"Don't do Shivver! You might lose your dingle dangle!"
Korriban covers his ears. "Agh! Stop it!"
"It's no trouble, Korriban, I'm content to be considered a dumb beast by any guards we come across, it let's me keep tabs on everything more easily."
Korriban looks at Matoska and nods. "Very well then. If you're okay with it, then who am I to argue?"
Lantressa smiled, pleased at their acceptance, and said, "Good. it seems like we have a plan," she looked to Matoska, "and I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you out as a guard." She was thoughtful as she continued, "Though posing as a 'simple animal' could leave someone with a nasty surprise if they don't realize otherwise so I like the idea."
Korriban smirks. "Yeah. The surprise will make them go... doggone crazy."
Tressa was about to say more when Teo made his last few statements and just stared at him a moment in shock. A shudder went through her body then as she thought about that, one that did enticing things to her body as things jiggled, and then said, "I think I need someone to remove the last minute of my memory now...forever."
Korriban's brow raises as Lantressa's body shudders before he turns away quickly, a light shade of pink dusting his cheeks.
As tressa looked to teh others she decided to do her best to forget what Teo just said and asked, "Back to the Rosa then?"
Korriban nods. "Let's go."
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"Don't do Shivver! You might lose your dingle dangle!"
"I lost interest in some things after I overdosed, but no actual parts. No wonder you wanted to cut off Bevarsi's cove," she says, seeming to get very serious. Then she suddenly quips, "Head for a head, aye?"
She walks with the group back to the Rosa. As they go she keeps an ear out for any buzz on the streets.
You head back to the Rosa as the sun climbs toward its zenith. Although these streets are cleaner and less violent-seeming than the other parts of Old Korvosa, there still aren’t many people out and about, and the few people you see take in your weaponry and armor and hurry about their business, eyes down and trying to avoid you if they can. Majenko soars overhead, unconcerned with the human squalor below and occasionally doing an idle loop-the-loop.
When you get back to the Rosa in Fiore, Lialda is relieved to see you and immediately orders a light lunch. When you share your plans with her, she nods her approval. “Tricky—the Savored Sting would approve of your guile, Lantressa. I’ll have some of the family bring down their makeup.” Though you get the impression they normally wouldn’t be too eager to share their personal supplies, to men and women you rescued from the Emperor of Old Korvosa are more than happy to make an exception for you!
Callie quickly puts together a disguise for herself, and Matoska of course can transform into his “wolfhound” form on his own. Several of the Rosa’s girls hover around if you allow them to, watching with interest and occasionally offering suggestions. Soon, Callie’s fully made up: it’s not as effective as magic or anything, but it should prevent casual recognition.
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Earlier ...
At Callie's quip, Teodor puts his hand on his heart and the other on Callie's shoulder. "You get me."
-----
"Oooooh who can I be?"
Korriban smiles and waves at the people walking by, showing them some positivity and a friendly smile.
At the Rosa, Korriban allows himself to be disguise, letting Callie and the girls of the Rosa aid him.
"Oooooh who can I be?"
Korriban smiles. ”You can be whoever you want to be.”
Laying by door, tongue lolled out and panting, Matoska watches the proceedings with clear amusement, even as a wolf.
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Callie thanks the girls for their assistance, asking their names as she talks to them. If they'd had better opportunities, some of these women would have done well as ladies' maids. Some of them might of been before hitting worse luck... I'm sure they are well cared for here but this business incurs all sorts of risks. Then again so does being a thief or a mercenary.
She flips her cloak around so its gray lining is showing on the outside rather than the blue, and is soon after ready to go.
"I'll be Rock Headcrush, stalwart guard! Who in truth is a bastard Thrune cousin with hopes to be a professional baker!"
Once you're all made up, you head back toward the Arkonas' palace. It's the third hour of the afternoon when you arrive and, since your ruse is that Lantressa is seeking patronage, proceed through the gate. Matoska pads at Lantressa's side as the remaining three of you form a loose diamond to act as "bodyguards." You're only through the gate for a few seconds - finding yourselves on a wide, wonderfully manicured lawn with the occasional, decoratively spaced and exquisitely shaped topiary - when you hear a voice.
"OI! You lot! Who are you? Kindly state your business here and don't proceed any further."
Looking to your right, you see a squad of five men in armor, led by one middle-aged fellow wearing a sash, heading towards you from a small gatehouse. All of them are wearing armor and carrying sheathed swords, but no one seems inclined to pull steel just yet; they seem wary, but more professional than panicked.
Perception checks vs. disguise (partly to remind me it's a thing):
Korriban looks at Verik and says, "Yes. We are meeting the Arkonas. Why do you ask?" He also chimes in with. "I'm curious as to where you got that silver dagger. You know, the one that we found when we first met you. It is rather important."
Korriban meets with Lialda in her room. When he gets there, he pulls out the bag of holding. "Mom. This is a very important matter. It needs to stay a secret." After he gets her response, he sighs and reaches into the bag and pulls out the Blackjack outfit. "We... found this in Master Vencarlo's house. It turns out... that Vencarlo has been Blackjack this entire time. And now... I have the mantle of Blackjack."
Korriban smiles at Teodor's cheer. "And I shall be Louis von Melhain! A mere fisherman, trying his hand at mercenary work to try and provide for his poor sisters during this horrible quarantine!"
The now blonde and descarred Korriban looks at the guards. He says in a false voice, "Oi! Wha' do it look lik'? We be escortin' this woman to th' Arkonas. They be askin' fer 'er attention. Ge' wha' I mean?"
At the Rosa
While at the Rosa Lantressa had the girls help her with her preparations. She was going for a rather high class courtesan look and she knew what kinds of clothes she needed. She chose a gorgeous dark burgundy silk dress that fit her form snugly, left her shoulders bear, and was open on the sides with lacing that left the skin on her sides mostly exposed. The dress ended at about mid thigh in a tight skirt. She added a pair of ankle length boots made of supple black leather with short heals. She had the girls help her with her make up and in the end added an earring to her right ear that attached in two places and had a tiny fine length of chain between the two points and let her lustrous blue black hair hang in loose falls down her back and framing her face.
When she was done getting ready Lantressa entered the room where the others were and leaned back against the wall in a bit of a pose as she asked, "So how do I look?"
At the Arkona's
Despite her rather out of place appearance for this area of the city Lantressa walked confidently onto the grounds of the Arkona's like she had every right to be there. One thing she knew about situations like this was that if you always acted like you belonged somewhere people were less like to argue your presence. When they finally were accosted by a guard Tressa stopped and turned to face them.
She gestured to her friends to stay where they were and Lantressa stepped forward, focusing on the middle aged man, and said, "I am Lantressa Darksong and I've come to discuss a business proposition with Lord and Lady Arkona." She gave the man a smile and asked, "Would you be so good as to let them know that I am here and request an audience Sir?" She added a hint of suggestion as she said, "I would be very grateful to you."
Callie stays quiet, simply playing the role of stoic guard.
Lialda seems surprised by your reticence. “You know well enough that I can keep a secret, Korriban. What is it?” When you present your find, she inhaled sharply, but then smiles. “Well! This is certainly a surprise...but I must say there’s something reassuring about knowing that Blackjack is more than just a folk legend. And if this is a calling you choose to pursue, you know I’ll support you no matter what. But for now...best to rescue Orsini, no?” She gives your shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I know you can do it.”
Verik looks rather uncomfortable, and when you ask about the knife, he chuckles. “Well, those’re uh...they’re actually related. See, back before the old king’s death I was...uh...seeing one of the Arkonas. Meliya Arkona. It was a secret of course—you know, her status, and me just a lowly guard...but I thought she was fantastic. She encouraged me to pursue my ambition in the Guard, and when the king died she encouraged me to break away from them and set up that business giving away meat...well, you know how horribly that turned out.” He shakes his head. “Thing is, since a while before you put a stop to that, I hadn’t heard from her. Seemed like she just up and abandoned me when the going got rough. I wanted to warn you that they’re a nest of vipers, that’s all—to tell you not to trust anything that family says or does.
“Oh, and the silver knife was a gift from her. Why? Do you still have it?”
The guards don’t seem to be overly zealous or anything—they’re just doing their job. You have, after all, wandered into the property of a powerful noble family! After Korriban and Lantressa’s slightly contradictory presentations, they look at each other, confused. The captain ignores the muttering of his troops, though, and nods slowly. “Aye, alright then. Follow me, you lot. Keep your weapons sheathed...and keep that dog by your side. If it’s not housebroken, one of my guards can tie it up outside, eh?”
He leads you across the grounds and up to the opulent, two-storied house at the top of the hill. The front doors are solid mahogany, and he pushes the right one open to usher you into a luxurious foyer. A black marble arch depicting dozens of elephants standing one atop the other frames a great ebony door in the south wall of this wide and airy entrance hall (that’s the door through which you entered). Above the door, a single one-eyed elephant looks out over the hall, its eye a glittering bloodstone the size of an apple. Tall windows grant a commanding view of the palace grounds, and a rich red carpet, ten feet wide and luxuriously thick, provides a pathway between doors to the west and north, and around a corner to the east. Each of these doors, including a few smaller ones just west of the northern pair, are decorated with images of a six-armed, four-faced woman who rides a tiger with human hands for feet.
Standing in the center of the room is a large, muscular, bald man wearing an eyepatch. He bows his head to you in greeting. “Salutations,” he intones in a deep, melodious voice. “I am Carnochan, majordomo of Arkona Palace. I saw you approaching with Captain Hegin across the lawn. May I inquire as to your business here? Help you with anything?” His questions are plainly directed toward Lantressa, the apparent leader of your group.
Lantressa noticed the guard's expression of confusion and said, "Don't mind him, he's my bodyguard and where he got the notion I was expected is beyond me." She gave the man a sly look as she continued, speaking in a quieter voice while she leaned towards him somewhat, "I actually think he's a little slow." As they approached the house and the comment was made about the hound she said, "Yes, he's housebroken and well behaved."
As they walked through the mansion it felt like more of a palace and had some of the most interesting artwork on display. She had no idea who the woman on the tiger represented but it seemed almost like a religious design of some kind. When they were finally led into the room with the Majordomo Lantressa curtsied gracefully and said, "A pleasure to meet you Carnochan, I am Lantressa Darksong and I had hoped to meet with the Arkona's about obtaining their patronage. You see I have been working at Madame Halvara's earning money so I can move into the higher classes as a courtesan. I finally have done well enough and with the rumored disappearance of the King of Spiders I thought it was time to move on. I had hoped that the Arkona's would be willing to act as a sponsor to help propel me into the higher circles of society."
Giving the Majordomo her most charming Smile Lantressa said, "I had hoped to be able to offer them payment for the assistance their sponsorship would give me but given the unrest in the streets I was forced to spend it on able guards to get me here safely. I would of course compensate them in some way for their assistance even if it is simply giving them my services as a professional courtesan until I can pay them properly for their aid." She looked at Carnochan intently, "Do you think they would be willing to see me?"
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Korriban nods at Verik's advice. "Thank you. This would be good advice to have." When he reveals that Meliya Arkona gave him the silver knife, Korriban's shocked. "No... I got rid of that thing. But, the strange thing was... it kept up showing up. No matter what I did, no matter where I put it. I'd always find it. I thought it was cursed so I got it looked at by the church of Pharasma. They found out it was actually a Raktavarna in disguise. It's some sort of demon... thing that spies on other people. And if you got it from Meliya... then that means she could have been spying on us. Or all of the Arkonas have been spying on us!"
Hearing Lantresaa making a slight dig at him, 'Louis' decides to act slightly dimwitted. He follows the group inside and lets Lantressa do the talking.
Carnochan blinks in surprise and smiles, giving Lantressa a much deeper, more respectful bow. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Darksong. I cannot tell you how my master might respond to such a request, but I have no doubt that he would be interested in hearing you out. If you would follow me?”
Assuming you do, he leads you into a small room immediately off the foyer. This comfortable room is warmed by a large fireplace, its marble sides and mantle carved into a parade of capering monkeys and tigers. A large sofa is against the north wall, while a few cozy-looking chairs sit to the south. He gestures for you to take a seat. “Please, make yourself comfortable. I will inform Lord Glorio of your request for audience. There are some light refreshments on the table, which you’re welcome to. I have no doubt that Lord Glorio will attend you shortly.” With a smile and another bow, he exits, closing the door behind him.
Lantressa said, "Good, I'm glad to hear that." She gestured to her bodyguards to wait there and said, "Please, lead on Carnochan." She followed the Majordomo as he led her to a small room right off the foyer. She looked around as he escorted her inside and looked around before she went to the table.
Tressa turned to Carnochan and asked him, "Do you have any suggestions on how I should make my proposition to Lord Arkona? Any suggestions on what to and not to do?" She gave the man a nervous smile as she said, "I will admit I'm rather nervous, I'm sure my proposal would be acceptable on it's own but I would like to avoid any faux pas that would hurt my chances."
Padding around the waiting room Matoska sniffs at the walls and furniture, alert for secret doors or other unusual phenomena. If he finds anything of note he makes a low huff sound and scratches at the spot twice.
Once his circuit is completed the wolf pads back Lantressa and lays down at her feet, ears pricked up and carefully watching everything.
Callie pays attention to Matoska, wondering if he could pick up on Orsini's scent if it were present.
Aside from the tasty cookies on the main table, and some smoldering incense in a tastefully concealed brazier, Matoska doesn't smell anything out of the ordinary in this room!
Callie casts message and whispers to the group via its magic, "I could go invisible right before someone comes in, and then sneak around when the door opens. The spell doesn't last long so I'd need to get to cover quick. What do you think?"
Korriban raises his brow. "Wouldn't I be a better choice to go into stealth? I mean, I won't argue with you going. It's just that I can move faster while sneaking around. But, again, I won't argue. I can stay behind in case a fight breaks out." He moves to the door that the Majordomo went through and puts his ear to the door.
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Callie raises an eyebrow. "How do you know how fast I can move? Besides, the point of being invisible is it doesn't slow you down. And don't say you won't argue and then start arguing."
Callie pulls out a coin. "Heads, I go, tails, you go." She flips the coin.
(While secretly pulling palming shenanigans to produce heads.)
Korriban's brow raises. "Well, I don't know how fast you can move. I'm just saying, I'm wearing a pair of boots that make me faster. And you said that the spell won't last long, so wouldn't that help? And I'm not arguing. I'm just making a suggestion."
Korriban notices her shenanigans. He smirks. "Ah ah ah. I see that, Blue. But nice try."
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She just laughs. "Darn, I guess I wouldn't have gotten you to put a coin in my cup were I busking." She raises her eyebrow, answering his ever-present smirk with one of her own. "And if you're ever finishing a sentence with, 'I'm just saying,' you're damned well arguing, while making yourself sound even more like an 'uffing bounce in the process. Good gods, you sound like Riceak."
She pushes the coin into his hand. "And you've won the argument." She adds, back to using her spell."So when we hear someone coming to the door, I will make you invisible, because even you can't hide in plain sight with your sodding boots, and you dash out and hope because you talked to the guard beforehand like a ninny, you aren't expected to be in here."
She steps away from the door.
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She just laughs. "Darn, I guess I wouldn't have gotten you to put a coin in my cup were I busking."
Korriban's smirk widens. "You don't know that. A multitude of things could have happened if we met earlier."
She raises her eyebrow, answering his ever-present smirk with one of her own. "And if you're ever finishing a sentence with, 'I'm just saying,' you're damned well arguing, while making yourself sound even more like an 'uffing bounce in the process. Good gods, you sound like Riceak."
Korriban's brow raises. "Point taken. And lesson learned."
She pushes the coin into his hand. "And you've won the argument." She adds, back to using her spell."So when we hear someone coming to the door, I will make you invisible, because even you can't hide in plain sight with your sodding boots, and you dash out and hope because you talked to the guard beforehand like a ninny, you aren't expected to be in here."
Korriban nods. "Got it. Ready when you are."
Just as your whispered conversation finishes, you hear footsteps—more than one set—approaching from beyond the door. Callie quickly casts her spell, and Korriban vanishes; then the door is thrown open and a man whom all of you but Matoska recognize as none other than Glorio Arkona appears.
“Honored guests! Well met, well met indeed. I welcome you to Arkona Palace. But, Carnochan—what rudeness is this? You’ve not fetched any wine for our guests! Go, go. A bottle of the 4605 Kaava Red, I think.” As Glorio strides into the room and throws himself down onto the couch, the majordomo scurries away to see to his command.
“So! Miss Darksong,” Lord Arkona continues. “My servant tells me you’re a courtesan of some repute, seeking my patronage. While I won’t deny I find you exceptionally lovely, I confess that such an arrangement would be rather new to me. I wonder whether you could fill me in on any other details of what you’re seeking from me, and what you get out of it.”
He glances around casually. “Oh, and weren’t there four of you? I was looking forward to chatting with young Korriban.”
Callie for once decides it's better to let the others do the talking--better to stay in the guard role, even if they are already seeing through the facade. Lantressa's smooth way of talking would be better (or Teo's quick wit).
Moving like a bodyguard, she goes over to the door to watch for Carnochan's return (also giving Korriban some space to hide in the room if he doesn't manage to slip out).
When he does return, she will snatch a glass of wine to taste before allowing Lantressa to take one, much in a bodyguard's fashion. Not rudely, but in a manner according to duty.
And while grabbing such a glass, she will also try to relieve Carnochan of any house keys on his person, as it would indeed be the butler and the housekeeper who would have such things in a noble household.
When she heard the footsteps approaching Lantressa rose to meet their host. The fact that he spoke as he did to his Majordomo was something of a relief. Since it implied he was serious about meeting with them. As the Lord walked past Lantressa curtsied to him and said, "My thanks for your hospitality Lord Arkona. When the man sat on the couch Lantressa sat back down as well, though she chose a seat so that she sat facing him at an angle.
Lantressa sat in her chair with her knees crossed and listened to what Lord Arkona asked about her proposition and said, [b]"What I get out of this arrangement is the following. First off your protection while I have no particular enemies or interest in politics I know that such things are liable to find me somehow, while under your patronage I would be under your protection. I would also get access to potential clients of a higher station than I otherwise could obtain on my own." She gave a self deprecating smile, "While I may be beautiful I am still a tiefling and as such can have a lot of trouble moving up in the world, a patron would help eliminate that barrier."
With the arrival of the wine Lantressa saw Callie's protectiveness and accepted the glass once it was handed to her with a grateful nod. She took a sip of the liquid and said, "Very good, thank you M'lord." Turning her focus back to Lord Arkona she said, "Of course my services are available to you in exchange for your patronage, as well as at a discount for those in your employ, and being able to introduce me to those in higher society would of course leave them indebted to you." She smiled as she leaned towards him slightly to show some cleavage and asked, "Does this sound amenable to you Lord Arkona?"
When Lord Arkona mentioned Korriban's absence Tressa realized that there was likely trouble. She could try lying about him but decided that it wasn't going to work almost immediately. Instead she said, "Oh, he's around here somewhere." Lantressa sighed in resignation as she saw her hopes of a patron go up in smoke. "Alright, there is more than one reason we came to see you. These are not exactly my bodyguards, though they serve in that capacity at times, but my friends and we are invested in trying to bring down that psychotic b@#+~ of a queen. We are looking for the missing chancellor and found out that he may be in your custody at the moment. We need him to help bring about the removal of the queen who has been spreading this damned plague."
Looking at their host intently Lantressa continued, "We had hoped that we might be able to sneak a few people in and look around while you and I spoke, unfortunately that seems to have failed." She sighed and her shoulders slumped as she continued, "I take it this means I've lost any chance at your patronage M'lord?"
When Lantressa immediately comes clean, the wolf at her feet gives a shocked cough-yip, then tries to cover it with a yawn.
The Invisible Korriban manages to move behind the majordomo before the door is shut.
You duck out the door just as Carnochan withdraws, putting you back in the hallway off the foyer through which you entered. To the north is the same fourteen-foot-tall marble statue of a six-armed woman with four faces on her head—one looking to each of the four cardinal directions—stands under a dome of colored glass. The statue wields numerous weapons in its six hands, and a small kneeler at its base gives a place to pay respects to whatever deity the statue represents. Each of the statue’s eight eyes is a sparkling bright green orb.
Carnochan heads purposefully toward the double doors just next to the statue.
When Carnochan returns with an already uncorked bottle of wine, Callie makes a commotion and manages both to taste the wine (it's good!) and lift a small ring of keys she spied off his belt.
Carnochan withdraws again immediately after serving the wine, and Glorio takes a long, slow sip, before letting out a soft chuckle. "So, you're all here about that, are you? Of course I'm a loyal Korvosan...but these are difficult times, and uncertain measures may be called for. It's possible that I could help you, Ms. Darksong. But you have to understand--the quarantine, while quite understandable, has thrown the balance of power in Old Korvosa out of alignment. A pretender has arisen, proclaiming himself Emperor of Old Korvosa. He's quite a thorn in my side...unless, of course, as I've vaguely heard, he's suddenly become less of a problem...?" He raises an eyebrow and leaves the question hanging.
You note--as he probably meant you to--that he does not say he's loyal to the Queen.
Considering the man for a moment Lantressa decided that giving him a little more information might help. "We managed to slip through the quarantine to get here after finding a cure for the plague, a cure that the queen doesn't seem to want the people in Old Corvosa to have, and even discovered that she'd is involved in the spread of the disease and that her doctors were experimenting on the sick to make the disease even worse." She didn't know just what all the man knew but she figured this knowledge from outside was likely hard for him to come by.
Taking another sip of the wine Tressa finished what she had to say by asking, "So? Does it sound like we can help each other?" She gave the man a pleasant smile and waited for his response.
Korriban tilts his head at the sight of the statue. He racks his brain about it.
Korriban decides to head north, following Carnochan, deciding that the way known is better.
Carnochan heads through the double doors at the end of the hall, and you follow closely and invisibly on his heels as he passes through another short hallway and emerges into a shockingly green space . This chamber hardly seems to be part of a palace, but looks more like a clearing at the heart of a vast jungle, teeming with life. The sky above is a deep, cloudless blue, while in the distance, hazy towers rise above the verdant canopy. Exotic bird calls fill the air, the scent of dozens of unfamiliar flowers and plants assault the nose, and everywhere a riot of color demands the eye, whether it’s the wing of a tropical bird, the petals of a brightly hued flower, or the glittering multicolored tiles that make up a round fountain to the north. The fountain’s central plume is a stone pillar around which entwine two cobra statues that clutch green gems in their fanged maws. To the south of the fountain stands an immense, life-sized jade statue of an elephant, a howdah perched on its back, its tusks and trunk raised high in greeting to the southeast doors. From inside the room, the doors look more like gates set into a wrought-iron fence that encircles the garden. Other gates set in this fence doubtless lead to other parts of the palace, and after a bit more observation, the somewhat static nature of the jungle and landscape becomes apparent—the walls of this garden are in fact an incredibly realistic and clever painting of a Vudrani junglescape. You notice a cleverly disguised balcony circling the room about 25 feet off the ground (hidden by the clever aspect of the painting).
Carnochan pays no attention to the lavish junglescape, instead going to the second door from the entrance and opening what's clearly a storeroom. Inside are racks of wine, and he peruses them carefully, humming to himself, before selecting a bottle of wine and uncorking it. He puts glasses from a nearby cabinet onto a tray and then heads back to the room you came from, letting doors close behind him en route.
As Carnochan goes into the lounge to serve the wine, you think you hear Lantressa...explaining what you're doing there?!
Glorio Arkona's face darkens slightly with a satisfied smile. "I am...most pleased...to hear that the Emperor and his goons are no longer a problem for me! In that case, Ms. Darksong, I think that we might be able to help each other indeed." He takes a long draught of his wine. "In fact," he continues, "let me begin by thanking you for your service to Old Korvosa. This ring has been in my family for many years now, and protected several of us; please, take it with my compliments." Reaching into a small pouch at his belt, he withdraws a finely wrought gold ring with an emerald stone, and passes it to Lantressa.
Settling back onto the couch, a rueful smile plays across his face. "Now, I must apologize for the inconvenience, but you mentioned Seneschal Kalepopolis. I must admit I know the man's whereabouts. And, indeed, not long ago another man came in search of him, the famed bravo Vencarlo Orsini. But I regret to say that handing these guests over to you may be a...trifle complicated. You see...they're in the Vivified Labyrinth."
Lantressa was relieved at Lord Arkona's reaction to the news and when he took out the ring her first thought was to turn him down but she suppressed that and said, "Thank you M'lord, I will make sure it is both kept safe and used well,." It seemed getting caught and being honest with the man had been the right decision after all.
As Lord Arkona changed to the subject of the Seneschal Lantressa listened as he explained the problem. She remembered Korri mentioning this place last night as they discussed their plans and hearing that the Seneschal and Vencarlo were both there was very concerning. "I have heard of this Vivified Labyrinth before Lord Arkona but I'm afraid I know nothing more than the name and a vague purpose. How is it that getting them back out is a problem?"
Matoska's eyes track Glorio's hands careful as the ring is exchanged. If that's not cursed, or a beacon for scrying I'd be amazed.
Callie is weighing an entirely different issue right now. Upon hearing of the 'Vivified Labyrinth' and recalling what Korriban said about it--it is the Arkonas' combination oubliette-testing grounds. Since it belongs to them, they could retrieve someone from it, presumably. Yet he obviously isn't offering that, as Lantressa alludes. She is a storyteller, she can see where this is going: the villain throws them into the dungeon with the promise of rescuing their friend, and the hope of sealing them within.
For but a moment, she considers drawing her sword and attempting to decapitate Glorio right then and there, for just brazenly offering to throw them into a trap as a way of "assisting them." But even assuming she was successful, and doubtless he was warded against such attacks... either way, they'd still have to venture into the Labyrinth and find Orsini and the Seneschal. Perhaps best not to annoy the Arkonas first, especially since this so far had gone frankly better than expected. Lantressa made the right call coming clean.
She should continue to make her mouth shut, but she's Callie and she can only last so long. She replies, in the same street accent she's been using all along in Old Korvosa.
"I assume, Mistress Darksong, he means the only way out of the Labyrinth, once in, is to finish it. Though the place, like any other, must be maintained--the rumors I've heard about it say it's underground, and we're on an island amid a river, so it'd flood and leak and endanger the palace otherwise--there must be some shortcuts Lord Arkona could suggest that might at least make it easier to find them?"
Glorio clucks his tongue, sounding slightly irritated. "You've heard rumors of the place? Damn, our servants are looser-lipped than I'd believed. Well, you have some sense of it as a perilous place then - it's a sort of obstacle course, designed generations ago to test our agents. And not all Arkonas have been as...soft-handed as I, so it can be quite dangerous. And yes, Callie is correct: the only way out, once you're in, is through.
"The good news is that getting in is simple: the entrance is hidden under the elephant statue in my greenhouse. You simply say the passphrase, 'Chamidu is blind,' and press a small pressure plate in the center of its plinth, and it will rotate and grant you access. It's very important that you do those in order, though! The statue is enchanted as a deterrent to unlicensed intruders.
"It's once you're inside that things get tricky. The route is simple enough: you'll pass through a garden to an underground grotto, and follow a series of rope bridges down to the lower level. There's a temple there, but not far away from the temple is a hidden passageway that leads to the Labyrinth proper: it shouldn't be hard to find, since you know what you're looking for. There really isn't a shortcut in the Vivified Labyrinth because, you see, it is in fact vivified. There are four parts to the dungeon, circular sections that can be rotated by pulling levers located within the dungeon itself. It can therefore take quite some time to make your way through. I suspect that Messrs. Kalepopolis and Orsini have been injured and are lying about somewhere in the dungeon, perhaps unable to access the levers. I have no reason to suspect that they're deceased, I assure you."
He steeples his fingers. "That's about the size of it, I'm afraid. I apologize that I can't be of more help to you, but I am confident that the Labyrinth should pose little challenge to warriors and sharp minds of your caliber. Do you have any further questions? Or should we try to locate dear Korriban before he gets himself into trouble with my staff?"
Lantressa slid the ring she'd been given on her finger and looked at it. It was very ice and she suspected magical, but she would worry about it's properties later. She looked at Lord Arkona and gave the man a smile as she asked, "What kinds of dangers lurk down there M'lord? I'm assuming traps of some kind but are there creatures as well?"
Glorio hums. "Yes, it's mostly traps and obstacles, as I understand it. Magical glyphs and the like. There are no mortal creatures lurking in the labyrinth; you can imagine that it would be irritating for them to have to navigate in and out whenever they needed to eat! I think there might be the remains of some old slaves in the garden en route, though."
Korriban looks around the gardens before sneaking towards one of the doors.
Lantressa caught what Lord Arkona said, and what he didn't, and knew they needed to know more. "You said no mortal creatures? What about immortal ones, other than undead?" She leaned forward then and gave Lord Arkona a good view of her assets as she asked with a sensual pout, "Or don't you want us to succeed?"
“And yes, Miss Blue over there is correct: the only way out, once you're in, is through.”