She laughs at all the questions hemming her in, "Woah there handsomes. One at a time please. I can't remember the first questions for the last!"
"Are you worthy? We shall see. You are at least motivated and in some numbers. Numbers I don't have."
"Yes, yes of course I am evil, and yes, yes of course you can trust me - I'm a woman of my word. I'm no Demon lover - Devils are more my style." she grins at Briar.
She looks at Fondo, "Oh, I'm very wicked. There is much to be gained by following Zon-Kuthon. Why? Are you interested lover?" she laughs at her own joke.
"I give you my word I am not here to kill Salvatore - he's a national treasure! I merely wish a few minutes alone with him, " she smiles reassuringly, "Painless minutes I assure you. I have questions for him and I hope he knows the answers though he may not. Either way I hope to walk away with one of his paintings."
Charlie believes she's telling the truth.
"Oh, oh yes, Old Korvosa. I'm afraid I don't know much there. I only made it through last night and have spent most of my efforts tracking Salvatore. I can tell you there is a new monarch in Old Korvosa - he calles himself the Emperor and he is somewhat known to me."
"In his previous life, this Emperor was a man named Pilts Swastel, the owner and director of Exemplary Execrables, a notorious playhouse that specialized in violent, gruesome productions. With his knack for showboating, organizing crowds, and his wonderfully horrifying imagination, it was a relatively simple thing for him to make the transition from director to ganglord."
"I'm told that he has Salvatore with him doing custom jobs. My offer is this. I'll take you to the Emperor, and you help me get in to see Salvatore. Once I've talked with him, we peacefully go our separate ways. Simple. Whatever we find along the way we split evenly between us as best we can."
"Agreed?"
"Perhaps you could have a few minutes alone with Salvator as we stood by. I promise to plug my ears."
"Pilts Swastel? Exemplary Execrables? I don't think I've ever been there. Does he still operate it or does being a ganglord occupy all his time? What 'custom jobs' does Salvator do? Forgeries I presume."
"Pilts Swastel? Exemplary Execrables? I don't think I've ever been there. Does he still operate it or does being a ganglord occupy all his time? What 'custom jobs' does Salvator do? Forgeries I presume."
"I don't know. Let's ask him!"
"You can stand by - at a distance if you please. I understand you're not used to dealing with honorable people. There are so many lies in this city! It was once so lawful and just." she sighs.
Fondo grins and says in Taldane, "I shan't welcome murder or torture in our time together—of me, nor others. Tis near certain we'll need to defend ourselves in the new Old Korvosa, but why not endure a little pain yourself by trying out a touch of mercy."
"Of course we've been to the theater, Niko. Though I'm sure you've tried to forget it."
"Now that we're agreed: what did you find inside?"
He doesn't get it yet does he?
--No. Much blood will be spilt before all this is done. But he's right, there's still room for mercy.
Perhaps. For the right people. At the right time.
"That place? It was closed if I remember correctly. That would have been an interesting night."
"Ah, forgive me. It was with that merchant who looks a bit like you."
Briar sighs and looks at the poor, misjudged elven lass as if understanding her pain.
"See there, lass? They are not so bad. If few of them even have good qualities."
"Now then, what clue did you mention you found? And shouldn't we be moving on?"
"I found this upstairs in the bedroom. There's some blood on it, looks like it was used to bind a wound. Still, you can see the sigil for the city of Korvosa here. And here is the badge of office. But I'm not from around here, so I have no idea what rank this represents or even what force they belong to. It's clear though that someone came to Salvator for help and he helped them. Someone of importance based on the quality of this garment."
She hands the cloth to Briar, lingering a little as she does so. Palm touches palm… so nice.
She continues, "The Emperor of Old Korvosa rules Old Dock from his 'palace' on Silk Street. He’s seized control of several tenements there, and rarely leaves the place. Mobs of his fanatics scour the streets of Old Dock seeking more conscripts to his cause. Those who resist are instead captured for other purposes so we should be careful about any armed groups we may come across."
"Rumor has it these mobs are tough." she laughs lightly at the thought.
Ah...the blessed touch of elf folk. That must be what it's like when I touch others.
Briar begins to walk, but then turns and pivots back, questions forming on his beautiful, elven lips.
"Do we know why Salvatore was taken?" Briar asks of the lass, spitting out the Taldane like he is sorry to be offensive to the elf lass, but wants to keep everyone informed. "What crimes did he commit against the Emperor?"
Turning to the party, he asks another question. "Do we think this Salvatore is the *only* way to succeed in our true goal? It's possible that Salvatore does not know what we seek...it just seems like a lot of risk for a very thin hope."
"Whether he's the only route or not, I'd like to meet Emperor |WASTE-uhl|. If he's brutalizing the people of Korvosa, he'll need to be held to account. Eventually, not necessarily right away. I'm sure we can talk our way in peaceably."
Fondo lingers a moment. "Before we go, let's take another look at Salvatore's studio—may be we'll recognize something you didn't, Lady Pain."
"Swastal sounds like he hides himself in plain sight, the center of a stage, where he gets people all riled up. You might want to know more about your play's antagonist, Brov. Before you step onto his stage, that is. Well, seems more like a hive we're poking. So I guess he's more a queen bee, all his workers posed to stab at any hostile intruders."
Fondo puts a hand on Barael's shoulder, as he often does when his adopted little brother frets. "You worry too much, brov. And that won't do. The actor who hesitates on stage throws the play." As you and the others were too happy to prove below the Hospice.
"Still, yes, we need to know our parts in his charade. Perhaps we ought do a character study with one or two of his goons." He pats the forearm where he keeps his truncheon hidden.
Barael and Fondo recognize the symbol at once. It's the symbol of the seneschal of Castle Korvosa. That's the uniform of the second most powerful figure in Korvosa. In fact, now that you think on it, the seneschal was just recently replaced. When Cressida described the events that lead to your departure, she did describe a new seneschal - a bloat mage and clearly someone loyal to the queen.
The former seneschal was Neolandus Kalepopolis, but you know little about him other than he was selected under the former King. It is a position supposed to be held for life. What makes this discovery more interesting however is that according to Korvosan law, only the seneschal can legally depose a corrupt monarch.
You do not know if this is the uniform of the current or former seneschal.
"Tis nothing, I'm afraid. the tattered rag of an eagle recently fallen from his roost." Fondo crumples the crest in his hand, giving a meaningful but veiled look to his friends to convey his true meaning—this is the crest of an important figure in the Sable Marines.
Is Fondo acting kind of strange? Weird looks and all?
-Not more so than usual.
Okay.
"Oh, baby, don't lie to me. Horrible way to garner my trust. At least I know who my friends are and now I know your worth." Laori frowns at Fondo's shenanigans though she doesn't seem to have gotten the secret message either.
She turns to Briar, "I know where the Emperor's roost is. How do you want to approach it?"
Briar repeats his questions to the lass.
"Do we know why Salvatore was taken?" ... "What crimes did he commit against the Emperor?"
* * *
"Oh, baby, don't lie to me. Horrible way to garner my trust. At least I know who my friends are and now I know your worth."
Briar facepalms as the Varisian reinforces the perception of rudeness that Briar sees. Embarrassed, Briar feels forced to apologize.
"I warned you they were rude. You do not deserve such rudimentary deceptions. Please overlook their shortcomings...some of them will be useful in the task at hand."
* * *
She turns to Briar, "I know where the Emperor's roost is. How do you want to approach it?"
Briar considers before responding.
"We would examine his apartment for additional clues. Though I do not doubt your beautiful Elven eyes, there might be something that we might see of import to us...and our primary goal." Briar begins to walk to Salvatore's apartment, continuing his thoughts.
She was so thoughtful to ask me.
"From there we shall move closer to the Emporer's headquarters such that some of our more useful tools will be able to scout in secret. With that knowledge, we will form a plan. We have many magics at our disposal."
Briar turns to the party. "First we explore Salvatore's apartment. Then we scout. Then we plan. Will that be acceptable?"
"If it may please your magical holiness."
Fondo smirks and walks into the studio.
Laori smiles at Briar.
She laughs, "See! I missed that one. No I have no idea why Salvatore was taken. I presume to paint, but I don't really know."
Salvatore's place is small, just four rooms on the waterfront. The entry area smells of must and mildew, some of it coming from the mud tracked all over the floorboards as if a small army had marched through the room. His bedroom has a single bed in disarray. More mud-stained bootprints mar the wooden floor here and a splash of dried blood decorates one pillow.
In his studio both of the window's are tightly shuttered though the air within seems strangely fresh and scented - not doubt from the six large candles that once burned within. Each candle has been affixed by a glob of melted wax to the crown of a gleaming, polished skull, and each of these impromptu and grisly candleholders has been placed atop an otherwise clear desk to the west, arrayed in a gentle arc. To the south stands a nearly empty cabinet, its shelves barren save for a few paintbrushes and a cracked pottery urn.
Finally, the last room appears to have once been a combination kitchen and storeroom, but is now a bewildering riot of brightly colored fungus and mold. The stuff grows everywhere and in every color, over tables, across cupboards, and in swaths along the floor and walls, but seems thickest to the southwest, where puffy sheets of yellow fungus cover several objects so completely that it’s impossible to make out what lies beneath.
Fondo covers his mouth with one of his many scarves and looks for an implement suitable for clearing away the fongus.
Vencarlo, where are you?
Briar takes out his mask and dons it (it's still broken). He also casts Detect Magic and tries to examine the fungus from a distance.
The party pokes and prods at the fungus, examining it magically and thoughtfully (knowledge, nature). It just sits there looking colorful, much like the fungus the poor old woman was selling to the artists who lived here to color their paints.
Fondo uses a dagger to find out what lies beneath them, and then magically cleans off any spores that stain his fine Varisian clothes.
With a take-20 you get spores all over you as you examine the materials underneath. You find nothing but a few old and clearly dirty kitchen utensils. You are able to get most if not all the spores off you and your clothing with liberal use of Prestidigitation.
Briar frowns but is willing to admit the pretty elven lass is correct.
"Very good, little to see here. Let us see if we can find a vantage point or base close to the Emperor's lair. From there we can scout and plan."
"Does anyone know this area better that might be able to take us to such a place? One of your local Varisian wretched hives of scum and villainy?"
Briar reminds all.
"We must be cautious."
Says the man who lives in a cemetery crypt. Lived in... Fondo smiles at the increasingly delusional elf as he continues his search, looking for loose floorboards that might conceal whatnot. He then readies himself to investigate Waste-uhl.
"I say we take a little time to ask the locals what they've seen inside Swastal's walls." Barael stands from his lean on the wall, walks back out onto the street, and looks for the old woman.
Should he find her, he enlists her knowledge of Swastal and his tenements, around Silk Street.
"Pardon me, mam. We just been to Salvator's home, and you're right. He's not there, and we have reason to believe that he might have been taken by that Swastal for his own purposes. What have you heard about the 'Emperor', and what might we have to worry about entering his realm? And if you don't have direct knowledge of the place, do you know someone who does?" Barael hands her a couple of sails whether she can say anything of value or not.
The poor old woman, just after a few coppers to feed her children, was already spurned by the party and she wandered off looking for someone else to buy her colorful spores (unlikely).
You'll need to track her at this point (survival), she's not visible on the streets nearby.
If you do want to gather information, you'll need to spend a few hours doing it - does the party want to wander around the streets talking to the locals for a while? If so, who leads and what exactly is the question?
Fondo does indeed take up the task of asking around. He suggests that Charlie take the first question below, while he focuses a bit more widely on the second.
Who has been seen coming and going from Salvatore's?
Who are some of the Swastel's more local lieutenants? He has in mind to beat one into unconsciousness and steal his likeness.
If it comes to splitting up the party, Fondo suggests that he and Barael go together.
Barael shuffles around the last location of the old woman. Where'd you go off to, I wonder. Barael lets his nose play around. The otyugh's recent presence discourages Barael in the rudest way. Should have seen that coming...
Two questions will require either more time or a splitting of the party. If the latter, who goes with whom?
Laori will go with Briar of course...
...and yes Barael is unable to track the old woman. Bad luck.
Briar spends the time following Fondo and Barael, walking slowly behind him from a distance (100'), talking about elfy things with the elf lass.
Barael recognizes his Brov's finesses with words, his ability to turn the corners of folks' mouths. Barael keep up with him, knowing that the information will flow for Fondo, as the wine flows for Charlie. "We should know more about Swastal's court, if he's calling himself 'emprer'. Do you think people bring him stuff, like tribute? Betcha he has mad parties up in there. Was he among the folks we hung out with, the night we tried to see the play?"
Barael slows a bit, hearing Briar twittering with Laori. He cocks his head a bit, and leans in to hush-a-speak with Fondo.
Tempted as she is to wander off alone, focusing on the others keeps her a little more focused, a little more disciplined.
"Brov, if you make me imagine him and his wood ever again, I will gut you."
Fondo smiles winningly, but it's not altogether clear he's kidding. "Ah, hello my friend. Fondo's the name. Yes, that Fondo. Grim times these. I wonder if you could tell me...?"
We should not split up the party for two reasons. 1: We are fighting on bad ground and shouldn't further weaken ourselves and 2: I'm pretty sure the lieutenants will find us. especially as we are strangers in town asking questions about them and 3: When they do find us, we should not be split up. Er, among our chief weapons are: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, and near fanatical devotion to the Pope!
When we travel, though the stealthy among us (not Charlie) should follow the talkers (Charlie, Fondo and Dandi and probably Nik) at a distance.
Hi dearie, Can you help me? I'm looking for my nephew, he doesn't seem to be home. I have something for him that he needs right away. Can you tell me who you've seen visiting him recently? Maybe they'll know where he is?
Who has been seen coming and going from Salvatore's?
Nikolay follows the group, but wonders aloud. "Why are we not heading directly to Swastel? The more we poke and prod about, the more we alert him to our presence. These are volatile times. Everyone is on edge and desperate. Surely some of those we talk to will rush to him to gain his favor. I suspect he will know more about us then we about him before we get there."
Briar shrugs at Nikolay's words.
"Sure. Let's go in blind. That's always fun," Briar agrees.
This should be interesting.
Laori slides over to Nikolay from Briar. "I like this one - you've got guts." she says coquettishly smiling at Briar all the while.
Barael is done with direct assaults for now. Gathering information feels reassuring in its activity.
"If we draw unwanted attention, we're likely to see an arm reach out to grab us. If we march into his den, we'll see the whole creature. I'd like to at least get a sense of how easy it'll be to get in and out of his palace, and what happens to folks who meet those mobs, tough as they are."
Barael looks at Nik. "All he'll know is that we're here. If he's had any sense of recent events, he'll know who we are, as the rest of Korvosa does. Maybe even enough to fear us a little, and not act out rashly when we approach."
"Exactly, brov. Besides—you all assume he'll hear our names and think 'threat.' We haven't given him reason to think so. Yet."
Fondo looks around at the surrounding slums and smiles. "Brother Rose and Briar are right—it'll do us good to take their measure before we enter the Emperor's palace. And I've no doubt of our abilities, whether we're three or six or just one. Don't you agree, jell'inedra?"
"Hey. Since we've passed over from Korvosa into Old, has anyone spoken to us here like they did there?" Barael scratches along the stubble under his chin. A single longer hair bobs and weaves, almost consciously avoiding the attempts at scratching.
"Is it likely we're unknown in these parts altogether? Hadn't thought about that..." Barael sounds disappointed, as if he's already made up his mind that it's true.
"When the quarantine lifts, it'll likely be harder for Swastal to have his fun, you think? Might make him grumpy at the prospects." Barael picks up his scratching again, eyes half-closing in the relief.
"I like this one - you've got guts." she says coquettishly smiling at Briar all hottishly.
Briar and Laori continue there discussion while trailing (100') the rest of the party.
"Yeah, ain't these humans interesting when they aren't being rude? I think they even have names. That one is Nikolay. The ratty one is Barael. The rude one is, uh, Fondo? He confuses me. The waif's name is Dandilion Drumstick. And the one that smells of alcohol is, uh, Halfblood."
Briar squinches his face as he remembers something.
"And I am Briar Kaleseder of the Tree Kaleseder. You didn't mention your Tree, lass. Where were you raised?"
Dandi stares, horrified and fascinated by the single dancing whisker upon Barael's chin. "Oh, hold still!
Barael bobs his head from the start he gets from Dandi calling out at him, but understands slowly as she reaches for the same spot to which he's been paying attention.
He grimaces only once, as she yanks it out. "Aiee!!" His eyes water up, and glisten as his smile travels from his mouth to his fresh squint. "...hey. The itch. It's gone." He rubs his chin a while longer. "Much obliged." Barael nudges Dandi's elbow.
"You see. It'll be no time, and I won't have to worry about missing something Long-Lived says in passing."
"Llittle sister indeed 'hairs' very well. You honor both of your parents with her hairing, my beauty."
Fondo bows extravagantly to Dandi, casting a glance and mirthful smirk at Briar as he does so.