Act 1, Part 3b: Return to Lady Aldori's Office

[BlackHat]

Zakon Malheur

HP: 20/20 | AC: 14 | Perception: +7
Fort: +4 | Ref: +4 | Will: +9
Hero Points: O | Focus Points: O

Lady Aldori sat behind her large, mahogany desk, poring over a stack of papers. She looked up as some of the adventurers who had requested another audience with her before their departure were escorted into her study, her sharp eyes taking in each of them in turn. "Ah, Zakon," she said, greeting the judge. "I was just going over some paperwork related to our previous arrangement."

Zakon nodded but did not elaborate on the matter as it was pending litigation. He was confident that Lady Aldori would let him know if he could be of further service but she already had a signed death sentence and more than enough evidence and testimony to investigate the involvement of the Black Tear organization. He hoped she also planned to investigate who among her staff had leaked her plans and information about her home. If she wished for further legal council he would, of course, make himself available. "We've come to speak with you about a much less urgent matter... but one that I wish to resolve before we depart."

Lady Aldori gestured for them all to take a seat in the plush armchairs arranged in front of her desk. "Of course, please do sit down. Now, what is it that you wish to discuss?"

Zakon cleared his throat, "You have been most gracious regarding the seizure of items to defend your home. I must apologize, however, for my own negligence. It has come to my attention that the writ of lawful seizure that I filed with Sir Ivenzi was incomplete - a regrettable mistake, which I wish to formally amend." There was a small but noticeable amount of annoyance in his voice. This was precisely the sort of thing he had hoped to avoid by asking to keep everything above-board. However, his companions had proven themselves to be honest sort of thieves, when all was said and done, and he recognized that, without them, there was a very good chance he would have ended up like so many of the other guests. He felt no obligation to elaborate on why these items were deemed up-for-grabs.

Instead, he opened a small pouch and revealed a small collection of stolen jewelry, which had been looted from the dead guests and perhaps even a few servants. The judge pulled out two very specific pieces - a small silver pendant, with a locket in the shape of a heart, and the silver ring, with a delicate branch-like band, which he had offered to Jaethal the night before. Each glimmered in the candlelight. "We believe that these pieces, upon closer inspection, may be of sentimental significance to the next-of-kin of two of your guests. The charm opens to reveal a small cameo of one such guest. Jaethal informed me that this ring is also an heirloom passed from elven parent to child." Zakon slid the pouch slightly closer to Lady Aldori, offering inspection and confirmation of his claims. "There is, however, insufficient time to locate the next-of-kin or last wills and testaments, and ensure that inheritance law is properly observed, before we depart and doing so from the Stolen Lands will be all but impossible - at least, until our charter is fulfilled. I would like to request your aid in this endeavor, as surely your staff have recorded who was in attendance and you seem well-informed about your guests." Zakon turned to his companions to see if they had anything else they wanted to add, like an apology, before Lady Jamandi responded to the request....

OOC

Expecting this to be a short scene but inviting anyone from the party who would be interested in meeting with Lady Aldori, to discuss the items. Thomas mentioned being interested in a scene like this but I was nonspecific about who was in attendance so that anybody could jump in.

Zakon "paid" for the necklace with his own share, so he feels confident that he can give it to Lady Aldori, even if she does not offer to pay him back. He could not afford the full pile of misc. jewelry, however and the elven ring was something we were not planning to sell. Depending on how this goes. Maybe we can "sell" them all here, and Lady Aldori will feel some responsibility to see them returned to next-of-kin where possible? Or maybe Lady Aldori grants us ownership of the items to do with as we please ( and then we sell them as planned to some pawn shop - much less heroic).

If this goes wrong and the party loses a bunch of treasure, I'll make sure Zakon makes it up to everyone. He is gonna be a stickler about inheritance laws, though!

Edited April 19, 2023 by BlackHat (see edit history)

[AnemoneEnemy]

Thomas of Nowhere | AC: 16 | HP: 30/30 | Per: +5 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +8 | Will: +7 | FP: 1/1

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Æthelflæd | AC: 19 |  Per: +4 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +8 | Will: +6

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Thomas had come to Zakon with the locket. "Ye're one fer propriety, Judge. Be a mate an' help me find th' sorry feller whose wife I plucked this from, should he have had th'ill luck tae live, aye? Least he'll have a memento tae cry into, like."

He steps forward on Zakon's urging. "That came from a woman wi' a fine ring o'keys, dead i'the attack. We're minded tae do her man th'cruelty o' returnin' it, an' he's in condition tae receive it."

OOC/mechanics

 

 

 

[Kistler]

Sija Bhatyani - Half-Elf Ranger 2 HP: 32/32 | AC: 19 | Speed: 25ft | Hero: 1/3 | Focus: 1/1 Perception: +8 | Fort: +8 | Ref: +7 | Will: +6  Conditions-None| ResourcesInfused Items: -2x Lesser Antidote -2x Minor Elixir of Life Consumables: - Talismans: - Items: - | AbilitiesFocus Spells: -Gravity Weapon Abilities -Darkvision -Flurry -Monster Hunter Actions: -Hunt Prey -Twin Takedown -Battle Medicine | Skills*Acrobatics: +5 *Arcana: +5 *Athletics: +8 Crafting: +1 Deception: +0 Diplomacy: +0 *Herbalism Lore: +5 Intimidate: +0 *Medicine: +6 **Nature: +8 *Occultism: +5 Performance: +0 *Religion: +6 Society: +1 *Stealth: +5 *Survival: +6 Thievery: +1 *Trained | **Expert | ***Master

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Sija walks with the group for the final sendoff from the high lady who hired her into some kind of trouble or other. She stands and listens, her face flashing through myriad expressions as she takes it all in. "Ah, am I right in hearing that last night, as the high lady was getting struck and beaten by giants, you were busy looting corpses?" You can almost hear the 'tut tut' sound beneath her words. "Are you sure I can trust these people in my wagon, raj- Lady Aldori? Can you say they won't stab me and rob my corpse?"

 

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OOC/Actions Other:  Action 1:  Action 2:  Action 3:  Reaction: None, yet Free:  Exploration Activity:

Feats -Elf Atavism (Darkvision) -Monster Hunter -Battle Medicine -Natural Medicine -Herbalist Dedication --Advanced Alchemy --Alchemical Crafting -Twin Takedown -Gravity Weapon

Appearance Sija looks like a typical Vudran woman, often dressing in the more traditional fabric wrap of her homeland and often a headscarf or shawl. She often wears some form of ornamentation or jewelry on hands, ears, neck, and brow. She is older than most, though as a half-elf she wears her six decades with dignity and grace, with few signs of the decrepitude often seen in similarly aged humans. She is tall, and stands with a straight back and good posture. Her arm is strong and well-corded with sinew and muscle, perhaps appearing a touch wiry, and her skin a bit weathered from years outside. Her hair was once a glossy black, though now it is streaked with gray; more with each passing day.   She can often be found with a cudgel, a wicked-looking curved dagger, and a whip hanging from her belt. She wears these, and warm outer clothes or a cloak to protect her from the elements, when she travels. When expecting trouble she throws a bandolier on that's filled with flasks of healing ointments and poultices.

Gear Worn -Clothing (Winter) -Breastplate -Backpack -Belt Pouch -Healer's tools -Bandolier   Weapons -Club -Corset Knife -2x Dandpatta -Flyssa -5x Darts -Whip   Containers Backpack -Bedroll -Climbing Kit -Rations (2 weeks) -5x Sacks -5x Torches -Waterskin   Bandoliers -4x Flasks Oil   Belt/Pouch -10x Chalk -Crowbar -Flint and Steel -Soap -2x Candles -1gp 6sp 6cp

[Kavonde]

Lady Jamandi examines the silver pendant sadly. "Margaret," she sighs. "I'm honestly moved by your kindness, Your Honor, and Thomas. She... was with me for a very long time. She was very professional, and I don't know if she'd have called herself a friend, but... she was someone I valued and trusted greatly. Her husband, Gerrod, was with the City Watch for decades but retired about a year ago. He's already been informed, and I intend to pay him the pension Margaret should have been owed. I think he'd appreciate meeting you in person." She writes down an address on a scrap of paper and slides it across her desk.

"As for the ring, I can see it returned to the Kyonin embassy in New Stetven if you wish. I'll pay you its worth, as well."

She glances past them to Sija, flashing a quick grin at her question. "Yes, Sija, I think you can. You haven't lived the adventurer's lifestyle, but trust me: a bit of looting in the midst of a crisis can make the difference between life and death. Particularly when it comes to solving mysteries. And on that note," she turns to Thomas, "I have an expert jeweler appraising the ring that the Pathetic and Treacherous Tartuccio 'misplaced.' He believes it to be genuine. Between that and the testimony given by Nishkiv the Knife and Judge Zakon's... acquaintance, I think we have a fairly clear picture of what happened."
 

She places her hands on the table, moving them with chopping and sweeping motions as she speaks as if positioning figurines on a war map. "It would seem that a man in the employ of King Irovetti of Pitax approached the Black Tears, an infamous group of thugs calling themselves 'assassins' who operate out of New Stetven. We don't know the man's name, but he's been described as slender and unusually oily, with thinning black hair and a pencil moustache. It's possible that this same man approached Tartuccio to recruit him as a spy and saboteur. We doubt that the Black Tears were actually intended to succeed in killing me, just to disrupt the expedition and implicate the royal House Surtova in the attack.

"Pitax, if you're unaware, is a kingdom that lies to the west and south of the Stolen Lands. It's not a particularly noteworthy nation and is usually just lumped in with the rest of the River Kingdoms, but less than a decade ago, a new ruler named Castruccio Irovetti came out of nowhere and usurped the throne--not through violence, apparently, but through the willing abdication of the former rulers. He's an ambitious sort, and may have designs on colonizing the Stolen Lands himself--which would put him directly at odds with our endeavor."

She sighs. "Unfortunately, even if Irovetti were to admit his involvement, we have no means of bringing him to justice. House Surtova is actively opposed to our plan to colonize the Stolen Lands; the best we could hope for from them is a diplomatic scolding. That said, Tartuccio is well within our rights and ability to prosecute, if we can find the little rat. It's likely he's decided to flee back to his employer. Perhaps you'll run into him again."

She sits back in her chair, finished speaking for now and clearly inviting any further questions or comments.

[AnemoneEnemy]

Thomas of Nowhere | AC: 16 | HP: 30/30 | Per: +5 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +8 | Will: +7 | FP: 1/1

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Æthelflæd | AC: 19 |  Per: +4 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +8 | Will: +6

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Thomas gives Siya a sidelong glance. "Fightin' our way through assassins room by room, sortin' the livin' from the dead, comin' tae th'heroic rescue 'stead o' goin' peely-wally an' holin' up ... if that's nae dashin' heroics enough for ye, Mam, ye'll 'ave tae be disappointed, suren ye will. Besides!" He gives her an impish grin "An we stab ye, who'll drive th'wagon?"

His smile fades as he turns back to the Lady Aldori, then blossoms again, without quite the same sincerity.
"Awfy clumsy o'him, aye? Well, an' mayhap House Surtova willnae take kindly tae such a gallus frame-up. Common enemy, like?"

His jaw works, and he sighs.
"Gettin' a feel for the shape of this, an' it's none too pleasin'. Everythin' goes right, an' we've enemies at our doorstep 'fore we've so much as th'door itself. Like a wee screamin' bairn slippin' out the womb an' intae a scrap."

The way he looks at the scrap of paper with Margaret's husband's name on it, it might as well be an order for his execution. He reaches for it, then jerks his hand back, then brings it up as if to reach again.
"Misery loves company..."

 

OOC/mechanics

 

 

 

[Kistler]

Sija Bhatyani - Half-Elf Ranger 2 HP: 32/32 | AC: 19 | Speed: 25ft | Hero: 1/3 | Focus: 1/1 Perception: +8 | Fort: +8 | Ref: +7 | Will: +6  Conditions-None| ResourcesInfused Items: -2x Lesser Antidote -2x Minor Elixir of Life Consumables: - Talismans: - Items: - | AbilitiesFocus Spells: -Gravity Weapon Abilities -Darkvision -Flurry -Monster Hunter Actions: -Hunt Prey -Twin Takedown -Battle Medicine | Skills*Acrobatics: +5 *Arcana: +5 *Athletics: +8 Crafting: +1 Deception: +0 Diplomacy: +0 *Herbalism Lore: +5 Intimidate: +0 *Medicine: +6 **Nature: +8 *Occultism: +5 Performance: +0 *Religion: +6 Society: +1 *Stealth: +5 *Survival: +6 Thievery: +1 *Trained | **Expert | ***Master

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"Castruccio?" Sija chuckles. "Now there's the name of a man who can sing all the high notes." She looks at the others, "I don't like the sound of this other slippery villian. Very much not. I do hope we avoid him out our trip to the west."

She stands as Thomas takes the offered address of the bereaved man. "I may come along if you don't mind. Maybe I can offer some small comfort to the man." She says with the sympathetic tone of someone who is no stranger to loss herself.

---

OOC/Actions Other:  Action 1:  Action 2:  Action 3:  Reaction: None, yet Free:  Exploration Activity:

Feats -Elf Atavism (Darkvision) -Monster Hunter -Battle Medicine -Natural Medicine -Herbalist Dedication --Advanced Alchemy --Alchemical Crafting -Twin Takedown -Gravity Weapon

Appearance Sija looks like a typical Vudran woman, often dressing in the more traditional fabric wrap of her homeland and often a headscarf or shawl. She often wears some form of ornamentation or jewelry on hands, ears, neck, and brow. She is older than most, though as a half-elf she wears her six decades with dignity and grace, with few signs of the decrepitude often seen in similarly aged humans. She is tall, and stands with a straight back and good posture. Her arm is strong and well-corded with sinew and muscle, perhaps appearing a touch wiry, and her skin a bit weathered from years outside. Her hair was once a glossy black, though now it is streaked with gray; more with each passing day.   She can often be found with a cudgel, a wicked-looking curved dagger, and a whip hanging from her belt. She wears these, and warm outer clothes or a cloak to protect her from the elements, when she travels. When expecting trouble she throws a bandolier on that's filled with flasks of healing ointments and poultices.

Gear Worn -Clothing (Winter) -Breastplate -Backpack -Belt Pouch -Healer's tools -Bandolier   Weapons -Club -Corset Knife -2x Dandpatta -Flyssa -5x Darts -Whip   Containers Backpack -Bedroll -Climbing Kit -Rations (2 weeks) -5x Sacks -5x Torches -Waterskin   Bandoliers -4x Flasks Oil   Belt/Pouch -10x Chalk -Crowbar -Flint and Steel -Soap -2x Candles -1gp 6sp 6cp