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09:29, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Eels End.

Posted by The DealerFor group 0
Tarrov Garrick
player, 121 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Tue 7 Jan 2014
at 21:21
  • msg #60

Tarrov and Helvara





Tarrov quietly closed the door, then moved closer to Helvara, standing very near the intoxicatingly beautiful woman, also dropping his voice in order to prevent eavesdropping.

"Speak plainly, eh?"  Tarrov smiled.  "Very well then.  I am a representative of a group of people who wish to end Devargo's blight on this city.  We believe his evil goes far beyond the confines of Eel's End, and that he has his tendrils into criminal activities all over the city, some above board, some not."  Tarrov gave the madame a meaningful look.  "Almost all of us have been touched in some way by his schemes, and none for the better.  Indeed, some might call it a . . . Kindness . . . to remove him as an influence."  He raised an eyebrow and watched to see if she understood his meaning.

"This," Tarrov spread his arms wide, clearly indicating the entire Eel's End enterprise, and not just the House of Clouds, "is the heart of his power.  If he is to be defeated, he must be defeated here.  But we do not wish this defeat to cause any loss of innocent that can possibly be prevented."

"This is where you come in.  As a madame, I'm sure you have access to quite a bit of, shall we say, bedtime information?"  Tarrov grinned.  "Not to mention the fact that you and your people have eyes, and have been around far longer than I to see what weaknesses Devargo might have."

"So.  Here is my offer.  You provide me with whatever information you know about Devargo, his weaknesses, his strengths, his guard schedules, the proclivities of his guards, who his known associates are, and who else here at Eel's End has cause to hate him and/or want him removed from power.  In return, if we are successful in . . . removing him . . . we will make sure that his leadership structure is so thoroughly destroyed that you will have no problem establishing the House of Clouds' independence from anyone who might wish to take up Devargo's mantle."

The bard gave Helvara an appraising look.  "What do you say?"




This message was last edited by the player at 10:51, Sun 12 Jan 2014.
The Dealer
GM, 275 posts
Wed 8 Jan 2014
at 05:10
  • msg #61

Re: Toke and Selvin

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 58):

Tuggins seems too busy chortling over his coins to be of further use.

Where would you gentlemen like to go now?
The Dealer
GM, 276 posts
Wed 8 Jan 2014
at 05:12
  • msg #62

Re: Vaddis

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 59):

The girl giggles. "You waste no time! I like that." she wraps her arms around your neck and sort of swings there while she stares up at you. "I just need ten coins. Gold. Just to rent put the bed you understand..."
The Dealer
GM, 277 posts
Wed 8 Jan 2014
at 05:21
  • msg #63

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 60):

She frowns and leans up against the wall. "Kindness...I've wondered but..." She sighs. "You have to understand the risk. Even talking to you. Whether he is Kindness or not. Devargo is a devil. He and his spiders..."

She bites her lips and then nods. "I need some assurance you and your benefactors can deliver. It's not just my neck out there. It's my girls and boys who will feel the sting as well. I..." She considers. "One of my boys has a brother. Their father ran up a huge gambling debt and sold his kids to pay for it. His brother was sold to the gambling house. Chi-Dee's gambling house."

You know the name. Chi-Dee owns a rather notorious illegeal gambling house over on Cold Comfort Lane. Chi-Dee employs a rather nasty set of mercenaries. The Black Nails.

"If you can secure the boy, I will take it as a sign of strength. I...I know the secret to Devargo's power over spiders. I think that would be a fair trade."

She says it like you khow what she's talking about.
Tarrov Garrick
player, 122 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Wed 8 Jan 2014
at 06:11
  • msg #64

Re: Tarrov and Helvara




Tarrov nodded.  "That's a fair request," he agreed.  "Although I must say that the people I represent are not, shall we say, patient.  It is possible that they will not wish to expend the time to deal with Chi-Dee and decide to move against Devargo with or without your information."  The bard sighed.  "I will try and convince them not to do so.  Or if they do, to keep the House of Clouds as free of it as possible."

Tarrov stood up straight.  "A deal, then.  I return with the boy and you share Devargo's secret with me.  But in the meantime, I must ask that you keep your eyes open and also share with me, when I return, the disposition of Devargo's guards and henchmen.  For at that point, if you don't mind me using a term from another boat," Tarrov smiled, "we will both be 'all in,' no?"




Toke
player, 84 posts
Thu 9 Jan 2014
at 05:03
  • msg #65

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

Toke pulled Selvin aside, he spoke quietly but his worry was plain as day. "What do you think?" He asked, wringing his hands, "Devargo sounds like the real deal to me." Toke's mouth hangs open for a second longer before he closed it shut. Though he was quite miserable in this situation, he wasn't going to voice any of his complaints or paranoia just yet. Who knows, if this job goes well he would be able to retire from this dangerous business and take up something nice and easy.
Selvin Larst
player, 97 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Thu 9 Jan 2014
at 15:03
  • msg #66

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

Selvin let Toke lead him aside so they could talk. He kept an eye out for their allies. He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "I dunno. Could be. He seems like a bad guy, even if he ain't Kindness. We'll see what the others come back with, pool all the info together an' go from there."
The Dealer
GM, 278 posts
Fri 10 Jan 2014
at 06:20
  • msg #67

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 64):

Helvara nods. "Agreed."

She sighs and starts banging the wall with her fist. She moans in a breathy way and then shrieks. The madame looks at you and shrugs. "Must keep up appearances."

Anything else you wished to say to her? If not feel free to make your way upstairs and collect Vaddis.
The Dealer
GM, 279 posts
Fri 10 Jan 2014
at 06:32
  • msg #68

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 66):

You guys waiting on the others then?
Tarrov Garrick
player, 123 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Sun 12 Jan 2014
at 10:47
  • msg #69

Re: Tarrov and Helvara




Tarrov grinned at Helvara and enthusiastically got into the action, jumping on the bed with both knees and bouncing about, making a ridiculous creaking racket while yelling in conjunction with the bordello's madame:

"Oh, Helvara!  Yes, yes, YES!!!!"

He winked at the woman as he jumped back off the bed, slightly winded from his exertions.   "Well now," he chuckled, "I think we gave any listeners their money's worth, don't you think?  And I suppose I should do this as well."  With a long-suffering sigh, Tarrov mussed his perfectly-coiffed hair in a fashion that suggested he had just been mightily exerting himself.

He took Helvara's hand and bowed, kissing it.

"This will certainly be one nighttime encounter I shall never forget, milady."  His eyes twinkled as he straightened, looking at her.  "I can only hope that our next goes as well."

With a jaunty salute, Tarrov opened the door and strode out, whistling.  He walked back up to the main room, where he saw Vaddis flirting with Tellen.  He gave the warrior a meaningful look, jerked his head toward the door, and began heading toward it himself.

He had a lot of news to share with the others.




Vaddis Sonaden
player, 154 posts
Sun 12 Jan 2014
at 17:06
  • msg #70

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

"Pardon me M'lady, but I must depart, here, take this for your time." Vaddis hands her 2 pp.
Selvin Larst
player, 98 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Sun 12 Jan 2014
at 17:42
  • msg #71

Re: Tarrov and Helvara

The Dealer:
You guys waiting on the others then?


Yes sir! If the "guards" start to take too much interest in us or we are asked to leave the "inn", we'll head to over to the prostitute house.
The Dealer
GM, 280 posts
Mon 13 Jan 2014
at 04:43
  • msg #72

Everyone

Tellen gives Vaddis a curtsey as you trundle out of the room after the silvery headed bard.

Selvin and Toke  , you see Tarrov and the paladin coming out of the brothel. The bard has spotted you and moves towards your position.

The crowd arund you is starting to thin a little. Overhead, the sun is just about at it's height. It's close to noon.
Toke
player, 85 posts
Mon 13 Jan 2014
at 08:38
  • msg #73

Re: Everyone

Toke was the first one to speak. "Why are we doing this?" He asked, his tone even. "We had a simple job and this has nothing to do with it." His hands rubbed one another as he continued, "I-I mean, what do we even get out'a this?"

It had been, how long since he had a fix? A day, maybe two? He had lost count as the hours passed by so slowly and everything looked harder, sharper, meaner, and the bitterness in the air became more and more apparent as his abstinence continued. Perhaps later tonight, should the rest of the day prove uneventful he would sit back and "experiment".
Tarrov Garrick
player, 124 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Mon 13 Jan 2014
at 18:22
  • msg #74

Re: Everyone

Tarrov raised an eyebrow at Toke.  "Well, for starters, let's go someplace a little more private to discuss this, shall we?"  Keeping a sharp eye out, the bard led the small group off of the Eel's End dock structure and back out into the streets, finding a small, secluded alley for their conversation.

Once there, Tarrov turned around.  "To answer your question, Toke, we're doing this for a number of interconnected reasons.  We would like to get in good with the Queen.  I think we can all see the benefit in having royal connections.  It could be a path to the good life for all of us.  That said, we want to know as much as we can about who we're working for, don't we?"

"Sergeant Verik has made some very significant life changes based on information he has about the Queen.  He clearly believes it.  And if there is information about the Queen that would lead rational men to leave her service, I would like to know what it is.  I am also loathe to kill a good man who believes his actions are for the greater good.  I think Verik might be such a man.  Yet he won't give us this information because he doesn't trust us.  Unless we take down Kindness together."

Tarrov stuck his thumb out from his fist and jerked it in the direction of Eel's End.  "That's where this place comes in.  But that's not all.  You were more than willing to go all in to take down Lamm.  Kindness is Lamm writ large.  He's just as responsible for what happened to you as Lamm ever was.  Lamm was just a tool.  Kindness is the brain."  He looked around at the group.  "Taking Kindness down is just part and parcel of our mutual revenge.  He's hurt us.  We're going to hurt him right back.  And now, with Verik, we have friends to help us."

"I don't know what you guys found out in there, but I'm pretty sure Devargo is Kindness.  We know Kindness worships spiders.  The madame at the House of Clouds informed me that Devargo has some sort of power over spiders.  She knows the secret to that power, but she's suspicious of us.  She says she'll give us that information if we rescue a boy from Chi-Dee's place over on Cold Comfort Lane.  The man's a piece of work, so I have no problem putting a thorn in his paw.  And since this is Kindness-related, we might even be able to get Verik and Company to help us out."

"So, Toke," Tarrov grinned at his companion.  "THAT's why we're doing this.  What did you guys learn?"




Vaddis Sonaden
player, 155 posts
Mon 13 Jan 2014
at 22:31
  • msg #75

Re: Everyone

"I learned nothing. All were high on drugs and unwilling to speak about anything but the drugs."
The Dealer
GM, 281 posts
Tue 14 Jan 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #76

Re: Everyone

I'll give Selvin tonight to weigh in and then we can proceed as you all choose.
Toke
player, 86 posts
Tue 14 Jan 2014
at 07:39
  • msg #77

Re: Everyone

Toke glared at Tarrov while he spoke, though as he listened his grimace turned pensive, until finally he relented. This man reminded Toke of a con man; clever and fast with words. Toke would have to keep an eye on him. Still, he was right, besides, Toke might as well think of it as taking out a competitor and a dangerous one at that.

Toke hacked and spat green onto the ground and began to speak. His tone was monotone and exact as if rereading a tax report aloud. "More info that supports your theory, though none of that magic stuff. A tavern owner..." He paused as he sifted through his mind, "Tuggins, mentioned Lamm by name as one of Devargo's lieutenants. Says he's on edge and looking for info on who took him down. This could be our way in."

He took in a deep breath as he spoke again, this time his nervousness showing. "I suggest that whatever we do, we do it quick. It's only a matter of time before the waves we made today reach Devargo." He spoke quietly and seemed to shrink as he spoke, his eyes never meeting anyone's gaze.
Selvin Larst
player, 99 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Tue 14 Jan 2014
at 14:23
  • msg #78

Re: Everyone

Selvin let Tarrov convince Toke and stayed silent during that part of the exchange. He then nodded after Toke spoke up on what they had learned. "We posed as scouts for a 'business man' lookin' t'possibly partner up with Devargo an' wantin' t'see what kinda operation he ran 'fore approachin' officially."
Tarrov Garrick
player, 125 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Tue 14 Jan 2014
at 19:04
  • msg #79

Re: Everyone




Tarrov nodded thoughtfully as the others spoke.  When they had finished, he straightened.  "It sounds like we have confirmed that Devargo is Kindness."  He shrugged.  "Maybe not enough to convict him in a court of law, but enough for our purposes."

"Here is my proposed course of action.  We return to the butcher shop to share what we've learned with Verik and convince him to join us in an attack on Kindness.  Then, with Verik's help, we move on Chi-Dee and rescue the boy for Helvara.  Once rescued, we obtain the secret to Devargo's control over spiders and Devargo's guard schedule from Helvara.  Armed with that information, we will plan our final assault on Kindness."

He looked around at the others.  "What do you guys think?  Any objections, additions, or alternative plans?"





The Dealer
GM, 282 posts
Wed 15 Jan 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #80

Re: Everyone

Okay. Back to the butcher shop then.

As you all walk back to All World's Meat, Tarrov fills you all in on the specifics of the target for the rescue operation. A lad of about ten. With blonde hair and blue eyes. The boy's name is Choffrey. He is missing the little finger on his right hand.

Malder is back on guard when you approach. He nods towards the front room, indicating there are customers inside and leads you around back again. Verik sees you again in the room upstairs.

The former officer looks bleary eyed. There is no scent of alcohol of shiver smoke clinging to him. He obviously has had no sleep. He looks around at you all and then wipes a hand across his face. "So...what have you got for me?" Malder waggles his eyebrows and smiles. He seems eager to hear this as well.

Make your pitch please.
Tarrov Garrick
player, 126 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Wed 15 Jan 2014
at 06:10
  • msg #81

Re: Everyone




"You'll be pleased to know we've had success in confirming your rumor, Verik," Tarrov said companionably as he slid into a chair, making himself at home.  "I am confident that Devargo is indeed Kindness.  I base this on the following items we learned."

"First," the bard ticked the point off on his index finger, "we spoke to persons at Eel's End who informed us, after some, um, remuneration, that Gaedren Lamm was one of Devargo's lieutenants and that Devargo was very interested in any information that might lead to the apprehension of anyone who took down Lamm.  Since that was us, and we found convincing evidence that Kindness was Lamm's boss, it's not hard to put two and two together for the conclusion that Devargo is Kindness."

"Second," he ticked off his middle finger, "we learned that Devargo is reputed to have some sort of power over spiders.  As you know, Kindness is known to be a worshiper of spiders.  The fact that Devargo and Kindness would both be associated with spiders in this way without being related strains credulity, don't you think?"

"Finally," Tarrov touched his ring finger, "we were forced to fight some curiously well-trained spiders during our assault on Lamm's compound.  This indicates that Lamm or someone to whom he had access enjoyed some sort of in with or power over spiders, since moving through the spider-infested areas seemed to be the only way in or out of the lower portions of Lamm's hideout.  This person was likely Kindness.  Since we know Devargo is reputed to have power over spiders, it again seems extremely likely that they are one and the same."

"Now," the bard looked over at Malder, then back at Verik, "we have an informant at Eel's End who is willing to tell us the secret to Devargo's power over spiders, which I think you'll agree would be a useful thing to have.  In return, and to establish our bona fides, this informant wishes us to rescue a boy named Choffrey from Chi-Dee's place down on Cold Comfort Lane."  Tarrov raised an eyebrow.  "I'm sure you know that this is the kind of establishment which plagues Korvosa's less fortunate and that the city would do well to be without.  So we would be killing two birds with one stone, as it were."

"I would ask for you and your men to help us plan and execute an attack on Chi-Dee's establishment in order to free this boy, and then to work with us to take down Devargo once we are privy to his special power over arachnids."  Tarrov nodded, almost as if the deal was too good to pass up.  "At that point, I think we'll have established enough of a relationship for you to feel comfortable sharing your information regarding the Queen."

"Do we have a deal?"




Selvin Larst
player, 101 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Thu 16 Jan 2014
at 16:24
  • msg #82

Re: Everyone

Selvin stood still but mentally nodded. Tarrov seemed to have the right of how to put the pieces together and present it concisely. A good choice. He waited to see how their potential allies/potential enemies responded.
The Dealer
GM, 283 posts
Fri 17 Jan 2014
at 01:37
  • msg #83

Re: Everyone

Malder is grinning ear to ear. He seems excited. He even bounces up and down on his toes.

Verik closes his eyes as Tarrov enumerates his points. He keeps them closed for the space of a few breaths and then opens them. "Agreed. But I can't leave this place myself. Not for Chi-Dee." He looks over at Malder. "Take Baldraggo and Parns. Go with them. Get the boy." He looks back at the rest of you. "I need to gather my information about the Queen. So I can show it to you all at once. It won't make sense otherwise."
Vaddis Sonaden
player, 156 posts
Fri 17 Jan 2014
at 04:07
  • msg #84

Re: Everyone

Vaddis nods at the reply from Verik, thinking it sound.
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