Rise:01 Selling Fire Insurance

Starring: Template:Georgio Malatesta, Template:Malatesta, Template:Polo Malatesta, Stavros, Uristo
Guest Starring: Aliver "Pillbug" Podiker, Titus Malatesta
Challenge: Local Malatesta Family; Goblin Raiding Party
Location: Rusty Dragon Tavern, Old Light, Pillbug's Pantry, Fatman's Feedbag Tavern, Malatesta Manor
Date Played: 16 June 2013

Arriving at Sandpoint and Learning the Lay of the Land

Uristo: The Malatesta family finds itself in troubling circumstances. The current Patriarch's decision to pursue slavery-against the traditions of the Family-has lead to a schism, leaving many of us who belong to families who aligned with the Malatestas long ago in a position most awkward.

It is my luck that I found myself in the service of members of the Family who are on the proper side of Honor. Lead more or less under the personality of Mr. Giorgio, we escaped Magnimar and set out to seek more distant Family members who might be friendly to us.

Our first stop on our journey was in the small town of Sandpoint. I had, of course, gathered information about the locale beforehand. It’s most unprofessional to be unprepared. We introduced ourselves to a Family client, the Pillbug, and then we visited a tavern to gather local news. It seemed that the locals believe the Malatestas are behind the burning of several competing lumber mills in town. We decide to finally meet the local Don himself to discuss matters.

Stavros: Though it has been years since the events in Highhelm, I fully expect an axe of vengeance to bury itself between my shoulders. The recent fracturing of the Malatesta family has only exacerbated those fears. However, I am glad that though an outcast, at least I am not alone this time in my allegiance.

We have chosen a course to Sandpoint. I occupy my time by sensing the powerful ley lines that run along the roads into the town. It is truly amazing how humans seem blithely unaware that they crave to be near ley lines.... Some of the more gifted conversationalists procure Malatesta contacts in the town, and we seem to have decided to approach them. It seems like a poor idea to walk into a troll's lair without a proper fire. Bah.

Going to see the Local Malatesta Noble

Uristo: At the home of the Don, I, being but a servant, was not allowed to be in the meeting with him. Instead, I and Stavros were exiled to the servant’s quarters. The servants seemed to be rather disesteemed regarding the Don, which was to be expected, considering his allegiance to the Patriarch. Additionally, it became obvious, both through servants’ gossip and the meeting proper, that the Don was involved in the lumber incidents.

Stavros: Well, I knew it. Walked right into a trap without a proper escape route. The Don is running his own milling racket, by "persuading" the competition to seek greener pastures. As in, if one doesn't find a greener pasture, the Malatesta family will just burn the mill down. Clever. It would be an excellent plan to join, if it didn't happen to be the case that the local Don is a loyalist. To recap, we have 1) walked into the den of the enemy, 2) had a parade, announcing we are here, and 3) asked them nicely not to chop off our heads, for old time's sake.

On the plus side, I spent some quality time with Uristo. It turns out that he is more resourceful than I originally thought (given the blunder with the Pillbug about speaking openly in dwarven). He was able to find out that those who work for the Don may not share his allegience -- a useful observation, without any doubt.

Swallowtail Festival

Uristo: The Don made it clear he wished us to leave town very soon, considering our Familial faction, with implications that the day after the Swallowtail festival should be our departure date. We concluded that if the Don could be overtly connected to the arsons that we might hold some leverage over him and gain the favor of the town, but evidence was hard to come by, and preparations in case this plan went astray took much of my time. The festival was quaint in its own way, though hardly fitting for my own tastes. Things became a good deal more unpleasant with the intrusion of some uncouth Goblins, with their heinous dissonant singing and murderous inclinations. We immediately set to making their presence more tolerable (via their death).

Stavros: Luck was on our side that Malatestan assassins did not find our throats in the past night. We were given enough courtesy by the Don to attend the Swallowtail Festival before leaving Sandpoint. The festival was largely boring, full of things that humans would find fun. No boulder smashing, axe tossing, or digging competitions here. What sort of fun is that?

However, the goblins changed all of that. Within moments, a boring festival became a tense battle for our lives. My Comrades were more capable than I thought they might be. Perhaps I did not choose the wrong side, for once. Perhaps.

Wiki Rewards

• Fire Insurance You have convinced a few of the local establishments that your protection will keep them from harm. Gain 100gp. (Uristo only so far.)