"Hmm, you be right little man!", the crowd not sure who Dynamo is talking to as he releases his grip on Twigg.
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The Dynamo, ready to pounce on Twigg again, stretches out, then crashes on the ground.
An audible snore rips through the air as a mixture of laughter and boos comes out for the crowd towards the now visible Twigg.
'Man, he sure played Dynamo good!'
'Cheaty magic cheater!'
'He is just soooo adorable!'
'I could take him!'
The announcer, stunned in disbelief, shakes his head before moving over to Twigg and nearly pulling the lithe gnome up. He proclaims to the crowd, first in Vudrani, then in Taldane, [bigger]"And the winner, using his First World Sleeper Hold, is Twigg of Variiiiiiisia!"
The crowd applauses at the show and Twigg is let down again as a tall, well dressed man with a neatly trimmed goatee smiles the gnome as he claps in approval. Behind him are a pair of attendants and a pair of bodyguards armed with large curved blades. "I see you do have wit to go along with your talents; that may prove useful here.", speaks the man. "I am Lord Raheem Pandisar", he bows to you. "I am glad you are enjoying our celebration, but let us head to the palace as our business is important."
With that, the attendants motion for you to follow their master as they make their way through the busy streets.
Towering palatial chambers supported by elaborately carved pillars surround an ornamental stream that flows through the palace. Halls of polished marble lead to an languidly luxurious sitting room. The thakur himself sits at the far end of the room, his bejeweled turban sparkling in the light shining through the windows. He paints a canvas while watching an infant child in a nearby crib.
"Would you care for some refreshments? Starfruit juice, or some spiced inoqua chai? Or are you in need of supper?", Raheem asks, clapping his hands as a trio of servants arrive with two different pitchers and a serving dish filled with racks of lamb.
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Amarthecthel laughs and claps as Twigg bests his opponent. "I never doubted you for a moment," he said. "I wish I had thought to lay a bet."
Later, when he meets the Thakur, the elf bows low and says "Greetings, my lord, in the name of the Pathfinder Society! We come to aid you at the Society's behest. I am Amarthecthel and here are Pelkin, Horgrym and Twigg."
"Yes, yes, I agree, Mr. Horgrym.", Raheem smiling as the halfling grabs some the succulent meat. After the party grabs their fill, he motions the servants away, who bow before disappearing, leaving the party alone with the noble.
"Now, as you have probably heard from your Venture-Captain Valsin, a vile cult has threatened the life of our beloved Thakur only shortly after assassinating his favored cousin. Worse, I worry about informants within the palace, so I hope that as outsiders, you may have more luck in rooting out these Ebon Destroyers."
"My own investigations have produced little in information and I understand that success on your end will be of much value to the Thakur. We will be arranging for your Society to access several of our ruins as payment, but I understand if you need other compensation." Raheem quietly awaits for your response, the wide smile still on his face.
Thanks for the patience! Things will continue tomorrow!
"Not much I am afraid, but there are several experts that should be able to provide you with the information you seek!" Raheem smiles as he hands Amarthecthel five documents. The first is a writ of authority signifying that the party is working for Lord Raheem on behalf of the Thakur. The other four documents are letters of introduction, each to a different person.
"These people should be the first on your course of investigating, yes! Prince Kanvar is a student of Vudrani history who resides in the Grand Chronicler's Circle. Lord Mahindra performs matchmaking and information brokering duties in the Niswan Heights. Pavezak is here in the palace, providing spiritual guidance. He only speaks Vudrani, so you may need an interpretter if your language skills are lacking. Finally, Varunasi is a high-caste merchant that is an authority of the local politicking and she has a shop in the Commerce District."
The prince's location within the Grand Chronicler's Circle is easy to find as several historians and students have cots, blankets, and lamps around large tables made of exotic woods inside a crumbling mansion. Hundreds of books and scrolls line the walls. The prince's description, a chubby, dark-skinned man wearing an inordinately large turban, is found easily. Seeing the party, he greets them in accented Common. "Greetings, guests, what takes you to the Circle?"
"Ahh, the Ebon Destroyers... nasty business, them.", Prince Kanvar stroking the wispy beard on his chin.
"The Ebon Destroyers have existed since ancient times and are far more prevalent in Vudra than elsewhere on Golarion. Unless the cult wants to leave a message, its victims’ bodies are rarely found. There have been many attempts to eradicate the cult, but the cultists inevitably go into hiding, sometimes for years at a time, and no effort has ever been truly successful at eliminating them. At several points in Vudrani history, they
have taken over entire kingdoms, ruling through fear and forcing the populace to worship their foul goddess. The cult often recruits from the lower castes, as their goddess’s aspect of destruction appeals to those who are dissatisfied with their role in society and wish revenge against those of higher status. However, Jalmeray’s caste structure is not as formal as Vudra’s, with far fewer low-caste people, meaning that the cult
may work differently here."
"I'm sorry I do not know much more; I am a historian and otherwise not too keen on the local politics. I hope this can be of service."
"Ahh, not much I am afraid. Religion was not one my strong points; too many gods to keep track of on top of all the dates, numbers, and people in my tomes!"
She is an evil goddess in the form of a shapely, three-headed woman. Each arm splits into a six forearms that hold objects related to her worship: a temple sword, a noose, a black glass orb, a sealed scroll. The other two hands are in different poses: one with a symmetric symbol on the palm and the last in a mystic gesture.
She is the goddess of internal decay and terrorism, espionage, and corruption are all within her portfolios. When powers can be brought down, families broken, and enemies crippled from these methods, she is most pleased.
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Pelkin recites what he knows, hoping to jog the man's memory. She is an evil goddess in the form of a shapely, three-headed woman. Each arm splits into a six forearms that hold objects related to her worship: a temple sword, a noose, a black glass orb, a sealed scroll. The other two hands are in different poses: one with a symmetric symbol on the palm and the last in a mystic gesture.
She is the goddess of internal decay and terrorism, espionage, and corruption are all within her portfolios. When powers can be brought down, families broken, and enemies crippled from these methods, she is most pleased.
Her domains are Destruction, Evil, Knowledge, Law, and Trickery. Her favored weapon is the temple sword.
Pelkin then waits to see if he can add anything else of use.
"It sounds like you know more about Dhalavi than I do my friend. I do know that her followers often strike vengeance against those that openly oppose her; I must admit I am worried about the thakur."
"The history in specific details is hard to identify; the people who would know are either cultists themselves or died trying to figure that information out. Whatever they will be planning, it will start subtly before culminating into a grand event of evil."
To Twigg, he shakes his head. "That will make you a target, but the cult won't attack so openly, or at least immediately. If their history shows us anything, they will find you, follow you, and figure out how to best spread their agenda of fear, corruption, and devastation when they eventually strike."
The party leaves Prince Kanvar to his studies and head to Lord Mahindra within the Heights, back towards the palace.
The elderly man with a graying beard sits quietly, sipping some spiced chai. He looks over the party as they come in, seeing great, frowning somewhat. "Too short... too gaunt, no no, finding a respectable wife for you lot will be difficult!"
Showing the writ, he smiles. "Ahh, friends of Raheem! Very good!", inviting the party to sit down. "A headless body was recently found in the Commerce District, a particularly gruesome affair
unlike even the most violent of Niswan’s crimes. I’ve also heard rumors of informants in the palace guard, though who they sell information to is something even I can’t glean from local chatter. Raheem is a good friend, and you seem like honest folk; I promise to try to find out more. I can
also find you dedicated spouses if you’re in the market, heh? Again, hard sell, but the adventuring type does have some lookers."
"Yes, truly horrific murder. It is only the local gossip I have heard though, I have not checked out where it was found. I only hear things, I do not go out looking for it on my own, no. You could head there if you wish.", Mahindra giving you directions to the crime scene.
"Things are never quite calm here in Noswan, but peaceful is a fair word to use. I do not interact with the lower castes; my services are for those of the artisan caste or above, but the castes do intermingle here more than in Vudra; an influence from your Inner Sea and the many peoples that visit from there."
With little more to offer other than matchmaking, the party leaves old Mahindra and heads to the edge of the Commerce district . The directions provided by the matchmaker, though, are spot on and the party arrives at a small incense shop that is marked off by silk rope. Peering through a window, the signs of a struggle are evident as broken jars of flowers and herbs lay on the ground while a large amount of dried blood stains the fine carpet used on the floor. A Vudrani woman of middle age greets you; Horgrym translates as best he can as she only speaks the local Vudrani. "What are you doing here?", she asks, her voice cracking as it is evident she is still in a grieving state.
"I don't know; I can only guess it was 'them'.", the woman obviously afraid to name the group. "Vitusa was outspoken against Dhalevi and was joyous when the thakur banned Dhalevi's worship; she said it was the best thing the thakur ever did. She didn't deserve this... Vitusa was a kind, generous mistress that treated us well.", the woman wiping away tears. "You may look if you like; the city guards already did their work, although there is little to go on."
"She was stirring up some more vanilla jasmine perfume a couple of evenings ago; she often worked late on her own."
Pelkin can see the evident mess of a struggle, smashed jars and herbs strewn about. His keen elven instincts, though, notice a single copper earring underneath a cabinet, crafted in the shape of a star anise. When Pelkin pulls it out, the woman gasps. "That's Vitusa's! She always wore a pair of those earrings."
"None other than that they were her favorite. She must have been wearing them when she was...", the woman going quiet as she thinking about the horrific attack.
Horgrym finds no tracks or prints to work with.
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"If it helps you get retribution for Vitusa, please do so."
The party makes their way to Varunasi's clothing shop as per Raheem's instructions. However, they are interrupted on their journey by a small girl. She goes over to Twigg, tugging him on his cloak to get the gnome's attention, before handing him a note. In Taldane, it reads,
'The promose if death awaits you if you choose to keep interfering!'
The young girl smiles and waits, rocking her feet back and forth.
It appears she's waiting for a tip for delivering a message.
She smiles happily at the gold coin and scampers off, leaving the party to their trek.
Varunasi's high-caste merchant shop is filled with exotically-styled dresses, wraps, and saris. Varunasi, a mature woman of conservative but stylish dress, happily offers to talk to you over tea and a light meal of papusas and baklava after reading Raheem's letter.
"The thakur is a figurehead with little real power. The true influence rests with the temple mystics, the monastic masters, and the nobles of the highest castes who make up the Maurya-Rahm. Yet even as a figurehead, when the thakur cried out against his cousin’s murder, the Maurya-Rahm and those with influence agreed that attacking the thakur equates to attacking Jalmeray itself. The common people are scared for the thakur,
and killing him would greatly destabilize the nation despite the true administration of Jalmeray falling to the Maurya-Rahm."
"I do not know, perhaps to strike fear that even the royal family is not immune from the Cult's grasp. In either case, I do not think they will take this lightly."