“And… the fourth?” asked one of the mercenaries.

Breck clasped his fingers around the crossed swords and lifted the piece from the table, placing it then on the southern side of the city east of the Talons’ territory. “The fourth group…” Breck’s tone of voice had become uneasy, “we know them only as ‘Shagarm’s guild’.”

“‘Shagarm’s guild’?” blurted one of the sellswords followed by scattered mumbling of curiosity and doubt alike.

“Yes,” Breck said, his voice steadying, “we know very little of them. As do the city watch and the locals my agents questioned. This lot arrived in Scardale Town this past summer, lead by a figure known only as Shagarm. Folks say that they were a band of ruffians come to the capital, yet others say they were adventurous blades-for-hire that broke away from their patron and decided to cut away a slice of the capital for themselves. The southeastern side of the city had at that time yet to be claimed and was mostly occupied by gangs. This Shagarm and their cohort cut a bloody swathe through the streets, killing those who stood against them while welcoming those willing to submit and join their ranks. Deserters, local thugs, and villainous free companies all flocked to this Shagarm who quickly began pushing into the Talons’ territory while also keeping the Red Wizards from getting a foothold on the southern side of the river.”

Breck stood up straight, rolling his shoulders and giving his neck a good twisting crack before continuing, “My last agents sent said they spotted some of Shagarm’s men moving along the southern road and down the coast. And I am concerned of… ‘outside contact’. Interloping from Sembia to the south or across the sea.”

“Across the sea?” asked the Helmite.

Breck nodded, “Shagarm controls most of the cities’ docks and has been pressing to take complete control of the bay. A real thorn in the Red Wizards’ side.”

“No one knows anything of this Shagarm? Nothing at all?”

Breck shook his head, “All that is known is that this Shagarm is a strong warrior and apparently commands near fanatical loyalty among his… or her… followers. ‘Shagarm’ could even be a pseudonym, a fake name…”