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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Olgar Shiverstone" data-source="post: 3819428" data-attributes="member: 5868">The four were escorted into a large, well-lit high-ceilinged chamber dominated by a long polished table in the center which was surrounded by high-backed chairs.  The table was set for a multi-course meal.  At the far end of the chamber was a larger-than-life-sized portrait of a young, fair-skinned, bearded nobleman.  Standing facing the portrait was a tall woman in an elegant blue gown.  As she turned, her beauty became apparent.  Even for a human she was striking, thin and lanky but clearly athletic, and with less than the usual curved padding that most human women carried.  Given the woman's dress, Thalas noted that Athal was the only one actually properly attired for the occasion.  He himself looked like a ragged vagabond in comparison.  Arjan, meanwhile, was simply indescribable, and stared at the woman with what appeared to be hunger while he licked -- was that pink frosting? -- from his lips."I am Lavinia Vanderboren," the woman announced simply.  "Thank you for responding to my summons."  Athal and Kyrsith bowed their heads.  Arjan stood slack jawed; Thalas merely smirked.  "Please be seated."Shrugging, Thalas flopped into a chair at one end of the table, opposite Kyrsith and Athal and next to Arjan.  Lady Vanderboren remained standing, pacing, wrining her hands in obvious discomfort.  Here we go, Thalas thought."You've all probably heard the rumors," Lady Vanderboren began.  "It pains me to admit it, but most of them are true.  Due to a series of unfortunate events" what an interesting choice of phrase "my family finds itself in debt to the Dawn Council, the Harbormaster, and several of the Guilds.  Wealth we still have, but it lies in our magically locked vault beneath Castle Terakaian.  The key to the vault -- a family signet ring -- is secured on one of our ships, the Blue Nixie.  Unfortunately, the Nixie was seized for non-payment of debt, and though I have paid the required fee and more to a despicable man named Silar Vark, I still have not been granted access to the ship.  I fear the ship may be being misused by factors unknown.  In any case, I cannot risk the true nature of my plight becoming known across the city, which is where you come in.  Here is my offer."  She paused, reading their faces.  Thalas tried to put on his best poker face, but succeeded only in looking glassy-eyed.  "I'll give you 200 gold nobles each to gain access to the Nixie and retrieve my key, and if possible the money I paid Vark.  Return, and there will be an additional reward for your help in reaching my vault."Not what I expected, Thalas thought.  My uncle profits from this how?  If he's behind this, he'd be sinking Vanderboren's ship, not maneuvering me into helping her.  Assuming she's not lying, and I doubt she is, helping her could be a real eyepoke to the old man.He interrupted.  "So let me get this straight.  You want us to break into your ship, steal this key, ring, whatever; steal back your money, then break into your vault?"Lady Vanderboren blushed.  "I sincerely hope breaking and entering will not be required.  You may be able to convince Vark to hand over the ship given that the requsite fees have been paid.  but if not, well, you have the right of it."Thalas smiled.  Stickin' it to the man! "I'm in!" he announced impetuously.Lady Vanderboren turned to Athal and Kyrsith.  After a few questions and a bit of unpracticed fawning by Athal, both agreed to help.  Arjan merely meekly asked: "You said something about food?"Lavinia smiled and clapped for the meal to be brought in.  Just as she did so, however, there was a commotion at the door.  Two guards were dragging in a slight, cloaked figure who was struggling mightily."We found this one lurking outside, yer ladyship" one guard said, saluting.  The two guards propped the prisoner up.  He/she -- probably he, given the absence of certain features -- was of moderate height and slight of build, and wore a dark cowl that completely cloaked the face in darkness, save for a few stray whisps of pale hair that escaped from beneath it.  The figure struggled to keep the cowl forward, but one guard jerked it back.Lavinia Vanderboren gasped and went pale.</blockquote>

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