[IC] Curse of The Crimson Throne

[Glaydr]

It was just another gloomy and wet day in the city of Korvosa, to Regulus it was just another day of rain, rain was no obstacle to him. The steady pounding of raindrops hitting the roof of his simple abode gave him a sort of tempo to work with, it provided the music to his dance. Regulus wasn't truly dancing, but he had always viewed the art of swordsmanship akin to that of a dance, each step having meaning and purpose, he took a quick side step and lashed out with his sword, slashing at the practice dummy's midsection. "And one and two" he muttered as he spun to the left right into what would have been his "opponents" blind spot, using the momentum to bring his shield against the back of the dummy's head. "Three and four" he breathed as he charged the imaginary combatant bearing it to the ground, driving his sword through its soft straw torso on the way down, the straw man made a soft thud as it hit the floor.

Regulus stood up, this was just one of many dances he knew, but he had been practicing since dawn, it was time for a break and possibly some breakfast. The young man pulled the cord that was holding his hair back and shook his shoulder length deep purple hair out as he peered into a mirror. Deep sapphire eyes gazed back at him, a color he learned at a young age that were not within the normal range for humans, then again hair that was naturally purple wasn't normal for humans either. His parents always told him he was special, though they never explained what they truly meant, father should have told him the truth. "Father, why did you not tell me where I came from, who or what am I?" Regulus paused for a moment remembering the day he received news of his father's murder for lack of better terms, that was why Regulus had stayed in Korvosa, for revenge.

Three years ago the nefarious crime lord Gaedren Lamm tried to convince his father to aid him in expanding his drug smuggling ring, his father had refused and so Gaedren had him set up for the crime of piracy. Once the young Regulus had learned the truth he sold everything he had and began to prepare, soon he would make his move against Lamm, but first he had to find something to eat. The fire had been reduced to hot coals so the young man threw a few logs onto the fire before placing a kettle with cold porridge over it, as he waited he crossed the room to the closet he kept his armor locked in. Upon opening it he received a surprise, attached to his armor was a harrow card, he had seen a few of the local fortune tellers use them but he had never seen one like this. It depicted a man at the helm of a ship and steering the ship into a oncoming storm, "Interesting, how did this get here? Nobody could have got in my house, the doors are warded and locked, it isn't possible." Regulus flipped the card over and beheld writing on the other side "I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well, I know where he dwells, but I cannot strike at him. Come to my home 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice be done." He pondered for a moment before he reached into the closet touching the etching of a black and blue butterfly with a star and sun on the left wing and a star and moon on the right. "Lady Desna have you finally granted my prayers, if so thank you." Now all that remained would be to wait, a few hours wouldn't hurt, after all Regulus had waited years for this day.

[Ermine]

Agnes watched as people passed by the alley she hid in. Sure, she had finally managed to get a small hovel nearby, but she was more comfortable outside. It also gave her a sense that she was nearly untouchable, since anyone looking for her would have to go out of their way to find her. It's also why she slept in other people's homes instead of her own. But now, no one seemed very interesting to her. They all seemed too...nice.

She almost didn't notice when a hand slipped into one of her pockets. She caught it, though it had already left her pocket with nothing in it. The little boy looked terrified, and her claws digging into his arm didn't help at all. She supposed it would be better that way. Maybe he'd tell his friends not to mess with the crazy lady with the weird eyes. "Picking pockets is a lot less efficient than writing a contract, you know. Study. Get better at everything. If I catch you again, I take the arm." She let go, and the boy ran away crying. It's not like she had anything in her pockets to steal. Regardless, she put her hand in.

It seemed the boy was an even worse thief than she thought; there was even more in her pocket than before. Specifically, a card she'd never seen anything like before. The details on it were quite masterful, down to the point she could almost read writing on the scroll the figure in it was holding, and she swore the blood coming from the eyes of the person being touched move. The one with the scroll looked very...calm. She liked it. But then she noticed there as writing on it. "I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well, I know where he dwells, but I cannot strike at him. Come to my home 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice be done." She smiled. She didn't care so much about him anymore. Sure he hurt her, but without him, she wouldn't have met the man who taught her the powers of the gods. But she could at least return the favor of bringing him near death. It was only fair.

---

Perched on the rooftop of an abandoned home, Halzyne was also people-watching. However, she was truly alone. She wanted to cleanse this city. She was sure there had to be someone below worth saving, but there was too much corruption for it to happen without her help. And it would take more than just her to do it. If it weren't for the few good people in this city, she'd just light a torch and burn it to the ground. But she had to practice mercy, not just bathe them all in cleansing fire. And there was no way she could be redeemed if she resorted to the base instincts of her race.

She walked across the rooftop slowly. Thankfully, even though it wasn't meant to be a balcony, it was wide enough to be. A window waited at the end, and she went through it to find a couple other people. No one she recognized as a "dangerous type" thankfully, especially since all of them were quite drugged up. She wished she could help them, but there was nothing she could do once it was already in their systems. Instead, she walked out of the house, making sure her wig was still in place before appearing in public. She walked toward her home, spear in hand.

When she arrived, she immediately went to the small shrine that was the sole furniture in the house, which contained a depiction of a winged woman, behind which Halzyne had painted a giant sun. She was going to pray in the hopes that the people in the other house would have some kind of epiphany when she realized someone else may have made an offering at the shrine. When she neared it, she saw a card depicting a flaming scimitar through...herself? No. It was a man. But he did share a striking resemblance to her. And he seemed to be encased in both flames and light. She smiled. It wasn't necessarily that she was happy about what the card showed, but someone clearly understood what exactly she wanted. That idea was reinforced when she read what it said on the back. She didn't have long until the time it said, but she made sure to take everything she needed with her when she left, in case it was a trap.

[Larkos]

It was midday in the city of Korvosa, the sky was dark, the people crowded indoors, and Valeriya was wet. She usually didn’t mind sleeping outdoors when the stars were out or when there was plenty of trees for cover. The rain came down in sheet in what Valeriya was certain was some kind of punishment from that stupid nature god or was it a goddess? She could never remember. Whichever it was, they were soaking poor Valeriya to the bone. She tried to take cover outside of a local tavern but people kept coming outside to fight. She moved to a more deserted alleyway which was quite a feat in the overcrowded district.

“Go to Korvosa,” that idiot bard said. “Lots of interesting things happening there.” Against her better judgment, she took his advice and now she was here in Old Korvosa. It’s not even the good Korvosa! At least I have plenty of time to think of creative ways to punish him when I get out this shithole. A sudden clap of thunder shook her from her fantasy that involved diarrhetics and an angry badger. At least Riddleport had a temple of Calistria I could crash in. This uncivilized backwater wouldn’t know a fun god if they smote them upside their head.

The pitter-patter of tiny steps alerted her to the return of her erstwhile companion, Viska. His fur was damp and clung to much of his body, making him look very sad. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that he was more curious than sad. He held in his mouth a single harrow card which he dropped onto Valeriya’s hand as soon as he reached it.

Valeriya’s face mirrored her familiar’s as she inspected the card. It had been enchanted to repel the rain. The image on the card depicted a scene of revelry and excitement. At first, it seemed a good omen but, upon further inspection, she could make out small figures in the background. It showed a woman sleeping and a man casting a spell upon her. Valeriya began to realize the carnival was coming from her mind as a dream, a dream manipulated by the mage at her bed. Valeriya could not figure out what this meant. She thought perhaps the back of the card may have a clue. Instead it had a handwritten message:

"I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well, I know where he dwells, but I cannot strike at him. Come to my home 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice be done."

Gaedren? She thought. Where I heard that…Gaedren! That son of a bitch I remember him.

flashback

It was clearer day when Valeriya had first heard Gaedren’s name. An eight-or-nine-year-old child had tried to pickpocket her but failed. The little thief tried to run out of the alleyway but Viska blocked her path. She turned around to face Valeriya with a look of open fear marring her youthful face.

“It’s okay, little girl. I just want to talk to you.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Just- Just let me go. I won’t bother you again. I just- I just wanna live!’ she said at a rapid pace.

“What? I’m- I’m not gonna kill you! Is that what people do in this hellhole?” The little girl nodded. “Nine Hells. I’m not gonna hurt you. I’m a friend. What’s your name?”

“Mila.”

“Okay Mila. Why are you out on the streets? Your parents around?” Mila shook her head. “Of course not. Did someone put you up to this?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“I-“ Mila began to cry again this time even harder. “I can’t tell you. I can’t talk to strangers or guards. I shouldn’t even be here. Just let me go!”

“Shh. It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. Just look at this.” Valeriya pulled out her holy symbol. As a symbol of Calistria, it appeared as a circle with three daggers coming out of it. “This is the holy symbol of Calistria, the Savored Sting. She’s a powerful goddess who protects women and helps people get revenge against bad people. Take this and pray really hard; she’ll smite the bad person who makes you steal real soon.”

Hope began to creep across her face at the description of Calistria. Valeriya could tell this emotion was unfamiliar to Mila’s face. Mila took the holy symbol and began to run out of the alley past Viska. This trip was cut short as she bumped into a man who had entered an alleyway. He was tall and broad man with a scarred, ugly face. Mila began to tremble at his sight.

“Cody!” she squeaked

“What you got there, brat?” He snatched away the holy symbol and inspected this. “This ain’t valuable, stupid girl. It ain’t even gold!” He then hit her across the face and snapped the holy symbol in half.

Valeriya felt a fury she hadn’t felt in a long time. She fired a ray of black energy at Cody. He began to keel over and was clearly struggling to keep his lunch in. Valeriya ran up and scratched his face with her deadly nails. He drew his dagger and began to swipe back. Despite his sickness, he was able to cut her cheek. Valeriya roared in anger and knocked him down with her next swing. She kicked away his dagger and picked him up by his collar.

“Did you force her to steal!?”

“No.”

She looked over to Mila but she wasn’t there. Smart girl. “Then who did? If you lie, I’ll kill you.” She pushed her nails carefully against his throat. She made sure to just draw a little blood.

“I ain’t getting’ paid enough to stay quiet. It’s Gaedren Lamm. He runs a gang of brats; pays me sometimes to keep ‘em in line.”
“You disgust me.” She threw him against the wall and knocked him out. He lived but just barely.

I don’t know who you are Harrow lady but I’m going to Lancet Street and you better have some good information.

[nerminator]

a boat arrives in a port on korvosa,a bunch of random citizens walk out of it one person is a guy wearing a hooded robe with some body armor with a symbol of god on it
[well this is korvosa a crime ridden city just waiting for me to clean all the unholy scum out of it i hope i find that gaedren guy i been searching after across the world after that scumbag!] i walk down the peir and walk towards a church so i can go there to pray to god it seems far away so i go through a alleyway [maybe i will find some scumbags in here?] all of a suddenly i feel my pockets getting emptier i look back and see a kid with his hands in my pocket and i elbow him in the face right when i saw him [i hope noone saw that wait a minute they'res something in my pocket that i did'nt put there] the kid falls to the ground with a bloody nose and goes silent with his eyes still open [i think i hit him to hard] i slowly walk out of the alleyway with my eyes on the kid who i think may be dead and then i put my hand in my pocket and pull out a card [a card? he put a card in my pocket?] it has the symbol of a cross on it and says on the back "i know what that scumbag did to you if you want gaedrd [sorry i can't spell his name well] dead come to 3 lancet street at midnight" i smile [finally i can finish him once and for all!]
+flash back+
WAHHHH WAHHH theres a baby on the front door of a church a priest picks up the baby and takes him inside awww its a cute baby your parents must have left you behind oh a note "take care of my baby please" the note says "ps keep him away from gaedrd" [whos he?] the priest thinks [oh wait i know him he wants to burn the church for not believing in his dumb religlion] +the next day+ hey i want this dam church to believe in my god but i don't really care any more so i guess i gotta kill all of you mahahahahahah! gaedrd drops a torch and the church starts burning in a hellish flame the priest runs out of the door and punches gaedrd in the face [i will protect you with my life mattamus] then a arrow and then and priest stops running then with his mouth open and shaking he looks down and sees a arrow impaling his stomach [no] the priest thought then he fell to the ground his eyes limp and lifeless the mattamus cries like crazy as gaedrd walks away slowly with a crossbow in his hands and the baby picks up a sword and a shield from the destoryed church the sword of god and the shield of god then mattamus makes a mmmmm! sound [end of post]

[nerminator]

[i am ending my character right here so you guys don't have a unfinished story for my character]
well maybe i will find that gaedrd jerk there
[its midnight time to go to the UGH] i look down and see a arrow sticking out of my "no" i whisper as a fall to the ground on my side and my eyes close as i see gaedren holding a crossbow and he says thats for not believing my religion jerk

end of story for me