Low Estate/Turns/Turn 3

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• Aernoud van Nevel: forest wanderer — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)
• Antheunis Opgieten: slippery urchin — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)
• Boudin Verdonk: bravo and expeditor — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)
• Mattius Rothmann: brutish warmage — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)
• Willem de Vos: student magician — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)
• Lazer Dennis: manic-depressive man out of time — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)

Antheunis and Aernoud, previous night at the harbor

The sailor poles the skiff along the river and a short distance out into the harbor, where a ship is docked (Antheunis sees "The Golden Stag" on the prow). As the skiff approaches the ship, the sailor hails it in a low voice, and a man on board answers. "You got the cloth?" "Right here, only the finest selection." "Good, bring it aboard." There's some work with ropes and pulleys, and pretty soon all the crates are unloaded.

"Do you have the money?" the dockworker asks. "Right here," the man from the ship says, and a muffled clink follows. "I don't see why you're so insistent about immediate payment this time -- haven't we had an arrangement for a while?" "Don't ask me, I'm just following orders -- he must need the money now. You know there's plenty going on in the city, going to be war in the streets in --" The wind whips up and takes the rest of the conversation away, but you get the gist.

Eventually the dockworker and sailor get back in the skiff and head back. The man on the ship takes a look at the crates and then turns and walks away. "We sail at first light!" you hear him shouting faintly.

Meanwhile, Aernoud decides now is the time for his big break, and a few solid shoves gets the crate open. He takes a look back at the shore -- it's close enough to swim, assuming he can swim, but he'll be pretty wet and cold by the end of it.

Willem and others, at the lumberyard

[Whoever wants to can presumably show up for this]

"Mister... 'Elmar', I believe it is?" Willem smiles at the large man with the very large saw. "My associates and I are potentially interested in a property that you own."

"Oh yeah?" Elmar says. "I don't own as much as I used to -- business hasn't been good, and there's always taxes, but perhaps we can make a deal."

But as soon as you mention the property in question, things get considerably chillier. "Sorry, can't help you," Elmar says, tight-lipped. "That's already surety for a debt. Now, unless you want to buy some lumber ..?"

Lazer whips his cap off and tries to look meek and impoverished and Dickensian. "Please sir, it's not them. They came here for me, you see, sir. I don't know what would've happened to me if, if not for the orphanage..." He wipes his nose on his sleeve. "I'll be on the streets again soon enough, unless they can help. I made them come sir honest." Acting is not one of his great skills, but as a sudden inspiration, Lazer's performance takes everyone in the room by complete surprise.

"Is that the reason that you've asked the orphans for ten years of back rent, to pay off this debt?" Willem asks, watching to see if Elmar seems surprised to hear this. "Perhaps, if we knew a bit more about the debt, there might be something we could do to help with it."

Afterwards

[I'm not sure what your next steps are, but no doubt you have some!]

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