Tarrov stopped, panting, hands on his knees.  He looked up from his resting position.  "I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting tired of the Queen and her Grey Maidens.  How did this even happen?  It seems like just a few days ago the King was on his throne and everything was okay."  The performer shook his head.  "Hard to believe how different things are now.  If you had told me that this would happen, I wouldn't have believed you."

You pick up Davalus' body and tredge wearily down the road. This section of Old Korvosa seems quiet. Though you catch sight of the odd, scared face in a window above watching you pass. Or movements in the sewer grates, probably some of the city's ratling population checking you out. Or at least you hope so.

You make the last turn and see what is left of the Academy ahead of you. Alone of the buildings in this area, the academy has been burnt to the ground. There is one ray of  hope however. Vencarlo lived in a house attached to the academy by a covered walkway. Amazingly, it appears to be standing. And there is a light in one of the windows.

"Looks like Davalus' orders were carried through despite his Absence."

Vaddis carefully leads the way to Vencarlo's house.

Selvin let out a long sigh as he eyed the burned down building. "This just hasn't been a good month." He shook his head and followed after Vaddis.

"I'm sure not a soul in Korvosa would disagree with you at this rate," Izzick said, exhausted by this point, but glad that the maidens were opting not to give chase. Why was another question altogether, but he hoped Vencarlo might be able to say more.

At this point, Tarrov was too beaten-down, tired, and depressed to add anything to the conversation, which was quite an indictment of the whole conversation.  He pushed forward, following Vaddis to Vencarlo's, looking forward to a place of safety and sleep, even if just for the night.

As you approach the house, your legs aching from thigh to heel and your stomachs growling, you hear no noises from inside. The light, in a downstaris window, remains stationary and a quick glance shows it is the banked fire in a study fireplace. Vencarlo may be in for the night.

A knock on the front door though brings no one. Continued attempts also result in nothing. The door is locked, but not barrd from the inside. Vencarlo is not at home.

You consider a moment. As you do a light drizzle begins. To the west, lighting flashes in the sky. Of course it does. Why wouldn't it?

You find a window whose latch is poorly fastned. A dagger would slip easily between the panes and flip that latch off. Of course there are numerous abandonded buildings to shelter in. But there was a tidy stack of firewood by that fireplace. And Vencarlo seems to be a man who would have a full larder. And also the type not to mind if a cause is urgent.

Going in? 

It was clear from the conversation that the others knew Vencarlo pretty well, so he left the decision whether to enter uninvited to them.
Chandanar glances up at the sky, the drizzle surely would strengthen if the lightning strokes were any indication.
"A warm place sure would be nice."
"However, if you know Vencarlo that well, maybe it's just as obvious to our enemies to find us here. True, the soldiers did turn back, but...", he offers.

"I leave it to Tarrov. I am against going in uninvited though if you wish my opinion."

Moving us on... 

The Bard shrugs. "Needs must when the devil has the reigns..."

The window opens easily. Once inside you find a pleasant though quiet home. Suprisingly for Vencarlo, it is a simple affair. The downstairs contains a study...the room with the fireplace, a kitchen, and a guest room. Upstairs is the master bedroom and a bathroom with an actual bath.

A pot of a simple bean soup is prepared and can be reheated on the fire. Vencarlo seems to be well stocked with wine. The bathtub has one of those pipes attached to a rain resevoir on the roof. Filling it is easy. He even has one of those magicked warming stones you can place in the water to heat it to a nice temperature. The only thing missing is a host.

You can rest if you desire. If you want to poke around for a clue where Vencarlo has gone, roll me some perception checks. And if you set a guard rotation, let me know who is taking what shift. Also, what are you doing with Davalus? He is still dead.

Tarrov looked around in consternation.  He hoped something hadn't happened to the old swordmaster.  It seemed like too many bad things were happening to the good people of Korvosa lately.  The silver-haired bard pushed his fatigue aside for a moment to take stock of Vencarlo's residence, trying to figure out what had happened to him or where he had gone.

21:13, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Perception Check.

Obviously his newfound companion knew the house owner well.
Still, as they all try to find information about Vencarlo's whereabouts he gets the feeling that his companions' anxiety increases.
"A well stocked wine cellar, of all things. Indication of much better times.", Chandanar sighs.

---

rolled 14 using 1d20+9. Perception.

Vaddis looks for clues.

06:18, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20. Perception.

Selvin lets the rest look around the place for clues. He keeps an eye out for any trouble heading their way. It would be bad for them to be caught off-guard again.

With Selvin keeping the weary eye out, the rest of you spread out to look over the house. A few interesting things present themselves.

First, you find an odd package in the larder. Or more accurately two backpacks. They are atocked with trail rations, dried meats, rope, and gear for camping. A lantern sits by them, trimmed and filled with oil.

Second, in the wine racks, you find two bottles filled with a puplish liquid that is obviously not wine. Experience has shown you all it is some of the medicinal concoction that is used for treating wounds on the battlefield. The bottles are sealed tight and there is easily ten glasses worth between the two of them Consider them Cure Serious Wounds caster level 8. 10 doses, 5 doses a bottle. 

Lastly are some notes on a desk. Several of them are drafts written by Vencarlo to various people. He asks each of them if they have seen Salvatore, as Vencarlo owes him a payment on a commission. There is a response mixed in with them.

Vencarlo,

Salvatore has gone back to 'work' for Pilts I hear. Pity, as I much preferred the commisioned pieces he did for Neolandus, especially the more recent ones. I hear the Queen would like to talk to Neolandus about purchasing one, but they seem to keep missing each other. What is one to do? I am leaving the city. I hope things work out for you.

G 

The three names in the note are easy enough to place.

Salvatore Scream. An artist whose work runs to the macarbe. He is well regarded in certain circles for his depictions of devils and demons. He is mostly known for the sets he creates for the infamous theater the Exicitaboe Excrements. It's a theater here in Old Korvosa owned run by a man named Swastel Pilts. Pilts is well known as being an afficianado of the bizzare and creepy. His theater often put on the blood soaked plays so dear to the Chelaxian tastes.

The last name, Neolandus, is he big shocker. Neolandus is...was...the chief advisor to the late King. Supposedly he 'retired' when the Queen took the throne. In reality he disappeared. You may have thought he disappeared into the castle dungeons. But this note seems to suggest otherwise.

"Does anyone see Vencarlo?" Izzick asks, as he reads over some of the letters, hoping for hints, but finding little of help really. Of course, if Vencarlo wasn't home, perhaps Pilt would know where he was...either way, how long he could stay awake was wearing thin, and reading business letters wasn't helping matters.

"This cannot really refer to Salvatore's pieces of art, can it ? Even if we assume that Neolandus was into that kind of art, would the Queen not take a short and talk to the fellwo directly rather than trying to initate a meeting via Neolandus ?"

Vaddis reads the letters but says nothing at the moment, keeping his thoughts to himself.

Selvin listened from where he stood vigilant watch, focusing on what he was doing more than what his allies were saying but trying to keep an 'ear open'. His eyebrows rose when he heard the name Salvatore Scream. "Interesting. Should we see about talking with either, or both, of them next? Perhaps they will know where Vencarlo is at?"

"Well," said Tarrov thoughtfully, holding up the notes, "this is a surprise.  I've never been a fan of Pilts' work myself, but it sounds like he and Salvatore could be neck deep in a resistance to the Queen, and that Neolandus," he tapped the notes, "isn't as dead or incarcerated as we'd been dead to believe.  I say we head to the theater and see if we can find them there, and what they have to say.  It's possible we can team up.  And I agree, Selvin, they might know something about where Vencarlo is."

As you all discuss the implications, you go about the business of relaxing. The soup is filling and the wine is soothing. Sleep beckons.

Setting up a guard schedule, you each manage to catch forty. You have rested. I am assuming you burned some magic and everyone is healed up. Spells are refreshed and all is right with the world. 

It is two hours before dawn. The drizzle has become a rain. The lightning passed over sometime around midnight. And there's srill no sign of Vencarlo. The last of you comes downstairs, scratching your behind and yawning after your power nap. The five of you, six if you count Davalus' corpse, are gathered in the study. It seems you need to track down either Salvatore or Pilts. Maybe both. The most likely place to start is at Pilts theater, the Excitable Excrement. Fortunately it is somewhat of an infamous landmark. You know generally where it is. East of here, on the other side of Old Korvosa.

As you ready to leave, a glance out the front door gives you pause. Was that movement down in the wreckage of the fencing academy? You watch but see nothing. It could be a dog. Then again, you could exit out the kitchen window. It leads out to an alley that will take you further into the quiet slum.

Tarrov knelt down and looked at the others.  "I think we should go out the window.  I'd think I was being paranoid if I hadn't just experienced the last couple of weeks here."  He jerked his head toward the window.  "Vencarlo's house probably isn't being watched, but if it is let's try and get away undetected."

Vaddis nods and goes to check on the window.

The alley through the window, from what you can see, seems clear Vaddis . There are shadows at the far end, but the way is narrow. So there can't be too many hiding that way if there are any hiding that way.

The view out the front door is not. Definite movement down in the ruins of the academy. Three, maybe four figures. They seem rather obvious of a sudden.