Intelligence

MEDWICK’S PORTFOLIO

Cardwin – Human, 36 years old, originally from an outlying district of one of the city-states in the Caerynthian Federation, modest individual combat abilities, reasonably skilled at skulking, excellent horseman, intelligent but prefers to intimidate and threaten over persuade, Independent operator, has very few if any regular staff or associates (publically), uses North Mattens when in towns (rarely in towns) various support bases out in the wilds though never got anything reliable, just rumors of working with goblins, orcs, bugbears, and ogres, aka Kardack, Kardoch, Carthic.

North Mattens – Matten Mauls (independent guard/police force for the Mattens region), Elected Mayor (bought by the Merchant Council), Night Watch (loosely unofficial thieves guilds throughout the city)

Simbla De’Sant – A skilled lock and trapsmith.  Extremely intelligent and crafty.  Prides himself on being always ready for anything.  Skilled illusionist which he keeps “secret.” Resides in South Mattens, his store being in the Dock Alleys right between the Shadow Stalkers and Velvet Hands territories.

STARSTONE THRONE’S PORTFOLIO

Letter from Kardoch  to White Hand Band

Stupid Goblin,

Twice you have failed to secure the wagons; the second time you had more than adequate force on the field to capture the wagons.  And what about capturing the wagons made you think using fire was a good idea?  Especially when your job is to get Billik’s records!  We all of his ledgers. Since you weren’t able to find the elf woman, we’ll have to track her and we need his records!

These last two years, our support has made the White Hands strong.  They have brought rivals to heel and solidified their dominance around Shady Lake.  We have warned you when the fat merchants bring our supplies for you, making raiding the caravans easy sport.  For what?  Weeks of running with your tails between your legs in fear or weeks of scurrying along behind slow couple wagons?

If you don’t get Billik before he gets to Two Bridges, we will reconsider our support for the Black Fangs or even the Tadpoles over you witless idiots!  It was easy enough to secure Grummuch’s rise to power over the White Hands, we can sure as shit eliminate him and find someone else.

Kardoch

Letter from White Hand Leadership to White Hand Battlegroup (Attack Billik Orders)

Goblin Leader and Goblin Wizard,

You have been given a sizable force, far larger than you will need.  Billik is crafty and has genius magics of his own.  Overwhelm him.  Kill him.  Capture everything that is on those wagons, especially all the papers and books.  Use the gold you find to reward the troops, but bring those papers and magic items back here.

Yes.  Yes.  You two can pick an item each, but be sure that the rest gets here.  The network has delivered on all of their promises.  We’ve feasted off the hold’s wagons, and we have more minions than ever before.  The entire north is ours for the taking.  Keep them happy and we will continue to grow.  Eventually, the Black Fangs will pay for their error.

Goblin Chieftain

———

Harlan

Harlan looks to be a young elf, which means he is somewhere between 40 and 300 years old, though a bit roughed up with a cut and a tear on his quite urban and wide brimmed hat.  Clearly still appreciative of his rescue, he speaks with earnestness while also affecting a certain personal style that most of you recognize as professional charm.

“I am so grateful for the rescue that I am going to violate certain unwritten professional rules in the Valley, and explain how to work the opportunities before you.  You started off well, signing on with Billik is probably the most influential trader in the Valley and Two Bridges in particular.  But once you reach Two Bridges, you folk are going to have to forge your own path.

“Obviously, the Valley is big and dangerous, in many different ways.  Bandits, monsters, and deliberate espionage made the towns distrust one another.  About five years back he Valley’s commercial interests introduced a means of building back up the social structure.  Valley Ledgers,” Harlan nods emphatically.  He takes out of an inner breast pocket a small hand sized notebook, a perfect match for the one Billik had you all sign before embarking on this journey.

He touches cover with his thumb pressing it against the cover and a small scroll appears in the air, which he grabs and stretches it with his fingertips and spins it around.  “See here is my profile.  I have 317 contracts, succeeded on 289 and failed 28, been awarded honors 123 times and never have earned any repute.  Same thing for businesses,” and Harlan turns his hand and taps a signet ring to the book, and the scroll changes.  On the scroll reads The Ways of Wands, hired out contracts 58, Hired Out contracts Complete 58, Paid Hires Outs 58, Hire Outs awarded Honors 22; Jobs Contracted to Do 18, Jobs Done 18, Jobs Performed with Honors 15.

“The merchants, as much as they want to gouge us adventurers, we can know at least with some degree of confidence who we are dealing with, and they us.  It really helps with the name recognition to build up a good reputation, and it will even lead to more jobs being offered.  But that’s not the real secret.  I mean, do a job that you were hired to do and do it well, isn’t really much of a secret now is it?”  Harlan chuckles at his own humor.

“The secret is how quickly you can build both your reputation and your financial well-being.  Decide on a general direction or super big job for your adventuring band, then find any jobs that are in the area.  Being able to tackle a bunch of jobs simultaneously, after all, you ARE in the area, then come back.  You’ll get that much more pay, you’ll save tons of time and resources going back and forth, and you’ll gain tons of reputation with the store owners, businesses, or towns.”

Harlan looks pensive momentarily, “And it really helps the morale when you come back with a couple wins in the back pocket to offset the loss.  At the very least it’ll keep your income more steady, and you can really start investing.”

From MEDWICK’s PORTFOLIO

Kumare,

We need to get at least a dozen more caravans up to Hunters before the snows. The grubbers need the extra supplies to ensure they destroy the toadies and more importantly the slave labor. Make sure you have extras in the shipments, they always kill more than they have too. Idiots.  Empty the pens in North Matten if you have to buy get the grubbers the bodies they’ll need.

Allandra recognises you’re worth and you’ll be greatly rewarded soon. HER promises are always kept.  If you doubt her, think back to what you gained when you took that elven  enchantress two summers ago. Stupid \*%@&€$!! walked right into it, just dangle the bait of her lost smithy!

Don’t forget my cut for the tip on the stready upland business

Carthic

From MEDWICK’s Portfolio.

A LETTER TO A BOARSMAN FROM PIGLET

Boarsman,

Gotta get word to the Lady. Mattens have used the caravans to plant a number of agents in town. I don’t know any names, but they’ve some big talk about fencing magical items. That means they’ve got to have someone or more to move them to people with the coin, people to identify the items, and enough loose coin to make setting up shop worth it. Watch the money.

Piglet

Another scrap of paper from MEDWICK’s PORTFOLIO

Kumare

Talk to the jeweller in two bridges. Tell him your favourite meal is roasted boar. He will put you in contact with someone who’ll solve your problem. You’ve earned that much and more. You will get it.

The Hermit.

Another better quality sheet of parchment

Look, M.

We have the men and nobody has set up shop yet. The Haven and the Brindboar’s have deep pockets with a lot  of special in them. As far as I can tell, a river of gold is moving through the general goods, curio, and even the old potion making elf. Then there are lots blocked off on all three sections of town. At least 2-3 dozen lots have sold, though mostly in town center. From the whispers my people have caught, a lot more deep pockets are on their way. We can own these streets, M.  I got the muscle, and you’ve got the intelligence and contacts. The Mattens folk are at each other’s throats lately and the both of us will send the message, it’s not even worth trying. Get word to me.

Pratt.