RP:Loose Ends

Part of the Hour of Wolves Arc

Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Summary: Hudson meets with Emelyan, his former dust-making partner. Hudson believes Emelyan when the other guy says that he's done with the business, and that he's not the one who put the hit out on Hudson's family. Even so, Hudson asks Emelyan what he knows about the red dirt being sold up in Frostmaw. Emelyan suggests that Larket could be involved, which Hudson dismisses. Nonetheless, Hudson is grateful for Emelyan's offer to arrange a meeting with a shady contact in Larket, Baron Byleist, to gather more intel.

Whaler's

The meeting is set at the usual location: Whaler's, in Cenril. Hudson is on the scene first, eating pancakes alone in a booth and casting a long eye at the door, waiting for Emelyan. A few of his operation's muscle are seated at the booth opposite, though, as a precaution. They're drinking coffee and reading the paper. It's early in the day on a weekday and so the establishment is reasonably quiet, coasting along the low murmur of regulars.

Emelyan is right on time, punctual as ever. He seems to be unarmed, and has no guards with him. Either he doesn't think Hudson will try to kill him, or he's not too worried if he does try. He takes a seat across from Hudson, ignoring his bodyguard entirely, face set in that perpetual scowl. "Hudson. There was something very important I needed to tell you." No greetings, Emelyan? Looked like he was here on business, and on a schedule, at that.

It's not exactly personal to Emelyan. Things have been at peace between them. But Hudson rolls deep, these days. Emelyan slides into the booth opposite him, and Hudson swallows the mouthful of pancake that he's been working on. Recognition hits his expression, and he washes down his food before putting on a smile. "Hello to you as well," he says, dryly, evidently remarking on the lack of greetings. "I told Maldor that Valen should hire you, if that's what this is about?"

Emelyan had been too busy to go back to the academy for a while. "I was unaware, actually. I appreciate that. However, I am here for another reason. Before, you were concerned that I might have been involved in an attempt on your family's lives. I am here today to tell you that I am leaving the criminal business... I had goals when I started, and I achieved them. I'm moving onto more legitimate and profitable ventures. You don't have to worry about competition for your product, not from me." It seemed he was able to make a clean getaway. Perhaps Emelyan had formed very powerful connections in his time in business.

Hudson rolls a shoulder in a shrug as if to say, It was nothing. Emelyan's a better alchemist than he is, after all, though Hudson's skills as an alchemist are far beyond what they were when he and Emelyan first went into business, so long ago. The food's still warm, so may as well eat as they meet. Huds spears pancake on his fork and eats, watching Emelyan's face as the other guy speaks. This is getting to the heart of something else Hudson had wanted to ask, so he takes a minute to clear his mouth before speaking: "I kind of figured but it's good to hear it from you, man." He lifts his chin, rubbing last night's stubble. "Respect, we did it for a long time, just you and me. One day I'll join you in being out of the game, but I'm not done yet." He adds a bit more milk to his coffee. "You know anything about this red dirt being peddled in Frostmaw?" Hudson is still working on that one. He'd once thought that Emelyan was the alchemist behind the stuff, but passage of time and quiet from Emelyan's camp had all but confirmed it wasn't. So right now the brains behind that operation is a big question mark. It's the Larket mob with an alchemist of their own, but Hudson won't find that out for a little bit, and he had always wrongly assumed those guys were into card games and weapons. He's got surveillance on the red dirt street operations and from there he'll try to dig deeper. But it doesn't hurt to ask his former business partner, after all until recently they both operated in the same criminal sphere of influence. More than likely the truth isn't available to Emelyan either, but he might have an inkling, a suspicion that would set Huds on the right scent.

Emelyan shook his head. "Aside from some as of yet distraught refugees, there's too little market in Frostmaw, it never caught my attention. Frost giants, elves, the occasional human barbarian tribe, dragons. None are big consumers, and the logistics of working from that distance, in that clime make it a foolhardy venture for an insignificant profit. At least, for the Firefly product. I don't know about this red dust you speak of, but I wouldn't bet heavily on the alchemist being centered in Frostmaw. I happened to do a lot of work in the Larket Underground for a while, when I was setting up a goblin slave trade. Once I had Kelovath's involvement, people lined up to get a cut. They're a squirrely bunch, Larket thugs... and have access to higher order magics than most of Frostmaw. Easier magical transportation, easier to hide production facilities, and far easier to bribe authorities and political figures. I know a few men in Larket that might know about this red dust. One is a retired spymaster that spends his days whoring in his own brothels, and trading black market goods. His name is Baron Byleist, a man as shrewd as he is fat. I can arrange a meet with him, if you like, but his knowledge doesn't ever come free."

Hudson lifts his eyebrows at Emelyan as if to say, Well then, buddy, you're in for a surprise. "You'd think that," he says, about Frostmaw not being ripe for the drug trade, "and yet... it's all over the streets." Hudson goes to town on the last of his pancakes as Emelyan puts forward his hunch about Larket's involvement. Hudson doesn't think the call's coming from inside the house, so to speak, but he'll meet with this guy Emelyan knows, it could lead to something. Right now he's just looking for scraps. He's frowning as he washes everything down with coffee. "I doubt it's Larket - I feel like I would know," famous last words, "but would be good to check, you're right. Thanks for the tip. I'll meet with your guy and pay him. You set it up and I'll be there." A beat, while Hudson licks maple syrup off of his fork. You gotta, man. "Are you gonna take that job with Valen?"

Emelyan quirks a brow. Whatever this red dust stuff is, if it's popular in that market, it might be a possible ecological disaster. "Byleist has his claws in every realm in Hollow, even in Kregus, or so he claims. He's certainly one of the wealthiest merchants in Hollow. If the red dust is smuggled into Frostmaw rather than originating from there, he probably knows about it. I suggest Larket mostly because even before, and especially after the local disasters, it's become a prime base for criminal operations. I'm inclined to start up my potions business there. We'll see, after I've gotten a better feel for the politics of the region. I'm not sure what to make of Macon yet, and don't know what to expect on the subject of economic policies, but it can't be worse than Cenril or Gualon, for a legitimate business." Or so he hoped. "The job with Valen is largely dependant on whether I set up in Larket, in the end. I can continue scribing there, for busy work, and tutoring where needed. But given the chance, I'll meet with Percival. The man seems to be... very busy."

Hudson wonders how he doesn't know about Byleist on his own, but sets that aside. He knows about the guy now. Maybe he'll learn something. He keeps mostly quiet on the subject of Macon, setting his fork down on his plate in the brief silence that follows. "The guy's getting into something with the witches in the region," he remarks, vaguely, his gaze flicking back to Emelyan. "I have connects in Larket, or am about to, if you put down roots there. Anyway, give me a heads up if you do." He reaches into his back pocket for his coin purse, and puts out a handful of coins to pay for his meal. "We're good, though, you and me," he says, once that's done. He rises. His men rise too. Hudson holds out a hand to his former partner. "I appreciate you coming to me on this, man. Let me know about the meeting."

Emelyan hesitates a moment, as he typically does when confronted with a request for human contact. He takes Hudson's hand though, and shakes it, before pocketing it again. "I'll send word. Expect it to be within the week. Byleist is a busy man, but he owes me many favors." Mainly because Emelyan was able to sate the palettes of the fabulously wealthy, with their most exotic tastes. His adventurous spirit led him across all sorts of wondrous things... "If you do find a heading on this guys, and need help, let me know. I have healing potions and alchemical defense goods stockpiled. Thunderstones, alchemist's fire, choking powder, tanglefoot bags, acid flasks, bombs, traps magical and mundane, hopping caltrops, the like." He was still making new things, as well.

Hudson nods, making eye contact with Emelyan in a sort of weary fashion. "Easy. Not going to war if I can avoid it," he says, dryly. "Later, man," and with that he claps the other guy on the shoulder and heads out, his entourage behind him.