After breakfast Menan and Arawyn make their way to the library. Menan smiles and says "Yes, I know the routine." as he glances at the offering plate. Menan heads to the local section and researches the current council. Specifically their current powers, their rules of order, and their current membership including how long each has had a seat. He then moves to the history section and looks up what powers the Duke had and if there was a council and court at that time.
Arawyn looks for the section on fighting tactics. She spends way too much time trying to determine how things are arranged and ends up confused. She wanders about until she finds a recipe book. She sits down and reads it and is completely bored all day. Finally she says "Let's have dinner by the docks and watch the sun set."
Menan drops coin in the offering plate on the way out. The pair head to the docks for dinner.
The laws encompassing the rule are few.
The nobility names the mayor, who is the head of town and the first in the triumvirate. The High Priest of Abadar is the second. Third is the head of the city watch, who is put in place by the mayor and the high priest.
There is also a council of all nobles. Every family has a seat there and is paid for that. It is not clear from the laws what they actually do there, besides appointing the mayor. Who is then also head of this council.
Then there are the laws about administration. Basically all of that is done by the church of Abadar. The land register, the tax collection, city budget. Which leaves the church with a nice income for dealing with all of that.
The city watch does law enforcement, including the court system. Only important cases are done by the triumvirate.
Taxes are taken from all who own land. From the duties listed in the laws, one can conclude, that most of the money is spent on wages for the bureaucracy and the watch and investing into the infrastructure of town.
After dinner the Variels change into their explorer's outfits and head to the pig.
Faerveren tries to find out what does he trick with that wall.
With an educated guess, Faerveren presses the stones in the right order, which makes the section of the wall disappear slowly into the ground.
Behind the secret door is an armory. From a first glance it looks like it holds equipment for a dozen men. There are weapon stands that hold half a dozen guisarmes and shields, a dozen swords, maces and breast plates. All of that is the finest quality, but it could use some polishing after decades of standing around. The shields and armors bear the insignia of Seacrest.
On a desk at the wall is s shelf that holds a dozen vials of all colors. They are labelled, but the handwriting isn't easy to read.
Invisibility (2)
Bull's Strength (6)
Eagles Splendor (2)
Cure moderate Wounds(2)
Persephone looks at her own armor and weapon with some foreign insignia and decides to exchange that for the nice Seacrest ones.
She peels herself out of the chainmail and hangs it on the rack. Instead she put on one of the breastplates. And instead of the sturdy and well used mace she takes one of the still heavy but better balanced ones. Also the shields are nicer and one can't wield mismatching insignia.
Once she is finished changing, which takes several minutes she faces Faerveren. "What do you say? Now the duke has a first guard!"
"So much for laying low." Faerveren comments. "What about those vials?"
"They are magical. We store them in a chest and see later what we can do with them. Menan for sure knows what they are all for."
A chest is filled and closed and then the two carry that chest through small alleys to avoid too many nosy eyes on their way to Persephone's house.
Once at home the chest gets a nice place next to Persephone's bed.
"Cooking, or the Whistle?"
"You mean cooking here or cooking at the Whistle?" Faerveren jokes. Let's go there."
And so they arrive around noon at The Pig's Whistle.
Isabella is busy scrubbing the tavern again. "You are early. Are you looking for work?"
Taking a second look at Persephone she inquires "You changed loyalties?"
"No on both accounts. I was hoping for a meal. And that is because I only get hand me down equipment. We'll see if the master of this crest is willing to cough up the coin to ensure my loyalty."
"Well, even coughing up coins won't get you a meal here. Only cooking. I can suggest the Fat Goose, or if you want something more fancy, why not the Dolce Vita? I hear they have good wine."
"Or you visit the Wild Boar. I hear the guards of the city watch are regulars there. You could meet some new people if you walk in with that crest."
"I want to eat my meal in peace. Let's go to the docks and eat some grilled fish." Persephone suggests to Faerveren.
"We'll be back for a beer later. See you."
Persephone leads the way to her favorite street vendor to get a bite. She has a chat with some of her colleagues there. After a long stroll up and down the docks she returns to The Pig's Whistle.
As Arawyn approaches Persephone the new armor is obvious. "I love it is beautiful. Oh, that must be heavy. I could not wear something like that. Can you move around? Are you good in that?"
Menan immediately recognizes the crest. His mind goes into warp speed and he inquires "That is the crest of the Duke of Fallon. I saw it many times in my research. Where did you get that?"
"I'm slow anyway. But it helps a lot not being hit." she replies to Arywyn.
"You get three guesses." Persephone offers. But as Menan seems not in the mood she adds "From his castle. There was more hidden than what we found the first time. You want one too?"
"Interesting...you found the armory? No, thank you. It does look good. Anything other than armor in that cache you found?"
"Weapons I have no training for and a collection of colorful drinks. Of the magical kind. Strength and health I could tell. Some others not."
"It was a very small armory. I'd expect a duke to have more than 12 guards."
"If he is crowned, he will need that at a minimum. I plan another trip to the library tomorrow. I know how this town is structured and ruled. I must compare that to how it was when the duke was in power. This high cleric of Abadar is more powerful politically than I ever suspected. I will need to research him and his lineage as well. Depending on what I learn, it might be best to speak with him as a balance to pink eyes."
Menan suddenly hears a voice in his head. "Consider, that Abadar built on land they don't own with money they don't own. Decide which you want back. Find another heir to take both."
You recongnize the voice as Ealoviel's. You get the feeling that you could answer.
I can save you that trip.
Moonday Menan heads for the tap.
"Persephone, Fae. The library in the Temple of Abadar does not have anything prior to Abadar the city. Any idea where I can locate documentation on Seacrest? I will ask Father Grimburrow as well as pink eyes. Speak of the devil...she is scrying on me. Our next meeting should be quite interesting"
"Find someone old enough to know from back in the days. Pink eyes being the obvious choice but there might be others."
"My thought exactly."
"I don't know any old people." Faerveren comments. "This is boring. I'll go check on Mike."
"See you."
"Tomorrow is Sunday. I guess I'll sleep in. And I'll start early with that. I'm leaving too." Persephone leaves the coin for her drinks on the table and leaves.
Arawyn and Menan head to the Chapel of Pharasma for services on Sunday.
This night the party in The Pig's Whistle happens without the four. But being home early isn't a bad thing. A strong wind comes up from the sea and brings dark clouds. This grows into an impressive thunderstorm that lasts for half an hour, before it calms down to a steady rain.
This rain has come to stay and so the bell sounds really faint in the morning over the patter of the rain on the roofs and streets.
Persephone looks up and out of the window as the bell rings. She turns around and pulls the blanket over her head.
Faerveren visits Mike - without knocking, but by breaking and entering - and as it starts pouring, she stays with him for the night. This is a good test to see how much of a gentleman he is.
Father Grimburrow holds his service again, but due to the weather, even less people than usual join him.
He uses the opportunity to make the service about praying for the ones to be born for the living and those on the verge of leaving life and moving on to The Boneyard.
The Variels hang out until everyone has left. "Good day, father. Do you have time for talk or is lunch a priority for you at this time?"
"It's still early for lunch, so there is no hurry. Or was it an offer for lunch?"
"There is always on offer of lunch for you, father. It might be best to not be seen with me until this new duke issue is resolved. While I intend to carry out Duke Fallon's final wishes, I must also do what is best for this city. At this time, I do not know if those two directives conflict or not. I have educated myself on the workings of Abadar as they stand now. What I have not located is on how things were manged when the duke held his place. Do you have any idea on how I might gain that knowledge?"
"The duke probably had some writings, but with the state of his castle, all that is lost. Some of the noble families might have copies of such writings in their possession. Some of them have a long history in the town."
"I have come to know a few of them. We have lunch every...Oh, please excuse me father. We need to make it to our lunch engagement. See you soon." The Variels change into their nice clothes and head to their Sunday lunch with the ladies.
Menan finds that none of the ladies are yet at the restaurant for their weekly tea party.
Nevertheless Burston offers you a table for lunch.
A few hours later Eleanor arrives first. "Hello Menan, Arawyn, Nice to see you again. You're early."
Menan thanks Burston for the seat and during their conversation mentions he is interested in how the city was managed when Duke Fallon was alive.
"Eleanor, it is always good to see you. How have you been?"
"Oh, the usual. A little boring compared to the party we had with you, but I can't complain. And you? Anything interesting happening in your life?"
Menan smiles and looks down. He looks up and replies "As matter of fact very much so. It is possible that Duke Fallon's heir will be returning to claim his rightful place. I am involved in that and really need to find out what that would entail. The library at the Temple of Abadar has nothing predating the city of Abadar. I must find out what the return of a Duke would do to this city."
"Oh my, a heir of the duke you say? That's interesting news. How old would that one be? Do you now him? Could we invite him to a dinner party?" Eleanor is close to hyperventilating form excitement.
"This is probably not the best venue for this discussion. A more private place if there is anything more to discuss. Information on how the city operated with a sitting duke is our number one priority. We may or may not want to go there."
"And where will you get that information?" Eleanor inquires.
You get an idea what the gossip of town will be the next days.
Meanwhile the two other ladies arrive for tea.
"Perhaps a noble family has kept some records from that time period. That or someone from a long lived race that was present and involved in city affairs. The former is my preference as records do not have motivations for the most part."
Not really knowing what the conversation is about Lady Adelaide comments "You're interested in talking to my grumpy old grandfather? Everyone else has heard his stories a thousand times. He could use someone new to listen to him."
"I would be quite interested in that. Please tell me when and where. Thank you, Lady Adelaide."m
"When you're back at my place I'll introduce you."
She turns to Randolf. "I'll take the tea as usual and some heavy buttercream cake."