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Stormreach — you will find no greater den of villainy on the face of Eberron... (City of Stormreach, pg16)

Forged in compromise between King Galifar and the Pirate Lords, the city of Stormreach has grown in status from a safe haven of criminals given amnesty to an international trading port. It is the gateway to Xen'drik -- the continent of fallen empires and lost secrets. Here, opportunities lay abound in wealth and influence, in fame and ignominy. A fresh start for any who wish their slates wiped clean, or simply to brave the odds in their quest for challenge and glory.

It is currently the year 1002 YK, six years after the Treaty of Thronehold ended the Great War that tore the Kingdom of Galifar asunder. The day is Monday, February 2*, a temperate morning for a city that lay on the coastal edge of Xen'drik's tropical rainforests. Nevertheless a few of you shivered in the chill of the fading mist as the noise of the rousing marketplace grew against your back. Before your eyes the hired laborers put their finishing touch on a new company building in the eastern market district.

Xen'drik Outreach Society (GmbH)

What began as an idea by Lord Ahz Velderan d'Tharashk -- 'silly Dragonmarked Houses thinking themselves special for having a fancy tattoo' for some of you -- besides Adoett's perfectly tenderized campfire stew has transformed into reality at last. It took weeks of backbreaking work, from swaying city 'administrators' for permits to negotiating venture capital to material acquisitions and stone-by-stone manual labor... but it had all been worth it for this moment, as you gaze upon the new company sign that marked it a home of your own.

"Congratulations all!" a petite girl shouted in mirth as her eyes squeezed shut, her small hands trying to pop the large glass bottle with some difficulty.

Lysette alway seem to look underaged regardless of how old she actually is -- well, except that time when she went to negotiate for a bigger and better track of land. But appearances aside, she is also the company shareholder whose financial backing made today possible, not to mention the employer whose last job brought everyone assembled together in the first place.

Tiring herself out with no sign of the cork budging, she handed the bottle of the famous Aundairian Bluevine wine to the Half-Giant master chef.

Today is a moment of celebration, of scrumptious foods and fancy drinks and inviting the neighbors for a jolly time to promote your names. Tomorrow, your work will begin.

Special modifier, brought to you by shareholder's business promotion:
Opening Week: all income generation checks using the company building receives a +10 bonus; will translate into a permanent +1 reputation bonus once opening week is over.



(*we will not be using the Eberron month/day/weekday calender, because that level of over-complication benefits nobody except the worldbuilder's egos.)

( Based on Mission voting results, it's Crime Wave > Carnivorous Gardens > Sword Hunt for top three. So, without further ado~ )


Type: Investigation and Raid
Contact: Lucile, Merchant in Dannel's Pride
Description: Cross District has been hit by a wave of petty thefts, and the Cyran ward Dannel's Pride has been hit particularly hard. The crimes range from emptied restaurant food stores, to missing pets, to pilfered strongboxes storing recovered treasure from the Mournlands. The people of Dannel's Pride have boosted their security and stepped up patrols, but so far to no avail as the intruders are tunneling in from beneath the ground and other kobold-sized ratholes. The Stormreach Guard sees it as none of their business, so the refugees of Cyre must find someone else to provide help.
Downpayment: 500gps
Payment: 4,000gps
Missed Penalty: the crime wave from Cross may spread to the rest of the city, increasing its Crime score
Failure Penalty: possible harassment or worse from the extremist group Dannel's Wrath
Time Needed: Unknown
Time Limit: Unknown

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For Prologue:

Any interested character may take two time periods to generate income during the opening day (with the +10 week bonus).
For anyone who uses the opportunity to generate influence: you may also receive a free attempt to improve relations with Lysette. This does not take up a time session.



Crime Wave:

Cross is an important center in Stormreach. It is adjacent to the Marketplace, and it links many of the important districts of the city. It has also become a fiercely defended home away from home for many displaced refugees from Cyre. Dannel's Pride is the Cyran ward, and its residents have invested everything they have left into preserving a little piece of the old country here in Stormreach. Unfortunately for them, their so-called militia group Dannel's Wrath also takes this too far. They have raised the ire of Stormreach's other inhabitants with not only their xenophobic paranoia but also their unrestrained outlet of anger.

Perhaps the latest incident is yet another side effect of this attitude.

Even today, you could feel the tension in the air as you walk into Dannel's Pride to accept the mission. Everywhere around you the people stare and point with displeased scowls. The Stormreach Guard is nowhere to be seen, and the only merchants in the streetside stands are other Cyrans peddling their poor wares. A few of you soon noticed that a squad of armed locals had began tailing you from a distance, their fingers precariously close to the hilts of their sheathed swords.

Thankfully, the merchant who left the request was not hard to find.

"Let's see... Halibut, sheep's cheese, tomatoes... oh! Welcome!"

Lucile was a portly but jolly merchant, which spoke good things about her business in this district full of destitute and starving refugees. She sold her wares from a stand just outside the doors of her shop, with a wide variety of items scattered all about the table. Her place probably acted as a pawnshop for the Cyrans in addition to being a general store, as some of her odd wares seem rather used and worn.

After a few greeting are exchanged, you realized that the Cyran 'militiamen' who had been tailing already began to leave. Whomever this Lucile really is, she clearly has influence within the community.

"...I'm afraid the whole of Dannel's Pride is terribly on edge, with all these burglaries about," Lucile explained apologetically. "The refugees here don't have much to spare, and some of the things they've lost were irreplaceable to them -- the only memories of home they have left. The militia have stepped up their patrols, but they couldn't even spot a shadow of who is behind all this, so we had no choice but to hire help."

"So far we've lost several tons of foodstock, dozens of personal items, and five relics that have been recovered from Mourneland adventurers at considerable price. The only hints I know of are that we've discovered many hidden small tunnels heading deep underground in warehouses where things were stolen. Furthermore, a few people have spotted and even killed kobolds where they do not belong. So best as we can tell, we have a rodent problem -- those overgrown rats must be using the tunnels beneath the city to rob us blind. Unfortunately, the tunnels are both too small and too complex, and nobody we've sent to check it out has found any actual lead."

"We're hoping that someone with more experience -- like you all -- can get to the bottom of this problem."

( any question? or other gather information needs within or outside the district )

Gorin spends his two time-periods crafting some druid-friendly armor.
(Craft (Armorsmith): 2d20+40= 55
Craft (Armorsmith): 2d20+40= 48)

Gadget, similarly, works on crafting some armor.

(Craft (Armorsmith): 2d20+43= 62
Craft (Armorsmith): 2d20+43= 46)


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Despite the looks and whispers, Gadget felt almost at home amongst the bustling marketplace and the Cyran people. He would have showed a grand smile for most of the walk, if he were physically able to. Nonetheless, he was a scout and decided that while the more. socially-inclined. creatures were talking, he would keep an eye and "ear" on the surrounding area,

(Perception checks to notice anything out of place,
During the walk through the marketplace: 1d20+8= 23
During the conversation with Lucille: 1d20+8= 21)

Adoett tries to sell some deliciously eclectic meals (today's special: dinosaur curry with a hint of Sarlonan herbs) during the lunch and dinner rushes. Influence generation, I guess.

Profession[chef]: max(2d20)+12+10(opening day)+10(company building)+12(economy)=53

He also makes sure to take some up to Lysette and the familiars.

Diplomacy: 1d20+6+5(settlement)=20 (GM edit: giving a +10 bonus for personally cooked and delicious food)

Once the mission begins, he figures he'll do better pounding the pavement to figure out what's going on around here than talking to important people as well.

Diplomacy[gather information]: 1d20+8=20
Wisdom: 1d20+3=21

(What's the right check for passively listening in for rumors or interesting tidbits that could be worked into a missive back to the Chronicle? Perception? Diplo[gather info]? Profession[journalist]?)

(should of clarified : it's two time periods = 1 income generation session; guess my post was misleading. I'll just use the first roll result if you made two)
(will give results to capital checks all when everyone posts)

Edit:
As Adoett asked around the neighborhood for more tips about what happened, he realized one oddity: all the people who claimed to have killed kobolds are either kids and/or teens, not by any of the adults/guards. But other than that, everything is as Lucile told you thus far -- although the townsfolk sound far more bitter and hateful about it.

Dr. Goodberry spends his day selling his Herbalist services, generating some Goods:
2d20.best+11(sheet)+10(Opening Day)+12(Economy)+10(Company Building)
max(6,20)+43 = 63/100

He spends the evening talking with Lysette about their common Commander:
Diplomacy to Improve Relationship: 1d20+5(sheet)+5(Settlement[Society])
19+10 = 29

Having not spent any resources, he walks to Respite for the late night and goes to one of the late night emergency hospitals to work for the evening. (part 1 of 2):
Will save to work Overtime: 1d20+8 = 28

Summary of Opening Day:
[Morning]: Skilled Goods Work (Profession [Herbalist] working for self pt. 1)
[Afternoon]: Skilled Goods Work(Profession [Herbalist] working for self pt. 2)
[Evening]: Improve Relationship [Lysette]
[Late Night]: Skilled Influence Work (Heal working for others, pt. 1)


When walking through the Cross, he keeps an eye out for the types of plants people have in their houses. The leaves on his head seem to wilt slightly as he sees the level of paranoia and fear in the community. "This level of anxiety is not good for the long term. It rots the roots." he comments as they approach their point person.

Dr. Goodberry stands silently as the group talks to their contact, using his Grove Telepathy (Collective ability) to facilitate people putting forth questions for our diplomat to ask, as well as sharing information without interrupting the flow of verbal communication.

Prologue:

Leah returns from the kitchen with a tray full of wine glasses for the congratulational bottle. The best wine deserved the best glasses... that they had. And Leah had to admit, they were quite nice. Someone had been meticulous when outfitting the kitchen. While metaphorically floating through the room in her purple court dress, a frilly piece that matched the tone of her eyes, she scanned the room the the influential attendees... and who was conspicuously not present. Knowing who stood where and, more importantly, who to work would help their newborn GmbH in the future... and surely she would find some fun along the way.

But first, Lysette needed those glasses, and it was a good chance to make smalltalk with the biggest money behind their undertaking. Then again, the little lady was adorable in every other thing she did and a delightful conversationalist to boot. It betrayed plenty experience, competent training, a sharp mind, or all of it together, but that just made the new acquaintance even more delicious for Leah.

[Diplomacy for relationship with Lysette: 1d20+15 = 17]

That... could've gone better, but at least avoided outright disaster, Leah hoped they'd all be able to laugh about this in the future. No harm done. Yet. Either way, with the wine in the glasses, it was time for Leah to mingle. Some of the male guests had met her eyes during her earlier sweep and Leah knew when she saw interest. Let the games begin!

[Bluff for Influence. 1d20 + 36 = 45]


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Crime Wave:

After Leah's near-faux pas [with Lysette] at the party the night before, it seemed sensible for her to take a more supportive role this time. Besides, the GmbH had been Ahz's brain child in the first place, and if any single one of them had to be their face, it might as well be him. Not to mention, making a man look good was well within Leah's area of expertise. Near-faux pas and such aside.

[Setup for Aid Another]

[Crime Wave update]:

"Cultural ones mostly, with little real function value but of great sentiment to us," Lucile answered Ahz. "Although... there is one weapon in there; a dwarven axe -- supposedly from the Boar of Cyre."

(Knowledge[history] if you want to know more about that... )

It took Lucile some minutes to gather the information from her notebooks, but she does provide Koko (and the rest) a list of:
-- where foodstuffs have been stolen from (a few eateries, two storage sheds, and few dozen homes; include a mark on the ones where they found small holes going underground)
-- a list of the witnesses who said they've seen kobolds.

"I don't have any maps though; I'm not sure the militiamen who scouted the tunnels bothered making one in the end," she added with a depressed shrug. "They simply said that all the tunnels connect with one another, and they've tried every one of them but they all head back up to the surface. It's possible the kobolds are just using the tunnel system to get around but, that doesn't explain how we never see them running away in the streets."

(Know[History] to know more about the axe/Boar of Cyre (using inspiration): 1d20+11+1d6 = 32)

(The Boar of Cyre is a dwarven wereboar merchant named Ladislav Hightor. Originally from Thrane, he fled the nation during the crusade against lycanthropes. After resettling in Cyre, he grew to love the nation's cultural heritage. He enlisted during the war and fought until his unit was destroyed and he was honorably discharged. After that he became a vigilante who took it upon himself to hunt down and destroy agents of other nations. He became one of the nation's folk heroes after a Cyran bard witnessed his activities in action, though there has been no news of him since the Mourning.)

Ashkharan spends his work period brewing. He recently found a recipe for a Lhazaar porter that he's been dying to try, and opening day seems like the time for it.

Craft (beer): 1d20+8(skill)+10(opening day)+10(company building)+12(economy)=50

That evening he spends in meditation in the garden, feeling the earth beneath him and meditating on the draconic prophecy. He is not trying to gain anything—just becoming closer to the earth. He invites all to join him, should they so desire.

***

The next day in Dannel's Pride, he looks around the market while talking with Lucille, looking for anything that sets off his earthsense (as he calls the feeling he gets around moved earth). He's hoping to see signs of digging, either on the ground (behind some crates, perhaps) or on others in the market. Digging blindly isn't easy, and scouting would make it easier. It could even be an inside job.

Perception: 1d20+8=22

Opening day action results:

Relationship changes:

Leah with Lysette +0 -- yes that definitely could have gone better. Lysette's looks are almost misleading in this respect but she's astoundingly well-guarded and making open advances is apparently a bad idea.

Koko to Lysette +0 -- although you had a pleasant word here and there, you suspect that actually getting to know her isn't that easy. You did notice her interested conversation with the Adoette about cooking though.

Ahz with Lysette +2

Adoett to Lysette +3 -- she seemed pleased by your cooking and the two of you spent some time chatting about flavors. You realize that she has quite the interest in cooking herself, and her experience with ingredients might even outmatch yours; her food presentation skills however are entirely absent.

Goodberry to Lysette +3 -- the two spent some hours talking about backgrounds while having tea at the Atelier. Lysette was quite surprised by Goodberry's background in Brelish service, the same unit that her foster father once commanded too; the world really is a small place (gain a special +10 bonus for backstory).

Ahz to Kurn d'Velderan +5 -- Kurn is an astoundingly busy man, his work desk piled high with papers. But he still managed to pull almost a good hour to chat with Ahz. He's glad that another cosmopolitan individual from the house has made Stormreach home. Business from Xen'drik is an important part of the House Tharashk's revenues and negotiating around the Stormlords' constant attempt to shave a cut of the profits isn't easy. It also didn't take long before Ahz realized that Kurn is certainly a workaholic; he might complain about the job, but it is all he seems to care about.

NPC relationship table may be found in my signature.

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Income generation progress:
Adoett (Influence): 53/150
Ahz (Influence): 57/150
Ashkharan (Goods): 50/100
Gadget (Goods): 62/100
Goodberry (Goods): 63/100; +1 time period Influence
Gorin (Goods): 55/100
Leah (Influence): 45/150
Koko (Influence): 38/150

Day 0: Nighttime Actions

Gorin sleeps.

Gadget spends the evening toying with a trap idea: A trap that would launch a directed spray of poison darts when triggered.

(Craft Trap: 1d20+15= 26)