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Cairns on the Wine River [FIN]; [ST05][Signups Closed]
Topic Started: Sat Sep 17, 2016 1:22 pm (8,265 Views)
Alexandra
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Alex didn't take long at all to consider their options. The institutions of Balefire needed a rework, to directly target the Zakona status and limit their ability to harm the Pariahs while the Pariahs looked into taking down Krupin. She raised her hand. "Ithuen is the one we should assist. The Sheriff is a more dangerous opponent, and we'll need to figure out his routines and identify a means to kill him and leave no witnesses." Alex rose, collected a small pile of money and left. "I'm going to need a new arm if we want to do more combat. I'll be back.

Alex grappled her way atop Apple and went down to the main streets of Nine Angels. It only took a little bit to find the shop that screamed with the voices of humans and machines. Alex stepped in and adjusted her cloak. "I'm in need of your services."

Hours later she left, sporting an incredibly crude replacement arm. It would do. She had convinced him to give her the five-fingered hand instead of the three-fingered utility hand. The arm, too, was a struggle and she ended up with something primitive but at least it wasn't near as bulky as all the mining grafts the surgeon had available. It was still heavier than her original arm, which now coursed with pain. She let off a pile of nervous, off-kilter giggles and headed into the market. She hired a seamstress for a song to make her an eyepatch: black leather with white embroidery that matched her marks as a shadow-lover.
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Lorica
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Private, Czajka


Private - Ithuen


Neriah had taken it upon herself to beat some of their recruits into shape. Lorica observed the on-goings for a time, trying not to wince at every clumsy attack and defense they managed. Eventually she strolled out onto the frozen field to give some advice of her own. She'd never been the most well-liked instructor in the Sanctum, but she'd been effective at hammering lessons home. With pain, if necessary.

She did her best to impart some of her knowledge to their footpads and thugs. Her specialty was with short blades, but she'd been trained in the use of longswords and greatswords as well. Although it was paltry in comparison to her decade-long regimen with the Keepers, she could at least teach them which end was for killing and which one was for holding. From the looks of it, that's new knowledge for some of these fools...

In a burst of inspiration, she went and hunted down Ansgar. "Yo, Deathwish, you busy? You got enough time in your schedule to show off some of those fancy-dancy fencing moves?" She flashed him a crooked grin. Since their escape from the barge she hadn't really interacted with the Abnathean, but she still recalled his finesse and skill during that fight. "Want to help me get these guys into shape? I promise to go easy on you if we spar." She fluttered her eyelashes innocently.



She still felt awkward around Czajka, but Lorica sought her out later. "Bookworm, you grew up here, right?" She smiled thinly. "Right now we have an alchemical stall and the water sources. We could use some more holdings. Do you know any good places for us to lean on?" She thought that they could probably establish a pretty decent protection racket in the Dark District, especially with the bounty hunter's familiarity with the town.



When Zuraw asked for money, Lorica didn't hesitate to give her what she'd earned from her jobs. She also made a case to take money from the Pariah's earnings to afford whatever it is the half-werewolf wanted. "I hope it's pretty," is all she said to the knight.

Later, though, she took the time to speak with her at length. "You might be the only person in this group I trust to sneak around town without burning down half of Nine Angels," she admitted. "Myself included. I'm not saying right now... but eventually we might need you to head out on your own and try to sabotage stuff. Little things with big consequences. Would that be okay with you? You don't have to do anything you don't want to." She wanted to make sure that Zuraw knew that she had choices now, that she wasn't a slave to anyone. She also wanted to make sure none of the other Pariahs were trying to order her around like a dog. If they were, she'd need to have a long (and painful) talk with them.

OOC
 
I want Neriah and Ansgar to Gain Units (I mentioned training in my IC post, but recruiting would be nice too). I want Czajka to Gain Holdings. I think her hometown advantage will be huge for us. I'd like to give Zuraw the 4 money she needs, although I can only promise her what Lorica has earned herself. I also think she should Sabotage Enemies, but maybe not immediately, not until we know more about what needs to be done. Drote should just guard our water and make sure no one else gets at it.
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Storyteller[ST]
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Everyone

The majority of the Pariah leaders vote to perform the job that Ithuen had just suggested. She actually sighs with relief, all the tension draining from her shoulders and upper body. "Thanks. I really owe you one. Since I can't pay you a ton, I'll try to make it up to y'all some other way. Whatever I can." Her voice wavers at that last part. She obviously doesn't believe she can do much.

Tanya, you pitch a plan that involves cutting off Rijnders from his allies, baiting him with a Shadowdancer in the group, and distracting the powerful riot golem called Amitiel. You ask Ithuen what she can do to help. "Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone and get Amitiel and the task force up against the Gentlemen? I'll see if I can make a diversion that'll do that for us."

You ask Korso if he's sticking with the Pariahs. "Ah, yes, well, I would like to, if you'll have me. Only if you want to. I think I can survive on my own if push came to shove. Not the first time. But if you'll keep me, I'll stay." (Aufdein Korso [Ambitious] has joined your posse.) "In fact, I'd like to talk to all of you a bit later when you're not preoccupied with job planning."

You also bring in Neriah and ask if she knows of a place to set up an ambush. Somewhere with lots of cover, you add, Glug. "<Hmm... there's a big ruined mansion further north in the Dark District. High walls, lots of cover. We'd have to clear out whoever's made it their own personal fortress, but that shouldn't be too hard once we get our current numbers a bit of discipline. A few nights at least, but it'd be worth it.>"

Yurim, you volunteer to be the Shadowdancer bait, operating as the One Shadow. Ithuen looks to be in agreement. "That sounds good. Now we just need to make sure he goes after you alone, or as close to alone as we can manage."

Tian, you ask Ithuen how big the task force is. "They divided the city into like five or six precincts and assigned a Sheriff-of-the-Dispatch to each, but they squad up a lot. No idea how many deputies they got either, or if those deputies are any good. They could very well be fresh out of training and way too excited about partaking in the Taming, which we can use to our advantage."

You also suggest the possibility of Alexandra handling or disabling or distracting Amitiel somehow. "I don't see why not, if she's willing," Ithuen says.

Alexandra, you point out that the Pariahs should find out about Rijnders' routine as well. "Can't help you much there, but I'll try to get in with him on a personal basis. If he'll let me."

With the beginnings of a plan in place, you break off the meeting and go about your normal work.


Anci - Private

You ask Aufdein Korso about what it might be like for someone to be harmonized to the lighter side of the Ethereal Plane. "You know, I'm not actually sure. Sounds quite formidable in a land like this, though. I would be careful if I were you." You also ask him if he has anyone in town he might want to contact. "Ah... no, sadly. I am very alone around these parts. I did have a little hideout in one of the natural marble towers that I'd like to revisit once I'm back to full health, but that's it."

When you have your conversation with Czajka, you ask similarly about what to watch out for with someone harmonized to the light. Weak spots. "Wait... you can get stuck in the light, too? That sounds terrifying. Someone like that would be like a demigod around here. Bet that alone could scare some people witless. Maybe overconfidence? You could get them to overextend themselves, or get them alone because they think they're such a big shot. That's my best idea on the spot. I'll keep thinking about it."

You also ask her what they could do to stop someone from making deals if you captured them. "You got two options with that. First is to keep them unconscious. If that's not possible, like if they're some kind of supernatural where it's hard, then bring them to me. And bring Lorica too, if you can, since I reckon she's your most ruthless member. I can't stop them from making deals, but I can put them in a position where they get really bad prices."


Carmen - Private

There's a knock on your door. "Miss Carmen?" The voice belongs to Ansgar. "I just wanted you to know that I think you're very strong, to have come this far. I don't know much about what you're facing, but I can tell the burden is great." A thoughtful pause. "One of the great philosophers once said that the definition of anguish is the realization that each and every one of us is truly free to do anything, regardless of our background or current confines. He did not say that anguish was a bad thing, though."

Later in the night, Ansgar knocks on your door and leaves you some food and a hot beverage.

After the Pariahs come to a conclusion on which job to take, you make an in-person appearance with the Dalcas to tell them about the news. Viktor scratches his chin, pondering. "I think I get what you're getting at, in spite of the super formal Bridgetongue you're throwing around like you're some baroness."

"It was nice of you to tell us this in person instead of writing a letter," Yevhen adds.

"Yeah. That government leech you got sucking on your gang is pretty harmless when it all comes down to it. Harmless as in powerless. Whatever gods are out there must've been laughing when they set her fate in place. Then again, this might be her last gasp at holding onto what little power she has." Viktor leans back, crossing one leg over his other knee. "I don't mind. I'd rather someone ineffectual like her be running the law enforcement show, not that Rijnders. He gives me the creeps. I hear he takes Shadowdancer body parts and boils them for magic spells. Be careful out there, alright?"


Lorica - Private

You offer Bearkiller some alcohol and she takes it like she's dying of thirst, no reservation at all. While she's swigging, you ask about her condition. "Didn't know you were so sensitive, Wells!" she laughs. "You're talking like you're my wife or something, all concerned." You suggest that they should do something about her lack of sleep. Ithuen raises an eyebrow. "Are you hitting on me? You got a lot of guts after how I treated Tian for doing the same. I'm a Sheriff before a woman, remember that, all of you." Her tone is even but hides a hint of a challenge, or a threat, or just general annoyance at the world.

You ask what happened between Ithuen, Viktor and Yevhen. "They're criminals and I'm a tin-moon, plain and simple. Bit off more than I could chew, thought I could fight them both at once. Turns out Viktor's some immortal super-zombie called a blaspheme. You ever been so cussing pissed that you refused to die? Yeah, that's Viktor Dalca. I even cut his bloody head off for gods' sake. Yevhen's not undead, but don't ever have him take off that bite mask."

You add some personal conversation to the mix, and mention your lack of knives. "How many do you need?" the elf asks. "I could commandeer some from the deputies in town. Pretty common sidearm. They'd be normal though, nothing fancy."

Finally, you mention how it's difficult not to kill everyone in sight. Ithuen raises the bottle and says something along the lines of "amen to that" in Norwood Elvish.




Everyone

Forty-eight hours come and go like nothing in this land of eternal nightfall. Your recruits are quick learners, at least. With Neriah, Ansgar and a couple of you Pariah leaders tasked with training them, they're getting the hang of things. Your numbers have also increased.

"Good news," Czajka tells you all at one point, walking into the Castle. "I talked to Vaduva. The owner of Alkaev's Home, I mean. He's hearing rumors that Sheriff Rijnders is gonna outlaw prostitution in Nine Angels, so he's looking to maximize security. He's willing to work with the Pariahs."

That isn't the only thing she's done. Czajka, with the help of some of your rank-and-file gang members, has been tearing apart a zakona gang called the Outriders. They're based in an old ascensionist church on the edge of the Light District. Pushing aside the bounty-hunting competition and punching holes in the chain of command, their ranks are falling apart. She's running an execution scam on Pureblood Point. Brings in Outriders alive, collects their bounties, camps out for their inevitable hanging off the Point, secretly cuts the rope once they're off the edge, and then uses her magic to whisk them to safety, where she promptly brings them into the Pariahs' ranks out of their perceived debt to her. Now she's left a note: "The Outriders church is all yours. Presumably all of their territory, too. Turning in the Outrider leader's head to Sheriff Rijnders for the bounty right now."

Drote has assisted in building up and protecting your spring-water business. Between that, he has sought out a passageway into the Wine River itself. Now there are rumors of a sea monster living in the river. The Bartosz & Broz Circus had an intense search for a little while, but now it's starting to taper off -- especially now that private investigators are washing up onto the Nine Angels docks in eviscerated, barely recognizable chunks. Looks like Drote is resolving his own problems, in a sense. "Hello," he says to you at one point, coiled and covered in a wet sheen on the frozen yard outside the Castle. "Friends. Big house. I made. Smaller. Bits. Smaller friend. Bits. Friend juice. Came out. A lot. Not tasty." Though he isn't being very clear about how exactly he helped you, you are aware of the news that the vampire hive holed up in that mansion Neriah was talking about during the meeting with Ithuen got a large reduction in number. Some monster attacked them, apparently. Probably Drote. He's hurt, covered in slashes and bite marks, but doesn't seem to mind.

You haven't seen Zuraw anywhere this whole time. Her last note was vague: "Working on something. Will be back when I succeed."

After all of this progress, Aufdein Korso requests a meeting of the Pariah leaders. There, he withdraws a hard, thin case from his robes.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure what to make of you Pariahs, so I kept this a secret until now..." He opens it delicately with only his first few fingers on each hand. When the case opens, a multi-layered, two-dimensional series of complex arcane runes unfurl into a mana interface that takes up half the room. "This is what Kir wants. These damnable blueprints that I never wanted, that kept appearing in my wagon even after I tried to throw them away."

Alexandra, on sight of the blueprints you lose control of your mind and fall into a manic fit. Your thoughts race beyond your ability to tame them, lost in analysis, failing to hear what anyone is saying in an unrelenting attempt to make sense of the runes in front of you. You obsess over them. Your entire world is them. Against your better judgment you lurch forward as if to take the blueprints for your own, and Korso instinctively shuts the case and hugs it close. The runes dissipate, sucked back into their holding container. "I still worry that my holding these blueprints is the only thing keeping me alive in Nine Angels right now. Not to Kir, but to all of Kir's enemies. I cannot in my best interests hand them over, even to you all. However, I will allow you to look at them under my supervision." Alexandra, you start to slip out of the worst of your mania but your racing mind remains for a few minutes longer.

"That being said, I worry about what is going on in this city these past few nights. I've always hated Nine Angels, but something seems wrong. The crackdown is too harsh. Just from the news I've read. You'd have to look for yourselves to get a total picture. If we're going to make a move on that Sheriff, we'd best do it soon, and I'm... willing to help, in any way I can."

What do you do? What is your plan, and how do you start executing it?


OOC
 
The next ST post cutoff is 5:00pm on Tuesday, November 15, unless an extension is necessary for me. I'm dealing with a small medical crisis right now. Restoring my body's basic mobility is a higher priority than Cairns.

Don't forget that you can communicate with Ithuen at any time using the Communiquill. She checks it frequently.

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Keter
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Drote proved to be an interesting creature. Dangerous and loyal, but perhaps a bit too loyal to the detriment of itself. News had spread about the vampires squatting in a recommended staging ground suddenly taking heavy losses to a monster, so it only seemed natural to put two and two together with Drote's broken speech and collection of fresh injuries. There was not much that could really be said, no worried comments came to Keter's mind because Surya remembered similar cases of overzealous allies, and how the most that could truly be said was. . .

"Thank you." Keter said to Drote with a genuine smile on his face, "Rest for now. I think we can all agree you've earned it."

In Imythessian Common the words felt as natural as Nalaian. That actually proved a worrying thought to Keter, how little difference there seemed to be between the mainland and the islands when it came to such endeavors, but such were things to ruminate after their victory over Kir Lantos, not something to be distracted by before then.

When Alexandra seemed to lose control of herself and reach for the blueprints, which were smartly shut away once again by the merchant, Keter raised an eyebrow towards Korso.

It seemed that they actually had something resembling a plan. Perhaps the group as a whole had learned from its earlier failing and it was finally starting to show, but despite how smoothly things had been going so far, Keter felt it safer to see how their newest idea played out. As a concept he liked it and he liked the information provided, how it could possibly play out when they finally had to execute both it and Jakob. They needed more information, and nothing was ready to be put into action just yet, but they knew it. They may not have had a lot of time, but they also had enough if they utilized it properly.




With each passing cycle in the shadows, Keter grew more restless. The most action he had seen was when Audfein needed to be rescued, and while that was certainly stressful it was hardly the sort of activity he was craving. Since his freedom from his first prison, his life had been a string of fighting and celebration, but that had all changed when he arrived in Balefire. Since his first step into the City of Lanterns, he felt the betrayals of the Black Monkey's last free incarnation weighing heavily on his mind. Fighting at Bearkiller's establishment had provided him a worthwhile distraction while it lasted, but since that no longer became a viable option he had just returned to simply distrusting everybody within the Wine River Pariahs to some extent or another. The closest he could get to freeing his mind from paranoia was exercise, but even that could only last so long before even his muscles grew fatigued.

He needed something to do, but until Jakob was to be faced, information gathering and the spread of misinformation was being handled elsewhere, and by people who could reliably infiltrate the enemy without drawing too much attention to themselves. He just needed to stay active, to be momentarily distracted, but even the Shade and he were running out of worthwhile topics to converse about. Unfortunately his mind was too restless to attempt meditation.

Maybe he could work on pathing between the manor and the where they might encounter Jakob, try to keep it simple enough that all bait could follow the directions, but alternating enough so that it would not be obvious that the Shadow-Killer was being led into a trap. If they traded off to keep from fighting him out in the open and to keep him from bearing down too heavily on any one of them, then it opened up possibilities with possible dead ends and more natural fleeing routes. Maybe Rijinders would have the faculties to suspect that he was being led by three shadowdancers, but if Keter's suspicion was right then he would be too distracted with wanting to kill them to worry about such minor details like how far he had to go to do it.

Since the path did ultimately lead to the manor, if Anci, who expressed interest in paying their staging ground a visit and getting a personal look at the vampires, did not mind a slight scouting detour, then Keter would prove more than happy to join them in knocking the fangs loose from the mouths of blood-suckers. He needed a fight, something to keep him momentarily distracted, and something so simple was enticing.

OOC
 
Edited in some stuff after him not being able to meditate. Using his knowledge from skills and feats as well as concentration and stealth to scout out what might be the best path to lead Jakob down.
Edited by Keter, Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:39 pm.
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Anci
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Dröterdämmerung


You did good Drote! Very good You are hurt though, I want a friend to take a look to see if she can help. We do not want to get sick, right?


If Farethi couldn’t make the trip to take a look over Drote directly, Anci would gladly relay between the two of them to get salves to help his wounds and anything that might stop a possible vampiric affliction.


(OOC: attention pariahs)
It sounds like Drote caused the ruckus at the mansion, would anybody else want to check it out? Sounds like we could put it under us a lot easier now that they’ve been weakened like that.


Anci was perfectly willing to poke her nose around the Mansion to get an idea of what sort of shape it was in, or press further if anyone else was willing to commit with her.






Dr Korso or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Spoop Plane


That is fine by me, I hope we can earn your trust in time. For now, if you want to help us, could you maybe give some idea on what you can do? People said you caused the riot at Starek, could you do that again, here?






Interviews and ramblings




Czajka


"Czajka, you met Rijinder inperson with the bounties. What was your impression of him? Anything of note come up then?"


Code:
 

"He seemed alright, just from the look of him. He was professional, pretty keen. Seemed to have a lot of energy but lots of control over it."



""For people who are harmonized, could they tell if someone is manipulating luck?"


Code:
 

"I don't think so. It's like playing poker. You don't know the other guy's hand until the end result, and by then the winner's already decided. Does that makes sense?"



Anci shrugged. “I have not played poker before, but he will not know what she is doing is what it sounds like. And she will not know what he is doing either. Did you see any of Rijinder’s deputies too? Or the golem? Wondering what sort of impressions they might have had, and how close he is to them.




Ithuen


"Would you be able to get Rijinder going after another gang or zakona? I want to get him and his underlings going after someone else. Then try to draw him away with some of our shadowdancers."


Code:
 

"Sounds good," Ithuen wrote back. (She's currently not present)



Anci had to dictate another letter to be written after the Pariahs talked a little about the way they were moving forward with this job.


For now just finding a suitable candidate would be good. We’re not ready yet.


PS: Is he a supernatural?





Best laid plans of senka and shitters


They didn’t have that much time, but they weren’t exactly building a bridge or raising a crop. The different tasks before them could be done relatively quickly as long as there weren’t too many complications. Anci personally went in drab disguises to poke around at tavern’s or restaurants were the task force’s deputies and sheriff ate at. She never went when they were there directly, Anci was looking to pay off the staff there and see what they had noticed. Even if all she walked away with was preferences for food she’d be satisfied. From her own time in indentured servitude, hosts and people in power tended to speak as if others weren’t around. They also didn’t have something as insidious as the Ethereal Plane though, waiting to fish out and trade in secrets.


Otherwise she was looking to spend her time strengthening the Pariahs. Anci wanted to investigate the Manor, find out what she could about the vampire hive inside by shaking down people who lived in closer proximity and asking if Farethi knew anything about them. If some of the other Pariahs felt ambitious, she’d be willing to kick down the door and see what Gloomwood vampires were made out of.


The other option was the Gentlemen. They kept recurring as a point of discussion. Something had to be done about them. Sooner than later was how Anci felt about it. Lore seemed against tangling with them, but they didn’t need to have some large and messy brawl. They could challenge them, just like Lore did with Neriah. The ones in charge though were a married couple, Anci needed a partner.


(OOC: Attention Lore)
Hey Lore, if we have to deal with that riot golem I think you had a good point that we would want the Gentlemen. What do you say we break up there happy marriage?


It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the other Pariahs in this endeavor, but the combatants they were facing weren’t just compatriots but actually a partnership. Lorica was the person she had the deepest bond with and felt she had the best chance of standing against two opponents who could work in tandem together as well as she suspected.

Small OOC
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Carmen
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Quote:
 
There's a knock on your door. "Miss Carmen?" The voice belongs to Ansgar. "I just wanted you to know that I think you're very strong, to have come this far. I don't know much about what you're facing, but I can tell the burden is great." A thoughtful pause. "One of the great philosophers once said that the definition of anguish is the realization that each and every one of us is truly free to do anything, regardless of our background or current confines. He did not say that anguish was a bad thing, though."


"Free to do anything," Carmen whispered to herself, looking up for her pages of rough notes where she was drafting her diplomatic response to the Dalcas. "And I choose to do this?"

She stared at the piles of crumpled parchments on her table and the ashes of those she'd burned in the hearth. Despite many failed attempts, she knew she would find the right words to use; this was her one true skill, and almost the only thing she had to offer the Pariahs. Part of her wanted to choose another path, to be something other than what he father wanted, but despite that yearning she knew not what else she might do with her life.

Just because it would be his choice doesn't make it the wrong choice.

Carmen swallowed hard and nodded, getting back to work.

Quote:
 
Later in the night, Ansgar knocks on your door and leaves you some food and a hot beverage.


She knew she owed Ansgar a debt; one she would try to repay.

"But what do you get for a man whose only desire is death?" she wondered.

That seems blindingly obvious to me, Inferna replied.

Quote:
 
After the Pariahs come to a conclusion on which job to take, you make an in-person appearance with the Dalcas to tell them about the news. Viktor scratches his chin, pondering. "I think I get what you're getting at, in spite of the super formal Bridgetongue you're throwing around like you're some baroness."

"It was nice of you to tell us this in person instead of writing a letter," Yevhen adds.

"Yeah. That government leech you got sucking on your gang is pretty harmless when it all comes down to it. Harmless as in powerless. Whatever gods are out there must've been laughing when they set her fate in place. Then again, this might be her last gasp at holding onto what little power she has." Viktor leans back, crossing one leg over his other knee. "I don't mind. I'd rather someone ineffectual like her be running the law enforcement show, not that Rijnders. He gives me the creeps. I hear he takes Shadowdancer body parts and boils them for magic spells. Be careful out there, alright?"


"Baroness?!" Carmen muttered angrily, genuinely insulted by the notion as she rode her golden horse back to the Castle.

"How utterly. . ." she cringed, and then almost spat the word, "common!"

No less than six Barons fell under the rule of her father, Count Angelo Castile.

She stopped, her shoulders slumped, and she chastised herself right there in the middle of the road.

This thinking is dangerous. I am no better than a Baroness. No better than a pig farmer. No better than anyone.

It's not about being 'better', she heard her father's voice debate back her thoughts. You can use what you are to your advantage. Play to your strengths. If the people of this city knew who you really are, they would flock to your cause. There is no shame in that, is there?

There is when those strengths came from you.

Carmen finished her solemn ride back to the stronghold and retired to her chambers.




With the plan to kill the Sheriff underway, Carmen chose to apply herself to gathering information; a much-needed commodity, especially concerning Rijnders. She disguised herself with her magic, posing as an innocuous young were-rat messenger, complete with a leathery tail, pointed snout, bristly fur, long nimble fingers, and large, rounded ears atop her head. She carried a fat leather satchel stuffed with papyrus and scrolls and took to the streets on foot, scampering about until she found the bulky, and noisy, battle golem patrolling the city. It, she thought, would be the easiest way to find Rijnders, as the sheriff would surely check on the construct from time to time.

Once she spotted the Sheriff, Carmen kept her distance. She acted as though she were making deliveries door to door (which she was, in the form of a flyer she'd crafted for the alchemy shop the Pariahs now ran), her job taking her along the same route he happened to walk.

She carried on as if he was of no consequence, making sure that he stayed in the periphery of her vision, and made mental note of his habits, his contacts, his path, itinerary and schedule. Any or all of these might be of some use to her companions as they determined how best to act next. This she continued for as many hours, and indeed as many days as she could before the Pariahs decided to act; Rijnders was known as a man of patterns, and knowing those patterns thoroughly was their surest course to success. Each night she returned to the Castle, wrote down all she'd learned, and shared it with the others. Then she drew up new flyers, with daily specials and offers at the shop, and stuffed them into her bag to be delivered to the stores and the people of Nine Angels the following day.

OOC

Edited by Carmen, Tue Nov 15, 2016 4:33 pm.
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Glug Photall
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The plan that began to develop was one that involved baiting this Rijnder fellow with the Shadow Dancers in the group. Yurim decided to be the bait, acting as someone called the “One Shadow”. The golem known as Amitiel would have to be distracted in order for the plan to succeed, and then there was the ambush spot itself to consider. There was apparently a mansion that would work for that, one with high walls and lots of good hiding places; that would be perfect for sniping Rijnder or any “friends” he happened to bring along for the party. Clearing out the mansion wouldn’t be an issue for - well, anyone among the Pariahs, really - and the gang members that the Pariahs had recruited could make the job that much more easier with less risk to the Pariahs themselves. But there was still the matter of getting Rijnder to the mansion once the place was cleared out to discuss.

It seemed that Alexandra could handle the golem. Ithuen would do what she could to get the information about Rijnder’s routine, although it would have been helpful to have others working that as well. He had worn disguises before; they had served him well. The only reason he’d been caught back at that foundry was because the whole thing had been set up from the start. He’d need a much more elaborate disguise this time and every intangible tool of his metaphorical trick bag to remain hidden and still get any information he could, assuming he was chosen for that particular job prior to the ambush. Once the ambush commenced, of course, he’d be all too happy to be shooting at something that would actually die. It had been a while, considering.

It might be slow in coming, but Glug preferred it that way. Slow and steady was much better than quick and stupid.

The next two days were interesting. Glug wasn’t much of a teacher, but he did give the recruits some advice about utilizing natural materials for camouflage. After all, if you could blend in with your environment well enough, you could get much closer to your target; have more time to land more devastating blows; or find out more information than you might otherwise.

“Above all,” he told the recruits, “don’t get impatient. Wait for the opportune moment to strike, as the first strike is often the most important. The shorter a battle lasts, the better; don’t drag it out if you don’t have to.”

Two nights after their initial discussion with Ithuen regarding Rijnder’s impending demise, Czajka brought news. It seemed that Vaduva, the owner of Alkaev’s Home, was willing to help the Pariahs. That was another ally they could use, especially since ladies of the night could potentially pick up valuable information through their jobs. But Czajka had also come up with a brilliant scheme that was bringing money in to the Pariahs: she was turning in members of a gang called the Outriders for the reward money, rescuing the captives, and then recruiting them for the Pariahs. This was good as well. But even better, they had the church at their disposal now that the Outriders had been using as a base of operations.

Zuraw was nowhere to be found, apparently working on something alone. But Korso brought to light something rather fascinating: a massive set of arcanoblueprints. Alexandra tried to grab them, but Korso quickly snapped the case shut when he saw this. He was apparently keeping it with him at all times, safely out of the hands of Alexandra and anyone else who might become enthralled by them.

However, more important than the blueprints at the moment was figuring out exactly what to do about Rijnder and his deputies. Glug decided to stake out the possible routes that could be utilized for the chase when the Shadow Dancers finally baited Rijnder himself. He looked for additional ambush points, routes with lots of cover, places that had elevated locations for sniping as necessary, and areas that were out-of-the-way along the road to the mansion - out of sight, out of mind, and out of use. They needed to isolate Rijnder as much as possible, and Glug was just the goblin to figure out how to do that. His years having to survive on his own, away from most established civilizations, had made him an excellent tracker, a skill he could finally put to use among the Pariahs with this job. He included the mansion itself in this job, assuming it was well and truly cleared out by the time he got to actually investigating its layout. The best snipers knew their nests better than they knew the backs of their hands.

OOC
Edited by Glug Photall, Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:43 pm.
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Tanya
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The Pariahs agreed to spend the next few days gathering information. It would take at least that long for the house Neriah had proposed as an ambush spot to be cleared out, so it would be best to spend the time preparing as much as possible. Madame Tanya's employees, Caedis and Caelum, went to assist the forces that had been tasked to clear out the house.

Tanya herself spent much of that time with Aufdein Korso, studying the blueprints he had found to try and glean some idea of what Kir Lantos' was up to. "Have you been able to work out much about it on your own?" she asked the alchemist.

Halfway through the day, she tore herself away from the runes and left the Castle to make her own contribution to the Pariahs' planned ambush. She headed into the heart of the city, greeting the middlemen who lined the streets. The ones missing limbs were of particular interest to her. "One more deal," she told an eyeless cripple. "You tell me what I want to know, and I'll graft you back for all the limbs you've traded away." If she could find anyone willing to take her up on her offer, she would take them back to Farethi's shop and, after clearing a space, cut off any limbs the middlemen were missing and do her best to graft them back.

She was accustomed to having a certain level of sophistication in her equipment, which was notably lacking in the backroom of this alchemy shop, but she had a spell to take away the pain and some potions and incantations to heal the wound. Once the middleman had recovered the use of their limbs, she would ask them to scry on Amitiel the combat golem and pass on any information they could.

If she couldn't find anyone willing to scry without being paid, she'd try to find the middleman willing to give her the most substantial discount in exchange for limbs. But even with the shop's income, they didn't have enough to spend their money unthinkingly. She'd have to put a lot more thought into agreeing.

For a moment, it seemed strange to her that she'd put so much more thought into giving away a few hundred dollars than in selling large chunks of her body. The ethereal hadn't been wrong when it called her body cheap. Unnecessarily dickish, but not wrong.

When her information-gathering session was complete, she headed back to the Castle to resume her studies with Aufdein, grabbing another vial of blood as she left. This one was acidic, and labeled "DO NOT SPILL" in large block letters. She couldn't wait to see what it would do.

OOC

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Mobster Man
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Yurim needed some cards to play, he was going to be bait but it wouldn't do him any good if he just suddenly 'appeared' out of nowhere, that would be far to suspicious, he needed to make the One Shadow's presence known. After meeting Drote for the first time Yurim smirked, "Ya know, you remind me of a good friend. Good job Drote." With that said he went back to Castle... only for Korso to tell them a thing or two of why he was being targeted.

Yurim frowned when Alex began to fly into a god damn fit, whatever it was that was on the plans was something that the Ethereal wanted or something that had some kind of effect on the Shadow Plane. Yurim sighed, "I'm heading out for a bit. If I'm gonna be bait then I need to make sure that the rumors of the One Shadow are spreading. Relying on my infamy from Balefire is my best option. Also I need to get a new mask."

Yurim stepped through the shadows and emerged where The Friends tended to ambush people. He walked towards them as he spoke, "I have a job for you guys. Spread the word of the One Shadow being in town, lace it with as much misinformation as possible, I don't care if it's out there or completely insane, just mention he's wearing a white smiling mask. I want to disrupt some things with a certain Shadow-killer, if we can get him out of the picture then I can get you guys into Shadowdancer training. I want him stressed, flooded with both real and false reports of my existence as the One Shadow. As a general reward I'll show you how to pick pockets better and some unarmed combat I picked up. Deal?"

If they accepted he would show them how to pick pockets from jackets and even a more effective version of the 'bump and snatch' where after stealing they would 'bump' into a nearby member of the Friends and hand over the wallet or coin purse while they kept on moving, even if the target got to them they could very easily show that they didn't have the money, it was best not to use it to much on a single street, but to swap districts and streets day by day. With that said he picked up a new mask and went back to Castle, if they weren't going to take on Rijinders right away then he would need to plan a heist to cement the One Shadow's existence in this place.
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Lorica
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The most surprising turn of events was Drote's contribution. The strange man-monster had clearly been part of a large fight. From his broken Common, it sounded as if the enkaida had taken it upon himself to clear out the hive of vampires holed up in the Dark District mansion.

It was impressive work, but he'd taken some damage in the process. She did her best to help bind the enkaida's injuries with her knowledge of medicine before sending word to Tanya. The woman should be able to provide expert care given the nature of her business endeavors.

"Let's not waste what Drote's accomplished. I'll tag along with anyone interested in checking out who's left at that mansion." Anci and Keter both seemed interested in investigating as well, so she went with them. If Neriah wasn't busy she asked the young waif to tag along. After all, the 'paladin' had first brought their attention to the ruin and was familiar with the structure. She would be able to tell them if anything was amiss as they approached.

Lorica didn't plan on walking into a vampire hive unprepared. She reached out with all of her senses, feeling for both vibrations and disturbances to plant life around the mansion. She held knives openly as they entered the structure, willing to put down any enemies that attacked. At least the corruption meant that vampires couldn't feed on her.

Of course, if they were weakened enough by the enkaida's attack, there was always a chance they'd be willing to join the Pariahs instead of stand against them...



Lorica made her way to the Howling Dogs Saloon, the brim of her stormie shading the telltale marks around her eyes, a scarf wrapped around the bottom half of her face to hide her features. She took a table in the back, ordering a large mug of local beer and nursing it throughout the night. She listened for any talk of the new Deputies, including their dangerous leader. If anyone seemed especially disgruntled with the law officers she would look for an opportunity to speak with them in private, perhaps greasing the way with a few crumpled notes.

Lorica was focused on learning more about their routines and capabilities: their patrol routes, numbers, armaments, and other information of that quality. She was hoping that Prentum's dedication to keeping the establishment neutral would help her avoid attention. If Rijinder caught word of someone asking too many questions in the saloon, he'd have to weigh the benefits of capturing her against the risk of upsetting the angelic bartender.

In any case, she didn't plan on staying here long enough for the Sheriff to catch wind of her investigation. Once she got some reliable information she'd make her way back to the Castle to share with the others.



When Anci came to her later, Lorica's face split into a wide grin. "Why Braids... are you proposing to me? An engaged couple versus a married one? Old love versus new? Excellent." She chuckled and linked arms with the Sulerian. "I'm glad you're on-board. Most of these assholes don't seem willing to risk anything. I was going to go and duel them myself if no one else was interested." She pecked her friend on the cheek. "I should have known you wouldn't let me down."

On their way out of the Castle she stopped by Czajka's room, poking her head in. "Hey Bookworm... Remember those Gentlemen cads? I plan on taking care of them. Any pointers?" She was hoping the bounty hunter had learned something about the gang while sharing their territory in Nine Angels. Any intel would be helpful, but anything regarding their leaders would be especially useful.

She would have asked the Dalcas too, but didn't know how responsive the brothers would be after the Pariahs refused their job. Plus the outlaws weren't currently at the Castle and

She also paused to make use of the communi-quill, scribbling a quick note to Ithuen. Potentially going to make a ruckus. Cover for me and I'll owe you a bottle. She didn't wait for the Sheriff to respond in case the woman tried to stop her. Lorica was tired of playing things safe. She hadn't beat someone up in too long. These genasi would do nicely.

The two of them wandered across Nine Angels to the chop shop owned by the Gentlemen. The Keeper didn't recognize half of what was happening inside. Her order had never bothered with arcanotechnology, relying instead on the mystic power of the Wellspring. The air was thick with the scent of oil, hot from furnaces and kilns. Sparks flew, lighting the space in flashes and bursts.

"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Halmi... you around?" Activity ground to a halt at Lorica's shout. Multiple pairs of eyes went to her, suspicious and unwelcoming. She grinned and walked forward, tipping back her hat so they could see her face. "You can call me Lore. I heard you shits thought you owned this town. I'm here to prove you wrong." She spread her hands wide, dipping her head in a slight and mocking bow. "Would you kindly come out and play? My lovely partner and I would love to show you how a real couple fights."

OOC
 
  • I bolded sections of my posts I thought were relevant to others or our NPCs
  • Adept First Aid for tending to Drote
  • Tremor Sense from Miner's Graft and Surculose Perception from Plant Shaper
  • Anci and I would like to challenge Kristof and Eva Halmi to a DUEL
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Alexandra
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Some amount of time later, Alex struggled to remember the contents of the blueprints. It was important information. After her remembering efforts were completed, she moved to her other plan.

Alex knew there were golems about. It was Balefire, not quite as rife with the heavy workers as Istan or Cascadia, but heavy. She poked around town, looking for the shops that sold them or heavy yards that used several. She posed as a fan which was fairly simple, because she was a fan of golem technology. She picked through the streets on Apple, looking for an in to get close enough to etch Mira's runes into the binding core and have her take over, or source a different elemental. As a bit of a long shot chance, she also checked to see if any small mercenary outfits in town had a golem or if the sheriffs had one other than Rijinder's own. A labor golem wouldn't be perfect for the task, they lacked the dexterity of combat golems, but the point would be to tie down Rijinder's before it began making mincemeat of their allies.
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Tian
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It was days spent skulking, which was something he was good at. He was, of course, mindful of the fact that he played an especially dangerous game. With someoen so keenly attuned to shadowdancers, he wasn't about to rely on those abilities to achieve what he sought: Information. It seemed he was always and eternally seekign information. It helped, of course, that he knew that such things were necessary. A plan laid without proper intelligence was doomed not only to fail, but to fail spectacularly.

So he skulked, on the rooftops and in the streets. It was by simple natural talent at beign unnoticed that he plied this trade. And the mark? He took the information the elf Bearkiller had given him. He set about to map out the precints that the task force had set up, and watched their patterns, the shifts that they took, the indivudal personnel that they used to carry out their raids. Exceedingly carefully, too, but close enough that he could discern something of the abilities of all of them. All of them except the boss himself, for which he was leery of shadowing. He wasn't sure of how attentive the underlings would be, but he was sure that no matter how attentive they were, they were nothing like their master. Tian trusted his skill just fine, but it wasn't just about himself. There was all the others embroiled in this endeavor now.

Underneath the desire to pull this job off was something that had been buried deeply, not forgotten. The time is drawing near that we break her out of her prison camp. We have the resources...once we deal with this whelp.

They had fulfilled the pieces that the Ethereal had whispered in his mind with its oily voice. They couldn't forget to handle that eventuality, especially considering the price paid for the knowledge.



Private: Itheun



He regarded the casino, the office, of that woman, with a careful eye. It wasn't that he distrusted her, exactly. He knew he could trust her to throw empty glass at him if he walked through the door...but she was law, and the law and himself had a kind of waltzing history that went back so far as to vanish into the mists of time.

Straightening his dark leather, he walked into the casino and into the bottle-strewn hole that served as an office for the ill tempered Dispatch. He contemplated what manner to present himself this time, and decided that he didn't need to have an axe through his head today. For the time being anyway. Still, there were still some things that he couldn't help himself about, and he could no more stop himself sweeping a moderate bow to the woman behind the desk, and uttering a deliberately irritating comment as he did so.

Good even, my dear," he began and, prepared for the unholy tirade that would likely spill forth from his intentional antagonism, he immediately raised his hands to ward off whatever she might throw, be it weapon, bottle, or words.

Without giving her the opportunity of hissing and snapping his nose off, he smoothly continued. See a fair fewer bottles in here than I expected, he said conversationally. In any case, I though it best to come down here. I have been...wandering the streets a bit of recent, and and idea occurred to me. Weak though you claim to be, I was wondering if there was some kind of distraction you might be willing to engage in for our esteemed asshats, the Task Force, prior to us, ah-hah, dealing with him. As he spoke the last, he made a very emphatic gesture, like thrusting a knife to the left, up under the ribs, into a heart.

He paused, and then forged ahead with what he really wanted to ask. Its none of my busines, of course, but even having heard you speak about this fellow, even feeling the irritation in your words...I still want to know why. It won't change whether or not I myself do this thing, but I am curious as to why you want the Sheriff out of the way. He stared at her with an unblinking look, not really ready to be shunted aside. Ready to be injured, probably violently, but resolute all the same.
Edited by Tian, Tue Nov 15, 2016 11:53 pm.
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Storyteller[ST]
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Anci

With Lorica, Tanya and Farethi's help, you mend Drote's wounds and purge his vampirism infection. "Th-th-that was a c-cl-close call," Farethi says. "Hive vampires are v-very virulent. Their l-larvae are p-p-parasitoids. So if the host is n-not suitable for c-conversion, it incubates hundreds of v-vectors instead, which b-burrow out of the host. S-sorry, I don't mean to b-bore you with naturalist n-nonsense..." She wrings her hands, twitch-tilting her head like a bird. "I will p-prepare remedies for after your att-ttt-tttack."

Anci, you ask Aufdein Korso what he is capable of and whether he could do the Starek riot again. "I suppose it would be worth a good old-fashioned try," he says. "I could recreate all the conditions that led to the riot." He also tells you a few things he's particularly good at. [Information on Aufdein Korso's powers will be posted in Discussion within 24 hours of this writing.]

During your talk with Czajka, you ask her to give a general impression of Rijnders' deputies and the golem Amitiel, and how close he is to them. "Oh, those deputies are like his personality cult. They love him. A little too much, I'd say. My guess is he gives them some wiggle room to do things they like. They're not very by-the-book, but I guess no law enforcement around here is. The 'book' is like something that don't much exist except in fantasies. And the golem, what's her name... anyway, she's creepy. I stay clear away from her, always. If she's talking with Rijnders, I wait."

During your writings with Ithuen, you ask her to find a suitable gang or zakona to set Rijnders against. [See "Help from Ithuen" below.] You also ask if Rijnders is a supernatural. "Yeah. SOME sort of mutt. Not to uncommon," is what she writes, slight grammar issues included.


Yurim

You tell the Friends to spread tons of rumors and misinformation (and a bit of true information) about the One Shadow in exchange for more pointers. This setup is likely to yield dividends soon. You also pick up a new mask, which will be critical to your plan later on.

As the nights go on, you find more and more wanted posters for the One Shadow posted. The reward for your capture has gone up.

Ithuen writes to everyone on the 'quill. "Howdy its me, Rijnders is getting really interested in the one shadow. Wants to see if there are other shadow[removed]ers in the wine River group. But One shadow especially interesting to him. But he is focused. This is a good start but we should increase the pressure now. Good though."


Alexandra

You recall some of the blueprint details from your manic fit. [See "Korso's Blueprints" below.] You take to the town in search of labor golems. Even though Nine Angels is dying, it used to be a boomtown; its access to technology is not completely gone. There are plenty of golems around.

Choose a golem to hijack. You may detail its appearance however you like.

  1. The Marble Quarry Junker is a labor golem. It has been repaired and re-repaired countless times. It does its job, but it has no weapons and it might not be able to handle the stresses of what you plan to put it through. Hijacking this golem would not be too risky.

  2. The Gentleman Roughshod is a combat/labor hybrid golem affiliated with the Gentlemen gang (perhaps it wears a small tophat made of burnished metal). It was made from airship parts. It has weapons and is fairly hardy, a good all-arounder, but its nature as a reincarnated airship means it might have some issues. After hijacking this Golem you would need to escape an immediate Gentlemen attack and manhunt, unless Lorica and Anci win their duel.

  3. The Sheriff Task Force Regulator is a combat golem affiliated with the Dispatch. It is heavily armed, but a bit small and not as strong as a labor golem or Roughshod. The hull has seen a lot of action and its resident elemental or senka is proud and ruthless. After hijacking this golem you would need to contend with the risk of the golem's previous occupant regaining control of the hull, possibly by altering luck.


Tian

You go see Ithuen in private. Click to assert yourself.



Intelligence Gathering Results

Keter, Glug, Tanya, Anci, Carmen, Tian and Lorica, you all set out to gather more intelligence about many aspects of the job using all of your best skills. Some of this information required bribes which cost 2 money total.

Ground Logistics

  • You now have the following understanding of ground logistics: paths to lead Jakob to the manor, routes with lots of cover, places that had elevated locations for sniping as necessary, out-of-the-way areas along the road to the manor, the layout of the manor.
    • Unlike the normal setting info of a ST-led topic, this information is up to you the players to design. As long as the details are justified within the setting already established, you can make things up. Join your creative powers together to enhance the detail!


Rijnders' Deputies

  • You now have the following understanding related to the task force: how the law enforcement precincts of Nine Angels are laid out, shifts, patrol routes, and the names of a few deputies.

    • Unlike the normal setting info of a ST-led topic, this information is up to you the players to design. As long as the details are justified within the setting already established, you can make things up. This includes coming up with names for deputies as needed. Join your creative powers together to enhance the detail!

  • The Dispatch's employees choose their own armaments. They also provide their own arcano-gadgetry and sometimes even armor. Many Dispatchers wear light, flexible armor under their grey coats, such as Gloomwood Leather.
  • The task force frequently forms into squads of 5 or 10, which they use to raid and take control of unruly businesses or blocks.
  • The task force is physically violent, even with compliant and unarmed targets.
  • The task force has a disregard for property damage and collateral damage. The Sheriffs seem to be under the impression anything they level is a good thing, since it will be rebuilt with something better and cleaner.

Jakob Rijnders

  • Jakob spends an inordinate amount of time meeting with Ithuen and Kir. Between those two, he moves in a predictable routine between precincts, setting up raids and checking on deputies. Then he settles in for the rest of the night in his office, settling accounts and planning. He is not averse to deviating from his routine to catch/kill a criminal on the fly.
  • Jakob is shutting down the gambling hall and wants Ithuen to move out of her tiny office.
  • Jakob is operating out of a temporary office in an abandoned building on the main drag. This is also where the Dispatch is temporarily headquartered.
  • You have a complete understanding of Jakob's routine, even on a daily basis, thanks to this intelligence gathering supplemented by Ithuen's information leak. Ask the ST at any time for his current (scheduled) whereabouts.

Amitiel

  • Tanya, you have used a middleman to scry on Amitiel. [A miniature Ethereal Prying will be posted in Discussion within the next 24 hours of this posting.]
  • Amitiel is a large golem powered by a Celestial. She has a weird, almost abstract-looking frame, lots of thin and thick parts intertwined in ways that don't look physically possible. Her back is tipped with many steel tendrils lined with hooks that rattle and shudder behind her, trailing feather-shaped energies. She wears a huge collar around her hull's neck, which strikes you as a bit strange. Her hull is worn-down and draped in frayed, nasty cloth, but she doesn't look like she could go down easy.

Korso's Blueprints

  • Here it is. After all this time, you finally have an idea of what you stole. Because of the combined effortful study of Korso, Tanya, and Alex, this is what you know about the blueprints so far.

    The Wine River Transport Company solved the Norwood problem in a way that is not only cheap, not only cutting-edge, but also politically ideal. The reason it's politically ideal is because the scorchline doesn't even pass through Norwood. You might think, then, that they found a way to divert the line away from the Norwood leyline and keep it powered. Not at all. These are the plans for an ingenious bit of magical-technology interfacing: the ripped scorchline (shortened to ripline). Instead of building a scorchline over harsh terrain in Imythess, this new plan suggests that Balefire builds their new "ripline" straight through the Ethereal Plane itself, phasing in and out of material reality over a series of rips or "jumps" in the fabric of reality.

    That means that most of the line's construction needs to be done in the Shadow, not in Imythess. All that needs to be built in Imythess are the jumping points -- the stops, basically. A normal scorchline will be built from Balefire Central Station to the Nine Angels Jump, the most critical. Then further jumps would be built along the leyline in areas where terrain and diplomacy are both more favorable, leading ultimately to the Striberg side of the scorchline.

    You know these blueprints have some mechanical function, but you're not sure what. It's the function they provide that is likely the reason Kir wants them. Wine River already knows their overall plans, after all.

Help from Ithuen

  • Ithuen has found a nasty zakona who has holed up in Nine Angels. His name is "Belltower" Bezzhalostnyy, and he's a sapient senka. A diehard anarchist, survivalist, doomsday preparator, and proponent of self-sufficiency. This man -- "people keep saying he's handsome. Why is that relevant??", according to Ithuen's strange report -- left his home country somewhere in the Shadow Plane. Would this do?



Attack on the Manor

The interior of the manor stinks. Some patches of wall are bloated and sopping wet, and when pierced they pour out thousands of tiny, blood-sucking, insectoid "vectors" that Farethi was talking about earlier. You also find the occasional stomach-churning cache of corpses full of virulent pustules that could burst at any moment. The vampires have burrowed plenty of alcoves into the walls, ceilings and floors. Some are hiding places for the half-feral creatures, who have black and yellow eyes and bare shining fangs beneath complex, striped mouthparts. Other alcoves are for storing some kind of fatty, sugary substance that supplements their nutrition when blood isn't readily available.

While most of the vampires attack you with fang and claw and the stingers buried into the base of their wrists, some of them have absorbed the weapon skills of their hosts. Bodies warped to produce more limbs to carry more weapons, they attack with a vicious disregard for their own lives. Drote's attack cleared out many of them, but they reproduce rapidly. You'll need to do an entire sweep of the place using your knowledge of the layout, destroying any vampire or vector you find.

All of this information has been given to you piecewise by Neriah, who Lorica invited to Follow the Pariah Leaders.


Duel Against the Gentlemen

Lorica, before heading off to the chop shop you ask Czajka for any pointers in dealing with the Halmi couple. You notice her health has improved a bit, maybe thanks to your advice from before. More color in her skin, less dreary-looking eyes. "They fight dirty. And their men might interfere, even though that's not honorable in a duel. So watch out. Sorry, that's all I know that might help."

Anci and Lorica, you approach the Gentlemen in their chop shop and challenge them to a duel.

You have two choices about how you'd like to approach this. Select one in the Discussion. Both of you need to agree on it.

  1. Both of you choose one of the Halmis to single off for a one-on-one duel. You both would duel your chosen Halmis separately, having your own duels. You expect this option to be Medium in difficulty, but you both need to win in order to topple the Gentlemen gang. If only one of you wins, the Gentlemen will be reduced in power but will remain a threat.

  2. You fight a two-on-two duel. Both you two and the Halmis can fight alongside your respective partners for added power. You two would need to combine your actions into 1 post up to 200 words in length using cooperative writing methods. You expect this option to be Hard in difficulty, but you only need to win that one duel in order to topple the Gentlemen.




OOC
 
The next ST post cutoff is 5:00pm Mountain on Friday, November 18.

Gloomwood Hive Vampires are Strong Fodder. You are trusted to dictate your enemy's actions and the outcome of your attacks, but you are highly encouraged to portray your opponents as strong, skilled, and capable of injuring you.


Finances Report

You've gained 2 money in income. Added to your 5 money from before, that comes out to 7 money.

You spent 3 money from your pool on Zuraw (Lorica chipped in 1 money out of pocket). That leaves you with 4 money.

You spent 2 money on bribes. That leaves you with 2 money.

The Wine River Pariahs have a total of 2 money in their pool right now. More payout to come, especially with Carmen promoting the apothecary.

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Mobster Man
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Yurim smiled, so his little bit of information being spread worked. He needed to make a more public appearance... but he didn't know where a good heist could take place, he needed something to make Rijinders want his head even more... when it hit him, his masks. In Balefire he used to take one of the Replica Masks and drop it off as a sign that he was targeting something, sometimes he even dropped it off at a guardpost as a form of Challenge, a 'Catch me if you Can' note.

Yurim took up one of the masks and grinned, turning it over to write out a message, 'Catch me if you can Riji-boy. Your favorite Phantom Thief, The One Shadow'. He got dressed in his civvies, he didn't want his alter-ego to deliver such a basic note. He had been told of his routes and the fact that he planned raids, which meant his target was obvious, one of the raiding groups would deliver the mask for him, whether they knew it or not.

He went out into the city, checking the different districts until he finally found the raid, a cart was being loaded with 'contraband' and people being interrogated inside a building, lots of shouting, some small cries of pain, child's play, only a single guard was near the cart and they seemed more interested in whatever was happening inside. He began to sneak across the area, sticking to the darkness and shadows of the few lights in the area. He would attempt to sneak to the cart and drop off the mask with it's note carved into it. After that he just needed to make it to the nearest shadow and disappear back to Castle, if this worked... well, then Rijinders very well may become another of the One Shadow's favorite foes.
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Glug Photall
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Howdy its me, Rijnders is getting really interested in the one shadow. Wants to see if there are other shadow[removed]ers in the wine River group. But One shadow especially interesting to him. But he is focused. This is a good start but we should increase the pressure now. Good though.

That was the message that Ithuen sent to everyone via the communiquill and marked parchment. Glug read it only after he’d completed his tracing of the possible routes they were to take. Given the layout of the city and the paths to the mansion, Glug would have no trouble initially. However, it seemed that he would have to stay low and move quickly to avoid being seen if he was to get to the mansion once the plan was underway. That suited him just fine, anyway, as it was little different from a hunt in the wild. There were a few buildings on the way to the mansion that would be good for cover but the best place for sniping was easily the mansion itself; Glug could see this even from afar. If nothing else, he could always set up his portable siege tower, but he didn’t want to reveal that particular trump card unless it was absolutely necessary.

Better not to reveal your hand until there’s nothing your opponent can do about it.

A man who’d taught him how to play cards had told him that once. Thankfully, information was being shared with the group as a whole by each member participating in this plan. That meant that Glug knew just as much about the activities of Rjinders and his deputies as did everyone else. One thing that did not surprise him was that many of the deputies wore light-weight armour, such as Gloomwood leather. Glug thus hunted around town for what he needed and soon had a custom order of arrows that he called Lightning Rods - arrows with electrified heads that could penetrate armour without ever touching it. No armour the deputies wore would thus be able to stop his arrows - unless they were specifically enchanted to do so, of course. But no preparation was ever complete, no plan ever without risk.

Glug couldn’t care less how violent Rjinders’ task force was, as he would never be getting anywhere near them; he wouldn’t have to. But they would have to separate Rjinders from his men if at all possible, or at least be able to take down his men quickly and quietly. Rjinders was the main target, not his men, but collateral damage was always acceptable on a job like this as long as it didn’t look out of place. That was the key to everything, after all: it couldn’t look like a job. It had to look like Shadow Dancers murdered him and his men, and this so-called “One Shadow” was apparently setting that up rather well. Even better, the deputies and Rjinders were apparently callous regarding the buildings and environment of Nine Angels, so destroying something wouldn’t look out of the ordinary at all; nobody would care, and if they did, they would probably think that Rjinders or his deputies had done it - as long as the Pariahs remained out of sight.

That wasn’t a problem for Glug.

Jakob Rjinders himself was apparently predictable enough in his routine that he could be easily driven out of it, which meant that drawing him into a secluded kill zone would be easy enough. There was still Amitiel, a law enforcement golem, to deal with; it seemed others were taking care of that, however. Glug had one main job: get to the mansion after it was cleared out and shoot whatever idiots happened to be tagging along with Rjinders, be they sheriffs or deputies, when he was led there. If nothing else, The others could get him inside the mansion - but Glug would need the layout of that as well to make proper use of its interior. Just knowing where the windows and doors were from the outside didn’t help him much.

As such, Glug headed to the mansion, hopefully with some others to back him up. He wasn’t going to bother with his newly replaced Lightning Rods here; these monsters likely didn’t concern themselves with donning armour, as they likely believed that they didn’t need it. They were going to be very wrong. Once Glug and whomever was helping him had finished clearing out the place, Glug would give himself a private tour of the mansion until he knew it very well indeed. That would give him all the information he needed to set up a proper ambush for Rjinders and his snarling hounds.

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