Hearing Adoros's offer, Korriban smirks. "Why, Adoros, are you asking to treat me to a night on the town? I'm flattered." He chuckles, " Just kidding. Just kidding. Nah to the offer. Me and drinking don't really mix all that well."
He speaks to Imperia. "By the way, I believe Celia's still at the Rosa. I'm sure she's eager to go home."
When Imperia realizes the group's intention of pulling the wagon by hand, the young wizard's delicate eyebrows raise as high as they can possibly go.
"Surely you don't expect me to, to... Physically pull that wagon... By hand!" - she looks upon the wagon while a shocked, and more than a little disgusted, expression slowly creeps up on her face - "Why, we... We could send for the Citadel, and have them send help to retrieve the prisoners, or search the buildings nearby for a suitable beast of burden, o-or pay a few laborers, or..."
Eventually, when it's clear no other alternative is feasible, with extreme reluctance Imperia takes her place alongside the others and lends her meager strength to help pull the wagon back to the Citadel.
---
When the group finally reaches the citadel and meets with Field Marshall Kroft, Imperia slips away for a few long moments, busy catching her breath, massaging her sore hands, and using her talents to clean her clothes from dust and sweat and making herself presentable again.
After regaining her composure, the young woman comes back to the others, just in time to thank the Marshall for the reward, and to bid her farewell.
As she hears Gadriel's intention, Imperia kneels next to her and smiles candidly at the little witch - "There is no need for that, little one! I have a little place not too far from here, in the University Ward near the Acadamae. It may not be much, but it's clean and safe! It'd be my pleasure to have you stay there for a while... At least until you find yourself a proper home?"
When Korriban nervously suggests the two of them could spend some time alone in the future, Imperia turns and looks at the young rogue for a long moment, her vibrant amethyst eyes gazing directly into his strong green ones.
Ever so slowly, her lips part and a radiant smile appears on her face - "Unfortunately, with the city in it's current predicament, it may be a while before 'just walking around town' will be safe, or even at all feasible, wouldn't you agree?" - a crystalline laugh escapes her lips, but after a moment her smile returns, her big eyes still looking straight at Korriban's own - "That said... When the time is right... I'd love to, Korriban."
"... Until then, we should focus on the tasks at hand!" - Imperia turns around an assumes a thoughtful expression - "I need to take my sister to the Acadamae as soon as possible. There she'll be safe from all this madness... Uhmm, I'll get her from the Rose and take her home with me, then first thing tomorrow I'll ask for Professor Quinsworth and bring Celia along... Then the admission... Then..." - she trails off mumbling to herself, obviously in deep thought.
Kroft's face darkens when you tell her about the alleged murders. "Well. That is good to know. That is good to know, indeed." She watches the seven men being led away. "I'm sure all will come out in their trial...lawlessness cannot hide its face for long under the rule of Korvosan justice. For now, I thank you again for your services, and bid you good night. I will send a messenger to you when I have another task."
With that, Kroft turns and heads back into the Citadel. You are left at your leisure to count your reward, patch up your wounds, and head home.
Raina rolls her eyes at the pair of lovebirds and waves to the group as she jogs off. "Don't let him lead you astray, Imperia!" she shouts over her shoulder with a laugh. "And I'll try and find us some Oliphant Ears again, Gab - though I can't promise for breakfast! G'night!"
This evening, Raina will dump her stuff upstairs, do a brief check of her apartment in case of any break-ins or some such during her absence, and then head back downstairs to catch up with Bessa Harvington and her family. She wants to know if anything bad has happened to them, and of course warn them about the rumours of spiralling food prices that would no doubt affect her business. (She'll also purchase some more long-lived vegetables and the like while she can do so at a not entirely exorbitant price.)
Aside from checking up on her neighbours, Raina will burn off the last of her energy with a brief tussle with her punching bag before a hot bath and then falling into bed.
Tomorrow, her highest priority is to stop in at Old Tusk's Gym and chat with Nokalo, Tuskenhill, and the other workers and regulars about their own experiences. After making sure they're all safe (and no doubt avoiding Nokalo's piercing questions about her activities and sudden absence the past few days), Raina will head on down to the Pillar Hill Orphanage and see if there's anything they need down that way. (She'll also stop in at a toy shop somewhere and pick up some presents for the kids, if possible.)
It's probably early afternoon at least by the time Raina is able to break away from her "old life" and even think about finding an Oliphant vendor for Gadriel... probably not much luck at this time of day...
Gadriel shakes her head. "We thank Imperia, but we like the wind of 3 Lancet's roof. Abu as well wants to enjoy the wind, and the magical energy left from the previous owner. Perhaps, sometime, we will purchase it. That way there is always a roof for us to sleep." With a small smile, she scampers up a drain spout and runs along the roof peaks, at full speed.
At Imperia's acceptance, Korriban's rendered silent, his face turning redder. Eventually, Korriban smiles and says, "Yeah. That would be nice. Thank you." However, at Raina's jest, Korriban stares at the retreating brawler. "I would never lead her astray."
Korriban leaves with Imperia to the Rosa. Before he leaves, he turns to the others. "Shall we meet at Zellara's place tomorrow?"
On the way to the Rosa, Korriban spends his time making small talk with Imperia. After picking up Celia, Korriban offers to escort the Winthrune sisters to their home.
Aa the trio move closer to the University Ward, Korriban becomes interested in his surroundings. From the way he's taking interest, it's obvious that he's never been to this part of Korvosa before. The residents of the Heights stare at Korriban with scorn and raised eyebrows at his poorer appearance. They whisper at each other about how he shouldn't be here. When the trio arrive to the apartment, Korriban smiles and wishes them a goodnight, assuring them that he can make it back to Bridgefront with no problems.
Korriban smiles and wishes them a goodnight before walking back into the Rosa.
Korriban walks into the Rosa, greeting the girls and his mother. He fills Lialda in about the events that have occurred the last couple of days over dinner. He then donates 150 gold. "For the Rosa. If there are any renovations or repairs needed."
He then talks to Lidda. "So, Lidda, have you made on progress on the ring and the Five Fists?"
Afterwards, he heads to his room. After enjoying a nice bath and putting some new pants on, he falls into a dreamless sleep.
Korriban wakes up to the sounds of a slightly busy Rosa. He sighs, saddened by the fact that less business would be coming in than the usual rate for the Founding Festival. He gets ready in his usual appearance. After breakfast, he aids in security work for a few hours before letting loose to enjoy the Festival. The rogue decides to take advantage of the situation. He heads to his room and takes most of the loot and his gator skin. He goes to 3 Lancet to meet with the others, stumbling due to the weight. He smiles at the gathered. "Hello, everyone! Happy Founding Festival! So I figured we sell some of this stuff off and take the time to enjoy what's available in these depressing times. Maybe I can get my gator boots made. Does anyone want to watch the parade? That's always been a favorite of mine."
Raina will definitely return to 3 Lancet after her other jobs to see if she can find Gadriel to drag her to the Founding Festival. And anyone else she can get in contact with, of course, but she mostly wants to see if she can get the strange little girl to cheer up and act like a normal kid for once.
On your return to the Rosa, you and Imperia find young Celia sitting alone by the fire, curled up and staring into the flames. Lidda approaches the two of you, and all three of you sit at a table to chat for a minute.
"I don't mind telling you, your li'l sis is an odd duck," Lidda says to Imperia, with a shake of her head. "Quiet, which is normal--thought she might be shellshocked, if I'm honest--but she's been staring into the fire half the night now. It don't seem healthy. And she ain't there for the heat; she's warm to the touch, and her skin ain't clammy at all. No sickness." The young bard leans back in her seat and laces her fingers behind her head with a shrug. "Eh, but then again, she's gone through a lot. She seems like a sweet kid, for all she's quiet."
Once you've seen the Winthrune sisters on their way, you finally have time for a chat with your family. Everyone is fascinated by your exploits, and for a short while in there you're all able to forget about the city's looming problems, as you regale them with tales of your conquest of Lamm and Vancaskerkin. Lialda shakes her head, amused but clearly also troubled, as you're wrapping up. "Well, Korri, I'm glad you've found some steady employment that's out-of-house--it's good for a young person not to be forever around his family's business. And it's good that you've found such a reliable group of friends, even if some of them are...colorful. Be careful with that Kroft woman, though, and with that type in general. Much as they may use you, you're not a part of the Guard, and though we pay our vice taxes on time, we can't afford any extra trouble. Just...keep an eye out, and don't do anything to attract unwonted attention."
She accepts the money with good grace and evident pleasure. "Thank you, dear. The downturn of the past couple of days has hurt us, and we won't be getting as much business tomorrow as we'd normally expect. This will help us make it through, to be sure."
Later that night, you and Lidda chat in your bedroom as you sift through the loot you picked up. "I honestly don't know what the hells you expect me to do about that silver ring, Korriban," she complains, perched on the edge of your bed and watching you from across the room. "There's got to be a thousand women named Emmah in Korvosa, and half of them have been given something like this at some point by someone. You want my advice, just sell the damn thing. This Emmah may not be alive, or she might have had a falling-out with this dude who gave it to her."
"I haven't been able to find anything on the Five Fists yet, either--they sound like they might be an order of monks? Or maybe priests? It's strange that no one's heard of them--they're definitely not any organized crime group, or leastways, not one that has any presence in the city. I'll keep digging, though, and let you know what I find." She pauses slightly and gives you a sly look. "That was quite the guy you came in with earlier--that 'Adoros,' with all his armor and whatnot on. Whatcha know about him? He seems like a decent sort, though definitely WAY outta our league socially. Though the same could be said for the Chelaxian noblewoman you're mooning over..."
The next day, the streets seem more pleasant than they have been, though still largely subdued. Your time in security passes quickly, and then you make your way to 3 Lancet Street.
On your return to the Rosa, you and Korriban find Celia sitting alone by the fire, curled up and staring into the flames. Lidda approaches the two of you, and all three of you sit at a table to chat for a minute.
"I don't mind telling you, your li'l sis is an odd duck," Lidda says to you, with a shake of her head. "Quiet, which is normal--thought she might be shellshocked, if I'm honest--but she's been staring into the fire half the night now. It don't seem healthy. And she ain't there for the heat; she's warm to the touch, and her skin ain't clammy at all. No sickness." The young bard leans back in her seat and laces her fingers behind her head with a shrug. "Eh, but then again, she's gone through a lot. She seems like a sweet kid, for all she's quiet."
When you go to rouse your little sister from her reverie, you notice that she's clutching some kind of pendant tightly--an ivory dolphin, not something you recognize. "Promises," she murmurs to you as you help her out of the chair she's curled in. "There were a lot of promises made...someone's gonna have to keep them..." She lapses into silence and snuggles against you for a while, seemingly contented.
Once you're back home, the evening passes largely quietly, though there's a brief panic when you leave Celia alone for a moment and she carelessly knocks over a candle, setting your copy of Order of Numbers ablaze. You manage to get the fire out without trouble, though, and you get Celia tucked in bed securely. She whimpers when you try to leave, though, and you end up falling asleep curled up in bed around your sister.
The next morning you dress yourself and Celia carefully, and, taking her by the hand, lead her to the Acadamae. The thirty-foot stone walls are unmissable in the ward, and you soon find yourself standing outside the main gate, before the Hall of Summoning. Placing your hand on the gate, you expect--as a former student--instant access.
But that, it seems, is not to be.
The gate ripples, and a jolt of arcane power forces you to yank your hand back in order to avoid being burned. A huge mouth forms across the gates, and speaks with the clipped, precise tones of Euphemi Orroros, the head of the Hall of Lies.
"The Acadamae is closed to all those not resident students or staff until further notice. This is a safety measure, given the recent troubles. Good-bye."
You know from witnessing Breaching Festivals that, if they intend to keep people out, there is no way that you can get into the Acadamae. There's nothing for it, then, but (once you've figured out what to do with Celia) to head back down to West Dock to meet the others at 3 Lancet Street.
Bessa throws her arms around you when you appear in the doorway, evidently relieved to see you. "Raina, little chickadee, I was so worried about you! With all those terrible people rioting, and the looting, and you not showing up last night...I feared the worst! But you're safe, thanks be to Desna!" Once you get her calmed down a little bit, you learn that she and her family are mostly fine; her husband caught a chunk of pavement to the head on his way home when he passed by a riot, but he only got cut, nothing serious. The children are all fine.
When it comes to food, however, Bessa's face turns mournful. "I'm happy to sell you what I have, of course, dear, but it's going to be more expensive than you'd like. Y'see, none of our delivery men--not one!--showed up today. I don't know if they're off rioting or if the farmers aren't bringin' in produce, or what, but things are already starting to run a little tight. Let's see what we can fix you up with, though." She loads you down with potatoes, onions, and the like.
That night, you sleep deeply, though you're plagued by bizarre dreams in which a cricket and a rabbit have a tea party and eat cakes that look like Gaedren Lamm's face, and then the rabbit eats the cricket. They're not as bad as your usual dreams, though, and you awake refreshed.
Nokalo, predictably, is furious when you show up for training the next day, and he chews you out for nearly a quarter-hour. When you avoid his questions about your disappearance, he becomes even more irate, though you can tell that he (and the others at the gym) are happy to see you well. Only about half the regulars are there, though--some have taken the day off for the Festival, but more, it seems certain, have been injured, arrested, or slain thanks to connections with the riots.
The gym closes early in the afternoon for the Festival, and by the time you're headed down to Pillar Hill, most of the toy shops are closed. The orphanage seems to have withstood the riots well, though--in fact, donations have been pouring in, given that it was founded by Eodred II, now a much-missed king. The priests who run it are glad to see you again, but have nothing in particular to report.
Once you're done at the orphanage, you continue on down to West Dock and 3 Lancet Street, stopping to grab an Oliphant Ear on the way.
The night passes peacefully for you, as it always does when Abu is by your side. You wake with the dawn and, stretching luxuriously as the sun warms your body, set off across the rooftops. To drop the "gift" from the corrupt guards at the Church of Erastil is the work of a moment--Father Judah, startled, only sees the flash of your hair as you disappear back among the Shingles. You take a leisurely route home, dropping down to the street level for minutes at a time; there are far more street vendors than usual out today, despite the paltry Festival feeling, and any time you see something you haven't had yet, it feels like you have to taste it, at least once, now that you have money. Sweetmeats, roasted nuts, crab puffs--it doesn't matter, if it's cheap finger food, you put some in your mouth.
You spend the early afternoon attempting to clean up 3 Lancet Street, though the whole idea is somewhat foreign to you. You know what a pretty place is supposed to look like, though, and the abandoned house is starting to head in that direction when the others begin to arrive.
Korriban looks at Celia, his face showing concern. He turns to Imperia. "Do you thing it's magic based? I'm not really knowledgable in that area."
Korriban smiles at his mother. "Thank you. It really gives me a chance to apply the training you gave me. And don't worry. I'll be careful. It's another good way to bring income."
At Lialda's thanks for the gold, Korriban gently smiles. "You're welcome. I thought this would be a good way to repay you and everyone here for all you've done for me. I also thought that, since I'm slated to inherit the place, it's a good way to help the business."
Korriban walks in his room after his bath... to see Lidda on his bed. Hearing her statement on the ring, Korriban only sighs as he continues to get ready for bed. "Thanks for trying, sis. I just thought that I should give the ring back. Just the right thing to do, you know?"
At her progress on the Five Fists, Korriban speaks, "Well, the tiefling, Upinoché Galzeb I think he said his name was, referred himself as some kind of soldier. He also yelled out about rising as a soldier of the armies of Dis. So, they might be semi-organized in a military way and possible devil worshippers if that helps."
At Lidda's interest in Adoros, Korriban stops. He turns his head to her as a sly smile slowly forms on his face. "You like Adoros, don't you? You like him a lot. As for what I know, he's a Cheliaxian. Possibly of noble stock, from the looks of it. He seems to be a warrior, able to use a sword. However, he seems to specialize in some kind of exotic looking ranged weapon called a 'gun'. Why do you ask?"
At Lidda's comment about Imperia, Korriban's face reddens. He tentatively says to his sister figure. "Yeah. I guess I'm swooning over Imperia. Nothing wrong with that, right? I think she likes me. Do you think I have a chance?"
Teodor spends the time listening to the voices of the city. What were the people thinking? Rumors?
Adoros will spend the evening having a few drinks (probably with Theron hanging about), a nice warm meal at a restaurant, then retire to his apartment. In the morning, he'll check in with the landlord, paying off a few more weeks of time, before heading out for the day. Part of the morning will be seeing about getting supplies to make more bullets and powder for his gun before he eventually meanders over to 3 Lancet Street to join the others to see the Festival sights.
She hops off your bed and punches you lightly in the arm. "As for Imperia...there ain't nothin' wrong with having a crush, but I did some asking around, and that girl's got some real connections back in Cheliax. Just don't get too tangled up in her, right? I don't know how she feels, but her family's like to think she's out of your league."
Despite her words, you suspect that Lidda has more of an interest in Adoros than she's let on...at this point, however, she's heading out. "I'm off to bed, Korri. Try not to get into any more trouble tomorrow. I'll keep asking about the Fists; maybe something will turn up with that new information."
Few men worry about what they say by a madman, and you hear many rumors as people swarm the streets, half-participating in the Festival. The riots, it would seem, have continued, despite the relative peace of the last several nights. They've broken out several times in the hotbeds of resistance to Queen Ileosa's rule that are Old Korvosa's Old Dock ward, the East Shore, and the area around Castle Korvosa itself. There have been sporadic riots in other parts of town as well. The Guard has been doing what they can to keep the peace, but from what you hear, it sounds like most of the riots have continued until the sudden and brutal arrival of the Order of the Nail.
You hear other rumors as well: people are saying that Eodred II's last illness was swift and terrible, a strange disease that proved beyond the skill of the priests of Sarenrae, Abadar, and even (it is whispered) Asmodeus. What's more, the Castle Seneschal, a reliable man named Neolandus Kalepopolis, has vanished. Most people say he was slain in one of the initial riots two days ago, but a few whisper that he is in hiding in Old Korvosa--though hiding from what, or whom, no one says.
The riots have clearly unsettled the city, and are expected to continue: the Bank of Abadar has closed its doors, the Acadamae is rumored to be shut, and food and other supplies are just trickling into the city. Things are going to get better before they get worse.
When you get home the night after collecting your reward, you find a much-sobered Theron waiting for you. He gladly splits a jug of wine--as well as filling you in on his many complaints and terrors of the last two days--while reclining on your couch, talking incessantly. It seems he's had a hard time of it; in particular, he keeps getting attacked because of his high standards of dress. He cannot understand why these peasants are so riled up over the simple passing of a crown. Do they not have the slightest understanding of the delicate structure of the monarchy's civil and trade policies? Do they not understand how their rioting, in addition to being pointless, is likely to actually hurt their cause, by alienating their liberal nobles who might be crucial allies going into the future? Do they...
At some point, you fall asleep in your chair, with Theron mostly passed out on the couch.
The next day goes a bit more soberly for you; people are out and about, though nowhere near so many as you'd normally expect for a festival day. The good news is that though food is scarce, the supplies you need for your gunsmithing are available enough (though it takes a while to find a store that's open). Your uncle always said that it wasn't the weapon that gave a man power; it was knowing how to use it. That's definitely true with bullets--it doesn't take much to get your own crafted from the raw materials.
Your shopping done, you head to 3 Lancet Street to meet the others.
One by one, everyone trickles into 3 Lancet Street from around the city. The place is, surprisingly, cleaner than you left it, evidently thanks to Gadriel. Raina's brought an Oliphant Ear that serves as a group snack, and Korriban's arrived laden with the spoils of your adventure into Lamm's den. You all spend a while talking, catching up, and planning before heading out to watch the parade as it goes from Eodred's Square, outside Citadel Volshyenek, to the Castle.
The sun is low and red in the sky as you wait for the parade to pass by, picking out a spot on the corner of Gold Market. The crowds are out in force, though less festive than they usually are. Before too long, you can hear the parade coming north up the street; it's not the sound you expected, though.
The clank of heavy, mailed boots announces the approaching vanguard just before they become visible around the corner of a building: hellknights. The Order of the Nail is marching, well more than threescore of them, at the front of the Founding Festival parade. They march in silence, their spiked black plate glistening the dusk, and as they approach, the people around you fall silent, staring. The hellknights march with their gauntleted hands holding their weapons of choice aloft in front of their faces, and as they move forward, their back ranks continuously peels off to take up positions spread out across the parade route.
"Citizens!" booms the knight at the head of the column. "There is no need for alarm! Maintain an ordered and respectful silence to witness to the continuance of your stable government!"
It would be almost funny if people weren't muttering and stirring slightly. The sight of the impassive hellknights forming a cordon along the parade route, however, stills any would-be dissenters.
The Sable Company comes next, riding their griffins through the streets and casting not a few withering glances at the hellknights forming the cordon on the parade route. A royal band follows, and then comes the creme de la creme: Queen Ileosa herself. The Queen rides on a milk white horse with a gray mane and tail, clad in a shimmering gown of black mourning silk; beside her rides a figure that, you realize after a few moments, must be Sabina Merrin, though you don't recognize her at first. The striking woman you met is now concealed under the heavy steel plating appropriate to a Queen's bodyguard, an anonymous gray maiden who sticks out in the whirl of colors that forms the parade.
Where the first rotten vegetable flew from is anyone's guess.
"Down with the Whore Queen!" you hear a voice cry, as it flies through the air. Ileosa's horse rears, and the refuse splatters onto the ground in front of her. The Queen looks shocked, but not alarmed; but then more cries rise up, cries for the Queen, cries against, cries of alarm as the hellknights suddenly begin to move as a single unit, converging on spot, across the square from your position, that the first vegetable flew from. More people are throwing things now, and Merrin has grabbed the Queen's bridle and started both horses off at a gallop along the parade route. Suddenly it seems that the crowd has gone mad; people are shoving, pushing, trampling each other to get away from the square, though some are pushing toward it, apparently intent on taking on the Order of the Nail with the rocks clutched in their fists. Screams rise from across the square, and you see a spurt of blood from where a hellknight has encountered a youthful resister. The screams grow louder.
Before bed, she pulls out the small coffer from the queen with some trepidation. She hesitantly opens it up, unsure whether the incredible sum of money would have instantly dissipated or turned into coal or something during the intervening hours since their meeting. Assuming the gold bars are as they were previously, she gently takes them out, one by one, and does some quick sums as to their worth... No doubt coming out pale-faced and swearing at the end of it, for it's likely more money than Raina has ever seen.
The next morning, Raina awakens with a puzzled frown on her face. No nightmares was a good thing, but... what a bizarre dream! She was used to the scary ones ending in violence or death, but... tea parties? On a whim, she sits on her bed and pulls out the 'haunted' Harrow deck and begins thumbing through them, looking for any that resemble crickets, or rabbits, or tea parties... I swear I remember seeing one like this somewhere... didn't Korriban have the Rabbit Prince or something? Though she briefly considers 'calling' Zellara for a chat on the matter of strange portents, she decides that she would tuck her concerns away for now and proceed with the rest of her day's business.
The rest of her day is as filled with mixed blessings as her dream—being chewed out by Nokalo was never fun, but seeing the orphanage flush with funds and happy faces was great. And hopefully she'll get Gadriel to smile soon too, with the warm Oliphant Ear wafting delicious scents all the way to 3 Lancet...
After an afternoon of chatter and snacks and catch-up, Raina is well and truly ready for festival-going. The young boxer seems particularly focused on getting Gadriel to enjoy the snacks and upcoming festival, lightly joking with the young girl in the hopes to see her smile, if even a little. She also awkwardly brings up the matter of the Queen's reward, bringing out the silver chest and sharing around the proceeds...
Alas, her bubbling excitement for the festival grinds to a sharp halt when they arrive at the parade. Raina's gentle grin is wiped away, replaced by a dark scowl as she glares at the dark-armoured forces as they march down the city streets. The Sable Company helps to assuage her annoyance a little—one could hardly avoid being awed by their griffon mounts—but she falls back down to a dull neutral upon seeing the Queen. Ileosa had seemed like a decent enough person when they met her up close, and yet... well, Raina just had a deep-seated dislike of nobility. Still, she tries to enjoy the proceedings as best she can.
... too bad it would all go to Hell in about ten seconds flat.
At first, Raina laughs at the spectacle of vegetables being pelted at the Queen; it was harmless citizen protest at that point, and nothing to be worried about. But she stops laughing upon seeing the Hellknight turn, her eyes widening in shock upon seeing civilians pause to pick up rocks and rubble. By the time the first blood has been shed, she is already growling in anger. Idiots! On both sides!
Raina looks around, searching for signs of any civilians unable to escape from the area—those caught up in the fighting were beyond her help now, but maybe she could help guide others to safety. If she sees anyone in immediate trouble, she dashes over as fast as she can.
Korriban chuckles at Lidda's interest in the cavalier. At Lidda's words about Imperia, the rogue's just smirks. "You know I'm not one to care about differences in class if there's a mutual attraction. But, thanks for the advice. Anyway, have a good night, sis. If you learn anything, then let me know."
When the group leaves, Korriban's practically skipping, despite the heavy burden, a huge smile on his face. He's always loved the Festival, even as an orphan. The colors, the sights, the sounds, the food. It always made him feel better. As if he's taking a break from the let downs and pain of his life. When Raina passes out the reward from the Queen, Korriban takes his share, giving Raina a gracious thank you. He stops every once in a while, partaking in food and games.
At the team's chosen spot, Korriban hops in place, excited for the parade. One of his favorite events. However, at the sight of the Hellknights leading the parade, the rogue stops his bouncing. His face becomes neutral and his arms cross over his chest.
When the Queen arrives, his brow raises, but remains silent. However, at Sabina's new wardrobe, his head tilts in confusion. He turns to the others. "Now, why would Sabina have a new set of armor? Last time I checked, that's not ceremonial armor. Nor is it her regular armor."
When the vegetables fly, Korriban can't help but snicker a bit. That's when the chaos begins. At the civilians and the Hellknights fighting each other, Korriban helps out, working with Raina in helping the civilians. He wants to help with the fighting, but the warnings from Lialda and Lidda ring through his head. However, if the civilians he's leading get into trouble, he'll try to talk their way out of trouble. If diplomacy fails, then he'll have no choice but to fight.
He does keep an eye out for any civilians he knows, new acquaintances and family from the Rosa.
As the chaos breaks out, Gadriel instinctively scampers upwards. She finds a place above the crowd, and tries to calm hers sudden panic. Once her breathing returns to a controlled tempo, she begins to look around the chaos looking for sights and sounds of danger so that she can warn her friends.
Adoros strolls up to Zellara's home with a bag of supplies while the others are enjoying another Oliphant ear. The Chelish man nods to everyone, "Ladies, Korraban . It would seem the city is still recovering from the sudden shift in leadership. I do hope the parade and festival proceed without much issue."
Adoros winces as the first vegetable goes hurtling in the direction of the Queen and the cries of outrage and panic as the Hellknights take matters into their own hands. His hand goes to his sword as he plants himself between the stampeding crowds and the others, particularly Imperia and Gadriel. His voice raises to a shout as he tries to calm the nearby citizens, "People, please calm down! Move in a orderly, even paced walk away from here. Please watch out for children, the old, and any that happen to stumble. We don't need any more lost lives due to panic!"
"Please! Ladies, gentlemen, children ...others ...Knights, is attacking a peasant wielding only a vegetable honorable?"
After saying her farewells, Imperia follows Korriban back to the Rosa, eager to see her little sister again and bring her home. Her joy is somewhat marred with worry when Lidda voices her concerns, and the sight of the strange ivory figurine Celia seems to be clutching in her little hands, something the young wizard doesn't at all recognize, only adds to her growing concerns.
'What happened... What happened to her must've touched her much more than I realized... She'll need time to recover... And my help... Little Celia... I'll always be there for you...'
After giving her thanks for watching her sister and wishing everyone a pleasant night, Imperia heads back to her apartment with Celia to spend the night, decided to swing by the Acadamae first thing in the morning and ask her old mentor Professor Quinsworth for his help and advice.
Her hopes are shattered the following morning, when the gates of the Acadamae reveal themselves to be shut tight till further notice due to the recent disorders.
"This is unfortunate... And quite irritating!" - Imperia grumbles, her fine lineaments contracted in a fairly contemptuous expression - "I would understand closing down the premises to outsiders and general visitors, but I'm a graduate student! I've lived on the Grounds for years! Disgraceful... Truly disgraceful!"
Once she's calmed done a bit, Imperia lets out a long sigh and pats her little sister affectionately - "I'm sorry Celia, I really wanted you to meet Professor Quinsworth and take your Admission Exam today... You would've have been safe here, far away from the... Unpleasantness that's engulfing the city."
Imperia kneels down to look Celia in the eye - "We'll try again tomorrow... But in the meantime, I'll take care of you. Now remember, the city is dangerous! You'll have to always stay close to me, alright? I could never forgive myself if something happened to you..." - she gives a big hug to her little sister, and when she breaks the embrace she has to clear her eyes a few times before she's ready to move on.
"Well, we might as well make our way to Lancet Street, our new friends are probably already there and waiting for us!" Smiling down to her sister and taking her by hand, Imperia makes her way to the meeting.
---
Imperia is caught off-guard when the disorders start, but as soon as she realizes the gravity of the situation she clutches Celia's shoulders firmly and keeps her as close as possible while she prepares for trouble.
In swift motions she takes her trusty crossbow from her shoulders, loads it, and hides its bulk under her ample cloak, ready to fire but trying not to attract attention. At the same time she gives a mental command to her familiar, and but a moment later the large scorpion climbs out from her robe and makes his way to Celia's shoulders, hiding under her hair.
"Rutilus'll keep an eye out for trouble. Stay close Celia... And don't worry! Everything is going to be fine..."
"People of Korvosa, please listen to reason! There are children here, innocents! Stop this madness before someone gets hurt!"
As the riot quickly spills out of control, Gadriel scampers above the crowd as the others take action. Celia backs away, staying carefully ahead of Imperia, eyes wide. Adoros, Imperia, and Korriban begin shepherding people away from the square as Raina dashes over to an injured youth and begins to help him to stand. Adoros and Imperia's words and air of command go a long way toward calming the milling citizens, and nobody attempts to stop anyone who's fleeing from the square. In fact, a space is opening up--the citizenry has either banded together around the armored Hellknights or they've fled.
All of a sudden, across the space, you hear Teodor's high, reedy voice, imploring the citizenry to calm and the knights to cease and desist. He stands with his arms outspread in front of a group of cowering citizens, and a Hellknight is headed right toward him.
"You were warned, citizen," the Hellknight booms. "Stand down!" When Teodor doesn't move fast enough, the knight grabs him roughly by the throat, lifting the ragged man off his feet, and throws him clear across the square. People scream and flee out of his trajectory, and Teodor rolls to stop with a thud a few feet ahead of where Raina crouches with her wounded citizen. The Hellknight strides after him, its greatsword humming ominously as it whips the blade up over its head and advances...
Seeing Teodor being manhandled, Korriban runs to his aid. He stands in front the Hellknight. "I may not be a Hellknight. But I'm pretty sure that chucking people across the streets isn't helping in keeping the peace." He thinks, 'This might end up getting me killed.'
Adoros starts toward the Hellknight making for Teodor, "Ser, that man was merely trying to restore order to this mob that your men have stirred up. As a citizen of Cheliax, friend of House Thrune, and designated authority with the Korvosan Guard, I demand you stand down and relinquish this Korvosan into my custody."
Raina feels caught between two things: her hatred of the Hellknights and her severe dislike of Teodor.
But, well, she knew at least one of them was trying to stop the violence at this moment. And one of them was actively hoping for more.
With a whispered word to the boy she helped for him to make himself scarce, Raina places herself in between Teodor and the Hellknight with a dark glare. Hopefully Adoros and Korriban's words would be enough to send the dark-plated guard away, but if that failed, she makes it clear from her glowering scowl that she won't put up with any nonsense from him.
Really hard to intimidate the guy whose job is to intimidate other people, it turns out...
Gadriel and Imperia freeze in horror as Teodor groans and rolls to a stop. Adoros and Korriban both start forward, their voices overlapping as they attempt to talk the advancing Hellknight down--Adoros's voice pitched for command, Korriban's for parley. Raina, however, gets out ahead of both of them, making a steely stand in front of the legionnaire's blade. The Hellknight doesn't even pause as it steps forward, overshadowing the tiny woman. As Raina stares the armored behemoth down, she meets eyes that burn with an indescribable, righteous hatred. The greatsword begins to descend with an ominous hum...
"Mistress Vox, you are ordered to halt immediately!"
A half-second before Raina would be split in two, the Hellknight's wrists twitch, and the blade is diverted diagonally away, into the dust. Turning, both you and the Hellknight find yourselves face-to-face with Cressida Kroft, who is approaching you from a knot of the Korvosan Guard, which is moving from one tussle to the next, breaking up the violence. Kroft is accompanied by a harried-looking man who appears to have elven ancestry, and wears the heavy gold and white robes of the Bank of Abadar. As Kroft approaches the Hellknight, the cleric kneels down beside Teodor and, with some murmured words, spreads his hands over the downed man's body. Teodor's bruises erase themselves, and you all feel a sense of relief wash over you as the healing wounds and bruises of the past several days are instantly wiped away. A murmur arises from the crowd surrounding you as the people there, too, feel their injuries eased.
The Hellknight, meanwhile has pulled its helm off, and, as they shake out a mane of blonde hair, you realize that the Hellknight is actually a fine-boned woman surely not older than 35. She, fortunately, doesn't seem to be paying much attention to you right now--her ire has been focused on Field Marshall Kroft.
"Field Marshall, you are interfering with the operations of the Order of the Nail in Korvosa! We were engaged in quieting an unruly pocket of your outrageous citizens when your Guard swept in and disrupted our efforts. Now most of the troublemakers are gone, and will face neither trial nor punishment!"
"You'll forgive me if I don't weep with sorrow," Kroft says with a derisive snort. "You lot may have been asked into the city by the Queen to help keep the peace, and I'll recognize your efforts in that direction, but you're not the keepers of the law here, Vox. I am. Your Order is welcome in Korvosa only so long as they remain subject to the Korvosan Guard. And I watched your soldiers charge into a peaceful crowd, breaking bones and maiming people to get at one 'troublemaker.'"
"The Sacred and Infernal Code of Cheliax," Vox recites, "cites death as immediate punishment for any who make designs upon the life of a sovereign--"
"Which it's very unclear was the case here," Kroft snarls.
"--and, moreover, allows for the immediate removal of any and all persons harboring or shielding said perpetrator from the agents of justice," Vox continues, unperturbed. "My soldiers were quite within their rights, Field Marshall. Your little 'peace-keeping' operation here was an obstruction of justice that will generate more chaos in the end, as this would-be assassin lives to attack the Queen again."
Kroft's eyes have narrowed as the younger woman declaimed. "First of all, whoever that was threw a tomato at the Queen, not a brick. Second, and more importantly, we do not follow the Code of Cheliax here, and you are not the law. Korvosa is an independent colony, owing allegiance but not fealty to the crown, and we have our own laws. Enforcement of those laws falls under my jurisdiction. You were brought in to help manage riots, and there was no riot here until you started one. Tell Boneclaw that if I find you or any of your men at the heart of another such disturbance again, I will arrest each and every one of you personally. Clear?"
Vox has gone pale with fury by this point but, tight-lipped, she nods. As the Hellknight turns away and begins barking orders to her men, Kroft turns toward you, breathing a visible sigh of relief.
"And here you lot are again. You must be mad indeed, to tangle with Mistress Vox," she comments to Teodor with a grin. "I appreciate your attempts to negotiate here, all of you, but a Hellknight listens to only two things: force and rank. Fortunately I have the latter, if not the former..." She glances around at Vox, lips pursed, and shakes her head, looking disgruntled. "They're a necessary evil. I hope that we can get them out of Korvosa soon. In the meantime, it's probably best for you lot to make yourselves scarce--I can prevent Vox from executing or arresting you, but best not to imprint yourselves to strongly on her memory. Things are breaking up here, anyway."
She seems to be right--people are dispersing from the square moving in hushed, quiet groups of whisperers.
"Ah, Archbanker Tuttle! I am but a low street priest, it is an honor to be healed by your blessings."
Imperia sighs in relief as the tense situation is finally defused, and for the first time since the disorders started she lets go of Celia's shoulders and pats her affectionately on her head.
Taking her sister by hand, she makes her way to Field Marshall Kroft and beaming her a bright smile thanks her profusely - "My lady, it's a pleasure to see you again, and you have our sincerest thanks for your timely intervention. Without your help, things would've surely taken a turn for the worst..."
Turning toward the old healer, Imperia lower herself in a gracious courtsey before addressing him - "Please let me express my gratitude to you as well, Master Tuttle. I am Imperia Videlia Aspexia Winthrune, delighted to make your acquaintance. Your gift of healing was as providential as it was welcome."
When she's reasonably sure she can talk to the others without being overheard, Imperia warns her friends about their new 'acquaintance' - "That Hellknight was the Mistress of Blades Maidrayne Vox, the leader of the Order of the Nail's martial division. 'Boneclaw' is the nickname of Lictor Severs DiVri, the commander of the Order. Marshall Kroft was right to warn us, it'd be best to be very careful should we ever cross paths again..."
Korriban sighs in relief as the Hellknight stalks off. "Oh, man. That was too close." He turns to the others. "Is everyone all right?"
He turns to Kroft. "Thanks. We owe you big time." Turning to the priest next to her, he smirks and says, "Ah. Archbanker Tuttle. A pleasure to meet you. Thank you for aiding us. I am Korriban Balros, son of Lialda Balros, owner of the Rosa in Fiore and priestess of the Savored Sting."
Turing to the direction the Hellknight took off in. "So that was Maidrayne Vox, the Mistress of Blades and leader of the Order of the Nail's martial division. Why do I get the feeling that we're going to cross paths with her again in the future? Hopefully, Lictor Severs DiVri aka Boneclaw, the commander of the Order, will keep her in line. By the way, can anyone tell me what kind of nickname is Boneclaw? Really doesn't make any sense." He helps Teodor get on his feet. "Feeling alright, Teo?"
"For a moment I thought I was hearing double, but I think its no great trouble."
Korriban pats the cleric on the back before handing him his share of the entirety of the profits. "Here you go. You can do what you want with that. Buy new gear or make some donations."
"What price life, what price dead? What price for that Hellknight's head?"
Adoros shakes his head at Teodor, "Don't go down that path, my friend. You tangle with one Hellknight and soon you're up to your neckline in them. They are an unforgiving lot. Best to obey the law and stay out of their gaze if possible." The Chelish man bows to the Field Marshal and the Arch-banker at the timely intervention, "A poor way to meet again, Field Marshal, but thank you, and you as well Archbanker, for stopping Mistress Vox from escalating things into a public brawl. There has been enough blood shed over this unrest."
"Fear not, Adoros. Worldly goods mean nothing to one of my faith. Archbanker, perhaps your balanced mind of numbers might help me distribute these tawdry coins to those hurt by the Order of the Nail?"
The Archbanker shakes his head slightly at Teodor's request for charity. "Though I am happy to take from you payment for my services rendered this day, I do not insist on it, brother," he says in a gentle, deep voice. "I gave aid to stabilize the situation, which in my estimation has prevented enough chaos to be worth the cost of my efforts. However, if you wish, I will act as courier to transport this...remarkably generous donation to the Hospital of the Dawnflower. They are a remarkably difficult public work to keep solvent." Straightening and dusting his hands, he helps Teodor to his feet and glances at the priest slightly askance. "If I may ask, brother, what deity do you serve? Your outfit gives one little information."
In response to the others' introductions, he merely nods acknowledgement, though he pauses at Korriban's mention of the Rosa, and presses his lips together slightly. "I know nothing of your mother's establishment, but I trust that it is a respectful institution that pays its vice taxes on time. I know few Calistrian priests in Korvosa...I'm sure your mother is a fascinating woman."
Cressida Kroft, too, waves off your thanks. "Just doing my job, here--and how would it be if I let the Hellknights murder my latest special operations team, eh?" At Korriban's question, she adds, "Boneclaw got his name--not that I'd ever call him that to his face--from his right hand. Some mage or devil or something or other withered it in a conflict many years back, and it's never recovered. He's a fearsome man; I've met him before on business, but I prefer not to."
"I serve My Lord Groetus, Pharasma's Last Gardener, good Archbanker. For all things must end, surely. But today should not end any innocents. My Lord would have me donate to the hospital."
At the Archbanker's statement to him, Korriban only smirks and says, "Don't worry. The Rosa pays its taxes like everyone else. Been following tax laws ever since Grandma Kazallin moved here from Kaer Maga over 50 years ago. It would be troublesome not to. And it'd bad for business." At his compliment towards his mother, Korriban smiles. "Thank you, Archbanker. My mother is good. But she pales in comparison to Grandma Kazallin. Very powerful priestess."
Korriban only smiles at Kroft's explanation. He says in a joking manner, "And I bet he's a very cheery person, too. I mean, with a name and personality like that, he must be a riot at parties."
Archbanker Tuttle recoils slightly--but perceptibly--at the mention of Teodor's patron. "You serve--" He turns to Kroft heatedly. "You have taken lawless madmen into your service, Field Marshall! Were you aware of what this man is?!"
The Field Marshall blinks, and turns narrowed eyes on Teodor. "Well, I know he's a bit odd, but..."
"This man serves the god of entropy, the herald of dissolution, the undoer of order!" Tuttle practically spits out. "If you value my advice, dismiss the Groetan and his...compatriots...from your service immediately!" He turns back to Teodor, face hard. "I have already agreed to act as courier, and I will not renege on my word. But know that I will have no further dealings with you or your depraved 'church.'" Taking the money Teodor had offered him, he storms off.
Kroft watches him go, slightly open-mouthed. Finally she clears her throat and turns to the six of you. "Well," she says quietly. "I do value the Archbanker's advice. That said--" she holds up a hand to stymie objections before they begin. "You have so far proven yourselves useful to me, and I'd say you're good servants and citizens of Korvosa. I'm not one with a very strong religion myself, so as far as I'm concerned, you may worship the gods you please." She glares at Teodor. "But if I hear one word of you causing trouble while you're conducting Guard business, you and I will have an unpleasant discussion. Now get on home, you lot."
"Oh but my money was fine with him ...money made by saving lives. Abadarians ...they have no prophets ...only profits. Furthermore, he is wrong on my theology. I do not worship destruction, or even the End itself. I merely acknowledge it. There is an end ...to everything. To ignore this is foolish. Thus, we mUST work hard in the time we've got. But Field Marshall Krofft, I assure you I'd never do guard work while making trouble."
The blur of events that transpired in the past scant handful of minutes seemed to be something out of one of Raina's nightmares. That foul Hellknight, with all the apathetic cruelty of their ilk, was ready to split her skull in two for having the audacity to protect the fallen. Raina only vaguely recognised just how close her brush with death was; probably a mental defence mechanism, for the most part. But all she's immediately cognisant of is her smouldering anger, and how she meets the Hellknight's fierce glare of loathing with an equally firm stare of her own. Bring it on, the fires in her eyes tell the Hellknight. I'd like to see you try.
Luckily, her unspoken taunt has no need to be brought to fruition with the timely intervention of Cressida Kroft and the Archbanker, both household names in their own rights. The warmth of Darb Tuttle's healing powers helps to soothe not only the dull ache in her midsection but also the anger festering in her heart, although that second part is quickly replaced by schadenfreude as the Field-Marshall serves the Hellknight a knew one. Raina smirks up at Vox as she is slapped down with the very force of the law that she follows, but resists the urge to say anything herself. She hopes the Hellknight can read minds instead. Suck it, b@#~@.
"I really don't think they're even a necessary evil, Field-Marshall," Raina mutters bitterly, watching Vox stalk off with a scowl. "There's no way that the benefits outweigh the utter pain and suffering they inflict. No. Bloody. Way." Imperia's quick briefing on the woman's identity just confirms her point, although Raina silently hopes that Vox does remember her, at least a little. Otherwise it wouldn't be as fun to smash her face in next time I see her!
With that dealt with, Raina then turns to face both Cressida and Darb and offers them a grin and her thanks along with the others. "I'll make sure to chuck a couple of coins the way of the temple of Abadar next time I'm in the neighbourhood, sir!" The church of Abadar was not one she paid much heed or respect to in general, but fair was fair after all.
Alas, Teodor's 'cult' (she still refused to call it a religion, and Archbanker Tuttle's reaction to the very name of his messed-up Lord seemed to confirm her distaste for Groetus as well) manages to piss off the very people they had just made good relations with, and Raina sighs in disgust. "I don't want anything to do with his messed-up faith either," she mutters sourly to Kroft, not bothering to lower her voice even though Teodor is right in front of her, "and I won't let him do anything weird. Promise." She even manages to smile a little here, adding, "...and I'll be looking forward to hearing from you soon, ma'am."
Barring any words from the rest of the crew, Raina will do as Kressida says and head on home as soon as possible. The unfortunate events of the festival had left her with a sour taste in her mouth, and she wanted to get home and relax as fast as she could.
Korriban smirks and says in his joking manner, "Well, seems today was rather productive. Sold our things, saw the parade, participated in a riot, angered a Hellknight, Teo got chucked across the street, Rai-Rai almost got cut in two, met the Archbanker, and got him to be wary of us. And I have a feeling that this won't be the last time we cross paths with the Hellknights. Vox in particular. And I don't know why, but I'm getting the feeling we may meet with ol' Boneclaw. I could be paranoid. But then again, that seems to be the common vibe coming from the city at this point. So, yeah, I'm normal."
The rogue turns to the others. "So, around the same time and place tomorrow?"
Gadriel watches the chaos below, calling out to her friends when she can. As the Hellknight bears down, Abu lets out a throaty growl. Luckily Lady Kroft was there to stop things before they got out of hand.
The small girl stays on the roofs, listening to the conversations below but unwilling to venture into the dangerous area known as "the ground." Preferring her perch above, she waves as the party retires. "We will go back to 3 Lancet. We... like it. We like having a roof under our head."
Kroft still gives Teodor a hard look, but she nods her thanks to Raina as she departs. As you all head back to your various homes and bases, the sun sinks low over the city. You can hear the distant sounds of a metropolis putting itself to bed for the night: carousing, cursing, cheers, and, distantly, what might another conflict. But the streets between you and home are mostly clear.
The "ded gods temple" probably refers to the Temple of Aroden, a crumbling relic now attended by three lonely priests on the eastern end of Old Korvosa.
After reading the note, Korriban sighs. "Pia. That woman we saved from Yargin when we attacked Lamm's lair. She seems rather... interested in me. I wonder what she could want. Apparently, she wants to meet at Aroden's Temple at 10 tomorrow morning. Think I should bring the others, mother?"
The next day dawns grey and drizzly. The city has subsided after the excitement of the last three days, and few people seem to be out and about. It occurs to you that today must be Vancaskerkin and the other Cow Hammer Boys' trial...though you might have other things to get done, as well.
Korriban nods at his mother. He then heads to bed.
Korriban gets ready and, after breakfast, he runs out into the drizzle. He makes his way to the Temple. It's obvious that he's in a slight hurry to attend Vancaskerkin's trial. When he arrives, he whispers out, "Pia? Pia, are you there? Where are you?"
"Ah, you heard about that?" Raina grimaces at the memory of the day's events, particularly at that hateful glare Vox had given her. She didn't know how Zellara had heard about it from the... spirit realm, or whatever, but knew enough not to question how this magic stuff worked. "Yeah, it was bloody awful. Those freaking Hellknights are the absolute worst! They'd kill someone for throwing a tomato at the queen!" She growls, "They're like vultures, just hanging around for any excuse to swoop down and pray on people. Ugh."
Luckily, Zellara moved to the cards at this point, allowing Raina to push aside her anger and return to the topic for which she had summoned the friendly woman here in the first place. "Ah... yeah." The young Korvosan shuffles uncomfortably, averting her eyes from Zellara's own. "You might think I'm pretty weird for fussin' about this stuff, but... I dunno. Too much weird stuff going on lately for me to be questioning my instincts at this point."
"So... I had this dream." She glances shyly up at the Varisian as she begins to recount her dream. "There was a cricket and a rabbit having a tea party. They were eating cakes that looked like Lamm's ugly mug, and then the rabbit ate the cricket at the end. Kinda weird, I know. But... I dunno." Raina points at the Harrow cards. "It made me think of these. The Rabbit Prince and the Cricket, y'know? They came up in the reading as well..."
Raina shrugs. "What do you think? Am I over-thinking this? My dreams are usually pretty tormenting, not just... plain weird."
She picks up the two cards you had mentioned, the light from your candles calling out the deep jewel tones they're painted in. "As for the Cricket and the Rabbit Prince...they are both capricious cards, cards of dexterity and speed that belong to the suit of keys." She taps the key visible on both cards. "The Key Cards are linked to the idea of quickness, of dexterity and nimbleness, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. The Rabbit Prince sometimes indicates a young man...a nobleman, perhaps, or just a young and important man--although it was also the signifier of your friend Teodor in our earlier reading. More broadly, it represents the dangers of combat and the role chance can play in our lives. The Cricket represents travel, and is a more purely aligned card--usually, it represents travel with some form of reward at the end of one's journey. It was also, I believe, your signifying card."
Sitting back slightly, the Varisian woman frowns. "What it could mean for the rabbit in your dream to eat the cricket, I do not know...perhaps that some conflict will keep you from undertaking an important journey. That is the most literal interpretation, I would say...but again, I stress that dreams are potent but strange things. For any woman to say that she 'knows' what a dream means, among my people, is to far overstep the bounds of ordinary Harrowing." She smiles at you. "If it will ease your mind, I could perform a reading for you--but otherwise, I fear I have little insight to offer besides vague guesses."
"Master Balros," a deep, guttural voice responds. Slowly a shadow detaches itself from the wall and moves toward you, resolving into a tall, shirtless, muscular blond man--Ulfen, by the look of him and by his accent, though his hair is short and he's clean-shaven. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I have a somewhat...delicate business proposition to discuss with you."
Pia clambers awkwardly to her feet. "I think you owe me summat, Tallak!" Not removing his eyes from you, the Ulfen nods, and, reaching into the pocket of his breeches, he withdraws a small vial of some milky substance. Only now does his gaze shift--he glances at the vial in his hand before tossing it to Pia. She scrambles across the alley on all fours to retrieve it. The Ulfen's lip curls.
"I've told you before, Pia, that you should embrace the discipline of my order. You are weak, as you are--your body subject to men's lusts because it cannot control its own. Once, I was like you. But now I'm--"
"Free from the curse o' this drug, yadda-yadda-yadda," Pia mutters, cutting him off and eliciting a flash of anger. "All fine for you, but I got my own needs, and I'll thank you not to go looking out for me. Korriban--" she looks at you sadly. "I hope you don't go blamin' me for leading him to you. A girl's got needs." She turns and disappears up the alley behind the Ulfen.
"So, Master Balros," the man says, smiling. "I mentioned I had some business to discuss. My name is Tallak, and I am a representative of the Five Fists. I believe you have met one of our agents previously...in a not-too-convivial meeting?"
At the revelation of Pia's treachery, Korriban stands there. He stares at the Ulfen before smiling and saying, "Oh, hi there! Didn't see you there. You're... really tall, aren't you?" As Pia scrambles away, Korriban shakes his head. Turning back to the Ulfen, Korriban says, "So... Tallak, was it? You want to talk? I have met one of your boys under "unfortunate" circumstances. So, may I ask why you had Pia call me out, at Aroden's Temple, in the middle of the cold, cold rain? Not to be rude, but I do have other business to take care of." He keeps his eye out for any other goons hiding.
The rogue carefully moves his hand over his right side and carefully removes his smokestick from his pouch, hoping that the Ulfen doesn't notice.
Tallak smiles easily at you. "I shall not keep you long, Master Balros. I have, indeed, a business proposition for you as well. The circumstances under which you met our associate were unfortunate, but both your and his reactions made sense. We can now have frank discussions, since both of us are in the light. You see, the Five Fists are a small civic group...a collective of Korvosan citizens, if you will. We're interested in the well-being of those who come to our fair city, particularly those of Chelaxian origin. Hence, you will understand, our interest in getting young Ms. Winthrune out of Gaedren Lamm's clutches."
The Ulfen folds his arms and meets your gaze levelly. "I'm sure you can appreciate that it is of the utmost importance for us to make sure that she and her sister come away from Korvosa with a favorable impression. To that end, we're hoping that you can see clear to keeping us apprised of their movements--let us do some behind-the-curtain security, that sort of thing. There would certainly be some remuneration for you--or compensation of another kind, if your desires run less toward gold than toward, say, flesh, or liquor. With the first, particularly, I could help you." He smiles again.
You don't see any goons, and although this organization is clearly more than just "a collective of citizens," the offer seems genuine. You get a feeling that while he's interested, though, he's not just interested in the Chelaxian sisters' "well-being..."
Adoros welcomes the day with a groan as he struggles to free himself from sleep. The last few weeks have seemed to last forever and the exhaustion of it all finally hit him last night. He finally throws the covers off as he stumbles up and over to his washbasin. A quick shave, rigorous scrubbing of his face with water and soap, and a trip to the water closet, Adoros was ready to face the day. The morning is taken up by making extra repairs to his musket and laying out all the materials that would be needed in crafting new ammunition for it.
Later that day, Adoros makes time in his busy schedule to go see the trial of the Cow Hammer Boys' trial. He hoped the lot, excluding Vancaskerkin, got the long drop at the end of a rope.