Run by Illuminant (2xp)

PCs Ledaal Kurnaz

 

Summary= Ledaal Kurnaz and the Wicker Men talk to a client about a prospective job.  The man want's his in-law killed for alledgedly refusing to hand over goods payed for.  Despite Kurnaz's false words, the gang doesn't care so much as to the why as to the how much.  Frozen treats and candied dates make discussing murder so much more pleasant.

 

Also: Illuminant gives a Kurnaz a quick description of the city he lives in and helps to flesh out where he is and how he finds clients despite the fact that murder is illegal.

 

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "so where do you live in C-town? or in the Undercity?"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "from an OOC character standpoint, I know jack about C-town. I need to read up on it >.< The character is partially an excuse to do that. For example, I wasn't even aware that C-town HAD an undercity until someone mentioned it earlier today (or maybe yesterday?). But anyways probably in a pretty seedy part of town. If you ever played Planescape it would be like the Granite District of the Hive. Part of a bad part of town but surprisingly reinforced housing with good locks. Where rich people hide in the dark"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "C-town was a big fancy first age metropolis, towers of glass and so forth."

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "but it took a ton of damage in the usurpation. So you get the nobles and super rich living in first age towers, most of which are in some way broken, but a few of them have things like running water, air condition or essence lighting. The nicer the building the more expensive it is."

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "The rest of the city is free to live in, the Hive is fairly apt."

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "well, free as in no taxes or rent. You still need to build, buy, or steal a house."

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "right ok, so I probably live in the hive. Not a first age place, but inside its not nearly as derelict as it looks and the doors, windows and locks are probably all trapped"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "ok! And, hm, how do you do business? Hang out a shingle, or what?"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "trapped HARD, and loaded with poison. Its a sleeper cell led by a paranoid lunatic... so you know these things crop up"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "oh and its defintely within 1 mile of the gate to Yu-Shan. But thats in straight line distance terms, it could be underground or wherever, it just has to be in one mile"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "right"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "as the Spirit Crow flies so to speak ;)"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "but like, how do you get assassin-for-hire missions? Murder is illegal around here, alas."

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "I guess yeah hanging out a shingle works. I mean the Wicker Men do go outside and all and visit bars and what not so people can come up and talk to them. Probably have to have a password or something or else they get the reply "I think you're mistaken. Try the red teeth gang on the other side of town""

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "alas indeed!"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "password is word of mouth presumably, thats for freelance stuff. The rest comes in folded origami white cranes from the society"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "coded no doubt. I just made that up, but it seems appropriate"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "something along those lines"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "ok!"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "its my first plot! Sorry for, you know, taking a while."

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "no worries!"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "and its good that we go over it now, those are all legitimate questions. Actually I'm probably going to add a bunch of this to Kurnaz's character page, since it seems fairly relevant"

So, today is, like almost every other day in Chiaroscuro, hot. That doesn't slow the commerce, of course. There are at least a hundred bazaars selling every kind of item, and the veils of the nomads are a common sight in this particular bazaar. The wise, however, seek shade, and merchants discuss deals over chilled sherbert and dates.

 

 

Chico currently holds the rotating "front man" seat. He manages a lean-to stall selling wicker baskets to those interested. More importantly he goes through the complicated exchange of code words and catch phrases used by those interested in buying a more sinister service. The rest of the Wicker Men move through and blend in with the crowd, keeping an eye on the stall and the bazaar in general, ready to react in case trouble crops up.

 

 

And in this business that's dangerously often.

 

 

After a few hours where the only people dropping by the stall are actually there to buy baskets, one enormously fat fellow, barefaced and double chinned, comes towards the stall. He's flanked by veiled bodyguards in veils, curved swords in their sashes. He mops his brow and drops a code phrase, saying, "I am told that I can buy baskets of a special type here! Baskets filled with an item I might desire!"

 

 

Reacting as he would to any other customer, Chico smiles back and says the next phrase in the string, "Of course sir, we carry only the finest baskets here. Some are indeed filled with exotic goods from as far off as the Silent Cresent"

 

 

The fat fellow says, "Splendid.. splendid.. may we discuss this somewhere shady? It is, of course, a large order. Do you have any sherbert?" He looks like he might keel over at any moment.

 

 

A subtle but well choreographed hint of body language alerts the others to a potential customer... or trouble. The Wicker Men though are already on it, keeping an extra careful eye on the proceedings due to the presence of armed body guards. Still they adhere to the principles of the White Veil, and appear at the utmost ease as they go about their faux businesses in the bazaar.

 

 

Chico suppresses a laugh, it would be ill advised to offend a potential client, especially given who generally hires them. Recognizing the next line of the exchange along with the impromptu addition, he tilts his head back over his shoulder gesturing behind him.

 

 

"Certainly sir, some one will meet you right around back. With sherbert and dates as you wish." He points up and twirls his finger, specifically clockwise to send a specific message to those watching and in the know. He yells loudly "What?! How do you expect me to feed my children! I am sorry good sir, but I cannot sell at such a price!"

The fellow seems disappointed, saying, "Oh! I had thought that you yourself would, uh, handle my requirements." He starts to waddle towards the back, though, looming guards following along.

 

 

As the man disappears into the back of the tent, Harpo slips in ever silently with a bowl of sherbert and frozen dates to contribute the overweight man's obesity. Soon after followed by Zeppo and Kurnaz. Pillows are strewn about the floor for ease of finding a comfy place to lounge. Harpo steps out and returns with tea soon after the proceedings start. Kurnaz starts in "I hear you are lookin for goods from the Silent Crescent?"

 

 

The fellow gobbles up some sherbert and dates, saying, "Oh, yes! That is splendid, much cooler now.. so, hm, where was I? Oh! Yes! The Silent Crescent. Something like that. You see, I had arranged for delivery of a very valuble item. Very valuble, indeed. But, the pernicious fiend who brought my item into the city refuses to deliver it! He claims I owe him more money, when in fact I paid him in full up front! Of course, discretion is of the essence, I cannot involve the Khan or the Dynasts.. and so I come to you. Of course, you will want money too, for retrieving my item, I am sure, but it is not the money that is of issue, it is the principle!"

 

 

Ledaal Kurnaz nods sagely. "Truly this is the age of sorrows when a man will lie bald faced to his business partners. What are we, Guildsmen in Nexus?" He shakes his head sympathetically. "Alas my associates and I need to eat and continue to do business or I would gladly do this for free." He gives an apologetic shrug. "We shall of course retrieve your item, but shall we..." he pauses for a moment as if in thought, though he has made the same statement a hundred times before, "make an example of this disreputable scoundrel at the same time?"

 

 

The fat man makes a face, "My wife's cousin. The gods forfend he die of violence! I should never hear the end of it." He says, a little slyly, "If he were to have an accident, well, that is the will of Yu-Shan, no? But, the item, that is the priority. I have buyers waiting, you see."

 

 

Ledaal Kurnaz smiles along with the man. "Yes yes, of course. Who are we mortals to judge the will of the gods. There are so many ways the frail body can slip the mortal coil. To much drink, infirmness of the heart, a simple slip an fall. And this is if one leads the life of an Immaculate!" Kurnaz reflects internally that he included alcoholism in the life of an Immaculate. Well he never did care much for the monks. "If one enjoys life's little pleasures then there is a price to pay. So much more risk when one goes into an opium den or indulges in cocaine. And women! Do not even get me started on everything that can go wrong with a concubine! Truly we spoil ourselves with danger..." Kurnaz pauses, once again entirely staged for his clientele's benefit. Sometimes Kurnaz wished he could just hand people a check list to fill out.   Actually... thats not a terrible idea. I'll have Zeppo draw up some papers with Groucho.   

 

 

"Natural causes come in such a wide spectrum as you know, and some reflect more or less poorly on those they strike then others. Is this something that should disappear and be forgotten outside of family reunions or something that shall bring shame to the immediate family? Obviously nothing too grand in scale as we don't want it reflecting ill on your dear wife."

 

 

The fat man gobbles sherbert the entire time the other fellow is speaking. At last, he replies, "Hmm. It does not matter much to me. Naturally, if it is something embarrassing, that is all the better! I am surprised that his manifold indulgences have thus far failed to kill him, in fact! I am sure that Heaven will ensure his comeuppance sooner rather than later."

 

 

Ledaal Kurnaz grins evilly. "Well heaven helps those who help themselves, as I'm sure you know. I have no doubt that you gained your wealth not through hand outs but through hard work and business acumen. This actually brings me to my next point. As I said I would gladly right this wrong for you freely if the satrap or the Tri-Kahn paid for the righting of wrongs within this city and kept me fed and employed, but alas this is not so, which means we must move to that indelicate and most unfortunate topic of payment." Kurnaz plasters a truly pained expression on his face as he sends Harpo for more sherbert, dates and strong tea.

 

 

The merchant sips his tea and now eats only the occasional bowl of sherbert. Even he has to slow down after a while, "Oh, my, yes, indeed. Certainly, certainly, please tell me what you'll need to help with my particular problem."

 

 

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "I have no idea what the going rate for murder is in Chiarscuro in this guys tax bracket, so should we gloss over this? I can make a bureaucracy roll or something if you want but I'm not sure how relevant it is"

 

 

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "it's not relevant at all! :P"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "I mean, er, in regards to the plot. It's not like I have a bag of money to give you."

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "haggling == bureaucracy"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "right"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "so it would be one mortal against another since I would have a henchie handle it"

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "glossy is fine!"

 

 

The merchant and the rep haggle for a while until they agree on sufficient silver.

 

 

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "tada!"

-= OOC =- Ledaal Kurnaz says, "thats actually a reasonable stopping point if you want to break this into two parts. One for business and one for the actual job. I'll need to come up with a suitably accidental way anyways.