Kala Thelas |
"Perhaps copying this code would serve us best......" Kala suggests even as she tries to make sense of it and failing.
"We'll keep your words to heart and that there was some change in the tides while that clanging sound was heard."
Oddler Oddrik |
Oddler is very interested in this and jots down the symbols, matching as exactly as he can for his journal. Perhaps this is some form of dark magic? A sort of mark by which the shark can be controlled?
Also now that your sharks seem to be doing a touch better, can you tell use what happened to them? Oddlers voice is calm and impassive. Like she is writing a report on this and has no real interest beyond academia.
DM Khel |
"As I told you, they were poisoned by toxic red algae," Honoke replies, "also known as the Carmine Scourge - but thankfully, your treatment has healed them." He puzzles over the markings on the shark's fin, saying, "I had not noticed that, nor do I know what it means. No one has been near the sharks since we returned from Zahra's expedition, but there were many others near them during the expedition, as we were all traveling together." With a sad shrug, he adds, "Perhaps we could ask the sharks who put the marks there, but I have never learned to speak to them."
Kala Thelas |
"Perhaps someone with the ability or magic to do so?" Kala muses.
"What do you think of the expedition on the whole?"
DM Khel |
"Perhaps someone with the ability or magic to do so?" Kala muses.
Lileone did offer to help. Vialesk is a very large city, so moving around the city takes time. Up to you all if you want to take the time to ask Lileone for help or continue with the investigation elsewhere.
"I don't really have an opinion on the expedition or its goals," Hokone says to Kala. "I was hired to do a job for them, and in the end it nearly cost me my beloved animals."
Molos Voren |
Molos agrees with Jax. 'Lets move on. Next name on the list has to be checked. If we tarry too long, we'll never get to the bottom of what's going on.". He turns to walk out,unless the group calls him back.
~Frost~ |
"I am glad we were able to help, I hope we get justice for you soon"
Frost follows Molos.
Seijiro Saketa |
Seijiro makes note of the code, in case there is time to start decoding it later. Then he follows the others out.
DM Khel |
Honoke bids the Pathfinders farewell, and turns to resting contentedly in the water with his whale sharks, now restored to health. Using directions provided by Zahra, the party finds their way to the offices of Tsomo Qorra. Inside, there are four murajaus, in appearance much like a centaur but with the lower body replaced by a huge hermit crab’s form. The murajaus are working diligently, making notes on large maps pinned to the walls and spread over work tables, while one of them holds a tank with a small bamboo shark in it. A harried-looking assistant, a blue-skinned aquatic elf in dark blue robes with braided green hair that reaches down to the small of his back, can be seen juggling a pile of maps and charts at the far end of the room.
A murajau looks up from her work and says in a tone both friendly and brisk, ”Welcome. I am Chailai, how can I help you?”
Oddler Oddrik |
Before they leave Hokone, feeling confident that the Giant is not responsible for the attack Oddler asks.
Oh yes, the actual reason we came. They are looking to put together a clean up effort to help sure up the part of the town currently at risk from the Carmine Scourge. Can we count on your help?
---
Oddler blinks curiously at the bamboo shark. How odd She will remark out loud as she peers at the shark through her mask. A shark at each location? Not usual at all. Then again we're in the plane of water. Maybe sharks are like cats here.
We are looking for Tsomo Qorra, we need to speak to him regarding his potential employment. After this incident with the expedition disaster he was involved in we have our doubts so... it would be helpful to speak with him. But you look like you'd provide an unbiased account, what do you know about the disaster (and Master Qorra's role in it)
DM Khel |
Before leaving Honoke (wasn't sure you guys were going to ask about this, good move):
A weary smile crosses Honoke's lined face at Oddler's question, and he nods as he replies, "I would like to help with that, though as you can see, I'm not well. What do you have in mind? "
Diplomacy checks, please, with a +6 because you healed the whale sharks.
At Tsomo's office:
"Unfortunately, Tsomo is not here, though you can speak with his assistant," Chailai responds. "But as far as the recent expedition, let me show you on the map." She moves to a map on the wall and points out the plotted route for the expedition, as well as where the algae bloom should have been. "I would add that my people had a great interest in the expedition succeeding and reaching the shell settlement, as there are murajau legends that the shell was once a funeral site for the last followers of Lysianassa. We had hopes of taking a pilgrimage there, should the expedition have succeeded in finding it."
Seijiro Saketa |
profession sailor, dc 18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
perception dc 14: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
"Oh look! More of that code in this shark's fins..."
Molos Voren |
Aid another diplomacy 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Knowledge planes 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
"Has your shark always had those notches on its fin? Any idea what it means? And do you know of anyone who spoke out against the expedition or wanted it to fail?"
Kala Thelas |
Diplomacy with +6 1d20 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 6 = 27
Knowledge (Planes) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
"Someone who has first hand seen the damage that this Carmine Scourge has done would understand that all hands are needed to clear this. If it spreads and infect the other creatures, there'll be trouble." Kala appeals to Honoke.
"That bamboo shark has notches on it too...." Kala points out to her companions.
DM Khel |
At Honoke’s Poolside Pad:
Honoke happily agrees to help with the restoration of the reef, and bids the party a fond farewell as they leave.
Tsomo’s Office:
”Those marks?” Chailai says, ”All of Tsomo’s sharks have marks like that, in order to prove Tsomo’s ownership. This one was spotted swimming in the marketplace and we brought it back here.” She pauses thoughtfully and adds, ”I’m sorry, I don’t know why anyone would have wished the expedition to fail.”
~Frost~ |
Know:Planes 1d20 ⇒ 2
"Who is Lysianassa again? Are there people or groups who have a dislike of Lysianassa?"
Oddler Oddrik |
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Oddler looks over the map Yup if this was the map they used and it was followed properly that would have cleared them. Strange as the leader of the Whale Sharks didn't indicate that anything seemed off. Thanks anyway for your help
She catches the remark about the fin markings and blinks You don't say. These marks are commonly used by Tsomo. Very curious!
Oddler pulls aside Seijiro I think we may have found our culprit she whispers.
You murajau seem to be on the level - I have heard that an effort is being organized to fix the damage caused by the scourge - would you be willing to help?
diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
After that she will proceed to look for this assistant.
DM Khel |
The marujau explains to Frost that Lysianassa is one of the lost elemental lords. ”It is said that she ruled this plane, until Kelizandri imprisoned her, but that is a long tale. I do not know of anyone who has a dislike of her now, since she has been lost for so long.” With a smile, she turns to Oddler and says, ”Yes, of course we will assist in restoring the reef. We regret deeply that the expedition caused so much trouble, and I assure you we will enlist friends and family in the effort. You should be sure to ask any and all who were involved in the expedition to help, as the problem is beyond our ability to solve alone.”
Oddler finds the assistant continuing to shuffle and sort maps and other papers filled with detailed notations, at a desk at the far end of the room. When Oddler approaches, the assistant looks up briefly, then turns back to his work, speaking as if to his papers, ”Mr. Qorra is very busy and is not accepting new clients at the moment. Good day.”
Kala Thelas |
"Perhaps spending time to be able to speak to these sharks may prove useful." Kala points out after the party has being rebuffed by Qorra's assistant.
Oddler Oddrik |
Oddler gets an annoyed look on her face and crosses her arms and refuses to budge He is not too busy for me. Now go and call upon him. Now. I know you're just a paper pusher, so bring me your adult.
Oddler was used to dealing with petty functionaries. She was, after all, a native of cheliax and a hellknight to boot.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
~Frost~ |
Frost lets the Hellknight do her thing, after all, if the person didn't respond to polite requests then perhaps they are hiding something?
DM Khel |
The aquatic elf's blue skin blanches, going almost sky blue with touches of sunset pink, at Oddler's fierce demeanor. With an audible gulp, the assistant says, "Um, give me a moment, please." He steps out a side door of the main office and is gone for a few minutes. When he returns, his breathing has calmed and he says, "Regrettably, I cannot bring him here right now, and I do not know for certain when you will be able to see him. In any case, since you were here regarding hiring him to do some work for you and he is not currently accepting new work, I'm not sure how he could help you. Again, I say good day to you, if you'll allow me to return to my work?"
Kala Thelas |
Sense Motive? 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
"Pardon me." Kala interrupts having seen that the man has gone and returned.
"Did you just go and see Quorra before telling us that, and that Quorra we are looking for is not here?"
Molos Voren |
Molos sneers in response. "Get him for us now. We wouldn't be wasting time on someone such as you, if it wasn't necessary. Don't make me go back there and fetch him myself!"
Intimidate 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
DM Khel |
Again, the aquatic elf pales, even seeming to tremble a little as Molos delivers his powerful sneer. "No, I didn't go see Quorra," he replies shakily, "he's not here. Look, I'll show you."
He walks over to the side door and opens it to reveal a small room full of shelves, with rolled map tubes filling the shelves and covering a couple of small work tables. There are no other exits from the room. "See? I just needed a moment to calm down when your friend in the plate mail barked at me."
Just to save us going down a rabbit hole unnecessarily, there really are no doors out of the room.
~Frost~ |
Frost consoles the man, "It has been a bit of a strange day, we aren't used to this place yet - it is very different from home. What are you working on?" she enquires with a warm expression of interest, "You seem to have a lot of maps"
DM Khel |
The assistant gives Frost a frosty look, clearly not interested in becoming friends after the rather fierce exchanges with the other Pathfinders. "Please," he replies, "just let me get back to work. Mr. Quorra will be back at some point, I don't know when, and perhaps he'll speak to you then."
Oddler Oddrik |
I think Kala may have sense motive'd the plot twist lol
Well, no use spending further time on useless people like this assistant.
Oddler stops and thinks after leaving Perhaps Lileone knows where Qorra lives. Given the revelation about the little shark, he's definitely my top suspect.
DM Khel |
I'll be at a local con all day today. Sounds like you're done here, let me know who you'd like to visit next.
Kala Thelas |
Kala has no Bonus to Sense Motive unfortunately lol.
"Looks like we aren't getting any further here on this front. Let us seek out the storm at another person then." she remarks to her companions, crossing her arms.
Molos Voren |
Molos follows the others quietly. Why did Zarta send me on this mission? She knows I hate talking to people. I'd much rather be in my warm library, the Mage thinks glumly.
"Uh yes, Razethka is as good as any."
Kala Thelas |
Kala shrugs.
"I'm actually stumped and hoping that the more studious among you might have an idea."
DM Khel |
Frustrated at not having found Tsomo Qorra, the party sets off to speak with Razethka the Scarred, the brine dragon. Arriving at her home, the Pathfinders are made to wait in an atrium for a few minutes, that then drags on into a quarter hour and finally after half an hour of waiting, they are escorted into an audience chamber for the meeting. The room is filled with a massive marble pool surrounded by stained glass windows that shed dazzling green light throughout the water. Now that they have finally been allowed inside, a sizable brine dragon greets them. She lives up to her name, as her body sports many scars, which are in turn covered with patches of brilliant sea anemones.
”I am so sorry to have kept you waiting,” she says, in a surprisingly gracious tone, ”it is so important that one receive visitors in suitable fashion, and such things can take time. How may I help you?”
Molos Voren |
"Now this is more like it," Molos exclaims. "Yes, we are investigating the unfortunate trip for thenSociety,'sort of lending a helping hand. Mind telling us what you recall about the situation?"
DM Khel |
”Well, I did not go on the expedition,” the brine dragon replies to Molos, ”so I have few specifics and can’t say what exactly happened when, but I’m happy to answer any questions I can. I will say that I am personally offended by the expedition’s failure, given that I attached my name and resources to it. In fact, I feel so badly about it that I would be willing to completely fund the Pathfinder Society’s next expedition to the Lambent Bloom.”
Anything specific you want to ask her about?
Molos Voren |
Sense Motive 1d20 ⇒ 5
"We found a strange code on several of the sharks and other things involved in the mission. Can you translate that for us? Is it anything you've ever seen?"
~Frost~ |
SM 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
"So who would benefit from the failure, in seeing you dealt such a setback?"
DM Khel |
"I don't know for sure, but I believe those markings are usually used to identify who owns which animals," Razethka tells Molos. ”As to who would benefit from dealing me such a setback, I can’t think of anyone. I have business rivals, but none who would take so crude an approach. In any case, there are several tribes of sahuagin that live in the Lambent Bloom, and I believe the caravan disaster was due to outside aggression rather than internal treachery. Unless your investigation has revealed anything to the contrary? Have you identified any suspects?”
Kala Thelas |
Sense Motive 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Knowledge (Nature) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Kala is momentarily in awe at the Brine Dragon. Never in her life did she ever thought she'll see one, coming as she did from the Mwangi Jungles from which she originaly hailed from.
"As of now we haven't any substanticial evidence to suspect anyone though it's being mentioned that horns have being heard prior to the attacks."