LIFEBOAT LAUNCHED!

So what is our interrogation method going to be?

>>19853168

We'll play good cop first, see what information we can get, bribe and if that doesn't work waterboarding. God damn medieval times were insane, and this was a perfectly legitimate tactic for lords.

offer him a choice of a job with us or torture followed by the wall.

>>19853168
Start off nice, have our people look scary behind us while we're genial, polite and willing to bribe if necessary. If he doesn't divulge anything from that we'll let one of our people do a bit of torture, then come back and say that we're going down the line, and each person is crueler and more creative than the last.

>>19853235
lets not be unnecessarily bloody, no point in crippling someone before we send them to the wall.

>>19853202
That is a fair idea. I mean, it cannot hurt.... Us, anyways.

Brown Tim brings a bucked of water and wakes the man up. It takes him a little while to collect himself... Iylaria really didn't hold back on those strikes. But once we set him on a bucket and start slapping him around a bit, he collects himself. Reff takes up position behind, and pulls one of the blades out of his vest.

You start with a couple basic questions. His name is Ainnes and he has living here for the last four years. He was born in Ryamsport and moved around the Arbor a bit. He only gets really nervous when you start questioning about the barrel pieces. "I don't.... I don't know nothing about such a thing, m'lord."

I think the best thing to do is simply to tell him who we are, and that we know -exactly- what he and his friends have been doing. No matter that we don't actually have as many details as we let on.

And while we're at it, we may as well tell him that; since he's the only one we've caught so far, all the punishment we have avalible to dish out is squarely on him.

Could we get him to remind us just what exactly the punishment for Treason is?

>>19853299

"now that's clearly a lie and we both know that, I want you to tell me why those barrels were smashed up in the river, why there are several barrel hoops in the smithy, and why there are poles for a riverboat by your inn, and i'm only going to ask nicely once."

>>19853299
ask him about his family

>>19853299 Cont.
When Brown Tim gets up and pulls a small dirk out of his pocket, the man starts talking again. "THEY WERE WINE CASKS! Wine casks, from some men. They would bring them up here, and we would break up the barrels when they drained em and put the wine in different casks. Then the would take em away on carts."

>What do you want to ask next?

rolled 9 = 9

>>19853331

"One way or another, Ainnes my good man, you *are* going to tell me what I want to know. Everything. The only question is how much you are going to hurt before that happens."

>>19853365

What are the names for the men that deliver and take these barrels? how often and when do they arrive? Who was your initial contact that brought you in on the operation? Were you approached by someone out of town or by a local?

>>19853365
You just said we, who else is involved in this?

Tell me about the men who brings in the wine and takes it away.

Tell me about where they took them.

Who else worked with these men?

What aren't you telling me Ainnes?

>>19853365

"And where did the wine go?"

>>19853382
Looks like I'm about as intimidating as a fluffy kitten.

>>19853400
>>19853365

Is there gold hidden in the village? Is there silver? Gems? Is there food? Where is Lord Beric? Where did he go? How many men were with him? How many knights? How many bowmen? How many, how many, how many, how many, how many, how many? Is there gold in the village?

give a discription of clawwater and ask if he's seen him around.

>>19853430

Is there GOLD hidden in the village? Is there silver? GEMS? Is there food? Where is Lord Beric? Where did he go? How many men were with him? How many knights? How many bowmen? How many, how many, how many, how many, how many, how many? Is there GOLD? in the village?

>>19853440

Don't he will just say yes. Take the information from him don't give him any.

>>19853382
Don't worry, I rolled off screen. Don't want to break the immersion for this.

"The men who would bring the wine... I know a few of them. Dour Dromm and Tall Nic and Floran. They would bring it up on a cart, sometimes on one of them riverboats. Then we would switch out the wine into new barrels that the men on carts would bring." When Brown Tim starts to get up again, he spills the names. "Fat Tom and Iron Ric and Paoll! They would come with carts from the coast, and take away the unmarked barrels! THEY NEVER TOLD ME WHERE THEY TOOK THEM!" You give Reff a 'tsk tsk' and he pulls the knife out of the man's arm.

>Anything else?

>>19853479
I agree. If we put ideas in his head he will confirm it just to placate us.

>>19853440
>>19853479

don't torture him and don't even mention damien, i highly doubt damien would have come all the way to bumfuck nowhere to recruit some random guy to break barrels, think before you speak.

>>19853511
Who did he work with to transfer the wine? How large is the operation in town?

>>19853511
>>19853511

"Who recruited you and your friends? I want a name and description."

>>19853511

"and how often is sometimes? biweekly? monthly? or would they keep the days erratic? give me a basic timeline here."

>>19853536
"Me, Gray, and Bran did it. We would do the transfer in the boat house behind the inn... Bran owns the inn, and we could work out there without anyone noticing. No one would notice people coming and going at an inn, ya see?"

>>19853511
>>19853546

For how long have you work for them?

>>19853557
>>19853546
"It is every three weeks, ya see? They would all arrive at once, both of thems, and we would do the work in the shack. We was recruited by Fat Tom a few years ago. He comes it, and promised us silver, real silver, if we helped him."

>>19853614

Fat tom, tell me about him.

>>19853614
Who else in the town in involved other than you, Gray and Bran?

What do you know about the house by the town's edge?

Don't mean to ruin the mood but can someone link to old thread/get me up to speed? All I know is that we are currently dealing with black marker wine thieves or something.

>>19853614

What does Fat Tom look like besides his obvious obesity? Where does he hail from? How long have you known him? Is he an old associate or suddenly arrive in town?

>>19853661
>>19846606

This is the last one.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Game%20of%20Thrones%20Quest

Has all of them, including last one.

>>19853661

go to sup/tg/ and flick through the archive for all the Game of Thrones Quest with PrincelyDM.

"He is... well, fat. He moves his goods north in a covered cart, ya see? I don't know what he does then, I swear by the Seven! All we do is empty the casks, break em up, and help load and unload the cart." When you inquire about the shady house, he responds "Gray lives there, he does. That is where we store the spares if there are too many to be moved at once."

>>19853803

When is the next shipment supposed to arrive?

>>19853803

I think we've gotten all we're going to out of this one, he clearly wasn't told more than he needed to know,

"We want to meet this Fat Tom, tell him you need to see him right away, it's urgent, don't be specific just tell him it can't be written down"

We need to work our way up the chain, first things first is finding this Fat Tom, and keep these lowly guys working like normal, except we tail the pickups and see where they go, and so on and so forth until we have an idea of the scale of this operation.

>>19853803

"I have good news for you Ainnes, you're still useful to me... for now, but that can change depending on how helpful you are. I want to know when the next delivery is due, I want you to keep working like everything is normal, I want you to contact this Fat Tom and tell him you need to speak to him, it's urgent, and it can't be put to paper."

no that'd tip them off

>>19853876
>>19853852
"He don't arrive for five more days! I can't talk to him, I don't know where he is!" He is clearly very distressed. Reff keeps eyeing him like a side of meat that he wants to carve up.

>>19853852

We cant let him go. We need to hit the whole operation on the town at the same time and capture Fat Tom. Inform Lord Redwyne and ask permission to to capture everyone involve the day of the next shipment arrives(Because this town is outside our jurisdiction and we dotn want to piss off that other lord).

>>19853912

This is obivously shady as hell, but what has this guy in particular done that has broken the law?

>>19853912

Sigh, he's growing more useless by the minute, the most we'll get out of him is tailing these routes, we'll need some men to track those shipments and where they arrive, and from there to keep finding the extent of this. Obviously if they're smashing the barrels and restamping them later they have the seals to make them look legitimate, assuming Bhaarissio is the one responsible on that end. I still don't understand what Damien has to bring to this operation besides manpower, he's not very powerful in terms of the arbor hierarchy, he doesn't have much gold to put into this and he's on the other side of the island.

Suffice to say we're going to have to keep working to find this Fat Tom now, assuming that isn't an alias like the Mad Maester, fucking hate all these nicknames.

>>19853919

continue. IF we capture everyone involve now, Fat Tom will find out and go into hiding and the Clawwater will know for sure someone is into them. But if we capture Fat Tom we can track down the operation down to the fields and out to the sea.

>>19853939

He has aided in the smuggling of wine and has evaded taxes doing so.

Retiring to the exterior for a moment, you collect your thoughts outside the shack. In five days, you have a chance to potentially catch the men smuggling the wine from the wineries... This is close to where Hathaway said that he was working. You gave serious potential here, if you can just play this right.

>>19853939

Aiding a criminal, but it all depends on whether he knew he was breaking the law, I think he's just scared shitless and doesn't realize what he's gotten himself into, which is good, makes goading his cooperation much easier.

>>19853919

If we hit this operation there goes our element of surprise against the Maester and House Clawwater, they'll know we're onto them and either cease operations or change all their routes.

>>19854006

I advise against taking the whole operation here down, it takes away our one advantage, follow the caravans/boats and see where they go, tail these guys everywhere they go.

>>19854006

First thing's first we can't tip Fat Tom off to us. We should leave the town, but let a small group of our men stay to watch over this man and make sure he behaves.

We need to send letters to Portain and Paxter, informing them to be ready in 5 days, if they can.

If we had more men we could lock down the town so no one could get word out, what do we know about the local lord?

>>19853987
> what Damien has to bring to this operation besides manpower

I think its HIS operation, Fat Tom is his man and he pays the men that steal the wine from the wineries. He brings them to the sea where boats or ship get them save to Clawwater waters where they are sell to merchants from the free cities. The rest is taken to the merchant in Old town where it can be safety keep and sell at the order or demand.

>>19854053

so that what? they can perform a sting on this?

>>19854149

Yes. Although now that I think about it, just capturing Fat Tom might be the way to go. Follow it up as high as we can.

>>19854105
The Cavill's are a small house, barely more than a half-dozen people and a score of men at arms. They are typical of the small houses of the Arbor, knights who are raised up to watch small fiefs for their lords, without actually benefiting from the income of their lands directly.

So I am getting the feeling people want to not immediately act upon this information... What do we then do with the prisoner?

>>19854042
yeah but we can get the previous stop as well as the next one, it's risky sure, even worst case and we didn't catch any of the higher ups they'd still have to reestablish a whole new network which could take months.

>>19854138

That sounds more likely, Damien would probably figure out the shipping routes, but i'm not sure him or Bhaarisio would be the brain behind the cask switching and forging.

>>19854053
>>19854042
>>19854020

If we capture Fat Tom and raid the smuggler's hideout for ships that Davos told us we may have enough information to bring charges against the Clawwaters and take down the whole operation in quick succession.

>>19854202

Clawwater still has deniable plausibility, we need to catch him with his hand in the cookie jar. Our primary objective should be tailing these routes and finding Fat Tom, hopefully he's the missing link that can give us all the info we need, also do we have men observing the smuggler's hideout in case they pack up shop?

>>19854195

I think Bhaarisio just serves as save house for the wine in Old town. If need be Damien could sell all the wine in his waters to the Free Cities merchants. Bhaarisio is just another agent, Damien could run the operation without the Old town part.

Ok, so now popular consensus seems to be straying more towards rolling up this bit of the operation. How many people want to do that, versus how many people want to just wait for now?

rolled 4 = 4

>>19854173
kill him make it look like a he was robed

>>19854272

I vote for patience, and waiting to spring the trap when we have all the facts, acting too hastily could drive everyone into hiding.

>>19854173
I don't trust him at all. He'll blab about us the first opportunity he gets. Which means the investigation falls apart. We can't really get him to join the Night Watch as that involves dragging him away, it'll attract attention. We might have to kill him in such a way that it looks like a common accident.

As for Fat Tom, we can't stay too long, it'll be suspicious, but we leave some men here to wait for him and either tail or capture him while we go to Portain's place.

>>19854295

wait until we decide on >>19854272 first

>>19854264

That's why we need to hit the smuggler's hideout(the one Davos told us). Those ships have captains and crews that are likely to talk if under pressure, maybe letters or map with the smuggling routes. Think about it.

Reff has come outside. "M'lord... Do you want me to clean up here?"

>Vote: Want Reff to kill his ass or what are you gunna do?

>>19854295

No, we need him alive to identify Fat tom. My vote goes to hit the operation in the town and capture Fat Tom. Then go after the smuggler's hideout.

>>19854346

Alright, we can try it, but remember the first cove we hit? All we got was the 'Mad Maester' moniker out of it, we should at least scout it and make sure it's not just a tiny cove like the first one.

keep him alive in case he lied about anything.

So as far as I can tell right now... The plan you guys want is to stay in Treebridge for the next five days, waiting for Fat Tom and the rest of the thieves to show up, where you can ambush them and capture as many as you can before interrogating them?

>>19854358

Tell him no, walk in and tell him, "Alright Ainnes, you're going to do exactly what I say if you want to retain your life, you're going to go about your business as normal, and you're not going to tell anyone about this, and don't think I won't know if you do. When I find you, I'll make the depths of the seven hells look like paradise by the time i'm finished with you."

>>19854358

Keep him alive, but keep three members of the steel guard with him or near him at all times. Inform him that he has one chance to come out of this with his life, and that is to play along with you.

>>19854392

If we lack information we can call for the capture of Bhaarisio in Old Town, with all that unmarked wine in his mansion he can be easily pressure to identify Damien as the master mind of the operation.

We got him guys.

>>19854446

How many men do we have with us? If we can we should request aid from someone friendly and we can trust, we ourselves should pack up our things and leave town, but set up camp in a secluded place where we can plan and spy from. As suggested if we're going to get these guys we need to hit the inn, boats and roads at the same time.

>>19854454
How are we going to keep him surrounded by the Steel Guard? I think people would notice, unless we locked him up in a room.

Brown Tim is concerned, however. "What about the other two, m'lord? If they hear that we got their friend, I wager a dragon they rabbit for the woods, all quick like, and we are left with nothing but that soft-headed cunt."

>>19854450
I say go with this.

>>19854463

We should send a Raven as quickly as we can to Oldtown to notify the port authorities or someone friendly there to watch Bhaarisio and make sure he doesn't dodge town at the first hint of trouble and to detain him if he makes for a ship. Same goes for the Clawwaters, we dont' know if they'll jump ship as soon as we hit them.

>>19854519

I think we should just take him with us. He goes missing no one knows what happen to him. Operation goes as normal.

>>19854519

"It's a risk we're going to have to take Tom, but if this doesn't pan out I have a backup plan."

If they should flee the coop we should leave a few men behind to watch for anyone that comes to the town and make all haste to wherever we were going, and begin plans to raid the Cove.

Ok, let us examine some logistics here:

Backup - We are two days ride from the nearest support, three days for Ryamsport, and a full five days from home. We have no ravens with us, and it is doubtful the Cavills have a maester at their tower. Luckily, our enemies must contend with the same problems, and all the traditional communication delays of this tech level.

Opponents - We have one member of the gang in custody, with two more in this town who will notice his abscence. In five days, nine more members will be arriving.

Us - We have the entire Steel Guard, Ser Honeyhall, Terris, and Ben.

>>19854591
Or we could move now and kill them. Just saying.

>>19854519
We can't keep him here, he'll blab like a motherfucker. It might even mean that Fat Tom rabbits as well. We can't trust him to keep his silence no matter what we threaten him with. We either need to drag him along, which would be awkward and noticeable. We probably ought to kill this guy, make it look like an accident. Continue to Ryamsport, have the Steel Guard or a good chunk of them separate and hide in wait for the rest. They capture Fat Tom or tail him, not sure which is best, and the first thing we do at Ryamsport is get some men, come back and either interrogate or follow.

If we randomly stay here for 5 days it'll ping everyone's suspicion meters.

Or we pretend to leave and hide out nearby.

>>19854672

I'd say best course is we make haste to the Cavills and ask for help springing a trap on some wanted criminals, they don't need to know the full details, discretion demands this unfortunately. It's their land so we should be as polite as we can be about this, and in the meantime some stay back and keep watch while we personally see the Cavills. Sending a Raven will have to wait until Ryamsport

>>19854672

Bust all three men now. Inform them of their choices, they can either die, or work for us to bust this ring up. At the deal we wait in ambush and try to snag Fat Tom.

>>19854683

That too or take him with us somewhere else. His absence is unlikely to stop the delivery. We can take the whole gang in custody with the Steel Guard no problem I am sure. But we should see that a message reaches Portain and Paxter.

So it seems that the general idea is shaping up to be: Kill or imprison the three men you know off in Treebridge, while sending word to the Cavills. Then ambushing the other nine men when they arrive?

Does that sound workable?

>>19854715

I think this is the best option right now.

>>19854672
First of all I don't think we can trust Cavill, too likely he's paid to look the other way.

Also where do the new barrels come from? They take some seriously skilled labour to make and to season them properly so they don't damage the wine that's put into them.

>>19854715

I prefer killing one man versus depending on the trust of three, if it can't be helped, so be it, maybe he had a fall, or was swimming drunk.

>>19854742

So we head to Ryamsport with Terris, Ben, and a few men, leave the rest of the Guard here to spring the trap, then return with more men once Ben has sent the Ravens?

>>19854779

Seen like a good plan, we remain here of course.

So round kill this one? Then watch the other two while a group rides to Ryamsport to get reinforcements and a message to Lord Redwyne? While we and half the Steel Guard remain here, lying in wait?

Yes?

>>19854828

Alright, but as for this guy... I think after he gave up that info so willingly he's going to cooperate, even if these three ditch town we'll leave men on the off chance the others show up with the delivery, and we'll head to ryamsport and start plans for the Cove Raid. Either way, we win if they run, and we win if they stay, we have Clawwater by the balls if the Cove works out.

>>19854852
>>19854857

We can sent him to Ryamsport under guard. That we get him out of the way and we don't have to dirty our hands. We of course keep and eye on his friends.

>>19854905

Works for me, ok, looks like there's just to decide who's going to Ryamsport with Ben and Terris, and who's staying here with us, I think Honeyhall should get his first taste of service.

>>19854905

Just ensure that no one see's him leaving.

>>19854969

should probably leave by dawn then, sooner the better, and we should leave as well, set up camp in the nearby woods.

File: 1342157676564.png-(206 KB, 1048x1266, House Clawwater Sigil.png)

>>19854937
>>19854905
>>19854857
Ok. That night, half of the Steel Guard, lead by Sers Crane, Cargill, and Bushy, rides out with Ben and Terris, and our new prisoner. Ben carries two letters: one is to Lord Redwyne himself, asking for him to send his guards and knights to help secure Treebridge and any prisoners you may soon have. The other is a for a raven to carry to Saltmouth, telling Ser Wallgrave and Jorge Caswell to get the castle locked up tight, and to prepare the ships to be able to sail within a weeks time. Nothing in either letter is explicit, but you coach your words in such a way that it is eminently clear to an informed reader what you are talking about.

File: 1342157711270.png-(367 KB, 1048x1266, 1342099759898.png)

>>19855024 Cont.

Meanwhile, you and Ser Honeyhall, along with Doros, Brown Tim, 'Ol Nick, Reff, Ser Cordwayner, Iylaria, Gray Thom, and the rest of the Guard remain in town, carefully watching and waiting. Hopefully you can now catch those Clawwater bastards.

>Roll 1d100 for the next two days.

rolled 57 = 57

>>19855034

Luck don't fail us now!

rolled 54 = 54

>>19855034

rolled 78 = 78

>>19855034

rolled 93 = 93

>>19855034

Are we still sitting in the Inn or did we move camp? Kinda strange when a lord sits around in a bumfuck nowhere town.

here's to better luck.

rolled 49 = 49

>>19855034
Shit's getting real fellas.

>>19855062
We sit at the inn for two days, before heading about two hours south, where we pitch camp well out of sight of the road.

Nothing happens during the first two days. You hope your group riding south makes good time, and that soon men from Ryamsport will be heading north.

>Roll 1d100 for the next three days. Lets fucking do this, guys.

rolled 20 = 20

>>19855103

Here we go

File: 1342158124938.gif-(498 KB, 200x179, fuckthis.gif)

rolled 26 = 26

>>19855098

>why would you roll!

>>19855062

rolled 91 = 91

>>19855103
Rollan.

>>19855120

OK STOP NOW!

rolled 74 = 74

>>19855103
By the Seven, let's roll!

The next days are boring as well. No one is around to bother your little camp. So instead, the guys waste their time dicing and practicing bladework. It has actually been a relaxing few days, with only the cold and damp weather ruining the trip.

On the fifth day, you prepare your plans. Iylaria and Brown Tim will go into town and spend the day relaxing in the fields, before moving, after dusk, towards the house where the swap goes down. Reff will be in the house all day... He says that the man named Bran won't know that he is there, and you have full faith in that. The rest of the men will ride into town with you once the moon is up, meet with either Brown Tim or Iylaria to figure out where your quarry is, and them ambush them when they are completing the wine exchange.

>Roll that 5d6 to make this shit go off.

rolled 1, 5, 4, 4, 4 = 18

>>19855210

We should have a man at each entrance to the town to watch for caravans as well, just incase it arrives by land.

rolled 5, 5, 6, 1, 5 = 22

>>19855210
Let's do it.

You sit in camp for most of the day, but make sure to move around.... After all, in a few hours you are going to spill blood. You have to be ready.

Once the sun starts setting, you and your men mount up. Three of you left long ago, so you know that you should look for them when you get into town. By the time you cross the bridge, it is dark and the moon is high. Brown Tim waves you down just past the bridge, and quickly lets you know the situation: Iylaria is watching the inn, where the men are conversing and talking, probably about their missing compatriot. So far, both of the carts for the wine are by the shady house, and two men are there as well. Reff is within the house, somewhere, so those men are taken care of.

Tim turns to you. "The inn is nearly empty, m'lord. If we stormed it now, we might be able to take the whole lot."

>>19855341

Any sigh of Fat Tom?

rolled 3, 6, 1, 2, 2 = 14

>>19855341

"Alright, try to take them alive, we need information, send some men around to the back to cover any exits, and some to the stables, the rest of you with me, we'll come from the back and the front. Take them alive, but if the resist protect your lives, and try not to maim them too much"

>>19855341
Are all the rest, including Fat Tom, inside the inn?

rolled 6, 4, 1, 2, 3 = 16

>>19855341

>>19855405

We'll find out when we take them, we should do it now as Tim say's we could do it pretty easily right now.

>>19855379
>>19855389
>>19855405
Iylaria doesn't know for sure, but one of the men in the inn IS rather fat. Well, she describes him as "fuckhuge," so that might be your tip off. She also doesn't know for sure how many of them are armed, and with what, so she advises overwhelming force and surprise.

Doros unlimbers his hammer. "So, take them alive if we can, m'lord?"

rolled 17 = 17

>>19855441
how about you just try to cripple them we can kill them latter but most of all we need them to talk

>>19855441
It'd be nice, especially the big fat one.

Let's do this, shock and awe, simultaneous entrance from the various ways in. We want to overwhelm them and them to be pissing themselves in terror and surrender if possible.

Keep one or two on the outside to catch any runners.

>>19855441
Take them alive, especially the fat one.

>>19855441

Do so if you can, specially Fat Tom but remember to protected yourselves first.

>>19855441

"yes, if they resist, well, you know what to do. The Fat One must be taken alive at all costs, we don't know if it's who we're after. Circle around and spring in at once, hopefully we can catch them with their pants down and weaponless."

Everyone knows the ground rules: Don't kill them if you can help it, and really fucking don't kill the fat one. Gray Thom strings his bow and waits outside, for stragglers.

You and Ser Cordwayner position yourselves at the back door, and count down the seconds.... At the appointed time, he throws open the door, and you dash through. You hurry through the cramped kitchen, and the serving girl starts screaming. A pot of soup overturns, fuck it, not important. You slam through a flimsy door, and are in the common room. You take in the scene at a glance.

There, in the corner, is the fat man and four friends. One of them has a crossbow, To the left, three men are around a small table. One of them is busy drawing a dagger. By the bar, another man is reaching for a length of fire hardened oak he keeps on his belt - a stout club, reinforced with steel nails. In front of you, Doros has just jumped through one of the windows, screaming. Iylaria and Brown Tim are slamming through the door, with Justin Macey right behind them.

>Roll 7d6 for the first round of combat.

rolled 6, 1, 4, 2, 5, 5, 2 = 25

>>19855570

Lets roll

rolled 5, 1, 2, 4, 1, 1, 2 = 16

>>19855570

rollin

rolled 1, 3, 6, 5, 1, 5, 3 = 24

>>19855570
Shock and Awe, offer them a chance to surrender, they're outnumbered by very scary people.

rolled 2, 5, 2, 3, 6, 2, 3 = 23

>>19855570

rolled 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 5, 6 = 28

>>19855604

Fuck that they're already reaching for their weapons, put down one of the minions so they know we mean business, we don't fuck around.

>>19855604
By offer a chance I meant order them to throw down their weapons while we're attacking, if they don't throw down their weapons fast enough we'll smack them until they do.

Everyone is screaming. You bellow for them to drop their weapons, but the man with the crossbow pulls the trigger and everything explodes them. You wheel to the right, as one of the men from the table starts to stand, and swing your sword in a short, brutal arc. Castle-forged steel meets his skull, and splits it neatly as if it were a melon, sending his jittering body collapsing back. Immediately next to you, Ser Cordwayner cannot bring his bastard sword to bear, so he punches a man in the face: a mailed fist the size of a small ham destroys his jaw , his nose, and one of his eyes. The man with the dirk leaps up, overturning the table and coming at him.

Across from you, Doros throws himself sideways, the quarrel catching the side of his leg, rather than his guts. The man by the bar with the club turns, and gets Iylaria's rapier through his throat for the trouble. Brown Tim throws a dagger at the man next to him, but misses, and rushes him before the man can free his over cleaver from his belt. 'Ol Nick rushes the small table with the fat man, his short stabbing spear flashing out and catching a man in the temple.

>Roll 8d6 guys, and which direction do we go: towards the bar, or towards the fat man?

rolled 2, 4, 5, 4, 2, 3, 2, 4 = 26

>>19855686
Get the fat man, he's the highest priority by far.

rolled 5, 6, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 3 = 33

>>19855686

Head towards the fat man, making sure he stays alive is the most important part of this.

rolled 5, 2, 6, 2, 4, 4, 5, 3 = 31

>>19855686
Did we just kill everyone?

rolled 3, 1, 6, 2, 6, 2, 6, 3 = 29

>>19855686

To the fat man, if he dies than anyone else who dies under our command will have been in vain, we tackle him to the ground or kill anyone that gets in our way.

God damn look at those rolls

You sprint left, and slam a shield into the face of the man trying to get up from the table to gut 'Ol Nick with a viciously curved dagger. You feel something give, but power a knee into his jaw, just to make sure. 'Ol Nick, meanwhile, is holding his spear to the neck of the fat man, hard enough to be drawing blood. The man he stabbed in the temple is thrashing on the floor, while the man next to him is busy dying messily after Macey put a boarding ax into his neck.

Your hear repeated slamming behind you (that is Ser Cordwayner crushing a man's head against the floor), but ignore it. Iylaria is laughing, and judging by the scream that follows, you think someone just lost a hand. You flip up the visor on your face. "Fat Tom? You and the rest of your men are arrested, under authority of House Redwyne and therefor the King's Justice. If you resist, I will let Doros crush your legs like they were little sticks, and then take you anyways. The rest of you? Yield or die, this is your one chance."

>>19855806
I am even more convinced that the Steel Guard was the single best purchase we made during House Creation.

>>19855806

Steel Guard against some drunks no contest. Lets run them up and see to our wounded and sent someone to secure the safe house and the wine.

Sigilfag, back at last. Just got to catch up with the threads tonight and then I can rejoin the action!
If there are any sigils you want me to make dont be afraid to ask.

>>19855806 Cont.

The noise continues for a short while, especially the screams from the man with one hand, before Doros walks over and crushes his skull like it was an egg. All around you, your men turn to support you, very few having any living opponents to guard.

The fat man is busy wetting himself, and gulps out a barely audible "....I... Iyield." before 'Ol Nick grabs him by the throat and drags him (albeit slowly) into the street. You look around. Your men are unharmed except for Doros, who has a quarrel in the fat of his leg. He hasn't even noticed it yet, so you decide it is better to not say anything at this point. Five men are dead, one is busy dying, and three are alive.

>Wat do?

>>19855806

and get someone to take care of Doros immediately, if his artery is severed... well it was an honor knowing him.

>>19855863
>>19855833

Doubly agreed, we should make haste to be out of here as soon as possible with Fat Tom and the prisoners, also we should interrogate the inn keep or bribe him, i doubt he's not in on it too.

>>19855897
Give the dieing man a clean death, take the other three as prisoners.

>>19855897

We are missing two if I am correct. Sent four men to find them and make them short work if they resist too much.

>>19855897
Well, get the living men rounded up, disarm them of any weapons, tie their hands behind their backs with rope.

Give the dying man a clean death.

rolled 2, 6, 1, 4, 3, 1, 6, 3 = 26

>>19855897

Round up the prisoners and the fat man, have them bonded and let's make haste for Ryamsport, i'd rather not let them know anything until we get somewhere safe. Pay the Inn keep for the mess and to keep his mouth shut, have the camp stricken and the men ready to depart within the hour, we make all haste to Ryamsport, and someone needs to see to Doros.

>>19855897
Pay the inkeeper for his trouble, or if he was one of the conspirators, pay the servants. We've scared the crap out of them.

Whatever we do now, we have to do it quickly. Word will get back of this to the Clawwaters.

>>19855898
Well the inn owner is one of Ainness's friends, Bran. He's involved, if we don't have him captured take him as well. Though I think he was at the house where Reff was waiting.

The innkeep might be a different person, we should leave him and the others some recompense, this was kinda impolite to them.

>>19855959
>>19855955

We should interrogated Fat Tom first. Assure him he has a good chance to live if he talks (The Wall is better than dead). Get from him where do the wine goes next and how he got it in the first place.

>>19855898
I have seen femoral artery wounds. Trust me, you would know. There is literally blood everywhere when that happens. Doros probably shouldn't be walking, but he is a tough Northerner, so that is his thing.

>>19855959
>>19855955
As for the innkeeper, you find the man named Bran, the owner of the inn, on the floor. He was the man Macey tried to decapitate, but his ax wasn't sharp enough: instead of cleaving clean through his neck, the ax caught on some sinew and just shattered his spine, letting poor Bran die in a pool of blood and his own filth.

Outside the inn, you find Gray Thom pointing towards the distant house. Reff is walking over the bridge, juggling one of his short blades and singing to himself. You are pretty sure that whoever was in that house is quite dead now. The sobbing from one of the wounded inside is cut off as Brown Tim opens his throat and tips him over. Iylaria is helping Ser Cordwayner drag bodies out into the street, while Macey and 'Ol Nick are going through pockets and purses of the dead men, and hurriedly stacking their steel. A small crowd is starting to gather in the streets.

>>19856017
Nothing to see here folks, move along.
OH MY GOD! Dead bodies! Everyone someone was murdered!
Someone should alert the authorities!

>>19856017

"Nothing to observe, go about your way, this is a Lord's business."

>>19856010

No, interrogating here is stupid, we need to get to Ryamsport where he'll be safe, we don't know how fast Clawwater will know and whether he'll send a retaliation force, we make all haste to Ryamsport immediately, burn the bodies, we need to get outta here quick.

>>19856017

"We are acting in the interests of the Kings Justice. These men are criminals and not worthy of your interest. Do not interfere."

Pay a couple of them generously to clean up the mess we left behind.

>>19856017

Lets secure the wine and check the safe house. We got them all right? Count the bodies to be sure.

>>19855959
Remember, the Clawwaters are only going to get word via Raven and there's none in the city who have access to some. Luckily the Clawwaters will only figure out something went wrong once the next step of the operation notices a delay. By that time we should be kicking in the next guy on the totem poles head and so on until they realise the gig is up because we have them by the goolies.

>>19856065

I was hoping to capture the next team down the line as well if they are near.

>>19856017
I like Reff, he's a complete sociopath, not a nice person, but he's loyal as can be.

Also Macey needs to take better care of his weapons, jokingly tell him that he ought to sharpen his axe more often.

Secure the wine they brought, seize it for evidence.

We should get information on when and where the wine is next expected.

>>19856103

We should secure Fat Tom first, there's no telling how much he knows, and we're close enough to strike at the next point of operation before Clawwater knows anyway as >>19856093 suggested.

>>19856079

completely forgot, thanks for reminding, we should secure the wine as evidence and make sure we have everyone we want.

>>19856093next step of the operation notices a delay

See this is why I was hoping for getting information on the step of the operation. If it a ship the delay can be explain a bad weather or it got lost at sea.

>>19856164
That's what the fatty can tell us. Still travel takes days at a time not including the time that would normally be spent or rebarreling the wine.

>>19856116
Macey just grumbles, while shoving half a dozen new daggers into his belt. Ser Cordwayner is helping Doros onto a horse to carry him to one of the wagons. Reff is trying to buy an apple of a ten year old girl who is partially hiding behind her mothers skirts.... This distresses him, since he really wants an apple. Iylaria is talking to an older man who might be a village elder or the towns Speaker. She presses a few coins into his hand, and his eyes stop fixating on the small pile of dead men in the muddy street and instead on you as you clean off your blade on the shirt of one of the dead.

The little hovel across the river has little and less inside of it, but around back by the woodpile are two regular-sized wagons. One is filled with twelve barrels, while the other has a score of smaller casks, as yet unsealed and unfilled. This was the wine the men were smuggling. By the time you are returning to the commotion, your party is busy mounting up. Doros is placed in the back of one of the wagons, to babysit your four prisoners, while the unsealed barrels are simply lashed to the cart with the filled wine barrels.

>Wat do now?

>>19856187
on* rebarrelling the wine. We should be less timid now, in point of fact we have to. We are now comitted and if we let up for an instant the operation will dismantle and the Clawwaters will escape justice. More importantly, we will miss out on our glory.

>>19856196

head for Ryamsport now that we have everything we need, and tell Doros to keep the prisoner's quiet, and no one say anything about what we know, let them squirm on the ride back.

>>19856208

alright, well either we can have a quick interrogation session before we depart, see what Fat Tom knows, then head to Ryamsport, if that's the consensus we have time to spare, and should give us a head start on our next move.

>>19856196
Did Reff get his apple? He really wanted the apple.

Given that we won't be acting on the information we just got until we get to Ryamsport we don't need a full interrogation yet, it might be best to let him stew in fear. But we should to a preliminary one just to make sure there isn't anything here that we missed.

Also check out the river barge they used. There might be documents or something like that on it.

>>19856208
>>19856233
>>19856253
You decide to head to Ryamsport tonight... You want to get this Fat Tom in the dungeons as fast as you can, and despite Doros' brave face, you want Ben to take a look at that crossbow wound. The prisoners are hurriedly bound, while 'Ol Nick grabs the crossbow, loads it, and rides directly behind the prisoner's wagon.

>Roll 1d100 and 1d4 to see where you meet up with your returning party on the road.

rolled 63 = 63

>>19856312

rolled 1 = 1

>>19856312

>>19856233
>>19856293
These sound like good ideas. Also lets buy the apple for Reff if he can't get it himself, I don't want our barely tame sociopath stealing apples from children. It's just not right.

rolled 4 = 4

Rollan the d4

rolled 28 = 28

>>19856312

fuck, here's one last try at luck.

rolled 1 = 1

>>19856312
1 d4

>>19856208
I think it's important to get Portain involved with this part of the investiagtion. Once we've bled every scrap of information out of the fat man that we possibly can we can approach Lord Redwyne and present a united and cohesive case.

rolled 16 = 16

>>19856331
Please specify whether what you're rolling when you noko. It makes things clearer in cases like this.

>>19856293
>>19856332
Yes, he eventually gets his apple. He eventually trades the girl three copper pennies, a woolen hat, and a knife the size of a short sword.... The only weird part about that is that you have no idea where the hat came from. You really hope he didn't take it from the dead guys house. It would be weird to pay children in dead people's clothes.

Your group rides all night and into the next day, eager to cover some ground. After a short nights rest, you are riding again, in the saddle just after dawn. Midway through this, the second day of your ride, you bump into Ben and Lord Paxter. He is riding with twenty of his household guard, in glossy mail and helms with the Redwyne crest. Looking at the men in the wagon, he asks "Are these the thieves? The men who have, for years, been stealing from my father?" You just nod. "Well, except for the ugly one... That is just Doros."

rolled 75 = 75

>>19856415

my bad, should have realized that,

>>19856331

was D4

>>19856436 Cont.
You transfer Doros to one of the carts Lord Paxter had with him, and Ben begins to clean the wound, remarking that Doros is lucky his legs are so big. Any farther right and the quarrel would have pierced a tendon or the bone. You are happy to have the rest of the Guard around you again, although Terris teases Ser Honeywell for being too slow through the door to actually fight. This seems to do more than a bit of damage to our young knights ego.

It takes two days to ride back to Ryamsport, but in that time you manage to fill Lord Paxter in on the investigation so far, your leads and theories, and what happened in Treebridge. His father is sick, perhaps too sick to see us... But if that is the case, Lord Paxter has a plan to ensure the Clawwater's pay.

>>19856478

Pason is dying? Sounds like we're doing one last good deed for the old man, and if this goes all according to plan... I think we prove to Paxter we're a very useful ally.

>>19856478
Good to hear! We love plans!

>>19856436
That's an awful large payment for an apple, he must've really wanted it.

>>19856478
What's the plan? Whatever it is we need to put it into effect real soon given that we're on the clock now.

>>19856478
Reassure Honeyhall that there will be plenty more bandits and plenty more fights to come. We wouldn't have taken him on if we didn't think he could handle himself.

Next time kid, next time.

>>19856517
Reff really wanted the apple and the kid new what she wanted. This little girl.... we need to keep tabs on her. One day she'll be better at this than Littlefinger.

Arriving in Ryamsport in the early afternoon, the first thing you realize is the sheer size of it. Built on a river delta as the Arbor highland rivers empty into the sea, Ryamsport is a sprawling mass of quarried stone and stout timbers home to just over 100,000. Perhaps most impressive is Bridge Keep, the fortress of House Redwyne that was built directly into the living stone of a cliff face, and then fortified even more to turn it into a masterpiece of defense. That is where you ride, crossing innumerable bridges and being ushered through the crowd by criers and trumpet blasts.

Upon arrival, you and your men are told to eat and clean yourselves from the road. Meanwhile, the men of House Redwyne carry your prisoners into the dungeons, to be kept in the darkest cells, cold and dank near an underground river. You and the Steel Guard, however, do not endure any hardship: clean linen and baths of hot water are provided, as is a bountiful meal of fried fish, turnips, fresh bread and ale. As your men refresh themselves, you and Ben are called before Lord Paxter to talk.

>You have the first opportunity to speak: what do you say?

>>19856582

"Where's your sister?" haha i kid, i kid.

"My lord, I am eager to hear your plan."

>>19856582
"Dan Hibiki, street fighter or streetest fighter?"

>>19856582

"We believe the fat one they call 'Fat Tom'" may have more information on the larger workings of this network, they were receiving a delivery when we struck, with luck they have no idea we've taken the wine. I think it would be best to interrogate the Man and find out the destination of the next delivery and send men on a barge and via land to capture the criminals there.

We've also received information on a secret cove where they are smuggling from, we have no idea the scale of the dock, but I think we should make our priority to scout the area, and have an assembled force ready to strike. If there are captains and other higher ranking individuals we may be able to force a confession to Clawwater's participation and more evidence to convict him.

>>19856609
....Fucking dan.

>>19856642
Lord Paxter listens to all this, nodding. Whenever he has a question, you or Ben helps clarify it for him. Finally, he speaks. "This is a direct affront to House Redwyne and the entirety of the Arbor. You say this has gone on for years? I will not have my father's holdings cast into chaos and disorder while he yet lives." He holds out his hand, and a servant comes running forward with a length of parchment. "I have set my signature and seal to this, and the seal of my father in his stead. The Clawwater's have stolen from all the Arbor, and so all the Arbor shall pay them in kind." By this point, he is standing, his left hand visibly shaking. "I will not be called weak or powerless, nor bring my families house to shame at this late hour. I am calling all the northern banners, as many men as can be assembled in two weeks time. We will bring the King's Justice to House Clawwater, with fire and sword."

He turns to you. "So, my friend.... What say you?'

>>19856711

hrm, i'm not sure if he's jumping the gun, and whether we should advise against it... but then again this has gone on for years.

"My Lord, it would do me great honor to fight at your side and cast out this villainy from your domain, I am at your disposal"

>>19856711

"With fire and sword, my friend. My men are yours to command."

>>19856711

On a side note we should send a raven to Oldtown and have Bhaarisio detained.

>>19856711
My lord, I agree completely, however I'd like to delay it for a very short time.

With all of the commotion from this the Clawwaters are sure to hear and many of the smugglers will escape. I would ask leave for my ships and some of your own to sail in secret to their cove to ensure that none escape and that we have such profound evidence against the Clawwaters that none shall be able to speak in his defense.

We also ought to interrogate Fat Tom first and find where he was delivering the wine, with luck we shall get the mastermind behind the scheme instead of them disappearing like smoke.

Should we request the van, prove our loyalty and bravery by being the first ones into the fight?

>>19856803
Worked well enough for York.

>>19856711

Lord Paxter has just done something very ballsy. We have to support fully, to the hilt.

"Your Will, My Lord."

A short pause as we let the severity of the situation sink in.

"I think I need a drink. Join me?"

>>19856815

we don't have any engineers or siege equipment or a sizable force to commit to the van, our job should be securing the cove and having our ships form a blockade, while we join in the battle for the castle. The clawwater's aren't that wealthy, so i doubt they'll have too large of a household guard or huge defenses.

>>19856765
>>19856761
>>19856749
After your pledge, he smiles a bit. "It is good to hear you say that, my friend... I was a little worried I was letting my anger get ahold of me. But these could very well be my father's last days on this earth. I will have him hear that his son will ensure the strength of his legacy, not that criminals were allowed to walk free." After much talk about strategy and protocol, the two of you part ways, and Ben hurries to inform the castle's maester of the letters that must be sent.

You watch the ravens fly that afternoon, sitting with a mending Doros and Ser Bushy on the battlements. You try and guess where each bird if flying by their path: one to Barleyhall, another towards Twiston, another to Dawn Hall and Chaingold Ford, two straight east to Casking and Hardbottle. You have a day to rest, before boarding ships that will swing up the eastern coast towards Saltmouth. Ben sent a raven there as well, telling Colye and Ser Cargill to prepare for a number of visitors and ships. Saltmouth will be the embarking point for the men of House Cargill's eastern branch, the Dormers of Chaingold, and the place where half the fleet will replenish equipment and provisions.

>>19856834

Given most of the Abor just declared war on them I think they'll capitulate pretty quickly.

>>19856862

During our day of rest we should seek out Dalyna, if only to say hello.

>>19856867

no doubt, but i wouldn't want to be in a van of infantry and archers charging a castle, that's a slaughter.

>>19856862
We should probably say hi to Dalyna, we're in the area.

Also we should interrogate Fat Tom right about now.

>>19856803
>>19856815
>>19856832
>>19856834
Your pleasant moment is ruined by Ben, who comes hustling over with a book: Modern Fortifications of the Arbor by Maester Cintron, penned less than fifty years ago. He makes up for it by bringing wine.

"My lord, I knew that there was something more I could do than write letters... This!" He throws open the tome with a flourish. "This is Clawwater Motte, the seat of House Clawwater." The intricate traceries show a formidable mott and bailey style fortification, built upon a rise near the the arm of the pincer-shaped deep water harbor. The first ring is unmortared stone, packed earth and stout timbers, while the second ring, nearly fifty feet above the water of the bay, is more sturdy in construction: a curtain wall of twenty five feet and an inner keep built to withstand the ocean's storms.

>>19856921
Excellent.

How well manned can we expect this to be?

>>19856921

hm, the first ring is timber and earth? Perhaps archers with fire arrows could take care of that? I'm wondering if we could even maneuvre a ship or two into position to provide artillery fire, also do we have any artillery on our ships capable of breaking stone walls?

>>19856921
"Excellent work, this will be useful."

>>19856956
I personally severely doubt we can set it on fire.

Given the location the lumber is going extremely fucking wet, it also will be dense heavy wood which is a bitch to light.

>>19856983

unless we can get some oil in there via infantry.

Oh my Gods what are you people DOING?! Interrogate first, investigate more, THEN COMMIT.

We still don't have solid evidence that the Clawwaters are involved. Lots of circumstantial evidence but we don't have any evidence that would stand in a court of law. We need one higher up who can point at five men and pick out Clawwater as the mastermind of this operation. We need letters describing the movement of goods from place to place and describing buyers and sellers.

We do NOT need to attack a sworn lord on coincidences and the fact that this smuggling ring is based on his lands. By those degrees WE ran this smuggling ring before we cleared out the nest.

Where's smart!Karban?

>>19856960
>>19856956
>>19856955
You just asked Ben a question he knows the answer to. He dives into it. "Traditionally, like much of the Arbor, House Clawwater's first defense has been water. Therefore, most of it's might has been ships. When last I heard in Oldtown, the islands of House Clawwater had numerous ships, but with Lord Redwyne's aggressive strategy, they will not have time to muster their full strength. They will have sworn men, perhaps three to five hundred, in their service, with most them being near enough to their fort to garrison it. They will also likely enlist levies to help round out their forces."

He draws his finger over the map. "A blockade here would prevent anything from entering the bay, though we must be careful. The narrow neck here could become a deathtrap... But if a blockade can be established, the castle has one glaring weakness: it has no natural source of water. In his writings, Maester Cintron notes the massive cisterns for storing rainwater, but the keep itself has no well or spring."

>>19857010

Dude, we saw Damien with Bhaarisio when we went to see his private stock, we know bhaarisio is smuggling wine, we've seen crabbing men hauling wine, it's all but assured the Clawwaters are guilty, but all in all i still think we should hit that cove before committing to a siege.

>>19857013
Form a blockage and shower them with shit.
Let them deep of drink toxic waters.

We can talk strategy as we sail. For now,

>Wat do?
>Go talk to those smugglers and interrogate them?
>Go talk to Danyla?
>Go steal some lunch from the kitchens?

>>19857026
drink deep of*

>>19857051
>Go talk to those smugglers and interrogate them?

This is our highest super ultra red priority. Get dat info.

Coastal defenses are bound to have sewers for water, anything we can exploit?

>>19857051
Take our lunch from the kitchen to the interrogation, bring plenty. They might want a nice meal, and they wont get it.

>>19857051

First interrogate, then lunch, then afterwards Danyla .

>>19857056
We walk down to the dungeons, with Justin Macey and Ser Bushy. The first layer are traditional dungeons, while the second level are cells that keep prisoners entirely in the dark. The bottom, lowest level is carved into natural caves that abut an underground stream. The air is frigid and damn, the rush of water distorted by the smoothed, natural stone and seems to come from everywhere. Light reflects strangely, giving the entire place an unnerving air.

>Talk to Fat Tom first?
>Talk to the other smugglers first?

>>19857010
>>19857025
He's right. We need to wrap up our investigation and make it concrete. Paxter has made a big step, but we HAVE to have a rock-solid case to back it up. This includes having Bhaariso apprehended, he can provide that link which makes our case shift from tenuous circumstantial evidence to a solid case. Also interrogate the hell out of Fatman.

>>19857013
That's definitely something we can exploit.

>>19857090
>Talk to the other smugglers first?

We want as much bait and info to work with before we go after the big, and I really do mean big, fish.

>>19857090
>Talk to the other smugglers first?
Yep!

>>19857090
Talk to the other smugglers first. Make sure Fat Tom is far away enough to hear the screams, but not close enough to hear what they're actually telling us.
>steal lunch
Why not both? Grab something on the way down to the kitchen and enjoy a little snack while the interrogations proceed.

We proceed into the cell holding the other three smugglers. They are huddled close together, shivering and clearly unnerved by the strange sounds and environment. They seem momentarily blinded by the light, and then crawl backwards, away from the light.

>Wat do?

>>19857090

Other smugglers first. Ideally each man was held in his own cell where they couldn't communicate with each other to collaborate a story.

>>19857146
We'll do this one at a time, take one away from the group to a different cell and proceed to questioning.

>>19857146
"Okay, lads. I want you to think about your situation. You're in a dungeon, surrounded by men that are quite willing and lawfully justified to slowly disassemble you. You're in way over you heads, and involved in some business that you really shouldn't have been. Now, this can be painful or it can be REALLY painful."

You hand the torch off the Ser Bushy and start peeling the orange you swiped on the way down. You motion towards the beardless one, and Macey drags him out of the cell, tossing him down into the hall and half-kicking him into a neighboring one.

You take a seat next to him. He stares up at you, clearly terrified.

>Wat say?

>>19857171
I think we can turn this to our advantage after a little bit of roughing up. We offer just one of them the Wall, the one who divulges the most amount of information, and they will compete to answer our questions.

>>19857189

"Alright, where were you taking those Wine Casks?

>>19857189
Let's start with something easy. What's your name?

Then we move onto where he was taking the wine casks.

>>19857179
I like this, I really do. The only way it would be better is if we'd brought with us some form of fruit that we'd be peeling with a knife as we say this conversationally.

>>19857199

I doubt these fellows know much either way Haza, they're just hired muscle, Fat Tom is the one who will know anything, but either way let's ring them dry for anything we can, I'm guessing the most they'll know is the same as Ainnes, who they drop off to, how often they make their trips, and who hired them.

>>19857212
Looks like we did hahaha

This man is one of Fat Tom's boys. His name is Richard, and he was born on the Skalpstones, where he worked as a deckhand on a small fishing boat. But when he was older, he killed a man in Oldtown in a fighter over a woman, and had to hide from the more lawful folk. That was when he met Fat Tom. Since then, Richard has been one of Fat Tom's men. He would ride with him to get the wines, transfer them into new barrels, ride them up to the Northwood or Twiston, and then sail them out by tiny schooner to be picked up by Free Cities traders.

He is cooperative and generally helpful, providing dates and names as best he can (he is not an educated man, but he does his best), and generally tries to get on your good side. He may not be able to read, but he isn't dumb.

>>19857253
Right, well we didn't really expect him to give us the connect to the Clawwaters or anything, just provide us with enough info to really scare Fat Tom.
Let's take a look at the others.

>>19857253

We'll reserve judgement for him later, perhaps this one can be suitable for the wall.

welp, time to sleep, keep the thread going bros and hopefully i won't miss the seige of Clawwater.

>>19857253
What a nice fellow.

Get to the next fellow, DO NOT allow Richard back into contact with his compatriots, we don't want them to be able to consult at this point.

Get another one to a private area. Similar tactic, we can say that whoever gives the most information and is most cooperative gets to go to the wall and that Richard already sang like a bird.

We might end up sending all of them to the wall, but no reason for them to know that.

>>19857287
Nite man. Thanks for swinging round.

>>19857286
One of the others is almost exactly the same story (born on Horseshoe Rock, caught poaching and branded, bumped into Fat Tom and began to smuggle), while the other is Ainnes, from Treebridge.

Got anything else to ask them?

>>19857302
This works as well. Hopefully I'm not too late this time.

>>19857314
What do they know about Fat Tom?

Do they have any names that might bring us up the food chain?

Were there any other people who performed similarly to Fat Tom in the organization?

How large of an area did their little group?

>>19857332
I mean how large of an area did their little group transport wine from.

Also, do they know about any other groups that served the same purpose as they did?

You seem to get a general outline - there were a few men who stole the wine and worked as laborers at the wineries. Sadly, all of them fought during your raid, and all of them died. Never more than twelve, it seems like, to keep the cache manageable. Treebridge was the switch point, and only ever had the three men. From there, Fat Tom would carry the wines north in carts with a select group, many of whom were sailors. There, they would board secreted boats, sail out near the Clawwater's islands, and use complicated light signals that only Fat Tom knew to summon the traders.

Supposedly, Richard said that there was supposed to be a camp made nearly half a year ago, a place where they could relax in safety and where more men would join the enterprise, near the Northwood. But after a while, Fat Tom stopped talking about it and never mentioned it again.

>>19857314
I don't think so. Let's head over to Fat Tom.

Personally, I think having them executed, publicly, is the way to go. But let's see how our investigation with Fat Tom goes.

>>19857287
Have a good one man.

>>19857368
Well, we know happened to that base.

Do they know who was working above Fat Tom? Also do they know anything about Mad Maesters?

>>19857368
Awesome. Once we've gotten everything we know from Fat Tom, we have help us trick these traders into another meeting and ambush them.

>>19857397
They don't know about much above Fat Tom, although they did figure some of the other guys were on his level. The poacher describes a man who fits the description of the leader Lord Portain hung after that first raid.

>>19857415
Where was the shipment we intercepted going to go? When and where was it going to be received?

>>19857442
Ten days from when we intercepted it, it was supposed to turn up west of Saltrocker Isle for a Pentoshi cog.

>Ready to go talk to Fat Tom?

>>19857462

Yes, lets get to the fat man.

>>19857462
Where is Saltrocker island in relation to the Cove and Clawwater territory?

Yeah, I'm ready to talk to the fatso.

>>19857462
Yup. Let's sweat this guy.

You and your men stroll into his cell, looking unconcerned and relaxed. Fat Tom is lying in a pile on some dirty straw. Judging by the look of his face, the guards must have helped him descend the staircase in a non-traditional fashion.

Macey brought a camp stool from the hall, and you sit on it, cross your hands and wait. You stare at the man, in silence, for a good five minutes. The only sound is the occasional pop from the torch and the rushing, reverberating sound of the river somewhere in the darkness. You just look at him. His nerves are fraying. He knows that this is the end of the line.

>Wat say?

>>19857491
Have one of our men behind us start sharpening a knife.

Hello Tom. I certainly hope, for your sake, that you're very cooperative.

Talk.

>>19857491

Describe to him precisely how his fellows are going to be executed. They didn't give us enough info, maybe he can.

He just breaks down and starts sobbing. You make a motion to Macey, who throws a few good, solid shots into his face, which shuts him up for a minute.

"Now Tom," you say reassuringly. "This may seem bad. But it is much, much worse. All around are men who would love nothing more than to cut you apart, piece by piece. The lord of this castle wants to quarter you, did you know that? Gods know if the horses could move a fat piece of shit like you, but they would try. At least it would be an... educational experience."

The idea of being quartered seems to do it. He cracks, like an egg. You get signals, dates, locations, people, names... You get it all.

>>19857588

So was there anything that might be a direct to the Clawwaters?

>>19857588
He give us anything on Clawwater or the Mad Maester?

Did we get the signals for the boats?

Do they have other staging locations than the Cove?

>>19857608
Mhm. Fat Tom was hired directly by Damien Clawwater. Before heading the little scam, Fat Tom was a grifter in Oldtown, who was thrown into prison after trying to sell the Lord Clawwater moth-eaten blankets and maggot-infested grain for his fleet. Damien pardoned him, on the condition that Fat Tom would work for him, helping to implement a plan Damien had been working on for nearly a decade.

The fat bastard also has names of ship captains, Bhaarissio's contacts, everything...

>>19857613
The Cove is just their most popular location - it protects then small ships from the winds. Sometimes, they would just meet the ships out on open water.

And it turns out the 'Mad Maester' was actually Damien Clawwater in a costume, a simple trick to fool the common men into loyalty, lest they be stricken down with curses and horrible plagues like the house in the tales. Hell, the chain was made out of tin to rattle even more loudly.

>>19857633
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Make sure all of this is written down and confirmed by all the men of excellent standing and honor who heard it.

Have him parrot it to Lord Redwyne himself so that the validity of this is not in any doubt.

>Fat Tom was hired directly by Damien Clawwater.
Boom. We have them.

Even if it turns out that Damien Clawwater was acting completely on his own, and testifies to that fact, the Clawwater name is so destroyed that they will never recover.

Let's go find Portain and bring him the good news.

Gentlemen, there is opportunity here.

Suppose Damien is doing this on his own. It could be a powerful bit of information to wield against him, perhaps more potent than sending men against there walls.

>>19857633
Where any other members of the Clawwater family involved in this?

>>19857685
Too late really, Lord Paxter has already sounded the call to arms. Anything short of marching on the Clawwaters will make him look weak, and we really don't want that.

Looks like its time to clean up this mess and then feast on some cooked crabs. Mmmm crab legs in butter.

>>19857658
>>19857666
You smile, and thank him, before leaving the room. The guard shuts the door, leaving him in cold and dripping blackness.

Lord Paxter sends three of his men to get a full accounting of the story when he hears about this. They bring quill and ink, to record the words permanently. Fat Tom will live, but only until the trial, when he will admit his guilt and then lose his head. Meanwhile, you send a second raven to Portain bearing the news. He will be ecstatic.

A small feast is being thrown together on short order, to honor and celebrate the departing warriors. But that is still several hours away. While walking along one of the three interior walls, you hear strains of music, and veer off, emerging into a small garden. It is a wonder, a place of flowers and trees and grass lifted from paradise and placed onto a floor of limestone and basalt. You can hear laughter, and round a hedge carefully. Upon a small hill, you see nearly a dozen girls in brilliant dresses of silk and lace, in every shade of color. They must be Lady Danyla's handmaidens... And you spot her, laying next to a young girl playing the flute and an older girl with a small high harp. She is laughing, her hair brilliant in the sun.

>>19857699
It doesn't matter, the entire house is doomed because of his treachery.

>>19857727
You stay where you are for a moment, enjoying the sound of her laughter... And you won't lie to yourself, the other ladies are not so troubling to look upon themselves.

>Wat do?

>>19857733
I was wonder mainly to see how many of his men would mutiny on his ass when a giant fucking fleet comes knocking at their front door.

Stay strong man. DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!!

>>19857741
Say hello, it would be rude not to and then excuse your self and do something constructive like dunk your head in cold water and then train your squire.