Out near the Darkmoon Vale lies Piren’s Bluff, Home of the Last Baron.
The Baron has been neutral for the longest time, and with temptations from Chelax has started to turn to Chelax. Now to stop the Chelaxians from getting a vital choke point into Andoran.
General Dakovya has asks for help in secret from Adventures and Mercs in keeping an eye on the Baron, and to "Remove him" if needed.
"Good morning, Gentlemen and ladies. I need a group to go in and keep an eye on the baron and remove him, if need be."
A white-haired young man in a leather coat... tugs a little at the scarf covering the lower half of his face, and nods. His pale eyes stare into the General's.
"I am prepared to go," he says. No more.
The copper-haired young woman looks up from scratching behind her cat's ears.
"What are we looking for? What's he supposedly up to?"
"A day ago Baron Vendikon, recanted his neutrality and vowed to hold Piren’s Bluff for his allies in Cheliax.
If those devils get it and fortify it, they could invade Andoran easily. Since Piren’s Bluff is a choke point and a part of our defense we can not let it fall into their hands."
"Basically your job is to go in find out what the Baron is up to and put a stop to it, and if things get real bad to Kick his royal behind over the wall."
With the last comments of the General a cloaked figure rises and moves towards him.
"Sounds you need someone of great skill, let us say a former 6 time champion of the pits of Skulvin. Well sir, you have the luck of the gods since your champion is here!" The tiefling lets his hood fall and reveals his identity. "The Dashing Devil at your service!" He gives a bow to the General.
A plainly dressed young man, with long brown hair and a mustache, cocks an eyebrow at the tiefling, then giving a little shrug, turns to the General and says simply, Tablic said you might need my help, I'll do what I can. having said his piece, he folds his arms over his chest and waits to see what happens next.
Tarasi smiles, not a nice smile, though. She looks down at her cat and they both nod.
"Thank you for bringing me in on this. Are we going to be alone, or are there others in place there already...and do you have any idea how much time we have? Are there any resources available?"
She looks around at the rest of the group. "I suppose we should introduce ourselves and describe what abilities we bring to the table. I am Tarasi Pynos, and I am a healer and adventurer. I can cast a limited amount of arcane spells and produce potions with enough time and funds. I have a talent for observation and stealth, as well. I'm not very good with traps, though, so I hope one of you can cover that."
"You may have a day or two or even a week to get the job done provided the Baron does not notice Us or You.
The only resources you'll have is each other, though I do have one operative inside right now.
They are under deep cover at the moment though and could help you out if they deem it necessary."
Tarasi nods. "We'll do our best, sir."
In the back of the room, Nathon, a quiet young man dressed in a faded green cloak over verdigrised bronze breastplate, sighs sadly. Nobles need to remember what they owe their people.
"I take it then, General, that you are moving a military force into position to take Baron's Keep if we fail?"
Nathon's voice is clear and pure as a perfectly cast bell.
In response to Tarasi's statement, the young man says simply, My name is Darian Furkin, I am a Druid. I am not very good with traps either, though I can be quiet when I have to be.
After Nathon's question, Darian looks over at the General to hear his reply.
"We will be surrounding the town to keep those devil lovers out, while you take care of any problems inside."
"I will deal with traps," Simon says, his voice soft but confident. "You two" -- his eyes sweep across Tarasi and Nathon -- "focus on healing support. There will be bloodshed, no matter what happens. This Baron will either fight, or if he turns back to Andor, the Chels will fight."
"I will deal with traps," Simon says, his voice soft but confident. "You two" -- his eyes sweep across Tarasi and Nathon -- "focus on healing support. There will be bloodshed, no matter what happens. This Baron will either fight, or if he turns back to Andor, the Chels will fight."
"I wouldn't count on me for any serious healing. I can bind wounds, but I've no divine gift."
"As for fighting, I agree it's likely. I just hope we can limit it to the Cheliaxians.
"We will be surrounding the town to keep those devil lovers out, while you take care of any problems inside."
"If you surround the town, the Baron will surely notice. Do we have two days or a week?"
"We will not be visibly surrounding the town until we figure we've been spotted, or we see actions the Baron knows."
Thrax holds up his right fist high in the air, "Of course you all know who I am, and all know of my skill to boot. So when do we leave for this town."
"You can infiltrate with a fake merchant caravan we have when the whole group feels ready."
Tarasi nods. "That sounds good."
Darian speaks up, You said you have an operative inside the town, how do we get in touch with them, if we have to?
"The operative will help you from the shadows, and I can't reveal them encase of your capture, or they take your corpse and use Speak with Dead on it.
They will join your team should enough of you not survive."
"Sir, you said we were to kick the baron's butt over the wall if things got bad. Does that mean we're authorized to negotiate a settlement if we can remove the Cheliaxians?"
"Also, is there a contact phrase we need to know if your agent needs to contact us?"
"Could you phrase that a bit better, though I don't think any negotiation will take place.
As for contact I'm sure Mr Dune and Mr Sigeh will figure out you've been contacted."
Do you have a map of the town? or any other information about it?
"Here is a rough map, and that some folks support the Baron, and most others don't like his decision."
When you say "taken out", do you mean captured? or something else? For that matter, why do you need us in the first place? If you already know he's sold out to the Chelaxians, why don't you just send some men in to arrest him?
"The Baron will be expecting our military force soon, and will likely lock-down the place and we can not afford to make this a siege battle, as Chelixian forces are coming.
We need a group inside before he locks the place down, and using our own men will give use away and give the enemy information."
"Could you phrase that a bit better, though I don't think any negotiation will take place.
As for contact I'm sure Mr Dune and Mr Sigeh will figure out you've been contacted."
Dune and Sigeh, eh? Do they have special knowledge or has Dakovya decided the rest of us are not too bright?
"What I'm asking, sir, is, 'if we can reduce the Chelaxian influence on the baron somehow, are we authorized to offer him any inducements or rewards for returning to the Andoran fold?' "
Nathon draws a deep breath and waits for an answer. Are we simply an assassination team? Is the baron so deeply immired with Cheliax that that would be the least bloody path to securing the keep?
"I don't think there is room for negotiation since he bumped off the entire town council who were more anti-Chelaxian about a little less than a week now."
At this news Nathon frowns. His jaw muscles clench and he nods.
So that's how it is? He's turned into a bloody tyrant willing to kill anyone who blocks his path. Dakoyva is right about negotiations.
"Sir, do you have any material aid to give us?"
"I think we could spare some alchemical items, but that is it."
"Six against a whole keep? We'll take anything we can get. "
"Well technically more than 6, but I get the picture."
"Broken jaw or Broken neck, I'll bring you this Baron." He gives the General a smirk with that comment. Then chimes in with Nathon's comment, "Do you have goods for us to take and help our cover?"
"Since your going in as Caravan guards, you should not need a thing to help your cover as you already look the part."
"Tanglefoot bags," Simon says at the mention of alchemical aids, "and flash powder. Antitoxins. When you say Chels, you say devils, and those bastards like their poison."
"Can you tell us about any other members of the baron's court? Are any friends of Andoran left there?"
"Him bumping off the council, did not make him anymore friends, I'm willing to bet most of the folk want him bumped but won't stretch their necks out, but I'm betting a few would knowingly help you bump him off.
He still has his captain of the guard, who is loyal to him."
"Thank you, General."
Nathon leans back and waits to see what else the others may ask.
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Like I said, I am on board. but I got expense, and could use some equipment upgrades before going back into the field. What is this job going to pay, and how much of it is up front? This is gonna be rough and tumble. No time to go under cover and get a feel for who we can trust and who is still loyal to the baron. I am expecting combat pay.
"The Pay for this Job is 250 Platinum Pieces, each."
"The pay is on Completion of the job.
As some mercs take the pay and then do a double-cross,
So you can see where I'm coming from."
"Let us then be bound by a letter of commission," Simon says in a flat tone of voice. "To be signed between us, sealed, and registered with your authorities. Make it a secret letter if you must, but we shall have one, in case you are killed during our absence -- or for our survivors, should we all die on the job. If you pay for blood, then blood money is not too much to ask."
The amount of money seems fair to me and I have no problem being paid after the job is done, Darian's attitude seems to suggest he doesn't really care.
Looking at Simon he says, If you want to insist on a letter of commission, I have no objection. But since we're going to be infiltrating a potentially hostile town, posing as caravan guards, I don't think carrying a document saying we've been hired as spies/saboteurs (or worse) in with us, would be a good idea.
Darian pauses a moment, then gives a shrug, But that's just my opinion. he says.