Drovic looms around silently, listening but not able to add much from his own studies.
One thing that stands out about Dashel is he is more of a battle cleric, he doesn't look really touchy feeling healer type. His shield is scarred and breastplate is dinged and dented in locations.
Sethran conveys all that he knows.
If we have to spend some time there, it is a museum... Shouldn't be too hard.
I suggest we spend our time examining and then take the idol when we are no longer at study.
Do we know what the place has for security, both mundane and magical?
I'm assuming money was no object, the question would be how much value they placed on their exhibits and how much risk the can stomach. Is rather innocents don't get hurt, it's unprofessional.
Drovic, you know that they tend to rely more on guards and locks than magic; they figure that an assault will trigger attention from Absalom's city guards, who are quite capable, and the Blakros family has an understanding with the Pathfinder Society as well.
"We should be primarily dealing with physical barriers like guards and locks instead of magical ones. A blatant assault would get the city guard to respond which is something we want to avoid. Not to mention the Pathfinder Society who has made arrangements with the Blakros family."
How can I help?
The other reason for the relatively light security on the main floor of the museum is that they don't keep extremely valuable or magical items there. The storage vaults below are much more heavily warded, and the most valuable items in the family collection aren't even kept at the museum.
Gallowsmith clears his throat (or at least makes a noise like that). "It occurs to me that perhaps you could see if the Blakros Museum in our Golarion has a similar item. You wouldn't need to take it, and you could research it here."
Could we find it here, create a mold... Fabricate a replica there and swap it for the real thing?
"If it's a museum and open to the public let's get a look at the inside first."
Sounds reasonable. Let me know what sort of spell support you would appreciate.
"I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate fire spells inside that fancy building." He chuckles. "come to think of it water, ice, electrically all those would be frowned upon, I'd imagine." He ponders it a bit, "Charms and illusions could work nicely against people without causing much property damage."
Charms are ethically ambiguous, not a fan. But illusions, I've got a few. So, we're going for subtle.
Usually, I'm more of a knock'em on their arse kinda guy.. He smile genuinely.
"Do we want to reveal all of our faces to any potential security they may have? I can disguise myself and investigate the layout." Drovic scoffs at Sethran's talk of ethics. "Leave it to the scholars to decide if we did things the right way after we keep the world from imploding. I won't lose sleep over any dirty trick we have to use."
I was merely informing you, that I have forsaken the arcane schools of enchantment and... necromancy, while we're at it.
I specialize in evocation and conjuration. I hope I've been clearer.
I think we may be overthinking things. Allow Drovic and I to scout the place once we get inside. If we run into trouble - you support. It is simple, really.
Sethran shrugs in agreement, Let's go.
"There is nothing wrong with not being proficient in a particular school of magic, but that doesn't justify demonizing it. Even necromancy has many uses despite it admittedly housing the majority of evil spells." Drovic sounds less condescending, his tone suggesting intelligent debate instead. He nods to Conner. "I agree, let us not waste any more time."
I appreciate a good discussion, but... I merely said ambiguous.
The four of you set off for the Blakros Museum, in two groups of two. When Drovic and Conner arrive, there aren't that many people visiting--there are enough, though, that they can avoid attention from the sometimes too-helpful docents. There's a jungle-themed exhibit occupying most of the eastern room, but you easily find the display case described by Gallowsmith. There's nothing in the case that fits the sage's admittedly limited description, though...at least at first glance. On one shelf is a jagged fragment of golden material, apparently a piece of a disc. The top face is carved with a design that is unfortunately not readily recognized as anything in particular; there's nothing on it that looks like any sort of writing, though. Next to it is a card, reading "Donated by Arianna Regere. Unknown origin."
"Arianna is the daughter of Elsbet Regere, the mayor of the Andoren city of Oregent." Drovic whispers to Connor. "We should keep scouting."
Conner nods and follows Drovic to different parts of the museum in search of the idol.
Conner thinks back on Gallowsmith's description of the idol/statue in question and the material it's made from, and remembers that it's nine inches or so across and short...it could be a disk with carving on its face, and given Gallowsmith's comment about the brittleness of iron pyrite the item on the display shelf could be a fragment of the analogous item in this Golarion.
Dashel. While they're inside checking the idol out, should we case the outside or perimeter?
"My thoughts exactly. We need to see exit points and mark any guardsman or extra eyes watching over the building." He chuckles. "Stealth tends to escape me. My sword literally shines bright when drawn but that is expected from a priest of Iomedae."
"Is there anything else we need to do in here? If not we should get moving."
Having gathered what information you could at the Museum, you return to Gallowsmith's home. The sage nods at your description of the item. "A disk. Yes, that would explain it. I don't know why I thought it was a statue; perhaps I was still thinking about the anchor in our Golarion, and your efforts to protect it. Perhaps this Arianna Regere would be able to tell you how she came to have the disk."
So... Which one of you handles the ladies?
Drovic nods. "Makes sense, we should find Arianna Regere and inquire about it." He snorts at Sethran's question. "I'm not the most inspiring face for romance."
Nor is my scarred mug.
"My beaming personality shall win her over." He smiles, "Plus a little magic to inspire the moment of greatness may leave her breathless." He pauses. "So where can I find this Arianna Regere?"
Dash-ing... indeed.
Gallowsmith replies, "Oregent would be the obvious place. Though you might also consider her relationship with the Blakros family, if she's giving them donations."
"Well, it looks like I'll be asking for some divine guidance perhaps an augury spell tomorrow. Perhaps we can learn if she is in Oregent or at one of the Blakros' manors. This is not one of my normal spells, I'm not much into divination and regretfully I don't carry one of those scrolls." He looks to the group, "But in any case we should prepare to travel."
You have a chance to make other preparations before Dashel can perform any divinations; the night will pass uneventfully.
I trust you'll have things well in... hand. But, if you need any help from the arcane arts, you have but ask.
I'll need to procure scrolls, probably as I've not focused on Stealth or Subterfuge in some time. But, they should be readily available.
"Ol' bringer of light, the beacon in the sky, show us the path towards our quest. If we travel to Oregent will we find Arianna Regere in the city?"