Machines of War

[Manwhoisthisman]

"Hmm, you seem to know a lot about these people. Did you have any connection with them before they put a price on your head?"

[curf06]

"I was once a member of Red Raven."

[INWranger]

So did you do anything else to anger them besides kill one of your comrades who did a half job of mugging you?

[curf06]

"I did not kill one of their members, for doing a poor mugging job. I sent the potential muggers to the healers."


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I killed a Blood Raven member for killing a friend of mine.

[INWranger]

"Well there is a huge difference between killing and soundly beating, but was there anything else? Honestly they are probably better off without that type of incompetent working for them on the street."

[curf06]

"I killed a Red Raven member for killing a friend of mine, but they seemed to be somewhat understanding of that one considering the circumstance.
It could be as simple as wanting to make an example of me for leaving the group."

[Manwhoisthisman]

"So what then is the plan to resolve this dilemma?"

[curf06]

"The plan is two fold: one clear my name so that I can be of help to Jaster, and two get information on a mercenary who Jaster is after."

[INWranger]

The plan for solving Curfs problems is to either get the price on his head canceled by either forgery, favor, or coin. There is also a mercenary that I am after so that I can backtrack him to his employer, with whom I have a dispute to resolve.

[curf06]

"Now that we know what to do, shall we rest up and follow through in the morning?"

[Manwhoisthisman]

"Ah, well... There is the unresolved matter of my pay. Since the price on your head is 500 gold, and the going rate for informants is 10%, the competing wage for my time is 50 gp. Of course, we can negotiate how much of this is upfront."

[curf06]

"You're going to want to answer these carefully. Are you working for Red Raven? And are you trying to threaten/blackmail me?"

[Manwhoisthisman]

The man laughs an open and free laugh. "I certainly do not work for Red Raven." He then raises his hands and waves them in a conciliatory gesture. "And I am not threatening, blackmailing, or extorting you. I am simply negotiating for my wages; to do that I felt it was best you had an idea of my best alternative offer. So as to say perhaps, this is how other people might value my time. Of course, I am offering you more services than simply telling you what I know, so I would hope my time is more valuable to you than anyone else."

[curf06]

"Remind me, why do I want to pay for your 'services'? Which you have yet to even say what they are."

[INWranger]

If you know of a way where we won't have to pay them his bounty or more, or a crazy hard side job it would be 20% of the bounty. You participate in said process, it will be 50% of the bounty, plus a full third of any loot we may pick up. If it is an easy way to collapse the organization, which sounds like an objective of yours, then you get to have my help free of charge. That is the deal and pay i offer you.

[curf06]

"Sounds reasonable.
If we go for bringing the organization down, as a former member I can be of some assistance."

[Manwhoisthisman]

"That sounds splendid. I don't have a plan yet, but I'd be happy to work on one. I do happen to know of someone inside Red Raven that we could probably squeeze for information. Aside from that, perhaps we should find a more private locale than a hallway for the remainder of this conversation."

[INWranger]

Yes, lets retire to a more secure location. In the morning I want to ask them about any info they may have on my mercenary I am looking for, name of Vicciano, associated with a half-orc named Gort.

[curf06]

Ok, let us go to our room and finish this discussion.

[Manwhoisthisman]

The bald man nods and follows you into the room.

[INWranger]

How about i go in tomorrow and ask about Vicciano, bounties, and scout the place for a possible break in.

[curf06]

You're going to want to talk to Trevor Gillswater, he's the secretary, he also handles the jobs and what not. Scruff is One of the 10 main leaders, in other words the 'Boss' of this region.
Try and avoid Clay Miller. He'll gut you if he can make quick money.

[madtinker]

You ended your session in the hallway just in time, as guests are beginning to head upstairs to bed. Your room consists of two narrow beds upholstered with straw tics, and tallow tapers sit without holders on a low fireplace mantle. Altogether, dreary but clean. There is one window wide enough fora man to climb through, and the door is made of pine boards. It's private enough, but if anyone were trying to listen to your schemes, it wouldn't be difficult.

[Manwhoisthisman]

Once in the room with the door closed the bald man whispers, "Well, this looks a little better place for such a conversation, but it definitely isn't the most secure. We'll just have to keep it low."

The man then turns to Curf, "I apologize for upsetting you earlier, I know you are probably short on friends at the moment and not feeling the best about strangers." He then turns to face both of you and whispers, "My name is Keiji, by the way." Keiji then grins a bit and continues, "I think I might be coming up with a plan about how to take care of the money we might need if we're doing any bribing or paying off of the bounty. Have either of you heard of Luther Griswald?"

[curf06]

Keeping my voice low, "I have not."

[INWranger]

Shake my head "no".

[Manwhoisthisman]

"Luther is a public official who is also a member of Red Raven. He has been siphoning funds away from public works projects into other criminal activities for Red Raven. You can bet he is also keeping some for himself though. That should get us the funds we need and some information while we're at it."

[curf06]

I move silently to the door to not alert anyone who might be listening, then open it, walk up and down the hall, to make sure no one was watching.

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(1d20+11)[17]

[madtinker]

DM only

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No one is watching.

The other clientele just shuffle off to their rooms around midnight a chambermaid dims the oil lamps and the inn goes dark.

[curf06]

After making sure no one was listening in on our conversation I return to the room.