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“The best shop in Korvosa to buy a bow is called Trapper’s Hole, in Eodred’s Walk in the Midlands district. The owner is a retired Sable Company marine named Jope Chantsmo. He sells every kind of bow and arrow common on this continent, as well as a few exotic pieces from distant Tian Xia or Arcadia. He can also repair bows or have them enchanted by a contact in the Acadamae. But he doesn’t sell crossbows – don’t even mention them in his presence unless you want to be kicked out of his shop!”
“The next holiday is the Breaching Festival, on the last Sunday of Desnus. That’s next month! It’s a great day, the only time when the doors of the Acadamae are open to everyone; the students of the school of Abjuration always hold a contest where the most cunning people of Korvosa try to enter a magically warded house protected by an Abjuration student. In 163 years, only one person ever managed to succeed in the tournament and win the incredible prize! It was Dyson Fordyce, who used part of that money to raise his family to the title of a Greater House. Since then, nobody’s ever been able to beat the magical wards of the Acadamae’s Abjurers.”
“Weird clawed creatures called Reefclaws infest the waters of the region. But the biggest of these by far is called Meatclaw. That monster is truly massive, 40 feet long with claws bigger than a horse! Rumor says that its lair is in a submerged cave below the seashore cliffs north of the city. Fishermen often claim that lost boats were Meatclaw’s victims. Although no recorded sighting or verifiable account has ever been made of Meatclaw, that only confirms that he’s so dangerous that he eats everything that lays eyes on him!”
Fireday, Gozran 5th, 4708
Dirty deeds for Devargo
We met the following morning to discuss how to resolve the Eel’s End situation. Although Kaeso and Manius considered that our business there was done, Kindrasius was adamant about rescuing Majenko and bringing down Devargo Barvasi. I also ached to free the poor little captive pseudo-dragon, but I wasn’t as confident as our Shoanti friend that we were strong or numerous enough to defeat the King of Spiders. But Kindrasius is a persistent (some might say, stubborn) man, and he convinced the others to return to Eel’s End.
Kaeso’s silver tongue allowed us to once again move past the guards and be admitted before Devargo. He seemed amused when we asked to purchase Majenko, but claimed to be very attached to the little creature, and asked for five thousand gold sails in exchange for his freedom. To make things worse, I noticed that the poor little reptile was wounded, clearly mistreated by this sinister individual who pretended to care so much for him. I used my healing magic to do what I could to ease little Majenko’s suffering. I heard his tiny voice in my head, but yet again, I could not understand the words he said – only Hipazia and Kindrasius among us speak the tongue of dragons.
Manius offered to play a game of Knivesies with one of Devargo’s subordinates, having sensed that the crime lord enjoyed such displays of gratuitous violence. He climbed atop a table and faced a hairy brute called Arax. The two men had their wrists tied together by a sturdy strip of leather, and then we and the other thugs started placing bets. I bet ten gold sails on Manius, just like Kaeso and Kindrasius did. Some of the thugs bet for their companion, but two of them realized how strong Manius looked, and wisely assumed that he would come out victorious.
Devargo counted to ten, and as soon as he reached that count, Arax made a mad lunge for the dagger that had been planted between him and Manius. Before he could use it, though, Manius grabbed a hold of him in a bear’s embrace. Arax struggled to escape his grasp, but Manius was clearly vastly stronger than him. Only a few moments later, the Hellknight-in-disguise shoved his opponent off the table, therefore winning the match.
Although some of the thugs grunted sourly at having lost their money, Devargo appeared pleased, and agreed to lower Majenko’s ransom to 4500 gold sails – still beyond our means. Once, I would’ve been able to pay such a sum, but I lost so much in the fires that consumed the Green Market that I couldn’t secure such funds anymore.
Kindrasius offered to do some deeds to gain Devargo’s trust, and the King of Spiders asked us to send a message of the violent kind to someone who had stolen a container of weapons from him; a man named Kirmo Savas who often frequented the Sticky Mermaid tavern in Old Korvosa. We went to that place of ill repute, where customers and staff alike were a most disreputable lot. Like the others, I ordered a mug of the local alcohol, something made from fermented river salmon eggs – but as soon as I tasted the foul brew, I regretted doing so. We didn’t find Kirmo at the tavern, but our waitress, a harlot wearing an indecently low-cut gown and cheap makeup, took the time to tell us where he lived, even though she was clearly very busy flirting with Manius.
Once there, we found that Kirmo (a young bearded man with tattoos) was indeed present, as was his grandmother. We tried to reason with him, but were unable to convince him that we meant him no harm. He tried to close the door on us, and when Manius forced it back open, the young man drew his sword in defense. Manius raised his voice and commanded him to lower his sword and sit down; even though he wasn’t wearing his Hellknight armor, the authority in his tone compelled Kirmo to obey. We then questioned him about his involvement with Devargo and learned that, during the riots, Devargo’s men had stolen a shipment of premium dwarven weapons that had come from the nearby dwarven city of Janderhoff. Kirmo had been put in charge of getting that shipment to agents of House Arkona, but the weapons had been taken by some Wererats who lived in the sewers.
Kaeso questioned him further about the Wererats, sensing that Kirmo was not telling us the entire story. Kirmo seemed to believe that those Wererats weren’t a true danger to humans and just wanted weapons to defend themselves; he seemed to fear them less than he feared House Arkona. Kindrasius confirmed the rumors I’d heard so far about this family who ruled over Old Korvosa: they had a dark reputation of being strongly linked to the city’s underworld, but since the rise of its current patriarch, Lord Glorio Arkona, the family had allegedly taken steps to help the lives of the poor citizens of Old Korvosa, transforming some of their own holdings into low-rent tenements.
The others decided to bring Kirmo to the garrison for further questioning; as we left the house, I noticed his grandmother watching us from afar. Once we reached Citadel Volshyenek, we waited for some time before getting an audience with Field Marshal Kroft, to show her our prisoner. Kindrasius also tried to get her to give us the authority to make an official move to arrest Devargo Barvasi, but the Field Marshal indicated that we didn’t have enough proof yet. As she had done before, though, she heavily hinted that if we were to attack Devargo and kill him, although she wouldn’t officially reward us, she would make sure that we didn’t get into any trouble with the law.
Starday, Gozran 6th, 4708
Battle at Eel’s End
The following day, we returned to Eel’s End yet again. Devargo listened to our report of having “dealt with” Kirmo. Kindrasius and Manius pretended that we had roughed him up to “teach him a lesson” for losing Devargo’s goods. However, as they told their story and expanded on the notion of the Wererats, they noticed that the men in Eel’s End’s cabin looked very grim and nervous. And when asked about being involved with House Arkona, Devargo shrugged and said that most businessmen in Old Korvosa had dealings with this family, one of the most powerful in all of Korvosa. Devargo, on the other hand, seemed to hate the Wererats, which he saw as a serious threat to Korvosa.
We then asked again to buy Majenko, but Devargo’s price had not changed. I noticed that the poor little creature looked even worse than yesterday: he now lay on the floor of his cage, breathing shallowly. I noticed spider bites on his flanks. Feeling a sudden surge of anger, I pointed this out to Devargo. “How can you pretend to care about this poor little thing,” I hissed, “you… MONSTER!”
Devargo merely chuckled at my anger. Kindrasius and Manius looked at each other in an uncomfortable silence. Up until now, Kindrasius had been the strongest proponent of the “let’s kill Devargo” movement, while Manius had been its staunchest opponent. I felt much like Kindrasius, but was too scared that we would get killed if we tried to attack the King of Spiders. Hipazia and her servant seemed totally neutral about this issue. But with yesterday’s events, Kindrasius had schemed to show Manius concrete examples of Devargo’s corruption: contraband and extorsion. Still, the big Hellknight hesitated to break the relative order of Eel’s End.
Strangely, it was Kaeso who made the first move. “The hell with it!” he said loudly and suddenly, drawing his rapier.
Devargo and his goons had apparently been expecting such actions from us, for they were very quick to react. Devargo fired a crossbow bolt at Manius, but thankfully, it bounced off his armor. In fact, I was so taken aback by Kaeso’s sudden reaction that I was perhaps the slowest to react among everyone in the room.
I soon found myself in the middle of pandemonium. My companions fought off the thugs, all around me: Manius with his flail; Kaeso with his rapier; Hipazia tried to cast a Sleep spell, but was interrupted by a blow from one of the goons. Meanwhile, Kindrasius threw a tanglefoot bag at Devargo, sticking him in place next to his throne, forcing him to rely on his hand crossbow, which he fired at Manius and me repeatedly, but thankfully, never managing to pierce our armors.
One of the thugs went down quickly, but his comrades wounded us all with their blades. Thankfully, we only took minor wounds, except Kindrasius, who was pierced in the gut by a particularly vicious blow. I called upon the power of Pharasma to heal his wound, then I radiated waves of healing energy all around, trying not to heal our opponents as I did so. All along, Majenko feebly sent us telepathic encouragements, while countless spiders scuttled around the room. Strangely, none of them attacked us, as we had feared initially. Perhaps the legend of the King of Spiders’ mysterious abilities was only a rumor after all?
Suddenly, Manius grew to an enormous size thanks to one of Hipazia’s enchantments. His flail spun over our heads, bringing bloody ruin to Devargo’s minions. They fell one after the other. Kaeso also slew one of them. Two men came in reinforcements, but that was not enough to halt the furious Hellknights.
“Solly Slop!” exclaimed Devargo when he realized that we had gained the upper hand on his own turf. He had finally managed to free himself from the goo. He activated a lever on his throne, and a hidden trapdoor opened in front of it. Thankfully, none of us had been standing on top of it: Manius had warned us to avoid that area. The King of Spiders then drank a potion and disappeared! Expecting him to be invisible, Kindrasius and Hipazia cast Grease and Sleep spells in that area, but we had no indication of the effect they had on Devargo.
Only one thug remained standing, barely alive after having been hit by the gigantic Manius, the others having been slain or having fled. But just as our victory seemed assured, Hipazia let out a shrill cry, and then we all noticed some disgusting, hairy giant spider legs coming out of the gaping trap door… The rest of the King of Spider’s minions were coming to defend their master…
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“House Arkona does a lot of trading with a distant land called Vudra.”
“Queen Domina had a bastard child: King Eodred’s half-brother. There was something wrong with him and he always remained hidden in a secret part of Castle Korvosa. Some say that he manipulated King Eodred all along, and that he now could be manipulating young queen Ileosa.”
“The region around Hook Mountain, to the northwest, was ravaged by a horde of bloodthirsty ogres in recent months. The keep that had stood for decades in defense of the area, Fort Rannick, was overrun and destroyed by the Ogres. Let us pray to Abadar that these monsters don’t attack the lands around Korvosa!”
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Starday, Gozran 6th, 4708 (continued)
Webs in the shadows
Giant spiders began to crawl out of the pit. Four of them were the size of dogs, but the biggest one was man-sized. Hipazia retreated to use her magic from afar while Manius and Zeeva attacked the vermin with their weapons. The last standing thug stabbed Kaeso with his blade before falling unconscious. Kindrasius circled around the spiders and examined the spot where Devargo had last been seen, trying to determine if he had fallen asleep and was laying there invisible, but his probing revealed nothing. Unfortunately, he was bitten by one of the spiders at the same time.
“He went downstairs, I saw the door move!” yelled Manius.
Immediately, Kindrasius and Kaeso tumbled past the spiders and went down the stairs. They entered a twisting hallway that was lit by several lanterns. All doors nearby were closed, except one. Kindrasius went to investigate the open door while Kaeso headed toward a double-door at the end of the hall.
Meanwhile, the other three companions finished off the spiders, although Zeeva got bitten in the process. She felt her mind reeling as the hallucinogenic poison spread through her veins. Indeed, these creatures were dream spiders, whose venom was used as the main ingredient for the drug known as shiver, a substance that was very much in demand in the shadier parts of Korvosa. Now, it was as if Zeeva had been directly injected with a pure dose of this drug.
Suddenly, the group heard Kindrasius cry out in pain from below, followed by a yell: “He’s here!!” Hipazia headed downstairs to lend a hand in the combat. After receiving some healing from Zeeva, Manius (who was still giant-sized) dropped down into the pit, figuring it would take too long to squeeze through the stairs. Zeeva remained upstairs to stand watch.
Kindrasius had indeed found Devargo not long after entering what looked like an office. Both of the other doors in the room were closed, and the one on his right had a picture of a spider on it. Kindrasius suspected that Devargo might be hiding in the current room, so he started making sweeping gestures with his bow to try to locate him. As he did so, he noticed some faint stains on the ground: residue left by someone whose boots had recently been stuck in a tanglefoot bag…
Just as he bent over to examine them more closely, Devargo launched his attack, narrowly missing the lucky Shoanti. The crime lord reappeared and began fighting Kindrasius. It was a difficult fight, as Devargo was skilled and agile. One of his bladed gauntlets cut Kindrasius’s skin, subjecting him to the spider poison that covered them. Kindrasius felt his arms growing weaker, and he retreated when Kaeso came to help him, using his bow against Devargo. Kaeso traded blows with Devargo, but was also severely wounded and poisoned by the more experienced rogue…
During this time, Manius had dropped down in a dark room that was filled with multi-colored webs. Strewn about the place were many humanoid bones… Perched on a wooden beam, a strange half-man, half-spider creature regarded him coldly with its many eyes. Manius recognized this monster as an Ettercap. The creature lunged at him, its mandibles twitching, but it was unable to penetrate Manius’s armor. The Hellknight retaliated lethally, crushing the monster with his gigantic flail. Then, hearing the sounds of battle in the next room, he went to help his companions. Kindrasius opened the door for him, and Manius nimbly squeezed through the door and faced Devargo.
Kaeso had since retreated, and Devargo had been dazed by one of Hipazia’s spells. Manius attacked Devargo, destroying some of the surrounding furniture as the King of Spiders dodged his attacks. Kindrasius was able to hit the enemy with two well-aimed arrows. Devargo fought desperately against Manius, wounding him, but his blades weren’t coated with poison anymore. Eventually, Manius struck him a fatal blow, and Devargo finally fell to the ground, dead.
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Burning down the Eel
The companions returned upstairs. They were in a sorry state: Kindrasius and Kaeso were both heavily wounded, and their limbs had grown weak from the effect of Devargo’s poison. Manius and the two women were also slightly wounded; what’s more, Kindrasius and Zeeva felt inebriated by the spider poison they had been subjected to, and Manius felt the same way due to his contact with the strangely hued webs in the hold.
During the combat with Devargo, Zeeva had freed Majenko from his cage. The rest of the group found her gently caressing the wounded little creature, speaking to it softly in Common. They were impressed that she had bent the bars of Majenko’s cage: clearly, the young woman was much stronger than she appeared.
Kindrasius placed manacles around the wrists of the only thug that was still breathing. Then, Zeeva prayed to Pharasma, and an aura of healing energy spread out in the room, closing most of the wounds of the companions, Majenko, and the prisoner.
Meanwhile, sounds of the frightened crowd of Eel’s End’s customers could be heard outside. Kaeso took a look and reported that several of Devargo’s thugs were eyeing the cabin warily, apparently not cowardly enough to flee the area altogether, yet not brave enough to face those who had seemingly defeated their master and colleagues. To avoid any complications, Manius (who was still the size of a giant) went out on the deck of the ship and roared to intimidate the crowd. It had the desired effect, and everyone, including the mercenaries, fled in terror.
The group then proceeded to search the ship for treasure. They found some money and valuables on the thugs, on Devargo himself and in a chest in his room. They also found several magical items, the most valuable of which was a Ring of Feather Falling that was awarded to Manius. They also discovered a lab that had been used to make shiver. Kindrasius used an Unseen Servant to search the Ettercap’s room, but unfortunately, no treasure was found there. The party then left the ship, but before doing so, Kindrasius listened to one of his frequent pyromaniac urges and set fire to Eel’s End.
Once they were back on solid ground, the group encountered a large patrol of Korvosan Guards that was investigating the commotion. Among them was Manius’s younger sister, Corella. Due to her presence and Manius’s reputation, the guards did not give the companions a hard time, guessing they had done the city a service in eliminating Devargo and his organization, despite the ruckus it had caused. The group decided to set free the thug they had captured, instructing him to spread the word that they were not to be messed with.
Their mission was a success, the five companions felt very happy to have survived and to have defeated such a powerful and feared opponent as the King of Spiders. Feeling very high from the dream spider poison, Kindrasius kissed Zeeva, and she didn’t struggle or berate him. She did, however, ask him to kiss Majenko as well.
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Glimpses of the future
A few quieter weeks passed after the group took down Devargo. The riots were now a thing of the past, and the people’s discontent about the Queen was diminishing. Queen Ileosa seemed to stay rather quiet, not launching any new public projects to stimulate the economy or people’s morale, but neither was she making any obvious blunders, either. Most people assumed that the young woman was simply getting used to her new role as ruler of Korvosa, and probably starting to learn the intricacies of it from experienced advisors like Field Marshal Kroft, Commandant Endrin of the Sable Company, and Seneschal Neolandus Kalepopolis.
The Field Marshal was pleased when Manius told her how he and his allies had defeated Devargo. Although she didn’t publicly reward him, she gave him in private the pseudodragon’s mark, a medal that symbolized going “above and beyond in Korvosa’s service”. Manius continued his regular duties as a Hellknight, but often stayed in contact with Cressida. Since the end of the riots, most Hellknights had returned to Citadel Vraid. Manius was intrigued by this mysterious Shadowcount Sial who remained in the city, still living in his Bone Tower, but occasionally visiting the Black Bulwark. Manius had the chance to get a closer look at Asyra, Sial’s bodyguard. She was indeed a Kyton, a devil-like creature who looked like a woman with grayish-blue skin, red eyes and hair, and whose body was covered in twisted chains. Sial was not a Hellknight, but he was an ally of the Order of the Nail and often provided magical aid for them. He came from Nidal, and Pontia learned that, outside of the Hellknights, his only known contact was a strange elven woman, who was the only other person who was allowed to enter the Bone Tower.
One evening, Sial approached Manius and mentioned he had heard about the young armiger’s recent successes. He said that he had also used his magic to divine the future. Such readings were always vague, but he saw a period of great darkness looming over the horizon. There would be “interesting times” for Korvosa in a near future. He had heard some words echoing in this divination, and foremost had been Manius’s name. The stern cleric seemed intrigued by Manius and said that he would observe him with great interest in the future.
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The exposition
Things went well for Kindrasius and the children he was taking care of. He brought Majenko into the household, and the little dragon felt right at home among the youngsters. Some of them even began learning the Draconic language from Kindrasius to be able to communicate with this new pet.
A few days after his latest adventure, Kindrasius found a note that had been slipped into his room through the window. It simply read: “Good work at Eel’s End” and it was signed “B”. Kindrasius smiled and guessed that it came from his new friend, Blackjack.
Kindrasius also went to the Gray District on a few occasions to spend more time with Thousand Bones and his Shoanti warriors. He helped them, as well as some worshippers of Pharasma, to fight the undead that constantly plagued this part of town. Gaekhen and the other young warriors were called “Boneslayers” and were experts at fighting undead. They taught Kindrasius some techniques to efficiently battle those wicked creatures. Kindrasius also got to know some of Zeeva’s fellow clerics of Pharasma, such as Marixa Tenner, a silver-haired half-elven woman who was Zeeva’s closest friend in the church. This period of fighting undead was unnerving for Kindrasius, who was extremely scared of them, in part due to the voices that had plagued his mind for so long. But he overcame his fear with determination to cleanse the area of their menace. Throughout it all, the presence of Zellara was always felt, and she brought comfort and guidance.
An exhibition took place in Old Korvosa, in which Salvator Scream presented his latest paintings. Kindrasius was present, as well as a large number of his friend's fans. One of them was Zeeva, who came with her friend Marixa. There were some prestigious people among the audience, including Lord Glorio Arkona (who seemed very cheerful and charismatic, speaking with many people and shaking hands), Seneschal Neolandus Kalepopolis (who was more reserved, but seemed to be a wise and benevolent man who seemed to genuinely appreciate Salvator), Lord and Lady Carowyn (an aged couple who were friends of Hipazia's family), and Pilts Swastel.
Unfortunately, the new paintings were not of the same quality as Salvator's earlier work. While still sinister in nature, there seemed to be something "missing" from them. Kindrasius knew that his friend had stopped being tormented by horrible nightmares about six months before - roughly the same time that Kindrasius had stopped hearing the very worst of the voices that plagued his fragile mind. Since then, although Salvator had been happier, it seemed that the intensity of his talent had diminished. His dark muse was gone, and now his work was but a shadow of its former self. Most of the guests at the exposition were too polite to point this out to Salvator's face, but they whispered about the relatively poor work behind his back; Salvator also realized that they lacked the enthusiasm they had shown in previous exhibitions, and that the paintings were clearly not selling as quickly as they had before.
Only one guest had the gall to tell Salvator what was really on her mind. Kindrasius recognized her immediately: she was Laori Vaus, that seemingly unhinged elven woman, who was now dressed like a demented harlequin. She entered the building, smiling and cheerful, but after a few minutes of looking at the various works of art, she became appalled.
"Oh, my poor Salvator," she said loudly, "this is complete Solly Slop!"
A deafening silence followed. She had voiced out loud what had been on everyone's mind. A few people tried to downplay what she had said, but Kindrasius clearly saw that Salvator had been crushed by Laori's statement. His exposition was a complete failure.
While there were so many of Old Korvosa's "finest" gathered in one place, Kindrasius asked Zeeva to use her magic to try and detect any evil auras within the crowd. She did so discreetly, and told him that she sensed no evil; she did warn him, however, that there were ways to shield oneself from the spell she had used.
Kindrasius didn't mingle much with the high-profile guests, but he eavesdropped on a few conversations. One of them particularly intrigued him: someone was discussing "whether the assassin had been found yet" with Seneschal Kalepopolis. Kindrasius wondered what that was about...
In the following days, Kindrasius checked up on Salvator from time to time. He had begun drinking heavily again and seemed to have fallen back into depression. In a fit of rage, he had destroyed several of his unfinished paintings at his house. Laori also visited Salvator from time to time; she seemed to take a very keen interest in his work, despite her harsh criticism at the exposition. Kindrasius wasn't sure exactly what was going on between her and his friend. Were they lovers, or simply friends? Was she a source of inspiration for Salvator, or was she holding him back? Salvator's work had always benefited most from his darkest moods, and despite the turmoil of the recent riots, perhaps he had simply become too happy in Laori's company to provide the same level of quality work he had created before?
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The assassin’s name
A few days later, a rumor started spreading like wildfire around Korvosa, and Kindrasius understood the meaning of what he had overheard at the exposition: an investigation led by Queen Ileosa's personal guard had uncovered the conspiracy that had led to the murder of her late husband. According to the rumors, King Eodred had been poisoned by a woman named Trinia Sabor, who had until recently been a servant at Castle Korvosa. This woman had not been seen in several weeks, and was now being sought by the Korvosan Guard, the Sable Company, the Hellknights, and even some bounty hunters. Pictures of her were plastered throughout Korvosa: she was a slender woman in her early twenties, with short blonde hair. There was a thousand gold sails reward for her capture, dead or alive.
It is at the very core of Korvosan nature to be eternally unsatisfied, always complaining about one's situation. During the reign of King Eodred, the citizens of Korvosa had often criticized his decisions and the way he ruled the city. It was only at the time of his death that they had finally realized that, all in all, he had in fact been a rather good king. He hadn't brought the same sweeping changes or radical expansions as his mother, Queen Domina. But under his rule, Korvosa had known several decades of peace and comfortable growth.
Now, the common man of Korvosa had been given an explanation for King Eodred's sudden death.
Now, the common man had been given a name and face to blame for the demise of this beloved ruler.
Now, the common man wanted to exact revenge on Trinia Sabor…
A wave of unrest rose over Korvosa once again, only weeks after the riots that had been triggered by King Eodred's death. Mobs of irate citizens strode the streets of the city, brandishing clubs and knives, looking high and low for this devious assassin who had dared rob them of their rightful ruler before he had a chance to get a proper heir from his young, healthy new wife.
One evening, Manius, Zeeva, Kindrasius and Kaeso dined together at the Bailer’s Retreat tavern in Midland. The whole place was abuzz with tension regarding the king's murder. Manius told his companions how none of the Hellknights, not even Pontia, had discovered any useful leads to locate Trinia. He also knew that Field Marshal Cressida Kroft had dispatched numerous patrols to try and find the young woman. In fact, on his latest visit, he had overheard an argument between Cressida and Commandant Marcus Endrin, the leader of the Sable Company. While Cressida was entirely obedient toward the crown, very eager to capture Trinia to hand her over to the Queen's personal guard, Commandant Endrin seemed much more skeptical, wanting to do his own interrogation of the young woman before releasing her into the royal guard's custody. Clearly, he wasn't fully convinced of Trinia's guilt yet, unlike the Field Marshal. It was clear to Manius that there was now a race between the Hellknights, the Korvosan Guards and the Sable Company to find Trinia Sabor. Whoever won this race would gain a lot of prestige in the eyes of the city, of other organizations, and surely the Queen herself.
Kaeso had an interesting piece of information to add: the young boy Kester, who had been rescued from Lamm's fishery and who was now working as a servant at the Leroung estate, had recognized Trinia Sabor's picture: she was the woman from whom he had stolen the Queen's brooch back during his pick-pocketing days, a few weeks before the five companions had fought Gaedren Lamm.
Moonday, Gozran 22nd, 4708
The following morning, Kindrasius was approached by Auk, one of the children he was looking after. Indeed, Kindrasius had asked his little network of spies to keep an ear out for any information regarding Trinia. This morning, Auk had been lurking in an alley in Midland and had overheard two adults talking. He soon understood that they were friends of Trinia and that they were hiding her in their apartment nearby. Auk quietly followed them and saw which building they entered: the address was 42 Moon Street. He then hurried back to Old Korvosa to give the news to Kindrasius, dodging the packs of furious citizens who were roaming the streets with murder on their mind.
Kindrasius immediately saw the opportunity: after quickly gathering his companions, they could pay a visit to Trinia's hideout and perhaps be the ones to get their hands on the king's alleged assassin and claim the thousand gold sails reward for themselves.
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"One of Korvosa's noble houses is the true power behind the Cerulean Society (the thieves' guild). This power is House Arkona."
"I wonder if the King's birthday of 16 Calistril will be maintained as an official holiday. I remember we always had such a good time on that day, there were always some scantily clad girls dancing around and serving free wine to everyone! Hey, I wonder when is Ileosa's birthday?"
"Sabina Merrin, the Queen's bodyguard, is the most powerful warrior in Korvosa. You do not want to mess with that girl. I heard that she was trained by Vencarlo Orisini since she was a child, but that she rebelled against him and beat him in a duel. He lost a couple fingers in that duel and has never been able to fight as well since then."
Moonday, Gozran 22nd 4708 (continued)
Good girl, bad bracelet
My companions and I observed the building at 42 Moon Street from a nearby alley. Kindrasius had come very well-prepared. Not only had he quickly gathered us after Auk learned about Trinia’s location, he had even brought his small force of orphan-spies to stand guard around the building and ensure that Trinia wouldn’t be able to escape unseen. He even brought the little dragon Majenko and used him as a flying scout. The beautiful creature fluttered its wings as it peered through the building’s windows one by one, and finally sent a telepathic message to Kindrasius: he had seen Trinia in an apartment on the top floor. There was a man with her.
Although the neighbourhood wasn’t really as terrible as Bridgefront, it was a rather poor sector of the city. Several other tall, run-down buildings stood nearby, and above them sprawled a section of the Shingles. We were, of course, worried that Trinia might hear our approach and try to escape through the Shingles. That would’ve forced us to chase her over this treacherous terrain, something that sounded quite dangerous and tiring, especially for Manius and me, who were wearing armor.
Instead, we decided to catch her in a trap. Kindrasius and Kaeso would climb up to the Shingles from a nearby building and enter her apartment through the window. Hipazia and I would enter 42 Moon Street and go up the stairs to the apartment where Trinia was sheltered. Meanwhile, Manius would stand watch at the entrance of the building. Using his magic and Majenko’s help, Kindrasius would be able to communicate with us a little bit despite the distance.
We set our plan in motion. I entered the building with Hipazia. I wore a heavy cloak over my breastplate, and I carried my spear; I was ready for action. We began climbing up the stairs; when we reached the first floor, an old woman blocked our way almost like a very frail guard. She feigned kindness and curiosity, asking us what we were doing in the neighbourhood. Hipazia politely answered that we had come to visit a friend, but I was sure that the old lady was in league with Trinia. She spoke very loudly, pretending to be hard of hearing, but in fact she was just subtly warning Trinia of our arrival. I gently asked her to move out of the way, and we continued our ascension. When we reached the third floor, Hipazia gestured for me to remain quiet and stay next to her. After a few moments, I heard Kindrasius’s whisper, carried from afar right into my ear by his bardic magic:
“We’re going in!”
Hipazia and I heard voices from above, and we quickly climbed up to the fourth and last floor. We found the door where the voices were coming from. Inside, Kindrasius and Kaeso were talking agitatedly with a young, petite woman with short blonde hair: Trinia Sabor. Our first impression was of course that such an innocent-looking woman couldn’t truly have murdered King Eodred. She seemed incapable of doing such a thing. Nevertheless, I remained wary. Evil sometimes wears deceiving forms. My dear brother Aldern taught me that lesson already.
Next to Trinia was a man in his thirties with thinning black hair. He was holding a knife that looked quite unimpressive compared to our own arsenal. It was clear that this man was an artist, not a warrior. He realized that he was outmatched and lowered his weapon. Apparently, Kaeso and Kindrasius had already begun explaining to Trinia that we weren’t her enemies, and were interested in hearing her story. As the two tried to calm her down, I looked around. We were in a small apartment with a single bed, a kitchen, and an easel holding a half-finished painting of a pseudodragon fighting an imp atop a church steeple. There were clothes strewn about the floor, and various canvases and paint pots. This was clearly the home of an artist.
We learned that the man, Sorvin, was indeed a painter, and a friend of Trinia’s who had offered her shelter in this time of trouble. Trinia seemed at once shocked at having finally been “caught”, and relieved that we didn’t seem to have bad intentions toward her. Manius’s sudden appearance reinforced her fear, but we assured her that he was our ally and hadn’t any pre-conceived ideas about her.
As expected, Trinia fervently denied being King Eodred’s murderer. In a trembling voice, she explained that she had been a servant at Castle Korvosa until recently. Queen Ileosa had cast her out of the castle. Only a few days later, Trinia had heard that she was being accused of the foul murder, and she had sought refuge among friends, fearing for her life.
When questioned further, she said she had some talent as a painter, and that Seneschal Neolandus Kalepopolis, himself a lover of the arts, had asked her to make a painting of King Eodred in the weeks before his death, hoping that he would be uplifted from his illness by the work of art, and (Trinia admitted with a blush), the presence of a young woman who was… gentler than the Queen. When asked about the brooch that Kester had allegedly pick-pocketed from her, Trinia denied even knowing about it. We found this hard to believe, but she said that, as a humble servant, she knew her place and never paid much attention to jewellery.
I looked at my companion and knew that they were trying to gauge Trinia’s plea of innocence, just like I was. She seemed like a genuinely sweet girl. If she was lying to us, then she was really a very talented con artist. Fearing some kind of magical shenanigans including shape-shifting or illusions, Kindrasius used his magic to place an invisible mark on Trinia’s hand, so we could recognize her later. Trinia noticed what he did, and informed us that she also knew some basic bardic magic. She said she was unable to change her appearance, though. Hipazia nodded knowingly and pointed out that if she had, she could’ve used it to escape the city.
After a few minutes in our presence, Trinia also understood who we were: she had heard about our victory over the King of Spiders. When we told her that we believed her story and that we would help her avoid capture (instead of turning her in for a hefty reward), she was immensely relieved and, I think, even saw us as true heroes. While I’m not sure I would go that far in describing us, I was very satisfied that my companions, especially the law-abiding Manius, unanimously agreed to help this woman in need.
Before fully trusting her, though, we decided to use some magic to ensure that Trinia didn’t radiate anything obviously wrong. I prepared to cast a Detect Evil spell, but at the last moment, a strange voice filled my mind:
“Zeeva, pretend you sense nothing wrong…”
I shook my head in dismay. The voice had sounded foul, slimy, reptilian and malevolent. There had been a form of compulsion in those words, and my mind had almost obeyed them by instinct… But at the last moment, I had resisted. I realized that Kindrasius had heard a similar voice when trying to sense some magic. I continued with my spell and detect an evil presence… but it didn’t come from Trinia, or even from Sorvin.
It came from Hipazia!
I felt a shiver go down my spine, but soon realized that Hipazia herself wasn’t radiating evil… But her bracer was… How odd.
I whispered this to Manius and to Kindrasius. Of course, Hipazia noticed that we seemed to pay close attention to her. I finally explained what I had heard and sensed. Kindrasius had also heard the evil voice in his head (and commented that it had sounded more “real” than the voices he usually heard in there).
As soon as the words escaped my mouth, though, the bracelet suddenly transformed into a strange horned snake who tried to bite Kindrasius’s wrist. At the last moment, the Shoanti blocked the blow with his buckler. Hipazia stepped back and reacted faster than any of us: it seems that a mistress of Divination magic, she is impossible to truly surprise. She tried to cast a bolt of fire at the snake, but missed completely and instead set fire to the curtains at the window!
The others quickly came to Hipazia’s aid. Kindrasius’s spell failed, but Kaeso and Manius wounded and killed the creature pretty quickly. When it was crushed by the Hellknight’s flail, the snake turned into a puddle of ink-like black liquid. Seeing that Hipazia was no longer in danger, I hurried to the window and put out the flames with a simple spell that summoned water.
Trinia was flabbergasted about what had happened, but she’d had the presence of mind to bolster our attacks with her own bardic magic. We all questioned Hipazia about the snake-bracelet, and she seemed just as flustered as we were. She explained that it had belonged to her grandmother, and that she’d owned it since she was ten years old. The thing hadn’t even radiated magic the last time she’d bothered to examine her own belongings… but she admitted she hadn’t done so in weeks. After all, why would she?
As I examined a light bite wound that she had sustained in the fight (and which showed no sign of being seriously poisoned), Hipazia explained that this strange snake-like being had been a Raktavarna, a kind of living construct usually created by Vudran wizards. They had mysterious abilities like shape-shifting, telepathy and perhaps more. Unfortunately, that was all she knew. She would have to consult a library to learn more.
Clearly, the Raktavarna had tried to use its telepathic powers on me and Kindrasius when it had heard that we were about to use magic to unmask it, but thankfully, we had both resisted its vile influence.
So it now seemed that we had more than just the mystery of Trinia’s framing to solve. Discussing the bracelet issue, we realized that it was perhaps linked to the strange silver dagger we had found in Verik Vancaskerkin’s office. It had mysteriously disappeared from Hipazia’s bag during the night… Could the dagger have in fact been the Raktavarna, who had later taken the form of Hipazia’s bracer to spy on her? And who had made it? And why?
We remembered that Verik had claimed that the dagger had been given to him by his girlfriend, Vimanda, who was still at large. Was she the one who had created this weapon?
Trinia's new friends
Getting back to the matter at hand, we decided to help Trinia get out of Korvosa. We strongly felt that she was truly innocent and was being framed by the King’s true killer(s). Trinia told us she had tried to escape by the bridges or the docks before, but everything was too well-guarded, and she had almost been caught on several occasions before she had finally decided that hiding until things cooled down was the wisest course of action.
Trinia was extremely relieved that we believed her and that we were willing to help her. Kaeso carried a disguise kit with him, and he used it to change her appearance. He did a very good job: in no time, Trinia was sporting gray hair and looked like an average middle-aged goodwife. Before leaving the apartment with her few meagre belongings, Trinia thanked Sorvin profusely for all of his help, and hugged him. We could see that the man was sad to see Trinia go, but he realized that she would be safer with us than with him.
The walk to Leroung Manor seemed to take an eternity. Trinia walked with Hipazia and me, and seemed quite nervous. I had to remind her to try and act casual. Manius rode ahead on his newly-acquired black warhorse. Kaeso and Kindrasius watched the rear. Majenko and the children had been sent home by Kindrasius. We passed a patrol of Korvosan Guard, and in part thanks to a distraction by Manius, they didn’t pay attention to Trinia. Just before reaching the estate, a pair of Sable Company hippogriff riders flew above us, and also didn’t notice the fugitive among us.
The Leroungs and their servants received us all well. Thankfully, they were so curious and surprised to see Hipazia bring home a muscle-bound Hellknight armiger than they barely noticed Trinia, who Hipazia introduced as “an old friend of hers from Theumanexus College”.
While Hipazia excused herself, Kaeso and some other servants made sure that Kindrasius, Manius, Trinia-in-disguise and I were made comfortable in the guest quarters where we would spend the night. Some time later, Hipazia returned and told us that she would buy the following morning a scroll of a minor illusion spell that would help Trinia to get past the guards at North Bridge. We would then use a family carriage to drive with Trinia all the way to one of the Leroungs’ orchards outside of town. Then, Trinia would be free to wander Varisia and seek shelter safely away from Korvosa.
Trinia agreed with the plan and seemed relieved that, if things went well, she would soon be free. She preferred this plan than the other one we also discussed, about her leaving on a ship; but that would have left her with no escape route if someone aboard recognized her and tried to capture her.
I spent part of the night in the company of the Leroungs, getting to know some of them better. Lord Tiago, Hipazia’s father, was very knowledgeable, but a bit too pedantic to be truly pleasant. Hipazia’s younger sister Calaria was very quiet and seemed mostly intrigued by Manius. I ended up spending some time with Shellia, the wife of Hipazia’s older brother Cyril. She came from the Carowyn family, a house of art-lovers, but I found her colder and haughtier than I had expected. Perhaps marrying into a powerful family like the Leroungs had enabled her to look down on minor nobles like me, especially some who were dressed in armor instead of fancy dresses.
Shellia gave me a tour of the home, and one of the most interesting rooms, in my opinion, was the one that contained all manner of strange books, figurines and paintings of bizarre landscapes and creatures. She wrinkled her nose derisively and informed me that this was where her husband, her brother Darius and their friend Amin played their games of Caverns & Creatures. Clearly, she found such a pastime extremely puerile, but I was intrigued by this game of imagination. I wondered what it was like, and if I would perhaps one day be invited to a session, until I remembered that the last woman who had joined such a game had perished in a most messy manner. When I brought it up, Shellia shivered and described the scene of Esia’s atrocious demise in detail. Thankfully, all traces of blood had been cleaned from the carpet and furniture by the tireless efforts of Kaeso’s fellow servants. I had never gotten to know this mysterious Esia, but I had heard about her and I still felt sad that she had died without ever recovering her memory.
Later in the evening, I joined the others in a lounge of the guest wing. The atmosphere was more relaxed, and we were sitting, talking with Trinia as if she was an old friend. How charismatic was she that I had gone, within less than a day, from suspecting her of perhaps having killed King Eodred to liking her so much? She told us about life in Castle Korvosa, and we got some insights on the workings of the royal court. I got the sense that Seneschal Kalepopolis was a wise and kind man, who had helped through the years to guide King Eodred, who was much more frivolous. Whenever we approached the subject of Queen Ileosa, she remained evasive, but I got the sense that Trinia both feared and hated her former mistress.
Toilday, Gozran 23rd 4708
Who framed Trinia Sabor?
The following morning, we woke up refreshed from having spent a night in the comfort of Leroung Manor. We had taken turns standing watch, but nothing dangerous had happened, nor had Trinia attempted any funny business. As a last precaution against any possible trickery on her part, I cast a Zone of Truth spell after my morning prayers. She responded to our questions the same way as she had done the previous day, except when it came to the matter of Queen Ileosa. Finding herself unable to tell white lies about the queen, she admitted that Ileosa was a vain and vicious woman who constantly complained about Korvosa being a backwater village compared to the splendour of Cheliax that she had left behind. Ileosa despised her servants, and most of all those who, liked Trinia, sometimes caught the wandering eye of her aged husband.
Of course, the tastiest nugget of gossip was her admission that she had heard compromising sounds coming from the Queen’s chamber one night – sounds that hinted that the rumors of a tryst between Ileosa and her bodyguard Sabina were in fact true. Of course, Manius and Kaeso were delighted to hear this.
Men…
We also questioned Kester within the aura of my spell. Just in case the lad was hiding something from us, we hadn’t revealed to him (nor to anyone else in the manor) that Hipazia’s “friend” was in fact Trinia. To our relief, he answered all our questions as he had before. So he had really, as far as he knew, stolen the brooch from Trinia in North Point one night, about a month before the King’s death. But Trinia had denied ever having carried this brooch.
Of course, my magic is not infallible. It was possible for either of them, or even both, to resist it. But we all believed that they had told the truth. So it seemed that whoever had tried to frame Trinia had used illusory magic to take her appearance. But who had it been? As far as we knew, Queen Ileosa herself didn’t possess such powers.
We discussed this for some time amongst ourselves. We tried to find any possible link to the unsolved mysteries we had come across in recent weeks.
The Raktavarna had spoken my and Kindrasius’s name. It most likely knew quite a bit about us, and perhaps even about our plans to help Trinia. Had it really been created by the woman called Vimanda? How much did she know about us? What were her goals?
Was this Vimanda the same woman who was working with Rolth, the foul necromancer who had captured the little magical doll, Lixa? We guessed, putting the pieces together, that Rolth had been attacked by Shadowcount Sial and his devilish ally Asyra, but had been able to flee. Sial had freed and healed Lixa, but we didn’t know why he had gone to attack Rolth… We didn’t know much about him at all, except for his link to the Hellknights, in fact.
We were also still puzzled by Esia’s story. She had said she’d woken up, half-dazed from strange drugs, in a dark place where a man had been watching over her. A man with two magical stones floating around his head. We now strongly suspected that this man was Professor Karpangram, the director of the Transmutation wing of the Acadamae. Was he somehow linked to the plot to frame Trinia?
Hipazia left the manor for a short while and returned from the store called Basha’s with two scrolls of Disguise Self, one for her own spellbook, and one which Trinia could use. As we got ready to finally help her escape from Korvosa, we resolved to keep this strictly within the group. Even Field Marshal Kroft wouldn’t be informed of what we had done. Although Manius greatly liked her, and the rest of us respected her as well, she just seemed too blindly obedient to the Queen’s orders to understand and approve of our actions.
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"There is an extensive system of Vaults underneath Citadel Volshyenek, the home base of the Korvosan Guard. And as is the case every spring, they get flooded by the rising waters of the Jeggare River."
"The owner of the shop “Hedge Wizardry” in Midland is an ex-student from Theumanexus College called Phaeton Skoda. It is rumoured that she stole magical items from there before she left, and it’s only a matter of time before she has to face the wrath of her former masters."
"Strange noises can be heard from the top floor of the university after sunset, as if people were walking on the rooftop. But the Korvosan Guard didn't find anything strange when they investigated. They think maybe it's a rumor started by someone trying to cause problems for the university."
Moonbeam! You are back with another campaign journal! This is wonderful news - your journals are my favorite ones on the boards. Each one has both been a delight to read and sparked the desire in me to run a campaign again.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share these. They are awesome.
[/gushing fandom]
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Moonbeam! You are back with another campaign journal! This is wonderful news - your journals are my favorite ones on the boards. Each one has both been a delight to read and sparked the desire in me to run a campaign again.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share these. They are awesome.
[/gushing fandom]
Great, I'm glad you're enjoying them! They take so long to write, but it's posts like this one that give me the energy I need to keep going.
This summer is going to be pretty busy for me (in a good way), as I'm also going to continue my Legacy of Fire campaign. We have our first game of the year this friday. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with GM'ing 3 games a week and writing all the logs that go with them!
At the moment I have only time to get everything you are writing, and put that in a similar format as Pathfinder fiction (these books at the moment are taking with my campaign and some other Paizo books all my free time) and then I have just few time remaining to give your writings only a quick look... but I'm so happy knowing that this summer I'll have your printed story to read carefully as it was for RotR before and, from what you say, I start to hope also you'll end LoF (this is the thirth year of summer play... wow). I'm sure that if you don't get too much comments is just because you write so much good materials that read it as it is written is quite difficult with so many new materials coming from Paizo...
but if some1 has to play those APs there is nothing better around...
Great, I'm glad you're enjoying them! They take so long to write, but it's posts like this one that give me the energy I need to keep going.
This summer is going to be pretty busy for me (in a good way), as I'm also going to continue my Legacy of Fire campaign. We have our first game of the year this friday. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with GM'ing 3 games a week and writing all the logs that go with them!
So I guess CoCT is now on hold for some time? It's already amazing how you manage to write down your playing sessions as fast as you play them. I can't imagine how you could do it for two campaigns at once!!
Keep up the good work, cousin. It's almost as good reading you than playing all those APs.
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At the moment I have only time to get everything you are writing, and put that in a similar format as Pathfinder fiction (these books at the moment are taking with my campaign and some other Paizo books all my free time) and then I have just few time remaining to give your writings only a quick look... but I'm so happy knowing that this summer I'll have your printed story to read carefully as it was for RotR before and, from what you say, I start to hope also you'll end LoF (this is the thirth year of summer play... wow). I'm sure that if you don't get too much comments is just because you write so much good materials that read it as it is written is quite difficult with so many new materials coming from Paizo...
but if some1 has to play those APs there is nothing better around...
Yeah, I'm sure it's not easy for those of you with families to even find time to read the logs. I wish I had more time to read the other logs on the board too.
I also have a big backlog of Paizo stuff to read at the moment: books 3-4 of Carrion Crown, Rule of Fear, Sargava: The Lost Colony, The Inner Sea Guide, Tomb of the Iron Medusa, Academy of Secrets, Prince of Wolves (not even halfway through it yet), Plague of Shadows... Not sure if I'll be able to reduce the backlog as more books keep coming out! :)
For Legacy of Fire, I hope we can wrap it up this summer too, but I'm not sure we're going to be able to pull it off. We're playing at higher levels now, so combats will be a lot longer, and those last 2 adventures are quite combat-heavy. If I had to guess, I'd expect to finish books 4 and 5, but only do part of book 6. I hope to be proven wrong. :)
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So I guess CoCT is now on hold for some time? It's already amazing how you manage to write down your playing sessions as fast as you play them. I can't imagine how you could do it for two campaigns at once!!
Keep up the good work, cousin. It's almost as good reading you than playing all those APs.
No worries about Crimson Throne: I'm playing it with a different group of people, so it will go on as usual (minus a few games missed here and there depending on the players' summer vacation schedule). These guys are my usual gaming group. I'm playing Legacy of Fire with another friend, who used to play with us before he got married, but due to the reality of his family life (and work), he can only play RPG's during the summer. And since he doesn't play with us for the rest of the year, it's more fun for him to play his own characters in his own campaign than to play a "guest character" in our main campaign.
Hence, my 2 campaigns. :)
I guess my secret for having time to write the logs can be summarized with 2 words: "no kids". But it's kind of a chore most times (so much easier to play video games instead ;) ), and even my bachelor's schedule will be stretched to the limit this summer if we cram 2 games of Legacy of Fire per week (which my player likes to do, since he wants to maximize his "geek freedom" part of the year ;) ).
Of course, the first thing any sane person would tell me is: "It's simple. Just don't write the logs", but I find that not only it makes such a good memento from the campaign once it's over, but also I get much more "into" the campaign when I'm writing the logs. I live the experience at a much deeper level like that.
Of course, the first thing any sane person would tell me is: "It's simple. Just don't write the logs", but I find that not only it makes such a good memento from the campaign once it's over, but also I get much more "into" the campaign when I'm writing the logs. I live the experience at a much deeper level like that.
Well, try typing them on two computers at once. Nothing too complicated for a true avatar of Shiva like you.
I concur on the enhancement that a campaign log can give to a campaign. As a DM, I like 1) that my players can rely upon my written words to make up for their deficient memories (goldfish brains, all of them!); 2) that they strive to roleplay, utter memorable sentences and act like heroes, just because they want to look good in the campaign log (glory hounds and braggarts, all of them!)
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Well, try typing them on two computers at once. Nothing too complicated for a true avatar of Shiva like you.
I concur on the enhancement that a campaign log can give to a campaign. As a DM, I like 1) that my players can rely upon my written words to make up for their deficient memories (goldfish brains, all of them!); 2) that they strive to roleplay, utter memorable sentences and act like heroes, just because they want to look good in the campaign log (glory hounds and braggarts, all of them!)
As long as the players actually read the logs, I'm happy. :)
I concur on the enhancement that a campaign log can give to a campaign. As a DM, I like 1) that my players can rely upon my written words to make up for their deficient memories (goldfish brains, all of them!); 2) that they strive to roleplay, utter memorable sentences and act like heroes, just because they want to look good in the campaign log (glory hounds and braggarts, all of them!)
3) write down memories also help myself as a GM to make situations that were presented in a not so interesting way during play (due to my lack of skill/energy on the moment) epic as they should be to adeguately regard Paizo work. And also enhance my thoughts on the story helping me to prepare something new to surprise my players...
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3) write down memories also help myself as a GM to make situations that were presented in a not so interesting way during play (due to my lack of skill/energy on the moment) epic as they should be to adeguately regard Paizo work. And also enhance my thoughts on the story helping me to prepare something new to surprise my players...
Yes, same here. Sometimes I really flesh out scenes a lot more in the log versus what went on in-game. Or sometimes I even add complete scenes that were never played in-game at all (for example, a lot of the RP stuff with Belessa in Savage Tide, or a lot of the battle scenes between NPCs in Xin-Shalast in Rise of the Runelords).
Also, sometimes I re-read my journal after a few months and I invariably have some "oh yeah, that!" moments, about stuff I had completely forgotten.
3) write down memories also help myself as a GM to make situations that were presented in a not so interesting way during play (due to my lack of skill/energy on the moment) epic as they should be to adeguately regard Paizo work. And also enhance my thoughts on the story helping me to prepare something new to surprise my players...
True enough. I sometimes clarify mistakes made during a fight or some NPC speech, too. And insert roleplay scenes played by mail between sessions.
Toilday, Gozran 23rd, 4708(continued)
Dangerous diversion
We headed toward North Bridge inside one of the Leroung family’s carriages. I was sitting inside with Hipazia and Trinia (who was, of course, still in disguise). Kaeso was driving, and Kindrasius stood at the rear of the vehicle. Manius rode nearby on his black horse. As we approached the bridge, we saw that a squadron of guards was carefully screening the people leaving the city. Clearly, they were looking for Trinia. With them was a middle-aged priest wearing the black robes of the clergy of Asmodeus. He was scanning the crowd for magic, so now we guessed that using an illusion to hide Trinia would be risky. Thankfully, Kaeso had used a more mundane disguise on her.
Kindrasius listened only to his courage and stepped off the carriage, running ahead to arrive just before us. He began using his magic to distract the guards, speaking loudly and trying to divert their attention away from us. Unfortunately, they were not so easily duped, and they firmly asked him to stop his shenanigans. He continued and, after a few warnings, he was paralyzed by the priest of Asmodeus and dragged away in manacles by some guards. I watched the entire scene from behind the curtain at the carriage’s window, but we dared not intervene for fear of shedding suspicion on Trinia.
By the time we passed in front of the guards, they were in a foul mood, but due to Manius’s intimidating presence and the Leroungs’ excellent reputation, they only gave us a cursory examination and remained unaware of Trinia’s identity. Thus, we were able to leave Korvosa and free Trinia!
As we drove through the country side, the young woman became visibly relieved. She thanked us again for helping her, although she appeared quite distraught that Kindrasius had gotten into trouble to help her.
Fireday, Gozran 26th, 4708
Longacre Building
We ended up staying for three days at the quaint little vineyard that belonged to the Leroung family. It was a quiet and beautiful place, somewhere we could really relax. I got to know Hipazia, Kaeso, Manius and Trinia much better in this place, but I was unable to truly enjoy it, because the entire time, I worried about Kindrasius’s fate (more than anyone else except Trinia, I might add).
Three days later, we returned to Korvosa. Trinia had gone on her way, once again thanking us. She would roam Varisia under a false identity, and now that she has escaped the city, we felt confident that she had a good chance to stay free and safe.
Strangely, upon our return, we noticed that the security at North Bridge was much less than when we had left. We headed up to Old Korvosa, hoping we would find Kindrasius safely at home. As the carriage drove through the streets, though, we came upon a town crier speaking in front of a crowd in a busy market square.
“Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known that the assassin of the beloved King Eodred II has been apprehended by the royal guard and is currently in captivity. Judgment shall be passed on this suspect, Trinia Sabor, and she will face the justice she deserves!”
This proclamation was received with a warm cheer by the crowd, which was clearly still thirsty for blood to avenge our king. Kaeso asked the crier how Trinia had been captured, but the man didn’t know. Of course, we were quite perplexed why the queen’s forces would claim they had captured Trinia, when my companions and I knew that she was in fact free.
As we left the plaza toward Kindrasius’s home, we noticed one figure in particular looking down from the top of a nearby building, gauging the crowd’s reaction. The man was dressed in black, masked, and his long black cape fluttered in the wind.
I gasped in recognition. It was Blackjack!
I turned to catch Hipazia’s attention, but by the time I looked up again, he was gone.
Unfortunately, when we reached Kindrasius’s place, we found only worried children. They had not seen him in the past four days! After a brief discussion, we decided to go to Longacre Building, the city’s largest prison, fearing he was being kept captive there. Indeed, after speaking with some guards, we were told that Kindrasius had been imprisoned for disturbing the peace, obstruction of justice and possession of Cabble Weed. I cursed inwardly. Of course! To make things even worse, our friend had still been carrying the drug he had bought earlier at Eel’s End. The man in charge of security at the building, a square-jawed veteran named Captain Mirallas Murten, informed us that Kindrasius’s trial was scheduled for later that afternoon, and that due to his accusations, we was quite likely looking at a conviction of several months.
We left the building, wondering what to do. We couldn’t let our friend spend so much time in jail just for helping Trinia. It wasn’t fair! Kaeso suggested bribing some guards, but Manius informed him that this likely wouldn’t work. Hipazia wondered about hiring a priest of Abadar to defend Kindrasius in court: these priests were always very well-versed in the obscure mysteries of the law, and some of them were on quite good terms with her family. But in the end, Manius decided to use his trump card and ensure that Kindrasius would be set free, rather than take a chance: he rode with great haste to Citadel Volshyenek and asked Field Marshal Cressida Kroft to free Kindrasius.
I don’t know exactly how Manius convinced her to do that, but within the hour, the Field Marshal herself came down to Longacre Building and sorted things out. A few minutes later, she walked out with Kindrasius, but they were casting angry glares at each other. Field Marshal Kroft had made it clear to Kindrasius that she would not condone such unlawful conduct in the future and that if he got into similar trouble again, she would not bail him out so easily. In return, Kindrasius was furious, as he was convinced he hadn’t acted incorrectly, and that the guards had treated him unfairly and with racism.
“So Cressida,” said Manius, “we heard that Trinia Sabor was captured. Who was it who caught her, exactly?”
“Damned if I know,” replied Field Marshal Kroft with a weary shrug. “I was hoping you were going to tell me it was the Hellknights. I know it wasn’t anyone in my organization, and I’m sure it’s not any of Marcus’s marines either. So that leaves only the bounty hunters, I guess… I’m assuming you tried to catch her as well, and even though you didn’t succeed in this particular mission, don’t worry. I know you’ve done your best, and I’m sure there will be more success in your future.”
“Where is Trinia kept at the moment?”
“In Castle Korvosa.”
“And what is going to happen to her?” asked Hipazia.
“She will be judged and punished to the full extent of Korvosan law,” replied Cressida grimly.
After the Field Marshal had left, we headed to a tavern to touch base with Kindrasius before each parting ways. We told him briefly about our few days outside the town, and he told us about the unpleasant time he had spent in the dungeons. Poor Kindrasius! Strangely enough, he had been kept in a cell close to Verik Vancaskerkin. Kindrasius had taken the chance to inform Verik that Vimanda had betrayed him and had likely been spying on him all along via the Raktavarna. He had asked the Field Marshal to free Verik, but she had categorically refused.
It felt strange, for all around us, the crowd was speaking about Trinia’s capture. And yet here we were, the only people in town who knew that Trinia was truly free. Why had the queen’s organization announced that Trinia had been captured? We went through several scenarios, including one in which Kindrasius offered that she might execute a simulacrum of Trinia…
We returned to our regular routines and spent two relatively uneventful days. On the second, it was announced that Trinia had been found guilty of murder. She was to be hanged the following day at sundown in the public square in front of Longacre Building.
Moonday, Gozran 29th, 4708
Rolth’s attack
It all began as a regular night when I was working late at the Grand Cathedral of Pharasma. Since the Green Market burned down, I’d been spending an increasingly large amount of time in service of my goddess, something I had long neglected during the years I had been focusing on maintaining my uncle’s business. I was one of several priests quietly working around the temple that evening, when some blood-soaked Shoanti warriors barged in: they carried the barely conscious body of Thousand Bones and claimed they had been attacked by “Tshamek” (their words for non-Shoanti humans).
We proceeded to heal their wounds; Bishop Keppira herself tended to Thousand Bones. She realized that he had been afflicted by dark magic, and that his very life essence had almost been snuffed out. Meanwhile, I spoke with one of the Shoanti warriors, the only one who seemed fluent in our language. His name was Ahalak, a Boneslayer of the tribe of the Skoan-Quah. He grimly told us that, while he and the rest of Thousand Bones’s group had been exploring the Gray District as they had been doing for weeks, they had been ambushed by a large group of armed civilians of Chelaxian ethnicity. They appeared to be thugs who particularly hated the Shoanti, and they were led by a foul necromancer that we identified as Rolth, as well as by a dark-haired elven woman whose identity remained unclear.
Some warriors had died on both sides of the conflict, and Thousand Bones had used his magic to defend himself and his men from Rolth’s dark powers. Alas, eventually, Thousand Bones had been hit by a black ray of negative energy and had almost perished on the spot. Using the last of his energy, he had called forth a wall of stone to give his men a chance to retreat.
Once we had healed most of their wounds, I and several other priests of Pharasma returned to the site of the battle, but only corpses remained. The surviving enemies, including Rolth and the elf, had left. We gathered the dead, and to the Shoanti’s dismay, one of the bodies was missing: it was that of Gaekhen, Thousand Bones’s grandson. The Boneslayers saw tracks that led elsewhere into the Gray District: it seemed that Gaekhen’s body had been dragged away from the site of battle.
As clerics of Pharasma, my peers and I helped bring the corpses back to the cathedral, where they could be prepared for a proper burial. By the time we were done, the sun was almost up, and Ahalak returned to speak with me: he had found that the trail of Gaekhen’s abductors led to an old crypt called the Dead Warrens. I knew that the Shoanti had suffered enough from the Tshamek. I also knew that Thousand Bones’s mission of peace, which had showed such promise under the rule of King Eodred, had come to a complete stop in recent weeks, as Queen Ileosa had systematically refused to meet with him. I knew that things were tense between our people, so it was clear that it was up to me and my usual companions to show our honor to the Shoanti by venturing into the Dead Warrens and retrieving Gaekhen’s corpse. After all, without a proper burial, his soul would never know rest. Even worse, I shuddered to think what might happen to it if it remained in the foul necromancer Rolth’s possession.
I presented my plan to Ahalak. He already knew Kindrasius, so he went to get him. I sent Mouse and Saroko to fetch the rest of my companions, and soon we were all gathered in the cathedral. Ahalak, Thousand Bones (who was still very weak), Bishop Keppira and I brought them up to speed. To my relief, they all accepted to take part in this dangerous mission.
Ahalak led us to the Dead Warrens, and we noticed that indeed, there were tracks of two people having dragged something heavy to a trap door that led into the underground crypt. Hipazia also noticed some smaller footprints that had only four toes: perhaps they were those of derros, mysterious and cruel little beings that were rumoured to lurk around Korvosa and who abducted people.
The Dead Warrens
A dusty stairway led down to a crypt. Thick pillars supported the ceiling, and the walls were encrusted with old skeletons. A tunnel opened in the far wall; its surfaces glowed dimly with a blue light. On either side of us gaped large pits filled with bones. As soon as we entered the room, some of these bones animated into six humanoid skeletons and a much larger one that appeared to be that of an owlbear!
I immediately called upon the power of Pharasma to blast these monstrosities. I raised the spiral symbol of my goddess high above my head, and a silver radiance surrounded us. Three of the human skeletons crumbled into dust. I then went to assist Manius against the owlbear. The creature was powerful and was able to claw Manius, but the Hellknight survived the wound and destroyed the skeleton with his flail. Meanwhile, Kindrasius, Kaeso and Hipazia killed the last remaining skeletons.
I healed my companions’ wounds, and suddenly, Hipazia and Kaeso gestured and said that they had spotted a little creature watching us from the tunnel; but it immediately disappeared. Kindrasius checked for magic and detected an aura of evocation. Entering the tunnel, we noticed that the Light spells on our weapons dimmed, and was replaced only by the blue glow of the strange moss on the walls. Kindrasius used his magic to test the moss, but it seemed harmless.
The tunnel was narrow and soon split up in two. The men headed to our right and encountered two derros in a cave there. A fight began, and things were suddenly very hectic; I was only able to piece together all that had happened after discussing it with the others later.
Two loud blasts of sound exploded all around us, stunning Hipazia and Kaeso. I was wounded by one of them, but remained conscious. I had been at the back of the group with Hipazia. Another derro had appeared from behind and had attacked us with his magic. I rushed him, but was unable to maneuver my spear accurately in the tight tunnel. The derro stood at the entrance to a disturbing laboratory that contained three tables. On one of those lay a human corpse, to which were attached four blood-sucking stirges. Two more stirges fluttered about the room. The little pale-skinned derro cast another spell at me, and suddenly, I felt a deep vertigo and found myself unable to act. I was only vaguely aware of movement around me.
When I came to, Kaeso and Kindrasius were rushing toward me, having slain one of the derros in the other cave. Manius was chasing the other one. I pierced my assailant with my spear; the little creature shrieked in pain and fled through the laboratory and up a flight of stairs, with Kindrasius and Kaeso hot in pursuit. While I wondered whether to chase it or not, I heard a victorious shout from behind: it was Manius, who had pursued another derro into yet another corridor of this maze-like crypt and who had shot him dead with his crossbow.
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Recent rumors around Korvosa:
“King Eodred was the one who appointed Cressida Kroft to the role of field marshal. The commandant of the Sable Company, Marcus Endrin, however, does not report directly to the King or Queen, but rather to the seneschal of Castle Korvosa, Neolandus Kalepopolis. As such, the new Queen can expect total cooperation from Field Marshal Kroft, but perhaps not as much from Commandant Endrin. She can also count on support from the Lictor of the Order of the Nail – as long as the city has gold with which to pay.”
“More than just a temple to the god of cities, the Bank of Abadar also serves as the city’s main bank. The temple provides security boxes, said to be the safest in Varisia. Beneath the temple, the rumoured Golden Vaults of Abadar hold the Korvosan Mint. The clerics of Abadar work closely with the ministers of City Hall, the arbiters of the Longacre Building and the Field Marshal of the Korvosan Guard. They love their city and work from every legal angle to protect it and support its continued growth.”
“The founder of the city of Korvosa was a man called Field Marshal Jakthion Korvosa (4339-4410). Born in Cheliax as the sixth son of a wealthy but minor noble family, he quickly rose through the ranks of the army thanks to his sharp mind and skill with the sword, taking command of his own company by the time he was twenty. Despite his successes, he remained on the outs with his family, who considered military service below them. After years of military glory, the death of his mother from a wasting disease turned him for the worse, and he became known for his alcohol-fueled tirades and abuses. This led him to an early retirement, but he came out of it twelve years later to lead an expedition in charge of founding a colony in the untamed region known as Varisia. Despite his death only a few years after its inception, the entire town of Korvosa acts as a memorial for its founder and first lord magistrate.”
Moonday, Gozran 29th, 4708(continued)
The skull corridor
Kindrasius chased the fleeing derro, but Kaeso decided to stay with Hipazia and me to help us fight the stirges. One of the little flying pests tried to suck my blood, but I was able to punch it away. My friends and I killed them easily. Manius finally emerged into the room, and by then, we could hear sounds of battle from the tunnel ahead: Kindrasius seemed to be in trouble!
While Kaeso and Hipazia focused on killing the remaining stirges that were feeding on the body in the lab, Manius and I went to Kindrasius’s aid and entered a hallway that was decorated with many skulls. We realized that he had fought, and killed, the fleeing derro at the end of the hall, but that he had triggered some kind of trap that had shot rays of frost at him. What’s more, three monstrous beings that looked like skeletal snakes with human skulls had slithered out of small alcoves in the walls. Kindrasius, who was badly wounded, took refuge in a room at the end of the hall. Manius engaged the creatures in combat, striking hard with his flail, but also suffering several bites. Thankfully, he did not succumb to the paralytic poison of these skeletal snakes, which were called Necrophidiuses by Hipazia, who is very knowledgeable about all kinds of monsters. These creatures were often created by evil magicians to guard their lairs; it seemed that Rolth was quite adept at creating such guardians, in addition to undead and golems, as we later learned.
The Necrophidiuses swayed in a hypnotic dance, but thankfully, Manius and I were able to resist its influence. I used my magic and that of my wand to close the wounds that Manius was being dealt. Behind us, we heard a deep voice bellowing: “Hmm!!! Warm food!!!” Looking back, I noticed that Kaeso had ventured into another room on the other side of the laboratory and had likely run into something dangerous. He quickly returned toward us and shook Hipazia out of a torpor she had fallen into by looking at the Necrophidiuses’ dance.
Soon after, Kindrasius emerged from the room at the end of the hall and helped Manius and me finish off the skeletal snakes. He had used his own wand of healing to close his wounds. Kaeso told us that he’d found an Otyugh in the cave beyond the lab, and Kindrasius reported that he’d found another lab, with some sort of zombie groaning and making noise on the other side of a barred door.
Body parts
We headed toward the Otyugh’s lair first. It was a damp, smelly cave filled with mud. A portion of the ground was more solid, forming a sort of peninsula amidst the mud. At its edge were heaped various disgusting body parts: likely some leftovers from Rolth’s despicable experiments.
With a hungry moan, the massive Otyugh emerged from the mud and attacked us with its tentacles. It had already been wounded by one of Kaeso’s arrows, and it received many more wounds from Manius’s flail, my spear, Kaeso’s arrows and Hipazia’s magic. Kindrasius, unfortunately, was caught by one of the abomination’s tentacles and could not fight back. Manius was also struck and bitten, but was able to avoid being captured. Finally, Hipazia was the one who struck the killing blow on the monster with her wand of Magic Missiles.
I healed Kindrasius and Manius: there was always a danger of contracting filth fever when being in contact with sewer beasts like this Otyugh, but I felt confident that their wounds had been well-treated and would not get infected. Besides, both men were very resilient. Then, while the others left to explore the lab with the stirges, Kindrasius and I remained in the cave to catch our breath while his Unseen Servant searched the place. The little creature did not find anything of interest, even within the mud pool, but I noticed something quite disturbing: amidst the body parts were the freshly cut hips and legs of a man with Shoanti tattoos. I pointed this out to Kindrasius, and we shared a disgusted look: they were Gaekhen’s legs… I understood the pain and anger that Kindrasius felt at seeing one of his blood-brothers being so desecrated by Rolth; he vowed to make the foul necromancer pay for this.
We brought the legs to the stirge lab and left them there for now. The others hadn’t found anything special. The body on the table was that of a recently killed man who was very thin and dirty; perhaps an “empty”, these vagrants who live in Korvosa’s poorest districts.
You go in pit
Next, we went to the room where Kindrasius had fled from the Necrophidiuses earlier. It was an alchemy laboratory, but it looked like there had been some recent turmoil there: one of the tables had been damaged and hastily repaired, and one of the cauldrons had been upended, some of the foul brew it had contained still spilled on the floor and only partly mopped clean. Of more immediate interest was the barricaded door at the far end, from behind which we heard some moaning and shuffling noises.
We prepared ourselves for a difficult fight. I stood watch at the entrance of a tunnel that led deeper into the underground complex; Manius removed the crates in front of the door, as well as the boards that had been nailed over it. When he finished this task, the door opened suddenly and revealed a disgusting creature beyond. As we had feared, this was another one of Rolth’s constructs, a vaguely man-shaped monstrosity consisting of various human, humanoid and animal rotting body parts stitched together. With an inarticulate groan, it shambled toward Manius. The creature and the hellknight clumsily tried to hit each other, but neither succeeded in this cramped space. Kindrasius was able to shoot an arrow into the creature’s throat, and then Manius finally finished it off with a mighty blow.
As the monster collapsed to the ground, we noticed that it had been wielding a tattooed arm in one of its paws: yet another part of poor Gaekhen’s body… The room beyond was a pantry that had been thoroughly destroyed. Since it contained nothing of interest, we continued deeper in the twisting tunnels that were still covered by this strange, dimly glowing blue moss.
The tunnel split several ways, but Manius gestured to the right: he had heard something. We followed him into a cave with three large pits. From these pits came soft sobs and moans: prisoners were kept there! But standing watch over them was a disgusting creature, bigger than Manius and clearly not human. Its head was monstrously deformed, and although it carried no weapons, its fists looked hard as rocks. Hipazia would later explain that the creature was an ogrekin… part man, part ogre.
Although it seemed hostile, the men were able to calm it down and talk to it. It spoke in a deep voice that hinted at a limited intellect. “Daddy happy so many new people in pit!” he exclaimed with a chuckle. “You put weapons down and go in pit!”
We ignored his request and asked him questions about this daddy, quickly learning that he meant Rolth. I shuddered at the obvious implication: that Rolth had copulated with an ogress. That was too foul to contemplate. Could he really be so depraved? Or had he instead raised the half-ogre from infancy, or perhaps even created it by magic?
The brute kept insisting that we go in the pits, but we kept refusing. It then said it would “make us go down in them”. Manius, of course, was not intimidated, and said he would be the one casting the ogrekin in there. The monster chuckled, thinking they were about to play a game, but suddenly, Manius struck him with his flail. It was a tremendous blow, which killed our enemy in an instant. The creature never even realized what had happened before toppling down into one of the pits it had been guarding.
Thankfully, none of the people beneath had been hit by its fall. We helped those poor wretches out of the pits: there were six of them, human men and women who seemed malnourished, dirty, scared and, in some cases, wounded. They told us that they’d been captured and kept here by Rolth, the ogrekin named “Cabbagehead” and the derros. Some of them had already disappeared, most likely used in foul experiments of necromancy. Kindrasius used his magic to clean them up, and we gave them what little food and water we had with us before escorting them out of the crypt. I gave them directions to the Grand Cathedral of Pharasma, where they would be taken care of. After thanking us, they hurried away from Rolth’s lair.
Hipazia’s vision
We returned to the tunnels near the “prison” and continued our exploration. Kaeso ventured into a narrow tunnel with Kindrasius’s Unseen Servant lighting his way with a torch. The young man soon returned and reported that this way led to a sewer tunnel.
We went a different way and came upon another laboratory beyond a door. Once again, we beheld some of Rolth’s work, again in the form of a fleshy construct made of different body parts. While not as foul-smelling or ugly as the Carrion Golem we had fought in the pantry, this one seemed a lot more muscular and dangerous. We approached it carefully, worried that it would animate and attack us.
Fortunately, it did not. However, we were suddenly ambushed by two more derros. Another blast of sound erupted around us, stunning Kaeso and Kindrasius, and then one of the derros shot me with its crossbow, almost killing me! Only my breastplate prevented the bolt from piercing my heart!
The other derro was flying near the ceiling and was wearing a dark robe adorned with designs of undead creatures. It was clearly a necromancer of some sort, and he summoned a skeleton and an undead wolf to attack us. He also used his own deadly spells and items to paralyze Kindrasius and to drive Hipazia blind! Poor Hipazia, who’d had a vision of this fight in the Harrow reading that Zellara had given us on our first meeting together… She had seen everything go dark, but hadn’t known until now it would be because her own eyes would cease to function!
Nevertheless, she could still use some of her magic to be helpful, and she enlarged Manius, who went to attack the necromancer derro once the skeleton and zombie were destroyed. However, the foul little creature was protected by potent spells, and avoided most of the Hellknight’s attacks. Meanwhile, Kaeso and I were fighting the other derro, but the little bugger was very agile and kept dodging our blows. After taking a few wounds from him, I was able to skewer him with my spear. Served him right!
I then used my magic to heal the wounds of my companions. Some of us were badly wounded, even the nigh-unstoppable Manius. Fortunately, Kindrasius finally emerged from the necromantic paralysis and used his peculiar magic to bolster our attacks. I did the same by placing Pharasma’s blessing on my friends.
The derro necromancer was a powerful foe with many dangerous spells at his disposal, but thankfully, my friends were able to disrupt several of them. I would’ve liked to help them, but they were fighting in a narrow hallway, and I had no room to join them, especially not since Manius was the size of a giant. Eventually, the derro seemed to run out of spells and tried to paralyze Kindrasius and Kaeso with his wand, but both men resisted. Cursing in a strange language we didn’t understand, the necromancer tried to fly away, but in vain: Kindrasius struck him a fatal blow with his Shoanti Earthbreaker.
I hurried to Hipazia’s side. The poor woman was visibly shaken, knowing that the spell she had been hit with had robbed her of her sight, permanently. I comforted her and assured her that I would ask Bishop Keppira to use her magic to cure this affliction.
We then heard Kindrasius mutter a foul curse as he looked at the flesh golem (which had mercifully remained still on its table the entire fight).
One of the elements used to build this monstrous creature was Gaekhen’s head…
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“The town of Abken, to the north, is one of Korvosa’s most unruly domains. Perhaps it’s because it’s so close to the chaotic city of Kaer Maga. Some say that the only reason the city hasn’t been ground under the might of our army is because they periodically send us shipment of their tasty food. But of course, they have other exports as well, of the illegal kind: cabble-weed, flayleaf and other drugs.”
“Those damned druids are always causing trouble. When they’re not sabotaging ships at the docks, they’re doing demonstrations in front of our most renowned inn, the Posh and Turtle in North Point. They want the owner, the retired wizard Thaviun Rigulus, to free Old Tom, the giant turtle that he keeps in a cave under the inn. Damned tree-huggers! You know, I heard they were hired by a rival innkeeper from Magnimar, who wanted to get revenge on Thaviun for claiming that the Posh and Turtle was the best inn in Varisia!”
“I know a guy whose brother works at Castle Korvosa. It seems that old King Eodred has come back from the dead, and that his ghost is now the true ruler of Korvosa. Queen Ileosa is just the public face who relays his commands to the rest of the city!”
Moonday, Gozran 29th, 4708(continued)
The plot thickens
Kindrasius grimly un-stitched Gaekhen’s head from the rest of the golem’s body and placed it in a bag. We then searched the rest of the complex. We found two bedrooms, one of which seemed to belong to Rolth, the other to the derro necromancer, who was apparently called “Vreeg”, a name we found inside the cover of several of his books. Rolth’s room contained a large four-poster bed that had surely once been beautiful, but which was now utterly filthy. Strangely enough, while searching it, we found some discarded female undergarments in there. Manius also noticed the footprints of a tall, thin woman mixed with those that seemed to belong to Rolth and to the derros. What woman in her right mind would go to bed with someone as disgusting (physically and morally) as a necromancer?
We also found a chest that contained over a thousand gold sails and some black onyx, a common spell component used in the creation of undead…
Vreeg’s room was more disturbing than Rolth’s. On the bed, we found the corpse of a beautiful young Halfling woman. As we approached, the poor little thing, which was dressed in very revealing clothes, stood up clumsily and approached Manius, seemingly to perform sexual favors for him. We were all completely disgusted by this. But to make things even worse, on a bench, we found the last missing parts of Gaekhen’s body: his torso, with one arm still attached, was twitching madly, grasping at the empty air. It was clear that it was animated by some sort of unholy power, just like the Halfling zombie. Calling upon our power over positive energy, Hipazia and I put those poor remains of living beings out of their misery. The only item of value in the room was a large tome that seemed to be Vreeg’s spellbook. Unfortunately, Hipazia could not make any use of it at the moment, as she was still blind.
We also found another room that appeared to be some kind of library. Most of the tomes dealt with necromancy, golem crafting, humanoid anatomy and diseases. In addition to two magical scrolls, we found three letters that featured an elegant handwriting, but which had been stained as if they had been handled by someone with very dirty hands. We read them and immediately realized that they contained a wealth of information about Rolth and his allies… None of the letters had a date, and they were only signed by the same mysterious rune, which made them frustratingly difficult to put in context. But still, their content seemed ominously important.
First letter from Rolth’s library
Good day, Rolth.
We are starting to work even more closely with Lady Andaisin’s followers. They obey her utterly, and indeed she is as ruthless as she is efficient. She is exactly the person that we needed for an operation of this magnitude. I’ve been analyzing the abilities that she’s displayed so far, and there are things I can’t quite comprehend yet. She is blessed with an extraordinary amount of power. I’ve seen her kill a subject with the mere touch of a hand. What’s more, she seems to be a direct focus of attention from her goddess. I observe this with a mixture of fascination and caution.
Things are working apace, for the most part. The production of the boxes is proceeding according to plan. However, we will need more supplies from Jolistina. I thought I made that clear to her during her last visit, but apparently the message did not get through. I would be most grateful if you could ensure that your underling shows a tad more discipline in the future.
There was a small incident that took place recently, which might prove problematic later on. Two miscreants somehow managed to infiltrate our facilities in Old Korvosa and stole one of the boxes. I believe they had already run into that effeminate elven fellow who had brought a box just a few days earlier. It seems that this elf is now dead at their hands.
After some deliberation, we decided to strike back decisively against those thieves. We contracted the services of a powerful Hellknight. He managed to slay one of the thieves, but alas, the other one was able to flee through the Vaults. I can only hope that our other agents will be able to catch him soon before word of our operations gets out.
(signed with a strange rune)
Second letter from Rolth’s library
Good day, Rolth.
It seems there have been some unfortunate complications with our suppliers in Magnimar. Cinnabar has returned yesterday to inform us that Ironbriar is dead, his operation in shambles. Apparently, some yokels from the nearby village of Sandpoint were able to track down his men to their place of worship and put them all to the sword. Now, even his charming muse has disappeared, and it seems as though we shan’t be able to count on the Brotherhood of the Seven for the further stages of our operations.
No matter. With the latest samples that Cinnabar brought us, I will surely be able to finish my experiments. Lady Andaisin has been most pleased with my progress so far. As much as she tries to deny it, though, I can see that she is worried about the upcoming ritual. It is obvious that if the fiend escapes its bonds, the repercussions will be most dire.
Our sponsor has also introduced us to two of your former colleagues from the Acadamae. I am sure you are familiar with their work, so you certainly know that their contribution will be instrumental in the success of the summoning. I trust you will brush up on your conjuration incantations and study the Tome diligently. I can assure you that neither they, nor Lady Andaisin, will tolerate failure. Not this time.
(signed with a strange rune)
Third letter from Rolth’s library
Good day, Rolth.
It’s been three days since the arrival of Conte Tiriac’s envoy, an alchemist named Ramoska Arkminos. I’ve had some interesting discussions with the creature, as you will surely have once you meet him. He has accumulated much lore over his several centuries of existence; I must regretfully admit that it is impossible for living men such as you and me to compete with the likes of him.
And yet, there is something that seems a bit odd about him. I wonder how much we can trust this creature. Yesterday, when I entered his new laboratory, he hurried to hide his notes so I would not look at them. I wonder if perhaps he has some secret agenda. Of course, since our roles are so similar, I’ve noticed that he harbors some resentment toward me. Perhaps he sees me as an inferior since I am still alive, and yet the Lady holds me in higher regards than he. Or perhaps he just resents being forced away from his experiments in Varno. Be warned, though, that he is also a wizard of some skill. He should not be underestimated.
The Leukodaemon’s state is stable. We can see that it is still alive for now, yet it’s still inescapably bound within the vat. The process is ongoing. Our allies are most skilled in those tasks, again under the infallible supervision of Lady Andaisin. She has informed me that our sponsor has vouched for the delivery of three more containers before the end of the week.
(signed with a strange rune)
We were very worried by what these letters implied. I immediately recognized the name of Ironbriar from Magnimar. Indeed, but a few months ago, I had been in Magnimar, investigating my brother’s death. I had been informed that a cult of killers had been recently exterminated by a group of adventurers from Sandpoint. The cultists had been worshippers of Norgorber, the god of murder, and their leader had been, to everyone’s surprise, a renowned city judge named Justice Ironbriar. And somehow, my brother Aldern had been linked to these horrible men. I had known that Aldern had some evil within him, but to join forces with such a despicable group of people! I hadn’t thought he was capable of that.
But ultimately, his fate had been even worse. He had become a foul undead, and a mass-murdering psychopath. He had contaminated many innocent people of the region of Sandpoint, that little town on the coast north of Magnimar, with ghoul fever. Had it not been for those four brave heroes who had also stopped Ironbriar, Aldern might have created his own undead army. I hadn’t had the chance to meet the adventurers, but I knew their names: Navan Attaway, the priest of Desna; his friend Ruh, a gnome magician; Kerista Vigandir, a sergeant of the guard in Sandpoint, and her lover Drithnar, a ranger. The four brave souls had followed Aldern’s tracks to the bowels of our family’s haunted manor and had put an end to his mad schemes. Then, among his belongings, they had found a letter that had shed some light on his link to Ironbriar’s cult in Magnimar. This, I had heard from Sandpoint’s mayor and sheriff when I had visited the town.
I related this information to my companions, and we discussed the rest of the letters’ context. There were so many names mentioned there, but we had never heard about most of them before. Hipazia recognized the name of Conte Tiriac: he was a nobleman from Ustalav who ruled over a county called Varno. She had also heard about Leukodaemons before; they were very powerful demon-like creatures.
It all seemed quite overwhelming. It was clear that something terrible was brewing somewhere in Korvosa, and that perhaps just as had been the case in Magnimar, our city would need the help of heroes like Navan and his group. But unfortunately, I had no idea where these brave adventurers were at the moment; when I had visited Sandpoint earlier this year, the locals had told me that they had headed toward a place called Fort Rannick in the Wyvern Mountains.
Would Korvosa survive this menace without them? After all, we had some powerful people here as well, the wizards of the Acadamae, the Korvosan Guard, the clerics of the various churches and even our own hero, Blackjack. But I wondered if those separate entities would ever be able to work together and show a united front against such a menace.
I looked around at my companions. Perhaps we were not so different from Navan, Kerista and their friends? Manius was very strong, Hipazia and I knew some magic, and Kindrasius and Kaeso were clever and full of tricks. But would that be enough? It didn’t seem to me that we really qualified as “heroes”. I doubted we could even dream of killing something as dangerous-sounding as a ‘Leukodaemon’…
While we were discussing the people mentioned in the letters, Manius also pointed out that he remembered hearing a report about an ‘effeminate elf’ being chased by a roguish-looking bearded human in Old Korvosa last summer. Kaeso questioned him about the Hellknight mentioned in the letters, but Manius adamantly denied knowing about such a thing.
We also wondered what were those “boxes” that were mentioned. Were they the boxes of weapons that Devargo Barvasi had tried to sell to the Arkonas, but which had been taken by Wererats?
We finished our search of the complex and found several more secret passages. We did not, however, find Rolth himself. Perhaps he had heard the sounds of battle and had fled the area? I sensed that Kindrasius was disappointed at having missed a chance to exact vengeance upon this hated foe… But there might yet be a chance for that in the future…
Gaekhen’s return
We left the Dead Warrens and returned to the Grand Cathedral of Pharasma with the bodies of Gaekhen and the Halfling. We saw that the people we had liberated were being cared for by my fellow priests. My friend Marixa escorted us quietly to the room where Thousand Bones was resting. The old man looked better than earlier, and his eyes were eager with expectation when he saw us enter. Bishop Keppira and Ahalak were also present.
Kindrasius grimly told Thousand Bones what had happened, and he presented the remains of Gaekhen. The Shoanti’s eyes widened in shock at the sacrilegious treatment that Gaekhen’s corpse had suffered. Nevertheless, Thousand Bones thanked us all for rendering this service, and said that through our actions, Gaekhen’s soul would be able to be sent to the afterlife to be with his ancestors. The old shaman said that the ritual would take place at the Kallow Mounds, a sacred place near their ancestral home in the Cinderlands. Indeed, he felt that he and his remaining clansmen had overstayed their welcome. There was too much tension in Korvosa toward the Shoanti, and Queen Ileosa was clearly not interested in peace talks.
Kindrasius offered to come with him, but we could see that he was torn between returning to his homeland that he still didn’t remember, or staying in Korvosa where he had made some friends, and where he had the children to watch over. He also felt like he would be needed here against the likes of Rolth. Thousand Bones nodded sagely and told him that he would know in his heart when the time was right to travel back to his people’s land. But the time hadn’t come yet.
Meanwhile, Marixa healed our wounds, and Bishop Keppira cured Hipazia of her blindness.
The show
It was late in the afternoon by then, and my companions and I left Gray District and headed toward Jeggare Circle, in North Point, not far from Longacre Building. We’d had a difficult day, but we knew we couldn’t miss the event that was scheduled at sunset: the execution of King Eodred’s so-called murderer.
A huge crowd was in attendance: many Korvosans were clearly eager to see someone pay for the death of their king. Some stands were reserved for nobles and their retinue, so Hipazia and I went there with our companions. Of course, Manius and Kindrasius drew some surprised, curious and, in some cases, outraged glares, but we didn’t care.
There were many other nobles around us, such as Glorio Arkona (very friendly as usual) and his sister Meliya (very cold as usual), the Fordyce family (who looked down their noses at us), as well as the “three buddies”: Hipazia’s brother Cyril and his friends Amin Jalento and Darius Carowyn.
“Oliphant Ears! Get your Oliphant Ears! Only nine silver shields!” cried a food vendor as he made his way through the crowd. I found it so odd of our culture that a traumatic event like a public execution was treated like any other form of entertainment. But to most people, it was, and the street vendors were taking advantage of it. Of course, my friends and I hadn’t eaten all day, so we gestured to the man and bought some Maxmax, Jigsaw Fin Mahktasha and Oliphant Ears to fill our empty stomachs while we waited for the “show” to begin.
Yet when I reached for my coin purse, Darius Carowyn hastily paid the vendor for my food. I was surprised by this move and offered him to share my Oliphant Ear. We stood side by side as we waited, exchanging only a few brief and clumsy sentences. Darius had a handsome, if somewhat boyish, face and smooth blond hair. He was about my height; in fact, he appeared quite small compared to his friends Amin and Cyril, to say nothing of much larger men like Manius and Kindrasius. It was clear that we were both very uncomfortable in this situation, and I was surprised that he had chosen the execution of Trinia Sabor, of all events, to make advances. But still, it was a nice gesture, and I tried to remain polite toward him, even though I felt sick with fear, worried that our friend Trinia had really been captured after we’d left her.
Kindrasius suspected that there was some trick planned by the queen, and he left us to move closer to the executioner’s platform. I watched him make his way through the crowd, and I also spotted in there Manius’s father, as well as Salvator Scream and his strange “admirer” Laori Vaus. There was a section of the stage that seemed reserved for Queen Ileosa. Although our radiant monarch was fashionably late, I noticed Seneschal Neolandus Kalepopolis and Commandant Marcus Endrin engaged in a deep conversation as they waited for the queen. The Commandant seemed to be telling something important and worrisome to the Seneschal. I noticed that all around, some Sable Company Marines in ornate ceremonial gear were providing security.
Finally, Queen Ileosa made her grand entrance. She looked incredible: she wore a magnificent dress of green and white silk that must surely cost several thousand gold pieces. It was clear that she meant to look her finest on this day when her husband was finally “avenged”. With her came, of course, Sabina Merrin, as well as a small army of servants.
The crowd got even louder when the queen arrived: some were cheering for her, some were booing her. It was clear that opinions were very divided in the city regarding our young ruler. Ignoring the commoners, Queen Ileosa gestured, and a loud drum beat resounded, signalling that the execution was about to begin.
Off with her head!
A hush fell over the crowd for a few moments, but a new cacophony erupted when a group of Korvosan Guards brought forth a small woman bound in chains. Her head was covered by a black hood, but she seemed about the right size for Trinia… This was worrying.
The crowd roared in anger toward the prisoner, and many people threw rotten vegetables at her. The woman stumbled and was roughly brought back to her feet by the guards. They pushed her forward and up the stairs leading to the wooden platform where the executioner, a muscular man with a black hood and wicked-looking axe, waited for her. Once she was in front of him, the guards removed the woman’s hood.
Short blond hair…
Big frightened eyes…
This really looked like Trinia…
The poor thing was sobbing as she cast fearful looks at the angry crowd.
The guards forced Trinia to her knees, facing the executioner’s block, and Queen Ileosa stood up to address the crowd:
“Fellow Korvosans! You have suffered greatly these past few weeks. Homes have burned, family members have died, fortunes have been lost. I feel your suffering, for not only have I lost a beloved husband, but with each day of riot, each burning home, each act of anarchy, my heart bleeds a little more. This has been a trying time for us, yet the torment is at an end. Before you is the face of your anguish and pain. Do not be deceived by this murderer’s timid nature—she is a black-hearted assassin, a seductress and sinner, a viper amidst us all. I offer you all her death as a salve against the hatred and hurt you have suffered.
Her death will not rebuild Korvosa, nor will it bring back the king, yet tomorrow will be a new dawn—a dawn over a city ready to rise from the edge of anarchy to become stronger than ever before!
And so, without further delay, let us usher in this new dawn with justice! OFF WITH HER HEAD!”
At last the crowd was silent. The executioner raised his axe high in the air… He remained motionless for a moment… And then he lowered his weapon.
“Yes indeed, my queen!” he said. A murmur of surprise went through the crowd. Queen Ileosa seemed stunned that a commoner had dared to address her, especially at this crucial moment. But the executioner continued: “Let us usher in justice, but let that be justice for Korvosa, not this shambles you petulantly call a monarchy!”
As he spoke, the man shrank in size, and his clothes changed from those of an executioner to a black leather armor, black mask, black cloak…
The murmur in the crowd grew louder, as recognition dawned upon the spectators.
“By the gods! It’s Blackjack!” exclaimed a few people.
“Long live Korvosa!” shouted Blackjack. “Down with the Queen!”
And with that, he threw something to the ground, and he was immediately surrounded by a thick cloud of smoke.
Pandemonium erupted amidst the crowd gathered at Jeggare Circle. Many people were furious at having just been robbed of Trinia's killing at the last moment. Others cheered at Blackjack's appearance and were uplifted by his defiant speech against the queen's rule. Korvosans of all casts, ages and genders began scuffling with each other. Meanwhile, several guards and marines rushed toward the fog cloud, as Sabina, Commandant Endrin and several other officers barked orders. A number of the guards stopped suddenly and merely stared at the fog cloud, as if they were enthralled by some sort of magic. The other guards entered the fog cloud, but when it dispersed some moments later, we saw that their best efforts hadn't prevented the inevitable reality: Blackjack and Trinia were both gone!
Even though some of the nobles around me were shocked by what had just happened, I felt an immense sense of relief that Trinia had been saved from her unjust execution, by the dashing hero Blackjack no less! I looked around and saw that my companions were similarly satisfied. The Fordyce family, of course, were among those who were furious at this turn of events.
"This is an outrage!" shrieked lady Luciara, Jeffrid's mother. "Someone has to pay for the death of King Eodred! If not this woman, then who? Who? WHO?!!!?!"
"Maybe you should volunteer yourself," grumbled Kaeso under his breath.
In stark contrast, the Arkonas weren't upset at all by the recent development. Glorio smirked mischievously, and Meliya's face remained a blank mask devoid of any emotion.
The queen herself seemed livid with rage. Had her moment of vengeance been robbed? Or had Blackjack dismantled an elaborate plot of hers? She stood up and gestured to Sabina and her servants to follow her, before leaving the premises.
It seemed that it would take some time for the guards to calm down the crowd. There was only slightly less chaos amidst the nobles. We pushed our way out of the area, which wasn't too difficult thanks mainly to Manius's and my own strength, and then we all made our way together toward the Leroung estate: Hipazia, her brother and his two friends, Kaeso and his brother, Manius, and me. As we walked, Cyril, Darius and Amin enthusiastically discussed the event; it was clear that they all admired Blackjack's audacity. The daring move he had just pulled surely sounded like something right out of their games of high adventure. In that way, the three friends were quite unlike regular Korvosans, who liked nothing more than their daily routine, a strict hierarchy, and to see anyone who was weak, foolish or simply unconventional be punished.
Of course, we spent the majority of the evening at Leroung manor discussing the botched execution and its implication with Hipazia's father, aunt and sister, who had missed the event. Some time later, Kindrasius came to join us. He seemed very excited and told us what he had witnessed from his spot in the crowd. He had used his magic to scan Trinia and had sensed no magic on her, not even where he should've felt his own arcane mark that he had placed on her hand a few days ago. What's more, he had made eye contact with Trinia at one point, and she hadn't seemed to recognize him. From this, he triumphantly concluded that this was not the same Trinia that we had saved!
But who was it, then? Hipazia suggested that one of the Trinia’s might be a simulacrum. Perhaps the queen had wanted to use her as a decoy from her own sinister plots of regicide. Hipazia also wondered if perhaps Esia had been linked to this: perhaps the original version of Esia was in fact another servant at Castle Korvosa. For some reason, Ileosa's plans to frame her might have failed, so she instead used Trinia.
Kindrasius also told us that he had witnessed a priest of Sarenrae using his magic to help Blackjack by entrancing the guards that went to apprehend him. This priest was a half-orc, half-Shoanti named Riktos Sunblade, someone who didn't seem to like the queen or the Hellknights very much. Kaeso informed us that Riktos was also the one who had brought his sister Alika (and the magical doll, Lixa) back to Leroung Manor during the riots a few weeks ago.
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Recent rumors around Korvosa:
"The only guild allowed by law in Korvosa is the Thieves’ Guild. As you can imagine, this causes legitimate workers no end of frustration and anger. This guild is called the Cerulean Society, and offers “protection” to merchant organizations, and even to noble houses and temples. Everybody has to pay them or suffer the consequences. They use a complex and mysterious system to determine who owes how much: for example, they charge a fortune to the impoverished noble house of Peltherianon, but they only ask a few coins from House Jeggare, which is already the richest family in the city. Seems a bit odd, wouldn’t you say?"
"The towns around the Hook Mountain region to the northwest have all been overrun by a huge army of man-eating trolls. Everybody’s dead!!!"
"The Green Market used to be a great place to buy food, clothing, jewellery and commodities in the south part of the city. It was run with great success by the Foxglove family for several decades. A young lass named Zeeva Foxglove inherited it a few years ago when her uncle Nelkren was assassinated in dubious circumstances. She did a great job keeping the market profitable; it’s a shame it burned down during the riots following King Eodred’s death."
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Here are the characters at level 4:
Kindrasius Edelbark (aka: Bagas-Tawoga) (CN Male Shoanti Ranger/Bard, Level 2/2) – Worships Pharasma
Str: 14 Dex: 14 Con: 13 Int: 13 Wis: 8 Cha: 18
AC: 16 HP: 36 Fortitude: +4 Reflex: +8 Will: +2
Initiative: +2 Speed: 30’
Melee attacks: Earthbreaker +5 (2d6+3, x3)
Ranged attacks: Masterwork longbow +7 (1d8+2, x3)
Height: 6’4”. Weight: 160 lbs, Age: 24, Hair: Black, Eyes: Green.
This tall and thin man has long black hair and is dressed in dark, patched-up studded leather armor. He wears a black tricorn hat and a black cloak with a hood.
Feats: Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Weapon focus: longbow, Rapid Shot.
Traits: Magical Talent, Orphaned.
Skills: Acrobatics 8, Bluff 8, Climb 5, Diplomacy 13, Knowledge: Arcana 9, Knowledge: History 6, Knowledge: Local 7, Knowledge: Religion 6, Linguistics 5, Perception 6, Perform: Dance 9, Perform: Oratory 13, Sense Motive 13, Spellcraft 7, Stealth 8, Survival 3, Swim 5, Use magical device 8.
Favored enemies: Undead +2.
Languages: Common, Shoanti, Varisian, Draconic.
Main equipment: Masterwork longbow [+2 str], Masterwork chainshirt, Earthbreaker, 10 arrows +1, Wand of Cure Light wounds (45 charges).
= = = =
Kaeso (CG Male Human (Chelaxian/Varisian mix) Rogue, Level 4) – Worships Cayden Cailean
Str: 12 Dex: 18 Con: 12 Int: 15 Wis: 11 Cha: 17
AC: 20 HP: 30 Fortitude: +2 Reflex: +8 Will: +1
Initiative: +8 Speed: 30’
Melee attacks: Rapier +7 (1d6+1, 18-20)
Ranged attacks: Shortbow +7 (1d6, x3)
Height: 5’9”. Weight: 168 lbs. Age: 19, Hair: Auburn, Eyes: Black.
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Improved Initiative, Dodge, Mobility.
Rogue talents: Surprise attack.
Traits: Framed (Family Honor), Fast Talker.
Skills: Acrobatics 11, Appraise 6, Bluff 11, Climb 5, Diplomacy 8, Disable Device 11, Disguise 9, Escape Artist 10, Intimidate 10, Knowledge: Dungeoneering 6, Knowledge: Local 6, Perception: 7, Perform: Dance 8, Sense Motive 7, Sleight of Hand 11, Stealth 12, Swim 5, Use Magical Device 7.
Languages: Common, Shoanti, Varisian, Sylvan.
Main equipment: Mithral chain shirt, Rapier, Shortbow, Ring of protection +1.
= = = =
Hipazia Leroung (LG Female Chelaxian Wizard, Level 4) – Worships Irori
Str: 8 Dex: 14 Con: 10 Int: 18 Wis: 16 Cha: 16
AC: 12 HP: 22 Fortitude: +2 Reflex: +4 Will: +8
Initiative: +4 Speed: 30’
Melee attacks: Masterwork Quarterstaff +2 (1d6-1, x2)
Ranged attacks: Masterwork Light Crossbow +5 (1d8, 19-20)
Height: 5’9”. Weight: 137 lbs. Age: 25, Hair: Blonde, Eyes: Brown.
Favored school: Divination
Prohibited schools: Illusion, Necromancy.
Bonded Item: quarterstaff.
Feats: Scribe Scroll, Combat Casting, Toughness, Spell Focus: Evocation.
Traits: Framed (Dropout), Mathematical Prodigy.
Skills: Appraise 10, Diplomacy 6, Intimidate 4, Knowledge: Arcana 8, Knowledge: Dungeoneering 8, Knowledge: Engineering 9, Knowledge: Geography 8, Knowledge: History 8, Knowledge: Local 8, Knowledge: Nature 8, Knowledge: Nobility 8, Knowledge: Planes 8, Knowledge: Religion 8, Linguistics 8, Perception 7, Sense Motive 7, Spellcraft 13.
Languages: Common, Varisian, Celestial, Infernal, Draconic, Shoanti.
Main equipment: Quarterstaff (bonded item), Spellbook, Wand of Magic Missile (13 charges), Cloak of Resistance +1, Wand of Ghoul Touch (40 charges), Wand of Detect Secret Doors (50 charges).
= = = =
Manius Alazario (LN Male Chelaxian Fighter, Level 4) – Worships Abadar
Str: 20 Dex: 15 Con: 18 Int: 14 Wis: 9 Cha: 10
AC: 18 HP: 50 Fortitude: +8 Reflex: +4 Will: 0
Initiative: +8 Speed: 20’
Melee attacks: Masterwork Heavy Flail +9 (1d10+10, 19-20)
Height: 6’2”. Weight: 250 lbs, Age: 22, Hair: Black, Eyes: Brown.
Feats: Power Attack, Cleave, Intimidating Prowess, Great Cleave, Nimble Moves, Improved Initiative.
Traits: Unhappy Childhood (Tortured), Reactionary.
Skills: Acrobatics 1, Climb 7, Handle Animal 4, Intimidate 12, Knowledge: Dungeoneering 6, Knowledge: Engineering 6, Knowledge: Local 4, Perception 3, Ride 8, Survival 3, Swim 5.
Languages: Common, Infernal, Varisian.
Main equipment: Masterwork Breastplate, Masterwork Heavy Flail, Ring of Feather Falling.
= = = =
Zeeva Foxglove (NG Female Chelaxian Cleric, Level 4) – Worships Pharasma
Str: 18 Dex: 14 Con: 15 Int: 11 Wis: 18 Cha: 15
AC: 18 HP: 36 Fortitude: +6 Reflex: +3 Will: +8
Initiative: +2 Speed: 20’
Melee attacks: +1 Longspear +7 (1d8+10, x3)
Ranged attacks: Light Crossbow +5 (1d8, 19-20)
Domains: Healing, Repose.
Height: 5’6”. Weight: 130 lbs, Age: 25, Hair: Black, Eyes: Brown, Date of birth: Abadius 25th, 4683.
This attractive woman has pale skin and long jet-black hair. It is clear that she is of noble birth from the elegance of her gestures and speech. It is also obvious that she lived some traumatic events in her past, judging by the haunted look that often comes over her sad, dark eyes.
Feats: Selective Channeling, Extra Channeling, Power Attack.
Traits: Love Lost (orphaned), Rich Parents.
Skills: Appraise 4, Diplomacy 6, Heal 10, Knowledge: Nobility 4, Knowledge: Religion 7, Profession: Merchant 10, Sense Motive 9, Spellcraft 6.
Languages: Common.
Main equipment: Breastplate, Longspear +1, Silver Morningstar, Light Crossbow, Wand of Cure Light Wounds (44 charges).
Moonday, Gozran 29th, 4708(continued)
The second Harrow reading
While we were talking about the day’s events, Kaeso, who we thought had disappeared to go take care of some servant’s duties, returned to fetch us. He looked more serious than usual.
“Lady Hipazia, esteemed friends, someone wants to talk to you,” he said.
“At this late hour?” asked Hipazia. “And who might this be?”
“Zellara…” replied Kaeso.
We all shared a perplexed look. We hadn’t had any dealings with the ghostly Varisian woman in the past few weeks, not since Gaedren Lamm’s death. The only exception was Kindrasius, who had confided in me and told me that sometimes, he felt that he heard her voice inside his head, among many others. Poor Kindrasius.
We all moved to a quiet living room and closed the door. It was very late, most people in the manor had gone to bed already, but we didn’t want to take the chance of any of them witnessing our encounter with the undead fortune-teller. Once we were all seated, Kaeso took out the Harrow deck and delicately placed in on a table between us. Soon, the cards begun to float in the air and Zellara appeared. It was quite incredible: she looked just like the way she had on our first encounter. If we hadn’t known about her state, we would’ve sworn she was alive.
She gave us a mournful smile. “Good evening, my friends,” she said. “Kaeso has sought answers from my Harrow deck regarding something that weighs heavily on his heart, but I have caught glimpses of a dark future in all of your lives. I wish to perform another reading for you. Now that Gaedren Lamm’s influence is a thing of the past, and that the immediate repercussions of King Eodred’s death have already been felt, I am sure you would all benefit from more guidance about your present situation and your future.”
Manius, Kaeso and I sat close to her and eagerly participated in the reading. The others were more reserved. Hipazia surely felt some curiosity, as a Diviner, about Zellara’s magical abilities to get visions of events long gone and not yet passed, but she also loathed necromancy (whose study she had almost entirely avoided) and therefore she was wary of this undead. But Kindrasius was even more guarded against Zellara. He stood far away from her and from the rest of us, arms crossed in a defensive posture. He always took his turn last when the time came for us to draw cards, and he refused to touch the deck, asking us to pick the cards that he pointed at.
While I understood their hesitance, I felt quite close to Zellara already. I had been touched by her plight: the loss of her son, and her own torture and death at Lamm’s hands. This was a woman who had suffered much, and who was helping us out of a genuine desire to protect those who were still fortunate enough to be alive. It is true that Pharasma’s teachings lead us to battle the undead, but Zellara hadn’t been created by a necromancer, nor was she a twisted or malevolent spirit: she was a brave soul who was delaying her journey to the Boneyard in an attempt to aid us. What’s more, she was the first benevolent ghost I had ever encountered. To know that someone could remain as a presence here in Golarion after her death, without being twisted into an evil mockery of her former self, gave me some hope that my own parents, as well as my other relatives who had perished from the ‘Foxglove Curse’, might also still retain their soul and free will, and that some day, I might be able to encounter them.
Zellara explained to us the meaning of the nine cards we had each chosen: three for our past, three for our present and three for our future. There were themes that were recurrent to our readings: a great menace lay in store for Korvosa and its inhabitants. She spoke of a scheming woman toying with faceless women and of an important item or information we had found earlier. She made a reference to the Raktavarna that Hipazia had carried for some time and to the spirit of a dead woman that was watching over some ‘clan’ that Kaeso belonged to. The young man appeared puzzled: this didn’t ring any bell for him.
The fortune teller also had us draw one extra card each from the suit of Shields. She said that in our near future, we would need to be well-protected and that these cards would allow her to aid us in specific situations. It wasn’t clear what those situations were, but she assured us we would feel her aid once these things would come to pass. Manius received the Mountain Man, Kaeso the Desert, Hipazia the Waxworks, and I drew the Brass Dwarf. Kindrasius was the last to choose, and he gestured for me to take a card for him that turned out to be the Tangled Briar.
As had been the case in the previous reading, each of us received a fleeting vision when our card was turned over. I saw myself fighting a black-haired elven woman with a mad look in her eyes. Manius fought pale-skinned, feral-looking men in a dark alley. Kaeso was underwater, attacked by a huge fish. Hipazia told us, with a shiver, that she had seen herself battling a magician that could only be Rolth. Kindrasius reluctantly revealed that he had seen a combat against a red-furred wererat.
Zellara nodded to us in good-bye and disappeared. By then, it was very late, and we were exhausted from a very long day. Hipazia graciously offered us the hospitality of her manor for the night.
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Past: The Avalanche, the Midwife and the Big Sky.
The chaos of the riots appears in your recent past. But amidst this chaos emerged something new… You met some people that you had a strong link with; people with whom you share a blood bond? Through these people is the key to escape a prison that you’ve been kept in during some time. Perhaps a prison of the mind… where you felt trapped, unable to escape the whispering voices in your head?
Present: The Desert, the Theater and the Crows.
You have already become aware of a great menace rising against Korvosa. The crows have begun to gather, circling above their prey. You are one of the few who can protect the city against these evil birds.
Future: The Inquisitor, the Owl and the Teamster.
In your future, I see you pursuing the truth… Trying to unravel a great mystery. You will learn that your enemies follow the laws of nature itself, culling the weak from the herd in an effort to strengthen it. Meanwhile, everyone around you will be pushed further and further, like beasts of burden, past their breaking point.
Past: The Eclipse, the Beating and the Demon Lantern.
I see many hardships in your past. You were beaten from all sides, by your own father, by Gaedren and his men, during your gruelling years of training in Citadel Vraid, and even recently, as you battled horrible creatures of filth and disease like the Otyugh and the Carrion Golem. But throughout all these hardships, your power has been revealed: a strength that few men possess. Through your heroic actions, your group has been able to survive and succeed in finding the first thread of a great tapestry of lies and deceit.
Present: The Mute Hag, the Queen Mother and the Carnival.
There is a sense of unease in the city around you. Like many Korvosans, you struggle to determine what is right and what is wrong. Thankfully, there are some wise people around you: you would be well-advised to listen to their counsel. Your roots are among the common folk of Korvosa: remember that in times of hardship, they will need to be protected. There is an opportunity to forge an alliance with others who have the same goal.
Future: The Survivor, the Courtesan and the Bear.
Ah, this reading is more encouraging than the last one, Manius! You have been able to survive in times when even fate wasn’t sure you would be able to pull through. Well done! We can see this in the card of the Survivor, that was aligned against you last time, but which is now in a positive placement. I see a woman in your future. This woman is a schemer, always hiding behind a mask. Hmm… I also see her placing masks on others, trying to tame them like animals… To harness their strength and use them for her own entertainment, like trained bears in a circus. Yes, I see women… Beautiful women with pale skin, but without faces. They will serve the scheming woman. I wonder what it means…
Past: The Sickness, the Locksmith and the Lost.
I see a lot of darkness in your past. Your faraway past, so far that you may not even be aware of it. I see insanity, I see pain, anger, fear. I see a madman babbling in a language I cannot even understand. I see a brave woman fighting this madman… Preventing him from creating something hideous, but as she disrupts his efforts, something just as horrible is unleashed. I see death. This woman died. But from the afterlife… she can still interact with the real world, much like I can. How odd. This woman watches over her loved ones… Her clan. You are among that clan, Kaeso. She will ensure that you will be shielded from the horror that the madman unleashed, and which ultimately killed her. I see that you also found an object… I’m not sure what it is, but it can be instrumental in putting an end to such a horror.
Present: The Publican, the Foreign Trader and the Fiend.
I see a great threat for the people of Korvosa. I sense a malignant presence who is putting this into motion to cause them terrible harm. Yet somehow, you, Kaeso, are safe amidst this terrible storm. You are in a perfect position to fight it. At the same time, I see that your heart aches for something much simpler: an impossible love. The one you yearn for has been put out of your reach, yet there is a very unusual person who could help you get her back.
Future: The Juggler, the Carnival and the Rabbit Prince.
The Juggler here, your personal card if you remember, shows that you will be able to perform the many tasks you will attempt. But don’t get too cocky: because just like the Rabbit Prince’s sword can get broken, you too could risk it all if you act too brashly in combat. There is also another warning here. There will be a temptation for some (your mistress, perhaps?) to use magic to solve every problem. You should remind them that it’s not always possible. Some obstacles can’t be overcome with the simple, straightforward use of magic.
Past: The Wanderer, the Liar and the Inquisitor.
I see that in your past you found an object that caused a lot of trouble. It allowed someone to gain a lot of information on you, something that could be used to manipulate you. But you have also found something else that will be very beneficial to you… And to everyone around you.
Present: The Cyclone, the Tangled Briar and the Trumpet.
I see here a terrible menace, like in the readings of some of the others. It is driven by a malevolent intelligence. I see someone or a group of people fighting this menace with a great fanfare, but their motives are not what they seem. Their efforts will bring no help at all. I also see an otherworldly presence… Someone who died but who is watching over you. Hmm, perhaps this card is actually talking about me! You should pay special attention to what I am saying. <smile>
Future: The Waxworks, the Avalanche and the Idiot.
Hmm, not such a good reading here. I see again the card of the Avalanche, another warning of impending doom on a large scale. The Idiot… someone or some people will believe the lies of others, and be paralyzed into inaction by their misplaced trust. But the Waxworks is in a good position for you. You will still be able to act, and in fact, you will have the energy required to shine when it will be most needed.
Past: The Tyrant, the Cricket and the Peacock.
These cards seem to indicate that you went through some internal changes in the past. It seems the last few weeks have drastically altered your way of life, but have put you on a path of discovery. You’re getting suspicious that a certain ruler has evil intentions, and you found some hints regarding her plot.
Present: The Marriage, the Owl and the Courtesan.
This describes your present situation: after the changes in your past, you’ve now made a solid alliance with your companions. This bond cannot be broken. I also see a representation of a scheming woman; your safety depends on how you interact with this woman based on the information you gained in your past. In this spread, the Owl represents yourself: bringer of quiet wisdom, and the one who handles the needle that binds life together.
Future: The Mountain Man, the Keep and the Midwife.
In your future, you will be faced with a destructive force that you won’t be able to battle directly, at least not at first. Your divine powers will need to grow before you can interfere with it. You need to endure and be patient until the right moment arrives. Don’t give up. I also see a return of the Midwife, your personal card. It would normally be a good omen, but unfortunately, it means that in this position, despite your best efforts, even if you succeed in your endeavours, they will likely not have the result you desired. If you seek to help and protect people, they will still be in danger once you’re done.
Toilday, Gozran 30th, 4708
Tiora’s gratitude
The following morning, we returned to the Gray District together. Hipazia wanted some help bringing Rolth’s book collection back to her manor. Before we left the estate, though, Kindrasius decided to take a precaution by inscribing invisible Arcane Marks on our hands. He explained that he was worried that shape-shifting creatures were roaming around and wanted to have a method to verify our identity, should we get separated.
Once we reached the Cathedral of Pharasma, I noticed that my friend Marixa Tenner was speaking a beautiful dark-haired woman dressed in a tight suit of black leather armor. Marixa gestured toward us and the woman turned to greet us quietly. Kaeso was the only one to recognize her immediately; the woman had to introduce herself for the rest of us to realize who she was, so different was she than when we had met her yesterday. Her name was Tiora and she was one of the filthy prisoners we had rescued from Rolth’s pits. I remembered that she had been unable to climb out of the pit because of a broken leg, until I had healed her. Thankfully, she seemed in much better shape today, having been completely healed by Marixa, and having of course taken a bath and gotten a change of clothes.
“I just wanted to thank you again for freeing me,” said Tiora shyly. “If you hadn’t saved us from Rolth and Cabbagehead, we would surely have ended up as subjects for some mad experiment. Please accept this as a gesture of my thanks: it’s something I found, and which I’m sure could be useful in your line of work.”
With that, she held out a wand with a black-leather gloved hand, and gave it to me. Using a simple spell, I was able to identify it as a wand of healing of very good quality.
“Thank you very much, Tiora,” I replied. “This will indeed be very useful.”
“Believe me, the pleasure is mine.”
As we later made our way back to the Dead Warrens, Kindrasius voiced his suspicion that this lady was in fact a thief, and that she had not simply “found” the wand as she implied. Nevertheless, he appreciated the gesture.
We found ourselves again in the eerie tunnels of the Dead Warrens, with their blue-glowing moss. Some of the rooms were as we had left them the previous day, but it was clear in other places that someone had been present during our absence. The corpses of Vreeg and one other derro were missing, as were a few of the books from the library. We took the other volumes and brought them back to Leroung Manor aboard one of the family’s carriages.
Friday, Desnus 3rd, 4708
The honest Hellknight
A few days passed after our adventures in the Dead Warrens. As they had announced, Thousand Bones and his kinsmen left Korvosa. With some of my fellow priests, I performed a proper funeral for the poor little Halfling we had found in Vreeg’s bed. Sadly, we didn’t even know her name, but still, we hoped that her soul would know peace at last. Mouse and Saroko also took part in the ceremony. They are slowly learning our rites; this is surely not the most cheerful upbringing for such young children, but at least they are being taken care of, not only by me and my servants, but by the rest of the clergy.
We’ve heard no news about Trinia Sabor since the day of her escape from the executioner’s block. Signs have been posted all over town, offering a reward of 5000 gold sails for her capture, but even such an extravagant sum has, seemingly, not resulted in her re-capture.
I dined with my friends today after a few days of being apart. We all mostly went back to our regular lives; Kindrasius informed us that he and ‘his’ children were trying to gather information regarding the names we’d read in Rolth’s letters. He also wanted to know if vagrants had been disappearing at a higher rate than usual lately.
Then, Manius announced that he had revealed our involvement with Trinia Sabor to Field Marshal Kroft. We all stared in shock.
“You did WHAT?!” exclaimed Kindrasius as I shook my head and covered my face with my palm in dismay.
Manius was on the defensive, realizing he’d acted against all our wishes, but said that his duty as a Hellknight and his friendship with Cressida had mandated that he tell her the truth now that Trinia’s life didn’t seem in danger anymore. Understandably, Field Marshal Kroft had been appalled that her trusted friend had acted against the law, had helped a fugitive escape justice and had kept this information from her until it was too late to act upon it. Manius had explained our strong suspicions that Trinia was being framed, but the Field Marshal had not been impressed with the lack of evidence we had to back up our claim. Now, of course, we realized that we were all in very big trouble. The Field Marshal could report our treason to the Queen. We could be sent to jail, interrogated to discover Trinia’s whereabouts…
Kindrasius, who had already spent a few days below Longacre Building, wasn’t eager to repeat the experience. He verbally chastised Manius for revealing our secret, and also called the Field Marshal names too vulgar for me to write in my journal. I informed him that I was of a different opinion: in my eyes, Kroft was just doing her job to obey Korvosa’s rulers and to protect the city. She could certainly be a strong ally for us, if we could but secure some evidence to support our suspicions.
We also learned that Field Marshal Kroft was furious at Commandant Endrin for having let Trinia escape. She had explained to Manius how badly equipped and positioned the Sable Company Marines had been, making it even easier for Blackjack to escape. Until then, I had always assumed that the Field Marshal and the Commandant of the Sable Company got along well; I was surprised to hear it wasn’t the case. The Field Marshal also knew about Rolth and about Jolistina, an elven woman who was suspected of having committed various crimes such as burglary and murder. It also seemed that the two were lovers.
On a lighter note, I was surprised last night to hear the sound of singing just outside my house. I went to the window and saw a small blond silhouette playing the lute and singing a love song of which I was the subject. It was Darius!
Suddenly, a window opened on the ground floor, and I heard the rough voice of my dwarven servant, Heldrin Blackbarrel.
“What’s all this noise? Do you know what time is it, boy? Shut your hole before I come out and kick you so hard in the arse that you’ll fly all the way to Magnimar!”
Darius abruptly stopped his song, but I looked down from the window and called out: “It’s all right, Heldrin, this is my… my friend Darius. Darius, please, why don’t you come inside?”
The young man beamed at the invitation, and he immediately began trying to clumsily scale the wall to my window.
“Why don’t you come in through the front door instead?” I suggested.
“Ah, err, yes, of course!” he replied, embarrassed.
Things were a little tense when Heldrin let Darius inside the house. Even though he is technically my servant, Heldrin is over a hundred and fifty years old and has known me since I was a child. Therefore, he is protective of me in an almost fatherly way, as could be seen by the way his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he tried to determine whether Darius was ‘up to no good’. This was, of course, quite unnecessary, as not only is Darius a well-mannered young man, but I am also quite capable of defending myself against unwanted advances.
Darius offered me flowers, and I invited him to sit in the living room as Korwick, my other servant, brought us some drinks. We talked for some time; even though I didn’t feel comfortable at first, the conversation soon flowed much more easily than at Trinia’s execution. He seemed like a kind and funny man, and we had similar views on many things, although he seemed a bit surprised at the austere and even sinister decorations of the Foxglove house.
Physically, Darius is rather pleasing to the eye, although he is a bit on the short side and quite boyish-looking. I’ve always fantasized about being swept off my feet by a dashing hero like Blackjack, but in fact Darius is far from being without his own sophisticated charm.
He left some time later, but not before I agreed to accompany him to a play on Sunday. He smiled at me, bowed and kissed my hand before disappearing into the night.
Sunday, Desnus 5th, 4708
The Marbledome
It seems that, despite Zellara’s ominous predictions, things are slowly getting back to normal in Korvosa itself, in my own life and in those of my brothers-and-sister in arms. Manius has returned to his duties as a Hellknight; Kindrasius has begun performing in a new series of plays at Exemplary Execrables. Hipazia spends much time in her manor’s library, transcribing spells from Vreeg’s spellbook into her own and studying the books we took from Rolth’s lair. She complained that most of the derro’s spells were of the necromancy school, which she abhors, but is finding much useful information in the other books. She’s already got plans to animate a small construct based on some incantations found there. Perhaps it will be a beautiful little doll like those made by mister Pestico? She also informed us that her chambermaid Brienna found her grandmother’s bracelet behind a piece of furniture in the bedroom. Hipazia suspects that the Raktavarna had hidden it there before taking its shape.
Meanwhile, Heldrin has been busy planning the rebuilding of the Green Market. That brave and loyal dwarf has been helping the Foxglove family run the business for decades; I could never have managed the Green Market without him. More than a servant and accountant, he is a trusted friend. I know that he considers himself honor-bound to serve us, as one of my ancestors helped him out of a difficult situation back in his home city of Janderhoff, long ago. He’s never explained what it was, but I’m sure it had to do with his honor; this is even more important than life itself to dwarves.
Heldrin thinks it’s feasible to start the construction of the burned-downed market over the summer, and I’ve sat down with him and discussed the numbers. But my heart just isn’t in it now. I feel closer to Pharasma, feel it’s my duty to honor the dead and protect the living. What if other threats appear in Korvosa? I’d like to help the city again with my friends, not to be stuck managing a group of shops, stacking pennies and counting inventory. I aspire to be more than just a merchant. I know my friends and I can make a difference with the unique mix of skills, spells and combat prowess that we have between us. I wish I still had relatives here who could take on the burden of continuing to run the business. Yes. I wrote it. I consider it a burden. Sorry, uncle Nelkren!
Darius took me to the Marbledome tonight. The play itself was dull; the story didn’t catch my attention at all. I sometimes shared some amused looks with Darius: it seems he wasn’t enjoying it either. At some point, his hand found its way over mine. I tensed in surprise, but did not remove my hand. It seems that we are starting to connect more and more…
After the show, we went to a nearby salon where nobles like to gather after such events. Although I’ve attended these parties on occasion, they are really not my cup of tea. I’ve got very little to say to my ‘peers’, and since I belong to not only a minor noble family but also one that is rumoured to be cursed, I often have to face accusatory glances and annoyingly unspoken accusations or derision. To make things worse, I am now twenty-five years old, so it is becoming increasingly inappropriate for me to remain unmarried.
Thankfully, Darius also has to face similar obstacles. The Carowyns are also a minor family, looked down on by those of great name like Ornelos or Jeggare. To make things worse, they opposed House Thrune and the faction that took power in Cheliax last century, and were pretty much exiled to remote locations such as Varisia as an alternative to extermination. This, of course, puts them at odds with very pro-Thrune families of power like House Fordyce. The Carowyns are lovers of the arts, free spirits who oppose the tyrannical ideologies of the families that worship Asmodeus or embrace House Thrune’s draconian political views.
At some point, Darius and I found ourselves discussing recent events with the judge and matriarch Zenobia Zenderholm, the decorated soldier Illrem Bromathan and Darius’s friend Amin Jalento.
“It was a complete fiasco!” exclaimed Illrem Bromathan, the younger brother of Lord Valdur Bromathan, the patriarch of that military house. “The stage was surrounded by guards. Every eye was on them. And Blackjack made a fool of them all!”
“But it’s Blackjack we’re talking about,” said Amin, eager to defend his idol. “He’s never been known to fail.”
Sir Bromathan, a grizzled veteran, grunted noncommittally. “Well, it can also be blamed on Endrin’s incompetence. It’s almost like he wanted to make things easier for that tramp Trinia Sabor to escape.”
“What are you suggesting, sir?” I asked.
“That the next time they capture that slippery assassin, I hope they put someone else in charge of security. Like Field Marshal Kroft, or young Sabina Merrin, for that matter. She seems to have a decent head on her shoulders, and she was trained by one of our finest blade masters, Vencarlo Orisini. By the way, how are your lessons going, young master Amin?”
“Well, sir, they are going well,” said Amin a bit defensively. I’d heard from Kaeso that, despite his great motivation to emulate the heroes of his fantasy games, or even someone like Blackjack, Amin was merely a swordsman of mediocre skill.
“That whole affair about the execution was a dubious thing to begin with,” abruptly said Lady Zenderholm.
All eyes turned toward her. “I beg your pardon, Zenobia?” said sir Bromathan.
“None of the other arbiters I’ve spoken with claim to have been involved in her trial,” said the stern, middle-aged woman as she fixed the soldier with her steely gaze. “I certainly wasn’t involved. My investigations have shown that this entire affair was treated with the utmost secrecy by the royal staff. It’s highly unusual, and borders on the illegal. I’ve already launched a formal enquiry.”
“I’d never have thought that you would contest an execution, Zenobia,” said sir Bromathan jokingly, but he was immediately silenced by Lady Zenderholm’s glare. He was, of course, referring to Lady Zenderholm’s infamous reputation as ‘the hanging judge’.
“Don’t be a fool, Illrem!” she snapped. “You know very well that I seek only justice, and that if I’ve sent many men to the gallows, it’s because the infrastructure of Korvosa still allows for much too many crimes to happen.” As she said this, I noticed the golden key of Abadar hanging at her neck. Judge, house matriarch and priestess of Abadar. Zenobia Zenderholm was surely a woman of very high standing and power within the city. Few except the Queen herself had more authority.
I didn’t dare voice my own suspicions regarding the fallacy of Trinia’s trial, for fear of shedding even more attention to my group’s unlawful actions than Manius already had. But I made a mental note that Lady Zenderholm might prove to be an ally in the future.