Lavinia_Vanderboren_aka_DM's page

Lady Lavinia was not home when Captain Esteban arrived but to proceed with the continuity, she arrives while you are in the middle of your meeting. She introduces herself and the Captain fawns over her and kisses her hand and she excuses herself to the dining room, until you arrive and recount the offer.

"My dear Ialda, while I will not lie, a favorable percentage on future deals with the Consortium would definitely benefit me, I leave this decision in your hands. I know how stir crazy you've all been in my home this past week, trying to trace down leads on my brother with no success. I can understand if you wish to stretch your muscles and do this job. I myself am doing research on a venture that interests me greatly. I found some of my mother's journals...and well, I'll speak to you about it when my plans are more concrete. In fact, I'm hoping you will accompany me. But that's for another day. Perhaps in a month, a month and a half.
As for my safety, Aero, I think your investigations this past week reveal quite clearly that my brother Vanthus is no longer in Eleder. With the guard on notice after the lizardman assault, I think I am safe. Besides, I am sure I could hire your friend Devon Altamir and some of his associates to watch over my home while you are away. I leave the decision in your hands."

"If Ialda and the rest vouch for you, Mr. Patterwell, you my utmost confidence. As you heard, I owe them my life, a number of times already. Welcome to my employ."

"I am thankful you came at all. You've saved me yet again!"

"I'll let the Praetor and his men know to be careful. Oh, honey, don't worry I'll handle the burial expenses. You with Chez and Kowaru and all of you helped me secure my ship and some of my inheritance to pay off my debts. I may not have a current flow of coinage but my credit is in good standing in this city. It's the least I can do. Did any of them have family that we need to notify?"

Lavinia gasps. "Kellani, as in the 4th richest family in Eleder Kellani?! Rowyna....yes! She's the youngest daughter of that merchant family and you're saying she was the head of the Lotus Dragons responsible for all the bodies appearing on the docks, including the murder of the harbormaster. Oh my, this scandal will cause that family great shame." Lavinia can't help but giggle a little. "Guess my family is not alone in its black sheep." In case you hadn't figured it out, only rich kids get apes as pets! :)

"Rowyna...such an odd name. It sticks in my head for some reason. You didn't manage to get her surname, did you?"

Lavinia struggles with Baolo's accent/dialect and on a couple of occasions asks him to repeat the sentence. When she finally understands, she says, "I have a friend on the Nine Forts Collective, Lashana, who is a sister of Praetor Ezio Egorius, the man responsible for training the Eleder militia at Praetor's Block. He can be trusted. Just tell me the message you want me to pass along and I'll go visit his sister immediately."

"No, I'm sorry, I've never heard of the place. But I've only lived here for a few months. My finishing and accounting studies all took place in Cheliax. I came back home upon learning of the death of my parents. Sorry to keep asking, but the letters I just read. Who were they addressed to? Obviously, it was Vanthus' lover but they don't say the woman's name. Can't she tell you what my brother is up to and where? Is she alive or did you kill her?"

Lavinia looks at Ialda. "Chez and Kowaru dead? You said she? Who killed them? And how is Vanthus involved? Please I need to know how deeply he is involved in all of this. Has he been magically charmed or is he doing this of his own free will?"

Lavinia pauses when Aero hands her the letters. Tears start running down her cheeks as she reads the first letter. "Oh my...did he cause the fire that killed my parents?? No, this can't be! By the gods, please...noooo! That bastard killed my parents and then stole my inheritance! How could he do this to me? I thought he loved us. He is truly...evil!"

After finishing reading the three letters, Lavinia wipes her face and composes herself. "I am sorry for everything that this woman, whoever she may be, has put you through and I grant you condolences for the loss of your friends. Mr. Saryn was a charming man and Kowaru, despite his outward appearance, always spoke with such gentleness. They will both be sorely missed. As you know, I am in poor shape economically and I wish I could help you financially but at the moment, I am strapped for coin. In fact, I am waiting to hear back from the Jade Ravens to see if they were able to secure a loan from my aunt and uncle in Kalabuto. You may stay in my home free of charge as long as you like. I just ask one thing of you now: bring Vanthus to justice! Either alive or dead, I don't care anymore after what I've learned here today. He needs to pay for what he's done...to me, my parents, to all of you, to Penkus, and what he plans to do to those smugglers and for all of his victims."

Perception checks:
Aero: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Baolo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Ialda: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Xarethi: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Aero, Ialda, and Xarethi feel a faint breeze from the corner of the room next to the altar to Norgorber. Feeling around, you touch one of the bricks in the stone wall and a passage opens up, revealing a secret exit that leads to an entry near the docks in Portside.

Your foray into the Guildhall and its underground tunnels has taken about 2-3 hours at most so it is almost noon, when you appear outside again. You take some time to wash off as most of the blood as possible to not appear like butchers or serial killers walking the streets and head back to Lavinia's mansion. You do get stares, especially if you're carrying your comrades' corpses. Thankfully, no guards stop you since you're technically not violating any laws, though they do watch you. When you reach the mansion, Lavinia is overjoyed to see you but quickly turns serious when she sees whom you carry. "By the gods, what happened?" Her butler Winnington attends to your needs (food or drink) and offers you the mansion's bath services should you wish to freshen up first.

Lavinia smiles, "You must not be from around here, if you believe that, sweetie."

"I don't know who he was involved with, but a lot of people have been showing up dead in the harbor every morn these past few weeks, thanks to dem Dragons."

22nd day of Desnus

You rise from sleep, feeling healthier (everybody except Baolo recovered 4 hps overnight from Aero's healing). As you eat breakfast, Lavinia comes in and says, "Did you hear the news this morn? Keltar Islaran, the harbormaster of Eleder, was found murdered in his bed, in an especially gruesome manner from the details that have crept out. The city is abuzz with this news."

"Sure, my home is your home."
750 xp each for your work on Parrot Island.

Lavinia stops to think and then speaks, as she holds back tears. "If my brother is ensorcelled, then please bring hack back to me as unharmed as possible. If, however, he has turned a life of evil and is doing harm to innocents, I cannot have that on my conscience. I humbly request that you bring him alive to face justice or in the worse case, give him a merciful death."

"Mages? Not that I know of, but as I said before, I have no idea with whom he associated in the past couple of months. Lady of the Lotus? I know a lotus is a beautiful flower/plant but I know of no one by that name. As for the Taxidermist's Guild Hall, yes, it is located in Portside. It is a place of great prestige, known for selling the upper class merchants of Eleder all types of stuffed heads to hang on their walls." She gives you the exact address.

Lavinia stands there in shock for a few seconds before responding, "I cannot believe Vanthus has done such despicable acts. Are you sure he was not possessed or mentally influenced by someone else? I have heard there are magics capable of doing so?"

You find a banking establishment of Abadar, who happily exchanges all the copper pieces/silver/gold for platinum for a small banking fee of 10 gp.

You head over to the Vanderboren estate and find Lavinia anxiously waiting for news. "How does the search go?"

"Penkus, Shefton, no, never heard of them. Oh Vanthus, what mess did did you get yourself involved in? Please remember, bring him safely to me. I'm sure these people are the ones who corrupted him."

It is late at night and the party has found out all the information there is to know. You return to the Vanderboren estate where a late dinner awaits you, if required. Lavinia asks for an update and is impressed by your progress in such a short time. "Pray tell, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

"I echo the sentiment!" says Lavinia, as she enters the library, with Kora at her heels with Baolo's drink. The blonde aristocrat smiles, "A pleasure to meet you, Baolo. Lavinia Vanderboren at your service. Welcome to my abode and I hope to consider you one day as dear a friend as I consider those here present. I hope you can help them with the search for my brother, Vanthus. You will all be financially rewarded for your efforts as well. Now, unless there's anything else, I need to take full advantage of this morning. Much to do. Winnington?" The middle aged butler comes quickly, "Yes, ma'am." "Bring the carriage around, we need to go pay debts and speak with some merchants on regarding these IOUs. It is time to collect on my family's loans. Excuse me, all."

If you have any further questions or comments for Lavinia, now is the time.

Kora, Lavinia's halfling servant appears, "Excuse me, m'lady. There is a gentleman at the door asking to speak with your guests. He says he is here on behalf of Ms. Xarethis. Shall I show him in?" Lavinia looks at the party and says, "Yes, show into the library and offer him a drink." Lavinia looks at you and says, "Again, thank you for your help with my brother. And please bring him back to me alive. I will leave you so may speak to your guest."

"Well, I know Vanthus spent several years at the military academy so I suspect he is good with a sword. Like I said, when he changed, he was seen in the company of shady people, smugglers, cutthroats, so it is possible he may have picked up their habits as well. I don't know."

"Like I said, Aeronniell, our last meeting ended harshly between Vanthus and I. From the looks of the chests, he took my family's coins and gems and left all but four bare. There are magical means for transporting that amount of gold: magical chests and bags, so it's not unheard of. As for how he left unnoticed, I don't know. That's why I want to speak to him."

Lavinia leads you to his room but you find nothing of interest that may state where he went. "Wait, now that I think about it, I think he used to shack up with some colonial girl from Portside. Can't remember her name, he never gave me details. I think he had friends in Lower Harbor as well, sailors and such. Never met them. Like I said, he shut down, wouldn't confide in me at all. Sorry, but that's the best I can do."

The day passes uneventfully, as you sell your treasures and gear. Xarethis bids you all goodbye, says the lure of the ocean is too much to bear. Eventually night comes and you rest, with significant changes to your body, as you feel stronger and Ialda's draconic blood opens her eyes to the possibility of magic.

20th day of Desnus 4712
Lavinia gathers you in the morning for breakfast and a meeting. "I've been thinking all night and all morn about who could have stolen the gold in my Vault...who else had access? And though I hate to admit it, the only other person it could have been is my brother Vanthus. We were close as children, as our parents were rarely around, traversing the globe on their adventures. However, after a youthful prank involving elixirs of love being emptied into a nearby water tower, we were separated for a year. I was sent to a finishing academy, while Vanthus was shipped to work in the sugar cane fields outside of Eleder. When we reunited again, he was different, cold and bitter. He also began to associate with people of doubtful character. When my parents died a month ago, he came and stayed at the manor for a week, but he was worse. We even got into an argument and he struck me! I hardly recognized him anymore. He had changed so much. After that, he gathered his belongings and left. He knew about the family Vault and I am beginning to suspect he was involved in its theft. I want you to find him and bring him to me unharmed, so I can question him and determine if he was involved. I still believe he can be redeemed. I love him, he's my brother. Will you help me? Unfortunately, I have no idea where he is."

Lavinia leads you to her manor's private dining hall, where there is a portrait of a young man. "This is Vanthus": Link of Vanthus

"Thank you, Aeronniell, but I can manage. I've already sent word asking for some financial help from my uncle and aunt to the east in Kalabuto. Take your shares, it is the least I can do. Now if you wish to stay in my manor, I would ask each of you for 1pp per week to cover food and expenses, but you are more than welcome to stay."

"That disturbed me too, Chez. I will be looking into that tonight also. That coin would be invaluable to me at this moment so it is my highest priority. Thank you for your concern."

Lavinia smiles, "Oh dear, I am sure you have better things to do than tend to my financial affairs. And speaking of that, here are your promised rewards for helping me. I will forever be in your debt." She counts the coins from the chest and gives each of you 18 pp (180 gold) and 100 gold for Kern. "Go enjoy yourselves and I'm thinking I might have some work for you tomorrow, more your style, so please stop by in the morn, if you're interested. Now, I need to get working on my family affairs." Lavinia hugs the girls goodbye and gives the men a kiss on the cheek.

You each get 200 xp for the Iron Cobra fight, the puzzle, and getting Lavinia her treasure. I also believe you dinged and are 2nd level now, as that puts your total at 1400 xp, if I'm not mistaken. You can use the OOC thread to advance. Congrats so far!

Chez notices the column turns left and right and nothing happens when he turns the column first clockwise then counter-clockwise. However, when he reverses direction, since the first turn is to the east (i.e. right, counter-clockwise), at the end, the entire room rumbles, as some of the walls in the chamber rise, revealing five alcoves containing several coffers and chests!

Lavinia loses herself for a minute and hugs Chez, the warrior noticing her delicious perfume. There are about 20 chests, but as she starts to open them, Lavinia's face turns to worry. The first few she opens are bare and only contain a handful of silver pieces. "No, this is wrong! As of the last accounting I have from my father, there's supposed to be almost 12,000 gp in here! What has happened?! We've been robbed!" 16 of the 20 chests are empty, but in the last alcove searched, Lavinia does find some gold and gems in four of the chests along with some ledgers and a small iron coffer containing a thick pile of documents.

Going through the ledgers, Lavinia says, "Ok, this lists all of my family's debts and some IOUs owed to them, so this will help. It seems they did jobs for some organizations in town and never bothered collecting on payment." She opens the iron coffer but it contains documents and maps written in a strange language. She asks the party for help in deciphering but no one there understands the writing either. "I'll have to look into this later." Aeronniell, just noticed with 15 Int, you know 2 additional languages, which I don't see on your sheet. Could you pick them?

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Lavinia looks around at the bas-reliefs and the column in the middle, afraid to touch anything for fear it might kill her, but doesn't find anything intriguing. "You know, that thing with the eyes can't be a coincidence. I think you're on to something, Chez."

For ease of reference, I will put the note on this page.
Ring Note

Lavinia looks stumped but upon hearing Kowaru says, "I'm not too familiar with these creatures myself, but isn't a cyclops a giant with one eye? At least that's what I remember from the stories my dad read me as a child and I don't see any one-eyed giants on the wall. Just my 2 cents."

Ring Note

Lavinia looks at the note. "I know the sun rises in the east and it sets in the west. But what is this other stuff with chimera and medusa and cyclops? Aaargh!"

Lavinia walks around the room, following Ialda's advice and even following Kowaru's lead, but she fails to find anything. "I don't see anything." She looks up at the ceiling and frustrated, says, "Damn it, father, couldn't you have left me instructions or something?! This is ridiculous!" Tears start to well up, as she puts her head down and covers her face. She wipes them away and looks at the party, "Sorry."

Once Chez confirms he is not poisoned, just wounded, Lavinia looks around, "Uh, now what? I don't see any exit or Vault in this room."

Lavinia looks worried, "I'm so sorry, I had no idea that was there. Are you ok, Chesley? I guess Kowaru is right, must have been a guardian. As I said, I have never been down here before. Father always handled this for the family."

Though frustrated, Lavinia gives in to wait till morning, as she needs the coins to pay pressing debts, apart from the party's payment. Kern is willing to wait as well and returns to the docks and tells Chez to look for him there when he has the payment. Later in the day the proper authorities are alerted to the massacre aboard the Blue Nixie but none of them seem to bat an eyelash at the death of Vark and his men, so the investigation ends very quickly. The day and night passes quickly with any wounded members healing naturally and bearing some scars the next day. Lavinia is happy to have the party stay at her home for the night. The next morning after a hearty breakfast, Lavinia leads you down into the catacombs underneath her manor to the House Vault. Using magic, torches, or sunrods, you follow the Lady down some musty passageways until the passageway ends at a solid looking iron door. The portal is emblazoned with a simple rune - an eight pointed star. Above the door, inscribed in flowing script on a polished silver plaque, is the name "Vanderboren." A single handle protrudes from the door, just below a circular depression bearing the mark of the Vanderboren signet. With her father's ring on her finger, Lavinia looks back at the party and says, "We all ready?"

Map

Spell casters, list memorized spells in profile or in a post and let me know if the order in the map is correct. Also what is your light source?

Kern follows the party back to the Vanderboren estate but waits outside the grounds, as he is not particularly trusting of the upper class in Eleder.

Lavinia's face brightens up with a beautiful smile, as Ialda hands her the embroidered pouch with the 100 pp and the ring. "The payment! You indeed are wonderful people. And my father's signet ring?! I don't know how I will ever thank you. You have done my family an enormous favor this day!" She looks at the note with confusion. "I must say I know not what this note means. I was never particularly good at riddles. And I've never been to my family's vaults, but I will keep it. It must be important, if it was stashed with my father's ring, which I know must not have been laying around."

With regard to Chez' comments.. "No, my dear Chez, please accept my humble gratitude for all of your services this day. I know you put yourselves in mortal danger at the behest of a stranger and the fact that you all did so speaks volumes as to the righteousness of your characters. I am proud to make your acquaintance and one day soon, call you my friends."

With regards to Chez' payment, I will assume you recount his grateful assistance.. "Though I am not in the habit of shelling out my riches to people of this ilk, if you vouch that his assistance was invaluable to the success of the venture, then your word is good enough. I will give you payment for this sailor upon opening my family's Vault."

"Speaking of which, I know I owe you the payments promised as well. Please eat and let my staff take care of you for now. I also must say I am a little nervous about going downstairs to my family's Vault. I have never been down there and from what my father told me, it is dark and cramped and I am not used to those conditions. So, if not too much of an inconvenience for you, can we go together to my family's vault to access your payments? Obviously, when you are feeling up to it. In the meantime, let Kora heal you, rest and eat and drink something if you wish, while I have a messenger deliver the payments directly to the harbormaster so I can access my ship. I'll make sure he gets a receipt this time. And Ialda, I will alert my crew so they can dock and have the animals taken off the ship in proper fashion. I have a friend, Virgil, he is a cleric of Erastil. He will know what to do with the panther and the other exotic animals so no worries. I will send him a message as well. Much work to do. I will be back soon. Make yourselves at home." Unless the party has any further questions or comments, Lavinia excuses herself...

A little fast forward..
Xarethi and Aeronniell drink the potions (healing 9 points of damage) and leaving you with one potion of healing. You then grab any gear/treasure and row yourselves back to the docks, where most of the sailors working give you the thumbs up for doing the community a service. Chez pays Kern, either from his personal funds or party fund, and he thanks you for your work and promises to never engage in shady business again. He takes his gold and walks into the nearest whorehouse he sees. Though wounded, you are pretty good to walk and you make your way to the Vanderboren estate, where Lavinia greets you. She immediately calls for a healer's kit to be brought to bandage those of you wounded and calls for Kora, her halfling servant, who has some skill in healing. Lavinia then pauses and asks, "By your bloody state, I assume you "had words" with Vark and his men. What I told you about him was true, was it not? Were you able to recover my ship and the payment?"

So, if there are no more questions or comments...

After the delicious meal, as Winnington and Kora clear the table, Lavinia says, "Well, if there is nothing else, I again than you for listening to my plight and agreeing to help. I only ask that you act with haste, as I don't know how long I can hold the debt collectors off. Perhaps a day or two at the most, before I lose my family's estate and everything I cherish in this world. I have faith you five will do right by me. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know."

With that, you say your farewells and are escorted out. Now what?

"Thank you all, your kindness is much appreciated. Xarethi, I would expect no less from any of you to check my story out. I know the distrust that exists in today's world, especially of the nobility and aristocracy and especially here in Eleder. However, feel free to speak to that bastard Vark. In the end, I will be vindicated, as everything I have told you today is true."

Lavinia takes a deep breath of relief. "The Blue Nixie is docked at Pier Five in the Harbor District. Winnington can bring you any papers to establish my father's and now my ownership of the vessel. Anything else that I can provide or any other questions I may answer? In the meantime, let's enjoy lunch. Winnington, you may proceed."

Winnington and the servants soon bring out dishes of delicious roasted pork with onions.

Lavinia is taken aback by the question. "It's my family's vault, the Vanderboren vault. I am sure my family's savings and jewels are stored there, which I need access to in order to resolve the rest of their debts. There is nothing nefarious going on, I assure you."

Lavinia smiles, feeling she has chosen well. "Your words speak to your true character, my friends, if I may be so presumptuous. As Devon told you, I recently lost my parents in a shipping accident. As the eldest daughter, I inherited my parents' beautiful estate, but along with this fine house and servants, there also came a fine amount of debt owed to the Nine Forts Collective, the harbormaster, and quite a few guildhalls. It seems my parents, for all their success as adventurers, were not as skilled at finance as one might expect. If I'm going to get these taxes paid and my family's affairs in order, I'll need to access my family's vault under this manor."

"And that's the problem you see. The vaults are magically locked - keyed to special signet rings. Both of my parents had these rings, at least until recently. My mother lost hers a few months ago and she arranged for a replacement, but it won't be ready for another month, too late for me. Which leaves my father's ring. He never wore it - he had a thing about men wearing jewelry. He kept it hidden somewhere on his ship - the Blue Nixie. The problem is that the harbormaster seized the ship until someone pays for the last four months of mooring. I've already paid the fines to the harbormaster's man who's watching the ship, a brute named Soller Vark. Yet when I went to claim my ship, Vark's men wouldn't let me on board and Vark lied, saying he never received my payment. Without any proof, the harbormaster won't listen to me and they're holding my father's ship illegally! Yes, I know I was a fool not to have the transaction witnessed but it's too late for lamentations now."

"I know this Vark fella is up to something no good with my ship. He won't listen to reason. Diplomacy is not an option. I need people like you to speak his language, find out what he and his men are doing on the ship and put a stop to it and maybe even recover the money I gave him. I know you haven't asked for financial remuneration but I'll pay each of you 200 gold in return once I have access to my vault. I have been wronged by this shifty brute and his thugs. What say ye? I have no one else to turn to at this time."

Lavinia takes another sip of her drink and puts the cup down on the table, her hands trembling a bit.

Lavinia smiles at each of you. "My, what a delicate yet charming introduction, Mr. Saryn. A pleasure to meet you all. Please sit." She sits down, certain not to wrinkle any portion of her beautiful dress and takes a sip of her mupute. "However, I must confess that I had heard of your skills prior to meeting you. From Devon, of course. He told me everything last night. He spoke to me of your prodigious skills on the Velvet Rose, facing the Sahuagin and in essence, saving the ship. Unfortunately, as I was told, poor Dixon did not survive. I gave Devon some days off, to properly grieve for his brother. However, he vouched for the five of you, so the purpose of this lunch is twofold. First, is to thank you. As you know, I had a shipment with much sentimental value on board, which certainly would have been looted or sunk to the bottom of the ocean were it not for your bravery." She raises a glass to the five of you, her eyes tearing a little. "And furthermore, as Devon himself confirmed, I can tell you are not mercenaries, who would have extorted the Captain for their heroism. Like the people you saw earlier, the Jade Ravens, no better than common thugs for hire, those folk. No, from what I hear, none of you asked for anything in the form of payment or gratitude from the Captain other than his thanks. I couldn't believe it when Devon told me. That, my friends, is rare indeed, especially nowadays. Who knew altruism was not dead in our society? A toast...to your bravery and altruism."

Lavinia takes a sip from her mupute, wiping the excess liquid on her lips with her finger. "That brings me to the second reason I called for the five of you. Given your skills on board the ship and your combat prowess, I was hoping you could lend me some assistance with a private matter of great importance."