Shall we return him to you or remove him as a problem?
While Rosa has been quiet this whole time, now she speaks up. "And, just on the off chance, what do you want done if he's actually got evidence?"
Cressida gives Rosa a sharp look, "Be careful what you imply. And I would be highly skeptical of any 'evidence' Verik has collected." She shakes her head, exasperated. "Something stinks about the whole situation. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm worried about."
"Vancaskerkin and his men have holed up in an butcher's shop up in Northgate. The place was called 'All the World's Meat', before it was abandoned as the riots began. I need you to check the place out. Try to avoid killing any of the deserters if you can, but if you must, they brought it upon themselves when they threw their lot in with Vancaskerkin."
"For him, I'd really prefer it if you could capture him alive and return him to me for interrogation, but if he makes that impossible, I'll accept his body as well. Finally, if you can find out why Verik deserted... if there's more to it than personal politics, I need to know immediately."
"Bring me Verik alive, and there's a thousand gold in it for you. Dead, he's only worth half that. Questions?"
Rosa shrugs. "Fair enough."
[B]"I'm not one to abandon my city when it needs me. I'll bring him back alive."
"We can bring him in alive, and we certainly will want to ask him why he deserted. Marshall Kroft, do you know how many men Vancaskerkin has? We may want to purchase some items such as thunderstones or smoke pellets to aid us."
Absinthe looks from one person to the next, but says nothing, her fingers toying idly with a fastening on her leather armour.
"I'm gonna pick up a sap to beat some sense into them. Some of you should get one as well."
"I know of at least four that left with him. And there's a good chance he's picked up a few more since."
"Do you know anything about him? Does he have family or friends here?"
"I don't know about his friends, but I'm fairly certain he has no family in the city."
"Guess we'll just have to play it by ear then. Let's be off."
Still without saying a word, Absinthe rises and joins Demitri when he leaves.
"A small number--we should be fine." Melianthe pauses to appreciate the lack of direct sunlight in the room, then shrugs and puts on her doctor's mask and departs with the rest.
"Hang on now, before we depart ... what's this fellow look like? Wanna make sure we get the right guy."
Cressida starts, then shakes her head, clearly embarrassed. "Of course. I forget that you've never met the guy... days without sleep will do that to you." She tries to smile and almost makes it. "Vancaskerkin's a handsome man, good physique and on the short side. He's got brown hair, cropped close. Never what I'd call the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was a natural around weapons. I hope that helps."
"And another thing I forgot... if you need a place to stay, I'll assign you a billet in the citadel. Or, if you prefer, I can arrange a line of credit to get you rooms and board at the Three Rings Tavern in Five Corners. The owner's a friend, and she runs a clean place. Let me know." She nods, mentally checking if she missed anything else. "That's all... good luck!"
"The Tavern sounds wonderful." Melianthe curtseys to the Marshall as a way of thanks.
"I'm alright with whatever accommodations we get. But I think the others would enjoy being at the Tavern."
"Very good... talk to Theandra Darklight when you get there." Cressida takes out an ink pen and paper, scribbling a quick note. "Give this to her, and I'll take care of the rest." She folds the paper, stamping it with a wax seal, and hands it over.
Scout the building from a safe distance.
Segang, ready to move out, asks again Shall we initially try to infiltrate this group, or is a more direct approach the way to go?
"Or we could send someone in and ask his intentions," Absinthe says with a casual shrug.
"I think we should stick together and just confront him. If one of us gets caught infiltrating, it'll just make him more hostile."
"I agree with Rosa and Seren. We should only move close to strike; it's risky to infiltrate or get close."
Good. I prefer a direct approach. Subterfuge might have yielded insights into motives, but likely this would be difficult to obtain.
Rosa spends hour asking around the North Gate streets, and learns enough to know that the store was evacuated when the riots began, soon after taken up by Verik and his cronies. They have given to calling themselves the 'Cow Hammer Boys', relating to their program of handing out free meat to hungry families in the local area.
When you make it to the shop, located at 22 Stirge St, from the end of the street you can see a line out the door of locals there for handouts. Those leaving carry white paper bundles, evidently their meat ration. The storefront bears a sign of a fat, smiling cow.
We will not make friends engaging these men in front of a crowd. They are popular with the locals. Let us watch for a while and see how long they remain open for business.
"You're right. We don't need to make a scene."
"One has sincere worries about the justness of our current employment," Absinthe mutters, eyeing the people with their free rations.
"...something's not right," Rosa bites her lip. "Where's all this meat coming from?"
"I'm assuming they stole it. And feeding the poor doesn't excuse them abandoning their post when the city needs them the most. The city is going to destroy itself."
"Maybe..." Rosa seems kind of hesitant. "I know the city is in anarchy right now, but wouldn't the rightful owners want that meat back...and with the law in such disarray, they would be using means other than harsh language and complaining to the guard. Especially since it only keeps for a day or two."
"Also a good point. You have an idea?"
Rosa sighs. "I think we need to figure out how this 'business' is working before we move in after all. There's something going on here we don't understand."[/b] Another moment of thinking. "Maybe I should line up for a meal. I think we can scare up something suitably destitute, and if I can 'accidentally' touch the proprieter's hand during a transaction I...well, sometimes get some insights into people."
"Do you wish company?" Absinthe asks. "One can be deceitful if necessary, and in Korvosa, one's kind is often... poor."
"Right. Keep focused on the surroundings." Rosa says. "I'll try to get a feel for the operator any way I can."
Absinthe bows her head in acquiescence. "One shall say naught, but will endeavour to look cowed and hungry," she promises.
"Maybe..." Rosa seems kind of hesitant. "I know the city is in anarchy right now, but wouldn't the rightful owners want that meat back...and with the law in such disarray, they would be using means other than harsh language and complaining to the guard. Especially since it only keeps for a day or two."
Not if there are killing and butchering other people's cattle daily.
"I am a master of disguise. I will endeavor to assist where possible."
"Don't eat it," hisses Melianthe. "We don't know what it's made of".
Melianthe looks at Segang and Demitri. "We're off of scouting detail again. Is there an eating place in these parts we should go to and while away the hour? ...not one that uses their meat as provender."
Rosa gives Melianthe a weird look at that before looking back to Seren. "Anything you can do to make me less recognizable will help..."
"I'm sure we can find a place to have a lovely meal."
Absinthe smiles impishly. "Perhaps you wish to borrow one's spare clothes this time?" she asks. "Rosa, carpenter's apprentice, will be very different from Rosa, scantily-clad priestess of Calistria, just to start with."
"Perhaps..." Rosa responds. "But they might be a tad too tight on me...all over, I mean, I'm a bit taller than you are..."
"Then it will handily distract males," Absinthe says, still smiling, "and add to the appearance of poverty." She actually giggles.
I can assist you in dressing... Segang offers with a smile.