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Looking at the guard being choked by Reed, Lionel looks at the Ulfen swinging a longaxe at him, the blade chinking off a piece of his breastplate depicting a Triple Sting. "Ha! Not smooth, brotha! Old Prescipice trick!" he shouts as he draws a dagger from his boot and swinging it towards the Ulfen.
Leaving a wide gash on the man's shoulder, Lionel shouts, "Ya's outnumbah'd, blondie! I'd drop tha pig-sticka if I was ya!" as he tosses the dagger from hand to hand.
The Ulfen swings at Lionel holding the axe with both hands, as he reaches his boot to draw a dagger.
But the attack is so hurried he just hits the air over the cleric's head.
Lionel then responds stabbing the Ulfen on his leg, whom yells terribly in pain. To his surprise a pair of claws appear in Numair's hands, the half-elf grinning with delight and stabbing one of them in the man's belly, whom falls to the ground in a blood puddle.
On the other side, the door opens and Eveline appears with her scimitar ready at her hands. The Ulfen responds widening his eyes while Reed forces his grapple on the floor. Half-strangled, he tries to hit Reed with his longaxe in an attempt to free himself from the grapple, definitely without intention to surrender.
But restricted as he is, his long weapon hits ineffectively on the ranger's armor.
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Eveline dashes past her colleagues, shortly shouting "Keep alive!" She then strikes the longaxe engaged in combat with Lionel.
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Numair and Eveline dispatch the remaining Ulfen rendering him uncoscious while Reed does a good job to immobilize him.
Meanwhile Lionel stabilises the fallen one.
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Reed gets to his feet, spitting in the general direction of the Ulfens. "Treacherous bastards!" He goes outside, gathering his axes and stowing them about his person once again.
"You know, it's people like that that give the Pathfinder Society a bad name. We don't always want to fight...it just seems we're drawn to it. Come...let us find our sick friend, if he still lives."
Reed recovers the weapons for all the pathfinders while Eveline checks the Ulfen bodies finding just the keys of the manor in addition to their chain mails and longaxes.
A chilling freeze comes from the second floor.
Reed carefully walks upstairs observing the environment of the upper floor. Here and there you observe the remains of a recent fight, a jar broken, a tapestry torn, and despite the beauty of the manor you are surprised by the lack of valuable small objects in the upper corridor and rooms.
As you explore the rooms you feel a freezing cold coming from one of the bedrooms, seemingly the main one. You all pack behind Reed as he approaches the door with care and meticulously checks it, hearing nothing more than the crackle of fire.
When the ranger opens the door to the master bedroom you are greeted by a blast of heat. A roaring fire blazes in the fireplace even though the day is swelteringly hot. A huge bearded man shivers under his blankets, his bed pushed dangerously close to the fire. A thin servant sits in the far corner by a window, fanning himself with a handkerchief. The bearded man looks at you and blinks a few times, then speaks through chattering teeth. “Are y-you P-path-f-finders?”
"M-My na-name is Tyros" says the servant "F-forget m-my speech b-but it's be-coming ha-harder to re-rema-in on good tem-emper-r-rature here"
The man in the bed turns to you and makes an effort to open his eyes, making a poor agonizing sound as he sees you. Tyros stands up and closes to the man "Skelg, th-these a-re the Pa-th-thfinders y-you told me t-to c-call. Seems y-your fr-friends re-recei-ived th-the le-tter"
The servant turns to you at that point and adds "I-I am sorry, I d-don't know h-how y-you can help. B-but w-we are des-desperate and did not k-know to whom app-ppro-ach. Skelg i-i-is fre-ee-eezing to cold. He will die in d-days if w-we don't re-remove the cold gr-growing inside him. A-all guards a-are dead, and w-we a-are k-kept cap-ptives by e-enemies o-of my Sir"
At that point the man in the bed, Skelg, faintly mumbles something "H... help me... please... the North... the cold of the North..."
"Y-yes... Bengeirr left t-two men t-oo ma-m-make sure w-we were not moving" the servant makes a pause then seeing your clueless face continues with effort "A w-week a-ago, Skelg c-caught Be-engei-r-rr’s men in his base-ment v-vault, m-mista-k-king them for c-common thiev-ves. One of the in-t-truders had lit a lant-tern he f-found in the v-vault that was act-tua-lly the Bea-c-con of the N-north, but Skelg was una-w-ware of its m-magical p-properties. When the l-light from the l-lantern s-s-s-struck Skelg, he began to fr-freeze. W-when the l-light sh-shone on a ta-p-pestry han-anging on a wall in the hallway out-t-side of the vault, a shim-m-mering d-doorway ap-p-peared, fr-frightening the intruders enough t-to flee the m-manor. With Skelg in a w-weakened st-tate fr-from the immediate effect of the cold, the th-thieves easily esc-caped him and fled with the l-lantern and other v-valuables from in-inside the vault."
Tyros looks at you trying to guess if you are follwing him "T-two da-days a-ago, Bengeirr’s men ret-turned with Bengeirr him-s-elf and k-killed Skelg’s g-guards. Bengeirr s-spat on the sickly Skelg, snar-lling, 'Now you’ll die in bed like an old woman.' H-he left h-his guards to pre-v-vent anyone from s-saving Skelg and t-tossed the corp-pses of Skelg’s men into the v-vault in the b-base-ment. Skelg, in his weak-kened st-tate, was una-ble to do any-thing to d-def-f-fend h-hi-imself and hurriedly w-rot-te a cryptic letter to his friend Adril, hop-ping his sparing partner w-would send help i-immediately. Then he had me s-smug-gle t-the l-letter in-into the c-city"
Tyros seems really concerned with Skelg's future and thus trying to get your help. He might be able to answer precise questions but in general he seems wanting to hurry you up.
Tyros looks at Reed scared "I-I f-fear I-I don't k-know w-where or w-who too find it" the man sinks into his thoughts. He seems quite reserved as a person.
Seeing your frustration Skelg rises his voice "Sh... ship" he ascertains to say "H...he... Ulfen, ship!"
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Eveline returns after her short trip, securing the manor. She stops at the door, wiping those few droplets of sweat from her brow, sighing heavily before walking in. She seems most uncomfortable in the heat with her tight clothes.
"No thugs anymore... guess they were only on a lookout. And these two stuttering men can barely take care of themselves. Tyros, do you require assistance? Food or something? You too seem sickly."
Eveline's worry of Tyros's and Skelg's wellbeing seems sincere.
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"Good thinking, Reed," Eveline compliments, though her face stays stern given the current situation, "Tyros should remain here to take care of Skelg to the best of his abilities lest something would turn awry."
The halfling woman is ready, and even eager, to leave the manor and head to the docks. The distance to the harbor from the Ivy district is long, and she is already pondering about different modes of transportation.
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Lionel sees the others coming down the stairs, after volunteering to keep a guard over the enemies. "So, ya see, the 'cuffs ya're cuffed it were a present from the Head Priestess. She was usin' 'em for many years, I heard. And dont'cha try and escape, I know more knots than seamen. Heh.", is heard from the cleric as he keeps a watch over the two, spear at the ready.
"To the docks, then! A fine chase sounds smooth ta me!", before looking at the two guards. "Hey, ya folks? I'mma leave ya in Tyros' care here, play nice. Tyros, if they try ta dash, shank 'em. The Constab'lary gon pick 'em up later, I guess."
With those words, he sheathes his walking cane on his belt and looks outside, waiting for the others.
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Eveline stops at the doorstep, seeing a new fellow. "Hey, where'd you come from? I've seen you at the Grand Lodge lounge, so you have to be a pathfinder... you bear a message from Adril Hestram?" she asks Draylan.
Other than that Eveline seems unenthusiastic about a human-paced walk—or hustle in Eveline's case—to the docks. She considers the alternatives, such as hiring a coach ride all the way to the docks.
"Reed, I don't know about you, but I'd save my feet from the arduous journey and my, uh, head from the sun's heat."
The trip to the docks is suffocating under this summer Absalom Sun, but after half an hour you reach the harbor district by your preferred mean of transport.
Once there you split in groups and start asking questions at the different landing docks, to sailors and other fauna.
Asked by an Ulfen ship, most of the sailors shrug without knowledge and some point out to you "The harbormaster probably has records of any Ulfen ships that have docked recently."
Correctly assessing someone staying long times in the street might have more knowledge, Numair starts a small conversation with a flower seller. The woman finally explains to the sorcerer, within a pleasing grin that she has seen some people from the North recently doing business with some of the docks property procurators "Some northlanders recently rented a warehouse at the docks from Tullo Baltias. I hope that is of help to you. A flower for your Lady?" finishes the woman showing Numair a white Penelope.
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Eveline starts to ask around, though concentrating on people she sees unthreatening. Given the atmosphere in the bustling harbor with all the burly workers, she keeps to the shade and generally gets only a handful of people's attention. Once she has concluded her query with the passer-by, she excuses herself and hastily departs.
She returns to Numair as he seems to have gleaned appropriate information about Bengeirr and the ulfen ship. Once informed of the situation, Eveline sighs.
"So now we need to seek out Tullo Baltias and ask which warehouse the ulfens have rented."
Whenever possible, she stands in the shade of her colleagues.
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Eveline stops at the doorstep, seeing a new fellow. "Hey, where'd you come from? I've seen you at the Grand Lodge lounge, so you have to be a pathfinder... you bear a message from Adril Hestram?" she asks Draylan.
Draylan bows elaborately. "Message? Oh... no, sorry. No message, other than Adril felt I might be able to contribute to this investigation."
"I know a few people in the area here... maybe they can help us..."
The flower seller grins to Reed and says "Of course young man. He is quite famous around as the large fruit merchant he is. He owns the main greengrocer here in the docks as well as multiple warehouses." she looks at Eveline trying to hide in the shadows "You do for a nice couple given the difference in height." she then points a tower and adds "There you can find his greengrocer, just in front of the tower crane. He is most likely there."
Following the saleswoman you find out the greengrocer in front of the crane. It does not take you long before you are pointed towards a bearded man with an abacus discussing something with a dockworker in front of a fruits pile. As you arrive the discussion seems to finish and once the dockworker starts moving the fruits Tullo Baltias turns his attention towards you "Hello adventurers. What are you looking for in this humble business? Perhaps some fruit cargo for an expedition? I have the ideal apples for a long journey" the man looks at you while pointing towards some boxes full of green.
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Eveline makes an irked face at Reed for denying her comfort in the blistering warmth. She takes the best of the situation and resides in Numair's shade then.
She can't hide her surprise as the florist mistakes her and Reed as a couple, letting out a short snort and turning her gaze elsewhere. At least she didn't mistake me for a chelaxian slave, she ponders. Eveline takes a short look at Reed just to see his reaction.
When they arrive at the crane Eveline makes sure she stays out of the workers' way lest she gets caught in their legs. Once acknowledged, Eveline starts to speak.
"Hello, Tullo Baltias. We are from the Pathfinder Society. We heard you have rented a warehouse to Bengeirr and his ship. We would like to meet him, but lack his exact location."
The man looks at you a bit surprised at the beginning but he is fast to react "Bengeir you say? That name seems familiar to me... But... it seems it is not coming to my mind right now..." says the man while extending his hand towards you.
Taking the coin from Reed's hand the merchant says "I start to remember, although it feels still a bit shady. Again, why were you saying I might forgo those private details? I hope you are not looking to cause problems to my clients... "
You would say he was not satisfied enough with the bribe, but he certainly seems to know the address you are looking for.
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Lionel taps Numair by the shoulder, showing his Exchange necklace from the many chains rocking around his neck. "Ya see, we're here ta make sure tha trade flows as it should be. Reed here," he says, patting the ranger on his wide back, "has shown some initiative here, but he dun like da game as you and I do. Say, if a man rents a warehouse to a murdarar of a foreign high-rolla, how's good that for bus'ness? Nat much, I think. And we could happan to know a man with a warehouse dat's suspishiasly like tha one in question."
Pulling another gold coin from his purse, he hands in to the man, and finishes, saying, "See, we respect tha custom's much's ya do. We're here ta make sure ya clients don see ya as someone causin' problems, if ya catch ma flow.", smiling at the merchant. He then grabs an apple and bites in it, "Ya see, we be nice 'n polite 'n law-abidin' people. We pay good dime for the apple.", pointing at the gold coins, suggesting that Lionel likes bribes as much as he does.
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Eveline has a certain disdain for running business operating partly on bribery. That must be a poor and desperate merchant, trying to fish more gold for simple answers, she curses in her mind, turning away from the chatter to face the crowd, observing them with no hidden agenda.
Eveline's glad Reed's not putting up with the merchant, at least not when listening to the tone of the message. The wink earlier she considers merely as a tease to further embarrass her.