"So far, no mention of the Queen's Physicians at all. Perhaps Rois isn't one. If he isn't then why is he wearing a plague mask of the Queen's Physicians?"
Ashe quails eyes widening at the mention of the Red Mantis...
"Well that... is an unexpected answer! Ah.. of course... 'The Cricket'. The followers of , are known to the Pathfinders... they are terribly tenacious!"
Ashe ponders Una's words and comments, "That is not what Rois said..."
"The Bishop asked, 'How is the Church of Urgathoa involved with the Queen's Physicians in the plot pertaining to the cargo that was onboard the Direption?'."
"Rois's reply was, 'The Church of Urgathoa worked with Red Mantis, who came to us to arrange this mission.'"
"He did not say he was not a Queen's Physician nor that they are uninvolved. I think asking what is the connection between the Red Mantis, the Queen's Physicians and himself. Or perhaps what is the agreed upon arrangement between the Red Mantis the Queen's Physicians and himself?"
"Its also true that he did not reveal if he is a member of the Church of Urgathoa or some third party... that may not be the Queen's Physicians either...! Perhaps asking him the name of his direct superior with their full organizational title affiliation to the best of his knowledge?"
"Unless someone has a better idea of course..."
Varrel simply watches. The priest was likely low level and knew little. Certainly if the elf were to mastermind such a plot, it would make sense to keep minions in the dark on the larger plan for just such a questioning. His hopes were not high.....
What be details of plan and agreement between your organization and Red Mantis group?
"Hmmm.. ok. It might be a little of a stretch here .. but lets take for granted Rois is a member of the Church of Urgathoa ... a low level cultist. Lets ask him 'Who the Red Mantis contact is here in Korvosa?' "
"We only have two questions left after what we've already asked. Perhaps asking the location of the Urgathoa cell headed by this Lady Andaisin is located would be a good last question?"
Majenko having little interest in the talking dead circles around on Ashe's shoulder to find a perfect perch and settles into another of his frequent 'cat-naps'.
Ashe ponders the excited answer.. the hint of hurt betrayal in the corpse's eerie tone.
"I think he Rois was indeed a low-ranking flunky.. likely sacrificed ... without his knowledge for his superior's plots. I doubt he knows much more."
Ashe shakes his head, not in disappointment but in pity that a life was so mislead and casually wasted then discarded when it no longer deemed useful.
"I guess we could ask - Why was he dressed as a Queen's Physician since he is clearly a Urgathoan cultist as it did not seem they were going to try to sneak into Korvosa with the plague warning light lit on the Direpton for all to see?"
As good question as any.
Seems be odd. Why light plague warning. Think number be infected if bring in quietly then drop coins through town from horse back.
Mayhap not true attempt infect city. Be possible this be diversion? What be changes caused by plague fear? Could some make use same changes?
"Those are interesting questions, Gronk. This could be some type of diversion/fear tactic. But we've already seen some of the result of the plague. The Hell Knights. They seem to be taking up a rather more hostile, crowd-controlling role. It would be difficult for anyone to respond to the queen's former debacle of justice in this situation."
Exactly. The tactic seems transparent to my mind. For the most obvious answer is often the correct one. I believe this to be a plot to secure power. Release a plague, which is unlikely to effect the rich, who can access food and the like through intermediaries. The poor suffer and the spread of disease and fear give legitimate reason for the queen to put Hellknights in the streets. Possibly declaring Martial law, while the healthy poor are glad for thier protection from the sick districts. The chelish noble woman is clever, give her that. But her tactics seem transparent, not that it matters, for the deed is done and I doubt any have the resources to properly challenge her.
Ashe speaks up, "Yes - 'Why was he dressed as a Queen's Physician?'.."
Aha! Betimes most minor query, give most important fact. Finally has, much needed name. We need find all can about Reiner Davulus.
Una nods.
"Agreed, Gronk. Well done, Ashe."
"Never heard of him. I've seen my fair share of healers in my time. Never a doc Davaulus. heh. Davaulus. Devils. hah!"
Ashe merely lowers his eyes and replies, "...it was a group effort we ALL contributed good ideas. I'm just glad we found the connection."
He ponders solemnly, "...So this Reiner Davaulus is a Red Mantis Field Director? No telling how many Red Mantis Assassins he has at his command. Disturbing."
Turning to look at Una, "What do we do next Una? Seek this Davaulus? I think I'd like to retrieve my sword from the Academae now.. I think I'll have... critical need of it - very shortly."
Una nods. "I fear I have no knowledge of him, so yes. We should do what we can to find out information about this Doctor Davaulus, and I suggest we go to our respective social circles to do that. If he is a nobleman, I'm sure you can find him shortly, Ashe. If not, I might be able to find him in the more seedier districts."
Ashe nods in agreement, "We should also probably inform the Field Marshal of our discoveries."
Self 'social circle' be small. Lack of understanding makes Groteus not liked. But will ask few self know.
Urgothan rituals are not my specialty, but given what little I know of her dogma it may be best to burn the body and scatter the ashes. This priests view of eternal reward would disgust a decent being. No need to invite the chance of the remains having a taint in your cemetery.
Hmm...Chatting up folks is somethign I am not really good at but I can take a stab at it.
To the group, We be learning actions those who disturb the comfoting emptiness. Threat we may seem. Targets we may be. Alone be not, less very secure.
With a bow Gronk addresses the Bishop, Bishop d'Bear, assuming we is, heard of Reiner Davaulus you have not. Be that true?
Many thanks for your help. Hoping self be, placing Great Lady such as you danger be not. But mayhap be. Encouraging self am, be careful please.
We be asked investigate by Lady Marshal. Soon must be telling Marshal findings.
"I agree with Gronk in that we need to be reporting our findings to the Marshal."
Turning to the Bishop, "...again. Thank you milady for your assistance. Much of our progress would have been for naught without your consistent assistance!"
Ashe bows deeply to the Bishop.
Varrel breaks from his position, leaning against the wall.
The paladin speaks true, Mistress. Your aid has given us more questions, but at least we have a name. I will make clear to the Marshall, our efforts may have been for naught without you.
The elf bows deeply and moves to leave.
"Thank you again for your assistance." Una says to the priestess, but not being the religious sort, also makes for the door.
"Ashe, if you and the others want to return to the Marshall, I may go ahead and start investigating this Devaulus character, stealthily. Orisini may have some insights into this name as well."
Ashe nods, "Ok Una. We'll go do that... just... be careful, please. There are a lot of desperate and fearful people in the city now. Are you sure you want to go alone? I ...don't think it wise any of us travel alone in the city."
Gronk also looks concerned. Self might go with Lady Una. But Lady Marshal requested help spiritual leaders. Self really should report back.
Ashe casts a look Varrel's direction... pondering and deciding it best to back out of the conversation, "... well perhaps Una has... other things she wishes to accomplish that would be... hindered by other's presence. She is a grown very capable woman and I'm sure she can take care of herself... and would be insulted if we insisted otherwise! As you wish Una."
Striding from the room, "Let's get to the Marshal and make our report... I have to also retrieve my sword from the Academae. Let's say in perhaps... 4 hours we all meet back up at Zellara's home?"
"I'm going to go to Castle Korvosa and inquire into who this Reiner Davaulus is - as surreptitiously as possible, of course. I may just ask who is in charge of the Queen's Physician's and go see them to ask if this Reiner Davaulus is known to the head court physician. I doubt Davaulus has revealed his Red Mantis affiliations to the court as a whole. I also need to visit the Saldados to check on little 'Breeze'..."
He pauses remembering their deadly second burden. Turning back, "Bishop d'Bear..what do you want done with the chest of likely diseased silver? It could be useful in concocting a cure once more research is done on the Red Veil plague. It would be safer here to keep it in a sealed vault below the Cathedral until it was needed.. rather than carried along on my horse."
He waits briefly for the Bishop's direction...
Nothing different here.
[ooc: Yep, other than Ashe doing a visit to the Saldados {off screen - if you prefer} to check on Brianna.]
"Do not fear on my sake, Ashe. As you should know by now, I have no intention of using the streets. We'll meet back at the house in say, an hour? Try to get the cards to react to Gronk. I'll be mostly on the roofs if you want to send your little friend to scout on me."
Varrel unlike, Ashe is less concerned for Una's pride. The woman was becoming more important to him than he liked to admit, despite his own assertions that he was not ready for anything and possibly, neither was she. The woman had recently lost a partner and if humans grieved anything like elves she would be slow in opening her heart again. But his concern remained.
I do not favor splitting up. I haven't yet the coin to purchase my new familiar and Ashe and Gronk and Shakan can speak to the Marshall fine. I can follow as stealthily as you move with my magic and as for leaping amongst the roofs, my feather fall and flight lets me leap safetly after you. You should take some backup Una, if only to have an extra blade should something happen.
Varrel's stance and tone suggests he does not wish to argue the point, but Una was the elected leader of this group. She would take him along or she would not.
Ashe shrugs, "...Well you may or may not know this.. but the greatest threats in Krovosa are actually up on the roofs as their are various hide and pounce ambushing monsters that inhabit the dark eves of the 'shingles'. Its part of the reason why I am always so reluctant to traverse them. They are the haunting grounds of desperate blood-thirsty muggers and many different predatory monstrous threats."
"I've faced my share of things like that in the past, but if it makes you feel any better, Varrel may come with me."
The elf, as was his habit, bows.
Looking to Ashe as they leave.
Four hours it is then. Hopefully the Marshall has a direction or lead. We shall return with haste.
A half look at Shakhan, The streets are dangerous and our actions could have far reaching repercussions at this point. I trust cool heads will prevail until Una and I return and we ALL have considered our next move together.
The message was not subtle but the point needed to be made. Gronk was only new to the band and Ashe had cooled his overzealouness somewhat but Shakhan out of the 3 most knew the value of feeling out an opponent before committing to a punch.
Turning on his heel the elf moves to keep up with Una as they ascend the roofs, using his at-will ability of feather fall to catch him safely whenever he slipped and keep up with his more acrobatic partner.
Ashe mounted upon Redhoof leads the way to Citadel Volshynek through the streets of Korvosa. If he is bothered by Varrel's unsubtle lack of trust in Ashe's personal sense of discretion... it cannot be determined as his full helm vizor is lowered and he rides in silence through the driving rain.
He does not outdistance Shakhan or Ichabod... obviously slowing his steed's pace.
On arrival at the citadel Ashe dismounts and takes Redhoof's into the stable to get her out of the driving rain... to keep her from getting sick.
Then Ashe heads for the Marshal's office.
Una shakes her head at the merchant. An unfortunate but not unpredictable series of events, then she returns to the roofs with Varrel.
She keeps an eye out for potential predators as they make their ways towards Orisini's house.
Varrel follows after Una, moving with a purpose of one who has no fear of falling. Were it not for his magic he'd never keep up. It was breathtaking leaping into the void between the roofs. It must be even better for Una who had a very real risk of falling.
Ashe enters the office removing his helm revealing his expression troubled ad grim.
"We... have very... disturbing news milady Field Marshall Kroft."
He sits down and thanks Larkin for the warm drink taking a sip before continuing.
He sighs, "...As you know we were determined to investigate the sunken ship this morning. We've done that, thank you for the use of Captain . The Ship was named Direption, it is currently claimed as home by the, oddly peaceful and not evil - Sea Hag and her companion a jigsaw shark named 'Skinshear'. She allowed us to search the ship without conflict... and would ask us to inform those of the city she only wants her solitude. Searching the wreak we found a corpse of one of the Queen's Physicians, many broken open chests... and empty {unfortunately}, like the chest we recovered that Brianna Saldado found the silver in that made her sick with 'Blood Veil', a sealed iron box and several sets of water logged papers that we recovered with magic freezing them into ice blocks for thawing. I fear a significant amount of those plague coins are in circulation in Korvosa right now! We were able to recover only one unopened plague chest of coins from the Sea Hag Yvicca - still sealed with its deadly cargo. That chest is currently in a vault kept below the Cathedral of Pharasma for safety. We have yet to thaw the papers to read their contents but the iron box was water tight and revealed it to be a box with papers, it contained a collection of ledgers, invoices, and the deed to the Direption, all from a group noted as 'B7,' titling one with ownership of the ship and a cargo noted only as 'specimens'."
He pauses letting the information sink in and to sip some more of the warm drink in his hands.
Continuing, "Searching the corpse we learned that it did not die of 'Blood Veil', but drowned... there was no other crew or corpses onboard. The body was dressed as one of the Queen's physicians but under his robes and mask... he bore a holy symbol of of undeath and disease."
Ashe shows the papers and invoices from the iron box, the Physician's Mask and the holy symbol of Urgathoa setting them on her desk.
"Obviously we needed more answers so we took the corpse to the Cathedral of Pharasma and requested a 'speak with dead' on the corpse from . We learned that the corpse was named a cultist 'we believe'. He told us the Church of Urgathoa was working with Red Mantis, who came to them to arrange the mission to Korvosa. His direct leader who issued his orders was one High Priestess of the Church of Urgathoa. Rois wasn't told anything. Not cargo. Not mission. Just sacrificed for the ends of this mission. Not until the Direption arrived at the entrance to the harbor, the Red Mantis Assassins all left telling him to steer into harbor. When the Harbor watch started shooting, he looked below, found what the ship carried... and drowned when the ship was sunk. Rois revealed that he was given his Queen's physician's garb just before the ship departed by a doctor named . It was this who was directing the Red Mantis people, bankrolling the whole operation including the ship-borne attack."
Ashe pauses, "We immediately came here to reports. Una and Varrel are making inquires on the street to try to learn who this is. I'm planning on going to Castle Korvosa to inquire who is in-charge of the Queen's Physician's and ask him if he knows of this as well."
Ashe sighs, "This is very disturbing news... we don't know how many Red Mantis Assassins are in the city who is hiring them... they are NOT cheap to employ ... or how high this plot goes in the hierarchy of Korvosa. It is VERY disconcerting to know that the Queen's Physicians may be involved in this even remotely! Plus, there may be a coven of Urgathoa cultists somewhere in the city. All grim news.. I'm sorry Marshal Kroft."
Gronk will stay quiet during Asherick's rendering of the events. But he is watching very carefully to see if there is any response or recognitions to the name of Reiner Davaulus.
If needed: