Chapter 15
“The Carrickbury Syndicate”
Written by Ian Shirm Dec. 4, 2007
Winter of 3255-3256
After the new year Military campaigns on the eastern hemisphere continued. Tamar Bonethirst, King of the Korosodo Minotaur, Warlord Dorto Bonehammer from Gobtel and Warlord Azathas Caellisethar of his lizard man clan had marched their armies into the Bronze Republic after receiving a note from King Jupiter that was signed by Noto, Firmin, and Kanlihn. The note read that they were going North to attack Del’goth and would like King Fisik to come north with his blood elves to aid them. It also read that while they attacked Del’goth they wanted Tamar, Dorto and Azathas to launch an offensive against the Bronze Republic.
The Army of 56,000 Minotaur, and Lizardmen had marched for 2 weeks into the Bronze Republic and now they stood on a field of battle with a 30,000 strong Phalanx from the Republics western army and 10,000 Elite Royal Guard. Tamar, Dorto and Azathas fought and lost a costly battle against the Republics forces, forcing them to retreat from the Republic and go west to wait for reinforcements.
Jupiter, Kanlihn, Noto and Firmin had no intention of attacking Del’goth. Infact they saw a campaign against Del’goth at this juncture to be a costly mistake since their forces were depleted from the war with Kulan. King Fisik of the Gorwyn Blood elves had arrived in Kular with his army and met with the 4 kings therin.
In a large room with stone floors, walls and ceiling the 5 Western Kings met.
“How happy are you with your share of Kulan?” Kanlihn of the Westfyrd blood elves asked Fisik.
“Depends on where my eighth of Kulan falls I suppose,” King Fisik of the Gorwyn blood elves said.
“We have asked you to come north, not to fight against Del’goth, but to meet with us,” Jupiter Furius, king of the desert nation of Redrock said.
“Meet with you about what?” Fisik Ala’Malas Sheretharal asked.
“We are not happy about splitting Kulan into 8 parts,” Kanlihn said. “Instead we aim to cut Tamar, Dorto and Azathas out of the loop and bring the share of land down to a fifth each. We requested that they attack The Bronze Republic not to win more land but to reduce their forces. When the three fa;l back from the republic to gather strength, the 5 of us, if you are willing, will destroy the remainder of their armies, kill their three rulers and have a 5 way split. I was the one who requested brining you in on our plans, rather than leaving you in with their lot.”
“Thank you,” King Fisik said. “When we received the letter they left shortly after for the republic and I made the long trip here. If I had to say I would guess they’ve already fought in the republic.”
“We should march south, and combine the strength of our 5 armies,” Noto said. “In every instance where we meet them we should crush their armies and establish 5 territories in the former Kulan.”
“My army is fresh for the most part, I’ve lost very few so far,” Kanlihn ro’Fistil Zyualesti said.
“As Ive done before,” King Fisik ala’Malas Sheretharal said. “I’ll raise an army of Ogrith, Goblins and Ogres to fight as our first wave. I have found it most beneficial to utilize those three races in battle.”
“Between our two Blood Elf Nations, Noto’s Clan, Jupiters Redrock army, and Firmin Ryynim’s Gobtel Minotaur we will overpower the three and drive them from the south.” Kanlihn said.
“Lets break camp and start heading south in the morning,” Jupiter said. “We should each leave a third of our forces here in the north to protect the territory we’ve taken and take two thirds south. The navy is brining our reinforcements to the north shores near west wall and from there they come to Kular. By the time we complete our plot we will already have fresh reinforcements in Northern Kulan.”
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Murderers Afoot
As they did every morning Dekari, Aiken, Draven, Kane, and Dredskif are breakfast at a table in the Hawkeye. The cold chill of winter forcing them to start eating inside rather than on the outside porch.
“Draven,” Dekari said. “I was thinking, as it is a directors job to act as Judge I would like to offer you the role of Commander of the Ironguard and Aiken would take over as acting Judge of Bordertown. The weapons factory and the armor factory have turned out 5000 sets of weapons and armor for the newly established force. 5000 men have also volunteered from the army to form the heavy infantry unit. Ironguard soldiers will be using a bronze, round shield, steel breastplate, steel leggings and arm guards with horse-hair helms. They will be wielding one handed longswords, crossbows, shortswords and footman’s maces.”
“I’ll accept your offer,” Draven said. “Aiken, we’re supposed to meet with your mother this afternoon.”
“More lessons on religious rituals?” Aiken asked.
“At the end of yesterdays class she said something about today’s lesson being about herb’s and the effects of certain ones mixed, to both heal and to poison.” Draven said.
“Pay any heed to her lecture about coming half drunk?” Aiken said.
“This is only my second ale,” Draven said.
“Training to be a cleric Draven?” Kane asked.
“Trying to broaden my horizons. Not a lot to do most days and the knowledge of clerical magic, herbalism and alchemy is most interesting.” Draven replied.
For the last month while Lucila oversaw the construction of the temple to Paial and the temple of Lavinia, both in Stock-borough as well as taking on the responsibilities of High Cleric of Paial she taught classes to Aiken, Draven and a dozen more in the gardens surrounding the two adjacent temples. Every morning Draven and Aiken met with Dekari, Dredskif and Kane for breakfast, delt with their official duties then rode from the Bordertown district, where they stayed, to the Stockborough district where Lucila taught.
Aiken and Draven spent a good deal of their time together in their studies. Aiken taking time out for meetings of the League, and now his court duties, Draven now relieved of his court responsibilities, now Commander of the Ironguard, the two had become good friends. Draven who in the past was quiet and reserved, began growing accustomed to the more domesticated lifestyle. Both Aiken and Draven had put their time in in the Greendale mercenaries guild, the lack of fighting and the majority of their time spent either in Lucila’s class or in the library of the Paial Temple, began softening Draven’s Cold demeanor.
Draven Stichus, who was 46 years old, 24 years Aikens Elder, Took Aiken on as his understudy. Draven had over 20 years of mercenary experience and had seen many campaigns. Over the last month Draven had also taught, and continued to teach, Aiken the art of swordplay.
“Kane, How have things been going as Captain of the City-Guards?” Dekar asked.
“Things have been going well, for the most part quiet,” Kane said. “A wealthy merchant, who had a large home in Carrickbury was murdered yesterday. The killers picked the lock on the back door of the merchants large house, snuck in and killed him while he slept. My city-guards have been asking around but have no suspects yet.”
“Robbed?” Dekari asked.
“The mans large safe was pulled out from the wall, dragged through the house, out the backdoor where we found wagon tracks,” Kane said. “It had to weigh 300 pounds, had to have been several men just to lift it.”
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The Syndicate
In the District of Carrickbury, The Silverwolf tavern was one of three taverns, the roughest by far. The Silverwolf was renown for gambling, drinking, and prostitution. Alreen Atril’Arnaer Tarahonal, a Blood Elf, owned the tavern, as well as a silver-mining company and a wagon transport company. Alreen had several dozen miners under his employ that worked his privately owned silver mines in Blackhorn mountain. The people of Carrickbury knew the Blood Elf well. Alreen was the wealthiest person in the district, though some wondered if all his business endeavors were legitimate.
Riding his horse from his large home in the poorer section of the Carrickbury district, he had no need of a torch, as Blood Elves had excellent night vision. Paial’s white moon, Claudia’s white moon, and Draxis’s red moon were high in the sky, showering light upon the district, allowing even plainsmen or barbarians to see fairly well.
Alreen rode past several houses, a blacksmithing shop, a general store, the local shop where the agricultural commission operated, coming to the rear entrance of the Silverwolf Tavern. Alreen tied his horse off in front of a water troth and went in the backdoor. He entered the kitchen where his dishwasher and two cooks worked and walked to a stairwell leading to the cellar. The steps leading downward were grease spattered and slick, He held onto the handrail, so as not to slip. Once in the cellar Alreen walked into a large meat cooler where ice was delivered daily, went to the back and opened a grate in the floor.
The grate, open, revealed a hidden stairwell leading down. He descended the stair to come out to a small room with a wooden door. On both sides of the door stood two large men of Barbarian descent, heavily armed, with longswords, a shortsword, mace and a suit of studded leather armor each. Both men stood still as Alreen opened the wooden door and entered.
The door brought him into a large underground room with an additional two exits. There were several long tables in the room and two dozen members of Alreens Thieves Guild sat eating.
The Large underground complex consisted of sleeping quarters for the thirty men in the guild, a kitchen, an armory, several storage rooms and the dining room where Alreen stood.
Alreen walked through the dining room, passed through a doorway, made his way down a long hall and opened the door to one of the storage rooms. Inside he saw four thieves standing near an open safe.
“Success I assume?” Alreen asked.
“We killed him, and took the safe like you ordered” one of the thieves said.
“Were any of you seen?” Alreen asked.
“I don’t think so,” The thief replied.
“Good, how much did we get?” Alreen asked.
“50 bars of pure silver,” the same thief responded.
“Put it in the vault with the rest, ” Alreen ordered.
“Verywell, master Tarahonal” the thief said.
“The four of you can get what I promised from the treasurer, 50 gold each if I remember right,” Alreen said.
“Thanks, Alreen,” another of the thieves said.
The Four Syndicate members, under Alreens direction put the 50 bars of silver in the large vault, got paid, and walked up to the dinning room of the thieves guild complex.
The 4 thieves, Goliath, a Dark Paladin of Xrakisis of Barbarian decent, Domitius, a Fighter, also of Barbarian descent, Toxen a blood elf Cleric of Xrakisis and Throel, a Blood Elf assassin walked past the kitchen window, slopped food on their plates and sat.
“That 50 gold is burning a hole in my pocket already,” Throel said.
“That 50 gold is bringing me closer to my dream,” Domitius said.
“Not more talk of you owning your own tavern again,” Throel said.
“I think a few more years of work, or many profitable missions and I’ll be able to get a rundown place that I can slowly fix up and I’ll get my start as a the proprietor of a nice tavern,” Domitius said.
“If you have whores under your employ and some strong spirits, I’ll frequent your tavern,” Goliath said. “Help you out with a little more business.”
“I’m thinking of asking Alreen for a loan, just havent worked up the nerve yet,” Domitius said.
“I wouldn’t ask until you get a little farther ahead.” Toxen, the Blood Elven cleric said.
“How much you got tucked away anyhow?” Throel asked.
“About 850 gold worth,” Domitius said.
“Keep at it,” Throel said. ”Triple that and maybie Alreen would give you a loan for the rest.”
“If the four of us robbed a payroll wagon from Dekari we could rake in a lot in no time,” Domitius said.
“Not going to happen,” Goliath said. “Alreen already said while a member of the guild no independent ventures.”
“I‘d just try to get in on as many missions as you can,” Throel said.
“Ever hear that nothing worth doing is easy?” Toxen asked.
“I’m gonna get a round, you three want a pint too?” Throel asked.
“You payin?” Domitius asked.
“Yeah,” Throel said.
“I’ll take a pint,” Domitius said, Goliath and Toxen both requesting as well.
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March 3256
The months of January and February passed and it would not be long before the Spring of 3256 was upon the Eastern Hemisphere. The Armies of the Westerners, King Jupiter, King Kanlihn, King Fisik, King Noto and King Firmin were unaccustomed to the cold winters of Northern Kulan and lost many to the cold. Of those they lost their armies were replenished by reinforcements.
The Mutiny of The 5 western nations against those of King Tamar of Korosodo, Warlord Dorto from Gobtel and Warlord Azathas of the Lizardmen had continued. On the Coral isle the armies of the three had been massacred, leaving the Isle in the firm control of the 5 mutinous kings.
The battle at Greendale had left Kulan crushed the fall before and now The Redrock infantry of Jupiter, the Blood Elf Archer-Infantry of Kanlihn and Fisik, the Minotaur infantry of Noto and Firmin met Tamar, Dorto and Azathas at the city. The army of the 5 Kings had put Greendale to siege for three weeks before attacking in a full on assault. Hundreds of ladders went up and at the end of the day King Tamar Bonethirst, Warlord Dorto Bonehammer and King Azathas Caellisethar were killed along with their armies.
The Lands formerly owned by Emperor Titus, the whole of Kulan, were split in 5 sections. Noto Bloodrunner had the northern territory, The Two Blood Elven kings Kanlihn and Fisik split the Coral Isle, King Jupiter held southern Kulan while King Firmin held Central Kulan. The armies of the 5 separated and defended their individual territories.
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Goliath, Domitius, Toxen, Throel, and Alreen sat at the head table in the dinning room of the underground complex in Carrickbury with 26 other thieves and ate black bear, caribou, and hash browns.
“A client of the guild has come to me with a job,“ Alreen said to the 4 thieves. “I told him I would put 4 of my senior members on the job, Goliath, Domitius, Toxen, and Throel. The client is the father of a young man who was killed by the Director Magnus Orator’s son Vettius Orator. Apparently Vettius was walking the back streets of Carrickbury drunk and picked a fight with the man and ended up killing him. Director Magnus intervened when Vettius was arrested and he had his son set free. The Father of the victim is a wealthy merchant and has offered to pay 300 gold, which would be split between the 4 of you, after my fee. Once you kill Vettius, you will be paid, Any of the four of you not inclined to accept this job?”
After no objections Alreen handed a folder to the four.
“There is some information you could find handy in there, his habits, location of his residence and such.” Alreen said.
“We’ll get on it,” Goliath said.
The four thieves read up on Vettus and began formulating a plan.
After the four men had finished their meal they left the Silverwolf out the back and started walking across town, leaving the poor district. They walked past dozens of cabins that had been constructed by the labor guild, cabins that Dekari had ordered build for the influx in population. It being midday there were stands and wagons set up, merchants selling their goods. The report on Vettius said he lived in the nicer part of town, in his fathers large house. It also said that Vettius spent much of his time at the Silverfang inn, drinking and fraternizing with whores. The 4 assassins made their way across the district and entered the nicer part of town. Primarily a wealthier class lived in the quarter with a few businesses, the temple to Draxis and the town hall.
They came to the Silverfang, a two story building with glass windows, which were rare, and cedar shingled walls. Several horses were tied off at the long troth outside the Inn. They walked in to see the dining room was only about a third full with several merchants, a table of silver miners, and some of the inns regulars at the bar drinking.
Toxen walked up to the bar and said “Bartender.”
The short stout man behind the bar walked down the length of it to face Toxen.
“Do you have any rooms?” Toxen asked.
“How many are you looking for?” The Innkeep asked
“Two,” Toxen said
“That’ll be 2 gold a night,” The Innkeep said.
Toxen handed him 1 gold and 10 silver, 10 silver being the equivelant of one gold and the stout innkeeper handed him two keys.
“Rooms 3 and 4,” the inkeep said.
“Thanks,” Toxen replied.
Toxen walked over to his companions, then the four sat at a small round table.
A waitress walked over to the table and said, “Can I get you a meal or some ale?”
“A round of ale,” Goliath said.
“Any food?” she asked.
“Just the ale, Domitius said, the 4 having just ate at the syndicate complex.
“This is a pretty nice place,” Domitius said. “Id like my tavern to look something like this, classy, I’ll bet this place attracts the richer folk in Carrickbury. Probably can get away with selling a steak for near 8 silver.”
“Have to work your way up, start with something small and work at it.” Throel said.
“When I get my own place I’m going to get some nice fancy glass windows like this place has,” Domitius said.
“Better keep saving your money, glass aint cheap.” Goliath said. “If I had to start my own business I think I’d go with something with low upkeep and high profitability.”
“Like what?”, Throel said.
“Alreen’s Mining operation is profitable with low upkeep for example. He pays the miners next to nothing and gets all the silver with not a lot out of pocket.” Toxen said.
The four sat at the Silverfang inn for several more hours before their target entered the inn. Domitius recognized Vettius from a sketch they had. The Directors son came in and sat at the bar, five other youths, in their early twenties with him.
The four assassins sat drinking and bullshiting while they watched Vettius drink, as time passed drunkeness set in in the young man. The hours passed and the sun set, as the four waited with eager anticipation.
In hushed tones they talked.
“He’s got 5 guys with him, think we should wait until he’s alone?” Domitius asked.
“If we kill all five, it’ll get messy and Alreen wouldn’t be happy,” Goliath said.
“Lets figure out a way to get him alone and then we can get a cleaner kill,” Toxen said.
“I got an idea,” Domitius said.
Domitius called over the waitress and whispered in her ear. She whispered in his with a nod from Domitius he handed her three gold and his room key and she walked off.
“This is no time to worry about getting laid,” Toxen said.
“Im not going to sleep with her, shes gonna help us,” Domitius said.
For the next several hours the waitress was all over Vettius, sitting on his lap and laughing at his jokes. As the night progressed she whispered something in Vettius’s ear and a big stupid grin grew upon his face. She stood and led him up the stairs.
“Give it a few minutes and lets head up to the room,” Domitius said.
“Hope this works,” Toxen said.
After a few minutes the four assassins made their way upstairs. They looked down a hallway and saw the rooms. They passed room one and two then entered room three. The room that Domitius had given the waitress the key to. They saw Vettius with his pants around his ankles, drunk and passed out on the bed with the waitress sorting through his pockets, she had already lifted his coin purse and was counting it.
“You can go,” Domitius said.
“Thanks, I just made more between your gold and his, than I’ve made in the last 3 months.” she said.
“Very well, be off.” Goliath said.
She scampered off, closing the door behind her. Goliath walked over to the youth in his drunken slumber, took his head in his massive hands and snapped his neck with a vicious twist.
Looking at the rooms window Domitius said “This might work even better than I thought. Throel and Toxen go outside and stand bellow the window, We’ll lower his body and then we can stash it somewhere so no one will know he died up here.”
“Ok,” Toxen said, the two blood elves leaving the room.
Goliath tied one end of the rope around Vettius’s ankle while Domitius opened the window. The two gave it a minute then looked down to see Throel and Toxen standing in the ally in the dark between the building adjacent to the Silverfang inn. With a thumbs up from Toxen, the Dark-Paladin and the Fighter hefted the corpse up to the window, pushed it through and lowered it to their comrades. Goliath threw two blankets down, and motioned with his hands for the two blood elves to wrap the body up.
Relaxed and confident the two walked out of the room, down the stairs and out of the Silverfang. They walked around the building and down the ally. As stealthily as possible they snuck from ally to ally, several times waiting while the city-guard patrol’s passed. The 4 assassins made their way out of the district and out of the city. They carried the body to a graveyard a short ways out from the city and buried Vettius in an unmarked grave.
Mission finished they went back into the city and walked back to the Silverwolf where they were each paid 50 gold, while Alreen kept 50 gold as his fee.
Carrickbury, Penbridge, Border-town, Dunbridge
Aberstead, Pontdale, Stockborough,
Dekari: Paladin(Governor)
Weapons: Broadsword (Justice), Shortsword, Warhammer, Medium Crossbow
Aiken: Thief-Cleric (Director/Judge of Bordertown) (playful, intelligent, Anger problems, )
Weapons: Longsword, Gladius 'Retribution', Throwing Knives, a Recurve, Hunting knife
Armor: Bandmail
Draven: Thief(Commander of Ironguard) (intelligent, loyal, Reserved, Disciplined, Alchoholic, philosopher, poet)
Weapons: Longsword, heavy recurve, throwing knives (12), hunting knife
Armor: Studded leather
Dredskif: Fighter(General of the Army) (Blunt, Vulgar, Proud, Arrogant)
Weapons: Two-Handed longsword, Large Mace, Machete(2), longbow (24) arrows
Armor: Hide Armor
Kane: Ranger (Captain of the Guard)(Quiet, Reserved, Disciplined, Good-Natured, Optimist, Idealist)
Weapons: One-Handed Longsword, shortsword, Heavy Recurve WarHammer,
Armor Band Mail
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