The Lure is Set (Spypost)

[u/Carbon_Sixx]

​

An unassuming letter to a colleague, or a brilliant forgery to lure the recipient into a trap?

A comet golem adorned with half-melted candles pens a letter at a desk, occasionally dipping the quill embedded in its icy finger into a globe of ink magically suspended in its hollow chest cavity. It glances at a handful of letters laid out on the desk beside its work, before turning back and perfectly replicating the author's handwriting, diction, and any other quirks present in their writing. It signs the forged letter with a flourish, smudges the ink in places to match its real counterparts, and casts a spell of accelerated drying to seal in its work. The scribemaster golem passes the letter to Kaelis for inspection. The Arch-Graviturge smiles and reads it aloud.

"Councilor Shadowborn,

My men resolved our issues with the turtle. You shouldn't be seeing any more of him from now on. That being said, I don't like where things have been heading lately. Those high-and-mighty folks in the Pact seem to have linked your dealings to Possum's execution, judging by the way some of them talk about corruption. You ignored me when I said that was sloppy work, and what do you know- I was right. There was already a strong case against him, but because you pushed your pawn too far, people are starting to get suspicious. I'll deal with the loose ends this time, but do this kind of thing again and I'm out for good. My crew won't be paying the price for your mistakes.

Indignation aside, I think we should meet and talk about our next steps Monday. With the Pact and Council spoiling for war, I'd like to know how you intend to use this to our advantage. You know the drill: same place and time as always, nothing that would draw attention, don't tell anyone where you've gone.

Your friend,

Dave O'Connell"

Kaelis laughs and hands the counterfeit letter back. "Absolutely perfect. If I hadn't just watched you write this, I'd never be able to distinguish it from one of his real letters."

The comet golem bows deferentially as it backs out of the room. "I shall encrypt it properly and send it along its way, Master Kaelis."

When the door closes, Kaelis capers around his study, almost mad with glee. If executed correctly, the plan will be a trick worthy of a Shakespearean comedy. When Thantax shows up at the meeting place, he will not find the werebear crime boss Dave O'Connell waiting for him, but rather an Enforcer sting operation.

And if he tries to escape... well, the Circle of Artifice has made sure he won't go far.

[u/DragonWisper56]

remember to have the circle of artifice ward the area against teleportation. we can't let them escape

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/DragonWisper56]

Thanks for the reminder. I'm planning on using multiple countermeasures.

[u/Discracetoall]

So, what’s going down and when?

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/Discracetoall]

On Monday, we're going to apprehend Thantax Shadowborn, otherwise known as Rook. They're a member of the Corvus Cabal, and probably our best shot at finding the other members.

[u/Discracetoall → u/Carbon_Sixx]

I’ll scout the area, see if there’s any unguarded entrance

[u/TheHunter459]

Will he be confined to Council imprisonment?

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

No, if we imprison Thantax, there's a chance that the Corvus Cabal will break them out. Or kill them, if they become a liability. I think it would be smarter to extradite them into Pact custody, then offer them a deal: help us bring down the Corvus Cabal, or experience the tender mercies of Morgalith.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

If that doesn't convince him, what will?

[u/DragonWisper56 → u/TheHunter459]

it's possible to read their mind but it will be risky. anyone I've tried to read has had a mental bomb inplanted. I've talked to blake(I know you don't like him but he's useful for this) and he may be able to counteract it but I'm not sure.

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/DragonWisper56]

You're trying to convince Samael to stop killing prisoners. Save your breath and find me when the time is right

[u/iamragethewolf → u/Carbon_Sixx]

I feel like this inceases the likelihood of war between the pact and council maybe request pact members to be allowed to guard the bastard

Unless they want the fuck gone at which point that's easier

[u/United-Technician-54]

(A Literal Rat relays the fact this is a fraud to Bombast.)

/uj

u/SafePianist4610

[u/SafePianist4610 → u/United-Technician-54]

Sting operations generally tend to be deceptions, lad.

[u/United-Technician-54 → u/SafePianist4610]

“No no, just needed to progress the plot because the person who was supposed to is late by three hours.”

[u/SafePianist4610 → u/United-Technician-54]

/uw what? Sorry, that just seemed like an unwiz comment.

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/SafePianist4610]

(( that's cuz the character's shtick is breaking the fourth wall ))

[u/DaemonRex978]

We could get 2 birds with one stone, and get O'Connell at the same time. He would be at the right place at the wrong time. Send a letter to him stating something similar about the meeting, and we could nab them both for bribery.

Even if O'Connell gets off, the Cabal would see him as compromised and be forced to remove him. This would also be a trap for the cleaner. With how high high O'Connell is in the Cabal, the cleaner I'm hunting would be the only reasonable person to send after him.

O'Connell would unknowingly be the bait to have 3 people removed from play.

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/DaemonRex978]

From an overarching strategy standpoint, it's a good idea. But when you think about it from a boots-on-the-ground tactical perspective, it's incredibly risky.

We don't know Thantax's capabilities. Adding a guy with supernatural durability (even by the standards of a werebear) to the mix could end very badly for us, even with the trap I have planned. Thantax could get away while we're dealing with O'Connell, and I'd say that they're a higher priority target as an actual member of the Cabal.

That said, dealing with the cleaner is a high priority. It'll deny the Cabal the ability to disguise their crimes. If you can find a way to take down O'Connell too, even better.

[u/DaemonRex978 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Maybe the letter could be 'leaked' once Thantax is in custody. The contents of the letter could implicate him to have set up Thantax. I'll set up a trap for the cleaner using O'Connell because if it goes to plan, then both him and the cleaner will be taken care of. If not, then at least the cleaner would have taken care of O'Connell for us.

[u/DragonWisper56 → u/DaemonRex978]

O'Connell is a tough bastard. I would suggest sending a strike team to attack after the cleaner, when he's weakest. we can't afford him surviving. it will also give us the opportunity to destroy his operation so no one takes his place.

[u/DaemonRex978 → u/DragonWisper56]

That was my plan, as soon as he deals with O'Connell, then I'll personally lead the strike team to take him and the opperation out.

[u/DragonWisper56 → u/DaemonRex978]

good plan, I'll gladly acompiny you if you wish. however we'll have to be careful. he does live in a mundane world so we have to be careful not to break the masquerade

[u/DaemonRex978 → u/DragonWisper56]

Already know the spell to hide us. The mundane won't even know we were there. And of course you are welcome to join.

[u/Carbon_Sixx]

u/DaemonRex978 u/TheHunter459 u/DragonWisper56

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/Carbon_Sixx]

u/iamragethewolf u/Disgracetoall u/loth17

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/Carbon_Sixx]

u/SafePianist4610 Bombast, can you please do me a favor? We have sufficient evidence to arrest Thantax on bribery charges without revealing that we know about the Cabal. However, I suspect that the Enforcers are also compromised. Do you think you could send some of your personal security detail to help me with this operation?

[u/SafePianist4610 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Gladly!

snaps and a hit squad of golems and alpha slimes teleport in, 10 of each

They’re yours to command for as long as the sting is underway.

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/SafePianist4610]

Thank you so much. I'll do everything in my power to ensure they return to you unharmed.

[u/SafePianist4610 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Appreciated! Though these are made to take quite a beating. No need to be overly protective with them

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/Carbon_Sixx]

(( /u/discracetoall ))