Ward looks out over the bay and around at the city. He grimaces how can people allow their own to live in such squalor, such a disregard for life and dignity will eventually be the undoing of these people unless something can be done.
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Calandra gives a small smile at Reth's quick victory and the King of Spider's laugh. Shaking her head a little she looks over at Devargo at his suggestion. "I'm afraid my skills don't lie in steel, although I could perhaps be convienced to put another of your guards to shame if we put a suitable wager on the game." Her eyes pointedly flick over to the poor caged dragon, as selfish as she can be the notion keeping something as majestic as a dragon locked up in a dingy room displeases her. "I don't play knivsies for low stakes"
"Ahhh, you would like my little Dragon Kit released? I am afraid no mere sport could convince me to do that.....Though the paltry sum of 5,000 gold pieces might."
"Less wanting it released and more knowing something of worth when I see it. Small dragons can be of use, but really, you would expect me to part with 5,000 for something that given time and effort I could track down and charm for free on the streets?" Clandra replies smoothly, quickly hiding away her softer side by looking from the poor trapped beast. "Surely a man such as yourself would be interested in something other than mere money. What else could the 'king of spiders' want for one tiny dragon?" She muses aloud with a playful expression.
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"Less wanting it released and more knowing something of worth when I see it. Small dragons can be of use, but really, you would expect me to part with 5,000 for something that given time and effort I could track down and charm for free on the streets?" Clandra replies smoothly, quickly hiding away her softer side by looking from the poor trapped beast. "Surely a man such as yourself would be interested in something other than mere money. What else could the 'king of spiders' want for one tiny dragon?" She muses aloud with a playful expression.
"Ahhh, but tiny dragons become bigger dragons one day. As I am sure Mr Dram can tell you. Now. I wish Mr Dram's decision. Either that or more games. Or you can leave now before I become angry."
"No, let us get on with business. I wonder, would 1000 golden sails cover the loss in revenue from Amprei?"
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"No, let us get on with business. I wonder, would 1000 golden sails cover the loss in revenue from Amprei?"
Devargo looks up sharply. "Now we are talking Mr Dram...Bores, bring the Chest, and count out Mr Dram's 1,000 Sails into it. If you would indulge me for a few minutes I will be right back."
Minutes pass while the Devargo Impersonator from upstairs comes down with a large iron strapped chest and counts out the money as Atherton provides it. His eyes bulge as he sees how much change is left in the sack Atherton puts away, but he says nothing as Devargo re-enters, carrying a sheaf of papers.
"Miss Croft must want this man pretty badly to offer that amount of hard cash especially with times as they are, this must have made quite the dent in her garrison costs! This, I am afraid is all I have, though I have been making a reasonable sum selling them back to Amprei, so maybe she plans to do the same.
"Here you will find love letters from our dear ambassador, to his mistress in the city. A certain girl, in my employ, although Amprei doesn't know that...They will certainly achieve the effect your Mistress would like, if they ever got back to Cheliax.
"Now," At this his voice drops to a whisper, "if you have no other business, it looks like I have a body to dispose of, and a few supplicants to appease", and he grins again, more manically than ever.
Reth face is grim as he looks at the now deceased man. His eyes avoiding Calandra's as he begins to lead the way out. "Let's go"
Cal looks over at the dragon again, her eyes purposefully avoiding the body and those of Reth and Malik, knowing that they'll both hate her for not saving him. "I'm sure I will have more business with you in the future Devargo, but there are more pressing matters to deal with right now" She declares witha small shrug before following Rethvian.
Atherton takes the letters and bows slightly to Devargo "Pleasure doing business with you. I'm sure we'll have some future dealings."
On the way out he grins slightly at Reth and Cal "Good work. That went better than I was expecting."
On the way out he grins slightly at Reth and Cal "Good work. That went better than I was expecting."
"Don't congratulate us yet" Calandra replies simply and quietly "We're not out of things yet. We need to be on our guard until those lettersa are in the right hands."
Realizing the wisdom of her words Reth starts paying better attention to the people and environment on the way out and less attention to how things "should" have gone.
On the way out he grins slightly at Reth and Cal "Good work. That went better than I was expecting.""Don't congratulate us yet" Calandra replies simply and quietly "We're not out of things yet. We need to be on our guard until those lettersa are in the right hands."
"No we aren't." Atherton replies "Maybe it would be better to say that that part went smoother than expected."
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Despite the ill feelings and suspicious nature of our esteemed heroes, they are untroubled, except by Devargo's parting giggles.
Ward and Talon are picked up, after having had a nice little time watching the fish, and the hookers of pier one.
Upon reaching the Barracks of the Guard, you are shown into the Field Marshall's office, and a very grateful Field Marshall you find.
She takes the letters ans again emphasises how much she would like to give you more cold hard cash, or honours, but that now is not the time.
With that you are ushered, respectfully, but quickly, into the street.
Sorry for the big jump there too, I could probably have put a bit more effort in, and made that a bit more fluid....
After being shown out Cal takes Rethvian's arm and smiles faintly up at him. "Can I borrow you for a bit? There's something I need to talk to you about"
After being shown out Cal takes Rethvian's arm and smiles faintly up at him. "Can I borrow you for a bit? There's something I need to talk to you about"
"Uh...sure...", with a sideways glance and a questioning frown he walks with her. Something seems to be bothering him.
Cal talks quietly as she leads Reth away. "I just wanted to sorry, for not healing the man. In all honesty I was scared, I can only heal two or three times a day and thought if I healed him something would happen to you or one of the others and I would have no gifts left to heal you. I'm getting quite attached to you guys, I can't lose you too" She confides sadly "So, I was thinking of getting equipment for us all, healing wands especially, with some money I have stashed.. want to help me buy some things?" She asks, trying to regain her old bright grin.
Cal talks quietly as she leads Reth away. "I just wanted to sorry, for not healing the man. In all honesty I was scared, I can only heal two or three times a day and thought if I healed him something would happen to you or one of the others and I would have no gifts left to heal you. I'm getting quite attached to you guys, I can't lose you too" She confides sadly "So, I was thinking of getting equipment for us all, healing wands especially, with some money I have stashed.. want to help me buy some things?" She asks, trying to regain her old bright grin.
With a look of pained frustration he turns toward her, "I'm not blamin you. I had to think it over a bit on the way back from Eel's End but it's not your fault, it's mine. I ruthlessly took a mans life over a game. I could have shown mercy and beat the tar out of him. My hunters instincts took over and he was lying in his own blood before I even really thought about it. Why? Because that's what their kind respect and we needed to accomplish our mission. I did what I did for Korvosa...... " Seeing her sadness his face softens and he reaches up and brushes some stray hair away from her face, "I'm not proud of it but I'll survive and I won't be lettin anythin happen to you either." Turning to walk with her once more she hears him sigh, "Yes, let's go get some things. All the dark places we have been recently are startin to wear on me and wanderin around the merchant district could help quite alot."
Cal gives the faintest of smiles and lightly squeezes Rethvian's arm. "A walk around the shops will do us both some good, and maybe if we finish quickly enough we can get some drinks in." She suggests easily "So, what do you need for doing things, and what should we get for the others? I mean, Ath has more than his fair share of money to equip himself, what about Malik? And Ward? ...maybe Tal too? If he plans to come with us he'll need equipment and I always feel better giving people useful things over money. Gold gets squandered, items at least I know people will use and it'll make any and all jobs we get given a hell of a lot easier."
Malik says to the others, "I will try to create some scrolls of the spells i know, but don't have prepared usually."
Wandering around the merchant district picking up things for everyone has been a great distraction from their previous endevours. Passing Cal a warm chewy sweet puller that drips sugar, honey and maple syrup he gets a smile on his face and just enjoys the sights, sounds, and the sun. He has been smiling and taken to telling Cal some very risque marine jokes every so once in awhile just to see her blush. Laughing good naturedly after the last joke, "Well Cal, looks like we about got everythin. Malik is back at the inn. Said he was writin up some scrolls for himself. These are the supplies he asked me for. He pats a bundle full of parchment, quills, and ink. I, like you, only assume Ath is out takin care of himself. Got a few things for the rest of us though. These potions should come in handy. Got a enough healin ones that we will have one each just in case that wand gets lost or your not around to use it." He's been admiring the half dozen white arrows with odd little spheres at the tips he had acquired earlier. He had explained that they put people to sleep instead of hurting them just in case they wanted some prisoners at some point. Giving her a wink and looking in his coin pouch, "Looks like I have just enough left for dinner tonight, you still game?"
"Looks like I have just enough left for dinner tonight, you still game?"
Cal enjoys te opportunity to relax and just forget all of her usual stresses, if only for a little while and at Rethvian's question she gives a bright grin. "Of course I am, it's rare I turn down an opportunity for a free meal!" She halfjokes lightly with a little shrug of her shoulders.
Having finished their shopping for the day Reth leads Cal on a walk that takes them to North Point. After meandering through the streets he continues on to what he calls, "the best tavern North of Cheliax." Above the door Cal sees a sign, with the likeness of a turtle carved into it, that reads, "The Posh and Turtle" He looks over to her with a smile and asks, "Have you ever been here before?"
Calandra notes the name of he tavern and gives a small smile. "I haven't, no. I usually have to frequent places smaller and darker" She replies with a tiny scrunch of her nose before giving his arm a small squeeze. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to make a good impression!"
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to make a good impression!"
With a wink, "Oh, I'd say I have already messed up makin a good impression a number of times. Hopefully this'll make up for it a bit." He holds open the door for her. As they enter its difficult not to notice the glass flooring overlooking a wide but shallow cave. Within the cave is a 20' long sea turtle. Narrow grates between the 5' square floor panes act as frames. Thick iron bars form a latticework of protection a couple of feet beneath the glass. The interior has high-quality furnishings and appointments throughout. Following her gaze down to the turtle Reth says, "That's Old Tom." On the way to a table he continues, "He used to be able to get out of the sea cave down there but he grew too big. So, the establishment keeps him fed and clean and he seems happy enough." Pulling her chair out for her, "I hope you don't mind if I order some wine for us, there is a particular wine here I am fond of that I'd like you to try." Cal begins to see beneath the weathered veneer there is a somewhat cultured, but obviously rusty at it, gentleman. The wine is brought in some emerald-studded wine glasses and gold-leafed flatware is placed at their table. He lifts his glass and toasts, "To surviving another day, to surviving each other, and to the beauty of Korvosa outshined only by the beauty in front of me."
Cal watches Old Tom with interest for a while, she'd heard about him and this tavern a few times but had never had the time or the money to frequent it. Soon her eyes refocus on Reth and she gives a light laugh and lifts her own ornate wine glass at his toast. A slight blush resting in her cheeks she shakes her head slightly "And how many women have you used that line on?" She asks with a small smirk.
"And how many women have you used that line on?" She asks with a small smirk.
He looks thoughtful for a moment like he is trying to count that high in his head eyes obviously sparkling with amusement, "Ok, ok. Your the first. Actually your the only one I have ever brought here." He closes his eyes as he takes another drink from his glass savoring the flavors. When his eyes slowly open and refocus on her he asks, "Have you ever been to The Laughin Waves Inn? It's just up the street here. They say it's haunted by a ghost that walks around in it every once in awhile." He pauses for a moment, "Actually, speakin of ghosts......?" He lets the question trail off as he waits expectantly taking another drink of wine.
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"Actually, speakin of ghosts......?"
A few weeks pass, while Malik locks himself up in his lab, discarding failed scroll after failed scroll beofre he gets the collection he wants right.
The city is calming down now, and returning to a subdued version of normal. The city gossip wheel has even started up again, with rumers abounding that the Queen is getting closer to the identity of the killer of her husband by the day.
The peace is being helped by a new group of wardens for the city the Queen's own Grey Maidens. Their role at present is to escort imprtant convoys into the city, allowing food, and other vitals of day to day life into the city, to be distributed.
Even Atherton's cover, the old antique shop, would look out of place remaining closed. So, he opens up again, keeping up the cover, if not the thieving...
Reth's persuit of Cal is delayed by her investigations of a new home for her sisters, even if he is somewhat starteled when Zellera manifests, precisly to tell her where the title deed is hidden, and thereby giving her the home. Though it will take some work to sure it up and make it as friendly as the old one it is in a somewhat safer part of town.
Ward continues his work as he did before being thrown into the group this time taking Talon along. The two making a surprisingly good team.
One morning, guards turn up at the appropriate places, with messages that the field marshall would like to seem them. Today, at noon.
Nevyn:
When the guards arrive, "I was beginnin to wonder if you guys were comin at all. City still has a ways to go before it's business as usual." He'll gather his gear and swing by Cal's and Malik's to hook up with them if they haven't already left.
Atherton falls easily into the old routine of maintaining a respectable looking business for cover. He throws himself into his work, legitimate and not so legitimate, with a fervor, trying not to dwell on the memories that the business brings to the surface.
That ghost has been laid to rest. he tries to tell himself.
He tenses ever so slightly when the guardsmen come to his shop, relaxing when he hears of the Marshal's summons. He's almost glad of them, for an excuse to leave the depressing premises of the shop.
He arrives at the garrison at noon, waiting quietly and as inconspicously as possible for the others and the Marshal.
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It is a measure of how much Korvosa is returning to normal, that for the first time, the field marshall looks like she slept last night. A disturbed, interrupted sleep but positively healthy compared to the Cressenda of late.
"You may have heard, " she begins, without preamble once you are all assembled, "of the new policing unit in the city, the Queens Own Grey Maidens. You may also have heard of the vital job they are doing, escorting supplies into the city.
"As you may guess, I am not a fan. I see the new Queen usurping the duties of either the Guard, or the Company, or possibly both, once she has this force at full strength, but that is of no matter.
"You may also have heard the rumours that the King's death was a less than natural occurrence. Tomorrow an edict will be issued denying these rumours, and imposing a 90 day imprisonment on any found voicing them. Theorising that the Queen was somehow responsible will be confirmed as high treason. The grey maidens will be responsible for enforcement of both of these items.
"Now to the reason I brought you here. Vencarlo has again been in touch, this time with an interesting theory, rather than any hard evidence. He has noted the comings and goings of the Maidens' Squads. He has seen two things that disturb us both.
"Firstly, the maidens only escort goods into the most affluent parts of the city, it seems our Queen my be pandering to her courtiers. That is not unusual in a ruler, especially one who grew up in Cheliax, but I do not like it. The second is that there have been reports of violence against minority groups in the city by the Maidens. Varisians and Shoanti mostly, but also Orisions and others.
"I am hoping that you can help me find the truth of this. I have been asked to provide troops to help escort a large sum of gold from Cheliax, into the bank of Abadar's volts. This convoy will pass through some of the poorest, and most unsettled areas of the city, so if any convoy gives the Maidens a chance for violence this one will.
"I would like you to get to the bottom of this rumour. But remember, these are the Queen's [b]Own[b] Grey Maidens. You will be held accountable for any of their deaths you cause. I do not wish to be at any of your hangings."
Standing at attention but yet again giving Ward' a long contemplative look, "We will make every effort to keep bloodshed to a minimum on every side. Malik has ways of disabling people without any killin who become too unruly, again, on both sides."
"Just as a question how far does that accountability extend, should someone come under attack how much risk are we supposed to expose ourselves to in not killing these Queens guards?" Ward' sighs, "and should the worst happen is it likely to be a fair trial?"
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"Just as a question how far does that accountability extend, should someone come under attack how much risk are we supposed to expose ourselves to in not killing these Queens guards?" Ward' sighs, "and should the worst happen is it likely to be a fair trial?"
"The filed Marshall snorts derisively. "They have had losses, though never an entire party. If you all come back alive and they don't? Well, I will raise a mug for you."
"What have the losses been attributed to?" Atherton asks, speaking for the first time since arriving at the field marshal's office.
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"What have the losses been attributed to?" Atherton asks, speaking for the first time since arriving at the field marshal's office.
"Simple scirmishes with bandets, there would be no point guarding the convoys if there wasn't some danger involved. There has never been a total team loss though. I am trying to say that, killing them, would not be a very sensible idea."
"What have the losses been attributed to?" Atherton asks, speaking for the first time since arriving at the field marshal's office."Simple scirmishes with bandets, there would be no point guarding the convoys if there wasn't some danger involved. There has never been a total team loss though. I am trying to say that, killing them, would not be a very sensible idea."
"Not if we did it, but...accidents do happen. The bandits could get lucky. Manage to descend upon the caravan at just the right time to catch it unaware. It would most...tragic if such a coincidence were to occur would it not?"
"Not if we did it, but...accidents do happen. The bandits could get lucky. Manage to descend upon the caravan at just the right time to catch it unaware. It would most...tragic if such a coincidence were to occur would it not?"
"If, Vecarlo's rumours are true. No, it wouldn't be that tragic, but I would not like to guess what would happen if you walked away from those bandits and the Maidens didn't.
"Anyway, nothing of the sort should happen, I simply want you to investigate, you will be detailed as guards, and given appropriate attire and equipment, if you need it, and I would like you to see what you see.
"Can I count on you to do that?"
Atherton shrugs "As long as the pay's good I'll do the job."
Seeing the others either in agreement or resigned to go, "Show us where to meet up with them and we'll take care of it for you."
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Seeing the others either in agreement or resigned to go, "Show us where to meet up with them and we'll take care of it for you."
The field marshal moves to a table at the far side of the room with a map of the lands surrounding Korvosa. "You will meet at the palace, and make your way to this village, about 20 miles outside Korvosa. There you will take possession of the gold from it's Chelaxian owners, and escort it back to the Bank. Should take around three days, give or take."
Me too, send our love when you see her, she is missed here!