Yazi and Li make it out into the street together, the former supported by the latter with an arm thrown over the younger woman's shoulders. Li slowly lowers both Yazi and the haversack to the ground, and all eyes turn toward the burning home. The west end is now entirely consumed in flame, a towering inferno whose intense heat can be felt across the street. The unconscious body of the mantis comes sailing out of a window, soon followed by the dresser, which comes crashing onto the cobblestones less than a foot away. With a loud crack, the second floor baseboards give out and collapse down into the living area, causing the first floor windows to explode. A moment later, the hulking form of Garvid, soot-stained and singed, emerges from the house clutching the papers from the office desk.
Fire is one of the few things that can still draw Old Korvosa's citizens out, and soon a crowd of bystanders and roughnecks join together, fetching pales of filthy water. In the chaos, it's a simple thing to claim your things and dissolve into the shadows of a nearby alley...
"Psst! Over here!" A young man stands in the doorfame of a partially collapsed building on the block catty corner to Vencarlo's burning home. "This way!"
Li feels relief when she gets Yazi out of the burning house. Even more so when Garvid appears after them. Everyone has made it out alive but they are drawing a crowd, or at least the fire is.
The rogue's eyes slide over the young man beckoning from across the way and she can't help feeling she's seen him somewhere before. Considering she doesn't feel any animosity towards him, she takes a hesitant step in his direction.
"The sticks... here, somewhere." Yaziyah mutters as she pats at her belt, retrieving a wand and holding it with both hands against her chest, eyes closed in bliss as the healing energies wash over her.
"There. Much better." she sighs, looking indeed quite invigorated. "Tsk. Look at all this blood. Good thing I wear so much red, eh?"
She frowns as the stranger's voice enters her awareness. Or is he a stranger...?
Holding the papers as the last remains of Vencarlo's residence, Garvid quickly stashes them inside his bag. "Let's hope that wasn't all an effort to save his love letters.", he lets out a sigh, just as the young man calls them over. That guy's face..., he squints his eyebrows suspiciously, but the gathering crowd gathers his attention. "Alright. We should play it safe. Queen or Emperor, nobility doesn't seem to have our best interests at heart.", he flashes a grin at Lord Talfryn. "Present company excepted." He unceremoniously shuffles an unconscious assassin on his back, before quickly dashing in the direction of the familiar face.
Kynes breathes heavily from his fall. A geyser of frustration rips through him, threatening to upturn his carefully managed facade. Reason. Precision. Service. These were the marks of his training. These marks contained him, guided him, provided the foundation upon which he built a purpose.
But Leah Kynes was a lion. A bear. He was a passion that strained against all that he had built. Ogre. Kynes breathed.
Jenivere, I remember. Kynes clinches, grinding his teeth in a dark meditation.
My words cut and festered.
Inviting, the black beetles swarmed
And ripped.
And ripped.
And ripped.
Until you were no more.
Ogre. Ogre.
Ogre.
It was his prayer. A prayer for forgiveness.
Slowly his anger retreats. Kynes stands. Tall, and broad. Let us be away from here. We gather too much attention.
Lord Talfryn frets and worries as the others fight to emerge from the blazing building, only heaving a sigh of relief when Garvid emerges at last with the unconscious and papers.
"Miss Tanja," he says, hurrying forward as the Shoanti woman emerges, "Thank goodness. Please, understand that I left you behind only because Garvid and Li stood the greatest chance of stopping the assassin with brute force and arrows before it could escape -"
His rushed apology is cut off by the beckons of the stranger in the alley. Straightening as best his curved spine allows, Talfryn adjusts his monocle, glances askance at his companions, then makes a face of surprise and confusion and follows after, putting his apologies aside, for now.
Yaziyah waves off Talfryn's explanation. "You did right. Can't have invisible assassins running around the city. And this one better have some answers for us. But first..."
The Shoanti woman strides towards the young man, looking him up and down. "Haven't had enough of mobs, kid? What in all hells are you doing here?" For the others' benefit, she explains. "This one here was set upon by some 'concerned citizens' the night the king died. Our friend Calcedon distracted them enough for him, and us, to make an escape. Don't remember your name, I'm afraid." She grins at the young noble, blood and soot staining her face.
Garvid remains silent, focusing on carrying the body on his shoulder, though a smile curves on his lips as Lord Talfryn makes his apology.
As he steps through the uneven cobblestones, a sharp pain of straing and exhaustion crosses his back. Grunting, he shuffles forwards.I miss the cart. I liked throwing knocked-out a*@@~~~s on the cart. And if it was quiet, you could sit in the cart., his memories drift to a calmer, simpler time long gone, before the crowds quiet down, and the others stare at the young man.
"Maybe our old friend here's just someone with a death wish and a luck more rotten than Urgathoa.", Garvid's mind manages to pry out the answer a moment later, before the tired man leans back, readjusting the weight on his shoulder. "Are we still hiring?" Garvid forces a tired, sweaty grin on his face. "Still, seems like there is some justice in the world, isn't it. Thanks." His eyes stare into Amin's, as he leans the halberd on the wall, extending a hand. "Where to?"
”A-A-Amin,” the young man stammers. ”Amin Jalento! It’s you. I--I can’t believe it’s really you!” Amin’s clearly overjoyed to have run across your path again, so overjoyed he hardly notices the two unconscious insectoid assassins you’re hauling, much less your singed clothes and hair. He ushers you quickly into his hiding place, a partially collapsed workshop of sorts, with an old, broken spinning wheel collecting dust on the floor. He beams as Yazi recounts their first meeting. Despite his unshaven and generally haggard appearance, he remains surprisingly upbeat. ”I’m afraid I can’t recall your names either. In all that’s happened, I’ve lost so many things, the least of which is my recollection!”
”As for...well, this,” he gestures to his current domiciliary, ”I was attending classes at Vencarlo’s academy when the quarantine hit, and when I was unable to procure passage back to the mainland and my home, Vencarlo he, well he was gracious enough to allow me to stay at the academy as a guest.” He kicks one of the unconscious mantis assassins. ”That all ended when several of these cads showed up three nights ago. I saw them attack Vencarlo. He was magnificent, holding them off with his rapier! He took one of them down, but there were too many. Vencarlo was forced to flee, and I in the other direction. Then the academy burned. I assumed the assassins burned it down as a warning as much as anything else. I’ve been hiding in and around this building since. And now--now these scoundrels have burned down his home, too.” He kicks the mantis again. ”What do you aim to do with them? I say we throw them back in the fire.”
The fire does not hurt these while armored thus. he pauses, taking in the man with a calculating eye. I am Leah Kynes. I do not believe we have met.
As Amin kicks down the door, Garvid gratefully lays down the bodies on the ground, making sure their manacles are locked. Giving a ponderous glance at the jovial and excited man, he rustles his gauntlet across his chin Hm. I wonder if the kid started taking swordfight lessons because of the crowd. A sword in the hand is a good way to feel in control, as much as it's not a great idea to hold one towards a crowd. Sending a grimaced smile, he shakes his head.
"Orsini must be pretty good to hold 'em off. Those two gave us enough trouble on their own.", he notes as Amin's boot lands in the mantis, his glance impassive. "We're going to ask them some questions.", he shakes his head, clearly confident that they'll learn nothing. "And then, for the arson alone, they'll hang. Would've preferred an Arbiter to watch over it, but...", he sighs. "And then we're going off to find Orsini. There's bound to be more bugs coming his way."
Grumbling as he stands up, Garvid takes a look around the ruined workshop. "Unless anyone objects, this place looks hidden away as any. I say we stay and think of our next step in here." Leaning on the dusty wall, clears his throat. "Alright, kid. I, for one, would like to know what the f+*% happened in Old Korvosa in the past month. And I'm damn sure I'm not the only one." His gaze lingers on Li and Yazi, as he sighs out deeply. This was my work, but it is their home.
Everything falls into place for Li as Yazi explains the young man to the others. That's why he had looked so familiar. That night that King Eodred's death had thrown the city into chaos seems so tame now compared to what had befallen Korvosa in its wake. "Be lookin' like trouble in tha city be bringin' us t'gether ag'in. Tell us what be goin' on."
Afterwards her face shows concern, "So Vencarlo ain't b'n back? He be hurtin' at all tha last time ya be seein' him? Do ya be knowin' where in Old Korvosa he might be goin?"
Amin extends a gentlemanly toward Kynes. ”A pleasure! So, you’re with these now? ”
"Alright, kid. I, for one, would like to know what the f&+* happened in Old Korvosa in the past month. And I'm damn sure I'm not the only one."
"Be lookin' like trouble in tha city be bringin' us t'gether ag'in. Tell us what be goin' on."
Amin crouches down onto the dirty plank floor, rubbing his hands as he thinks. “The last few weeks have been the worst the citizens here have known. The King’s death and the plague were bad enough, but it was the sudden destruction of the bridges linking the old city to the new that triggered the final breakdown in law and order. Abandoned by the government, Old Korvosa's descended into anarchy. It was always a rough area, yes, but it was home to honest laborers. Now… Now, a mob rules—under the eye of a self-styled ‘Emporor’.
“When the district was cut off from the rest of the city, even the Arkonas withdrew their support back into the highest part of Old Korvosa, their home, Fort Korvosa, and abandoned us to anarchy. It's particularly vexing, as the Arkonas have always sought to protect those who live here. Vencarlo mused it's some part of a larger power play, but I can't see what it would be, handing Old Korvosa over to the mob at a time when they were poised to gain control of the whole island for themselves. What else could they be holding out for?
“At any rate, it's all gone to pot. Even if Fort Korvosa has weathered the best, Garrison Hill's seen several fires destroy buildings, and the folks stay shut in except as necessary to scavenge supplies. Bridgefront, well! It's seen the worst, with the destruction of the bridges over the Narrows. But even that's not the most dangerous place here. That honor falls upon Old Dock, for it's there I here the Emperor rules his mob.”
"Orsini must be pretty good to hold 'em off. Those two gave us enough trouble on their own."
"So Vencarlo ain't b'n back? He be hurtin' at all tha last time ya be seein' him? Do ya be knowin' where in Old Korvosa he might be goin?"
”Vencarlo’s the best fencer the city’s ever seen! He taught Sabina Merrin herself, you know. A swordsman of that caliber is a great asset, or, to some, perhaps a great liability. Oh he took a few cuts, but always calculated hits, and returned thrice what he got! But not major wounds that I could tell, or else he hid it well…”
”Now, as to where Vencarlo’s gone, that’s what I’ve been pondering for the last few days. I haven’t seen him around here, but he’s smart enough to know better, to know he’s being hunted. In short, I don’t know where he would have gone, but I do have a suspicion…
“In the days after the quarantine, while I was Vencarlo’s guest, I noticed he seemed restless, distracted. He regularly left the house at odd hours in the night, sometimes not returning until morning. After one such return, his clothes were bloody, but he brushed it off, saying he’d had to fight off a thief. But I’m sure there was more to it than that, for no mere thief could have gotten the upper hand on the Great Orisini!
“Furthermore, in the days before these assassins attacked, Vencarlo had, well a singularly strange houseguest visit several times--a man with paint-stained clothes, wild hair, and a jittery habit of looking about. Vencarlo introduced him as a friend, but I recognized him! He’s an artist named Salvator Scream. Grissly work, rather demented I’d say. Regardless, he and Vencarlo always met behind closed doors, three times in all, and on that last meeting I swear I heard Vencarlo shouting in ranger.”
Amin frowns, staring at a broken barrel. ”I don’t know more than that. I’ve been meaning to try to track down Salvator to ask him if he knows about Vencarlo, but I fear the assassins are watching me, even now. And with these scoundrels’ blood on your hands, they might be watching you, too. I don’t want to lead them straight to Vencarlo. That, and…” He looks embarrassed. ”I haven’t worked up the courage to get near Old Dock. That’s where Salvator lives.”
Li then hauls out the iron lockbox found in Vencarlo’s home. The lock is extraordinarily complex, but Li’s talents are up to the task, and after a few minutes it pops open. Inside is a bag of holding that contains a black hooded cloak of elvenkind, several black masks, a dozen masterwork daggers with a stylized “B” engraved in their pommels, a black leather suit of +2 slick leather armor, a pair of black leather boots of elvenkind, an amulet of proof against detection and location, a pair of black leather gloves of swimming and climbing with two fingers in the right hand containing fake, adjustable wooden fingers, and an exquisite +2 keen mithral rapier.
You recognize the clothes immediately from Trinia’s botched execution. These are Blackjack’s signature armor and weaponry.
The expression on Yaziyah's face progressively sours as Amin describes the situation in Old Korvosa.
"Bridgefront, well! It's seen the worst, with the destruction of the bridges over the Narrows."
She spits through clenched teeth. "Curse the queen! She condemned Old Korvosa when she ordered the bridges destroyed! Even if we didn't know what she truly is..." The Shoanti grunts in frustration, kicking at a piece of debris as she paces in front of Amin.
"...no mere thief could have gotten the upper hand on the Great Orisini!"
"Yes yes yes, he is good. But why are the Red Mantis after him? Why try and assassinate a swordmaster? Unless..." She stops pacing for a moment, tapping her lower lip with a finger. "He trained Sabina Merrin, yes? Who is the queen's bodyguard, and unless the pupil surpassed the master... perhaps Sabina sees him as a threat, the only one to best her, and wants him eliminated."
As the noble continues to talk, the shaman frowns. "A painter? Any connection to our friend Trinia, do you think?" she asks of the others. For Talfryn and Leah's benefit, she adds. "You may remember the young painter who was accused of murdering the king and was nearly executed - well, that wasn't her on the scaffold that day. We smuggled the real Trinia out of the city, with Vencarlo's help. Funny, he seems to associate with these artist types a lot."
She is about to say more, when Li manages to unlock the strongbox and reveals its contents. "Well, well, well. Of course. I should have seen it earlier. Blackjack, eh? You old fox." She grins, then sobers again. "So, it sounds like we need to go into the Old Dock. Not a nice place in the best of times, but it is what it is. I wonder if our old friend the King of Spiders is this new self-styled emperor. I would not put it past him, he did have a rather high opinion of himself last we spoke with him."
Talfryn pulls at his mustache in consternation.
"I admit that we must plunge into the squalid den of iniquity that are these Old Docks, but I'm afraid I expended no small amount of magical resources in our fight with these insectoid assassins. May I suggest we rest, interrogate them, discern what we might of their objectives and employers, and once refreshed, only then pursue this course of action?"
I gazes down at the bug men.
"Fortuitously, I prepared a spell that might allow me to read their surface thoughts. While they're interrogated, asking them of their employer and so forth might bring those thoughts to mind, such that I can pluck them forth even if they prove sufficiently disciplined to resist our encouragements to speak."
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Garvid smiles as he watches Li practice her craft. Hm. I still wish I learned how to do that, but there's no way my fingers are getting nimble enough for that. The box goes click, and the guard nods in appreciation.
Remaining quiet as Amin tells his tale, Garvid seems to gloom as he glares towards the unconscious assassins. "Merrin...", he grumbles almost by instinct as the young man starts exasperating over the duelist. "If Merrin thinks anyone who's out to get her is going to have an honourable duel, then she's even more of a disgrace than I thought... More like she and the Queen got talking, and the queen connected the dots to him being Blackjack and ordered it. Ordering the man who trained you is low. Real low.", he shakes his head, then shrugs at the painter comment. "Swordfighters see it as an art, or a dance. I imagine that's why." He pats his halberd, the blood on the handle still wet. "I'm more of a... percussionist."
As Barvasi is mentioned, Garvid growls. "If it is him, then at least we got our foot in the door." The words seem to come out of his mouth almost at swordpoint. "As much as he's the biggest turd in the gutter, he's smart enough to know that when the quarantine's lifted, the Gray Maidens are coming to put everything to the sword."
He nods at the papers. "I've got all this to sift through. I'd suggest at least two people stay on watch over Ladybug and Grasshopper here at all times during the night, and we'll spend a little more time resting tomorrow." He nods at the Lamplighter. He looks a bit on edge. "Kynes, you sounded like you aren't the sort of person I want to be in front of me shouting questions back there.", the guard smirks with a smile of appreciation. "If you and I both work 'em at the same time, His Lordship's bound to pick something from their brains."
All Kynes manages to say is,Blackjack. Vencarlo? Fascinating.
Shaking that revelation off, he nods at Garvid. I am a trained interrogator, both in diplomacy and intimidation. You pounded the. into submission, so you play the role of intimidator, and I'll persuade. My primary concern however is they be unable to use magic to confound and kill us. I also suggest that we strip them of their gear while they are incapacitated, then bind them. The others should listen into discern lies from truths.
Li listens to Amin and familiar names keep popping up. "Be soundin' like we be havin' a lot of rabbit trails ta run. The Arkonas, if they be in Ol' Korvosa, we should be havin' a chat wit' 'em 'bout tha warehouse they be 'sellin'. Salvator tha artist may be knowin' where Vencarlo be. And be findin' out who be the Emperor, whether it be Barvasi or someone else. Not ta mention findin' out who tha insects be an' who be in charge o' 'em."
Finally she's able to focus on the lockbox they found in Vencarlo's home. She's so focused on the lock, one of the more complicated ones she's encountered thus far, that she doesn't realize that she's being watched. When she gets it open she smiles in satisfaction and begins to pull out the contents. She gasps as she recognizes the items and then looks up at the others. Meeting Garvid and Yazi's eyes she exclaims, "These be Blackjack's!" She turns over the items almost reverently, admiring the armor and the boots. "I guess we never be askin' him directly if he be Blackjack." She takes a closer look at the gloves and finds the wooden fingers. "I be noticin' tha same look ta Vencarlo's gloves tha first time we be meetin' him in tha Marshal's office. I be thinkin' it proof they be tha same person."
Li pulls out her sap. "I c'n be helpin' ta keep watch. An' when it be time ta be askin' 'em questions I c'n be at tha ready ta be makin' 'em unconscious ag'in. C'n we be unmaskin' 'em now an' be findin' out who they be?"
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The papers recovered from the desk are mostly accounting documents and ledgers for Vencarlo’s academy. It appears that up until the death of King Eodred II, Vencarlo’s academy was doing rather well, but then business turned bad as students failed to show and Vencarlo took an increasing number of breaks from teaching.
Tales of Blackjack’s moves against corrupt politicians, cruel nobles, and greedy merchants have been part of Korvosa’s culture for two centuries, and although Blackjack hasn’t made an appearance for a decade (until recently, at the execution), stories about him remain as popular as ever. Because Blackjack has existed for centuries, few believe him to be a single person. The most popular rumor surrounding Blackjack is that his role has been filled by a seris of human men, with one training a replacement each generation.
Surely, anyone garbed in the cloak, mask, daggers, armor, boots, gloves, and rapier would be especially persuasive toward any Korovsan citizens of non-noble status.
The unconscious mantis are relieved of their equipment . One is male, apparently of Chelish descent, while the female has darker skin tones and would look very much at home in Katapesh, or even Vudra. Conveniently, the building does contain a modest basement, large enough for several adults to camp in the event of rule by a tyrannical emporer and their mob. The female is rolled carelessly down these stairs, with Li pointing her crossbow at her head while Yazi and Amin hold vigil behind. Talfryn, Kynes, and Garvid position the male upright on the floor and slap him awake.
He comes to, grimacing at the crossbow bolt in his belly, but says nothing. He merely stares straight ahead, ignoring questions.
The man repeats a rhyme in his head, over and over, clearly intended to guard against such tricks. He must be well-trained.
Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
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In the historical lexicon, a pragmatic designation: Enshroud Thoughts. But among the nobles and rich merchants of Korvosa, it bore a different moniker: Mind Shadow. As an indispensable tool of diplomatic negotiation Kynes was deply familiar with its ability to hide intentions from arcane inspection. Kynes decision made, turns then sits down just outside the basement. From his pockets, he pulls the elements of his art. Chipped crystal, a pungent charcoaled block, and a small rack securing a series of meticulously labeled leathered tubes constructed from the bladders of a local species of vermin. Starting slowly, his hands begin to move in deft articulations, inexplicably weaving tendrils of vapor into clarifying flashes of fire and plasma that pulse within the crystalline capsule that soon contained his extract, which, with a flick of his wrists, is punctually consumed.
I have no leverage here;they do not believe they will be allowed to live. Kynes enters the basement, doubting his chances.
Kynes smiles. Veracity is life, yet deceit leads to execution. One may find life. One might not. I need information. Give me that information, and I shall allow you your freedom. There. No lies in that, though I can’t speak for what Garvid and the others would allow
Do not let your end come in a nameless basement for a couple of coins you were promised. You owe them nothing. Think, you instead upon younger days. Perhaps a life in Katapesh that you once had. Or a lad or lass you once cared for. You still have much to live for. Assist us.
He continues on until his mouth is dry. Kynes, pulls out a flask of water, but instead of taking a drink, provides a drink to each prisoner in turn. There is much you can unlearn. Let me tell you a tale of my youth on the outskirts of Yord. You've never heard of the place, most like. A squalid village of a few huts and man with one leg and a pet gorilla, Skave was his name, and this was.. Kynes continues on, working each of them in turn.
Finally Kynes stands and asks the others to please separate the two assassins. I will begin with the woman. Once the man has been carried up, Kynes slips a gravelly tonic onto his tongue, and continues.
Kynes continues in a rougher tone. But here is the stick. That big man over there? He tells me that he’s gonna see at least one of you executed…He’s a short fuse. I vouch he has the rage in him to end you summarily; Hell. Your face vouches for that! Kynes growls. Brutal.
So give me something. That guy sure as hell wants to beat your head in again, so Give me something. I will be your advocate. Give me the truth.
Who hired you? Who were you looking for? Are you after Vencarlo? Do you know who the painter was that was with him? Who is BlackJack?
After he is done, he goes to the man and gives the same working over.
The woman possesses a strong will, so strong that even Talfryn's enchantment cannot crack the fortress of her mind. All he sees when attempting to peer inside is a red mist, a fog that shrouds all in secrecy.
The man is a different story. Slack-jawed and drooling, he grins foolishly between the wizard and the lamplighter.
"Who hired you?"
”I’ve no idea,” he says pleasantly. ”We’re never told such things. Orders are relayed from Mediogalti Island to, in this case, the Longacre Building. Beyond that, I couldn’t say.”
”Shut up, you idiot!” the woman hisses. Amin quickly stuffs a piece of cloth into her mouth and secures it with a piece of rope. She glares at him, her expression willing a painful death.
"Who were you looking for?"
”Why, the teacher. Orisini.”
"Are you after Vencarlo?"
”Yes.”
"Do you know who the painter was that was with him? Who is BlackJack?"
”I don’t know what you’re talking about… Say, is it about time to break fast?”
"Zenobia Zenderholm..." mutters Talfryn to himself. "I've been meaning to follow up on her disappearance for some time now, but with events being what they were..."
He frowns as he paces back and forth. "She must have discovered Vencarlo's identity as Blackjack, and following his humiliating the queen decided to put an end to him. Hmm."
He turns to the mantis. "You were waiting for Orsini to return so that you could kill him? Yes, yes. What else do you know about the operations of Longacre building? Any names? Are their more of your order waiting instructions there?"
"You were waiting for Orsini to return so that you could kill him?”
The mantis laughs. ”Goodness, no! We’re hoping he’ll lead us to our actual target, the seneschal! He wouldn’t be much help to us dead, now would he?”
”What else do you know about the operations of Longacre building?”
”Only that that’s where our orders are coming from for the time being.”
”Any names?”
”Cinnabar. Zenderholm. Destaid. That rings a bell, but not much more.”
”Are there more of your order waiting instructions there?"”
”I could only speak to my own assignment here.” He watches, bleary eyed, as the light from the fire across the way dances along the back wall. Then he turns back to Talfryn as though noticing him for the first time. ”Heavens, that’s a fancy monocle. What’s your name? Have you heard of our lord and savior Achaekek?”
Yaziyah's eyes go wide as the assassin mentions their real target and she clamps a hand over her mouth to keep from blurting out. Once the interrogation is over, she laughs hollowly and speaks out of their earshot.
"They are after the seneschal. Of course. The queen is taking out those who would pose a threat to her rule, one by one." She narrows her eyes at the two bound figures. "Well, we can at least ensure that these two never complete their mission, or any mission."
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Garvid remains quiet, bar the occasional crack of his knuckles. Damn, Kynes. That's menacing... That's the word for it., he gives a glance at the Lamplighter as, under the pressure of words of fear and words of magic, the Mantis cracks. With a grin, Garvid curls his fist. Going good. A little more grilling, and it'll be a job well done.
"I knew we should've gone to Longacre!", he roars. "Zenderholm was a hardass, but she lives by the law. I could see her siding with the Queen, but having assassins and murderers in the same building? She'd sooner strangle them all bare-handed than work under the same roof! And the Maidens know and work with those bastards." He glances at the rest, eyes lingering onto Kynes' helmet. "What's Cinnabar, Destaid? Is that a place? A person?" He quiets down, eyes glued onto the assassins.
As the pieces fall closer and closer to the whole picture, however, the man's face grows red faster and faster. "I think we heard enough, pal."
Garvid stands at attention. "Unknown assailants. By Korvosan law, you've been arrested for arson, premeditated assault, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and espionage." Anger seems to raise in Garvid's voice, the words coming out almost like clockwork. "Your crimes have been withnessed by the Korvosan Guard,", he gestures towards everyone in the room, "And you have confessed."
"By charter of the city of Korvosa, the punishment for those crimes is death." The man's visage cracks for a moment. "May the Gray Lady watch over your souls. Kynes, Li. Could you help me carry them to the basement?", he asks quietly, as he picks up his halberd.
A few minutes later, Garvid appears with a stony look on his face. "I'll fill the paperwork. You get some rest."
Sitting down with a weary expression, Garvid reaches to sift through the documents once more, before shaking his head and closing the bag. "Let's just sleep. Tomorrow, we're heading for the Docks." Tonight, I have nightmares.
Garvid will make a summary of the summary conviction and execution, then present it for everyone who wants to be an eyewithness. He'll then leave a copy downstairs with the bodies.
I suggest we set for the Docks, but if someone has a better idea, shoot!
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Kynes smiles in satisfaction. I can play the parts. Sweet and inviting. Scary bastard. I was well trained. I admit, it is not my favorite exercise, but I can do it well if necessary.
Kynes walks over to Garvid, and offers his hand. Garvid. Some might think you a foul mouthed brute, but I see a great respect in you for Korvosan law...and the lives it protects. I know what you did down there was not easy, but it was just, and proper.
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The kid was full of surprises. Definitely had it in him to do the things that needed doing. Not so much a kid, then. And speaking of things that needed doing...
Once the bodies of the two assassins are laid to rest, the shaman does the same for their souls, praying to the spirits and to Pharasma to guide them into the afterlife and to judge them justly. Not because she has any sympathy for the two, but the last thing Old Korvosa needed was a haunting. Plenty of other restless ghosts around, no need to add to their number.
That done, she rises, her knees crackling, walking up to Garvid and looking him straight in the eye before wrapping him into a hug. No words, he knows as well as she does that this needed doing, but the burden of doing it should not be his alone.
""What's Cinnabar, Destaid? Is that a place? A person?"”
”Cinnabar’s our commander in the region. Destaid is some high-ranking member of your Gray Maidens.”
""How many of ye’r after Vencarlo?"”
”I couldn’t say, I only follow my own orders. I don’t ask questions.”
"Is there more comin’?”
”When the Red Mantis have their target, they never stop until it’s terminated. Almost certainly, the answer is yes.”
"Where else ya been lookin’ for em?”
”Since arriving in Korvosa, I’ve only been assigned to monitor this location.”
A few hours later, as the night reaches its darkest hour, a loud crash, the sound of breaking glass, is heard on the ground floor. A horrid walking corpse appears, arrayed in brightly colored clothes, floppy shoes, and a bright red jester’s hat complete with jingling bells sewn to the ends of the cap. It is wet with the filthy waters and smells of the Jeggare. The rigor mortis seems to have permanently pulled the creature’s familiar face into a broad and horrific grin.
”You thought you’d get away so easily! But Rolthy and I have other plans for you!” Jolistina Susperio has met a grizzly fate, but her work is not yet over.
Jolistina limps forward, the bells of her hat tinkling in time with each stam, and slams her mace into Kynes.
”Hehehehe!” she wheezes, her voice dry and rasping and dripping with menace.
___________________________
Garvid: 44/72
Kynes: 36/52
Li: 61/61
Talfryn: 57/57
Yazi: 49/49
Snort. Phaw! Kynes gut clenches, and he doubles over and rolls on the floor. Silence. Clench. Silence. umm. Nuh nuh hun hu hu ha ha HA HA HA!! Heee Hee Whoooo! A d..dead ha! jes..hee! jester. ha ha HA! oooh..hUHN HUH NUH NUH HA! ha! HA HEE WHOO!
Talfryn gazes at the undead Jolista with mounting horror; they'd seen her alive and well but earlier that day, and for her to be here, like this, undead, and no mere undead, but some ghastly - revolting travesty of humor, a mockery - nah, a blasphemy against the very gods - it was too much!
Skin crawling in terror, mind blanking with a primitive, primal fear to get away, Talfryn staggers back, then turns to lunge out the door and into the street and begin running as fast as he can away from that object of fear.
Li's fist clenches at the mention of Destaid. There's no way that Sabina wasn't aware of what was going on if Destaid was involved. Yazi was right, those viewed as a threat to the queen were being eliminated.
When Garvid pronounces the verdict and sentence, Li provides whatever help she can. When it comes time for Garvid to carry out the sentence all she says is, "I be stayin'. Ye ain't gotta be doin' this alone."
At the sounds of breaking glass Li is instantly on the move, loading her weapon. Smelling the decaying flesh of a corpse, the rogue reaches for one of her newly acquired bolts.
Jolistina's cackle is like a thousand hot pokers in Li's brain but her loathing for anyone associated with a Lamm allows her to push everything aside but the desire to bury a bunch of bolts in the undead clown.
Yaziyah startles awake at the crashing sound, disoriented in the darkness and the unfamiliar place. She smells the stench and hears the shuffling and tinkling, the impact of something hard into something soft, the laughter and the cackle. Is that... Kynes? And is that...
No. No. Not her. Not now.
Getting to her feet, she peers at the creature closely. For this was no longer a person, though she spoke. She feels the wave of unspeakable fear wash over her and her body trembles for a moment, twitching. Get away! Get away! With a snarl, she wrenches back control. No undead abomination will send Yaziyah Tanja running in fear - not now, not ever.
"What are you?"
The dark look on Garvid's face seems to lighten eversoslightly, as Kynes speaks his mind. Nodding, his lip curls upwards, yet his eyes continue staring in the distance. "You too, Kynes. Though, if someone else called me a foul-mouthed brute, I'd tell them to go f...", the words remain unsaid, as Yazi's hug wraps around Garvid.
A look of confusion spreads on the man's face. Slowly, he gives back into the hug, his head falling onto Yazi's shoulder. His mouth seems to open several times, as if to say something, but choosing to remain silent. As the embrace breaks, he stares at Yazi for a moment, before a solemn smile blossoms on his face.
The crashing of the window sends Garvid leaping up. Hearing the jingle of the bells, a preternatural fear seems to grasp his heart, only to see Jolistina's twisted face peering at him under the jester's cap. "You...", he blurts out, his eyes flaring wide open. "The Citadel!", he roars out as he brings down his halberd down into the jester's shoulder, tearing into the red cloth and pale flesh alike. "Who got you out?", he shouts, readying himself for another swing.
Jolistina's cackle is like a thousand hot pokers in Li's brain but her loathing for anyone associated with a Lamm allows her to push everything aside but the desire to bury a bunch of bolts in the undead clown.
Skin crawling in terror, mind blanking with a primitive, primal fear to get away, Talfryn staggers back, then turns to lunge out the door and into the street and begin running as fast as he can away from that object of fear.
Getting to her feet, Yaziyah peers at the creature closely. For this was no longer a person, though she spoke. She feels the wave of unspeakable fear wash over her and her body trembles for a moment, twitching. Get away! Get away! With a snarl, she wrenches back control. No undead abomination will send Yaziyah Tanja running in fear - not now, not ever. "What are you?"
The crashing of the window sends Garvid leaping up. Hearing the jingle of the bells, a preternatural fear seems to grasp his heart, only to see Jolistina's twisted face peering at him under the jester's cap. "You...", he blurts out, his eyes flaring wide open. "The Citadel!", he roars out as he brings down his halberd down into the jester's shoulder, tearing into the red cloth and pale flesh alike. "Who got you out?", he shouts, readying himself for another swing.
Kynes stops laughing, though the mind-numbing fear of Jolistina’s cackle tries to crawl into his brain.
Jolistina hardly notices her wounds. She turns her vacant eyes on Garvid, stepping lightly in front of him before thrashing him with her mace.
”Why, my darling Rolth of course! He showed me such wonderful things… You might say he opened my eyes! And you, oh you. You’ve been so naughty, so very, very bad! But don’t worry, Joli’s here to make it better! Your precious time is almost done! Then you’ll see. He’ll show you, too!”
___________________________
Garvid: 70/72
Kynes: 43/52
Li: 61/61
Talfryn: 57/57
Yazi: 49/49
Some jokes are less funny the second time you hear them, Red Jester. Kynes says with sudden sobriety. Kynes swiftly analyzes the Red Jester movements. Favors her left after parrying. A tendency to step in just a tad too quickly on the feint. Slight over-committment to each mace swing leaving the left leg open. Satisfied, Kynes reaches down, and retrievs a gummy of caramel, cinnamon, and muscle busting mutagen. The secret is the caramel.
Struck by Jolistina's mace, Garvid flashes a grin. "You call that a,", he bursts out into laughter, "Call that a -ha-ha- a hit?", as he crumbles down on the floor, hands on his sides, as he starts laughing out loud, then bursting into a hysterical laughter, rocking up and down. "And your hat!"
"Garvid!" Yaziyah snaps. What had gotten into them? Why were they laughing?
Talfryn had ran away, but just in case, she speaks for the others' benefit, although she feels that at the moment they're not really listening. "Don't try any mind tricks on her, and hit with your magic weapons!"
Not having any magic weapons herself, and hesitant to try most of her magic for fear of unforeseen effects, Yaziyah calls upon the blessing of the ancestors instead, causing a wave of healing energy to roll through the space around her.
Li senses a thought trying to claw it's way to the surface of her consciousness but with everything going on around her, she is strictly letting her body react to the immediate threat.
Seeing the affect that the mace is having on the others, Li takes another step away from Jolistina as she loads and fires a couple more of her special bolts.
Struck by Jolistina's mace, Garvid flashes a grin. "You call that a,", he bursts out into laughter, "Call that a -ha-ha- a hit?", as he crumbles down on the floor, hands on his sides, as he starts laughing out loud, then bursting into a hysterical laughter, rocking up and down. "And your hat!"
"Garvid!" Yaziyah snaps. What had gotten into them? Why were they laughing? Talfryn had ran away, but just in case, she speaks for the others' benefit, although she feels that at the moment they're not really listening. "Don't try any mind tricks on her, and hit with your magic weapons!" Not having any magic weapons herself, and hesitant to try most of her magic for fear of unforeseen effects, Yaziyah calls upon the blessing of the ancestors instead, causing a wave of healing energy to roll through the space around her.
Li senses a thought trying to claw it's way to the surface of her consciousness but with everything going on around her, she is strictly letting her body react to the immediate threat. Seeing the affect that the mace is having on the others, Li takes another step away from Jolistina as she loads and fires a couple more of her special bolts. One lodges in Jolistina’s eye socket, knocking her head back violently.
”I spy with my little eye…” Jolistina hops over Garvid, stepping onto his back and springing into position just before Li. ”A vexing fly!” She strikes Li sharply across the face with her mace.
___________________________
Garvid: 70/72, laughing
Kynes: 43/52, panicked
Li: 45/61
Talfryn: 57/57, panicked
Yazi: 49/49
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At least that what Kynes had planned to do and say before he realized that jesters were like clowns: Entirely too scary. With a sudden wonder where he might find Lord Talfryn, the Investigative Legate of the Korvosan Order of Lamplighters bolts for the door.
Li's eyes widen is chilling realization as Jolistina springs towards her. Not having time to scramble backwards, Li takes the hit full to the face. It is as if the mace knocks all Li's anger out of her as she is overcome by a compulsion to roll around on the floor laughing. Instantly dropping to the floor, her laugh fills the room which is surprisingly musical. "My bolt...ta...yer eye...funny!"
Still rolling on the floor, Garvid manages to stop laughing for a brief moment as Li falls over. Grunting out in between guffaws, he grits his teeth. "I spend... way too much time... On the ground these days!"
"Garvid, Li, stop this nonsense! On your feet!" Yaziyah is starting to feel the edge of panic creeping in as her allies are all either fled or incapacitated. It is no stretch of the mind to think that the undead jester will come for her next. She retreats a step to put some distance between Jolistina and herself, nudging the prone rogue with her foot as she passes by.
"Garvid, Li, stop this nonsense! On your feet!" Yaziyah is starting to feel the edge of panic creeping in as her allies are all either fled or incapacitated. It is no stretch of the mind to think that the undead jester will come for her next. She retreats a step to put some distance between Jolistina and herself, nudging the prone rogue with her foot as she passes by.
”Don’t bother, I’ll cut them off soon enough! Be a good girl and I’ll let you watch!” Jolistina clobbers Yazi with her mace.
___________________________
Garvid: 70/72
Kynes: 43/52, panicked
Li: 45/61
Talfryn: 57/57, panicked
Yazi: 44/49
The uncontrollable urge to laugh leaves Li's body but she continues to giggle in hopes that Jolistina would ignore her while she quickly loads another special bolt into her crossbow. Rolling onto her back, Li unloads two bolts into Jolistina.
"A good girl? Me? Hah!" Yaziyah barks a short laugh as she takes another step back and channels the power of Pharasma.
Shuffling up, Garvid's smile quickly fades. "Come on! Start with the cutting already.", he grumbles, as he points his halberd towards Jolistina, taking a step forward with a slow, menacing pace.
Since I can't move, I'll stand up, and ready an attack. If possible, I'll also take a 5ft. step towards Jolistina, as I don't necessarily feel like I need to be in melee range just to be hit next turn.
The uncontrollable urge to laugh leaves Li's body but she continues to giggle in hopes that Jolistina would ignore her while she quickly loads another special bolt into her crossbow. Rolling onto her back, Li unloads two bolts toward Jolistina. One strikes the wall, the other the creature’s back. The jester gasps. ”Oh, you want to play! My turn--tag, you’re it!” Her mace strikes Li’s arm, right on her funny bone.
"A good girl? Me? Hah!" Yaziyah barks a short laugh as she takes another step back and channels the power of Pharasma.
Jolistina shivers under the warm light, but shakes it off.
Shuffling up, Garvid's smile quickly fades. "Come on! Start with the cutting already.", he grumbles, as he points his halberd towards Jolistina, taking a step forward with a slow, menacing pace.
”First, let’s tenderize the meat! Hehe!” Jolistina whips around, catching Garvid’s jaw with her weapon.
___________________________
Garvid: 58/72
Kynes: 43/52, panicked
Li: 37/61
Talfryn: 57/57, panicked
Yazi: 44/49