Curse of the Crimson Throne for PF2e by DM Doctor Evil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Talindra watches, surprised, as the image of Zellara appears. She listens, intently, the fortune teller's words strengthening her resolve to keep people safe. I should be out there right now, not hiding away! Still, they did just go through quite an ordeal, and she tries to comfort herself with that, justifying this moment of respite. Regardless, she finds herself occasionally glancing at the door, shuffling about nervously when not occupied with some other task.

Talindra joins Lenrelle in giving Zellara a proper burial. She's not quite so eloquent as Lenrelle (that was always Elora's thing), but she tries nonetheless. "Even a life cut short like yours still brought beauty and love into this world. Your light shines on still, in those whose lives you have touched. Each of them, each of us, carries your love, your kindness. We who survive honor your memory by sharing your love with others. The Eternal Rose bloom and guide. So mote."

Having a moment with Lenrelle after the task is finished, Talindra turns to her and catches her gaze with sad yet thoughtful eyes. "Hey, um. Earlier I'd mentioned that I had a question for you. Is now a good time? No pressure, no worries if not, but this is something I'd rather talk with just you about. It's a matter of faith, something the others don't have the same insights about that you do. It can certainly wait if you're not up to it." Her voice is quiet, again, that same practiced, soft tone she used earlier when mentioning that she had a question for Lenrelle.

"Oh? A question? " She moves to the CChampion so they can speak quietly, "Are you okay? It's been a lot of a lot"

Billi snatches the pack away from Perivolt and begins to slap the cards one at a time against his forehead. With no real experience with arcane magic, the dwarf is a bit astounded that he can now read the magical auras of items and understand their properties, almost as if they were ore in a mine shaft.

Sable, I will get to your story tomorrow. Just ran out of steam tonight.

Sable, I will get to your story tomorrow. Just ran out of steam tonight.

No worries.

Billi is astounded by the powers of the deck.
"Even I can use it, and now we can identify magic items. I even know this wand of force has 23 uses and this hand crossbow has the most basic of runes allowing it to strike more true."

He hands the magic wand and cards to Perivolt. He thinks of Sable for the crossbow, but remembers she is gone. He puts the crossbow back in the cart. "I don't know who uses this best or we may want to move the magic to another weapon. I guess tomorrow we can check three more and we now can detect for magic items, as this dagger is not magic."

Talindra gives Lenrelle a smile. A gentle, slight smile, but an honest smile regardless. "I'm okay, I promise, but... I've been thinking a lot about what we've been through tonight. When you ... fell... I wanted to do nothing more than to protect you. I felt like I failed you. Shelyn exhorts her champions to use her holy weapon, the glaive, but... I feel I'd be better suited to protect you and the others with something that let me carry a shield." A breath, as she gauges Lenrelle's reaction. "I know I'm supposed to feel comfortable with the glaive, but... I almost picked up your scimitar and finished off Lamm with it. Am I crazy? Is this heresy? I am so, so confused." A frown, and a sigh. She tries to keep Lenrelle's gaze, but ends up looking at her feet.

A hand on Talindra's shoulder, as she stares at her friend, "Tonight was hard, and you're not the only one who felt like they could have done better. But sometimes we need to see through others eyes. To my eyes? You saved us again and again, preventing dread blows so many times. I fell. That's not your fault. Lamm was a bastard but he was nimble, quick, and vicious. We had to come at him already wounded, tired. I don't know why you wanted to use my weapon, though I've no doubt you'd use it better than I if you had..." She says "I think you should talk to a priest of Shelyn about this. I do not think it means your own faith in Shelyn is faded. You fought for loved ones. You fought to remove children from ugliness. In short, you fought for Shelyn's very ideals or so it seems to me. I think that's far more important in proving your devoutness than your weapon choice, but, again, I would suggest you talk to one of her Clergy if you still have doubts. I can tell you I have no doubts: You are no failure. You are a righteous champion of the Eternal Rose and my friend."

Talindra places her hand on top of Lenrelle's on her shoulder. "You're right, as always, my friend. My thought, in the moment, was vengeance, if I'm honest. Not the best desire for a Shelynite, but it does have the unassailable virtue of being the truth. And I wanted you to own part of it. You're right, though, talking to a priest would be best. About this and about a lot of other things." Here, she squeezes Lenrelle's hand, her eyes softening. "Thank you. Thank you kindly. If it wasn't for you, I would've died back there, too. We all helped one another. I've always been so hard on myself, especially now, and as always, you've helped me through it. And you, Lenrelle, you are indeed the very instrument of Dawnflower. Shine on, friend."

Billi watches the exchange and feels a little sad.

"I never had the opportunity to pursue a closer relationship with Torag. Dwarves think pretty highly of him, and I sometimes feel his eyes on me, but he doesn't do the amazing things I have seen you both do."

Talindra blushes at praise returned, "Perhaps we both felt a need for revenge, but I woulds like to think even more we wanted to stop his evil from going on. Maybe we should BOTH talk to our religious superiors of our respective temples when we get a chance," She admits, "I'll try to 'shine' but in truth I think my light is a shaky one at times. Work in progress." A smile.

Then Billi mentions Torag, and says "I don't do anything amazing, Billi. I just take the gifts handed over to me and pass them around. I am trusted, but I'm not amazing. I certainly could have done somethings better, but learning experience. I ..don't mean to diminish your faith in Torag, but if you ever want to hear more of Sarenrae, I'd be happy to talk your ears off about her. And I'm sure Talindra woulds happily extoll the virtues of Shelyn. I don't proselytize often... it can alienate as much as intrigue, but if you want to know more, just say the word."

The spirit of Zellara fades, and the group pays final respects to the fortune-teller who brought them together. When the service is complete, Talindra and Lenrelle have a discussion about faith and the nature of service to a patron deity.

Finally, Graykos interrupts in a small voice. "I am hungry. Can we go home, Peri? I want to go home now."

Perivolt knows the Ornelas estate is in the Heights district of the city, near Castle Korvosa, and where the majority of the disruption tonight seems to be focused. You can look up from the cottage near the dock, up the slope and see arcane blasts and fires filling the sky nearer the black obsidian keep where the old king recently sat in the Crimson Throne.

What to do next? The play is yours.

Billi responds to Graykos "I am hungry too!! Let's go. What do you think they will cook for us??"

Billi looks in his pack and sees he didn't feed the alligator all his rations and shows his rations to Graykos. "If you want to be an adventurer like your brother, you may want to try the trail food first!!"

Billi hands Graykos the equivalent of one trail meal. After the exchange is complete, he remembers his first trail meal and turns to Perivolt.
"He doesn't have any digestive issues does he? I think I was told to drink plenty of water with these, but I have only tested them with ale. I would give him some of my water, but I put the last of my ale in my waterskin before we left."

Talindra shakes her head, a frown chiseling her sharp features. She kneels in front of Graykos, looking at him with gentle eyes. "I don't think it's safe to go home right now. You saw on the way here that there's a lot of bad stuff happening. It's probably safer to stay here. I know it's not home--" She looks around, sighing at all the dust and other signs of abandonment "--but we're safe here for now. It's going to be okay, I promise." Then, to the adults, "This is as safe a place as we're going to find right now. May as well tend our wounds while we have the respite, and once Sable's back, plan our next move. Lenrelle, do you still have that healer's kit?"

Graykos gladly takes the rations and starts chewing rapidly, as if he has not eaten for some time. His countenance drops when Talindra says they may not be able to go home now.

You do have some time for healing spells or Medicine checks to restore HP. Just going to wait it out here?

Billi had declined to be healed as the children had been tended to, but now he speaks up.
"I would really like some medical treatment Lenrelle, or at least an opportunity to use your bandages and salves. We can treat some wounds here, then I am thinking of going to some of the nearby magic shops to transfer these potency runes to some of the weapons we use most frequently as Sable may be tending to family for a while. It appears the hand crossbow and the key dagger have a rune invested in them we can transfer with the right expertise. Talindra, do you plan on using that polarm as your primary weapon?"

"Of course, Billi. Here, let me." SHe moves to him taking out her kit and says to the others as she works, "You know, I think Zellara would forgive us if we cleaned this small shack up and claimed it for our use if we need it. Might save one of you money if you need a roof over your head as well. The guards will likely turn a blind eye to squatting particular as the poor woman had no surviving heirs."

Treat Wounds with Assurance for a total of 18. So 2d8 healed on Billi 2d8 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

With satisfaction she sees she has indeed made a difference for Billi's injuries. "That looks better."

For this time, I will allow that Assurance roll to get Billi healed. Recall that the Battle Medicine use creates immunity for the next in-game hour.

Share your Society modifier, if you want to Recall Knowledge about local magic shops or other places in Korvosa. it is a Secret Check, so I will roll it.

+5 Society, +5 Lore Korvosa

Finally, Graykos interrupts in a small voice. "I am hungry. Can we go home, Peri? I want to go home now."

Perivolt knows the Ornelas estate is in the Heights district of the city, near Castle Korvosa, and where the majority of the disruption tonight seems to be focused. You can look up from the cottage near the dock, up the slope and see arcane blasts and fires filling the sky nearer the black obsidian keep where the old king recently sat in the Crimson Throne.

Perivolt hesitates as his heart breaks for his brother. He wants to give him what he desires, but now is definitely not the time to be venturing through the streets based on just what they can see even from this relatively safe vantage. Before he can reply, Billi distracts him with food. Perivolt gives Talindra a grateful look when she shoulders the burden of delivering the bad news to Graykos.

"I also have been suffering with a slight wound thanks to the water dwelling monsters of Lamm's abode." He offers the bite he received for perusal by those with medical knowledge. He grimaces as he sees where the teeth tore his clothing.

As the others begin speaking of mercantile ventures, Perivolt considers what he knows. He worries though that with the city like this most stores will not be open or could even been the target of opportunistic looting. But since Perivolt does know some about the secretive shops thanks to his tramping around Krovosa's underbelly looking for Graykos, maybe he can think of somewhere they could find assistance.

Lore: Underworld +8 or Lore: Society +8

"More than slight. I've been neglectful." Lenrelle moves to Perivolt next.

Just a plain jane treat wounds roll 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Is there a hero point or harrow point I can use to reroll this? So I don't damage Perivolt?

You can use a Hero Point to reroll, Harrow Points are really only for DEX based checks this book.

I will add the locations you might know to the Korvosa city map, so you can judge distance etc.

REROLL, hero point spent!
Treat Wounds Reroll: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Justice! That looks like a critical success. so.. 4d8 ⇒ (3, 3, 5, 3) = 14

For a moment, the young woman is ready to do a standard stitching, then she frowns and catches herself. Lodged in the wizard is a bit of combat debris that had been missed. Had she tried to stitch before taking it out, she might have made the wound worse, not better. Carefully she removes it, the ugly red chunk coming loose. She immediately tends to the wound before it can bleed too freely, and gives a stitching a city tailor could be proud of.

"THERE we go. That should be a bit better." She tells him, a light bandage clean and fresh now put on what's left. "There is a magic shop in the Heights called the Gilded Orrery. It's nearish to the Academae and has a good reputation."

"If I had spent more time touring the city and less time in a Shiver Rush, I would have known about this magic shop. Hopefully they can help us put these runes where we want them. Maybe they deal in armor or take it for trade too."

Billi prepares to move out to the magick shoppe.

"You can't blame yourself too much, Billi. Shiver has captured many good people in it's grip. Horrid stuff. You actually held up better than quite a few others I know."

For a moment, the young woman is ready to do a standard stitching, then she frowns and catches herself. Lodged in the wizard is a bit of combat debris that had been missed. Had she tried to stitch before taking it out, she might have made the wound worse, not better. Carefully she removes it, the ugly red chunk coming loose. She immediately tends to the wound before it can bleed too freely, and gives a stitching a city tailor could be proud of.

The wizard's eye goes wide. "Is that one of the beast's tooth??" Apparently the reptile's bite had had been with more force than he realized.

"THERE we go. That should be a bit better." She tells him, a light bandage clean and fresh now put on what's left. "There is a magic shop in the Heights called the Gilded Orrery. It's nearish to the Academae and has a good reputation."

Perivolt looks thoughtful despite a small wince at the pain caused by the wound treatment.

"I know of the Gilded Orrery given my own time at the Acadamae. It's actually decently close to my family estates. They have a reputation for taking great pride in their creations and services as well as their location in the city." He chuckles slightly. "Any other time, I would say it's the perfect answer given my goal of getting Graykos back home, but with the city this way, we may have more difficulty getting there without waiting another day or so for this all to blow over." The rich entitled young man waves a hand hear his head to indicate the silly inconvenience of the riots.

"However, I actually know of an area in Eodred's Walk, not far from here in Midland, there are some...vendors who dabble in martial tools of the offensive and defensive nature. I'd expect we would meet a few who have other crafts as well. I believe some arcane and magical items may be for sale." Perivolt hesitates for a moment. "I...may happen to know a gal."

@DM DoctorEvil: Do you want me to elaborate on this character, or do you already have someone planned?

"And before I forget...thank you, dear cleric. Your ministrations are delicate and well-attended. It's clear youtake great pride in your medicinal expertise."

Perivolt lowers his head to Lenrelle with a smile.

Lenrelle is tempted to tease Perivolt about knowing a 'gal' , but then he sends some praise her way and she blushes, "You're kind to say so." THen she says "I do hope it is so, for I maybe needed to tend to those wounded in any riots."

She looks at the grouop as a whole, "I'm happy to tag along. I do worry about Sable, but she's the most street savvy woman I know. And I must trust is fine. So wherever you lot wish to go, I'll go too."

Talindra keeps quiet while watching Lenrelle practice her craft with Perivolt, trying to take quiet, silent notes. Talindra's not much of a healer, certainly not compared to her friend, and is eager to learn. While watching, she also listens to those more knowledgeable than she about various places in the city. Sure sounds like we'll have plenty of places to check out... if they're still standing after tonight. She frowns at this, still worrying about what's happening while she takes some respite. And Sable still hasn't returned...

Shaking her head to dismiss that particular uncomfortable thought, she distracts herself with conversation. "Lenrelle indeed takes great pride in her work, something I wouldn't mind having some help with. We've not had a chance to properly sit down and address all the injuries we've sustained, and--" she winces as she examines one still-fresh wound "--if I could convince you to take a look at me, too? I'm afraid I don't know the city too well, but am happy to follow along with you all, of course. Regardless of whether we go now or when things calm down, it's always better to take a friend or three."

No NPC planned, so feel free to riff as you see fit. I did update the map with those locations, so you can see what Peri is talking about.

Eodred's Walk is an open-air bazaar made up of 14 shops in a semi-circular layout, offering a variety of goods and services. books, maps, harrow readings, tack and barding, jewelry, magical items, haberdashery, fishing and bait supplies, haircuts and grooming, smoked foods, clocks and clockwork trinkets, trapping and hunting supplies, weapons and armor, and even watered-down alcohol.

However, it is nearly midnight, and city is in chaos. The bazaar is almost certainly closed until morning, and perhaps even then might be an issue. It is probably best to wait to see how the urban environment appears in the morning. Anything else you wish to accomplish this night?

I show that Talindra, Perivolt, and Billi are now full HP. Think Lenrelle and Sable still have a little damage, but a night's rest will help with that, if you are ready for that.

Lenrelle moved to help her friend. She looks at the midnight sky, and says "I'm not sure where to go from here. No one will be able to translate that book for us tonight. I could head towards the temple I suppose. "

Perivolt elaborates a bit on "the gal" he knows.

"Her name is Miko, but she'll introduce herself as Amadaru Miko. She's from Tian Xia as I understand. Her arcane craftsmanship is...on another level from what you've probably seen before. She specializes in making Talismans, but she often carries other magic items as well."

"Miko is..." Perivolt hesitates slightly then continues, "let's say, very crafty. I often feel like I have gotten the better of her in a deal only to realize later, I may not have been as successful as I thought. Her sense of value is definitely her own. Most of the time even when I get something seemingly cheap cost-wise, I still feel like I played into her hands somehow."

He shakes his head. "It's really hard to explain. It's just like...she's here for something that isn't money. And no matter what deal you make, somehow she managed to come out on top. Even if there's no way that should be true."

Graykos yawns sleepily, and leans against Perivolt on the floor, ready to fall asleep now. Peri tells the others about his contact in the market, and it sounds like something to review in the morning. Distant shouts and concussions shake the small cottage over night, but they are far away, and no threats are immediate. For sure, tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.

If you are sleeping here that's fine, if you are going out into the city, let me know. Otherwise, I am ready to turn the page until morning.

While Graykos snores softly against him, Perivolt takes out the ledger found in Lamm's warren. The language is clearly some form of Varisian, but the syntax and coding is not immediately clear. AS the night grows long, the wizard gets right to the edge of cracking the mystery, but his tired brain just can't quite sort it out before he nods off to sleep.

Sorry, just missed. Wil take a -2 penalty next time you try. I will get a new morning post up tomorrow for both the group and Sable, and see where day 2 of the campaign takes us.

Practicing what she preached about claiming the place, Lenrelle did some sweeping and cleaning of Zarellee's shack, then prayed over it, and slept. In the morning she'd greet the dawn with prayers in her heart, and spells refreshed.

"Sorry, everyone," Perivolt says with a sigh after everyone's sitting with their helping of breakfast. "I wasn't really able to make much headway on that notebook. I feel like I almost had a breakthrough, but then it just turned out to be gibberish. Either I found the wrong cypher, or the entries really are just nonsense."

AFter studying his spellbook for a time, he looks around the room. "Guess I should help get this place cleaned up. Can any of this broken furniture be salvaged, Billi?"

Perivolt begins using his prestidigitation magic to remove obvious stain and soil once debris has been swept away.

New Spells prepared for the day: see profile for current list

Billi begins repairing furniture and building bunk beds and toys.
craft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Talindra is up early, as usual, per her training. She joins Lenrelle in prayer, though finds it difficult to focus this morning. She seeks guidance on how to best help the city and her new companions, but her thoughts wander. Memories of people falling in battle around her fill her mind, memories of good, innocent people sustaining grievous injuries. The physical scars will fade, yet...

She opens her eyes not nearly as calm as the priest next to her. "How do you do it, Lenrelle? How do you deal with people getting hurt all around you?

"Maybe there's a sage or some expert we could trust to translate it? Thanks for trying." She says to Perivolt.

When Billi goes to work Lenrelle is impressed, "Why Billi, this is amazing work. I'm all thumbs myself, unless it's a surgical tool."

and.. at prayer...

She opens her eyes not nearly as calm as the priest next to her. "How do you do it, Lenrelle? How do you deal with people getting hurt all around you?

"I don't, not always. Trust me, my friend, if you think you're the only one with a panicked bag of cats in their skull when it's all going wrong, you're wrong. Been there... recently in fact. But I did get some great advice once. If you're ever in a triage situation where it seems everyone around you is dying. Save one. Do your best to save ONE person. If you do that, then save another. And so on. And if you fail to save that one, move to the next one. If you save just ONE person, it matters. A gemstone is no less lovely just because there are other gemstones around it. How much greater the value of any one individual? Save one. Then save another. Grief can wait as long as there's just one you might be able to save."

Compared to the explosive fireworks of the night before, the day dawns relatively calmly over Korvosa. Sleeping as best they can in the remains of Zellara's cottage, the group begins with their morning oblations, preparing for another trying day.

Billi cobbles together some of the broken furniture into a makeshift kid sized bedframe, and a two or three chairs/stools, not much but there wasn't much to work with. He makes a pull-along duck for Graykos that keeps the child occupied for several minutes.

Eventually, the desire to get to the market overtakes your personal time, and you make ready to sally forth from the safety of the cottage into the unknown city. True it is quieter, but smoke rises from several structures that are still on fire, and a pall of smoke or fog rises from the ebon structure of Castle Korvosa.

The city is perhaps quieter than usual, which ia bit unnerving in and of itself. The rumble of wheeled traffic, the hue and cry of callers and market hubbub seems to be gone this morning.

You still want to set out for Eodred's Walk? Any other things planned?

Sable plans to meet up with the group at Zellara's house. If nothing happens on her way back there, I can do an arrival post..