I assume this story takes place while Varatas and Co. are knee deep in undead Tiamat Worshipers and the Like…

Aletheia sat on the balcony of the family villa overlooking the coast, her mind weaving in and out of daydreams and the papers before her. The young twin sister of Varatas was increasingly frustrated by her writers block. Her thoughts were stuck on the novella she was writing, the occasional angry thought that it had been months since her twin brother left without even a goodbye making it harder for her to focus. She muttered to herself as her pen doodled back and forth on a page, “He hasn’t even written, probably off saving some damsels in distress with some noble knights as companions!”

She heard a knock at her door before the family servant, a middle aged elf in his entered, “Lady Aletheia, Lady Vesti has requested your presence in your father’s parlor.” Aletheia sighed as she stood up, placing her writings in her notebook and placing it on her desk as she walked towards the door, “Charles, I have told you now a thousand times not to address me as Lady…you make me feel older than mother.” Her voice was stern, trying to mimic Vesti’s parlance, but the humor she naturally carried came through.

The attendant smiled, “And I have told you for the last 25 years that I will always address your grace as Lady, no matter how many times she tells me not to. What would your father or Lady Vesti think if I did otherwise?” Aletheia couldn’t help but giggle as she acknowledged that she would be down in a few minutes.

As she walked past the front palor towards her father’s study Aletheia stopped and ran towards the guest at the door. “Uncle Teclis!” she leapt into him, knocking the Elf over. On the ground the battle hardened, but lighthearted elf chuckled, “Well, it is good to see you too little Alethe. I know you used to jump into my arms, but you were a little girl then.”

Aletheia sat up next to her uncle, blushing as she realized her childish mannerisms were a little outdated. “Sorry Uncle, but it has been nearly 25 years! And you barely even wrote!” Before she could continue Aletheia heard a deep clearing of a throat, turning she saw her older sister Vesti standing at the entrance to the wing containing her father’s study. As always, Vesti had a conservative dress and a stature that commanded respect and attention. Aletheia was always jealous of that, but at the same time she wished her sister would lighten up sometimes.

“Aletheia, that is not how you greet a guest to our house,“

“But Vesti it’s our uncle, it is not some business contact…” she was cut off by Vesti,

“Yes, but you should always practice your proper manners, we are not some common heathens.”

Aletheia released a muttering compliance, before standing and making a proper courtesy to her uncle, “It is a pleasure to see you Uncle Teclis, you grace our family with your presence.” Teclis, for his part, bowed, “Thank you Lady Aletheia, you and your sister are as radiant as I remember,” the two smiled and giggled a little at each in their formal stances. For her part Vest rolled her eyes, knowing that was the best she would get from the two of them, finally coming over as her uncle embraced her, “Vesti! You are the spitting image of your mother!” Her ice cold visage melted, “And you look as dashing as always Uncle, at any point will you introduce us to our future aunt?”

Teclis let out a strong belly laugh, his long acknowledgement that he would never settle down. Vesti smiled, her question a viel disguise for her true intent, “Then I assume at least you brought your favorite two nieces something from your travels,”

“But of course, I brought you each some exceptionally rare Moonsea Sweets. Having traveled the world and back I can say this is some of the best chocolate I have ever tasted. But before I go digging it out I assume your father wants to speak with me.”

“You are correct, he was very insistent to meet with you as soon as you arrived.”

“Well we can’t keep the old geezer waiting can we?”

A few minutes later Teclis bust into his brother’s study, ignoring the proper protocol. As Lord Tyrion came to shake his brother’s hand he was instead grabbed in a bear hug and lifted off his feet. “Brother…you are…” Tyrion was struggling to speak as Teclis put him down. He was always more athletic of the two, and enjoyed a good teasing of his brother every chance he got. Tyrion quickly adjusted his clothing wrinkled by his brother’s display, “It is good to see you brother, it has been far too long. News of your exploits have reached all the way back to Waterdeep.”

Aletheia and Vesti followed into the room, Aletheia speaking likely out of turn, earning a frozen glare from Vesti, “Is it true you fought an entire band of Orcs and a Giant trying to protect a kingdom?” Teclis turned to his youngest niece, always happy to regale a crowd with his exploits, “Well, it was more like two warbands, not sure where people got the whole Giant thing.”

“Well, it sounds as if you are as active and blusterous as ever Brother.” The elves turned to the doorway as Hisana entered the room with her unnatural grace filling the room with calm. Even Vesti and Tyrion’s staunch code melted with her in the room. Teclis strode over to his sister-in-law, “Hisana, how do you manage to look younger and more gorgeous every time I see you! I swear if I did not know better I would assume you were Vesti and Aletheia’s older sister.” Hisana blushed, her voice giggling as she responded, “And you look more ruggedly handsome every time I see you. When will you take notice of all those noble maidens who wish you would settle down?”

“Haha, you know that the settling down and having a family is more my brother’s favor, besides, I could not hope to have children as elegant and smart as yours. Now brother, based on your letter I gather you did not summon me here to catch up with the family, what did you need of me?”

“Yes Tyrion, why did you summon our dear brother back home?” Entering the door was Lady Ichika, Tyrion and Teclis’ older sister and the Matriarch of the House. Where Hisana filled a room with grace Ichika filled it with a pale gloom. Teclis, for his part ignored the dread the rest of the family as he barged towards his sister, trying to hug her but being rebuffed. Teclis laughed, “Worried I will ruin your dress Ichika? Where is little Whitley? I assume he is all grown up like his cousins.”

Ichika’s voice did not change, still acting as she was being overly troubled by her appearance, “Master Whitley is on his way to Silverymoon for trade negotiations to expand our market presence, a task worthy of a proper future head of the household.” Her tone was not lost on anyone else in the room. Lady Ichika demanded her brother disown Varatas for his blazon disrespect of the family and the obvious shame he would bring to them. She thought Aletheia’s writings were the type of filth reserved for common mothers with nothing better to do.

Tyrion was walking back to his desk, “Sister, I merely wanted our brother to come home as we prepare for Vesti’s wedding in the fall. I honestly did not expect my summons to reach him so quickly and him to be able to return swiftly. But we are happy for his return and I expect many wonderful stories of his exploits. Perhaps we should convene to the garden for afternoon tea; I expect Charles has outdone himself as usual.” The gathered family acknowledged as the ladies began to leave, Teclis and Tyrion slowly making their way out the door, stopping as everyone else left. Teclis closed the door, Tyrion returning to his desk, as Teclis looked at his brother, “Well, I was hoping she wouldn’t hold a grudge for 150 years, she always had a good memory.”

Tyrion laughed, “Yes, she never forgave you for convincing me to marry Hisana.”

“No kidding, and I assume she is still angry at you for doing it. I gather she is not happy with your children’s current pursuits?” Tyrion placed his hands on his forehead, sighing at the constant trouble his children caused, “She does what she thinks is right in her own view. Her view being that Whitley should be the head of the household and that she could run things better.”

“Please, she is angry that Hisana fits in Waterdeep noble circles better than she does. Might help if she pulled that stick out of her butt.”

Tyrion smirked, his façade able to break down in the presence of one of the few people on this plane he trusted absolutely, Teclis never cared for politics like Ichika of the numerous nobles and traders he dealt with weekly. “Well…that to.” Tyrion stood up and walked toward the window, knowing he and Teclis only had a few minutes before they were missed, “So tell me, how is my son? And before you feign ignorance I know Hisana had you check in on him.” He turned to see Teclis already half shrugging his shoulders, knowing the scheme was up, “It has been three months since he left and barely a pip. He hasn’t even written Aletheia…”

Teclis walked over the window next to his brother, “He is doing well, and he is in Phlan right now. He has actually done some good work over there. Before I left last week he helped solve a noble’s murder and fixed their magical lighthouse. Apparently he is becoming quite the adventuring spellcaster.” Seeing his brother’s quickenly worsening expressions, “Oh don’t worry, he has been using an alias, and the few people who might have a clue who he is apparently have been paid to keep their mouths shut.”

Tyrion breathed a little easier, “Likely so we cannot track him, for all the good that is doing him.” “Or, has it ever occurred to you he is doing it to protect you and the family.”

“If he wanted to do that he would have gone back to Silverymoon.”

Teclis turned to his brother, “Would you have when you were his age?” Tyrion sighed, knowing his brother was right, “Tyrion, I know you hate to admit it, but Varatas is exactly like you when you were his age,” playfully nudging his brother’s shoulder, Teclis chuckled, “And you turned out pretty ok with a beautiful smart wife and three wonderful children.”

Tyrion let out a laugh reminiscent of his brother’s, something his children would never remember him doing, “Well, except for the runaway son, the sister who hates me and is trying to overthrow me everything and a rogue for a brother.” Two laughed, starting towards the door to the study. As he gripped the doorknob, Tyrion turned back to his brother, his voice barely above a whisper, “Did you find evidence of ….”

Teclis’ immovable optimism broke into a stern glare, something his nieces and nephews would also never remember seeing, “Yeah, I spoke to an old librarian, who befriended Vari, there was definitely someone searching in Phlan a while back.” Teclis looked back at Tyrion’s desk, “Did you ever consider telling Vari the truth.” Even though Varatas searched his father’s study once he lacked the magical key to the answers he sought. Ironic, Teclis thought, that the very answers Varatas was seeking were in fact in a place he already searched.

Tyrion opened the door, “No, if he knew, he would rush off to them, and above all else we cannot have that. Besides, we still do not know who they are or who or what they work for.”