Sgt. Drakus is again astonished at being addressed as "Field Sargent". He had thought his career had been stopped on his conviction for cowardice, but apparently it pays to know people in high places. It bothered him though that it wasn't as part of a regular legion where he belonged. It's not even like he commanded this squad he was in either, with his companions ranks so ill defined.
He sighed a little and stood up straight. Even as part of a mishmash "Special Field Operations Unit", he would not be failing in his duty. Straightening his tunic, he carefully pulled on his helm and took up his tower shield and bardiche.
"All right ladies and gents! The General has called us to orders! Let's march!"
At Marra's words he replies; "Ar, yer right there Marra. No lynch mob goes fer justice, it's just self indulgent righteousness. The opposite of proper order."
If Trinia is good enough to paint a portrait of the previous king then maybe Aliandara has heard of her?
Aliandara is a bit startled by the messenger, but she was expecting to be summoned by Cressida at some point. She gathers her things and follows, wondering what task Cressida has for them this time.
"Way I see it is either stop tha mob o Death's slavers or find tha artist girl an protect her"
"Seems easier tah get tha lot o them jackals an beat them tah unconsciousness than tah find a single girl."
"I vote we take tah tha streets and quash this riot!"
"Way I see it is either stop tha mob o Death's slavers or find tha artist girl an protect her"
"Seems easier tah get tha lot o them jackals an beat them tah unconsciousness than tah find a single girl."
"I vote we take tah tha streets and quash this riot!"
"Tah find an defend tha girl then!"
Panish: you have indeed heard of Trinia Sabor. Aliandara you have not.
"We're off to see the Field Marshall, she may have a lead on where said needle is in the haystack of Korvosa...in addition I don't think anything about slaves was mentioned...except by you, you crazy dwarf."
"Though; you should probably drink some beer to calm your nerves."
"Off tah see the Field Marshall then!"
"Hey Aliandara! Is Chi-Chi here? - ah there she is - and hey Donagar, I still owe you the next round! What you say we have another good night out after today is done? Marra; I am impressed, you seem like you're growing - or perhaps I should say you seem like you let go of whatever has been holding you back, you looking great! Ah! And I see Sgt Drakus is as resolute a man as ever, it will be my pleasure to work with you again."
After some pleasantries Panish goes on: "If Trinia is really who we after this time around, I think I can help a little - she had a few pieces up at the temple about a year back, along with several other local arteests. The matron insists on cultural expansion and goes out of her way to promote women in all avenues of life; Iomedaen through and through. Anyway, Trinia, Trinia Sabor, we've chatted just a little - before the matron came storming in demanding to know what I was thinking cavorting with her guests when I should be reciting the deeds in the chapel - ...well, long story short, Trinia is a little stunner; lithe and tiny frame with soulful blue-gray eyes and short, fuzzy hair that is the color of bright sunrise."
Looks up from her plate of sausage which she's greedily eating as usual...it would be wise to let her finish...lest you lose a finger.
She let's out a series of chirps and clicks in acknowledgement of how good the sausage is, a spicy chicken sausage stuffed with Chelish cheddar and Vudran spices.
"I feel different, I feel as though I'm one with Iomedae now, her left hand of judgement and right hand of justice. I feel her power in me. I understand more of Acts of Iomedae today than I did yesterday, and that has happened every day over the last few weeks. When I decided not to slaughter Lamm, it all started to make sense. " Marra states coolly, matter of fact, as if every word was so true there was no denying them.
"There is only justice, if laws are unjust they must be changed, just because slavery is the law in Cheliax does not make it just." she muses as she examines the new blade on the war razor she carries, the last piece of her friend Calliope, who died at the hands of Gaedren Lamm, as you found out during the last week.
Sgt. Drakus examines Marra's new blade with interest. "Nice."
He examines Sir Panish's armor with even more interest after clapping him on the shoulder in friendship. "Very good workmanship there. But we just got orders to meet with the Field Marshall. Since they hate lateness, we'd better march."
Agreed.
"Yes, let us see what the commander requires of us!" Panish is clearly in good spirits; you cannot shake the feeling that he would skip along in his heavy armor if he could.
"To tha commander then!"
You quickly rush to the fort, passing several groups of clashing Hellknights putting down rioters with zealous glee.
You're ushered into the Field Marshall's warhall. Where she has a model of the entire city taking up the span of a 10'x12' table. She waves you over without hesitation.
"I see you've added a new member to your fellowship, greetings dwarf, I am Field Marshall Cressida Kroft. Now, to why I've called you here."
“You’ve doubtless heard the stories that the king’s killer has been named. Yet there’s something more going on here, I’m afraid. Queen Ileosa could have quietly had this Trinia Sabor arrested at any time, yet the way in which she revealed the information to the city seems to me like she wants the riots to come back. Certainly, with the mob
and the Hellknights out on the street, the girl doesn’t stand a chance at a trial—they’ll lynch her the moment they find her. And even if she did kill the king, mob justice isn’t the way. Worse, if she’s innocent, the real killer can use this distraction to throw us off the trail forever."
“Before Trinia is executed, we need to be absolutely sure she did this thing. And that means we need to catch her before the mob. We know where she lives—a flat in Midland at 42 Moon Street—but soon, so will the mob." she points out the location on the scale model of where the mobs are and the location of 42 Moon Street "The Hellknights don’t seem to care as much about catching her as they do about containing the mob—something about the “order of law” makes it a greater priority for them to contain than a possible assassin. I can’t say I disagree completely, but the problem is, the Hellknights are only making it worse. The mob’s covering most of Midland now, and Trinia’s flat is near the middle of the mess. I’ve got all available guards at work keeping things from getting any worse—and if I were to send them into Midland, they’d trigger a riot."
“I’m sure you can see where this is going. I need you to get into Midland, find Trinia, and bring her back to me so we can deliver
her, safe and sound, to somewhere where she can be interrogated—preferably with magic, so we can be absolutely sure about her role in Eodred’s death. Get in there, catch her, and get out without letting the mob get its hands on her. I’ll have agents and officers nearby. If you can get her to one of them, we’ll be in the clear. Any questions?”
"So this means that there was definitely foul play involved in the king's death. How did you track down the location of Trinia so quickly, when apparently everybody else is still traipsing about?"
"Thank you for your greetin, I am Donagar."
"Be there a tavern tah be found near 42 moon street?"
"Tis easier tah travel through a mob o unrulies tha way"
"Head first! an to tha ale first, I always say"
"I could help with the interrogation, I have become an instrument of Iomedae, and I would be quite happy to help find out some answers..."
"Excellent, then let us be about!", Panish confirms the destination one more time on the big scale-model of the city and then leads the way.
"You mean... no uniform?"
Sgt. Drakus' face fell; having achieved a long desired rank (equivalent to Centurion!) he was eager for a chance to show it off. But he understood orders.
"I understand Ma'am. I will appear as a mercenary bodyguard."
He straightens up and salutes.
"Get in there, catch her, and get out without letting the mob get its hands on her. Yes Ma'am!"
"Being part of this special unit requires less soldier appearance."
"Whether or not there was true foul play; there is definitely something wrong with this situation."
"Now bout that tavern...."
Actually, this is the perfect time to side-step her...
Are we waiting for anything then, or shall we make our way to the next step? I believe there is a tavern with our name on it, yes?
"Aliandara, would you please stay for a few minutes whilst the others head out. I'm sure you can catch up...
Perception
"A Tavern...not sure if that's where we should actually go, but it's a good cover...I believe there's a tavern known as The Imp's Demise Near to that address"
"That sounds as good a place as any to start. Let's head out, sooner rather than later."
Sgt. Drakus salutes, about faces and marches out.
Before heading out to the tavern, he stops by the quartermasters to remove the tabard and insignia of the city guard from his uniform and armor; switching into his now familiar "ex-military bodyguard" look.
Perception
"On to tha Imps Demise then!"
"I'm curious though as to why we're going to a tavern, when we know where she lives??"
"Iffa tavern is onna way then we declare ourselves headed fer tha tavern, if any ask then we are not fer lying an not fer tellin o a destination beyond tha tavern."
"Try it yerself an ask me where I am headed."
"My friends an I are headed fer tha Imp's Demise as we have worked up a thirst."
"And I have no doubt that statement from your lips would fool a high inquisitor in its truthfulness..."
"I shall keep tha in mind iffin I meats a high inquisitor, but fer all others...."
"Tah tha Imp's Demise then!....I hopes tha doors are open!"
Once the spell takes effect he no longer talks and begins running around the room........
Someone let me know if the dwarf gets too stubborn!!!!
Sgt Drakus rejoins the party in his undercover bodyguard uniform.
"OK, squad; we march!"
Enroute to Trinia's domicile Panish walks beside Sgt. Drakus, "Any idea what to expect? Trinia will probably know by now that trouble is about; but I cannot really imagine her barricading her place or enlisting a bodyguard."
Sgt. Drakus strides along steadily.
"What to expect? I ain't got a clue. You were at the briefing, so you know everything I do. But if it were easy, they would have sent someone else."
Panish laughs at Sgt. Drakus remarks, "Quite right, I can tell that you're not always comfortable with being an irregular. But don't ever forget: we are some of Korvosa's finest, and we'll do her proud!"
"Tha streets seem crowded but fear not we shall find tha Imp's Demise soon enough"
Perception for the streets
"The Shingles can be a nasty place, I lived near her address for several months, I saw a kid get dragged down a chimney by a cloaker, an old man sting to death by imps and stirges are a constant threat. If the mobs are clueless as to her address, then they'll be searching more low than high for her."
"Then tis well we have yerself tah protect us, I will lead tha way, go ahead...."
You arrive at the tenement in which Trinia is said to live, they find the place in a densely built section of the city, a place where, at ground level, direct sunlight is a rarity. Above, jury-rigged catwalks, overhanging roofs, lines of laundry, and homemade bridges of rope and boards create a cluttered tangle, a multi-level mess of gutters, upper floors, and rooftops. This is the slum above—a place known as the Shingles. The Imp's Demise is around the corner, you wonder if she ever quaffs an ale there...
Worst of all are the chokers, hideous aberrations with long boneless arms who have taken to the Shingles with a tenacious fecundity that has resisted all attempts to date at eradication. Stories of chokers wending arms down through chimneys or upper windows are common, and serve as the
primary reason most citizens avoid climbing above the second floor in regions the Shingles overshadow.
"Tis not a fit place fer man nor beast"
"Oh it's fit for plenty of beasts friend dwarf...Imps, pseudodragons, cloakers, rats, giant spiders..."She trails off
"I'm not sure our artist is much a drinker, maybe she's into shiver...or some other drug of choice, let's start by asking around, you hit the tavern, I'll talk to the locals, some of 'em might even recognize me, from 2 streets over."
"I agree to hit the tavern as long as someone who might recognize tha lass is with me, an someone can goes up top with yerself"
"Supose we meet back up here in a bit?"
Additional Taxidermy resides on the walls, with imps mounted to the walls there's even an imp crossbowed to one of the rafters.
At the bar stands a tall handsome fellow, wearing a pure white tabard emblazoned with the emblem of Aroden, the Last Azlanti.
"Welcome friends, how might I slake your thirst."
"Panish, you've met her, go with the dwarf."
Wooo 1 thousandth post!