Kroft rolls her eyes a bit, answering Marnos question. "The judiciary is in the Queen's pocket. That girl got anything but a fair trial. And who ever heard of an immediate execution. Normally the condemned have a few days to confess and seek absolution, but this...this is a rush for a reason."
Kroft brings a cleric of Abadar to see to your healing needs, and all leave at full HP.
Travigan finds a soak in the nearest bathhouse a relaxing diversion from the usual smashing of critters. He nearly falls asleep in the big iron tub and comes out pink and fresh and ready for action.
Tina scurries to see if she can find the formula for an extract of invisibility.
Tina can find a formula for invisibility at the local alchemist's hang out. The cost is 150gp.
Tina writes the mystic words into her formula book and then starts mashing various noxious substances together until two freshly made extracts are in her belt.
Both of these will last for four minutes each, so if you are going to do something, you better do it quick.
Crux spends the time getting cleaned up and beginning to go over the derro's spellbook.
Crux spends the time getting cleaned up and beginning to go over the derro's spellbook.
Using Read Magic cantrip, Crux is able to decipher the derro wizard's spellbook with no difficulty. The spells he has listed are (I only included the ones not already in Crux's book):
Level Zero
Daze
Sotto Voce
Level One
Cause Fear
Chill Touch
Feather Fall
Magic Missile
Shield
Sleep
Level Two
Blindness/Deafness
Command Undead
Darkness
False Life
Scare
Spectral Hand
Level Three
Fly
Gentle Repose
Vampiric Touch
Water Breathing
Crux peruses the book, and realizes he has about 2 hours of time before being needed at Castle Korvosa.
SO what is the plan on the attempted rescue?
Tina will hand out her two extracts for anyone who wants to start something.
At the appointed time the group sets out for Castle Korvosa to witness the execution of the convicted kingslayer, Trinia Sabor. The execution is an affair not be missed. The toast of Korvosa is in attendance in garish gowns, fine capes, and enough jewels to blind the common man. The feel of the event is of a grand ball or fine party, not an assassin's public execution.
Field Marshall Kroft sees you from a distance and nods curtly recognizing your presence. A seat next to her remains empty.
Queen Ileosa emerges amid a great flourish and pomp as heralds announce her arrival with a fanfare of music and drums. The Queen carries herself with poise, style and grace wearing a gown of green and white silk worth thousands of gold coins. The Queen is surrounded by a retinue of retainers and servants including several heavily armed women bodyguards led by the powerful Sabina Merrin. The bodyguards and soldiers lining the walls and courtyard are ever vigilant for trouble in the crowd.
After the fanfare fades, the Queen takes her throne-like chair at one end of the courtyard while the headsman's block stands ominously at the other end. The executioner is a towering muscular man wearing a black hood and idly holding an immense axe - he remains motionless until his services are called upon.
As sunset draws near, the expectant excitement in the crowd builds. The ominous beating of a single drum begins and the assembled gawkers fall silent. The drum sets the pace for Trinia's procession to the block. As they reach tehe block, one of the guards removes the captives hood and shackles, revealing a very frightened woman how bravely tries to hold back her tears. Her arms are bound behind her by a leather cord and she is forced to kneel before the block as Queen Ileosa stands.
"Fellow Korvosans! You have suffered greatly these past few weeks. Homes have burned, family members have died, fortunes have been lost. I feel your suffering, for not only have I lost a beloved husband, but with each riot, each burning home, each act of anarchy, my heart bleeds a little more This has been a trying time for us, yet the torment is at an end. Before you is the face of your anguish and pain. Do not be deceived by this murderer's timid nature -- she is a black-hearted assassin, a seductress and sinner, a viper amidst us all. I offer you all her death as a salve against the hatred and hurt you have suffered. Her death will not rebuild Korvosa, nor will it bring back the king, yet tomorrow will be a new dawn -- a dawn over a city ready to rise from the edge of anarchy to become stronger than ever before."
"And so without further delay, let us usher in this new dawn with justice! Off with her head!"
The headsman raises his axe on the cue and the silent crowd freezes in anticipation. Yet just before the downward stroke begins, the headsman gives a strange little grunt and staggers. One hand falls from the axe and reaches for hte small of his back, bringing it back to his face covered in blood. An instant later he cries out in pain and drops the axe, a dagger embedded in the back of his other hand. The dropped axe sinks into the block inches from Trinia's head and headsman doubles over revealing a second dagger in his back. Trinia rises to her knees glancing up in shock as a scream echoes through the crowded courtyard, "By the gods! It's Blackjack!"
Seeing the procession and disgusted by the ostentatious displays of wealth and needless finery while so much of the city suffers, both Travigan's mood and his opinion of the queen sour quickly. As Ileosa waxes on about a black-hearted seductress, sinner, and viper standing before them, he mutters grumpily, "She talkin' 'bout tha' poor girl Trinia or herself, I wonder."
Well if you folks are gunna do something, now is the time!
"Don't! Don't be a fool. And don't drag me into your foolishness." Begs Crux.
Tina gives the extracts to Marnos. If ya wanna save her as well, give her the second
As Marnos reaches for the extract of invisibility, a man dressed in a hooded cloak and leather armor springs onto the executioner's block. He wields a rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other. Blackjack cuts the bonds on Trinia's wrists and then throws the dagger down to pin the executioner's left foot to the wood below. He quickly helps Trinia to her feet, then turns to address the shocked crowd.
"Yes indeed, my Queen! Let us usher in justice, but let that be justice for all Korvosa, not this shambles you petulantly call a monarchy! Long live Korvosa! Down with the Queen!"
Blackjack's words spread like fire causing the crowd to erupt in a frenzy of activity. Some demand that he release the assassin, while others call for the Queen to step down from the Crimson Throne. Queen Ileosa stands stunned for a few moments, whispers something to Sabina, and then quickly turns to flee into the safety of Castle Korvosa. Sabina and her dozen guards remain behind defending the retreat of the Queen.
The rest of the guards in the courtyard move to apprehend Blackjack, but the gathered crowd, moving pell-mell in all directions, makes it difficult to move. At the same time, the executioner, recovered from his wounds, lifts his axe high above Blackjack, who seems to have momentarily forgotten the man in his apparent delight at having forced the queen to flee.
Nothing.
The axeman cometh! Tina yells!
"Oh fer cryin' out loud" Travigan mutters grumpily as the crowd begins to panic and fight against itself. Losing his temper at the foolishness of the eager spectators turned shrieking madmen and madwomen, Travigan takes a deep breath and begins bellowing threats and orders to the crowd as a whole, trying to reign the people in and provide Blackjack a way of egress through the crowd if he needs it.
Tina really has little to offer so she holds tight.
Marnos Daze works like a charm, freezing the executioner in mid-stroke until Blackjack can regain his wits. The hooded villan ducks under the blow, dragging Trinia behind him. While the astonished crowd watches, Blackjack climbs up a hanging banner to a nearby wall with the convicted kingslayer scrambling right behind. When the two reach the wall, Blackjack downs a potion, handing one to Trinia.
With the setting sun behind them, the hero raises his rapier in salute to Marnos, who aided him, and then the fugitive pair leap off the wall to make their escape into the city.
The choatic scene in the Castle courtyard is easy enough to dodge out of if you are done there.
Huffing and puffing and knocking aside any bloodthirsty spectators who bump into him, Travigan shoots a we need to talk about this look at Kroft before leaving the fracas behind him. If any of his allies are near, he grumps, "Come'on, nothin' more we kin do here."
Tina sighs and follows along.
The aftermath of Trinia's escape signals a shift in Korvosa's attitude. Blackjack has long been seen as a hero of the city, and the fact that he has taken up a position in such direct opposition to the Queen causes many who supported the monarchy to begin to doubt their convictions.
As for the Queen she stays ensconced in Castle Korvosa for several days, licking her wounds, and letting time pass before she makes another public appearance.
Yet however safe the city might seem, its troubles are far from over, as well be seen soon enough.
Only a pair of unidentified scrolls in the Loot Tracker. No you don't go up a level ( you just leveled to 4 a little bit ago). You may, of course, do nothing game-related.
Will be back later tonight with next update and too start Book 2.
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After an exhausting turn of events, Marnos finds his feet wending their way towards the Marketplace near his home. The familiar sound of a young woman singing draws him on and he turns the corner to see a familiar pitch in the corner of the marketplace and a familiar figure singing. Alongside her is a young man who sings a Tenor that harmonizes with her voice. Despite this, the crowd is thinner than usual, with people hanging about the Marketplace in small groups, muttering about the latest events. Marnos politely waits for the duo to finish singing then ducks beneath the awning. The young man who was singing spies him and asks politely,
"Can I help you, sir?"
Marnos notes odd little details, hand twitching towards his back, no doubt a hidden dagger. Steady, so used to danger; but not hasty so not willing to start anything stupid. Graceful, probably trained. Nice cut of Cloth, so well-to-do...
His train of thought is interrupted by the girl exclaiming,
"Marnos! It's alright Will, he's my half-brother." as she rushes to embrace him. Will relaxes and eyes him speculatively.
"Did you hear about Trinia's execution? Saved by Blackjack himself! Were you there Marnos? It's the talk of the City!"
Marnos nods. "Yes. She was innocent, so Blackjack saved her."
"Oh, you! You must tell me all about it! Dinner tonight? yes? Malik is busy, but Lerron is in town. I'll invite him and you two can talk shop."
Marnos nods.
-----------------------------------
Later that day, Meggan pours stew into a bowl for Marnos when he walks in. Already seated on the cushions is an ancient, craggy half-elf who nods at him.
"Hello, my pupil. May your quarry be ever before your eyes and your aim true."
Marnos nods "and yours too." They sit and discuss the events in the City, concluding that there must be something wrong with the queen for her to put on such a show trial. Lerron concludes that,
"...your quarry is leading you through thorny thickets. Do not lose the trail now."
Tina will return to the temple of Sarenae for the time being, rather troubled at the sham of justice and the happenings under the city.
Travigan returns to work the following morning, giving the place a critical once over as he judges his apprentice's handling of the place in his absence.
When his apprentice arrives a half hour later to start the fire in the forge, Travigan looks up at the young man, having already lit the forge himself. "Lucon." The pause following Travigan's simple greeting is pregnant with tension, the younger man shuffling his feet uncomfortably and wringing a rag behind his back as he waits for one of his master's characteristic rants.
"Nice job, lad. Though ye left two o' my hammers on th' bench 'stead o' hangin' em back up when you were done. Neatness counts, me boy. Don't ye forget it!" Travigan claps the young man on the back then, smiling broadly as the worry in Lucon deflates and turns into nervous relieved laughter.
The two then busy themselves with their work, though Travigan's eyes dart up and away from his work and toward the street and city outside repeatedly throughout the day. Still, even distracted he was a gifted smith, and the two made fine progress for the next two weeks.
As the days wore on though, Lucon even began to note how often Travigan's gaze wandered from his work and to the streets outside. "Are you ok, master? You seem awful distracted since that almost-hanging."
Travigan wipes his face with a sooty rag, his expression chagrinned. "Bah, I don't know ta be honest with ya, lad." The burly man slaps the rag down onto the horn of his anvil, "It's just botherin' me is all. Tha' Ileosa would go ta such carnival lengths ta give th' city a kingslayer an' then ta end th' wee girl so fast. It just don't seem right. It was too quick and would'a been too clean. I can't shake th' feeling things're rotten." He shakes his head at his own reverie then waves Lucon back to work.
"Bah! But don't listen to an old man's ramblings, boy! Mind what yer doin'!"
[ooc]The earn capitol rules are confusing so I'll make an alchemist check to see how much I can earn.
Crux will be busy with his magics so will not have time to make money.
One night, several days after the Queen's debacle, the evening's peace is shattered by a wooden screech, followed by the sound of a trebuchet being fired. Again and again those sounds echo from the Wall of Eodred near North Bridge, waking nearly all of North Point. The rest of the night passes in breathless anticipation for the further use of the wall weapons, which fortuitously never comes.
Next morning, gossip buzzes through the city and fanciful tales run wild. Every tavern and street corner is abuzz with rumors of pirate raiders and ghost ships. The Crimson Throne remains silent on the matter.
The Three Rings tavern where you hang your hats, is no different. Various rumors or stories circulate.
Crux listens to the rumors flying around the room as he sips his drink.
Tina is exhusted and still sleeping!
Travigan remains unaware of any rumors relating to the previous night's events as he dourly focuses on his simple meal and cup of watered wine. Meals used to be better, happier affairs back when Jaina was still with him. Ah, lass, but I do miss you.
Little else but stories and fancy rumors comes from the village and soon most tongues return to wagging about the latest Blackjack rumor, or about what will happen when the hero of the people finally deposes the Queen for good.
The sounds of the heavy weapons firing fades to the background and life goes on with your attention focused on magic spells or professions.
The next afternoon, a familiar face comes to call as you gather for your usual lunch at the Three Rings tavern.
Korvosan Guard sergeant Grau Soldado, who was a raging drunk the last time you saw him, pining for his lost love Sabina Merrin (the Queen's bodyguard) approaches your table. To your surprise, the former sot looks well put-together. His is clean-shaved, well-groomed and healthy looking, but he wears a frown on his face nonetheless.
"Well met, friends! It is good to see you again, though I do miss Kalvin. Thank you for your assistance when i was...down. AS you can see, I am much better now and doing well in the Guard. But I have a problem. I know you lot have unique skills, and I wondered if you might help me out again?"
"You see, my niece, Brienne, is sick. I don't know what she has and neither does anyone in Trail's End. She's broken out all over in red pocks and can barely keep down food, or even the swill that good-for-nothing herbalist gave her. Her mother's talking about going to the Bank of Abadar, but her family can't afford to pay the prices their clerics would demand. Then I remembered how you and your friends handled themselves during the riots, and how much you helped me out, and I figured you all could help Brienne. A bunch of resourceful folks like you, I'd bet if you don't already have a way to fix this, then you must know who can. Surely you can't just sit by while a child suffers, can you?"
*Zzzzz...Snorts..Zzzz....
Not this again.