Ayako smiles lightly at the girl's questions. Lamm has wronged me in the past, he may very have murdered my mother and shattered my leg so I will always have a limp. I am not a priestess but I stay there and help supplicants with healing and have delivered some babies, they do tend to be a bit dour but are polite. I am afraid I don't really know about jewelry so I can't tell you more about it.
Nadya holds her tongue and watches the girl. I wonder if she was playing at sleep. Clever if she was. I wonder if she really picked it from another thief or not.
The thug moves to take a swing at Sebastian but a quick flurry sends the makeshift weapon flying from his hand. The stunned man briefly falls backwards in surprise then raises his fists angrily. As Sebastian predicted, a second man bearing a shovel steps out of the mob and flanks him.
"Lucky swing. Let's see how you do when the odds are against you, dandy. If you get hurt, don't go crying to your mommy."
Back at Zellara's:
"Gaedren murdered your mother? So you are an orphan too. Maybe one day I'll be big and strong like you."
Nadya doesn't get any sense of duplicity from the young girl.
Ayako lightly pats the girls' shoulder. You are quite strong right now, and have a chance at a far better life.
"This is hardly honorable," he chuckles as the second challenger steps into the ring. "The stage is set, the players introduced. On with the show!" He whirls, smashing the pommel of his dagger into the new man's face.
Sebastian crushes the second man's nose with the pommel of his dagger. Sputtering and bloodied, he drops his shovel and turns and runs. The fat man swings at Sebastian from behind with his fist. Sebastian easily sidesteps the attack and the fat man stumbles face first into a puddle. He stands back up, now covered in filth, and follows the other's lead, fleeing in embarrassment. The rest of the mob disperses as well into the dark alleyways.
"Don't be thinking we'll forget this! You better watch your back around here."
The young noble rushes up and grabs your hand and thanks you profusely.
"Thank you. My name is Amin Jalento of House Zenderholm. I think you may have just saved my life. If they'd have crushed my arm, I'd never be able to raise a sword again. If there's anyway I can repay you..." He paused for a moment. "Do I know you from somewhere? Nevermind, I need to get out of here. The streets are not safe. I suggest you find shelter as well."
Before you can reply he is already dashing down the street. You look down in the palm of your hand and find five platinum crowns.
Thinking for a moment, you do recall seeing the young man occasionally as a student at the Orisini Academy.
House Zenderholm, one of the five Great Houses of Korvosa, is the first noble house of Korvosa not of Dock Family stock, instead rising to power as Chelish immigrants through loyalty and political skill.
"Leaving so soon?" Sebastian calls after men. How anticlimactic! The excitement ended as suddenly as it began. He turned to say something to the nobleman, but before he could get a word out the boy was up the street. Looking down at the weight in his palm, he grins. It's nice to be appreciated.
Pocketing the money, Sebastian turns to head back to Zellara's house to turn in for the night. The mobs had mostly moved northward, it seemed, so they should all be safe for the evening. The distant fires cast an orange glow in the sky, distorting shadows playing tricks on the eyes. Sebastian can't help but glance back over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being followed. I wonder if this is how Blackjack feels? Perhaps I should get a mask... He'd made a few new enemies tonight. But six nobody thugs for one powerful friend? A worthy trade.
Arriving at the house, he takes one more wary look around before entering. "Everything's safe," he calls, announcing his presence.
That is good, hopefully the rioting will stop in a few hours. Ayako is sitting with Nadya as they look over a pile of valuables.[/b]
Glad you made it back in one piece. I think I'm going to turn in for the night wake me if you need anything. Col will look for a place to hunker down for the night.
The chaos continued throughout the night but as day breaks the next morning the initial civil unrest and outbreaks of riots have been quelled, thanks to swift action by the Korvosan Guard, the Sable Company, and the Hellknights. The streets should be once again relatively safe to walk, but a thick tension remains in the air.
Giggles has awoken but remains secured. He stares silently with his one eye.
The children are still nervous but are ready to follow you.
Ayako wakes and stretches before passing out a cup of wate rtot he children and a few more apples.
We will head out soon to leave Giggles with the guard and then take you to the temple. We will need to move calmly.
I agree, first things first. Although at some point we need to sell the loot we've picked up and see about a reward for the queens necklace.
You have a quick breakfast on the floor then head out to Citadel Volshyenek, dragging the stoic Giggles along with you. After a brief walk you arrive before the Citadel overlooking the Jeggare River. Two nervous guards stand at the entrance to the Yard. Upon seeing your approach, one of the guards calls out to you.
"Hail citizens! What business do you have with the Korvosan Guard? The Guard is only addressing serious issues at this time. Our resources are stretched thin keeping order in light of yesterday's events."
Named for the Eternal Lord, Lord Volshyenek Ornelos, who paid for most of its construction, this impressive citadel houses the headquarters and main garrison of the Korvosan Guard. This relatively normal citadel reputedly has an extensive system of Vaults beneath it that flood every spring with the rising waters of the Jeggare River.
Nadya shares with everyone what she has heard of Citadel Volshyenek during her short time in the city. "We won't take much of your time. We have two concerns that we need your help with. First, we were able to defeat the crime lord Gaedren Lamm last night. One of his henchmen is our captive. This half-orc named Giggles. Second, Lamm had a brooch in his possession that one of our companions recognized as something belonging to the Queen. We also have children with us who need safekeeping, but our plan is to bring them to the Church of Pharasma once we are done here."
"Gaedren Lamm you say?" The guard's eyes widen. "That's one rat who's always escaped the law."
"Until now." Jests the second guard slapping the first's shoulder.
"Yes, well..." The guard straightens himself up. "We'll certainly take this ruffian in. If he's involved with Lamm, I'm sure there's a list of charges we can hold against him. Follow me inside. There's just a matter of some paperwork to fill out. While we're there, I'll see if there's any information on this brooch as well."
One of the guards leads you inside. After handing Giggles off to a different guard inside to put into a holding cell, he sits you down and fills out some papers and asks you a few questions about your actions at the Old Fishery. Once that's completed, he goes through the stolen property reports and proclaims, "Oh yes, here it is. The Queen has reported this piece of jewelry stolen and there's a reward on the books as well. It says here the Queen is offering a reward of 1200 gold sails for its return. If I were you, I'd bring it to the castle personally. Now if there's nothing else at the moment, I must return to my post."
The guard ushers you back to the front guard and salutes as you leave.
Ayako arches an eyebrow. 1200? That is enough to keep a commoner fed and housed for well over a year. We have done well. She then turns to the others. Well, it looks like we are about to become well-known perhaps. We should escort the children to the temple and then discuss about how to approach the palace.
Nadya also thanks the guard and asks "Is there anything else we should say to the guards at the palace to gain entrance?."
Nadya also thanks the guard and asks "Is there anything else we should say to the guards at the palace to gain entrance?."
"Typically petitioners to the monarchy approach from the Great Ramp, wait in the Public Courtyard to speak to the Korvosan Guards on duty, and hope for a chance to be heard."
"Thank you. Ayako, I agree with you. Let's make our way to the Church of Pharasma to find a safe haven for the children and then we can make out way to the palace."
You head down through Eodred’s Walk and take the Shrouded Way into the Gray District. You arrive before the Grand Cathedral of Pharasma without incident. The Cathedral is constructed of high, black-marble walls with few windows giving it an appearance more like a fortress then a typically temple. You are greeted by a young acolyte who then fetches Bishop Keppira d’Bear.
“Welcome home, Ayako. The Lady of Graves welcomes you are your friends into her home. I hope your last journey went well. A terrible thing, King Eodred’s death is. May Pharasma guide his soul. The city is in turmoil with him leaving no heir to the throne and the Queen being out of the public’s favor. The Curse of the Crimson Throne strikes again I suppose. Things should return to normal soon enough. This old woman’s been around long enough to have seen this kind of thing happen before. It was only 22 years ago when Queen Domina passed and King Eodred began his rule after all. But I’m sure you didn’t come here to discuss politics with me. Come inside and tell me what really brings you here this day.”
In the center of Sepulcher ward stands this, the largest building of the district. As the office and home of Bishop Keppira d’Bear of the Fateful Church of Pharasma and a retinue of lower-ranking clerics and faithful warriors, the Grand Cathedral acts as a barracks, temple, and keep. Its high, black-marble walls contain few windows (more on the second floor than the first, but even those are mostly just arrow slits). The Grand Cathedral has served as a secure location multiple times, and despite a half-dozen sieges by undead, it has yet to fall. More commonly, the cathedral acts as a strongpoint and place of rest during the reverse sieges that occasionally plague the district. These reverse sieges occur when formerly interred residents rise and attempt to escape beyond the walls of the district, forcing the clerics to form a living wall around the perimeter. The clerics forming these living walls perform coordinated turnings, forcing the undead back toward the center of the district and the destructive defenses of the Great Cathedral.
"The Lady of Graves", Pharasma is the goddess who shepherds Golarion's recently-departed souls to their final reward. Upon death, souls migrate to Pharasma's Boneyard in the Outer Sphere, which sits atop an impossibly tall spire that pierces the Astral Plane. Pharasma makes no decision on whether a death is just or not; she views all with a cold and uncaring attitude, and decides on which of the Outer Planes a soul will spend eternity. Pharasma is also the goddess of birth and prophecy: from the moment a creature is born, she sees what its ultimate fate will be, but reserves final judgement until that soul finally stands before her. As the goddess of death and rebirth, she abhors the undead and considers them a perversion.
A good day to your Bishop. Indeed we are here for a specific reason. She gestures to the children. These children were the victims of the late Gadrean Lamm, a thief who used children as his pick pockets and cut purses. They are orphans with no place of their own, I am here to ask if you would house them here and see they are properly fed and clothed and hopefully have a chance to live full lives.
As the party approaches the cathedral, Sebastian gets chills. He'd always felt that the gloomy architecture was disconcerting, even in broad daylight. It had only been a month since the last time he'd been here, for Vincent's funeral. He hadn't expected to be back so soon. Taking a long look through the gates at the expanse of graves beyond, he imagines he can almost hear his friend's voice calling to him.
As Ayako talks with the bishop A thought occurs to Sebastian. Is Ayako a Pharasmin priestess? Suddenly, he's very uncomfortable with the thought of leaving the children in Pharasma's care, but he dares not voice his concern. They'd still be better off than where they were.
Col listens to Ayako's conversation with the Bishop and realizes how little he knows about his companions. As he continues to listen he wonders when the Bishop is going to ask for a donation.
Keppira responds, "Yes, well, we don't typically take in orphans..." She looks the three children up and down, "But you happened to come at just the right time. The temple has been a little short staffed as of late. A few of our acolytes have recently gone missing. This is not entirely uncommon with the occasional undead and all. As long as they earn their keep we will look after them as if they were our own. However, if they become troublemakers, I won't hesitate to bring them to the nearest orphanage." Keppira grimly addresses the children directly, "And I guarantee you the orphanages in Korvosa are much more unpleasant than working in a graveyard." Turning back to the group, "Oh and it should be safe now but do take care not to wander the Gray District alone at night."
Tiora speaks for the orphans, "Thank you, Bishop. We promise we won't be any trouble. Maybe one day I'll be a priestess like Ayako." She beams a smile at the oracle. Then she puts her arm around the younger boy's shoulder and walks up to Col. "Go on," she urged.
The boy shyly speaks, "Col, I haven't been able to remember my name since being taken to the "playground". I wanted to know if it'd be okay to call myself Col Jr. since you rescued me, at least until my memory returns."
And not to be left out, Kester pipes in, "And maybe I'll be a great swordsman like Sebastian." He swings a stick through the air in a mock parry.
"Well they certainly are an energetic bunch." Bishop Keppira chuckles. "That's good. It can sometimes get rather gloomy around here. Come with me children. I'll have someone show you around."
Ayako pats Tiora's shoulder but does not correct her on her faith. Then be a dutiful and skilled priestess. I might be able to help teach you healing skills.
After children are settled Ayako will address Keppira.There have been dissaperances? This is most concerning and perhaps something my comrades and I can investigate.
Patting the boy on the head Col replies, I'd be proud, keep it as long as it suits you. he reaches into his purse and gives the bishop 2gp. For their upkeep. I'll try to drop by now and then with a little more, and turns to Col Jr, Kester, and Tiora, If you ever need anything look for me at the house on Lancet street.
Ayako passes along 5 gp to help.
"That is quite generous of you." The Bishop collects your donations. "While I certainly would appreciate any help you might be able to offer in finding the missing Pharasmen, we have no leads at the moment. The acolytes were performing their normal duties in the Gray District and simply never returned. We've sent out search parties but the Gray District is riddled with underground chambers, some of them burrowed by ghouls or other monsters, others remnants of ancient Shoanti burial grounds. Some of these warrens are patrolled and kept clear of monsters by the church of Pharasma, yet the Gray District is a large place and the tunnels below are vast and tangled. We Pharasmen focus on containing the problems with undead and necromancers, but as soon as we wipe out one, it seems as if two are ready to spring up in its place. The problem’s particularly vexing in Potter’s Ward, where the bodies of the poor and homeless are buried. So far we've discovered no trace of the acolytes. I certainly want our clergy returned home safe as soon as possible, but before you go desecrating any tombs I request you wait until you or I uncover further information."
Indeed, we shall wait until we are better able to deal with the mystery. Ayako turns to her companions. Shall we prepare to return what was stolen?
"Not yet," Sebastian says hesitantly. "There's someone I need to see here. Out in the Everyman Ward." Sebastian ruffles Kester's hair before shooing him on his way.
Nadya also makes a contribution to the church, providing 5 gp to the Bishop. "If you learn more, please send for us. It is the least we could do in thanks for you looking after the children." She nods to Ayako as Sebastian begs leave to visit the graves. "Would you prefer to be alone Sebastian? We can accompany you or wait here?"
Sebastian smiles gratefully at Nadya. "He was killed by Lamm. It's only fitting that each of us should pay him a visit, responsible as we are for avenging him. Thank you, Nadya."
Seeing that everybody else is chipping in for the children, Sebastian decides he should too. Handing over the five platinum crowns, he purchases a healing potion, doing his best to hide his distaste for the swirling black liquid.
The group bids the Bishop and orphans goodbye then head to Sebastian's friend, Vincent's grave. Sebastian leads the way and before long you are standing at a simple headstone. A single fresh iris is laid before it. Someone else must have been here recently.
Sebastian stands in front of the headstone in silence for a long moment. When he finally speaks, he's talking to the mound of dirt rather than his companions, as though his friend were sitting atop it.
"Hello, Vincent. It's done. Lamm is dead. Thought it best that I should tell you myself." He takes a heavy breath, but it does him some good and he lightens up a bit. "I would have come sooner, but it took some time to track him down, you see. If you hadn't up and gone the way you did, maybe you could have actually been some help!" He lets out a short bark of laughter, kicking good-naturedly at the imagined ghost of his friend's boot.
"It wasn't really me that tracked him down, though. There was this dead gypsy woman, see, except that we didn't know she was dead, Gaedren killed her. She - the dead woman, I mean, her name's Zellara, her spirit's possessing her old Harrow deck or something like that. You had to have been there, really, it's one of those things." By now, Sebastian's very animated, talking with his hands and seemingly completely ignorant of the fact that he's conversing with a mound of dirt. He rambles on, gesturing wildly as recounts the events of the previous night.
"So that's it," he says, taking a breath as his speech slows back to a normal pace. "It's done. We've avenged you, Vincent. What? Oh! How rude of me, it completely slipped my mind! Vincent, this is Ayako, Col, and Nadya. I couldn't have done it without their help." Turning back to the others, he introduces them to the mound of dirt. "Everyone, this is Vincent. Gaedren caught him at a bad time and got him addicted to that damn shiver of his."
I think he has lost it Col observes as Sabastian continues his tirade. When Sabastian introduces Vincent, Col nods his head in acknowledgement, and replies howdy hoping to appease Sabastian.
Ayako moves over the the grave and lightly places a hand on Sebastion's shoulder to help calm him.
Hello Vincent, we have indeed stopped Lamm from harming any more children. May your rest be easy and quiet.
Nadya is silent as Sebastian mourns Vincent. It isn't until he mentions shiver that she feels a sudden chill herself. She has to press her hands against her sides to still the shaking. "Peace Vincent. We'll make sure we look out for Sebastian."
After paying respect at Vincent's grave, the party heads out towards Castle Korvosa to petition the Queen. As the group is leaving the Gray District, you hear a crazed prophet shouting near the gates "The Eye of Groetus has turned from the Boneyard to look upon Korvosa!" and similar obscure threats. When you pass, the wild-haired and sick-looking old man spots you and rushes up and grabs onto Nadya's arm and shakes her.
"You! You've appeared to me in my dreams. Beware! A time of great sickness and peril is upon us. My nearing death during Korvosa's "darkness hour" will usher in a new age of writhing doom!"
The man then enters into a fit of coughing and curls up into a ball on the ground.
A Korvosan Guard on patrol spots the encounter and quickly approaches. "Please ignore this empty. I apologize that a lady like you had to be bothered by his ramblings. I'll make sure he's off the streets."
He hoists the man off the ground and unceremoniously begins dragging him away while the mad man continues to shout threats.
Overlooking all of Pharasma's Boneyard is another, lesser god. This is Groetus, the god of the End Times, a sentient and cruel moonlet that looks down upon the Boneyard and waits for the last living soul to die. When Pharasma judges the last soul after the last living body dies on the Material Plane, Groetus will descend to the Boneyard to do something to it and Pharasma before he moves on to the Material Plane to "clean up" and pack the dust away for another reality. No one really knows what Groetus is going to do once the last soul is judged, but it is generally accepted that it will not be pleasant.
A beggar, vagrant, or homeless person. Most Korvosans consider an empty to be someone without meaning or purpose, whose existence doesn’t matter and whose life and death occur without mention.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Another madman, of late this city seems to have a surplus of them, as he glances warily ar Sabastian, I hope he is recovered from his earlier episode.
Such a sad man, being considered nothing more than a nuisance by 'civilized' people.
You head west down Pillar Hill Boulevard then north up Ramp Boulevard to reach the castle. Although the initial civil unrest has been quelled, you still pass numerous riots, fires, and looting along the way. However, there is a heavy presence of Korvosan Guard, Sable Marines, and Hell Knights to quell the uprisings nearly as quickly as they start.
As a terrifying testament to the power of whatever mighty overlord ruled this land thousands of years ago, Castle Korvosa’s long shadow looms over the city. A magnificent achievement of architecture, the castle walls and spires rise high into the sky above. The entire structure looms even higher for its ancient foundation—a Thassilonian ruin in the shape of an immense flat-topped pyramid. Although one corner of this impressive foundation has fallen into ruin, the additions built onto the sides by eager and talented Korvosan masons have created one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Varisia.
As you approach the Great Ramp, you see that the Castle itself has been locked tight and bristles with pikes and crossbows. Stern guards with weapons drawn demand, "State your business!"
Greetings. We are here to return a stolen object of the Queen's. A brooch was reported stolen. Ayako gives a description of the brooch.We request entry so we may return it to her.
The guards converse among themselves quickly at Ayako's answer. Before too long, though, one of the guards nods at you and indicates that you should head up the stairs to the courtyard.
"Weapons must be left with the guards at the base of the stairs. No weapons are allowed in the queen's company. Your weapons will be returned as soon as your business with the queen is done."
A group of obviously nervous guards armed with heavy crossbows and swords await to escort you up to the castle.
Reluctantly Col removes his weapons and leaves them with the guards.
Ayako does likewise with her sickle and sling.
One guard runs ahead while the other guards assist storing your weapons. Once completed they then escort you up the Great Ramp. As you reach the top of the pyramid and the wide stairs curling up to the castle's third floor, where the Crimson Throne awaits, you are greeted by a beautiful woman dressed in magnificent full plate armor. Sebastian immediately recognizes her as his sister, Sabina Merrin.
Sabina nods curtly at you as they you approach, then says "Greetings. They tell me you've something that belongs to the queen. Is this correct? Brother, I knew you'd make your way to the Castle eventually." She turns to the guards. "You may return to your posts. These heroes pose no threat to the queen."
Sabina was once the protégé of the famed weapons master Vencarlo Orisini, whose family has been influential in Korvosa for generations. Sabina left the school under dubious circumstances after a bitter duel with her former master. Since her departure from Orisini's academy, she found her way into the Korvosan Guard. Her skills led to a swift rise through the ranks, and her ferocity in battle and her gothic beauty quickly caught Ileosa's eye. The queen requested Sabina be discharged from the Guard, then quickly reassigned her to her current role as royal bodyguard, handmaiden, and (rumor purports) lover. Whatever Sabina's actual relationship with Ileosa, she is rarely seen far from the queen’s side.
Brother? Merrin? How? Dumbfounded he finally recovers a little and thinks, Well it helps explain his swordplay
Ayako brings out the brooch. I believe this was reported stolen. It was in possession of the late Gadren Lamm, a vile peddler of drugs and stolen good.
Nadya takes a quick step back when the wild-looking man lurches up to her. A nightmare of a mass of disease-ridden people clouds her vision as her shakes her, shouts, and drops to the ground. She shakes her head to clear it from her mind. With the guard already shepherding the man away, she puts a hand on his shoulder, "Its all right guardsman. Please make sure he gets help. I think he needs it." ...and I pray that this is just a nightmare and not a prophesy...
At the castle, Nadya turns her daggers over to the guard at the base of the steps before climbing to meet Sabina. Recognizing the woman, she can't help but shoot a quick surprised glance at Sebastian when she welcomes her brother. She can only manage a weak nod when Ayako tells of the brooch, her mind grasping at what Sebastian's connection to Sabina might herald.
Retreating from Vincent's grave, Sebastian's levity fades. He missed his friend, but the reality that he was truly gone was only beginning to sink in. He had put off grieving for after he had dealt with Lamm, despite his father's tired warnings that revenge wouldn't bring Vincent back from the dead. An empty dissatisfaction begins to gnaw at him from within, but he pushes those feelings aside. He would visit his friend again soon, alone, and deal with things then.
As they travel along to the castle, Sebastian is startled out of his musings as a doom prophet accosts Nadya. His hand goes to his sword, but before he can intervene, the man collapses to the ground.
He watches with thinly-veiled disgust as the guardsman hauls the empty away and walks around the spot the empty was lying in as they make their way down the street. As if the mobs weren't bad enough. It certainly took the Guard long enough to quell the rabble. He raises an eyebrow at Ayako's comment on the empty's plight and opens his mouth to say something in defense of the civilized people, but something about her tone or the look on her face softens him and lowers his hackles.
At the castle, he removes his swordbelt without complaint and makes his way up the Ramp, laying eyes on a familiar face in an unfamiliar suit of armor. "Sister! It's been too long! Father would weep in jealousy to see you in that armor."