The servant waits dutifully on the other side of the door and smiles as you open the door and emerge with your findings. "Please return any keys you have recovered, but of course the map is yours to keep and you are welcome to the wand as well." His smile becomes a grin as he spots your blue companions and he clears his throat to compose himself as he scratches a notation on a small notebook. "I will be happy to escort you to the gate if your business is complete."
The sun has dipped below the horizon and the sky is awash with shades of orange, and pink that fade into the deepening purple of twilight. You draw many eyes before the cloak of night conceals the spectacle of blue skin from passing onlookers. Whilst en route to the Ivy District, Mira gets a feeling that something isn't right, a pricking sensation leaving her on edge and uneasy. Now that nightfall has set in, you get that feeling in your gut that you are being watched, but by parties with bad intentions. You feel glad that you have turned back toward the Foreign Quarter and will soon be done with these errands and safely back within the Grand Lodge.
As you tavel southwest and leave the scholarly Wise Quarter you enter into a place of beautiful gardens and manicured estates. The Ivy District is the smallest and most exclusive of all the city districts of Absalom and also boasts the city’s finest theaters, performance halls, and artist colonies. Here performers and artists live off of patronage or scrape by from meal to meal, all the while wearing the most expensive clothes and bathing themselves in the finest perfumes. Fashions and artistic movements that spark here can grow into fires that spread across the Inner Sea. Foreigners and Absalom natives alike flock to the district in search of entertainment, making the Ivy District one of the city’s wealthiest. You do note that the people here are fairly relaxed and unguarded, and you get the impression it is one of the safer parts of Absalom, and probably relatively free from the violent crimes one would expect in the less affluent areas, but with money come extravagances and thus crimes such as prostitution and narcotics thrive among the hedonistic residents, hence such activities retain a more subdued and discrete profile but are clearly widely available.
Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse, you come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Moments after ringing it, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting you all as though you were expected.
He welcomes you inside, “Please, follow me. My mistress will answer any questions you have once we reach her quarters.” Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, depending on your perspective, you see the blue coloring on Hood and Vinny has faded away.
Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, you finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door.
A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.
Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards you all with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address the party.
“Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group. “It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points at Wei Ji. “I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore,” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. “On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits”.
As the paracountess talks, a cacophony of booms and crashes sounds from beyond the room’s west door.
“Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.”
The crashing and bashing noises continue on.
“A servant is greatly misbehaving. You’re going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket.” She goes over to the desk in her study, opening a drawer and drawing out an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger. “You might need this to get it to submit,” she offers with a sly grin.
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Wei will shrug slightly at the comment about him, then glances to his backpack. She did say 'maybe' not him. That's better than 'definitely' not him, right? It's not like she's his type either, given a definite lack of a beak, feathers...
He has to really bite back what he wants to say, but he can't argue half the logic... Order does give things a framework. But as he's learned today, sometimes you need that wild random element to shake things up and make it all work better.
"Would it be possible to dress up a bit for this matter, or is it more of a 'as we are' sort of thing?" Again he bites back the second question he wants to ask... 'Deal in which way'?
The tengu is now feeling a bit under-dressed and under-armed for dealing with a potential devil or possessed person.
If there's no complaint, he'll retrieve the rest of his combat gear and don it, treating the noble garb and trinkets with care and respect as they are packed away.
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"So, ah, you got a devil back there?" Vinny asked with obvious sceptisism in both voice and face. "And how you just want us to deal with it? I mean, the way I work there might be some, ah, property damage involved..." He looked thoughtful for a brief moment before adding. "Unintentional property damage ofcourse. Not that I expect to use it though. With all that, ah, how do you say, fire and brimstone thats always in those devil stories, I doubt explosives will do much." He looked questioning again, realizing he should probably wait for confirmation before thinking too far ahead. "Assuming ofcourse it is a, ah, devil?"
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Boldren smiles warmly at the countess. "Lady Dralneen, Could you tell us a little more about your servant? Any information would be welcomed at this point. Then the next question would be, how fare do you want us to take this? If the servant is a devil, are you OK with us destroying him in this world?"
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"Sonuvamotherlessgoat!" Hood cries out as he realizes he's no longer blue.
He fumes for a few moments, then whispers "I suppose I can sneak in there before each performance..."
He does not seem very interested in the current mission until he hears the racket in the next room.
"Wait...this sounds kind of fun now..."
"Would it be possible to dress up a bit for this matter, or is it more of a 'as we are' sort of thing?" Again he bites back the second question he wants to ask... 'Deal in which way'?
The tengu is now feeling a bit under-dressed and under-armed for dealing with a potential devil or possessed person.
The paracountess tilts her head back and forth as she looks over the Tengu. "Oh starling, did you arrive at Zarta's abode unprepared? How disappointing... but then you did dress-up just to impress me, didn't you? Finery is all well and good, but I have more of an eye for what lies beneath... Very well, flutter along and gather what you need. But don't be too long or you'll miss all the fun!"
"So, ah, you got a devil back there?" Vinny asked with obvious sceptisism in both voice and face. "And how you just want us to deal with it? I mean, the way I work there might be some, ah, property damage involved..." He looked thoughtful for a brief moment before adding. "Unintentional property damage ofcourse. Not that I expect to use it though. With all that, ah, how do you say, fire and brimstone thats always in those devil stories, I doubt explosives will do much." He looked questioning again, realizing he should probably wait for confirmation before thinking too far ahead. "Assuming ofcourse it is a, ah, devil?"
"Do you hear that racket going on? Clearly damage is being done to my precious boudoir as we speak! But you have it right that this particular servant is rather resistant to things like acid and ice and completely immune to fire and poison. But it is sensitive to silver, hence the letter opener. Do try an spare my personal effects if you can, dumpling."
Havok can't help but appreciate the shape of their current employer.
"Well this is more up my alley. Pleased to punch a little devil into subordination milady."
"Now that's the Pathfinder spirit I was hoping for! Aren't you a strapping buck?" She undulates over to the Captain, running her hand up his forearm and caressing his muscular bicep. "I'll bet you still have stamina to spare in the fourth hour." She smiles suggestively, before turning to answer Boldren.
Boldren smiles warmly at the countess. "Lady Dralneen, Could you tell us a little more about your servant? Any information would be welcomed at this point. Then the next question would be, how fare do you want us to take this? If the servant is a devil, are you OK with us destroying him in this world?"
The Paracountess pouts prettily as she approaches the Varisian wizard. "What's wrong, muffin? Don't you like surprises? We shall have to do something to rectify that... If you must know, it is an Imp; indeed a devil, but very low within the hierarchy. I won't mind terribly if you must dispatch it back to Hell, it will serve as an example to the next servant. But it does cost to summon another, so merely subduing it would be for the best all around. Oh, and do watch out for it's stinger." She says with a wink.
Zarta’s bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax — ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the south wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
There is a large crash as a small Devil beats a dark metal box forcefully on the stone bust upon which it perches... it seems rather fixed on trashing the box. Fiendish wings and a whipping scorpion-like tail lash behind this diminutive, red-skinned nuisance.
Initiative Order - Round 1
Imp - smashing box
Wei Ji
Boldren
Draco
Hood
Vinny
Havok
Mira
The tengu moves up, drawing his big ol' blade (Masterwork bastard sword) and his shield. When he gets to a point of line of sight to the Imp, he halts and gives the thing a very intense look, as if trying to assess it somehow.
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Mira listens quietly as the paracountess speaks. A body like that, and confidence in spades to go with it? Not to mention the lavish home. Life just wasn't fair sometimes. Still, it looked like luck was in their favour. The young adventurer agreed with Havok's sentiments. She had been itching for a good fight all day, certainly a devil would be a good challenge.
The gunslinger enters the paracountess' chambers behind Wei Ji, surveying the room cautiously. Raising her gun, she takes aim and fires at the imp, intent on finishing the job quickly before more damage can be done.
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Havok can't help but grin. "Oh I'm quite sure milady. I've got quite the physical training so I can run a marathon with ease. I'm sure a fight with a little devil couldn't tire me too much." Havok takes the dagger. Might be useful
Havok strides up to the devil and slashes it with the silver dagger.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Initiative Order - Round 1
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Imp - smashing box
Wei Ji - moves in, drawing blade and studies target
Boldren - ray of lightning for 2 damage
Draco - moves in, speaks to Imp
Hood - moves in, lances for 3 damage
Vinny - moves in, fires crossbow, miss
Havok - moves in, slashes with silver dagger, miss
Mira - moves in, fires musket for 3 damage
---------------------------------Round 2
Imp -
attacks Havok, misses and *poof*
Wei Ji
Boldren
Draco
Hood
Vinny
Havok
Mira
Boldren's ray draws the little devil's attention from the box and it screeches in pain. It ducks Vinny's crossbow bolt but Hood's lance stabs into the creature, but the damage done seems less than it should be. The imp easily dodges Havok's slash with the silver dagger, but Mira's blast catches it full on, again doing less than expected damage. Once everyone is inside, the door to the room closes as Zarta latches it to keep the creature contained.
The imp looks at the Elf speaking to it and shrieks back, "No! Nasty good creatures leave Kreevus alone! Have to break box and hide wicked hook and bag inside it so filthy mortals cannot use to enslave my kind!" It whips it's scorpion-like tail at Havok, but fails to connect and then vanishes from sight, box and all.
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"Slavery? Here? You're a freedom fighter, too? A rebel against the stiff confines of order and discipline? There are ways to stop 'nasty good' folks from having such a thing, and that is to give them to a nice non-aligned sort of person who won't be swayed by moral arguments. And will mean less of a beating for you. Everybody wins."
If someone'd told me I'd be considering negotiating with a devil when this day started, I would have thought they were nuts.
"Hmmm. Kind of hard to do that if you disappear like that, though."
I feel so dirty right now. Come on, bite on the offer, you little bugger!
Havok and Wei Ji listen carefully and hear the soft flapping of wings, assuring them that the creature is still in the room. A hiss of displeasure is Wei's only indication of the Imp's reaction to his attempt to deal, but he gets the sense that the devil is being sincere about it's intentions. The binding of devils against their will is indeed a kind of enslavement.
Also, Wei Ji and Havok spot a disturbing looking Cat-o'-nine-tails tipped with silver among Zarta's instruments of "play".
Cat-o'-nine-tails (whip) 1d4(damage) ×2(crit) Slashing (disarm, nonlethal)
The crate also contains 10 sets of masterwork thieves’ tools, three flasks of alchemist’s fire, a flask of acid, a dozen jars of various inks, a footprint book, adamantine weapon blanch, three bags of powder, a deck of marked cards, and two sets of average loaded dice.
The Imp quietly considers it's options.
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"Oh, so this is the means with which to summon and enslave your people, is it? I am part of the Liberty's Edge, which means I try to help enslaved people of all sorts. Would you need any help disposing of it? I despise those who would enslave others, even if they are demons who are the victims." He eases up on his weapon a little, still ready should the imp try to attack, but is a little calmer so he can negotiate better.
Havok shrewdly chooses the correct area and stabs the invisible little devil with the silver letter opener. The metal box becomes visible as it is tossed toward the elf and tengu. "Gah! Yes, fine... you’ve bested me, but I don’t wish to leave so soon. Take the blasted box! Destroy or lock it away if you can and tell my mistress I deserve what is coming to me." *gulp*
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Wei Ji will blink a few times then consider as the box is tossed to the party.
"We were told we might have to deal with you. She didn't say how and she did say that keeping you alive was the much more desired option. You sure you want to stick around here knowing that?"
Life is about choices, and the tengu is willing to leave that choice to the imp. He doesn't have any intention, though, of actually telling the paracountess about what the imp deserves or not That's a personal matter between the two of them, right? If anything, he's going to keep his beak shut.
"I'll do everything in my power to get it locked away or destroyed."
On the way out, the senses will be peeled... things have been far too easy... keeping ready for the possibility of being jumped.
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"There we go. Good impy!" Havok says triumphantly.
He walks back to the Paracountess and returns her silver letter opener after cleaning it.
"It is done Milady. I whipped some obedience in the little rascal myself.
Unfortunately duty calls me back for another assignment, but I would be happy enough to return later today if you require my services once more." Havok says with a grin and a wink.
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Mira shoulders her weapon once more as the imp is swiftly dealt with. Following the others, she shakes her head at Havok, extremely confused. Was he honestly flirting with a demon summoner? She really, really didn't get men sometimes.
As for Hood? Mira certainly didn't want to be the one to correct whatever notions he had in his strange head. On their way out, Mira keeps her eyes peeled for more followers.
The Paracountess rises from her desk as you return to the sitting room. "Ah, you have the trinket. And no one looks the worse for wear. Valsin chose your team well. You might not want to fiddle with that box on your way back to him, I suspect it is a seven-lock iron case and it seems to resent intrusion."
The Chelish woman smiles at Havok, her eyes lighting up at the word whipped, "I have no doubt! Perhaps you should hold on to that dagger for now, why not come by and return it later when you have ample time?" - the offer being a clear invitation to something entirely different, her eye also passes over a few other party members like the event doesn't have to be entirely exclusive. She gives Boldren a devilish wink as you all ready to leave.
She laughs, a low throaty chuckle at Hood's question. "I have indeed escaped a bond or two in my time, my little crumpet. If you return, I shall have to put you to the test."
_____________________________________________________________________
Tired after a long day and upbeat about getting your list of tasks done, you begin the journey back to the Foreign Quarter and the Grand Lodge. Still keeping a wary eye out for trouble, though.
A throng of people blocks the street ahead. A performance art group commandeers the street, drawing graffiti to create a jolly hellscape complete with illusory devils comically dancing around in circles. A few citizens avoiding the crowd slip off-street through a nearby alley, the only egress past the gathering.
Taking the detour with the rest of the small crowd, you are on the lookout for anything untoward, and lo and behold, your earlier observations pay off as many of you spot familiar faces among the crowd ahead and many of your weapons are in hand as you recognize the signs of people positioning to attack you..
Initiative Order - Surprise
-----------------------------------
Hood
Boldren
Wei Ji
Mira
Enemies
------------------------------------Round 1
Hood
Havok
Boldren
Wei Ji
Mira
Vinny
Enemies
Draco
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Mira swears as she spots a familiar looking face at the end of the alley. Definitely not her first choice for an encounter. The nooks and alcoves in this alley were going to make shooting bothersome, if that's what it came down to.
Mira runs forward and around the corner, before their shadows had an opportunity to cut off their route. At least from this angle, she could get a good shot on most of the alley.
"You folks take an uncomfortable amount of interest in a bunch of glorified errand boys," the gunslinger remarks dryly, "What's your business with us?"
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Wei moves up to intercept the mob, essentially acting as the cork in the bottle for the alleyway with Mira on his left flank, shield and sap at the ready.
Normally, he'd go with the bastard sword slung over his shoulder, but he wants to know why they've been following the group, and slicing them up isn't going to get any answers. A bit of a loss in the damage department, hopefully outweighed by possible gains.
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"What?! HO! A foe!" Hood manages as the group attempts to ambush the Pathfinders.
From a relatively safe position, the halfling surveys the assailants. As he tries to decide his best course of action, his hand unconsciously moves to the alchemist fire they had found earlier. His face splits into a mischievous grin.
Finally!
Initiative Order - Surprise
-----------------------------------
Hood - draws alchemist fire
Boldren - readies MM
Wei Ji - moves up, drawing shield and sap
Mira - moves up
Enemies :
H(green) - casts from scroll
W(black) - Tumbles
L(red) - Rages and steps up, attacking Wei Ji
D(blue) - steps back, casts
------------------------------------Round 1
Hood
Havok
Boldren
Wei Ji
Mira
Vinny
Enemies
Draco
Everything happens quickly as the alerted Pathfinders spring into action. Hood readies a flask to throw while Boldren prepares to cast a magic missile. Mira and Wei Ji move up, preventing the enemy from charging.
The blonde woman begins to cast a spell from a scroll in her hands and Boldren's missile strikes her in mid incantation. She bares her teeth in pain momentarily, but maintains her concentration and a billowing cloud of mist spreads out from her position, obscuring your view of the alleyway. She purses her thick red lips into a smug smirk at Boldren before she is occluded from sight.
The tall, lanky man holds a rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other. He tries to avoid the Tengu's reach as he tumbles past Wei Ji to land directly in front of Mira, but does not do it swiftly enough, drawing a swipe from his sap.
The mustached halfling growls as he readies his greataxe and steps forward to swing at the Tengu, but his over-eager attack is unbalanced and he wiffs past his target, stirring only feathers from the wind of his blow.
The woman with dark ringlets steps back and casts something, safely hidden in the mist.
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The tengu attempts to give the one going for Mira a nice solid whack to the the side of his head even as he ducks a bit out of the way of the fellow charging at him with... was that a *greataxe*?!
As if spurred by adrenaline by the sight of that axe coming close to plucking him, the tengu erupts into a flurry of action... that's not exceedingly effective...