The De Luca House

Going once, going twice...

As of early 1496 DR The De Luca House is the auction house and luxuriant home of Enzo De Luca, who has recently taken over the establishment following the death of his brother, Achille De Luca, a rich merchant originally from the Chondathan city of Arrabar. De Luca's auctions were famed even as far off as the Sword Coast, with collectors trekking great distances to gain the opportunity to bid on The De Luca House's treasures.
Some time prior to 1493 DR De Luca received a request from Dagult Neverember, the current Lord Protector of Neverwinter, to move his auction house to the city; in return his business would be subject to a preferential tax rate... Eventually negotiated to 1%... The De Luca House opened its doors in Neverwinter in early 1496 after construction efforts and furnishing of the property were completed in their entirety. The house boasts one of the finest vaults ever built in all of Faerûn, or at least it did, according to its manufacturers. The vault was predominantly built by The Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, and Finesmiths of Waterdeep and at a hefty price too... The order collaborated with The Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers to supply much of the metalwork for the vault's construction, and towards the latter stages of contruction the order subcontracted the services of The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors to implement both magical wards and countermeasures upon the vault.
The house itself boasts its own impressive set of defenses including steel reinforced doors, barred windows, a household guard of more than twenty and extra security in the form of the Neverwinter city watch patrolling the grounds and the estate's perimeter wall.

Purpose / Function

Auction House and Estate

History

Events of 'The De Luca Job':
On the night of the newly constructed De Luca House's inaugural auction on Ches 19, 1496 DR, a group of thieves masquerading as guests of De Luca and his house staff broke into the De Luca House vault and robbed a great deal of the treasures within.
Other guests confirm that shortly before the auction De Luca met with the Elven merchant Brandyl Orbryn (in fact the Elven criminal Luka Iquibrill in disguise), and his manservant 'Brick' (in fact the Goliath enforcer Nostag Gumeel) seemingly to discuss the sale of a metal statue they had brought with them the very same metal construct was seen later that night bounding through the streets following the criminals as they escaped through the streets on a stolen wagon. The Elf posing as Orbryn and his Goliath companion are believed to have not acted alone, with a number of other individuals spotted fleeing with them. It is also believed they were assisted from within De Luca's own staff, as the time it took them to gain entry to the vault was considered too expedient not to have been assisted from within, with the false Orbryn and his compatriot disappearring from the auction floor in the middle of the event's intermission.
It was not until Orbryn and his compatriot were missed that suspicion was aroused, with guests attesting that De Luca entered his office and emerged bellowing in a state of anger and panic that the auction was off and to summon the watch. While some of his men removed the guests, De Luca and a large number of his household guards stormed the vault to stop them, that is when the sound of an explosion rocked the building and the panicking guests fled. It is unknown what precisely went on, however, when officers of the Wintershield Watchmen arrived they found the vault's defenses cracked wide open, the main vault in a state of disarray, and De luca and his guards dead, the Watchmen also discovered a hidden passage beneath the vault made up from old Neverwinter's disused sewerage tunnels which had been blown open with explosives, presumably for the thieves to escape.
A few days after the robbery a man claiming to be one Enzo De Luca, Achille's twin brother who disappeared, and was thought to have died some years prior, presented himself before Dagult Neverember, carrying with him a filigreed silver box. The man explained who he was and presented the papers held in the box, his deceased father's will among others, naming him as the sole heir to the family fortune, and thus, the De Luca House and its collected treasures. Ownership of the property has since passed to him.

Founding Date

1496 DR

Type

Estate

Parent Location

Neverwinter

Owner

Enzo De Luca