So last night while running "Seven Days to the Grave" my party encountered Lady Andaisin. They'd already fought their way through most of the resistance there, so it was just the PCs against her, but the sorcerer was out of spells and the cleric was nearly there. The fight was a hard one, leaving them pretty badly beat up and the cleric struck blind. When she dropped they were mightily relieved.
This has been a great adventure. I'm looking forward to wrapping up and jumping into "Escape from Old Korvosa" next week...assuming I can get them to thinking they can stay in the city for one more adventure. They're ready to skip town right now!
I'd use Field Marshal Kroft again to encourage them to stay in the city. Have her almost beg the PCs to stay in town and help out with the recovery. She needs every man she can get. Half the guard is dead, and the city is completely lawless. Give them some easy tasks up front - quell the looting in this neighborhood, supervise debris removal here, escort clerics carrying the cure into bad neighborhoods. Slay some Giant Rats or loose Otyughs. Nothing too hard. And as they tour the city this way, have the people LOVE them, thank them, proclaim them the greatest heroes since Blackjack. If you do it well enough, the PCs will feel beholden to the people since they have their thanks, trust, and love. They won't want to abandon them.
Thanks for the ideas. I'd already planned on having Kressida do some kind of pitch, but wasn't sure exactly where to take it. Also, I'm giving them some time with Marcus Endrin so they have time to warm up to him...perhaps have a joint raid between the PCs and some of the Sable Guard against a shipload of pirates. I'll probably have him award the party for their actions during the plague as well.
That sounds like a great idea. Here's an idea, have Endrin make some comment like, "I'd normally have a team able to do X, but they died in the plague. Good to know people like you are around." One, it gives them a feeling of being "fastracked" in the city. Two, it makes them look well upon Endrin since he's giving them praise. And of course it sets up future events nicely.
If you are really good at subtle innuendo, you may even have him subtly inquire as to what they think of things. Don't ask directly whether the PCs approve or disapprove of the Queen. But a leading, but general question that would naturally get them talking about their opinion. At that point, he'll know whether he may be able to rely on them.
That works. Plus, whatever he can't get from the PCs, he can pick up from the Marshal, as they've been fairly open with her.
If all else fails, I can drop the idea of hiding in plain sight. Since the quarantine of Old Korvosa is still in effect, it provides an isolated hiding place that's still within the city.