member of my enemies. I could end you. Why I would even say it would be my right. A lie for a life. But..."
Amelie removed her foot from the man's chest and took a step backwards while crossing her arms.
"I did have a bit of fun fooling that store's owner. In fact, I bet the whole town is in a ruckus looking for a magic knight! Oh, but wouldn't that be fun! What if we took you too them and showed you them that meddle you keep twirling your fingers? We could say you were using your old costume and a bit of transformation magic to try and bring some justice back to this law forsaken village..."
The man's eyes grew wide. If Amelie turned him in for her crimes he would almost assuredly be executed and even more likely, he would be strung up and tortured and then executed.
Amelie let out a small gleeful chuckle.
"Or maybe not... but know this..."
Grabbing the man by his collar, Amelie brought his ear close to her mouth.
"I have your secret now. If I wanted to I could track down your daughter and keep her as my pet. I'll let you live, but only because your life is mine now."
Amelie pushed the man back down and kicked away his flask until it started spilling on to the ground.
"From now until eternity or I say otherwise, you are to completely abstain from all alcohol or any other substance that does not sharpen the mind. You will cut your hair, shower, and look respectable. If you do not, I will simply take the life that I have given you this day. After all, I like my toys clean... fufu. Someday I may come for you when I have use of you. But remember, I am always watching..."
Turning to Beatrice, Amelie pointed to the bag.
"Well then, let's take our reward and go."
Walking away, Amelie called out one last time to the man.
"And while you're going through the transformation I have decreed, mayhap you take some time to think of who it was that put you in this predicament in the first place. After all, it was not us at the village but those who gave you your mantle was it not? Perhaps instead of blaming yourself for you fall, you blame the ones actually responsible..."
Turning to the man over her shoulder, Amelie grinned.
"And when you're ready to accept who the true villains are, maybe you'll find the strength to join me in burning all they love to the ground."
Amelie would give a little wave, then leave the man on the floor. Once they were a distance away, Amelie would again begin speaking to Beatrice.
"Well, that didn't go exactly as planned but still, I had quite the ball! You should have seen the shop's owner! He was terrified the entire time that I was going to puncture his spine with that knife. Of course, it was his own fault for bringing forth the knife in the first place! What a moron, who uses a knife when we all have magic?"
Amelie tapped her temple as she thought.
"Of course I suppose those with very weak magic may require such a... crude tool to accomplish their goals. Still, did you see the size of the knife? Oh, I'm sure you didn't as the fool only produced the weapon when I approached him, and then I stole it so of course it would have been gone when you and the other fool entered after me. Still, it was quite enormous for a rogue's weapon? Something that you would take into battle more than you would take into a thieving job. I suppose that's why it scared him so. The idea of getting chopped up into bits by such a weapon is harrowing indeed."
Returning to the topic at hand, Amelie would continue to enlighten Beatrice with how wonderfully she had tricked the store owner.
"Ah, but I played more part perfectly of course. The owner didn't suspect a thing! Not once did he not believe that I was a magic knight come to collect him for misdeeds past and present. What the fool! Oh! And to make matters even grander, I told the buffoon that there were Azure Dawn also on the premises cloaked and at the ready to assassinate the man! Can you imagine! I wish I could think of a description that could sufficiently describe the look of terror this man had on his face the entire time! It was laughable, laudable even, picturesque in even the latest fashion. After I removed him from the store I took him to a circle of trees and acted as though I was attempting to gather the names of all his patrons. Of course he was not forthcoming, which is actually quite honorable now that I think on it, but even with this we have not yet arrived at the coup de' grace! While the man was on the ground, I acted as though I heard someone approaching. I ran quickly away, dropped my disguise, and then returned in my true form! There I helped the man to his feet and asked him what had happened! He was of course none the wiser, then... and herein lies the best part... I told him I would hunt down the invader and proceeded to escape until I met at our rendezvous point! Oh I must say, this world is truly filled with such idiocy it's delightful."
