Vacutaz ponder, "I'll take it. I said I want the hard ones and this one fits the bill. Hopefully it wills how I'm not all talk. Will you kind folks provide transportation? Maybe even lodging? I'm not sure how this works." Vacutaz admits, mind already awhirl with how to kill a man in his own castle.
We will go by boat this time. We can use time to go over what the order knows and formulate your fist steps once we are closer to our mark. Take the rest of the day to walk the city, procure any outstanding tools that might aid you and to prepare yourself for the transition into being a Red Mantis Assassin in earnest...
Merek offers a wink and throws a pouch at Vacutaz containing small gems worth 2,000gp
here is my list...
Silk rope(50 feet)- 10 gold
Forger's Kit- 200 gold (I have plans for this...)
dagger- 2 gp (how did I leave home without one?)
quickrunner shirt- 1,000 gp
Elixr of love- 150 gp
Travelers any-tool: 250 gp
This leaves me 388 gold left over. I plan on some heavy bribes so I'm keeping that cash.
Sound ok? If so, I'll add it to my sheet.
Sounds good. In fact, have a Handy HAversack for your trouble. Every mobile assault team...er...assassin should have one.
Merek and Vacutaz board a medium sized passenger ship called "Windsome Promise" and begin the relatively long journey to Oppara, the capital of Taldor.
Double crewed the ship almost never stops and the captain seems to know a great number of the fickle currents and wind paths that cut more than a fair share of time off of what is normally an almost three month trip getting the two assassins and 4 other passengers to Taldor in closer to 16 weeks.
Merek gives Vacutaz a fair amount of leeway, not particularly pressuring the new assassin to any form of training though he does ask to share at least one meal a day to go over various details of the mage and the trip that lies ahead once off the ship.
To the extent that Vacutaz is interested in sparring or working on his other skills Merek is fine to create tests and fight and so on.
Once in Oparra the pair will make contact with a local agent of the Red Mantis who will provide the newest information available about Filladen the mage and his compound. Based on that info and other factors the pair will desicde how best to get to Karakuru, the small town down River Porthmos were Filladen's compound is.
By the time they land Vacutaz is familiar with Filladen down to even intimate marks on his body, his methods of movement and last known speaking patterns. Really the largest gap in the Red Mantis knowledge of the man is understanding why he has chosen to hole himself up the way he has since all evidence suggests the contracts to kill him came AFTER his self imposed exile.
Merek notes that there is an opportunity for a detour, if Vacutaz wishes, as there have been rumours of a tomb outside of Old Sehir that houses an object that can suppress magic which may be useful assuming it is at all true and/or actually still present at the tomb.
The pair land and debark from the ship midday and the world not rocking or swaying feels strange for a moment. Merek looks at the ski a moment and shrugs, We are so early our contact may not be reachable yet. I will send word once we have found a place to stay. In many cases the Mantis has safehouses and prearranged accommodations but I confess that I rarely take advantage of them as I find myself not as welcome to be...well...me. Any preference on where we go?
Vacutaz takes a deep breath of land-bound air. Salt and sea air were all well and good but Vacutaz preferred to keep his feet on solid earth. The training had been good though, both the physical regime and the mental one (of copying the sailors and passengers accents and mannerisms).
"I don't recall Filladen had any associates or anything in town. I do have a few ideas...mind if we go waste our time in a bureaucrats office? I want to look through some old and moldy paperwork."
Merek nods and waves Vacutaz to lead on...
Vacutaz has a general notion of what area of twon the types of offices he wants are and even that he needs to probably, first and foremost, the hall of records.
In what is perhaps the most efficient trip to a bureaucracy in the last 100 years, Vacutaz a few hours later manages to find himself and his would be "mentor" sitting in a small side room the library with a number of magically created copies and some tomes of particular interest about the laws of Taldor past and present.
Merek paws through the pages muttering to himself, So this was the release of the lands to his family in...and then this one was the writ of allowance to craft a castle rather than a homestead....these are the accorded rights of small payments due to timber easements on the western parcel...I...then what is this one or....maybe that one is the easement...I'm not sure anymore. The tattooes assassin pinches his nose and sighs, I confess that this is not the tack I thought you might take but there is a lot of information here and we are not lawyers. Should we rest? See about finding some help in sorting through all...this... The man waves at the pile of papers and books.
Vacutaz rubs his eyes and nods. "Way I see it, we need two lawyers. One good one, the best we can hire. Have him look through here and see if we have any grounds. If not, as I assume, then have the lawyer inform us what we need to 'look for' in documents. Then, we forge it, and find a shadier lawyer who won't ask any questions to press it. What do you think?"
Merek considers the proposal and nods, Sounds well enough like a plan.
Vacutaz has a good sense of where to start but knows that no one with that level of expertise will get him in the door in the next day or two. Confident that he can make inroads, however, the question of rest comes up.
Merek knows of a safehouse closer to the outskirts of town that is available but it is bare and affords a modest lifestyle. There are inns , even one with a "discount" for Red Mantis members but that costs coin...
Lets do.... 5 diplomacys, 2 knowledge locals, 2 Sense motives and 2 bluffs.
The biggest hindrance to Vacutaz's plan is the lack of his knowledge of the local legal scene and its myriad intricacies. Despite this, the assassin is able, over the course of about two weeks, meet with a number of various experts and bureaucrats and eventually lands on a hafling lawyer named Fondrik Looseleaf who seems willing to help in this rather rare against the land and willing to aide in securing the "right" documentation to serve. The hitch, however, is the matter of price as Fondrick asks for 5000 up front to cover expenses with twice that amount due on successful completion of the case, regardless of verdict.
-Posted with Wayfinder
With Merek's help Vacutaz and his "mentor" find themselves outside the apartment of Fondrick Looseleaf, resplendent in dark crimson to black attire that sports the markings of the Mantis. The halfling lives in an apartment that makes the second floor of a modest building in a more expensive section of town, the rent surely fetching a highly unreasonable rate for only a few hundred sq feet.
The climb up to a balcony which the pair believes leads right to Fondrick's bedroom seems likes a simple affair. Merek gestures to Vacutaz to lead the way...
Vacutaz nods to Merek, still wondering how much he did would be reported. Merek seemed like his own man, but who could tell?
After checking for anyone watching, the investigator does a running leap and jump to catch the bottom of the balcony.
As Vacutaz approaches the building peice of turf beneath the investigator's feet reveals itself to actually be dung of some kind. Not only does he slip into the side of the building with a resounding thud but the newly broken feces now smell quite acrid and present on Vactuaz's foot.
Trained to be ready for the consequences of an alarm Vacutaz wheels in readiness only to Merek almost on his knees, his body obviously shuddering with laughter. The assassin stands and quietly clears his throat only to double over one more time before finally rising and signalling with his hands that he is ready though Vacutaz can tell the man is still chuckling a bit.
Face burning red, Vacutaz stands straight and ignores Merek behind him. Had he just sunk his career with the Red Mantis due to a mis-timed pile of manure? Shaking the thought, he tries to jump again, trying to remain silent.
Confidence still shaken Vacutaz once again struggles to make his way. Merek responds all together differently this time putting a hand on Vacutaz's shoulder then gesturing to the investigator and moving his arms as though to coach the younger man to stop, breathe, and then try again. Merek then cups his hand and tilts his head to the climb with a very business like bearing.
Vacutaz stretches, nodding to Merek. At least these failures weren't the 'real' thing. No guard dogs, spells, or golems lurking around.
Vactuaz pivots off the hand up with ease and makes it to the balcony. Merek is fast behind him, climbing up almost like a wriggling snake. Now secure on the second floor Merek nods at Vacutaz to open to door to enter...
Vacutaz makes the balcony and nods to Merek as if to say, 'Thanks.
Walking toward the door, he peeks through, looking at the layout.
He also analyzes the lock and picks it if it needs it.
The lock slides open easily under Vacutaz' expert attention. Opening the glass door there is a sudden sound of light snoring as the assassins are able to enter right into the bed area of the large open floored apartment. The lawyer sleeps soundly, unaware of any presence...
Vacutaz grins at Merek. The investigator looks around if there is anything that looks particularlity valuable.
Whispering, he turns to Merek, 'You hold him, I do the talking? Just keep him from shouting." he adds, knowing Merek will have already thought of this.
"Master Looseleaf." Vacutaz says in a hard, rasping voice like that of death, with a hint of exotic Linnorm Kingdoms.
'You are a greedy man. The organization I work for does not like greedy men. "
The room is rife with small trinkets and various pieces of art. Like many of his race it is clear this halfling believes that life is worth living and so has chosen to make his home pleasing to the eye and experience.
The lawyer comes alive with fright as he sputter to consciousness yet for all his fear all he can seem to say is, SO? SO? SO?
Ignoring the spluttering man, Vacutaz grabs a small and fragile item from a shelf. Holding it to the light, he admires it.
"I recommend you have a change of heart. The two men who approached you for some legal work, you should help them." Without warning he throws it violently against the wall, smashing it to a million pieces.
"I think you should help them a great deal. For free, actually. Out of your respect to my organization." He smashes another item, grinding it with his boot.
"Do you think you can help them?" His voice intones like a cracked bell.
Impossible? Free? Do you know the money this country requires to do the sort of work you intend for me to do? Bribes! Forgeries! Expert testimonies! I have some modest means but I assure you that most of that price tag is a reflection of the outcomes you expect! Do you threaten to salughter with dull knives? Unfinished clockwork?
'Dull knives?' Vacutaz answers, musingly. 'That sounds like fun." He pulls out his blade, which is sharp.
'I'd need to find something to dull it with." Finding an odd knick-knack he smashes it with the blade.
"Do you understand better now? You will help those two men, for free, with a smile or we will come back and you won't be worried about expenses or price tags. instead you'll be worried if you'll be able to eat solid food. Understand?"
[/dice]
The halfling simply wets himself as he sobs...
Vacutaz grimaces and shakes his head. "I don't want crying, I want answers. Will you help those two men? I expect bright, shining success from you. Anything less...Well, who knows what I might break next time." he smashes another small item. It was addictive, but he hopes it wasn't over doing it.
He glances at Merek.
Merek stands stone still, clearly letting Vacutaz choose the engagement on his own terms. The halfling can barely stifle a nod but manages to confirm that he will do what he is commanded to do.
"I want to hear you say it." He takes one step forward, grabbing the halfling's ear painfully. "Say it on your oath."
The little man gasps, On my word I will not suffer your men to pay a single bronze coin to my efforts!