Savage tide campaign.
Playing
Your half-brother, Shefton has asked you to meet him at the Wet deck, his favorite dive of a pub in Grayflood, down by the Dagger River.
"I could really use your help, sis," he says, nervously drinking his ale. "I met Vanthus Vanderboren a few months back in the The Bazaar, and he's needs some help. But I can't do it on my own."
"He's a good guy, and his wife, this stupid b -" A chair thuds to the floor of the mostly empty pub as someone stands too quickly. Shefton blushes at your scathing look. "His wife done run off with their kid. If I'm able to help him out, I can get in good with Vanthus and old man Verik." He leans in, whispering with urgency. "Working for the Vanderboren's is legit business...I could take care of my kid."
Taryk reaches across the table, taking his hand. "You do take care of Ari, Shef."
She pauses, speaking tentatively. "And I don't think the Vanderboren's business is best...suited for you. They're explorers. Sailors, Shef." She looks lovingly at him. "You get sea-sick on rope bridges," she says with a grin.
"I know I take care of her, but it's not good enough. I want to be able to get her things, to pay for her to go to school someday." Shefton snuffles his nose, wiping it with the back of his hand. "To Morgrave University, maybe."
He looks down at his mostly empty mug, not seeing it, or her hand holding his. "Maybe Kath will see that I'm doing good, and maybe she'll -"
"You don't need to prove anything to that woman. You are a good person, and a great father."
Taryk leans back, looking at her brother. "She took their kid?"
He looks sheepishly up at her. "Yeah. And...I thought..."
"You thought I might be able to use my abilities to find him?"
"Her. Find her. Her names Lilani. And yeah. I did."
"That's not how they work, you know. I can't just..."
Taryk swears under her breath, then sighs. "Lilani...fine. Where do I meet him?"
The relatively open aisles of the Tradefair market are a stark contrast to the North Market in Northedge, Lower Dura, or even the Bazaar, just across the canyon of towers in Middle Dura.
You've met Vanthus Vanderboren, an intelligent looking young man with short, brown hair and beard.
"Lavinia and I separated from each other a few weeks ago," he says, blowing his nose in a tissue. "I tried to keep Lilani's life as normal as possible...not upset it too much."
"How'd she take it?"
"She fought me at every turn," he says, tilting his head to show scratch marks on his neck, scabbed over. "Hated it. Lashed out at me. Tried to turn our daughter against me. My family, friends." His voice rises, getting more agitated. "She has money, comes from a wealthy family. Dragonmarked. How can I...how can I do...anything? They've been around forever! How can I fight against that? That's power I don't have!"
"No...I'm sorry. How'd Lilani take the separation?"
"She started skipping her lessons. Acting out. One day Lavinia struck her...it took everything in my power not to..."
He takes a deep, shuddering breath and a long pull from his rounded copper mug. "I wasn't going to let her do that to my girl."
"You made the right choice."
"She took my girl. She picked Lilani up from her lessons last week and just..."
"Did you call the watch?"
"I spoke to an Inquisitor. He says since we're still technically married...she's not breaking any laws. I've asked for a Magistrate to rule on a divorce, but that takes time, and doesn't change the fact that I don't know where they are. They could be in Q'barra for all I know."
"Do you have any pictures of Lilani?"
Vanthus pulls out a tiny picture, magically printed on a parchment, and gives it to her.
"I want my daughter back, safely. I - my family - would be grateful if you found out anything. Any information at all as to where Lavinia has taken my daughter."
"I'll do everything I can."