Kora's page

Shaking her head, Kora carries in a mug filled with dark, scalding liquid and wraps Seann’s fingers around the edges. It might be coffee, but it’s black as Vanthus’ soul, thick as tar, and smells as if there might be a dead rat surprise at the bottom.

Kora ushers in Ardan, followed a short time after by a member of the Sunrise watch, who informs you there will be a delay in the arrival of Eldin and Tyndal.

Kora swings past with a tray of biscotti.

“The Lady is in her drawing room entertaining Lord Lidu, so I will announce your presence.”

The party revels well into the evening, recovering from their ordeal, spending a little incredibly hard-earned cash, and discussing potential plans for exonerating the sentry without exposing themselves to legal repercussion.

Shortly after dusk, a small Halfling woman rushes into the tavern. From her swollen eyes and black-lined face, it is obvious she has been crying. Her blouse is partially unbuttoned, and blood spatter splotches the front of her clothing.

“I’ve been searching the city for you. You have to come quickly. Your friend....he…there’s been an accident…”

She stops for a moment, attempting to collect herself and speak around the tightening lump in her throat.

“Mistress has been in council meetings all day; I came to see if you had returned yet, so I could tell you your friend Davrick had completed the repairs to your boat, apparently he called in some favors and assembled quite a work crew. The innkeeper told me Harven had come in this afternoon, so I thought it would be nice to surprise him…”

The small women’s exposition collapses into wracking sobs, and she buries her face in her hands.

“I can’t….You have to go there. The watch is there investigating now. Please!”

Kora, obviously in better spirits, welcomes you back to the Vanderboren Estate with a pleasant smile and, in Harven’s case, a light crack on the rear end.

“No dawdling now, there’s work to be done!,” she calls out, shepherding the party up the stairway to Lavinia’s sitting room.

Kora enters quietly with tea and light cakes.

She serves Lavinia first, then turns and efficiently serves the party.

With a coy wink, she slides a second cake onto Harven's plate.

Before exiting, she leaves a cleaned and pressed article of clothing beside Lavinia.

Kora arrives early the following morning (though not so early you couldn’t finish off any remaining hangovers or personal business).

“Hello again! Glad to see you divested yourselves of your “guest.” I squared things away with Lord Islaran, and he was so remorseful he set a crew onto cleaning and docking my mistress’ ship without delay. Paid them to work through the evening too, apparently. Poor Keltar, I don’t fault him really. He just hasn’t been the same since his two eldest disappeared.”

“Listen to me though! Going on like a magpie; I must be going daft, being the only loyal servant left to my mistress. Let’s be off then, she’s eager to get an early start so you fine folks can be paid what you are due.”