DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3b - Entering Yartar

<Bern>

While he didn't have much 'love' for the 'wealthy', he didn't like that their 'enemies' would target a kid. So he was willing to listen to the proposal.

Davroar

Hungry after a day of travel, once the servant leaves the room Davroar will scoff down two cookies and a small cake that is overly dry to his taste, so he quickly takes a gulp of tea that makes him squint his eyes as the hot liquid nearly burns his tongue. With watery eyes he looks up and says with a bit of a gasping sound, "We're here anyways for a bit."

Shrugging his shoulders, Davroar looks to Kriv first, trusting him to make a deal with the noble lady. He looks to the others if they have anything more to say, then looks back to the tray of food as he silently considers going for another cookie.

Jaliera

She smiles at Davroar, glad that he has broken the ice and allowed her to take a berry slice without feeling self conscious. Delicious. She takes a moment to enjoy it.

Arus

Other than the noble house itself, there's plenty more to interest someone in Arus's line of work. A disease, resistant to healing magic and possibly weaponised. If Yartar is involved, that means the river and the river ultimately flows to the sea and the sea the ocean. It's Arus's business to find out what's afoot and if a threat to the Protectorate is discovered, put a stop to it.

<Bern>

He ignores the sweets, content to sip on the tea while he listens.

Sindar

He is content to watch and listen. He doesn't partake of the food nor the drink. He is more keenly interested in other matters.

Kriv

Cold, hard gold for cold, hard truth. Kriv was in his element dealing with such terms.

"A number of my colleagues have relevant talents that could be useful in such an investigation, I myself am a scholar, and a student of the Art."

He deliberately glanced around at the rest of the party, noting their responses and gauging their interest. Returning to look upon the Lady,

"Our business here is indeed pressing, but I suspect we could collectively be diverted to this worthy endeavour given sufficient and commensurate remuneration. Would anyone object to the discussion of terms at this juncture, given the task and offer set before us?"

Theirs was, after all, a collective endeavour, and it was well worth their while to ensure everyone here was on the same page.

Jaliera

As Kriv looks around to gauge interest, she nods showing hers but continues with the berry slice. She notices the others mostly not eating and is considering the opportunity for another after this one.

DM

As Kriv replies, Lady Dezhia reaches for a raisin scone and nibbles on it before sipping her tea. When he is done, she puts the cup and saucer down on the desk and begins to elaborate. "When you brought in Artan, I noted that the boy has carelessly lost his family pendant. It is an irreplaceable heirloom that must be returned to the house. Perhaps it was taken when whoever sickened my boy abducted him. This trouble I am prepared to offer you 500 GP if you can learn who is behind what happened to Artan. There is an extra 500 GP in it for you if retrieve the pendant. You will recognize it as it is an onyx disk onto which small emeralds are inlaid to form the Rossolio family symbol".

She lifts a paperweight on her desk and shows it to each and every one of the adventurers. (OOC: It looks like the letter "R").

She then reached into a drawer in her desk and pulled out a velvet pouch and emptied it on a silver plate. Gold coins poured out. She started stacking them quickly. She had built ten stacks of ten gold coins and pushed them towards the front edge of the desk. The way that she handled the coins quickly brought to mind, to those who might have seen gamblers, that she handled her coins like they do; fidgeted with their stacks; shifting them around, counting and recounting, rolling coins between their fingers. The remainder of the coins she scooped back into the velvet purse which she left on the desk. "This is for you regardless, as a thank you for bringing Artan home."

"Would that be agreeable?" she asked.

<Bern>

When Kriv glanced in his direction he gave him a 'why not' shrug.

Arus

He doesn't sit. Primarily because he's wearing rough old plate armour and doesn't want to scratch the varnish on the furniture.

Arus is courteous though. He eats, taking a plate of nibbles with him to stand by a window, looking out.

When he sees Kriv's querying look, Arus nods with a casual half-grin. It's fine.

"This family pendant. Does it have a magical signature?" He asks the lady.

Zhu

She waits to see what the others decide. If taking the job is alright for them she will support them.

(OOC - Mostly don't want to make decisions for the party as I am technically co-DMing this with Nep. At some point I will run a module in the campaign )

[[ FWIW, I don't have a problem with your 'character' making choices and the like ... other wise Zhu might as well be an NPC. I don't want that. I like how she is when you 'play' her. Please keep doing that. ]]

Sindar

He nods his agreement to the job and terms. His own curiosity is piqued. It would also be helpful to have an ally in the noble family if all goes well.

[OOC: You are doing fine Z man. Just keep it up. ]

Kriv

"Five hundred gold to identify the culprit of your son's misfortune, five hundred gold to retrieve your son's pendant, consisting of an onyx disc with the R sigil representing your house in emeralds upon it, with one hundred gold disbursed to us here and now as payment for Artan's rescue and safe return."

He paused for a moment in case anyone wished to object. If no-one did,

"We find your terms agreeable. You have procured our services in this matter. I hight Kriv Norixius, of Norixius Keep: You have my word that we will do all that we can to get to the bottom of this."

<Bern>

He listened to Kriv's ... negotiations and nodded when his gaze came his way. He was willing.

DM

"Thank you all, in advance. This matter has the attention of the Waterbaron. Lady Nestra Ruthiol was very interested in Artan’s disappearance when we spoke last. I had the distinct impression that Artan wasn’t the only noble to have gone missing in the recent weeks. This is a concerning matter."

OOC: You might want to review some of the earlier posts with Artan for clues as to how you might squeeze out some more clues. Also, since not everyone spoke with him during the journey home, I'll assume that some of what was said privately was shared with others.

Jaliera

At the last pronouncement, Jaliera glances meaningfully at Kriv. If other nobles have gone missing then there might be more clues or information available, as well as further finders fees. This is getting interesting.

She can feel their departure drawing closer and snags a second berry slice whilst she can.

Sindar

This sounds more involved. The giants were acting differently too. There were things that are very strange going on. He was very interested in this.

Zhu

"You son mentioned something about a 'Golden Goose' and a beautiful woman with long, black hair who wore a magnificent purple dress. Does any of that mean anything to you?"

Arus

That was a sign the triton had been waiting for. Some indication that Lord Artan's mother had actually searched for him.

Artan himself had been convinced from their first meeting that his mother would be worried sick about his disappearance. But Lady Dezhia had not resembled that remark.

Considering there's a doppelganger on the loose, Arus must be wary. He's kept an eye on the household, the surrounds for anything amiss. So far nothing.

He moves away from the window and comes to stand beside and behind Kriv, a position of support. Zhu's line of questioning might give them their first lead.

So thou didst search for thine son, milady. Spoke to the Waterbaron about his disappearance even. Arus muses.

"Artan said that the last thing he remembered of his ordeal was visiting a 'Golden Goose'. He spoke of a stunningly attractive brunette in an expensive purple dress. Does this mean aught to thee?"

[Edited to remove the surplus question. I cross-posted with Zeim.]

<Bern>

He had been trying to remain in the background, so had been happy to let his friends take charge of the conversation. But he =was= listening, curious what response the lady would give.

Davroar

Not wanting to pile on with more questions to Lady Dezhia yet, he will remain silent. Instead he will look around her office, to see if there is any family portraits and possible get a sense of how big this noble family is. Having only a little experience with townsfolk, he thinks that there is always the possibility of sibling rivalry over the family obvious wealth and power. Artan mention about his brother Martyn and Urzales being away on business, so Davroar wonders if he has more siblings than the two he had mentioned.

Jaliera

She wants to find out the family structure. Often problems with families come from within the family. But she is content to wait her turn whilst nibbling her berry slice.