16. Preston's Cottage

The road through Nulb forks in two directions here. Both roads continue to the south, one angling more to the east than the other. One of the roads runs parallel to the Imeryds, and a sign post proclaims this to be Pilgrim’s Way. The other fork angles away from the Imeryds, traveling toward the southeast. The marker pointing this direction names this road as the Lowroad, which should lead to Sobanwhich and ultimately to the great city of Dyvers itself.
Sitting on the northern corner of this fork is a two-story house that must have been grand in its day. But like so much else in Nulb, time and hardship has stained its glory. The house is made of wood and was once painted white, but much of this has flaked away and what remains is a dingy grey and off-white home with large speckles of green and black mold growing in patches across many of the degrading wooden boards. In its heyday, the house had four twenty-foot columns holding up a roof over the brick porch, but two of those columns have collapsed, along with the porch roof. The debris was simply dragged off to the side of the house, and it remains there to this day.

Preston's Teamster Cottage stands at a crucial fork in the road through Nulb, embodying the intersection of past prosperity and present decay. This once-grand two-story house, now weathered and worn, serves as a silent witness to the ebb and flow of fortune in Nulb. As the local teamster, Preston occupies a unique position in the village, facilitating both the legitimate and illegitimate transport needs of the area. His home, with its strategic location and dilapidated charm, is a hub of activity and intrigue, positioned perfectly to observe and participate in the complex socio-political dynamics of Nulb. 

Description of the Teamster Cottage

Preston's home, positioned on the northern corner where Pilgrim’s Way forks from the Lowroad, serves as a focal point for travelers and traders. The structure, though faded from its former glory, still maintains a presence that hints at its past significance.

• Location: At the fork of Pilgrim’s Way and the Lowroad in Nulb.
• Architecture: A two-story wooden house, originally painted white but now a patchwork of grey, off-white, and mold.
• Condition: Partially dilapidated; two of the original four columns have collapsed.
• Historical Significance: Once a grand domicile, reflecting a more prosperous era in Nulb.

Political Relationships

• With Lady Lmag: Maintains a necessary and cautious professional relationship, understanding her influence over Nulb’s economic activities.
• With Nulb Residents: Seen as a reliable but reclusive figure, respected for his intellect and business acumen.

Economic Role and Strategic Importance

Preston's business is crucial for the transport of goods and information in and out of Nulb. His control over this logistic network places him in a subtly powerful position within the local economy.

• Trade and Transport: Manages the movement of both legitimate merchandise and more clandestine cargo through Nulb.
• Economic Impact: His operations significantly impact the local economy, influencing trade routes and supply chains.

Opinons of Preston

• Local Merchant: "Preston knows the roads like no other. If you need something delivered discreetly, he’s your man. Just don't expect any chit-chat."
• A Member of The Hangmen: "That teamster? Slippery as an eel. You never know if he's really with you or setting you up. But his routes are gold."

DM-Only Section

Undercurrents of Intrigue

Relationships with Bandit and Pirate Crews

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Preston’s strategic location and control over transportation make him a valuable ally or a potential target for the bandit and pirate factions in Nulb.

• Interaction: Though publicly neutral, Preston has backchannel communications with several bandit leaders, negotiating safe passage for goods in exchange for bribes or information.
• Influence Leverage: Uses his knowledge of transport routes to manipulate bandit activity to his advantage, ensuring his shipments are seldom targeted.

Temple of Elemental Evil Connections

Unknown to most, Preston has been contacted by agents from the Temple of Elemental Evil, who are interested in using his transport services for their secretive endeavors.

• Covert Dealings: Engages cautiously with the Temple agents, providing logistics support for their operations in exchange for protection and monetary rewards.
• Future Plans: Preston is wary of the Temple's increasing power and is planning to leverage his role to either increase his influence or secure an exit strategy should the Temple’s actions threaten his business.

Background of Dark Arts and Ancestral Ties

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Preston hails from a lineage steeped in the dark magical arts, with ancestral ties to demonic entities and practices. The teamster does come from a long line of ambitious and dark magicians. But he has tried to forget everything he has learned of magic, and he has no interest in carrying on the family tradition. In truth, but for the sins of his father, Preston is a good man. It is unfortunate that he is also a haunted one.

• Family History: Preston's lineage includes powerful magicians who practiced dark arts and were sworn to demonic entities associated with the Temple of Elemental Evil.
• Father's Influence: His father, Jesrik, was a renowned dark sorcerer devoted to Zuggtmoy. Jesrik's influence in the Temple rivaled that of Senshock, the Lord Wizard of the Greater Temple.
• Childhood Exposure: Preston grew up immersed in dark rituals and demonic bindings, which deeply affected his psyche and shaped his aversion to magic.
• Aversion to Magic: Preston witnessed many terrible ceremonies over the years and participated in rituals that bound demons in service after wracking them with torment until they howled with pain. Preston has felt true power, and he never wants to feel it again.

The Haunting of Preston

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Following Jesrik's death, Preston hoped to distance himself from the dark arts and lead a normal life. However, his father's return as a wraith trapped him in a continuing nightmare.

• Father’s Death and Return: Jesrik's death brought temporary relief to Preston, but the emergence of Jesrik's wraith shattered any hope of normalcy.
• Supernatural Haunting: Jesrik's wraith haunts their family home, particularly the attic, pushing Preston towards dark deeds to alleviate his torment.
• Evolving Demands: Initially demanding small creatures to sustain his existence, Jesrik's wraith is escalating his demands, pushing Preston towards morally reprehensible acts.

No more than a week after the funeral Preston awakened in a jolt. His body felt cold. The hairs on his arms rose and tingled. He heard a stir in the attic over his bedchamber. At first, he couldn’t move; the coldness was unbearable. But then he found his courage. He lit a candle and pulled down the attic stairs from the ceiling overhead. Each step creaked upon the ladder, and he felt the cold gripping and burning inside his lungs as he climbed higher. Even the candle flame seemed to retreat as the darkness thickened like a broth left out overnight. And then the eyes. He was in the attic now, and he was staring into the red eyes. A figure of darkness and shadow coalesced, man-shaped it was, and it moved toward him. Preston’s mind raced through the few spells he still had memorized, searching for one, searching for anything, and then the voice. The haunting, sickening, cold voice. His father’s voice.
“Even death cannot ruin us,” it said. “Fear not, boy. I am home.”

Personal Struggles and Internal Conflict

Preston's internal battle with his legacy and the ghost of his father places him at a moral crossroads.

• Resistance to Dark Arts: Despite his deep knowledge, Preston resists using magic, understanding its destructive potential from firsthand experience.
• Inevitable Choices: The increasing demands of his father's wraith are driving Preston to a breaking point, where he must choose between succumbing to darkness or finding a way to end his father's haunting forever.

Preston's father Jesrik by 3orcs

Shift in Jesrik’s Demands and Influence

• End of Magical Training: Jesrik, upon realizing he could no longer cast spells in his wraith form, abandoned his efforts to train Preston in magic.
• Reaction to Loss of Powers: Jesrik responded to his impotence by scattering his spell books and exhibiting bouts of pain and frustration.
• Avoidance of Magical Reminders: Now detests any reminders of his spellcasting abilities and avoids discussing or encountering magical elements.

New Focus on Business Advice

Jesrik has shifted his guidance towards advising Preston on managing and expanding the family business.

• Strategic Business Counseling: Offers insights and strategies to better secure and grow the family’s logistical and teamster operations.
• Darker Demands for Sustenance: As the wraith, Jesrik requires life energy to sustain his existence and lessen his torment.
• Initial Requests: Started by demanding small creatures like rodents and cats to feed on their life force.
• Escalating Needs: Jesrik’s demands are increasing in severity, hinting at a future need for human life to satisfy his growing hunger.
• Implications for Preston: These demands are pushing Preston toward a critical moral decision, testing his ethics and forcing him towards choices that could have irreversible consequences.

Relationship Dynamics

Preston's relationship with his maid, Nydia, introduces significant emotional layers to his life story, weaving a tale of childhood bonds, love rekindled, and painful distancing. Their history is complex, filled with moments of closeness and periods of estrangement, which add a rich texture to their interactions and the overall narrative of the household.

Deep Roots and Childhood Bonds

• Early Connection: Nydia and Preston shared a close childhood, growing up together in the same household. Their early years were marked by a strong bond and companionship.
• Family Ties: Nydia’s mother was the family maid before her, which meant Nydia was always close to the family, further deepening her connection with Preston.

Change with Time and Circumstance

• Growing Apart: As they matured, Preston's focus shifted towards his studies and the dark arts under his father's guidance, causing him to become distant from Nydia.
• Role Transition: After the death of her mother, Nydia stepped into her role as the family maid, altering the dynamic between her and Preston. Despite this professional boundary, their past connection lingered in the background.

Brief Rekindling and Subsequent Estrangement

• Renewed Closeness: Following the death of Preston's father, the two found comfort in each other's company, leading to a brief period of revived intimacy which brought temporary joy and normalcy to the household.
• Sudden Withdrawal: The renewal of their relationship was short-lived; Preston abruptly ended their renewed closeness, insisting they return to a strictly professional relationship. This left Nydia hurt and confused, exacerbating her emotional turmoil.

Current Emotional Landscape

• Nydia’s Struggle: Continues to grapple with her feelings for Preston, feeling both rejected and concerned for him as he becomes more engulfed in his haunted reality.
• Professional Facade: Despite her emotional pain, Nydia maintains her duties with strength and professionalism, embodying the resilience often required of those in service positions.

Impact on Household Dynamics

• Tension and Distance: The unresolved feelings and awkwardness between Preston and Nydia add a layer of tension within the household, affecting their interactions and the overall atmosphere.
• Preston’s Isolation: Preston's decision to distance himself from Nydia contributes to his overall isolation, complicating his ability to fully break from his dark legacy as he lacks the emotional support that might come from a closer relationship with her.

Preston's cottage and the attached workshop by 3orcs

"The Best Routes Are Known Only to Few."

Preston: The Local Teamster

Preston is a tall, lean man with sharp features softened by a constant, distant gaze. His hair is dark and usually unkempt, and his clothing, while of good quality, is often dusty from his work.

Preston Nulb Teamster by 3orcs

• Preston, the Teamster
• Medium humanoid (human), neutral good
• Armor Class 12 (15 with Mage Armor)
• Hit Points 9 (2d8) Speed 30 ft.
• STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
• 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 13 (+1)
• Languages: Common, Elvish Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Weapon: Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Background

• Origins: Born and raised in Nulb, Preston took over the family business after his father’s death the previous winter.
• Professional Life: Runs the teamster business, managing logistics and transportation for Nulb and its environs.

Motivation

• Primary Drive: To maintain and expand his teamster business despite the declining state of Nulb.
• Personal Goal: To restore his family home and business to its former status, securing his legacy.

Personality

• Traits: Intelligent, observant, but notably detached from others, often lost in thought.
• Interactions: Courteous but distant, he keeps most people at arm’s length, focusing more on business than personal relationships.

Nydia the Maid

• AC 10; Level 0
• HP 3; #AT (+0) 1; D by weapon
• AL: Neutral

Nydia the Maid by 3orcs

Type

House

Parent Location

Nulb

Owner

Preston

Secret Wealth and Magical Legacy

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Despite the public perception of his modest lifestyle, Preston harbors significant hidden wealth and magical resources.

Hidden Wealth

• Silverware and Platters: Valued at approximately 1,500 gold.
• Wine Cellar Collection: Could fetch around 3,500 gold.
• Artworks: 12 Paintings worth 500 gold each.
• Concealed Cache: four bricks can be removed from the foundation of one of the fireplaces revealing the cache.
• 2,000 gold coins
• 500 platinum coins, two fire opals (2,500 gp each)
• eight amethysts (100 gp each)
• a single emerald (1,000 gp)
• 4 gold bricks 1,000 gp each.
• Preston’s bedchamber coins can be found scattered about the inside of his nightstand drawer.
•  2 pp, 87 gp, 12 ep, 50 sp, and 104 cp.
• Beneath his pillow: is a platinum ring set with a black sapphire in a ring of small diamonds (7,500 gp). Preston purchased this from Kasper with the intention of giving it to Nydia. Now he keeps it close to him while he sleeps.

Magical Artifacts

• Father's Gear: Includes a Robe of the Archmagi and other powerful magical items, securely kept in a Wizard Locked chest.
• Spell Books: Several, containing spells from cantrips to third-level spells, reflecting Jesrik's and Preston's magical knowledge.

Preston's Spell Books

Preston's collection of spell books, prominently displayed on the fireplace mantle in his bedchamber, reveals much about his journey and struggles with magic. These books are not hidden, suggesting a complex relationship with his magical heritage. Covered in dark brown wyvern scales, each book serves as a repository for different levels of spells, chronicling the evolution of Preston's magical knowledge from a curious child to a disciplined, albeit reluctant, practitioner.

Description of the Spell Books

• Material and Appearance: Each book is bound in dark brown wyvern scales, giving them a durable and mystical appearance.
• Location: Displayed openly on the mantle in Preston's bedchamber, suggesting a blend of resignation and acknowledgment of his magical abilities.

Book of Cantrips

Contains Preston’s earliest magical writings, marked by childish handwriting and whimsical drawings, indicating a time of innocence and curiosity.
Spells Included

• Chill, Clean, Dust, Exterminate
• Salt, Sprout, Tie, Warm
• Hairy, Sour, Untie, Wilt
• Palm, Sneeze, Yawn, Bee
• Firefinger, Spider, Unlock
• Creak, Groan

First and Second Level Spells Book

Development of Skill: Shows a transition to more serious and structured magical study, reflecting Preston’s maturing under his father's tutelage.
First Level Spells

• Affect Normal Fires, Burning Hands, Charm Person
• Comprehend Language, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic
• Feather Fall, Magic Missile, Nystul’s Magic Aura
• Read Magic, Sleep, Spider Climb, Unseen Servant

Second Level Spells

• Continual Light, Detect Invisibility, ESP
• Invisibility, Knock, Magic Mouth
• Mirror Image, Stinking Cloud, Wizard Lock

Third Level Spells Book

Advanced Knowledge: Represents Preston’s highest level of formal magical training before his rejection of the dark arts.

• Blink, Clairvoyance, Fireball
• Fly, Water Breathing

Significance of the Spell Books

• Historical Insight: The evolution of handwriting and content in these books provides insight into Preston’s psychological and emotional development from a carefree child to a somber adult.
• Personal Struggle: The open display of these books might indicate Preston's unresolved feelings about his magical legacy and his father’s influence.
• Potential Use: These spells, ranging from simple cantrips to powerful third-level spells, highlight the potential that Preston has, should he choose to embrace his magical heritage fully, despite his reluctance.

Jesrik's Gear Chest

Hidden in the attic, secured with a Wizard Lock (9th level) to prevent unauthorized access.

Jesrik's Gear Chest by 3orcs

Contents of the Chest

• (Black) Robe of the Archmagi: Enhances magical abilities and provides protections.
• Wand of Fire (18 charges): Capable of unleashing powerful fire spells.
• Ring of Protection +2: Offers significant defense against attacks.
• Bag of Transmuting: Allows for the alteration and transmutation of materials.
• Three Scrolls with Explosive Runes: Each sealed with a different colored wax (green, blue, red), trapped to deter thieves.

Jesrik's spell book by 3orcs

Collection of Jesrik’s Spell Books

These spell books are covered with wooden covers wrapped in flaking human skin, indicating their dark origin. They are tossed carelessly in a corner, as if discarded, but are protected with a Fire Trap spell cast by a 9th level wizard.

Contents of Spell Books

• Cantrips: Chill, Clean, Dust, Exterminate, Salt, Sprout, Tie, Warm, Hairy, Sour, Untie, Wilt, Palm, Sneeze, Yawn, Bee, Firefinger, Spider, Unlock, Creak, Groan
• First Level: Affect Normal Fires, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Comprehend Language, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Feather Fall, Magic Missile, Nystul’s Magic Aura, Read Magic, Sleep, Spider Climb, Unseen Servant
• Second Level: Continual Light, Darkness 15’ Radius, Detect Invisibility, ESP, Invisibility, Knock, Magic Mouth, Mirror Image, Scare, Stinking Cloud, Wizard Lock
• Third Level: Blink, Clairvoyance, Fireball, Flame Arrow, Fly, Haste, Water Breathing
• Fourth Level: Dimension Door, Fire Trap, Fumble, Ice Storm, Polymorph Self, Wall of Ice
• Fifth Level: Cloudkill, Feeblemind, Magic Jar, Teleport

Significance and Implications

• Value and Power: The items and books within the attic are of immense value, both in terms of monetary worth and magical power.
• Dangerous Knowledge: The nature of the spells and the protective measures on the books suggest that these are not merely academic resources but potentially dangerous tools of power.
• Preston's Dilemma: While Preston has shunned his magical heritage, the existence of these items presents a constant temptation and a source of internal conflict. The presence of such potent artifacts could attract unwanted attention from various factions within and beyond Nulb.