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"Is their anything else you can mention about that particular night? Overheard conversation between the two? Interesting items carried? Unique marks besides short and...I am unfamiliar with towheaded..." Roakar looks slightly up and to the left as if thinking Come on headband. Spit out the meaning. "Ah! light haired?" finishing his question.
"I know, specifically, where that portal goes. It connects to Habermorrow, Venture- Captain Eddington Keel’s manor in Corentyn. I have never been through this or any other portal, mind you, as attempting to do so simply brings me back to the center of the Maze. I can never leave through any means. I think my fate is not one a simple curse removal can avoid. The druids put me here in the early days of the Society. I believe that if I stop fighting my fate, and embrace it, I'll eventually regain my freedom.”
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"And what is your fate? I understand you might have your own secrets to keep, but I'd like to hear your story if you have the desire to share. If we can help you to break free, I'm certain we could even find a place for you to exist in peace if you like. It would require you to free those within your garden, and to not turn others to statues, though. Something to consider. I can only imagine the terror in the eyes of evil if you joined our Crusade of Silver."
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"I had no idea you were kept a prisoner of the maze when we first met. I think it is imperative you divulge any information you know regarding how to break these magikal chains that bind you here. If it is feasible we can help. And if we cannot do it at this moment because of current conditions rest assured after the task we have at hand is done we will work towards your freedom as long as you cooperate with us and attack no more innocents."
"I honestly do not know my fate. Centuries ago one of your kind defeated me in my own lair. He gave me the choice between death and purpose. I chose purpose. I think I might have chosen wrong... Now I think that my purpose may be to simply make it through this squabble of your Society. We shall see. I don't have any true knowledge of the rules that chain me here."
As Roos continues to speak he feels a bulge in a belt pouch. At first it seems like nothing, but then he realizes such an occurrence is not the norm it once was. Stepping back from the conversation he looks, and lo and behold finds a missive in a plain wooden case:
Time and again you have proven yourself to be among the greatest assets to our noble cause, which is why I present you with your next task. It has come to my attention that you are involved in a secret mission involving the protection of some of the Society’s most prominent venturecaptains. One name in particular has piqued my interest: Eddington Keel, a known slaver in the Chelish port city of Corentyn. In the process of protecting him from assassination, use the access to his home to find any information you can on the structure of his slaving operation. The Eagle Knights may never have such an opportunity to hit at the very heart of such an influential slaving organization. I feel that Ignatius and Osric would be of similar heart to us on this matter. Please share this missive with them.
In seeing Roos's missive, Darius finds one of his own
I understand you will be investigating a traitorous venture captain’s spying on one Eddington Keel, a prosperous slaver in Cheliax’s port city of Corentyn. Ironic, I think, since we have had our own agent planted among his house slaves for several years. While there, seek out a Keleshite man named Muhar Zafah and make contact. He will be able to provide you information on his findings while undercover. Report back to me with as much (and as detailed) intelligence as you can. If we can get a glimpse into the inner workings of the Corentyn slave trade, we can instigate a choke hold on the market in the entire Inner Sea. I trust you will use the utmost discretion in this mission; the Exchange is counting on you.
And Roakar:
Long have you waited to reap the rewards I have promised you for all your hard work for the glory of Dark Archive, and soon I shall grant you all you desire. I require something more of you, however, while I prepare for your intimate company: do not kill any devils! You have no idea how often I hear of violent actions against the powerful denizens of Hell. How can we expect to bend these outsiders to our will when they can’t trust us not to destroy any who venture to the Material Plane. Instead of harming any devils you may encounter throughout your travels—especially in Cheliax itself—retrieve for me a token of such a creature—something with which we can bind a willing devil to our will. Should I discover you failed me in this, I would not be pleased, and your punishment will not be as pleasurable as my reputation may indicate.
Stepping through the portal in the Maze of the Open Road, you feel a light tugging on your entire body, as if you are being pulled in every direction at once. Whether in limbo for only moments or an eternity you can not tell, but you step unscathed from the portal’s mate, finding yourself in the shadow of a red and black marble gazebo before the ominous shape of the portal behind you. A traditional Chelish garden surrounds the structure, and the form of a sizable manor house rises from behind a row of topiary bushes. The grounds appear to be completely enclosed by a high, granite wall.
Darius:
Shirley: Darkvision, Low-Light
Ignatius: Darkvision
Osric:
Roos:
Roakar:
Half a dozen slaves—four halflings, one human, and one tiefling—occupy the garden, rigorously tending the landscape. They exhibit signs of shock when you exit the gazebo, but they do not interact with you.
When you look down you can see that there is a half-destroyed glyph of the open road.
That glyph is a portal key. While it worked from the Maze side, it's destroyed on this side.
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"Someones destroyed the portal key on this side.. I doubt we will be able to go back into the Maze from here.."
Darius motions for the human slave to come closer.. "Hello good man, I am Darius Swiftblade, Magus of the Exchange.. Can you tell me where your master is?"
Darius is no good at secret messages and the like, but I was hoping with me throwing out my faction that this Human might be the one im looking for..
He approaches, though he does so with the posture of a man used to the lash, "Salom good sir. The Master's inside. Please feel free." He then drops to a whisper. When Darius doesn't react to the Kelish tongue, he switches back to Taldan with a slight look of confusion, "I have something for you. You'll have to retrieve it on your own, however. There is an envelope behind a framed map in the parlor. I cannot get to it now. But perhaps you as an honored guest can."
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"We need to free these people. This is intolerable."
something or someone told me this earlier in the maze...'Time and again you have proven yourself to be among the greatest assets to our noble cause, which is why I present you with your next task. It has come to my attention that you are involved in a secret mission involving the protection of some of the Society’s most prominent venture-captains. One name in particular has piqued my interest: Eddington Keel, a known slaver in the Chelish port city of Corentyn. In the process of protecting him from assassination, use the access to his home to find any information you can on the structure of his slaving operation. The Eagle Knights may never have such an opportunity to hit at the very heart of such an influential slaving organization.' and now we come upon slaves here. this is too much to bear and possibly fate.
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Roakar makes his way through the portal.
Upon stepping onto Chelaxian land Roakar says "Cheliax' with a sound of disgust. He then snorts loudly, clears his throat, and hawks something nasty towards the ground.
Looking around he sees nothing but broken people, too fearful to take or receive what should be their right. Seeing one of the spineless move forward, Rokar expects nothing but bows and unfocused eyes. However, after the slave says something of interest in Kelish Roakar replies with a simple "Thank you" in return followed by a slight bow of his head. Looking to his fellow members he says "That one at least kept a portion of his spine intact." Looking to Roos his says "You can't free a man. You can only show him the path and hope he follows."
"Come. Let us see the "Master" and see if we can find this short, light haired man before it's too late."
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"Interesting. I don't recall seeing one of these at the other locations. I wonder. . ."
As the others are asking about, I'll see if I can find anyone that might know what happened with the Glyph, "Excuse me, sir/ma'am. Do you know what happened with here", pointing at the Glyph. "How long has it been like this? What happened?"
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"I agree. It's a fine line we must walk. I do have a place though, that any could go, if they are willing."
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It looks like the damage was done within the last week. When asked the slaves say it was a few days ago (which lines up with Condria's information about when Adril went through.)
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"Seems like a long walk back. Can one of you fix it?" referencing the ruined rune.
Seeing as everyone is gathering a little info before marching into the manor, Roakar approaches the little slave with his backbone intact. Speaking in Kelish he quietly asks "A couple of days ago two men came here the same way as us. One was a tall bulky man with a gap-toothed smile and a bushy blond beard. The other was a short man with light hair dressed in fine clothes. Did you see these two before? Do you know anything about the shorter man? Where he is? What he has been doing the last few days? Any info can help."
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Osric is by no means unintelligent, but the during previous year of his career his focus has been turned towards the Worldwound. The recent events in Galt have jarred him back to some of the painful days from years past. And even then, he knew little of what venture-captains might be up to.
As he considers all the new information, he begins to nods as his colleagues begin to piece together the clues. The puzzle gets a bit clearer as they explain it, so he's grateful for their insights.
He joins them in the hunt, no stranger to following a track into odd and unpredictable circumstances.
By now the slaves have turned all eyes to the party. Sacred of what may come of talking with the barbarian, they help s best they can. The human points to the main doors, "You'll need to speek to Master Keel. Please, we can be severely punished for neglecting our work." One of the halflings even starts to walk toward the double doors. He starts to extend a hand to open them, but then thinks better of it.
The knocker is there and Osric gives them a confident trio of strikes. After a short moment the door opens, seemingly of its own accord. Beyond you find a marble-tiled entryway under an elaborate, flameless chandelier. A massive painting on the north wall depicts a host of devils bowing before a towering aspect of Asmodeus, while the southern wall features a portrait of famed Pathfinder Durvin Gest aboard The Silken Purse. Two sets of wooden double doors flank a wide stairway leading up to the second floor; A weary halfling slave in red livery kneels at the foot of the stairs, polishing the floor with a small brush. He ignores your entrance.
Roos leaves him prouder, and with a tear on his cheek. The others give Roos and Osric nods...
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After the doors open of their own accord, Roakar takes a quick look around, attempting to notice anything out of the ordinary before stepping through the doorway.
"I am not sure if these people are fearful of their "Master" or fearful of something that happened recently, maybe involving the little man we are hunting. I would keep your guard up."
Nothing stands out to Roakar... the halfling continues to ignore you.
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"I don't like the smell of this. No way does the little man get a many day start on us, teleport into the compound, and then do nothing."
Drawing his hammer and resting it in a ready but non-threatening fashion, he continues "I don't see anything out of the ordinary though."
Looking to the little halfling pretending to be invisible, Roakar asks "Excuse me. Could you tell us where Eddington Keel is?"
Without a word the halfling stops what he's doing and walks to the room next door. He looks back and you and then speaks in halfling accented Taldane, "Master Keel. There are a quintet of Pathfinders here to see you." The response comes after a couple second delay. "Come in! Come in!"
You enter a room fit for a venture-captain. Ceiling-high bookshelves line the walls of Habermorrow’s library and several rows of lower shelves take up half of the center of the room. Lush couches provide a comfortable place for readers to lounge, while several reading tables stand empty but inviting for eager researchers. Lamps employ flameless torches, illuminating the room in bright, even light. Doors lead to a variety of places. A stylized portrait of Keel—a tall, dark-haired man with thick, slanted eyebrows and a slightly crooked nose—hangs on the wall over an unlit fireplace. The subject of the painting reclines in one of the deep couches. He does not rise to meet you. "Eddington Keel. While it's a pleasure to meet you, I don't know why you're here."
The man seems....(Sense Motive)...
He puts his book down lovingly. "I was just reading an old copy of the Chronicles actually. Please grab seats and relax."
Keel's lying about reading the Pathfinder Chronicles, he's looking at a picture book full of naughty drawings of elves...
Keel's lying about reading the Pathfinder Chronicles, he's looking at a picture book full of naughty drawings of elves... Shirley detects no evil, though Keel lights up like a Yule-tree under a detect magic. None of the objects in this room are magical.
"My place isn't exactly a hot bed of activity. What brings 4 such accomplished looking Pathfinders to my door, really?"
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Roos decides to open the conversation up about Eddington Keel himself, trying to get the man to talk about himself first then ask the needed investigative questions...
"It must be hard to run this estate and be a Venture Captain at the same time. Do you do it all by yourself or do you have some people assist you?"
"I'm sure you've met the slaves I own outside. They run most of the household. I mean, yes, being a venture-captain has it's work too, but I have slaves do most of that too."
"I assure you. It would take an assassin of the highest order to get near me. Hestrem? Not that I'm aware of..."
Osric doesn't get any hunches about Keel's behavior.
"Hestrem. He's an annoying chap. Talks a lot. Slaps you on the back. He's.... a good agent though. Likes to do his own work. I don't know much esle about him. Besides, I've got plenty of property to protect me if you know what I mean." He nods towards a slave as he speaks.
He's hiding something. He's also staring really intently at Darius for some reason...
Keel squints his eyes as if trying to remember a detail. He then adjusts himself, looking to stand up and grab the decanter of whiskey nearby.
Darius:
Ignatius:
Osric:
Roos:
Roakar:
In a flash, Osric and Ignatius see the dagger spring out into his hand. The venture-captain sneers as he lunges for Darius.
Baddies:
Darius:
Ignatius:
Osric:
Roos:
Roakar:
While not surprised, per se, most of you are caught off guard.
Osric: Go
Keel: TBD
Ignatius: TBD
Round 1:
Osric: TBD
Roos: TBD
Keel: TBD
Ignatius: TBD
Darius: TBD
Roakar: TBD