Aloysia revels in Grau Sodado's festivities enjoying the lack of inhibitions in the group. When presented with the gifts she eyes them all for greatest value intending to fence the good at her next opportunity. Trinkets just don't compare to the sweet tinkling of gold in a bag. She feigns interest and gratitude at the gifts...
And continues on with the merriment.
Whilst at the ball Aloysia takes a different tact. This crowd is not her style for fun, but is her style for business. She works the crowd looking for any potential contracts she might acquire among the sniveling nobles who can't stop themselves from vying for power by any means necessary.
Once again, she takes the most valuable gifts she can get away with to sell later. This time she doesn't even try to feign interest. This is a transactional party only to her.
The thanks from Kroft doesn't particularly interest her until the goods show up. During the speech she simply stands back trimming her nails with her dagger. At the sight of the coat of arms, she perks up, though. I can use this gift! she exclaims to her herself excitedly.
With the presentation at the castle, Aloysia stays on high alert. She doesn't generally like being in front of large crowds of people with all directed attention her way. Too much chance of retribution from someone looking to get revenge on her for one of her prior contracts. She keeps half an ear on the speech, but mostly tries to watch the crowd.
She catches the undercurrent of Sabina Merrin's words, and raises and eyebrow. When receiving the scroll, she whispers to Sabina, "Make sure the Queen watches carefully, shadows can be distracting... and leans back with the most innocent and grateful grin she can muster.
Sometime during the month you are sought out by Deyanira Mirukova and her brother Ruan. She approaches your table at the Three Rings Tavern somewhat sheepishly and smiles "Thank you so much for returning Ruan to me. With our parents gone he is the only family I have left and I would have been lost without him." She places a worn leather pouch on the table, it jingle slightly as it settles "It's not much, and it's definitely not enough for what you've done, but it's all we've got." Opening the pouch you find it's filled with coins, mostly copper and silver, totaling 100 gp's.
Ruan nods his assent "I can't thank you enough for rescuing me. Without you and would have been killed as some sort of human guinea pig." He reaches into his pouch and withdraws four slips of paper which he also lays on the table. The tickets are season passes to the Marbledome, the central opera house in Korvosa, and smiles at you "Again, they are not much but my sister and I would be honored if you could come watch us perform" The pair reach out and shake everyone's hands before leaving you to finish your breakfast in peace.
Nicolai picks up the pouch and examines the coins inside, he looks to the others with a raised eyebrow for agreement, before handing it back to Deyanira "Thank you for your offer but I'm afraid we can't accept this. It's too much for something we would have done for free. Please, keep your money." Looking at the tickets Nicolai smiles "Now this is something I can accept and I, for one, would love to hear you and your sister perform."
Gamon nods to Nicolai in affirmation, Keep your gold, we've been rewarded generously by the city already for our work. It would be our pleasure to watch you two perform sometime.
Aloysia glares at the other two, and says with a forced smile, "Yes...rewarded enough...by the city."
Nicolai chuckles at Aloysia after the pair have departed "Nice cover there, Aloyisa." he beams "that had to be hard to do, watching the money just walk out of here like that. Tell you what, I'll cover your part of the money in exchange for your ticket to the Martbledome. Deal?"
Aloysia softens slightly, "This is acceptable."
In the aftermath of the plague the city of Korvosa slowly gets back to a state of near normalcy, although isolated pockets of infection still remain. The combined efforts of the various churches and temples of the city have all but eradicated Blood Veil from the streets and your discovery of the cure has proved invaluable in this fight, saving thousands of lives.
But that was then, this is now.
The usual crowded bustle of the city is definitely muted as people on the street, when they bother to venture out at all, move quickly and quietly about their business as if in a hurry to get back to the relative safety of their homes. But even that safety is not guaranteed. Rumors abound that strike squads of Grey Maidens have raided the houses of, and arrested, those most vocal in their dissent of the Queen. The Order of the Nail, a Hellknight organization who has on occasion helped the city guard enforce law and order although with their own brand of zeal and rigidity, has all but disappeared into Citadel Vraid where some believe they are planning a coup against the monarchy. The Sable Company Marines and the City Guard are stretched to the breaking point as the depredations of disease and reduced funding from the crown has driven morale to an all time low. Old Korvosa, a hotbed of infection during the plague, has been quarantined by the queen who had all the wooden bridges connecting Endrin Isle to the rest of the city destroyed and the remaining stone bridge barricaded with a 15 foot high stone wall intended to keep the sick out of the city proper. Squads of Grey Maidens man this barricade, while others patrol the river in barges, warning those who flee to return to the island or using deadly force if those warnings go unheeded. The plumes of smoke from burning buildings and the echo of rioting crowds seem to indicate that things are not well in Old Korvosa.
Despite the gloom over the city one organization seems to flourish, the Queen's own Grey Maidens. Patrols of these armor clad women increasingly march the streets of the city, usurping the role usually reserved for the city guard. The citizens of the city scurry about their errands, barely stopping long enough to share pleasantries with their neighbors, all under the watchful, wary gaze of these red plumed warrior women. You can't help but feel that paranoid itch between your shoulder blades as these squads stop whatever they are doing to watch as you pass by, their eyes enigmatic behind their polished helms. It is during this time of doubt and fear that you are visited by Tayce Soldado and her family. She stops to thank you for all you did for her and her children but that they are leaving Korvosa and heading to start a new life in Magnimar. Indeed many ethnic Varisians are abandoning the city for other, greener, pastures.
One morning as Nicolai visits for breakfast he is overwhelmed with an urge to do a reading from Zellara's harrow deck. Pulling the deck from his pouch he sorts through the cards, withdrawing nine of them and laying them on the table in the traditional three by three rows. He gestures to each of you to turn over one of the cards before he himself does so.
Gamon greets Tayce kindly, and shakes his head at her news. Have the Varisians experienced worse treatment than most, under the watch of the Grey Maidens? I've heard little of recent events, other than that Old Korvosa has been locked away, and its residents with it.
"It's our nature to wander" Tayce smiles wanly "But many have heard about my peoples supposed immunity to Blood Veil and believe it would be better to be someplace else before we are scapegoated into having caused the disease for our own nefarious purposes." With that she flicks the reins causing the cart laden with her family's belongings to lurch into motion. Her daughter, Brienna, shyly waves goodbye as the cart moves down the street and around the corner.
"What's going on here, Nicolai? You seem determined." Then points to a card...
"I don't know, but it seems Zellara wants to tell us something"
He too reaches out for a card and turns it over.
Gamon shrugs, and points to a card.
With the cure for blood veil in hand and Doctor Davalaus', and the cult of Urgathoa's, machinations foiled the fight against the disease is quickly turned and within a month's time Blood Veil is all but eradicated. During this time the exploits of our band of heroes is slowly brought to light.
As the party goes their separate ways for the time being, Jolon brings the information about blood veil and its cure directly to the Grand Cathedral, making sure Bishop D'Bear sees it in person. This in turn is shared with the other churches of the city, to begin beating the plague out of the city.
Privately, he confers with the Bishop about the discovery of Ramoska Arkminos...and the fact that they'd allowed the vampire to depart unharmed in order to save Ruan. He explained to her how unsure he was that he'd done the right thing. A life had been saved, but an undead monster, even one trying to cure themselves of undeath, was still free in the world.
During the first week after your raid on the Hospice you are sought out by Grau Sodado who explains that his sister-in-law Tayce, who's daughter Brienna you saved, is throwing a small party in your honor at her house in Trail's End.
Arriving on the appointed day you find the streets of Trail's End festooned with all manner of colorful ribbons and banners and small Varisian children skip along as they follow you to the Soldado residence. This "small" party is nothing less than full blown block party as the friends and neighbors of Tayce welcome you and provide you with several different dishes of Varisian foods and drink and gift you various hand made items in the traditional garish colors and styles of Varisia.
The celebration takes Jolon's mind off some of the darker truths they'd uncovered. It was good to be reminded why they were doing all this, and he was especially pleased at the happy children who now didn't have to worry about losing parents, and parents who did not have to worry about losing children. One family presents Jolon with an impressively tailored set of vestments, dyed in blues, whites and purples and both the Spiral of Pharasma and the totem symbol of the Skoan-Quah embroidered in silver prominent upon the cloak. They explained the Varisians as a people were kin to the Shoanti, and this was a recognition of what he as a Shoanti, had done for them. Jolon is so touched he can barely hold back the joyful tears.
The following week you are invited to a ball hosted by the heads of the various trade guilds of Korvosa. A much more staid event than the raucous party the week before you are wined and dined as the guildmasters, even Guildmaster Boule of the Cerulean Society is in attendance, thank you for your assistance in stopping the plague and getting Korvosa back on it's feet again. In addition they offer you any of their wares you might wish to acquire.
Comparatively, Jolon is much more reserved at the ball. Less than a week ago, many of these merchants and minor nobles would have sneered at him with barely-concealed contempt, whether for his orc-like appearance or his Shoanti tattoos, his clearly-displayed Pharasmin holy symbol being the only thing preventing them from openly spitting on him in public. He accepts their rewards and praise humbly, but hangs back and lets Aloysia commiserate among them. This was the world she was most comfortable in, and she'd spent quite a bit of time in the world of a hero, something she clearly wasn't comfortable calling herself.
Once the tide of the disease has turned and the celebrations have run their course you are summoned to the Grand Citadel by Field Marshall Kroft herself. There, inside her private office, she personally congratulates you on your heroic efforts on behalf of the city and, reaching into a desk drawer, presents each of you with a ceramic pin of a shield bearing the Korvosan coat of arms as she deputizes you into the Korvosan Guard. After a quiet dinner she escorts you to the Citadel's armory where she offers you any of the items therein.
Jolon blushes a bit as Cressida congratulates them, and bows his head as he receives the pin, affixing it to his new cloak with pride. When they're offered weapons from the armory, Jolon shakes his head.
"This weapon was a gift from my brethren in the church, and I suspect it will see many more battles before I return it to them. But...I understand the Guard sometimes employs wizards from the Acadamae. Could one of them perhaps enchant the sword? That would make it all the more efficient in dealing with Korvosa's foes."
During the dinner Nicolai will keep making eye contact with Kroft, trying to ascertain her mood. When she presents the group with their badges he politely pushes his back across the table, explaining that he's not much of a joiner and that some of the things he and the others do might be considered extralegal and that he's sure that there's "Some rule about fraternization among the ranks" to which she has the good sense to blush somewhat. Once in the armory, Nicolai mills about until he finds something he likes, a magical crossbow. Once the dinner is over Cressida escorts the party to the Citadel's gates, where Nicolai pulls her into a warm embrace, [smaller]"Let the world be damned"[/smaller he whispers in her ear as she stiffens and blushes while the guards suddenly seem interested in their shoes or any other item of interest they can find. Grau Soldado gives a comic thumbs up, behind the Field Marshall's back, as he passes by.
As they depart from the Citadel, Jolon lingers for a while, wondering if he should make his feelings clear...and turns to see Nicolai and Cressida in an embrace almost immediately.
His face immediately reddens and he frowns. How had he not seen it? Should he have said something sooner? For once, the whispers of his ancestors provided no answers, so he finally manages to stammer out a blunt, embarrassed "I'm happy for you!" before rushing off to make his way back to the Grand Cathedral.
Finally, as the disease has all but run it's course you are the honored guests at a celebration at Castle Korvosa where Dr. Davalaus quite publicly meets his end as his head falls to the executioner's axe. Soon thereafter Sabina Merrin, the head of the Queen's bodyguard (and rumored lover) greets you on behalf of the Queen before addressing the assembled crowd "Citizens of Korvosa" she shouts "Queen Ileosa regrets not being here today because she is in fact, too embarrassed to be seen in public just now. Having been duped the the charming Doctor Davalaus she allowed herself in her naivety, and lacking the guidance of our seneschal Neolandus Kalepopolis, a coward who valued his own life over those of his citizens and fled the city, to be fooled into letting the Doctor and his minions wreak havoc on our fair city. Rest assured the Queen is aware of the actions of these saviors of our city and will be keeping an eye on their exploits in the future" As the crowd erupts into applause Sabina hands each of you a scroll upon which is a royal writ before returning to the castle proper.
Jolon doesn't see a reason to doubt parts of the story Sabina tells, them, but gets the feeling it was more for the crowd watching than for them. They knew that the Queen was complicit in what happened...but it wasn't a point worth arguing here. Davalus was a lackey, and Sabina was too, and nothing they said about the Queen would change their story. He graciously accepts the writ, and spends the following week making essential purchases around the city.
Sometime during the month you are sought out by Deyanira Mirukova and her brother Ruan. She approaches your table at the Three Rings Tavern somewhat sheepishly and smiles "Thank you so much for returning Ruan to me. With our parents gone he is the only family I have left and I would have been lost without him." She places a worn leather pouch on the table, it jingle slightly as it settles "It's not much, and it's definitely not enough for what you've done, but it's all we've got." Opening the pouch you find it's filled with coins, mostly copper and silver, totaling 100 gp's.
Ruan nods his assent "I can't thank you enough for rescuing me. Without you and would have been killed as some sort of human guinea pig." He reaches into his pouch and withdraws four slips of paper which he also lays on the table. The tickets are season passes to the Marbledome, the central opera house in Korvosa, and smiles at you "Again, they are not much but my sister and I would be honored if you could come watch us perform" The pair reach out and shake everyone's hands before leaving you to finish your breakfast in peace.
Jolon nods and raises his hand.
"Please, Deya, Ruan: keep the money. You will need it far more than I ever will...especially with how the plague seems to have cast a shadow upon the city. I'll happily take the season tickets, though. I've never really seen an opera before...before I came to the church, I was in a poor family, and then when I came to the church it took up most of my time. But nowadays I'm finding myself with more time to myself."
He accepts his ticket and wishes them well.
"Please, take care of yourselves, and if you need any help, please contact me here at the Grand Cathedral."
In the aftermath of the plague the city of Korvosa slowly gets back to a state of near normalcy, although isolated pockets of infection still remain. The combined efforts of the various churches and temples of the city have all but eradicated Blood Veil from the streets and your discovery of the cure has proved invaluable in this fight, saving thousands of lives.
But that was then, this is now.
The usual crowded bustle of the city is definitely muted as people on the street, when they bother to venture out at all, move quickly and quietly about their business as if in a hurry to get back to the relative safety of their homes. But even that safety is not guaranteed. Rumors abound that strike squads of Grey Maidens have raided the houses of, and arrested, those most vocal in their dissent of the Queen. The Order of the Nail, a Hellknight organization who has on occasion helped the city guard enforce law and order although with their own brand of zeal and rigidity, has all but disappeared into Citadel Vraid where some believe they are planning a coup against the monarchy. The Sable Company Marines and the City Guard are stretched to the breaking point as the depredations of disease and reduced funding from the crown has driven morale to an all time low. Old Korvosa, a hotbed of infection during the plague, has been quarantined by the queen who had all the wooden bridges connecting Endrin Isle to the rest of the city destroyed and the remaining stone bridge barricaded with a 15 foot high stone wall intended to keep the sick out of the city proper. Squads of Grey Maidens man this barricade, while others patrol the river in barges, warning those who flee to return to the island or using deadly force if those warnings go unheeded. The plumes of smoke from burning buildings and the echo of rioting crowds seem to indicate that things are not well in Old Korvosa.
Despite the gloom over the city one organization seems to flourish, the Queen's own Grey Maidens. Patrols of these armor clad women increasingly march the streets of the city, usurping the role usually reserved for the city guard. The citizens of the city scurry about their errands, barely stopping long enough to share pleasantries with their neighbors, all under the watchful, wary gaze of these red plumed warrior women. You can't help but feel that paranoid itch between your shoulder blades as these squads stop whatever they are doing to watch as you pass by, their eyes enigmatic behind their polished helms. It is during this time of doubt and fear that you are visited by Tayce Soldado and her family. She stops to thank you for all you did for her and her children but that they are leaving Korvosa and heading to start a new life in Magnimar. Indeed many ethnic Varisians are abandoning the city for other, greener, pastures.
Jolon is NOT happy when he discovers the quarantine of Old Korvosa. Since the discovery of the cure he'd been trying to get as much of it to the Shoanti living in its ghettoes, and now he was not only cut off from his people, he was cut off from helping others who needed it. Old Korvosa had been his home, and now it seemed like it was being left to die and he was unable to help. He'd tried arguing with the Gray Maidens posted at the barricade, but they made it abundantly clear that while he may be a hero to the rest of the city, in their eyes he was a beast who'd murdered their sisters-in-arms, and that he should leave before they put him down. He voices his frustration over this turn of events to the rest of the group, and when the Soldados visit them and explain their plans, he can only nod gravely.
"It's our nature to wander" Tayce smiles wanly "But many have heard about my peoples supposed immunity to Blood Veil and believe it would be better to be someplace else before we are scapegoated into having caused the disease for our own nefarious purposes." With that she flicks the reins causing the cart laden with her family's belongings to lurch into motion. Her daughter, Brienna, shyly waves goodbye as the cart moves down the street and around the corner.
"I know what that's like...Know that should you return to Korvosa, you will always be welcome at the Grand Cathedral. And wherever fate takes you, may Pharasma smile upon it."
After they depart, he turns his attention to the cards.
"Let us see then what Zellara has gleaned of our future."
Aloysia turns over her chosen card to reveal The Vision, a card of arcane knowledge. This knowledge can take the form of madness or cryptic words. Often associated with the insane it can also signify a brush with genius.
Gamon overturns his card to expose The Wanderer, a centaur loaded down with gear. a collector of discarded items The Wanderer can find the value in things other find worthless, after all one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Jolon's card is The Foreign Trader, a card of secrets and information. Those who deal in intrigue are under this cards sway. A bargain made under this card always plays true, even if one does not understand it's implications.
Finally, Nicolai turns over his card to show The Rakshasa, a card of dominance or control over another. The creature sitting on the back of another is indicative of a force asserting control through either mental or physical enslavement.
Nicolai picks up the card and expertly shuffles them back into the deck before laying another spread of nine cards onto the table. Turning over the top left card he says "This column represents the past. Through hindsight we gain knowledge. The Theater, a card of prophecy. You have been acting on a stage you cannot see, in events you cannot control, and the importance of the scene is not recognized until it's too late."
Turning over the middle left card reveals The Betrayal "Selfishness incarnate. This card represents a twisted soul, whose beauty hides an evil heart. Envy rears it's ugly head and leads to devastation and ruin."
The bottom most card is The Crows "The Crows are a dangerous crew who take that which is loved. When the Crows fly thievery, murder, and loss follow in their wake."
"Now onto the present" Nicolai says as he turns over the topmost middle card "The Tyrant. The Tyrant is a blight upon those he rules. Whoever he is, monarch, overseer, or head of household, he does damage to those he holds sway over. Misaligned, as it is, it means that a tyrant has revealed themselves."
the middle card is The Cyclone "A card of disaster, not through natural order, but of the plots of intelligent beings. The Cyclone signifies war, arson, or plans which destroy everything they touch"
The bottom card reveals The Wanderer again "We know what this card represents, but presented here it means a loss of value or the inability to see a persons true worth"
Turning the card over on the rightmost column he announces "Let's see what the future holds" the card is The Locksmith "The keys to your destiny are in your hands, how or where you use them is up to you"
After The Locksmith comes The Sickness "The Sickness could be that of a plague or pestilence like that which we just endured, or it could be the corruption of one's soul or a multitude of souls."
The final card is The Vision "Arcane insight comes through madness. Just because one may be considered insane does not mean that they may not be hiding genius within."
and with that Nicolai returns to himself, picks up the cards and places them back in the deck before returning the deck to his pouch.
Jolon glowers at the revelations of the present.
"Zellara's as clear-sighted as an archer of the Lyrune-Quah. A tyrant certainly has revealed herself, and her plans, whatever they are, certainly are destroying everything they touch. For all the talk of us being heroes of Korvosa, I feel more like a prisoner in this city than I ever have before."
The spirits' whispers rise a chorus of assent.
Gamon nods, folding his arms over his chest. And things will only get worse if we don't act, somehow we have the answers in front of us. I do not think The Sickness is what we've just survived, it is likely to be something new. Regardless of whether the threat is physical or moral, it will be dangerous.
At the turn of the Betrayal card, Aloysia feigns shock, "You're not talking about ME are you?!" Then, she smiles and winks at Nicolai.
"I suppose you're right that this will be dangerous, but plain and simply, Sabina is far too overconfident. I want to take her on," excitement clear in Aloysia's voice.
"Though we're not even sure what this new threat is apart from our various misgivings about Queen Ileosa's tightening grip on Korvosa. I'm a simple man. I need to hit things with my sword to stop the problem."
Jolon turns to Majenko, who he assumes is perched nearby.
"What have your keen eyes seen these past few weeks? It seems like there's more imps in the sky than there were before."
Majenko, from the rafters overhead, drops the mouse he had been eating, much to the dismay of Theandra Darklight, the tavern's proprietor and says "No more than usual. My kind are quick to cull their numbers but they breed like the rats they are and those fools at the Acadamae keep summoning, and losing control over, more and more of them."
After breakfast word reaches you that the Queen will be holding a public address in less than an hour's time. Despite the short notice you arrive to find Domina Square already full of people waiting to hear the Queen.
Shortly the Queen makes her appearance accompanied by Sabina Merrin, Field Commander Kroft, Commandant of the Sable Company Marcus Endrin, and a grotesquely obese man, who she introduces as Togomor who, since the desertion of the post by Neolandus Kalepopolis, has been named Chancellor of Korvosa.
She continues speaking to the crowd saying that the disease has been defeated and that Dr. Davlaus has been executed for his crimes and that his minions, and the cult of Urgathoa, have been purged from the city. Yet Korvosa remains wounded. The Hellknight Order of the Nail has shown it's true colors and have left the city to fend for itself as they cower behind their citadel's walls. Furthermore, she adds, that the city guard and the Sable Company have suffered horrendous losses battling the disease and, as such, are no longer able to adequately able to defend the city. So to that end she names the Grey Maidens as the new defenders of the city and Sabina Merrin as their General. As a ripple of concerned murmurs spread through the crowd the Queen continues, given the current state of the city, the cost in resources maintaining such magnificent beasts, resources that could be better spent elsewhere, and given their relative ineffectiveness in battling the disease and the dereliction of their commander, the former Chancellor, she is disbanding the Sable Company immediately and calls upon Commandant Endrin to step forward and surrender his badge of office.
With shaking hands Endrin removes his badge and, instead of handing it over, throws it at the Queen, striking her across the cheek. The stunned silence of those upon the platform is more than enough time for Marcus to draw his bow and knock an arrow. Shouting "Your shameful reign ends now, Korvosa will be free again" he fires. The arrow strikes the Queen in the temple and yet she does not fall. Instead, she yanks the offending missile from her skull and with blinding speed grabs Endrin and raises him off the ground and holds him aloft for all to see before she takes his own arrow and stabs it through his neck in a spray of blood. She drops the body and shaking the blood from her hands addresses the crowd in a booming voice that echoes across the square A moment later Togomor steps forward and, taking the Queen's hand, casts a spell while the two of them disappear leaving Sabina and the Grey Maidens to quickly, and brutally, quell the nascent riot.
Throughout the day you can overhear the citizens comment on how ill at ease Marcus had appeared and that they just knew what he had planned "Poor Marcus," one whispers so as not to be overheard "he looked so nervous, like he had planned this from the start." "Did you see the Queen? She killed Endrin with his own arrow, she did" another comments. "Did you see her new crown?" someone suggest cattily "An ugly thing made of ivory or bone." Have you seen them?" another questions "The Maiden's are everywhere, watching everyone. They creep me out behind those helms. I wonder where they came from so fast?" and so on.
Soon you are approached by Grau Soldado, who informs you that Field Marshall Kroft has summoned you to the Citadel. Approaching the gates you are greeted by a single guard, where there once was two, who snaps to attention as you step by. Once inside you can notice creeping signs of neglect. Gone is the "spit and polish" image as cobwebs begin to form in the corners and dust lies in the usually immaculate halls. As you are escorted through these halls you pass by a former barracks, it's open door reveals it to be abandoned, it's bunks empty and the mattresses rolled up tight. Grau leads you not to Kroft's office but to a door nearby that you've never been to. He opens it to reveal a doorway full of swirling mist and ushers you inside before closing the door and standing guard outside.
Once inside the room you find Kroft, looking haggard and exhausted, waiting for you, seated at a long table a small wooden coffer at her side. She motions you to take the remaining seats and standing she sighs wearily before addressing you “Korvosa is dying." she begins without preamble "No, strike that. Korvosa is being murdered. Killed by our queen. The evidence you have uncovered that links her to the plague is damning enough, but now that she’s disbanded the Sable Company and reallocated our own funding to the Gray Maidens, she’s more in control now than ever. I dare not move against her, as my guards would be executed to the last fighter by her Gray Maidens before sundown. But she must be stopped. And I know of no one else but you to do this deed.
“Whatever foul magic the queen has wrapped herself in is obviously of the highest order. Endrin’s aim was true, and his shot should have dropped her. I had feared he was going to take matters into his own hands like this but hoped he would find it within himself to find a better route. If only he could have waited.
“You see, just this morning, new information came to me. Vencarlo Orisini’s been one of my most trusted sources of information regarding the public; it’s hard for an officer of the Korvosan Guard to get honest opinions from the citizens, and Vencarlo’s observations on these topics have been a godsend, particularly since the plague started. When the queen quarantined Old Korvosa, I’d feared his messages would end, yet he managed to find ways to smuggle updates to me every day. Recently, he wrote of discovering something of vital importance regarding the queen. He mentions something about dark magic and a pact with a devil, but until the events of this morning, I found his claims difficult to believe. But even more astounding, he hinted he had found a lead on Seneschal Kalepopolis, and implied the man might still be in hiding in Old Korvosa!
“That was the last I heard from him. It’s been several days, and I’ve started to worry for his safety. The rumors about riots and gangs seizing control of entire neighborhoods in Old Korvosa are disturbing. Certainly, the plumes of smoke we all see rising from fires on the island are proof that as bad as things are elsewhere, they are probably worse in Old Korvosa.
“I can see a time in the near future when the Korvosan Guard is disbanded as well. Even now I lack the resources to mount my own investigations. Which is where you come in. Trusting you may have been my best decision over the past several months, for your group holds the possibility of Korvosa’s salvation. I ask you to seek out Vencarlo in Old Korvosa, and to learn more of what he’s discovered about the nature of our queen’s increasingly violent and destructive turns of personality. Ironically, you should actually be safer in Old Korvosa, since the queen’s quarantine has cut off the island entirely, and word on the street is that she plans on leaving it to rot. She won’t think to look for you there if you maintain a low profile and avoid confrontations with the Gray Maidens. Once you contact Vencarlo, we can only hope what he’s discovered will suggest a course of action we can take to save the city!”
"I have heard rumors of a new power rising in the streets since it's abandonment. Someone calling himself "The Emperor of Old Korvosa" has taken control of parts of the quarter. I have no idea who this man is but if you cannot find Vencarlo at his academy or house nearby perhaps this self styled "Emperor" can help you find his trail. But beware, whoever this man is I'm sure he's extremely dangerous to have gained so much control over Old Korvosa in so little time."
"As much as I worry about Vencarlo, finding out what happened to Neolandus is of even more importance. He might be able to explain what has happened to the Queen and give those who oppose her a legal way to remove her from power, or at least limit her excesses."
"Our cupboards are almost bare due to the Queen siphoning off our funding for her Grey Maidens, but I do have a few items that might help you in your search." She opens the coffer on the table and withdraws seven potion vials and a pair of wands and sets them on the table. "Now make haste, for I'm sure that as soon as the Queen recovers from Marcus' assassination attempt things will become very difficult for those of us who remain within Korvosa's walls"
Aloysia raises her eyebrow at the mention of bare cupboards, "It sounds like this won't be a paying contract. I'm not a fan of that, but I believe the chance to assassinate a queen might be just persuasive enough for me to stick around beyond our last contract."
Gamon remains quiet as Kroft makes her case, but there is certainty in his voice when he finally speaks up. From what we just saw of the queen, there won't be any paying contracts left if we let things stand as they are. I'm in.
Nicolai stares aghast as the Queen hauls the Commandant off his feet and stabs him with his own arrow "Did you see that?" he asks the others as the Queen and her Seneschal disappear. Seeing the Gray Maidens wade into the crowd, swinging their batons he says "Perhaps we should fall back and regroup before we get swept up in the riot"
The next morning when Grau appears Nicolai thinks to himself "I've been expecting this." "Shall we go then? he says, smiling at the guardsman. Once inside the citadel Nicolai notices the stage of neglect as they pass through the halls "Things must be bad. Cressida would never let things get this way if she could help it."
Nicolai recognizes the spell for what it is and grins "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that people aren't out to get you." He listens intently as Kroft gives her briefing. When she finishes he asks a simple question "How do you expect us to infiltrate the island? The Maiden's control the only bridge across and they patrol the river in-between on barges."
Jolon sighs a bit at Majenko's answer, and slight rudeness at dropping his food like that.
"I meant more what you've seen of the city in general. A 'dragon's-eye-view' so to speak."
He goes to pick the discarded mouse up and dispose of it properly.
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Jolon gapes in horror at the scene that unfolds between the Commandant and the Queen.
"What foul magic is this?!"
As they make their way away from the scene, he nods at Nicolai's question.
"All too well. There's no way a mortal woman should have survived something like that. Some sort of magic's protecting her, and I'm not sure if it's that new Chancellor of hers or some sort of item. That new crown maybe..."
The remainder of the day is spent returning to the Grand Cathedral and sharing what he's just witnessed to Bishop D'Bear and the other priests.
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When they're called to the Citadel by Cressida, he frowns as they make their way into the place.
"So few people here...the Queen made good on her threat it seems."
His eyes widen as they're ushered into the misty door.
"Seems we have a little magic of our own on our side."
He listens to Cressida's description of the situation and her plan, nodding at Nicolai's question.
"Indeed. I made a few attempts to visit there in the days following our raid on the Queen's Physicians, to tend to my Shoanti kin, only to be turned away by the Gray Maidens each time. Neither anger nor charm moved their hearts, and last time they all but threatened to kill me if I bothered them again. Called me a brute beast who murdered their sisters-in-arms."
"I did not know that." Kroft says of Jolon's attempts to enter Old Korvosa "I was led to believe that the Maidens did not care who entered, they were only interested in trying to prevent those already there from leaving"
She pauses for a moment as she contemplates this new information before shrugging "Be that as it may, the Maidens are focused on the island. If you were to leave after dark and either swim, or "commandeer" a boat, you could be halfway across the Narrows before they would even spot you and with luck you could make it all the way across without being seen."
"I mean, it may have been just because it was...you know, me. A so-called Hero of Korvosa who got that title by killing a bunch of Gray Maidens."
"I think we're going to need something a little more than luck" Nicolai says in response to Cressida's advice, to which the little faerie sitting on his shoulder gives him a "I can't you just said that" look. Nicolai chuckles at the glare and says "I have an idea on how to get across unseen but I'll need some time to find someone to teach me that spell. So let's say we meet up at my place before sunset and make our way from there"
Nicolai heads to the Acadamae only to find it's doors shuttered. He is informed by the guards at the gate that the Acadamae is closed to all but those currently enrolled in the school and is turned away. Using some of his contacts from the college he is able to track down someone who is willing to teach him the spell, although at double the going rate.
Nicolai is discouraged to find the Acadamae closed but can understand their self isolation during these desperate times. Turning to the streets he tracks down an old acquaintance from his brief time in the Acadamae, one Corwyn Yeats, a friend who had specialized in illusionary magic.
Nicolai grumbles something about price gouging but reluctantly pays his "friend" his fee. After studying the spell he begins laboriously transcribing it into his own spellbook.
After several hours of writing he takes leave of Corwyn and returns to his apartment to await his friends and make plans for entering Old Korvosa. Once there he spends his time idly shuffling through his Harrow deck before deciding to do his own Choosing. Laying the cards out in the traditional pattern his picks own. The Courtesan stares back at him "The Courtesan, the card of political intrigue." how apropos he thinks to himself "Her mask embodies the social niceties that must be followed. If it slips, negotiations can take an unexpected turn. The card can also indicate a woman of power who shapes events. How she is treated decides the outcome of the situation. Well, I don't think the Queen is going to like how we treat her in the times to come."
"Jolon, I can help you get in. Humiliating the Grey Maidens and the Queen is quickly becoming one of my favorite past times!"
Jolon gives a small chuckle.
"Well, since we're going into the neighborhood, I can check what's going on while we're there. Thank you, Aloysia. Better be careful, though. You may start actually enjoying altruism!"
Once everyone is gathered Nicolai explains his plan. "You see, this spell I just learned will set up a field of invisibility centered on me. If we can get to The Narrows we can "Borrow" a boat and I can use this spell to turn it and everyone else within ten feet of me invisible. Then we can paddle across The Narrows and land somewhere in Old Dock, probably by Eel's End, or we can cross from the west side somewhere in Bridgefront. From there we can hunker down somewhere until morning and go to Vencarlo's Academy to look for him there." he looks at his companions and shrugs "What do you think?"
Gamon tries to think through the implications of this new spell. Will your field make the boat disappear as well? I haven't made that trip by water before, but it might take longer than you can maintain the spell, which could cause a problem as well.
Once we get there, I don't think we'll have an issue hiding until morning, it sounds like Old Dock is dead silent these days.
With no further questions you make your way from Nicolai's apartment to the waterfront of the Narrows of St. Alika across from Old Dock. Due tot he blockade by the grey maiden's there are plenty of boats of all types tied up along the riverfront.
Untying one you wait until Nicolai casts his spell before shoving off. Crossing the Narrows is a simple task despite the patrol boats as you glide by unseen.
Once across you secure your craft and make your way to one of the abandoned and unburned warehouses in the district and hunker down until morning.
"When the light of hope leaves the people, they cannot see their fate with clarity and lash out in fear at the dark...and that gives me fear of how the people here have suffered," Jolon comments once they've secured their safe-house.
"Do you think they would resort to fighting back if pushed hard enough...or coaxed perhaps? I'm open to sewing seeds of fighting!"
With the morning you venture forth to make your way to Vencarlo's studio. Walking the streets of Old Dock you can't help but notice that the people you pass seem to draw within on themselves as you pass by avoiding making eye contact with anyone armed and armored.
However you pass by a group of children, playing in the street, who seem unusually happy as they form a circle around another child and sing a strange song as the cavort around the child in the middle.
“Headless, headless, that’s what you’ll be,
brand-new dolls in the Emp’ror’s cemet’ry!
Choppy, choppy, chop, the tall knife calls,
waitin’ for the day for Korvosa to fall.”
Approaching closer you can see that the child in the center of the circle is playing with what can only be described as a crude toy guillotine and is using it to chop the heads off of stuffed dolls as the other children sing.
Soon you are approached by a group of four armed thugs who call out to you "Oy, what are you lot doing here? The Emp'ror don't like strangers wandering around his domain, 'specialy if they're armed. Why don't you turn over your weapons real peaceable like and we'll take you to see 'im and he can decide what to do with you." They stand there waiting for your response.
Gamon keeps his hands by his sides as he calmly addresses the thugs. We're here to see a friend. I'm Gamon, there, now I'm not a stranger. I'm afraid we're in a bit of a rush, so we have to be on our way.
"Do you think they would resort to fighting back if pushed hard enough...or coaxed perhaps? I'm open to sewing seeds of fighting!"
"Only if you wanted to get them killed, Aloysia: these people may be desperate, but lack the organization or skill to take on the Queen's hand-chosen hatchet-women. No, if anything is to be accomplished here, it must be us."
When they're accosted by the thugs, he raises himself up to his full height to look down on them, but his expression is as kindly as he can make it.
"You'd speak that way to folk here to help? We've only just dodged the Maidens to get here, so we know nothing of this Emperor or what's happened since the island was quarantined. Please, if the Emperor is protecting the people of Old Korvosa, we can help him."
"Lookee here, boys. Looks like we got ourselves a comedian. Well, Gamon, are you dense or just stupid? I said we were going to take you to see the Emperor and he can decide whether you're going to be on your way or not. Besides we ain't had a good game of Blood Pig in a while now"
As Jolon raises himself up the gang's leader takes a step back "I don't know which one is funnier the simpleton or the tusker here. I'll explain this one more time, slowly so you'll understand, hand over your weapons and we can this quick, easy, and...painless"
While drawing her cold iron daggers from her belt sheaths to hand over pommel first, keeping her real daggers concealed...
...she sizes up the four checking for any signs that they're over-compensating with words for any real combat effectiveness...
"Lets just get this over with, we're here to help, we don't need weapons to talk."
Gamon rolls his eyes as Aloysia hands over a pair of daggers, clearly preferring to simply confront the thugs now, but slips his greataxe from its place on his back and holds it out to one of the men.
Jolon sighs as he unbuckles his swordbelt and offers it to the thugs.
"This sword belongs to the Grand Cathedral. Remember that if you decide to keep it for yourself, Pharasma will judge you harshly when you stand before her."
Nicolai shrugs as the others turn over their weapons to the thugs before doing the same "If there comes a time when I need to use these we are well and truly screwed."
Aloysia steps to the side as the others hand over the weapons. She begins to study the one she suspects to be the leader looking for weak spots she can target should the need arise.