Slaves would be nice. They'd have no political affiliations, and apparently they're like Unsullied soldiers, so they'd probably the most loyal. I'd like to ask the GM about what human and orc (and ogre, etc.) society thinks of slavery.
...
I'm leaning towards the slave fighters (waiting on the GM's info on the political views of slavery in this world).
Humans in general like to think themselves above slavery. Occasionally somebody sells themselves into indentured servitude for a few years to settle a debt, and criminals are sometimes sentenced to a similar fate when there is a shortage in the workforce, but in general they view the large-scale type of slaving operation that the Orcs involve themselves in as barbaric. That is not to say, however, that human leaders wont contract with the Orcish Slavers Guild to deal with particulary large scale or dangerous jobs, such as constructing a dam or elaborate tomb.
Orcs, on the other hand, are skilled at the art of dominating others. The Slavers Guild is one of the richest and most influential groups in greenskin society. Most slaves belong to the subterranian races, and are bred and raised in huge underground camps; Those that prove themselves loyal and skilled are sold as elite soldiers or craftsmen at a high price, while the others are rented in bulk for dangerous construction projects and to serve as front-lines cannonfodder. In recent years the rise of the Naga Empire to the south has created a huge demand for the guild's services, and it is said that this slave boom in large part has funded the military campaigns of Tat-Pallik.
The guild has a huge amount of influence over the Orcish Crown, and as such have manipulated the laws relating to slave ownership to give themselves a near monopoly over the industry in Orcish Territories; Nobody may be born a slave outside of the sanctioned guild camps (luckily for you), and the violent mistreatment of slaves by anybody other than a sanctioned guild slave-breaker is punishable by 50 lashes and a 500 Steel Chip fine.
Recently, however, the alliance between the Orcs and Ogres has introduced a new sort of slave to the equation. When most Ogre Tribes take prisoners, said prisoners are generally exploited in unspeakable ways for several months before they are cooked and eaten, and this behavior is often cruel enough to move even an Orc to Pity; Oftentimes an Orcish dignitary visiting an Ogre Camp will buy all the prisoners present, put anybody suffering too greatly out of their misery, and put the rest to work as domestic servants. This is how your mother came to live at the royal castle.
---
"Mathias Blood-spiller! Good to see you again brother!" Tridap-Point storms into your study, and when you rise to greet him, he embraces you in a bear hug!
"How the heck have you been? How is the family?""Oh, we are doing okay. You wont believe what my daughter has been getting into..." You draw an easy laugh by recounting some of Little Seal's adventures in bomb making, before getting down with some pre-meeting busniess.
"So, what the heck is going on in parliament?""Not much," your friend admits,
"I don't think we are going to meet again for a few days. Most of us are off drafting our own legislation." Good ol' Tridap-Point then proceeds to fill you in on the juicy details that he knows you want.
1. Cat-Mash has instructed all four Ogre MPs to vote against any legislation that might provide funding or resources to the Sheriff's office.
2. Irrik-Kinglor is spending significant amounts of time at the Render's Mead Hall, working with the Ogre MPs on a draft of a bill that they will solve the food crisis
3. Trik-Trik is working on a bill to make the possession of Old Regime Currency punishable by death. He intends to approach you soon with an offer: A large sum of money directly from the mint in exchange for the Sheriff's office serving as his personal currency enforcers.
4. MP Carlo Estaban wants to be royalty. If you are willing to part with your son's right to marry Skyler Swain, the young princess could be a hell of a bargaining chip to hold over him. He might become your enemy and try to get the Swains off your hands through other means if you don't head him off with an offer or threat first.
5. Tridap-Point and Ogre MP Spew-Spiller are conspiring against Cat-Masher. Spew-Spiller claims to be your first cousin, and is intrested in meeting with you if said meeting can be arranged without Cat-Mash's knowing. No specific plans regarding this scheme have been formulated yet, but Tridap-Point promises to keep you updated.
You find yourself so busy listening to Tridap-Point's rumors and schemes that you fail to notice Carlo's carriage pull up. You are made aware of his arrival when Fandango anounces his presence and leads him into the study, cutting off the private discussion between you and your friend. Carlo Estaban is a short and well built man, wearing a suit, cape, and saber. He offers you a slight bow and respectful handshake when you return the gesture.
You know only the public myth, persona, and rumors of this man; He was a Champion Matador in his youth, well before you arrived in the city, but fell out of favor with the Swain Dynasty and was imprisoned for six years and banished from the city upon his release. No official explanation for his mistreatment was ever given, but the prevailing rumor told that he was caught in a scandalous affair with the King's older brother Jamal. He swore an oath to unseat the Swains, and when it became clear that she intended to invade Sky's Gate, Carlo Estaban joined the army of Tat-Pallik and quickly rose through the ranks. Of all the Race-Traitors presently in town, he is perhaps the least hated; People were sympathetic to his plight before the war, and understood his motives for working with the Orcs.
The group makes a bit of small talk while you wait for Celia to bring the tapas, and after the assembled dignataries finish their rice-rolls and white wine, you get down to business.
"As we all know her Highness has instilled in my the position of sheriff and I'm in charge of keeping the law enforced. I have taken a few steps toward this goal already but I would like to discuss assuring future funding from the Parliament.
We face a new threat in the Vampires and undead of the city who feel that the recent chaos allows them to feed without worry. On top of that Marrow-Mash's son can wake up grumpy tomorrow and overthrow parliament. I am sorry to inform you both but the Queen's power is the only thing that keeps him in check and she can die any day due to an accident or fighting in the wars going on.
Understand that I need constant funding for wages and to hire loyal street muscle. Currently, even myself and my deputies have no wages even which simply will not do if you expect us to survive without eating."Tridap-Point can help but beam as you deliver a speech as he might. He has clearly taught you well. It is Carlo, however, who speaks first.
"Your points are all valid, Don Mathias, and I am and always will be committed to the safety of Sky's Gate, but I feel uncomfortable pledging my support for any action until I see the specific legislation. I also have to be careful regarding the Ogres, as you mentioned they are dangerous, and furthermore, I know they do not like you. I would much rather you get the unanimous support of the Orcish Party in passing your funding, so that I may vote against it or abstain and avoid drawing Cat-Mash's wrath."The human leans back in his chair, and offers an apologetic smile.
"If you find that you cannot get this bill passed without my help, however, I will be glad to work with you and find an arangement that would allow me to vote 'aye'."Tridap-Point shoots his human colleague a dirty look before speaking.
"I'll gladly draft legislation to see your office funded myself, friend, or perhaps I can get Vandul-Tat-Pallik or Trik-Trik to do it instead. They are more knowledgeable on matters of security and finance respectively. In the meantime, I'm sure your Orcish friends in Parliment would be glad to throw a few chips from their own pockets in your direction to hold things over until proper funding is secured; My race is courageous, and not afraid of hurting some dumb Render Chief's feelings."You sigh. With guaranteed Ogre no votes, Trik-Trik likely preferring to buy you off rather than pass a proper funding bill, and Carlo looking for compensation in exchange for his vote, getting the six 'ayes' you need is likely to be a complicated affair. You decide to change the topic, and introduce Mr. Clay to the assembled dignitaries. After explaining who he is, you invite the man into the room, and ask him to speak his piece.
"I will be completely honest," Valiance begins, bravely staring down the politicians of the occupation before him,
"the farmer's guild has enough food stored away to keep people fed for four months, six if we start rationing. Given the damage caused to the fields and equipment by siege and war, and the approach of winter, the earliest we can produce any significant amount of crop is ten months from now. No amount of beating or threatening the farmers will cause them to work miracles here. We have two options: Import or starve. At the absolute least we need grain to feed the town for four months, but an ideal import deal would include twice that amount, as well as seed, plows, and beasts of burden to help the farmers establish themselves. Do you have any questions, good sirs?"The pair of MPs seem impressed by your friend's cajones, honesty, and outspokenness, and after asking a few detailed questions shake his hand and send him on his way.
"I should pass this report along to the Ogres, and Don Irrik-Kinglor," Carlo muses,
"They are working on some sort of food bill as we speak." A look concern spreads across Tridap-Point's face at the idea of telling this to the Ogres, but he doesn't express it out loud. The meeting wraps up swiftly from there. Carlo departs first, leaving Tridap-Point to offer a few closing remarks.
"I like that human friend of yours, brother. He has the chops. If you can get him to publicly declare loyalty to the queen, I might be able to get him a seat in parliament at some point down the road. Food for thought, eh?" He gives you another hug, and you walk your friend to his coach.
"Keep in touch," he instructs you as he climbs into his seat,
"Think it over. Let me know if you intend to take up Trik-Trik's offer, or if you want me to try and get a clean funding bill through Parliament instead."---
Lyndra sits across the desk from you, with a sly smile on her face.
"Well, it will be another week or so before I'm done with the set-up work, but I've got enough of a spy ring in place to begin opperations. Just let me know who or what you want us to be keeping an eye on, boss." Mathias 'The Enforcer' Lorenz Blood-spiller:Attributes:
Great Strength
Above Average Wit
Above Average Charisma
Skills:
High Master Chef
Master of Orcish High Society Social Protocol
Accomplished at Ogre Society Social Protocol
Adept at Human High Society Social Protocol
Adept at Human Commoner Social Protocol
Adept Giant Lizard Rider
Skilled Homemaker
Skilled Teacher
Competent Mace User
Competent Horse Rider
Competent Reader
Novice Bureaucrat
Novice Interrogator
Novice Investigator
Personal Holdings:
50 Orcish Steel Chips
250 Human Silver Royals (-55 a month to maintain house)
Household Staff (Covered under household maintenance)
Small House Library
1 Large City Manor with Stables
1 Carriage
1 Chariot
1 Set of Plate Armor with Mace and Shield
4 Work Horses (Covered under household maintenance)
2 War Horses (Covered under household maintenance)
2 War Dire-Monitors (Covered under household maintenance)
Relationships in Town: You know other people, such as your mother and queen, but they wont be added here until they come into play.
Close Friends and Family
Celia Lorenz Blood-spiller - Your wife and former co-worker. Before the war, the two of you worked together at her father's restraunt. Nowadays, with the city still in relative chaos, she is afraid to leave the house, or allow her children to do so.
Diego Spatch - Your father-in-law and former boss. Diego is an older man, having started both his family and restaurant at the ripe age of 47. You have heard whispers that he was a well paid assassin in the City State of Eagleshire before that, but have never broached the subject with him. He lost almost everything, including his wife, during the Marrow-Mash regime, and is now an honored guest in your household.
Fandango Spatch - Your unambitious brother in law. Fandango draws a modest pay as your personal coach driver, which is often spent of drink and women. His lifestyle is fusterating, but he is both clever and fine company.
Mathias 'Junior' Lorenz Blood-spiller - Your eldest son, presently 11 years old. Ever since watching Tat-Pallik march into town, he has dreamed of joining her hoard as a soldier. His mother is totally against the idea.
Tat-Celia 'Little Seal' Lorenz Blood-spiller - Your only daughter and twin sister to Pedro. Presently 8 years old. The twins are trouble makers to the core, and Little Seal is the only member of your family, aside from yourself, to learn how to read Orcish. Her favorite text, to everybody's dismay, is the Orcish Army Explosives Field manual.
Pedro Lorenz Blood-spiller - Your youngest son and twin brother to Tat-Celia. Pedro spilts his time nicely between raising hell around the house with his sister, and studying the art of cooking with his parents and grandfather. His new life goal is to personally train his own chefs when he joins the nobility.
Valiance Clay - The head of the local farmers guild, who took shelter at your home during Marrow-Mash's reign as governor and as such owes you his life and the lives of his family. He knows alot about the local food supply, and the deep trouble that it is in.
Tridap-Point - An Orcish highborn childhood friend who is currently a member parliament. He is a power hunger backstabber who most people would be wise not to trust, but he also loves you as a brother and is prone to letting you in on his devious plans. He has promised to look out for both your family and the Sheriff's office.
Chir-Spade - A mixed race highborn childhood friend of elfish and orcish descent, currently married to MP Oog-Paler. She is a skilled hunter. Because you are on record as having no interest in greenskins, the respective spouses involved are okay with the pair of you spending significant amounts of time together.
Other Useful Contacts:
Oog-Paler - An Orcish member of parliament whom you have sort of known since childhood. You are good friends with his wife Chir-Spade. From what you know of Oog-Paler, he would much rather be out hunting than actual governing.
Trik-Trik - An Orcish member of parliament whom you have sort of known since childhood. Trik-Trik's father is the Orcish Master-Mint, and he has made it his personal mission to uproot all local currency and replace it with the Orcish Iron and Steel Chip.
Vandul-Tat-Pallik The Unlucky - An Orcish member of parliament whom you have sort of known since childhood. Vandul was a great general, and consort to the queen, before he was recently emasculated in battle. He seems most concerned with re-establishing the town's defense.
Irrik-Kinglor - An Orcish member of parliament whom you have sort of known since childhood. Irrik-Kinglor is a ranking member of the slaver's guild, and hopes to turn the food shortage into a surplus so he can rebuild the city with imported labor.
Char-Pallik - An Orcish member of parliament and much younger sister of the queen. She was only a baby when you left for human lands. She comes across as a bit naive, but also hungry for power and respect.
Henry Orange - A former Redsmith the de-facto leader of the embattled human commoners. He despises the occupying Orcs and Ogres, but respects you for protecting the innocent during Marrow-Mash's reign.
Sheepteeth - An ancient ogre who claims to be your uncle on dads side. He is the father of Cat-Mash's military advisor, and is sometimes willing to pass you information about the going-ons of the Ogre Court, especially if you offer payment in return.
Prisoners and Personal Employees:
Pigspine - A large and lanky Ogre-Elf Hybrid who serves as one of your household guards. He is tough as nails, and surprisingly good at finesse activities, but also heavily anti-social and treats anybody who isn't an Ogre Hybrid, with the exception of your wife and father-in-law like dirt.
'Fingers' - This loyal Goblin Guardsman's name is too long for you to pronounce, let alone memorize. Although small and unintimidating, he is a crack shot with a crossbow.
Princess Vivian Swain - The elder daughter of the late human king of Sky's Gate. Vivian spends most of her time locked in her comfy chambers without complaint, tending to her 2 year old daughter Swan, who is to marry your son Pedro once she comes of age.
Princess Skyler Swain - The younger daughter of the late human king of Sky's Gate. Skyler is to marry your son Mathias when she comes of age. Although she resents you, and mourns the slaughter of her family, she has become fast friends with your kids, especially the twins who are the same age as her and have taken to regularly breaking her out of the room to which she is usually confined.
Crown Prince Jamal Swain - The 87 Year Old senile brother of the late human king of Sky's Gate, and husband to Lady Vicky Swain. His son Terry is to marry your daughter Tat-Celia when she comes of age. Jamal himself dosn't seem to know what is going on, and has the rather unfortunate habit of mistaking your wife for his his mistress.
Lady Vicky Swain - The younger but still middle aged wife of Crown Prince Jamal. Her son Terry is to marry your daughter Tat-Celia when she comes of age. Lady Vicky is defiant, and refuses to talk to anybody save her husband and nieces.
Lord Terry Swain - A eighteen year old nephew of the late human king, who is scheduled to marry your daughter Tat-Celia once she comes of age. Terry is a skilled poet and trained knight, and is presently trying to suck up to you to earn his freedom and your favor. This behavior has driven a wedge between you and most of his remaining family.
Enemies:
Cat-Mash - The Governor King of Sky's Gate, and son of former tyrant Marrow-Mash. Cat-Mash is officially a powerless figurehead, but with a 200 strong force of Ogres at his disposal, he could easily take down parliament if he chose to do so. He also likely holds much influence over the Ogre members of parliament. He makes no secret of the fact that he resents you for protecting the local humans from his father's hunt.
Headquarters: Your personal Study
Other Holdings:
8000 Orcish Steel Chips
Notable Officers:
Sheriff Mathias 'The Enforcer' Lorenz Blood-spiller - Leader and influence peddler
Deputy Lyndra Willowbranch - Eyes and Ears
Deputy Violet Leaky - Practitioner of the Blackest Arts
Other Officers:
Spy Ring (Unknown Number of Members. Mostly consists of human sex trade workers. Can gain intelligence on any faction or individual. Extra effective at spying on humans)
Faction Relations:
The Renders - A clan of mean, bloodthirsty, and human hating Ogres. Figurehead rulers of Sky's Gate 300 Civilians and 200 Soldiers in Town. They Despise the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff's office has some intelligence on them.
The Moderate Occupiers - The Orcs and Race Traitor humans who live under the protection of Parliament. They number about 1100 civilians and 400 Soldiers. Most of their military might is stationed outside of town at Fort Summit. They trust the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff's office has some intelligence on them.
Parliament - A group of appointed Orcs, Ogres, and a Race Traitor human who call the shots around Sky's Gate. They have 25 Orcish Guards looking after about 120 MPs, family, and staff members. The Sheriff's office has notable influence over them. The Sheriff's office has a great amount of intelligence on them.
The Swain Dynasty - The deposed rulers of Sky's Gate, slaughtered nearly to the last man, and revered by the common citizens. Only 6 of their number remain, of which only one is capable of combat. They are all prisoners of the Sheriff.
The Human Citizens of Sky's Gate - An Angry and oppressed population that is in no way a fan of parliament or The Renders. They are about 12000 strong with an estimated 12-50 Underground Freedom Fighters still active. The Sheriff's office has some influence over their leaders, and they hold out hope that the Sheriff will look after their interests. The Sheriff's Office has some intelligence on them.
The Elven Minority of Sky's Gate - Mostly Merchants and recent immigrants from the nearby forest retreats. They number about 600 and you have no idea how many of those are armed. They are ambivalent towards the Sheriff's office, and the Sheriff's office has no intelligence on them.
The Nativeborn Orcs of Sky's Gate - A handful of Orcs lived in town as loyal subjects before the recent siege and invasion. They now likely face opportunity and resentment from their human neighbors. They number about 300, and most of them are likely combat ready. They are ambivalent towards the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff's office has some intelligence on them.
The Dwarves of Sky's Gate - Most of the Dwarves in town fled before the invasion, but about 80 remain. The are ambivalent towards the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff's office has no intelligence on them.
The Vampires of Sky's Gate - The city is known to house a population of the blood sucking undead, and it is likely that they are using the present chaos to their advantage. The Sheriff's Office knows nothing about them beyond that.
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Topic: (TSG) Sheriff Meetings... All the Meetings (Read 9907 times)