[dice=Diplomacy check]1d20+1
"Hello there. I'm Vanya" says the taldan woman extending her hand at the approaching person.
"And my name is Tsura." the woman responds, shaking Vanya's hand. "Coin would be very much appreciated but you should let me manage it." she whispers carefully.
"We are in search of a Varisian woman whom may be staying here. Unfortunately, we aren't quite clear on her name, though she's a scraggly looking half-elf with black hair and rotting teeth. She may have information we need to prevent a catastrophe or two."
The woman nods and says, "I know who you are talking about. She goes by the name Goldtooth. She's a Sczarni criminal who sometimes pretends to be a harrower. But Goldtooth fled Korvosa after trying to cheat some fancy lady from overseas but recently returned with some mercenaries and took over a room upstairs."
The little boy clinging to her skirt then says quietly, "I saw her and them upstairs." Tsura looks at the boy and asks, "Really, Tamas? You should haven't been up there! What were they doing?"
The boy shrugs and says shyly, "They were looking at a big map and writing lots of things really fast, but then she yelled at me to get out. Her friends had swords. She’s scary."
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The little boy clinging to her skirt then says quietly, "I saw her and them upstairs." Tsura looks at the boy and asks, "Really, Tamas? You should haven't been up there! What were they doing?"
The boy shrugs and says shyly, "They were looking at a big map and writing lots of things really fast, but then she yelled at me to get out. Her friends had swords. She’s scary."
Abaal produces a sheet of paper and his calligraphy tools. "Tamas, show us."
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"You're a very brave lad my boy and you've done us a fine service. I think you deserve this." Fimfinkle hands the boy a gold piece and his five trail rations, giving him a knowing wink as he does so. "Buy your mother something nice, and yourself something sweet, eh."
Fimfinkle waits patiently for Vanya to complete her task before moving up the stairs.
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Libertus stands by as the group swindles their way into information. "If we are dealing with a criminal claiming to be a harrower, then we should detain her and turn her into the authorities. Additionally, this claim of disaster was foretold by this imposter, so its legitimacy is in question."
After hearing that the criminals are armed, Libertus unslings the large mace across his back and wreathes it in flames as a few runic symbols appear in the air before him.
He leans the mace against his shoulder as he ascends the stairs, listening for sounds of crime and deceit.
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"Agreed sir knight." replies the gnome. Pulling out a sock with the end sewn shut to keep rocks within, he cautiously trudges up the stairs behind Libertus.
"Been a long time since I had a trap-walker" he remarks to Vanya with a smile. "Normally I find them with my face. I'll surely let you lead to attempt a safer way of locating dangers."
His boar commanded to guard the stairs, keeps watch on their flank.
Abaal produces a sheet of paper and his calligraphy tools. "Tamas, show us."
The young boy looks confused and clings tighter to Tsura's skirts. "He can't read or write," Tsura explains.
As the party climbs up the stairs Vanya takes the lead pointing his finger to the others:"Be careful. This seems to be way too easy. Could very well be a trap, so let me make sure everything is ok before proceeding further..."
Tamas pipes up, "Well, they're not there anymore."
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The party ascends to see if the criminals left anything interesting behind that might help on the next step of the trail.
The ramshackle attic is filled with knickknacks of all sorts. Most of it has been thoroughly scavenged for anything of value, leaving rat-chewed paintings, shards of porcelain, and cobwebs. On the far end of the attic, a crate serves as a makeshift desk, holding a stack of papers and an inkwell. A flyer is nailed to the wall above the desk. The window beside the crate is shattered, letting in the cold air from outside.
Luckily Vanya's eyes are keen and she instantly spots a tripwire in the room that would have opened a pit and dislodged a part of the roof onto the one who stepped through it. With the wire identified, she can safely direct everyone around it.
The papers on the crate are a catalogue of poisons and related substances—collectively, they form a copy of an infamous poisoner’s handbook called The Deleterious Grimoire.
The “big map” that Tomas saw is nowhere to be found. The flyer above the desk is a playbill advertising The Gambler’s Tragedy, as performed by The Andoren Chameleons at Kendall Amphitheater. One phrase is circled: “Marvel at their breathtaking disguises!”
You also find a potion of delay poison and two doses of some alchemical paste.
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Rolling his eyes, Libertus calms himself as he dismisses the flames from his weapon when Tamas decides to reveal the whole truth. "Next time, tell the whole truth, boy." he says with a steely voice. "Half-truths and simpering behind the skirt of your mother is no way for a man to live." he says before hearing Jax's identification.
"We should leave immediately. This doesn't seem related to the cricket, but we do not even know if that is real at this point." he says as he moves to leave to the Kendall Amphitheater.
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Not willing to leave a potentially dangerous trap active with so many people around Vanya takes on herself to make it innocuous.
She then compliments Jax for his keen eyes:"Well spotted! I agree we need to hurry and get to Kendall Amphitheater as soon as possible. Seems like this "Lady Goldtooth" means to poison someone!"
Located in Cliffside near the South Shore district, the Kendall Amphitheater is an architectural jewel in Korvosa’s crown. A multitude of people generally flock there to see plays, musical events, or non violent competitions. Right now, however, you find the Amphitheater’s many doors closed but unlocked.
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Eyeing the list of poisons procured, he asks "Anyone know anything about black finger's paste? Sounds pretty straight forward, but I've encountered a few things in my time that had misleading names..."
As they head out, he stops at the headmistress again. "M'lady, I am deeply saddened by the state of you and your tenants. If there's anything I may do to aid you in the future, please send for me at the Pathfinder's Lodge."
I sure hope this place is big enough to stay atop my companion. I sure do detest walking considers the gnome as he tries to recall useful tidbits to share.
Looking to Vanya, Hastard inquires "Think it's safe to go in?"
You rush into the building, finding that none of the doors are locked. There are storage areas backstage and winding hallways but you hear the noises of combat growing louder from straight ahead so you push through to emerge in the amphitheater proper. You stand on the stage looking out, with two pillars on either side holding up the roofing structures above.
You see a group of 12 performers scrambling about the stage, rehearsing several scenes at once. Two flamboyantly battle with rapiers in the center of the stage and the others stage fights all around them. A man nervously tugging at his white top hat stands off to the side watching.
As you near the stage, the pseudodragon on Abaal's shoulder lets out a screech in alarm at the violence going on ahead. This attracts the attention of the man with the white top hat, who spots you and leaps up, shrieking “Closed rehearsal!”
This startles the stage combatants, and causes one of the duelers in the middle to slip, his sword grazing the other’s arm. The man in the top hat shouts in frustration and says, "What an utter disaster! Maximos’s sword arm is the only stageworthy part of
the buffoon!” The man, who must be Maximo, scoffs and puts his hands on puts his hands on his hips, a small amount of blood running down his shirtsleeve. The ensemble quarrels over how they’ll adapt before the man in the tophat looks back and says to you all, "Well, you've all started this mess! Who are you and which one of you can put on some makeup to take Maximo's place? Hurry up, we've got to keep this rehearsal moving."
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"Seems like this place sits above Kendall Vault..." Vanya mentions while rushing to approach the fighting.
Once it's clear the battle is just a mock one Vanya relaxes visibly and, hearing what the man with the white hat is saying, she grins widely:"Oh... if you need a well armed bufoon I think we have just the right person with us..." she winks, pointing at Abaal.
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Charging in on his boar, he stops short as the scene unfolds. "Sincerest apologies. We didn't intend to cause such issues...just the sounds of battle got us a bit on edge. Perhaps we could help with that arm of his. Out of curiousity, how would you make one of us look the part? For example, makeup wouldn't make me taller."
Pulling out a wand of CLW, he looks to his companions. "Would one of you be able to use this on the poor soul?"
"Out of curiousity, how would you make one of us look the part? For example, makeup wouldn't make me taller."
Pulling out a wand of CLW, he looks to his companions. "Would one of you be able to use this on the poor soul?"
The man in the top-hat removes his hat and a makes a short bow of his head before replacing it. "Never mind, the matter is over! Yes, go heal the man if you can and then I won't have to bother training you I suppose. But never doubt the wonders a little makeup, some stilts, and a good costumer can-"
But the man's words are cut short but a rumbling from beneath your feet as suddenly the ground on either front end of the stage bursts open in a spray of rocks and dirt. The bug-like monsters that scuttle out of the holes on six legs have a noxious green ichor drooling from their clacking mandibles.
Libertus swings his weapon at the bug as it emerges from the ground but discovers that its chitinous exterior is quite hard. In fact, Vanya and Warden struggle to break through and cause damage as well.
Abaal is quite sure these are magical beasts called ankheg. Other than their ability to spit acid, they are rather unremarkable and more akin to giant vermin attracted to and able to sense from far away the scent of blood.
Deciding this is a foe worth vanquishing, the Sword of Katapesh charges in and puts his sword though the one on his left! Fimfinkle offers a blessing over this wanton violence.
The ankhegs are ready for food now, having caught the taste of blood from the man on stage and lunge at the prey presenting themselves.
blue: 13 dmg
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With the lightest of tugs, Hastards lance comes free of its hold behind his saddle. Knee his boar into motion, he lowers the lance, sighting in the vermin attacking Abaal. As the pair ride past the creature, he thrusts the point into it's flesh. Yanking it back out as his mount pierces it's tough hide.
Spinning around as the duo prepare to return, Hastard yells out "Let's send these foes back to the depths from whence they came!"
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Close enough to smell the acidic breath of the beast, Libertus swings his flaming club mightily as he brings it to bear against the ankheg. "That's the idea, Hastard! If these creatures make it to Hell, perhaps they will be remade into something worth a damn!" he cries as he hopes to land his attack.
Hastard charges in and spears the giant bug-like creature through with his spear, sending dark ichor spilling onto the ground at the foot of the stage!
Warden and Libertus have trouble breaking through the other ankheg's exoskeleton but Vanya finds its weak points and quickly bleeds the thing, sending it crumpling to the ground!
The man in the tophat comes rushing up, saying, "Oh my! I am forever in your services, all of you! My name is Bellowskin, by the way. Here, let me give you something for your trouble." He reward you with a pack of “mask powder”
Additionally, the lead actor who was cut on the arm shyly offers his lucky coin, which he says, “helps me remember my lines, sometimes.”
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"Well, thank you then. I almost thought this was all part of your show!" jokes Vanya before turning serious:"But enough of that. I've got a few questions for you: do you know anything about a shady fortuneteller called "lady Goldtooth" or somesuch? And... is it possible you happen to know something about harrow cards and the "yellow prophet" in particular?" finishes Vanya telling the actors about the strange circumstances of their search
The lead actor leaps down from the stage to join Bellowskin as he offers you his coin and his thanks.
"But enough of that. I've got a few questions for you: do you know anything about a shady fortuneteller called "lady Goldtooth" or somesuch? And... is it possible you happen to know something about harrow cards and the "yellow prophet" in particular?" finishes Vanya telling the actors about the strange circumstances of their search
The lead actor becomes quite gruff and evasive when Vanya mentions a fortuneteller. When pressed a bit more, he admits, "Actually, I just sold another pouch of our mask powder to a Varisian fortune-teller. She kept asking if the magic could make her appear Qadiran...."
Unfortunately, neither Bellowskin nor any of the actors can give you any insight into the cards that you haven't discovered already.
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"So... we know she wants to poison someone, we know she will be disguised as a Qadiran and I think we know where she'll strike... Back into the Unicorn Cadmion mentioned she deposited a bunch of flyers for the Green Market... only they were fakes! I bet that's where she'll strike! Let's move people! It might be too late already!" Vanya reason's loudly motioning for the others to follow her.
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"So... we know she wants to poison someone, we know she will be disguised as a Qadiran and I think we know where she'll strike... Back into the Unicorn Cadmion mentioned she deposited a bunch of flyers for the Green Market... only they were fakes!..."
"These are so bogus man, they're fakes. Where'd you get them?"