Ryn takes up the rear of the group, so Ulfr proceeds into the house to make sure they don't have any lurkers waiting in the wings to try something stupid. The ladies can take care of the excitable contact.
Azura steps close and puts a hand on Arnic's chest. "Shh. Arshea's looking after us," she says quietly. "Feel my hand? Breathe in and push my hand out. Hold it there... breathe out. Feel my hand following your motion? Good. Breathe in... hold it there. And out. That's good. Imagine you're with a client, helping them after a long and stressful day. So soothing. So calming. Shhh."
"We aren't going to let the Seals do anything to you, and we're going to sort this out," she says. "My friends and I are good at this sort of thing."
"My name is Azura, and I am also a devotee of Arshea. We're here to help."
Looking to one side to Ryn, she says, "We need a plan. We can go with trying to find a personal effect of Berkanin, but there may be other possibilities. I could magically disguise myself to look like Arnic and then see if the Ardocs are looking to pick 'me' up and question me. Or we could just whup a bunch of the Seals so that the Ardocs know that Arnic is under protection, and tell them we want to negotiate instead of just throwing thugs at each other. Anyone have other ideas?"
Princess Puffball hops up to Arnic and sits right at his feet. Between Azura's touch and reassurance and the Princess' presence, he starts to calm down a bit.
"we will not be disquising you Azura to be bait at least not yet. . . I have a spell that can help us find him perhaps.. could you tell me of some object he possesses perhaps something you have given him? I'll need as accurate a description as you can give me"
He spoke for almost the first time since they found him.
Ryn frowns at Azura's suggestion. "I'm definitely not a fan of using you as bait if those apeas are the ones who'll be doing the grabbing." she replies to Azura, "Capable as you are, you don't send numbers like that for a 'little chat'."
Nodding at Trendon's idea of using his magic she considers the fact that things were now moving very quickly. "If the magic helps, great, go for it. If the runner went for reinforcements, we might be dealing with the 'whup a bunch of the Seals' option whether we choose to or not. Though the blissed out crowd might at least slow them down. Nice move Searsha."
Saersha was a bit dismayed at how quickly the man started to panic but she did not comment on it. Letting Azura deal with the breakdown she began to think of what they could do to find the Ardocs. Azura's thought of bait wasn't a terrible one but it wasn't the best either. When Trendon spoke of a spell to help locate them Saersha brightened a bit and said, "Yesss, that might work...assuming they did not take precautions of course."
"Any other ideas? If not, pick a plan."
Arnic takes several breaths, calming down with the aid of Princess Puffball and Azura.
The sounds of footsteps can be heard outside. They're approaching the house--and marching in unison.
Azura peeks out the window to see if it is who it probably is—the goon squad coming for their aasimar confederate.
Azura can see there's about six Brothers of the Seal gathered outside the house.
"Arnic Mint!" One of them calls out. "Get your sorry ass out here!"
Arnic pales. "Oh gods help me, no..."
"All right, team, time to knock some heads—assuming we can't get them to listen to reason," says Azura. "Or uh, if Saersha wants to charm them?"
Ulfr's greatclub appears in his hand. Youall just stay behind Ryn and I. These guys are charging a choke point. As long as we hold the door there could be 50 of 'em and it wouldn't matter. We'll just build a wall out of their bodies.
He pauses for a moment, then a mischievous smile springs to his face. Arnic, you wouldn't happen to have a donkey handy, would you?
”D-donkey? What would you need a donkey of all things for?” Arnic wrings his hands while Arthak tilts his head.
Ulfr chuckles, They just asked for it, no, DEMANDED it! Or they want to hire you. Can't tell.
He flexed and cracked his neck glancing back to his friends with a smirk.
"you heard the man... hold the door. I will.. do the talking... Ulfr.. am I going to pick a fight or try to talk them out of it? dont smash me if i have to slide between your legs Ulfr.. thats my planned escape route."
He asked waiting just long enough to get the answer before he strode torwards the door. He paused out of their sightline and cast shield on himself with his wand. Then he took a quick scan of their surrounding for extra hidden foes.
"parlay! You seek the one known as Arnic Mint?"
He began holding his arms up, his cane in one hand.
"I am not armed not armed... just want to talk.
Ryn grins as Ulfr mentions the likely outcome, Ryn stands just far enough back to be clear of anything Trendon does that might be dangerous, but ready to hold the line, shield in hand, weight perfectly balanced on the balls of her feet as she rolls her shoulders back.
Ulfr shrugs. I already had a workout today, but if they insist I wouldn't object to another. Might be easier later on if we don't send a bunch of em home in bags.
That being said, I've never shied from the hard way.
He shrugs again, a living juxtaposition of bored indifference and barely restrained blunt force trauma.
Saersha was not amused by what was happening. She had hoped that they had lost those idiots earlier but it seemed that was not the case. "It's times like these I wish I could charm people en mass. Sadly that is beyond my capabilities right now." So it was that she was relieved that Trendon decided to try talking first.
There's a silence from the outside as Trendon speaks.
The leader of the squad steps forward--a burly, pale-skinned man in dark brown robes, his blond hair shaved into a mohawk and his green eyes blazing with violent intent.
"...you're not Arnic Mint. Who are you and why are you protecting him?" He asks, his voice surprisingly even and calm--contrasting the tightening of his knuckles in his fists.
"and you must be the guy in charge with such an eloquent statement. I am Lord Trendon Razner. Pathfinder... Esquire... author... and noted philanthropist. My team and I are questioning your Arnic Mint for pathfinder business. We shant be long a week maybe two. Or... you can demand him now. We dont want to fight you and I will gladly give him to you... but not for nothing."
He paaused taking a look around and acting like he was counting heads.
"Its possible i could.. give you some coin to sweeten the waiting time... is this all you brought with you can i get you men to raise their hands.. or my accountant will be cross."
He asked suggesting perhaps the gang members get a little closer.. and more obvious at least to him.
The ruffians look between each other before their leader takes a few tentative steps forward. "...er..."
The leader clears his throat as his subordinates start to drift together, whispering among themselves. "...this is rather unusual, sir. Never heard of a Pathfinder coming down here."[/b He scratches his head. [b]"What would a bunch of explorers even need with a joyboy like him?"
Embyr's ears twitch as she overhears the conversation.
Now what i have for you wonderful gentlemen is a pouch of the finest korvasan gold. . .
With that he slipped his hand into a belt pouch and removed a pinch of gold dust whispering arcane words and tossing it torwards the men.
He spun away not even bothering to see the results and ran for his friends.
Even as Trendon makes a grandiose gesture, enveloping the goons in a cloud of glittering particles, Ryn's body is in motion, spinning to gather momentum as she sends her shield spinning past her retreating companion, the courtyard ringing with the sound of metal hitting bone, accompanied by a sickening crack as the shield bounces off the leader's skull, ricocheting into the ribcage of the thug beside him, off the ground to rattle back and forth between the two men behind them, before skipping off the flagstones in its unerring path back to the gladiatrix' hand.
And just behind the shield is the bulk of Ulfr. He stands just inside the door, leaving with room for one man to approach at a time. His club is on his shoulder and a confident smirk on his face.
Come on in, boys! he taunts.
Saersha realized something was about to happen when Embyr's ears twitched and so when violence erupted she was ready. As teh fight broke out Saersha quickly cast a spell on the last guard that Ryn attacked and caused him to start feeling overwhelming lust towards the wepon of the guard next to them.
It was occasions such as this that showed the difference between a gang of roughs and ruffians and a party of experienced adventurers.
Trendon's glitterdust spell alone would have been enough to throw the lot of them into disarray.
But combine such a spell with Ryn's flurry of movement and Saersha's magic, and those few Brothers of the Seal who weren't immediately incapacitated are swiftly put to the rout. Two of the group flee into the streets, one greedily sucking on the other's fingers in a Thassilonian-lust-induced craze.
Awww. They didn't come in. Ulfr jokingly whines. Ok. Let's not delay. There's a good chance those weren't the only goons were going to face today.
"What?"
Arnic gathers up Princess Puffball and goes to look at the carnage. "Oh my heavens--!"
He gasps. "I-I can't believe what you just did!"
Arthak lets out a growl of approval.
Oh, I'm sure I can't believe some of what you do either, but what's a little casual violence between friends, eh? Now, where are we going again and how many people can I hit on the way there!
Saersha watched in delight as one of the thugs began to run away while sucking lustfully on the thumb of another. It always pleased her when she saw such things happen. Her pleasure quickly turned to concern though when she heard what Arnic and Arthak had to say. "I think maybe we should all leave this place; it is obvious they know where you live."
Saersha thought it through for a moment and then added, "Maybe take them back to our inn? If we can smuggle them there it will throw the goon squads off for at least a little while."
"Gather your important things friend."
He began pulling out an old handkerchief and wiping the ... blood from that bandits face off his.
"really Ryn you had to burst his nose like that so close to me. How much more do i have to make it up to you?"
He began quickly going through the fallens pockets for coin and anything interesting.
Ryn chuckles as Trendon complains. "You should know by now not to stand in blood spatter range."
"Yeah let's get moving before whoever sent them can scrounge up another batch of goons to take a beating."
Won't be hard in a town like this. Especially in their own territory.
Arnic and Arthak gather their things and set out, following the party with haste.
-----------------------
The trek back to the Velvet Elysian Post goes without too much trouble; given the party's size and determined march, the crowds of Kaer Maga's people don't seem inclined to get in their way.
The long, one-story building soon comes into view and Arnic lets out a sigh. "Oh, good... at least it's somewhere nice and not a bolt-hole in Ankar-Te or something." The handsome man mumbles.
Embyr sidles up next to Arthak with a little blush on her cheeks, but says nothing until after everyone has gone inside.
"I don't know about Ankar-Te, but yeah, we're at least not in a terrible place," says Azura.
Saersha thought of butting in on whatever Embyr had to say to Arthak but she decided that she would allow her Pet this bit of privacy. She gave Embyr a knowing look and went inside leaving her alone with Arthak.
With Arnic safely ensconced in the Velvet Elysian Post, the team has the opportunity to figure out their next steps. Once the celestial consort is composed, he explains a bit more calmly, "The Ardocs keep a very tight fist on a lot of magical power in the city—outside of the librarians and other high wizards who keep to themselves. They um... they have a lot of sway in their district, with their family running favors and operations, often with a magical bent. But apparently they think someone is stealing their secrets for making automatons, and they think it's me!"
Arnic wrings his hands and says, "Of course, that would be ridiculous. I know better than to cross a powerful client like that! And I'm no arcanist, I wouldn't know a clockwork from a clutch."
"Now that you've bloodied the noses of some of their muscle, they know that the frontal approach won't work, and that I have friends. That means they're going to figure out something else, because they can't let someone get away with resisting them! Other people might get the wrong idea if it looks like the Ardocs aren't in charge," continues Arnic.
"I don't know what to do, but thank you for keeping me safe!"
Azura sighs and says, "Well... if the Ardocs control a lot of magical influence, they might actually know something about what we're looking for here in town. But... I dunno if we, as a team, are powerful enough to broker a deal with a faction that controls an entire ward of Magnimar."
Arnic says, "They have a lot of territory, but they aren't the only power groop in the city. If you need information you could always ask the Augurs, or maybe the great library at the Therassic Spire."
Azura says, "I guess that gives us options, and something is better than nothing. So, what can you tell us about those two?"
Arnic thinks a moment, then says, "Well, the Augurs are trolls... they practice self-mutilating haruspicy to try to get visions. So maybe they can divine some information about whatever it is you're doing. The Spire is the biggest repository of knowledge in Magnimar, but apparently there's something going on and the librarians have the place closed to the public for the time being."
He shrugs and says with some embarrassment, "Again, not a scholar, I don't spend too much time going through the great library."
Azura says, "Good to know. So it's problems all over the city. What about making a meet with the Ardocs and just sorting all of this out?"
Arnic says nervously, "Umm... they would need assurances somehow that it's not me, but that means you'd have to find out who's behind the theft of their formulas. Also some way to save face so they don't lose status with the other gangs and power groups in the city—if you just pushed your way in and forced them to capitulate, it would be seen as a sign of weakness, and they can't allow that."
Azura nods as the team takes up seats in their luxurious quarters and says, "Well, team, how about it? Check with the Augurs for a divination? Visit the Thorassic Spire and see what's gone wrong there? Make a meet with the Ardocs? Or something else?"
"If we can get into the Thorassic Spire, they're likely to have at least some type of information that could be useful...and if we can help them with whatever issue they have going on, they might be generous with information." Ryn suggests, considering their limited options.
I prefer facts to divinations. Ulfr chimes in. And as much as I love a good fight, I'm not sure I want to risk taking on an entire clan.
"I will send a nicely worded letter to the Ardoc's, even if we dont get far with them, perhaps we can come up with a mutually beenfical agreement to help them save some face. While they are enemies at the moment.. one day we may need them as friends, no sense keeping them sour. I should be able to perhaps pen a letter to the spire that grants us entrance as well.. I dislike the idea of self mutiliating troll augury's . Even saying it aloud leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
to emphsize the point he took a deep draught of his wine.
"but im not against speaking with them if we have too."
After you settle in Arnic and Arthak at the Velvet Elysian Post, the team pushes through the crowded streets toward the Therassic Spire. It's reasonably easy to use the Spire itself as a landmark: It's a circular tower eight stories tall.
As you approach, you see that the huge, iron-bound doors are shut tight, and a small, meticulously lettered sign announces:
CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
There are no exterior guards; the door itself is massive and heavy, probably with various ancillary enchantments, likely barred or bolted, with a tiny grille at eye level for a human.
What now?
Saersha nodded in agreement with the general consensus and said, "I agree, the send a message to the Ardocs and then go to the Therassic Spire. The Augurs are of lesser use, I can probably due the same thing they can if we can just get a scroll I can copy to my spellbook," she smirked, "and without the self mutilation."
Saersha collected Embyr as they left and once they arrived at the Terassic Tower with it's closed sign just outside the ironbound doors Saersha looked at the place thoughtfully and then said, "Well, nothing for it." She approached the big metal door and looked for a way to get someone's attention, a bell pull or gong or something and used it.
Saersha's first knock receives no response. She knocks again, and Ulfr is about to make things noisy when the small window-slider opens, and you can just make out a pair of squinty eyes on the other side. A gravelly voice says, "Like the sign says, closed until further notice. And if you can't read, then what are you doing at a library?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Saersha looked at the person through the slider window as they sarcastically asked if they could read the sign and implied, she was unable to. Saersha's eye's narrowed as she looked at the man and said, "Truly, what an appalling librarian you are. Of course, I can read, and I guarantee I have read things you would kill to add to your library."
Straightening her shoulders Saersa continued, "I am Saersha and we are looking for information on the location of certain ruins within the city. We could go to others for this information but thought surely such a library as yours would have the information that we seek. It would seem we may have been mistaken." With a sigh Saersha said, "It's a shame really, we had considered to provide a donation to those who could help us, it's a shame we may have to give it to those frightful Augers instead of such a reputable place as your own."