"I think we did well, even if there was an unfortunate need to fight. I just hope that Bavarsi is the sort ot learn and move on, accepting his loss. I suspect not."

"Like I said, we'll need to all keep an eye out for all things two legged and eight legged," Keliwyn says. After a brief pause, he adds, "I wonder if we can have Majenko keep an eye on things for us . . . if we ever even see him again. "

Heather sighs.. "Stilgar has the right there..I don't think Barvasi is the type to let the fact that we defeated him handily prevent him from trying to gain revenge..I suggest we all keep a wary eye out"

She looks back at Eels End with a thoughtful expression..."You know with a change of Management..a lot of good could be done from there?"

She casts a thought out "Majenko..are you there?" then turns to Kel..

"The most important thing just now is finding you some healing..Istas can any off your superiors deal with poison in the blood?"

"...Istas can any off your superiors deal with poison in the blood?"

The best Istas can do is cast delay poison to buy Keliwyn 3 hours before needing to make a follow-up save. She doesn't have that spell prepared, but she could do so in about 10-20 minutes, I believe. Otherwise, the Heal skill can be used to treat poison. I've pumped Istas up a bit in that area and she currently has a Heal skill of +9. Basically, under her long-term care, Istas could help Keliwyn ride out the poison by letting him use her Heal skill check as his saving throw (if it's better than his own Fortitude save) until the poison runs its course. Either way is cool. Depends on what Tim wants to do with taking Istas back to the Grey District and more interaction with her superiors.

"Well, I guess I will see each of you at our dinner party. If you need me for anything, I am at your service."

Our business concluded, I return home to help out there for a while.

Regarding Keliwyn, You could take him back to Grey and try the bishop or Father Corvin or even Stannus, but I've no overwhelming need to roleplay that. Your credit is good for a neutralize poison spell (maybe even with Stannus). If there's something you want to RP then we can go for it.

Sounds like Jeorik is ready for Darthen's dinner. I've got a post for Istas and one for Heather to get written before the dinner. I'll try to do it tomorrow.

Jeorik will also stop by a shop and replenish his arrows.

Keliwyn is glad to be restored to health, and mindful of the debt owed to Istas and her colleagues. Once back on his feet, he will follow up with Heather re: Majenko, and will cast feelers out for any news re: Barvasi. Diplomacy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Heather (and Keliwyn if you spend the night together after Barvasi's battle):

In any case, Heather alone:

Istas:

Keliwyn: With the benefit of the care and magical healing provided by Istas and her colleagues, especially the aged, amenable Father Corvin, you are on your feet and well the next day. Your sources tell you that without those resources, Barvasi is somewhat laid up. He is nursing various injuries aboard Eel's End. More in this line later.

Jeorik: Arrow stock full. Check!

The evening of the day after the battle at Eel's End is Darthen's dinner party. He has taken a table at Jeggare's Jug. A tavern known to Keliwyn from past meetings with Darthen. Its a common sort of place squeezed into the borderland between the warehouse district and residential area of Midlands. The stoutly timbered door and puntglass windows reinforce the bill of fare's promise of solid hearty food and drink.

Jeorik will go to the dinner with any of his family members who are going (as opposed to walking there alone). Not sure of how safe the streets are yet, and mindful of vengeful crime lords, he takes his sword and bow along.

Heather hands Kel into the care of the healers and returns to her rooms..she tries at various points to contact Majenk..or indeed now she realises the secret any other psuedodragon in the area

Thom

On The evening of the dinner she dresses well A gown in deep wine colour trimmed with gold the bodice set with mother of pearl .High heeled shoes match the dress and she covers the whole with a cloak of Midnight blue before sallying out to the Tavern

Istas rouses from her slumber with natural ease, her eyes snapping open, her mind fully alert. She ponders her dreams once more for the prophecy she senses they hold.

'More sinster-seeming mist seeping forth from Castle Korvosa,' she muses, 'But not the same blight of Urgathoa's touch this time. This must be something different. Someone supporting the Crimson Throne will seek a girl, accusing her of something. Something she will claim she did not do. Interesting.'

Istas briefly closes her eyes again, offering up a prayer. 'Thank you, my Lady, for the insight only you can provide,' she prays, 'As always, I'll look for signs your prophecy has come to pass. And take dutiful action when the time is right.'

The priestess then rises and checks on Keliwyn's progress only to learn he has already left the temple. She thanks Father Corvin over breakfast and then seeks out the bathhouse to clean up before an evening among friends, luxuriating in the warm water and meditating on her future.

Before heading to Darthen's dinner party, she also changes her attire, leaving behind her normally drab grey gravedigger clothes. Instead, she purchases a simple gown of midnight hue with silver embroidery depicting the spiralling comet of Pharasma's faith near the hem. She also buys a new pair of supple, black leather boots, discarding her old hand-me-down shoes.

'It is a time of change,' she tells herself as she asks one of the other priestesses to help braid her long hair, 'Both for myself...and Korvosa.'

I'm going to change up Istas' wardrobe a bit. Make her seem somewhat more modern than the traditional Pharasmen in the Gray District now that she's undertaking a more active role in the city's problem-solving. I'll deduct some coin from her virtual character sheet, accordingly. For the dinner party, she will arrive without her armor, shield, spear, or club...taking only the peacebringer dagger instead.

Wellard, you are very close. I will give you this. The woman who led you to the door was young and very pretty. And reread the dream to right a misinterpretation.

Neil, spell prep?

Neil, spell prep?

The pub is packed. Darthen has not arrived yet, but at a word to Jonathan, the publican, you receive a warm welcome and are shown an elbow-strewn winding way through the press to a waiting table in an alcove at the back. Jonathan shoos a pair of gnomes away. "This table was reserved. Private party. Off you go." The gnomes slide off the chairs with resentful looks, taking their drinks with them.

Jonathan grimaces. "Sorry about that. Don't worry about them." He wipes the table clean. "Now what will you have?"

He takes your orders as you arrive and returns promptly with the drinks. Everytime he passes the tables next to you, some patron calls for his attention, but he only stops for them after dropping off your order.

Go ahead and check in.

Jeorik is there with his kin.

Terre, Maggie, and Jane have accompanied Jeorik to the dinner. Their clothes are of high quality, neat and clean, but not nearly as distinctive as Heather's and Istas'. Still, even they are a little overdressed for the pub, which is clearly part of the workingman's world. As they wind their way to the table, all the woman are watched appreciatively by the clientele.

The Vanders greet everyone warmly, especially their old friend Heather. Terre and Maggie take pains to include Istas in their conversation; the youngest, Janetha, less so. She seems more interested in the opportunity to drink mead. Terre apologizes for the absence of Philomena. She is attending a Grey Maiden's recruitment meeting.

You exchange news, compare notes on the state of the city, inevitably your discourse turns to your absent host. When queried, Jonathan has no idea where Darthen might be, but notes that he has been "keeping odd hours, well, odder than usual hours lately."

The crowd is loud and boisterous. It quiets somewhat when a very high-strung looking officer of the guard enters, but he looks quickly around, spots two other Guardsmen enjoying a pint, and hurries to their table. After a quick quiet word, he departs quickly and the two gather their things and push toward the door, shouting to Jonathan that they'll pay the tab tomorrow.

Shortly afterward a darkly robed man in a tall hat enters. The crowd parts slightly for him, making straight his road to the bar. Once there he settles with his mates.

A round of drinks and cup-sized spiced duck pies comes and goes. Despite her sisters' remonstrances Janetha has finished a second mead and is thinking about whiskey. (Oooo, I've never had that.) Terre gives Jeorik a will-you-talk-to-her look.

Despite her sisters' remonstrances Janetha has finished a second mead and is thinking about whiskey. (Oooo, I've never had that.) Terre gives Jeorik a will-you-talk-to-her look.

"Which means," she adds, "If you spend too much of your time oversampling mead and whiskey, you could find yourself going down a path in life you never intended to take. Best to steer clear of it altogether. I've seen grown men in the Cinderlands lose everything to bottled spirits. And I'd hate to see something like that happen to a pretty girl with a bright future, like yourself..."

The priestess then turns back to the others.

"I'm a bit worried about Darthen," she notes, "It's unusual for him to be late for such a gathering, yes? I wonder why he's keeping such late hours?"

Her eyes fall on the dark robed man at the bar and she recalls the haste with which the guardsmen left the tavern...as well as the premonitions from her most recent dreams.

"There's more change on the horizon for Korvosa," she states, "I don't know what form it will take yet...and I don't mean to sound paranoid at every little thing...but I am trying to be more watchful of what goes on around me. It would be best if all of you do as well. Let me know if anything out of the ordinary occurs. It may help me better understand the dreams Pharasma sends each night."

thom

Heather nods.."I too have had a vision...of great events..disasters facing us ..the city..I will not speak more of it here in this place"

She turns to Janetha..."Istas does not mention the other roads that drink can lead you too...it weakens the will and makes you more likely to fall for the blandishments of those who would seek to take advantage of you...and that can lead to consequences you wouldnt want to contemplate"

If Janetha insists..she'll use prestidigitation to remove the alchol from the drink before the girl can drink.

Wellard:

From the far end of the bar, where the dark-robed man sat, comes an explosion of profanity, a number of voices raised in anger and disbelief. B*tch is heard loudest and most frequently, although there's a wide variety of terms certain to make the women red with embarassment or with anger.

A wave of sound crosses the room. First a quiet trough as news ripples out from dark robes. Then a rising as the patrons react similarly, if somewhat more decorously, than dark-robes' companions. The trough reaches your table as a woman turns to you with the news, "The queen has announced that the king was poisoned. By his portrait artist! If you can believe that! She's called for the arrest of Trinia Sabor."

Istas rocks back in her chair and closes her eyes at the news. Among all the thoughts vying for attention, two voices from her most recent dream stand out.

A lone, plaintive scream: 'No! It wasn't me!'

And the countering roar of thousands, not unlike the reaction rippling through the tavern: 'Now you pay!'

The priestess' eyes snap open once again with sudden realization.

"She didn't do it," Istas flatly states, "Trinia Sabor...this artist?...isn't the reason King Arabasti passed away. As a daughter of the Lady of Graves, I would know. And as Pharasma has spoken to me through my dreams, I am doubly convinced."

She looks around the table. "We should seek out Field Marshall Kroft before the Korvosan Guard charges an innocent girl with regicide...and before the mobs return to the streets to take matters into their own hands."

Thom

Knowledge; Local 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Which I reckon should be high enough for Heather to know Trina by sight or possibly even personally.

Dark-robes' loud angry set at the bar head for the door. A few others from around the room gulp down their drinks and follow.

A few seconds later Darthenstrides in. He is laden with the brown tabards of the Korvosa Guard and several swords. "Here. You're on duty. Croft wants all the Guard out on the streets. I managed to talk her into giving us a more interesting mission. We're to find and take one Trinia Sabor into custody before the mob gets her and before the Grey Maidens."

He lays the tabards and swords on the table. "Didn't know how you'd be dressed so I brought these, at least I knew where to find you." While you don the garb, and perhaps strap on weapons, he calls for an ale from Jonathan and does a quick head count. "Where's Keliwyn?"

Heather:

Interspersed with the action and dialogue above...

Jeorik, about to comment on the perils of drinking, pauses to allow Istas her say and then adds, "Many families have been torn apart by those who strayed down the path of alcohol."

When the announcement about the poisoner is made, Jeorik looks somewhat surprisedly at Istas' when she announces her certainty of the girl's innocence.

"Let us go there then as soon as we have finished dinner and see what we can do to help."

"Or perhaps we won't finish dinner," Jeorik adds when Darthen arrives.

A few seconds later Darthen strides in. He is laden with the brown tabards of the Korvosa Guard and several swords. "Here. You're on duty. Croft wants all the Guard out on the streets. I managed to talk her into giving us a more interesting mission. We're to find and take one Trinia Sabor into custody before the mob gets her and before the Grey Maidens."

He lays the tabards and swords on the table. "Didn't know how you'd be dressed so I brought these, at least I knew where to find you....Where's Keliwyn?"

She passes the sword and tabard back to Darthen. "I will go as I am," she announces, "Lady Pharasma has foreseen my part in the future of Trinia Sabor. So I will trust in her to see me through whatever challenges that might entail. And a devout Pharasmen is never at a loss for protection as long as she watches over us."

Istas has no armor and only a dagger and her spells for protection and offensive weaponry, but I think she'll be fine. Should be interesting, at least... :-)

Darthen smiles at Istas. "We're not keeping the mob in order. Tonight that's what the rest of the Guard is for. We just have to pinch the girl."

Terre and Maggie look quizzically at Heather and Istas. Terre speaks, "True, Istas, you two might get away with those gowns. But Heather will never be able to run in those heels. Here, dear, we're in flats. Perhaps you fit one of us." Maggie is already loosening the strap on her own shoe.

Istas has no armor and only a dagger and her spells for protection and offensive weaponry, but I think she'll be fine. Should be interesting, at least... :-)[/ooc]

Take a walk on the wizard's side.

"Fortunately, I brought my weapons with me,... So we have been asked to look for this girl the city has brought accussations against? Any idea where she is to be found?"

"Two addresses. One for her. One for an aunt. Thank the bureaucracy for efficiency sometimes.

"We can start with her place. It's not far. We'll talk more as we go.

Darthen turns to Jonathan and thrusts the spare weapons towards him. "Keep these. If Keliwyn shows up, send him after us to these addresses." Darthen looks around the room and whispers the addresses to the barkeeper.

Darthen smiles at Istas. "We're not keeping the mob in order. Tonight that's what the rest of the Guard is for. We just have to pinch the girl."

"We can start with her place. It's not far. We'll talk more as we go."

Jeorik takes a moment to apologize to his cousins for having to leave them and their company. He also warns Janetha against drinking any more.

"Its really not worth it, better to approach life with a clear head and a will not hindered by drunkeness."

... "This is quite the dinner party," she remarks, "It even comes with an exciting parlor game -- catch a King's 'killer' before the rest of the town tears her apart."

Jeorik's cousins are quite understanding. "The good of the city comes first" and all that. While Jonathan takes the gear from Keliwyn, he overhears Jeorik and his cousins. "Don't worry about them. They can stay here. If it gets too late, I'll have someone reliable escort them home." He draws Jeorik aside. "Do you want me to stop serving the youngest? "

Darthen leads the way out the door, a chorus of "Be carefuls" comes from the young ladies left behind.

Once in the street Darthen sets a jogging pace. "27 Wharf Street is Trinia's address. Her aunt is at 9 Slope Street, a Mrs. Cavotti."

The atmosphere as you pass through the city is reminescent of a few weeks ago after the king's death. Small groups of people mill about and mutter. Often the conversation turns into shouting. You pass a couple of guard patrols, 10 strong. Usually they move in pairs or fives. So far they're keeping the groups from joining up, but if a big crowd got together it could spell lynchmob or riot.

Twenty-seven wharf turns out to be a tenement on a corner.

He draws Jeorik aside. "Do you want me to stop serving the youngest? "

Later at the target location, while still on the street...

Jeorik surveys the building.

"I wonder how many exits there are from this building?"

He examines the doors and the windows speculatively.

The building is three stories tall. A quick dash to the corner shows one more entrance on the cross street, Moon Street. Down a narrow alley you can see a third door. And there are a dozen or more ground floor windows.

A team of four Guards is waiting at the corner of Moon and Wharf. Darthen is satisfied to see them there. He flashes a badge at them to identify himself. They report that no-one has come out since thay arrived, although half a dozen people have come in, singly or in pairs. Darthen details them to watch the ground floor. "No one leaves after we go in." The Guards nod to acknowledge the order.

Darthen turns to the party. "Ready to go?"

"May the Lady of Graves bind my soul more tightly to this body, so we may see her will done," Istas prays.

Casting false life to imbue Istas with... 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 ...temporary hit points for the next 3 hours.

A surge of ghostly blue mist coalesces around the priestess. She breathes deeply, closing her eyes as she draws the mist into her lungs. When she exhales, it doesn't reappear.

"I'm ready," Istas says, nodding as she reopens her eyes.

Do the windows above have fire escapes?

"Can we tell from down here which room is hers?" Jeorik asks Darthen, "It might be tactically adviseable to approach her from two directions."

No fire escapes.

Darthen shakes his head in answer to Jeorik's query. "We'll have to ask the neighbors I guess."

metagame -- time for Darthen to shift to follow along mode. He'll help as needed, but you have the con.

"I assume that we want this woman alive, correct." Jeorik says this more as a reminder to the others than to himself.

Leaving his weapons sheathed, he heads into the tenement building, assuming the others will follow.

Obstacle one: The door is locked.

Wicht, have you heard from Bill (Keliwyn) at all recently?

Obstacle one: The door is locked.

Wicht, have you heard from Bill (Keliwyn) at all recently?

Jeorik whispers, "Can anyone open the lock, or should we knock really loudly?"

Can we hear anything through the door of the apartment?

Jeorik whispers, "Can anyone open the lock, or should we knock really loudly?"

Clearly, Istas has already convinced herself of the girl's innocence, despite any hard evidence to prove it.

It's all part of having faith in Pharasma's premonitions. :-)

Hether had smiled ruefully when Maggie made the comment about her shoes and had swiftly kicked them off...fortunately she found Maggies shoes fitted her with just a tiny bit of mending needed to change the fit.She handeed the girl her own shoes with an admonition not to break the heels and headed after the others wondering where Kel had gotten to.."

Arriving at the tenement she had watched as the rest of her companions had converesed..

"Istas,,this isn't Trinia's front door..its a communal block..which means we will have to waken some other luckless soul and cause more noise than we need to...which in turn will alert our quarry...I cannot accept that Trinia did this foul deed though I will accept that the king was poisioned..and then you have to ask yourself..who stood to gain the most from his demise?"

Heathers jaw sets firmly.She had never liked Ileosa..from the first moment the Chelaxian girl had appeared in Korvosa it was obvious she was an arrogant golddigger and the Kings infatuation had struck her as strange to the point of absurdity..now more than ever she is convinced that Ileosa is a plant by the b&~*% Queen of Cheliax..a plant designed to subjugate her city to the House of Thrune

Poor Heather right for all the wrong reasons

"So can we open the door without breaking it?"

"I'm guessing Keliwyn could, wish he were here."

"Well then...if this is only the main entrance to the building...is there any reason the other inhabitants wouldn't allow us access if we simply asked to be let inside? Particularly if we show them those badges the Field Marshall gave us?"

"Otherwise," she sourly notes Keliwyn's absence, "I fear brute force is all I can offer. But I tend to offer it very well when I need to..." She grins at her last little jest.

Jeorik shrugs and knocks loudly on the door.

From behind the door a thin high voice asks, "Who is it? What do you want?"

"My name is Jeorik Vandor. I am looking for an artist, Trinia. I understand she does protraits."

"Trinia, she left an hour ago. I think she was going down to Mungo's Bar."

"Trinia, she left an hour ago. I think she was going down to Mungo's Bar."

Casting detect thoughts (DC 15 Will save) and attempting to determine if the voice on the other side is telling the truth or simply trying to mislead us. Just trying to get a sense of what's really on their mind as they converse with Jeorik through the door. It'll take Istas 3 rounds to eventually get at someone's surface thoughts. So keep them talking, Jeorik! ;-)

Round 1: Istas, there be minds on the other side of the door. :)

From behind the door comes the rumbling of a deeper voice.

Perception DC 18 (sound):