Curse of the Crimson Throne - Foxy Quickpaw

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Seeing that there is no way she'd get inside, Ernhild can't do much else but nod. "When will you need me back?"

Archibald shrugs.

Briggi keeps laying down the law on the streets of Korsova.

Zellara, are you ok with us using your home while we figure out this brooch and what is in that ledger? I'm guessing Narciso doesn't trust me not to run off with the stuff.

Hmmm... I would have said my room is secure before Zellara pulled that trick with the card, but it's not very big. Her home is quite a bit larger, but there are no beds...

Actually Zellara did you live there, or was that home just your shop?Like where did you sleep?
This whole time I was thinking the shop was a single room with stairs leading up to living quarters above, but reading the description again, it looks like the room is the whole house. Unless you want to make door to further rooms part of the illusion that was clearly happening there.

"Probably someone ransacked my home. It has been a few weeks since I was murdered. And probably Gaedren and his crew did it."

It will be tight with four people living there.

Briggi wanders the streets and as he comes closer to the palace he finds utter chaos. Enraged folks with torches and pitchforks hunt everyone who looks like they are supporting the queen. Which includes foremost the City Guard and the Marines from the Sable Company which fly overhead and attack the worst spots of rioting.

Briggi finds guards heavily bruised fleeing their positions and responsibility as well as groups without their sergant which try headlessly to resist the mob. On the other side are some hardliners who seem to have waited for such an opportunity and are cutting down rioting civillians with their swords.

And me without diplomacy/intimidate

Briggi tries to get some of the fleeing guardsmen back into formation in order to try to get something done.

Guards! Don't flee at this time! This is what we signed up for and will show we have what it takes to wear the colors! Plus ale is on me!

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Briggi is suddenly in danger of getting lynched by the other guards and so runs his tin plated butt off.

"Eloquently put. I'll be at my place then."

Without much she can do while the riot is going on, Ernhild returns to her flat, makes herself a cup of tea, and sits down in front of her window, keeping watch in case the chaos spreads to her street.

After a moment of thought Tisha nods at Narciso.

Since there is no bed left in Zellara’s house, and the couches looked like they have seen better days, if you are worried about your place, we should go to my room. I’ll know if it is still secure, and I have both a bed and a bedroll.
You can take the bed tonight, this isn’t my first time sleeping on the floor. Then we can sell the stuff in the morning and head back Zellara’s to meet the others.
Does that work for you?

Do you need to pick anything up before we head over?

After a moment of thought Tisha nods at Narciso.

Since there is no bed left in Zellara’s house, and the couches looked like they have seen better days, if you are worried about your place, we should go to my room. I’ll know if it is still secure, and I have both a bed and a bedroll.
You can take the bed tonight, this isn’t my first time sleeping on the floor. Then we can sell the stuff in the morning and head back Zellara’s to meet the others.
Does that work for you?

Do you need to pick anything up before we head over?

"Walls, a door, someone to watch my back... good enough for me, given how hot these riots look to be shaping up too. Ain't nothing in my student's garret that's worth my life. Let's get off the street right now."

Not willing to die for higher morals and for a lack of other options Briggi takes a rest at Zellara's home. Not the most comfortable place, but it has the benefit of being a good deal away from the rioting.

At the next morning the world looks a bit better. It's not really peaceful in Korvosa, but some of the rioters were overcome by the need for sleep eventually. No one is trying to bring back normal life with markets and such around the palace, but at least it doesn't spread into the rest of town anymore. Which allows the guard to contain it somewhat and prevent the worst.

This part is event based so things happen when you trigger them by stumbling into them. There are two leads so far: The Queen's brooch and Briggi's order.

Briggi has stumbled back to the group covered in bruises and rotten fruit.It is a madhouse out there! In the morning he addresses the group. Well we can see about the brooch and I was told that a Seargeant Grau was missing, would any of you be willing to help me try to find him?

Ernhild shows up that morning with extra bags under her eyes. Evidently her flat is close enough to the riot to have disturbed her sleep.

"They don't let anyone inside the temple. I suppose I have nothing better to do," she answers Briggi wryly. "When did he disappear? Before, during, or after the riots?"

I think before or during, I was trying not to get lynched so I couldn't really look around.

Tisha brings Narisco to her room and carefully opens the locked door revealing the explosion that is her living space.

Be careful of the mat in front of the door. If you step on it you will get ink all over your boots.
She carefully steps over the mat and goes to her window to check the hair is still in place, and seeing it there says It looks like my room is secure.

Let me clear you a space….

She moves to the bed and closes a book that was open showing a detailed diagram of a lock, then picks the book up as well as a number of locks and keys from the bed and moves them across the room where she dumps them in an iron pot joining the various other bits of metal there.
She then returns to the bed and picks up up a number of pieces of colorful clothing from the floor next to the bed and pushes it in front of the dresser where it forms a pile but results in a clear path to the now uncluttered bed.

Please make yourself at home, there is a bath down the hall if you want to use it, but this late it is probably cold. She motions to the bed and then left down the hall.

Me, I’m tired and going to bed. She drops her backpack/weapons and grabs the bedroll unrolling it next to the pile of clothes at the foot of her dresser and lays down pulling her cloak around her. She keeps one eye open watching Narciso to see if he lays down and trying to make sure he is ok before succumbing to the exhaustion of the day.

Assuming nothing odd is detected by Tisha as happening that night
Early in the morning Tisha awakes, but knowing they have not slept nearly enough, she quietly slips out to not wake Narisco, to bath and change. Thus it is in the morning when Narisco wakes he finds Tisha sitting near the window, intently examining a lock. She is already dressed in a black and grey outfit, with her hair neatly braided and face freshly cleaned from the activities of the past night.

We can ask around at the taverns where guards go off duty and also the barracks if need be. Also check where he lives.

"Sure, let's go with that," Ernhild nods unenthusiastically. "I assume you know in which taverns to look first?"

"If your sergeant has any distinctive signs, I can take care of checking the morgues in that meantime. Provided they let me in."

Aye I know the taverns and we can check ghe morgue. Briggi heads out with Ernhild to yry to find the sarge.

Narciso takes advantage of the luxury of the bath after the mess of Gaedren's lair. (It's not cold though - unlimited castings of Prestigidation go a long way). After that, he joins Tisha in slumber.

When Tisha awakes though, she find herself watched, not by Narciso, but by a rabbit that sit on his chest as he slumbers. The rabbit eyes her alertly but does not otherwise react to Tisha early morning activities.

Narciso sleeps well, happy he has avenged himself on Lamm. (It doesn't hurt that he knows his familiar is keeping a sharp eye on things while he rests). He rises later (at perhaps 0830-ish). After his ablutions (the rabbit disappears, somewhat mysteriously, when Tisha isn't looking), he asks Tisha to join him finding some breakfast. Once fed, he suggests "Well, let us go try that pawnshop again."

Tisha takes up her backpack and weapons and heads out after carefully relocking her door and setting a string to tell her if the door was opened before she opens it again.

As they walk through the streets Tisha gets a big smile on her face.
Maybe it's just me, but the day just seems brighter now that Lamm with not be bothering people again. She seems just unreasonably bright and cheerful this morning..

Oh, We should bring the other Coffee after the pawn shop! I could be a little celebration for the others! She's almost skipping as she moves along the street.

Since Briggi is apparently set on staying together, she accompanies the dwarf on his search for answers through Korvosa's taverns.

"It's funny," she comments upon stepping the threshold of a particularly seedy establishment. "I think I used to work in this one."

She quickly sets down on gathering intel, taking care of sticking to questions no longer than ten words if the guard is in a particularly inebriated state. "When did you see Sargeant Grau last?" and "Where?" and "Do you know where he might be now?" are her preferred openers.

Something about her attitude makes it look like she's done this all her life.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

With a new bright day the pawn shop is opened again and receives customers. "What can I help you with?" the shop keeper greets Tisha and Narciso.

It's Ernhild's lucky day as the first guy she asks replies "What do you want? If it's not buying me a beer, get lost."

Teh guy is a mess — he hasn’t changed his uniform in days, and he reeks of stale sweat and ale.

Sargeant!! I am Private Briggi and the Captain has been looking for you! Don't you know about the death of the king and the riots? We need to get back to the barracks.

Ernhild studies the man. She can usually tell the difference between the trembling hands of an alcoholic and someone who's getting drunk one night because they have something to forget. Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

In any case, she's not here to deliver a moral lesson. She gestures the barkeep for an ale, handing him a copper coin.

"Why don't you tell me what happened to you while you drink it?" she suggests evenly.

With a new bright day the pawn shop is opened again and receives customers. "What can I help you with?" the shop keeper greets Tisha and Narciso.

"We have some stuff to sell" grunts Narciso. Getting straight to business, he starts laying the stuff on the counter, to hear what the shop keeper will offer...

Briggi watches Ernhild take the smooth route and decides to let her lead. That is right sir. Let's just have a drink together, we don't have to rush out.

At the tavern with Grau.
Mumbling something into his mug he accepts the beer. "Doesn't matter anyhow. They are all traitors."

Pawn Shoo
"What have we here... " The pawn broker takes a close look and offers a price for each piece. Which is full value for all the decorational stuff like the suvvubus statue and half for everything else. "That's a nice collection. Did someone die in your family, or how did you happen to get this little treassure?" the man inquires.

Briggi is upset, knowing some guardsmen did run away. Well, some guard did fail out there but we shouldn't drown our sorrows. He sort of mumbles.

Diplomacy aid another: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Diplomacy (+2 from Briggi's Aid): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24

"Not all," Ernhild gives the Sargeant a pointed look, gesturing at Briggi with an unsubtle nod. "The brave have scattered, but they still need to be led. The traitors can remain with their conscience."

"Not them, I don't care about them. Sabina and Vencarlo." Grau objects before drowning his mood in more beer.

"Who are they? Your family?"

"No they are NOT!" He spits the words out like they leave a bad taste in his mouth.

Ernhild glances at Briggi, obviously waiting for some kind of explanation.

...

Pawn Shoo
"What have we here... " The pawn broker takes a close look and offers a price for each piece. Which is full value for all the decorational stuff like the suvvubus statue and half for everything else. "That's a nice collection. Did someone die in your family, or how did you happen to get this little treassure?" the man inquires.

Narciso shares a glance with Tisha, thinking "Why is this guy asking questions?", and then says aloud "Are we in the wrong shop? Money has no provenance, and neither do these goods."

"Just trying to make some polite conversation? If you don't want to talk, that's fine with me." the man goes to the defense.

LOL, No know local

know local: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Briggi has no idea where he is or who he is.

Knowledge (local) (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 8

Ernhild thinks very carefully about her next words.

"Right. I have no idea who these people are. Care to fill me in?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Oh pay no heed to my companion Tisha says cheerfully.
Then she continues in a stage whisper: The shouting and bells last night woke him up and he’s been in a mood all morning.

Bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

She continues on in her normal cheerful voice:
Crazy the rumors I’m hearing of what happened in the heights last night. I’m just glad us common folk in the Midlands had the brains to keep things calm down here.

Zellara do you know this man? Anything you can tell me about him? she thinks in her head.

No.

Your ignorance sobers Grau up for a moment and he stares at you aghast. Then he catches himself and replies "And that's the way it should be for everyone."

Then he turns to his ongoing conversation with his mug again and mutters "I'm for sure not going to sing their praise."

Well let's go back to the barracks Saergent. Get some shut eye after all that rioting.

I keep finding myself asking you if you know people. I obviously need to learn more about this city….

Where can I go to learn more about this city and the important people here?

It seems like we are going to need knowlege local in this campaign, so I’ll try to pick it up at the next level unless someone else plans to.

Oh pay no heed to my companion Tisha says cheerfully.

Then she continues in a stage whisper: The shouting and bells last night woke him up and he’s been in a mood all morning.

She continues on in her normal cheerful voice:
Crazy the rumors I’m hearing of what happened in the heights last night. I’m just glad us common folk in the Midlands had the brains to keep things calm down here.

...

Tisha's flight of fancy get a flat, un-impressed, stare from Narciso... Who then drops the matter to make a written list of the payments from the pawn shop owner... (to ensure nothing slips Tisha's mind when the split with the rest of the party happens).

Ernhild raises an eyebrow at Briggi's suggestion to put an end to the conversation, but doesn't press the issue.

She does address him privately as soon as they're out at the Sargeant's earshot: "Any other day, I would have checked the temple for any crimelords who answer to those names. But I doubt it's reopened. We'll have to come up with our own information if he remains tight-lipped."

So who are people? Briggi asks as he helps or at least attempts to help Grau up. Crime lords or somethin?

"As I see it, they could as well be." grau replies without looking up from his mug.

"Another one." he shouts in direction of the barkeep lifting his mug.

This is a big city, why would you want to know everyone? And important is a very subjective term. There are the officials, that you won't miss when you meet them. For everything else important depends on what you're after.

Well not everyone, but what is the history? Who are the power players to watch out for, are there famous shops/markets that sell specific stuff, do districts have traits or specialties?
For example if I wanted to buy a magic bag is there a place I could do that? What if I need a spell cast to make my family spear sharp again, do people do that? Is there someplace I could learn to fight better? Or even if I wanted to get a drink of decent wine in this land of barbarians, where would I look?

That kind of thing.