Ep. 133 Zooming to Meetings Part 2 (C2)

## Listen

C2 Ep. 133 Zooming to Meetings Part 2

—Erys

Erys stashes Viggo in her walls, then goes downstairs to meet with Verla and Coaldoor. They want to find someone who can replace Viggo, who won't start a war like Ilyra is planning. They make a deal with Erys for her help, in exchange for various things that will be beneficial to her friends. She hands Viggo, as well as the recording with his confession, over.

Milo visits Tarvul, who's upset that they stole Viggo. Milo hands over his copy of the recording, and Tarvul drops some new information: Viggo is actually his son, and his wife, Erin, is in the Dreadhold because of some murders that Viggo did. He asks Milo's help in breaking her out.

## Synopsis

### Erys's meeting

Erys takes Viggo in Tasha to meet Verla at the Four Sails. On the way, she does a lot of talking to herself, at some point cries, and at some point punches Viggo in an attempt to help. It helps a little, but not sufficiently. She arrives outside her bedroom window, and shoves Viggo inside one of the wall panels that she had made when she lived there, and seals it back up. She sits in a corner, and calls Olive. She tells her she's about to talk to the Watch, and she thinks she might have what they want, but there's the possibility that she gets arrested. If Olive is in danger, she can tell Iggrik "irii" and he'll go into lockdown mode and kill anything that comes through the door.

She sets Tasha on the bed, and tells her to make a racket if anything comes out of the wall. She goes downstairs and finds Ulfen.

*"Hi, Erys. You okay?"
"No."*

She tells him about her meeting with Verla, but isn't sure it's a good idea to meet at the Four Sails. She warns him about Viggo in the walls, in case anything happens to her. Ulfen locks the restaurant up, so it's clear when Verla gets there. Ulfen offers to get her something to eat, and serves her a hot mug of tal and a plate of cornbread. Erys comes very close to losing her composure, and thanks him.

Erys has some time to regain her composure, before Verla enters with a surprise guest: Siphist Coaldoor. Erys warms up the flechette launcher on her wrist. She does nothing to hide her very not-kid-friendly look at Verla, upon seeing that she brought someone. Verla and Siphist slide into her booth. Erys's call came through when Verla was in his office, and he insisted on meeting with her. He offered to hide his presence from Erys, but Verla wanted to not be dishonest to start it out.

At Erys's insistence, Coaldoor goes to sit at the bar. Erys makes firm and long eye contact at Ulfen. Coaldoor sits on a stool and pivots to watch the conversation. Erys switches to goblin for their conversation, which Coaldoor doesn't speak. Verla is taken aback for a second at the language switch, but tells Erys that she thinks Coaldoor is trustworthy. Erys admits that she thinks Verla is trustworthy, and tells her that Viggo killed Saidan, with the help of House Thuranni. The Thuranni agent that Verla is investigating had been trying to kill Milo for a while, but she doesn't really know why, or what's between Thuranni and the Clan. Verla asks where Viggo is, and Erys says she really wants to give him over, but at the end of the conversation. In exchange, she'd like Verla to back of off her kaas.

Ever since the murder happened, the Watch has been on Verla's back; half trying to convince her to not look into it cause it's not worth anything, the other half assuring her that contacts tell her it was an official house dispute. But three people gave very distinct descriptions of who did it. She doesn't want to investigate, since she knows who did it, and she doesn't know what the deal is between the Clan and Thuranni. If Erys will give over Viggo and the recording, she'll be more than happy to withdraw her request of assistance from the King's Citadel about the murder.

*"Erys, every other member in my station is corrupt, apparently. I have no support system anymore."
—Verla*
She gets Erys to let Coaldoor back into the conversation, and he rejoins them and they switch back to common. Coaldoor says Sadian was a calming presence in the city, and with the vacuum created, people are going to die. They're trying to prevent that somehow. He asks about anyone within the Boromars who would believe their story, to which Erys it doubtful about. They come up with Grum, Lady Briar, and Hutch, as people who might be on their side. Erys is upset when she hears that they're trying to find someone else to be in charge of the clan, when it shouldn't exist at all. Verla argues that the clan offers a method to the madness; instead of gangs running around, fighting each other in the streets, they have groups in charge to control crime. Erys comments about how awful Daask are.

They've already gotten word of what Ilyra's plans are, and they're not good. Number one on the list is to "bring the perpetrators of her father's death to justice." She's talking about all-out war. Since the Loaded Dice have contact with Daask and the Tyrants, they're suspects in Saidan's death. Erys shares about Phiarlan spying on Solman Calloway, and how Tartis Viteithers was turned into a giant lizard, as well as something being up with Norson Milhatch.

Coaldoor asks Erys to help them establish a leader that's best for the city, and to name her price for her help. He offers to expunge criminal records, for a start. Erys comes up with a list of demands:

* The gates taken down at High Walls
* Kegbottom's to be rebuilt
* House Ghallanda to stop harassing Ulfen

In addition to those things, Coaldoor offers Erys the chance at a new life. Wherever she wants to go or be, the King's Citadel will be more than happy to pay a generous stipend to get set up. She heartily rejects that offer, but will accept idenification papers for her current identity, instead of the *really* good forges she has now.

Coaldoor pulls out a card and tells Erys to get in contact if she needs to. He asks for a moment alone, and Verla walks to the bar. Erys lays her gauntlet on the table, facing Coaldoor.

*"I just wanna know, one final question before I cut you loose: why'd you do it?"
"My friends were in trouble."
—Coaldoor and Erys*
Erys offers to make his eye better.

They grab Viggo and the recording before leaving.

### Milo's meeting

Milo spends the night at a nice hotel, under the name Mr. Underhill. Milo brings Fireburst Wine, which he knows is Tarvul's drink of choice. He magically disguises himself as a well-to-do halfling on his way to do business. Tarvul's office door is shut, but through his huge windows, Milo can see him at his desk, doing paperwork. Milo taps on the window, and enters. He pulls out the wine, and Tarvul jumps out of his chair and pulls the curtains. Milo drops the disguise.

Tarvul chastises him for taking Viggo—it looks really bad on them. Milo justifies it by saying Viggo was behind the assassination. He presents the shard with the confession. Milo explains that Saidan had removed Viggo from head of the Black Lamps, and Viggo had enough of Saidan's weak leadership. Tarvul says this hadn't been said to anyone else. Tarvul shares that next week Ilyra is stepping down from the Sharn City Council to take care of her family's enterprises, and formally take over leadership of the clan. At the moment, things are being done by committee. Ilyra has big plans for what she's going to do to the Loaded Dice.

Tarvul tells Milo that it's a close-kept secret that Viggo is actually his son. Viggo found out that there were a couple of halfling plants in the clan, and took care of them himself. Erin took credit for it to keep him safe, and got put in the Dreadhold for it. Viggo was hoping they would just kill her so no one knew the truth. Milo says it's too bad it's the Dreadhold, otherwise they could get her out.

*"How stupid are ya feeling, Milo?"
—Tarvul*
Tarvul asked Erin what to do about all this. He puts a long roll of parchment on the desk, and unfurls it. It's the roughest of sketches of the Dreadhold.

*"I want my wife back, Milo. And I think that she could lead this clan."
—Tarvul*
End of episode.

## Quotes

"If this was less serious, I would say ta-da."
"And yet, you still said it."
*—Erys and Coaldoor 1:03:05*

"Oh, good, he's tied up."
"Well, yeah, of course. He also fell down several flights of stairs."
*—Coaldoor and Erys 1:03:16*

"You remember when you asked if things would be easier if I only had one hand? Some things, yes."
*—Erys, as she punches Viggo 1:03:53*

## References and Footnotes

1. ↑ Irii is a Dhakanni word that translates to "cover me."
2. ↑ An Eberron version of tea or coffee.
3. ↑ A goblin word meaning her group.