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Iron Heroes - Dark Harbor
- Thread starter Dalamar
- Start date
Ambrus
Explorer
Damien smiles almost imperceptibly at Grendel's quip but resumes a serious and respectful tone of voice before continuing. "Although your offer of a five silver retainer is, I'm sure, welcome to these gentleman and myself I'm afraid that the three silver a day salary cannot be dependant on the uncovering of Covis' scheme. After all, there may simply be no scheme to uncover which, I'm sure you'll agree, would be no fault of our own. I'll agree with you however that three silver is a reasonable salary considering the obvious skills and talents of these fine men you've assembled. After all, the average salary for the clerks of the Excise House is also three silver per day." Motioning to the towering bear-sark clad barbarian Damien continues: "For instance, I don't believe anyone could say that Mister, uh, Bearbait's... talents aren't at least equal to those of an Excise House clerk. Wouldn't you agree Mister Tremance?"
Damien waits a few moments to let the clerk size up the barbarian for himself. "Also, with no offense to the fine gentleman and women downstairs, there is a certain amount of risk to this endeavour that you propose that their jobs do not demand. If you're correct about Covis, it seems likely that he's made a fair amount of coin with his scheme. He may very well have used that coin to hire mercenaries as you yourself are now proposing to do. Chances are that mister Covis, if he or his men discover or even suspect what we are doing they may object violently to our investigation. I believe that the possibility of harm should, by necessity, include an equal possibility of monetary compensation. So I propose that, should any of us be injured in such a violent exchange, that our salary for the entire mission be doubled to six silver coins per day." Damien pauses to wave an arm around the room. "I'm certain you'll agree that these fine men's blood is certaintly worth at least that much wouldn't you Mister Tremance?"
"Now, although Mister Grendel's enthusiasm is laudable, I'm certain that you are aware that the Drowning Towers lie nearly seven leagues offshore. As I'm sure Grendel, an experienced seaman can attest, there are numerous shoals and shallows that must be carefully navigated to reach them. If we are to undertake a journey there, as you propose, it is an inescapable fact that we could never managed a round trip to report to you daily. If you wish us to undertake this mission on your behalf I'm afraid you'll simply have to be content with receiving our reports when it is feasible for us to do so. Such meetings will also prove an ideal time for you to present us with the moneys we've thus far earned while in your service. Of course if at those times you or we decide that our arrangement is no longer desireable you can simply pay us what is owed and our arrangement will cease."
Damien slowly stands while looking towards the other men in the room to see if they have anything to add. Once they've said their peace, Damien reaches down and opens up his mariner's bag. "Now then, this being the Excise House, I'm certain that you'll see the wisdom of having our agreement written down, signed and sealed by our patron Mister Tremance. Luckily I just happen to have my scrivening tools here with me. If you'll give me a corner of your desk and a few moments I'm sure I can write it all out as we've discussed while you retrieve the 20 silver coins retainer as well as the three-week weapon and armor licenses you've promised us"
Damien waits a few moments to let the clerk size up the barbarian for himself. "Also, with no offense to the fine gentleman and women downstairs, there is a certain amount of risk to this endeavour that you propose that their jobs do not demand. If you're correct about Covis, it seems likely that he's made a fair amount of coin with his scheme. He may very well have used that coin to hire mercenaries as you yourself are now proposing to do. Chances are that mister Covis, if he or his men discover or even suspect what we are doing they may object violently to our investigation. I believe that the possibility of harm should, by necessity, include an equal possibility of monetary compensation. So I propose that, should any of us be injured in such a violent exchange, that our salary for the entire mission be doubled to six silver coins per day." Damien pauses to wave an arm around the room. "I'm certain you'll agree that these fine men's blood is certaintly worth at least that much wouldn't you Mister Tremance?"
"Now, although Mister Grendel's enthusiasm is laudable, I'm certain that you are aware that the Drowning Towers lie nearly seven leagues offshore. As I'm sure Grendel, an experienced seaman can attest, there are numerous shoals and shallows that must be carefully navigated to reach them. If we are to undertake a journey there, as you propose, it is an inescapable fact that we could never managed a round trip to report to you daily. If you wish us to undertake this mission on your behalf I'm afraid you'll simply have to be content with receiving our reports when it is feasible for us to do so. Such meetings will also prove an ideal time for you to present us with the moneys we've thus far earned while in your service. Of course if at those times you or we decide that our arrangement is no longer desireable you can simply pay us what is owed and our arrangement will cease."
Damien slowly stands while looking towards the other men in the room to see if they have anything to add. Once they've said their peace, Damien reaches down and opens up his mariner's bag. "Now then, this being the Excise House, I'm certain that you'll see the wisdom of having our agreement written down, signed and sealed by our patron Mister Tremance. Luckily I just happen to have my scrivening tools here with me. If you'll give me a corner of your desk and a few moments I'm sure I can write it all out as we've discussed while you retrieve the 20 silver coins retainer as well as the three-week weapon and armor licenses you've promised us"
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Dalamar
Adventurer
"Oral, I wouldn't want to be bothered with extra paperwork."
"And if there isn't a scheme, then you have not done anything besides possibly visiting the Towers, and have still gained the licenses and five silver per head, I'd say that alone is compensation enough.
However, as a token of my good will, I'll agree to pay ten silver to anybody who suffers permanent injuries. That is my last offer."
"And if there isn't a scheme, then you have not done anything besides possibly visiting the Towers, and have still gained the licenses and five silver per head, I'd say that alone is compensation enough.
However, as a token of my good will, I'll agree to pay ten silver to anybody who suffers permanent injuries. That is my last offer."
Old Fezziwig
Thanks for the sour persimmons, cousin.
He pauses, puzzled. "Oral reports? Does anyone really know we're here and what we're doing, Master Tremance? I've taken one too many punches to the head, but it doesn't seem like too far a flight of fancy here, based on what you've said."
Grendel smiles broadly and cracks his knuckles loudly when Tremance mentions the ten silver to anybody who suffers permanent injuries. "In any case, I think those terms are rather fair, Damien, but let's put it in writing anyhow. Better to be safe than sorry, and, to be frank, my memory's gone to hell."
Grendel smiles broadly and cracks his knuckles loudly when Tremance mentions the ten silver to anybody who suffers permanent injuries. "In any case, I think those terms are rather fair, Damien, but let's put it in writing anyhow. Better to be safe than sorry, and, to be frank, my memory's gone to hell."
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Ambrus
Explorer
Damien smirks at Tremance's admittance of a dislike for paperwork. That's probably the real cause for the mistakes in your ledgers. Damien seems willing to address Tremance once more when Grendel speaks first. He listens to the sailor's opinion as well as the large barbarian's desire to be done with the meeting, seems to reconsider what he was about to say and instead simply nods to Grendel with a smile. This is probably more money than any of these fellows has ever been offered for employment in their lives. "Very well Mister Grendel. It will be as you say." Turning to the clerk Damien says: "It seems we have an agreement Mister Tremance." Damien looks over to the other two members of their odd group. By the mariner's beard; what have I gotten myself into?
The young scribe pulls an oiled leather scroll case from the bag at his feet. Pulling off its cap he begins removing his scrivening tools; a pen, pen-knife, blotter, sealing wax, inkwell and a sheet of parchment. He sits back down, dips his pen in the inkwell and begins to write in a fine calligraphic script. Damien will write out a brief but complete transcript of what Tremance has asked the group to do on his behalf, for how much money and with notes to clarify what conditions must be met for proper payment.
When ready, Damien will pour some sand onto the parchment to soak up any excess ink, blow on it to clear it off and then hand the pen and parchment for Tremance to sign. Assuming he does, Damien will then heat some wax so that Tremance can press his Excise House clerk's seal onto the parchment. He'll then roll it up and put the contract back into his scrollcase before offering the clerk his right hand.
"Now then, perhaps you could tell us more about these numerous mistakes that appear in Covis' manifests. If he is somehow doing something illegal we'll need to know what part of his operation to focus on so that we don't waste our time and your money by investigating the wrong thing."
OOC: Dalamar, let me know if you want me to actually type out the contract.
[Sblock]The contract accurately describes everything that Tremance stipulated and agreed to though there is a single word that has been omitted for simplicity: permanent.[/Sblock]
The young scribe pulls an oiled leather scroll case from the bag at his feet. Pulling off its cap he begins removing his scrivening tools; a pen, pen-knife, blotter, sealing wax, inkwell and a sheet of parchment. He sits back down, dips his pen in the inkwell and begins to write in a fine calligraphic script. Damien will write out a brief but complete transcript of what Tremance has asked the group to do on his behalf, for how much money and with notes to clarify what conditions must be met for proper payment.
When ready, Damien will pour some sand onto the parchment to soak up any excess ink, blow on it to clear it off and then hand the pen and parchment for Tremance to sign. Assuming he does, Damien will then heat some wax so that Tremance can press his Excise House clerk's seal onto the parchment. He'll then roll it up and put the contract back into his scrollcase before offering the clerk his right hand.
"Now then, perhaps you could tell us more about these numerous mistakes that appear in Covis' manifests. If he is somehow doing something illegal we'll need to know what part of his operation to focus on so that we don't waste our time and your money by investigating the wrong thing."
OOC: Dalamar, let me know if you want me to actually type out the contract.
[Sblock]The contract accurately describes everything that Tremance stipulated and agreed to though there is a single word that has been omitted for simplicity: permanent.[/Sblock]
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Erekose13
Explorer
Ghuntomas listens to everything taking in all the talk between Damien and Tremance. It seems like Malador is overburdened by such bureaucracy. Perhaps the king is right to want to excise this silly town, under his military control things would be much better run. When an agreement is reached, however, he is quick to add in, "That sounds good to me. Let me know where to sign." His simple reply is in stark contrast to Damien's lengthy discussion, but he does not seem bored or iritated in any way.
Dalamar
Adventurer
Tremance hastily signs the contract, starting to look like he's already had his share of the lot of you for the day. Or for life.
He massages his left temple as he continues to speak. "Basically, there are a lot of normal-looking mistakes; mugs being reported as cups, bowls as plates, stuff like that. Which wouldn't even have caught my eye if it wasn't so frequent. There are at least a couple, usually half a dozen, such mistakes on each and every manifest of treasure recovered on Covis's expeditions. And it isn't from the same Tower Guards each time, so it can't be just one or two of them being lazy."
He massages his left temple as he continues to speak. "Basically, there are a lot of normal-looking mistakes; mugs being reported as cups, bowls as plates, stuff like that. Which wouldn't even have caught my eye if it wasn't so frequent. There are at least a couple, usually half a dozen, such mistakes on each and every manifest of treasure recovered on Covis's expeditions. And it isn't from the same Tower Guards each time, so it can't be just one or two of them being lazy."
Old Fezziwig
Thanks for the sour persimmons, cousin.
"Tower Guards?" Grendel looks to Damien, who seems to have taken on a bit of a leadership role for the moment, "It could be a place to start."
