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The Broken Anvil was a fair bit nicer than the
Mermaid’s Mug, but it also looked a fair bit more expensive. This was
to be expected, to a degree, as the sign out front clearly identified
it as an establishment of the Hostler’s Guild and, therefore, House
Ghallanda. The three stepped inside, and were immediately greeted by a
matronly halfling woman.
“How can I help you fine adventurers?”
The three looked at each other; the warforged spoke
first. “We were told to come here at dawn . . . to meet someone, I
think.”
“Ah,” replied the proprietress of the establishment.
“Follow me, then.” The three followed her to the back, to a private
room.
Within the room sat a strikingly attractive woman in
a blue cloak. She smiled at them each in turn, then pointed to the
three pitchers on the table. “Ale, wine, and water. Please, sit down
and join me. We have important business to discuss.”
“We do?” asked Roy, unconvinced. “Who are you?
What do you know about the murdered man?”
“My name is Elaydren d’Vown, of House Cannith. The
murdered man, Bonal Geldem, was working for me when he died.”
Seeing their questioning looks, Elaydren explained
herself. She was a cousin of the blood of House Cannith, though not a
true heir. Baron Jorlanna d’Cannith, leader of the Aundairian sect of
House Cannith, had sent her to Sharn in search of an artifact called a
schema, a piece of a larger pattern used to create something,
though she did not know what. Bonal Geldem had been researching the
schema for her, and she believed that he had found out its location
just before he was murdered.
“While Geldem’s death is tragic, I refuse to allow
him to die in vain. As such, I will continue to search for the schema
until I find it. This is why I need the three of you.”
“What do you mean?” asked El.
“I am no adventurer. According to this,” she said,
pulling a leather-bound journal with they stylized symbol of an anvil
on its cover from her cloak, “the schema is in Sharn, in Dorasharn
Tower. It is below the lowest inhabited level of the tower, and its
location is, no doubt, dangerous. This is why I need you. I need the
three of you to recover the schema for me; you will be generously
rewarded. I am prepared to give you one hundred gold now, for
expenses, and another nine hundred when you deliver the schema to me.”
“One thousand gold? Why spend that much? Why not
get House Cannith to find it?”
“As I’ve said, I report to Jorlanna d’Cannith.
Sharn’s sect of House Cannith is ruled over by Merrix d’Cannith. If
Merrix’s people find the schema and its counterparts, it will ensure
that he becomes the ruler of all of House Cannith; I would prefer that
the ruler by Jorlanna. Not only that, but a large contingent of
Aundairian Canniths would attract Merrix’s attention. It’s simply
easier for me to hire outside of the house in this respect.”
Accepting her answer, the three companions nodded.
“Alright, we’ll do it. Where are we going?”
“I don’t know the exact location of the schema,
because Bonal’s journal doesn’t specify it. I do know that it is in
Dorasharn Tower, and that the entrance to its holding place is near
Valve Cluster 213. Unfortunately, I don’t know where this Valve
Cluster is, either, at least not specifically. I know the general
area, and I’ve marked it on this map for you. The map will get you to
the right area; from there you’ll just have to ask around.”
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