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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.
2) Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.
3) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
4) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
5) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week
6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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Rebels. So easily incensed.
Artists, laborers, thinkers, philosophers. All safely rallying against the self-contained closed system of oppressor vs oppressed, convinced of the correctness of their worldview, at a moment in history, prepared to die for the ideas contained therein. Queen Ileoso deposed, the lingering power void filled with the next tyrant. And so, the miserable cycle continues in Korvosa.
But Veracruz, Sage of Modernity, had a different way of looking at things. How do you convince a creature living it’s entire life within a 2-D world to turn it’s head and look “up” when it hasn’t such a notion that “up” can even exist? That forces behind mortal comprehension lurk in the backwater, the recesses of our collective unconscious it’s gripping rod, rendering it’s implement a mere mannequin in the order of interplay between the tangible and super-dimensions of existence.
Alas, why not become a gentleman? Afforded a wide berth in the important circles of mortal power. And, if of a particular disposition, strange yet warm, weird yet knowable, in contexts beyond proper or civilized. Enter our hero: Striking eyebrows and a resting scowl shape the contours of this one's face, his hair, long, thin, black with a streak white, tamed over a mildly risen widow's peak. His frame that particular constitution of nobility, meek yet mannered, projected as with infinite confidence into the room itself, erudite, educated, elite, yet also, irradiated, odd, unplaceable…
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It looks easy, but it's not. The subtleties of the social dynamics of the gilded gentry make keeping within multiple over-lapping or mutually-exclusive circles of nobility a sort of four-dimensional chess. Equally as daunting as regularly supplying fencing services to the Cerulean Society - their allies and some of their enemies! - as a system of underworld social capital that could be "called in" in a moment's notice. Veracruz, "Sage of Modernity" (as he self-refers with no lack of self-importance), was both a man high and low.
As well as near and far!
From his second home in The Heights, Veracruz was what you call a little bit of a snowbird - alternating cold months and warm months with his first home back in the Vieland, Ustalav (near his alma mater). Native to the latter, he had taken a regular position in Old Korvosa teaching adjunct at the prestigious fencing institution of Orisini Academy for a few years now, ingratiating himself to the young of the city's elite, and travelling abroad to other institutions during the off-season.
He had made a few friends at home as well as on his travels, and often invites a few of his diverse-background "friends" for tea at a nearby teahouse...
*clack* *clack* *clack* "Ugh!" *thud*
Kamzask sighs. "Alright, you're done. Go get cleaned up." He eyes the young boy struggling to get off the ground, speaking softly but firmly to him. "A staff has two ends, Jacob. Forget that, and it has a way of reminding you."
The tan colored iruxi weaves his way through the Korvosan Guard's training yard, stopping occasionally to watch a pair or trio's drills and sparing. Unlike many of the other instructors who were large and intimidating figures, Kamsask was slim and fairly unassuming in simple leather armor and walking with a staff rather than a blade. In any other setting, he might be overlooked as exactly what he was several years ago, a simple farmer who wouldn't be out of place walking fields or managing livestock. Now he stood out among the steel and heavier armors of the Guard.
He approaches one of the older recruits and waves for some water. Kamzask drinks deeply and then take another portion to pour over his head. It wasn't so much the heat as the dust and dryness that made him uncomfortable. He walks inside only to hear someone calling him. "Kami!" A bearded man with a shaved head walks over with a dwarf next to him. He grins. "How's our newest adjunct instructor? We are heading to to the docks for some fresh seafood. Want to come? I know you love some reefclaw and cockles! Drinks afterwards. Let's go, mate!"
Kamzask smiles at Nat and Barduz. 'Newest adjunct instructor' was technically true though Kamzask had been employed part-time by the Guard for over two years now. There just hadn't been anyone else since. But it had evolved into a bit of joke between him and Nat since he had arrived. Kamzask nods. "Of course! I love reefclaw! I wouldn't miss it. But you're going to eat shellfish, Barduz? Last time, you told us it wasn't worth the effort and you had to pick it out of your beard" He chuckles.
The dwarf huffs. "You two can pick through your shells for scraps of meat. I'll get me some grilled swordfish or shark! Proper food!" Kamzask grins at Nat. "More for us then. Alright, let me clean up a bit, and I'll see you back down here in a jiffy." The iruxi uses his staff to leap up the wall and then his feet stick enough for him to jump up and onto the upper floor's railing. He balances and races across the railing before tumbling off in a forward flip. The two other instructors can hear him race through the upper floors and they just shrug at each other.
Kamzask's tribe of lizardfolk farmers began trading with Korvosa after Queen Illeosa's death and the subsequent chaos. Kamzask began making regular forays to the city and then staying longer. About 2 years ago, he came to the attention of the Korvosan Guard who offered him a part time job training helping to train their ranks. He still looks and feels like an out of place farmer, but he's starting to get more comfortable with life in the city.
It's nice to visit Korvosa without blood choking the rivers.
Petal Sakura's visits have proven useful. First impressions are usually the hardest, but persistence pays off. After they take her seriously, they usually assume she's going to talk about nature conservation. She will, but first she likes talking about fashion, political events, who's who and reading poetry during nights.
Sometimes people ask where she comes from and it's a... long complicated story. She sticks to the short version where she has lived here for a while, when it was a sacred pyramid. Then it was converted to a fort, then more people moved in and brought such fashion. And a plague. And many revolutions.
It's time for another trip to the city.
Alika Adrezi was an oddity in many, many ways. Firstly, she was employed as a Pharmacist at the Temple-cum-Hospital of Sarenrae in Korvosa's South Shore, despite being an open worshipper of a different, nearly unknown deity.
Secondly, Alika was always heard before she was seen. She was clad in gleaming, spotless full plate armor that rattled as she moved that was fitted with metal prosthetic legs that produced loud stomps with each steps. Built into her armor were pipes filled with liquid that rhymically hummed as they operated - part of a complex device known as an Atmospheric Breathing Suit.
Thirdly, her unusual appearance. While the significant Nephilim population meant that tails were not unusual, her 3-feet long black scaled lower-half that ended in a pair of purple fins was larger than even the most prestigiously girthy extraplanar appendages. Even stranger was Alika's choice in headgear- she donned a transparent glass helmet in which salt water was consistently pumped into. Despite her long pointed ears hinting at Aiuvarin heritage, her amphibious abilities clearly indicated that she was the most rare of characters - a land-dwelling Merfolk.
During a rare moment of peace at the Hospital, Alika reclined at her desk while she reviewed a strange happening reported by many of the newly checked-in patients.
"Sightings of the former Queen? And all of these people, living in completely different areas of the city, reported seeing her?" Alika raises a damp blue eyebrow. "That's no coincidence." She concluded. With a flick of her large tail, her legs jolted into a standing position. She looked thoughtfully at her nedicine cabinet, before she turned to face the other cabinet in the room - one marked with the Alchemical Ouroboros. The Holy Champion felt a tug at her heart as she was reminded of her vows.
"Do not fail to prevent harm to an innocent if your direct intervention could save them."
Her fingers reached for a notepad as she quickly scribbled out a note explaining her absence to the Chief Sarenrite. After writing more prescriptions to existing patients and hurriedly convincing other doctors to take on her workload, she deposits her note at the front desk before running out of the temple at speeds faster than an aquatic creature should be capable of reaching. A list with many scribbled names and addresses is clutched in her metallic, spiked gauntlet that glows with magical runes. The contents of said list replays itself in Alika's mind as she heads out into Korvosa's sprawling streets.
To do: Get the Old Man on board, Attend tea with the Sage, Make contact with Korvosa's Petal Sakura (no relation with the Tian Xia penpal of the same name), Acquire hired muscle (Where?)
Alika finds herself at her first destination in a humble apartment block. Consulting her list, she mumbles to herself; "If there's anyone I trust to sort this matter out, its the Old Man." Lumbering loudly to the front door of her former patient’s apartment, she raps a hand - one fitted with a spotless white Healer’s Glove instead of a metal Gauntlet - against the door and knocks.
When it eventually opens, Alika reaches into her voluminous Backpack and pulls out two unopened kegs of Bravo’s Brew. "Hey, Old Man Gund." Alika greets her old acquaintance in a cheery tone. "It's a bit early for your scheduled health check-up - but I'm here for a different type of consultation. Would you like some nice chilled beer? Let's talk inside. I've got work for you." Lowering her voice to a whisper, she confides; "It's about the sightings of Queen Ileosa. If you're keen to solve this mystery, we're going to need expert help. I know a guy, but he's...special. We can get him on board by attending his tea-party - and there's no one more convincing than you are." Alika proceeds to fill Gund in with what little she knows.
After meeting with Gund, she makes contact with the second name on her list- Veracruz, the so-called 'Sage of Modernity'. Alika had vague memories of attending his lectures on occult and esoteric mysteries - in fact, his clinical style of deduction had inspired her to also become an investigator. The ostentatious tea-house was not the sort of place she'd ordinarily patronise, but the Sage clearly had better appreciation for finery than she did. After lomping into the tea house and being directed to the strikingly suave human man, Alika formally greets the Investigator with a firm hand-shake and a polite nod.
"Good afternoon, Veracruz. I hope you were not kept waiting too long. I had to meet with an old friend first." She waves an open, gauntleted palm to emphasise her point . "Before we discuss the latest happenings, let us have something to drink. Tell me, what flavour of coffee do you prefer?" She flags down a server to start ordering, but also takes mental note of Veracruz's answer.
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MAr'goth was big, not only in height, he was almost reaching 2 meters, but also muscular. He did not like armor, never understood the purpose of it. The goal was to get tougher and not to put more layers between you and the object to hit you. So he wore either a gi or traveling robe, depending on the mood. His skin was green, his features rough and his voice very low and harsh like stones crushing on each others. Through years of training and following perfection his knuckles, elbows, knees and tibias become hard almost like his body transformed into a weapon. The path to perfection was still long but he was walking it for some time already.
He sat in the corner of Korvosan Guard's training yard. He sat with his legs crossed and looked at the colorful iruxi with a staff
Kamzask sighs. "Alright, you're done. Go get cleaned up." He eyes the young boy struggling to get off the ground, speaking softly but firmly to him. "A staff has two ends, Jacob. Forget that, and it has a way of reminding you."
He knew Kamzask for some time, he was surprising capable for his short statue, but Mar'goth always repeated that one should not judge the warrior by their size. Saying not popular among Orcs, but he was here to make a difference. In any case, he like spar with Kamzask, but would not want to face him in combat, long reach, small posture, very agile, not an easy fight.
He sat there and observed the others, while his hand was moving on prayer beads. Mahja was always telling him that in order for their tribe to grow and get significant they need to be present in some of the events, build relationships, be known outside of battlefields. This here could be an opportunity to do that.
When Kamzask was done with his training he waited outside for him
"You moved well today pal. You recall that Merfolk, Alika? She walks around in her tin can, medic by trade, I heard that she is gathering a crew, whatever they are doing they will quickly be in need of muscle. And since she gathers only people from the outside she can't rely on the locals." Mar'goth points his bald head at soldiers and mercenaries on the streets.
"If you have nothing to do, how about we find her and see if my intuition is correct." the orc does not share that the intuition was actually the guy who knew it all or heard it all - Veracruz.
"There should be at the tea house" says the orc looking down at the Iruxi.
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A gentleman's gentleman, Veracruz looks past the hefty apparatus, into the eyes of his company, but only briefly, politely, rising quickly to take her by the gauntlet with his own soft-skinned hand, and gently kissing it "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Alika" he bows slightly before sitting back down. Answering her question.
"Pu-Erh"
Imported from far away, he had always liked "steeped ferments", the gentle alacrity they had inspired in his mind, releasing slowly, with deliberate intention to build upon layers, as opposed to a brief explosive spark of mental energy which he found taxing in the longrun. Keeping the conversation light, rather than getting right to business, he asks her about her research.
As Gund, Kamzask, Petal, and Mar'goth (presumably) arrive, he rises in turn to greet them in turn with appropriate salutation.
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This adventure begins with a summons from Queen Cressida Kroft, who invites the adventurers to Castle Korvosa to address an alarming mystery and growing fear. The queen's initial missive makes it clear she's aware of your reputations and intends to generously reward your assistance...
One thing you are aware of is that Korvosa's high priestess of Pharasma, Bishop Keppira d'Bear, died a few days before. How this plays into the adventure, remains to be seen...
A pair of castle guards usher you into the castle. Queen Cressida meets them not in the castle's throne room, but in a spacious, well-lit room anchored by a broad, polished, round table. A detailed map of Korvosa spreads across the table with tidy stacks of documents collected along the edges.
Queen Cressida invites you to join her around the table. "I thank you for coming. The situation is a bit delicate, and it's come at an inopportune time. I'm sure you're familiar with the legacy of the city's previous ruler, Ileosa. Well, recently, an alarming number of sightings of her ghost—or specter, or phantom—have been reported throughout the city. Old fears and hatreds linger, and these rumors are stirring them all back up. At first, we thought it was a student prank or the ravings of a drunk that grew out of control, but the most recent manifestation appeared here in Castle Korvosa. Normally, I'd look to the church of Pharasma for help in a situation like this. But since we just lost Bishop Keppira a few days ago, the church has its hands full planning today's funeral procession as an event worthy of her memory. So, here we are. Will you investigate these disruptions and track down their source? You will, of course, be well compensated for your services."
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"There have been rumors of sighting all over the city. However, the following four sightings are most significant."
First Appearance: The first appearance took place two weeks ago in Kendall Plaza during the Crimson Festival, an annual event celebrating Queen Ileosa's downfall. An Acadamae student took responsibility for this manifestation, claiming it was a joke in poor taste. Given the other sightings since then, Queen Cressida doubts the student's claim and can't help but wonder why he made the confession if, indeed, it was false.
Second Appearance: The second credible sighting occurred on the Jeggare Bridge to Old Korvosa seven days ago—a site where Ileosa's Gray Maidens maintained a guard post once the northern island's other bridges were burned during the previous queen's rule.
Third Appearance: The third report of Ileosa's ghost took place five days ago in Longacre Building, Korvosa's courthouse and jail, and the building Ileosa turned over as a headquarters for her Gray Maidens.
Fourth Appearance: The most recent appearance occurred in the throne room in Castle Korvosa only two days ago. A ghostly image of the late queen appeared on the Crimson Throne itself as writing in blood manifested on the walls. The chamber has been avoided since the event.
"You will be compensated for your work, of course. Do you have any questions at this point?"
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No time for tea!
Answering the summons, Veracruz takes specific note at how his cooperation is called for conveniently in lieu of that of the Church of Pharasma, noting the odd and suspect timing with which it's head post had died under circumstances yet unrevealed. But... to question Queen Cressida directly upon such the matter? Perhaps, at the moment, unwise...
Hearing about the turbulence in the past week, our hero's demeanor becomes pensive as he activates the organizational center of his brain, and begins to start the attempt of connecting the dots.
Accessing the throne room meant someone with sufficient influence or knowledge concerning Castle Korvosa - likely both - either to make a bid for it's stewardship (...or perhaps to consolidate such power...) by invoking the ghost of a hated and deposed queen?
Indeed, this was as much a question of "why" as it was a question of "who". But what questions to ask?...
Mar'goth sits around the table and listens, his back are straight as always, and his face share no emotions. On his handwraps he has a symbol of a flaming heart, for anyone knowing anything of religions it is a symbol of Mahja Firehair.
"Since church of Pharasma is unable to aid, the church of Mahja Firehair would gladly assist in my person. Orcs would gladly assist in this matter." hulking orc says.
He looks at his allies to speak up, Mar'goth was sad that their visit to teahouse was so brief. He was looking forward to see how Alika was planning to drink her beverage. But before it came to that, they were asked here.
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An hour after sunrise, Gund Glasshome rearranged his few possessions in his garret apartment of a boarding house in Korvosa, as close to the Acadamae as he could afford on his meager pension. The apartment was a neat as a pin and clean as a whistle, in contrast with the clean-but-rumpled appearance of the boarder.
Nothing to do today, either.
The old dwarf heaved a deep sigh and settled into a battered, but sturdy, armchair.
After more years than most of the masters could count--even the necromancy professor, who had an "unusually long lifespan"--Gund had been forced out of his beloved position as janitor by the current master of the school.
"Hmmm. Hmmm. 'Too old.' Bah, I remember when that master was in his breeches in his first year," Gund muttered to himself. "And cleaning up after his messes the whole time. Well, they don't have Gun Glasshome to kick around anymore, and I shudder to think of the state of the floor, or what will happen the next time The Thing emerges from the storage room in the 3rd sub-basement. Or Professor Jensurn melts a hole through his floor into the conservatory again. Or Secretary Hans' breakfast animates again! What a mess that was. Eggs over three stories, and half the staff with bacon grease burns."
The dwarf chuckled at the memory before settling into the funk of his boredom again.
Just then, an unexpected knock disturbed his brooding, and a welcome face was waiting to greet him at the door: Alika Adrezi, one of his favorite former charges.
Petal Sakura waved hello to the guards. Their necks craned down and eventually their hands moved away from their scabbards to wave hello.
Into town. Another day to wander, check out the tea leaves, argue with the gardener about irrigation and then see if the tailor made a coat without skinning an animal in the process.
"Uh... Petal? Ma'am? Miss Sakura?"
She tips her cap and looks up at the messenger who has never been in the presence of a Sprite before. He bends down awkwardly to hand her the letter and then runs off to his next destination.
"Um... thank you!" She waves as he dashes off. The letter has the seal of Queen Cressida Krof, requesting her immediate presence within the castle.
Based on the sun, and the time of year... she's late!
Ahh, she was going to do so much today! But when the queen calls you come running. Maybe she's getting invited to Bishop Keppira d'Bear's funeral? Petal has many issues about burying bodies in wooden caskets rather than the ground itself but it's a custom she learned to stop arguing over.
Besides: The queen awaits!
She hurries in and the guards carefully lift her. They're much faster than her right now despite her practice and exercise. It's not easy being so tiny. Sometimes.
"Your highness. This is Petal Sakura, as you requested." They put her back down as she catches her breath. Standing on this dead wood, crumpled carpet and solid stone is so tiring. Her feet ache already.
"Hi! Um, your highness. Sorry for being so late. Uh..." She waves hello to Alika and then to the other guests. "Was there a briefing?"
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"Indeed there was" Veracruz tries to bring the tardy sprite up to speed, pointing to three corresponding locations on the map before them "Four ghost sightings of the late Queen Ileosa - one during the Crimson Festival two weeks past, another upon Jeggare Bridge one week past, a third at Longacre Building not five days ago, and just yesterday's yesterday" he gestures with a sideways tilt of his head towards the throne room "Right on these very premises"
He looks towards Mar'goth, as if he knows what he is thinking "One fresh crime scene, and one witness who has already confessed"
Then picks the queen's brain "Why now?"
Nodding.
Lots of nodding.
Veracruz starts talking and doesn't stop. Luckily he's talking about recent events and locations of interest, so it's like a tour.
"I... didn't like the previous ruler that much. At all. Due to the blood and the pollution and the chaos. The Crimson Festival was fun, though!"
She noodles a bit more with her staff, tracing circles on the ground. "Of course I'll help." She looks to the others. "Of course we'll help! Right?"
"While we're here, we should check out the throne room. It's close by."
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He looks towards Mar'goth, as if he knows what he is thinking "One fresh crime scene, and one witness who has already confessed"
Mar'goth nods his head, altho he hates when Veracruz read his mind, and he does that frequently. It's almost like he is using magic to do it, but the monk knows that this is not the case.
Kamzask can't help but take another look around him. Who would have thought that 5 years ago, he was tilling fields and now he was sitting in a Queen's audience chamber!
He is drawn back at the Queen's question. She was well-known among the Guard; they were very loyal to her since she came from their ranks. And even though he didn't know her at all, the loyalty was contagious. "Of course, my Queen! I am honored to be asked to even join this group!"
He listens to the others as they evaluate the various locations and determine where to start investigations. "If this is not the ghost of the former Queen herself, then what would motivate someone to conjure her likeness? It would possibly set the city on edge, yes? Are there any other tensions that benefit from that?"
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"Thank you Veracruz. It's Veracruz, right?" Something to slow his talking down for a bit. "I've heard a lot about your services."
"Alika!" Petal Sakura bounds up to her and waves. "Good to meet you! My uh... sister... told me to say hello. So. Hello!"
"Kamzask, hi! Isn't it fun to be in here?"
"Uh... Mar'goth, is it? Wow, you're big!"
"Hello Gund. Or should I call you Glasshome? Sorry, I'm very bad with names and titles."
"Oh! Right! You can call me Petal. Or Sakura. Or Petal Sakura. I'm not picky."
"Conjuring the specter of the dead queen? Why that's 10 demerits for that student, even if was only an illusion," Gund comments.
"Anyone clean up that writing in blood in the throne room? What did it say?"
Alika had prepared herself to enjoy a nice afternoon tea. With a press of a button, her helmet drained of water, allowing her to remove and stow it. Her deft fingers quickly adjusted parts of her Atmospheric Breathing Suit such that salt water was pumped into the gills on her neck, leaving her mouth free to indulge in pastries and tea...but then the Queen's men arrived.
"Oh well, I suppose we can pack all these to go?" She shrugs before following the rest to the castle.
Along the way, she gets herself acquainted with the others, especially the tiny Petal Sakura of Korvosa (who was somehow related to her penpal, Petal Sakura of Tian Xia). "Hello, Korvosa's Petal Sakura! It is good to finally meet you. Your sister - do Fey have families?" The sudden question hangs in the air like an awkward smell before Alika finishes her thought. "Uhh, your sister told me about you in-between sharing her traditional Tian Xia recipes with me. I may not look it, but I make a mean Waffle. I'll share some with you one day so you can give your sister a first-hand review!"
She considers the situation that the Queen describes. Mentally, she files away the question "Who or what is behind the manifestations of Queen Illeosa?" as one of her leads. However, the moment Queen Cressida mentions the Acadamae, Alika's eyebrows raise with alarm.
"Old Man Gund, a stunt like that would be a weekend project for the average Acadamae student. Speaking from personal experience, anything to get the notoriety needed to graduate, they would do. Maybe this is just a summoning spell gone wrong? Either way...we should ask this student some questions." She turns to the Queen. "Thank you for this task, your Majesty. Do we have the name of this Acadamae student?"
When the party is dimissed, she looks to her mentor, Gund. [b]"Good idea, Old Man. The Throne Room is the best place to check, being the site of the most recent manifestation."
"Uh... Mar'goth, is it? Wow, you're big!"
"Nice to meet you Petal Sakura." says Mar'goth and extends his hand, seeing how out of proportions it looks he changes it to fist
"Fist bump?" he asks sheepishly
"I am from Burning Sun hold, and tonight I represent the church of Mahja Firehair, since I am her cleric." he gives a side glance to the queen
"I hope that with such favor we will be allowed to set up a church in the city..."
After giving the explanations he turns towards the queen
"Will we get something to give us authority to question people of your court? If it happened in here, and anyone is involved there could be some rotten apples in your vicinity "
Petal Sakura uses both of her fists to bump with Mar'goth. So fleshy!
"Hi Alika!" Petal Sakura turns to the merfolk in a metal suit and wonders if she misses the sea like Petal Sakura misses the earth. "Waffles? Oh! With the heated batter and syrup. Sure, I can try it out."
"My sisters?" Petal Sakura ponders the easiest way to explain herself. "Yes, we're all over Golarion in one way or another. Family reunions are hard." That's true enough.
Kamzask watches the merfolk's suit for a while as he marvels at it. He couldn't breathe underwater, but being completely immersed in water sounded divine. He is startled when Petal greets him. "Oh, hi, Petal!" He grins. "This is absolutely marvelous. And yes, Mar'goth is massive, even for those of bigger folk."
The iruxi lazily flips his staff over the back of his hand and then catches it. It seems plain enough, though you see runes carved along it's length. "If this is a real ghost, then I might be able to still catch it, perhaps even pin it down. Although by all accounts the former queen was very dangerous."
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"Well this is all well and good but I think I can assume you are interested." Queen Cressida says.
"Now then, you WILL be compensated for your actions. Up front, I am offering each of you 1,000 gp to cover any preparations you need to make. If you have no base of operations, you may lodge in Castle Korvosa's barracks. Should you uncover the the source of the manifestations, I will award give an additional 1500 gp. Ridding Korvosa of the menace will get an additional 3000 gp. Of course, we would need to see hard evidence of this before you get the extra funds."
Finally, Queen Cressida hands you a Royal Writ. This document explains you have her authority to investigate all matters related to Queen Ileosa and her supposed ghost sightings. "You might not want to use it if you want to keep a low profile, but it could open some doors if necessary."
"I wish you luck in your investigation." she informs you.
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Then picks the queen's brain "Why now?"
The Queen totally ducking his question of motive is highly suspicious - Veracruz tucks the thought away for now.
”Seems the consensus is the explore the Throne Room” although his gut leads him to believe that this is a false lead. Sure, the least cold crime scene, but, a lot can be modified within 48 hours. Nevertheless, even looking for evidence of a cover-up could be useful. He asks Mar’goth if he ”Would be so kind as to lead the way” bowing before the queen slowly and reverently, and stowing the writ.
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"Indeed there was" Veracruz tries to bring the tardy sprite up to speed, pointing to three corresponding locations on the map before them "Four ghost sightings of the late Queen Ileosa - one during the Crimson Festival two weeks past, another upon Jeggare Bridge one week past, a third at Longacre Building not five days ago, and just yesterday's yesterday" he gestures with a sideways tilt of his head towards the throne room "Right on these very premises"
He looks towards Mar'goth, as if he knows what he is thinking "One fresh crime scene, and one witness who has already confessed"
Then picks the queen's brain "Why now?"
"Um, I guess we can go to the throne room?" Petal Sakura looks at Veracruz. His mind already has 5 different plans and he's balancing them all in his head.
So she waits patiently, fiddling with her hat made of flower petals.
Mar'goth turns towards his allies
"The way how I see it, it is either supernatural, and some force is causing it, or someone wants to replace the current Queen, and uses the old one to cause chaos. I am not fluent with words, so if someone have contacts" he looks at Veracruz
"I would appreciate you handling that"
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"Considerite it done" he nods courteously to Mar'goth "I have my suspicions it's the latter. Just a feeling really. But of course anything is just a theory until substantiated by hard evidence. Which we are bound to secure"
Veracruz waits until out of earshot of the queen to say the next part "But if the evidence points unto another theory altogether, well..." he winks conspiratorily "We'll have to cross that bridge once we get there"
"Uh... I could try to help you. Maybe? If you're going the diplomatic route."
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"Well, shoot, I bet you keep a low profile, Miss Sakura, but Old Gund knows a few contacts around town," Gund assures the group.
"Indeed, I could ask through the Guard what they've seen around town. Perhaps that would give us further context to what's been going on before we begin investigating each site."
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Queen Cressida frowns. "Honestly, we are not sure why Queen Ileosa's ghost is manifesting itself only now. Rumors are flying about that she might be trying to return. If so, we would like to be ready in case some malevolent force tries to raise her." A small smile crosses her features, "that's why you're here, after all"
"Hi! I'm Petal Sakura. I'm sure you've heard of me! Do you like my hat?" Petal Sakura starts asking the staff around the castle. Most aren't intimidated. "I love your hat, I can tell you take good care of it."
"Yes, I wanted to hear more about the throne room. There's an awful rumor going around. If you could tell me more? Maybe over tea?"
"Sounds like typical student mischief, and I should know," Gund opines. "Have these apparitions left a mess? Or just frightened folks?"
Alika listens patiently. Once the Queen mentions the Acadamae, the amateur Investigator instantly jumps to conclusions.
"Ah ha! I knew it was those no-good students the whole time. Calling it now - it was some foolhardy Acadamae student who summoned the dead queen's ghost. Now they are trying to lie about summoning it so that they don't get expelled! Something similar happened to me." Alika gestures an armoured hand at her tail. "All we need to do is give that student a stern talking to and exorcise the ghost. It's as shrimple as that." She turns to the others with a smug expression. "I do believe I've cracked the case."
After being dismissed by the current Queen, Alika sets up her alchemical tools on a clean table. While mixing alchemical compounds into foods and waiting for bubbling concoctions to stabilize, she Tricks Magic Item on some basic Magic Wands.
After her alchemical items have stabilized, she quaffs her Greater Darkvision Elixir, hands over one Double Coffee flavoured Lesser Insight Coffee to Velacruz while bringing over a stack of Greater Cooperative Waffles to Gund. She wears the rest of the advanced alchemical items on some bandoliers on her belt.
"Eat up, Old Man. I made these waffles just like you used to order them. But don't finish everything - I haven't had lunch yet either!" Handing out a set of cutlery to Gund, Alika takes up her own fork and knife before digging in.
As Gund Gathers Information, Alika Follows the Expert on him, trying to mimic the smooth way he puts people at ease. Something about his Adept Regalia is so grandiose that she can't help but look at it and be inspired...
"Now, let's check out the Throne Room." Alika says to the others.
Kamzask nods. "Let's check out the throne room, then afterwards perhaps we head to the Acadamae to follow up on this rumor." He glances over at a side table filled with plates and cutlery. It would seem that while he was out asking around, the rest of the team had breakfast.
He walks towards where he thinks the throne room is, using his staff as a light walking stick.
Mar'goth follows Petal as the smallest of the party, just in case she gets into some sort of troubles. He learned it some time, asking questions sometimes makes you being in a middle of situation that you don't want to be in.
Soon enough everyone will know that they are looking into this matter, the only thing needed is for them to be killed by the 'spirit of the Queen'...
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The throne room is designed to command attention. The stone walls bear mosaics, frescos, and hanging tapestries of silk and gold thread, while stained glass panels depict monarchs of the city's history. In the eastern corner stands a great stone fireplace in the shape of a huge, ancient tree, though no fire burns amid the stone tree's roots. The focus of the room is an ornate iron throne standing on a low dais at the far end of the room, bedecked with crimson velvet silks and cushions, though the throne looks a bit dusty and the cushions appear unused.
Queen Cressida describes the scene that transpired here. "One of my guards was here and described what happened. Queen Ileosa's ghost appeared two hours after sundown, sitting on the long-unused Crimson Throne, and gestured forward as though ordering her Gray Maidens to attack. During the apparition, bloody text appeared on the room's walls, and agonizing pain and overwhelming fear wracked the guard's body. The ghost and bloody writing faded quickly, and the nervous guard's description of the writing makes it seem as if the text was written in Infernal. The guard couldn't read the writing, so its message is unknown. Not only was this the most recent of Ileosa's manifestations, but it's the first one where a witness reports suffering agony from it, suggesting to me that the power of these events is increasing."
"Since the manifestation, no one has returned to the throne room."
The chamber feels abandoned, but there are no particular feelings of menace or oppression one might expect.
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"Ileosa’s gone. If she were really coming back, don’t you think her ghost would have been more destructive and obvious? No, these ‘ghost sightings’ are hoaxes or pranks.
Mar'goth enters the room and looks around, he approaches the throne and takes a look at it, was there a mark of anyone sitting there recently? Was a ghost an actual person?
He looks around the room and wonders about the situation
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Mar'Goth examines the throne and finds nothing unusual. Just a few harmless, dark-red spiders that scurry away when the cushions are disturbed.
The wall, however, proves to be more interesting. Mar'goth makes out faint traces of the bloody Infernal writing that appeared on the walls during the ghost's appearance. He recognizes the language fragments as likely coming from a diabolic contract.
As Mar'goth points out faint traces of the infernal writing, Alika reflexively reaches for her Alchemical Toolkit and mixes up a Greater Cognitive Mutagen from her Versatile Vials before drinking it.
Examining the words on the ceiling, Alika remembers something she learnt back in the Acadamae during her Modern History elective. After Ileosa's defeat, all in Korvosa knew she had signed an infernal contract to gain diabolical power. Her copy of the contract was preserved at Longacre Building.
She also remembers at least 2 students who were foolishly inspired enough by this anecdote to sign their own diabolic contracts in exchange for power. It did not end well for them.
"Longacre Building, huh? Isn't that the other place where Queen Ileosa's ghost appeared? We should go there and have a look at this contract." Alika suggests to the others.