West Coronation Square looks like it has seen better days. Apparently there was a small riot outside the Watch office last night. Stains on the cobblestones are obviously blood and soot. The west side of the square is burnt out. Shops have had their windows smashed in and doors torn off. Black ash is stained against the front of each building. Someone perhaps was playing with fire magic. It looks like a lot of the Watch guards got burned.

Most of the men are bandaged in some way or another. A healer has set up a makeshift clinic in back of the post. Changing out bandages and smearing ointment by the fistful on any exposed skin she sees. The officer on duty, a stubgy dwarf spits on the fround when you approach him. "Verik? Yah. He left me a fine pile a' dogshit ta clean up after 'im. Took four a' tha men. Though only two of 'em were worth a damn. Whaddya wanna know?"

"Do you know his 'lady-friend' at all? Could she be the reason he has deserted his post?"

Selvin shook his head slowly. "Terrible times we find ourselves in. Even more so when guardsmen abandon their posts." He clucked his tongue a bit. "But we are going to try and see if we can't resolve this."

Toke decided it would be in his best interest to wait outside. Anything he missed could easily be filled in later and wasn't worth getting locked up on the off chance that he, or his name was recognized. Waving to his group, he leaned on a scorched wall and studied his surroundings, wishing he had a smoke. He flashed a yellow smile at the irony.

"Tch. Who knows? I don't ask whose bed they sleep in." The dwarf glances at Selvin but says nothing in reply. He turns back to the rest of you.

"You got tha run a' his quarters if ya want 'em. Otherwise you'd be better talkin' ta Sweeney. He has command a' one a' tha other squads. He's about tha only one I saw Verik talk to with any regularity."

---

---

Tarrov nodded at the officer.  "Thank you so much for talking to us, sir.  You say two of them were worth something.  Is there anything distinctive about them that would allow them to be identified on sight?  Did they have a particular approach to combat?  And any idea WHY these four were susceptible to the siren call of Verik's treason?"

Tarrov glanced around the barracks.  "We'll definitely take a look at his quarters.  And where can we find this Sweeney?"

---

---

Vaddis nodded as Tarrov took over the conversation. Vaddis was a little blunt sometimes.

The dwarf scowls even harder. "Baldrago. Parns. Malder. And...er...whatizname. Sweeney'll be able ta give ya more." The dwarf wheels around and shouts at the seargent manning the desk. "Where's Sweeney?"

"Patrol. Should be back soon."

The dwarf looks back at you and shrugs. "Probably be back by tha time you finish nosin' around Verik's room." He points at a stairwell. "Second floor. Second door at tha end of tha hall after ya turn left."

Verik's quarters are suprisingly clean. The man tidied up before he left. The only oddity that's apparent are some carvings on a post. Catcha tiger by the tail reads one in common. Below it is an odd symbol. A circle with a K drawn in it. Eight triangles radiate out from the sides of the circle, like the legs on a bug. A big X is carved over the symbol.

I rolled perception for wveryone.

Skirk pulls up a loose floorboard. The space underneath is empty but the rat man makes a face. "Something was kept under there that smells like perfume. Lots a' perfume. Not a cheap brand either."

Vaddis notes some holes in the wall. They seem to mostly be from arrows being launched into them. But some of the holes are larger. A spearhead more than likely.

A guard comes and raps on the door. "Boss wanted me ta tell ya Sweeney's back."

Sweeney is seated in a room down the hall, pulling off mud caked boots. He glances up at you and drags a bottle towards him from across the top of the table he's sitting at. "So you're Kroft's agents huh?" He studies you as he takes a swig from the bottle. "V might actually be in some trouble then. Whatcha need ta know?"

---

---

Tarrov looked around Verik's room for any sign of his motivation.  "Look at that crossed-out 'K'," he said, to no one in particular.  "Could that mean the queen?  And if so, what did she do that inspired Verik to open rebellion?  And what in the world are those triangles about?  Has anyone seen a symbol like this before?"

Sweeney's arrival distracted the bard from his inspection of the rebel's room.  As he walked down the hallway, he wondered if Verik's actions were for love of a woman.  The perfume seemed to indicate one was involved.  But if Verik was doing this for a woman, why was the WOMAN doing it?  So many questions.

Tarrov smiled at Sweeney.  "Thank you for talking to us.  We're looking for anything you might know about why Verik went rogue in this way.  Did he start talking about politics more than usual lately?  Has he started doing or saying anything out of the ordinary?  Do you know anything about this woman he is reputed to have started seeing?  And why did he carve that strange symbol into the wall of his quarters?"

OOC:  Knowledge checks re: the symbol.

16:38, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 17 using 1d20+3. Knowledge (Religion).
16:37, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 27 using 1d20+7. Knowledge (History).
16:37, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 15 using 1d20+7. Knowledge (Local).
16:37, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Knowledge (Arcana).

---

---

Vaddis happily allows Tarrov to take the lead here, knowing he is not the most tactful person around.

Sweeney sighs. "Veik never was tha bed 'em an' brag type. I'll give him that much. But whoever she was she was loaded. He started wearin' new shirts. Like super fancy kind. And silk...whaddyacall 'em...hankerchiefs." He shrugs. "I figured it was some merchant's bored wife and never asked. Best not ta know. Ya know what I'm sayin'. As ta that symbol..." He reaches over and picks up a piece of chalk. He draws the symbol out. A circle with a K in the middle and a set of triangular shapes on each side. But he doesn't draw the slash through. "This symbol? 's tha mark for Mr. Kindness. Verik kinda hadda grudge against tha guy." Sweeney blows away chalk dust and lifts up the bottle. "Verik got all weird. He had a fairly level head up until about a month ago. And then...started talkin' all kinds of crazy. How tha Queen was evil. And how tha King was kinda loose in tha head. It wasn' anything real bad. Nothin' ya don't hear on the streets. But it was weird comin' from him. I would never have valled him a loyalist or such. But he used ta keep his mouth shut. It just kinda came outta nowhere. I dunno. It's usually better not ta ask. Ya know? I was jsut glad he took tha Hammer Boys wid 'im when he left."

"Oh? Why is that? Also, what do you know about Mr. Kindness? Any idea of who he is?"

"He's a ghost ta most..." Sweeney smiles sardonicaly and finishes his swallow from the bottle. "Really not much. I tend ta focus on guard detail for the merchant quarter. Verik may know somethin'. He investigated some rumors about Mister K. Don' know what came a' it."

---

---

Tarrov's brow creased.  Mysteries upon mysteries.  "Do you know why Verik had a grudge against Mister Kindness?  Did he say why he thought the Queen was evil?"  The bard thought back to the prophecy.  An untrustworthy woman.  Something that is not what it seems.  "Maybe Verik knows something we don't."  He thought about something else the guard had said.   "Who are these Hammer boys, and why are you glad to be rid of them?"

---

---

That Mr. Kindness again. Who was that guy? People kept bringing his name up but no one seemed to know who he really was. Very mysterious and annoying. Selving stayed silent and let the others question while he pondered.

Sweeney yawns. "Verik's tha moody type. Spmeone sticks an idea n his head an' he kinda picks at it like a scab. When he's not thinkn'...when he's doin'...he's great. When he's thinkin', he's kinda dumb." He narrows his eyes when you ask about the Hammer Boys. "Bad lot that one. Sometimes we take on mercs. Ya know. Survivors of a band come ta town. Decide they want a steady pay check instead a' sleepin' out in tha mud. Anyway, we'll sometimes recruit 'em. Those guys were a mistake. They came from tha same defunct band. An' they never quite got lootin' an' pillage outta their systems. They were always runnin' some kinda con. If their volunteer for guardin' a warehouse, it's cos they're runnin' a dice game out back where they think you can't see it. May come as a surprise but I take some pride in doin' my job. And I don't like a bunch a' bllody dogs ta wear the same unform. 'specially if they act like bloody dogs. Pay attention to them boys. They're up ta somethin' nasty. They always will be." Sweeney nods again. "'k fellas. I been up two days and get a chance ta get a couple hours a' shut eye 'fore I gotta go back out. I wish ya luck."

(Anything else ya'll want to do before scouting out World's Meat?)

OOC:  I have nothing else. 

Having stayed unusually quiet the last few hours, Skirk ponders and postulates the recent discoveries, keeping mostly to himself.

How on earth had he ended up in this situation!

Untrustworthy Men and Women, People that vanished!

What had started off as a simple quest for vengeance seemed to have ballooned into a full blown adventure.

Ah well, it would make ends meet.
Perhaps he could do a bit of good for the city in the process...


OOC:
Sorry for any delays I caused in my absence!

Toke used the time waiting to prepare his "consumables" for the day, having already prepared his cognatogen earlier. He whistled softly to himself as he pondered the identity of this Mr. Kindness. While Toke himself wasn't exactly famous, he liked to think he had every dealer's handle in the city. The thought of replacing the mysterious figure was quickly squashed, as Toke remembered his recent political aspirations. Best to focus on one thing at a time.

OOC: I'm good.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Thu 21 Nov 2013.

OOC: No I'm good.

ooc -forward ho!!

Stirge Street seems to have come through the past two nights fairly intact. No signs of fire. No indication of looting. Though with all the boarded up windows and the general level of filth you imagine there was little worth looting here in the first place.

22 Stirge Street is your target. You study it from the corner of a nearby intersection. It looks like it was only condemnded yesterday. A two story structure of uneven boards and moss. A high stockade type wall forms a large animal pen against it's western wall with an alley running down besides it. There are fresh wagon tracks heading down the alley and you would guess deliveries are made in the rear.

A big man in leathers leans against the wall next to the only front entrance of the shop. You have no doubt he's a Hammer Boy. His arms are bulging against his jerkin and his hands look two sizes lareger then they are due to the callouses. A well used mace hangs on his belt.

He hasn't seen you yet, intent on digging out whatever the thing is that's been tickling the inside of his nose,

"What do you think? The direct approach may not be the best approach here, but then again, maybe it is." He looks at the others in question.

---

---

"How appealing."  Tarrov looks at the Hammerer with distaste, then glances back at Vaddis and the others.  "We have options.  We can do the direct approach; he," Tarrov jerked his head toward the preoccupied sentry, "doesn't seem to be too alert, so we should be able to get the drop on him."

"That said," the bard continued, "I would very much like to be able to talk to Verik before we commence hostilities and find out exactly why he has done what he's done.  Again, we have several options there.  We could say we've come to parley with him, we could pose as fellow rebels, or we could come up with some other story."  He shrugged.  "The only limits are our creativity and his credulity."

---

---

"He doesn't look like much of a thinker, cunning bugger though no doubt. What's your opinion Toke? Selvin? Skirk?"

Selvin gave a thoughtful look and then shrugged. "I could summon something to distract him. Or..." He chuckled. "We could try and sneak around back where the deliveries go."

Toke rubbed his chin with one of his filthy hands as he thought of Vaddis' question. "I suppose it depends on how much we care about finding out who this mysterious "Kindness" is." He mused. "However, I'd much rather we take out the guard, seal the exits, and burn the building to the ground; it's much safer. We've already risked our lives once in the last twenty four hours, why risk it again needlessly?"

He shook his head, as if disagreeing with himself. "Unfortunately I don't think we have the means to do that..." He paused, then continued sounding less and less sure of himself. "Perhaps if we lured them outside using the commotion caused by attacking the guard over there? Then ambush them as they came to check out the situation?" His trailed into a quiet mumble, a final helpless shrug signaled the end of his chatter for now.

So what's the verdict? What do you want to do?

The diplomatic approach has worked for us before Skirk shrugs.
I don't see why we can't just attempt it again... Tarrov's plan to pose as rebels should probably work... although don't count on me to do the spinning of the tale, I'm rubbish when it comes to lying.

"Well, shall we then?" Vaddis walks out and heads to the visible 'Hammer Boy' and stops about 10 feet away. "We would like to speak with Verick, get him please"

1, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 22 using 1d20+7. Diplomacy.

"No more meat," the Guard says disinterestedly, examining the end of his finger which has just come out of his nose. He stops and frowns, looking over at Vaddis as if he just realized exactly what the warrior had just asked. "Verik ain't here. You find him, tell 'im I said hello."

---

---

Tarrov stepped forward.  "Are you sure?  Because we have news about Mister Kindness, and heard that he might have some in exchange."  He looked around the area, as if checking for informants or spies.  "It's taken a great deal of time for me to track down Mister Kindness' foes, and Verik seems like a serious one.  We'd like to give him the opportunity to join us.  But then again, if he's not here," the bard shrugged.  "I suppose you can tell him of our offer.  Do you expect him to return soon?"

---

---

The Hammer Boy studies Tarrov a second. He narrows his eyes. For a moment, the brute almost looks intelligent. He flicks his latest discovery off his finger and out into the street. "My my. That is somthin' I guess ol' Verik would be interested in." He considers a moment. "I'll pass tha message to him. Why don't ya come back later tonight. Maybe around dusk? He should be back by then."

Skirk meanwhile did his best to look as ratty and thuggish to play along with the part as possible.

It wasn't much of a show, as the learned ratman had a tendency towards keeping his personal hygiene up and cleaning behind his ears as often as possible...
but hopefully the racial stereotype often afforded to the ratfolk would work in his favor for once.

He'd never been good with words and he didn't plan on trying to start now.
Thankfully his allies seemed to posses the skill

Selvin wasn't an intimidating person when his ally wasn't around. He knew that very well. He didn't mind it either, as being intimidating-looking all the time was not usually a good thing for social mingling.

Therefore, he merely stayed quiet and gave a nod after being told that they should return at night.

---

---

"Dusk it is," Tarrov nodded, speaking as if he was talking to an upscale maitre d' rather than a barely-comprehensible, rough-looking thug.  "Allies in this pursuit are hard to come by.  We're greatly looking forward to our upcoming conversation."  With that, Tarrov sketched a short bow, turned, and strode down the street away from the shop until they were out of sight.

Once the shop was out of view, he turned to his companions.  "Well, we have an appointment for this evening."  He nodded.  "In the meantime, I'd like to canvas the area for information on Verik and/or Mister Kindness.  You're welcome to come with me, or if there's something else pressing we could just meet here at sundown."  He looked around at the group.  "What do you want to do?"

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Tue 26 Nov 2013.

Skirk shrugs at the man and replies
"This isn't really my field of expertise I fear, so I don't really have anything to help with the digging up of information."

He scratches his ratty chin beard and adds
"Do you think the doorman was telling the truth by the way? I've never been very good at telling when someone is lying to me..."

Toke nodded in agreement. "It sounds like we have put ourselves in the perfect position to be ambushed." He mused, "However I will follow your lead, Garrick, and watch your silver tongue at work, as I too am curious as to the identity of this so called 'Mr. Kindness'."

"He seemed to be telling the truth I thought, but I could be wrong."

10:48, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 12 using 1d20+5. Sense Motive.

Vaddis, he seems to be telling the truth. I made rolls for everyone on gathering intel.

The five of you spread out and make inquiries around the neighborhood.

Vaddis and Selvin, you find that everyone sings the praises of The Cow Hammer Boys as they are called by the locals. The City has shut it's gates and little fresh food is getting in. The Cow Hammer Boys responded by gving away meat. True it's not the best cuts...some of the meat is odd tasting and stringy...but everyone for several blocks around line up each morning for the doors to open. Usually the farmers who can make it past the blockade will deliver their wares around back just before sun up. The doors open at third bell. Everyone is so grateful to the Cow Hammer Boys. Imagine! Giving away free meat! "And tha bloody Queen can't even be bothered ta come outta her castle to see how things is," one tough old matriarch tells the two of you. "'s a disgrace is all."

Tarrov you manage a little more. It seems the Cow Hammers do not just limit their good deeds to free meat. One lady tells you how Justina, her neice, was having trouble with this man. The Cow Hammers sort of 'talked' to him. And h hasn't bothered her since. Too bad Justina didn't go to them before that man made off with this small pearl necklace Justina had. You hear several such stories and they all follow the same pattern. Someone is having trouble with someone. The Cow Hammers intervene. Undesirable person hightails it,,never to be seen again. But often that person has taken some valuable like a small bag of silver coins or an antique silver tea pot.

Toke, you pick up a few things about Mr. K. He supposedly runs some kind of gambling joint, but the stories about which vary. They say he loves spiders, some claiming he worships some odd forgotten divine with the face of a spider but arms of a man. Of more interest is that Mr. K seems to control the river 'trade'. Everything from drugs to prostitutes. There are a few gangs in town who pay him a cut. Some say Mr. K is a noble from Old Korvosa, the northern part of the city that rests on a seperate island. Others say he can be found at Eel's End. A reputed dock brothel thing you've never had the pleasure of venturing to. He is also supposed to make the best Shiver in the city.

Skirk, you learn a little something more about the Cow Hammer Boys 'business'. It seems the free meat thing is legit, in that they do hand out free meat each day. But the supplies are limited and of questionable worth. More importantly, the Cow Hammers will do some knife work for you if you ask them about 'today's special cuts'. They do good work apparently. They seem to make their client's problems disappear.

"I wonder if this 'free meat' and the 'problems are gone' have a common end. They get put in the 'pot' never to be seen again. Problem is gone, poor meat, equals they're butchering their victims and giving them to the locals for free to eat. They eat the evidence."

Selvin slowly turned a horrified look onto Vaddis at the other man's words. "That's...terrible! We would definitely need to stop that, if that's the case."

"I do not know if that is the case, but they are not known for being generous men. Why else would they give something for free that they could be making a fortune on. They solve problems that go away permanently, then give away free meat the next morning..."

The barmaid sets down your next round as you all ponder Vaddis' words. Outside, the sun begins it's final dip.

Anything else ya'll want to do before we move on to the rendevous with Verik?

I'm ready to move on. I have no other questions myself.

"The information on Mr. Kindness varies, but all seem to agree that he well connected, at least in regards to crime, and that much of his personal life is shrouded in mystery. I say we be careful throwing his name around from now on; especially as connected as he seems to be and how quickly word can travel."

OOC  Otherwise I'm good here.

Stirge Street lays as still as a newly beheaded ogre while smelling only half as sweet. The last rays of the sun are peeking over the buildings in the west. In a moment, night will have officially fallen.

No one is out front of All World's Meat. The shop is still and quiet. A lantern burns in what must be the front room because a small shaft of light falls from the small display window by the door to light up the street outside.

A glance in the window shows the front room to be empty. The door is locked.

The wind whisks a smell towards your nose. Sausages cooking over a fire around back. A glance down the alleyway confirms the dancing light of a small fire somewhere inside the delivery yard, though you can not see anything from the street beyond that.

It appears as if you are being invited to the back for dinner.

Map should be uploaded to Group 0. Again, sorry for crappy maps.

B1 is the front room.

B6 is surronded by a 7' tall stockade wall. You can see through gaps in the posts. The front area appears to be a holding pen for livestock. Some pigs are inside from the sounds of it. The fire seems to be coming from the reddish blob area at the bottom. Let me know if there aee questions.

"I don't like it. It smells of an ambush." He looks to the others, "what do you think, sneak in through the front, or circle from outside the back?"

What do ya'll want to do?

---

---

OOC:  Sorry, just back from the holiday.

Tarrov looked at the group.  "Since we've set up a meeting with Verik I'd like to go in and take his measure.  At the very least it will give us some intelligence about the interior of the place, how many men they have, how the defenses are set up, etc.  And we might learn something about why they've bunkered themselves in and/or who Verik's mysterious paramour might be.  I'd prefer to take that route rather than just going in swords drawn, as it were, since we might learn something.  They'll be taking our measure as well but I think we have more to gain than they do."

"What do you all think?"

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Mon 02 Dec 2013.

"I still don't like it, but I agree Tarrov."

You head down the alley and around to the back. The gate is ajar and behind it you hear low off key whistling and the smell of sausage.

The whistler is a tall man with a pock marked face. He is not the thug you set up the meeting with. On his hip hangs a servicable looking sword in a cheap sheath. Before him is a steel drum with a fire burning in it. The man has a stick with several sausages skewered on it which he holds over the flames. The sausages have burst their skins at the end and the rich smell of fat wafts over you like a mother's love.

He blinks at you and wipes his nose with his free hand. "Oy. You lot be sneakin' about? No huh. Oh. You must be them that's ta meet Mr. Verik. Malder said you'd be about. Wanna sausage?" He hnds over the stick with three charred but tasty smelling sausages to whoever is in front and wipes his hands on his shirt. "C'mon in. They waitin' for ya."

He heads through a pair of double doors and into what apears to be the butchering room. Updated the map. You are headed into B4. The room smells of old blood and fresh sweat. Another man you haven't seen before is mopping the floors with a bloody mop. He looks up at you. He wears an apron that someone has playfully embroidered KISS THE BUTCHER, but he doesn't look very kissable. He watches as your guide leads you across the room and down a hallway. Your guide stops at the bottom of a flight of steps.

"Oy!" he shouts up the stairs. "They 'ere!" He turns back to and jabs a thumb towards the stairs. "Anyway, Mr. Verik an' Malder are up there. Best a' it gents."

He squeezes past you and heads back down the hall.

"Come on," a tired voice calls down to you. Someone sounds grumpy. The stairs creak slightly in the middle as you head up them. At the top you are looking into a small room with a table and chairs in it. A door is across the room from you, but the big man you meet this morning...probably this Malder the other one refered to...is leaning against it.

A second man, dressed in guards uniform...a guard's uniform that looks like it hasn't been washed in a few days...is sitting in one of the chairs. A polished and very sharp lookng spear rests in the crook of one of his arms. He scowls at you and says, "I'm Verik. Whaddya want?"

You are now in B7

OOC: Apologies. Had a bit of connection issue with the holiday.

Selvin really really wanted to summon his friend but...it was conspicuous. And showing up to a 'friendly' meeting looking like a blue flame enshrouded tiger was not friendly in the least. It was more security-minded but tended to put people off. He sighed softly.

Glad he wasn't in the front, he would have waved off any sausage offers from the man cooking. He gave a small nod at the shouted warning up the stairs and directions to follow it up. Selvin waited for one or both of the chatty ones in his group to speak up. He sized up the two men in front of them.

"Sergeant Verick, we finally meet." Vadis greets him and offers his hand as he detects evil in the room.

---

---

"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?"

---

---

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.

---

---

"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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