GM-Foxy's Homebrew Land

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Menan is obviously pleased to see Ealoviel excited. "I would like to locate the boy and see that he gets what he is due."

"Locating the boy is the easy part." Ealoviel states without elaborating on it. "To get the boy what is rightfully his is basically impossible."

"He should have been appointed duke decades ago, and inherit a castle, the wealth and the privileges that come with being a duke. The privilege to collect taxes alone..."

Ealoviel gestures what is gone is gone. "The question is, what can you get him today. You assumed that there is no need for him to hide anymore. There might be people who disagree. The question is how much are they willing to pay to keep it this way."

"So I ask you again: What are your plans?"

"You know far more than I do about these matters. I seek your council on this matter. Know that I went to the Temple of Abadar and the high priest there confirmed the duke's deposit was still there. He questioned my ability to act as seneschal. I was followed here."

"You met the high priest? Well, that's good news. We know that they already know that this is serious business. As for accepting you, it doesn't matter, as the heir can declare you seneschal. You made the first move in the game you are gonna play it as the key figure."

"May I see the testament of the duke? I'd like to know what we're talking about to assess our options."

Menan hands her the testament .

"Well, that is all we need." She hands back the testament.

"If you'd excuse me for a moment. I need to get you two letters that will strengthen your position tremendously when negotiating with the High Priest of Abadar."

She gets up and leaves with a fast pace through the same door she and Menan came in.

After about half an hour Ealoviel returns with two letters in hand. She closes the door carefully again, hands the parchments to Menan and takes a seat in the armchair.

"Within two days I'll have a copy of the seal of the deceased duke. Or we could check if the duke is still wearing his seal ring and get the original. It is not really necessary, but it would give the second letter a nice touch."

"I suggest you sleep over it, consider which way to follow suits you most and then let the bomb drop on Moonday. I'm here for further consultations. But I need some time too now, to ponder the options."

Menan reads both documents. He looks up at Ealoviel. "Dearil. Dearil is here?"

"I said, that finding the heir is the easy part. I meant that." Ealoviel states with a smug smile.

Menan returns the smile. "Here. These documents are invaluable and I was being followed. They are safer with you than with me." He offers her all of the documents for safekeeping.

Ealoviel takes the testament and the contract. "I'll keep them safe. You keep the others, they can be created anew."

"You need to think what you want from all of this too. If selling the continued non-existance of Dearil, then material gain it is. If you aim at reinstating the duke, then seneschal might be an option for a longer term. With both options you'll make yourself a name in Abadon. Win some allies, make some enemies."

"Thank you for your time. I will be using the hidden entrance for my exit and future visit. As well as invisibility. I am glad to hear he was your man, but I am properly spooked nevertheless. Until Moonday."

"Until Moonday. And don't mention my name to anyone."

Ealoviel leads Menan to the hidden entance and tells him goodbye.

Menan casts invisibility just before exiting the temple.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 Looking for the spook and then anyone else that may be trailing.

He makes his way back to the chapel of Pharasma. He enters the room, sits down, leans back and says in a belabored voice "Whoa. Did we stir a hornet's nest."

"Spill the beans! How did it go?" Faerveren demands. She is bursting with curiosity.

"Where to start.....I found the boy who is now a man and is rightfully Duke of Seacrest. I was followed to the temple by the temple. Seems my great uncle was killed shortly after the duke was killed. They tried to get some of the clerics at the temple of Abadar as well. So, they had a real coup. Now, somehow I get to decide if that coup stands or the duke gets instated with back taxes. I need royal security, I do."

"That sounds like you bit off more than you can chew." Persephone comments. "And what's in it for you? Besides upsetting all who are rich and powerful in this city?"

"A murder."

"Who murdered whom, and who might be after you then?" Father Grimburrow asks as he lost the thread.

"I could offer my services to murder you, to see how the market value of your death is." Persephone ponders.

"I'm just wondering who'd be willing to pay."

"Which leaves Marinelli. What we heard so far, he wants in on the nobility. Throw him a bone and you got his support. But that would be another 'partner' you'd be indebted to. Also I don't know how pink eyes sees Marinelli."

Persephone thinks hard on other parties which might have a horse in that race. "Who is Mayor? I didn't pay attention the last years as I didn't get out for festivities much."

"But anyway, if you think you need guards, you have a few hands full of silver. I'm always looking out for profitable jobs."

"Forget about the nobles. Most of them are suck ups. They will pay lip service to whomever is in power. Or have you met other nobles in town, but those garden party types? If there were, we'd have a duke already."

"On the other hand, if you cross Marinelli, which you are currently doing, and someone from the Abadar temple makes the connection, there might be a profitable arrangement with an unlucky outcome for you."

"The temple has kept the heir hidden all these years. He signed a paper making me legal seneschal. I can make him duke or work something out for reimbursement according to pink eyes."

He produces the documents for your review.

"I guess there are options between that. Like make him a figurehead." Faerveren ponders.

"I believe you are in the neighborhood of my idea which would be a figurehead with teeth. But, I have yet to meet the man. That will weigh very heavily in which direction I go."

"Oh, you haven't met him?" Persephone asks with a raised brow.

'I have not. I have many questions for him and pink eyes."

"When are you going to meet him then?

"Moonday."

"So we're calling it a day?" Faerveren suggests.

"There are decades when nothing happens and there are days when decades happen. Good night." He whispers to Fae "Did you palm the crown by chance? It caught your eye and now it may be of good use."

Faerveren rolls her eyes at Menan. "Good night. See you tomorrow."

Once outside and out of earshot of Father Grimburrow she answers "Well, I'm not that good. When four people stare into the coffin, and decide not to disturb the dead I'm not taking any chances."

"Especially with the head of the Rest in Peace Department around. But without him we can't lift the lid."

On the way home, after parting ways with Menan and Arawyn, Persephone chats with Faerveren.

"We could visit the vault tomorrow and see what we can get. Maybe the Skelebear can help us with the lid. At least I'd like to grab one of those chests. They look really nice and would make a fine addition to my planned wealth. You know, a place to put all that gold that I intend to amass."

"Why not." Faerveren replies. She swallows the tonight. Visiting a haunted house at night isn't really appealing on second thought. "Tomorrow is Starday, we'll have time."

Another night passes. This time without a visit at The Pig's Whistle. Not everyone sleeps well this night, for one reason or another. But for most people in town the new day starts like any other day.

Rova 27th, Starday

As the bell tolls, the market is already bustling with the farmers offering their goods and the customers buying for the weekend.

Menan woke multiple times during the night with sights of Fallon, pink eyes, the cleric of Abadar and other things. "Arawyn, the witch said and I quote..." He looks down and closes his eyes "It is only speculation, but I believe, had he done the deal under our patronage and not with Abadar, he would have lived to enjoy the money."...So, she is referring to Duke Fallon depositing his money at the temple of Abadar. What do you make of that statement, Arawyn."

"Well...Why would someone kill him for depositing money there? That is what they do."

"Precisely. Say you are a long lived creature and time is not a concern for you. Say you wanted him to deposit the gold at your temple rather than Abadar. Say you were willing to raise his child and mold him like clay to your liking. In your timeline, soon enough you are the Duke and you have his gold."

"That is utterly devious. How can you even think that way?"

"I am not sure if I told you this. I do not believe for one moment that that poor woman hung herself in prison. Not a possibility. Either pink eyes or Persephone took care of that. Both had motive and both are fully capable making that happen. I probed Persephone and she had prepared the spell murderous command. So, now you know."

Arawyn just looks at Menan.

"Nice clothes and public places or we disappear altogether until this is resolved. When word gets out about the power I now bear it will get very interesting. I plan on doing what is best for everyone. An outsider who has no dog in the fight and no prejudice, just working with the facts to do what is best for everyone."

Arawyn smiles and says "No dog in the fight? If the fight can better you or your position, you will toss a hound unless it is certain he would lose."

The two get dressed up and head to the goose for breakfast.

Persephone wakes up with a good mood. First thing she checks if the masts of any new ship is seen in the harbor.

Then she makes breakfast.

There are no new ships in the harbor.

The breakfast offered at the Fat Goose is hearty. Dark rye bread with cheese, scrambled eggs, dried sausage and dark beer.

Waked by the smell of roasted bread Faerveren joins Persephone in the kitchen. Taking some for herself she starts a conversation. "So, a visit to the ghosts basement it is? We could also pay that nice woman in the pawn shop a visit. She still hasn't told who the man in the middle is."

"One thing at a time." Persephone replies. "First one of those chests. That is fine free furniture."

"The pawn shop owner is probably not interested to tell us. And I'm not in the position to bribe her."

After breakfast she leaves the house together with Faerveren and walks into the woods to the ruins of the duke's home.

As no one cared to lock the vault or undo the staircase, the basement is still open. The sunlight filtered through the canopy only casts a dim light inside. Noise comes from the vault, where a pair of trash-pandas argue who gets to live in one of the chests.

Faerveren searches the basement some more in case there are more hidden vaults behind walls.

"Would you shine me a light?"

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Persephone grabs a stick and casts light on it to make some kind of torch for Faerveren.

On the opposite side of the vault door seems to be a similar entrance. There are three 'loose' stones that seem to be related to the opening of that door.