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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DungeonKeeperUK" data-source="post: 852260" data-attributes="member: 689">OK heres my entry... are we sitting comfortably?  Then I'll begin...Key Phrase:   "Robbing Peter to pay Paul..."Ingredients:    A bottle of wine,                                   A non-descript copper band,                      "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."Association:    The Silkers Circle (The Silkers Circle is the guild to which all the Silk Fish harvesters belong. Silk Fish is a type of jelly fish only found in Lake Enoria. The tendrils of the silk fish can be treated and spun into a high-quality silk. The Silkers Circle is a powerful group in Mor's End with a seat on the council.)The Hanratty family is well known all across Mors End, but for differing reasons.  The old folk of the town remember Keith Hanratty and his darling wife Trisha; Trisha used to clean house for Anton Palmora and his family and Keith worked the Silk Fish traps belonging the Palmora clan.  The younger generations of townsfolk have had the family name of Hanratty tainted in their minds by the four siblings of the Hanratty couple.Petra was the eldest sister, fair of hair and hard-working in class; learning languages seemed to be her forte.  Paula was second oldest with an ease of grace she showed only too well in dance and song, her movements were something to behold.  Peter and Paul were the youngest and twins, and though they were scamps from an early age they seemed to be harmless, if not a little irritating.  Things were to take an ugly turn, however, when Keith and Trisha were killed whilst traveling back form a long overdue honeymoon.  Their carriage was attacked and laid to waste by bandits who could only have gleaned a measly 3gp from the couple - a pointless death for a fine couple. This affected the twin boys even more so than the girls; all four were carted off to Mother Caim’s Orphanage and Home for the Weary.They were here till Petra became old enough to be granted responsibility for the family and the will of Keith and Trisha was read.  The house and its furnishings were left to Petra, along with small savings of 7gp in order that she may raise the family. Trisha’s’ small collection of jewelry was left to Paula, Keith’s collection of books was left to Peter and to Paul was left a non-descript copper band, a bracelet that their father had told the boys was magic and could transport anyone to any number of mystical lands, he would wear this as he told the boys their bedtime stories.  This was indeed an ordinary copper bracelet, but the boys still believed it was filled with magical opportunities and it angered Peter greatly that it should be left to his brother.This was some 10 years ago and things have changed vastly for the Hanratty family.  The money did not last long and Petra had to find a “less reputable” means of earning money to keep the family together, Paula is now engaged to be married to the leader of one of the many gangs of Mors End.  Paul lives in a ramshackle hut on the outskirts of Mors End and Peter leads another gang within the city… however, this is not the end of the tale of the Hanratty family.Each is greatly in debt; money is short to each of them.  Petra lives in squalor in the squats constantly begging money off her often unsympathetic family members.  Paula has a lover and is being blackmailed by her own brother Peter over her love affair with Tomas, son of Anton Palmora and the current Patriarch of the Palmora clan.  She looks to Paul for help with money she cannot ask of her fiancé.  Paul is a common thief, a burglar, thug and cut purse who has found himself with some gambling debts to Paula’s fiancé - debts that seem to have an ever-increasing interest rate.  Peter has offered him a tidy sum for the “magical bracelet” left to him by their father but Paul has refused as he is more comfortable relying on his “skills” to get what money he can, utilizing information Paula can give him regards possible movement of goods within the Silkers’ Circle. Paula eases the details out of her fiancé and his dealings with the Silkers, and small monetary donations when information is unavailable.  Paul has in fact negotiated a lucrative deal with a few of the gangs within the city and actually does dealings with his brother Peter without Peter being aware of the fact… and rips him off for what he can too…  Though Peter is not the only family member Paul rips off.  When his sister Petra needs something Paul will always find ways of getting his moneys worth out of his big sister.  Peter has earned his gang a great reputation within Mors End with his smuggling operations for some of the Silk Fish Harvester Clans.  Unbeknownst to him however, Paula’s lover has contacts in a few of the other Clans and ensures that he gleans a percentage of the takings Peter should be getting.  Just enough in fact to cover the amount that Peter is blackmailing Paula for...So it could be said that Petra is taking from Paula who is giving to Peter who gives occasionally to Petra who in turn is often swindled by Paul who is in turn giving money to Paula who is robbing Peter to pay Paul back and most of them seem to have their hands in the Silkers Circles’ pockets for one reason or another.It is Peter who is currently “head” of the family, though it is a family that no longer exists as a unit. Peter’s immediate interest is to get the bracelet from Paul.  Paul looks to bring down the Clan Palmora, as this would open up even better avenues for his fencing operation.  He has plans to do this and though others may think him a fool to take on the largest of the Silk Fish Clans he lives by the saying “The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall” - a comment that had him laid unconscious for the best part of 4 days after pointing this out to a sizeable Half Orc.  Paula looks to overthrow Peter’s gang and tries to persuade her fiancé to this path without being too obvious. And finally there is Petra, living in her slum, her body no longer her own, begging for money from the siblings she tried her hardest to raise alone.  What has Petra got?  Well, Petra has a bottle of wine, and has invited her “beloved” brothers and sister to her squat in order to try and lay to rest their family feud, or so she says.  See, Petra has had enough.  Petra spent her last few savings on a poison, a poison she wishes to introduce to her spiteful little brothers and sister.PLOT HOOKS•    Paul has started his plans on the downfall of Clan Palmora; he has entered the clan house and “acquired” the Trident of the Lake.  The party is called in by Clan Palmora to retrieve said item.•    Petra contacts the PCs asking/pleading that they help her to pull her family back together.  She wishes them to contact each of her siblings and bring them to her house… where she plans to kill her siblings with poisoned wine and in turn implicate the PCs in their murder.•    The “ non-descript copper band” turns out to actually be a very powerful magic item, allowing one to walk across the ethereal plane.  Peter has discovered this and plans to use a “witless” group of adventurers to retrieve it.•    Paula wishes to leave Mors End with her lover Tomas and she needs a cover… A gang war would be perfect; pitting her fiancé against her brother should start in-fighting within the lesser gangs.  All she needs is a match to light the touch paper.  Claiming to be from her brother, Peter’s, gang she contacts the PCs pleading that they rescue her from her fiancés gang, making sure to plant enough evidence on the PCs and at both gang hideouts to implicate everyone but herself…Peter Hanratty : Male Human Ftr 2/Rog 2; CR 4; Medium-size Humanoid (human); HD 2d10 plus 2d6; hp 25; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13; AL LG; SV Fort 3 Ref 6 Will 2; Str 14; Dex 16; Con 11; Int 15; Wis 14; Cha 16Atks: +2 Longsword +7 (1d8+4, crit 19-20 x2)Skills: Climb +9, Jump +5, Diplomacy +10, Disguise +10, Escape Artist +10, Gather Information +12, Innuendo +9, Intimidate +10, Appraise +9, Sense Motive +8; Feats: Armor Proficiency (Light), Armor Proficiency (Medium), Armor Proficiency (Heavy), Martial Weapon Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Shield Proficiency, Alertness, Dodge, Skill Focus (Gather Information)Notable Possessions: +2 Longsword, +1 Leather Armor, Ring of Sustenance, Collection of Books  Paul Hanratty : Male Human Rog 3; CR 3; Medium-size Humanoid (human); HD 3d6; hp 12; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13; AL LG; SV Fort 1 Ref 6 Will 3; Str 14; Dex 16; Con 11; Int 15; Wis 14; Cha 16Atks: Dagger +6 (1d4, crit 19-2 x2)Skills: Appraise +8, Disable Device +10, Escape Artist +9, Forgery +8, Gather Information +9, Hide +9, Intimidate +9, Local +5, Geography +5, Listen +4, Open Lock +9, Search +8; Feats: Armor Proficiency (Medium), Armor Proficiency (Heavy), Martial Weapon Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Shield Proficiency, Armor Proficiency (Light), Skill Focus (Disable Device), Alertness, Improved InitiativeNotable Possessions: Ring of Protection + 1, Ring of Jumping, Copper BraceletPetra Hanratty : Female Human cmr 2; CR 2; Medium-size Humanoid (human); HD 2d4-2; hp 4; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13; AL LG; SV Fort 1 Ref 3 Will 3; Str 9; Dex 16; Con 9; Int 18; Wis 16; Cha 16Atks: Dagger +0 (1d4-1, crit 19-20 x2)Skills: Alchemy +5, Perform +5, Spot +10, Ride +7, Listen +9Feats: Alertness, Great FortitudeNotable Possessions: Bottle of “wine”; Money: 2cp  Paula Hanratty : Female Human cmr 1/xpt 2; CR 3; Medium-size Humanoid (human); HD 1d4+1 plus 2d6+2; hp 10; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13; AL LG; SV Fort 1 Ref 5 Will 4; Str 11; Dex 16; Con 13; Int 12; Wis 12; Cha 15Atks: Dagger +1 (1d4+1, crit 19-20 x2)Skills: Perform +8, Innuendo +7, Spot +4, Weaving +7, Listen +7Feats: Armor Proficiency (Light), Simple Weapon Proficiency, Improved Initiative, Combat Reflexes, Lightning ReflexesNotable Possessions: Family Jewelry (20gp)</blockquote>

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