"It never hurts to try," Col informs Ayako as he pulls out his lockpicks and trys to force the lock.
The door has no real lock, but if you try pushing it open, it seems to be barricaded from within. A sufficient Strength check should be able to push it open, however.
Ayako will attempt to help the big strong men push.
Ayako flails her noodley appendages helplessly.
Col realizes there is no lock on the door and stands up. He puts his shoulder into the door and begins pushing to no avail. He looks expectantly to Sebatian, "Are you just going to watch. A little help would be nice."
"After all of that, I really hope she's in there. Wouldn't it be just the luck that she's slipped away." Nadya readies herself to cast charm person if she sees Trinia inside.
Perhaps we can ask Majenko for help in scouting around. MAJENKO!
Sebastian attempts to push the door as well. The door lets out a loud creak but barely budges.
The group tries again and this time Col succeeds at pushing open the door with a surge of strength. Several chairs which were piled behind the door fall away.
Meanwhile Majenko heeds Ayako's call and swoops down onto her shoulder. "Majenko hears you, master. He will scout around for you and will be right back." He flies off again before you can say anything else.
You can now see inside Trinia's flat. This one-room flat combines all the amenities of a bedroom, a kitchen, and a painter's studio into one fifteen-foot-square space, leaving little room for much else. A stack of cheese and bread sits on the counter next to several full waterskins, while the easel in the opposite corner holds a half-completed painting of an imp and a pseudodragon fighting atop a church steeple. A single window looks out over the tangled rooftops of the Shingles, while just under it, a woman sleeps in a curled-up position on a low bed.
At about the same time, Majenko returns excitedly and says, "I've spotted a blond woman crawling across the rooftops just below the window of this room. You'd hardly notice her from the ground, but she was easy to spot from the sky."
Ayako blinks in confusion as she sees what just might be Triania before her and Majenko's report. Triania? Please wake up, we're here to help you escape from the mob!
"I'll check on the girl crawling away," Col says as he moves toward the window. "Majenko lead the way please," Col asks. Col will climb out the window and attempt to catch up with the girl.
Ayako will approach the sleeping girl
Ayako approaches the sleeping girl. The girl matches the description you have of Trina and appears to be breathing but does not respond to Ayako's calls. Ayako approaches and puts a hand on the girl's shoulder to rouse her, but her hand passes right through the girl and she falls forward on the bed. The well crafted illusion begins to fade away as the party disbelieves it.
The girl on the rooftop spots Col climbing out the window and abandons her stealth. She begins to flee at top speed across the Shingles. This blond haired woman, a mirror-image of the illusion left in the flat, is the real Trinia.
"The rest of you go! I'm going to see if I can put her to sleep to make it easier to catch up." Nadya begins casting a spell.
Majenko! Keep an eye on her for us please!
Ayako heaves her crippled leg over the sill and attempts to find a way across that doesn't involve leaping.
Col launches himself across the narrow surface thrusting his arms out for balance.
Total
Col sees Trinia in front of him and tries to grab her but like most women she slips through his arms.
Sebastian will attempt to run across the crumbling rooftop but the roof is too unstable and he is unable to progress.
Trinia slips from Col's grasping arms and casts a spell on him to aid her escape. She then moves one space forward.
Col needs to make a Will save DC 14 or fall prone with uncontrollable laughter. "A brunette and blonde are walking in the park when the brunette says, "Aw, look at the dead birdie." The blonde looks up and says, "Where?""
Trinia cast Hideous Laughter.
Nadya finishes casting her spell and grins with delight as Trinia drops to the ground. "Got her!" Nadya immediately scampers onto the walkway to try to catch up to Col and Trinia, but finds the ledge ever narrower than she thought and freezes for a moment as the sense of vertigo overwhelms her.
There are no more threats. You can take your time and reach Trinia without rolling. You just have to decide what you want to do with her next.
Col grabs his belly and starts laughing uncontrollably, "she looks up, ha, ha, ha!"
The hideous laughter spell only lasts four rounds and then Col recovers.
Ayako wobbles over, the idea of trying to run over rooftops sent a chill up her spine. She examines the girl to make sure she is ok and then starts getting her back tot he apartment.
How will we get her back to our employer? I very much doubt she will go on her own no matter what we say.
"Tie her up and gag her if we must," Col offers as he retrieves his rope. He considers for a moment, "Although we might have to fight our way out of the Shingles if we do tie her up. Lets try reasoning with her when she awakens."
You bind Trinia and haul her back into her flat. By the time you get her into the room, she is already rousing from her sleep. When she sees you all standing over her she breaks down in tears. "I'm being set up! I didn't kill the king! I don't want to die! Please!"
"Calm down. Let's talk for a few minutes. Why don't you start by telling us about your employment with the king and why you think you're being set up."
"A little over a month ago, I was street painting in Domina Square when the king's chamberlain approached me with a commission to paint the king's portrait. I was so excited at the time. How often do you get an opportunity like that? Who would have thought it would be the worse decision of my life, eh? The chamberlain told me at the time that the king was ill and that he hoped my visits would improve his health and spirits. I think he picked me for me looks just as much as for my artistic skill, but I didn't care at the time. Although the lecherous king was always ogling me and making me very uncomfortable, he never made any advances towards me. When I finished the painting, the king's health was still getting worse, but I had nothing to do with it. I swear I didn't poison him. The guard that confessed was lying. I don't know who killed the king but for some reason the Queen wants my head. Please don't let her do that! I want to live! You know if you turn me in, I'm not going to get a fair trial. I'm dead unless you let me go."
Nadya listens intently to Trinia, watching her body language to try to determine if she is telling the truth or lying.
When Trinia has finished, she responds, "In all your time at the palace, did you see anything unusual? Anything strange that the chamberlain, the queen or a servant did? If you are innocent, is there a reason someone might have settled on you as a scapegoat?"
Captain Cressida asked us to find you because she doesn't want you getting lynched. She is an honest officer and I'm sure we can get you protection, perhaps by usign the authority of the Church of Abadar.
Trinia continues to cry.
"Anything unusual? No, not that I can recall. Why me? I wish I knew."
"Well, I suppose that fact that you haven't already lynched me is a good sign. Still, I don't trust the Korvosan Guard or the Church not to turn me in for execution. I've learned that sometimes those in power find it simpler to provide the public with a clear resolution to end a matter of controversy, even if its not the truth. I think I'd be safer on my own and not with any Korvosan authority but I suppose I don't have a choice, do I. You all have a job to do. I bet you are getting paid well for it too."
"I worry about the same thing Trinia. We're going to search your flat before we take you in and see if we can find anything that might suggest your involvement." Nadya helps to search the apartment to see if there is any evidence of poisons that Trinia might have used on the king.
Ayako sighs and just goes out with Majenko to keep watch for any mobs.
Trinia has on her person, a magical mithril shirt worn under her commoner's clothes, a magical wand and a masterwork dagger fastened to her belt, and two bronze bracelets and a copper necklace.
You find no poison or anything to indicate that Trinia might have killed the king in her flat. The only thing that could have any value in her flat is the incomplete painting she is working on and her paints. The food on the counter is stale. There are no coins stashed away anywhere.
Trinia continues to weep silently as you go through her belongings.
"Where did you come by the armor, wand and dagger Trinia? We were led to believe that you were a relatively starving artist. The good news is that you seem to be telling the truth about everything else. What do you think Col? You're a good judge of character."
Good question Col thinks as he monitors Trinia's response.
Ayako just sighs and keeps watch.
She has appropriate amounts of gear for her npc levels!
"Well, I may not look it, but I am a decently skilled bard. I've never been good with money but I have been able to save small amounts on occasion. All of the money I made from painting the king has already been spent though. Although most of it went to the poor in my community so they could have food on the table. I want to be an adventurer one day...but that won't happen if I pay a visit to the queen's axeman, so I'm not going to get ahead of myself."
Trinia chuckles at her own joke then sombers up again.
"So what now? I assume you are going to turn me in to the Guard."
Well will be taking you to Cressida and you will be questioned. I'm sure in a world with magic that the truth will come out about such an important matter.
The roar of the mob grows outside. It seems they've finally honed in on Trinia's location as well. Looking out the window, you can see the streets below are now swarming with angry citizens, many of them are armed. So far none of them are attempting to climb up to the third floor, but getting Trinia out of Midland without being spotted is going to be difficult.
You spot a patrol of Hellknights closing in on the mob from a short distance away. Even though the mob vastly outnumbers the hellknights, you know enough about the hellknights' skills to know that the majority of the blood that will be spilled with be the commoners'.
You also spot a patrol of Sable Company marines in the sky searching the area. Even the rooftops aren't safe from prying eyes at the moment. Of course the Sable Company is not your enemy and will probably attempt to bring Trinia in themselves.
"Trinia the mob is gathering outside, if you know of another way out of here now is the time to tell us," Col pleads.
There is a company of Sable Company marines in the sky, so if we use the rooftops we still might get spotted. They are not our enemy however and will no doubt try to arrest Trinia themselves. Better them than the Hellknights that are also down there.
"Honestly, I don't know any other way. I tried escaping and you caught me." says Trinia.
We should make the effort to help her escape a lynching. Let us try to escape via the upper levels and perhaps disguise her so it is harder to identify from above.
"Damn the Shingles!" Sebastian climbs in through the window, covered in dust and bits of crumbling building. "No matter where you are, you can get anywhere except where you want to go," he says, dusting himself off. [B]"It's all clear outside, we should be able to..." His sentence trails off as he finally lays eyes on fair Trinia. "Well, hello there!" He bows to the captured artist and introduces himself. "Sebastian Merrin, at your service."
"Hello..." Trinia blushes at Sebastian's formal greeting.
The group makes their way towards the Citadel via the Shingles rooftops with Majenko aiding from the sky. Most of the party manages to remain undetected but the patrolling marine spots Ayako limping a little too slowly across an open area. He swoops down on his hippogriff and lands next to Ayako on the roof while the rest of the party hides behind a nearby wall. "Gotcha!" he exclaims as he pulls back Ayako's hood. But then frowns at her long dark hair. "My apologies, lady. I am looking for someone else. If you've heard the latest news, we're hunting down the king's assassin, a woman named Trina Sabor. You haven't happened to see a woman with short blond hair around these parts, have you? It's best not to be traveling alone in the Shingles like this when there is a murderer on the loose. Honor dictates I offer you a ride to your destination for my disturbance. May I?"
The man's uniform and banners indicate he is more than a common marine.
This is Commandant Marcus Thalassinus Endrin. He is the current leader of the Sable Company, a man whose dedication to tradition and honor sometimes blinds him to what might be best for his own career.
Ayako is startled as the man swoops down and tugs down her hood. Relieved that Trina wasn't spotted, she ponders his offer.
If I leave with him, then attention will be drawn away from the area, and such an honorable man would take this helpless lady there right away.
Why yes, thank you very much. Would you please take me to the Citadel? Ayako makes sur her voice is loud enough to be overheard.I have an appointment with Cressida Kroft. Ayako plays the part of poor, lame woman and allows him to gallently get her on the hippogriff.
"With pleasure, my lady." Commandant Endrin helps Ayako onto his hippogriff then flies off to the Citadel Volshyenek.
When they arrive, Marcus helps Ayako down and walks her into the courtyard. "Since you are meeting with Field Marshall Croft, please ask her to send for me if Trinia Sabor is found so I can take her to Castle Korvosa for her trial. I hope for Korvosa's sake she is found quickly." He then bows deeply and takes his leave.
While Ayako is waiting for the others to arrive, she notices that Citadel Volshyenek's guards are unusually agitated and nervous. A nearby guards explains, "One of those Shoanti kids went and got himself killed, and now the rest of them are all worked up-if it's not one riot about to erupt, it's another! Field Marshal Kroft's in her office now, trying to talk some sense into the Shoanti ambassador-in fact, she mentioned that she's looking for you all to help with the situation. Best wait for your friends to arrive though."
Tensions between Korvosa and the Shoanti have existed since the city's foundation some 300 years ago, when Chelish colonists attacked and defeated the Shoanti tribes who dwelt in the region destined to become the largest city in Varisia. Forced to retreat and relocate into the inhospitable Cinderlands northeast of Korvosa, the Shoanti persevered and even flourished, and many among them preach that the time to take back their ancestral homeland is nigh. Yet in Korvosa itself, the Shoanti seek a more peaceful accord. Led by a visionary shaman known as Thousand Bones, a large group of Shoanti have been in talks with the Korvosan government for years now, hoping to find a way their two people can coexist in peace.
Once Ayako left with the Commandant, the party has little trouble sneaking the rest of the way out of the Shingles. You are able to rendezvous with the officers Cressida Croft stationed just outside of Midland to escort you back to the Citadel. Two hours later, you arrive with Trinia still in tow. A cloak covers her head as a makeshift disguise.
Inside the Citadel, a guard states, "We'll take Trinia to a secure cell for now. Most likely, her trial won't take place here but at the Castle Korvosa or the Longacre Building."
Another guard pats Nadya on the shoulder. "I'm glad you caught the witch. We can't have an assassin going free. I hope she gets Arbiter Zenderholm to preside over her trial."
A third guard spits at Trinia. "Thought you could get away with murdering the king, did you? You'll learn that Korvosa's justice is swift for the likes of you."
Trinia can't help but break out into tears again. It seems the majority of the guards have bought into the spreading rumors of Trinia's guilt.
The last stop for the city's most violent criminals, the imposing Longacre Building, also known as Arbiter's Hall, houses the feared arbiters of Korvosa. Despite their frightful reputation, the arbiters only have the worst criminals executed. Violent crimes and crimes against the city of Korvosa or the state of Cheliax alone warrant the death penalty.
Criminals sentenced to death are executed within the Longacre Building or in the Deathhead Vault beneath it. Executions within the building are carried out by hanging (always the humane neck-snapping method, never through slow strangulation) while messier beheadings (by razor-sharp axe) occur in the Vault below. Clerics of Abadar and Pharasma regularly patrol the building, as those executed here do not always remain completely dead. Next to the necropolis of Gray District, more undead come from Longacre Building than anywhere in the city.
Rumors persist that prisoners occasionally turn up missing from their cells under the building. While many people insist those who go missing simply escape, more ominous voices (particularly among those who work in the building) insist that something comes up from below to drag off the criminals. Stranger still, on rare occasions those who had disappeared just as suddenly reappear, usually years later and with only vague and nightmarish memories of the intervening time.
Known as the Hanging Judge, Zenobia is Korvosa's senior arbiter. Her reputation is justifiably fearsome among Korvosa's criminals.
"Oh come off it," says Sebastian with a sneer. "There's no need to torment the poor girl. When are the Abadarans questioning her?"