Queen Ileosa Arabasti's page

"You'll see her reasoning in a moment." Headmaster Ornelos scoffs and turns his eyes to the wall behind him, whispering an incantation and snapping his fingers.

An image of the courtyard of Castle Korvosa coalesces into being, with swirling dark colours taking shape into a gathering of nobles and government officials. The queen herself is standing above them, dressed in fine, blood-red royal regalia, and now wearing a large, golden crown of what appear to be jagged, sharp fangs. Sabina Merrin is right by her side, dressed in her form-fitting plate armour and bearing her curved greatsword. It appears the queen is in the middle of speaking...

"...our efforts to combat this plague have drained our resources too much to effectively treat it any longer." The queen says, her nose wrinkling in barely concealed contempt. "Our wealthiest and most economically vital neighbourhoods and districts have been treated, and so far, we have had no resurgences of plague in them--the Heights, South Shore, Midland, East Shore and North Point are collectively free of this contagion, for the most part."

"However, there is still the matter of Old Korvosa to consider." She crosses her arms over her ample chest and frowns. "That slum is of little strategic importance, considering none of our current military forces are stationed there. The damage done to that district is nothing short of catastrophic, and any economic value it once had has since been annihilated. Therefore, I have decided that, in order to preserve the many of Korvosa, the district known as Old Korvosa is to remain quarantined until the last of the plague has run its course."

The sharp, commanding voice of Commandant Endrin speaks up from the crowd of nobles. "But, your Majesty, there are still countless innocent people on that island! Not to mention our own forces--"

"Casualties. Tragic, my apologies." The queen retorts in a clearly unapologetic tone. "And thank you for reminding me of the matter of our military, Commandant Endrin." Her face breaks into a smug smile. "The plague took a heavy toll on our current military forces: the Korvosan Guard and the Sable Company are to be commended for their efforts in maintaining order in these troubled times. Alas, their numbers have been all but depleted in doing so. As such, I hereby declare my newest peacekeeping force to be the new agents of law enforcement in Korvosa--my Grey Maidens."

That provokes a lot of heated arguing amongst the assembled nobles. Commandant Endrin's eyes widen with anger. "And effective today, since the numbers of the Sable Company have been greatly reduced, to the degree to which they can no longer be considered a full-strength military unit, I decree that the remnants of Sable Company are to disband and fold into the ranks of the Korvosan Guard. The transition will be difficult, I know, but--"

"No, you f+%!ing don't! You're not getting that one past me!" Endrin appears to have had enough. "I'm not so blind as to just dismiss you replacing two of Korvosa's military institutions with a force loyal only to YOU! No sane man or woman here would stand for it!"

The smug smile on Ileosa's face turns half-circle into a displeased glare. "You dare to challenge my authority, Endrin? I assure you, you are making a grave mistake."

"No, I'm not challenging it." The commandant growls before levelling a crossbow at her. "I'm denying its existence."

The crowd gasps as he fires it, and before even Sabina can react, the bolt flies true and strikes the Queen in the eye! "Your rule ends HERE! AND NO LONGER WILL YOU MAKE A MOCKERY OF US!" Endrin barks.

It's the last thing he says before he suddenly freezes in place. Queen Ileosa is still on her feet, sighing in... annoyance, from the looks of things. She reaches up to the bolt lodged in her eye and slowly pulls it out, the sound of tearing flesh accompanied by cries of fright and disgust from the gathered nobility.

When the queen finishes pulling the bolt out, there's no sign it ever harmed her. Her face is as beautiful and tyrannical as ever. She stalks towards the paralyzed commandant with the bloodied bolt in her hand.

And she rams it into his open eye.

The commandant reels in shock, gurgles once, and falls to the flagstones, twitching and dying.

The queen snorts and brushes off her dress. "Any man who speaks as he is just as much of a threat." She addresses the crowd with a harsh glare. "Effective today, the Grey Maidens shall police the streets, and Sable Company is disbanded."

"Now, before I was so rudely interrupted--"

The image freezes. Toff Ornelos turns to the assembled meeting. "If that's not abandoning all pretence of sanity, what would you call it?"

The queen waves her hand. "Wonderful news."

"Very well, you have answered all my questions to my satisfaction. Go forth, noble souls. Devise your cure for this plague, with my blessing." The queen dismissively waves her hand.

Queen Ileosa abruptly smiles. "Good."

Hyrgan flinches. If the queen or anyone else noticed, they've made no note of it.

"This is quite... interesting news." The queen starts to rise from her Crimson Throne. "It appears the ones in the castle have worn out their welcome."

"Maidens!" She barks, and every Grey Maiden lining the hall turn to the queen in unison. The sound of their metallic footfalls is quite cacophonic. "Search the castle for the Physicians that sought to take advantage of my goodwill. Introduce them to the dungeons. If they resist..." She smiles. There's nothing but viciousness in her smile. "...persuade them."

The Maidens nod in unison and disperse from the grand hall. The sound of swords being unsheathed from their scabbards echo throughout the halls as they leave.

"Now, as for you..." Queen Ileosa sits back down on her throne. "...there is still the matter of curing this wretched plague they unleashed on my city."

"Yes, yes, and such fanaticism is to be expected from such dregs." The queen waves her hand. "But you haven't told me if you killed them all."

The queen's glare never wavers as she quietly listens to the party's explanations of what happened in the hospice--how her Physicians sought to drown her city in plague and death, and how their operations were decisively ended. She's silent for a minute, her expression turning slightly pensive before glancing over at Sabina.

"You've trained your women a little too well, it seems." She says, her tone calm and collected. She turns back to the party. "Tell me, did you leave any of my 'Physicians' or their cultist kin alive?"

Hyrgan keeps silent and his eyes stay glued to the carpet.

The castle's grand hall feels much more oppressive than the last time the party came here. Banners bearing the Chelaxian coat of arms hang from gargoyle statues near the castle's stained glass windows, their edges frayed and gently flapping in the breeze. The statues stare down at the party as they pass, silently judging them.

Seated in the great Crimson Throne at the end of the hall is Queen Ileosa Arabasti, the First of her Name. She's dressed in blood red royal regalia encrusted with emerald jewelry, and her immaculate red hair is hidden under an impressive crown, its tips seemingly tipped with dragon fangs. The queen glares at the party as they approach, pressing her delicate fingertips together. Sabina Merrin stands at her right, her greatsword pointed downwards into the red carpet.

"At last, you've finally come." Queen Ileosa's voice echoes throughout the throne room with a hardened edge. "I must admit, I did not think the lot of you would be so... audacious as this." She waves her hand a bit before pressing it to her other hand again. "The few remaining Physicians in Korvosa have fled to my side, begging for asylum from a band of madmen; from *you*. They told me that you butchered their fellows in their own hospice, and the Maidens that were sworn to guard them."

"You will explain your reason for such acts. THEN I will decide how to punish you."

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Korvosan Guard, allow me to apologize for disrupting any business, or interfering with any prior engagements you may have had this evening." Queen Ileosa struts forward on the hangman's platform, her immaculately coifed red braids shining in the torchlight. "It is unfortunate that the affair that gathers us together tonight is... a troubling one."

"The pox sweeping our fair city is showing no signs of slowing its pace that I can see, despite the efforts of our many faiths and herbalists. I fear that unless steeper measures are taken, Korvosa will not survive--no man, woman, or child will be safe, no matter how deep their pockets or how strong their bodies." The queen folds her arms and sighs. "I had hoped such a day would never come, but perhaps that was too foolish and naïve of me--Korvosa has been subjected to such tragedies before, and everything must be done to survive them."

"To that end, I have sought assistance from many corners of Varisia, and my efforts have been rewarded." She gestures behind her, and from behind the platform come at least twenty men, all dressed in coweled, black leather robes and wearing white masks in the shape of crow faces. Some wear wide brimmed hats, some wear elaborate scarves, others even have the audacity to go bareheaded. All of them bear satchels and knives. Leading them is an olive-skinned, dark-haired man whose lips seem permanently quirked into a half-smile. Even in the dim torchlight, his blue eyes shine brightly.

"Before you stand the Queen's Physicians, each of them trained and equipped to deal with the pestilence that plagues our poor and downtrodden." Queen Ileosa makes a grand, sweeping gesture to indicate all of them. "Led by one Dr. Davaulus, they have agreed to lend their expertise to Korvosa, purging it of waste and disease, wherever it may linger. They will succeed where our own methods have faltered--and I expect each of you to aid them. Without exception." The queen glances over at a tired-looking Field Marshal Kroft, who just snorts.

"But that is not all." The queen smirks and looks to her bodyguard, standing at her right. "I have no intention of letting the Korvosan Guard protect my Physicians alone. Isn't that right, Sabina?"

Kroft blinks in surprise. "Wait. What--?"

Demitri

Waiting at the door, you can hear the argument beyond...

"Let me make something clear, Your Grace--the Korvosan Guard answers to ME first. They're my responsibility, and as such I will punish any lapse in discipline myself." Kroft starts, her voice tinged with irritation.

"Really, Field Marshal?" Another voice speaks--this one the regal, almost bored voice of Queen Ileosa herself. "In that case, you should have the entire patrol who refused to fire punished. Private Clay was the only member of that patrol who understood my command and knew it was in everyone's best interest to follow it."

"B#!~#&~+. "

"Mind your language, Kroft."

"I am. Every member of the Guard understands how the chain of command works--you create the laws, the Peerage & arbiters look them over to see if they meet their standards, and I choose which ones to enforce."

"I'm quite aware of how my city works, Field Marshal."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed, from this conversation. If Clay hadn't fired that catapult, we could have determined whether that ship was a threat or not. If King Eodred were still alive--"

"--'he wouldn't approve'. You're not the first person to tell me that. Do you remember why my husband named you Field Marshal?"

That question causes Kroft to pause. "...of course I do. I was the best candidate for the job--"

"He said you were a capable administrator and military leader, yes. Are you telling me that my husband's trust in you was misplaced, Kroft?" Even through the door, you can hear the smirk in Queen Ileosa's voice.

Kroft doesn't answer.

"Let me make something clear, Field Marshal--you may lead the Korvosan Guard, but if you do not have the nerve to enforce my edicts to the letter, I am more than capable of removing you from the position and finding someone who will. Have I made myself clear?"

"...yes."

"Good. Now, Private Clay--come with me. I believe I can use someone with your initiative."

"As you wish, Your Grace."

The doors to Kroft's office open, and Nadia hides behind you. Queen Ileosa emerges, clad in fine emerald robes and with an elaborate crown on her head. Sabina Merrin follows her, with Private Simon Clay bringing up the rear. She and Sabina ignore you as they leave, but Clay gives you a cocky, satisfied smirk.

Sabina smiles at Demitri as she relieves him of the brooch. She steps up to the Queen and presents the brooch to her, kneeling before her as she does so. A smile appears on the queen's face as she takes the brooch and holds it up to the light. The imp's eye twinkles.

Sabina takes her place at the queen's side. Queen Ileosa puts the brooch around her neck and addresses you all.

"Truth be told, I had not expected to see it again once it was stolen from me. I had resigned myself to losing a precious piece of my husband's history, and then you all arrived at my door, bringing it back to me."

Queen Ileosa stands, walking over to one of the stained glass windows that line the room's eastern wall. She runs a hand along it before looking to you all again. Her silver coffer remains in her hands.

"It would've been easy enough for any of you to simply leave this city and sell the brooch elsewhere. The fact that you have not done so is proof enough of your moral integrity." She says as the sunlight from the window falls upon her. "It's certainly more than I could say for others of Korvosa."

She approaches Demitri and presents the coffer to him. "Such forthrightness should be properly rewarded, I believe."

"And perhaps... others could stand to learn from your example." The queen says as she returns to her throne.

A wistful look is in her eye. "I love Korvosa, much like Eodred did. Such anarchy in the streets is enough to make my heart break, and for my husband to roll in his grave. I think you would be inclined to agree with me when I say that these riots cannot go on any longer."

She looks you all in the eyes. "To that end, I have a proposal for you. Field Marshal Kroft, leader of the Korvosan Guard, is in dire need of aid in returning order to Korvosa's streets. Should you be interested in helping her, pay a visit to Citadel Volshyenek. She will provide you with more information."

Queen Ileosa stands. "Good evening." With a whirl of her dress, she leaves the throne room through a side door.