The bell tolls in the Basilica as the peasants gather before the statue of the Ghost Council as they pray and ask for forgiveness. They gives their zinos to a priest as he preaches to them, how their sins weigh upon and that only by relinquishing their material gain shall it save them. A knight takes the processions and takes it to the room behind the statue. It is filled with more treasure than you've seen in your lifetime, even more so as the knight adds the processions to the pile of treasure. The knight doesn't even give it second thought, as it is just a paltry sum to him. This is just a minor reward you can obtain in your service to the Syndicate.
DM Note:
The guild has many establishments under its own control, nightclubs, taverns, hotels for example. They will provide a modest lodging for a member of the guild along with the same income.
Milana was sure to sit as close to the front of the Basilica as her status would allow. Making a small show of tithing generously and with fake humility. It was all a part of her family's quest to regain lost status since Teysa Karlov's attempt to overthrow the Obzidat. The Vrona family had been close to Teysa, and though they didn't have any direct part in the attempted coup (that could be proven that is) their association with her cost them greatly. Now Milana was doing her part to make nice and show that Vronas were still a valuable and devout part of the Syndicate. The Basilica itself was an excellent reminder of both why it is good to be a cog in the Orzhov machine and why it is bad to try and break from tradition. The opulent wealth that surrounded her was only slightly off put by the masked Thrulls and indentured spirits that could be seen all over the great building, signs of what happens if you or your family fall too far. But the treasure that filled the place was a sign of what can come to loyal and fervent service to the Orzhov and Obzidat.
The service ended as it always did, with everyone's purses a little lighter than when they arrived, and Milana made her way back to her office. Settling in to go over piles of paper work detailing debts owed to her, she would have to keep pushing her long black hair back behind her ear, keeping it out of her grey eyes. A few of these debts were long over due. A thing that raised Milana's ire more than most. She was what other members of her Guild called "soft" with the interest rates she attached to her loans, but it made her one of the most popular bankers in her current level of the Orzhov, more than making up for lost interest by shear volume. But this is why failure to pay loans upset her so. She was already going easy on the people and if they couldn't meet such an easy goal, they were not worth any more of her time. For these she had already applied for the use of a Euthanist and Knight. It was the last chance she would give her clients. Either they pay the Knight, or the Euthanist will put them down. Sadly she was not strong of body or she would do it herself, though her magic was sufficient to protect herself from rivals, or would be avenging family members who would often be saddled with the debt of the fallen family member.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
2
As Milana sifts through the papers, she finds that most of her clients have kept to her lean interest rate. That is until next month or when they finally pay off their debts towards her.
A firm knocking rattles Milana's office door, as a knight enters without awaiting her word. "Advokist Vrona," A burly human man states as he gives a curt bow of his head to her. The man being the Knight of Bond, or more commonly referred to, the Ministrant Phear's lapdog. Obedient, loyal, and have to strength to back it all up. He is not quite smart but follows orders well and to the letter. "Ministrant Cassandra has a task for you." The knight says sternly as he sets a file before you.
Client: Giles
Occupation: Izzet Attendant
Loaned: 100 Zinos
Interest Rate: 20% per month
It shows a rather large loan with an high interest rate. Although it's custom to also sign the contract with the guild member's name, it seems they've left it out. But there's more to the file,
Client had willingly payed interest in the first few months of the agreement, but has not been seen in the past couple of months. His second month has already passed and he is about to also fail to pay the third's month deadline. As is customary to our clients, we'd like you to remind them of their obligations to their contract with us. Along with now paying an overdue fee of 50 zinos due to his negligence.
Hextaur Ordruun entered the Basilica. He walked past the religious, the needy, the guilty. He shook his large horned head sadly. No amount of giving would change their lot.
Ravnica is a world of action. Either you ran your life or your life ran you. Hextaur liked to think some day he would be the one to make his own choices.
He did his best to not stomp with his hooves as he walked down the hall. He thought to himself, 'How do my people ever make it as Rangers or Rogues?'
Hextaur entered the arming room. He walked in, "Hey guys, did the Thrulls polish our armor last night or did those things stand blankly and collect dust all night?" Some of them laughed many of them continued dressing. He walked over to his locker and began pulling out his gear. He looked over at the senior enforcer and his shiny new breast plate, then back at his flat black chain mail. Envy curled his nose and he snorted. 'Control, keep it together Alan will be promoted and then it will be my time... unless he falls... No.'
Hextaur smiled his best and said, "That is some nice armor. Is it is as light as it looks?" Alan looked up Hextaur's 6'8" frame. "With as big as you are why do you care about it's weight." Hex laughed, "Do you realize how many links it takes to cover my hairy butt?"
Hextaur wrapped his Zino belt over his vestments and grabbed his battle axe. "So what are we doing today?"
"Ah, you know the usual, a few poor saps to rough up, some shops we gotta check out, and to top it all off deal with some small gang that got the balls to mess with the syndicate. Gotta love the Despot Knight's tasks, always a good way to earn a few zinos." He donned his breastplate, the black steel matching nicely the silver like longsword at his waist. "Pretty easy to scare the shopkeeps since you take up most of the space in their shop and look down on them, big guy."
"Like I always say, don't take out loans if you can't pay em. Are you talking about that new Goblin/Human gang from Tin Street? I heard their mouths have been writing checks, their butts can't cash."
"I figure we can make the payment rounds, grab some lunch at that new Simic Sushi place. Skitter Eel always puts me in a good mood before I scare a bunch'a unguilded trash."
[[Can we recruit other players to help us clean out or punk the gang and if so how do we do that.]]
Hex sheathed his weapons and headed out to another day of work. [[Like this is normal. Haha]]
"Oh, almost forgot. Your 'Guardian' angel sends a message. More of a note really." Alan rummages around his pockets and produces a small note. He hands it over to you, "Was a bit surprised the Knight asked me to pass along the message that I almost forgot about it. Is it something that'll take you a while or could we still meet for Sushi later still?" Alan asks.
Hextaur hesitated for a second... alarm played across his bull face. She had never summoned him. She had given him power, but to be requested...
Hex, "The Dark Mistress is usually short and to the point, unless her task is overly complex, lunch should still be on. Seriously, I can't crack skulls on an empty stomach."
Hex walked on and tried to steel his nerves as he headed to her inner sanctum. Sweat rolled down his back and was absorbed by his hairy legs. 'At least I won't be dripping', he thought.
Hextaur ran into a thrull, knocking it flat. He stumbled around trying to catch his footing and ended up bouncing off a pillar. The thrull made a high keening almost shrill as it tried to right it's self. Hex looked around to see if anyone had noticed and sure enough there were gawkers. "Stupid thrull watch where you are going!" He didn't feel the words, but what was he supposed to do admit that he was as scatterbrained as one of those constructs. He righted himself and smoothed his vestments before he entered into her sanctuary.
Tzuriel floated in the hall, unmoving, but ever watchful.
"You will bring me 10 Holy Items. When you are in their presence you will be able to feel them. The raw power from the Celestial and Abyssal realms will seep from them."
Hex abased himself in front of her greatness. He had dared to look up into her blazing black eyes and now found himself unable to do anything, but convulse. It was all he could do to prevent himself from fleeing in terror.
"They will smell of Milk and Honey or Death and Decay. Focus on that scent, find it and bring them back to me. Do not think you can hide them."
Hextaur stuttered, "I w-w-w-would never try to cheat your ho-ho-holiness. You are my only chance to have more, to be more, to make others respect me." With that, Hex forced himself to look up at her again. He made it to her mouth before stopping himself. "With your leave..."
"Go"
She never so much as twitched or single feather fluttered.
Hextaur left the room and headed back to the arming room. "Thrull desalt this armor." Hex walked into the steam room and began scraping the shame off his body. 'Why does she still do that to me? For that matter is she even aware or able to control it.' He came back out and redressed. He shook off and tried to forget.
"Back to it."
Hex left the main Cathedral and down to the first shop on his list.
The shop keeper looked up and saw the serious look on his face and the contract in his hand. She began to quiver, "I don't have the money... I've spent it all to keep my shop open. No thanks to the Azorious and their Bureaucracy, they have taken everything." Hex looked at her, "Do you mean to tell me that the Az's have our money?" She nodded vigorously. "Then you better have something I can take back to my people." She reached into her cash register and pulled out her days earnings, "That is all I have." Hex took the Zinos from her and dropped them into a pocket of his vestments counting them as he did. "This will buy you time, but you will need to do better next time."
Hex headed back into the sunshine, it beat down on his face and he leaned back absorbing the warmth. He didn't like this part of his job, but like the people that took out the loans, he was bound by contract. He did his best to convince them to pay and understand the gravity of not paying, yet he liked to believe that he didn't do any unnecessary damage.
As Hex was leaving the store, he sees a regular client of the syndicate, a gambler, being pulled into an alleyway by a few rough looking individuals. Many citizens chose not to acknowledge the event, although a few tried, they were harshly pushed back by the other punks. A duo of them stay at the entrance of the alley, trying their best to seem threatening, while the other talks with a patron of the Syndicate.
Hextaur felt the Odruun in his blood rise. The Berserker in him wanted to be released. No one messed with their people. No one! He paced up to the thugs in front, his nostrils flared as he bore down on them. "What is going on here?!"
The thugs looked up and hesitated, "Um, um nothin jus biz... You know bout biz right?"
Hex then recognized the gang insignia on them. Without hesitation he uppercutted the human on the right and smashed the side of his horns into the woman on the left. They went flying wide as he advanced. He drew his ax and shield as he stormed down the alley. He shouted, "This is Orzhov territory!" as he engaged the Goblins. He swung at them with reckless abandon. The first fell before he even knew what was happening. Then two of the remaining three turned to fight for their lives as the first buried his short sword into the Gamblers belly.
Hex drew back into a defensive stance and hunkered down behind his shield. He had not expected them to stay and fight. 'Why haven't they ran away yet,' he thought as he began blocking blows with his shield. His back bowed forward as a Chaos Bolt struck him. He yelled in pain as the energy rapidly shifted from fire to ice and settled into lightning. He stumbled forward.
He then focused on Tzuriel as he channeled healing into his body. He turned on the Sorcerer and buried his ax in the poor creatures chest. He drew back and found that it was stuck. He released the grip with the realization that he had no real back ups. Javelins were never meant for proper melee, but he had no choice. Luckily he had put some space between himself and the other two. He slung the first javelin and it buried deep in the shield causing his opponent to drop it.
Hextaur barely had to time to draw his second when they were on him. They coordinated their attacks in Goblin. Hex smirked, 'dumb green skins' he thought as he countered their plan and buried his javelin halfway up the shaft in the unshielded one. The fourth one finally decided it was time to run away. He turned and made it fifteen feet before him was slammed in the back by a third javelin and he pitched forward. He tried to pitifully crawl away, but found the pain to be too much.
Hex walked over and picked the goblin up to his eyesight. He growled, as spit flew from his lips, "Tell your people I will be coming for them." He then threw the goblin at the two punks who had finally regained their wits and decided to help. They caught him as best as they could and fled the scene.
Hextaur walked back over to his client. He saw that the wound was bad and placed his massive hand over the poor victims abdomen and focused on Tzuriel, but nothing happened. He had used up all of his healing on himself.
He gathered up his equipment and then gingerly lifted the man, that is when he noticed the ache in his side. His core didn't move the way to should. He reach down and felt blood on his hand. 'When did they stab me?' "Damn it!" He hobbled out with the victim and collapsed on the sidewalk.
Hex waved for a passing guild member, "Send for a priest and a clean up crew."
A Priest arrived within 15 minutes and healed them. Stating, "That will be added to your ledger." Hextaur wasn't surprised by this, but the guildless gentleman looked quite dismayed. "But how will I ever pay my debts off if they keep growing." The Priest laughed and said, "Make better choices." as he walked away.
Hextaur flexed and stretched finding very little stiffness. "Seriously, why were those guys after you?"
Mr. Lewis answered, "I heard they had a delivery job that would help me pay off my debts to the Syndicate."
"And?"
"Well... It turned out to be worth more than they paid me, so I sold it to a fence. I was on my way to pay this months bill when they robbed and tried to kill me."
"Lets go see if one of them still has it." Hextaur said as he stood up and returned to the alley. They rolled the bodies, but only found a few Zino. He pocketed them.
"Great just great! It must have been one of them that got away." Grumbled Lewis. 'Or you are lying to me again.' thought Hex. Instead he said, "Okay, so where can we find them?" Lewis listed an address in Precinct Six. "You had better find another way to pay this months bill..." Lewis slumped and started to schlep off. "Better hand over the fence as well."
As Milana sifts through the papers, she finds that most of her clients have kept to her lean interest rate. That is until next month or when they finally pay off their debts towards her.
A firm knocking rattles Milana's office door, as a knight enters without awaiting her word. "Advokist Vrona," A burly human man states as he gives a curt bow of his head to her. The man being the Knight of Bond, or more commonly referred to, the Ministrant Phear's lapdog. Obedient, loyal, and have to strength to back it all up. He is not quite smart but follows orders well and to the letter. "Ministrant Cassandra has a task for you." The knight says sternly as he sets a file before you.
Client: Giles
Occupation: Izzet Attendant
Loaned: 100 Zinos
Interest Rate: 20% per month
It shows a rather large loan with an high interest rate. Although it's custom to also sign the contract with the guild member's name, it seems they've left it out. But there's more to the file,
Client had willingly payed interest in the first few months of the agreement, but has not been seen in the past couple of months. His second month has already passed and he is about to also fail to pay the third's month deadline. As is customary to our clients, we'd like you to remind them of their obligations to their contract with us. Along with now paying an overdue fee of 50 zinos due to his negligence.
Regards,
Ministrant Cassandra Phear
Heaving a deep sigh after reading that yet another debtor is attempting to not pay their due, Milana rose from her sitting position. "I will see to the Ministrant's wishes at once. Thank you, Sir." Milana went behind a changing screen to trade out her fine robes that she wore for services and office duties and into simpler and more maneuverable cloths. Though simpler, it was still clear Milana was a member of the Orzhov. Pulling her hair back and putting it up into a quick bun, Milana turned once more to the Knight of Bond. "Do I have a last known location? Or am I marching right up to Nivix and see what happens?"
[OOC: Sorry for my long absence, got displaced for a while due to flooding in my area.]
The sushi place is a modest place, large enough to house quite a few people although it seems to only have a few patrons. It might be due to this place being popular with other enforcers. The owner does not mind that though, only to care if they'd start a fight in there, saying 'If you want to fight, get out, if you want to eat, then shut it.' Although these words lack the weight as it comes from an elderly man, the enforcers make it a point to keeping it peaceful there. Alan is already there, counting out some zinos in a bag as a fresh plate of sushi is put before him, "That took a while. What did some shopkeep say no?"
"His lodging is in precinct 5, Hightower, although he was last seen in precinct 6." The knight answers. "Do you have any other questions, advokist?" There's a distinct feeling as if he does not want to be talking with Milana. He's curt and stiff with her as he talks.
"Nah, I ran into that new gang. They have gotten so brazen, they are hustling our clients in Precinct One. Can you believe that?" Hex said as he sat down.
"Anyways, I got a lead. They are hanging out in Precinct Six." The waiter walks up, "Is the Skitter Eel fresh or should I have the Sharktocrab?" The waiter smiles as he sees the size of Hextaur and says slyly, "How about both?" Hex smiles, "Yea, that sounds about right."
Alan refills his tiny green tea cup, "So you wanna do some recon today?" Hex grimaced, "Tomorrow maybe, I gotta get my armor patched up and sleep off some of this bruising. My back probably looks like a Gruul Pinata." He finished with a laugh and then drew up short when it burned his side.
"Plus, I gotta finish up the payment rounds. Those dreamers down in the Blister Coils owe. They seem to think that the discovery or information they figure out has value. They don't even seem to notice when their bills are due. I gotta get them to cough up something before they get penalized." Alan lifts an eyebrow, "Let 'em and then squeeze 'em for more."
Hex changed the subject, "And it is on the way to a fence that might be related to this new gang. Any luck finding us some help if we are going to take on a whole gang?
"Well that's up to the Knight, I can relay what you had to deal with but don't think that'll work. If anything, we'll let them move in on the smaller clients, rough them up a bit, and they'll get smarter to pay more often. If we see that they're relying on the gang for protection, then we'll squash them. And if this fence you're talking about ain't flexible, well, we'll either get an advokist to grill them or we make him flexible by breaking a few bones." Alan says as he pops a roll into his mouth.
"No, no, that will be all, Sir. Have a pleasant day." The Knight's rudeness was not lost on Milana, so she opted to let him go rather than continue to grill him on her target. Milana was of course used to a certain cold disdain, due to her families ties to Tesya Karlov, from the other members of the Syndicate. Returning to getting ready for an expedition into precincts 5 and possibly 6. Knowing that she removed some of the more telling Orzhov markings in her clothing, keeping only the insignia, hidden under a couple layers of cloak and clothing. Then moving to the door, she locked her office behind her and was off to Wayport. Maybe someone knew where Giles was there, or could put her on the right path.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
(This is a thread for the Guilds of Ravnica, more specifically, for the Orzhov Syndicate guild members.)
The bell tolls in the Basilica as the peasants gather before the statue of the Ghost Council as they pray and ask for forgiveness. They gives their zinos to a priest as he preaches to them, how their sins weigh upon and that only by relinquishing their material gain shall it save them. A knight takes the processions and takes it to the room behind the statue. It is filled with more treasure than you've seen in your lifetime, even more so as the knight adds the processions to the pile of treasure. The knight doesn't even give it second thought, as it is just a paltry sum to him. This is just a minor reward you can obtain in your service to the Syndicate.
DM Note:
The guild has many establishments under its own control, nightclubs, taverns, hotels for example. They will provide a modest lodging for a member of the guild along with the same income.
Ministat Cassandra Phear leads the Basilica
New Borrowers:
Milana was sure to sit as close to the front of the Basilica as her status would allow. Making a small show of tithing generously and with fake humility. It was all a part of her family's quest to regain lost status since Teysa Karlov's attempt to overthrow the Obzidat. The Vrona family had been close to Teysa, and though they didn't have any direct part in the attempted coup (that could be proven that is) their association with her cost them greatly. Now Milana was doing her part to make nice and show that Vronas were still a valuable and devout part of the Syndicate. The Basilica itself was an excellent reminder of both why it is good to be a cog in the Orzhov machine and why it is bad to try and break from tradition. The opulent wealth that surrounded her was only slightly off put by the masked Thrulls and indentured spirits that could be seen all over the great building, signs of what happens if you or your family fall too far. But the treasure that filled the place was a sign of what can come to loyal and fervent service to the Orzhov and Obzidat.
The service ended as it always did, with everyone's purses a little lighter than when they arrived, and Milana made her way back to her office. Settling in to go over piles of paper work detailing debts owed to her, she would have to keep pushing her long black hair back behind her ear, keeping it out of her grey eyes. A few of these debts were long over due. A thing that raised Milana's ire more than most. She was what other members of her Guild called "soft" with the interest rates she attached to her loans, but it made her one of the most popular bankers in her current level of the Orzhov, more than making up for lost interest by shear volume. But this is why failure to pay loans upset her so. She was already going easy on the people and if they couldn't meet such an easy goal, they were not worth any more of her time. For these she had already applied for the use of a Euthanist and Knight. It was the last chance she would give her clients. Either they pay the Knight, or the Euthanist will put them down. Sadly she was not strong of body or she would do it herself, though her magic was sufficient to protect herself from rivals, or would be avenging family members who would often be saddled with the debt of the fallen family member.
2
As Milana sifts through the papers, she finds that most of her clients have kept to her lean interest rate. That is until next month or when they finally pay off their debts towards her.
A firm knocking rattles Milana's office door, as a knight enters without awaiting her word. "Advokist Vrona," A burly human man states as he gives a curt bow of his head to her. The man being the Knight of Bond, or more commonly referred to, the Ministrant Phear's lapdog. Obedient, loyal, and have to strength to back it all up. He is not quite smart but follows orders well and to the letter. "Ministrant Cassandra has a task for you." The knight says sternly as he sets a file before you.
It shows a rather large loan with an high interest rate. Although it's custom to also sign the contract with the guild member's name, it seems they've left it out. But there's more to the file,
Hextaur Ordruun entered the Basilica. He walked past the religious, the needy, the guilty. He shook his large horned head sadly. No amount of giving would change their lot.
Ravnica is a world of action. Either you ran your life or your life ran you. Hextaur liked to think some day he would be the one to make his own choices.
He did his best to not stomp with his hooves as he walked down the hall. He thought to himself, 'How do my people ever make it as Rangers or Rogues?'
Hextaur entered the arming room. He walked in, "Hey guys, did the Thrulls polish our armor last night or did those things stand blankly and collect dust all night?" Some of them laughed many of them continued dressing. He walked over to his locker and began pulling out his gear. He looked over at the senior enforcer and his shiny new breast plate, then back at his flat black chain mail. Envy curled his nose and he snorted. 'Control, keep it together Alan will be promoted and then it will be my time... unless he falls... No.'
Hextaur smiled his best and said, "That is some nice armor. Is it is as light as it looks?" Alan looked up Hextaur's 6'8" frame. "With as big as you are why do you care about it's weight." Hex laughed, "Do you realize how many links it takes to cover my hairy butt?"
Hextaur wrapped his Zino belt over his vestments and grabbed his battle axe. "So what are we doing today?"
Character Sheet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12rGagk8zyh7AXcRp0ecExOchQYrLud9Y/view?usp=sharing
"Ah, you know the usual, a few poor saps to rough up, some shops we gotta check out, and to top it all off deal with some small gang that got the balls to mess with the syndicate. Gotta love the Despot Knight's tasks, always a good way to earn a few zinos." He donned his breastplate, the black steel matching nicely the silver like longsword at his waist. "Pretty easy to scare the shopkeeps since you take up most of the space in their shop and look down on them, big guy."
"Like I always say, don't take out loans if you can't pay em. Are you talking about that new Goblin/Human gang from Tin Street? I heard their mouths have been writing checks, their butts can't cash."
"I figure we can make the payment rounds, grab some lunch at that new Simic Sushi place. Skitter Eel always puts me in a good mood before I scare a bunch'a unguilded trash."
[[Can we recruit other players to help us clean out or punk the gang and if so how do we do that.]]
Hex sheathed his weapons and headed out to another day of work. [[Like this is normal. Haha]]
"Oh, almost forgot. Your 'Guardian' angel sends a message. More of a note really." Alan rummages around his pockets and produces a small note. He hands it over to you, "Was a bit surprised the Knight asked me to pass along the message that I almost forgot about it. Is it something that'll take you a while or could we still meet for Sushi later still?" Alan asks.
(You can, you just have to ask them IC. )
Hextaur hesitated for a second... alarm played across his bull face. She had never summoned him. She had given him power, but to be requested...
Hex, "The Dark Mistress is usually short and to the point, unless her task is overly complex, lunch should still be on. Seriously, I can't crack skulls on an empty stomach."
Hex walked on and tried to steel his nerves as he headed to her inner sanctum. Sweat rolled down his back and was absorbed by his hairy legs. 'At least I won't be dripping', he thought.
Hextaur ran into a thrull, knocking it flat. He stumbled around trying to catch his footing and ended up bouncing off a pillar. The thrull made a high keening almost shrill as it tried to right it's self. Hex looked around to see if anyone had noticed and sure enough there were gawkers. "Stupid thrull watch where you are going!" He didn't feel the words, but what was he supposed to do admit that he was as scatterbrained as one of those constructs. He righted himself and smoothed his vestments before he entered into her sanctuary.
Tzuriel floated in the hall, unmoving, but ever watchful.
"You will bring me 10 Holy Items. When you are in their presence you will be able to feel them. The raw power from the Celestial and Abyssal realms will seep from them."
Hex abased himself in front of her greatness. He had dared to look up into her blazing black eyes and now found himself unable to do anything, but convulse. It was all he could do to prevent himself from fleeing in terror.
"They will smell of Milk and Honey or Death and Decay. Focus on that scent, find it and bring them back to me. Do not think you can hide them."
Hextaur stuttered, "I w-w-w-would never try to cheat your ho-ho-holiness. You are my only chance to have more, to be more, to make others respect me." With that, Hex forced himself to look up at her again. He made it to her mouth before stopping himself. "With your leave..."
"Go"
She never so much as twitched or single feather fluttered.
Hextaur left the room and headed back to the arming room. "Thrull desalt this armor." Hex walked into the steam room and began scraping the shame off his body. 'Why does she still do that to me? For that matter is she even aware or able to control it.' He came back out and redressed. He shook off and tried to forget.
"Back to it."
Hex left the main Cathedral and down to the first shop on his list.
The shop keeper looked up and saw the serious look on his face and the contract in his hand. She began to quiver, "I don't have the money... I've spent it all to keep my shop open. No thanks to the Azorious and their Bureaucracy, they have taken everything." Hex looked at her, "Do you mean to tell me that the Az's have our money?" She nodded vigorously. "Then you better have something I can take back to my people." She reached into her cash register and pulled out her days earnings, "That is all I have." Hex took the Zinos from her and dropped them into a pocket of his vestments counting them as he did. "This will buy you time, but you will need to do better next time."
Hex headed back into the sunshine, it beat down on his face and he leaned back absorbing the warmth. He didn't like this part of his job, but like the people that took out the loans, he was bound by contract. He did his best to convince them to pay and understand the gravity of not paying, yet he liked to believe that he didn't do any unnecessary damage.
As Hex was leaving the store, he sees a regular client of the syndicate, a gambler, being pulled into an alleyway by a few rough looking individuals. Many citizens chose not to acknowledge the event, although a few tried, they were harshly pushed back by the other punks. A duo of them stay at the entrance of the alley, trying their best to seem threatening, while the other talks with a patron of the Syndicate.
(Roll perception)
Perception 9
Hextaur felt the Odruun in his blood rise. The Berserker in him wanted to be released. No one messed with their people. No one! He paced up to the thugs in front, his nostrils flared as he bore down on them. "What is going on here?!"
The thugs looked up and hesitated, "Um, um nothin jus biz... You know bout biz right?"
Hex then recognized the gang insignia on them. Without hesitation he uppercutted the human on the right and smashed the side of his horns into the woman on the left. They went flying wide as he advanced. He drew his ax and shield as he stormed down the alley. He shouted, "This is Orzhov territory!" as he engaged the Goblins. He swung at them with reckless abandon. The first fell before he even knew what was happening. Then two of the remaining three turned to fight for their lives as the first buried his short sword into the Gamblers belly.
Hex drew back into a defensive stance and hunkered down behind his shield. He had not expected them to stay and fight. 'Why haven't they ran away yet,' he thought as he began blocking blows with his shield. His back bowed forward as a Chaos Bolt struck him. He yelled in pain as the energy rapidly shifted from fire to ice and settled into lightning. He stumbled forward.
He then focused on Tzuriel as he channeled healing into his body. He turned on the Sorcerer and buried his ax in the poor creatures chest. He drew back and found that it was stuck. He released the grip with the realization that he had no real back ups. Javelins were never meant for proper melee, but he had no choice. Luckily he had put some space between himself and the other two. He slung the first javelin and it buried deep in the shield causing his opponent to drop it.
Hextaur barely had to time to draw his second when they were on him. They coordinated their attacks in Goblin. Hex smirked, 'dumb green skins' he thought as he countered their plan and buried his javelin halfway up the shaft in the unshielded one. The fourth one finally decided it was time to run away. He turned and made it fifteen feet before him was slammed in the back by a third javelin and he pitched forward. He tried to pitifully crawl away, but found the pain to be too much.
Hex walked over and picked the goblin up to his eyesight. He growled, as spit flew from his lips, "Tell your people I will be coming for them." He then threw the goblin at the two punks who had finally regained their wits and decided to help. They caught him as best as they could and fled the scene.
Hextaur walked back over to his client. He saw that the wound was bad and placed his massive hand over the poor victims abdomen and focused on Tzuriel, but nothing happened. He had used up all of his healing on himself.
He gathered up his equipment and then gingerly lifted the man, that is when he noticed the ache in his side. His core didn't move the way to should. He reach down and felt blood on his hand. 'When did they stab me?' "Damn it!" He hobbled out with the victim and collapsed on the sidewalk.
Hex waved for a passing guild member, "Send for a priest and a clean up crew."
A Priest arrived within 15 minutes and healed them. Stating, "That will be added to your ledger." Hextaur wasn't surprised by this, but the guildless gentleman looked quite dismayed. "But how will I ever pay my debts off if they keep growing." The Priest laughed and said, "Make better choices." as he walked away.
Hextaur flexed and stretched finding very little stiffness. "Seriously, why were those guys after you?"
Mr. Lewis answered, "I heard they had a delivery job that would help me pay off my debts to the Syndicate."
"And?"
"Well... It turned out to be worth more than they paid me, so I sold it to a fence. I was on my way to pay this months bill when they robbed and tried to kill me."
"Lets go see if one of them still has it." Hextaur said as he stood up and returned to the alley. They rolled the bodies, but only found a few Zino. He pocketed them.
"Great just great! It must have been one of them that got away." Grumbled Lewis. 'Or you are lying to me again.' thought Hex. Instead he said, "Okay, so where can we find them?" Lewis listed an address in Precinct Six. "You had better find another way to pay this months bill..." Lewis slumped and started to schlep off. "Better hand over the fence as well."
Hex checked his watch, "Sushi!"
Heaving a deep sigh after reading that yet another debtor is attempting to not pay their due, Milana rose from her sitting position. "I will see to the Ministrant's wishes at once. Thank you, Sir." Milana went behind a changing screen to trade out her fine robes that she wore for services and office duties and into simpler and more maneuverable cloths. Though simpler, it was still clear Milana was a member of the Orzhov. Pulling her hair back and putting it up into a quick bun, Milana turned once more to the Knight of Bond. "Do I have a last known location? Or am I marching right up to Nivix and see what happens?"
[OOC: Sorry for my long absence, got displaced for a while due to flooding in my area.]
The sushi place is a modest place, large enough to house quite a few people although it seems to only have a few patrons. It might be due to this place being popular with other enforcers. The owner does not mind that though, only to care if they'd start a fight in there, saying 'If you want to fight, get out, if you want to eat, then shut it.' Although these words lack the weight as it comes from an elderly man, the enforcers make it a point to keeping it peaceful there. Alan is already there, counting out some zinos in a bag as a fresh plate of sushi is put before him, "That took a while. What did some shopkeep say no?"
"His lodging is in precinct 5, Hightower, although he was last seen in precinct 6." The knight answers. "Do you have any other questions, advokist?" There's a distinct feeling as if he does not want to be talking with Milana. He's curt and stiff with her as he talks.
"Nah, I ran into that new gang. They have gotten so brazen, they are hustling our clients in Precinct One. Can you believe that?" Hex said as he sat down.
"Anyways, I got a lead. They are hanging out in Precinct Six." The waiter walks up, "Is the Skitter Eel fresh or should I have the Sharktocrab?" The waiter smiles as he sees the size of Hextaur and says slyly, "How about both?" Hex smiles, "Yea, that sounds about right."
Alan refills his tiny green tea cup, "So you wanna do some recon today?" Hex grimaced, "Tomorrow maybe, I gotta get my armor patched up and sleep off some of this bruising. My back probably looks like a Gruul Pinata." He finished with a laugh and then drew up short when it burned his side.
"Plus, I gotta finish up the payment rounds. Those dreamers down in the Blister Coils owe. They seem to think that the discovery or information they figure out has value. They don't even seem to notice when their bills are due. I gotta get them to cough up something before they get penalized." Alan lifts an eyebrow, "Let 'em and then squeeze 'em for more."
Hex changed the subject, "And it is on the way to a fence that might be related to this new gang. Any luck finding us some help if we are going to take on a whole gang?
[or a level, haha, so I can heal us?]
"Well that's up to the Knight, I can relay what you had to deal with but don't think that'll work. If anything, we'll let them move in on the smaller clients, rough them up a bit, and they'll get smarter to pay more often. If we see that they're relying on the gang for protection, then we'll squash them. And if this fence you're talking about ain't flexible, well, we'll either get an advokist to grill them or we make him flexible by breaking a few bones." Alan says as he pops a roll into his mouth.
"No, no, that will be all, Sir. Have a pleasant day." The Knight's rudeness was not lost on Milana, so she opted to let him go rather than continue to grill him on her target. Milana was of course used to a certain cold disdain, due to her families ties to Tesya Karlov, from the other members of the Syndicate. Returning to getting ready for an expedition into precincts 5 and possibly 6. Knowing that she removed some of the more telling Orzhov markings in her clothing, keeping only the insignia, hidden under a couple layers of cloak and clothing. Then moving to the door, she locked her office behind her and was off to Wayport. Maybe someone knew where Giles was there, or could put her on the right path.