"Yes, I currently have 33 slaves available for purchase. If you are not ready to make a purchase tonight-of either slaves or my token here-you may stay with us and sleep on it if you like. It is getting late and I open my caravan to you. Please, do not hesitate to ask if you need anything." With that, the Nightpeddler turns and goes about his business in the caravan. As he walks away he is flanked by three bodyguards. They are covered in wickedly barbed chains and their pale flesh is etched with jagged scars.
Jocob seems nervous to be in his rival merchant's camp and starts to set his tents up on the outskirts of the caravan.
As you meander about, one of the slaves goes rushing past and Hawk feels the boy hit him in the arm. Looking down, he is surprised to find a small hastily-written note in his hand: Meet us after moonrise.
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once alone, Tolgarov looked at his comrades and said.
Could we find a common goal and way of doing things ? I'm getting tired to not know what to do with the people we meet.
Sometime you seemed to want to go to war with them, some time not but it always end in bloodshed with or without my consent.
So, from no on, could we kill everything we meet having a token and stop trying to do it friendly ? It will save time and lives.
This fellow seems to me a good one, a merchant like me. His proposal is fair but some of you have trouble with him I can sense it.
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"Fair?" asks Fletch indignantly. "Fair to whom? Certainly not to the unfortunate souls whose lives he sells."
"The Nightpeddlar is a slaver," says Fletch in flat tones. "A slaver with demonic cohorts. What would you want from us if you were in his clutches, Tolgarov? Has it occurred to you that this is the very reason we were shunted into this wretched realm? To end this creature's evil reign?"
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We were here to free Meloigne Garracy or find the "Library". That's all.
We're not here to save other people and as long he is not me putting in slavery I don't care, at all.
I'm a merchant, whatever the product, I sell to those who want it.
So How the Nightpeddler do is business or with how or with what doesn't bother me and have nothing to do with our mission.
What worries me FIRST, is my wellbeing. So I would prefer we have a consistant way of dealing with these evil bastards who have the tokens.
First - Try diplomacy and if it's not working coming back latter prepared
Second - Don't ask question and strike first.
Third - Ask question and strike first.
Either way is fine by me. I just want it .
And if you are so in freeing these slaves, buy them. You've not died last time so I'm sure you could afford them.
The moon begins to rise as the hour of the impromptu meeting approaches. The camp has grown quiet except for a few slaves who slowly move towards you, careful to keep their chains as silent as possible, although they are free to move about the camp as they please.
A woman cautiously approaches you. "I am Reasha." she whispers. "We have not seen outsiders, especially like yourselves, in a long time. We noticed that you seem to have no interest in purchasing us and no great rapport with the Nightpeddler." She looks you up and down, trying to decide whether or not to trust you.
"There is a revolt planned for two days from now." she says suddenly, looking around to make sure she didn't say it too loudly. "Just as there has been every few weeks for thousands of years. It never works out for us. . . but we have to try, right? We have to hope that one of these times it will work! But we've never had allies, not powerful allies such as yourselves, on our side before. Perhaps your assistance would tip the balance...."
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Before the rendezvous
Again I don't care about slavery evil or good.I just want us to be constant in our actions.You want to free the slaves ? Great good for you. We will murder the slavers in their sleep to do it, then let them on their own in this world. I couldn't care less. I will follow your decision.
What I don't want is me trying to do something and you doing something else. I want US working AS A TEAM.
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"We've been supremely consistent," said Fletch. "All those who needed killing are dead. All others improved or no worse. And indeed, we shall work as a team. But we shall murder no one in their sleep, as you well know."
"I think what you actually want, good Tolgarov, is a plan we all follow and here we agree completely. Let us meet with these slaves and then make our own plans. Together, as you say."
__________________________________________________
(+2 vs. evil outsiders?)
Meeting with the slaves, Fletch wonders if they are really as they appear.
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Fendahl nods in agreement with Tolgarov.
"I concur. Whatever course of action, we come to a concensus before acting. Thrice we have been made an offer for a deal. The first two we negotiated with the rakshasa and rabbit prince. The third we did not and it ended tragically. I would vote that as a rule, negotiate first and leave, either accepting the offer or not. If we later decide to attack, we come back fully prepared for battle."
If we have not yet rested since the elemental fight, fedahl will cure kirrah with his wand.
Reasha, who has been speaking for the slaves, says, "There's no need to kill anyone yet. If you can just help us break free of our shackles and provide enough distraction, we can make a run for it and spread out into the desert. The Nightpeddler always sends his guards after us but there's only three of them and many more of us. Likely some will be caught and brought back, but not all!"
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Ace will try to learn more of the Nightpeddler with his bardic masterpiece, At The Heart Of It All.
He watches the Nightpeddler for a while before returning to his friends and letting the music flow through him and find the ways to manipulate the Conspirator.
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"Seems like the optimal time to strike." Ace remarks.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ace quietly sings a song about the Nightpeddler, at least as much as he knows about the strange creature so far, but can't seem to gain any insights.
Two slow days pass in the Nightpeddler's caravan. You are treated hospitably and the Nightpeddler is not overly pushy about you purchasing his wares (ie slaves) immediately, although it seems that he does expect you to make a purchase eventually after all the gracious hosting he has done.
Finally, on the night of the second day just as the slaves told you, there is a coordinated revolt. Many of the slaves have thrown off their chains; others just run holding up their shackles as best they can. Tents are one fire and screams can be heard from all around. "Find them! Find them all!" you hear voice of the Nightpeddler screaming to his guards over the chaos.
The Nightpeddler then runs around a nearby tent and sees you standing in a large open area, seemingly ready and prepared for the sudden upheaval. "You! You did this! You incited my property against me!"
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Fendahl waits to see how the first two magic attacks fared against the creature before he has Kirrah engage the strange being.
He will move south and quickly summon a tiger and have it pounce on the manling from the opposite side of Maldoc.
Causing a Tiger [64hp] to appear (AC16 F10/R7/W3 G17/D25)
Aug Tiger for
Aug Tiger for
Aug Tiger for
Aug Tiger for
Aug Tiger for
Tolgarov's fireball bounces off of the Nightpeddler's resistances! Likewise Maldoc's blade cuts into the Nightpeddler's body but the electricity fizzles and doesn't hurt him.
Fendahl's summoned lion is able to land a bite on the Nightpeddler's backside, as is Romulus! Romulus is even able to pull the Nightpeddler to the ground, throwing open some of his robes to reveal the strange alien body beneath!
Hawk puts an arrow in the Nightpeddler!
Ace hastens and inspires from the back, his heart not really in it anymore after his brush with death. The Nightpeddler's wounds heal themselves, which seems strange to you since he is not on his home plane but clearly the Nightpeddler has powers that extend beyond Leng....
Cursing that his guards are not available and he is now surrounded by enemies, the Nightpeddler tries his best to cast a spell.
Suddenly a twisting pattern of subtle, shifting colors weaves through the air around Fletch and the summoned lion
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Summoned tiger
Fendahl watches as the tiger gets glassy eyed.
He waits for Fletch to run around to the other side and then calls out to Maldoc.
"Master Maldoc, the creature is down, so he should be easier to strike at least.
Fendahl will point to the fallen alien and says...
"Kirrah, attack!
Kirrah will move up and flank with Romulus, biting at the prone creature.
Fendahl asks Fletch to look out and Kirrah charges in, tearing the Nightpeddler to shreds!
The All-Blossom, a massive emerald worth 1100 gp and which functions as his token, hangs around the Nightpeddler's neck. He also carries considerable funds from his dealings: 2287 gp, 785 sp, and 500 gp worth of rubies. He also has a wand of cure critical wounds with 10 charges remaining.
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Well done chaps ! Said Tolgarov seeing the Nightpeddler giving up
You see, when everyone is ready to go on the same path it's easier. I don't think his guard could be as dangerous as him and we we could find more in his camp. I think it's worthy to look around.
Added Tolgarov, who cast detect magic.
After a quick look around, you determine that the slaves probably grabbed everything valuable in their revolt. It seems that the extraplanar guards are rounding up some of the slaves already so you take off before they can return....
Hoping to visit Marzalee the Weaver, you head towards her home in the Manmolds:
Greasy smoke reeking of soot and rendered fat belches forth from the twin chimneys high above this imposing manor. Dozens of tall windows, all barred and boarded, adorn this formerly beautiful estate, but peeling paint and crumbled ornaments testify to its disuse.
You find that there is no other way into the building except through the front door.
A half-dozen wax mannequins clutter this dark, wood-paneled lobby. Two doors occupy the south wall. A brass plaque, written in ancient script, hangs from the wall opposite the front door.