Fhingle knows about the salt works but nothing overly specific, "I am going to check on Rexus. Logan you should come as well to meet him."
Fhingle moves to Rexus' room, bringing a pot of coffee with him, "How is the research going Rexus?'
Fhingle walks a bit around town with Logan, through the Salt Gate and past the Salt Works . Getting an idea what they look like. But from the outside there is nothing to see.
The young man is startled by this bold approach. "I, eh..., have no, ... I mean I have but, ..."
Out of some side alley comes anther cloaked figure, hood deep in the face, looking down to hide the face. She directly approaches Saul. Once she looks up it becomes clear it is Zea. "Hello. We want to ask you to show us, how you do your work of finding things and saving people. We want to join you."
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Saul nods gruffly, and invites the two of them into his office.
"I'm glad to hear it. We all want to stop the Thrunes and put some level of control back into our lives. With your help, we are that much closer. You want a lesson on being a gumshoe, I will give it you."
Saul takes the rest of the afternoon to teach the tieflings about developing informants, how to press a stool pigeon, how to pay a bribe and what the right amount is based on the circumstances, how to spread rumors without getting caught, the value of stakeouts, and other fine points of being a private investigator.
As the tieflings depart, Saul gives them their first assignment. "Two things to do. First, spread the name Jackdaw and the phrase "Jackdaw lives!" Jackdaw is an old hero who championed the people way back in some old wars. He is a symbol. Our symbol, to give people hope! Graffiti that phrase wherever you can, but don't get caught. Second, keep your ears open. Any rumors of people being oppressed by the Dottari. Any rumors or sightings of devils or strange creatures. Bring it back to me, and me and my friends will act on it."
The pieces of this puzzle are falling into place. Hope spreads.
As Saul opens his office, two more tielflings join to come in with him. They listen intently to the explanations. But with their first assignment they are not too happy. "You know, the tieflings are blamed with everything anyway. But if we get caught painting Jackdaw on a wall, I think it will cause repercussions for all tieflings." Zea tells
"It's enough that these Red Jills give us a bad name."
"Well Logan what do you think we can do about the salt place?"
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Logan looks up at the Saltworks buildings, and says to Fhingle,
"If there's someone inside that we should be rescuing, they're probably meant to stay in there. That means we won't be able to simply walk through the front door. I wonder if there's another way in. Let's look around a bit more and then maybe we can do some asking around. Maybe somebody knows something about this place that could help us."
The Salt Works consist of a large building with two entrances and a small building with one entrance. And between them is a yard with a fence around. As none of the buildings has windows, nothing offers as further entrance or to look into them.
"It's a group of thieves that wear red cloakes that steal from the commoners. Since Thrune is in Kintargo, they have become bolder." Zea elaborates.
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"Well now...This is exactly the type of thing I was hoping your group could tell me about. This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship, gorgeous. Do you know where they operate from? Or... would you be willing to see if you can puzzle that out? I have a friend who would be perfect in knocking some skulls."
"Sure, we can keep an eye out, like you told us and see what we find out." Zea replies and the others agree. This is along their abilities.
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"I have heard about a band of thieves located somewhere on the eastern slope of Temple Hill. Maybe those are the Red Jills. Could you see if you could pinpoint the location for me, Zea? And slowly spread word about Jackdaw, eh? Maybe not graffiti. Use your judgement. You should spread word about the Silver Ravens, too. That's Jackdaw's group. Let's get the citizens to start to wonder who these people are."
"Aye sir. On our way." The group is chipper with excitement about their first assignment. "Something else? Or shall we start immediately?" Zea inquires.
The group leaves and goes to work immediately.
"DO you think the people who work there go to the bar afterwards? I know Maggie and her people like to go to the bar to find out things." Fhingle says
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Pleased that things are finally coming together. I feel like we have momentum... investigating the tieflings problem, finding a new ally in the little dragon, and now maybe doing a nighttime raid on the Saltworks. The name of Jackdaw and the Silver Ravens will soon be spoken in fear by the Dottari, and in reverence by the common folk.
Speaking of the Saltworks, let's see if I can learn anything about it while Logan and Fhingle also do their thing.
Saul heads out to the Saltwork vicinity, and attempts to learn more about the building from the locals on the street, under the guise of searching for a cat that went missing in the area, and Saul indicates that it snuck into the building.
"Shovel salt. Every day from morning 'til evening." The old man replies. "Don't miss the work, but the money." he tells. "But I have ta go now. That silver doesn't earn itself." he tells Saul goodbye.
The eyes of the man widen. "Must be a very pretty cat. You can make a living of searching them and pay me two silver? Whoa!"
"Of course I can tell ya. I've been there for years, ya know. There, that small building is the barraks, where the workers sleep. At least those who have no home."
"And there that round part is where they dry the salt. It's kind of the basement as it is lower than sea level to let the saltwater in. But if your kitty is there, then it's drowned or dried out."
"On this level is the front office, a storage, the furnace and the manager's office. Nothing special. But I think if they found a cat, they'd thrown it out."
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To Fhingle, "Good idea. If Maggie and her people are more of a normal sight in a bar, they'd be less likely to get a reaction if they ask questions. You and me, we might raise a few too many eyebrows.
If you want to go back to the hideout and ask them about it, I'll head to the docks. I suppose I still might have a job there. Maybe someone will know more about this Saltworks place. If they won't talk, well...a little drink might do the trick."
He pats his hip flask as he says this last part.
While Logan ogles the Salt Works an old drinking buddy of him from the docks comes by. "Eh, Logan. Looking for a second job here? You should stay away from that. Since that grumpy sadistic dwarf took over the Salt works with the Dottari there is nothing to get there anymore. You come along for a drink and some nice gal? I'm headed for the Three-Legged Devil."
Fhingle sees that Logan is busy and excuses himself to head back to the coffee shop, there he seeks out Maggie and her friends.
"Maggie, do you think you can look into the bars about the Salt place, salt works I think it is called? We just need to know how to get in and find a person." Fhingle asks
"It's someone installed from House Thrune. Never met them. But you can search my rooms for a gold any time you want." the man offers.
"From my experience, I'd say go there. Check if the one who you want out is guarded. If not, try to break in silently. Else kick in the door. Maybe try a distraction. Either don't get seen, or leave no witnesses." Maggie lectures. "Want us to come along?"
"Well you are good at sneaking, do you think if we make a distraction you could break someone out? I need to talk with Laria again to get a good description of the man." Fhingle moves off to find Laria, once he does and no one is around he will ask for a better description
"We are going to try to break your friend out, I need a good description so we get the right guy."
"Break out all, then you have the right one for sure. Also you can ask their names. It's Forvian Crowe and his mercenary group." Laria replies. "I guess by now they are all men with beards. I don't think a description will help you much."
"Ok so break everyone out, that will cause some issues for the new mayor won't it?" Fhingle isn't 100% sure on the last bit
"Sure it will. Don't get caught. This is no baking club." Laria replies with a smile.
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Saul makes his way back to the Longroads late in the afternoon, finding Fhingle talking to Laria. He lets them know of their new tiefling allies and what he learned of the Saltworks, but rubs his eyes and yawns. "In any case, Little Mac, I don't think we should go there tonight. I am bushed after last night's extra activities. Could we plan on tomorrow night? Maybe Logan will come back with something new, and in anycase I want to be at my sharpest. Just stopped by to say that, but I'm headed back to the office. I'll plan on seeing you in about 24 hours, ok?"
"That seems like a long time, I have asked Maggie to join us on our rescue missin as well, Laria thinks we just throw open the gates and get them all out." Fhingle fires off in rapid succession. "We could try it do you think?"
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"Corvin! As I live and breath! Yes, let's get some drink. I think the Three-Legged Devil is a great idea. You can tell me more about this dwarf running the salt mines."
Logan follows his friend to the bar and buys the first round.
"So my friend, tell me about this dwarf. Who'd he take over operations from?"
"You really want to work there?" Corvin asks in disbelief. "They took it from the previous owner. It's told he didn't pay his taxes. Who knows where he is rotting now." he takes a swig from the ale.
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"Well, you said he was a sadistic little bastard, didn't you? That doesn't really make it sound all that appealing. Plus, I've got enough trouble holding down a job at the docks.
It's interesting, though, isn't it? A punishment for not paying back taxes that involves the Dottari? Doesn't that seem like overkill? Sounds like maybe there was something else driving that hostile takeover.
You heard anything about that place that would make the powers-that-be want to be in charge?"
"The profit?" Corvin suggests, and puts his attention to the girls around.
Taking a closer look you notice that the legs here only come in pairs and are not cloven ones. Even though the name - Three Legged Devil - suggests otherwise. But if you had a spouse waiting at home those legs could just as well lead directly to hell.
After another short evening of fun and a peaceful night during curfew a new morning dawns.
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Logan awakes with his head feeling like it had grown three sizes over night. He glances in the bed next to him and sees one of the girls from the night before. Still pretty, even the morning after. I'm getting better at this.
He dresses and gathers his things, taking the stairs down to the now quiet bar. He doesn't see Corvin anywhere. Must still be sleeping it off. Oh well...
With that, he leaves the bar and heads back to the coffee house to tell the others what he's learned.
Fhingle gets up and uses the chamber pot, then goes up stairs to help Laria open the shot and get things set up.
"Morning Laria, I won't be around much today as I have another job to get to as well today." After setting things up, Fhingle makes his way back downstairs to get Maggie and her crew ready
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Logan walks into the coffee shop, although "stumbles" might be a better word to describe his method of entry.
"Coffee please Laria. My head feels like it grew overnight."
He takes the coffee with him down into the hideout and sees that Fhingle is already here.
"Mornin' Fhingle. Is Saul in yet? We've got to make sure we're all on the same page before we decide our next move."
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Saul arrives to base by mid-afternoon, having spent a cathartic morning getting his life in order. And mentally preparing for what he sees as a challenging night.
But when he arrives, he is all business.
Saul calls the group together: Fhingle, Logan, Maggie and her sisters, and they talk underneath the pile of boxes where their favorite dragon lounges, like a group of servants supplicating their king.
"The Saltworks. Laria wants us to bust out a friend, but sounds like there are other slaves there too, who may join our cause if we get them out. What did you all learn yesterday?"
"SO we make a big distraction to get peoples attention and then get out who we can?" Fhingle says, "Laria said her friend is a mercenary and has friends in there as well."
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"It's going to have to be something big enough to distract any guards long enough for us to find and arm the prisoners."
Logan looks up at Vendalfek, perched on the crates and boxes above the group's head.
"Is there something you can do that would be along those lines, O Powerful and Mischievous One?"