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

[lostsole31]

"This is still a whole big district of the city, regardless of the Emperor's recent stranglehold," says Linzi, looking to Dane. "Boss, I'd really like us to take the time to look for any weapons shop that might have weapons sized for me. I only want to deal with the rod when it matters, not for every time I otherwise would have shot someone with a crossbow bolt."

[Rithryn]

Dane looks around.

"I have been away from the city for a while and even when I was here my focus was less on weapons and more on the brewery. Do any of you know where we might find a smithy, or shop that might still have such a weapon?"

[lostsole31]

She shakes her head. "We'll have to look or ask around."

[Ason]

Ernak raises one eyebrow in curious surprise at Dane's revelation and breaks out into a smile, saying, "There is more to you than meets the eye, sir. I'd enjoy hearing that story sometime, once we're out of this mess."

Pivoting to Linzi, Ernak says, "Prices may be sky-high due to the quarantine and gang wars, but no harm in looking around. It'll give us something else to do while we search for the Arkonas'."

[Moriar]

"Thank you for repairing my scythe, " Vivino says.


"I may not be the best with people but I can help disguise myself and listen for rumors. Let us do aa suggested and search for weapons and our quarry target."

[lostsole31]

It will take four hours (taking the party until noon), but between Ernak's gregariousness and Linzi's knowledge of Old Korvosa prior to the quarantine, the party is able to get to a place that has some weapons that can be sold, It is not a full "store" ... such as it is.

Are there any weapons or ammunition you wish to try to find or purchase? There are no masterwork items (let alone magic) to find.

[Rithryn]

Dane looks at his gear.
"I'm good for now, but Linzi if you need any other weapon while we are here I will cover the cost."

[lostsole31]

She asks for a light crossbow and two cases of bolts. They don't have an Aldori dueling sword sized for her, thus the extra case of bolts.

The merchant will sell them for 60 gp ... a serious markup in these desperate times, and he will not be haggled down.

[Rithryn]

Dane will take out the money and pay for the crossbow and bolts.

"I suppose that's a good deal considering the situation."

[lostsole31]

"Thanks, boss," says Linzi as she resets the manner her equipment is on her to best handle the new load.

Where to now? Straight to Arkona Palace?

[Rithryn]

Dane nods.
"Aye, let's go."

[lostsole31]

Though Old Korvosa wasn't built on a grid, it is still laughably easy to make your way across Endrin Isle and up the hill right to what must most assuredly be Arkona Palace. On the way there, as you enter Fort Korvosa (the portion of Old Korvosa they’ve kept under their personal watch during the quarantine), you will have seen various soldiers about that dress in livery that is not related to Korvosa's military. Linzi informs you that is the livery of House Arkona. It seems that at least in the Fort Korvosa area of Old Korvosa, they are keeping the peace.

You get to Arkona Palace, and the palace doors have not been closed to the outside world. The PCs are intercepted by a patrol of six house guards who politely but firmly demand to know the party’s reasons for approaching the manor.

Linzi whispers to Dane, "Lord Glorio Arkona is master of House Arkona."

[Rithryn]

Dane nods to Linzi grateful for the information, than speaks to the guards with a firmness in his voice.
"I am the eldest son of Dul'Duri Thunderbreaker, my name is Dul'Dane Thunderbreaker. My family should be known among noble circles, I have come to request an audience with Lord Glorio Arkonas."

[lostsole31]

"Three cheers for the killers of the Pilts Pretender," calls out a guard after recovering from his initial shock.

"HUP-HUP-HUZZAH! HUP-HUP-HUZZAH! HUP-HUP-HUZZAH!" the guards all cheer, even being joined in from a gardener or other worker or two.

"Yes, absolutely, Good-dwarf Thunderbreaker, please allow us to escort you to Lord Arkona. He is upstairs in the bath now, but he would not stand on ceremony to make you wait ... and lord knows from the looks of things, you all could use a bath as well."

Does everyone go with the escort as stated?

[Rithryn]

Dane will enter without a fuss, but will still keep a look out.

"I guess a bath couldn't hurt right?"

He looks to the others for their opinions.

[Ason]

Ernak shrugs and then gives Dane a nod. "It's definitely an improvement from the reception Pilts gave us."

[lostsole31]

The party goes from outside the main doors ...

and are led into the palace entrance (D1), whereupon the guards return to their patrol and the PCs are greeted by a tall, pleasant man who wears an eye patch. He introduces himself as Carnochan, the palace majordomo. He apologizes that normally you would be taken to the visitor's lounge, but the master has heard of your exploits and wants not to wait on ceremony and to follow him.

As far as the entrance itself, a black marble arch depicting dozens of elephants standing one atop the other frames a great ebony door in the south wall of this wide and airy entrance hall. Above the door, an elephant looks out over the hall, its single eye a glittering bloodstone the size of an apple. Tall windows grant a commanding view of the palace grounds, and a rich red carpet, ten feet wide and luxuriously thick, provides a pathway between doors to the west and north, and around a corner to the east. Each of these doors, as well as three smaller ones to the west of the northern pair, are decorated with images of a six-armed, four-faced woman who rides a tiger with human hands for feet.

[NOTE: True north is to your left on the map, so all room descriptions mentioning cardinal directions have to be offset in that way: north to the left, east is top, south is right, and west is bottom.]

It is a brief few steps to a door that he opens to the south east that lead to a set of stairs heading upwards

... and up but on stairs now on the second floor which lead to an Upper Balcony (D12). This walkway overlooks the garden on the ground floor 25 feet below, and as such this area is generally warmer than the rest of the building as heated air rises up from the chamber below. The sound of birdcalls and the gentle babble of the fountain trickle up as well. The party is led clockwise around the balcony looking below at a beautiful elephantine topiary amidst a lush garden.

Carchamon apologizes that while spacious, the bath cannot accommodate everyone walking in their at once. He asks that at this time, only the dwarf (Dane), the Shoanti (Ernak), and the plague doctor (Vivino, for that is his fame in helping cure blood veil) enter while the rest of you wait outside with him.

Are there any arguments to that?

[Rithryn]

Dane will nod.
"That is fine by me."

[Ason]

"And with me," Ernak chimes in.

[Moriar]

Vivino nods graciously. " I don't remember the last time I had a proper bath."

[lostsole31]

Carchamon opens the door for the three headliners, and leaves the backup singers, stage crew, and opening act outside. Once in, Carchamon closes the door quickly to not let the steam escape. "My lord, the three top members of the group that threw down the Pilts, two of which are heroes from the blood veil problems last month."

The air in this chamber is incredibly warm and humid, filled with steam rising from the bubbling oval bath set in the floor to the southeast. The walls, ceiling, and floor are polished marble tiles of alternating blues and greens, giving the entire chamber a pervasive aquatic feel. Three lacquered wooden benches sit just north of the bath.

"Thank you, Carchamon," says a rich, cultured baritone from a man in the bath. "Please see to some food and repast for our other guests."

Carchamon wordlessly opens the door, leaves, and the door is shut.

"Before we talk," says the man in the bath. "We shall discuss matters of the world as equals - disrobe yourselves and enter the bath. It WILL be quite hot, but not enough to harm you. Once you get use to the temperature, I am quite sure that unless you've been to hot springs somewhere, you've never felt anything the like."

What do the three of you do?

[Moriar]

Vivino will gauge his intentions.

Spoiler: honesty

Show

Will use sense motive to see if he seems on the level.



Then if all seems good, will say "Thank you for your hospitality."

He will then disrobe and put everything within reach before getting in.

[lostsole31]

Vivino can only really depend on what he hears in the man's voice, as his features are obscured in the steam, but as it sounds as if he's on the level, Vivino says, "Thank you for your hospitality."

He will then disrobe and put everything within reach before getting in.

[Rithryn]

Dane will take off his robes.
"A little heat is good for the body, it helps to form it like forging armor."

[Ason]

"You are a kind host, sir. Thank you," Ernak says as he follows the others' examples.

[lostsole31]

"Well, come into the bath, don't be shy ... haahhaha! you might get your armor rusty, my dear dwarf. You may need help from your friends with that."

[Rithryn]

Dane begins the process of removing his full plate and noble clothes.
"This will only take a moment I assure you."

[lostsole31]

He will definitely need help from another, as that is a tough task to do himself.

So, the assumption is that you all go as the gods intended - naked hairy butts and all - into the bathwater, correct?

[Moriar]

Yep! Vivino will Dane with his armor and then get into the bath.

[lostsole31]

"I am your humble host, Glorio Arkona," says the bather. "And though I know of you, I would hear from each of you individually - rather than introduced by one voice - who each of you are."