Long Live the Queen!

The party tromps up to Castle Korvosa, a sinister edifice perched atop an ancient pyramid that rises from the center of the city. They tell the guards that they are here to return the Queen’s stolen brooch and find themselves quickly escorted inside, where they are met by Sabina Merrin, the Queen’s handmaiden/bodyguard. Sabina dismisses the guards and leads the party up into the the throne room.

Queen Ileosa Arabasti, veiled in mourning black, is seated on the Crimson Throne awaiting them, but otherwise the chamber is empty. The young queen praises the party for returning her stolen brooch, describing it as a hopeful sign. She urges the four of them to offer their services to the Korvosan Guard to help restore order to the troubled city.

On behalf of the party, Zandu accepts the reward for returning the brooch and pledges to serve the city in its time of need—all the while flirting with the queen, which causes Sabina to quietly seethe. After their brief audience, Queen Ileosa retires to her private chambers and Sabina escorts them out.

Turning down protection from the castle guards, the party makes their own way through the still turbulent streets of Korvosa. At one point they skirt the fringes of a riot and come across a young nobleman being threatened by a half a dozen toughs, who accuse him of being a “Queen’s man” who never worked a day in his life. Ser Arlynn steps forward and demands that they explain themselves, her stern challenge causing the thugs to first stammer and then ultimately slink away with their heads hung low. The young noble, Amin Jalento, thanks her for the intervention and pays the party a small reward before retreating to safety.

A few blocks further, Egan is accosted by a street prophet who claims that plague, doom and death will soon befall Korvosa and that the gnomish druid will play a key role in events to come.

How Few Remain

The Korvosan Guard is headquartered a small fort, Citadel Volshyenek, overlooking the placid waters of the Jeggare River. Thanks to a runner from the castle, the party is expected and quickly escorted up to meet with Field Marshal Cressida Kroft.

Cressida is an attractive woman with dark hair, dressed in red plate mail. She looks haggard and unkempt, but rises to greet the party. She thanks them for dealing with Gaedren Lamm and welcomes their offer of service.

Cressida hires the party to capture Verik Vancaskarkin, a deserter from the Guard who had led several of his guardsmen to set up a free butcher’s shop for the poor, All the World’s Meat. The party learns that Verik’s men were hiring out as mercenaries, calling themselves the Cow Hammer Boys. Upon confronting the goons, a fight breaks out and two of the deserters escaped. Zandu is able to reason with the clueless Verik, who surrenders himself to the party after they reveal that his men had been butchering and selling the meat from their victims.