Given the situation, Mags lets her connection with her city slip a little and rushes over to help block him from getting away.
The extra speed in her legs, lets Mags reach a place hopefully help block. A faint whisper of her city tells her to continue her chant, holding the protective luck it is providing her friends and allies along with the distracting annoyances on he is against them.
Disappointed she wasn't able to stop him from slipping past her, the glittery warrior lowers her head and dashes forward with her allies. After Yazi hits him, she slips in front of her and delivers another powerful strike with her longsword.
Vera blinks rapidly, and considers her options. Almost apologetically, she waves her hands in a magical manner, but these somatic components have a vaguely off putting characteristic. She says, "I... got this spell from Rolth's spellbook. It isn't evil, but..." Majenko's eyes widen, "Aru, Gray Lady or um Kalis! Yous move out of the way? Or else you get grabbled!" Vera looks meekly at the others, "sorry guys!"
A vertical wall of bone springs into existence next to the door, completely blocking the exit, and attempts to grabble Bahor and Aru.
Vimanda thinks quickly and moves to close the nearby door, and then locks it. "Good thinking
Glorio snarls, and looks to be thinking quickly, and he tries to concentrate.
He then tumbles trying to get away from the wall of bone.
Once again Glorio is on the move, so the Gray Maiden takes off after him, hoofing it down past him and stopping in front of him, hoping to slow his escape. She takes a quick swing at him, but doesn't focus enough in the execution.
Marcus growls, throwing off the magic and continuing his pursuit.
Mags keeps her chant up, moving closer help box him in, if that is even possible. She does her best to make him stumble a little by shoving her spear at him.
Hissing in frustration, Yaziyah chases the fleeing rakshasa with a few quick strides, bringing her hammer into and overhead arc towards him as the Gray Maiden cuts him off.
Aru escapes the grasping skeletal hands in the last moment. He then zips forward in the direction Bahor is fleeing and stands by the door.
Vera summons some more magic, twisting her fingers, and saying, "Bahor... wait, don't leave. Your sister told me she wants to make amends, a truce." She beckons the tiger-headed rakshasa back over. "Here, come - we are adventurers, we can always come to an agreement." She points towards where Vimanda is waiting, and the fox-headed woman looks at Vera curiously, then nods.
Bahor looks confused, but his breathing slows, and he nods "fine, fine. It makes sense. I am nothing if not reasonable. We should never come to blows, this whole mess is uncivilized." And he withdraws, from TGM, trying to move past Yaziyah and to stand near Vimanda. When he's in the area, he dismisses the water orb, and looks at his sister, "well... you wished to parlay? Be quick about it - maybe we could come to an agreement."
Bahor/TGM/Marcus/Aru/Yazi/Vimanda/Magda/Others
Marcus's eyes practically bulge out of his head for a moment, then he catches what's going on. He slowly and casually walks closer to the conversation to close the gap, letting his weapon relax for the moment.
The Gray Maiden follows Marcus, moving behind him and walks with a purpose around opposite of him once Bahor stops.
Moving to stand in front of one closed door while having enough reach to threaten several other possible escape routes, Yaziyah tries to muster some patience and wait for whatever happens next. It was clear to her that Bahor needed to die, but in this she will take her cue from Vimanda and the others; the thought of being the one to strike the first blow made her stomach twist.
Mags knows this a magic, knows it will fail, so she keeps her chanting up.
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Bahor says, ”well? Is there a deal to be made, or not?” Vimanda hisses, ”yes - a one-time offer. Return to Vudra, and never return. I will not be under your heel any longer. You can be secure in the knowledge that I have powerful allies,” she gestures at the party, ”at least for a time,” Bahor snarls, ”is that all? How kind, sister. I suppose you will ask for the moon, next. And your so-called friends? They spoke extensively of betraying you. In fact, the invisible one said that it would be best to let us fight it out. Fine. So be it. I drop my protection,” Something shimmers and the rakshasas shudder, ”I was always your better in a fight - and this cycle bores me!”
Roaring, he charges at Vimanda,
Bahor exclaims ”What!? You fools!” and Vimanfa nods slightly, satisfied.
As Bahor tries to attack, his sister dodges out of the way, and the exhausted tiger-headed monster stumbles. His sister catches him by the throat, and holds him up, but Bahor’s claws can do little to dislodge her grip. He struggles, coughing and choking, and with a flick of her wrist, Vimanda plunges the holy blade into the gut of the Rakshasa, like a knife through soft butter, the flesh parts and blood erupts from his mouth. The light begins to spread within Bahor creeping up, and he starts to scream - one of anguish, and his sister drives the waveblade in further.
She draws his face closer to hers, ”you thought you knew everything, brother, but hubris was always your downfall.” The elder rakshasa looks terrified, and starts to plead, weakly, ”no, no, I’m sorry, I’m - “ and she tightens her grip.
Vimanda look him in the eyes, and says, ”Pathetic.” With a final twist, the blade pushes upward, into Bahor’s heart, and the golden light moves quickly, spreading across his form and then erupting from his eyes, ears, and mouth. With a grunt, Vimanda tosses the body aside as if it weighed nothing more than paper, and the body convulses for a moment, her blade lodged inside his torso.
It only takes a moment, but the light consumes Bahor, burning his form away to smoke and dust, leaving only clothes, jewlery, and her waveblad which clatters to the ground.
Vimanda looks down at the silks, and back up at the party, before reaching in and retrieving the holy weapon. With a wince, she picks it up, grimacing, and puts it into her silks. ”I am free, thanks to you all. What will happen now, I wonder?”
Mags FINALLY stops chanting and says simply "We honor our deals" she is so tired, just wanting this night to be over. Fighting Vimanda will have to wait for another day, if it is needed at all.
Marcus, breathing heavily, sheathes his sword. "A deal was struck, the deal will hold. We would take our spoils though, for it was paid in blood at least twice over."
The armored warrior speaks in a steady, unwaivering voice "Justice is served."
She shifts her stance and takes a step forward towards their 'ally' "A deal was struck. It will be honored. You have your freedom, Vimanda. Do not squander it. If your ambition turns to tyranny, know that justice will find you, just as it found him."
So Bahor was dead, and Aru reappears by Vimanda's side. "I must confess that I considered betraying you after Bahor was dealt with, considering this very moment will probably be your most vulnerable one."
"That was short-sighted on my part, though." He says, offering his non-possessed hand for her to shake. "In the ideal world, we'd kill you and free the city from your soon to be organization of criminals... but we are far from being in an ideal world."
"If there is to be someone in charge of your organization, I'd rather be you than some anarchist."
Yaziyah had managed to land a blow on Bahor as he charged at his sister, but it seems her contribution was hardly needed as Vimanda finishes him off.
"You have honoured your part of the deal, and I will honour mine. Just keep in mind that this city doesn't need more boots on its throat, or snakes in its underbelly. Try to use your newfound freedom productively, Vimanda."
She nods at the surviving rakshasa, then turns to look for Vencarlo and the seneschal. They were the prize of all this bloodshed and hurt, and she would make sure they were safe.
Vimanda’s furry, fox-like face shimmers and she returns to her humanoid form. ”Curious. You have me at my most vulnerable - and yet you do not try to eliminate me.” She tilts her head and looks at Aru, ”I think you all know much about the activities of my… family, and while you may be curious to learn more - I am not a fool. I will not reveal everything about us, but...” She looks over the field of unconscious folks, and moves to the door after Vera dismisses the wall of bones, opening it. ”It is in my nature to try to - dominate, I suppose. I am responsible for schemes to facilitate this nature. The… halfling Erasmo. He was an agent of mine.” She waves her hand dismissively, ”he and his family are safe, but the young man, though he did not know this, was spying on you for me. So was the dagger you found. In either case, it was a matter of taking advantage of circumstances.”
She moves over to Bahor’s clothes, and retrieves some of his rings, ”I saw firsthand, by sheer luck, your group’s ability to deal with problems in the city. I respect you, even if my brother did not. At this point - your own skill at magic is becoming formidable. Enough that spying should end, yes? So - it will. You have my word. And neither I nor my agents will attack you or your families.” She places the rings on her own fingers, ”you have my word.”
She inhales slowly, and then exhales, ”but - please do not put me into a situation where me, nor my servants are compromised. I will try to… temper… my instincts. I cannot promise everything, but I will try. There is an order to this city that must be maintained, to keep the balance.” ”consider carefully if you wish for another to maintain the order. You have seen already my brother’s hand. I will try to have a lighter touch. And, should you need further aid - the order I speak of may be employed, for the right price.” She sniffs. Inclining her head, she gestures, ”take what you will from his room, and other spoils within reason, and then our business is concluded.”
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Vimanda adds, ”and… call me Meliya. Vimanda is not the name I am known by. I am not so foolish as to threaten you, but knowing even part of my hidden name gives you power over me. All I remind you is that we share a number of common goals - I cannot help you if any what transpired becomes public.”
She turns to Vera, ”I understand you court a Vudrani priest? Let me explain the fastest way to his heart…” and she spends a few minutes explaining in detail various customs that the Vudrani have which even a well-learned Varisian would have no knowledge of.
Afterwards, she excuses herself and retrieves a few potions from the storeroom, and begins administering them to the servants as the party looks around for some of Bahor’s things to take as payment.
Treasure: The two gems in the cobra mouths on the fountain are bloodstones, each worth 100 gp. There is also apparently something called a third eye bloodstone worth 1,000 which can be pried out. Vimanda doesn’t care about these because the stones were tied to Bahor’s third eye item, which is broken and useless now, which he used to spy on people and things (he had at-will clairvoyance and clairaudience through any stone - such as that ring of evasion. I’ll mention if any other are found.
The guardian of the Vivified labyrinth is a marble elephant worth 26,000 gp, but you’d have to convince Vimanda to part with it.
Library Two floor-to-ceiling bookshelves decorate the south and west walls of this chamber, facing a curved north wall on which hang a half-dozen grotesque paintings depicting torture, murder, cannibalism, and even necrophilia. Two glittering chandeliers hang from the ceiling, providing more than enough lighting to read by for anyone sprawled on the dozens of cushions strewn about the room.
The Arkonas’ library is small, but well stocked with a wide variety of books ranging in topic from poetry to philosophy to essays to fiction. Tawdry romances are shelved next to detailed explorations of conjuration magic in no apparent order. A fair number of the books are written in Vudrani and are concerned with topics and themes common to that distant land, yet even these books cover numerous subjects.
Treasure: The six paintings on the wall are all Salvator’s, and among that body of work, these six are among the most stomach-turning and disgusting in subject matter. As always, blue plays a prominent role in the paintings. Each painting is worth 800 gp.
There is an elephant statue in the entranceway hall that the party saw when they first entered which has another 1,000 gp third eye bloodstone.
There is a statue of Chamdu with a 200 gp 3rd eye bloodstone.
Attached to a Javelin in the statuary is a third eye bloodstone worth 150 gp.
On Bahor’s body is: scroll of sending (3), wand of haste (19 charges), wand of illusory script (12 charges), wand of shield (23 charges); +2 kukri, a useless and broken, 192 gp
Vimanda notes not to take anything from here, as the cases are trapped and will summon bound Belkers to attack the party. Theoretically, they can ask her to disable the things, or disable it themselves, but she doesn’t want to. The hookah equipment is worth 1400 gp.
Glass cases line this hallway’s north and south walls. The northern case displays exotic weapons, many of which resemble swords, spears, and starknives, hanging on the wall around a suit of bright blue leather and ivory armor. The southern case displays a gruesome tableau of a stuffed tiger feeding upon a extremely realistic sculpture of a dead Vudrani man. Both display cases are locked but not trapped; a successful DC 20 Disable Device check unlocks either case. The tiger was once a real beast, but is now stuffed with sawdust. The human it’s depicted as disemboweling looks realistic but is nothing more than a wax sculpture. The body’s exposed heart is in fact a large carved bloodstone, identifiable as such from afar with a successful DC 20 Appraise check.
Vimanda doesn’t care if the party takes all this stuff.
Treasure: The bloodstone heart is a third eye bloodstone worth 500 gp. The weapons in the northern display case consist of a +1 ghost touch kama, 12 masterwork daggers, a masterwork falchion, six masterwork punching daggers, two masterwork sais, two masterwork sianghams, and two masterwork spears. The leather armor is a suit of +2 light fortification studded leather.
A large, ornate mirror hangs on the western wall of this washroom and latrine. The air smells remarkably fresh, and the water-filled porcelain commode to the east looks more comfortable than it has any right to be.
Several minor magical effects in this room keep the air fresh and the toilet clean. Waste placed into the water is immediately transformed into clean water that is then drained away by an ingenious set of pipes that feed into the garden below.
Treasure: The large toilet is something of an aesthetic marvel, worth 150 gp but weighing nearly 300 pounds, making transport of the treasure both awkward and possibly embarrassing.
Vimanda objects to anyone taking her toilet, no matter how cool it is.
The air in this chamber is incredibly warm and humid, filled with steam rising from the bubbling oval bath set in the floor to the southeast. The walls, ceiling, and floor are polished marble tiles of alternating blues and greens, giving the entire chamber a pervasive aquatic feel. Three lacquered wooden benches sit just north of the bath.
The bath’s temperature is maintained by several minor magical enhancements, keeping the water hot at all times and preventing the constant moisture from damaging the room’s surrounding structure. The temperature of the water can be controlled by the mental command of anyone submerged in it, ranging from cold to not quite scalding. Unlike the toilet in area D13, though, this minor magical marvel is not portable, and cannot be looted by greedy intruders.
The plain ebony walls of this chamber seem to glisten with moisture. Above, the chamber rises forty feet to a domed ceiling set with eight wedge-shaped windows; to the north, east, and south three additional glass windows rise up from floor level to the dome. The room is empty, save for a thirty-foot-tall tree with sparkling gold and green leaves, its roots burrowing in and out of the floor. A breeze tickles the branches above, and as the leaves waver, the sound of crystal bells filters through the room.
The door to this room appears to be made of ebony, but is in fact made of iron (hardness 10, hp 60, break DC 28, Disable Device DC 50). The chamber beyond is the Arkona’s treasury, one of the most secure rooms in the palace. The door’s lock is augmented by an arcane lock (CL 15th) placed via a high-level scroll. Functionally, it is almost impossible to get into the room without the permission of Vimanda.
Bahor spared no expense in building this vault, and it’s somewhat ironic that the cost of the chamber may even be more than that of the treasures kept inside.
Vimanda enters quite easily after retrieving the key from her silks She lets the party try and enter, but they find that largely, the room simply pushes them out. She promises to retrieve Bahor’s things for them to take, and then closes the door.
Moments later she opens the door, holding various items. Another 100 gp third eye bloodstone, three leather bags of coins (500 pp, 2,000 gp, and 4,000 sp), 5,500 gp worth of assorted gems and jewels, and a lacquered cherrywood-and-ivory +1 holy light crossbow that a would-be assassin who discovered what the Arkonas actually were once attempted to use on Bahor several decades ago. Vimanda explains that Bahor knows the weapon is a danger, but its beauty was too much to bear destroying, so he locked it in here, the most secure of the palace’s rooms, for safekeeping on the theory that if his enemies made it this far, he’d either be long gone or dead already.
She offers to let the party fire at her, insistent in fact, and quite easily knocks the bolt out of the air. ”so, I am not concerned for you to have this weapon. My foolish brother should have trained better.”
Finally, a neatly folded set of noble’s clothes, along with a belt pouch containing 34 pp and 29 gp, a brass key for the lockbox in area A8 in Vencarlo’s home, a +1 rapier, and a gold signet ring worth 250 gp, sit next to the chest. These items belong to Vencarlo and can be immediately recognized as his unique belongings by any PC who’s spent time with the man.
How rude!
The crowning glory of this dazzling chamber is, without a doubt, the four-posted canopy bed that takes up a full quarter of the room. Silk sheets, gossamer curtains, ebony bedposts depicting tigers and cobras chasing monkeys in an endless circle, and a half-dozen huge pillows combine to create a resting place fit for a king. Strange and ferocious animal heads are mounted on the walls, their eyes looking almost alive. A towering redwood cabinet stands against the eastern wall, while to the west sits a massive desk covered with books and scrolls and a large green paperweight the size of an apple. An exotic-looking, five-foot-long stringed instrument sits displayed on a bronze stand near the desk, and a spherical birdcage containing several brightly colored songbirds hangs from the center of the ceiling above.
The furniture is worth 3000 gp but… you guys probably can’t take it easily.
The papers on the desk are a combination of astrological charts, maps of the world (including several of Vudra), and various bits of non-incriminating paperwork involving the day-to-day business of running a noble family. The trophies mounted on the wall all bear names identifying them as Vudrani animals—a Barakot peacock, an Ukhrul wolverine, a Khar skink, a Kothar great bat, a Vimerian tiger, and a Johar long viper.
Treasure: The bloodstone paperweight on the desk is a third eye bloodstone worth 500 gp. The exotic stringed instrument is a Jawassan sitar. Decorated with gold filigree work depicting crocodiles eating storks, it is worth 350 gp. All of Bahor’s other treasures are either carried on his person or kept in his treasury.
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"The cobbles keep us from slipping into mud but hurt like a rat bite to the nethers if you never look down." Mags shrugs, expressing in her own way, gray is gray, which might not explain any more that her cobbles but it might in its own way if one thinks about it much. Mags bumps the other lady's shoulder with her fist. "Meliya" the shaman nods sagely, then grins, pretty warm. "Free bread some time if you want." she offers given the help putting a delightful shine to her best friend's eyes, thinking of priest boys.
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Yaziyah hisses at the revelation about Erasmo. She looks angry for a moment, then narrows her eyes as she regards V- Meliya. "You didn't have to tell us that. I- appreciate that you did. I don't think we will be friends, but as long as we have common goals and your methods don't end up hurting innocent people... I suppose we can be allies. Go in peace, Meliya, and be safe."
She doesn't call upon the ancestors to bless the foxy rakshasa, but there is a slight softening of her tone. Then she begins to help Marcus sort through the spoils, putting aside the things they could use or sell. "The community center will be in demand more than ever. We should make sure it is well supplied."
Marcus looks at Vimanda with a twinge of annoyance; although it does not seem directed at her, rather the implication of a betrayal. "A deal was made. The deal will hold." He states firmly.
Marcus considers her words carefully. "There will always be leaders in society. A nature to dominate need not be destructive, if well tempered and guarded. I am...cautiously optimistic. If you need manpower-" He hands her a business card. "-my doors are open, Meliya." He offers a handshake, and then their business is done.
As they sort through the spoils with Yazi, Marcus nods gravely. "We should visit, ask their current needs, then plan accordingly."
Meliya seems hesitant, but eventually shakes everyone’s hand in departure. ”I will consider the offer, Marcus. And as for Marcus Endrin, consider this a free gift. There is evidence that Marcus Endrin,” she pauses for a moment, ”is not dead. My family is weakened, and it will take time before we can regroup, so I cannot find out more - but Glorio had his suspicions. If anything else becomes available - for a price, I will let you know.” She raises one eyebrow knowingly, as if to say, I suspect what he is to you.
She turns to Yaziyah, ”innocent… I will keep that in mind. Know that your community center is safe, and will continue to receive funding. It is a pittance compared to the benefits it brings us.” Nodding at the larger Shoanti, she seems to consider, adding ”should you find any… unsavory humans that you need disposed, my door is open.”
She says to Magda, ”grey. How interesting. When all matters of the city have been attended to, I would gladly accept bread. Old Korvosa will remain locked down, I think, at least until Vencarlo and the Seneschal have departed. Move them quickly, secrets are not long held in this city, and there is quite a price on both their heads.” She gestures down, ”the barge down below is yours, a final gift, should you wish for it. But such a decision must be made now.” She seems somewhat insistent, as if to say this is a one-time offer.
Meliya then helps the Marai servants and takes them upstairs to their rooms to sleep off the remainder of their injuries. The few who wake up glare at the party briefly, but seeing the new situation, accept Meliya’s dominance.
******************
The party retrieves Neolandus and Vencarlo and lets them know what happened. Stepping into the hall, they have a moment of privacy to speak, and tells them of Meliya’s offer.
Vencarlo nods grimly, ”this barge offer is likely the best we can get. I know of a place to hide, at minimum Neolandus and I must go, and now.”
The seneschal runs his hands through his hair, ”I have much to discuss with you all, a trip out of Korvosa would be a good time to do it, otherwise - Vencarlo and I will leave now.”
Vencarlo shrugs, ” it is up to you, I suppose.”
Magda remembers the barge and quickly nods. The budding merchant in her sees SO many possibilities. Using it to smuggling Vencarlo and Neolandus out of the city (OUT OF THE CITY) is not one of them, but she sighs and nods.
"We need to hear, and you need to stay alive, so yes, choice is there, but not at the same time." leaving the city is never a welcome option to the city shaman.
When she suggests the other Marcus is alivd, Marcus swears. "F!&!ing magic." It was the only explanation. Why have expectations anymore?
He is happy to accept the barge, and suggests they talk while on it to ensure a bit more privacy.
The Gray Maiden listens silently to the exchanges. The offer of the barge, Vencarlo and Neolandus’s uncertain futures, and the mention of a possibly alive Marcus Endrin swirl in her mind. It’s a lot to process, but she keeps her focus.
When Magda and Marcus agree to take the barge, she finally chips in.
"The barge is the most secure option. It grants us mobility and the cover to speak freely. I see no reason to delay."
Though her voice is steady, within she feels uneasy. Leaving Korvosa, even temporarily, is not an easy choice for any of them... but practicality and survival demand it.
"We’re leaving Korvosa? What about the others? This feels wrong."
"The mission isn’t over. You’ll have your say when it’s done."
Vencarlo and Neolandus nod, and the party heads downstairs with Meliya. The enormous reefclaw has since returned, and rises from the depth. It clacks its claws together, and Meliya says, "these people have paid for the right to use the barge. It will not be returning. Please tow it out into the bay and then return. We will have much to discuss." The reefclaw clacks once, as if to say yes, and the party and two former prisoners pile on.
It's comfortable enough traveling through the long tunnel, and at the end, the party passes through an illusory wall, out into the northern part of the Jeggare river and bay. Vencarlo grabs the long pole, and says, "as long as we stay close to shore, we should be able to move with this pole. Nobody should see us, I think, given the time." It's getting somewhat late, and the sun is setting in the west, and he pushes off. "otherwise, we have these paddles, and we can take turns. Once we get a few miles away, we can head inland towards Harse."
With a push, he starts to move the shallow-draft barge towards the eastern shore of the bay, and soon the current is drifting the barge of its own accord, and the party is able to make decent time. Night falls quickly, and if there's any sign of trouble, or the party being spotted, it doesn't register. Vera seems to try to want to bring her lights up, but Neolandus stops her, "young lady, that would bring quite a bit of attention. Please be mindful. My eyes are poor but your house drake should be able to guide us, if we need someone." He looks around skeptically, and settles on Magda, "and your friend - her eyes can likely see better than we can, yes?" He gestures for Magda to take over navigation.
Neolandus notes once the party is a few miles away, "so, the matter of the Queen. I know things, and I have a plan, but - let us leave behind all things Arkona before we discuss it, yes? That ring, it should be in a bag, to take precautions." He points at the ring of evasion.
"In fact, I think, perhaps, we should get to Harse before I go into much detail. If my suspicions are true, Korvosa, and perhaps all of Varisia, are in grave danger."
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Once the barge is deemed safe and the party is no longer on high alert, the Gray Maiden excuses herself quietly. She retreats to a corner, shielded from view, where she removes her armor piece by piece. A few minutes later Kaliyah emerges in traveling clothes, her expression softer, her demeanor lighter.
She spends a few minutes individually with each party member, thanking them for their perseverance through the previous ordeal with Bahor and Meliya. She ends with an arm thrown around Magda's shoulder and a gentle (not gentle) tug and comment of "Thanks for watching my back out there. I can always count on you."
After visiting each party member, she rejoins the group at large to hear what Neolandus has to share. She agrees that the Arkona's should be far behind them and the party should ensure they are "alone" before they continue these discussions further.
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The long habit of handling a reach weapon makes Yaziyah ideally suited to pole the barge, so she gently takes the pole from Vencarlo. "You rest." As she pushes the barge away from Old Korvosa, she prays to the ancestors to heal her comrades, stating with the ones who had suffered the worst of the rakshasa's attacks.
Once they reach the shore and disembark, she looks over her shoulder at the flickering lights of the city. "Let us keep moving. We are too close to danger, and we are weakened." It was a pang in her heart, this feeling - needing to get away from the city she had spent a good part of her life trying to help. And perhaps the rush of combat hadn't worn off yet, but she felt restless and anxious, eager to be on the road. Perhaps because this time it felt like they had a chance, that they were moving towards something rather than running away, some sort of future where whatever Neolandus was about to tell them was going to help bring down the murderous queen.
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Mag had accepted her post at the prow, doing her best not to watch the shrinking lights behind her. The whispers in her mind keep getting softer and softer,
so quiet
... making her shake just a little before Kaliyah is there wrapping her up.
"Yes... I'm a rock" she answers her friend, though her voice does not sound like stability, instead like sinking.
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"Yes... I'm a rock" she answers her friend, though her voice does not sound like stability, instead like sinking.
Marcus has largely descended into solitude and silence as they retreat, but he grunts when Magda speaks. "Rocks become weathered. Steel rusts. Both require maintenance." He gives her a hollow look for a moment, then turns back to the water. "Keep an eye out. We're not safe yet."
Vencarlo nods at those who are assembled, and lets Yazi take over. ”Swordsman may I be, but I am quite tired.” Neolandus nods and the small barge, Vencarlo looks surprised, ”Kaliyah, what a development. Somehow you seem better off, than before.”
The party pushes, until they get into the open water, and they glide along, rowing occasionally.
Suddenly, Zellara manifests, as if from smoke. She appraises everyone, ”the trying times will only get worse. Who you travel with, these things change, and they become the same. Vera?” Vera nods nervously, ”the cards - they stir. It’s time.” She retrieves the old harrow deck and starts laying out the tableau in the center of the barge, on a large barrel she drags over.
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"F@#%!" Is all Aru can say when the ghost manifests and he falls from the barge.
Ashamed, he gets back aboard once he realizes what happened and dries himself with magic.
LG Past
1 = Str
9 = CE Opposite Match
THE CYCLONE (CE, STR) Misaligned: Renewal after a trial.
NG present
6 = Cha
4 = NG True Match
The Dance (Cha, NG) Traditional: Prophecy is true.
CG Future
4 = Int
7 = CG True Match
THE JOKE (CG, INT) Traditional: Danger overcome by artifice.
LN Past
6 = Cha
6 = NE
THE BETRAYAL (NE, CHA) Traditional: Selfishness leads to ruin.
N Present
6 = Cha
5 = N True Match
THE TWIN (N, CHA) Traditional: Duality of purpose.
CN Future
4 = Int
9 = CE Partial match
THE SNAKEBITE (CE, INT) Traditional: Poisonous powers or ideas.
LE Past
6 = Cha
5 = N
(repeat of earlier so reroll, but I realized it too late, so at the end)
NE Present
2 = Dex
6 = NE True Match
The Crows:(NE, DEX) Traditional: Taking of loved ones or items.
CE Future
1 = Str
5 = N
THE BEAR (N, STR) Traditional: Brute force reigns.
LE Past
6 = Cha
1 = LG Partial Match
THE EMPTY THRONE (LG, CHA) Traditional: Misaligned: Loss brings bad tidings
2 associated with chapter
??
2 = LN
Kaliyah
4 = NG
Magda
7 = CG
Marcus
1 = LG
Yazi
5 = N
Match
Aru
9 = CE
Match
"He's right, Mags" Kaliyah prods her friend gently, "Even rocks need care." Throwing her arm around her again, she gives her another SQUEEZE before looking to Marcus, and adding. "That goes for steel, too, Marcus. You don't have to bear this weight alone."
"Kaliyah, what a development. Somehow you seem better off, than before."
Kaliyah offers a small smile, grateful for his words, though she deflects modestly. "We all have our roles to play. I just try to play mine well."
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Vera has more confidence than before, and each person in the crew draws one of the cards from the hammers suit. She nods as each person draws one, particularly noting ”Kali - whatever happened, it seems that this card actually reflects you now, as you are … now.” She seems slightly uncomfortable- ”your heart has mended somewhat, despite what you’ve gone through. The Keep represents safety of a sort, unshakable to threat.”
She points at Magda, ”this is the Big Sky, which is freedom from bondage. I think the Harrow means to try to get you to connect to other spirits, Mags, you know, not just the city. This looks like it’s particularly important!”
She looks at Marcus’ card, and says ”The Paladin. Standing against adversity. If there’s one thing that we can count on, it’s you standing strong!”
Yazi has the Bear, and Vera chuckles, ”and of course Yazi, you’re so strong - the Bear represents using overwhelming strength.”
She steps over to the brooding Aru and lays a hand on his shoulder, ”the cyclone. You must be having a turbulence of emotions. We must be heading somewhere that will be particularly difficult for you.” She looks at Neolandus, who looks back, and shakes his head slightly, only saying ”not now.”
Vera tries to draw a card herself, and when she draws it, it isn’t the same suit. Confused, she draws another, with a similar effect. ”Oh…”. She swallows once, and frowns a little. ”I don’t think I’m supposed to go with you guys this time.” She raises her head to look at Zellara, ”but m… mom, they need me!”
Zellara looks at her daughter, ”do not look to me. I am not responsible for the harrow. It seems you may be needed elsewhere. Try to divine where.”
Blinking rapidly, she retrieves the cards and expertly shuffles them again and again, laying out a tableau.
Pointing to the leftmost column, she exhales, ”okay, remember that these represent the past. This reading will only be useful if it represents our past.”
She taps the first card in the top left, an upside-down The Cyclone card, ”this is misaligned, so normally The Cyclone is about perseverance. In this case, it’s about renewal - after a trial. So our renewal after we dealt with Lamm.”
She moves her finger down, ”this is The Betrayal, but the Traditional Meaning - selfishness leads to ruin. It is a reflection perhaps of how the selfishness of people in Korvosa lead to the ruin of the Blood Plague. It was only through a deconstructed selfishness, a generosity, that we were able to create and distribute a cure. This was a partial match - as these cards.” she gestures towards this one and the one below, ”are supposed to represent the past.”
Her finger continues to trail down, ”again, another partial match, but this time badly misaligned.” The card is upside down, ”in the top row, it references a kind of success. Here, it’s inverted. Specifically, loss brings bad tidings. But we succeeded, didn’t we?” She looks up at everyone, ”we saved the Seneschal, didn’t we sir?”
Neolandus shrugs and looks confused, ”I don’t know, young lady.” Vencarlo smirks, ”well, I lost my studio, but that’s not that bad. Maybe we shouldn’t have let …Meliya go? The Arkonas lost Bahor - that seems like the biggest ‘loss’ but I would think the city is better off.” Vera frowns, ”well, it’s showing something, since it’s in the right spot - but I can’t say what, I guess.”
She taps the center column, ”perhaps you recall these represent our present. This at the top, is… it’s Kali’s card! With a true match! Traditionally aligned, it means the prophecy is true. And usually this represents a good prophecy. So, Kali, keep an eye out for any other diviners. Or maybe I can do an augury for you?” She shrugs, as if to say it’s up to you.
She moves her hand down, ”another true match, the Twin. It shows a duality of purpose. And since this is my… I mean it’s ours, but I’m the one doing it, often the harrow card here reflects the harrower. I always thought my purpose was to help you directly, but perhaps I have some other. Ishani? Is he in trouble?” She looks nervously at the deck, inhales, then exhales slowly, and nervously picks up the top card. Revealing it, it is the Midwife. Vera looks pained, and says only, ”okay…” She collects herself, and retrieves a handkerchief, and blows her nose, ”mom - I don’t want… he’ll be fine. They need me for the harrowing.”[b] Zellara’s translucent finger taps the deck, [b]”focus on what will happen if you do not return.” Vera pauses, and retrieves the next card, gasping when it reveals The Avalanche. ”The Queen! She’s going to take him! I have to stop her! I have to warn him!” She looks at everyone else and puts her thumbnail into her mouth, gnawing nervously, ”so it’s true. I can’t leave Korvosa.” She looks at Magda, ”but you have to! This isn’t fair… this … this is bullshit!” Vera’s cheery demeanor deflates immediately and she’s angry, ”Mags, I need you. I can’t … “
Majenko is watching everything, and the little dragon seems more morose than any other time since he was captured by Devargo Barvasi. He pipes up, ”yes. Is not fair. Is want to stay with Magda friend and eat cakes with her and visit Dokren and Dafne.” He rests his head against her cheek, nuzzling it. ”but what yous wants and what Is wants is not what wes gets, best friend Vera. Yous need to save yours boyfriend. Yous love him, yes? Is know this true because yous my best friend.”
Vera looks miserable, and she sniffs, and starts to cry, quietly, tears running down her cheeks.
Marcus's harrow was fairly simple this team. He nods in acknowledgement to it but there isn't much to process.
He does, however, respond to Vera's plight. His frown turns to a scowl as she cries. He throws his card back into the pile with distaste. "F!$+ fate, you do what you want Vera. We can secure him against the queen and you can stay with us. The choice is yours."
Turning over in her hands the Harrow card, Yaziyah scowls as well. "And why would you do that alone, Vera? We won't abandon you - or Ishani. Once we recover our strength we can go and get him to safety. Why do you think the Queen wants to take him?"
Mags is still lost, the silence making her dull, wide eyed, and staring off as if searching. Her mind was stuck on 'Other spirits' feeling confused, trying to understand why when the city was everything.
Then Vera "You're... not coming...?" her stomach drops. Since that day meeting her before ending the hurt they had both been soaked in from the Lamb, they hadn't been apart. Never more than the span of daylight.
Vera's pain though makes her sweep up her own broken pieces, like the shopper man on the corner, never stopping the sweep and never helping a thing. Mags managed a smile "He needs you. I got a wall, the hand guy, a gray, Kali, and The Yazi. I'll be okay." the smile shutters a little, then she is hugging the other girl, smushing the little dragon between them "fine, both of us, then together again, no worries."
Majenko gladly accepts the smush, but Vera still looks miserable, ”you say that - but the harrow, it’s - it’s never been this strong. Someone has to go rescue him. I have the most magical ability, and … you know, care the most. But also,” she points at Neolandus, ”we know he’s right. He has a plan, to stop … someone… bad.” She chooses her words carefully.
The seneschal nods, his ashen skin and greying hair making him seem a little like a ghost, ”the young lady is wise beyond her years. What I have planned will take you far afield from Korvosa, at least for a time. Of course, you’ll have to return, but I cannot say when.”
Vera continues, ”see? Nobody wants this. But we’re the only ones who can, or at least - the only ones who care and can.”
She composes herself and summons the courage to reveal the next card, deflating immediately. She is silent.
Zellara looks down at it, and then up at everyone, ”the Crow. It represents the taking of loved ones or valuables.” She purses her lips, ”I think the message has been received,”
Vera, numb with defeat and sadness, her hands shaking, begins to reveal the last set of cards. In a quiet voice, she says, ”these represent the future. Here is The Joke, which we have seen before.” She looks down, and says louder, ”traditionally it means ‘danger overcome by artifice’. Or, lies. But with me leaving, maybe you need someone else to help with that.” She points at the card, ”it is a true match, so is very important -maybe.”
Zellara frowns, ”do not take the harrowing lightly, dear. It is a powerful augur - and the signs of import are obvious.”
She has a far away look, and blinks a few times, nodding, ”I know, mother.” Mumbling, she adds, ”sorry…” She shows the next card, which is of a snake and venom, ”The Snakebite - which as it is aligned, is a warning about poisonous powers or ideas. Maybe you will have to help someone in thrall to a destructive ideology?”
Shaking her head, she reveals the last card, ”The Bear - this makes sense , given what I have seen so far.” She points to Yazi, ”this was your card, and it indicates ‘brute force reigns’.” She lifts her head and looks to Neolandus, ”the Storval? Unless I missed something?” The seneschal nods silently, Vera continues, ”you will reunite with the Shoanti - and perhaps more.”
She looks down at the cards, and sighs, and with one motion, scoops them up and shuffles them, and then quickly returns them to her dress. A moment later, the barge runs aground, and Zellara nods, and disappears.
Vera says in a small voice, ”this is it for me.”
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As they run aground, Aru gets closer to Vera. "Marcus is being too simplistic about fate. You either believe in it or you don't, like religion or an oath, so you can't disbelieve it when it suits you." He turns to Marcus and shrugs. "No offense."
He brushes her hair and in a twist of his hand there are two of her cards in there: the twin and the joker. "Perhaps I'm supposedly the twin take your place for now, but remember that the joker is a poor substitute at best."
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The mention of the Shoanti and Storval has a visible effect on Yaziyah, although her expression is difficult to read. She scooches closer to Vera, on the other side from Magda, and puts an arm around the girl's shoulders, squeezing comfortingly.
"I don't like this separation, but I will not go against..." she gestures with her other hand at the cards. "You will be alright, and we will be alright, and we will meet again as soon as we can manage." She dips her head to Zellara. "Honoured spirit, thank you for your guidance. I will ask my people to watch over Vera while we are away."
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Marcus cocks his head at Aru's words. After a moment he nods. It was a good point. He never had thought too deeply about this harrow business, but it had impacted him previously. After the barge runs aground, Marcus hops over the edge and hauls it up to a stable position. Once the others are out he helps Vera, keeping his hold after her feet are on solid ground. "Trust in your strength, you have more of it than you realize." He squeezes her shoulder reassuringly, his face full of confidence for her future.
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Kaliyah approaches Vera with quiet purpose. She gently rests a hand on the young woman’s shoulder, her voice steady and warm. "Vera, you’ve stood with us through the worst Korvosa could throw. You’ve proven your strength time and again. This is just another trial, and we’ll all come out stronger for it."
She kneels slightly to meet Vera’s gaze. "This isn’t goodbye. It’s just a different path. And when we meet again, we’ll be standing on the other side of all this chaos, stronger and united."
She then proceeds to give a bone-breaking hug that lasts a few seconds longer than necessary.
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Wiping her tears away, Vera nods, and Majenko does a flip into the air.
Vencarlo also approaches Vera, and nods his head, extending a hand respectfully. "Thank you, young lady. You've already done so much for me, and for the people of Korvosa. This is not the end, I think, but perhaps just another beginning. We will see each other again." He moves his other hand to embrace her for a hug, and then steps aside for Neolandus to also shake her hand. "If it were not for people like you and your mother, miss, we would have been in much worse circumstances. I expect Cressida will be able to help you in your mission, so if you see her, please give her my regards." Vencarlo nods in agreement, and Vera inhales and exhales slowly. After hugging her best friend again, she shakily gathers her things, and puts a hood and scarf over her head. A moment later, she gestures, and her appearance changes to look like a chelaxian peasant, shimmering, "okay - I've got a little walk back to the city, so I'll come up with a cover identity on the way. Good luck! I'll keep tabs on you when I can."
With that, Vera Esmeranda steps away, and begins to make her way along the shore of the Jeggare, back to Korvosa.
Vencarlo turns to the others, "well, an unfortunate development, she will be missed. Let's get to Harse quickly, or at least, away from the shore, before camping. If we hustle, we could stay at an inn a few hours away as well." He leads the way, along with Neolandus, and the pair walk silently for a while, before the pair drop back and - once they are about a mile away from the city, begin to ask a little about the developments in the city, and what happened recently.