Blood in the Streets (Under Harrow's Rule - Open)

[ziglerrobertson]

Zigler looks over the man and his assistant carefully before responding.

"Lad, if yea be lookin' fer a 'Mister Zigler' did yea say? I doubt yea'd find um 'ere. If however yea be looking for the current owner o' this place then I be he, an I got ta tell ya lad yea have a poor sense of humor. Over 8,000 in taxes indeed, had these 'taxes' ever been laid upon me I should have knowledge o' them and would have paid them well ere' before they reach such an ungodly sum!"

With that the mildly outraged dwarf crosses his arms and stares at the two men while being watched clandestinely throughout the Inn.

[Burz Bonehammer]

Burz had sent the halfling away with instructions for the current Bri'Ak-Duraz Duk'rik to meet him in the Firebrand's meeting room. That was the current name for Burz's merc group, that is; it was determined almost daily by Jax the elf. Burz didn't care enough to have an established name and it helped keep inquiry into his group at a safe distance.

Burz had requested Ur'thak to remain upstairs for the meeting: no sense in putting a duergar and a dwarf at the same negotiation table. Jax filled in instead. Burz only hoped that the elf could curb his tongue for this meeting. He didn't count on it.

With a sigh Burz tried to relax in his chair further. This meeting was probably going to be crucial; an alliance with the remaining dwarves would give him an edge over Harrow, who was quickly taking power over the city. And now with reports that the Dragoons had descended from the North, the future looked rather grim for almost everyone. Burz needed all the friends he could muster.

The clinking sound of chainmail coming up the street signaled the arrival of their guest. Burz narrowed his eyes at Jax, who was standing at the entrance, a sly smile creasing his face at the sight of the approaching dwarf.
---------------------------

It would be assured that this was the most ridiculous-looking wood-elf that Carneth had ever encountered: while he was wearing a simple enough outfit of blue and green, he bore numerous ear piercings and sporting blue tattoos along his arms, along with a closely-cropped warstripe hairstyle. Jax looked down upon the dwarf and spoke with a ridiculous smile on his face.

"Greetings my vertically-challenged friend. You must be our special guest. Are you sure you wore enough armor for this meeting?"

The angry expression on the dwarf's face made his smile even broader. Jax loved dwarves.

"And what a lovely ring you have! I know just the girl I'd give it to. Surely you'd consider selling it?"

From inside the house, the elf heard Burz groan in frustration. Success.

[Carneth]

Carneth's scowl deepened by the second.

This was the worst time and place for the dwarf to pick a fight and the annoying creature knew it. Carneth settled for pushing past roughly, but the fool moved out the way faster than he could have thought possible. The insufferable elf just grinned even wider and called over his shoulder:

"Hey big guy! Pint-sized visitor for you!" He danced out of reach before Carneth could react.

With that warm welcome, Carneth entered the house Burz's merc band was occupying.

"Do ye always make a habit of welcoming yer allies so?" Carneth asked.

"Jax has quite a mouth, but I couldn't ask for a better tracker," Burz replied. "I apologize if he offended you. Pay him no mind. It'll catch up to him some day."

"How much could I pay ye to let him skin 'im?" Carneth asked. Burz chuckled, but Carneth wasn't smiling.

"I'm sure you didn't meet with me to discuss killing my scout," Burz said.

"Ye're right, I didn't," Carneth said. "I asked to meet ye to discuss someone else. Someone who deserves killin' even more, though ye might be hard pressed to believe it." This last part he muttered under his breath.

"Harrow," Burz said. There was no question in his voice. Carneth only nodded.

"So you'll help me take over the city then? What do you want out of it? A seat of power next to mine?" Burz asked.

"No, no throne fer this dwarf," Carneth chuckled. "Duk'Rik is pressure enough." He paused. "No, I don't want to split power with ye. I just mean to see that ye don't forget who helped ye rid this city of the beast Harrow."

Burz thought for a minute, then spit on his hand and held it out to Carneth. Carneth spit in his own and clasped the orc's mighty paw. It was done.

"When?" Burz asked.

"Three days," Carneth replied, and got up to leave. There wasn't much more to say.

I hope this works, Carneth thought as he left. The clan wasn't so happy to hear I wanted to work with Burz. By Moradin's forge, I hope I made the right choice.

[Devias Harrow]

Harrow threw down the scout’s report on Silver Meadow in disgust. The damned Dragoons’ numbers just kept growing. It was only a matter of time before they would work up the courage to attack.

“I want you to increase taxes on the citizens. Higher for the non-human filth, of course,” Harrow told his assembled lackeys. They were ambitious men, one and all. Harrow liked his men to have ambition, for ambition could be bought.

“My lord? We’ve already raised taxes this month.”

“And?”

Harrow turned on the man, daring defiance and the man wilted under his glare. Have people always reacted that way? Harrow wondered. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately. He shook off the thoughts. There was no time to worry about such petty matters.

“This is no time for Mittelmarch’s leadership to appear soft, you fool. I want those creatures so occupied with our rule that they dare not think of revolt. Besides, when it comes time to conscript them, the luxury of regular meals will bring them running.”

And sooner or later Burz will object, and I’ll be able to remove him, Harrow thought.

“Now leave me. I have important matters to attend to.”

His lackeys stood and bowed, their well-wishes and brown-nosings falling on deaf ears. Harrow had already forgotten them. He made his way to his private quarters, past the guards who made sure no one else entered. He had just sat down when a voice spoke up.

“Good to finally meet you, Lord Devias Harrow.”

Harrow jumped, knocking his chair over backward as his hand flew to his dagger. “Guards!” He shouted.

“Oh, they’re taken care of, Harrow,” the intruder said from under his hood. “They won’t be bothering us. But down to business: I’m not here to kill you.” Harrow relaxed visibly, and the man could have been said to smile. “I’m here to extend an offer from my superiors. Let us into your city without a fight, and we will protect you.” With that, he drew back his cloak, showing the insignia on his armor.

Harrow perked up. “Perhaps there is indeed a compromise to be reached,” he said. “Tell your general I will send for him soon.”

“Do not be too long in deciding, Lord Harrow. The forces of Silver Meadow will not wait for you to make up your mind.”

He let his cloak fall, again obscuring the Jovian 4 on his breastplate, and left the room.

Harrow slumped in his chair, wiping the sweat off his brow. After a minute, he stood and walked to his wardrobe, where he found the bodies of his guards. He went to his door and shouted for a servant. “I have just thwarted an attempt on my life, but you need to get me two new guards. And some new clothes while you’re at it. Mine are covered in blood. GO!” he shouted, and the terrified man ran off.

[Incognito]

Jereb points to sections of the document. "Well Mr. Zigler you can plainly see the former Kings failed to keep up with the accounts. Luckily our new Lord is intelligent enough clean up the mistakes from the past. This will lead to a stronger Mittelmarch. And don't worry you aren't the only owner we are seeking back taxes."

He rolls up the scroll and hands it to Zigler.

"Really, I must be going. You keep this, be sure to make payments in a timely matter...I'd hate too see this...lovely...establishment be sold out from under you."

They leave the inn and head to another shop.

[A hooded figure]

A man steps up to Zigler,
"Now that looked a bit like something the people who use this place might have been interested in master dwarf"

The man grins at Zigler and slides a bag of gold across the table,

"Open a barrel of Tilman for us sir?"

[karth]

A crimson armored man led a small century of men. All on horse back. It seems they were expected at the gate. They strutted through town like fiery gods. The legionnaires looked at the people as they rode, but the leader with the silver streak in his hair kept his chin up and proud as they came to the Lord's Keep.

They dismounted and their horses stayed exactly where they left them. They marched to the door, one foolish guard dared to step in their path and was met with a gauntlet across the face. The leader himself striking the man.

Who knows what happened behind those closed doors.


His men staggered there guard through the keep and the leader barged into Harrow's Chamber alone...

[Baethor]

Baethor finds himself hunkered down in the forest foliage, somehow stumbling across a camp of Jovian troops. Some of them he had recognized. He didnt understand why they would be so close to mittelmarch, he hadnt thought they would actually be foolhardy enough to be the ones doing the assassinations. He recognized one of the soldiers as Cato Shatar, the heir to general shatar and a former soldier under the dwarfs own command. One of a few jovian soldiers who volunteered for what the jovians dubbed the "Monster Squad", he was a good man once...baethor intends to find out if he still is... Cato makes his way into a tent alone, mercifully the tent is on the outskirts of the camp, near the treeline. Baethor eases his way out of the foliage and casually mosies behind the jovian tents. He hesitates at Cato's tent momentarily, easing back one of the flaps of cloth he can spy that cato is alone, and currently trying to get out of his armor. The dwarf whispers as he slinks into the tent "Ey lad, need a hand?"

Cato spun rapidly and had quickly snatched his sword from his cot, it was unsheathed at pointed towards baethor before cato even rocognized him. A moment of clarity flashed in the jovians eyes as he remembered his former captain. "Captain Baethor?" "Keep yer voice down lad!" Baethor quickly hushed, cato was slow to drop his weapon, but he resheathed his sword holding it at his side.

[cato]

He lowers his sword slightly, but still holds it ready just in case.

"Captain...you shouldn't be here, General Karth forbids any contact with non-humans. He is motivated, not sure if it was the attack on Jove or that his wife was believed slain by beasts, probably both. He hates the other races."

He tosses the dwarf a sack of wine. Then looks through the slit of the canvas to be sure no one is around. He looks to Baethor.

"My friend, not all of the Jovians feel as he does, but we swore an oath and we serve...He has done well finding us a place out of the dirt. We do what we must..."

[ziglerrobertson]

"Certainly" replies the dwarf as the door closes behind the two tax men.

Zigler bends under the bar and fills several large mugs full of Royal Tillman Beer. The Inn Keeper counts out 5 gold coins from the bag and brings the tray and change back to the man and his companions. The hood man had in the interim claimed a table in the corner of the bar underneath the stairs.

"Aye, and I don't believe I'll be th' only place those....people be visiting today. But worry yerself not 'bout me. Plenty o' ways to pay offa bill, Mountains knows I've seen plenty of em since I started here. But if ye hear about any o' the others being in trouble, I'd be glad ta lend a hand or two."

[Devias Harrow]

Harrow turned calmly as the Jovian Captain known as Karth burst into the room that had been set up as an audience chamber for this meeting. Harrow noted Jovian troops were posted outside the door, while members of his own Flock tried to imitate their discipline. The two sets of guards tried to ignore each other, which proved difficult since they were guarding the same room. Karth came in alone.

“Ah, hello my good Captain Karth,” Harrow greeted him. “It is good to finally meet you in person.” He gave a slight bow.

“And you, Lord Harrow.” Karth nodded his head, as if he were the monarch and Harrow the underling. Harrow grimaced inwardly: the Jovians must be made to serve some day soon, but right now Harrow needed Karth as an ally.

“We have much to discuss, Captain,” Harrow said as he walked across the room and sat in an armchair. Karth followed him, but remained standing. Harrow went on. “I’ll be blunt with you. Forces are amassing in Silver Meadow, and they’re certain to try to reclaim the city. I will not allow that to happen. MIttelmarch will remain strong. My own Flock is enthusiastic, and we would not be overrun, but I’m afraid it may be a close battle. Closer than I would like.” He broke off, hoping Karth hadn’t gotten a good look at the Mittelmarch garrison. This battle would be closer than Harrow could afford, and very likely Harrow’s Flock would not prove victorious. Still, bluffing was necessary. He couldn’t appear weak. He couldn’t let Karth get the upper hand.

“I invited you here to propose an agreement,” Harrow went on. “Ally with us, be our standing army, and you will not only be fed and housed but have access to our resources.”

Karth moved from his stony silence. “Lord Harrow, a Jovian is not just a soldier. My men and I swore oaths…”

“I do not ask you to forsake them,” Harrow replied. “You would remain a Jovian army, only Mittelmarch’s Jovian army. You’ll find our ways are very like your own already. And what of the non-humans? We plan to kick them out as soon as we’ve taxed their very last penny. So do we have an agreement?”

[Baethor]

Baethor shakes his head as he takes the swig of wine. "I'll be on my way soon enough lad. I've got to get back into mittelmarch tonight. I had not expected to find the jovians so close to mittelmarch, but i am glad to see you again lad. "

Baethor had only met Karth a few times in passing while under Kain's command, but the jovian had made his dislike for the dwarf and his regiment quite clear.

"Cato...I need you to answer only one question for me. The assassinations in mittelmarch, did the jovians under karth have a hand in it?"

[karth]

"Do not mock me Harrow. And my rank is General! Remember it. My scouts have seen these Dragoons in the meadow, their force is not large enough for an attack. I have half the legion camped in the Greatwood the rest are at our hidden base. If we do make a pact then our guard will more than secure Mittelmarch."

He takes a look out over the city.

"This city has great potential, I see why Shatar liked it. With the river at our back, any flank maneuvers would be difficult. I cannot lie, managing the day to day aspects of an Emperor is not in my skills. I am a warrior. But you, your words turn the people. I will only agree if you convert to the Jovian way. You must learn to fight, understand our way, Only the Strong Will Lead and I will train you personally to be a warrior and I will name you Emperor."

He turns hand extended. "Do we have terms?"

[cato]

"I heard stories of the killings...Rumors were R'tiir was still out there...but he has not been seen since before Jove's fall."

He pauses, debating to tell more.

"Right now Karth goes to make a deal with Harrow, he's going to place him on the thrown...many of us do not agree...It is not the Jovian way. Only the Strong Lead. But this Harrow, he's slippery like a snake...I would not be surprised if he knew something about these murders."

He stands peeks out the tent again.

"Now is the time, guards are changing..."

He shakes Baethor's hand.

"These are difficult times for the Jovians...Jupiter guide you my friend."

[Anvil]

Anvil rode towards the city. After checking the forest camp and getting reports of Jovians being in the area and a column headed towards Mittelmarch he ordered an escape tunnel started in the camp in event of attack. If the Jovians were going to support Harrow things were going to get ugly soon, and Anvil wants to ensure his people still in the city are safe.

[Baethor]

"Hard times indeed my friend. But take heart, there are plans in motion that will hopefully change things for the better. Now i know who my enemies are...and whos blood needs to be spilled. I know you and your men might not agree, but if you truely do not agree with karth, and wish to try to save innocent lives then you should seek out the defenders. Anvil is the name of their leader and he is a good man. Tell him i sent you and that you want to help...But should you decide to follow this destructive path your leader has set you on, then i fear our blades will cross soon, though i hope it will not. Farewell my friend."

Baethor nods and shakes the friend of his old ally, then swiftly ducked from the back of the tent, making his way into the forest again to continue his journy to mittelmarch. This stop was worth it though, things are starting to shape. The jovian remnant are working with harrow, and were comitting the murders. Harrow seizes control when the people of mittelmarch are turned against the mittelmarch gaurd. The plan is sound, but if the jovians are moving to mittelmarch to aid harrow, the people will know they have been decieved...but they will be powerless to stop it with the jovians holding mittelmarch... The plan with the azoth gate may still work, but first these rats will need to be driven from mittelmarch...

Baethors path is clear, moving as swiftly as his dwarven legs can carry him he makes his way towards the river, hopefully after nightfall he can sneak in through the docks...

[cato]

Cato thinks on Baethor's words...

What he suggests is equivalent to trying to climb a mountain. The risk is high. Suggesting desertion to my brothers... What if they, call me a trader....what if i'm hanged...what if it works...? Civil war... My father ignited a rift with Thrawn...but my father was right... Thrawn was a coward... and Karth is a fool...

A week goes by and Cato convinces Karth to let him go on an errand to "study the weaknesses of Mittelmarch's Defenses"



Garbed as a citizen with no armor and no sword he heads through the gates of Mittelmarch. He does have an unmarked concealed blade though, he's no fool.

A hooded man bumps into him and whispers. "Long live Shatar, brother." The mysterious man turns and grins, his smile is seen, but that is all...

That scar...R'tiir... and just like that he's gone...

He heads for the Defenders Post and waits at the gate.

[Anvil]

Anvil walks towards the gate of the compound in the city. One of his men reports a man is waiting near the entrance. It has been a tense few days after returning with all the jovians in and around the city. Anvil is still considering pulling all of his people out of the city and not give the jovians an easy target, Harrows people were not a serious threat to the Defenders but the trained soldiers of Jove are a different matter entirely.

Anvil steps into the gateway with a pair of guards and nods at the stanger.

[cato]

"I'm guessing your Anvil, Leader of the Defenders?"

He scans the area for a moment. "I'd prefer we spoke a little more privately."

He pulls his blade out and hands it over handle out.

"This is the only weapon I'm carrying, your men may search me. I can't be caught talking to you. So please hurry."

[Anvil]

"aye I am, come in here and put your blade away we can talk inside the wall away from the eyes eveywhere these days."
Anvil walks a few feet away inside the perimeter of the wall and motions for the guards to stand by at the gate.

[ziglerrobertson]

Several days passed by before Zigler made up his mind about how to deal with the lowlands brat of a Treasury agent, but over a week had gone by before he first set foot on the steps leading up to what was once a barrack's sized latrine for the Mittelmarch guard and now served as the Headquarters for one Jared Cobblebottom. Readjusting the heavy sack then climbing the steps and walking through the door did little to change the dwarf's opinion of these....people, but nonetheless he was here on a mission and he steals himself to see it through.

The inside of the building was divided into two rooms. Instead of his/hers/its, there was now a front counter and a back room secured by a large heavy oak and iron bound door. Despite the interior redecoration the building still carried traces of its odious past.

" I am here to see Mr Cobblebottom," Zigler states sternly to the man behind the counter whom he recognizes as the man who had come with Cobblebottom the day the the agent had levied such ridiculous sums against Cedric's Inn.

"Uh Mr. Cobblebottom isn't in...uh....sir. I'm the only one here, really Mr. Cobblebottom rarely comes into these....uh...offices and he NEVER listens to complaints. I guess that's why he stays at home in the Keep most of the time, " the low level clerk smiles wistfully at his last remark before realizing what he's just said. "That is to say sir the uh....um...."

Before the man could become any more tongue tied Zigler threw the heavy bag up onto the counter where it landed with a solid thunk and a muffled jingle.

"Laddie I car not what yo' master does in hi' spare time, simply see to it that the accounts yea have fer Cedric's Inn be brought up ta date and be marked 'Paid in full'." Zigler grins as he turns away and begins walking towards the door.

Behind him the clerk's curious expression before looking in the bag quickly turns into open mouthed awe as his hand comes out of the bag with an oddly familiar looking lump of gold. "Uh, yes Sir! I shall make note of it Sir." The clerk shouts to the dwarfs quickly disappearing backside.

Outside Zigler pauses in front of the door, smirks and then quickly returns to Cedric's while inside the building the clerk begins weighing and piling the soft gold lumps. It isn't until much later that the man recognizes the shapes the gold seems to have been formed into and the relationship it had to his current place of employment....

[cato]

Once Cato feels no one is watching he lowers his hood. He shakes Anvil's Hand, "Thanks for seeing me, my lord."

"I am Centurion Cato Shatar of the Jovion Army"

He feels the intensity grow in the eyes of the soldiers around him.

"I am here peacefully..."

"What I do now I could be crucified for... General Karth plans to name Harrow the New Emperor of the Jovions. This is not our way. The strong leads. I believe his hate for non-humans will eventually drive every dwarf, elf and others out. And those who don't leave will be executed. He's already put plans in motion. Taxing the non-human property owners, rewarding the upper class humans. You will see a change soon. This war will not begin with blades and shields. Gold....wealth..... This Harrow is a serpent."

"I know my father was bit of a tyrant..., I am not my father, know that I have men that will follow me, know that they take great risk in their choice. I ask in these coming months, that we work together? I will have to keep face for some time, but when the time is right we will overthrow Harrow and Karth. I will work from the inside and you will use your methods."

[Incognito]

"Sir! Mr Zigler Sir! Do you want your receipt after I counted it all! Shall I bring it by!"


Another Clerk behind him, perhaps a manager,seems astounded by the payment. Immediately he grabs his robe and hat and exclaims to the other Clerk to watch the place. He shuffles past Zigler with a "Hmmph" and a raised nose.

[ziglerrobertson]

........and falls flat on his face on his way by. Zigler looks down at the man and smiles, not offering to help him up, but quickly getting his foot back underneath him. Leaving the man on the floor Zigler turns to the excitable aid.

"Lad if I waited here for it me thinks I'd have gray in me beard long before I saw said signed recipt." Zigler begins to dig in his pocket for a coin and upon finding one closes his eye momentarily before removing a shiny gold dinar-like coin from the pocket. Tossing it to the aid Zigler says, "See that ye bring it by my place 'fer the week is out and perhaps I'll even stand ye a drink."

With that the Inn Keep turns around and strolls out the door, but not before stepping on the upstart managers hand on the way out.

[Incognito]

As Zigler walked down Main Street he ran into Wren and his Elvin family with a wagon packed full. His sewing shop, Wren's Stitch, was emptied out. Wren was doing one last walk through.