Sneaky, worried for his mates, was thinking to his next move when he saw them entering The Plucked Parrot. "Yes!" he thought "I don't know a lot about me but I start understanding something about my friends... they are really cool"
He moved toward them emerging from the shadows with a smile on his face that, unknown to him, displayed the bad scar near his mouth. He was hoping one day they could start to appreciate him too and don't just drop their eyes on his bad aspect as everyone he met from that damn night.
Annie smiled as Ghirrak looked across the room and pinpointed Sneaky just as he stepped out of the shadowed back corner of the common room with a grin on his face. "Ah! You found it!" she exclaimed as if he was a friend who'd been given directions here. "Good! Have you eaten? Why don't you join us for a quick bite?"
Sneaky was still damp from his swim in harbor, but as Annie looked him over she didn't see any sign of injury or anything on his face to indicate anything had gone wrong. "Everything went all right, then? You can see it did for us, though it took a little time and explanation," she continued in a softer tone as he sat down at their table.
Spinnaker Jon will wait a sutible period, giving everyone a chance to get a bite to eat, then hustle his crew up to the Vanderboren Manor.
"Alright mateys, we need t' get up to Milady's manor before she sacks out for the night. Let's shove off now!"
Spinnaker Jon will wait a sutible period, giving everyone a chance to get a bite to eat, then hustle his crew up to the Vanderboren Manor.
"Alright mateys, we need t' get up to Milady's manor before she sacks out for the night. Let's shove off now!"
Annie smiled and nodded. She left behind a generous tip as they filed out of the Plucked Parrot.
"Not a bad brew, needs more hops, perhaps I can brew a batch for you to have delivered." Bindlplotz then pays for his drink, and departs with the others.
Dgrim takes Annie's advice and orders fish for his late dinner, and beer to wash it down, keeping quiet as he eats his meal. Only when the party is ready to leave does he speak again. "Alright, let's go."
Sneaky, in silence near his comrades, looks them one by one... waiting to understand how they successfully solved the problem to esplain the autorities the mess on the vessel... understanding that perhaps it's not here the right place to talk about this but not the reason... however knowing he'll know more later at the meeting at the manor.
"Hey everyone. Ah want to thank you for helpin' me out back there. That critter woulda had me if not for all of you. I owe you, all of you a debt."
As Spinnaker Jon and his crew approached Lady Vanderboren's manor, swaggering a little with the victory, Jon wondered aloud.
"Now with Varks scheme exposed, I wonder what the swab will do next. Seek revenge on us, d' ye think? Or run?"
"He's the kind who hides until he can stab you in the back, or get you outnumbered."
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There is a light still burning in the downstairs library when the group returns to the Vanderboren Estate. After someone knocks, Kora Whistlegap answers the door and asks everyone to wait in the library. Some time later, Lavinia joins you wearing an elegant robe over a frilly and elaborate nightgown.
"Were you able to speak with Vark?" she asks. "Do you have good news?"
Annie murmurred an apology to Kora as the group entered the Vanderboren estate, but she couldn't restrain a happy quirk of her lips at the prospect of giving Miss Lavinia some good news. As they all waited in the library she kept shifting from foot to foot.
Lavinia entered the libarary some minutes later, and Annie bounced on her toes in barely restrained excitement.
"Were you able to speak with Vark? Do you have good news?" their employer asked as she looked around at the group.
Annie's incipient grin broke out on her face. "We have good news, Miss Vanderboren! We attempted to speak with Vark - as luck would have it, he was on your parents' boat - when we attempted to speak with him, he attacked us! Fortunately, there were enough of us that we managed to avoid serious injury in our fight with him and his cronies."
Annie paused for a second and sobered. "He did flee from your boat and get to the shore. I would suggest you watch yourself until he is apprehended. We didn't even got to the point in the conversation where we brought up that we were working for you, but it might be wise to protect yourself."
"Once we had won back control of your ship, we began to search for the ring. We discovered that Vark was using your parents' ship to store animals. Maybe even smuggle them. One frightening creature escaped, and it was a tough fight to stop its attacks, but we succeeded. The disturbance brought us to the attention of the guard and harbormaster, but we spoke to him. We had one of Vark's women captured, and they have her now - they should be getting a clearer picture of Vark's true nature. We showed the harbormaster the animals Vark had on board, and showed him the money you'd paid Vark - he left it on the ship. He asked us to extend to you his apologies, and said your credit was good with him in the future."
"We found a ring - we think it's your father's - and Sneaky here has it for you." Annie clasped her hands together and her smile returned. "I know it's too late to do much more tonight, but I think we all knew you would be eager for the good news. The ship will need cleaning, with all the animals, but you have it back, and the fee you paid is now in the harbormaster's hands." She motioned toward the ring Sneaky was handing over to Lavinia. "And you'll be able to get into your parents' vault in the morning. That paper there was in the ring - I don't know what it's for, but it might be important." Annie took a deep breath and looked around at her companions, sure they would have more information to add.
Spinnaker Jon adds; "An' the swab let the anchorchain go mid channel, just fer the spite of it! Have no fear though; we know where she dropped and a simple hook an' rake, we'll have her up in no time!"
"It's unfortunate that Vark got away. But The ship is secured. THIS calls for CELEBRATION...Shall we have some celebratory brews."
"And do not worry, we will be watching for anything Vark tries. He has our attention now, and you have our protection."
Ghirrak smiles.
"Aww you guys are gonna worry her. That pest is too cowardly to pester her or us again."
"There's no telling what Vark may have in mind now. I'm sure he can put two and two together and conclude that we, who forced him off of Lady Lavinia's ship, are associated with her. However, now that the guard is looking for him, he won't want to be seen." Dgrim then address Lavinia directly. "Make sure you don't go anywhere alone at night. In fact, if you need further assistance, you can find me easily."
"We found a ring - we think it's your father's - and Sneaky here has it for you." Annie clasped her hands together and her smile returned. "I know it's too late to do much...
"Here is the ring" said Sneaky giving it to miss Lavinia, "we hope this could help with your business".
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Lavinia listened to everyone and smiled when Sneaky revealed the ring. "This is amazing work. Thank you. All of you." She took it delicately, as saddened by the reminder of her father as she was pleased by its return. "If you'll all return in the morning," Lavinia said, "we can go straight to the vault and settle the matter of your payment."
"YEEHAW! See you in the morning ma'am."
Annie stifled a yawn and nodded. It'd been a late night, and a busy one, even by the standards of the Plucked Parrot. She'd sleep deeply and well tonight. With a final awkward attempt at a curtsy to Lavinia, Annie waited for her friends to make their way out the door.
Once they'd left Lavinia's presence, she turned to them and asked, a little embarassed, "Do you mind if I keep this?" She held up the light crossbow she'd taken from the surrendered pirate. "And maybe a brace of bolts? It would've come in handy if I'd had one tonight, I think." She knew they were valuable on the street - she couldn't afford one - so she waited to see what the others said, trying not to be too expectant.
Ghirrak takes Lavinia's hand and bows deeply, gently brushing his lips against the back of her hand.
"It is a pleasure to be of service my lady."
Spinnaker Jon sweeps off his hat and bows.
"Thank'ee kindly m'lady. 'Twas me honor as a sailor to recapture yer ship from them pirates. I'm aboard for the whole voyage, so ye'll see me tomorra' at eight bells ."
Once outside, Jon listens to Annie and replies; "Well matey, what say ye take this rack of twenty bolts." He hands them over to Annie.
"Procan knows they didn't do me a lick of good. With any luck they'll do ye better than they did fer me."
Spinnaker Jon then doffs his hat to Annie, gives her a wicked grin, then takes a healty swig from a flask and walks back to his tavern room, happily lowering property values along the way by bellowing out the old favorite...
"WHAT DO YE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR, WHAT DO YE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR, WHAT DO YE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR EARLY IN THE MORNING!..."
"Sure, Annie, after what you did for me, Ah ain't complainin' one bit 'bout you takin' that pirate's crossbow. Ah'll see you in the mornin'. See all y'all in the mornin'"
"Gladly Miz Lavinia...See you in the morn then." As he quafs some of his own brew.
"I'll be here tomorrow, then," Dgrim responds. "Good night."
Ghirrak takes Lavinia's hand and bows deeply, gently brushing his lips against the back of her hand.
"It is a pleasure to be of service my lady."
Once the group leave the manor, Sneaky goes near his half-orc friend and wispers him "Take it easy mate, she is indeed a very beautiful and interesting woman but roses have to be catch rightly to avoid thorns..."
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The following morning, Kora Whistlegap greeted the adventurers at the door wearing a more brightly colored dress than in their earlier encounters and ushered them into the mansion. Before long, Lavinia descended the stairs in a stunning gown. "I've hired a carriage and a boat to transport us to Castle Teraknian. All of the noble families have vaults there." She smiled nervously. "I've never been there, not even to visit our vault. I really don't know what to expect."
The carriage waiting outside was as large as two carts side by side, black with gold-painted trim, and drawn by a team of four magnificent black horses. The driver bowed to the group and removed his hat out of respect, not just for the lady Lavinia, it seemed, but for all of her guests. He closed the door once everyone was inside the carriage and after a few moments, the box carriage jolted forward. Lavinia gazed with admiration at the plush red interior as though she herself was a little unaccustomed to such grandeur.
"The reason I am sparing no expense," she said, as the carriage sped along the streets of the Noble District, "is because I wish to extend an offer to all of you. Your handling of my affairs has been satisfactory beyond my wildest expectations. Not only did you retrieve my father's ring, but you squared matters with Keltar Islaran as well. He sent a messenger this morning, by the way. Our mutual acquaintance, Mister Vark, has not yet surfaced but his plans for my ship have. It seems that he's been using the Nixie in secret for quite some time, smuggling animals to pirates--possibly even the Crimson Fleet--and paying his thugs with the money he took from me. You have my personal thanks, and the thanks of Sasserine's harbormaster as well for uncovering this plot."
Lavinia adjusted herself so that her posture was more befitting a noble lady. "What I would like to ask...what I would like to offer...is permanent employment for your group as agents of the Vanderboren family, such as it is now. The Jade Ravens are exemplary adventurers, but so, I think, are all of you. I would like to retain your group as...personal problem-solvers, if you will. In addition to the money already owed you, I would pay one hundred gold pieces monthly. If trouble arises, you would be my first line of defense, my investigators, my negotiators. It should go without saying that the money is only one of the benefits included in service to a noble family. What do you say?"
Several longboats carried Lavinia and the group across Sasserine Harbor toward the imposing enormity of Castle Teraknian. A porter tied off the longboats at the castle dock and opened the portcullis. Inside the castle, the eight of them were ushered quickly from the clerk's desk to the central vault chamber below, where five-foot-wide hallways radiated outward in dozens of directions. The clerk gestured grandly toward the hallway leading to the Vanderboren vault and bid them all good day.
At the end of the hallway, the short passageway ended at a solid-looking iron door, emblazoned with a simple rune: an eight-pointed star. Above the door, inscribed in flowing script on a polished silver plaque, was the name "Vanderboren." A single handle protruded from the door, just below a circular depression bearing the mark of the Vanderboren signet. Lavinia drew the ring from a small velvet pouch, along with the strip of paper that bore the strange riddle.
"I'm afraid I wasn't able to decipher this," Lavinia said, offering the paper to the others. "The lock appears simple enough, though."
"Ma'am, Ah would be obliged to be of help to you. Ah'd still like to do some work on your grounds as well."
At the vault, unless Annie steps up, I'll let Lavinia lead.
Spinnaker Jon replies; "Of course I'd sign up t' crew with ye! Anytime milady Vanderboren. My hand on it!" He offers his hand to seal the deal.
Down in the vault, Spinnaker Jon waits tensly for his bad luck to show. When Lady Vanderboren offers the letter to people to read, Jon captures the gust of wind that would have carried it away with an effort of will and creates a cluster of dancing lights overhead, shedding some decent light over the area. Ha! Got ye this time!
Accepting the note he reads again:
"Well blow me down! Still makes not a lick of sense. Best we see if'n the ring fits that depression first. Mebbe somthing will show then. By the way, nice hat Bryson!"
Annie was little shocked by Lavinia's offer. She had an overwhelming desire to say yes, but closed her eyes for a moment to think.
She was still a little shaken by the fight last night. She'd actually thought, for a moment, of shooting a man as he fled the fight. She didn't like that part of herself, and while she was grateful she'd listened to the wiser thoughts in her head, exposure to more violence could lead to similar thoughts. Could she trust herself to guard against such...expedient...thinking? What if Lavinia asked her to do something she wasn't sure was right? And she was still struggling with niggling bits of jealousy of Lavinia's fortune.
The last issue could be dealt with by helping Lavinia successfully claim her inheritance. Jealousy was stupid - she should do what she could to squash it. The first issue would require constant vigilance on her part. As for the second issue...Annie would just have to make clear from the start she wouldn't do evil in Lavinia's name. She didn't think it would be a problem, but...she had to make sure. She opened her eyes.
"Miss Vanderboren, I would be happy to enter your employ..." she swallowed nervously, "...on one condition. I don't think it will be a problem, though. I wouldn't want to be obligated to perform a task I felt was wrong." Annie smiled. "Given your instructions yesterday to avoid bloodshed and seek justice, I don't think we'll disagree on what might be the right or wrong path, but if I don't think I can complete a task for you, I would like to be able to...discuss it with you, and possibly turn down the task." A little shocked at her own temerity, Annie hurriedly added "Of course, if that ever happens, a reduction in the monthly stipend you so kindly offer would only be expected!"
Annie unconciously rubbed her hand on the rich velvet seat beside her as they rode through the city. She filed out behind Lavinia toward the Vanderboren vault, and looked around with interest as Lavinia turned to speak with the group at the door to the vault.
Annie first looked at the door and the ring Lavinia was holding.
Annie read the paper again:
"Chimera looks to sunrise, Cyclops looks to sunset, Medusa looks to sunrise, Umber Hulk looks to sunset, Basilisk looks to sunrise"
"I don't see these monsters on the door. The sunrise and sunset....could that be 'Beginning' and 'End'? Or...maybe 'East' and 'West'? Hmmm...these monsters...let me try and think of what I know about them..."
Dgrim shows up early the next morning, ready to set out. When Lavinia says they will be traveling by carriage, Dgrim states plainly and to no one in particular, "For some reason, I was expecting to travel by foot." The dwarf follows the Lady outside, halted briefly by the admiration and interest the carriage brought out of him. "Huh..." he quitely lets out, before continuing into the horse-led transport.
After the noblewoman explains her offer, Dgrim responds, "Lady Lavinia, I don't need explained to me the intrinsic value of your affiliation. I accept your offer."
At the vault Dgrim ponders over the rune.
The offer of miss Lavinia was for sure very good, especially for a rogue like Sneaky who didn't remember anything about his past...
but there was something he was still not sure of about this affair...
He was quite confident Annie had some thoughts about it too but who knows if she had similar feelings...
For now a negative answer was not an option but the "Yes miss Lavinia, it will be an honour for me to work under your family name" leaved uncovered, or at least so hoped Sneaky, a negative feeling who again made appear a rose with very big thorns in the mind of Sneaky...
Then what about those monsters... from what Sneaky remembered from who knows which stories heared in taverns Chimera should have three heads and so six eyes, just one eye for a cyclop, a lot of eyes for the vipers over a medusa head, no idea for umber hulk and basilisk... something to do with a possible advise to mantain a better point of view to the east, right, morning?
or perhaps something to do with the ability of medusa and basilisk to turn men in stones?
and however what all of this could mean?
Ghirrak was thoughtful during the carriage ride, saying little as he considered things.
There was definitely a sense of prode and accomplishment from helping Lavinia, and the offer to become agents of House Vanderboren had a definite appear, no small amount being Lavinia herself.
He did have other things on his plate however. Firts of all his success in the arena would require more appearances, besisdes which, he enjoyed pitting his skills against other opponents, although if last night was any indication, there would be ample opportunity with this job as well, if for higher stakes.
His membership in Zelkarune's Horns was an honor and a great opportunity, but again it was primarily for profit. Something about working for Lavinia and serving as protection, for obviously the woman needed it, was..pure. It almost felt as if doing this would honor his art and the knowledge of his masters.
"I accept my lady. It would be an honor."
Looking at the puzzle, Ghirrak racked his brain for significance.
raw Wisdom check:
Bindlplotz greets Lavinia, "Good morn Lady Vanderboren."
After Lavinia gives explains the situation "I'd be happy to join the escort, I may not be able to carry much, but I can help." he smiles.
"Hmmm number of eyes on a Umber hulk & Basilisk "....knowledge(Dungeoneering)
"Well the sun rises in the East and sets in the west...hmmm, is there a sun in the room?"
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"Miss Vanderboren, I would be happy to enter your employ..." she swallowed nervously, "...on one condition. I don't think it will be a problem, though. I wouldn't want to be obligated to perform a task I felt was wrong." Annie smiled. "Given your instructions yesterday to avoid bloodshed and seek justice, I don't think we'll disagree on what might be the right or wrong path, but if I don't think I can complete a task for you, I would like to be able to...discuss it with you, and possibly turn down the task." A little shocked at her own temerity, Annie hurriedly added "Of course, if that ever happens, a reduction in the monthly stipend you so kindly offer would only be expected!"
Lavinia smiled. "I would never dream of asking you to trade what your heart holds dear for any amount. Should the day come that I ask you to do anything that disagrees with your moral compass, I will view myself very differently. Your stipend, however, is not negotiable. If ever we were to come to such a crossroads, I will not consent to a reduction. What you are owed is not subject to possible lapses of my conscience, and I shall see to it that much is in writing. There will always be a moral solution, even if I feel to see it and the law is not in agreement."
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At the vault door, Lavinia offered the ring to Spinnaker Jon, who judged correctly that the lock in question was an arcane lock accessible only by touching the signet ring to the circular depression.
As the ring was inserted in the depression, the vault door groaned and rose, granting access to a wide domed chamber. The floor, lit only by the light of the hall, was made of polished green marble. To the left and right, fifteen-foot alcoves with lower ceiling featured marble pillars carved to resemble coiling snakes. Five similar pillars were embedded in the walls, rising up thirty feet to a dome overhead.
The dome itself bore a huge representation of the same eight-pointed star that was engraved on the door to the vault.
Dgrim:
Perception:
My position is more determined by Annie's than Lavinia's. I'll try to be close to her. I don't mind if I'm in front or next to or opposite Annie.
Perception:
Spinnaker Jon will give Lavinia her ring back and enter the vault right beside her.
Annie was grateful for Lavinia's response. Her reading of the young woman agreed with her response to Annie's questions and made her more confident in ignoring the bitter voice in the back of her head that didn't want to trust anyone. She knew this moment was a big triumph for Lavinia, and stood aside to let her enter the vault area first, but she couldn't help pushing her way in eagerly behind her to look around. So far the riddle on the paper seemed to have no bearing on entry to vault.
Annie turned to Bryson as he entered beside her. "What do you think about the riddle?" she asked.
Bryson shrugs his shoulders and responds, "Ah don't know. Maybe the Vanderborens like looking at the sun and battling monsters. At dawn and dusk they got a bestie to slay. Miss Lavinia, what did your parents do?"