"Considering the contents of these letters... Da elf should go see Lavinia, taking care not to be seen."
"Zstelian is not well an' I don't care to give Vanthus cause ta change his mind an' strike out against da lass," Dargon says before looking at the others to await their opinion on the matter.
Looking up from her perusal of one of vials of perfume, Khaz nods, "Agreed, Dargon. Lavinia is far too vulnerable right now, and it is possible that our presence could spook Vanthus into doing something we would all regret."
She shakes the vial, checks the liquid's transparency by holding it up to the light, then gently opens the stopper to dab a small bit on her wrist. After a moment or two, Khaz sniffs, only to crinkle her nose and pass the vial to Sekathral, "Here, take Lavinia this. It may smell better on her."
The coffers, worth about 150 gp each, contain about 850 gp worth of baubles.
The alabaster alabaster statuette is worth 350 gp
The onyx statuette is worth 100 gp.
The unicorn statue is worth 500 gp.
The stuffed animals are worth a few coins each, about 12 gp total.
The books continue to be very embarrassing, Kyson -- lots of dirty descriptions of consenting adults doing adult activities. You don't think any are worth all that much.
Of the outfits, sized for a human woman (sorry Khazmia), the courtier's outfits are worth 30 gp each, the noble's outfit worth 75 and the scandalous robe is worth 450 gp.
Of the perfume, 20 of the vials are worth 10 gp each. Three are rarer -- imported from Oppara -- and are worth 200 each. The final vial, also worht 200 gp, is truly intoxicating.
Lavinia greets you happily the next day when Kora, her halfling major domo, leads you into the parlor. "Any news?"
Kyson stuffs the books under the mattress in his room.
Uhm...I'll look at them later. When I'm more alone. Uh...they are an interesting new, uh, scholarly pursuit.
Kyson will spend the mid-morning selling the extra goods before arranging to meet with Lavinia at noon.
Drat, they're all cut for children! Khaz tosses the poorly cut clothes back into the pile of things to be sold, as well as all but the best bottle of perfume.
Kyson will count 6 equal measures from the sale of loots from the morning and place 6 equal shares into 6 bags.
There. I done did it.
Kyson will arrive early to the Vanderboren manor and happily hand a sack to each of the party upon their arrival.
"Here you go, Dargon!"
Try not to drink it all away in one night!
"Here you go, Silvio!"
Jerk. You're not getting my girlfriend when we find her!
"Here you go, Zstelian!"
I wonder if he's going to buy more animal pets with this. Talk about your crazy cat ladies, what about your weird weasel men?
"Here you, Khaz!"
She smells nice. Hmm.
"Here you go, Sekathral!"
Please don't stab me and take mine.
Kyson will wait to return the Vanderboren treasure until everyone gets there.
"Now this is a hefty taking", Silvio says and accepts the purse with a shining smile and a slap on the back for Kyson. "Silvio will put this to good use. Following in the dragon's footsteps is proving to be a profitable venture. Just imagine what Silvio will find in the Kraken's Cove", he continues and gives Kyson another slap on the back.
Silvio bows deeply and kisses Lavina's hand. "Lady Vanderboren, as lovely as ever. Silvio regrets to inform you that your brother has been involved in some shady business for some time now. His current target is the pirate nest Kraken's Cove, which is where Silvio will be heading next!"
Kyson looks out the door, waiting for Khaz, Dargon, and Sekathral to show up so he can give them their loot and talk together with the Lady.
Kyson checks the sun and tries to estimate the time.
"I think they are late. Maybe. Khaz, Dargon, and Sekathral are coming, right? Or did Sekathral get shivved in a bar fight?" Kyson asks to no one in particular.
Probably. Probably swore at someone he shouldn't have.
"Or did Dargon and Khaz run off together?"
That would be weird. I would think she could do better. Maybe.
Kyson walks down to the road and takes a look, still waiting.
Khaz hurries up the road, keeping an eye on the sky. "I'm late, aren't I?" she says to herself when she catches sight of the scribe heading her way.
"My apologies, Kyson, I saw the cutest hat and stopped in to talk to the merchant..." she sighs wistfully, then brightens considerably at the weighty bag of coins. "Oh! now I'll be able to order one of those delightful hats...and a few other things!
Kyson jumps as Zstelian talks to him.
"AH!" Kyson turns around quickly, trying to get his shield up...but slowly lowers it when he sees who it is.
"Oh...no, not yet. Been waiting for everyone to get here first. Now that Khaz is here, we just need Sekathral and Dargon." Kyson pats the last two pouches he has to hand out as if to make sure they are still there.
"I sure hope they are coming. I want everyone to see the look on Lavinia's face when we return her money to her."
Lavinia, wearing trim leathers, seems concerned at Silvio's words as you're all ushered into the room where she seems to have been practicing swordwork.
"Shady business? What do you mean?" she asks, setting down her blade and wiping her head with a damp cloth. "What does he have to do with pirates?"
Kyson stands behind Silvio as Silvio says what Silvio is want to say to Lavinia. He barely manages to surpress an eye roll.
In response to Lavinia's query, Kyson rummages through his backpack and pulls out the letters.
Kyson holds up the first one, opens it, and takes a moment to reacquaint himself with the contents. "Uhm...oh yeah...in this letter here, Lavinia, your brother admits to piracy, bribery, and smuggling. Piracy is bad, Lavinia." Kyson's eyes cast around for Sekathral in case he's offended.
Kyson offers the full letter to Lavinia to read before repeating the process with the 2nd letter. "Oh yeah...in this letter here, Lavinia, your brother, uhm...your brother, uh...killed your parents. He does like you, sort of. On the good side, he doesn't want to kill you. Yet." Kyson smiles weakly as he hands over the 2nd letter.
Kyson opens and scans the 3rd letter. "This letter here your brother shows how bad he is at spelling. He's an idiot! "Folls"? What is a 'foll'?" Kyson waves the letter in annoyance.
And his handwriting is crap too, Kyson thinks as a actual expert on handwriting and the calligraphic arts.
"Anyhoot," Kyson continues, "This letter is about his next plan. Something about Kraken's Cove." Kyson will hand the last letter over to Lavinia.
Lavinia's face goes white and she sits down as the impact of Kyson's words and the letters hit her. "Vanthus? I can't believe it ... but this is his handwriting. Why would he? I know he was different when he came back, but this? I just can't believe it."
She seems to be in shock.
"Kyson!" Khaz growls at the man, wishing the temples spent a little more time on sensitivity training.
Gathering her composure, Khaz begins again with a more soothing tone, "I mean, can't you see that you're upsetting Lavinia? There, there!" she pats the poor girl's shoulder.
"I'm not sure what to say, Lavinia. It does sound as if Vanthus has gone nearly as bad as bad can go, " at least he doesn't want you dead, yet. "Personally, though, I'd bet it's that red haired str...errr, woman that he's been running with. She's probably coerced him, somehow."
Dargon moves over to Lavinia to comfort her. "Aye, 'twas no easier for me to accept young one. But it's the truth of it anyhow."
"Kyson!" Khaz growls at the man, wishing the temples spent a little more time on sensitivity training.
Gathering her composure, Khaz begins again with a more soothing tone, "I mean, can't you see that you're upsetting Lavinia? There, there!" she pats the poor girl's shoulder.
"I'm not sure what to say, Lavinia. It does sound as if Vanthus has gone nearly as bad as bad can go, " at least he doesn't want you dead, yet. "Personally, though, I'd bet it's that red haired str...errr, woman that he's been running with. She's probably coerced him, somehow."
Silvio quickly helps Lavinia to the chair. "It is shocking, this Silvio knows. But Silvio also know that it is best for the truth to be known in matters like this."
He draws his sword in one elegant flowing motion then kneels beside Lavinia holding the blade balanced in his two hands. "Silvio understands that it will take time to recover, but Silvio promises you this. Silvio will find your brother and return him here so you may find the anwsers you seek. Silvo pledges his sword into your service."
Of course Silvio is right, and there is nothing to be afraid of, my friend! Silvio quickly replies. "The letter mentions this Kraken's cove. We will follow the Vanderboren there."
The Kraken's Cove is on the eastern short of Blood Bay, about 40 miles away as the gull flies, or 60 miles along a marshy coastline.
It's most easily reached by boat.
Kyson jumps in on the Vanthus hate mostly because people were starting to give *him* dirty looks as if Kyson were the one who wrote those letters, and Kyson wants the attention directed off of himself.
"Yeah, Vanthus is a jerk."
Why is Khaz looking at *me* angrily? I didn't write the letters. Geez.
Kyson tries to make it better by offering Lavinia her family treasure.
"Oh, well, uhm...here you go Lavinia. We did manage to recover this from Vanthus." Kyson will return the bags of Vanderboren family loot.
"It's all there too. Well, what we found of it. Every coin. We didn't take any of it." Kyson says proudly.
After everyone takes time to consol Lavinia, Dargon gets up and asks, "Anyone know where this Kraken's Cove is?"
After everyone takes time to consol Lavinia, Dargon gets up and asks, "Anyone know where this Kraken's Cove is?"
"I haven't a clue, Dargon. It doesn't sound like anywhere decent people go." Which makes it the perfect place to find Vanthus
Kyson gingerly approaches closer to Lavinia.
"Uhm, Lavinia? Have I done enough stuff yet? Can you give me that note so I can go back?" Kyson swallows hard and waits nervously for the answer.
"Silvio assumed that you knew where to find this Kraken's Cove", Silvio says sounding sincerely surprised but the chelaxian quickly recovers his wits. "It matters not. Silvio will ask around and unravel this mystery."
Lavinia looks up, seemingly puzzled for a moment at Kyson's question. Suddenly, she seems to realize what he's asking and shakes her head, smiling at the priest. "I'm sorry, Kyson, but I think it'll be some time yet."
Asking aroud, Silvio's able to find out Kraken's Cove is on the eastern short of Blood Bay, about 40 miles away as the gull flies, or 60 miles along a marshy coastline.
It's most easily reached by boat, though you can slog through the marshes.
"Go back? Once more you jest, Kyson my friend! Silvio knows that you do not want to go back. You want to come with Silvio on an adventure, and Silvio accepts", the chelaxian says and envelops the cleric in a warm embrace. "You all wait here and Silvio will find this Kraken's Cove"
"Glorious news!" Silvio announces. "Silvio has found our next destination. Now we find a boat and sail to Blood bay!"
Kyson looks crestfallen as the words leave Lavinia's lips.
"I have to do more stuff? I...I...I helped battle dragons. And giant crabs. And saw people die." Kyson murmurs a helpless and sad reply.
Kyson steps back disappointed, only to run directly into Silvio's arm.
"Go back? Once more you jest, Kyson my friend! Silvio knows that you do not want to go back. You want to come with Silvio on an adventure, and Silvio accepts", the chelaxian says and envelops the cleric in a warm embrace.
Kyson jumps and cringes at the same time, feeling like a cornered rat.
"Uhm, thanks, Silvio. I'm sure I probably won't die. And maybe after this adventure, I can go back to the monastery...where it is safe."
Safe from Silvio and pirates and evil huecuvas and dragons and big crabs.
Kyson sighs deeply.
"Well, if we're going out again, I need to prepare. I need to buy some things. And time to study a bit. We have those books that I need to look at." Kyson wants time alone with *those* books.
"Maybe we could leave 2 days from now? I can shop and scribe and read for the next few days..."
Maybe if I write a really nice letter to the Head Sarenraen cleric describing what I've learned, he'll let me back
"Should probably leave sooner than later," Dargon responds to Kyson. "Can ya finish by 'tis evening? I mean ta get to da cove before them pirates."
"The dwarf is correct!" Silvio agrees. "Writing letters and reading books can wait until we capture the renegade Vanderboren and bring him back. We should leave as soon as possible. A sturdy boat is all that Silvio needs."
"The dwarf is correct!" Silvio agrees. "Writing letters and reading books can wait until we capture the renegade Vanderboren and bring him back. We should leave as soon as possible. A sturdy boat is all that Silvio needs."
"A sturdy boat may be all that Silvio needs, but a girl has to *shop* sometime. I have things to get and people to see. My scarves were shredded down there, and I passed the most interesting Milliner on my way here with a hat to die for! I couldn't possibly leave right away. "
Khaz searches the faces of her companions each in turn, looking for a little understanding.
"Perhaps in the morning, or at least, late tonight? please?"
"The dwarf is correct!" Silvio agrees. "Writing letters and reading books can wait until we capture the renegade Vanderboren and bring him back. We should leave as soon as possible. A sturdy boat is all that Silvio needs.""A sturdy boat may be all that Silvio needs, but a girl has to *shop* sometime. I have things to get and people to see. My scarves were shredded down there, and I passed the most interesting Milliner on my way here with a hat to die for! I couldn't possibly leave right away. "
Khaz searches the faces of her companions each in turn, looking for a little understanding.
"Perhaps in the morning, or at least, late tonight? please?"
"In the morning. I'll not get any sleep on the water anyway... Dargon answers.
"In the morning. I'll not get any sleep on the water anyway... Dargon answers.
"Oh thank you, Dargon, thank you! You won't be sorry. I'll even look for something to help us on our way and still be there ultra early tomorrow morning!"
Her cheeks tinged a dark olive in gratitude, Khaz heads out in a rush, mentally ticking off all the things she needs to buy before morning.
Kyson slowly recovers from his failure to earn his permission to leave yet.
Sitting down in a chair, Kyson takes a few deep breaths and tries to take stock of things.
I have to do more, I guess.
*sigh*
Kyson looks down at himself and his choirboy-noodle arms, rusty scale mail, and bashed shield.
"Yeah, I'm not leaving today. Maybe tomorrow. I need to go shopping. I have money and I can spend it on me, right? I should at least die with nice clothes on. I, too, am going shopping. And I want some time to do a bit of writing."
Kyson stands up from the chair and looks around at the group.
"Are you sure we have to do this? Are you sure this is what I have to do?" Kyson directs the last question at Lavinia.
"Fine, but if I die, I'm going to be sad about it." Kyson petulantly gathers his belongings, including his newly-fattened coin purse.
"I'll see you guys in the afternoon tomorrow, I'm going shopping."
Kyson bows politely to Lavinia as he takes his leave. "Nice to see you again," says Kyson curtly.
* * *
Kyson will begin to shop for a mithral chain shirt, MW heavy darkwood shield, and a backpack that doesn't make his back hurt (MW backpack) while selling his old scale, shield, and backpack.
Kyson will also scribe a scroll of Bless Weapon, Bless, Shield of Faith.
"Perhaps in the morning, or at least, late tonight? please?"
"Ah, you know that Silvio is powerless to resist your charms, my lady. If shopping is what your heart desires then shop you will", Silvio announces with an almost blinding smile. Then the chelaxian turns to Kyson . "Nobody is suggesting dying. Silvio is talking seeing exciting new places and bringing wrongdoers to justice. Silvio is talking about adventure! "
You think you know of fisherman who'll bring you all to the Cove -- and maybe even wait for you for however long it'll take -- though it'd probably take some negotiation to figure out the price.
Kyson will awake the next morning less excited than usual. Most mornings, like back in the good ol' days, he would awake, pray to Sarenrae, eat an ample breakfast, and spend much of the day in the calligraphitorium copying sacred texts for Sarenrae.
Today, like much of the last few weeks, Kyson isn't going to be doing much fun stuff at all. He's supposed to go get killed at Kraken's Cove today...a thought he doesn't relish at all.
Being a practical man, Kyson will try to make his last day a good one despite the weight and dread upon his chest.
His prayers to Sarenrae do lift his spirits as Sarenrae, much like yesterday, seems to have imparted a greater slice of her divine spark within him and allowed him greater understanding of her powers. Kyson is pleased to have earned that trust and vows to use it wisely in her name.
After prayers and breakfast, Kyson will spend time in his room alone doing what he used to love doing: calligraphy (with his new masterwork calligraphy set).
He will copy a few of the least-scandalous pages from the books he 'borrowed' from the party, greatly enjoying the fine detail work and drawing some artistic acts that he has never seen his Sarenraen angels do, but seem common in these books.
When that is done, Kyson will spend two last hours, scribing a few spells on one last scroll.
Scroll #5: Silence (DC 14), Sound Burst (DC 14)
* * *
At the appointed time (actually a few minutes late), Kyson will drag himself out of his room and down to the docks to meet the party.
He will leave his nice calligraphy kit in the room, lest it get ruined on the boat.
Dargon gets up and out to the docks before Sarenrae, knowing that Lawrence likes to get started early in the hopes of beatting the other fishing boats back to market.
"Lawrence! Ol' friend." Dargon calls out when he notices the shaggy old Cheliaxian. "How'd you like to take a break from fishin' an' earn a few days worth of income relaxing at Kraken's Cove for a day or two?"
Sekathral appears at the docks on time, swaying slightly. He has a black eye, what look like the marks of a lady's long nails down one side of his face and neck and smells like a brewery that's just exploded next to a warehouse full of pesh. He grins, showing that he's had one of his front teeth capped with gold.
"Good, innit? I pretend to fall asleep in a tavern, some skratter comes by and tries to pull it out, then YAH!" He makes a vicious stabbing motion. "Justice has been served, and the contents of your scummy pockets now belong to Uncle S."
Sekathral does not like the idea of being a mere passenger in someone else's vessel, but keeps schtumm for the time being.