Sebastian narrows his eyes at the trespasser in the chitin mask. He's heard whispers of a shadowy cabal of assassins, clad in blood-red armor and equipped with religious zeal. Unlike the Emperor's thugs, or even the Gray Maidens, this was an opponent to be taken with the utmost seriousness.
Paying mind to the ladies' magic, he adopts a stance to engage diagonally, neither interfering with Tyrandro or blocking Ayako's and Iolana's line of sight. Leveling his sword at the assassin, it flashes in the firelight as he feints a shortened thrust that leaves the assassin open as he tries to bat it away. Cannily, Sebastian exploits the opening with a fully-extended thrust.
Sebastian's 'feint' works and his second attack gets through the assassin's defense.
Ayako extends a dark tendril that crawls along the ground and snares the assassin's own shadow in place and preventing him from moving far.
Ensnared, the assassin cannot avoid Tyrandro's greatsword and is hit hard.
The Red Mantis Assassin takes a five foot step, moving to the limit allowing by the shadow trap. The assassin then begins exuding a red mist that enshrouds his body. The mist clings to the man's form rather than spreading throughout the room and has a feint metallic scent to it, not unlike blood. Lastly, he swings one of his two serrated blades at Ayako. Even entangled, the assassin managed to cut her; a testament to their professional training.
Then a second Red Mantis Assassin arrives from up the stairs below. He flanks Tyrandro and drives a sabre through his back.
Finally, Iolana hastes the party for the next round.
The fire begins spreading throughout the room. The first assassin is engulfed in flames but he stands amid them unharmed. His frightful appearance is only enhanced by the hellish light.
Ayako hisses and steps to the west. Tyrando! Flank! and jabs at the Red Mantis with her spear.
Tarandro steps into flanking position with Ayako to get away from being in the middle himself. But flanking can be ended in another way too and now he works on the other way.
The sudden blaze of heat causes Sebastian to flinch back for a moment. Though he recovers, the excess heat and light pouring off the flaming assassin in waves prevents him from getting too close as he trades thrusts and blocks with his opponent. The appearance of the second assassin increases Sebastian's sense of urgency, and adjusts his stance to take advantage of Tyrandro's impending re-positioning.
Ayako, Sebastian, and Tyrando all flail at the Red Mantis Assassin in the room. With an expert's grace he fends off all the attacks except one. Tyrandro gets one cut through the enemies defense.
The first assassin steps deeper into the fire attacks Ayako again hoping to free himself from his bindings by killing its originator. However, he fails miserably. Perhaps his wounds are taking their toll.
The second assassin maintains his position blocking your escape. He holds his sabres out, point down, and weaves the blades in the air in a fascinating dance directed at Tyrandro.
Ayako pants and sweat, her dark clothing sucking in the heat as she thrusts again at the killer.
Iolana fires a Ray of Cold at the first assassin. "Cool off."
Iolana steels her nerve and slips to the left behind Ayako. She fires her Ray of Cold to the second assassin.
Iolana's ray hits the first assassin. The frost hurts him then immediately melts from the flames heat. The assassin looks like he can't take much more.
"Fascinating!" Tyrandro tells staring at the second assassin.
"Whaaa... we're going to burn." Tyrandro voices his concerns as he snaps out of it. But it comes over more like a girly scream as he noticed only at the last moment that the fire spread to where he is standing.
I'll allow you to take action this round since you broke free.
Once again aware of his surroundings Tyrondro goes back to solving the problems at hand.
Once the red insect is down he steps out of the fire and next to the other vermin.
"Tyrandro! Snap out of it, man!" Sebastian had heard tell of secret techniques that could ensorcell an opponent, but he had never expected to one day see it in action. Now he wishes he hadn't.
As the wood beneath his feet catches fire, Sebastian feels himself beginning to cook. Jumping furiously away from the flames, he throws himself into melee with the other assassin. He feels unnaturally quick on his feet thanks to Iolana's spell, and not a moment too soon. Intending to end the fight as quickly as possible, he attempts an advanced sequence that he had never been able to perfect in class.
Sebastian moves like he's never moved before and pierces the assassin with a series of thrusts that leave him reeling.
Ayako fights back against her attacker. One spear thrust successfully hits but still the assassin stands.
Tyrandro ends the fight by slashing the assassin in the fire once then stepping back to slash at the assassin in the stairway, killing them both.
Upon death, the first assassin's body disintegrates into the red mist surrounding him, leaving nothing but his gear behind. The second assassin was caught completely off guard by the vicious onslaught this round and did not have the opportunity to active his disintegration ability, thus leaving a body (if you wanted to try non-lethal).
Although the fight is over, the fire continues to spread. It expands into Tyrandro's square again. Sebastian is surrounded by flames and the women are cut off from the exit.
Cough, cough! Out the window if we don't want to burn.
"Yes let's try the window." Iolana coughs while trying to open the window, and look out.
"See you outside. If one of you ladies isn't used to jump from such heights I can catch you there." He hurries down the stairs and outside below the window ready to assist if desired.
My hero!
Ayako does the Wilheim scream and drops into Tyrando's arms
Tarandro catches Ayako and tries to convert the kinetic energy of the fall into a circular motion by turning her around himself to reduce the impact and prolong the way available to slow Ayako down.
Elegantly putting her on her feet again.
Iolana sticks her head out the window, and looks to make sure Ayako is clear. "Here goes nothing. Why couldn't my affinity be with fire instead of ice. She leaps out the window flames licking at her heels. She aims for Tyrando's arms.
Tyrandro catches Iolana too. Not with the same perfection but still helping a bit for a graceful landing. Looking at the building with the flames shooting out of the window now he says "At least we know Vencarlo is not in there. And these murderers hopefully didn't get their job done."
Looking back to the entrance he wonders "Where's Sebastian. I thought he's directly behind me."
Surrounded by fire, Sebastian growls in frustration. Dashing through the flames, he grabs the arm of the remaining assassin and drags the body as he attempts to escape down the stairs and out the front door.
Tyrandro successfully catches Iolana and Ayako as they jump from the window.
Sebastian takes 5 more damage as he dashes down the stairs dragging the assassin with him.
Once outside, it doesn't take long for the home to be completely engulfed in flames.
As you stand outside the burning building, drawn by the flames a desperate and worried young noble approaches you. Sebastian recognizes this man as Amin Jalento, the noble he saved from an angry mob back during the early riots when the king's death was declared. "Sebastian...and friends? What are you doing here? Listen, if you are involved with Vencarlo, I might be able to help you. I've been squatting in a partially collapsed building across the street from the academy for the past several days. Do you mind coming with me so we can talk quietly."
Ayako manages to land gracefully. Let us get to the front door right away so we can help Sebastion!. Ayako heads to the front door
Ayako notices Amin.I think a nice secure location would be good, we need a little patching up.
"What do you say Sebastian? Should we go with him?" Iolana keeps here eyes on the street while others search the body and make a decision to go with the young man.
Tyrandro takes a look at the red vermin and removes the mask to see what's below. "Patching up sounds good." he replies to Ayako's sugggestion.
Ayako pulls out her wand of CLW and taps Tyrando a few times.
She then taps herself
That will take care of the worst of your burns, I will tend to them with mundane means when we are secure.
Sebastian emerges, singed and smoking, from the burning house. Sweat streams down his soot-streaked face as he watches the blaze consume what's left of Orisini's manor, coughing violently from the smoke.
He looks up confusedly as Amin Jalento approaches, his eyes eventually lighting up with recognition. Questions race through his mind, but with the heat burning his face, he realizes they don't have time for that. Introducing him to the others, Sebastian says, "This is Amin. We can trust him. He was another of Master Orisini's students - and he owes me."
Good, we need more answers. Ayako thinks she should rethink her robe stance after that fire.
"Thank you." Tyrandro replies to Ayako. "Then let's move before we're found here once the fire attracts onlookers."
Once you are across the street and hidden safely within the building, Amin sits you down and tells you his story.
"I was attending classes at Vencarlo's academy when the quarantine hit, and when I was unable to escape back to the mainland and my home, Vencarlo graciously allowed me to stay at the academy as a guest. That stay ended not long after, when several Red Mantis assassins invaded the building. Vencarlo confronted them and took one of them down, but there were too many. Vencarlo was forced to flee, and I assume the assassins burned down the academy as a warning as much as anything else."
"I don’t know where Vencarlo has gone, but I do suspect who might. In the days after the quarantine, while I was Vencarlo's houseguest, I noticed my teacher seemed restless and distracted. Vencarlo regularly left his house at odd hours in the night, sometimes not returning until morning. After one such return, Vencarlo's clothes were bloody, and he said he had to fight off a thief, but I am sure there was more to it than that. Furthermore, in the days before the Red Mantis assassins attacked, Vencarlo had a singularly strange houseguest visit several times—a man with paint-stained hands, wild hair, and a jittery habit of looking about. Vencarlo introduced him as a friend, but I recognized him as a somewhat notorious local artist named Salvator Scream. Vencarlo and Salvator always met behind closed doors, three times in all, and on that last meeting I swore I heard Vencarlo's voice raised in anger. Unfortunately, I have little more information than that. I've been meaning to try to track down Salvator to ask him if he knows what happened to Vencarlo, but have not, of yet, worked up the courage to brave Old Dock, the place where Salvator's home is located."
"I know that Salvator lives in Old Dock and did enough asking around to confirm that the artist lived in a building located at 140 Wave Street. I also know that Old Dock is under the control of the Emperor of Old Korvosa. I've heard plenty of rumors about the emperor—that he's a cannibal, that he's beheaded more people than died to blood veil, that he's a devil hiding in the flesh of a man, and that his minions are almost as bad as he is. Although I don't believe the rumors, I do believe the emperor is deserving of them, and want nothing to do with Old Dock as a result."
Salvator Scream is a notorious artist whose gruesome and often scandalous art is held in relatively high esteem by several of Korvosa's nobles. His popularity is even greater among the lower classes, who are most familiar with his work at the Old Dock playhouse known as Exemplary Execrables, where his paintings served as grisly backdrops to that venue's notoriously violent entertainments. Salvator himself isn't a public figure, though, and beyond his name, few folk can say they know him.
"I know this might be much to ask but if you are heading back to the mainland, can you take me with you? Old Korvosa has become too dangerous. It's only a matter of time before my luck runs out and I encounter the Emperor's thugs or a Red Mantis assassin. I hope I can return home before that happens."
By this time, the fire has drawn out the citizens of Old Korvosa and brigades of Arkona agents do their best to contain the blaze. They succeed at containing the fire from spreading but are unable to save the house. One of the Arkona agents pulls out an iron coffer from the wreckage. He unsuccessfully picks the lock twice and kicks the box into the street in frustration. The citizens disperse leaving the box unattended.
Ayako listens while she spreads some ointment on Sebastion's burns and stitches some of his injuries.
It seems that we will have to deal with this Emperor no doubt. Perhaps Vencario is staying the this Salvator person.
Iolana sits down next to Amin and pats his had as they hear his story. "I don't think we're heading back to the mainland for a while. We have some things to do before we can go back across the bridge. We will take you when we go back. We need to look up this painter, and see what he knows."
She notices the box being left in the street, "Sebastian or Tyrando do one of you want to go grab that coffer before it walks away? It may contain some information."
"Someone has a map? Or do you know your way around Old Korvosa. For I have no clue where this address is." Tyrandro comments. He looks out of the window again and again watching the events at the street.
"Sure, I'll get it." Tyrandro walks out, takes the coffer and comes back in. He sits down again, takes his tools out and tries to open the lock.
"Wave Street is down in the Old Docks, right near the water," says Sebastian. He winces as Ayako tends to his wounds, but her mundane ministrations are preferable to her divine powers. "Amin, that's good intelligence. We'll make sure you get home safely, but not until we've finished our business here. It sounds that Master Orisini may be alive yet."
"If Salvator's not at his home, someone at Exemplary Execrables may know a thing or two. But if I was a betting man, I'd say there's a good chance that's where the Emperor's holed himself up."
Indeed, we have really only just arrived here, Amin. You are reasonably safe with us for the moment. If we find Vencario you can accompany him.
Tyrandro tries his best to open the lock himself but it remains firmly shut. Whatever Vencarlo kept in this box, he did not want others getting in.
Amin looks disappointed. "I will remain her then. I wish you luck finding Master Orisini."
"That's one tough lock. I wonder what he kept in there. Do you think Cat's Grace might help you with the lock? I have a wand." Iolana offers to assist with a spell. She doesn't look sure it will work, but is willing to help.
Well stay safe, I am sure we can spare some food for you. Ayako gives him 2 days of food.
"No need to be disappointed. This is just a matter of time." Tyrandro replies while he keeps trying.
While Tyrandro fiddles with the box, Sebastian turns his attention on the captured assassin. After stripping the assassin of their equipment, including mask, he ties them to a chair, preparing to interrogate.
Ayako scans the equipment.
The one assassin has the following gear:
Potion of bull’s strength, alchemist’s fire, +1 leather armor, +1 sawtooth sabres (2), daggers (4), cloak of resistance +1, mask of the mantis, 27 pp
The second assassin is thoroughly buried in the rubble and will take a lot of effort if you want to dig him up.
A mask of the mantis is the traditional headgear of a Red Mantis assassin. Designed to both conceal the wearer’s identity and give the wearer a ferocious appearance, this mask has three daily charges that can be used to gain additional bonuses. As a standard action, the wearer can spend a charge to gain either darkvision to a range of 60 feet, the effects of see invisibility, the effects of deathwatch, or a +5 competence bonus on Perception checks. Once a charge is spent, the effect granted persists for 30 minutes. Multiple effects can be active simultaneously. Charges automatically replenish in 24 hours.
Tyrandro succeeds at unlocking the box.
Inside is a bag of holding (type I) that contains a black hooded cloak of elvenkind, several black masks, a dozen masterwork daggers with a stylized “B” engraved in their pommels, a black leather suit of +2 slick leather armor, a pair of black leather boots of elvenkind, an amulet of proof against detection and location, a pair of black leather gloves of swimming and climbing (with two fingers in the right hand containing fake, adjustable wooden fingers), and an exquisite +2 keen mithral rapier.
You recognize the clothes immediately as Blackjack's signature armor and weaponry.
Ayako looks upon the items in amazement. Blackjack's weaponry? Why, does this mean that Vencarlo is actually Blackjack?
Ayako suddenly shakes her head. Impossible, there must be some other explanation, perhaps he knew Blackjack and kept a spare uniform and weapons?