A little while later Azarra and Ishat found themselves next the fireplace in von Urslingen's study, with steaming mugs of chai to warm them up.
"Really, a Mythal?!" said von Urlingen with both eyebrows raised. He let out a low whistle and before saying with wonder, "We knew the enchantments were powerful, but this has come as something of a surprise. Do you know what other properties it has? I've read that some Mythals are supposed to prevent ageing, others interdict undead or planar travel. I guess whatever the properties it didn't stop the city from falling, so hopefully nothing that will overly complicate the campaign to retake it."
Ser Armithia finishes polishing his armor; it looking resplendent for the auction.
I think that I gain weight...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Next afternoon the watchers of dawn assemble on the far side of the river just across from the Stojanow gate, in front of this is the ruins of a once very fine stone bridge that spanned the water.
Until recently to have crossed the water would have been death, but now it was just water. Behind you and well out of sight was a brigade of engineers with a portable pontoon. Once the signal was given and the doors opened, they'd wheel it up and the army behind them would storm the compound. Of course there was the small matter of opening the gates, and of the orb and the slaves.
From here the walls look very high indeed but Azarra has snuck inside before and you've earned a reputation as a resourceful bunch...
Ser Armithia asks about the citizens of New Phlan
WWYD?
Azarra and Ser gather some information about bankers going through the gate at 9, so she says
Okay, we disguise ourselves as bankers and go in after them, then duck into an alley and switch to orcs... sound good?
Ishta nods in agreement. It has some loose ends, but which plan doesn't? They'll have to trust their own skill to improvise.
We should have bought briefcases...
Good idea, Ser. We can pick some up on the way.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Armed with a frankly obscene amount of gold in trade bars you set out. First stop a high end tailor called Hannigans. After buying out all the briefcases and suits from the rather surprised merchant (it's not often they get paid in trade bars), the now very smartly attired Watchers of Dawn hang around the civilised side of the Stojanow gates waiting for the bankers to turn up. At the ninth bell of the afternoon on the dot the solemn procession of half a dozen mercantile houses best filed towards the gates.
Several rough looking half orc guides appeared and motioned the bankers forwards. As the group rounded a corner the watchers attached themselves to the back of the group with shrugs and smiles and small talk about the potential profits to be made at the auction.
The city guard patrol was evidently paid off because they where notably absent as the group was ushered into small boats and ferried across the water. On the far side a delegation of orcs greeted the group and performed a rather perfunctory search which started and ended with the exchange of a bag of coins. Your group was made to pay too, but at 150 gold you figured getting inside with a minimum of fuss was a bargain at twice the price.
Palms greased the orcs waved the group towards the gates and they shouted up a password in their beastial tongue and with much clanking the gates where opened a fraction and the group filed through. One of the oversized orc hounds growled at Azarra but a massive orc handler shouted at it and kicked it into submission without another glance at you.
Up close you where awed by the sheer size of the gates, over a yard thick and ten high. You couldn't imagine the force needed to batter though those that much iron, moving them must be hard enough. So far there'd been a lot of orcs, dozens in fact, but once you where inside they lost interest.
The orkish side of town was a huge contrast to civilised Phlan with no other humans or demi-humans in sight, with rat infested side streets full of rotting trash. Monsters of all shapes and sizes lurked or strode openly, all where armed, some looked particularly ferocious. You expected something terrible to happen, but it didn't and the procession was allowed to pass through the crowds.
The half orc guides steered the delegation of bankers through the market square towards a huge marquee tent although half way across the plaza they veered off to enter a dubious looking establishment with four huge heavily armed ogre guards outside. Human skulls on poles where everywhere here, out of which smokey candles cast their flickering radiance.
Ser Armithia--the Banker--travels along with the group. He smiles at the monster; winking and blowing kisses.
It seems that until we are departed from our money; we are safe.
The Paladin laughs.
And who says money can't buy happiness; or, at the least, a few minutes of life.
He just continues along acting as a banker; holding his new briefcase proudly.
Azarra listens for the password as they go through the gate, and her translator (trained on her last trip here), assists her in translating the Orc language used around her.
For now, following the bankers seems like a good idea, and maybe even a way to gather more important information, so they stick with it, but Azarra keeps her eyes and ears open for danger, in case they need to break off.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ishta sticks to where everyone else goes, trying to keep a low profile until the auction starts... and then possibly the fireworks.
The watchers disguised as bankers followed on the heels of the real ones into T'anguar's tannery and kitchen. Entering was an unnerving expirence, the ogre guards glowered at everyone but never moved so much as a muscle.
Inside the human skull motif was taken to the next level with the entire back wall made out of skulls.
The walls had several chalk boards on which the menu was written. Some of it seemed normal enough, beef etc but the specials included several cuts of human and spit roasted halfling at eye-watering prices.
At this time there where only a few troll and half ogre diners on long trestle tables and by the looks of it they where eating whole roast cow rather than something more objectionable. The group filed past this into a large dimly lit back room where it seems a reception of sorts was being put on for your or rather the banker's benefit.
Once everyone was inside the doors where locked and a goblin climbed onto a table which had been turned into a makeshift stage. In thickly accented common he addressed the bankers, "On behalf of Valint and Balk Greetings! I recognise many of you, representatives from august organisations such as The Iron Throne" He nodded at a pair on the left, "The Six Coffers Market Priakos and The Merchants League next to you."
Making an expansive gesture he added, "And to the new blood, welcome to the club! Tonight opportunity is in the air, the rulers of this place have invited us to run an auction: favours, slaves, items of power. Many desire these things, yet they lack our deep pockets. Finance is our hook, letting us to suborn kings and queens. The world gentlemen is our oyster, here's to greed!"
Winged tiefling waiters in gauzy clothing that left nothing to be imagined filed in carrying silver platters with flutes of sparkling ice-wine. The bankers started speaking excitedly, it seemed various individuals where due to enter and plead their case for loads to the assembled bankers.
Azarra shares the rumors with her friends in case they didn't overhear.
"This Zhent needs money? Si he could be hired... right?"
Ser Armithia mingles about the crowd. The Orc Banker proudly walks about the room; listening to the words of his enemies.
The goblin in the suit climbed back onto the stage and a hush fell upon the room. Sharing a nasty grin with the audience he said, "Right let's get started! First up is Anatoli from the Iron Fist mercenary corps, they recently fought for Procampur and while they acquitted themselves well the council didn't have the money they promised to pay them."
The goblin signed to the toughs at the door and a middle aged half elf in an ill-fitting suit walked nervously to the front. He looked tough as nails but he was sweating bullets. Taking a deep breath he addressed the company, "Well met, I am Anatoli Duval of the Iron Fist. We uh... Well we have a bit of a cash flow problem. Our fighting cohort is the strongest it's ever been, two hundred and fifty battle hardened veterans. Gentlemen we need a contract and. Well we need an advance and then..."
A hawkish looking man near the front of the audience interrupted him, "You're broke aren't you. When did you last pay your men?"
Anatoli sheepishly admitted, "A couple of months ago."
He was going to say more when the hawkish banker interjected, "I heard more than three months. Look Anatoli there's no doubting your men's experience but morale is horrible. You're perhaps a week from having nothing. We can help but..." he sucked his teeth before adding, "The Iron Throne will invest twenty five thousand in exchange for a twenty percent share."
Anatoli paled, "What? That's... You realise how expensive it is to run a mercenary company, if you take so much there'll be precious little left over after the split."
The banker shrugged, "I have a notion but please tell us, how much do you need?"
Anatoli replied, "Well ideally fifty thousand, but this wouldn't be money for nothing, you'd be buying the services of one of the premier mercenary corps in Faerun."
The banker scoffed, "You hear that gentlemen? Fifty thousand for a knackered cohort or two. No our offer is forty five thousand and a thirty percent share."
Looking very uncomfortable, Anatoli swallowed several times before asking sadly, "Is that your best offer?"
The hawkish Iron Throne banker nodded but a podgy one at the back spoke up, "Like the Iron Throne the Moneylenders' Coalition recognizes the parlous state of your treasury and your own naivety in trusting those Procampur Dogs. We'll offer sixty thousand up front and we only want a twenty percent share, but you need adult supervision in the form of a representative of our choice on your council of captains. Naturally we defer to your expertise in military issues but we will be selecting contrasts with your input of course."
Anatoli paled and looked sick and croaked, "Uhh anyone else?"
Several other bankers shook their heads, one adding, "Raith's offer is a good one, his organization will be a boon for yours."
65,000 gold didn't seem as great an amount as she previously thought when she overheard the bankers talking to the mercenaries. If she had unlimited funds, she would have bid herself, not wanting a mercenary company turned to nefarious purposes anywhere around here, but knowing about it was at least something.
She continued to listen.
Ser Armithia studies all these potential future foes.
Eventually a dejected looking Anatoli was seen talking to the Moneylenders' Coalition rep in a corner and scowling at the bit of paper he'd just signed.
After he was ushered out the goblin got back on stage and laughed, "Wasn't that just great? Well we're just getting started, here's some more desperate folk who need your money."
A parade of would be businessmen and adventurers who put forward their hair-brained schemes is seen and got saved by the bankers in return, money for an obscenely large share of their business.
After nearly an hour's worth of this you hear whispering of Lofferen's up next, wonder what he wants...
The goblin announces him by saying, "This one's a little different, Lofferen needs no introduction his reputation precedes him. Lets hear his proposal..."/[b]
A grim middle aged half-orc with a slim but powerful build detached from the shadows and sauntered to the podium. His body was a litany of scars, trophies of a dozen campaigns. He nodded to some of the bankers before saying nonchalantly, [b]"Got the word from upstairs, they want the orb for... Well never you mind, but I can promise it won't affect any of your businesses. It's going to be expensive and I can see you're wondering whats in it for you. We're offering a fifty fifty share in our next venture: Voonlar. We're the biggest landlord in there by far and it's about time to exert our influence. The local council is going to start taxing merchant caravans, of course exemptions can be made and profits shared..."
This got considerable interest with lots of hushed whispering between bankers.
Selling yourself out for gold?! Ugh! Kardas feels absolutely no pity whatsoever for the mercenary captain. In fact, it takes him a lot of effort to not scowl at the bastard.
Then, for the briefest moment, like a falling star just before dawn, Kardas feels a flash of respect for the half-orc as he barges on in. Said respect withers away instantly when it becomes apparent he's nothing but a thug-for-hire, a glorified breastplate-stretcher-fetcher. Scars or no scars, he's nothing but a boy, no matter how much violence he has seen. Voonlar? Isn't that Zhent territory? He can't remember, but this half-orc makes him feel like it has to be. Wait, is the half-orc a Zhent? Who cares. His ugly mug deserves to be bouncing about the endless plains at the end of a rope, dragged forth by a mighty Nar horse.
With a slight frown, he seizes up his companions and waits to see if any of them feel like weighing in on this offer. So far, they got nothing but silence on offer. "So you want our gold to ensure you can pay the thugs and afford the bribes to get you the gold you're promising us? A dragon builds its hoard through action and deeds, not by begging for investment and the promise of sharing what will come after fifty-fifty. Sorry, but this offer does not please me."
Utter disdain drips from his every word. And with the last word uttered, Kardas shifts in his chair so he no longer has to face the bastard thug. It's once again becoming altogether too apparent why the Moonsea is the hellhole it is: thugs, mercenaries, and merchants. An unholy trifecta if there ever was one, each part reinforcing and strengthening the other.
Like a true Raumathar, Kardas rejects these trappings of modernity.
Ser Armithia's silence speaks of a concurrence with the Northern banker
Ishta pretends she's nothing to do with Kardas' words. She believes there could be a profit in hiring done of these this, but sadly they have zero idea how much is the bid for the orb going to start at. What's more, when they finally decide to bid for something, they'll have to say in whose name they're bidding...
Lofferen looked down his nose at Kardas before shrugging, "You misunderstand, we are seeking a bridging loan for the orb and one of that magnitude requires sureties and inducements to make it worthwhile. The Voonlar venture will be very profitable, it's happening anyway with or without external investment. In fact this will be the only opportunity for investment because we simply don't need any."
Several bankers gave Kardas weird looks as if to say what are you doing fool, before clamouring to offer terms.
Ser Armithia turns his head over to Lofferen.
And what, pray tell, is the buy-in?
He smirks.
Without so much as blinking Lofferen deadpans, "Buy in is two thousand per share. I'm authorised to issue up to one hundred shares but unless the Thayan actually turns up we expect to require less than half of that. Options for thirty shares have already been earmarked, so if you want a slice of the pie you'll need to be quick."
Ser Armithia considers the words of the criminal.
Perhap, we can make a deal?
He looks at his group.
Allow us to confer.
With the group together, he whispers
Perhaps, we bank roll him; we have 2 chances at the Orb.
Azarra whispers
Are you crazy? That is the guy we *don't* want to have it. We aren't here to invest, and we don't have enough to get a controlling interest anyway. He already has 60,000 from other sources. We have 65. If we even have a prayer of outbidding him, we can't hand over any of our money.
"But he's allowed to offer a hundred shares, and at the pace the shares are selling, he's going to have it done in a short while. Then he'll have 200,000 gold to bid, and we don't even know if he brings his own funds."
Ishta thinks for a second before going on.
"Our only hope is to get him after the auction, or better, do our inside job proper. Now if we want to buy shares or not... I guess that would give us an excuse to get close to him, but that's up to you. Or we could try to not give him any more budget, as Azarra said, and outbid him, then if that doesn't work just stick to plan B. And maybe there are other interesting things to bid for."
Kardas is pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless, by the wit of his companions. "Obviously, I'm against bankrolling this buffoon, but your words show wisdom and wit, and all I have to counter it with is emotion. I withdraw my objection. Clearly, one could invest yet not fork over part of the dragon's hoard right away, leaving him short for what he's really after."
Azarra isn't sure whether it matters if the red-haired Wizard of Thay, Malugara, showed up. It seemed like they were going to be seriously outbid either way, but she passed the rumor to her companions in case they were able to glean any more useful insights from it.
She whispered back to Kardas
Oh, you mean fake investments? I withdraw my objections.
Ishta tries to recall any information about Malugara she might have collected back in Thay.
With little success...
Ser Armithia smiles.
Azarra; will you be our group--we need a fearsome name--spokeperson? I do concur that we will be more likely successful in our endeavor if we create a link to a probable buyer of the orb.
He winks at Lofferen.
Azarra rolls her eyes at Ser (where only he can see), but then straightens up and, all business again (in her generic banker face and attire), turns to Lofferen.
My colleagues have convinced me that a small investment in your cause could prove profitable to us. I represent the Dawnwatcher Investment portfolio, a subsidiary of the Cormanthor Trust, and we would be happy to bankroll an additional 30 options, payable in full after the auction if the bidding goes past the 30 options you already have, and provided you win. A few caveats however. We won't invest with you if any other single entity buys more than 30 shares. We wish to be the largest partner. Also, if you do not win the orb at auction, then while we remain committed to the investment of course, the terms of our agreement will need to be renegotiated, so some of the paperwork will need to wait until you are victorious. The orb is a large part of what makes the investment profitable, so we will require more oversight if the orb is controlled by another group.
Are we agreed?
"Cormanthor Trust... Is that new, or very old? Anyway 30 shares is a significant investment." You notice a gleam in his eye as he says that and the ghost of a smile on his scarred face.
Lofferen continued, "And you want to be the largest investor, the Iron Throne won't be pleased but they where offering onerous terms. I can't cut them out entirely you understand but I can halve their investment. I trust you can call upon the funds when needed this evening? If so then yes we have a deal. I believe this is the start of a very profitable business relationship, you'll find our network is a great ally. Especially if you have any little problems that need sorting out."
Ishta doesn't make the slightest motion, though inside she really doesn't get the reference. They have so many problems that she can't see which one of them could be called "little".