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Zellara quietly walks over to where Mai is standing and - somehow produces her ever-familiar Harrow deck; or at least, the deck is suddenly being shuffled in her hands. She clears a space on the table and - having shuffled - places her cards face down. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.
Six cards in all - a row of four, and a row of two.
"The four are our Fortune Cards - they tell us of experience, recent or future. Let us examine them first."
Zellara silently turns over the first card. "The Drowned Man; ah. I thought we might see this. Poor Rois. Out of his depth, lost, abandoned, himself a villain - and yet -" here Zellara looks directly at Gregor - "You had compassion on him. You sought to return him to his rest and - with your companions - you achieved this. Next time you are out of your depth, may you find the aid you need."
Zellara speaks again, turning over the next card. "The Hanged Man. Do you see him, dancing on the rope? He struggles for breath, exhausted, forever at the point of death - but not yet dead." Here Zellara kneels to look Donagar in the eyes. "You struggled in your armour in the most unfavourable conditions in order to be the rock against those who would harm your companions. Though tired beyond all endurance, you still endured. May you find the strength you need when next you need it."
Again Zellara returns her attention to the cards. "The Headless Man - the one who is unknown, unidentified." Zellara looks straight at Mai. "We know, do we not, the need for disguise, the hiding of one's true self - to the point of taking on a different name? All the better to strike from hiding."
"And now - the fourth card. The Pierced Man. Impaled, he writhes in agony, bleeding. Yet he still endures; as do you." Zellara looks at Drakus. "You are not one for superstition, I know. You favour the direct approach. Be aware that so do others - let that awareness protect you."
"Know - all of you - that these four cards are disastrous. Any one of them in a reading would be dire. To find all four shows that events are far more serious than you yet realise. You are up against a danger that has not even shown itself to you. And yet - I am with you. I have power to make these cards work for you. But my time here is short - She approaches and I must protect myself from Her." Zellara does not elaborate on this.
"The last two are our Key Cards - they show us indirectly what we face and how to proceed. Let us examine them. The first is the Pale Crown. Your enemy is not the one you think, but one more powerful. I can say no more on this. The second is the Damsel. One who seeks your aid."
Zellara looks at Mai once more. "Be at your tavern tonight. The one who seeks your aid will be there. You will know her by her appearance. Do as she asks and you will yet proceed. She approaches! I must leave now. I hope to see you once you have prevailed - failing that, in death. Farewell."
The spirit fades; the cards disappear. Mai will find them later in an unexpected pocket of her backpack...
Gregor rolls his eyes when the cards begin to spring to life and the 'woman' spins prophecy, but scowls after the spirit dissipates. "I have said before, that I have no faith in the whims of a fortune teller, typically considered charlatans no better than the proprietor of the perfumery. Her knowledge of events is disturbing, however, are we certain we can trust this spirit?"
Drakus shakes his head.
"I don't know really, but she ain't steered us wrong yet."
"It seems she has put some magic upon us, and it seems of benefit."
"Looks like we're going to the Dragon's Horder tonight.
And it looks as If something funny is going on with the doctors as they had the same mask as the one we found.
And the box we also found in the ship, a lot of them came up on the shore."
"Looks like we're going to the Dragon's Horder tonight."
That evening, you attend the tavern, hoping to meet with your plot hook mysterious "Damsel" - the one whom Zellara said you will know by her appearance. A mysterious and ambiguous - the order of the day for most seers' pronouncements, probably.
Whom will you know by her appearance? And how? Does that discount the locals who always attend? Who here is a local, anyway - can you remember exactly?
In the event, it's obvious as soon as she walks into the room - a young, pretty Varisian girl stands out from the usual clientele like a rose in an onion patch.
She looks around, clearly ill at ease in her current surroundings - yet at the same time she can't lack confidence: not many Varisians of her age would walk into a tavern unaccompanied. (The Varisians may be the indigenous inhabitants of Varisia, but their status - as constant ill-treatment and disdain reminds them regularly - is definitely that of second-class citizens by comparison with the Chelish-descended colonists.)
Her appearance (youthful, pretty) is already drawing a certain amount of unwanted attention and - above the normal chatter of the place - coarse remarks are clearly being made. The remarks themselves cannot quite be heard, but the sniggers that accompany them are quite audible.
"Why's it bars be buzzing like a pack o hornets....Mindlessness an dribble fer tha most part."
Donagar looks around for the others.....
On spotting the woman, Drakus whispers "That must be her."
He stands up and raises his mug to her.
If he needs to intimidate some people to let her through...
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Mai busy with bar work tries to calm the ill remarks and make sure they know to quiet their tongues, with honey and a hacket.
Mai smiles are she does her honeyed words as she addresses the whole bar
"Now, Now, gentleman remember this bar is open to everyone, and in here we like it, if you treat EVERYONE equally.
Don't force me to remind you of a certain oracle who got saint hood, or of Certain helping hands you got when you were in the dumps for a while."
And switches to a face of anger that would scare demons with her verbal hacket
"And you boys do recall, how I HATE sexist or racist comments about any patrons who visit here, right.....
Or do one of you want do be humiliated like Tom "groper" Harlens.
You all remember it right...
The gentleman who kept trying to comp a feel as I WORKED....
And ended up being knocked out for hours with one kick to the Jewels....
And then was Striped and hung in a potato sack IN THE RAFTERS FOR TWO DAYS."
And she switches to her normal face
"I do recall all you guys laughing about Tom for months."
At Mai's haranguing, the patrons of the tavern suddenly take an extreme interest in their drinks and the chatter ceases altogether.
After a suitably embarrassed silence, conversation slowly resumes; in a couple of minutes, things are back to normal again, although there is a slightly forced air to the joviality. Notably, anyone ordering drinks off the serving girls is doing so with rather more politeness than normal...
With a noteable flourish, the girl takes her hands off the hilt of a couple of daggers that were hidden beneath her travelling cape. She blinks at Mai's outburst, and conceals a smile at the result.
"My thanks. My name is Deyanira Mirukova - I take it you are Pai?"
Assuming that Mai confirms this, Deyanira continues "And these are your companions ... you all have the reputation as being friendly toward my people. That is why I have come here. I know we are not always welcome among the finer establishments -" Her voice here is scornful, but she suddenly seems to recollect that the place is Mai's, and blushes slightly - "but I don't know where else to go. It's my brother, you see: he's gone missing." Here Deyanira draws herself up proudly and says "His name is Ruan - Ruan Mirukova; perhaps you have heard of him...?"
Deyanira's composure crumbles somewhat, but she defiantly refuses to let the tears fall from her eyes, dashing them away impatiently. "He was invited to perform at Carowyn Manor - the Carowyns are great patrons of music and arts - and they were putting on a party at their Manor on the South Shore for the nobility. He was so proud to be asked! He even went and bought a new outfit for the occasion - which we couldn't really afford, but I couldn't say no - he was so enthusiastic..."
She closes her eyes for a couple of moments before resuming.
"Anyway, he never came back. I went out to Carowyn Manor, but it is shut - the gates are locked, the curtains are closed. The lights are still burning, but no one answered. I didn't want to be caught breaking in - I'd lose my job if I displeased the Carowyns! I thought about going to the Guard, but..." With a plague ravaging the city, it's clear that no one is going to pay attention to a missing boy - particularly a Varisian. This goes without saying.
Deyanira recovers herself. "So, will you help me? I can show you where Carowyn Manor is." She pauses, awkward for the first time since she started speaking "I know you types - adventurers - like to be paid, but I don't have very much... If you find Ruan, I promise he'll play in your tavern for a week - he'd bring in lots of people!" Perhaps suddenly realising that the locals at this tavern might not be the sort to appreciate fine opera and classical music, she lowers her eyes, embarrassed.
Ruan .... Ruan Mirukova .... Oh the ocarina prodigy. He played here a number of times before.
I would be willing to look into it, as he did bring in a crowd when he did play here.
And I hope the others would join me of their own free will."
Gregor doesn't stir at the woman's entrance, if the ghost thinks an event is destined to happen, he shouldn't have to invite it over and offer it a drink. As the crowd becomes unruly, he is prepared to step in in case things get ugly, but Pai is able to speak the language of the uncivilized. It must come from the forest-loving elf blood she carries.
Gregor knows the man, after all it is his job to be aware of what all goes on in his magnificent city. "Milady, do not assume the Korvosan Guard either does not care or does not have time to help. A crime is a crime, and though there is a great threat to the city, we are currently not on duty. Nothing would make me feel more like I am performing my civic duty than to be able to serve my community even when not on duty. If there has been a crime committed, even the Carowyn's are not above seeing justice served."
Drakus looks over to the others to see what they think. Then he nods his assent. The job is fine with him. Then he takes a long drink.
Donagar looks the girl over for a bit.
"Show tha way an i''ll knock tha door down, everyone deserves a fair wage fer work so we ken collect his ass an cash in on his music."
"He best be a good bard, if not we'l'll let tha patrons have their way with em!"
Donagar laughs but is otherwise stoic....
Gregor scowls and responds "No Donager, we will not knock down doors. That is not how we comport ourselves when investigating a crime, not here in Korvosa. That may be how it is done in dwarven cities, but this isn't a dwarven city."
Mai adds to Gregor's words
"I have to agree with Gregor, we're not crooks who break into places for payment.
We go places for truth and justice and helping those who've been wronged."
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Donagar looks at his stone gauntleted hand...
"Maybe I don't knows mah own strength, but in a dwarf city tha knockin don't hurts tha doors none."
"Right Mai?"
"You mean the Inn door you broke last year during a hot summer night when you were drunker than any conscious drunk I've seen before."
Gregor - the Carowyns are well-known local nobility; if Lord Ausio Carowyn's grandfather had been the elder brother rather than the younger, the Carowyn family would have a serious claim to the throne of Korvosa.
As it is, he and his wife Olauren content themselves with being first in the limelight, regardless of circumstances. Notable recent instances include contributing thousands in gold to the upcoming season at the Kendall Amphitheatre and having box seats for the entire year at the Marbledome, in between giving garish parties at their South Shore estate.
The Carowyns and their circle are known to be no friends of the current royalty; their feud with the late, murdered, king has shown no sign of abating with his death. The exact causes of disagreement are a mystery.
Deyanira smiles, both at the banter between Mai, Gregor and Donagar, and in relief as she realises that you are willing to help her locate her brother. "I've been so worried about him - and that Manor just feels ... wrong. Let me take you there so you can see for yourselves."
@Mai
"As I recall yah was callin err compairin me to a guy named Cooter Brown...."
"Sure thing, lead on."
As you follow Deyanira through the city of Korvosa towards the South Shore, the streets become progressively wider, giving way first to tree-lined avenues and then broad, open plazas.
Truly, the nobility can afford space in abundance; even in a crowded city.
Eventually, you arrive at a walled semi-palace, hidden behind thick, verdant green hedging. At one side is large set of barred gates; currently shut.
Loitering outside the gate, clearly uneasy, are a number of workmen in smocks; one of them is carrying a ladder. Their foreman addresses you as you arrive: "'Allo, you lot come to collect what you're owed as well?" He gestures past the gates toward the grounds, where you can see an abundance of bunting and a number of still-burning torches in a variety of colours. "Look at that - bloody nobs, no consideration! Those everburning torches was only 'ired for 3 days and they've 'ad 'em nearly a week already - I've got to get 'em back tonight as we need to put 'em up at the palace tomorrow, but do they answer? Do they 'eck." He points toward a prominent bell-pull by the side of the gateway. "Go ahead, ring as much as you like - that lot must still be sleepin' off their 'angovers. Some party it musta been!" He spits on the ground, derisively.
One of his mates, spotting Deyanira, laughs. "Come to collect? Come to hand over that thief, more like!" He leers at the Varisian girl: "Don't tell me - them valuables just some'ow found their way into your bags and you got no idea 'ow they ended up there. Or, no - don't tell me - they's yours and your granny give 'em to you on 'er deathbed. 'Ad 'em forever, you 'ave, ain't ya?" He smirks at you, as the others join in with his laughter.
"Done well, you lot 'ave - them Carowyns is rich and generous; bet they'll give you a reward an' a half for gettin' their stuff back!"
"This don't smell right."
Point to the complaining man...
"Go an get tha guards so we ken go inside."
Gregor looks at the man complaining about the torches, "I do hope none of you were about to make a bad decision with that ladder? If they are required to return the torches due to the rental agreement, then we will handle that."
When the other one calls their escort a thief, Gregor turns to look at her with a discerning eye, and questions her himself, "Is this true? Did you steal something from the Carowyn Manor? I would hate to find this true, and have to haul you in right after finding your brother."
At the dwarf's statement, he comments, "Donager, Sgt Drakus and I ARE the Guard, and although not official members, the rest of you hold an honorable title as such. This is not yet a situation where we need any more Guard to be fetched."
Gregor - the Carowyns are human nobility so you get the info.
Gregor turns back to the still manor, before jerking his gaze back to the torch-man. "You said no one has answered the bell? Maid or Manservant? Their is something suspect about that. The help would not be indisposed due to a celebration, and in fact the house should be abuzz with activity to clean up."
He turns to one of the men nearby, "You there, citizen, bring me that ladder. We must investigate any signs of wrong-doing, there could be a problem here. Pai, would you check see if the gate is locked? If it is, I feel we may need to make our way over the wall."
"Way tah go now yah made it our problem....Should we go in?"
Mai replies with a joking "Yes, sir." and looks at the lock
"I do hope none of you were about to make a bad decision with that ladder?"
The foreman of the group looks at Gregor in surprise: "No, sir - more'n my life's worth to trespass on that ground! Ladder's for getting the bunting down. Still, if you're guard an' all, then you're welcome to it - we'll wait 'ere and see if you get any answer."
Mai finds that the gate is locked, but that the key is on the other side: it's just a simple matter of reaching through the bars and turning the key to unlock the gate...
"Is this true? Did you steal something from the Carowyn Manor? I would hate to find this true, and have to haul you in right after finding your brother."
Deyanira flinches as though you had slapped her.
"This may come as a surprise to you, guardsman, but not all of us Varisians are guttersnipes. I have a perfectly good job as a chorister in the Marbledome - that's a type of singer, in case you're wondering; I don't imagine you have much contact with culture, what with being a guardsman..."
With that, she stalks off, not even trying to hide the tears of anger and humiliation.
Mai turns to Gregor
"You can be a real jerk at times, you know."
Mai goes after Deyanira to calm her down and explains to her Gregor's jump at any accusation problem.
Tells her to wait at the bar for when they return with her brother (or news of her brother).
Mai returns back to the group.
"What tha hells a guttersnipe?"
"Ain't no one yet ever accused yers truely o havin any degree o culture."
"See I told yah fetch tha guards who is used tah dealin wit folks stead o us, were jus suited tah killin shit!"
Mai answers Donagar's question on guttersnipe
"A guttersnipe is a thief."
Gregor clenches his jaw and straightens his uniform, "I was not being accusatory, I was being thorough and dutiful. I cannot hear an implication of a crime and not perform at least a cursory examination. I believe her response to be truthful, if that's any comfort to the woman, but it would be lax of me to not have at least asked."
Turning on his heel to return to the task, he waves off the ladder upon learning of the key in the other side of the gate. He reaches through the bars to turn the key and open the gate.
Drakus stood impatiently by, looking for a convenient entry into the building. It looks embarrassed to see the key in the lock.
@ Mai
"Sounds more like an assassin tha a thief but if yer fer saying so."
Donagar marches through the open gate looking back and forth as he does so.
Once his team has moved through the gate to the manor grounds, he turns and relocks the gate with a quick explanation. "It would be irresponsible of us to leave it open for any passersby to just wander onto the property." He then pockets the key, so he can return it to whoever is working at the manor. Turning to look at the workers standing outside, "If you will be here for a while longer, waiting for us to resolve your grievances with the Carowyns, I ask that you go fetch more guard if we do not emerge within the next two hours?"
Mai's quick-thinking diplomacy does the trick; Deyanira still looks hurt but agrees to wait for you back at the tavern.
As you open the gate, you see a wide path leading towards the front door. The grand house is silent, although the glow of lights behind the curtains can be clearly seen.
Perception
"Too much place fer too few folks. "
You see the stately, gabled manor that is the town residence of the Carowyns. Directly in front of you is the main entrance to the house; made of sturdy mahogany, the double doors are dark and forbidding. The hedging continues to the right, where it meets the wall of the smaller servants' residenc. Behind you is the main gate.
The limestone facade of the house is festooned with garlands and the ground is illuminated with many-coloured everburning torches; a merry scene. Yet something is definitely wrong. All is quiet and still; deathly silent, in fact.
How will you proceed? As well as the main doors in front of you, there are a number of windows both to your left and to your right; the drapes are closed so you can see nothing of the rooms inside.
Drakus marches up to the front door and turns the handle to go in.
"I think the Grim reaper decided to party here, I can smell rotting corpses."
The handle turns under Drakus' firm grip but the mahogany doors are locked.
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Drakus casually kicks the doors open.
"Hey! Someone left these doors open. We should investigate."
"We could hop over the fence you know."