Heather remains pensivly silent during the audience..merely curtsying low again when the queen reveals her intentions for the party though her slightly pursed lips do indicate her reluctance to get involved with this.
on the way out she stops and turns towards Sabina.."I'll tell Mother I saw you ..you really should visit her you know, she misses you a lot but I know you have made your choice Sister even though I think it was based on a false premise"
Sabina does not answer merely sneers and turns on her heel walking back into the Castle with Heather shaking her head sadly as she watches her go.
The young Sorceress sighs wearily and follows the rest of the party back to Vandovers occupying herself with answering Philomenas questions
on the revealing of the reward her mood lightens somewhat...
"That should keep me in dresses for a while"
"The queen is generous," says Jeorik when he sees the silver, "how are we going to split it? There were, after all, six of us who rescued the broach."
"Equal shares comes to mind," Inigo mentions. "But we can always donate a tenth to my church."
"Equal shares comes to mind," Inigo mentions. "But we can always donate a tenth to my church."
"I am sorry priest, but I do not and can not support your god, powerful as he is. I would prefer using the money for Erastil but perhaps you would have qualms about that Iñigo," says Jeorik, "Equal shares is right and each can use his how he sees fit in accordance with his conscience."
"See. You are already enjoying the wisdom of the First Lord."
"That's certainly more than I was expecting," Keliwyn says, nodding at the chest. "I just hope we live long enough to spend it. Who knews what we're involving ourselves in."
Looking at the others, he continues, "Anyone have any thoughts? Are we all in for this? Personally, I have nothing pressing that needs my attention, and a Queen's favor is never anything to shirk. At the same time, I have no desire to commit myself to any blind allegiance, either."
"Having a queen owe you a favor is a good thing in any person's book."
"I confess I don't have any great attachment to this city, nor do I care one way or the other for the favor of nobility, but as I have family here, it behooves me to do what I can to make it as good a place to live as any. As the queen has directed us towards helping the guard, I will gladly do what I can, for honor's sake. I will go to the guard."
"I am not certain how my poor abilities will be opf use..but every Korvosan should defend the city in time of crisis and this certainly qualifies as that..oh and a six way split is fine with me"
Heather still seems saddened by the events of the morning.
"I am not certain how my poor abilities will be opf use..but every Korvosan should defend the city in time of crisis and this certainly qualifies as that..oh and a six way split is fine with me"
Heather still seems saddened by the events of the morning.
Noticing Heather's unease, "Cheer up. Perhaps your actions may yet change the lives of many more people."
Heather gives a bleak smile..."Ah well Inigo...I would settle for changing the life of just one..but she has made her choices and I must make mine"
"Jeorik..would your uncle hold these bars in safe keeping until we can get them changed at the Temple of Adabar? We should waste no more time before we report to the Field Marshal"
"I am sure he would," says Jeorik, "And I concur, let us go to the guard, see what needs done and we can split these up after."
You walk back south through the city. Tired looking guards, nervous looking people also walk the streets.
The guards at the gates of Citadel Volshyenek are nervous, but you are expected. They let you through. A page leads you into the main keep. Through winding corridors and several flights of stairs to an office.
The page steps in to whisper to a tall woman, with short black hair, highlighted with strands of grey. She stands and waves you into the room.
"Ahh, the ones sent by Queen Ileosa. Greetings, I am Marshal Croft. I am glad you have chosen to come. You've walked the streets. You must have seen how bad it is; how thinly stretched we are. Honest, honorable citizens are what Korvosa needs now. Any bit of aid we can get from upstanding people like you helps. I'd like to employ you as agents of the guard. If you agree, you'll be well compensated."
Jeorik says, "Glad to be of service in helping to keep the peace. What exactly do you need done, more men for patrols?"
"Very bad, indeed. Is martial law in effect? Would make it easier in some way."
Keliwyn is satisfied with leaving the gold with Vandor, and feels confident as the group heads out to the Tower. However, his excitement is soon tempered by the sullen mood of the city and the quiet of the streets.
"Marshal Croft, it is a pleasure to meet you," Keliwyn says, extending his hand. "I assure you that we might appear to be an odd group of disparate characters, but I think you'll find that we work quite well together. We are also eager to provide any assistance we can."
"Marshal Croft, it is a pleasure to meet you," Keliwyn says, extending his hand. "I assure you that we might appear to be an odd group of disparate characters, but I think you'll find that we work quite well together. We are also eager to provide any assistance we can."
"The pleasure is mine. I'm happy to hear you're willing to help."
".... Is martial law in effect? Would make it easier in some way."
"Martial law is not fully in effect, but the Queen has declared a state of emergency. We are determined to keep order. We have the curfew. Some legal procedures are temporarily suspended in order to help us keep order. " Cressida frowns slightly as she says this last.
"Glad to be of service in helping to keep the peace. What exactly do you need done, more men for patrols?"
"Nothing so mundane today, Master Vandor. I have a special job for you, of a ~she glances at Keliwyn~ diplomatic nature. Please, come with me."
Cressida Croft leads the party a short way down the hall to a room where two Shoanti are waiting. One is an old tall man in outlandish Shoanti garb, a shirt with countless bones hanging from short tassles, white skull-painted face, a bone staff capped with a skull, and a red razor crow perched on his shulder. The other a young woman....
Cressida introduces everyone. Thousand Bones and Istas on one side; Keliwyn, Iñigo, Jeorik, Heather, and Darthen on the other.
"Which legal procedures are you referring to?"
"Which legal procedures are you referring to?"
In the appropriate terms Croft explains that the guard may arrest and hold people indefinitely without evidence other than an officer's statement.
"The Hunter's Blessing," says Jeorik in common, a blessing of Erastil sometimes used by the Shoanti he has dealt with.
Jeorik is a young man, not quite twenty, with shoulder length brown hair and a ready, charming smile. He is dressed in sturdy travelers clothes and a chain shirt. He is quite heavily armed with a long bow, arrows, a long sword and a long spear. A pair of brown leather gloves is tucked into his belt next to his coin pouch and there is a shield on his back.
Heather raises a quizzical eyebrow at the presence of the Shoanti.The man is clearly of some importance and she could swear she has seen the young woman around somewhere
Heather is in her early 20's and tall for a Korvosan woman . She has a strange mixture of classic Chelaxian bone structure but with tanned skin and Dark Chesnut hair a combination more commonly seen on Varisians. However taken together her looks are quite breathtaking. Currently she is dressed in a good quality gown with a black cloak lined with violet silk. Istas will pick up an air of nervousness about her"
"The Hunter's Blessing," says Jeorik in common, a blessing of Erastil sometimes used by the Shoanti he has dealt with.
"Kel-grish!" Istas nods in appreciation of Jeorik's greeting and gives a tentative smile. Her initial worry at having to brace herself for dealing with so many Chelish southlanders at one time starts to melt away as she draws strength from both the older Shoanti shaman at her side and the appropriateness of Jeorik's words.
Like all Shoanti women, Istas stands quite tall, looking most men eye-to-eye at 5-feet, 10-inches. Years of hard living among the Skoan-Quah barbarians have made her into a lean, athletic runner. She weighs 145 pounds with hardly an ounce of fat. Traditional Shoanti tattooes circle her upper arms and ankles as both decoration and to ward off evil spirits. She doesn't shave her head like most Shoanti, wearing her dark brown hair quite long instead, marking her more as a former-Shoanti in stark contrast to the shaman. She has deep brown expressive eyes and a darker complexion due to her native heritage and so much time spent under the harsh sun of the Cinderlands in her youth.
She wears the black robes of a priestess of Pharasma and a hand-me-down traveler's outfit inherited from another acolyte. A silver chain about her neck holds a medallion depicting Pharasma's comet. And from the glimpses perceived through the gaps in her robe, it's clear her traditional Shoanti armor is kept in good repair. For protection, she seems to have carried only an intricately carved club and a ceremonial dagger, both belted at her waist.
"The blessing of the First Lord be with you."
Inigo is a man in his thirties, his hair streaked with gray. His scowling face suggests that he has had very few reasons to smile in his life; while his hawk-like nose betrays an aristocratic background and a haughty disposition.
"Greetings, Shoanti!" Keliwyn exclaims as he bows. "This is marvelous; it's been far too long since I've spoken with any of your people. I do hope you are well, despite the recent events of our city."
Keliwyn's first impression is that of a well polished and put together elf, and, in fact, his hair is pulled back in a deliberate effort to accent his elven ears and features. He wears well maintained leather armor with an intricate elvish design, polished boots and a finely crafted brooch holds his cloak. He is very friendly, and his smile is both disarming and infectious.
Introductions made, Jeorik asks, "In what way may we aid these two Marshall Croft?"
The Marshal defers to the tall Shoanti shaman.
Thousand Bones stands erect. His gaze shifts past you wall, past the wall of the room, beyond the citadel confines, to some place a thousand leagues distant. He begins, "A mountain of the spirit separates my people from yours. Some of us try to cross that mountain. Yet each day we see how your people work to raise it. My grandson is dead, killed two nights ago by cowards in your city street. I do not blame you personally, but Gaekhen is dead and his body has been taken. My son and his kin do not wish to forgive. They wish to return to the Cinderlands. Gather the Skoan-Quah. Join the Sklar-Quah. And make war on Korvosa."
"It is not just the boy's death. There is more. A cloud on our hearts. Among our people the dead must go to the Great Sky.
Gaekhen's body was taken. Sold to a necromancer named Rolth. Who knows what he does with the body."
"Long I have worked for peace between our people. If I send Gaekhen to the Great Sky with honor and dignity, his father and brothers might listen to me. The war may never be."
"The spirits have told me the body lies in the Dead Warrens below Gray. A high priest of Pharasma would not let me search for my grandson. He fears what he does not know."
"I could take many warriors and find the body. But this would not be the way of peace. So, you must bring the body to me."
Heather visibly pales at the shamans pronouncement..the Warrens..down amongst the dead and heaven knows what else...her mind reels at the prospect...and yet again she becomes aware how feeble her powers are...what use are charms and illusions against the things that might lurk in the catacombs
Yet she will not let her fears stand in the way of her duty to her city gathering her few remaining scraps of courage she speaks up adressing the Priestess
"Sister...how should we prepare for this misson" she indicates her attire.."I'm afraid we came almost directly from our Audience with her Majesty and I have not had an opportunity to wear more...practical clothing..what can you tell us of the Warrens,what obstacles might we face there?"
Jeorik opens his mouth to speak but Heather is just a little quicker and so instead Jeorik turns to hear what the priestess has to say.
"Sister...how should we prepare for this misson" she indicates her attire.."I'm afraid we came almost directly from our Audience with her Majesty and I have not had an opportunity to wear more...practical clothing..what can you tell us of the Warrens,what obstacles might we face there?"
"We prepare for a hunt!" Istas replies, "The Dead Warrens are no place for the unwary. The Pharasmen work diligently to contain the restless spirits and walking dead of the Grey District. But there are some who still refuse to lie down. Fear not, however, for Pharasma will surely guide us in this endeavor. Things like this happen for a reason. We are meant to ensure Gaekhen's spirit can find a proper rest as well."
"However," she adds, "There's more to worry about than just the walking dead. I'm afraid I recently found signs of derro activity among the burial mounds of Potter's Ward. It's possible they've found their way into the Dead Warrens as well. And, this...necromancer..." Istas clearly says the word with distaste. "Well, from what Marshall Croft has told us about him, he's been something of a problem for awhile now by experimenting upon the bodies of the dead. It's no wonder the spirits refuse Pharasma's Boneyard with people like him perpetrating such horrible acts."
"So ready your weapons and shields," she encourages everyone, "I shall surely do the same. And together, we will find the grandson of Thousand Bones...avert a war against Korvosa...and carry out the fate fully-formed by Pharasma."
"So ready your weapons and shields," she encourages everyone, "I shall surely do the same."
"Bold words," says Jeorik with a smile that might either be approval or amusement. "Do you plan that we leave this very hour? Or do you need longer to prepare? Is this a matter of haste or deliberation?"
'Oh my she is intense isn't she' Heather thinks as the Priestess speaks of Dead that walk and Derro..she searches through the rummage bag of knowledge she carries in her head for anything that name connects to
"The Church of Asmodeus will stand against chaos as always."
"Tell us more of your quarry. His strengths and weaknesses."
"Bold words...Do you plan that we leave this very hour? Or do you need longer to prepare? Is this a matter of haste or deliberation?"
"To give Thousand Bones the body of his grandson, Ghaeken, in time for him to perform the proper ceremony and appease the Skoan-Quah, we should certainly move as soon as we're able," Istas responds, "But not so hasty that we venture into the Dead Warrens unprepared."
"The Church of Asmodeus will stand against chaos as always....Tell us more of your quarry. His strengths and weaknesses."
The priestess frowns for a moment at the mention of Iñigo's church, as she realizes what 'First Lord' he serves. "Our quarry is whomever desecrated Gaekhen's body by taking it," she continues, "Marshall Croft suggests it probably involves a necromancer named, Rolth...a despicable man by anyone's estimation. But I'm afraid I know nothing more about him than the Marshall has told you."
"...we should certainly move as soon as we're able," Istas responds, "But not so hasty that we venture into the Dead Warrens unprepared."
Jeorik openly smiles at Istas' displeasure with the idea of working with a devilish priest. But he keeps the humor out of his voice when he suggests, "Perhaps we should take the time to equip ourselves and arrange a meeting. Priestess, why do you not tell us when and where you would like us to assemble. Unless the Marshall has more that we should know?"
While Istas speaks, Keliwyn considers his motivation for being here, and even for being in Korvosa for the last few years. Although he quickly dismisses a petty necromancer as beyond the interests of the Mierani, he does realize that this could be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the tensions between the Shoanti and Korvosa, from a fresh perspective.
He also considers the value the Queen must place on such a task when the guard is already stretched so thin with the current crisis settling over the city. But then again, he and his companions are hardly part of the guard . . .
"This certainly sounds interesting, and while I know very little about the undead," Keliwyn says, looking over the priestess and wondering how a Shoanti came to serve Pharasma in Korvosa,"I do believe I have heard of a magic user by the name of Rolth . . . "
"Anyway, Jeorik? Are you forgetting about our new & valuable resources? That is to say, I would imagine Marshall Croft is fully capable of equipping us for any such endeavor, am I correct, Marshall?"
"Perhaps we should take the time to equip ourselves and arrange a meeting. Priestess, why do you not tell us when and where you would like us to assemble. Unless the Marshall has more that we should know?"
"I am satisfied with everything Marshall Croft has shared," Istas replies, "I trust Pharasma will impart any remaining knowledge to us at the appropriate moment. We should assemble at the gates to the Grey District at sunset. I shall lead the way into the Dead Warrens. Their paths are known to me. And if the Lady of Graves is willing, we'll find Gaekhen's body in time."
"This certainly sounds interesting, and while I know very little about the undead....I do believe I have heard of a magic user by the name of Rolth..."
"Excellent," the priestess nods to Croft at Keliwyn's words, "I can now see the wisdom in suggesting these folk accompany us. Clearly fate has brought us together." She offers a rare smile for the elf.
"Anyway, Jeorik? Are you forgetting about our new & valuable resources? That is to say, I would imagine Marshall Croft is fully capable of equipping us for any such endeavor, am I correct, Marshall?"
"Travel light," Istas advises, "The derro tunnels are narrow and trapped. I myself was poisoned by one of their blades yesterday. Make sure you bring something to light your way, as well, in case we get separated. The derro can cloak themselves in darkness. So hopefully, we'll have enough light to push back the shadows."
"As for the walking dead," she finishes, "Leave them to me."
Heather and Keliwyn
'Oh my she is intense isn't she' Heather thinks as the Priestess speaks of Dead that walk and Derro..she searches through the rummage bag of knowledge she carries in her head for anything that name connects to
Knowledge local 1d20+5=17,Knowledge arcana 1d20+9=28
Heather will also use the rolls above to see if she knows of this Rolth
"This certainly sounds interesting, and while I know very little about the undead," Keliwyn says, looking over the priestess and wondering how a Shoanti came to serve Pharasma in Korvosa,"I do believe I have heard of a magic user by the name of Rolth . . . "
Know (local) 1d20=11+8=19
Heather, Rolth was an Academe student, expelled for necromantic experiments trying to animate a "composite corpse " of various animal parts. His name has become a nickname for any quickly thrown together paper or project, usually of poor quality. i.e. "Did you see Willem's Rolth of a midterm essay? "
With regards to undead, you recall skeletons, zombies, flesh golems are kinda like but different, ghouls, ghasts, all very theoretical.
Keliwyn, Rolth is a name that turns up in various stories of murder incidents, usually involving cannibalism or at least missing body parts.
"Anyway, Jeorik? Are you forgetting about our new & valuable resources? That is to say, I would imagine Marshall Croft is fully capable of equipping us for any such endeavor, am I correct, Marshall?"
Marshal Croft doesn't hesitate, "The Guard will provide anything you might reasonably need for this mission. Our relationship with the Shoanti is important, especially during such turbulent times. "
"The faithful of the the First Lord need not fear the walking dead."
"The faithful of the the First Lord need not fear the walking dead."
Istas' head turns at Iñigo's comment. She pauses for a moment in thought.
"Well then," she offers, "As much as anyone can take faith in a Deceiver, let us hope yours proves strong enough that Urgathoa's minions care."
Marshal Croft doesn't hesitate, "The Guard will provide anything you might reasonably need for this mission. Our relationship with the Shoanti is important, especially during such turbulent times. "
"I believe the Shoanti...and Thousand Bones, would prefer the same," the priestess responds, "My Lady has provided everything I need at this time. Thank you."
Heather runs over a list of items she really could do with then realises she's going to have to dig into her savings.
"We may want some of our..reward money gentlemen...I need some scrolls and a number of other items..including I think some breeches,that is if you won't be to scandalised by the sight"
"I have supplies back at my uncle's that we can use, and a mule to carry them as well," I say to the others, and then turning to the marshall, I add, "but I would not mind a heavy mace, a bit more lamp oil, two extra bullseye lanterns, some extra rope, fresh arrows, ten candles, chalk, and some holy water."
"A priestess of Pharasma will no doubt aid us against the undead, but if we're going to be exploring some catacombs below the city, I would prefer to be as well prepared as possible."
Marshal Croft will provide what Jeorik asks for except the holy water. She can get Heather a spare uniform.
Istas can score a couple of vials of holy water at her temple.
"I have supplies back at my uncle's that we can use, and a mule to carry them as well," I say to the others, and then turning to the marshall, I add, "but I would not mind a heavy mace, a bit more lamp oil, two extra bullseye lanterns, some extra rope, fresh arrows, ten candles, chalk, and some holy water."
"A priestess of Pharasma will no doubt aid us against the undead, but if we're going to be exploring some catacombs below the city, I would prefer to be as well prepared as possible."
"Hmmmm . . . I suppose I'd like to swap my scimitar for a lighter blade, maybe a rapier would do. I was thinking of picking up something particularly nice, but if you have a blade, Marhsal, I suppose that would work. Beyond the things that Jeorik mentioned, I can't really think of much else."
Istas' head turns at Iñigo's comment. She pauses for a moment in thought.
"Well then," she offers, "As much as anyone can take faith in a Deceiver, let us hope yours proves strong enough that Urgathoa's minions care."
"Ha! Only those who do not read or incapable of reading suffer the penalty of the fine print, so sayeth the First Lord."
For CrimsonDM
"Ha! Only those who do not read or incapable of reading suffer the penalty of the fine print, so sayeth the First Lord."
"Many among my people do not read," Istas quietly replies, staring at Iñigo and pausing to allow the obvious implication that his words may have insulted both her and Thousand Bones to hang in the air between them.
"But if we do not return Gaekhen's body to the Shoanti," she finally continues, "There will be an entirely different penalty enacted upon Korvosa. One that no amount of fine print can avert."