Heroica RPG - Quest #70: The Syndicate

[Zepher]

"He knows how to come peacefully, and he knows how to come dead, so the decision is mostly in his hands." Boomingham shrugs.

[Shoker86]

"It's up to him, madam." Arnulf sighed

[Endgame]

"He knows how to come peacefully, and he knows how to come dead, so the decision is mostly in his hands." Boomingham shrugs.

"So you would bring down the blade on him and end his life, even if he has absolutely no intention of ending yours. It sounds like you are also very accountable here.

What would the "Peaceful" option do, anyway? Let him walk out of this building alive, despite the fact that you've already pinned charges on him? I've heard rumors of your accusations against him. How can you be sure that if, he does choose to relent, he simply won't walk out of this building and into the Town Watch's cells? He could easily be thrown onto death row. Tell me, what kind of peace is that?"

[Zepher]

"He made his choices. Perhaps he has come to far to turn back. But I will gladly take credit for his death. I am the slayer of Bluehood and Steerpike. If I must add the Stealer to that list, I shall." Boomingham chortles. "Do you plan to stop us? Perhaps it would be best if you were on your way, madam."

[Shoker86]

"It's up to Town Watch to uphold the law, he would have fair trial. Trying to prevent the law madam is likely to turn to violence. I would kill him if i have to "

[Emjajoas]

Em crosses his arms and regards his companions. He didn't necessarily agree with them, but he was in no position to disagree, either. Instead, he merely watched, brow furrowed.

[Kintobor]

"Like I said, Lawrence, I'm not going to resort to murder as our first, nor second option. Masson is a man, just as much a victim as you claim he is a villain. The Syndicate wouldn't resort to murder, why should you? Masson can be saved, and he can be redeemed, and if you don't give him the chance to do so, what does that make you?"

Karie shook her head in dismay. Charity stood in front of her, most likely disappointed in her decision.

"Charity, listen, the Syndicate will not last if Masson doesn't change his path, and it will result in the death and imprisonment of many good people. If you won't allow me to go through for the sake of the Syndicate, than for Masson's sake. He wouldn't want anymore bloodshed. The Syndicate can do more good with the law on it's side than without. We would no longer have to hide in the shadows. We could actually change this city for the better and not be hunted down for doing it. Charity, please. You know what the Wolfgang is capable of. Masson may not listen to these guys, but he'll listen to us. Charity, please, Masson can help this city, but he needs support. The Syndicate's support. My support."

Karie was practically begging for the Syndicate chef to assist her.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Kintobor

[Flipz]

"Lord Boomingham, Master Bishop--kindly shut the hell up. You're not helping, and you're not the representative of the Watch here--that would be me."

"Karie speaks the truth, Ma'am. I've held from the start that your master's tragic flaw was one of improper means. Karie and her compatriot insist that he will listen to reason, and I believe Karie is telling the truth. If we can resolve this situation without bloodshed, that would be preferable."

"My orders are to end the threat the Stealer poses with the Harvester. If I can do that and gain the Watch new allies in the fight against the Wolfgang, all the better. Karie said it better than I; the Syndicate and the Watch together can accomplish much more good allied than they would with the former being hunted down by the latter. We have in our hands a rare opportunity. Let's not squander it."

"I give you my word that if Masson cooperates with us as Miss Alderflask has indicated, he will not be placed under arrest for his previous actions against us. I'm still not 100% clear about the events surrounding Miss Alderflask, Master Bishop, and Master Em's previous encounter with him, but as I understand it he himself did not authorize those actions; they were performed against his orders, so he is not responsible for them and he can't be placed under arrest for them, either." He looked to Karie for confirmation that he had his facts correct. "So long as he and you work within--or better yet, with--the law, the Watch has no quarrel with you. So let us bring this situation to a peaceful end."

[Zepher]

A growling noise slowly begins to admit from Boomingham. It rises and seems to grow, reaching finally a bubble that bursts forth from his laughter, and finally the party can recognize it for what it is - pure, uproarious laughter. He wipes a few tears away from his eyes as the laughter dies down a minute later.

"Thank you for that, Arthur." Boomingham nods politely to the cook. "Since he seems to want us to come to him, which way might this Stealer be?" When the Cook answers, Boomingham leads his party in that direction.

[Shoker86]

Arnulf noded to the Arthur "You are the representative of the law here Arthur, I won't open my mouth again, unless I'm asked something"

Edited July 3, 2013 by Shoker86

[Endgame]

Charity seems to relent, considering the words of the heroes. She turns around and stares at the wall for what seems like an eternity, digesting what had been said. She reaches an ultimatum, turning on her heel and sighing to address the heroes.

"I couldn't try to stop you folks - Not even if I wanted to." she murmurs slightly, looking down towards the ground.

"Eubric doesn't need any more bloodshed, heroes. It seems we were on the same page all along. I trust you to do what is right, heroes. There is no need to end any more lives in this city. About the base - this headquarters is basically shaped like one large U, this room located on the bottom of it. You're halfway through the base.

Now, I have care packages to wrap for the hovels. Let us hope I'll get to put them to use soon, eh? Best of luck, heroes."

As Charity steps back into the mess hall, closing the door behind her, the Cleric speaks up.

"The base seems to be under widepsread lockdown. Most rooms are eitherstripped of supplies or locked, so if we forge onwards, we'll stumble on Masson by simple process of elimination..."

The cleric hobbles forward, Boomingham leading his party down the corridors of the Syndicate base. They soon find themselves in a large foyer:

What will the party do?

[Kintobor]

A growling noise slowly begins to admit from Boomingham. It rises and seems to grow, reaching finally a bubble that bursts forth from his laughter, and finally the party can recognize it for what it is - pure, uproarious laughter. He wipes a few tears away from his eyes as the laughter dies down a minute later.

"Thank you for that, Arthur." Boomingham nods politely to the cook. "Since he seems to want us to come to him, which way might this Stealer be?" When the Cook answers, Boomingham leads his party in that direction.

Karie knew who she wouldn't be sharing drinks with anytime soon.

"I don't get what's so funny? Unless of course you find pleasure in murder?"

Karie comes to the foyer with the rest of the party. The banners were a sight to behold, patriotic Syndicate purple, black and silver. Was Masson a narcissist? Was he the same as Ulric? She must have been blind the first time she went through here.

"Great, more stuff I don't remember."

Karie checks all the doors in the foyer, figuring out which ones are locked, and which aren't.

Should've paid attention when Masson gave me the ten cent tour...

Edited July 3, 2013 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

All the doors were unlocked. One was even missing a door altogether, just with an empty frame.

[Shoker86]

Arnulf waits for others to decide which way to go.

[Emjajoas]

"Is there some sort of sign? Markings? Footprings?" Em asks, looking around the room. "Also, the cook mentioned the shape of the building-- could that help us find our way?"

[Endgame]

There was no directories like the other parts of the base... this was an area that wasn't commonly used by most of the Syndicate, it would seem.

[Kintobor]

"Well, the busted entry way without a door must account for something. My money's on that being our next direction, but of course, I'm open to interpretation."

[Flipz]

Arthur was sharing Karie's sentiments, though he had learned enough from his encounters with Haldor not to say so. "Magic Compass here we go..." he mutters.

Edited July 4, 2013 by Flipz

[Zepher]

"I don't get what's so funny? Unless of course you find pleasure in murder?"

"I sometimes forget how young you chaps are." Boomingham smiles kindly. "Young ears often choose to listen to the thoughts inside their heads instead of those outside." Boomingham shrugs. "Arthur berates me for not listening, but you two choose to not listen yourselves. I've told you I've offered him peaceful resolution twice over, and he has refused both times. Unless he changes his mind suddenly and without warning, there will be bloodshed. But theres no need to tell you. Time will prove me right." He winks happily. "What's that magical compass of your's say, private?"

[Flipz]

Realizing he'd forgotten to replace the Elixir he'd used before, Arthur slots a new Elixir into his Hollow Blade Dagger.

"Dunno, it's behaving strangely. I think it's having trouble tracking him down--maybe he's working on the same sort of system the Wolfgang use to foil them? I don't think it's perfect, though--I think it's starting to slow down now." What he didn't mention was the fact that the needle was not spinning, as it usually would when faced with an untraceable target, but instead swinging back and forth between two points...one of which was behind him, towards the party. "Why is it doing that? C'mon, you stupid, expensive piece of trash, work!"

Edited July 4, 2013 by Flipz

[Kintobor]

Karie noticed Arthur flicking his compass needle impatiently. The party was, for better terms, lost.

"Arthur, you sure your compass works?"

Karie walks up to Arthur, her posture still extensively less bouncy than before.

"Look, Arthur, just try shaking it or something. Flick it or something."

[Endgame]

QM Note: Back from the ball game! Huzzah! Spent two hours in gridlock in a single parking lot! Huzzah!

"Well, the busted entry way without a door must account for something. My money's on that being our next direction, but of course, I'm open to interpretation."

Oddly enough, the dorr way wasn't busted. No broken hinges or screw hole were on the frame - it was specifically built to lack a door.

Realizing he'd forgotten to replace the Elixir he'd used before, Arthur slots a new Elixir into his Hollow Blade Dagger.

"Dunno, it's behaving strangely. I think it's having trouble tracking him down--maybe he's working on the same sort of system the Wolfgang use to foil them? I don't think it's perfect, though--I think it's starting to slow down now." What he didn't mention was the fact that the needle was not spinning, as it usually would when faced with an untraceable target, but instead swinging back and forth between two points...one of which was behind him, towards the party. "Why is it doing that? C'mon, you stupid, expensive piece of trash, work!"

Arthur's compass swivels forward and backward incessantly, as indecisvie as ever. However, it soon settles on a straight forward direction - Arthur grins and follows the compass's guidance, only for it to whip the other way around as he reaches the north end of the room. He freezes in his place for a moment, realzing that such fast movement signified that the target was in the room.

Or, more specifically, right behind him.

Arthur insticntively reaches for his amethyst and cluthces a scroll in his hand, ready to blast the Stealer across the room if need be. He whirls around at lightning speed - only to see the bewildered glances of his party. No Stealer in sight. The ensuing moments almost comical, Arthur pacing and zig-zagging around the room, following the compass unconditionally. The sorcerer is literally walking circles around the room at this point.

The cleric chuckles softly, and whispers to the party:

"Think we should tell him the compass can't tell the difference between organisms here? Not a complete jam, but it can't tell a moth from a Masson. Then again, this is pretty amusing..."

The cleric makes a sweeping gesture.

"Pick a door, any door."

QM Note: None of these will have consequences when entered.

Edited July 4, 2013 by Endgame

[Zepher]

"No magic compass then? Alright." Boomingham walks up to the opens the door on the right.

[Endgame]

Boomingham walks up to the door on the right of the room, swinging it open.

The paladin leads the party right into The Stealer's personal chamber.

It is shockingly humble - the party would expect something lavish, but the inn rooms they had stayed in the previous night were far more luxurious. A simple bed sits in the corner of the room, two stools used for seating. A chest sits next to the bed. A small wooden table is pressed up against the wall, 2 objects standing atop it: a bottle of wine and an odd red vial A weathered photograph is tacked up to the wall.

What will the party do?

[Zepher]

OoC: Just realized you never noted it but I put my everlasting venom into Scupperer. Also, we have photography?

Boomingham walks into the room, takes a sip from the wine and examines the red vial.