"What? What are you talking about, Nowzai? We've known each other for months! I knew your family!"
Vhalantru panics, fighting at his bonds.
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Spying Nowzai as he enters the room, Vhalantru moans in relief, "Oh, thank Desna for this great fortune. I was certain they were going to sacrifice me. Can you help me up?"
Dalamus steps forward to inspect the chest and as he gets within about an inch of it, the lock clicks and turns on its own and the lid opens up. Peering inside, the half-elf gasps. The rest of the party looks into the chest, sitting on a table and the see a finely crafted stone staircase leading down into a well-lit stone chamber. Glancing back out of the chest, there is certainly nothing under the table. Lord Vhalantru smiles widely, "The Splintershield Vault ... literally. Your reward is in there, but you are welcome to take the Vault as part of your payment as well. As for me, I need to get Zenith to Davkhed quickly. He is on his last legs and I believe he'd very much like to see his son! I'll see you upon my return, I'm certain!" The noble takes Zenith by the arm and gently leads him toward the stables waving to you one last time as he departs.
"Worry not, Nowzai. The chest is part of your reward. A gift from a dying old dwarf if you will."
As Dalamus steps forward, a man shouts out "Bravo!" and begins to clap, slowly the clapping spreads and Cauldron's finest smile and cheer politely. A couple move forward to congratulate you with slight nods of their heads and murmured words before they move on. Out of the crowd, Lord Vhalantru makes his way over to you, beaming. "Ah, friends, so glad you were able to finish this up so quickly! Celeste will be most disappointed she missed you. She was called away on an emergent errand and asked me to shore up your rewards and deliver Zneith to his father. Come in here, I think you'll be quite pleased with what she's left you behind!" The noble ushers you towards the room where you initially had your private conversation with Davkhed and Celeste. In the center of the table is an elegant chest made of rich mahogany . He reaches forward to open it and it doesn't budge. He smiles, "One of you give it a go!"
"Yes, Dalamus, of course," the noble says, still frowning as he looks at the door Lord Taskerhill just left through. "Excuse me please, I need to 'clean' up a bit." He smiles broadly at Dalamus and with a gentle nod, heads back to his group.
"Not right now, Dalamus, but I am looking into a couple enterprises that hopefully won't require your specialties. If they go south, and we need men of special circumstances, I'll be sure to contact you." "Which brings me to my final note of the day. As the city will unlikely reward you for your continued efforts, I'd like to offer you a selection of items from my personal stock."
No matter, this conversation will have no weight with any other, so it is just my venting amongst friends" Dalamus smiles and raises his glass for drink The noble fills Dalamus' glass as well as is own, "That it is, my friend. You would make a fine councilman."
"I am not a treasurer, Dalamus ... I don't see how the city keeps it's books. In the past, we've relied on donations from the Temples and the noble families. They're not giving as much any more, so taxes have been increased, at least, so says the good Mayor. I daresay it's a bit much to say the noble families are doing wrong by the city. They fund the Town Guard, the library, keep the roads clean, the area free of refuse. They ensure profitable trade with other cities and employ almost all of the laborers from the local populace instead of importing cheaper labor. They sponsor the various festivals and games. They provide for the community and all they ask is for the rest of us to pay tax to assist." "Now the merchants are another thing. This Maavu has gotten them riled up a bit. I don't know the man, just the reputation I hear in council meetings, but the merchants seem to think that the taxes have decreased the demand, causing them to make even less than before. I haven't seen the numbers, but I hardly believe people have stopped spending!"
Vhalantru puts his hands in the air, "You make a good point, Dalamus ... if we could put down this thieves' guild, we'd be able to likely relax some of the restricitions. Our hands are tied, though ... the coffers are drained. I fear there is some mismanagement of funds, but I am unable to prove it. These other nobles here are tricky and power hungry. You've met some of their children ... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," he says this last with a knowing nod to Nowzai. Answering Nowzai directly, he says "I believe the focus on the adventurer's tax is to stop bearing so much on the masses. To tax those that can "afford it." Next stop are the wealthy merchant families, myself included of course. Just a harder sell when they're the ones lobbying for the other taxes."
"Imposters? Oh, of course, your fellow adventurers, the Stormblades. They've been busy as well. Rooting out an ancient bugbear vampire and finiding and sealing three entrances to the caverns under the city, protecting us from all manner of beasts that could possibly have gotten too far ... above their station?" he says that last bit with a smile, obviously fishing for a laugh. "Dalamus, the increase in adventurers has also brought an increase in demand on weaponry and magic. The use of both has encouraged the Last Laugh and other nefarious individuals to cover their activities under the guise of 'adventurers'. The tax, albeit unseemly, is to help provide for a magical protection agency that the city government is standing up. It will help with things like this flood, magical creatures in the nearby area and expanding the city's recent mining expeditions to become more self-dependent during the months we're cut off from trade."
The noble pours himself another glass and responds to your queries in turn, drinking inbetween "There was quite a buzz about your encounter with dinosaurs and were-creatures of which I was aware, of course, from Nowzai's unfortunate accident. The rest depends on who you talk to ... demon swarms from the ancient army Surobar destroyed, mercenaries and traitor guards. Northern religions brought down to invade our peaceful jungle and even talk of the dead walking. They say you met all challenges head on, picking up lost wands every step of the way only to return in the nick of time to prevent the lake from overtaking the city!" He gesticulates wildly as he talks, and accidentally sprays wine on the floor. He glances at it and shrugs, "Worry not, we'll get to that later. So, other things in town. Damages from the flooding were still significant, road repairs, roofs on public buildings, increased looting. The Lord Mayor's office has increased taxes, unfortunately, and I'm loathe to admit that I supported him in this particular one. The Town Guard is struggling with the Last Laugh, the looting, and the counterfeit coins and has increased their numbers recently. You'll see more patrols these days. Oh, and I must warn you, a new tax is coming on adventurers. A 50 gold piece registration tax. Should be out next month, so you can save up!" He winks conspiratorily as he fills another glass of wine. "Finally, the word on the street is a new high priest of Iomedae is coming to town. A well-reknowned member of the church as I understand it. Should be exciting to have a minor celebrity in town! It should make for great talk." The butler enters from the southeast door, "Milord, sirs, dinner is served!" he sweeps his arm in a grand gesture indicating the dining room. "Shall we?" Lord Vhalantru asks as he rises.
The butler leads you through the hall and into the parlor where Lord Vhalantru is sitting with a decanter of wine, watching as Pad (now extremely well dressed) tears around the room with a toy sword and shield. "AH! Hello friends, welcome to my home. So great of you to come ... ah, I notice Epik is not here. How unfortunate. I shall miss getting to converse with him." His face falls for a moment in disappointment, but he gathers himself quickly. "No matter, sit and grab a glass of wine. I simply must hear of your adventures in the jungles and the exciting "Stopping of the Flood." It's all anyone talks about these days!"
"If I may be so bold, I'd recommend leaving the boy in the care of the church for a bit. I overheard what his issue is. There could be some psychological damage as well as the physical." Jenya nods her assent to this and Lord Vhalantru continues, "As far as long term, if you would like to draw up some papers when you return, I'd be willing to take over his care as my ward, and financially back as well as staff the business keeping the profits in a trust until he's of age. We can have a city-appointed clerk take care of the books to ensure it's accurate." He looks at the two of you expectantly.
Knowledge Nobility DC15:
Lord Vhalantru family came to Cauldron very recently (past few years); his family nobility patent is old and stems from merchant money from all over the world across multiple different commodities. Vhalantru is a popular noble and has been making strides in changing how the noble class has been perceived in the city (positively) "Greetings, Nowzai ... I'm certain you don't remember me, but we met as children nearly 5 decades ago when our parents engaged in a trading partnership. My father travelled quite a bit and we found our way out towards your area of the world. Any how, I don't know the specifics, but my family passed on it's written legacy that we owed your family a debt of great gratitude, so I've come to honor that as well as invite you and your companions to come by to discuss your future in Cauldron. I was speaking with your ... friend? ... here, and he mentioned you have pressing business to attend to, but perhaps when you finish that you'll come by the manor." A striking, powerfully built man, he has an easy manner, but his odd clipped accent is impossible to place. Linguistics DC30: You're certain that its no accent in any known country
"Eh ... I'm ... sorry. I thought you might have been a stableman or huntmaster from your ... demeanor." The noble actually looks a touch embarassed. He sticks out his hand,"Let's begin again, you must be one of these intrepid adventurers that have been raising such a ruckus recently. As I recall, now, you do look familiar. Were you in the Crater Lake Monster Hunt? Of course you were! You need to come up with a fabulous name that we can whisper in our circles and land you some decent contracts and sponsorships. You see, I've been hunting for Nowzai for some time. I've recently been out of town while you were here and I returned yesterday to find I had just missed him in passing at the Festival." "I gather from your appearance and what I overheard you telling the new young high priestess that you're in a bit of a rush, so I won't hold you up, but pray, once you finish this exciting quest of yours, come by the manor with your friends and let's discuss potential long-term business relationships. I understand you may have already run afoul of some of the other noble families. I believe I can help yo uwith that."
In a clipped voice with an oddly affected accent that Nemoris can't quite place, the man speaks, "My agents just told me that a man resembling my family's friend's son just came through to your church and that he was indisposed of life." He waves his hand dismissively, "I've come to ensure his livelihood in payment for debts rendered to my ancestors." The noble presents a large diamond in his palm and passes it to Jenya, "You may assist Ike here from the Temple of Wee Jas, I believe you know him? A gray and black robed man steps from out of the shadows, "My lady, Jenya, if you would allow me? She nods and the two of them head to the back room. The man looks around a bit and sniffs before he notices Nemoris"So, you are?" |