Here Part 1 (of 2) of my Mandi RP Update:
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RESIGNATION AND REDEMPTION
Lavinia stared at the letter in front of her, a look of exasperation on her face. No aid from the family Vito was coming. The Sembian merchant clan had been her last hope for help in reclaiming Farshore. Like sharks smelling blood, the noble houses and merchants of Tashluta saw fit to watch another noble house collapse. House Vanderboren had run out of friends. Even the Dawn Council was turning its back on her and denying her family’s rightful claim, having been bribed by Meravanchi’s continental kin.
Breathing out a long sigh, Lavinia looked to her seneschal, a new addition to the Vaderboren manor since the attack of the bullywugs. It was time for desperate measures. “We are down to our last few thousand gold. Jerald, I want you to speak with the local magistrate. Find out what kind of value this estate has. I may need to consider using it as collateral or, if the price is right, sell it.”
The servant’s mouth opened, “Mistress, this house has been in your family for generations. You can’t possibly think of…”
“Jerald, my entire family is dead. My parents, dead. My brother, dead. I am it! When I am gone, this house would be all that is left, sold at auction by the Dawn Council. Think of it, the legacy of a noble house of Tashluta, going once, twice, SOLD for five thousand gold coins! No…That is not what my parents would want. Their legacy was Farshore, and I’ll be damned if someone else is going to claim that while I still draw breath.”
The seneschal nodded, knowing that he was not going to be able to talk his mistress out of her plan. As he turned to leave the room, one of the maids peeked her head into the room. “Milady, you have a visitor…one of your bodyguards…you know, the lady elf who wears that snake skin dress…”
Lavinia’s brow furrowed. “You mean Mandi? Show her in, immediately.” The maid nodded, and scurried back towards the front of the house.
A few moments later, the elf wizardess strode into the room, her face expressionless…as always. In her hands she carried a simple letter, wax sealed with the symbol of the Seekers. Lavinia shot out of her chair and went to embrace her cohort, which Mandi accepted awkwardly. Initial pleasantries exchanged, Lavinia spoke, “So tell me, what news of the Legion? How is your mission faring?”
Mandi slowly nodded. “There is much to tell. After leaving you, we bribed the daughter of a demon lord to tell us where her aunt, another demon lord, had been permanently imprisoned by a being of godlike power. We made a deal with that being, a demon lord by the name of Ahazu, whereby we have 65 days to kill the Prince of Demons and turn over the corpse or we as a group will be assumed bodily into the layer of the Abyss known as Shattered Night.
“In trade we were allowed to free the demon lord captive and question her as to the weaknesses of said Demon Prince. Before she could answer, a rent in the sky appeared and the River Styx was redirected on top of us, and we all were stripped of our memories. Shortly thereafter, Charon, the near-godlike boatman of the Styx, appeared and took us to see Iggwilv, the single most powerful mortal being in all of existence. Speaking with her, we learned that we have to meet with and entreat the most wicked beings in the Abyss such that we can form an army against the Prince of Demons.
“If we fail in this task, one half of the Prince of Demons will absorb the other as he unleashes a Savage Tide across this plane, destroying all life on Toril as we know it, ultimately resulting in said demon prince assuming full godhood, taking control of all the horrors of the Abyss, winning the Blood War, and beginning an unstoppable conquest of the remaining planes of the multiverse. And that’s about it.
“How have things been here?”
Lavinia stammered, “Uh…things here are, well, good, I guess. I am having no luck in reclaiming Farshore, or enlisting aid from other families to help me in this, but…ummm. My, all of this sounds so trivial compared to what you and the other ‘Legionnaires’ find yourself up against...”
Mandi cut the noblewoman off with a curt wave of her hand, growing very serious. “Lavinia, do not play down the importance of what you are trying to accomplish. The reason I am here is actually to see that you succeed in reclaiming your father’s legacy.” With that, the elf held forth the sealed letter.
Her head cocked to the side, Lavinia took the letter and popped the seal. “What is this?”
“It’s a certified letter from me, turning over all of my holdings within the Seeker’s guild treasury for your use, provided that you use them to recover Farshore and begin real trade to and from the Isle of Dread.”
Lavinia smiled graciously, almost patronizingly. It was a nice gesture, but couldn’t be enough to fully fund a new vessel to the Isle, but it was appreciated. “Thank you. Every last coin should help. I will add it to the little we have collected. I hate to ask, but how much should I expect to be there.”
Mandi cocked her head back and forth, calculating. “After I made a small donation back to the guild, I believe there should still be approximately three hundred and fifty thousand gold crowns. By my estimation, that should be more than enough to purchase, outfit, and crew no less than two dozen caravels, most likely more.”
The noblewoman’s mouth dropped, and Lavinia was speechless. Mandi continued, “It is my belief that the best way for you to regain the popular control of Farshore is through trade. Bring continental goods to the Isle on your way out there. Bring the exotic Isle goods back to the continent on the return trip home. With two dozen vessels you would have the start of a merchant fleet empire, and not just to Tashluta. The ports and bazaars of Calimport, Baldur’s Gate, and Waterdeep can be stocked with the fine silks, spices, and other trinkets from the Isle of Dread.
“By continually bringing ships in and out, the people of Farshore will begin to prosper. As they prosper, they will become fat on their new wealth, and comfortable as the luxuries of home are continually delivered to their doorstep. They will become dependent on you.
“Don’t forget the mongrelmen. These pitiful creatures have been scorned by all men, except for you. I would imagine that if you continue to show them compassion they would do anything for you. At that point you would have control over the trade routes to and from the Isle, as well as the great percentage of the labor force, giving you total control over the village’s economy.
“The House of Vanderboren would then become the true power ruling over Farshore. The rat Meravanchi may remain the de facto mayor, but his power will be castrated. What is even more satisfying is that not only will he will know what is happening but he will also be fully aware that he is without means of stopping it.”
Lavinia exhaled loudly. “You’ve given this a lot of thought haven’t you? I don’t know what to say. How can I ever repay you?”
“Simply…You can’t. What I give to you now does not require it. If nothing else, what I offer to you is a post-mortem gift to your father. Now, along with this boon, I tender my resignation as your retainer. Farshore is left in your capable hands.
Once our mission on the Abyss is completed, I do not believe that I will spend much of my remaining time on this plane, provided of course that I survive the battles to come. I may check in with you and your progeny every decade or so. Apart from that, however, this is farewell.”
Lavinia nodded, stood, and extended her arm, which Mandi accepted. The elf turned on her heel and promptly left the residence.
Once out in the courtyard, Mandi began intoning the words to her most powerful teleportive spell. A ten-foot diameter portal opened before her leading straight to the Gray Wastes. Before Mandi was to rejoin her comrades, she had one more soul to visit…
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
