HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1 John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma ?? Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma W2 Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma W3 Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....NormalFaerry Fe R3 Wayne Richardson/Uji..Thig..............Sidh MU.Normal/Faerry Ma W2 Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard ..Normal/Human Ma R3 Orion (Paul Broman)...Trembyl...........Wizard..Normal/Human Ma W4 Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe R3 Scott Adams...........Xian..............Wizard..Normal/Human Ma R4 Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Boyzdar [Wolf] (Strie'bog), Game Web Site - http://www.funport.com/longshot/pbem Public posts/actions to pnpgm@abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to longshot@darktech.org Game Update #13 in sequence (file #15) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin notes: None. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] - None ----------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] GM: Administration Info - * Status file updated. 1. Characteristic Points Total Players: 14 CPs sent to Players: 14 CPS allocated/returned: 13 Character sheets sent: 13 Current progress: 93% Leaves only Strie'bog at this point. 2. In-between time actions Total Players: 14 IBT Actions sent to me: 10 IBT completed by me: 11 Current progress: 89% Have IBT actions from: Unali Check out the Status link on the website to see order of IBT actions given to me and which at the time of the week I'm currently working on. ------------------------------------------------------ GM: Hope everyone had a great new year. Hope no one didn't get too drunk and end up in the backyard garden with the dwarves...but that's another tale... GM: I have completed Unali's IBT events. So that gives me 85% or so completed with her stuff. Still got to update character sheet and do a few minor things based on the events to catch up on like expenses. By next update I should be done. I have heard from Arawn and he's working on his plan. So we should be ready soon. If I complete Arawn's and don't hear from Strie'bog then we can assume he stays with his mother for the duration. Guess he is too busy right now. Actions? Comments? Next update Wednesday... 1/09/08 GM: Below is Unali's actions. Only one that might have been included with some of the action would likely be Farseeker (was) and Z'leyra. But Z'leyra was busy tinkering with stuff at her manor and Unali didn't have time to recruit her help. (Yeah that's it :)). Due to the mass amount of action and time I had to summarize a lot of it so didn't go into great detail on the combats or we'd be up to a few thousand lines more of text :) ---------------------------------------------------------------- * Unali's IBT Actions [Decalis 25 - Unali rides from Sivas city to Maren City on Damon's ship after spending a couple days with the party in Sivas and relaxing. Damon shows more seamanship skills for her. Privately Damon gives a rundown of the last couple months ships goings and comings. Unali is interested in any ship that might carry the Climan flag. Even though King Maros hates Clima he still allows Climan ships to trade with Marentian cities Malnon and Sivas. Pressure from the merchant houses demand free trade continue for good of all since Climans are in such a powerbase in the Sea of Tears. Damon tries to recall ships and gives her a list. He knows most are just innocent traders but he knows some are pirates. Around 8am Unali spots a fishing fleet of 10 ships heading west past the front of Damon's ship. The crew seems to take no notice but Unali finds the fleet interesting as it seems to be a floating island with all the birds over and around it. Around 7pm she notices a Marentian troop ship heading south west to a fortress somewhere.] [Decalis 26 - Damon's ship ends in Maren city in the evening in the capital docks district. A restricted area but Damon has access as one of King Maros's personal favors from the past when Damon got the ship from the Climan mission. Unali heads into town as Damon sails off to unload goods at the merchant section. Near 11am Unali notices a small ship of maybe 4-5 people sailing fast in the opposite direction. No official flags are flown but Damon believes it to be a private pleasure ship. It is after 10pm when Unali heads into town and rides toward Duke Aren's Maren City Estate. Almost an hour later in the darkness she reaches the gates and guards let her in. The steward lets Unali in and reports Aren is at Maros's castle and should return in the morning. Unali sets off for bed after a late dinner.] [Decalis 27 - In the morning Duke Aren meets with Unali for breakfast and is glad to see her safe and back. Unali spends a few hours talking. Unali asks if she can help out gathering info for Aren in any way. Aren agrees to setup some things later for her to do. For now she should rest. He informs her of the network of Climans spies that have been taken in the last 3 months since she has left. Unali sends a letter to Marta Valnon by messenger. At the estate Unali starts training with a guard scimitar skill.] [Decalis 28 - Unali continues Scimitar skill training.] [Decalis 29 - As snow falls Unali decides to have a horseman at the estate guarding Aren the ropes of horsemanship. That evening around 7:30pm both Unali and the horseman encounter 4 thugs beating up a peasant near a farm. Without hesitation both charge after the men on foot. After a combat that lasts only 7 seconds the thugs are down and captured. The peasant and rescuers are unhurt. Both lead the thugs to a nearby guard depot for them to go to jail. [CEP 8]] [Decalis 30 - 31 - Unali continues horse training. ] ]Janaq 1 - Unali gets a reply from Marta and setup a meeting with some other people for Janaq 8th at Aren's estate. Unali continues her horse training.] [Janaq 2 - 6 - Unali continues horse training.] [Janaq 7 - Unali continues horse training. While riding alone in the mountains Unali comes across a valley with a large crowd of over 100 people (maybe 120). When she approaches she notices a festive nature. It turns out to be a old fashioned carnival with animals, food, magic demonstrations and other fun things to do. The carnival wasn't there the day before and seems to be attracting nearby villages and towns. Unali spends time in the festival sampling food and free wine samples.] [Janaq 8 - Unali continues horse training. Around 11:30 or so Marta and 3 others arrive at the estate to visit with Unali. Today Duke Aren was called away on an emergency. Unali spends a great deal of time with the four visitors and sets up arrangements for their stay.] [Janaq 9 - Unali continues horse training.] [Janaq 10 - Duke Aren's nephew comes to visit the estate. Unali is introduced and find him rather dashing for a Knight in the military. Aren and his relative visit for some time in private for a few hours then he departs. Unali continues her horse training.] [Janaq 11 - 17 - Unali continues horse training.] [Janaq 18 - In the morning Unali notices the same recruiter she met 3 weeks prior returns and has a private meeting with Aren and another military officer. Unali continues her horse training.] [Janaq 19 - 21 - Unali continues her horse training.] [Janaq 22 - During lunch Aren informs Unali that Farseeker has been called to the L'p'nth borders in the last few weeks to handle border skirmishes and a surge of refugees. This is nothing new to Unali as she has heard the same through other sources. But Aren informs Unali that she can be help to Farseeker in the Kor'ta Fortress which is some distance away near the L'p'nth border. Several prisoners have been taken and can be questioned by Farseeker and Unali. Farseeker may have other missions of infiltration that only Unali may be skilled to perform rather than his obvious soldiers. Aren informs that he will send an escort out in two days to the fortress. In the meantime he has some papers to prepare and deliver by her to the fort commander. For the rest of the day Unali continues her horse training. She has been on the estate for almost a month now and finds it tiring and is eager for action finally.] [Janaq 23 - Unali packs up her gear for travel and continues her final day of practical horse training.] [Janaq 24 - On a cold morning Unali and 2 horsemen escort set out for the fortress that lies about 150 north east of Maren city in the edge of the hills. The horsemen continue to give Unali horse riding and combat tricks.] [Janaq 25 - Unali and the other 2 riders continue toward the fort on the main road still training in horsemanship. Little after noon the trio spots 8 peasants walking down the street. The trio learns they are simply traveling away from one village to another due to the town getting a bad reputation due to certain individuals.] [Janaq 26 - 27 - The trio continue north east and train in horse mock combat.] [Janaq 28 - Unali and the other 2 encounter a group of 10 entertainers and 2 hired guards in a caravan heading south. They are musicians and singers trying to avoid the violence of the L'p'nth border fights. Little after 1pm the trio enters the fortress and Unali gives the sealed papers to the commander. The commander reports Farseeker is out on a mission to collect raiders nearby.] [Janaq 29 - Unali meets with the prisoners and with the help of the commander starts their interrogation. Unali finds a master dagger thrower and he shows her how to throw a dagger with skill.] [Janaq 30 - Unali continues to question the prisoners and train a bit with the thrown dagger. In the afternoon Farseeker arrives with his squad and is surprised to find Unali there. Farseeker has gathered another 3 prisoners from L'p'nth. Farseeker reports the trouble with L'p'nth now is a power struggle that has spread to even the nearby badlands and its city. Refugees and those itching for a fight have crossed the border in a disorganized war. Little after 9am the fort sends out a squad to escort a group of 10 outcasts from L'p'nth in. They are treated as refugees and questioned. Unali and Farseeker learn a few details of troop movements and village raids from them. The refugees seem to not be wanted by any L'p'nth town. That evening Unali finds herself awake at 11pm and the fort is quiet. She roams the fortress but is suddenly beset by a prisoner who has escaped. Unali easily throws the man over onto the ground and with one feel swoop of her dagger knocks the man out. Guards help put the man back in his cell and tries to figure out how he escaped. CEP 3] [Janaq 31 - Unali and Farseker head out on patrol with a squad but find no resistance or problems. She learns a bit on mountain tracking.] [Febris 1 - The fort commander sends Farseeker and Unali out on a raid the L'p'nth have setup in a mountain pass that once stood as a mining camp. But when the squad gets there they find the camp has been abandoned with things strewn about as if left in a hurry. As a small patrol goes out to search the area Farseeker and Unali search the long dead mine to ensure no enemy has taken up home there. After about 5 minutes in the mine no one seems to be found but a fork of 3 tunnels is found. As Unali, Farseeker and the 2 soldiers decide where to go noise is heard. Suddenly a group of 3 great apes charge forward from one cave and 2 from behind from some missed alcove. A quick battle is ensued. Farseeker takes on 2, Unali takes on 2 and the guards take on one. Unali draws her second dagger and thrusts both. The magical dagger fails to hit but the other hits the ape in the left chest under the heart doing an impressive 19 points of damage. Two of the 5 apes have stone tipped spears. Two fighting Unali have spears and thrust them at her. The first spear hits her in the neck doing only 5 points but missing important artery area. The second spear impacts in her chest under her left ribs doing a massive 8 points of damage. She shifts her weight and stabs the wounded ape and does 9 points to him knocking him out and to the ground. The other ape stabs but fails to hit. Unali swings but fails to hit. The ape stabs Unali but the damage doesn't penetrate her chainmail. Unali stabs the ape just above the heart doing 16 points of damage. Unali stabs the ape this time in center left ribs doing only 2 points though. She begins to feel weak from the blood loss. The ape stabs but fails to hit. Unali stabs the ape in the left shoulder doing 6 points of damage and uses her other dagger to block blows. The ape fails to hit but Unali's knees give out and she falls to her knees. Before Unali can be stabbed to death one of the other soldiers stabs the ape with his sword in the side and kills him. Unali grabs her wound and notices the other apes are down as Farseeker finishes off his second. The soldiers stand sentry as Unali wraps her wound and stops the bleeding. All retreat outside and head back to the fort knowing the enemy may have been scared away by the Apes. [CEP 54] The apes are killed by Farseeker to ensure they don't harm nearby villages. Unali is healed back at the fortress by a village healer.] [Febris 2 - Unali wakes up to only a slight bruise from her two wounds. One has been healed completely and the chest wound has been bruised. The commander insists she stay in the fort and help question refugees to recover.] [Febris 3 - Little after 9am the fort goes on alert when bells ring throughout. Sentries report a angry Hill giant is approaching and throwing boulders at the fort walls. Normally giants wouldn't attack such a fort but this one may be upset or thralled by the L'p'nth witches. A group of 12 including Unali and Farseeker head out to battle the 8 foot giant as bows are fired at it. In a combat that lasts just over 3 minutes Unali gets in 3 shots with a thrown dagger (can't use much else due to giant girth, horse speed and other horses in a buzz around it). One fails to hit but 2 hit for a total of 17 points one in the neck and the other in the left chest. The others finally kill the giant. CEP 102] [Febris 4 - Near 7pm while out on patrol Unali and Farseeker capture a L'p'nth villager refugee. Before they can question her one of the squad soldiers yells a giant is on the ridge. All look to see a 20 foot giant. Last time it took 12 this time only 4 are in the party. This one is dressed in skins and has a large tree like club. The one eyed creature spots the party and stares. As the 2 soldiers raise their crossbows to fire Unali stops them. She looks at Farseeker who nods in agreement. Both Unali and Farseeker have encountered Searbhani before and they tend to be friendly. Unali knows no sidh words but Farseeker yells a sidh greeting. The Searbhani raises its club in salute and then walks away down the other side of the ridge without incident. Since its well after dark the patrol ends and heads back to the fort.] [Febris 5 - Farseeker heads north to help a caravan up the road as Unali is sent out to lead a squad of 5 men to a village in the mountains that has been reported to be taken over by L'p'nth. The Commander wishes her to infiltrate and report if its true or not. As they arrive hours later about 14 miles east of the village they setup a makeshift camp. Unali heads out alone to the village over the ridge. But as she does she hears screams behind her. She runs back to find trolls attacking the camp. One seems taller, armed with a nice sword and wearing scale mail. The other 4 trolls have no armor but just clubs or stone spears. Unali tries to stealthily get behind the Elite troll as the other soldiers fight the trolls. The Elite is giving orders but unaware. Unali draws her daggers and lunges. The first dagger hits the shifting troll in the left arm doing a massive 28 point ripping the main artery to shreds. The non magical dagger hits the troll in the right upper shoulder for a devastating 59 points of damage. The troll falls face forward dead before it can protest. By now 2 other trolls are already dead by the guards and when Unali goes to join the other trolls are killed. [CEP 225]. Only two guards took minor wounds. Knowing it would take hours to return Unali continues on her mission to spy on the village. Hours later she returns to the camp and confirms the village has been taken and the villagers are held prisoner. Using a messenger bird she sends a report back to the fort.] [Febris 6 - Unali's squad takes to hiding in a ravine and awaits for reinforcements. They arrive around 4pm led by Farseeker. The small army of 30 mount a quick assault at twilight. A battle that lasts 8 minutes ensues with 42 L'p'nth killed and 18 taken prisoner. Of the Marentian villagers only 1 is killed in the assault and 53 are free. Weeks later Unali and Farseeker will get a commendation directly from King Maros for the rescue. For the attackers only 2 soldiers die and Unali only takes a single wound from a bow but quickly heals. CEP 12] [Febris 7 - 9 - Over the next week Unali, Farseeker and the Commander learn a great amount of intelligence by the sweling ranks of the prisoners. A guard questions why Unali has a bow but never uses it. Unali is convinced to learn Bow from the guard for the next week.] [Febris 10 - Little after 8pm a mountain giant is spotted by a night patrol. But before Unali and others can go to check it out the giant has fled the area with no incident.] [Febris 11 - 12 - Unali continues to train with bow and gather more intelligence and rumors from the L'p'nth.] [Febris 13 - Near sunset a squad chases a boar near the fort walls and kills it and the fort eats well that night. A festive mood seems to sit in as raids in the last few days have dramatically decreased as more military troops from Marentia mass. Refugees continue to spill over the border westward but raiders and other nasty folks seems to have learned their lesson. Unali decides to head home the next day and work on her next project.] [Febris 14 - After 16 days at the fort Unali sets out with a long guard escort back to Maren city to hand Aren and other military officials reports and letters. In tow they have over 75 scrolls and dozens upon dozens of smaller reports. The horseman helps Unali with her horse combat skills over the next 5 days of travel.] [Febris 15 - 16 - No incidents so Unali trains with her horse.] [Febris 17 - Unali and the guard meet up with travelers from the Zen'da plains. The Sermanda tribesmen have gotten permission to travel into Marentia to visit someone running a horse ranch for possible tips and suggestions. The 8 Zen'da name the man as Ben'dar and Unali smiles. Ben'dar's reputation seems to be spreading a bit in the last 5 or so months he has had his ranch.] [Febris 18 - In the late afternoon the duo arrive into Maren city. The guard heads to military headquarters and Unali returns to the estate of Aren. She learns Aren is just about to head to his castle in the west as weather is improving as winter begins to slowly end in the area. Both Aren and Unali meet for some time as she reports on her intelligence and hands over reports for him. He is pleased to the results and reports his own information back to Unali. Unali then informs him of her previous plan to seek out possible Climan threats. She knows that since last summer the Climans may have started operations for revenge on the party that destroyed the Cloud Base. There were survivors from the attack that the party could not just outright slaughter for moral reasons. As well as dark magics to gather information. It has been about 7 months since the party has been to Clima and she needs to check if they are active in Marentia. Again Aren informs her of the Climan spy network he has taken down. But there are bound to be more cells. Aren gives details on possible spy holdouts and taverns to base her operation. Aren warns here that she is not trained in intrigue and that would take at least a month to learn. She should not do anything to step over other intelligence operations and should check in often with Aren or his aides to ensure that. He is confident in her skills having seen it first hand last summer.] [Febris 19 - Unali dresses in a fine silk dress, something out of place in her ordinary black clothing. She feels awkward but with help from the maid learns some walking and style tricks. Aren obtains access for her at the Royal Palace grounds. She heads there in a horse coached wagon. She arrives in style at the palace and begins to explore the non restricted grounds and visit the court itself where people of the realm and foreigners talk and mingle for audience with King Maros or other officials.] [Febris 20 - Back at the palace Unali takes a break and strolls to the library tired of playing social with the court folks. As she walks the semi crowded halls she notices a man sweating as he exits one room and heads up stairs. Its not cold at all so she finds it interesting and follows the man up the stairs to the next level. She notices the man heads down a darker hallway she recognizes as the province official wing where officials of the realm have offices. The man knocks on a door and then enters pulling out a bag that could only be a coin bag. She walks forward and sees no one else in the hall and listens in. The conversation is muffled and at some point in a language she doesn't recognize. But a new voice speaks Marentian and reports that "Your people will have 30% control of the Sivas docks in exchange for my cut as planned." Unali recognizes a bribe when she hears one. She tries to read the gold plaque on the door but remembers she can't read. She hears a chair make noise and assumes the deal over so runs further down the hall to hide behind a column. The man she saw leaves and heads back downstairs. She waits but no one leaves the office. She quickly catches up and follows the man on foot. She follows the man for over an hour through streets and alleys. She finds him stop at several places but finally at a small warehouse. She watches the man speak to about 5 others dressed in similar lower class clothing. She still doesn't understand the language but notice the man take a scroll from one and head out. Leaving the warehouse still in her dress (no time to change) she follows for some time and notices him heading to a Inn. Feeling he'll be heading to a room for the night she attempts a simple deftness to obtain the scroll. Using a simple bump and grab technique she grabs the scroll from his pack as he helps her up from the ground. The man enters the inn as she goes to a alley to look at it. It looks to be a list of names but other writing she can't make out due to no read skill. She sighs and knows her spy skills aren't so great in this area. She considers returning the scroll before he notices and finds him using the water closet and his pack in his room. She enters and returns the scroll. Then quickly returns to Aren's estate riding fast in the coach wagon. Aren quickly figures out the office is the Head of the Merchant Council for Sivas based on her description of the door in the layout. Aren feels its important so sends guards to raid the warehouse, office and hotel at the same time. Two hours later 6 are held for questioning. Late that evening Unali learns the men in the warehouse are from Cereulean Empire and trying to buy into a large share of market control in Sivas. The city official is arrested for bribery as well as the others. While not a climan spy ring Aren is grateful for the work done.] [febris 21 - Unali feels her investigation into the palace seems secure. Some recognize her like the King's Healer who seems to ignore her. She learns the healer has learned of Z'leyra's school plans and feels it could lower his status in the future. Unali does learn an interesting fact though that the Healer has a Rogizini empire trader friend and Rogizini are known to have Jinn help. Unali can't prove any connections but she wonders if the Healer is behind Z'leyra's previous attack? Feeling no progress here she decides she will travel in the city for a few days to look around.] [Febris 22 - Glad to be back in normal clothing Unali sets out to explore more of Maren City. She finds beggars to be annoying but knows they are outcasts and learn of rumors and info better than some intelligent operations can. She donates some silver to beggars to know if any Climans might be in the city by their own contacts or the guilds. It is late and Unali is still exploring when she finds herself in the poor district heading back on foot to the estate. Little after 11pm she finds a woman in her 40s stop her on the dark and deserted street. She asks Unali for help looking for a cat that escaped a home. Unali is tired but helps her as the female seems distraught and could be in danger being out this late alone. It only takes about 25 minutes and Unali finds the cat. Unali escorts the woman home since its on the way and finds she heads into the rich district with estates. She gets to the grounds of a Count and thanks Unali. As Unali continues up the road she hears a horse riding up and catch her. A servant tries to give Unali a reward from the count's wife but Unali refuses since she is well off already. When the servant insists and demand it would be rude to the Count (and dangerous to the count's wrath on the servant) she accepts the bag. Inside she finds 15 Silver coins. Maybe she can give the coins to some charity she'll have to decide.] [Febris 23 - Unali visits bars, taverns and shops to try to learn of any Climans in town but again falls short of rumors. Midday going to a tavern for lunch she passes a tanning shop and finds a strange scene. Inside the window she notices a 8 foot tall person around 400 pounds next to 2 4 and 5 foot 150 or so pound human males. The giant seems to be working on tanning some things. The odd site intrigues Unali and soon sees the man again a month later in Sivas in the Green Eye Tavern with the party.] [Febris 24 - The beggars report to Unali and she learns a certain shop in Sivas has connections to a Climan Trader. He owns about 80% of the shop with a Marentian. The beggars report the Thieves Guild watches the shop since it has black market ties and smuggling operations around Lake Sivas. Unali gives the beggar a reward.] [Febris 25 - Unali heads to City Hall and Province Records to look up records on this shop. She learns the shop has been open for 14 years and has paid taxes all on time. That in itself intrigues Unali as most shops don't do that even rich ones. She then spends the rest of the day exploring the city to learn more rumors and info. That evening she returns to the estate and Aren's aide (Aren has left for his castle) tells her that the Malnon library where Kaylle worked was hit by assassin's two days ago. The operatives report no deaths but one librarian is missing (Kaylle?). The details are vague but Unali decides to travel to Malnon in the morning. Assassins wouldn't hit a library unless the Guild is desperate. So she figures Kaylle must have been the target. She sends a messenger to the Green Eye tavern in Sivas to inform Cholan to inform the others of the situation and will report later.] [Febris 26 - Unali's friendship with Aren allows arrangements on a military courier ship to Malnon. While on the ship she practices her bow skill a bit with help.] [Febris 27 - Unali continues toward Malnon.] [Febris 28 - Unali docks in Sivas for a 2 hour layover. She travels fast to the Green Eye Tavern but none of the party aside from Cholan is there. The others must be away. She heads back and sails out into the sea toward Malnon.] [Febris 29 - Around 10am Unali spots a fishing fleet in the ocean of about 14 ships and boats of various sizes. The ship finally docks in Malnon just after sunset. Malnon travels to the library with some help on directions. There she finds Kaylle safe and sound. Kaylle closes up the library and both head to a tavern to talk. Kaylle informs that he was the target of the hit when he was leaving the library with some books. They apparently didn't do their research though and when he flew away he easily got away. He has been careful since. Both return to stay at Kaylle's small home in the east side of town.] [Febris 30 - Unali spends the day at the library with Kaylle. Kaylle gives details on the treasure from Ezam's castle when the group (Jordi, Balrog and such) returned a few months earlier. Most is what Unali has already learned but she remembers the info and will report later to Aren.] [Marqi 1 - Unali arranges with Aren's Malnon contacts to have guards posted for a few days protecting Kaylle the Scholar. She then heads into the city to explore and investigate. Again she finds beggars and pays them for information. She spends time in the bars and taverns to learn rumors as best she can.] [Marqi 2 - 3 - Unali continues to explore and try to meet with an Assassin Guild representative. She knows it is not done to non guild members but gold buys a meeting. On the second day (Marqi 3rd) a meeting is held. She learns from the high paid thug the Guild has no interest in a library and has no bounties on it. Another 2 GC is given after some talk to loosen the tongue. The man reports that climans did ask permission to work in the city as is normal for outside dirty work to be done. Even the guilds in dual nations have their rules and procedures. The man gives info on the Inn the Climans are staying. Finally her first break after two weeks of work a lead is found. [Marqi 4 - Unali finds the Inn and trails one suspect but finds she loses the trail as he is good in eluding. She returns to the inn and stakes out for the evening. Near midnight the tavern becomes alive when a brawl breaks out between 3 attackers and 3 defenders. This brings the 2 Climans out of their room and down into the hall to see what is going on. This gives Unali a few precious minutes to check their room. As she inspects the room she finds a leather bag of coins with a inscription on it. She recognizes it as the Logo of the Shop in Sivas owns and was documented in City hall in Maren. A definite connection. She recalls the Scribe that read the records to her says logos are common for shop advertising. She quickly leaves only lasting a minute in the room and gets to her own room. City guards break up the brawl and the climans slink back to their rooms before guards notice them.] [Marqi 5 - She follows the two down into the tavern hall and sits near in the shadows. They quietly speak but she can understand a few words of Climan. Words like Scholar and House (library maybe a bad translation?). Seems they are planning another hit today. The "leader" seems to be smarter and demands the other speak in Marentian. After awhile they drink and leave. Unali trails both this time and never loses their trail in the city. She follows the 2 to Kaylle's home and watches as they setup and wait. By 11pm Kaylle doesn't come home lucky for him and figures he must be late doing research. Fearing the Climans will give up she decides to take them down. She knocks the first out in a quick ambush and goes after the second. But he is more skilled and fights back. Unali takes only a minor 1 point slice but she uses her magical dagger to knock the last assassin out. Unali takes only a minor wound in the scuffle. Unali brings the two captives together and waits for Kaylle and the guards. Two hours later they finally arrive and the guards get more guards and escort the captives to a city jail for questioning. Questioning becomes immediate as well as Unali questions them for two before the guards arrive. Unali learns various new details and becomes alarmed. The Climans do indeed know the identify of several of the base raiders including Thig or Kaylle (they only suspect Kaylle it seems as how many Faerry can there by in Marentia? They could even go after Framea?), Z'leyra, Ben'dar, Farseeker and Jordi. Other party members have not been identified but its only a matter of time based on the meetings at the tavern. One good aspect is that it seems Climan officials do not know the full details due to the good network Aren runs and forcing the information yet to be smuggled out. A priest later determines this to be truthful and it seems the merchant shop owner in Sivas is the Climan cell leader. He is also planning on further assassination attempts in the next few weeks. Learning as much as she can Unali decides to head to Sivas and take down the merchant if possible.] [Marqi 6 - Unali attempts further interrogation with guards at the jail. Today it is learned layouts of Ben'dar's horse ranch and Z'leyra's manor have been sketched. Coded scrolls are later found in the afternoon near the Inn the assassins were staying in. It takes a wizard in the service of the King to decode them after some time with magic. It details a decade old list of sleeper cells, weapons and money caches planted by old spies before Aren came to power and developed his well run intelligence organization. In days to come the caches are found and confiscated. Aren again commends Unali on a good job. In the evening Unali sets passage on a military ship heading to Sivas city in the morning.] [Marqi 7 - 9 - Unali sets sail to Sivas city. On board she trains with her bow with help from a sailor for the next 3 days. The trip is uneventful aside from on Marqi 8 after 3pm the ship comes near 2 small merchant vessels going north along the coast flying the Marentian flag with colors of one of the major merchant princes of Maren city.] [Marqi 10 - Unali heads into Sivas city hall to get records and directions to the merchant's shop where he sells pottery of all things. A scribe recites the info to her to memorize. She heads to the street but is startled to find the shop has been closed down and boarded up. Asking around a nearby street merchant selling food says the merchant just closed the day before suddenly and left all his stuff. The merchant gives info on the landlord of the ship for further details but the landlord is away today.] [Marqi 11 - Unali meets with the landlord and finds he was unaware of the merchant skipping out making it a hasty get away. The land lord gets upset over losing money on his lease. Unali feels the merchant has learned of her investigation or has sources somewhere else. She seeks out beggars to try and scour the city for information.] [Marqi 12 - A day passes with no leads from any street sources.] [Marqi 13 - Leads fail to show up so Unali heads to the Green Eye tavern and meets with Cholan. She questions him and his new wife, the barmaid, on any strange folks who come in often and seem to watch the bar. Cholan has little help as he is busy with the bar, entertaining or sailing with Damon. But his wife gives several possible descriptions of men. Certain pairs of 4 men usually in 2 pairs each time show up every so often. They started some 3 months ago. She recalls one mentioning a little known underground drug house on the city margins. Unali makes mental notes and leaves. Unali sends word to Aren via messenger to attempt for his Sivas city contacts to try and locate this merchant who has gone to ground. In the afternoon Unali heads to the drug house after getting some information on it from Aren'a city contact. The city guards know nothing of the house or tolerate it but the intelligence service has heard of it as a way station for drug cartels. Unali reaches the eastern side of town a good 6 miles from the docks in the west. Here houses are every few hundred feet rather than every few feet in most city blocks. She finds a secluded spot and stakes out the house.] [Marqi 14 - Unali practices here Scimitar combat stances while watching the drug house today from her spot ontop of a city utility shed and behind it. She sees a dozen or so men and women come in and go. She becomes sad when at least 3 teens also go in and out likely buying drugs.] [Marqi 15 - Unali continues her scimitar and recon of the drug house with her spyglass. Mid-afternoon Unali spots a man with a twitch in his left hand a definite match to one of the men's description. The man enters the house and heads out again 2 hours later carrying a sack. Unali decides to follow the man. After a few miles entering into the city the man heads to a tavern and eats a dinner. Unali decides to try a trick Aren told her about. She finds a beggar, an easy task, and gives him some money for the task then has him memorize a phrase. When the man exits the tavern the beggar approaches and ask him "is this your coin bag?" in Climan from behind. Instinctively the man turns around confirmation he understands climan. The man realizes his mistake though and tries to shoo the beggar away and leaves the area quickly. Unali continues to trail the man through a dozen or so more streets. The man ends up in a cheap inn and heads to a room. A dead end but its a start. Unali decides to camp nearby and watch the inn for the man again. Earlier in the morning near the drug house while on a latrine break in the hills near some bushes Unali is heard by 2 bandits. While she is finishing up the bandits jump her with daggers. Unali fakes being a simple peasant woman who can't defend herself. That's when the two bandits lower their guard. In a blur Unali draws her daggers and knocks both out with a dagger hilt and a kick to the head. She leaves the bandits in the bushes without their weapons and gold (which she throws into a sewer later). Upset by the encounter she "accidentally" cuts a hibernating bee hive over them and leaves. She hopes the local bears don't mind honey with a side of bandit.] [Marqi 16 - Its after 8am when the man finally leaves and Unali sets after him. The man enters a shop selling land and farm equipment. She notices a fight breaks out in the shop and passing guards also notice. The city guards enter and haul the man out. With her lead now arrested she follows the guards to the jail where he is arrested for demanding protection from the merchant. Unali breaks cover and uses her scroll that identifies her as authorized deputy to question the man. Alone she learns the man is clearly addicted to the spice like drug. He is a simple middle man whose family has been here for decades with climan ties. Suspecting a sleeper agent she questions the man further and learns that he works for the missing merchant. The man demands a deal. Hours later Aren's aide in the city agrees to a short prison term for information. Unali and the aide learns the new location of the merchant and his new name that of Kimmel. Kimmel is now running a shop in the north side of the city selling common trade items.] [Marqi 17 - Unali heads to find the new store. After a hour of searching in the area she finally finds the small shop in a corner area of the district near the north walls of the city. Unali finds a place to watch the shop and recon it.] [Marqi 18 - 20 - Aren'a city contact urges Unali to study the horse for a few days. He has posted agents to watch the Green Eye tavern. Unali spends 3 days watching the shop and the merchant's routine. She also follows the merchant and his 4 guard escort to his small home nearby.] [Marqi 21 - Unali meets with Aren's contacts to decide on how to continue. Breaking up the possible spy ring could endanger other projects but if there are more assassination attempts it could be too late. The aide has no choice but to send a messenger to Aren to decide the matter. Unali is ordered to continue recon of the three sites (shop, warehouse nearby and merchant's home).] [Marqi 22 - Unali continues to watch the location and learns the merchant has a female companion. She rarely leaves the house but only twice. Yet today she arrives at the shop carrying a bag with her. The female exits the shop and begins to speak (though Unali can't hear the words at her distance even with the spyglass) and wave arms around the shop. She walks around the shop. Based on how she moves Unali decides the woman is a wizard likely putting wards or protection spells over the shop. She has seen Z'leyra move in a similar fashion. The female then heads back to the merchant's home.] [Marqi 23 - Unali learns from her city contact that Aren will be arriving tonight to oversee the merchant's possible takedown. Unali heads back to recon the sites. She notices more thugs seem to come and go showing a possible buildup of strength? That evening Unali notices the female head to the warehouse and later is followed by a dozen or so horses and a couple wagons full of men. Unali feels this must be a meeting for plan making. Unali sneaks into the warehouse and listens but feels its too late to warn city guards. As she listens she realizes the female speaks Climan briefly to the merchant and then turns to Marentian. Unali memorizes the faces of the men as best she can as she listens to the meeting. She learns the thugs are hired assassins from the Marentian Guild not from Clima. They have learned of their Malnon agents being captured so have to move up one plan and organize it with others. As the hours draw on Unali hears plans for 3 days to assassinate Z'leyra, Ben'dar and anyone that will be in the Green Eye Tavern. The Climans have learned of a meeting on the 26th where the full party is expected to be there. As a last ditch effort the entire tavern will be destroyed by fire. She will lead the attack on the tavern. But the shocking news is they have learned of Aren's arrival and plan on taking him out this very night. Two of the assassins will head to kill him. Unali then learns one thug will head to the docks to smuggle information to Clima to report the plans (though by the time they arrive they will be taken care of). Unali can't chase the messenger and the assassins so exits the warehouse. She follows the two thugs to kill Aren. She considers her options. If she takes the thugs out the climans will act now rather than 3 days. Unali gets to the Fine inn at the same time the thugs do. They stay outside to recon the building and Unali heads inside to warn Aren and his guards. Aren feels the time is not ready to move on the merchant so a plan is formed in haste. Three hours later near 2am Aren steps outside to light his cigar near the front of the inn against a horse railing. A guard comes out with him but Aren orders him back to bed. After all at this hour and in this safe area who could harm him? Ten minutes later Aren is smoking alone in the crisp night air when the thugs quickly rush forward. One distracts Aren and the other rushes up behind Aren and draws a dagger. At the last second Aren turns to lift a hand to block the man but the dagger lunges and stabs Aren in the chest. Aren falls to his knees as the assassin behind him draws his dagger near his throat. But at that instant the tavern owner's wife exits the front door with trash and screams. The thugs startled turn and a quick second of doubt sinks in. One orders the other to take care of the witness. But then upstairs a window is opened and a man yells down. A dog begins to bark inside and rush outside. The woman screams for city guards to help as she slinks back into the tavern. The assassin bangs on the door when a whistle of city guards is heard. At that instant horses begin trotting down the dark street. The thugs decide the attention is too much and retreat into the darkness. Seconds later the woman screams "the duke is dead!"] [Marqi 24 - News spreads fast of Duke Aren's death. But in reality Aren is alive. It was a well planned scheme to fool the guards. Aren being an actor in his youth played the scene well. Using protection like deep cloth, armor and animal parts to simulate the squish of a stab wound together with blood spit from mouth (red wine to an expert would've looked like wine) and cloth tied bags of animal blood the ruse works. Unali had the female leave the tavern at the right time but her reaction was not planned and was a real surprise to her. Aren took the gamble and it seems to have worked though at great peril to himself. Aren hides in the hotel as he organizes city guards, intelligence officers and the military to plan to take down the spy ring and the merchant. Knowing that a Climan Priestess is involved difficults things. Unali knows that in reality the planed party meeting is on the 29th not the 26th so feels the party is safe. But she warns Cholan to warn any that come to town. Messengers are sent to other party members if they can be found. For the next few days though none of the party can be found. Only Z'leyra is nearby at her manor but working on some new magic items. Thanks to Unali's magical dagger Aren was warned at the last second of the dagger direction and target enough to shift his body to take the "wound" with ease.] [Marqi 25 - Eager for something Unali watches the merchant with other agents. Aren even mentioned Suresh might come out of retirement but his wife refuses to let him back into the game. The plan is to attack tomorrow in a coordinated effort on the three sites at the same time. No time to infiltrate the group as they seem to be inclusive and know each other too well. Aren feels only the Female Priestess, Merchant and 2-3 others have direct ties to Clima or are sleeper cells. The others are hired mercs or assassins. City hall pulls layout of the sites for intelligence.] [Marqi 26 - Based on Unali's recon the merchant has a routine to arrive at the shop around 9am. So the attack will begin at 9:15. Like clockwork the merchant arrives to his shop. In the past few days Unali wonders why a fake shop should at least attempt to show customers but none have come to the shop likely due to its location. Unali decides to take on the merchant's house where the Priestess is. Aren will lead the shop attack as others will go to the warehouse. At once all charge into battle. The full battle lasts only 4 minutes. In the process 12 guards take on the warehosue with only one death and 2 injuries from a total of 8 thugs taking 6 prisoner and 2 kills. Aren and his forces of 6 take on the shop. None are Aren's group takes damage. But the merchant is captured quickly being a non-combatant. His group of 5 thugs (2 skilled Assassins - both skilled) are taken down with 4 deaths. In Unali's group one guard is killed by the priestess and another injured by an assassin. Knowing that Kaylle was a target of the priestess (and probably leader of this cell not the merchant) her anger gets the best of her. In a dagger duel the priestess is killed by the magical dagger. Unali's anger ebbs and she tries to save the priestess for interrogation but she dies from the artery damage to her neck. The prisoners are gathered and later taken to a private jail. Aren that night begins to interrogate the merchant while his agents read captured papers.] [Marqi 27 - With the merchant being questioned Aren learns of another merchant and he is arrested later this day. The man that was going to head to a ship to sail to Clima is suddenly found dead in a alley from unknown causes. But his papers were stolen likely by some street thug. Aren sets out agents to retrieve the papers. One cell is found near the royal palace itself and all 4 sleeper agents are arrested in the following days. All in all Aren informs Unali she may have helped to take down a spy and assassin network of 35 people and 2 high ranking spies (merchant and priestess). Though none of this can be publicly acknowledged Unali is thanked by the king through Aren himself.] [Marqi 28 - Unali helps Aren clean up the sites and destroy any evidence of the network. Later that evening Aren and Unali head to the Green Eye Tavern for some good drinks. The meeting is tomorrow where the full party is expected but Aren is sad to say he must return to Maren to meet and report to King Maros himself. He wishes the party well in their future.]