"I'm not sure what we can do, but we'd better figure out something! Just tell us where we need to go." Silvio seems ready to rush into action.
With Cressida's directions to the upper town's plaza, finding the execution site is quite easy. Navigating the crowds, however, proves more challenging. The gathered crowds are thick, and the best the party can do is get a good view of what might best be described as a stage.
It seems that the execution has yet to begin, and the crowd is abuzz with discussion...
"There must be someway to get to her," He frowns, and asks Silvio, "Is there a way to go up and over? I'm not nimble, but still..." He shrugs.
"I'll take a quick look." Silvio hops on Krojun's shoulders to see what he can see and report it to everyone. But he also has a suggestion.
"It seems to me that no crowd would stand in the way of a Shoanti dignitary. Especially with an official escort. What do you think?" If it seems feasible, Silvio wants to bluff / intimidate his way forward.
"There maybe some bigotry against a Shaonti dignitary, but another option might be to see if we can grant last rites of a sort to the soon to be executed. I'm no cleric, but I am a hospitalar of Shelyn. Which tact do you think best?"
From his perch, Silvio gets a better look at the whole affair. Clearly, this is an event not to be missed. Most of the big names of Korvosa are in attendance, with enough garish gowns and tacky jewelry to blind an ordinary man.
Before the party can plan any further, a great fanfare announces the beginning of the ceremony, as a number of people make their entrance upon the stage. First amongst them, is Queen Illeosa Arabasti herself, in all of her splendor.
Far from the subdued mourner you met some days ago, she is the very image of royalty; poised, elegant, graceful. Her dress alone, one might guess, must be worth thousands of gold pieces.
Sabina Merrin, the queen's personal bodyguard, whom the party has also met in the past, follows in the queen's steps. A great number of servants, retainers, guards, and the like soon follow, filing in onto the stage.
One thing is immediately clear: With the queen and her guard in attendance, it would be foolish at best to attempt to intervene in plain sight.
Across the stage, four people make their entrance. The first is a tall, muscular man, bearing an executioner's cowl, and holding a massive greataxe. It is not hard to guess his role in the event.
Behind him, two members of the city watch, looking rather uncomfortable with their duty, bring forth a young blond woman in chains. From their vantage points, Staryth and Krojun cannot make out much detail. The would-be executed has Trinia Sabor's approximate stature, age, and hairstyle.
From his vantage point, on the other hand Silvio is privy to a shocking revelation:
Whoever this woman is, she isn't Trinia Sabor.
Silvio gasps. "That's not Trinia!" he shouts, without even thinking. He then gets back on his feet and tells his companions, but also the crowd around him. "They've got the wrong woman. It's definitely not her! We've got to tell everyone, so they'll stop this!" Silvio suspects there's more to this story than merely mistaken identity. But for now, he simply hopes his statement has some effect on the crowd.
He starts to push his way forward through the crowd, continuing to speak. "That's not Trinia - that's an innocent woman!"
Staryth tries to move through the crowd and if need be clear away for Silvio , "Out of the way, there's an injustice going on here! Out of the way! They've got the wrong woman!"
The party's objections quickly begin spreading through the crowd, murmurs at first, but soon, open-voiced objections. However, the crowd is thick, and navigating it proves slow.
Before the party is halfway through the stage, the crowd is alight with discord, with some shouting about the wrong accusation, and others roaring back that the queen's guard can't have made a mistake.
Finally, all are silenced when, on the stage, the queen herself thunders: "SILENCE!"
Her voice echoed through the silent evening, carried by a loudening spell. The crowd falls silent at once, rattled by their queen's direct order. Though many were objecting under the cover of the crowd, it is clear that none are willing to stand up against the queen herself.
It is also obvious to the party that doing so would likely mean facing Sabina Merrin's blade... a rather unpleasing prospect, given the woman's reputation, not to mention the other guards and members of the watch in presence.
"Thank you." The queen smirks, pleased with the reaction.
Still, the crowd seems uneasy, suddeny uncertain. The party's objections seems to have stirred up the makings of a storm.
Commanded to silence, Staryth instead walks, closing the distance to the stage if he can, though he draws no weapon or makes no hostile action.
"Fellow Korvosans! You have suffered greatly these past few weeks. Homes have burned, family members have died, fortunes have been lost." Queen Illeosa begins to speak, as Staryth advances through the crowd.
"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."
Soon, he finds that the audience is unwilling to part further for him. The crowd is tight; everyone, from nobles to merchants to travelers and beggars wants to see what'll happen.
"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!
Uncertain murmurs build through the crowd as the queen speaks.
"And so, without further delay, let us usher in this new dawn
with justice! OFF WITH HER HEAD!"
At the queen's roaring command, the headsman raises his axe high to the sky, and the crowd freezes in anticipation.
Yet, before he swings, the executioner gives a strange little grunt and staggers. His axe, easily a match for Krojun's own, falters as he reaches to his back and brings it back. His fingers are dripping with blood.
"Augh!" He cries in pain as a dagger embeds itself in the back of his hand. He drops his axe, and its blade embeds itself in the chopping block, edges from the woman's head. As the man doubles over in pain, the source of his earlier hesitation becomes clear: a second dagger is embedded in his back.
As the woman gets to her knees and looks to the executioner with confusion, a scream echoes through the courtyard.
"By the gods... it's BLACKJACK!"
Surging out of the shadow, a slim man dressed in a hooded cloak and leather armor surges onto the executioner's block, wielding a rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other. With a swift stroke of his blade, he slices the prisoner's bonds, before flicking the dagger into the executioner's foot, pinning him to the stage.
"Yes indeed, my queen! Let us usher in justice, but let that be justice for Korvosa, not this shambles you petulantly call a monarchy! Long live Korvosa, down with the Queen!"
Blackjack's words spread through the crowd like flame through oil, spurring a frenzy of activity around the party.
"Down with the queen!" someone shouts nearby. "That's no blackjack!" another howls. "Death to the whore queen!" a drunken voice roars.
Queen Illeosa stands stunned for a moment, before whispering something to Sabina. She quickly turns and flees into Castle Korvosa, Sabina and a dozen guards covering her retreat behind her. The remaining guards move to apprehend blackjack, but the raucous cround makes this a difficult prospect.
As Blackjack laughs, the executioner rises, unseen to the hero, and lifts his axe, hungry for revenge...
Staryth finds himself going as far as it seems he can, the crowd willing to part only so much. He pulls out his holy symbol to demand to at least give this innocent woman last rites of a sort, some spiritual comfort, a ploy meant to delay long enough for some miracle.
The queen's speech is eloquent, it stirs passions: Too bad it's completely wrong. A new tomorrow built on an injustice, only a false dawn can rise from that. I have to try something, anything to get closer, Shelyn send me aid, a miracle, anythi...
And then, the miracle happens
"Augh!" He cries in pain as a dagger embeds itself in the back of his hand. He drops his axe, and its blade embeds itself in the chopping block, edges from the woman's head. As the man doubles over in pain, the source of his earlier hesitation becomes clear: a second dagger is embedded in his back.
As the woman gets to her knees and looks to the executioner with confusion, a scream echoes through the courtyard.
"By the gods... it's BLACKJACK!"
Staryth moves quickly, now that the crowds seem to be parting, he shoves his way through to the executioner's block or at least close enough to use his glaive.
And he strikes when and if he can at the executioner, jabbing the man rather than cutting away.
"Behind you, Blackjack! Take this innocent girl and get her to safety."
To the crowd he bellows, "Innocent lives should not fall to headsman's axe, that's true, but neither should rage or blood lead us to turn on each other! Calm, I beg you, calm! We are all Korvosians! "
"Just trying to find a balance between bloody riots and murderous apathy, my friend," Staryth answers wryly, "I fear the city is in danger of losing all sense of moderation."
Silvio hurries after his companions, and gets on stage a few moments behind. With his companions facing the executioner, he focuses his attention first on the damsel in distress! "Fear not, good woman! We know you're not Trinia and that you've been set up! We need to take you to safety!" Silvio uses his one good arm to bring the lady to her feet, before looking around for a way to blend into the crowd!
With Staryth's warning, Blackjack deftly dodges the axe, leaning back under the broad swing. Staryth's glaive knocks the executioner off his feet at an inopportune time, and he scrambles back, barely keeping a hand on his axe, dragging the weapon against the plaza's stones as he withdraws into Castle Korvosa. "They don't pay me 'nuff fer this!" He can be heard muttering.
With impressive acrobatics, before the fascinated crowd, Blackjack grabs the former captive in one arm, and clambers up one of the castle's hanging banners. Atop the wall, he swigs a potion and bows to the crowd, then raises his rapier to the sky, looking at the party with a thankful smile.
"Until next time, friends!"
Blackjack is obviously disguising his voice, though, while the tone is familliar, you do not recognize the source of it.
Then, Blackjack leaps off the wall to the opposite side, and disappears into the city.
"That voice, I feel like I've heard it before," remarks Silvio, as he watches Blackjack fly away in the distance. He ponders for a moment, but then shrugs, unable to place it.
His attention returns to his friends. "Okay, show's over, I think it's time to scram before things get too crazy here! Maybe let Kressida in on what just happened?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
All around, the city watch is at work dispersing the crowdand isn't having much trouble of it either. Both seem to be on the same side, in the face of Blackjack's sudden appearance.
Staryth is glad to see an innocent saved, and relieved to see the crowd is not rioting, "Praise Shelyn," He says and means it. "Let's move on, Silvio, but I'm sure Kressida knows by now. Indeed, I fear we maybe in dire trouble with the queen's authority for our part in this if she saw any of our faces. I may need to head to the temple to explain."
The party finds little trouble on the way to their respective homes. A few passersby recognize them as having helped Blackjack, and a few are quite thankful for it.
No trouble of any kind awaits Staryth at the temple of Shelyn. In fact, the news of his involvement with taking down one of Rolth's lairs, necromancer or not, has reached the ears of the temple higher-ups. Much praised is heaped on him.
Silvio finds that the crowds are abuzz with joy at the return of Blackjack, and quite like Staryth, Sarenrae's templars are impressed with his heroics in helping the city.
That night, as he meditates to the spirits, Krojun feels a sense of accomplishment. That night, rain washes over the city, and in the sound of its droplets, the spirits speak of fate taking form, but warn of coming dangers.
The harrowed fate of Korvosa has passed, and with it, the winds of fate turn wildly. A new day will soon dawn on Korvosa, and with it, the whims of fate will turn.
That night, as the city sleeps peacefully, an old ship lit with orange lanterns creeps silently towards the coast...
An uneventful day passes over Korvosa; though the streets are alive with merchants, the city is sleeping, exhausted by the events of the previous day. The queen herself is not seen out of the castle, and no official words are heard of the event.
Whispers claim that this new Blackjack is a traitor, a man impersonating the hero to discredit the queen and sow chaos on the city. Some go as far as to claim him a demon looking to cause the city to rip itself apart.
Word of the woman-to-be-executed being an impostor has spread, but the crowd seems split on its veracity.
Rumor on the street has it that a ship of foolish pirates from Riddleport hoped to sneak into the heart of the city under the cover of night, and were fired upon and destroyed by the Korvosan Guard.
An oddly large amount of businesses seem to have workers out sick today, astute customers note.
All in all, the city is its usual self, abuzz with various rumors.
The next morning finds the three of you gathered at the inn where Krojun presently resides.
Earlier that morning, Staryth met an acquaintance on the street, who requested the party's help. Grau Soldado, one of Kressida's lieutenant, asked to meet with him and his companions, explaining that he needed help and could think of no one better.
Though his concern is clear and apparent, Grau looks much better than he did the last time you met him. Sobered up, cleanly shaved, and in solid shape, he is the true image of a guard of Korvosa.
"My niece 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 yourselves during the riots, and how you helped me out, and I figured you all could help.
A bunch of resourceful folk like you, I’d bet if you don’t already have a way to fix this you must know who can. Surely you can’t just sit by while a child suffers, can you?"
Your arrival in Korvosa last night was mostly uneventful. The captain of the ship was heard cursing a few times about security at the port being unusually strict and thorough, but this could simply be chalked up to his being in a bad mood. Nevertheless, the local contacts of the Society had an inn room ready for you.
This morning, you are expected at Citadel Volshyenek. Marshall Kressida Kroft has requested help from the Society, explaining that a dangerous criminal is on the loose, and that the help of an intrepid hero would be appreciated.
Last night, a letter came to your home, requesting your presence at Citadel Volshyenek, the city watch's headquarters and location of Kressiday's office, tomorrow in the morning. Cressida's writings were clear that this would be a job that would go a long way towards redeeming you in the eyes of the city, sentence served or not.
Reaching the citadel, as usual, no complex task. The guards at the gate know you well, and have come to regard you as a pleasant acquaintance, far from the glares you first earned while working as a cooperating convict.
On their respective way to meet Cressida Kroft, two men meet at the gate; as fate would have it, they arrived at the same time.
No trouble of any kind awaits Staryth at the temple of Shelyn. In fact, the news of his involvement with taking down one of Rolth's lairs, necromancer or not, has reached the ears of the temple higher-ups. Much praised is heaped on him.
Staryth thanks his brethren for their kind words, though he confesses to his superiors that he worries about ramfications for his part on this coming to haunt the order. Still, it heartens him to know that he has the support of his fellow hospitalars and others of the temple.
The next morning finds the three of you gathered at the inn where Krojun presently resides.
Earlier that morning, Staryth met an acquaintance on the street, who requested the party's help. Grau Soldado, one of Kressida's lieutenant, asked to meet with him and his companions, explaining that he needed help and could think of no one better.
Though his concern is clear and apparent, Grau looks much better than he did the last time you met him. Sobered up, cleanly shaved, and in solid shape, he is the true image of a guard of Korvosa.
"My niece 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 yourselves during the riots, and how you helped me out, and I figured you all could help.
A bunch of resourceful folk like you, I’d bet if you don’t already have a way to fix this you must know who can. Surely you can’t just sit by while a child suffers, can you?"
"I most certainly cannot. I'm not just a paladin, sir, I'm a hospitaler. That means I have given an oath to tend to the injured, and care for the sick as best I can. I am no cleric, but perhaps I can at least help speed a recovery," Staryth says, "It maybe we'll have to take her to the temple of Shelyn for true care but for now, lead me to her and I will do my best to tend."
He also looks to Silvio and Krojun, "You probably won't want to get too close. We don't know if it's infectious or not. I myself have been blessed with some protections. Would that I could share those protections, but that's beyond me."
This morning, upon waking up, Silvio feels a pounding headache; a quick investigation reveals he has a potent fever. He feels very tired, as though he'd barely slept, and his muscles ache all over.
Staryth can easily identify the affliction as Filth Fever; Silvio likely was exposed when the rotting construct struck him in the Dead Warrens. It is relatively simple to treat, but might require a few day's recovery.
Silvio receives Grau with concern. "We definitely need to do something, but our strength is in doing battle with creatures, not diseases. If you want someone to sweet talk the temple priests, though, we might be able to help - an entourage of fine warriors would ensure that a sergeant like yourself gets the proper respect!" Silvio stands tall, chest puffed out as he declares this.
As Silvio is looking into the possilbility of getting some healing done, he learns that the temple of Sarenrae has seen more demand for disease-curing spells than usual.
"Hey fellas, how's it going? Your daughter feeling better?" Lucius says greeting the guards before nodding to the newcomer. "Lady Kroft call you too?" He asks Gheris.
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"Hey fellas, how's it going? Your daughter feeling better?" Lucius says greeting the guards before nodding to the newcomer. "Lady Kroft call you too?" He asks Gheris.
The half-elf strides towards the gate, nodding in greeting to the two men standing guard. He still wears his traveling garb, complete with arms and armor, from his journey to Korvosa. Around his neck hangs his wayfinder, complete with the engraved Glyph of the Open Road. He turns to the man who questioned him and nods, "Indeed she has. I am to understand there have been problems with a criminal element within the city, and am here to offer my assistance in the matter. The name is Gheris, of the Society."
He waits for his greeting to be returned, curious that it appeared the aid of more than one group was called upon.
"Yea, that criminal element, always with the shenanigans." Lucius says with some sarcasm. "Name's Lucius. Kroft's a pal of mine."
At the temple of Sarenrae, Silvio decides to make the appropriate donation to have the disease. He was a bit behind on his tithes anyway, as usual.
Back alongside Krojun, Staryth, and Grau.
Silvio wipes his sleeve across his feverish brow. "As you can probably tell, I'm not feeling that great myself. Probably all that filth we went through on our mission yesterday. I had it tended to at the temple - nothing a little rest won't solve, they said. But anyway, while I was at the healing ward at the temple, I noticed they seemed to be a fair bit busier than usual. Didn't think much of it at the time, but now I wonder if there is something spreading. Did your niece go anywhere out of the ordinary recently, or meet someone else who's sick? I agree we should go take a look at her."
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"Yea, that criminal element, always with the shenanigans." Lucius says with some sarcasm. "Name's Lucius. Kroft's a pal of mine."
Gheris nods at the man, "Lucius, it is a pleasure. I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting your friend, but I hope that we can soon remedy that." He glances at the guards, growing impatient at being kept waiting, and visibly eager to understand the nature of his mission. "Gentlemen, if you would? I believe our services have been called upon, and it would not be wise to delay."
The man Lucius addressed has a wide smile as he answers. "She does, as a matter of fact. Back in school just this morning." The man nods.
"It is always an honor to have a member of the Society visit us." The other guard nods to Gheris.
Lucius and Gheris are led to Cressida's office, where the Marshall is waiting for them. Another person is with her, a tall and lean man of Varisian descent clad in the watch's uniform, though not currently wearing armor.
"... and here they are just now," Cressida interrupts herself as the newcomers enter.
Cressida invites you to take a seat, before proceeding to the introductions, presenting Gheris to the other two as an adventurer from the Pathfinder Society and Lucius as a frequent source of well-intentioned civilian aid to the watch.
The third man is Lieutenant Corlis Tern, one of Cressida's most trusted men.
"Now then, I suppose you're all wondering why I've gathered you here." Kressida begins.
"The watch has recently received reports of suspicious activity on Alabaster Street."
"You may have heard of the Thatcher Brothers before; they're craftsmen and smugglers, trading in illegal goods, especially magic items. We have it on good authority that they may be lurking there; my best guess is that they've taken the old bank as a hideout," she explains.
"And that's where I'd like to ask for your help, gentlemen. The Thatcher Brothers expect the watch, and I don't dare imagine what they might have rigged the place with; I think a smaller team, more familliar with the workings of magic, would be far more suited for this."
"Are you up to the task?"
"Anywhere out of the ordinary, you say?" Grau asks. "Well... she did go to market yesterday, so she might have been exposed to something. I've heard of folks getting sick here and there, so it might be something going around. Let's just hope things don't get too bad." He nods.
When Silvio brings up the possibility, Grau shakes his head. "Doesn't look like filth fever, at any rate, but I couldn't tell you what it is."
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Not sure what to think of the greeting, Gheris merely smiles and gives a short bow to the guard. Usually Pathfinders were seen by the authority as little more than troublemakers and tomb robbers, and it felt good to hear such recognition.
Listening to the briefing intently, the half elf nods at the information and the request, this sounded like standard fare, although he thought it a small matter for one of the Korvosan guard to require assistance from the lodge. "Is the nature of the goods in question a dangerous one? Or are we talking about typical stolen and prohibited items?" the man asked, curious as to the nature of the smuggler's activity. "Is there a cover to be provided? Or do they simply welcome in strangers off of the street? Are they to be apprehended, their operation dismantled, or are you just looking for information?" he asks, somewhat unsure of their goal.
"She's alright. A bit stiff, but a good joke usually gets her to lighten up."
"Well, let's go and take a look. I'm sure we'll have no trouble figuring out how to handle this." Silvio speaks with practiced confidence, hoping to bolster Grau's spirit.
Staryth gives a look of gratitude to the Shoanti for his support. I have been blessed by noble folk as allies. May they see me as the same.
Silvio wipes his sleeve across his feverish brow. "As you can probably tell, I'm not feeling that great myself. Probably all that filth we went through on our mission yesterday. I had it tended to at the temple - nothing a little rest won't solve, they said. But anyway, while I was at the healing ward at the temple, I noticed they seemed to be a fair bit busier than usual. Didn't think much of it at the time, but now I wonder if there is something spreading. Did your niece go anywhere out of the ordinary recently, or meet someone else who's sick? I agree we should go take a look at her."
"Busy? Curious, I should have asked my fellow hospitalers about that... there's been a slight mention about some workers not going to work in the last day or two."
"Anywhere out of the ordinary, you say?" Grau asks. "Well... she did go to market yesterday, so she might have been exposed to something. I've heard of folks getting sick here and there, so it might be something going around. Let's just hope things don't get too bad." He nods.
When Silvio brings up the possibility, Grau shakes his head. "Doesn't look like filth fever, at any rate, but I couldn't tell you what it is."
"Well, let's go and take a look. I'm sure we'll have no trouble figuring out how to handle this." Silvio speaks with practiced confidence, hoping to bolster Grau's spirit
"Yes, We'll check on her first, and then maybe ask around about the ill workers from the market and the troubles they seem to be having. It could be the same thing, which if it is, might speed diagnosis and treatment. We'll head straight away. "
Asking for directions, unless something comes up, Staryth heads to do just that, friends (Presumably) in tow.
"I'm afraid I couldn't tell you what the nature of the goods is; we've only recently learned of their whereabouts. Suffice to say, the last time they were spotted and we sent a troop of the watch against them... we had to send a second troop to restrain the first until the confusion charm placed on them wore off. I assure you I wouldn't have called for help from the Lodge if I didn't think we'd need it. The Thatcher Brothers have had multiple brushes with the guard; they're most likely already prepared for us, which is why a team like the three of you is far better suited for this. You'll be able to take them by surprise, I'm sure."
"The best case scenario would be managing to take them in alive. That would give us a lot of information on their former dealings and accomplices. If it comes down to it, however, do not be afraid to defend yourselves. They've killed watchmen and witnesses before, and they're not afraid to do it again, I'm sure. Any illicit goods will need to be held under watch custody."
Recognizing the unappealing nature of this statement for adventurers, she then adds:
"On the other hand, the reward for their capture would be all yours, and I think you'll find it to be a pretty sizeable sum."
"As to getting into the bank, I couldn't presume to tell you how to best go about it. Catching them off-guard is exactly why I'm asking for help. They know most of my tricks by now, this is hardly my first brush with them."
"Lead the way, Grau," says Silvio simply.
"Civilian? Never thought she'd mince words around me."
"So just take them in? A little beneath me, but alright I'm in."