The Crimson Echo IC

[Inspectre]

Andaisin scowls in irritation as she takes the letter from Dalen's hand, flicking the sealed document open with a thumb and scanning its contents quickly.
Her eyes flick back up to Aliani's face, and then to the damage spot on the door.

"Oh, that. I don't know if it's worth the guard's trouble to investigate really. Some hooligans came by last night and kicked in my front door. Just some young punks looking for an empty house to loot, I imagine. I yelled at them and they ran off after they discovered the house was occupied. I'm sure wherever they are now, they deeply regret their actions."

Andaisin explains, returning Aliani's piercing gaze with one of her own. Then, she gives Aliani a slight smile and returns her gaze to Dalen with a sigh as she folds up the letter and shoves it into a pocket of her dress.

"While I feel this is an unnecessary waste of you gentlemen's time on the queen's part, I suppose it would be unseemly for the Chelish ambassador to ignore an invitation from the new ruler of Korvosa, no? Just give me a few minutes to gather a few things and lock up, and I will be ready."

Andaisin steps back and closes the door again. Dalen can hear her moving around inside the house, and true to her word a few minutes later Lady Andaisin emerges with a large embroidered satchel slung over one shoulder.

"Well then, shall we be off to the castle? I must admit I am curious about you all a bit. You're not guardsmen, as I doubt Field Marshall Kroft would be subtle enough to think of sending guards out of uniform to avoid attracting attention. So how did you get conscripted into this?"

Spoiler: Aliani

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It must be said that whatever she is, Lady Andaisin meets the qualification of an ambassador having a good poker face. When she first came to the door, she was distracted and perhaps a little surprised at your presence. Now, the mask was fully back into place and there was little you managed to read on her face. But there was one thing you saw in her return gaze, and that little smile she gave you at the end. You've attracted her attention now too, and she's already evaluated you and found you no more threatening than a bug she could squish with her thumb on a whim. And she wants you to know that should you challenge her further, you will come to deeply regret it too.

When she goes back inside, like Dalen you hear her moving around inside. But you also hear her muttering something to herself. It's not an actual rant or anything where you can pick out the individual words, but you can recognize their cadence. It's a magical chant, very similar to the ones you use for your own divine magic.

[Darvin]

Dalen nods at the ambassador's question, "I had the opportunity to provide some services the field marshal in the days before the riot, and I suppose I left a sufficiently favorable impression,"

[PiccadillyPi]

Silas, uncharacteristically quiet in meeting a person of prestige, spoke up once Dalen had time to respond. Not lifting a hand for hers, but rather to bow, he decided a moment to appease her concerns of the odd-folk might make her trip more rewarding.

'I believe I've never had the pleasure, Ambassador Andaisin. I apologize for the stark attitudes of my compatriots, but I can assure you that we shall keep you from anyone that would dare even attempt to harm a single strand of you gorgeous hair.'

The dandy twirled one side of his whiskers as he offered his hand for her satchel. There was a mild flourish to his offer - more bourgeoisie than pompous. His own effort to show her a courteous journey.

'To ensure your highest comfort, please allow me to hold your bag. I promise it shall not leave the view of your lovely eyes.'

To his own end, perhaps he was just searching for another client. On the other hand, having a client of status might've proved beneficial either as a contact or a gateway into the social circles Silas hated most. Of course, she could have been the type that liked being insulted, but Silas had his fingers crossed he was at least partly charming.

[Stelio Kontos]

As soon as the lady closed the door as she retreated to retain her belongings, Aliani fairly hissed at the group, as quietly as possible. "She's dirty. She's hiding something, something big, I can feel it. Give her NOTHING, keep your eyes and ears sharp."

He returned her bright smile upon emerging with one of his own. So she thinks I'm a bug, does she? All right, that works for me. Vapid rambling it is.

"Yes, well, Mr. Rittle here is fond of money, and the guard is well overextended, as I'm sure you can guess, by the various rabble-rousers. Don't know why you'd live down here with this riff-raff, someone in your position, seems like you'd want something a little more upscale. But to each their own I guess! I think it's all just very fascinating, this whole business. Will make a great novel or production someday. That's why I'm here, just get a better feel for what it's like for them on the inside, you know? Just sheer happenstance that I was consulting with Mr. Rittle, you know, magical effects for the stage, that sort of thing. Amazing the stuff the twiddlefingers types can do, ain't it?"

[Steveodore]

Conversation with Aliani

"Cendrillon?"

Miz was beginning to regret her asking, she had no idea what to think of a character with that name.

"..It's fine I suppose, though maybe shorten it ta just Cendrill, so's I don't sound like I'm swoonin' over some stuffed shirt."

Old Korvosa

Getting a wiff of the Ambassador made her alittle wary as soon as she could piece together the smell. She nodded along with Aliani's warning but didn't contribute her own suspicions just yet, since they hadn't much time to talk.

Once they were outside, Miz maintained her watch on the streets for any sign of trouble. She left it to the others to get intimate with the ambassador, while she figured she'd do what she does best.

[Inspectre]

Andaisin nods at Dalen’s explanation.

“Ah, so mercenaries then. Very well, lead on. I am ready to depart for the castle.”

Andaisin replies, turning briefly to lock her front door before slipping the key back into her pocket. She pushes past Silas, completely ignoring him and his offers of help and comfort. A common reaction to tieflings in Cheliax, apparently – they’re either ignored completely or assigned blame for the country’s problems and punished for them. Clearly Andaisin is a representative of her country in more ways than one.

“Don’t forget to include the rampant corruption in the guard, Mister . . . ?”

Andaisin replies to Aliani’s prattling, clearly fishing for a name to put to his face.

“I don’t know what King Eodred was thinking when he supported Kroft’s nomination to Field Marshall, but I think it’s clear by this point that her promises to reform the Guard are nothing more than hot air. I suppose we shouldn’t expect much from a half-Varisian bastard, but Korvosa can ill-afford someone so ill-qualified for the position right now. Hopefully Queen Ileosa will have the good sense to have her replaced after last night’s disgrace.”

Andaisin prattled back, venom dripping from every word – apparently Aliani wasn’t the only person who was not a fan of Korvosa’s current Field Marshall. For the rest of the trip, Lady Andaisin was fairly quiet, responding only as much to questions as was necessary to not be rude, and keeping her own council. She did not respond to Aliani’s “innocent” question about why she set up residence in Old Korvosa.

The trip to Castle Korvosa took a little over an hour, but was thankfully completely uneventful. About the most threatening thing the party encountered was a young woman with long strawberry-blond hair seated on the rim of an old fountain a couple blocks down from Andaisin’s residence. She watches your approach with bored interest, then returns her attention to the apple, noisily biting into the crisp flesh of the apple and loudly crunching the bit-off piece between her teeth as you pass in front of her. Andaisin makes it a point to sneer at her as she walks past.

The city remained subdued even this late into the day, and while more of the wreckage from last night was slowly disappearing from the streets, the scars left behind remained. There would not be a swift return to business as usual it would seem. Your small group ascends the steps of the great black stone pyramid, the Grand Mastaba, that Castle Korvosa was built atop in silence. Arriving at the peak, you find that there is no crowd of petitioners gathered in front of the castle’s marble gates as is present on most days. Instead there are half a dozen guards lounging about in front of the gates, a couple of them begrudgingly sweeping up pieces of debris scattered all over the landing in front of the gates while the rest of them watch.

The familiar face of Malder, the ringleader of the guards who attempted to “arrest” Trinia Sabor the other night, is among them. As you walk up, Malder is engaged with another of the guards in conversation, his expression equal parts of disbelief and awe.

“You’re bull****ting me Quint. A dozen guys sneak into the palace last night, slick as can be, intent on sending the Whore Queen to join ol’ Eodred – maybe after having a bit o’ fun first though, right? They get as far as the hallway outside the royal bed chambers, and it’s the queen’s bedwarmer that stops them!?”

“I wasn’t here last night Corporal, but that’s the story Terrance has been spreading around – that the queen’s bodyguard, Sabrina Merrin, single-handedly stopped the assassination attempt.”

“Y’know there’s a reason everyone calls him ‘Horse**** Terry”, right?”

“Be that as it may, he claims he was patrolling the halls in that area last night. He sees the twelve guys come rushing around the corner, weapons drawn and figures this is it for him, right? Might as well go down swinging though so he starts fighting the couple guys in the lead when he hears the bedchamber door open behind him. And Sabrina Merrin comes out, shrieking like a demon from the bowels of Hell.”

“Demons come from the Abyss though, don’t they?”

Another guard interjects, earning an irritated wave of dismissal from Quint.

“Yeah yeah, whatever. Point is, six of those dozen guys? They’re dead before they even realize what’s happening. And Terrance just watches as Sabrina Merrin paints the hallway with the blood of four more. Last two only survive because they wet themselves and throw down their weapons before Sabrina can get to them.”

“Hah! Yeah, another good story from old Horse**** Terry. He was probably down guarding the royal toilets – that’s a good place for him.”

“You weren’t here earlier, Corporal, when they were bringing the bodies out. There *were* ten of ‘em, and some of them were practically chopped clean in half! I heard the other two are down in the old dungeon, waiting for the Church of Asmodeus to send an inquisitor over . . . poor bastards.”

“Wasn’t Sabrina part of the guard under Field Marshall Jeggare? You worked with her, didn’t you Corporal? What was she like? You think she could manage something like this?”

Another guard interjects, earning a non-committal shrug from Malder.

“Ahhh . . . well, she was not bad I guess . . . for a Varisian. But I certainly never saw her cut down ten armed men in as many seconds before either. I think –“

“*AHEM*”

Andaisin loudly clears her throat as you finally get up to the idle guards, and the Lady Ambassador loses her patience. Malder turns around to regard your group, eyes widening in clear surprise upon seeing Aliani among your number. The corrupt corporal immediately tries to cover up his surprise with indignation.

“Wha-what the devil are *you* doing here!? Palace is closed today, no visitors, so sod off!”

Andaisin answers for your group, practically flinging the letter Dalen had presented her with into Malder’s face.

“Lady Ambassador of Cheliax Andaisin. I’m here to answer a royal summons from Her Majesty, Queen Ileosa, you contemptible buffoon! Now let us pass, and if I hear another word from any of you incompetents that is not “Right this way, milady”, I assure you, I will see to it that every last one of you spends the rest of your lives guarding the gates to the most hellish backwater post imaginable!”

Malder pales to an almost shade of paper as he nods dumbly.

“R-right this way, m-milady.”

Malder signals someone up in the gatehouse, but the heavy portcullis barring entry into a small entry courtyard beyond the first gate is already starting to rise – evidentially someone up there had heard Andaisin’s invective. It’s at this point that Andaisin turns her attention to all of you.

“Well then. You were assigned the task of escorting me here, and you accomplished that. Since Field Marshall Kroft made these arrangements, you can return to her to report success and discuss your payment. You may go.”

“Actually, Her Majesty Queen Ileosa Arabasti would like to speak with all of you.”

A new voice announced from the now-open gateway, and all eyes turned to see a Varisian woman in full-plate with a falchion slung across her back standing there. This could only be Sabina Merrin, the queen’s bodyguard. While a few inches shorter than the lean Andaisin, Sabrina is much wider across the shoulders, and cuts an imposing figure as she stands there, arms crossed, examining each of you in turn with her brown eyes.

“Leave your weapons with the guard, please, and follow me. I should not need to tell you all to be on your best behavior in front of Her Majesty, but it’s been a long day and I’d rather not have to do any more “painting” today.”

Sabrina turns to walk back into the inner courtyard, but stops to glance back at the assembled guardsmen.

“And it was nine men I cut down. The tenth I kicked out a nearby window. I was trying to cut down on the mess.”

Spoiler: Sabrina Merrin

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[Stelio Kontos]

Conversation with Miz

"It loses a little bit in translation that way, but as you wish" he replied, with a friendly smile.

In The Present

Aliani pretended not to hear the request for his name, preferring instead to take in the sights and pay as much attention to the surroundings as possible. Two could play that game, after all. "I shant forget it, no."

His eyes narrowed upon seeing that guard -- THAT guard. Wouldn't do to start a row here in public, but at the same time, there was no question as to who held the advantage here, when words and not swords were the unchallenged weapons of choice. And it wasn't him. The acid dripped off his tongue as he berated the man in his most over-officious air, puffing out his chest and putting his own face just inches away from his rival's.

"Well! Hello there! I remember you, but I never did catch your name, Corporal, what is it for the record? At any rate, I'm not 'visiting'. I'm here on guard business, OFFICIAL guard business, as are we all. You understand me? Don't think your impertinence in the face of our esteemed visitor here will go unnoticed. Cressida will certainly be hearing about it, no doubt about that. Now, if you value your continued employment, snap to and let us attend to your business, and I might be inclined to leave out the most sordid parts of your pathetic display here."

He leaned in closer still, whispering "I got your little note. If you **** with my home again, or my friends, you'd better bring an army." He gave him a brief stare, looking for what he already knew in his heart would be a flash of recognition amongst the anger.

Dismissing that animal with a sneer, he gave the ambassador a knowing, sad smile. "On behalf of the people of Korvosa, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies for their behavior, ambassador. It is very much as you said earlier. We'd throw the whole lot out on the streets, if it were up to me."


He surrendered his weapons upon request; apparently they'd do even less good than usual in present company.

[Darvin]

Throughout the journey Dalen allows the ambassador to speak, careful to show the right amount of attention and deference to her words while neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her. He wasn't in the habit of badmouthing his employer, nor did he have any desire to leave an unfavorable impression with the ambassador. Fortunately the middle-ground of silent professionalism was an easy enough path to follow.

Upon arrival at the castle Dalen gives a brief glance to Malder, then averts his gaze. He finds the prattling of these guards amusing; men who have no idea what true power is. Dalen understood, oh how he understood just how lowly he was. When he heard Sabrina call for their presence, Dalen could only smile; an invitation to step one more rung up the ladder.

"It would be an honor," Dalen nods graciously, withdrawing his wands and leaving it with the guard. He then follows Sabrina into the castle, his arms folded behind his back as he goes.

[PiccadillyPi]

Silas grumbled something crude about Cheliax and its affinity to the infernal, only stopping short of calling their queen a harlot of the hells.

'The Queen Mother requests my presence? Oh, I wish I had dressed up. For a lowly one such as I to be called to her court, Ambassador Andaisin, I suppose we shall go in shoulder to shoulder.'

Regardless of how hard Silas tried to annoy the ambassador, he was genuinely excited to be requested by the Queen. He didn't praise her, or really care at all about the royals, but it felt good to be even marginally recognized. Although, he had his doubts Queen Ileosa knew his name.

At request of the guard, Silas removed his weapons and any tools deemed fit for harm. He was rather open about his equipment, and even regaled his use of impact foam the other day. He wasn't specific about the who, what, or where, but he kept it lively as he continued to hand over his bandolier. However, he failed to mention the sword concealed in his cane. Assuming no one noticed, he carried on inside. If they did, he coughed apologies while crying that it was a moment of absent-mindedness. It was. He's not had to draw the blade from it for some time, and that was the day he bought it. It's served its purpose sheathed for its entire lifetime. The one time he could have used it, he forgot how to open the blasted thing.

Regardless of the result, he walked with some amount of froufrou alongside everyone else.

Spoiler: OOC

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DC 20 perception to notice his cane is in fact a weapon. DC 10 if they handle it.

The cane is not out of place with his current attire.

[Steveodore]

Miz rather appreciated being removed from the ambassador's attentions. Her concern's of ambush had erroded away as they walked to the point where she looked out more to see damages to the city from last nights festivities.

She was put off balance by the sudden invitation to meet with the queen of all things. Her first thought was this was an elaborate way of getting them to walk themselves into the queen's dungeon, which was admittedly pretty ridicules. She eyed the surrounding guards critically, but they didn't appear to be apart of any contrived trap Miz imagined.

Even if this wasn't a trap, it was beginning to gull her how many parties were aware of their little group already, either that or one of the others was bringing a lot of baggage to this party.

Without a word Miz turned over her own weapons before following the others.

[Inspectre]

Malder doesn't say a word, but his expression speaks volumes - namely, that he was deeply coming to regret crossing "just a playwright" who also happened to rub elbows with the Chelish ambassador.

After handing your weapons over to the guards, you follow Andaisin and Sabrina underneath the portcullis into the small entry courtyard. You can see a few more guards up on the walls watching your entrance with interest, but those are the only other people in sight. Halfway across the courtyard, Sabrina glances back, sees Silas’s cane, and stops.

“Excuse me sir. Do you mind if I see your cane for a moment?”

Taking the cane, Sabrina flicks the hidden latch built into the head, and pulls out the first several inches of the thin steel blade hidden within the cane’s shaft. She nods, pushes the blade back into the cane, and hands it back to Silas with a raised eyebrow, causing the two halves of her right eyebrow, split by a long thin scar running up her forehead to just shy of her hairline, to nearly double over together into a single thick line.

“I’m going to assume that you simply “forgot” about the hidden blade these sorts of canes have, and pretend I didn’t see this. If I ever see this blade again, however . . .”

Sabrina leaves the rest of the threat unspoken, while making a little kicking motion with her left foot before turning and leading the rest of the way across the courtyard. She ascends a short flight of marble stairs up to a set of heavy iron-reinforced doors which she shoves open. Now inside the castle proper, Sabrina leads you through a dazzling array of corridors and up flights of stairs. Like the courtyard outside, the castle’s interior is eerily devoid of people.

“Normally, I’d shove you all into one of our very nicely decorated waiting rooms until Queen Ileosa sent some functionary to fetch you. Today, however, everyone it seems has decided to abandon their duties in favor of cowering with their families at home. And since I need to return to Her Majesty’s side immediately, you get to move to the front of the line. I’m sure Lord Jeggare, who Queen Ileosa is meeting with presently, will not mind the interruption.”

Arriving at the third floor, Sabrina leads you down several more richly appointed corridors, until at last you stand before a final set of double doors. Even through the thick wood of the doors you can hear two voices, one male and one female, raised in anger.

“You will tell the Order of the Nail Hellknights to withdraw from Korvosa immediately! Their presence in the city last night led to countless unnecessary deaths, and you overstepped your authority by bringing them here in the first place!”

“Oh, I think those deaths were quite necessary. The rabble always needs a good bloody nose to remind them of their place. And I find it curious that you accuse me of overstepping my authority over *my* city given your own position – or lack thereof.”

“How dare you. I am – “

“Nothing more than a pretty figurehead. I suppose your late husband was too busy with, ahem, other things to take the time to explain to you how things work in Korvosa. So, allow me - unlike your homeland, here the Council of Nobles makes the rules. The person sitting on the Crimson Throne is merely our chosen representative, our mouthpiece to the masses and our face before our neighbors. Your authority ends beyond the walls of this castle. And should the Council of Nobles decide to withdraw its support, you won’t even have that. Eodred understood this, and so we tolerated his various . . . proclivities. Demonstrate that you are capable of the same understanding, or your rule will end before it even officially begins, and your next accommodations will be more befitting the first part of your moniker, rather than your second.”

At that point, Sabrina shoved open the double doors to reveal the heart of Castle Korvosa, the throne room of the Crimson Throne. A grand hall stretched out beyond the doors, lit by light filtering through the series of stained glass windows that ran along the northern wall. Each window depicted one of the city’s rulers, from King Eodred the First down to Queen Domina, Eodred the Second’s mother. No doubt King Eodred the Second would find his way up there to be immortalized at some point in the near future.

At the back of the long hall, a carpeted dais rose up to a giant chair made of twisted wrought iron and bright crimson fabric – the Crimson Throne of Korvosa. Seated on the throne was a gorgeous woman with flawless alabaster skin and long flaming red hair, twisted up into braids that curled back around to behind the odd-looking jagged black metal crown perched atop her head – Queen Ileosa. Standing at the foot of the dais examining his silver pocketwatch is an older man with a neatly groomed snow-white beard and dressed immaculately in fine clothing – Lord Percival Jeggare, head of House Jeggare and the wealthiest man in the city.

Spoiler: Queen Ileosa Arabasti

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Queen Ileosa’s Theme (Same as Book 1 Intro)

Spoiler: Percival Jeggare

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Percival Jeggare’s Theme

“Presenting Lady Ambassador of Cheliax Andaisin, and escorts.”

Sabrina Merrin announced, glaring at Jeggare as she flexed the armored fingers of her right hand. For his part Jeggare simply shrugged and snapped his pocketwatch closed before shoving it back into the pocket of his jacket.

“Well then. It would appear that my time here at court is over, for the moment. Fare thee well, your Majesty – be sure to consider what tone you wish to set for your first days of rule.”

And with that, Lord Jeggare turns and leaves the throne room, nodding at Lady Andaisin as he walks past and utterly ignoring Sabrina and all of you. Sabrina flexs the fingers of her right hand again, and then closes the doors to the throne room. Ileosa who had been glowering in stern disapproval at Jeggare’s receding back, breathes out a low sigh and slumps in the crimson throne as soon as the doors are closed fully. Andaisin steps forward, and Ileosa pushes herself up from the Crimson Throne and descends to meet her. Upon reaching the bottom of the dais, Ileosa suddenly hikes up the front of her flowing dress, and runs the remaining distance to Andaisin, throwing herself into the lean woman’s arms and burying her face into Andaisin’s shoulder.

“Oh, Andy! I was so worried about you! Eodred’s dead, some men tried to kill me last night, and I . . . I –“

Whatever Ileosa was planning to say, it breaks off into a sob, followed by one after another as Korvosa’s new queen seems to completely break down. Andaisin seems completely taken aback by this, and cautiously raises a hand up to pat the back of Ileosa’s head, careful to avoid snagging her fingers on the strange crown’s barbs.

“There there child, there there. I am alright. Everything is going to be okay now. We’ll work through it together. Ssshhh. Ssshhh. It’s alright.”

Spoiler: Dalen

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You can clearly remember your first brief visit to the castle, and you recall that it was nothing like this. Queen Ileosa had appeared to be quietly grieving the loss of her husband, but she was composed and calm. This Ileosa is an emotional wreck, and if it’s some sort of act, it’s one that rivals that of Aliani Rose’s finest performers. Andaisin’s back is to you, so other than her comforting words you can’t get a sense of her reaction, and Sabrina seems to be carved from the same marble as the walls given how still and emotionless she is standing.

Spoiler: Miz

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You had never dreamed that you would get a chance to meet a member of the nobility, yet alone royalty. Yet here you were standing in front of Korvosa’s new ruler, and whatever you had been expecting of the experience *this* was certainly not it. It didn’t seem to be an act, or the tears of some spoiled brat – this was a genuine outpouring of grief from a scared girl. The invincible gods who towered above the people of Korvosa, of the Vaults beneath, they were just people after all.

Spoiler: Silas

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You didn’t really get a sense of how Sabrina or Andaisin were reacting to this scene, as your attention was entirely on Ileosa. In that moment you didn’t see the queen of Korvosa standing there, but a grief-stricken young girl. You had occasionally tortured yourself with fantasies of Vjala crying like this, grieving over a lost childhood in the dark, a childhood that you had stolen from her to sell to Lamm. You’d guess Ileosa was about the same age as your daughter, perhaps even a few years younger. It was like watching one of your private nightmares play out in front of you – not a pleasant experience.

Spoiler: Aliani

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You didn’t like the nobility. You didn’t like Queen Ileosa. But it was really hard right now not to take Ileosa’s overwhelmed grief as legitimate. You had seen performances both great and not very good at all, but all performances of grief held some commonalities that were missing here. Performers usually needed a moment to mold their emotions to fit the scene, they didn’t just explode into heart-rending sobs. And while make-up and acerbic chemicals could induce tears and reddened eyes, you had never heard of any performer forcing themselves to cry for hours until their eyes became completely bloodshot and their faces swollen up – while Ileosa still had an ethereal beauty about her, she was seriously not looking her best at the moment with those dark circles under her eyes and puffy cheeks.

You couldn’t see Sabrina’s face to gauge her reaction to this as she was standing behind you, but Andaisin’s face was turned just enough that you got to see her in profile. And while she was initially taken aback at this display of raw emotion from Ileosa, for just a moment while cradling the queen, her mask slipped again. For just the briefest of moments, a small, satisfied smile flashed across her face.

[Darvin]

A look of genuine surprise engulfs Dalens face as the cane sword is revealed, but quickly changes to indignation. That sort of indiscretion was something he might expect from someone as irresponsible as Rhev... wherever that many was in this timeline. He'd thought Silas more pragmatic than that. Fortunately Sabrina seemed to take the infraction in stride and he once again relaxed.

The scene in the throne room quickly sends Dalen's mind racing. Chronologically this was two days earlier than his visit to the throne room in the previous chain of events. Was the Ileosa he met previously also like this in the immediate aftermath of Eodred's death, only to harden in the coming days? Or was this a more fundamental difference? And what of the queen's overly-familiar relationship with the Chellaxian ambassador? And why did the queen ask to speak with the four of them as well? At least that last one might get answered in due course.

Dalen folds his hands behind his back, waiting to be addressed before speaking.

[Stelio Kontos]

Aliani gave Malder a satisfied smile. He was far from through with him, of course, but for now that battle had been fought to satisfaction. Now to get through whatever garbage this other witch was going to spew at them. Such a crime, having a massive castle like this. Wonder how many lives worth of wealth were wasted in its walls.

The conversations were ... quite a lot to process. So it seems the players at hand are not in unison. That's good. Means we have a chance. He found himself having a brief flash of pity for That Woman -- couldn't help it really, people are still people -- but she brought it on herself. Had to know what she was getting into. Should have, anyway.

His already dark expression turned, just for a brief moment, to a flash of anger and disgust as the queen and the ambassador shared a hug. He turned to take in the sights of the stained glass windows as they shared their embrace, not wanting to look further.

You go first.

[PiccadillyPi]

'I swear you shall not.'

Phrased like some honour-bound dummy, Silas didn't wish to see the fruition of Sabrina's insinuation.

Witnessing the Queen's disposition, he felt a sort of melancholy. Anyone looking in his direction might assume he was touched by the reunion. However, Silas didn't feel sorry for her, or genuinely care about either woman, but the scene brought up thoughts and memories that left him wanting. Perhaps this scene mirrored another timeline where he died before Gaedren entered his life. A moment between mother and daughter?

I wish, I wish upon a star...

[Inspectre]

Eventually, Ileosa’s sobs subside and she pulls away from Ambassador Andaisin.

“I’m sorry, I know a proper lady does not display such emotion, it’s just –“

“Fret not, Ily. You’ve had a terrible scare. Here, clean yourself up child. There are other people present.”

Andaisin sooths, offering Ileosa a handkerchief, which the queen uses to dab away her tears and the few remains of her make-up that hadn’t already run off from previous crying jags. Ileosa glances at the four of you, and then looks back to Andaisin.

“Speaking of our other guests, Andy . . . would you mind leaving the room for a few minutes? I wish to speak with them about a . . . private matter. Why don’t you go make yourself comfortable in one of the guest quarters, and I will come find you once my business with them is complete.”

Andaisin frowns in disapproval at this, but acquiesces with a nod of her head.

“I don’t understand why you no longer trust me with your secrets, Ily. But very well, keep them if you must. I will wait for you, and then perhaps we can talk about these recent troubles.”

Ileosa winces a little at the secrets jab, but doesn’t say anything else as Andaisin turns and leaves. Sabrina closes the door behind her, and Ileosa takes a deep breath and folds her hands in front of her before turning her attention to you, once more holding the appearance of a collected ruler.

“You have my sincere thanks for escorting Andy – Ambassador Andaisin – here. She is an old friend, something I desperately need right now, and I don’t know what I would do if she had come to harm. I would like to apologize for my display just now – hardly a scene fit to come from Korvosa’s ruler, right? But . . . it’s been a difficult few days, for everyone in the city I imagine. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Ileosa looks back and forth between each of you as she talks, only to stop when her gaze falls on Dalen. The young queen favors him with a small but genuine smile.

“Ah, Mr. Dalen Rittle. I should have known that you would be present – my handmaiden, Elliana, cannot stop talking about the dashing young mage who saved her from some petty thieves the other night. She is sorry that she was unable to finish the show with you, but well . . . things had taken a turn for the worse here at the castle, and she was needed.”

Ileosa flicks her gaze over to Aliani, and studies his face for a moment before favoring him with a smile as well.

“And you . . . you’re Aliani Rose, aren’t you? Elliana is a huge fan of your plays, she makes it a point to attend each one if she can. Alas, Eodred and I . . . we never got a chance to attend one together . . .”

Ileosa stares down at the floor for a moment, then seems to shake herself mentally and turns her attention to Silas and Miz.

“I afraid that your names are not known to me as yet. I’d like to remedy that right now, if possible before we discuss business.”

Ileosa listens attentively to Silas and Miz’s introductions, then continues on.

“Well then. To make a long story short, while I am sorry that you were all pulled away from your own families and concerns today, I am glad that you were willing to step forward and serve your city by escorting Ambassador Andaisin here at my request. I had hoped that Field Marshall Kroft would be unable to spare the guards for the escort, and would have to turn to people not affiliated with the guard who she nonetheless trusted to keep the ambassador safe. This task I require is not something that the Field Marshall would approve of, I imagine, but it does require people who are willing to put this city before themselves. Obviously, her faith in you was not misplaced, and so now I would ask you if you were willing to do the same thing one more time.”

“Your Majesty, I really don’t think this is the time for this. It’s too dangerous out in the city, and no offense to our “guests”, but this is a lot different than just walking the ambassador from point A to point B.”

Sabrina interjects, and Ileosa sighs, holding up a placating hand to her bodyguard before returning her attention to you.

“I know your concerns, Sabrina. But it has to be now, and it has to be done this way. I can’t help the people of this city if I don’t know what’s going on in it. I need first-hand information on where help is desperately needed, I can’t go myself because no one will speak honestly to the queen, and there’s no one else to send that I trust. I need the four of you to escort my handmaiden Elliana out into the city so that she can discover the areas of the city hardest hit by last night’s riots, and what I can do to ease the people’s suffering. I do not want you to take her on a gilded tour of the city, I want you to take her to where aid is needed most desperately so that I can get a first-hand account and not a useless padded report from bureaucrats who fear embarrassment more than desire to aid the people. You will need to keep her safe, remain discrete so that no one becomes aware of your mission, and this needs to be done as soon as possible, ideally no later than tomorrow evening. And you capable and willing to perform this service for me – no, for Korvosa?”

Despite her earlier tears, Ileosa’s gaze is hardened and level as she looks back and forth between you, awaiting your reply.

[Darvin]

Dalen raises an eyebrow at the mention of Elliana. After the events of the following days, that minor altercation had almost completely fled his mind. Strange that it would appear to be the most fortuitous of them all. Without hesitation, Dalen steps forward and bows his head respectfully to the queen, "it would be an honor to serve her majesty and Korvosa. I already have a few ideas of areas to survey, and I'm sure we can narrow down others," Dalen bit his tongue before listing them off, his mind already racing on just how fortuitous the situation was.

[PiccadillyPi]

Silas' introduction was brief. He simply gave his name, and an 'at your service'. He hesitated after those words, resisting his instinct to inject innuendo.

Once the meeting neared its end, and Queen Ileosa made her request, the dandy nearly interrupted Dalen as he considered who needed help most.

'The residential boats in West Dock!'

Coughing at his own poor etiquette, possibly from an elbow to the ribs, he gave a small apology for speaking out of turn. Silas hadn't lived in South Shore for so long that he couldn't see past its gates - especially if he was partly to blame for the damage.

'I cannot promise a subtle appearance from this tiger-stripe dandy, but I can guarantee discreetness. I will assist Elliana to the best of my abilities.'

Again, he restrained himself from his usual interactions. Had this been a regular citizen, the courtesan might've held their hand or placed a hand on their shoulder. This having been the Queen, he could do nothing more than stand and bow in a formal fashion.

While the others spoke, he looked toward Queen Ileosa. For her to be this gentle and frightful. It didn't suite his image of royalty. Something felt odd to the tiefling, but he wagered it had to do with his overall disliking of the ambassador.

I hope I never see her again.

[Stelio Kontos]

Aliani gave the queen a curt nod in response to her recognition. Was that supposed to make him feel better somehow?

The death stare -- don't you dare -- he fired at Dalen apparently went unnoticed, or unheeded. He had a lot of things to say at the moment, but apparently nobody, friend or foe, that would listen. He bowed his head to the floor, shaking it from side to side in a strong mix of disappointment and anger.

[Inspectre]

Ileosa's smile brightens a little at Dalen's quick acceptance of the task on the group's behalf.
If she was annoyed by Silas's brief faux pas at blurting out a place in need of help, she didn't show it, smoothly weaving it into her response.

"Splendid, Mr. Rittle! I am glad that you already have some locations in mind - such as these boats along West Dock. If any more such locations immediately spring to mind, I can certainly pass them along to Elliana. You can also take the rest of the day if needed to plot out a route. It is already midday and I do not know if the streets tonight will be any safer than last night."

At this point, Ileosa catches sight of Aliani, who has remained silent throughout the meeting and now seems to be wrestling with some dark thought.

"Mr. Rose? . . . Mr. Rose, are you alright?"

[Darvin]

"A fine point, your majesty," Dalen says gracefully as he ignores the banality of point; there was hardly enough time left in this day, and a survey by night made little sense. He continues, "I will prepare an agenda this afternoon and return to the castle tomorrow morning to begin the tour,"

Dalen falls silent as Ileosa addresses Aliani. He raises an eyebrow slightly; they'd been through this once before, was this time harder for him for some reason? In any event, Aliani and Aliani alone was the person to respond to the queen and Dalen kept his thoughts to himself.

[Stelio Kontos]

"All right? Ha! ALL RIGHT? Are you --"

If the baleful glare and derisive laugh he didn't give the queen wasn't going to get him killed, that unfinished thought surely would have. Fortunately, he had a little bit of self preservation instinct left, allowing him to compose himself enough to take in a couple of deep breaths. As it turned out, he'd need them.

"Let's see. 'Am I all right' was the question? In the past two days I've had a drunken guardsman darken my door to tell me that I've wasted countless hours and ridiculous amounts of money over the last five years, not to mention having my face kicked in a few times, because they forgot to mention to me that the person I've been trying to chase down for my mother's murder turned up dead a week after the event. Then, the other person I've been chasing down for the last five years, the true mastermind, who by the way I handed to the guard on a silver platter, twice, only to have them toss the evidence in the river probably, and also oh by the way if they'd done their job then or now you wouldn't have a crazed lunatic instigating half the riots you've got out there right now, FINALLY I've got a chance to bring him in once and for all and I screw it up, but at least we've got a dozen homeless, probably parentless children out of his grasp that he was using for a child slave operation on the side, not that anyone cares about THAT around here. Only I have no idea whatsoever to do with them, because it's too dangerous to take them out on the street, what with the riots, and the hellknights you know about launching fireballs into crowds and murdering everyone that looks at them the wrong way, and that's what it is by the way it's murder -- not 'overstepping their bounds', not 'dispensing justice' -- if I murdered and tortured some people in the middle of the street you'd have me strung up off the North Bridge after plucking my eyes out and chopping my hands off, and you'd be right, but them at best you're going to say 'oh please leave, you've inconvenienced us' and in the end you're not going to do anything and you're going to let them keep punching the rabble, of which I am unquestionably a part, in the face. And lest I forget to add, one of our performers, and someone I consider a dear friend, is lying in sickbed right now with a festering hole in her cheek and jaw the size of a walnut from a flask of acid because she had the temerity to try to leave town and I had the temerity to think the same aforementioned drunk guardsman might manage to find an abusive seven foot tall Shoanti man in a town this size and detain him for a few hours so they could flee. So that worked out great. My fault, should have known better. If we're very lucky and she gets constant care for a week or so, which I am personally prepared to try to provide, she might only have her career irrevocably altered instead of dying outright, so she's got that going for her. As an aside, my home got broken into last night, and I can't even go to the guard because probably the same crooked ones that screwed everything ELSE up -- not the drunken one mind you, I'm sure it's hard to keep track -- but maybe it's someone else -- left THIS stabbed into the headboard of my bed with a dagger."

At that, he withdrew a piece of paper, crumpled it in his hand, and threw it on the ground in pure anger.

Spoiler: The paper, for whoever picks it up

Show

says "Stay out of guard business."

"So that 'cleaning out the corruption in the guard' thing I heard about is going splendidly too. At least the locksmith business in town is booming, even if it did cost me half a year's rent.

And there's probably some things I've forgotten, I'm sure they can fill you in. I'm a little loopy, I haven't slept in two days, and my leg halfway feels like a glob of gelatin thanks to the ravenous reefclaws running rampant around town whilst trying to save my friend from, I didn't mention this part yet, the other -- another, sorry, I'm sure there's a lot more than just the two -- gangs of thugs the guard has known about for years but hasn't done anything about, who were holding her hostage and physically torturing her, because the part about the acid by itself wasn't good enough for them. Oh, and the drug that turns people into a gibbering death monster. I can't even explain that one. And naturally, when I get asked to drop everything and abandon the kids and the probably dying friend to escort someone I've never met down to someone else I've never met and go out into the streets because the streets are too dangerous for people to go out into -- think about that for a minute -- I get roped into saying yes and get lectured for my trouble, and I do it anyway because I'm -- gods only know why. So you're welcome for that.

"And now: you want to know what's going on in your city. But instead of just asking us, who have done nothing but be out in your city and have experienced pure hell on earth, you want us to go back out into your city again and have someone else tell you what's going on in your city, and oh by the way you're doing that because it's way too dangerous to be out on the streets so you want us to go out in the streets again where we've already been and tell you what's going on in the streets, and in the bargain you want to risk the life of someone ELSE that's close to you so you can get that because you don't trust us enough to just tell you, but you trust us enough to take this other person around so we can stick our necks out for them, too? What sense does that make? But we're going to do it of course, because what the hell choice do I have? Say no and get thrown in jail if I'm lucky?

"So fine, sure, have handmaiden number twelve or whatever her name was meet us at the front gate tomorrow, about ninety minutes after dawn and make sure she knows how to wear good armor because she's going to need it. I'm sure we'll show her a lovely time, I can talk to her about her favorite plays in between us skipping gaily over the blood puddles. Now if that's all, if you'll prithee excuse us, your majesty, I have a few minor inconveniences to the royal schedule I would beg your indulgence to take care of. And Dalen, I'll have everyone out of your shop by dusk so you needn't be troubled by it any more. As you said, they're my problem after all, my friends, not yours.

"So to answer your question, your highness, your grace: I'm fine. I'm great. Couldn't possibly be better. At your service, ready to give whatever I have left. Very sorry for your loss, truly, I am."

[Inspectre]

Ileosa gives Dalen's comment about scheduling a nod, and then returns her attention to Aliani just in time for the playwright to lose his mind.
Sabrina takes two swift menacing steps towards him from behind, but just as she stretches out a hand to clamp down on his shoulder, Ileosa holds up a hand and shakes her head.
And then the queen just stoically listens to Aliani's entire rant, nodding along at points and at other points clearly becoming lost in the mad jumble of concepts as Aliani just vomited forth every abuse he had suffered, every horror he witnessed over the past several days.
When he finally comes to his bitter conclusion and stands there slightly out of breath, Ileosa nods and gives what is likely supposed to be a reassuring smile, although it fades almost immediately.

"I'm not sure I followed all of that Mr. Rose, but I think I got the highlights."

Ileosa turns away to walk back over to the dais, although instead of ascending the dais to the Crimson Throne she simply sits down on the dais steps, rubbing at her temples with her fingers.

"I don't know what to do. I don't know what I *can* do."

Ileosa admits, and then presses on.

"The nobles don't respect me, the citizenry despises me. My freedom and ability to enact my desires are constrained by laws and tradition to the point I might as well be an exotic bird in a gilded cage singing for its supper. I never felt as if Eodred was really doing anything for this city, and yet he oversaw over twenty years of peace. The first day of my rule has seen the streets of Korvosa soaked in blood. I have to do *something*. I *must*!"

Ileosa declares with a scowl, forming a fist with one hand and pounding her thigh for emphasis. She winces a little at the impact, and unfurls her fingers with a sigh.

"But the only thing I could think of to do was gather information on Korvosa's woes so that I could then pass that information on for someone else to solve. Perhaps Mr. Rose is right that such a plan was . . . ill-conceived."

Ileosa pauses here to think, idly twirling a finger through one of her braids and causing it to pull free from its fastenings and drop down to hang limply from the side of her head. Eventually she nods and looks back up.

"Alright. If you believe that you have sufficient insight into the problems currently facing Korvosa's people, then by all means share that information with me now. If you know of an area of the city that has been badly affected by the riots but do not know the details, then you can investigate those areas with Elliana tomorrow. I get the sense from Mr. Rose's . . . report . . . that both the corruption in the guard and the Hellknights' version of justice are serious issues. I'm afraid I don't know what I can do to fix either of those problems. I may be able to lean on Field Marshall Kroft to keep her promise to reduce corruption in the guard's ranks, but the Bank of Abadar controls the guards' funding and the Council of Nobles determines the Field Marshall. After confirming Kroft as Field Marshall only a few months ago, I imagine the Council will be loathe to make an immediate change, but perhaps they could be convinced to revisit the matter."

"Cressidia dragging her feet over gathering "enough" evidence? That's a shock."

Sabrina observes, with more than a trace of her own bile slipping into her tone.

"I . . . may have an idea for removing the Hellknights as a problem as well. But while their methods are abominable, Jeggare may have a point that the guard and Sable Marines are not enough to suppress further riots.
I do not want to watch my city burn any further, but quenching the flames with blood is equally unacceptable. As part of the "rabble" in danger of, how did Mr. Rose phrase it, "getting punched in the face"? What is the greater danger? Further chaos or the means used to prevent it?"

Ileosa poses the question to the group, and it's clear that this is not a rhetorical question, she is clearly looking for your opinions. Once you have given them, Ileosa returns her attention to Aliani.

"As for your more personal issues, Mr. Rose, I am afraid that I don't have a good solution for the children. They need to be found new homes, but that will take time. If you need money in order to provide for them, I'm sure we could arrange something?"

Ileosa shifts her gaze over to Sabrina, who shrugs and gives a confirming nod.

"That may be all I can do for now, but I am aware of several orphanages and boarding schools in the city. If their parents cannot be found, or are gone, perhaps they can be enrolled in one of those - I will make inquiries there on your behalf, and strongly encourage those institutions to open their doors. As for your injured friend . . . that . . . that is something that I *can* do something about. Right now. Sabrina - before our guests leave the castle for the evening, would you please introduce them to Dr. Reiner? And instruct him to accompany them back to where this injured friend is so that he can provide treatment?"

Ileosa asks, smiling as Sabrina gives another nod.

"Dr. Reiner is the Royal Physician. While he was unable to save my Eodred, I want to assure you that he is one of the finest doctors in the city. He should be easily able to attend to your friend's injuries - make sure that Dr. Reiner is aware he has my full permission to enact whatever means necessary to ensure that Mr. Rose's friend makes a full recovery. I will reimburse him for any expense incurred."

Ileosa turns her attention back to the group, reclining back against the dais steps and smiling - being able to come up with *something* she can do has clearly lifted the queen's spirits.

"Now then - is there anything else we need to discuss this evening? I do not want to keep you overly long if there are other matters you need to attend to before sunset."

[Darvin]

Dalen fidgets nervously as Aliani begins, knowing full well what's coming and with little he can do about it. He notices Sabrina's approach out of the corner of his eyes and steps aside ever so slightly, otherwise remaining silent and still. A wave of relief comes as Aliani finishes and the queen seems... relatively unperturbed, though he does flinch visibly at the mention of the bank of Abadar, even if it's just in passing.

As the queen finishes addressing Aliani, Dalen steps forward and clears his throat, not willing to allow any other interruptions, "no, your majesty. I'd imagine the next matter we'll have that merits your attention will be our full report,"

[PiccadillyPi]

Silas, for its entirety, had been stunned silent by the vulgarity of Aliani's ravings. In the end he was a little impressed the bastard had gotten away with it - for the moment.

When all was said and done - [subsequent posts included] - the dandy attempted to excuse the party lest anyone decided to conduct a third outburst.

'Your majesty, regardless of our quaint incivilities, it was an honour to be called without fealty. With your permission, we shall take our leave to prepare for the morrow. In such tempestuous times as these, Korvosa needs your benevolence and wisdom.'

And if you ever find yourself in need, you need only call my name.

He was very glad he did not say that aloud. The inclination to solicit the upper crust was in high gear, but he managed to resist it thus far.

'I can only hope to see your grace again.'

[Stelio Kontos]

Aliani felt that hand on his shoulder, interrupting briefly his stream-of-consciousness rant with another thought -- "pleasedon'thurthemthisisallmywords" but continued on nonetheless.

He had to admit that this lady talked a good game, though. And she obviously actually cared about that old bastard, which was surprising. Still, though...

"What is the greater danger? Further chaos or the means used to prevent it?"

"They're not preventing it, they're adding to it. And that's worse, because -- because it's only when people feel like nobody's listening and they have to do whatever they can to survive that they act like this, most of them anyway. The chaos is because they're afraid, because they know that usually when a new ruler comes in they talk with the nobles, the guard, the sable marines, the hellknights, even the established criminal element -- everyone but them. And all those groups, every one of them, know that they can't go after each other, so for them to get more, it's always the "rabble" that get less. To the point where they're afraid for their own survival, and they know that nobody will listen. You're -- you're already one step ahead by listening to me, so thank you. Really. I do mean it. Just, please, remember there's a lot of decent "rabble" in this town, a lot of really good people like these ones, that want nothing from you but to keep the other groups from predating upon them. That's it..."

He shook his head firmly at the suggestion of money for the orphans, his pride taking over but starting to break down. "Money's a temporary solution, I've got more than I know what to do with anyway right now... I'll find them a proper place... though yes, if you have suggestions I would certainly look into them... that would be helpful..."

there's no way I'm letting you stuff these kids in some hole to be forgotten about

The mention of the doctor finally did it, finally broke him down completely. "I -- yes. Please. They'll be so -- we'll be so grateful -- I don't know, I think maybe... no, she needs that. Please. Please, thank you so much..."

He trailed off, devolving fully into a blubbering pitiful mess.

[Darvin]

Dalen puts his hand on Aliani's shoulder, "we need to go," he says grimly, then turns to the queen and bows, "recent events weigh heavily on the city and it's people, some more than others. May these injuries have begun to heal when next we meet,"

[Inspectre]

Ileosa blinks in surprise as her unexpected generosity moves Aliani to tears. She sits back up, panic momentarily flitting across her face as she struggles to think of something reassuring to say. Fortunately, Dalen chooses this moment to step in, smoothing this latest breach in protocol over with an admission that it was time for the group to leave. Ileosa does not hesitate to take advantage of this opening, nodding at Dalen before standing back up.

“Yes. Sabrina, please introduce them to Dr. Reiner and then escort them all out. I will be in my study awaiting your return. It seems that I have a few letters to write for tomorrow morning. Good evening to you all.”

Sabrina moves back and to the side, out of your way and watching each of you carefully as you slowly file out of the throne room. You find Lady Andaisin standing in the hallway outside, clearly in the midst of pacing back and forth when the doors opened. She steps forward with a look of mock concern on her face, circling around the group to get to the door – only to find her way through blocked by Sabrina.

“Is everything alright? I heard shouting through the door – is Queen Ileosa still upset? I am eager to resume our conversation – I’m sure we can work through whatever is troubling her together. You can show these mercenaries their payment while I comfort Her Majesty.”

“I’m afraid that resuming your conversation will have to wait until tomorrow morning, Ambassador. Her Majesty is very tired and will not be seeing any more visitors today. I am to escort these individuals to see Dr. Reiner, and then out. Once that is done, I’m sure I can find you some . . . suitable . . . accommodations for tonight.”

“Well, that’s fine. You can go do that, and I will keep Her Majesty company until your return. I am, after all, her oldest friend and if anyone can help her through these trying times, it is me. Now, kindly stand aside.”

Andaisin puts a hand on Sabrina’s shoulder as if to forcibly shove her aside. In a blur of movement, Sabrina has grabbed the ambassador’s hand by the wrist, spun her around, and slammed her up against the wall with her grabbed arm held uncomfortably high up her back.

“I think you fail to grasp the situation, ambassador. Her Majesty did not tell me to allow you to see her again. And in the absence of orders from her, my role as her bodyguard grants me the leeway to decide who gets to see her when. For her own health and safety. And right now, given the trying day she’s had, I can only assume not asking to see you was not a mistake on her part, and that instead she wishes merely to rest. Alone. So you can either see her tomorrow, or I can remove you from the palace grounds and you can write her a letter tomorrow.”

Despite her situation, Andaisin merely looks back over her shoulder at the bodyguard and sneers.

“And I think that *you* fail to grasp the situation, bodyguard (although Andaisin’s tone makes it clear she’d prefer a much different “b” word here). I am, for all intents and purposes, the Empire of Cheliax, invited here at the behest of Her Majesty. If her health is preventing her from seeing me tonight, very well. But you will remove your hands from me, and you will not touch me again, unless you wish for relations between Korvosa and Cheliax to take a considerable negative turn. Is that clear?”

Sabrina glared back at the ambassador for a moment, and then slowly released her grip and stepped back.

“Crystal.”

She replied, only to add with a confident smirk.

“I take my role as the queen’s protector very seriously. Hopefully you understand now that any threat to the queen’s wellbeing I perceive will be dealt with swiftly. Good evening to you, Ambassador.”

Andaisin meets Sabrina’s gaze for several more seconds, and then turns away and starts walking off down the hallway.

“Good evening, Sabrina. You won’t need to come find me after you escort these mercenaries out. I know where the guest quarters are.”

Sabrina watches the ambassador leave, and then once she is safely out of sight around the corner gives a sharp exhale of breath.

“Gods, I really hate that bitch. Well, looks like I’ve scared her off for now. Come on, let’s get you to the doctor and out of here quickly so I can get back to Ileosa before “Lady” Andaisin works up the courage to try again.”

Sabrina leads you into another wing of the castle, up several more flights of steps into what seems to be one of the castle’s spires off by itself. The top floor of the tower has been converted into an alchemy lab, acerbic chemical scents mingling with the fragrance of dried herbs. A tall man is standing at one of the work benches carefully pipping the contents of a flask into a beaker as you enter. Sabrina waits a moment, and then clears her throat impatiently, earning a “one moment, please” from the man as he finishes the mixture, giving a quiet grunt of dis-satisfaction as nothing seems to happen in the beaker. He sets the flask down on the bench and then turns around to face the group.

Dr. Reiner is a short but thin man with close cropped brown hair that has begun to grey at the temples. He sweeps his tranquil blue eyes across the group, steadily taking in each person in turn for a moment before moving on to the next. Once he seems satisfied with having examined the group, he picks up a cane that had been leaning against the work table and limps over to join your group, favoring his right leg heavily.

Spoiler: Dr. Davaulus Reiner

Show

“Dr. Davaulus Reiner, Royal Physician, pleased to meet you.”

Dr. Reiner says by way of introduction, shifting his cane into his left hand so that he could offer his right hand to each person in turn. He then turns his gaze on Sabrina, raising his eyebrows quizzically.

“May I ask why you’ve brought these individuals to see me, Ms. Merrin? None of them appear to be injured.”

Beautrice’s condition is explained to the doctor, who nods and smiles patiently before limping over to a satchel bag sitting atop one of the side tables. Dr. Reiner flips open the satchel’s top, and then takes several vials down from the rack set up at the back of the table, carefully sliding them into the satchel before flipping the top close once more and slinging the satchel across his chest.

“Very well, then. Let us be off before the hour grows too late. I imagine the streets may remain dangerous for several days yet once the cover of darkness is in place to hide violence.”

Sabrina escorts you and the doctor back down through the castle to the gates, and then hands you over to the small squad of guards. Malder is no longer among them – it seems there was a changing of the guard while you were inside speaking to Queen Ileosa. These ones, at least, looked marginally competent, keeping a sharp lookout and eying even your small group cautiously as you departed the castle.

While you do hear a few shouts of anger and “Down with the Whore Queen!” on your way back to Dalen’s residence, it is clear that the violence from last night was not going to be repeated tonight. Certainly, there would probably still be pockets of rioting here and there, but either most people had gotten the desire for carnage out of their system last night or the Hellknights had slaughtered anyone who still did.

Greg nearly bowls you all over in panic when you arrive back at Dalen’s home, Dr. Reiner’s presence the only thing that gives him pause. In a bit less of a panic, he quietly explains to Dalen, Silas, and Miz that two of the children slipped out at some point shortly after they left on Kroft’s errand. Greg and Nadine looked for them, but they both apparently thought their chances were better out on the streets because both of them were just gone. Mimzy and the others remained here, but they have no idea where the two children could have gone, save that they were presumably looking out for themselves now.

Meanwhile, Aliani led Dr. Reiner into the back, where Nadine was still keeping a tense vigil over Beautrice. Dr. Reiner apologizes but insists on performing his own examination of Beautrice’s injuries. He gently removes the wrappings around Beautrice’s face, examining the acid burn with a quiet series of “hrm”s. Once his examination is complete, he sets his satchel down onto a nearby table and produces several vials, which he begins to deftly mix together.

“Yes, this woman’s facial injury is infected, although it will be a relatively simple matter to treat. Once the infection is removed, she should make a full recovery within a week, although she will have a rather obvious facial scar, although that too should fade somewhat with time. Unfortunately, it is beyond my ability to revert the scarification, but removal of the infection should only require the contents of this vial. When she next wakens, give this to her to drink. It is probably preferable that she drink the contents quickly rather than slowly – if for no other reason than the bitter taste. She will not need to keep it down – the alchemical process will initiate the instant after she swallows it. These herbs, mixed into a poultice to put over her wound until it is fully healed, will prevent re-infection and keep the swelling down. The wound site will remain tender and painful for at least several more days – ordinarily I would recommend a daily regimen of laudanum to dull the pain, but there have been some concerns raised over potential post-trauma addiction . . . so magic will have to do. This potion will temporarily suppress her ability to feel any pain during the magic’s duration. Unfortunately I only have the one potion, as it is not something I have been able to replicate alchemically as yet, so I would recommend that she sip the contents from time to time in order to spread out the potion’s effects. You should be able to purchase more if necessary at the Bank of Abadar.”

Dr. Reiner explains with rapid, clinical detachment as he sets out the alchemical potion he created, followed by a small pouch of herbs, and finally the magical potion of Delay Pain (which is even marked as such by a helpful tag, along with a symbol of Abadar). Nadine looks as if she’s either about to cry or throw herself into the doctor’s arms, and thanks Dr. Reiner profusely, who simply smiles and holds up a hand.

“You are quite welcome miss, but no thanks are necessary. Serving the people of this city is simply my job as the royal physician. I am glad that I was able to help. Now, I am afraid that I must return to the castle and my studies. If you will excuse me. Good evening.”

And with that, Dr. Reiner is gone, and the day ends on a considerably brighter note for your group than it began on, minus perhaps the two missing children.

(If there’s anything else you folks wanted to do tonight, let me know, otherwise I guess we’ll move on to the next morning and the escort of Elliana around town?)

[Darvin]

“Gods, I really hate that bitch. Well, looks like I’ve scared her off for now. Come on, let’s get you to the doctor and out of here quickly so I can get back to Ileosa before “Lady” Andaisin works up the courage to try again.”

Dalen nods, carefully waiting to hear a few more footsteps from Andaisin before he responds to Sabrina, "I wouldn't so much describe it as courage than gall. The ambassador understands your role and responsibilities well enough; she chooses to overstep boundaries," Dalen shakes his head, and wonders aloud, "but why she would goad you like that... certainly an ambassador would know how trivial it is to deliver a spell payload with even an innocuous touch. What did she expect? She may as well have been waving a dagger in your face,"

Greg nearly bowls you all over in panic when you arrive back at Dalen’s home, Dr. Reiner’s presence the only thing that gives him pause. In a bit less of a panic, he quietly explains to Dalen, Silas, and Miz that two of the children slipped out at some point shortly after they left on Kroft’s errand. Greg and Nadine looked for them, but they both apparently thought their chances were better out on the streets because both of them were just gone.

"Hmm... probably for the best. It would be irritating if they decided to make it on their own after we'd gone to the effort of finding a permanent accommodation," Dalen shrugs, "it's up to them if they wish to return; we don't have the capacity to search for them with the city as it is right now,"

[Stelio Kontos]

After picking up the note he'd thrown down in his little tantrum and tucking it back in his shirt pocket, Aliani remained silent throughout the journey to Dalen's house, save for a few mostly-involuntary sniffles in the doctor's laboratory. It was clear that he was drained, physically and emotionally, from the events of recent days.

He tried his best to take notes of everything the doctor said, down to the smallest detail, regarding the care. At the mention of a scar, he murmured "oh no, oh Bea", too spent to say more. He folded the note up neatly -- no confusing it with the other paper, that's for sure -- and tucked it in his shirt as well.

A quick scan of the room told him the same thing that Greg had told the others. That was all he really needed to know.

"I'm going out" he said wearily, dreading every minute of what that would entail. "These kids have been made to wait long enough."

[PiccadillyPi]

As Aliani left to find the best porridge for the children, Silas crept up behind him with a single hand to lightly tap some reality back into the man.

'Don't be long. You've hardly had any sleep. More importantly, you need to keep close to them tonight.'

He motioned Aliani to Nadine and Beautrice.

'We don't know what tomorrow brings. Be safe, Aliani.'

Silas was unsure just how important the two women were to the performer, but he assumed well enough to speak up. Once Aliani left, the tiefling sat himself near a window to fiddle with his cane, ensuring some amount of remembrance when officials would again request ALL his weapons. He gave a moment to consider the kindness shown by Sabrina before returning to his darker train of thought.

'Miz, could you follow Mr. Rose? I don't trust these streets, and he's not wholly recovered.'