"Yes, as it is a servant, I would prefer it not be slain...but do what you must.". She opens the door and steps back, allowing you to enter.
Zarta’s bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax— ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
A tiny creature with fiendish wings and a whipping scorpion-like tail is enraged and totally out of control. The creature desperately wants inside what appears to be a box and throws it around the room hoping to smash the thing open. Though dented, the case doesn’t look like it will be opening anytime soon.
Archmoon
Eli
Elindriel
Thosar
Dahriakt
Creature
Archmoon:
Dahriakt:
Eli:
Elindriel:
Thosar:
Map coming...
|
Moving swiftly behind rogue and Elindriel, Thosar studies the creature not really surprised by it's obvious fiendish nature.
The silver knife, fact that she is Chelaxian, it all makes sense. Now, if I could only move into a position not too catch one of my allies in the burst...
His left hand already holding several coloured grains of sand, elf tries to maneuver into a position some ten to fifteen feet away from the tiny fiend. Chanting melodically he raises his outstretched palm holding multi coloured sand and blows it softly towards the creature, while making arcane gestures with his other hand. With certain amount of pride, Thosar looks on as the energy he summoned with his ritual transforms into a cone of clashing colours springing forth from his hand aiming for the creature.
+---+
|Map|
+---+
Archmoon - walks into the room and spots the creature behind the bed. He lets fly an arrow that hits the small creature in the neck. It lets out a howl in pain, although the scratch it received is less than would have been expected.
Eli single moves into the room towards the right, where the creature is thrashing about, furious about it's injury. He is ready to strike the creature if it approaches or he can get around it.
Elindriel starts a song of encouragement, imbues her weapon and moves into the room.
Thosar strides into the room towards the bed and casts color spray on the creature...
The creature squeals in pain as it grabs its eyes and drops down below the bed headboard.
Dahriakt is up....
Dahriakt is able to move into the room, locate the iron locked box and pick it up, ready to bolt from the room (but has not had time to exit yet).
Archmoon and Eli, you hear no sound from the creature (which is surprising, since it was making quite a howl previously). However, Eli and Archmoon can both see the top of the creatures head just behind the headboard of the bed.
Elindriel
Thosar
Creature
|
|
With an even melodic voice, Thosar addresses his compatriots: "The creature should remain in this state for a few more moments, at least. We could capture it, for the Paracountess. All it takes is one of you muscled guys reaching for it and placing the silver dagger bellow it's throat. After all, she is influential within the Society. A favour with the likes of her might come in handy..."
Letting the end of his sentence trail a bit, wizard moves slowly towards back, carefully inspecting the room and his surrounding. Too bad the creature hid itself, it seems like a very interesting specimen
You have no problem taking the box our of the room leaving the creature stunned behind the bed,
Equally stunned is Zarta as she watches you exit the room without so much as a whimper from the little creature. She looks from Dahriakt to Thosar with a smile and a wink.
"Oh well done Pathfinders. I expected more of a struggle, but you made short work of my servant. I see a bright future for each of you. Valsin has always been a good judge of character. I am afraid I will have to compliment him, the next time I run into him. Cheliax could definitely use a few more enterprising operatives if you are ever interested. Well, if there is nothing else."
She shuts the bedroom door and calls for the butler to escort you out...at about the time you hear a high pitched hellish screech of anguish from the bedroom as the imp comes out of its stupor to find the object of its rage gone....
|
|
"I would not really bet on it, Master Dahriakt. It is the Docks we are talking about - not some orphanage or upscale manor of a haughty noble. The danger there is as present as in other parts of the city, just more visible, more...real, to say so, in the absence of a better word. I have been living long enough in Absalom to know better than to expect anything to go smooth in the Docks" - with a sad smirk, Thosar joins the discussion.
"Now this Pickled Imp, and it's owner Guaril sounds familiar..."
As you leave the Ivy District and head towards the crowded docks in the late afternoon, you hear the calls of sea birds and dockworkers finishing up their exploits for the day. Several workers are winding ropes, moving crates or milling about as you approach the Pickled Imp curio shop.
watched, but can’t pinpoint who or where the sensation
comes from.
You get the sense that they’re being watched, but can’t pinpoint who or where the sensation comes from.
This creepy shop contains myriad odds and ends, most bereft
of any discernible use. A number of malformed creatures and
creature parts bob in jars on a long, prominent shelf, a tiny
fetal devil centered in this macabre lineup. The shopkeeper,
a greasy-haired Varisian with a thin mustache, shouts from
behind the cluttered counter:
“Ah yes, I see the Pathfinders have arrived. I’m glad Ambrus
was able to lend a few of his new recruits to help me. Please
come in and let me tell you what I need.”
Looking around as if to be absolutely certain no customers
are browsing the aisles of knock-off Thuvian burial urns or
supposed Azlanti porcelain, he begins again.
“Well met. I am Guaril Karela. A friend of mine has a
warehouse near here and he received a parcel on behalf of
me and some of my associates, but there’s a problem. See,
Master Gelbane had to leave town in a hurry and
our shipment is still waiting at his warehouse.
Rumor is he ended up in trouble with the law
and the place was seized. I heard tell from
someone down at the docks that some creep
was snooping around his warehouse just the
other night, so I want to make sure nothing
of mine was taken. He keeps all kinds of things,
from beer to nails, in that old pelican, but every
now and then he stores something really special.
This is one of those cases.
“There’s a big crate marked with three
crows arranged in a triangle. Inside that
crate is a smaller container with a few
books and papers in it. That’s the only parcel
I’m interested in, and as far as I’m concerned,
you can help yourself to the rest of the crate.
Honestly, anything else you want in the place
too. I’m sure the once things get sorted out, the city will
seize most everything else anyway.
“My associates and I often work with the Pathfinders when
it comes to special relics and documents, getting them in
and out of ports and across borders where the authorities
ask too many questions. Most people don’t realize what they
have and frankly many don’t deserve to have it, so sometimes
we help take the goods off their hands. If things work out well
and you get this done, I’d be glad to talk with you more and
help you out with any future endeavors, as long as you help
me out too. I’m good at returning favors, trust me.”
|
Archmoon addresses Guaril: "What dangers lie ahead? Surely you didn't call the Pathfinder Society for such a simple task, unless there was some kind of danger involved. Furthermore, on our way here I sensed that we were beeing watched.. I think it serves our mutual interests to know what kind perils waits us."
"I am not sure who would have been watching you. Probably everyone on the docks would notice a troop of heavily armed folks wandering around in their neighborhood. Most are probably worried that you were coming to find them. People do not like being found down here...and like the fact that the guard patrols have better places to be as well."
"As far as perils, if you hurry and get there before dark, I doubt you will encounter much of anything. The warehouse is abandoned, so the biggest obstacle is just getting inside. After that, piece of cake." He says with a grin and twist of his mustache.
|
|
As you say my good sire
Eli says with a grin of his own.
I am sure that we will find this easy as pie as it were
bowing his head and rolling his eyes slightly Eli looks towards the others
Well I believe we should be on our way the quicker we get this done the quicker I can get a drink. It's been a long day already
And Eli starts to stroll towards the exit.
|
|
Thosar had a lot on his mind. Breaking in into an abandoned warehouse did not sit well with his conscience. Simply the fact that they are stealing something (no matter how the crafty Sczarni described it, this was pure and simple - theft) made him very, very uncomfortable.
But I am aware that this man, like this Paracountess previously, is an asset to the Society. And I knew even before that Pathfinders do have their fingers in some shady deals. So, if previously you were ready to keep lectures about gray shades to others, dear Thosar, then suck it up now!
His mouth firmly shut, and his eyes constantly on the lookout, elf exits behind the rogue. As much as he was trying not to show it, he was feeling very distressed, and his lack of communication (man that elf loved to play with words!) would be a clear sign to the careful observer.
|
|
With his hand still on the door Eli suddenly stops outside at the words of Elindriel.
Oh great there you go again makin a fool of yourself. what were you gonna do break into all of them?
Eli lets go of the handle of the door moves slighly turns and leans against the wall on the outside of the building letting out a small sigh
Eli leans against the building scowling.
"Ok good. I wanted to make sure we had an understanding before I gave you the pier number. Remember, you are doing this for the Pathfinders, and I am only asking that my personal property be returned to me in this...unfortunate turn of events . "
"So these so-Called pelican warehouses, these buildings perch at the end of piers, allowing a ship to load and unload farther out from the busier docks. This particular pelican is on pier 313 on the far end of the docks. Probably fifteen minute walk from here. It is in sad shape. "
With that, the bell to his shop door rings and he stops abruptly as an elderly couple enters the shop.
"Ah welcome folks, I will be right with you. We were just finishing here.". He smiles at you and shrugs his shoulders signifying he cannot say more.
You move along from the curio shop, down the docks in the direction provided and eventually find pier #313 late in the afternoon.
Perched on the end of the long pier fifteen feet
above the water, the pelican warehouse appears to
struggle against its own roof, threatening to
sag into the bay below. No light shines from the
building’s windows and only the movement of
gulls and pelicans stirs the scene.
+-----+
| map |
+-----+
The pier where this pelican warehouse sits, stretches 100
feet from the boardwalk and the docks proper, and stands
15 feet above the water. The planks on the pier are sturdy
but weathered. A few local fishermen and some kids sit
scattered along the pier casting nets or bobbing lines into
the waters below.
The building looks abandoned and in disrepair. The
windows are dark and dirty and provide no view into the
structure’s interior. A small boat bobs in the water below,
tethered to the pier by a stout, salt-crusted rope.
|
|
Trying not to get in their way, Thosar opts to stay in the back of the group. He spends his time carefully checking their surrounding, all the while "filling-in" the group with what little he knew of Guaril.
"It seems tha Mr. Karela is a well connected Sczarni, and from what I heard he has his hands in as many pots as Absalom can provide. His curio shop, The Pickled Imp—whih we have seen, serves as his base of operations. Some say he is fencing a lot of items, but you have seen the man, so I guess you can decide for yourself if there is truth in those words...oh, yes, I almost fogot this. It would seem that we were being watched on our way towards the docks. Again!"
Eli moves up to the front doo and does not find any traps.
With Elindriel and Dahr on guard, nobody seems to be watching...the closest people are 70' away, fishing.
Archmoon does not hear anything but some seabirds and the water lapping at the small boat.
Eli is able to unlock the door to the warehouse without difficulty.
So far...piece of cake... :-)