------------------------------ Logging started for Blitzed:#7thseaic on Sunday, 30 June 2019 13:32:14 British Summer Time ------------------------------ ** You have joined #7thseaic ** mads_ is now known as Morgan * @Morgan signals to the barmaid (Molly) **she saunters over on her way to another table, carrying two tankards ** You're now known as barmaid (@Morgan) I need some information on that lot *he motions to the troupe* * barmaid sits down beside him, talking quietly (barmaid) What do you want to know, my Lord? (@Morgan) who they are, where they're from... so on, so forth (barmaid) Travelling actors, Tannen, came last night, had dinner with a dark haired man, did their play earlier, it was a bit rubbish but all the fighting scenes were good enough to make up for it, leaving tomorrow morning (@Morgan) dark haired man? (barmaid) Dunno him, my Lord. Young, stylishly dressed, well-groomed. Maybe a rich merchant or gentleman? (@Morgan) any chance your boss would know? (barmaid) Doubt it, he was with my aunt and uncle last night. My cousin was one of the guards who got killed. * @Morgan nods (@Morgan) my condolences * barmaid nods, watching them (barmaid) Wouldn't mind having more like them as patrons. They're loud, but when someone grabbed my... well, touched me, my Lord (barmaid) ... last night and called me a Wench, the one in the dress punched him * @Morgan nods slowly (barmaid) **there's something about the word wench that niggles at him elusively (barmaid) Behave like proper gentlemen, they do (@Morgan) I should hope so (barmaid) People in here usually don't, see? (@Morgan) sounds like the usual crowd need to learn some manners * barmaid nods sadly (barmaid) That's taverns for you, my Lord (@Morgan) Shouldn't be (barmaid) **In his head; Taverns, that toast, Zweibrucke, Gentlemanly behaviour, wench, melee juggling... he knows the way in which these things all are connected is so close to coming to his mind * @Morgan frowns, sipping his drink (barmaid) Anything else, my Lord? (@Morgan) No... thank you (barmaid) **The ship that was arsoned in Zweibrucke where he heard their first toast before was called The Lusty Wench * barmaid curtsies and goes, leaving him to his blokners and puzzle solving * @Morgan tilts his head, watching them (barmaid) **It was newly completed, and commissioned by a mercenary company (barmaid) **They are doing nothing other than drinking and wnjogong themselves * @Morgan shakes his head briefly, muttering to himself (barmaid) **He recalls being stood with Stefan Gottlieb on the dock in Zweibrucke discussing with him and Varick who the lusty wench belonged to * @Morgan swears quietly, mentally conducting an inventory of his weaponry (barmaid) **The juggling man rises from the table "I'm going outside to piss. Don't you bastards drink my ale while I'm gone!" They all laugh (barmaid) **He recalls part of the conversation: interesting name for a band of mercenaries (barmaid) Stefan: *he nods* They're sons of noble families whose lands have been destroyed by the War ** You're now known as Juggler * Juggler wanders through the tavern and out the back door * @Morgan gets up, taking his tankard and follows the man outside (Juggler) **As he passes the fireplace, the name of the company comes to him- The Brotherhood Of The Flames. * Juggler is indeed pissing against the wall. (@Morgan) evening * Juggler inclines his head, briefly assessing his manner, stance, speech and clothing (Juggler) Evenin' (@Morgan) Sad timing you've got, coming here * Juggler nods (Juggler) Yeah, sounds like there's been a lot of loss here (@Morgan) mmm. Bit of an odd setup for your gang though, isn't it? (Juggler) What's that? (@Morgan) the dame, the act... nice juggling, incidentally. Not what I'd expect from... someone in your profession (Juggler) Actors often do circus skills too. Makes us good money. (@Morgan) Not quite what I meant... * Juggler shakes himself off, and does up his trousers (Juggler) What did you mean? * Juggler glances Morgan over to see how armed he looks. (@Morgan) well, it just seems you all seem to have quite a... brotherhood * Juggler nods slowly (Juggler) We're a close group, that's what happens when you travel together * Juggler doesn't look to be armed at all, there's no obvious sword belt (@Morgan) Sure, sure... must be difficult to travel without a ship though * Juggler pauses slightly (Juggler) Ships aren't much use in land (@Morgan) just as well, really, or you'd be scuppered * Juggler frowns a little (Juggler) You aren't making much sense (@Morgan) well, you'd not get far needing a ship, given what happened to yours * Juggler 's frown deepens. He looks confused (Juggler) What ship? (@Morgan) the lusty wench, naturally * Juggler looks genuinely alarmed (Juggler) What has happened to The Lusty Wench?! (@Morgan) whats it worth? (Juggler) The ship, or the information? (@Morgan) the information... how abut an exchange of information * Juggler looks around checking they're alone * Juggler starts to sound a little more formal (Juggler) That depends entirely upon what information you seek (@Morgan) what you lot are doing here * Juggler 's micro expression is fear, but he looks nonchalant (Juggler) That depends on who you think we are (@Morgan) You're clearly not a troupe of actors... (Juggler) Aren't we? We have a dwarf, and man in a dress... costumes... (@Morgan) a juggling skill that isn't bourne of a circus... you're too... gentlemanly * Juggler frowns again (Juggler) Who are _you_? How do you know how we are connected to the wench? (@Morgan) Look... I know your brotherhood by reputation... and I know there's a certain rivalry with a band of mercenaries who are less... chivalrous (Juggler) That is true. Are you one of the Schwert von Dornen company? (@Morgan) I'ma member of no company... but I may not be the biggest fan of them (Juggler) You are an assasin? (@Morgan) I think you can be assured that you are certainly not my target by now (Juggler) That depends on whether you need my information first * @Morgan laughs quietly (@Morgan) I assure you, I have no interest in killing you or any of your friends * Juggler nods (Juggler) Nor we you. (@Morgan) So lets move past that... * Juggler nods again (Juggler) Tell me whether the wench can sail this week, and I will discuss with the others what we can tell you (@Morgan) Give you information with nothing but the promise of a maybe? (Juggler) You know who we are. I give you my word as a gentleman that we will tell you what we can * @Morgan nods slowly (@Morgan) she won't sail this week (Juggler) Fuck. * Juggler takes a minute to gather his thoughts (@Morgan) Go discuss with the others... then we'll discuss what I want (Juggler) We'll meet you in the back room. * @Morgan nods, heading inside with his tankard (Juggler) **it takes about ten minutes before they come into the back room Morgan had been shown to after asking the barmaid. They bring several tankard of ale. All eleven of them come and sit around a table. The man with the dress stays standing watching Morgan. No one looks obviously armed. * @Morgan looks at each of them in turn calmly (@Morgan) gentlemen (Juggler) **,They all incline their heads. Dress man holds his hand out to shake Morgan's * We are no harm to you. * @Morgan shakes it (@Morgan) Confident of my abilities as I am, I'm glad to hear that (Juggler) **he motions Morgan to sit. The others are all drinking but interested * @Morgan sits down ** You're now known as DressMan (DressMan) We are the Brotherhood Of The Flames. We are all noble born men, many of us are oldest sons. The armies destroyed our homes and birthrights, so after the War we became sell-swords. * @Morgan nods * DressMan goes around making introductions, though only one name stands out. The man who accidentally gave the noble toast is called Kurt Cristoban. * @Morgan fixes his gaze on the Kurt (@Morgan) interesting name you've got there (DressMan) *Kurt shrugs* I think there's some Castillean heritage mixed in (@Morgan) I knew a man with your name (DressMan) **They all look intrigued. Kurt frowns* Its not a common name (@Morgan) No... and I don't just mean the family name... the entire name (DressMan) Perhaps an impersonator hoping to claim the land? (@Morgan) not the impression I got (DressMan) What do you know of him? (@Morgan) this and that (DressMan) Can you provide this knowledge to us? (@Morgan) possibly (DressMan) **Kurt frowns again** I need to deal with this man. The land may be ruined, and all the tenants dead, but it is still my family's. It is a matter of honour **They all nod** (@Morgan) Lets come back to it * DressMan looks at Morgan (DressMan) Now you know who we are, will you please introduce yourself to us? (@Morgan) See, now, there's a difficulty (DressMan) What is the difficulty? (@Morgan) well... until I know what you're doing here, I may well be involved in it, see (DressMan) **a look goes around the room** (DressMan) What we were hired for can no longer go ahead. (@Morgan) Then you may as well tell me about it (DressMan) Then you may as well tell us who you are (@Morgan) You have a good point... my names Morgan (DressMan) **everyone starts to look wary* (DressMan) You're her cousin? (@Morgan) ah, now thats an interesting reaction (DressMan) You have a reputation, my Lord (@Morgan) Yes, yes I do. Its not necessarily accurate * DressMan frowns (DressMan) Did you come to warn us about the ship on her behalf? (@Morgan) No... since I've made the introduction, how about we get on with telling me what the plan was * DressMan looks around at each man. Everyone gives him a nod in turn. He gathers his skirts and sits on the remaining chair (DressMan) A jail break (@Morgan) of the Comte? (DressMan) Of the Grafin (@Morgan) And why is that no longer possible? (DressMan) You can't smuggle a woman out of Eisen and over to Numa without a ship (@Morgan) well now... how did you get the contract? (DressMan) She sent a contact to come and find us last month (@Morgan) I know it goes against your ideals to tell me who, but I need that name (DressMan) We want something in return, naturally (@Morgan) I'll give you something * DressMan smiles a little (DressMan) We want something specific. We want protection from any prosecution that could come from this contract. (DressMan) Also, information on what happened to the wench (@Morgan) You'll give sworn statements about it? (DressMan) Yes, but not under our old names. **The dwarf pipes up** What about the other four hundred guilders, boss? * DressMan looks at the dwarf, shaking his head briefly. He then looks to Morgan (@Morgan) I suppose it was part payment now, part once you'd broken her free? (DressMan) Do we have a deal, Veisgraf Koertig? Your information on the wench and protection from prosecution, for our sworn statements, information about the jailbreak, and the contact? (@Morgan) I have your word you will not take any action against the Eisenfursts estate to help her escape? (DressMan) Absolutely. (@Morgan) Then we have a deal (DressMan) Yes it was a part payment first. She sent us one hundred guilders at the beginning of this month, with four hundred to be paid when we arrived in Numa safely (@Morgan) which you can't do without your ship... * DressMan nods (DressMan) Unless we hired one. But it's too risky (@Morgan) especially now I know about it * DressMan nods (DressMan) What happened to our ship? (@Morgan) Someone put a bomb onboard (DressMan) Do you know who? * @Morgan nods (@Morgan) I caught him myself (DressMan) Is he dead? (@Morgan) No, he's in custody... however, I'd suggest you leave him alone and concentrate on the man who paid to have it done (DressMan) And that is? (@Morgan) Colonel Dow... I suspect you know of him (DressMan) **They all wear matching looks of disgust** (DressMan) Yes, we do. (@Morgan) There's your man (DressMan) You have evidence of this? (@Morgan) You think he's sloppy enough to leave evidence? He hired someone who hired someone. Its not the first time he's had a ship of Eisen destroyed for because he fancied it, mind (DressMan) No, there's been some suspicion from other mercenary companies who have lost ships that his company may be at the root of it (@Morgan) You might contact Sinan Gottlieb... he was there when the arsonist described the colonel to a tee * DressMan nods (DressMan) We'll leave of Zweibrucke in the morning (DressMan) For* (@Morgan) I'll have a solicitor contact you for your statements today * DressMan nods (DressMan) You want to look for Marcus Becker. He is her contact. He's a solicitors assistanr (DressMan) Assistant * * @Morgan nods (DressMan) **one of the men says ** I can draw him for you? (@Morgan) I've met him, but thank you (@Morgan) Please, that would be useful (DressMan) **The man pulls out a pencil and paper, and very quickly produces a reasonable sketch. He isn't familiar. (DressMan) **the dwarf laughs** He'll probably be in the brothel tomorrow now that she isn't escaping! If she'd kept his balls any bluer they'd be black! (@Morgan) Used her wiles did she * DressMan looks to Morgan whilst they laugh (DressMan) He's head over heels for her. From what I can gather she's promised he is going to Numa with her to start a new life (@Morgan) Probably would've made it about halfway before he had an accident * DressMan nods (DressMan) She seems ruthless (@Morgan) she is (@Morgan) I don't suppose you know if she's put anyone up to murdering my wife? * DressMan looks shocked (DressMan) Not that I know of. But we could spend a few hours tonight visiting the taverns and other places mercenaries tend to stay, and see what we can find? (@Morgan) Please. I'm sure my wife would love to get some fresh air (DressMan) You have serious concerns that mercenaries are coming for the veisgrafin? (@Morgan) if my cousin promised to destroy you by destroying those you love... wouldn't you have? * DressMan nods, as do they all. They wear the solemn expressions of a group of men who have lost everything they loved. (DressMan) We sometimes get hired to do protection... (@Morgan) I don't suppose you have any pressing business at the moment... (DressMan) Until the Wench is ready to sail, no. We can send word to the men left in Zweibrucke to chase up the situation with the explosion. * @Morgan nods slowly (@Morgan) alright... I think I may well have a job for you * DressMan nods (DressMan) We'll do our snooping tonight for free, once we've seen the solicitor * @Morgan nods (@Morgan) She didn't have the money, incidentally (DressMan) Not in Eisen, no. We knew we'd have to wait for it until we got to Vodacce (@Morgan) She has money in Vodacce? (DressMan) That's what he said. A new life, a new house and so on * @Morgan nods (@Morgan) Which makes me wonder what she was selling everything for here (DressMan) It'd be hard to take all your things as a dead woman. Her jailbreak was supposed to look like a kidnapping and ransom. You'd be given enough days to pay for her return that we would be a long way down the road before anyone realised she was out of Fischler (@Morgan) But if she has money in Vodacce, she wouldn't need to (DressMan) A new life for a Grafin wouldn't be cheap, would it? Unless she was going to give up all the finery and live as a common woman? (@Morgan) I'd almost be tempted to pay for her escape to see her reaction to _that_ suggestion * DressMan nods thoughtfully (DressMan) It would be possible... (@Morgan) definitely not (DressMan) Dwarf: If she such a risk, an accidental death during a bodged jail break wouldn't be so bad... (DressMan) **The others look shocked. The dwarf raises his hands** A joke! * DressMan looks to Morgan * @Morgan sips his drink (DressMan) Once we were in Zweibrucke, we were to find a female corpse, burn it, and send it to the Eisenfursts house (@Morgan) So he'd stop searching for her (DressMan) Yes (@Morgan) clever (DressMan) How long do you want us to work for you? (@Morgan) Lets start with a few days... see what you can find out, then run a bit of protection, bolster the guards without them knowing (DressMan) You can get uniforms? (@Morgan) more than likely, though they know each other... I was thinking outside of the estate * DressMan nods (DressMan) Alright. Fifty guilders a day. (@Morgan) Twenty (DressMan) Forty (@Morgan) twenty five (DressMan) Thirty * @Morgan nods (DressMan) And how do we contact you? (@Morgan) Couple of ways... send a messenger to the Eisenfursts estate... or go to the nearest brothel and ask for Yensid. He'll get word to me * DressMan nods (DressMan) Anything else we can do? (@Morgan) Not for now * DressMan extends his hand (@Morgan) oh, Lieutenant Cristoban... he's colonel Dow's close friend (DressMan) Nice doing business with you * @Morgan shakes it (DressMan) **A look goes round that implies that trouble is heading in the direction of the colonel and the lieutenant * (@Morgan) For what its worth... my wife was aboard the ship with Stefan Gotlieb and my son when it went up. They barely escaped alive, so I'd be gratified if you attended to your business with him * DressMan nods savagely (DressMan) You want to deal with him, as it's personal? If we find him in the future, we can hold him for you. (@Morgan) No, I'd rather he be dealt with rather than waiting until I get a chance. * DressMan nods (DressMan) I'll send word before midnight as to our progress with looking for mercenaries or assassins * @Morgan nods (@Morgan) I'll get the solicitor to you as quickly as I can * DressMan nods, thanking him . They go back to their stories and drinking * @Morgan nods to them before leaving (DressMan) **the tavern feels much more grim without the troupe. There is eight chimes from the clock * @Morgan leaves his tankard on a table and heads out (DressMan) **The streets are quite quiet, but each tavern he passes sounds full. (DressMan) **Dreschler' s office fronts his house. It takes a couple of minutes before Dreschler comes to answer. He opens it ** You're now known as Dreschler (Dreschler) Good evening, my Lord. Would you like to come in? (@Morgan) just for a moment, I'll need you to be going out shortly * Dreschler moves to let him in to the entrance hall and shuts the door. He shouts up to his wife that he'll be headed out shortly and not to wait up. He starts putting his coat on (@Morgan) I've found some more people I need you to take statements from * Dreschler nods (Dreschler) Who and what statements? * Dreschler shrugs his shoulders into the coat (@Morgan) Some mercenaries hired to get my cousin out of prison * Dreschler pauses (Dreschler) A crime incurring execution by hanging. (@Morgan) I've given them immunity for it, in exchange for their testimony in this matter * Dreschler nods (Dreschler) Alright. All on one statement with multiple signatories, or separate statements? (@Morgan) Which would have greater weight? (Dreschler) It'd be equally damning for her (@Morgan) then whichever is easiest * Dreschler nods (@Morgan) Its sounding like she's hidden money in Vodacce * Dreschler looks impressed (Dreschler) This is a well thought out little scheme, isn't it? (@Morgan) extremely... put into action by her solicitors assistant by all accounts (Dreschler) She was only arrested on Friday night, but has had the foresight to arrange a jail break and hidden money in Vodacce. * Dreschler adjusts his sleeves (@Morgan) its a real shame she's working against us (Dreschler) It would be useful to have so clever an ally (@Morgan) indeed * Dreschler does his buttons (Dreschler) That young man has a connection to her? I always thought him a little stupid (@Morgan) Oh, they're running away together (Dreschler) I doubt that is going to be the case now. When was the jail break to happen? (@Morgan) tomorrow morning * Dreschler picks up his bag (Dreschler) Where are the mercenaries? (@Morgan) in the sword of redemption... you'll want to speak to the man in the dress * Dreschler pauses, looking confused (Dreschler) A mercenary in a dress? (@Morgan) They're under cover (Dreschler) Alright. Are you walking in that direction? * @Morgan nods * Dreschler opens the door, letting him out. He locks it behind him (Dreschler) Have you decided whether to press your wife's case? (@Morgan) She wishes to (Dreschler) Good. It will make things far easier for his Grace and our cause. * @Morgan shrugs * Dreschler watches him (Dreschler) Has he been informed? (@Morgan) not yet