Renevere Mars: Part Three

Episode 34: Sir Larian's Business

The squad met with the wealthy businessman who had employed them the morning after they arrived in Portolm. He lived in a tall building with a butler and gaudy statues. He gave them the package, which was a large sum of money they had been hired to transport to a neighboring town. Ren hardly recalled the details of exactly what this exchange was for, some payment for some business transaction which hardly mattered to the group of them. The task was simple, and probably could be considered an Echo level mission if it didn't involve so much traveling outside of Ossilith. They expected to have no troubles on their path to Rindol, though it would be a longer journey than the day before, and they would have to run for much of it. Ren was used to this now, hardly even noticing the drain on her energy as they made quick time charging down the open rolling hillsides, grey and dull from winter. At least the running would keep them warm.

Before long they were arriving in Rindol, right around the time of evening when Ren's stomach was just starting to grumble for diner. It was very easy to find the target's home. Sir Larian was how he was referred to, though what the 'Sir' exactly implied, Ren wasn't sure. If his grand estate lawn, peaked with a stately white mansion was any indication, it might just have implied money. The hedges were neatly trimmed with the occasional sculpture carved out of them, a pair of matching elephants at the front gates balancing a ball on their trunks. The golden gates before them were tall enough they would be difficult even for a warrior to jump over. The four of them stood before the gate, pausing to observe the grandeur of the gardens within, the faint sounds of a nearby fountain trickling through the air.

"Do we just... go in?" Sam asked. It was a valid question. An estate like this certainly felt like the kind that would have guardsman, or at least someone manning the gate to let in visitors. But the gate itself stood barren and from what they could see beyond, down the pebble path that wound up to the mansion beyond, the grounds were deserted.

Duren put his hand against the gate and gave it a nudge as a test. "I guess so," he said, as the gate swung open easily. They passed through the gates and walked leisurely down the path, pebbles crunching loudly under their feet. Ren couldn't help feel a bit eerie. They ascended the front steps of the grand mansion, past the tall white columns and up to the grand front door with windows on either side stretching higher than a normal building story. Through them Ren could easily see a beautiful, open entry way with great portraits painted with care, framed in fanning leaves of gold. Sir Larian was a very successful art trader of some kind, or an artistic entrepreneur, or something of the like that was so far from Ren's vocabulary of knowledge she didn't quite understand. He made his living in art, she knew this at least, and that much was clear in the meticulous care that was put into the lawn and what she could see of the entry way. Nothing was loud or noisy or out of place, but nothing was quite ordinary either. From the elephants at the gates to the vibrant pink and lavender tapestry that hung by a mirror tall enough for a giant, and everything between, felt eclectic yet inherently distinguished.

"Where are the house staff?" Ren remarked after pulling her gaze from peering into the foyer. Shouldn't someone be coming to the door?

Duren had already rapped the knocker, clanging the golden arm of the mysterious woman in the center of both grand double doors against the base plate, but he gave her arm another few knocks for good measure. Still, no one came to the door. It was utterly silent inside the house. Ren was about to make another remark when finally she could hear footsteps with in, and the door swung open.

"Oh, hello, hello," said a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard and an expensive sports coat. "You must be the warriors from Ossilith."

"We are," Duren said. "We've come to deliver the package?"