Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 25, 2006 10:16:04 GMT -5
21 Hammer 1372
Since arriving in Lethtar nearly a tenday ago, the execution was the first time the four men who'd rescued Jonathan Preten and his daughter Hannah had reunited. It was required, of course, by the nobility. They needed to have their heroes front and center. The executions were a message to the brigands that a threat of death awaited those who wished to steal or harm the merchants and families of Lethtar, the heroes were the proof of capability. The recognition was slim, of course, but there were whispers here and there about each of the men. Some flattering, some not. It would likely die down though given another tenday or so.
Jonathan Preten had requested the heroes' presence once again, however. He'd made it known to Jervis Dench that their assistance was required. There was a matter that the nobility needed seeing to, and in a previous conversation between Dench and Preten, Preten had confessed that the four men were among the few he trusted. Little Hannah probably played into that, honestly, but that was both good for business and good for the heart in Dench's case.
As they were personally escorted into Preten's office by no less than five Preten Family guards, young Hannah could be seen on the opposite end of the house clutching a small Gnomish doll in her hand. She didn't seem to notice the men entering her father's office and that was probably for the best. This was a business matter today.
Jonathan Preten motioned for the men to take a seat across from him. A chair suitable for a Gnome but slightly raised to the eye level of taller races had been placed in the office since Jervis' last visit. When the men were finally seated, Jonathan Preten began.
"I am going to pray that I speak privately here, amongst men and friends," he said first, as a bit of a disclaimer it would seem, "We have located the base of operations for the Goblins involved in the kidnapping attempt on me and my daughter. The Pretens do not have the men suited to investigating this problem further, nor could we spare them if we did. Or rather...we wouldn't be allowed to do so if we did. I'll explain this later, but the matter has been brought before the King.
"I'd like you to handle the investigation further. I know nothing about their numbers, only their location. They have not only taken to hiring out their services for a cut of profit, but they're branching out on their own and harassing some of the Elven caravans coming in from the North into Lethtar.
"They've stationed themselves in the Featherale Ruins along the road to Sundrah. It is a day's ride or so to the ruins for you. My men questioned the prisoners before their execution about the possibility of a trap, but both claimed the plan was to simply take the gold and release us to my wife. We were only to be harmed if she failed to be compliant. Whether that was a lie or this is simply a coincidence...I don't know. It matters very little at this point. But I would like for you to go to the Ruins and investigate this matter further. If it is possible to deal with these Goblins, I task you to do that as well. You will be well-compensated. I am willing to pay you 500 gold for the initial investigation. Should you capably eliminate this threat for us...I will up the pay another thousand gold. Any goods you can return to us, I promise you half of the profits. We are losing a lot of gold because of these Goblins. The situation is worse than I had thought it. But my reports from Sundrah and a brief glance at our financial trackings have proven that its true.
"Even worse than that...we are losing lives," his tone grows very grave beyond this, "Guards are being slain and merchants and vendors are being murdered. Women and children have been taken in a few rare instances. Human guards have worked with the goblins in a few cases as well which makes it so that the Elves are losing their trust in us. We receive many of our herbs and medicines from the Elves. But they are refusing to place shipments without Wood Elf guards from the forests to protect them along the way.
"This will be confidential. Our dealings, that is. The ruins are at a half-way point between Sundrah and Lethtar. The King claims that this is an Elven problem...that the Elves should deal with it. The Elves claim this is a human concern, and that we are responsible for this infestation so far South and should deal with it ourselves. This is a political nightmare. And lives and money are being lost on both sides. We ship food, minerals and metals gathered here from all of True Lantan for the Elves. It needs to be dealt with...quickly, properly...and quietly."
He looks at each of you individually and then asks, "Can you do this for me?"
Since arriving in Lethtar nearly a tenday ago, the execution was the first time the four men who'd rescued Jonathan Preten and his daughter Hannah had reunited. It was required, of course, by the nobility. They needed to have their heroes front and center. The executions were a message to the brigands that a threat of death awaited those who wished to steal or harm the merchants and families of Lethtar, the heroes were the proof of capability. The recognition was slim, of course, but there were whispers here and there about each of the men. Some flattering, some not. It would likely die down though given another tenday or so.
Jonathan Preten had requested the heroes' presence once again, however. He'd made it known to Jervis Dench that their assistance was required. There was a matter that the nobility needed seeing to, and in a previous conversation between Dench and Preten, Preten had confessed that the four men were among the few he trusted. Little Hannah probably played into that, honestly, but that was both good for business and good for the heart in Dench's case.
As they were personally escorted into Preten's office by no less than five Preten Family guards, young Hannah could be seen on the opposite end of the house clutching a small Gnomish doll in her hand. She didn't seem to notice the men entering her father's office and that was probably for the best. This was a business matter today.
Jonathan Preten motioned for the men to take a seat across from him. A chair suitable for a Gnome but slightly raised to the eye level of taller races had been placed in the office since Jervis' last visit. When the men were finally seated, Jonathan Preten began.
"I am going to pray that I speak privately here, amongst men and friends," he said first, as a bit of a disclaimer it would seem, "We have located the base of operations for the Goblins involved in the kidnapping attempt on me and my daughter. The Pretens do not have the men suited to investigating this problem further, nor could we spare them if we did. Or rather...we wouldn't be allowed to do so if we did. I'll explain this later, but the matter has been brought before the King.
"I'd like you to handle the investigation further. I know nothing about their numbers, only their location. They have not only taken to hiring out their services for a cut of profit, but they're branching out on their own and harassing some of the Elven caravans coming in from the North into Lethtar.
"They've stationed themselves in the Featherale Ruins along the road to Sundrah. It is a day's ride or so to the ruins for you. My men questioned the prisoners before their execution about the possibility of a trap, but both claimed the plan was to simply take the gold and release us to my wife. We were only to be harmed if she failed to be compliant. Whether that was a lie or this is simply a coincidence...I don't know. It matters very little at this point. But I would like for you to go to the Ruins and investigate this matter further. If it is possible to deal with these Goblins, I task you to do that as well. You will be well-compensated. I am willing to pay you 500 gold for the initial investigation. Should you capably eliminate this threat for us...I will up the pay another thousand gold. Any goods you can return to us, I promise you half of the profits. We are losing a lot of gold because of these Goblins. The situation is worse than I had thought it. But my reports from Sundrah and a brief glance at our financial trackings have proven that its true.
"Even worse than that...we are losing lives," his tone grows very grave beyond this, "Guards are being slain and merchants and vendors are being murdered. Women and children have been taken in a few rare instances. Human guards have worked with the goblins in a few cases as well which makes it so that the Elves are losing their trust in us. We receive many of our herbs and medicines from the Elves. But they are refusing to place shipments without Wood Elf guards from the forests to protect them along the way.
"This will be confidential. Our dealings, that is. The ruins are at a half-way point between Sundrah and Lethtar. The King claims that this is an Elven problem...that the Elves should deal with it. The Elves claim this is a human concern, and that we are responsible for this infestation so far South and should deal with it ourselves. This is a political nightmare. And lives and money are being lost on both sides. We ship food, minerals and metals gathered here from all of True Lantan for the Elves. It needs to be dealt with...quickly, properly...and quietly."
He looks at each of you individually and then asks, "Can you do this for me?"