|
Most pleasant bunch of thieves I've ever crossed paths with. Much better than those pirates in the River Kingdoms...
Frissa is pleased.
No blood was spilled and they had some good leads to start working on. She wonders though how long it would take this bunch to sell information about Pavanna and the rest of the Pathfinders including herself to the highest bidder.
She was pretty sure it wouldn't cost much, but was glad they hadn't given them much to work with.
|
|
Once complete and the Pathfinders have left the guild, Pavanna whispers in Alden's ear, and then in turn to each of the other Pathfinders.
As you leave, Mistress Florianthus offers, "This Olandil person ... do you have any information you would be willing to sell? You're carrying weapons under those scholars' robes, which suggests to me that you might want to sip some of these healing potions? I am given to understand they would make a nice cocktail with some soda and lime."
"Of course, madam. Please, enjoy your stay in Pezzach."
Sense Motive
--
Docktown or Auntie's? And, how will you find your way to either?
Just a child in general, Alden, or specifically one of the ragamuffins who was listening outside the guild's door?
.
Alden, if you see one of those particular children, I'll let you know, but they scattered pretty quickly and thoroughly...
Are you all going to make a Gather Information check?
The map suggests that Aunties' might be in Docktown, which is what the locals call the enormous jumble of ships all bound together in the harbor.
Auntie's is an establishment in Docktown, but the establishment won't open till noon. Until then, you research elements of the city, working to get your feet under you.
Pezzack was the only town to overthrow its Thrune-appointed ruler after the Chelish civil war. It ruled itself as an independent city-state under the banner of the dead god Aroden.
Half a year later, the standard of House Thrune flew again over a town of ashes. The governor’s Hellknights had burned the poorer quarters to the ground, but had failed to kill the very idea that had sparked the rebellion in the first place—that the rule of Thrune was illegitimate, won through diabolism and deceit, and that no true heirs to the nation of Aroden would allow themselves to be ruled by outsiders. After this destruction, which the Pezzacki now call the First Ashes, other Chelish cities which had been toying with rebellion instead capitulated. But Pezzack never fully submitted. The town remained on the brink, poised to once again break out in open rebellion.
A generation after the First Ashes, an influx of immigrants—mostly from Galt and Andoran— had rebuilt and repopulated the town, many attracted by the writings of Indageous Vonor, a legendary Chelish playwright who had witnessed the sacking of Pezzack firsthand. Forbidden to own weapons after the First Ashes, the Pezzacki employed arms of a different sort, wielding ink rather than steel. Criticism, satire, and insurrection flowed from the Glass on the Hill, Vonor’s famous theater.
Seditious pamphlets and essays printed in Pezzack spread throughout Cheliax, and into Avistan beyond, turning this isolated town into a magnet for revolutionary thinkers and agitators. Gracchian Tauranor, Pezzack’s military governor started hanging dissidents from Traitor’s Hook.
Five years ago, Amalia Wraxton, Vonor’s finest student, premiered Abrogail I at the Glass on the Hill. A history dripping with excoriating satire, the play painted Abrogail as Asmodeus’s lover and a conspirator in the death of Aroden. The opening performance of the play never finished; summoned by infuriated loyalists, Governor Tauranor and his knights stormed the stage to shut down the production. Tauranor’s knights killed both Vonor and Valeria Minish, a popular actress who was especially beloved among the poor. Rebellion exploded instantly. Tauranor never made it out of the theater—rioting mobs tore him and his Hellknights to pieces. The rest of the town guard left their posts to put down the rebellion, and blood painted the streets. The strix, winged inhabitants of the reach known as Devil’s Perch to the southwest of the town, took advantage of the chaos to drop burning logs onto the settlement. For the second time in a century, most of Pezzack burned. When the dust of the Second Ashes had settled, a third of the town’s population was dead and a new era of anarchy had begun.
The reaction from Egorian was swift. A Chelish armada under the command of Governor Vedra Sawndannac began a blockade of the town, trapping over a hundred merchant ships at anchor in Fat Harbor. From the deck of the flagship, Amalia Wraxton was tried in absentia and sentenced to death. The rebels now control most of Pezzack—though their rule is disorderly—and any Chelish soldiers still in town have retreated to the loyalist quarter around the dead governor’s manse. A new makeshift settlement has risen in the harbor: Docktown, a chaotic maze formed out of the interconnected ships not allowed to leave.
And despite every printing press being seized, from somewhere in town the notorious Printsmith produces pamphlets and plays decrying the Thrunes and undermining their right to rule. These works have spread far beyond Pezzack and Cheliax.
The following four factions constantly vie for influence in Pezzack.
Docktown: Representing the stranded merchants in Fat Harbor, the tiefling “mayor” Bruck wants economic dominance over Pezzack—a greedy oligarchy made easier by the town’s well-honed smugglers and perpetual unrest.
Galtans: Violent revolutionaries fronted by the grey gardener Habar Curl, Pezzack’s pack of Galtan rebels want the town’s freedom to spring from the blood of dead Loyalists—and anyone who might be aligned with them.
Loyalists: Pezzacki still loyal to the Chelish crown believe there can be no peace until rulership of the city is returned to its diabolical masters.
White Thistles: These idealists led by Amalia Wraxton want a unified, free Pezzack and hope to win over the other factions’ hearts and minds through verse and acts of derring-do.
--
In Docktown’s chaotic jumble of ships, Auntie’s tavern still manages to stand out. Draped in bright curtains of white and red and bearing a huge, garishly painted former ship’s masthead of a woman as its sign—creatively augmented to hold two foaming mugs aloft, the three-story converted ship’s hold is perpetually packed with Pezzacki looking to drown their fears and boredom.
How do you enter?
The interior of the tavern is unexpectedly impressive, with glass panels on the ceiling 20 feet above the main floor, which appeared to be a re-purposed hold. A tall window facing south also features a clear view of the former Manukirt warehouse.
At this time of day, half the patrons are enjoying a meal, while the other half are already getting started on their evening regime of home-brewed grog. An elderly halfling woman gracefully weaves about the room, conversing with patrons. "I'll be right with you, sweeties." she calls to you as you enter.
|
|
Pavanna shakes her head to herself upon entering Auntie's. Looking to Rayne she says, "Your kind of place?"
When the halfling comes over, Pavanna leans down to whisper in the ear of the elderly woman, the name of Phelerosa and then jingles her coin purse and then puts her finger to her lips with a *sush*
|
|
Alden surveys the place taking note of the by play but looking out for his quarry.
"We need information and also we need to know if we can identify the various factions by the way they dress or any signal they give each other. It'll be good if we an also get someone to indicate to us on our map the places we have being told off."
The halfling turns towards you as soon as she's tended to a table of customers. She looks you over carefully and say, in a concerned tone, "We don't want any trouble here at Aunties', gentle folk. If you're looking to cause a ruckus, I'd ask you to take it out on the dead hulls out there.We can't be affording any repairs tho the place this year."
When the halfling comes over, Pavanna leans down to whisper in the ear of the elderly woman, the name of Phelerosa and then jingles her coin purse and then puts her finger to her lips with a *sush*
The matron's expression is still a mixture of concern and puzzlement. "Right this way, folks." She leads you to an out-of-the way corner, well-lit by the window but remote enough to keep low conversations private. "Your waitress will be right with you."
Not more than a minute later, a young woman comes by. "Welcome to Auntie's. Our special today is stew and boiled fish. Is there something any of you would like?"
Perception
|
|
"We have no intention of starting one. Rest easy Milady." Alden attempts to calm the halfling.
Turning to Frissa, Alden replies.
"Lady, I was thinking more of havng an early warning given to us should others takes an interest in us. Almost no one takes note of children these days unless they're wanted for a reason." he says the last with dark undertones.
As your server finishes her introduction, you hear a disturbance from across the room. Someone stands at his table, knocking around the bowls of his amused companions, and raises his voice, insisting gruffly "I tell you what I saw! A man, white as a girl's front teeth, with huge eyes, rose up from the harbor, dressed only up to his waist and holdin' a blue staff above his head!' This is followed by a round of indulgent laughter.
Your server sighs and shakes her head. "Don't mind Goodman Ulster over there. He had brownie problems a couple of years back. Things he sees are likely as not tricks of his mind."
|
|
Frissa takes the chance posed by the ruckus in the room to make a quick introduction, speaking in a friendly tone, "Ooh, nice tattoo...I've been thinking of getting one but can never think what to get...My name is Frissarose and I think I know your name...We are mutual acquaintances of a lady named Zarta and we were sent to see if we can do something to help your situation here...Is there fish in the stew as well?"
The serving girl looks at Frissa and a small grin forms at the corner of her mouth. Quietly, she says, "Sent, eh? Yes, I know of the old paracountess. Did my family send you to 'rescue' me? Well, I'm in no need of rescue, thank you. You can tell them that I'm happier here than I ever was, back in Corentyn. No backstabbing, no Hellish politics.
"Which reminds me: tell them that I still have a copy of the contract. I have been discreet with it, but that would change if they ever came after me with force."
She raises her voice a little. "No, I'm afraid there's precious little in the stew these days. Rat, mostly."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"In that case, maybe I'll pass on the stew and the fish." Frissa lowers her voice, speaking in a stream of words, "Actually, we might be able to help get you out, but only if you wanted to go...Your family didn't send us as such, so it's really up to you...You know, if you were to show us that contract, we could pass your message along with that much more force...Say...while you think about that offer, have you heard of another fellow named Jax Telandil?"
She smiles, the very picture of innocence and sincerity and raises her voice again, "Are there many brownies around here?"
"I'll stay, thanks, but if you want to see the contract, sure. I keep it as a reminder that bargains with devils are never what they seem.
"As for Jax Telandil, I've heard a few rumors, but I can't swear to them. What I can tell you is that Telandril works odd jobs around Docktown, often having to do with building second and third stories onto new ships."
To Pavanna, she smiles and says, "Coming right up."
--
The stew is likely to take a couple minutes to arrive. What are you doing in the mean time?
Morrolan, you do not notice any patrons paying you very close attention -- maybe the academic robes are doing their job -- but you continue to overhear the discussion at the other end of the restaurant. Ulster continues to insist on his story, and you can cross-reference his details with the view of the harbor out the windo and get a reasonably good idea where he claims to have seen this pale person.
When Phelerosa returns, she has ale for five and some bowls of rat stew. She also has a scroll tube. "I keep a record of someone’s exceptionally poor decision making as leverage in case I ever find myself in trouble."
Inside the tube is a contract, the relevant parts are as follows:
This document, filed in triplicate, serves as a record of the bargain between Magarius
Charthagnion, son of Parvanus Charthagnion, and the devil Krathurex. The terms of
the contract are as follows.
Within one Golarion hour after both parties sign this contract, the devil Krathurex
shall provide to Magarius Charthagnion the value of 25,000 gold pieces, in the form
of legal tender in the nation of Cheliax. This money shall be provided for Magarius
Charthagnion’s use, without interference by the devil Krathurex or any of his allies
or subordinates. The devil Krathurex affirms that he is not aware of any action that
his superiors plan to take that would provide interference. For the purposes of this
contract, “interference” refers to any action, willingly and knowingly taken, that
obstructs Magarius Charthagnion’s free use of the provided money, that attempts
to deprive Magarius Charthagnion of other money or property, or that attempts to
cause harm to Magarius Charthagnion. For the purposes of this contract, “harm” is
defined as…
… Magarius Charthagnion will be provided the agreed-upon sum to use as he sees
fit, without restriction or interference, as specified in Section 1. The devil Krathurex
or one of his representatives will respond to summons pursuant to the repayment
within a period of one week after the issuance of such a summons, as specified in
Section 4. The devil Krathurex will not attempt to contact Magarius Charthagnion
without Magarius Charthagnion’s prior request and approval, as specified in Section
5. If the eldest son of Parvanus Charthagnion pays the value of 30,000 gold pieces to
the devil Krathurex or one of his representatives before the date of 01 Abadius 4717,
the responsibilities of all signatories of this contract will be discharged. If the loan is
not repaid in the specified manner by the specified date, the devil Krathurex shall gain
legal possession of the soul of Magarius Charthagnion in perpetuity.
|
|
Frissa accepts the tube and after a brief glance, passes it to the resident diabolist, who must be able to understand such documents, "Indeed, Alden is right, you will be safer leaving with us given the climate here, but I'm fine with it either way...We'll stop by later if we can in case you change your mind..."
She smiles thinly, "I'm staying, thank you. And I'll need that back. My leverage against my father is not on the menu here."
|
|
"I do think it wiser to reconsider. This place is a powder cage waiting to blow and if we can find you, who's to say your father can't? Furthermore our patron is more than likely to protect you better as well as furnish you with better accommodations than this place. Someone like you know the odds of getting out and We can get you out of this place. Of this I'm sure. " He says the last with quiet confidence, drawing naturally upon his training to allow Phelerosa to understand the underlying naunces beneath it that this is her one chance for the next to ask around might not be so concerned for her well being.
Phelerosa takes the threat in Alden's tone, curtseys, and says in a terrified tone, "I will do as you say.".
|
|
Pavanna, lost in reviewing the contract, seems to snap out of it at the end of Alden's rant. "Please my dear, we have been tasked with bringing you out of this dreadful place. While I cannot image the appeal of this place, I can assure you that Mistress will make your situation better in ways you can only dream of." Pavanna takes the scroll and places it under her robe.
|
|
What this business has to do with cataloguing or understanding dangerous artifacts and phenomena, or what it has to do with getting the girl's secrets, which were already laid bare, Frissa couldn't guess. Bullying her into leaving the home she wanted and turning a prospective ally into a resentful near-prisoner smacked of the old diabolic patriotic fervour that plagued and checkered her new faction's history. It was naivety perhaps, but she hoped this sort of provincialism had all been left behind with her new associates' divorce from the apparatus of the Chelish government, but it seems that old habits die hard.
Despite all that, it was clear that her position was in the minority here and she wasn't about to undermine her allies, despite them having done the same to her. Her objections would have to wait for her report. She simply asks, defeated, "We have other stops. Are we done here?"
|
.
Apologies for my associates gruff manner. However, I do think we have your best interests at heart. There are obviously indications that this is not a safe environment for you. We found you relatively quickly and easily, do you really think others would find it that much more difficult?
.
We should probably get moving again.