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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4649434" data-attributes="member: 3285">Unpaid Debts: Part 1 – The Truth is a Three-Edged SwordThe rumblings of war again stirred the young men of Moratavia to action as Menisis val’Tensen, Defender of the Coryani Empire, roused his legions to battle.“As if war between Ssethregore and Altheria wasn’t enough, or Canceri and the Nierites, now Milandir and Coryan are going at it?”  Kham rubbed his forehead.“It seems that Duke Adolphos’ declaration that Precision, the ancient blade of power, was delivered to him as the rightful master of all val’Tensen has raised the Coryani General’s ire,” said Sebastian. The Duke’s palace occupied the highest elevation in the city and looked out upon both the city itself and the plain that made up the body of Northern Maravia.  Upon arriving at the gates, they were shown to a grand ballroom with balconies that afforded a full view of the impressive vista.“How long are they going to make us wait here?” Sebastian said in irritation.“Well,” said Beldin, stuffing a pastry in his mouth, “at least they’re feeding us.”There was no shortage of comfortable seating.  Kham flopped into a chair and ordered a bottle of fine wine.  The servants moved quickly to do his bidding.Grand double doors swung open and a procession of personages entered the room.  Standing at their center was a young man, not more than thirty-one years of age, dressed in a richly appointed and embroidered leather tunic. “Dressing a little warm today aren’t we?” Sebastian muttered out of the side of his mouth to Beldin.Despite the warm weather, the man’s tunic was thickly lined with ermine.  He wore fur-lined winter gloves as well, but did not seem discomforted in the least.“I thank you for coming at my request,” said Duke Adolphos.  “Your reputations speak well of you.  All me to introduce these here.” He nodded to his left.  “On my left is the Lady Teodora val’Borda.  To my right is Vlad Martell.  We would ask of you a small task for the benefit of my house.” “What can we do for you?” asked Beldin.“Something that belongs to the val’Tensen—all val’Tensen, regardless of nation—has been lost.  I want it recovered.”“What was stolen?” asked Sebastian.“We do not know if it was stolen, but it is an ancient blade, forged thousands of years ago as a gift to my ancestor from the val’Assante.  It was lost until recently, when a loyal Milandisian freeman recovered it.”Kham asked the obvious. “If you recovered it, what do you need us for?” “There was a bargain made with my cousin to the south. As a result, the blade was to be entrusted to an impartial body.  The Arch-Prelate of Tralia provided an escort drawn from his finest guards to deliver it, but they never arrived.”“Why choose us?” asked Sebastian. “Why not Vlad?”“You have no stake in this matter,” said Adolphos.  “I cannot afford to have one of my countrymen slandered by bias.”Vlad looked distinctly uncomfortable.  He stepped forward.  “The blade was lost somewhere during the journey between here and the Citadel of Storms, three days into the Paerthians.  The honor guard, numbering ten knights, was on horseback when they disappeared.  They were last seen in the mountain hamlet of Grunlau, the last village on the way to the Citadel.”Kham opened his mouth, but Adolphos cut him off with a gesture.“Vlad has made it clear to me that you are mercenaries.  Beyond the gratitude of the val’Tensen family throughout Onara, I am prepared to offer each of you seven hundred and fifty crowns.  A tidy sum indeed.”Kham closed his mouth.  “We’ll find your sword,” was all he said.</blockquote>

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