"Who are you? What do you want with me?"
The red clad man's sword continues weaving its fascinating pattern and Keliwyn falls silent. The man takes one measured step closer, then two, then a third.
Keliwyn's Initiative
Team Red 9
A writhing black cloud falls upon the man. Distorted human-like figures of black mist and shadow swirl and strike at him, engulfing his head.
A razor-edged length of chains snakes down in the wake of the shadows, but strikes at Keliwyn instead of the the red-clad man.
.. damage
The pain jolts the elf out of his fascinated reverie. Keliwyn looks up along the length of the chain to see a shimmering black-clad elven woman. "What are you waiting for? Take the woman! I'll take the man."
The chain whips up and down again into the shadows whirling around the man's head.
Elven woamn's intiative :
Begin ROund 1. You're up first.
ROund 1: Initiaitve
Keliwyn: 13+
Elven woman 13
Team Red 9
The sharp pain pulls Keliwyn out of his haze, and without thinking about what's happening, he reacts to the mysterious black-clad elven woman's command, and attacks the other insect-like figure.
Keliwyn brushes the swirling black cloud around the red-clad man as he moves to engage the woman. The elf feels a momentary strength sapping numbness, which robs his thrust of its vigor. What should have been a fatal strike, just barely penetrates the woman's leather armour.
For a moment Keliwyn wonders if his opponents really know how to weild their strange jagged swords. They hold them in an overhand grip with the blades running down parallel to their forearms.
But the woman's second blade neatly parries the elf's dagger and her riposte is viscous. Only Keliwyn's lightning sidestep prevents the blade from ripping open his side. His is still left with a scratch along his ribs. He focuses his attention on his fight as the other swirls behind him.
Attack .. damage
From 'bluff':
Your turn.
Keliwyn is startled by the quickness of the mantis-like figure and tries to ignore his wounds. Realizing he has underestimated his opponent, he tries a feint with his dagger and a counterattack with his rapier.
SA damage:
Keliwyn's rapier slips through the woman's guard, and her armour. Blood seeps through the slit, red on red. Ignoring the wound she twists, trying to lock Keliwyn's blade in her flesh as her own jagged sword backhands toward his head.
Attack .. damage
Keliwyn continues to dodge & weave, hoping to get his opponent to commit to a misstep that he can use to his advantage.
Keliwyn's opponent doesn't buy his feint and tries to hook his shoulder on the backstroke of her serrated blade.
Attack .. damage
She misses and recoils, giving Keliwyn time to glance across at his ally and her opponent. He is engulfed in a crowd of humanoid shadows and she whips that jagged chain through the cloud.
Keliwyn quickly notes that his impromptu partner is fairing better than he is, and then tries to attack again, this time with both blades.
Keliwyn's ally sidesteps around him and throws her chain in a looping arc around his foe.
..
It settles around her neck and shoulder and is yanked back, leaving deep bloody furrows in your foe's back when she ducks to avoid being drawn forward.
A second later a second steel pseudopod snakes out toward the red-clad woman.
..
The red woman leaps, lifting her feet to waist height and slipping the chains. She lashes out at Keliwyn.
..
Keliwyn tries to ignore his injuries and feints before attacking, taking advantage of the distraction of another attacker.
Keliwyn sidesteps quickly around the red woman. Trying to defend against two foes at once she divides her concentration and pays for it as Keliwyn's sword slips under an arm and halfway into her chest. As Keliwyn pulls the blade free he knows she's hurt badly, but she fights on stoically, fanatically.
..
Keliwyn's ally starts to giggle, "Aww, that hurts." As he looks across she spins to face the red-clad man, revealing a dagger driven up to the hilt over her hip. Her chain whips out and back toward him and Keliwyn is left to face his opponent solo again.
The elf rogue grins at his erstwhile companions humor, and wields his blades in what he hopes is a final attack.
Keliwyn's rapier slips inside the woman's sword creating a small opportunity for his dagger to reach her chest and end the fight. She sees the threat and blocks the thrust with her other hand. She winces in pain, but makes no outcry. Two fingers dangle uselessly after Keliwyn withdraws the blade.
His foe whips her saw-bladed sword over the top of his rapier, aiming to open his throat.
..
With a cry of victory, Keliwyn's ally trips the man, spilling him to the ground.
Keliwyn feels the advantage tipping to him, and presses the attack. When his ally cries out, he takes advantage, feinting and attacking with a rapier thrust aimed right at his opponent's chest.
Keliwyn's blade pierces armour and heart. The woman tries to raise her sword one last time, then drops it and collapses, dragging the rapier down. The elf pulls it free with some little difficulty.
Looking over his ally has her opponent on his back with one end of her chain wrapping his legs. He struggles weakly to free himself or slash her with his blade. Unable to succeed he draws the jagged edge of the sword across his own throat.
Keliwn drops his sword and collapses against the alley wall. A little startled at red-clad man's taking of his own life, he never the less looks at his ally and mumbles, "You know, I have a friend that would still try to question him."
"NO! Damn you." Keliwyn's ally drops to her knees beside the man and tries to hold his throat together with her bare hands. Blood bubbles out around her fingers. Even as she starts a chant he gives one last burble and goes still. Red mist rises up off the body, which begins to shrink and collapse on itself. Even the man's armour and swords sublime and drift off on the breeze. Only the blood on the pavement and the elven woman's hands and arms remains. That and his dagger in her back.
The elf seems oblivious to that for now. "They're hard to question dead. How's yours?"
Keliwyn's opponent is unconscious, but still breathing, barely.
The elf goes straight to work binding the red clad woman. "We've got to hurry with this one. Get out of here and someplace we can question her."
Bonds in place, she then straightens and pulls the dagger out of her back with a giggle. She presses her hands to the wound and mutters something. The blood stops flowing and there's new skin when she removes her hand.
Perception DC 14:
"Are you ready to travel? Grab her arm." She grabs the other one. "Oh! I'm Laori by the way. Who are you?"
"Me? I'm grateful," Keliwyn replies. Then, looking at his wounds and her weapon, he adds, in a lower voice, "I think."
"Grateful? Unusual name that. Grab her arm and let's go."
Between the two of you and 50' of excellent cord you get the unconscious woman to a nearby rooftop with one of the improvised lean-tos so common in the shingles. As you approach a pair of small lanky figures flee the lean-to on rubbery limbs. Laori grunts, "Chokers. Hopefully they'll stay away long enough for us." She uses the extra cord to bind the red-clad woman even more tightly. "We need to talk." She steps outside and moves to the edge of the roof.
"I pulled you out of a tight spot. I think you owe me more than humorous evasions. So who are you and why were the Mantis after you?"
"Grateful? Unusual name that. Grab her arm and let's go."
Between the two of you and 50' of excellent cord you get the unconscious woman to a nearby rooftop with one of the improvised lean-tos so common in the shingles. As you approach a pair of small lanky figures flee the lean-to on rubbery limbs. Laori grunts, "Chokers. Hopefully they'll stay away long enough for us." She uses the extra cord to bind the red-clad woman even more tightly. "We need to talk." She steps outside and moves to the edge of the roof.
"I pulled you out of a tight spot. I think you owe me more than humorous evasions. So who are you and why were the Mantis after you?"
"Laori, my name is Keliwyn, and that's something I'm trying to figure out. First off, since you are part of the reason for these," he says gesturing to his wounds, "do you think you could help me out?"
"That seems fair. This may sting a little." Laori replies. She steps forward and lays her hands on Keliwyn's wound while imploring the Midnight Lord to close them. There is a sharp pain which dies rapidly and leaves finely scarred flesh in its wake. (The pain is sort of like dropping hydrogen peroxide into a wound when you were a kid.) Laori removes her hands and sighs as she traces one of the scars with her thumbnail. Then she steps back all together. "Better?"
CLW
She barely waits for a reply before returning to her original subject. "So why are the Mantis after you? What were you doing before they took an interest?"
She barely waits for a reply before returning to her original subject. "So why are the Mantis after you? What were you doing before they took an interest?"
"Wow, thanks," Keliwyn says, stretching. "I feel like a new man." After a moments pause to collect his thoughts, he continues, in elvish, to see if he can detect an accent, Mierani or otherwise. "In a nutshell, a friend of mine had some information regarding the disappearance of Seneschal Kalepopolis. My friend is now dead, and I'm trying to figure out why. My turn, who are you and who are our friends? I heard there was a new crew of assassins in town, and I'm guessing these are, or were, two of them."
Laori looks slightly puzzled at the switch to elvish, but replies in the halting, un-nuanced version of the language that so many Forlorn speak. Her ears perk up at the mention of the Seneschal. "Seneschal Kalepopolis, I take it he's a military man, likely to wear a uniform?"
***
"I told you. My name is Laori Vaus." She sticks out her tongue. "I don't know for certain, but the red garb and insect helmets point at the Red Mantis. So you're probably right about new assasins in town. Have you ever heard of Salvatore Scream?"
Know (local) DC 13:
'Well, Laori," Keliwyn continues in elvish, "The Seneschal is the commander of Castle Korvosa, and the Sable Company reports to him, and not the King or Queen. He was picked from their ranks, so yes, he's a military man. He also serves as a check against the monarchs power, which makes his disappearance all the more curious."
After making a mental note of the "Red Mantis" name, Keliwyn looks at his new acquaintance a little quizzically. "Of course I know of Salvatore Scream. What, may I ask, does an artist have to do with a Seneschal and assassins?"
'Well, Laori," Keliwyn continues in elvish, "The Seneschal is the commander of Castle Korvosa, and the Sable Company reports to him, and not the King or Queen. He was picked from their ranks, so yes, he's a military man. He also serves as a check against the monarchs power, which makes his disappearance all the more curious."
After making a mental note of the "Red Mantis" name, Keliwyn looks at his new acquaintance a little quizzically. "Of course I know of Salvatore Scream. What, may I ask, does an artist have to do with a Seneschal and assassins?"
"I don't know if there's a connection between them. But I'm looking for Salvatore. The Red Mantis is interested in him too somehow." Laori giggles. "One of them tried to jump me when I was searching his house." A smile crosses her face.
"I have something to show you. You'll have to come with me though. First we have to do something about our prisoner." SHe spins on her heel and flounces back toward the captive drawing a stiletto as she goes.
I've always seen Keliwyn as more of a society interaction guy, a mixer. Kenan was talking about criminal ties and some clerical searches, both of which Darthen played out in the prologue.
"Wait," Keliwyn says as he contemplates Laori's intention, leaving the assassin to the chokers, or taking her with them. "Don't you think we could use her? Maybe she can give us some information."
"Well, that's what I'll ask her to do. She won't though. At least the other one didn't." Laori sits cross-legged next to the assassin. "If you scream you die." She unwinds the gag as she holds the stiletto in front of the assassin's eyes. "Now dear, what's your name?"
The assassin struggles silently against her bonds, but doesn't speak a word. Laori winds the gag back around her face and rolls her gently unto her belly. "Let's see if the way to your tongue is through your elbow. " She slices into the red leather armour and peels away a section between bicep and wrist. "Just nod if you want me to stop, dear."
"I'd rather get out of here," Keliwyn says. "Besides, judging from her friend, that's not going to work. I have friends, however, who may be able to use magic on her. Let's just take her and get out of here."
I've always seen Keliwyn as more of a society interaction guy, a mixer. Kenan was talking about criminal ties and some clerical searches, both of which Darthen played out in the prologue.
Even as Keliwyn speaks the Mantis assassin yells. Laori thrusts her stilletto through the woman's throat and twists. The redclad woman stiffens as a gout of blood pours from her throat, then she collapses.
Laori turns to Keliwyn, frowning in annoyance "Hmmm. I didn't want to do that, but I had made a pact with her. You were right. A death threat wasn't a smart option with someone who would probably rather die than give us what we want."
She stares at the body, which is not dissolving into mist. "Hmmm, again. She might be more valuable this way." She grabs an arm. "Come on. Take your share and let's go."
"She was tied up and defenseless," Keliwyn admonishes, as he scrambles after Laori. "There was no need to do that." The rogue follows, willing to let the mysterious woman lead, for now.
"I told her I would kill her if she screamed. I admit it was a foolish bargain since she probably wanted to die if she couldn't get away. But would you rather I had lied?"
Dragging one of the corpse's arms, Laori leads the way through the Shingles. The trip seems to make her irritable and she constantly tells Keliwyn to carry his fair share of the body. Her route keeps you well hidden from the street and edges toward the Strait of Alika. You are half-dozen blocks from the stone bridge connecting the Korvosan mainland when she stops and drops the body.
"We'll leave her here for now. Hopefully the chokers won't eat much. Take a look across the river, see if there are any Mantis watching there. I'll check the street side."
"I told her I would kill her if she screamed. I admit it was a foolish bargain since she probably wanted to die if she couldn't get away. But would you rather I had lied?"
Dragging one of the corpse's arms, Laori leads the way through the Shingles. The trip seems to make her irritable and she constantly tells Keliwyn to carry his fair share of the body. Her route keeps you well hidden from the street and edges toward the Strait of Alika. You are half-dozen blocks from the stone bridge connecting the Korvosan mainland when she stops and drops the body.
"We'll leave her here for now. Hopefully the chokers won't eat much. Take a look across the river, see if there are any Mantis watching there. I'll check the street side."
Keliwyn ignores Laori's explanation for killing the assassin as well as her irritability. While moving through the Shingles, he tries to work out what the already knows the events taking the city, the missing Seneschal and now the Red Mantis Assassins. He even wonders, in passing, what Heather and his new friends may be up to. However, Laori's request that he look for more assassins snaps him back to reality.
"Have you been dealing with them for long?" Keliwyn asks almost rhetorically as he peers around.
Across the Strait, the lowering sun brightly illuminates the upper story of the buildings lining the water's edge and casts dark thin shadows. A small flashing reflection along the roofline draws Keliwyn's attention and disappears. Upon closer inspection, Keliwyn can just make out the top of a red-clad head.
Laori says, "My side is clean."
Keliwyn drops low. "Just along the roofline. At least one that I can see," he says. "You've taken the lead this far, and I have no idea where we're going, so what's the plan? And where are we going, anyway?"
"We're going to the House of Screams." Laori giggles. "Right down there."
Laori points diagonally through the roof below you. "If there's someone watching from the river, we'll take the front door."
The Forlorn slides carefully over the roof's edge, then drops to a small balcony. From there she begins to shimmy down a drainpipe.
Climb, DC 12
A couple feet down her left foot slips and she begins to slide. Her hand catches on a bracket and she lets go, falling about twenty feet and landing on her back.
"BONES!" she shouts in pain, but she's also laughing. Her palm is torn and bleeding.
She calls on the Prince of Pain for healing and giggles through that process too. Then she's ready to step out of the alley and into the street.
"House of Screams," Keliwyn mutters to himself, guessing the place to be a house of worship to Laori's deity, Zon-Kuthon. "Sounds like fun."
Noting where his new companion's foot has slipped, as well as her giggle, he edges over the side and follows her down.
After his successful descent, he meets her on the street. "You should be more careful when picking your footholds," he playfully chides before wondering if she intentionally fell to experience the pain.
The House of Screams is an unremarkable little house with a perceptible lean to the right. Only in Bridgefront could it avoid being condemned and torn down.
Laori opens the front door and ushers you in.
The room is small with a table and two chairs. A counter and some shelves line one wall. The opposite wall is covered with a macabre mural in yellowed greens and lurid reds. A giant face with a gaping mouth. Through the teeth the tongue becomes a road into hell.
It almost makes the pile of heads on the table seem normal.
"Charming," Keliwyn says, looking over his surroundings. Taking a seat at the table, he puts his feet up and asks, "Now, are you going to share with me what you know? What does a missing artist have to do with me? What do you know about the Seneschal? And why are the Red Mantis so hot & bothered about both of us?"
Laori replies, "I don't know exactly, but I want you to see this." She goes into the next room and pops back out with a crusty piece of fabric. It is black cloth of fine weave, with rusty brown stains. Sewn onto the fabric is a badge depicting a shield divided diagonally by a gold line. To the upper left is a hippogriff profile on a blue field. The red lower left field has the black silhouette of Castle Korvosa. The edges of the badge are gold braid.
From various events in the past you recognize badge of office of the Seneschal of Castle Korvosa.
Keliwyn sighs, feeling the fabric between his fingers. He turns it over in his hand as his mind tries to once again work through what he knows. Finally he looks up and asks, "So where did you find this?"
"Right here. I came looking for Salvator, but no one was home. That was in the bedroom, along with some bloody sheets. Is it your man's?"
"My apologies, my lady, I thought this was your place, and yes, this is the Seneschal's crest." Tucking the swatch of fabric into his vest, Keliwyn looks around. "So this was Salvator's place? Considering his popularity the last few years, it's not much to look at it."
As he searches the place over for any clues, Keliwyn reviews what he knows. Let's see, he thinks to himself, Andru worked at the Horn Stein, and knew a fisherman named Grunt Poolen whose wife had worked for the Seneschal's family when he was younger. They apparently knew something about his disappearance, but they've both been killed by the Red Mantis for what they know. Now, an apparently struggling artist, Salvator, is also missing, and is some how also linked to the Seneschal. The Seneschal acts, of course, as a check against the Queen's power in that the Sable Company reports to him, not the Queen, and he could effectively arrest her. Clearly there is something going on here, but what am I missing?
After a few moments thought, he continues with the conversation. "Tell me, what is your interest in Salvator, and how is it you & I have crossed paths? It would seem more than just a coincidence since we both have missing friends whose disappearances seem to have some common link."
"My apologies, my lady, I thought this was your place, and yes, this is the Seneschal's crest." Tucking the swatch of fabric into his vest, Keliwyn looks around. "So this was Salvator's place? Considering his popularity the last few years, it's not much to look at it."
Laori frowns. "Apparently his popularity dropped off lately. There's a pile of canvases in the other room. Utter rubbish most of them."
Your search confirms her statement. The second room which was apparently his studio. It's on the north side of the house. A dirty skylight and a row of long windows near the ceiling let in an even, if gloomy light. A pile of greyish sheets covers a narrow bed in the corner. Dabs and puddles of dried paint glue broken brushes to the floor. The wall backing the mural has "Gone. GOne! GONE! Alone." painted across it in letters as tall as your forearm.
There are a large number of paintings. Most are incomplete; some, barely more than a dozen brush strokes. In the more complete ones the themes are still characteristically macabre, the colors are just as lurid, but the mystery that made his paintings unique is gone. A large number of the incomplete ones seem to be self-portraits in death. Strangulation and death by a thousand cuts seem the most prominent themes.
After a few moments thought, he continues with the conversation. "Tell me, what is your interest in Salvator, and how is it you & I have crossed paths? It would seem more than just a coincidence since we both have missing friends whose disappearances seem to have some common link."
Laori turns serious, "Salvator's early work echoes ideas important to many in my church. He only lately came to our attention. Some thought he might be an oracle or prophet of Zon Kuthon. My superiors sent me to talk with him. " She seems to warm up to her topic. Her words come a little faster, "I arrived here too late. Salvator had disappeared. While I was investigating the house I was attacked by a pair of our red-clad friends. Since then I have been watching for them. I was following those two while they were hunting you. Having prey must have made them a little careless of their backs. I was hoping you could tell me something."
"Alright," Keliwyn begins. "We don't know what happened to Salvator, but that means he may still be alive. Clearly, he knows something about the missing Seneschal, whom I would guess is dead. So, let's find Salvator, and let's begin by checking with the neighbors. I can handle that," he says, looking over Laori's somewhat intimidating outfit, "while you keep an eye on our backs."
With that, the elf rogue gets up and heads out, ready to knock on some doors.