Machines of War

[INWranger]

There are several ways this could work to our advantage. Steal the funds from him, find dirt on him and use it for blackmail and hand it over if our demands are met. Find the dirt on him and enough proof for the Smirnoff government to shut him down. I don't care which method we use and am open to suggestions. I want that info from them on Vicciano and think the best way to get that is either ask for it directly or pay them for it. Then come burglarizing their files, if they keep them.

[INWranger]

Let us find a way to leverage that knowledge and find some proof that will get him to do our bidding then, or get the Smirnoff government to do our dirty work for us. I want all the info I can get on Vicciano first. If Red Raven has nothing on him then for all I care we can burn the place to the ground if it accomplishes your goals. I would prefer to not get caught though.

[curf06]

Curf smiles mischievously. "I like where this is going. I know just the person we can 'milk' for information, a man named Clay Miller. He's a heartless bastard that once through a widow and her kids out on the streets, then sold the house and used the money to buy firewood. I'm sure he has plenty of dirt on his employers."

[Manwhoisthisman]

"It sounds like Miller might be our best bet, Luther has many contacts in the city; in the past he has proven to have too many to be prosecuted. I understand his contacts include judges, ones that would dismiss the case for favors or bribes. Plus he is mostly siphoning from road and bridge building, so even if his theft were widely published there probably wouldn't even be sufficient outrage for citizens to resolve the matter themselves. Perhaps a king might care about roads and bridges, but that's all."

[INWranger]

Sounds like Miller can be bought. Luther can still be leveraged, but we will have to either find or fake evidence that he is going to become a threat to his current friends in some way.

[Manwhoisthisman]

"I think that seems a rational course. Are you still planning on approaching Red Raven before we pay Miller a visit?"

[curf06]

"When we go after Miller, it would be best if I wasn't there, as he was my former lieutenant and there is some negative feelings between us. He usually can be found at the River Rat bar down by the docks. If that's all I'm going to go to bed and wait here in the inn until you guys figure things out respectively.
So goodnight, and I await the good news."

Curf turns in and falls quickly asleep, keeping his sickle by his side.

[Manwhoisthisman]

"Well, shall we just go in the morning then? Or were you hoping to take care of this business tonight?"

[INWranger]

I will go to Red Raven HQ in the morning, and ask them the questions discussed earlier. I can do some scouting for a breakin as well, though I am sure Curf has plenty of info for us.

[madtinker]

(Unless there are any objections)

The remainder of the night passes slowly. Before dawn the city begins to wake up to the sounds of street urchins squabbling over garbage and peddlers hawking their wares.

[INWranger]

Go to Red raven headquarters and ask them
1. If they have any info on Vicciano.
2. How much said info might cost.
3. How to get a bounty off of someones head.

[madtinker]

Do you take anyone with you?

[curf06]

I stay behind in the inn, keeping a low profile.

[INWranger]

Only if they want to come.

[Manwhoisthisman]

I'll go with, it likely be more productive than sitting around.

[madtinker]

As you enter the austere establishment, a thin, rat faced man with watery blue eyes and a sharp frown looks up from a large ledger. He listens to your requests, and nods at each one. When you finish, he leans back on his stool. Yes, well, information does cost around here. How much are you willing to pay for all this?

[INWranger]

For a matter of procedure, 5 gold. For the information of Vicciano, I will start at 50.

[madtinker]

@Jaster and Keiji:

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He nods once, his rat face more pinched than ever. He closes his ledger, marking his place carefully, then rises and scurries through the open door behind the counter. In the back room, another door opens and closes. Make listen checks (against humans).

22 or more

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You hear the rat faced man whispering urgently in a back room. He is answered by another voice, this one lower, but you cannot make out what is being said.

32 or more

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Rat man: Two men are here asking about Vicciano.
Low voice: What did they ask?
Rat man: Just what we know about him.
Low: So they don't know he's one of ours?
Rat: Hard to say. It could be a setup. He was working on that job for the Lady. He never said just what went wrong.
Low: Well, let's take them, just to be safe.
Rat: Yes sir.

The door opens again, but rat man does not immediately reappear.

[INWranger]

Listen
(1d20+6)[19]

[Manwhoisthisman]

Listen (1d20+6)[25]

[Manwhoisthisman]

Keiji gestures with two fingers up, then points toward the open door with 2 fingers.

[INWranger]

DM and Keiji

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Give Keiji a nod and follow his lead.

[Manwhoisthisman]

DM and Jaster

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Without moving very far, I look to see if I can see anything. If not, I wait a bit and listen for anything else.

Listen [ROLL]1d20+6[/ROLL]

[madtinker]

@Jaster and Keiji

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Through the doorway behind the counter Keiji sees just the wooden floor and a dimly lit corridor. Light from an opening door splashes across the floor, and you hear the distant murmur of voices. You can tell when the door closes when the light disappears and the noise quiets down.

If you can make another DC 8 listen check

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it sounds like someone is giving orders.

if you make an 18

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Scarface, Joctar, Razor, Chubs. We've got visitors who are to be our guests. Come help me persuade them.

[INWranger]

another listen check
(1d20+6)[21]

[INWranger]

Keiji and DM

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In a whisper: "Sounds like we are about to be involuntary guests. Shall we leave, fight, or burn the place down. I have two alchemist fires and two smokesticks of death."

[Manwhoisthisman]

Jaster and DM

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Listen (1d20+6)[21]

I quickly appraise the room for good places to hide and whisper, "That depends on how important it is that we leave no witnesses of our coming. We could flee and burn the place down, or we could fight. We could also let them capture us--the risk is greater but it also offers the greatest chance of getting information."

[INWranger]

Keiji and DM

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Whisper: Okay I will hold off on torching the place. We may need more help on this. You go for our friend and I will stay as their guest. Make sure they don't follow you, unless you have a quick alternate plan. Take this alchemist fire and smokestick that should knock out everyone in the place if you need to.

[Manwhoisthisman]

DM and Keiji

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I take the alchemist fire and smoke stick and try to sneak out as quickly as I can. I do check outside the door to make sure someone hasn't come around before running out.

DM

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After I'm outside I try to move quickly to a different part of town where the inn isn't. I check to make sure I'm not being followed, and go to a pub to wait a bit (no longer than a quarter hour) before heading back to find Curf. I try to remain alert of followers without drawing attention to myself.

[INWranger]

DM

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Hide my other alchemists fire and a dagger where I can get to them fast.
slieght of hand AF: (1d20+4)[14]
slieght of hand dagger (1d20+4)[24]