With everyone coming to help Sarai in her efforts it doesn't take long to sort through the various documents. Most of it is pretty mundane stuff however upon closer inspection of the Gold Goblin’s financial
records you note that the majority of these pages are in Saul’s handwriting, and something seems off.
Cameron rifled through the pages and pages of shorthand notes before scratching his head, "Can't make heads or tails of this! Can any of you? If not shall we see what is below?"
Nessa just ignored Hedran's rebuttable as she figured he was just stupid if he thought listening was something she did so arguing wasn't going to be worth it. She turned her gaze to Cameron as he asked about something poetic for Saul he grinned evilly as she said, "Oh yes, I've gottena message to someone who very much seems to want a piece of Saul. You weren't here when we last had a visit from him," she looked at those still downstairs with her and said, "actually I don't know if any of you were here when he came. He's not a very nice person and he might hold a grudge since we were working for Saul. I figure turning Saul over to him might get us off the hook."
"Hold on," Thyra says, putting down the papers she was looking at (and getting frustrated with). "You're saying that there was a rival or enemy of Saul's that we didn't know about? Hopefully he can be reasonable."
Turning back to the others, she says "I can't make heads or tails of all this. Perhaps Nessa can find something that we've missed? Or your friend Kwava, Cameron? Either way, we should probably check through the vault next, and then make our way to the basement."
Cameron rifled through the pages and pages of shorthand notes before scratching his head, "Can't make heads or tails of this! Can any of you? If not shall we see what is below?"
Hedran is not a specialist in finance, but his mind is keen and analytical, as well as being used to the intricacies of magical writing. Picking up on the information gathered mainly by Sarai, but also Cameron and Thyra, he tries to piece the details together, and... "Got it" - he grumbles.
Spraying some of the documents over the table, he beckons the others to join him - "Ok, so... These documents seem off... Most of the profits from the Gold Goblin have been funneled to someone indicated only as “D.A.” - he explains - "Does the name ring any bells to you? Because this D.A. isn't referenced anywhere else and I don't know anyone by those initials"
"D.A.?" Thyra replies. "I certainly don't know who that is, and it's cryptic enough that it could be anyone. Perhaps there are clues elsewhere in the building. Maybe we can squeeze the information out of Saul himself."
After Hedran's revelation that only brings with it more questions, it is clear that Saul has had something more going on here than anyone else knew about. However, there doesn't appear to be anything else of interest in his office.
"I guess that's about time yes" - Hedran nods at Thyra, then moves out to join Nessa and Saul.
Cameron nodded making an appreciative sound, "Mmm yes lets, Kwave and I thought there was something fishy about this place. Best be on our guard, no telling what's in there."
Heading to the vault you see the door to this reinforced chamber is composed of solid steel. Its hinges are securely nested in the stone wall. Seven keyholes and a locking wheel are set in the center of the door. All the locks respond to a single key. Trying all the various keys you eventual find a very nondescript one that appears to work. Although the cash boxes sitting on the shelves of this chamber should hold many thousands of gold pieces based on the casino’s take, in truth there is only 400 gp here.
"This doesn't look right," Thyra mentions as they collect the money. "Just another point to add to the list of strange happenings around here."
She has another look around after leaving the vault, then adds, "Should we wait on this mystery rival before we search the basement?"
Nessa watched the others come back downstairs and then head elsewhere to the vault. She was curious about what they were doing but decided that leaving the unconscious Saul unattended was a recipe for disaster. Besides, she wasn't sure when her "guest" would arrive.
"Well, if the money is being funneled somewhere else, then I am not surprised only this amount is here" - he replies to Thyra, while searching the rest of the vault.
Searching the rest of the vault there isn't much else of interest save for one other locked iron chest. Working through Saul's keys you eventually find one that unlocks the chest. Inside is the deed to the Gold Goblin. An examination of the deed notes something interesting—the deed specifically states that it does not grant ownership of any smuggler’s tunnels that might exist under the property.
|
Sarai frowns at the contents of the vault, having been hoping for more. She searches for any hidden panels or secret doors before turning back to the others.
Not finding anything, she looks at the deed. "Smuggler tunnels--if there's anything to find, it could be there. But we should wake him up and ask him some pointed questions."
"Missing money, smuggler tunnels, somebody called D.A mentioned all over the accounts. This all sounds very suspicious!" mused Cameron, "Maybe it is best to ask a few questions before Nessa's mysterious 'friend' arrives."
|
|
As Sarai examines the deed in her hands, she remembers something she had heard since her recent arrival.
"This is standard boilerplate text for Riddleport deeds—smuggler’s tunnels are a sort of secret 'public works' owned by no one but utilized by many. That doesn't mean all that much to us. But I will tell you something that does mean a lot. In Riddleport, possession of a deed is pretty much all that’s required to own a business—with this deed in hand, we are now officially the owner of the Gold Goblin," Sarai adds in growing elation.
"I wasn't expecting that" - Hedran chuckles - "I guess those are welcome news, after what the bastard tried to do to us"
Thyra is taken slight aback by the news of their acquisition. "I'm... not really sure that I want to claim ownership on such a business. Is there anything that says that it has to be the same business? Perhaps there is a way we could make it a boon to this city, rather than just another den of debauchery."
Suppressing a yawn that crept up on him, Cameron admits "I uh can't actually heal Saul right now, would need to wait till the morning and that'll be too late. One of you will have to do it I'm afraid."
Thyra straightens a little, her voice gaining a bit more of an authoritative timbre. "If it's to see justice done, and judgement wrought, I will revive the lout. Make sure that his bindings are secure, if you please."
Once this is done, she grasps the holy symbol hanging from it's chain wrapped around her right arm, her weapon held upright with her left, treated almost as reverently. She prays with the same authority used only seconds earlier, "Father of Creation, grant me a small portion of your strength, so that this man face may his crimes."
As divine power causes the symbol to radiate with light, she reaches out to touch the iron symbol to Saul's forehead.
Hands resting on his spear, Cameron watched Saul closely as woke up and after prodding him with the blunt end he tells him gruffly, "Don't get any ideas Vancaskerkin, we've got a few questions for you... I'll start. Made any Elven friends of late have you? Perhaps somebody called D.A perhaps? Hmmm?"
Cameron watched him careful, weighing any response verbal or otherwise the oily little man might make.
Thyra heals Saul who wakes up and is none too happy about finding himself bound. When Cameron starts asking questions Saul just spits in the half-elves face "Go to hell half-breed! You lot come here and kill all my men, take what you want and decide to start asking me questions. What good is it going to do me to answer any of your questions?"
Cameron shrugged, he'd heard worse, "I see, like that is it? I actually don't have any intention of killing you Saul. I just won't save you from Nessa's guest... Not unless you start talking that is."
When Sarai mentions him wanting to live Saul shrugs "What's to stop you from killing me even if I answer your questions?" He shakes his head to himself "Anyway, it wasn't anything personal, it was just business you all were getting to big for your breeches and started to pose a threat."
When Cameron mentions saving him from Nessa's guest he looks a little surprised "What do you mean Nessa's guest?"
"What's to stop you from killing me even if I answer your questions?"
"Nothing," Thyra answer curtly, now leaning on her hammer. "But we're not murderers. How else do you expect to be treated after trying to kill us. You may say that it was nothing personal, but that's exactly what it was."
When Cameron mentions saving him from Nessa's guest he looks a little surprised "What do you mean Nessa's guest?"
"I guess that you'll just have to ask Nessa and see how forgiving of a mood she's in," she answers, motioning towards the Calistrian woman.
Saul looks to Nessa and then back to Thyra "Alright, how about this then? We strike a bargain. You set me free and let me leave town, I promise to not return and I will answer your questions honestly. Otherwise we can do this little dance and just see where things go..."
As promised Hedran watches the whole exchange without piping in. He keeps his morningstar in easy reach just in case, and his arms crossed over his chest.
Nessa considered the thought and then smiled viciously as she said, "I would consider it if I hadn't already gotten word that we have a gift for the individual. If he shows up we have no choice but to give you over," she sat in one of the chairs and crossed one knee over the other, "because it will not be good for us if we don't." She leaned forward slightly and caught Saul's eyes, "and he really doesn't like you. I imagine it would be kinder to kill you now and give him your corpse since I didn't tell him you were alive."
Nessa sat back up in her chair and said, "I don't know what you ever did to Zincher to make him hate you so much but I'm sure giving you to him will more than buy us safety from him." She met Saul's gaze again with deadly intent, "You really shouldn't have pissed me off Saul, I would have been quite happy to keep working here, I think we all would, but you got greedy. Why was that? What made it worth the risk of pissing of a Calistrian, especially one older than you are?" She shook her head, "Ah well, little late now I guess. You'd better be quick about your answers, who knows how long until his representatives get here."
Saul shakes his head and then just starts laughing "Well if you must know, had your little prostitute friend Lavendar Lil not screwed things up for my son causing him to have to flee Riddleport then I doubt Zincher would really have much issue with me. You may have your problems with me, but all you're going to accomplish by turning me over to him is getting my boy killed."
He rolls his eyes "Seem's I was right about you lot and knew you would screw me over at some point. Just hadn't thought you would do it by dragging my son into this and getting him murdered as well..."
Nessa snorted and said, "No, you were wrong Saul, we wouldn't have screwed you over. It was you who tried to eliminate us and caused things to go this way. And that means it was you who put your son in danger." She paused then and cocked her head curiously, "Wait, a son? Since when did you have a son?" Nessa began to think back on what she had heard here and there to recall any mention of a son.
Cameron watched the slimy toerag from a distance, thinking, 'A son? I've herd nothing about a son...'
Eyes narrowing Cameron demanded, "A boy eh? I don't see any boy here... What do you mean we're dragging him into this?"
|
|
Sarai raises an eyebrow at the mention of a son. She has yet to have children herself, and being a widow made it unlikely she would have a child any time soon.
"You brought this on yourself, but if you have a son, I have no wish to drag innocents into this. I'll do what I can to make sure nothing happens to him."
Saul just shakes his head at Nessa "You would think your history with Lil would have kept you better informed. I've had a son for some time now, he has just not been in town for a long time."
When Cameron asks about what he means Saul shrugs "You turn me over to Zincher he will use me to get to my boy. He blames my son for his brothers death, though he swears he didn't do it. At least for now he is safe away from here. If he finds out Zincher has me though, he will come to try and save me."
Saul rolls his eyes "I'm not telling you anything until I have some assurance you will let me leave here in one piece and not under Zincher's custody."