Open for business. Dot it, if you got it.
You each have received a letter hand delivered by an elderly halfling woman who waited for your response before hurrying off.
Greetings, and I trust this missive finds you in good health. My name is Lavinia Vanderboren and I humbly request your attendance at dinner at my estate on Festival Street and Blue Skink Lane tomorrow evening. I think that I can present an opportunity uniquely suited to your skills. Please inform the carrier of this letter of your response to this invitation, and I hope to be speaking to you soon.
Dot.
Dot
Grun looks up to the carrier of the letter, nearly three times his own Grippli height. Dammit, and the man stands straight too!
Dinner invitations are always considered carefully when you're two feet tall and all of 30 pounds. Some longshanks develop a taste for frog's legs. Grun fights off a shudder.
Money was running low, he'd do just about anything that wasn't unethical.
He nods his head to the man. Yes, I would be delighted to attend. My thanks to you and Mistress Vanderboren.
Hearing footsteps Ignius looks up from the inn's hearth, feeling the heat of the roaring fire against his skin. Opening the proffered letter, Ignius, eyes reflecting the firelight of the hearth slowly scans the letter. I'm intrigued. The capricious man states. You can inform Mistress Vanderboren that I will attend her dinner.
Darien reads the letter, turns it over to inspect the address, then reads it again.
He folds the letter and places it back into the envelope. Looking at the woman, Darien places his hand over his heart and bows his head. "Thank you for the message. Please inform Lady Vanderboren I will attend."
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Opening the door the scarred fighter is surprised to see the small woman and also surprised when she presses a letter into his hand. He fumbles for one of his few remaining coins to tip her; retrieving a silver. After reading the letter he marvels at it for a moment. Kord Provides. he says finally with a smile and lets the halfing know that he will call upon Lady Vanderboren at the appointed time.
After she leaves he wonders what he might wear to such a dinner and tries to recall what he had heard about the family lately but is unable to recall any details.
You have been waiting an uncomfortably long time in the atrium of the Vanderboran's grand manor, If not for the intriguing letter that brought you there, you might have been tempted to leave. An odd assortment of other guests also shuffle uncomfortably around the room
Darien, frustration showing on his face, walks over to another man, "Greetings, my name is Darien Coldwater. Do you, by chance, have any idea why we are here?"
I've never liked that surname, Dar! How have you been... Long time, tracker.
Grun was pacing, most recently behind some piece of furniture.
Greetings Dar and.. water man. Begins the older, tanned man. My name is Ignius, a scholar by trade. Is it cold in here, or is it just me?
"Ah, I didn't see you lurking there. A pleasure to see you again. Sun-Dapple, isn't it?"
Darien looks at the man called Justified. "We have met a time or two, he is a grippli from a tribe outside the city."
The hunter nods toward the older man, "Pleased to meet you, Ignius. I'm comfortable, but after being outside so much, I tend to ignore minor changes in temperature so I may not be the best person to speak on it."
While you are making introductions, four figures emerge from a hallway and head towards the you with the elderly halfling woman trailing hurriedly behind them. The odd group includes a jaunty male half-elf dressed in leather armor and armed with a half-dozen daggers of different shapes, a dark-skinned dwarf with a sour expression dressed in green and brown robes and clutching a large curved spear, an attractive but haughty-looking woman dressed in dark purple robes and with a tattoo of a crescent moon on one cheek, and lastly, a tall and handsome man dressed in polished breastplate carrying a bastard sword.
Most of the party gives you barely a second glance as they make their way to the front door, but the man in the breastplate stops to size you up.
"Hmm. You must be the help Lavinia's bringing in to do the chores. Best of luck to ya!"
The halfling woman gives him a disapproving glare,
"No need to poke fun Tolin. I believe the Mistress gave you your own chore to perform. Perhaps you should be about it."
Not waiting for a response, she turns her attention to you.
"The Mistress will see you now."
The private dining hall is comfortable and cozy, softly lit by wall-mounted lanterns. A window overlooks the manor's central courtyard and the carpet is thick and soft. A large portrait hangs on the wall, a fine work depicting a handsome young man with a short beard. Standing before the portrait is an attractive human woman wearing a long, flowing blue dress. She smiles as you enter.
"I am Lavania Vanderboran. Please be seated. I have a proposition for you. As you may have heard, I recently inherited my parents' estate. Along with this fine house, unfortunately, came a fine amount of debt owed the Dawn Council, the harbourmaster, and quite a few guildhalls. It seems my parents, for all their success as adventurers, were not as skilled at finance as one might expect. If I'm to get these taxes paid, I'll need to access my family's vault under Castle Teraknian."
"And that's the problem, you see. The vaults are magically locked, keyed to special signet rings. Both of my parents had these rings, at least, until recently. My mother lost hers a few months ago. She arranged for a replacement, but it won't be done for another month or so, too late for me. Which leaves my father's ring. He never wore it, he had a thing about men wearing jewelry. He kept it hidden somewhere on his ship, the Blue Nixie. The problem there is that the harbourmaster's seized the ship until someone pays for the last four months of mooring. I've paid the fines to the man the harbourmaster's put in charge of my ship, a brute named Soller Yark. Yet when I went to claim my ship, Vark's men wouldn't let me board, claiming that I hadn't yet paid the fines. I spoke to Vark again and he denied ever receiving my payment. My complaints to the harbourmaster have fallen on deaf ears, he's a doddering old fool who trusts his man and won't relent."
"Vark and his men are up to something on my ship, I know it. What I need is to find out exactly what they're up to. Unfortunately, Vark's not the type to react well to diplomacy or logic. I need someone who speaks his language... which is where you come in. If you can find out what he's using my ship for, or even better, recover the money I paid him, I'll pay each of you 200 gold in return, once I've access to my vault. Does that sound agreeable?"
Grun tilts his head as he considers, the effect is quite reptilian.
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Well, I am all for helping a lady in distress, but if we do this job, it'll mean a fight with a city official, and likely a nasty fight at that. You get your coin back, maybe your father's ring, Info on what is going on in the ship, access to your family fortune and you are not going to pay us enough to buy decents (masterwork) weapons. Maybe you can get the Jade Ravens to do it for that. But will all due respect M'am I think double the sum you offer would be fair.
"The Ravens are about on more important business. Though I've no doubt that they would be able to handel the problem easily. Your talents are less certain. That being said, you make a valid point. I suppose I could agree to 300gp each, but no higher. Understand that I have no idea how much money my parents left in the vault. It would be of little benefit to me if I end up giving you all the money I'm paying you to help recover. Also consider this an audition for future work. Perform admirably and there will surely be more opportunities to come."
Grun steps forward, his much smaller size causing to take more steps than another.
Lady. Condolences for your loss. You are most generous and can consider the job, done. Sun-Dappled Grun, is at your service. Please have Faith in this time of trouble.
Darien shakes his head, but takes a respectful tone as he speaks, "So let me understand this - if we do all the work and get on the ship, but we don't find the ring to let you have access to the vault, we don't get paid. Is that correct?"
"No, you misunderstand me. I need you to get my money back from Vark and find out what is going on my ship.. With it, I can get my ship un-impounded and look for the ring myself. If you find it, so much the better. As for getting paid, ring or no ring I'll see that you receive your payment. Even without access to the vault, I am no without considerable assets," she waves a hand to indicate the manor. "They just aren't particularly liquid. Worst case scenario, I'll sell the ship. So you'll be getting paid, just deal with Vark."
So many questions, such selfishness. Help the damsel and all things will be clear in good time.
Grun bows and makes his way to the door.
Darien glares as the grippli walks away, "This is business, Sun. Best have everything on the table before the agreement is final. My question was fair, and Lady Vanderboran responded as I'd hoped. I simply wanted to be sure I understand the terms of our employment. Of course, no offense was intended."
He bows low before the women, "I am also willing to accept the commission, but I do have a couple more questions about the specifics of the job."
"Do you know how many men Vark usually has with him? And do you expect him to be on the boat with his men? After all, assaulting ten men on a ship is slightly different than confronting one in a bar."
Grun considers. Bars, yes... friend-Markus told me a story about a one-armed half-orc in a bar, back at Diamond Lake. Funny, that one.
Your questions are good, our timing bad. The lady mournes. I will help get you answers. Let her be.
Lavinia thinks for minute before answering Darien,
"I don't know how many men Vark has involved in his scheme, if any. In that regard, you may have to scout about a bit to gain further information. My ship is the Blue Nixie and she's docked at pier five in the Merchant District. I don't expect results immediately, but this is somewhat of a time sensitive endeavour. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?"
"No, thank you for the information."
Darien turns and waits for the others to finish.
Please advise your people we are in your employ. Misunderstandings can be... troublesome. A simple contract might be best. We can pick it up later.
Clearing his throat Ignus gives a polite nod to Darien. Spell components are an expensive part of my studies. I won't complain if Lady Vanderboran is willing to pay a little extra. After all, this could be dangerous. I suppose I am ready to leave if all of you are.
After completing your pleasantries you head to the berth address that Lavinia provided for the Blue Nixie. The docks still bustle with activity even at this hour, with men, beasts and freight trafficking to and from the line of moored ships.
When you finally get the Nixie's berth, you find the ship to be missing. I quick search of the area finds the ship to be anchored in the harbour, some 100 feet from the end of the pier.
I can't make much out, it's too far. What do you... The man-frog trails off as he looks you each up and down. ...gentlemen suggest? I could try to swim out there, we could buy a small boat. Get me close enough, I can board.
His head tilts to the side, inquisitively.
As if remembering something, I am Sun-Dapple Grun. As with many "eastern" societies, my familial or tribe name is indicated first. Please call me Grun. Pronounced, groon.
Squinting into the distance, the sun aged man can make out the ship out in the bay, but beyond that he is at a loss.
Forgive me water friend, but I never learned to swim. In my land, this much water is a thing of stories. We will have to take this.. boat.
"Let's get a couple of boats, just borrow them, don't have to buy them. Once we arrive, get up on deck as quick as you can. I doubt they'll let us up there because we look pretty - hopefully they won't be suspecting anything and the surprise will be in our favor."
Grun nods slowly. I would counsel... stealth and information gathering. Otherwise, agreed.
Transport out to the ship can easily be arranged. Any number of small boats can be hired for 1gp to ferry you out to the Nixie, if you so choose.
It doesn't take long to find a squint eyed fisherman willing of turning a quick profit by running you out to the Nixie.
As you slowly approach, you begin to make out a couple of figures wandering on deck.
As the fishing boat nears the Nixie, Darien turns to his companions. "Lavania told us that Vark won't react well to diplomacy or logic, so I'm thinking a show of strength may be required. When we arrive, let's try and get aboard with bluster. I don't relish shipboard combat when we're in the smaller boat."
When the fishing vessel gets next to the larger ship, Darien attempts to climb aboard. If challenged he responds angrily, "We're here to see Vark, now back off and get him out here!"