You've all noticed it. The watch has been on edge, and Flaming Fist patrols have stepped up in frequency. Something has the military government in a stir, but they're not cracking more heads than usual, at least not yet. It's time you all met and discussed, what needed to be done. 

Julian slips into the usual entrance to the music shop. The doctor juggles a box of old pastries while flipping on the light down into the basement and eating an old donut of some sort. His unkempt brown hair is mostly staying out of his face due to glasses. He's wearing a white button down with a trim grey vest and grey slacks. Doc's shoes are dark brown, soft soled and very well worn. Finally slung over his shoulder is a messenger bag where he usually keeps his medical supplies and other periphery. 

As Julian gets to the small table in the shop's old basement he drops off his recent 'payment' for medical help and tosses his bag into a chair. He takes a deep breath to center himself before the other's arrive.

Martin "Uncle" Flintmore lingers across the street from the music shop. His rustic work clothes hang loosely on his wiry frame. He leans against his old wheelbarrow and pretends to take special care in arranging the potatoes inside for potential buyers. He keeps his ratty straw hat low as he watches Doc cross the street. He takes a raw potato and sits down, carving pieces off and idly munching on them while scanning the street for anyone following Doc or the others.

Perception: 5

Lia stealth:  20

"Uncle..."  Lia 'Sparks' says, suddenly appearing, as of out of thin air, at his shoulder and tapping him on the head.  "Need to keep better watch than that old friend..." She gives him a saucy smile as she heads across to the music shop.  She tucks her silvery hair behind an ear as she glances around in turn, trying to verify that no one was actually watching them.

Perception: 22

Terin then arrives and takes off his dark cloak, hanging it on a nearby hook. He is dressed as usual in a fine outfit of dark breeches and a a light colored tunic highlighted with a red sleeveless robe. The half-elf moves to Julian offers his hand in greeting, "Doc, great to see you. I hope things have been well and you have not had too much reason for work." He, of course, meant no one is dieing or getting hurt needlessly.

Julian smiles, hiding his tired eyes behind the gesture. He takes Terin's hand and immediately begins the conversation. Two firm shakes, a finger placed slightly inward of the distal radioulnar joint. A squeeze around the base of the hand adjusting the pisiform. Finally a subtle, unnoticeable twist causing the ulna to bulge slightly.

Thieve's Cant: 

"Just the usual, trench foot in the docks, arthritis in the factories, minor disease here and there." He says casually during their other exchange. The doctor release's his grip and gestures to the box, "Please, take your pick before Sparks gets here and routs the lot of it. They're only...a few days old?" He smirks. 

Arriving at the city gate at dawn, Dart is wearing his typical attire. Seemingly ordinary farmer’s clothes in darker earth tones with his leather armor underneath and a dagger hidden away near his waist. In any regard a rather unassuming halfling.

After paying to enter the city, makes his way to the music shop, being careful to avoid notice by the watch and Flaming Fist. Also taking care to ensure he isn’t being followed and not using the exact same route he’s used before to avoid anyone tracking him.

Stealth 13 +3

Perception  18 +5

WIthin ten minutes of each other, you all reach the cellar, below the music shop. It's risking, gathering all in one place like this, but if nothing dicussed is written down, you could at least improvise a reason for being here all together. At any rate, the storekeeper is a trusted friend of Terin's who doesn't ask questions, and who's otherwise beyond reproach- important qualities to ensure the Watch wouldn't have reason to look into the business otherwise.

After a minute, you're all ready, eagerly awaiting what Martin would have to say. You've each received some information through your contacts, friends, family, and coworkers. One thing was for certain, there were plenty of opportunities to improve the lives of the citizens of Borogrod, and so far the Watch or the Flaming Fist seemed to know little of the existence of the Unbowed, beyond the usual paranoia that an occupier must harbour.

Uncle jumps when Sparks appears next to next to him. "Dangit, I told you to stop doing that. " 'Sides, this hat was blocking me..." He trails off as she heads inside. After everyone is inside, Martin parks his wheelbarrow and follows them. He takes one of Doc's pastries as he looks around at the team. 

"You all know why we are here. Let's start by goin' over the ground rules again." He pauses to look around as if expecting protests. When there is no response, he continues. "No names. Nicknames only. No weapons or other contraband brought to the meetings. No guests - no matter what. If you think the baddies won't spend 6 months just warmin' up to you to get some dirt, you better grow up. Anyone makes a mistake, we all die." He looks around at the glum faces brought forth by his speech. "Now first things first. We need a reason to meet that won't scream guillotine to anyone nosy enough to notice. Somethin' kinda illegal, but solvable with a quick bribe. I suggest gamblin.' We bring a few silvers, cards, booze to every meetin'. We ain't breakin' the law for congregatin', so it's best to give 'em a finger rather than loose an arm. Any other ideas?"

"Works for me." Sparks (Lia) says with a nod.  She pushes some of her hair behind an ear as she glances around at the others for their response or suggestions.

“Sounds like as good a plan as any to me” pulling out his three dragon ante set from one of his pockets. “I’m open to suggestions for a nickname. I can’t really use ‘dart’ since that’s what everyone who knows me calls me. I’m open to suggestions” He then looks to each of his companions in turn. As he begins shuffling his cards, waiting for a response. 

Uncle drags a table over and sits down. He drops a handful of coins on table and waits for Dart to deal him in. The old pastry has disappeared into one of his pockets. "How about Shades? Eh, don't matter for now. Now, when we talk about "the game" I think we all can figure out what's really goin' down. I guess we need to discuss how we're gonna keep the game rollin'. I got a few ideas, but I've yammered on enough. Let's hear what each of you has dug up." 

Julian scoots into the table and gestures for a card, "One off the top if you would." He pulls the dealt card to him with a finger then peeks at it. The doctor smirks and flips it over, a mortal card, The Dragonrider. "Well if we're a gambling club then we need gambling names, I guess I'm Dragonrider," he pauses a moment as if pondering, "Maybe just Rider?" He gives a gentle toss to the card into the center of the table as if starting the ante pile.

"As far as the breeze goes, Harborside needs supplies again...desperately." Julian says referring to the hospital in Brampton. "Other than that, Three Kegs in the Upperside is falling on hard times. The owners were swindled and have, maybe a month, to pay back their debt. Could be some people that need help. Could be some people worth needing a favor from." As he speaks he casually leans back in his chair making it squeak. Julian winces at the sound. 

Dart ‘shades’ begins dealing cards to each of his companions and waits for someone else to speak first. After a few minutes of silence he begins “There’s been something odd going on at Hamhock’s Slaughterhouse, someone has been buying large quantities of livestock and been making them into to sausage over night.”

He pauses for a moment to consider his cards “I also heard of a raid made by the Fist on Whitkeep hostel a couple days past. They made several arrests, was what I heard including Twitch.” Shades pauses again looking at his hand in disgust but failing to hide that fact and continues, “Makes me wonder what she was doing there in the first place.” At this he places his cards face down and pushes them into the center of the table. “I’ll sit this hand out” crossing his arms over his chest, he sits back and waits to hear what the others have heard.

"The upper class has a few possibilities for us in finding assets," Terin comments, he places a card down though it was probably not the best play. He is actively not trying to read anyone's faces at the table. "It seems the fencing school run but the Rillyn family has ben shut down and the proprietor is quite bitter about it, we could use that bitterness to turn her if we play our hand right. Pun intended." He looks up and smirks to the group.

"The Eomane's are known for their unusual parties but it seems to have landed them in some hot water. A Fist was not too happy by the festivites and has arrested the daughter, seems like several other Patriars are scared they are next. Whereas there is a planned masquerade ball coming up funded by the Bormuls, it is sure to be extravagant and rife with nobility and fashion."

"Hmm..." Sparks says as she looks over her cards.

"I've heard that the Hissing Stones Bathhouse in the Seatower district is far more than meets the eye. Apparently, it still serves as a meeting place for business, and, if rumours are to be believed, companionship." She gives the others a somewhat lude grin.

"I also spent some time looking into the sewer's keep." Seh goes on after a few moments. "It is tasked with keping the worst of the city's waste from entering the Chionthar river, but has a surprisingly small number of druids and alchemists on their staff. After some digging I found out that, for about two thirds of the other employees, there was no indication for a last known profession at all."

She rearranges her hand a bit.

"Have you noticed that the Seatower itself has been covered in scaffolding for the past two weeks?" She asks at last, setting her hand down. " I haven't been able to figure out what they're building, but with it's position overlooking the Harbour and the river, it's probably nothing good."

After hearing everyone but Uncle speak, shades leans forward and grabs a pastry and in between mouthfuls, looks at him and asks, “What about you, Uncle? What have you heard?” Then sits back in his chair and continues eating his pastry.

Uncle (Martin) leans back and as if thinking deeply. His cards remain face-down on the table. "Some of the same. Harborside hospital stuff, sure. Problem with the Drawing Tree in Park of Insight - looks like the some military honcho wanted to burn it and got stopped by a druid - Torimesh is the name - and about 40 others. It's kinda a standoff right now. I heard about some funny business with Jopalin's teahouse in Eastway. Seems they're servin' up "tea plus", if you follow, and there's a watch commander pretty keen to it. There's some big military movements happening, but I think it's a little more than we can handle fer now."

Uncle picks up his cards and studies them. "So we ain't lackin' fer cards to play, we just need strategy. We try to to take the house and go blind-nil at the same time, nothing works. Way I figure, we play our cards close to our chest until we got a shot at takin' the pot. Build up some foundation. That bein' said, we can't ignore any aces that just drop in our lap, and we can't be scared to sneak a few aces into the game if need be."

Uncle looks around at each person, meeting their gaze. "I respect all 'a you, and know you got thoughts on the best way to play. Let's hear 'em, because it's too late to fold."

"From what I can see, no option is particularly easy. If we could gather a large enough pot we could aid the Three Kegs. A change or loss in paperwork could help out either the hospital or the Fencing school. And if the waste facility is lacking a druid and there is one about to face certain death in the park it seems like a shift of players could certainly be needed." Terin plays another card, again an easily noticeable mistake.

"I don't think we have the right cards dealt to us to bet anything on any of these things as of yet." Sparks speaks up.  "Seems to me we need to get a few more cards, by whatever means we can, to get a better hand going on any of these things."