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FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

“I as well, but all will be revealed soon. All that the gods see fit to show us.” Ibdur’s simple response was all the dwarf would say during the short trek to Gunalar’s abode, keeping his eyes forward and hands resting against his axes.

---

“This is where that half-orc fancied as his home?”

These words were spoken by Willory Copperbridge, one of the two that had met with Elthel, Iliskra, Leon, and Ibdur on the way to Gunalar’s place. Willory and Firoz - a scruffy halfling and a tall, thin Turmish man - had been sent out by Elthel before she had come up from Yanoriim’s basement to speak with the three newcomers. Elthel explained that the pair had used an underground system of secret passages that was intertwined with the sewers to go on ahead. Iliskra had raised her brow at this willing revelation to which Elthel had smirked and stated that it was common knowledge that thieves, assassins, fences, and other “shadowy sorts” used the sewers. “The trick is to know where the passages are and which tunnels are safe to go skulking through.” Elthel explained.

After leaving Yanoriim’s shop Elthel and her three companions went east down the street and then cut through a small cluster of houses perched upon a park area. They came out on the south end of the park, holding back for another armored patrol to pass, and then headed southeast down another short street where they had met Willory and Firoz. The halfling and his Turmish partner seemed quite impressed with Elthel’s tagalongs but quickly composed themselves and followed in tow. After rounding one final corner the six came to another group of houses that sat upon a small hill encircling a fenced-in grove of oak trees. Elthel with a point of her finger singled out Gunalar’s house. It was the most dilapidated, hideous excuse for a lair that Iliskra had seen in some time.

“Gunalar was not one for class,” Elthel remarked, “the inside looks even worse, you will see.”

The six were crouched low in an alley across the street from the “compound” which was basically a charred, falling down, two story estate surrounded by a crookedly placed palisade of stakes. The walls of the mansion were cracked and crumbling, most of the windows were shattered out, and the moss-covered shingles and gutters hung by splinters. There was a single entrance through the palisade which was guarded by two men in ragged clothing and common make leather armor. A crude, rickety “tower” was hugged against the front of the structure right next to the front door, a particularly lazy-looking guard with a crossbow stood atop it with his back against the front wall. Iliskra had seen amateurish defenses before and this was just a pitiful display. Would they even need six in number?

“How many men would you say are inside?” Firoz whispered next to Elthel.

“Gunalar never had much more than a dozen men,” Elthel said grimly, rubbing at her chin,”we killed two during our escape earlier, and there are three rotting in the alley with their boss now. Counting those three out front I would say maybe there are… between four and six inside.”

“If we do this quick and do it right we can kill them all without them spotting us.” Willory said energetically. “Once we cut down those three we can sneak inside, split up, and slit every throat we see.”

Firoz seemed to concur, nocking a glistening arrow into a short bow he had slipped from his shoulder and looking to Elthel waiting for her to make a call.

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FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

“You’re quite the mouthy one, aren’t you?” Yanoriim remarked behind a simpering Elthel.

Iliskra sighed shortly under her breath, raising her right hand in motion with her speech in a “diplomatic” showing, “Leon is merely making the obvious point that killing - assassinating - the remnants of Gunalar’s men in his abode is an apparent and direct action against this Shagarm. And while none of the three of us are the sort to turn down coin, even coin stained with blood, we must be sure of our own safety before we agree to help you against someone that you yourselves say is moving to take over this city.”

“The surest way to guarantee you remain unknown to Shagarm is that we make sure we kill everyone in Gunalar’s compound,” Elthel replied as she adjusted her shoulder pads and armor harness, “I doubt that any of Shagarm’s own number have taken to the likes of that falling down house that Gunalar and his buffoons took for themselves. We use the shadows to our advantage and make this quick and quiet. Unless Gunalar’s body is found it will be days before Shagarm knows about this.”

Elthel stepped past the three and made for the door, stopping just short of it and looking over her shoulder, “As for a place to stay, we still have a number of safehouses and hidden dens that Zilaster might offer you. And if he or you three either is not inclined there are taverns and boarding houses that Shagarm’s men leave in peace so long as they pay their ‘taxes’.”

As she said, so long as we leave no witnesses we can move about freely - somewhat anyway. Iliskra thought. Helping Elthel and these others could not only see more coin falling into their laps - as well as whatever the late Gunalar may have hoarded away in his hideout - but also grant them a solid footing in the underworld of the city as the three looked to carry out their assignments by Breck. Most of what Iliskra and her two companions had seen so far in this part of the city had been rabble, even if some had been well-armed rabble, and she, Leon, and Ibdur were more than capable of making an impression with their skills. This was an opportunity through and through.

“Well then,” Iliskra said, “no witnesses and payment upon the finishing of this job. With the promise of perhaps more work to come.”

Elthel nodded as she pulled open the front door with a creak, lingering to wait for the three.

“I’m not much for skulking,” Ibdur grumbled, “but… what else have we?”

“You will be fine, good dwarf. Let us be off.” Iliskra smiled.

“Let’s hurry, it will be dark in a few hours.” Elthel said.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

Yanoriim’s mouth opened to reply when there was a knocking on the door that Zilaster and Elthel went through, specifically five knocks with a single count between each rap. Yanoriim quickly turned and unlocked the door, pulling it open to reveal Elthel. The young woman looked instantly to the three newcomers, Iliskra noting her expression had softened greatly even if it looked weary - the lingering scowl from earlier finally gone. Elthel’s hood was lowered letting her thick mane of red hair hang loose all around her head and shoulders.

“Zilaster is better now,” Elthel declared, “or at least the poison has been taken care of. Roscela said he would live… but the malaise will be with him for several days she thinks.”

Yanoriim nodded in understanding, Elthel looked between Iliskra and Leon saying, “Zilaster sends his payment.” She reached for her belt and pulled a bulging pouch from it and tossed it to Iliskra. Iliskra nimbly undid the string and pulled the bag open looking inside as Elthel announced the contents as being fifteen pink pearls worth a hundred gold a piece. Iliskra poured the pearls out into her open palm delicately, handing Leon and Ibdur their share of the small gemstones as Elthel smiled wryly. “Zilaster also said that if the three of you wished to further employ yourselves to us there will be more - and not just pearls.”

“So,” Iliskra said, tossing the now empty bag back to Elthel and putting away her pearls, “Zilaster is interested in our services. As… bodyguards?”

Elthel’s smile turned to a dimpled smirk, “Not exactly. With Gunalar dead his gang are now in a vulnerable position. Zilaster said we need to act right now; to go to Gunalar’s compound and finish off what remains of his lackeys. Ideally before word starts spreading of Gunalar’s demise.”

“‘We’?” Iliskra questioned.

“If you three are interested then you shall accompany me and two others of our band that will meet us there. If you are not there are others I can call upon, granted it will take more time.”

“Six of us?” Iliskra raised her brows, “After Gunalar’s gang nearly killed four of your number, including your leader?”

“We were caught off-guard, and… Zilaster was foolish to believe anything that half-orc offered as genuine. This time we will have the advantage of surprise.” Elthel retorted. “It is simple really, you three impressed Zilaster with your skills and he also has a problem that needs to be immediately dealt with. Accompany me in finishing off this rabble and Zilaster will pay you further and may even find more work for you. If, again, you are interested.”

“This ‘compound’ may have quite a bit of loot stashed away.” Yanoriim muttered as he closed and locked the door behind Elthel.

“Well?” Elthel raised a brow as she pulled her hood back over her head.

Iliskra looked over her shoulder knowingly at Leon awaiting his input.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

“Bah,” Yanoriim grunted in disgust, “Shagarm has been nothing but a growing threat to us since they first appeared in the city this past summer.”

“What do you know about Shagarm?” Iliskra echoed Leon, arms crossed over her chest.

“Near nothing, and that is what bothers me.” Yanoriim furrowed his brow, “What I do know is what most folk around know. Shagarm arrived with a small band of mercenaries earlier this year, back in the summer as I said. Small but seasoned and vicious. The southern side of this city was in turmoil, every other street had some petty gang or runty bunch of hooligans squabbling over houses to shake down and streets to raise their flag over. Gunalar was just one of about a dozen of his like. And then across the river the holdouts of the city watch and those accursed Red Wizards were fighting it out.”

“When did the Red Wizards first show up?” Iliskra asked.

“Not very long after the end of the plague. A terrible thing that was, so many, many people dead and so much chaos that rose up in its’ wake. If this city comes to an end, that epidemic was the start of it all.”

Iliskra knew of what the dwarf spoke. The “shaking plague” it had been called. Many said it was the worst disease ever known in this part of the continent if not all of Faerûn. Victims of the sickness suffered from a painful pox, a horrid fever, muted speech and of course uncontrollable shaking before meeting a final agonizing end. Over half of Scardale Town had perished and thereafter was when total chaos broke out. And like vultures the Red Wizards descended upon the weakened city.

“But you first asked me about Shagarm,” Yanoriim twisted his head to one side drawing a satisfying crack from his neck, “Shagarm and their bunch quickly rose to the top here on this side of the river. What small-timers that did not leave or fall in behind Shagarm were killed - often in the most horrific of ways. Before long it was not just local thugs joining Shagarm’s ranks. Blades-for-hire, deserters from Sembia and the Dales, even washed out pirates from the Dragon Reach. Like moths to flame, I tell you. By Marpenoth most of this part of the city was under Shagarm’s thumb save for sparse holdouts - Zilaster now being the last of note it seems since Gunalar finally caved.”

“How have the city watch and Red Wizards reacted to this?” Iliskra asked.

“Well,” Yanoriim sighed knowingly, “neither are in favor of course, but they are too wary of turning their backs on each other to lash out at Shagarm. At the same time Shagarm’s rise has lessened the clashes between them as neither wants to risk weakening themselves and being at the mercy of their rival or this new player in ‘the game’.”

’The last of note’… Iliskra tossed a sideways knowing glance at Leon before asking, “Just who is Shagarm? What are they?”

“I have not the faintest guess,” Yanoriim said monotonously, “no one really does other than those close to Shagarm. Rumor has it they are imposing and charismatic and are said to be damned fine with a sword. That is all I know.”

A charismatic mercenary with the ability to rally together a sizable force. Nothing unheard of at all. Iliskra thought.

“Here lately the Red Wizards seemed to be desperate,” Yanoriim added with a single raised brow, “just last week they sent a swarm of undead and shadow beings against Shagarm’s riverside defenses - Shagarm’s men held them back but it was a costly attack I hear.”

“Do Shagarm’s men prove a problem for you?” Iliskra asked.

“They come here once a week demanding ‘protection’ money. I pay it and occasionally give them free fruit. They leave me be. Better to cooperate since their ‘tax’ is nothing crippling and I need to maintain the ruse as a humble shopkeeper for the sake of my business partners. Not to mention I have no desire to see my fathers’ shop burned to the ground.”