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Dj'hân is unable to price the silver coffer exactly, but it *is* made from silver and so probably valuable in its own right.
(Untrained Appraise check 7+2=9.)
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Prelate Julius Ishani Dhatri is happy to release Edmond from service, and even promises to check on the state of the orphanage when he is able.
Upon return to Edmond's house, you are met by Kester who has taken the role of major domo upon himself.
"Three new recruits today, Boss," he says. "Bunch of kids from Bridgefront, parents killed by a Pesh addict. Also, we had a visit from the Cerulean Society. Wanted to talk to you, but I sent them away. I think they was checking what we was up to. Could be trouble later."
********
The next day, the four of you arrive at Citadel Volshyenek. Thorson is ambivalent about working with the guard but lacking any other purpose in his life he tags along. Since Lamm's capture, the big half-orc seems to have withdrawn into himself.
You are taken to a dark-haired human woman in red armour. She is boyishly attractive, marred by the tired grey look to her skin, and the dark circles under her eyes.
"Cressida Kroft," she announces as you enter. "You're the people sent by the Queen? Well, good, I'd like to put you to work straight away.
"You know what it's like out there. These damn strikes and the riots have got my men tied up as it is, and it doesn't help when I've got good soldiers deserting their posts." She sighs. "Some are more concerned about their families, I can understand this, but others are using the disorder as an excuse for personal gain.
"Such a man is Verik Vancaskerkin. Worse than a lone deserter, he's persuaded a group of fellow guards that the Queen is going to ruin the city. Whether she is or not is irrelevent - I need all the men I can get, and Verik is a potential canker. He's well-liked and charismatic, and if more of my Guards take up with him... well..." She leaves the consequences hanging.
"I can barely spare people to chase him down personally, and I don't want to expose them to him if I can help it. There's an even chance that they'll join him or kill him, and I'd like him back alive.
"He and his men have holed up in an old butcher's shop called All the World's Meat, up in Northgate. Investigate, bring him back alive and there's a thousand gold in it for you. Dead, he's worth half that. As for the men who are with him, I'd prefer them alive too but if they put up a fight, use any means you have to."
[sblock=OOC]
The Cerulean Society are Korvosa's 'thieves guild', operating almost semi-officially. So confident are they that its enforcers often parade around in distinctive blue sashes when collecting 'insurance' money. They have a particular interest in extorting duties from merchant houses, and in breaking up rival criminal gangs. Their leader is a man named Boule, by rumour a weak-willed Pesh addict who works for a powerful backer.
Pesh: This strong stimulant also has mild hallucinogenic properties, which together make its users easily agitated and randomly
aggressive. Originally imported from Katapesh, pesh first became popular a century ago and remains one of the top drugs in
Korvosa. A pesh addict is identifiable by his blood-shot eyes and frequent nosebleeds, as the fine powder is taken by snorting.
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