"Our Erstwhile comrades are otherwise engaged" Heather states plainly "These good folk have agreed to aid us in our endeavors here"
Nicola bows briefly. "Not heroes, but healers at the very least. We were stuck here on the island when the bridges went down. My brother here and I have done our best to help with the Bloodveil, but the most we've been able to do is help people stay alive until they fight off the disease themselves." She glances at Phillippe, then back to the captain. "Simple decency, really. I claim no hero's blood."
"Are you the de Talavera's?" The captain sounds surprised and pleased. "Lord Arkona truly admired your work. He wanted to extend you our protection, but our lines were already too thin."
"I work for the Marshall. Endrin. I hunt missing people, good or bad. Captain, perhaps you can help me. I need info on the whereabouts of the Seneschal, Neolandis. You seen him recently? He was last seen coming this way."
Varlis gauges the man's reactions to the shot in the dark.
The captain looks sharply at Varlis, then swivels his head exaggerately all around. "I couldn't say."
"Our Erstwhile comrades are otherwise engaged" Heather states plainly "These good folk have agreed to aid us in our endeavors here"
"I hope we can help each other."
"Much appreciated." Phillipe responds with a respectful tilt of his head; "We just did what we could, whilst keeping the streets clean."
Varlis gives an almost imperceptable nod back as he keeps pace. "Captain, tell me of your Lord. I am unacquainted with the Arkonas."
Gafesh smiles. "Lord Glorio is better than any man I have ever met. Adamant in judgement, wise as the stars. He bears his people's burdens as his own. These times weight heavily on him."
"Soon after Eodred's death, he sought to advise her majesty in council. With headstrong petulance she first disregarded his advice, and then, when his conscience dictated that he naysay her in council for the city's good, she named him an enemy in her heart. The crown has seized much of his property. The Hospice where you proved your valor, was an Arkona warehouse. The blockade is in place to keep him trapped with the maddened crowd. I would not be surprised to find Ileosa is the power behind Pilts Swastel and his ilk on the island."
"He bears sorrow. His family --" The Vudran turns away. "I speak out of turn. Please disregard that last."
"Oh I think we might be bringing his Lordship some good news in a number of respects" Heather says keeping her tone neutral"
"As is often the case with those in power, wise council can be lost to politics." Tybalt says solemnly; "We saw a lot of it in Cheliax, though it's sorrowful to lose such wisdom."
Then he looks to Heather with an incline of his head.
"Oh, it's normal for Korvosa as well. The Arkona's are known for their championing of the cause of the downtrodden here," Emerion speaks up. Until now he has let Heather do the talking. There was a lot of praise going on, but at the same time, something didn't feel right...
Heather gives Phillippe an apologetic smile. "Korvosa is a city that needs to set politics aside..people need to stop being Varisian or Chelish or Shoanti and concentrate on being Korvosan.Only then will this city gain it's rightful place."
She grins broadly
"But if I go on much longer about that Emerion will make the gagging noises he always does when I get started on my particular obsession"
"The great ones play their games while the poor men die," Nicola sighs fatalistically, "But we need the help of the highborn to fix this whole mess, if that's even possible. I don't mind being a catspaw if it helps the folk who simply want to live their lives. Our cause is just and the gods will protect us in this life or claim us in the next."
The road turns and the party can view the outer wall of the Arkona family home. The outer wall is only ten feet tall and in contrast to the ubiquitous black marble found in civic buildings and the nobles' estates, white.
The wall is apparently stuccoed or whitewashed grey granite. A pair of workmen are refacing a few patches where the stucco has fallen away.
A golden wrought gate gleams under a delicately thin stone arch supported by two pillars. The gate is open, but six guards in Arkona livery watch the gate. These men are well armed with spears, longswords or scimitars, and small heavily recurved bows. They hold themselves confidently and their weapons hang casually, as if they were put on merely out of habit. As you and Gafesh approach they nod to the captain and watch silently as you pass.
Cautioning you to stay on the crushed shell pathway, Gafesh leads you through immaculately landscaped palace grounds. The grounds are generally open, decorated here and there with tiny copses of trees, exotic topiary animals (elephants, cobras, and tigers being the most common), beautiful flower gardens, and exquisite fountains.
Palace Arkona is perched at the highest point atop Endrin Isle in Old Korvosa. Halfway to the house from the gate you are treated to a view past the house and over the big bow of the Jeggare river that cradles the northern cliffs of the Isle. Across the river a verdant park-like wood surrounds a house or building with a stepped concave multilayered roof that runs from nearly flat at its verge to a soaring peak at its center.
The palace is a breathtaking structure built in the Vudran style, with golden pillars, high windows that rise to tapered points, minarets, and domes decorated with slender spires. Like the outer wall it is white. Its first story is capped by a domed penthouse, perhaps half the floor area of the first story in the center of the building. The building flows into the landscape, another contrast to typical block-like Cheliaxian architecture.
The entryway is a white marble arch depicting dozens of elephants standing one atop the other frames a great ebony double door in the south wall of the palace. The left one of the double entry doors swings open and a brown-skinned man with an eye patch steps out to meet you.
Gafesh murmurs, "This is Carnochan, the Lord's majordomo," even as the one-eyed man calls out, "Captain Gafesh, hello. Who are these visitors?"
Gafesh quickly makes introductions and tells Carnochan that the party seeks an audience with Lord Arkona. Carnochan makes admiring noises and ushers you inside.
Inside, above the door, a single one-eyed elephant looks out over a wide and airy entrance hall. The elephant's eye is a glittering bloodstone the size of an apple. Tall windows grant a commanding view of the palace grounds, and a rich red carpet, ten feet wide and luxuriously thick, provides a pathway between doors to the west and north, and around a corner to the east. Each of these mahogany doors, including a few smaller ones just west of the northern pair, is decorated with images of a six-armed, four-faced woman who rides a tiger with human hands for feet.
The walls are made of ebony and carved with depictions of elephants, tigers, monkeys, and peacock, all with shimmering mother-of-pearl eyes. Exotic plants in clay pots are in abundance, and each room is rich with their scent, mingled with that of sandalwood incense burning in brass censers that hang from the ceiling here and there. The rooms inside the palace are spacious and grand—ceilings, unless otherwise mentioned, are 20 feet high.
Carnochan leads you to the right and around a corner where another red-carpeted hall stretches to the north. At the far end of this hallway, a fourteen-foot-tall marble statue of a six-armed woman with four faces on her head, one looking to each of the four cardinal directions, stands under a dome of colored glass. The statue wields numerous weapons in its six hands, and a small kneeler at its base gives a place to pay respects to whatever deity the statue represents. Each of the statue’s eight eyes is a sparkling bright green orb.
You don't make it to the statue. Carnochan takes you through a set of doors to the right and deposits you in a lounge. This comfortable room is warmed by a large fireplace, its marble sides and mantle carved into a parade of capering monkeys and tigers. A large sofa sits to the north, while a few comfortable looking chairs sit to the south.
"Please wait here while I see if Lord Arkona will grant you audience. May I offer you some small refreshment?"
Heather has never seen the Inside of House Arkona before and is suitably impressed by the exotic vistas that open before her.
At the offer of refreshment she nods graciously.."Thank You..some fruit juice or merely water will suffice for me"
A carafe of fruit juice is brought along with honeyed apples by a silent servant. She places them on a side table and glides back toward the door.
As she departs a man enters. He is big, tall and a solid 300 pounds. He is dark, in the Cheliaxian way. He wears a long white toga or wrapped robe. The ends of his hair are wet. Rings swarm on his fingers, but a tremendous emerald stone takes pride of place on the ring finger of his right hand.
An easy animal confidence infuses his motion as he walks to a couch and sits in your midst. He waves lazily at the table and then his hands disappear in a fold of the robe.
"Please help yourselves. I am Glorio Arkona. May I have your names?"
Heather bows to Lord Arkona..."Your Grace..I am Lady Heather Whiteraven, currently in service with the Korvosan Guard". She indicates Emerion "Emerion Brightsmith and I are here at the behest of Marshal Croft and these good folk have agreed to aid us"
She lets the others introduce themselves.
Arkona listens with grave courtesy to your introductions....
"Lady Whiteraven, I understand you and your companions exposed the Urgathoans masquerading as Physicians under the Queen's very nose. While I am very sure her majesty has the best intentions she chose her servants -- unfortunately."
"Oh I agree my Lord..the Queen's behavior has been somewhat...erratic since she took the throne but I'm certain she has the cities best interests at heart.."
DC2 Sense Motive..
"Indeed that is what we have come about..the Field Marshal is concerned about the whereabouts of the Seneschal and we had heard that you might be able to assist us in finding him
"Varlis. Larward. You have a great home. What is it from, Eleder? Jalmeray? I'm no expert but this looks wonderful." The man takes his drink and seat and relaxes, giving time to assess this Lord as he talks.
Philippé politely waves away the offer of a drink, too used to the dangerous politics of his homeland and not wanting to insult the hospitality shown by leaving a repast.
The young noble is suitably impressed by the splendour of the Arkona estate, which is magnificent in comparison with the great Houses of his homeland.
Feeling slightly under-dressed in comparison to the coiffed Lord, though he tries not to let it show. As introductions are in order, with a gesture to his sister; "We are the de Talavera's, you may know our Aunt?" He nods a thanks to Heather at her kindness, the mages eyes are languid but sharp.
"Varlis. Larward. You have a great home. What is it from, Eleder? Jalmeray? I'm no expert but this looks wonderful." The man takes his drink and seat and relaxes, giving time to assess this Lord as he talks.
Arkona nods at Varlis' name. "The house and grounds are loosely based on the Vudran model. My family's wealth is largely based on commerce with that far country and we have brought back more than trade goods. My father was particularly fond of Vudran culture and the house is largely his creation."
"I like it. So much more airy than the cavelike fortresses most of the nobility favor."
... As introductions are in order, with a gesture to his sister; "We are the de Talavera's, you may know our Aunt?" He nods a thanks to Heather at her kindness, the mages eyes are languid but sharp.
"Ahh, Philippe and Nicola? Welcome to my home. I do know your Aunt. Korvosa is not so overrun with nobility that any of us can remain out of notice of the others. And I am aware of your efforts among the poor ourside my western gate. I am sincerely sorry that we were not able to offer you more aid. I can only plead that my first concern was the defense and welfare of the family's inside the walls of Fort Korvosa. I hope your Aunt is well?"
"Oh I agree my Lord..the Queen's behavior has been somewhat...erratic since she took the throne but I'm certain she has the cities best interests at heart.."
"I see we are agreed on the matter then,"
"Indeed that is what we have come about..the Field Marshal is concerned about the whereabouts of the Seneschal and we had heard that you might be able to assist us in finding him
Glorio's mouth tightens. "We will discuss the Seneschal in a moment. First I would like to get to know you. In these days it is so very difficult to know who one can trust."
"I understand that you have been working on Marshal Croft's behalf. The business of the Hospice among other things. And one hears rumors about the fall of Pilts Swastel. Was that your work? And why? I can't believe that as canny a tactician as the Marshal would strand you on Endrin Isle even to topple that odious man's hold on the rabble."
The Marshal needed to know what the situation was in Old Korvosa My Lord and it was thought best to remove us from the queens...attention for a while so we were the obvious candidates for the task.Once we arrived and saw the situation we were duty bound to remove the so called 'Emperor' and to seek out the only true vestige of authority that seems to remain in this chaos..that being yourself"
"Along the way we have discovered a few alarming facts..for one The Red Mantis are active here.We encountered them on vising our friend Vencarlo Orsiniand it resulted in the destruction of his house. "
Arkona regards Heather gravely. "Perhaps Cressida is learning to play politics then."
"Perhaps with Pilts gone I can exercise some authority outside the walls of Fort Korvosa. Certainly my people will be safer and I can spare warriors to police the streets."
"I think I owe you a debt for this service you have performed. A reward ..." He looks about then down at his hands. "Please take this ring." He slides a ring with an immense green emerald from his little finger. "It has the magical property of helping one dodge danger, an imminent threat."
The lord frowns upon hearing the words Red Mantis. "I know they have been active here. Even I am not safe. Three weeks ago two of them bypassed the outer walls and made it into the house before they were discovered by my guards."
"We suspect they were responsible for the fire that consumed Vencarlo's academy. What happened to the ones you met?"
Heather bows as she takes the ring and places it in her pouch with the intention of identifying it later.
"We dealt with them in a fitting manner..but lost one off our own in the process.The healer Kenan was a good man and a worthy comrade in adversity I will miss his counsel."
"I am sorry to hear of your loss, but glad to hear that you dealt with the assasins. Did Kenan have any family who need to be looked after?"
Arkona seems content with small talk for as long as you are. When he senses impatience in the offing, he switches the topic.
"Earlier you mentioned Neolandis Kalepopolis. What exactly do you and the Marshal propose to do if you find him?"
A small well-practised crease emerges as his brow furrows slightly, 'Red Mantis - aren't they some shadowy organisation? But whom would set them upon the city.'
'However, best hope that the pouch is lead-lined or extra dimensional - to protect us from any scrying attempts or the such.' he glances down at the material pouch.
"Our Aunt is...well... we heard there might be sick here too?" he asks in the hopes of better access to the house.
"We have had our share of plague, but after I isolated us within the Old Fort's walls and we quarantined the sickest, Bloodveil ran its course rather quickly here. Many blame me for the deaths in quarantine, and I regret them all, but I had to consider, to prioritize, the good of the many. My own household was spared many deaths."
"Sir de Talavera, I would be most grateful if you and your sister were to visit the quarantine area. It is near the eastern gate of the old fort in a half dozen houses."
"Not sure until we find him. You have him here then?" Varlis fences.
With a glance to his sister, Philippé momentarily waits for Arkona's response to the rangers query before he nods his assent to check upon the injured and diseased.
"The Seneschal is in the caverns beneath my home, but I do not have him. My cousin Melyia has seized him in some plan to unseat me as head of the House." Arkona looks down and shades his eyes with one hand before raising his head to look at you all again.
"Arkona family politics are an ugly game which we keep well-hidden from the world. My opposition to the queen has hurt our mercantile endeavors and my support within the family has eroded. If she gets sufficient support for her plan, I fear that she will deliver Neolandis to the Queen in return for royal patronage."
"Heather and Emerion run this gang, but what say we get him back. What then my Lord? You gonna let us take him to the Marshall?"
Sense Motive
Heather raises an eyebrow at the Lord's candid comments.."Well if he is down there I suppose we had best go and retrieve him.Do you want your cousin alive at the end of this my Lord..
Sense Motive:
"Aye, we can make the attempt to get him back," Emerion nods thoughtfully. "What could we expect in these caverns?"
Nicola has been watching the conversation among the cognoscenti with barely-controlled impatience, softening and nodding at the request to visit the ill, but scowling again when the discussion turns to politics. Realizing what it cost for Arkona to admit what he did, she holds her tongue until after Heather's remarks, when she finally chimes in in a near-whisper.
"In Imperial Cheliax, accidents happen frequently amongst the nobility."
Arkona tilts his head. "I am not a man to swim through my family's blood to reach my goals. I believe you mean to do me service and thank you for the offer, but I can not urge that course." He draws breath before continuing, "I will warn you. Melyia is both a caster and a fighter of no small skill. She can also be quite ruthless. If she believes that I sent you, it will be no easy matter to vanquish her, let alone take her alive."
"As for Neolandis -- if you can wrest him from Melyia's grasp you will have proven yourselves better protectors than I. If you promise to guarantee his continued safety, then I see no reason why you should not take him to the Marshal. I am confident that together they will work in Korvosa's interest."
Heather nods.."Then it would appear to be in all our interests..and the cities..to get this over with as quickly as possible My Lord.Could you arrange for your servants to show us the way?"
"Oh and you might find it advantageous to hold a formal trial for the former 'Emperor' of Old Korvosa. The people seem to want it."
Heather nods.."Then it would appear to be in all our interests..and the cities..to get this over with as quickly as possible My Lord.Could you arrange for your servants to show us the way?"
"I will show you myself. The entrance can only be opened by an Arkona. Besides there is more to tell you about what waits below."
"Are you all sufficiently prepared? I am sure an hour or two will not matter. I can have food prepared, or a place for you to rest before hazarding the caves."
"Oh and you might find it advantageous to hold a formal trial for the former 'Emperor' of Old Korvosa. The people seem to want it."
"I will do that gladly. Pilts has shown himself a monster and he and his minions have hampered my plans for the people of Old and New Korvosa for too long."
Pausing, his suspicious nature generated from his homeland. "I take it we can exit without the Arkona seal? That we will not be sealed below." he asks the Lord.
"Perhaps you could spend a little time after telling us about Melyia, her magic, and any defences we may trigger. Does she have arcane or divine power? Guards? Traps? I mean how long has she had to prepare the ground?" Varlis sets his drink down and leans in all business.
He begins to count off his fingers, "any help from other worlds, secret weaknesses, secret paths or spells that may prove well learnt against her?" The thumb is not unfolded yet so he waves it towards the others for any other advice they may think he has missed.
Pausing, his suspicious nature generated from his homeland. "I take it we can exit without the Arkona seal? That we will not be sealed below." he asks the Lord.
Arkona looks momentarily bewildered. "I didn't think about that." Then he shakes his head and laughs heartily at himself. "I have no talent for intrigue. The door may be opened from below. I can show you how it is done, but there are defenses you would trigger if you tried to emerge without me. I propose that you open the door and a servant that I set watching will summon me to extract you."
"Perhaps you could spend a little time after telling us about Melyia, her magic, and any defences we may trigger. Does she have arcane or divine power? Guards? Traps? I mean how long has she had to prepare the ground?" Varlis sets his drink down and leans in all business.
He begins to count off his fingers, "any help from other worlds, secret weaknesses, secret paths or spells that may prove well learnt against her?" The thumb is not unfolded yet so he waves it towards the others for any other advice they may think he has missed.
"Melyia is a sorceress. ..."
"..so she could have some rather,uhmmm, esoteric spells at her command." Heather looks at Varlis and smiles. "It's not like learning magic by formulae and practice..you see a form in your mind..reach out and grab it and to be honest you can sometimes end up with something that isn't exactly useful...so you become adept at making do with what you have at your disposal.
Subtly raising an eyebrow at the Lords' comment at lack of politics to his nature. 'That certainly wouldn't happen back home, but if his advise is valued then he'll certainly be of some us.' The scion thinks.
Though he's intrigued by Heathers' explanation, having heard similar theories but her individual explanation is intriguing. "Sounds a bit less artistic, but more reflexive. Do you find it speeds up your reaction time?" he asks.
Heather shrugs.."Magic is Magic..it takes it own time..I can sometimes mould the magic into another form but not always.."
"For me it's more of a song or calculation, that you leave last notes lingering on the tongue -ready to be competed with the chorus." he says wistfully remembering his teacher.
"Alas I cannot mould my incantations into other words so easily they are fixed by the moment they are cast." He adds with a touch of regret and awe; "I guess Meliya and you have that advantage, but it is easier to break a casting than to perform one I find. For magic can be contrary and delicate."
Fingers ruffle his beard in thought, as he prepares to face the door and what lies beyond. Instinctively he taps his pouch to ensure the components for his incantations remain within.
Varlis flicks the feathers on an arrow absently as he waits for the Lord Arkona to complete his thoughts.
Emerion listens thoughtfully to the discussion.
"In Imperial Cheliax, accidents happen frequently amongst the nobility."
He flicks a glance at the priestess, and nods slightly. Something more going on here than meets the eye, or that Lord Arkona is telling.
"I'm as prepared as I will ever be," he declares aloud. "We rested before we came here..." he glances at Phillippe. Two casters against one, with Nicola as well - so as long as we stick together, we should be good. With Varlis a better archer, it looks like it's up to me to keep a blade between our enemies and my friends.
"Onward then," Arkona rumbles. "Where was I when magic became the subject? -- Melyia. My cousin can fly, she has spells to scorch and bleed you, and her tongue is a deceptive as a dragon's. Do not trust her words because they can twist your will. Even without the magic she would be formidable. She is remarkably quick. Her weapons are shockingly effective, but even her bare hands can be lethal."
Glorio rises smoothly and gestures for you to follow him into the hallway. He continues to speak s he walks.
"Finally, there are the caves themselves. We call them the Vivified Labyrinth. There are four rooms that turn in response to levers. They open and close passages. A guardian devil-sphinx stalks the caves. I do not know if Melyia has usurped her or not."
"A devil Shinx..how..interesting..well we'll deal with what we have to deal with when we have to deal with it..I'm sure our abilities are up to9 the task.
"Can you speak more on this devil creature I never heard of before?"