As everyone begins dropping on the slick cobblestone, Zev does his best to stay upright. When that begins to fail he puts his body in between the ground and his delicate cargo.
Finding the Breastplate she acquired somewhat awkward to run in, Elise struggles to keep her footing on the slick cobblestone. Her troubles are compounded when some of her companions fall before her.
:
With all the grace of a newborn desert buffalo, Mercy tries to avoid her companions but instead careers across the slick cobbles before landing ungainly flat on her back.
She lies scowling up into the threatening sky as drizzle swirls and her body aches;
Dawnflower. Tell me how this and the bruises I will have are part of your plan?
Zev manages to protect Melissa as he, and everyone else, falls to the wet cobbles. As the party gets themselves off the ground, The rain begins in earnest. The hellknights are mostly okay, though Tylo Zolvenni cusses and grumbles as he has to be hauled up to his feet by Hamish and Alicia (the two armigers.)
The baying and howling behind you make it clear that the pack of curs you managed to get around has bought you enough time to gather yourselves and get going.
The rain begins falling even more heavily.
- DC 15 Survival to not lose your way on the streetsin the heavy rainfall.
- DC 18 Perception to find a shortcut.
Zev focuses his attention on keeping to the path during the deluge, partially due to hunching over to keep the rain off his ward.
|
Rhasuel is one of the first on his feet and is close behind Zev as they dart through the rain. As they run he spots an alley that cuts off a good stretch of the main road. He remembers because this was a popular place to dodge the watch back when he was a Shiver addict. He grabs Zev and yells for the other to follow.
Working together, Zev and Rhasuel keep the group on track and shorten the distance left to go before reaching safety.
Just as the party rounds the corner to get back on the main street, a brawl spills from a local tavern out onto the cobblestones, blocking your path.
- DC 20 Knowledge local to remember a way around the fight (Can be made untrained.)
-OR-
- DC 20 Diplomacy check to charm your way through.
-OR-
- DC 25 Intimidate to clear the streets.
-AND-
- DC 15 Perception check to spot something that may help (I'll let you know what you see next round.)
While normally very interested in tavern brawls, and having been caught in a few herself, Nicoletta pays the melee little attention, having spied something of more interest.
Mercy attempts to appeal to the brawlers better natures but realises very quickly their ale-addled state grants her little quarter;
:
Calcedon sees the fight break out and walks up a wagon on the side of the road, shouting over the fight with the strength and authority of a general, but with a slight slur to his words, as if he was one of them from the tavern with a bit too much to drink. "Stop in the name of Cayden Cailean!"
The audacious request seemed to pause time for a few moments as the group made it past the troubled area. The bard himself skipped on through, humming a merry tune, as the only real vocalization for the short time as they hurried past. Once everyone was clear, he lifted his voice and shouted again. "Resume, in the name of Cayden Cailean!"
Zev tries to growl out something threatening, but it is hard to look imposing when hunched over in the rain while cradling a small figure almost like a baby. Instead he looks around for some way to try and find something to help him out.
Falling in behind Cal as he wades through the crowd spilling out from the bar, Elise appears relieved to see them actually listening to him. As she passes by, her eyes widen as Cal playfully suggests they continue their brawl. Turning her head back impatiently, she pleas with the ruffians "No no... don't listen, stop this violence immediately, I beg you!"
Chase Points: 8 Extra Point awarded for a really good idea from Calcedon.
Round: 7/15
It seems the party would have to muscle their way through the brawl when Calcedon, struck by a piece of brilliant inspiration, calls for a pause in the brawl in the name of Cayden. The participants stop look at the person who called for the pause and politely move out of the way. Just as the brawl is set to resume, Elise calls for a more permanent stop. Surprisingly, two older men, who'd been busy turning each other into bloody pulp a moment earlier turn to the young paladin.
"Well, I suppose since you asked so nicely, we can just settle this over a drinking contest," the first one says.
"Aye, an' I'll drink ye under the table!"
"Oh really? I bet I can drink any three of you under the table!"
With that, the brawlers move inside, ready to do battle of a different sort.
As you turn another corner, Elise, Nic, and Zev all spot a familiar shape lurking on the roof, a psuedodragon.
Oh, hi! Aren't you the people that were fighting off a bunch of Imps earlier today, a lilting voice asks in everyone's heads, What's going on this time? Why are you running with the Scary Knights?
Catching her breath, Annabelle looks about for the source of the voice. Oh gods, it's a bit too early to be losing mys mind. Thinking herself mad, she asks aloud, "They're not all scary - just a mite overzealous with their work."[b] She pauses for a second, [b]"The people chasing us are both scary and are fairly mean to boot! Could you take them down a notch?"
After Annabelle explains out loud what was going on, she hears a chuckle in her head.
Ah, yes, well, I don't think we'd be much good agains tthe really scary guys, but we can get you where you want to go faster if you want.
The psuedodragon leads the group through a section of the city that is relatively deserted, happily chatting with all of you as he does so. Soon enough, you come back to Jeggare Circle and the Hellknight encampment and your little guide-dragon swiftly departs. All of you are lead to Captain Caulder's tent as the sun sets below the clouds.
"Well," the man says, a thin smile on his lips, "I must say that I am impressed. It has not even been twelve hours and you've found both my missing patrol and your missing page."
He leans back in his chair, eyeing all of you and the four missing hellknights. the rain outside beigns to fall again.
Calcedon waved at the departing pseudodragon. "Thanks for all your help. You're always welcome at House Fordyce!"
He couldn't help a bit of introspection as they headed into camp. It had indeed been less than twelve hours although they'd had about twenty seven in which they could do the job. Calcedon felt quite a bit of relief once they'd dropped back into the Hellknight Camp. Not only were they successful, but they'd even brought back a prisoner of their own. Most likely they'd have to deal with the Crusaders again, and the information they'd get from that source would prove to be invaluable.
Captain Caulder was at least impressed. That had to account for something. Hopefully things could continue to be smooth. "What can I say? You have very motivating threats." He almost continued to mention the matter of favor and payment, but he thought it best to let him bring up such things. Without thinking, he had assumed the rigid stance of attention, and ironically only noticed it now. He pressed on with a bit of a report instead of relaxing, as it may actually work in his favor. "They had actually been working together, pressed by a group calling themselves the presumptuous name of the Korvosa Crusaders. We found them to be nothing more than rabble, but they did have a fair amount of numbers. They still have control over that part of the city as we thought it more important to finish the job we were assigned and bring the injured back to their respective places."
Zev takes the respite as an opportunity to set down his delicate cargo, and stretch and flex his muscles from the awkward burden. He goes through a few quick routines, with a touch of exercise thrown in to keep his body from entering a resting state, before he has to continue carrying the page the rest of the way to the Citadel.
"I see," Felix Caulder says, his smile disappearing, "well, you have done as I have asked, so I think it only fair that I hold up my end of the bargain. I'll have my men ready the prisoners to be remanded into your custody."
Turning to Paulus, he holds out a letter.
"This arrived for you while you were in Old Korvosa. The messenger that brought it said that your presence was needed at the temple of Sarenrae. They are short on healers, apparently."
Standing, he sighs and looks over all of you, his blue eyes nearly lifeless.
"Now, unless you have some other business with me, it's best that you be on your way."
The party is lead out of the tent and kept waiting as almost a hundred men, women and children are chained together and lead to you. The hellknight leading the procession hands Calcedon the keys to the manacles and chains.
The rain continues to fall, sapping the heat from everything it touches, as you are all escorted out of Jeggare Circle. Soon, though, you are left alone with one hundred other souls as the armigers peel off and head back.
Sorry to see Paulus go, Elise sighed as he departed and resigned herself to the hope that he would return. After his departure, Elise turns to the others and adds "A good man that one; I hope our paths cross again."
Glancing back towards the Captain, Elise was quite certain she couldn't say the same thing about him. There was no love lost for the Hellknights on her part; order by any means is tyranny, something Elise found as equally distasteful as anarchy. Doing little to hide her disdain for the Hellknights, Elise addresses Cal somewhat impatiently "Let's go then Cal, our service here is done."
Snatching the keys from the Hellknight leading the procession, Elise eyes the him with thinly veiled outrage after surveying the prisoners and snarls "Really?! You felt it necessary to chain even the children? Honestly, why the Queen brought you people here is beyond me." Shaking her head in disgust, she goes about the task of unchaining the prisoners.
Standing in the square, Elise checks to make sure that the prisoners are okay. Addressing the group, Elise explains that they are free to return to their homes. Once the former prisoners are on their way, Elise looks to the others and asks "Return to the Citadel then?"
As Elise goes to snatch the keys from the armiger, he pulls his hand back and glares at the paladin.
"The queen brought us here to restore order. If this is how Iomedaeans act when efforts are taken to restore it, I can see why she called on us," he says in a clipped, hard voice.
Returning an icy stare, Elise coolly retorts "Order, is that what you call it? An interesting euphemism; but let's be frank, your brand of order is nothing short of tyranny." Pausing a moment, Elise considers letting the Hellknight respond but quickly changes course with a scoff adding "You know what? I don't have the time nor the inclination to parse words with the likes of you." Throwing her hand up dismissively, Elise storms off to help the prisoners.
Mercy shares a silent prayer and a look of knowing with Paulus before he departs. The half orcs unusually solemn mood immediately hardens when the Hellknights march the chained hundreds to toward the holy warrior of Sarenrae.
When the armiger confronts Elise, she joins her Iomedian sister, standing strong at her shoulder;
"As a holy warrior of The Blessed Dawnflower, I too cast doubt over your hell-blessed version of order... These poor shackled souls do not require chains and the whip. They need clemency and compassion... qualities I fear you know little of..."
Mercy looks disgusted at what she see's, and the armiger's sneering comment merely inflames her passionate stance;
"Come sister... leave the under-hellion to get back to scaring the old, infirm and infants..."
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It was actually quite the relief to finally be done with the hellknights, as that particular trouble was something he'd rather be done with completely. At least until the ladies thought it would be important to lob a few parting shots.
He ran up to escort them back toward the chained crowd. "Come now ladies, no more kind words for the hellknights. He's obviously just trying to get a rise out of you both. There's no way they'd actually be proud of filling their jail with potential pickpockets when there's arsonists, rapists, murderers and usurpers about. That would be like getting asked to clean up a tavern, and being proud of getting an old stain out a curtain when there are imps actively defecating in the glassware. Actually, that strikes me as a good image, I may have to write a comical play about that very thing."
As they reached the crowd, he gestured to Elise to begin unchaining the people as the rain continued to make the going slow. "Recent prisoners of the Hellknight order. As representatives of the Queen, we have commuted your sentencing to the city watch. What that means is that you need to show up to the Citadel to get this matter cleaned up as well as to receive paperwork to demonstrate that your sentence has been carried out. Without such paperwork, you will remain a fugitive and will have a difficult time doing business or retrieving impounded property in this town.
If leaving is preferable to you than paperwork, now is your opportunity to leave the city in a self imposed exile. You are not subject to the Hellknights in this matter or will receive any more punishment from them for the offenses that were charged if you submit to the watch for processing, but if you refuse, it will not be good for you to come across any watch or hellknights in the future.
The Hellknights have detailed descriptions of you as well as any names you have given them, and they will not be quite as nice should they find you to not be following the laws in the coming days. It is then in your best interest to show up to the Citadel for processing within the next couple days. However, do consider the curfew in effect until the tumult in the city has died down and the all clear is given.
I repeat, the watch will aid you in regaining legal status. Come to the Citadel to receive processing or leave town. Should you return, you most proceed to the Citadel for processing before doing business in town so that this record can be dealt with in a legal manner."
Making sure that each person as they were released understood the process by which they could have their offense dealt with in a fair minded way, as he came across any city guards, he gave them an addendum. "Report back to the citadel immediately to receive instructions in how to properly deal with hellknights in the future. Commander Croft will hear your side of the story and decide appropriate discipline."
Night has fallen when you arrive back at the Citadel. Those that followed you are escorted to the mess hall while tents are set up in the courtyard. Field Marshal Croft meets with all of you personally. After seeing to it that Melissa is taken care of, she escorts you all back to her office.
"I want to thank you all for dealing with that so quickly, and you have my gratitude in finding and caring for Melissa. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear about what happened," she says as she takes a seat behind her desk. A pot of tea and enough cups for everyone already prepared.
Zev just shrugs and nods along, jerking a thumb at Rhausel to emphasize 'what he said'. He does add, "Don't forget, we knocked the tar out of a gaggle of thugs trying to claim the streets." his toothy half-grin half-sneer indicating that, to him, it was the more enjoyable part of the events.
Grateful to get have her fellow guards off of their predicament with the hellknights, and the option of giving the malcontents within their ranks some justice, Annabelle kept her quiet. Every guard in every city in the world has corrupt members. I knew that, but it still gives me a sick feeling seeing it nonetheless.
Back at the Citadel, Annabelle gratefully partook in some tea. "We're happy to be of service to the city; we did what needs to be done. There have been issues with the city guard dropping their charter and becoming petty thugs, and petty thugs calling themselves Crusaders of Korvosa." Annabelle takes another sip of tea, and sets the cup down. "We've taken care of the first problem, for the most part."
Cal smiled at his friends' quick answers. Their enthusiasm for being finished with their quest was a bit infectious. Realizing that the commander would likely want a more thorough report, Cal rattled one off with ease. "The Hellknights had set up a curfew, possibly with the consent of the queen, most likely implied consent to which they took the liberty of enforcing without ever making it known. They rounded up quite the number of Varisians in their typical fashion, and the guard that was also captured by them resisted they style of the arrests. It's likely they will continue to enforce the curfew, so it may be wise to at least let people know so they can take proper precautions.
The hellknights also had a patrol missing, and Caulder and I brokered a deal. If we found and returned his patrol, he'd commute the sentencing of the prisoners to the Citadel. We went out to the north, found out about an organization calling themselves the Korvosan Crusaders. They had the patrol and Michelle pinned into a building and we arrived right in time. We took out two or three patrols, and got the missing persons back, releasing the prisoners as well.
The Crusaders have not yet been taken care of, so that may be something we'll yet need to do providing there's no more pressing matters. They've made a habit of kidnapping people of high profile, so it's possible they have more people at their headquarters in need of rescue. We brought a prisoner back who will likely be able to tell us the location of the Crusader headquarters, and if we take out the head, the rest of them should disorganize."
Cressida looks as if someone had taken a fence-post and whacked her between the eyes at the news of the Korvosan Crusaders. After a long moment, she props her arms on her desk by the elbows and cradles her head.
"Oh. S@@~," the words come out soft, but clear.
She sits there for several moments before lifting her head up and sighing.
"Well, if they're armed well enough to take on Hellknight patrols, they must have raided the old fort," she explains, "And if Miss Bleich is correct and some of the guard have turned to thuggery, this is going to get uglier. It seems that I'm about to run all of you ragged. Sable Company will have to spearhead taking back Old Korvosa from these thugs, given what you have told me, and the guard will have to assist, was well as the Hellknights, as much as I'd like to tell them to all go piss on a dragon."
She rubs her temples, gathering her thoughts before speaking again.
"I know this may be a waste of your talents, but I need you to help fill in for the guardsmen that will be helping with restoring order in Old Korvosa. I do thank you for all you have done, and you needn't worry about the people you've brought or this damned curfew. I'll be the one in the hot seat. So, at least, you'll have that to count among your blessings."
The Field Marshal, obviously worn down by the events of the past few days manages to smile at all of you.
"If that is all, you may be dismissed," she says, "I'll be sure to have a reward ready for you when I call upon you again. Miss Bleich, if you'd be so kind, I'd like to have a word with you in private before you go."
Satisfied to hear that Cressida was to take account for the prisoners, Elise nods "Thank-you m'lady. I'm sure those folks out there will dealt with much more fairly than they would have otherwise experienced with the Hellknights."
There business having concluded with Cressida for the time being, Elise bows respectfully and makes her exit.
As Paulus leaves, Nic awkwardly clasps his shoulder. "I'll come see you when I need patching up again," she jokes, before adding, more seriously, "And say hi to Rainieri for me, would you? He doesn't leave the temple enough anymore."
She remains quiet as the group returns to the citadel and debriefs to Cressida. The thought of working on the right side of the law is a shocking one - I'd be the worst guard ever! Won't Aurelio be ticked, she thinks, allowing herself a private smile. When dismissed, she clears her throat, locking eyes on the field-marshal.
"One request. I... know a man in your employ, one Aurelio Scarletti. In light of the goings-on in the city, I'd like to know whether he's alright. Peace of mind and all," she adds, almost as an afterthought.
Cressida thinks for a moment before looking up at Nicoletta.
"Aurelio? Ah, you must be his sister. Yes, he's fine. I believe he's been working across the river where it's been mostly quiet. He's actually due for a stint here, so you shouldn't need to worry about his safety," She answers.
As they stepped out of the Commander's office, Calcedon suddenly was hit with a bout of homesickness. But glancing to the weary shoulders and eyes of the group suddenly instilled in him an idea.
Making sure to catch everyone's attention before each of them went off their own way, Cal made sure to look them each in the eye to let them know of his sincerity. "You're all welcome to drop by the Fordyce Estate tonight if you're not busy. It's been a little while since I've been home, so we may have a bit of a party. They'll be music, of course, and food. After the stress of the day, I need to unwind a little. I'd consider it a kindness if you all could make it, but if a noisy scene isn't your flavor, I can understand. But I do wish to show off a little, and I can pretty much guarantee you'll have everything you'll need to enjoy yourself there."
After hearing Cressida's request, Annabelle replies "Speaking for my self, I think a waste of my talents would by not trying to help those in need. I'm more than happy to help."
As the Field Marshall asks for her to stay, Annabelle gives a nod in the affirmative and clasps her hands behind her back.
"Don't be ridiculous old man." Calcedon teased. "My family's dead. They won't object to you dropping by. Besides, I have several former addicts already staying at my house. It'd be a shame if that was your only excuse. I'm not sure what you're expecting, but you've never seen anything like the Fordyce Estate."
"Please, have a seat," Cressida says in a tone that reveals just how wearing the past two days have been for her, "I happen to agree with you, but I know some people are out for glory and themselves. I'm sure none of your companions are like that, but you never can tell," she says once Annabelle as seated herself.
She pulls out a drawer and from it, pulls out a bottle of Old Law Whisky and a pair of shot-glasses. After pouring some of the liquor into the glasses, she hands one to Annabelle. Refusing to take no for an answer, "trust me, you're going to want this."
After settling back into her chair, she runs a thumb around the edge of her glass. For almost a minute she sits there, gathering her thoughts.
"I assume you're familiar with Shiver. I wish we could stamp out its use, but the money from the taxes is too good for the crown to allow that," she begins, not looking at Annabelle at all, "as you know, the guard has strict policies regarding the sale of drugs like that, and while you were away, someone came to me with evidence that you were dealing with that awful stuff. That combined with your recent absences, although they were permitted, have caused a minor uproar in the guard. I'm telling you this because I have a strong suspicion that most of that uproar is fabricated by a few well connected individuals and that the evidence is likewise fabricated. I can't however afford to let something like this cause the guard to fracture at this time. I also can't have this unrest becoming genuine by spreading to members of the guard that aren't in one whatever this stupid power play is. Unfortunately, the swiftest and surest way to deal with this is going to be very unfair to you."
Cressida continues to look at the amber alcohol in her glass for a moment before tossing it back. She sighs once more, and finally meets your eyes.
"From this moment forward, you are officially discharged from the Korvosan Guard. You are to gather your possessions, if any, from the barracks, and you are to return all uniforms and equipment bearing the Guard's insignia to the quartermaster. You will also receive your final pay as a guardswoman," she says in a flat mechanical voice, trying to be merciful by being brief and to the point.
She lets the silence hang in the air for a moment before she looks back down at her now empty whisky glass. She fills it once more as she speaks again.
"I know you had hopes of joining the Sable Company Marines someday. Don't let those hopes die. I have already sent word to Commandant Endrin about the circumstances of your dismissal as well as a formal letter of recommendation. He has already informed me that he wants you to gain more experience and see how you operate outside the Guard's command structure. If there is a bright side to this, now you have the perfect opportunity to do so," she says as she holds up her glass in a somber toast, "to your success, may the Master of the First Vault judge it so."
"Oh Cal, I'm sorry to hear that... though I can commiserate on that particular tragedy myself." With a relieved sigh, Elise smiles and adds "You know what, I'll take you up on your offer Cal. I think a little unwinding after the day we've had sounds just lovely."
Falling in beside the former Hellknight turned troubadour, Elise winks with a wryly grin "Lead the way Master Fordyce."
Zev just shrugs at the request they fill in for the regular guard. He cannot argue with an honest job, especially one that allows him to break the knees of those more deserving of it.
Leaving the office, he listens to Calcedon's offer and the old man's retort. "Yeah, I don't know Strings. I spend a lot of my time trying to stay clean. It's not the noise, or the people, I'm just worried that being around it too much would be testing my resolve." He looks around at the rest of the group, pausing briefly on Mercy before realizing he did so, "If you all want to go and just spend some time as a team or something, I guess I could go for the camaraderie. Who all else is planning on attending?" he asks the others, stealing a curious glance at the other half-orc.
Cal was about to lead people onward when Zev showed his hesitance. "I've a few children about at the house as well, you'll see, as well as former addicts. Any alcohol is under surveillance as well as lock and key. If you're not on the list, you don't get any."
Catching the half-orc's lingering eye, he added, patting the big guy on his well muscled back, "Besides, people like us don't need to be drunk to have a good time. Good company, good music, pastries and honey cured ham, I'm sure you'll have a fine time." He gave him a slight pressure on his back to encourage his movement, but as he was a sizable man, though he put a bit of his strength into it, did not do more than merely suggest.
"Glad to hear it," Nic mutters, nodding to the Field-Marshal as she leaves. "Just hope he stays that way."
Outside, she takes a deep breath, hands on her hips as she stares up at the sky. "Sounds good to me, Strings. Hope you won't mind getting a girl a drink - could use one after all this."