Devan's eyes widen as they locate the small cache of shiver, the value of the find more than a laborer would make in a year. When the half-elven woman suggests dumping the stash, the musician is torn. Deep down he knows that shiver and other drugs like it are bad news, but the addicts who used it would get it from someone. That was a lot of gold to literally throw in the river (or whatever disposal method they would use).
Then again, depending on the Queen's reward they had already gathered a sizable amount of loot. No sense being greedy at the expense of his fellow men. As some of the others prepare Lamm for the shark, the musician steps out onto the narrow walkway under the fishery, tossing the box full of drugs into the Jeggare. It amused Devan to think that their shark friend could be high on shiver when it devoured the object of their revenge.
As the group moves through the rest of the Fishery after disposing of the corpse the bard does his best to keep up. He is tired, both in a physical sense and mental as well. That was a lot they had all gone through back there, and Devan craved some quiet time for introspection. Soon enough, he supposed as they cleared the area and made ready to walk the short distance to the lambs.
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Aleira watches in satisfaction as Lamm's corpse is fed to the shark. When they discover the Shiver, she marches over and grabs it without asking, a furious look on her face. "This stuff is poison," she says, opening the vials one-by-one and tipping their contents to the floor.
The musician watches the witch with dark eyes, certain that that is the first emphatic non-Lamm related statement she has made in the brief time he's known her. He kind of liked the decisiveness...kind of. He'd have to pay attention to make sure she didn't destroy any more loot in the future, though. As Atticus had said, good intentions didn't pay the bills. Well, that was similar to what he said, anyway. He thinks about helping her dump out the contents, but he decides that robbing her of the pleasure of disposing of all twenty would be cruel.
Instead he makes ready to go, certain that their long night was not yet over. As they walk, the young man asks, "Have any of you heard of the Key Lock Killer?"
At last, the party of vengeance seekers is ready to leave the seedy fishery behind. Stepping out the front door once again, they don't look back knowing that somewhere between the surface of the water, Lamm's bones are being gnawed by the circling shark.
As you exit the front door, it is clear that something is amiss in Korvosa. EVen though it is late, sometime around 2am, by now, bells are ringing throughout the city. On the Heights, above where you stand now, the stark image of fires burning out of control in the city in several places. The ravaging flames are reflected in the black obsidian walls and towers of Castle Korvosa.
Along with the cacophony of bells, you can hear the multifarious noise of a city in chaos. The clash of steel on steel echoes down to the waterfront, as do shrieks of anger or terror, and the periodic detonation of arcane power.
Fortunately, the street you are on, along the waterfront is empty of activity and just a few steps away, you find the abandoned warehouse where you stashed the Little Lamms as you finished off their captors. To your surprise, only two are left, the small girl, Kara, sleeps soundly, her thumb tucked in side her mouth for comfort. Her small head lays in the lap of the older boy, Kester, who sits alert, his eyes darting around warily, dagger in hand.
"Didn't think we'd see you again." says the boy, trying to stifle a yawn. He sees you looking around the place, and adds, "The rest of them ran off. Whatever's happening tonight got them spooked an they split. Never see 'em again, like as not. You kill the bastard?"
Atticus slowly moves forward and takes Kara in his arms. "Yes, Lamb is gone. Forever! What is your name, and where does your family life? And do you know something about this girl."
As she leaves the fishery Twilight shakes her head at Devan's query. "I don't think I've ever heard of the Key Lock Killer, why do you ask?"
When when exits into the evening air, Twilight catches the smell of smoke mingling with the stench of the fishery. She looks up at the burning skyline with concern "You don't think the city is under attack do you? We really need to get the children to safety. Whatever if going on is a lot bigger than I thought."
Hustling quickly with the group, Twilight enters the abandoned warehouse where the kids were stashed. She was not surprised to find most of them had fled. Many of them were kids of the street, used to taking care of themselves when not pressed into service by a crime lord. Even in these troubled times they would be able to melt away into the nooks and crannies of the city until the trouble had passed.
Despite the dagger in one hand and the wariness in his eyes, the scene of Kara and Kester touched a soft spot in Twilight's heart and elicited a genuine smile.
Twilight held back a bit of a laugh as Atticus immediately launched into a series of blunt, direct questions. Almost as if he was interrogating Kester.
After giving Kester a few moments to answer the questions, Twilight gently puts an arm around the boy and asks the group "I just need a quick word with Kester"
She takes him a few steps from the group and kneels down to his level "Earlier, I said that if we had the opportunity I would give you the chance to say your last goodbyes to Lamm. That didn't happen and I apologize for it. I did, however, bring you this."
Twilight takes out the little bundle of dirty cloth and holds it to Kester.
"The fate of the last bit of Lamm left in the whole world is now in your hands. You can keep it as a memento of this dark time, or you can cast it into a fire and erase the final little bit of his existence. Do with it what you will."
With that, Twilight returns to the group. Her last little bit of business concerning Lamm finally wrapped up, so to speak.
Pleased at the curious half-elf's question, Devan indicates the oddly shaped dagger they had found in Lamm's stash as he speaks. "There were several killings a couple of decades ago made with a distinctive blade. It looks like Lamm was that infamous killer. Do you think the Watch would find its return valuable?"
As Twilight mentions the state of Korvosa the musician gives her a worried look but otherwise remains silent. It seemed bad, whatever was happening. Best to just get on with it and hope it died down soon.
Devan kept his look of satisfaction in check as they found that most of the lambs had vanished, instead giving Kester a pat on the head. "Ain't you a responsible one? Good job on caring for this little one. Why don't you keep that knife, my friend? You look right fierce with it." As the Calistrian asks for privacy the bard was happy to oblige, hoping the woman would shoo the duo of children along as well. There was business to attend to.
When she returned and the children didn't slink off Devan resigned himself to helping find a place for them, trying to think of which Temple was closest to their location.
Kester looks at Atticus with the eyes of a much older person, ready for his street-wise answer to the direct questions, but as Twilight takes a different approach, he lays little Kara's head on his meager pack, and listens to the priestess, taking the token offered with a nod.
"This settles it for me. Glad he's dead. I gotta take care of Kara now, but I'll keep this for a while. Thanks for stopping him and rescuing us."
He goes to the little girl, gently waking her. "C'mon Kara, we have to go now. We'll find some place to lay up till morning. We don't have to live in that smelly old place anymore."
Devan knows the Temple of Sarenrae is in the southwestern part of the city, near Gatefoot and the Amphitheater. The Bank of Abadar is in Northgate, a little north of where you stand now. The Sanctuary of Shelyn is also in that neighborhood. The Asmodeans have a secretive temple directly west of you at the top of The Heights, but they may not be the best place for young children. The Pantheon of Many is in Southern Kovosa beyond the Pillar Wall.
"You two should come with us. The streets don't look safe and if nothing else I will see that you have warm beds tonight and a good breakfast tomorrow."
"But first, I believe Atticus has a most important matter to attend to. Unless you would like to delay the reunion until tomorrow, would you care to take the lead Professor? We will see you and your ward safely to your destination."
Atticus leads the group toward the mansion of his old employer and reaching it, knocks at the door, no matter how late it is!
Mirela is excited when they find the the composite bow, but she is a little bit disappointed when she can't quite manage the draw. Still she spends quite a bit of time running her hands over the the bow.
But she shakes herself out of her obsession and comes over to the children.
Yes, come with us. We can give you food and warm beds. I've spent many a night on the street, and I promise you that we will give you a better place to sleep then any nook you will find.
She does what she can to try to keep the children with her as she accompanies the group to the house Atticus leads them to.
If we can't find another place, I'll take them to my aunts, but they don't need another mouth to feed.
As the group turns to leave, children in tow, Devan rolls his eyes when no one is looking, but otherwise follows the others through the streets towards the mansion. Maybe the parents of this Nikko-whatever would cough up a reward for the child's safe return. The musician keeps his dark eyes on the alert, even though he is mentally exhausted, hoping the size of the group and the rather wild look of at least some of them will warn off any confrontation.
As the fires rage in the distance Devan rehashes Madame Zellara's words, knowing the seer's prophecy and this bedlam and chaos were related. If the bard sees anyone on the street, he tries to stop them a moment, asking in the friendliest voice he can muster, "What is going on in Korvosa, friend?"
If we find these children a decent place and the warmth of a family, we should give some money to feed them. As long as I can pay my tab at the tavern...
Nargun was eyeing his wife's ring, and silenty weeps
And now, what, my dear? I took this sacred oath to avenge you, I forfeit my identity, my skills at the forge, I had a decade to kill Lamm. And it's done. So quickly. I won't say it was easy, I won't dare to pretend I could have done it alone, not by a long stretch. But what is my purpose now? Maybe I should ask the ghost of the fortune teller?
Keeping his thoughts private, Nargun follows the rest of the group
In the wee hours of the morning, you start for the home of Atticus' former employer, which is in a posh neighborhood in The Heights district not far from the looming black towers of Castle Korvosa. You haven't walked more than a few blocks from the fishery when a wing of Sable Company riders swoops overhead, angling toward the Castle at breakneck pace. One of the hippogriff mounts of the Company must be badly wounded as a rain of dark blood rains down on the street around you. Not much after that, while you still gawk upwards, the wounded beast crashes headlong into a statue some blocks away, taking its rider and itself into a messy bone-crunching demise. The other two riders in the wing don't even pause to check on their fallen ally.
Amid the chaos, you hear a herald somewhere nearby call out "THE KING IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!. The herald is then called down by a number of other voices that cry things like "Hang the Queen!" or worse "The usurper must die!" Despite the late hour an unruly crowd gathers around the fallen Sable Marine rider, kicking at the corpse and tearing at his uniform.
You turn away from that scene quickly, shuffling the children down a small side street, keeping far from the crowd. At the end of the street, a withered old man with long unkempt hair and beard stands shouting his version of the truth to any who listen, though none do at present. "The Eye of Grotues has turned from the Boneyard to look upon Korvosa!" he shouts through blackened and rotting teeth as he sees you coming. The man points a long yellowed finger at Devan. "You! I have seen you in my dreams!" he rushes forward toward the group, limping as he scurries along. "You will be near death when the great pestilence falls on Korvosa! You will join your lady love, and usher in a new era of writhing doom for us all!" The man is close enough for Devan to smell his foul breath and see the sores on his face and neck. He tries to grab the bard's overcoat and hold him close as he cries out.
Something big was happening, that was for sure. The musician looked on with concern as the group of people gathered around the surely dead Sable Guard member, kicking the corpse with abandon as they vented their rage and frustration over...was the King dead? That had happened rather suddenly, and was it a coincidence that the group had been dealing with Lamm as this riot had been building up?
You can't hang her till we get our reward. Devan thought darkly, wondering what had these people so riled up. Murder, then? Had the Queen stolen the throne from her husband? Looking again at the frenzied masses, the bard thought it would be best if they hurried along with their business and get off the streets.
As they come upon the old man, Devan thinks to asks the man what is going on, but hasn't even opened his mouth when the greybeard starts spouting off some crazed prophecy. The Varisian thinks to just ignore the old man, but then he approaches, rambling about a subject more dear to the bard's heart.
The musician looks at the old man with a mixture of disgust and anger as he tries to approach the bard and cling to him. Devan wasn't in the mood for any more fortune-telling, especially the type that salted his emotional wounds. He kicks at the old man, expression fierce as he yells, "Get off me, old man! Go babble your nonsense at another!"
Worry colours Twilight's words as she watches the rider crash to the ground and get mobbed "If the rioters are belligerent enough to attack the Sable Company then the Company and Guards are going to push back with force very soon. We have to get off the streets before we are caught between an angry mob and determined guardsmen."
As she makes her way up the side street with the group, Twilight's face wrinkles in disgust at the old man accosts Devan. "Things must be pretty bad if Grotean worshipers are out openly preaching in the streets. His prophecy has that curious trait among fortune tellers, it seems to have just enough familiarity that you could believe it was about you, but just enough vagueness in details that it could also apply to any number of other people."
Despite the kick aimed at the crazed soothsayer, he still tries to grab hold of Devan. Apparently, his grip is like iron, and belies a strength that his sickly and frail frame would make surprising.
"Vengeance fires the heart, but does not fill it!" cries the man in Devan's face, spraying spittle on the young bard. "No real solace exists there. Only decadence, death and decay! Ha! The Crimson Throne is a seat for harlots and devil worshipers. What will become of us! Oh, we are all lost!"
The old man seems to be spent and loosens his grip as the others pull him off Devan, who tries to wipe the man's spit and sweat from himself. The prophet slumps to the ground, spent, his eyes now glazed as if in a trance.
Twilight takes exception to the old man's words, her hand strays to the whip wrapped around her waist.
"Vengeance satisfies the heart's need to right the wrongs against it and that is enough. Groteus offers you nothing in return for your worship, he only espouses the end of all things. What is the point in following such a nihilistic deity which offers nothing in return? Get out of here you old fool before I call down the wrath of Calistria on you misguided soul!"
Mirela looks in revulsion at the old man.
The city 'as gone crazy!
Professor we need to find a safe place to stay that is close. 'Ow far is it to the place you are leading us?
Atticus watches in disbelieve, but looks around."Not very much further, not very much further. But you are right we have to move faster. If the king is truly dead, may Pharasma judge him quickly, this will mean chaos."
True to his word, the home of Nikkodemus is not very much farther. Even in the few short blocks and in a posh Heights neighborhood, there is still a growing mob presence and threat of violence wherever you turn. A group of ruffians is passing a bottle around chanting, "Death to the Queen. Down with the Guard!" and similar messages as you pass by.
Finally you arrive at the fine home of Nikkodemus, but to your surprise the wrought-iron gate surrounding the property is held fast, locked against any entry. There is no guard at the post near the gate.
At the end of the block, a similar manse, roars in flames, sending columns of thick black smoke into the Korvosan night sky.
What's happening there? Has the town gone mad? Why this fuss about the King's death?
Professor, take the children and try to get them in the 'ouse. I think the rest of of us stay out 'ere on the street. That will 'elp to keep the family calm in the 'ouse and we can keep these mobs away from you all till you can talk us in.
The musician looks at the old man wide-eyed as he continues to spew his craziness, finding the man latched on tighter than a leech. The prophet's words rang uncomfortably in the bard's ear as the group manages to extract the Varisian from the greybeard's death grip. What if it were true? Devan looks at the man as they pass, keeping his eyes on the senile old man until they were well past. Korvosa was getting interesting these days.
When they pass yet another group of swarthy men chanting vitriol against the Queen, the young man shook his head. Something truly horrible must have happened for this level of angst to be permeating the city. Devan considers trying to ask for some information from the men, but shakes his head, continuing to walk with the rest of the group. Who knew how such a mob would react?
The bard listens to the others, offering up his own supposition about what was going on. "They keep yelling about the Queen being a usurper...the King must have died suddenly. And probably violently, for this level of outrage." Or perhaps they had been attacked by a neighboring country or the Shoanti, though these pockets of desperate men seemed to indicate probably not.
Devan gave the unguarded, locked gate an uneasy look, glancing down the street at the large home burning brightly in the darkness. He looks incredulously at Mirela, "You fancy burning to death in a ritzy home after all we survived tonight? Let's move on to the Temple and let the priests deal with getting these children back where they belong." The musician's eyes flit warily into the dark crannies and nooks around them, keeping a look out for any undesirables that might decide to approach.
Most scavengers go after the weak and easy prey. If we put we put up a show of force they should leave us alone.
I think.... She adds glancing at the street around her.
Looking left and right Atticus tries to pick the lock.
[B]"I will try to wake them up."[/dice]
Atticus pushes Nikkodemus through the gate and quickly hammers the front door.
Twilight examines the house looking for any lights in the windows or smoke from the chimney, anything that would indicate that the occupants were still home.
"What do you think Professor, are they still home or would they take their guard and retreat to somewhere safer?"
Twilight watches Atticus pick the lock "You're getting pretty good at that with only a few hours practice"
"My suggestion is to head back to the Yellow Juggler and wait out the night. We are all tired and by tomorrow the guard may have gotten a handle on things."
"That will also give me some time to think of where the children can go where they won't be subjected to Sarenrae's overbearing doctrines"
Mirela pulls out her new bow and stands outside the gate with an arrow knocked but not drawn watching the street and trying to look rough and tumble.
Sighing as it seems the others are resigned upon this course of action, Devan places a foot behind him against the fence enclosing the small estate, leaning against the iron bars as he pulls out his lute. He plays aimlessly, plucking out random chords and notes before stringing some together into the beginnings of a medley, making adjustments where he thought they might be needed. It turned into a pretty decent melody...not his best, but not bad, either.
The musician smirked as the Professor worked on yet another lock, thinking the older man would have done well running with him a few years ago. Truthfully, he was just glad the man's skill had opened it easily. Now they could get this business over with and get on with things.
Atticus is able to jimmy the lock in nearly no time and his skill draws an admiring comment from the young Kester. "That's pretty nifty work for a grown-up. Couldn't a done it better myself!"
Soon the Professor has his young ward on the doorstep, Nicky's eyes wide with anticipation mingled with fear. Atticus hammers on the door, but there is no immediate answer.
Looking at the home for signs of occupancy, Twilight is able to see the glowing flicker from inside as if from candle-light moving around in the house. It seems someone is home, even if they are not answering the door.
At the gate, Mirela stands overwatch, her new composite bow in hand. While Devan begins strumming snatches of a melody to kill time. Not long after the others have departed, a sleepy-looking courtesan comes strolling around the nearby street corner, looking a bit surprised to see your group loitering at the gate. Listening to the music, she approaches closer. "Going to have to be a little more still than that if you're breaking into this manor house, lad. Fancy you might find a safer neighborhood than this one for burgling. The Guard will keep this place well-patrolled regardless of all hell breaking loose other places."
The musician grinned rakishly, continuing to play, practiced hands switching to a popular tavern tune. That answered that question...if there was one thing 'courtesans' knew, it was which areas were safe to ply their trade. "Just returning an errant child to his concerned parents, ma'am, no worries. Is it safe around Castle Korvosa, by chance? And near Gatefoot? Just wondering where us less uppity folks might hole up until things blow over, if you catch my drift."
The bard smiled at the woman conspiratorially as he strummed, dropping his voice a bit at the end of his blurb even though it was clearly audible to everyone. After she answers, he nods his thanks and continues to play for another minute as Atticus beats on the door. The young man stops playing as he turns to the trio at the front door, calling out, "Hey kid! Call for your parents so they'll answer the door. I'm ready to get the hell out of here!"
I guess we can't be sure the children will be safe here, but it's the best we can do
"Someone is home, maybe let them know who is pounding on their door so early in the morning in the midst of riots"
"I wouldn't go by the castle tonight, music man. Haven't you heard? The king is dead! That place will be locked down tight, and with every John with an axe to grind howling for the Queen's blood, it'll be one hell of a mess out front. Stay away from there! You ask me, the rumors that old King Eodred was murdered are false, That lecher died of old age, probably with a young girl in his bed. Just the anarchists are out using the opportunity to trash the poor Queen's reputation and keep this unrest going. See if that's not true..."
"As for Gatefoot, that's too far for my wanderings mostly. Could be calmer there, good neighborhoods. I bet the Shingles are on fire! And Old Korovsa! Good luck to you returning children or stealing the silver. Keep the pretty music playing!" And she saunters off looking for a last bit of sleep before the sun starts to rise.
At last, after much hammering and crying out, the door is opened a crack, a chain still holding it fast. "What is it? It's not safe out there. So be quick, banging about at this late...Atticus! Is that you? Why are you here? Are you mad?"
Atticus brings Nikkodemus to the front.
"Yes mad with joy. I have found Nikkodemus. I brought him home. Open the door quick. And if any rioteers come close they will find this house well guarded!"
"Many thanks, my lady! May fortune smile upon you!" The bard offers up a tired smile, thinking Seems like Lady Luck is rather fickle this night. Since the woman had been so helpful, the musician did as instructed, playing some slow, soothing melodies as Atticus conversed with the owners of the house.
There would be no claiming of the Queen's reward this evening, it seemed, so the young man resigned himself to a night here. Assuming these strangers would let a group of bedraggled folks such as his companions into their home. Saving their kid ought to help with that. Well, hadn't the Professor been the one to lose him or something like that? Hmmmm...maybe they'd just make him go away and Devan could still have a nice soft bed to lay upon.
Continuing to strum, the musician keeps his eyes upon the door and the conversation there to see how things are going.
The door opens in a flash, and heart-warming scenes of reunion ensue, leaving few who witness them with a dry eye. Soon after the hugs and rejoicing have subsided somewhat, Master Aquilla turns to Atticus (and the others at the door). "How? How did you find our dear boy and return him? We had heard all kinds of stories and rumors, but gave him up for dead. Now he is returned! Even if the city is crazed, we must celebrate! Come in, all of you! We will have early breakfast and open the finest wines! I insist! Oh, Professor, we have treated you most horribly! Let us make this up to you and give a small thanks for returning our Nikkodemus!"
The entire group is invited inside the fine manor house of the well-to-do wine merchants for rest and food and whatever amount of recuperation they could wish for.
Thank you kindly Sir! Mirela responds to the offer.
Before she enters she offers a brief prayer to Old Deadeye, to preserve this family through the present trouble.
Then, assuming the other children are welcomed in and she can watch over them, Mirela will gladly rest here.
Her concern is the children right now and making sure they find good homes.
If they were to stay somewhere, this manor house seemed as good a place as any. Devan stows his lute and proceeds to stride up the short walkway to the front door. Pausing for a moment, the musician speaks to their host. "Thanks for the invite. Oh, and unless you fancy more visitors, you might want to have Atticus relock that gate back there." With a wave of his hand he indicates the roadside entrance before entering the building.
Once inside, the bard is more than happy to let Mirela and whoever else watch over the children. The Varisian was worn out after the day he's had, but still manages to stay up long enough for the promised breakfast. Declining the fine wine in favor of water, this was the first food since Joline's death that hadn't tasted like ashes in the young man's mouth.
After breakfast, Devan asks where he might lie down for some rest. The musician bids everyone a good morning and goes off to find what rest he can, hoping things in the city have calmed down when he wakes.
Twilight was happy to see the touching reunion. She gladly accepted the offer of food and wine, however the day had been long and exhausting. Off of the streets fatigue quickly set in.
"Thank you for you hospitality sir, it warms my heart to see such a wonderful reunion." Twilight stifles a yawn.
"The day and evening has been eventful for everyone. Might you have a spare room?"
There were still tasks to attend to the next day. Twiligth still carried with her a gruesome cargo that needed a proper burial, there was the spoils of the raid that still needed to be properly identified and split and a safe place needed to be found for the children.
There was also one more matter that needed to be resolved. When she had been kicked out of the Acadamae and began her training as a priestess she had put aside her arcane studies, but as of late she had started perusing her old books again. She had never really lost her interest in arcane magic, she was just preoccupied with Lamm.
Now with Lamm dealt with, her thirst for knowledge was kindled anew. Her books were back in her room and she desired to retrieve them first thing on the morrow.
Nargun will try to have some rest, but nearest the door, and with his weapon not too far from his hand.
Looters and rioters would get a nasty surprise if they try to break in.
Raising her hood to cover her face once again as the group leaves the fishery and walks quickly through the streets, warily eyeing the cities' gangs of rebellious citizens. Breathing a sight of relief when they reach their destination, Aleira follows the others into the grand house, shuffling uncomfortably in the lavish surroundings of the manor house, somewhat amazed at the wealth openly on display. She accepts both wine and food with a soft-spoken word of thanks and sits sipping from her glass and staring into the fire as the others talk. Cat, meanwhile, seems unaffected by the witch's nervousness and eagerly sniffs around the room before finding an unoccupied chair, where he begins busily cleaning himself.
Thank you kindly Sir! Mirela responds to the offer.
Before she enters she offers a brief prayer to Old Deadeye, to preserve this family through the present trouble.Then, assuming the other children are welcomed in and she can watch over them, Mirela will gladly rest here.
Her concern is the children right now and making sure they find good homes.
The children are welcomed inside as well, and soon Kester and Kara are eating perhaps the finest meal they have ever had. The older boy clearly looking out for the little girl. Once the main meal is over, Nikkodemus takes the other children up his room with a barely stifled yawn, and they are all three soon asleep, dreaming untroubled for the first time in many many nights.
After she sees the children are safe, Mirela is able to eat, rest and recuperate until morning.
Reticent to talk, Aleira accepts the proffered hospitality but true to her nature, remains aloof from the talk at the table and the celebrations that the Aquilla family headily joins in. Sitting in a comfortable chair near the fire, the young witch eventually dozes off with Cat curled up on her lap, waking rested and refreshed as the sun's rays first peek over the horizon of what appears to be a lovely early spring day.
Devan eats the breakfast and exchanges some pleasantries with the hosts, but the fire of vengeance burns hot and consumes much fuel and the Varisian songster finds himself spent in ways he didn't expect. Begging off, he finds a soft couch to lie upon, and is soon asleep without much thought about what tomorrow will bring, except the hope that it will be better than yesterday.
Nargun settles in near the home's doorway, his axe close at hand, resolute in his thought to protect the place should any looters or worse enter this place given the chaotic scenes playing out in the city.
It's not long before he also nods off, and the night (inside at least) passes uneventfully enough that he is not awakened.
Knowing there is still much work to do, and pining for her forgotten arcane studies, Twilight would like to return to her rooms at the Yellow Juggler, but her tiredness and the strange events occurring this night in the city change her mind, and once shown a spare bedroom, the Calistrian priestess, after making the proper ablations and offerings to her patron, is soon sound asleep, rising only well after the sun has risen on a new day.
Atticus is in high spirits. Never really expecting to be successful, fate, or perhaps Madame Zellara, paired him with the right group that not only killed the evil Lamm, but also saved and returned his lost ward. The Professor accepts the apologies from the Aquilla's and the promises to invite him back to his post as tutor and mentor for Nikkodemus. He even makes time for a romantic interlude with the house-servant Arielle, who spares no effort in showing just how pleased she is with his return to the master's good graces.
Soon after, he snores lightly, resting with a wide smile on his face for the first time in many weeks.
As it inevitably does, the dark of night gives way to the dawn and the light pushes the darkness away. For those up late last night, the morning comes far to early, but they awake nonetheless, refreshed and renewed (or in Atticus' case, with a bit of headache...).
Called to another meal, this time without the children present, who are still sleeping, Master Aquilla speaks. "We cannot thank all of you enough for returning our darling boy. We had given him up for lost. But today there are new worries. The King's death in the night has left the city in chaos! Unrest rides on every corner, and the new Queen has her hands full trying to restore order. Rumor has it that old Eodred didn't just die of old age--he was made sick and thus murdered by someone he trusted; My money's on the castle seneschal, Neolandus, who has, it is said, fled the city. Why would an innocent man flee, I ask you"
There is a bit more discussion about politics and soon the group is ready to depart. Looking out the window, besides the smoldering ruin down the block, there is little evidence of last night's events. No mobs or looters are seen, at least in this part of the city.
Acting with the approval of the Five Great Houses, the seneschal also has the authority to remove a reigning monarch from from the Crimson Throne, though in the eighty years since monarchy was first established in Korvosa this step has never been necessary.
Traditionally, when the post of seneschal becomes vacant, the Commandant of Sable Company is appointed to fill the position. In turn, the seneschal can veto any nominee to the post of commandant.
Devan wakes up feeling sore, rubbing the muscles around where the spider had bit him. Although inflamed, everything seemed better than yesterday, so it appeared he was on the mend. He stood up, stretching in the small parlor he had ended up in before following his nose to the kitchen where another meal was being prepared. After a pleased-looking servant named Arielle directs him to the dining room, the bard takes a seat and soon digs in with a hearty appetite, the depression of the last several weeks lifted.
As the talk turns to the death of the King, Devan thinks for a moment, then whistles through his teeth. "That leaves a pretty large power vacuum at the top of the food chain. Wonder what that fool was thinking, anyway? I mean, if Eodred was doing such a poor job, Neolandus could have just conspired with the Houses to remove him. Just more powerful men with too much ambition, I suppose." The musician then resumes his meal, polishing off a couple of plates of the rich fare.
After peaking out the window after they had all finished, the young man is pleased to see the streets clear of the chaos of the previous evening. It was time to ingratiate the group to what would hopefully be a thankful new monarch! "Ok, where are we taking the kids? Sarenrae's temple?" Devan sounded hopeful this would be the case.