Lord Abernard Royst's page

Stormstrider here, posting as the NPC Lord Abernard Royst.

When the party goes back to Lord Royst's house and asks him about the possibilities of a second Transport token, he reluctantly admits to having one of them in his possession, but it is quite clear that he has no desire to part with it.
However, as the party discusses this with him further, he does realize this would make both, getting the detailed maps, and finding the source of the piece of statue made of Noqual, much more likely to be successful, not to mention quicker.
He says, "I will make you an offer. 6,000 gold pieces for my Spire Transport Token now, or you can enter into a magically binding contract with me, to provide me the rest of the maps for the entire Spire, with no further compensation, and I give you my token now. What say you?"

I am going to need a majority consent before I can move on, because it all depends on how you travel to the next level as to where you start your explorations. You do have the option of travelling back to the spire by normal mundane means for now as well if you wish. For sake of time I don't do random encounters from the previously visited levels, I just do a rough estimate of the amount of in-game time it takes.

29th of Desnus, 4718

Tamlara & Aldhranhald make it to Lord Royst's house and are allowed in right away as they are now 'known' guests of this house. They do have to wait to be seen by the Lord, but it is a brief few minutes only.

Upon seeing the maps of the first two levels completed and in such a fine, superior quality for the most part, Lord Royst is obviously quite pleased. "Well! This is some of the finest work I've seen! These shall certainly be replacing the maps I have and shall be the envy of all who seek such knowledge! I shall make a fine profit selling off this information, but it shall be few who can afford it."

"Now, as to your payment. There is the matter of two scrolls of communal dark vision provided to you on credit as I recall? The price of which we seem to not have discussed at the time since you were so desperate to take them? I shall say the price for those was 1,000 Gold coin each. Meaning you all owe me 2,000 Gold. For such fine maps, I am willing to give you 1,300 Gold for each. so that leaves me owing you 600 Gold." He turns away with an air of finality and looks towards Joaz - the steward who let you in - and says, "See that they are paid and escorted out please. I must get back to my work." And he walks out of the room.

Joaz bids you wait a moment, and he soon returns with a very small sack, which seems too small to hold 600 gold coins and hands it you. There is a definite sound of coins clinking and when you look inside you realize there are only 60 coins, but they are platinum! The steward gives you a look as if to say, dared you doubt? And then escorts you out.

Sorry, gotta stop a bit. Will make a serious effort to get posts up for everybody today though.

"Aaah yes! I'd quite forgotten about that magical darkness. I can see where that would be a problem. It is only on the first level as I recall, though the none of the levels were by any means 'bright' from what I remember, though it has been many years since I was in there. Who knows what might have changed. ... Let me check, I believe I do have a scroll with communal Dark-vision available. ... Yes, here it is! Now this was prepared at a little higher level, let's see, there are 3 of you that need the dark vision correct? So this should give you two hours each, but just in case I'll provide you with another scroll of the same. Now, of course those aren't cheap! I'm trusting that you all will be able to handle yourselves and get some loot or at least make some decent maps so that you can pay me back! I'm extending a good bit of 'credit' here for you all. Of course if you don't use the second scroll, you can always return it to me. Is there anything else at this time?"

"Huh? What? Oh ... yeah, skilled cartographer, good, and I'm glad your not robbing me. Measurements? Measurements huh? Now that sounds like a very wise idea indeed! Certainly, here take your measurements." He hands over the piece of crystal, but will not take his eyes off of it. "And you said you want to cast detect magic on it? Sure! Go right ahead! But I'm going to tell you right now that your not going to be able to detect anything! I told you it is very resistant to magic!"

You cast detect magic and while many items on his persona and some spots (mostly at eye level) on the walls and the cabinet all glow, the crystal itself has no aura what-so-ever. Dead-as-a-doornail so to say.
On the Chelaxian law and contracts, I have no info! But if you should ask around town you will be told that Abernard's word is as good as cash in hand! He is trusted by EVERYONE! Many think he's a grumpy old fool, but they still trust his word!

Measurements! GREAT idea! 100 XP bonus for Boudacia!

He waits until your done with the measurements and the magic detecting, then takes the crystal back & goes ahead and locks it back away in the cabinet. "Now, gotta get back to my research."As he is walking out of the room again, suddenly, loudly, "MAPS! And LOTS of them and lots of detail!"

As you arrive at the location that Boudacia indicates she thinks is Royst's home, both Tamlara and Alex will confirm it is the right location.
You see a relatively large 2-story house that is very nice looking. This by no means belongs to a poor commoner, and while obviously the home of someone wealthy, it is not overtly extravagant either.

When Boudacia knocks on the door, a servant opens the door and asks you to please state your business. Upon telling him that you are here about the job offer to map the Spire, he will escort you to a sitting room & ask that you wait here "without touching anything please!" while he summons the Lord Abernast. "It may take some time for him to present himself as he does get absorbed in whatever current 'hobby' he is dealing with. Please be patient."

After about a half hour or so, in walks Lord Abernard Royst. In a rather gruff tone and at a fairly quick pace, "My! You are a rather large group of adventurers aren't you? Good! The better chance for success rather than death! I am Abernard Royst. Well, I hope your not wasting my time! I want maps of the spire! As detailed as they can be! And any additional information or notations to go with them! I will pay according to the quality and amount of danger involved per each map that you bring me. Now! None of this trying to scribble 3 or 4 itty bitty maps on one parchment to save paper! I expect you to use at least one full parchment per level! The rewards start at 300 Gold pieces and for a map that is very well done & for which you had to overcome enormous obstacles ... well, who knows how much I might be willing to pay! Just so you know I've been known to pay as much as 20,000 for the BEST of stuff! The gods - and the scoundrels of the Hellknights and perhaps some thief or two as well - know I've got the money to spend! After all my years adventuring and all the different treasures I brought home!

I have another task for you as well, that I didn't want posted publicly on the board. First let me warn you all that while you were waiting I had servants write & draw detailed descriptions of each of you as they observed you through magically concealed peepholes in the walls. A servant is even now on his way to the Citadel with a sealed package containing magical copies of those descriptions. The package has instructions on it, that it is to be opened in the case of my untimely death or in the case of a robbery occuring at my home and there is a note in there saying you are the most likely culprits. Don't take this personally, it is a measure of precaution I have to take as I am about to show you my most prized possesion!"

As he says this he turns towards a cabinet by the wall and you hear him muttering some arcane words as he waves his hands around. Those of you with arcane abilities are fairly certain that he just dismissed or de-activated at least one spell, possibly more. He then pulls out a chain that hangs around his neck, under his tunic and uses a key on there to unlock the doors on this cabinet. Behind these doors you see several compartments and drawers, many with locks of their own. He moves to block the view of exactly which drawer he is accessing as he uses yet another key on the same chain to open that drawer. When he turns back around to the group you can all see in his hand a small piece of metallic looking crystal, that is a pale green in color. It is about the size (NOT shape!) of a finger joint, and is serrated on one edge. Quite clearly it is a broken off chip from some sculpted item.

"In and of itself this has very little monetary value, though it is made of a an extremely rare substance. It is the skymetal Noqual and it is very resistant to magic. But it has great sentimental value to me! The last adventure I ever participated in. My dearest friend, companion, fellow adventurer, and fiancee, Shantleen had found this and was fascinated by it. She really wanted to find the rest of it to see where it had come from. Alas, one evening as she was studying it, she failed to notice the skeleton that came up behind her and stabbed her in the heart. She died instantly. Now, if you should find the sculpture that this came from and let me know everything you can about it! And if you should be able to bring it to me! I shall pay no less than 3,000 gold for that! As I said, it is not valuable in itself, it is just for the memory of my dearly departed Shantleen. Now, unless you have questions for me I must get back to my research! Joaz will see you to the door!" As he starts to walk out of the room not expecting any questions to be asked.