Just to move things along, Tyler you head downstairs and encounter another 4 spiders but dispatch them easily. You take a total of 4 damage throughout the fight. There is no treasure in the boat.
In the hold of the boat you see a hidden door and when you open it, it leads to the under-pier.
Tyler searched the boat while everyone was exploring the fishery.
You all feel like you are stronger ...
Would you like to rest here, go back to Zellara's or go back to the tavern?
I head to the Tavern for the night.. I don't trust people who don't die.
Iolana will remain at the factory in case there are some children who return from their servitude and see if there is something that can be done with/for them progressing from this point.
Caim'll also head to the tavern for the night.
After looking around for any off the -now ex- Little Lamms, Raz will got wait near Tyler until he's ready to go, and then probably head back to the tavern.
None of the children return to the fishery and the majority of you return to the tavern to rest. As you walk in, you hear the Dwarf speaking with some other customers, there seems to have been a murder in the city, the victim was a child who was bludgeoned to death and hidden in a sack in an alley. Thanks to some concerned citizens, Lamm has been stopped so now the guard are trying to find the murderer before they strike again.
You all get a good nights rest and when you awake you feel much stronger than yesterday. You awake to the calls and shouts of the city. Followed by the shouts and cries of other people who obviously disagree, and
i would have stayed at the fishery with Iolana, so she was not on her own.
I wake up the next day in a cold sweat. I head over to where the normally keep a basin of water and rinse off my face. "That was intense "
I did what I had too.
I glare at the vanity. "Stop screwing with me!"
You've been under a lot of stress of late. Maybe it is time to find someone new.
I run my hands through my hair. "Things won't be that simple."
How's the rage thing doing? You managing okay?
"The raid on the fishery helped but I need more experience to control it completely."
The time will come. For now get yourself cleaned up. We have work to do.
"Quit bossing me around."
-----
I clean up, and get dresed. I head downstairs and get breakfast. Hearing the news of the murder makes me shake my head. "One of those kids who escaped from Lamm the other day must have done something stupid." I say to no one in particular.
Interesting. You have no memory.
"Memory of what?"
Nothing
I shrug and keep eating.
The Dwarf looks at you mumbling to yourself, but just ignores you. But Cora see's you and comes rushing over with a smile on her face and a blush the same shade as a tomato, "H...h...hello again, did you sleep well?"
Razule walks downstairs and tiredly sets up his small mixing station. It's obvious his sleep wasn't very restful last night. Before he puts away his equipment, almost as an after though, he starts mixing a liquid together in a larger vial.
He still had to go to the Pantheon too.
Morning, Caim's favourite time of day, if only because he always woke up feeling in an explicable good mood. Today was no different, as Caim more or less skipped down the stairs and to a table, singing in draconic, drawing more than a couple of odd looks, to which he mused, just singing louder in response, that he'd never actually heard anyone singing in draconic before. Then again, he was man enough to admit that with his voice, what he was doing wasn't really singing, it was more akind to making everyone wish that they were deaf.
Spotting Raz, Caim took a seat next to him, opening his leather-bound tome and reading the words, not letting up with singing. At the sight of a glass beaker vibrating, the human shook his head, before he dismissed it as his imagination.
Despite his mood, Raz smiles a little bit and ends up tapping in time to Caim's "singing", even if he couldn't understand a word of it. He even keeps up when he checks his recipe book for the right measurement.
I give the barmaid a warm plesant smile. It is apparent I am not entirely well as my hair is a mess and I look exhausted. "Hey lovely how are you today? What is all this comotion about a whore queen killing a king? Sounds like interesting stuff?" I ask wearily.
Hmm this is indeed an interesting turn of events. We should get to know this lady if possible. Wonder if the others still have her jewels. Maybe a good peace offer.
I nod.
Cora sits down next to Fealix, "Eodred II, second of his honorable name, passed away last night and with his last gasp the Crimson Throne became the seat of Queen Ileosa, his lady wife. Yet many would see it otherwise. Rumour on the street is that he suffered from some disease beyond even the priesthoods of Sarenrae and Abadar’s skill to cure, and that even Asmodeus’s disciples were summoned from their pentacle temple in the deep of night to try their dark hand at restoring the king. But his sudden death shocked everyone, so now Queen Ileosa has ascended to the throne."
She leans in close to Fealix and whipsers in his ear, so that no-one else can hear, "Not many people like the Queen, they say she only married him for money and power." She looks over to the bar just as the Dwarf is entering the room and she quickly jumps up and pretends to be cleaning the table before rushing off.
The Dwarf, hearing the racket that Caim is making goes over to have a word with him, to give his ears a well deserved rest, but once he gets there he gets entranced with Raz' musical abilities.
Iolana remains through the night at the fishery, after using some sea water in a bucket to clear the blood off the floors, she settles in the children's bunks. Pleasantly surprised that Tyler remains, she plies him for halfling songs and traditions in his own language, which she learned to converse with various interests in Eugeni's company.
Having expended no spells beyond cantrips, Iolana remains awake much of the night, sewing and humming a tune to herself. She finally closes her eyes near dawn, only to open them a few hours later, rise stiffly, clutching her lower back and hobble about the bunk room a few times before attaining her full height and graceful poise.
"Cannot say that I have any talent for cooking, or indeed, food," she says and frowns. "What say you we find the others?"
Iolana enters the tavern looking decidedly disheveled, dress clearly creased and eyes perhaps a touch slower, and heavy lidded. She glances at Caim who is singing in some strange, clipped language and grimaces, then considers poor Razule forced to be his audience. And myself, she recognizes and rubs her neck.
"Oh, the joys of academic pursuits," Iolana sighs and spares a faint smile at Caim as she approaches the dwarven 'keep. "I do believe that most prefer them to be conducted in silence," she continues and winks at the 'keep.
"A stout, good Master, please," she orders and pulls a chair near Caim for herself to sit. "And you, gentlemen? Consider the expense mine," she says.
I stay up with Iolana trying to remember some songs from when i was a child, but remember only the tunes of a couple. I fall asleep to Iolana's beautiful singing, in another bunk and fall asleep instantly, obviously used to sleeping in these things.
As we walk into the tavern to hear Caim trying to sing i look to Iolana with a smirk and laugh.
I seat myself next to Raz, look to the dwarf. 'could i have some breakfast too please?' Noticing Fealix on his own looking rather ragged i nod to him. 'would you like to join us Fealix?'
The Dwarf walks over with breakfast and drinks for everyone, the same breakfast you had the morning before. As he approaches Raz, he bites his tongue and the sight of him mixing his liquids again and places a glass of milk in front of him. He looks to Iolana and Tyler, "You 'ave any trouble gettin' 'ere? There's supposed to be riots around the city 'cos of the kings death. Word on the street is that the Queen has asked the Hellknight's for help keeping the peace. Apparently the castle seneschal was killed in one of the initial riots that broke out at Castle Korvosa."
When the Dwarf starts talking about the kings death, a drunk man in the corner of the room starts crying. He seems to be wearing a soldiers uniform and he reeks of stale sweat and ale. He looks up at Caim, "Neffi, ish that you? Come ova 'ere 'n' let me buy you shum drinksh. Come on, whatsh wrong wiv a drink wiv a old friend?"
"Hellknights?" Iolana repeats incredulously. "Do the city's coffers hold so much to hire the number needed to quell..." Iolana trails and visibly pales.
Iolana looks to the drunken soldier, then to Caim. "If you've no intention of indulging him, please allow me," she whispers, and smiles softly. "The wiles of a well reflected woman are rarely wasted upon those in need."
Grim-armored law enforcers uninterested in social goodliness and exceptions to the rules, Hellknights exist to enforce and stringently maintain order. In their ironhanded exaction of law—specifically, the codes of their varied orders and that of their home country of Cheliax—Hellknights emulate the most organized and effective armies in all the planes: the legions of Hell. They are not concerned with morality. They are not concerned with methods. They are concerned with results. If people cannot be trusted to obey the law out of their own senses of civility and social righteousness, then they will be treated like beasts and taught to obey out of fear of a master’s stern hand.
Although severe, the Hellknights are not an evil group. There are certainly numerous evil members—particularly among the upper echelons of power—but the majority of members are lawful neutral, with members of all lawful alignments filling out the ranks of each order.
To strengthen their resolve, Hellknights study the methods, laws, tactics, and atrocities of Hell. They train with summoned devils until battles with mortal foes seem like welcome dalliances. Through soul-shaking horror, they seek to purge themselves of emotion, replacing it with steely discipline. Thus, Hellknights learn to make sacrifices for the greater good, obey draconian regimens of military conduct, commit to encyclopedic memorization the laws of their orders and local governing bodies, and undergo constant drills to temper both body and mind.
"Hey, Tyler. Sleep well?" Raz asks as he scratches a new recipe in his book. He'd been working on several for a while now, and this one was ready for testing.
Finished with his song, Caim nevertheless continued to hum an offbeat tune before he frowned.
'I wonder how a Chromatic Dragon would take to my singing... it was only their dialect I just mangled after all. Probably be awed by the amazing good looks of Caim Sevíré.'
At the drunken soldier's cries for Caim to accept a drink, the Magus' face lights up.
'Nah, I got this, my fair lady.' He winked in what he believed to be a roguish fashion.
He quickly moved to stand beside the drunkard soldier, sitting down beside him as though he had every right to do so.
'Ah, yes... YOU! My good and glorious friend! Who am I to say no to a free drink or two?' He beamed, waving the barkeep over, despite it being fairly obvious that he was simply taking advantage of the mistaken identity crisis.
Still, whether it be some goodness from within Caim... from down inside Caim, or because he didn't want the drunk to get the chance to actually think about why Caim didn't look and sound exactly like this 'Neffi', assuming that he wasn't too far drunk for such an action, he spoke up again after a moment of silence, if one ignored the weeping.
'Why the tears my old friend? Surely your lot in life hasn't been so bad as to reduce a proud man like yourself to bawling in a tavern? Talk to me, maybe I can help.'
I smile at Cora. "Thank you my dear."
I spend a moment lost in thought until all the singing gets going. I run my hands through my hair clearly tired and aggravated by the noise. I begin to mutted. "I think I want to see this queen."
We have some of her treasures. You could start with those.
"The others have them so I'll need to ask. Worth a try at least.
I get up and approach the happy group from last night. My appearance is far more bedraggled than yesterday and I have a clear expression of weariness on my face. I pull up a chair and sit down. [B]"Mind if I join you?" I say as I sit. "I was wondering. I am interested in meeting our newly appointed ruler. Since we liberated some of her things, I thought maybe you were planning on returning them? The collar at least. I wanted to see if I could tag along. Thats all. I am only really interested in seeing this queen. What say you?" I wait patiently for response.
"That would be the least intelligent course of action at this time," Iolana opines with a flat affect, sparing a glance for Caim and his new companion. "The Queen is employing Hellknights to enforce order. If you arrive with stolen property in your possession, I do not believe that they will look upon you kindly."
Iolana is quiet for a time, her fingers tapping the slick surface of her tankard idly, as though beating the rhythm of a melody. Her eyes appear further than the surface of the drink, however, lost in thought.
"If this queen is shrewd, all will be invited to see her soon enough, I expect," she says finally. "There are few greater deterrents to public lawlessness than Hellknights," the title is almost a curse, "but a monarch who is universally feared cuts an imposing figure as well."
The man looks up at Caim tears still rolling down his face, "I losht the love of my life, angered my mashter sho I wash kicked out of shchool, then the King died, but worsht of all are theshe riotsh! They'll be the end of Korvosha my friend, thish city ish the only home I have left! Oh, Neffi, why did you come here at shuch a bad time?"
I lean back in the chair and sigh. "Fine. To an extent I agree with you. I will need to think of another way to meet the queen."
The racket the man is making to Caim causes my brow to twitch. "Caim can you shut that drunkard up. If I have to I might leave a mess for poor Cora to clean and I don't need to burden her with such a spectacle."
The Dwarf looks over to you all, "Stolen Property? Your not thieves are you? Well don't steal anything from me and I don't mind, just to let you know if you plan on stealing from the castle and are worried about the Hellknights, don't be. They don't stay around the castle, they spend their time walking the streets trying to enforce their beliefs."
"Property stolen from the queen, but not by us," Iolana attempts to soothe the dwarf. "We came upon it in our outing yesterday. It was being carried by a common piece of street garbage, we simply have not had the time to contact the guard about the best method of safely returning it to its rightful owner."
"There was nothing common about that man." Raz mutters bitterly, putting away his kit and starting to drink his milk.
Caim tutted, twisting his head around to glance at Fealix, eyes narrowed.
'C'mon, have a heart!' He frowned. 'Me good friend here... (Damnit, what IS his name) has lost everything, and we aren't all strong enough of mind and soul to just say 'oh well, let us start anew!' All my old friend here can do is have a drink or two... and share some drinks with his old friends, whilst we talk about old time and how times are clearly unfair towards good honest men like... him.'
He tutted again, turning back to the soldier, grabbing his tankard and gulping down several mouthfuls, before facing the drunk again.
'So tell me.... Old Friend... (How do I get him to reveal his name without him realizing I'm not Neffi?) how did you lose the love of your life? I thought things were going so well between you! And YOU angered your master? YOU? Seriously, what did you do? And do not worry overly much about the riots, for if mine ears do not deceive me...' Here, Caim eyed Iolana, as if to confirm what he'd overheard her saying was true, '...Why, Hell Knights are going to restore order! It might not be ideal, but at the very least, the rioting will end and we'll be able to work things out better after that.
...Now, how's about another pint... my good and glorious, if a little down on his luck, friend?'
Leaning back, Caim looked pleased with himself, as though he'd managed a great feat of skill in talking to the drunk as he had, before a look of confusion crossed his face, and he turned to face Iolana, eyebrow twitching.
'...Quick question... the Hell Knights sound familiar but I can't recall much about them. Who were they? The title 'Hell' does NOT bring good images to mind.'
Cora walks over to Fealix, "Your friend is friends with Watch Sergeant Grau? He is very well liked amongst his men and very talented with a sword, but ever since the riots started he has been in here drinking himself silly. Its like he's expecting the end of the world or something. Oh and if you have property that was stolen from the Queen, she has put out a reward for anyone that returns some of her belongings. But so far no-one has stepped forward with them, if you take them to her you could become rich! Maybe even start your own business here in Korvosa?"
Instead of answering Caim's questions Grau just sits there crying and drinking himself silly.
A couple of customers walk into the tavern, but when they see and smell the crying guard, they leave again quickly.
I listen to Cora. "It is a darn shame about the sergeant. Truly a simple man to be getting so worked up about a change in the guard. To be honest, a decent person would be more active in a time like this no matter the circumstances. It seems this poor sod hasn't the will to do something responsible and is merely causing more distress through example by continuing with this pitiful display."
I stand up and head to the door. Pausing I look back.
"The lady there is right. Whoever returns the jewels can easily be blamed for having them. But there is a bigger problem."
Without another word I leave.
I first visit the local smith. I trade in my morning star for a new masterwork one. If they don't have one available I put in and order and buy a regular mace instead for the time being.
I then make my way to the watch headquarters. I go up to the clerk. "So. I am curious to know. Is there any information regarding clean up of Lamm's base of operations? I joined a guard in raiding it last night and would like an update on the cleanup. I haven't received any payment for my assistance and nor do I intend to ask for any. All I want is information." I wait for the receptionist to respond.
"They are pretenders to the Prince of Hell's legions. Mercenaries who have sold their soul to the devil and respect naught but any authority wealthy enough to engage them to uphold order," Iolana answers Caim's question, praying that she has been vague enough to pass on that they are terrible news.
Iolana's eyebrow raises as she watches Fealix leave the tavern, but has seen that the young man leaves destruction in his wake and does not desire to have such incidents tied to her in the future.
Caim shook his head in distaste at Fealix and his overly blunt words, before he turned to face Iolana. eyebrow raised in imitation of her current expression.
'So... do you practice being so vague, or does it simply come naturally? I mean, that wasn't a vague answer at all, oh no, you told me everything about them right down to the, wait... no, I barely know anything even after that descriptive picture you painted. I'm just going to assume that you believe them to be as much trouble as if the REAL legions of the Prince of Hell turned up. Unless you have more yet you wish to share?'
On his realization that the Sarge wasn't speaking any longer, Caim grabbed one last pint before disassociating himself from the man, though leaving behind his tab, after all, the man had offered!
Iolana tilts her head slightly, considering the young man, then back and laughs for the first time in a very long time. There is no musical quality to the sound, or even cadence. She genuinely seems to be amused.
"Beg your pardon, young sir. And yes, I am sometimes intentionally vague. If only to add to the general air of mystery surrounding my very simple person," she teases and smiles.
Iolana rises and goes to Glau. All who watch can see that her tapered fingertips tremble slightly before they press against his shoulder as she leans in and whispers to the man.
"Though it may seem as though all is lost, friend, you've your life. Raise your voice to the Lady Shelyn, your efforts too, and she will deliver unto you a life full of love."
Fealix, looks like no-one is following you and there is a Masterwork MorningStar if you wish to buy it. As you're walking through the streets everybody seems to be bustling around, trying to get inside quickly or rushing towards riots. There is a lot of talk about the Kings death, but also there is a lot of talk about the poor that was beaten to a pulp.
"Of course. As Her servant I would be remiss not to offer Her pilgrim my aide," Iolana answers calmly, smile brilliant and confident despite her effort to care for the man being rebuffed.
Iolana helps Grau to rise if he allows her, and drapes her arm around his as a lady might a gentleman, and looks to the others. "I will be accompanying our friend home. Have any of you a particular request for a woman of my considerable talents to fulfill while we are parted?"
Without his mixing to distract him, Raz sits back in the chair and wonders what he should do now. All of the Little Lamms were free now, and Lamm himself dead, so it seemed like he had nothing more to do in this town except be Tyler's friend. He barely remembered what his parents looked like, and he didn't even know if they were still alive or if they had left the city, so the thought of looking for them is out. He could keep working at the Pantheon, maybe learn to become a Priest of Shaeve.
He could always travel. He'd heard enough talk of heroes in the Pantheon and his time on the streets as a thief for Lamm. Of course, he knew the stories too, the ones spoken in whispers as warnings to the foolish and inexperienced. Those people died, most of them in some horrible way. Others simply vanished, never to be seen or heard from again. Still others became the villains they had sought out as 'heroes' and were far better at it.
So what would Raz do?
I turn to Raz 'i slept well, Iolana is very good at singing and i fell asleep instantly. those beds are the same as always, lumpy and smelly, better than the floor though.'
Seeing Caim talking with the drunk i look at him 'so the fat git also takes others money if they think he is someone else?'
The sound of the hellknights is worrying, but they shouldn't bother me, so why should i be concerned? i do watch Fealix leave though and consider following him, but remain by Raz. i take out the Queens jewels, look at them and Raz 'im going to return these to the Queen, the knights from hell shouldn't be a problem if they are not near the castle and i like the sound of that reward. you want to come along Raz? i also heard that she is beautiful and i would love to see her, even if it is just before my head rolls. sound like fun?'
I look to the others, 'you can come too if you like? oh, Iolana would you like some company going to take him home? i can always go to the Queen after that.'
Once you get to the watch-house things are a mess, but the guard from the night before see's you and comes over to you. "Ah, hello and thank-you so much for last night, I have been promoted thanks to you!" A huge smile crosses his face and he shows off his new badge, "Sorry about all this, it seem's that Watch Sergeant Grau has disappeared and he kept everyone all together. He trained with the swordmaster Orisini, it shows as he is good with his sword, but no-one knows why he stopped training with him. Anyway, we are thinking of offering a reward for anyone who is able to bring him back to us, so we can get everything sorted out. As for the clean-up, things have gone smoothly, whatever children we could find have been re-homed and the place has been boarded up, but that won't stop people from living there until it is taken back by the government and that will be another 6 months or until someone buys it."
He gets called away and as he is walking off he turns back to you, "They have got me looking into this child killing, maybe I could try to find you to offer me some assistance in the case, I could pay you?"
Iolana strolls slowly and deliberately with the drunken sargent, clinging to his arm like a much younger, more impressionable woman. offering her own as support should he require the assistance. She keeps her senses and wits about her, studying the reactions of those about them on their journey.
Also, if she feels as though Glau will be cheered by her voice, or, by any manner of affection, Iolana will sing an old love ballad.
I am frustrated by the time I finally get a new morning star. I sell the old one.
After listening to the watchman's speel I shrug. "With all the chaos going on, chances are likely one of the little Lamms attempted to rob the wrong person. Being forced into a life of crime at a young age often leads children to believe there is no other way to live." I point at the officer accusingly. "You REAL job should be to get out there and recover those kids before another one does something to get himself kill. I didn't dump my family's fortune into a orphanage just so it could remain empty. Besides, with all this rioting, more people are going to get hurt. Do your job and start keeping the peace. Once the chaos is done, then you can start hunting for murderers. How many more have to die due to the neglegence of this barracks huh? Your sergeant is a waste of a man out getting drunk instead of taking proper action. At this point I could run this place better than you lot." I sigh and relax letting my temper settle before I accidentally slip into an inconvenient rage. "I digress, What I want is an audience with the queen. I want to meet her and maybe even offer her some advice or more importantly my valuable services. What do you say? It is the only reward I ask. Who do I need to speak to, to get this arranged?" I am standing more dignified as if I am an important rich person. My cloths are cleaner and more noble in appearance also.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure." The young human says. "Your head might not roll if we tell them we found some of her stolen stuff though."
Iolana smiles at Tyler's offer of an escort about the city other than the lush.
"If you would not mind terribly," she replies sweetly in the trading tongue.
"If there is some trouble..."
Iolana looks to the lush, and for a moment her expression is hard.
"If there is some trouble, I would welcome your assistance."
As the guard finishes talking, in walks Raz and Tyler, with Iolana behind carrying and supporting the watch-sergeant. The guards look at the new arrivals, "Sergeant Grau! There you are, what have you been doing with yourself?!" They look at you all and the guard that was talking with Fealix speaks up, "thank-you for bringing him back here, we shall take him from here and try to sober him up and give him a bath, he definitely needs it."
Looking at the useless drunk being dragged in by the others, I sigh. "It is a start. I accept your offer. I am anxious to meet this Sabina Merrin. If you need some time, I will be waiting at the tavern, send a messeges with time and place. Otherwise I would like to meet with her now." I wait for a response.
i look to Raz 'i dont want my head to roll and giving her stuff back might get us some pocket money.'
once at the guard barracks and seeing Fealix again i speak up. 'i dont know who this Sabina person is, but im going to see the queen, if you wanna come Fealix? im going to return the stuff we found.'
Caim'll remain at the tavern, eating breakfast while once again paging through his leather tome.
I look at Tyler. "Sabina is the queen's chief bodyguard. I imagine, given the circumstances surrounding the riots, we will likely not be meeting the queen herself without earning Sabina's trust. So we will need to go through her first. Besides, this whole scenario intrigues me so I am willing to take whatever steps are necessary."
i think about what Fealix says 'i understand that, but we've been told there is a reward for the stolen stuff. so if we go to the palace we should be able to meet this Sabina there and then talk to her to get an audience with the queen. but you make sense so i'll follow your lead, i'd rather keep my head, without it i cannot see if the queen is as beautiful as i've heard.'
turning to face the guards i repeat what Fealix said 'as my friend said we'll be at the tavern Dwarven Ales, please let us know when we can see the queen or Sabina.'