As Magda goes off with the others, Shi takes that as acceptance of her plan and pulls Marcus along with her. Stacking him up with books as she finds anything that might help, once they both have several books she finds a large table where they can sit and get to work.
By the end of the 7th of Arastus, Magda and Shi have managed to make a little bit of progress on their research.
The party heads back to the Citadel for the night after working most of the day at the library, exhausted, and heads to bed by about 10:00 pm. They have a restful and uneventful sleep (including Krovax, who is sleeping in a separate part of the barracks when everyone returns).
The party heads over to Zellara's old home after breakfast, and speaks about their plan for the day.
As they stand there waiting Shi looks to Krovax when he doesn't immediately start talking and notes "Why did we need to meet up here? After tapping her foot impatiently she adds "Look, we are in the middle of doing some research on the Arkonas, see if we can't find anything helpful. Unless something came up you are welcome to come and help us. I was making some solid progress so I would like to get back to it."
Krovax was the last to arrive back to the meet up location. And when he does, he looks significantly different. His armor has taken on a whole new look, twisted from its original form. And a dark fur cloak hangs from his shoulders.
He looks at Shi silently as she talks before removing his helmet. ”Very well. Let us get to it. What have you learned thus far?”
Shi nods, not paying all that much attention to Krovax's new somewhat scary looking armor, he just looks kind of like a Hellknight now and she figures maybe she just bought some of their armor somewhere. Either way she leads the group back tot he library and pays her entrance fee, letting the others pay their own.
Splitting the group up she takes Krovax and Marcus with her to continue looking into the families history and any relevant information about them, while Vera heads off to look into their local connections and and areas of influence.
"I thought we were doing things after the library" the half orc worries, having not enjoyed the lirbary one bit yesterday, but Shi is so confident about it and the city is quiet about the place being evil... "fine"
Although Marcus's lack of formal schooling shows evidently, he is a reasonably quick reader and after some practice manages to help Shi Ni find the important material more quickly.
Vera sits down and starts reading, devouring books that she had been almost deprived of as a child. Kali brings her a helpful tome on the history of the city, but Magda keeps getting distracted by the journals of various chiefs of the department of public works, which explain in painstaking, laborious detail how the sewers were designed. Unfortunately, they were destroyed in various fires, earthquakes, and the like and look nothing like the original now, and had nothing to do with the task at hand.
Shi’s research is also fruitful, and she feels as if she’s on the cusp of uncovering a connection she didn’t have before, with Krovax’s stern help, she’s able to almost make a hereto unknown bit of information about the Arkonas. Marcus tries to help, but his work during the day just ends up being distracting.
Vera takes a break to try and identify the dagger.
Unfortunately, she still can’t tell what it might be enchanted with.
The party heads back towards the citadel for the night after long hours working at the library.
The party wakes up with a note fastened to each person’s bunk requesting an audience with Cressida as soon as you are up.
Shi wakes early, as is her usual routine. She is ready to hit the books again and continue trying to dig up something useful on the Arkonas, but finds a note posted to her bunk to meet with Cressida. She will wait out in the hall for the others to get ready and join them as they all head into speak with Cressida together.
Kali contributes what she can, definitely not considering this one of the areas she is particularly good at.
When she reads the note, Kali immiedately gets up and starts to clean her uniform the best that she can before soliciting help from Vera's magic to clean the rest. Satisfied she looks the part, she heads out to feed Falcor and spend some time with him before the party needs to depart.
Krovax also is up getting ready when Kali and the others awaken. He is in the process of donning his armor, having already cleaned up and shaved, looking to Kali as a shadow of his former self, but closer nonetheless.
Field Marshal Cressida Kroft invites them in to her office with another job offer. But this time, she’s not alone. A handsome man sits in one of the chairs at her desk, and as you enter, he rises and bows.
Cressida introduces the man, ”good morning, this is an old friend of mine - Vencarlo Orisini.”
You recognize him as one of Korvosa’s most respected and renowned teachers of the honorable arts of fencing and swordplay.
Vencarlo bows deeply as he’s introduced. Cressida explains, ”although Vencarlo himself has always been an outspoken critic of Korvosa’s government, quite outspoken, honestly, I have always valued him as a friend and advisor. Particularly in these dark times, his input about the temperament and morale of the citizens of Korvosa is invaluable to me. As you know, we are working fervently to get the city back under control.”
Vencarlo smiles disarmingly, and takes stock of the assembled party. Vencarlo Orisini is a tall man of advanced years, yet he has a twinkle in his eye and a bounce to his step that hints at the inner fire of a man under half his age. He wears his salt-and-pepper hair pulled back tightly into a bravo’s topknot. His eyes are a cast of deep green like the ocean after a storm. He is of old Chelish blood, and it shows. Orisini wears black leather gloves.
He nods after his appraisal, ”you seem a formidable group, finding the queen’s brooch and bringing back the deserters. Strong, yes, but with a deft touch. And two of you are young, for measure.” He bows to both Magda and Vera, specifically, ”you’ve even helped other folks in the street, or so I’ve heard. Well done, Cressida won’t admit it, but she’s impressed too.” He winks at her, and she stares daggers at him, though not unkindly.
Vencarlo sighs and says “If Korvosa had more fine folk like you, we’d already be out of this mess.” He steps to the side and adds, ”Shi Ni - of you I’ve heard a great deal. You are a kitsune, originally from Tien? Korvosa is blessed that you came when you did,” he requests the back of her hand, and if offered, he will kiss it formally and politely, and offer Shi his seat, stepping to the side of Cressida’s desk.
He looks as if he’s going to continue speaking, but Cressida gently cuts him off. ”As much as I would enjoy continuing the conversation, I fear we just don’t have time. Vencarlo has learned something that could degrade into sanctions, embargoes, or even war against Cheliax if we don’t act now. This problem is a man named Darvayne Gios Amprei, an ambassador from Cheliax whose disdain for Korvosa is well documented, though he’s taken great pleasure in what our city has to offer. Even before this recent unrest, this man was ready to recommend to his government a sanction on trade, or perhaps even an embargo. Vencarlo has learned through his own considerable sources that Ambassador Amprei’s actual goals are to undermine Korvosa’s economy to the point where he can buy up large portions of the city from desperate landholders. He plans to establish himself in a position of power here before advising the end of the sanctions with his allies in Cheliax. We can’t let his bias or personal plans hurt Korvosa. Yet neither can we take drastic action—not only would killing him be wrong, but it’d simply martyr him in Cheliax’s eyes.“
She pauses to take a breath, ”Fortunately, the ambassador has his foibles. Again, Vencarlo has learned that Ambassador Amprei has been making fairly regular visits to a place in Old Korvosa called Eel’s End. This den of vice is run by a dangerous man named Devargo Barvasi, better known in Korvosa’s alleys as the King of Spiders. I’d love to put Devargo out of business, but he pays his vice taxes regularly and never causes any problems—in fact, since he keeps his business constrained entirely within the five ships moored at Eel’s End, he’s actually one of the least of my worries. Truth be told, I can’t decide whether Devargo is a stirge or a kraken. He seems like a bloodsucking pest most days, but sometimes I fear just how far his tentacles have wormed their way into our great city. In this case though, his insidious web stretching across Korvosa’s underworld might be to our advantage.“
She looks resigned, ”Devargo would never let someone he recognizes as an ally of the Guard into Eel’s End, but your group’s a different case. I’d like you to pay a visit to Eel’s End and secure an audience with Devargo. Find out what he knows about Amprei, get proof of any illicit goings-on the ambassador might be involved with, and bring that proof to me. I can use it to undermine any forthcoming attempts by him to get Cheliax to cut us off. Devargo might not be willing to part with his information easily. I’ll supply you with some gold to bribe him, and whatever’s left over you can keep for yourself. Remember: Devargo is dangerous, but so are you—if things get violent, I wouldn’t mourn his passing.” She folds her hands. ”Any questions?”
Magda starts to raise her hand, but decides asking what 'embargo' means would be best to ask Kali, Vera, or Shi later.
She is also curious why this old mister is happy two of them are young. Magda worries about creeps at times.
In all, she has nothing to add and shakes her head in a No to the questions part.
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"Why is Devargo called the King of Spiders?" asks Vera.
Kali leans in to Krovax and Marcus and whispers "Vencarlo's one of Korvosa’s most respected and renowned teachers of the honorable arts of fencing and swordplay."
"Good morning, sir. It's a pleasure to meet the man who has built up such an amazing reputation with a blade." Stepping out of the shadows behind the big men, she stands up straight and goes through the process of introducing each of her companions.
Vencarlo extends a hand towards Kaliyah, ”indeed, Ms. Tatarescu, Cressida has told me of all of your skills. My understanding is that you are one of the Sable Company. An impressive vocation, and beyond my skill, whatever you might have heard about my dueling school... Marcus took note of how you’ve seemed to have acquitted yourself in the last week. A sharp turnaround from earlier.” He looks Kali in the eyes, ”keep up the good work, and keep an eye out for these kids,” and pats her hand.
Cressida interrupts his socializing to answer Vera’s question, ”some say he has a little fiend blood, or the like, which allow him to control and ally with spiders. I can’t say I put much stock in it, though his base certainly does have a way with them, based on reports.”
”Get the proof. Got it. Will there be anything else, Field Marshall?” Krovax asks.
Shi is a little surprised when the man, she has never met, seems to know so much about her, but shrugs and bows slightly and then offers her hand before taking his seat with a bit of a shocked smile at the whole thing.
As the two explain things Shi takes it all in. As the others asks questions she adds one of her own "I didn't realize that Korvosa was so heavily under Cheliax's thumb that sanctions and embargo's would cause issues. In any case, I heard a rumor that many of the ambassador's left except For Amprei, likely because he is avoiding troubles back home. Do you know anything about that, maybe there is an opening their where we can figure out what he is hiding from and make this all a none issue?"
Cressida cocks her head slightly as she listens to Shi, "hmm, this tracks with what we heard too. It sounds like you have a head start already, and know what to look for. This is why I thought of asking for the documents from Barvasi. It also sounds like you know as much as I do. Well done, I'm glad you have been productive in your time off." She smiles at Shi, and you get a glimpse of a person who you haven't seen before.
Kroft is pleased that Shi is keeping appraised of rumors in the city.
"As for Cheliax - we fought hard to free ourselves from Vassalage, but our countries somehow never separated economically. They're far, but their reach is farther." She smiles bitterly, "their markets are some of the most lucrative for our craftspeople, must have been the reason why they fought us so hard to keep us." She sighs, "but I'm not sure you want a full history of our nations. Suffice it to say, Cheliax is very big, and unlike Taldor - still powerful."
Shi bows her head slightly as she replies "We will see what we can find out then, and do our best to deal with this matter."
She will wait for Cressida to provide the coin for them to use in their bribery attempt if needed, before turning to leave with the others.
After they leave, Madga whispers to Shi "She was happy you found that out on your own."
"We look for more rumors and clues on Spider guy, right? And then go to the place to fool him or sneak in to see what secrets we can find out?"
Whenever they have a moment she'll ask the city about the spider.
Croft hands Vera a pouch, ”here’s a thousand pieces. You should be able to get the documents for this. If there’s nothing else, Vencarlo will see you out.” She goes back to a big stack of paperwork in her inbox, rubbing her temple.
Vencarlo nods and says, ”I’m returning to my academy in Old Korvosa, so we share a route back. May I join you folks for the trip? It would be nice for some polite company in such rough-and-tumble times.” He smiles gregariously at everyone.
Your magic picks up on the experiences of people nearby with the king of spiders, or within a few degrees of separation. You see a few people who’ve visited one of his den’s of inequity that’s attached to the eel’s end boat - the gambling house, the drug den, the brothel, and the flophouse. He wasn’t always seen, but sometimes he could be glimpsed viewing the behavior on the ships attached to his stronghold. His face has a hard expression, and he’s dressed in stylized leather armor, with web-patterned filigree. His bladed gauntlet glistens with poison. A few visions have had audiences with the man himself, who “holds court” in the upper hold of his ship/base, sycophants surrounding him. His affinity for actual spiders is clear, as his court is positively riddled with regular-sized spiders and webs (no monstrous spiders are seen here). He’s a hard man in these interactions, but he seems to brighten up when his visitors “entertain” him or give him a new experience. There is a cage attached to the ceiling with a bedraggled tiny Draconic figure inside, watching the events balefully.
Marcus exhales in quiet amusement at Cressida's introduction of Vencarlo. Ah, but HE can criticize the guard without being ostracized. He nods slightly to Kaliyah in response to her information.
Darvayne Gios Amprei. Hell of a name. Marcus frowns. Cheliax is a very serious threat, and if he was being honest he even admired their rigid order much more so than that of Korvosa, although their particular rigidity came with certain drawbacks that soured him.
Devargo Barvasi. Known as an actual spider. Disgusting. His frown softens just slightly when she mentions his passing wouldn't be flagged. That gives them some significant leverage, at least.
Marcus stands near Krovax and looms silently, like an older grumpier brother (if somewhat less intimidating due to his more mundane-looking gear).
Marcus has nothing else to add or any questions to ask, nodding and moving out with the others.
Magpie went silent and still, the city taking her senses and showing her bits it could part with. After a few moments, she starts to talk, like she is distracted trying to explain, see, and understand all at the same time.
"The spider man... huh he really does have a thing for spiders. Keeps them as pets, wears really cool looking leather armor with a web pattern, even has a steel hand thing with blades dripping in poison." she frowns "There is... a tiny... draconic thing in a cage in the spider man's throne room. It doesn't seem happy. We should save it."
Her eyes pop open and she gives a grin "He's an ass, like you two." she points to the silent steel brothers "But like new things he's never seen or done before, just all bright and bobby."
Shi listens as Magda explains what she has seen, heard, she wasn't sure but just stood there in awe of her ability to just get information from the city. When she finishes Shi smirks "Well, that is actually really helpful Magda. I have an idea, but we should also prepare for the worst, just in case things go wrong."
She turns to look at Vencarlo "We would be happy to walk with you but we need to make a couple shopping trips along the way if you don't mind."
Magda grins her toothy grin at the compliment, and nods along at the suggestions.
Marcus nods to Magda's accounting. How does she do that? I've never seen that kind of magic before.
Vencarlo nods, ”certainly. I’m curious what you’d bring to bear to the encounter with Barvasi.” He waits for Magda to finish her spell. ”Shall we depart?” He rests his hand on the pommel of his rapier and flashes a grin.
Shi nods "Yes, let's be on our way."
She will go and get approximations of the items she is looking for, as long as they are close she is happy and will buy them. Then she will direct the group to the nearest alchemist so they can stock up on supplies.
As they walk Shi asks Vencarlo "So, I'm curious what is the deal with you and Cressida. She mentioned you were an outspoken critic of the government. It seems a little strange that such an individual would be working alongside someone like her."
Vencarlo nods and thinks about it, after watching what everyone purchases, ”I don’t much care for how the ministers run things, and I say so. Cressida agrees with me, sometimes, but it would diminish the power of the guard for her to confront them directly. These ministers control the budget, and have the ear of the crown, and she... is a warrior. A brilliant warrior, tactician, and administrative mind, but frankly, she doesn’t have a head for politics.” He taps his head, and grins, ”on the other hand, I learned a different trade. I’ve taught many of the nobles how to carry a sword, and... I’ve learned secrets enough to keep myself safe. So I point out their hypocrisy where I, or we, notice it, sometimes for her and for Marcus as well.” His face shadows a bit, ”but this new queen - with Illeosa I don’t know what’s happening. My contacts have dried up a bit, and it seems like it’s harder to stay on top of things. With Eodred - he was predictable - most of these kings are. I could predict how much I could say and get away with it. Now....”
The shadow passes, and his winning smile returns, ”How did you all find yourself in Korvosa? Clearly you aren’t all natives, or am I mistaken” He listens intently at whatever each party member asks, and you each get the sense that he’s interested in your story genuinely.
Marcus absorbs what the man says, grunting occasionally at the more important bits, but ignores his inquiry into his background. That's his own business, and doubly so against a man who just admitted his power came from knowing people's secrets.
"I'm from here." Magda says defending her nativeness, but without any bile.
Shi shakes her head "No, not a native. I came here not too long ago with..." she hesitates "a friend... he is no longer with us, but I promised to do what I could to make this place better and so here I am."
Vencarlo’s eyes glitter at the terse responses, ”good. Keep yourselves close. You cannot trust many people in this city. Most will let you down, even if they don’t mean to. Except the Field Marshall, trust her if you trust anyone, is my advice.”
He nods at Shi, ”a noble goal, ironic that so few lords and ladies share it.”
He slaps Marcus on the shoulder, good naturedly, and continues to walk, listening with interest at whatever the others intend to share.
Marcus pauses, glancing at Vencarlo for a moment. That was a test. And we passed. His frown turns slightly less grumpy; instead of looking like he just found out somebody puked in his shoes, now he looks like somebody just spilled beer on his shirt.
Truly a rainbow palette of emotional expression.
Magda frowns at the man's response "You can trust most people in the city, they do what they have to. It's just those that you can't seem to swell the biggest so no one can see anyone but them."
"I'm from here as well." Kali answers quietly, mostly to herself. She walks in the rear of the group with Vera, letting Marcus, Shi and Magda walk alongside the famed swordsman.
Krovax clenches his jaw to maintain decorum during the "small talk." Eventually though, he turns to Cressida and says "If there is nothing further, Field Marshall...?"
After getting their supplies Shi tells the others what her plan is. "Okay, so from what Cressida told us this guy likes new entertaining things right? We will request an audience with him to do business and as a show of good faith I will perform a dance of my native land for him. If any of you are capable in aiding in the performance you are more than welcome to assist otherwise, we will just say you are my entourage? She grins at the last part as she looks to each of you for any thoughts.
Marcus frowns at Shi in a very solid way that says I don't dance.