Dr. Si's Curse of the Crimson Throne - Alpha Group

[Dr Simon]

The bridges of Korvosa are busy with sightseers, the region has more of a fell of a festival than a riot, most are watching the events across in the city, although a few scuffles break out. Nobody bothers a group containing a tiefling and a fierce Shoanti woman.

Trails' End is much the same as the bridges, a small community on the outskirts of the city, Trail's End is so named for the high Varisian population. It is meant as a pejorative term, but the "moths" as Varisians are called in Korvosa have taken the name happily, and there are many non-Varisians intermixed with them who are happy to have the party-loving wanderers as neighbours (but less happy about the Szcarni thugs)

Initial enquiries are met with distrust, but eventually you get to speak to an elder woman named Vorena. She takes Zellara's head reverently and thanks you.

"The funeral rites of our people are not for gadje," she says almost apologetically, "Our sister flies upon the wings of Dresna and for that we thank you for setting her spirit free. She chose you, it would seem, so it is right that you should keep her Harrow deck. Of all of us, she was one of the best readers. It is a pity she chose to take her gift amongst..." she nods towards the smoke rising from Korvosa, then looks the group over closely. "You are all outsiders to Korvosa in one way or another, so perhaps you understand," she says. "Maybe Zellara saw in you champions of the forgotten ones of Korvosa? Well, I will see to our sister here. You are welcome to stay until dawn. There will be dancing."

Shortly, as you wander the impromptu festivities of Trail's End, with strange Varisian dances, drinking around campfires, violin klezmer music and quiet contemplation all mixed together, Tristan is accosted by a drunk who rushes up and claps hands on both shoulders.

"Neffi!" cries the drunk man exuberantly. He takes a closer look at Tristan's blurred visage. "No, you're not Neffi," he says. "Have you seen him? Not since Sandpoint. Hey, you're my best mate, y'know. Let's all get a drink!"

[SBLOCK=Bael]
Bael recognises the man, having had dealings with him in an official capacity. He is, or should be, a sergeant in the Korvosan Guard, a likeable man by the name of Grau Soldado. On a night like this he ought to be helping restore order to the city, not out getting drunk.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Walking Dad]

"Sergeant Solado, nice to meet you. Isn't there something urgent going on in the city?" Bael asks the drunk, trying to sound polite.

[sblock=OOC]
Bael
AC 16 (T13, FF13), HP 25/25, F +2,R+5,W+0
Resistance to cold 5, electricity 5, and fire 5.
Darkness 1/day, Sneak 1d6
Rapier +2 . 1d6+2 . 19-20/X2
Shortbow +3 . 1d6 . 20/X3

Stealth +8 (including ACP)
Perception + 4

[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

Maya strolls along, watching the party but not really feeling like joining in. The Varisians were natives of this land as well, but she didn't understand them. They were too content to settle, to accept. They seemed to hear spirits that did not speak to her people, and she wondered what kind of spirits those were. The harrow deck, for example...and others besides.

She'd stay for a little while, so as not to be rude or dishonor the dead...then return to the other Shoanti to celebrate the return of the children. That's where her heart really was now. That was why she still felt a nagging sense of incompleteness...of something yet to be done.

Yes. That was it.

 

[kinem]

Whenever the opportunity arises, Tristan will ask Vorena about instruction in the use of the harrow deck for divination. "I would appreciate it a lot. Who should I ask? After all, Zellara wanted me to have it, and I don't think she meant for it to stay unused."

To the drunk he says "I don't know any Neffi, but I am up for a drink!"

 

[Dr Simon]

The drunk man peers at Bael carefully.

"Hey, I know you, you work at the Acad'mae," he says with a smile. "Yeah, Grau Soldado, that's me. But I'm off duty t'night. What use am I against that?" he points over at the city. "No bloody use at all, thass me."

He looks at Tristan and throws and arm around his shoulder. "Y'know, you really look like a friend of mine. Neffi, from Sandpoint. D'you know that?. Less get that drink."

As the evening passes, Grau spills some sob story about a falling out with Vencarlo Orisini, a famous teacher of swordsmanship in the city, about a woman called Sabina Merrin.

"I was in love with her, y'know, but I thought she liked Or'sini, so I challenged him to a duel. D'you know he's missing a finger on his left hand?" Grau taps himself on the chest. "I did that. But she didn't like either of us. Not like that. Now she works for the Queen." He raises his beer mug. "To the Queen!" he bellows, attracting strange looks from the Varisians. "And to S'bina. D'you I fought a duel over her, Neffi? I was good. A good guardsman. But now I'm crap. Stupid drunk." He looks mournfully into his beer mug, but drains it nonetheless. "''Nother drink, Neffi?" He pauses. "Wait, y'r not Neffi. D'you know him?"

[SBLOCK=Tristan]
Vorena sucks her teeth at teaching the secrets of the Harrow to a 'gadje', but since the spirit of Zellara seems to have chosen you, she agrees to show you, starting tomorrow.

"But you'll never get all the nuances," she warns. "Only a true Child of Desna could hope to be as good as Zellara was."
[/SBLOCK]

 

[kinem]

[sblock=Dr Si]"Thank you, Vorena. I do not take this honor lightly" Tristan tells her.[/sblock]

"I've heard of him. Go ahead, my friend. I have to go tell my other friend something. Catch you later."

Tristan looks for Bael and Maya. These Varisians are good people, by and large, no doubt. But it wouldn't do to get falling down drunk with all of that loot on us.

 

[Dr Simon]

Two weeks pass in Korvosa. The rioting is quickly quelled, although tensions remain high afterwards. The fact that the new Queen doesn't show any signs of immediately bankrupting the city calms things a little, but trades who have suffered heavy taxation under her husband push fir more changes. Haulers, carters, stevedores and dockers push for lowered duties and begin an embargo of goods, slowing trade into the city to a trickle and gradually pushing up prices. For this, they win little sympathy amongst the rest of Korvosa's citizens who are not happy with the resultant food shortages. That the idea of organised guilds or unions are seen as a dirty, dangerous and unpatriotic concept in Korvosa doesn't help. Scuffle break out in bread queues and at picket lines. Nothing serious, but all helping to keep the Korvosan Guard busy and everyone on edge.

Hookshanks and Giggles, the two remaining members of Gaedran Lamm's gang no languish in the dungeons of Citadel Volshyenek, having been turned over to the guard by Khadmeade. Now that his nephew is safe, the dwarf has no further desire for adventure and Varisian prophecies but wishes the rest of you well and leaves a standing offer of a drink and a place to stay if you ever need it.

The Acadamae tightens its defences. Bael is called to almost constant duty and so you see little of him, expcet when he is able to get away to help sell the gains from Lamm's lair.

As for Tristan, he is able when he can to escape the confines of the Acadamae for lessons in the Harrow with Vanora. He progresses much more quickly than the Varisian woman expected, perhaps because it sometimes seems to him as if the voice of Zellara were whispering in his ear, helping him with the meanings of the cards. However, Tristan finds it increasingly difficult to escape the confines of the Acadamae, and it soon beceoms clear that he will have to make a choice - stay cloistered in formal learning, or break free to be with his new friends.

Maya returns to the small Shoanti community, where she falls under the tutelage of an old shaman known as Thousand Bones. He is of the Skon-Quah, the Skull Clan, but he tells her that the Sundar-Quah rites of passage require a clan member to spend time amongst the other clans, learning their ways. "The Shundar Quah are binders, ones who bring together many different people to one cause," he tells her. "Perhaps you will even bring greater understanding between tshamek* and Shoanti"

Over the course of the fortnight you meet up several times to catch up on life after Lamm, and to oversee the ongoing sell-off of goods. During this time you also make the acquaintance of a young cleric of Seranrae, name of Jerrigan, who happens to be present during one of your attempted trades, and it is he who lets you know the true value of one of the pieces you carry.

The brooch, featuring an imp and a pseudodragon entwined in combat, is actually a piece lost by the now Queen some months ago. She has, apparently, issued a reward for its safe return.

*Tshamek = Shoanti word for non-Shoanti.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Okay, so I'm formally introducing Leif's character here, on the assumption that he somehow manages to ingratiate himself with the rest of you.

Valuations for the other items from Lamm are:
Teak cigar case 25gp
Gold trade bar 100gp
Miniature gold crown 350gp
Scrimshaw kraken with garnet eyes 200gp
Silver ring 150gp
Ivory statuette of two succubi 450gp
Masterwork shuriken 310gp
Adamantine arrowhead 60gp
Abalone shell holy symbol of Shelyn 300gp
One dose silversheen (in vial worth 50gp)
One dose oil of keen edge
Wand of magic missiles (23 charges)
Wand of Acid splash (23 charges)

You can sell of keep these as you wish, and make any additional purchases in the meantime.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Leif]

Jerrigan Arbordelve

"You know, Tristan, Maya, I am looking for a group of friends to associate myself with here in Korvosa, since it doesn't seem terribly safe to always be alone here." Jerrigan shudders briefly but noticeably. "I think that perhaps you might both be able to make good use of my services in return, too, as I am not completely without skill or ability. Having good friends also helps to pass the idle hours, too." Jerrigan stifles a yawn and turns it into a winsome smile. "Plus, I also find myself desperately needing something to do to keep me away from the temple! I mean, come on! A man can only re-fill the lamps and sweep out the sanctuary so many times before he turns into a cobweb himself!"

 

[kinem]

"I don't know how safe it would be to hang out with us" Tristan grins "but seriously, I too have been feeling ... stagnant lately. But, I do want to learn more magic. What else can I do?

Jerrigan, do you know how big the Queen's reward is for that bauble? Collecting it could be a problem though. I would not want to advertise how we came by it.

I have been learning something on the side that I want to show you. It's fortune telling, using cards, the Varisian way. No demons involved as far as I know, priest. I'm an amateur so don't take this too seriously, but maybe the cards can give us some advice on what to do."

ooc: Assuming he know enough to give it a try, Tristan will find private place and attempt to give the three of us a reading.

 

[Leif]

"I don't know how safe it would be to hang out with us" Tristan grins "but seriously, I too have been feeling ... stagnant lately. But, I do want to learn more magic. What else can I do?
Jerrigan, do you know how big the Queen's reward is for that bauble? Collecting it could be a problem though. I would not want to advertise how we came by it.
I have been learning something on the side that I want to show you. It's fortune telling, using cards, the Varisian way. No demons involved as far as I know, priest. I'm an amateur so don't take this too seriously, but maybe the cards can give us some advice on what to do."
ooc: Assuming he know enough to give it a try, Tristan will find private place and attempt to give the three of us a reading.

"Yes I would certainly like to lay my hands on that pretty bauble! Some very lucky person or group seems to have beat me to it, though. But I am very interested to see what the future holds, so please cast our 'fortune' and let us see what awaits around the next bend of the River of Life!"