Alright.

So, nothing suspicious has come up? I am so relieved! You see... things have taken an incredibly fast turn for the romantic. Serjo Vendel Othreleth, my dear Vendel, has officially proposed to me. And I have decided to accept his proposal. I won't be needing your help anymore, %PCName. Please, accept this gold.

Have you found out something about serjo Vendel Othreleth? Speak up then.

How could I allow myself to be so utterly deceived by him? I was really ready to marry him, I really was. I'm sure now that I will never love again.

I have been a fool... a blind, lovesick fool. How could I allow myself to be so utterly deceived by him? I was really ready to marry him, I really was. By the Three, I feel so crushed now! ... But I thank you, %PCName. You've really saved me. Let me reward you, as it's the least that I can do.

An excellent idea indeed, my friend. Go ahead and talk to him. See what he'll tell you.

An excellent idea indeed, %PCName. You have helped my family before, haven't you? Go ahead and talk to him. See what he'll tell you.

Yes. Why not? I must admit I find it rather amusing to enlist the help of one stranger to find out information about another. Go ahead and talk to him. See what he'll tell you.

You? I'm sorry, but I'd rather not rely on your help.

Yes, yes. Nevermind.

Our guest from Andrethis. I had no previous acquaintance or knowledge of him before his visit. He is very friendly towards me and my daughters at dinner but says little of why he has come to Arvud. Truth be told, I don't quite know what the young serjo wants with us. No southern nobleman would come here in the middle of the wasteland just to exchange pleasantries. I think he's up to *something*, but asking him would be quite blunt. He has yet to overstay his welcome, and I don't wish to be impolite.

No southern nobleman would come here in the middle of the wasteland just to exchange pleasantries, that's for sure. Go ahead and talk to him. See what he'll tell you.

He means to marry my mother. And my mother has accepted his proposal. I do find this situation a little awkward.

I think serjo Othreleth is rather charming. He's well dressed and well mannered. We don't have a lot of that in Arvud. Naturally, my sister hates him.

I don't know what my mother sees in that foppish blowhard. He's not half the man my father was.

I don't know what my mother sees in that foppish blowhard. He's not half the man my father, Olmas Uvayn, is.

If you want to do me a favor, just make him go away. I hate him and his stupid hat.

Very well.

Well, if you so insist on knowing, it is the prospect of marriage that brings me to Arvud.

You most certainly may. Whether or not I choose to provide you with an answer that you would find satisfactory is another matter entirely. I have come here to enjoy the company and hospitality of the good lady Balvene Uvayn and her two beautiful daughters. Is that not reason enough?

Yes. That is I. What can I do for you?

That is I. Serjo Vendel Othreleth, at your service.

Thank you... Now, ask away.

A damn shame.

Hmph. You know the answer already, don't you? He's here to marry that widowed lady. His heart's dead set on it. We came all the way from godsdamn Kragenmoor so he could sweep her off her feet. Quite the trek, lemme tell you. I hate the Armun Ashlands.

He's like any other Dark Elf you'd meet. Except that he's a noble. And pretty clever, too, I suppose. And he's really got the gift of the gab. Lemme tell you, there ain't a woman in the world that Mandallarys couldn't charm with his wit and, ummm, eloquence. He'll wrap that widow lady around his little finger in no time!

I told you everything you need to know.

Well, alright... What of him?

I'm under strict orders to shut the hell up. My stupid mouth always gets me in trouble. But... is that bottle of sujamma for me?

I'm under strict orders to shut the hell up. My stupid mouth always gets me in trouble. But you know what... since my master isn't here... it's been a good long while since I had a drink of booze. We passed Lucky Shalaasa's Caravanserai on our way here. I bet they sell that local liquor, sujamma, there. I'd sure appreciate a bottle of the stuff.

He's my master. Well, it's the prospect of marriage that's brought him here. Darn it. Shouldn't have said that.

He's my master. I mustn't speak of master Vendel's business. Not when he can hear me.

He's my master.

Well, Othreleth is an ancient minor House in the south. The family has many branches -- some of them prosperous, some of them impoverished, and some of them as good as dead. This is not at all an uncommon situation for an old family, mind you. While I personally haven't ever heard of anyone called Vendel Othreleth, there's an old serjo Gathys Othreleth in Andrethis and a muthsera Alane Othreleth owns a plantation near Hla Rud. I assume that our guest is a relative of either of them.

The serjo and his bodyguard came to visit unannounced and are planning on staying, it would seem, indefinitely. How lovely. This visit will put a nice dent in the manor's budget. Keeping them fed is not cheap. I'm hoping that Balvene Uvayn could figure out what they're doing here soon enough.