Throwback Post - The Tailor Who Made the Mayor's New Clothes

Dating back to March of 2016, in this scene, the party learns that the Mayor of Hamelin has squandered the entirety of the city budget on new clothes instead of paying the Pied Piper for taking care of the city's rat problem...

Ra'ziir turns his gaze upon the tailor, his arcane sight sweeping across the tailor’s hands and sees that there is no cloth, no thread, invisible or otherwise. He snatches the man by the wrist, "I don't know what this scoundrel has told you, Mr. Mayor, but it seems pretty clear that he has pulled the proverbial wool over your eyes!" 

The tailor snatches his hand away, rubbing at his

bruised wrist, and smiles at the Mayor, sweat beading along his hairline, "See your honor? It is just as I said." 

The mayor nods, "Worry not, fair travelers. You see these clothes are made from the most magnificent fabrics imaginable. Not only are colors and patterns uncommonly fine, but clothes made of this cloth have a wonderful way of becoming invisible to anyone unfit for this office," he beams, " or who is unusually stupid," he adds under his breath, his eyes darting toward Ra'ziir. 

The bladesinger looks at the mayor, his arcane sight searching for signs of charm or other mental influence and finds nothing. The mayor is either truly convinced that the tailor really has made him the most excellent suit imaginable or is aware that he has been scammed and is too proud to admit it and maintains the charade to save face. 

Drax takes a deep breath to steady himself and hardens his gaze. The tailor looks up, and upon seeing the assassin's grim visage, gulps slightly before plastering a forced smile across his face. "It's all well and fine, Your Honor. I have finished my work. Let me say that when you walk down the street in that suit, your people will know you're not afraid of anything. Now, ah, to the matter of my payment?"

The mayor's face splits into a wide grin and he claps his hands excitedly,  "Why yes, my good man! I shall grab that straight away!" The mayor rounds his desk and opens a drawer, pulling forth a large bag of coin. He presses it into the hands of the tailor, who bows slightly and adds,  "I say, when people see you, they will know just how fit you are for office. Why, before long, I'd wager that even Queen Cinderella will defer to you and pressure the other kings and queens of the land to appoint you Emperor!" The tailor glances at the party, their patience obviously waning quickly and bows once more  "Well, I must be off,  Your Imperial Majesty." The mayor cackles with glee as the tailor backs from the room, slipping the bag of coin into the pocket of his cloak. 

- - - - -

At this point, the party, disgusted with the Mayor and angered by the obvious con-man,  decides to run the shady merchant out of town...

Shadow and Kysek pursue the man and pull him to a stop,  demanding to know what hold he has over the mayor.  As Kysek holds his dagger to the tailor's throat,  the shady  merchant  smiles.  "I am simply a man who knows what his prospective customers like to hear. I am an outstanding judge of character and change my sales pitch accordingly." The man stares directly at Shadow before continuing, "I suspect that these missing children are of little actual concern to you. However, because you want the former queen's assistance in a matter of personal interest, you wish to resolve the issue so she can devote her attention and energy to your cause. Your friend however, may be genuinely worried, perhaps he has absent children of his own."

Shadow stares at the man, listening to his words, his sharp eyes taking in details, like the man's oily skin, his narrow face and slender frame, his bony hands and their long nimble fingers. Those fingers would have made this false tailor a splendid pickpocket in a large city like Waterdeep or even Luskan. 

Shadow and Kysek release the false tailor but not before Malazzarr's former apprentice spins the man around and presses his blade against his throat. "When next we meet, you may not find yourself as fortunate as you find yourself today. Know that I despise swindlers even more than politicians. You may have bested that naked buffoon in there. However,  you are out of your league with me. " The elven thief uses the moment to reach out with one hand and snake it delicately down into the swindler's pocket. He hides his surprise well when he discovers that the pocket is far deeper than the cut of the con man's cloak would indicate.  The thief is still able to catch the end of the drawstring on the pouch and pulls it forth, slipping it into the wide sleeves of his armored attire.  Kysek gives the man a shove, who smiles and bows deeply and replies with a grin,  "You never know, the next time we meet I may just have something you desire. I trust that fate will decide for us." The false tailor glances over Kysek's shoulder and smiles once more before turning and heading up the street. 

- - - - - 

A few weeks later, the very same merchant ran into Jamaros after he had split off from the party to go his own way...

Jamaros encounters the "tailor' the party met in Hamelin who was "selling invisible clothes" to the mayor. The merchant offered Jamaros a chance to make what he called an obscene amount of money and led him to the City of Sigil. The partnership would eventually lead to Jamaros' death. The merchant stayed on for a few days after but soon departed, looking for other means of income.