KELBITH: Anyway. Thanks for the warning. Now hand over the script and get out.
(VO - dismissive)
[[(Persuade) I don't have it. It's still in your office.->LIE CHECK]]
[[Fletcher's expecting to meet me later. I can lead you to him.->ALLY UNSURE]]
[[(Give her //The Trader of Waterdeep//.)->RETURN 1]](Laewyn steps forward to take the play from you, pressing it to her chest and wrapping her arms around it.)
(DESIGN - remove play from inventory; quest complete)
[[END CONVERSATION]](Does the Persuade check succeed or fail?)
[[Succeed!->LIE SUCCESS]]
[[Fail!->LIE FAIL]]KELBITH: Hmm. Keep the script, then. Take it to the meeting. It'll put him at ease while I get my people into position.
(VO - thoughtful; growing respect for the player)
[[CONTINUE->ALLY 2]]LAEWYN: These people wouldn't have warned us about Fletcher if they'd actually planned to steal from us, Kelbith. ... Would they?
(VO - attempt to soothe Kelbith; insecurity gradually creeps in)
[[CONTINUE->LIE SUCCESS 2]](Kelbith says nothing; merely glares at you with a slightly annoyed expression.)
[[Fletcher's expecting to meet me later. I can lead you to him.->ALLY UNSURE]]
[[(Hand over //The Trader of Waterdeep//.).->RETURN 1]][[Start Over->KELBITH 1]](Kelbith says nothing, regarding you with a suspicious glare. Then she points to the door.)
[[END CONVERSATION]]LAEWYN: Um. Position for what?
(VO - nervous)
[[CONTINUE->ALLY 3]]KELBITH: I'm just going to have a talk with him, Laewyn. A very stern talk.
(VO - reassuring, subtly menacing)
[[END CONVERSATION]](You see Laewyn speaking quietly, but urgently with Kelbith. Kelbith eyes you warily as you approach.)
KELBITH: Good news, Laewyn. I found your missing "actors."
(VO - dry, sardonic)
[[CONTINUE->KELBITH 1.5]]KELBITH: No. They're not. Did you all enjoy snooping around my theatre?
(VO - extremely annoyed)
[[I can explain.->KELBITH 2.1]]
[[As a matter of fact, yes.->KELBITH 2.2]]KELBITH: Then I suggest you start explaining.
(VO - impatient)
[[CONTINUE->KELBITH 3]](Laewyn covers her mouth and giggles quietly. Kelbith's face settles into a scowl.)
[[CONTINUE->KELBITH 3]]KELBITH: Who sent you?
(VO - demanding)
[[Thomas Fletcher hired me to steal //The Trader of Waterdeep//.->KELBITH FLETCHER 1]]
[[(Lie) Nobody. I was just looking around.->KELBITH NOBODY 1]]KELBITH: Huh. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting to hear that.
(VO - surprised, amused)
[[CONTINUE->KELBITH FLETCHER 2]]KELBITH: //Adventurers.// Lovely. Turn out your pockets and leave. Immediately.
(VO - "adventurers" said with exasperated disgust, followed by rapid-fire demands)
[[(Persuade) I didn't steal anything.->THEFT PERSUADE]]
[[Did I say "nobody"? I meant Tom Fletcher. He hired me to steal your play.->KELBITH FLETCHER 1]]
[[(Hand over //The Trader of Waterdeep//.)->THEFT FAIL 2]](Does the Persuade check succeed or fail?)
[[Succeed!->THEFT SUCCESS]]
[[Fail!->THEFT FAIL]]KELBITH: I'm not sure if I should be relieved or insulted. Go on, then. Out.
(VO - perplexed)
[[END CONVERSATION]]KELBITH: We can do this the easy way, or I can hold you by your ankles and shake until my property falls out. Your choice.
(VO - unimpressed, mildly threatening)
[[(Hand over //The Trader of Waterdeep//.)->THEFT FAIL 2]]
[[All right, I lied. Tom Fletcher hired me to steal a play from you.->KELBITH FLETCHER 1]](Kelbith takes the play, regards you with a curious expression, then points one very large claw at the door.)
(DESIGN - remove play from inventory; quest complete)
[[END CONVERSATION]]LAEWYN: I'm so, so sorry. I never meant to cause this much trouble.
(VO - frantic, emotional)
[[You wrote all of Fletcher's plays?->GHOSTWRITER 1]]
[[This can't be //that// much of a surprise->FIRED 2]]KELBITH: All the good ones, at least. Their little "arrangement" is one of the best-kept secrets in the business. //I// didn't even know.
(VO - matter-of-fact)
[[Why would Laewyn agree to write under somebody else's name?->GHOSTWRITER 2]]
[[And you fired him when you found out.->FIRED 2]]LAEWYN: Why did you say "actors" like th--? Oh. They're not really actors, are they?
(VO - confused, then resigned)
[[CONTINUE->KELBITH 2]]LAEWYN: I don't like it when people talk to me. Or about me. Or look at me. I just wanted to write, and Fletcher wanted to be famous. It worked for both of us.
(VO - nervous, hesitant)
[[CONTINUE->GHOSTWRITER 3]]KELBITH: Until it didnt, and Fletcher started to forget who was really responsible for his success. That's when Laewyn came to me.
(VO - tremendous disdain for Fletcher)
[[CONTINUE->FIRED 2]]KELBITH: Fletcher was a nightmare. I expected the letters, but I never dreamed he'd try to ruin the company. Arrogant little vermin. When I find him...
(VO - controlled anger)
[[CONTINUE->KELBITH CHOICE]] KELBITH: You lied to get into my theatre, you stole from me, and now you're offering to double-cross your own employer?
(VO - disbelieving, a little impressed with the player's audacity)
[[I'm just trying to do the right thing.->ALLY 1]]
[[You're more powerful than he is. I'd rather be friends than enemies.->ALLY 1]]
[[Fletcher lied to me, and now I'm going to ruin his day.->ALLY 1]]