King Odric I, the Stout's page

"I am IMMENSELY satisfied with your success and payment is already being prepared. If you are okay with it, I'd like to offer you congratulations publicly if the you are comfortable with me doing so; in this case, it'll mean another round of celebrations kicking off in the city, and the heroes shall be added to the roster of famous figures celebrated during each year’s Crimson Festival! Also, I've got a new barrel of stout ready!"

"I can give you a couple of hours here, but the funeral is right after, and I must attend."

It is rather fortunate you quit doing stretches, your highness.

"Ha! I like the cut of your jib! Yes, let's start here! We can't dally too long, as we have the high priests funeral procession at sundown, and I have to be there."

The king explains as you head to the throne room, "There was only the normal guard here. Ileosa’s ghost appeared two hours after sundown, sitting on the Crimson Throne, which I never use. She gestured forward as though ordering her Gray Maidens to attack. During the apparition, bloody text appeared on the room’s walls. It was written in some kind of sharp alphabet that the guard didn't recognize. Agonizing pain and overwhelming fear wracked the guard’s body. The ghost and bloody writing faded quickly. 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."

"Well, I'll be honest, I don't have the FOGGIEST idea why you. I got a guy. He's also a weird dude. He ugh.... worked for Calistria. It's best if we just leave it at that. Well, I don't have him any more, but he trained some of the best recon men and women in the game. Gwendolyn Ceradiss... he knows things. He told me you were the best ones for the job in the city right now."

"Not to our knowledge, no. At least no one has told me if anyone has been hurt. So it sounds like you're on the job. Splendid! Here! Take this!"

"Here. Look at these. Here are the places she has been seen."

"The first appearance took place two weeks ago in Kendall Plaza during the Crimson Festival, an annual event celebrating Queen Ileosa’s downfall. You know, the day that Thorgrym took that b~%*&'s head! (We all helped mind you.) ANYWAY, an Acadamae student took responsibility for this manifestation, claiming it was a joke in poor taste. Given the other sightings since then, I doubt the student’s claim and can’t help but wonder why he made the confession if, indeed, it was false. I know the headmasters there, but he's a weirdo, despite being one of my closest friends."

"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.

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.

The most recent appearance occurred.... HERE... 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. Nearly s$$@ myself when it happened."

"I'm not an adventurer any more. What say you? Are you up to the task?
I'll pay you EACH 1,000 gold up front to cover any preparations you need to make, and I've arranged for you to lodge in Castle Korvosa’s barracks if they don’t already have a local base from which to work. In addition to this payment, I will award you an additional 1,500 gold if you discover the source of the manifestations, or 3,000 gp if you also successfully eliminate it... with evidence, of course!"

"What say you?"

“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. I'll cut to the chase. I might be a king, but I'm a doer more than a planner. Will you investigate these disruptions and track down their source? You will, of course, be well compensated for your services.”