|
The private dining hall is comfortable and cozy, softly lit by wall-mounted lanterns. A window overlooks the manor’s central courtyard and the carpet is thick and soft. A large portrait hangs on the wall, a fine work depicting a handsome young man with a short beard, Standing before the portrait is an attractive human woman. wearing a long, flowing blue dress, She smiles as the PGs enter, introducing herself as Lavinia Vanderboren.
[b] "As you may have heard, I recently inhrited my parents estates, along with this fine house unfortunately came a substantial amount of debt owed to the Dawn Council, The harbor master, and quite a few guildhalls. It seems my parents while successful advernturerers were not skilled at finance as one may expect. If i am to pay all the taxes properly I will need access to my family's vault under Castle Tarkenian.
And thats the problem you see... The vaults are magically locked. Keyed to special signet rings. Both of my parenst had their rings at least until recently. My mother lost heres about a month ago, and a replacement is on order but it will arrive far past the due date for certain.... payments to be made. It leaves my fathers ring. He never wore it, he had something about men wearing any kind of jewelry but I know he kept it hidden on the familys flagship. The Blue Nixie
The problem there is the harbor master's seized the ship until someone pays the family's last four months of docking fees. I've paid the fines to the man hte quartermaster put in charge of my ship, a brute by the name of Sellar Vark Yet when i went to claim my ship, Vark's men wouldnt let me on board, claiming i hadnt paid the fines. I spoke with Vark again and he denied ever recieving my payment. I made complaints with the city watch and the Harbormasters office but they have fallen on deaf ears it seems. The harbormaster is a doddering old fool who trusts his man and wont relent.
Vark and his men have to be up to something on my ship i know it. I saw the panic in his eyes when i tried to board my vessel. I need to know what they are up and to find my fathers ring. I dont believe Vark is one to respond to diplomacy or logic... I need someone to speak his language which is where you folk come in. Unaffiliated with the house you can find out what he is using my ship for and perhaps even better recover the money iu paid him and my fathers signet ring. I can pay each of you 50 gold now if you accept and a further 150 gold once i have access to the family vaults."
Jetsam locks eyes briefly with the mercenary leader before quickly turning away. She gives Lady Vanderboren a friendly smile, instantly taking a liking to the young noblewoman. Still, as Lavinia makes her business pitch, Jet's eyes occasionally wander to the portrait hanging behind her. After Lavinia finishes speaking, Jetsam nods and says, "That arrangement is fine with me."
Trying to sound casual, the young swordswoman gestures toward the fine portrait and asks, "Who is that? I heard there was another member of your family--a Vanthus, I believe--still alive and in the city.... Your brother, perhaps?"
Aliyah listens quietly, taking in Lavinia's words and attitude. As she tells her tale of the snake Vanthus, the reason someone with her skills would be hired becomes clear. Likely this man hired people who only communicated in blood.
It seemed a worthy cause.
"I accept."
Tedros is relieved that the worst isn't coming to pass today. However, he sobers up and considers the danger inherent to what she describes.
If we mess up and Vark's men capture us, what's the worst that can happen? They can't take us away from this town can they?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Lily nods, finding out what was happening on the sounded interesting, finding something missing was a familiar task.
"Excuse me, do you have a description, or an image of the ring we're looking for?" She asks politely.
Oridak shakes his head as Lady Vanderboren’s story unfolds. Listening to the questions asked, what Tedros says catches his attention; “What’s the worst that can happen? If they are willing to lie and steal the Lady’s payment to hide what they are doing, I think they would be willing to dispose of anyone who is lower born.” he looks around at the group the lady has organized. [b]“But, I do accept these terms. As someone who is a man of his word in his own business dealings, Vark is one that shouldn’t be doing business any longer.”
You are uncertain if he means to have his harbor authority revoked, or if he should be come shark bait.
Trace watched the group filed out...something tugged at his memory. 'Tolin Kientai'...The Arena Champion. Leader of The Jade Ravens...An Adventuring Company. He pauses thinking about what he heard of them and then shakes his head.
He feels out of his league here and fidgets. Then The Lady walks in and he cant help but smile. she was so pretty. and here he was preparing to get his first assignment as an adventurer.
As Lady Vanderboren begins, and mentions her parents as adventurers a memory pops up...he had heard that...now what were they known for again? and then he also remembers what he heard of their deaths.
He hears mention of 'The Blue Nixie' and he tries to remember what he heard about the vessel, what kind it was, who was the Captain, what kind of reputation it had, where it was docked...ehh, must not have been one that frequented his area of operation.
'Sellar Vark', he thinks hes heard of him.... He thinks, yes, this is right up his alley. Know he knew why he was asked to join. without thinking he said Of course milady. Ill do it
he looks around. then says simply where is it docked?
Nassor shakes his head sadly at Lavinia's story. "This is a bad thing," he mutters. "Stealing from an orphan! Not even pirates stoop so low — so the stories say, at least."
He leans forward. "If this ring is yours, it should be yours, of course. It is yours, yes? There aren't any other family members who could claim it?"
Nathrae doesn't even deign to acknowledge the other group as they swagger past.
But when Lavinia finally introduces herself, Nathrae nods. "I suppose that's within my skill-set, Lady Vanderboren."
|
|
My fathers ring? its was made from gold with the family crest as a signet. It has a stylized griffon over a field of blue
The Jade Ravens name is one he had heard of, bowever he cant quite recall anything of note about them.
Lady V anderborens parents were known for their adventerous spirit the have traveled abroad extensively and done a lot of exploration. they have set up several small plantations along hte coast and there was a rumored coloby being set up on some far off island.
Lavinia's parents were taking a pleasure cruise on their newest ship, something of a 2nd honeymoon when suddenly she ship caught fire in a quick and fierce manor. There were no survivors and the ship sank
The name Sellar Vark is an egotistical thug and bully. He has somehow gotten put in a position of some authority under the harbormaster and its certainly gone to his head.
"Just my brother Vanthus though... hes not been home of late.
you can tell from her tone there is a small bit of worry there, but perhaps no more than of a slightly older sister worrying over a younger sibling
Jetsam fidgets a bit while she waits for Lady Vanderboren to answer the other hirelings' questions, gazing around the room appreciatively. Suddenly, she's struck by a rogue thought:
Why do I feel so at ease in this place? Was my forgotten family wealth or influential as well? I certainly feel more comfortable here than I did for months when the Seekers took me into their lodge....
During a bit of an awkward silence, Jet decides to pry a bit deeper about Lavinia's handsome brother. "Where has your brother been?" she asks casually. "You'd think a good sibling would be by your side during this trying time...."
|
|
Her face darkens at Jetsam's question.
"He.... hasnt been home lately. Im getting worried but not overly worried since our parents died he has been hanging out a lot with ... seedier elements. "
She steeled her face for a moment.
He is a worry for a later time however. Getting our houses finances in order first."
Tedros is relieved that the worst isn't coming to pass today. However, he sobers up and considers the danger inherent to what she describes.
If we mess up and Vark's men capture us, what's the worst that can happen? They can't take us away from this town can they?
These men wouldn't take us far away, right?
Tedros shakes it off for now.
They are very violent, yes? Are they skilled warriors?
He scratches his dino under the chin while he asks this.
Hands clasped on the head of her cane and she looks down Lily tries to think of any information she's heard of Vanthus Vanderboren?
While the nobility were not her usual stamping ground there may have been gossip or rumors floating through the streets.
|
|
"The docks can certainly be a rough place. and well this vark charector is clearly trying to cheat me. As for their level of violence or their skill in combat i just dont know. Its why i am hiring several of you and not just one person though. You all sound ver capable from what ive heard of you through my contacts.
The flustered and worried young noblewoman states.
THe name definitely tickles something in your memory .. unfortnately not enough to recall exactly what you heard and where. definitely nothing from your contacts in the merchants district. Perhpaps if you asked questions in one of the other districts... [/ooc]
Tedros nods, feeling the need to show that he's up for the task.
"You shouldn't fret, young lady," Nassor assures Lavinia. "Things will work out as they're meant to. As for us, we should take a look your ship, I think."
"I think our next move should be to check out the Blue Nixie--locate exactly where it is, how many guards or crew are around it, and the like," Jetsam suggests. "Then we use some of Lady Vanderboren's up-front gold to buy any equipment we might need to liberate her vessel from Vark and the harbormaster. Sound about right?"
Jetsam waits, both for the others to consider her words and for their employer to pay them the advance promised.
Aliyah nods in agreement.
Lily nods politely to the lady of the house and prepares to set off with the others.
Jet makes one last check to make sure she's got all of her very limited gear ready for action, then heads out with the others.
"Can't hurt for a couple of us to scope out the docks a bit today, right?" Jet comments to no one in particular. "Anyone got particularly sharp eyes?"
Trace looks at Jetsam and nods I know the docks...fairly well Its a good idea to find where shes being held. and take a look.
Once the docks are reached, Jetsam does her best to look around for any sign of the Blue Nixie.
I... spend a lot of time at the docks. Tedros mutters.
--------------------
At the docs Tedros joins Jetsam casually scanning the ships for their quarry. He makes a show of fussing a lot with Dejen to conceal that he's even taking observations.
He gets Jetsam's attention and nods his head subtly at a particular ship.
Nassor strolls along the familiar docks, nodding at the workers and sailors he recognizes. The Heron seems to have set out to sea again already.
In particular, he's looking for people with smaller boats who are just lounging around: They might be eager enough for work that they'd hire a boat out to a group headed for an impounded ship. Maybe they wouldn't need a lift — the Nixie could be docked, that'd make everything easier — but it couldn't hurt to check.
Trace considered where they needed to go and headed there to look around.
|
|
The docks were busy..... though at this time of day they were always a bit busy. It didnt take long for them to locate their quarry and as was probably expected the Blue Nixie was indeed moored out in the harbor a little ways away from the docks.
One of the older dockhands nodded torwards the edge of on of the docks and mentioend that the fellow their rented out smaller craft to use in the bay relatively cheap no questions asked....
You gazed out at the blue Nixie and spotted some moverment... so there was at least one man aboard the vessel... and that was strange normally an impounded ship would be well empty.
Tedros thinks they stake out the boat, see how often crew come and go on their smaller boat, and figure out when it might be least staffed. He imagines a ring would be kept in a drawer in an office if it's still hidden from those who seized the ship.
Jetsam agrees with Tedros that staking out the ship is a good idea. She's not sure how the large party will be able to close on the vessel without drawing attention. "If I'm counting right, Lady Vanderboren hired eight of us for this mission.... Will that many people fit in one boat? Along with Oridak's giant snake and your...um...dino-nice-ius?"
After thinking a bit more, the short lass suggests that maybe part of the group might cause a diversion while another contingent swam quietly to the Blue Nixie and boarded her.
"Probably better if those best capable of being quiet and unseen go to the ship no?" Aliyah suggests.
Nathrae quietly follows along.
Trace says. maybe 2 boats. 4 in each. Approach different angled. 1 goes to anchor chain in the back. The other to the one in front. Most ships have both unless they are very small. Then we just come from different angles
Lily nods at Trace's suggestion. "That sounds like a plan. Have the quiet people scout ahead and the others waiting in the boats ready to join if things get loud."
Nassor nods at Trace’s idea, and parcels out the needed silvers to one of the dockmen — along with an extra five coins, as an encouragement to maybe, not look where they were rowing to?
.