[Eberron] The Forgotten Forge

[Knight Otu]

Flawed silently sits down, with mixed feelings of curiosity and anxiety. House Cannith, it registers. While its rational mind tells Flawed that the woman can not be here for some sort of punishment for its failure, it remains uneasy, its feelings not calmed by rational thought. If she was here because Cannith decided on my fate, she would have come earlier... or wouldn't she? No, it must be the murder, as she says.

Even though it sits down, Flawed makes no move to get any of the pitchers or a glass.

 

[Krug]

"Don't mind if I do," says Plonk, reaching out for the red wine. After repeated grabs at empty air, one of the others at the table passes it to him. "Alcohol in the morning... makes you ready for work, that's what my uncle Strek used to say... before a ladder carrying three cans of paint toppled and killed him that is."

 

[Old Fezziwig]

She smirks at Rawhide's antics, as if to say that she's seen worse, and says, "I'm glad our table affords us some semblance of privacy. I'm sure your companions can keep you in line if you all accept my offer." In response to Plonk, she grins. "An, um, interesting story. We all have some black sheep in our family."

Clearing her throat, she begins. "My name is Lady Elaydren d'Vown of House Cannith. I have...had," she corrects herself, "been working with Provost Geldem to recover a family heirloom. We were to meet last night, but you understand what happened to those plans, I'm sure. A man in my employ talked to the Watch captain that spoke with you and was able to gain enough information to track you down.

"This heirloom, according to family legends, was locked away in a foundry that dates to pre-Galifar Sharn. Poor Bonal believed he had located the foundry or its supposed site based on his readings in an ancient House Cannith journal. I was going to fund an expedition to go to the site, but without Bonal, I...

"If you were willing to recover the heirloom for me, I'd be most grateful, and you would be generously rewarded." Her eyes flash for a second. "Of course, you have the book with you, don't you? The Watch said nothing about the Provost having a satchel with him. I assume that means that the four of you took it..." She raises an eyebrow, partially to indicate that she's impressed, partially to show that she's aware of the potential ramifications of such an action if reported to the authorities.

 

[Krug]

"We might have it, or it could have been washed into the river with the rain," says Plonk. "So what's so valuable about the book?"

"And how generously is generous? Purely a subjective term that, with wildly different interpretations, particularly when divided by 4, generosity becomes qutie meagre," says Plonk, arcing his eyebrows.

 

[MadMaxim]

Gannon fills a glass with water and looks at Rawhide: How can a man possibly be so uneducated and without manners? Incredible... he wonders. Then he turns his attention to Lady Elaydren. "While my friend here asks some very good questions, I have one concerning the book. Through extensive study, I've been able to find out that there is something magical about it. Can you tell me in what way? I assume it would be some sort of protective or invisibility spell that has been cast on the writing, but I cannot say for sure." Gannon looks at Plonk knowing that he has blown his little "maybe-we-have-maybe-we-don't" speech.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Lady Elaydren turns to Plonk. "I can assure you that the money I will offer you is well worth your time. One thousand gold, one hundred of it up front. I doubt you'll find a better offer for the journal. To most people, it's simply a book full of blank pages that can't be written on.

"If you're willing to let me have it for a second," she turns to Gannon, "I can show you something you'll likely find very interesting."

 

[Krug]

"Ah yes, that IS generous," says Plonk. "I like up front payments. They reflect trust," says the gnome, rubbing his hands. No more watch repairing and arguing with balding dolts about the cost of gears! he thinks to himself.

"Gannon hand the good woman the book," he says.

 

[Ashy]

Gannon fills a glass with water and looks at Rawhide: How can a man possibly be so uneducated and without manners? Incredible... he wonders. Then he turns his attention to Lady Elaydren. "While my friend here asks some very good questions, I have one concerning the book. Through extensive study, I've been able to find out that there is something magical about it. Can you tell me in what way? I assume it would be some sort of protective or invisibility spell that has been cast on the writing, but I cannot say for sure." Gannon looks at Plonk knowing that he has blown his little "maybe-we-have-maybe-we-don't" speech.

Rawhide, still guzzling the porter, catches Gannon's look out of the corner of his eye. The shifter stops drinking, his chin still dripping liquor, and makes his "Gannon-face" to the cleric in return. After a moment or two of this, he pauses, takes another long swig, and then belches loudly.

The shifter then looks to Lady Elaydren. "You-is adds some breakfast to 'dat deal, Dark-drippy-lady, and Rawhide's yer man!"

 

[MadMaxim]

Gannon hands Lady Elaydren the book.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Lady Elaydren raises her eyebrows in response to the shifter. "I suppose I could manage to add breakfast to the deal." She summons the elderly halfling that brought you in and asks for a serving of steak and eggs. "You can order what you like." The halfling waits for your orders politely, although she looks thoroughly disgusted by Rawhide's antics.

After the halfling has gone to put your orders in with the kitchen, Lady Elaydren takes the journal from Gannon. As she does, her signet ring and the weblike mithral design on the cover start to glow softly. She opens the book, and you can see the pages are covered with a delicate script, accompanied by some line drawings. Her brow furrowed, she turns the pages quickly, eventually stopping to read one. Smiling, Lady Elaydren pulls a folded map from inside her cloak.

"The lost foundry is deep within Dorasharn Tower, some fifty-seven levels below the current sewers. I can assure you that House Cannith will be most grateful to you for your help. I've already told you how grateful I will be."