Sadlark knows that the Gray Maidens were founded in 4708 AR by "Queen" Ileosa in the chaos following her ascension, in order to secure a military force that was loyal only to her. During the queen's brief reign, the Gray Maidens enforced her will with increasingly violent methods. After the blood veil plague was quelled, Queen Ileosa named the order as the new protectors of Korvosa. The queen's death within the same year resulted in the shattering of the organization into small, often rival, factions.
"So what brings you over this way then. I thought all Gray Maidens served the Queen?"
Sadlark sighs as once again they are found out by yet another person.
The happy monk smiles. He is amused by this situation. We are so famous. Perhaps our enemies will seek us out too and save us the trouble...
Black Dhougal doesn't know much about the Gray Maidens, but follows Crowley's lead. How can you be so certain our collective noses don't belong where you think they are?
Something clicks in the woman. Her shoulders relax, just a bit. "My name is Xarva Almaxus. An no, while Ileosa formed the Maidens, I joined after her death. I am part of a larger group that came to Korvosa to investigate rumors of Ileosa’s return, but unexpected developments put our investigation on hold."
You struggle to get a bead on this woman. There's a lot of training and desire put into her comportment here.
She seems nervous about asking for help but that's what's she's trying to do in a round about way. Her concerns seem legitimate—she’s not trying to trick you.
"Came back to investigate if it was true so that the Maiden's could form around to defend her again?" Crowley accuses before biting his tongue. "Look, I can tell you are just trying to ask for a bit of help, but going around and telling folks to stop sticking their noses where it doesn't belong isn't going to get you any. Now stop beating around the bush and tell us what you stopped us for."
Crowley, please...this brave soul is outnumbered by armed strangers here. Give her a break!
he throws Crowley a wink and a nod.
Xarva, what kind of...developments held up your investigation, might I ask?
Sadlark listens.
Esme follows the whirlwind of words and accusations, barely keeping up. She attempts to size up Xarva, but comes to no new conclusions herself. "I, too, would like to hear the answer to my friend's question. What held you up?"
"Look, this is NOT the place to discuss such things. When you can, meet me... and my sisters.... at Whitecaps. I suggest you make it a priority."
She turns and leaves without so much as a nod.
Off to Northgate, then?
"Yup, then we can investigate the Whitecaps to see what these sisters are all about. It may be a trap." Crowley sighs. "Everyone seems to know what is going on with this investigation except for us."
Off to Northgate, then?
Lead on investigator
Sadlark knows the building. Whitecaps is an abandoned building in the North Point neighborhood. Once one of the city’s oldest surviving inns, the building was well past its prime even before a series of recent thefts drove the owners of the ramshackle structure to give up and leave the city the year after Ileosa’s defeat. When no one claimed the property in the months that followed, its ownership reverted to the city.
Nakapan will not go inside the building. But he will do a quick recon scout around the building. Looking for ingress/egress, guards, etc...
Stealth
Perception
Esmereza joins Nakapan in his search of the perimeter.
Crowley follows Nakapan, heading the opposite direction to meet in the middle. "I'll see what is around this way."
Sadlark uses his Greater Hat of Disguise to become a city land surveyor. At Whitecaps, he wanders back and forth near the entrance, pretending to take measurements and marking weird symbols on the ground. From time to time he adjusts his hard hat and scratches his head as if deep in thought, peering at the abandoned building.
The party reconnoiters the abandoned building, seeing signs of use, but no guards on the outside. There is a woman "loitering" near the front. Nakapan completes a rotation with Esmereza. Crowley kind of stands out, so they break away. Sadlark takes a different approach.
In the end, everyone walks away with the same report: there are three people inside, only lightly armored from the looks of things. They seem to be relaxed, not expecting a fight.
Esmereza definitely thinks he sees Xarva inside talking to another.
Sadlark ducks behind a tree and dismisses the disguise. He walks to the front door when everyone is ready!
Sadlark ducks behind a tree and dismisses the disguise. He walks to the front door when everyone is ready!
Yes, time to go in. The monk tells everyone to think peaceful thoughts.
Black Dhougal is amused by the recon work, looking back and forth between the two teams and then sitting on the far side of a shady elm tree. He gets back to his feet when everyone returns. Everyone have a good walk?[ he asks cheerily.
"'A good walk'? Are you a fan of stepping into unknown dangers, Dhougal?" Esmereza replies to the snark with seriousness. "If we are to work as a team, I consider it important that each member works in the team."
Crowley heads up to the building and knocks on the door. "It isn't much of an ambush if it is one."
"'A good walk'? Are you a fan of stepping into unknown dangers, Dhougal?" Esmereza replies to the snark with seriousness. "If we are to work as a team, I consider it important that each member works in the team."
Your concerns are noted, Black Dhougal says to Esmereza. I meant no disrespect, nor do I expect any of you to do my job for me. He falls into place behind Crowley.
As the party openly approaches, the one standing outside gives an oddly specific rhythmic knock. She greats you curtly, but with a twinkle of hope in her voice.
It takes a little while to enter, and you immediately know why, they suited up in their iconic armor. They are, however, unarmed. They introduce themselves as Vioor Vandrune, Gavrielle Cennawen, Brenwyn Thase, and the one you know, Xarva Almaxus.
They give you a detailed rundown of their story. They are members of the Erinyes Company
When word of Ileosa’s ghostly manifestation in Kendall Plaza reached the Erinyes Company in Cheliax, "Our leader, Yniesse Zenderholm, set in motion a plan. we snuck into Korvosa, arriving just a few hours after Ileosa’s second manifestation on Jeggare Bridge. The plan was essentially to investigate the rumors of our founder’s possible return."
None of them have actually ever been to the city apparently. woman named Yniesse recruited all four to the Erinyes Company in the past few years; she was the only one who served Ileosa. They believe the sightings of Ileosa are legitimate manifestations of her soul attempting to return to life but haven’t been able to investigate since their leader’s disappearance.
"She went missing after she headed into Gray District to “pay respects to a relative among the dead.” The Gray Maidens assumed Yniesse wanted to visit the graves of perished family or friends she left behind, but their visit to the cathedral the day after she vanished yielded no clues. Yniesse left for the Gray District the night before Bishop Keppira’s death was announced. The acting bishop informed them that Yniesse had indeed visited a few graves before heading north an hour after sundown. The Gray Maidens blame their own training, which is more martial than investigatory in nature.
"So here we are, desperate, and looking for help."
Were you to confirm this was Ileosa herself, what was Yniesse planning to do?
The Erinyes Company, a group of Gray Maidens who, after Queen Ileosa Arabasti's defeat, remained loyal to her, fled to Cheliax, converted to the worship of the Queens of the Night, and supposedly now seeks to reconquer Korvosa in the name of their founder. BUT that's hearsay. These women are so wet behind the ears that you doubt that's their plan.
"Honestly, we want to get the hell out of here. Devotion to Korvosa is a fading attachment."
Black Dhougal listens to the story, reserving judgment for now but paying attention for deceptions and inconsistencies.
The smiling monk ponders this information. Hmm… more leads. Perhaps a trip to the Gray district after we finish the rest of the ghostly appearances.
Perception
Nakapan eyes their weapons. While not in hand, they are on their hips, ready for action if needed.
The party takes in the information, feeling inundated with minor leads, but no breaks...
These women give the impression of really not wanting to be here, but they aren't duplicitous.... at least that's your take.
Esme listens to their story, trusting the impression she's been given and watching her companions for any reaction. "I have no issue adding a search for Yniesse to our list. Given that her return was due to the ghost sightings, maybe she will have insights that can help us."
She scans around the area as she talks, looking for nothing in particular but hoping for some sort of clue.
Nor I, Black Dhougal agrees. While I am dubious Yniesse is involved with these ghostly sightings, few still alive knew Ileosa, and this alone is worth pursuit, before even considering foul play.
"Maybe she came across more than you give her credit for." Crowley muses the situation. "So we have several ghost sightings and now two missing people."
Sadlark nods in agreement with Esme.
Agreed. Further, it would seem a good idea for everyone were these Grey maidens well away from Korvosa, posthaste.
Sadlark gets a description of Yniesse and makes her his lead.
After leaving, he will explain what he knows about the company.
Even with a keen eye, the building seems to offer little else. It appears that this is a side gig at best for your official duties.
The women seem desperate enough for the help, but not exactly warm and friendly about it. Their responses are curt. After a couple more minutes, the conversation fizzles into complete awkwardness.
Esmereza thinks about what she might know of the Queens of the Night...
Esmereza thinks about what she might know of the Queens of the Night...
Tully does the same--+22
Sadlark will always recall knowledge when given the chance to know stuff!
Esmereza knows a fair bit about The Queens of the Night, or their mortal-given title of whore queens, are a group of four unique female demigoddesses who have managed to distinguish themselves despite Asmodeus' and the rest of Hell's unvarnished misogyny. Usually referred to by their pejorative collective name, their worshippers prefer to use Angels of Vengeance or Queens of Light to describe these four demigoddesses. Tully confirms some of that, but Esmereza knows a lot more. Sadlark adds that he recalls that they're not very powerful in reality, and that their reputation is largely unfounded.
So are we now heading to the Jeggare bridge? To investigate the 2nd manifestation.
"Let's head to the bridge and see if we can find anyone else in this city that knows what is going on." Crowley grabs his gear to head out.
The island of Old Korvosa is separated from the main city by a canal called the Narrows. During the height of the blood veil plague, numerous wooden bridges over the Narrows were burned to quarantine Old Korvosa, leaving the stone Jeggare Bridge as the only connection to the mainland.
Most of the wooded bridges were rebuilt after the Upturned Cup's reginicide, but Jeggare Bridge remains culturally significant: During Ileosa’s reign, this bridge was blockaded and guarded by Ileosa’s Gray Maidens to further isolate the island. Large sections of the island were destroyed during Ileosa’s reign, but since her downfall, Old Korvosa has been on a slow mend. Today, significant portions of the island have been rebuilt by a colorful community of Varisians, Shoanti, and others looking to embrace the rich diversity of Korvosa’s culture—helped in part by King Odric’s decision to grant significant portions of the neighborhood to the Sklar-Quah who once called the land here home.
Sadlark will disguise himself as a nondescript businessman using his Greater hat of Disguise and use Discreet Inquiry to gather information about Yniesse.
Nakapan will head to stone bridge itself and search it and the immediate area around it for anything odd. The monk knows he is strange and sticks out among the Korvosan population. He figures trying to disguise himself would just make him stick out even more.
Percption +19
Crowley joins Nakapan. "I'll look over here and then we can swap places in a couple hours. Get a second look at things." He points in the opposite direction.
With Sadlark making an effort to ask around while keeping a low profile, Esmereza instead follows Nakapan and Crowley to the site.
Black Dhougal joins Sadlark in his inquiries, keeping a similarly low profile.
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Sadlark and Black Dhougal confirm the sighting took place shortly before sunrise, when bridge traffic was increasing for the day. Those who remembered the troubles of a decade before were too frightened to cross paths with the ghost and fled. Some Old Korvosans have been unwilling to leave the island since.
The others don't get any clues about the sighting directly, but notice a reserved Shoanti with stylized white tattoos lingering near the Old Korvosa side of the bridge—an individual who seems particularly interested in your actions. He doesn't seem to notice Sadlark or Black Dhougal.
You look around and Yniesse's trail goes cold quickly. It's not your best work, but you don't think you bungled things. All roads lead to she went missing after she headed into Gray District to “pay respects to a relative among the dead.”