- The officer's body turns to one akin to a ragdoll for a moment, which gives him enough opportunity to drop his sword!
is
The sword clangs to the dirt road and the crowd has moved back by about 5 feet.
The collective Wisdom of the group states that leaving a solid gold sword unattended (especially since there wasn't any super-obvious "Curse" to the untrained.)
The collective Wisdom of the group states that leaving a solid gold sword unattended (especially since there wasn't any super-obvious "Curse" to the untrained eye)
... Would be incredibly bad, since that sword looks super burgle-able. Solid gold and whatnot.
Fortunately the guard is already there! Kaphiri orders his men into teams of.three; one to find a summoner (allegedly) and one to maintain a perimeter. The party is allowed in for the investigation.
"So... Curses, huh?"
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"Yes, I believe your sword is cursed, but my companion here seems to have negated the effect. If you don't mind me asking, where did you get this sword? We would appreciate it if you would accompany us back to the lodge, so we can determine if there are any lasting effects from the curse. We should probably also take the blade itself back, so no innocents are harmed by its magic."
Again, diplomacy (or bluff) as needed (preferably diplomacy).
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“Uh huh. You are not the first Pathfinder we’ve tried to help today, KC Talarel. Venture-Captain Balentiir is concerned for good reason.”
Luisila smiles at the man. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Luisila, humble and obedient servant of the Savored Sting and Grand Lodge. It seems we still have this cursed item to deal with. Hmm…”
She thinks for a while and then … “Hey guys, I’ve got a crazy idea!” Luisila pauses. Her eyes narrow as she looks from Aakif to Brachus to Ryster and then back to Aakif, as if daring the trio to say anything.
“Do you mind if I ask for volunteers from among your static guards, KC Talarel? I’m thinking we have Cleaver bind the man, so he can juuuust lift the golden kopesh but not actually wield it, and then escort you both back to Sandswept Hall. Whaddya say?”
If she gets approval for the plan, Luisila marches up to the Kopesh cordon and holds up a length of hempen rope. “So, who would like me to tie them up?”
"I received the blade this morning from a slaving caravan at a location just down the street from here. Seller was a Mwangi woman. Human, probably in her early twenties at the latest. Spear on her back; no wizardry bits. Getup was as feral as you'd expect anyone travelling with a Bekyar tribe-seller group. Decent enough for city life, but enough to disturb the racists." He pauses, "Even had it appraised. Abadaran clergy on-staff said it was a Grade +2 Khopesh. Figured it a blessing, finding a blade shined in the likeness of the First Vault for such a fair price..."
"I'll have a word with Captain Balentiir, but I make no promises on staying. As for taking the blade back, can't I just..." he gestures with his hand, "... Err... Scoop it up... Back into the sheathe? I carried it this far without incident."
"Besides, unless it's me, I'd rather not be hogtie-ing guards up and spit-roasting them through town. It'd be penance enough for me for buying a cursed blade to be dragged around town like some kind of meat slab; it's just cruel for anyone else. I'm willing to go unarmored, if that helps the discussion."
None of the three guards still nearby object nor volunteer for the task.
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She thinks for a while and then … [b] “Hey guys, I’ve got a crazy idea!” Luisila pauses. Her eyes narrow as she looks from Aakif to Brachus to Ryster and then back to Aakif, as if daring the trio to say anything.
If she gets approval for the plan, Luisila marches up to the Kopesh cordon and holds up a length of hempen rope. “So, who would like me to tie them up?”
Aakif opens his mouth as if to comment, then decides against it. He can't help but breaking out in a huge smile.
"That does sound like a good idea, but what if two of us each make a loop of rope and carry the blade between us? That way no one would actually be touching the blade."
Sense motive on his story.
You're also able to piece together that if a priest identified it (which could be easily verified with a brief visit to any Abadaran temple for a Sending), then it must either be activated by combat or was latent and is only now active. Detect Magic only shows a very weak lingering aura once the Dispel suppression wears off, implying the first.
The other three guards return, unharmed and empty-handed. They have a short dialogue in their native tongue until Khapiri angrily cuts them off from what looks like what was a jubilant discussion. Guard #1 (previously identified as Sgt Schultz, an out-of-place Chelish man) remains vigilant, silent, and visibly not understanding his comrade's talks.
4: "So, what's going on?"
2: "I think the sword is broken somehow. Magic didn't quite take or something. Cursed, or whatever. Might explode if someone gets hit by it or something. One of us is getting tied up by the broad after grabbing the sword. Or something like that."
4: "What? Where's that lucky fella going? Back to her place?"
2: "You volunteering or something?"
3: "I don't think I'd mind a few bruises if there's sword-grabbing involved, if you catch my meaning. Besides, you old farts are all married."
7: "Happily married."
5: "By Anubis' barren regions, the only way she'd touch you is if you get all cursed, too."
2: "Well, there's your chance Buddy!" *gestures at the sword*
Khapiri: "Shut it! Have some respect or all of you are on night patrol until you forget what the sun looks like!"
Their discussion ceases after the obvious scolding.
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Luisila replies innocently, “Cleaver’s actually much better at hog-tying people than I am. I also know a sailor-paladin named Omrax the Bold. He’s very good with knots. I can introduce you to him when we’re back in Absalom if you like, Aakif.”
The priestess taps her chin absently with her right index finger as she gazes up at the perfect blue sky over Sothis.
“Guys I think it’s time to move onto the next assignment. I’m OK with you carrying the kopesh freely back to Sandswept Hall, Aakif. If you’re heading there anyway, maybe we can tag along with you, KC Talarel?”
The half-elf still looks somewhat perplexed. “I’m just not sure whether this Mwangi angle is a short-cut or a red herring. I suspect it’s the latter but I suppose we can always go see another of Balentiir’s Pathfinders while we’re thinking about it.”
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Aakif tries to keep his composure, but instinctively takes a few steps away from Varg.
"On second thought, perhaps no one needs to be tied.... We should be ok without it. I agree - let's head back, since we've found another agent and artifact."
Aakif will carry the sword if the guard doesn't want to.
The sword and the guard captain are brought back to the lodge, though the morning jam-ups have begun; a now-two-wheeled banana cart has lost its contents and makes what is normally a 4-lane street into a 1-lane street. There are only minor injures. Other than that, no additional issues.
The guard captain strides his way though the lodge gates and makes his way to the Venture Captain for what is likely to be a very intense discussion of duties. The sword is deposited and the party is left to decide what's next.
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Luisila returns the Huscarl’s smile. “I haven’t heard from Omrax since that cursed caper in Taldor, Cleaver. Remember how cool he was when we got a bit out of hand on that drunken evening with Desmond in the River Kingdoms?”
“Best paladin EVA.”
"What do the rest of you think? Follow up on the sword merchant or start gathering information on Nuru?"
“I think the priority should be finding Nuru, but maybe the two are related?” She *shrugs* “A friend of Cleaver’s and mine, Ernest Kalthet is the sole heir to a Family Security business, located not far from the Malhitu bazaar where we found KC Talarel.”
“With all of this trouble in Sothis, maybe the threat-mitigation business is booming and they’re in the know? Might be worth asking Mr and Mrs Kalthet if they know anything about Kuru and the sword merchant.”
Luisila stops suddenly as she's gathering her gear to head out again and says, “If we meet Mrs Kalthet, might be best not to mention a lady named ‘Linnea Joculus.’”
Aakif will ask around about both the sword merchant and Nuru.
You can also use Diplomacy to gather information about a specific topic or individual. To do this, you must spend at least 1d4 hours canvassing people at local taverns, markets, and gathering places.
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"We are in Taldor..."
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Sounds good. If the VC will just give us the address, we'll skip the info gathering and head to the house. Unless anyone objects or has another idea of course! While we're with the VC, we'll ask about the last known whereabouts of all the other agents, and get directions. This may save us time later.
Of the agents not yet discovered, these are the reported locations of residences. Addresses are included.
Nuru: North Shore apartment
Sutkeh: Owns a shop, north of the Bazaar; Alchemical in nature
Tarik: Inside the nice part of town, the Black Dome
Zahur: An apartment near Azghaad’s Spire
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9:16 AM
The party makes it's way to the North Shore Apartments, to Studio Apartment #15. A man no older than thirty with black hair sets down his grocery bag (which noticeably contains a lot of bottled things) as he digs in his pockets for keys, with his neatly-trimmed full beard surrounding a very disinterested look. There are no signs of anything out of the ordinary.
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Assuming this man is headed to the same apartment......
"A thousand apologies good sir, but we are looking for an individual by the name of Nuru. This person may be in some danger, and we are here to protect them and provide assistance. Could you tell us where we can find Nuru?"
Sensing motive on the reply, whatever it is.
"Nope. Left... About 3 to 4 months ago? Sometime around then. Took all her stuff with her." He finishes in a deadpan tone, finding his key ring in one of his pockets. "Landlord's building is #3 if you want in to confirm. Bye," the man says, attempting to make the social encounter as brief as possible by getting into his living room/kitchenette space/bedroom.
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Aakif will go speak to the landlord. "Greetings. We are looking for Nuru, who lived in one of your apartments. With your permission, we would like to take a look at where Nuru was living.". Aakif lowers his voice. "We are tasked with retrieving dangerous (cursed) magic items, and removing them, so that they are not able to harm anyone. Are you aware of any objects that Nuru left behind? Do you know how we can find Nuru?"
Take 10 Diplomacy = 27
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Luisila follows Aakif to the landlord’s apartment. Seeing he’s got the questions covered, I might just …
The priestess tries to see anything unusual over the landlord’s shoulder as well as anything about him that might indicate a curse or disguise.
She will find an excuse to grip the man’s arm or shoulder. “Oh yes! We are very concerned about her well-being.”
Apartment #3 bears the sign "Admin" on the door and a goat munching on some sparse shrubbery outside. "Barry," should his ID tag be believed, eyes everyone up as they knock at the door as he eats a prickly bush.
The woman who answers the door (a thin, middle-aged Taldan-Kelish woman) listens to the tale. She appears legitimately concerned, now aware of the threat. She darts to a nearby collection of keys and takes a keyring off the wall. There are obvious signs that she is not the only one who lived there, though not with many more residence. Judging by the pair of portraits in the house, it is likely just her, her husband, and Barry.
She leads the group back to the original apartment, instructing Barry to "keep an eye on things." She also suggests that Nuru left months ago, though the possibility that she's in danger (or a danger herself) is unsettling to her. She states the monk paid for three years of rent about a year-and-a-half ago, so its never a vacancy.
She either unlocks and opens the door herself, or offers the proper key to a volunteer amongst the group.
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Nobody's evil, though if your Wayfinder would detect oddballs, it'd be in the Overwhelming Aura category once she started giving her pet instructions.
Aakif doesn't even get one foot in the door before finding a suspicious bundle (8 letters) of sealed letters in the otherwise barren room. Excluding the letters and heavy table, everything in the genres of clothing, dishes, and home decor has been removed (with no signs of it being done in any kind of hasty manner.)
The bundle of letters have a pair of stamps from the local post office, reading in both Osirioni and Taldane
Insufficient Postage
One might surmise they are here, being returned via the letter slot in the door.
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After deducing Aakif’s actions, Luisila also *casts* detect magic before scanning the room/cupboards/letters for traps and threats.
She says matter-of-factly, “Calistria’s detect magic is soooo much better than the Dawnflower’s you know.”
She then brazenly and unapologetically begins reading the letters over Aakif’s shoulder.
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Luisila sees Aakif’s reaction and smiles. “Awww … Who’s got a grumpy face, then?”
“Turn that frown up-side down, Aakif! It’s not too late to see the light.”
While maintaining an air of mischief, Luisila adds seriously, “I consider myself truly blessed, Aakif. On a mission in the frozen north, I HEARD My Lady’s Voice in response to an event that happened to me.”
“It was one of the highlights of both my clerical and Pathfinder career to date.”
The letters are all personally-written letters from Nuru to local individuals, informing them that she is returning to Nex for an indeterminate amount of time and wishing them the best. The oldest letter is addressed the lodge and states her displeasure of leaving on such short notice, but her Nexian monastery suffered a loss in leadership and required her to return for candidacy.
It appears she used stamps from over fifteen years ago, which does not benefit from a Forever Stamp-esque clause.
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“The letter indicates Nuru left Sothis some time ago for personal and professional reasons, totally unrelated to the current crisis. Similarly her ‘letter of notice’ to VC Balentiir never reached him because of legitimate reasons.”
Luisila *shrugs* “I suspect she’s fine and we needn’t waste any more time with her welfare. We can take the letters to show VC Balenetiir, after we’ve checked the next Pathfinder on the list, unless anyone thinks we’ve missed something?”
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“Turn that frown up-side down, Aakif! It’s not too late to see the light.”While maintaining an air of mischief, Luisila adds seriously, “I consider myself truly blessed, Aakif. On a mission in the frozen north, I HEARD My Lady’s Voice in response to an event that happened to me.”
“It was one of the highlights of both my clerical and Pathfinder career to date.”
Aakif actually gets serious......
"I have seen the light. My story to Upsia was true - I used to raid caravans for no other reason than the gold I could sell the goods for. Even though I have never heard Sarenrae's voice directly, I know that she is pleased by my redemption. That is why I offer the same to others. That you have heard the voice of your goddess is a true honor."
Aakif looks one more time at the letters, and tries to determine if they are all authentic ( written by the same person, etc.). Assuming that they are.....
"yes, we should head to the next location.
The writing is very neat and simple, clearly sharing the same writer under scrutiny. Her ex-apartment holds no further clues, having been emptied of all goods of living excluding the heavy furniture.
The landlord's wife, assured there is no curses afoot, darts off after remembering the teakettle is still on. She yells ahead to Barry to fix the issue while running as fast as her aged legs can carry her.
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Next Target: Sutkeh: Owns a shop, north of the Bazaar; Alchemical in nature
9:30
The party circles around the city, following the shoreline then heading south to the address given for Sutkeh's shop. Conveniently, they get a break in the traffic and swiftly move to their next location.
Sutkeh's one-story shop is closed and its windows are barred and shuttered, though the area sees as much traffic as any other market street.
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"That you have heard the voice of your goddess is a true honor."
Luisila *bobs* at the Dawnflower Dissident's compliment.
♗♗♝
Luisila links arms with Brachus. “I suggest one lap around the shop, peering through any gaps in the shutters like we’re looking for any sign of the proprietor. If we don’t spot a surreptitious way in, we check the front door for traps and head straight in once/if Ryster needs to unlock the door.”
The half-elf calls over her shoulder to the dwarven gunslinger. “Ryster, don’t forget to look left-right-left as we cross the road.”
Before entering Sutkeh’s shop, Luisila holds up both hands, rubbing them briskly together to generate some friction before pulling them apart, while expelling a short breath on both left and right in Varg’s direction.
“A gift from the Unquenchable Fire, Cleaver.”
The pair case the joint and Brachus points out that the Axe Warehouse has an heirloom cold iron hatchet that was once (supposedly) used by a man in service to the current jarl of the Land of the Linnorm Kings. This is incredibly unlikely. More relevant to the situation, the building has no uncovered bonus entrances.
Rhyster draws his gun in the middle of the city, eliciting the expected results. These results range from "indifference or ignorance of firearms" from a sizable number of folks to a handful of folks "sensing impending violence and quietly running away."
The sheer number of folks and utter lack of anyone attempting to call for guards at what outwardly appears to be a robbery-in-the-making speaks volumes as to why the store is so thoroughly locked down; this isn't exactly the best part of the market area, though the buildings are nice-looking enough.
The door is locked, but an order on the map is officially requested, as it will be for most Door Openings.
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