Iron Heroes - Dark Harbor

[Dalamar]

As the group is getting to know each other, the door to the office opens again. This time it seems that the man orchestrating the gathering of the group is finally here.
Dressed in clothes similar to those worn by the clerks downstairs, but made from more expensive-looking materials, and with an air of assumed superiority, Tremance leaves everybody with a feeling similar to having a bad after-taste linger in one's mouth.
"Tsch... I was hoping for a few more of you lot," he says, most likely not actually meaning for it to be heard. He then smiles, a smile reminding you of a street vendor. "I am glad to see such able-looking individuals. You're all probably already wondering what a clerk like me needs a... diverse group like yourselves for." As he speaks with a sweet voice, he moves to sit in the chair behind the desk, avoiding physical contact with everybody.
"The matter is simple: I suspect that one Covis, a boat owner, is doing something illegal. What that might be, I don't know, but I know that the records for expeditions lead by him contain errors almost as often as those lead by the other major boat owners combined."
At this point, he pauses for a moment for dramatic effect and to let what he said sink in.
"What I need, are people who aren't in Covis's scheme, and that's where you come in. Newcomers are people who can't be in on the plan yet, so that's why you," it seems almost as the word "you" tastes bad in his mouth as he indicates Ghuntomas and Gregghor, "are here. However, I also needed other people. Grendel is here because he knows the city and the Harborside, while Damien is here as an expert," a sneer, questioning Damien's expertise, "on Towers-originating items and other such things."
At this point, Tremance reclines a bit in his chair. "If you happen to be able to uncover Covis's plan, I'll pass word to my superiors -and thus indirectly to the Council. I'm sure we'll receive a reward, and a good impression in the Council can't hurt us."

Ghuntomas
You are not sure why, but it seems that Tremance is deliberately keeping one hand under the desk all of the time he talks.

 

[Einan]

"And you will make this license problem go away? Good. I will need payment as well. I search for a thing called the Ebon Way. I need it. You will help me." Gregghor states this as fact, rather than as a request. He looks Tremance over intently, but does not seem to think much of the offensive man.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Grendel raises an eyebrow at the last bit, but he's not quite smart enough to figure out all the angles. Too many shots to the head. He says nothing about Gregghor's implicit challenge to Tremance, letting the two men hash it out themselves, but does ask, once they're through, "Well, that's all great, but where should we start? I mean, do you have any good leads for us to check things out or are we in charge of the planning and operating of this little venture?"

 

[Ambrus]

Damien watches the senior clerk enter the room and snake his way past everyone to his chair behind the desk. He raises an eyebrow when Tremance launches directly into the details of his problem without either acknowledging Damien's presence, asking the barbarians' names or even bothering to introduce himself. Damien listens to the man's plan while trying to stifle a laugh. How such an incompetent dullard was ever promoted to a senior's position is beyond me. He expects a group of barbarians to be able to uncover a subtle embezzling scheme that he himself can't crack? And he expects this to be done all in exchange for a simple license that expires after a week and a vague promise of reward and gratitude? Damien raises an eyebrow at the snide remark directed at him but lets it pass without comment. Why the contempt Tremance? Do you want to make an enemy of me? That would be unwise, but I've given up expecting any kind of wisdom from you.

Damien stops smiling as he starts to turn the matter at hand over in his mind. What he's more likely to get is this Covis fellow roughed up and scared by these fellows. Perhaps that's what he's hoping will happen; there are worse tactics for getting a confession out of someone I suppose. Though if Covis has been making money off of this scheme chances are that he can hire a group of thugs of his own just as easily as Tremance can. His men are probably more loyal too, especially if he's willing to offer more than a mere promise of reward and gratitude.

Damien listens idly to Gregghor's response until the mention of the Ebon Way; words that pique his curiosity. Where have I heard that before? (All Knowledges +9) While he ponders those words, he listens to Grendel's inquiry. Good question. I'm curious to see if Tremance actually has managed to devise any kind of plan on his own. Still, we shouldn't get bogged down in details until we've first settled on whether we're actually going to accept this ill conceived job.

"Those are good questions Grendel, though we should perhaps settle the matter of compensation before we get into the details of how to proceed. After all, as useful as a weapons license is, it typically expires after only a week and only cost two gold coins per person. That hardly seems like an adequate payment for such an undertaking. The promise of reward and gratitude from the council can only be more significant. But I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves." Damien pauses to look at the other men in the room and then holds out a hand to indicate the man hoping to be their employer. "Perhaps I should introduce you gentleman to our gracious host and potential employer; this is mister Tremance, Assistant Senior Clerk of the Excise House. Now then, mister Tremance, you mentioned a reward. I assume you wouldn't suppose to speak for the Council so are we to assume that you've already spoken with Councilor Chyra Delorri about Covis and this investigation? Might I inquire what reward she promised?"

OOC: Dalamar, can Damien recall anything about the Ebon Way that Gregghor mentioned?

 

[Erekose13]

At the question of his background, Ghuntomas is about to answer before their potential employer opens the door. A topic for later discussion, he turns his attention to Tremance as he lays out the issue that he wants this rag tag group to complete for him. It is an interesting group to say the least, though their employer is by far the more suspiscious. With his hand beneath the table and the snide caustic tone of his, the man obviously thinks little of them. Of course being from Borat it seems like many in Malador think much of his people.

Ghuntomas decides to remain quiet for the moment, giving the man time to answer the questions of those around him. For his own part, Ghuntomas would like the opportunity to scope out the situation before agreeing to take the job. Perhaps that level of investigation could be done while being paid though. He keeps a close eye on Tremance as he answers trying to determine the man's sincerity and watching his strange actions as well.

(sense motive +7, knowledge (local) +8 for knowledge of Covis)

 

[Dalamar]

Tremance rolls his eyes as he starts answering Gregghor. "I can arrange you a license for a full two, maybe three weeks. That's worth what most Maladorians earn in a week for likely a couple of days' work at most, and you want additional payment?
But since Covis's business is to arrange expeditions to the Towers, the best way to find out about his scheme is to go on one yourself. That means that, if you happen to be at all competent, you should be able to bring back at least some artifacts to be compensated for."
"Spoken to the Councilor?" Tremance seems rather amused. "About what? That my records have some minor mistakes? Do you take me for a personal friend of hers?
Listen, boy, if I could present this to the Council, I wouldn't need the whole lot of you at all. But as it stands, I need somebody to find out what Covis does to garner so many mistakes, and I doubt he'd do anything if I or somebody strongly associated with the Excise House went on one of his expeditions."

Ghuntomas
As far as you can tell from the short time observing him, Tremance is sincere, if nonrespecting, in his words.
There's also something that you recall hearing about the Excise Clerks and their desks, but the exact knowledge manages to escape you.

 

[Ambrus]

Damien pauses for a moment after Tremance finishes his explanation and seems to consider the arogant bureaucrat's response before seeming to decide to take the lead in these negotiations. Answering calmly but deliberately Damien says: "I can understand your reluctance to speak with the councillor about the mistakes in your records being that you are fairly new to your current position Sir. I'm afraid however that I don't see why I or any of these gentlemen should undertake this endeavour on your behalf.

You offer to supply us with weapons licenses for a period of three weeks in exchange for only a few days worth of work, but surely you realize that any of these able bodied men could acquire a month-long license for free in exchange for only a single day of effort spent training with the militia.

You also suggest that we may acquire some artifacts that may offer us some sort of additional compensation if we were willing to risk our lives in an expedition into the drowning towers. You perceive of course that any able bodied man or woman can sign up to undertake such an expedition with exactly the same risks and rewards; so that is not any sort of compensation at all.

In fact, aside from a vague reference of a reward and the gratitude of individuals that you haven't spoken to I see no reason why we'd undertake this mission on your behalf at all. To put it another way, we could in fact sign up with the militia to gain these coveted licenses you offer us, undertake an expedition to the drowning towers as you suggest on our own account, uncover Covis' scheme if it should in fact exist and then report back to the council ourselves to gain this supposed reward and gratitude.

You perceive that all this could be done by us without you as a patron. So I ask again Sir, why should we agree to do this service for you?"

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Grendel remains quiet, as Damien had covered just about every objection he could think of and then some.

 

[Dalamar]

Tremance glares at Damien. He's most likely regretting calling the scribe to this meeting, letting out Covis's name early on, or both. When he speaks, his voice is cold as ice.
"All right. In addition to the licenses, I'll pay everyone five silver right now. If you find out what Covis is doing, I'll add in another three silver for each day you've spent on the investigation. However, on such a generous pay, I'm expecting daily reports on your doings."

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Grendel smiles and asks (as innocently as he can manage, although he's having a hard time not laughing at Tremance's fit of pique), "Written reports or oral reports?"