GM Harrow’s Curse of the Crimson Throne - AE

Game Master GM Harrow

Pava's eyes blaze with a focused heat as they stare Audria down. "What was Gaekhen then, just another dead horser?" Each word is precise, bitten down to what they mean to say rather than the fury that surrounds it. "Leave off it, Duckling."

They rip their gaze away from Audria to stare much more comfortably at Theolan's mutilation. "Soldier Boy's right. This wasn't random, and either it's the Key-Lock Killer come again, or someone else who's gotten a lot of practice in faking it."

With an acid smile they add, "Want to hold onto your pigsticker until we track the bastard down at least?"

Elric blinks at Pava's outburst about Gaekhen, almost missing their follow-up remarks about the Key-Lock Killer.

When Shane speaks up, he turns to look at the tiefling, missing Audria's exit. As he realizes she is gone, he finds himself agreeing wholeheartedly with the wizard's remark about teamwork and support.

For a few seconds, he contemplates rushing after Audria, to hold her close and offer some small measure of consolation. But he realizes that that she needs time to process her grief. Instead, he faces Pava and glares at the insolent shoanti.

"You need to start taking your own advice and learn when it's time to leave it the f*&¤ off, Pava..." he snares, keeping his voice measured and cold.

"Gaekhen did not want to come back...You said so yourself. And every one of us here risked our lives to retrieve his body, spoke at his funeral, drank in his honor. We all shared in your grief, respected his memory. Meanwhile, I have not heard a single word of sympathy from you towards Audria when she's lost one of the few people to treat her with decency in the hell that's been her life."

"Instead, you choose to wallow in you own anger and self-loathing as usual. Ever notice how the only one to use derogatory language about the shoanti is...you?"

"I'm sorry for the injustices your people have suffered, but you need to direct that anger towards people who deserve it instead of a skinny girl who insists on being a force for good, no matter how much ugliness the universe hurls at her. Perhaps try to remember her name too."

He steps over to where Audria's fallen glaive lies and snaps it up into his hand with a swift flick of his boot, then holds it up so Pava can see their face reflected in the blade.

"You want to spit insults and disrespect at someone? I suggest you start with the person looking back at you in the mirror!"

Shrike has turned half away to reach into the pack and bring out the rag-wrapped key-shaped blade, snapped off just below its hilt, that they discovered in Rolth Lamm's laboratory in the Dead Warrens. One of her ears twitches markedly listening to Pava's bitten-off bitterness. When she turns back around, Audria is gone, and this time Elric seems to have had enough and is snarling back.

She waits until he is done, comparing the cuts left in Brother Theolan's chest to the width of the viciously keen edges. Then she sets the strange hiltless weapon down on the stone dais with a click. Though it is a fine blade, without a safe handle on its sharpness, anyone who tries to wield it would only hurt themselves.

"Anger's fine. Good aim's better. She won't even blame you for missing. Just herself for being in the way."

Pava meets Elric's eyes side-on with a hard stare of their own. As they listen to his tirade, arguments rise like bile in their throat, ready to parry, deflect, lunge for whatever weakness in him they can find. But everyone's either glaring or can't meet their eyes, or like Audria, have already left them behind. That's not what you owe them.

"Oh sky and stone, I'm the a*%~*!!#."

They press fingers to the bridge of their nose and take a deep centering breath. Find your footing. Go again. "Right. Thanks Soldier Boy. Needed that. I'll go collect the- do I really have to just call her Audria? I know you Korvosans flap your names about just for the asking, but it's like you're running around in your drawers. I'm more than halfway fond of more than half of you, but I'm not popping round while you're still getting dressed in the morning, am I?"

They flick their hand in a negation. "That's for later. I'll go collect the- Audria," they wince again, "and make my apologies, yeah?"

***

Pava knocks softly at the door to Audria's storeroom. "Aud? It's Pava. Can I get in there a minute? I'll give my mea culpas from the hallway if it's what you'd rather, but could I come in instead?"

Audria sits up as Pava knocks, but Tally gestures for her to stay seated while she answers the door. A moment later, the Shoanti rake sees Tally in her half-elven form opening the door. She doesn't look happy to see Pava, but neither is she glaring daggers at the rogue.

"Mind your tone. I think she's had enough cross words from you, today," she whispers before opening up the door more fully to let Pava in.

Audria sits curled up next to the room's lone window, her hair flowing and pooling around her. Her blue eyes are on Pava, a wary look in their depths as the paladin watches the rogue.

"I'm surprised you wanted to talk to me, much less apologize," she says in a rusty sounding voice before looking to Tally. "Could you close the door after Pava is in, please," she asks her half-elven, brown eyed and haired doppleganger.

As for Shane, he lets others handling this, because all he could think to say to Pava before they left was perhaps Soldier Boy is right! and he was pretty sure that would not have helped.

Once Pava is gone he says to Shrike and Elric "How can I help next?"

I'll give the Knowledge (Local) roll a shot, assuming like Shane that being told the information in the first spoiler by Elric is enough to attempt it.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Okay, nothing more than what Pava told us.

Shrike thinks about Shane's question for a time, her still blank-eyed mask seeming to stare down at the body. "Can you still see traces of it if he was witched? I think Rolth Lamm is the Key-Lock Killer. Have since the Dead Warrens. And he's not just a thug. He's a frogmaker. A soul-stealer. His derro friends like poison too. Sneaking in and out and paralyzing victims would be easy. We still need to see where Brother Theolan was found. And talk to Sister Jenelyn. Look for magic and for poison."

She does not yet voice her creeping fear, like something cold and slimy sliding down her spine. Maybe Brother Theolan and Sister Jenelyn were targeted only because they are relatively high-ranking priests of one of the goodly gods, who have been trying to heal all the sick and desperate they possibly can, and thus interfering with the progress of Lamm's weaponized plague. Other priests who have been doing the same should be warned.

But maybe Lamm was trying to terrorize Audria, who invaded his laboratory and killed his underlings, by invading her home and killing her family. And if that's true, then her own family may also be at risk.

Eh? Oh, right, the festering. "Sorry to hear that - Aud, but I guess that's why I'm here, yeah?"

They take a moment to resettle, minute shifts in their posture bringing them from slink to stance to rest.

"I shouldnt've been on you like that. I... I like to solve problems, yeah? Someone getting killed... usually there's no solving that. It is easy though to tear down the parts of your life that are still left to try to build something back. That's why... look. Shelyn Called you, yeah? Big scary god asking a street kid to go off and risk her life to help people. I don't like it, never have."

They take another deep breath. "Why I never could've made much of a shaman, or spirits forfend, a priest. I'm no good at trusting in the big things, or trusting others about the big things, even people I do trust, or love."

The barest hint of a smile tugs at their lips. "Now leave aside love, cause that's not why we're here, but, I do trust you Audria. We walk through a world that brings us all a heap of horrors, but you do it like everything that could go better, will go better. I'm not good at trusting like that. I know you wear armor and all, but it feels like you're just walking towards everything bad in your nightshirt. In fights and out.

"Any fight you're in, I trust it's a fight that needs fighting. I just need to remember how many times I've seen you walk out of those fights, and trust that you'll do it again. That goes for things much scarier than a scrum with skeletons too. So if selling your glaive is right, it's right. You don't need me to chart your course, and I'm sorry I got all tangled up in my scars while you're still bleeding."

"Do you want to talk about Brother Theolan? I can toddle on instead if you prefer, but I couldn't just hurt you worse and leave it."

Tally closes the door behind Pava before sitting next to Audria again and holding the young paladin. Audria's half-elven, brown-eyed, brown-haired doppelganger doesn't even try to hide her irritation at Pava's intrusion on Audria's grief and solitude, but she keeps her thoughts quiet even if her silence is quiet eloquent on what her emotions are.

Audria, however, just looks drained. Her blue eyes are dull, as if something within them has been quenched, and her eyelids are puffy. She listens to what Pava has to say, a flicker of surprise breaking through the emotionless mask she's donned when the Shoanti apologizes for hurting her. A petty part of her wants to lash out, to vent her anger and sorrow on Pava and make her feel the sting of her tongue, but it's a part of her that she easily ignores as she squashes the temptation. She can't widen whatever rift is already there, not when they have to work together to help save everyone that they can.

"I know that grief and sorrow can make us all do or say things we later regret," she says. "I accept your apology and forgive you for what you said. You were much closer to Gaekhen than I was, and I didn't mean to diminutize his death nor how much he meant to those that loved him."

The paladin slumps after saying that, leaning against Tally who puts an arm around her. In truth, she wants to leave it at that, but a question nags at her and insists it be asked.

"Why do you trust me? I thought you saw me as nothing but a naive fool, if not an outright idiot." Despite the bluntness of her words, there's no heat to them, as if she were simply describing something mundane.

"I don't think you're a fool. I sometimes have professional quibbles with your methods, but you and I want the same things more often than the rest. You were the only other one actually wanted to talk Girrigz down and save a bunch of lives. Don't think I didn't notice. Sure I bashed a few heads together you might not've, and I made it clear the consequences of not listening to warm them up, but I more-or-less backed your play, didn't I? Or when we were getting she-who-doesn't-need-to-be-named out to your friends in the country, who also don't need to be named, I had questions, but I trusted your judgment on who would be able to help."

They shift their stance as they get to the knottier bits. "Where I have problems is that you too often put your heart, body, and soul on the line as your first option. Maybe Younger Sister wants it that way, maybe it's just part of being Called, and she'll keep protecting you, but I hope it's okay if I do my best to pitch in on that too. I want you to keep helping and caring, and that means you have to stay in the fight, Du-Ki-Aud- Okay, Soldier Boy said 'duckling' is out, but I've got to have something to call you, yeah? Part of my charm and all. Can I do Ducks? Aud will work in a pinch."

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Audria laughs when Pava asks if she can call her Ducks.

"I'm not so sure about Ducks, but when I was little, well, littler," she says, remembering that she's the shortest and smallest member of their party by a wide margin with Pip and Garret gone, "some of the other kids called me Odd or Oddly, since my real name sounds like a drunk man trying to say oddly, oddly enough. We could try that."

Her good humor fades though, as she thinks about the rest of what Pava said.

"You and Shrike both backed me, but then again, I don't think I gave either of you much choice. I know there's some--er, let's say not nice--words Mister Bartholomew would give me if he knew I'd walked into a melee like that without the intent to fight," the paladin tells Pava. "The truth is, I should probably be dead right now." Her hand grabs her left arm just below the shoulder as she says that. Silence falls as she looks down recalling the fights she's been in since meeting Shrike and Abella and even earlier memories, like when Lamm had her beat senseless and left her for dead or the one that she wished she'd never recalled. Tally holds her tight as the half-elven songbird feels the emotions rolling through Audria.

"I know what it's like to not have anyone there to stand up for you. That's why I put myself in harm's way," she says, never having thought about it that deeply before now. She looks up as she continues, letting Pava see the truth in her eyes. "I'd rather no one get hurt, but--but if I need help, it's comforting to know that people like you, Elric, Shane, and Shrike will stand with me." Audria's face turns grim as she adds, "and if someone won't listen and chooses to fight, then I'll fight, even kill, if that's what it takes to protect what is good and beautiful in this world. I've done it before. I can do it again."

For thoroughness' sake, Shrike turns over Brother Theolan's body and inspects his back to see if there are any injuries they missed. If she finds none, she goes in search of Sister Jenelyn and anyone who can tell her where the two senior priests were found.

While Pava and Audria talk, Shrike and the others attempt to get more information about what happened.

Brother Theolan's body does not exhibit any wounds or marks on the back. He was found dead in his room, with no apparent signs of a break-in. However, the key to the storeroom that he usually wore around his neck is now missing, together with several items from the Sanctuary's chests. A full inventory is in progress to determine exactly what is missing - so far it looks like potions, scrolls and wands.

Sister Jenelyn was found unconscious on the floor in the atrium, bleeding from deep slashes. The other clerics healed her physical wounds, but she has remained unconscious, so they fear some powerful magic is at play.

Sister Jenelyn was found unconscious on the floor in the atrium, bleeding from deep slashes. The other clerics healed her physical wounds, but she has remained unconscious, so they fear some powerful magic is at play.

Shane takes a moment to focus on this, casting detect magic, and analyzing the aura as it were. Wondering if the Acadamae taught him of magics that did similar?

In addition to detect magic, some rolls
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Knowledge (history) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Knowledge (nature) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Knowledge (planes) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Knowledge (religion) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Were the now-healed slashes on Sister Jenelyn in some kind of pattern too, GM?

Shrike examines Sister Jenelyn only briefly. If the Sister was discovered in the atrium, it is possible she was not even targeted specifically, but unluckily happened to catch the killer in the act on his way in or out. The atrium is unguarded, and as Shrike knows from experience, not difficult for a proficient climber to use as a convenient entry and exit point to the Shingles.

She herself knows little of healing or the body and would not know what signs to look for, if it is some lingering poison that ails the priestess. She knows even less of magic, leaving that to Shane. Rather than do nothing but be alone with her growing unease while she waits for his verdict, she goes to inspect the atrium and then the Brother's room with her candle lamp, spending a few minutes in each place to be sure she has not missed anything obvious. If Brother Theolan's room looked undisturbed to the other Shelynites, the murderer must be careful and good at covering his tracks, but any clues she can gather about the timeline of events, anything he left like blood or hair or footprints, and any animals or other creatures he might not have noticed or considered useless as witnesses, like the songbirds that roost in the atrium's trees, could potentially help them find him.

Taking 20 on Perception in the atrium and Brother Theolan's room for 31 (assuming dim light since it is well after sunset by now.)

The temple servant who found Sister Jenelyn and the clerics who tended to her do not remember exactly the position and shape of the wounds, as they were rushing to save her life, but they do mention that she had a deep stab wound on the left side of her chest as well as a slash to her throat that had severed her carotid. Only two things saved her life - one is that she was born with a condition that placed her heart in the center of her chest rather than on the left, the other was the servant's quick reaction after hearing the sound of Sister Jenelyn collapsing on the floor.

Shane's examination shows him that she has been affected by magic, and necromancy at that. Sister Jenelyn's vital force was drained out of her, and only strong restorative magic can help her. Alas, with Brother Theolan currently... incapacitated, there are no clerics at the Sanctuary currently capable of channeling such spells.

"It is with some regret and alarm conjoined that I must inform you that Sister Jenelyn is the victim of necromatic eldritch magic. To put it in layman's terms; her life force has been drained to such a degree that only a strong restorative magic will be able to assist her. I don't think this temple has any.. active clergy able to do that. Is there a chance of a scroll of same in its vaults?"

Unable to do anything further, Shrike returns to Shane and Sister Jenelyn and waits.

"I get that's what's driving you, Odd, I'm just saying sometimes you can make the bastards pay instead."

Fin?

"Pay? Like getting revenge," Audria asks before shaking her head.

"When we took care of Gaedren Lamm and his lackeys, I was the one that killed Giggles. I held Lamm as Abella slit his throat. I felt--I felt empty, afterwards. I killed a man that was trying to kill Silver Sven when I was looking for the last of the children that Lamm had under his thumb. I thought I had killed another when some woman who knew Yargo Balkin, one of Lamm's lackeys, called Ember or Cat or something and two thugs ambushed me in an alley the night the Order of the Nail marched on Korvosa. I don't like killing. I want to avoid it, if I can, but--but if I have to, I will."

Audria shivers as she remembers the hot blood of the people she fought on her hands. She knows she is capable and willing to use violence in the defense of herself or others, but she also knows that killing people will never be easy for her.

"Maybe I'm not naive. Maybe I'm just stupid," she mutters after a moment, drawing a sharp, angry look from Tally, though the other girl says nothing.

”Perhaps Abella has the ability to either restore Sister Jenelyn’s drained health or speak to Brother Theolan’s spirit? I know she is busy working on a cure, but we must stop this killer before more victims get targeted.”

"You have a habit of reading a lot more bloodshed into what I say and do than what I put there, did you know that Odds? When've you seen me go after someone just for vengeance's sake? I use force, or more preferentially the threat of force when I feel it's the proper course, but since you've known me I've topped off... what, a few corpse-thieving butchers in the catacombs? A hag trying to drown us in the Jeggare? Like I said, life or death circumstances make for a lot, but...

"When I want someone to pay, I want them to do it in coin that does someone any good." They rub their thumb and index fingers together. "Restitution, yeah? Especially from the highest."

"Oh," Audria says, clearly chagrined by her misreading of what Pava said. Perhaps she was more bloody minded than she wanted to admit, even to herself.

"I'm sorry, Pava. I haven't seen you act that way, but--but a lot of the people I grew up around certainly did. Maybe it's because there is a part of me that still wants Halvara to pay, even if I'd rather her face justice and a trial, or at least I know I should."

”Perhaps Abella has the ability to either restore Sister Jenelyn’s drained health or speak to Brother Theolan’s spirit? I know she is busy working on a cure, but we must stop this killer before more victims get targeted.”

”While this still might be beyond her capability yet, there’s no denying Abella’s expertise in Thanergy is still leaps and bounds above mine. She may at least have new insights to bring to light of the matter,” Shane recalls now how, it seemed so long ago, when he met the direct but quite educated woman with the absolute certainty that the Academae was full of idiots, at least at its hall of whispers. Now, the woman was one of the secret weapons in a war on an epidemic. If she succeeds in finding a cure I may commission to have a statue of her put up somewhere in town with the words ‘I TOLD you so’ in some dead language at the base.

”Still,” He continues ”I suppose stopping the killer is the best way to make sure no others end up in this condition. But where to start? The Elder Lamm’s old haunts?”

Shrike is silent. Something about the temple servant's and attending cleric's description is bothering her. A stabbing wound where the heart should be combined with a slice of the carotid seems like overkill. And why should there be this foul magic on Sister Jenelyn, but not Brother Theolan? She closes her eyes, slows her breathing, and quiets her mind.

A scarlet-skinned imp popping into view above her, chortling, its sharp tail stabbing down—

—a row of identical knights in closed helms with flowing crimson plumes, silently observing a pending execution—

—a long curved sabre with a strange serrated edge, dripping red with blood—

The shrike mask rocks back slightly. She has been focused on Lamm for almost a month, and perhaps it has given her tunnel-vision. Whether he or his father was the original Key-Lock Killer, she does not know, but she does know for a fact that he is not the only person who has recently been in the city who has all three of magic, stealth, and skill with a blade. The Red Mantis woman in the buglike mask had been flying and invisible — until she did not want to be. She had cut the throat of their failed assassin with such force that it took his head clean off. Her associates had also been invisible, or nearly, until they wished to be seen. And they had used daggers as well as sabres in their executions of the fallen would-be Mantises. Stabbing and slashing both.

"Red Mantis could be involved too," Shrike says finally. "Cultish assassins. Glimmer enough for invisibility and flight at least. Saw them three days after the king's death. Never since. Abella knew about them.

"Just one more thing to ask people to look out for. Besides bringing her here. And searching the Old Fishery and the Vaults. Maybe tomorrow." She feels relatively fresh, but the last bit of the sun's light is nearly gone from the sky at the horizon, and there are many things to do yet tonight.

Get Abella. Talk to Majenko and find Ivy. Check on everyone at home.

Majenko or one of his friends are willing to go and find Abella, although they whinge a little about having to fly at night. Apparently there is a new rumour that dragon blood can cure the blood veil, so certain unscrupulous 'entrepreneurs' have taken to hunting the house drakes.

Sister Rozalia offers everyone warm milk with honey and a light supper. "We have sent to the other temples for help in the matter of Sister Jenelyn, but they are all so busy... You all make yourselves at home here, it's dangerous on the streets at night and there's talk of another curfew."

Art studio, Sanctuary of Shelyn, evening of Wealday, 17 Sarenith, 4708

After declining warm milk with honey, Shrike steals around the temple like a restless wraith until she hears muffled voices coming from behind the closed door of a studio room that should be empty by this hour of the evening. Though it goes against the grain, she taps a knuckle twice on the door right before opening it. The impassive sharp-beaked mask takes in the scene for a moment. "Said what needed saying?" She comes just inside, closes the door silently behind herself, and crosses her arms.

"Shane's learned the Sister's under a necromancy. Needs a 'strong restorative magic' to wake up." Whatever that means, the flat croak implies. "He's sending to Abella for help. Meantime, the other Sister wants to feed you."

Once back in Sister Jenelyn's room, Sanctuary of Shelyn

Seeing that Shane and Elric are wrapping up negotiating a night-flight over to Thief Camp with Majenko, Shrike's head twitches toward the house drake with a worrying intensity at the news that anyone is hunting his kind, for any reason. For simplicity's sake, I'll just assume it's Majenko unless you say otherwise, GM. Not that I would object to introducing another house drake!

"Any become more than annoying, tell us who and where. We'll explain their mistake." Shrike has no patience for humans who cannot understand that house drakes are as intelligent as people, and are not large pigeons or even flying cats. Though she expects that the little dragons' wings, sneakiness and innate magical abilities can keep them safe from most ordinary humanoids, someone could always get lucky and trap one with a net, as had happened to Majenko before. And there are certainly people running about that could pose a real danger to a lone house drake. Speaking of which, there are things that the drakes generally should know to look out for.

"May be more than just imps flying around invisible these days. Someone snuck in here with magic to hurt the priests. You see anyone sneaking around like that, we want to know. Anyone who seems like a necromancer or a cultist. Or just an elf woman with a long blonde braid. Anyone who wears a red bug helmet over their whole head. Or has a skull-fly symbol like this." She withdraws the illuminated copy of Serving Your Hunger to show Urgathoa's symbol to the little drake. "Anywhere that's not a grave but stinks like death. We want to know about it. Spread the word. Not asking your kin to put themselves at risk. But they see a lot from above. Including invisible things. And we'll reward them for good information."

She pauses. "What... would a good reward be?"

Then, unusually for Shrike, she shifts her shoulders while standing in place, as though settling something heavy. She crosses her arms and turns her head toward the others, including all four in the mask's slow rotation.

"Speaking of. I turned down some potions and alchemy-swag from Yelloweyes as a reward. And other bits and bobs. Copper trumpet. Some tools. One pearl. An... empty bottle?" Her fingers twitch in the way they do when most people would shrug. "Wasn't going to take from her for not killing a crew I'd've liked to. I know Eries the fishmonger. She's not rich. Doubt the potions'd be strong enough to help the Sister. But you could ask. She was relieved they lived. Said to come to her if we needed anything."

Another reason to decline the reward is that Shrike has no idea just how valuable all that stuff was! But she could recognize that the vials were probably magic potions, what the tanglefoot bag was, etc.

"Let Abella know that if she wants an escort, I'll happily come and meet her by her apartment," Elric says to Majenko.

Audria looks up at the door when Shrike knocks on it. She looks to Pava to see if their conversation is over when the vigilante asks if it is. She's sure there'll be more to say between the two of them, but for now it appears that they have said all they needed to say.

Learning that it was not just Sister Jennelyn's injuries but a spell that's laid her low is a shock to both Talanaliel and Audria. After a moment of stunned disbelief the pair gather up the lengths of Audria's hair and follow Shrike back to where the good sister is being tended to and where the others are gathered. Audria kneels beside the bed and holds Sister Jennelyn's hand as she listens to what it going on. The hunting of the drakes breaths new life into the embers of her anger, but she quickly smothers them. Now isn't the time to let emotions guide her.

As usual, Shrike is thorough as she details what to look out for. She hopes that no one will try to harm the drakes, and all she can do is pray for their safety. Before Majenko leaves, Audria stands up and walks over to him and holds up a hand for him to perch on. She uses her other hand to gently pet his head and neck as she gently speaks to him.

"You and yours be careful, Majenko. If you need a place to hide or rest, you're always welcome here." She gives the house drake a small smile before holding him aloft so he can leave on his errand.

Listening to Shrike as she explains that she turned down Eries Yelloweyes' reward. She has no complaints about that. Taking so much from someone who has so little in the first place would have made her feel guilty.

"No, She might need those potions," the paladin says when Shrike says they could ask for the potions. "Besides, we've already asked her and her kin to keep an eye out for some very dangerous people. That's more than enough to repay us for what we did, I think."

She seems to shrink as she works through what's happened today. As she does, she remembers there was something else on the broadsheet.

"Th-that paper that had--that had w-what h-h-happened," she struggles to get out without breaking out into tears again, though she does manage it. "Th-there was something else on it. What was it? I--I didn't get a good look at it. Something about a shop with some sort of medicine?"

Majenko flaps over to Shrike, settling on her shoulder and rubbing his head against the mask. "I like you people! You take care of us, and we take care of you. No one messes with us!" He takes off and does a loop in the air before landing again, this time on Audria's outstretched hand. His tiny claws prick her skin a little, but not painfully so. "That's, uh, a lot of things to remember to look for, but we'll do our best. Where will I find you tomorrow morning, here or..." He lifts a wing and flaps it in Shane's direction.

"Oh, and the rewards! Hmmmmm." The house drake puts a claw to his chin pensively. "Pretty, shiny things. Sweets. A nice bit of fabric for nests. Yes, I think any of these would be good." With that, he takes off with another loop and a flourish, disappearing into the night sky towards Abella's abode.

==================

A few hours later, Abella arrives at the Sanctuary, looking almost excited at the prospect of being able to study some high powered thanergy up close. She rushes through greetings and introductions - such as they may be - before shutting herself in the room where Sister Jenelyn is recovering. She re-emerges after a short time. "You did well in calling for an expert - that would be me, of course. Your Sister doesn't need any fancy prayers or potions, she needs to do what she is already doing, which is resting. I give her between three and five hours before she regains consciousness."

"Speaking of. I turned down some potions and alchemy-swag from Yelloweyes as a reward. And other bits and bobs. Copper trumpet. Some tools. One pearl. An... empty bottle?" Her fingers twitch in the way they do when most people would shrug. "Wasn't going to take from her for not killing a crew I'd've liked to. I know Eries the fishmonger. She's not rich. Doubt the potions'd be strong enough to help the Sister. But you could ask. She was relieved they lived. Said to come to her if we needed anything."

Shane blinks at this revelation, "Maybe someone who can detect magic should get a going over? With all due respect, while I understand how you don't want to take advantage of the impoverished, it might have something we could use to deal with threats to the city." It DOES sound like Junk but he's seen some odd things in his time. "I'll go to double check if folks like?" An offer. He doesn't push hard as he doesn't wish to offend Things are tense enough as it is

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A few hours later, Abella arrives at the Sanctuary, looking almost excited at the prospect of being able to study some high powered thanergy up close. She rushes through greetings and introductions - such as they may be - before shutting herself in the room where Sister Jenelyn is recovering. She re-emerges after a short time. "You did well in calling for an expert - that would be me, of course. Your Sister doesn't need any fancy prayers or potions, she needs to do what she is already doing, which is resting. I give her between three and five hours before she regains consciousness."

Shane hands Abella his notes and opinions, though he's sure she will do things her way. He recognizes her expertise though he thinks a powerful enough prayer is JUST what the priestness needs.

GM, I hope you don't mind me assuming that Jessica makes it to the Sanctuary in the meantime.
"We'll be here, Majenko. I know it's a lot to remember. I appreciate you doing what you can to help us. I'm not as good as Mrs. Olga, but I might be able to make you some sweets. If I can't find the time, I'll see if I can find something for your nests," Audria promises the house drake before he flies off.

While waiting on Abella to arrive, Jessica arrives, and despite Audria's fears, she only shows understanding and shares Audria's grief at the loss, however temporary, of someone she sees as a fatherly figure. The shapely woman hums a soft lament as she works and trims Audria's hair, leaving it hanging down to the paladin's hips and braiding it. The rest of it, a bundle nearly twice as long as Audria is tall, is bundled up and bagged for transport to the Dockside Doxies. Between the warm and honey-sweetened milk and her friend's soft humming, Audria finds herself dozing when Abella arrives.

The news that Sister Jennelyn will be well with just a few hours of rest is a great relief to the young woman. She winds up crying again, but this time at least the tears are ones of joy and relief. She apologizes profusely for soaking Elric's shoulder after she regains some of her composure.

As things calm down and everyone gets settled for the night, Audria tracks done a copy of the broadsheet and reads the other article that was printed on it. She frowns as she reads. Something about it stinks of a scam. Claims too good to be true couched in language that can be argued never made the claims that people will make about it. Someone is trying to take advantage of the desperate just to make some coin. That rankles in her nose, and while there are people that they need to track down and bring into custody, or stop in other ways if they cannot bring them in, it will take time to find them, time for Majenko, Eries, Girrigz, and their people to see them and find where they are going to and from, time that they can use to stop someone from callously using what is happening to make some quick coin by taking advantage of others' fears.

So, she gathers the others staying at the Sanctuary.

"Unless Sister Jennelyn can tell us something about the killer we don't already know or guess, we're probably going to be waiting until someone spots something. Rather than just sitting idly, I want to look into what this Lavender is doing." She points to the second story on the broadsheet. "This seems like it's a scam, and if it is, I want to make sure she doesn't get away with it. There's enough fear and confusion going around without people like this taking advantage of it and making it harder for those that have medicines that work to be trusted."

She looks up at the others, her eyes shimmering with iridescent flame for a moment.

"Will you help me?"

Sanctuary of Shelyn, evening of Wealday, 17 Sarenith, 4708

Majenko flaps over to Shrike, settling on her shoulder and rubbing his head against the mask. "I like you people! You take care of us, and we take care of you. No one messes with us!" He takes off and does a loop in the air before landing again, this time on Audria's outstretched hand. His tiny claws prick her skin a little, but not painfully so. "That's, uh, a lot of things to remember to look for, but we'll do our best. Where will I find you tomorrow morning, here or..." He lifts a wing and flaps it in Shane's direction.

"Oh, and the rewards! Hmmmmm." The house drake puts a claw to his chin pensively. "Pretty, shiny things. Sweets. A nice bit of fabric for nests. Yes, I think any of these would be good."

If Shrike is startled by Majenko butting his head affectionately against her mask, she does not show it. She tips her head toward him slightly in a return bump, and her croaking voice gentles to see how easily and deftly he flies now, after a few weeks' recovery, as he showily loop-de-loops to Audria. "Shiny things, sweets, nice fabric. Got it. Thanks, Majenko."

"No, she might need those potions," the paladin says when Shrike says they could ask for the potions. "Besides, we've already asked her and her kin to keep an eye out for some very dangerous people. That's more than enough to repay us for what we did, I think."

"Already owed her for telling us about Girrigz at all. Whole city does." The broadsheet had been Shane's, so Shrike looks to him when Audria makes her request.

"Maybe someone who can detect magic should get a going over? With all due respect, while I understand how you don't want to take advantage of the impoverished, it might have something we could use to deal with threats to the city." It DOES sound like junk but he's seen some odd things in his time. "I'll go to double check if folks like?"

Shrike does not speak right away. Eventually her fingers twitch outward again. "Suit yourself. Couldn't say what most of it's for. She said she hadn't much use for it. But everyone can use an emergency fund." If they are all very lucky, Eries may soon have information from the other wererats, and so they might have to stop by her warehouse again anyway.

After making arrangements to meet there again tomorrow morning, but before leaving the Sanctuary of Shelyn, Shrike pulls Pava aside. "Any of the Warrens prisoners ever show up at your safehouse?"

Whether or not Pava has seen Ivy in the intervening weeks, Shrike soon afterward leaves Shelyn's temple in her customary tree-based fashion.

It sounds like the conversation about the scam cure is happening several hours later, so I won't respond to that, but Shrike will of course help investigate that the next day if the group decides on it. Depending on Pava's answer, Shrike might not have to start asking her other stage contacts about Ivy on her way home, so I'll hold off on a "remainder of the 17th" post for now.

"Already owed her for telling us about Girrigz at all. Whole city does."

"There's that as well," Audria agrees.

Shane smiled at Majenko's antics. The little House Drake had become a true friend, and, more importantly, a decent Housemate.

Shrike does not speak right away. Eventually her fingers twitch outward again. "Suit yourself. Couldn't say what most of it's for. She said she hadn't much use for it. But everyone can use an emergency fund." If they are all very lucky, Eries may soon have information from the other wererats, and so they might have to stop by her warehouse again anyway.

"Well, perhaps they'd allow us to buy anything of use to us but not of use to them?" He says after a bit, resigned that he is among kind hearted generous compasionate folk The Academae didn't train me for THAT and trying to assure them he wouldn't take advantage.

"Unless Sister Jennelyn can tell us something about the killer we don't already know or guess, we're probably going to be waiting until someone spots something. Rather than just sitting idly, I want to look into what this Lavender is doing." She points to the second story on the broadsheet. "This seems like it's a scam, and if it is, I want to make sure she doesn't get away with it. There's enough fear and confusion going around without people like this taking advantage of it and making it harder for those that have medicines that work to be trusted."

She looks up at the others, her eyes shimmering with iridescent flame for a moment.

"Will you help me?"

"Snake Oil and Monkey shine to use the low vernacular," He concurs "I wish I were better at Alchemy and could get a sample. I suspect Jessica could do more with it. But I'll assist. I know the owners reputations but the hyperbole here shows they don't have much respect for the truth to begin with. 'It smells like chastity, confidence, and respectability'? The mind boggles at what Chastity is supposed to smell like. I assume the scent is kin to frustration and longing." Dryly. "Yes. I'll assist."

"I could ask Jessica to help," Audria muses. "Would it help if I could get the recipe," she asks after a moment's thought.

Sanctuary of Shelyn, evening of Wealday, 17 Sarenith, 4708

"Well, perhaps they'd allow us to buy anything of use to us but not of use to them?"

"Hm." It's a noble offer, but Shrike doesn't think for a moment that Eries Yelloweyes will take a single pinch of their money. Still, if there had been something in the stash that would be truly helpful for the present situation but that only a wizardly type like Shane could use, she would not have recognized it, not being a frogmaker herself. "Worth a look-in."

Staying entirely the Hells out of any chatter over what's to be done with expensive items that are essentially unsaleable for Mme. Yelloweyes. On my best behavior right now I am. Even if for a wererat friends are a lot more valuable than that much coin.

Sanctuary of Shelyn, morning, Oathday, 18 Sarenith, 4708
Shrike returns to the Sanctuary in the early morning, much fortified by multiple helpings of scones and the fresh pot of tea that had been left outside her door soon after dawn. She waits in Sister Jenelyn's room for the others to gather. "What's the word?"

Night of 17 Sarenith, 4708
Audria goes over her idea to see what Lavender is up to, first she and/or Shrike in a disguise go in and talk to Lavender and in the likely case that something fishy seems to be going on, she'd sneak into the back while someone else caused a disturbance at the front or otherwise distracted Lavender. She argues that she's the best choice. She's small and likely to be overlooked, she's stealthy even in her armor, and between her and Tally they can spot just about anything that could be hidden. Besides, if she has to hide, she has the most options out of anyone in the group simply because she can fit into more places. That it also keeps everyone else out of the most danger is something she never brings up.

As the night wears on, she grows more and more tired, leaning against Elric for support before finally dozing off with her head on his shoulder and her hand in his.

Morning of 18 Sarenith, 4708
Audria jumps and Tally lets out a squawk of surprise when they hear Shrike asking what's the word. It takes a moment for Audria's heart to stop pounding, but even after that, she can feel Tally's indignation rolling off the tiny bird. Audria's hair is still damp from the bath she'd taken as part of her plan to pose as the daughter of a well to do family. The paladin looks around to make sure no one's in earshot, her cheeks turning a bit rosy from embarrassment, before she gestures for Shrike to lean in closer.

"I wanted to see what that Lavender person is up to. What do you know about fancy perfumes," she asks.

The Sanctuary, morning of Oathday, Sarenith 18

Feel free to roll K. local to see if you know more about Lavender or its owner.

Just as Shrike rejoins the others at the temple of Shelyn, Majenko arrives as well, huffing and flopping dramatically on Shane's shoulder. House drakes cannot actually yawn, but this one manages a passable imitation. "So... tired. All night, zip-zap, go here, go there, watch watch watch." He curls up, tail over his nose and closes one eye as he begins to fake snore.

Knowledge(Local) Untrained on Lavender: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Looks like Audria knows diddly squat.

At Majenko's arrival, Audria can't help laughing at the little drake's antics. She truly needed the laugh, though, and she seems a little brighter afterwards.

"Poor Majenko. I'm so sorry we kept you up all night. Maybe we can find something to make it up to you," she says as she reaches up and gently pets him on the head.

"I could ask Jessica to help," Audria muses. "Would it help if I could get the recipe," she asks after a moment's thought.

My bad, for some reason I didn't see this question.

"Certainly can't hurt. I'll snoop around as well, using my spells."

Shane, invited to come along, also checks out the store, thoug he might slip by invisibly, and use his disguise self magics to do so in turn.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"Yeah yeah yeah quit your whining you malingerer," Pava teases Majenko with a smile. "What's the word, eh?"

Knowledge (Local): 10 + 7 = 17 Not beating Shane, so I'll just take-10 to keep a veneer of knowledgeability :-p

Last night discussing the plan
"Oh, I guess spells could work," Audria says, not looking particularly happy about someone else going into potential harm's way. "I was going to wear my nice day outfit. I figured that might get her to slip up trying to get a fat purse if I act like I'm a bit flighty or something."

Meeting Majenko
"Could be worse. He could be getting cheesy as well," the young paladin says. It's not a particularly clever pun, but it is a good sign that she's feeling better.

Majenko opens the other eye to answer, his voice a little muffled as his nose is still burrowed under his tail. "We haven't seen any long blonde elf ladies, or necromancers or cultists or red bugs. Saw a few sneaks. Found a place that smells like death, over in, uhh... that island over the river, towards the big water." Majenko shivers, a movement that Shane feels clearly. "I did not like that place."

The Sanctuary, morning of Oathday, Sarenith 18
Shrike observes Majenko's dramatics, and withdraws from the magic backpack a small paper-wrapped bundle tied with twine for easier carrying. She unwraps it, and offers to the little drake a walnut-studded scone, sliced in half with a thick layer of jam and one of whipped cream spread between the halves to form a kind of sandwich. It resembles very much the sort of thing that might be served in bite-size form at an upscale ladies' tearoom. "For your great troubles." The tone is so extremely flat and solemn that, like Pava, she is probably teasing a little bit.

Shrike does not usually go about the city with food, but there had been several scones left from the plate last night, and they had been easy enough to amend this morning into a more elegant and portable form. She must be prepared. If the house drakes like sweets, then by the gods, sweets they shall have.

Knowledge (Local) - Lavender: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 To Audria's question: What does Shrike know about fancy perfumes? Would Nobility be at all relevant here, if this place is normally a perfume shop? If so, the result is 23 instead.

Her croak grows grimmer at the news that the house drakes have found a place that smells of death. "Endrin Isle. Old Korvosa. Should investigate that. After Lavender maybe."

She prepares for the trip to the perfumery by again putting away her weapons, except the sap, and changing her mask to the same plain white porcelain face with a black eye veil that she used yesterday at the Pantheon of Many. Her cloak today is her usual cloak, not the magical one found yesterday in the shipwreck.

For the trip to Lavender, I vote we all go talk to the shopkeeper first before making further decisions. Audria splitting off(?) and sneaking in the back wearing clothes instead of armor(?!) before we even know what we're dealing with here seems like we might be getting out over our skis.

I'll explain what I had in mind in more detail in the discussion thread.

Audria's good cheer proves to be a fragile thing. Majenko's shivering causes her smile to vanish like chalk washed away by a sudden downpour.

"Maybe before," the paladin says softly after Shrike suggest checking it out before investigating Lavender's. "Majenko? How close did you get to that place? I'm guessing your sense of smell is pretty good."

The Sanctuary, morning of Oathday, Sarenith 18:

Shrike didn't hear about Lavender until after her family's fall from grace. Definitely not a place where the upper crust would buy, but it is affordable enough for middle class people wanting a bit of luxury. The shop stands amid a row of tightly packed shops just off of Summoning Street. Owned by an opportunistic Chelish woman named Vendra Loaggri, the perfumery has always had a reputation for avant-garde creations and brazen promotions (infamous memories of the "Free Imp with Every Purchase" stunt still linger among residents of the Heights).

As if to demonstrate the keenness of his olfactory abilities, Majenko raises his head sharply as Shrike retrieves the scone from her bag. "Is that pumpkin jam? Ohhh, niiiice." The house drake stuffs a big bite into his mouth, answering Audria after a few long moments of savouring the pastry. "Was flying over it. Narrow alley. Saw someone with a couple of bodies on a cart dump them there."

Lavender's, Summoning Street, The Heights - Oathday, Sarenith 18:

Eager Korvosans are standing in a line that stretches nearly four blocks from the perfumery's distinctive amethyst-shaded windows. Many of these people look healthy, but several bear the early but obvious symptoms of blood veil: hacking coughs and blisters. The line threads through the street and into the store. Inside, the shop's owner greets each customer from behind the counter, but the actual sales are handled by two pretty assistants. Two large, well-dressed men with purple cravats discreetly hold saps and keep their eyes on the shop's patrons, sometimes intervening when impatient customers try to cut in line.