Malvoisin's Savage Tide, Act 1 - There Is No Honor

[stonegod]

Col, thumbing through the various journals and ledgers he's found, mutters to no one in particular. "Let us not be forget'n that thar be two Vanderboens not below the ground."

 

[Rhun]

"Indeed," says Anar, one hand on the hilt of his rapier, the other on his chin as he thinks. This Col was smarter than he appeared, thought Anar. And he just might have the right of it.

 

[hafrogman]

Keoni can only shrug.

"We could just ask the man, find for ourselves what he has to say."

 

[Malvoisin]

Col frowns at the Lady's mood, but looks uninterested until the papers are revealed. A secret light then lights up his face, though it is quickly squashed by Lavinia's outburst. "Must be some scallyway, to be get'n by the door, construct, and lock. Sure no one else be hav'n the ring?"

"I don't see how...it was lost over a month ago, as I told you." Lavinia seems bewildered by this turn of events.

All of this is said while his real attention is on the book. Assuming he is not stopped, Col will start riffling through the documentation, trying to identify its secrets. "Maybe these 'ere do be leav'n a clue."

Col begins thumbing through the various documents. Unfortunately, the hand-written journal is written in a language which is unfamiliar even to him, though the letters look familiar...elvish perhaps? Also included in the paperwork are a number of maps of jungles, coastlines, and other regions that seem to represent some unknown tropical location. There are also dozens of sketches of strange, exotic creatures.

 

[Rhun]

Anar peers over Col's shoulder, hoping that maybe he can read the writings which the old seadog now holds.

 

[GwydapLlew]

Chongo's brow furrows at this turn of events. He had hired on for the promise of payment, and so far very little cash had found its way to his pouch.

"Chongo think that if someone steal from bosslady, they also steal from Chongo. Chongo not like people who take his money. Can bosslady find out if anyone else has been down here?"

The tattooed Olman cracked his knuckles ominously. It was clear that Chongo's attitude towards thieves involved broken body parts.

 

[Malvoisin]

Anar peers over Col's shoulder, hoping that maybe he can read the writings which the old seadog now holds.

Anar can confirm the written characters as being elvish, but the language is not known to him.

Hey, Kalen knows a lot of languages...

 

[Malvoisin]

"But that man could be fooled by clever magic," Bael suggests. "The other explanation, and not one that you would like to hear milady, is that maybe the family's wealth was beginning to run dry? It would not be the first occurence of such in these parts."

Lavinia shakes her head empahtically. "No, I would have known of it, were that true. The money should be here."

Col, thumbing through the various journals and ledgers he's found, mutters to no one in particular. "Let us not be forget'n that thar be two Vanderboens not below the ground."

"Vanthus?" whispers Lavinia in disbelief. "He's not been himself of late, but he wouldn't do this...besides, he hasn't even been in town for weeks."

Keoni can only shrug.

"We could just ask the man, find for ourselves what he has to say."

"You're right. That's exactly what we will do. But first, I owe each of you my thanks, and payment for services rendered." From the open chests, Lavinia counts out 200 gold pieces for each one of you, and presents the money gratefully. "You, too, Bael, for your courage in accompanying us to the vault was no less than the others." (+200 gp for each character)

With payment completed, Lavinia gathers the ledgers of funds owed to her family, the strange journal ("Hmm, this is my mother's handwriting. It bears much investigation, thank you master Col.") and asks the party to carry some of the money back to the street above. That done, she approaches the clerk in Castle Teraknian's entry hall.

"Sir, has anyone else visited my family's vault recently?"

"Of course, your brother Vanthus has visited the vault several times over the last month. Why do you ask?"

The clerk seems shocked when Lavinia informs him that Vanthus has been missing for a month, and that she did not know he had been visiting the vault. "He had a signet ring, just as you do, and he is a member of the family after all..."

Lavinia seems utterly stunned by this turn of events, and can only shake her head. "Why would he do this?" she asks of no one in particular. Before turning away from the clerk's desk, she asks him if we will send word to her if Vanthus tries to enter the vault again. The clerk agrees.

~~~~

Back in the carriage for the return trip to Vanderboren Manor, Lavinia has been silently lost in thought for quite some time. At last, she breaks the silence, asking of the party, "I would ask each of you something else, if you are willing. You've done so well, been so helpful. And now, with this turn of events, I fear I may need your help again. I would hire you permanently, if you are willing, as my agents...troubleshooters, if you will. I will pay each of you 100 gold pieces per month for your service. What do you say?"

 

[Rhun]

"I cannot speak for my friends, but I would be honored to serve," replies Anar to Lavinia's offer.

 

[hafrogman]

Keoni nods slowly at Lavinia's words. It seems strange to get caught up in all this politics, but he still has not found his own destiny. However, as he looks around the room, he realizes that with the group he has associated himself with, it is sure to find him. They are an odd assortment.

Lavinia seems like an honest woman, and helping others is never a bad thing. He moves to stand beside Anar and inclines his head.

"I will also enter your service."