The missive from Venture-Captain Amara Li was clear, and comes to mind as the skyline of Korvosa rises into view over the calm waters of Conqueror's Bay in southern Varisia. "Recently the Society acquired a new ally in Absalom named Sendeli Foxglove. Now she has made something of a personal request. Sendeli has a sister named Zeeva in Korvosa who owns a successful marketplace. A competing business interest is threatening Lady Foxglove, and her sister requests the Society investigate and intervene.
"If you consider the matter pedestrian and more suited toward the local constabulary, I wouldn't blame you. Even so, there are extenuating circumstances. First, the competing business interest is the Aspis Consortium. It makes little sense for them to harass a local greengrocer, so there must be a deeper layer to this. Maintaining close ties to Sendeli Foxglove is an agenda the Society feels is worth pursuing in and of itself, but if we can assist Zeeva while also hampering the Aspis Consortium's efforts to gain influence in Korvosa, all the better.
"There is smoke here, now find the fire. Extricate Zeeva Foxglove from this feud with the Consortium. If she's anything like her sister, she'll want to be an active part of this team-but you are not to let her put herself in danger. We've made that clear to her, and you're expected to abide by it and ensure she does as well. If this matter is simply crooked business, then just resolve it and continue on to Magnimar where Venture-Captain Heidmarch will surely have more in store for you."
|
A seemingly older man with a peculiar air about him enters the conversation. He wears a breastplate painted like the chest of a monkey, and bears a large wooden shield with a lotus above two figures. "I was asked to assist this task, and I shall do so, in whatever way is needed. My chief contribution is likely to be the healing arts, but I am not unschooled in the fighting arts either, despite my lack of martial weaponry."
|
"Let me make sure that I have everything Ghukan said "Help Sendeli Foxglove's sister Zeeva in Korvosa deal with the Aspis Consortium that seems to be trying to muscle in on her turf. Expect her to want to join in so make sure that she does not get herself killed in the process. If is not the Aspis Consortium causing the problem, see Venture-Captain Heidmarch in Magnimar after the problem is cleared up for the next mission. Correct?" he asked.
|
Ryker looks from one face to another as he notices something about his companions, "Blessed Bastards. You a bunch of Ace-mars! 'Scusin' the way-ang o' course. Boy, will you lot stick out like a corsair on the river course." He shakes his head muttering, "At least none o' you got a halo or nothin'..."
|
|
"No, no halo, please!!! The clanking of your armor will be more than enough to let them know we are coming. Ghukar said with a smile. "There are times that I can call upon my shadow ancestry to avoid the harmful necromantic energies that they use to harm rather than heal. If I do, I will let you know when it would not be a good idea.
"Rykar, looks like we might need to be ahead of the others in order for us to use our talents without too much problems" the wayang said.
Ryker knows Zeeva Foxglove has lived most of her life in Korvosa, and is well known among locals. Her reputation in the local community is solid. Her business dealings have always been fair, despite always being lucrative. She was brought to Korvosa from Magnimar as a child. She is technically nobility in Magnimar, but she has no connection to it, and she lays no claim to a noble title in Korvosa. Orphaned after her parents died tragically, Zeeva and her siblings were raised by a distant cousin in Korvosa. Her sister Sendeli now lives in Absalom, and her estranged brother Aldern returned to Magnimar. Zeeva sold her portion of her inheritance to buy the Green Market, and so far it has been a good investment. Some suspect Zeeva is a witch, but a good one who is willing to use her powers to help her neighbors.
|
|
"I have no problem with natural shadows as I see just as well in the day or night. As for unnatural shadows, the quicker they get killed, the happier we will be. Ghukar said. As the conversation turned to the Green Market he thought for a moment.
"I heard that the previous owner's death was a rather mysterious. A wasting disease struck him quickly, without any warning or discernible cause, and never spread, which is rather odd. Local farmers and craftsmen believe the market is otherwise lucky, but they don't discuss its history openly which is also odd. Some people, mostly humans do not speak of luck as they believe that it will bring them bad luck instead. Maybe that is why they do not speak of the markets history."
|
|
Ryker rolls his eyes at the conscientious cleric, "If your monkey god sees fit to bless me, who'm I to object? I'll take whatever's given to me ...and maybe more besides."
He looks over his companions, noting armor and weapons, "Now if things go moonwise, and our investigation turns ... physical, which o' you will get up close with a sword and distract the snakes so I can gut 'em?"
Once you've arrived in Korvosa you spread to gather some information on the Green Market, and once you've reassembled and shared the information you head to the actual market.
The Green Market is a mostly wooden structure built like a massive barn. It stands on a flattened section of raised earth five feet higher than the surrounding street. The structure is only a single story, but the ceiling rises to twenty-five feet and has numerous glass skylights that can be opened and closed with extending poles and ladders for lighting and ventilation. To the south is the main entrance that has large iron gates which can be slid and chained shut. On the southeast and southwest sides are exterior docks with sliding bay doors, where farmers and merchants can unload the wares from their wagons directly into stalls or bring them into interior kiosks. Inside, the majority of the ground is hard-packed earth, except for the stalls, which have wood flooring. Only the four southeastern stalls carry goods other than produce. The southern-most stall has casks of wine, oils, and vinegar. The other stalls sell quality clothing, jewelry, and finished furniture. On the northeast side is an office that can be secured by another sliding iron gate. North of the office is the market's back entrance. Finally, in the center north is a park-like area with a large tree and flowered bushes kept alive by an open skylight above.
|
|
"An equally sensible question. I am perfectly comfortable being in close combat, albeit using the way of the empty hand, and I am able to heal in that position as well, so stick close my friend."
"Well, there seems aught to do but announce ourselves, correct? We are not using subterfuge here, correct?"
|
|
"Ahh! Empty hands ain't always empty, eh?" he says with a wink.
-----
"Let's keep it cool, spread out and ask around for Zeeva. No reason to announce ourselves as Society folk, in case them snakes are around, but no need to lie or hide either. The best bluff is the truth in small doses!"
Ryker will try to ensure the party isn't seen entering the Green Market together , then enter himself and speak to the jewelry merchant.
"Hello. What fine jewelry you have here." he says as he picks up and examines a piece. When he has the attention of the merchant, he makes it disappear . He feigns surprise, pats himself down, then pulls it from a pocket on his vest and replaces the piece to its place on display.
With a grin, he continues, "Lovely, to be sure. It makes me think of Lady Foxglove. Is she around?"
The merchant laughs appreciative when Ryker plays his trick. He nods in response to Ryker's question. "Sure is. That's here, over there."
The man points out a stunning woman with chin-length, strawberry blonde hair, wide brown eyes, and a generous smile. She's walking amid the market's crowd, carrying no weapons and wearing no armor. A sleek, black cat rubs itself against her ankle while you watch her stop at a stand and examine it. She bends over and pets the animal.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Bertha makes her way to a stall containing fresh baked goods, After purchasing some scones and conversing with the stall owner for a bit she enquires about Zeeva's where about's and what she looks like.
After the stall owner points her out, Bertha makes a direct path to intercept Zeeva and introduce her self.
Hellooo Zeva Dear! It's delightful to meet you finally, I'm Bertha, an acquaintance of your sister who seems frightfully worried about you. Bertha pauses to look Zeeva up and down Do you eat dear? look at you your stick thin, you must look after your self better. Here have a scone. She says as she put one hand out offering a scone while shoveling a whole scone into her mouth with the other hand.
My companions and I are here to help you with your new business rivals she says as she looks around trying to find her companions and waving them over as she eventually spots them, except for the rogue which she seems disappointed to not be able to find.Perhaps you have somewhere more private we can discuss this dear?
|
"I tend to attack on the front line, so I will endeavor my best to assist you, Ryker." The paladin replies earlier to the Rogue's inquiry on battlefield tactics.
* * *
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms. Foxglove, my associate speaks true of our intentions. I might indeed be best to speak of such things in private for the time being." Maximillian adds after Bertha introduces herself.
Zeeva turns around and smiles at Bertha. "Thank you so much for coming! I can't tell you how much this means to me. My sister has spoken quite highly of you, Bertha. She's never one to be easily impressed."
She accepts the scone while thanking Bertha, and leads you to a less crowded part of the market. "I've complained to the city, but it's as if the Aspis Consortium has bribed everyone or the authorities just don't care. I'm happy to pay for your lodging while you're helping me. If you like, I can show you around the market and answer any questions about anything you haven't already been told."
|
|
Ryker appears from among the crowd as Zeeva leads the others. "Pleasure t' meet you, Lady Foxglove. Our Venture-Captain said those snakes were threatening you. That means they want something. What're they anglin' for? You got somethun' fancy they're eyein' to have?" He gives a dark look and scans the crowd, looking for signs of the Aspis Consortium, unconsciously rubbing his wrist sheathes.
|
|
Ghukar listened to the others introduce themselves and made his own introduction by getting right to the point I guess my first question to you would be as to how sure are you about them being Aspis Consortium? While it is not very likely that some gang would try to impersonate them, at least for very long, stranger things have happened. he said
"Initially they wanted to buy the Green Market, but I wasn't interested. It's been very successful and, though I never thought I'd find myself saying this, I love what I do. Then they wanted to lease space inside of it, but when I found out what they wanted to sell I declined. They wanted to sell weapons, armor, and magic goods. Those things have their place, but my customers are not adventurers. They are people looking for food and goods they need to survive. The Green Market is a community-based business. When I declined, they started to harass me."
"They said they're from the Aspis consortium, and I have no reason to disbelieve it. At first they just sent over pompous businessmen to convince me an alliance would benefit us both. I repeatedly declined their advances, so they started sending around thugs to "persuade" me. Till now, I've run to the city guard or otherwise eluded the Aspis thugs, but it's only a matter of time before their methods of intimidation get too dangerous for me to refuse."