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Berta stops the party outside the gates of Citadel Volshyenek, regarding the others solemnly. "I must return to Thousand Bones. We have much to do to prepare..." She swallows hard. "To prepare. Thank you for your help. Please thank Commander Kroft as well. Perhaps one day we shall see each other again."
She shakes Andakos and Caladaer's hands, and gives Golloriel a fierce hug. With a last look behind her, she sets off down the road to return to her people.
Within seconds of Berta walking off, one of the guards rushes up to Andakos. Andakos recognizes him, though his name escapes him. They've chatted in the mess hall once or twice. "Andakos! There you are! Oh, hey newbies." He waves absently to Golloriel and Caladaer. "I know you gotta report to Kroft eventually but you're gonna wanna hear this. They're executing her! The one who murdered King Eodred! Her execution is in an hour at the southern courtyard at Castle Korvosa. Kroft wants you there. She said to keep an eye out for trouble, but that was about it, no other orders. She said this whole thing is hinky and wants you to see what there is to see."
He puts his hands on his hips and puffs out a breath. "Can you believe it? Seems weird they'd execute her two days after arresting her. No trial or anything." He shakes his head. "I see why the commander is in a tizzy about it. I don't like it either, but what can you do, you know?" He claps Andakos on the back. "I gotta get back to my duties. Let me know how it goes."
Andakos opens his mouth to implore Berta to stay, but something about the look on her face tells him he should let her go. "Thank you, Berta. It was an honor fighting beside you. I hope you and your people are able to find peace."
In response to the guard's news, his shoulders slump. To get so close to his bunk, only to be turned away on some other sure-to-be exhausting task, is a bitter cruelty.
Even so, it is his duty. He quickly corrects his posture, waves Golloriel and Caladaer along, and starts heading to Castle Korvosa.
Golloriel follows without hesitation. She only knows about the accused third-hand through what Andakos has told her, but something in her gut knows something is off here, especially with how quickly the execution is happening. They need to stop it before an innocent girl dies and the real killer gets away with it. At the very least, even if she is guilty, they need to ensure that she is given a trial.
She grabs her father's robed arm and pulls him along, gritting her teeth at the feel of the necromancer's robe he is wearing. Will have to talk to him about this later...
Caladaer allows himself to be led along by Golloriel, but not without violently rolling his eyes.
You almost miss the event because the crowds filling the streets to reach the courtyard at Castle Korvosa are impossibly thick. It takes nearly the full hour to both reach the castle grounds and push far enough into the massively thick crowd to see what's happening.
Many of the people present are dressed for an event far more gay than an execution. People seem to be treating it like a celebration, wearing festive gowns and tunics--even ballroom masks, of all things. It feels wildly inappropriate. Noble and commoner alike stand chattering excitedly in anticipation. Up ahead, a tall gallows has been hastily constructed. A large hooded man, carrying a grim-looking greataxe, stands in silent sentinel over the chopping block set up in the center of the platform. Dozens of royal guards stand around the courtyard to discourage any trouble.
The crowd erupts suddenly into claps and cheers as a figure steps out from the castle, clad in a supremely regal emerald dress, the fang-like crown of Korvosa glimmering in the afternoon light. She is trailed by trumpeting heralds, and a woman in resplendent plate mail, with a large crimson plume jutting from the top like a horsebrush of flame, follows close behind her, heavy shield in one hand and the other resting on a finely-crafted longsword pommel.
Ileosa takes a seat in a throne-like chair on one end of the courtyard, in a strong vantage point to see the platform on the other end of the courtyard. The crowd immediately begins gossiping among themselves.
"Can you believe what the queen is wearing? That dress must cost as much as the Bank of Abadar!"
"Who's that armored figure with her? So majestic!"
"I wonder how the assassin will comport herself? Probably wail and grovel. She's from the Shingles I hear, so you can't expect her to have any dignity of course."
"I heard the Hellknights brought her in after taking her away from some corrupt guards. Honestly! What is this city coming to??"
Doubtless those words set Andakos in a murderous mood, but before he can react, an ominous drum beating begins and the gawkers fall silent. The drum sets the pace for Trinia's procession to the executioner's block. She is heavily chained and hooded, and led by a quartet of armed royal guards. As they reach the block, a guard removes Trinia's shackles and hood.
She looks battered and miserable; her blonde hair is filthy and disheveled, and her face is swollen and bruised. Angry red lines can be seen on the back of her neck running up from her back; you can't be sure, but you think they look like welts from a cat-o-nine tails. She isn't crying or groveling; she's simply staring at the ground in front of her with the look of a vibrant spirit broken.
Trinia is led up to stand before the chopping block, her arms bound behind her back by a leather cord. On the other side of the courtyard, Queen Ileosa addresses the crowd.
"Fellow Korvosans! You have suffered greatly these past few weeks. Homes have burned, family members have died, and fortunes have been lost. I feel your suffering, for not only have I lost a beloved husband, but with each act of anarchy that followed, my heart bled more. This has been a trying time for us, yet the torment is at an end. Before you is the source of your anguish and pain. Do not be deceived by this murderer's timid nature--she is a black-hearted assassin. I offer you her death as a salve against the hatred and hurt you have suffered.
"And so, without further delay, let us usher in this new dawn with justice! OFF WITH HER HEAD!"
The burly executioner grabs the leather cord binding Trinia's hands and shoves her unceremoniously toward the chopping block.
While you don't exactly feel like the Queen is telling the people everything, you don't get any sense of malicious withholding. The only malice you hear in her voice is when she calls for the girl's execution, which considering Trinia stands convicted of murdering Ileosa's husband, is certainly understandable, regardless of whether it is ultimately misplaced.
Andakos turns to Golloriel and Caladaer, eyes wide. "Follow my lead! Work the crowd!" Then he pushes his way through the throng, trying to put just a little bit of distance between himself and the others. After a few moments, he shouts at the top of his lungs.
Ugh, this is going to get me killed.
Golloriel hears Andakos's plea and immediately starts talking to the people around her, saying things like "He is right!" and "This isn't fair!" and "What is the evidence against her?" and "Are we not civilized?", trying desperately to turn the opinion of the masses.
She catches Caladaer's eye and gives him a if you love me, help me! look.
Cal rolls his eyes and sighs. Putting as much enthusiasm behind his voice as he can muster, he joins her.
"We demand a fair trial!"
"Make Korvosa Great Again!"
Andakos moves forward and actually manages to get within fifty feet or so of the chopping block. He would probably have had better luck getting people's attention if there weren't over a thousand people crammed into this courtyard, all hollering and cheering. The noise drowns out even Andakos' bellowing voice for the most part, though several nearby people glance at him quizzically or with furrowed brows.
Cal and Lori's voices are entirely lost in the tumult.
While his attempt to get everyone's attention failed pretty hard, the tiefling does manage to garner the attention of two royal guards not far away, who begin shoving their way through the crowd toward him, saps in hand.
At about that moment, a few people gawk and point at the huge stone wall surrounding Castle Korvosa. Golloriel is too busy imploring those nearby to think twice about this miscarriage of justice, but Andakos and Caladaer both see the pointing fingers and turn to look at the wall. There, crouched down and ready to pounce, a dark figure can be seen silhouetted in the mid-afternoon sun. His armor is of a dark, dull brown, and his cloak and face mask are both pitch-black. A magnificent rapier gleams on his belt. Voices immediately stir.
"Is that...?"
"Ye gods, it's Blackjack!"
"B%%###+!! He's not been in Korvosa for twenty years!"
"Look at the mask! The rapier! It is Blackjack!"
The guards seem oblivious.
The crowds quickly quiet down. Up on the platform, the executioner pushes Trinia roughly down onto the chopping block. A guard stands near her, resting his foot on her back to keep her from moving. While a handful of people are gasping and ogling the figure on the wall, the rest of the thousand people stare in relative silence as the massive axe of the executioner rises in the air. Andakos sees an opportunity to cry out again, maybe garner attention to himself and halt the executioner, but before he can, the figure leaps.
He lands with a solid mule kick in the executioner's back, causing the big man to fall on his face. The guard holding Trinia down rushes forward, madly trying to yank his longsword out of its sheath, but the figure darts up and socks him so hard in the mouth that the guard collapses. He grabs young Trinia by the arm and pulls her to her feet. The crowd is now in an uproar of confusion and panic. Guards try to push their way through the crowd to reach the platform, but the crowds are too dense and they're making little headway. Now the man in the mask addresses the gathered throng:
The crowd practically explodes with noise and action. Many panic, calling for the guards. Others cheer as the age-old icon of Korvosan liberty stands before them. Most are simply confused. The ruckus makes it even harder for the royal guards to reach the platform and confront the intruder.
The man in the mask--could it really be Blackjack?--draws a dagger and cuts the leather cords around Trinia's wrists. The girl looks stunned but nods her thanks to him.
From behind Blackjack, the executioner has regained his feet and taken up his axe once more. He creeps up behind Blackjack and raises the weapon to strike. Surely he'll turn around...?
Andakos curses under his breath and pulls out his sling. He loads a bullet and fires it at the executioner, then moves as close to the action as he can get through the crowd.
Golloriel flicks her wrist and catches the wand of spiritual weapon. She waves it in the direction of the executioner, and a shimmering scimitar appears behind him and attacks.
Then she tries to make her way forward.
Cal is pretty sure they're all about to die and briefly considers fleeing in the chaos. With a sigh, he decides he can't leave his daughter to die, fires an acid dart at the executioner, and pushes his way through the crowd.
"Go," he says, and Thúlae launches off his shoulder.
Thúlae flies into the executioner's face and rakes a talon across it.
Cal and Thulae have no luck but the bad kind. Thankfully the executioner isn't wearing any armor, so Thul simply misses. Golloriel is her father's daughter, and her spiritual weapon whiffs.
Andakos, on the other hand, is man of the hour. His sling bullet strikes true, smashing against the executioner's face. He stumbles back and cries out, which is enough to make Blackjack turn around. Quick as a blink, his rapier is in his hand, and he smashes the pommel against the executioner's hooded face. The combined strikes make the big man crumple. Blackjack turns to find the source of the sling bullet, and upon seeing Andakos, whips up his rapier in a salute of thanks.
The vigilante then ushers Trinia off the platform, only to be met by two royal guards, who he immediately begins to engage in a dazzling display of swordplay. Two more guards--the ones originally closing on Andakos--drop their saps and pull out their longswords, roughly shoving past the panicking crowd to approach Blackjack and Trinia.
Andakos draws his spear and pushes his way through the crowd toward the two guards. Once within ten feet, he picks a commoner that is directly in the guards' path, places the butt of his spear at the commoner's ankles, and swipes.
Thúlae flies back to Caladaer's shoulder.
Golloriel moves the spiritual scimitar into the approaching guards' path and aims the pommel at one of their heads.
Then she moves as far as she can in the direction of Blackjack and Trinia.
Caladaer concentrates for a moment and creates a ghost sound that would appear to have come from the direction of the queen to the two guards fighting Blackjack. To them, it sounded like Ileosa ordered them to "Guards, drop your weapons!"
Then he moves closer to Blackjack.
A funny thing happens as the guards enclose Blackjack and Trinia on all sides. The broken, nihilistic acceptance had already vanished from the girl's face in place of fear and confusion, but she sees Andakos now, and she clearly recognizes him as one of her captors. First was terror, then confusion as the daemon-skinned tormentor turned on her would-be executioners--and now, a look of determination and a mischievous glint in her eye. Blackjack shoves the dagger into her hands that he used to cut her bindings, and she ducks a longsword from a guard. The whole party even twenty, thirty feet away can hear her words as she addresses her attackers.
"You call that a swing? I've seen better cuts from a butcher with palsy!"
The guard blinks in confusion, and she uses the opening to dive in with the dagger and slash viciously. But instead of tearing open the guard's belly, she cuts his belt buckle clean off, causing his trousers to drop around his ankles and trip him up. He drops his blade and his arms pinwheel melodramatically as he topples to the ground. More than one on-looker can't help but laugh, either at the wildly inappropriate joke or the guard's bumbling antics.
Something about Trinia's recovery from that broken thing on the chopping block to the fiery-eyed girl--and, gods, she is just a girl; she can't be older than seventeen--that stands against her captors with such defiance that she can make ridiculous jokes... something about her inspires the party, bolstering their resolve.
Andakos goes to trip someone up in front of the oncoming guards, but he misjudges the distance and fails to get the haft in-between anybody's legs. Thulae returns to his master as Golloriel's weapon attempts to harry one of the guards. To her surprise, even though it was kind of a tricky attack, the scimitar hilt bashes the guard in the face. He doesn't quite go unconscious, but he stands holding his broken nose and wobbling in place. He definitely has a concussion.
The other guard looks around in surprise as a voice bellows, "Guards! Drop your weapons!" The first guard, who got smacked in the face by a ghost sword, does so without really thinking about it; probably due to the aforementioned concussion. The first guard doesn't seem fazed by it, but he does look around for the source and spots Caladaer as he finishes his somatic components. He looks from Blackjack and Trinia, to his idiot coworker, and back to Caladaer, then apparently decides a wizard is easier pickings than the clearly superior swordsman and the rude assassin who murders clothing.
Andakos groans in frustration at his bungle, but then sees a guard heading for Caladaer, and that just won't do. He follows the guard through the crowd and attempts to smack him in the brain stem with the butt of his spear.
Golloriel takes advantage of the woozy, unarmed guard, and tries to knock him out for good with the spiritual scimitar.
Then she moves 15' closer to Blackjack.
Caladaer moves with Golloriel, attempting to keep her between him and the guard who is after him. Then he fires an acid dart at one of the guards fighting Blackjack.
Andakos pushes through to the other guard going toward Blackjack and smashes him in the back of the head; he immediately folds like a card table to the ground.
Golloriel's weapon keeps trying to knock the wobbly guy out but can't quite connect. The guard finally recovers from the first blow and picks up his longsword with a confused look, then sees the ghostly scimitar and the demon-man right up in his business and screams, rushing Andakos. Unfortunately, with the crowd in the way, he can't simply step up and attack.
Caladaer has better... luck...?
He fires an acid dart that strikes a royal guard in the face. If the people were panicked before, they are now basically a stampede as they run from the screaming man with the bubbling, melting face . The guard drops to the ground, twitching and convulsing as he begins dying of shock.
For one horrid, unbearable moment, the strange strands of the Aether twist in such a way that the guard's mind opens up for Caladaer. In better circumstances, he thinks he could probably give the man a single, simple command and he would follow it.
Instead, Cal's mind is overwhelmed with the screams of a man dying in agony.
The guards turn, their faces stricken from the sight of their coworker's ghastly state, to look at the wizard with both fear and hate. Blackjack takes advantage to strike another one with the pommel of his rapier while he's distracted, and the guard goes down. With the original dangers either unconscious or twisted up in his pants, Blackjack grabs Trinia's hand and starts leading her toward the wall.
Before he can take more than a step, however, Trinia hesitates. She kneels down, touches the guard with her splayed fingers, and mutters something. Immediately the guard stops twitching, and some of the acid damage heals. He's breathing steadily but not getting up.
With that, Blackjack takes a rope and grappling hook off his belt and throws it up the wall. It latches onto the sharp, stony spikes and the two begin climbing.
It's not over yet, however. A guard has fed a potion to the executioner, who gets up and grabs his axe, moving toward the party from the platform.
That's.... a really big axe.
You're pretty sure that, assuming they make their climb checks (DC 10 with a rope) the two will be over the wall before the executioner can get to them. You, on the other hand, he can get to. You can either stay and defend the rope to make sure they get away safely, or trust their skill (they both look like they're trained in climbing) and get the hells out of there before another "incident" occurs.
Andakos turns and catches the others' eyes, points back in the direction they came from, and mouths "GO!"
Not knowing if they saw him or understood, he hopes they'll at least follow his example as he starts moving as quickly as he can out of the courtyard.
Golloriel, shocked at what her father just did to that guard but relieved to see that he isn't going to die, starts following Andakos out of the courtyard.
She is 100% positive that her bum leg is going to get her caught.
Cal watches as Golloriel starts to leave. Knowing he can move twice as fast as she can, he waits until she has put a little distance between herself and him, then flicks his wrist and catches the wand of ghoul touch. He turns and touches a commoner behind him with it.
He then turns and follows Golloriel.
Cal has possibly the strangest luck of any man on Golarion today. He feels the strands of the Aether twist and twitch unexpectedly, causing the necromantic magic to burst out. Everyone around him starts to go rigid and exude a hideous stench--including Caladaer.
Cal shakes off the effects and runs.
The pile of paralyzed people reeking of rot causes the area to become a miasma of running, panicked people vomiting everywhere, making yet another barrier for the executioner and chasing guards.
Somehow you all manage to flee to safety.
SCENE OVER!
You don't stop running until you reach the gates of Citadel Volshyenek. You turn to look behind you several times, but you don't see anyone following you. At one point, once you're outside the courtyard walls, you're fairly certain you glimpse two figures disappearing over the wall and into the shadows of an alleyway.
Now you're back at the citadel, and fairly certain you have evaded any pursuit.
Andakos stands with the others just outside the Citadel, catching his breath. "How did we get out of there? I thought we were done for."
Golloriel's leg is absolutely screaming in pain. She can barely stand, but she tries to keep the discomfort off of her face (unsuccessfully). Through a grimace, she asks, "Did we do the right thing, Andakos? We just defied the Queen. We got away but there were hundreds of witnesses. How hard is it going to be for the queensguard to find a tiefling, an elven wizard, and a half-elven cripple?" She turns to Caladaer. "And you! The only reason that guard isn't dead is because the prisoner saved his life!"
Caladaer is unimpressed. "First of all, no one said we weren't killing. Second... I'll admit the spell got away from me. I didn't mean to hit him that hard. Third, without me, there is no way we would have gotten away, so a little appreciation would be nice." He stares at his daughter, hard.
Andakos cuts Golloriel off before she can respond. "STOP. You are both right, and this is no time to turn on each other. We need to go tell Kroft exactly what happened, and we may need to be ready to flee." He starts to head into the Citadel, then stops. "I don't expect you two to come with me. I will take responsibility. You have been here less than two days; no need for you to get caught up in my city's problems. If you run now, you can probably get away. But if you come inside with me, you're with me. Decide now."
Golloriel steps in Andakos's direction without hesitation. "We..." -- she looks at Cal, then drops her eyes -- "... I am every bit at fault as you. I am in this and I won't abandon you." She turns back to her father again, and when she speaks, her voice is different, almost childlike. "Dad?"
Caladaer says nothing. His gaze moves between Andakos, his daughter, and the Citadel. His silence extends uncomfortably long.
Thúlae leans down and nips off a chunk of Caladaer's ear.
"Ow! F!@$!" His hand flies to his injured ear, then swats at Thúlae, who easily dodges. As the hawk lands back on his shoulder, Cal gives him an exasperated look, then sighs. "Fine. The bird is right. Let's go."
Andakos nods, then leads the others to Kroft.
As you head into the Citadel, it is abuzz with activity. People run back and forth, taking reports to superiors, hurrying out into the streets to go help the royal guards restore order in the courtyard, and generally help quell the inevitable spike in chaos after the botched execution. No one stops or tries to arrest the party--or even looks at them--but that's not surprising. Details of the incident probably haven't reached Volshyenek yet.
You enter into the office of Commander Cressida Kroft, who leans against her desk barking orders to three lieutenants. As they salute and turn to leave, they pause in mild surprise at the group's entrance, nod, and hurry out.
Kroft collapses with a tired sigh into her chair. "First off, there's a package for you in the barracks, in case no one told you. Second off, what in the Nine Hells going on? All I have heard from the runners is that Sabor escaped with a figure out of the city's myth. What actually happened?"
Andakos steps forward and explains what happened, emphasizing that when things got out of hand, he acted on instinct, and instinct that told him that this execution was a cover-up for the truth. He also makes sure to point out that no one was killed... though he isn't sure that is going to matter to Kroft.
To finish up, he says, "If there is wrongdoing here, it is my own. These two were only following my lead."
Kroft is silent as Andakos speaks, leaning on her elbows with her hands folded in front of her mouth, eyes never leaving the investigator during his report. He has to hand it to her: she's damn good at her job. She gives absolutely no indication of an emotional reaction the whole time.
When he finishes, she says quietly, "I commend your sense of personal responsibility, Andakos. I'm in something of a sticky wicket here. Officially, you have committed treason and I should arrest you. Unofficially..." She sighs and puts out her hands, as if to say, what can you do?
"Unofficially, I think you're right. The whole thing stunk. There was no trial, and from your insights, it sounds like she was tortured. It reeks of a cover-up. But we have no proof, so technically you committed treason."
She puts a hand to her mouth and her brow furrows in thought. Finally she says, "I'm going to ask you to stay in the barracks for the moment, all three of you, while the Korvosan Guard investigate what happened at the courtyard. If there is enough evidence to prosecute, I'm going to have no choice but to arrest the three of you. I will send for you as soon as my men report back from the courtyard. Dismissed."
She manages to keep the neutral mask up as she speaks, but Andakos has worked with her long enough to know she hates having to make the decision. Despite their recent squabble, she clearly respects him.
Andakos nods. This was about the best he could have expected; Kroft would never have defied the queen in an official capacity without sufficient evidence. The fact that they aren't immediately arrested speaks to her sense of duty and justice.
"Thank you, Field Marshall." He gives a salute and leaves the room, nodding for the others to follow.
On the way to the barracks, he remembers that Kroft said a package was waiting for him. That's curious...
Golloriel's heart leaps into her throat at Kroft's utterance of the word 'treason'. Somehow she hadn't considered the full consequences of their actions... could this affect her pursuit of paladinhood?!
Of course it could! Of course it does, you daft girl!
Shaking her father's voice out of her head, she mimics Andakos's salute and follows him to the barracks, mind racing.
Caladaer remains stoic throughout the meeting with Kroft. He does not speak or salute when they leave her office.
As they follow the corridors to the barracks, he fingers the lid of the jar containing the dust of disappearance. All it would take is one quick action on his part and he could be free of all of this. Once he is arrested, his things will be taken and his opportunity will have passed. He has no doubt this Queen will see them executed for what they have done, and what will Kroft be able to do to stop her? No, Kroft will fall in line to save her own neck.
His finger traces the edge of the cork once, twice, but he doesn't move to open the jar.
What is staying his hand? His daughter? She is already gone, following Anda... the tiefling around like a lost puppy. She has decided that what is "right" and "just" are worth dying for. But words like those -- words whose meanings are subjective -- are useless. Everyone is the hero of their own story. The Queen certainly thinks what she is doing, whatever it is, is "right".
So, again, why isn't he already out the gates and on his way to the next town to peddle his wares?
He doesn't know, but he replaces the wand of ghoul touch in his wrist sheath with the dust of tracelessness all the same.
When the trio arrive in the barracks, there is indeed a package on Andakos' bunk, with a note attached:
Hey tiefling,
Thanks for saving my bacon from the scary necromancer guy. A less generous soul would mope around wondering why the gods picked her to be their whipping post, but I can't help but wonder if you weren't sent by them to give me a second chance. I dunno if that's true or not, but I'm leaving Korvosa for my family home in Magnimar to think it over.
You saved my ass; maybe someday this will save yours. Don't ask where it came from--I said I was turning over a new leaf, but that doesn't mean I just tossed out all the stuff that uh... fell off a merchant wagon. Take it and stay alive. All of you.
-- Tati Tiora
P.S.: That's my real name. Don't, uh... don't spread it around please. There may or may not be a few Korvosan Guards interested in Tiora's whereabouts.
The package is a long, cylindrical bundle. Inside is a willow-branch wand. Golloriel senses magic on it.
It is a wand of cure moderate wounds with 18 charges.
***
Over an hour passes before one of the guards--Ag, in fact--calls for you. She glances at the longspear. "It treats you well, I hope?" She jerks her head toward the hall. "Commander Kroft wishes to speak to you."
She leads you back to Kroft's office and takes her leave. "Come in, please," the commander calls from inside.
When you enter, you note a distinct lack of additional guards or shackles of any kind. Kroft sits behind her desk, fingers steepled. She doesn't speak for a long, pregnant moment. Finally, she says, "I received the reports from the courtyard. Four unidentified individuals plotted the escape of the accused prisoner, Trinia Sabor, from her execution. The suspects were listed as "an elf, a human, a demon, and Blackjack." She snorts. "That reads more like the start of a bad joke than evidence of wrongdoing. They were unable to give proper descriptions of their attackers, so I don't really have anything to stick to you. Tragic, really," she adds with a small smirk directed at Andakos.
The smirk quickly vanishes, however, and her face darkens. "Unfortunately, I can't keep you employed here any more. There's too much heat on you three. Not enough that you need to worry about the Royal Guard coming after you--apparently none of them remember exactly what you look like. It may sound unlikely, but adrenaline has a funny way of making your memory of intense events fuzzy. You lose details like the color of clothing, height, whether an attacker was left or right-handed."
While it seems outrageous that a tall red-skinned man would be hard to identify, Korvosa is almost as infamous for devil-blooded childer as her Chelaxian forebear. Tieflings are fairly uncommon anywhere, but they are slightly less so in Korvosa than they might be in other Varisian cities like Kaer Maga or Magnimar. In fact, Andakos works with two other tieflings in the Academae Guard (both devil-blooded).
She shrugs. "You're safe, so long as you give the castle a wide berth for awhile. But I do have to let you go. I can't risk it. I'm already staring down the complete dismantling of the Sable Company, and there are rumors of more... extensive, restructuring of the city's military apparatus." She looks stricken. "I'm sorry. Especially to you, Andakos, after everything you've done for the Guard."
She scrawls out three pieces of paper, rolls them up, and seals them with a wax seal before handing one to each of them. "Your severance package. Take this to the Master of Coin downstairs. You deserve more, and I'd give it if I could. But I'm only able to give this to you because I'm letting you go. I fear for the future of the city, so I hope you'll all continue to keep her in mind and protect her people. I have a sinking feeling she's going to need you." She offers her hand to each of the party in turn.
Cal takes the wand from Andakos and studies it, then hands it to Golloriel. "That is a more powerful healing wand than you already have."
Andakos takes his paper from Kroft, then shakes her hand. "Thank you, Commander. For everything." He turns to go, then hesitates, and turns back. "Something is going on. I know you know it, Commander; it was your suspicions that rubbed off on me in the first place. I don't know what it is and I don't think you do either, but the Queen is involved somehow." He thinks for a minute. "I will lay low for a while, but I'm not going to stop looking into this. If you need me for anything... unofficial... you can get a message to me through my parents' estate."
With that, he salutes, turns, and leaves.