Van Vlack Suite, Avalon Tower, Platinum Coast, Stark City
Late Saturday Afternoon

Dwight had arrived a few minutes before his rescheduled appointment with Robert Van Vlack.  He received a personal escort by the security desk to Van Vlack's suite.  There he was turned over to Van Vlack's own security personnel, who took Dwight into a small office with the back wall comprised completely of a window that looked east over Stark Lake.  Looking around the office, Dwight saw that Van Vlack had a preference for what was.  The furniture was all antique, yet amazingly restored.  The bookcases held tomes of all genres and languages, but they all had one thing in common, first editions and hand scribed copies.  Also on the shelves, mixed artfully among the books, were little artifacts from the past housed under domes of glass: stone knife, a necklace with gold beads shaped like scarabs, a feather quill with the end stained black with ink, a collection of four brass buttons with the crossed sabers on each.  Van Vlack didn't collect from a certain time period or culture, his collection was eccentric.

Dwight's attention was grabbed by a crudely drawn old map of the Stark City area, back when the city was known as Mascouten.  "I see you enjoy old maps," came the cheery voice of Robert Van Vlack.  The sudden declaration startled Dwight just a bit.  "It's rumored that General Thomas Abelard Stark drew that map himself for the US military.  They were looking to erect a fort on the frontier and needed labor and materials.  With General Stark's help, Fort Sam Adams was built and, as they say, the rest is history."  Robert chuckled quietly.

"Please have a seat," he said as he took settled himself into a high backed chair behind a gleaming wooden desk.  "I really only know what Mike Batista told me about you, which isn't much.  I trust his judgement, but I would also like to know a bit more about you.  What makes you suited to help me discover whom has been threatening me?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:28, Wed 14 Apr 2021.

"Well first of all, I'm well trained in finding things out that others don't want found out.  Secondly, I'm a natural at doing so.  Thirdly this isn't my first protection case.  Maybe you heard about a lost little girl?  They were people shooting at us trying to stop us from getting away.  In short, I'm experienced at this.  Plus I've got a friend or two I can call in if need be that would be great assets to the team."

"Mike told me that the work you did on the Donovan case was excellent.  This will be a little different.  You see, I seem to have an artifact that is of special interest to a shadowy individual.  Just last week I received a phone call from a man with a Chinese accent.  He simply asked if the piece was for sale.  I politely told him it wasn't.  I did ask him how he knew that I owned it because I take great pains to keep my acquisitions confidential.  All legal of course!  But people tend to get a little... protective of relics from their culture. He told me that nothing is hidden from the Qing Ri.  He said that he would call back, which he did two days ago, to give me time to reconsider his offer.  I declined again of course.  He then said that the Chenque Cura would be his regardless."

"I contacted the SCPD, but they basically told me to call back if a crime has happened.  Exceedingly frustrating!  I then started to put some feelers out, which brings us to our present meeting Mr. Adams."

"Yes, I believe I can be of some assistance in this matter.  If I need help, I know someone to get a hold of that will be more than happy to assist.  Trust me, the person I speak of is very eager to help me in my time of need."

Van Vlack leaned forward and rested his elbows upon his mahogany desk.  "Very good!  Now the matter of compensation.  I'm willing to offer $10,000 for the identity of the person after the Chenque Cura.  There will be a $50,000 bonus in six months upon the cessation of further contact from that person.  Might I ask, where will you start in your investigation?"

"Well, I'll start out by hitting some of the higher end seedy bars.  Listen in for any mention of the clan, and then look into it further from that end."  Gallium answers.

"Bernard," Van Vlack called out.  "Would you please bring in the Chenque Cura?"

A moment later, the door open and in walked one of Van Vlack's securing personnel carrying an object in a hard plastic case.  He set it down on the desk in front of Dwight and popped the latches holding it closed.

"Mr. Adams," Van Vlack said with a grand flourish as he rose from his chair, "I present to you... the Chenque Cura!"  Lifting the lid, Bernard revealed a piece of a stone tablet about one foot on each side.  Two of the sides looked like the tablet was shattered except that the rough areas were perfectly cubed.  The tablet was covered with what looked to be symbols from four different ancient languages, Egyptian and Chinese maybe... the other two Dwight had no idea.

"Please let me know if there is any way I can be of assistance to you in your investigation."