Having spent the night at Zellara's house, Daryle and Darelle are met by Dhukhean at their new residence in Korvosa. The dwarf reports that riots are still roiling in the streets, and that several combats between different factions are affecting whole neighborhoods. Over the city they can see several plumes of black smoke rising from the numerous fires that have been set. They return inside the house, and finding enough fresh food in Zellara's pantry, Darelle cooks up a delicious breakfast.
Once the house is tidied up, the three of them head out back to the sisters' previous lodging, the Upslope House, to retrieve their remaining gear. The matron informs them that a missive came for them yesterday afternoon. Still sealed in a heavy envelope, Daryle opens it swiftly and finds a message written in an elegant hand:
"Dear Coopers, I have heard of your exploits, and I have peculiar information concerning your brother Thorne and his whereabouts you may find worth your while. I hope to meet you upon supper time tomorrow, Lamashan 19. You can find my residence at 15, Route of the Shore. Sincerely yours, Vencarlo Orisini."
Asking around reveals that this residence is located in the poor sector of the lower heights a few stone throws away from Castle Korvosa and yet so removed from its riches. The Coopers have heard of the name Orisini.Vencarlo Orisini is a master sword fighter and founder of his very own fighting school. This school, Orisini Academy, has trained some of the best fighters this side of Varisia over the last twenty years or so. Orisini is both rich and admired by the local population.
Suspicious yet tempted by the offer of information on Thorne since his disappearance at the base of the Emerald Spire over six months ago, the sisters decide to attend this meeting and invite Dhurkhean with them in case trouble arises, as the paladin has proven himself on numerous occasions. They conduct reconnaissance at the house, and find it is a simple row house squeezed between two slightly better maintained residences that has fallen in disrepair and could use a new coat of paint.
They spend the rest of the afternoon avoiding riots and large gathering of people. Returning to the house at supper time, Darelle knocks on the door and it is opened by a large matron. She motions them inside, then silently leads them to the back of the house, which abuts the hill. She touches a secret button on an armoire, revealing a secret passage. She tells the Coopers that this tunnel will lead them to another house up on the hill. Traveling a quarter mile, they find themselves in a basement. A staircase leads to the ground floor of an opulent house, where they are met by a butler in full livery. Without a sound, the butler guides the three of them to the house's third floor. They enter a large room well appointed with a four post bed, a wardrobe, and a large mirror mounted on the wall. All of the drapes covering the windows have been drawn, and the only illumination is provided by six candles. Two figures stand next to the mirror. A small long black-haired girl, about twelve years old and wearing a delicate yet expansive dress, and a man wearing a dark traveling cloak. He acknowledges the Coopers, and Daryle recognizes Thorne's voice. The rogue removes his cloak and questions the dwarf. Satisfied by Dhukhean's answer, he motions to the mirror and tells the sisters that someone would very much like to talk to them.
A shimmer swirls in the mirror, and slowly clears to reveal Duke Mosley, clad in a pristine Hellknight uniform. He welcomes the Cooper sisters, and asks a few pointed questions of Dhukhean, before returning his attention to Darelle and Daryle. He informs the sisters that he has pressing needs of his services. The girl standing before them is Olivia Wilhert, the 11 year-old daughter of Helmut Wilhert, the only heir to the Wilhert noble house of Cheliax, one of the richest. She also happens to be Mosley's niece, and she is in mortal danger. Thorne reveals that she wears a silver tattoo that stretches from her neck to her left hip. This tattoo is the physical mark of someone whose's soul has been promised to a devil. Mosley tells the Coopers that Olivia's soul was promised, but she never agreed to this binding. Through a series of circumstances unclear even to the Duke she escaped her family estate and was found by his agents. Devils have been looking for her these last three weeks. Mosley wishes her to gain the safety of lands he controls, and he wants the Coopers to assist in this mission, for the sake of the girl.
Duke Mosley then reveals an elaborate ruse. The girl standing in front of them is in fact not Olivia, but rather Emma, a street urchin from Ridwan, in the land of Nidal, a vassal state of Cheliax. Mosley spotted her years ago for her uncanny resemblance to Olivia. She has been educated and trained these last few years to one day substitute for Olivia, and now the opportunity has presented itself at the most vital of times. Mosley wants this Olivia to travel with the Coopers aboard a Chelaxian galleon named the Hellhound bound from Korvosa to Magnimar, in eastern Varisia, while the real Olivia is safely moved. In essence, Mosley asks the Coopers to act as bait for the devils that hunt his niece.
Daryle is disinclined to assist the Duke, but she and her sister eventually settle for 50,000 crowns each, while Thorne requests an enchantment for his weapon and Dhukhean settles on a fund of 25,000 for his dwarven clan to establish an embassy in Korvosa. Agreeing to their demands, Duke Mosley now bids the Coopers that they plan on sailing with the afternoon tide tomorrow. They need to attract attention without appearing to deliberately do so, so that enemy agents learn of Olivia's presence and departure from Korvosa.
The Coopers spend the rest of the night examining several scenarios to transport Olivia from the house to the wharf, board the Hellhound, and depart Korvosa. Vencarlo Orisini returns following a night at the opera, and joins in the planning. In the end, they decide to hide Olivia in one of Orsini's wagon, then head through the riots and reach the wharf just at high tide.
Lamashan 20, 4712
After a hearty breakfast the Coopers set the plan in motion. Thorne leaves Orisini's house, and takes position near Orisini Academy, where he will steal the wagon with Olivia inside. Dhukhean leaves with the rogue and makes his way to the ship, ready to assist them in boarding the ship if they are pursued. A short time later, Daryle, Darelle, and Olivia board Orisini's personal wagon. A few minutes later, Vencarlo and his driver enter the carriage house, and the wagon soon departs the estate through a city still plagued by violence, taking a circuitous route through Korvosa. Reaching the Academy, Vencarlo exits the wagon, and tells his driver to remain near the wagon as he plans to leave shortly. He advises the guards to keep the gates open.
Thorne sneaks into the Academy grounds and fires a white arrow with white fletching at the driver, missing him by an inch. He jumps on the wagon, and drives it out, much to the guards' dismay. Guiding it through the city, he avoids most of the gathered crowds and reaches the Hellhound right on time. Disbarking from the wagon, a providential gust of wind blows the cap off Olivia's cloak, revealing her delicate features. Darelle spots several individuals who take immediate notice of Olivia as she walks up the plank. The Hellhound departs without any trouble, however, and soon reaches the open sea.
Lamashan 23, 4712
The first two days at sea are uneventful. On the third day, Dhukhean's keen eyes spot a sail in the distance, moving fast and against the wind. The Hellknight crew aboard the Hellhound make ready for battle over the next four hours. As the distance closes, cannons are fired. Daryle spots a devil in command on board the enemy ship. Soon the Hellhound is rammed, and the enemy crew boards. The battle rages on between the Hellknighs and the devil's soldiers, while the Coopers engage with the outsider.
The weather, which had been decent since the beginning of the trip, has suddenly deteriorated since the assault began, and now the black clouds that have been rolling in obliterate the sun, and gale-force winds batter both ships.
Through artifice, the devil retains the upper hand as he summons several lesser devils, but its strategy is soon revealed when Darelle notices a second devil breaking through the windows of the captain's quarter from the water. Thorne dispatches two devils, Dhukhean also slays a few. Daryle effectively eliminates one of the devil commanders. Darelle manages to pull Olivia out of harm's way, but the devil is right on her tail. As the devil breaks through the door and emerges on the bridge, the Coopers are severely wounded, but they prepare for one final round of battle.
Three large tentacles emerge from swirling waters. One grabs the devil and drags it under water, while two more seize the devils' ship and sinks it. A massive kraken emerges. Darelle uses her ranger talents and is able to talk to it. The kraken identifies himself as Tourbillion, lord of Conqueror's Bay and an enemy of all outsiders. A powerful druid looking after its water flock, Tourbillion dosn't really care for humanoids but he despises unnatural creatures even more. He agrees that the Coopers and their ship are not the enemy, and he lets them proceed on their way. The Coopers have potentially made a powerful ally. Upon departing, Tourbillion dispels the weather, and soon the Hellhound is on its way to Magnimar.
Lamashan 25, 4712
The Hellhound arrives in Magnimar, and the fake Olivia disembark from the ship under heavy Hellknight escort. The Coopers breathe a sigh of relief. They successfully kept their charge alive and provided Duke Mosley with the time needed to move the real Olivia. The Coopers head back to Korvosa on Darelle's jar of cloud, hoping for a more peaceful return trip.
