Having never cast the spell before, Pel is a bit surprised at how effective it is against the would-be executioner. The arcanist gives a nod in return to the vigilante's salute. Breathing a sigh of relief, Pel watches as Blackjack and the girl escape over the wall into Korvosa.
Half of Pel wants to follow Blackjack to see where he goes, but the other half of him knows he could never catch up to the man with the crowd pressing around him. Perhaps it's for the best. If any of them are captured, they can't reveal Blackjack's identity even if they wanted to. Seeing the man in person is enough right now. Knowing there's at least one other fighting for Korvosa's unjustly accused encourages Pel.
Seeing Bashiel and Kalem raise their Drake marks, Pel starts moving his hand toward his pocket but frowns as he remembers he never received one. Well, he would just have to let Bashiel and Kalem do the majority of the crowd-calming.
Still, Pel wants to help, so he gets relatively close to one or both of the pair and shouts, "Pointless violence isn't going to help Korvosa! And it's certainly not going to bring the king's killer to justice! Calm is what the city needs right now!"
Some of you manage to shove and jostle your way through the crowd. Others manage to calm down pockets of the crowd with carefully chosen words and appeals to their better natures. The Korvosan Guard, their primary quarry lost over the wall, begins to try to cordone and then disperse the crowd. Still, there is nothing to be done to prevent word of Blackjack's rescue of 'Trinia' from sweeping across the city. Anarchy and riots are avoided but the unrest is palpable. Korvosa is a city on the edge. Meanwhile, the armored sentinel on the Queen's platform finally turns and disappears back into Castle Korvosa, a heavily armored and reinforced door closing behind the crimson-plumed figure.
LN large city
Corruption +6; Crime +0; Economy +1; Law +5; Lore +3; Society +0
Qualities despondent, strategic location
Danger +10; Disadvantages shutdowns
DEMOGRAPHICS
Government overlord (monarch)
MARKETPLACE
Base Value 8,800 gp; Purchase Limit 50,000 gp;
Spellcasting 6th
Shutdowns: The Acadamae closes its doors during certain conditions, closing off access to its resources to all non-enrolled members and enforcing strict curfews on its students. Korvosa’s temples and other institutions of learning never fully close their doors to the same extent as the Acadamae, but they do become more guarded and limit access to their resources. Whenever shutdowns are in effect, Korvosa doesn’t gain the benefits of its academic, holy site, or magically attuned qualities, nor does it gain replacement qualities for these in the interim. (Reduce spellcasting by 1 level)
Bashiel regroups with the rest of the team, pleased that the potentially dangerous event didn't turn into a full blown riot. Of course, the sign of the news spreading rapidly doesn't sit nearly so well.
He runs a hand through his hair, saying "That could have been far worse. Thanks everyone. With how you helped patiently with the crowd, I'd call you more respectable Korvosan Guards than most!" He grins at the group, but quickly sobers up "That did NOT go the way I expected. The replacement Trinia is out, and safe, I hope, but for Blackjack to appear and rescue her... it's like something out of a story."
"That and it seems strange how easily Blackjack escaped. The executioner and the guards almost seemed to just let him get away with it. But if we can trust the stories about him, we have one innocent rescued from this Queen's Justice."
”Are you serious?” Kalem stared at Bashiel. ”Someone dressed like an urban legend just called for an overthrow of the monarchy! And who is he? Does he work for another noble? Is he a Cheliaxian seeking to sow discord? A cultist looking to make cover for more plots?! We can’t trust him blindly.”
"Or the Queen right now," Varor says looking at Kalem. "We have no idea who that woman that was about to be executed was, for all we know she was just a scapegoat."
I agree. One innocent rescued. Shall we report in?
Pel meets back up with the others after the initial riot is avoided. Unrest is likely unavoidable at this point. Pel can't really blame people for that. Things are not right in Korvosa. It may still be some time yet before they are.
Hearing Kalem's questions, Pel says, "I'm fairly confident when I say that neither a noble nor a Chelaxian were involved in Blackjack's actions. If anything, nobles and Chelaxians aided the Queen in finding a suitable victim to take Trinia's place.
"But as for who he is, that's a good question. One I would certainly like an answer to. And it's certainly hard to trust someone we can't talk to. Right now, we can only judge him by his actions, which were to save the life of an innocent girl. Perhaps the opportunity to speak with him will come at some point. He seemed to respond favorably to those of us who aided in his escape. Without any leads, though, I think we're better off reporting to Cressida, as Zamanda suggested, and seeing what else we can do for Korvosa. I fear the city's not finished suffering yet."
”You report in.” Kalem glared at everyone, as he changed his clothes into average traveling garb. The kind of which one might easily get lose in a crowd. For him, it had a hood. ”If you all weren’t recognized, and aren’t arrested for treason for blindly helping a masked revolutionary...come and find me. I know well that enough that executions are rarely lonely affairs.” With that he left, leaving with the crowd. Already he was thinking about ways to flee the city, if instead of his friends the watch came knocking. He truly hoped that he’d see them all again.
Bashiel crosses his arms and comments to Kalem "No, we can't trust him blindly. But in this case at least, where I was convinced we'd be able to do nothing, he managed to get that girl out. And we managed to keep things mostly under control afterwards as well." When the tiefling turns to leave, Bashiel calls "Don't worry Kalem, we'll see you soon enough."
At that he turns to Zamanda and Pel and nods. "Yes, Cressida will want to know how this went. I'm confident that we didn't 'act recklessly' by her standards, despite how worried Kalem seems."
When most of you arrive at the Citadel, you're allowed access to the ante room outside Cressida's office where an aide informs you the field marshal is currently in a meeting and says it will be just a moment. Waiting there already is Quinn, who smiles as he sees you arrive. "Sorry I didn't make it to the 'execution', though I've already heard it proved 'interesting'. I've got some news to share, but perhaps it can wait until we meet with Kroft."
A few minutes later, the door to the field marshal's office opens and a figure wearing a finely polished suit of plate mail steps out, a crimson plumed full helm carried under one arm. Raven black hair is cut short so as to not interfere with the helm, but high-cheek bones, green eyes and a slightly avian nose complete an all-together quite attractive face of feminine beauty. The woman looks a bit distracted, slightly stressed, but stops dead in her tracks before leaping forth and enveloping Bashiel in a hug. "Basher!" Her armor clangs against his and she plants a kiss squarely on his lips before he even has a chance to reply. It's Mirya.
She blushes and steps back slightly, realizing the breach of decorum and protocol, but is simply too excited to see him. "Oh, it's so good to see you. Your notes had me worried. You're right, the Queen has disbanded Sable Company, but she hand-picked me and a few others into a new group to help keep the peace. And she's letting me keep Blackbeak!" She grins and winks, "You're not the only one getting promoted!"
Bashiel returns the embrace with a fierce desperation, almost lifting Mirya off the ground despite the heavy armor weighing both of them down. The kiss goes on for quite a while, past the point of 'oh, this is getting a little awkward for everyone else' and well into 'please get a room' territory. When he finally separates from her, its with an expression of anxious joy.
"Mirya, you idiot, why didn't you send anything! You had me thinking that you'd been kicked out into the streets. It's amazing to see you!" He finally takes in her armor, plumed helm and all, and freezes for a moment.
He tries to keep an uneasy feeling out of his voice. "A new group picked by the Queen, that's quite the promotion! I guess desperate times call for good people to step up. I've got to feel bad for Blackbeak though, all that armor is going to break the poor guy." He grins and throws an arm around her shoulders.
"Oh sorry! I should introduce you." He turns to face the rest of the group. "These here folks are Quinn, Ilsa, Pel, Zamanda, and Varor." He indicates each of them in turn. "We're all part of the new team under Field Marshal Cressida."
"All of you, this is Mirya Izetti, my..." He blinks, mentally running through exactly how to categorize their not quite official relationship "uh, close friend." He clears his throat and tries unsuccessfully to keep embarrassment out of his cheeks "Up until recently she was with the Sable Company, but I suppose now you're a part of..." He trails off to let Mirya explain the situation.
Zamanda is also worried about a new group handpicked by the queen, but if Bashiel has a "friend" in it, perhaps she will be a good source of information. She greets Mirya warmly, and listens for details about the new group.
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Mirya beams with pride as she finishes Bashiel's sentence, "The Grey Maidens. Women only, sorry! But, so nice to meet all of you. Basher has said wonderful things about you in his letters." She nudges Bashiel with her elbow <clank> before looking bashfully over her shoulder towards Cressida's office. She lowers her voice slightly, "Though, I'm afraid my first duty wasn't quite to the Field Marshal's liking. I'm not sure what was in that message, but Marshal Kroft didn't seem pleased. Oh, and Basher, I'm sorry for not writing. With the riots and me still technically in training, well, you remember what it was like during basic training. I'm not sure I'm actually awake right now. But the Queen..." She gushes and gestures at her armor, "I mean, look at this..." It's identical to the armor worn by the contingent of guards at the execution, sans the extra ornamentation worn by the one who remained behind.
Pel can't help but gape at Bashiel and Mirya. Is Bashiel serious? That kiss is something someone shares with a person who is much more than a 'close friend.' Not that Pel cares too much, he's just a bit surprised that a paladin would come so close to outright lying.
I guess a romantic interest should also be a close friend, Pel muses.
More concerning, at the moment, is Mirya's mention of the Queen's new group. The Grey Maidens... perhaps they are just named that to correspond with their attire or perhaps the Queen has another meaning in mind.
Pel finally realizes, perhaps a few moments too late, that his silence could be interpreted as rudeness. He says, "Nice to meet you, Mirya. I'm sorry to hear of the Sable Company's disbanding. I hope your new position suits you well."
The arcanist glances in the direction of Cressida's office. He's eager to find out what new information the Field Marshall has. Whatever the Queen's message is, Pel can't imagine it's anything good.
"The Field Marshal didn't seem pleased?" Bashiel winces "I can give one or two guesses as to why. The Queen has been a bit... unreasonable with the Guard. I bet new marching orders came in. I just hope..." He pauses for just a moment, trying to push his doubts about the queen out of his mind for now at least.
He squeezes Mirya's shoulders "I hope YOU have a chance to finally sleep. I DO remember what the training was like, and I distinctly remember being too tired to do much of anything. They would drive us into the ground by day and then repeat it in the middle of the night for good measure! Though I can't help but remember someone coming around and bothering me in what little free time I had." He cocks his head to peer at her and raises an eyebrow.
With a sudden snort of laughter he releases Mirya "Well, we DO have to report in the Kroft. So I won't hold you from your duties any longer." He grins "Lets talk tomorrow? I'd love to know how the 'elites' train."
Mirya smiles and nods in response to Pel while holding onto Bashiel, one armored limb enteined around another. Whatever ‘close friends’ might mean, she clearly doesn’t have the paladin’s same bashfulness about it. She smiles patiently at Bashiel’s ruminating though does roll her eyes slightly, ”Come now, weren’t you the one who told me we need to follow the laws even if we don’t agree with all of them, as long as they’re not used for evil intent? The Queen’s word is the law. I’m sure she means well even if we don’t understand her reasons.”
But she chuckles at the mention of sleep. [b]”I don’t think Sabina is inclined to let us sleep and you’re right, we both need to get back to work.” She gives Bashiel a slightly more chaste peck on the cheek before whispering in his ear,
With that, she dons her helm, becoming the anonymous form of the Queen’s guard, and heads into the depths of the Citadel.
Bashiel pinches her cheek before she leaves. "See you around Mirya." The farewell has the air of tradition about it.
While his gaze lingers for a while on the retreating grey maiden, he eventually manages to return to the present. He clears his throat, at least for a moment avoiding meeting any of his allies' eyes.
"The Field Marshal then?"
You're shown into the marshal's office, the familiar setting providing a bit of respite and an oasis of calm in the storm that is the rest of the city. As for the marshal herself, she may be still, but 'calm' wouldn't be the right adjective. She stands by a window, jaw clenched as she stares out at Korvosa with the castle in the distance. She seems lost in thought until she takes a step back and turns, noticing you for the first time with a slight start. "Oh, I'm sorry, I..." She sighs, grins slightly with a bit of chagrin, and finishes, "I'm a bit distracted."
"I just received a messenger from the Queen. My suspicions have been confirmed. She is disbanding several military units and consolidating them into a group that answers directly to her. As Her Royal Highness, it is her prerogative and I understand why someone as young as she would want to move to consolidate power, but... well, the Guard was already stretched thin. Now she's taking some of my best."
Though it's only an hour or two after midday, recent events clearly weigh heavily on her. As she talks, she walks over to a small bureau and pulls out a tray with a bottle and some crystalware. She pours herself some of the dark spirit within and, with a brow arched in a question, offers the same to you.
"So, my day is going well. What of this 'Trinia'? Was it her?" If none of you had already done so, Quinn takes the question as a cue to close the door and afford some privacy.
After the door is closed, Zamanda answers
No, it wasn't her. The woman, whoever she was, was rescued by Blackjack, with minor aid from the crowd. Thanks to Kalem, Bashiel, and the rest of the group, there were no riots afterward. I think things went as well as could possibly have been expected.
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Ilsa considers how quickly things have turned. The afterglow from yesterday's rescue, as well as the night spent with Briget, seemed to have blown away like chaff in the wind.
It also didn't help seeing Bashiel with his obvious love interest. She raises an eyebrow as she considers this strange turn of events.
One of the Queen's own...this won't end well. We seem to be more and more at odds with the crown.
She frowns as she remembers her own recent bond with the paladin, when the two of them had pretended to be a newly-wed couple entering a den of vice.
She tries to focus on matters at hand.
"It wasn't her," Ilsa confirms. "After this rescue, the Grey Maidens seemed to be watching. There was one in particular," she says as she describes the one with the different uniform. Do you know who that is?"[/b]
Bashiel lingers by the door after its closed, thoughts still on the unexpected encounter.
He chimes in with "Indeed, the Queen was showing them off. " to Ilsa's mention of the Grey Maidens. His voice sounds a bit distant before he refocuses himself on the report at hand.
He frowns "As for the woman that wasn't Trinia... she was rescued by someone dressed as Blackjack. The fellow managed to leap right to the platform unmolested, freed the poor woman that had been set to be executed, and made a proclamation. If I remember correctly, it was a call of 'Justice for Korvosa. Down with the Queen.' Caused, quite a stir... you could say. Stunned everyone for long enough that he managed to make his escape."
"While we managed to calm things down at the site of the execution, I'm sorry to say there was no chance to keep the word from spreading." He gives the Field Marshal a wry smile "Not good news for the city. Sorry to be bearing it."
Pel notes that none of his companions has decided to mention their role in Blackjack and the girl's escape. Perhaps it's best that way. If Cressida's questioned by the Queen's people, she'll be none the wiser.
Still, Pel has to bite his tongue to keep from reacting to Zamanda's statement about 'minor aid from the crowd' and Bashiel's statement about 'stunned everyone for long enough that he managed to make his escape.'
A bit more than minor, Pel can't help but think.
While the others inform Cressida of the day's happenings, Pel takes the Field Marshall up on her offer and pours himself a shot of her spirit. Besides the fact that he's a Caydenite, taking a drink sounds quite appropriate after what's already taken place. He needs to relax a bit.
After downing the small spirit, Pel decides he should contribute something to this conversation, so he says, "Is power the Queen's only motivation for disbanding the Sable Company and other military units? Or could she have some other motive? And you haven't lost us, Cressida. Speaking for myself, at least, I don't answer to the Queen. Korvosa is just as much my city as hers."
Pel realizes that his statement could very easily be interpreted as treasonous, so he clears his throat and adds, "What I mean is that I answer to you, if you'll still have me. So if there's anything I can do help, you need but ask."
"Every move the Queen has made has been a power move," Varor says as he gets his own drink. He brings the spirit up to his nose and sniffs it but doesn't actually drink, just pulls it away slightly to staring at it intently as he begins to speak again. "She pinned an artist as an assassin, which I believe we can all assume was not true at this point. Disbands the Sable Company and starts a new military force that answers directly to her. And precedes with a public execution of an assassin who was never actually caught. Every move she's made has been about gathering as much power around her as she can."
The field marshal is incredulous at the mention of the vigilante. "Blackjack!? Nobody has seen him in 10 years! And... 'down with the queen'? Open sedition in front of the Crown? Could he be any more blatant?" She seems positively gobsmacked and it takes her a moment to get her mind around the development.
"You don't understand, or maybe you do, I don't know. The people, the commoners, they love Blackjack, or most of them. As news of this spreads... Oh, this day." She shakes her head, sighs, and gets back to business.
"Alright, well... So, the Queen had a fake Trinia. Maybe she was a scapegoat, maybe there was some evidence against her. We don't know. But all of this, together..."
She looks deeply bothered, not even trying to hide it, when she says, "I can't know what is in the Queen's mind and I won't question her motives, but ignorance and naivete can be just as dangerous in the hands of a monarch as anything else. Things are happening quickly, too fast. The queen, Trinia, the cultists, this plague...
"As for this new group, the Gray Maidens, well, reading between the lines of the message from the Queen is that she no longer has complete faith in the ability of the Guard to do our job, particularly in the Guard's commander. She didn't specify, but change is happening all around us. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to finance you or, to be frank, how much longer associating with me is going to be good for your health. I need to do everything I can to keep the Guard together right now and keep from giving the Queen further reason to dismantle us.
"All of which is to say," she looks at Pel, "I think you need to distance yourselves from me. But, more than ever, I think Korvosa is going to need you. All of you." She looks over the group and, finally, notices a particular absence. "Speaking of... where is Kalem? Is he okay?"
Not wanting to bring anyone else into it, she answers Yes, Kalem is okay. He's worried about ... well, I warned Blackjack as the executioner was about to attack him, because I wanted him to succeed in rescuing the innocent woman (or at least innocent of that crime). I looked different, but.. someone may have recognized me. He's worried about being associated with me, or being arrested for treason.
Things are happening quickly, too fast. The queen, Trinia, the cultists, this plague...
You can arrest me if you need to, but before that, you mentioned plague. Do you mean the same disease that we found the cultists researching, or are you talking about something else?
Cressida arches a brow at Zamanda's admission. She is still for a moment, leaning against her desk, then her gaze slowly drifts over the lot of you. Fingers begin to drum against the front of the desk. Her lips purse. She looks back at Zamanda, her eyes flat.
"You... made an excited utterance in a moment of stress when witnessing an impending act of violence. It is an explicable and momentary lapse of judgment and one we will not discuss again." A single brow arches, asking if she is understood. Assuming she is, she nods... with the slightest hint of a smile.
She then shakes it off and finishes responding to Zamanda, "No, no outbreak, at least not yet. But I've put the guard on alert to let me know if they encounter anything suspicious or related to a possible outbreak. It's put them on edge, but I can't take the risk."
Bashiel practically jumps off the wall he was leaning on when Zamanda mentions her involvement. "That was you? Wait." He thinks back to the voice shouting out and puts two and two together. "Ah-" He cuts off to allow the Field Marshal to talk.
She jumped to his aid right away then? Does Zamanda know Blackjack? Did she expect this somehow? I think we need to talk afterward. For now though, she DID risk herself to save the girl. There is no way that's deserving of punishment.
He opens his mouth to make his own comment on Zamanda's behalf, hoping to convince Cressida that her actions were justified, but he snaps shut when Cressida waves it away. Instead he looks over at Zamanda and gives a tiny shrug and relieved smile, hiding it from Cressida.
Zamanda's admission resolved, Bashiel thinks back to Cressida's earlier comment. "You're losing people from the Guard, Field Marshal? Why would the Queen dedicate our unconventional group to your service if she did not believe that the Guard was worth... keeping?" Bashiel trails off a little at the end, the thought of the Guard somehow disappearing seems so alien.
"And what do you mean, distance ourselves from you?" If the idea of the Guard being dismantled was alien, this suggestion is even more so.
"As for the Urgathoan disease, do you have reason to believe that something will happen soon?"
Somehow, in the way she's talking... Cressida sounds defeated. Like she's giving up. But what happens to this city if she does that? The thought jams itself painfully in the pit of Bashiel's stomach.
Zamanda nods fractionally at Cressida's eyebrow, and after she finishes talking, she looks very relieved. It isn't really because of the whole arrest thing, but she doesn't mind if people think so. She is hugely relieved that there hasn't been an outbreak.
Did you already pass the disease samples I gave you on to someone? It's got me spooked as well. The last cult member we fought said we were too late, and I think he was talking about this. We should be prepared for the cultists to use it, if they haven't already.
"In order," Varor says counting off with his fingers, "She was expecting us to fail. Cressidas on the chopping block. What else would they be doing with it?"
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The field marshal eyes Bashiel and says, ”I’m not going to speculate as to the Queen’s motives. But you’re a smart man. I’m sure you can come up some theories on your own. But, if she is aiming to take down the Guard, or me personally, you need to keep your distance. She did hand-pick you. Assuming it was a sincere gesture, you don’t want to be tarnished by whatever is coming my way.”
To Zamanda, ”I showed them to a wizard unassociated with the Academae. He’s looking at them but said it could take awhile to learn anything. Something about trials, and I didn’t want to ask much more. But don’t worry. I trust him and he has a high regard for life.”
Pel raises an eyebrow at the revelation that the others, besides Zamanda, he assumes, were hand-picked by the Queen. That definitely creates a bit of a conflict of interests. For the others, at least. Pel's grateful not to be in that position.
He says to Cressida, "Perhaps we can still help each other. We can 'back off' a bit, or however you want to put it, so most people won't think to associate us with each other. But you could still 'suggest' ways for us to help, perhaps through a messenger if you think we shouldn't meet face-to-face anymore."
At Cressida's mention of a wizard unassociated with the Acadamae, Pel is a bit surprised. In his limited experience, most wizards in Korvosa had at least some connection to the Acadamae, if only through a mutual acquaintance. As such, Pel can't help but ask, "What's the wizard's name? I'd like to trade notes and spells with him sometime, if possible. If you trust him, I imagine I would as well."
Pel hopes Cressida won't interpret his statement as him distrusting her contact. He genuinely wants to meet this wizard. Pel had already gained quite a few useful spells from the madman's spell book. What could a real wizard's spell book contain? Moreover, perhaps Pel could take another look at the information they had collected on the disease samples.
Cressida grins at Pellius. It’s tired and weak but still a grin. ”This old battle axe has a few secrets up her sleeve, young man. He’s actually in Magimar but prefers his anonymity. Fortunately, from my perspective, his degree of removal from Korvosan politics just makes me trust him more.”
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Ilsa listens quietly, unsure what to say.
It had been the others that had acted quickly to help 'Trinia' and Blackjack. She hadn't been sure what to do. Perhaps someday she would have enough conviction to know intuitively what to do.
"I don't know..." she says, as if trying to figure out what she thinks by talking it through. "Maybe the Queen had a reason to do what she did. We may not have all the details. I don't suggest we do anything against her, but I would like to find out more. Do you have any suggestions?" she asks Cressida. "If we're going to distance ourselves, maybe some last instructions?"
One other idea occurs to her.
"I think we need to find a quiet place and consult with our...original benefactor," she says. "Who has that harrow deck?"
Since you already put the guard on alert about a possible outbreak, I was wondering if you would mind if we told some other people... not anyone who would start a public panic, but perhaps other people who would be interested in researching a cure, or preparing scrolls or potions. It would help to have the means to fight the disease when it happens.
A smart man huh?
Bashiel leans back again, worried eyes on Cressida.
Cressida, what are you doing? We could help you! Surely the Queen wouldn't have an excuse to restrict or sideline you if the Guard got consistent results... Even as he thinks it, the argument sounds feeble. The Queen has already proven that she can enact almost anything with the flimsiest of pretenses.
But the Guard without Cressida... she was the brains of the whole operation. They were strained as it was. It would collapse under that strain. Or worse, discipline would fall apart, Guardsmen joining riots rather than controlling them... or worse.
~Բաշիել.~ the sharp voice of Phiatep bites at his doubts. ~Դուք միայն կնոջ կողմից չեք, որը կպահանջվի այդ կնոջ կողմից: Դուք խաբում եք նրա ծանր կարգին: Մեծը գիտի, որ ես միայն խափանել եմ հավերժական միջնաբերդի լեգեոնները: Միակ բերանը հանգիստ է եւ փխրուն, որտեղ հարյուրը բութ գործիք է: Տեղադրել այդ շալվարները եւ պատասխանատվություն վերցնել ձեզ համար:~
His ancestor's resolve and self assurance washes over him, sweeping away the anxiousness that had been building.
"Cressida." Bashiel uses the Field Marshal's first name, dispensing with formality. "If we will be acting independently from here on, we need access to whichever contacts and resources you can spare us. Speaking practically, if the Queen truly wishes to be rid of you, the Guard will not hold up in its current form. Any resources that we've been relying upon until now will be inaccessible." Bashiel stands and speaks calmly, but his voice seems to echo with a determined energy.
"Names of people you can trust, like this Magnimarian wizard of yours, especially if they have skills that could help unravel some of issues brewing under the surface of the city. Doubly so if you trust them to put the city's interests ahead of their own."
"A defensible safe house not easily connected to the Guard, if you can spare it. If we must distance ourselves from the Guard we need to do so in earnest. If the Queen intends to replace this with her new order, we will still need a place to organize."
"And ultimately whatever materiel you can spare to support us."
He turns to regard Ilsa and then Zamanda with an uncharacteristically intense stare. "Ilsa, I agree. We need to commune with Zellara. I believe Quinn passed the deck to Varor earlier. She showed some adeptness at divination, a skill we dearly could use right now." He squares his jaw. "And it seems our unfinished business with the Urgathoans is our first priority as an independent unit. As Zamanda so aptly reminded us, the cult leader we slew called us 'too late'. Whatever they're planning is imminent and the potential for harm is immense."
Pel finds himself agreeing with most of what Bashiel is saying. The Caydenite never thought he'd find so much in common with a paladin. A paladin of all things. Pel decides he needs to find out more about this deity Bashiel worships. Must be a fairly free-thinking one.
For now, Pel keeps those thoughts to himself and says instead, "Who is this Zellara you're talking about? I think you've mentioned her at least a couple times now. And what exactly do you mean by commune?"
Cressida nods slightly and is about to respond to Bashiel when Quinn, whose been keeping mostly to the back of the room, coughs slightly. ”Actually, it’s one of the reasons I’m here. Zellara has been nudging me, you might say. She wants to talk. Unfortunately, we have a complication. My cousin, Vencarlo has run into a, uh, complication on that thing he was helping us with. He asked if we could meet him.”
Cressida then adds, ”I don’t think this is the end of us working together. I’m fact, if something comes up, I hope I can still ask for your help. But the place to sleep, the payment for your work... I don’t think I can keep it up.”
It finally dawns on Zamanda what this means. She isn't actually compelled to be part of the group anymore. If she wanted to leave, she could. She doesn't say anything though, because she had been converted internally by now, not just externally, and wanted to stay and make a difference. She does feel a lot more free though, more like a respected person and not a thing, and her aspect brightens.
Zamanda grins. Well, let's go and see what Vencarlo has to say.
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Quinn adds quietly to Pel, ”We can explain Zellara once we’re on our way. It’s complicated.”
"Vencarlo first then, if you feel that's pressing Quinn." Bashiel's attention seems still focused on Cressida, and he regards her evenly. Almost all the deference he had for her just minutes earlier is missing, almost as if a switch has flipped in him.
"Cressida. Think about those three items I mentioned. As you say, continued payment and lodgings in the Citadel are uncertain. We need what aid you can provide while you can provide it. You can trust us to make good use of it." He speaks with steely self-confidence.
Cressida shakes her head at Bashiel's entreaty. "I'm sorry, Eland, I truly am. I'm truly grateful for everything you've done. But, can you truly tell me you don't feel it? Something is happening in this city, and the knives are out. I hope that will remain no more than a figure of speech, but for your sake, if I am sacked, you need to keep your distance from me. And, if I am to hold the Guard together, I need to make as few waves as possible. And if this city is to be saved from itself... you may need to make some waves. A lot of them. I'll send you the information I can when I get it along with any relevant contacts, but for now..." She shrugs.
Quinn chimes in, "Uh, Bashiel... no promises, but I wouldn't be surprised if Vencarlo has a place we can use. I mean, it's not like we're all a bunch of murdering hobos or anything. And if he doesn't, he or one of us must know someone else who can."
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The darkness that had been at bay seemed to be coming back. Ilsa looks at Cressida with concern in her eyes.
"You'll be okay, won't you?" she asks. "I mean, if you feel you are in danger, we can help," she says hesitantly.
She rubs her eyes as she considers their options. "I guess we go visit Vencarlo...but if things take a turn for the worse, don't forget your own safety."
Bashiel continues to stare flatly at Cressida "You don't need to convince me. I believe you. Just what I've seen in these last few days has been worse than anything under the old King. And there's no reason to believe that the Queen's new order will be better."
Phiatep's voice buzzes with contempt in his skull. ~կինը ղեկավարվում է վախով, ինչպես շատերը: Դուք նրան կարիք չեք զգում:~
"I've made my plea. If you need to keep things to yourself, do so." He turns, giving her a sidelong glance "Despite advice to the contrary, I agree with Ilsa. We'll be here to help you if we can. You've done a lot of good for the city, and I wouldn't want to see anything happen to you." Bashiel seems somewhat distracted as he speaks, as Phiatep calls him all manner of foul things for not following her advice.
"Take us away Quinn. You know where we can find Vencarlo, after all."
"Well let's go then, we're wasting daylight and I'm going to need to inform my church of a possible disease outbreak." Varor says drinking the sprite and setting the glass back down on the tray. "So um, who knows where Kalem lives?"
Cressida shrugs slightly to Ilsa's question, but the ambiguity of it doesn't seem to bother her over much and she still has the same wan smile. "I'm not sure any of us are going to be okay by the time this is all said and done, but you should worry more about the city than me. If you can, send me word once you've found a place to settle. It would be best to stay in touch, if at a distance. I'll let you know what I hear back from my friend on those samples you collected, and anything else I might learn."
She nods to Varor. "I think that's wise. If those Urgathoans are about to unleash a plague, the city will need all the help it can get." She pauses, then adds, "I don't know how many of you have seen the effects of a plague on a city, but if it happens... it will be terrible. Not just the death, but bodies in the streets, massive funeral pyres, riots, anarchy. The queen is likely to order a crack down and soldiers will be more inclined to panic if they think someone poses a risk of infection. Remember yourselves. Keep to your values. Do not judge the people to harshly, but remember we must also protect the people from themselves. Desna be with you."
"And may Sarenrae be with you."
Bashiel utters a short prayer to Osiris to protect the city from Urgathoa's depredations and excuses himself from Cressida's office. Once outside he says "Kalem kept his background fairly close to his chest. I'm not sure where he's living now, but I do know the bar where I first ran across him. We can ask there, maybe they have some idea."
"Unless someone else knows?"
Desna be with you.
And with you.
Zamanda bows to Cressida and flashes her a smile before leaving.