faderift | Tracking Smugglers

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Tracking Smugglers

WHO: Korrin, Fenris, Julian, Adasse
WHAT: Hunting down slavers for fun and profit.
WHEN: At some nebulous point in the first half of the month.
WHERE: Ayesleigh
NOTES: CW: Slavers, violence, to be updated as need be.

It's a long trip to Ayesleigh, but the uneventful nature of it gives plenty of time to plan for the assignment ahead. The Inquisition has tasked Korrin and Fenris -members of the Northern Powers project- with following up on some leads regarding slavers in the region. Said leads have been accused of kidnapping, but lack of evidence has them still walking free. With some discussion of plans and a bit of luck, the Inquisition's agents might go further than what local authorities have been able to manage.

That's where the trail begins, though Korrin reminds everyone that they might have to expand their search, depending on what's discovered. The use of force -lethal or otherwise- isn't forbidden, but it's made clear that they must do their best not to leave a trail of blood leading directly to the Inquisition. Whatever must be done, it ought be kept discreet. (Fenris is likely reminded of this more than once.) Force isn't the only resource available to them, however; thanks to Julian and Adasse, connections and stealth might open an number of doors otherwise closed to them.

It's early morning when their ship finally reaches port, travelers streaming down onto the docks and disappearing into the crowds. The hunt begins.

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As the ship is pulling in, it’s time to get to business. They’ve got their leads, so they know who they’re looking for, having obtained some pretty thorough information on their descriptions. It doesn’t take long to track down one of them, and start tailing him.

If they want answers, of course, they’re definitely going to want to apprehend the guy… if they can. He’s got a grizzled, rough appearance, definitely the look of someone who’s put up many a fight, and won. He carries a huge war-maul, too, and strolls along the streets with the ease of someone who isn’t afraid of much of anything at all.

The question is, how to proceed?

Spotting their target, Korrin has to resist the urge to just charge on in. She can't very well do that after lecturing everyone about the need to be at least someone discreet. The Inquisition's reputation matters, and will affect what they can do later on. But the urge to beat down the slaver ass is still very strong, so.

"He's not going to go anywhere quietly, that's for damn sure. Adasse, how do you feel about trailing him? As soon as he gets somewhere private, contact us on the crystal and we can swoop in. I can hit him with a Static Cage or Disruption Field, if we need to keep him from getting away...but he looks like the kind of asshole who'd want to stay and fight. Unless anyone has a better idea?"

Edited 2018-03-08 16:48 (UTC)

Ah, Ayesleigh. Julian hasn't often had cause to travel to this city, preferring the southern cities of Antiva, but home is home, and he strolls about, completely at his ease. Familiar smells from the food stalls, familiar accents surrounding him; it's put him in a good mood, despite what they're here to do. But success comes from going into things with a positive outlook, so he doesn't see how this won't go in their favor.

Sizing up their lead, he glances over at Korrin, both impressed by her quick thinking, and more than a little amused that it involves trapping him straight away.

"It depends on where his loyalties lie. Antivans can be very loyal, but we're also skilled at pretending to be loyal until we're given a better offer. He might be willing to talk, but until we can be sure, I would rather avoid a maul to the skull. Restraining him while we make our case is not a bad idea."

"I agree with this plan." Fenris' eyes narrow and a dark look briefly overcomes his expression as he looks off in the direction of their target. A brutal, thuggish type if ever there was one... he has no doubt as to the awfulness that his captives have probably experienced. It would be really satisfying to phase his hand through his chest and pull out his beating heart, but as Korrin has reminded him repeatedly, this mission requires a bit more subtlety than that. Too bad, really.

He sighs, reminding himself that it'll be for the better in the long run to find out more. "After all, we need to get information out of him. We need to know who else is involved if we're to put a stop to it all. I'm willing to hold back and wait while you disable him... until the interrogation." He'll have to show some restraint, but he thinks he can manage this.

Adasse's smile flicked over to amused while everyone else piled on their agreement with Korrin's plan. Not that he disagreed, not at all. Just he hadn't actually answered Korrin's request yet.

"Yeah, I can trail him. Keep your crystal up - I'll give him enough space so I can report back his movements." He flipped his hood up, tapping his crystal on, before he all but disappeared from their sights, melding immediately into the crowd.

For her part, Korrin waits to hear from Adasse himself before considering the plan in motion. As he disappears, she turns her crystal on and starts heading in his general direction. They can't be too far away for this work, after all.

"Our goal is what matters here and therefore his answers. As satisfying as it would be to crush that skull right off, we can get a lot more than just him if we play our cards right." She suspects Fenris will keep that in mind; he won't abandon the bigger picture if it means capturing more of them in the process.

Julian thinks through a couple scenarios in his head. The man -- once restrained -- should provide a good look at his character, unless he's as mysterious as a Crow. Judging by his size and demeanor, Julian highly doubts that. So can the man be threatened into talking, or no? Can the man be bought off, or no? And naturally, can the man be bought off only to turn around and try to kill them? All possible scenarios. Julian rotates his shoulders casually. He should probably loosen his muscles a little in case of that last possibility.

"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar," he adds. "If he's the bottom of the ladder, we would do well to maneuver our way up the rungs. And once we reach the top? He will receive what is coming to him."

That reminder of the bigger picture is exactly what he needs, and it doesn't escape him that Korrin has had to mention it a couple of times already, on the way here. He does relish the thought of potentially catching someone high-ranking, someone who commands a lot of slaver rings. Crushing their work from above sounds pretty satisfying to him.

So he nods. "Right, we won't take out many of them unless we reach the top. Then we can destroy them." There's a dark look in his eyes as he says that, the expression of someone with a very personal vendetta to settle. "I wonder how far this goes... I guess we'll find out soon enough."

Their next lead brings them to a rather influential member of Rivaini society, a noble named Philippus Bombelles who also just happens to have a bit of a smuggling hobby on the side. There are plenty of guards, servants, and other nobles milling around his estate. Getting to and dealing with him is probably going to require a bit of clever talking on the group’s part…

The next link leads back into the dregs of society, to a thief by the name of Eularia Lignago who operates out of Seere. She’s been nicknamed the Ghost for good reason: hardly anyone she deals with has actually seen her face, and she’s got a knack for disappearing right when things get rough.

Fortunately, the group has gotten some idea of how to track her down in a derelict area, having gotten word about how to find her. The real question is, how low of a profile can the group keep? If Eularia gets even the faintest sign of trouble, she’ll be gone. Fortunately, it’s a part of town where they might be able to blend in well enough… and the guards in this area are pretty easily bribed.

Korrin glances to Julian because, well, this is the main reason she invited him. The noble Antivan can open doors the rest of them can't, thanks to mage or non-human status, or both.

"So, what's the plan? Are we your bodyguards or would you rather us wait outside?"

Given how Korrin is at least a foot taller than anything not qunari, she knows well how she could easily be a problem in this scenario. Sighing, she keeps her pouch ready if bribaries are needed...and even if not, she'll still hang back and do her best not to draw attention.

"Don't wonder if I'm hanging back...way back. It's better that she doesn't see me, if at all possible."

Julian slips a billfold out from an interior pocket of his jacket, drawing out a calling card.

"I have no problem with you accompanying me, and I think it might be a good look to show Bombelles a non-Qunari in my employ too, since Rivain is currently losing more ground each year to the Qun and its influence." He waves the card in the air. "I'm not a close friend of his, so I can't simply walk up to the door as if I have a standing invitation. If one of you would take this to the footman at the door, perhaps we'll be granted an audience."

That's Julian's hope, at least. He comes from a good family, though they aren't stuffy, which might cause Bombelles to be a bit more candid. Having two elves with him might also get the man talking, thinking the De Abbrixios know a bit about keeping elves around as servants or worse.

Julian pauses and moves beside Korrin. While it's true that he's a noble that tends to mix a bit more due to his merchant ties, he's still a clean, well-dressed man in the wrong part of town.

"I might raise a few eyebrows myself. I could possibly pass myself off as a debauched man of privilege, out with my bodyguard as I visit the brothels or some such thing, but I'm probably the wrong person to deal with our target here too."

Fenris knows he's going to have to hold his tongue around here, something which he generally finds difficult to do. He scowls as he looks at the estate, thinking of the undoubtedly lavish decor and expensive finery to be found inside... most of it purchased due to his activities smuggling slaves. He's never had much respect for nobility, but this makes it even worse.

Still, he's here to do a job. They'd needed to be strategic with that first lead, so the same goes for this one.

"Do I dare? Or would you prefer to do the honors, Adasse?"

"I don't blame either of you. I might be too obvious, myself. But perhaps most of us can still keep an eye out for guards on patrol... it seems like we've passed quite a few." Crooked ones, he'd imagine, corrupt and using that power to let the likes of this Lignago woman do as they please. He loathes just how strong that influence seems to be. They'll have to keep alert for sure.

"I wonder just how much gold might get her talking..." It sounded like bribery might be the name of the game around this area.

Adasse is sliding through the crowd like an eel, watching the man as he pauses here and there. Watching coin exchange hands at one place - he whispers into the crystal - "Looks like he's greasing a few palms, paying off debts. I have a feeling this fellow gets around."

He's darting off again - secretly happy that he does NOT have all these people with him. For Maker's sake they're loud as Darkspawn. He finally pulled back into an alley, dark eyes narrowing as the man slipped into a warehouse off the docks.

"He's gone into a warehouse. I don't see any obvious guards, which probably means traps... or he's just an idiot."

"Oh no, I think you ought to let me do it, Fenris." Adasse's smile is good and coy, even if he's silently thrilled to be working with the 'Great Fenris' himself, before he completely changes his demeanor. His shoulders slump, his eyes move downcast, and his accent mirrors Julian's perfectly, with the faintest slur around the edges.

"You stand in the back, hood up. Everyone knows about your markings." He looks over at Julian and Korrin piteously, "Shall I take your card up to them, Master? Then I can just creep back into the kitchen, perhaps get you some warm milk ... find out a few things about the layout."

Adasse, on the other hand, is right at home. Mostly because the dregs of society is where he grew up and he hasn't know much better. His gaze is sharp as he looks around, making sure their profile is staying low enough.

"I've heard of this bird - she's considered the best in the city." He looks thoughtfully at the rest of them, "We might want to sweeten the bribe with a job. So and so much gold to meet us here, talk about stealing something from some duchess, la-tee-da. Money up front is always a good motivator."

Korrin smirks as little as Adasse's demeanor transforms before their eyes, and she nods. He's the perfect image of a worn-down servant, someone much less likely to attract suspicion than either herself or Fenris. She nods at his plan, though waits for Julian to give his stamp of approval. He's running this particular show, after all.

"A fair point, I just hope this doesn't test my patience too much." Korrin nods to Julian; patience is never her strong point, especially when injustices such as slavery are involved. But the bigger picture needs to be considered, so she'll keep that in mind. Besides, she's just as curious as Fenris to see who's at the top of this shit-heap.

Perking up as Adasse replies, she's quick to respond. "Traps seem more than likely. Stay alert and we'll catch up with you." Glancing over to the others, she smirks. "Now it's time for some action. Let's see this through, shall we?"

Korrin nods at the plan, though is quick to add a warning. "Not too much money without haggling, though. If we seem eager to offer a lot up front without doing that, it'll raise a lot of red flags. We can let her drive up the price somewhat, but not without at least seeming to fight for it."

"Hopefully these actions don't involve me tripping off any traps," Julian replies dryly. He's a man who walks with confidence everywhere he goes. Sneaking and scouting aren't his forte at all, so he's going to stand in the back and try not to become entangled in a net or whatever the case might be.

"Lead on."

Ah, good. It seems Julian doesn't have to point out that he's about to stop treating them like fellow Inquisition agents and instead like those who are beneath him. He hands over the card to Adasse and says, "There's a good lad." A wink is added since they're not at the doors yet. "Now do try not to get lost. It would be an utter embarrassment to me if you were to be found somewhere you shouldn't be. And surely don't bother peeking in any drawers or ledgers you come across."

This is perfect. If their host won't spill any info, then it will be on Adasse to get the needed information.

Julian rubs at his chin and chuckles. "Duchesses do tend to have so much that they don't notice when something is taken, unless it's their prized possession." He's pretty sure some of his family's valuables have been stolen at some point. Probably an inside job. But when you have that much stuff, it's a part of life, really. You just replace it and hope that next time it's not something you really like.

"It is a good plan. I could play the role of some pompous fool who stupidly wears all his wealth on him instead of investing, hoping to stick it to someone higher up as if one robbery will ruin their lives." He draws a hand down his expensive jacket, as a way to explain away who he is. "A noble wanting to get into a slap fight with another noble. I would be eager, and you can draw me back with the haggling bit."

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Tracking Smugglers

First Lead

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Another link in the chain

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