Unwelcomed Knocks At The Door

As I stand near the market near The Hyron's Advance, yet again in a back-alley, I cannot stop thinking that it should have been just another day. Another day as a privileged Twilight Advocate and the most righteous sun-worshiping Knight. Another day in Adamantine Breastplate in this continued plight. But the tower of lies was to fall and crumble - all because of a two-faced man's mumble.
 
My fellow companions had done most of the talking for today, securing payment and making acquaintances with a certain Kadaron Blackrose, who wanted us to investigate old revenue accounts of the kingdom that appeared dubious. The Kingdom might have undertaken underground (literally) mass-breeding of dwarves, it was conjectured. A bit puzzled, I collected my share of the payment from earlier and thought nothing more of it.
 
We later converged at The Builder's Arms as per usual and made do with some beer and beverages. Then, the discussion about preparing for the upcoming duel was initiated and it would seem that the fellowship needed yet another day in acquiring appropriate items. A struck of genius struck my very witty mind, and I decided that I would simply send a short message to the Robed King Himself, to let him know. And that was when time and folk around stopped still in the tavern, and He appeared. The "King" commented somewhat irritated on setting a new date for the duel and to the lame attempt of a threat of mine, which was included in the message. He then also made it clear that we would be summoned at the place of the duel, should we not arrive on time. My Dutch courage soon faded with the suggestion that we were now up against a time-bending and teleporting foe. The Robed King had disappeared. Ordering in a large nightcap, I ruled it was bedtime and went into my chamber and was soon fast asleep...
 
*Knock*... *Knock-knock- knock*
 
I awoke to the sound of knocking at my door. In my mind, the knocking had been gentle and I quickly surmised Jacqueline finally had come to her senses about us two. I leapt out of bed, got dressed in my armor, made the bed and approached the door. There stood a knight in shining armor (and I am not into that by the way), which presented himself as "Anton" from the local chapter. He seemed to read my perplexed face and said he had urgent news regarding the Advance, and I politely let him in. Now, I was dazed and drunk and when he started asking specific questions about which chapter of this church I hailed from and if I were on a mission for The King et cetera, I had a hard time to sell the lies I had been practicing to tell for some time now. And so when he fixed his eyes firmly into mine and donned a skeptical face, the sweat was dripping down my forehead. He continued on to say I lived in solitude from my brothers and then uttered
 
"It would seem you are too useful to be left to your own devices."
 
And then he swinged at me with his weapon! What nerve! Fortunately his blade did not strike true and I spiked his mind into unconsciousness, resulting in him falling to the floor and his body beginning to warp into a grey humanoid creature. At this point Jaqueline had overheard the ruckus and had come to the rescue. I explained the situation and we decided to cast suggestion to reveal the creature's identity and business.
 
He answered he was a doppelganger and his employer was Knight Superior Geran Tenhammer. His mission was to "neutralize" Caerlin Krexis and drop his unconscious body outside the northern end of Hyron's Advance, and then replace him in the party and await further instructions. His employer of four years wanted to disrupt The Order and was expecting him in about forty minutes from now.
 
Wanting to know how I had become a subject of this Geran Tenhammer foul plans, I said in a hurry
 
"Tell me everything you know about me!"
 
I told a Doppelganger, that shapeshifts and assumes other identities for a living, to uncover what he could possibly know about me. A doppelganger! Such utter stupidity! When this grave mistake became apparent, "Anton" had already shapeshifted into me and with a somewhat confused face said
 
"Well, I know you are not a human.?"
 
And so, my cover was blown. I had to come clean. Jaqueline 's sharp eyes gleamed into mine with beautiful confusion when I said we had met before. And we had met before. Among dead bodies and carnage. In the failed raid by my people she had fended off. I remember her defiant look as she with magic commanded my chief to take his own life. I found myself alone on the outskirts of the battlefield, and I simply vanished from it all. Vanished, from her. Roamed the lands and the forest. Came upon a knight in shining armor one day and soon, I too could shift shape haha! And was it not destiny that me and Her met again and formed companionship? By blood and desire, may the passion not expire,
 
 
between a Snake and an Elf.
 
 
So we are going to spy on this Mr. Tenhammer in about a minute or so. Well I say "we" - Imaros promised he knew what the word 'inconspicuous' means.
 
God help us!
 
Haha touché!