Ortik makes the same brutal calculus as Demitri, glancing between the heavily armored Maidens with their naked blades pointed at he and his friends before realizing the futility of a fight. "I look forward to holding conversation with her."
Nalun shrugs Best to get this over with then yeah
The party is marched out the doors of the desolate hospice to at least twenty more Grey Maidens, all ready for a possible fight. When they see the party complying, they don't lower their guard--they start marching them through the streets of Midland to the Heights.
The streets are clogged somewhat with the sick and the dying, but all of them scramble away to make room for the platoon of Grey Maidens escorting the party to Castle Korvosa. The steps of the Grand Mastaba are oddly pristine compared to the filth of the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Grey Maidens take up positions on either side of the party as they walk them into the castle's grand hall...
The castle's grand hall feels much more oppressive than the last time the party came here. Banners bearing the Chelaxian coat of arms hang from gargoyle statues near the castle's stained glass windows, their edges frayed and gently flapping in the breeze. The statues stare down at the party as they pass, silently judging them.
Seated in the great Crimson Throne at the end of the hall is Queen Ileosa Arabasti, the First of her Name. She's dressed in blood red royal regalia encrusted with emerald jewelry, and her immaculate red hair is hidden under an impressive crown, its tips seemingly tipped with dragon fangs. The queen glares at the party as they approach, pressing her delicate fingertips together. Sabina Merrin stands at her right, her greatsword pointed downwards into the red carpet.
"At last, you've finally come." Queen Ileosa's voice echoes throughout the throne room with a hardened edge. "I must admit, I did not think the lot of you would be so... audacious as this." She waves her hand a bit before pressing it to her other hand again. "The few remaining Physicians in Korvosa have fled to my side, begging for asylum from a band of madmen; from *you*. They told me that you butchered their fellows in their own hospice, and the Maidens that were sworn to guard them."
"You will explain your reason for such acts. THEN I will decide how to punish you."
Karri moves forward. She drops to one knee, and bows her head. "Your Majesty, we serve the city of Korvosa as even you do. The people are your strength, this you know." she raises jer eyes and looks boldly into Ileosa's. "We went to the hospice and were mortified by what we saw there." She shakes her head at the memory of so many victims, and so many being vivisected. "It was in defense of this eternal city that we slaughtered so many of the fell Doctors. The physicians had mislead you! They were infecting your people there! Their own chief physician was a were-rat, disease pandering scum that they are." The scarred girl keeps her composure, but barely. "Beneath the hospice we found the true threat. A temple to the Pallid Princess herself. It was there that the physicians were being directed in the ways and means of the Bllod Veil. Urgathoa's own chosen, defended the place, but on Korvosa's name, we destroyed her." She pauses, Wouldn't this b*##& look her best with her insides decorating her throne? then adds, "Yes."
Even without her vision, Lyla can notice the tense atmosphere and guess the somber expressions on everyone's faces. She nods in agreeance as Karri explains the situation. Cleverly put. When she finishes, Lyla speaks up, bowing before the Queen. "It's true, Your Majesty. Dr. Davaulus was not who we though he was, and he was working to destroy your city and your subjects. We have secured extensive notes on the matter, in which he and his partners in crime explain in detail their experiments with the plague called Blood Veil. With that, we expect to be able to create a cure." Though she knows she should stop at that, Lyla feels the urge to add one last piece of information. "Luckily, we also found the mastermind behind all that, and she's no longer a threat. A high-priestess of Urgathoa who was working alone on behalf of her goddess." You might remember her by the name Andaisin, your good old friend, she thinks, grinding her teeth.
"My friends speak the truth, Your Majesty," Ortik says, his signature fur cap removed from his head and revealing his tangled mop of hair. "The plague that has infested the Old Dame was a concerted effort by foreign agents to weaken and destabilize the city. We entered the hospice, seeking to find answers to evidence that pointed towards the plague doctors aiding the malady rather than treating it. As Karri said, the doctor was something other than human, and attempted to kill us before his role in the scheme could be revealed - or perhaps falling upon our blades to prevent the proper authorities from learning who he truly worked for." He's silent for a moment, clearly choosing his next words carefully.
"In the confusion, several of Your Grey Maidens attempted to attack us, and one of them perished in the fight. I deeply regret that she perished, and I did what I could to ensure the other two survived their wounds. They were Korvosans, loyal to the end, and I am moved by Your fallen warrior's devotion to the throne, as she died defending her charges, even after they were proved to be agents of some unknown foreign power."
Nalun stays silent, trying to watch the Queen without staring.
"We were helping the city, as we've always done. And we did that by stopping people responsible for the Blood Veil."
The queen's glare never wavers as she quietly listens to the party's explanations of what happened in the hospice--how her Physicians sought to drown her city in plague and death, and how their operations were decisively ended. She's silent for a minute, her expression turning slightly pensive before glancing over at Sabina.
"You've trained your women a little too well, it seems." She says, her tone calm and collected. She turns back to the party. "Tell me, did you leave any of my 'Physicians' or their cultist kin alive?"
Hyrgan keeps silent and his eyes stay glued to the carpet.
"They were zealots and we were required to slay them. Or, they knew the extent of your wrath if captured." And you liked seeing them die...
"Yes, yes, and such fanaticism is to be expected from such dregs." The queen waves her hand. "But you haven't told me if you killed them all."
"Yes, they're dead. All the physicians and the cultists. The people that made out of there alive are us, and their victims, which must have been returned to safety by Corporal Griggs." Lyla swallows dry. Well, Hyrgan is a victim, ain't he?
Queen Ileosa abruptly smiles. "Good."
Hyrgan flinches. If the queen or anyone else noticed, they've made no note of it.
"This is quite... interesting news." The queen starts to rise from her Crimson Throne. "It appears the ones in the castle have worn out their welcome."
"Maidens!" She barks, and every Grey Maiden lining the hall turn to the queen in unison. The sound of their metallic footfalls is quite cacophonic. "Search the castle for the Physicians that sought to take advantage of my goodwill. Introduce them to the dungeons. If they resist..." She smiles. There's nothing but viciousness in her smile. "...persuade them."
The Maidens nod in unison and disperse from the grand hall. The sound of swords being unsheathed from their scabbards echo throughout the halls as they leave.
"Now, as for you..." Queen Ileosa sits back down on her throne. "...there is still the matter of curing this wretched plague they unleashed on my city."
"Which will be done," Ortik replies. "We have recovered all the notes their researchers took on the Blood Veil. We need to get them into the hands of Korvosa's most skilled healers - they can unravel the intricacies of the disease and break the plague's hold over Your people, Majesty."
The queen waves her hand. "Wonderful news."
"Very well, you have answered all my questions to my satisfaction. Go forth, noble souls. Devise your cure for this plague, with my blessing." The queen dismissively waves her hand.
With his back safely turned to the Queen, Ortik swallows as he realizes she's not at all pleased at their success. Thank goodness for my beard, he thinks. It might arouse more suspicion on her part if she saw me biting my lip so hard.
Nope
Nalun spins like a top, heading for the exit. He hopes no one notices the sheen of sweat on his brow.
Demitri grimaces after he turns around when he realizes the queens unsurprising disposition towards them.
Karri bows one last time and as she turns notices Ileosa's true reaction. Well, I promised Zelara and Demitri both that I would protect their city. Now I don't have to feel bad if it happens over your dead body. With murder in her heart Legion swells, a chattering of me me me! begins, as each of the demons vies to be the one that gets to devour the fell-queen's soul.
* * *
Once out of earshot of guards or followers, Karri addresses the group. "Cure the city? That will take time. But, something we can do right now is keep Marshall Croft safe. She needs to know what we know." Karri heads off towards the Marshall's office.
"Yes I agree." Demitri replies following Karri.
Ortik opens his mouth to argue against waiting to get the cure into the hands of healers, but his mind's eye flashes a vision of the Queen's scowl before him. "You're right, Karri,", he replies. "Let's get to Kroft now. The sooner someone else besides us knows what we know, the better."
The walk out of the castle feels much longer than it should. Patrols of Grey Maidens eye the party as they descend from the Grand Mastaba, their faces invisible behind their emotionless, mirror-polished helmets. Their hands never stray far from the swords at their sides.
The streets of Korvosa reek as badly as ever, but compared to the carnage left behind in the hospice and the temple it hid, it's practically a breath of fresh air. Strangely, hardly a soul can be seen as the party hastily marches along the roads of the Heights and Midland to get to the Citadel...
The Citadel's gates are open, and there appears to be a small crowd of people just inside them. Closer inspection reveals that they're the prisoners Griggs managed to escape with--they seem to be conversing with Acolyte Dhatri about something. Or rather, they're shouting at him and he's trying to get a word in edgewise.
Kroft is standing to the side, watching the crowd. She glances over as you approach and breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank Abadar--I feared the worst when Griggs reported in and told me what happened."
Lyla can hear the altercation, but is unable to understand the discussion. However, Kroft's voice comes to her clearly. "Well, considering what could've happened, I think we did okay." She pauses for a moment before going on. "Marshal, we need to talk privately. Just you and us." Lyla speaks in her general direction, and it is apprent that she cannot see where exactly Kroft is.
Kroft looks down at Lyla with a bit of a confused look on her face. She nods in understanding. "Alright--let's talk in my office."
She leads the party inside and shuts the great doors to her office behind her before moving behind her desk to take a seat. "Now, what have you learned?"
"Yes. Things have taken a turn."
Maam, its all rotten. All the way down. I'll let the others explain, but its all rotten. Nalun says with a grimace.
"Well we found out that a follower of Lamashtu was working with a vampire on the Blood Veil. They were experimenting on Varisians because some of them proved to be immune to it. We fought through Gray Maidens, Plague Doctors, and undead to get this knowledge. And the Queen didn't seem to pleased on what we did. Suspiciously so."
Kroft's lips purse into a grim line. Her fists clench very tightly--one would suspect that if coal were placed into her hands, they'd be turned into diamonds.
"...anything else?"
Nalun watches Kroft Could she be in on this too?
"The lead physician, Doctor Davalaus, wasn't entirely human either. He was a wererat, and worshiped some power I'm not familiar with - Achaekek, was it? He was undoubtedly the one that infected Private Clay with the curse of lycanthropy. He, too, is dead, and his notes will be invaluable to cure the plague."
Kroft's face relaxes noticeably. "That's brilliant news. How soon can you get a cure ready?"
"As soon as I get my sight back, I'd like to try my hand with a cure, but someone should probably get started immediately. Do you have anyone in mind?", Lyla asks. Then, she bites her lips and drops the bomb—this time, figuratively. "There's one more thing. Queen Ileosa might be in on the whole thing."
"As soon as I get my sight back, I'd like to try my hand with a cure, but someone should probably get started immediately. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"I was thinking that Zena could perhaps help. However, there's still the distribution of the cure to consider--every faith in the city and local herbalists will need access to it so the cure can make the rounds."
"There's one more thing. Queen Ileosa might be in on the whole thing."
The field marshal doesn't say anything for a few moments, but her widening eyes and furrowing brow show her shock plainly on her face. "Have you any proof of this? That sort of accusation is not one to be thrown around lightly."
"It was her Plague Doctors and Gray Maidens. It's very likely she knew something about it. It also seemed like she was angry that we found out what we did, like maybe we foiled her plans."
"Hmm..." Kroft's eyes narrow and she rises from her seat.
"I'll have to recall all active Guardsmen and send them out to round up any remaining Physicians. In the meantime, see to making that cure." Kroft starts walking over to the doors to her office, but pauses when she passes by Lyla.
"Lyla, did something happen to your eyes?"
"This woman... a high-priestess of Urgathoa called Andaisin. She made me blind," Lyla replies. "When we found her, she implied that the Queen could use our talents if we sided with her sect. I know, I know, maybe I misunderstood. But just think, Marshal: the framing of Trinia for the king's murder—when we know she was innocent! Then, the sinking of the Direption, which was controversial at best, which avoided inspection and stopped us from properly isolating the infected coins, later distributed around town. For that cannon shot, the Queen personally rewarded Private Clay—the only one who followed her orders over yours, and who, at the time had already been turned into a wererat by " She takes a deep breath and calms down. "Marshal, every time we've come to the end of one of our investigations, the Queen has called on you to undermine your authority, isn't it? I doubt she's happy with what we've done at the hospice. But no, we don't have any proofs, and that's why you're the only one who knows about our suspicions. There's one guy who can tie this together, though. His name is Rolth, he's Jolistina'a darling, and the one responsible for the slaughter at Carowyn Manor. He got away." Lyla turns her head around searching for the gruop, a habit from when she could still see. "Did I leave anything out, guys?"
"Not that I can think of, Lyla, no," Ortik says sullenly. "The Queen has never been loved in Korvosa, but I never wanted to believe she may be actively attempting to harm the city. Everyone who walks the Old Dame's streets has a part to play within Her, from the lowest beggar to the monarch who sits upon the Crimson Throne. So I did not want to believe she could be corrupt. And yet...and yet..."
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "Too many things don't add up, and Lyla's touched on them all. Worse, we only have our suspicions - there's not a shred of proof that the Queen had any involvement in this. But it concerns me that she now has a loyal contingent of soldiers answerable only to her and her bodyguard, and those soldiers were guarding Urgothoans. Now, whoever set that order either knew that they were protecting the Pallid Princess' priests, or they didn't. If they didn't, then they show remarkably bad judgement, and probably deserve to be ousted from government. But if they did..."
Ortik lets that hang for a moment.
"There may be a more sinister cancer within the Old Dame than the blood veil itself."
Cressida seems a bit taken aback by the ferocity of Lyla's declarations. She rubs her eyes with a mailed hand.
"...sorry. Been working nonstop ever since this plague hit the city--it's... been affecting me."
"I think that's about it."
"In that case..." Kroft straightens up. "Lyla, get your eyes healed and get working on that cure. The rest of you should help any way you can."
"Oh... and it might be a good idea to keep quiet about your accusations, for now." Kroft says before she moves to her office doors. "Ileosa's got enough friends in high places that bluntly throwing accusations around will simply make you targets--assuming she hasn't marked you as her enemies already."
With that, she opens the doors and walks outside to get her forces organized.
Lyla waits for Kroft to leave and says "Rolth is the wild card here. The Queen hopes everyone who can rat her out is dead, and we made our best to reassure her of this. But even if she's not on to us, she fears we might already know too much. We'd better watch our backs." She starts walking to the door firmly, confident that she knows what she's doing, before marching into the wall. "Ouch! Alright, someone get me to the Shingles, there's this little shop of magic where I might find the potion I need. I'll explain the way."
Demitri can't help but chuckle. "I'm going to go check on Nadia. Someone help her get to the shop before she walks into the harbor."
I'll go with you short stuff. Nalun says, not unkindly. He takes Lyla's hand and will lead her to the Shingles.
"And I've got to get the notes on the cure to the city's healers, starting with the temple of Sarenrae. The sooner we get these notes there, the sooner the plague's hold can be broken on the city."
Karri goes with Demitri back to Zelara's home. She greets Nadia, but begs off a longer visit. Then she heads upstairs, locks her door behind her to work on calming her own demons. You just about left me to die. I survived, and you made yourself clearly mine.
When Demitri and Karri return to Zellara's home, Nadia practically leaps onto her father and clings to him. "Daddy... you were gone for so long, I thought something bad happened!" She's shaking as she clings to him.
--------------------
Even with Lyla's blindness, it's not that hard to get back to the Shingles. The stench of plague is lessened the higher up the two of you go. It takes a bit of searching, but eventually the two of you find the magic shop Lyla's looking for and get yourselves a potion to undo her blindness.
--------------------
The walk to the temple of Sarenrae is chock full of plague-riddled bodies, both living and dead. Even though the architects of the Blood Veil plague are dead or hunted through the city, the disease still rampages through the streets unchecked. You make haste through several alleys and side streets, climbing the hills of the Heights to reach the cathedral of Sarenrae ahead.
The temple's main chamber is open to the sky to allow the worshippers inside to see the sun. Today, it serves to make the odour of filth and bodily wastes more bearable; many plague victims are being treated here, laying on cots, bedrolls or the cold stone floor. The priests here look haggard and on the verge of collapsing, whether from exhaustion or sheer stress.
One of the priests, an exhausted man in his thirties, approaches you as you enter the temple. His clerical vestments are stained with blood and other fluids, and he reeks. "Hello... sir. Can I help you?" He asks, stifling a yawn.