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.)

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).

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.

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.