Needfest was often a festive time across the Flanaess. It was the dawn of a new year, one that brought new hopes and new promises.

For Roberts the tradesman, Needfest 577 CY only promised further despair. He, his darling wife Emilia and their six children would likely be homeless come Fireseek. He'd just received the bad news from the Irongate Merchants' Union, and now he was wondering how he could possibly find his family new lodgings, much less afford to feed them. He was downing a rather large ale at the Vigilant Watchman Tavern, trying to work up the nerve to go home and deliver the bad news to his family.

"You look like you've got the weight of the whole Oerth on your shoulders, friend," a man said as he sat down in the empty seat next to Roberts. Glancing over at the man, Roberts saw he was a rather obese fellow with a long white beard, dressed in a rather gaudy white and red suit. An affable smile played about his lips, and he had a jolly twinkle in his eyes.

"That's because I do," Roberts said, speaking to the man in spite of himself. "I'm ruined."

"How's that, then?" the white-bearded man asked as he signaled the barkeep for an ale of his own. "Care to talk about it?"

For some reason he couldn't entirely explain, Roberts did want to talk to the man. There was something about his manner that made Roberts feel he could trust him.

"What's your name, stranger?" he asked, his suspicions still lingering.

"Nicholas," the white-bearded man said, as he gratefully accepted the foaming mug the barkeep put down in front of him. "And what's yours?"

"Roberts," he said, "and the reason I'm ruined is because of that storm that came up from the south. It wrecked the ship carrying all my goods to Naerie. All my hopes were riding on that shipment."

"Why's that?" Nicholas asked.

"Because my credit's overextended with my moneylender," Roberts said. "If I can't pay him back, my family will be lucky to have two silver starries to rub together," he continued, referring to Irongate's silver currency.

Nicholas's jolly attitude seemed to disappear for a moment, as he shook his head sadly.

"And who, precisely, is your creditor?" Nicholas asked.

"Ebenezer Scraughje," Roberts said. "Pray to whatever gods you revered that you never end up in his debt."

"Aye, I've heard of him," Nicholas said. "Tell you what, my friend. Wait two days before you say or do anything. You never know, things might turn around."

"A fine thing to say," Roberts said, turning away from Nicholas in despair.

Roberts didn't see Nicholas leave, but by the time he tried to settle his bill he was told that Nicholas had already covered it.

Most Irongatians, even its moneylenders, would be resting during Needfest. Ebenezer Scraughje was an exception, noted even among his fellow moneychangers for his obsessive work ethic. As Nicholas expected, he found Ebenezer working at his counting house and bank later that evening. The walls were lined with exotic valuables, as beyond providing credit and coin exchanges moneylenders and pawnbrokers were often the ones to purchase unusual treasures from adventurers who would otherwise have a hard time finding a buyer.

Ebenezer himself looked up from his work with a scowl as Nicholas entered his counting house. He resembled nothing so much as a weathered statue come to life, his gray hair and eyes matching the pallor of his aged skin. Glaring at Nicholas, his eyes lit up slightly as he saw how Nicholas carried himself. Always ready to deal with a man of means, Ebenezer put on his grandest smile and held out his hand in welcome.

"Greetings sir, and a fine Needfest to you!" Ebenezer said, doffing his hat. "Do tell me, what services are you seeking that bring you to my humble place of business?"

"I understand you provide credit and loans," Nicholas said, unimpressed with Ebenezer's grand show. He always disliked blustering windbags, whether in council or in dealing with any of the city's guilds or merchants.

"I certainly do," Ebenezer said, his eyes lighting up further at the profits Nicholas might offer. "And at entirely fair, reasonable rates of interest as well."

"No doubt," Nicholas said. "However, I'm here inquiring on behalf of one Roberts Kratchti. I understand you and he have an arrangement in place?"

"Ah yes," Ebenezer said, his enthusiasm replaced with the same cold, stoic look Nicholas first saw when he came into the counting house. "I believe he's owing...yes, some 8,200 dragoneyes in total," he said, referring to Irongate's gold coinage.

"And you're to foreclose on his home?" Nicholas asked, frowning.

"...Why, yes," Ebenezer said, blinking in surprise as his enthusiasm at Nicholas's arrival turned to confusion. "He mortgaged his property as collateral for my loan. I've already provided multiple extensions, and should he not be able to make good on his debt, I'm afraid I must-"

"-take my offer of 8,200 dragoneyes and consider the matter concluded," Nicholas said, interrupting Ebenezer before he could finish.

Ebenezer stood there for several moments in utter bafflement, scarcely able to believe his ears.

"You'll...pay Master Kratchti's loan, sir?" Ebenezer asked. "It's highly irregular. Are you quite sure you're capable of-"

"See for yourself," Nicholas said. Reaching into a pocket of his red suit, he tossed a large sack onto the table between them. Glancing inside, Ebenezer's eyes lit up at the diamonds and emerald that were worth eight thousand dragoneyes between them, as well as two hundred further dragoneyes in coinage.

Ebenezer looked from the pouch to Nicholas dubiously.

"Look here, sir," he said, growing suspicious, "if this is some sort of criminal act, I'll have nothing to do with it. I don't deal in stolen property, so you can take your ill-gotten gains and-"

"-accept my generous offer to pay off Mr. Kratchti's mortgage, or have your dealings with House Darmen made public," Nicholas said, finishing Ebenezer's sentence for him once again.

Ebenezer blanched. House Darmen was the richest of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy's noble houses. They were fine customers, but they were also hated enemies of Irongate ane the other Iron League states. Trade between the Iron League and any part of Aerdy was strictly monitored. Illegal trades with Aerdy were tantamount to treason, and Ebenezer would be lucky to keep his head if they were exposed.

"You're bluffing-" Ebenezer said, his face turning red with anger.

"No, I'm not," Nicholas said. "I consider bluffing to be a rather unreliable tool. There's always the danger that someone might call it...which can lead to ruin for you if you can't back it up, or ruin for the caller if you can. My offer still stands, sir."

Beads of sweat appeared on Ebenezer's forehead. He couldn't fathom what Nicholas's game was, and he also suspected this was still some kind of criminal plot. He didn't dare risk having his Darmen dealings exposed, however, and in spite of himself his stomach turned at the idea of Roberts and his family becoming homeless. That was the reason for the extensions, after all.

"...Very well," Ebenezer said. Turning and reaching into his desk drawer, he retrieved the contract between himself and Roberts. He stamped it PAID IN FULL and placed it in another drawer for later filing.

"Excellent!" Nicholas said, suddenly much more cheerful. "Now, just so there's no hard feelings, perhaps I could have a look at some of your fine wares?" he said, gesturing to the relics on Ebenezer's shelves.

"Why...why yes," Ebenezer said in surprise. "You'll not find a finer selection in the whole Iron League!"

"No doubt," Nicholas said, looking over the shelves. Several minutes passed before he found a piece that took his fancy. It was a handcrafted sculpture of a couatl, carved of deklo wood and studded with tiny gemstones. "What's this piece?" he asked, taking it down from the shelf and showing it to Ebenezer.

"Ah, an excellent selection," Ebenezer said. "Carved of deklo wood, that's the hardwood from the southern jungles," he said with a proud smile. "An adventuring band acquired that as a reward for doing some heroic deeds for an Olman nobleman. It's a full bargain at 500 dragoneyes."

"I'm a bit short on gold, so perhaps you'd accept 5,000 starries?" Nicholas asked, pulling a much bigger sack than his first one out of a second pocket.

"You don't need to ask twice," Ebenezer said, returning Nicholas's smile.

The next morning, Roberts was stunned at the two letters he received. One was from Ebenezer, informing him that his loan was paid in full and thanking him for his business. The second was from an agent of Cobb Darg, the Lord Mayor of Irongate and a respected merchant. Darg had heard about Roberts' skill in the cloth trade and requested his aid in preparing a large shipment for the shipping season in Readying of the new year. Darg included a substantial down payment for Roberts' services, along with a list of the materials he hoped Roberts would be able to acquire.

Robert's shock was replaced with joy at the cheer and relief Emilia and their children showed, thanking him for all his hard work.

Cobb Darg watched it all through his crystal ball. He laughed as Roberts described his encounter with the mysterious 'Nicholas' and swore he would find and thank the older man for his kindness. Roberts was doomed to fail, of course, just as everyone else who'd ever tried to find their benefactor failed.

Dismissing the image in his crystal with a wave, Cobb Darg smiled at the sculptures on his mantle. His friends often chided him about his mania for wood sculpture, but Darg explained that every man needed a hobby.

His newest piece, a sculpture of a couatl carved out of deklo wood and studded with tiny gemstones, was the sign of a job well done.