Big death in my family. I will be back by the end of the week. Apologies.
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Merek nods. Let's check around see what is going on. I will reach out to our group and see if anything else is nearby...
The halfling jumps at the statement and waves a hand, No no, not me, no money for me. I will begin in earnest but there will be a time where you will wish to submit a series of petitions and a brief. I will provide the paper, you will provide the funds to the other parties at that time!
Merek offers a curt shake of his head, Likely little. We are the outcasts after all. Much money has been expended on this attempt. I am sure local work is not beyond our abilities though so if you think this is a path worth pursuing, I will aid in making coin or helping to find work.
Merek scratches at his chin, Rivals mostly. Little in the way of friends. My impression has always been he holed up to avoid confrontations. I think your instinct of using the legal system's legitimacy is a good one but that apparently comes with a price.. The assassin offers a slight shrug as though to say "who knows".
Honestly I am at work and coming and going so I don't see a reason to straight up pause. I mostly just don't want a day or two of silence to be interpreted as anything but chaos in the day to day.
Merek scratches at his chin, What ARE our other options? We know the wizard has many magical defenses so we know direct is a poor choice. Surely gearing up to survive that will be more expensive. This legal route of flushing him out is complicated though...do you have any suggestions?
The halfling makes no secret he is put-off by the pairs arrival and he seems further annoyed as Merek takes to wandering the room in the background while Vacutaz passes over the documents. Still he is soon enthralled in the work and after thirty minutes or so he neatly places the stack on the table and looks over it at Vacutaz. You will need at least three thousand gold pieces and I will need at least three days. The money is not for me, allow me to be clear. YOU need to payoff certain people. People who will not be as...erm...motivated as I am. I will need the three days to navigate a couple of options I see here and discuss with my network what arrangements are the fastest and most...cost effective.
The woman oscillates between confused and thankful as she rises and signals to wait a moment. She leaves to the back and retursn a few moments later gesturing for the pair to follow the hall and enter a side door. Doing so, Vacutaz and Merek find themselves in an office that is decenlty grand for most larger humans and probably seems larger still fora halfing. The space accommodates a number of bookcases, a large desk with chairs facing it as well as a side sitting area with a pair of couches, a side table, a center low slung table and a pair of overstuffed chairs. The halfling seems quite frazzled and but rises and stands next to the desk, gesturing for the pair to sit. Humm ha...good day...gentleman.
The next day comes and the pair of assassins as more mundane fellows enter into the office of Fondrick Looseleaf a few minutes before their appointment. The building (the same as where he lives merely the bottom floor of it) is arranged in such a way that an ample seating area with a small desk faces the only door coming in from the street. A gnomish woman sits at the desk working on sundry papers and she looks up and smile congenially, Hello sirs and may I ask your name and if you have an appointment?
I will get us back and moving in earnest in the next couple of days if you are still on board. Apologies for the delays...
Merek offers a short shake of his head to indicate he has nothing else. The pair of assassins depart leaving the halfling shivering in his bed...
The little man gasps, On my word I will not suffer your men to pay a single bronze coin to my efforts!
Merek stands stone still, clearly letting Vacutaz choose the engagement on his own terms. The halfling can barely stifle a nod but manages to confirm that he will do what he is commanded to do.
Gmery:
[/dice] The halfling simply wets himself as he sobs...
Impossible? Free? Do you know the money this country requires to do the sort of work you intend for me to do? Bribes! Forgeries! Expert testimonies! I have some modest means but I assure you that most of that price tag is a reflection of the outcomes you expect! Do you threaten to salughter with dull knives? Unfinished clockwork?
The room is rife with small trinkets and various pieces of art. Like many of his race it is clear this halfling believes that life is worth living and so has chosen to make his home pleasing to the eye and experience. The lawyer comes alive with fright as he sputter to consciousness yet for all his fear all he can seem to say is, SO? SO? SO?
The lock slides open easily under Vacutaz' expert attention. Opening the glass door there is a sudden sound of light snoring as the assassins are able to enter right into the bed area of the large open floored apartment. The lawyer sleeps soundly, unaware of any presence...
Vactuaz pivots off the hand up with ease and makes it to the balcony. Merek is fast behind him, climbing up almost like a wriggling snake. Now secure on the second floor Merek nods at Vacutaz to open to door to enter...
Confidence still shaken Vacutaz once again struggles to make his way. Merek responds all together differently this time putting a hand on Vacutaz's shoulder then gesturing to the investigator and moving his arms as though to coach the younger man to stop, breathe, and then try again. Merek then cups his hand and tilts his head to the climb with a very business like bearing.
Gmery:
As Vacutaz approaches the building peice of turf beneath the investigator's feet reveals itself to actually be dung of some kind. Not only does he slip into the side of the building with a resounding thud but the newly broken feces now smell quite acrid and present on Vactuaz's foot. Trained to be ready for the consequences of an alarm Vacutaz wheels in readiness only to Merek almost on his knees, his body obviously shuddering with laughter. The assassin stands and quietly clears his throat only to double over one more time before finally rising and signalling with his hands that he is ready though Vacutaz can tell the man is still chuckling a bit.
With Merek's help Vacutaz and his "mentor" find themselves outside the apartment of Fondrick Looseleaf, resplendent in dark crimson to black attire that sports the markings of the Mantis. The halfling lives in an apartment that makes the second floor of a modest building in a more expensive section of town, the rent surely fetching a highly unreasonable rate for only a few hundred sq feet. The climb up to a balcony which the pair believes leads right to Fondrick's bedroom seems likes a simple affair. Merek gestures to Vacutaz to lead the way...
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The biggest hindrance to Vacutaz's plan is the lack of his knowledge of the local legal scene and its myriad intricacies. Despite this, the assassin is able, over the course of about two weeks, meet with a number of various experts and bureaucrats and eventually lands on a hafling lawyer named Fondrik Looseleaf who seems willing to help in this rather rare against the land and willing to aide in securing the "right" documentation to serve. The hitch, however, is the matter of price as Fondrick asks for 5000 up front to cover expenses with twice that amount due on successful completion of the case, regardless of verdict.
Lets do.... 5 diplomacys, 2 knowledge locals, 2 Sense motives and 2 bluffs.
Oh wow, hope everything is all right -Posted with Wayfinder
Merek considers the proposal and nods, Sounds well enough like a plan. Vacutaz has a good sense of where to start but knows that no one with that level of expertise will get him in the door in the next day or two. Confident that he can make inroads, however, the question of rest comes up. Merek knows of a safehouse closer to the outskirts of town that is available but it is bare and affords a modest lifestyle. There are inns , even one with a "discount" for Red Mantis members but that costs coin...
In what is perhaps the most efficient trip to a bureaucracy in the last 100 years, Vacutaz a few hours later manages to find himself and his would be "mentor" sitting in a small side room the library with a number of magically created copies and some tomes of particular interest about the laws of Taldor past and present. Merek paws through the pages muttering to himself, So this was the release of the lands to his family in...and then this one was the writ of allowance to craft a castle rather than a homestead....these are the accorded rights of small payments due to timber easements on the western parcel...I...then what is this one or....maybe that one is the easement...I'm not sure anymore. The tattooes assassin pinches his nose and sighs, I confess that this is not the tack I thought you might take but there is a lot of information here and we are not lawyers. Should we rest? See about finding some help in sorting through all...this... The man waves at the pile of papers and books.
Vacutaz has a general notion of what area of twon the types of offices he wants are and even that he needs to probably, first and foremost, the hall of records.
Merek nods and waves Vacutaz to lead on...
Merek and Vacutaz board a medium sized passenger ship called "Windsome Promise" and begin the relatively long journey to Oppara, the capital of Taldor. Double crewed the ship almost never stops and the captain seems to know a great number of the fickle currents and wind paths that cut more than a fair share of time off of what is normally an almost three month trip getting the two assassins and 4 other passengers to Taldor in closer to 16 weeks. Merek gives Vacutaz a fair amount of leeway, not particularly pressuring the new assassin to any form of training though he does ask to share at least one meal a day to go over various details of the mage and the trip that lies ahead once off the ship. To the extent that Vacutaz is interested in sparring or working on his other skills Merek is fine to create tests and fight and so on. Once in Oparra the pair will make contact with a local agent of the Red Mantis who will provide the newest information available about Filladen the mage and his compound. Based on that info and other factors the pair will desicde how best to get to Karakuru, the small town down River Porthmos were Filladen's compound is. By the time they land Vacutaz is familiar with Filladen down to even intimate marks on his body, his methods of movement and last known speaking patterns. Really the largest gap in the Red Mantis knowledge of the man is understanding why he has chosen to hole himself up the way he has since all evidence suggests the contracts to kill him came AFTER his self imposed exile. Merek notes that there is an opportunity for a detour, if Vacutaz wishes, as there have been rumours of a tomb outside of Old Sehir that houses an object that can suppress magic which may be useful assuming it is at all true and/or actually still present at the tomb. The pair land and debark from the ship midday and the world not rocking or swaying feels strange for a moment. Merek looks at the ski a moment and shrugs, We are so early our contact may not be reachable yet. I will send word once we have found a place to stay. In many cases the Mantis has safehouses and prearranged accommodations but I confess that I rarely take advantage of them as I find myself not as welcome to be...well...me. Any preference on where we go?
Sounds good. In fact, have a Handy HAversack for your trouble. Every mobile assault team...er...assassin should have one.
We will go by boat this time. We can use time to go over what the order knows and formulate your fist steps once we are closer to our mark. Take the rest of the day to walk the city, procure any outstanding tools that might aid you and to prepare yourself for the transition into being a Red Mantis Assassin in earnest... Merek offers a wink and throws a pouch at Vacutaz containing small gems worth 2,000gp
So weird I totally answered this...stupid phone. Of course not, go for it!
Merek shrugs, Hard to say really. Rumor has it that he makes constructs to patrol his estate and that he has managed to erect new buildings on his property in hours not days. So clearly a skilled mage at least in the arts of Abjuration. But this contract has a special hold on it, we receive funding for it annually. Whoever wants this man dead pays well to see it done and we have lost 3 in the process.
Tricky in Taldor is about getting to a man who has refused to leave his home in 5 years and is a powerful enough wizard that he need not have anyone attend to him.
Merek lets out a barking laugh, Its only retirement from ME, there is no escaping the Mantis now except through the grave. The assassin contemplates Vacutaz for a moment and then holds up his hands, You can pick I think. You tugged on a strong thread on behalf of...well....you initial advisor. He values his name so I will not spoil it but the death of that fellow in the inn was the beginning of a larger set of knots to undo. We can deal with that OR I have something in Taldor that is outstanding, a bit of a tricky problem that, well, is getting to the point it needs to be dealth with...
Advisor perhaps? I will convey your missions and provide my opinion. You can ask for guidance and in some circumstances I will provide support. I am skilled in many arts, so in a sense you may learn from me but you are not "mine". In fact I am to convey that at any time you have one chance to pick a different path. Merely take this to a temple of Achaekek, place it where you think it best belongs and arrangements will be made to redrect you... Merek produces and tosses to Vacutaz a small brass rod that is rectangularly faceted. It has some subtle writing on it but it looks like gibberish.
The man nods and pours a healthy two finger draw of the rum and passes it to Vacutaz, I keep such odd hours I honestly don't worry about it anymore. The man takes a healthy sip and sighs, This works much in the way you might expect and in little ways you might not. My name is Merek. There is little power in knowing that, of course, because few do and those that do know, know everything so it holds little power...but I have been wrong about such things before. Merek finishes his drink and sets his glass down, opting to pull himself on the narrow counter behind the bar and sit. The man moves competently but is not especially graceful in the attempt, You asked for the strange problems. The hard problems. Well I am a strange and hard problem for the organization so you get me. I am supposed to be dead, but I am not. I am supposed to be somber and earnest in my conviction to the group, I am not...but I get results...mostly because I tend to see things... The man gestures to his body and its obvious oddness, Differently than many. The man rocks side to side a bit as though to settle in place, his hands on the bar between his legs as he looks over Vactaz thoughtfully, You won't be able to mimic me, if that is a thought you are having. The tattoos will hurt you. Not that you should, really, as I said there is little advantage in knowing me but that can change, if we work together, to do what should be asked of us and sometimes do what we think should be done even if not asked...
The robed figure steps forward, pulling of the robes and gloves. What remains is a man, perhaps in his late forites with short cropped silver hair and a strong jaw. His left eye is a strong emerald green, his right eye a solid mass of glistening black. Dressed in loose pant tucked into the boots and a long black tunic featuring wooden toggles, the man's outfit is sleeveless which emphasizes the strength in his arms. His entire right arm is covered in intricate geometric designs in a subtle purple and white color that travels the distance of the arm up to his neck and neatly divides his face in half. (Right side tattooed, left not.) Silver earrings adorn his right ear (3 hoop, 2 studs) and 3 silver rings aodrn his right hand. (pointer, ring and pinky) He smiles, softly and easily as he sets his robe down and passes Vacutaz to approach the bar proper, Mystery is a big part of the organization, I confess. For my part, I am conspicuous, so try to move and act subtly when out in public...even in a safe place. I have...concerned parties of my own, even within our organization. The man riffles for a bottle which seems to contain exceptionally dark rum and pours himself a glass. He gestures the bottle at Vacutaz, Drink?
The door to the bar opens and the small brass bell that hangs on the frame rings gently. A hooded figure wearing a simple brown robe, plain looking brown boots and brown gloves, enters the bar and pulls the door closed firmly behind it. There is an obvious sound of the lock being manipulated as the figure then turns to consider Vacutaz but does not otherwise move or enter the room. The figure simply places its gloved hands over each other at its waist says nothing.
Vacutaz's contact sits with three other individuals: a woman who looks exactly like part of the motely crew of game players that was part of the previous nights test, a small bone white gnome with black hair (a bleachling) and an elf with elaborate facial tattoos. Simply gesturing to the would be assassin, Vacutaz launches into his pitch, stating with simple earnestness what he thinks his role should be. The woman visibly rolls her eyes while the bleachling fidgets in his chair as he considers the man before him. It is the elf and the pirate that seem more calm and they pass a glance between them. The elf gently bows his head and clears his throat in what appears to be an act of deference. The group of all four people rises and move to leave. The pirate places a hand on Vacutaz's should as he passes by, Stay here. He will be here soon. Vacutaz is left alone in the empty bar, siting and waiting.
You real name is Hauser.... :)
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