Post by The Smith on Apr 13, 2008 22:56:31 GMT -5
The cloaked man looked over his shoulder as he entered the tavern. Right before he stepped inside the doorway however he wiped the snow off his shoulders and arms. As he walked in he ordered a drink and sat down by the warm fire in the corner. Around him was a big crowd, the entire tavern was packed full of probably 50 people. Serving girls were running to a fro hectically, trying to accomplish all the orders. There was laughing and cheering, yelling and jesting, banging around and stomping. There was no one somebody to listen to what he was going to say with so many people in such a small room. Heck, he would hardly be able to hear the person next to him.
Soon a man walked in the door, looking fine with a nicely embroided cloak and neatly placed hair. He ordered a drink and walked towards the fire, sipping the strong and warming drink. He sat down by the fire, the cloaked man next to him. “Francis?” He asked quietly, looking at the fire.
“Yes, it’s me.” The cloaked man said simply, his face hidden in the hood. The two men turned to each other, and took another drink of the warm liquid before starting.
“The current information network is working well, but it needs to be improved.” The cloaked man said.”
“Yes, of course. It needs to be strengthened at some parts, and a stronger hold be put over the spies.” Francis moved around uncomfortably when the word spy was used.
“I was thinking that above all that, we should expand the network of information gathering.” He stated, trying to make it sound more legit and reasonable. “We already have the merchants that trade within the Riverlands gathering Information, but now we need to spread to the merchants that trade in the outlying regions.” Francis stated to the merchant leader. As he finished he took another gulp of ale before continuing.
”Employ the spying of your merchants who travel along the Kingsroad, Riverroad, and Mountain road. Also make sure to expand into the villages and towns surrounding those areas.” Francis stated, taking another drink. The merchant nodded and spoke.
“Yes, I will make sure to do just that. Now, we need to discuss ways to ensure my men’s loyalty and willingness to find and give me information. Any ideas?” He asked.
“How about you give minor raises for each piece of information one of you men tell you? If you do that they would be much more willing to find and give information.”
“Yes, that is a great idea. And what about the better the information, the stronger the raise?”
“Of course, that would only make sense.”
”Also, I was wondering… Where am I to find all this gold to pay them more money?” The merchant asked, greed in his eyes.
“If you serve me good and true,” Francis said, “I will allow you to further take over the trade in those areas for yourself and your merchant company. You will have rights to the goods of those areas, thus giving yourself more money to pay them.” Francis finished.
“Thank you, M’Lord.” The merchant said happily.
The two men stood up and shook hands, before walking out of the tavern both all the more merrier from having met there. The merchant would get more money, and Francis more information.
Results:
The Spy Network is expanded to include the areas outside of the Riverlands
The Spy Network is strengthened to gather more information
Lord Francis Blackwood gains Expert Espionage
Lord Francis Blackwood gains Apprentice Persuasion
(Map of the spy network. Dark red is the original one that is being strengthened, and the light red the expanded network.)
Soon a man walked in the door, looking fine with a nicely embroided cloak and neatly placed hair. He ordered a drink and walked towards the fire, sipping the strong and warming drink. He sat down by the fire, the cloaked man next to him. “Francis?” He asked quietly, looking at the fire.
“Yes, it’s me.” The cloaked man said simply, his face hidden in the hood. The two men turned to each other, and took another drink of the warm liquid before starting.
“The current information network is working well, but it needs to be improved.” The cloaked man said.”
“Yes, of course. It needs to be strengthened at some parts, and a stronger hold be put over the spies.” Francis moved around uncomfortably when the word spy was used.
“I was thinking that above all that, we should expand the network of information gathering.” He stated, trying to make it sound more legit and reasonable. “We already have the merchants that trade within the Riverlands gathering Information, but now we need to spread to the merchants that trade in the outlying regions.” Francis stated to the merchant leader. As he finished he took another gulp of ale before continuing.
”Employ the spying of your merchants who travel along the Kingsroad, Riverroad, and Mountain road. Also make sure to expand into the villages and towns surrounding those areas.” Francis stated, taking another drink. The merchant nodded and spoke.
“Yes, I will make sure to do just that. Now, we need to discuss ways to ensure my men’s loyalty and willingness to find and give me information. Any ideas?” He asked.
“How about you give minor raises for each piece of information one of you men tell you? If you do that they would be much more willing to find and give information.”
“Yes, that is a great idea. And what about the better the information, the stronger the raise?”
“Of course, that would only make sense.”
”Also, I was wondering… Where am I to find all this gold to pay them more money?” The merchant asked, greed in his eyes.
“If you serve me good and true,” Francis said, “I will allow you to further take over the trade in those areas for yourself and your merchant company. You will have rights to the goods of those areas, thus giving yourself more money to pay them.” Francis finished.
“Thank you, M’Lord.” The merchant said happily.
The two men stood up and shook hands, before walking out of the tavern both all the more merrier from having met there. The merchant would get more money, and Francis more information.
Results:
The Spy Network is expanded to include the areas outside of the Riverlands
The Spy Network is strengthened to gather more information
Lord Francis Blackwood gains Expert Espionage
Lord Francis Blackwood gains Apprentice Persuasion
(Map of the spy network. Dark red is the original one that is being strengthened, and the light red the expanded network.)