Baer waits to see anyone else is doing anything before returning to Quorthos' dad's shop.
If it checks out as a fake, we should alert Cressida and have her shut the place down
"I guess checking with Quorthos's dad and the Academy looks like the easier method. Better than me attempting to break in Vendra's apartment. I'm not good at that sort of thing."
"I guess checking with Quorthos's dad and the Academy looks like the easier method. Better than me attempting to break in Vendra's apartment. I'm not good at that sort of thing."
Baer snorts. She glances at Mavor's axe.
"Seems to me that you'd be fine at breaking into Vendra's apartment. I think you'd be very good at that," Baer says with a straight face. "The hard part would not be making so much noise as to get caught."
Mavor looks at Baer and chuckles.
"Right you are Baer, right you are. I'm not that subtle in my ways of opening doors."
Quorthos spots a man with red pox all over his face waiting in line to get a cure. He looks like he's got a very severe case of blood veil and coughs an awful lot. When Quorthos offers him the antiplague, the man drinks it and responds very grateful. "Thank you, son! *cough cough cough* I'll still be getting this other *cooouuugh cough* cure, but you never know what works and what... *cough* ...ugh, what doesn't... You may have very well just saved my life!"
------
You head to the shop owned by Quorthos's dad. It's closed, but Quorthos of course has the key. You find Magembe in the back of the shop, brewing antiplague in a kettle.
"Hello everyone!" Magembe says as he spots you. "Good to see all of you again. What can I do for you?"
You show Magembe the cure from Lavender and ask him to identify its exact content.
"Sure, I can do that. Just give me a moment."
Magembe takes the cure and heads off to his small alchemy lab in the corner of the room. It doesn't take long before you hear a disappointed sigh.
"It's a fake cure!" Magembe says with disgust in his voice. "It's just water from the river, with some sugar to sweeten it, and some perfume to make it smell nice!"
The anger's clear on Magembe's face as he walks back to you from his alchemy lab. "Whoever's selling this should be ashamed!"
"Thought so. Anything that smells or tastes good isn't good medicine. Well that was a waste of time and money..."
He glances at the others.
"What next? We've exhausted most of our options I believe. Shall we report back at Cressida?"
"We could, but the day hasn't yet fully passed.
There two things we've not uncovered yet about the 'plague doctors', shall we say?
Tural, you mentioned the weird mask might be protection against contact with blood veil infectees. Plus, we don't know if that one plague doctor was the single one to wear that unholy symbol, or if they are all one big clique."
Baer snorts, not surprised.
"Well, let's go close the shop. No point in going to Cressida to do what we already can, right?" Baer says. "She's knowingly robbing and selling false hope. I...I do not respect that. We should bring her in with a sample of her cure to Cressida." Baer is angry.
Baer prepares to return to the shop.
* * *
Tural, also slightly angry, nods to Baer.
"I'm not one for violence but this sounds right."
He starts renewing the battle wards on everyone, just in case it comes to a fight.
Quorthos fumes as his father confirms what he suspected all along. Making money on the hopes of sick people...
At Baer's suggestion, Quorthos agrees wholeheartedly. "Of course, it might start a riot, when the crowd finds out they're being fleeced... but the seller made her choice."
On the way back to the shop, Quorthos wonders aloud. "Should we try to bring her back to Cressida? If so, we'll probably need to fight the goons. Or should we just tell everyone her cure is a fake? How will we prove it to them? Maybe we should tell her that we are on to her quietly, and give her a chance to disperse the crowd before we take her in."
"Tell her quietly. Well there's passing a note underneath a door.
'Providing access' discreetly to her house and search it is an option too.
Like i said, i could also turn invisible and snoop in the shop, if she and her goons are distracted."
The guards at the shop are still in the same positions when you return, as are Vendra and the two girls selling the fake cures. The only weapon each of the guards has, is a sap. Their chainmail isn't of an impressive quality.
Baer grunts, making a note to not kill anyone if she can help it.
"Denario? Quorthos? You had a plan?" Baer asks, ready to help.
"A proposed one, yes. Someone distracts the staff, i turn invisible to sneak past the guards and search upstairs for any clues."
"Good ideas. I vote for taking her to Cressida. Let us give her the chance to come with us willingly. If she will not I could always create a fog cloud and we could take her by force."
Tural says as they walk to the shop.
"I shall go talk to her. Baer, Mavor and Quorthos, will you accompany me inside?"
He nods to Denario's sneaking in plan.
-----If everyone agrees-----
He moves inside the shop again, hoping the woman recognizes her. He directly walks up to her with most of the group in tow. He leans a bit over the counter and whispers to the woman.
"We ask you to come with us in peace. We know what you are on about and want to solve this the peaceful way."
"Of course, Tural, you might need a little muscle in there with you. I'm not at all afraid of those goons, they don't look that impressive."
Mavor walks in with Tural, Baer and Quorthos from the front and takes a side-look glance at the goons guarding the place.
Baer casts shield before falling behind Mavor as Tural's hired flunky/goon.
She looks tough, I think. If not tough, definitely ugly. Yeah, she looks ugly in support of Tural.
Quorthos agrees with Tural's plan. "We should give her the option to come quietly," he says. "We also don't want to do anything illegal in carrying out our duties. We have all the evidence we need at this point. "
Before leaving Magembe's shop, Quorthos will cast shocking grasp into his armor.
Upon arriving at the perfumery, Quorthos will accompany Tural. After Tural makes his opening statement, Quorthos adds in a whisper, "... unless of course you'd rather we tell all your customers you're selling river water, sugar and perfume instead of actual medicine? It would be a shame if all these glass bottles were damaged in the ensuing riot..."
As everyone else heads inside to confront Vendra, Majenko stays outside with Denario.
"Looks like those stairs lead nowhere. Want to check the house while the others do the talking and fighting, or do you want to join them?"
Vendra casts an angry glare at Tural and those who went with him. A hint of fear creeps into her gaze when Quorthos intimidates her, but she quickly recovers and hisses, "I don't know who you are, but you'd better get the hell out of here before I have my guards kick you out!"
Yes, i'll have a look there.
"Since we're deputies of the Field Marshall, you'd lose that battle," Quorthos replies, smiling. "So here are your options. Either you magically 'run out' of this cure right now, and come along quietly... or we tell your customers the news, and then come back with a patrol to close your shop completely." Quorthos' eyes narrow. "Assuming, of course, the crowd doesn't burn it to the ground first, and then nail you to a tree as a traitor to Korvosa."
Quorthos looks out the window, taking in the sights. "I've even heard there are some Hellknights in town, trying to maintain order and ensure no one uses this unfortunate situation to profit. Shame if they had to stop by, now, wouldn't it?"
Quorthos waits momentarily for her response, but if it isn't forthcoming quickly and positively, he motions to the assembled crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please!"
...
If the street is deserted, Denario won't cast Vanish. If there are people walking about, he will, lasting 5 rounds.
He'll try to gently force the door.
As Quorthos begins to speak, Baer gives goon-eye to the hired thugs.
You guys want to start something? Just try me.
Intimitdate
Baer spins her quarterstaff, cracking with arcane energy.
Tural crosses his arms, ready to buff the party if she decides that fighter her way out is the best choice.
Vendra continues to glare at Quorthos and doesn't appear to be willing to cooperate. When Quorthos turns to the crowd Vendra changes her mind.
"Alright, alright! I'll come with you," she says and holds her hands up in the air.
The guards look like they want to step in, but Baer's goon-eye and whirling staff keep them at bay.
Vendra takes a step toward the counter and takes a deep breath. "If I tell them there's no more cure, will you let me lock shop before I come along?"[/spoiler]
Denario notices there's no one but him and Majenko in the street, which is incredibly convenient and saves him a spell. His first and second attempts to force the east door of Vendra's apartment aren't any good, perhaps because Denario's trying to be quiet by not using too much force. Denario succeeds when he tries to open the door a third time, breaking the door's hinges and causing it to hit the apartment's floor with a loud bang.
Bits of broken crates and barrels cover the floor of the dilapidated apartment. A tun of oily liquid, its lip level with a man's chest, fills a corner of the room, a well-used canoe oar sticking out of it. Next to it squat several large casks of murky water and two stacks of boxes—one holding dozens of small ceramic vials with magenta stoppers, the other holding a mismatched collection of delicate perfume bottles. The apartment's kitchen nook holds another crate, this one filled with broken shards of multicolored glass. Despite being in shambles, the apartment smells delightful—a mixture of spices, flowers, and exotic oils.
A man wearing the same kind of chainmail as the guards in the shop and a sap in his hand lies on the floor, a couple of feet away from the door. It looks like the door hit him right in his face when its hinges broke and it came crashing down.
"You son of a b@%$*!" the yells at Denario, crawling back to his feet as he does. "I'll get you for that!"
Round 1:
Denario
Majenko
Man
Well Majenko, it's up to us i guess.
"So, chump, you work for the con woman then huh?"
Denario then takes a step back.
Tural's eyes narrow as he hears an undertone to her voice.
"I think not. your colleagues will be able to do that themselves. Try to trick us and you will be face down in the dirt with the others. We will drag you back if need be."
Not knowing what she is up to he changes his plan.
"We can take one of them with ease!"
Majenko flies forward and attacks the man with his tail's stinger.
Denario's snowball hits the man full in his already hurt face and leaves him staggered.
Majenko then flies forward and stings the man in his neck. The man wobbles on his feet and drops to the floor, sound asleep.
Vendra anxiously looks at Tural, then at the customers.
Vendra decides to take the gamble and climbs onto the counter in an attempt to get away from you. One of the girls selling fake cures jumps back in shock. Tural quickly casts hold person and causes Vendra to freeze in place, just as she was about to jump off the counter.
The guards look at each other, but don't take any action. Baer's goon-eye and Tural's obviously powerful magic are enough to convince them they don't want to pick a fight with you.
Nice going. Now to cover up the damages.
Denario searches the guard for any valuables, before binding him, with the guy's pants if need be.
He then drags the man away inside so he can hide him somewhere out of view of the windows.
Looking back at the door, he rubs his chin.
"Hmm, i suppose i can only try and hide it as best i can."
Anyway, Denario starts searching the house.
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Baer doesn't flinch over the noise that doesn't concern her.
"Try to trick us and you will be face down in the dirt with the others. We will drag you back if need be."
Baer seems pleased at the thought that she might run.
"No, no, please run or resist. If you run or resist then I get to use violence to bring you in," Baer says looking hopeful.
Intimidate
"I like violence."
Tural raises an eyebrow at Vendra.
"Baer, will you do the honors of tying up our beloved guest?"
He says as he holds his open hand up towards the woman frozen on the counter.
"If it's up to me you may break an arm or two doing so. She cost me a valuable spell. Worst case we can heal her up before giving her over."
Denario successfully ties the man with the man's own pants, then raises the door and loosely places it back inside its frame. It's all he can physically do for now, but suffices to avoid the curiosity of passersby.
While searching the room Denario finds nothing new, but he figures the bottles, perfumes, and water here are all the evidence the Korvosan Guard requires to shut down Lavender and imprison Vendra.
Denario opens a door leading to a smaller room and discovers a secret door , leading to a small bedroom furnished with an antique armoire and a bed sheeted in purple silks and heavily laden with round pillows. There's a door in the bedroom's west wall.
Denario opens the door in the bedroom's west wall and enters the living room. Delicate wall hangings, artistically shaped candles, and the fine scent of cherry blossoms fill this well-decorated apartment. A table sculpted with swirling ivy leaves bears a fragile porcelain tea service and an exotically curved hookah in a kitchen nook to the east. Vendra's apartment obviously strives to mimic the salon of a Chelish noblewoman. The place is quite neat and clean, the perfumer's collection of tawdry romances and maudlin poetry being particularly well organized. Two pieces of amateur artwork hang among candle sconces and painted dishware—one a soul-soothing landscape of a mountain lake and another a sketch of Cheliax’s famed opera house, Her Imperial Majestrix's Melodeum.
The customers were frozen in fear rather than paralysis, but start fleeing and screaming when Baer announces she likes violence. Within a matter of seconds all customers have left the building, and the two salesgirls have crawled into a corner and have started crying. The two guards remain passive through it all, having both figured that acting like part of the furniture draws the least attention to them.
Vendra's not wearing any pants, but it turns out the ribbon from Vendra's dress can also be used to tie her arms after you've ripped it off.
Mavor looks on at the efficient way that Tural and Baer handle Vendra. He nods and smiles.
"Quite the way to handle that, I'm sure this could have gone far worse Tural."
"Looks like all the customers have run off already, no need to make a convincing statement to them. Let's tie her up with this piece of rope before we hand her in to Cressida."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Vendra.", as Denario looks around the place.
"Look Majenko, this bed's got expensive materials, likewise the pillows."
The same in the living room.
"Here too, she's been making steady enough money, to buy these expensive pieces. I'm sure the guard are going to love seeing this, Cressida might too when she hears this. I think we've seen our share of proof here, shall we join the others?"
With that, Denario cautiously takes away and replaces the loose door.
"Now to come up with why this door's off its hinges."
"Can we take one of the pillows?" Majenko asks Denario while sitting on one. "These are very nice and soft."
Majenko circles Denario's head while the latter replaces the door, then perches down on Denario's shoulder.
"Why not say... it, uh... Never mind, it was a bad plan."
As much as you'd deserve one for helping us all the way, we'd get accused of theft. Hellknights aren't particular picky though....."
Baer snorts in disappointment at the easy resolution. She helps bind Vendra (in a kindly way, as well). She keeps an eye on the guards, giving easy smiles to ensure their continued compliance.
"Now, we're going to take Vendra in along with a few samples of her product. I can't say if she'll be back soon or not, but you'll want to keep an eye on her shop. She's no doubt paying you well, and you should do what you've agreed to. I'd hate to have to find either of you for dereliction of duty," Baer says, making sure she has each guard's face in mind.
Baer looks over at the cowering shop girls.
"Which one of you is going to make sure you stop selling this fake 'cure'?" Baer asks. "And which one of you is going to mind the shop while Vendra is away?"
When the guards and shop girls are on the same page, Baer is ready to take Vendra in. She looks around.
"Hey? Where is Denario?"
Quorthos watches Vendra's predictable escape and his colleagues' excellent work in preventing it. "Nicely done, friends!" He helps tie up Vendra, and leans close to her, whispering something.
Quorthos helps gather evidence and escort Vendra back to the Field Marshall. Before leaving, he looks around for some paper and makes a large sign to hang on the door: "Permanently out of business"
"Hey? Where is Denario?"
At that moment, the card player walks in, with Majenko on his shoulder.
He nods, then looks at the little pseudo dragon and smiles.Majenko, would you tell the others what we found, please.
It's awkward to say we broke in and what we found.
Tural smiles, a slightly evil, smile at Vendra.
"Sometimes... It is really worth listening to someone who speaks sense."
After hearing what Denario was up to his gaze turns back to the woman.
"You are in for a long ride I think."
Turning to the group he seems ready to wrap things up.
"Shall we leave this mess and report back?"
"Fine with me, we've done this thing quick enough. Maybe she's got more work to do for us in the meantime."
Once the girls have calmed down and Quorthos has placed his sign to hang on the door, you leave. As you walk off you see the girls and guards quietly start picking up the wares knocked-over by the fleeing customers.
You notice Vendra tries to escape her bonds as you walk toward Citadel Volshyenek, but she's unable to. Just before you bring her to Cressida's office, you figure you should probably check Vendra for weapons and other items. You find the following items: a wand of charm person (38 charges), wand of remove disease (7 charges), 2 doses of giant wasp poison, masterwork dagger, bracers of armor +2, and silver and violet jewelry worth 50 gp.