GM Harrow’s Curse of the Crimson Throne - AE

Game Master GM Harrow

Once they get clear, for now, he mutters to his allies "An intelligent lynchmob... they didn't warn me about THAT in the Academae." Then shaking his head he adds, "I might be able to cast invisibility if need be when the current application wears but that's it."

So far, I am entertained. Though, since at least one of us now has a cat for a nemesis, we can't say it was without dire cost!

Yes, 'ware Mittens the terrible! He shall hack up hairballs in your boots!

Audria follows close behind Shrike once they are together again. She knows that Trinia is safer unseen than not, but she feels antsy without knowing exactly where her friend is.

"Then we'd better hurry," Audria says while she hopes that Talanaliel has managed to get Jessica safely to Shane's new home. "And I dunno if I'd call them smart," she adds with a slight grin. "Even a fool can tell that you can't spend coin when you're dead."

Elric keeps a shrap lookout and his hand on his hammer as the group hurry through Korvosa to Zellara's house, checking for followers as they go.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Assuming we make it there safely

As everyone hustle inside, Elric spends a few minutes at the windows, making sure everything is quiet outside and that no curious types are lingering.

Then he turns to address the definitely-not-elephant-shaped artist in the room.

"That was close and it's bound to get even closer if Trinia goes out there again without being invisible or carefully disguised. Now, we need to figure out what to do."

Adressing the frightened artist directly, he says:

"Trinia, while I'm inclined to believe the claims that you are innocent, you are facing serious accusations - and we are supposed to be agents of the Field Marshal, so we can't just ignore that. Why don't you begin by telling us everything about your involvement with the king and your work at the palace?"

Pava hovers to make certain Elric's questioning doesn't get too intense, but their focus is on what comes next.

What ships are in the harbor? We need someone who won't ask questions.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Shane makes sure all window shutters and curtains are closed save those being used to look out of, and Trinia stays away from such so she won't be seen.

Well, if we get arrested here, there goes THIS house. Damn it. Selfish he knows, so he keeps the thought to himself. He does warn "We can't keep her here too long. I don't think I was spotted per se, but if I was, only so many illusion casting tieflings in the city."

Chance, 50%, high good for PCs: 1d100 ⇒ 39

Unfortunately, the rumours of Trinia's whereabouts seem to have spread quickly, and the party has to dodge the more crowded streets. Shane renews the invisibility spell before it runs out, and a couple of minutes later they make it to the refuge that Zellara's house has become for some of them.

The entire time, Trinia doesn't let go of Audria's hand and the paladin can tell just how frightened her friend is by how tight her grip is. As the spell wears off, the artist is revealed with tear streaks on her face and dirt smudges from the headlong rooftop flight.

"They swore me to secrecy, but I guess it doesn't matter now," she starts, kicking one foot with the other. "Yes, I painted His Majesty's portrait. No, I didn't poison him." She raises her chin, as if daring Elric to disbelieve her.

"The king's chamberlain hired me. We had several sessions, all private. We didn't talk much. He... didn't seem in good health." She frowns, and squeezes Audria's hand even tighter. "Maybe the queen got jealous. I didn't miss the looks the guards were giving me. You know the type, all leery and slobbery. But the King never tried to court me."

Shane winces when he's forced to use his ring to renew the invisibility before they get to his home "And that was it. Damn."

---------
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Shane's gives a sympathetic look at Trinia, "I am so sorry for what you're going through. The law in Korvosa favors the wealthy and powerful. Maybe you CAN stay here, long enough for me to memorize invisilbity a few times. We need to find out when a ship is leaving or a caravan we can smuggle you out on."

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Unfortunately, his time at the acadmae have him way behind on such matters.

"Ship's easier to hide on than a caravan. Less likely to be turned around once it leaves the harbor too... Even better might be a smaller fishing boat to just get her upriver a bit. Pretty rare for the Sables to give them a close look and fewer mouths on board to keep closed."

Turning to Trinia, Pava gives her an auger stare. "Mlle. Sabor. I'm very sorry that this is the present situation, but I believe you must leave Korvosa, possibly for quite a long time. Is there anything you truly need to bring with you? Any messages that we should pass along once you're safely away?"

Sense Motive (untrained + Favored Enemy): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 She's GUILTY, I tell ya! And probably in league with that infernal cat!

While his companions seem eager to believe her, Elric remains skeptical of Trinia's story. He's not threatening in neither posture nor tone, but it's clear that he is not prepared to just let her go completely free.

"If the king was indeed murdered, I could see how your painting assignment and frequent contact with him would make you a prime suspect - or convenient scapegoat for the real assassin. In either case, I don't think it's wise for you to escape on your own. We should find a secure place for you to lay low until we can get to the bottom of this."

When Shane and Pava begin to discuss moving her out of the city, he says.

"Considering the situation, both the Guard and Sable Company are going to be a lot more active than usual. I doubt any vessel, no matter how small, will be permitted to leave without inspection. But their resources are already spread thin due to the riots, so there may be cracks to slip through."

Then he straightens and adds. "Just to be clear, I will not be part of any action that might force us to harm any guards or marines. That's a line I will not cross, nor will I stand idly by if any of you do so."

If Majenko is about and curious when they get to 3 Lancet Street, Shrike greets him in a low voice and introduces, "Audria's friend. Being hunted for something not her fault. She needs to leave Korvosa quietly."

"Trinia, while I'm inclined to believe the claims that you are innocent, you are facing serious accusations - and we are supposed to be agents of the Field Marshal..."

The shrike mask turns toward Elric with a slowness recognizable to Audria and Abella — the Shrike equivalent of an incredulously raised brow — but she does not comment on this assertion. She too wants to hear more details about Trinia's involvement or lack thereof with the Crown. Shrike listens carefully to her answer and finds it convincing, though not informative about a possible motive for the stitch-up.

Sense Motive DC 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Maybe the Queen did get jealous — a lover in the Guards? Or maybe Trinia saw something she shouldn't have and doesn't even know it. Wonder who the king's chamberlain is. Wonder if he took any 'medicine' while she was there.

To Shrike, Magnimar or an even more distant large city seems like a friendlier place to start over than anywhere in the hinterlands where the river trade goes. Small towns and villages will have little work for an artist. But she has never had to leave Korvosa in secret, and it sounds like Pava knows more than she about the smuggling trade. Merchant ships are inspected sometimes, and even with a disguise it will be hard to make Trinia look like anything except a short and slender young woman well matched to the description of the accused poisoner. They could try to make her up as an adolescent boy, or perhaps a frail old woman, but either would be a difficult ruse to keep up for long in the close quarters of a ship. She doesn't add any of her questions about what Trinia might have seen to Pava's, since she agrees with the principle.
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

"If the king was indeed murdered, I could see how your painting assignment and frequent contact with him would make you a prime suspect - or convenient scapegoat for the real assassin. In either case, I don't think it's wise for you to escape on your own. We should find a secure place for you to lay low until we can get to the bottom of this."

"Considering the situation, both the Guard and Sable Company are going to be a lot more active than usual. I doubt any vessel, no matter how small, will be permitted to leave without inspection. But their resources are already spread thin due to the riots, so there may be cracks to slip through."

Then he straightens and adds. "Just to be clear, I will not be part of any action that might force us to harm any guards or marines. That's a line I will not cross, nor will I stand idly by if any of you do so."

"She's being framed by the Crown." Shrike's flat croak is patient but uncompromising. "We aren't getting to the bottom of anything they're covering up. Nowhere secure in the city. She'll be found. Then killed by a mob. Or forced to 'confess' and hanged. Need to get her out first. Doesn't matter how. Disguised on a fishing boat is fine."

Pava gives Shrike a quick nod of support. "Leave off, Soldier Boy. She only fits as a possible assassin if Duckling hadn't known her for years, and she'd have to have had real malice to poison a king for her own wants. Trust the motives. When commoners kill kings, there's no point in doing it in secret."

They straighten up with a clap and begin to pace. "For now we've just got eyes watching for her, but we need to get miles between her and the palace before diviners have a chance to narrow her hidey-hole down sight unseen. It's a big city, but not big enough to hide from the crown without the people pitching in."

Sense Motive DC 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Audria wraps Trinia up in a tight hug when they are safely in Zellara's home. She believes Trinia, and while she knows Elric means well, she can't help feeling her temper flare at his obvious doubts. It's Shrike's words, though that send a chill down her spine.

"No, Ellie," she whispers, a sudden stab of fear tearing through her as the adrenaline from the chase fully wears off. Then she begins to work through all of the implications. She thought the queen a decent enough if not a good person, but if she's behind King Eodred's death and is framing Trinia...

She's saved one of her best friends, for now at least, but it seems the other is now in danger. If the queen ever finds out that Eliana and Trinia are friends, then Audria has no idea what Queen Ileosa would do. She holds Trinia as tight as her friend grips her hand. She had thought the nightmare over. Now she realizes that it has only begun.

"I-I sent Tally off to get Jessica. Th-they're looking for a young woman with short blonde hair, right," Audria says after listening to the others as she worked through the horrible realizations. She gives the others a gut-wrenchingly pained grin. "They won't be looking for someone with hair as long as mine."

Trinia uses the back of her free hand to wipe off some of the tears. She takes a shaky breath, then nods. "I need to leave Korvosa, yes." She pats her satchel. "I have everything that matters to me here." She squeezes Audria's hand again. "And everyone. You will tell Ellie, won't you? And try to get her out of the castle."

The young painter turns to look at the others. "Thank you for helping me, for- for believing me. I don't want to leave my city, and I don't want to leave Audria, but knowing you are here with her makes it a little bit easier." A tilt of the head to Pava. "They're right, I need to leave as soon as I can, there is probably already divination magic at work seeking me." She runs a hand through her hair, making some of the shorter strands stand on end. "Sorry, Audria, we can't wait for Jessica. We need to go now."

Audria feels the tears and the sobs building. She doesn't trust her voice enough to say anything as she realizes that she may never see Trinia or Ellie ever again. She nods and gives Trinia a fierce hug before letting her go and turning to Pava and Shrike.

"P-please, help her get out of this mad city," she says in a husky voice.

Shane looks at his dwindling spells. "Well, I'm out of invisibility. so if I don't have time to re memorize.." He closes his eyes and seems to be reading his eyelids. Actually he is letting the runes and marks currently pulsing his mind, the ones not yet faded from use, come to light, "I'm sorry, mostly what I have is more direct things like web, glitter dust, and grease. Somehow I think the mobs will protest if I sink an acid arrow in their chest." He looks to the others, "I'll help, as best I can, but I used my best illusion spells currently in my head getting Trinia here."

"Murder bird? Any chance you're good at disguises? Mlle. Sabor doesn't need much, she just needs not to be too obvious. Duckling, if you want those tears to do some good, come with and help me melt the heart of some river rats. Whoever we pick is much less likely to double dip if they believe they're doing something good by getting her out."

They pace, clearly already feeling too confined in this hidey-hole. "Of course more muscle's always useful, but it's hard to know where it'll be needed... Though Mage, sounds like you're best prepped to help an escape at this juncture. If you're not here when we come back, where do we find you?" This last is notionally to the group, but their eyes land most heavily on Shrike.

Audria sniffs and scrubs the tears from her face and nods at Pava. She turns to Trinia and hugs her again.

"We'll get you out of here. I promise," she whispers before following Pava out to find a boat that'll take her friend from Korvosa.

Allright, allright…I guess you’re right that getting out of the city is the best option. I have some contacts in Magnimar, if we can get that far, and in some of the smaller towns on the way there. Might be able to persuade one of them to let her lie low for a while.” Elric says in response to the tearful eyes and dirty looks.

They pace, clearly already feeling too confined in this hidey-hole. "Of course more muscle's always useful, but it's hard to know where it'll be needed... Though Mage, sounds like you're best prepped to help an escape at this juncture. If you're not here when we come back, where do we find you?" This last is notionally to the group, but their eyes land most heavily on Shrike.

"I don't have enough friends to be deserting even a friend of a friend. I figured I'd go with you on this unless you wish me to stay here. And I wasn't thinking of anywhere else to go."

"Sorry, Audria, we can't wait for Jessica. We need to go now."

She nods and gives Trinia a fierce hug before letting her go and turning to Pava and Shrike.

"P-please, help her get out of this mad city," she says in a husky voice.

"Murder bird? Any chance you're good at disguises? Mlle. Sabor doesn't need much, she just needs not to be too obvious. Duckling, if you want those tears to do some good, come with and help me melt the heart of some river rats. Whoever we pick is much less likely to double dip if they believe they're doing something good by getting her out."

Shrike nods swiftly and gestures Trinia to the closest chair. "Time to be someone else. A maid. Going upriver to nurse her sick mam. Urgent but uninteresting. Won't draw attention. Answer any questions simply. Don't over-explain. Pava, Audria and Shane'll find a likely captain and negotiate the fee." Shane has good Knowledge (Local), doesn't he? And Audria's Diplomacy could be useful.

As an aside, she adds to Audria, "Don't be memorable. Leave the halberd. Cover the holy symbol and pin your hair up under a cap. Shane, try to stay out of sight during the haggling. Or maybe you have magic for that."

They pace, clearly already feeling too confined in this hidey-hole. "Of course more muscle's always useful, but it's hard to know where it'll be needed... Though Mage, sounds like you're best prepped to help an escape at this juncture. If you're not here when we come back, where do we find you?" This last is notionally to the group, but their eyes land most heavily on Shrike.

"I don't have enough friends to be deserting even a friend of a friend. I figured I'd go with you on this unless you wish me to stay here. And I wasn't thinking of anywhere else to go."

"If we're gone when you get back we had to run. Check the abandoned warehouse next to Bailer's. Or the Old Fishery." Shrike first names the empty building where she had spent long nights spying on the criminals who frequented the rough tavern next door, and where they had taken the failed Red Mantis candidate as a group. It's just around the block from here, hardly more than a few buildings north. However, if they have little warning and need to put some real distance between themselves and pursuit before going to ground, she's fairly sure nothing will have taken over the Old Fishery in the two weeks since its former occupants met their end. Speaking of warning— "Majenko. Elric and Abella too maybe. Can you keep watch outside? Warn us of any group headed this way. Just don't draw attention to the house."

Shrike takes out the disguise kit, hands Audria some hairpins and a loose cap of the kind worn by nearly every messenger urchin in the city, and gets to work on Trinia.

First is a wig, simple and long and black with two locks framing the chin. She spares not a moment to mourn the loss of the anonymous brunette elf. More importantly, an elf does as she likes with her hair, but a respectable Korvosan human woman, someone like Junie, would not leave the house with it completely loose and uncovered. She pins most of the wig back in a simple knot at the base of Trinia's neck and gives her a pair of soft human-shaped in-eye lenses in dark brown to cover the painter's natural blue-grey. Next she adds a pair of spectacles whose clear glass doesn't actually correct for poor vision but which do add to the impression of an older woman. Then make-up: stage makeup, added not to enhance one's beauty but to give a particular impression. Shrike is comfortable with both.

Dirtying up her face a bit will make her look older. Emphasize the shadows under her eyes and the places where the corners of her mouth and nose crease naturally. Don't overdo it. She's no grandmother. But she could be thirty-two instead of twenty-two. Especially in bad light. A respectable maid needs some kind of mob cap or kerchief too, and a plain skirt and cloak. Her clothes are too fine overall.

After consideration, Shrike raids Zellara's closet, with a silent apology to the ghost. She is confident that it will be full of plain, black or dark gray mourning for her dead son, and the image they were shown of Zellara as she appeared in life had not been of a particularly tall or heavy woman. She finds for Trinia a simple black dress and white kerchief, and pins the dress at the back and hem securely enough that it doesn't hang noticeably loose or drag on the ground. The whole ensemble is covered with an old, frayed brown cloak, with a cloak-pin from the disguise kit that is a small wooden Key of Abadar for protection during travel, and Trinia's transformation from vibrant young artist to mousy servant approaching middle age is complete.
Time taken?: 1d310 ⇒ 136 ...Hm. That expression came out wrong. Can't fix it or delete it, might mess up the d20 roll. I'll just do it again below.
Disguise, disguise kit, minor details only?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 + 5 = 29
Time taken?: 1d3 ⇒ 1 x 10 = 10 minutes.

Technically this is a secret check, but Shrike has people who can 'check her work,' so to speak. So if the first attempt is bad, she will re-attempt. I'm satisfied with that result, however, and we think time is relatively short here, so she won't take 20. She also will not attempt to make Trinia look like she is male, of a different race, or an actually different age category (staying in 'adult'), so hopefully won't take related penalties and could take the 'only minor details changed' bonus.

”I’ll watch the front. Someone make sure to check the back and any side entrances or windows. Majenko, can you help me and keep watch from above?” Elric says before gathering his gear, pulling up his cloak and heading out the front door in search of a hidden vantage point that allows him to spot approaching trouble from all directions.

Let me know if you need any rolls.

Shane has good Knowledge (Local), doesn't he? And Audria's Diplomacy could be useful.

Sadly, Shane rolled and failed Knowledge Local Roll for that very purpose on Wed Jun 5. Not sure if I'm allowed another roll but if I am.

Shane watches the transformation with approval. As an illusionist he can appreciate the skill mundane disguises require.

"If we're gone when you get back we had to run. Check the abandoned warehouse next to Bailer's. Or the Old Fishery."

"Ok. If we get separated, I check the abandoned Warehouse or the fishery. "

Excited to have a task, Majenko flies outside to settle on the roof - a good observation spot to monitor the garden and the kitchen entrance. Meanwhile, Shrike is satisfied that her disguise of Trinia would pass all but the closest scrutiny.

Need rolls from Pava and Audria for finding the boat (K. Local and/or Diplomacy), and Perception from Elric and anyone else keeping watch outside.

Audria puts her hair up and hides it under the cap. She does as Shrike says and leaves the halberd behind and hides her holy symbol under her shirt. She leaves with Pava before Shrike is even half-way done with Trinia's disguise.

At the docks, she follows Pava's lead, but also does what she can to help. It isn't much. The normally charming young woman's voice and face both show the strain she's under trying to hold onto her composure and to not think about what is going to happen to Eliana after all of this.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 => 7 if Tally's not within a mile (1.6 km or 5280 feet) of Audria

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 +2 vs Humans

Pava greets the docks with a smile, but their eyes never stop moving. The tension is thick, the tempers high, but we just need one...

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

The desperate vibe that Audria gives off makes most people wary, but luckily Nips at Heels spots a distant relative, their father's second cousin twice removed, or perhaps their great-aunt - difficult to remember in the moment. The middle-aged woman is short and stocky, dark hair going to iron at temples gathered under a faded kerchief. Her names is Mother of Song, which is odd; as far as Nips at Heels knows, she's never had any children, nor is she particularly good at singing. She recognizes them, straightening up from where she is hunched over a ripped sail that she is mending.

Meanwhile, back at Zellara's, Elric and Majenko stand watch. Now and then, a group of people brandishing clubs, hooks and other makeshift weapons passes through the main street to which Lancet Street connects, and once two such groups clash before harried-looking guards step in to forcibly separate them. Fortunately, none of the bounty hunters veer into the narrow street. Majenko flaps a few dozen feet up, as much as he can manage with his still-healing wing, and reports that the guards are erecting checkpoints at the entrance to the High Bridge and along the main roads.

"Auntie!" Nips at Heels swoops over with great bonhomie. "Duckling, this is Mother of Song, great woman, phenomenal with a net, unbelievably sharp hooks and needles." Their smile drops for an instant. "Auntie, can I grab you in private?"

***

"Right, so here's the long and short. I've got an acquaintance who very much needs a discreet trip upriver. Soon. Honestly, now'd be best. No blunting this, there's danger involved, but hopefully less the faster we get moving. She needs her face hid; she can't expect the kindness of strangers; she can expect any and all guards to be looking for her, specifically and vigorously. Like I said, there is danger, probably less if neither of us get more specific. And Auntie? She's a good person, and even I'm running out of ways to get her through this. Hope you can help."

Hopefully Aud can roll any actual Diplomacy, but Nips at Heels will attempt an Aid
Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 = 18 or 15 if Tallyfeather's not within a mile of Audria.

Audria nods in greeting as she tries to not let her hopelessness show on her face or in her voice.

"Well, Mother of Song. I am Audria Lumina," she introduces herself, leaving off being a priestess of Shelyn lest that draw the wrong sorts of attention.

===

Once Pava and Audria are where they can talk with Mother of Song without being overheard, Audria notices Pava glancing over at her as they relay the situation, or at least part of it.

"P-please, ma'am," Audria begins, wondering what she is going to say after failing to persuade anyone to help so utterly, earlier. "She's my friend, one of my oldest and best friends. I've known her for years and I know that she would never-- that she could never do what they are accusing her of. Please, Mother of Song, I'll do anything I can to repay you. Please, help my friend get out of Korvosa."

Despite her best efforts, the strain she's under trying to hold herself together shows through her expression and voice. She looks frayed, even haggard, and the worry she feels is churning her stomach. If Mother of Song refuses to help, she doesn't know if she'll cry or vomit if she can't keep herself from falling apart at the seams.

Please, please, let me do this one thing. This is the only thing I can do to help. If this doesn't work, I-- I don't know what I'll do.

Mother of Song listens without taking her eyes off her mending work, a few noncommittal grunts the only sign that she has heard; she finishes the sewing, knotting the thick thread and biting it off with a quick, practiced motion, then she replaces the curved needle in its sheath at her belt. Only then does she look at Nips at Heels, sighing.

"When will you stop taking in all the strays," and it is unclear if she is referring to Audria, or to Trinia. She speaks in Common for Audria's benefit, her voice low and hoarse. "I don't fancy doing night fishing at my age, but perhaps with a pair of young eyes I can manage, hm?" She glances over their heads in the direction of Castle Korvosa, then leads over the side of the dock to spit into the river.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"I think we can help with that," Audria says, a spark of hope flaring to life within her as she realizes that Mother of Song is willing to help.

"How many eyes would you like," she asks.

Nips at Heels doesn't insult Mother of Song by sighing in relief, but their stretched-taut posture does relax a notch, even as they nod along, outwardly all business.

"Thank you Auntie. Same goes the other way; whatever you need. Right, for now she's safe as houses, or leastwise safe as we can make her. Move her here after dark, yeah? Just let me know if there's anything else needs prepping."

Mother of Song keeps looking at Nips at Heels, the quality of her gaze subtly altered as they mention houses. For those who live in the ramshackle tenements of Bridgefront, like most of the Shoanti in Korvosa do, the expression is one more bitter reminder of their status as third-class citizens.

"Well, then. It's almost dark, so best get going." She turns around, busying herself with who knows what in the small fishing boat.

Back at Zellara's, Trinia is relieved to hear that there is someone willing to risk taking her out of the city, but that also seems to bring into sharp relief the reality of what is happening. Trying - and mostly failing - to hold back her tears, she hugs Audria tightly, whispering into her hair "I'll write to you. Lots and lots of letters. Please take care!"

She offers to hug everyone else as well, expressing her gratitude in a choked voice. Majenko seems to pick up on the emotional scene and comes to settle on Trinia's shoulder, rubbing his little head against her cheek. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Your friends are the best!"

After farewells are made, Trinia follows Pava for the short walk to the harbour. Others are welcome to accompany them.

Pava does their best to let Trinia get in her last goodbyes. "Mage? I could use your night eyes, and your spells as well if things get- well if they need to get stickier."

They cough discreetly. "Mlle. Sabor? We really must be going. Hood up please."

The shrike mask watches impassively while the newly disguised Trinia makes her goodbyes. "I'll be above. Wouldn't bother with the hood. Too suspicious. Looks like you're hiding."

Her croak softens slightly when Majenko adds his attempt at comfort. "Good luck."

Shrike doesn't accompany Pava, Trinia and Shane at street level, but true to her word, she follows them along the rooftops as best she can for the short distance to the docks, staying hidden as a backup in case they meet with trouble.

Audria tries, and fails, just as much to hold back her own tears as she hugs Trinia back.

"Tell me that after we get you out of here," the paladin says with a watery laugh. "I'm going to be with you on the boat."

Audria leaves her halberd behind again when she leaves Zellara's home with Pava, Shane, and Trinia. She walks beside her friend, eyes wary for any trouble as her hands never stray far from the hilt of her sword.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Pava does their best to let Trinia get in her last goodbyes. "Mage? I could use your night eyes, and your spells as well if things get- well if they need to get stickier."

They cough discreetly. "Mlle. Sabor? We really must be going. Hood up please."

He nods, "My eyes are yours. Hopefully I'll keep them in my head. I'll follow your lead."

Trinia Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Trinia's disguise is good, and it is aided by the painter's shuffling walk and hunched posture as she begins to inhabit the persona of the middle-aged servant. Even her voice changes, a nasal rasping as she tells Audria about her mother in an imaginary country accent.

"...doctor saeyz sheez godda dropsy, 'e doeyz. Me pooh, pooh mam." It's terrible and exaggerated, and Audria feels that Trinia is doing it to distract her - and herself - from what they're about to do. The last few hours have turned her life upside down, but the young artist is somehow managing to keep a spark of humour.

No-one gives Trinia or Audria a second glance as they make their way to the harbour, and Mother of Song gives Trinia a hand as she climbs into her boat. "Here, hold this and pretend like you know what you're doing." The Shoanti woman tosses Trinia a length of rope that is tied to the mast - pulling on it would do nothing of significance, save perhaps from keeping the painter from pitching overboard as the boat begins to rock from all the movement. She holds up her hand to Audria. "I only got room for one, duckling."

Nips at Heels gets only a slow nod, the kind adults give each other when one or both of them are about to embark on some dangerous endeavour. There are many things contained in such a nod - 'gods be with you', 'take care of them if I don't return', 'we'll share a drink later if we both survive', and so on. The Mother of Song uncoils the stiff rope tying the boat to the dock and shoves away with an oar as the wind catches the small triangular sail and unfurls it with a snap.

After the final farewells are made, the little fishing craft begins to drift out of the harbour, turning northwards and then to the west as it follows the course of the Jeggare river towards the sea.

Trinia's deliberately terrible acting does cheer Audria up a little. That is undone when she sees that she won't be going any further with Trinia.

"I'll get Ellie out," she whispers to her friend as she gives her a quick hug goodbye. "We'll see each other again, all three of us. I promise you that."

She watches the boat sail off and stands watching the point where it disappeared from her view for a long moment before following the others back to Zellara's. Her face turns into a mask. It's almost like she's in a daze. In some ways, she is. She feels numb, because she dare not feel anything, not now.

She walks through the door, through the hallway that leads past the room where she'd first meet Shrike and Abella, and out into the small garden Shane now keeps. She falls to her knees by the tree growing in the center of the garden, and she cannot hold the emotional torrent back anymore. She screams in anguish and impotent rage, crying out against the injustice, the cruelty of what has happened to her friends and to Korvosa, and lamenting her inability to prevent the disaster to the the uncaring sky. She curls up as she grabs her arms and sobs, letting the tears flow down her face. She doesn't know how long she spends crying in the garden. By the time she can keep track of the passing time, it is fully dark, and for the moment, she is truly numb, her emotions spent.

She stands up and goes back inside, not knowing what to do, now.

Elric joins Shrike on the rooftops, longbow out and ready. As a pair of silent shadow sentries, they follow the small group as they make their way to the dock.

When they are safely back at the house, Elric feels some of the tension drain out of him, but not all. He spends most of the time in slience, processing the implications of all that has happened.

He waits until Audria has returned from the garden, giving her time to grieve the loss of her friend. Then he asks the assembled group ”What now…If Trinia was framed, that means that there has been a conspiracy to assassinate the King - likely to put the Queen on the throne. And we have no idea who we can trust.”

Abella shrugs and smiles. ”It’s really basic logic. People are usually murdered by people they know and usually for money and power. The Queen benefits the most from the King’s death and is someone who obviously knew him personally. And besides, why would a young pretty thing like her marry a corpse like the late king if it wasn’t because she wanted to take up the pieces after he died? Maybe she got tired of waiting or he found out something he shouldn’t have.”

She pulls out a bread roll she swiped earlier and begins chewing as she talks. ”Not to mention we saw Red Mantis in the city not long ago….” She pauses as she has taken a too-big bite and needs to chew. ”Right around when the old bastard croaked. Killing royalty is difficult work as they actually have the money and connections to get brought back, and he didn’t, which means those who survived him didn’t want to, couldn’t, or both. Fancy assassins like Red Mantis probably have ways of making it hard—or else why the hells would you pay so much for them—and it would probably be trivial for them with help from the inside.”

She chomps on another bite of the roll and holds up a finger to let those assembled know she is not done talking. After a long few moments, she resumes. ”Also, if you are trying to get away with something, you should blame someone outside your circle, as it minimizes the chance of an investigation pulling up something on you by accident. Little Miss Trinia is perfect. If that’s what it is—and let’s be real, it probably is since I am rarely wrong about anything—it would be quite a clever plan.”

Hearing Abella and Elric talk about conspiracies to kill the king and to frame Trinia, Audria feels an ice-cold iron fist grip her heart.

"W-what about Ellie," she asks in a soft, fearful voice. "Sh-she's friends with Trinia, too. Wh-wh-what happens to her if the queen finds out?"

If the Queen decides to take against a member of her own household for any reason, they will be able to do exactly nothing about it. And Eliana went with Audria and Trinia to Hommel and Brekka accompanied by the Queen's guards not a week ago.

Shrike folds her arms. "That wasn't secret. Don't borrow trouble. We're not players here." The mask turns from Audria to Elric and Abella, making it clear that these words are for them as much as the girl.

She doesn't think Abella is wrong exactly, but there must be other things going on that they don't understand. For one, the plan as described doesn't strike her as clever at all. Or it's too clever by half. It sounds good at first, sure. Find a scapegoat to soak up all that anger. An outsider you can sacrifice quickly. But before tonight, there was no proof he was murdered at all. Whispers and rumors. But no investigation, and no one really cared about the Seneschal disappearing. The authorities had enough to do keeping order. If she'd left well enough alone everything would have died down. People would have forgotten, especially once their daily lives weren't being disrupted and they had to face the hard work of rebuilding. But now the public's certain he was murdered. Smart ones won't believe it was some nobody. Not even if Trinia is captured and executed. This will only give the rumors against the Queen more life.

But that isn't her lookout, and she'd like to keep it that way. It would hardly be the first time in the history of kings that a crown had passed on through assassination. It wouldn't even be the first time in the short history of Korvosa as a true monarchy. Everyone knew Queen Domina had deposed King Chadris and purged his entire House, yet she had been the most popular ruler since Eodred I. The affairs of monarchs are best left to them to play out.

"Can't trust the Crown or its agents. Even Kroft. We weren't here." The mask turns pointedly toward Elric, who spoke as though they were all the Field Marshal's agents. Shrike is pretty sure the boss robin wouldn't approve of all they've done here, and if she had known she might have been forced to order them to do otherwise. But Shrike is not the robins' rusher, and it's better for everyone that way. What Kroft doesn't officially know about can't be blamed on her by those above her.

"Don't know that it'll be truly automatic, the queen taking over that is. Could be she's been pointed in the direction of Trinia without malice on her own part. Could be there's someone else at the heart of things. Can't imagine as there's not a pack of credibly royal cousins out in the hinterlands hoping for a moment like this who also might've wanted to try their hands at regicide. Whoever winds up on top though... that's a good place to look first. Either way, help from the inside does sound most likely, so if there's anyone who's been sitting on their palatial contacts, now's the time to show your hand."

They pause and think for a moment over Audria's fears. "Ellie should go to the cathedral of her choice, get spelled to truthfully say she doesn't know where Trinia is. Gets rid of any rational motives to trouble her at the least."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Ah well.

"Can't trust the Crown or its agents. Even Kroft. We weren't here." The mask turns pointedly toward Elric, who spoke as though they were all the Field Marshal's agents....

Elric nods slowly and rubs his forehead, looking weary.

”Agreed. The fewer who know about this, the better. But the question remains. What do we do now? Perhaps Audria is right that it would be best for Ellie to get out of the palace while she can.”

Knowledge (Local) DC 20: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Shane, who has been rather quiet, knits his horned brows in concentration

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Forgot I had both :O

Sure that he missed a very important class that could have helped here , he says "As what to do next, I'm very unsure. What are the best qualifications to be on a list of scapegoats?"

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Abella also doesn’t quite manage to remember something.