Blackjack - Round 1
17 Gyllan
11 Arianna
7 Corso
5 Ulgrim
4 Iozif
1 Blackjack, Trinia, and the guards
Arianna briefly stares, shocked and pleased by the appearance of the other hero Zellara spoke of during the Harrow reading. Seeing the executioner prepare to strike down the apparently unaware mystery man, the young witch yells out "Blackjack! Behind you!"
Reaching in her pouch for a pinch of ground mica, Arianna targets the executioner and any of the guards she can without catching Blackjack in the spell's effect.
Drawing his great blade, Gyllan quickly mounts the stage and strikes at the headsman, calling out, "Blackjack, we have to get the girl out of here!"
Gyllan springs up onto the stage and lifts Trinia to her feet, saying, "We've got to get you out of here. We got you into this mess, and we owe it to you to see you to safety."
Ulgrim pulls up the hood of his cloak, to hide his features. He concentrates on the magic governed by his sleeves and changes his outfit into an all-black leather affair that looks like Blackjack's and has a mask for his face. Time ter break the law. Forgive meh Abadar!
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Arianna's shout to Blackjack is swallowed up by the cacophany of teh crowed eruupting, hundreds of voices crying out different emotions, all at once. Gyllan, ready to react quickly to defend his hometown, sees the Varisian witch casting a spell out of the corner of his eye, and delays his action fractionally in order to see what transpires.
Suddenly, glittering dust is everywhere, falling in the eyes and faces of the black-hooded executioner as well as a small handful of guards who are approaching Blackjack and Trinia. One guard however remains seemingly unaffected, he rushes towards the criminal pair, looking to skewer them with his polearm.
Without hesitation, Gyllan leaps on the stage and parries the downstroke of the guardsman, pivoting on one leg he brings his greatsword around in a blow that catches the guard full in the torso. Wounded, the man drops to his knees, his polearm clattering on the stones of the courtyard.
Even blinded, the executioner still is swinging his axe wildly, so Corso puts a stop to that, hitting the man with the giggles, then a guffaw, and then a full on belly-laugh that has the man falling to the ground grabbing his sides.
Ulgrim uses his magical garments to crate an outfit much like Blackjack's (except smaller and rounder) including the mask and black leathers. He readies his bow to stop any other guardsmen who get close.
The alchemist also clambers on the stage, but seeing most of the soldiers accounted for, he points out a possible escape route to Blackjack -- a long decorative banner hanging from the black castle's battlements.
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Wasting no time with the opportunity given, Blackjack grabs Trinia and begins scaling the banner to the castle battlements. While several others soldiers gather underneath this scene, they are beaten back by you, giving the mystery man a chance to escape.
Finally atop the walls of Castle Korvosa, Blackjack turns to the crowd, some of which cheers him, while the rest wants his blood, everyone is calling out Blackjack's name. He makes a low bow to the crowd, and a pointed salute to the heroes in particular, then downing a potion of some sort, and grabbing the surprised Trinia around the waist, he leaps from the far side of the wall, which would mean certain death for most.
The crowd cheers their approval, the majority, it appears for his escape rather than his death, and the guards stand about flustered. The Queen and her bodyguards appear to be safely ensconced inside the castle once again, and the crowd stands stunned for a few moments, then begins to break up, dispersing throughout the city, to begin another day.
The heroes, blades drawn and ready for action, slowly stand-to, realizing that there is no fight left. The Castle guards speed off in pursuit of Blackjack, and soon our party is all that remains atop the wooden platform, looking around sheepishly.
From behind the heroes, the voice of Field Marshal Croft is heard, as she comes into view. "I told you that there would be excitement, did I not? I am sorry to make you angry with me, but, as you can see, everything may turn out alright in the end...You have doen well, and Blackjack, whom you saved here, will soon be on everyone's lips and in their thoughts. His direct action against the monarchy may start to sway some of the Queen's supporters before long, but that worry is for another day. Go home, rest, lie low. The City is safe, for the time being, and I know how to find you should something threaten the piece again."
From behind his improvised, filthy rag 'mask', Iozif beams exultantly as the Blackjack leaps to safety with Trinia safely in tow. We were remarkably lucky here. It his perversion of justice was averted by the slimmest of margins and I'd do well to remember that in future dealings with this monarch. Lost in thought, Iozif is caught completely off his guard by the Field Marshall's arrival. He nods slowly, reluctantly, to her explanation and then smiles quietly and nods, "I will not be able to forgot yesterday, but I shall certainly never forget today either, Field Marshall. I will be available should the city be threatened again."
He nods to Corso, "That strikes me as prudent. A drink may well be in order though, to settle the nerves, of course. That is my professional opinion." Pulling the rag from his face, his eyes twinkling in amusement, Iozif follows his companions from the platform.
A smile crosses the young witch's face as she sees Trina and Blackjack escape. Just as she is ready to leave the mob, she is taken by surprise by the field marshal.
Listening to her words, Arianna's faith in at least part of Korvosa's establishment is renewed.
Turning to Iozif, "A drink? Sounds like a lovely idea." Arianna says as the group leaves the area.
Standing amidst the chaos of the thwarted execution, as the guileful queen disappears into the castle, Gyllan surveys the scene, stunned by what his city has become. But he can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief in spite of it all, as Blackjack escapes with Trinia and the crowd roars its approval of the man’s daring actions.
When the field marshal appears and speaks to them, Gyllan’s eyes narrow. There is a good deal more to her than she lets on, if she’s working with Blackjack behind the scenes. I don’t want to raise it here, but I’ll certainly mention it to my friends – and will have to ask Croft about it soon. ”As Iozif says,” Gyllan tells the marshal, ”we’re available to help. But letting us in on your plans in the future might ensure we don’t make some mad plan of our own.”
He gives her a cordial enough nod, then turns to his friends and says, ”A drink to celebrate – and puzzle out what just happened here – sounds like a fine plan!” With a grin at Iozif, he adds, ”We’re lucky we have a doctor with us, to provide such good advice!”
Pleased by the outcome of the morning's events, but a bit frustrated to not be in the know about them, the group retires back to their lodging point at the Three Rings Tavern in North Shore.
As you approach the inn, the smiling face of Sgt Grau Soldado greets you warmly on the walk outside the place. "STrange days, eh friends? Heard about the excitement at the Castle, and the escape of the suspected regicide with Blackjack? Of all the crazy things, Blackjack is just an old codger's story. He ain't real, right?"
to matronly. Despite her indulgences, Theandra remains a good-natured and friendly person, ready to help a friend in need and always hungering for a tale of high adventure and daring-do. A few years ago, Theandra lost a few fingers when a bar brawl turned ugly, which led her to hire the half-
Shoanti barbarian Tauk Par as a bouncer. Theandra likes to keep her bar low-keyed and quiet, serving as much coffee and tea as mead and wine. Tauk Par watches over the place like a hawk, eyeing regulars and newcomers
alike with the same barely concealed dislike. In addition to its extensive variety of beverages—alcoholic and not—Three Rings also gathers a regular breakfast clientele with its Varisian sweetbreads and Gebbite cream-filled pastries. (from Pathfinder Chronicles: Korvosa)
"Well, I ain't expect that tae happen with Blackjack, that's for sure," Ulgrim replies. He goes inside and gets them a table. Ulgrim orders several of the cream filled pastries and a pot of the strongest coffee they can make. "What should we do nae? Think we ought tea find this Blackjack fella and talk with him?"
"I suppose we could try to find him, but I can not imagine it would be easy."
Thinking about it bit longer, she adds, "I am sure that the queen's loyalists are doing all they can to find him as is. That being said, I am not so sure we should try as we may only succeed in aiding the queen's efforts."
Iozif shakes Grau's extended hand and returns his greeting, "Well met, Grau! An odd, albeit exciting, day indeed. I had thought so too, but these rumors are too persistent for that." Gratefully accepting a cup, Iozif pours himself a cup of coffee and sips at the warming liquid. "I'm inclined to agree with Arianna that we may be best off leaving the man, or woman I suppose, to secrecy. The fewer who know of him or her, the better. I'm rather curious as to where the alleged, and seemingly innocent, regicide has been spirited off to. I should think from the city, but that may not be possible. Is more research into that something to be done?"
Grau shakes his head in wonder at the concept of Blackjack actually standing up to the Queen. His eyes grow sadder as he says, "You were there, right? Did you see Sabina there also? How was she? I suppose that scoundrel Vencarlo Orsini was present as well, defending the Queen, I suppose?" The contempt in his voice for his former sword master is quite evident.
Taur, the bodyguard scowls at Corso's teasing, but of course, he scowls at everything, so it's no surprise or threat particularly.
Theandra waits on Corso and the group with a flourish. "To think you were there and saw the whole thing. It's all the town's been buzzing about for days. Blackjack this and Blackjack that. The company you dears keep, I must say!" The woman brushes against the bard, her ample hips pushing against him suggestively whenever possible. "I hear Blackjack's a young man, virile as a horse, too. I hope to meet him soon. I like them tall, dark, and mysterious..." swoons the former Pathfinder turned innkeeper.
The Three Rings is frequented by many other regulars. None of which have bothered to make your acquaintance so far. Most mornings, in the far corner, a group of elderly men sit and gossip about events in the city. The group has a dwarf and a half-orc and is not your usual coffee group, the men, while elderly, still are bright-eyed and boisterous, like they might still be able to stir up trouble.
Grau is a regular here as well, stopping by often on his daily patrols for a free coffee or biscuit and catching up on the latest news.
A few merchants from Northgate dine here regularly, men who are less loyal to the crown than to their clients and coin most likely.
Most of the rest are, so far, non-descriptive.
Theandra continues to flirt harmlessly with Corso, while the rest sit around waiting for action.
As the days go by, the mood of the city seems to have changed. Where before, the city was perhaps split in its loyalty to the Queen, the appearance and bravery of Blackjack has pushed the majority to favor deposing the monarch.
The Queen herself remains firmly ensconced in Castle Korvosa and has not been seen outside the Castle for several days. The enraged queen has set a royal bounty on the heads of Blackjack and Trinia Sabor of 5000 gp each and the Korovsan Guard scours the city for the fugitives, without any luck.
One night, just before midnight, about a week after the incident where Blackjack first appeared, the city's peace is shattered by the screech of wood, followed by the thunder of trebuchet firing. Again and again the sounds echo from the Wall of Eodred near North Bridge, waking nearly all the citizens of North Point, including the PC's. The rest of night passes in breathless anticipation of the wall weapons being used again, but fortuitously this never comes to pass.
The next morning, the city is abuzz with rumors about the noises and fanciful tales run wild. Every tavern, including yours, is filled with gossip of pirate raiders and ghost ships. There is no word from the Crimson Throne on the matter, with even the loosest tongued politicians silent on the matter.
Arianna had spent the majority of week since Blackjack's appearance plying her fortune teller's trade in various taverns and inns throughout Korvosa, taking note of the temperament of the city's citizens in respect to recent events.
Following the events of last night, the young witch makes a point of going to the group's designated meeting place to hear what the others may have heard.
"Go to the castle? I would prefer not to." Arianna says, he distaste for what passes for a monarchy evident. "Now, I would like to see if we can speak with her elsewhere."
Ulgrim spends some time questioning his contacts within the guard about what happened the previous night. He calls in a couple of old favors to get access to some more juicy information than people would normally share with the surly dwarf. Then, he goes to meet the others at their usual place.
Ulgrim goes to meet with some other soldiers he knows in the guard, most don't know anything about the incident, but one sergeant points out a lance corporal whose brother was on Eodred's Wall last night.
"Me brother were there, not I, sir." says the enlisted man in clipped speech. "But he tol' me wha' happened, if it please yeh. He said his unit, on Eodred's Wall in t'North Shore, sir. Well, they fired 'pon an' destroyed a ship, sir, full o' foolish pirates from Riddleport who had obviously hoped t'sneak into t'heart o' t'city at night. He says not a one of 'em made it t'shore, sir. An' tha' t'truth of it."
Plying her trade in one of a dozen taverns across town, Arianna runs into a sailor who happened to be on watch on the docks of Old Korovsa last night. As she tells his fortune, she convinces the man to tell what he saw.
"Thank'ee Lance Corporal. No need ter worry, lad. You ain't in sight o' trouble," Ulgrim says to the sweaty youth. Satisfied with what he's discovered, he makes his way back to the Three Rings to report his findings to the others.
Iozif, behind on his study's and with work to catch up on, spends his week worrying over the proper treatment for various forms of animal bites, how to properly set a broken leg and the value of maggots for treating gangrene. In the few moment he can find between his studies, he tries to look into the disappearance of Trinia Sabor.
Frustrated by his lack of success, he returns to Three Rings Tavern in hope that his friends had better success. Of the non-sensical and irrelevant matter of the 'ghost ship', Iozif was merely annoyed by the silence of city's government. No doubt hoping to exploit the fear of the citizens for their safety. 'Seek the sheltering arms of Korvosa's military and the Queen.' Pfah.
Gyllan spends some of their downtime quietly scouring the city for any signs of Blackjack's passing, be they a crowd of startled onlookers, pub patrons chatting of mysterious deeds, or whatever else the masked man might leave in his wake. Gyllan does this in part to satisfy his own curiosity about the man, in part to learn more of the fate of Trinia, and in part because he hopes to be able to contact the man when he and his friends are in need of an ally.
Back at the Three Rings, he joins Corso for a drink and accompanies him over to the table where the morning gossip gang hangs out, gesturing for the serving girl to bring them a round.
Iozif's mind is on his upcoming exams more than the distraction of a ship being fired on in the night. He half=heartedly investigates, but soon finds himself back in his flat cracking the books.
After spending the day with his own grey lady, Corso hits the Three Rings in time to see the table full of old-timers. Buying drinks for the elderly fellows, he is welcomed to the table.
There are four in all, and while they are all quite different and sometimes vociferously argumentative with each other, it is apparent they have a camraderie that runs deep.
The first man, Berriel, is big bear of a man wide in the shoulders, and with a belly that rivals any in the City. His arms are as wide as tree trunks, and he still looks like he could hold his own in an contest of strength. A wide pink scar runs the length of his face, just missing his left eye. He laughs often and loudly, but doesn't seem particularly bright on his own.
Next to him is Vidar, a tall, slender man whose movements are quick and deft despite his age. You see he is missing two fingers on his left hand. Vidar is quiet, but very alert. You see that his eyes don't miss much.
The third man, Umbert, is completely bald, even his eyebrows missing. He is dressed in sumptuous blue robes, and wears a holy symbol of a butterfly. One you recognize as belonging to Desna the Wanderer.
The last man is clearly the leader of the group, and he wears rings on each of his fingers, and a golden amulet round his neck. His beard is long as any dwarf's, and is combed and well-oiled. His voice is resonant and clear, the voice used to issuing commands that are followed. He introduces the others, and himself last. "I am Argathallo. And as long as you buy drinks, you have our undivided attention. What can we, a few old gentlemen help you youngsters with?"
On a hunch, you take the trip over to Old Korvosa, and find the dojo of Swordmaster Vencarlo Orsini. To your surprise, the place is closed up tight with no students in sight. A very different scene than that of a few days ago, when you visited with the master himself. After ringing the bell futilely a few times, you turn and head for tavern to join Corso.
Making her way back to the Three Rings, Arianna meets up with the others.
"Information has been hard to come by, though one who sought my guidance reported of seeing a sinister looking ship, having black sails and a single yellow lantern. The ship supposedly refused inspection as it sailed into the Jeggare River. When it neared North Bridge and still failed to make its intentions clear. The man continued his story, saying the watch fired on it and destroyed it. He claimed to see no survivors, but it was dark and he was on his own watch at the time. Any of you hear of anything similiar?"
Ulgrim arrives at the Three Rings after his day of info gathering. He listens to Arianna, then nods. "Ah heard much the same thing from meh contacts in the guard. Think we fit intae this somehow, lass?"
Gyllan joins Corso at the table with the four ‘elders,’ raising a glass with them all. ”I’m Gyllan Dow,” he says, and as the men give their names in return, he considers whether his years on the streets of Korvosa have carried any word of these men to him.
He uses what he’s heard to engage them in conversation, relating a tale he’s heard of Berriel’s great strength, and joking about speculation on the streets about how Vidar lost those two fingers.
When the group settles down in a private room to compare what they’ve learned, Gyllan listens to what the others have to say, though his mind seems to be elsewhere. Just as it seems they’ve shared all they know about events in the city, he speaks up. ”This may be crazy, but I need to put an idea out there. I scoured the city for any word on Trinia, or any clue as to who Blackjack might really be. I found nothing on Trinia. Actually, I found too much – so many stories about what happened and who was behind it. Someone suggested she was holed up in the Grey District, planning a revolt of the undead against the monarchy. Needless to say, I wasn’t too eager to go back there and investigate that tale, but it sounds like rubbish to me.”
He pauses consideringly, then goes on, ”But I followed a hunch and went over to Old Korvosa, to the training studio of Vencarlo Orsini, the swordmaster. The place was closed up tight, no students in sight. A very different scene from just a few days ago, when we visited with the master himself. I rang and rang his bell, but got no answer. It could mean nothing at all, he could be visiting a sick relative…but I can’t help but notice the coincidence. Blackjack appears and then vanishes, and Orsini disappears at the same time. Could they be the same man?”
"Could be, but seems mighty circumstantial laddie," Ulgrim rplies to Gyllan. "What other reason have yea for suspectin' Orsini?"
"A capitol idea Corso. I'm afraid I'm more likely to insult them by pointing out their critical health afflictions at this point then I am to make small talk. These damned exams are going to be the death of me. I'll join for a drink as soon as I can clear my mind."
"Didn't Orsini's lover become the Queen's right hand lady and body guard? Perhaps the master suspects foul play in her change of heart? I seem to recall hearing such from Grau shortly after we met. I don't necessarily think it likely, but if my recollections are right it might prove to be a starting point at least. There is also the matter of the man's skill, which was impressive, to say the least." Iozif chimes in distractedly, still running over the physiology of a human hand in his mind. He continues, "In any case, I'm not sure what speculation will yield, as the master is also missing. We would simply be looking for someone else. Ulgrim's question, of course, remains unanswered by anything other then speculation."
In response to Ulgrim's question, Arianna says, "I am not sure it really has anything to do with us, but it certainly seems odd and noteworthy enough that we both heard something about it."
Otherwise, the young woman sits and listens to the banter back and forth about Orsini.
As much as they ask around in the community, or try to remember the names of the older gentlemen seated around the table, Gyllan and Corso come up blank.
The men nod as Corso asks them about what happened last night. "You mean the ship?" says the robed holy man Umbert with a raised eyebrow. "Such a waste, I hope no one was hurt."
Berriel smirks at this but says nothing. Argthallo however seems quite irritated. "If they had unloaded pirates and burnt the city, I am sure you wouldn't feel such regret, Brother Umbert. I say good riddance to those that try to avoid the law. and endanger us all by doing so."
Vidar, whose eyes have not left you since you sat down, speaks in a raspy voice, little above a whisper, but somehow crystal clear in the din of the tavern. "What can we help you boys with? Surely you didn't come over here to gossip with old men? Tell and tell true, lest Argthallo get angry at you as well." He flexes his hand with the missing fingers as if the memory of them pained him somehow, but his ice blue eyes never leave your face.
Everyone is curious about what happened to Trinia Sabor or if Vencarlo is Blackjack, and what about the ship that was sunk in the Jeggare? And while these curiosities are fun to investigate or speculate about, little else meaningful happens this day in regard to these or any other events.
Late into the night, the group splits up and goes their separate ways for sleep, deciding to join again here in the common room for breakfast. All pass an uneventful night, and despite an early morning shower, the day breaks bright and sunny across Korvosa.
Joining together for breakfast once again, Corso and Gyllan get a friendly wave from the bald Umbert at the table of older gentlemen how are huddled together like usual in the Rings common room. Theandra plays hostess flitting from one table to another, chatting up soldiers and sailors, judges and criminals alike.
Per usual, the door opens and Sgt Grau Soldado enters, with a kiss on the cheek from Theandra, he comes and sits at your table with a sigh. More than any other time in a while he looks troubled...
"I need a favor," Grau says, his eyes not looking up at you. "But you've already done so much for me, I hate to ask." He finally looks up a bit sheepishly at first. "It's nothing to do with my love life, or my drinking, this time. It's...well, it my niece."
He pauses a bit, sips a coffee placed in front of him by the waitress, and then continues. "You see, she's sick. I don't know what she has and neither does anyone else in Trail's End. She's broken out all over in red pocks and can barely keep down food, or even the swill that good-for-nothing herbalist gave her. Her mother's talking about going to the Bank of Abadar, but her family can't afford to pay the prices those clerics would demand. I am forced to work double duty with the king-slayer still on the loose and can't make the trip over to Trails End to check into it much myself."
"Then I remembered you and how you handled yourselves in the riots and that episode with Blackjack, and figured you could help me out. A bunch or resourceful folk like you, I'd bet that if you don't already know a way to fix this you must know who can. Surely, you won't sit idly by while a child suffers, can you?"