The Profligate Nephew

The House of Agnolo has run the Bank of Aqilia in the Free Provinces for centuries, and seldom has a problem collecting from its debtors. But the Free Provinces are across the Dagger Sea from Westrun, and from time to time the nobles of the Eight Kingdoms do seem to forget that they have debts to pay.


So it was with Lord Symen Strathurst. He owed a staggering debt borrowed against his own fortune and by treading on the good name of his family. House Agnolo is not pleased.

By fate or fortune, two adventurers found themselves in the Free Provinces, gambling at an establishment owned by Luca Agnolo, a second cousin to Jacen Agnolo, the paterfamilias of that noble house. Shael Reese and Attalah of Southrun were in high spirits, and spending their fortune, when approached.

"I have a task for you that will pay 10% of whatever you can induce our debtor to pay," Luca promised.

Attalah answered, "How much are you owed?"

"Thirty-five gold bars," Luca answered.

The two adventurers looked at one another and stepped away from the game of Death-and-Taxes.

Luca continued, "I don't care what means you use, only make him realize that failing to pay is a more expensive proposition than paying."

Attalah and Shael smiled at one another and immediately booked passage aboard a spice trader. The Sea Sprite was bound for Watersedge in six days time -- which gave them plenty of time to exorcise their gambling demons. While waiting, they fell in with Bartolo the Extorter, and a copy clerk named Abadini, who also claimed to be a wizard.

A dozen days later, upon arriving in Watersedge, they set about learning what they could from the copyists guild, the fighters' guilds and a shadowy network known only to the likes of Bartolo. They immediately learned that the name Strathurst was very well known. Symen was the nephew to the King Stefan Strathurst of Talir.

Compounding their ill fortune, the shadowy network known to Bartolo advised that Symen was under their protection. This latter bit of news caused Bartolo to book immediate passage back to the Free Provinces, leaving Attalah, Shael and their clerk/wizard pondering how best to do the job.