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"We just need to have a look at your Mistress' mirror... would that be alright? We promise not to touch anything." Lore says, careful with her promise... it is after all possible to take something without touching it, as long as you're wearing gloves or using cloths between your skin and the object. "Besides, if she's not here, she can't reprimand you for disobeying her... she never needs to know."
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Snouts looks back and snouts a few short notes in response...
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Ernest paces in a little circle. He speaks to the host, still clearly worried about some invisible assailant. "Okay, um, Mr. uh, Mr. The Enlightener. I have, a, uh, theoretical, so to, uh, so to speak. Say, in theory, your master's room had a mirror. Would you be able to confirm or deny the existence of said mirror?"
Jairo looks at August.
"No, the password is not please. But since you are showing manners, I will not count that as one of your two guesses."
Back to Ernest, as he forms a cupcake in his hand and drops it down to Snouts.
"I am not permitted in the aft chambers, so I would have no knowledge of the contents of those rooms."
He pauses and grins.
"But, hypothetically, if my master was to have a magical mirror of significant power to help manage her slave trade,
hypothetically it would be wise to assume her personal chambers would be where she would keep such a mirror.
Hypothetically speaking of course."
Jairo forms another cupcake, seeing Snouts has finished the first one.
"So you have two guesses remaining. If you get it right, then you may pass.
If you do not, then in good conscience I may not allow you to pass but must bid you on your way. Ready?"
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Eadie calls back down the tunnel to the ex-overseer, loud enough for Jairo to hear.
"No, the password is not please."
“KORSHAD, THE SENTINEL OF PASHA MUHLIA AL’JAKRI SAYS THE PASSWORD TO HER CHAMBERS IS ‘NOT PLEASE.’ BUT I DON’T BELIEVE HIM.”
“DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?”
She looks back hopefully at the surprisingly tolerant Outsider.
Jairo stands with arms crossed, with a serious all-business expression.
"Well, what is your first guess?"
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A singular oink.
“Hear that? Professor X wants to know who ‘Snouts’ is as well.”
The young warrior implores the wizard. “Ernest (or anyone semi-confident) please take two guesses – nobody will hold it against you if you’re off the mark.”
Under her visor, Eadie’s expression becomes all business. “I’m ready to execute Plan B if necessary.”
Jairo shakes his head at Ernest.
"Sadly, no. Good try but that is incorrect. One more guess, use it wisely."
He almost looks concerned.
“Well, what is a password? More
than a simple physical key, it’s a spoken declaration of
belonging or devotion to a cause. What could be that
important to Pasha Muhlia al’Jakri?”
About this time, Korshad enters the room, bowing to the group and says
"Greetings mighty Jairo. Miss Eadie, you asked something? I could not hear from the kennels. I was going through some of the papers the hyena's had shredded in the court."
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Eadie performs a full-plate half-curtsey. “Blessings of Sarenrae on you, Freeman Satevis. May Her Glare never enter your sight. My apologies for shouting like that. That is no way for a foot soldier of a Civilized god to behave.”
At Korshad’s recognition of the large Outsider, Eadie smiles. “I see you two know each other. Korshad, I have struck a deal to free Jairo if it ever falls within my power to do so. He has been ever-so polite and patient but we need a password pertaining to your ex-Mistress to proceed.”
“Without any prompting from Jairo at all ... *Whistles innocently* we’ve deduced the key word relates to ‘a spoken declaration of belonging or devotion to a cause.’ I’m thinking this might relate to her hatred of the Pathfinder Society or wish to avenge her sister(?) Did you ever hear her say something or is there anything in her paperwork that mentions ‘Death to the Pathfinders,’ ‘Shame on Shaine’ or ‘Perfect Ten? Don’t make me laugh!’ OR it might be to do with her commitment to a group that opposes the Pathfinders – like the Aspis Consortium.”
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Ignatius has spent this time deeply thinking about what this password may be. Power, money, wealth? I don't know what this al'Jakri woman values...
He steps closer to Eadie, "Yes, I think you have the right of it. Certainly, one could offer nothing greater to this woman than the destruction of the Pathfinder Society. Well... perhaps some corruption of the Society Motto? Maybe something like 'Conquer, Destroy, Back-stab'?"
Jairo responds to Korshad as he enters.
"Hail and well met, friend Korshad. I am trying to teach these new slaves proper etticate but they seem more intent on entering my Master's chambers. I told them already I can only allow them passage if they provide the correct password in two tries (before it automatically locks, requiring a call to the helpdesk to reset)"
He turns back to the party.
"But although they were close, they now seem to have entered the quagmire of despair and confusion and only have one guess left. And so here we stand. You are welcome to stay. I am sure their next guess will be correct...or at least entertaining."
Korshad replies.
I wish I could help, but as you know, slaves are not allowed to know the master's password.
Afterall, what would be the point of a password if anyone knew it.
I mean a password should be something complicated to keep people out.
Not a common word like "enter" or "password" or "please". Those would just not work.
He goes back to sorting his papers while he patiently waits for the party to provide the next guess.
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Johender paces back and forth, twisting and smoothing his mustache. Shaking his head, he says. "I'm wracking me brain and finding it a few knots short of a full reef. Only thing I can recall is Valsin mentioned the Pasha was known to associate with them Desimire blokes. Perhaps one of 'em was her paramour and she was used to callin' out his name?" He says with a slight grin. "Other than that, might we search the rest of the compound first? Maybe find a secret way in or a clue..
.something...."
Jairo replies to Eadie.
"Why Eadie, I would never suggest forcing you to kill me.
However, I am bound to serve my master and cannot let you pass.
If it comes to violence and I must defend myself to prevent your advances, so be it."
A few of you manage to search the rest of the compound but find nothing of interest in the courtyard, kennels or barracks beyond the papers Korshad had found in the kennels.
Korshad approaches Ernest,
"Um, Ernest, I am not really all that good at this kind of thing, but I suggest you check these.
The gnoll chief tossed them into the yard soon after the mistress left her chambers.
Apparently he is still in there ransacking the place."
Korshad hands Ernest the few papers...
Ernest looks through the tattered scraps and
is able to piece together some information from
a few scraps of parchment.
What’s most noteworthy are a few
surviving signatures, including one by “—orn Desimire,”
one by “M. Sloan,” and one from “Jacquo Dals—.”
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"Oh, no way; that's super helpful! Th-thanks!"
"...Algorn Desmire... Don't know the second, Jacquo Dalsine... Must be the missing letters or something?..."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jairo releases his grip on the pommel on his large falchion and smiles.
"Why, I knew I liked you for a reason. So your second guess is 'Desimire'? Excellent. I knew you could do it!" (reroll helped)
He turns with a bow and motions with his arm up the staircase to the southern doors.
"Right this way, distinguished and scholarly guests.
Was that a wink at Eadie?
The doors open into a hallway heading 100' east.
"Oh, and one thing more I should probably mention...
the gnoll tribe’s chief Chau has gone into
the pasha’s suite and she brought along another gnoll that
the others avoid. As I understands it, this other
gnoll has violated a taboo of some sort
and now bad luck follows wherever she goes. Enjoy!"
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“Well I’m glad I didn’t have to hand you your butt, Jairo.” Eadie raises her visor, kisses the tips of her fingers and waves ‘ta-ta’ to the Outsider as she passes him.
“We’ll leave you alone with your mistress’s drawers now.”
In the corridor, Eadie shoulders her hammer as she takes a mental inventory of her ranged weaponry. “I don’t like the idea of an unlucky gnoll, guys. Uh uh. That sounds bad.”
She then checks the corridor for traps or items of interest.
The corridor is 100' long, ending in a set of closed double doors.
Eadie and Ignatius heard some movement and hushed voices or were they howls? Then it went silent.
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Eadie holds both of her open hands up on the sides of her helm’s crown with her palms facing outwards. She rotates them a little by pivoting them about her stationary wrists.
The young fighter then makes a sock-puppet shape out of her right hand and makes its ‘mouth’ open-and-close rapidly before jabbing an index finger at the door and holding up two fingers in the general direction of Ignatius.
Oh, sorry Iggy. I didn’t mean to be rude.
Eadie then checks the door for traps and whether it’s locked. If not, she’ll wait for the others to signal they’re ready and open the door.
If it is locked or trapped, she’ll grip... Ernest’s arm Nah. Better not. Johendar’s arm and make a rapid wrist-twisting motion with her right hand, like a key in a lock.
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Ignatius looks at Eadie's helmeted face and points to his ear while nodding.
Yep, I heard them too.
He then holds his hand up, palm forward at Eadie, with a slight frown on his face. He quickly moves back down the corridor, calls quietly upon Iomedae to protect him from evil, and then returns to Eadie's side.
With a sheepish look, Ignatius gives everyone a quick nod to indicate he is ready.
He draws his sword.
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♪♫ You keep on saying you’ll be here for a while. You’re looking fancy and I like your style! You drive us wild, we’ll drive you cra… ♪♫
Eadie plays music inside her head while thinking about Jairo, until Johendar’s whisper breaks her reverie. She whispers to him testily, “Are you on pesh?”
She shakes her head and makes a couple of sharp jabs with her forefinger in the direction of the door, before giving Iggy a ‘thumbs up.’
Hey Chau-y, you better have your wood screws, 'cause Joh’s gonna blow your doors completely off!
The door is not trapped nor locked. Once the others give the signal, Eadie opens the door.
Inside, you see a shallow reflecting pool is set into the tile floor,
flanked by plush divans.
Beyond two marble supporting columns, a heavy
curtain separates the sitting room from the bedroom. A large
map of Absalom hangs on the south wall, riddled with pins and
crossed with colorful thread.
No occupants are seen.
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Eadie smiles and gives Johendar a shove on the leathers before gesturing at the curtains and gently landing her hammer’s head in a gauntleted fist.
The fighter points at August and then gestures at the south side or the room. Then she points at herself, followed by the north side of the room.
A reflecting pool … with a mirrored surface?? Close to a map of Absalom … Could this be our objective?
As she moves into the room, Eadie is careful to avoid looking at the pool but is otherwise on the look-out for traps and gnolls.
====Initiative====
Johendar and Eadie easily spot the pair of hairy gnolls waiting to ambush the party behind the curtains.
(neither side surprised)
--- Round 1 ---
17+Chau+Snack
17-Ignatius
16-Lore
13-Rothur
10-Johendar
8-Eadie
4+August
4-Ernest
Just as they are about to shout, the burly, grey-haired chieftess steps around the curtain and move to engage Eadie with her shield.
Simultaneously, her hyena charges August.
"Dance? Who let you slave filth out of your cages? You will learn pain!"
Chau On Eadie
for vs CMD +2
The shield bashes hard into Eadie (I believe hitting, unless FF AC is above 23?) but it fails to knock the warrior back.
Snack On August
for and trip vs CMD
But the hyena is no match for the dwarf's thick armor.
17-Ignatius
16-Lore
Ignatius blesses his sword with a holy glow.
Lore throws a ball of flame at the chief, Chau but misses the gray matron of gnolls.
From behind another curtain, out steps another female gnoll. This one younger, and less heavily armed, but shimmering with multiple images of herself.
She chants and points a clawed finger at August and a crackle of lightning shoots in a bolt through the dwarf, Ignatius and down to Ernest as it continues down the long hallway.
"Die my pesky slaves! Die! Hahahahahaha! (cough) Hahahha. Hahummmmm, I need more practice it appears."
10-Johendar
8-Eadie
4+August
4-Ernest