"Aside from the Emperor, his gang, and the Arkonas, is there anybody else left in Endrin? Specifically, people worth helping."
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Tolenn patiently stands for all of the poking and prodding necessary to have her new armor fitted. She looks on the Grey Maiden recruits with pity, but does not speak out, trusting those with the proper amount of wisdom will see the error of their ways and leave the service of the Queen. Those that don't, Tolenn is resigned to the fact that they may be her opponents in battle in the very near future.
Her armor finally finished, she looks at it , hung on a manniquin. The central angelic ankh, surrounded by beams of sunlight, stylized doves wheeling in flight...
Eyes welling with tears of joy at the sight of such beauty, in the service of her Goddess, Tolenn whispered a prayer of thanks.
Seeing movement from the side, she turns to see the her friend Solara watching her, smiling. Tolenn noted the flat box her mentor was holding, but holds her tongue against the question she wished to ask.
"A give from the Temple...for the good work you've done, and will do." Solara said gently, opening the box for Tolenn to look inside.
A wide belt of golden leather, sunbursts alternating with Sarenrae's ankh....and a similarly golden circlet with a single sunburst at it's apex.
Shaking her head a such largess, Tolenn started to protest, but Solara forstalled her modesty, "This comes from the high priestess herself..." she offers, with a smile.
Defeated, Tolenn accepts the gifts, placing the circlet on her brow and the belt on her hips, after donning the magnificent breastplate created by the foundry.
"And from me..." Solara said, offering Tolenn a simple silvered ring, "It will help protect you in the difficult tasks you will face."
More tears obscuring her vision, Tolenn embraced her friend, then watched as the priestess disappeared back into the Temple.
Gathering her gear, Tolenn took one last look at a group of Grey Maidens anxiously waiting to be fitted.
Passing them, she said clearly, "Good fortune to you all."
Arriving back at Zellaras in time for the other's discussion on the various rumours, she says, "I'm sure there's plenty of people who would escape Endrin if they could, Wendy. I for one would see 'our' Queen tomorrow, see what lies she had in store for her people."
"Aside from the Emperor, his gang, and the Arkonas, is there anybody else left in Endrin? Specifically, people worth helping."
"A lot of innocents. People who didn't have the opportunity or means to get out before those Grey bi+<#es blew every bridge out. A couple days ago we actually spotted two bodies floating in the water with crossbow bolts sticking out of them. A couple of witnesses swear that they were shot by Grey Maidens for trying to swim across." Amira says angrily, only calming a bit when Cassandra gently rests a hand on her shoulder.
"Besides, the Arkonas despite being pompus bastards, are distantly related to Cass' family so they warrant at least checking on. It's possible they've been coerced into silence and Swastel has just gotten that powerful."
Wednesday nods along as Amira relays the information. "Well then, lets go f~!~ s%&! up."
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Cassandra's face scrunches. Amira would recognize this as her "thinking expression". Park mimics her and the two chitter back and forth to each other in a language no one else seems to recognize.
It might be monkey.
Finally, Cass comes out of her brooding fugue and offers an idea.
"We can't go over since its an island and the only bridge is being guarded. Swimming isn't a good idea. But can we go under? Do the sewers extend to the island? And could our friends the rats show us the way?"
"Wouldn't mind checking up on our... friends again..."
The sewers do not cross under the channel between Endrin Isle and the mainland. For the most part, sewage water drains out into the channel from both sides. That said, the channel, also known as the Narrows of St. Alika, isn't particularly wide. A dimension door cast by a wizard of Cassandra's level can span it.
"Could we maybe 'port over the channel? Like the way you got us across the open square to save that chimney sweep falling off the cathedral?" Amira asks Cassandra.
Cassandra closes her eyes and her lips begin moving. Those who lean in close can hear her performing... well, some pretty complicated mathematical equations. Her fingers twitch occasionally, though not at random. They're forming specific patterns in time to the numbers.
"Not exactly like that." Cassandra mutters during her calculations. Finally, she sits up and opens her eyes.
Yep. Cassandra the flake just did dimensional calculus in her head.
"Different spell for this kind of distance and mass transference. I don't use it quite as often. We'll need to find a point less than eight hundred feet across and I can take all three of us in a single casting. If I make sure to focus on the spell twice in my morning prep we can even go back if we need an escape route. I'll be useless for about ten seconds after doing it, though. So be ready to defend me in case we end up in something hostile."
"When am I ever not?" Amira asks with an arched eyebrow, a hint of a smile barely showing on her face.
Tolenn's eyebrow raises, impressed with Cassandra's abilities.
"Agreed. We'll travel across tomorrow after the Queen's address." she says, looking to the others for thier opinion.
Since there's no disagreement with Tolenn about seeing Queen Ileosa's address, we'll head there...
Now that the plague is no longer a major problem, a substantial crowd gathers for the address and gathers early, making it hard to get close viewing. A large number of Gray Maidens are scattered about the pubic gathering and surrounding the raised stage.
The royal procession takes the stage, city officials lead the way including Archbanker Tuttle, Sable Company commandant Marcus Endrin, and Field Marshall Cressida Kroft. The queen then walks out flanked by Sabina Merrin in her Gray Maiden armor, complete with expressionless full helmet, and a fat man in fine robes, the wizard Togomor, known of late to be an advisor to the queen. The queen no longer wears her mourning clothes but is clad in beautiful reds. The crown she wears appears to be a new piece or at least not seen in public before, and an unusual one. Rather than being adorned with expensive jewels, it appears to be adorned with bones or fangs.
When she reaches the focal point of the stage, she pauses as the voices of the crowd die down. Then she launches into her address. “Citizens of Korvosa. Subject of the Crimson Throne. The danger of the plague has been ended!” A cheer erupts from the crowd. “The tireless efforts of the clergy of Korvosa,” she gestures to the Archbanker, ”and other special investigators have uncovered the cure. Since they are no longer needed, the Queen’s Physicians have been disbanded as an organization. Regrettably, it seems that a number of these physicians and Doctor Reiner Davaulus, though highly recommended by my own relatives in Egorian, were hampering these efforts. Their incompetence in the face of this crisis has cost them their lives and we shall not mourn them. Rather, we shall rejoice in freedom from the fear of infection.” More cheers from the crowd.
”Yet even in our relief, Korvosa is wounded. Endrin Isle remains quarantined until civil order can be restored. The Order of the Nail, having come to Korvosa originally as mercenaries, has revealed their true colors and retreated to Citadel Vraid due to our inability to pay them in our need. Worse, both the Sable Company and the Korvosan Guard have suffered many loses. Neither force has the strength to continue as Korvosa’s protectors. Thus, to shore up Korvosa’s defenses, we are naming the Gray Maidens as the new Protectors of Korvosa.” Considerably less enthusiastic cheers follow this announcement. ”From this day forth, I appoint Sabina Merrin as the city’s new general.” Concerned whispers begin to be more prominent than cheers.
”With the city’s coffers sorely depleted due to the civil unrest and the plague, Korvosa is unable to further care for and feed the expensive hippogriff mounts of the Sable Company. They will be turned loose north of the city. The company’s overall state makes it unsustainable as a force. It’s patron, the former Castle Seneschal Neolandus Kalepopolis, is absent and believed to have fled the city in its time of greatest need. We have no choice but to disband the company and put its holdings under crown ownership.” There are audible gasps in the crowd. ”Commandant Endrin. Step forward and render to us your badge of office.”
Marcus Endrin steps forward, a grim look on his face. He reaches for his insignia but rather than present it to the queen, he throws it at her, striking her cheek. In the moment of shock that causes among the assembly, he shouts, ”Your shameful reign ends now! Korvosa will be free again!” In a flash, he’s got his bow in his hand and he drills an arrow into Ileosa’s right temple just before Sabina Merrin steps in front of her. The moment of shock is extended as the queen does not fall. She almost calmly takes the arrow and yanks it from her skull. She steps around Sabina and up to Endrin. Her free hand grabs the Sable Company commandant by the neck, lifting him from his feet, and she drives the arrow up under his jaw and through the side of his face. She cries out, ”THIS SHALL BE THE FATE OF ALL ENEMIES OF KORVOSA! MARK WELL HIS PUNISHMENT! IT IS ONLY THE FIRST!’
At the address Wednesday repeatedly rolls his eyes throughout the speech, till Endrin attacks the Queen with his badge, which earns him a laugh from the man. When the Commandant pulls his bows and plants an arrow deep into her majesty's skull the laugh turns into a full blown coming from a wide, demented smile.
When the Queen keeps moving though he stops, sobered by that act and her returning the arrow to Endrin. "Poor Bastard, you gave it your best." he says solemnly before he turns his gaze to Kroft, curious as to what, if anything, she'd do.
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"Ouch." Cassandra winces as the would-be assassin is, himself, assassinated.
"Couple of possibilities here. One, she's got a fancy magic item like that new crown of her's that makes her effectively immortal. Might have to be a major artifact. Two... oh. She could be a lich. Wow. A plague would be a fantastic way to raise the energy you need to become one. This early into being a lich, she'd even still look good or could use illusion magic to make herself all sexy."
Cassandra wiggles her fingers, casting prestidigitation to raise the volume on her voice as loud as can be.
"See you at spot where we're jumping over to the island!" Cassandra says to the others before she takes off running.
Tolenn listens to the Queen's speech, shaking her head as the crowd cheers Ileosa's lies.
A frown furrows her brow as the Queen outlines her plan to sideline Korvosa's traditional protectors in preference for her own Maidens.
She ignores Wednesday's laugh at Endrin's predictable response, nodding at the man's principles. Even his next desperate act isn't too surprising to the Paladin.
What happens next however is. Her eyes narrow as she watches the Queen, a slight, apparently soft woman lift the warrior into the air after surviving an arrow to the head.
She winces at Cassandra's enhanced shout so nearby, but continues to watch the Queen, her stare intent, purposeful...
Tolenn focuses her paladin's discerning attention on the queen and detects... nothing. Despite savagely skewering Marcus Endrin,Queen Ileosa has no evil aura that Tolenn can detect.
Up on the stage, as the queen lets Endrin's body slump to the boards, all color has left the stricken faces of Kroft and Tuttle. It appears that whatever they expected to happen at this assembly, this turn of events has come as an utter shock.
As cries of dismay and some of anger rise up from the crowd, particularly from a contingent of Sable Company marines just left of the stage, Togomor, the fat wizard, steps up and takes Ileosa's hand. In a flash, they disappear. General Sabina Merrin shouts a curt order, "Maidens! Clear the court!"
Kroft and Tuttle both stoop to see if anything can be done for Marcus Endrin. The crowd surrounding the rest of the party, now that Cassandra is making fleet feet, starts to get jostly.
"We need to be gone from here now! There's about to shut this square down. We can talk to Kroft later, looks like this was as much of a surprise to her as everyone else." Amira says taking in the rapidly devolving scenario. "See you at the meeting point."
In the time it takes her companions' eyes to skip across the jostling crowd and back, Korvosa's chosen has vanished, the city concealing her presence from any who would notice.
Like a shadow, she flits through the streets and across the rooftops after Cassandra.
Wednesday gently grips Tolenn's shoulder. "We need to go. Now." he says lightly.
Tolenn stares at the place the Queen had stood, a furious frown on her face. After a moment, she hears Sabina's order and her gaze goes to the Commander of the Grey Maidens.
Almost reluctantly, she again uses Sarenrae's power to discern the true disposition of Sabina's heart.
Feeling Wednesday's hand on her shoulder and his quiet suggestion, she nods and turns to leave with her friend.
As with the queen, Tolenn can detect no evil aura about Sabina Merrin.
As Tolenn and Wednesday leave the courtyard, the crowd hustles out in an effort to stay ahead of the Gray Maidens who are pressing forward with their shields. The crowd doesn't linger in the streets either. Nobody seems to want to be the ones hanging around when the Gray Maidens close in.
On the bright side, with so many Gray Maidens busy at the address and clearing the courtyard, there are few visible when Wednesday and Tolenn arrive at the rendezvous point to meet Cassandra and Amira.
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Cassandra and Amira are already waiting at the rendezvous point. Cassandra seems to be in the middle of... something. She's standing on her hands, one foot out and one eye closed as she uses the toe of her boot as a focal point for judging distance. When the others arrive she leaps upwards, flips, and lands on her feet once more.
"Everyone place a hand on me. There will be a sensation a bit like what it feels like to drop from a height suddenly, as if your body is falling but your stomach is not. Except it will feel like you are going sideways instead of down. Best to have a weapon drawn. Just in case. Don't throw up."
Wednesday will nonchalantly place a hand on Cassandra's shoulder.
Drawing a starknife, Amira rests her other hand on the small of Cassandra's back.
Tolenn moves to stand in front of Cassandra and reaches out to grasp her friend's shoulder, opposite to Wednesday's , "Ready when you are, Cass." she says, drawing her scimitar with the other hand.
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Cassandra takes a deep breath and chants a strange sequence.
"D times S squared equals negative open parenthesis alpha squared minus Beta i times Beta to the power of i closed parenthesis times d times t squared plus 2 times beta i times d times x squared times d times t plus y i j times d times x squared times d times x to the power of j!"
And with that, space warps and folds... and the foursome find themselves on the opposite shore.
Wednesday looks around and blinks. "That's if? I was expecting a jaunt through an otherworldly planescape as the go between." he mumbles to himself.
As the Narrows are fairly closely guarded along the fortification line, the adventurers pop over from under the shadow of the Great Tower, home of the Sable Company and where the Gray Maidens had (as of this morning) yet to extend their influence. The destination is the slum neighborhood of Bridgefront.
The Bridgefront neighborhood runs all along the Narrows with tight streets, squalid mostly residential buildings, and poverty. There's a sting of smoke in the air as well as damp and rot - mostly of garbage, but possibly a bit from death. The streets, normally reasonably busy with activity, are quiet except for a lone old woman, pushing a cart calling out, "Mushrooms! Color mushrooms for sale. Mushrooms!"
"... not quite as full of anarchy as I was expecting."
Tolenn nods, "Not surprising,that. The Throne hasn't been a good source of the true state of the city for some time." she says without sarcasm, then raises her hand to the woman, "Mother! What news?"
"We did move through another dimension. Just too fast for you to see it. Trust me. You're glad of it." Cassandra says as she regains her focus.
Wednesday lets out a 'hmm' of curiosity but doesn't otherwise push the topic for right now.
Amira scans the area silently noting the changes and deterioration from the norm for this part of the city.
The old woman gives a muffled sob, "No one buys my mushrooms any more. I have no coppers to feed my babies. Have you got a few for my mushrooms?" Her face is grimy so it is easy to see the tracks her tears have left. But she doesn't seem entirely lucid either, her eyes a bit out of focus as he focuses on selling her mushrooms.
The wares in the old woman's cart, naturally colorful mushrooms that are often used for weak garment dyes, are of poor quality, their colors faded and weak. Her clothing would require an upgrade to be termed rags.
The surroundings have definitely deteriorated to Amira's eye. There's more garbage in the streets than usual as well as more debris - bricks, rocks, roofing tiles - all the signs of a fracas or riot that never got cleaned up. A few more buildings than usual appear deserted, and a couple within sight are nothing now but piles of burnt rubble.
"This place has been through hell."
Wednesday walks up to Tolenn and the woman and offers her five gold pieces. "Go take care of your babies."
"Oh, thank you, good sir. Thank you. Now I can go to market and buy my babies the food they need and a few sweets as well." Fresh tears stream down her face as she smiles. For a brief instant, that expression shifts to one of deep sorrow as if she experienced a sudden wave, then the apparent joy comes back.
As Amira surveys the general state of Old Korvosa, she notices that further eastward down the street and along the Bridgefront neighborhood the conditions get worse. More rubble, more burned buildings, and more smoke arising in the distance.
"No problem, just get to your babies." Wednesday replies solemnly, his head titling ever so slightly as her expression becomes sorrow filled for a split second.
Amira lets out a soft sigh, anticipating the truth about the woman's children, given the state of things here.
As they listen to the old woman, Tolenn also begins to look about, dismay upon her face.
The place of her birth had always been a bit of the downtrodden section of Korvosa, but nothing like this.
She turns back to the woman, her gaze expectant...
Wednesday's not necessarily the best judge of character (having not really invested in doing so), but even he has good insights from time to time. Clearly, the old woman isn't in her right mind and it's probably not the dementia of age alone. Given her sudden spasm of grief, it appears that her repetitive references to feeding her babies is a manifestation of the dementia that plagues her and the grief is an emotion cutting through that dementia.
"Thank you. Thank you. Now to market. To market for bread and meat and tarts for the children." The old woman shambles along with her mushroom cart.
As sad as the old woman seems and as desolate as the streets seem, there's still some life about. The shock of the initial impression starts to wear off and other signs become apparent. The scent of a cooking fire. The bark of a dog in the distance. And about 20 meters away, a burst of childish giggles erupts up a nearby alley as a couple of ragged, young girls dash across it, crossing from one alley to another.
Wednesday lets out a gruff sigh as the elderly woman walks off, lost in her hopeful thoughts. "At least she'll be happy for a few hours."
"Until she remembers that they're already dead." Amira says with a sigh, her tone a mix of anger and sadness. "We should head toward the cook fire.Survivors might have a better idea of the state of things right now."
"Right." Wednesday agrees.
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Tolenn regards the old lady, a look of saddness and compassion on her face.
Then the girls burst forth from the alley, and Tolenn is transported back to her own childhood, running these same streets, grubby, hungry...always seeking , something , for that vile man Lamm.
She calls out, "Heya, watcha runner's on about? Come an' tells me sumtin! " , instictively adopting the patoi of the street, as naturally as if she was still that 7 year old urchin.
Wednesday arches a brow at Tolenn's speech, but simply smirks rather than comment on it.
Maybe it was something in Tolenn's voice, but one of the girls stops and backs up into the alleyway again when they both would probably scamper away. "Dolly's been bad. She's goin' afore the tall knife!" the girl calls out before she dashes off again.
"... that doesn't sound good no matter what slang you use."
"When people are weak sometimes crap rises to float on the surface and takes charge." Cassandra says. A shiver runs over her spine. "I think Amira and I should shadow you two from the rooftops. If we get ambushed I want to be able to attack from two sides."
Cassandra vanishes, flickering out of existence and then reappearing on the roof of the nearest building.
"So business as usual." Wednesday lets out to the spot Cassandra used to be in.