Queen's boy? What does that mean? Serry wonders.
1d20+6
Tristain yells at the laborers.
"Ha! Get him, boys! And when you're done, I saw a hole in the ground that lead to a tunnel back that seemed to lead right under the Church of Abadar. Of course, others were about to get in there first..."
Tristain points back to the hole that the Otyugh made.
"Seems to me there was almost free gold for the taking in that hole a block back. Too bad you need to want to beat that poor guy when you could get so much more!" Bluff 1d20+3
We should move on while they are occupied...but...no...I can't stand by and let them butcher an unarmed man. Enough blood has soaked into the streets of the city already.
"Stand fast there...step away and return to your homes. NOW, or I'll signal the hippogiffs to swoop down and snatch a coupe of you!
Elric steps forward, and holds up his whistle, knowing full well that he has no way to summon a flying patrol...but he hopes the mob does not realize this.
"Stand fast there...step away and return to your homes. NOW, or I'll signal the hippogiffs to swoop down and snatch a couple of you!
When the men hear Elric, they stop advancing on the young noble and quickly look toward the sky, fear on their faces. Seeing no hippogriffs in the vicinity, the bald leader says "Move along, marine. Dis ain't none of yer concern. We's be showin' this young rich boy some street justice, dat's all. Now, all of you leave...no time to be a hero!" The bald guy taps the pipe in his right hand to the palm of his left hand, in a threatening fashion.
The young noble, takes opportunity of the distraction, as the mob focuses on the party, to get up from the floor.
Following Elric's lead, Todor will tell the group,
"The authorities are telling you to leave and your church says it is time to go. So flee before it's too late."
"They're right, you know," adds Serry. "You'd be a lot better off going elsewhere instead of picking on one skinny guy!"
Following Elric's lead, Todor will tell the group,
"The authorities are telling you to leave and your church says it is time to go. So flee before it's too late."
Todor initiative:
Will save:
The fat guy starts to advance on the party with his goons following behind him, when suddenly, he blurts out "Ok, mate", and turns and leaves, going down the street in the opposite direction. "What'cha do to Gus with that magic mumbo jumbo?" Gus' crew is dumbfounded and they follow him, asking him where he is going. The young noble takes the opportunity to say "Thanks for the help, chaps!", while tossing Todor a coin pouch (contains 5 pp), and running down an alley. By the time the spell's effect is over, the young noble is gone and the fat bald man wants no piece of you, so he and his boys leave you alone. Lionel smiles at Todor, "Powerful magic that is. Nicely done."
Penance looks a little non-plused but otherwise does not react.
"Thank you. Hopefully we can make it to the castle without anymore distractions."
The rest of the trip is uneventful, as you cross the five blocks needed to the palace without incident. As you climb the ramps up the pyramid, you see the dead bleeding bodies of citizens and guards alike, many of them full of crossbow bolts. When you reach the top, you see the closed and well-guarded gates of Castle Korvosa. A row of Castle guards look over the walls, heavy crossbows in their hands, and one of them shoots a warning shot at your group. Before any hostilities can ensue, Lionel steps up and addresses the men, "I am Lionel Castor, Personal Guard of the Royal Family, and I have with me, Princess Natasha." The Princess removes the hood of her cloak and you hear an audible gasp. One of the men, however, says forcefully, "Do not move! Wait a few seconds. Get Dresden!" A few minutes later, a bearded man in his 30s appears over the wall and casts magic in the air, closing his eyes. 30 seconds later, he whispers into the guard's ear and guard says, "Your Highness, a pleasure to have you back! You and Lionel may enter....only!"
The Princess nods her head and she thanks you again for your efforts. "Please take care. I have not forgotten my promise to reward you, however, given the current situation, now is not a good time. I will have you summoned tomorrow. Be present at the Bank of Abadar at noon. I will have an escort waiting for you." If that is agreeable, the Princess enters the Palace when the doors are opened. Lionel shakes your hands in gratitude and follows her.
Serry bows awkwardly as the Princess leaves. As the gates close, she turns and looks toward the distant dock area. "I don't know what the rest of you have in mind, but I need to find out if my family is all right. They have a shop... I don't know what the riots may have done to it. They may know what's been going on, too."
Ah geez. So much carnage. My people!
Tristain will scan the bodies for those who might still live (either guard or townsperson...it does not matter to him) and triage appropriately (children first, then mothers, then guards, then...) and begin to apply his meager healing arts to as many as possible (or until he is run off by the guards).
Perception
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Heal
Penance looks at his money pouch, his quiver, and sighs. Then without a word he bows respectuflly to the group and starts to wander off.
As the princess leaves, Todor looks around at his companions. "Um. Thank you everyone. I have enjoyed our time together, but I guess should go back to the church."
Todor looks around at the burning city and the bodies. Is that it? His hand brushes against the coin purse. "Oh. Wait." He opens the coin pouch and finds the five platinums.
"Please. Take one of these. It's only fair." Todor passes out the coins and looks around once more.
"I'll see you at the bank tomorrow."
Todor tucks away his holy symbol and walks down the streets to the church trying to comprehend what has happened, not only to the city, but to himself. What are your plans for me Abadar?
Todor will check in with his superiors and advise them of everything that happened with an unconscious spin on events that indicate Abadar is calling on Todor to be more of a warrior.
Elric bids farewell to any who are leaving, then turns to talk to the guards.
"I should join up with my unit as soon as possible. Are any of the Sable Company helping to guard the castle? If not, do you know where I might find them?"
The Royal Guard directs Elric to the Sable Company, which is principally quelling the riots along with the City Guard and the Hellknights. Elric is assigned to duty and spends the rest of the night putting out fires and dispersing rioters. It is tiring work and he sees may of the men are wounded and exhausted.
Todor checks in at the bank of Abadar and after intense scrutiny, is allowed inside its locked vault doors. He spends the rest of the day healing the wounded sheltered inside, as well as performing ministerial duties.
Tristain is recruited by the City Guard to help heal the wounded guardsmen and city folk, principally due to his fame as an artist and the recommendation from Gunther Soldado. The effort exhausts him but he bears it, until he is relieved from duty at about 2am.
Serry heads home and thankfully, finds her family's shop boarded up but otherwise intact. There wasn't much mob hostility toward the halfling community, it was principally directed at the aristocracy and the rich merchants. She learns the troubles started shortly after the announcement of the King's death at around 9:00 am.
Penance wanders off and does his own thing. He sees many miscreants looting the bodies in the street.
By noon the next day, the majority of the riots have been quelled. There is much sadness and despair in the streets, as businesses have been looted and/or burned. The aroma of burning ash is still in the air and the bodies of the dead in the streets are just now being loaded on wagons, being prepared for incineration if they are not claimed, in order to avoid disease. As you meet at the Bank, you hear the estimates of the dead is anywhere between 1500-2000, for a city whose population is about 18,500.
Penance watches impassively but makes no move to try and start a fist fight. Not yet. There is no helping the dead after all. Despite the money in his pockets he finds an out of the way alley to sleep in as if the darkness and hard rock gave him more comfort than warm food and a soft bed.
In the morning he gets up and tries to find an available fletcher in the morning to purchase another bundle of arrows. He had a feeling that he would find use for them in the all too near future.
PEnance arrives at the bank early. Sitting outside it merely observing the crowds around him. His mind wanders to the past and his path to this place. How long would it be before Cheliax simply claimed this city? Would there be any stopping them? From the looks of it that was a fairly solid "no".
Tristain is simultaneously feeling deep and profound sadness at the death and destruction of both his beloved city and, at the same time, a fair amount of relief that there are others who would seek to aid others and work with him to help both guard and townsperson alike.
Also I'm happy those crossbowmen didn't pepper me full of bolts.
By 2am, his body and mind are wasted. The offer by others to fill in for him is welcome and Tristain stumbles to his usual nighthaunts, looking for one to claim for a night of rest.
Not that he sleeps well, but well enough.
In the morning, Tristain will spend time walking around the city, communing with Korvosa, trying to find a way to encourage healing and regrowth.
What happened to my city?
On the way to the bank, he will visit his usual bakeries to see if any work this day to buy some nice dwarvishes (little morning baked buns).
Approaching Penance, Tristain will wave a hearty greeting: "Hey there, Scars! How are you today?"
Tristain will await a response.
...
...
...
Oh yeah. Doesn't talk. Tristain smiles.
Duh.
Tristain will offer him a bit of dwarvish.
Todor's finds the night of healing the wounded oddly satisfying as the work comes even more naturally to him than his engineering skills. Abadar, you have me so confused. Builder? Fighter? Healer? Who am I?
Todor begins his day in prayer and then meets the others at the bank.
"Good morning. It is good to see everyone made it through the night safely. We did our part here to help those that we could. As expected, the sun has risen and things have calmed down. Hopefully people are ready to resume with their normal lives."
Deeply relieved to find her family and its community mostly intact, Serry is still saddened to see the damage and death that has struck her city. This is so sad. Even though the King's death is tragic, and nobody likes the Queen, why run rampant and destroy the place? The waves make so much more sense...
She'll get up early and spend some time by the water's edge, listening to the waves and watching people at the docks, before making her way back to the bank. She'll bring some rolls from the morning's baking at the shop, and offer them to the others.
"I hope you're right about things getting back to normal, Todor. This is horrible."
You enjoy your morning rolls and the conversation. At noon, a messenger from the Palace, a young human of about 18 years, appears and asks for you to follow him to the Palace. He introduces himself as "Devon". As you walk through the streets, you see stains of dried blood, debris, corpses, and broken pieces of armor and weaponry, as well as broken arrows. The streets were obviously the scenes of large faceoffs between rioters and guardsmen and it seems the rioters lost a lot. Eventually, you reach the Palace grounds where Devon escorts you up the ziggurat. Before the doors, he leaves you in the company of six castle guards armed with heavy crossbows and swords. They ask for your identities and they check your names with a list one of them carries. Once they are satisfied you are who you say you are, they let you in the Palace and ask you to wait for your escort.
Seconds later, a beautiful woman dressed in magnificent full plate armor appears and greets you. Image of Woman
"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Sabina Merrin, bodyguard and handmaiden to our Queen Ileosa. I have heard of the wonderful service you provided to the Princess. Please, follow me, the Queen wishes to thank you in person."
Yowza! She's beautiful!
Tristain tries to avoid staring, he mostly keeps quiet and keeps his eyes open as to watch what is happening around him. He has never been inside the Palace before (much less met royalty) and this might be the defining moment in his life.
Penance looks somewhat lost at being asked his identity having no papers nor any means of communication.
He seems to look further lost when he's told he;ll be meeting the queen. Straight from prison and into the throne room? For once Penance actually starts to look visibly agitated.
Todor admires the curves and colors before him. So striking. So beautiful.
He pulls out his sketchbook and does his best to do justice to the beauty before him. He stares deeply and carefully runs his fingertip along the firm edges. Oblivious to those around him, Todor doesn't even notice Sabina walk in until she speaks.
"Oh. Hello. The architecture here is quite amazing. Might I return to admire it some more after speaking with the queen?"
Hmm. Maybe I should have worn shoes. Except I'm not sure I have any. Serry very carefully wipes her feet, bare as usual, before stepping into the castle. Being far more used to ships and the dock area, she looks a little awkward (not to mention very small) amid the royal surroundings.
When Sabina introduces herself, Serry looks mildly surprised. The queen wants to meet us? I suppose that makes sense, but I would have thought she had other things to deal with.
When Todor speaks, Serry briefly shoots him a puzzled look. All this going on, and he's interested in the architecture?!
Unable to access his dress uniform, Elric takes time after his watch ends to polish and mend his armor, shave and otherwise clean himself up as best he can.
He makes a fine, impressive sight as he joins the others and makes the journey to the palace.
Hard duty last night - I had not expected to have to protect Korvosa from her own citizens
Sabina looks at the group and focuses on Penance, "An artist, a halfling, and a follower of Todor along with a Sable marine and a shirtless man with prison scars? What an odd lot you are. But if you are to meet the Queen, you will respect this Castle." An attendant is summoned, who subsequently brings Penance a vest of normal quality. Looking at Todor, she says "Yes, it is a fine feat of architecture. Perhaps, you will be allowed to return and admire its beauty."
More curious then anything Penance simply dons the vest. It does little to hide much.
Sabina continues, "Good, now that that is settled, follow me please." As she walks in front, you pass by castle guards manning their posts. "You will leave all weapons in the bin right outside the room where I indicate to you. You will walk in two by two formation. You will not speak unless spoken to or given permission to speak freely. You will stand at attention at all times, unless indicated otherwise. Anyone of you, and yes, Penance, I am looking at you, make a violent threat or move toward the Queen or the Princess or cast any spell, and I will strike you down where you stand and throw your bodies out for the vultures. You try and steal anything and the same fate awaits you. Are we clear?" Without waiting for an answer or looking back, she continues, "Good!"
Sabina leads you up the stairs to the 3rd floor. The wealth of the kingdom is quite apparent in the furnishings of the palace, including vases, tapestries, chairs, lavish paintings. Sabina points to a bin outside of some gilded closed doors. There you drop your weapons. Sabina knocks twice before opening the door and entering alone. You hear her say "Your Highness, your guests are here." A voice from inside the room, "Please show them in."
Sabina opens the door and motions you all to come in. The throne room itself is pristine, an open area with a vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows of past kings and queens looking down from the easter wall, and crimson tapestries hanging along the others. An immense fireplace offers additional light and heat to the hall, and a silk carpet provides a gently arching path to the throne's base.
Sabina speaks in a loud voice: "I present to you, Queen Ileosa and Princess Natasha Arabasti, Elric Rivers, an exceptional candidate for entry into the Sable Marines, from the information provided to me; Todor Orban, novice priest of the Church of Abadar, his healing skills were invaluable during last night's activities; Tristain the Chalker, prominent street artist from all reports; Serry Brannet, halfling sailor, well adapted to the seas and a little eccentric from what I hear; and Penance, a quiet man."
Queen Ileosa sits upon the Crimson Throne of Korvosa, a vision of beauty despite the black mourning dress she wears, obviously in memory of her husband's death. Image of Queen A small silver coffer sits at her lap. Princess Natasha sits at her left side, also wearing a black dress. Both women have red and puffy eyes. The Princess smiles a little when she sees all of you. Sabina leads the party in 2x2 formation to the throne's base, where she bows when she reaches the Queen. She then stands to the side, standing at attention, her eyes trained on the party, her sword's blade touching the floor.
The Queen speaks, "Please relax and stand freely. I know most of you are not of military rank. Thank you all for coming and for the service provided to my stepdaughter. Here, on my darkest day, this could have been so much worse had something happened to Natasha. The fact that there are heroes such as you in my kingdom gives me hope and inspiration that we can overcome. I love Korvosa, as my husband did before me. His death has shocked the city as it has me, but I will not see his legacy destroyed in death, and I shall not see my city torn apart. All Korvosa stands at the precipice of a disaster wrought by her citizens - these riots cannot continue. You have already done my heart a great service in returning my stepdaughter safely to me on this dark day, and you shall be rewarded. Yet, perhaps you can serve your city more. What say ye? Please feel free to speak freely."
Tristain will step forward to speak, giving an awkward bow before talking.
"Greetings, your highnesses, ehr--highnii?, uhm. I, Tristain of Korvosa, would be happy to help as long as it does not result in the deaths of more townspeople. Those people are the lifeblood of the city and should be protected."
That went well. I wonder if Sabina likes me.
"I would be honored to serve your highness. It would surely be a tragedy if your husband's death was followed by the death of our city. Abadar has led me on a strange path these past few days, but it has led me to your service. I had hoped to be of service in the rebuilding and restoring of Korvosa, but I suspect things are otherwise. I am ready to assist you as warrior, healer, or builder."
Of all of us, I'm the eccentric one?! But she certainly seems to have done her homework.
Serry bows as best she can. "I'd be honored to help, your highness. My family lives here, and if there's something I can do to help keep the city safe, I'd be glad to."
"I'm yours to command, your highness!"
The Queen smiles a little, "That is great news, I shall have Sabina see to it that you have an escort of guards when you leave here - they can see to your safe journey to Citadel Volshyenek. I shall send word ahead of you to Field Marshal Cressida Kroft to let her know you are on your way - the Korvosan Guard is stretched thin, and I can certainly use the aid of heroes such as yourself. Now, I need to retire to my personal quarters - my grief has drained me. Again, I thank you for the kindness you have shown me in rescuing Natasha, and I hope your day of serving the crown are only just the beginning."
With that, the Queen stands, and hands the silver coffer to Sabina. Sabina with proper decorum bows before the Queen, takes the coffer, walks up to the party, and opens it, revealing a red-velvet interior wherein lie 12 gold ingots imprinted with the royal seal of Korvosa.
Tristain approaches Sabina.
"Excuse me, Sabina? Can you explain more? We're supposed to do what? Go the Citadel?"
Know (Local) on the Citadel
Know (Local) on Cressida Kroft
"When are we expected?"
And now the inside of the Citadel in the same day. Abadar has truly blessed me.
Tristain approaches Sabina.
"Excuse me, Sabina? Can you explain more? We're supposed to do what? Go the Citadel?"
1d20+5 Know (Local) on the Citadel
1d20+5 Know (Local) on Cressida Kroft"When are we expected?"
Sabina frowns. "Ideally, you are expected now at the Citadel. But given your new found wealth, I can send word that you will report today by, say, three past noon?"
Serry's eyes widen a bit at the box of gold. That's more gold in one place than I think I've had in my whole life!
Sabina frowns. "Ideally, you are expected now at the Citadel. But given your new found wealth, I can send word that you will report today by, say, three past noon?"
"I am ready now, but I believe our friend's quiver is a bit empty if someone could assist him." Friend? I guess.
"If the others need more time though, I will meet them there."
"Todor, when you finish gawking at the Ionic columns, mayhaps we should sell our spare gear and go shopping? We should also transfer these ingots to more liquid assets. Mayhaps the Abadar Bank would help."
Tristain will buy a nice set of masterwork painting (chalk) tools and a Chronicler's supplies (if available).
Chronicler’s Supplies: This bundle contains a map case, 2 vials of ink, 2 inkpens, 10 sheets of paper, 2 blank journals, a pound of fine powder for drying ink, and a 20-foot measuring cord. 40gp, 4.5lbs
Source: Pathfinder Society Field Guide
Because chalk artistry is exactly what every army needs.
"Todor, when you finish gawking at the Ionic columns, mayhaps we should sell our spare gear and go shopping? We should also transfer these ingots to more liquid assets. Mayhaps the Abadar Bank would help."
Tristain will buy a nice set of masterwork painting (chalk) tools and a Chronicler's supplies (if available).
** spoiler omitted **
Because chalk artistry is exactly what every army needs.
"Yes. That would be a good idea. People are going to start wondering about all the spare equipment lying around. I'll assist you in selling the items before we head to the Citadel."
Penance tries not to show his disgust. He simply bows an agreement.
Wretched woman. Surely she could not have been so dense. So stupid! They rioted because of her. They killed because of her. Could she not even acknowledge that! Was she such a coward, such a cold hearted lifeless wench that she failed to see even that detail.
Yet, Penance betrays none of these feelings. This was a room full of blades and not all of them were resting quietly in their scabbards. Things felt off in ways that a common born such as himself could not understand. All he wanted was to remove himself from this disgusting palace of decadence.
"We don't exactly want to be carrying all that around with us, not with things as riled up as they are. So a short delay to take care of affairs would be nice."
Before they leave, Serry will smile briefly at the Princess, if she's still here. "My sympathies on your loss, your highness. I hope you're well otherwise." I can't imagine sharing your grief with a woman nobody likes much is much fun...
"Thank you, Serry, I am coping as well as I can. And thank you all for agreeing to help, I am sure your work will make a difference in this city."