A Mantle of Crimson (Inactive)

Game Master PirateDevon

"Excellent. I want you to try very hard. We will be watching....and judging."

Seeing the poor halfling terrified and pliable makes Vacutaz grin evilly and motion to Merek to leave. As they move he says, turning back.

"No word of this little visit to anyone. We have ways of knowing, do not try to deceive us. No one can keep you safe from us..."

On the balcony, he whispers to Merek, 'Anything else?"

Merek offers a short shake of his head to indicate he has nothing else. The pair of assassins depart leaving the halfling shivering in his bed...

Anyhting else for the night?

No, I am good. I look forward to meeting the halfling tomorrow.

Sorry folks I have been having a myriad of access issues, I apologize for the spotty posting...I should have something up on Monday to try to get up back on a good pace. Seriously sorry I have fallen behind on this.

That is all right. Breaks are fine, as long as it is still ongoing? I did my share of slowing things down as well, no foul!

I will get us back and moving in earnest in the next couple of days if you are still on board. Apologies for the delays...

Always on board. Whatever it takes to get you settled in. I keep enough games going to amuse myself. Don't worry on my account!

The next day comes and the pair of assassins as more mundane fellows enter into the office of Fondrick Looseleaf a few minutes before their appointment. The building (the same as where he lives merely the bottom floor of it) is arranged in such a way that an ample seating area with a small desk faces the only door coming in from the street. A gnomish woman sits at the desk working on sundry papers and she looks up and smile congenially, Hello sirs and may I ask your name and if you have an appointment?

You'll have to refresh me a bit. Are we back on full steam or still hit and miss?

Vacutaz smiles at the secretary, "In fact we do. Although, it pains me to say, Master Looseleaf failed to write it down. Just mention two anticipated gentlemen are here to see him."

He looks around, taking in the various knick-knacks and art "You have a lovely office."

I still may be bit hit or miss for the next couple of weeks but it should be leveling outback to conscistency in short order.

The woman oscillates between confused and thankful as she rises and signals to wait a moment. She leaves to the back and retursn a few moments later gesturing for the pair to follow the hall and enter a side door.

Doing so, Vacutaz and Merek find themselves in an office that is decenlty grand for most larger humans and probably seems larger still fora halfing. The space accommodates a number of bookcases, a large desk with chairs facing it as well as a side sitting area with a pair of couches, a side table, a center low slung table and a pair of overstuffed chairs. The halfling seems quite frazzled and but rises and stands next to the desk, gesturing for the pair to sit.

Humm ha...good day...gentleman.

Vacutaz bows slightly to the halfling. "Good morning, sir. I hope we find you in good health?"

Sitting, he pulls out the stack of paperwork Merek discussed the previous day. 'I am sure you are a busy man, Master Looseleaf so I will cut to the chase. I wish to know if there is any possible legal action I can take against the owner of this property." he slides the stack of papers over.

"I am not a lawyer or have the training. I was hoping I could count on your discreet expertise?' the second to last word hangs in the air a moment.

The halfling makes no secret he is put-off by the pairs arrival and he seems further annoyed as Merek takes to wandering the room in the background while Vacutaz passes over the documents. Still he is soon enthralled in the work and after thirty minutes or so he neatly places the stack on the table and looks over it at Vacutaz.

You will need at least three thousand gold pieces and I will need at least three days. The money is not for me, allow me to be clear. YOU need to payoff certain people. People who will not be as...erm...motivated as I am. I will need the three days to navigate a couple of options I see here and discuss with my network what arrangements are the fastest and most...cost effective.

'Three thousand..." Vacutaz mutters to himself. 'May I confer with my..colleague?"

Assuming we get alone

What do you think? How badly do we want him dead? Too expensive of a route? Shall we explore more..direct options first? The investigator asks Merek.

Merek scratches at his chin, What ARE our other options? We know the wizard has many magical defenses so we know direct is a poor choice. Surely gearing up to survive that will be more expensive. This legal route of flushing him out is complicated though...do you have any suggestions?

As an fyi I got into a pretty big car wreck on Monday night, I am pretty banged up and typing and what not is really hard so I will do my best to keep up but my spottiness will probably continue through next week.

"We need to get him out of his house and we need to do it in a way that doesn't make him assume danger. My first thought was a family emergency or something but that would just raise his alarms. A boring court case however, he might just sleepwalk to it."

The investigator pauses and ponders, "A way around it might be to fabricate something without actually making one, like we are here. But the mark seems sharp, I'd hate to try and bamboozle him and tip him off."

'Does the mark have any business or arcane friends, rivals allies? Someone who can help us, willingly or unwittingly, flush him out?"

Merek scratches at his chin, Rivals mostly. Little in the way of friends. My impression has always been he holed up to avoid confrontations. I think your instinct of using the legal system's legitimacy is a good one but that apparently comes with a price..

The assassin offers a slight shrug as though to say "who knows".

'How much of the three thousand will the Red Mantis put up? I'd rather not buy it out of pocket. Any local jobs that need done that can cover costs?" Vacutaz says, wondering.

Merek offers a curt shake of his head, Likely little. We are the outcasts after all. Much money has been expended on this attempt. I am sure local work is not beyond our abilities though so if you think this is a path worth pursuing, I will aid in making coin or helping to find work.

Vacutaz nods, "Let us see if the god has need of us here. Nothing as complex as this, but perhaps something to help fill the coffers."

Going back out he says to Looseleaf. 'Would a down-payment of 1,000 allow you to start? The other funds will be forthcoming."

The halfling jumps at the statement and waves a hand, No no, not me, no money for me. I will begin in earnest but there will be a time where you will wish to submit a series of petitions and a brief. I will provide the paper, you will provide the funds to the other parties at that time!

"Very well." Vazutax says, hiding his amusement at the rather...insistent generosity of the lawyer. Nodding to him he adds, 'Keep up the good work. I'm sure many folks have their eyes on you, and approve."

Outside he turns to Merek, 'So, small jobs to make up the difference? Unless you have a gold mine around here?"

Sincerest apologies, I got a new promotion that also came with moving offices and computers and what not so my access to tech has been severly limited as my crappy home laptop has decided to play "turn off without notice and always require to be plugged in". But I'm moved, set up, and adapting so I should be more present.

Merek nods. Let's check around see what is going on. I will reach out to our group and see if anything else is nearby...

Basically Merek needs a day. What do you want to do in the mean time?

How are you feeling after your accident?

Hmm, Maybe seduce a bunch of wives and gamble all my money away? Honestly not sure. I assume there is no plot relevant info to gain that merek doesn't already know...

Big death in my family. I will be back by the end of the week. Apologies.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Take all the time you need. My sympathies and prayers