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Log: Windaxe and the Slavers

Page history last edited by wastevens@... 14 years, 7 months ago

 Run By: Jubilant Steel (3xp)

Players: Windaxe

Synopsis: Windaxe, an escaped slave, finds himself encountering a slaver fortress, he cannot deal with that many guards so he has to think of something altogether more cunning. Part One.

 

 

It is unpleasantly hot, and the area you have wandered into is dry with poor thin soil rapidly turning to dust between straggly trees. Ahead the land has been cleared and there are poorly irrigated rice fields between raised paths, a desolate looking down huddled around a disproportionally huge wooden fortress. There are people working in the fields but they do so without much enthusiasm.

 

 

WindaxeNight's Eternal Laughter made his way down the path laid out. His rune-carved staff makes a steady thud against the ground as he goes. The wind rustles over his loose tan robes. As he sees the fortress come into view, he pauses. He didn't care for nobles. At once his thoughts turned malicious, but first it would be prudent to see what this fortress guarded. He closely looked over his surroundings, his mind working with exalted intricacy over possible problems and answers. Then he continues toward the fortress.

 

 

The fortress is definitely the centerpiece of the small shabby town, but there are probably still a thousand people or so living there, as the stranger approaches the peasants in the fields pause their labour to peer upward with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. The town has a ramshackle wooden stockade, but the gates are open and guarded only by a pair of very bored looking militia with spears, one is drinking from an earthware bottle as they chat.

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "ok how do I spend motes?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Type +essence/help and it lists the commands."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "+wp spends a willpower point, once every 24 hours you can refresh everything using +refresh pools"

 

 

He casted sideways glances at the peasants. He related to them, thier labor, thier dispair which was no longer his. He felt the need to free them, but who knows. As he neared the gate still far off for the normal person to hear, he began to listen to the men.

 

 

(Judge) Windaxe rolls Perception + Awareness + Awareness/Listening + 3: [ -1- 3 4 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 ]

Resulting in 2 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "The dice hate you, apparently."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "so much hate"

 

 

From a distance too far off for a normal person to hear.. Not much can be overheard. One of the men is older, in his late forties perhaps, grey haired with a short bushy beard, the other is clean shaven and in his thirties and is a big burly individual in better quality clothing. He is the one sipping from the jug and appears to be lecturing the older man.

 

 

He bends down to pick up two small stones and slips them into his pouch. Then he continues toward the gates. He currently is sporting a black mohawk. His dark brown eyes peer at the two men. He is well built but not intimidating in the least. Once he reaches the gates, he lifts his head up to meet the guards glance. In an unexplectly deep voice, he asks "who is the lord of this place?"

 

 

The two men appear to be giving their supposed job of guarding the entranceway no notice at all, so they start at the sudden speech before turning to face you, the older one scowling for a moment before the younger shoves the jug into his hand and takes a step forward. "Lord?" Then a shrug. "Sorrowful Rose is the boss up in the fort if that is what you mean? She is kind of busy though. What is your business here?"

 

 

Windaxe says, "I am a traveling looking for rest and someone knowledgeable of this land. If she is busy, then I can wait for her. Tell her that a diplomat has come to seek an audiance with her."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Give me a charisma or manipulation presence roll to see how convincing you come across there? Using any charms or specialities that apply."

 

 

(Judge) Windaxe rolls Manipulation + Socialize + 3: [ -1- -1- 2 7 9 <10> <10> ]

Resulting in 6 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "buya! Who's convincing here ;all arrows point to character"

 

 

The two men look rather suprised at this statement, but also entirely taken in. Eyes widen, they straighten slightly and manage to look rather apologetic, a hurried. "Ahh, of course sir, ahh, I will escort you to the fort at once!" The younger of the two men awkwardly bows before ushering you in and toward the gates of the fort. "Which merchant prince has sent you so that I can relay the news to Sorrowful Rose, sir?"

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel chuckles, yep, they are -entirely- taken in.

 

 

His mind works with lightening speed to call to mind a prince. Unwilling to give up his cover now, he uses his old master's name, "Prince Muyen Asaku. He has rather impressive holdings to the west and seeks an alliance. Your mistress we be most pleased with the arrangement I imagine and the one who brigns such good news."

 

 

That name does ring a bell, the guard nodding enthusiastically and rather ingratiatingly. "Indeed, your master has been a good customer these past few years. I am sure my mistress will be glad to meet you." The gates are arrived at now, huge ironwood affairs that are currently securely locked, the postern gate is open however and has a handful of rather more alert and hardened men wearing buff jackets reinforced with bronze. They are armed with short chopping swords and cudgels, heavyset and rather tough looking characters who smirk at your current 'friend' as he hurries over to explain, before a slightly more refined looking officer in her fifties is summoned. She heads over toward you befoer bowing her head. "Greetings emissary, might I ask your name? I will escort you to our factor immediately."

 

 

The emissary gives a small nod. "Thank you, Madam. I have looked forward to seeing your operation." He gives a less than charming smirk as he sizes up the woman. Keeping his cherade, he claps his staff on the ground and becons her to lead.

 

 

The woman gestures sharply to the guards at the gate, who step aside as she leads you on in. Once you do step inside however you would probably recognize things immediately even if the guards before did not give it away, this is a slaver fort. There is an inner keep you are being led toward but the design is mostly for keeping people inside, in addition to stables and barracks there are holding pens full of sullen and despairing looking people sat in huddles, archers on the walls and the pens watched over by club equipped thugs.

 

 

The man almost balks at the sight. His fist clenches around his staff, but he quickly regains his composure. He can't give up his cover. He begins commenting on the conditions of the slaves, asking what they are being fed, and how they are beign shipped. What keeps them from escaping and what disciplines are enforced. It is sickening the way he takes his treatment and uses it to his advantage. All the while he listens intently and makes mental notes of all he learns and sees, guard numbers, supplies, numbers of slaves male and female, etc. Everything is valuable right now.

 

 

The slaves look to be typical of those taken in raids, limited numbers of adult males, no elderly or very young children, mostly women or those age between six and fourteen. They are in seperate pens, adult men, teenage boys, then children and women together. Your companion is eager to explain the entire operation and obviously knows what she is talking about, adding that she was a Realm scale lord as she empthasises the high standard the two hundred odd guards are kept to, entirely seperate from the militia rabble in the town below. They have five hundred stock on hand, buying them from prisoners of war or freelance slave takers before shipping them by river to nearby cities. Or by special request! Obviously she asserts the slaves are very well fed and exercised properly, with rigid discipline kept while avoiding damage to the stock. It is all very clinical but slightly enthusiastic as you are led to the keep and escorted upstairs.

 

 

 

 

Five hundred seems like alot, but two hundred seemed like more. His mind failed to find a way to take on such a force. He followed her as he looked at the pens that held them and the locks for them. He would have to find some more subtle way to do this.

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "To clarify, that is 200 guards here, and 500 slaves to hand."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Not 500 militia in the town."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Though in practise you would guess half those guards would be out aquiring slaves at any given time."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "yea I follow. it's alot of people to free but even more poeple to fight"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel nods.

 

 

You are led up into one of the towers, away from the rather dank and fetid smell of the ground floor of the keep, and politely escorted into a large well appointed room where a woman in her mid forties wearing expensive silks and golden jewelry occupies an almost throne like chair at the far end of a richly engraved table. A black clad servant offers you a chair as the woman studies you with sharp eyes. "You do not resemble Prince Muyen Asaku's normal agent, might I ask what happened to him?"

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Give me another roll, be warned that she might be a tougher customer to persuade here. :>"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Pose first though!"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Then you can get extra stunt dice on said roll."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "one sec"

 

 

The emissary bows, giving himself a second to think. He straightens to a pronounces stature. This was going to have to be the best lie he's told so far. That being said, it would be best to start with the truth. "My lord has had a great misfortune recently. Indeed his manor has been burnt to the ground. Many of his slaves were lost." he paues for a second in sad rememberance. "He plans to rebuild and thusly will need new labor. Unfortunately his former agent was lost in the disaster. So he has sent me. Yet I assure you I have all the authority of my lord to make the agreements needed to see his manor restored to glory. He is rather adament about this and trust only you as his purchase will have to be... sizable."

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Nice job! That is a very solid +2 on the roll. :>"

 

 

(Judge) Windaxe rolls Manipulation + Socialize + 2 + 2: [ 5 7 7 9 9 9 9 <10> ]

Resulting in 8 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "Rock On!"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Nice, did you use any charms with that?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Not that you probably need to with 8 successes. :>"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel eyeshifts.

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel gahs, that was supposed to be on the public channel

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "yea my manipulation excellency"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel nods.

 

 

The woman at the other end of the table nods sadly, though she looks excited despite that, she motions to the servant who quickly steps over. "Your journey must have been long and hard indeed then, my condolences to you and your master. Would you like refreshments? And please explain this sizable purchase in more detail so that we can best accomodate you."

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "drek! I'm running out of social fu and personal essence"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Ahh, you would have gotten 4 back from the stunt."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "ah thanks. how do I put those back in the pool"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "You can do that by using a negative number, so +essence personal/-4"

 

 

(OOC) Windaxe just spent Essence from his Personal Essence pool

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "thanks"

 

 

He takes a seat. "yes thank you and thanks you for your sentiments. Yes it has been hard on lord Muyen. He lost much in the fires. But we are all eager to rebuild. He will need mostly men skilled in wood crafts and earth crafts as well. Also he will need women who could serve as many were lost, indeed some of his favorite harem. Also given the suspiciousness of the fire, wishes to know if you may spare some men to act as guards."

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Okay, she is going to negotiate back at you now, what is your MDV?"

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "5"

 

 

(Judge) Jubilant Steel rolls 8: [ 3 4 6 6 8 8 8 8 ]

Resulting in 4 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "You are good!"

 

 

"Of course, we can supply all of these needs, though hiring out my guards as mercenaries is not usual I am sure we can accomodate such a valued customer." The woman thinks for a few moments. "We have a selection of girls and boys for your master's harem, but I should warn you they are not trained but merely pretty. How many crafts people and house servants are required?" Then she taps a finger. "I can see you are not carrying enough jade or silver to pay for the purchase, I assume it will be ready for collection by my guards when the slaves arrive?"

 

 

He gives a sly smirk. "But of course. My master has learned to hire only shrewd servants he can trust. Your money shall be there upon arrival. I'm sure if you are sending guards as well, then you can expect that my lord has no means to overpower and take them. As far as how many, we shall need close to a hundred craftsmen, at least seventy five, but more if you have the stock.

 

 

She blinks at that, before smoothly recovering. "We can probably only supply fifty skilled craftsmen, but as many women suitable as servants as you should wish many of whom can be trusted to work hard and learn quickly. The craftspeople are expensive of course, and you are taking my entire stock. Forty thousand dinars at least. Then for fifty women another twenty thousand. You can take your pick of boys or girls to be concubines for merely seven hundred apiece." She gestures slightly. "A fair price I am sure you can agree, though transportation will be extra of course. Will your master's barge be able to transport everyone along the river?"

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Give me a wits + Bureaucracy roll with any relevant charms to work out how reasonable or not that is. :>"

 

 

(OOC) Windaxe just spent Essence from his Essence Personal pool

 

 

(Judge) Windaxe rolls Wits + Bureaucracy + 3: [ 2 4 5 6 9 9 ]

Resulting in 2 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "so much hate"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Hey, that is enough to get a good idea."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "She is overcharging you by about 30 and not including any kind of bulk discount."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "30% even"

 

 

He leans back in his chair and rubs his chin as if doing a great deal of math, because he is. "That would sound reasonable if I wasn't purchasing in such quanity. it would take you, what, at least two seasons to sell most of your stock and that is if the gods favor you. Plus the price seems steep to begin with. I'm sure my liege would appreciate or more accomodating over for such a loyal client. Shall we say a twenty eight thousand for the men, Twelve Thouseand for the women, and five hundred for the harem girl as a sign of favor."

 

 

She chuckles and gives a small shake of her head, pausing to take a glass of water from a tray presented by the servant and take a sip before she continues. "The market is not so bad as you think, and you would be sorely depleting my options when dealing with other customers, not to mention taking enough guards to severely effect my operation. The initial prices, but I will sent two scales of my guards to escort the shipment. Included in the price. Does that sound fair to you?"

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Two scales is about 50 guards for reference."

 

 

He had one last gambit to play. He gave a heavy sigh. "My appologies, Madam." He stood up and took his staff, nodding cordially. "I was under the impression that the buisness relationship between you and lord Muyen Asaku was, well in better standing than it obviously is. I'm sure he and his aquaintances will be greatly disappointed to know the full extent of your loyalty and generosity." He bows again. "my appologies for wasting your time. I must go report to my lord. Good day." He turns and reaches fot he door and...

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel chuckles, give me another presence roll at +2?

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "oh, that is... alot"

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "just presence?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Sorry, manipulation + presence."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "And any excellency you are using."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Though do you have any other social charms?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Lunars can have all sorts of other fun effects including outright mind control."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "Manipulation Excellency, False Burrow Persuit, and Mask of White Jade."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "the excellency is the only one that can apply for this realy."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Well Mask of White Jade would have been very handy earlier, but you did not need it anyway. :)"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "This would just be the excellency though yes."

 

 

(OOC) Windaxe just spent Essence from his Essence Personal pool

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "what happens when you start using peripheral essence?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "You would start glowing silver, it would be hard to notice at first, but very rapidly become impossible to miss. Fortunately you just stunted again, so you will get another 4 motes back unless you fail your roll."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "ok, I have a stone of First impression which lets me know the concerns of anyone I encounter for the first time. I can only use it once a day. I would like to use it now."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "can I do that or is it too late?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "No you can do that."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Which book are the details of the stone in?"

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "Oadenol's Codex pg 6"

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "pg86"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Thanks."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Okay, her intentions are to screw you out of as much money as possible and unload as much of her stock as she can given moving slave convoys is very dangerous at the moment, hence the heavy escort. She does not doubt you are who you are claiming to be though and is pretty certain your supposed master will be good for the money."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel also checks the peripheral essence table - so long as you do not spend more than 3 motes then people need to roll to notice, but it is a very easy roll.

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "got ya thanks"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "4-7 everyone can see your caste mark and it cannot be hidden, 8-10 you are giving off enough light to read by, 11+ and you can be seen for miles."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "I'll be spending that"

 

 

(Judge) Windaxe rolls Manipulation + Presence + 2 + 1 + 3: [ -1- -1- -1- 3 5 5 7 7 9 <10> ]

Resulting in 5 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "Are you kidding me!"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "That was about average for 10 dice."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "true. I do so much better in tabletop"

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "so let's see if it's enough"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Her DV is 5 though, so no luck! She is not going to budge much. :)"

 

 

"I value your custom, but please, let us handle this without theatrics." She sets down her glass before steepling her fingers in front of her, regarding you carefully. "I am already offering to send a quarter of my troops to escort your purchase, and not even asking for a down payment on the strength of previous dealings! I already fear I am being too generous but past friendship compels nothing less."

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "She is a heroic mortal with willpower 6 and integrity 3, making her a pain to negotiate with. ;)"

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "at east normal people aren't this hard to deal with."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel nods, the average person has a willpower of 3 or 4 and possibly nothing in integrity.

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "But ladies in charge of large scale slaving operations tend to be made of tough stuff."

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "Ahh it at my pose!!!"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Yep!"

 

 

He stops motionless, then straightens. Feeling the tell-tale sign that he has exerted too much of himself, he doesn't turn back. Instead he grits his teeth and lets out a deep sigh as if conceeding some kind of defeat. Tilting his head down to talk back to her, "You are a most shrewd buisnessman. I will inform Lord Muyen of our agreement. I imagine the terms will be... agreeable. I would like to discuss arrangements at a later point. It has been a long journey and I would like to be shown to my accomodations."

 

 

She stands now before bowing her head slightly, a smile. "And I am pleased to see that Lord Muyen has such a skilled representative, I must admit I had doubt when I first saw you." Then she snaps her fingers and motions to the servant. "Escort the emissary to the guest quarters, ensure his requests are dealt with promptly." Back to yourself. "Please enjoy our hospitality for as long as required, your journey must have fatigued you and was no doubt dangerous given the loss of your mount and retinue."

 

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel grins, given so many successes on the manipulation rolls earlier they are still basically explaining to themselves any discrepencies.

-= OOC =- Windaxe says, "sweet. yea I had to sell it for all it's worth. do you want to end here and pick up another time. I should be going soon."

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