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"What do I want?"  Tarrov pulled up a chair, sat down, and put his feet up on the table.  "A question with so very many answers, Sergeant Verik.  But what do I want from you, here in this meeting?  I want to see if you're the kind of man who is really committed to breaking Mister Kindness' grip over this city.  If you're the kind of man who can be counted on to do what needs to be done when push comes to shove.  In short, whether you would be a valuable ally to those who are attempting to bring that bastard down."

Tarrov examined the fingernails on his right hand, then looked directly at Sergeant Verik.  "Of course, you have no reason to trust us at the point.  You've never heard of us, and we wouldn't have it any other way.  So you can think of this as an initial, introductory negotiation.  If you like what you hear, and we like what we hear, maybe we can work together to the detriment of a mutual enemy.  Maybe even become eventual allies.  If not, well," Tarrov shrugged, "no harm, no foul.  We will go on our merry way and you can continue doing," the bard swept his hand about the room, "whatever it is that you are doing here."

Tarrov took his feet down from the table.  "So, I suppose the first order of business is whether you have an interest in such an arrangement.  We heard you might be.  And, as I'm sure you know, going it alone against Mister Kindness is a good way to earn a ticket to the bottom of the river."  Tarrov raised an eyebrow.  "So what do you say, Verik?"

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This message was last edited by the player at 06:26, Tue 03 Dec 2013.

This establishment was certainly a strange one... and if the rumors about its practices were true it would certainly explain the smell as they were walking through.

As they reach the chamber and Tarrov applies his artful wordomancy, Skirk leans forward on his claws, almost as if to get closer to hear the man's reply.

Verik glances at Vaddis' hand then shakes it. He has a firm grip but doesn't seem interested in squeezing the bejiggers out of your hand. He listens to Tarrov then laughs mirthlessly. "If you had come to me a week ago, I would have jumped at the offer. But now..." He shrugs. "Things change. Kindness is at the bottom of my list right now. There is much worse walking the streets these days."


Verik stands, shifting his spear so it serves as a walking stick. "I wish you the best. But I lost the war with Kindness a while ago."

"Now. Let's not be hasty." Malder waggles his eyebrwos from the doorway. "Jus' cause ya lost some battles don't mean ya gotta give up tha war. Before ya had your hands tied cos we were in tha Guard. Hqd ta be lawful and such. But that's not really a problem these days." Malder gives his superior his best shit eatting grin. "Is it?"

Verik and Malder regard each other for a long moment. Verik grabs the back of the chair he just vacated and slowly sits back down, not taking his eyes off Malder until he has sat back down. Verik then looks back at Tarrov.

"He has a point. Talk."

Toke grabbed a sausage with a greasy hand as it was offered to him and quickly popped it into his mouth. He chewed loudly as he followed the group to meet Varik. His eyes widened only slightly as Tarrov mentioned his plans to fight the mysterious "Mr. Kindness". A feeling of dread washed over him. He had been nice; had given up his "stuff" for gods know how long now, just to survive long enough to watch Lamm get the justice he deserved. Now he had to go without even longer?

Through his mental grumbling, he half listened to the seemingly important conversation going on in front of him. He idly fumbled with his hands, trying to occupy them away from his other habits.

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"Just so," Tarrov said, steepling his fingers together as he leaned forward with his elbows on the table, giving Verik an intense look.  "Each of us here," the bard jerked his head back towards the rest of his companions, "has a score to settle with Mister Kindness.  He killed my tutor and friend.  He kidnapped and enslaved Vaddis' sister.  His shiver distribution has hurt both Toke and Selvin."

Tarrov gave Verik a flat stare.  "You get the picture.  We weren't going to take it lying down."

"We've already done some things to stick a finger and Kindness' eye.  We shut down Gaedren Lamm's shiver and child-exploitation operation down near the docks.  Lamm's in custody now.  We rescued Vaddis' sister from Krieg.  And we've had . . . other successes.  But we're not done.  Mister Kindness has hurt each of us badly, and we want to return the favor.  We want to break his hold on this city.  But we'll need allies to do it."

"Which is where you come in."

"From what we've heard you hate Mister Kindness just as much as we do."  Tarrov looked around the room.  "You seem to have quite a base of operations here, manned by," the bard gestured at Malder, "people you trust, and who may have a similar animosity towards Kindness.  That's quite an asset."

"We're looking to share information on Kindness' activities, ideas about how to best stop those activities, and perhaps assistance in our operations to cause such a stoppage."  Tarrov looked at Verik.  "But its going to take commitment to take down that spider-worshipping bastard, and it sounds like you've got other things on your plate right now."  He raised an eyebrow.  "What exactly is it that you are involved in here?"

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Vaddis shuddered inside at the direct remarks from Tarrov.

Verik fidgits a bit in his seat, hips lips frowning at the corners of his mouth. "We're feeding the people." He says this very sternly. As if there should be no question about it. "That bitch sits on the throne she won through murder. And the people panic and starve. All the Guard does is enforce the status quo. Maybe..." He licks his lips and then shakes his head. "Kindness is a bastard. You have the right of that. But he is small compared to the trouble we have around us now. Why waste our efforts on a reefclaw when the sharks are circling closer?"

"The destruction of any and all evil makes the place better, regardless of where you start, it must be done," and he looks to the Hammer Boy. "Don't you agree?" Smiling to himself waiting on the reply.

Malder shrugs. "It all pays tha same buddy. All pays tha same..."

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Tarrov scratched his head.  "I've been hearing that.  About the Queen, I mean.  But the people I've been hearing it from have largely been frothing-at-the-mouth rioters."  He shrugged.  "If it's true, though, maybe you really do have bigger things on your plate than taking down Kindness."

Tarrov leaned forward.  "I'm open to the idea that the Queen is a murderess, but I'm afraid it will take more than a simple assertion to convince me.  And it seems hasty to blame her for problems caused by the violent reaction to her succession to the throne, doesn't it?"  Tarrov looked confused.  "I mean, she's been in power for what, a couple of days at the most?  Seems like you might not be giving her a chance."

The bard held up his hands to forestall Verik's inevitable objection.  "I'm sure you must have some very convincing evidence of her wrongdoing, but I have not yet seen it."  He gestured again to his companions.  "We know Kindness is a blight on the city.  What proof do you have that the Queen is as well?"

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Toke looked up at his name, and realized that he was just being used as a reference, nothing more. He quickly turned his confused look into what he hoped to be a knowing nod. Before turning back to his own thoughts, he smiled at Malder's words. Ah, a man after me own heart. He thought to himself.

Verik is quiet a moment. He chews his cheeks and won't meet any of your eyes.

"Ya know..." Malder is looking up at the ceiling, scratching his nose and surpressing a grin. "There is somethin' ta what Fancy Britches here is sayin'. I mean...don't get me wrong. I don't care a whit one way or tha other about who's sellin' tha Shiver or pimpin' tha whores. Kindness. Tha Queen. Whoever." He looks mow at Verik. "It seems ta me that takin' down Kndness would certainly net quite a little haul. And think about how much good ya could do with a big pouch full a' coin. I mean. That's what this is all about right? Helpin' tha poor?"

Verik shoots the Hammer Boy a look and then cuts his eyes back to Verik. "I know where Kindness is. Eel's End. Kindness is Devargo."

You all know the name Devargo Bavasi. And you all know Eel's End. Maybe a few of you have even visited it. Eel's End is a pier located in one of the seedier northern ports. A few ships are anchored on it full time, serving as a den of vice. Devargo is not what anyone would call big time. He runs his little dockside empire and seems to avoid the notice of the Guard. So it is possible he could be Kindness.

Verik shrugs. "I could never prove anything. But I heard it from a few sources. "

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"Devargo!?!"  Tarrov could not contain his astonishment.  He raised his eyebrows and looked at his companions.  "Well, that's worth looking into, if nothing else.  If it doesn't pan out, no harm, no foul."

He looked back at Verik. "But I'm concerned about what you said earlier.  The Queen a murderess, and possibly worse?  That's . . . disconcerting, to say the least.  I'd be VERY interested in hearing what evidence you have supporting that claim."  He shot a glance at Vaddis.  "And I don't think I'd be the only one."

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Vaddis nods.

Selvin noted Malder hiding a smile during some of the words spoken. He didn't like the man. Not one bit. And it seemed like Tarrov was steering things a bit to work WITH their intended target. Interesting twist possibly.

"Long live the queen...til she gets replaced and then long live whoever replaces her." He gave a shrug and a half-smile.

His eyebrows shot up at the mention of who Mr. Kindness was. He gave a shallow nod, however, as it made a certain sense.

Verik keeps his face expressionless. "I need to know you a bit better first. It's not a conversation to be had with strangers."

Malder strokes his chin. "Well now. We seem ta have a stalemate. Boss Man don' trust tha Fancy Men an' tha Fancy Men have some qualms about tha Boss Man's story. What ta do. What ta do..." He taps his finger against his chin. "Perhaps...if we strike at Kindness...Devargo...as one? There are no strangers when War comes rollin' inta town." He shrugs and looks each of you up and down. "How about this. You guys scout tha target. Come up with a plan an' come back here tomorry night. And then we can take down this Kindness as one. That brass with you lot?"

...brass with you lot?"

Toke shrugged. Not that it mattered whether he agreed or not, both Malder and Verik were going to meet an untimely... Toke cut himself off and looked around the room. His eyes widened in surprise as if noticing his team for the first time. Not one body seemed ready for what he had assumed was a classic, if cliche, ambush. What more, even with time going at a snails pace without his goodies, this charade was simply going on far too long, why hadn't they started fighting yet? He eyed Vaddis, Tarrov, Verik, and Malder. Their posture and body language informed him that although the four had reservations, they seemed to be in some sort of agreement on something.

Oh dear. Toke thought, dismayed. He nervously ran his filthy hands through his greasy hair. What in the gods did I just miss?

"Do you have any real evidence against the queen, or just suspicion?" He casually puts his hand on the top of the hilt of his sword.

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Tarrov leaned back and put a calming hand on Vaddis.  "It is clear that Lieutenant Verik does not yet trust us enough to share his information.  And why should he?  He doesn't know us from the Cinderlander.  Slow, careful, and steady is a wise course in this situation."

"I see no reason not to work together in order to take down the evil that Kindness represents to the city."  He raised an eyebrow at Vaddis, then looked back at Verik.  "After we have worked together and shown our bona fides, as you will, then I believe that Lieutenant Verik will feel comfortable enough to share what he knows about the Queen.  Am I right?"  He looked to Verik for confirmation.  "And if his evidence shows that she is an evil on the level of Kindness, or perhaps greater?"  He shrugged.  "Well, we can make a decision based on such evidence then."

"But for now it looks like we have their assistance in taking down Kindness.  And they have given us intelligence regarding his location."  He gave Vaddis a nod.  "We've obtained all we could have hoped for when we first planned this meaning."  He hoped his companions understood his double meaning.  "I say we investigate Devargo, as Malder suggests, and return for a subsequent meeting tomorrow.  Even if we are not yet friends," he inclined his head respectfully at Verik, "many friendships have started through opposition to shared enemies."

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This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Wed 11 Dec 2013.

Vaddis nods at this. "Agreed."

Malder claps his hads together. "Wonderful. Shall we drink to it?" Before anyone can object he heads down the stairs.

Verik looks a bit uncomfortable and the silence hangs a bit. Malder shouts at someone downstairs in a sort of friendly way. Sort of. Something about getting that damn pig out of here. None of you really quite catch it. He returns in short order with a large wooden decanter and a tray of small wooden cups. Verik raises an eyebrow. "Where's this from?"

Malder sniggers as he pours out drinks. "Some folks is grateful to us about this little operation a' yours. They leave us little presents." He finishes and sets the decanter down. He then lifts up one of the cups. "Ta business! All that really matters in this world!"

Malder gulps his down without hesitation. As soon as he does Verik picks one up. "To things getting better," he says in a quiet voice and, with only a small hesitation, downs his cup.

Vaddis picks up a cup, pours in just a touch and nods to the toasts. "Peace and prosperity." and downs it without a thought.

Selvin takes a quick sniff of the liquid as he picks up the cup. "To change." And then he drinks some of it.

Toke mumbled something incoherently with the rest of the toasting party. He was glad to have a drink, he figured he was going to need one soon. He had his reservations dealing with the very people they were sent to assassinate in the first place; he was quite eager to return to some kind of reward. He eyed Verik and Vaddis. Were these jokers serious? Wasting time and energy on the masses who wouldn't give you the time of day unless you paid them was a fool's errand. He pushed away these bitter thoughts as he gulped down his drink.

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"You'll have to forgive me, gentlemen," Tarrov looked longingly at the cup, "but I have sworn off alcohol until I have brought Kindness to justice, insofar as alcohol was instrumental in the death of my mentor."  He raised a glass anyway.  "Yet, I shall toast with you.  "To the health of new friends, and the defeat of old enemies."  He set the cup back on the table with the liquid still within.

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