"So we were bait." Jiri says with an amused grin, "Thanks for not sinking a hook into us."
Yes, and no. I wanted to see how you would size up a location, but I knew that Gazerich would be there also. Milax responds to Jiri and looks to Noro waiting for an answer.
Yes, I was hoping by sending you out that the Barber's would make a move. Interesting though that they singled out Noro. Why do you think that is Noro? Milax asks calmly as she sips her drink.
Noro takes a swig of the bottle she took.
How in the Hellsh should I know.
she checks the window once more
look, itsh no shecret here that I ushed to be mushcle for the Sczarni shome time back. well they have been out and about on the docksh ash of late. show I now am left to wonder why they would conshern themshelves about me. It wash a shimple mishtake. itsh not like that S.O.B. that I killed wash reliable anyway.
If you ashk me the Barabersh are being played by the Sczarni. being ushed ash mushcle sho they keep thier handsh clean
Hmm, could be. The Sczarni have gained in influence lately, rumor has it they have even infiltrated the Pathfinder Society. However, I happen to have an idea on why they wanted to speak with you. The dwarves you conversed with have been infiltrated by the Bloody Barbers. I believe their missing Captain is their doing. Samuel offered you a job, I bet they wanted to see if you were in with them or with Samuel and the loyalists. Milax finishes her drink, then calls Synthia over with a look. I had Synthia follow you, I wasn't sure how determined the Barbers would be for vengeance and I wanted someone to have your back. Synthia here has worked for us on many of an occasion, but she is part of another...guild.
The woman dressed in red and flaunting her affiliation with the notorious Red Mantis assassins offers a simple nod to the group, then looks at Aeadon. I do believe that is a fine weapon you have there, it looks familiar to me. May I see it?
Aeadon had been forced, that was the prime word in fact, into a most unwelcome position. He needed a way to deflect her interest without insulting her. He certainly was not about to lie to the no doubt perceptive assassin but lies were for the uncreative in his mind.
"You flatter me Mistress Synthia. I am a little ashamed to admit while my business has been doing well I can not afford a truly fine weapon. I am not much of warrior ether so such a weapon would be wasted on me. The truth is I fished this out of the trash. While I cleaned it, I would not want to take the chance of shaming myself or insulting you. I think we should remain focused on the task at hand, making our report."
You are fast becoming more trouble then your worth. I am starting to wonder why I do not simply sell you to Synthia, the Nex lord, or someone else. I certainly have no need of you and you are becoming hazardous to my health. I do not even know why you are so sought out. He thought back to the blade on his hip.
So are we to do something about the Barbers now, is that the new task? Gerrik offers bluntly. Was that the true point of our time at the docks, to confirm their presence?
It had many purposes. The information you did gather was important, but so was observing you and drawing Gazerich off of his ship. While he was away the cat did play Milax says smiling and holds up a map. I needed to get on board to fetch this, but Gazerich and his crew, dimwitted they may be, but are still very perceptive especially on their ship. This is for another time though. For now, yes Gerrik I think it is time to deal with Gazerich.
Synthia just smiles and looks at Milax when she starts to speak.
Corvus picks up at this news. Some direct action was more to her liking - although it remained to be seen how they would be permitted to deal with Gazerich.
Corvus held her own counsel until Milax shared more information.
Milax notices Corvus' increase in attentiveness and continues. This map I still need to examine, but I believe it will prove to be most usefull. As she rolls it back up you notice a seal on the back side of the map.
Aeadon notices the crest and who it belongs to, seemed big and troublesome to him. Some people you avoid stealing from in his mind, then again it depended on what they had. He kept the information in the back of his mind for now.
Concerning suggestions on how to deal with the barber's and Gazerich, he would hang back for now. Let others speak to see if they had any worthy idea's. Granted he did think there was an interesting way to handle things. Then again he did not favor combat as others among them did.
"The traditional thing solution would be to frame them for some crime then tip off the city guard."
"The fun way would be to make it look like a natural death. I mean 'accidents' happen all the time on ships, and there is the always present threat of fire."
Agreal suddenly has an idea.
"The leader of the Bloody Barber's is a cleric of Lamastu. If that got out to the right people...."
Maldrek spoke with fiendish cunning as his speech became empowered with the guile and cunning of the Forgemaster himself...
My friends I applaud your cunning but you simply aren't thinking big enough, this isn't just a chance to take Gazerich out it's a chance to truly deal a decisive blow against the entirety of the Bloody Barbers. With cunning, lies and the right words whispered into the wrong ears we could engineer a gang war between the Bloody Barbers and another faction of the underworld. As for who this faction is I must ask you a question Milax, who besides the Barbers do you despise the most?
diplomacy to influence Milax towards the gang war
He didn't show anything, seemed Maldrek had put together some of the pieces. But the puzzle was yet complete as he saw it, he wondered if Milax would pick them up, choose her own path, or make them both one and the same. He simply kept observing, the information swimming in hos mind.
All this talk about gang wars and accidents, none of this I'm familiar with. I feel out of sorts with the likes of these devious people. Maybe Corvus will rub off on me eventually. Gerrik starts to wonder if he had the proper mindset to be a Smoke Knight. I wish I had a way to contribute to this conversation.
I appreciate your enthusiasm Maldrek, and though the Bloody Barbers are a thorn in our side, that is all they are. There is much more that requires our resources at the moment. Agreal, Gazerich is only one part of the Bloody Barbers, a higher ranking Captain, but not the leader. His affiliation with Lamashtu is known, though he does not flaunt it here, but you and Jiri have given me an idea. Milax picks up her glass to take another drink and realizes it is empty. But first another round please bartender. She says handing Jiri the glass with a smile.
Synthia whispers something in Milax's ear
perception
hmm...late eh? That seems unlike him...
Noro took the commandeered the last bottle so Jiri will go to the bar for another then pour another round.
Milax thanks Jiri and continues once everyone is comfortable... Gazerich gives token respect to Lamashtu, mostly because of his dealings in the Mana Wastes trading Gnoll Tribes for slaves. Though I would not leak this to the city guard, but there are other organizations that would find that information useful. Aeadon I believe you have had some limited experience on the flesh market when you tracked the Ogrekin. I gave that information to an informant of mine in the Bellflower Tillers, are any of you familiar with them?
"You already gave that information to the Bellflowers? So what happened?"
Noro seemed interested at the notion of takeing on some these Barber fellows but with Milax not wanting to send them a message was a bit diheartening.
thorns in the side could eventually lead to bugger problems in the future she thought to herself.
she takes another swig of the bottle. a bit disappointed she may go today without a bloody fist.
The information about the fetchling and the Tien family yes. They appreciated it and I think I can use them to deal with our Bloody Barber problem.
Aeadon felt it was time to speak.
"Have you considered Gazerich's affiliation with the Sczarni. You can't have duel loyalties in such organizations. We could use him to start some bad blood between the two rather then allow any sort of beneficial relationship to grow. Should Gazerich perish in the crossfire each will blame the other for it. It may even trigger aggressions between both groups. Weakening them and drawing attention from the city guard even. Just a thought."
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An excellent suggestion Aeadon, but I fear Gazerich is not the only barber involved with the Sczarni, in fact I am sure of it. That is a bold plan we may have to use, but I would rather not risk getting exposed and dealing with the repercussions just yet. The Sczarni are a lot bigger than most people realize and they have connections all over Golarion.
From out of the dark corner near your table Szinroc appears Shan needs you, you must go now! She exclaims with a sense of urgency you have not heard from her before. Milax and Synthia run for the door.
Stay here young ones, we will finish in the morning. Keep watch on the coin and Lady Szinroc. Milax tells the party.
At Szinroc's comment Noro just turns her attention to her bottle tell me about it she mumbles to herself. she seems a bit concerned about her place in this new organization now her past involvement with the Sczarni may fuel resentment or suspicions.
As Milax and company leave, Corvus sighs loudly. "Would anyone care to explain what we're actually going to do - if anything? I must have missed that part"
Her voice is neutral, hiding her sarcasm as best she could - but the words were enough to share her frustration.
Seems that whatever trouble Shan found is a bit more important than our future mission. Not much we can do about that I'm afraid. Seems we wait until morning.
Gerrik leans back in his chair, looking at the group again. Unless somebody has a better idea.
i'm thinking to pay a vishit to the barbersh, find out more about what they want with me.
Agreal stands up.
"We do have to guard lady Szinroc, but if you're going out you aren't going out alone."
Agreal makes sure his shield and falchion are ready for any trouble.
Once Milax and Synthia leave the Door man shares a slight nod with Sinroc as he locks the door, just as Agreal notices and exclaims Its a trick!
I don't think you're going anywhere. Szinroc says in a sinister voice.
Agreal begins to laugh as he charges Szinroc.
"This is the best day ever! I get to kill you and Milax can't blame me! THANK-YOU!"
Aeadon put's as much space between himself and his enemies. Then cast a spell, his hand making signs as he whispered words of magic from his mind. The knowledge of a spell unraveling from his memory yet being rewoven by arcane energy into a single glowing quill held between two fingers he throws it at Szinroc. Darting with a life of it's own the quill finds it's mark without fail.
________________________________________________________________________
Casts mage armor on self.
Well looksh like thingsh jusht got intereshting.
Noro gets up and walks toward the "door-man"
setting the bottle on a table nearer to her opponent.
sho, what are the Sczarni paying you, what the current bounty they put on me
she lays into Gnul with an attempted front kick
Initiative
Maldrek spoke a word in infernal and an infernal aura of smoke and burning fumes covered him, his eyes locked upon the foolish interloper as he moved to intercept the idiot...
What the...? Gerrik quickly stands up, arms his bow, and fires an arrow toward whichever enemy his partner Corvus ends up in melee with. If she is not engaged he will fire at the closest.
Hefting one of his bottles, he grins at the now enemy. "Fire in the hole!" the tiefling yells, as his bottle is launched at Szinroc, hopefully causing some severe discomfort.
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Noro- 17 Lands a solid hit on the Rune Giant, but does not seem to hurt it as much as she expected
Agreal- 14 His attack hits a magical field around Szinroc
Szinroc - 12+ I don't have time for this! She casts sleep hex on the group with exception of Noro who moved away.
The Door Man attacks Noro with intent to knock her out
Just before you close your eyes and fall unconscious you hear Now get the me to the lower level before they come back.
************************Welcome to Level 3******************************
Agreal smiles at Szinroc.
"I may go down, but magic will never be the culprit!"
will save
Quickly sizing up the situation, Corvus’ instincts kick in. ’Best to take the closest adversary. No point in running in front of a stray arrow in this space.’ The thoughts flashed through her mind as she pulled her rapier and looked to skewer her nearest attacker with the minimum of fuss and the maximum amount of damage.
Aeadon didn't know if his luck for the day had been some god's curse, but it seemed everything powerful in the damn city was finding it's way to him. He felt the magical sleep fall over him, his last thought. If I wake up as a soul, I am turning into a ghost. This is simply to much of a pathetic death. His eyes drop and so does he with a dull thump.
"Watch out she's casting sleep... thud.
Gerrik didn't even get up out of his chair before the spell landed... at least he already had a comfortable place to slumber and didn't plummet to the ground.
