Iron Kingdoms: War and Glory

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2007-03-26 06:09pm

"'Allo laddies." Guren chirped as he approached Arkady and the Kaptain. "I am poorer but richer, so I thought I'd try and get back to you lads." he looked about. "Where's Konrad?"

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-03-26 10:09pm

"Korovo?" asked the man. "Where the fuck is that?"

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-26 11:37pm

God Damn it. This is looking like it might be time wasted. On the other hand this guy might just need some encouragement.
"North of here. 30 miles."
Konrad put a high value coin on the bar, holding a few more in his hand.
"Sure you don't know about the place? I heard something interesting happened there recently."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-03-26 11:44pm

"A northern village? Are you shitting me? What's interesting there? Beats?"

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-27 12:07am

Yeah, it's looking like this guy is pretty clueless. Or he could be playing me for information.

"Not fucking much aparantly. I heard that there might be some sweat jobs for mercs up North. Gaurding payrolls to mines or some such shit. Any mercs head that way the last couple of days? And what exactly was with that Company of Winter Gaurd heading out that way recently? I certainly don't want any part of anything hinky going down."

I'm not going to give this guy any free info, as he hasn't given me jack. He might be able to tell me if I got any competition up that way though.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-03-27 01:51am

"Where are you from? The rail line ends here hot shot. Nothing but wilderness, hairy assed nomads, and villages so god forsaken that haven't even heard of Morrow north of here."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-27 07:55am

"I must have heard wrong then about payroll jobs. Just one last question. Do you know anyone who does know about what's North of here?"
Konrad didn't have high hopes that this guy did.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-03-27 04:47pm

Ford Prefect wrote:"'Allo laddies." Guren chirped as he approached Arkady and the Kaptain. "I am poorer but richer, so I thought I'd try and get back to you lads." he looked about. "Where's Konrad?"

"He went fishing information some hours ago. I wonder if he'll have any luck."

He shifted his backpack to his other shoulder, and said: "I'm starting to get tired, and we still have to eat something decent. I'd say we check on the market place one last time, just to see if we can get a better bargain on our supplies. We still need a means of transportation, since apparently no trains are going north. I could try summoning mounts for us, but as you know, summoning can be a risky business. And it would curtail my daily supply of magic seriously."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-03-27 07:35pm

"Herders, tax collectors, crazy ass hunters, soldiers." The man shrugged. "This is as north as you get and still have industry. Even the Orgoth didn't come this far north."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-27 08:29pm

Trappers and shit. At least I know where they hang out, usually near the fur traders. Best I report in and consult before I see about getting a local guide or anything.

"Thanks. Looks like I wasted both our time though. I'll be in touch."

Konrad left the coin on the table for Longshot.

He might be usefull in the future. Everyone I talked to said he was the real deal. At least we won't be having any competition for this job, as no one seems to know anything about it.

Before heading back to the Troll's Head Tavern, Konrad went by a cartographer he had found earlier for the Company. His maps for the operational area had been one of the few bright spots in their last operation. Konrad picked up some maps of the North, though they were not nearly as detailed as Konrad would prefer, and expensive as well. The expense would likely be worth it though. The payoff promised to be high, and the danger even higher. In order to live through this job, Konrad wanted every posible bit of info he could get.

After wandering around randomly for a little while to check for tails, Konrad was slightly surprised to encounter his companians in the marketplace, stocking up on supplies.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2007-03-28 06:32am

"How goes it, Konrad?" Guren asked as the other man approached.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-28 08:29am

Ford Prefect wrote:"How goes it, Konrad?" Guren asked as the other man approached.

"Not that well, really. Nobody knows anything usefull about our area of operations, or has any idea about what happened to Korovo. Hell, no one even seems to know anything did happen there. The good news is I found a few maps of the operational area, and we probably will not be having any competition for our job. I do have a question for everyone though. Do we want to try and hire a guide who knows the area?"

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2007-03-28 04:44pm

"I would say so. None of us are exactly born survivalists and if we're dealing with a dangerous situation there's no point in pushing our luck."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-29 09:26am

"Well then, lets get the rest of the supplies we need so we can get on with it. I'd say, two weeks rations and horses? I certainly don't want to walk there."

Konrad then set about procuring all the supplies he needed. He bought a decent looking horse, and two weeks worth of rations, following his own suggestion. He also bought about 20 new rounds of ammunition for his rifle and 5 more for his pistol. He finished off his shopping by buying a new longsword from a weapon dealer. It wasn't a masterpiece, but ist was of good quality.

Well there goes the troll bounty. And then some. I only got a little bit more money on me, but this job should easly replenish my spending money and add more to the retirement fund.

"Well, I'm about as ready as I think I'll be for this job. We need to do anything else before we go?"

Edit: to add question at end, instead of assuming everyone just wanted to leave town

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Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2007-03-31 12:19am

"As I said, I think hiring a guide would be a good idea. We could use some one with a more intimate knowledge of the area. I don't know the place that well and if we're going to be tracking a dangerous enemy, I'd rather we not blunder about."

Auric debated an attempt to try and pull rank. This was an important mission and a good performance here would help redeem the failure of the previous campaign. Ultimately, he hoped that good sense would prevail.

"It shouldn't be too hard to find some one if we have a mind. And besides, I'm sure we'll be much more comfortable if we don't have to rely on pitiful woodsman's skills."

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-03-31 01:26pm

"While finding a guide will not be difficult, digging up a competent one might be, as well as expensive. I guess we could try hiring a trapper. I could use a spell to ascertain the skills and honesty of potential applicants. If need be, I'll stay away from those who will do the negociations, to avoid being noticed."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-03-31 03:56pm

"Well, as I said earlier I do know where to find the type of man we are looking for. Arkady, that sounds like a good plan to me. I can start looking for a guide immediatly."

Konrad led his companians to where the trappers sold their furs in the marketplace. Many other trackers and guides congregated there due to their common interests. Konrad started asking around for a guide who could take them to Korovo. He told the assorted outdoorsmen that it could be dangerous, but gave no more details then that.

Lets hope someone competent steps up. With Arkady doing his thing, whatever that is, and Auric helping with interviews, we should be able to pick out someone decent.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2007-03-31 07:42pm

"Well, I'm going to go use this," Guren said, holding up his new gunner's kit. "To make more monster killers." with one hand he took his purse from his neck, then held it out to the Kaptain. "I trust you know that spending it all might turn out to be fatal." he gave a wink and headed back to the inn.

In his room, he sat down, put on his glasses, and went to work. It would take some time for the lead to heat up.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-04-05 05:36am

Finding trappers wasn't hard. The market for furs in northern Khador was always good due to the desire to survive the brutal winters and enjoy a modicrum of comfort. The south, much more heavily populated and industrialized, had less territory for wild beasts so the northerners fed that demand as well.

Merchants, either independent operators or members of larger consortiums, bargained with various hunters over their pelts and paid well in hard cash. It was dangerous work, but not unrewarding. Konrad quickly ran into some difficulty: several hunters had gone missing around the time of the disaster and the disappearance of a company of Winter Guard did not reassure them. They were bold men, but they did not desire to die. Persuading them to lead men into such territory would be difficult.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-04-05 01:08pm

Konrad appealed to the trappers sense of duty, and of revenge. Once he had found a likely man who was unsure, he said,
"Some of these men who have disapeared were your friends, right? Don't you want to know what happened to them? Don't you want to find whatever son of a bitch is responsible? If someone doesn't find out what's going on, this shit will just continue. Besides, we know something is out there, thats one very important advantage your friends didn't have. We ain't playing around here, thinkin we're some kind of super soldiers. This is just recon. We sure as fuck aren't looking for a fight."

If it turns out we can kill whoever or whatever the hell is doing this, we can renegotiate with this guy then. I really doubt that shit will be an option anyway.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-04-05 03:36pm

"He's good," Arkady whispered to Auric as they were watching Konrad from a distance, "but I fear that he's not pulling the right strings. Those trapper types are likely to be highly pragmatic lads, and unfortunately only consequent wages will rouse them to action."

Oh well, there go the savings for my new batch of spells! And an enchantment would not last long enough for me to...

Then he remembered the enchanted circlet that he had seen Konrad wear. If he was not mistaken, it helped him sound more convincing.

Actually, this might just work. Let's just make sure our perhaps-future-guide friend hasn't anything nasty or disappointing in store for us.

In the midst of conversations and the rustle of the fur market, he incanted his mind reading spell, trying to look as if he was exchanging pleasantries with Auric as he was doing so, then focused his attention on the trapper. His magics could only pick surface thoughts, but Arkady hoped it would be enough.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-04-05 05:51pm

One of the trappers stroked his beard as he considered accepting the offer. He was a big man with a thick beard wearing heavy furs. A long barreled rifle was slung over his shoulder. "What are you paying?" he asked bluntly.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-04-05 06:29pm

Konrad signalled Auric and Arkady to come over. He didn't want to negotiate the price alone, because paying the guide would likely require he get a cut of the bounty being offered by the Winter Gaurd. Konrad didn't want to offer that without consultation.

"What do you think is fair?"

He asked the grizzled trapper.
Lets see what his starting point is. Here's hoping it's open to negotiation.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-04-18 01:00pm

Konrad adressed the tracker,
"I believe we could offer you a full share in our payment. 2 pounds of gold. We get paid once we confirm to the client who is responsible. We get more if we can neutralize the threat. Of course that means you share equally in the danger."

Nothing less would likely be acceptable to the man, and the mercenaries didn't really have the cash on hand to pay him by the week or some other arrangement.

I hope this guy won't be thinking to abondon us once we find the target and get the bounty for himself. Here's hoping Arkady's magic can detect if this woodsman is thinking like that.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2007-04-22 06:23pm

Auric was getting to be annoyed at the tracker's silence. It was one thing to be tight-lipped, another to be insolent about it.

"So are you in or not? We don't have all day."