Zoolip Breamecho: A lie in every respect.

[Mr. Baboon]

"...and you are hereby sentenced to exile, for the murder of Gulemmin Adormaestro, as well as the known robberies of Binbin Jonban, The Merchants Guid, and twelve caravan ships in harbor. You have two hours to find a ship, and leave the island of Lantan forever."

With shock, Zoolip watched on. It was almost as if the young Gnome - one of the Breamecho, a family of thieves - was watching it from afar, perhaps floating above and looking down at someone else. Maybe even using that Levitation spell he'd recently learned. He had to bite back a snicker at the poor fool standing trial, after divination revealed the myriad of crimes he'd commited. Ah well, he'd just go elsewhere with his spellbook, and start up a new life of crime.

"....In addition, all traces of your grimoire and magical items shall be confiscated by the state. Your actions have shown that, for all of your training at the Galgear School of Illusion and Other Spheres of Magic, you decided to take the path of a common street thief. You have shamed both your college and the good name of the Breamecho family. These simple tinkers now have the stain of such a dire robber in the history books... a shame. Gaurds, escort him out."

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"I am quite dissapointed in you, Zoolip." The elder Gnome said, shaking his head. "You broke the first family rule: Never get caught. You also broke the second family rule: Never get caught. Thankfully, you did not break the third rule: Never reveal your true patron deity. A good move, using our old recorded faith of Barovar Cloakshadow - and for that, your life will be spared. You are also quite lucky that the divinations delved no deeper than your own personal crimes. And to think, we had so much invested in you... the first Breamecho to become a Wizard."

Zoolip sighed, trying to blink back tears. His father, the leader of the Breamecho Family of Trickery, Roguery and Public Tinkering, had been the leader of the family for countless years, even by Gnomish standards. "But really, it wasn't my fault! They wouldn't even listen to me in co-"

"You didn't -deserve- to be listened to, Zoolip. You're an amazing con artist, and a great speaker - why, in a few years, you could talk the pantaloons off the King of Cormyr. But for now, you can't come back to Lantan, you can't come back to the family compound, until you've proven yourself as a worthy thief, and come up with a new disguise and persona. Whe-"

In anger and frustration, Zoolip interrupted the older Gnome. "Why can't I just do that now!? Why does everything have to be so unfair for me?! I didn't even kill that dirty old hag, she died of a heart attack, and I was just taking advantage of it - like YOU taught me!"

Before Zoolip could continue, the older Gnome spoke up again - much quieter, and with his eyes ablaze in what could've been anger or sadness. "It is simple, my son - and I apologize for this harsh reality - but you are young, and have yet to learn it. Life is not fair, and becuase you were caught, you are suffering the consequences. The folk here on Lantan are akin to sheep - they would never dare act directly, beyond building there oh-so-precious machines for Gond - meaning that you will be safe to live. Just not here. Beshaba decided that a quick kiss upon your hands was in order - perhaps becuase Mask turned his head but a moment. But it matters not. For this time, you need to leave. I wish you goodluck, and may the shadows watch over you."

With that last, simple goodbye, the older Gnome left - never to be seen by Zoolip again.

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//To be continued!

[Mr. Baboon]

"Come one! Come all! See Zoolip, the magnificent - a man of such feared power, as to be thrown from the famed Isle of Lantan for his devistating powers of illusion and enchantment!" The Gnome shouted out from the upturned box, in the middle of Calimport. Inside, he sighed - not a single person was looking to bite at his trick.

"Father, look at that! A Gnome... it's so vile, and disfigured! Oh, can I talk to it, father?" A well-dressed Calishite child said to his father - clearly, a man of wealth. "Well, alright. But remember to keep both hands on your coinpurse."

Zoolip gave a slight smile. He'd gone through the shock of arrogant abuse the other day, and was already prepared for it. "Ah, good greetings young sahr. May Barovar Cloakshadow and the other mysterious gods of my people smile upon you and your good fortune. Would you care to see a trick? I'll need a donation first." Zoolip held out his hand. "I need but a single gold piece to begin my trick, and if you like it - we can continue it even more."

The child, excited, took out a gold piece, and handed it over. "Excellent! Now then, watch this..." The gnome slipped out two gold coins from his spell components pouch, along with the needed components for a simple cantrip. "Zzkrithi umharra!"

Suddenly, on the ground next to the gold piece, two more were next to it - the two from his hand.

In glee, the child looked down. "Wow! That was amazing! How'd you do that?" Zoolip, with a casual smirk, answered "The magic of Zoolip the Magnificent! Now then... would you like for me to do that on a larger scale? For but ten gold, you may take twenty, and I will take ten, and I shall repeat my most dire of tricks! This one shall require you to help me out, however, as for the nature of this magic."

The boy nodded seriously, taking out the ten gold needed, and putting it on the ground. "Here!"

Zoolip smiled, twirling the ends of his moustache. "Alright, now here is what you do. Close your eyes, and spin thrice - when I am done speaking the spell, you may open them again." Zoolip then reached into his spell pouch, and his coinpurse. "Now close your eyes, and turn around... start spinning when you hear me speaking!"

The boy turned around. In a quick motion, Zoolip placed twenty coppers - split in two piles - on the ground, after arranging the gold in a similiar manner. "Delecan... voolan... shepsha!" The Illusionist shouted, casting a minor image onto the two piles of copper - turning them into gold.

The boy turned around, and his mouth opened in wonderment. He picked up the two piles of copper (arranged much closer to him), and said "Wow, thank you! My father was wrong... Gnomes aren't all dirty liars and cheats!"

Picking up the ten gold, Zoolip twinged in a bit of guilt. The boy had insulted his people, he'd perpetuated a poor stereotype in a racist port-town, and cajoled eleven gold out of a child. Frowning as he headed out quickly to the docks to pay for a ship, Zoolip questioned his own actions. Maybe - and just maybe - he was beginning to learn a few morals...