GM-Foxy's Homebrew Land

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

"And that I shall do. Thank you again for your remarkable craftsmanship."

Menan hands a pouch of coins to Torbin. "Thank you, sir. Impressive work"

"You're welcome. If you have more work of that kind, bring it all."

"If so there is nowhere else I would go. Good day, Torbin."

Arawyn heads to the City Guard to practice with her new blade.

Menan heads to the Chapel of Pharasma.

The chapel is empty this time. A quick search on the premise turns up Father Grimburrow doing some gardening on the cemetery.

"I do envy you clerics from time to time. What a nice way to pass the time."

"You're free to join me today." Grimburrow offers. "But I don't think you'd really want my kind of life. You'd be bored to death within a week."

"This way of life chooses you. Not the other way around."

Menan joins the cleric. "I suppose you are right about that. I attended service yesterday at the Temple of Abadar. My first time in a temple for that one. It seemed so secular. More of social gathering that reinforces rank. Have you insight that I might glean on this particular temple?"

"Everyone has their preconceptions of the pious. And I can assure you that there are differences between some faiths that can't be bridged."

"There is the additional charm of Abadar being about money, trade and cities. Et voila... That is an oversimplification, by you get the idea."

"Thank you. That completely fits my observations. I did meet a cleric at the House of Flame. The female elf did not give me a favorable first impression. Big red flag there. I do not know if she is representative of the other clerics there. I do not think I will risk attending a service there."

"Their services are not to everyone's taste. But if you ever get to raid a temple of Urgathoa mid service, to get to the bottom of that undead plaque, you'll see what I mean by 'can't be bridged'"

"So true. I look forward to attending your service next week. On another subject, I had a meeting with one of the Marinelli boys. His name is Massimo. A fine, respectful young man with a knack for doing honest business if my first impression is correct. Noticed him at the Temple of Abadar. He was alone."

"Interesting. How did you come to that conclusion?"

"We discussed the half of an idea I had about opening a trade route to my native Kyonin. While he could find no more demand than I could, he was open to meeting with a nobody with no plan and left the door wide open should I come up with something. Even hinted that he might fund the right plan. As I get to know Abadon better, perhaps I will perceive a need that could be met. I learned yesterday of lack of wine selection in the nicer part of town. Not sure that is my calling." Menan chuckles.

"You're aware of the issue with wine provided by Marinelli, right? I wonder what effect broadening the selection would have on that." Grimburrow gives Menan a sceptical look.

"I am aware of that situation. Sounds messy with little profit and possible repercussions in my opinion. I am not ready to tread that water quite yet."

"So, did you find out anything that would help our case to end that protection racket?"

"I learned that the businesses I spoke with are not willing to put up any type of resistance. Two girls that are not affected by it are the only ones I have found that take issue. Maybe these businesses will just pay forever. If they do, the price will increase. Mark my words. I know bullies. I hate to witness an injustice, but those victims have a duty to themselves and their fellow townfolk to do something about this."

"If it were your business. What would you do about it?"

"I would not pay."

"That is the obvious part. But what would you do then? Maybe you'd call their bluff and that's it. But probably it's not."

"They could come and topple over some of your furniture. They could pester your patrons, so you run out of business. They could even come at night, set your house aflame. So what would be your preparations for the likely case that it isn't only a bluff?"

"I tend to over prepare. Perhaps I am no businessman. The truth seems to always come out eventually. What would you do, father?"

"I have no clue. That was a serious question. If you can come up with a plan to weather the time until Marinelli's thugs give up on the business, I might be able to convince some of the shop owners."

"Over-preparing might be a good thing in this situation."

"The girls and I will aid you in whatever manner you may devise. They are quite resourceful."

"Then bring them along and we can brainstorm something."

"One of them has a job on the docks. As soon as she is done we can join you. A formal complaint is an option I have shelved as I do not know the law and the captain of the city guard seems uninterested in anything truly petty like a beat down. A formal complaint would only finger the complainant should street justice be necessary."

"Then let's meet this evening. At Zokar's general store. How about 6 o'clock?"

"See you then."

Menan and Arawyn will head to the docks a little before quitting time to locate Persephone.

After a long day of work Persephone collects her pay and leaves the office. As she notices the pair of elves she walks over.

"You here again?" Persephone wonders. "Another business meeting?"

"Father Grimburrow would like us to meet him at Zokar's general store at 6pm regarding the wine."

"Oh. I hope it's a tasting and we don't have to give a report on our progress so far."

"We need to pick up Faerveren somewhere."

A short trip past The Pig's Whistle and the whole troupe arrives at Zolkar's General store.

Zolkar invites Menan and the ladies in. "Welcome to my shop. Father Grimburrow is already in. Please go through to the kitchen and take a seat."

He closes the door after them, locks it and turns the Open/Closed sign.

Father Grimburrow welcomes all and does the introductions. "My friend Zolkar here is one of the people who was strongly advised to buy this overly expensive wine to avoid interruptions to his daily business. I suppose it hits him even more than others as no one buys expensive wine at a general store. While the restaurant of Burston might sell it to the guests and at least get even on the cost, Zolkar here can drown his frustration about it in the wine."

Grimburrow takes a sip from the mug of water in front of him. "So we're here to come up with a plan to end this scenario. Part one of the plan would be to tell those thugs to get lost with their wine. That is obvious. The interesting part is now to come up with something to prevent the thugs from making true their rather vague threats."

"So, if you have any ideas, tell them."

"That's a jump in at the deep end. I know you a little." she tells, looking at Grimburrow. "I know those two a little more." she continues in regards to the elves "and this seemingly nice and jovial Zolkar not at all."

"So before we talk plan we'd need a proper introduction and a reference frame to work in. For starters: Are we invoking the law, or are we taking things in our own hands. And if the latter, how far are you willing to go?"

Persephone believes that most at the table are pansies that won't go beyond defensive preparations.

"Let's not go overboard immediately." Faerveren objects. "For 10 gold a week one can pay a lot of guards to make sure nothing happens to the shop. And maybe Menan can get the City Guard interested in this. He has the ear of one of their leaders, right?"

"True, Faerveren. And I like your approach. Can we get the merchants to sign something that I can take to the City Guard?"

"You mean a criminal charge?" Zolkar inquires.

Persephone rolls her eyes. I could be sitting opposite to Isabella with my second ale for the evening. "I've got a dry throat. Can I get something to fix that?"

"I'm sorry, I'll get something." Zolkar fetches four more mugs and a jug of water. He fills the mugs and puts one in front of every one of the guests.

"What would we write into such a document?"

"A formal request for intervening action?"

"No problem" Zolkar replies. He gets up and fetches some paper, a quill and ink. He sits down and quickly writes down the formal request.

Honored Authority of the City Watch.
I'd like to bring to your attention, that some thugs come to our businesses every Wednesday to sell overpriced wine. They have insinuated that bad things might happen to our business if we don't buy the bottles. This is a heavy burden to our profit and we ask you to put an end to those fraudulent business practice.

Zolkar Elkarid

"Done. Now only the others have to sign it and you can get the City Watch involved."

"In case the city watch doesn't put two guards at every shop for the foreseeable future, where would one hire guards for that job? Could we hire actual city guards to do that on their spare time?"

"Or an alarm system, that allows for each to call for help, so we only need one set of guards? Or buy guard dogs? There has to be some thing or the other you could throw money at to solve that."

"Once again I concur with your ideas, Faerveren. When I present the complaint, I will know what king of resources you will get. My guess is none until a crime is committed. I also like the private guards. I can inquire if no one here know of a resource."

"While you're at it, please inquire what they would deem a crime worth their involvement. And what that involvement would be. Because I don't think a 'Beware of the Thugs' sign would do."

"Now that you mention it. What became of that ghost? I'm uncomfortable having an undead around town. If the city watch indeed does nothing about it, I have to take a look into that."

"I can certainly inquire as to these matters."

"One day time to clarify and hire. That's challenging."