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Korvosa, the Jewel of Varisia, has long sparkled on Varisia’s southern shore. Established 300 years ago by Cheliax at the height of that empire’s expansion; the city now commands its own destiny. A line of Korvosan kings and queens emerged to rule the city, establishing an infamous seat power—the Crimson Throne. Rulers have sat upon the Crimson Throne for more than a century, and the city has flourished. Yet the monarchy always seems on the brink of disaster. The Crimson Throne is not a prize to be won—it is a curse. No monarch of Korvosa has died of old age, and none have produced an heir while ruling. Even though King Eodred II controls Korvosa more fully than any previous monarch, that control remains tenuous, and many secretly count the days until their latest king falls to what they call the Curse of the Crimson Throne.
Perhaps you count those days as well or the monarchy of Korvosa could be the furthest thing from your mind. Earlier in your lives you were touched by Gaedren Lamm and that has changed and molded you into the person you are now. Maybe you have moved past it, or maybe you secretly harbor revenge in your heart. Either way, the scars of his continued existence are still a stain on your heart, one that might not be ignored much longer.
It starts with a card. An innocuous and easily unnoticed slip of paper but this one seemed to call out for attention. On the backs of the painted cards, written over heavy embroidered artwork, are the words ” I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.”
The script is bold but flowing, with strong sharp lines, almost perfect in a way.
What each of you does with this note is ultimately up to you. Whether you heed the call or decide to ignore it is up to you. Either way, it is the 3rd of Pharast 4708 AR, a red dawn rises over Korvosa, and Gaedren Lamm is still out there.
Bao Xu is having a rough morning. Last night at the Sticky Mermaid he entered into a drinking contest with a Shoanti from out of town and had one two many pints of grog... or perhaps it was seven too many. Either way, his head aches something awful.
As Bao Xu studies the card in his hand and reads the message on the back, he looks up at his coworker quizically before slowly sliding the card into his pocket and continuing his work. Throughout the day, his thoughts are racing, 'Where'd this thing come from? Who in the hells sent it to me?' He can't concentrate and almost drops a crate of pottery he's unloading off a Magnimarian freighter, catching a load of chaff from the foreman.
After work, rather than starting his usual rounds of the Old Dock's taverns, he takes a long pull from a jug of grog that he keeps on his person, tied to a rope hanging around his waist, and heads toward Lancet street, determined to find out what this business is all about.
Yet another night of restless sleep passed by for Thaniel, he awakens in his room at the Laughing Wave. After a long week of pressing any opportunity for information about Lamm yielding little gave way to ale-ridden despair. Now is a new day, however. He does his best to shake off the weariness, but it grows thicker.
The strange card falls out of his glove, a curious sight. He is caught off guard at the faint sting at first, but looks it over curiously, thoughts racing regarding its intention. 'An ally? A trap? Surely, anyone who slipped in and hidden this card must be of some skill... what have I more to lose?'
Spending much of the day taking a walk through the city streets, calculating the intentions of this enigmatic invitation... eventually he decides to make a leap of faith and just visit this Lancet street home to see what comes.
Aleixica suppressed the shudder that ran through her body as she read the card for the third time. She spent too long begging and stealing for Lamm to think she'd never have run into anyone from her past, but she certainly hadn't expected it to happen this quickly after her return to the city. She'd been performing for a month in some of the smaller inns -- trying to make a name for herself, though in truth barely making enough to pay for her room and board -- but someone had clearly linked her to the beggar who'd left the city two years ago.
Her plans for the day forgotten, she belts her sword over her clothing, and sets out to see if she can't find some answers.
diplomacy to find out about the address.
diplomacy to see if anyone at the inn saw anything.
knowledge (local) to learn about the card itself, +2 more if it has to do with the local arts/music scene.
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The past few days have been tough for Briar, but it is getting easier. Adjusting to the press of mankind in Korvosa has been harder than Briar imagined. If it wasn't for the sanctuary of the Gray district and his tavern room, Briar is unsure how he would survive the days.
Awakening at first light, Briar has been walking the empty streets trying to find the nature, the spirit of Gozreh, that must be present within these city walls. He has spent time in the merchant's square, watching as merchants open doors, set up hawkers tables, and await the days customers. He stays in the commercial centers for as long as he can stand it, but by noon, the noise, dust, and chaos of the area drives him toward a more secluded spots.
Yet still, Briar pushes himself to understand the rhythm of the streets and hum of commerce and community within Korvosa. He pushes himself to browse wares of shiny trinkets, feigning interest, so that he might have words with a shopkeeper or fellow customer as a chance of interaction.
In nature, there is always a hierarchy: the hunter and the prey. The queen bee, her warriors, and her drones. The alpha wolf and the pack. These Korvosans, they have a different nature to them and Briar works at unlocking its mysteries. Between the well dressed and poor, the three different armed militant groups, and the royalty and the bureaucracy, the order of things eluded him. It would take time before he walked confidently around this city.
Briar was beginning to doubt the wisdom of his coming and the strategy of his approach...so far all he had done is squandered his money and added too much dust to his cloak. Not to mention is that still had very few leads regarding his brother, Thorne, and anything new regarding Gaedren Lamm.
Briar has always considered himself to be perceptive, so the idea that someone had managed to put this card into this pouch, into this room, upon his person, was somewhat disconcerting. Yet a thorough check of the room and a thoughtful, if forced, polite questioning of the tavern staff yielded no answers as to its origin.
I have only been in town a few weeks...am I already losing my edge? Is this what happened to Thorne?
Nonetheless, the message was encouraging...finally, a real lead to pursue and mayhaps Briar had made a friend during his previous daily excursions that he had thought were futile.
Briar smiled at the idea of another new day and another new chance to make a name for himself. Briar completed his morning ritual: arising with the dawn, hours of careful study of the people of Korvosa, then retreating to a secluded area when the weight of the day and people became too much. The only difference today was his attempts to find the nighttime destination well ahead of time.
Whether this is a trap or fate or happenstance, then I will walk into it willingly. This might be my first step towards glory.
'It must be a trick' Orlando thinks, carefully taking the card and turning the harrow card over. 'But a good one'.
The inn was quiet this early in the morning. He was staying in Midland this month. It was important to move around the city, meeting new people, seeing new places. And there were other reasons too.
He thought about it over breakfast. A huge smile to the inkeeper's wife brought a plate of fresh pastries and cool milk to wash them down. He thanked her effusively and she blushed. It would be a shame to move on from this place, the food was excellent. 'Gaedren'. Not Gaedren Lamm or Lamm or your enemy, just Gaedren. It seemed quite intimate. Surely a trick. But who? Not Lamm himself that was a given. It was all wrong for that.
'Its a teaser' he concluded looking again at the key words used in the message. Wronged. Strike. Fate. Justice. Just enough to pique interest but no real information. Some form of magic would explain the dream. But The Dance. So appropriate to Orlando himself. That couldn't be an accident. So whoever it was had been studying him and either wanted him to know or didn't care. Sureness or arrogance? Neither felt very comfortable. He was used to finding out about others, not the reverse. Was blackmail the purpose? How much did they know about what he really did with the information that fell so easily into his hands? Now that was a thought to make one sweat.
But then why the part about Lamm? Eh he was trying to put together a puzzle without all the pieces.
It was easy enough to find the owner of 3 Lancet Street.. Zellara. A Varisian fortune teller. And a relatively succesful one if she lived in Midland rather than Old Korvosa. That explained the harrow card but increased the odds of the whole thing being a scam significantly. He generally liked and got on with Varisians just fine but hadn't met too many he'd trust with his purse. Still some had power, real power. He'd seen that himself and heard it from people he trusted.
His morning was free. It had taken only two days of his alloted week to locate the merchant's daughter: taken up with a handsome but penniless guardsmen in a rundown flat in Old Korvosa. The merchant had yelled and screamed but for all of that his concern had been for the girl. They would all be better off once he cooled down. And lo Orlando had been paid this time.
He spent the morning finding out more about Zellara.
Still even as he worked he realised that he'd already decided that he would attend the meeting. It was reckless perhaps but he'd been reckless before. It was surely a trick. But for all the years he'd kept his ear open for word of Lamm he had never mentioned his name to anyone. Not ever.
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The day winds on as each of you begin to plan and work through your day. The city streets bustle about with the poor and middle class of the city making the best of another day in Korvosa.
Sunset begins to settle down over Korvosa as you head towards the Midlands. After a day of finding out all you can on the card and the note itself, you are really no closer to figuring out who gave you the card but finding the street itself is not too hard. The streets begin to empty the closer you get and the darker the sky line becomes. Eventually the smell of the docks hits your nose. The smell of salty water and refuse mixed into a pungent assault on your senses. On Lancet Street the houses are small and squat, close together and shabby looking. The third house on the street bears a large three near its front door. The structure is a little more run down than the others around it but sturdy enough to still live in. There is still a bit more time before sundown really sets in.
Aleixica strides up to the door, her sure step giving no sign of the uncertainty she feels at having been summoned to the strange location. The young woman, her hair seeming especially red in the waning sunlight, is wearing a simple, white, long-sleeved cotton tunic and well-worn loose leather breeches. Anyone who looks closely can see simple flowers embroidered on the cuffs of her pants. A plain longsword is belted to her hip, though she doesn't carry herself as someone who is well-used to it.
She looks around as she arrives at 3 Lancet Street, and then knocks on the door, entering when the door opens.
Arriving early, Briar's attempts at finding out more about the location and inhabitants didn't yield good results. In his first time passing, he nearly missed the building altogether as it was noticeably more shabby then the rest.
The second time in passing, Briar marked the large tree by the front door.
Not much of a building and this neighborhood is not what I am used to, but I have no other paths now.
Third time in passing, card in hand, Briar approaches the door. Pausing a moment to listen before knocking.
"Good evening. I received this." Holds up card. "Am I in the right place?
So assume that specific gather information check provided nothing useful?
Orlando arrives at Lancet Street, wearing a clean, but worn, grey coat with a cudgel hanging from his belt.
I'm early. Let us see what we can see. As unobstrusively as practical, he will wait up the street, within sight of no 3, and see who else arrives there.
The walk has been a little longer than Bao Xu remembered and his jug of grog is nearly empty by the time he reaches Lancet street. 'Man, I should have brought that second jug...' he thinks to himself as he looks up at the old house. Habitually scratching at his jawline, he pulls the Harrow card out from his pocket and studies it closely, shifting his gaze back and forth between the card and the house. His eye catches on the elephant painted on the card and he grins for a moment remembering a joke Jareth told him earlier.
He starts to chuckle absent-mindedly as he flips the card over and squints to re-read the text, slowly muttering the words as he reads, I know... what Gaedren... I hate that guy... has done... to you. He has wronged me... as well. I know... where he dwells... yet cannot strike at him.... Come to my home at... 3 Lancet Street..." He looks up at the house and continues reading, "At sunset." He looks up at the sky, squinting as he stares into the setting sun. Looking back down at the note he stares a moment longer before his vision readjusts and then goes on, "Others like you will be there... I don't see anybody else... Gaedren... I hate that guy... must face his fate... and justice... must be done. Well that sounds good to me!" he shouts out to no one in particular, shoving the card back into his pocket.
As he moves to mount the steps, he hears movement coming up the street and turns to face whoever is coming, striking a martial stance and shouting out to the unknown being, "Who goes there!
Having already lost much of his day to aimless meanderings, taking in the city and it's people, and to thinking of the mysterious card. As sunset nears, he reaches Lancet street, still holding the card open in his hand.
Approaching the third house carefully, he looks about to anyone who may be there, his posture non-threatening.
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When Briar first knocks on the door there is no answer for several long drawn out minutes. The moments seem to drag together before Briar hears a loudly shouted voice behind and to the right of him saying ”Well that sounds good to me!” The most striking feature of the man along with the shape of his face and skin tone, being completely unlike that of any Chelaxian, Varisian, or Shoanti, is a jug that hangs from his hip, swinging around emptily.
Turning to see the strangely featured man, Briar would see another walking up behind the jug-holder, coming forward in a non-threatening manner though a rapier hanged tightly from his waist. To the other side, a hooded man with his neck wrapped in a colorful Varisian scarf comes up to the scarlet-tinted house as the sun begins to slowly fall over the horizon. The sun sets long shadows over everyone’s appearances. While others seem to lurk in the recesses of the street, out of sight of the four who stand near the house. Despite the commotion, the door to the house remains closed.
As the small crowd gathers outside the small house, Thaniel looks each of them over carefully, before addressing them, holding up his card.
"Presumably, you are also here for the same reason?"
Remaining where he is up the street, Orlando watches the group memorising their faces. What an odd bunch...
Spinning at the approach of the strangers (and seeing the even stranger stranger), Briar is relieved to see that one holds no weapons. However, the one in front, seems surly, possibly angry, and Briar wants nothing of a fight.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir...is this your hovel, uhm, I mean home? I had this card. I didn't mean any harm. I was asked to come here. My purse will hardly buy you another drink...I'm not worth the trouble."
While talking, Briar will plan his escape route, preparing to run at the first sign of steel or violence.
Briar's countenance will change as the second stranger approaches with a card of his own. Still prepared to flee, and since no one answered the door, Briar realizes that *he* might have mis-interpreted the customs of Korvosa. Recalling the words on the card, a meeting *at* 3 Lancet Street does not a meeting *in* 3 Lancet Street.
For the normal elves, using the word "at" in an invitation would usually in *within* or *inside*, but here in Korvosa, Briar now realizes that it could mean outside, but near. Briar laughs at yet another social mistake he's made.
"Good Ser, did you send me this? Do I know you? I am Briar Kaleseder, brother to Thorne Kaleseder, son of Talon and Rose Kaleseder."
"I didn't realize we were going to meet outside."
Bao Xu watches the light-haired Chelaxian man advance on his position and turns to see the hooded Varisian coming from behind and the Elf looking down on him from the doorstep. 'I'm surrounded!
Spinning about in circles trying to take in all of his assailants, Bao Xu begins to feel a bit dizzy and stops himself, holding his arms out for balance. When the Elf speaks, Bao Xu replies, "No way buddy, I don't live here. Wait, did you say something about a card? Wait, did you say something about a drink? Perhaps we should become better acquaintances!" As the second stranger with a card in hand approaches and the elf introduces himself, Bao Xu chimes in, "Jeez fellas, if we get any more people with cards showing up we can play a hand or two! Anywho, good to meet you Briar Kal-sa-dar, son of various other plants and animals, I'm Bao Xu!"
Thaniel let's out a breath of relief, the comfort that other strangers are in the same situation lessens the mystery somewhat.
"Strange, I'm not familiar with cards like these. But if none of you know who sent these out to us, perhaps the person who lives here does? If so, then we're probably expected. If nothing comes of this, then it's good to know I won't be drinking on my own later."
"Nice to meet you, Bow Shoe. Am I to understand that you have a card as well?"
Briar steals a quick glance at Bao Xu's footwear () to see any ribbons, decorations, or festoonery.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"I listened and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Should this all be a grand jest, I accept your offer of drinks and discussion."
Briar considers any friends, especially ones who might share is goal of finding Lamm, a welcome boon.
Aleixica walks up to the group of men, looking as if she's ready to run should they turn out to be less than friendly.
"Good evening," she greets them. "I'm guessing you also received these strange cards inviting you here?"
"I apologize, my name is Thaniel. If no one seems to be answering, maybe something is amiss? Was the door locked?"
As Aleixica approaches, Thaniel turns to reply to her. "Indeed, miss. We all received the very same sort of... invitation. However, if we all have the same thing in common, perhaps it is not so safe for all of us to be discussing it on open streets?"
"Well met, Thaniel. I didn't get a cha..." Briar's voice trails off as he sees Declan walk by, ignore the group, flash a card, and try the door.
Briar looks at Thaniel, Bao Xu, then at the new lass, shrugs and goes back to watching Declan.
This is getting stranger and stranger.
Aleixica smiles nervously, wishing she weren't the only woman here among a group of strange men. Why didn't I wear my armor, she thinks to herself, in case things turn ugly. They never make this mistake in the stories I tell. Still, best to try to make the best of things.
Keeping well away from the obviously drunken man -- she's learned how to handle them in numerous inns during her training and even in the short time since in the city -- she introduces herself to the others.
"I'm Aleixica Tas'Vere," she says, flourishing her cloak as she gives them a half-bow.
She turns as Declan passes her and knocks at the door and waits to see if there is any response.
Responding to Briar's question, Bao Xu holds up his card and makes as if to speak, but is suddenly caught wordless as a fantastically beautiful woman walks up and introduces herself, followed by a strange cloaked man heading for the door. Recovering his wits, he brings to bear his most charming grin (which isn't nearly as charming as he thinks it is) and says to Aleixica, "Why hello there! What's a lady like you doing in a place like this? Oh yeah, the card... Well, I have one too! It looks like we have something in common! I'm Bao Xu, and I am a really great guy. You and me, we'll get along great! We should probably follow that other guy and head inside. You guys saw that guy too right?" Assuming no one disputes him, Bao Xu motions up to the door and says, "Well, ladies first!" before following.
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Finding the door unlocked and no one answering, Declan steps into the small but well furnished house. The quaint home is filled with a fragrant haze of flowers and strong spice. The haze comes from several sticks of incense smoldering in wall-mounted burners that look like butterfly-winged elves. The smoke itself seems to soften edges and gives the room a dream-like feel.
The walls are draped with brocaded tapestries, one showing a black-skulled beast juggling men’s hearts, another showing a pair of angels dancing atop a snow-blasted mountain. A third tapestry on the far wall depicts a tall hooded figure shrouded in mist, a flaming sword held in a skeletal hand. Several brightly-colored rugs cover the floor, but the room’s only furnishings are a wooden table covered by a bright red throw cloth and several elegant tall-backed chairs. A basket covered by blue cloth sits under the table.
Sitting upon the table near the basket is a quickly penned note on a scrap of parchment in the same style of the writing on the card.
Thank you for coming. I had to step out for a bit, but shall return shortly. Please, have a seat while you wait. The basket under the table contains bread and drink for you.
The food, for any who choose to sit at the table and sample it, is adequate. The bread is a little stale but filling, and the wine, while not fine, tastes good enough. Observant people would notice that one of the chairs at the table is slightly more worn down than the others, as if someone had spend long hours day after day sitting in it, leaving six other chairs for guests to sit around the table with.
Orlando watches the goings on outside the house. A drunk looking Tiani, several flashed cards, a woman .. Wait did I see her performing at an inn?
Abadar's Oath, its a carnival. This is craziness.
Orlando will wait until everyone is inside. Then he will wait five minutes to make sure noone sweeps in to kill everyone. Then he will enter.
Looking around at first, Declan's bold actions seem to have not brought doom upon them all. That in mind, Thaniel shrugs and also follows inside with whomever else may.
"This seems a simple enough solution as any, in order to determine what the meaning of all this is..."
Briar will follow others into the building, taking a look around before addressing the food and drink.
Briar will spend time examining each tapestry, attempting to draw others into small talk while they await their mysterious host.
"Well met, Aleixica. I am Briar Kaleseder, brother to Thorne Kaleseder, son of Talon and Rose Kaleseder. Am I to understand you also have a card?"
"Greetings. I am Briar Kaleseder, brother to Thorne Kaleseder, son of Talon and Rose Kaleseder. Would you find it rude if I asked to compare your card to mine own? There might be some details upon them worth noting."
Briar will also attempt to keep an eye on the wine supply, moving quickly to grab a glass should the drunken lout begin overindulging.
I wonder if this is a typical occurrence for this city...sure seems odd to me. I shall see if there is anything or anyone of value here. I could use more allies to help me find Lamm.
Briar speaks as he reaches for the offered card, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your nnaaammme..." Briar's voice trails off as he gets a better look at the icy flesh and appearance of Declan. Yet again, he finds his voice taken by the man.
Briar first thought is that the man is suffering from some sort of ailment and mayhaps his moderate healing skill might be of use, but realizes that this humanoid is something other than human.
By Gozreh's twin faces! What unnatural being is this!
Trying to look casual while taking the card and mumbling quick thanks, Briar moves closer to the candlelight so that he may carefully inspect both his card, Declan's card, and the written note.
Briar will spend some time on this, positioning himself to keep on eye on Declan whilst also looking at the cards.
I thought the hooligan was odd...at least his flesh was whole and healthy! I have seen more oddness today than I have in the last week.
As the others file up the stairs, Bao Xu joins them. Once inside, he takes in his surroundings and is immediately drawn to a seat at the table. Grabbing up the bottle of wine, Bao Xu pours out a cup for everyone present before laying into his own. "Well hello here! Look's like we've been laid out a pretty cozy welcome. I like this place already!"
When Declan reveals himself, Bao Xu is unfazed, but not uninterested. "The same message? I don't know man, mine was pretty personalized!" he continues with a chuckle, "I mean, unless all of you happen to have it in for old Gaedran Lamm!"
Aleixica looks nonplussed by Bao Xu's reaction and hesitantly enters the home before him. "Yes, I'm sure we'll get along fine," she says in a weak voice.
Inside, she responds more warmly to Briar's more traditional, less exuberant greeting. "Yes, I found a card in my room. The peacock." She'll take the card out and show it to him and anyone else who wishes to see it, though she startles when she sees Declan's face before settling back down.
She looks around the home, to see if she can spot anything else that might explain who their absent host would be. After a moment, she'll call out in a loud voice, "Hello? Is there anyone here?," though her hand on her sword hilt betrays her nervousness.
Seeing Aleixica's nervousness, Bao Xu tries to comfort her, "No need to worry, I'm sure our host'll be along soon enough. Why not take a load off and enjoy some of their wine while we wait!" Not waiting for a response, he pulls out a chair next to his own and moves a cup of wine over in front of it, smiling brightly up at the lady.
"Perhaps that is in fact the common factor between us", he says to Xu. "If you 'have it in' as you say for Lamm, then I am of like mind. This man must be dealt with. Maybe finally he's made enough enemies? All we needed was something to unify us? That is of course... if that's what's between all of us. The card itself DOES say..."He takes a moment to read his card once again before continuing, '...Others like you' are to be here."
Looking over the room casually, Thaniel holds the glass of wine poured for him but does not yet taste it.
Looking a bit surprised at Thaniel's speech, Bao Xu replies, "Whoa, you know Lamm? Well I'm liking the sound of this more and more; I've been wanting a piece of that old codger for years..."
Finishing his cup of wine and pouring himself another, Bao's eyes take on a harder cast as he stares into his drink. "When I was just a boy, Gaedran Lamm stole me away from my family, from my homeland, and put me to work in one of his warehouses. He was a cruel old bastard and a damn mean boss, but I got along fine for a while until one day he decided I wasn't working good enough and he beat me senseless and left me for dead... I tried to fight back, but I was just a kid... Well I'm not a kid anymore..." Looking up, he continues, "If you guys are out to get Lamm too, I'm with you all the way."
Briar ponders the motivations of both Thaniel and Bao, comparing their stories to his own, even as he compares his card to Declan's.
Moving to hand the card back to Declan, Briar moves to address the dwindling wine supply. Taking a cup, sniffing the wine, Briar addresses the two men, "I wish to find Lamm as well...if only to find my brother. I suspect he and Lamm were mixed up somehow." Briar takes a sip of wine and continues. "I wish nothing more than the safety of my brother." Briar smiles as the half-truth leaves his lips.
Briar moves for a closer look at the nearest tapestry. "If Lamm has harmed by brother, I *will* find a way to repay him. And if any of you are weak of heart, I will give you a chance to look away when we find him."
Briar turns around to better see the faces and reactions of those assembled in the room as the impact of his words sets in.
In response to Briar's words, Bao Xu simply shrugs and says, "It would be a little hard to look away when I'll be in there with you buddy. Lamm deserves whatever he gets and more as far as I'm concerned..."
"I've also had ... run-ins with Lamm. He shouldn't be allowed to hurt anyone else, and if it takes violence to stop him, I suppose that's no worse than he deserves.
"Whoever summoned us here clearly knew that we have some connection to him and that we might be willing to move against him. I think we need to find her to learn how we can help and what she intends."
Aleixica, still having gotten no response to her call, will begin looking around the home, seeing if she can find any evidence of its inhabitant and where he or she might be. She keeps one hand near her sword hilt and is clearly wary of turning her back on the strange men in the room with her.
"I will not judge any for their actions against Lamm. I was to be married, but my love was slain in the night... all for some stupid ring to sell off. None of the guards want anything to do with Lamm, though. It has to stop sometime. The only way an infection like him can be dealt with, is to cut him out. I simply hope that this invitation isn't some kind of lure... a way for Lamm to take care of his enemies in one stroke. I'm very hopeful."
Taking a slow sip of his wine, Thaniel sits down at the table in an attempt to get more comfortable.
Briar considers the words of Aleixica, Thaniel, Bao, and the unnamed, blue-skinned, quiet one. Weighing their words in his mind, Briar continues to stroll the room, examining the tapestries. Still sipping his wine, Briar wonders what to make of his new acquaintances and their motivations.
Thinking more, he wonders who their host is and how that person knew to contact them. Questions come and go in his mind as he waits.
Can I trust someone who would not tell me his name? Where is our host? Where is Lamm?
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After several minutes have passed since each of you has entered the house of Zellara, the door opens for a seventh time as an attractive middle-age Varisian woman with long dark hair steps into the house. Her dark brown hair is tied back in a red and green bandana and she wears a more subdued dress than younger Varisian women would typically wear. She smiles gently and steps over to the table as she says, “Thank you for coming.”
Moving to the well worn chair she sets herself down in it and produces her Harrow deck from a pocket and idly shuffles the cards. Her skill with the deck is obvious to anyone who watches how the cards seem to float and dance over her hands and the table.
”My name is Zellara and I hope you will forgive me for my unconventional method of contacting you.”
Zellara’s voice is soft spoken but clear and there is no hint of a Varisian accent to it, indicating a woman who has most likely lived in or near Korvosa most of her life.
Turning to his host, Briar watches her with great interest as he finds his chair. Intrigued, Briar moves to sit in an open chair closest to her so that he might see and hear clearly.
"Good evening, Zellara. Thank you for having us."
"A pleasure to meet you, Zellara. I'm sure we're all just glad to have been able to find others in our... situation, through your unusual invitation."
Sitting at the table, Thaniel can not help but fidget absent-mindedly with his card.