The Noble Comes Calling

October 23, 2007

Before they left for Ladydove, Deuce was trying to get things in order at his shop.  He hadn't touched his books in a while, only having a vague idea of how things were going.  His kind of shop would normally not be very profitable, but his status as a "Hero of Arabel" helped a lot.  As such, he had a journeyman and three apprentices to handle most of the day to day stuff.  The Journeyman had long ago passed the point where he could start his own shop, but to do that, he would have to leave Cormyr, as to not compete with the "hero."  So, he stayed on, helping to train the apprentices and learning more for when he finally did have to go it on his own. 

Deuce had let his journeyman do most of the day to day work.  However, he had received notice that the noble would be there soon to check his books.  So, with a heavy sigh, Deuce sat down and started looking at the numbers.  It was tedious work, and not the kind that Deuce liked.  He would rather be creating another piece.  He was doing well and getting far when the bell on the front door rang.  Deuce put down his quill and went out front.  A noble couple was looking at his wares.  Deuce was still working on his "customer sense" and wasn't sure if they would buy or not.  He could tell they wouldn't attack him.  They had a few concealed weapons but nothing he was worried about.  So, he asked if they needed help.  They did have some questions, asking about several different pieces.  Eventually, they settled on a piece that had taken a while and barely haggled on the price.  Deuce sold it and showed them out. 

Deuce noticed movement across the way in an alley but didn't think anything of it at the time.  He went back to his books for a while.  After another hour, he got up to stretch his legs.  He saw a person watching the shop from an alley across the road.  Deuce wasn't completely sure but he looked like the same person who had been there before.  He wondered if he should do something about it. 

Across town, Notch was running some errands when he noticed the followers of Kossuth.  It was subtle enough that if he hadn't worn the colors a few years ago, he might not have noticed.  She had a red kerchef and yellow sash but they were earth tones and the rest of her outfit was a blue.  His pants were yellow and a vest had orange in it but the rest was browns and greens.  It was how they wore the colors as well as the colors themselves.  Notch held back to see what was happening.  They walked several times past Deuce's shop before going inside.  Notch waited until they came out and followed them back to their Inn.  He could tell they met up with some others there and didn't think he should try and take them all.  So, he settled down outside the Inn and watched them. 

Deuce slipped out a back way and went around to the alley where he saw the figure watching him.  As he came to the alley, he wasn't surprised to see the figure still there.  As he crept forward, he noticed the weapon at the figure's belt looked like a torch, but it was a mace.  And, he couldn't tell if it was a man or woman.  It was slender like a woman but the clothes were more masculine.  Deuce approached closer and that's when the figure turned, saying "I know you are there and . . . oh, it's you."  Deuce saw it was an elf who stood before him. 

"Who are you and what are you doing outside of my shop?" demanded Deuce. 

"Forgive me, I meant no harm.  I am J'quan, a follower of Kossuth.  I noticed that some other followers of Kossuth were watching your shop and figured that they might mean you harm, for whatever reason.  I could not allow that.  I do not like it when Kossuth's name is ruined, especially here in Cormyr.  So, I started watching for them, hoping to catch them in the act.  As they haven't been back in several hours, I assume this means they won't be back soon." 

"Oh," said Deuce, startled that he wasn't going to have to fight.  "Well, thanks.  Yeah, I saw them when they came into the store.  They bought a piece of my work and left." 

"Ah, well, then perhaps that was it.  Perhaps you are not their target after all.  I am sorry I bothered you." 

Deuce smiled and said that was okay. 

(Okay, I am foggy on what happened next.  For some reason, Notch comes back as J'quan and Deuce go to his shop.  J'quan casts a protection from evil over the back door, which Notch sees and doesn't recognize right away.  They talk a bit but Notch doesn't say much in front of J'quan, so he leaves.  He tells Deuce what he saw.  That's when Deuce figures out why they bought a piece he did.  It is to have a focus for a spell. 

Later, during the night, Notch (we determined he stays here as Deuce has plenty of space, even after his apprentices are housed) and Deuce are woken by Deuce's alarm spell.  They eventually find a hole in the roof that looks like fire caused it.  However, Deuce had the third floor blocked off, so no one could get down to them.  He arranges to have it fixed. 

The next morning, the noble arrives and starts looking at the books.  Deuce is pissed and stays that way.  Eventually, the noble confronts Deuce and wants the real books.  Deuce is wondering what he meant.  The noble points out how his business has been losing money, not much, but slowly going down.  Deuce sees that he is right and he didn't notice it because it was more with his shipments than his business in Arabel.  He makes a good business but this could have eventually hurt his expansions.  Deuce realizes that maybe the noble isn't so bad, and does want to protect his investment as well as help him.  Deuce arranges for Tequesta to go with a shipment and protect it.

The next day, they get a note to meet the noble.  When they arrived, he wanted to know why they wanted to meet here.  Crap.  That's when the attack happened.  After a few good shots, though, the ambushers were taken out pretty readily, although they did hurt the noble.  Again, he seemed to be a good guy, and Deuce now doesn't mind him as much.) 

Notes:

• Wow.  I waited too long before doing this.  I don't remember the details as well as I would like. 
• The idea behind this was for the characters to realize that something, more likely someone, was manipulating things so that their businesses and holdings were slowly losing money.  It would have taken years to happen but it was still there. 
• I brought up the possibility that even though they fought the Kossuth group that they may have reported back and so Thay and followers of Kossuth know about Notch not being dead. 
• I liked what we did but it was mostly filler, as one guy was missing and we had left with them at the Well.  So, we backtracked to two tendays that we skipped and filled that time out.