Vala scene setting:
Vala is a little hungover the next morning but she still gets up early bc has to make up for her missed evening prayers.
She again adds Tyr to her list and asks him to watch over Orda and Silverwing in death and his steadfast servant Sildar in life. She also asks him to guide her in her conversations with him so that she may give him any comfort she can after all he’s lost.
Tomlin still asleep but she’s fine by midday. She braids her hair back into a clara, puts on one of Edda's old dresses, and walks there.
Sildar scene setting:
Vala finds Sildar sitting at a table with two chairs in the large foyer of the Townmaster's Hall. The table is set for lunch
Vala: Vala steps inside and slows without quite meaning to. “Greetings, Sildar. Thank you for inviting me. It’s good to see you this morning.” She smiles, soft and unguarded. “I hope I have not kept you waiting."
Sildar: He stands, and says "Oh no, my Lady. Well yes, I was waiting, but there was no 'kept' about it. My thanks for taking time to share a meal with me. I hope the repast will suffice. I had Toblin put together a simple picnic meal that would travel well. Nothing is hot, unfortunately, but the food from the Stonehill is always a sight better than my usual road rations.
Vala: Vala smiles more broadly and says “I assure you, anything from the Stonehill is already a luxury compared to what most of us call a meal on the road. I think it sounds perfect.”
Sildar: "I rarely indulge in midday meal, but I didn't want to take you away from yours when I requested your presence. Thank you again for meeting me here. I tire of my constant toil in this place, but there is so much to do... and so little time to do it."
Vala: "I'm glad I could entice you into sitting still and taking care of yourself for once," she teases a little. "If I may ask, what has you in such a rush here? I thought it the redbrands, but your determinedness has not waivered."
Sildar: "Oh there is just so much to do to bring about a change for the better in Phandalin. The townsfolk running the businesses have done an admirable job at keeping their hamlet vital and functional, but they have been doing so with some disadvantage I'm afraid." And he looks up to the Townmaster's Residence. "As far as I can tell there have been numerous... ill begotten actors at play here."
Vala: "It is remarkable to see the town survive at all, but yes there are many.... " and she looks up at the ceiling at the same time, "disadvantages." then sees he did the same and chuckles a little. "He truly is a shit."
Sildar: He chuckles a bit. "A shit is more than our illustruous Town Master deserves. Shit can at least grow grain."
Vala: she snorts a little, takes a seat. the road has been hell on her manners
Sildar: "Oh yes, how rude of me! Please sit!" He pulls out Vala's chair for her
Vala: she blushes and sits, thanking him warmly
Sildar: He pushes her chair in, then sits back down in his
Vala: "So not just Wester and Albrek, it goes back further still?" just like, talking to will the blush from her face
Sildar: He takes the linen cover off of the food. There are some small sandwiches of cured meat and cheese. A fresh herb salad and a small bowl of berries.
Vala: "This is delightful, Sildar. Thank you." she plucks a berry and waits for him to continue
Sildar: "The berries are quite good. I have no idea where Toblin found fresh berries this early in the season. The Good Folk never cease to amaze me."
Vala: "Toblin is a man of many wonders, as are they all." and she thinks of little Carp and wonders what all he's seen
Sildar: "Anyway. As you mentioned, Albrek was only a small player in the threats to Phandalin. Wester is a certainly a nuisance, but his involvement seems to be fairly incidental as well. Please don't misunderstand me. The man is a public menace. But only in the shallowest of respects."
Vala: "Oh I understand. My father's father was cut from the same cloth. There are worse things than slovenly ineptitude."
Sildar: "He is an avaricious but completely inept bufoon. He seems to have possibly been elected by an accident of circumstances. No one was particularly interested in taking the Townmaster's seat at the time of the last election, mostly due to the fact that the majority of the official business was being conducted through the Phandalin Miner's Exchange."
Vala: "So it's a vanity position? Or it was?"
Sildar:
"Well, in Wester's case, very much so. The position does carry significant powers and responsibilities that are enshrined in the village charter. However, Wester has been either unwilling or unable to bring his powers to bear or fulfill his responsibilities."
Vala: "It would honestly be hard to say which."
Sildar: "He seems to have mostly been soliciting "investments" into civic improvement that go nowhere. Luckily very few have bought into his chicanery."
Vala: "That's a comfort, at least."
Sildar: "Upon the arrival of The Redbrands, he sort of fell into his own trap. He met with the original leader of the Redbrands, believing they were a chartered mercenary company and when they took his size, they quickly realized how easy a mark they were dealing with, one that could give them free rein with the entirety of Phandalin. They scared him enough that I sincerely suspect he has not left his Residence since the day of that meeting."
Vala: "Even still?"
Sildar: "He simply doesn't believe the Redbrands are gone. I think he may be a bit addled in the brain."
Vala: "Gods
Sildar: "Yes. Please do not misunderstand me. He deserves little pity. He's a charlatan, a thief, and a tacit conspirator with truly malicious entities. But... an ineffectual one." He chuckles slightly.
Vala: "But the poor people beneath him. No wonder you lock yourself away in here trying to right it all."
Sildar: "My concern is the damage that has already been done to the township. Phandalin has grown enough to become a target, which we've seen from the Many-Arrows raiders that you and your friends so expertly dispatched."
"The town should have an organized militia at the least. Perhaps even some rudimentary fortifications. That takes time, coin, and planning. Something that should already be in the works but is not. I fear that without significant investment and effort, the town could face many dangers come winter that could lead to her failure... or even destruction."
Vala: Vala sits up rigidly at that
Sildar: "Phandalin has a long history of growth followed by ruin. I was sent here to keep that from happening again. Waterdeep certainly has her eyes set on the fair little hamlet for its own reasons, but it could also serve as a significant means to revive fair Neverwinter.
If whatever Gundren was so excited about pans out, Phandalin could quickly become a source of trade, political power, and stability that could serve as a waypoint from the east and south in supplying Neverwinter, but without finding Gundren, that future is called into question."
Vala: Vala chews her lip a little and thinks.
Sildar: "Phandalin has good bones. But the old girl needs to put some meat on them to really catch the eyes of her potential suitors."
He looks up at Vala and realizes what he said. "Sorry, my Lady..."
Vala: Vala is looking at him extremely amused
Sildar: "I sometimes forget I'm not talking to my subordinates anymore."
Vala: "I've been on the road with Persi, Sildar. It's quite alright."
Sildar: "Ah yes. But I hope I cast a little more of a refined shadow than that odd little monk." He smiles,
Vala: She looks at him a little more appraisingly than she means to. "I assure you, you do."
Sildar: "That reminds me, the reason I asked you to meet. Other than to enjoy your company, of course--"
Vala: more blushing
Sildar: "--I wanted to apologize for my comportment yesterday. Your revelation that you had found poor Orda and Silverwing simply took all reason from me. I felt as if I had been wandering the Fugue Plane for untold millenia and fair Kelemvor suddenly appeared and told me my soul had finally been claimed."
Vala: "Oh, Sildar, there is no apology necessary."
Sildar: "I appreciate your saying that, my Lady."
Vala: "I'm just sorry I could not do more for you, it is a sundering blow. I tried to pray over them..."
Sildar: "Oh, no, no, my Lady! You have done more for me than you can ever understand. I had lost all hope of ever knowing what happened to two of the most important things I have ever had in my life.
I knew in my soul they were gone. But I knew not how. I feared they were each lost, alone and isolated, waiting for me to come to them and bring them to safety... or to their ultimate glory. To know they were together in the end brings me a comfort that I find very rarely in this Era of Upheaval."
Vala: Vala listens very openly, she hadn't quite realized what this had meant, and very softly she says "It was so, so peaceful." Her eyes are slightly misted. "I hope you understand why I had to show you. I do apologize for the invasion, Grandmere always said it worked best like that, that we let each other in around the eyes."
Sildar: "Oh, I felt no invasion Lady."
Vala: "I am so glad, Sildar. I had worried I had overstepped"
Sildar: "I have had my mind turned inside out against my will by means arcane and psionic. Those were violations. Yours was nothing but a blessing from fair Mystra. The coincidence of your rescue of the memories of Orda and Silverwing was very much a shock to me considering my work here in Phandalin, especially in the location you found them. It brings some closure to one of the most tragic events in my life that inadvertently ushered in one of the happiest and most unexpected revelations." He sort of looks off into the distance with a somewhat melancholy smile
Vala: Vala tilts her head curious. "I find happiness oft blooms from sorrow. It is a wonderful thing. Though you seem almost sad, Sildar."
Sildar: "Oh no, my Lady. Just... unsure. I don't want to trouble you with my, um.... personal worries. You surely have much on your mind in preparing for the next leg of your pursuit into the wilds."
Vala: "Sildar. You are no trouble. I should like to think of us as friends, if you would like that." and she smiles at him very openly. "Besides I find myself with blessedly little to do now that Tomlin is back with me. He keeps very very busy, the batty old codger."
and she has just the fondest look on her face. "I hoped to trouble you with a favor besides and I would be gladdened to lighten your burden in turn."
Sildar: "Oh, my Lady, you have already lightened my burden much, there is no need to do so more. And, please, a favor for a noble Lady of Neverwinter can never be a "trouble" in my mind. What do you wish of me?"
Vala: She laughs a little. "I find myself to be Lady of Little as of late, but Tomlin..." and her smile cracks "He is all I have. I hate leaving him here, but he cannot come back on the road. I find you are the only person I trust. Would you look after him?" Her hands shake a little and she clasps them in her lap to hide it. "I had not been thinking much of it all until I saw him again and now... she sighs. I just worry I suppose."
Sildar: "Oh, my Lady. Your trust in me is flattering, I must say. I was planning on doing that anyway. It may be some time until I can arrange for safe passage for him wherever you'd like him to go, but as long as he's in Phandalin, he will have my sword and my shield at his side.
Vala: She's surprised he had thought to do this already. "Thank you sildar. I can't tell you what it means to me to know my only family is safe."
Sildar: "Family, my Lady? Is he of your blood?"Vala: her eyes go misty. "No... I... I'm the last. But he good as raised me, he's been a part of the family as long as I've been alive."
Sildar: "Ah... I see."Vala: "It feels foolish to treat him as less."
Sildar: "I must say, my Lady, you continue to surprise me pleasantly."Vala: she cocks her head a little at that
Sildar: "I've known countless member of the 'noble' class in my days And I dare say few of them live up to their official distinctions."Vala: "Ah, I know the ilk you speak of. My Mama, Savras keep her, had her salon of clucking hens and Papa his braggarts clubs."
Sildar: "Especially when their own hides or kin are not on the line."Vala: "I found myself too busy suppose. Lucky, though it didn't feel so at the time." and she laughs a little
Sildar: "I will protect good Tomlin as if he were a Silverton under my official charge."Vala: She places her hand lightly on his. "I cannot thank you enough. I will rest much easier knowing he is safe. He spoke very highly of you, as it were... and if you're aminable to plum brandy I'm sure he could spin you a tale. He does love to drink and talk, and odd as it is to say, he is quite good at it."
Sildar: "I've yet to find a spirit I'm not amenable to, my Lady winks."Vala: She laughs, crinkling her eyes and blushes a little at the wink. Then before she pulls her hand away, tightens her grip slightly and assures him, "We will find Reidoth, and the location of the Castle and the Forge. We will find Gundren. And we will save these people." She looks very determined for, like, how she looks.
Sildar: "I know you will Lady. And the Blessings of Gods of Protection will go with you, I am sure."Vala: "This Phandalin will not fall. and she smiles. We won't let it."
Sildar: "I will do what I can here to ensure that Phandalin is in the best way it can be for when you return. With our combined efforts, I believe Phandalin will be worthy of recognition and protection in the Alliance."Vala: She stiffens at the mention of the Alliance, but forces herself to relax. "I truly hope so. Phandalin could truly be a gem of a hamlet under a fair hand."
Sildar: He notices her change and seems a bit surprised, "Oh, she's already a gem, my Lady. She just needs the powers that be to notice her polish."Vala: "hear hear!" then after a tense hesitation, Vala asks "Sildar... when you write to the Alliance about this place... about us..."
she nervously twists her hands in her lap, "How do you identify us?"
Sildar: "Us, my Lady? The townsfolk of Phandalin?"Vala: "My... compatriots and I."
Sildar: "Oh, your Party! My Lady, the Alliance has little interest in the details of the lives of everyone living in or passing through Phandalin." He leans in and whispers, "And, frankly, it's none of their damned business."Vala: Vala breaks into a genuine shit-eating grin at that and fully relaxes.
Sildar: "I am an agent for the Alliance, but I am also a free man. I make decisions for myself, not for them. And what the Lords of Waterdeep or the lords of any other place do not know, will not hurt them. They wont hurt you, or ANYONE I care for. That's why I've placed so much importance in my mission here."Vala: "You're... you're making a safe haven."
Sildar: He looks around. "Now we're onto something, my Lady. There will always be Lords, for good or for ill."Vala: Vala mutters, "There will always be Landers."
Sildar: "But they can't always be everywhere."Vala: Vala takes that in thoughtfully
Sildar: "That's the job of the foot soldiers and the functionaries."Vala: And vala smiles and says "and their loyalty isn't always to lords"
Sildar: "The Lords have no idea what we tin soldiers do on the ground as long as they hear what they need to hear. And those soldiers... and their families... and anyone under their guard can be better for it, and most importantly, left alone.If done right, Phandalin can be a good place to raise a child. A child who will not know the influence nor the neglect of some Lords"
Vala: Vala presses her nails into her palms a little at that. "There would be no more noble goal. I could not think of a better place to call home"
Sildar: "But, if done with the appropriate finesse.... she can still know their protection." He considers that idea very intently.Vala: "Sildar you're right. With Neverember to the north and the Lords of Waterdeep to the east..."
Sildar: And then realizes he is saying it out loud and sort of pulls himself back in. Like he was saying something he shouldn't be saying aloud and he sort of looks around suspiciouslyVala: Vala casts the message cantrip and speaks softly in his head "no spies here, my confederate" and winks at him in real life. [he can respond anytime she does that it's how the cantrip works]
Sildar: "perhaps not HERE, but mages have a way of hearing without being there" and he winks backVala: Vala sighs and says, "no safe haven yet, then."
Sildar: "Yet."Vala: another big smile. she hasn't smiled this much in years. Her face is going to hurt tomorrow and she doesn't care. Tomlin almost killed her with the cellar bit
Sildar: "Can I ask you a personal question my Lady?"Vala: "Of course, Sildar. After everything, please feel free to ask whatever you'd like."
Sildar: "Do...cough um pardon my indiscretion, did you have any siblings?"Vala: Vala takes a breath and says, "I think, to answer that question, I would have to answer others. Which I am happy to do but first...." she leans in a little close and whispers, "Sildar, do you know who I am? Do you know what I am? Or... was I suppose."
Sildar: He again, looks around and whispers, "You are a Silverton. A noble of Neverwinter.... Possibly the LAST noble of NeverwinterThat's enough for me to know that you want very few other people to know that."
Vala: She extremely discretely pulls out her grandmothers pendant from the long chain it hangs from. It's like, the Alagondar crest but includes an open oracles eye in the center of the bulls forehead and she presses it into his hand and she says, "I believe you knew my father. He likely... had others."
Sildar: "I've worked for nobles my entire life, my Lady. I understand you well."
Vala: "But I knew nothing of them, I was kept from them. Grandmere disapproved. Why do you ask?"
Sildar: "I can't fully say, my Lady. Familial relationships are strange things."Vala: "That they are." and she looks at him quizzically
Sildar: "Ties of blood suggest that there should be some inherent connection between people, more than strangers at least."Vala: She smiles a little ruefully, "but that isn't how it works at all, is it"
Sildar: "No I haven't experiened that as such.I had 2 brothers, one younger, one older, but there were considerable years between us. It made us more akin to strangers in a way I was very close with my younger brother, despite the distance between us being greater in years."Vala: "What was he like?"
Sildar: "He was... he was a very kind boy. Thoughtful."Vala: She smiles sadly, noting the past tense. "He sounds sweet"
Sildar: "He was. He died in the Ruining with the rest of my family, unfortunately."Vala: She places her hand over his softly. "Surviving is lonely work. I am sorry, Sildar."
Sildar: "It's alright, my Lady, it was some time ago now."Vala: "I hope I feel that way, someday."
Sildar: "I do too my Lady. As uncaring as that sounds it was the same with Orda and Silverwing. The pain was too much to bear. If it went on for too long, I fear I would not have been able to survive it. I was lucky in a way, for I did not have to bear it alone."Vala: "How do you mean?"
Sildar: "I shared my loss with someone who had a similar loss to bear."Vala: She smiles at that. "I am glad you were not alone, Sildar."
Sildar: "Thank you, my Lady. It makes my heart glad that you do not have to bear your loss alone either. You have found your kin, even though he's not your blood."Vala: She smiles truly then. "Blood is not everything and Tomlin is worth a hundred Landers."
Sildar: "It was very similar to my experience. Finding kin but not where you'd expect it. It helped me considerably and I hope it will do the same for you."Vala: Her smile goes very soft. "I am so very glad you found family, Ser. I hope to meet them someday, anyone you hold dear... I think I would be honored to know. And thank you for shielding my kin in my absence."
Sildar: "If our separate endeavors in Phandalin succeed and the fates so align, I believe you will meet them someday."Vala: "I do feel victory in the air as of late."
Sildar: "Even here? Now? Sitting downwind of... that?" And he nods his head up the stairs toward Wester's quarters and slowly smilesVala: She looks up and grins. "The midsummer elections come, Sildar. Things cannot stay as they were and so far, we're winning."
Sildar: "Just a few tendays ago I thought my end was nigh in a stinking cave surrounded by goblins. Now I'm eating finger sandwiches with a fair Lady many would say is farther beyond my station than the Tears of Selune, so I'll certainly count my recent history as a win!"Vala: "And I trapped in some sham marriage like a gilded cage for all my days." she smiles and looks around, "I much prefer freedom and present company."
Sildar: "Aye, my Lady. As do I. For you and for all."Vala: She smiles at him
Sildar: "I have kept you for your preparations for long enough. And I should get back to my mortal battle with the Shambling Mound of documents in the yonder battlefield. We will speak again, Lady. And soon, I hope."Vala: She mock salutes him, "Good luck in the trenches, ser. And know that I would be pleased to break fast with you any time."
Sildar: "In the meantime, a piece of advice from an old knight."Vala: Vala's ears are perked for any Sildar advice, always
Sildar: "Stay behind Orthanc. If I had a walking source of cover as large and formidable as him, I would have dedicated myself to archery rather than trying to lance my foes while diving face first toward my death at the ground."Vala: she summons a little orb of fire in the palm of her hand and says, "raining fire from above it is then, Commander."
Sildar: He smiles and gives her a small, sly salute from the edge of his brow and then walks toward the records room.