Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master StephNyan

Trinia hesitantly replies to Mavor's question about her disguise, meanwhile giving Vencarlo a confused look. "Why would being a painter help me disguise myself...?"

Vencarlo shrugs. "I think he means that you may use make-up to appear different."

"Oh... No, I can't..."

"I blacked out at times during the escape and can't clearly remember everything," Trinia says in reply to Qourthos's flood of questions, "but Blackjack and I eventually came to Vencarlo's Academy, where Blackjack broke into the building and asked me to stay. Vencarlo's been taking care of me since. He promised Blackjack to keep me in hiding until I could escape from Korvosa. I don't know where Blackjack is now."

Vencarlo continues from there: "I already explained the reason Trinia's still here. Both the Korvosan Guard and the Sable Company have been searching for her tirelessly. They stopped by several times, and I've only just barely been able to turn them away each time. It's not a good idea for me to go out and escort her, but you could do it."

"If you safely escort the young lady out of the city, I will make preparations for your investigation of that ship. It's a fair deal. What do you expect you will need? Are you capable of using scrolls of water breathing, or do you require the potions?"

Baer nods in agreement.

"Yes, I can use scrolls of such. My training isn't deep, but I might wade that far into the mystical energies to make that happen. Would you be able to help us swim better as well?"

That part covered, Baer leans forward.

"Where do you want us to take her? Is it far? Are you sure it's safe? Is there a map?"

"If others can use the scrolls on me, then we'd only require the scrolls. Otherwise at least I need a potion. Baer beat me to the the other important question. Do we need to take her to the ranchers ourselves or will they come and pick her up? Do you have another contact outside of the city and if so, how do we recognise him or her?"

"I can also use the scroll, so that problem is solved. I do think that the swimming will be the same though."
He waits for the reply on the questions from Baer.

"If we can find a way to breath, I can swim like a fish," Quorthos mentions. "But we have to get her out of the city first. I think we should take Trinia to the ranchers directly - the fewer people involved, the less chance someone will be bought off and talk."

Quorthos looks over Trinia intently, mentally calculating what type of bag she will fit into most easily.

"I'll see what I can do. I can get at least the scrolls to let you breathe underwater for several hours. If one of you can use those, then they can be used on all of you."

"As for getting Trinia out of Korvosa, with the recent events near North Bridge I suggest you act as normal as possible. Take a slow walk through the city down to High Bridge, go up to Dwarfwalk Road and mingle with the afternoon's merchants leaving the city. Please don't do anything dramatic. The Guard's certainly on alert for such theatrics as flying people or other shows of magical power."

Vencarlo opens a drawer and pulls out a map. "This is a map of Varisia. In the bottom right corner you'll find Korvosa. Harse is about sixty miles to the northwest, where the Sarwin River and Falcon River meet. You don't have to escort Trinia all the way to Harse. I've given her some gold to buy a horse and necessary supplies. If you escort her to some place where she can buy those, she'll be fine from there."

Vencarlo folds the map up and hands it to Trinia. "Here you go, dear."

"We're going out of Korvosa!" you hear Majenko 'say' enthusiastically. "It'll be like a vacation! I've never been on a vacation! It'll be awesome!"

Out of the city for a while again. That will be a nice change.

"I think we'll manage. I'm ready to go if you guys are."
He says to the others.

Baer smiles at Majenko, its thoughts echoing her own...literally.

"I could leave this day," Baer says, rising. "And whenever we are ready." Baer rises to look at the map. "It is not too far to go, and the disease may have died down by the time we get back. That is good too."

Baer levels a look at Trinia.

"Maybe on the road, you'll apologize for causing me to fall of a roof, Trinia. Or we should discuss why you should."

Trinia looks at Baer and blinks. "What...?"

"Oh my, I'm so sorry! I hope you didn't hurt yourself badly?!"

Anything you want to pick up before leaving the city?

Allyph looks hesitant as she speaks up. "Guys, if the destination's Harse... I'd rather stay here... I was born in a town not far from Harse, and I don't want to go near there... They chased my mother and me off, because of my magic and my... well, race..."

She gives you an apologetic look. "If you don't mind I'll stay in Korvosa. Maybe I can try to gather some more information about blood veil while you're gone."

"If that is your wish Allyph, I will not force you to go. But we will probably not travel to Harse ourselves, only if we need to. I'm pretty much set for a longer journey, only will have to pack a tent, bedroll and food for along the way. Anything else we might need?"

Baer looks embarrassed as she's fine now with no lasting damage save to her pride.

"Fine. I'm fine. It's all fine," Baer says passive-aggressively as if she doesn't, yet does, want to talk more about it.

"A waterskin would also be useful," Vencarlo points out, "but otherwise I think you named everything required, Mavor."

"I'll wait here with Trinia. Come back when you've bought your stuff."

Allyph walks to the store with the others, where you quickly split the money you got earlier.

After you've made your purchases you leave the store again, and Allyph waves you goodbye. "See you again in a few days! Take care!"

"Hey!" Trinia says when you return to Vencarlo's Academy. "Vencarlo just left. He's already gone after those scrolls you wanted. Ready to go?"

Trinia picks up her backpack and smiles. "It may sound strange, because I'm fleeing, but I'm actually looking forward to the trip. I wonder what Harse will be like, has any of you ever been there?"

everyone may make one roll, and open up all spoilers equal to and lower than the result.

Kn. Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Traveled through the village once. What do you want to know about it?"
Without really waiting for a reply Tural starts telling his whole know how of the village.

The village of Harse known for its horse and livestock breeding, and holds a large rodeo at the Harse Market each year to determine Varisia's top riders and animals."
He seems to think to himself a bit.

"Some history on the village... Founded by Sarwin Harse, the village of Harse is an important gateway between Korvosa's inland holdings and its seaward settlements. Positioned at the junction of the Sarwin and Falcon Rivers, the village's twin ferries provide the easiest means of crossing both rivers for travelers in the area. Well that's what one of the locals told me anyways."
He glances at Trinia and goes on with his story without waiting for a reply.

"The village is built on a narrow strip of land between the Sarwin and Falcon rivers, and has been a river crossing since the time before the Chelaxians came there. It contains only a few dozen buildings, including a church of Erastil, two grocers, and two taverns (the Spotted Pony, and the Nag Bag). Most of the inhabitants do not live in the village proper, but on isolated farms and ranches spread about the local countryside. And that last part was mostly on a map combined with some personal experience. Good place to go for now, now that I recall it!"
Tural finally finishes.

"What do you plan on doing? Keep running or have you any plans?"

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Know (Local)

"Horses. Livestock. Whoopee," Baer grunts unexcitedly. Still, to be gone from Korvosa when there was a whiskey fueled plague hitting was a nice reason to leave.

"Do you think we'll need a tent? Just food, right? Water? I have my bedroll." Baer points to her bedroll and the rest of her supplies she gathered from her room.

"And there should be inns along the way. This *is* civilized country, after all."

Kn. local untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Of all times huh....

"A rodeo eh? Good place to earn some extra coin."

"I'd suggest a tent as well Baer, food water and a bedroll are important, but if it rains at night, you'll be mighty clad if you've brought a roof with you."

Quorthos hesitates as the group prepares to travel. "Perhaps I will stay in town with Allyph," he begins. "While I will be glad to see Trinia safe, I feel my place is here. My city is in danger, and I do not think we can spare several days just to aid a single person, no matter how deserving."

Baer, upon the urging of Mavor, buys a tent.

"Perhaps I will stay in town with Allyph..."

"Perhaps you will *not*!" Baer blurts out perhaps a bit too forcefully. I paid good money for him, and I'm not going to lose that investment to the plague.

"You're coming with us, boy. I'm not leaving you in this city alone. Besides, the fresh air of the outdoors would be good for you. Now, go get a tent or you'll be stuck in mine," Baer growls.

"Don't have the back to also carry a tent. Could I share someone's tent?"
Tural asks everyone in the group in the hopes he doesn't have to overburden himself.
"I do think we need one. I'll get a bedroll in town before we leave, otherwise I have everything I might need."

"I still have a spare tent, back at my folks' house, if they haven't tossed it away though.
"

"I still need to buy a tent, so I could buy a large enough one for two, Tural. Room enough for two."

Denario suddenly remembers his parents tossed the tent out a year ago. Nice try though :P

If you're going to buy a tent, I'd like to suggest this model. Everyone will fit inside! :)

(This link may actually help in case you want a tent.)

Lol... that would fit a whole town!

"I'll pitch in. Do we buy a big one or just one for the two of us?"
Tural asks Mavor.
"In a large one we could all fit. Though it takes some time to set up."

"Baer might want a tent for herself, but I have no qualms of sharing a tent with any of you. If Denario chips in as well, we'll buy a large tent for at least the three of us. I can carry that on top of my backpack, no worries."

"No problem."

A large tent costs 30gp. -10gp for Tural, and same for Denario and Mavor. If Quorthos wants to chip in as well he can settle that with the others.

You follow Vencarlo's plan and take a slow walk through the city down to High Bridge and then up to Dwarfwalk Road. You mingle with the afternoon's merchants leaving the city, and have no trouble leaving the city.

You now find yourselves on Dwarfwalk Road, east of the Thief's Camp.

"So why'd you decide to help me now, after trying to capture me before?" Trinia asks curiously as you follow the road.

Baer stares at the others, unable to vocalize a good response.

"It was nothing personal in capturing you. You, as far as I know, never harmed any of us. It was just a job...that we failed," Baer finally realizes. "Besides, if Blackjack thinks you innocent, and Cressida probably does too, then maybe you are."

"Quorthos you also want a sleeping spot? Or do you want to sleep next to Trinia?"
Tural asks his red friend with a wicked grin. As reply to Trinia's question he says.
"Nothing personal. A job is a job for us. Although we had are doubts that you were guilty."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Those two are right." Mavor says while pointing to Baer and Tural.

"Marshall Kroft wanted to get you into custody before any of the marines would. She was worried you would be brought to the palace immediately instead and get judged right then and there. She wanted to find out if you were innocent or not, not believing the new queen on her word. That's basically what I got out of it."

Quorthos is stunned into silence by Baer's outburst, and falls into line with the rest of the group. He gathers his things quickly, and answers most queries with just a simple nod or shake of the head.

Outside town, Quorthos pauses for a long look back at his city. I hope we're doing the right thing... Will Korvosa still be here after our side job, or will it be a city of the dead and dying?

During preparations, Quorthos made arrangements to have one more antitoxin delivered to the sick girl, and stopped by his father's shop to gather his things and say goodbye. He ignores the tent issue until well out of town, but has his bedroll etc.

Baer looks at Mavor.

Of course I'm right.

Baer continues to walk, her staff thumping along as she walks.

"Hmm, I see. Vencarlo told me you work for the Field Marshal, and he mentioned you're trustworthy. Have you worked with him before?"

Trinia looks at each of you in turn. "Sooo... what are you working on now, or is that classified? I heard Allyph say something about a disease before she left?"

As you walk you come to a crossroad, with two separate roads leading north. There are no signs, but your map shows you both roads will eventually take you to the same town up north. The road to the northeast is the shortest and will take you through a forest, while the road to the northwest will take you around the forest.

Trinia studies the map before looking at you with a questioning face.

Quorthos is still preoccupied with the situation in Korvosa, so he follows the group on whichever path they take.

In response to Trinia: "I don't think it's a secret - hundreds of people already know. Some sort of ship attacked Korvosa and was sunk in the outer harbor. Of course, the locals looted it, and it seems like those who took stuff from the ship have gotten sick. It's spreading, too." I still don't get how a disease could spread that fast. Unless it's not a disease...

"Aye, we're going to investigate the ship ourselves and report our findings to Marshall Kroft afterwards. Something about that ship and the outbreak seems too convenient to be mere coincidence."

"We're not sure if the disease is being spread by what was taken from the ship or by whiskey and possibly other alcoholic drinks, however. There is still some discussion about that. But I guess we won't know for sure until we examine the ship," Baer adds as she walks along.

"Very true."

Denario nods, agreeing with Baer.
"Best we keep our mouth and noses covered, when we enter that ship.
We're investigating, but we're not of use to ourselves or each other, if we get ill too."

"First things first though!"
Tural adds to the conversation.
"Let's get you to safety."

Trinia smiles at Tural. "That sounds like a good plan."

She takes a coin from her pocket and flips it.

1d2 ⇒ 1

"Let's take that road," she says after checking the coin, and points at the road leading into the forest.

Over the course of several hours you walk the road toward the forest. It's slowly getting dark when you arrive at its edge. After you walk a little into the forest you soon spot a small field among the trees, which would make an ideal spot to set up your tents.

"Shall we camp here?" Trinia asks.

Baer looks around, no expert on camping outdoors, agrees with Trinia. She slumps off her pack and walks around.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Perception

"Sure. We should build a fire, right? Don't we do that? And set a watch. Who wants to set the watch?"

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Urbar checks the spot to see if everything is safe, if so then he continues.
"Let's first set up the tent. Baer could you get some dry wood to build the fire? I have a flint and steel in my pack to get it going."
He walks over to Mavor to get the tent out of his pack and to start setting it up.
"I don't mind having watch. I do need some time alone though to get my spells back."

"Let's first set up the tent. Baer could you get some dry wood to build the fire? I have a flint and steel in my pack to get it going."

Baer smirks at the leafy man giving orders.

"You want me to the wood? I'm guessing that if you did it, you'd be afraid of picking up a cousin or long dead uncle, huh?" Baer snorts at her own *very* funny joke and goes to get firewood.

Denario was flicking a card through his fingers, staring ahead into nowhere specific.

The faint joke of Baer took him back.
Heh...there used to be that one guy, lousy joker and a lousy bluff.

"Wait up, i'll come along, it'll go faster with two of us carrying firewood."

Quorthos smiles faintly at Baer's attempt at humor, and helps Tural with the tent. "I will take a watch as well," he offers.

"I'll take a middel watch then." Mavor says while he is setting up the tent together with Tural.

"My vision in the dark is quite good, I'll wager Baer's is as well."

"Any idea how long it is from here to a stable of sorts?"

"I've never been one with maps," replies Quorthos. "And even though I don't have green skin, I can see in the dark as well."

"Who wants to set the watch?"

Baer returns, confused by the talk of taking shifts.

"That is not setting the watch. Setting the watch is assigning those shifts so that every shift is covered by one, if not two. You *could* listen to preferences, but it should be done by one so that all know what is expected."

Baer asks again, laying her firewood into a pile in the center of camp.

"Who wants to set the watch?"