Chapter 1: The Shadow Moot

Intent: goad Nicastro into exploding in a way that embarrasses himself in front of everyone, giving the impression that his, well, temperament is not suited to leadership. Task: this insulting question. Failure "he still outbursts [and excommunicates you], embarrasses himself, causing a loss of faith amongst some of the capos, but obviously maintaining some respect and an air of command with the excommunication". Result: Failure.

1. That superstition about the Docks is a Dwarf thing.

2. Trying to find some solidarity, someone to exit with her. Circles B2 plus 1D Affiliation with Thieves Guild plus 2D Reputation as Shepherding Supplies through the Siege of Port Stonehold. Ob 3.

3. I wanted Nulgha to say one last thing but turns out the Writ is pretty clear this kind of thing is fine, also there are enforcers on her tail. Spirit Binding!

I've got pronoun confusion. Which one is addressing me?

Rolling Spirit Strength B2 versus the enforcers: success

I'm kind of getting the feel for the thieves guild already. And it feels like we're not supposed to like this guy who's in charge for now. XD

I would like to move to a test. My intent is to get a name of a contact from him and his permission to try thieving from that target without anything in advance. It could be straight test against his will or if he has a counter offer it could be a contested social test. Either way, I am looking to use Persuasion with Haggling and Falsehood forked in.

I don't know anything about this city, or Chondite Keep. Could I make a Beginner's Luck Grayhawk City-wise test to know some more information? I'm trying to think of something specific to know about it, but I don't have a base of information to work from.

If Zach wants to roll that Wise check, I'll throw in a helping die.

I want to find Capo Repnel Porton, talk to him about what happened last night, where he stands with relation to me, where he stands with relation to Nicastro. Where should I go to find him? Or what should I roll if it's not clear I can eventually find him without consequences? Nulgha's task in the absence of interruption is to check his usual haunts in the guise of a vagrant not currently bothering anyone, and if she finds him, catch him at a free-of-prying-eyes-besides-a-loyal-bodyguard-or-whatnot moment. If she does not find him in any usual place, she will ask the spirits of the near bank of the river to guide her, walking the bank looking for omens in the dirt; then if that doesn't work ask the spirits of the back alleys of Greyhawk to guide her, walking the streets and flipping a stone to make decisions on which way to turn; then if that doesn't work it'll probably be time to sleep.

I do want to make that check! I want to know of weaknesses that our kind know about and exploit to get past the keep. I have Perception B4, + the hero die from Gord.

Sure we can jump to the next day if you want. Breakfast at somewhere near Zachary?

Is it a few weeks? "end of the month" could be a day or 4 weeks... gonna assume it's 2-3 weeks given that it must be at least a few days, maybe a week since the Maestro's disappearance and apparently Porton hopes for the Maestro's return before any great conflict arises which makes it unlikely to be a few days 'til the end of the month.

I'll invite you to my place. It's nice enough and won't be public to attract notice.

Well, now, looks like it's time to find out some details about the Heimarts. What does Nulgha know about them? Specifically, I have these questions and preferred answers and would like to know the true answers if you have them, either because Nulgha already knows or by rolling something like City of Grayhawk-wise or Lord Heimart-wise or Court Gossip-wise:

How wide is the circle of folks who Nulgha knows or strongly suspects who know about Nulgha's relationship with Tomas Heimart? (hope: very small, and not including the Lord Heimart)

How is the relationship between the Lord and Tomas? (hope: quite good, the Lord would even spend some political capital on his son's earnest desire ;))

What would the Lord's feelings on the Maestro's disappearance probably be? (Hope: fear that the Thieves Guild will come apart as that would be too destabilizing)

How does Lord Heimart feel about Nulgha? (Hope: heard of her, doesn't have strong feelings, at most mild respect for blockade running plus whatever he feels about thieves in general)

How does Tomas feel about Nulgha? (Hope: head over heels!)

What's the Lord's schedule like? (Hope: there's some time today he's not completely mired in meetings when Nulgha could pop up and talk that wouldn't be horrifically out of place)

My intent in wanting to know about these things is to get a quick chat with Lord Heimart where I convince him it's a good idea to let Nicastro and the Capos know that he will be hands-off the Guild at least until their leadership is stabilized. That's a lot, I know, and depending on what the answers to the above questions are, may be either fairly easy or absolutely impossible. But that's the thrust of my questioning. Nulgha's task will depend somewhat on the answers to the questions around Tomas - whether and in what ways she can go through him to the Lord. So I guess her first step is securing a moment to talk with the Lord, getting as much help from Tomas as makes sense. So Say Yes, 1+ -wise tests, Circles, or inappropriate task?

I want the nobles to be generally scared of the Old Alliance breaking, for fear of riots, gang wars, unrest, etc engulfing even their third of the city. City of Greyhawk-wise? Common knowledge, interesting fact? Not looking to establish that the Lord Mayor himself is scared of it, that sounds like it'd be too hard. :D

Assuming he comes along...

Edit: if you'd like a test to see if he'll help me here, I'm trying to steer toward Ugly Truth, but wouldn't be put out if you called it Persuasion or Seduction.

I'm ready to get ready and then stop by for an unexpected visit to this young man. Do i know him?

Gord just needs to borrow a change of clothes to look a little higher station than he is. His time as an apprentice taught him how to be respectful of betters. He hasn't done that in years of course but I'm sure it will come back to him. :)

I'm getting dressed in my finery (or whatever passes for fashionable noble clothing to go calling). I can do a little disguise work on Gord to help him look more like my man servant. I think I can probably just go right in and pretend to be the up-to-no-good youngest son of a noble and ask about the pipe weed that Gord wants to steal.

Sounds good! Yeah, I'm just trying to make him look like a man servant, not a street thug. I think Zachary thinks the rich see what they expect, not what's actually in front of them.

On to the Wolsing estate then.

Do I know the name of this son of Baron Wolsing? I went back through the thread and didn't see it stated.

Intent: convince Lord Heimart that easing up is necessary to keep the Guild intact short term. Task: these forgeries "captured" by Tomas.

Adding in the Inconspicuous roll just because of my Instinct. No idea if it will be relevant.

Scoping involves watching from nearby rooftops and checking with the spirits of the adjacent back alleys whether and where men lurk. Assuming she sees nothing amiss...

She'll be doing some Spirit Binding tonight to consult re: the Maestro's disappearance.

OK then let's ignore everything and jump to the meet with Carlod then. We can chat in character if you want but the main thing I want to do is circle up someone with knowledge of the Wolsing estate to help us burgle it and I'd like Carlod's help on the roll as someone that knows the area.