Yaziyah frowns. "There is something strange about this dagger. Call me paranoid, but I would not keep it around."
She had heard of the Arkonas, of course, but hadn't paid much attention to their affairs. Nobles. Can't help but meddle. I'm sure she had no ulterior motives for luring these people out of the Guard. I'm sure she had the best interests of the the people at heart. Out loud, she asks Verik: "If she was such a charitable soul, why not help the people directly?"
Back at the Estate, Garel starts to open the entry door, but Blister pushes past him, braving the air in nothing but her nightgown. She runs to Mouse, embracing her around the waist, then turning her attention to the rest of you. "Yoor back! You made it! Did the queen send ya t'war? Is it true there's pirates attackin' from the sea??" Clearly, she has been anticipating your return.
Who's been fillin' y'r head wit' stories 'bout pirates? Mouse answers, cuffing Blister playfully over the head before returning the embrace. Ain't no silly pirates comin' f'r Korvosa. It were monsters - dragons 'n big trolls what eat little kids f'r snacks! An' kids as ain't in bed when they should be...well, y' know how y' get hungry f'r a snack when it gets late? Mouse scoops the girl up into her arms, pretending to munch on a shoulder with alacrity and making loud playacted gobbling noises.
'Cept th' only dragons we saw was frien'ly ones roamin' th' busted-up market...an' th' only ones mebbe eatin' people was little kids what ain't done nothin'. Th' hero feedin' th' poor was th' villian what's leadin' folk t' craziness...an' which one's true, or both? But better the girl went to bed with pictures of fantastical and uncomplicated monsters in her mind, a simple story of good and evil, like the storybook Mouse had left with the kids when she went to the Citadel the first time. They had 'nuff o' hard truth in tha' fishery, an' they'll have 'nuff agin soon...let 'em 'ave it easy f'r a while f'r once.
Garvid hands over the captured deserters, and as the guard turns to walk away with them, he places a hand on his shoulder. "Listen. We've gone to great extend to keep those two alive, and they'd better stay that way. And no kicking below the belt.", the last sentence quieter than the others.
Arriving at the mansion, he crashes heavily in a soft chair, beginning to pick at his wounds. He looks at Mouse taking care of the kids with a small smile and stands up to help himself to Calcedon's liquor cabinet. "Want some? Doubt he'd mind.", he offers to Yazi as he takes away a bottle.
"I'm not really sure about not keeping the dagger. I have no idea what the Arkonas are doing, and if we don't assume the worst, we're quintessentially f... false in our assumptions.", he interrupts himself as he watches the kid at the other side of the room. "Might as well pay them a visit, see if she was really good intentioned, or simply pulling a man by his... hopes. And the dagger's proof enough that we know what happened.", he says, taking a sip and frowning. "Never did like hard liquor..." He shrugs. "Not really an expert on magic, but I'd reckon we can get someone is one of the schools to tell us more about the dagger, if you can't.", he suggests, before putting an embarrassed look on his face. "Not that I mean you're incompetent or anything... I'd send you to the duelists too, if you needed fighting lessons.", he mumbles, turning somewhat red.
As usual, Li feels somewhat out of place when there isn't a task to focus on. She quietly sits near Garvid and Yazi nursing her own aches. That hammer had done a number on her arm.
When Garvid mentions the dagger, she pipes up. "I be agreein' with ya Garvid. Tha dagger be tha only proof we have of Verik's story. But if we pay them a visit an' she says she didn't give it ta Verik but that it was stolen, what then?"
tag Garvid and Yaziyah
Yaziyah waved away the drink. "I'm more of a tea person, myself." She starts fussing with Garvid and Li's injuries, cleaning wounds and applying bandages. She briefly wonders how Garvid can be up and about with such severe wounds before borrowing Calcedon's magic wand to patch up the worst of them. "Poultices and bed rest can only do some much, and I cannot ask the spirits for more healing magic today."
At the big man's suggestion that they consult the schools of magic on the properties of the dagger, she nods in agreement. "Yes. Yes. I would rather know more about it before we go knocking on any doors. If these Arkonas are involved in a conspiracy against the Crown..."
"Not that I mean you're incompetent or anything... I'd send you to the duelists too, if you needed fighting lessons."
"Hah! No, my fighting days are behind me. The spirits keep me safe. Or they have, so far. I don't pretend to great knowledge of magic, and I don't mind admitting to my limitations. If someone else can tell us more about this, I'm all for it."
As if summoned by fate, at Yaziyah's words there is a loud, heavy knocking on the door. Some of you freeze in fright, for who would call at such a late hour? Garel moves swiftly toward the door, still in his pajamas. He opens the peep hole and speaks seriously to the person on the other side. After a moment, he nods to Calcedon. "Our company has arrived, sir."
He opens the door to reveal a young man with a clean-shaven, boyish face that makes him appear as though he's barely out of his teens. He is of average height and sleight of build although his loose clothing hide some stringy muscle. He is dressed in brown pants and a loose-fitting shirt on his torso. Over this he dons a pliable, studded leather armor. A lone dagger on his belt is the only visible weapon.
Pietro shivers slightly as he silently greets Gardel. He's wearing a long overcoat and carrying a leather handbag, beautifully embroidered. His appearance was not as immaculate and a short stubble had appeared on his boyish face.
He follows Gardel to the common room and is slightly taken back by what he sees. He quickly recovers and nods to Cal, "Your friends I take it?"
He saw they were bruised, bleeding, and battered. "Do I even want to know what happened to them?"
Not waiting for answer, he opened up his satchel and started cleaning and bandaging wounds. All sorts of flasks were opened and used. The good Dr. even had the patience to sew up some torn flesh. His stitching was perfect. He then gave three of them a small flask to drink.
After he had finished with the worst of it, he smiled, "Aren't you going to tell me that the other guy ended up worse?"
"I am Dr. Bartori. Pietro to Cal and his friends."
________________
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Garvid exhales as Yazi moves closer to heal his wounds. "You shouldn't worry, I've been through worse. And it'd be bad if we run out of magic, that thing looks pretty flimsy.", he starts complaining, but walks slowly anyway. "I'll ask Cal's spirits for help. There's a whole cabinet of them over there.", he jokes, before turning red and serious again. "Sorry."
Taking another sip, he passes an offer of the bottle to Li, nodding. "Then we tell her that we have the letter and we quote the sentence that we read. If we phrase it right, we're not lying, and she might confess.", he takes another sip, and frowningly puts the bottle away. "If you bring patchy evidence to the Guard, it's bad, but if you bring it to the perp, they might get nervous and think that you know more than you do. It helps a lot more if you've pretended to be a half-brained street thug before that point." He grins.
As the doctor is brought in, Garvid stands up to meet the newcomer with a guarded stance, before calming down at the sight of a doctor's bag, attached to a doctor. He extends a massive calloused hand to the newcomer, "Evening, doctor. I guess you could say that we underwent some hostile negotiations, but in the end we managed to get a peaceful takeover.", he grins. "Garvid Krein, pleased to meet you. And I don't know about worse, but they ended in Volshenyek."
He lifts the small flask, then giving it back with a frown. "You know, Doc Ned from the Shingles puts some honey or something in his..."
Calcedon felt sick in the back of his mouth when the human remains were discovered, and was terribly conflicted about the situation. As much as he disliked the queen, she hadn't fed him to his fellow citizens like Varik had recently done to others in their city. He wished there was a decent person who could do good for the city besides themselves, that he could leave it to them and take care of his own troubles, but there really was very few.
Looking at his beleaguered comrades, he also felt the need to make something happen for them. And it occurred to him that Pietro was a solid, useful sort. He could at least patch up their hurt, as they were fairly into at this time. He'd fit in with the older sorts in the group, and also had an interest in the arcane, which would be useful in helping them deal with the dagger.
Once he arrived, he managed the introduction well enough on his own, but Cal couldn't help but brag on the doctor a little. "Pietro here has been my family doctor as far back as I can remember. He always treated me well, inside and out. It's thanks to him that I have as few scars as I do." He took a bit of a moment to laugh at his own macabre joke, and pressed on without allowing for anyone else to clip into the moment. "Seriously though, I don't believe I'd be alive today if it weren't for this man. He helped my put my treacherous uncle in the noose, and none too soon."
Cal went over to Pietro, placing a hand on the working man's shoulder to gather his attention for a moment. "Good doctor, my friends and I have been conscripted into the Queen's service to assist the guard in restoring order to the city. Most recently we incarcerated some people who were feeding their neighbors to their neighbors. If we are to be doing any more of the same, it's likely we'll need your services on a fairly regular basis in the coming weeks. Is there any way you might be able to find room in your busy schedule"
Li takes the offered bottle from Garvid and takes a swig before passing it back. "In that case, let's be hopin' she be willin' ta talk with us."
Even though Li feels relatively safe at Cal's, the arrival of the newcomer puts her on alert. She stands, her body tensed to defend until Cal introduces the doctor. Then she flops back down into the chair.
"And I don't know about worse, but they ended in Volshenyek."
Li frowns, "Not all of 'em. Three got away." She brightened somewhat, "But I be makin' one of 'em bleed from his ear. He's goin' ta need a healer's help ta make it stop."
Li tenses again as her wounds are dealt with. She wasn't used to being touched by strangers because usually that meant she was going to be harmed, not helped. It was just best to keep her distance altogether. "I never be helped by a real doctor before. Ya must be good friends with Cal ta come at this hour. Many thanks fer makin' my arm feel almost normal agin. Name's Li."
tag Pietro?
He lifts the small flask, then giving it back with a frown. "You know, Doc Ned from the Shingles puts some honey or something in his..."
Pietro smiles, cleans his hand, and extends it to Garvid, "Yeah, I also heard that he just gives out watered down honey, especially the likes of you."
He looked at Cal, "So will I charge the usual, plus the late night fee, of course. or is there some other type of payment involved here."
He shrugged, "How about a story? How about you all tell me about this negotiation..."
tag?
Cal went over to Pietro, placing a hand on the working man's shoulder to gather his attention for a moment. "Good doctor, my friends and I have been conscripted into the Queen's service to assist the guard in restoring order to the city. Most recently we incarcerated some people who were feeding their neighbors to their neighbors. If we are to be doing any more of the same, it's likely we'll need your services on a fairly regular basis in the coming weeks. Is there any way you might be able to find room in your busy schedule"
"Well now you're making me blush. My family has served your family for a couple of generations. I could do no less. Besides you pay in kind, with that violin of yours."
He pondered the question, "Perhaps I can help out. I'm overdue for a vacation from the clinic. What sort of job do you do for the Queen? If it's patching you all up, I can do from the comfort of my clinic. And get paid for it."
He cocked his head, "Anything else you may need help with?"
tag?
Li tenses again as her wounds are dealt with. She wasn't used to being touched by strangers because usually that meant she was going to be harmed, not helped. It was just best to keep her distance altogether. "I never be helped by a real doctor before. Ya must be good friends with Cal ta come at this hour. Many thanks fer makin' my arm feel almost normal agin. Name's Li."
Pietro sensed Li tensing up. He looked in her eyes and calmed her, "It's OK. I know what I'm doing."
She reminded him of some of the poorer folks he treated on the street. Away from his clinic, in the poorer parts of Korvosa. They were also shocked that someone wanted to help their sick. But lately, this was all that made sense to Pietro. Treating the wealthy for frivolous diseases and telling them how beautiful and young they looked just filled his pockets but left his heart wanting more.
He looked at Li again, "Feel better?"
tag?
Li tenses again as her wounds are dealt with. She wasn't used to being touched by strangers because usually that meant she was going to be harmed, not helped. It was just best to keep her distance altogether. "I never be helped by a real doctor before. Ya must be good friends with Cal ta come at this hour. Many thanks fer makin' my arm feel almost normal agin. Name's Li."Pietro sensed Li tensing up. He looked in her eyes and calmed her, "It's OK. I know what I'm doing."
She reminded him of some of the poorer folks he treated on the street. Away from his clinic, in the poorer parts of Korvosa. They were also shocked that someone wanted to help their sick. But lately, this was all that made sense to Pietro. Treating the wealthy for frivolous diseases and telling them how beautiful and young they looked just filled his pockets but left his heart wanting more.
He looked at Li again, "Feel better?"
tag?
Li gives Pietro a half-smile and hands his dagger back to him that had been hanging off his belt. "Better."
Li gives Pietro a half-smile and hands his dagger back to him that had been hanging off his belt. "Better."
A confused Pietro soon recognizes his dagger and accepts it; he smiled, "Good one. I have friends that can do tricks like that as well."
He then stepped away from the girl while he padded his body to make sure nothing else was missing.
Cal smiled at the interchange between the street rat and Pietro, it wasn't like her to open up so quickly in his short time with her. Perhaps it was because he helped her immediately with little question? One thing he knew, women were inscrutable. He walked over and sat down on one of the more ancient pieces of furniture that was fairly sturdily built. "We happened to recover the Queen's brooch in a raid on Lamm's hideout. Thinking it obvious to return it to her, she gave us military escort to the citadel, that we should assist in restoring order to the city. I do believe we are getting paid per service, even still, it's fairly dangerous work as you can see."
As he was explaining the situation for the good doctor, he pulled out his violin that had been on his hip and he plucked a bit at the strings, tuning it up with his immaculate ears. "Since you've heard me so often, I'm prone to grant you any requests. But I think I'll start with one that matches your particular skill with some of my own. A fitting payment in kind if you will." Placing the violin to his chin, he began the emotive piece.
"We happened to recover the Queen's brooch in a raid on Lamm's hideout. Thinking it obvious to return it to her, she gave us military escort to the citadel, that we should assist in restoring order to the city. I do believe we are getting paid per service, even still, it's fairly dangerous work as you can see."
"But that was after we dealt with Lamm." Li's voice is still filled with hatred even though the man was dead. "He won't be hurtin' anyone ever agin," she murmured. "There be other things as well that need ta be return'd but there ain't been time ta do anythin' about it. And there may not be...we have ta report ta tha Field Marshall in tha morning. Who knows what be next."
"We happened to recover the Queen's brooch in a raid on Lamm's hideout. Thinking it obvious to return it to her, she gave us military escort to the citadel, that we should assist in restoring order to the city. I do believe we are getting paid per service, even still, it's fairly dangerous work as you can see.""But that was after we dealt with Lamm." Li's voice is still filled with hatred even though the man was dead. "He won't be hurtin' anyone ever agin," she murmured. "There be other things as well that need ta be return'd but there ain't been time ta do anythin' about it. And there may not be...we have ta report ta tha Field Marshall in tha morning. Who knows what be next."
Pietro nodded. He was seriously due for a vacation. In fact, his next couple of days had him scheduled to apply his famous rejuvenation poultice on Cherie Jeggare. Never mind that she was way past her prime. Her ego did not allow her to age gracefully.
"Yes, please allow me to join you. I will be most fortunate to proffer my expertise to your endeavors."
He stifled a yawn; it had been a long night. "However, full disclosure. Do not expect me to fight mano-a-mano with anyone. My skill set is not suited for this type of confrontation. If that should ever occur, you will be seeing my derriere as I obtain proper distance. But do not concern yourself too much as I will be in close proximity to the altercation."
Pietro had a hard habit to break. He was often told that he spoke with difficult words but that was what he learned at home and in academia. But he did want to make sure that these people understood what he just said, "Is this agreeable to you?"
Mouse had sat on the room's edge and watched most of the exchange. Her head was still ringing from the hammer blows she'd taken, and she silently accepts one of the doctor's tonics, trying not to grimace as she drinks it down. Might be they work a treat...but they sure don't taste it.
But as bad as it tastes, it works almost immediately - within a few minutes, the ringing in her ears has all but dissipated, and her head is clear. Well...least as clear as it's gonna, with th' walkin' ensa- encycla- th' walkin' medicine book 'ere. She spends the next several minutes puzzling out his phrases as he talks, trying to make them come together into something that makes sense; finally, she manages to muscle the words into place in her mind.
So...y'r sayin' y' ain't much f'r hittin' folk? Tha's ok - hap'n's t' be what I'm bes' at. I c'n keep 'em off 'ya so long as y' c'n patch me up after. Seems a good...'rangement. The last word takes a second for her to get out, as if she's trying to come up with a word on the Doctor's level; it's clear from her tone that she's as self-conscious about her coarse accent talking with the doctor as she had been about her ballgown going to see the Queen.
Most of the remainder of the night is spent in the parlor as the group regales Pietro with the stories of their recent exploits. At Cal's whispered suggestion, Garel ushers the stubborn but sleepy Blister back upstairs to her sleeping quarters so that she doesn't hear the grimier details. Yaziyah tells of their supernatural encounter with Zellara's ghost, Li and Mouse reenact their fight against the Cowhammer Boys, and Cal provides a dramatic musical background on his violin, though occasionally resorting to the aged and out-of-tune harpsichord. Garvid sits in his chair, enjoying his bottle and slipping in and out of sleep.
Before long the windows leading into the courtyard begin to glow gently, birds awaken and fill the air with their chatter, and the house begins to stir with the activity of its residents. Morning has come to House Fordyce.
Cal sequesters Pobie and instructs her to prepare a wagon. The gear that was salvaged from All the World's Meat is organized and loaded, with instructions given on where to try to sell it and what amount to accept in return. And while some of you might make your way toward your beds with a desperately-needed nap, no matter how short, a steady crescendo of tuning instruments and chattering voices fills the courtyard as morning salad is prepared.
___________
Later that afternoon the group finds themselves back on the street, marching once again toward Citadel Volshyenek. The Guard are expecting you, of course, and hastily escort you to Cressida's office. Except she's not alone. A handsome man sits in one of the chairs at her desk, and as you enter, he rises and bows.
"Ah good, there you are." Cressida gestures you in. "No, no, don't wait, please come right in. We have a lot to discuss. Oh, I see you've brought company?"
"Right, well then welcome Dr. Bartori. I've a friend of my own today. This is Vencarlo Orisini."
Vencarlo hops to his feet and bows deeply as he's introduced. He eyes each of you in turn, but his gaze lingers on Li. He offers his seat to her. "My dear, please take my chair." Cressida goes on: "Vencarlo has always been an...outspoken critic of our city's government, but I've always valued him as a friend and advisor. Particularly in these dark times, his input about the temperament and morale of the citizens of Korvosa is invaluable to us."
Vencarlo smiles warmly. "And the Field Marshal has told me great things about you as well! Congratulations on your acquisition of this Vancaskerkin fellow. If Korvosa had more fine folk like you, we'd already be out of this mess."
Cressida chuckles lightly. "Yes, well speaking of messes, if you would please excuse us for just a few minutes, Vencarlo? But don't go far, we've more to talk about, you know."
"Of course, of course! I am yours to command. I'll be speaking with your men outside." He bows once again, and in a gentlemanly fashion offers to take the hands of Li, Mouse, and Yaziyah. It looks as though he would kiss the back of your hands.
After he leaves the room, Cressida speaks in hushed tones. "You brought us Verik, alive! Excellent work! The men interrogated him last night, and I've been debriefed and even questioned him myself. What an awful situation." She shudders in distaste. She walks toward her desk, unlocking the cabinet behind it and withdrawing a small strongbox. As she fiddles with a keyring to unlock she asks, "He insists he had no knowledge of the killings, but I'm not so sure. What do you think?"
Pietro rubbed his sleepy eyes as he entered the citadel. When acknowledged by Cressida, he bowed slightly, "Dr. Bartori, madam. An old acquaintance of the most virtuous violin player in Korvosa. I was petitioned to help keep Cal and his friends from meeting Pharasma too soon. It seems that their latest endeavors have an associated high risk of untimely death."
Pietro knew who Vencarlo was but he hoped that Vencarlo had forgotten him. He had been asked to attend his academy to foster the noble art of fencing in his youth and he was not very good at it. After a couple of months, he had petitioned his family to let him concentrate on the medical profession.
He cleared his throat as if to speak but failed to follow through when he had gotten everyone's attention.
Pietro then listened as Cressida continued talking to his new companions.
Vencarlo hops to his feet and bows deeply as he's introduced. He eyes each of you in turn, but his gaze lingers on Li. He offers his seat to her. "My dear, please take my chair."
In Li's experience there were only three reasons someone offers you a seat when everyone else was left standing...you were elderly, you were hurt, or you were about to be interrogated. Why he be lookin' at me so long? Did tha soldier I hit at tha butchers die? Mebbe I be in trouble an' they just bein' nice ta throw me off guard. Li sounds nervous as she answers, "Dr. Pietro fixed me up real good an' I done nothin' wrong so I can stand. Ya be much more important than me as a teacher o' swordplay an' so should be keepin' yer chair."
He bows once again, and in a gentlemanly fashion offers to take the hands of Li, Mouse, and Yaziyah. It looks as though he would kiss the back of your hands.
Li stiffens as he reaches for her hand. Her other hand clenches into a fist and her eyes dart back and forth like a panicked, trapped animal. It was then that Cal catches her eye, gives her a reassuring smile, and subtly shakes his head to warn her against doing anything foolish. Her body is still rigid but she allows her hand to be kissed.
Now that they were just with the Field Marshall, Li relaxes. When Cressida asks about Verik, Li offers her opinion, "He seemed truly surpris'd an' disturb'd when he be learnin' tha truth." Li doesn't add her own thoughts about how hard it was to believe that he didn't know what was going on when there were few animals and yet they still had enough meat to give out.
As Pietro makes his appearance, the Shoanti woman fades quietly in the background, letting the doctor work his own particular brand of magic on the patients. Her eyes glitter with keen interest as she watches him, being neither welcoming nor hostile towards him. Beyond cursorily introducing herself using both her Shoanti name and her given name (and closely watching his reaction at that), she is content to get off her feet and let the others deal with the debriefing of the newcomer.
_______________________
Yaziyah had vaguely heard the name of Vencarlo Orsini, but had little knowledge of who he was. Something that Marshal Kroft says causes one eyebrow to arch upwards questioningly. "Outspoken critic of the government"...? You and me both, friend. The other eyebrow soon joins the first as Orsini offers his chair to Li. Most decidedly, this was an intriguing individual. The attempt to kiss her hand almost makes Yaziyah burst out laughing, but she does extend her hand to him - only she turns her palm a quarter circle at the last moment and grips his, making the hand-kissy thing into a handshake. An amused expression plays over her face as she watches for his reaction, matched by a chirpy sound from within the folds of her cloak which might almost be a trill of laughter, if weasels could laugh.
Soon things become more serious as the marshal dismisses Orsini and turns the conversation towards their mission. Yaziyah nods at Li's assessment. "He sounded sincere enough as he professed his innocence, but I'm thinking it's a very poor commander who can get blindsided by his men like he was. Either that, or stupid."
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Garvid remains quiet as Orsini converses with the Field Marshal.
Can't say I like the guy... But can't say I dislike the guy, either. That's more than most folk get., he thinks, raising an eyebrow with a smile as Yazi parries his grip. "It's always good to see someone who isn't afraid to speak, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you.", Garvid says quietly, as Orsini finishes. "Though I'm not so sure whether we wouldn't be in a different mess, if there was more of us.", he retorts.
As he leaves, the stiffness in his body is gone, and he grins at Kressida. "Plus, Marshal, you got to admit. We brought him in alive AND well. That's got to be worth a bonus, considering you sent me.", he chuckles. "Field Marshal, if I have to be honest, I do believe him too. Didn't seem like the smartest of guys, he practically admitted that he couldn't go higher in the guard anyway. And every organisation is full of people with more power than they deserve.", he says, sending a look at his companions. I might not trust the guard, but I trust her. "Did he mention the Arkonas?", he mentions, crossing his arms.
Garvid remains in the room, looking at Kressida. "Uh, boss.", he says, looking nervously. "I'm sure that in all this mess and paperwork, nobody had the time or money to re-fit my old armour.", he says, quieting down. "Is it possible that if you check, it's lost to water damage, and a surprising amount of crowns might be found between the floorboards. Those things happen, you know.", he grins. He then looks at his halberd, the blade clean as always, but the hilt barely holding together.
"Uh. And I'm sure I could help Parkins look around the floorboards for a new halberd too."
Vencarlo smiles warmly as he greets Pietro, but offers no signal that he recognizes his former pupil.
"Ya be much more important than me as a teacher o' swordplay an' so should be keepin' yer chair."
"Heavens, no! I am only modest teacher. Anyway, one is never too highly-ranked to give up one's seat for such a lovely young woman."
His eyes light up first in surprise then in delight as Yazi grips his hand. "Excellent." he breathes. "Excellent to meet you!"
_________
Cressida greets Pietro, then listens with interest to the opinions of the group. She nods gravely at the statements of Garvid, Li, and Mouse. "Yes, Yazi...Speaks for the Dead" she says uncertainly, trying out the Shoanti name for the first time. "I agree. If he wasn't a party to their conspiracy, he must have been quite blind. Blinded by ambitions, it seems. Give a freezing man a blanket, do we expect he would only use it moderation? Would a starving beggar eat only a single piece of a breadloaf? Such is the nature of mortals, I fear. But I am no barrister, and Verik himself can plead his case to the arbiter presiding over his trial."
"At any rate, I have your payment, as promised. Two thousand gold sails." She withdraws a sizeable pouch from the lockbox and hands it to Garvid.
She claps her hands twice, and the door is opened by a guard. "Bid Master Orisini return." Not a moment later, the charming swordsman returns, bouncing on his toes as he strides confidently into the room. He adopts an elegant posture to the side of the room, near Pietro.
Cressida takes a seat, breathing deeply as she gathers her papers and her thoughts. Something is clearly weighing on her mind.
As much as I would enjoy continuing the conversation, I fear we just don’t have time. Vencarlo has often come to me with news of important changes on the streets, and this is no different—indeed, what he’s learned could degrade into sanctions, embargos, or even war against Cheliax itself if we don’t act now."
Pausing a moment to allow the gravity of the statement to settle, she continues: "This problem is a man named Darvayne Gios Amprei. You might have heard of him—he’s an ambassador from Cheliax whose disdain for Korvosa is well documented, and yet he’s taken great pleasure in what our city has to offer. Even before this recent unrest, this man was ready to recommend to his government a sanction on trade, or perhaps even an embargo. Vencarlo has learned through his own considerable sources that Ambassador Amprei’s actual goals are to undermine Korvosa’s economy to the point where he can buy up large portions of the city from desperate landholders and establish himself in a position of power here. Whatever the ambassador’s reasons, we can’t let his bias or personal plans hurt Korvosa. Yet neither can we take drastic action—not only would killing him be wrong, but it’d simply martyr him in Cheliax’s eyes."
"“Fortunately, Darvayne has his foibles. Again, Vencarlo has learned that Ambassador Amprei has been making fairly regular visits to a place in Old Korvosa called Eel’s End. This den of vice is run by a dangerous man named Devargo Barvasi, better known in Korvosa’s alleys as The King of Spiders. I’d love to put Barvasi out of business, but he pays his vice taxes regularly and never causes any problems—in fact, since he keeps his business constrained entirely within the five ships moored at Eel’s End, he’s actually one of the least of my worries. Truth be told, I can’t decide whether Devargo is a stirge or a kraken. He seems like a bloodsucking pest most days, but sometimes I fear just how far his tentacles have wormed their way into our great city."
"In this case though, his insidious web stretching across Korvosa’s underworld might prove to our advantage. I’d like you to pay a visit to Eel’s End and secure an audience with Devargo. Find out what he knows about Amprei, get proof of any illicit goings-on the ambassador might be involved with, and bring that proof to me to use to undermine any forthcoming attempts by him to get Cheliax to cut us off. Devargo might not be willing to part with his information easily. I’ll supply you with some gold to bribe him, and whatever’s left over you can keep for yourself. Remember: the man is dangerous, but so are you—if things get violent, I wouldn’t mourn his passing.”
Cressida again reaches into her lockbox to withdraw another pouch, also handing it to Garvid. "There. Fifteen hundred additional gold sails. These are your funds for bribing Divargo. I trust that if things go sour and you're caught, you'll forget where you got that money. Now then, the address for Eel's End..."
"Field Marshal!" Vencarlo interjects, "I was just about to return to the academy, it's on that end of the city, and I'd love to escort these fine citizens as far as Old Korvosa. That is," he adds deferentially, "Whenever you are ready to proceed?"
Pietro thought things over before speaking. His analytical mind trying to anticipate possible scenarios with this King of Spiders. Although not widely known, certainly not by his family and high-class acquaintances, the Dr. spent some of his nights in the poorer parts of Korvosa. In those neighborhoods, he was no stranger to vices. perhaps he knew this King of Spiders or his underlings.
When the conversation died down, he asked, "So you are requesting that we infiltrate this den of vice or that we merely pose as customers? Do you know what sort of vice this King of Spiders offers at Eel's End?"
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He then rubbed his temple, an old habit when he was deep in thought, "Do you happen to know anything else about either of the two principal players in this endeavor? You realize that knowledge is power, here more than ever."
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Pietro stammered, "I-- I don't know if we're ready yet Master Vencarlo. Would it not make more sense to visit a vice den later at night?"
His hands up in the air, "But forgive my manner, I am not the one making decisions here."
He turned to his companions, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your show..."
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"Heavens, no! I am only modest teacher. Anyway, one is never too highly-ranked to give up one's seat for such a lovely young woman."
Li looks from side to side trying to determine who the lovely young woman was. When she realizes that he's addressing her she involuntarily blushes and looks down at the floor.
___________Li tries to follow the conversation as words like sanction and embargo are thrown around. She gets the overall gist of the conversation - Darvayne is bad for Korvosa and they need to stop him - but it takes all of her focus. When the discussion turns to The King of Spiders, Li is more familiar with the profiting off of other people's vices. Lamm had often held up Barvasi's operation as something to aspire to.
Pietro stammered, "I-- I don't know if we're ready yet Master Vencarlo. Would it not make more sense to visit a vice den later at night?"
Li shrugs, "Depends on whether we be goin' as customers or just goin' ta talk ta Barvasi. Chances be that Barvasi would have more time ta talk ta us durin' tha day an' there be less people about ta interrupt. But if we be customers, then evenin' be better when everybody be about an' we can blend in."
Pietro stammered, "I-- I don't know if we're ready yet Master Vencarlo. Would it not make more sense to visit a vice den later at night?"Li shrugs, "Depends on whether we be goin' as customers or just goin' ta talk ta Barvasi. Chances be that Barvasi would have more time ta talk ta us durin' tha day an' there be less people about ta interrupt. But if we be customers, then evenin' be better when everybody be about an' we can blend in."
Pietro nodded, "I concede to your logic if we take the first approach. However, would it not be advisable to actually see his facilities for ourselves before approaching this King of Spider?"
He shrugged, "I have... a business on the side that deals with some of the shadier characters in the city so perhaps I can identify them in this location. It's up to you. I'm good either way. I am just laying out the possibilities for you to make an informed decision."
"Give a freezing man a blanket, do we expect he would only use it moderation? Would a starving beggar eat only a single piece of a breadloaf? Such is the nature of mortals, I fear. But I am no barrister, and Verik himself can plead his case to the arbiter presiding over his trial."
Garvid shakes his head. "Power isn't food or a blanket, Field Marshal, and people can live without it. Though I agree, without ambition, they simply exist."
Taking the pouch, Garvid nods. "Can't say that I'd enjoy giving a criminal more money, Field Marshal. Though I'd rather they stay in Korvosa than in Cheliax. Or lining up a mercenary's pocket, if it comes to war.", he shares his sentiments. "Keep your enemies close, as they say. In a blade's reach, if possible.", he chuckles, tossing the pouch in the air.
As Master Orsini walks back in the room, he nods. "Nobody would be foolish to decline a tour from a renowned swordmaster, after all.", he says, smiling. Look at the guy jump. And I bet he's at least fifteen years older than me..., Garvid thinks on the duelist's fine step. Turning towards the rest, he leans on the empty chair, crossing his arms. "If we go at night, we're sure to get him there. If things turn sour, we might get a distraction and get some more time... subtly interrogating him.", he says, clenching his big fist. "Though, if we go now, we'd have more time, since he's probably not as busy, and have a better, non-violent solution. I frankly prefer the latter, believe it or not. My advise is we go now, as soon as I... work something out with the quartermaster here." He sighs. "Field Marshal, if we run across the Ambassador, you were pretty clear regarding the leaving him alive. Though, might we... convince him how he has no desire to live in our fine city due to the ruthless street criminals out to get his kneecaps?", he asks with an innocent face.
Mouse was finding politics less and less to her liking every second. Near-forced into a job to avoid offending Queen Ileosa, sent after a man feeding the poor simply because he had an opinion the Queen didn't like? (No matter what he was feeding them - and Mouse was firmly convinced Verik had been genuine when he said he didn't know about his men's activities.)
And now they were bribing a crime lord (and she'd had more than enough experience with a certain crime lord to have ample distaste for the lot) to take down some Chel ambassador? Who someone didn't like because he'd been threatening to...what? It was starting to make her head spin. Pfft...spiders. Seems like we's the ones what done got 'rselves caught in some web. And I ain't much likin' bein' th' fly.
But no matter her distaste...this was her job now. There was no backing out...'n no better bets f'r an empty like me anyway. So she listens and nods, trying to grasp as much as she can of the mind-boggling vocabulary being thrown around. Nod 'n lissen 'n do what 'm told. Tha's why 'm 'ere... Only when she recognizes the beginnings of a plan of approach does she chime in. Durin' th' day'll be bes' - like Li said, be less people t' see us, or mess with us.
And I ain't gotta watch 'im buy 'n sell girls t' be used...Lamm allus said tha's where I was headed wi'out 'im...twas 'im or th' flop'ouse f'r me...
"I've had enough of skulking at night for now. I say we go during the day." Yaziyah taps her chin thoughtfully. "Some of my people live in the area, I'll see what they know about this King of Spiders. I'm sure he has a few soft spots."
"We need to convince him that the city's economy in shambles does not benefit his business. Let's try that angle first before we resort to bribery... or threats."
Though they had recently come into some wealth due to their conscription, Calcedon had also recently come into some debt. He had been renting a dock from the Jegarre family, one that his family had owned at one time, and was hoping to turn a profit from the docking fees. A writ of transfer of funds solved part of the problem, the rental price for the sake of the lot in full, but he had to borrow from the Zenderholm family to make that happen. The interest had been less than the rent, at least at first, but being in debt to the Zenderholms was much less comfortable, due to their subtle reminders in sensitive situations. With the money that came in, he was able to finish the payments on that, and afford a bit more fresh fruit for the estate. It would help the children's health a bit.
After the morning salad, which was a few people shorter than usual, Cal handed a sealed scroll to one of the percussionists, a younger stout fellow of Varisian descent. "Spider, take this to house Zenderholm today. I know you're working the area near them recently correct?"
[b]"Oi, da." Said the spider, reaching out a spindly arm to receive the writ. As a brightness came over his face, he shared his good news. "An foun good in cl'set, jus' las' lite." He bounded off on spindly legs toward the great hall, leaving his xylophone in the yard unattended as Cal curiously followed him.
Spider was in charge of cleaning, his meticulous nature came to it easy, and he was constantly polishing and scraping dust and dirt from the mansion. Now and again, he'd find some old family artifact and produce it, and Cal wondered if that was something he'd come across today. Up to the balcony of hall, there were some storage nooks in behind some of the pillars, and to one of them spider led the master.
As he opened it, there was a strange assortment of old things, cleaning, lumber, tea sets, and a few things that Cal didn't know even the purpose of. A spindly arm went in through the carefully sorted things and the bard heard a click. A panel next to the closet shifted slightly, and the bard instinctively reached out and opened it wide. Within, a sword, shield and armored coat lay at the ready. It seemed this was here in generations past for emergencies or intruders to be more easily repelled.
"Good find, Spider. I'll be taking this with me on my conscription services. My current gear will have to do in it's place. Do keep this in mind should we have unwelcome guests, and don't tarry long with the writ I gave you today, it's fairly important."
With a nod, Spider clambered off to put his instrument away, and cal stood at the panel for a moment, thinking. He wondered what else lay in the old mansion that he still was unaware of.
Cal knew exactly where that was. Moritified of having to return, for whatever reason, he remained silent and stiff in his mind, although his body kept up the facade of politeness and niceties. It was the place he'd found her. And even though he'd only been there twice, the second time rescuing Kailani and his unborn daughter, or at least purchasing her debt and bringing her to his house, he had hoped it was all behind him.
"Li, although he may be exaggerating a little due to his playful nature, a good many men in the upper circles treat women very well as a rule. Best not to fight him on it. He'll just try harder."
When talk focuses on the Eel's End, Li thinks she sees an odd look on Cal's face but it's gone so quickly that she thinks she imagined it.
"Li, although he may be exaggerating a little due to his playful nature, a good many men in the upper circles treat women very well as a rule. Best not to fight him on it. He'll just try harder."
Li looks confused at Cal's words. "Why would I be fightin' him? He be tha swordmaster, not me."
Li listens to everyone leaning towards going during the day. She doesn't really care but she does add one more thought. "If'n we go durin' tha day then tha Spider will know who we be. If'n he doesn't like what we be sayin' there will be no infiltratin' after that."
During her time with Lamm, Li had heard some about the Eel's End but had never been there herself. She had seen what the different vices turned people into and the experience didn't seem to be worth the end result. "We're most likely ta find tha Spider on tha largest ship o' tha five. Knowin' what goes on in tha other four, I be hopin' we don't have ta visit them."
"Power isn't food or a blanket, Field Marshal, and people can live without it. Though I agree, without ambition, they simply exist."
"You are right, of course. But after talking to Verik... Well, he strikes me as the kind of person who does need power, like you or I need water. Not that it justifies any of this mess!" She begins writing furiously, no doubt working on the mountain of paperwork this incident will require.
"Did he mention the Arkonas?"
Cressida's stops writing mid-word. She places her quill deliberately on her desk and slowly raises her eyes to meet Garvid's. "No. No he did not. Why do you ask?" Her face suggests she is afraid of the answer.
Garvid sighs. "Figures. I'm asking, since he mentioned that the Lady Arkona pretty much honey-potted him into doing the whole charity event. Gave him gifts, shared letters. We got a snippet of one of them and we planned to visit them with the shaky evidence later." He smiles, letting Cressida figure out his plan.
"Last gift arrived yesterday. And since we're going into Old Korvosa, things might be connected, when you think about it. The Arkonas are the rulers, and there is a King on their territory. If we play our cards right," and with an enourmous amount of luck., "we might turn them against each other. Not that we need that right now."
Cressida clasps her hands on the desk in a contemplative gesture. "The Arkonas are one of the most powerful families in Korvosa. With these recent events, a shift in power, chaos on the streets, they may very well now be the most powerful. I would be very careful in your dealings with them. Very careful, indeed...But, I’m sure you know what you’re doing. You usually do."
With that, she smiles reassuringly and looks expectantly toward Vencarlo. This is his cue. "Good then, let's be off.” he says. ”We have quite the walk ahead of us!" He steps out toward Guard Street, leading you out.
"Garvid," Cressida interrupts. "A word."
The briefest grin flickers over the Field Marshal’s face. ”Well now, soldier, you know we keep a close eye on all our inventory, both outstanding and reclaimed. It simply wouldn’t do for things like armor and halberds to go missing. But, at the same time, water damage is a real threat. These things happen,” she agrees.
"Good then, let's be off. We have quite the walk ahead of us!"
Yaziyah frowns in thought. "If you don't mind, I shall make a detour and meet you there. The place is quite close to where I live and I want to poke my nose around a bit, see what my people can tell me about it." At that, a pink nose pokes out from within the folds of her cloak, sniffing the air loudly. Yaziyah pets the animal, smiling. "Yes, yes. Exactly like that."
”If you don’t mind, I shall make a detour…”
”Of course, my dear Speaks for the Dead. It was truly an honor.” He bows deepyly (again). After that he leads the rest of you on, up Guard Street to Harborview Blvd, heading north through West Dock and uncomfortably close to Gaedren’s fishery and Zellara’s former home.
Vencarlo is a tall man of advanced years, yet with a twinkle in his eye and a bounce to his step that hints at the vibrancy and inner fire of a man under half his age. He wears his salt-and-pepper hair pulled back tightly into a bravo’s top-knot. His eyes are a cast of deep green like the ocean after a storm. He is of Old Chelish blood, and it shows.
During the walk north, Vencarlo is a fountain of conversation. ”I must congratulate you once again, not for Verik, but for Grau Soldado. I heard he’s returned to the Citadel. Everyone was quite worried about his disappearance, you know. He mentioned you to Cressida, of course. He’s an intelligent officer, a talented swordsman, and his future in Korvosa is extremely bright. You did a service to the city getting him cleaned up. He was one of my students, you know. Just like you, eh Pietro?” He nudges the doctor good-naturedly with his elbow.
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Pietro's face turned colors as he felt his face blush. He didn't like failure and he considered his passage by the academy a failure.
"Er... ah..." He quickly recovered, "Yes, you are right. That was a long time ago, over 15 years at least. My family had visions of me being a famous swordmaster when I wanted to dedicate myself to medicine."
He smiled, "I may not a be a famous swordsman but I'm a decent doctor. So just let me know if you ever want to patch up someone that dared face you."
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He then turned to his companions, "Too bad I wasn't with you at the time because I can help people with addictions. Maybe next time."
As Vencarlo talks to the group he uses his hands quite often which draws the rogue's attention to his gloves. Li notices that two fingers on one of his gloves don't seem to ever move. Not that Li would ever ask him about it but she thought it interesting - were the fingers missing? Knowing what she does about the weird relationship triangle between him, Grau, and Sabina causes Li to wonder if possible missing fingers had anything to do with the duel with Sabina leading to Grau's expulsion.
He was one of my students, you know.
"Ya be teachin' him well and he be a good man." Li wonders if Vencarlo would share anything more about his relationship with Grau, past or present. "Did ya visit him now when ya be with tha Field Marshall?"
"I may not a be a famous swordsman but I'm a decent doctor. So just let me know if you ever want to patch up someone that dared face you."
Vencarlo laughs and claps his gloved hands together. "Pietro, I have no doubt at all! Swordplay perhaps was never in your blood, but you always had a shrewd and discerning mind. I should hope I am not in need of your services anytime soon, but I now know who I shall call on in the event of malady!"
"Ya be teachin' [Grau] well and he be a good man. Did ya visit him now when ya be with tha Field Marshall?"
Vencarlo's eyes grow sad for a moment, but then he smiles. "Our relationship is a bit complicated, but yes, I saw him. At any rate, all's well that ends well. Now tell me about you, Miss Li..."
Vencarlo chatters on the whole way up Harborview Blvd, asking polite but probing questions of each of you, showing genuine interest in your backgrounds and histories. He seems to take particular interest in Li, questioning her at length on the details of her life in the city. This of course forces Li to stumble over some of the hazy details of her upbringing. But if Vencarlo notes anything suspicious, he doesn't show it.
Once you make it to the Five Corners area of North Point, with its crowded residential wards, Vencarlo cuts west toward Jeggare Circle, where construction is already underway repairing a likeness of Monlarion Jeggare (the second lord magistrate of the city following the death of Field Marshal Korvosa). Then he turns north up Mainshore Boulevard to the series of bridges that cross the Narrows of St. Alika.
Here, at the intersection of Fort Korvosa Boulevard and Wave Street, he halts. "And now I must leave you. It is already mid-afternoon, and I have much to tend to before the day's light fades. You'll find Eel's End down there to the east. It's the first pier after the last bridge over the Narrows. It has been a pleasure, truly. I hope we meet again!" With a swift bow (yes, another one), he spins on a heel and is gone amidst the crowds.
Pietro says good bye to the swordmaster and breathes a little easier once he's gone. he never liked to be around people that reminded him of his failures, real or imagined.
He turned to his companions, "Well, I think we're on. How should be approach this? Just seek an audience with the King of Spiders? if so, what's the excuse?"
He shrugged, "I can offer my services either as a doctor or someone that sells er... alchemical items."
He then waited to hear what his companions were thinking.
A silhouette detaches itself from the mouth of a nearby alley and saunters towards the group, soon resolving into the tall frame of Yaziyah, Speaks For The Dead. She greets them with a satisfied smile. "Very good, very good. I had hoped your guide would bring you around this way." Her weasel is running excited circles around her, like a squirrel around a tree, making sharp little yaps, apparently happy to see Mouse, Li, Garvid and the rest. Yaziyah flips her cloak over both shoulders, revealing a most unusual breastplate underneath. The armour is made from interlocking bones, fitted together cleverly so that they form an almost smooth and uninterrupted surface. "Like it? Stone Marrow made it for me, as thanks for delivering all his eight grandchildren. He treated it special to make it tough as steel." She taps on it a few times with her fist as if to prove it. "And his wife gave me this." She twirls an elaborately sculpted and painted bone wand. "It has the spirits' blessing, she says. It will probably be useful if we get in any more scrapes."
At Pietro's questions, she grows more serious. "I found out a little about this King of Spiders while you were getting the scenic tour. He seems quite ruthless and fond of this pocket he's carved for himself, to the point where he is handing over troublemakers to the law. I do believe we should mask our affiliation with the Guard, at least long enough to get us inside, but beyond that I would not advocate using subterfuge against this man. We should state our purpose plain and hopefully we can persuade him that the ambassador is a troublemaker that will undermine Barvasi's own interests. If that doesn't work... well," she shrugs, "we can always raid the place."
Li shares Pietro's concern. "Dr. Pietro be right. Just 'cause we ask ta see Barvasi don't mean he'll see us. We need ta give him a reason ta see us. I'm sure tha money would be reason enough but are we be tellin' him right away that tha money be a bribe?"