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Acelyn's bolt lands in the greasy floor next the beetle, his aim put off by the creature being so close to the ground.
"This lab is my life's work! Hehehe! You will never take me alive!" Ooze drips from Laszo's mouth as he spits while speaking.
Bishop's intimidating words aren't very intimidating after he misses the evasive Laszo once again.
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Begrilda grimaces as her boots squelch in the filth of the sewer, but she quickly recovers herself and clambers up behind Mr. Peppers. "So sorry about the mess, dear. I got a bit overzealous I suppose. Now, to deal with this bug." She suddenly pulls a mace from her belt, and grits her teeth as she prepares to throw herself into combat for the first time in her life.
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Laszo covers his ears just in time to avoid hearing the chirping bird.
The beetle stands up, and then attempts to take flight from the grease, stretching its tiny wings out. It glows as it flies over behind Bishop, preparing to defend its master.
Laszo stands up, and Bishop misses another strike at him. He takes a step down and lobs another bomb, this time aiming it at D. "Hehehe!! Once you're dead, your bodies will make the perfect test vessels! Ohhh yess!"
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Seeing the boisterous and 'stout' maiden pull out a mace Mr Peppers modifies his plan. "I can see you mean business, let me clear a path for you." With a wave of his hand and a short Elven word, the patch of slick gel dissolves away. He then moves back behind her, waving her onward.
With an after thought Mr Peppers perks up "Oh ya... those beetles can fly..."
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D launches a direct hit with his sandbullet, the alchemist bleeding gravely as it blows a hole through his chest. Acelyn's bolt follows shortly after, impacting Laszo's eye.
"Hehe...he...No matter...I'll die with my.. creation!" He falls to his knees and with his dying breath, he takes a swig of whip before falling into the sewage water.
Bishop's dagger cuts into the beetle's thorax and sprays the wall with green beetle guts.
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Mr Peppers stows his wand and moves towards the 'lab', careful as he goes. "Great work. Lets get this guy out of the water and have a look around. Please be careful, very careful. Actually, let me look around first before we touch anything. I want to take a quick scan for any odd magical auras, not to mention for poisons before we disturb anything. Safety first right?"
Mr Peppers casts Detect Magic and begins looking around the room, as well as over the alchemist.
After wards he does the same with Detect Poison.
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With combat over, the addicts groan as they notice their dead dealer. Who would get them their fix now that he was dead? The thought made them anxious, although they were far too weak to show it.
Laszo's corpse glows brightly as Mr. Peppers detects magic on it, likely owing to his magical armor and cloak.
Besides the sewage water, Mr. Peppers only detects the bottles of whip as poisonous.
You also find the alchemist's lab notes, one of the items required by Delroya, stuffed into his pocket, but his handwriting is tiny and cramped, making them difficult to decipher.
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"That could have gone smoother but at least ." Bishop makes a point to emphasize this last portion.
Once Mr Peppers has finished his divination Bishop begins to look through things carefully. He will move any vials that contain substances and place to the side as well as looking over any notes about people connected, formula's etc.
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Mr Peppers nods to Bishop's comment. "I can't say he didn't get what he deserved. He made our decision easy... trial by fire."
Mr Peppers squints as he tries to read the fine print of the recipe. "I'm not sure if this is code or just bad handwriting plus someone too cheap and lazy to get a proper journal." And on that 'note' Mr Peppers will pull out his fresh journal and begin taking notes of the site. Drawings and descriptions of the rat statue and the lab itself first, followed by any particular notes that can be gleaned from the recipe.
"Can someone with some medical training please take a look at Lazso and his 'subjects'? It would be good to record some information on them to perhaps help develop some sort of antitoxin to this. Sirettis I remember having some training.. I think. Begrilda perhaps? We can't take the scene or the subjects with us so some good notes are essential."
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As Sirettis draws her wand, Begrilda says quietly, "Oh dear, I can take care of that. Here." The dwarfess once again draws out her mace, but she presses a catch on the handle that opens a small lid in the top. Out of the mace emerges a long golden ribbon. Suddenly, Begrilda raises the mace above her head and begins twirling it, causing the ribbon to swirl around her in a perfect spiral. As she spins she calls out, "Bolka, give your love to these poor, sick people." The ribbon glows brilliantly for a moment until a wave of energy expands out in swirling patterns of light that change from gold to pink and back again.
With her prayer answered, Begrilda begins moving around to the victims, giving each one a sip of fresh water from her waterskin as they ask for it, and doing some quick medical examinations as Mr. Peppers had requested. As she examines them, she relays her information to Peppers for their records.
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Bishop finds a small bottle of whip concealed in one of the test subject's sleeping pallet.
The alchemist's scribbles begin to make sense to Mr. Peppers momentarily, but there are a few messy symbols he still can't quite decipher.
One of the addict's wounds and boils close up after Sirettis taps him with her wand. He manages to stand up, although he still leans against the wall with one hand for support, and mumbles a few incomprehensible words. His eyes dart back and forth, desperately looking for his next fix. You get the sense that most of his afflictions are not physical in nature, and these addicts may need a temple for proper care.
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Begrilda is successful in restoring movement to the addicts, and they're all about to stand on their feet with some help. Verbal communication looks to be beyond their current abilities, however, likely owing to months of whip ingestion and its effects on its users' intelligence. They grunt and groan when asked questions.
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Mr Peppers donates some food and water to Begrilda's wards, but he gives it specificaly to her to dole out and doesn't personally touch any of the addicts. "Thanks very much for your insights Ms Hammerhild. Please distribute any of these rations and water as you see fit to these people. Oh, I think a number of us, and likely these people could use another one of those... things? you did earlier to heal wounds. I know myself, Serittis, and D all took some scorches from Laszo."
After seeing the communication issues with the addicts Mr Peppers suggests a yes/no/dunno system. 1 grunt for yes, 2 for no, 3 for don't know. To attempt to get a bit more information. Questions include: Do you know how long you've been here? Do you know your name? Are you from the city? Was anyone else ever down here making this stuff?
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Rifling through the area he finds a hidden vial and then grabs another to compare it.
"FOUND IT!" he holds the bottle up to show the others. "Let's take this case and drop off a vial to whatever temple might be able to take these poor souls. Maybe they can figure out a solution to helping these. The other vials we can take back to the Society I'm sure someone would like to examine the contents."
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"Hmm, that was nothing compared to the hit the Arodeth clone dealt to Uesugi-san."
"It certainly wasn't, but considering the day isn't over yet its best we're in tip top shape in case we run into more violence." Mr Peppers pauses his note taking and holds up the 'recipe' from Lazso. "Does anyone recognize what these symbols are?" Mr Peppers shows the grubby notes to everyone for their input.
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Begrilda continues her caregiving, but pauses briefly when Peppers shows her the notebook.
"This one here almost looks like an abbreviation for some roots that are also used in proper medicines. Could be the same thing perhaps? Oh, and you asked if I could bless you with Bolka's love again too, didn't you? It would be a pleasure. Gather 'round, my dears!" Again, Bolka twirls the ribbon around her and emanates another wave of healing energies.
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The addicts scarf down the food and water, grabbing it out of the group's hands. They struggle to understand Mr. Peppers' questions and grunt collectively about a dozen times, the sound of them forming a cacophony of zombie groans. You get the impression they aren't able to understand what's really going on.
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Mr. Peppers and Begrilda manage to decipher Laszo's notes. They learn that whip is a drug of his own design and that he resents that the Aspis Consortium has already begun to mass produce the drug from his imperfect formula. He blames a few individuals - implicating them right in his notes - who live in Diobel for allowing whip to spread before he could perfect it. This information will be invaluable in shutting down the operation. The effects of whip are also detailed, and when translated from crazy alchemist garble to actual effects, you determine the following:
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Begrilda stands back and watches as Mr. Peppers questions the wretched victims. After a few minutes of confused grunting and patient questioning from the elf, however, Begrilda steps in. "Mr. Peppers, please. These poor souls need treatment. We have the information Miss Delroya requested. Let's get these people to a temple for treatment, then get on with our mission."
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Mr Peppers starts to get concerned being around the addicts as he shoos their hands away from his food and drink as he gives it to Begrilda to distribute, he then nods emphatically to Begrilda. "I think they've helped us about as well as they can in their current... state. Maybe we can figure out how to get them some help somewhat discreetly so we can continue on our way back?" Most of them need a triple bath and a new set of clothes most of all.
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After hearing Laszo's notes read aloud Bishop begins to shake his head "The Consortium is using an imperfect formula and now we are going to hand over Laszo's perfect formula and notes to this woman? I don't like where this might lead."
Knowledge is power in this game. I hope the Venture Captain knows what he is doing.
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Mr Peppers agrees with Bishop. "Its almost better if the whole lot of it was destroyed but I'm sure there are more clever alchemists out there than this Lazso was who can recreate it using the leftover product. Who am I to question Captain Valsin on his judgement, you would be wise as a new recruit to not question him either."
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Mr. Peppers recalls a smaller temple of Iomedae located in western Diobel.
After collecting the notes and vials, you climb the ladder back out of the sewers, the addicts accompanying you as quickly as their frail bodies will move. Night has fallen in Diobel, which helps you from arousing too much suspicion, and even in the darkness, Mr. Peppers is able to remember the directions to a small Temple of Iomedae located in west Diobel. A priestess there gladly accepts the addicts, insisting that so much corruption has run amok in the city, she doesn't need payment to care for the victims.
With these two main tasks carried out, the only thing left to do is wait for the morning to hear from Delroya.
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Begrilda profusely thanks the priestess for her generosity in caring for the addicts. If the group hangs around the temple for any period of time, she will observe the treatment, trying to pick up any unfamiliar techniques she can.
When the group leaves the temple, Begrilda approaches Bishop, "You know, Bishop, I'm not entirely sure I appreciate your way of doing things. You broke into that captain's quarters, then nearly murdered that alchemist when he was under the effects of Sirettis's powers. No, that doesn't seem right to me. Still, your way of doing things helped us to accomplish our objective, and it was in service to defeating a greater evil, so I'll try to understand." She trails off and remains silent for a moment, until she pipes up again and smacks the man on the arm, "But don't behave like some sort of criminal if you can avoid it, alright?"
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What a naive woman... Sirettis stares at Begrilda, head cocked curiously. "If not for Bishop's initiative, we would have failed to access the documents and the dealer could have ambushed us, not the other way around."
"In the end, we have helped several addicts at a chance of recovery and removed a dangerous figure from the streets of Diobel. These results fall within my tolerance, and so I approve."
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"Yes, of course there is much good that has come out of Laszo's removal. I just...I had hoped there would be a better way to remove him." Begrilda looks genuinely remorseful about the man's death, despite all of his evil, including him attacking her new comrades. "I suppose you're right," she goes on, "Sometimes violence is unavoidable. Bishop, I do appreciate your willingness to do what it takes to accomplish what needs to be done. I just hope we do not have to make a practice of killing people to do our jobs."
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Bishop can only look with surprise at the berating from Begrilda.
"I had thought this was why Venture Captain had selected me to aid in this endeavor. I think you mistake me for a common thug, Priestess.
Having followed the ways of The Great Redeemer no doubt she has led me here to learn from your wise words. Know that my meager skills are always in service for the betterment of the Society. I am only happy that the few tricks that I learned during my year of training at the Society proved helpful in allowing to rid the world of one who harbored so much evil and corruption.
But it is understandable that you mistake my actions for appearing so criminal. Please accept my apology as I accept your guidance. " he smiles at Sirettis and silently thanks her for coming to his aid.
Hopefully that closes that door. What is it with this dwarf? No wonder this Gallix had run off in hiding
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You head back to the Sixwing Drake and down into the crews' quarters and into your guest rooms to rest for the night. Zzzzz...
The sun rises on Fireday to reveal a cloudless sky and calm seas. Around noon, Captain Zendrani calls a meeting on the deck of the Sixwing Drake.
"Good morning! I trust you've accomplished what you set out to do without incident." She smiles at you. "An urchin boy delivered this note just a few minutes ago. I tried to keep him here so we could talk to him, but he slipped away without a word and ran off into the city. I haven't looked at the note - but it seems to be from Delroya." The captain hands over the note.