I wonder if our esteemed employer would know something of the area to help us unravel these clues. If not, we can always keep "deal with the stinking scum of humanity" as a backup plan.
"Alright, here's a plan. How's about we rough our Mr. Rosk up a bit, then ask him. I doubt we'd get different results if we, ah, indulged him."
I refuse to "rough-up" the man. It would take a miracle to get the stench of him off of me. The best you could hope for from me is to put him out of his misery with a slice of my scimitar, which I may need to get replaced afterwards. Believe me his odor was that foul.
I wonder if our esteemed employer would know something of the area to help us unravel these clues. If not, we can always keep "deal with the stinking scum of humanity" as a backup plan.
"Good thinking, Terin. Though I wonder just how much Lavinia would know about the underbelly of this city. Still, she may continue to surprise us..."
Anders trails off for a minute, seemingly lost in thought.
Suddenly, he smacks his forehead.
"Of course. Perhaps our friend Davrick would have some knowledge of the city tunnels. Why didn't I think of that before?"
I refuse to "rough-up" the man. It would take a miracle to get the stench of him off of me. The best you could hope for from me is to put him out of his misery with a slice of my scimitar, which I may need to get replaced afterwards. Believe me his odor was that foul.
"Nothing a little prestidigitation won't fix."
"Right, let's go to Lavinia, uh, Lady Vanderboren with what we have so far. We will probably appreciate being kept in the loop, and may have some information to further assist us. If we're still at a loss, we'll go back and talk to Davrick, and if that fails we should still have plenty of daylight to buy a shoe and talk to Foul Ol' Ron or whatever his name was."
“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.”
“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.”
Where is the old Vanderboren estate? Perhaps your brother would be there since he would've had a tie to the place. It would make the perfect place for him to lay low. We could also check Parrot Island to see if anything is up there. I was there a few years back exploring the Fauna and such and I must say, some of the specimens of birds there are beautiful examples of their species.
“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.”
At this, Seann grumbles, "I told you we should just beat the snot out of the little freak, but no, you all had to go and ask the lady for one of her shoes..."
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."
*Ignoring Seann's grumbling stoically* I believe that the tunnels of your old estate would hold much promise in this endeavor. Familiar ground and secrecy would seem like a strong magnet for a person who is hiding.
I would like to check these tunnels out. We can check Parrot Island afterwards if there is no sign of Vanthus at this locale. What say you all?
"I say we check the tunnels."
Tyndal cracks his knuckles and checks the bracing on his armor.
"Time to do the hero thing."
"I thought we weren't going to ask Lavinia for one of her shoes," Anders says, a bit of an edge in his voice.
"Well, it's spilt ale now. Forgive us, milady. We're not terribly pleased with this creep either."
"Yes, friends. Let us go try to find these tunnels under the old Vanderboren manor."
"I thought we weren't going to ask Lavinia for one of her shoes
"Good idea Terin. No better place to hide than that which you know well.
Although I would like to check out Prrot Island as well, if the birdlife is as good as you suggest."
"I say we make for the heart of it, and head for Vanderboren manor."
"I say we make for the heart of it, and head for Vanderboren manor."
That makes 3 who are thinking to check Vanthus' and Lavinia's old domicile's locale.
Anyone else want to sound off as to what they wish to do?
"Oh, nice going with the shoes, whoever asked," says Eldin sarcastically. "Yes, a vote for the old Manor from me."
Leaving the new Vanderboren Estate by mid-afternoon, the party steps into the too-bright post hangover sunlight. Just your luck, to be probing Sassarine on this rarest of cloud-free days, though at least the humidity is manageable today. A stiff breeze blows in from the waterfront, carrying with it the scents of salt and surf, and perhaps a storm far out to sea. Out of the corner of your eye, you believe you glimpse a furtive figure shadowing your movements, but when you turn to look there is only empty street.
As your party boards a set of gondolas bound for the waystation on Blue Skink Lane, you note the choppiness of the water, and observe a horned fish you can’t quite identify dart beneath the small watercraft. After making landfall again, you proceed down the slightly curving street, with one of the Sassarine’s numerous canals to your left, and several residences and an unidentified squat tower to your right. A strong tang of sweat, filth, and rotten fish seems to adhere to the tower, but circling it does not aid you in determining the source of the lingering effluvia.
Once past the dwellings, a solid 7-foot wall to your right begins, demarcating what was once Vanderboren property, and preventing inquisitive eyes from discerning what might lie within. Rounding a corner of the stone barrier, you see a granite archway over latched wooden doors painted a dark red; the main entryway of the depot. Emblazed on each door is a black spider, covered by a white tower.
DC10 Knowledge Nobility and Royalty
DC15 Knowledge Local
Three men stand in front of the doors; a youthful man standing at attention, an aged but still fit man dozing upright against the doors in the noonday heat, and the last with the look of a grizzled sailor about him seated upon a paving brick, working at whittling a wooden block. All three wear decently maintained leather vests bearing emblems comparable to those painted onto the entrance. They have not yet noticed the party.
Terin steps into a side alley, motioning for the rest of the group to follow, so as to discuss our options in approaching the establishment and come up with a plan.
Terin steps into a side alley, motioning for the rest of the group to follow, so as to discuss our options in approaching the establishment and come up with a plan.
"Those guys are probably just guards. I'd advise against ...aggressive negotiations."
“The spider and tower symbol on the doors is the symbol of the Arabani noble family,” Eldin says quietly to the others, from the shelter of Terin’s alley. “They are members of the Dawn Council – not the most powerful nobles in Sasserine, but I don’t think we want to cross them.”
He glances back at the men that Seann identified as guards. “Fighting our way in is certainly not an option I wish to entertain. We need either a legitimate reason or a mighty good bluff … it might help to know what is housed within this building – either through discreet enquiries elsewhere, or by one or two of the more personable of us asking those men directly – I will volunteer if anyone thinks that plan is a reasonable one.”
"Of course, if this place is owned and guarded by House Arabani, it may mean that Vanthus would have no access to the old tunnels."
Unless someone in House Arabani is working with Vanthus, perhaps another spoiled rich kid with nothing better to do than to rebel against his posh upbringing....
Unless someone in House Arabani is working with Vanthus, perhaps another spoiled rich kid with nothing better to do than to rebel against his posh upbringing....
“That is a good point Terin,” replies Eldin thoughtfully. “Unfortunately the designation of ‘noble’ does not necessarily relate to nobility of spirit as this whole Vanthus situation indicates. Well, at any rate it might do no harm to ask these men what it is they guard, or whether they have seen anyone matching Vanthus’ (or Penkus’) descriptions lurking about recently. I am happy to ask them, if you all agree – it may be less threatening, and less suspicious if only one or two of us approach…”
“Except for maybe the rookie, they don’t seem too attached to their jobs. Maybe they’d look the other way for a drink,” Tyndal says softly as he idly swirls the murky burgundy contents of a glass bottle. “Either that, or we could try to bully our way in.”
Eldin chuckles. “Yes, getting the guard drunk is certainly a time honoured strategy,” he adjusts the collar of his tunic, “and on a hot day like this it might just do the trick … of course we may need to purchase some more liquor. Might take a while to drink them all under the table too…”
I like it, but maybe that would be a better plan for after we find out if we want to get inside or not. Maybe what is needed here is just some innocent info gathering instead.
Of course maybe getting the guards drunk would offer us the information gathering with a built in way to bypass the guards. Hmmm. Ok. I will defer to someone who is more familiar with drinking than I to decide what a group such as that would like to drink on a day such as this.
"Sounds good, I'll go grab a keg and get to chatting with em. I figure acting like I'm looking for work will do. Want to join me Seann?"
"Howdy gents! Time for a break?"
At Tyndal’s approach, the youngest guard makes a nervous gesture towards the other two before snapping to attention. The leaning guard, not truly sleeping after all, opens his eyes and rolls his head in your direction. The seated guard remains so, but sets down his whittling block and brushes his salt-and-pepper hair back with a veined hand. Pointing his little knife in your direction noncommittally, he says, “Bout time you showed up. Where’s them other ones?”
Tyndal tries to hide his surprise at the guard's comment, failing horribly.
"They're shy, let me get em over here"
Tyndal waves the rest of the party over.
"So, you want some of this? Or you more in the mood for coin?"
Tyndal takes a hefty pull from the keg, to let them know its not poisoned.
Terin steps out of the shadows of the alley, and steps purposefully over to the ale-jockey, the length of his stride and overall demeanor that of confidence and surety.
Unflappable, the sentinels simply nod and smile at Terin and continue conversing with Tyndal, as if they’re watching a partygoer arrive fashionably late to a cotillion.
“Good luck getting spit-and-polish here to drink on duty, but yeah, leave the cask,” says the seated sentry, causing the younger man’s cheeks to redden slightly.
The lookout feigning somnolence moments ago shoves off from the wall, turns and lifts the bar holding the double doors closed. Throwing his arms wide, he makes a forward sweeping motion with a mock half-bow to indicate you may enter when ready.
“Awful lot of gear you got with you,” declares the veteran. Not bothering to search for a mug, he leans in and energetically pulls directly from the keg.
“Oh Gods,” utters the young man, rigid posture breaking for just a moment. “I’m certainly not touching it now.” Looking towards Terin and Tyndal he states, “Mind you don’t go touch anything either while you are inside, the Lady won’t take kindly to it!”
Tyndal looks at his arsenal.
"Like my old commander used to say, never hurts to be prepared. Enjoy the brew, we'll try not to break anything"
He tips his helm and walks in.
Terin follows Tyndal into the complex and upon seeing the "V V"initials in the tree he raises an eyebrow and says to Tyndal "A relic of a long ago past or do you think Vanthus Vanderboren etched that more recently?"
Terin examines the letters to try to determine the age of the markings (knowledge nature is a +3, I'll let the DM roll.).
“Too true, too true,” agrees the elder guard between long quaffs of beer. ”Just be certain not to carry so much you can’t outrun your fellows!”
“Knock hard when you are ready to be let out,” the young sentry calls after Tyndal. In a lower voice, but still within earshot of Terin, he mutters, ”At least this lot of sweeps smells better than the last couple. More professional too.”
The quiet guard holds his palm out, and drawing a square upon it with his index finger, appears to indicate to Terin the party should proceed straight to the rear of the complex.
Tyndal – Once you walk through the archway, you see the interior of the walled complex consists of a lush but not uncared for lawn, a series of squat, interconnected rectangular stone buildings, and a small rivulet leading beneath the wall of one of the buildings. There is a large chain-locked bay inset into the front of the building directly facing the gate, with a smaller service door located to the right of it.
A squirrel skitters up a tree at your approach, and carved on the branch it lights upon, tittering and kvetching at you, are the letters “VV.”
1d20+3=19 Knowledge: Nature to ID the age of the letters.
The second V appears to be at least a decade old, as well as part of the first V. The right leg of the first V however, appears to have been carved only within the past few weeks. The squirrel is not amused by your presence.