I will be honest... I do which to speak with you, but have no desire to enter this den...
Do you know Maurizio?
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Andrew the Hardy
Still sitting on a comfy chair....and preparing his pipe for smoking.....
"That is well, then Federico and I ken jus go to tha Bank o Venice an with tha ducats there, hire a senchal an find a plot o land in short order, right Signore?"
@Federico
"See jus a big misunderstandin, shall we visit tha bank an hire a senchal tomorrow?.....My guess is yah rascal yah knew mah heads all about usen pipeweed an not fer business."
He laughs softly
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
"It seems the Doge wants our Venetian land armies out of Ferrara whereas the Doge is refusing to do so. The allies of the Pope are sieging Ferrara even as we speak here and now. This is all much worse than I had ever thought. The Doge has spoken of ex-communicating all of Venice".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
You begin to stalk along roofs with him with much more ease and grace even than you did before, almost as if your new existence was meant for such activities. Your muscles do not seem tired or worn out, the impact of your landings do not create any tension at all, the way it used to on your feet, ankles or knees.
Eventually as you enter a section of the city more seedy than you have explored before you find what No Name is looking for, a street fight. There are two men fighting another two men with knives, the smell of blood fills your nostrils.
He whispers to you, "These criminals prey upon one another this night. We shall claim them as ours".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
She eyes you suspiciously as you make your statements, "Who are you?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Andrew the Hardy
Pietro nods, "Yes. the funds are available to you. Pipe weed is a popular past time for many, I do not partake nor do I judge those who pursue their own vices, whatever they may be. Can Maurizio contact you if he is unable to get a hold of Baldemar? If so I believe our business is concluded and I wish the grace of God to go forth with you in your future endeavors".
Xing watches the fight and finds herself getting excited as the sight of blood but catches herself to not just charge up there and join in reverting back to her old ways of trying to be stealthy about the kill.
"When do we intervene?"
Lorenzo tries to hold it back, but can not help but let a smirk cross his face at the mention of excommunication.
"A grave threat to many, I know, and certainly would be detrimental to the family business, but I can think of worse fates." he comments, hiding his disdain for both religion and God less and less.
Listen carefully... Maurizio, Mario. Lucrative work. You get paid if you can get them to the restaurant behind me, down the street within the hour. They don't need to know that.
Get sick, go pee... whatever you need to do. Pay is good.. With that, he leaves.
Storyteller Shadow
Through the door I say, "What business do you have that can not wait until tomorrow?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
"Give them time to further carve themselves up. Then we shall strike".
He draws a blade which is blackened by some sort of strange substance.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Dominic shakes his head, "I suppose you are correct. Are we resting up for the rest of the night?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
As you leave she asks wide eyed, "Who do I tell them is looking for them, wait when would I get paid?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini
"Hans said he would have words with you, Signore'".
"I think that would be for the best."
She grits her teeth as she watches the blood flow not knowing why she is being slowly driven crazy by it's sight.
Alessandro stalks off, letting her questions hang in the air.
The merchant does not walk so far as he'd described. He waits before the restaurant, and will spot the two.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
The men duel each other with these long knives until finally one hits the ground. Two of the men turn on the one whose companion has fallen.
The man with No Name grins, "Keep holding, soon they will weaken".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
You wait in an alley and within fifteen minutes you see both Maurizio and Mario come strolling down the street headed towards the restaurant.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Andrew the Hardy
"You hear that Federico you are a man with many ducats. Let us find a Senchal to locate prime lands an report on tha market."
Andrew rubs his leg and continues to sit in the chair waiting for the Lord of the manor to leave.
Xing stays calms continuing to watch.
If that was me out there this would of been over ages ago. she speaks sharply.
Maurizio, Mario... Gentlemen, we need to talk.
Storyteller Shadow
"come back later. I am busy."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Andrew the Hardy
"If that is all gentlemen, I have other business to attend to", Pietro motions to Michael and the two men with him and he heads towards the inner sanctum double doors of the building.
Baldemar shakes his head, "We should be going, my cousin will have dinner for us no doubt".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini
"I shall let him know of your refusal..."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Both men spin in your direction reaching for items in their cloaks without drawing them.
Mario speaks, "Who are you that we should speak to you?!"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
The two men dispatch the lone fighter rather handily.
No Name simply states, "Now".
He steps sideways into the shadows and vanishes from your sight only to reappear in the alley behind the two men!
He begins to clap, mockingly. "Bravo. You made short work of them, how will fair against a true predator?"
The men seem confused but charge at No Name nonetheless.
Just a business man that needs some...errands and footwork. I overheard you speaking the other evening... at that restaurant. Thought you'd be interested. I may have been wrong. I took you to be capable men, men of ability and means.
The pay is decent.
Xing Shi will move up behind the men charging Mr. No Name as quickly as she can drawing her blade.
Storyteller Shadow
"Hold!" Give me a moment to be presentable. "
I will go and get dressed kissing the wife on the cheek. I will head back to the door and open it.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Andrew the Hardy
"Indulge my injury a bit"
After Pietro leaves Andrew points the men of God towards the doorway.
"That is where I did witness tha bound soul."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Maurizio eyes you warily, "Whatever do you mean..."
Mario looks indignant and chimes in, "we are respectable businessmen running an establishment now. That being said, we certainly like Ducats very, very much..."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
The men charge at and through the man with No Name, his laugh is so sinister at that it freezes your now cold blood.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini
She questions you but what she is saying you have no idea.
You head out the door and see Anya waiting for you at the stoop on the ground level.
She simply nods and gestures for you to follow.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
The old man sits down to do more work. If he hears what you have told your compatriots, he does not acknowledge it.
Baldemar raises an eyebrow. "Do we investigate further here and now?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo
You enter a long hallway with a rug so long and expensive it could take you years to purchase it.
Neither Pietro nor the two thugs pay it or the artwork or statues along the way any mind.
As you arrive at the second to last door on the left Pietro gestures and the door glides open. He invites you to walk up the set of stairs before you.
You oblige and find yourself in another hall. Across from that hall is another door which opens as you approach it.
The eeriness of this place is heightened by these doors automatically opening before you.
As you enter this final room you find yourself alone with Pietro. His presence seems intimidating but warm at the same time, there is a glow to his face which was not there before...
"Good evening Signore' Santo, tell me how goes your business?" Pietro asks softly.
dc7
Xing Shi in her excitement does not move as gracefully as she would normally do nearly slipping and falling.
I am a straight forward man, gentlemen. I need to know the whereabouts and activities of several individuals... from a distance. It could be dangerous, so do not feel obliged. Discretion is a must.
If you talk, the money will stop, the jobs will stop. I will deny any association. Are there others you can use as resources?
Storyteller Shadow
I will follow her.
Michael Chuckles a bit
"My business you ask, its getting to become more challenging each day...."
Michael glances at his two escorts.
"even more so at night, but I am alive and well and so business will continue. "
michael glances at the exquisite artwork and artifacts outside of his financial capacity.
"you have summoned me here today signor, how may I be of service to you?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Seems tha matter is settled so tha documents needs no further lookin into, I suggest we go to tha bank an hire a Senchal in tha morrow."
Andrew rolls the contract up an puts it into his bag.
"Let us trouble tha house o Giavonni no longer."
Andrew leads the men (and Federico) outside....
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
Xing you attempt to rush down the building but perhaps your new form has effected your balance because you slam into the cobblestones right next to the altercation.
Fall Damage
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Mario looks thoughtful, "A moment Signore".
The two men step away and begin arguing back and forth. Finally after two minutes of back and forth whispering they approach again.
Maurizio says, "We are interested, what are we looking for and what will you pay?" Mario looks disgusted but does not state anything to the contrary.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini
You follow her through the city passing by tradesmen, drunks and guards none of whom pay either of you any heed.
Finally you arrive at a broken down building in the worst slums of the city. A few eyes in the shadows watch you enter the building but none follow.
Seated on a wooden carton is Hans. He stands, "There you are Querini, come let us talk of the activities of one Sadir..."