"If you wish to seek out my master then I would suggest visiting Savator's house. If you can find the artist you might be able to get a clue as to what he was doing last. He lives at 140 wave street in the old quarter but that place is run by the emperor of old korvosa now. A crime boss named Pilts who declared himself ruler of this district when it was placed under quarantine and all the guards pulled out."
Crain hoists the chest, determined that it wasn't going to defeat the group. "If none of you all can magic it open, we might have to hire it done. But, by the gods I'm going to find out what's protected with he sturdiest chest of all time!"
"To this Salvadore's then. I've got questions for Vencarlo about those damned assassins."
"All that's well an good lads, but we ave a limited time tah raise dead fer our companion, I am short on scratch tah afford it, an thought Mayhap sellin an item o his tah raise tha funds.
Donagar casts speak with dead upon the body of Sgt. Drakus....
"Hear me Drakus an answer in truth. Do yah wish tah be raised from tha dead?"
The mouth on Sgt. Drakus' half severed head opened wide, and a sound like a blowing wind from far away sounds.
"...yeessssss..."
"Aye tis good tah know I have turned your coin into diamonds, a bit more an I ken raise yah lad, you'll be back within days."
"I got tah help Craine open a box, were hoping tha rest o tha coin we need is in there.....rest well my friend an keep faith."
"Now yer thinking diamond dust might be in tha box?"
Mai adds
"One would hope so..."
For now you rest and take some time to decide on your next move.
The next day Donagar will dispel magic the chest and it takes some time but you manage to get the chest open.
Inside you find a bag of holding type II.
Inside the bag you find a full set of armour and a sword that you instantly recognise as the ones used by Blackjack the local hero!
The set includes:
Black leather Boots of Elvenkind
+2 slick Black Leather Armor
Amulet of proof against detection and location
Black leather gloves of dexterity +4 (with 2 fingers in the right hand containing wooden fingers)
Mithral +2 keen Rapier
Black cape of Mountebank
You also find a bag containing 500 platinum coins.
"Now that's a handy little pile of treasure! I would dear if Vencarlo knew this was in his house? Anyone mind if I wear the nifty cape, until someone claims it?"
"Tha platinum will purchase tha diamonds I need an I ken raise tha lad."
"You do know the trouble that might follow for wearing it right?"
Drakus took a breath, his heart beating again.
Blearily, he opened his eyes.
He saw himself laying atop an altar, surrounded by candles and the faint haze of incense. Naked.
"OK then. Did we win?" He asked hoarsely.
"Not sure winnin is a ting in tha circumstances, let me tell you a couple bits o information first."
"Hold still, yer back but jus barely."
Back up to half, Drakus quickly donned his clothing and armor again.
"OK, the mission was ta find Vencarlo, then take him to that village. But with his house burned down, how the hell are we supposed to fine him now?" He asked plaintivly.
"Calm yerself lad, I got tah get some werk done. I gotta recover mah spells, need tah make sure I got protection from elements, specially fire, an I really needs tah craft a new wand o healin....."
Crain introduces Vencarlo's servant to Drakus. "He told us to head to Salvator Scream's to look for him there. 140 Wave Street. He need to look out for thugs along the way of course."
"Fine then I will jus use tha platinum tah buy some new wands fer healin."
"Let's meet up wit tha others."
Drakus picked up his tower shield and bardiche, then nodded.
"Yeah, its time to get back to work."
"Agreed, Mayhap we ken keep tha gear o Blackjack hidden, none need know we suspect he may not return."
Donagar and Drakus set off to find Craine and Mai...
"Stay close lad, yer still not fully recovered."
Mai replies to Crain's idea of wearing part of the black jack outfit
"Things might get bad if folks think your black jack, heck you could get arrested and tried for the stuff he did.
And you know how much the justice system wants to make an example of him don't you...."
"You all take all the fun out of everything! Who knows, I'd make a fine Black Jack maybe....saving the city, romancing the ladies, I'd be all about it!"
So Drakus still has 2 negative levels but you should be fine to head to the house of the painter so we can do that.
Salvator’s home is a leaning, decrepit building located on the Narrows, not far from one of the many now-ruined bridges that once connected Old Korvosa to the mainland. The bridge was destroyed to help maintain the quarantine.
You knock and there is no answer. You try the door and it opens.
The smell in this entry is of must and mildew, much of it coming from the mud tracked over the floorboards, as if a small army had marched through the room. To the south stands a single empty set of shelves.
dc 15 survival. There was definitely a struggle here involving half a dozen people and someone was dragged out.
You check the house room by room and finally enter the studio were you find an elven woman.
"Well who do we have here? Are you also looking for Salvatore or rather did you come for me" she says
Survival
"Well, that depends, my dear. Are you looking to be saved by a big strong hero? And yes, we are looking for Salvatore, too, I guess."
"We err tha good guys yah know."
The elf woman chuckles. "I do not need to be saved cutie but maybe we can work together. I actually know were Salvatore is being held but I cannot get to him. I'd be willing to share this information with you so long as you make sure to bring him to me once you got him out. I'm sure that wont be a problem for a big strong guy like you." she says.
She wears a red cloak over most of her body but as she moves around you can tell she is wearing a strange suit of full body chainmail covered in little metal spikes and she has a spiked chain wrapped around her waist.
"Fair maiden, I think we might be able to work something out! We just need to talk to him, and then you can have him for all I care. Of course, you might want a more virile substitute than some mere artist," Crain says, puffing out his chest a bit.
"We're not buying a pig in a poke lady." Growled Drakus.
"Just give us your name and we'll tell him you want to see him."
Donagar shrugs the stone plates across his shoulders rise and fall, without making too much sound...
"I'm stumped an ol Drakus hast been dead most o today, so we err all a bit spent an need at least one blessin tha makes tings goes smooth afore tha next bad ting happens!"
"I am Laori Vaus, high priestess of the god of darkness. I will wait here, bring me the artist and I promise I will not harm him. I only want to ask him a few questions. I will of course compensate you for your efforts and once I have asked my questions you are free to take him." she replies.
You do not believe she is lying, she is actually being surprisingly forward and she practically radiates confidence.
"Look now we aint got no dealins wit darkness, but I ave to insist knowin if yer questions an answers is gonna lead to any harm to anyone?"
"Wha if he don't answer err lies to yah, then wha happens?"
"Don't worry, Donager. I'll keep watch on this little lassie. If she's bad, I'll correct her!"
"Oh my! Now that could be fun. You can spank me later sweetie." she replies to Crain's comment.
"I have seen signs in the paintings of several artist in this town. Signs that only a select few of my order would know how to recognize. I believe their art is being influenced by vision they have been getting in their sleep. Seven artist have been so affected but none more than Salvatore. I want to ask him questions about his dreams. More than that I wont tell."
"Actually it might be easier if I simply go with you. How about it? If you agree I will tell you about something else I found that you might find very interesting." she hold up a piece of cloth covered in blood. "I cast a few spells on it and was very surprised myself. I found it here and it belongs to an important city officiallll" she says in a playful tone.
"I say she comes with us. She clearly appreciates a strapping young hero like me. I'll keep her out of trouble," Crain volunteers to the others.
"Visions an dreams ken be dangerous I once heard o a mad gods dreams nearly bringingn tha end o tha world...on tha other hand I would be fine with her comin long as long as she gives her word tha neither her ner hers will seek tha harm us."
"So it's settle then? Perfect! We must go see the so called emperor of old korvosa. I am certain it was his men who captured our painter."
"Lead on, young lady. Where you lead, I am sure to follow!"
"Right then, I can take you to Pilts's "Palace" but what do you intent to do when we get there? I don't think he will give us the painter if we ask nicely although we could always try. Or do we simply kick down the door and cut down anyone in our way. By me count there shouldn't be more than two dozen guards." she says.
"Well, I'm still a bit wounded from being set on fire and all that. Don't suppose you can patch me up, can you sweetie? You get me fit as a fiddle and I'll cut through all of those guards lickety split!"
"Heck lad Drakus is more banged up that yah, he was mostly dead all day, an I need some rest myself, took a lot out o me tah bring him back."
"Tomorow then? And yes I can heal a few wounds." she says casting a healing spell on crain then Drakus.
"Aye I be agreeable tah tomorrow, I got tah refresh may spells an get us all ready ta go see......What say you lads we meet tha lady in TBA morning an go see then?"
"On the morrow then, lovely lady," Crain says with a flourish and an exaggerated bow. As the group turned to leave, Crain whispered to Dknager, "Hey, I think she likes me!"
Drakus sighed with relief.
"Yeah, that's way better! Thanks lady!" He said, rolling his shoulders.
"Alright, tomorrow then." He agreed reluctantly.
"Don't strain yerself Drakus I still gots tah get a nother two thousand gold worth o diamond dust an two castings o restoration tah get yah right as rain..."
You rest until the next day and get ready to go after the new king of old Korvosa the elven priestess leads the way. as you approach she asks
"So what is the plan?"
"You take us to Pilt's. We ask nicely for the artist. If they refuse, we start pounding their faces until Simone decides to cooperate."
"Aye head down an head first tha dwarven way...brings a tear o pride to mah eye."