"Yeah, I agree with Amdaeng, let's stick to finding the wizard right now and then we can decide how to deal with Shareella and the artifacts afterward."
Zarbyn wants to focus on the here and now although they can't help but wonder if Shareella already knows about the black lotus. He forces himself to table those thoughts and embrace the current moment... where to go now.
"Anybody want to visit a shop on the way to the Queen, we have been traipsing around the mountains for quite a while recently?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Seeing from the gate attendants directions that the Serpent Queens estate is just around the corner, you take Goose street west to Stable street (G11 and additional areas).
The streets of the Garden District are significantly more pleasant than the Harbor district of Blacksand, where the streets are made of polished stone and the air smells faintly of jasmine and spice. Ahead, rising beyond a wrought-iron gate entwined with sculpted serpents, stands an opulent walled estate unlike anything you’ve seen in the city so far.
Lush gardens overflow with strange, flowering plants from distant lands, their blossoms curling like coiled snakes. Waterfalls cascade into marble basins, and pale-robed servants drift silently along the paths. At the heart of it all, a grand villa of sandstone and carved marble rises, its walls etched with ancient desert sigils — a gift, they say, from Lord Azzur himself.
At the main gate stand two eight foot tall lizard men guards. Their green scaled bodies covered with additional well made polished armor, equipped with Spears, Axes and Crossbows. Two horns come out of their helmets, where holes were cut. (LORE: Lizard men were a species of reptilian humanoids found in a number of desert and tropical regions in Allansia.)
Lev and Lira see that they are clearly well trained, from their stance and how they carry themselves. Both look at the group.
One says in a gravel like scratchy voice, "Do you seek an audience with Her Grace, the Serpent Queen?"
The guards you the group over, then the first lizard man says as he unlocks and opens the steel gate with a large black key.
“Welcome to the Serpent Queen’s grounds. Should you choose violence, expect a swift and final courtesy.” As you walk past the gate, the guards relock the gate.
(LORE: It is well known that the Lord Azzur is the patron for the Serpent Queen. Lev would know that her presence here gives Azzur a unique power in the Garden District--a person that is exotic, faered, and symbolically potent.
Lira
Lira knows the following from the thieves guild: You don’t cross the Serpent Queen. Not for coin, not for sport. Lord Azzur might own the city, but she owns the shadows in her garden.” The Serpent Queen is considered off-limits to every guild in Blacksand. Lord Azzur’s protection is reason enough, but there’s more: several thieves have tried to rob her manor or blackmail her servants — none were seen again. In addition, the guild master was executed publicly in the Noose District. The guild’s word is that she doesn’t call for guards; the gardens themselves “move” to deal with intruders. This is intriguing to Lira both from the guild perspective as well as her druidic curiosity both for these gardens and those she just visited (the black lotus).
Amdaeng
Amdaeng has heard of the Serpent Queen, yet she has heard two conflicting stories. The first was told to children at night to encourage them not to go out at night (the boogeyman stories)
She was kidnapped by the Caarth priests as a young noblewoman, used in their experiments to create a snake-prophet or a hybrid creature. The ritual was cruel — perhaps it was meant to bind her soul to serpent powers.
Those of House Almighty taught a different story: She might have accepted the ritual to prevent a greater evil (e.g. plague, famine) or to seal away an enemy, thus taking a monstrous form to protect her people — now she is trapped in that form.
"Hopefully she can help us find the wizard or even arrange a meeting with him."
Zarbyn glances at the bouquet of roses and then toward the grand villa.
"Otherwise we're wasting time but we currently don't have any other leads."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
There is a walkway heading toward the main front door. The grounds are immaculate. Perhaps even nicer than the great garden you just left. As you approach the large front door, it opens, a servant dressed in plain white linen behind it.
"Ah, guests. She will be so excited." In a quite voice privately to the group, "She is desperate for news from outside Port Blacksand and for intelligent conversation." He smiles.
"Please, have a seat here (motioning you to a sitting room) and she will be with you in a moment. May I ask the nature of your visit so I can inform her Grace?"
(Vydar would have explained what he knew about the flower to the group. Which it looks like Lira may have already picked up on.)
Vydar nods in agreement with Zarbyn's plan.
When the group approaches the serpent queen's grounds, Vydar hangs back behind the majority of the group letting them do the talking. When directed to the sitting room, he plops down in one of the couches. ...which is probably the nicest couch he's ever seen in his entire life. He waits a few moments, expecting one of the others to answer the servant but when no one answers immediately, he speaks up.
"We are here to get some information about an old wizard who lives around here and we also bring some information she'll likely be interested in." He doesn't give any hint as to what that information might be, but he figures it would look better on them if they have information to trade rather than just coming here expecting aid.
The man heads to another room to relay your message.
After about 10 minutes, you feel her presence.
The Serpent Queen glides with striking elegance, her emerald robes moving like living coils. Gold jewelry shaped as fangs and scales adorns her wrists and throat. Her ivory skin reflects the light from the windows, but her face is that of a regal serpent, shimmering green and bronze scales, slit-pupiled eyes glowing with intelligence. A jeweled crown fashioned as a serpent consuming its tail sits on her brow. Trailing silken robes and an exotic, spicy perfume follow her as she approaches — both alluring and dangerous.
Her voice is soft and sibilant:
"Welcome....ssss, the wind bringsss a breath of fresh air. It is not often I receive unannounced guestsss but I mussst admit, I am intrigued." Her forked tongue slides out as she tastes the air. Her slitted eyes wander over you scanning every detail. "Ssssso, we have Zarbyn, Amdaeng, Jherak, Vydar, Lira and Kalin."
As she says each name, her slitted eyes wander over you, uncomfortably scanning every detail, pausing as she says each name and looking at your face. Briefly, she looks at Lira but pauses for a moment..."Very interesssting." Finally, her gaze rests on Kalin (Aka: Lev).
A slow smile curls her scaled lips.
"Perrhapsssss if the possterrsss are to believed, you are Lev, Lev, formerly of Crimson Legion. Ssssmart to give a false name to the gate guardssss." She looks at Lev to see his reaction, but then continues.
"Werik Longfinger'ssss houndsss have not muttered your name lately, but......the reward is still applicable. He must of liked you. Dessserters are rarely worth the trouble."
She moves closer to Lev, uncomfortably close. "Ssstill...you ssstrike me as one who doesss not die easssily. I admire that."
With a flick of her jeweled hand, a servant brings a silver tray with deep red wine and fruits.
"Please, drink and refresh yourselvessss." Her voice lowers, almost to a whisper.
Upon first entering the sitting room and witnessing Vydar plop down on one of the couches Zarbyn will also take a seat nearby. When the Serpent Queen glides into the room Zarbyn will stand until she sits or bids him/everyone to sit.
"We were tasked with finding Nicodemus and securing his aid."
Zarbyn will pick up an orange and begin peeling it nonchalantly, a habit he developed aboard the Twice Shy.
"We were also told we could find him here, in Blacksand, and shortly after arriving learned you may be able to assist us."
Suddenly Zarbyn starts as if remembering he's in a palatial estate and not aboard ship.
"Please excuse my manners, we brought a small gift." he gestures toward whoever is holding the flowers with his left hand while holding the orange in his right, the peel still attached but however much he managed to peel so far dangling all in one piece, "I heard you have a particular liking for roses."
(Zarbyn is genuinely attempting to make friends with the Serpent Queen.)
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
She elegantly approaches Zarbyn, seemingly quite pleased with the roses. Zarbyn notes her presence to be quite intoxicating. (She seems to like him and the roses)
"Zarbyn....How thoughtful of you. I do love niccce rosessss and thisss bouquet iss quite lovely. The rosesss must be from outssside our lovely port."
She smells or more accurately tastes the scent of the roses with a slow flick of her tongue.
Then, she gathers the bouquet and places them in a raised garden bed, Her long, claw-tipped fingers trace slow sigils in the air, and she murmurs words in a language that sounds half-hissed, half-sung. (Zarbyn recognizes the language of Caarth, used by sorcerer-priests in the Desert of Skulls). The petals quiver and the dirt seems to stir as the roses take root once again.
"You ssseek the fire-mage....Nicodemusss."
A pause---her slitted eyes narrow, gleaming, a look back at Lira.
"The allussssive wizard changes his location often so that he will not be harrassssed yet his grand entranccce this day revealed to me where he now lives."
As they make their way into the Serpent queen's estate Lev pushes aside the realization that if someone on these grounds decided to turn him in, it would be near impossible to escape. Regardless, he nods to the guards as they make their way inside. No point in appearing jumpy, and no point in hanging back. He has to remind himself that his former gang more than likely think's he's dead.
When they are shown to the sitting room it takes a good few moments for him to take a seat. If not for fear of insulting their host, he would have opted to stay standing. Unfortunately, before he makes up his mind to sit down the serpent queen herself enter the room.
Showing no outward signs of discomfort, Lev inclines his head as she enters the room finding himself rather unsurprised that she knew them by the names provided at the gate. The only reaction she draws from him is a slight tightening of his eyes. His expression darkens as she continues, clearly knowing without question that he is who he is. Perhaps it had been foolish to enter after all, clearly a false name is not enough to trick the serpent queen.
He stiffens slightly as she closes in on him, though his face shows no fear as he meets her eyes. In as conversational a tone as he can manage he replies, "No... it seems Lady Death doesn't fancy meeting me." He lowers his chin slightly, voice low but not threatening, "Werik however must be unaware of this, and I'd prefer to keep it that way if possible."He can't imagine why Werik would have 'liked' him, but that little bit of information doesn't do much to brighten his mood.
Some tension leaves him as the serpent queen moves to speak with others, though he makes no move to take any refreshments just yet... more because he's lost in thought rather than any wariness of poison at this point. He can only hope that they manage to make an ally here, otherwise he may need to get out of the city early... if he is permitted to leave here at all.
He stays quiet as Zarbyn and Lira lead the conversation, unsure how much more attention he wants to bring to himself.
Zarbyn waits a brief moment before responding to ensure he isn't interrupting her.
"And we don't wish to harass him, merely to entreat him with a request for aid."
Once again he begins using both hands to continue peeling the orange. As he does so Zarbyn finds it easy to continue the conversation due to the pleasant nature of the Serpent Queen.
"Perhaps it would help if I explain further. Recently we learned that the snow queen Shareella is terrorizing the people of Silverton. She has set monsters loose to prowl and hunt while somehow ensnaring Silverton in the deadly grip of her evil, icy magic. Day by day conditions there grow worse and they have come to believe there is little to no hope."
He finishes peeling the orange and seems somewhat pleased that he could keep the peel all in one piece.
"We had journeyed to Silverton seeking help for ourselves on a matter most dire. In exchange for such help they asked we seek out Nicodemus, he may be the only one able to counter Shareella's evil plans for Silverton."
Deciding now would be a good time to pause and give the Serpent Queen a chance to respond or ponder what he has said Zarbyn breaks the orange into three uneven sections and feeds himself one of the smaller ones. After consuming it a slight smile begins to form, and suddenly he feels a little self-conscious until he looks back up at the Serpent Queen and is reassured by her friendly demeanor, so instead trying to suppress it he then lets the smile form naturally.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
The Serpent Queen listens thoughtfully to Zarbyn. Her tongue occasionally tasting the air as she drinks a glass of wine, lounging on a velvet couch.
"Ssshareella. That name has not been spoken louder than a whisssper, for fear ssshee will ssssomehow hear. In the Dessert of Skullsss, the Caarth priestss called her 'The Pale Hunger.' A goddessss to some, a plague to otherssss. I believe, a powerful vampire. If the storiesss are to believed,ssshe and I, both victims of cruelty."
“Whisperss travel fasster than winter windss...and traderss and sailors talk of a coven of witches who call to the storm itself. They roam the Icefinger mountains, hunting for ssssomething."
She frowns,
"Then there's the ssudden sprouting of our Black Lotussss in my gardensss. A frost-witch who moves unseen, an ancient flower blooming when it should lie dormant. Two oppositesss in the same breath-- a ssssign of a world coming undone."
She looks at Lev as he tries to maintain his composure.
"I am a broker of information. Yet...my clients often want dissscretion. I will keep your sssecret and tell you where the fire-wizard sleeppsss. But this information is not given freely -- it is earned."
Like a cobra, she rises, every motion deliberate and fluid, as though her body is half-dancing, yet constantly ready to spring. Her claw like hands wring together.
“Bring me two tokensss of your worth.” She raises two slender fingers tipped in gold.
“Firssst... there is a painter, Garolon, who thought it clever to mock me with his art. You will visit the House of Pain and hire them to... educate him. His humiliation will be my amusement.”
“Ssssecond... an alchemissst, Dietrich Zuvember, holds a perfume I desire. You will buy it, quietly. He mussst never know it is for me. Ssssome people panic when they sssmell power.”
Her eyes drift lazily from one face to another, the corners of her mouth curling upward. “Do thisss, and I will tell you where to find your wizard and keep your sssecret."
Lira
Lira has heard:
When a bargain is made beneath in this place, the roots listen. The earth remembers. And should the deal be broken, the garden claims its due.
Zarbyn
Zarbyn has heard the following rumors while traveling on the Twice Shy. Even Lord Azzur, who publicly calls her his “advisor and muse,” is said to tread carefully in her presence. She provides him with secrets, blackmail, and prophecy — but he never bargains with her directly. He knows her true power lies not in magic alone, but in the binding of will. The city’s thieves, assassins, and nobles alike know the same rule:
A bargain with the Serpent Queen is sacred. Fail her once, and you will feed her garden forever.
Amdaeng has heard of this "House of Pain." There are similar establishments in Fang.
Similar to the Assassins’ Guild but without the same finality, the members of the House of Pain specialize in inflicting pain, humiliation, and discomfort on their victims. Unlike the Assassins, however, the House of Pain is normally hired by wealthy acquaintances or rivals of the victim, and their brand of cruelty has become something of a fashionable craze among Port Blacksand’s elite.
Their services range from the disgusting (an “accident” involving horse manure), to the annoying (being doused in paint), to the genuinely painful (spikes or broken glass hidden in chair seats).
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"Yeah, I agree with Amdaeng, let's stick to finding the wizard right now and then we can decide how to deal with Shareella and the artifacts afterward."
Zarbyn wants to focus on the here and now although they can't help but wonder if Shareella already knows about the black lotus. He forces himself to table those thoughts and embrace the current moment... where to go now.
"Anybody want to visit a shop on the way to the Queen, we have been traipsing around the mountains for quite a while recently?"
(OOC: Trying to keep it moving)
Seeing from the gate attendants directions that the Serpent Queens estate is just around the corner, you take Goose street west to Stable street (G11 and additional areas).
The streets of the Garden District are significantly more pleasant than the Harbor district of Blacksand, where the streets are made of polished stone and the air smells faintly of jasmine and spice. Ahead, rising beyond a wrought-iron gate entwined with sculpted serpents, stands an opulent walled estate unlike anything you’ve seen in the city so far.
Lush gardens overflow with strange, flowering plants from distant lands, their blossoms curling like coiled snakes. Waterfalls cascade into marble basins, and pale-robed servants drift silently along the paths. At the heart of it all, a grand villa of sandstone and carved marble rises, its walls etched with ancient desert sigils — a gift, they say, from Lord Azzur himself.
At the main gate stand two eight foot tall lizard men guards. Their green scaled bodies covered with additional well made polished armor, equipped with Spears, Axes and Crossbows. Two horns come out of their helmets, where holes were cut. (LORE: Lizard men were a species of reptilian humanoids found in a number of desert and tropical regions in Allansia.)
Lev and Lira see that they are clearly well trained, from their stance and how they carry themselves. Both look at the group.
One says in a gravel like scratchy voice, "Do you seek an audience with Her Grace, the Serpent Queen?"
Amdaeng nodded, " Uh....yes. Yes we do."
The guards you the group over, then the first lizard man says as he unlocks and opens the steel gate with a large black key.
“Welcome to the Serpent Queen’s grounds. Should you choose violence, expect a swift and final courtesy.”
As you walk past the gate, the guards relock the gate.
(LORE: It is well known that the Lord Azzur is the patron for the Serpent Queen. Lev would know that her presence here gives Azzur a unique power in the Garden District--a person that is exotic, faered, and symbolically potent.
Lira
Lira knows the following from the thieves guild: You don’t cross the Serpent Queen. Not for coin, not for sport. Lord Azzur might own the city, but she owns the shadows in her garden.”
The Serpent Queen is considered off-limits to every guild in Blacksand. Lord Azzur’s protection is reason enough, but there’s more: several thieves have tried to rob her manor or blackmail her servants — none were seen again. In addition, the guild master was executed publicly in the Noose District. The guild’s word is that she doesn’t call for guards; the gardens themselves “move” to deal with intruders. This is intriguing to Lira both from the guild perspective as well as her druidic curiosity both for these gardens and those she just visited (the black lotus).
Amdaeng
Amdaeng has heard of the Serpent Queen, yet she has heard two conflicting stories. The first was told to children at night to encourage them not to go out at night (the boogeyman stories)
She was kidnapped by the Caarth priests as a young noblewoman, used in their experiments to create a snake-prophet or a hybrid creature. The ritual was cruel — perhaps it was meant to bind her soul to serpent powers.
Those of House Almighty taught a different story: She might have accepted the ritual to prevent a greater evil (e.g. plague, famine) or to seal away an enemy, thus taking a monstrous form to protect her people — now she is trapped in that form.
"Hopefully she can help us find the wizard or even arrange a meeting with him."
Zarbyn glances at the bouquet of roses and then toward the grand villa.
"Otherwise we're wasting time but we currently don't have any other leads."
There is a walkway heading toward the main front door. The grounds are immaculate. Perhaps even nicer than the great garden you just left. As you approach the large front door, it opens, a servant dressed in plain white linen behind it.
"Ah, guests. She will be so excited." In a quite voice privately to the group, "She is desperate for news from outside Port Blacksand and for intelligent conversation." He smiles.
"Please, have a seat here (motioning you to a sitting room) and she will be with you in a moment. May I ask the nature of your visit so I can inform her Grace?"
Amdaeng turned quickly to Lira, " How do I look? Do I smell? Is my hair alright?"
" We don't want to make a bad impression."
(Vydar would have explained what he knew about the flower to the group. Which it looks like Lira may have already picked up on.)
Vydar nods in agreement with Zarbyn's plan.
When the group approaches the serpent queen's grounds, Vydar hangs back behind the majority of the group letting them do the talking. When directed to the sitting room, he plops down in one of the couches. ...which is probably the nicest couch he's ever seen in his entire life. He waits a few moments, expecting one of the others to answer the servant but when no one answers immediately, he speaks up.
"We are here to get some information about an old wizard who lives around here and we also bring some information she'll likely be interested in." He doesn't give any hint as to what that information might be, but he figures it would look better on them if they have information to trade rather than just coming here expecting aid.
The man heads to another room to relay your message.
After about 10 minutes, you feel her presence.
The Serpent Queen glides with striking elegance, her emerald robes moving like living coils. Gold jewelry shaped as fangs and scales adorns her wrists and throat. Her ivory skin reflects the light from the windows, but her face is that of a regal serpent, shimmering green and bronze scales, slit-pupiled eyes glowing with intelligence. A jeweled crown fashioned as a serpent consuming its tail sits on her brow. Trailing silken robes and an exotic, spicy perfume follow her as she approaches — both alluring and dangerous.
Her voice is soft and sibilant:
"Welcome....ssss, the wind bringsss a breath of fresh air. It is not often I receive unannounced guestsss but I mussst admit, I am intrigued." Her forked tongue slides out as she tastes the air. Her slitted eyes wander over you scanning every detail. "Ssssso, we have Zarbyn, Amdaeng, Jherak, Vydar, Lira and Kalin."
As she says each name, her slitted eyes wander over you, uncomfortably scanning every detail, pausing as she says each name and looking at your face. Briefly, she looks at Lira but pauses for a moment..."Very interesssting." Finally, her gaze rests on Kalin (Aka: Lev).
A slow smile curls her scaled lips.
"Perrhapsssss if the possterrsss are to believed, you are Lev, Lev, formerly of Crimson Legion. Ssssmart to give a false name to the gate guardssss."
She looks at Lev to see his reaction, but then continues.
"Werik Longfinger'ssss houndsss have not muttered your name lately, but......the reward is still applicable. He must of liked you. Dessserters are rarely worth the trouble."
She moves closer to Lev, uncomfortably close. "Ssstill...you ssstrike me as one who doesss not die easssily. I admire that."
With a flick of her jeweled hand, a servant brings a silver tray with deep red wine and fruits.
"Please, drink and refresh yourselvessss."
Her voice lowers, almost to a whisper.
"Which old wizard do you ssseeek?"
Upon first entering the sitting room and witnessing Vydar plop down on one of the couches Zarbyn will also take a seat nearby. When the Serpent Queen glides into the room Zarbyn will stand until she sits or bids him/everyone to sit.
"We were tasked with finding Nicodemus and securing his aid."
Zarbyn will pick up an orange and begin peeling it nonchalantly, a habit he developed aboard the Twice Shy.
"We were also told we could find him here, in Blacksand, and shortly after arriving learned you may be able to assist us."
Suddenly Zarbyn starts as if remembering he's in a palatial estate and not aboard ship.
"Please excuse my manners, we brought a small gift." he gestures toward whoever is holding the flowers with his left hand while holding the orange in his right, the peel still attached but however much he managed to peel so far dangling all in one piece, "I heard you have a particular liking for roses."
(Zarbyn is genuinely attempting to make friends with the Serpent Queen.)
Persuasion: 21
She elegantly approaches Zarbyn, seemingly quite pleased with the roses. Zarbyn notes her presence to be quite intoxicating. (She seems to like him and the roses)
"Zarbyn....How thoughtful of you. I do love niccce rosessss and thisss bouquet iss quite lovely. The rosesss must be from outssside our lovely port."
She smells or more accurately tastes the scent of the roses with a slow flick of her tongue.
Then, she gathers the bouquet and places them in a raised garden bed, Her long, claw-tipped fingers trace slow sigils in the air, and she murmurs words in a language that sounds half-hissed, half-sung. (Zarbyn recognizes the language of Caarth, used by sorcerer-priests in the Desert of Skulls). The petals quiver and the dirt seems to stir as the roses take root once again.
"You ssseek the fire-mage....Nicodemusss."
A pause---her slitted eyes narrow, gleaming, a look back at Lira.
"The allussssive wizard changes his location often so that he will not be harrassssed yet his grand entranccce this day revealed to me where he now lives."
As they make their way into the Serpent queen's estate Lev pushes aside the realization that if someone on these grounds decided to turn him in, it would be near impossible to escape. Regardless, he nods to the guards as they make their way inside. No point in appearing jumpy, and no point in hanging back. He has to remind himself that his former gang more than likely think's he's dead.
When they are shown to the sitting room it takes a good few moments for him to take a seat. If not for fear of insulting their host, he would have opted to stay standing. Unfortunately, before he makes up his mind to sit down the serpent queen herself enter the room.
Showing no outward signs of discomfort, Lev inclines his head as she enters the room finding himself rather unsurprised that she knew them by the names provided at the gate. The only reaction she draws from him is a slight tightening of his eyes. His expression darkens as she continues, clearly knowing without question that he is who he is. Perhaps it had been foolish to enter after all, clearly a false name is not enough to trick the serpent queen.
He stiffens slightly as she closes in on him, though his face shows no fear as he meets her eyes. In as conversational a tone as he can manage he replies, "No... it seems Lady Death doesn't fancy meeting me." He lowers his chin slightly, voice low but not threatening, "Werik however must be unaware of this, and I'd prefer to keep it that way if possible." He can't imagine why Werik would have 'liked' him, but that little bit of information doesn't do much to brighten his mood.
Some tension leaves him as the serpent queen moves to speak with others, though he makes no move to take any refreshments just yet... more because he's lost in thought rather than any wariness of poison at this point. He can only hope that they manage to make an ally here, otherwise he may need to get out of the city early... if he is permitted to leave here at all.
He stays quiet as Zarbyn and Lira lead the conversation, unsure how much more attention he wants to bring to himself.
Seeing Zarbyn was doing very well indeed with the schmoozing, Amdaeng wisely kept quiet.
Zarbyn waits a brief moment before responding to ensure he isn't interrupting her.
"And we don't wish to harass him, merely to entreat him with a request for aid."
Once again he begins using both hands to continue peeling the orange. As he does so Zarbyn finds it easy to continue the conversation due to the pleasant nature of the Serpent Queen.
"Perhaps it would help if I explain further. Recently we learned that the snow queen Shareella is terrorizing the people of Silverton. She has set monsters loose to prowl and hunt while somehow ensnaring Silverton in the deadly grip of her evil, icy magic. Day by day conditions there grow worse and they have come to believe there is little to no hope."
He finishes peeling the orange and seems somewhat pleased that he could keep the peel all in one piece.
"We had journeyed to Silverton seeking help for ourselves on a matter most dire. In exchange for such help they asked we seek out Nicodemus, he may be the only one able to counter Shareella's evil plans for Silverton."
Deciding now would be a good time to pause and give the Serpent Queen a chance to respond or ponder what he has said Zarbyn breaks the orange into three uneven sections and feeds himself one of the smaller ones. After consuming it a slight smile begins to form, and suddenly he feels a little self-conscious until he looks back up at the Serpent Queen and is reassured by her friendly demeanor, so instead trying to suppress it he then lets the smile form naturally.
The Serpent Queen listens thoughtfully to Zarbyn. Her tongue occasionally tasting the air as she drinks a glass of wine, lounging on a velvet couch.
"Ssshareella. That name has not been spoken louder than a whisssper, for fear ssshee will ssssomehow hear. In the Dessert of Skullsss, the Caarth priestss called her 'The Pale Hunger.' A goddessss to some, a plague to otherssss. I believe, a powerful vampire. If the storiesss are to believed,ssshe and I, both victims of cruelty."
“Whisperss travel fasster than winter windss...and traderss and sailors talk of a coven of witches who call to the storm itself. They roam the Icefinger mountains, hunting for ssssomething."
She frowns,
"Then there's the ssudden sprouting of our Black Lotussss in my gardensss. A frost-witch who moves unseen, an ancient flower blooming when it should lie dormant. Two oppositesss in the same breath-- a ssssign of a world coming undone."
She looks at Lev as he tries to maintain his composure.
"I am a broker of information. Yet...my clients often want dissscretion. I will keep your sssecret and tell you where the fire-wizard sleeppsss. But this information is not given freely -- it is earned."
Like a cobra, she rises, every motion deliberate and fluid, as though her body is half-dancing, yet constantly ready to spring. Her claw like hands wring together.
“Bring me two tokensss of your worth.”
She raises two slender fingers tipped in gold.
“Firssst... there is a painter, Garolon, who thought it clever to mock me with his art. You will visit the House of Pain and hire them to... educate him. His humiliation will be my amusement.”
“Ssssecond... an alchemissst, Dietrich Zuvember, holds a perfume I desire. You will buy it, quietly. He mussst never know it is for me. Ssssome people panic when they sssmell power.”
Her eyes drift lazily from one face to another, the corners of her mouth curling upward.
“Do thisss, and I will tell you where to find your wizard and keep your sssecret."
Lira
Lira has heard:
When a bargain is made beneath in this place, the roots listen. The earth remembers. And should the deal be broken, the garden claims its due.
Zarbyn
Zarbyn has heard the following rumors while traveling on the Twice Shy. Even Lord Azzur, who publicly calls her his “advisor and muse,” is said to tread carefully in her presence. She provides him with secrets, blackmail, and prophecy — but he never bargains with her directly. He knows her true power lies not in magic alone, but in the binding of will.
The city’s thieves, assassins, and nobles alike know the same rule:
Amdaeng
Amdaeng has heard of this "House of Pain." There are similar establishments in Fang.
Similar to the Assassins’ Guild but without the same finality, the members of the House of Pain specialize in inflicting pain, humiliation, and discomfort on their victims. Unlike the Assassins, however, the House of Pain is normally hired by wealthy acquaintances or rivals of the victim, and their brand of cruelty has become something of a fashionable craze among Port Blacksand’s elite.
Their services range from the disgusting (an “accident” involving horse manure), to the annoying (being doused in paint), to the genuinely painful (spikes or broken glass hidden in chair seats).