Marra listens intently to the newcomer's claims.
"There's something amiss, what was your name? Gregor? I met with the Queen just after the King's death, he attitude has changed since then, now she's even calling for a new Guard, I believe I heard that they're being called the Gray Maidens. Hellknights are not corrupt, they enforce Laws, regardless of Justice, in the name of Asmodeus. I enforce Justice, regardless of laws, in the name of Iomedae. Two edges of the same blade. I remember BlackJack saved one of Lamm's lambs from Lamm himself when I was 8, I wish it had been me he saved that day...I still don't know what happened to that girl, she was pretty good with a blade. Almost...as good as..." she drifts into introspection for a moment..."That scar...Blackjack saved Sabina, she wasn't named Sabina then, but it was her...The Queen's Guard, Karrinda is what she was called then, she loved to torture rats, cats, even...the others. She was a wicked one...How did she end up the Queen's Guard?"
Mai has a slightly surprised look on her face
"The Queen is making a NEW guard. and by the sound of it, it's female only and will operate in morally questionable areas.
And hasn't the current guard system worked for the past 64 years. And it now is getting a new pardon my tein (in Tein says "Crazy B**ch") for a Queen's guard."
Mai whispers to herself quietly in a musical tone
"She's not the only one he saved."
she replies to Nik'o's attempt at the word
"You were close, but your off on the tones. You just said the word "Donkey" as I could tell. And as for Blackjack your lucky to see him during his public acts, and no one knows who he is."
"Jus a bunch o ladies, tha tides err turning might be best fer us men-folk tah hit tha road an not be so close to tha town."
Nik'o eyes widen in fear as it is becoming clear to her that something is wrong beyond the obvious death of the King. Her problem is still though, that she can't clearly see where the truth lies.
She ponders Marra's words for a moment, then asks: "Wait... Are you saying this as a good thing or a bad thing Marra? I mean, we are saying that Blackjack might stand on the good side, but he's the one who saved the Queen's Guard (Tien word used again, but badly pronounced) Sabina. But she's bad then, no? So what does that make Blackjack?"
Someone I want to talk to!
"She was just a girl then, I'm sure BlackJack tried to help her become a better person, but she was evil to the core."
No worries from Marra...yet
"Jus a bunch o ladies, tha tides err turning might be best fer us men-folk tah hit tha road an not be so close to tha town."
Mai replies to Donagar
"But if you leave town, where will you get your alcohol?"she replies to Nik'o and Marra
"Good and evil are two sides of the same coin, one can not exist with out the other and each at the same time each is tainted with the other."
"Yer right lass tis my civic duty tah keep tha bars in business, jus stoppin drinkin long enough tah make more coin fer drinkin....say anyone got any ideas on gettin some coin?"
"That's why the Dragons Horde sees you as it's number 1 customer, and has give you a 5% discount on the booze for the past year."
Gregor nods at the analogy, but speaks in recourse "Two edges of the same blade, are not mutually exclusive, one can have both law and justice in regards to each other. Maybe that's where Abadar tempers the two edges of that one blade."
Irritated he scowls at the nature of the discussion, "A new guard, established by the queen, for the the queen. There will be bias, and injustice. The guard is for the people, the community, the society. It is not for one person's desires. If Sabina Merrin is as wicked as you say, this new guard will not bode well for the sake of the city. This is no simple affair of the women, dwarf, it is in the best interest of the Korvosan Guard, the official Korvosan Guard and not the queen's puppet guard, to right this before it tears the city apart. You may just want to retreat into your booze, but I will do what needs be done." He prepares to walk away, most likely returning to his duties about the city.
"We said sir,
but in the bars and pubs one can hear things they were not ment to hear or see,
like the rumor of the queen or one of her new guards looking for something or someone disguised as a commoner."
"Yer makin me feel bad bout mah tips."
"Would be better tah disguise someone as a dwarf."
Drinks from a tankard of ale.......
@Donagar
"Actually you are the biggest tipper, Donagar, in that you tip in silver, not copper, and once in a while a few gold pieces."
@Donagar
"Actually you are the biggest tipper, Donagar, in that you tip in silver, not copper, and once in a while a few gold pieces."
Marra laughs and says, "Probably color blind when he's drunk...he's a dwarf afterall..."
"I holds mah liquor jus fine tis tha coin I kent hold!"
...
She sobers at Mai Asta's statement: "How do you mean? There is nothing but commoners around town."
Mai replies with a question.
Where's the best place to hid a tree?
"I holds mah liquor jus fine tis tha coin I kent hold!"
That's a good suggestion.
About a two weeks after the meeting with Kroft, a package arrives at the house delivered by Sergeant Grau himself, there's a note on the package from Cressida Croft, to Drakus, Marra and Donagar. The little dragon lights upon the box as you're reading the card.
After the report of what happened in the catacombs, Donagar's
suggestion for something to help you see in the dark was taken to heart. For Marra and Drakus, these goggles, for Donagar, something else, to help keep our friends alive, this rod. These items are on loan from the city. Field Marshal Cressida Kroft
on a cleverly tucked away note below the first, is a second note:
The Gray Ladies are concerning me, the Queen has given them autonomous control under Captain Sabina Merrin. They've been tasked with finding and executing on sight our little artist, Trinia and the girl BlackJack rescued, I've been in contact with both and we need to get them out of the city tonight. The Gray Maidens begin searching door to door at first light. In addition the 5000 gold crown reward for her head is making things more difficult. Go to Orsini Academy please. I hope our new friends can be trusted as much as I believe they can.
-CK
Two Goggles of Night
1 Lesser Empowered Metamagic Rod.
(yes, they're a little out of the normal range, but, I also don't believe they're game breakers.
Gregor, accompanying Sergeant Grau with the delivery, speaks up "Well, it seems there is more we can do for this fair city. I say it would be in the best interest of all involved to make haste, though I suggest we act with caution in the off chance that we are followed if someone thinks you all may know where the girl is hidden." He adjusts his tabard to sit right, and stands straight with his hands behind his back in a position of parade rest.
Sgt. Drakus goes around to meet the new guys.
He is polite, but it's clear he thinks (loudly); "Ugh, more civilians."
But he does like the cut of Gregor Ward's jib. He says "Welcome aboard!" while punching him in the shoulder.
He accepts the goggles with some suspicion at first, until he tries them out at night.
Donagar accepts the rod and considers how he might use it, then his thoughts turn to sizing up the new gear his old companions now have.....
"We should test this new gear out right soon!"
reply at Donagar's Comment
"Be careful of what you wish for."
Gregor looks confused by the lack of movement on the part of the others, "We.. can.. test them out performing the mission given us by the Field Marshal. We are expected to head to Orsini Acadamy and get both girls out of town... TONIGHT!" He fumes for a bit before making a decision, "I will wait for five more minutes, if we do not leave by then, I will be on my way to the Academy, to perform the task we have been appointed."
"New gear? Nice stuff? May I? Oh my! Nice indeed! This rod would do wonders for some of my incantations. If I could share it with someone, that would be perfect!"
"Imah all fer sharin!"
Donagar hands off the rod....tag yer it!
While you wait, Mai appears from behind you, not seen by anyone. (a bad habit of her's)
"I hope you didn't wait long, Mr Ward."
Sgt. Drakus is already standing at parade rest; with his legion device removed from his shield, his horsehair plume removed from his helm and his cloak reversed, he now looks like another hard bitten mercenary.
He leans over and whispers to Gregor Ward; "Civilians."
"Yes time is of the essence, I for one don't want to be around if these Gray Maidens come calling."
Mai has an Alert face on her, and she is wearing a black monk uniform, but not appearing as twin tails from a nearby street post lamp.
"I think we should get going as I saw them from the shadows about 8 blocks away, and they are getting closer.
I would recommend taking the darken alleys to avoid being seen, I have put out a few street lights in a few areas to give us some cover of darkness in some areas, where we cross a busy street."
"Well iffen we ken all see in tha dark lets get goin."
I just need a bit of light to see in the dark.
I made a few paths that has lighting conditions,
that would give humans trouble, but half-elves a bit of difficulty.
Mai leads them through her darkened alley maze to avoid being seen til they reach their destination.
"Aye, thank you Donagar for the suggestion, after those Derro, we needed this, fighting in the dark is for the dwarves..."
"Where was we goin fer a drink?"
"No drinks tonight until we get the job done.
If the job get done in say 1 hour, I'll open a bottle.
Sound fair?"
"Guess mah skills at bluffin needs a bit o work.."
"I think Don has trouble sneaking because his pack is always clinking with beer bottles...though sometimes he brings pony kegs...If we're all ready, we should go. "
You depart for the academy, as a group of Hellknights steps into the tavern, shouldering Donagar aside.
"There's a 5000 gold piece reward for the capture of the King's murderer, Trinia Sabor" The Hellknight says as he holds aloft a very lifelike colored pictograph of Trinia. It must have been magically created using illusion magic.
----------------------
The streets are littered with all manner of citizens as dusk falls, children running in for supper, beggars and guardsman groups. The fog is beginning to roll in as the temperature falls. There's a blood red moon rising, an evil omen.
----------------------
As you arrive at the Orsini academy, the lanterns are already lit. The flickering lights flare against the fog.
----------------------
The academy is located at 16 Hillcrest Street, near the center of Old Korvosa. A sign hanging from the front door reads, “Classes Cancelled Today.” A few moments after the PCs arrive, before you can knock on the academy’s front door, a serious-looking Vencarlo appears and ushers them inside. The swordsman thanks the PCs for responding
to his cryptic note and leads them down a hall and into a study, the windows of which are tightly shuttered and curtained. He explains in hushed tones that he has an important task for the PCs, one that becomes obvious when he calls the other guests into the room: Trinia Sabor and a girl who looks her sister, but who must only be thirteen summers in age. Wearing simple traveling clothes, the alleged assassin
holds a wide-brimmed rider’s hat and a wig of long red curls—gifts from Orisini to use in her disguise, the other holds a straw farmer's hat. Trinia appears both nervous and excited Vencarlo then asks his guests to be seated—he remains standing as he speaks.
“You were all at the Queen’s debacle I'm told, as I did not attend, as I didn't agree with the Queen. This young lady is Jendai Kalesta. I had only just reached my home the night of Her Majesty’s morbid gala when that rogue Blackjack and this startled woman arrived at my doorstep. The people’s hero and I have had some dealings in the past, but still, it’s been some years since I’ve seen the scoundrel. He was quick with his words, and soon swooped off—doubtlessly to right some other festering wrong—but not before entrusting Miss Kalesta into my protection and care. Miss Kalesta is the pickpocket who was nearly executed in Trinia's place. Although I don’t know Blackjack’s motives or politics, I trust his judgment and have seen much right done by his blade. He says the girl is innocent of the crime she’s been accused of, and I’m more disposed to trust a hero of the city than the tantrums of some bloody-minded harlot playing at queen."
“The matter is simple: Korvosa is no longer safe for Miss Sabor or Miss Kalesta. I’ve arranged for friends in Harse—a couple of well respected ranchers—to take in our beautiful renegades until this whole ‘assassination’ foolishness blows over. Its the first leg of the journey where we find our problem, though. Both the Korvosan Guard and the Sable Company have been searching for the young lady tirelessly they’ve stopped by here three times so far, and each time I’ve only just barely been able to turn them away without inviting a search. My most reliable contacts have gone to ground in light of the recent uprisings, and Her Highness’s considerable bounty for Trinia’s capture makes the use of new agents inadvisable. Thus, after some time to let her trail cool, I turned to you resourceful lot. With the Gray Maidens beginning their searches for her soon, I can't turn them away. Care to escort a lady home?”
"Marra, you're too well known, you should stay with me, you might cause undue attention to the others."
"That makes sense, since I met the queen, I'm sure I might be a suspect now that her attitude has shifted..."
And if Sabina recognized me at the execution she thinks to herself
Mai bows respectfully to Vencarlo when she enters the room.
after hearing Vencarlo, she speaks and she bows
"We shall see to their safety in getting out the city to Harse."