"Bishop d'Bear, it is a pleasure." - Ruperta bows to the woman - "I think I haven't had the pleasure. But we have friends in common..." - she looks around, making sure no one is hearing - "As well as powerful enemies."
After a couple of seconds she continues.
"Our friends should have told you we were coming. We have a sword to help us in our common cause. And we are ready to use it."
Bishop D'Bear nods. "I see. I was told you'd be arriving with others. Please, come with me." She walks around to the back of the desk where a statue of Pharasma in judgement sits. She reaches out and presses one of Pharasma's fingers down slightly. There is a click, then the wall behind the statue disappears to reveal a stone staircase spiraling down. The Bishop leads the way.
At the bottom of the 2-story staircase, there is a long stone hallway with doors on either side and one ornate door at the far end. The Bishop leads you to the ornate door and knocks twice, pausing, then knocks three times. The door opens from the other side as you hear bolts being slid aside.
Cressida Kroft stands on the other side of the door. Upon seeing you, she lets out a curse and envelops Ruperta in a huge hug. "Thank the gods! Vencarlo said you would be arriving soon! Where are the others?"
Ruperta chuckles, hugging the former captain of the guard...
"They are ready to help, as always. I think they should appear any second now. How have you been? How can we help?"
Pai steps out of the spell area as well. "We are here, Milady. Ready to serve. How is Vencarlo?"
As the invisibility sphere disappears, the Bishop takes it all in stride. She starts to speak, but then the man himself pushes into the corridor. "I'm quite well, miss Pai! It is always a pleasure to see you lovely ladies, and it's quite good to see you as well," He smiles at the ladies and nods at Paxs, Slumper and Corbyn. He steps forward and kisses Pai on both cheeks, then does the same for Ruperta. "I'm very glad my message got through! I couldn't hear any replies, so I hoped! And now that you are back, the reign of the B!tch Queen will end shortly!"
Ruperta blushes at Vencarlo's kisses.
"Yes... of course... we are here to help as much as we can."
"It's so good to see you again, Vencarlo. How are things here? we've had a wild few weeks, but I'm sure it's nothing compared to the craziness around here. How is everyone else? Is BlackJack still around," she adds with a wink.
Vencarlo darkens slightly at the mention of Blackjack. "Actually, that's something we need to discuss. Things have ... changed in Korvosa a great deal."
Kroft nods and moves to invite you into the room, which seems to be a large natural stone room, carved with slots in the outer walls where bones and remains lay in shelves. Near the door a large wooden table has been set up and mis-matched chairs sit around it. The rest of the large room is covered in cots and pallets where people sleep, looking ragged and rough.
Ruperta follows them, keeping near Vencarlo.
Pai was troubled by Vancarlo's words. She follows wordlessly, wondering exactly what he meant. The people here certainly didn't look hale and hearty, that was for sure.
Spread out on the table is a map of Korvosa, with various pins and notations here and there. Kroft sighs. "The city is torn. The Guard is disbanded, the Sable Company disbanded. The Grey Maidens patrol in bands, rumor is they're backed by devils. Ileosa has torn down statues and erected ones in her own image and recently," Kroft looks worried at this next thought, "She's been having her soldiers collect a vial of blood from every citizen, under the pretense of some sort of healing magic she plans to do. I frankly worry what her warlocks could do with such things, but anyone who resists disappears. Citizens are afraid to leave their homes. More and more disappear every day. The Arkonas took control of Old Korvosa. It's mostly untouched by Ileosa, but under Arkona control. It's dark days in Korvosa."
She sighs and pulls out a scroll, reading off it. "I've compiled a list of tasks I'd like to assign to you. Listed here are several issues that need resolution before I’m comfortable revealing to Korvosa that Neolandus still lives. I leave to you the methods for answering these questions, and also solving these problems.
1) A new “hero of the people” has been fighting rebels in the streets. These rebels are false; they’re not my people, and I suspect that this hero, a man named Trifaccia, is false as well. Find out who or what he is.
2) I have it on good authority that the rumors of a black dragon taking nest in Castle Korvosa are legitimate. If the rumors prove true, the dragon must be defeated.
3) The role of castle seneschal is currently held by a bloated wizard named Togomor. If you can capture or defeat him, we’ll avoid a long legal complication over the revelation that Neolandus still lives.
4) Ishani Dhatri, Abadarian priest and vocal opponent of his church’s public endorsement of Ileosa, has vanished. My initial investigations indicate that he was last seen approaching the castle——perhaps some clues to his fate lie hidden within?
5) I suspect that there are Red Mantis agents sheltered in the castle. Proof of the alliance between Ileosa and the Red Mantises would be very helpful; forcing the Red Mantis to abandon Korvosa, perhaps by finding and defeating their local leader, would be even better.
6) The Gray Maidens are certainly a menace; they need to be stopped. Sabina Merrin is the commander of the Gray Maidens— —find and defeat her, and you’ll throw the entire organization into chaos long enough for us to reclaim the streets from them. Vencarlo and Grau believe that she can be reasoned with, and that she may not be as loyal a minion of the queen as she seems.
7) Rumors of devils involved with the monarchy disturb me as well. If you can find proof that Ileosa is trafficking with devils, or that devils dwell within Castle Korvosa, that should significantly help our case against her in the eyes of the city’s government.
8) Ileosa must answer for her crimes. She hasn’t been seen publicly recently but for brief appearances on the castle walls. If we can capture her, a lot of our work will be easier."
"While you take care of these, my forces will be activating cells across the City, letting them know the hour to strike is close. Any questions?"
Ruperta frowns.
"It pains me the harm done to the people of the city. What is your relationship with the Arkonas? Are they taking care of their people? Should we deal with them too? Make them join our cause?"
She looks at the castle.
"Seems to me most of the task lie within the Castle walls. What do we know about this Trifaccia? About the Dragon? About this Togomor? When did Ishni disappeared?"
She turns towards Vencarlo.
"I have means to ask for divine intervention and get more answers, tomorrow. But maybe we need to make our presence known as soon as possible, and bring hope to the people of the city."
She turns to Kroft.
"Are you safe here? Where could we stay? It is safe for us to stay here too?"
"Trifaccia is a masked hero, much like Blackjack. In fact I suspect whoever is doing this is doing it to supplant Blackjack. I expect it's the Queen, but in this chaos, who can be sure? The Arkonas have been silent to any efforts to gather their aid. I hear they're running Old Korvosa as their own personal fiefdom, but with the Queen, I've had no time to look any deeper." Kroft sighs and rubs her temples with one hand absent-mindedly.
"The dragon has been seen in the skies over the Castle, and apparently with Sabina. Sabina was my student before she was the Queen's guard. She was a good person, but too rigid in outlook to fully appreciate my style. But she was a good person, at heart. I think she may be able to help us." Orsini continues where Kroft left off. "Togomor you may have heard of. He's the obese bloodmage that Ileosa hired as magical muscle. He's a wizard and supposedly a good one."
Kroft nods. "Ishani disappeared three days ago. He sent me a message that he was fed up with his Church's support of the Queen and was headed to the Castle to protest. That was the last we saw or heard of him. As for safety, this is as safe a place as any in Korvosa. Bishop d'Bear has been kind enough to use Pharasma's graces to protect us."
There is a commotion as the door opens and an out of breath young man in street clothes rushes in. "Marshall! I have news! Trifaccia's been seen about three blocks from here! He's cornered some more of his 'rebels' and he's he putting on a show, sir." Marshall Kroft nods to the lad with a low 'good job, son.' Turning back to you, she smiles tiredly. "Feel like starting right away?"
"It's time. Let's go take back our city," Pai grumbles. "This awfulness stops now. Let's go prove that he's no Blackjack."
"No time like how, if he proves to be trouble do we end him or should we bring him back here?"
"I think we should go after the false hero first as well."
Kroft nods with a smile, then turns to the young man. "Take them to where this 'rebel battle' is going on. Use the northern exit." The young man nods and leads you down one of the catacomb passages. It twists and turns and ends in a blank wall, which he presses in a certain spot to cause it to open onto the Korvosan sewers. He leads you through the sewers and to a manhole that exits behind a residence in a narrow alley. "Security," he says with a shrug if you ask.
He leads you through the alley toward a square, where sounds of a man's booming voice echo. "Let all those who oppose the good people of Korvosa know that Triffacia stands against their madness! Let those who would steal from, beat and oppress my people know that they will perish on my blade if their rebellious ways continue! For I am the hero of Korvosa, and I will stand against them!"
There is a series of sneers and catcalls, then a male voice replies, "Trifaccia, your tired routine won't save these slugs! We'll take whatever we want, no matter the cost in blood, they'll pay! Your think you can stop us? Down with Illeosa! Down with Korvosa! Rebel! Rebel! Rebel!"
Pai starts off by casting Detect Magic and first focusing on the rebel. "If he's been magicked by someone, that might be why he's calling out so. Our friends would know a true rebel."
The rebels seem to be mostly magic-less, and seem to be under no compulsions or spells.
"Do we want to help subdue the rebels, and keep down the bloodshed, so we can question them? I think that would be the best course of,action," Pai suggests to the others.
"Yes, I think we must show the people we are here to help them, and not to attack without cause. Let me go first, and be ready to attack if things go badly."
She gets out in the open, and walks towards Triffacia, and after asking for Desna's Guidance on this trial, she tells the crowd, while looking at the new "hero" of Korvosa.
"A queen, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. And in this case, a danger to the people we must get rid of. Are you willing to risk your life for the people? Then join us, and help us free this city, and this people, from evil and oppression!"
"Interesting way to do that..."Slumper mumbles to the others before stepping up beside Ruperta.
"Paxs, could you have Thrak knock out that original rebel while Ruperta and Slumper distract the rest of the crowd. We need to see if he is a true rebel, which I doubt, or figure out who has out him up to this charade."
The rebel seems a bit confused by this turn of events and has backed away toward a wall, where he can watch the unfolding new twist.
Trifaccia, who indeed wears a three faced mask, stands and laughs at Ruperta's words.
“Greetings, heroes of yesterday! My name is Trifaccia—have you heard my name? No matter. I’m the true hero of the people of Korvosa, for I defend the loyal citizens of our beloved queen instead of fomenting chaos in the streets. As you can see, with the exception of a few clots of filthy rebels, Korvosa is at peace now, and soon prosperity and happiness will smile over it again. I daresay that peace first began to return not long after you vanished from our streets. We do not want further trouble in our town, madams and sirs, but since I know you mean to continue disrupting the peace in my fair city, it looks like I’ll have to stop you. But instead of a fight that would end in your humiliation, perhaps you’ll agree to a duel? Myself against one of you, with the winner agreeing to take himself and his allies away from Korvosa for good?”
"The peace of the Queen is the peace of the dead! We went away looking for information about the evil that took over the mad Queen, and have come back to defeat her, and all of her lackeys, and I think we will start with you."
Ruperta turns towards Slumper, looking into his eyes. Will he accept a duel? Should they storm this "hero"?
Pai was pleased with these developments. Keep them occupied, guys.
She nods to Paxs. "Do it," she whispers toward Paxs and Thrak.
Slumper steps up and begins to unlimber while smirking at Trifaccia.
Thrak pounces on the rebel as Pai suggests.
As soon as Thrak's thrashing begins, Pai walks quickly to it and it's prey and uses her Arcane Bond to recast Invisibiltiy Sphere, surrounding Thrak and the hopefully unconscious thug. She walks Thraks and Paxs away from the crowd, and whispers to them. "You two get this joker back to the hideout, and I'll see if I can help Slumler and Ruperta get through this one. Hurry back after you get him bound up, and get the others to watch him. Sound like a plan?"
As soon as Slumper starts preparing, Ruperta gets near him and asks for Desna's blessing for him and before the fight starts uses her Holy Lance Ability to grant his Shield the Holy Special Ability .
"Show them how tyranny is defeated!"
Thrak pounces, literally, upon the slightly confused 'rebel' and is able to easily knock him down and out. Pai slips her sphere of invisibility over them all, and distracted by the face-off between Trifaccia and Slumper, no one in the crowd seems to notice.
Initiatives!
Round 1:
27 - Corbyn
25 - Trifaccia
21 - Pai and Ruperta
10 - Paxs
6 - Slumper
Trifaccia is first to move as he sudden draws a scimitar with flourishing grace. The scimitar bursts into flame, drawing a sudden ahhh from the crowd. With a quick bouncing attack, he springs forward and slashes at Slumper before withdrawing back! He hits, dealing damage plus fire plus sneak attack against the yet-to-act Slumper!
rapier
rapier
rapier
shield
shield
rapier
rapier
shield
Slumper's barrage hits more than he misses, and the rogue is soon bleeding from many wounds. He still stands and his voice sounds pleased. "You fight like a man, sirrah, but appearances are deceiving!"
Suddenly from among the crowd of people, a dark-haired man pushes forward. "Get him, Trifaccia! I wish he would just go to hell where he belongs!"
Suddenly Slumper disappears in a flash of fire and brimstone!
Spellcraft
"Get that guy, Ruperta! He's done something!"
Okay, check that, erase it.
The rogue Trifaccia pauses, but Slumper fails to disappear! He shrugs and attacks!
for damage plus fire!
for damage plus fire!
for damage plus fire!
for damage plus fire!
for an additional damage!
"He looks just like the other rebel, guys! He's trying to grant a wish, so he's a spellcaster, or some other sort of devil. Slumper focus on Trifaccia!"
Pai casts Blindness at the magic using rebel in the crowd!
(Fort DC 20 to resist)
Ruperta looks at Pai, and then to the dark-haired man.
She frowns.
Ruperta blinks and disappears, only to appear just in front of the man a second after!
She looks at his eyes, and smiles to him.
"Nobody asked for your opinion! Shut up now!"
She then casts Silence on Herself.
Sound suddenly goes away as Ruperta casts her silence spell.
However, the dark-haired man suddenly opens his mouth in shock and flails around, clearly blinded!
Ruperta will try to help him... Staying next to him while doing so... ;)