"Where is that chamber?" Tyrandro asks as he doesn't remember having seen one.
Over that way.
Ayako helps Fluffy drag the wounded elf to the chamber and releases one of the victims they have locked into a device. We are going to have to try to get as many of them out of here and that means healing.
Ayako locks the elf in. Well now, we have just a few questions and perhaps you can get away with your life if not your dignity. Ayako's face seems to lengthen and split, black oil oozing from her eyes and mouth. Where is Marcus Endrin? We know he is down here. Tendrils of darkness creep out from the cracks in Ayako's face and her jaw opens wider, revealing a burning eye inside. Tͅe͟l̮̱̥͍͘l̴̞̰̮̥̞͍̠ ̡̮͎̞͈̠u̴̫̗̙̭̘͉s͏͎̯̻ ̖̤̜͍͎n̳o̼̭̳̥͙̕w̘
A scrawny hissing cat pokes it's head out of Ayako's mouth and hisses at the elf.
Kordaitra cracks under Ayako's frightful presence. "All right. Curse you. There's a secret room hidden behind the last cell at the end of the hallway. Marcus is being held in there. One of the keys you took from my room will open it. Now kill me because I have failed my queen. If you don't, I'll do it myself."
Tyrandro lets go of an arrow, to fulfil that wish.
"Are we going directly there, to get him and get out, or do we finish the roughing up of this place?"
I think we have emptied this place of maidens, we should free Marcus and then get the other women out to escort to safety. They look pretty injured so I'll use my healing wand
The women is the cells have been tortured but can walk with needing to use healing on each one. However, they shy away from you in fear. All the women look like they were once beautiful but their faces have been heavily scarred as if to erase that attribute. "Go away. Leave us alone." they say. "We will not serve the Queen."
Ayako uses about 10 charges from her CLW wand to help heal them. We are not with the queen, we were sent to help rescue all of you from this place and will get you to Cressida Kroft who will keep you safe.
As they are moving along the cells anyway, Tyrandro sees to it, to get Marcus Endrin free too.
After everyone is gathered up, Ayako addresses Tyrando. Found him yet?
"I don't know, that door is jammed or locked." he tells while pulling at it.
The keys we took from the elf will open it. Ayako hands them over.
This hidden cell can be accessed only via a secret door in the wall of another cell at the end of the hall. The stone door is locked but is unlocked by a special cell key you found carried by Kordaitra. Marcus Endrin, once the commander of the Sable Company, languishes unconscious in this cell. He has been beaten near to death.
He is under the effects of a Feeblemind spell. We will need to use the Heal spell or Limited Wish spell to cure him
Iolana gives the poor women who have been scarred a sad look, We don't serve the Queen either. Please come with us."
"Well my dispel magic doesn't work for this then. Heal him so he can move, and we can teleport him out of here to the temple. What do you think?"
Ayako uses the Heal scroll on Marcus. We'll have to escort these women out though the streets, it will be pretty hazardous
"Go with Endarin and ask our contacts if it is okay to bring those prisoners via the secret route back to the building." Tyrandro suggests. "Walking them through the streets might start a war there."
Okay, we'll get them to the sewer entrance and then send someone back. Ayako pauses. I don't think splitting our group is a good idea though
"I thought we're done here. I just suggest Iolana asks that we don't compromise someone by bringing them there. Then she could come back and we all bring them home through the sewers. Tyrandro explains.
Sounds agreeable. Iolana, can you make it?
"Yes I can. So I'm clear. I'm teleporting to the Temple of Pharasma and asking if they can handle some refugees of the broken mind variety and a former Sable Company Commander? Then I report back."
Yes
"Yes, please." Tyrandro adds.
Ayako heals Marcus and his swollen eyes slowly open. He clutches onto her and burst into tears. "Thanks the gods for you. I had given up all hope. The Gray Maidens were merciless. They did unspeakable things to me. All the time, under the feeblemind spell, I could do nothing but scream and babble. And I don't even know what the Queen intended for me but I'm sure she planned much worse than torture. Please get me out of here. Please. I can't stand another minute in here."
The women also warm up the Ayako's diplomacy. "There is no hope. The Queen is too strong. But still, we want to get out of here. None of the Gray Maidens began as cruel people. All were picked from military groups, the Korvosan Guard, the Sable Marines, mercenaries, etc. by the Queen herself for their beauty and and strong will only so she could steal those things from them and crush the women under her sadism. It was only a matter of time before we too succumbed. We have no desire to stay here to the remaining Gray Maidens to resume breaking us in."
Iolana teleports to the the Temple of Pharasma and the Archbishop says, "As long as they don't mind hiding out underground in the Dead Warrens, I'll keep them safe. If their minds aren't too broken, they can contribute to the rebellion. But amassing a force at the Temple itself, will be too conspicuous."
If you are content to leave the Vault now without exploring any further, no other enemies stop you.
Ayako is all ready to leave and will help escort the maidens-to-be out into the sewers. Perhaps after a rest we can cut the head off the serpant and try to kill the queen in the castle.
Iolana agrees to get out of the prison, "I believe we completed our main mission. Let's get out of here."
"It is a shame to leave such open ends, but these women are in no condition to be in a fight. Let's go."
But before he actually goes, he asks Iolana to tell him what of the stuff the dead enemies have on them is magic, and much to Fluffy's dislike he packs everything on the wolf, to take along. "No use to leave that stuff for them to put on the next unlucky gal."
Ayako helps guide the women out. Mushu,Fluffy, read guard
*Bwee*
You usher everyone through the sewers and exit next the Gray District. Once you arrive back at the Grand Cathedral of Pharasma, the Archbishop Keppira directs the rescued women into the warrens then takes you back to the Cathedral and into the large warded front room where you originally met.
"Well done." she says. "I see you've succeeded in rescuing Marcus Endrin as well as some Gray Maiden recruits. Boule's agents are already gathering intel on our enemies response to your actions and should have more to report soon. Unfortunately Marcus is in no position to tell us much until he recovers and I don't know how long that will take, but at least he is safe from the Queen's clutches. Once he does recover though, we should be able to rally the remaining disbanded Sable Company marines towards our cause under Marcus' banner. Anyway, debrief me the rest of your mission. Did you encounter Zenobia or Kordaitra?"
"Both we encountered both of them. Zenobia and Kordaitra are both dead. There was a cleric that got a way. Zenobia wasn't actually human."
"It's a shame we didn't get that other caster." Tyrandro comments. "What are we supposed to do now? Back to getting that Shoanti Artefact?" he asks in hopes to get back to something under the sky insted of walking sewers.
Zenobia was this..thing that was a floating head. She didn't last long when Tyrando turned his bow on her. As for the Red Mantis, we slew a number of them including one that seemed a higher ranking one and yes, a spellcaster did manage to flee. Many of the Maidens who fought for the queen are dead and several officers are dead as well.
Ayako looks very satisfied. I dare say, if we have a bit of time to rest, we can get into the castle and finish this once and for all.
Sebastian is crestfallen when he lays eyes on the scarified women. Not for the first time, he finds himself wondering what Sabina has gotten herself into. He finds he can no longer simply ignore the answers. "Tell me," he implores, "what role did Sabina Merrin have to play in all this?"
Though his circumstances are dire, Sebastian is relieved to see Marcus Endrin. Even in his deplorable condition, he's one of the greatest heroes Korvosa has known in recent days. As Blackjack, Sebastian will hope to uphold that heroic tradition from the shadows, but people need good men like Endrin to stand in the public eye and do what's right. Proudly, he helps shoulder the broken and sobbing man. "Tyrandro, help me."
* * * * *
As is his custom, Sebastian says little, allowing his companions to fill the Archbishop in on the details. After the debriefing, he inquires about how the orphans are doing. It had been some time since he and Ayako had been in to visit them.
Indeed, I hope they have recovered from their ordeal at Lamm's hands
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"Both we encountered both of them. Zenobia and Kordaitra are both dead. There was a cleric that got a way. Zenobia wasn't actually human."
"Zenobia was this..thing that was a floating head. She didn't last long when Tyrando turned his bow on her. As for the Red Mantis, we slew a number of them including one that seemed a higher ranking one and yes, a spellcaster did manage to flee. Many of the Maidens who fought for the queen are dead and several officers are dead as well. I dare say, if we have a bit of time to rest, we can get into the castle and finish this once and for all."
"The loss of officers definitely struck a blow against the Queen's forces but you are far from ready to take on the castle yet. It is a shame about Zenobia. I knew her in life and although harsh with her judgments, she was not evil. I shudder to think what kind of horrors the Gray Maidens subjected her to to force her into that undead transformation. At least you've put an end to the abomination she became. I pray that her soul was not too corrupted to find peace in the afterlife." says Keppira.
"It's a shame we didn't get that other caster."
"That is a shame, but I wouldn't fear retribution too much. However, it is possible you may see her again."
"Tell me," he implores, "what role did Sabina Merrin have to play in all this?"
One of the women responds, "Sabina was not like the others. Where she could, she lessened the impact of the queen’s cruel methods with secret kindnesses. At first, many women, like us, who were drafted into the service proved too headstrong. Ileosa executed some of them until Sabina convinced the queen that it would be better to imprison them under the Longacre Building, arguing that “some of them, given time, might well realize that serving as Gray Maidens is the better choice.” Sabina made regular secret trips to the Longacre dungeons to ensure that the imprisoned women were as comfortable as conditions would allow, and that they weren’t being abused by the Gray Maiden guards. They were still abused, but it could have been much worse."
The orphans are doing good. The are still living at the cathedral and have been serving as apprentice acolytes to the church. They've joined in with the rebellion and help with minor tasks like message running or distributing supplies. They are happy to see you. It seems that their ordeal with Lamm is in their past but they current Korvosa under Queen Ileosa's rule isn't better if not worse.
"I'm glad your sister doesn't seem taken by all the evil surrounding her Sebastian."
"Where to now? We've struck quite a blow. I fear it's only going to make things worse before we can make them better."
Hmmm.... There is that castle the Shoanti told us about that might be a good lead. Ayako drums her fingers on the table while Mushu takes advantage of the fact that he has a warm sleeping space and flops next to the fire.
I don't suppose we could see if there are other operations of the queen we could disrupt.
"I'd be careful or someone might believe you fell off the spit." Tyrandro tells Mushu.
Fluffy lays down next to the fire too. He gives Mushu a short lick, but it is not clear beyond doubt if that is affection or trying out if he's tasty.
Mushu tastes yummy
Archbishop D'bear allows you to stay the night. The next morning Boule reports, "My agents reports that the Red Mantis is temporarily retreating from the city and the Gray Maidens are forced to relocate the center of their operations to the castle. While this will make the streets slightly safer for Korvosa's citizens, your faces are now known and wanted posters are being posted throughout the city. I recommend you lay low again for now. If there is a key to defeating this spirit of Kazavon that you say is possessing the Queen, now would be a good time to search for it."
Well that is good news that the Mantis are fleeing and we forced them to turtle up, although it will make things harder to drag them out. Leaving for a bit to find out how to defeat Kazavon does appear to be a good move. After all, we went through quite a bit to get the information from the Shoanti.
"Gather up. Let's transport to Kaer Maga for some shopping and entertainment?" She'll teleport the group there when they are ready.
I doubt Sebastion will want anything Kaer Maga is offering
"Can't we skip that and go directly to the Sklar-Quah?" Tyrandro asks, his dislike of Kaer Maga.
"Where else can we shop that won't get us immediately arrested?"
Um...Besides Kaer Maga I don't know of anyplace else, I have never left Korsova before all this happened.
"Magnimar would probably be a nice place. Without all the creeps that walk around in Kaer Maga." Tyrandro suggests. "I've never been there myself though."
Iolana teleports the party to Kaer Maga so you can prepare for your next excursion. While selling off your pilfered treasure, you encounter two screaming men knife-fighting in the center of a bustling market, with bystanders simply walking around them.
Also while traveling through Kaer Maga, Ayako receives a sending spell.
“Hi there! It’s Laori! Been talking with some friends, and we all want the same thing. We should meet! And talk about stuff! Ummmm... damn.”
Followed by a second sending.
“This spell frustrates me. Anyway. It’s me again. We should talk! You choose where and when, and we can be there. Ummmm... see you soon?”
Ayako turns to the others. Laori, who helped us fight the Begger King has contacted me and wants to meet. Where should we meet her?