The entire course of events had gone quickly, the defeat of the Emperor, the speeches, and the beheading of the bastard. Lantressa had to admit, quietly, that the last was maybe a bit too much but it wasn't something she could greatly effect. A part of her greatly enjoyed the blood as his head rolled, a part of her that sickened her.
When Lantressa heard where the girls from the Rosa were she took it as a chance to get away from the whole scene. She quickly headed to where they were being kept, even before Korriban who had been involved in the grandstanding, and checked the door to see if it was locked. She resolved that, one way or another, she was getting that door opened.
Callie nods at Korriban.
"Why don't you go on ahead to look for the girls with Lantres..." Callie looks around. "Has anyone seen Lantressa? Maybe she already started. Well, why don't you and Teo go--and keep an eye out for Lantressa--and Matoska and I can chat with Scream and then catch up with you. Scream's been a prisoner of the Emperor too and I don't think he should be kept waiting too long."
The Shoanti glances away from the milling crowd of malcontents he'd be warily watching--or were they rebels, now?--and gives Callie an inquisitive look. "Any particular reason to have me remain here?"
As Korriban heads into the palace, Gerrald calls out, “Don’t open the door at the end o’ the hall! The outer wall’s broken down an’ some chokers nested in there. Your friends should be the first door on the left.”
Laori, you discover, has taken advantage of the bustle to sling one arm around Salvator Scream, and is talking to him—urgently and at low volume—in one corner of the platform. They break apart as you approach, with Laori shaking her head and looking disappointed. “Well. If that ever changes...if you ever feel that old spark again, you let me know, huh? I’d be really interested.” She turns back to you two. “He’s all yours, pals! And he mentioned to me that there’s some paintings of his in His Imperial Majesty’s former bedchamber. Mind if I go retrieve those? Professional interest, you understand.” Salvator, for his part, looks nervous but otherwise better than he has before—the more so once Callie casts her spell on him. He’d clearly like to get out of here, though.
Before leaving to look for prostitutes, Teodor channels his healing powers at the crowd (and any injured friends).
"Let it be known that the Lord Groetus has shined upon you all, bringing an End to your woes!"
Korriban nods at Callie and runs off into the palace. "Lantressa! Wait up! I'm coming with you!"
When Gerrald calls the Emperor by name, she focuses to see if she ever heard of the man.
After Garrald leaves, she answers Matoska. "You were looking for Orsini, right? I figured you'd want to question the man who had last been seen with him, but by all means go where you like."
To Laori, she shrugs. "I wouldn't mind seeing the paintings before you go--appreciation of art and all that--but by all means, sure."
She sits down by Salvator, and offers him some bread from her backpack and her waterskin.
"We won't keep you much longer--we came looking for you because you are an associate of Vencarlo Orsini's. He's gone missing, and his school is burned down, so we're a bit worried. Anything you might know would be helpful.
"Also, when we went to your house, there were scraps from the mantle of office belonging to an official named Kalepopolis? That's more a matter of curiosity, but do you know anything about that?"
The first painting is a full portrait of a rail-thin humanoid, garbed all in shadows, standing framed by a massive dolmen. The figure's bright blue eyes are the only true points of color in the painting, and they seem almost to glow with fury.
The second painting depicts a rugged mountain range under a harsh, blue desert sky. In the foreground, a quartet of Vudrani tusked camels ridden by tribespeople garbed in silk race across dunes that, when you look closer, you realize are made up of tiny skulls.
The final painting is the most disturbing: it depicts a human man peeling away the skin of his forearms as if they were simply gloves. Underneath, his arms are muscular and covered with glittering blue scales. The man's expression communicates delight, but his eyes are pits of absolute blackness. Half seen in the shadowy background are thousands of humans impaled on towering wooden poles, erected in the shadow of an indistinct shape on the horizon: perhaps a castle, perhaps a mountain, but likely something more. This piece is truly an extraordinary masterwork, showing craftsmanship far beyond the others.
Laori turns back to the two of you. "Still good for me to keep these? They're of, uh...artistic interest to me."
Callie recognizes nothing of import about the paintings. She does examine them out of morbid curiosity, an interest in tales, and logs their content in her memory for use in tale-telling and comparison to stories she may encounter later.
She nods. "Look, I'm well aware we're probably allowing you to take items that are probably quite valuable in the right circles. Quite frankly, however, I don't know or care to know those circles, so you go on and enjoy them. If they are of benefit to your faith, then they're probably serving the best purpose they can."
After Laori leaves, Callie shrugs at Scream. She looks around, as where they stand, no one else is with them and most of the Shinglesnipes have scattered by now. "I thought we were in private, more or less, but we can go back to the Executioner's bedroom, I suppose. Shame the Emperor melted all that nice silverware. Would that suit you?"
Scream shudders. "I really just...want to get out of here as soon as possible. But if you need to talk now...ok. Ok, let's go there."
Laori raises her eyebrow. "Well, I was gonna offer to escort Salvator off this gods-forsaken rock...but it seems like you all have some more catching up to do. Don't worry, I won't try to tag along. I'm not dumb, I can tell that you probably wouldn't want me there. But thanks for the paintings. Say g'bye to the others for me, and maybe we'll run into each other again some time!" Whistling cheerily, she bundles up the paintings and trots out of the palace.
As Korriban, Teodor, and Lantressa emerge from the storeroom with the prisoners, you run into Callie and Matoska escorting Scream back into the building. Callie signals you to follow, and your group heads into the bedroom of the Emperor, with the prisoners waiting in the hall outside.
It occurs to you as you pass through the antechamber you fought in that the crystal decanter, though slightly scorched, is probably worth something. There might be more of value on the bodies of Jabbyr and Devargo, but you can go through all that later.
The Emperor's former bedroom is extravagantly decorated, with a four-poster bed and large bookshelf, but as you look closer you see that everything is stained, grimy, mildewed, or otherwise past its prime. Salvator paces nervously, and once the door is shut, he turns to you and begins to pour forth a confession.
"I'll tell you what I know--but you have to get me out of here, too! Old Korvosa's become a madhouse. Pilts was...he was the worst of it, but everything's gone straight to the Hells. I'm lucky to be alive. Anyone still here is." He takes a deep, steadying breath, and then sits down on the bed.
"What I'm gonna tell you...I wouldn't want to, except that I think it might be something that is so much bigger than I am that it needs to be said. And I...I screwed up, I think. Badly.
"I've talked with Vencarlo Orsini a bunch of times. He came to me because he was looking for clues about Neolandus Kalepopolis. Neo is supposed to be dead, but Vencarlo realized he was still alive! And he's been...for the first couple of weeks after Eodred died, Neolandus was staying with me.
"I met Neolandus a couple of years ago. He used to come up to Old Korvosa, incognito, and take in shows sometimes. I...I used to paint backdrops for Pilts, the Emperor, when he was still a showman. Neo heard about that and looked up my gallery work...he took an interest. We'd meet at cafes, chat about art, politics, the world, whatever. He was a good guy, and he came to see me regularly.
"Then, morning after the old king died, Neo showed up at my door. He was bloody, delirious...I figured out later that he'd been poisoned. But I figured out that he needed a place to hide, so I took him in. He got better after a few days, and he told me..." Scream looks around, then lowers his voice to a whisper. "He told me that Queen Ileosa killed the old king! I know it's been a rumor for a while now, but Neo said it as a fact. She murdered the king, and entered into some sort of contract with the Red Mantis assassins--they're the ones who attacked him. He managed to escape, but...he told me that he was very worried about the city. Worried because of the Queen. He told me she'd...changed. Gotten 'worse' somehow, in the last few weeks. I don't know what he meant by that, exactly, but...given the last couple of months, I believe it!"
He sits back, shaking his head and looking uneasy. "The thing is, we both knew that my house wasn't safe for him. There was no way he could hide there forever, not with actual assassins coming after him. So...I convinced him to come with me to visit someone I thought could help." Salvator covers his face. "I brought him to the Arkonas."
Salvator groans. "I thought they'd be able to keep him safe! And Glorio...their leader...he'd been a patron of mine before. He agreed to shelter Neo, and told me that they'd protect him. But then I didn't hear from Neo for weeks...and when Orsini came and started asking questions I didn't know who to trust. Finally Orsini convinced me to let him know what had happened and when I told him...he was so angry! He told me all sorts of horrible things about the Arkonas--stories I'd never heard before. When I left, I was frightened, but now...I just hope I haven't sent Neo to his death."
He looks up at you, seeming haunted. "I hope I haven't sent both of them to their deaths. I think Orsini must have gone to confront the Arkonas. His home burned down not long after that, but he wasn't in it, and there's been no trace of him since...so I think he must have gone there. Whether he's still alive or not, I don't know! But I think he went there to get Neolandus back. He said it was 'very important' to all of Korvosa that Neolandus be free...because he's the only one who can legally challenge a sitting monarch." A wry smile creeps across the haggard artist's lips.
"I've screwed things up pretty well for everyone, haven't I?"
As Korriban, Teodor, and Lantressa emerge from the storeroom with the prisoners, you run into Callie and Matoska escorting Scream back into the building. Callie signals you to follow, and your group heads into the bedroom of the Emperor, with the prisoners waiting in the hall outside.
Korriban sees Callie, Matoska, and Scream heading back into the building. "Hey. Where did Laori go?" Getting the signal from Callie, Korriban mutters, "Crap..." Turning to the group of prisoners, he says, "Sorry guys. We need to take to someone really quick. But don't worry. We'll get you guys out of here and back home."
Korriban listens to Scream's story, completely blown away by this. He racks his brain for more information on the Arkonas.
Korriban scowls at the mention of the Arkonas. "D****t... This is not good. The Arkonas have ties to a bunch of underground activities and gangs in the city. I've met Glorio. Seemed like an okay guy, but it was probably some sort of act. Now that I think about; I think wherever case Teodor, Lantressa, and I have been on has had some sort of connection to the Arkonas. I'll ask Vancaskerkin at the Rosa when we get back." He then smiles at Scream. "Hey, it's okay. You didn't know. It's hard to keep track of all this stuff. Don't blame yourself."
When they met back up with the others Lantressa listened to the discussion intently. What Scream had to say was no less than they had already figured out but it was confirmation that they were right and that was huge. As he began to talk of the Arkona's Lantressa began to think on what she knew of them.
Unfortunately she came up with nothing.
At the sound of the word, "Arkonas," Callie grows silent and suddenly looks... well, like she might be on the verge of vomiting.
After the others speak, Callie says quietly, "I wouldn't put the burning of the school past the Arkonas. Or hiring the Red Mantis. Even a man of Orsini's talents... we've got to figure out how to get to him."
She looks at Scream, then the others. "Folks, Scream needs a place to stay. Korriban, do you think you could help him until the quarantine gets lifted? As for Laori, she questioned Scream, and wanted some paintings. I let her take them... I'm sorry, I should have consulted with you, but I kind of would rather deal with the things we need to attend to without a priest of Zon Kuthon breathing down our necks."
Scream looks around at all of you, clearly waiting for a decision.
"I really am sorry," he mutters. "Fort Korvosa--the Arkonas' ward--it's the safest place in the district right now. Their private guard are keeping order, more or less. I thought Neo would be safe there. I'll stay wherever you want."
She looks at Scream, then the others. "Folks, Scream needs a place to stay. Korriban, do you think you could help him until the quarantine gets lifted? As for Laori, she questioned Scream, and wanted some paintings. I let her take them... I'm sorry, I should have consulted with you, but I kind of would rather deal with the things we need to attend to without a priest of Zon Kuthon breathing down our necks."
Korriban frowns at Callie's question of hiding Scream at the Rosa. "I don't know. If the Red Mantis are hunting down Master Vencarlo and the Seneschal, then what if they connect Salvator to them? What if they start hunting him down? I really don't want them launching an attack on my family." He nods at Callie's explanation about Laori. "It's okay. Just wish I had said goodbye to her. She's been a big help and all."
"Well now that's a thing I'm worrying about," Scream mutters.
"I don't think they're hunting them down, I think the Red Mantis were just finishing a job with the fire. It's just that you're the only person with property here. Isn't that what you expect of landed folk--to share it with persons in need? But no..." her face softens. "We don't want to endanger your family."
She shakes her head. "Most of the places I know of in the area are fencing kens and shiver dens... not where I'd want to send someone to safety." She pauses, then snaps her fingers. "Scream, I know you don't want to think about him anymore, but the Emperor... Pilts, he was some kind of showman, wasn't he? Did he have a theater or something? If that's still around you could probably stay there, not many would think to look for you there. Or... Teo, Lantressa, any ideas?"
Korriban thinks for a moment before saying, ”I would suggest Eel’s End. We did just kill Devargo. We could use that to our advantage. But members of Lantressa’s family are there. Don’t want to risk them as well. And I did have the idea of recruiting the guards, brothel workers, and the better people from Eel’s End to the Rosa to help fortify it and protect Scream there. But it would probably still draw the same risks.”
"Quit your dawdling. Everything dies." Something has gotten under Teodor's skin.
She tilts her head at Korriban. "Eel's End? You think a safe place to stay is at the center of the drug trade where there is now a power vacuum?"
"Which of us do you mean, Teo?" Callie frowns. "Or are you just sick of the conversation in general? In which case, the fastest way to end it would be to suggest something."
"We came in by boat, is there no chance of getting Scream out of Old Korvosa in a similar fasion? Perhaps some of Korriban's family too." Matoska has been leaning against a nearby wall by an exterior window, most of his attention on the milling 'court' of the departed Emperor and otherwise keeping a lookout/
"I mean the boy, Ms. Cobalt. He is wracked with indecision. I don't care where we take him, as long as it's better than abandoning him. My time here ...I don't remember."
She tilts her head at Korriban. "Eel's End? You think a safe place to stay is at the center of the drug trade where there is now a power vacuum?"
Korriban frowns at this. "Sorry. I'm just put into a spot right now and I'm saying the ideas that I'm thinking of."
"We came in by boat, is there no chance of getting Scream out of Old Korvosa in a similar fasion? Perhaps some of Korriban's family too." Matoska has been leaning against a nearby wall by an exterior window, most of his attention on the milling 'court' of the departed Emperor and otherwise keeping a lookout.
Korriban scratches his chin at this. "Sounds like a good idea to me. It'd get them out of Old Korvosa, at least."
"I mean the boy, Ms. Cobalt. He is wracked with indecision. I don't care where we take him, as long as it's better than abandoning him. My time here ...I don't remember."
Korriban almost manages to figure out the subtlety of Teodor's statement. But he manages to miss it at the statement of him being indecisive. "Well, I'm sorry. I'm just really in a spot here." Looking at the others, he says, "I guess that getting Scream out with the boat is the best option we have. I just want my family out of Old Korvosa to safety as well." He turns to Lantressa. "Tress? Do you want to get your family from Eel's End out too?"
Callie doesn't try to read Teodor, but merely replies, drawing on her own experience. "Oh, I had my share of blackouts too around here..." She mutters.
Callie shakes her head at the others. "We got in to old Korvosa by boat because the smugglers were willing to get us in because I traded them a dose of the cure--and it still took them two weeks to arrange the transit. Did..." Callie blinks. "Did you just think we were gonna hop on a boat home any old time when we were done? The plan as I recall was once we were in we'd deal with the problems here, then have to find a way out--or wait for the quarantine to lift. Even if I--and apparently I'm the only person here willing to risk anything to help one other here--pull another favor to get us OR Scream out, it's going to take awhile for that to be arranged, just like it was to get us IN. IF it's possible at all. And there's no getting whole groups out until the quarantine is lifted."
She frowns and turns to the artist. "Scream, I won't abandon you. You've been through enough, and you gave us the information we wanted. I..." she sighs, her eyes lowering to the floor, "I only spent a lot of time here when I was pinching purses to feed a shiver habit. I don't have a lot of solid resources here. But maybe I can think of something..."
Korriban blinks at Callie’s words and tries to calm himself down. He also thinks of the area of the city that he grew up in.
Scream blinks, clearly taken aback by Callie's kind words. "Uh...thank you. For what it's worth, I...I do appreciate what you're doing for me." He sighs and slumps slightly. "Pilts's theater...I heard that it was burned down in the chaos of the first day or two after the quarantine was imposed. Maybe that was why he set up shop here. And who knows...maybe that's what drove him to become what he did. Though if I'm honest, he was always a little twisted." He gives you a slight, haunted smile. "Not unlike me."
With all the chaos in Old Korvosa, and given how long you've been away, neither Callie nor Korriban can think of anywhere that you know would be a safe place for Scream to stay. But another possibility does occur to Callie...Amin Jalento, the young student of Orsini's that you met. Presumably he'd be willing to help out a friend of his teacher, and though his improvised dwelling here isn't "secure" in any real sense of the word, it's in a safer part of the district and there's no way that the Red Mantis--or anyone else, for that matter--could connect it to you or to Scream.
At that moment, there's a knock on the door. "Korri? Are we gonna be able to head out soon?" one of the Rosa workers calls.
Callie's eyes widen as it comes to her. "Of course! We ran into a student of Orsini's the other day. He's staying not far from the school. I'm sure, understanding the circumstances, he'd be willing to share shelter with you. I'll write down his address." She finds a scrap of paper and does so, and hands it to him.
She looks to the others. "We still need to clear this place out, and free any other prisoners who aren't lucky enough to be related to one of us. Korriban, do what you feel you need to do, but there's still unfinished business here. Plus, we need to plan what to do next since we have now created not one but TWO power vacuums in Old Korvosa, and may be dancing on a hair's line between peace and utter destructive chaos."
Korriban blinks. "That's a good idea! We can escort Scream to Amin's place and then we can head to the Rosa." Hearing the knock, Korriban opens the door. "Sorry, girls. Look, I know you guys want to go home. But, please be patient. We have to see if there's anything here that we can use and see if there's any other prisoners here. I promise we'll get you home soon." Closing the door, he turns to the others. "Look, I'm okay with searching the place and getting back to the Rosa to drop off my family and then taking Scream to Amin's place, if that's what we should do. If you guys suggest that I should take my family back to Rosa and meet you guys later, then that's fine. Either way, I feel that we should discuss our next move at the Rosa. We have to deal with the power vacuums and try and keep peace here for as long as possible."
With a plan in mind, Scream visibly relaxes slightly. "Well, alright. If you're sure it's safe...I mean, it's better than nothing, I suppose. Thank you."
The Rosa crew are clearly unhappy about staying here, but they acquiesce readily enough when Korriban explains the need. Going through the rest of the "palace" doesn't actually take very long: there's only a few other rooms on this floor, and most of them have nothing of value. The things in Pilts's bedroom are mostly too stained, worn, or plain crummy to be of any value, though in a large closet that was apparently Salvator's cell you find 11 more paintings he's made. "Those, uh...you can have them if you want," the artist says. He shakes his head. "As I told your elf friend, right before the old king died I seem to...lose my muse. I stopped dreaming. It hurts, but what can I do? You might be able to get a few coins for them." Indeed, although the paintings are similar in theme to the ones Laori took, they just don't seem as...inspired.
The stairs leading to the lower floors of the building have been collapsed, presumably to prevent attack. There don't seem to be any other prisoners here--the "Emperor" having more of a proclivity for execution than imprisonment when people offended him--and soon you've investigated every room except the one at the end of the hall, which Gerrald warned you was a choker's nest. It's a couple of hours to sundown, when Callie ordered the remaining gang leaders to convene here...what will you do now?
Lantressa is also able to identify quite a few magic items that Pilts, Jabbyr, and Devargo had on their persons.
+1 leather armor (small sized)
+1 greataxe (small sized)
amulet of natural armor +1
belt of giant strength +2
potion of barkskin +4 (x2!)
rod of wonder
+1 glamered chain shirt
mwk light crossbow with 10 bolts
mwk war razor
cloak of resistance +2
headband of alluring charisma +2
+1 spiked gauntlet
mwk spiked gauntlet
potion of CMW
potion of invisibility
+1 leather armor (med. sized)
4 doses of medium spider venom
mwk hand crossbow with 10 bolts
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Callie snatches up the rod of wonder and looks at Korriban and Teodor. "I've come to admire you both to some extent, but no, and HELL NO." She holds out the magical rod to Matoska instead.
"Tressa, am I right you have one of these magic headbands already, so is it okay I take this one?"
"We should hold onto the glamered shirt even if no one wears it regularly--might be useful as a disguise. If someone wants it, fine, otherwise I can keep it in my haversack."
She also picks up one of the potions of barkskin and 10 of the bolts. The rest, she figures, can be fought over or sold.
Korriban frowns as Callie takes the rod away. "Awww..." He looks over the gear, trying to figure out what to take.
"I already gave up the rod! It was ...very worth it." Teodor brightens. "Didn't even plan that one! Heeheehee!"
With the place fully explored, except for the choker nest, and her amazing new ability to identify magic items, Lantressa was surprised by the bounty they found. She nodded at callie's question and said, "Yes, I have one already," she touched the headband she wore. looking at teh stuff they found she said, "There isn't really anything here that I need, I've already got it's equal or it just isn't of use to me at all."
Matoska accepts the rod from Callie gingerly, arching a skeptical eyebrow as Lantressa explains its functions. "Wizards," he mutters, stowing it in his haversack.
"The other fellow mentioned monsters in a side room. I think we should deal with that, I don't wish for anyone to become their prey."
"Definitely something we should deal with, those monsters," Callie agrees. "Since folks are anxious to get moving, can we barricade the door and then deal with them when we get back?"
"Can't we just hang a sign? 'Chokers in here, don't come in!' Must we do EVERYTHING for these people?"
"Ma te kaha nui ka nui ake te kawenga, Teo. The strong have a responsibility to the weak. Besides the exercise will be good for you."
"What about weak chokers? Maybe they were captives!"
Now that you have a plan in hand, it's fairly easy to execute--which is good, since you're feeling a sense of urgency about getting everything done. It doesn't take long to drop off the prostitutes at the Rosa in Fiore, and all of Korriban's family is grateful to be rewarded. Once that's done, you continue on to the flat where Amin Jalento has been squatting. Again, as you pass by the river, you can distantly see a trio of Gray Maidens pacing you from the far bank for a moment - but at this range, there's not much they can see. You duck back into the shadows of the buildings as soon as possible, keeping Salvator hidden.
Amin is surprised to see you, but agrees to take in his old master's friend readily enough. "I don't have much here, but what I have you're welcome to share," he says wearily to Scream. "It's clean enough, at least, and I've stockpiled a good bit of food."
"Thanks," the artist mutters. He seems to be of a sullen and fearful disposition by nature, but he seems relived to at last be going to ground somewhere that might be safe.
With those tasks complete, you hurry back to the Emperor's "palace." You find the streets around strangely deserted - perhaps, after his sudden and precipitous fall, the people find the Emperor more a harbinger of ill omen than a beloved former leader. When you get up to the "playing field," though, you see a small semicircle of men and women. Gerrald waves you over.
"This is the gang what did for ol' Pilts Swastel," he says to the others, "And she - " indicating Callie - "is the one who called this meetin'. Fer you lot, lemme introduce the remainin' gang leaders with any power in Old Korvosa, and whose heads're still attached. This is Black Johnny of the Roof Rovers." Black Johnny is a big, tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair and Ulfen features, who grins broadly. "Next we have Melana, head of the Dockside Scum." Melana is a wiry woman with hair going slightly gray at the temples, who looks at you all sourly. "Then there's Barto the Bloody, who's in charge o' the Bridgefront Brigade." A grouchy-looking dwarf with red hair and beard, leaning on a massive hammer, regards you. "Bold Brigitte, lady o' the Narrows Wench crew." Brigitte is probably the youngest one here, with long blonde hair tied back into a no-nonsense ponytail. "And finally...Belliquomillifent the Magnificent, who leads the Amazing Alley Cats." The gnome with a shock of bright green hair and a long, waxed mustache laughs and waves. There's an alarming number of knives and explosive-looking devices strapped to him.
"And...I guess I'm a kinda mediator fer all this," Gerrald says with a shrug. "So. Why've you summoned this lot?"
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Callie nods to each as they're introduced. She wonders if she's heard of any of them.
"I'm Callie Cobalt; and this is Korriban, swordsman and stallion* of the Rosa in Fiore; Teodor, hedge priest of the god Groetus; and Lantressa, a sorceress and former vestal** of Eel's End. Bear with as I explain--we came together as the Blades of Korvosa to stop the plague, but believe it or not, we have seen that the Queen herself is behind it, with the Gray Maidens and Physicians her loyal traps.***
"Good priests of Pharasma have devised a cure for the plague and it is spreading--which means the quarantine here is all clanking gammon****," she pauses to let that sink in. "If anything, it's meant to keep the cure OUT of Old Korvosa rather than the sick in, but we've got it spreading through the smugglers dockside. We came to see what was going on and find help, only to see addle-pated Emperor making an even bigger mess. Now with him out of the way we can focus on ending the quarantine--which is good for your business and all of us.
"The problem is we've killed the Emperor and the Spider-King, and the last thing we need is someone like Pilts stepping in to take over, when we need to focus on getting the quarantine lifted and the Maidens out of Old Korvosa's backside. The Queen and her doxies will just use that as an opportunity to keep Old Korvosa closed and tortured until no one's left.
"I propose we form a council of you upright***** folk and ourselves to take charge of Old Korvosa, at least until the quarantine is lifted. Everyone gets a vote, a say in what happens. We need to organize scouts to keep an eye out for the Maidens and warn each other, and also keep an eye on anything unusual happening."
"We also need to stop the kidnappings and the abuses of the folk who live here. Any noticeable chaos, any obvious violence and so on, the Queen will only use as an excuse to keep Old Korvosa shut till we're all starved out. I think you can charge a reasonable protection fee, but not what Pilts was charging--no one else is here to protect anyone but you lot anyhow, and you need to be paid for your work--but we take all the clink anyone's got, the Queen is just going to get what she wants anyway, people starving and ripe for her Physicians' sick experiments. You might as well be working straight for her in that case.
"What say you?"
Now that you have a plan in hand, it's fairly easy to execute--which is good, since you're feeling a sense of urgency about getting everything done. It doesn't take long to drop off the prostitutes at the Rosa in Fiore, and all of Korriban's family is grateful to be rewarded.
Korriban smiles as he receives his thanks. He wishes them good luck and to stay safe before leaving.
Once that's done, you continue on to the flat where Amin Jalento has been squatting. Again, as you pass by the river, you can distantly see a trio of Gray Maidens pacing you from the far bank for a moment - but at this range, there's not much they can see. You duck back into the shadows of the buildings as soon as possible, keeping Salvator hidden.
Amin is surprised to see you, but agrees to take in his old master's friend readily enough. "I don't have much here, but what I have you're welcome to share," he says wearily to Scream. "It's clean enough, at least, and I've stockpiled a good bit of food."
"Thanks," the artist mutters. He seems to be of a sullen and fearful disposition by nature, but he seems relived to at last be going to ground somewhere that might be safe.
Korriban smiles at Amin. "Thank you so much, Amin." Looking at Scream, he says, "I hope this will help you out, Salvator."
With those tasks complete, you hurry back to the Emperor's "palace." You find the streets around strangely deserted - perhaps, after his sudden and precipitous fall, the people find the Emperor more a harbinger of ill omen than a beloved former leader. When you get up to the "playing field," though, you see a small semicircle of men and women. Gerrald waves you over.
Korriban sees Gerrald standing with these men and women and walks over them with the group.
"This is the gang what did for ol' Pilts Swastel," he says to the others, "And she - " indicating Callie - "is the one who called this meetin'. Fer you lot, lemme introduce the remainin' gang leaders with any power in Old Korvosa, and whose heads're still attached. This is Black Johnny of the Roof Rovers." Black Johnny is a big, tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair and Ulfen features, who grins broadly.
Korriban smiles back and nods at Black Johnny. "Good to meet you."
"Next we have Melana, head of the Dockside Scum." Melana is a wiry woman with hair going slightly gray at the temples, who looks at you all sourly.
Korriban nods at Melana, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma'am."
"Then there's Barto the Bloody, who's in charge o' the Bridgefront Brigade." A grouchy-looking dwarf with red hair and beard, leaning on a massive hammer, regards you.
Korriban smiles and nods at Barto. "Hello, Barto."
"Bold Brigitte, lady o' the Narrows Wench crew." Brigitte is probably the youngest one here, with long blonde hair tied back into a no-nonsense ponytail.
Korriban smirks at Brigitte and nods at her, giving her a subtle wink.
"And finally...Belliquomillifent the Magnificent, who leads the Amazing Alley Cats." The gnome with a shock of bright green hair and a long, waxed mustache laughs and waves. There's an alarming number of knives and explosive-looking devices strapped to him.
Korriban grins at Belliquomilifent and waves back, thinking that this guy looks like fun.
"And...I guess I'm a kinda mediator fer all this," Gerrald says with a shrug. "So. Why've you summoned this lot?"
Korriban listens to Callie's speech, smirking at being called a "stallion". When she's finished, Korriban adds, "She's right. Things here are spiraling out of control. We need to keep things together until we can solve the problem. And attacking one another is not going to help anyone. It's great offer when you think about it."
"For those of us that barely speak Taldan, allow your humble priest to translate. The Killer Queen has declared war on most of this city, this place even more so. There will be scams and schemes to come, but first we must survive. We that the high and mighty ignore and despise know more about coming together than is in any of their strategies. Despite all, Old Korvosa will hold!"