The House of Duthtan
The Duthtans of
Sembia remain unconvinced of the demise of Thultanthar. While they know the city itself crashed to the ground, they do not believe its residents perished as a result. The family patriarch,
Lord Morvrel Duthtan, has no desire to be strong-armed into aiding the schemes of a resurgent force of Shadovar, as so many other noble families were after Thultanthar won control of
Sembia.
Morvrel, his brothers and sisters, and one surviving cousin have made it their business to aid
Sembia in rebuilding as swiftly as possible through careful moneylending. The family’s ferocious habit for collecting payments on loans made stems not from the urge to aid in even more rebuilding. Rather, it is due to Morvrel’s desire to gird his shared mansion home with layers of powerful magic—magic of the sort capable of obliterating any survivors of Thultanthar that dare attempt a takeover of his home or of greater
Saerloon.
Morvrel is a short, sinewy man with a back bent from age. His beard and mustache are white and trimmed close, his thinning white hair grown long and pulled back into a ponytail. He prefers the garb of his trusties, and so wears a loose jerkin and breeches, a narrow sword on his hip, and leather boots that extend to just below his knees. His face is habitually expressionless, particularly when he accompanies the delivery of coins, trade bars or gemstones to borrowers. Morvrel is not the only greybeard among the Duthtan “trusties” (the Duthtan term for trustworthy, experienced hireswords). This allows him to blend in during deliveries. He saves his formal attire for those occasions when it becomes necessary to impress on a suddenly recalcitrant borrower the necessity of repaying their loan, on time and with interest, or else.
Morvrel is matched in expression and demeanor by his wife,
Lady Andelzora “the Statue” Duthtan, née Beltarn. (She is more than his match with a blade, too.) Unsmiling, unsympathetic, and unforgiving of betrayals and foolish errors, the Lady Duthtan has been known to sit and stare for an hour (sometimes longer) at a failed servant or family member, her expression neutral, her eyes locked on the subject of her attention, before rendering her judgment. She keeps a blade at her side—the twin of her husband’s sword. Where Morvrel is methodical with his blade, using it to force his foe into a bad position before using his still-strong sword arm to break his foe’s defense and deliver a killing strike, Andelzora uses her speed and cunning to deliver viper-swift strikes to eyes, throat, heart, or arteries that no foe can hope to parry.
Sembians in need of coin swiftly learn who the Duthtans are. Those who don’t, don’t. The family maintains a low profile, relying on its trusties and other well-paid ears to bring it information about potential borrowers, the status of current borrowers (Are their projects coming along as intended? Are they burdened by unexpected calamity or hampered by unwelcome interference?), and the state of Sembia as a whole.
When a loan is authorized by Andelzora, the family coinkeeper (Morvrel’s cousin,
Noronel Duthtan) releases the funds to one of Morvrel’s siblings. They in turn assemble an escort of trusties and accompany the funds to the borrower. One person—not always a Duthtan—is designated speaker ahead of time. (Every Duthtan and trusty are practiced in this task.) This person delivers final terms verbally and again in writing, then collects the borrower's signature before releasing the funds.
Such trips are not limited to the family’s home city of
Saerloon. The Duthtans lend to borrowers throughout Sembia. It’s not uncommon for one or more of them to be on the road for weeks or months at a time, their travels taking them along the coast as far as Yhaunn, and inland to Saerb and Ordûlin rebuilt, before returning home with the latest news and profits collected.
A ride of Duthtan-led trusties is reserved, stiff-backed and solemn. It’s much like a ride of mounted soldiers absent the banners, lances, and implied threat. However, every trusty is a veteran of combat and practiced in projecting a stony demeanor that communicates their total lack of fear, should the need arise.
In addition to their swords and boot daggers, trusties hang saddle crossbows within easy reach. They are practiced at removing a booted foot from their saddle stirrup, hooking it into their crossbow’s stirrup, cocking the weapon by standing in the saddle, then lifting the weapon with their leg as they sit, taking hold and taking aim at a target.
To avoid becoming a target of government officials, the Duthtans are scrupulous about following Sembian law. They pay their taxes, do not attempt to dodge fees or swindle borrowers, and collect payments on dates previously agreed upon. The destruction of Ordûlin took with it at least one copy of every contract made between lenders and borrowers; all the more reason, to the Duthtan’s way of thinking, to deal honestly with scruutars (tax collectors), file copies of contracts in a timely manner, and avoid partnerships with coinrings (investors that lend money as a group, from which many a swindle and double cross has been born), thereby renewing the old system.
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