Adventure Log VII.I
The Cards We’re Dealt
The room underwent a miraculous transformation, shedding its decrepit facade to reveal a cozy chamber suffused with the fragrance of flowers. Tapestry-lined walls exuded a dreamy quality, their brocades weaving tales of old. A picturesque scene adorned one wall—a depiction of an angel atop a mountain, facing a skeletal figure wielding a blazing sword.
Zellara, now restored to her spectral form, cradled the deck of harrow cards in her hands, her ethereal presence casting an otherworldly glow.
"Why choose us?" Calli inquired, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. Zellara's response was cryptic yet laden with destiny: "The cards led me to you."
Calli, feeling a shiver down her spine, expressed her unease at finding a card in her hair. Zellara apologized, admitting she enjoyed a bit of mischief when she was living and saw a similar streak in the girl. Then with a knowing smile, likened their connection to a game, where one player recognizes another.
Zellara explained to them that the cards had asked for another reading. As when they first were summoned, there would be an individual drawing, and then a group reading. Each member of the party then selected a card, their choices bound to the threads of fate:
Calli chose "The Tangled Briar," a harbinger of imminent danger, where death's entwining vines threatened to ensnare her. The weight of this choice hung heavy upon her, as if foretelling a personal struggle against the encroaching darkness.
Nightingale's selection of "The Trumpet" signified his role as a rallying call for kindred spirits, his presence echoing through the currents of destiny. The card seemed to imbue him with a sense of purpose, a reminder of his pivotal role in the unfolding events.
Trevor's card, "The Survivor," foretold of his resilience in weathering the tempests of the coming weeks. Its significance was not lost on him, instilling a quiet determination to persevere despite the trials ahead.
Byron's choice, "The Mountain Man," spoke of his steadfastness amidst the trials looming on the horizon. The weight of responsibility settled upon him; a reminder of the burdens he must bear to protect those he holds dear.
Taylan pulled “The Brass Dwarf.” This indicated his invulnerability to peril, and highlighted his joy at the chaos and smoke.
They replaced the cards in the deck and Zellara had them each take turns shuffling. While the group passed the cards, Calli asked the mystic if she haunted the building. Zellara explained she haunted the cards now, and would always be with them. When questioned further Zellara said the building was abandoned, not owned by anyone. Cogs in Calli’s head began turning towards an alternate use.
Zellara then drew nine cards, laying them out upon the table to unveil the tapestry of past, present, and future. The tableau revealed glimpses of their intertwined destinies:
"The Mute Hag," "The Keep," and "The Eclipse" whispered secrets of bygone days, their shadows casting long echoes. Their presence seemed to evoke memories long buried, hinting at unresolved conflicts and hidden truths.
"The Idiot," "The Sickness," and "The Winged Serpent" painted a portrait of the present, beset by folly, affliction, and looming peril. The weight of these cards hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the challenges they faced in the here and now.
In the realm of the future, "The Tangled Briar," "The Waxworks," and "The Vision" beckoned, offering cryptic warnings of trials to come and the spectre of an ancient evil poised to unleash chaos upon the world. The weight of their implications settled upon the party, a stark reminder of the stakes they faced and the sacrifices that lay ahead.
Zellara's words echoed with a weight of consequence, warning of the ramifications of their actions and the looming threat of a great sickness befalling the city. Yet amidst the shadows, there remained a glimmer of hope—a chance for redemption, if they stood united and faced the encroaching darkness together.
Calli smiled at the half-orc, “No getting rid of us now, Trev.”
Trevor nodded and replied “I guess I’m a Flower!” much to Calis delight.
With her final words, Zellara vanished into the ether, leaving behind a haunting refrain: "Evil has not been dispelled. It is hidden, waiting to spread its tendrils across the city."
The room returned to its dilapidated state, the fleeting illusion of warmth and comfort dissipating like smoke in the wind. The conversation then took a sobering turn as Calli revealed her run-in with Lady Arkona, a figure synonymous with Korvosa's underworld. It was a well-known fact that nothing occurred in the back alleys or stinking vaults of Old Korvosa without House Arkona knowing about it. The Arkona family controlled or had influence over every major (and most minor) criminal enterprise in the city, from watered-down mead to murder. The mention that the Cerulean Society (ran by the Arkona family) had a bounty on their heads for the murder of some of their members and the arrest of a certain Verik Vancaskerkin stirred unease among them, particularly Trevor, who couldn't shake the sensation of being watched there and then. Calli shared she was often feeling that she was being watched.
Nightingale tapped into his arcane knowledge and suspected a scrying spell could be the culprit, and they all narrowed down that it began the night they turned Verik in. Gale mentioned the silver dagger he had carried, and Calli confirmed she still had it. The relic seemed to harbor mysteries of its own. It defied identification spells, indicating it being a much more intricate item, an actual artifact. Speculation ran rife among the group, with theories ranging from clandestine surveillance to the dagger possessing sentience. Yet, lacking evidence, they found themselves at an impasse.
It was then Calli revealed that the bounty was no longer active as some of the party’s activities had inadvertently helped the Cerulean society. So, they were even. For now. Relief swept through the party but that was soon dispelled when they realized, they were on the Arkona’s/Ceruleans Society radar. Somehow the air in the room seemed to thicken.
In a moment of impulse, Trevor suggested using Calli's prestidigitation to cleanse the room of its decay. Calli, seizing the opportunity, wove her magic through the air, restoring the chamber to its former glory in a twinkling of her fingers. Looking around Calli then suggested they use this house as their base of operations. But Trevor, ever the pragmatist, pointed out they did not have ownership rights. Zellara’s passing would mean the house would now return to the Crown. This prompted Calli to propose a solution involving 'sorting' the paperwork—a dubious suggestion that left Trevor and Byron apprehensive.
The topic then shifted to their future prospects, with Calli advocating for securing a patron to fund their endeavors. However, her proposal met resistance from Trevor and Byron, who harbored reservations about becoming beholden to an affluent benefactor- a ‘Giddy’. Byron suggested they could become a circus troop, which much of the group warmed to, until Nightingale's suggested Byron and Trevor could stage a ‘fake’ fight with each other. The barbarians were offended, protesting that their honor would never allow it. If they were to fight, they would try and smash each other. Nightingale’s other suggestion that Trevor become a ‘freak man-eating chicken’ also did not go down too well.
Amidst the debate, Trevor redirected their focus to more immediate concerns—Calli's unresolved issues with her mother and the ominous warnings delivered by Zellara. The mention of sickness and disease spurred discussion of preparation, prompting Nightingale's grim assertion that the city itself was the true affliction, ripe for purgation. Having been reminded of Lady Eudicot, Gale passed on the message that she wanted to meet with Calli and Byron for lunch so that she could see for herself the kind of company she’d been keeping. Byron took umbrage at what he saw as being summoned, and Calli wasn’t sure it was a good idea for a number of reasons. Calli assured Byron she’d talk to her mother first.
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The weight of their conversation lingered heavily as they departed Zellara's house, their footsteps echoing through the silent streets of Korvosa. With uncertainty clouding their thoughts, they headed towards the Dirty Duck, where Nightingale harbored hopes of finding the enigmatic figure known as Blackjack.
The Dirty Duck welcomed them with a cacophony of laughter and chatter, the air thick with the scent of ale and the warmth of camaraderie. It was a haven for the city's performers and artisans, where stories were spun as freely as the ale flowed.
The party found themselves amidst a sea of faces, each one animated with the fervor of the night. Actors regaled the crowd with tales of daring exploits and tragic love affairs, each one trying to outshine the other in a bid for attention and applause.
Trevor's imposing presence commanded a degree of respect, drawing curious glances from those around him. Byron's rugged appearance and Nightingales stern look turned a few heads. Calli, ever observant, took in the scene with a mixture of amusement and apprehension.
As they made their way through the throng, Nightingale scanned the room, his keen eyes searching for any sign of the mysterious figure known as Blackjack. It was then his sharp eyes caught sight of a peculiar sight—a tray of drinks that seemed to float through the air, guided by an unseen hand. Yet, upon closer inspection, he discerned the figure of a halfling hidden beneath, skillfully maneuvering through the crowded tavern. He recognized him as Oplan, the stage manager for the local amphitheater.
Following the trail of drinks, Nightingale's gaze fell upon a corner of the room where a group of boisterous actors held court. Their attire was flamboyant, their laughter infectious. Among them, a strikingly beautiful woman caught his eye, her presence commanding attention. Another figure, a lithe male actor adorned with a grandiose mustache, who exuded an air of self-importance could be wielding a large tankard of ale in one of his hands.
As Nightingale's gaze met that of the leading man, recognition sparked in Wingran's eyes. "Goodness gracious, it's that agent!" he exclaimed, beckoning Nightingale and his companions to join their revelry and ordering another round of drinks.
As the party approached the group of actors, eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of Byron and Trevor, towering figures in their own right. One of the crowd wasted no time in extolling the barbarians’ virtues, suggesting they join him on stage for their impressive physical presence, particularly in staged combat. However, Byron and Trevor remained staunch in their disdain for fake fighting, a sentiment they made abundantly clear. Gale made it clear he didn’t appreciate the man’s attempt to poach his talent, and took down his name- Bindesh.
Turning his attention back to Wingran, the actor informed Nightingale that run-throughs for their current reproduction of The Maelstrom were going exceptionally well. prompting enthusiastic recognition from Calli. She lavished him in praise for the past performance she’d seen, feeding his obvious ego. Nightingale picked his moment and probed the actors about their activities earlier in the day. Despite their claims of rehearsals, both Nightingale and Calli sensed a hint of deception lingering beneath the words of Wingran and the beautiful actress at his elbow.
Attempting to uncover more, Nightingale broached the subject of Blackjack's infamous deed, hoping to elicit a revealing reaction. He suggested that Blackjack was scoundrel for pushing a woman off a wall-probably to her death. This prompted a huge backlash from the actors as Blackjack was their hero. But this was exactly as Nightingale planned. He wanted to gauge their emotions. And yet their passionate defense of Blackjack thwarted his efforts, leaving him frustrated. Undeterred, Nightingale redirected the conversation, coaxing the actor into reciting his celebrated speech from "The Maelstrom."
Though Nightingale urged him to perform in the theatre for a more suitable atmosphere, (where they could also get him alone and potentially coax him to reveal he was indeed Blackjack) the actor drunkenly insisted on showcasing his talent in the pub, confident in his ability to captivate the audience with his presence and his booming voice. Even the halfling house manager remained adamant that only he possessed the keys to the theatre and no-one could enter without his presence.
As the actor took to the table to deliver his recital, Calli discreetly delved into his memories using her magic, uncovering that the deception was related to secret intimate moments with the actress, and that his interest in Blackjack was just a desire to write and perform an epic starring the folk hero. He was not their man. She passed this onto the party with a subtle head shake. Disheartened by the lack of progress, Nightingale then made their excuses citing rehearsals for their upcoming play, "The Two Noblemen of Korvosa," in which Trevor would assume the role of a man-eating chicken.
With heavy hearts and a sense of frustration weighing upon them, the party reluctantly dispersed, each making their way back to their respective homes and abodes. The streets of Korvosa, illuminated by the flickering glow of torches and lanterns, seemed to mirror the sombre mood that had settled over the group.
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Calli and Nightingale went together towards Eudicot manor, alone together for the first time since the bombshell was dropped at the surprise party. Calliandra expressed how awful it had felt to know the one person she trusted most had been lying to her like everyone else. Nightingale again apologized for having kept the secret of the attempts on her life from her, but explained her parents had made it clear if he told her that he’d be sent away. He said Rose had died protecting her, so he would honor her memory by making sure she remained safe. Invoking Rose’s name produced a prolonged silence as they remembered the fiery woman. Nightingale broke the silence by telling Calli that if she wanted him to leave, he would. Calli looked at him with stricken eyes and forbade him from going. She said that if he could forgive her for starting the dominoes falling that took Rose from him, she could forgive him sheltering her for so long. He replied that of all the people he blamed, Calli was never one of them, and his voice left no room for argument. She tried to lighten the mood by joking that as long as there was nothing else he was hiding they could get back to normal.
Nightingale coughed, and added, “There is one more thing…” He revealed her parents knew that she wasn’t in school. They knew they were on a performance tour, but not exactly all the locations they’d been to and certainly not any of the adventuring. Calli was stunned into uncharacteristic speechlessness. Nightingale explained her original plan never would’ve lasted, and that the half-truth bought them far more freedom. It had been a very long day, and she had no more energy to be upset, so she simply agreed and said it was something for them to figure out another time.
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As they all navigated through the winding alleys and bustling thoroughfares, their thoughts lingered on the missed opportunity to find Blackjack and aid Trinia Sabor.
Despite their disappointment, there was a sense of determination among them, a silent vow to continue their pursuit of justice and truth in the face of adversity. Each step homeward was a testament to their resilience and unwavering resolve, a testament to their commitment to the city they called home.
And so, with the night casting its veil over the city, the party dispersed into the darkness, their hearts heavy but their spirits undeterred. For in the shadows of Korvosa, amidst the whispers of intrigue and the echoes of forgotten secrets, their journey had only just begun.