GM Zoomba's Song of the Sea Witch [High Tier] (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

Periel's nearest target won't be acting before him, so I am fine having that occur now.

Scarlet shakes off the thunderclap and dodges around the nearest foe to deliver a solid strike at the rogue. His partner rushes forward in response, hoping to do the same to her.

attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25 for damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (5, 1) = 11

Continuing the cycle, Alektara then delivers a mighty swing that fells the grey thug. He went down on the first hit, so if you choose to you can take a move action as well. Periel then advances to strike at the fallen rough's partner, delivering a good slash that cuts through his armor.

Oh, and Poppy scores a hit too!

Initiative

Yellow thug -6hp
Grey thug
Yvette
Scarlet 44/54hp
Garret
Blue Thug -16hp
Antonella
Alektara
Orange Thug -5hp, prone in pit
Periel

Prayer is in effect.

Antonella slides 5' to the west to block yellow from reaching Poppy, Yvette or Yargos Gill.

She spreads her arms, arches her neck, balancing the brolga-like display on one leg. swift action Crane style AC=25

"Shall we dance, Master?" The paladin's pointed toes lash out at yellow.

flurry - Crane defensive fighting + prayer: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 19
magical bludgeoning dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

ditto flurry #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Antonella's flurry of attacks has mixed results: the first lands a solid blow on it targets but the second swings wide. In response, the thug tries to strike back at her, but also misses.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 = 20 for damage: 1d6 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 1 = 8

You hear scratching sounds from the bottom of Yvette's newest pit.

Climb: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 1 = 16

Initiative

Yellow thug -11hp
Grey thug
Yvette
Scarlet 44/54hp
Garret
Blue Thug -16hp
Antonella
Alektara
Orange Thug -5hp, in pit
Periel

Prayer is in effect.

Alektara takes a moves action towards the yellow foe in lieu of the un-needed second attack.

As you see we haven`t decide to save you some trouble. Says garret as he picks his morningstar and swings toward the yellow thug.

morningstar, prayer: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 81d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

You can dodge my attacks, but can you resist all our group? In a few seconds your ambush had result in one of you bleeding in the ground and another one falling in a pit. Do you want to continue attacking or do you prefer to live to see another day?

Scarlet repositions once more...

Acrobatics to avoid AOO.
Acrobatics 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 1 = 33

Flanking/Sneak/prayer
Attack 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 14
Lol - NOPE!

Poppy reloads and fires again!
into melee
Attack 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 4 + 1 = 14
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Dicebot - so sad

You can dodge my attacks, but can you resist all our group? In a few seconds your ambush had result in one of you bleeding in the ground and another one falling in a pit. Do you want to continue attacking or do you prefer to live to see another day?

"Heh, with you I'll take my chances." the yellow man taunts as he easily avoids both Garret's swing and the brownie's bolt.

Initiative

Yellow thug -11hp
Grey thug
Yvette
Scarlet 44/54hp
Garret
Blue Thug -16hp
Antonella
Alektara
Orange Thug -5hp, in pit
Periel

Prayer is in effect.

Yvette pulls a wand and sends a bolt of magic at the closest foe.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

I apologize: I had a post this morning but apparantly it didn't save.

Yvette's blast of force serves as a strong retort to the taunting thug.

Meanwhile, his remaining ground-level comrade strikes out at Scarlet even as he slides towards the alley's exit.

attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 1 = 16 for damage: 1d6 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 1 = 5

Initiative

Yellow thug -15hp
Grey thug
Yvette
Scarlet 44/54hp
Garret
Blue Thug -16hp
Antonella
Alektara
Orange Thug -5hp, in pit
Periel

Prayer is in effect.

"Alektara, please take my spot." Can you please move me again, GM Zoomba?

Antonella drops Crane style, (swift, AC 22) takes a 5' step to the north west and continues McFlurrying Yellow.

Flurry #1 + prayer: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 = 20
magical bludgeoning dmg + prayer: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Flurry #2 + prayer: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 = 26
magical bludgeoning dmg + prayer: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

"This is over! I cannot accept your surrender when you're dead."

The paladin gives the jaundiced thug a professional appraisal. "Give up what you know about the coral weapons and I'll give you a pro bono consult for your liver complaint."

I moved you

Alektara steps up to the spot vacated by Antonella and full attacks the man...

ECB1+PA+FF: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32...DMG: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Poss crit: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30...DMG: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

ECB2+PA: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8...DMG: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Thanks :)

Splattered with yellow's blood, Antonella calls down to Yvette's underground captive.

"Mr Pitt, my colleague was forced to operate on your friend."

"Now while the procedure was a technical success, the patient did not survive."

The paladin's tone is matter-of-fact. "Your decisions need to be faster if you want to live to make old bones. Now throw up all your weapons and lie face down in the pit."

Is the blue thug still moving? If yes Periel moves forward and swings his sword. AttackPA: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 181d8 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Alektara's blow is a bit stronger than she intended, slicing the target in twain. Periel's swing is a bit more precise, wounding the blue thug to within an inch of consciousness. The man drops his sword and calls out "All right! See, weapons down. Good right! Jim!" he yells across the alley towards the pit. "Stay there and stop struggling - I'm coming over to you."

COMBAT OVER

Poppy spits on the sidewalk in disgust, still deafened. The Brownie sneers at the beaten bandits.

Scarlet cuts in "Reckon you are the worst librarians I've come across - see to your friend, not worth dying over books you wont be getting. Then you can tell us who you are and who sent you"

He should had thought he wasn't taking his chance only with me.

Garrets moves himself near Scarlet, waiting to see how the bandits answer before making more questions.

Antonella is not nearly as polite as Garret. "The coral hilts on your weapons are most unusual. Are they yours?"

"Does that make you pirates? Thralls of the Low Azlanti? What?"

The priestess searches the fallen, looking specifically for healing potions for Scarlet.

"Brother Garret, if I cannot find any healing tinctures, I suggest we use my lower powered channels to heal Scarlet, and save your stronger ones for later events."

"Are you OK with that?"

Alektara wipes her blade clean with the clothing of the dead man to her front. She then goes and stands next to Antonella and flicks a piece of brain matter off the Clerics shoulder, remnants of the fight. "I do have a healing potion if someone needs it to save your channeling." she mentions.

"It's a little blood for now, I'll take whats on offer" Scarlet smiles.

Looking through the bodies of the two fallen men, as well as the loot grudgingly turned over by the remainder, you find:

4 potions of cure moderate wounds
7 thunderstones
4 tanglefoot bags
4 masterwork chain shirts
and 4 +1 short swords made with distinct coral hilts

As Scarlet berates and looms over the survivors, the more talkative one turns to Antonella with a minor look of defiance at her words, - even in his precarious position. "The gill folk? Those? Cheap weirdos who cling to the edges. They've got nothing compared to the Sea Witch. He came in from a boat from the other side of the world, gave us these wonderful weapons, started building up a place doen in the tunnels under Gilltown. The man has power - so when he asks us to rough up a couple of passers and grab a book, why would we say no?"

"Because the passersby might defend themselves and half of you wind up dead?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Antonella tries the 'tough love' big sister approach. "The Sea Witch is using you guys to do his dirty work for him. You're taking all the risks and he's reaping all the rewards."

She gives both men a 'cruel-to-be-kind' cuff to the ears. "NOW WISE UP! This muppet is no good for you and needs to be squared away before anyone else gets hurt. Capisce?"

"We can help with that, but you need to tell us exactly what the Sea Witch is. We need something better than 'he's a dude from Tian Xia,' OK? How exactly do we get to his guild-house? Is his place trapped? What's it guarded by?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The priestess then opens a potion of CMW for Scarlet.

CMW for Scarlet: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 3) + 3 = 14

As you see we have no resentment towards you, just a problem we need to solve.

So if you are wiser than your dead companions and help us this can end well for you

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

What we need of you, besides answers to my friend questions is knowing why you have weapons with coral hilts, how did that witch know we have a book.

And decide what to do with you, of course. Antonella and I can help you to find a better life, one in which you don't risk life in vain. But how can we be sure you're going to listen to our teachings?

Sorry for the lack of posting yesterday, I worked 14 hours and just didn't have time to get on.

Yvette yawns as she watches the others talk to the wretches.

Alektara will take one of the potions and one of the tanglefoot bags.

The two men listen to Antonella and Garret’s ameliorating words, but remain somewhat defiant even given their precarious circumstances.

”He’s got eyes and friends everywhere, doesn’t surprise us he can tell who’s got something he wants. And soon there will more, then more, then more. Providing nice gear is just the start, soon everyone will start to see how strong he is.”

As the thug speaks, Periel feels his pack begin to grow a bit warmer, while the rest of you notice a red glow begin to emit from it, only to vanish just as quickly. Yargos Gill lets out a squeak. ”I don’t mean to but in, but I’m fairly certain whatever bindings are left on the book everyone’s now so interested in aren’t going to hold for much longer. Can we give them to the guards or something and make haste to Ollysta?”

Take 10 Sense Motive: 10 + 6 = 16

"Butt away, Good Ser."

Antonella gives the thugs an exasperated head shake. "But I do not believe you will be able to butt any more sense into the heads of this pair."

Using a convenient brick or stone, the cleric sunders the coral hilted swords and tosses the remains at their owners' feet. "Now let us find a City Guard before continuing on to find Lady O."

"May I trouble you to carry five pounds of my mundane gear, Periel? That way I may also carry a tanglefoot sack and thunderstone."

"Good job Antonella. You are indeed gifted with a silver tongue. I have no such gift and would resort to thrashing them to get the information. Are we ready?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

I can carry it, if you wish offers Garret, thinking Periel has more than enough burden havint to carry a devilish book. And I'll prefer to carry the book with us: I'm not sure the city guards are prepared to deal with this kind of problems, and we had take care of that erinye whithout much trouble.

Then he turns his sight to the thugs. What are we doing with them?

I'd like to give them a speech about how hard is thug's life and how they can live much better, and longer, if they change their work. And that also helps me to complete a faction mission. Can we do that? Without derailing much the mission?

Looking at Garret Periel puts his hand on his shoulder. "I thank you, but my path has to be stony and painful every day. There can be no shortcut. Because we who pledge our lives to hope, justice and rightousness, we have to be tried everyday, so that there is no doubt, no moment of hesitation to do what has to be done! We have to be aware that our conviction is the shield of the common man, because if we fall, and some do, we transform to the worst nightmare possible."

I'd like to give them a speech about how hard is thug's life and how they can live much better, and longer, if they change their work. And that also helps me to complete a faction mission. Can we do that? Without derailing much the mission?

Speech! Speech!

I'd like to give them a speech about how hard is thug's life and how they can live much better, and longer, if they change their work. And that also helps me to complete a faction mission. Can we do that? Without derailing much the mission?

Sure, go ahead.

Regarding other questions, it would not be too hard for one of you to flag down some guards and give a quick report to them. The city guard won't exactly be thrilled to just have you dump a pair of criminals on them and run, but they've had enough experience with Pathfinders to be used to it :)

Also I will have the next post up this afternoon. Even if you don't get a chance to post before then Garret, I'm fine with a quick 'retroactive speech' for you. May I ask which faction goal you're thinking of specifically?

"I ... would resort to thrashing them to get the information."

"Why thank-you, Sister. In truth it frustrates me how many people will not take one seriously until after they have been given a good thrashing."

The paladin curls her upper lip in distaste. "Sometimes I wonder whether the more stubborn cases might actually enjoy it!"

✊☯✊☯

"Garret, my thanks for lending me your strong shoulder. I look forward to hearing the wisdom of your words."

Antonella turns her brother paladin's words over in her mind as the group moves through the streets, before finally saying, "I suspect you ponder the prospect of falling as much as I do, Periel. I often wonder if I devote too much time to the possibility of failure - when I could be focussing on success."

"My sensei, Karu the Bold Strider embodies the philosophy of living life as an exclamation NOT an explanation - an example I attempt to embrace."

"When faced with stiff tests in the past, I have been surprised how natural doing the right thing has been."

Antonella speaks with a calm confidence. "Periel, there is not a shred of doubt in my mind, that when it comes to hard testing, the test should be concerned about what you do to it, rather than what it will do to you."

Moving along to keep things moving. Again Garret if you need a specific speech or need to do a dice roll for the faction goal, feel free to make it and I'll also have a 'flash-back' of their response.

As the party reaffirms their own commitment to not only finish their vital task, but to do it the Right way, the two remaining thugs stay silent, but look at the four warriors with a contemplative look. As Yargos manages to call over a pair of passing guardsman, both of your assailants put up no fight and offer no rebuttal in their own defense. The guardsmen grunt a few complaints about usual 'Pathfinder trouble' and 'vigilantism' but appear relatively surprised and pleased at how smooth it goes as they take the thugs into custody.

The rest of your travel through Absalom is luckily much less 'interesting', and soon an assemblage of dilapidated wooden shacks, baked-clay huts, and random tents denotes the edge of the neighborhood of Gilltown. The smell of stale water mixed with a hint of long- decayed seafood permeates the air here. Only a handful of people wander the area, the majority of them gillmen, though a smattering of other humanoid races mingle here as well. Most seem to be perusing the small stalls and impromptu markets, haggling with their gillman owners.

It takes you little time to find the tall armor-bedecked woman that most of you immediately recognizes as Ollysta Zadrian. The Silver Crusade faction head, in case the name doesn't ring a bell. As you approach, you can clearly hear her and a gillman merchant loudly haggling over a strange looking unholy symbol.

"That price is outrageous! 12,000 gold should be more than its worth."
"Ah, retrieved from Norgorber splinter sect. Very rare, facets of four, not one. 15,000, or I am out much coin."

"Frankly those amateurs had no place being rogues and brigands. They should be happy it was us that captured them, had they pulled that little stunt in a less forgiving place then they'd be food for a school of jigsaw sharks or reefclaws. You did them a favour" Scarlet remarks as the man were handed over.

***

Scarlet - Appraise 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Poppy - Know:Religion 1d20 ⇒ 4

The pair of rogues shrug.

Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Listening in to the conversation Alektara figures out the man is haggling over a Phylactery of Negative Channeling, generally worth around 11,000 gp and tells the others.

Antonella nods at Alektara's words as she marches to the right pauldron of the paladin wearing a great helm shaped like the head of a silver dragon.

"My Lady, blessings of the Iro-shu on you and pray forgive this interruption."

The priestess considers taking a knee before the leader of the Silver Crusade, but the filth-strewn streets see her settle for a deep bow of respect. Her cold eyes never leave the haggling merchant.

"You are correct that 12,000 is 1000 golden sails more than this ... item is worth. Beg pardon milady, but your confusion may have come about because the Azlanti word for eleven can sound similar to the Taldane word for fifteen, especially to someone unfamiliar with the noble Low Azlant tongue."

"I am certain our gillfolk brother would never attempt to swindle a holy knight of your stature and this is just a simple misunderstanding."

She smiles at the Gilltown rogue. "Have I got the right of it?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

As Alektara and Antonella audibly aid Ollysta's pricing skills, the gillman merchant's expression flickers for a moment before he recovers his genial smile.

"Of course that normal rate. This one veyr good phylactery of course. As siad, four aspects at once. But for you, agents of gods, good deal. 11,000 gold. Fair rate, though I take hit myself. Never say Beriqua no friend of faith."

With a satisfied nod, Ollysta Zadrian hands over her coin and places the purchased phylactery in a pouch tucked inside her armor. The paladin turns to your group.

"Many thanks my friends. It warms the heart to see people willing to aid a stranger." Ollysta's eyes flick down towards the few displayed wayfinders amongst the party, then her eyes narrow as she focuses on some of you.

"Or maybe not strangers after all. You bear to Open Road's glyph proudly and you... Periel is it? You saved that Dacilane girl a few years back. And Garret, I heard reports of your help exonerating innocents up in Dawnton. And Antonella, is that you? I've read reports of you weakening the resurgent Lissalans back in Riddleport but I don't believe we've met. The pleasure is mine."

Ollysta Zadrian shifts her stance slightly standing fully upright and attentive in her silver armor. "So, from the look of you this is not a chance meeting. I am always glad to see your Society take up my offers of assistance. What has happened and how can I aid?"

Scarlet and Poppy both eye the Paladin warily, and they both unconsciously look at where all the exits are.

Scarlet notes the description "Why wouldn't such a thing simply be seized Alektara? Such a device has no decent purpose"

The catwoman then moves in, her eyes like saucers at the fishman. Poppy nudges Scarlet sharply, and she gets back to Ollysta - "We have a problem around a book full of Devils, and the answer is in a book full of angels that you no doubt have - reckon we can see it?"

Scarlet smiles widely 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Poppy keeps an eye on the gillman for any signs of 'interest' - "Seen any coral handled weaponry in your travels?" the Brownie asks, smiling (Sense Motive) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Edit - That was a Diplo from Scarlet

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"And Antonella, is that you? I've read reports of you weakening the resurgent Lissalans back in Riddleport but I don't believe we've met."

"My Lady, you are too kind. Sister Antonella Schiavo at your service." The monk clasps her palms together and bows once more.

"Though according to Lady Heidmarch's report, it was the Apis Consortium that sabotaged the Lissalan cult in the City of Cyphers. Mind you, I have been told I bear a passing resemblance to their Bronze Agent Thesil Shadowtongue..."

Antonella frowns briefly at Scarlet's off-hand way of speaking to Lady O, but smiles as she realises that thanks to Poppy, Beriqua the Merchant has escaped a late supper with Scarlet.

"We understand a recent immigrant, possibly from Tian Xia has been organising a local gang in Gilltown. He supplies his recruits with weapons adorned with coral and uses the moniker 'Sea Witch.' One of his goals is stealing or seizing the Infernal Incantation and presumably your Celestial Song as well."

"We have been tasked with safeguarding the books and ending any threat to Absalom posed by them and presumably by this Sea Witch fellow as well. I don't suppose you have any intelligence on him?"

Yvette looks on with disinterest.

If that book should be anywhere, it should be in out museum. I'm sure the researchers could have handled it. Yvette thinks to herself.

Ollysta listens intently to Scarlet and Antonella as they lay out the situation. As the descriptions go on, her demeanor hardens.

"I have not heard of this 'Sea Witch', though I certainly believe it. Absalom has always been quite the hub for any cultist looking to make a name for themselves. And t Incantation and the Song could certainly provide a powerful base to form a sect around. They're obscure, but allegedly quite powerful. Securing them would be imperative."

The paladin looks disconcerted. "But I am afraid you have me at a bit of a loss. I do not have a copy of the Celestial Song. Before today I believed the nearest copy of either work to be in Druma. What made you assume you could find the Song here?"

"..."

Antonella gives Yargos Gill a hard look while she thinks. "Master Gill, just how well did you know your assistant, Nicola? I suspect she took the Celestial Song directly to the Sea Witch or was robbed of the book by his thugs and failed to mention it on her return."

"So it seems this caper has turned into a Witch Hunt. We need to find the Sea Witch's lair in Gill Town."

Antonella turns back Ollysta Zadrian. "My Lady, do you have a local information broker that owes you a favor, whose services we might utilise to find the Sea Witch's guild house?"

"Is it dangerous to have both of them together? The Celestial Song and the Infernal Incantation? Seems dangerous. And I would never suspect gillmen to be involved." Alektara adds to the conversation.

Yargos looks taken aback by the revelation and Antonella's question. "Nicola? It couldn't be. She was my assistant for years. A diligent girl, quiet, thorough. She helped me finish my record of the Ulunat Submission (which won me the Sothian Pen I might add), and sorted through all of the archives for the Third Crusade piece that got me my second Chronicler. Why would she betray me?"

Ollysta shakes her head slightly at Gill before turning back to the six of you. "I fear from what you tell me that you may be correct. The Song might be in this Witch's hands. If so, we need to find it as soon as possible." The paladin looks at Alektara and explains. "Having both fall into the wrong hands could be dangerous. But in the right ones it's the only way to counteract each. The covers on the Infernal Incantation and the Celestial Song interlock together. If the Witch has broken the bindings on the Song - or if the Incantation gets unlocked by anyone - that is the only way I know to re-seal them."

"I have several men and women I deal with in the city, but time is a factor. We would need to track them down quickly and discretely, so as..."

The gillman merchant behind her cuts the paladin off with a loud *AHEM*

"Apologies for rudeness. But Beriqua could not help but notice those weapons. Very distinct yes, unique markings. Saw some myself, few days back, down in Gill tunnels. Can draw you a map, modest fee. Only 5 gold, frequent customer discount." He smiles thinly at your party.

Periel looks at the gillmann before taking 5 gold pieces from his purse. "Then do so!"

"Nicola? It couldn't be … Why would she betray me?"

Antonella *shrugs* “For any number of reasons. But perhaps I am judging her too harshly.”

“It’s possible Nicola gave the Song book to the Sea Witch or one of his agents, who was disguised as Lady Ollysta. I imagine your nocturnal activities in this quarter are common knowledge, My Lady?”

The priestess slips Periel 2 gold and 5 silver pieces. “However, right now that’s not as important as Master Beriqua’s map and recovering the Celestial Song”

The pleasure is all mine, mylady. Answers Garret to Ollysta compliments. I only helped another pathfinders as any of us will had done

The gillman takes a loose sheet of paper and begins scribbling. In a few minutes, he snatches Antonella’s coins and presents her with a crude if clear map of the tunnel system, with some points circled furiously. ”There. Saw men and woman over here. Closest entrance few blocks over, Shaker Inlet. You go in, roust them out if troublemakers. No good for anyone if outsiders making home down there.”

As the six of you peruse the map, Ollysta gives a deep nod of her head and places one hand lightly on her sheathed sword. ”Excellent. Pathfinders: merely uncovering this was an important enough task but it seems the night is not yet done with us. Please, go and see if this Sea Witch is down there. If he has the Celestial Song retrieve it and rejoin the two books. I will hurry back to my temple and rouse whatever help I can. If this lead proves false – or if gods forbid you fall – we need to ready to contain a spiraling situation. Yargos, come with me.”

The scholar seems taken aback by the sudden command. ”With you? I’m not exactly the fighting sort and if I could - ”

”You have as much knowledge of the books as anyone here. If there is a way to stop them remotely you can help my priests find it. And you and I also need to have a long conversation about restraint and consequences. This is not the first time your eagerness to read aloud has left bodies in its wake. We cannot tolerate another time.” Her words and gaze are pure steel as she interrupts the historian, silencing his protests.

“No good for anyone if outsiders making home down there.”

Hmmm … I wondered why the price for the information was so low. Seems Goodman Beriqua wants us to eliminate his competition!

“Master Beriqua, do the tunnels below Shaker Inlet flood? ‘Shaker’ as in earthquake I presume?”

Are we in the Precipice Quarter?

“Did you see what these ‘men and woman’ were armed with? Were they armored? Did any look like spell-casters? Were they Low Azlanti or human? Any pets with them?”

Antonella bows once more to Lady Ollysta as she recites the plan back to her Faction head. “Deal with the Sea Witch, conjoin the two books and bring them back to you at the Star of Sarenrae.”

The monk nods curtly. “I like simple plans and am ready to go, my brothers and sisters.”