The Cassalanter Family:
CHES 25th (THE CLAW OF SUNSETS)
13:40 pm
Willifort Crowelle made it very clear that he was ever so pleased that they had agreed to visit Cassalanter Villa and that the Cassalanters would be eternally grateful too.
Zarek attempted to gauge his words to see if they were true, an insight into what whether they were here on false pretences or if they were truly Godly and generous as they had been told. Zarek believes that Willifort Crowelle was indeed pleased to see them and the Cassalanters would be too.
Zarek attempts to say a few words in Infernal to Willifort Crowelle, the Chief Butler, but he says that it would be rude to speak in a language not understood by others.
Lord And Lady Cassalanter:
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter introduces her husband, Lord Victoro Cassalanter, and they tell Alley and Zarek of their plight.
Ammalia Cassalanter does most of the talking and she directs her words at Zarek the Tiefling. Throughout their discussion Willifort Crowelle stays standing and waiting for any requests.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “The twins were cursed by Asmodean cultists to lose their souls on their ninth birthday.”
The Cassalanters explain that they have spent years researching a way to save their children’s lives, Terenzio and Elzerina.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “We have discovered a Ritual which can save them, but it requires a Grand sacrifice.”
Zarek attempt to see if Lady Ammalia Cassalanter is telling the truth and she appears to. However, he feels that she was holding something back. Lady Ammalia use of the word Grand also felt intentional.
Lady Ammalia then goes to the window and looks out at her children. Then she opens one of the windows and calls out to them and a female that had appeared.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “Children try not to get too dirty.”
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “Nana, make sure they don’t get into too much trouble.”
Alley and Zarek look out and they observe that the lady is also a Tiefling. Nana dresses in flowing red robes, red of complexion and looks to be mature in years.
Lord Victoro Cassalanter: “The sacrifice being one shy of a million Gold coins.”
Zarek senses that Lord Victoro is more a person of action and he lacked the diplomacy and gentle nature of his wife.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter explains that they had spent years now following leads that would provide a solution and that road was filled with those that helped and many more who exploited their situation.
Lord Victoro Cassalanter: “We are fortunately quite rich, but even in leveraging everything that we own we still can’t raise that monstrous sum. If they could get their hands on Neverember’s ill-gotten gains, though…”
Alley and Zarek finally realise that the Cassalanters know a lot more than they wish to be known and now their contact makes more sense.
Cassalanter Plea:
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “Victoro, as you can see, is very dedicated to the return of his children and our time is running out. Will the Heroes of the Field Ward please help them?”
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter explains that Terenzio and Elzerina will be 9 years of age soon and they are trying everything possible to complete their task and save their children.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “This endeavour nearly bankrupted us and it was a determination to succeed that brought us back from the brink to a point that we are very close to accomplishing our labour.”
Lady Ammalia went on to explain that they were also looking foe Neverembers Enigma and that they wanted to share their intelligence with Alley and Zarek.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “We have come at this Grand Game from a different angle and used our skills. Manpower, influence, connections and agents.”
Zarek notes that Lady Ammalia had use two different terms for the hunt for the Gold Dragons, this means that she knew more than many.
Lady Ammalia explains that her agents were at Trollskull Manor when the Fireball killed all those people and they noted that Alley and Zarek were very prominent. We knew that those befriended by Reamer Neverember also meant that they were of confidence and they also rescued Reamer Neverember and Floon Blagmaar.
More information that they had acquired regarding Alley and Zarek.
Also, the fact that they were nearly bankrupt, matched what Reamer Neverember told the Rogue.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “If we do become your Noble Patrons and swear to aid them and them alone, we are able to literally throw a mass of manpower at the problem. We can arrange for a dozen carts loaded with empty barrels and several dozen trusted servants to arrive at the location of the Gold Dragons, rapidly load the Gold into the barrels, and then cart it back to their estate.”
And then, of course, Lady Cassalanter turns to gaze wistfully at her children, Terenzio and Elzerina, frolicking with the butterflies.
Lord Victoro Cassalanter: “If you stand by our side we will always be by your side. Remember that when you make your decision.”
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “I can see that you are unsure and that is a shame. However, we are willing to allow you to think it over and hope that you are able to provide a response by tomorrow.”
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter and Lord Victoro Cassalanter thank Alley and Zarek for attending and they insist they stay and have some refreshments. Lord Victoro Cassalanter excuses himself as he has more leads to follow-up with, Lady Ammalia Cassalanter goes off with Willifort Crowelle and this leaves Alley and Zarek in the Reading Room alone.
Alley and Zarek discuss the offer by the Cassalanters and they are both uneasy and feel that there is more to the agreement than meets the eye.
Zarek: “I feel that they have been honest but they way this Grand Game has been unravelling they may be the best of a bad bunch.”
Alley: “They have the money and resources that we don’t. Also, I wouldn’t like to speculate what favours may be owed to them.”
Zarek: “By all accounts the Cassalanters were religious, conscientious, public spirited and obviously determined to find the Dragons first.”
The Bard then notices the lone leather-bound journal on the small table and she points at it and gestures for the Rogue to go and investigate it while she stays by the door.
Zarek, fearing the worst, elects to use his New ‘Magical Dagger’ to un-latch the clasp and flick through the pages. The Rogue, feeling under pressure, is unable to browse the book effectively and only manages to decern the following.
Cassalanter Journal:
The book turns out to be a Journal written with a strong handwriting and mentioning:
- The small book on the side table is a journal that must belong to Victoro Cassalanter.
- Victoro Cassalanter appears to use it to take notes while reading.
- It mostly contains dry observations on Atlases of Faerûn and History Books.
- Zarek can pick out a few notes made by Victoro Cassalanter that are unrelated to his reading but does not have enough time to read them.
Alley gestures to Zarek just before the door opens and in walked Willifort Crowelle, followed by a human female servant, Lady Ammalia Cassalanter and another Female Tiefling.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter introduces the female Tiefling to Zarek and then Alley. Her name is Madame Tissina Khyret and she is the personal attendant to Lady Ammalia Cassalanter and is the family’s chief housemaid.
Madame Tissina Khyret dresses in a long black gown and wears a headdress with black tassels. She appears to be the youngest Tiefling that they had meet in the Cassalanter Villa so far.
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter: “If you do decide to join our family and you have information you can leave it with either Willifort Crowelle or Madame Tissina Khyret.”
Lady Ammalia Cassalanter, Madame Tissina Khyret and the House Maid leave the Reading Room and Willifort Crowelle stays attending them both.
Zarek then hope to leave Alley in the Reading Room alone, as he asks to see the children before they leave. Willifort Crowelle points both Alley and Zarek towards the Mudroom and the door out into the Butterfly Garden. Alley not wanting to make thing awkward follows.
Zarek interacts with the Twins and promises to see then both soon. The real reason why the Rogue had gone to speak with them was to check to see if they had anything that looked out of place or concerning. Did they have any physical disfigurements or wounds that may go to show that they had been truly Cursed. The Rogue found nothing obvious on them both.
Zarek attempts to say a few words in Infernal to Laiba ‘Nana’ Rosse, the caretaker and private tutor for Terenzio and Elzerina, but she too stays silent and unwilling to respond.
Zarek and Alley are then taken to the Entrance Hall. There Alley and Zarek see that Lady Ammalia Cassalanter and Madame Tissina Khyret were speaking to another Tiefling, a male Red hued Chief, and several human servants. As Willifort Crowelle went to order for the carriage to be brought around, The Bard and Rogue listened into their conversation.
They were able to comprehend that they were preparing for a big feast, the Highcoin Ball. Alley later explains that it is held on the 30th of CHES.
Alley: “Which is close to when the Twins Birthday is due. Poor things.”
Alley and Zarek are taken back to Trollskull Alley and there they being to arrange things for tonight’s Eyecatcher Heist.
Trollskull Alley:
14:30 pm
The first port-of-call is at the Book Wyrm’s Treasure to acquire Spell Scrolls and to haggle the price with Rishaal the Page-Turner. Rishaal is very accommodating and Zarek is able to spin a tale of intrigue and subterfuge that excites Rishaal.
The Rogue and Bard agree on the following Scrolls and even Persuade Rishaal to cast a couple of Spells directly on them.
25 gp – Comprehend languages – 25 gp – Comprehend languages
75 gp – Darkvision (Cast)
75 gp – Invisibility – 75 gp – Misty Step
75 gp – Misty Step
150 gp – Water Breathing (Cast) – 150 gp – Water Breathing (Cast)
TOTAL: 650 gp – TOTAL PAID: 500 gp
Next the Rogue and Bard head over to the Corellon’s Crown is speak to Fala Lefaliir. Fala Lefaliir is also willing to help the Rogue and Bard as Zarek explains that they were investigating the death of the poor civilians murdered by the ‘Fireball’.
Alley also reminded the Rogue to ask Fala Lefaliir about their Potion and it was identified as a ‘Potion of Stone Giants Strength’.
Fala Lefaliir also agrees to a discount on the price and Alley and Zarek choose the following:
100 gp – Potion of Greater Healing – 100 gp – Potion of Greater Healing
100 gp – Potion of Greater Healing – 100 gp – Potion of Greater Healing
400 gp – Potion of Speed – 400 gp – Potion of Speed
TOTAL: 1,200 gp – TOTAL PAID: 900 gp
Well, now all we need to do is agree on the following:
- Contact Zelifarn and arrange to meet him prior to the Eyecatcher Heist.
- How to get to the Eyecatcher.
- How to enter the Eyecatcher.
- Choose the best way to exit the Scarlet Marpenoth.
- What Disguise to have running as a back-up to the Invisibility Spell. (1 Hour Duration)
- Choose the route down into the Eyecatcher hold after checking the Captain’s Cabin.
- Where to look for the information on the Assassin Nimblewright and the other Nimblewrights. (Now knowing that Captain Zardoz Zord works for the Luskan Political Machine.
- Find information regarding Bregan D’Aerthe and Jarlaxle Baenre.
- Find the way into the Scarlet Marpenoth via the Eyecatcher. (Three-quarters of the way down the Port side of the Eyecatcher)
- Find the Crystal Ball belonging to the Master Crystalmancer, and mother to Zelifarn, Asphosis.
- How to exit the Scarlet Marpenoth.