Maybe a year ago now, Bran, an ex-mercenary you've both had favorable dealings in the past moved into the office of harbour master for a small barony up on the islands north and west of Maelstrom. He reached out, not to long ago, to beg a hand getting everything under control as he has something of a smuggler problem. They don't seem to be smuggling anything too serious he explains in the letter that brought you out here but its damn frustrating and, if it doesn't get fixed before to long, is going to cost him his fresh new opportunity in the city.

Arriving you soon end up in his office being told about something called Goldwine. A much desired beverage made by a house that nobody much likes and when nobles don't like another noble one of the ways they express their displeasure is by adding tariffs to anything they sell. Goldwine is one of those products made expensive through tariffs all through this region and yet Goldwine is found almost everywhere. Cheaply. What he'd really really like is if you could go on out there and use your skills and experience (and fresh faces) to catch the perpetrators and stop the flow of cheap Goldwine before his employer gets sick enough to fire him. How hard can it be on a relatively small island like this?

Jan arrives with the few details, and a rough map of the island tucks in a map case slung over her shoulder she waits for whoever else is to join on this meeting, shifting her weight restlessly while her gaze travels across the office.

Fray arrives with her usual gear and displeasing attitude, taking a look around before noticing Jan and giving her a nod.

"We've been keeping eye on a Captain Roshe." Bran tells you both "But whilst i'm sure he's up to his eyeballs in this we've never been able to actually catch him at it. Still, he might be a place to start. Any questions?"

Jan crosses her arms "Where do we find him, how many people in his crew, and do you care what happens to the naughty captain so long as the smuggling stops?"

"The inn" Bran says "Or his ship the White Hart. I'd like to have someone to send to the courts but no, I don't really care what happens to him in particular. Just don't go killing people in the streets."

Jan looks to Fray "You hear that Dame?" she nods to Pasquale "Excellent. Thank you. We'll take care of it."

Fray gives Jan an acknowledging head tilt. "Aye, That certainly makes things easier for me."

You find Captain Roshe in the ports one and only inn. He's a rotund man with a jolly face and a bright red vestcoat that matches his loud personality. At the moment you enter he is playing a knife game with a handful of men that are presumably from his crew. Its unlikely business is going on just now but it might be an opportunity for you to begin your investigation.

Jan pauses and wonders to Fray "You have any ideas for an approach? If not I'm inclined to wing it."

Fray gives it a brief thought before replying to Jan. "As much as I prefer to just deal with him now, it might do us good to pretend we're interested in buying. At least try getting some info before he isn't able to say anything himself." She shrugs "Other than that, we can see what happens."

Jan purses her lips "He almost certainly has someone else for selling the goods but it's better than any idea I have. I'll follow your lead."

Fray nods as she steadily walks up to the captain and presumably his crewmates and sits down next to them. "Captain Roshe, I heard you're the man to talk to about getting some Goldwine, is this true?"

Fray checks charm and streetwise at hard. Fray is successful.

Jan checks perception and streetwise at hard. Jan fails.

Captain Roshe turns to face this newly arrived 'customer'. "Goldwine you say? Sure sure. I can get you anything you like Darlin'. Just so long as you want enough of it. What are we talking about here?"

Jan lurks behind Dame Fray. She takes advantage of her height and broad shoulders and simply looks like hired muscle covering Bosslady's back.

"Enough to keep one from getting thirsty, and I was hoping you could give me a discount." She says as she leans just a little, "Goldwine is expensive these days."

Jan continues to lurk and looks like a dutiful meat puppet.

"Sorry Darlin'" Roshe tells Fray "I deal in bigger numbers than that. Whole cargos" he says "Not bottles." he waves vaguely towards the bar "Join us though" He lifts the bottle of goldwine gracing his table. "Or go talk to Igor over there" He waves to the barman. "I'm sure he can set you up."

Jan says, "Talking about shipment enough to fill a hold of a caravel. Guess we'll take our business elsewhere, boss."

Fray gets up turns around to Jan, "I'm sure your crew is thirsty, I'm sure they would love you for it." She pats Jan on the shoulder once and walks over to the barman.

"That much?" Roshe says "We would be interested in taking on a charter job for sure." he pours out a glass of the goldwine for his new 'friend'. "We've a fine ship. Why she might even be the grandest trade ship on this side of Maelstrom."
The barkeep turns to greet Fray "What can I get ya"

Fray nods, "I'm looking for someone to sell me bottles of Goldwine without those pesky tariffs in the way. Roshe sent me over, you know someone?"

Jan checks charm and seduction at normal. Jan is successful.

Fray checks charm and manipulation at normal. Fray is successful.

Jan leans forward on the back of the char Fray was sitting in, "I'm going to level with you, Captain. I'm not just here for a fleetfull of goldwine. I'm in need of a man who has a knack for acquiring things and a sense of discretion. If you're up for the challenge, I'd like to see you do something on a scale larger than screwing local magistrates out of their dues-which by the way is likely to make your stay here uncomfortable sooner rather than later." She looks him over "But you look like a man who's just FULL of potential." she gives him a toothy grin.

The barman looks on over to where Roshe and Jan are getting cozy before telling Fray "Theres a docker by the name of Endwin." he tells her "He can get you what you need. Just tell him you came from the Blue Rose."

Meanwhile Jan and Roshe continue their friendly chat. His eyebrows climb so high they almost look as if they are trying to escape his forehead at Jan's blunt charm. "I'm listening."

Fray nods and walks back over to Jan, standing behind her as she did earlier.

Jan tilts her head "I'm General Jan Kennex. Lady.." she rolls her eyes a bit "General Jan Kennex. Anyway no one but the local care about your enterprise and they don't care what happens to you or your boys so long as the cheap goldwine stops flowing and Kennex don't give a fuck about smuggling so long as you're not pirating or smuggling people."

"Why mention this? Well, ever since this nonsense in the isles with the civil war I've been nonstop recruiting. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers all over and you know how fucking expensive housing, medicating, and feeding that man big strapping men and women is? It's insane. So. You roll up the carpet here, you keep what you already made, we take some of your inventory and give it to the folks who want your hide as a consolation prize, and you broaden your horizons. I'll pay you well to help me with my supply problem, you expand your footprint, and with the wider footprint come the profits and your sway in the ports you care about. How's that sound to you?"

"So" Captain Roshe says "You want me to hand you some Goldwine and come work for Kennex?" he looks at the men he was drinking with before looking back to her "Maybe. Maybe." He says "Depends what you actually want and how sweet the pot really is. Are you suggesting I change port or that I swear allegiance?" He pours out a glass of the wine for Fray as he talks and hands it up to her. "It is true we've started to wear out our welcome around here. That Captain Bran really has a stick up his ass."

Fray leans over to grab the glass, taking the opportunity to whisper to Jan, "Docker named Endwin is a supplier".

Jan checks charm and leadership at normal. Jan marginally fails.

Jan checks charm and economics at normal. Jan is successful.

Jan shrugs "Not Kennex exactly. We're not in the smuggling business. You'd be your own man but you'd have some help including added manpower and well trained security in exchange for a /reasonable/ price on essentials and first dibs on anything that's in limited supply. Long as you don't get caught pirating or grossly oversaturating markets as you've done here, or smuggling people-I don't really care what you do. You'd be more like a partner than an employee."

And so Jan and Roshe settling into a negotiation. Roshe doesn't say no but he does name a higher price for this move than Jan wanted. Does she take it?

Jan tilts her head "Seriously? I can just bring said manpower hear and dry this town out. If I can't get what I'm looking for the next best thing is an excellent training exercise for my men." her eyebrows lift "Take some time. Consider it. Either way you're done here and that bit is /not/ negotiable." she looks at Fray "Did you find out where This docker is getting his shit from?"

Jan checks composure and intimidation at hard. Jan is successful.

"Thats my price" Roshe tells Jan. "It's just not worth our while otherwise." he frowns "But I hear you. We're leaving town tomorrow anyway. You'll not hear from us here again."

Jan pouts, "Fine, but if you need any of the manpower I mentioned I get a discount on a case by case basis. If you need to get in touch send a messenger to the ebb and flow and leave it with the bartender."

"All I was told was that a docker named Endwin would get me what I need. Said to say we came from the Blue Rose." Fray says with a sigh. "Do we need this guy anymore? It would be better if we got rid of him now." She says, not trying to hide her intentions anymore.

Jan looks up at Fray "What is wrong with you?! We're not fucking assassins and this man's just an enterprising soul. We're not getting rid of anyone, you hear me?"