Phase 1: Intercepting the Forlorn's Watch

Oct 18, 2018 2:11 am
Val, a poet and actor, experienced a massacre undertaken by the Forlorn's watch and is out for revenge. He hears of a local vigilante in Mirthing Reef with apparent magical and martial skill and teams up with a talented P.I., Vinsten, to find him. They find the vigilante, a half-drow named Nathriel. Val then expresses to the other two his intentions, to bring down or otherwise injure the Forlorn's Watch, and offers a portion of anything they find or loot along the way in exchange for their assistance. Vinsten called upon Vishka, an illusionist and double-agent with ties to the Forlorn's Watch, to assist the group in their goal while Val and Nathriel saught the artificer Kellen, a local merchant and a known opposer to the Forlorn's Watch's recent dealings. They all gathered in a private location to discuss their first course of action.

This team decided to meet up in Stonestein - it is a small, out of the way mining town in Mirthing Reef, where they would not gather too much suspicion, with it only being a few hundred people. However, they did stick out, since it was mostly dwarves who lived there. Regardless of that fact, they were sitting around a stone table and sitting on stone stools, near the fireplace which was fueled by coal instead of by wood. To describe the architecture that is most usual in Cragglerock, it all looks as if there was a chunk of rock chiseled away to make things that *look* like pieces of furniture, such as tables or chairs. It's all still connected to the ground, however.

The barkeep is a round, rose-cheeked mountain dwarf who was polishing away at a stone mug, and he was behind a stone counter. However, wood was to be spotted - the kegs behind him that held liquor, though the alcohol in Cragglerock was nothing to be proud of. A rudimentary mead that was rather foul to taste, and then some wine - expensive, as fruit had to be procured from the surface. It was now a scarcity since the travel to the surface has been blocked off.
Oct 18, 2018 2:55 am
Vinsten calls to the barkeeper, "Can we get a round over here?" He then starts digging through his bag for a small vial. When he finds it, he says, "Don't worry, I have something to improve the taste. This will make the mead taste a bit like fresh fruit. It isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than the stuff straight."
OOC:
Vinsten is an alchemist by training. I'd be happy to roll for his skill at making this if you would like, but this would be simple I'd think.
Oct 18, 2018 2:57 am
No need, Kellen. I'd rather invest in the finer things. Val says as he orders an expensive cup of surface-wine.

Val leans back in his stool, looking dissapointedly at the expensive but meagre amount of wine in the bottom of a stone cup. Gods, this is what's killing me. Barely half a glass of wine for a gold piece, it's a tragedy. I'm sure we're all in agreement as to what must be done. So, the questions now ars how and where? Val leans forward and rests his arms on the table in front of him Any suggestions?
Last edited October 18, 2018 3:05 am
Oct 18, 2018 3:19 am
Vinsten leans in and speaks in a low voice with narrowed eyes. He has clearly rehearsed this. I'm going to start with the suggestion that oft gets forgotten. Weaken the internal structure, then hit them hard from the outside. We learn their darkest secrets and use them as a wedge to divide their power. Then, we let just enough information slip to the public that they start to form conclusions and get angry. Once angry, they will only need a direction. In the end, we will have change and not a drop of blood on our hands.

Sorry, I got carried away. Did I even answer the right question?
Oct 18, 2018 3:40 am
OOC:
No need to roll for the minor alchemical uses like that when it's mostly a flavoring thing. :)
Oct 18, 2018 12:59 pm
Oh please tell me you don't think it'll be THAT easy.
Vishka hissed as her tongue flicked out.
The watch might be militarily inclined, but they aren't stupid. Getting info will be difficult. Especially info that could harm them.
Oct 18, 2018 1:02 pm
Kellen nervously wrings his hands together. He believes he has been to Stonestein before on a material gathering trip but it somehow seemed less oppressive then.
Ignoring the wine he has bought, he speaks up, "We need a way in. A member of the Folorn's Watch who we can extract some information out of. A move against them will be very difficult unless we have some understanding of why they are doing what they are and what their goals are". He hesitates for a moment and then continues, "I'm sure I have some customers from the Watch who I could contact but they won't be forthcoming with nothing to pressure them. Anyone got anything better?"
Oct 18, 2018 1:34 pm
We could always trap and interrogate one or infiltrate some kind of enclave of them to get a peek at their orders. Val says with a slight smile. At any rate, figuring out why they closed the surface among other things is a valuable step. One thing is for sure, however: the public won't help us, at least not now, and a war down here might be disastrous if they do, especially with the militaristic nature of our adversary.
Oct 18, 2018 4:39 pm
Vinsten's eyes have been darting quickly between the speakers and is visibly deflating. You all make good points... He sits and grabs his drink. Do you think the guards near the surface would know why they are posted there? I'd assume we need to go higher up. Also, what are the odds that we could walk right in and ask if we were in the right uniform?

Also, I want to point out that taking a captive will require a murder or long term imprisonment. We can't just let them run back to raise the alarm.

Going through the customers may be a good idea until we are ready to make a big move.
OOC:
Is the Watch made up of all sorts of races or just a few specific?
Last edited October 18, 2018 4:51 pm
Oct 18, 2018 4:48 pm
OOC:
The watch is not the most diverse of the factions, but it surely has citizens of most races found in Cragglerock, with exceptions of: ratfolk, goblins, half-trolls. The most common they have are Shadar-Kai, Yuan-Ti, Grey Dwarves, and Lizardfolk.
Oct 18, 2018 4:53 pm
As the party was sitting amongst themselves and talking quietly, a young dwarf woman suddenly burst opene the door, and her face looked terribly distraught.

"They've kill'd Silverforge!" She almost yelled. She seemed to be a citizen of Stonestein, and a commoner at that - she wore simple cotton clothes, and her hair was braided and up out of the way. "We don't know who did it, but Junior found him dead next to their house!"

The innkeep's mug clattered on the ground as he heard the news. "They killed Flint?!"
Oct 18, 2018 5:04 pm
What do you mean by 'they'? Val says to the bartender, in a tone of curiosity rather than concern.
Oct 18, 2018 5:35 pm
Kellen listens carefully but if the bartender turns to answer Val then Kellen will shrink a bit and face down. He is paranoid someone might recognise him.
Oct 18, 2018 9:54 pm
The woman looked at the group, and her eyes narrowed before she turned to look at the bartender and said something in dwarvish. The bartender replies to her gruffly, shaking his head before he looks at Val. "We don't know, exactly, but none of our families would kill the councilman of our town. We suspect outside influence, especially lately..."

The dwarven lass turned out and walked out of the inn, as she had more people to tell.
Oct 18, 2018 10:11 pm
Right. Val turns to the rest of the group. Do you think it's worth looking into it? It could help improve our image before we get our hands dirty. It could be our quarries, for all we know.
OOC:
I believe we have some dwarvish-speaking party members who could translate the barkeep and lass.
Oct 18, 2018 10:39 pm
I think there are potential allies to be made by undertaking such a task. It seems that this man was well liked.
Oct 18, 2018 11:04 pm
"I speak Dwarvish. It's a useful language to have in Mirthing especially in the trading world".
OOC:
Kellen, if he overheard what the woman said would tell the rest of the party.
"I think this killing is worth exploring although we don't want to get distracted. If it wasn't the Folorn's Watch that did this I reckon we leave local business to locals. The barman might be able to tell us more".
Oct 18, 2018 11:33 pm
It isss worth investigating, but we musssst be cautioussss.
Vishka noted.
The Forlorn'sss watch has spiesss everywhere. I cannot be seen openly with you all if I wish to keep my cover in the Forlorn'ssss watch. I can only help you by identifying any spiesss I see...
Oct 18, 2018 11:40 pm
Dwarvish Translation:
"Maybe it could be them? They aren't from around here."
"No, they only recently arrived, and have been in here most of the time."


"Accusations will rise if not put under wraps." The barkeep said to them all. "I couldn't have had imagined it would happen here... This town is a good one."
Oct 19, 2018 12:11 am
At the mention of spies, Kellen downs his wine quickly and gets up and goes to the bar, ostensibly to buy another drink. He puts a coin on the bar, catches the barman's eye and nods towards the door where the distressed dwarf recently excited.
Speaking in dwarvish he says, "The times are becoming harder and less forgiving everywhere. Even the safest towns are under threat".
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