After the hearing, which was surprisingly brief, you're escorted to a villa outside the city, where you're made comfortable until Saren can get back to you. His part of the trial takes significantly longer, and you have to wait until late evening before he returns.
He finally does return though, dropping from the sky into the courtyard with a loud snap of his wings. Walking inside, he settles his wings on his back more comfortably and pours a glass of wine for himself before turning to you.
"Thanks for your testimony. It's looking good for us. Shouldn't take much longer now. Which means it's on to the next thing for you."
He rummages around on a desk before pulling out a scroll, pressing his thumb to the seal and whispering what you can only assume is a passphrase of some sort. It unrolls and he scans it quickly.
"Right. So, you need to get across the lake into Ustalav, where you'll meet someone sent by Lord Vezivo, who will direct you from there. You've got a dispensation of... 10,000 gp to get there. Sarenrae's t+!&. 10,000. I have clearly been going on the wrong sorts of missions," he grumps, scratching the side of his head, then sighs and continues.
"Anyway. Not much I can really help you with. Just some advice I guess. One, your contact from Lord Vezivo is probably going to be Damien Zorro. Just as a tip, he's annoying as f@~%. But he's Vezivo's right hand, left hand, and probably his swinging dick too, so just play nice. Two, I don't know if you've ever heard of Lord Vezivo, but just in case, he is a minor noble in Ustalav. But that's just because he's quiet and stays out of politics. He's got a lot of resources that even we don't know the extent of. And he's the only noble in the entirety of Ustalav who's willing to work with Hellknights, so make sure you're appropriately appreciative of him, he's given our order in particular many opportunities we otherwise wouldn't have had." he pauses, cracking his knuckles thoughtfully.
"As for the mission itself, not really a ton I can do to help you. I think your best bet is a guy named Allain Yorros. He's a half-elf who does a lot of smuggling between Greengold and everywhere else on the lake. Even if he can't help you, he can direct you towards someone who can. But I don't know if he's even in town right now, so you might have to come up with something else. Just be discrete," he shrugs and finishes off the last of his wine.
"If there's anything else I can do for you let me know."
Knowledge (Nobility): Lord Malachi Vezivo is an Ustalavic noble in the county of Barstoi, who owns little more than a salt mine near the Furrows and a bit of land surrounding it. His history is an interesting one, as he inherited his title from his uncle, after a very long string of deaths including both parents and three cousins. His only known living relative is his aunt. He is largely ignored, though Count Neska does summon him for an annual governance meeting. He is known to have graduated with honors from the University of Lepidstadt.
Once the hearing is over and the Hellknights are at the villa, Morvan relaxes as best he can while he waits to see the effects of their testimony.
Once Maralictor Saren returns, Morvan listens as he reads through the scroll, not quite able to conceal his surprise at the 10,000 gold dispensation.
He nods as Maralictor Saren gives them the advice about Ustalav, and says, "This Damien Zorro, do you know anything else about him, apart from being annoying and Lord Vezivo's second-in-command? Also, do you have any suggestion on where we start looking for Allain Yorros?"
Saren's wings flutter out, stretching briefly before folding up again.
"Not a ton. Half-elf. Lean, tan, about five nine, five ten maybe. Brown eyes, brown hair. Had a moustache last time I saw him. Carries around one of those dueling swords from Brevoy. Aldori or something. He's pretty good with it too, though I've only seen him fight once. He also smokes a lot. I don't have a history on him or anything, sorry," he shrugs apologetically.
"Allain has a reserved dock. If he's in town, that's where he'll be, and if he's not, that's where you'll find out where he might be. I don't remember which one though. It's on the western side of the harbor, if that helps."
Urashu frowns at the mention of Lord Vezivo. "How does Lord Vezivo fit into this, Sir?." He holds back some other questions.
"He's just the most convenient route into Numeria. We don't have any contacts of worth in Razmiran or the River Kingdoms, and overland travel would take too long anyway. That pretty much leaves Ustalav. And that means Lord Vezivo."
"Thank you for your aid, Maralictor. We must make plans for travel, as well as locating Allain Yoros.". Gathering up the others with a glance, Morvan leads them from the room to another where they can speak and plan.
Urashu starts talking after everyone has entered. “Ive heard of Lord Vezivo before. His holding are minor, and quite a bit of his past is filled with fortunate occurrences on his behalf. I don’t think he will be able to, or might not even try much, to help us out if things go poorly. ”
Morvan quirks a small smile. "And I though the first thing anyone said would be 'Why are we going to Numeria?' The answer to which is that that is where Vespartius is. I didn't say anything sooner, due to the classification level. No sense in letting the other Orders know. As I said previously, knowledge of Zakat remains classified, and should not be discussed where others were here. Once in Ustalav, this Lord Vezivo will provide us a way into Numeria, and we will rescue Vespartius. Once we arrive at the location he is, we kill everyone there, and ensure that spells cannot be used to ask them what happened. If Vespartius is alive, he comes with us. If not, we bring his corpse back. It is vitally important no leak about Zakat comes out. No one can be left alive but Hellknights when we are through."
Kizziar instantly perks up when Vespartius is mentioned. Where exactly is Vespartius? Who captured him? Do we know anything anything about his location's defenses? How did you determine where he was? he rapidly asks.
Kallant nods with the devil's questions, "Yeah, how do we know Vespartius is there?"
Morvan pulls out tha letter from the Vicarius. "The Vicarius had Paralictor Edikesis deliver this to me. It details our orders to journey into Ustalav then Numeria, as well as the fact Vespartius is there. I do not know how he knows, nor what the defenses we will face are. I also do not have an exact location or who took him - perhaps we shall be told in Ustalav."
Kallant shifts and then repeats, "So to summarize:
1. Arrange passage with Allain Yorros, a half-elf smuggler with a reserved dock.
2. Get across the lake to Ustalav
3. Make contact with Lord Vezivo via Damien Zorro
4. Secure passage to Numeria
5. Secure Vespartius
6. Destroy anyone who spoke to Vespartius
7. Secure passage to a safe house
"Alright, a few questions:
1. Should we travel as hellknights?
2. How much of that 10 large are we going to have to use to pay to get across the lake? We should determine that before spending any of it.
3. How much should we keep for the passage home?
4. Which safe houses are we targeting?
5. How much is a scroll of teleport?"
“I can handle the last one at least. It would be just under 4,000 gold to acquire a scroll that could transport all of us. I believe I’m the only one that would be able to use the scroll, but for a spell that powerful it might still fail. It’s probably more likely to work than not, but I can’t garauntee success. We also would not be able to teleport there unless we can get a vivid description of the place. It would be reasonable to teleport us back here though. ”
Morvan nods at Kallant's assessment. "That is the mission - although the Vicarius did not specifically mention a safe house. The cost of a scroll of teleport may end up being out of reach - I don't know how much we will need to cross the lake, and we may need other equipment."
Rubbing his gauntleted hands together, Morvan says, "Our first order of business should be arranging transport. Signifier Imperato, Signifier Trasalor, locate Allain Yorros's dock and see if we can negotiate passage. Do so incognito - no sense in advertising that Hellknights are looking for him. Try to keep him below 2000 - the more, the better. Kizziar, accompany them. Being able to invisibly scout the dock before they enter may be useful." Looking at Kallant, Morvan says, "You and I will see if Maralictor Saren has any information about Numeria, or if he can get us some quickly and without attracting notice. If we know something of what the terrain is like, we can better determine what supplies we may need for the excursion. We can also discuss which safe house we should target. Any questions?"
Melii salutes Morvan. "Yes, sir." She leaves her Hellknight paraphernalia behind, wearing mundane clothes over her mithral shirt, and heads down to the docks with Urashu. She asks around about Allain Yorros and where to locate him.
"Aye, sir. Good idea." Kallant was happy his Paralictor took suggestions well and didn't get too sensitive about command and control. He only wanted the mission to succeed, too.
Plus, the Worldwound taught him to plan options of mission extraction, more thoroughly than plans to infiltrate.
Yes, sir, Kizziar replies before turning invisible and launching himself into the air. As Urashu and Melii walk to the docks, he circles low above them, carefully scanning the area.
Even with the crowds of people, the scene is still fairly orderly, all things considered, as both civil managers direct traffic and Blackjackets enforce laws, ensuring that all transactions are conducted professionally and goods are moved efficiently.
There are, however, a few pockets that seem more subdued than others, where the people walk quickly without looking around, and the normal background roar of the crowd fades away. You can see three such areas from your vantage. One, surprisingly right next to the biggest boardwalk, another about half a mile downriver, almost into the city proper, and the last is further northeast, on the very edge of the docks area.
An impressively burly ifrit is lounging outside a warehouse that seems to have an eternal flow of people going in and out of it through three large, barn-style doors. He raises an eyebrow at your question and smiles, his spotless white shirt contrasting with his deeply tanned skin and flaming hair.
"Sure, I know of him. Work security for him on occasion. I haven't heard he's around, but I suppose you could double check at his warehouse. Just follow the shore," he lazily waves his hand in a generally northward direction.
"It's the furthest one out. Just keep going, you'll see it. Warehouse T6 perhaps? I never actually paid attention."
Melii thanks the ifrit and heads to the furthest warehouse on the docks.
Urashu frowns, unable to recall ever having researched passage gates in this area of the continent. He follows Melii, letting her take the lead but ready to add anything helpful that he can.
Melii takes a moment to focus her thoughts and emotions in order to heighten her awareness. "Stay alert," she says to her companions as she approaches the warehouse and knocks on the doors.
With Melii, Urashu, and Kizziar on their way, Morvan returns to Maralictor Saren's study with Kallant and knocks on the door.
Follow Morvan into Saren's study.
Kizziar hovers invisibly over Melii and Urashu, maintaining a weak mental broadcast to alert them specifically to his location. He examines the door while listening for any sounds from inside the warehouse.
Morvan enters and says, "Pardon, Maralictor, but I was wondering if you had any information about Numeria within your library?"
You can detect a number of faint and a few moderate magical auras, and one faint good aura. Given the general direction and grouping, you would imagine that they're enchanted objects stored in the warehouse.
"Yeh? Who are you?" the man growls.
Melii smiles warmly. "Greetings. We are seeking Allain Yorros to arrange passage across the lake into Ustalav. We can pay."
She tries to gauge the man's reaction.
"Alright, give me the details. How many? Cargo? Stops? Speed?" he says, shaking a pen and scribbling a little bit on the corner of a sheet of paper to get the ink flowing.
"Four passengers, no cargo. No stops along the way. As fast as you can manage."
"Is there any way we could hasten his return? Would, say, 500 gold pieces help in that regard?"
"Allain goes when and where he wants. I'll happily take your money, but ain't nothin' I can do to make him get here faster, even if I had a way of contacting him."
"I don't know that he's obligated to do anything at all really. We don't actually have any sort of standing contract with him. But to the best of my knowledge, he agreed to provide assistance. You'll just have to talk with him about the particulars. This is kinda being thrown together as we go, so there's not as much support as normal. As for maps, I'm sure we do somewhere, and even if we don't, there's plenty of cartographers in Kerse. I'll see if I can find one for you, but honestly you'll probably find a better one somewhere in the city. Scrolls, yeah, I'll lend you some of mine. I can cast it myself, so I rarely need to use them. You'll have to report back to the citadel, to the Vicarius."
"Scrolls of teleport would be greatly appreciated. We can always return any that we don't use."