with no visible traps on the door, you move the bar and step inside the room. Once inside, you need a moment for your eyes to adjust to the lack of light in this room. Eventually, you see two humanoid shape chained to the far wall. Their heads are covered with a hood and their arms and legs are attached with a very complicated restrain. Who ever set this up must have been afraid that those two would find a way to escape. In one corner of the room, you see a large chest. The lid seemed to have been nailed shut.
"More prisoners—you were right," says Alika.
Garran says, "We need some light, I think." He then walks forward and removes the hoods to see if either is Pilt, trying to fool them.
As his hood is removed Kyras looks down up into the dwarf's face. Well met my new best friend. he says with a happy grin. I am Kyras, and these restraints are not even as comfortable as they look. If you could help me and my friend out of them I would be in your debt. We have hung here for quite some time and I can no longer feel my hands.
The elf is disoriented. What's this? I thought you were Jabbyr, coming to finish us off. Thank the gods.
I tried to use magic to get us out of here, Kyras. I couldn't.
"Sure thing, but if there's locks or keys, I hope you know where they are."
If I had my headband, which is in that crate over there with the rest of our gear I think I could free myself. I am sure I could if I were not so exhausted. That low life Pilts keeps trying to make us fight each other but we refuse. I think he is afraid of us so keeps us too tired to even try to escape.
Alika excuses herself from Salvatore Scream for a moment and casts lesser restoration on Kyras.
Alistair pulls forth a small dull gray stone and tosses it into the air. The light shines forth and envelopes the room. Immediately the wiry fighter lets his eye roam the room for unseen threats.
Let us see about getting you out of here and we can then exchange pleasantries later.
Looking around the room, you find a key hanging on a nail on the back of the door. You try it and find that it is a perfect fit. Moments later, the two freed from the impressive set of shackles. The chest proves to be little inconvenience and the two prisoners recover their personal possessions. With nothing left to do in this room, you return to the floor above.
"As our presence indicates, Pilt is no longer in charge of this place," says Alika as the captives re-arm themselves.
"Is there anything else you can tell us about this complex? We've had a few scrapes and been through several rooms but it seems almost empty now."
You all have my thanks. Kyras says as he stretches and begins to don his chain shirt and strap on a buckler. His weapons include a short bow and a fauchard. The rest of his gear is an interseting assortment of clothing, jewelry, and alchemical equipment.
Glad to hear Pilt is no longer in charge. He was a right bastard. Responsible for taking out two of our team. Is he dead? If not, I'd be glad to help with that. We came here looking for a gnome called Jabbyr. Been hunting him on commission for longer than I'd like to admit. Have you run across him? Kyras will tell the group all he knows about the complex.
Digging through his alchemical supplies Kyras sets aside a number of elixers to consume once the party decides to advance,
In case you are wondering, my skill set includes finding and handling traps, knowing about enemies in a fight, sensing the truth in someones words and deeds, and generally figuring things out. I am also pretty good to have in your corner in a fight.
Yes, the elf says, We have something of a score to settle, now, but we owe you our thanks, and if I can help you in any way, I'll do it.
I don't really remember how we ended up here. Took a nasty tumble, and I must have gotten knocked out, he says, rubbing his head as he puts on a gold headband.
He rummages through his gear, relieved to see it's all still there, and puts on a silver ring.
He must have been in a hurry, since he doesn't seem to have taken any of our valuable items. That's a stroke of luck. We might catch him yet.
I'm Seltyn Sevenleaf, an evoker by trade, when I'm not immobilized, he says, with a bow.
Garran nods. "Well met. I am Garran Fain, mercenary and caravan guard by trade, although it seems I've begun helping the Watch more often than I expected I would. As for this gnome, Jabbyr," Garran seems to grimace as he remembers something, "you can check for yourself, but I believe we killed him up in Pilt's throne room."
Hmm. We will need to do that. It's been a long chase and we were commissioned to being that gnome back alive. Still, if he has his tongue the information needed from him might still be obtained. We will go and see when the timing is right.
Yes, we came a long way. It would be good to confirm that he died before we could capture him, at least.
Once he could grab his stuff, the elf immediately put on a simple silver ring. Next, he put on a gold headband. They were there in the chest, and not stolen. He looks quite relieved.
Standing up, he looped a belt back onto his sturdy (but stinky) pants, which had a couple small pouches in front and a dagger attached to it on the left side.
With that all sorted, Seltyn then grabs a haversack which he slings over his right shoulder, and adjusts to his liking. https://imgur.com/a/7gvq06n
On his left shoulder, he hangs a bandolier, with a longsword hanging on his right hip.
He then pulls a hair tie out of the sack, puts his long, dirty hair into it, then puts on his cloak.
"If absolutely necessary, I could ask Sarenrae for a miracle to return him from death. It doesn't always work, though, and it's expensive," says Alika.
"If absolutely necessary, I could ask Sarenrae for a miracle to return him from death. It doesn't always work, though, and it's expensive," says Alika.
You have the magic to speak with the dead?
The disheveled elf hadn't spoken much, but hearing the woman speak, he is suddenly piqued.
I take it from your livery, and that very lovely scimitar, that you are a servant of Sarenrae. He says it not as a question, but an educated guess.
He pauses, then speaks to Alika more directly. Pardon my manners. I'm a bit out of sorts. I wouldn't raise that nasty gnome, but we could perhaps speak with him, if only briefly, and perhaps not productively. Gods, I don't even know your name. I'm Seltyn Sevenleaf, milady, a reasonably competent wizard, most of the time.
He bows awkwardly, trying to be respectful. And your name is?
"I am Alika," replies the Varisian woman, "a humble priestess of Sarenrae. I've been roped into..." she gestures around the room, "... all of this by the simple expedient of having become wrapped up in hunting down and dealing with criminal elements here in Korvosa. It is a bit outside of my bailiwick, but I do what I can to help the community."
Well met, Alika. If the gnome is dead, all I need to do is confirm it for myself, and my friend, here, Seltyn says, nodding towards Kyras.
We were supposed to catch him and bring him back, but he ended up killing most of our party, so I'd leave his soul to his fate, no love lost.
He was definitely working out of here, in the first place. If your struggle is with the same forces, I guess that makes us allies.
I am Alistair. Let us get a move on...check on the gnome and get Master Scream to safety. Shall we
The group heads back to the throne room where the body of the gnome lies. Kyras and Seltyn are able to inspect the body. They notice that he was heavily tortured some time ago. His left eye his missing and so is his tongue, making spells that would make his corpse to speak virtually useless. The worst part for Kyras and Seltyn, is that those wounds are more than few months old. This mean that even if they would get the information they need, the other group as so much of an advance that it would be impossible to catch back. In all intent and purpose, the quest they were on is an failure.
That's him. Good riddance.
Yes, Alistair. We should move. Lead the way.
Kyras looks unhappy with the news but nods. I hate failing a commission, I do.. Hit me with that spell too Seltin, hmm, maybe twice.
I'm disappointed, too, and utterly embarrassed that that little freak got the better of us. We'll have to tell our client he died before we could capture him. I see no reason to mention that he actually captured us.
With anyone who wants a free Prestidigitation all prestidigitated, the elf looks cleaned up, but is clearly still a little tired.
Let's go. I can keep up. Fill us in on what's going on here as we move.
Alistair turns to leave, once again on point.
His eyes flow from shadow to shadow looking for trouble.
Hearing that the group is pretty much done here Kyras delays in drinking his alchemicals and fall in with Alistair.
Seltyn feels a little weak, but he's still pretty perceive-y.
You find your way out of place and start walking toward a safe place. You don't notice real danger on the way there. The few glimpse of people you see seem to stay away from you. Either they didn't intend to fight you, or they did, they probably rethought that plan when they notice the size of your group.
You get to Salvator's house. While Callie guides Salvator inside, the rest of the group make sure that the building is secure and that there is no nasty surprise waiting nearby. Once satisfied, you all make your way inside. You straighten some of the furniture and make yourself comfortable. After everything that happened, some of you need to rest for a moment.
Salvator look pale and weary, but somewhat better then when you first saw him. "Why is this happening. I'm just an artist, a painter, I never though that would end up in so much trouble. It seems that life just kept punching me down. I mean my life was good before. My career was picking up. I made friend with Neolandus." He looks at you for a moment. "You know the Seneschal of the castle. It was just a matter of time before I could sell my painting to the highest sphere of society. Then everything collapse, the death of the king, the disease, the quarantine. You know... I just can't believe still. On the day that the king died, Neolandus showed up here. Bloodied, desperate, heck he was even poisoned." His voice trails off for a moment. You feel that he has more to say, but that he just needs a moment to clarify his though.
"I helped him, getting him back on his feet as best as I could. I wanted to bring in a priest, but he refused, said that he couldn't trust anyone for now. He mentioned that the queen murdered the king. That's just... that's just crazy right? That she made a pact with the red mantis. They are some sort of assassin group. They tried to kill him just before he got here. Said he escaped by luck. He kept saying that there was something off with the queen, that she had grown... worse. Not sure what that meant. When I pried into it, he said that the less I knew the safe I'd be. That didn't help much in the end finally. With such a powerful enemy, we needed some powerful ally, so I approached the family Arkonas. I did some commission for them a few time and mentioned that I could ask for help if I ever needed. So, during a dark night, we made our way there. They took him in and promised to keep him safe. What a fool I was."
"I realised my mistake some days later while talking to Vencarlo. He showed me proof that they were not just a noble family, but the head of a crime syndicate as well. Poor Neolandus, he evaded grave danger and I just go and deliver him to another one." He pauses once more. Laori passes him a waterskin and he takes a deep drinks. "Now even Vencarlo is missing. I'm sure the man tried to save Neolandus, but what can one man do against an entire organisation. They are probably both rotting away in a dark room somewhere in that place and it is all my fault..."
He just trails off, his shoulder dropping as if he just got rid of the weight of the entire world off his back. Sitting there in silence, you are sure that the man doesn't anything else to say.
Garran listens carefully to Salvator's explanation for what happened, then says, "That answers where Neolandus is. Field Marshal Kroft sent us to look for him, so now we know where to go to find him. Where is the Arkonas estate?"
The investigator pauses to consider this information.
Seltyn will comb his memory for any pertinent knowledge.
The investigator pauses to consider this information.
[dice=Knowledge (nature)]1d20+14+1d6+1
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"Their house is on the highest point of Old Korvosa. In the part known as Fort Korvosa. It is one of the biggest estate there and it is surrounded by a wall. It will be hard to miss."
Thinking about all the names that they heard, Kyras and Seltyn try to focus on what they know. The Red Mantis only tells to Seltyn that they are a group of assassin. It is a global organisation with chapters almost everywhere. They are known to wear red leather armors with a helmet mimicking the look of a preying mantis. There is one thing that seems weird with Salvator's story is that the Red Mantis, by rule, refuse to take contract on rightful monarchs.
Neolandus Kalepopolis was the Seneschal of Castle Korvosa. He was known to be a good loyal man that always try to answer to the need of the people. He did disappeared some time ago, which fit with Salvator's story.
As for the Arkona family. They are known for having establish a very profitable trade route with the country of Vudra. This is their major legal wealth provider. They are also heavily invested in the underground society of this city. It is rumored that the higher up of Korvosa are aware of the Arkonas dealing with the less legal side of the city, but thanks to the influence and money they provide, the Arkonas were left alone.
Alika helps Salvatore get settled back into his house, and produces from her healer's satchel some salves to soothe his flea bites and powders to kill the fleas.
"Let me apply the powder first," she says, "to kill the fleas before they jump off and infest your rugs and blankets. Then you can wash off and apply the salves to soothe the bites."
She busies herself with setting out some rations—simple fare, just jerked beef and crackers—for the recently-released prisoners and says, "I'll go to the market for some better food once we figure out where we can rest a bit. Our new friends here need a good meal and a long night's sleep."
Thank you, Alika. Yes, I think a good night's rest will do the trick. It seems we'll need to do some reconnaissance tomorrow. I have some magic which can help with that.
I am not sure you will do any shopping though. This place looks like a war zone.