With Address in hand your team makes you way to the residence of Windun Landers. You pass through the wrought iron gate into his residence and you see the iron rushlight attached to his front door. You knock on the door and after a few moments who you can cermise is Windrun answers the door.
"Who comes calling at this hour? Why are you here?" looking you over he seems to be a bit jumpy and only opens the door enough to show his face.
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”I’ll ask to see the Duchesses around the front while you approach through the building’s rear,” Odo conspires.
Once given the signal, Odo knocks at the door. In response to Landers’s questions, he answers, ”Forgive us for the inconvenient time, good sir, but we would like to have word with the Duchesses. We will not be long.”
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Joaquin will do his best imitation of a menacing enforcer, standing quietly with a stern expression of repressed hostility on his face and his left hand resting on the pommel of his bastard sword which is in his scabbard. The thumb of his right hand is hooked into the sword belt as he peers intently ahead through the door.
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As they walk and plan, Daniel steps to the side with Anduris Kreel and has a brief whispered conversation.
Regardless of the answer, Daniel will wait for the feathered scouting report and then sneak off to the back. B.C. following along quietly behind.
[dice=Handle Animal Command "Sneak" DC 10]1d20+11[/dice]
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"Eh? That sounds like'ah darned good plan Mr Thrace. ...Now, have I ever told ya how I once snuck into the larder of none other then Vulden "One eye" Stonehammer? Well it was some'then ah tell ya. I was just a boy ya see. So there I be... Aduris carries on seeming to be unaware that his talking could very well ruin any chance at being quiet.
Looking to the halfling, Landers says "What do you mean Duchesses? The only person here is me." Looking to Joaquin Landers seems to shrink in the mans gaze as Joaquin scrutinizes him.
While Odo is distracting the man at the front door the remaining party members case the join. Allen is easily able to locate a back door and passes the message along to Edgar, Daniel and Anduris.
At the back door Daniel recommends Anduris use his deft skills on the back doors lock. *Click* as Anduris gives a rousing monologue of his past adventures it however does not bring about any watchful eyes from around the home.
Daniel and B.C. Duck in through the backdoor with a funny smirk the half-Orc tilts his hat and moves about the house.
The first few rooms seem to have just your basic furniture and such nothing really out of place from the rest of the decor. As he enters into another room he looks about and he locates a small locked iron strongbox.
Thinking his skills are not up to the task he secrets back outside to Anduris holding a figure to his lips he meerly points at the lock box and makes a key motion.
Anduris heeding the Half-orcs hand gestures quickly opens the Strongbox and inside are infact nearly 5000 gold Minkaian coins.
Having gathered the information on how much Minkaian gold will be in the mix Anduris locks the strongbox and Daniel puts the box back and heads back out B.C. following closely behind.
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Odo doesn't think much of Landers's answer and presses the man.
"You're the only one here? You don't sound very certain of that. But let me make this easy for you. We know the Duchesses came here and the rumor that they are carrying a substantial amount of stolen gold is circulating. I don't think it takes much to put two and two together and add up to four. Someone with an interest in that gold is likely to come looking for it and that will put you in a very precarious position.
My associate and I aren't here for the gold. You can choke on it for all we care. We represent an organization of concerned persons that wants to determine just how much risk the Duchesses have invoked with their larceny so that we may engage an appropriate, measured response. So if you would please summon the Duchesses..."
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Daniel tips his cap as Anduris pops the lock and his eyes go wide at the gold inside. He mouths, ’wow’!
A quick count later, he snaps the lid shut and puts everything back.
Coming out he doesn’t say anything until well clear of the house. He whistles the all clear bird call and then sets up down the street from the front of the house to wait for the other group. He looks at Anduris, ”good work there. Definitely a lot easier than talking, that’s for sure.”
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Hearing the bird call from down the block, Edgar nods to Allen.
As the raven discreetly pulls away from the group, the man speaks up. "Alright. Lets cut the crap, shall we? We know you and the duchess are in cahoots. We also suspect you don't want us to get the guards involved in this."
"So, here's the deal. We'll ask you some questions, you'll answer them with complete sincerity or else my strong friend here is going to start having some fun with your skull. Hows that sound?"
The black bird soaring through the night towards the meeting place, swoops down near Daniel.
"Hey, they are busy blah blah blahing with the resident of the house, so Edgar sent me. What'd you find?" he asks the half-orc. Glancing back towards the house down the street, he adds "If you ask me, they could use any help you can give them...they don't seem too scary to me."
"Thank you sir." answers the bird as it turns and flies back to the group on the front porch.
Whispering in Edgar's ear, it relays the information.
Landers is now sweating bullets with the intimidating factor you all show him. He breaks down starting to babble "Alright. you have me. Yes there are two guests that have been staying at my residence here. I do not know them by name only that they are called the Duchesses... or is it Duchess-i In any case the Duchesses’ room is empty at the moment and they are not here. I suppose they have something in town to handle and they have told me nothing. I had no choice in the matter of housing them." he full shuts down shakily backing away from the now open door and sits down at on a bench in the foyer. He now refuses to speak just mumbling "What have I gotten myself into"
Heading back with your information you sit down at the meeting table with the Dwarf and he has a good laugh at the thought of you making a rather prominent business man in Magnimar wet his nether regions.
"Good Job. The Auction will be starting soon so don' be goin' no'where ye hear. Here's a pint on me." A server brings over a tray of drinks all of which are extremely close to your normal drink of choice. He nods holding the folders containing your dossiers and takes his leave.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Cathedral of Abadar will soon open its doors for the public auction! Anyone interested in participating must be within the cathedral in fifteen minutes. Once the auction starts, the doors will close. This is not an open door auction and no one will be admitted to the auction once the bidding starts"
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With a mouth full of food and a drink in hand, Edgar glances towards Odo. "Mrmph mush phso"
Taking a long drink from his glass, the man swallows, before trying again. "You should enjoy yourself Odo. How often does the society reward one before the task is done?"
Having stuffed himself, Edgar makes his way towards the hall. Eyeing the crowd, and spotting the ranger positioned above, he finds a place off to the side on the main floor nearer to the stage.
'If things go sour, I'll need to be able to act quickly.'
"Pardon me Edgar? You would do well to learn from this man." chastises the avian herald. "We've no way of knowing what to expect at that auction. Is it really going to be so easy to fight if you've a carcass rolling around in your gut?"
Shaking his head, Allen gingerly pecks at the offered bread and quietly follows his fellow teammates into the room, staying close to Edgar.
The last of the attendees are shuffled into the Cathedral of Abadar and the crowd eagerly await the beginning of the auction. A portly man takes to the stage, and with a voice like a foghorn declares ”The auction is open!” which sets off a hum through the crowd as people start jostling for position and readying their auction bidding paddles, as though they were cutlasses with which to defeat the auction itself!
Kresch Vaor looks around at the readied auction-slayers with a broken resolve “Bah, too much for an old key. Proctor, I’m out. Have one of your clergymen transfer my deposit to my personal account.” then sits back down.
The bidding then begins with fury, paddles being thrust into the air representing thousands of gold at a time
The Duchesses seem a bit distant, and very quickly exit the bidding.
As the numbers rise, Maiveer Sloan calls out, he pleads with the auctioneer, “I don’t have the funds on hand, but let my organization put down credit on the key. I can have the extra funds in a few months and you know we’re good for it.” The Auctioneer purses his heavy lips in sympathetic understanding. The Proctor interjects ”The rules state this auction would be a fast sell only with coin in hand” Maiveer pleads further ”Sir! I protest! I have been victimised and robbed - and though I make no issue of it now I protest that I would have had the coin had it not been so! The rogues, robbers, and conspirators sit right under this very roof and gain from this injustice!” The proctor, having none of it, simply turns to Sloan ”Contain yourself or the church will have you removed.”
As order is almost restored, a group of toughs barges in and heads straight for Dymal Rinks - ”Minvandu wants a word”. He begins to protest, but two burly half-orcs simply grab an arm each and pick him up and start walking out. Sheila Heidmarch makes a gesture that is very clear - do NOT get involved. Minvandu’s chief legbreaker pauses at the Proctor ”Sorry about that interruption, bit of confusion needing to be dealt with. Whatever deposit Rinks tried to put down on the auction belongs to our employer, Mr. Minvandu. I’ll send someone around later to collect it, after the boss has a few private words with Rinks”. Rinks is then dragged out of the auction house, kicking and screaming.
The auction begins again in earnest, with some Pathfinders baulking at the sums being thrown around and consider wandering to a nearby tavern instead. The number of bidders begins to rapidly thin…
Doctor Landis starts making an offer,then thinks better of it - some concern playing at the back of his mind no doubt. He lowers his hand, and simply gestures that he’s cut himself off by waving his hand across his throat.
Falrig Sneve seems spooked by Doctors Landis withdrawing and it triggers him too “Too rich for my blood. Fold!”
With only Pathfinders and Lady Kaddren in the bidding war, the atmosphere gets tense - it is clear that Lady Kaddren is determined to win… yet as she is about to bid a breathtaking sum, a runner presents her with a note which she quickly reads. After, she grimaces at the assembled Pathfinders and their Venture Captain and in a threatening tone says, “This time, you got lucky. From here out, you might want to watch your backs.” Then she turns to the proctor and tells him, “You can close my bids out.” After, she tucks the note into her cloak and storms out.
The Auctioneer continues “Going, going, gone! And sold to table seven with the red coloured paddle for a final price of sixty thousand gold pieces! Table seven please send one representative to the front of the room to claim your prize!”
A seasoned Pathfinder, Eadie Navhelan from the winning table strides out to collect.
Without warning, a tremendous flash of light and smoke appears behind the auctioneer, and the very fabric of reality is sliced open. Seconds later, a black-robed figure steps through the rift and pulls a jagged black-bladed dagger across the auctioneer’s throat sending a shower of blood into the screaming crowd of bidders. The remorseless assassin snatches the Runecarved Key and in a fit of mad laughter bursts into dozens of shadowy black forms, each fleeing from the cathedral in a different direction.
Suddenly an ear-piercing whistle sounds. Without warning, the stained glass windows of the cathedral simultaneously shatter inward in a colorful barrage of flying glass. The Shards fall upon each of you cutting into your clothing and piercing flesh.
Amid the rain of glass shards, a horde of cultists comes crashing through the now empty cathedral windows. With weapons drawn, they attempt to surround all the patrons inside, blocking their escape and delaying pursuit of the assassin, one version of whom carries the true Runecarved Key.
Redgar
Anduris
Odo the Bold
Joaquin
Daniel
B.C.
Cultists
Edgar & Allen
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As the shards cut into him, Daniel pulls his bow out and with one fluid motion, fires at the nearest cultist . With a quick command he has B.C. move up and attack as well.
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B.C. ducks the glass shards and darts forward to slash a claw at a nice meaty leg muscle.
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Watching the figures split amongst the crowd, Allen easily swoops away from the jagged glass. "Helps to pay attention Edgar." he replies with a chuckle.
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Anduris looks up from stuffing his pipe just in time to see the black robbed figure appear out of nowhere and savage the auctioneer. "Well that just ain't right. I'm on it meh'friend. I will do me best ta tend to him." Anduris makes his move forward as the glass shatters around him. He desperately covers the opening to his pipe."Argh!Near tragedy. Almost ruined some good pipe weed"
Anduris does his best to avoid the shards but his efforts are less then worthy. Despite his bumbling he makes his way toward the injured and possibly dead auctioneer to see if there is anything he can do.
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Redgar, tired from the various exertions of the last couple of days, had fallen into a meditative mood. His reverie was shattered by the sudden arrival of an assassin, and the breaking of windows:
As the spheres in his hands crack apart, Redgar exclaims: OW! Darnit, now I'll have to start the mantra again. Nobody messes with my mantra!
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Redgar rushing forward with his Greatsword swings hard attempting to land a telling blow...
...His blade bites Deep into the Flesh of the Cultist causing him to fall over and lay still.
Savings his Pipe Weed Anduris moves up to the platform to inspect the savagery that has taken place. Alas the auctioneer had taken his last breath; short of a few words and last rights Anduris cannot do any more for him.
Odo offering a resounding battle cry for his companions rushes forward, his Scimitar leading the way as he swings low at the Magenta cloaked Cultists...
... Sarenrae however did not guide his hand this time.
Joaquin following the same lead as the others members of his team. Bringing his sword into a rising arch he thinks to himself Did the Yellow clad man just move?...
...His Bastard sword finds its mark and digs in deep
Letting his deadly arrow fly Daniel watches it approach the Cultist and...
... the arrow sails wildly off as the persons form appears to be 2 feet to the right of his intended location.
Heading his masters call B.C. rushes forward and slashes out...
... his claws find the true person yet a Magical barrier of armor stops the claws from causing any harm.
The Cultists all take a 5 ft step, two pull out scrolls and begin entoning the words on them.
The Yellow however casts a spell centered around the main portion of the group, A Huge Stinking cloud 40 feet wide and 20 feet tall appears.
Edgar & Allen
Redgar
Anduris
Odo the Bold
Joaquin
Daniel
B.C.
Cultists
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Daniel manages to hold his breath and only get a whiff of the ghastly cloud. He dashes out towards where he last saw B.C. As he exits, he sees the cultist reading a scroll and fires a single arrow at him, hoping to interrupt the casting.
B.C. gags and retches, his only thought to get away from the nasty cloud. He steps out next to the cultist and hurks a small pool of bile onto the floor.
for
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Choking on the smoke, Edgar rushes out as he tries to pick out the arcane words being read.
Once the smoke clears, he glances around, his eyes narrowing on the red robed cultists. "You've sent one to meet the Lady of Graves. Perhaps you'd like to see what awaits you!" he bellows, pointing to the man.
You show one creature the effect of its life so far and what it might expect when it passes under Pharasma’s impartial gaze at the end of its life. Depending on the creature’s alignment and its adherence to its ethos, you can provide it a brief glimpse of the reward or punishment that waits for it when it dies by showing it a mental image of its destined plane in the Great Beyond. If the target is good-aligned, it is fascinated for 1d4 rounds on a failed save. If the target is neutral-aligned, it is confused for 1d4 rounds on a failed save. If the target is evil-aligned, it is shaken for 1d4 rounds on a failed save.
Hearing the cries from his minion, Allen does his best to hold his breath. Frantically, he flies towards the sounds of Edgar beyond the cloud.