Curse:Session/3 King of Spiders

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Starring: Braecth, Dwsyer, Hrrm, Ilmax
Guest Starring: Cressida Kroft, St've D'kta, Morgoth, Lenny the Stick, Verik Vancaskerkin, Baldrago, Cow Hammer Boys, Malder, Cow Hammer Boys, Devargo Barvasi, the King of Spiders, Majenko the house Drake, Vencarlo Orisini,
Challenge: Verik and the Cowhammer Boys; Negotiating with the King of Spiders
Location: All the World's Meat; Eel's End;
Date Played: 01 Aug 2026

Capturing Vancaskerkin at All the World's Meat

Hrrm: After friends question ex-guards around city, learn Vancaskerkin owns "All The World's Meats" butcher shop. Hrrm think it very funny name. Bad friend also poet?

On way to butcher shop, friends stop by Quartermaster regarding Korvosan Manacles. Find it belong to Vancaskerkin. But why Lamm have? Hrrm worried questions could lead to attention from bad friends...

City still crazy with recent events. Starving and homeless rioting. Hrrm sorry all friends can't be helped right now.

But the butcher shop, All The World's Meats, is giving out parcels for free! City friends leave shop happy while praising "Cow Hammer Boys." (Cow... Hammer? Hrrm wonder if bad poetry?) Seems to be food, but friends suspicious. Could be contraband? City already suffering enough.

Hrrm and Dwyzer do business in butcher shop. Recieve own parcel. Also told the Cow Hammer Boys can "rough up" the deserving? Hrrm think enough violence already.

Back in streets with Ilmax and Braecth, discover parcel is indeed meat, and human too! Vancaskerkin and ex-guards behind murder and butchery... Dwyzer very upset about this violation, and Hrrm agree: Friends don't eat friends!

But friends smart, tell truth of matter first. Word should spread like open wound in already hurting city.

Soon, city riots at butcher shop. Hrrm and friends take chance to capture Vancaskerkin.

After, friends question Vancaskerkin's girl friend, Meliya Arkona. Claims idea of feeding city, but didn't know the bad business of it.

Hrrm and friends deliver Vancaskerkin to Cressida.

Dwsyer: Before heading straight to All the World's Meat, Ilmax checks in with the guard about Verik. An active contact, St've, tells us all about him. Verik is from Riddleport, fled from some scandal (possibly involving a tiefling, prostitude, and alchemist -- not sure where the commas go). He's known for being a schemer but not too sharp and able to be manipulated. He's currently dating a human woman. Before he started turning people against the force, his biggest catch was that he lost expensive manacles that were checked out to his name. Coincidentally the same ones we rescued from Lamm. (They're now checked in, and back out to Ilmax.)

Hrrm and I loiter about the neighborhood while others check out the joint. We hear that the "Cowhammer Boys" are giving away packages of food to the "needy". Braecth slips inside to check it out from there (disguised as a murderous urchin for Lamm). They have guards inside (still in their uniforms). Baldrago and Malder vow to pass on a message that Lamm needs an "exit" and mention the sewer, but kind of brush him off. Meanwhile, I got a package of meat and checked it out. It's peopleflesh. That's not acceptable. It's too like undead and can lead to undeath. We are asked to sperad the word that they'll "rough people up" for a modest fee.

Braecth then returns as a different person -- a poor lady with a grade (Note: Find out of Morgoth the Fae gets buried...) -- to get some of the muscle out and then to stall for time inside. They fall for it while the rest of us stir up trouble outside among the people, who aren't too happy about being fed people. A riot at their front door (supported by me and Hrrm), Braecth inside, and Ilmax at their back door -- the place gets shredded.

Once we subdue him, he breaks easily. He learned about all the bad things that have happened because of him and the really bad things people he associates with have been doing. He's remorseful as we deliver him to Cressida. (How he was dating quite upper class Melaeya Arkonia -- and close enough he had been gifted an ensigiled dagger of the family -- is another question.)

Ilmax: We ran into one of my old guard friends, St've D'kta, at the citadel. His sense of humor is crude, and he often rubs people the wrong way, but I know he got into the guard out of a genuine desire to do good in the community. His rose spectacles are still firmly in place. At any rate, he was able to give us some information about Verik Vancaskerkin on our way. As we were preparing to leave the guard station, we stopped by the quartermaster. I didn't want to leave without at least reporting the lost manacles we recovered. It turns out they have their own connection to Vancaskerkin; apparently, he's the one who lost them. Before he deserted, obviously. I've got them signed out in my name now. You never know when a pair of manacles will come in handy.

At All the World's Meat, I tried talking my way in, but I was unsuccessful. Hrrm and Dwsyer were more successful and walked out with some packaged meat. My curiosity got the better of me, and I only discovered after tasting it that it was humanoid flesh. The fungril in me just can't resist the scent of decay. We still weren't sure if the Cow Hammer Boys, Malder and Baldrago, were aware of the origin or just weren't asking questions about the source of the merchandise, but it's clear how Vancaskerkin and his deserters were disposing of the victims of their vigilante spree. So, Braecth gave them the name of a person who needed disposing of (Morgoth,) and the rest of us prepared to storm the store to retrieve Vancaskerkin once some of his gang left to deal with Morgoth. I snuck to the back and froze the lock to bust in. Some commotion began out front as rumors of the meat source spread amongst the community. Verik and the remaining gaurds put up a struggle, but we did manage to finally manacle him and take him back to the citadel.

On the way, I tried to talk some sense into Verik. He's obviously a skilled leader and a good strategist. I think I managed to convince him that, at least for now, his skills would help the most if he worked with the guard to get the city under control. Apparently, he's been moving up in the world in his personal life, associating with Melia Arkona. Too soon to tell if this is just gossip fodder or something of consequence.

Braecth: Vancaskerkin seems like a chump, from what we get out of Steve Ditka. Trouble, but the most interesting part: he's a link back to Lamm. I don't know the shape of that link, but it's a link. I go in as Maccauly, since Lamm got popped it's a plausible cover. They know "me"; it's thin, because it's based on the manacles, but it's a worthwhile gamble.

The key learning here: the Cowhammer Boys are finding people nobody'll miss and turning them into sausage. They're also providing shelter to Vancaskerkin, and it looks like different things.

With a different disguise, I thin the crowd: I point the Cowhammers at Morgoth, a scumbag who nobody'll miss, especially me. That gets a few of them to leave. The rest of the team plots a riot to create cover for storming the butcher shop. I'm inside when the riot starts, and I try and get to Verik, but he's real paranoid about anybody coming upstairs. I take a few shots, but then hide out in his room. Based on Verik's paranoia, I really think there's more going on than there is- he's just afraid.

Maulder and Baldrago get dropped, but we capture Verik. He did not know what the Cowhammers were doing, and it's the leverage we need to break him. He sings like a bird, and drops key facts:

• Melia Arkona is the one who seduced him out of the guard, got him in with the Cowhammers. Arkona is a big name around here, way above Vancaskerkin's station. True love? Or is he just a patsy.
• He was a bullyboy for Lamm. Muscle gigs. No real connection. The manacles were routed through Ouvan; Verik used them as collateral. Dumb move.

Still, we've got leverage on Verik, and there's probably something we can use with Arkona, we just need to dig a bit deeper there. Speaking of digging...

Getting the Ambassador's Secrets from the King of Spiders at Eel's End

Hrrm: Cressida gives new quest: Find Ambassador Amprei, capture alive. This bad friend upsetting already fragile Korvosan economy.

After run in with fashionable friend of Cressida, Vencarlo Orisini, learn the "King of Spiders," Devargo Barvasi, has blackmail on the ambassador.

The King of Spiders resides in Eel's End.

Sam says:

Eel's End pier is located on the eastern edge of Endrin Isle. Named in honor of Waydon Endrin, an accomplished sergeant, field marshal, and founder of the Sable Company marines.

Hrrm thinks this Eel's End tarnishing city history...

REQ BOX TEXT -- DESCRIPTION OF THE JOINT/BOATS.

Dwsyer: While resting up and waiting on Cressida, a strange man Vencarlo Orisini approaches us. He makes small talk about us and the town. We've heard of him before -- he's a fencer, trainer, and critic of the government -- but he just acts so strangely. The oddities of a wealthy, bored man. We do ask him about the Arkona family and he tells us they're old wealth, from the original old Korvosa and they're really into trading in vices. They're only tolerated by other families because they are seen as reducing crime by bringing some of it into the light of day.

Cressida now asks us to do something sensitive, and not directly related to maintaining order in the city: Find some way to squelch Ambassador Amprei from Cheleiax. He has a total disdain for Korvosa and she considers him a threat. He's said to be pressing for an economic blockade of Korvosa from Cheliax, which would basically be the ruin of the city. Don't kill him (lest he be martyred), but find a way to neuter him.

We decide we want to get leverage on Amprei, who is known to be a gambler and partier. We pop in to a haunt of his, the Eel's End in old Korvosa to ask around. The proprietor, the King of Spiders, is known to be open to making deals. We secure entrance to this den of vice, and Hrrm earns us an audience through a game of Knivesies (lubricated by Braecth's colorful acquaintance here -- he has one everywhere -- Lenny the Stick the Middle Manager).

Ilmax: Cressida is beginning to trust our group with more serious matters. Ambassador Amprei, from Cheliax, has increased his efforts to undermine the Korovosan economy during the crisis, advocating for a trade embargo. We're to find something to...persuade him or remove his influence without martyring him. Fortunately for us, he's known to frequent Eel's End, and (of course) Braekth has connections there. We also met the old swordmaster Vencarlo Orsini, a strange duck. He seemed pleasant enough, but I feel like he was interviewing us as much as we were interviewing him. We were then off to Eel's End to try to meet with the King of Spiders, Devargo Barvasi, to try to get some blackmail on Amprei. Braekth introduced us to Lenny the Stick, who showed us around.

Braecth: Cressida connects us with Vencarlo Orsini. Cheliax is looking to make trouble, and their ambassador, Amprei, is trying to run a land scam that'll send the already teetering economy off the brink. The plan? Blackmail him. Devargo Barvasi has the juice, we just need to convince him to do his civic duty. The good news, I've got a contact in Devargo's Eel's End org: Lenny the Stick.

Playing Knivesies

Hrrm: At the Twin Tigers, Hrrm relieved there no actual tigers involved, with how things going recently... Fortunately, it is another gambling hall.

Friends convince Hrrm to put on show and play Knivesies. After much talk of how silly game is, Hrrm win easily enough. Show garners audience from Lenny the Stick. Big Firbolg, but stinks of perfume... For winning, ask to see The King of Spiders.

Ilmax: Lenny somehow convinced us that the best way to get an audience with Barvasi would be to win a game of Knivsies. What? I'm sure Lenny was getting a cut somehow, but the rules of this game were either too complex or too idiotic for me to see the upside. We did want the meeting, though, so Hrrm was a good sport, climbed on the table, and handily won.

Braecth: Lenny "the Stick" is an ironic nickname. He's a firbolg built like a boulder. Wears enough perfume to make me itch. Which, we've got to talk about Knivsies. It's our way to get in with Devargo, sure, and it's a stupid ass game. But let me tell you a little secret about it: there doesn't seem to be a house cut, which is why it's popular. But the knifeplay is only a cover. The house always has a few folks near the table that grab the house's cut. Chaotic betting games mean you never really know how much money is in play. Done right, it can be ridiculously profitable.

Anyway, Hrrm wins the game.

Negotiating with the King of Spiders

Hrrm: After entering the Throne Spiders, Hrrm a little disappointed the throne not made of actual spiders.

Hrrm honestly not pay much attention to friends speaking to fake spider man. Hrrm focused on sad house drake in cage... Hrrm know friend in need when see one. Drake speak to Hrrm, say name is Majenko. Says is abused and held against will, and asks to be freed. Fake King of Spider Man bad friend after all, but that is matter for later.

While friends distract with talky-talk, Hrrm frees Majenko. Hrrm hope see Majenko again someday. Just like pretty Bejeweled Brooch.

Friends return to Cressida with papers and party given shiny Drakesmark Medal. It not old curio or relic, but Hrrm think it useful all the same, and remind Hrrm of helping Majenko.

One step closer in helping city, but still far to go...

Dwsyer: These letters we got from Devargo should be more than enough to keep Amprei cowed, at least for a while. Cressida sure seems happy with it and gives us each a Drakesmark. That's something not always worth showing... But sometimes is just what you need.

Ilmax: The man loves a theme, I'll say that much. The only "decoration" that didn't match the motif was the house drake cruelly caged to the ceiling. We were able to persuade Barvasi that it was his patriotic duty to spill the dirt on the ambassador. It probably also helped that the duty came with a modest payout. So, he retrieved some incriminating letters about the ambassador's affairs, which we delivered back to Cressida.

Hrrm told us later that he was able to lift the latch so that Majenko, the house drake, could escape. Majenko thoughtfully waited until after we had left to make a break for it, so that will hopefully remove suspicion that we had anything to do with it.

Braecth: Oh, by the rotting carcass of the gods, this is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Look, I love a little theatricality, it's got its place, but there's a line between theater and camp. Devargo has his place set up like a villain's lair in one of the foolish romances you can buy for a copper and has enough pictures in it you don't actually have to be literate to follow the story. And it uses really simple words.

Anyway, Barvasi takes the deal. We get some blackmail on Amprei, he gets some cash, and sits in the good graces of the Korvosan Guard, at least for now. It's a simple deal, and I have to say, I don't trust simple deals. But I'm not going to get too paranoid about this.

Hrrm frees Barvasi's "pet" drake. Nice thinking, but not that great a risk to take. Probably fine, the Drake was smart enough to keep us out of it otherwise. Still, gotta note that.