Lavinia_Vanderboren's page

This is most distressing. Mazes within mazes, and few to trust. From what little I have read of the notes you provided, hard as I find it to believe, my brother murdered our parents out of greed and lust for power.

Lavinia pauses for a moment to collect herself.

I was at a crossroads in regards to my wayward brother, but that time has passed. I believe it is in no longer in anyone’s best interest to return Vanthus for trial. I ask only that you bring his remains back, if possible, for burial in the family crypt.

Perhaps, if the Lady is willing,” he bows to Lavinia, “she could use her influence with the Dawn Council, and the evidence of the notes that Rowan gave us, to see that the investigation of the guild proceeds in our absence?”

I will do so at once; if need be I will call an emergency session of the council. Even if she escapes punishment, the scrutiny and potential for embarrassment alone should slow her plans considerably.

Thank you for you diligence and for once again risking your lives in my service. You have sole discretion over the make-up of your group, and I trust your judgment, so I have included your newest member in the bonus stipend I arranged for you. Kora will ensure you each receive a packet before you leave. In truth, I wish it were more, but my brother’s pilfering has cut family finances to the quick. Still, use it in good health, and I expect to deliver more of the same in the near future.

The priest suddenly looks about. “Where is Anders?” he asks. “He has not come back here?”

As to Anders, I was hoping you would have already met up with him, or that he would have returned by now, but this does not appear to be so. Perhaps it would be prudent to inquire after him?

Excellent, although I do not wish for you to exhaust yourselves in my pursuit of reckoning. As we have witnessed, it is all too easy to become a victim of this dangerous game. By the by, have you run into Anders? He was here late yesterday, but rushed off again after reading a few missives sent by someone who works near the docks.

"As I recall, she did mention her name, actually. The Lady Rowyn, eldest daughter of House Kilawni."

The Kelani’s. I should have known; it would be them, or that creepy Emil. Even if you might not have anything that ties her to the guild, you have at least given us forewarning of her involvement and scheming, and a solid lead on the whereabouts of my brother. It is settled then, Vanthus is no longer a candidate for redemption; we must stop him. Once the others catch up, how long do you think you may need to rest before setting off after him?

Lord Lidu chokes a little on his tea, while Lavinia looks a bit taken aback herself.

A noble, so the rumors are true; did you learn her identity? I take you at your word, but on the council it is not what you know, it is what you can prove. Did you bring back any proof of the noble’s crimes?

It is a pleasure to meet you, Marius. I hate to be blunt but my brother appears to have fallen in with grave company. May I ask what the extent of your involvement is with his organization?

I can confirm the council is generally not in the habit of hiring, “murdering psychopaths,” though with the recent appointment of Monsieur Vark as temporary harbormaster, things may be trending away from the norm.

If you would be kind enough to excuse me, I must retire for the evening. Kora will be available if you require anything from the pantry. Please, make yourselves at home.

As the party’s discussion regarding the Lotus Dragons progresses into the early evening, Lavinia returns to the manor, looking a bit weary from a long day of debate followed by a hike through the clammy Sassarine afternoon. A swarthy man you do not recognize accompanies her, though at a respectful distance. He is clad in studded leather armor, with a pair of cutlasses hanging by his side.

She brightens a little upon seeing your gathering, and during a pause in the conversation she interjects, “I am pleased to see you all again. The council resolved to adjourn for the time being until we can find a permanent replacement for Lord Islaran, and I was able to have your charter approved…with a caveat.”

Perfumed air wafts in your direction as Lavinia indicates the man standing beside her with a sweep of an arm, “This is Ardan. He specializes in…clandestine…investigations, and the council has asked him to aid in the search for Keltar’s murderer.”

“They thought perhaps since your activities were intertwined with…current events…in the city he might accompany and aid you,” though at this last, her stiff posture and stony eyes belie the thought this may have been merely a polite suggestion on the council’s part.

Ardan:

“I realize this is sudden, especially so soon after Harven’s passing! Please do not think of him as a replacement for our friend, though perhaps Ardan’s abilities will harmonize equally as well in time.”

Quaffing the potions brings near instantly relief to your roiling innards. The nervous priests look much relieved.

Lavinia looks upon the figurine with surprise, “Well, if it is not little Sir Vanthus! I have not seen him for ages. You found this below the old manor, then? I used to have an entire army, you know, scavenged from my father’s Dragon Chess sets.”

“Thank you for your concern for my welfare, Eldin. Thankfully the Ravens should return shortly from Cauldron, preferably with good news.”

“If there is anything you need, Kora will be nearby. I have to set out early again to attend another council session, but please keep me apprised as to your progress in the matter of my brother. Good luck!”

Appears increasingly shocked and disgusted as your tale progresses.

With revulsion evident on her face, Lavinia announces, “I fear there is nothing to do now except to bring my wayward brother to justice. If he surrenders, then so be it; if not, I ask that you not make him suffer unduly. He is a stain upon our family, but he is still blood. I can scarcely believe he would commit these depraved acts himself; though I cannot imagine what vile force possesses him. It would seem two horrible monsters are loose upon our city.”

“I would not think to have you return to the inn as before. I would be pleased to have you stay in the estate this evening to provide you with more time to establish yourselves in a new location.”

“Also, we will need to institute a charter for your company. Unsupervised and unendorsed adventuring companies tend to make both the Dawn Council and the Sassarine Watch nervous.”

“While you were away, I have begun translating the journal you recovered. In addition, your friend the boatwright came calling to inform Kora your vessel is repaired. As for Vark, I can only hope he has learnt the error of his ways from his last encounter with your group.”

I cannot tell you how relieved I am to see you; Kora told me what happened to Harven on the way here. I will make a tithe to Saint Worgul in his name, poor thing.

After explaining your predicament, Lavinia unflinchingly pays for Potions of Remove Disease for the afflicted party members.

I apologize for not being available sooner; the Council was deliberating all day following the murder of Lord Islaran and the arson at the Arabani warehouse.

The remaining guard, a nice young man, really, gave an accounting of some individuals remarkably similar to your group, and it was all I could do to deflect attention away from you. So that he might only be pilloried, I was forced to acquiesce to the Kellani’s insistence their choice be appointed as temporary Harbor Master. I believe you are familiar with the vile scoundrel, one Soller Vark? Do you know he actually brought his hound into the meeting? At times I think they are married.

Did something happen to your eye, Terin? It looks different.

Were you able to locate my brother?

Where is the old Vanderboren estate?

Lavinia sketches you a quick, rough map of the location of the original Estate, located in the Merchant District, on a piece of parchment.

"My brother and I discovered the tunnels beneath the estate in our youth while exploring. We believe our forbearers dug them as a means of swift escape when the city frequently came under siege; they connect to the original Sassarine sewer system. Vanthus and I used them as a means to sneak away from the manor unobserved."

"Unfortunately, our ill spent yet largely innocent youth was not to last. I am ashamed to speak of it, but one of our pranks backfired, and the estate burned to the ground. We used the tunnels to move the family to safety, but in the process were forced to admit our transgressions, resulting in our immediate separation."

"My parents purchased the holdings of a noble family which had passed without heirs, selling the scorched land to a merchant conglomerate. I believe there is a warehouse on the spot now."

"If he is indeed utilizing the escape tunnels, it would seem my brother is slow to learn his lesson."

Sorry for the delay, frickin’ hive headache is killin’ me.

“My old shoes? I think Kora might know where a pair is around here, but whatever for?”

After listening stonily to the party’s watered-down version of the Rosk encounter, Lavinia, now bearing a decided greenish cast, shrieks, “Repulsive! No. Absolutely not. My parents are dead, my brother’s a criminal, and now some nauseating freak wants to gratify himself with my footwear? I am going to pretend we never had this conversation, and I suggest you do the same.”

Welcome to try again, but it will take some smooth talking.

“Tunnels? There were always legends of natural caverns beneath Parrot Island, but even the smugglers knew to stay out of those. I thought the militia had them filled in years ago. The only other tunnels I know of were beneath the old Vanderboren Estate, before we moved here to the Noble District.”

I assume you wish to have him intact?

“Most assuredly.”

“Judging from his activities and associates, I doubt he is to be found within the Noble or Champion Districts, although perhaps somewhere there may have noticed him in passing.”

Lavinia also greets the party warmly, though her smile only serves to highlight her troubled eyes.

“First, the good news: With the assets we recovered from the vault, I was able to tend to the immediate financial needs of the estate, though there will be trying times ahead if the Ravens are unable to secure support from my extended relations. Still, they are very experienced, and I am feeling more optimistic now, thanks to your assistance.“

Lavinia’s lips draw together into a thin line.

“This,” Lavinia begins, waving her hand towards the portrait of a attractive man with a haunted expression behind her, “is my brother Vanthus.”

“We were very close, many years ago. My parent’s adventures often kept them away for extended periods, so Vanthus and I grew to rely on each other. Unfortunately, we got into trouble one too many times, and after one escapade with particularly far reaching consequences, our parents decided to separate us for a time.”

“My brother was sent to live and work on a plantation with a relative, while I attended Thanalar Academy for five years. When we returned a scant year ago, we were both very different people. I made several efforts to mend our relationship, but my brother was disinterested in anything to do with the family. He became nocturnal, staying out until all hours and associating with men and women of dubious nature.”

“Eventually, he obtained separate residence, somewhere in the Azure District I believe, possibly with an acquaintance.”

Lavinia is unable to speak for a moment, then steels her resolve and continues.

“After my mother and father perished, Vanthus returned to the estate briefly, though his countenance had become grimmer still. He was morose and irritable, and his sense of humor now bordered on the macabre. After a week of on again, off again arguments, he lost control and blackened my eye with his fist. I think even he was taken aback by his behavior, as he left the estate for a third time immediately following the incident, and has not returned.”

“I do not know his current whereabouts, but I desperately wish to speak with him. I must know how he obtained my mother’s ring, and what he may have done with our inheritance. Perhaps it is not yet too late to return him from the path into darkness he travels. To that end, I would like you to scour Sassarine for information that will lead to my brother. If possible, I wish for you to return him to the estate, under protest if it is unavoidable, so he and I may discuss his current lifestyle choices at length.”

Lavinia exhales forcibly, then resumes her previous grin.

“I know for certain you will locate Vanthus. I have great faith in you all.”

"Sylvan? I shall have to see if any of the city sages can translate the manuscript for me."

On the subject of her brother, Lavinia remains peculiarly tight-lipped.

I believe you mentioned a brother earlier … is he … he did not share your parent’s fate I presume?”

Lavinia looks up from sorting, clearly distraught, "I do have a brother. He...has not been around lately. The only other ring belonged to my mother, and it was lost several months ago. Without the ring, I am unable to see how he could have accessed the vault. In fact, he would never have made it passed the clerk."

“I will require some help transporting what remains (roughly about 30 pounds) . I think it best not to leave anything of value here if this vault in no longer as secure as my parent’s imagined it to be. Before we get to that, let me settle my debt to you, including an advance for this month.” Lavinia pays each party member 300 gold pieces

“Thankfully, it appears whoever pilfered the vault was only interested in liquidity, and left these documents, which safeguard the majority of our family’s real assets. My parents performed a great many dangerous or surreptitious tasks for the other noble families of Sassarine during the course of their adventuring days, often without payment, with the stipulation that should we require aid, those families would then be indebted to the Vanderborens in turn.”

“These notes of indebtedness are easy enough to understand: tasks, suitable compensation and such, but this last ledger I cannot make heads or tails of. The letters are most certainly Elven, written in my mother’s script, but the words are just so much gibberish.”

Terin can most likely identify the language as Sylvan, but I don’t think anyone in the party can read it. Let me know if I’m incorrect.

“There are a great many strange creatures and maps included here; in fact I see the rainbow and waterfall of my childhood stories. I wonder if she compiled a book of myths like the ones Seann mentioned?”

“I have no concept of how to reset this vault, but it would seem to be a moot point now,” Lavinia states brusquely. “Let us be off, there is much to be done.”

Lavinia and the party gathers the remaining money and documents, and heads back through the antechamber (Lavinia presenting her ring boldly this time) and up the stairs into the castle proper.

While recording her leave taking in the clerk’s log, Lavinia looses a small gasp and looks up sharply at the attendant, turning the book around to face him.

“These signatures here, Vanthus Vanderboren. This man was here?”

Lavania can only gape in astonishment when the clerk affirms that not only has her brother visited the vault several times over the past month, but also he positively possesses a ring identical to Lavinia’s own.

“My brother has been missing for over a month, and he most certainly should not have been pillaging the family trust!”

The clerk’s skin assumes an ashen pallor; now it is his turn to be shocked. He apologizes obsequiously to Lavinia, and promises to report to her immediately if her brother should attempt to access the vault again.

Returning to the surface, the party catches the final ferry of the day and again travels through High Market (now somewhat subdued with the coming of evening). Flagging down a coachman, Lavinia turns to address the party. “I must attend to the business of the family estate for the next few days, and I have a great many nobles to call upon, though at least now I will not need to arrive hat in hand, as it were, thanks to you.”

“I will secure you a second coach, and will have Kora purchase for you an additional two days lodging at the inn where you stayed previously. Please, relax and enjoy the city, but do not tarry overlong, as there is a pressing matter weighing heavily upon me. Once you conclude your own personal matters (especially you Anders, do get some rest and herbal tea), please come to the manor and we shall discuss it at length.”

With that, Lavinia waves over a second coach, directing the driver to convey your party to Ancestor’s Rest, then boards her own carriage, returning with all haste to the Vanderboren Estate. As you part ways, she leans out and calls, “Do not forget to supply me with an appellation, for your group’s charter. Just let Kora know and I will see to it.”

The group has a little down time now, to visit shops, temples, what have you. If there is something you would like to look for, let me know and I can see if you are able to secure it in the city, and what it might cost. When you are set, we’ll fast forward back to the manor.

“Thank the Gods,” Lavinia whispers. “Let no one say you have not earned your keep today.”

Lavinia moves towards the first alcove, but her posture stiffens almost at once and she gives a small cry of alarm.

Moving quickly to the next alcove, she bats aside the few silver coins remaining in the bottom of one of the coffers, “Empty? I do not understand.”

“Kord’s sweaty testicles!,” she exclaims loudly, as she moves to the third and fourth alcove, becoming increasingly frantic.

Slamming her fist into the lid one of the fifth alcove’s coffers, Lavinia sends a shower of gold coins flying. “Not all empty then,” she says as she breaths a sigh of relief. “Will it be enough though?”

Lavinia begins to sort through the remaining alcove.

“Oh, that is just terrible. If father still lived we would have a long talk about his sense of humor,” Lavinia declares.

She nudges the pendulum slightly with her hand, and it begins to sway gently. “I wonder,” she contemplates aloud, then pushes the star completely towards the Rakshasa.

Instantaneously, a soft red glow illuminates the fresco, and the eight-pointed star motif now displays two red arrows, the original pointing behind you, and the new arrow pointing to the Rakshasa.

“Let us hope this is the final riddle; I weary.”

I’ll let one of you pick it up from here.

Lavinia claps excitedly.

“Of course, the rainbow! I knew father would not leave me without anything to go on.”

“But if the demon head is V, what does the blank wall have to do with anything?”

"What the name of the island?"

"You know, I can not remember her ever naming it. The island only had a title, "The Isle of Dread."

"Silly childhood tales that both soothed me to sleep and kept me awake nights!"

"Oh how beautiful! Mother used to tell me of this stunningly vibrant rainbow permanently arched over the falls of a tropical island they frequented."

“I simply loved to hear stories of the island. Sometimes they were so fanciful or terrifying I thought she must have made them up. I spent countless hours finger painting that rainbow on the walls of my bedroom before my brother and I were sent away. I never seemed to have suitable colors though; I was constantly on the lookout for additional pigments.”

“Still, I am unable to see how this helps us. If it was stuffed inside the ring though, it certainly makes sense that it should.”

“That one is definitely an Otyugh,” Lavinia muses, pointing towards the garbage eating monstrosity. “The council actually tried to introduce a few into the sewer once, as part of an ill-fated cleanup project.”

“The snake thing is a Yaun-ti; the jungle is filled with the horrible things, or that is what most Sassarine parents tell their children to keep them from wandering off, at any rate. These others I do not recognize.”

Stamping her foot slightly, Lavinia grouses, “What could it possibly mean though? Why must my father have been so confounded cryptic? He could have at least left a clue of some variety for me!”

Idly, she picks up one of the discarded vials and sniffs at it, then wrinkles her nose.
“Ugh. Mint and…animal musk…?” How peculiar.

Anyone with skills relating to Craft: Alchemy (or a relatable Knowledge skill) can identify the previous contents of the vial on a DC 15 check.

Lavinia vacates her position and quickly bounds into the new chamber once the last member of the party has entered; bumping slightly into whomever is the last to enter.

“Apologies.”

“I will wait here until everyone is in the new room, then hasten in after.”

How odd...I can't see Terin's post at all

I couldn't either for a while, that's why I quoted the entire post the one time I could see it. Very strange.

Tyndal stops and waits for Lavinia to do her thing.

Lavinia stoically strides forward, though you can see a slight quaver in her step. She certainly dreamed of adventuring with her parents, but the real thing is something different entirely.

As she progresses to the center of the antechamber, she holds her hands out before her, as if to feel the magical trigger to the ambush which so recently battered poor Harven.

When Lavinia reaches the midpoint of the pillars, where Eldin detected the trip line, there is a second rush of air, and Lavinia lets out a surprised shriek! She quickly recovers though, when she realizes it is not only softer than before, but it is also now blowing away from the center of the room, rather than towards. A soft pink glow begins to emanate from her signet ring.

“Of course! The vault must be set to recognize legitimate Vanderboren heirs. I am sorry Harven, if only we had known sooner. You had all better search the room quickly for another door, I have no idea how this works or how long the trap will stay unsprung.”

Lavinia stands rigidly in the center of the room, afraid to lose control of the trap.

Wait! The Vanderboren's must've had a way around this, they had to access the vault in someway! Ms. Vanderboren, did your parents never mention bypassing the vault's defenses? Mayhaps you need to place your ring into some kind of socket to "turn off" the defenses, or maybe that odd symbol in the foyer has something to do with it.

I don't think force is the answer to this puzzle. We must use our heads, I think.

“I do not honestly know, though I cannot believe my parents would have neglected to mention it if they thought I may be in any real danger here. Perhaps I should attempt to walk through?”

"Thank Heavens you are here with me. I would have blundered right into that trap and been left here to die."

Well lit by torches which do not appear to give off any smoke, the chamber smells dry and a bit chalky, though you are not so deep as to make breathing uncomfortable.

Traveling the short walk to the entryway indicated by the clerk, Lavinia and the party halt before a sturdy door adorned with an eight-pointed star. Above the portal is a burnished plaque of silver, with “Vanderboren” inscribed upon it in flowing calligraphy. Just below a rounded depression bearing an inverse of the Vanderboren ring seal, a single handle protrudes from the entrance.

“This symbol seems very familiar, though I cannot place it. Do any of you recognize it?”

DC 15 Knowledge (local) Check:

Lavinia places the signet ring upon her finger, then pushes it lightly into the depressed area. The door erupts suddenly with heatless blue fire which extinguishes just as quickly, then clicks abruptly and swings inward with a jarring creak.

Unsettled by the spectacle, Lavinia turns and declares, “Having no knowledge as to what may lurk inside; I shall defer to your experience and allow you to proceed me into the vault. Please be careful with my family’s possessions, some of them are quite old.”

“As for the offer of further work – why, yes, I believe I will accept,” looking around at his companions nods of assent, he adds, “and it appears that most of us are in agreement.

Lavinia appears visibly relieved.

“I am so delighted you accepted, I cannot tell you how comforted I am to have extra support in these difficult times.”

When that time comes, I must beg leave of your employment – unless you can find some use for a man on the road,” he adds with a grin and a wink.

I understand completely. My parents were possessed of adventurous souls as well. I believe they always intended for me to join them, once they sensed I was ready.

“Now, if we are to employed … is there some task that you have for us now?

“I do have a mission in mind, actually. Now that I have my father’s signet ring in my possession thanks to all of you, I need to visit the Vanderboren Vault beneath Castle Teraknian so I may compensate your party, and set certain financial concerns to rest.”

“All of Sassarine’s nobility have secure vaults beneath the castle; I understand a number of of them are quite extensive and contain potentially lethal traps. I have never personally visited our family vault, though father talked of it on occasion. I believe the vault to be relatively modest and secure, and not nearly as deadly as some, though I do remember him hiring an artisan of some sort to design protective measures.”

“It would reassure me greatly to have your party escort me to the vault. If you are ready, we can leave without delay.”

have you or yours heard of them?"

( Knowledge Local = 13 / Knowledge Nobility = 25 )

"Of the group's activities, I know little you have not already heard. There is however, a scandalous rumor making the rounds of the nobility that a new band of smugglers and thieves is quietly being supported or perhaps even run from within one of the Noble Houses. As if the way with such things, no names are named."

"Ah yes. I had almost forgotten. Kora is so efficient; I simply do not think I could get along here without her."

"Lord Islaran's men found this dress amongst Vark's personal effects. It was not my mothers, neither is it one of mine, though it is exquisite. It does not appear to fit in with any of his other belongings; do you know to whom it may belong?"

“Oh thank goodness. Well done! Very well done indeed.”

“Does your group have any plans for the future once you have received your due from reclaiming my family’s ship? Before you answer yes or no, I would like to present you with a unique opportunity.”

“I have an adventuring group in the employ of our family, The Jade Ravens, whom I believe you have already met on your first visit to the manor. Unfortunately, the missions I require from them are very far ranging, and they can be gone months at a time. What I really require now is a group of private agents and bodyguards, people close by who can look out for my house’s interest.”

“If your group is interested, I will personally pay the fee for your charter with the city, and can give you 100 gold pieces per month as commission. More than simply a job, service to one of the Noble Houses of Sassarine may also open doors previously thought closed to you.”

“Kora informed me yesterday of your triumph; congratulations on your success! I am so pleased to see you all back here relatively unscathed.”

“Shortly after Kora journeyed to gather you, a messenger arrived from the harbormaster. Apparently, while they were removing the remains of a dangerous beast from the hold, this fell from its gullet. It seems it had a portion of the original owner still attached to it at the time, but they were tactful enough not to bring it. It is not my father’s ring, but I thought it might be significant to one of you?”

Lavinia passes a polished electrum band bearing the image of a compass rose to the party.

“I hate to turn directly to business, but I am sure you are all eager to be compensated for your efforts. Were you able to locate my family’s signet ring?”