"Let's take a couple hours to rest first."

Masugatan starts looting the bodies.

Darius leaned back. "We took a job," he said. "There are pragmatic and moral reasons to keep to it."

In reply to Melchizidek (msg # 780):

"That depends on who, within the guild you mean to turn me over to."

Dne approaches Darius, leans in close and whispers,

“I think the idea was that we would get him to give up his stash, then take him in anyway.”

Aegis who was standing nearby, joins the huddle.
"I think we ought to get him to hand over his filthy lucre, and then take him in anyways. We'll have increased our reward. But let's be clever about this, and mind he doesn't lead us into a trap, or trick us somehow. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush, lads."

Darius whispered back. "Yes, that intention was quite apparent - and since it must be apparent to Balar, too, he'll have something planned." He smiled. "Besides, if there's treasure nearby I can find it without his help."

Aegis grins, hearing the plan.

“Nap time.” Dne starts looking for a comfortable place to rest.

In reply to Dne Utrotare (msg # 789):

Melchizadek makes sure all the prisoners are secured, and their armour and arms removed from them. Then he actually checks their health, to make sure they are ok.

"I must confess that it was the merchants guild in general we had taken the contract from. Why does it matter who within the guild we hand you over to?"

"Probably because some have scores to settle, and some are probably in 'is pocket, and in cahoots."
The mercenary interjects.

In reply to Melchizidek (msg # 790):

With a mangled leg and a groin injury, he is not looking very good.
"I think you can report to anyone in the guild that my reign here is broken. My soldiers are dead or scattered, and my danger to those on this road is no more. I might give a name to report me alive to that might do your purse some good, although it might make for a fatter one if you list me among the dead. The goods I have you would have trouble moving without the right people, and might cause more trouble than they are worth if they resurface inappropriately. "

In reply to Balar the Red (msg # 792):

"Reporting you dead when you are not would fare badly if the truth is found out. Better that we return you to the right people in the Merchants guild, so we can be clean. We have promised to hand you over, but for a fee, we can let you decide who we hand you to, so that our contract is kept. Interested?"

"We 'ave our reputations to think of, 'n the merchant's guild is one guild, where it's especially valuable, to have a good reputation with. Dealin' effectively with brigands, and honoring our contracts, are gonna to give us that. Not to mention, the bounties on your men, and bringin' you in alive, was our contract. Wot 'ave you got to offer us, worth more'n that, pray?"
Aegis shoved the man's shoulder lightly, with the end of his mace.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

Has Masugatan found anything on the bodies he’s searching?

In reply to Masugatan (msg # 795):

Masugatan finds a number of pot helms, ruined gambesons, cheap shortswords, cheap knives, cheap quivers with bolts, and cheap crossbows, and a few pouches of coin.

"There is a spice merchant who would pay a premium for me... he is the only one you could safely unload my trade goods to without raising suspicions that would be problematic for you to be in possession. Let us say that there are some that profit by my enterprise directly, and others who do so by wagers against investment houses as to the safety of transported goods... and some of those would be vengefully embarrassed if the goods were to appear on the open market. I don't even know the names myself, but I see you have Thras alive. She knows the right buyer, and only I know where the goods are."

"We'll have to talk amongst ourselves...Let's get you back to the main camp. We'll need to build him a stretcher, and a rig, to drag these corpses back."
Aegis has taken Balar's personal arms.

In reply to Aegis (msg # 797):

"Before we do that, is this spice merchant a member of the merchants guild, such that by handing you over to him would fulfill our contractual obligations?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:04, Wed 27 Mar 2019.

Masugatan hands the pouches of coins he discovered over to the party.  As soon as he can speak to Aegis well out of earshot of Balar, he does so.

“Either we could sell old Booger Red to the spice merchant, or we could rat out the spice merchant and maybe get a tip for our efforts.  Obviously he’s working wit ‘em.”
This message was last edited by the player at 06:03, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

The veteran master-at-arms leaned in, and whispered to the brute swordsman.
"Aye, I reckon we sell out both Balar, and this shady merchant, to the merchants guild. We'll increase both our reward, and our rep, this way, by making good on our contract, and exposing corruption witin. We must speak with the others, friend."

This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

Masugatan grins.  He likes the way things are going.

Dne will rest for two full hours.

Masugatan stretches, then yawns.

In reply to Masugatan (msg # 803):

Are you planning of following through with Balar's suggestion, or plotting to expose him and his allies within the Merchant's Guild? Either route may create new enemies of the type that cannot be directly fought.

OOC: I think we ought to turn him over to the merchants guild, and also expose the shady merchant. but we'll have to discuss it with everybody IC...
Aegis gathers the others quietly, and asks Masugatan to guard over the prisoners, since he knows the score. the meeting will be everyone else, out of earshot to discuss their options.
"Let's come to a reckonin'on this."