Fair enough.
Ferox will sneak into the city using the back alleys and rooftops to steer clear of any patrols and remain generally unnoticed.
While he's moving through the city, he'll pay a quick stop to the Temple of Abadar to see how they fare.
He'll also visit one of his old contacts, Alusian Rootmason, to see what info he has about what's going on in the city.
Now Gaius, I'm not one ta be telling ya how ta sneak anywhere just like ya don't be tellin me how to make armor, but if ya would solve me curiousity why not teleport into the city? Heck I may join ya out there, cuz us apart is much less than us together
Still need Morkeleb before I can handle Ferox.
Still.... I want the rolls, just in case...
Did I get any intel before we left for Korvosa?
Gaius will act as Ferox does, coupled with 8 minutes of Invisibility, and, Guidance.
Stealth: + Invisibility when you deem it needed.
He will check in with The Temple of Calistria and get the buzz:
Gather Information:
Now Gaius, I'm not one ta be telling ya how ta sneak anywhere just like ya don't be tellin me how to make armor, but if ya would solve me curiousity why not teleport into the city? Heck I may join ya out there, cuz us apart is much less than us together
Vencarlo warned us to not consult Zellara whilst in The City. This makes me think that maybe The Queen is somehow trapping, monitoring or otherwise interfering with extra-planar passage. I think it's reasonable that anything magical she is ready for--she is possessed by something that knows magic like breathing. Mundane passage--breaking and entering--is more likely to go unnoticed by Her Majesty. Or so I reason.
Outside the walls of Korvosa, Gaius finds it incredibly difficult to get any information on what' going on inside. What little trade that passes in and out is so tightly controlled that information trading has ground to a halt.
Inside is a VERY different story...
The city of Korvosa is a different place than the one the you left. The city is quieter, its streets calm and silent. Yet this is not a healthy calm—it is the calm of utter oppression. Where once throngs of traffic clogged busy streets, only a few wagons clatter and furtive locals walk. Gone are the sounds of merchants hawking their wares, the smells of fresh-baked food, the clang of ships’ bells at the docks, or the cry of a Sable Company hippogriff winging through the sky. Ileosa and her Gray Maidens have been at work on Korvosa, night and day, and the result is a city of broken-spirited citizens desperate for deliverance but too cowed by the atrocities and cruelties witnessed in the streets to rise up.
The people of Korvosa need heroes. They need you.
The temple of Calistria is quiet. Typical clientele traffic has dried up. Even the rich clients have stopped coming for the most part. The faithful give a bit of an update pertinent to them, the new Queen's pogrom, "The Blooding". This sinister program is overseen by the Temple of Asmodeus. Archbishop Ornher Reebs has been tasked by Queen Ileosa with collecting a single vial of blood from as many of Korvosa’s citizens as he can. His priests are still collecting blood from the citizens of the Heights, meticulously cataloging each “donor” and storing the vials in the largest storeroom under Kendall Amphitheater, as per Ileosa’s direction, where they are regularly collected by her erinyes minions and brought back to the Sunken Queen to further the ritual she is performing there.
Back on the streets, Gaius checks out Old Korvosa, where Odric has been building a name. The good news is, his holdings have been doing well. The bad is that Old Korvosa fell under the complete control of the Cerulean Society after you left. Korvosa’s thieves’ guild is ironically the best thing to happen to the island for some time, as the guild quickly moved in and claimed Arkona Palace as its new guildhall, bringing some semblance of order to the beleaguered island. From this position of power, Guildmaster Boule has slowly been taking control of the island, yet his growing power has not gone unnoticed by Ileosa—she plans on dominating Boule as soon as she finishes her current tasks. Guildmaster Boule is holding Odric's profits. The question is... why?
Throughout the city, the queen's hubris is on full display. Stone, copper, and even wooden statues litter the city. Under the watchful eye of the Grey Maidens the work continues. Every few days, new blocks of stone are hauled in from the Great Tower in the Heights, and the locals are tasked with maneuvering the blocks into place, joined by several priests of Abadar commissioned to use stone shape to make the blocks into one solid sheet. After this, a small army of sculptors is brought in to chisel away at the blocks. Starting with Ileosa’s feet, the projects have proceeded in this manner from the ground up. So far, each statue is complete up to Ileosa’s knees and stands twenty feet high. Statues are being built in Endrin Square, Eodred’s Square, Jeggare Circle, and South Shore Square....
There's little else that falls under Gaius's notice, and he makes it to the temple of Pharasma to meet with the rebels...
Status:
Gaius: Arrived
Ferox flits from shadow to shadow, making his way first to the Temple of Abadar, one of the few places to be doing well under the new queen. Most of the faithful have been hired to help with civic projects. The largest of which is dismantling the Great Tower to supply material for new statues.
Numerous laborers and engineers are picking apart this tower from the top down, harvesting the stone that composes this famous Korvosan landmark for the four statues Ileosa has requisitioned. Many have perished at this task already, and the steadily diminishing tower is a depressing symbol of the city’s drastic decline to all who watch. Still, money flows into the coffers..
Ferox takes the news, and travels to the Temple of Pharasma:
Status:
Gaius: Arrived
Ferox: Arrived
Grym: TBD
Morkeleb: TBD
Odric: TBD
Sandor: TBD
My deepest apologies for being AFK for so long.
Morkeleb can bring 4 others with him...i know I'm taking Sandor, am I also taking Grym & Bucho? It's important to konw because...
Morkeleb hits each of his passengers, including himself, wiht his Wand of Invisibility. Then, they Dimension Door to as close to the Cathedral as can be managed (unless I think I can get us actually inside the door).
Not sure what flavor of roll you'd like for that...
invisibility is a Stealth roll. Invisible characters get +20 to their normal roll.
-Posted with Wayfinder
My deepest apologies for being AFK for so long.
Morkeleb can bring 4 others with him...i know I'm taking Sandor, am I also taking Grym & Bucho? It's important to konw because...
Morkeleb hits each of his passengers, including himself, wiht his Wand of Invisibility. Then, they Dimension Door to as close to the Cathedral as can be managed (unless I think I can get us actually inside the door).
Not sure what flavor of roll you'd like for that...
Grym will go with Mork on the Magic Express. As stated in above post, Bucho is magicked down to pokemon size and riding in Grym's pocket.
Perception
Stealth
Odric gathers information along the docks and in the neighborhood of his burgeoning Empire. A thrill runs through him when he lays eyes on the advanced state of his projects, but he keeps his cool and doesn't stop.
Ooc- I would love to write more about this, but I'm on my phone at work. BTW, I got the idea of the remote building stuff on a tour of Mount Vernon a few years back. G.W. designed much of it and supervised construction remotely by mail. Pretty cool. Anyway, I always imagined how cool it would be to show up at your remote control construction project for the first time.
for hours.
(if needed)
Morkeleb and Grym (with a shrunken Bucho) eschew the dangers of moving about the city and head straight to the temple of Pharasma.
Meanwhile, Odric dares the streets, looking to check on his holdings.
The common folk are utterly fooled by your magically enhanced disguise. It appears your holdings are in working order, functioning exactly as you've instructed. It seems a bit odd, seeing as the city is under martial (indeed near Infernal) law. You spend some time looking around and find that you've apparently hired a "majordomo" by the name of Gord. You spend some time tailing him and have a very hard time figuring out what is going on. He's following your directions, and even handling finances, but he's not one of your people. The money seems to be funneled into an accounting firm that has EXTREMELY tight security... It's going to take a little longer to unravel this mystery.
He then makes his way to the clandestine base.
Status:
Gaius: Arrived
Ferox: Arrived
Grym: Arrived
Morkeleb: Arrived
Odric: Arrived
Sandor: TBD
DM:
-What is The Sunken Queen?
-There are store rooms under the Amphitheater? Who owns and operates those? How are they accessed?
-What do I know about The Church of Asmodeus here in Korvosa?
-What sort of person is Archbishop Ornher Reebs?
Sandor tags along with Morkelb
1. The Sunken Queen is a mystery. For now the best you can do is know that it's a "thing."
2. There are store rooms under the Kendall Amphitheater. They're mostly individually locked rooms for props, scenery etc. Each closet is owned by a theater company.
3. The church has always had a presence, though not a large one. They don't stand out in the throng of religions. It was initially built quickly in the wake of House Thrune's ascent to the Chelish throne, and until Queen Dominia Arabasti ordered it remodeled in 4683, it was not a safe structure in the least. Now, it is one of the most magnificent buildings in the city, built from red marble in the shape of a five-pointed star, and situated upon Citadel Crest, the wealthiest ward in all Korvosa
4. Ornher Reebs is a very powerful High Priest of Asmodeus. He is strict and unforgiving as would be expected. He has no known vices, and that makes him hard to handle.
Ornher Reebs is a very powerful High Priest of Asmodeus. He is strict and unforgiving as would be expected. He has no known vices, and that makes him hard to handle.
Um... What? You're saying words, but it just sounds like gibberish to Gaius. ;)
I have questions for The Wizard when he's paying attention:
What sorts of things can be done with, "The Blooding"?
Can the statues being constructed be more than a vanity project? Can it be some kind of arcane or religious ritual?
Knowledge (Religion) for my own questions, but I expect Mork can tell me more.
Gaius doesn't have an idea, Morkeleb may be another story...
Finally, you all arrive at the Cathedral of Pharasma in Gray District. Vencarlo and Neolandus have already arrived, and Cressida eagerly awaits you—as do the priests of Pharasma who tend to the graveyard and the cathedral. Soon after the you arrive and make your presence known, you are greeted by none other than the high priestess of the faith in Korvosa, Bishop Keppira d’Bear herself.
"I've been expecting you. Follow me." She leads you down into the vast ossuary below the cathedral, through an iron door, and into a subterranean complex connected to several other tunnels that run under the graveyard. The high priestess then excuses herself from your company, but you are just as quickly greeted by a joyful and thankful Cressida Kroft, a bit more ragged and rough-looking in her scavenged armor. Vencarlo, Neolandus, and even Grau are there.
Before the task at hand, the others ask you to recount ALL that has happened since you left.....
It is readily apparent that they consider you true heroes, the stuff of legends. By extension, they view you as their only hope....
Eventually, Cressida gets to the problem at hand, "We rebels are ready to make our move into Korvosa and make our presence known to the Gray Maidens and Ileosa’s other agents in the city. This includes revealing that Neolandus here still lives, and that as a result, Korvosa’s government has a legal option beyond open rebellion to depose Ileosa. I'm hoping that this information will rally the noble houses, arbiters, and magistrates, but I'm no fool. I'm sure this spur Ileosa to step up the violence to even greater levels than before."
Her voice cracks a bit, but she continues, resolute, "Therefore, before we can take to the streets and seek out the support of the city, we need someone to take the initiative against the monarchy. For now this means we need intelligence from the castle. I have heard numerous rumors about what has been going on inside it: that the Gray Maidens are mind-controlled, that devils and a dragon dwell within its walls, that the Red Mantis are now secretly in control of it, and that Ileosa has herself transformed into a monster. What I...what WE need... are heroes willing to infiltrate Castle Korvosa and not only find out what exactly we’re all up against, but also to do our best to undermine and defeat Ileosa and her minions. Leadership is the key to control, after all, and without it, Ileosa can’t remain in power."
She stops to gauge your expressions...
"although I am truly glad to see you, I must warn you that I don’t want to press the good grace of the Pharasmans too far. I would prefer we didn’t use this area as a base of operations once you start your investigation of Castle Korvosa. If you need to retreat from the castle to catch your breath before attempting another infiltration, I’d rather you find a different place to hide out. That, like much of this, is up to you. Just in case though, here are three scrolls of power. The spell is "Mage's Magnificent Mansion." They should help in a pinch.
She hands you a PIECE OF PAPER. "These are the tasks I see us as needed completed to have a hope of a chance."
She lets it all sink in here. Cressida is happy to answer questions, as is Neolandus and Grau.
Wow, the... Rebel... Version of Cressida is doing it for me.
While ScarWall was only a few days it seemed like a short lifetime. And to Grym it sort of was in a way. Now that danger is put aside and before they go diving into the next, the ranger ponders the hippogriff egg they found a few weeks ago. The ranger of course wishes to make sure it continues to be cared for. He looks into finding a safe place for the egg while the party goes into this next (and perhaps final) stage of saving Korvosa.
The ranger warmly greets Vencarlo and Grau.
Grym asks Grau if he has any contacts w/ the Sable Company. Riding and caring for hippogriffs themselves, a trusted one of their company might be the person.
When we left Vencarlo and Neolandus in Harse, we made haste across the Cinderlands looking for a Shoanti shaman named Thousand Bones. We hoped that he would be able to give us information about the Fangs of Kazavon, which we believed was the source of the Queen's new power. He didn't have the knowledge we sought, but did know of those who might, the Sun Shamans of the Sklar-Quah.
The Sun Shamans would not part with the knowledge to outsiders. We undertook a quest involving several trials to prove our worth. This culminated in the Trial of the Totems, an arduous and taxing endeavor. Fortunately, several of us succeeded in completing the trial and became honorary members of the tribe, which also forestalled a Shoanti invasion of Korvosa. Thus were we able to learn about Kazavon and his defeat by a warrior named, Mandravius, at Kazavon's stronghold called Scarwall.
We made our way into Belkzen and on to Scarwall, where we sought Mandravius's ancient blade, Serithial, which we believe will allow us to defeat the Queen and Kazavon's hold here.
We were required to fully purge Scarwall all of the evil that had taken root there. That accomplished, we retrieved Serithial from its guardian and have now returned here to complete our quest to see the Queen brought to Justice.
You have the egg, tis true.
You know that's such an iconic thing in D&D... there have to be rules on them somewhere. I'll look into it after the race.
Ooc- Odric got Harold the Herald in his wanderings and brought him along. If the group asks him to wait outside or out of earshot that's fine.
Knowing what I know about "The Blooding" (This sounds *highly* suspect...it is known that magic can be very effective if you have the target's blood)...
Looking at the notes Cressidia gave us, how about some thoughts on this "bloated wizard" Togomor? Maybe he was at the Acadamae
Ooc- must be a blood mage
Ooc- must be a blood mage
Just add one more to our list of people to kill...
I have a couple of questions. What can you tell me of Ishani Dhatri and the Abadarans? I saw them helping with the construction of the statues. Please tell me more of their involvement with Ileosa.
Also, Vencarlo, why do you think Sabina can be reasoned with? She's been beside the Queen from the very beginning.
Odric asks, "what can you guys tell me about this guy named Gordo? He seems to have insinuated himself into my business dealings."
Odric describes him.
After reading Cressida's note, Grym's main contribution to the group discussion is that with the exception of the "false rebels" and their leader Trifecta or whatever. Every other point should be able to be solved (or killed) by going to the castle. After everything they have been through, the ranger is almost blase about slaying a dragon. Grym seems almost happy about the possibility of killing a few infernal devils if need be.
So the ranger thinks that Step One: is hitting the streets and dealing with the false rebels and their leader.
Step Two: Sneaking into the castle and laying waste to it from the inside.
On a side note, Grym pulls Ferox aside and gives his condolences for the missing Abadarian priest. He sounded like he was a brave man to speak out against the Queen for what he felt was right. I hope we can find him alive and he doesn't have to be a martyr for the people.
Grym, and Odric ya both could show up as Blackjack and his new sidekick to get this false hero out of the way, and we wouldn't be far away to help if needed. Winning the streets and the people will gain us more than the big ticket items first. Heck might even afford us a place to hide out if we win the commoners hearts and minds.
"Well, that is an interesting idea, but why not have Vencarlo reprise his role himself?" Odric asks, turning to the fencing master.
For Vencarlo,public:
Yes, Maestro, will Black Jack be taking to the streets in pursuit of justice?
I may have follow-ups.
For Neolandus:
Lord Kalepopolis, do you know of any local aristocrats that may lends us aid? Any contacts?
-Do you still keep any of the keys to Castle Korvosa? Her Majesty may have changed the locks but she may not have.
-Can you draw for us a floor plan of what you remember of Castle Korvosa?
-Are there any secret entrances into Castle Korvosa?
-Are there any secret doors or rooms in Castle Korvosa?
-Was anything of note trapped or alarmed whilst you were at Castle Korvosa?
For Grau:
Sargent Soldato, how many swords can you muster? Are you available to assist us directly, and if so, how can we contact you?
For Cressida:
Marshall Kroft, as always, I am in awe. This is an excellent start. Can you share your intelligence sources?
-Do you know of any clandestine entrances to The Castle?
-Can you provide any recent intelligence on The Castle, itself? Any leads on some?
-Is there a way we can contact you and The Resistance?
-Can the resistance provide any equipment?
-Where can we buy and sell supplies in these troubled times?
For all people present:
My own sources have described The Blooding to me. Can any of you tell us more about it, and anything you may know about The Sunken Queen? And about the ritual that is in progress?
I am planning on a recap, but I need to work right now. Please permit me the chance to do it on my midday break today.
Morkeleb: You know of bloatmages, and can look them up. This looks like it could be something of the sort. you also know that a lot of spells can be made harder to resist with a sample of the target's blood. Finally you know that in ancient Thassilon that some wizards had the power to cast spells of unimaginable power using blood as fuel...
Ferox: Ishani was present when Queen Ileosa Arabasti first displayed her new powers and fled with Darb Tuttle when the Gray Maidens advanced. The Abadaran's care not for the struggle, only the Keymaster, as you well know. Not sure who is currently calling those shots.
Ferox: I don't think she sided with the queen. Ask your friend Morkeleb what other ways you can ensure loyalty. If it's not magic, I think she's got something on Sabina. It's just.... I don't sense that her motives are purely with the queen. I could be wrong. You might need to separate her heart from her chest. Only time... and your actions will tell.
Odric: Gord is a newcomer to the city. We know little of him as the action moved away from Old Korvosa. We know that he's attached to the Cerulean Society. It's odd to say, but the thieve's guild is more on our side than the Queen's.
Odric: Vencarlo laughs a bit. I'm getting long in the tooth, but I'll chew on it lad. Give me a bit of time. We'll talk soon. (He seems to be internally conflicted, but you'll have to take this up at a later date.)
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What I remember? What I remember was hot and lonely. But I'll start at the beginning.
We travelled with The Bard, Trinia, Vencarlo and Neolandus. We escorted them out of the city and began our journey. Knowing that we sought a way to combat an un-dead dragon, and one the Shoanti have a past with, we ventured into The Cinderlands looking for Thousand Bones, the aged Shaman of The Sklar-Quah, seeking to learn how Kazavon was defeated before, so that he may be defeated again.
Her Majesty bears The Crown of Fangs, and we learned much from Thousand Bones, but he was not free to share all of his knowledge. We were Tshamek, outsiders, and the knowledge we seeked was only for Clan.
We undertook the Trials to join the Sun Clan, to shed our past lives as tshamek, and be reborn as Sklar-Quah. We had to face Cindermaw, and be reborn from the great firey worm.
Our journey was not an easy one, and we were pursued and opposed not only by a particularly distasteful Shoanti—one who did not feel we were worthy of the trials—but by The Red Mantis, which somehow knew our movements.
For a time, we travelled with a Half-Orcish sailor named DeGrog—a fine man, a cunning fighter and merry companion. Ultimately, his way was not ours and we parted.
Amoung our trials, we needed the Mark of Desna, to prove our good faith to The Shaoanti. We fought, and slayed, The Red Reaver—a hulking, monstrous gorilla like creature, to secure a Shoanti Truthspeaker to witness our trial with Cindermaw—the Shoanti couldn’t take us at our word because we were not Sklar-Quah yet. Really distrustful lot, and the whole thing made me yearn for a library.
More trials await, as we had to undertake the… Trial of the Sun Totem or something. We had to go out into the desert and hold these things up for two days, all to earn the opportunity to ask questions. My frustrations were intense, and I nearly tossed the whole enterprise out. My companions nudged me along and we completed the damn trial.
Throughout, we were ambushed by The Red Mantis—they are definitely on to us.
We Completed the trials and learned more of Ileosa and Kazavon. Their souls now inhabit the same body, and we may have to destroy them both. We communed with Shoanti ancestors and that led us to Scarwall Castle, which was Kazavon’s stronghold when he was alive. To get there, we crossed 300 miles of Orcs, monsters and desert.
In the desert, we were dogged by a Red Dragon, but eventually escaped it’s notice and recovered a hippogriff egg for our trouble.
Once in Scarwall, we faced the spirits within. Zon-Kuthon’s minions could not stop us. We cleansed Scarwall, defeating a shadow dragon, skeletal warrior, a terrible creature Morkelb called a Demilich, and restless spirits of all kinds.
We recovered the sword, and escaped a grotesque horror I still do not comprehend, and reported our deeds to authorities in Vigil, hoping to fortify the keep against evil in the future.
All of which, I’ve done without so much as a massage, by the way. I’ll see The Queen dead if for no other reason I can get the tension exorcised out of my body. I’ve not had a good meal or been able to see to my own rites since we left Korvosa.
Can I answer any questions? I’m happy to elucidate.
Grym nods along sagely as the Calistrian gives the tale of events. The ranger's eyes go wide at a few points which he had clearly forgotten about.
As Bucho leans into Grym's waist, he gives the dog a good scratch and pats him hard. Grym shakes his head as he himself can barely believe all the crazy stuff they managed to accomplish.
As Gais finishes his tale and talks of an extreme lack of massages and Calistrian rites, Grym himself is reminded of a certain busty, well rounded lass he visited a few times. The more Grym thought about her, the more he was ready to lay waste to the castle just so he could have some free time to go get some.
Gentlemen, before we decide how to proceed...there is a matter that seems minor, but is not.
We need a name.
It's a small thing, yes...but if we are to rally a rebellion, those who would fight need to know who stands for them, who they are risking their lives to aid.
"Blades of Freedom?"
I suppose we have adventured long enough together to warrant a name. I would consider it totally unnecessary except that you make a good point about providing a name for the people to rally around.
I think Blades of Anything to be misrepresentative of our troupe as several of us don't wield blades. I would think it as inappropriate to name us Bows of Abadar. It needs to be distinctive and maybe actually describe us in some way.
All of our actions have been to oppose Queen Ileosa. To depose the Queen from her unjust claim to the Crimson Throne. To destroy the influence of Kazavon in Korovsa. To return order and justice to the people.
While I am partial to gold, when I think of freedom, I think of blue. It is the color of the sky. Birds take flight in it and we mortals ever gaze upwards in wonder of what lies beyond in the heavens.
To be honest, I don't think I would have befriended any of you naturally, if Gaedren Lamm did not bring us together. Now I don't think I could find myself in more esteemed or valorous company. I have come to consider you all as brothers and would not hesitate to fight, and if needs be, die by your side.
What do you think of The Azure Brotherhood? It's distinctive. It's not only a name for the people to rally around but provides the people with a device to easily identify with. Plus, blue often stands in contrast with red or crimson in this case.
We could, perhaps, harken back to days of old... What about The Hands of Eodred? Or something similar. We could benefit by reminding the people of the murder of an old man, and of the usurper who had it done. She's also Chelish--an outsider. The spoiled and scheming murderer who stole our city.
I like the thought behind the Azure Brotherhood, Ferox, but will the color azure not confuse us with another city, or with Andoran? Korvosa must be Korvosa.
What are our colors? What enflames a Korvosan?
Meanwhile, I'll work on this today.
What are our colors? What enflames a Korvosan?[/b]
I think that would be simple, Gaius. Crimson.
I agree that we should have a name, but not for us, but for the resistance movement, also having a "Brotherhood" would exclude some say like Cressida, and our dear Gaius maybe. He said the last with a chuckle and a nod of the head toward his favorite Calistrian Priest.
How about something for the whole movement, like "Korvosan Liberation Movement". It would be an easy chant, easy to tag a building with chalk, easy for anyone to join. As far as I'm concerned the hard work will be done after we topple Ileosa, and that work will be done by the people. So thinking on that, I don't want to set myself above any of them, because I started this as an average Korvosan, and I finish it as one. If we do need a name, then crimson freedom brigade would work.
Sandor shook his head, [b]Bah nuffin sounds good commin outta me mouth so I'm open to suggestions
What are our colors? What enflames a Korvosan?[/b]I think that would be simple, Gaius. Crimson.
Indeed, Crimson and Black. We seek to restore The Crimson Throne... Yes... And we seek to lift The Curse. A curse that can be lifted only be deposing Ileosa. You see where I'm going with this?
The Crimson Shield?
The Crimson Avengers? The Crimson Wardens? The Crimson League? The Crimson Order? The Crimson Company?
Hmmmm... I like the alliteration. Crimson Company?
Crimson Companions? Crimson Crusade?