The Mockers, the Upright Man speaks
Subject The Butler
OOC: Allistar's got some balls.
From: Kevin
Subject The butler
As Seargant Kline move to take them from the room, Harp says to Allistair "Sir, are you sure you'll be OK?"
From: Ashley
Subject The Mockers
Surin smiles genially and begins to speak.
"In thanks for seeing my associate and I on such short notice, I'm not going to bother wasting your time with pleasantries. I am Surin, and this here on my left is Mund. On my right...well, if this were a simple business meeting, I would introduce my other companion before offering our services to the guild and hopefully finding some good work among you folks for a while. Well, *I* would be doing most of the work, and the others would handle "waste management" if necessary.
"The problem is, our buddy Ace was supposed to come ahead of us a few weeks ago, feel out the town, and report back when we caught up. He'd been here before, see, and heard that some things had changed since his last visit. Knowing what I know now, we probably should have all gone together. He didn't meet us outside town like he was supposed to, nor at the inn he had recommended to us.
"I'm not discounting the idea that he could be dead in an alley somewhere -- I saw one idiot get left out in the street just last night while I was trying to enjoy my ale. But Ace knows how to take care of himself, and I've known him to get out of worse scrapes than a bunch of drunk brawlers like it was nothing. That's mostly what makes him so handy, and why I'd like to find him if I can.
"After a few days here, I have a theory. This mayor guy, he sounds like someone you wouldn't want to cross, even on a good day. Plus I heard of kidnappings and the like going on if your'e not too careful. I think Ace might have landed on the mayor's bad side, and is shut up in some hole in his house or estate. He's got himself a few other friends in town that want to bail him out, but what I'm trying to find out is how stupid does a person have to be, to try and sneak into a place as heavily guarded as the Mayor's hangout. Because that's about exactly as stupid as we all are.
"What I ask of the Upright man is information, if you've got it to give. About the Mayor, what he's up to when he's shut up in his base, what are some weak security spots, and the like. It would take me way too long to do all that reconissance work on my own, and I figure the Mockers are probably the best bet to finding this stuff out, if you're as good at what you do as I think you are."
He pulls out 10 gold pieces from Salix's money bag. "Here is a gift, for taking the time to see us today. I ain't asking for charity. Thanks to Ace we did remarkably well on our last job, and we're willing to negotiate a good price for your efforts. I figure, it'll be an investement toward future successes in our company."
He adds, "Secrecy is my specialty. This ain't your fight, and you've got your own people to think of. The Mockers will recieve no trouble from loose lips of me and mine while I am around to keep them closed."
OOC: Surin will make Sense Motive checks during this entire exchange.
From: Derek
Subject The butler
Allistiar gives Harp a pat on the shoulder. "I'll be fine, Hack. It's just an interview. The worst that can happen is that they won't have the budget for another position right now, since I know that I'm qualified. You and Ran can wait for me at the gate after you're done speaking to the guard captain. Now that we've come to this town, you both should get a decent job. You're both more that qualified too."
With that, Allistair stands and goes to the adjacent room to wait, unless the butler says something else.
From: Derek
Subject The butler
OOC: We need to start taking some risks to get to the bottom of what's going on in this town. As long as Allistair doesn't sa something stupid, I don't think the interview is too risky.
From: Mark
Subject The butler
I wonder if that falls into the category of "Famous last words"?
From: Josh
Subject The Butler
:-D
From: Kevin
Subject The butler
"If you say so, sir. We'll see you later then."
From: Mark
Subject The Upright Man
The gravely voice wafts out of the shadows "Your 'donation' to the cause is noted and appreciated." He motions with a hand and another figure moves out of the shadows and collects the gold. The voice continues "If your friend has run afoul of the Mayor, your safest option would be to leave Bodentown now. Since Faldor has become Mayor, no one has left that house that did not enter freely. We do not know what happens to them, but I have my suspicions." The voice hesitates for a minute and then speaks again, this time to others in the room. "Leave me with these two. Jimmy, you stay. I may have need of you." There are some grumbles from those around the room but they file out of the room at the man's request.
When all of the others are gone the voice rings out from the shadows again. "Jimmy, come here and give me a hand. You two follow us. We are going to a place where we will not be overheard." The young boy helps the man from his chair and they move through a door at the back of the room. Mund glances at Surin who gestures for the man to follow the two in front them. They follow the two for what seems another 10 minutes, although the going is slow. The Upright Man moves very slowly and deliberately, using Jimmy as a crutch on several occasions. They eventually get to a much more comfortable room, and Jimmy helps the man sit. The man points to a comfortable looking couch and motions for the two to sit. They still can not see the man's face, because he is sitting in shadow. Jimmy sits down in a chair near the west wall. The Upright Man pulls out a small item and chants a quick phrase. "There" he says "now we can talk in private."
"So you want help getting information about the Mayor? I doubt you know how dangerous those questions can be. Or maybe you do since you came to us. Asking questions on the street is liable to get you a room with your friend. I also know you did not tell me the whole truth." Surin starts to protest at this but the man holds up his hand. "I have not been in this job so long with out being able to tell when I am being lied to or not told the whole truth. Not telling me everything was shrewd on your part. And you did not lie outright, which shows caution and brains on your part. We may be able to come to an arrangement."
The man leans forward in his chair and pulls some glasses and a bottle from the table next to him. He pours himself a drink and offers one to Surin and Mund. Jimmy takes the drinks to the two and returns to his seat. The Upright Man takes a sip, sighs in delight, and continues his story. "Before Faldor became Mayor two years ago things were as they should be here in Bodentown. Businesses paid their protection, whores paid their pimps and drug dealers paid for transport. Life was simple but good. Then Faldor took power. I do not know what foul magic he used, but over night the old Mayor was gone and Faldor was in charge. He had come out of nowhere. By itself this did not bother the Mockers. Mayors come and go. So I sent an emissary to Faldor to explain to him how things worked in town, in case he did not know."
"The next day the emissaries head was on spike outside the Mayor's house. When we were able to retrieve the head we found a note inside. It told us that there were now certain areas of Bodentown that were off limits and that they would not pay for this. We, of course, took this as a personal affront. I set my best people loose on the Mayor and the places he had said were off limits. None of them came back. The next day their heads also appeared on the gates." The Upright Man stops for a moment, lost in his memories. "I lost control of myself a bit at that. I personally led a group two nights after that. I was going to put the Mayor's head up on his own gate. My arrogance almost cost me my life. It did cost me the lives of all who went with me. The Mockers have been broken. I have been broken."
OODM: I will write more tonight when I get home. It will be before 8 since 24 is on then.
From: Mark
Subject The Upright Man
"But enough about my sorry state. You have asked for help. The Mockers do not have much help left to sell. We know some of the lay out of the Mayor's house here in town, but that information is over three years old and is suspect. We do have a list of when the guard patrols make their rounds and when the guards change shifts. However, stealth will only get you so far, as we have found to our loss. Maybe your friend here can help with that." He points to Mund. "What do you mean?"asks Surin. The Upright Man's reply is quick "I recognize a northman when I see one and this one is not a basher. Basher's don't use axes. They use clubs, staffs, blackjacks. Can't collect protection from a dead man."
"So here's the deal. For 300 gold the Mockers will supply you with a schedule of the guards. We will supply you with a map of the inside of the Mayor's house. For an additional 200 gold we can supply a diversion that might help you get into the house. Once in though you will be on your own."
"What else would you ask of the Upright Man?"
OODM: Any questions
From: Josh
Subject The Upright Man
OOC: Nice round Mark.