The next morning when Johan arrived at Odin's Fine Provisions and Sporting Goods, Odin was already pacing back and forth and making Violet nervous as they tried to think about what to do to pay off the lien on the Lady Narath. Violet was sitting at a table with a small stack of paper and a piece of charcoal taking notes and trying to use the paper to help her think.
"So what do we have? Well, this shop is just about breaking even, so that's out," Odin said. "And I'm not willing to give up everything I have for a group of people I just met yesterday, even if they are your friends. No offense. I just have a lot invested in this place."
"I know, dear. It wouldn't be enough to pay off the lien, anyway," Violet replied, "The loans you had to take out to get your materials would take out most of the value that you could get from a sale like that."
"Well, I suppose there is more than one way to harvest a Boola Blossom." Odin said as he continued pacing. "Option 1 could be to try to pay off the lien straight out. Option 2, get it fixed up and take off before they can stop us?"
Violet snorted, "I think they'd see through that. There's no way we could get it seaworthy without them trying to repossess the ship early when they realize what our plan is. Plus, I'm not sure we could get it all done in a week."
Odin shook his head, and said, without turning, "Johan, do you have any ideas?" causing Violet to start and look up from the paper she was staring at, "I suppose we could try to strongarm them or something, but I don't know any leverage that would make them feel threatened by a small group of adventurers that includes at least one half-elf with a reputation for drunken slovenly behavior."
Monday, February 8, 2016
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Johan coughs and clears his throat, trying to hide an uncomfortable shift of his hat over the still-itchy raw patch on his forehead. Meeting Odin's look, he shakes his head.
ReplyDelete"I very much doubt going in swords singing would be a successful course of action. They're bastards, every one, but well-prepared bastards. I don't suppose any of you saw the archers they had on the roofs outside the Lady Narath last night?"
Aaaand Bluff for the archers (+26): Rolled 8, so 34.
Also an Insight check to see if anyone noticed anything weird about him, specifically his pale and decidedly non-sparkly noggin:
Insight (+6): Rolled 12, so 18.
Nodding, Johan continues. "I thought not. They were ready for us to make a hasty move then, and they'll be damned sure to be ready this morning for one as well."
He leans against wall. "Besides, even the smarmy shit in charge of the posse last night is worthless to the Syndicate as a whole, like as not. We kill him, we accomplish nothing than a dirty blade and some other thug taking his place."
He stood upright, looking out the window and squinting slightly in the sunlight through the glass. "If we want to affect a 'meaningful change' in the Syndicate's opinion, we either pay their ransom, or make sure an accident befalls someone who can't be replaced."
Nice
ReplyDeleteViolet listened to what Johan had to say, and tapped her lip thoughtfully, "Yes, I agree. I didn't see the archers, but the word on the street is that they are very well connected. I think if we hope to continue returning to Baldur's Gate, we would not like to make them our enemies."
ReplyDeleteViolet's Insight check against Johan's bluff about the archers: Roll(1d20)+5: 16,+5 Total:21 - She now feels very, VERY ashamed for not noticing a source of danger that close.
Violet's Perception Check: Roll(1d20)+10: 19,+10 Total:29 - So she's noticing that he looks a bit worse for the wear. She tries to bluff and pretend she doesn't notice: Roll(1d20)+11: 6,+11 Total:17 - Looks like Johan notices her staring at his forehead.
Odin's pacing and not really paying much attention to Johan, so he doesn't notice.
Odin spoke up after a moment, "The man from last night was most likely only a paid messenger, anyway. The leaders of the Syndicate are the sisters Sylvia and Olivia Thornwise. They came from Calimport two years ago, and overthrew the local vermin very easily. They are notoriously secretive, and prefer a dagger in the dark or the threat of one to direct attacks."
Violet spoke up again, "I suppose we could seek out the sisters and convince them that they would be better off with our cooperation, using either threats or bargaining somehow, but I'm not sure what we would offer them that would persuade them to leave us alone on a more permanent basis. I'm not really interested in beheading the organization and the power vacuum that would be left in its wake."
ReplyDeleteJohan nods. "Yes, and we also don't know if there's some subordinate just waiting for their break to take command. The only thing worse than a power vacuum is one that is filled immediately as such a lieutenant could easily recruit the Syndicate against us and bring all manner of hellfire down around our heads."
ReplyDeleteHis eyes narrow. "One option would be finding a source of leverage against them; We would be hard-pressed to find a way to bribe them other than with wealth or power, both of which we are sorely lacking. Ask the right questions, and we might something they would value above a necklace of astral diamonds."
He chuckled. "Of course, using said leverage and surviving the wrath that would doubtlessly follow will be another feat of impossibility altogether."
Violet smiled, "Now that is starting to sounds like fun. Find some sort of bribery or blackmail and either trade it or use it to get them to give us control back. That might just work."
ReplyDeleteA quizzical look found her face as a thought crossed her mind, "Odin, any idea why they bought the lien for the ship in the first place?"
Odin continued his pacing, grabbing a small wood for from a shelf and tapping it on his palm as he spoke, "I'm not really sure. I think it might have seemed like a good source of income. Had Darvin been using the ship as a merchant vessel, the cost of all of the dock fees and such that he owed would be easily paid by now, but he may left the ship to rot in the harbor. Maybe they wanted to own their own smuggling vessel?"
Violet wrote some notes and said, "Maybe there's something there. If we could either convince them that it's not worth their time or negotiate a deal with them to help them out on something they would like to use the ship for, they might be willing to relinquish their hold on the ship. seems like it would be a long shot, though."
ReplyDeleteShrugging, Johan said "Well, perhaps, but the Lady Narath is a ship. A fine ship, perhaps, once, but a ship nonetheless. I don't recall feeling a shimmer of magical power when I stepped aboard, so what reason would they have to want the Narath above some other functional and seaworthy galleon instead?"
ReplyDeleteHe stiffened. "Was there a particular history of the Lady Narath before Darvin and the others acquired it for their travels? It might be highly relevant if there are skeletons in her bilges, so to speak, that we should be aware of when negotiating."
Violet thought for a long second before replying, "No, I am not aware of anything that was special about the ship before it was acquired for the travels of Kilink (Now the Lady Narath Society (tm)). From the story that Darvin tells, Nym was a part of the crew just before the tsunami hit Baldur's Gate 6 years ago, and when they found out that she was a boy not a girl, they went berserk and tried to kill her as a sea witch."
ReplyDeleteShe continued, "The ship was seized by the city after all of the old crew had been killed, but I don't know if there was anything special about it before that. We could ask Nym. She could know more, but unfortunately she hasn't told me. Any time I've asked her, Darvin has cut her off with the same story of how they rescued her from the villainous rapierist of a captain. I swear the story gets longer and more heroic each time he tells it."
Odin added, "Same here. I don't know anything special about it. That doesn't mean much, though. I don't really know much about ships."
Johan shrugged. "Well, three thousand gold is a steal for a caravel such as her, but I was just surprised they would be trying to wring that sum out of an ex-adventurer who insists on soaking himself in ale every evening. Seems like common sense, the same as would steer one away from betting on a lame horse or bartering with fey."
ReplyDeleteHe slowed, his eyes tracing the countertop and passing over the valuables under the thick, mottled glass Odin used to display the expensive merchandise. A slow grin came to his face.
"Now, being this is a criminal syndicate, would there be any objections if we were to pay for the lien with a sum acquired from an unwilling party?" The grin faded somewhat. "Admittedly, it would thoroughly dash any remaining goodwill the city might be willing to offer us, but perhaps they'd be willing to later overlook the borrowing of some fat merchant chest for a while when we clean up their shambling piracy problem?"
Violet snickered, "Actually, I think that seems like the best possible way to go about repaying the debt, if we choose to repay it. My preference is either to find some way to blackmail them or get them to give us the lien without a dime or to find someone else to pay."
ReplyDeleteOdin stopped pacing for a second, "I think we might need more information before we can really decide. We just do not have all of the information we will need before attempting to confront a crime syndicate like this. I could talk to some of the other merchants and see if they know anything that could be useful."
Violet nodded, "Yes, that could be could. I think that we should find out what else is known about the Syndicate in town, as well as whether there are any ventures they might be trying to break into. We could talk to Nym about whether she knows anything useful about the ship from its past, when it was still called the Sea Star. And we could find out from Darvin if he's found anything unusual about the ship after living on it for the past three years. Anything I missed?"
Nym pushed open the shop door and peered in. "Well hello!" she said, smiling at Violet, Odin, and Johan.
ReplyDelete"Johan looks like someone's been kicking the shit out of him," she thought. "Vampires are weird."
Johan shrugged at Violet's comment, saying "No, that sounds about right. We should canvas wherever we end up picking to borrow our interest-free loan from with care, as I think the only thing that would make the Syndicate angrier than they already are is if we steal from a job they had planned to try and pay them off."
ReplyDeleteWith the tinkling of the bell alerting him, Johan gives Nym a small smile and wave before pulling out a small, new and crisp book off of Odin's shelf. Cracking open the copy of Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate, he began thumbing through the pages to the 'Mercantilism' section and started reading.
"I forgot they were meeting about the Syndicate," Nym whispered to Darvin, shrugging.
ReplyDelete"Any good ideas so far?" asked Nym as she started to walk around the shop looking at various odds and ends.
Looking up from his book and waving it slightly as he spoke, Johan said "Well, it looks like we'll have to infuriate someone in some way or another. The Syndicate is too well-connected and prepared for us to try to intimidate or extort them, so Violet and I were thinking we perhaps relieve a well-laden merchant-prince of a few hundred platinum and rely on a few hundred miles of seawater to make sure we aren't harried for the 'loan'."
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I'm super excited to see what BH's response will be when he learns that after negotiating with the city council the plan mostly consists of stealing from a merchant and running away...
ReplyDeleteNym blinked in surprise. She looked from Johan to Violet and Odin and then to Darvin. "Couldn't we just... talk to them? That seems kinda... wrong." Nym looked at Darvin for help.
ReplyDelete"Of course Johan would think of a plan that involves us burning bridges and breaking laws," she thought, concerned.
"Maybe the city council would buy the loan back and let us pay them instead? The Syndicate needs their good will to operate in the city, so they'd probably say yes..." Nym looked more concerned than surprised now.
"Besides, the ship isn't seaworthy, so if we rob someone, we don't have a way to put a few hundred miles of seawater between us anyways."
Nym looked back to Darvin, and added hopefully "If we can get more time, I can perform some minor rituals for pay... I have enough components since that's what my father's business is. I could sell some herbal remedies I have with me too. I brought them to trade, but it's just gold." Nym shrugged, thinking. "I could offer letter translation services too. I've picked up quite a few languages over the years! And I could do prayers in Supernal for people - write them out so they can read them at home. That might be appealing since the gods have gone quiet."
Nym looked around at everyone again. "If we can find 12 people who want to know what their animals are saying, that would be 3000 gold. The going rate for speaking with animals is 250 gold, and like I said, I have the components for the ritual already."
She looked hopefully at the group. Perhaps Odin or Darvin know of some locals with extra gold who really, really love their pets.
Nym added quietly, with a shrug, "Besides, I think Beranhond would smite us all if we started robbing innocent people." She chuckled nervously.
"And maybe Evelaen knows some rituals too!" Nym exclaimed a little too loudly.
ReplyDeleteNym's reaction:
ReplyDeleteⓌⓗⓐⓣ(☉൧ ಠ)
Johan: Ê…（´◔౪◔）ʃ
ReplyDeleteGrinning sadly, Johan says "Well, we might find one or two wealthy patrons who want to hear what their hounds and horses are telling them, but I'm not entirely convinced we will be able to get all three thousand in the time the Syndicate is demanding."
Looking back down to the Guide, he traces his finger down the page as he says "We just figured it would be prudent to have a backup plan, especially since even more funds for repairs will be needed to make the Narath anything other than a port-locked houseboat. Ooh, Violet, how about this gentleman?" he says with a flicker of interest, passing her the book and pointing out the paragraph of information on a jeweler on the other end of town.
Nym huffed when Johan pointed out the jeweler. "Damn vampires!" she thought. "I'm going to see if Beranhond needs anything," she announced, flitting out the door. Nym whistled for Nesme, put Pipper in his pack and swung him onto her back, climbed up on the horse, and urged her back to the new city hall building.
ReplyDeleteNym:
ReplyDeleteI'm telling.(ಠ൧ ಠ)
Darvin listened to all the plans. He hated all of them. Stealing from the Syndicate seemed like a bad idea. Beranhond would hate it. Darvin did have one card to play, so he played it.
ReplyDelete"What if we put one of us up as collateral? We pay it back or solve the pirate problem by an agreed upon date or they take that person's life. I got us into this mess, so I'll volunteer."
Darvin listened to all the plans. He hated all of them. Stealing from the Syndicate seemed like a bad idea. Beranhond would hate it. Darvin did have one card to play, so he played it.
ReplyDelete"What if we put one of us up as collateral? We pay it back or solve the pirate problem by an agreed upon date or they take that person's life. I got us into this mess, so I'll volunteer."
Violet responded with a bit of shock at Johan's suggestion, "Oh! I didn't realize that when you said 'someone else's money' you meant to steal it from them. I was thinking more about looking up contracts for assassination or other tasks. I suppose it's not a bad fallback, though. I am not sure we're quite reduced to glorified thieves, though."
ReplyDeleteOdin looked uncertain when Darvin spoke up, "What do you mean when you say 'solve the pirate problem'? I thought your whole purpose in life was to BE a pirate?"
"Would the undead pirate problem be more appropriate? There is a great difference between me and other pirates. I stand for the less fortunate, those systematically kept down by society. I do not resort to petty thievery to get what I want," replied Darvin.
ReplyDelete"Would the undead pirate problem be more appropriate? There is a great difference between me and other pirates. I stand for the less fortunate, those systematically kept down by society. I do not resort to petty thievery to get what I want," replied Darvin.
ReplyDeleteJohan chuckled. "I had no idea you thought so highly of the wellbeing of those tavern wenches you spoiled with your coin, but I do applaud your efforts to help 'those kept down by society' in such a... vigorous manner."
ReplyDeleteHe turned to Violet and the others, hand held placatingly as he gave them his biggest smile. "Besides, if it troubles your consciences so, it can always be just an involuntary loan, one we pay in full when able."
He gestured towards the window and the streets and shops beyond. "Baldur's Gate is a vast city, filled with thieves like the Syndicate and likely worse, and such a financial loss would not only be an expected risk of trading in this fine city, but a future repayment would undoubtedly be seen as solid evidence of our goodwill and pure intentions."
And I'm gonna roll dat Bluff check now...
Bluff (+26): Rolled 2, because the dice have apparently decided to hate me lately, for a total of 28.
Violet made a suggestion, "I think we need more information before we can make our decision. Why don't we split up, search the city for leads, and come back here for a late lunch and discuss our findings.
ReplyDeleteDarvin, do you know of any special reason that the Syndicate would be interested in the Lady Narath? If not, you can try to improve your image so they might take that offer seriously. Your image in the city would not lend itself to your proposal at the moment.
Johan, you can try to find any leads on places to steal that money from.
I'll see if there are any jobs available for heroes for hire that could be concluded in a week.
Odin, you can talk to some of the other shopkeepers and find out if there is anything the Syndicate has been trying to acquire that we might be able to get for them instead of the gold.
Does that work for everyone?"
Nodding, Johan tugs his hat down, double-checks the sun balm is still sufficiently covering his exposed hands, and steps into the bright day outside.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm guessing this is a Streetwise check?
Streetwise (+17): Rolled 16, so 33.
And Stealth, to avoid being noticed canvassing locations:
Stealth (+12): Also rolled a 16, so 28.
He's looking for a target with qualities in this order:
1) No religious symbols and clerics/paladins nearby
2) Minimal non-living traps/protections (So guards would be fine, but he wants to avoid places he notices rigged with magical/mundane traps or unliving constructs if at all possible)
3) Approximate amount of cash in one place for the stealing
4) How trusted the person is by the city watch/council (In other words, if this person reports a theft, how likely is the city to respond in a greater-than-normal fashion?)
Oh, and Johan sees too if he can pick up some info on if the Syndicate has an identifier or calling card of some sort he could leave behind after the job as well.
Johan is able to spot a few of the wealthier homes that wouldn't be too in which to break. Most of them have a few guards and locks, but don't appear to have sophisticated locks or traps. This suggests that they are either not holding too much in the way of valuables or that they are comfortable in their social connections. However, most of the wealthy merchants are fairly well connected with the city council. Following the earthquakes much of the wealth of the city either flowed to groups such as the Waldorf syndicate, the merchant guilds, or religious groups. These groups managed to gain a fair amount of leverage within the city council.
ReplyDeleteAlso, all connections with the Waldorf Snydicate seem to have heard of Johan and have a surprisingly detailed description of him. As such, no one who has any knowledge of the Waldorf Syndicate will share any information with Johan.
Johan is unable
ReplyDeleteOf the four locations that seem somewhat probable the cash value probably maxes at...
440
539
615
562
'Johan is unable' Assuming that was a typo?
ReplyDeleteAlso, am I correct in assuming the perceived difficulty is proportional to the gold value?
Which of these seems to have the most guards and the least physical traps?
Perception and Thievery to determine this from the casing, if applicable:
Perception(+11): Rolled 18, so 29.
Thievery(+10): Also rolled an 18, so 28.
Darvin walks out of the shop not knowing where to go or what to do.
ReplyDelete"I suppose I should go about improving my reputation. But where do I start?"
Diplomacy
Roll(1d20)+8:
18,+8
Total:26
Streetwise
Roll(1d20)+6:
14,+6
Total:20
We're not going to come up with ideas for that for you. If you can come up with ideas, we'll work with you on whether they work and how much, but how you go about doing that is up to you.
ReplyDeleteJohan - they are all roughly similar in difficulty. Of course, these are estimates from the outside. You could break inside and take a look at one, but you'd only have time to get into one of the locations.
ReplyDeleteI'm not as worried about difficulty as I am about the number of physical guards vs inanimate traps. Johan's wonderfully-high Bluff score is more effective against a fantasy rent-a-cop than it is against a poisoned crossbow. I'm basically looking to see if any of those locations looks like someone went all-out on the hired help as the primary defense, rather than traps.
ReplyDeleteFrom the outside non of them look all that "all out." So, there are probably a limited number. If you want to spend some of the evening hours investigating you could. Though, the rest of the crew might wander what is happening.
ReplyDeleteAs Darvin wanders outside looking for something to do he hears a familiar call.
ReplyDelete"Darvin? Darvin is that you?" A young woman's voice echoes from behind him.
Alrighty, in that case Johan is going to keep poking around for a more "human" angle for one of these with the merchants, such as when one of them might be moving a large sum of cash around town or hosting a fancy party with lots of guests.
ReplyDeleteStreetwise(+17): Rolled 4, so 21.
Darvin hears his name called by a female voice, "This is either going to be really good or really bad." He thinks to himself as he turns around to see who it is.
ReplyDeleteDarvin hears his name called by a female voice, "This is either going to be really good or really bad." He thinks to himself as he turns around to see who it is.
ReplyDeleteAs Darvin turns, he sees a gelatinous cube, his biggest, and weirdest, mistake over the past three years. "Blobette," he exclaims in horror thinly masked with fake joy at seeing her. She made a farting noise, and Darvin pulled out his Nokia. He pressed speed dial #6, and whispered into the phone, "Hi, yeah, is this the National Gelatinous Cube Attack Hotline?"
ReplyDelete"No, I'm not stuck inside the cube..."
"Yeah, I can hold."
A tall, slender, fair haired, brown-eyed, human stands a few feet behind Darvin.
ReplyDelete"Darvin, I thought you'd gone back to sea to pirating?" She asks. "I mean, you were gone so quickly from my bed chamber after my father returned home that I figured it must be something along those lines."
"Shit. What is her name?" Darvin thought before responding.
ReplyDelete"Alas, my fair lady, my ship is indisposed at the moment. It has kept me very busy trying to get her seaworthy." He replied with a flourish.
"Name, name, name!" He panicked in his head.
Diplomacy
Roll(1d20)+8
20,+8
Total:28
Nat 20!
History
Roll(1d20)+6
19,+6
Total:25
Two best rolls of my life
Johan:
ReplyDeleteYou learn that a wealthy merchant, with hands in the caviar trade, will be hosting a fancy soiree tomorrow night. These type events have security, but with the large variety of people attending its usually a way to get a closer look inside the large estates.
What time of day is it right now for Johan?
ReplyDeleteSuspiciously it's just about the same time as the others are meeting up at Odin's!
ReplyDeleteConvenient! In that case Johan will meander back and hit up the fish market in the morning.
ReplyDelete