A Mission to Athkatla

[Gareut]

Rest of Ulf's men eye Randall outside, not sure should they remove her from the door, but her toothed plade is such scary sight so they stay put, drinking.

Ulf's men are not deaf, they reach their blade handles as soon as they hear: "...very interested in the crew of the Blueberry." Ulf gestures that there is no need for hostilness as diamonds slide across the table. Greedy light makes his eyes almost glow.

"If.... If I tell anything it concers me, quite much. I dont want to lose my eyes or tongue because that I knew too much. And what about the crew? I hardly know them, their Captain was the only one who even dealt with me." Diamonds vanish and the fat man closes is mouth for a short moment, leaning closer." But as some could say. Everything is for sell as long as the prise is right." Ulf flashes a grin and his guards laugh.

///Real life calls. I will be able to continue this at Sunday, till then: Farewell and bitter ales comrades!

[vetinari]

Alison eyes the laughing men, and leans over to Aearion, where they trade whispers. Alison turns back to the table and pulls out a bag of gold and gems and upends it on the table, forming a neat pile in front of her, further away from Ulf. A quick glance estimates that there is about 10,000 gp worth of gold and gems.

"My husband will pay for whatever information you can give us. However, he is very particular about the usefulness and accuracy of the information. If it is good, then we will gladly pay for it." She gestures to the treasure in front of her, "But if its not so good. . . We may have to send some people to collect a refund. . ." She then glances at Randy who takes the cue and looks around as Intimidatingly as she can.

She gestures to the treasure "Will this buy your tongue?"

[Catam]

Hearing the clink and jangle of gem and coin upon the table, Catam perks his eyebrows towards Randy... knowing all too well what greed can do in such negotiations. He sighs and shrugs and slides his thumbs in his belt, mere inches from the front pair of kukris holstered there.

[Gareut]

Ulf's mouth is wide open and Alison askes; "Will this buy your tongue?". "That all will be mine if I tell what I know? This must be most easiest job in my life so far. If you you are somesort wizards and those coins vanish... Be sure that hell isnt cold enough place for any of you. So... "He coughs and continues. "Blueberry and her crew. As I said before I hardly even saw her crew. Her Captain... Kalma. I heard that he was from the City of Sails, Luskan." Ulf comes closer and whispers. "Hellstorm fleet." He sends a loving look to the treasure pile and continues with normal voice, nodding once to the guards. "I say that he is cursed... Maniac, still cunning like a wolf. He even fooled us to think that he was dead. And he just walked straight to me! Eyes changed, damned it was weird. I tell you that! Something walks with him. Port wenches said that he doesnt even glance to them. Mark from that he isnt like us" His men grunt agreeing. "If you drown you cant just come back walking like nothing hasnt changed. Old lurker's spirit is with him or something else more sinister." Ulf spits and shivers. "When he came back... He burned everything what he was wrote down or marked up. Even old clothes, like he would want to get rid of old life. Some of his old crew left, mostly stood under his command. He paid, took Blueberrry and left. Saying that he wont return anytime soon." He tries to reach the treasure pile. "His men talked about Roaringshore, north from the Baldur's Gate. Hell hole if you ask from me."

[Steal Your Face]

Aearion stays Ulf's hand ((unbuffed: DEX 10, STR 3)) and looks him in the eyes, speaking aloud for the first time. "That can be yours if you tell us something we don't already know. My lovely wife," he smiles tilting his head toward Alison, "asked about his crew, specifically names and descriptions. We know enough about him.

"If Kalma is the sum of your knowledge you may keep the diamonds as payment for your time."

[Gareut]

// Just to be sure, when this group headed to Amn did they knew that Kalma is still alive? Or are you using info what you learned "after" this trip in game?//

"And what might make you think that you could walk away from here with that treasure? I am fair man. I told what I know... Blueberry's crew hadnt any business in here, nor they will have in future if I can see in there. I already gave you a place where you find them, Knife ear. Mayby you should head to Roaringshore and ask from there? They arent gents like us, right boys?" His men move closer, sending hostile gaces down to Aearion. "We will keep these three quaters from this pile. You can take rest and leave. Understood?" He looks again to more beuatier one from the pair; Alison. "I dont want to start blood bath... And I dont know what drive you to think that shipbuilder like me would know anything about some lowlife sailors."

[vetinari]

((the group left not knowing that Gareut/Kalma was alive, but we learned it "after we got back" in a sense))

*Alison glares at Ulf, which isn't very intimidating, but Catam, Randy, and Aearion tense up dangerously, like springs ready to uncoil*

Listen. I saw a letter delivered to you by a man named Eric. It was very clear that you, the recipient, knew everything about Gareut's plan, including his plot against certain people that we all know and love. Now we came here to pay for the information that will allow us to stop Gareut or Kalma's men from harming them. If you don't have that information, then we are not paying any more than the two diamonds. And you will be grateful that we don't take those back as well.

*She begins sliding the small treasure pile back into the pouch, her eyes on Ulf*

[Catam]

Seeing the pile being slid to the opening of the bag, Catam's hands slide onto the hilts of his kukris as he glances around at all the faces that might also notice Alison's action, watching for signs of potential reactions. He has already mapped out steps to each, calculated who might pose the largest threat, which one of the sailors the Beast would most likely attack first and the best line of sight for throwing a kukri into Ulf's chest...

[Steal Your Face]

// Actually, Gareut was using the alias "Kalma" long before we started out... recall the FAI scene where he introduced himself as "Captain Kalma, Gentleman of Fortune".

[vetinari]

((just an OOC reminder, this mission actually took place around 2 weeks ago, before Randy became Randall again))

The intrepid four, Catam, Randy, Aearion, and Alison head back north out of Athkatla. To everyone's relief or disappointment (depending on the person) Alison offered 3,000 gold in order to avoid bloodshed and to buy Ulf's silence. Its not clear he would keep his mouth shut, but the deal was made and everyone walked out alive.

Although they did not get the information they had set out to acquire, it wasn't a complete waste. They had learned some valuable information from Ulf. They had learned that Gareut, under the name of Kalma, was still alive and his ship, the Blueberry was complete. They had learned that his port of call, or his pirate cove as it were, was a place called Roaring Shore.

The one hope they all held was this: The threats that Gareut/Kalma had made in case he was killed or disappeared, may not come to fruition. Since Kalma is alive, he may have stayed the hands of his men in order to keep this threat alive. Time will tell, and they were all sure they hadn't heard the last of Captain Kalma.

[devildog30]

Meanwhile elsewhere in the City of Coin.


“D’you know I once met your father?” the Amnian lord wearing a velvet blue doublet made of the finest shimmerweave had asked, curiously, as he joined the mercenary commander by the hearth of a roaring fire inside the Copper Coronot.
Justin Crownsilver’s fearless wintery blue-gray eyes stared at Lord de’Arnise dumbfounded. “My father…?”
“Aye, you look just like Lorneth did at your age, Coronel Crownsilver.” Lord de’Arnise smiled, a long ornate Halfling-crafted pipe now in his hands.
Justin went on staring at the older noblemen, wide-eyed. Not possible, the Flaming Fist commander thought.

Lord de’Arnise turned. “Coronel,” He said pleasantly before taking a deep puff on the pipe, “Why else would I hire the Flaming Fist to clear out a war band of orcs and trolls deep in Amnian territory?”
The Fist commander merely shrugged. “If truth be told. After the false accusations in Markhold I had often wondered that myself. Some of my captains suspected a trap at first. We were on our way to Tethyr when word reached me that you required our assistance. Twas honest enough work, thank Helm's watchful gaze we kept our casualties low enough. Should ye still require our expertise, Lord de’Arnise?”

“Coronel, whatever others may choose to believe of me, I’m not a stupid man. “The Amnian lord took his pipe out of his mouth and drained the last few swallows of dark ale in his tankard. “The good Captain Arat a proud man, who was rather adamant against accepting any outside help, says your mercenaries put every last one of those bold as ditchweed orcs to the sword and the smell of roasted rotten troll flesh still lingers in my lands. So nay, coronel, I regretfully have no more work for the Flaming Fist. Nor will I for some time,” Lord de’Arnise told Justin shaking his head, “but that is not why I have traveled all the way from my home at least a full days ride from ere too always crowded Athkatla.”

Justin wrinkled his forehead in the deepest of puzzled looks. “I hope it wasn’t to tell me, that you once knew my father. “He said wearily as two smiling serving wenches with very low-laced corsets brought more ale for the two men to drink.
Lord de’Arnise tapped out his pipe. “Don’t sound so rueful, lad.”
Justin shook his head and blustered, “Apologies milord, I ne’er knew my father, except what little mother used to tell me. And she ne'er had a kind word whenever I'd arsked who my father was or what he was like."

“Indeed and what little did she tell you, I wonder?” Lord de ‘Arnise asked after he finished his ale in three gulps.
The young mercenary commander’s focus shifted between his now empty tankard and the inquisitive Armian lord, before he spoke. “She said all too many princes and noble lords conduct their reasoning only with their codpieces. Thus bastards the likes of I are born.”
“Your mother is not of noble birth?” Lord de’Arnise asked wide-eyed, “How is it you carry the name Crownsilver?”
“Tis a rather long story and not one I wish to share in a den full of stlaring cutthroats, low-coin lasses,
beggars, sellswords, and darkrose Shadow Thieves.” Justin said with steel in his voice.”

“Ah, the infinite wonders of Athkatla.” Lord de’Arnise snickered, “If there’s anything you don’t like, you’ll find it here.” He bellowed with laughter. “Perhaps you should accompany me back to my castle. My sister wants nothing more than to meet the handsome dashing young knight that slew that one-eyed horror that commanded those trolls. If my daughter is not hiding as the shy girl oft does of late, she would like to meet you as well. I’m sure.”
“I don’t see……. “The Fist commander started to say.
“So it is settled.” The bushy eye browed Armian lord rose quickly to his feet and clapped a meaty hand down on one of Justin’s plated pauldrons. "Gather your men, colonel. Some of my guard wait just outside to escort us safety back to my home. If we leave within the next hour or so, we should arrive on the morrow, just in time to break our fast in my own dining hall.”