Ruperta stands before Vimanda, with her arms extended...
"She is stronger than that, you know? And you should not try to harm her. She is your family. Vimanda, want to join us? Do you want to be free? To help the people of Korvosa? Leave this prison and live free!"
Vimanda's eyes narrow and she hisses at Ruperta. "Foolish cow! If you will not aid me, then die!" She slashes at Ruperta, clearly attempting to goad her into attacking Glorio or to get out of the way.
for electricity damage!
for electricity damage!
for electricity damage!
for electricity damage!
for damage!
ROUND ONE:
27 Paxs
25 Pai, Crossbowmen
24 Glorio
18 Ruperta
16 Vimanda
6 Corbyn
4 Slumper
Slumper will not stand for that attack.
"You furry faced b!tch"
+2 mithril keen rapier
+2 mithril keen rapier
+1 shield
+1 shield
Pai was still confused about who was attacking whom. All she knew was someone was going to get blown up and soon, if she had anything to say about it. Not wanting to get ginsu'd again, she casts a spell and duplicates of the little wizard appear all around her.
Mirror Image cast, results in images.
plus 1 point of Dex damage
Slumper unleashes a furious series of blows, but fails to land a viable one. Pai suddenly splits into 4, while Corbyn slips around to attack the rakshasa! He hits, dealing a wicked wound!
Round TWO:
27 Paxs
25 Crossbowmen
24 Glorio
18 Ruperta and Pai
16 Vimanda
6 Corbyn
4 Slumper
Ruperta embraces Slumper and signals his friends.
"Let's leave this place, and their masters, to their own problems. We are some here, and we have other pressing matters to attend. "
She tries to move everyone into the boat, and out of the fight.
Paxs summons some water elementals to assist with moving the boat and follows Ruperta.
Paxs summons water elementals, which splash and frolic as Ruperta advises simply leaving. From the walkway, the crossbowmen fire again! All three strike home, there impacts driving Vimanda to the ground. Glorio barks a word of magic and two fiery rays strike the crouching rakasha, burning her severely. Glorio shakes his head and nods to the crossbowmen, who reload and race forward to train their weapons on the unconscious form of the rakshasa. Glorio steps forward and nods toward the small boat. "I think it best if you leave. I warn you: the city is falling apart. Old Korvosa is simply the first domino to fall. There is darkness on the air and the storms gather." He nods at this and turns back to his sister, lying on the ground.
You make your way to the boats and pile in,allowing the elementals to tow you and sail through a very low passage. At the end, a long curtain of moss hangs from above, creating a curtain that shields the entrance to the cave from sight. You pass through, to find Korvosa in darkness, though in the distance fires burn. The smell of smoke and blood assails you and as you row around the bend in the Jeggare, you see that Korvosa is in trouble. Squads of Grey Maidens march through the street and headless bodies lie in heaps on the streets, with kindling thrown on them to allow them to burn. Martial law has come to Korvosa.
Orsini looks up from tending Neolandus and says in a low voice, "Neolandus and I must flee Korvosa. I suggest you come with us. Neolandus has some information on the Queen, but he refuses to share it while still in the city. I have contacts near Harse; we'll all be safer there. Will you join us?"
Ruperta clenches her first, with impotence, at seeing the Grey Maidens murder the people.
"Riches and privileges just cause strife and hate. A king or a rich man, like a glutton, never have enough. They always need more. They become monsters."
A tear comes out from her eye.
"We must stop the monsters. We must save the humble, good people of the city. Or die trying. I am yours, Vencarlo, if you want to save the city. I will follow you. And I think my friends here, my family now, will do the same. Right?"
She turns to look at her companions, while grabbing Slumper's hand. Tears flow freely from her reddened eyes, without shame.
"Agreed, the city must be saved."
"Why won't Neolandus tell us here? We saved him, he owes us that much, doesn't he?"
Slumper pulls out his rapier and with a knowing smirk hands it to Glorio hilt first.
"I believe you are familiar with the use of this. You may need it."
Neolandus looks stricken, and Orsini shakes his head. "He says that she is more powerful than you know and may be listening for the very words he speaks. Better to have some distance between us and her if there is trouble." He takes the rapier from Slumper, smiling. "I'm sure I can put it to good use."
After rowing eastward toward the gates of the city, you are finally come ashore near Tayce Soldado's house and are able to slip past patrols of Grey Maidens. Dawn sees you you down the road, after you stop to purchase a wagon and horses and join an innocuous looking caravan leaving the city. Finally, as you stop by a small inn a few hours north east of Korvosa, Neolandus Kaleopopolis, former Seneschal of Castle Korvosa, tells his story.
He tells you that he had caught the Queen sneaking into the deeper vaults of the Castle in the days before the King's death. When questioned, she claimed she was lost, but Neolandus suspected differently. He followed her after that and she kept visiting the same vault: an ancient one beneath the Castle. When he researched its contents he learned than the fangs of an ancient dragon were kept there, ancient fangs that reeked of evil and magic.
Then, the king took ill and the Queen's demeanor began to change. She went from a scheming young girl to something worse. When you tell him of her survival of the arrow to the head, he groans. He tells you that before there was Korvosa, Castle Korvosa existed. It was guarded by the Shoanti, who the Chelaxian colonists drove off. The Shoanti claimed that they guarded a great evil, and Neolandus suspects that they might know exactly what has come to pass. He says that he has a contact among the Shoanti, but he needs help to get there. Indeed, his story is broken by wracking coughs as Neolandus doubles over in pain.
"Will you help me? Will you help Korvosa?"
"Of course we will help. Korvosa is our home, too. Are these Shoanti friendly? I know some tribes aren't that fond of our types," she says looking around at t he rest of the city dwelling group.
Neolandus smiles. "The Shoanti are... insular. We will need help in order that they should take us seriously or talk to us at all. But I know where we can find that help..."
Thus ends Escape from Old Kovosa. A History of Ashes will begin shortly. In the meantime, please go ahead and level up to 9th level. I will post the opening post soon!