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Ralklain speaks fast, moving to the door the woman had just moved through:
Well, the guards may be coming, maybe some of us should wait outside for when they came we are ready to explanate what's happening, but let's not lose track of the woman first, she might be getting away.
Common X, I need you down here and fast.
Taylor is unable to identify which cat started the disruption, but sees a lot of curious children everywhere.
Wuliem, Ralklain and Exitium open the door the hag went through and ... see nothing! It is like she simply vanished!
There are some half-open windows (and you can see some distance), but you didn't think she was that agile...
Ralklain, remembering some sage advice about searching with detect magic, casts his spell and spends a little time and notices that there is, indeed, a magic aura in the room... there is it. As you are doing so her ugly visage comes back into view about 10 feet from you, casting a spell!
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Wuliem immediately tosses the tanglefoot bag at her.
touch attack
Source Core Rulebook
A tanglefoot bag is a small sack filled with tar, resin, and other sticky substances. When you throw a tanglefoot bag at a creature (as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet), the bag comes apart and goo bursts out, entangling the target and then becoming tough and resilient upon exposure to air. An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity and must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be glued to the floor, unable to move. Even on a successful save, it can move only at half speed. Huge or larger creatures are unaffected by a tanglefoot bag. A flying creature is not stuck to the floor, but it must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be unable to fly (assuming it uses its wings to fly) and fall to the ground. A tanglefoot bag does not function underwater.
A creature that is glued to the floor (or unable to fly) can break free by making a DC 17 Strength check or by dealing 15 points of damage to the goo with a slashing weapon. A creature trying to scrape goo off itself, or another creature assisting, does not need to make an attack roll; hitting the goo is automatic, after which the creature that hit makes a damage roll to see how much of the goo was scraped off. Once free, the creature can move (including flying) at half speed. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell. The goo becomes brittle and fragile after 2d4 rounds, cracking apart and losing its effectiveness. An application of universal solvent to a stuck creature dissolves the alchemical goo immediately.
Watch it! She is casting a spell!
Auntie Baltwin is hit directly by the tanglefoot bag, but somehow is not stuck to the floor. Still, her movements are obviously slowed - there will be no fast escape for her!
As Narvik approaches with his fearsome touch, Auntie Baltwin shouts: "I surrender! I surrender! You quickly get her surrounded and disarmed.
Soon, the watch arrives, and Auntie Baltwin shouts, "Help me! They attacked me and ransacked my house! They are stealing money and the children's medicines!"
The watch looks at you very sternly.
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Narvik looks to the others, thinking that having a half-orc attempt to explain how he came to find the items in his position might not be the most ideal situation.
She does not tell the truth. She is turning charity into self-gain. If asked, Narvik will show the party and/or the Watch the ledger and such that he had found and will show them where they were if required.
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Pizzmic having expected the guards is waiting in the room speaks up ready for action. Gentlemen do not be fooled by this manipulative ruse, we entered Madam Baltwin's estate upon offical business of the silver crusade. She had recently requested additional funding which seemed quite odd considering the excessive amount of aid the society already provides this orphanage. Once we discovered her unlawful use of society charity funds she attempted to flee the estate and is now trying to futher manipulate the law by saying we ransacked her house. This woman needs to be detained and these children need to be sent to another orphanage promptly
Seeing the evidence and hearing Pizzmic speak, the stern gaze of the watch quickly shifts to Auntie Baltwin. The watch take her in for investigation and collect your information for further statements and testimony.
Some neighbors, seeing all of the excitement, agree to watch over the children with the aid of a member of the watch until someone - likely from the Silver Crusade for now - can take over, notifying parents and finding suitable guardians for those without. The watch also begins interviewing the children.
Ollysta Zadrian, the Sarenite paladin of the Silver Crusade, thanks you profusely for catching Auntie Baltwin's crimes, though she acknowledges the important responsibility of replacing someone who, despite all, was an effective healer...
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Thank you for the opportunity lady Ollysta. Don't hesitate to call us if there is anything else I could help you with. Something crossed my mind, perchance you know about a halfling...(describe the halfling and the woman). It happened right after we leave your offices, so if they have nothing against us maybe it's against the Crusade. Do you know anything about it?
It is a potion of Cure Light Wounds.
"I know nothing about the halfling or the woman that you describe. Sadly, both the Pathfinders and the Silver Crusade have as many - or more - enemies than true friends, and there are always simple criminals - like Baltwin - looking to steal rather than earn their way in this world. Watch yourselves!"
You make your way to the rich estate of Grand Council member Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by a guard who is expecting you as you reach the tall, wrought-iron gate. Once inside, a servant tells you that Salhar is not present, called away on important Council business, but his most trusted advisor is available to negotiate any business you may require. The servant explains this while leading you down well-decorated hallways, past expansive rooms.
After a few minutes, the group arrives at a simple study near the end of a long hallway. Inside a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. As the group approaches the open door, the wise sage silently gestures you into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading. Once you are all inside the study, he addresses your group.
“Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say.
“Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet.
“Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room.”
The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.
(You have the distinct sense that questions and comments are inappropriate at this time...)
After leaving Amenopheus’ study, the servant brings you back through the spacious estate, leading them down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a couple turns, the party ends up at a plain wooden door. The servant opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow, and waits silently for you to enter.
The plain stone room contains three chests: a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood; a red lacquered chest; and what looks to be a cube of solid steel. Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.
After entering the room, the door is closed and locked behind you! Turning around, you see written on the back of the door is the message: “Within these cases lies your quest and your way out.”
The two-foot-round wicker basket has its lid resting gently atop its wide rim.
The gallon-sized clear glass jar is about half full with clear liquid. At the bottom of the vessel sits a jeweled brass key.
There is a rather plain copper-bound chest with a keyhole.
There is a smooth, red lacquered chest that looks devious: the solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole pulses with glowing amber runes.
The steel cube has only the faintest crack where its lid meets the base, and would be completely featureless save for its narrow keyhole.
The locks do not appear to be ordinary locks. Margical, perhaps? You are not sure if they could be picked or not...
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Wuliem--looking for any sort of trap--steps up to study the jar more closely.
He then picks up the jar to further examine it.
I may be able to ascertain what this liquid may be.
One moment, Alia.
Wuliem determines that the liquid, while it looks like water, is actually a caustic cleaning solution. Just reaching in to grab the key, he figures, will likely result in some damage to his hand and his new robe.
Talor doesn't see anything (more) unusual about, or hear anything unusual in, the two chests or the cube, despite his (mostly) close and careful inspection.
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Pizzmic looks at the lower table. back up everyone let me see whats inside here Grabs the lid of the wicker basket and shakes it enough to move around whatever could be inside. ok lets hope its not full of snakes! waiting to hear and feel what moves around if it doesnt appear to be dangerous pizzmic will lift the lid and back up immediately.
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Wuliem motions to the jar, placing it carefully back down on the table.
There appears to be some caustic cleaning solution inside that would ruin your day if it touches your skin.
He then takes a peek at Talor for a moment before continuing!
I would surmise that just breaking the jar to procure the key would be an obvious choice.
Wuliem glances at the enthusiastic Pizzmic.
Isn't there a cantrip that would allow one to lift out the key without actually touching it?
Pizzmic shakes the basket and then listens and waits, and doesn't hear anything - at least it is not a rattlesnake!
Inside Pizzmic sees a blue stone key with carvings on it, laying on a pile of wadded cloth.