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Phil, this is the thread where we can handle items for your faction specific quests.
To recap, we last left off with you working to convince a prison guard to allow you to transfer a prisoner to the cell block of the Gnolls gang, led by halfling Rivak Redburn. Rivak wants to press the smith into work on his currently held smithy, to produce weapons and/or armor for sale, making him wealthy over the course of his remaining 3 year sentence.
You've met with the guard once, but will need to further convince him of this course of action, before he'll agree to help you in any way.
You've also reached out to Akiros, inquiring about his demeanor, as well as to any help you might offer. He has remained aloof and you believe you'll probably need to build a friendship with him prior to garnering any information and attempting to reform him.
I attached the relationship rules along with the link to this forum in an email to you.
Thanks
~Tim
Hey Tim,
Thank you for setting this up. So lets play :)
I asked the Guard Kovach to give me two hours and I would be back to concluded our business. In that time I did the following:
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I wrote a message to MC Maldris that was sent by courier –
Sir.
Have made arrangements for the next three years as requested. Payments must be made in installments. The sum of which is 300 gold per month. The first of which has been paid. Please send payment to R. Redburn care of G. Kovach. In a timely manner to insure to secure the item in question.
Your servant,
Eli
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Next- I wrote a message to Guildenstern and Rosencrans
G and R,
I may need your help with a situation that fits your talents . Please send word if you are available.
Your friend,
Eli
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Next - I went back to the Paladin strong hold.
I asked for two body guards to support me. I told them that are a props to influence some bad people to do the right thing. I would not give up the names or the situation until I was sure of their intentions.
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After receiving the support for the body guards we returned to the Dragon Tail Inn positioning the two body guards across the street and asked them to wait be low key and observe the conversation.
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Guard Kovach, is outside and I approach, I inform Guard Kovach that for his part that he will be paid 300 gold a month as well as a share of the profits from the arrangement of the Smithy and making armor and weapons from Rivak. Nothing is to happen to Rivak or his group and he in turn will not take advantage of the situation . At the end of his sentence he walks away unharmed as well as his group.
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Response………….
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Noble freedom fighter,
I'm not sure what arrangements you spoke of in your letter. I simply requested a delivery of the enclosed letter to Mr. Redburn. My assumption is his response and willingness to follow prior professional arrangements was less than desirable. 30 gold per month is a steep fee for someone imprisoned and one that neither Andoran nor I is willing to bear. As freedom fighters, we have little collateral to waste on bribes. You will need to rectify this commitment you've made in a manner of your choosing; be it paying yourself, renegotiating the deal, or removing the need for payment altogether. I am also concerned with talk of securing an item for someone behind bars, but the less I know of that, the better. Just make sure you don’t get yourself in trouble.
Freedom for all,
Major Colson Maldris
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Sire,
As always, we are your humble servants and any ability we possess will be available for your use. What would you require of us, m’lord?
Humbly,
G & R
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The church will gladly lend you the services of two paladins for little more than an appropriate tithe of 40 gold per hour.
The paladins are less than thrilled at the thought of subterfuge when there may be evil-intentioned creatures involved, but reluctantly agree to quietly observe from across the street.
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Guard Kovach, awaiting your approach outside the Dragon’s Tale, waits nervously as you approach through the crowd…(I’ll need a stealth check here from you)
Guard Kovach – (I extend my hand to shake it so the Paladins know who he is) Good to see you and I glad you are here to complete our transaction.
I am about to make you a rich man – what do you make 10 – 12 gold ? I am going to double that amount!
All you have to do is provide a Smithy in the prison for next three years - you will get a share of the gold made from the sale of armor and weapons in that time. This share will be enough to continue to keep you in double income.
Now I am sure you will carry out this agreement without any incidents however just so you we are understand I will have eyes on you and the situation - (I point to the two paladins) they are just some of the people that well be observing you and this arrangement. They will be the only ones that you will recognize so you will never know when or who is checking on you.
Do we have an accord?
Response ………
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Kovach's perception - is not good enough to spot you. You leave the guards in place and upon extending your hand, catch the prison guard completely unawares (I'll add in the first few words of your lines here to place his responses in the correct points of the conversation).
-(I extend my hand...
WHA?!?!? Where'd you come from? {He looks nervously around} I'm always interested in making a few extra coins where I can. What you're askin' ain't, you know...illegal...is it? {he scours the crowd once more}
-I am about to make you...
You're gonna double my pay? You got an in with the warden or sumpin'? I don't know any guard that makes that much money at the prison.
All you have to do is provide...
Like I said before, there's only one smithy I know of in lockup, but he ain't no hardened criminal. He's in for some petty crime, if I remember correctly. I mean, sure, he's got a strong arm (he is a smithy after all), but I don't know how long he'd survive with those savage gnolls. They're drawn to weakness, like common pack animals. It's like they feed on it. That's a lot of responsibility and risk you're puttin' on me. I ain't sure double my pay is worth the risk, to be honest with ya.
-Now I am sure you will carry out...
You strong armin' me? And you got paladins to help you do it, no less? I recognize them from the temple. That don't seem like the type o' thing real holy warriors would do. I mean, suppose the smithy don' wanna work for that twisted little knee-high? Rivak ain't the most popular guy in the pen since he took up wit' the gnolls, ya know? What you're asking might amount to little more than slavery if the smithy ain't willing to go. I'm sure Rivak ain't gonna pay him outta his share.
At this point, I need you to decide how you want to proceed (if you want to strong arm this route or change anything) and then make a check to proceed (diplomacy, bluff, intimidate to proceed with the current strong arm or something else to change direction)
My dear fellow I am not trying to strong arm anybody – I am trying to get a business deal done and improve some peoples position along the way!
Those paladins over there, they are the real thing and they are here to make sure you are a man of your word and to protect the business deal.
This is to make sure that you know I mean business.
Now you make a very good point about the Smithy – so what did he get arrested for?
What is the fine for that?
Hmmm do you think we can trust him?
If I pay his fine he will be indebted to me and we can put him to work? But not in the prison as you say but in his own shop making what we need to sell and there will be enough to go around. However if he falls in to a situation that puts him back into prison then he will have to work at that forage and then you will have to earn your money to keep him safe as you have pointed out or you can look after him as keeping him out of harm’s way an still protect the business!
Do you agree?
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Okay, I get it...you mean business. I'm not the kind to reneg on his word, so if we do come to an agreement, don't worry about me backin' out. Now to the business at hand...
So, let me get this straight. You want to pay his debt, release him from prison, and then have me babysit him? How exactly am I supposed to do that all day while I'm on duty at the prison?
If you can figure that out, there's still the matter of getting him released. Talk around the prison is, he was involved with some less than reputable people, smithing weapons for them. Some of the weapons were involved in a series of robberies that resulted in more than a few high profile deaths. I've also heard rumors that he claims his work wasn't exactly voluntary. He turned on his "employers", ratting them out to the authorities.
I'll have to figure out what the bail would even be to get him released, though keeping him safe on the outside might be a bigger task than you realize. I'll get back to you tomorrow morning...
The next morning, Korvach returns to the tavern with news...
The bail ain't cheap. Accesory to murder is pretty serious, even if he did just provide the tools. It'll cost 2500 gp to get him released. Also, the word around town is some of his former associates have been looking for a way to get rid of him.
Perhaps you should talk to him today. I can arrange a meeting for you, but it's going cost some coin. I ain't agreed to nothing yet. So as far as I'm concerned, this is still all up to you..
Well now that is the spirit and all!
I see by you coming back and the information that you brought, which is of great value, we can work together better. You will be rewarded well!
Is there some place we can go to talk - Kovach looks around and seems to be uneasy at the question – (Eli) - I see that question has made you uncomfortable.
Lets walk – point things out as if you showing me around and I will talk please answer in short replies - you say this smithy was involved less then reputable people, making these weapons – Kovach replies I, (Eli) these weapons were used in robberies and murder – Kovach high profile they was – (Eli) and the Smithy was not working of his free will – Kovach that is what I heard and said! Hmmmmm this is most disturbing!!!
Yes - I think I should talk to this Smithy - does he have a name? Can you arrange a meeting this evening?
Also tell me Kovach what do you know of a Mr. Redburn who is in your fine prison? Also what shifts do you work and are there any jobs to be had in your prison?
That afternoon I send word to G and R to come to the city to meet with me.
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Korvach, thinks for a while, before almost reluctantly replying, "...there are certain safeguards active in the prison, above and beyond the guards...It'd be impossible for me to get you to the Smith without encountering summa these safeguards, but you're a resourceful fella. I'm sure you can come up wit' sumpin'."
Innuendo Roll -
With the sublety of a babboon, Korvach clears his throat loudly and slowly rubs his fingers heavily together, before patting the pockets of his trousers.
After an awkward pause, his message clearly not getting across, Korvach sighs and says, "Man, I could lose my job for givin' out the secrets and securities of the prison..."
Eli pauses and looks around – he sees G and R in the crowd. He turns to Kovach and says OK you have been very helpful but you are getting a little to guff for me. So this is what we going to do for us.
Kovach looks bewilder and says - Who is us? Eli – You do not need to know that just get us some uniforms and get us in the prison we will do the rest.
Eli explains to Kovach - Tonight you are going to get us into the prison and as close as we can get to Redburn.
That night - Eli G and R meet with Kovach – Kovach tells them how to get to the area where Redburn would be sleeping. Eli (using the cloak of elvenkind for better stealth check gets into position. Eli has an angle to see Redbrun but no one else can see Eli. G and R act as the guards on watch. Eli pulls a crudely made arrow and bow from under his cloak. Eli knocks the arrow, nods to G and he yells “Redburn” as Redbrun sets up,the arrow flies and hits it mark – Redbrun makes a little sound that wakes one of the gnoll’s, G pulls a blade of poor workman ship and it also finds it mark – Eli drops the bow on top of the gnoll. R leads the way out prison for Eli and G. R checks to see if they can leave without being seen - after a few minutes they shed their uniforms as they step outside the prison and head for the stable where they spend the rest of the night.
In the morning as planned – Kovach has the Prison Magistrate available for a meeting . It is explained that Eli the Noble is looking for a Smithy and has heard that this Smithy MacTar has the talent to make what he is looking for. MacTar would become an indentured slave to the Noble Eli(this is only a ploy). He would work off his debt and more to become a free man. After paying for MacTar's release Eli ask for the guard Kovach to accompany them to help guard MacTar as Eli knows his a marked man and this would help protect Eli's investment.
The four leave town - Eli pauses sometime down the road – Eli first thanks G and R for their support and ask them to check behind them to see if they are being followed or in front to see if someone is laying in wait. While G and R ride off to back track and scout. Eli tells Kovach you have two choices you can go back to town or you can go with G and R and MacTar to Bervoy and work for me.
Eli turns to MacTar and offers his apologizes to him as he knows his story and the treachery that he suffered at the hands of Redburn. Eli tells him the story and that they have to keep up the facade and the only thing that MacTar owes is 3 fine swords and daggers – 2 swords and daggers have to be identical and the other set has to be unique with the following inscription “Tempus Fugit – Do not waste it on the Past – Your Friend “.
Kovach options – if he returns to town I will send him a reward, if he goes to Bervoy then he will be a bodyguard for MacTar and split the profits with the him – which is more then he would make as a guard - as well as doing odd jobs for me. I would also send work their way to insure that there is enough gold to go around.
Let me know the next steps.
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Eli pauses and looks around – he sees G and R in the crowd. He turns to Kovach and says OK you have been very helpful but you are getting a little to guff for me. So this is what we going to do for us.
Kovach looks bewilder and says - Who is us? Eli – You do not need to know that just get us some uniforms and get us in the prison we will do the rest.
Eli explains to Kovach - Tonight you are going to get us into the prison and as close as we can get to Redburn.
Korvach explains that getting the three uniforms will likely take him the rest of the day, but he probably can get three (he has two, but will need one of them for his shift today. He would most likely have to convince two of the other guards that his are dirty and he needs to borrow their spare). He’s not a great liar, so some gold to “rent” them from the guards would probably go a long way. **That will just give him a bonus to his bluff check to borrow them.**
As far as the prison goes, the guards don’t typically venture too far into the prison. It’s sort of a small society that the inmates run in there, without guard interference, unless someone is trying to break in or out. He can explain to you how to get near where he often sees Rivak and the gnolls exiting from, but there will most likely be a couple obstacles on your way in. After a few minutes of nervously hemming and hawing, he mentions Grinnd, a cantankerous old gargoyle that lives high above the prison grounds and has more than once alerted the guards of trouble within the walls. “He has a mind for knowledge, that one. I would take a book to negotiate with him, and a good one at that. Make sure it’s rare, and make sure it’s illustrated.” Beyond Grinnd, Rivak doesn’t know what other wards may be in place (as he doesn’t usually travel that far inside and some of the wards may actually be crude dangers set up by the gangs themselves).
That night - Eli G and R meet with Kovach – Kovach tells them how to get to the area where Redburn would be sleeping.
Korvach slowly hands over the uniforms, chuckling nervously as he looks at the bigger of your associates, “might not fit you quite right, but keep your head down and people will probably still mistake you for a guard.” He then hands you a small piece of parchment with a very crude map sketched on it. “The building with the ‘X’ on it is where he usually comes to the yard from. You’ll most likely pass old Grinnd on your way into the inner yard. He might be able to give you some additional info. Did you find a good book?”
The map depicts a large outer circle, that you would assume is the outside wall of the prison (including a small opening that seems to indicate the front gate), with a smaller circle inside it and various small rectangles scattered inside that. Just off-center, there is a small ring of rectangles, the furthest of which is marked with a large 'X'.
So, I need feedback on if you are willing to give him any rent money for the uniforms and then if you want to try to procure a book.