After an uncomfortably long wait, an accomplished society wizard escorts you to an empty chamber outside of the spell library: a teleportation chamber.
"Katapesh, is it? Hmm... Right this way, please!"
The tall elf hurries behind a lead partition, and peers through a small window. "You may feel the tiniest——"
Your head swims, and your stomach feels somewhere in your ears. Your vision flashes light and dark, and when you finally get your bearings, you're in a different place. A dryer, warmer place. Katapesh.
It is a hot, breezeless evening in Katapesh. Here, in a meeting room atop Farseer Tower, the curtains hang listlessly even with the windows thrown open. Unfortunately, the only thing hotter than the air is Venture-Captain Wulessa Yuul’s ire.
“Why must I share Katapesh with so-called equals who are incompetent?” She huffs between gritted teeth, pacing back and forth before calming herself.
“My pardon. Let me explain. Some months ago, the crypt of Zahari Mahiman—a scholar and sage from the Age of Enthronement—was rediscovered out in the wastes. I, personally, have long sought one artifact reputedly interred with him: the Monadistic Archive, a collection of scrolls from the Jistkan Imperium.
Unfortunately,” she grits her teeth, “It fell under the purview of the Kotargo Lodge to arrange an expedition. Venture-Captain Dulm took his time getting things underway, in spite of my own requests for urgency and offers of assistance. As a result, by the time his agents got there, the place had already been looted.
“Phlegos Dulm’s complacency aside, not all is bleak. The adventurers who looted the crypt were not scholars; they were simply looking to exploit the wonders of the past. The Monadistic Archive, in particular, was sold to Palhuna Murqual, a merchant here in Katapesh. I believe he bought the archive assuming it was merely a magical storage device, not an esoteric repository of lore indecipherable by him. He has shown interest in selling—at a profit, of course—and I need you to make the purchase. I have an Abadaran promissory note that should cover the price, but he is crafty and may bargain for more. I want the archive, whatever it costs. I can’t pay more gold than I already have offered, but if you can find other means of appeasing Murqual, I encourage you to do so.”
She stands expectantly, believing you are likely to have questions.
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"Ah! The Compendium! A very interesting collection. A gathering of the minds of you will... Aheheheheheheheh!" says the dirty man with the wild beard and hair. He keeps his left eye closed at almost all times. He introduced himself as Ackuda, a witch and fortune-teller. He keeps a tiny scorpion in his robes and consults a set of mossy bones with runes carved into them. "What sort of man is this Palhuna Murqual? Does he have any vices or interests other than the glitter of gold?"
"What sort of man is this Palhuna Murqual? Does he have any vices or interests other than the glitter of gold?"
The Venture-Captain acknowledges Ackuda's question with a nod. "Murqual is crafty. He's the sort who can see the value in a team of Pathfinders that goes beyond gold. That’s one reason I am sending you. After Dulm’s gaff, I also recognize that I am too incensed to deal with Murqual in person."
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The fur and leather wearing human female with the owl on her shoulder listens to the briefing. She leans over when the owl starts chirping and says aloud,
"What is that... no... really... Osspithikus told me that Palhuna Murqual is known as one of the preeminent vendors of magical and mundane devices created for the specific purpose of restraining and storing living or even unliving beings. Also rumor has it that Palhuna Murqual has a side trade in smuggling kidnapped victims within his wares. Troubles with that business recently cost him some of his more experienced servants, and he is said to be looking for agents to ‘get a few things done’. Osspithikus knows things. I am Inkita."
"Osspithikus also said to remind big eyes, sorry what is your name?, about the Jistkan-outsider relationship."
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A Character would it will be good to observe and imitate. I will come back in two minutes. The washroom need me.
Goupil leaves the place.
Two minutes laters
"Ah! that feel good! By the way, I talk to someone who seem to knew about Palhuna.
Palhuna Murqual is known as one of the preeminent vendors of magical and mundane devices created for the specific purpose of restraining and storing living (or unliving) beings.
and Rumor has it that Palhuna Murqual has a side trade in smuggling kidnapped victims within his wares. Troubles with that business recently cost him some of his more experienced servants, and he is said to be looking for agents to ‘get a few things done’.
and Ackuda. I feel there a link between the compendium and Palhuna but i don't know why.
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"We'll see your Archive secured Venture-Captain, you have my word", Bastion offers.
Bastion is an enormous brawny clay-skinned half-orc clad in heavy blue-trimmed bone white armor. Strapped to the orc's back is an similarly painted slab of iron and wood that could be a shield or maybe just a door that hasn't been hung yet. In stark contrast to the towering specimen it's riding, a tiny armadillo comically clings to one thickly armored pauldron.
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Cirri looks up from her tome. "Wh-when did you guys get here? Oh gosh. What are we doing again? Let me introduce myself, I'm Cirri and is that an owl? And an armadillo? So cute!"
Cirri eventually regains her focus. "Sorry about that. While I don't like helping slave traders, it sounds like we would at least get one terrible thing away from him. Lead the way."
Wulessa eventually shoos you out of her study, handing you a promissory note as you leave. The note is good for 10,000 gp, drawn on the bank of Abadar. You follow her directions to Murqual’s establishment in the Lower City.
Finding Murqual’s shop is easy enough. A few discreet inquiries lead through the Lower City to a wooden door crowned by a plaque that reads “Palhuna Murqual, Vendor of Fetters, Bindings, and Cages Mundane and Mystic.” His establishment defies the stereotype for a shop in the infamous Nightstalls. It boasts a permanent location, instead of one that could be broken down and moved with ease. It is quite lavishly appointed, rather than being a shadowy, smoky hovel, and the air smells of vanilla and cardamom rather than incense. Inside, deep carpeting covers the floor.
Chains and shackles, ranging in size from mist-thin links to cuffs that would hold a titan, hang along one wall. Another wall holds an array of mirrors— some reflecting the room and some showing the insides of a bare cell. Lanterns and cages hang from ceiling rafters, and glass cases hold etched gemstones and glass bottles. A central space is cleared of wares, instead sporting several plush seats arranged around a silver samovar.
An obese man swaddled in silks occupies a sofa before the samovar. Standing to his left is a slim, younger man holding a ledger. The fat man makes a series of complicated hand gestures to the standing man, who, after a moment, bows to you and speaks. “My esteemed master, Palhuna Murqual, bids you welcome. Please, be seated. Business should be conducted comfortably.”
bluff]10+12=22[/bluff]
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Ackuda walks the streets hunched over, shielding his face from the sun and leaning on a quarterstaff. He mutters an arcane phrase to himself as he walks. Once inside Murqual's place of business, he stands straighter and grins, looking only at the people there, and not the wares. He nods and sits when offered a place.
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"Oh, I know this hand sign! Even if there some regional difference. There no need for a translator!
Goupil "Talk" to "Palhuna" using the "same" handsign.
"But, I suppose that we don't really need to translate yourself when you are the master"says Lamare to the translator.
You also notice something off with the hand gestures the master and servant were using. They gestures appear to be meaningless nonsense.
The 'servant' sighs meaningfully at Goupil's words, and dismisses the fat 'Palhuna Murqual' with a wave. He sets down his ledger and takes a seat where the decoy previously sat. "Alas, such theatrics are often useful in my line of work."
Another servant comes in and passes around cups of tea, which smell slightly of mint. Once the servant departs, the 'servant' you first met, who you believe to actually be Palhuna Marqual, speaks. "Now, what is it I can do for you, Pathfinders?"
Palhuna nods appreciatively at the sum of the promissory note, but shakes his head solemnly. "Unfortunately for the good Captain, I have received another offer for the item well exceeding Wulessa’s bid."
He pauses a bit before continuing. “While I respect the Pathfinder Society, to sell to you would seem favoritism. And I’m not inclined to favor one customer over another—without there being an equal favor, in return...”
Palhuna looks at each of you in turn, expectantly. He's not so crass in his negotiation as to feel the need to be more specific, ... unless he were to later determine you are all dullards, which would not speak well of the society.
Palhuna adopts a somewhat forced expression of shock.
"I certainly would never ask someone as righteous as you to do anything immoral or illegal..."
"But to be clear, are you offering additional favors to sweeten your bid?"
At Bastion's agreement, Palhuna breaks into a wide grin. “Ah, my friend, this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Done, then! Your Venture-Captain’s note for 10,000 gold, plus services rendered by yourselves.”
“Shall we say, three favors, to be completed by the end of the evening? That seems fair.”
“Hah! You drive a hard bargain. Two favors, then. And you can pick which ones, as they all need doing.”
“I have three tasks. Because Palhuna Murqual is as generous as an oasis, you may decide among them for those which suit you.” He begins to count off tasks on his fingers. “I have some sensitive merchandise being delivered by problematic dealers. Another recent acquisition has some unpleasant protective magic that I need dealt with. Finally, you can be my agents to make a purchase from another acquaintance.“
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Ackuda nods along with the other Pathfinders, adding a low chuckle at Palhuna and Bastion's interaction. At the mention of choosing tasks to attempt, he leans forward and draws his bag of bones from his belt and throws them down, nodding. "Hmm. Yes, chaos speaks..." he mutters.
"And it says we should do the first and the third..." he says after consulting the bones for a moment, and looking over at the other Pathfinders.
"Tut tut! One thing at a time. Shall we do the first one first? Very good, the delivery then."
"I have some special goods being shipped in from the savanna tonight. I am short on staff to take the delivery, and I don’t care to be seen meeting with the deliverers. They’re gnolls. It’s a social status issue; I’m sure you understand."
You head out to the place described by Murqual. He provides a small donkey-pulled cart before you depart his shop. Most of its contents consist of trade goods, bolts of cloth, and several casks of liquor.
In addition, he gives you two sacks containing 100 gp each as additional “payment” if the gnolls prove recalcitrant. "They be gnolls, after all. Always want to renegotiate."
By night, the streets of the Twilight Gate district are mostly empty. The courtyard surrounding the Ruined Monastery, a popular tourist attraction by day, is even more deserted than the surrounding streets. Perhaps this is what made it the choice location for Murqual’s gnoll “distributors,” or perhaps the gnolls feel comfortable in the shadow of this former home to Lamashtu’s faithful. In either case, the shadows lie thick underneath these crumbling walls.
You see the gnolls at the end of the expected street. As you approach, one leans in a whispers something to the other, loud enough that you were probably intended to hear.
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On the way to the meeting, Cirri pulls out her wand of Comprehend Languages and tries it a few times.
"Hey Goupil! You can use this innately, right?" She hands the bard the wand. "It takes me a few tries, but I can understand what those Gnolls are saying. Maybe you want to use it?"
Cirri has no trouble staying at the front.
You stand in front of the gnolls.
They wait.
You wait.