Curse of the Crimson Thread: Escape from Old Korvosa [IC]

[lostsole31]

Laori looks confused. She scratches her head. She stops scratching her head. She looks at Vivino with mouth open, and then closes mouth and looks down, before repeating the process three times more, each time looking more confused than the last. "Did I say I know where the Emperor is? If I did, I don't know why I'd say that."

[Moriar]

"Good to know information that as well Laori, bit it had sounded like Ernak knew perhaps." Vivino clarified.

[Ason]

Ernak shakes his head at Vivino's suggestion. "No, I merely meant that... the man we were asked to find? I'm pretty sure that bloody scrap of cloth belonged to his uniform. He was here, now he's gone, and there's signs of a struggle. Who else should I guess besides that emperor fellow? I suppose we could ask around, if we're not able to find clues or footprints to follow here, if that's what you mean. But asking around too much might draw the wrong kind of attention."

[lostsole31]

Laori is trying to process this, "Wait, so a highly-placed member of the government is actually an inspired artist? Who IS this Salvator Scream, anyway? You'd think he could afford a better studio than this one."

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha speaks up, finally. "I think we've already attracted the wrong kind of attention, and it's only a matter of time before the 'Emperor' finds us. Unless we want to wait for his goons to find us, I think being proactive and speaking to people is a good idea."

[Moriar]

"My apologies Ernak. Perhaps we should return to our original plan of discretely asking people around the docks for the Emperor or Salvatores whereabouts?" Vivino states.

[lostsole31]

Runa nods and says, "Agreed. I'm heading out to keep Diva company. Remember, though ... we did good here today, but we're also tired, and we've seen how it affected our ability to fight. Perhaps we should reconvene with Jamento or Pimento or whatever his name was and Linzi?"

[Ason]

"Amin, I think it was," Ernak clarifies. "We'll definitely need a proper rest before we chase any leads the emperor, as given our last meeting with his crew the next one could get bloody."

"Laori, would you want to work with us to track down Salvator? It might be dangerous, and people could get hurt, especially if the emperor's involved, so I understand if you decline. To lay our cards on the table, Salvator had been meeting with a friend of ours, a local swordmaster who maybe knew where to find a different friend of ours who works for Korvosa's government. I imagine all three men are now kidnapped by the emperor you mentioned," Ernak pauses, taking in that fact, before adding sarcastically, "so woe betide anyone else who gets named as a possible lead for our little band's search, I guess, heh."

[lostsole31]

"I'd be happy to!" Laori chirps cheerfully.

Runa is already outside, is anyone/ everyone else good with this plan?

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha nods. "Sounds like a plan. I could certainly do with some rest."

[Moriar]

Vivno agrees with this plan and heads outside as well.

[lostsole31]

The party manages to get to the burnt-out redoubt (poetry!) and meet with Linzi and Amin. Amin watched over Linzi so at least she's rereshed. Neither they nor the party on the way there meet with any trouble. You might see the odd Korvosan, but it's clear they are fearful and don't wish to interact.

Once the party meets up, Runa admits, "Listen, it looks like you're doing well here for now. If you don't mind, so we don't have to continue running escort or ... no offense, Pimento ... babysitting, I am going to fly him during cover of night back to the main city. First, I'll stop by the waterfront of Barris and Ridwan are still there and direct them to rendezvous here."

[Moriar]

"Thank you for your help Runa." Vivino says

After Runa departs he turns to the others, "While we wait for the others to arrive, anyone have any ideas on how best to track down this Emperor?"

[lostsole31]

"Sure!" pipes up Linzi. "Get some sleep and attack with a fresh perspective. You guys smell AWFUL ... like you had a fight with a sewer monster or something. And you look bedraggled as can be."

[Ason]

Ernak furrows his brow in thought as he puzzles over the next steps near the wreckage of last night's fire. "Amin or Laori, I don't suppose either of you know off-hand where this emperor's lair is, do you? I think all our leads are pointing to him, unfortunately."

If neither native of the area knows, Ernak gives an appreciative smile before continuing. "Well, Vivino... you, Dane, Jacintha, our two new friends, and I could probably ask around the nearby area while we wait for Barris and Ridwan to catch up. Six is the most we'd ever want for this sort of thing anyway. That's large enough to fend off any gang attention but probably just small enough to not be obviously suspicious."

He pauses, again taking stock of things. "Our initial contact is missing. The last person we know that contact was with was likely kidnapped by the emperor, and we found a clue suggesting the person we're truly looking to rescue is likely at the emperor's lair too. So visiting the emperor is all I can think of, and as I'm not much of an urban tracker or a diviner, asking around is I can come up with myself. If anyone has any better or safer ideas, however, I'm all for that instead."

After his small monologue, Ernak pauses, considers Linzi's words, and then sheepishly adds. "...actually, a rest might do us all some good. Maybe we freshen up and then worry about what comes next? If it is the emperor we're after, we'll need all our strength for the work ahead. Asking around can wait a few more hours anyways. It's not like a lair is going to move around on us, ha!"

[lostsole31]

Ernak turns to see that Runa has already taken Amin away, and Laori just shrugs.

The fatigued party tucks in and hides, moving to sleep but setting watches nonetheless, covering the remainder of this day and through the night and into the morning.

During that time, everyone eats and drinks. Linzi didn't have any rations, so Dane has to give her one. Laori also didn't expect to be caught in "wildnerness mode" and doesnt' have any kind of pack or loadout.

Ernak, you have the most food. Do you share with Laori?

[Ason]

Ernak gingerly holds out one of his rations to Laori and studies her expression as she receives the gift, trying to understand this strange woman.

"Tell me, Laori, where are you from?" he asks as the party shares their meals, "If you haven't met Salvator before, should I take that to mean you're not from Old Korvosa?"

[lostsole31]

Laori is only too happy take the food.

Everyone beds down, witch watches being set, and it is a long long rest through the remainder of the day, into the night, and then the next morning.

Does anyone change their daiies the next morning?

[Moriar]

Spoiler: morning prep

Show

Only thing Vivino will do on the morning is to replace reduce person with Shield.

[lostsole31]

Starday, 16 Desnus 4708 AR (Waxing Gibbous)
Weather: 70 / 55 F. Trace precipitation (< 1/8" rain). Dry.

The next morning, everyone gets up and performs their daily actions.

What now?

[Rithryn]

Dane wakes up to his usual ritual of putting on his armor and cursing Asmodeus.

[Ason]

After their usual morning routines, Ernak says to the others, "So... unless anyone has a better idea, I suppose we try to find that gang leader now? Should we just ask around?"

[lostsole31]

"Sounds good to me!" chirps Linzi. "I mean, people are keeping to themselves, but this isn't a post-apocalyptic wasteland. It's still a very dense population, just one that's been through trauma."

[Moriar]

"Agreed, perhaps we should go back to the dock's?" Vivino suggests. "Neither myself nor my sister Varia are the best talkers, but she sometimes says I can be scary"

[Rithryn]

Dane raises his hand.
"I spent my youth in a bar, and trained with Cailenites. I'm good with people."

[lostsole31]

The L-adies (Linzi and Laori) look about curiously. Linzi pipes up, "Umm, is Sister Varia a contact here we should meet?"

[Moriar]

"Well, to be honest you have already met her to some degree," Vivino admits. "A time ago, I was able to absorb her personality into my being when she almost passed away. Now she 'resides' within me. I'm hoping to be able and bring her back one day properly.

Though lately I do feel as if she is getting stronger," Vivino finishes with a somewhat confused look on his face.

[lostsole31]

"Ohhhh!, Ha ... haha .... hahahaha, how charming!" comes a forced laugh from Linzi who then whispers to Dane, "He's crazy."

"Is, uh, is ... Sister Varia with us ... now?" she asks Vivino off-handedly and no longer looking quite at him, before another side-mouthed whisper to Dane, "Don't make eye contact, and don't run."

[Moriar]

"Not at this time no," Vivino answers. "I'm sure you will know when she is at the surface. She tends to use what illusion magic I have to make the appearance more like her.


Now, shall we go talk to people?"

[Rithryn]

Dane gestured forward.
"Aye, let's go."