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Post by Ancelas on Jun 5, 2022 9:26:06 GMT -5
Cerys ducked downstairs and found the common room surprisingly full for this time of the morning. As she approached the bar, she could overhear grumbles about the city guard running roughshod over the everyday people - likely some of the patrons had been displaced from the second floor commons by Zodge's arrival. She would also see a squad of five guardsmen spread out about the room - three at the foot of the stairs and two by the door.
Alan Alyth was serving drinks, and judging by the amount of steaming mugs being passed about, coffee or tea was the order of the day. They smiled at Cerys as she approached and moved over to meet her at the bar. "Good morning, brightness. What can I get for you today?"
Zodge listened intently as the Lucky Hand's investigation was relayed to him, and halfway through stopped playing with his cards.
"You've got good instincts," he said, with a note of surprise in his voice. "We've had a couple bodies show up there in the past week... motherfuckers think they can just dump people where they want. All refugees, most without papers, and those that do say the same thing as the one you found, logging passage through the Basilisk Gate. Except they didn't, because I run that godsdamn gate, and those names aren't in my logbook. We've beenb at a lost trying to figure out how the fuck they've been getting into the city, so this smuggling ring... Shit, that answers questions and raises a whole bunch more."
Zodge leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. "We don't know much about the Poisoned Poseidon - never had reason to suspect them of being anything more than a foul smelling blight on the docks. They're the only tannery I know of that works all hours of the day and night, though, so you might be on to something. And the Low Lantern..."
Zodge drew in a deep breath through his teeth and exhaled slowly. "Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. The Lantern's a blight for a different reason. The place is a tavern, and a gambling hall, a den of vipers, an d gods fucking know what else. The place is run by Amrik Vanthampur - a weasel of a man who seems to have his fingers in everything, not that we could ever pin a damn thing on him. He's the youngest of the Vanthampur brothers. His older brother Mortlock is a bull-headed thug, and the eldest, Thurstwell, is a conniving asshole who never leaves the family house. I'd love to toss 'em in chains, but their mother is the Duchess Vanthampur, one of the Four Dukes. Not much we can do against a family that runs the damn city..."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 5, 2022 21:45:34 GMT -5
((Reaction))
"A pitcher of coffee so I can pour it into my friends and some mugs to go with it. Everyone rolled out of bed tired and grumpy this morning. I've no problem bringing it up myself- you've got quite a crowd here."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2022 12:42:19 GMT -5
"Biggest thing I can think of is how much noise we made around the Poisoned Poseidon. The tannin' oil, the footprints, it all pointed there." He rubbed his nose. "We weren't subtle. I told the foreman Schmidt there that we'd be at Elfsong if he turned up anythin' suspicious about his boys, an' sure as shit we get that visit a few hours later." He folded his arms. "As for Tarina, hard to say what might've spooked her. She knows a lot of shit. Ain't safe knowin' that much shit."
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Post by uberwulfx on Jun 6, 2022 13:06:47 GMT -5
"Right," Crystal said with a nod after Jinn spoke. "They know we're looking and where we're holed up, but we showed them what for. But word's likely going to get back to the Duchess that' we're digging up the plots that her family's burying. Do... do you report to her at all, Captain? With your named dropped, you'll become a target too. No matter how much uprooting we end up doing, at least some people know that we report to you so you'll have to start watching your back."
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Kyt
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Post by Kyt on Jun 6, 2022 14:08:11 GMT -5
Rey didn't seem too concerned for Zodge, focusing instead on one of the other bits of information. "Low Lantern, huh?" She tapped her claws on the table, thinking. "Usually good information in viper dens, if'n you're careful. Right questions, 'couple a coins...."
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Post by CautionCat on Jun 6, 2022 16:50:59 GMT -5
"That guy did say their hold runs deep. I wouldn't be surprised if they get him out of holding, either." Vincent frowned, thinking over what was shared last night.
"Either way, I think their arrival means they're not too happy about us snooping around. Maybe even a little afraid since they were here so quickly. Maybe more so now that we've beaten back who came to trouble us."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 7, 2022 8:58:56 GMT -5
Alan smiled and ran a hand through their hair. "I've got you covered. The Watch tends to disrupt everyone when they come calling, and the Captain wanted some privacy." They turned to go to the kitchen, paused, and turned back to Cerys with a wince.
"Coffee's become a premium these days. I've been charging a silver a mug, but I'll cut you a deal on the pitcher for services rendered - eight silver."
One of the men at that bar began to protest, but Alan waved a hand negligently at him. "The next time you beat up a couple troublemakers for me, Harold, I'll give you a discount too."
Zodge grunted. "Ain't the first time I've had a target on my back. First thing I did on making Captain was clean up the people around me - ain't no one getting close unless I fucking want them to be." He inclined his head slightly toward the Hand. "I appreciate the concern, though. And I'd appreciate it if you kept further mention of me on the down low, just in case. I already have too much damn paperwork to do and a brand new headache coming to town, I don't need more bullshit to sort through."
The captain leaned forward and folded his arms on the table. "Vanthampur's a problem. You're outsiders, so you might not know, but the Four lead the entire city - Vanthampur, Portyr, Stelmane, and Ravengard. Grand Duke Ravengard was the big boss, but he went to Elturel and up and vannished with the rest of the city. Since then, everyone's been scrambling to clean up the mess in Wachovia. Portyr runs the 'Confraternity of Refugee Relief,' a fancy fucking name for a bunch of nobles who want to look good by pretending to help people. Vanthampur and Ravengard have been rivals for a long time, and she's certainly ambitious enough to try some shit, but I never would have expected her to get involved in occult bullshit until you mentioned the Low Lantern. Stelmane's an old, greedy motherfucker, but he doesn't care for people, only profit.
"Shit, he's probably the only one I could say with certainty isn't involved in cult bullshit. It's too bad for business."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 7, 2022 9:06:46 GMT -5
Cerys gave Alan a smile and nod, handing over a gold. "Here's a gold- Keep the change. Also, if you want, later I might be able to help in the kitchen a bit. One, I'd love to see your set up and two, I've got some nature magic that might be a help."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2022 12:55:47 GMT -5
"If there's anythin' I know for sure, it's that old dudes with money don't like changes. A town on fire is a big change, so maybe you're right." He ran a finger under his nose, stroking his upper lip as he thought.
"Vampilpanther- they ain't like Ravenclaw, right? Seems pretty weird that she was so supportive of his move to Elturel all of a sudden. The guy goes missing, and now suddenly we got people smugglin Elturan's into town and ferryin' em to the low lantern? Didn't know her damn son was runnin' the gig, now it all kinda clicks." He glanced at Rey. "Yeah. They definitely know somethin' bout somethin.'"
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Kyt
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Post by Kyt on Jun 7, 2022 13:00:09 GMT -5
Rey grumbled, resting her head on her arms. "Hate politics. Always tried to stay out of wealthy people bullshit."
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Post by uberwulfx on Jun 7, 2022 14:07:43 GMT -5
"Looks like we're going to be up to our necks in 'wealthy people bullshit' for the time being," Crystal sighed, "since they're the ones bankrolling this from under the table. So, it looks like we're setting our sights on Vanthampur and Portyr; Portyr's running something around refugee relief sounds suspicious considering we're looking at a smuggling ring and dead foreigners. Who's the relief for, the natives?"
Crystal shrugged-- she didn't want to start throwing around wild conspiracies, but she couldn't help vocalize at least that thought.
"Do you think it would be worth trying to talk to Stelmane? We'll keep your name out of it as much as we can, of course, and maybe we can somehow convince him to help us get to the bottom of this, because plague is bad for business."
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Post by CautionCat on Jun 7, 2022 19:18:56 GMT -5
"The less we mention the Captain's involvement, the better." He glanced to Crystal, and shrugged.
"Maybe since we stirred up trouble, it'll be a good idea to seek allies in this. Who will have our backs when things get tricky. The ones who don't want this happening, and will do anything to help."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 8, 2022 10:04:37 GMT -5
Alan chuckled as they took the gold piece. "I appreciate it, but if people heard I was putting my guests to work, I'd have a terrible time keeping business up. Then again..." They turned and glanced speculatively at the patrons seated at the bar, who all busied themselves with their drinks and conversations.
Alan smiled and looked back at Cerys. "I'll ask Gertie if she'd be open to a tour. She's been working like made this week, and a little appreciation does go a long way."
Zodge stared at Jinn for a moment as he rattled off the 'names' of the dukes and shook his head before looking across the table at the others.
"You sure as shit won't be able to get an audience with one of the dukes unless you know someone, and I ain't polished enough to warrant their concern. Don't count on getting access to any of them, unless you can dig up something we can use as leverage. There's a lot of supposition regarding Vanthampur's involvement, but if you can get me proof, then I might be able to make a move. I'd love to put those motherfuckers in their place."
Zodge scooped up his cards and stood, retrieving a small pouch from his belt to tuck the cards into. "There's still too many unanswered questions for my tastes. If the Vanthampurs are involved, why are they working with a cult? Why are they smuggling in Eluturians, and killing them off? What the flying fuck happened to Elturel anyway? And how the fuck do we stomp on the cockroaches scurrying around my city? Get me some answers to those questions and we might actually get somewhere. Until then, I've still got my hands tied with all the other bullshit I need to do to keep people fed and away from each other's fucking throats."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 8, 2022 17:18:31 GMT -5
"I'll cross my fingers then." Cerys said with a smile, watching Alan head to the back to get the coffee.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2022 2:56:30 GMT -5
Jinn smiled and squinted his eyes, giving the captain a cheeky half hearted salute with three fingers. "If anyone can ruin the careers of a coupla wealthy pricks it's us. We turn anything up you'll be be the first to know, cap."
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