So deep in their own adventures within the bowels of the fishery that the party hadn't noticed the sounds of commotion outside. It was only after the Otyugh's defeat did they notice the shouting...and the screams. There was the faint bitter smell of smoke on the wind mixing with the normal scents of the wharf and every now and then they caught sight of people running through the gaps between the buildings.

Overhead shadows were cast as the griffon riders of Sable company were rising up before diving down into some conflict out of sight. Many more are angled towards the Castle Korvosa at a breakneck speed. A badly wounded griffon suddenly rises up to view raining thick trails of blood onto the street. At the apex of its climb it seems to lose control and pitches backwards, dumping its rider and spiraling towards the ground at sickening speeds.

Amid the chaos is the voice of a Korvosan herald, a young lad screaming at the top of his lungs as he races through the streets.

"The king is dead! Long live the queen!"

He runs square into a crowd of angry looking sailors who point and curse at the boy.

"Hang the bitch queen!" they shout back at the lad before pelting him with fish guts and chum.

"The usurper whore must die!"

---

The king had long been known to be nearing the end of his life and the young foreign Queen was a divisive figure as she had been considered the heir to the throne given that the king hadn't produced a proper heir. While she had won over some of Korvosa with her beauty and acts of generosity, many others viewed her like a foreign invader seeking to usurp the throne by seducing the king. While the king was not  of great health the news that he had died was quite sudden and unexpected which would explain the chaotic affairs of the city. Even at the best of times with ample lead and a suitable accepted heir the transition of power can be tumultuous and Korvosa's situations was far from that ideal. It seemed in hindsight inevitable that there would be power struggles among the elite that would ripple outward into base looting and rioting among the working class.

"Never mind resting.  It looks like our day just became more interesting."  Cordelia looks over her clothing and starts to try to clean it, brushing off as much viscera as she could.

Kraw tries to spot where the falling rider came down. Absently, he says "I think we should head to Zellara's place and hunker down while this plays out. There is no profit in getting involved in this." If he spots the rider, he tries to quietly edge towards him. Perhaps the wounded Sable Rider was in need of assistance...

Stealth 13.
Perception 12.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Thu 18 Oct 2018.

Ayeesha waved her hand in the air as the madness made itself known as if to say, 'see?'

She was surprisingly as concerned as Cordelia with brushing the goo off of her armor, making faces and 'ick' sounds as she went. The otyugh was a truly disgusting beast. "What do you think the chances are that once we do get some time to rest, we find a place where we can get a bath?"

"Going to see this Zellara seems as good a plan as any to me. Otherwise I'm going to be tempted to stay out here and beat the next person I hear calling anyone a bitch or a whore. Because sisters stick together, right?" she smiled at Cordelia.

"Well, we won't see Zellara, perse, as she's... well, dead." Cordelia nodded her head at Kraw's suggestion.

"But going to ground until we find out exactly what is going on is probably best - and her place seems as good as any, as she won't use it."

She pats the gear she is carrying, "Besides, it'll do us good to figure what we have and if it is of any help."

She indicates that Kraw should lead on while the rest follow.

The group manages to avoid encountering any more mobs or disgusting sewer monsters on the short walk back to Zellara's, although flaming debris does require a couple of detours.

Arriving back at Zellara's, the place looks the same on the outside but the  inside is quite different. It appears whatever glamour Zellara had been using had expired as the food on the counter was now rotting, dust had settled onto most surfaces and vermin were scattering across the floor when they entered. Still it was shelter from the mob.

The group has a chance to rest and recover, and especially heal and rest after their harrowing fight. With Zellara's help through the deck Anya is able to identify some of the magic items:

The fancy stick is a Wand of Acid Splash with 28 charges left.
The glass tube contains Oil of Keen Edge. The obsidian wand is a wand of chill touch with 24 charges remaining and the last vial is a potion of cure moderate wounds.

The group is still sitting on a pile of treasure as well as having to decide what to do with that ornate brooch they recovered.

As the newcomer who hadn't contributed to earning any of the treasure, Ayeesha declined any of it. But she was stunned at the way Anya communed with the harrow deck.

OOC: Does this Zellara appear when Anya uses the deck? I'm assuming this is the same woman from Ayeesha's vision?

During the down time, once everyone has a chance to heal up, Cordelia took it upon herself to start sorting the treasure that was on the table.

She sorted it into two piles, putting everything but the gold bar into one pile.  "That looks to be fake," she indicates the gold bar; but all of this has some value.

She took the abalone holy symbol and stroked it gently lost in reverie for a bit.  Finally she said, indicating everything else, "This is the only thing I want to keep.  The rest we can sell once things settle down outside.  Unless anyone else wants them.  I can't use the wands or the oil."

Kraw says "I may be able to use the wand eventually. And the oil will come in handy. But the expensive brooch must be worth a king's fortune. Makes me wonder if it was stolen from the King. Perhaps we ought to seek out a Chancellor to ask. I'd hate to be accused of robbing the King. I'd rather be rewarded for returning stolen property."

OOC: Going to go ahead and assume Zelara makes a ghostly appearance as part of 'helping Anya through the deck', and that it's the same woman from Ayeesha's visions and react to that.

Ayeesha nearly collapsed in shock when she saw the spectral apparition of the woman who had told her to come to Korvosa and seek out this group. But there she was. Apparently this was her home and that was her harrow deck.

When she'd recovered herself enough to take in the fact that her destiny was apparently being guided by a ghost, she asked Zelara's shade and Anya, "Could I have a harrow reading done?"


She was surprised by Cordelia's request of the holy symbol. It was clearly Shelyn's, she didn't know much about religion but she knew that much. She asked the priestess, "Don't, you know, your lady and Shelyn, you know," she finished with a gesture of claws raking the air, suggesting they were rivals and fought.

She was shocked again by Kraw's revelation that he thought the brooch belonged to royalty. She reached out and touched it carefully, like it was hot, then pulled her hand back. "I certainly don't know any chancellor, do you have any connection you can use to inquire?"

Zellara's magic is indeed spent for the day however after a day of rest she is able to make a brief appearance and deliver a harrow reading.

OOC: Sorry but way to sick right now to put something together. I'll get to it when I am feeling better.

All in all the non-magical loot is able to be sold for 2,000 gold pieces but the brooch, nobody even prices out the brooch. One look at it makes merchants go pale and their shops mysteriously close up.

From the few that were made willing to talk they mention that it looks like a piece of royal design and with the recent revolt the Queen is rumored to be on the warpath in order to secure her claim on the throne. The common suggestion is to report that it had been found to the guards at the palace and hope the Queen is in a magnanimous mood.

After gathering the loot and selling it off, Kraw offers to go to the palace, although he hopes someone more personable than himself is willing to do the talking.


OOC: 2000 gp among the three of us. Since Anya is gone, but Ayesha feels she shouldn't get a cut, might I suggest 700 gp to Cordelia and myself, and 600 gp to be split between Ayesha and our NPC Anya, so they can improve equipment?

"We can go together. This is way too hot to deal with any other way. Here's hoping we don't all end up in a dungeon for 'finding' this."

She moved off with the others towards the palace, hoping to avoid conflict along the way.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Mon 05 Nov 2018.

Cordelia agreed that going to the palace would be best.  She also felt that honesty was the best policy when it came to discussing how they were to come into the possession of the brooch.  Perhaps the new Queen would be happy to hear that Lamm was dead.

Kraw agrees. After selling the other loot, he leads the others to the markets to improve their equipment. Now sporting more upscale looks, he takes them to the palace where they try to get the attention of an officer.

The initial civil unrest and outbreaks of riots are quelled quickly, thanks to swift action by the Korvosan Guard, the Sable Company, and even a squad of Hellknights. By the time the the group approaches Castle Korvosa to return the brooch, the streets are again relatively safe to walk, but a thick tension remains in the air. There are still spontaneous bouts of arson, rioting and looting but overall it feels like most of the pressure has been released and the city is on its way to calming down.

As a terrifying testament to the power of whatever mighty overlord ruled this land thousands of years ago, Castle Korvosa’s long shadow looms over the city. A magnificent achievement of architecture, the castle walls and spires rise high into the sky above. The entire structure looms even higher for its ancient foundation—a Thassilonian ruin in the shape of an immense flat-topped pyramid. Although one corner of this impressive foundation has fallen into ruin, the additions built onto the sides by eager and talented Korvosan masons have created one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Varisia.

Castle Korvosa can be approached from all four directions—ramps or stairways allow access up the sides of the pyramid to the courtyard surrounding the central structure. Normally, petitioners to the monarchy (such as civilians seeking to return a stolen brooch) would approach from the Great Ramp, wait in the Public Courtyard to speak to the Korvosan Guards on duty, and hope for a chance to be heard. In these frantic times, the Castle itself has been locked tight and bristles with pikes and crossbows.

Guards demand to know the group's business at the end of weapons. They are standoffish and ready to run the group down until the brooch is displayed and then they are hurriedly waved through the checkpoint. This repeats several times as they penetrate several layers of defenses and finally on the inside a guard captain tells them to head up the stairs into the courtyard.

"Your weapons must be left here. No arguments, no exceptions. They'll be stored safe and returned upon your exit but you'll be meeting with the Queen herself. Runner came on ahead and shared the news that her brooch had been found and she wishes to reward your honesty and courage personally. Therefore, like I said, no weapons. Period."

He nods and a couple guards come forward with oiled cloths to wrap up offered weapons securely.

Understanding the seriousness of being armed in the Queens presence, Kraw disarms himself, even removing the two daggers from his hidden wrist-sheathes. He wasn't ready to gamble that his skill at hiding was greater than the elite guards' ability to find. Besides, his beak was a weapon in and of itself, and if he talked they might not recognize it as a potentially lethal weapon.

"No argument," Ayeesha agreed, surrendering everything she had that might be construed as a weapon. Her greatsword, bow, arrows all disappeared into oiled cloth. She immediately regretted wearing her armor and not dressing for an audience with royalty. She had honestly thought they would just drop off the brooch and be on their way, maybe with a little reward. But now they were going to see the Queen herself?

"She must really like that brooch," she muttered to Cordelia as she waited to be escorted in.

A group of obviously nervous guards armed with heavy crossbows and swords escort the group up to the castle. As they reach the top of the pyramid and the wide stairs curling up to the castle’s third floor, where the Crimson Throne awaits, they are greeted by a beautiful woman dressed in magnificent full plate armor—the queen’s handmaiden, bodyguard, and closest companion: Sabina Merrin.

She is rumored to be the best swordswoman in Korvosa and was personally selected by the queen to be her royal bodyguard, handmaiden, and (according to some of the more salacious rumors) her lover.

Sabina nods curtly at the group as they approach, then speaks.

"Greetings. They tell me you’ve something that belongs to the queen. Is this correct?"

Seeing the brooch she smiles and steps aside, holding out a hand to welcome the guests to Castle Korvosa. As the guards make to follow, she steps in and blocks their way.

"You may return to your posts. These heroes pose no threat to the queen."

There is a brief moment of confusion among the guard but none dare question the queen's personal bodyguard with a sharp salute they turn and head back to their posts. Sabine turns to the others and motions for them to follow.

"How would you care to be introduced?"

Kraw nods at the swordswoman. "I am Kraw. I'm just glad we recovered the brooch from that thief. I wouldn't have thought him that bold."

Ayeesha did a bit of a double take when Sabina appeared, taking in the bodyguard with a gaze of respect for a more accomplished warrior woman. she nodded her head slightly in a salute to her and show of respect.

"They tell us the same thing. I'm as surprised as Kraw is. But if it is her majesty's brooch, we would be honored to return it. I am Ayeesha of the Spire clan Shoanti." She announced her name and heritage proudly, knowing that her people were treated suspiciously in the city, but proud of her heritage and not caring about their prejudices.

Sabina does not hesitate when the two give their names. She does not raise an eyebrow at Kraw's succinctness nor Ayeesha's obvious reference to the 'savages' of the Shoanti. She asked a question and it was answered.

Rounding the corner she announces the pair in a loud, clear voice.

"Now presenting  Ayeesha of the Spire Clan Shoanti...and Kraw."

Queen Ileosa sits upon the Crimson Throne. She is a vision of celestial beauty despite the black mourning dress and veil she wears in honor of her husband’s death. A small silver coffer sits in her lap. The throne room itself is pristine but strangely empty—an open area with a vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows of past kings and queens looking down from the eastern wall, and crimson tapestries hanging along the others. An immense fireplace offers additional light and heat to the hall, and a silk carpet provides a gently arching path to the throne’s base.

Sabina takes the brooch from the the pair hands it over to her queen with a flourish, then takes up a position at the throne’s left side as Ileosa stirs to address them.

"This brooch was stolen from me some time ago...I had not expected to see it again, truth be told. And yet, here on my darkest day, you come before me with kindness. The return of this brooch is much more than an honorable deed. It is inspiration. It is hope.

I love Korvosa, as my husband did before me. His death has shocked the city as it has me, but I will not see his legacy destroyed in death, and I shall not see my city torn apart. All Korvosa stands at the precipice of a disaster wrought by her citizens. These riots cannot continue. You have already done my heart a great service in returning this bauble to me on this dark day, and you shall be rewarded. Yet, perhaps you can serve your city more.
"


She arcs an eyebrow at the pair. A vision of power and commanding authority and overwhelming beauty.

"The Korvosan Guard is stretched thin, and it can certainly use the aid of heroes such as yourself. If you so choose I can have Sabina send an escort to ensure your safe journey to Citadel Volshyenek along with a letter of personal recommendation. I'm sure Field Marshal Kroft will take that into heavy consideration when deciding how best to use your considerable talents. While I hope that the good deed of helping bring order to the chaos of recent times is opportunity enough, I'm sure Field Marhsal Kroft would be able to compesnate you quite well for your efforts in aiding the guard.

 Now, I need to retire to my personal quarters...my grief has drained me.
Again, I thank you for the kindness you have shown me, and I
hope your days of serving the crown are only just beginning."

With this the Queen departs rising up and leaving through a curtain behind the throne but leaving the tiny silver coffer behind on her throne. Sabina picks it up and delivers it to Ayeesha and Kraw.

Inside the chest are 12 gold ingots stamped with royal seal of Korvosa. A rough estimate would say that each bar is worth 100gp while the box itself could probably fetch another 50gp. Sabina stares at the pair, waiting for their response to the Queen's recommendation.

Kraw regards Ayeesha, saying "her majesty is generous, both in reward and opportunities. I for one wouldn't mind helping keep the peace. And this reward is enough to get us some improved equipment to help us survive the current....troubles. What say you, Ayeesha?"

She watched the queen go, trying not to look too stunned, like a bumpkin from the tribes. She didnt' really succeed.

"What?" she replied to Kraw as he broke her from her daydream. "Oh.. Yeah, what else we going to do? Don't think we need an escort though, do you? Unless the mighty Sabina is taking us herself?"

Kraw looks at the Iron Lady. "well madam, it seems you have your volunteers. Do we have time to get these assessed and sold, and pick up new tools and equipment?"

Sabina glances out through a window at the position of the sun, still high in the sky.

"I shall have your escort swing by Irons Street en route. There will be plenty of shops along there that should cater to your needs and so long as you do not dally then you should still arrive on time."

OOC: Just PM your purchases.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:20, Sun 27 Jan 2019.

Ooc: When Kraw gets the ingots sold, he divides the money with Ayeesha for new equipment. That comes to an added 625 gold each.

Ayeesha leaves the throne room with another curious glance back at Sabina. She makes a few minor purchases at the markets, then follows their escort to their destination.

When Kraw is finished with his purchases, he seeks out Ayeesha. As they stride towards their destination, Kraw utters a command word and his clothing shifts to finery fit for a nobleman. Snugly-fitting, as well.

Citadel Volshyenek is located in Midland, overlooking Jeggare Harbor, where it serves as the base of operations for the Korvosan Guard. The Citadel currently operates on a skeleton crew, as almost all available guards are hard at work in the city, desperately trying to keep order.

Two nervous guards stand at the entrance to the Yard, but as the queen promised, Kraw and Ayeesha are expected. They quickly wave them through, and one guard escorts them into the
central keep, where a harried and tired-looking woman rises from her desk to greet them.

"Ah yes...you are the ones sent by Queen Ileosa. Greetings, my name is Cressida, and heroes of your caliber are exactly what Korvosa needs now. You’ve been on the streets. You know better than me how bad things are out there. It’s breaking my heart to see Korvosa tear herself apart like this. Every little bit of aid we can get from upstanding citizens like you helps. If you’re willing, I’d very much like to retain your services as agents of the Guard. I don’t need to say, of course, that you’ll be well compensated for these services.

Korvosa’s got enough troubles as it is without my own men losing their way and going rogue. As much as it pains me to admit, though, this has happened several times already. Many guards have deserted their posts, more concerned about friends and family than the city. I can understand this, yet not all of the deserters have family, some of them are simply using the riots as an excuse for personal gain. One such man is Verik Vancaskerkin. Worse than a lone deserter, he’s convinced a small group of fellow guards that Queen Ileosa is going to ruin the city.

Whether she does or doesn’t isn’t the point, right now, we’ve got a city-wide crisis on our hands, and I need all of my guards working with me to see us through. A deserter is worse than a lost resource because it’s an infection. I can’t afford to pull many of my other patrols off duty to deal with Vancaskerkin, and I’d rather not expose any of them to him anyway, since I neither want Vancaskerkin to infect more guards with his talk of secession,
nor do I want some overly patriotic guard killing Vancaskerkin outright. I need impartial, skilled talent. Like you.

You won't be alone though. There are two among Vancaskerkin's squad that refused to follow him and reported his activities to me. They've been stationed in the barracks while we could verify their report but I would like to send the pair of them with you to help take Verik down.

Vancaskerkin and his men have holed up in an abandoned butcher’s shop up in Northgate, t e place was called 'All the World’s Meat'. I need you to check out the place. Try to avoid killing any of the deserters if you can, but if you must, they brought it upon themselves when they threw in their lot with Vancaskerkin. For him, I’d really prefer it if you could capture him alive and return him to me for interrogation, but if he makes that impossible, I’ll accept his body as well. Finally, see if you can find out why Verik deserted, if there’s more to it than simple personal politics, I need to know immediately. Bring me Verik alive, and there’s another thousand gold in it for you. Dead, he’s only worth half that."

This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:44, Sun 27 Jan 2019.

Kraw says "wish I'd known this was to be a non killing mission. Do we have time for me to buy a couple of saps from the market?"

Cressida sends an aide to fetch the two guardsmen from the barracks before nodding at Kraw.

"Sure. While I expect you to resolve the issue as quickly as possible that doesn't mean rushing in without proper preparations. If you need to take a day shopping or scouting by all means."

The aide soon returns with two unusual looking guards. One has dark, almost black skin while the other is not wearing any armor, just the tunic of the watch. Cressida nods to both of them.

"Kyra. Figus. These are two operatives sent by the Queen herself to assist you in capturing your former commander."


Cressida points to a giant map of the city tacked to the wall.

"Apparently Vancaskerkin and his men have formed a gang operating out of an abandoned butchers: All the World's Meat. The previous owner was arrested for tax evasion so the shop has apparently just been empty for the past year until Vancaskerkin moved in. The local patrol has been hearing rumors that Vancaskerkin is shaking down the locals for protection money but beyond that we don't have a lot of information. With all the riots and damage recently our patrols are working overtime to keep things settled and we just can't spare anyone to kick the cockroaches out of their nest. That's where you four can help me out. You two are mercenaries or heroes or whatever and you two don't have a current assignment. Go to the butcher's and bring Vancaskerkin back to me."

OOC: Kyra, Figus feel free to start posting

Figus places his right hand with a closed fist over his heart and nods his head "At your service."

His face is impassive and is hard to read, but he looks ready to explode at any moment. It is easy to guess that Figus is taking Vancaskerkin's treachery very personally.

Kyra just nods to her superior and the two newcomers, with her best impression of a poker face. "Shall we get started?"

Does anyone have a pair of manacles in their gear? If not, could Kyra borrow one from the guard armory before they move out?

The bird man waves a feathered arm. "Welcome to the team. I'm Kraw. Got to get some Non-Lethal gear first. A pair of saps, maybe a net and some marbles. Might not be good using a net as a weapon, but I might be able to rig a trap outside a door that might slow an escapee down."

Kyra speaks up again when they leave Cressida. "It would be best to prepare for this, yes. I do have an idea that could give us an edge as well. This lot we are moving against, they are not the best and brightest the city has to offer, not by a longshot. We might be able to take advantage of that by, say, buying some strong wine and having it delivered to our brave fighters against injustice." She delivers this with barely a trace of sarcasm in her voice. "Then we just wait a bit before moving in."

If someone has questions for the Marshal Kyra will wait until they leave her office before speaking.

"World of Meat might have a smoker. It'd be inactive now, but the chimney would provide an unexpected entry point" the tengu points out.

"A chimney may be good, but is likely to be too narrow ... unless we get some potions of reduce size or gaseous form, I would advise against it. We should scout out the place for sure. They are likely to have multiple entrances."

after a moment Figus adds

"I have a canine partner. He may be of use to us in this."

"I'm not really much of a precision mission sneaky kind of girl, sorry," Ayeesha admitted as the talk of deception and subterfuge went on.

"I can try to get a .. I don't know an earthbreaker? In the market? Doesn't really help, does it? Or you know, we can just bring bandages and maybe a cure wand? bring em back from the brink?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as you don't go out of your way to finish them when they are down, I can probably keep them alive. Probably. Of course, they are not likely to be as considerate to us, so we should not pull too many punches."

Kyra hesitates for a moment before continuing.

"I don't know how much details the Marshal has given to you, but in case she did not mention this, there are likely 4 other watchmen with Verik. And as said, they and Verik are not the sharpest tools in the watch shed. If they had any sense they would have already fled or at least kept their heads down, instead of continuing to flaunt their desertion like this."

Are we moving on? I would like to give the get-them-drunk-first plan a shot before we go in. What time of day is it anyway?

"I'm all for getting 'em drunk or drugged. Who's going to deliver the wine though? Seems dangerous," she shrugged.

"Think we should stick together after we leave here though. It's open riots out there, and we've been jumped by sewer monsters once already. Cressida herself says the watch is overwhelmed, we should assume it's not safe to travel in the city until things settle down."

Focus nods in agreement with Ayeesha "If things were normal, then it would make sense for some pretty face to make the delivery, but under current conditions we may have to tie them up first before we can have them take any drugs or liquor.

I say we hit them hard and fast. That would be our best chance."

Kyra shrugs as she explains her idea. "Was thinking of just hitting the nearest wine shop while the rest of us are looking for gear, and have them deliver a small barrel to the address, compliments of an anonymous lady admirer of the brave resistance fighters against the tyranny of the Queen. This group strikes me as juuuust foolish enough to fall for this. And if not, nothing is lost apart from a couple of coins."

"You really think that there is a wine shop that delivers, or even just open in the middle of all of this nonsense? Even if we manage to get a keg, or some bottles, who will bring it to them?"

"Can't hurt to try while the rest of the team is busy buying their gear somewhere. It's not like wine shops, taverns and various drinking holes are in short supply around here, and some of them are bound to be still standing."

Isn't it a couple of days from the start of the riots by now? Things may be slowly returning to normal by now, and if so taverns would be the first thing to open. People like to drink, and this mess has given them even more reasons to do so.

"Hard and fast is okay, but why invite injury? If I get in to scout ahead, I can speed up how fast we take them down." Kraw points out. "Besides, taking them alive means using more Finesse than brute power."