Lace shrugs.  "Mister Navarre released him with the message to set up a meeting.  And before you punch him, he has important news.  It seems Mr. Biscotti might have left a will.  We can discuss it at HQ.  Now, if you gentlemen would like to help me watch to make sure we aren't being tailed, we can go."

perception. 18

Stealth 19

From your observations alone it doesn't appear that anyone is following you.

All the while back, the brute grumbles and glares at the "gentleman," what cost him his little rat. He'd been hoping to but the runt through the wringer, maybe turn him into a double agent. Now he'll have to go stir up another rat's nest later...

...ah well, 'least he got something out of it, feeling some satisfaction at the muffled sound of a valuable liquid sloshing about. He wonders how much the good bottle's worth.

They head back to the chapter house, hoping to gather the entire group and discuss the Biscottis will, the ghost, and the letter found regarding the Silver Daggers kill orders.

The bottle is worth 1 x 100gp.

Everyone meets back up at the Night Raven's headquarters to discuss and plan the future of the guild.

Asbestos stayed silently behind the group, knowing when to keep his mouth shut. Some time along the journey he put his hat on again. He sits down criss-crossed on floor next to Steelclaw. He is still wary and unnerved by the ghost so he stays next to the cat. 

Lace waits for everyone important to get there and talks.

"Ok people, we've got the Silver Daggers trying to wipe us out.  We've held our own with getting the Daggers arrested or killed.   Additionally, we need to work together.  And finally we've heard that Biscotti had a will.  An enigmatic search for "the Beak of the Raven".   So if anyone knows abouit this Raven's Beak, please tell us.  Otherwise, I'll pass things to Mr. Navarre and Asbestos, to discuss the unification and the will.  Meanwhile, I'll start going through Biscotti's office to search for the will and information about the Beak.  I'll be in earshot.  Can anyone help with the search?"

(Does Lace know if Biscotti had a lawyer for the will?  Does anyone have a higher Investigation or Perception roll to have a Help action?  Lace has +4 and +5 respectively.  I'll wait to get the advantage from Help.)

Steelclaw just listens as the other return and stands up “Bout time the rest of you showed up. We already know that, took out a few last night and hijacked one of their gigs. Let’s go search for this beak.” He says following Lace to conduct the search. As he thinks about if he’s ever heard of the beak before.

OOC:

intelligence check to see if Steel would know anything about the beak: Nat 20! For 22

investigation check: 15 of n first roll, if he gets the help from Lace I rolled a 10 after that.

Stealclaw remembers hearing a bar tale but he can't remember which tavern he was in when he heard it. The tale was about a statue that was rescued from a war zone. It was a tiny sized figurine that was damaged and the beak came loose. The rest of the statue was lost to antiquity. What came to be known as the 'Beak of the Raven' was actually a rather expensive onyx cut by skilled gem cutters to resemble it's namesake. Through out the ages there have been stories about the 'Beak of the Raven' but lately all the tales tell of legends that it is nearby.

Asbestos is so happy to see Steelclaw he almost jumps (to give him a hug). Still he just sits and waits and fiddles with his detective cap until Lace mentions him then his eyes perk up wide. "I- uh yes... I?"

"There was the ghost yes.. of Fyn... who isn't dead... who isn't alive either, I presume? Yes. He handed me a scroll said 'Beak of the Raven' signed by the now later dead Biscotti. Fyn then transformed into this," he shows off the dragonborn body that Fyn turned into, then shifts back, "then left? We do not know of what is this Beak of the Raven, yes. But very important!"

"And then there was an elf," he looks at Fist and Etienne with confusion, "We don't know him anymore."

Lace searches the room.  

"Say, where are the lads who went to find the Daggers with us?"

(looking for the two who followed the other Daggers wnen they were arrested and released)

Smithy, as one of the former righthands will help Lace search Biscotti's office.

Investigation: 24

@Lace and Smithy

Biscotti's office looks like it has been searched a few times, nothing is left in an even remotely organized fashion, but surprisingly you do manage to find something. It is another scroll with a wax seal. This was not lying about out in the open but wasn't all that hard to find either.

Etienne steps forward. “Greetings my friends. Some of you may remember me from the bank heist of a few years ago. Biscotti was caught by the authorities and was going to prison and I took the hit for him.  
Now, with all the chaos of my friend's death, we were able to break out. I’ve served 2 years and haven’t squealed. He shows his tattoo of the raven on his arm, a symbol he and only one other have, (trusted friend of Biscotti.) He looks at Steel Claw,  “Now, there are some here that think running Around killin any dagger you find without being given authority is ok. My friends, the local authorities let our gangs do our business, and they turn a blind eye, but we have our laws and codes. A balance is struck between the gangs, bribes given to authorities and politicians, and they leave us alone. But if we start a huge gang war and the public sees dead in the streets, well, they will send in a military squad and shut us down.”

” We need to establish an organized crime syndicate, not run around in chaos. We are in the business of making a profit, and our business associates need to see that we are functioning after our leader's demise.”

”Finally, if any of you have a problem with my methods, I suggest you take a look at yourself in the mirror. There ain’t any saints in this room.”

After another search of the office, and reading the scroll, Smithy will spend some time organizing Biscotti's office back up. (Unless the scroll reveals information that requires immediate action)

Smithy will first of all check the wax seal if he recognizes it and afterwards opens it.

The seal is one used in conjunction with the treasury. The scroll reads:

"Part of the last will & testament."

Until a successor emerges secure the top positions, and pacify any 'partners' concerns.

B

Asbestos stands idly as people talk and move through and from the office. He rocks back and forth on his heels while he watches Etienne's speech. He raises his hand, "No saints, no. Yes. But-" he wrings his hands together, "what do we do now?"

He goes over to the bar to pour himself a drink (of vinegar actually) and just sips on it and comes back. "This has never happened before..."

"Do you suppose, yes, that we continue just doing business? Just as usual? Just as the same?" he looks to the boxer with eyes wide and a nervous smile. "We have no rules. No protocol."

Finding another part of Biscotti's will Smithy looks at Lace, they were the closest to Biscotti after all.

"What do you think, we gonna see if we can be the top positions for now till we have an actual new leader?"

Steelclaw's smirk widens as he steps forward, his voice a low growl, yet clear enough to cut through the tension in the room with Etienne. "No rules, no protocols—that’s what Biscotti taught us. We carve our own paths, make our own choices. And now you think you can stroll in here, tear down everything he built? Bold move, especially for someone who’s been out of the game so long. Almost like you’ve been waiting for this moment all along."

He lets his gaze sweep over the remaining Ravens, letting them feel the weight of his words. "Strange, isn’t it? How you’re suddenly back, the very day Biscotti gets laid to rest. And instead of mourning or searching for answers, you’re too busy reaching for the crown. Convenient, isn’t it? Makes me wonder… how deep were you in this? Did you dig his grave up to bury the truth along with him? Or maybe you struck a deal—sold him out, let others do the dirty work, and now you think the throne is yours. A lot of moves for a man who just tasted freedom. A friends dagger always gets buried the deepest doesn't it..."

Steelclaw pauses, pouring himself another drink with deliberate slowness, the sound of the liquid filling the glass echoing in the silence. "And as for the blood you’re so eager to pin on me, let’s get something straight. We didn’t just spill blood—we made a statement. We hit the Daggers where it hurt, took back what was ours. We didn't just spill their blood, we showed them we still have ears and eyes all over the city. We interrupted their heist and took their gold. Gold for the guild, not for the grave."

His voice grows colder, more forceful as he turns to the Ravens. "When I was out looking for our missing brothers, I got jumped by Daggers. They thought they could finish us off, that we were done. But let me remind you of something: even in our darkest moments, the Ravens don’t break. We don’t falter. We strike back, harder, fiercer. And they learned that the hard way."

Steelclaw raises his glass high, his gaze sweeping over the room. "We are not weak. We lost Biscotti, one of the best, but his legacy? His legend? That lives on through us. We will rebuild, we will rise, and this city will remember that the Ravens are still here, still strong. Gold for the guild, not for the grave!"

Lowering his glass, Steelclaw turns back to the man with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "So tell me, friend… defending our own, standing against those who want us dead—is that wrong? Or have you gotten too comfortable with the Daggers during your time away? Maybe whispered a few secrets while you were locked up. Because from where I’m standing, it seems like you’ve been playing for the wrong team… makes me wonder where your loyalties truly lie."

Etienne looks Steelclaw up and down. "Steelclaw, you speak with reason and purpose, and it is clear you are loyal to the Ravens." he says, speaking genuinely. "As for me, I have no designs on running the Black Ravens, but re-establishing succession, that I am interested in. There are those in this room that would make fine candidates. My talents would be better spent elsewhere. If you suspect some sort of foul play on my part, hire a cleric or paladin, place a zone of truth on me, and ask what you will. I assure you, my intentions are to get to the bottom of this, leaving no stone unturned, no possibility of his death undiscovered, and to get the Silver Daggers to sulk back into the shadows. When I first got out, I needed to confirm that no foul play was involved. My skills involve the study of life and death. It is my conclusion that Biscotti died of natural causes."

He looks Steelclaw in the eyes as he speaks, not in a challenging way, but to assure him he speaks the truth
"I apologize to you for my statement, my brother. I also grieve, I am tired, but your words resonate with me and I misjudged you. You and I may have gotten off on the wrong foot but if I see you in a bad situation, without any hesitation, I would immediately come to your aid. Now, let us put our differences behind us and focus on the larger matters at hand."