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Li stealthily inspects the house perimeter but doesn’t find anything. The windows are shut, undamaged and curtains tightly drawn.
"Who are you, girl? Where is the painter?"
”I gather you like costumes. Or is there more than youthful rebellion to your Zon-Kuthon garb. It would be a pleasure to make your acquaintance. ”
"That's us, miss. Sorry to bother you, but we're looking for Salvator Scream. We think he can help us solve something big. May we come in?"
”Get out!” the woman says, punching Garvid on the shoulder, her barbed glove scraping his own armor. But the punch is light, and she must not mean what she says, because her enthusiasm doesn’t wane. ”I’m, like, completely looking for Salvator, too, and I’m just at wit’s end. It’s such a gross feeling, you know??? Like, blah! Haha! Anyway, come on in!” Her heels pounding out a staccato rhythm, she leads you into the home.
Through the hall there’s a bedroom. A single bed, the blankets and pillows atop it scattered and in disarray, sits on the south side. More muddy boot prints mar the wooden floor and a splash of dried blood decorates one pillow.
The woman leads you south through the hall and into what must be an artist’s studio. Both of this room’s windows are tightly shuttered, yet the air inside seems strangely fresh and scented, no doubt because of the six large candles that burn 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. A chair sits before the desk, and a careful stack of papers and scrolls sits inside the arc of skulls. To the south stands a nearly empty cabinet, its shelves barren save for a few paintbrushes and a cracked pottery urn.
Your host hops down into the chair, clapping her hands with glee. ”I just knew something good was about to happen! I even wrote about it in my notes!” She waves a piece of parchment depicting a startlingly realistic hand-drawn diagram of human vivisection. And a bunch of smiley-faces. ”Think good thoughts, and good things happen, that’s what I always say!
She suddenly looks horrified ”But, gosh, I”m so rude, of course! I’m Laori, Laori Vaus! You must think I’m complete insane or something. Ha! As if! No, I’m just such a huge fan of Salvator’s work. He is such a total visionary, you know? It’s like he understands the Dark Lord better than anyone, and like, like he just reads my mind! I would just die to have a chance to talk to him, to ask him where his inspiration comes from!”
She frowns. ”And so when I got here and saw that Salvator was gone, well I was so mad I could spit! But, I decided to look for him, to tell him how awesome he is! So I’ve been staying here for a few nights here. I got to looking around and put two and two together, and I’m just sure he’s been abducted by that mean old emperor everyone’s going on about!
”Soooooo! If you’re looking for Salvator, and I’m looking for Salvator, we could like, totally look for Salvator together! I mean, woah! Investigations are the best, aren’t they?? Plus, if you let me join you, I’ll show you something I found, and I bet it’s like, really important!”
She bites her lip and clasps her hands. ”Pleeeeeeease?”
fail
Frowning at the punch, Garvid follows inside. His eyes squint as he stares at the mess. Normally, I'd say a break-in. But with what I know of this guy, it might've be the way it looks after a thorough clean. His gaze glancing at the room with the bloodied pillow, he takes careful steps inside, crouching down to take a better look at the evidence. There's blood. And someone was wearing muddy boots in a house right next to the water. Yup., the scant trails telling him nothing, he stands up, following in the next room.
Five sails on that blood being spilled playing 'hide the knife' with another fan., he scoffs as he glances at the faux-macabre scenery. After Andaisin, that's just... quaint., he shakes his head at both the room and Laori, before nodding. "Totally.", he adds with a deadpan as she speaks her mind about the power of positive thinking. "So, let me get this straight. You're a fan of Salvator's work, and you came, uninvited to look for him to tell him how much you appreciate his work.", he pulls out his own notebook. "You noticed his house was empty, and decided to bunk up here until Salvator, who has no idea you were here, comes back." Staring down at the woman, he shakes his head, then blurts out with surrender. "Yeah. Seems about right." Turning around, he glances at the others. "We'll need to confer about deputising you, in private.", he nods curtly.
"Mind if...", he blurts out, before stopping himself and furrowing his brows at Laori. It's not her damn house."Could you excuse us for a moment?"
Will this girl never stop talking? Feeling an impending headache, Yaziyah raises her hand in an attempt to dam the flood of words, only some of which make sense.
"Slow down, girl. What happened here? Who tracked all this mud on the floor? Are you responsible for this... particular interior decoration or were these skulls and candles here when you got in?"
As Garvid calls for a private conference, she leans in to speak in low tones. "She is hiding something, although this should hardly come as a surprise, given how scattered her mind is. Unless it is a really, really good act, but I doubt it."
Meanwhile, Talfryn continues to study the auras around the young woman, trailing the others inside. Trying to determine just how many she has, and their relative strengths - and then figure out what schools they're from, and what items or enchantments they might indicate.
With the mutagen ticking in his body, all Kynes wanted to do is move. He forced himself to calm down...Deep breath -hold- release. Deep breath -hold- release.
I'd love to be charming and woo the information from you, but we dare not tarry. Kynes smiles turns hard, and his eyes flat and cold. You are not being forthright with us. What are you holding back? Kynes growls.
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Oh! She had heard of this. Something the Guard would sometimes do, wasn't it? With a sly look at Garvid, Yaziyah swoops in to put a protective arm... ow. A protective hand on... ow! Alright, to hover protectively in the immediate vicinity of the spiky elf.
"Oh, quit your glowering and leave the poor girl alone, Lamplighter. I'm sure she wants to be helpful to the Guard, she is simply so distressed by all this fuss, isn't that so, dear? And this Emperor character, dreadful business. Sending his thugs to molest innocent people, tsk. Poor Salvator must be in a dreadful bind right now, and the more we tarry here bickering amongst ourselves, the worse it will get for him, I'm sure."
Kynes lets his eyes smolder, saying nothing for a long grim moment, but finally winks at the girl, letting his face transform into a gentle smile Its part of the art, you know. Interrogation without knives. Beguile and lure, menace and bullyrag, tempt and fascinate.
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"Yeah. Forgot that was Lamplighter interrogation.", Garvid blurts out in response to Kynes. "Talk, or we hit you with the thesaurus." He chuckles, giving the man a playful punch on the shoulder.
Li feels slightly better about not finding anything threatening when she searches the perimeter but she still doesn't like the current state of affairs. Salvator is nowhere to be found, someone who wasn't Salvator squatting in his home, and blood in one of the rooms. The rogue isn't one for judging others but Laori seems a little manic for her liking. The fact that the elf was not being completely transparent with them also didn't help win over Li's trust.
She diligently watches while the others try to find out what Laori may know.
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"Could you excuse us for a moment?"
”I mean, of course! I wouldn’t use that storage room, though, it’s full of fungus. Gross. Plus, I’ve got plenty to do on my own!” She plucks a quill from the desk and begins embellishing one of her smiley faces with barbed wire, humming all the while.
After a moment she looks up at Talfryn, who’s been standing quietly and concentrating on his divination spell pointed directly at her. ”So are you, like, a wizard? That. Is. Awesome. Can you read my fortune and stuff?”
You find Laori opening the windows, arranging and fluffing the curtains. ”Ugh, it’s so dark in here. Blah! Let in a little sunshine and fresh air, am I right??”
I'd love to be charming and woo the information from you, but we dare not tarry. You are not being forthright with us. What are you holding back?
”Ooh look at you being scary. I bet you’re, like, super adorable when you’re mad. Do you have a girlfriend?”
Oh, quit your glowering and leave the poor girl alone, Lamplighter. I'm sure she wants to be helpful to the Guard, she is simply so distressed by all this fuss, isn't that so, dear? And this Emperor character, dreadful business. Sending his thugs to molest innocent people, tsk. Poor Salvator must be in a dreadful bind right now, and the more we tarry here bickering amongst ourselves, the worse it will get for him, I'm sure."
”Its part of the art, you know. Interrogation without knives. Beguile and lure, menace and bullyrag, tempt and fascinate.
"Yeah. Forgot that was Lamplighter interrogation. Talk, or we hit you with the thesaurus. So, let me get this straight. You're a fan of Salvator's work, and you came, uninvited to look for him to tell him how much you appreciate his work. You noticed his house was empty, and decided to bunk up here until Salvator, who has no idea you were here, comes back."
”Yep!” Laori beams. ”Has anyone told you you like a celebrity? Oh my gosh, what’s his name…He was in that play, about the talking ponies...”
What happened here? Who tracked all this mud on the floor? Are you responsible for this... particular interior decoration or were these skulls and candles here when you got in?"
Laori flips her hair. ”Like, that’s what I’ve been telling you! The Emperor’s goons kidnapped him. It’s so obvious. Look at those footprints in the bedroom, and Salvator’s blood on his pillow. That’s definitely dried blood. Trust me on that one, ha! And I have cleaned up a little. It’s so cool of you to notice! Interior decorating is one of my things. Not to brag, but I’m preeeeettty good at it. The skulls? Those are mine. Well, not mine, haha! I thought Salvator would appreciate them.”
”Gosh, I’m being rude again, talking about myself non-stop. Blah blah! Ha! Tell me about you guys. Why’re you looking for Salvator? What’s your favorite color? Do you know our Dark Lord Zon Kuthon?”
Kynes, as if reading from a book, says flatly Zon-Kuthon possesses one of the most twisted and evil minds in the Great Beyond. His position as god of pain is well earned, and he has been the root of countless tortures, murders, and worse throughout time. Kynes pauses evaluating her You seem too sweet to desire to emulate such evil.
Yaziyah blinks. This girl... A Red Mantis had cracked under the force of Kynes' interrogation techniques (with some small help from Lord Talfryn, one supposes), spilling deadly secrets despite all his training. And this girl... threats seemed to spill off her like water off a duck. And her own attempt at manipulating her hadn't fard any better. Time to change tactics, perhaps.
She sighs. "The skulls are very nice, dear. My people are quite fond of that particular motif as well." She points to her own facial tattoos, which underscore the contours of a skull on her tanned and weathered skin. "As to why we are looking for Salvator, well. He might know something about someone we need to find. It's very important."
Fixing the elf with a gaze that tries to convey the gravity of the situation, she continues. "What do you know of this Emperor? Who is he? And why would he want Salvator?"
Garvid's gauntlet stifles a chuckle on his mouth. Not sure if that was the entirely right or entirely wrong thing to say there, buddy., a glimmer appears in his eyes as he glances back at Laori. "And to your last question. I like yellow. It's bright, reminds me of the sun, and it keeps me cheerful." He shrugs, then points towards the door. "I say we continue this on the way. The two sops that got away are bound to have warned whoever that Emperor is that we're coming. The more time they have to prepare, the worse it gets for us."
"If you want to come with us, you'd best be on your best behaviour. Which means listen to what we say, don't go around slitting throats, and don't go off chasing on your own.", he snarls with an authoritative voice. Looking around for approval, he shoulders his halberd. "If not, we'll meet you back here. Sound good?"
Talfryn is still considering the elf with something akin to stark confusion; he ignores her questions and prattling ways, and instead really looks at her. She was carrying a small fortune in magical gear, so much so that she couldn't possibly be the naive naif she was playing at being.
Had he heard of her before? Seen her somewhere? Some mention...?
[ooc]Rovagug save me from these abysmal rolls...[/dice]
Li still is unsure of what to make of Laori. She definitely isn't like anyone she had encountered before and the rogue could tell that she avoided answering some of the more important questions asked of her.
Li leans against the wall with her arms crossed and her body tenses to react when Laori opens the window. Was she opening it for someone? She had a hard time believing that she was all of a sudden concerned with getting fresh air.
Even though Garvid is obviously ready to leave, Li is not so eager to leave with the elf until she answers Kynes' question because she could sense it too. Keeping an eye on the open window the rogue states, "Ya ain't be tellin' us everythin'." She jerks her head at Kynes, "He be askin' ya what ya be holdin' back. We still be waitin' on yer answer. Ya ain't be lyin' but ya ain't be tellin' us everythin' neither."
Weapon: fail
Armor: fail
Amulet: fail
Headband: headband of inspired wisdom +2
Wand 1: wand of cure moderate wounds
Wand 2: wand of sending
Wand 3: wand of sound burst
You have no recollection of ever hearing of Laori Vaus.
”Zon-Kuthon possesses one of the most twisted and evil minds in the Great Beyond. His position as god of pain is well earned, and he has been the root of countless tortures, murders, and worse throughout time.”
”I know!” Laori squeals, blushing, ”Isn’t he the best?!”
I like yellow. It's bright, reminds me of the sun, and it keeps me cheerful."
”Samesies!” Laori offers Garvid another high-five.
"If you want to come with us, you'd best be on your best behaviour. Which means listen to what we say, don't go around slitting throats, and don't go off chasing on your own."
”Yes yes yes yes YES! We’re going to make an awesome team, just you wait and see! I won’t slit anyone’s throat. That’s too quick a death, anyway--I mean, what’s the point??”
"The skulls are very nice, dear. My people are quite fond of that particular motif as well . . . As to why we are looking for Salvator, well. He might know something about someone we need to find. It's very important . . . What do you know of this Emperor? Who is he? And why would he want Salvator?"
”Those are sooo cool! Did that hurt a LOT?” she says hopefully, then pouts. ”I don’t know squat about the Emporer, except that he sounds like a complete spaz. But! If he has Salvator, I guess he’s one spaz we need to meet.”
”"Ya ain't be tellin' us everythin' . . . He be askin' ya what ya be holdin' back. We still be waitin' on yer answer. Ya ain't be lyin' but ya ain't be tellin' us everythin' neither."
”Oh my gosh, I totally blanked! Of course! I just wanted to make sure we’re on the same team, haha. I found this…” Laori produces a fragment of cloth. "...in Salvator's bedroom, down between the bed and the wall. I mean, it's definitely from a government uniform, right??" The scrap is obviously from a high-ranking Korvosan official, since the city's coat of arms appears on the fragment.
Yaziyah shrugs as Laori produces the scrap of cloth, leaving it to Garvid and Kynes to do their investigator business on it.
"Yes, it is time we go see this Emperor before he ruins this neighbourhood any further."
Clearly from the uniform of Neolandus Kalepopolis.
Kynes decides he does not like this girl one bit. Either she was foolish, and didn't know of what she speaks, as would a rebellious child, or she is decidedly evil, and the girlish act is just that, an act. Have you tortured a person for Zon-Kuthon before? Kynes then dismisses his own question with a wave, pretending it did not matter. Show us the room where you found this scrap.
Li's eyes widen slightly as she recognizes the crest. "That be belongin' ta tha missin'seneschal."
Li wishes that they could have been the ones to find the material. How long had it been there? Had it purposefully been hidden or did it just fall behind the bed? It did seem a little odd that a piece of torn uniform fell behind a bed. If it had been torn off in a fight, it should have been out in the open.
Li notes that the scrap is town from a sleeve, and that there are traces of blood upon it.
"Have you tortured a person for Zon-Kuthon before?"
"Well, I mean, yeeeaaa," Laori responds, as though this were obvious. "Sadomasochism is a well-established component of the liturgy of Kuthonites everywhere. We're, like, scholars of the exquisiteness of agony and explorers of the limitations of the flesh, and stuff. We totally understand the mortal form is a blank canvas that's like, aching for transformation. Salvator seems to understand that too, at least if his artwork's any indication."
She smiles sweetly.
"Right through here." She again shows you the bedroom.
Garvid's palm raises in the air almost as if by force, as he shrugs. "Eh. Long as it's consentual, I don't care what folk do in their homes. Or on the streets, if I don't see them or get a report. More time stabbing one another is less time they have to stab others, right, Laori?", he glances at the spike-clad elf. " Way too many real crimes in this place to police fetishists." He curls his fist as he grabs the piece of uniform. "Good eyes, you two.", he nods, before giving Li a glance of curiosity and approval. How'd you know what the seneschal's uniform is? Full of surprises, kid, full of surprises.
Starting to pace around nervously like a tiger in a cage, he shoulders his halberd, then points at the door. "If that's everything, let's hoof it. Kalepopolis, Orsini and now the painter. I hope that this is here from ...", Garvid's imagination seems to lead him to an unwelcoming place, before he shakes his frown away. "you know, but we haven't been the luckiest so far." As he reaches to open the door to the bedroom, a thought crosses his mind. Pushing the door open, he gestures at Laori. "Ladies first." It's not the Harrow. I'm a suspicious bastard on principle.
Lord Talfryn continues his subdued scrutiny. She's just so... outre, he thinks to himself. So... paradoxical! Such items of power, to worship such a dread god... yet to be so banal and insipid? This cannot be. The question is: how badly are we being fooled? Worse, are we going to become tools in her hands? No... no, we cannot be so easily led, fall to her wiles so willingly...
Thus, when she's in the next room, he casts Detect Thoughts once more, and this time focuses fiercely on picking her out and discerning what's going on in her mind.
Li moves back into the bedroom and begins to toss it looking for anything that may have been missed or specifically hidden.
"The seneschal? What would be the likes of him doing in a place like this?" Yaziyah shakes her head. "The more we dig at this, the more questions we get, and not enough answers to my liking. Time to, as old man here says, hoof it."
The mention of torture brings a grimace to her lips. She had been on the receiving end of such, and not willingly. Just the thought of it makes her skin tighten, pulling at the old scars.
Kynes, having had past confrontations with a cult that ritualistically abducted and raped unwary maidens in the Slope, had misread the young woman's words. While personally distasteful, and on principle, Kynes opposed gods and devils that delight in pain, even if self inflicted, he had to admit it was not strictly illegal, given full consent. Perhaps what was most distasteful to Kynes was knowledge that Kynes himself would himself be a master at that craft; Kynes had been intensely trained in the art of inflicting fear and pain——not for the purposes of torture, but to incapacitate without lethality. Shaking his head, Kynes harumphs in resigned agreement with Garvid.
”More time stabbing one another is less time they have to stab others, right, Laori?"
”Or flay them!” Laori says with a wide grin of delight.
”Oh my gosh, you are such a gentleman!” She holds her smile as Garvid holds the door. She skips out of the bedroom and out through the front, spiked chain rattling at her side. ”This is gonna be the best manhunt ever, you wait and see! Hey, I’ll walk with you.” Laori slides up next to Kynes and sends a sly wink his way. ”Your scarf is, like, really sharp.”
_____________________________________
After only a few minutes walking the street, you’re confronted by another group of the emperor’s goons. There are ten this time, all donning wooden shields and clutching axes. Yet they don't attack you outright.
"Oi, you lot!" their leader calls, 'he Emperaw knows wot you've did t' 'is men. 'e demands 'is audience! Turn ov' yoor weapons 'n armors peaceful-loike, and we won't spill any blood. Refuse, 'n face 'he consequence!"
Yaziyah glances at the others to gauge their reaction, noting Li's knuckles tightening on the grip of her dagger. They would be fools to give up their weapon and armor and walk into the den of this "Emperor" of their own accord. But they cannot fight all his goons either...
"Your emperor's men attacked us first, unprovoked. We are willing to parley, but so far we have seen no assurance from him, or those working for him, that shows we can trust him. So no, we will not give up our weapons and armor, but we give our word to not start anything, unless given cause. We need information from your emperor, so it is in our best interest that he stays alive."
Cracking his neck, Garvid gives Yazi a glance. Said it better than I would've., a tense smile runs through his lips, before turning back. "Like my friend here said - we just want to ask him some questions. And we tried to play as nice as possible with your buddies, even if they attacked us first." He frowns. "But the only way you're getting our weapons is points first."
Those men were thugs, but I see that you are not. Relax. We are also here for the peace, and as such we are natural allies against the queen.
Talfryn waits and watches, wary.
Li glares at the mob of men and her body tenses in readiness to spring should fighting break out. She promised herself when she was younger that no one would make her do anything against her will and there is no way these thugs were going to force her to give up what she'd worked so hard to get. She'd literally dragged herself out of the gutter, half-dead and destitute. No one was going to do that to her again.
While the others try words, her eyes flick around the area looking for possible exits or greater threats.
"Your emperor's men attacked us first, unprovoked. We are willing to parley, but so far we have seen no assurance from him, or those working for him, that shows we can trust him. So no, we will not give up our weapons and armor, but we give our word to not start anything, unless given cause. We need information from your emperor, so it is in our best interest that he stays alive."
"Like my friend here said - we just want to ask him some questions. And we tried to play as nice as possible with your buddies, even if they attacked us first. But the only way you're getting our weapons is points first."
”Those men were thugs, but I see that you are not. Relax. We are also here for the peace, and as such we are natural allies against the queen.”
The men laugh, looking between each other as if to ask are they serious?
The leader smirks at Yazi. ”I apologize, my lady! I''s apparen' wha' we 'ave 'ere is a misunderstandin. See, dis ain'' a nego'ia'ion, love. Dis is 'he emperaw's island nah. ‘N da emperaw don'' suffer no man, or woman, 'o appear in 'is cour' armed wi'hou' 'is say so. An' 'e ain’t' 'er t’ so say. So drop 'he weapons. You ain'' ge''in any fur'her wi'h 'hem, eh?”
Leah Kynes grows dark and forbidding thunderstorms gather upon his brow. His contempt both obvious and ominous. "This is Korvosa. We have no emperor...But we have plenty of... " Kynes jaw crunches through the extract and a single scornful word erupts with fire, an invective carrying the promise of doom and impending despair to all who'd dare be his enemy.
"Fools."
"True, true.", adds Garvid, as he stares at the crowd of thugs, Kynes' magic setting the air on fire. "Let's talk about this misunderstanding, then." Bracing his halberd, he grins. "Come on over."
Yaziyah, who had inhaled sharply at the claim of the "Emperor" now owning Old Korvosa, her face a gathering storm, abruptly laughs.
"Do you know what all emperors and kings fear, boy?" She waits for a beat, then stretches a bony finger to point at the thugs.
"Death."
"This is starting to become tedious," mutters Talfryn, stepping forth to stretch out his hand and intone a magic phrase.
From his fingers shoots forth a rainbow stream of swirling lights, mesmerizing to behold, which bathe the square in iridescent hues as it lights up the night above the ruffians like some miniature aurora borealis.
Leah Kynes grows dark and forbidding thunderstorms gather upon his brow. His contempt both obvious and ominous. "This is Korvosa. We have no emperor...But we have plenty of... " Kynes jaw crunches through the extract and a single scornful word erupts with fire, an invective carrying the promise of doom and impending despair to all who'd dare be his enemy. "Fools."
”S$+%!” the man screams, panicking as he beats the flames.
”Haha, awesome!” Laori says, throwing a look of absolute adoration toward Kynes with eyes the size of saucers. ”That was so rad! The smell of burnt flesh is one of my all-time fave things.” She grasps her spiked chain in one hand and with the other produces a silver holy symbol of a skull wrapped in chains. ”Check me out.”
With a whoosh, a ring of orange fire erupts into the air in the midst of the thugs! More screams, as well as Laori’s pronounced aroma, fill the air.
Laori chuckles. ”Sweeeeet.”
The thugs break from the fire, charging forward to strike at Laori and Garvid with the blades of their axes. One catches Garvid’s shoulder and rips through his armor.
___________________________
Garvid: 62/72
Kynes: 47/52
Laori: -0
Li: 59/61
Talfryn: 57/57
Yazi: 49/49
Pink: on fire!
fail, burning!
pass
pass
pass
fail
fail
pass
pass
pass
miss
miss
possible crit
miss
no
No you don't. whipping the scarves in a wide arc to slap at the man's backside.
Wanting a better vantage point from which to shoot, Li quickly scrambles up the side of the nearest building.
Kynes's blade cuts deeply into the thug, who remains standing.
Kynes studies the enemy before him locking him in he whips his bladed scarves with sickening precision.
Grumbling as he feels the axe blade into his shoulder, Garvid snarls at his assailant, already rent by Kynes' scarf. He grunts out as his steel boot slams heavily into the man's ankle. Despite his seemingly scathing rage, he glances to the left to see another man approaching, and with a step backwards, stands between him and Yazi, urging him to come forwards.
Wanting a better vantage point from which to shoot, Li quickly scrambles up the side of the nearest building.
Yaziyah, who had inhaled sharply at the claim of the "Emperor" now owning Old Korvosa, her face a gathering storm, abruptly laughs. "Do you know what all emperors and kings fear, boy?" She waits for a beat, then stretches a bony finger to point at the thugs. "Death."
fail
The light in the square visibly dims, and a babe cries out from a distant window. The blood drains from the faces of the thugs, and they quickly turn tail and flee across the space.
”Oi! Where th’ bloody f+%# do yoo fink yer goin’?!” The remaining two thugs look on, confused.
Kynes steps forward and studies the enemy before him locking him in he whips his bladed scarves with sickening precision.
The last two thugs quickly assess their options, taking off at high speed after their fellows!
Laori turns to Yazi. ”Holy smokes! You really are a bad-ass!”
___________________________
Garvid: 62/72, panicked 8 rounds
Kynes: 47/52, shaken 1 round
Laori: -0
Li: 59/61
Talfryn: 57/57
Yazi: 49/49
Pink: on fire!
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Phidippus galduri, the red-backed jumping spider, is an arachnid native to southern Korvosa. The species constructs conspicuous tubular silken nests under rocks and wood, within unattended boots, and inside the stocking drawers of young women. It feeds on a wide variety of insects, though cannibalism does occur from time to time in the form of females feeding on males. It is best known, however, for its ability to jump. Unrivaled in the world of arachnida, galduri can leap nearly fifty times the length of its own body.
Somehow, it always lands on its feet.
Vested with newfound prehensility, the six of you scale the nearby buildings. The thugs aren’t difficult to follow, considering that most of them shriek in abject terror. More concerning is the contents of the streets--they are littered with bodies. In addition, rubble and refuse are scattered everywhere. Feral dogs, stirges, drain spiders, and other vermin scuttle around with a bravery not seen in the city before the quarantine. The farther you ventures into Old Dock, the fewer citizens appear behind boarded windows, and the more signs of the emperor’s mob grow. Vandalism, brutalized bodies hung up on display, remnants of fires, and other evidence of public violence are everywhere.
The thugs lead you directly to what must be the Emperor’s “palace”. Located at 11 Silk Street, it is a monstrous amalgamation, a collection of tenements and abandoned stores that barely escaped destruction during a some fire that consumed much of the city block to the west. The palace consists of no less than six buildings, the lower floors of which appear to have been gutted and destroyed by mob violence. It is attended by many of the emperor’s henchpersons.
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As they go deeper, Yaziyah's fury grows. The senseless violence and loss of life, it is almost too much for her to bear, and she swears the most ruthless vengeance upon the man responsible for it. The few citizens who have not been converted into the Emperor's thugs, she coaxes with gentle words and the offer of a helping hand and a sympathetic ear.
"Mistress, 'e makes 'is pr'soners fight to th' death."
"Gotta watch out for 'is pets!"
"Only two days past, 'e beheaded me cousin! 'E 'as a ghee.. gae... beheading thing!"
Yaziyah listens to it all and takes it. What manner of creature is this, to make others bleed and die for his entertainment, like some twisted theater play?
"Where is he?"
"Silk Street, mistress. 'E 'as a compound there. Watch out for 'is thugs, they conscript anybody they lay eyes on. An' if you resist, they take you away." The old man shudders and retreats further into the questionable security of his doorway.
Garvid's face slowly regains its colour after the spine-curdling panic he'd felt. What magic is this..., he ponders, bent over his halberd, as he sends Yazi a long glance. Well, looks like most held it. Or I'm afraid of Shoanti women., a thought crosses his mind as he slowly makes his way, fists curled.
"Street've gone to complete s!%&.", Garvid notes in a low voice as he glances at a hung body. "I get the feeling I'm only just starting to play the headsman...", he spits on the ash and filth covered streets, eyes raised at the ragged Emperor's ragged palace. Pain on his face, he grits his teeth. Should the information go first? Or is playing to the tune of whichever lowlife is sitting atop the garbage heap the reason why Old Korvosa's in this situation?, he seems lost in dark thoughts.
Li mentally absorbs the state of the streets and listens from the shadows to what the locals tell Yazi. "Just when I be thinkin' tha' people can't be actin' any worse, this emperor be provin' me wrong. We need ta be removin' him. It be soundin' like the front door ain't an option so mebbe we be tryin' tha roof an' workin' our way down."
Kynes waits patiently at the street corner, observing each passerby intently, searching for a likely mark. After a long time, a lad who looked half lost, half regretful fumbled by Kynes. Kynes launches to his side, placing a gentle arm on the the young man's shoulder. A bit wild, this eh? Kynes gestures around vaguely. Not much like the Old Korvosa I used to know. The lad starts violently, but sees Kynes gentle face and is somewhat reassured. Yeah he says glumly. but its gonna get better, right? Kynes smiles wanly Sure. Sure my boy. Stay true to yourself, let the world work itself out...Tell, me where does one get some tea around here? Can you help me out