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Dru gets to the bartender, has a free drink on the house, and ask
Now that we are able to speak quietly...You've told us we've done you a favor, as you are now the owner of this bar, and right now, you can repay that favor to us. Do you know where your previous boss might have put her own private stuff? We're looking for some curative potion, mostly.
The bartender glances sharply back at Dru. "What? No... she had no such places."
On her way to Tad, Faliana will also spot her spear. It is indeed tangled up under the table with the barracuda. A couple of the patrons are currently in the process of dressing said fish, its part in the evening's festivities clearly over.
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Come on. You're such a bad liar it's too funny, even charming, in a way. I've asked politely, gently. You've just seen what happens when I'm not so gently. You want to get rid of us and never see us again? Just give us what we asked for, and we're off. It's as simple as that.
The blonde smiles to the bartender, sipping her beer, but there is a glimpse of "don't push your luck, boy" in her blue eyes.
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Done taking care of her upset stomach near the bar, Faliana quickly wipes off her mouth and stands up. Tottering a little she moves past the crowds and moves up next to Tad, bending down she uncorks the potion bottle and slowly feeds it to the downed grippli.
As the small man stands up, she feels another wave of queasiness. As an attempt to try hiding it, she quickly points out Dale's prone form and says, "Boss could use some healin'." She then stays very still breathing deeply for a few moments before standing up and turning to face the crowd surrounding the fish. She moves through them, putting her hammer away and grabs out her spear. She takes a moment to check its condition. "I knew I oughta get a boarding pike... Let's hope it's not goin' ta rust too badly."
Satisfied with the condition of the spear, she reattaches it to her bag next to the hammer. With a glance to Tad and Dale to make sure everything is going just fine, she moves over to the bar to see if the rest of her group needs any help.
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its part in the evening's festivities clearly over.
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Brady approaches the new bar owner with anxious concern and determination on his face. He grabs the man's shirt, shaking him; he tears more than one seam in the process.
"We ain't got time for your shenanigans here! I've got friends bleeding out on your floor, and . If you want us gone when they arrive, you'll tell us what we want to know right now!"
Faliana is able to get Tad back on his feet, though she's doesn't feel too well. The area on her shoulder where she was bitten by the snake showing an ugly black and red welt. Still, she seems to have weathered the worst of it by the time the Grippli is mobile, and she grabs her spear and helps move Dale a little closer to the bar, so Tad can channel to get as many folks as possible. Unfortunately, the healing energy is not enough to overcome the wounds Dale received from the fiendish macaws, and he is still unconscious.
Back at the bar, Brady backs up Dru with some thinly veiled threats of his own.
The bartender raises his hands. "Woah... woah!" He interjects quickly, an unhappy smile on his face. "Just a new business owner, looking out for his business! No need for a round two here."
He frowns, glancing around, then sighs slightly. "We keep all the stuff in there." He finally says, somewhat reluctantly, pointing towards a secured cabinet off to one side behind the bar. "But Lura has her own locked bit in there, I ain't got no key for that."
The cabinet in question was the one Dale got a glimpse of earlier, and indeed seems to contain a number of small packages of what you can only assume are drugs, along with a second interior locked section. You also will find a few expensive-looking bottles of alcohol and a number familiar-looking clay vials, but all of the later are empty.
The bartender looks over your shoulder as you examine the contents. "And why would a mob be comin' here?" He asks... then a look of realization seems to cross his face, and he smiles slightly. "Unless they's on your trail, of course."
He rubs his hands nervously. "Leave some of the product, and I'm sure I can point them elsewhere when they show... A favor from one new business owner to some enterprising sorts like yourselves..."
Everyone's up and conscious!
Brady hastily kneels beside Lura searching her quickly for keys to the inner compartment of the cabinet.
He notices a few things, the first and most obvious, being the vial that she dropped when Dru hit her for the last time... but only because he almost kneels on it in the blood, the congealing fluids concealing it as they pooled.
The second, and perhaps more troubling, is that Lura seems to still be alive. It's hard to imagine how, given the damage Dru's morning star did, and the amount of blood on the floor... but he will note a faint, but distinct, shallow raspy breath still coming from her still form.
And lastly, he will find a small set of keys concealed beneath her chain shirt.
By the time he's done however, he has gotten almost as much blood on himself as Lura has on her.
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Brady quickly tosses the keys to Dru. "Let's get the antidote, and get out of here." He glares at the bartender, unhappy with the compromise he's about to offer, but knowing they will need the time. "Go ahead and keep the drugs, you monster. But point them away from our trail. Tell them we headed towards the docks with a fire under our asses."
Before standing, Brady lightly orients his knee across Lura's throat, and leans down hard.
Dru will eventually be able to get the inner compartment open with the keys, though it takes her tries to find the right one. Of course it doesn't help the bartender standing over her shoulder, helpfully suggesting she try 'that one' or 'that other one'.
Inside, you will find a few bits of paperwork (mostly numbers), a fair amount of gold coin, a half-empty bottle of cheap rum, and a small wooden box. The box contains two more of the familiar clay vials, only these two are full, as well as a larger flat sealed glass bottle of a milky liquid, with markings that make no sense to anyone.
At this point, about a minute and a half has passed since the fight ended.
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Dale sits up with a start, quickly jumping to his feet as if fleeing something beneath him and muttering something strange as he does so
He quickly rubs his head a bit at the claw marks and collects his wits in a moment before the look of nervousness turns to a wide eyed smile. "Oh excellent work!" He goes to pull out his wooden spoon and finds it missing. Looking around quickly he spots it and his dagger and heads over a bit wobbly to retrieve them.
Seeing Brady open the locked cabinet though he quickly hurries over and watches over his shoulder, all the while activating his wand as he does.
"Oh hey, that there! Grab that! And those! And that!" He points out the sack of coins and the clay vials and the labeled sealed glass vial. "I think those are what we need! Probably time to vamoose!"
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Monty sees Brady finish off the vile woman and nods at him, not wishing to attract attention to the matter. Instead, he steps forward and speaks, clearly not in the best of moods after getting knocked out like that.
Let's get what we need and be on our way. "Boss", you find the stuff we need?
At the offer of the drugs, Monty smiles at the man and shakes his head.
No need for any of that. As my friend said, just make sure anyone looking for us goes on a long trip. We apologize for the mess "New business owner"
The bartender's look of content, when Brady agrees to leave the drugs alone, becomes a look of greed-tinged surprise when he sees the stash of coins in the second safe... and that changes to a pained expression when the you take the coins along with the bottle and vials. He does not object though, merely smiles and nods, agreeing to send whoever might come looking for you in the wrong direction.
Not wanting to wait any longer over concern about Lura's possible reinforcements... and having found what you hope is the cure for Senzer's son... you exit the Sanguine Pit and head back out into the darkened shifting streets of Bloodcove, to return to Rulkep's Tonics.
The city has gotten even more muggy by now, and the insects even more bold. Brady especially seems to have small clouds of them swarming around him... the blood on his clothes seeming to attract them even more then usual.
You head north, retracing your path from earlier... but about ten minutes later you start to realize there is an unusual amount of activity back towards the Pit... and before too long, even through the darkness, you realize that the activity is starting to range in your direction not off to the east. Either they did not buy the barkeep's story, or... you realize probably more likely... he sold you out at the first opportunity.
Needless to say, you take more care then normal to avoid notice on the way back... a task made slightly more difficult by your appearance after the fight in the Sanguine Pit. The rest of the trip takes considerably longer then it did on the way out... and after a while, everyone you pass or you see outlined in a darkened doorway suddenly seems suspicious... another Bloodcove citizen potentially waiting to rat you out for a coin or a favor.
Tensions are a little high, and nerves a little frayed, by the time you get back to the shop, which sports a sign indicating it is closed, though there is still a faint light in the back somewhere. Senzer opens the door quickly when you knock, and ushers you in hurriedly, as he glances out into the street to see if anyone is watching, before shutting the door behind you.
"Did you get it?" He asks, wringing his hands fretfully, a hopeful look on his face. He suddenly notices your condition, and looks concerned. "Please, tell me you got it?"
"And what about Lura?" He adds, apprehensively.
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Monty shakes himself a little to shake the moisture of the damp from his fur as they step inside.
She will harm no one's child ever again. Our alchemist has identified what he believes to be the cure for your son, but of course you'll want to use your equipment to verify it and make sure it is safe. That snake seems like the kind of person who might poison her own cures.
He sits down on the floor cross legged and stretches, looking very grumpy.
I am most certainly to old for any of this nonsense.
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"Indeed. Lura is very dead. Her second at the bar is the new owner. He seems to be taking up the drug trade in her wake, so that won't end, but hopefully he won't be a trouble to you, specifically." Looking down at the mess of his clothes, he continues. "Can you point me to a washing closet? I need to get this filth off of me. The bugs are tracking me by it; who knows if any others from Bloodcove might decide to do the same."
Brady will go where pointed and begin to clean up.
Senzer practically snatches the wooden box out of your hand, so eager is he to see what you've found. He immediately pulls out the larger glass bottle, and examines the markings on it closely.
"Yes." He mutters, distractedly. "Yes... this looks like it alright! Praise the Dawnflower." He glances over and smiles at Tad.
He looks back to the bottle, and looks puzzled. "It appears to be a cure for sleeping sickness, that can't be right. Wait... what's this here, are these celestial?" He glances over at Dale to confirm, though it is not a language Dale is familiar with either. "To combat some sort of tainted variation, perhaps?" He shakes his head at the puzzle presented. "It will take me a few days to properly analyze it, but Roald should be alright now. I can't thank you enough!"
He looks at Brady, as the man mentions washing up, with a slight frown. "There is a basin in the back here, but it is for washing hands, not clothing. Clearly it was quite the ruckus at the Pit... but those bastards will have to find someone else to make their drugs."
"You Pathfinders have proven you can be relied on... and so will I. As soon as Roald is back up, I will start making some potions for your site right away. I should be able to get back up to the usual shipment numbers within the week."
"But for now, you should probably leave." He says finally. "I must start on this..." He puts one hand gently on the antidote. "And this place is not large enough to house you all. My being open at this hour, will attract far too many eyes before long, if it isn't already."
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Disappointed, Brady nods his head. "I'd prefer to get clean, but cleaning up on the road will have to do."
"Senzer, I know we don't have much time, but I wonder if you would mind it if I were to contact you at some point in the future. I am a businessman, and I like to keep in touch with valuable contacts around Golarion. I think we could find a way to benefit each other in the future."
Identify a valuable business prospect during the course of an adventure. Doing so requires a successful Appraise, Knowledge (local), Profession (merchant), Sense Motive, Stealth check (DC = 15 + your character level)
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Not feeling the hottest, Faliana is more than happy to hang back and watch her comrades as they open the safe, talk things over with the bar owner, and discover the vials. She does stay back for a few moments to talk with the bartender, but hurries to catch up with the rest of the group.
She tries to keep a quick pace behind everyone else as they leave the place and head back to the alchemist's shop, silently wishing she had the freedom pull out her long spear and use it like a cane without drawing unwanted attention.
In the alchemist's shop she takes up a position by the door and window and tries covertly keep an eye on the street. She gives Tad a look of thanks when he passes by with his wand.
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As the group sneaks their way back to the alchemist's shop, Dale lags behind a bit here and there, obviously still pretty weakened from his epic battle with the birds. Once the reach the shop he scoops up the first chair he can reach, right after Monty, and plops down with a huff. "I hope this is the stuff and works for your son. It was no easy task retrieving it! If you need me to read those other strange words I can do so tomorrow if it helps your work significantly."
As Tad starts doing some healing Dale does to himself as well, still very much beat up and tired.
"MMM SOUP!" Giggle!
"MMM SOUP!" Giggle!
"Oh that's a bit better for sure... So you're kicking us out on the street huh? Any good ideas on a place we can head to hold up till daylight or are we on our own? I guess we have an option or two.." He says, thinking out loud.
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At the bar, Faliana takes a moment to calm and focus herself. As the rest of the group focuses on the safe and its contents, she focuses herself and Fritania on the new owner. First ordeing something to wash the taste of her earlier nausea out of her mouth, she takes a moment to covertly wash her mouth and let Fritannia take over. A few seconds later, siping the drink, Fritania muses out loud, "Ya know, it's too bad so much of the profits of this place are goin' to have ta go to payin' the Consortium. Lura may have been high rankin' but I doubt they'll let ya take over her position there as easily as her bar. An' ya know what that means: hig'er fees. A right same for a place like this that must rake in a fortune."
Hopefully having caught his attention, she leans in a little closer and, with an appriasing look and pout, continues in low voice. "Ya shouldn't have to pay them a copper, especially such a handsome and cunnin' man such as yaself. Oh sure a few years of 'playin' nice' while ya work ta undermine 'em, might be in order but ya shouldn't have ta be a slave ta their ambitions." She pauses there for a moment, as the group hands him the second of the clay bottles. She finishes her drink, watching him the whole time.
She gets up to follow the rest of her group out the door, but pauses for a moment next to the man. She gently bites her lip, hesistant, but continues, "If ya're interested , there's quite a few businesses who loathe the Consortium's control. Why I even know a 'chemist who might be able ta make ya some more of that," she getures at the vial in his hands, "no problem." She pausees for a second, and then moves in closer, placing her hand on his chest. "Wish I could stay longer to congratulate ya properly, but I gotta run." She then gives him a quick kiss and turns to leave. Giving him a wink over her shoulder, she heads out the door.
Outside the bar, Fritannia's playful energy slowly disappates, replaced very qickly by an outraged Faliana. She quickly wipes her mouth and spits. In a low, but furious voice she grumbles, "Ashava dammit! Fritannia, What have I told you about kissing people without permission? That was worse than the puking!"
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Faliana gives a nod after Dale's comments about not having a place to go. With a frown, she says, "Wasn't there enough room for us back at the stables? And it'd be good to go there incase we need to leave immediately, anyways."
"Only a fool crosses the Consortium" He replies shaking his head at such foolish notions... though Faliana can tell a few gears in the back of his head have started turning as seeds are successfully planted.
Senzer will nod, "Of course." He replies simply. "Though once all this mess has settled down would be better, as you say."
"No, I can sort this out." Senzer replies, as Dale offers to assist. "Besides, I thought you were intending to be gone first thing? You stay around here much longer, all of us will be swimming in Consortium rats. Then no one goes anywhere. Probably best you get out of this hell hole quick as you can. If you took out Lura as publicly as you look, there's going to be people asking questions. Would rather none of them start pointing here."
AE:4
You take a few moments to heal, and ponder options... returning to the caravan seems the best bet, so you will be ready to leave as quickly as possible once your shipment is ready.
Senzer barely notices you leaving, as he seems eagerly focused on the bottle of antidote and his son's cure. You leave him working at his lab, probably the first of many long nights to come for the elven man. Still, despite it all, you notice a slight hopeful bounce to his step, despite the promise of long hours looming.
You head east, back towards Scevola's caravan warehouse. There seems to be an unusual amount of activity in town, though Dale seems to think most of it is typical of the city, which apparently does its business, illicit and otherwise, twenty four hours a day. Still, you can't quite shake the feeling that it is a little more active then it should be, most of it back towards the west side of town. You do your best to avoid attracting attention once more, but a group your size, with both a vanaran and grippli are unusual enough that you're not sure how hard you'd be to trace if someone really tried. Even your merchant guises won't help if someone starts asking the right questions. Senzer's suggestion to get out of town sooner rather then later starts to sound better and better.
It is well past midnight by the time you reach the warehouse. Some of the caravan members are still up, keeping watch. Sadly, the goods from House Cartahegn did not arrive early, apparently sticking to their promise to deliver them in the morning . The caravan schedule seems to have them leaving town as soon as everything is loaded once the goods and you arrive.
Scevola himself is still sleeping off whatever drugs laid him low earlier, and the guards don't bat an eyelid if you indicate a desire to stay there until the supplies arrive... apparently not an uncommon occurrence at all.
Brady will find a few large troughs, for the horses, that he can wash his clothes out in (though he will later learn that things don't dry quickly in the humid jungle environment, and everything will still be wet come morning). There are a few areas where you can rest, mostly straw bales and horse stalls. You do not believe you will be able to manage a full night's rest at this point, before it's time to go... but some sleep will be better then none for those that can get it. The heat and humidity don't help (except for Dale, who still seems unaffected).
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Brady is grateful that he can use the horse trough to wash his clothes. He scrubs diligently, working to get as much of the blood out as he can. So, does the next horse to drink from here now a carnivore?
When he awakens--entirely too early--and finds his clothes to still be wet, he grumbles at the discomfort. "First, possession by monkey spirits. Now, the best that a swamp has to offer. Some days I question why I joined this Society."
And, other days, we get to help save a dying kid from being poisoned by a drug lord. I suppose there's a balance.
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Dale finally rolls over and sits up, holding his head a bit as he does Such a headache! I really need to refine that thing to get rid of the headaches...
After a bit of bemoaning Dale gets his backpack in front of him and pulls out his alchemy supplies like he does most mornings and starts mixing up some of his usual concoctions, terrible smells start wafting around the room as he does so. "Don't mind me!" He reassures everyone.
"Sure wish those supplies would get here... I need breakfast, I must have left my rations behind somewhere!"
True to their promise, the supplies from House Cartahegn arrive at the warehouse just as the sun is peaking over the horizon. As the Pathfinders prepare for the upcoming journey, the drovers start to load everything onto the wagons.
You are little dubious it will all fit at first, the initial pile dropped off by the trading house seeming far too large for the three wagons Scevola has. But the workers seem to know what they're doing and within an hour, everything is stacked and arranged with room to spare.
Raimondo finally makes an appearance during the process, clearly hurting from the drugs he was fed the day before, but functional. He oversees the loading, though lets his men do most of the work.
As they finish loading everything he comes over to talk to you.
"Thanks again for yesterday." He says, with a rueful grin. "Didn't think Andre would stoop so low as to drug my ale... though I suppose that's a lesson he'll have to regret in the hereafter now."
He waves back at the wagons, now mostly loaded. "Should be good to go shortly. Left some space for you folks to sit, since I didn't see you with any mounts of your own. No more'n two per wagon though, we're
packed pretty tight. One of you will have to sit up with the driver, the other back with the goods."
"Some of the men mentioned running into a few Aspis mouthpieces earlier that was asking after strangers in town." He adds, frowning slightly. "Could be nothing, but could be something... you lot were apparently quite the site when you wandered in last night I've been lead to believe."
He shrugs. "Either way, best we get out of town before the reward for information starts to get too enticing." He glances back towards his men and lowers his voice slightly. "They're good workers, but they've got families to feed too. Everyone in this town's gotta a price somewhere."
"Anyway, do we know where we're going yet? All I was told was north, a few days."
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Dale hoists himself up into the back of a cart, the one with the food stores in it... having a hungry gleam in his eyes "North it is, we'll have an exact route soon enough once we get out of the city a ways. Pretty interesting place here, but sure not very friendly!"
He digs around in the crates for some dried foodstuffs "Anyone got any ketchup?"