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Post by Daos on Sept 18, 2021 13:30:53 GMT -8
"Thanks, but we should probably get going," Daos says. "The sooner we can capture these rogue nobles, the better." He stands and gestures for Meine and Qurrak to follow him back out to the duke.
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Post by Igordragonian on Sept 20, 2021 5:32:21 GMT -8
Qurrak nod and get up silenltly follow along. Somewhat more self assuared and less shy
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 20, 2021 6:01:20 GMT -8
Daos, Qurrak, and Meine exit the tavern, and the Princess points to the Duke on horseback.
"Elsh, he looks like he'd rather get swallowed up by the Mouth of Ozymandias than be here," she remarks. She's not wrong. He looks horribly embarrassed, and is trailing behind General Blackpool by quite a bit. Meine smirks at his discomfort.
"Hey, Duke!" she says, running up to him.
"Yes, I know we were supposed to wait on you, I couldn't hold the General back, OK?! He's headstrong!" he snaps.
"...I was just going to say we had some information."
"...oh. Oh, yes, right," he says, scratching the back of his head. "Right. What do you have?"
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Post by Daos on Sept 20, 2021 13:32:22 GMT -8
Daos explains to the duke their encounter with Draft, their past history with him, and the plan to try and lure the rogue nobles to his establishment.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 21, 2021 5:07:21 GMT -8
The Duke frowns. "A former bandit? Well, if you're sure you can trust him...I'll give Blackpool the order to lock down the city. And, uh, between the four of us," he whispers. "I would...prefer if we downplayed, well, just how criminal Deppsburg is from him. I don't exactly want to lie, but he's quite...harsh on crime. (Spend a few minutes chatting with him, and you'll see what I mean.) I'd prefer if he thought of whichever gang is protecting the nobles as...well, something that's gained a burst of strength in recent years, not one that's been running the city for half a century. I--that would reflect badly on me."
Meine scoffs. "Why should I lie to protect your image?"
"It's not my image!" he hisses. "This is a vindictive man, he may go off trying to outstep his boundaries and destroy the gangs, nobles or no, jeopardizing the entire operation, or arrest me, or--" He sighs. "The plan, as I see it, depends on the gang believing that we have no intention of fighting them, that they can give up Lenkinshire and Cryfold and be on their merry way. I fear Blackpool's...bluster."
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Post by Daos on Sept 21, 2021 13:42:55 GMT -8
"Alright, but once Cryfold and Lenkenshire are in custody, how exactly do you hope to clean up this town without Blackpool's help?" Daos asks the duke.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 21, 2021 14:26:13 GMT -8
"Ah, but I will have his help!" the Duke says. "You see, I will implore him to help punish the criminals who dared to assist those who would harm his King, and--"
"The criminals you led him to believe didn't exist?" Meine retorts. "Elsh, no wonder the gangs can walk all over you. You're a complete idiot."
The Duke pauses. "Well, then. What do you suppose we do? Simply tell him?"
"Yes?" Meine says. "'Bluster' or no, we can convince him that attacking the gangs is a bad idea. Except, why, exactly, is it a bad idea? Are you afraid of shaking up the status quo?"
"I'm afraid of--" he begins to shout, before stopping himself. "...no, no, you're right. We'll be in no danger." He nods. "All right...we'll take the fight to the gangs."
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Post by Daos on Sept 21, 2021 15:27:57 GMT -8
"And another thing to consider--once Deppsburg is cleaned up, you will need to work hard to keep it that way," Daos points out. "You may have inherited the current situation from your predecessors, but if the city falls again, this time the responsibility will be on your own shoulders, your grace."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 21, 2021 15:44:40 GMT -8
He nods once more. "Yes, I...I suppose I don't truly know how to rule. I inherited South Sealand before my father could teach me how to, and since then, I've merely been the puppet Duke of a crooked region." The Duke shakes his head. "I will have to learn quickly."
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Post by Daos on Sept 21, 2021 17:16:39 GMT -8
"I would recommend finding people you can trust; those who are not interested in money or power, but only in what's best for the city and its people," Daos says. "And then use their advice to help restructure the city. It won't be easy; change never is. But if you commit yourself to it, then you create a legacy that will last generations, and make Deppsburg a truly great place to live and work."
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Post by Igordragonian on Sept 22, 2021 0:53:49 GMT -8
Qurrak nod. "People of duty and their word." he add
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 22, 2021 4:08:36 GMT -8
"All wise words. I will be sure to look for people of the sort. Now, come. Let's tell the plan to General Blackpool." He trots off ahead, and invites the others to follow him.
"Ah, Duke Tormenton!" The General greets. "And our adventurers, too! Forgive me for not waiting, but I thought it best we garrison in the Castle first thing."
"We ought to talk about our strategy," the Duke says. "You see, Deppsburg has powerful gangs--gangs we believe are sheltering our rogue nobles."
Blackpool scowls. "Scum of the earth, I see. Where are they? Shall we just storm their base and--"
"We don't where they are. Yet," the Duke explains. "For now, the important thing is to cut off the nobles' means of escape--increase security at the gates and lock down the docks."
"What do these gangs do for money?" Meine asks. "If we can cut off their income..."
"Brilliant!" Blackpool bellows. "We shall force their hand, push them into the open. And when they retaliate--"
"That's not the plan," the Duke says meekly.
"Well, it should be," he grunts. "Subterfuge is the weapon of criminals, their home-field. Only by force can we catch them off guard and crush them."
The Duke clears his throat. "The two gangs mainly do drug smuggling and protection rackets. The first is solved with the dock shutdown. And if we have your soldiers patrolling the town, encouraging the people to stop paying..."
"Soon enough, these dirty scoundrels will be run dry!" Blackpool cries.
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Post by Daos on Sept 22, 2021 15:01:21 GMT -8
"It's important that these gangs believe we are only interested in the rogue nobles, and that once we have them, we intend to pack up and leave," Daos adds. "If they think business will go back to normal once we have them, they'll be more inclined to turn them over. Or at least stop sheltering them. Once we actually have Cryfold and Lenkenshire in custody, then we can focus on taking out the gangs."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 23, 2021 5:35:07 GMT -8
"Not my preferred method of dealing with them, but--wait, who's that?" Blackpool says as they reach the castle. Four guards stand by the entry portcullis, but a strange Elf in black and purple clothes waits just outside of it.
"Ah, good, you're here," he says, bowing deeply. Blackpool frowns.
"Do you know this man, Duke Tormenton?" The Duke's face turns pale.
"Well, not personally, but--"
"If he's not a gang member, I'll eat my sword blade-first," Meine says. The Duke nods.
Blackpool growls. "Well, let's go see what the bastard is doing here. It's too bad we can't run him through with a sword this instant."
He and the Duke dismount, approaching the criminal--and Meine follows.
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Post by Daos on Sept 23, 2021 13:57:09 GMT -8
Daos accompanies them, curious to see who this person turns out to be. He suspects Meine is probably right, though.
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