Denario doesn't do so directly, but he briefly glances sideways at Baer's reaction, knowing she doesn't think highly of the bureaucracy there.
"I am Denario Vasquez, also of the academy, currently on leave. I'll leave the introductions to them personally."
Baer leans in after hearing Zellara's voice and Mavor's calm reasoning. She kicks out a stool for Uriah.
"Tell us more of what happened to you," Baer demands, anxious to hear an experience so similar to her own.
"I'm Mavor. It seems like we've got quite a bit of people from the Academae here, be they still active or not. I'm just your common thug really, no gadgets or tricks except for my axe here."
Mavor leans in and asks Uriah another question.
"Are you also an acquaintance of Marshall Kroft? Or are you only steered to us by Zellara?"
Uriah explains his story I was once an Acadame student, but my parents went into debt with Lamm over my tuition. He had them arrested and thrown into debtors prison when they could not pay his usurious rates...my mother and father still waste away there. I meanwhile was thrown out of school and became a freelancer for some "family" men. I follow the Harrow now, it led me to Kroft, which led me to you.
"I'm Allyph, nice to meet you." Allyph casts a nervous look over her shoulder, afraid someone may be eavesdropping.
"So, uh... You're also in this Harrow card business?"
Another one from the Academae... I hope he doesn't judge me like most of those wizards there do... I was glad when I learned Baer and Denario aren't like that.
Uriah gives a broad grin to Allyph Very much Madame.
"So Uriah, may i assume you know Diana? The girl who makes the special cards at the central part of town?"
He shows one of his own special suited cards.
"Gifted in her craft and likeable. It's been a little since i last visited her."
Baer gives Denario a mocking smile as he mentions Diana.
He's picked it up quickly. We may not need to kill him to ensure his discretion.
"And I am Baer. What would you have of us? Did you wish to thank us for what we need? I'll not accept it, it was too much a joy for it to have been duty."
While Uriah thinks about his reply to the questions asked, the door to the tavern opens. A for Baer and Allyph familiar face enters the tavern: Watch Sergeant Grau Soldado.
The Watch Sergeant sees Baer and Allyph, and walks up to the table. "Greetings, ladies! And greetings to the men as well, of course."
Grau looks nothing like the drunk wreck Baer and Allyph escorted back to his guard station a while ago. He looks like a proper guard of his rank, and also acts properly.
"I want to thank you," Grau says to the women, "for what you've done for me. Mind if I join you at your table?"
Theandra returns with the ordered food and drink, and places them on the table. She looks at the two new faces, and at those who've already ordered.
"Want to order something to eat and drink for your friends?" Theandra asks those who've already ordered, subtly hinting to the fact that if the party orders something for others it can also be put on the tab.
Uriah doesn't respond to Denario, because he has no clue what he is talking about. He does respond to Baer Mistress Kroft has need of you. I have followed the Harrow to you. I would come with you on your next mission for the Fieldmarshal.
Baer kicks over another stool for Grau.
"You look different. Everything okay?" Baer asks Grau, wondering why she is attracting so many humans recently.
Mavor eyes the man slightly nervously and waits until he relaxes to put in some words.
"So Baer, Allyph, who's the man in the shining officer outfit?"
Something feels familiar about this man, although I can't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps I've seen him before, but that couldn't have been very good for either of us.
Denario leans in to Mavor.
"His looks contradict his mood. One moment he looks sad, the next he's mr sunshine."
Baer looks at Denario, trying to remember her manners.
"This here is Grouse. I think he's a Sergeant? Corporal?...with the guard. We helped him a bit during the riots," Baer introduces.
After Baer's introduction, Denario nods at the man.
"Hello Sergeant."
"Hey!" Allyph says to Grau, also having forgotten his name.
"You feeling better?"
"I'm Grau," the man says laughing, and sits down on the chair offered by Baer. "Grau Soldado. Watch Sergeant, by the way."
"I don't need a drink, I'm glad that stopped." He gives Baer and Allyph an apologetic look.
Theandra tries anyway: "You could also order some orange ju..."
"Nothing, thanks."
"Okay..." Theandra walks off disappointedly.
Grau snickers and folds his hands together. "I want to thank the ladies, whose names I've learned after asking around, for saving my ass when the riots started. I got... carried away... started drinking as a way to drown old sorrows... The ladies picked me up from the street and brought me to my station."
"I heard you met Sabina?" Grau asks after a moment of hesitation, his eyes cast down. "She was my fellow student once, at the Orisini Academy..."
Baer raises a dark-haired eyebrow at Grau, wondering what he might want.
"Oh yeah...we met briefly," Baer snorts, awaiting her food. "We have no pull or influence with her, if that's what you're asking. He tasked us, we could not...nor did not say no."
Baer looks again at Grau.
"But she seemed well, if that's what you are asking. She serves the Queen well, I think."
Uriah nods his greetings to the Sergeant Uriah Lewis, pleased to make your acquaintance
"So sergeant, what brings you here?"
Denario follows the man with attention.
"It's good to know she is," Grau replies.
"I merely came here to express my gratitude, and meet those who picked me up from the streets with sober eyes. All I can say now I see you, besides thanks, is that I can see why Cressida took a liking to you."
Grau gets up and heads for the exit of the tavern. "Best of luck with your new assignment, I heard Cressida has one ready for you tomorrow morning! Till next time!"
The following morning Field Marshal Cressida Kroft invites you in to her office with another job offer. Only this time, when she meets with you, she’s not alone. A handsome man sits in one of the chairs at her desk, and as you enter, he rises.
"I see you've met with a new person," Cressida says as she nods at Uriah. ""Let me introduce another one. He's an old friend of mine, Vencarlo Orisini."
Vencarlo bows deeply as he’s introduced, and Cressida continues: "Although Vencarlo himself has always been an outspoken critic of Korvosa’s government, I've always valued him as a friend and advisor. Particularly in these dark times, his input about the temperament and morale of the citizens of Korvosa is invaluable to me."
"You flatter me too much," Vencarlo replies with a charming smile. He then turns this smile to you. "If Korvosa had more fine folk like you, we’d already be out of this mess."
He pays particular attention to Baer and Allyph while smiling, going as far as to kiss the backs of their hands and offering Baer his chair. "There are only five extra chairs in the room, beside the Field Marshal's. Please, take mine."
"You should also have a seat," Vencarlo says to Allyph, and steps aside for her. "Ladies first, after all. Though I don't mind standing, and these other fine people may take the other empty chairs."
Quite a ladies man., as Denario sized him up.
A thought came to mind, but he didn't speak.
Instead he was waiting if he'd see a brush-off response from Baer.
Mavor looks at the new man with a frown and raises his eyebrow even more as he offers Allyph and Baer a seat.
Haven't heard of him at all, he might be good with a blade, but there are more good blades or fighters in the slums of Korvosa. Hopefully his skill and honour is as good as his flattery with women is.
"Please keep your seat Sir Orisini, I'm not as quite as relaxed when I sit down." Mavor says as he leans against the wall, his new greataxe leaning beside his leg as he does so.
Mavor looks like he's chewing on something unseen, when he stops he looks at Cressida and speaks again.
"So what would you have us do today Marshall? Something similar like yesterday?"
Know (Local)
Baer looks at Vencarlo as if she had never heard of the man. She draws her hand back from the man's mouth when he takes, having very recently used it to remove snot and slobber from her face.
She does, however, accept the chair to sit...she is a lady after all.
Baer waits to hear the news, eager for another assignment.
Uriah makes a bow and waits for the Marshall's words.
"I... uhhhhh... okay..." Not really knowing what else to say in response to Vencarlo, Allyph sits down and waits for the mission to be announced.
Not used to men like that...
Orisini smiles at Mavor, but keeps standing. "Ah, I see. I'll also remain standing though. I fear I've been sitting for too long."
Cressida scrapes her throat. "As requested by Mavor, I'll explain the new mission. Vencarlo has often come to me with news of important changes on the streets, and this is no different—indeed, what he’s learned could degrade into sanctions, embargos, or even war against Cheliax if we don’t act now. This problem is a man named Darvayne Gios Amprei. You might have heard of him—he’s an ambassador from Cheliax whose disdain for Korvosa is well documented, and yet he’s taken great pleasure in what our city has to offer. Even before this recent unrest, this man was ready to recommend to his government a sanction on trade, or perhaps even an embargo. Vencarlo has learned through his own considerable sources that Ambassador Amprei’s actual goals are to undermine Korvosa’s economy to the point where he can buy up large portions of the city from desperate landholders and establish himself in a position of power here. Whatever the ambassador’s reasons, we can’t let his bias or personal plans hurt Korvosa. Yet neither can we take drastic action—not only would killing him be wrong, but it’d simply martyr him in Cheliax’s eyes."
"Fortunately, Darvayne has his foibles. Again, Vencarlo has learned that Ambassador Amprei has been making fairly regular visits to a place in Old Korvosa called Eel’s End. This den of vice is run by a dangerous man named Devargo Barvasi, better known in Korvosa’s alleys as the King of Spiders. I’d love to put Barvasi out of business, but he pays his vice taxes regularly and never causes any problems—in fact, since he keeps his business constrained entirely within the five ships moored at Eel’s End, he’s actually one of the least of my worries. Truth be told, I can’t decide whether Devargo is a stirge or a kraken. He seems like a bloodsucking pest most days, but sometimes I fear just how far his tentacles have wormed their way into our great city. In this case though, his insidious web stretching across Korvosa’s underworld might prove to our advantage."
"Devargo would never let someone he recognizes as an ally of the Guard into Eel’s End, but your group’s a different case. I’d like you to pay a visit to Eel’s End and secure an audience with Devargo. Find out what he knows about Amprei, get proof of any illicit goings-on the ambassador might be involved with, and bring that proof to me to use to undermine any forthcoming attempts by him to get Cheliax to cut us off. Devargo might not be willing to part with his information easily. I’ll supply you with some gold to bribe him, and whatever’s left over you can keep for yourself. Remember: the man is dangerous, but so are you—if things get violent, I wouldn’t mourn his passing."
Cressida hands Uriah a small pouch filled with 1,000 gp—the party's funds for bribing Devargo. As she prepares to give you the address of Eel’s End, Vencarlo steps in. "I was heading back up to my academy in Old Korvosa anyway, and would love to escort you as far as Old Korvosa whenever you’re ready."
"Sounds like quite a piece of work, that guy. Are you sure 1000 gold pieces is going to persuade him to do what you wish to be done?"
Diplomacy
Baer snorts derisively at the paltry amount given, trying to gain more.
"We're supposed to bribe with this? This might be good for a nice message from the elves without morals, but a bribe? Or anything meaningful?"
It does seem like a paltry amount for one so wicked.. Uriah says
However, we can make do if we must.
"We could reeeaaally use some more gold, yes," Allyph adds with a sheepish smile. She tries to not look at her coin purse, which almost bursts open from holding too many coins.
Cressida frowns at you. "No... this is all you'll get."
"Are there any other questions, about the mission itself? Else I think you should get going."
"So if I get this clear, we're either trying to convince Barvasi to relinquish the information by bribe or force, but preferably the bribe right? Seems reasonable to me."
Baer has no further questions, taking the money and putting it in her purse.
The man is as good as dead if this is all the bribe money we have.
"We'll do our best," Baer says unconvincingly. You get what you pay for.
She turns to Vencarlo.
"You said you would be leading us there? We should not dally."
"Right, assignment number two. Like Baer suggested, best to get it over with."
With that said, he walks towards the door, but not passing before the others are along as well.
"That's right, Mavor," Cressida replies.
Vencarlo walks over to the door and opens it. We motions for everyone else to leave to room first, and closes the door behind him when everyone's outside the office. "Let us be on our way," he says, and starts walking.
Vencarlo Orisini is a tall man of advanced years, yet with a twinkle in his eye and a bounce to his step that hints at a vibrancy and inner fire of a man under half his age. He wears his salt-and-pepper hair pulled back tightly into a bravo’s top-knot. His eyes are a cast of deep green like the ocean after a storm. He is of Old Chelish blood, and it shows. Orisini wears black leather gloves to ensure the oils of his skin don’t rust the pommel of his shining steel rapier. "I see the young lady here also wields a rapier," he observes when looking at Allyph. "It's truly a weapon of beauty, isn't it? Did you take fencing classes?"
"That greataxe," Vencarlo says as he addresses Mavor, "is rather new, isn't it? Have you always fought with an axe and did you decide you were in need of a new one, or did you use another kind of weapon before you obtained this axe?"
"And you fight with your staff, it seems," he says as he turns to Baer. "An interesting choice. I'd much like to observe your skills some time. It's a shame I can't escort you all the way to Eel's End, in case things go wrong."
"And what's your style of fighting?" Vencarlo asks Denario and Uriah. "I see one of you carries many different weapons, and the other carries no weapons at all?"
"Yes, it certainly is a pretty weapon," Allyph replies. "Not too heavy either, which is a good thing for me."
"I've never really used a weapon like this, to be honest. I'm not that good at using it. Not yet."
Denario smiles at the question.
"Oh, a mace, a dagger and a few extra's. But it's more fun to see than to hear. But the front line's taken care of, Mavor and Baer got it covered easily."
Marhok looks to his new axe and then to Vencarlo with an appraising look.
"It's new indeed, I am used to fighting with my axe, but my trusted axe became dented and brittle, it needed an upgrade. I've got a sap a greatclub and a whip with me as well, just a natural for those I guess."
Baer ruminates on Vencarlo's dismissal of her staff.
It seemed like a fine weapon when I was bashing Lamm's brains in.
Her eyes flicker to the newcomer, Uriah, seeking to know what to make of him. She walks in silence, alert, and with a building of anger at things she does not yet understand.
Uriah responds to Vencarlo with a smile I'd like to think that my words are sharp enough that I never need resort to steel.
He walks along with the others The Harrow leads me down paths that ensure I am always well protected, my weapons are words and my armor is trust. What else does a man need?
"Some luck on occasion."
"And you fight with your staff, it seems," he says as he turns to Baer. "An interesting choice. I'd much like to observe your skills some time."
Baer finally finds her voice.
"Maybe someday you will have the chance to see my staffwork firsthand. As it stands now, my work is my work," Baer says.
"How far is it to Eel's End? Does anyone know?" Baer's rage is rising and she doesn't know why.
Know (local)
Vencarlo laughs cheerfully at both Allyph and Denario their replies. "Young lady, you're welcome to come train at my school. Though I suppose your missions for the guard keep you occupied. And young man, I trust it that means you cover the front line's backs. That can be a task of equal danger as fighting on the front line. Though it's true luck's helpful, don't rely on it too much."
"I didn't mean to make that sound bad, young lady," Vencarlo says apologetically to Baer. "I'm honestly curious to see your skills with the staff, a weapon I'm not as familiar with, to learn more about it. Which is the reason I'd like to come with you; to observe a possible fight. It's a shame I can't."
"Sometimes you need an upgrade," Vencarlo replies to Mavor, "but I prefer this beauty of mine. I take good care of her, giving her the respect she deserves."
Vencarlo turns to Uriah. "The Harrow you say, young sir? It's a powerful weapon indeed, if used by the right person. Which I trust you are," he adds with a bright smile.
"I want to thank the ladies for helping Grau earlier," Vencarlo says as he continues to guide you. "He was once one of my most promising students."
"I'm honestly curious to see your skills with the staff, a weapon I'm not as familiar with, to learn more about it. Which is the reason I'd like to come with you; to observe a possible fight. It's a shame I can't."
Baer grits her teeth...not mad at him necessarily, but at something he stands for.
"Yes, it's a shame. Mayhaps another time...and, oh look!, we're very close now," Baer hints.
"I want to thank the ladies for helping Grau earlier," Vencarlo says as he continues to guide you. "He was once one of my most promising students."
Know (Local)
"Of course, we were happy to help him. Oh! Look at where we are...so close..." Baer hints again, trying to keep her temper...uh...tempered.
"Indeed, we're almost there," Vencarlo says as you finally cross the Narrows and enter Old Korvosa. He stops walking.
"You can find Eel’s End to the east." He points into the direction you need to go. "It's the first pier after the last bridge over the Narrows. Good luck on your mission!"
With a swift bow Vencarlo spins on a heel and is gone. Several minutes later you find yourselves at your destination.
The sound of carousing booms from the elegantly painted ships moored to this long pier. Large signs painted in several languages hang from ropes slung between ships or are nailed to pilings. The closest ship to the east bears a sign that says, “The Twin Tigers—Take the Tiger by the Tail and Try Your Luck!” Opposite that, to the west, a barge’s sign says, “Welcome to the Golden hawk—No Safer Stay in Old Korvosa!” Further to the southeast is “Dragon’s Breath Corridor—Dream the Dragon’s Dreams at Affordable Prices!”,while opposite that is the “House of Clouds—The Caress of Our Lovelies Will Take You Straight to Heaven!” Only the largest ship, to the south, bears no signage at all. Short rope bridges or gangplanks provide access to the decks of these ships from the pier, or from the decks of other ships. Sailors, thugs, drunkards, prostitutes, and what could even be a few well-dressed nobles carouse on the pier and the decks of all five ships, seemingly oblivious to Korvosa’s recent troubles. Here and there, large men dressed in chainmail patrol the area, grim faces in a sea of revelry.
Mavor eyes the pier with inquisitive eyes, a slight twinkle in them, but harshness for the most part.
"I've been here before in my youth, can't say I remember much of it, but I definitely remember the pier and those boats and their names. I've must've been only 8 or something."
Mavor looks around and points out the guards to the others.
"See those goons? They must be guards with how they look, easily to spot as always. Let's stay clear of them as best as we can alright?"
"I'm not sure where Barvasi is holding up, but we could split up and see. My best bet is that that large ship over there is his living quarters, seeing as he is in charge, but he might not be there right now. Any preference for ships to nose around in?"
Baer takes in the ships and men with an unpracticed eye as she's rarely on a boat, let alone slumming it in the docks. She looks where Mavor points out the goons, nodding.
"Mavor, would it be better to move in two smaller groups or as the five of us together?" Baer asks. "Maybe splitting up will have us finding our destination faster and with less suspicion."
If others agree, Baer will split off with Mavor to check out the Twin Tigers and Golden Hawk while Allyph, Uriah, and Denario check out the Breath Corridor and House of Clouds.
"We can meet at the last slip...the largest one if we don't find our quarry within."
Denario looks quickly around, he's not been around the docks much. But he'd be damned if one of the unlucky losers from one of countless poker games didn't work at the docks. He looks back though as Baer decides a splitup.
"No problem with that, it should indeed be faster that way."
Though Allyph might not want to enter the House of Clouds so quickly.
Uriah nods at Denario. Let's go and he moves towards the first ship named.