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Linaras, 23rd day of Darkember, 2008
Third Watch rising 21
The Palanthas Herald

Thieves Discover Emperor's Secret

by Kendermage, Staff Writer
Last Updated: Linaras, Gildember 12, 2008

Palanthas – Two thieves aligned with the Palanthas Thieves Guild have discovered the greatest secret of the Emperor.

The two thieves, Kiefer Maksymilian, 21, of Palanthas and Dustin Tyge, 27, of Lemish, both of whom who proudly claimed allegiance to the Palanthas Thieves Guild, broke into the Emperor's Palace on Linaras while the Blue Partisans were busy repelling the rebel attack.

"We captured a couple of the Blue Partisans and switched places with them," said Tyge. "Once Halliwell recalled all the Partisans to the Palace we were in the perfect position to do some heavy snooping. We discovered the king of secrets.

"We were fortunate enough to be stationed as guards for Emperor Markham," said Maksymilian. "His Lordship was preening in front of a mirror and that's when we saw him as he truly was."

"It wasn't Jaymes Markham," said Tyge. "It was one of those doppelgangers that have been running around Solamnia of late; only it looked more demon-like than those previously seen.

Tyge described the doppelganger masquerading as Emperor Markham much as the other doppelganger shave been described.

"It was tall and gangly with pale hairless skin," said Tyge. Its face looked like a painting someone had only half-finished. The eyes were wrong; all bulging and yellow, but the pupils were really disturbing. They looked cat-like. I felt queasy just being in the same room with the thing. I don't know if it was the thing's appearance or something else; bothering me though."

Maksymilian reported feeling the same sense of unease in the doppleganger's presence.

Maksymilian and Tyge escaped several hours after the fighting stopped and spread word of their discovery.

News of the Emperor's true identity spread like wild fire through the city.

"I knew it was the right move to assault the Palace," said Warrant Officer Jurgen Culver of the Palanthas Spears. "I'll probably get demoted for disobeying orders, but in my opinion it is well worth it. This news will galvanize every rebel group in the city. Now we don't have to hold back."

Spears High Command declined to comment on the discovery made by the thieves.

Adventure Hooks

The secret is out. The Emperor is not Jaymes Markham, but a doppelganger. Who is this doppelganger that holds the fate of all Palanthas in his hands? How many more doppelgangers are there in his inner circle? Is Halliwell a doppelganger? How about the Blue Partisans? Are all of them doppelgangers? The more important question now is how do the forces of freedom excise the corruption from within and retake the city?