To Manipulate the Third of All Sins

[Dirty Chai]

For the record:
I'd like bribe rolls when the meeting of the clergy starts, to support Father Orsini of course.

A shady figure, probably Philip d'Alencon in cloak and dagger, moved amongst the houses near a church in the northern part of the merchant district.

He slid down an ally, sliding past the front entrance of the small basilica, and back around to the living quarters, hidden behind a small shack-like apartment.

He knocked.

Philip knew this one pretty well; a fat, timid louse, but somehow able to convince many if he put his mind to it.
He had seen him on many occasions, rousing the other clergy in his favor during the Crusade.

A bishop of Nevers, he was, old and grey. Alencon had discovered he was making a quiet, retreat to this small church to hide from the upper hierarchies for a time.

[Adamat]

The fat priest opened the door, ad peered at who was knocking. "Who are you and what do you want?" He asked in an irritated manner.

[Dirty Chai]

"I have something you want." Philip murmured from his hood.
His hazel eyes glowed slightly through the shade of the cowl, but his other features were well screened.

He shook a pouch on his right hip, insinuating about its contents.
"My question is.." A slurred smile appeared, "What are you willing to do for it?"

OOC: Something bad back in Nevers; murder, rape, something bad.
Bishop thought he could run from it.

[Adamat]

The fat priest looked into the street to see if anyone was looking, then hastily said, "Inside, now.

They sat at a small round table in an empty room. "Show me," he said, gesturing to the pouch.

[Dirty Chai]

"Relax, father" he said casually.

He pulled out a small, rolled up scroll, but didn't unravel it.
Holding the scroll away from the Bishop, Philip began with "There's a priest named Jacopo Orsini, popular with the younger clergymen, influential with the families of Rome."

Alencon shot a toying glance at the scroll in his hand.
"I bet he could get rid of this for you."

[Adamat]

Roll: 1-10: priest doesn't take the bait yet
11-20: priest takes the bait

Rolled: 7

"I want to see it first, hooded man. I want to see solid evidence." The priest still hoped he was in the clear.

[Dirty Chai]

Philip stands, making a noise as if it hurt so bad how much the Bishop was screwing himself over.
"A written warrant from the Archevêque? You aren't the only one who might want this.." He moves slowly for the door, still holding the scroll in his hand as bait.

It wasn't a real warrant. But Philip had seen the Archbishop write them in Paris.
He was a top student at the university, and the Archbishop made them do his scribe work.
Philip had a good picture of the seal in his head. This was probably close enough, especially for a bishop from Nevers.

[Adamat]

The priest grumbled, but then replied, "what does Orsini want?"

[Dirty Chai]

"Orsini? He's just an influential priest, and a man I prefer as the new Patriarch of the East."
He smiled.
"See, what you want, is to vote for Orsini, and to convince your friends to do so as well.
Because he alone might rid you of this.." he shook the scroll a little in his hand, hanging it like fish bait.

[Adamat]

The priest nodded slowly, then told his guest he would have to ask him to leave, his teeth clenched in anger but his mind clouded with fear.

Roll for influence (D20): 13/2: 6,5
6,5% of the votes secured for Orsini

[Dirty Chai]

Philip left, but kept dangling the scroll as he did so.
"Remember what you need to do to make this ... go away.."

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Alencon knew that alone wouldn't be nearly enough.
They were too many 'pious' preachers in this Crusade, and he wasn't about to allow his partner-in-crime to fall out of the race.

Next on his list was a greedy bastard by the name of Laurentius, with ulcers on his left cheek.
He had one of his men follow him about a night before, and the man told him the celibate vow-taker liked to visit three different whore-houses three times a night.
'What on God's good earth,' wondered Philip.

But there he was, leaving his new home, wandering down a street.
Philip fell in step, following him from a distance.

[Adamat]

Father Jacopo Orsini made his way through the city towards the outer walls. Many of the dead were being buried by some of his brethren of the church, but it was one particular priest Jacopo was looking for, a fiery preacher by the name of Charles. The man was nobody special in terms of his ancestry or his blood, even his position in the church. But the friar was a passionate man, renowned for his speeches and his devotion to the poor. Because of this he word carried great weight with many of the more devout members of the church. He held more influence than his position gave him merit to. 'Like me.' Jacopo thought.

He finally spotted the man digging a grave for three knights and five Greek armsmen. "Let me help you with that brother." Jacopo called. He hurried over and, taking up a shovel began to help dig. "One of the grimmer works we must perform in service to our Lord wouldn't you agree Brother Charles? But then, it is our duty to defend the faith as and where we can."

Charles looked up. "Orsini, wasn't it? You are part of the reason I am digging these graves, you had better help. Clergy should not be participating in a battle." He continued working.

Philip left, but kept dangling the scroll as he did so.
"Remember what you need to do to make this ... go away.."

------------------------------------------------------

Alencon knew that alone wouldn't be nearly enough.
They were too many 'pious' preachers in this Crusade, and he wasn't about to allow his partner-in-crime to fall out of the race.

Next on his list was a greedy bastard by the name of Laurentius, with ulcers on his left cheek.
He had one of his men follow him about a night before, and the man told him the celibate vow-taker liked to visit three different whore-houses three times a night.
'What on God's good earth,' wondered Philip.

But there he was, leaving his new home, wandering down a street.
Philip fell in step, following him from a distance.

By the time Laurentius arrived at the first pleasure house for this evening, it had already turned dark. He entered the brothel, and probably would not reappear for another hour and a half or so.

[Dirty Chai]

By the time Laurentius arrived at the first pleasure house for this evening, it had already turned dark. He entered the brothel, and probably would not reappear for another hour and a half or so.

Philip wrote it all down; the time, the place, and afterwards, would even get the name of the girl or girls.

[Ganbarenippon]

Father Jacopo Orsini made his way through the city towards the outer walls. Many of the dead were being buried by some of his brethren of the church, but it was one particular priest Jacopo was looking for, a fiery preacher by the name of Charles. The man was nobody special in terms of his ancestry or his blood, even his position in the church. But the friar was a passionate man, renowned for his speeches and his devotion to the poor. Because of this he word carried great weight with many of the more devout members of the church. He held more influence than his position gave him merit to. 'Like me.' Jacopo thought.

He finally spotted the man digging a grave for three knights and five Greek armsmen. "Let me help you with that brother." Jacopo called. He hurried over and, taking up a shovel began to help dig. "One of the grimmer works we must perform in service to our Lord wouldn't you agree Brother Charles? But then, it is our duty to defend the faith as and where we can."

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

(OOC: can I take this Laurentius fellow?)

[Ganbarenippon]

"Aye. In that you may be right Friar. Yet if Mother Church's own priest will not take up arms to defend her, who will?" Orsini replies, grunting as he buries his shovel in the damp earth. "However, my involvement meant that we could end the battle thast much faster and saved many lives that might otherwise have been lost." Orsini pauses. "It was not an...easy choice I made Brother. I prayed long and hard about it, and I will carry many of those faces with me to the end of my days." He looks pensively at the friar. "That is why I am here today; as penance."

[Adamat]

Orsini was given a shovel. They would work for some time, the friar didn't seem very talkative.

=======

Laurentius left again around 1:30 AM, and continued his nightly stroll. He would do exactly the same in the second whorehouse what he did in the first.

[Ganbarenippon]

After several hours of digging in mostly silence Orsini spoke. "There must me more the Church can do to help the families of these men." He gestured to the bodies still littering the battlefield. "Surely, once we have a leader we might be able to provide aid, and comfort to those unfortunate souls who lost men here. Whether they be Greek or Catholic, the Church must serve to nurture all. Would you not agree Brother?"

[Dirty Chai]

And Philip wrote it all down again.

Midnight.
At the Rose of Eirene, near the Tower of Eirene.
Two girls, Rebecca and Justinia.

------------------------

Hour or so past midnight.
At the Nymph House, outside the ruins of the old Nymphaeum.
Seven girls, apparently. Agathe, Anathasia, Anna, Chara, Angeliki, Eudokia, and Kyriake.

Philip couldn't help but wonder..

[Adamat]

Charles grunted. "Suggestions, Orsini?" Clearly he hadn't forgotten that Orsini was a murderer.

=====

The third visit took hours and hours - maybe something had happened inside?