Logan considered what he knew of the rules of Vyre, perhaps some might be more receptive than others.
Like Logan, Jack called upon his recollections of the island of Vyre and its rulers.
Happy to be back to sailing on the waves instead of swiming far below them, and excited about the prospect of visiting Vyre, Mirabella searches her knowledge and notes for all possible aspects of the city's history and customs.
"I think I have heard of the rulers of Vyre, Captain. The Kings and Queens of Vyre are a council of five secret members who rule the Chelish city of Vyre. Despite the name the position of King or Queen of Vyre is not hereditary: the position goes to whomever is powerful enough to seize it. However, I have no idea about which King or Queen we should petition or how do go about it. Do you have any advice?"
"The city of Vyre is located on an island of the same name on the shallow harbor Keelwrack Harbor. The city sprawls up and between two hills and across two smaller harbor islands, jagged Dunrock and luxurious Keelwrack Island. The Vyre River flows east from the island and cuts through the city on its way to Keelwrack Harbor."
"Vyre is actually much older than Cheliax. It was founded in 1673 AR, more than 1,300 years before Cheliax, by settlers from Taldor-ruled Corentyn who were looking to escape governmental and societal limitations. It quickly established a reputation as a home for exotic and parlous pursuits, thus earning it the commonly used name The City of Masks."
"The main laws in Vyre are five rules known as "Promises", which govern all residents and visitors:
1) "I Shall Honor All Coin", meaning all transactions are assumed final and binding and all prices are negotiable. This rule also prohibits theft.
2) "I Shall Speak Many Names", meaning all people should accept any name given by a person Vyre, regardless of its veracity, and without ever revealing a person's identity if they conceal it.
3)"I May Wound Yet Shall Not Kill", which requires people to let their enemies in Vyre live in order to give them a chance to avenge themselves.
4)"I Know None Are Below Me", which discourages all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
5)"I Shall Let Closed Doors Remain Closed", meaning all private secrets and acts must remain private, and any broken promises are assumed to be intact unless sufficient evidence is provided."
"I'm not well versed in religious matters, but I seem to recall Vyre being associated with the Church of Norgorber in some way. It may just be rumors, though."
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Logan you know that the so-called kings and queens are currently consisting of the Queen of Whispers (representing Vyre’s intelligence and protecting its secrets), the Queen of Blades (leader of the city’s militia), the King of Keys (charged with maintaining city defenses), the Queen of Blood (responsible for the representation of Vyre’s citizens), and the Queen of Delights (representing Vyre’s economy and the interests of the city’s many visitors).
Captain Sargaeta nods at the knowledge Jack, Logan and Mirabella shares and adds his own. "From what I've learned on previous business in this city, the harbor is too shallow for large merchant ships or warships like ours. The rely alot upon Kintargo for loading cargo to small ships able to sail into Vyre. You might be able to play on that if you find yourself needing something to bargin with. As for whom I would seek out the Queen of Delights would be my choice given she is the very role of Vyre's primary diplomat. Also in regards to religion it is often frowned upon to discuss it in social gatherings. It will be late afternoon before I can get you ashore so might be a good idea to look for somewhere to get sleeping arrangements sorted as soon as possible."
”A sound proposal, Captain. We should also try to seek out this Molly Mayapple, if she is still alive and residing in Vyre. She may be able to assist us in return for her stolen deeds.”
"Agreed the Queen of Delights sounds like the one we should be talking to, although I wouldn't be surprised if we need to approach some of the others." agreed Logan.
He nodded to Miri when she mentioned Molly Mayapple, "Mmm I'm forgotten about her. She must be rather wealthy, the deeds we found where for various warehouses and waterfront buildings in Vyre."
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"If the deeds were stolen from her, she most likely would have lost ownership of those buildings since without the deed to prove she owned them in the first place anyone could evict her from them. But on that note if it's the same miss Mayapple we are talking about I think she bounched back. At least there is a hostel called the Seven Apples owned by a elder lady Mayapple, might be the same or someone related." Sargaeta adds to the conversation.
”Well, I suppose the Seven Apples would be a natural choice for a place to stay, then. Let’s make that our first stop once we are ashore. We can check in and get a feel for what kind of a person she is, then broach the subject of the deeds at an appropriate time. The documents in the Lucky Bones refered to her as “a fellow rat”, whatever that means. Perhaps she was an informant of some kind.”
As they depart, Mirabella adresses the captain.
”You and your crew have been most helpful and hospitable, captain. We shall do our best to conduct our business quickly, so you may be underway again soon.”
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You make way to shore just on the Old Vyre district, a place where most visitors are set off if they don't have made plans before coming into Vyre. This is also where many of the inns and hostels make their living getting people into that establishment whom only have business along the harbor. There are places further in, but those often carter to certain types of customer or people who has made arrangement to meet with officials of the city.
”What an exciting town! I figure we head straight to the Seven Apples and get ourselves situated. Or does anyone have anything they want to do first?”
"Let's get to the business' at the Seven Apples. That may help us get a footing anyway."
Jack nods at Mirabella and Bicks. "Just remember, though, that the woman we're looking for had ties to the Gray Spiders. A leopard rarely changes its spots...though it may mellow out a bit with age."
"Does anyone know where the Seven Apples are?" asked Logan, who agreed that was the best place to start.
"Good point, Jack. We'll start out by just posing as travellers looking for a place to stay and keep careful watch of her."
"dibs on the honeymoon suite with Jack!"
She said with a giggle sticking her tongue out. She was in a ridiculously good mood at the moment.
Jack grins at Canacha's words. "Seems like someone's looking to mix some pleasure in with our business here!"
The smile lessens a bit as the young nobleman gives more thought to the tasks ahead. "You know...it might not be a bad idea to split up our party a bit, and our arrival times at the inn. Perhaps Canacha and I could go in first as a travelling couple and then the rest of the group enter a bit later. That way we might gain an advantage if any foes here underestimate our numbers."
"Not a bad idea. I can use my cap of disguise to pose as Logan's younger sister. Bicks can either go on his own or accompany us. We should not get too far separated though."
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Mirabella, you learn the following from talking with the people around town:
The Seven Apples is owned and operated by the elderly Molly Mayapple, who has worked to make her hostel appeal to adventurers who come to Vyre for rest and relaxation.
Molly retains a wide ranging network of guides and advisors who provide affordable aid to her guests, both in the form of helping them get around the city, but also in keeping them informed of possible adventures to find in the city itself.
Molly herself is quite old, around her eigthies and has only ran the hostel for the last decade or so. Most you talk too say they don't know much about her before that, she was an adventurer in the youth, but she haven't made a name for herself untill she started her hostel.
"You two have fun, we'll see you later - perhaps at breakfast tomorrow?" said Logan to Canacha and Jack.
Logan nodded to Miri when she suggested being his sister. He had a suggestion of his own, "Perhaps we could do a little shopping, and maybe see what rumours are doing the rounds..."
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She wiggled at the idea of it.. .how coudl she not her dark eyes positively sparkled at the the suggestion.
"Yes! Please!"
She said with as much excitement as she could muster. Man Melly would be so happy for her she bet. She hoped she was getting along and had found that actress she had pined for.... But there was business to attend to.
"you have all your thigns luv?"
She tittered putting her best impression of an Andoran accent to her tongue taking Jacks hand very possesively and pulling him torwards the place. as they neared it she cleared her throat and exclaimed a touch too loudly.
"This... yes this is the place my dear i can feel it. Here is where our new marraige will truly be blessed. go.. get us a room please. I am getting hot in this light" I cant want to go shopping tomorrow.. do you think they will have somethine nice i can bring back to my sister.. some fancy local dress style?"
Looking fondly at the “newlywed” couple as they head off towards the Seven Apples, Mirabella smiles and says: ”Yes, I think that’s a fine idea, Logan. Those two deserve a bit of alone time. Just give me a moment.”
She slips into an ally and emerges moments later as a skinny pre-teen human girl with strawberry blonde hair and features than look very similar to Logan. Her weapons and armor are stored in her handy haversack.
”Can we please go shopping now, brother dear? The journey from Westcrown was so very long and dull. And don’t spend all day getting your armor enchanted, I want to go look at some new jewlery.”
As they head off looking for a suitable place to upgrade Logan’s armor and perhaps sell the magic greatsword, Mirabella keeps a close eye out for any possible Thrune supporters, hoping to pick up news about the political situation in Cheliax that might impact their cause.
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Jack and Canahca are greeted by an elderly halfling woman once they enter the Seven Appels. "Greetings dearies, are you looking for a room for two or are you part of a bigger party coming here?" she says as she starts flipping the pages in her registerbook, while looking skeptical at them both.
Mirabella and Logan easily finds a blacksmith who can help them with a upgraded armor for Logan, he is working together with a wizard to provide for the many adventures who visits their shop before setting out again.
Mirabella listening to people on the street you catch someone speaking about the Silver ravens. “Her shop burnt down during the Night of Ashes, but I don’t believe Shensen died, she must be working for the Silver Ravens!”
"Room for two, please," Jack replies, drawing Canacha in close for a quick cuddle. "We'll be staying in town for at least three days and nights...possibly up to a week, depending upon how caught up we get with the charms and revelries of your city."
Jack digs into his coin pouch and pays for a 3-day stay.
”I wish those rumors were true. Shensen would be a might ally. I wonder what really happened to her.” Mirabella remarks quitely to Logan in response to the rumors.
- +1 Ring of Protection (Sell value: 1,000 gp)
- +1 mighty cleaving greatsword (Sell value: 4,175 gp)
- a waterproof golden hip flask set with an opal stopper
- a silver pillbox inset with a miniature depiction of a woman with two heads
- the Seaweed spellbook (if Logan is done with it).
Bicks, are you with us or on your own?
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The elderly woman looks at Jack and Canacha, "You do know this is a hostel for adventurers right? Not really a place to spend time with a working girl, there are finer establishments for that around town. We useal deal with people here to look for adventures in the city or waiting to set sail, and thus our rooms are furnished with either single beds or bunk beds similar to those at the garrison, althought our service is much better than there." she says haven't clearly misunderstood why Canacha was trying to bluff her.
Mirabella, you find few merchants who are willing to buy your things, except the seaweed spellbook. This time has wizards capable of casting 9th level spells. A merchant offers you 750 gp for the hip flask while another offers you 300 gp for the pillbox.
After selling the sunken treasures, Mirabella suggests that she, Logan and Bicks head for the Seven Apples.
"Uh...no, we had no idea about the nature of your establishment," Jack replies, letting the woman's labeling of Canacha as a 'working girl' slide for the moment. "We thought this was just another inn in your charming city. Perhaps you can recommend another inn nearby that we might visit instead?"
Canacha wasn't about to let it go however. "working girl? WORKING GITL girl?! she couldn't help but bare fang and reach for the pommel of her pistol. I wager 100 gold we've done more adventuring in the last month than any of you patrons have done in a year. Do I look like mattress back with this bandolier... these potions? She reached for her mutagen clearly about to drain it and really drive the point home.
"Now, now dear--let's not make a scene," Jack says, interposing himself between Canacha and the old woman as best he can. "Though her 'working girl' was especially rude. She's probably just old, bitter, and jealous of your looks and youth. But more to the point, we didn't come to Vyre looking for adventure...and certainly not for bunk beds! Leave her be and let's find somewhere else to stay."
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The elderly halfling lady seems quite embarrassed at having misunderstood the situation and stands up on the chair she was sitting on to bow in apology to you. "I'm terrible sorry miss, I'm normally very good at judging people. However it seems your attempt at pretending to to be someone els had my mind go to the very wrong place. Oh how age can sometimes sneak up on one when start to relax for the evening. I do indeed have regular rooms here also, I just dislike those coming here just to bring in a working girls, so I tell a little lie to get them to go somewhere els. I'm sure you have had you reasons and I won't pry anymore. How about I soothe things over I give you a discount on a double bed room with a view over the harbor, or perhaps a free guidetour for exploring our city in the morning?"
Jack you get that the lady misunderstood the whole situation and just wanted to not have her hostel be a place people come just to bring in a working girl for the night.
She sniffed a moment and nodded blushing a little. She hadn't meant to make as big a scene as she did, but. well it had somehow stung that this woman clearly thought there was no way someone as handsome and great as Jack would be with her without some form of payment involved.
"I.. uh.. I'm sorry too mam. I just... I want to spend some private time with my Jack where no one is there to bother us... or there isnt the hard ground or rocks under my butt.Look how cute he is? Those things sound lovely.... really."
She added trying to smooth things down herself. She had to hold back a wiggle though she was excited!
Logan thanked the blacksmith and the wizard for enchanting his armour. Afterwards he told Miri, "I don't think I can learn anymore from this spellbook, maybe we should sell it? Also I'd quite like to try and find a wayfinder if there is one for sale."
"A room with a view does sound pretty nice right now...and I really don't walk all over the city looking for another place to stay.... I'm willing to chalk the unpleasantness up to a misunderstanding if you are, my sweet."
Jack looks to Canacha while again pulling his coin pouch out, intending to pay for a 3-night stay.
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Hearing Jack and Canacha's answer the elder lady goes back into business mode."Well then I will give you the first night free of charge and for the small suite it will cost 4 gold pieces per night so 8 gold pieces for the remaining to nights, payment up front. A simple breakfast is included in the price consisting of coffee, tea, porrigde, bread, and some spreads. The room has a small fireplace if you feel like cooking yourself." she says scripting down a 3 night stay for the cost of 2.
"Well. I'm happy everyone's motives are clear. I'm happy to have a warm bed and a gracious host."
"Well. I'm happy everyone's motives are clear. I'm happy to have a warm bed and a gracious host."
Once Logan finds a suitable Wayfinder, Mirabella suggests heading for the Seven Apples. She considers buying a headband of Charisma for herself, but figures she’ll have time for that later.
"I didnt bring a thing to cook.... do you have tea service in teh evening?"
She asked calming down and doing her best not to giggle
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"I tried to set up a tea service when I started this hostel, but it didn't really draw any attention. As such we coorporated with the local bakeries and tea saloons to have a minor selection of teas available for those who wishes. There is a pot to prepare it in your room and you can look to the blackboard over there for the brew variants of the day." The old lady responds smiling back to Canacha.
The small blackboard she points at reads the following:
Chelaxian earl grey, a local black tea with notes of bergamot.
Isgar afternoon, a green herbal tea with hints of peppermint and lemon.
Tian Xia golden, a spiced black tea with fruits and spices from Tian Xia.
Their shopping done, Logan and Mirabella head straight for the Seven Apples. Mirabella maintains her disguise as an adolecent human girl, allowing them to pose as sister and brother.
"We'd like a room please. We'll be staying for at least a week - unless my wasteful brother here manages to spend all of our money on shopping and gambling before that." she says as they enter the hostel.
"It's more shopping than gambling, but I did see some rather nice looking if undoubtedly expensive swords... I mean guy's gotta be able to dream right?" added Logan hoping to add to Miri's ruse.
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The elder woman looks to Mirabella and Logan. "Why certainly you two, I got a small suite with two single beds and a small fireplace for boiling water or if you perfer to cook it's also possible but there is not room for anything larger than a medium pot. A simple breakfast is included in the price consisting of coffee, tea, porrigde, bread, and some spreads. The price is 4 gold pieces a day so for a whole week it would be 28 gold pieces in total. Payment will be upfront since you seem to be afraid of running out of moeny before your allotted time here is done. Will that do?" she says looking cheerful but a little bit tired.
”That sounds lovely. And at that price, we should have plenty of gold to spare, even with the latest shopping spree.” Mirabella says, as she counts out 30 gp.
”Here’s the full amount plus a little extra for your trouble. Perhaps you would be so kind and bring some refreshments to our room.”
Mirabella hands over the coins, then sets the purse down on the counter as she wipes her hands on her cloak. She lets out a slight yawn.
”Excuse me. I’m really quite exhausted after hours of walking in the city. I’d like to head straight to our room now, please.” she says, and starts for the stairs, “forgetting” the purse on the counter in the process. Throughout her little act, she keeps a close watch on Molly’s reaction.
When Bicks arrives with the group, he asks the older women, "Do you have a room with a flower box in the window? I have some seeds I would like to start germinating. Other than access to a small amount of dirt and sunlight, I have no special requests for a room. So please put me wherever you like."
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"Little miss, I don't think it's your brother’s wastefulness of money that is the bigger concern here. You left your purse here." She says to Mirabella before turning to Logan. "You better keep an eye on this one, she seems to be the reason you might be short on money sometimes but blames it on your habits. Since I haven’t given you a room key perhaps, she would like to know which room you will be staying at instead of going into a random room." she says with a smile handing Logan a key for the fourth room on the second floor. ”In regards to refreshments you can ask the staff on your floor to get you some.”
Responding to Bicks "I don't have any room with that kind of arrangements, we carter mostly to adventures here either to explore the city or prepare to set out traveling. If you have strict need for that kind, I would perhaps look around although I don't think many places would have empty flower boxes for their customers to mess around with. I don't have any single rooms I can get you; we have suites of two to four beds, and we have the common rooms with beds for around ten to twenty people at a time."
Upstairs in their room, Logan said to Miri, "So what do you think, should we hand the deeds over? It might be interesting to check the warehouses out to see if there's some unwelcome tenants... Also we need to consider our approach to the Queen of Whispers, although part of me expects her to contact us."