Casino Royale: Menace forges criminal contacts (27.07.2019)

Casino Royale: Menace forges criminal contacts (Downtime Activity Writeup 27.07.2019)

Summer nights fall over Port Ffirst like a sailor’s threadbare blanket – warm, musty, reeking of salt and rot. As the light fades, the cries of merchants and seagulls is replaced by a pregnant silence, only disturbed by the odd bark of a stray dog, or the fake laughter of a rented companion plying her trade. In the gloom, a cloaked figure rushes through alleyways, trailed in short order by a smaller one.

Menace strides purposefully; the labyrinthine network of back alleys that make up Old Town, and the broad, cobbled streets of New Town are intimately known to him. He would always know exactly where he was, even if he had just woken up, beaten and face-down in a puddle of vomit (which, indeed, has happened on occasion): by the angle of the shadows draping off the roofs, the smell of the dirt of this particular street, or the specific sound of mercantile activity around him; Port Ffirst is his home – and he strides as if he owns it.

The smaller figure hurrying after him loses its step, drawing breath sharply.

“Try to keep up Carl, we don’t want to be late!” Menace whispers over his shoulder.

The boy coming after him, no older than twelve, grimaces. “I stubbed my toe! Can’t see anything in this gloom… How can you see anything Mr. Mace?”

Menace stops at a crossroads, closes his eyes and draws in the musty air, Carl almost bumping into him.

“You don’t see just with your eyes, Carl. You use all of your senses, take it all in, and let the image form in your mind. It is as with people – don’t trust any single one absolutely. Take the information you are given, put it together, and see which pieces fit. Your eyes or ears or nose alone may betray you, but when you put their reports together, you will have the best picture...” He thoughtfully scratches his chin, then turns with a grin and leans closely toward the boy “…but I admit, having these is a great advantage when sneaking through the dark.” As he points to his obsidian black eyes, dark pits that seem to drink in the night. He turns abruptly and marches onward, “this way! We are almost there!”

They make their way through New Town, following the sounds of music, laughter and the clinking of glasses, until they come up at a grand, four-storied building with a wide porch and a cantilevered balcony on the second floor. The Flourished Hook, Port Ffirst’s premiere establishment of hospitality and earthly delights, is a sight to behold: solid craftsmanship of stone and wood; properly glazed windows; curtains of red velvet and a roaring fire of joy and music beckoning in weary travelers and pleasure seekers all – or at least those who can afford to.

As they reach the inn, the great double-doors being flanked by torches and burly guards, Menace slows his step and comes to a halt, Carl stumbling up behind him.

“Good evening gents! I am here for the party.” Menace announces with a smile. The thugs eye him suspiciously.

“Oh yeah? Private event tonight ‘ere. Don’t know nuthin’ about no stinkin’ Tiefling being invited… Who sent you?” one of the thugs, (heavy set, with small, beady eyes that betray a small, vengeful mind) rumbles.

“Master Olowin invited me! Oh, and he told me to use a pass-phrase… “Shitforbrainssayswhat?” Menace ventures, smiling innocently.

"Wha'?"

"I believe that's the counter-sign. Good night, gentlemen."

Beady screws up his face and opens his mouth to reply, but gets cut off by a booming laughter echoing down the street. From the shadows steps a small man, a Halfling, with a beard and belly that would make a dwarf white with envy. “Mace! How good of you to join us. Do come in! Just… please leave your coat and weapons at the door. And this…” gesturing toward Carl, who desperately tries to straighten his back and make himself appear taller “…friend of yours, will he be joining you?”

“My apprentice!” Menace exclaims with a chuckle, “Good help is so hard to find these days, so I have taken to training one myself. What do the honorable LeNoir brothers keep saying, “The children are our future”? Well, I couldn’t agree more.” He turns to Carl, takes off his coat-of-many-pockets and removes a number of blades from his belt (three, four, five…), handing everything to the wide-eyed boy. “Run along now, but don’t stray too far. I have a feeling our friend here (pointing at the glowering Beady) might not make for the best company. I will whistle for you when I am ready to leave. Do take good care of my coat!”

As Menace steps into the Flourished Hook, the sound of music and the smell of wine and food wash over him. The ground-floor saloon is well lit by a grand chandelier hanging from the high ceiling; booths line the tapestry-hung walls, and a maze of tables and chairs fills the floor, with a band cheerily playing at the center on a raised dais. A long bar hugs the far side, sitting in the shadow of a wide, but delicate staircase leading up to the mezzanine and the guest rooms on the third and fourth floor above. The air is thick with tobacco smoke and sweat. And through it all pierces the sweet jingle of coins being won and lost.

As Menace looks to the balustrade of the mezzanine, he feels a gaze lingering on him from across the room; looking up, he can make out a dark figure leaning over the railing. The fact that people keep a respectful distance from the person, despite the overall press and bustle of the casino, speaks to their power. Menace makes a showy bow toward the balustrade, Olowin looking on approvingly.

“That up there,” he says, “is the Demon. A person of power, to be sure! This shindig tonight is her party. I would introduce you Mace, but I don’t think you have quite achieved the reputation yet that would warrant an audience… Maybe next time, eh?” the Halfling says, giving Menace a well-meaning pat on the lower back, as high as he can reach.

“Olowin, dearest of all my friends“, Menace replies with a toothy smile, without taking his eyes off the Demon above, “don’t you worry, I understand completely. And I am sure, I will have the pleasure of an audience very soon; very soon indeed… Great things are about to happen here in Port Ffirst, I can feel it. And you and I will do much business together, I promise! Now…” Menace veers his eyes over the gambling tables, “why don’t you introduce me to some of these other, fascinating people you have assembled here? The night is young, and there is so much business still to be done.”

As the dawn begins to creep over the sea, and the last drunks stagger on to their homes or sleeping places, Menace and Carl make their way back to Old Town. Menace smiles – his pouch may be a few coins poorer, but his spirit and standing have been greatly enriched. Tonight was not about money to be won at the tables; tonight was about making contacts and forging connections. A new dawn is breaking over Port Ffirst, this is true – and there is so much still to be done.

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Menace spends most of his time chasing false leads set in place so that the criminal organisations become harder to find.
The simple information he gets is:
There's an organisation that call themselves the Crimson Thread. Their leader is a mysterious woman that goes by the name Laeruna the Red.
With a 12 you also, by the end of the week, finally find a lead that doesn't seem to be a dead end. There is a halfling in town named Olowin - he sometimes organises gambling nights at the Flourished Hook and word has it, when he gets too drunk he starts speaking about the Thread with more authority than your average Joe.
Menace follows up on his lead, approaching Olowin in the Flourished Hook. After ordering the halfling two half-pints of rhum, getting the little fellow suitably inebriated, Menace begins to carefully ask him about the Crimson Thread, their business and potential for cooperation.
Olowin appreciates the free drinks and chats a bit too much - he says he's v. Busy but has got something big coming up - a gambling event sponsored by the 'demon' itself.
He gives you a free ticket for it - it's next week at the hook, upstairs private area, 20gp minimum buy in.

Bet: 50GP

Insight check 16, Deception check 10, Intimidation check 5
Complication check d100= 23
Results: passed, but lose 25GP

At the end of the tournament Olowin would chat to you a bit with the classic ah, better luck next time kind of speech.
He also tells you he appreciates your spunk and that PF needs more people like you. After a few drinks he tells you that perhaps if you keep proving yourself out there and he keeps hearing good things about Menace on the streets he might be able to introduce you to 'the Demon' herself.
For now, he teaches you how to contact him subtly. There's an abandoned house in Old Town with a loose floorboard, if you wish to contact him about anything in specific you can leave your message there and he or someone that works for him will find you. Just keep in mind that favours have a cost - it could be money or other favours!