"We came across a young nobleman called-" He looks about the group trying to remember his name. Amin Jalento, that was it. Sorry it's been a long night. That woman and a mob were about to lynch him. We tried to dissuade them when the dumb b-" Gadren stops himself looking over at Wren before continuing. "That uh vile woman bragged about killing a member of the guard earlier. We apprehended her and made her lead us to Jasper. She and her allies had left him for dead"
"Fortunately he was still alive but the patrons of the Sticky Mermaid were making him fight a dog. We barged in and dragged him out after a little healing... Algund might have thrown their vicious dog back at them."
Cataria sits silently in the corner of the guardhouse room, arms folded protectively in front of her chest. Her gaze seems distant, as if lost in her own thoughts. Who knew that this place could be so foul? I've always had hope for my beloved city, but after what we witnessed yesterday...
She nods in agreement at Gadren's recollection of the tale, shifting in her seat and giving a wry smile at his mention of Algund's dog-wrestling, despite her obvious discomfort. I hate that I wanted them hurt as much as I did. This woman, too. I want to see her put in a dark hole for the rest of her life, so her poison doesn't seep any further into Korvosa.
Cresside nods as she listens to your tale. "I'm glad to see there are still decent people out there. We've been operating on a skeleton crew here, as almost all available guards are out at work in the city, trying to get some semblance of order back. I haven't slept since Eodred's death," Cressida sighs.
"Heroes of your caliber are exactly what Korvosa needs now. You've been on the streets. You know better than me how bad things are out there. It's breaking my heart to see Korvosa tear itself apart like this. Every little bit of aid we can get from upstanding citizens like you helps. If you're willing, I'd very much like to retain your services as agents of the Guard. You will, of course, be well compensated for these services. Queen Ileosa herself has granted me the right to deputize trustworthy-seeming adventurers."
"I don't know about heroes. Concerned citizens perhaps." Corwin says, brow furrowed with dislike of the suggestion, but at the mention of payment, his demeanor changes.
"Well. While I certainly do not like the idea of being lumped in with those misbegotten ne'er-do-wells, it should be said that we do need money both for our own upkeep and to ensure the wellbeing of the children that we rescued." Corwin says, glancing at Wren.
"However, we are not guards, and I would like assurances that we will be allowed to discharge whatever you task us with through our own prerogative. For example, we may decide to disperse a crowd through discussion rather than force, regardless of what we were ordered to do. We aren't going to be Hellknights."
"I'm used to disorderly undead climbing out of graves not matters of note to the guard but these are strange times. I would likewise hope that we wont be micromanaged as long as we perform any such tasks in a reasonable manner."
Looking around at the others. "It has been a long night, I am not expecting bunks but if some space could be made for us to rest it would be appreciative... I have a reasonable amount of healing magics still at my disposal, I'm sure you have guards and prisoners that could benefit from some healing. This aid is not depending on your a bit of space to rest but if we do not have to adventure outside again for the night I would be able to do more." He tries to give her a warm smile. "Let it not be said the Church of Pharasma or loyal Korvosan's turn their back on the guard in dark times."
Cressida offers a smile to Corwin. "I am pleased to hear you say that. Pardon my saying so, but if there's one thing that Korvosa doesn't need any more of, it's Hellknights. You mentioned children being rescued, were these held at the tavern as well?" Cressida asks Corwin.
Turning towards Gadren, Cressida nods, "I would happily offer you a place in our barracks if you need somewhere to rest or spend the night. The Church of Pharasma is very important to the well-being of Korvosa, more so than many of its citizens realize."
At this point, there's a knock on the door, and Cressida gets called away by a guard momentarily. It only takes a minute before she re-enters the office, sitting back down at her desk as she rubs her temples and sighs again.
"Sorry about that interruption. Now, on to business. Korvosa's got enough troubles as it is without my own guards losing their way. Many have deserted their posts, more concerned about friends and family than the city. I can understand this, yet not all of the deserters have family─some of them are simply using the riots as an excuse for personal gain. One such man is Verik Vancaskerkin. Worse than a lone deserter, he's convinced a small group of fellow guards that Queen Ileosa is going to ruin the city. Wether she does or doesn't isn't the point─right now, we've got a city-wide crisis on our hands, and I need all of my guards working with me to see us through. A deserter is worse than a lost resource─it's an infection. I can't afford to pull any of my patrols off duty to deal with Vancaskerkin, and I'd rather not expose any of them to him anyway, since I don't want Vancaskerkin to infect more guards with his talk of secession, nor do I want some overly patriotic guard killing him outright. I need impartial, skilled talent. Talent like you.
"Vancaskerkin and his followers have holed up in an abandoned butcher's shop in Northgate─a place once called 'All the World's Meat'. I need you there. Try to avoid killing any of the deserters if you can, but if you must, they brought it upon themselves when they threw in their lot with Vancaskerkin. I'd really prefer it if you could capture Vancaskerkin alive and return him to me for interrogation, but if he makes that impossible, I'll accept his body as well. Finally, see if you can find out why he deserted─if there's more to it than simple personal politics, I need to know immediately. Bring me Verik alive, and there's five hundred gold in it for you. Dead, he's worth only half that."
Algund is talkative and energetic on the long walk back, freely making jokes and obviously pleased with how things went inside the tavern.
I have a reasonable amount of healing magics still at my disposal, I'm sure you have guards and prisoners that could benefit from some healing.
Algund also offers to heal any injured guards, prepared to use all four lay on hands for the day if we're sleeping before heading out again. He stands at the back of the office while the others talk for the moment.
He perks up, however, at the mention of accepting a body. Still haven't killed anyone. But this is real work now, work big enough to warrant a body, if it comes to that.
Five hundred gold's quite a bit. I'd prefer not to extinguish a life if I have to, that's just uh, you know...bigger than I want to commit to. What if I was wrong about killing the person? I couldn't take it back, you know? Algund doesn't really seem to be looking for a complicated answer to his question, just understanding. But it sounds like it'd be for the best, that is, if he fought back and made us kill him I'd bet it'd be justified. Algund looks resolved, and glances around at the others for approval.
I don't know where you've got your intelligence, but any other information about this shop, if the locals might be sympathetic, who the erstwhile owner is, might help us formulate a better plan. Do you have a working estimate of how many deserters there are? You look busy, so we can just head out if that's all you know. Algund is clearly ready to go to sleep.
"And if he repents, such as him realizing that there are bigger things at stake?" Corwin asks, one eyebrow raised questioningly.
Yeah, Algund adds quickly, what if he repents?
"Then I'm sure the judge will take that into account. The nice part of this work is we wont have to agonize over every detail as long as the law of Korvosa stays true. There are parts of the law that are a little... accommodating to our worst elements for my tastes but a mutinous member of the Korvosan Guard, well that's something I for one take a dim view of."
He rings his hands "If we can take him without violence to be properly judged that is the best result in my book. If he repents that doesn't absolve him of any previous misdeeds. We've already seen how grim things are out there. Rather than do his duty he's made things worse. Let's be frank there's going to be a few members of the Korvosan Guard who have reservations about our new Queen but they haven't abandoned the people of Korvosa in their time of need."
Cressida nods, obviously pleased with your reluctance towards violence and your well-posed, intelligent questions.
"The previous owner of All the World's Meat died in prison after being arrested for tax evasion. The shop has been in escrow with the government for nearly a year, boarded over and empty. It's in the Northgate district. Lots of non-noble elites and old-money families live in Northgate, although they've been slowly relocating to Citadel Hill. They should be quite friendly, you might try asking around there. As for numbers, like I said, it's a small group. Five or six at most. If he repents, all the better─escort him back here, because I still want to interrogate him."
Northgate, elites and old money, got it. Any chance you could give us some sort of official letter so they know we're with you?
Cataria cringes as Cressida elaborates on the details of her request. She shudders when Cressida mentions the return of Vancasterkin's dead body.
"I pray it does not come to that, Miss. We will speak with him. We will convince him to repent, and stand down. Queen Ileona is a noble woman, and we will make Vancasterkin understand that."
Her voice is a strange mixture of wishful thinking and bold naivete. At Algund's question, she arches her eyebrow, nodding in agreement. "That's a good idea. I'm sure an official government letter will lend us some credence with the rebels hoping to overthrow the government..."
She smirks as she finishes her statement, tapping her fingers on the desk. "Let's be off, then? The night is not getting shorter, and I'd like to be asleep before sunrise again."
"Of course. I doubt a piece of paper will hold much authority with the city as it is at the moment, but I can provide you with proof that you have been sworn in as acting-agents of the Korvosan Guard. Now, provided you have no more questions, I'll have someone show you to the barracks, and in the meantime I'll draft up some papers for you," Cressida says.
Algund responds hastily, feeling slightly embarrassed, No I was actually thinking more for like, y'know, the people in the nearby area. They see a group of guardsman move into the house next to them, they see a bunch of us come, who do they trust?
It's fairly unlikely they'd fight us, but they'd probably be reluctant to give any assistance. Which there's a decent chance we want to do something like sit around in one of their houses for a bit, for example to try to get a sense of how often they leave and if we can sneak in to talk to Vancasterkin alone. Algund finishes, looking for agreement.
"The city is going through some troubling times. In these current times people will probably be a bit wary of a group of heavily armed people. Everyone has a belly full of trouble as it is, a note might help or it might cause problems. He's charismatic and someone could let us into their house only to tip him off. Coin might do just as well. If this shop is abandoned their may be other buildings abandoned we could find nearby to watch from."
Gadren rolls his neck "If we take the time to rest for the rest of the night I could request some magic from Pharasma so that if a fight broke out I could try to force someone to drop what they are holding... it wont end a fight by itself but might make it easier to convince someone they need to reconsider their situations."
Pinching his nose he continues "Look, he's a member of the guard who went renegade, he should know how thats going to be responded to so as far as I am considering the matter he went into this with eyes open and will be nigh impossible to talk round. A bloody nose and a sack might be a lot more doable. But I am concerned about this dragging out. It undermines the authority of the Korvosan Guard. There are those who will capitalise on that... and the Hellknights, they'll take it as a sign that it's their duty to do more. Dealt with quickly and quietly with him ending up in a cell might be the best option but a short raid might be the best way to be quiet."
After a few hours of well-earned rest, you venture back out on the streets of Korvosa. Things have quieted down a bit, and some semblance of order seems to have returned to the streets, after combined efforts from the Korvosan Guard, the Sable Company, the Hellknights, and perhaps even your own actions.
Making your way over to the Northgate district, you check the paperwork you've received from Cressida. The shop is located at 22 Stirge Street. As you arrive there, a sign bearing the image of a fat, smiling cow hangs above the entrance to the shop. A wide, grimy window shows a marble-topped table inside, displaying cuts of meat. A few flies circle above it. Next to the window, a door stands open, and inside, you can see a long counter running over half the room's width, with a second door slightly ajar that leads further into the building.
Gadren returns after talking to an elderly local. "That lovely old gent was just telling me that they're calling themselves the Cow Hammer Boys and there's five of them. According to her they're giving out free meat which is keeping some families from going hungry. They're also taking on some side work as mercenaries, kind of code phrase for broaching this is 'The night's special cuts'."
Right, I'm gonna look to stop at the temple on the way over. It's got some stuff that might prove useful. Won't take long.
Right, night's special cuts. Let's come up with a plan then, eh? Algund looks around to make sure everyone is listening and no one is eavesdropping, moving if necessary.
After a second, Algund winces, and when he opens his mouth it's not to come up with a plan. Free meat's keeping the families from going hungry? Hmm...wonder if they're stealing it, that can't be sustainable. Wonder if they're the good guys...probably not though right? Algund looks pretty sure that they are doing the right thing by trying to stop them.
Anyway, only five is not very many. I bet we could win a fight, especially if we got ourselves a tactical advantage by ambushing them. But that's not what we want, it's dangerous and we want them to live too. We've got to think of some way to spread them out and isolate the leader.
I wonder if they all go out together when hired? D'you think they leave behind a guard? The neighborhood likes them, but times are tough, so there's a chance they might be worried about stealing anyway.
Algund stops for a second, looking around at each member of the party, obviously concentrating. [b]So, I think I got a decent idea. Cataria, you can pretend to be some lost noble or something, if you need it I've got a signet ring to make you more convincing. The reason it's you is because you're deaf, which means you can make hand signals to us and they won't know what you're doing. The rest of us watch from far away.
Now, if they separate into a group of two and a group of three, the rest of us take the group of two. If they're outnumbered I doubt they'll fight to the death, not like they're religious zealots or anything, just a couple of people not happy with the government. Then we've only got three to deal with.
If they don't split up, which seems more likely, then it's going to be a bit more difficult. But if Cataria asks them to do something which they would do best by splitting up then we can isolate the leader, who she can signal out to us. That's like...a decent idea that I don't know how best to execute. Maybe she wants them to look for something or someone across a wide and not very dangerous area?
The alternative to trying to split them up is to trap them. Cataria brings them to a space with only one entrance and climbs a rope ladder. The rest of us set up a barricade blocking off the exit, and at the top she can cut the ladder if they try to follow. Then we have them at our mercy, could even threaten to drop firebombs on them or something. There're plenty of spots like that in Old Korvosa, plenty of spots like that where stuff like that's been done. We'd have to watch out for gangs, maybe go ahead ourselves and speak to the locals. I'm pretty well known around that area, know a group that might be amenable to not killing us.
That's about all I can think of at the moment. I'm sure there are easier ways to do this, but I can't think of any that are better myself. Thoughts?
"Jonathan spoke of Field Marshal croft a few times. She's a good sort." Pia will say after they have left.
"Deserting the guard isn't the best way to help the city. There are many who dislike or distrust the Queen, just as there are many who do. But the Watch is supposed to protect the citizens. He would have better served them staying onthe job." Pia says during the journey to Northgate.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Pia just stares at Aglumd when he's done talking. Her brain still processing that very long plan.
I don't thing he stopped to take a breath during all that...
-Posted with Wayfinder
Gadren blinks a few times. "You said, quite a bit however I'm going to stop you at my first concern. Your plan is very reliant on both them not noticing Cataria signing to us in a way they don't notice but we do at a greater distance and also that none of the renegade Korvosan Guard recognize Varisian Sign Language or potentially even speak it. I'm not saying it can't be refined but it's a big risk to put one of us at."
Gadren scratches at his stubble "Also they are- or at least are giving the appearance of helping the common man but are against the Queen to the point of mutiny... the noble angle might not be received as well as at other times. If we want to work the money angle, merchant might be less risky."
"The core parts can work. Hiring them to retrieve an item is reasonable to split up their strength but it might cost some coin upfront but I like it. Whoever approaches them needs to be a skilled liar. We should direct them towards somewhere we know is not occupied. Whoever approaches them needs to be skilled at manipulation. Leading them away with one of us might be a bit trickier. If their numbers are reduced talking our way in might be harder as they may be less comfortable, feeling less secure."
"I don't like the idea of simply lying to them. If we are looking to give them a chance to return to the guard, then they need to be talked to. On the other hand, we have to be careful. The folks around here will not likely take kindly to us, regardless of our papers, doing ill to the folks that have been handing out free meat." Corwin scratches at his beard for a moment.
"I wish the plan was a bit simpler than that, Aglund. Complex plans have more parts to fail, and end up with us in trouble. But honestly, I don't have a better idea at the moment. How about we scout around a bit, and see if we can find a likely place to set up this ambush?" he suggests with a resigned expression.
"I'm not versed in deceit, but if they are giving away meat to the poor, I more closely look the part." Pia will mention while gesturing to her attire. "Most of the older guards know how Jonathan's death effected me. And I am used to communicating with shop owners as little as possible, no need to lie if I don't really speak."
Pia will look off to the side for a moment. "And... I can probably convince a city spirit to assist in an emergency notification."
As each person makes a suggestion, Algund nods at them, okay, he says, concentrating more and more on keeping each new one in his head. Hmm...these are valid concerns. Algund looks around for a bit, eyes looking up and right as he tries to remember everything everyone said and address it one by one.
We could perhaps mitigate the problem that one of the guards might know sign language, which seems unlikely, by having Cataria use some gibberish signs which we agree on beforehand. Hand, Algund turns his head, chuckling like a fool, yeah...so that's a good thing to do.
I like the merchant thing as well, that's another definite improvement. Algund nods at Gadren, then freezes, obviously trying to remember what was said next.
The suspicion thing! He says triumphantly, holding up a finger, which he quickly lowers. I think if they're numbers are reduced it actually won't much matter how suspicious they are. We can just look menacing and because there are a bunch of us and we outnumber them and they don't, you know, want to die...I'm not saying they'll roll over, but it seems like the sort of situation where we hold a lot more cards. In our hands. Algund nods slowly.
After another moment, he turns to Corwin, As for your concern that we need to give them a chance to repent...we can. If we trap them, for example, that gives us an opportunity to talk to them, and also a lot of motive for them to not carry on mutineering. Algund looks at an empty space, as if making an aside to some imaginary audience, Which is a word. He turns back without pausing. And then I'm sure some will be more determined than others, but they'll basically have to do what we want if we've got them stuck.
The free meat thing is another..thing, to keep in mind. Option I guess is the word there. A thing to keep in mind would be, for example, not trying to move them very far to an ambush. Which we should look to do if possible. So I agree that we should probably scout out a bit now, look for a nice alleyway or something like that.
And then... Algund turns to Pia, your suggestion that you ask for meat is also a decent one. The issue with that, though, is that I'm not sure they'll walk into an ambush unless we hire them to do it, like, they might go down an alley with a woman who gave them money and spun a convincing tale even though it looks suspicious, but if you just low investment ask for meat, I think they'll be a bit more on guard. It could work, if other people think it's a better idea than trying to lie they're probably right, but I don't think it's our strongest option.
"Not everything has to be done in one swift blow. We can do a part of a plan and go from there, considering what to do next as we go. The meat is significant, it's not as clear cut that they are the bad guys but they're still breaking the law and kind of committing treason... but you know new queen, we'll see if she lasts. Hazard of dealing with undead a lot, how sure are we the meat isn't mystery pork... shall we say sourced from departed opposition? It would be horrible but tidy things up neatly to have people dispose of your opponents bodies for you." Gadren doesn't seem to happy with the idea but he does voice the concern.
"Also some of us could approach them saying we want to know more about them and possibly join. If someone has the skills to swing it conversation wise getting a priest with healing magic or another former member of the guard might appeal to them."
"This is one other option." Pia says with a small grin. "And no one is in danger at all."
"We haunt them." Pia looks to the Cleric of Pharasma. ""Well, of a fashion."
"Not a true ghost, but the residual city spirits. I can ask 1-2 to help. One can open and close random doors. Another can collect any unattended object, especially anything that could potentially be a weapon, and gather them in a second location or just move them around."
"After an hour or 2 of that, I'm sure they would be very welcoming of a Cleric of Pharasma."
Corwin barks a short laugh at Pia's suggestion. "Aye lass, that is the truth. I can't imagine that anyone wouldn't welcome a priest at that point!"
Could be a good idea, I think it might take a bit of time to work though. Once they trust Gadren, he's still got to lie to them to actually exploit that trust, so it's still going to work in fundamentally the same way. We'd just be trading a good liar for a person under more helpful circumstances. Unless there's some other way to exploit their trust I'm not thinking of?
As you scout out the shop from afar, you see that business is booming. Traffic in and out of the building is heavy, especially for the first hours of the day. Locals arrive in large numbers, and get handed free meat. Stragglers continue to wander by now and then throughout the rest of the day, but the ones arriving after noon appear to leave mostly empty-handed.
During these busy hours, you only see two men─one that appears to stand guard outside the shop, and a second one inside, manning the shop and handing out meat.
To the right of the shop front is a large cattle pen, lined by a wooden fence and stinking of manure, mud, and animals. Inside are two cows.
"I say we let Pia start to play a few tricks on them. I can make myself known to some of the locals, maybe do a little good. Once they start believing there is a supernatural problem I'm sure they'll come to me. Once inside I could start getting a better idea of how they are handling things. They certainly don't seem to be malevolent but they're causing a lot of consternation for the Marshal. I can understand their grievances but they attracting notice from the rest of the Korvosan Guard that is sorely needed elsewhere."
I'm still wondering what the endgame for that plan is. How does you investigating their ghost problem help us capture Verik? Algund still holds his glaive in one hand in his helmet in the other, standing rather awkwardly with it resting against his hip.
Maybe we ought to talk to one of the locals, see about using their house, if we're going to be here a while. Got identification, after all.
"It's an idea but they could tip them off for food or money or merely to ingratiate themselves. But we don't have to do one or the other. Me investigating the ghost problem can let me look around, get a better handle on them and a good grasp of the floor plan and defences of the place that they have set up."
Okay, that makes sense. I think, though, that it'd work better if you claimed to have been following the ghost, which is why you showed up when it did, which seems otherwise slightly suspicious.
Pia takes post outside the butcher shop, and goes to work. She commands her spirits to cause some havoc in the butcher shop, which doesn't miss its intended effect. After a few hours, they close up and post up a sign in the shop window that reads, 'Closed due to unforeseen circumstances'.
At dusk, the man that was guarding the shop, a tall man with bushy eyebrows that merge into one above his large, flat nose, can be seen herding the cows inside.
In the meantime Gadren will make himself known to some of the locals who might require healing, it's his hope that these renegade guard will seek him out when the catch word of him.
In the morning, a rancher delivers a single pig to the butcher shop, which is led into the pen outside. The shop itself remains closed, and the same guard that was seen yesterday turns away the townsfolk arriving, gruffly telling them to kick off. Emotions start to run high as more and more people arrive and pile up in the street.
Gadren is just going to walk down the street, hopefully they'll seek him out when they see the big Pharasma emblem on his shield but maybe not but currently he feels things are going very slowly and the people in the area are suffering needlessly right now.
Wonder if we could use this. Maybe show up, invoke the name of the guard, get the crowd on our side. No way they'd fight if it'd start a riot, though they'd be more likely to run.
There's definitely something we could do now that these people are here though, it's a good opportunity to try to exploit in some way.