Andreas casts a quick spell, cleaning all of the party up.
"Well, I can certainly copy this notes... Also, appears we have a couple of new pieces of gear. Tomorrow I can memorize mending, and should be able to fix the broken bow and the damaged armor."
”Excellent,” says Vulpina.
And then Stuff Happens that night and she’s not able to put in a request to get her clothing mended.
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Giacomo will assist in the ledger copying work and key creation.
He also memorizes mending the following morning to help with the armor repair and mending Lady Vulpina's fine clothing.
"What do we do now? It is dangerous out there, so I recommend we stick together until things calm down. We are stuck together at least until we can pawn off Lamm's bounty."
"Absolutely, brother. As much as I hate to say it, we need them. And at least they have the same fallen enemy as we do. They can be of use."
While copying the ledger, Andreas keeps an eye out for anything that could point the team at who Lamm reported to.
"Lamm had to have reported to someone else... he was too much of a worm to be a mastermind. There are probably more operations like his around, and even if there aren't there will be dozen more like him ready to step into his wake."
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With many questions, and no answers amongst this group, the decision of fencing and pawning the treasures gained from Gaedren Lamm and his crew is perhaps the only option the party can come up with. The streets are dangerous at these times with the rioting and violence against the throne. If there are any final precautions the group wishes to make before setting out, now is the time to determine them.
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The party begins to head out in search of merchants still open during these riots. With the chaos going on, food may be in scarce supply. The streets of this section, the Shingles, is still somewhat active with the violence. Guards are attempting to quell violence through out the sector, so their presence is much lighter in some areas.
Along the path that would lead to one of the still active merchants, the group comes across a hippogriff that is in a saddle, with a corpse for a rider hanging from its reins. It seems to be scrounging through random boxes. The creature looks up at you all and starts snorting and stamping its feet, flapping its wings in a display of territorial aggression.
Light Condition: Normal
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: None
Hippogriff(-0,Fine)
Kipp, Devotee to Azathoth(-0,Fine)
Lady Vulpina Korada(-0,Fine)
Giacomo Isidore(-0,Fine)
Andreas Isidore(-0,Fine)
The Hippogriff takes off from the ground and flies up to the Kitsune, snapping its beak at the Occultist.
Kipp raises his shield in time to prevent the blow from landing!
As the group makes their way through the streets, her interest is piqued when she spots what looks like a wide iron pipe sticking up through a window.
"We are far from Alkenstar, but..." she mumbles, stepping gingerly through some rubble as she leans closer.
A man, stabbed to death in the riots, lays clutching an old, battered musket.
"It would appear he was a poor shot. Whoever killed him had no idea of this rifle's worth!"
She pulls the musket from his hands, giving it a check-over. It's in poor shape, but it'll fire.
"This will do."
-------------------------
As they come upon the hippogriff, Vulpina's eyebrows shoot up.
"We'll want to be cautious; don't mind it and it won't mind-- oh, it's attacking. Disregard!!"
She draws her pistol and fires, too quickly.
"I ought to have aimed first," she ponders.
The eagle appears above the hippogriff and attacks all out at its face.
Andreas rolls his eyes with the party’s reactions.
Hoping Kip will do better when he is paying better attention, he starts casting enlarge person.
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Light Condition: Normal
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: None
Hippogriff(-4,Fine)
Kipp, Devotee to Azathoth(-0,Fine)
Lady Vulpina Korada(-0,Fine)
Giacomo Isidore(-0,Fine)
Andreas Isidore(-0,Fine)
The hippogriff strikes back at the hawk first, then returns its attention to Kipp.
While the beast's bite fails to land, the claws swipe both the summon and the occultist.
Andreas’s spell finishes, causing Kip to once again grow to a large size.
He then touches Kip, augmenting his strength (+2)
The summon hovers and attacks again.
Vulpina's quick footsteps carry her behind Kip's giant leg, and she swirls out from behind, lashing out with her blade before quick-stepping into place beside him!
"I would say we could simply distract it-- but if it is willing to attack us, I am certain it would do the same to others. ...Which would be bad."
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The group's coordinated attacks are more than enough, and the hippogriff collapses under the inflicted wounds. The rider on the back appears to be with only bits of damaged armor, most of his gear gone.
Now that there is no more opposition in their path, the adventurers have two places to proceed to.
Korvosa’s largest marketplace serves as the main attraction in Midland. All manner of foods and handicraft from Korvosa’s holdings and the rest of Varisia appear in the Gold Market.
Fourteen shops form the semicircular face of Eodred’s Walk, offering a variety of goods and services, including books and maps, harrow readings, tack and barding, jewelry, minor magical trinkets, haberdashery, fishing supplies, bait, haircuts and grooming, knives, smoked foods, clocks and clockwork trinkets, trapping and hunting supplies, and watered-down alcohol.
"That does seem likely," Vulpina muses. "Enclosed buildings are less likely to contain pickpockets than open air with plenty of escape routes and crowds to disappear into."
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The shops and stalls of Eodred's Walk are light, but still filled with enough activity to keep the merchants out. With trade goods, treasures, trinkets, and all kinds of artisans of trade looking to make their next deal. It takes no time at all to find a vendor who is willing to deal in treasured items and gold. A ratfolk with a monocle and powdered wig who runs a small pawn shop, The Packrat, has plenty of unique looking jewels and gems. He is dressed like a disposed noble with his tattered fancy clothing. "Call me Sir Thames, and I will be happy to inspect your valuables!"
After inspecting the brooch with a magnifying glass, Sir Thames clicks his tongue against the top of his mouth in excitement. "This brooch belongs to her royal highness, Queen Ileosa." He reaches under the counter and digs around, before popping back up with a flier that looks like an artist's rendition of the brooch. "This has been registered as stolen property, so don't expect anyone to want to buy it."
The flier shows that the brooch has a reward bounty of 1,200gp to whoever can bring it to the Guards at Castle Korvosa.
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Giacomo, armed with a strong set of appraisal skill in the party , Will attempt to negotiate with Sir Thames.
"The chaos in this city is going to make restocking pretty difficult going forward. Perhaps a trade in goods makes more sense than parting with your hard earned gold? Much of this equipment will be sought after in these turbulent times - easy to sell at premium prices."
”Sounds like a good bounty that we can claim. ”
”Perhaps we can get more out of store credit or something like that?”
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As you are attempting to negotiate with the shopkeeper a flustered looking human woman comes rushing into the shop. In her flustered state she seems to not notice any of you and just begins talking.
"I don't know what happened out there but somehow in all this chaos and violence it looks like some of the little lambs have decided to get themselves free, I saw them heading to the temple of Desna."
She pauses a moment to catch her breath and then almost hisses her next words from the frustration and anger behind them.
I've had no luck finding his whereabouts but maybe if we're really lucky Lamm will get himself caught in this and that blight will be removed from the world."
"He has been found dead," adds Vulpina. "By me, when I shot him in the face."
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The stranger gives a startled yelp and looks embarrassed as she realizes the are others in the shop.
"He's dead, he's actually finally dead?"
She starts to breakdown and then spins on the party.
"No he's like a bug, he can't be killed. You must be some of his people, trying to trick those of us with reason to loathe him to give up on looking for him."
She leans on the nearest wall looking shocked, confused and scared.
But Sir Thames would never be dealing with them if they were Lamm's people. Could he really finally be gone?
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"He was living in some abandoned building, you can go and check the body... oh wait, he went swimming with the big fish. Oh. His gator got hammered so... no wait we had gator meat the other night. Did you get a card? If so we can take you to the ghost lady and she'll tell you." Kip says this absurd statement completely nonchalantly his smile only fading momentarily as when he remembers something that they did to remove actual evidence, only for it to come right back.
”Do not worry about his survival. There were enough of us with reasons to hate him and wish him dead that it was inevitable. We also took care of his nasty halfling friend, as well as his butcher, Giggles.
“Who are you, ma’am?”
”Bragging about it is no way to stay on the down low, but now it is out there.”
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The woman looks confused at the Kitsune's rambling words. She still seems wary of the group but does relax a little with all 4 strangers telling her that Lamm is truly gone.
"He's done so many evil things and hurt so many people, it's hard to believe he's actually gone. Tell me how did this group manage to do what so many have wished to do & failed?"
Do I give them my name? Lamm had so many enemies for many different reasons, how do I know I can trust them?
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Sir Thames welcomes Alexandra into the store. "Well, its likely these folks are speaking truth. They have all kinds of treasures that couldn't show up from just ANYWHERE. Lamm had a pretty significant stash of stolen goods from his life time collection I imagine. Probably how these folks ended up with the Queen's Brooch."
He wipes his forhead quick. "Oh, but excuse me, where are my manners? Folks, this is Sylvan Alexandra Loiselle, an associate of mine and was a victim of Gaedren Lamm's activities. She has been an associate of mine for the past six and two years." He waves her in. "Alex, allow me to introduce you to these fine folk, the Brothers Isidore, Giacomo and Andreas, as well as the Lady Vulpina Korada and the ever-plucky Kipp."
He returns to Giacomo's proposition, hands now being placed over on his coat somewhat across his chest. "All things considered, you do have a considerable amount of treasures that are just going to go to waste if sitting in your bags, so I think we can come to an arrangement. We'll say seventy?"
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She nods at each person as they are introduced. Once the transactions are complete she addresses Giacomo.
"Actually the spirit of a dead woman leading you to him doesn't sound all that strange, given how good he was at avoiding the standard methods of finding him it doesn't shock me that it took outer worldly influence to take care of him."
She turns to leave the store and then stops, hesitating as if she's just realized she doesn't know where to go or what to do now.
Well I don't need to go look for Lamm anymore and I doubt Sir Thames has much need of my assistance right now. I suppose I could go see if they need help healing the injured from this chaos but I do wonder what this group is up to, they don't seem to have a healer with them.
She turns back towards the party "As Sir Thames said my name is Sylvan Alexandra Loiselle but most folks call me Alex. If I may inquire as to what you are planning on doing next? I don't think travelling in small groups or alone would be overly safe out there right now and I couldn't help but notice you don't appear to have anyone trained in the healing arts amongst your number"
”Healing, sure, Seren was taking care of that. Wait a minute, where did she go? She mumbled something about some kid named Gorvy and getting him safe. So, we probably don’t have too much healing.
“Though, I have heard of a spell that we wizards could use. ”
He turns to Sir Thames, ”A couple of those wands might be interesting. What about scrolls? Right now, as you can tell, we are just starting out, having thrown off the shackles that bound us all.
“With Lamm out of the way, I suppose we should look for some work...” he shudders... ”or maybe some bounties for adventurers... we seemed to work reasonably well together. ”
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Sir Thames considers for a moment. "Hmmmm bounties... I am afraid I am lacking in that. Though you already have a bounty you can go claim with the brooch." He says, passing it back to you all.
He then reaches behind the counter once more. "As for scrolls, I do have a few, but bear in mind that this is a pawn shop and not the university. What I have is what people either found or couldn't afford to keep as pawn." He comes back out with a box of random scrolls. Some of the spells more common than others, and some are relatively unheard of. The highest of them reaching up to 4th tier magic.
W 1
W 2
C 2
W 3
C 3
W 4
[dice]
Vulpina is quiet for a few moments, then muses.
"I was rather hoping that I might use this to reclaim my titled status," she says, looking over the brooch before pocketing it. "But I am not certain now is the most appropriate time to press my claim. Or perhaps it is the most appropriate time?"
She chuckles a bit, as if it is not terribly important to her. "But yes, Seren saw the embers of chaos stoked to a roaring flame and decided that her brother would be easier to protect elsewhere. I believe she mentioned something about Absalom, but I am not certain."
She shrugs. "Regardless, it is a pleasure to have you with us, Miss Alex, for however long you throw your lot in with ours. We are a poorly-organized group of cohorts, of course, but so far I've no reason to dislike it."
She clears her throat and turns to Thames. "I've a few things I could use, actually..."
"And if you would not mind giving me a preferred rate on our trade, I would be happy to make you my preferred vendor once I have reclaimed my status."
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"I was rather hoping that I might use this to reclaim my titled status," she says, looking over the brooch before pocketing it. "But I am not certain now is the most appropriate time to press my claim. Or perhaps it is the most appropriate time?"
"Reclaiming status with a piece of stolen jewelry might get you acknowledged and status, but more as a queen of thieves rather than a noble." Sir Thames jokes. After a short chuckle he continues, "If your looking for a more underground kind of network, consider my cousin Timothy. Don't ask me how to find him, he will find you."
"I will not pretend I do not have a bias in my preference," chortles Lady Vulpina, who does not seem to be listening to Sir Thames's half-joking warning.
”True, true. And the new queen may have more work for a trusted team. Or even an untrusted one. ”
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Kip, having been grabbing random objects and testing his object reading, puts in his 2 copper "Why not just hint at what you want when we return it for the reward? Most people like it more when they don't think you have ulterior motives, right? Perhaps mention that the reward will help you get closer to that goal. If your trying to get there yourself then perhaps they may put you in a higher regard. And then we all get paid on top of it."