Topic: Business Must Grow

Dracina Hemdagg · Date: 2008-06-21 21:38 EST

Dracina Hemdagg sat alone within the office of her quiet and haunting abode, Bosartig Manor. She could hear a faint wind outside, causing a few of her mansion's window shutters to rattle. It was a little bit before sundown and among the wind carried with dust and small leaves were the brief chatterings of scholars leaving the nearby Rhy'Din Museum sounding hollow through the walls. Most would not have heard the voices, but Dracina's elven ears picked up on many small details.

She sat at her desk, reclined comfortably, or as comfortable as the undead could. As a vampire, she was naturally a creature of comfort and pleasure. But at the moment she didn't conduct pleasure, she conducted business instead. She looked over her recent financial records and the gains she has made with her many investments. She smiled wide at the numbers that she saw; her gains were significant.

She admired the professional manner that the records were put together for her. She had a very good accountant, one that she kept on a very short leash. Naturally, he was a vampire spawn that she had turned many years ago, and he served her well and no other. He couldn't, after all, since she kept him quartered down in the dungeons of her mansion. A very short, short leash indeed.

But these documents that detailed her gains weren't the meat of tonight's deal. Not at all. They were merely the sign of financial security she held to conduct her next business venture. She had discussed it a couple of weeks ago with a very reputable lawyer, local to Rhy'Din City. Many other agreements had been discussed that night, but none of them were relevant for the coming discussion. It would be only this single business venture.

The Temple of Bhaal clearly needed another front, and this would be the hour of its formation. A shipping industry owned and operated for the Temple and by the Temple. She had enlisted the lawyer's aid to discover the appropriate choice spots at the Rhy'Din docks along WestEnd. Now it was time to check up on his progress.

Dracina was dressed to impress, clad in a translucent white dress that shimmered when the fabric moved and rustled, matching nylons and heels finishing out her outfit. She was sure that he'd like the sight of it when he arrived. She stood up from her desk and strode to the center of her office. She glanced around briefly, ensuring that there were no scrying sensors in the area before calling out a single word softly.

"Mr. Howe...."

Mr. Howe · Date: 2008-06-26 20:56 EST

From out of the shadows Howe stepped. For a flicker of a second beady eyes gleamed with an unearthly reddish light and the visage of him shimmered between human and demon, before suddenly smoothing itself out, leaving Howe as Dracina had last seen him during their clandestine meeting at Teas-n-Tomes. What seemed different tonight however was the strength of the power he radiated. Something had changed and Howe didn?t bother to hide the surging energy from the Lady Hemdagg, he obviously saw no reason to. It throbbed richly through his aura, and pulsed with an odd life of its own.

A pleased smile curled thin lips as Howe glided smoothly to the lady?s side. His head canted as he took the time to appreciate her outfit and openly admire her beauty.

?Yes, the Lady Hemdagg is a luscious specimen; deliciously evil and just as ravishing to look at.? He couldn?t help thinking. But he knew well enough that was not why she?d summoned him. True, he wouldn?t deny the lady, but only a moron would do that; Howe prided himself on not being a moron. He nevertheless smiled most lecherously at the lady as he stepped in close enough to enjoy the scent of her or was it to show off his own enriched essence?

?My Lady Hemdagg, what a pleasure to have been summoned by you. But, I suspect you are more interested in the property you requested I look into, then socializing. So I shall endeavor to perform as amazingly as possible in the hopes of inspiring your further trust in me, yes?? He didn?t wait for her to respond. He inclined his head respectfully as he moved to stand in front of her. He appreciated how the light, just off center behind her, gave her an ethereal quality and enhanced every tasty curve. The lady was indeed a sight to behold, yet she too held power and as evil a heart as Howe himself; truly hard for him to ignore. ?Let me show you what I have found, and explain what I suggest we do.?

Howe reached inside his expensive tailored jacket and extracted what looked to be a map of some kind. He took his time unfolding it, and then with a nod seeking her permission, he laid it out on the nearest flat surface available. A chubby finger directed her gaze to two docks with green dots on them. ?These two are not owned and come rather cheaply. These three warehouses, ranging from small to large, are also available, right next to those docks. I warn you, the docks are not in the greatest of shapes, they will need work done. And the warehouses?! This is the WestEnd Dockside we?re talking about. When the slump hit the area, most everyone moved out. The buildings were abandoned and they too will require work. I have the man power, if you want it, Lady Hemdagg. I can also arrange the purchases if you?d like?

?You have but to command me, My Lady.? Howe said smoothly as he bowed his head with southern grace once more to Dracina. He was being at his most charming, yet that vein of evil glitters in beady eyes a constant reminder of the snake behind the civilized manipulations. ?Whatever it is you wish, I shall be happy to see it done.?

Dracina Hemdagg · Date: 2008-06-28 20:19 EST

The vampiress smiled as she felt the field of Mr. Howe's malevolent energy fill her office. It was like basking in a radiating field of comforting warmth, reminiscent of how one feels the the Sun on a hot summer day. Truly, thanks to the Serpent Ring of Aluthmang, that was a pleasure she could enjoy again, unlike many other vampires. She held very few weaknesses now because of it.

Fire was still a significant problem....

Dracina followed as the diabolic attorney placed the map of the dockyard properties on her desk. She returned to her comfortable seat and leaned over to study the areas that he had marked. Her seemingly delicate hand moved over the sheet to smooth it out. She nodded to herself approvingly.

"Ah yes, they look sufficient despite the work you say they need," she commented, still eyeballing them. "I have a number of intelligent undead at my disposal, so any manpower that you can supply toward restoration efforts need supplement that which I already possess. We'll need to restore them quickly if we are to get the business running."

She peered up at him with those piercing, blue elven eyes. "I will allow you to carry about the necessary paperwork for purchase, as contracts are naturally your profession. I'm sure all I need is to stop by and sign the documents for the Temple and write the checks?" She nodded, seeming already sure of the answer herself.

"You'll be representing a company named Satyr Industries," she explained further. "It's a vague reference to the Unholy Symbol of Bhaal, but different enough to not set off any of our enemies' suspicions."

Mr. Howe · Date: 2008-07-01 16:13 EST

Howe smiled his most benevolently, inclining his head in agreement with her question and comments. ?Satyr Industries, very catchy, I must say. And yes, you may stop by our offices say, two days hence? I am sure we?ll have everything in order for you by then.?

Howe knew the potential of taking weeks to purchase property in Rhy?Din, but he?s developed a short-cut. A handsome pension paid to the Properties Clerk has given DCH a much needed edge to profiting in Rhy?Din.

Face it, not many were knocking down DCH?s doors for services these days. The well of villains seeking defense had dried up a long while back. Law in Rhy?Din was such a subjective interpretation that the legal system built to uphold it was rarely used. Were it not for investments, real estate and divorce, there would be no profit for them in Rhy?Din at all. DCH has learned to streamline the popular legal issues, more profit for less work. Howe knew he could guarantee the sales and push the paperwork through in the time he?d allotted. For him it was a cakewalk; so familiar he could have done it in his sleep.

?You can plan on assigning what men you wish of your resources to their new jobs of rebuilding in say, four days? I shall have all the necessary work permits and other red tape done by then. I will also have my crew on site and all the material needed to get the project done. My crew is a reliable bunch, and they daren?t steal or shirk their responsibilities. The cost would be?? he chuckled and it throbbed with unmitigated evil, ?very unpleasant should they even consider doing any such thing. They have learned to behave themselves.?

Howe didn?t bother gathering up the map. He nodded from it to the Lady Hemdagg. ?Please keep the map. I am sure it will come in handy? for a multitude of reasons.?

Upon closer inspection, the map is of the Dockside and a trickle of the WestEnd. Mostly places that skirt the edge of WestEnd were marked with names or addresses. A sizable chunk however remained utterly blank.

?Perhaps you and yours will have better luck deciphering the WestEnd than we have, my dearest lady.? Howe kept his voice amused and light, yet there was a decided sharpness in it suddenly. As if their failure to break past whatever it was that kept the WestEnd shrouded irritated him greatly. ?And if you can add to that map; please be kind and return my favor by sharing it with me? Yes??

There was always a price for using DCH, no matter what the service. Every time DCH or any of their lackeys added new locations to the map, or drew out streets through the WestEnd, a day later it would be blank again. Since DCH couldn?t seem to map the WestEnd, maybe the Fang?s could?

Howe?s smile widened as he gave Dracina a courtly southern bow. ?It has been a pleasure, my dearest Lady Hemdagg. I look forward to seeing you again in two days. And please, don?t hesitate to call on me for anything, anything at all.? His voice took on a suggestive tone as his smile became lecherous. Howe made no bones about his attraction to the lady. Indeed, he was fairly advertising it. A hint from her was all he needed; otherwise he would keep a respectful distance. For now?

Dracina Hemdagg · Date: 2008-07-01 18:38 EST

Dracina Hemdagg leaned back in her office seat comfortably. Mr. Howe had proven himself to be an incredible asset and ally. She shifted slightly as she studied him for a moment, and then studied the map again. She took notice of the vast blank areas of the map, finally noting the oddity of it.

"Certainly, getting a work force together in four days will not be a challenge for me," she explained with an upturned smile. "As their one and only creator, none of my... subjects... question my authority in the least bit. An entirely loyal force of underlings. Such is the wonders of many lesser forms of undead."

She reached forward with her slender, pale hands and grasped the map, blue eyes peering at the empty vastness. Clearly, the lawyer had hinted, that his firm was having difficulties in charting Rhy'Din's WestEnd. Undoubtedly it was due to the peculiar energies that permeated the place. She thought a moment about this puzzle.

"I certainly will share such information with you should the Fangs of Bhaal achieve it," she said, a stoic manner filling her behavior, releasing the map. She stood from the chair and reached a bookcase that rested against the far wall. There, she opened a small box that rested midway in the shelves, pulling a pouch from it.

She returned quickly to the desk, and loosened the cords of the pouch. With a hand, she reached into the pouch and grasped a handful of what appeared to be dust. Declaring something with an arcane word, she tossed the dust over the map, all of which seemed to evaporate into the paper.

"I pride myself in cartography," Dracina bragged as she turned to face Mr. Howe. "Two days it is. I'll be sure to call on you before then or after if I'm in need of you for anything else." No hint was dropped, however. She seemed strictly business.

She smirked to herself. Two days was hardly anything close to a wait for her....