[2] The Library & The Lighthouse

The man who introduced himself to you in his letter as Fallowcrest is waiting for you the next morning in your inn. He's younger, perhaps only thirty, if that, and has clearly enjoyed a life of small surplus. His clothes are not overly ostentatious, but he's a bit plump, and he has no seeming worry over finances. He's having breakfast when you come down, stabbing pieces of scrambled eggs and ham off of a huge pile he's apparently ordered for all of you, as he gestures you over to sit and eat. "Come, come! We've got a lot of work ahead of us, so we'll need lots of energy. Eat up! If this isn't enough, I'll order more, though I may have to send a girl to the market by the look your landlady was giving me. How are you all?"

He pauses just long enough to take a bite, and then launches into speech again. "I think you'll all enjoy the day. My library is one of the oldest in the city. It actually predates the city, in point of fact, because my great-great-grandfather claimed it in lieu of a share of his treasure back when this was just a pirate haven. I have the finest collection of historical and prophesorial tomes in Stormreach, almost certainly in all of Xen'drik, and probably in most of Eberron too. But... The years were not kind to my family, and I've only recently been able to afford a restoration. The books will have to be moved and catalogued to get them out of the way of the repair work. That's where you come in."

Fallowcrest gives S'sylin a discerning look, eyebrow raised as he finishes off another bite of ham. "I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. And I do have guards at the library already. What I really need you for as --" He nods toward Astrid, "Are you Astrid or Verin? I'm sorry, I've only been given names... As she said I need help making sure all the books are kept orderly. Though I have no doubt that if it does become neccesary, you will be able to handle whatever miscreants come our way."

Fallowcrest gives a little shake of his head and a small shrug. "I have a few great lugs who can move the books once they're put into the boxes. They're very nice people, really salt of the earth, but I really wouldn't trust them with more... delicate work. If you know what I mean. So if you can load them into the boxes, that will be just fine. We'll just be moving them outside for the day. Once they're outside, we'll spellwash the walls and repair the shelves, and then they can be moved back in. It should take maybe three days tops."

He cants his head toward Verin and eyes her critically for a moment. "You know, there very well might be a need for that. I hadn't considered it, but some of the books are rather old... Yes, I daresay more than a few might need rescribing. I'd hardly want to put that work off on you, though, at least not in the middle of the clean. It would take forever. Let's finish the clean first, but please, mark down any book that you feel need restorative work or replacement."

"Indeed, this is an assignment from your professor, but..." Fallowcrest harrumphs into his napkin in the way that someone who doesn't very much need to use one might do if he were trying his very best to be unobtrusively obvious, "I daresay if things go smoothly I could part with a little something. The lighthouse tower has been collecting what one might call objets d'art for years now. As for when we start... Well, we can start as soon as you've had your fill of breakfasting."

Fallowcrest leads the way to the western end of the docks, where a small boat waits with a couple people already in it waiting. The boat is simple, but is another sign of just how wealthy Fallowcrest is. It's little bigger than a rowboat, but there's a water elemental binding rind on the back, and as he hops in after you, he nods to the attendant sitting in the rear. "We're all here. Let's get going."

The boat takes off from the shore and heads for the lighthouse, which is situated on a small island, not more than a couple hundred feet from the main shoreline. When you turn to look at it, you get a good look at the other occupant of the boat.