Shi does her best researching but without any help it is overwhelming, not to mention the mess they had been through the days prior what with being locked up and beaten, to eventually escape. She ends up falling asleep in the middle of reading something, not getting anywhere, and lays there stooped over the book, her head resting on her arm.
Magda sighs.
Heavily
Maybe even rolls her big orc eyes, but she's facing forward so the wall could only imagine such.
"A sorry's a sorry. It don't need to be followed with a nagging about Yeah you should be, if you were wondering about the 'edicat' of it all." she grins at her use of a fancy word.
"Okay." she stops "Everythings sold. Here's the big bag of money to give to the others. Same place tomorrow than I take it, not sure if the fox lady said for certain. But bright and early at Vera's I'll be." she gives him a wave, then heads for the docks with a box the size of her head and bag that smells of fresh fish which her cat is eagerly following.
Marcus Endrin smiles and nods. ”Come then. To the yard. Let us see how my wrinkles hold up, young man.” He gestures, and you both descend to a rear training yard. The yard has all manner of weapons. He politely allows Marcus to choose a weapon that he favors, then allows Marcus to choose any weapon from the assortment for Endrin to use, ”Choose something you think you may face.” He nods at Marcus’ choice and hefts the training weapon, assuming an utilitarian but obviously expert stance.
The training begins. Endrin encourages Marcus to go all out, and provides pointers with every strike. He’s grazed on occasion, but easily sidesteps every combat maneuver Marcus attempts. This is a man who has fought innumerable battles, though he obviously does not fight like a fighter, per say, he’s a hell of a lot better than anyone Marcus has ever faced.
The training winds Marcus, and beads of sweat run down his face. Endrin doesn’t seem phased, or tired, but he breathes heavily. ”Good. You’re showing excellent promise. Our styles aren’t the same, but you seem to have picked up something even in that short time.” Endrin had an odd idea about time, because they had been practicing for hours. Endrin hadn’t even been wearing parade armor, but he effortlessly seemed to turn aside most of Marcus’ attacks, and he wasn’t even tired.
His face breaks into a smile, ”that was invigorating, Marcus. Thank you. I spend much of my time on organization these days...”
”I do not wish to keep you all day. I’m sure your companions will be calling after you. And... remember. Don’t ... make the mistake I made. Don’t drive the people in your life away.” He extends his hand to be shaken.
Soon enough Vera gets called on. She’s sent to a new desk where a vudrani cleric sits pensively. He’s handsome and gentlemanly and he stands when Vera approaches. He says as Vera approaches, in slightly accented Taldan ”what can the first vault do for you?” Smiling at her pleasantly. When she explains her need, the clerk smiles slightly. ”Easy enough. I will touch your hand and concentrate on your aura as you answer two questions. The first is: What is your name? And the second is: What is your mother’s name? The two questions are required to get me enough information to sign this.” He says, ”two questions will be 100 gold pieces.” When Vera hands over her money he nods, and performs the spell. When she answers truthfully, he nods and sighs the paper, putting an arcane mark on the paper. He nods at her, ”this should work for the Clerk’s office.” He stands up and bows at Vera as she departs.
Marcus prepares for some intense training, but expects that his youthful ferocity would be somewhat evenly matched against the superior experience of Endrin. However in less than half a minute he realizes this man is far from out of his prime, and throws himself in full-bodied against the worthy enemy. Damn, it's not even that he's strong or quick, he's just so adaptable. Every time I try to punish a tactic he adjusts faster than I can. He pays close attention to the man's quick adaptability.
Once at the end he is panting heavily, not bothering to hide how winded he is. He gives a grunt of amusement. "Hell old man, wouldn't have thought you were a desk jockey by that performance." He returns the sword, checking his welts and doing some stretches. "Aye, I should be getting back." He pauses at his parting word, then clasps his hand. "Aye..." He trails off. He'd have to digest that one a bit. But there would be much more time since he was staying in the city. He bids Endrin farewell and heads back.
Late afternoon, Marcus returns, a few fresh welts and bruises forming on his exposed skin. He grunts wordlessly in acknowledgement to the others, sitting down and looking at his armor.
Vera can't help but notice how handsome the cleric is. She starts asking a few questions, trying to start up a conversation. "You must meet a lot of folks doing this job. What's the strangest question you've ever been asked to answer?"
Flirting is not exactly natural, but she leans in a little closer. Her smile comes naturally.
Magda heads out on her own to where she knows the house drakes linger, "HELLO! Majenko?!? And the rest that I can't remember the names of!" she hollers to their roosts "I bought a massive amount of fish." the half-orc holds up a slimy stinky bag the size of four halflings and boggart.
She'll chat and thank the lot of them personally, ask about their heroic attack in detail.
Then off to the docks to the little shack, to Dokren the nimble and majestic! To him, if he answers, she presents a slightly crumpled pink box wrapped in string. It does look a mess, but her toothy grin is wide and bright. "For you, for being amazing."
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The cleric blushes, "oh, well, miss. Let me think." He scrunches his brow and thinks quietly. "Once a man asked me to notarize a document claiming that he had killed a bear by himself in the wild. He brought the head in, mounted, and he had this long explanation written down which I had him read. Apparently he was drinking with some friends, and they didn't believe him... his friends were there too, and they gave him a bunch of money - it was a bet or something? I am not certain, we did not do such things in Vudra. It was amusing and strange how some take pride in things, I believe." He smiles at Vera. "I am... sorry though, I cannot spend long chatting with you, young lady. I hope this document helps you with the clerk's office." He smiles and inclines his head. He cannot be much older than Vera, though he carries with him a grace and poise that she's only really seen in Magda (at her best). Other clerks rush Vera away, and he gives a slight smile, and waves at her as she departs and is deposited outside the gate.
A number of house drakes show up, chirping happily, and eat a bit of fish before gathering pieces up to distribute to other nests in the shingles. Majenko shows up after a moment, and says "yes yes, hi bird girl, Is am here! What are yous going to do today with adventure? Is wish to help, yes?" He bobs his head and eats a fish, gripping it in his little hands. He sniffs a bit and his eyes twinkle. "Yous have baker bun? Can Is have one? Is love baker bun!" Majenko gobbles the fish up and starts sniffing near Magda's pack.
Later, with Majenko in tow, Magda makes her way to find Dokren, approaching his hut. She knocks on the door, and after a few minutes, the door opens a crack and the sallow pale face appears in the shadows. His hair is mussed and there are rings under his eyes, "oh, yes. Hello M..m..magda. Good to see you safe." He sniffs and looks downcast "sorry that I didn't stay, didn't seem like I was wanted by those bigfolk you were with. They j..j..just ignored me." He brightens up though and says, "got some good new tools though."
When she offers him the bun, he breaks into a big smile. Majenko peers at it, salivating, and says "half-man, can Majenko have a bite? Is have been smelling that for an hour and Is want some badly. Is want a baker bun so much." The little house drake seems to be trying to control himself amiably, so Dokren grins at him and invites them both into his shack.
His shack is nicer on the inside, homely and comfortable, and does not appear to be as rickety or drafty as one might expect. Fine rugs and wall-hangings adorn the living room, and there's are even small doors leading elsewhere (presumably to a small bedroom and lavatory that hang off to the side of the tiny building). Dokren sits you down at the table, and retrieves a few bottles of sparkling cordial from a box that when opened, has a palpable coolness to it. He pours the cordial into clean glasses, and he shares the baker's bun with Majenko and Magda, giggling quietly as the drake laps up the sweet honey and frosting. He remains quiet, and sad, but his demeanor is much brighter for the company of a pair of kind acquaintances.
"Sorry?!!" Magda exclaimed "Can you imagine me and Vera trying to get those doors open? Any those chains with the spikes, nope, you saved them, and us. Not SORRY, Ever, you were a hero!" she smiles wide, looking at him sincerely "thank you... and don't worry about them, they are all wrapped up tight in themselves. They mean well, slowly dusting up to being more, what the city needs them to be. Until then it needs us, the ones ignored, to hold it together."
Dokren, Majenko, and Magda have lovely a lovely lunch, though the hour grows late. Each of the party members heads back to their resting places.
The party comes together the morning of the 14th, in front of the citadel. Everyone notices that tensions have increased, again, with certain disreputable people using some new rumors to justify all kinds of bad behavior. Broadsheet hawkers stand on corners, announcing the new word: the murderer of the king has been determined. The broadsheets are filled with rank speculation, unsigned.
The broadsheets seem to have been written with the expressed purpose of buttressing support for the queen, getting people riled up to be 'nationalists' in favor of Korvosa, and to create enemies out of the shoanti, who seem to have not actually been named as the murderer, but are linked via speculation. The coded language uses words that barely conceal animus.
The party heads back into the office. The desk sergeant ushers you back in, and Kroft greets you all.
"I trust you all had a restful few days. We have another problem, but first, I have some good news." She gestures towards six medals in an open case on her desk. "Please, each of you, take one. These badges of commendation show you've provided a great service to the city. You may find that they help you get what you want when interacting with our citizens. They are a rare gift... but the defeat of Barvasi was not ignored. Whatever happened, the city thanks you, in the end." She sighs, and gestures for each person to take the medals.
Magda looks at the Kroft woman with distrust... but the medal is so shiny... so she slides forward and nicks one as quick as she can. Looking at it with a wide grin, she polishes the metal where her grubby paw marred it. After a moment, she realizes she's in the middle of the room with all sorts, even a Kroft, and frowns "What? It's nice, that's all." then she's back in the back again.
Once the items nobody wanted was finished being sold, Krovax separated the coin allotted to him into two separate pouches. He hands the smaller one to Magda and says "Here. I believe this is what I owe you. You have my thanks once again for the loan, and should you ever have similar need in the future, ask and I shall attempt to return the favor."
__________
Krovax takes the commendation and bows his head to the Field Marshal. "Thank you, ma'am."
Arriving at the Citadel, Vera picks up and admires one of the badges. "It's pretty! Who decided that we should get these medals?" She puts one on. "And is it true that the king's murderer has been found? I bet people will want blood."
Marcus gives a dispassionate sound at the medal, but accepts it nonetheless. If others valued the meaning behind it, it could open doors for them that may otherwise be only available via force.
"Thank you, it is an honor to receive this." she says with a surprised look on her face. She was expecting them to reconsider previously deeds and apply punishment, not a reward!
Kali eagerly accepts her medal and puts it on, wearing it proudly. She doesn't boast about it, but definitely takes great value in it.
Shi nods quietly, and takes the remaining medallion, slipping it into a secret nook on her person with considerable subterfuge.
Kroft sits at the desk with her hands folded, and nods at Vera, "I did. Well, Commandant Endrin and I did. He especially commended young Kaliyah and Marcus for their diligence." She nods at the two.
"Thank you Vera, yes. I was about to talk about that. So, you've obviously heard the stories that the king’s killer has been named. Yet there’s something more going on here, I’m afraid. Queen Ileosa could have quietly had this Trinia Sabor arrested at any time, yet the way in which she revealed the information to the city seems to me like she wants the riots to come back. With the city the way it is, the girl doesn’t stand a chance of a fair trial. They’ll lynch her the moment they catch her. Even if she did kill the king, mob justice isn’t the way. Worse, if she’s innocent, the real killer—if indeed the king was murdered at all in the first place—can use this distraction to throw us off the trail forever." She pauses and takes a breath.
“Before Trinia is captured and executed, I need to be absolutely sure she’s guilty. And that means we need to catch her before someone else does. I’ve managed to determine her last known address—a flat in Midland at 42 Moon Street—but soon, so will the rest of the Guard, and the mob itself, for that matter. These rumors have riled up the locals something fierce, and there’s even bands of Hellknights of the Order of the Nail patrolling the streets looking for her. On top of all this, word is that Queen Ileosa’s not satisfied with what the Korvosan Guard’s been doing to address the situation, and that she’s preparing to disband the Sable Company and reveal a newly founded order of specialized guards to help bring order to the city. For now, I’ve still got a fair number of Korvosan Guards who are loyal to me, but the problem is that I’ve got them at work keeping things from getting any worse—and if I were to send them into Midland, they’d trigger a riot." Cressida says all of this carefully, but there's obvious strain on her face.
She smiles slightly, “I’m sure you can see where this is going. I need you to get into Midland, find Trinia, and bring her back to me so we can deliver her, safe and sound, to somewhere she can be interrogated—preferably with magic, so we can be absolutely sure about her role in Eodred II’s death. Get in there, catch her, and get out without letting the mob or the Hellknights or the queen’s guards get their hands on her. I’ll have loyal agents and officers nearby to take her into custody. If you can get her to one of them, we’ll be in the clear. Any questions?” She puts her hands down on the papers, and looks each member of the party in the eyes.
Marcus's frown takes on a sharp and angry edge as Kroft described the scapegoating. Those in power abusing their positions...it sickened him. Deep to his core.
Marcus nods sharply once she finishes. "Either way we are doing the city a service. Either catching the king's killer or preventing systemic abuse. I'm in."
"We will need the names and physical descriptions of your agents in the area. With so many organizations going after Trinia Sabor, it may be difficult to tell friend from foe."
"Who's Commandant Endrin?" asks Vera initially, as Cresssida explains who awarded them the medals.
But soon, it's on to what was clearly a mission of utmost importance. Vera looks around at the others as a deluge of information comes upon them. She seems to be seeing if they looked like they comprehended or not, before continuing. It helps when Marcus is the first to break the ice.
"Wow, this sure sounds crazy. Like Marcus said, how do we know who the good guys are? It sounds like even some of the Korvosan Guard aren't loyal. What do we do if they try to arrest us or something?"
"Also, who is Trinia Sabor, and how would she have killed the king? Did she work in the castle? What does she look like?"
When Vera looks at Magda, she looks up from her shiny metal and nods, "Can't have another riot, the city might break. Knowing the truth and making sure everyone knows it is a good step toward healing everything."
Kaliyah chokes when Vera asks her question about Endrin. She shoots her an are you serious look.
"We're on top of it, Field Marshal. We will retrieve Trinia and keep her safe We'll get her safe and get to the bottom of this mess." she says with confidence.
"Oh, is Mister Endrin someone really important?" says Vera, clearly still mystified as Kaliyah gives her a look. "Sorry, mama knows a lot more about these sorts of things than I do," she says, referring to Zellara. Feeling a little embarrassed, she reflexively pulls out a tarot card from her mother's deck and starts flipping it around her fingers.
The card she draws is The Crows. "Not the most auspicious card," she mentions. "Murder, death, the loss of that which is loved."
"I don't know her either." Magda adds in support of Vera, both cause it is true and to make Vera feel less bad about not knowing.
Kroft coughs, politely, "well. Marcus Endrin is the head of the Sable company." She gestures towards Kaliyah, "Kaliyah is one of their marines."
She cocks her head, "and seeing as how you seem to have less than communicative with each other - I will elucidate Vera and Magda regarding their role. Much as the city guard protects the streets - the Sable Company is the mobile cavalry of the city - protecting the skies and waterways. They are not answerable to the King or Queen, but to the Seneschal of the Castle, who is currently Neolandus Kalepopolis. They are both profoundly good men, if a little naive about how far some will go for power." She leans back, "other than Sabina, Commandant Endrin and I are the highest-ranking officers in the city."
She taps at the side of her head, smiling at Vera's other question, "good that you asked. My understanding is that Trinia is a young woman who was contracted to paint a portrait for the former king, Eodred, may he rest in peace." She licks her inkstained finger and flips through some papers, pulling out a short description and sketch, which she hands over.
"Quite fetching, or so I was told. As to who you can deliver her to - here, if you can get here, otherwise, you can find an officer with one of those badges that I just gave you, a few blocks east near the West Dock. His name is Simon, and I can trust him." She looks up at the others, "any other questions?"
Marcus shifts his weight as commander Endrin is mentioned, but says nothing. "We have what we need. We will stop at the shops, briefly, to spend our new wealth, and then we proceed straight to the mission."
"We should also talk strategy. Do we intend on doing anything more complicated than marching through the front door, grabbing her, and knocking down anyone that stands in our way?"
Kaliyah shuffles her feet uncomfortably at Marcus's comment, taking the jab personally whether it was intended such or not. "Absolutely. We will have a coordinated plan this time and we will not act as rashly as last time."
Magda gives Marcus a scrunched look of that would be dumb "We're done here, right?" she looks to the others and THEN gives the Kroft a look to make sure as well, a slight tiny sign of a nod thrown in.
When they are out of that lady's office and away from ears, she says simply "Plans should be ours, not hers. We should break up or find some other way to lose Tails." the word is spoken harshly, after years of having it beat into her to avoid them "The lady said others want her just as bad, So any gang seen as one of these lot might be tailed to see where we go. Might have a hunk of trouble waiting for us once we get back out. Are any of you good at that or do we just deal?"
Marcus follows the others out.
He finds his arms at Magda. "I'm s%#! at losing tails. I'm about as easy to lose as an ogre. But if we split up and go different directions and take different paths to the same destination, it increases the chances of any tails losing interest."
The half-orcs girl grins, happy the wall is thinking like a street rat. "It's day, streets are not bad, mostly then..." she stops, tilts her head to listen to something for a moment "Oh, city suggests if we can't lose the Tails, we tail the tails. Ogres out in the open, cats following behind in the shadows, to watch for watchers."
Marcus jabs a finger at Magda. "Now that I like. I'm no good at being sneaky but I'm real good at drawing eyes."
Magda grins wider, all teeth and blunted tusks. "We agree!" she does sound mildly surprised at that, but pleasantly so. "What about the rest of you?"
"Being the follower sure sounds a lot better than being followed," agrees Vera. "Why don't we pick a destination and go there while Magda sneaks around and keeps a lookout? Maybe Kaliyah and Falcor can watch from above, too."
She lays out a very quick spread of cards to assess the day. . "Many shields today, and no hammers. I would be wary of brute force strategies. We may want to attempt more subtlety in approaching Trinia."
"I'm alright at being sneaky, but I'm still working on that part."
She nods to Mag's plan, "Sure. This seems like the safer plan to me."
Kroft nods, "very good. Thank you for your assistance. You had not asked, but we've scraped together another thousand crowns for this task when she's found safely. Godspeed, all of you." She nods and the expected time to leave her office has come, her return to work signifying a subtle, please leave better than any direct statements. Everyone has gotten used to Kroft's behavior, and can tell she remains busy.
-------------------------------
The streets outside the citadel have begun to throng with the masses of Korvosa, the familiar signs of whispering crowds and excited musings serving as a reminder of the start of the most recent state of anarchy into which the city descended. The signs are clear: trouble is brewing, and while Sabor's place of residence isn't far, it may not be an easy trip.
Shi follows along quietly, lost in thought. It's become apparent that riots are forming, and the way is getting more chaotic. Everyone manages to make the purchases they want at the marketplace, though the shops appear to be closing.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The party makes their way towards the Midlands district, where Trinia is holed up. Suddenly, a rumble issues from below, and a moment later the city street cracks apart in the vicinity of the sluice, and long fissures run across the bricks. The road bursts upward, casting chunks of rock into the air and raining bricks on the surrounding area. The stench of sewer filth and garbage belches forth, heralding the approach of a loud creature, seemingly drawn by the chaos and noise of the street. Common people and would be rioters scatter as they can, though they remain on the periphery of the action. The creature seems to look around curiously, drool eminating from it's stenching mouth.
Kaliyah doesn't miss a beat and has her bow trained on the creature before it can even get a chance to act. She fires twice, but only the first shot is worth a damn.
With a sickening thunk, the arrow rips through the hide of the creature, which roars in pain and anger. Fluid dripping from the mouth of the beast, a great gurgling noise can be heard, rumbling as it stumbles towards the party.
With a disgusting noise, a great fetid mass of putrefying meat and bones discharges from the creature's gullet, covering the entire party with vile offal.
Kaliyah, Krovax, and Shi are unable to stomach the effects, and begin retching violently, barely able to hold together their lunches.
Krovax steps to the side to get out of the slippery puddle of gore on the cobbles, and Shi stumbles away towards the side of the street to the east.
The nearby commoners are absolutely terrified, and begin to flee into allies and their stores if possible. Whatever rioting might have occurred will not happen now, at least not here.
The creature looks very angry, and is flailing it's tentacles with some intensity.
Marcus flatly wipes the filth off his face, unamused by the vile attack. "What are we dealing with here?" He asks quickly, waiting for information from his more knowledgable companions before moving in.
"A street destroyer" the young half-orcs voice is seething with rage at the damage this Thing did to the road. It was a nice brick one too. Magda points at the thing and yells "YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE.
GO AWAY."
"Eww!" shrieks Vera as she is covered in garbage. Somehow, she endures the grossness and, as she flees it, calls upon a spray of colors to wash over the thing!
The monstrous creature flails about as Vera is escaping, trying to hit her with one of its spare tentacles, but fails. The creature is then baffled by Vera's spell, seemingly unable to move.
Well, most things will die if you hit them enough. Marcus thinks with a sneer. He draws his blade, stepping around to flank with Krovax and taking a swing!
Kaliyah tries to focus on hitting this creature that no one can identify, but its tentacles flail about in ways that make it unpredictable and her aim is poor.
The creature wiggles around, staring blearily, angrily, and hungrily, wondering who all the strange creatures are that have begun trying to pepper him with arrows.
Shaking off the vile stomach fluids, Krovax and Shi get back into the mix.
Krovax steps over and attacks with this black-bladed longsword.
Shi tumbles forward and tries to stab the thing with her wakizashi.
The creature swings wildly at Shi as she tumbles, but is unable to find purchase because of Magda's hex. Krovax and Shi also both manage to damage the beast.
If it ain't broke, enough swings of a sword will break it.
As the others move closer to fight the beast, Vera moves further down the street, pops out her wand of Magic Missile, and fires!
"Gah! Why does it keep moving like that!" Kaliyah complains, having a hard time landing her arrows on it. She finally gets it where she wants though, focusing her second shot after her first flies a little high.
Magda is still a boiling fury, her magical chant to keep up her hex, sounds vaguely like "die die die die turd beast, die die die die s*!+ eating dunderhead, die die..." etc.
While she does that she tries to stab the bad tentacle thing in the face with her spear.
Swearing in chant while being angry threw off her stabbings though.
The hungry mouth chomps and the tentacles wave menacingly. It looks for a snack, fixating on Krovax, who had injured it the most.
Missing with every attack, the creature grumbles, shouting in a wet and garbled taldan, "I am " It drools uncontrollably, "no garbage for " It tries to step towards the mangled grate from where it emerged.
Krovax steps over and attacks with this black-bladed longsword.
Shi tumbles forward and tries to stab the thing with her wakizashi.
Both Krovax and Shi manage to gouge deep hits on the poor creature.
Die chanting is kept up along with intermingled consoling of a wounded street, while the slum shaman of an orcish person tries to stab the thing back into the sewers. She does raise an eyebrow and mouth "it can talk???" to Kaliyah.