Sputtering lanterns light the grimy common room of the Poppy's Bloom, a tobacconist-turned-boardinghouse on the outskirts of Bloodcove's harbor. Two figures emerge from the room's darkest corner - the tattooed half-elf Fola Barun and Guaril Karela of the Exchange faction. Fola shrinks into her cloak to avoid being seen, whereas Guaril looks around with a nostalgic glint in his eye.
"You can take the Sczarni out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the Sczarni," Guaril sighs wistfully. "Not to say Bloodcove and Riddleport are the same, but with a little work we could make it more like home…if you're willing to lend a hand."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," whispers Fola tensely, glancing about for eavesdroppers. "The matter at hand is greater than a single port. I've met with the grippli tribes in the Kaava Lands and they've confirmed some troubling reports. A ruined temple that the Society recently surveyed in Kaddodi has a powerful asura sealed within its walls. The gripplis have maintained the fiend's prison for generations, but the Aspis Consortium recently began mining the temple grounds for minerals. Their operation appears to be threatening the temple's wards, and should the mining continue, the asura could be released. If we are to prevent an ancient evil from devastating the Kaava Lands, we must halt the Aspis operations around that temple."
"That's where we come in," Guaril says with a smirk. "The Exchange faction has been exerting pressure on the mine's business partners, but to shut it down for good, we need to hit its foundations in Bloodcove. Aspis agents rarely honor legal obstacles, so we'll be returning to my 'family values.' A company called the Vanji Prospectors' Guild runs the logistics for the Aspis mining outfit. Your job is to get in and grab anything that makes the Consortium’s business practices unpalatable. From there we approach some of Bloodcove's movers and shakers, expose the Consortium's misdeeds, and convince them to strangle the mining outfit's supply lines. With a little luck, we may free this city from Aspis coils and earn some new business partners in one fell swoop."
Fola adds, "We've already identified two community leaders who may be sympathetic to our cause: Erwyn Harvacus of the Saltroot druid circle, and Ungala, a guerilla warrior the Society has met before. Ultimately we need to shut down the Consortium's supply lines, by land and by sea. Furthermore, we need to orchestrate the whole thing while deep in Aspis-controlled territory. We'll cover your tracks as best we can, but I suggest you move quickly to minimize any attempts to retaliate."
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"Eh, Guaril my good friend! How's business, yes?" Malachi claps the Exchange leader on the back. "About to get better I think, yes! My new friends here will help undermine the Vanji, yes. You know anything about their base of operations?"
The tako-tengu bows low to Fola Barun, with a sweep of his salty tricorn. "Trade Prince Captain Malachi Malarkey, at your service, yes! The finest fruits and vegetables this side of the Steaming Sea! It is a pity I had to give Flawless Diamond back, yes, but I will speak with this Saltroot as a fellow druid. We will drown the Aspis, by Besmara's Bloody Bones!"
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Doc O'Mayga sits in a chair with his back to the wall surveying the crowd and chatting amiably with Hogo about the various patrons and what they think their souls would taste like on the way to the afterlife - party members excluded, of course.
When Maria sits down, Doc looks up and smiles at the colleague he feels the most in common with intellectually and temperamentally. Hogo raises one end of their body and bows to the elven maiden then scritches something to Doc in their shared language.
"Ah, yes, ... thank you for the ... reminder, my friend." he digs around in the pack resting haphazardly on the floor and pulls out a small bundle of arrows wrapped in a red ribbon. "The Society Quartermaster ... was holding these ... for me. ... I don't really know why. ... But I thought ... you could make ... better use of them ... than I," he says as he presents the arrows to her.
A small tag attached to the ribbon reads "Magical Flaming Arrows. Hold for Dr. Omega." "They ... misspelled my name," he adds with a chuckle when Maria examines the tag. "Quite ironic,... though, as I intend for this ... form to be my ... final one ... with the Lady of Graves' blessing, ... of course," he explains with a flourish of his hand across his body and a nod to Pharasma's emissary, Hogo.
He turns his attention to Guaril and Fola and ponders the assignment.
"Sooooo, to stop the ... Aspis from releasing the ... asura, we are to ... burglarize the Prospector's Guild and ... steal materials that ... implicate them in wrongdoings." He pauses much longer than normal, and just when someone else begins to speak, he adds, "Commit a crime ... to expose a crime ... to prevent evil. Yes?" he asks as he looks to the more lawful members - Zithembe and Maria - for their thoughts. He's not too worried what the Pirate Captain and the Avatar Princess of Chaos would think. But he's not at all sure (and so quite curious) what the Grandfrogger will say about this set up.
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"The laws here appear to be looser than most cities, and it also seems that we are exposing the crimes of the Aspis Consortium to the authorities--such as they are--within this city," Zithembe answers the samsaran's question with an analysis of his own thoughts. "However, ultimately, the greater danger and evil would be releasing the asura. Maria, Hepsubia, and I have already fought the least of the asura. The damage it did was significant. Something more powerful could be devastating. That said, my skills do not lend well to subterfuge."
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Maria waves her hand to dismiss the obvious ethical question, ”Recovering goods from thieves and exposing their crimes is a age old activity in elven society, it is no skin off my back. Especially, as you say, if the local government is either in league with the criminals or unable to act. Pathfinders or adventurers such as us often undertake certain tasks that law enforcement cannot, but it does not make those tasks inherently unethical.”
The elf happily accepts the arrows, looking them over intently before slipping them into her quiver, replacing some mundane ones that end up back in her pack.
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The Grandfrogger watches as Cherry-Blossom-Tender races back and forth across the floor with the energy of a cat possessed by what Hepsubia calls “the zoomies”. When Hugo asks for the group’s opinion, he looks at the blue-skinned man with unblinking red eyes for several seconds.
“Near my tribe’s foraging grounds, we are.” His voice is as dry and cracked as ever, but also colored by an unusual sadness. “Train to become a guardian of the seal, I did. Wish to stay here for the rest of my life… I did not. Left them, I did.” He pauses for another long second before resuming. “Wish to see my tribe again… I am not certain. Wish to help them how I can, I do. Concerns about wrongness of exposing strangers’ wrongdoings, I have none.” The red eyes - not concealed by a heavy woolen cloak this time - shine with an almost feral gleam.
Guaril shrugs and reports, "The Vanji Prospectors' Guild once was a minor contractor for the Consortium, used to support mining operations without drawing unwanted attention. The Guild handles everything - personnel, revenue, supplies, even prisoners moving to and from the mine - so the guild house should be rich with secrets about the outfit’s inner workings. The building is guarded, certainly, but you are strong, savvy, and more than capable of getting in and out without too much trouble. Just remember that nobody likes being attacked, and the longer you can avoid drawing blades, the longer you’ll be able to search. If you have to punch someone, just remember to grab what you can and then get out. We’ll run interference while you infiltrate the guild house, but afterward you need to finish the mission before they can mobilize an effective counterattack."
"We unfortunately have little idea of what their defenses are," Fola explains regretfully. "But you might have enough time to canvass the exterior, if you're quick and quiet about it. That might give you some idea of what to expect once you're inside."
"Find anything we can use to drive a wedge between the Consortium and our potential new allies," Guaril repeats, nodding at Doc. "Look for transactions that work against Harvacus's interests or stolen Mwangi relics that will anger Ungala." He looks to Fola then adds, "Also, the Society is a family that looks after its own, and the undercover agent Malika Fenn vanished before we began planning this job. We suspect Aspis agents caught her too close to the mining operation. Keep an eye out, and tell her Guaril sent you."
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Bloodcove was built atop a forest of giant mangroves at the Vanji River delta. The mangroves’ root systems still support much of the city’s foundation, and regular maintenance is necessary to keep growing roots from tearing buildings apart. The Saltroot druid circle plays a key role in tending the mangroves, giving the Saltroots leverage in a city otherwise run by mercantile interests.
The Saltroot’s leader, Erwyn Harvacus, uses the circle’s influence to extort money from merchants who use the docks his druids maintain. He launders this money by investing in local plantations, protecting the Saltroot’s finances as long as the crops prosper (which he ensures with regular castings of plant growth).
Harvacus rarely double-crosses those who pay into his racket, but he makes an exception for those who work with fiends. Two of his brothers perished in the Mendevian Crusades, and he’s held a grudge against all evil outsiders ever since.
Bloodcove serves as a bastion of urbanization in a region that largely remains the domain of wilderness and tribes of Mwangi natives, ranging from humans along the coast to gripplis, lizardfolk, and other races further inland. Each tribe boasts its own unique cultural heritage, though many formed among the ruins of much older civilizations deeper in the jungle.
Several Bloodcove-based profiteers, including Aspis agents and members of House Cartahegn, regularly steal, smuggle, or exploitatively swindle cultural relics from local tribes to be sold abroad. The practice fans divisions between native populations and foreigners within the city. Bloodcove’s law enforcement generally favors the looters, so local dissidents, including Ungala and her guerillas, have started to steal relics back by force.
Stealing cultural relics is a lucrative but risky business. Many Mwangi artifacts contain ancient magic that even tribal leaders don’t fully understand. Tampering with these items can release powerful curses upon the unwary.
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Bloodcove.. I think I went undercover there, once. I pretended I was a turtle named Jenny. Maybe it's time to reactivate that disguise? Nice city, built atop the trees in a mangrove by the Ranji river's delta, quite a view. Local druids from the Saltroot branch (pun intended) work there to make sure the trees grow well, balancing the needs of the city and the health of the vegetation. So they are quite powerful in the area, even if they aren't merchants.Their leader, Erwyn Havracus, has understood that, and uses his political clout to extort money from merchants who can't do without the docks the druids work on, to access Bloodcove. But he's not a bad seed, pun intended again, as he uses the money gained to buy lands and create farms. With his magical power over the Green, he ensures the harvest are fruitful (or vegetableful).And he can be trusted, as long as you pay, he's honest. Unless you worship or serve the Fiends. He hold them a grudge, since two of his brothers died in the Mendevian crusade. Can't blame him on that, truly.
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”There did not seem to be much info in the elven libraries about this settlement, all I found was that Bloodcove serves as a bastion of urbanization in a region that largely remains the domain of wilderness and tribes of Mwangi natives, ranging from humans along the coast to gripplis, lizardfolk, and other races further inland. Each tribe boasts its own unique cultural heritage, though many formed among the ruins of much older civilizations deeper in the jungle.”
Having no further questions you part ways with Guaril and Fola to quickly gather some additional supplies - and in Malachi's case, some additional information. Rather than have the group risk blowing their cover by attempting to canvass the guildhouse the clever tengu decides to call in a favor and arranges a quick meeting with Vanei Thaskin, member of the Aspis Consortium and sometimes-informant for the Pathfinder Society. Malachi leaves the meeting having gained three important pieces of information:
(1) A map of the building's layout.
(2) Details on the security within - two unarmored guards acting as bouncers in the storefront and two elven wizards overseeing the business from the office.
(3) Apparently customers who ask to "inspect their dividends from the Kaddodi project" are brought straight to the wizard overseers to discuss valuables recovered from the mining operation.
With this information in hand, you have some time to discuss your plan of approach as you make your way towards the guildhouse. As you draw close you can see that the Vanji Prospectors Guild operates out of a small building that overhangs the Vanji River, with most of it supported by large mangrove roots. Windows provide a good view of the exterior surroundings and a boardwalk along the riverfront allows easy access to the front door.
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Maria’s eyes narrow, ”You specifically said ‘overpower them’ and from our last mission, I’m well aware you have no issue with extreme violence. Which is fine in the right situation, don’t get me wrong But I think I’ll stick with my suggestion if it comes to a vote. Unless anyone has a third or fourth alternative?”
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Doc watches the back and forth and occasionally begins to speak, only to have the two very strong personalities keep right on going at each other.
"I ... "
"He is ..."
"Are you ..."
Finally Hogo hops over to Maria's shoulder to get her attention. They gently poke one of her long ears with a tiny thorn in a friendly gesture.
"Ahem, yes, ... thank you, Hogo." He makes an effort to continue straight away so as not to lose his chance.
"I think ... we would be more likely to succeed ... as 'investors' than as ... burglars. The latter is ... certainly not my ... strong suit. Having a local with us ... could also lend ... credence to the tale," he concludes with a sweep of his long-fingered hand toward the Grandfrogger.
Hogo quickly gives Maria a little bow and a shrug of a thorn as if to apologize for their siding with Malachi before hopping back over to Doc.
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The first idea I had was to get ourselves in a box, with holes for breathing, "no peeping throught" written near the holes, and an "absolutly do not open" note, and then get delivered into the building. But we would need a VERY big box.
She looks at Maria, up down and around
or cut on the cookies quickly, and we haven't enough time. Besides, cookies are too yummy. Then, at night, we would both break out of the box, and break in the place.
She sights
Yeah, that wouldn't work. I need to think outside the box.
I recommend we put a spell of silence on a small stone, throw it into the storefront, quickly get the guards out of the fight. Then we can either do it again into the office-spallcasters need to chant or pray or whatever most of their spells, or try to bluff our way in. Tanglefoot bags would hinder their spells. A thunderstone can be handy, but it might alarm the neighborough
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A tiny figure zooms around the Pathfinders' feet as if to demonstrate how they will outrun rumors and enemies both, complete with sound effects.
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"I believe that the Grandfrogger, in his natural form, may be more of a complication since the Aspis mining operation in conflict with the local grippli. Would the tribes not have, at the least, made protests?" Zithembe begins. "But my contacts have provided me with scrolls with which to mask some of our appearances. The Grandfrogger's and my own likely to be the most important. And while I would prefer that we were able to steal into the building and pilfer the evidence we need. And as creative as Hepsubia's idea is, I am not certain we have all of that prepared. The second idea. Not the box idea. That idea is less than ideal. So bluffing our way into the inner office and convincing the wizards through guile or magic to assist us might be the most expedient."
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Doc tries to follow along as Hepsubia talks about the box, trying to wrap his head around the idea and begins to calculate the size of the box needed. Then when she switches to the stone of silence idea, he's left hanging as he totally doesn't even get the joke.
Hogo begins to explain it but then stops when they realize the humor won't translate into their unique shared language.
After some quick and somewhat heated discussion on how to proceed, it's finally decided to make use of the information given by Malachi's contact and try your luck posing as customers. Taking care to remain out of sight of the storefront, Zithembe applies a bit of magic to himself and The Grandfrogger to hide their true forms.
As the group prepares to put their plan into motion, Malachi suddenly remembers something else that might prove useful. After his rumble in Senghor some time back he took the opportunity to pore through one Shinri Dells' journal and other correspondence - as it happens, he recalls her writing of having some prior dealings with the Guild here. It's likely that the group can add to the legitimacy of their bluff by claiming to be representatives on her behalf...
The letters are several pieces of correspondence that she has received from various Aspis agents. It is clear from the replies that Shinri has been asking everyone to keep an eye out for tablets matching the description of the Twelve Rites, promising to pay well anyone who can bring one to her. One of her pieces of correspondence is with a man named Lutebu Alrati. Lutebu informs Shinri that his mining enterprise has been quite successful and that he has located an object that matches her description. He requested that she come to Bloodcove to inspect it personally and come to an arrangement for its purchase.
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Maria seems not upset at all at the outcome, though she was quite severely voted down. Did she secretly want to go in this way? Or is she just a huge fan of the democratic process. One may never know, unless they ask.
She packs up her journal and stands, ”I need to make a quick purchase on the way, then let us put our plan in motion.”
The elfvestigator slips into a scroll shop and comes out shortly, handing one to the Doctor and whispering instructions to him.
”This is a scroll of ‘hold portal’ to use as you see fit. Like, for example, if we need to secure a door inside the shop to separate the bosses from their guards. Or if we need to flee and shut off any pursuit. That kind of thing, I’m sure you can think of more ideas, but it won’t work to shut any of us up if we get too chatty, sorry.”
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"Eh, yes, we can say that my good friend Shinri sent us, heh" Malachi clucks as he remembers the showdown in Senghor.
"The aspis agent Lutebu Alrati invited her to come here to Bloodcove to bargain for an artefact, yes."
"So, Hepsubia, you want to take the lead here? I can talk shop, otherwise."
Malachi preens himself, packs his Wayfinder away out of sight, and casts Eagle's Splendour just before entering the guild premises.
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Doc thanks Maria for the scroll, and you can almost see the wheels turning in his bald blue head as he considers ways to use it. Hogo, meanwhile, clambers down to take a look also. It's unclear, but the drop of sap on the end of a thorn might well be them salivating over the potential magical meal.
"Maria, Hogo wishes to know ... if they may ... ingest the scroll later, ... should it remain unused."
In the meantime, he tucks the scroll safely out of the vine's reach, straightens his robes and follows the other "investors" into the guild building.
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Zithembe finishes reading the scroll. His distinctly inhuman jade body transforms into a flesh-and-blood Garundi man with tiny horns suggesting a fiendish heritage, at least it appears as such. He clashes the two bronze bands on his forearms together in order to transform his clothes into appropriate for a merchant is reasonable standing. "This illusion will last for some time but not forever," he says before pulling out another scroll and applying the glamor upon the grippli in order to make him appear as a halfling footman.
Disguises and preparations in place, you all take a deep breath and step back out onto the boardwalk and into the light of day. You make your way towards the Vanji Prospectors' Guildhouse, well aware that the two guards inside will be able to see and monitor your approach through the front windows. Still, nothing prevents your entry and so once the group reaches the front door you have no problems getting inside.
A polished table stands in the center of the room, surrounded by windows overlooking the Vanji River. The trunk of a massive mangrove grows through the northern wall, with two large roots breaking through the otherwise smooth wooden floor. A staircase ascends to the east, flanked by cabinets stuffed with leather-bound journals and waterproof scroll cases. Two burly, unarmed men watch you enter with guarded looks and, to your surprise, you also see a tiger lounging in the sunlight near the southern wall.
You've all barely gotten inside the door before one of the two men holds up his hand in a 'halt' gesture. "No further, please. Who are you and what business do you have with the Vanji Prospectors' Guild?"
The tiger regards the group with a rather bored expression, though it does raise its head and sniff the air.
The tiger raises its head, pupils widening, as Hepsubia advances - but she's quickly stopped by one of the guards stepping in front of her. "Unless you wish to become her lunch, keep your distance."
"Besides, management frowns on the customers being eaten," the second remarks as Malachi gives the appropriate passphrase. "We prefer to reserve that for trespassers." He does narrow his eyes a bit at the tengu's attitude but in the blink of an eye his expression is placid and professional once again. "Please, come with me - and mind the stairs, they're a bit steep."
As you start to follow, Red stares at the disguised Grandfrogger with a funny expression on his face. "Wait...do I know you? Something about you seems familiar..."
Red considers the silent, spaced-out 'halfling' for another moment and then finally nods. "My mistake. You've seen one halfling, you've seen them all, yes?"
You follow Green up the nearby stairs, which are indeed rather steep , and ushered into a fairly spacious office. Arched windows line the walls of the northern half of the room, providing an expansive view of the surrounding boardwalks. Two wingback chairs with rich upholstery stand on either side of a large desk in the center of the room. Elaborate maps of the Vanji River delta and the Kaava Lands decorate the trunk of a giant mangrove bursting through the center of the room. Two elven males dressed in robes occupy the office; one sits behind the desk while the second stands in front of some shelves that line the southern wall. A small, winged creature that a few of you recognize as some manner of mephit flutters to and fro, ferrying files and papers from the shelves to the desk and back again. While all three turn their attention to you as you enter, it's Orange sitting at the desk who addresses the group.
"Welcome, esteemed clients. What can we help you with today?"
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Downstairs, Doc stares at the tiger until it slowly dawns on him exactly whom Hep is referring to. "Hepsubia ...," he begins but never gets the chance to finish before the guard intervenes. He shrugs helplessly and follows the rest upstairs.
There, he waits to allow the Pirate Captain Trade Prince and the Paladin tiefling trader to begin. He's ready to lend a hand evaluating the documents and assessing the value of their investments, if called upon, though.
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"Eh, my good friend Shinri hears that your mining expedition in Kaddodi has been quite successful, yes? Your associate Lutebu Alrati has something for her, she sent us to inspect it, yes."
Malachi addresses the elven 'merchant', appraising the elf as he does so.
"So, what is it? Let's see it yes! How difficult was it to acquire? I hear the locals aren't very cooperative out there, yes. No appreciation for commerce, yes. How do you deal with them?"
+2 vs. traps, +2 H.A.?
+3 bright light
When Malachi namedrops Shinri and Lutebu, recognition dawns in Orange's eyes and he nods. "Ah yes, that's right! We were told to be expecting her representatives. The item in question is currently safe in our storage room. Please, follow me."
Orange gives a curt nod to Green Bouncer, who answers it and exits the office, presumably to return to his post in the storefront. Orange then rises from the desk and moves past you out of the office, beckoning for you to follow. Blue and the Purple Mephit fall in behind you as you file back out.
You're led to the guildhouse's storage facility, which looms dark until Orange and Blue conjure some lighting for you. The sloped walls of this dank warehouse merge with thick mangrove roots that arch overhead, their processes spun through the room like a tangled wooden web. Several crates bearing the Aspis Consortium’s seal are tucked between the roots. The sound of splashing water echoes throughout the room as the Vanji River laps up against the floor.
The two of you spot a secret door over in the southern wall; given the proximity to the river you suspect it allows for the easy loading and unloading of cargo from riverboats.
Orange moves towards one of the crates; you notice that as he does, he reaches up and taps the dangling mangrove roots with the ring on his left hand. Reaching the crate he opens it, carefully lifting out a stone slab engraved with runes. "This is the item in question - careful! It's quite heavy," Orange cautions as he hands it off to whichever among the group moves to take it. "There is also a missive that goes with it," he adds as he pulls out a piece of parchment that must have been tucked into the crate and passes it along.
"To answer your previous question, we take our security measures quite seriously. We are always watchful of disruptive elements without...and within. Here, see for yourself," Orange remarks with a smirk as he sends his lights over to one far corner of the storage room. There, tied up and gagged in a corner, you see a human female that you realize is likely the missing Malika Fenn! "A fate that awaits all who interfere in Aspis affairs, local or not."
You're certain that there's likely to be more evidence to be found here or possibly back in the office and you seem to have the overseers' trust. That said, the more questions you ask the likelier they are to become suspicious of your motives...
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"Eh, very good yes!" Malachi studies the note from Alrati before pocketing it. "Shinri will certainly be interested, but first you won't mind if one of my associates performs a minor divination on the artefact, yes."
Mal looks pointedly at Grandfrogger and Hep, then turns the tablet over in his hands. If the wizards don't object, the merchant-prince passes the tablet carefully to whichever of his colleagues Detects Magic.
"Yes, yes. Shinri will want to make an offer on this. Are you authorised to agree a price? And whilst I am here, it would be remiss of me not to examine your treasures for trinkets of personal interest, yes. I am after all a tengu of mercantile persuasion, yes, and I smell opportunity here! What else have you to offer?"
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Lil"Hep, of course, is Totally Awesome at pretending being someone else. Hearing her, you suppose she may even has been a merchant once in her long lifetime.
Nice to see people still know how to make business carefully. If we reduce the risks, we reduce the costs. What's the plan with the failed thief, if you don't mind me asking? Use her as bait or something to trade? Blackmail? Making an exemple for other would-be robbers?
using her powers as a skald, she detects magic on the tablet
+2 vs. traps, +2 H.A.?
+3 bright light
Exercising caution, most of the group continues to allow Malachi to take the lead while you interact with the two elven overseers. He gives the stone tablet a quick appraisal before handing it off to Dr. O'mayga and Hepsubia for additional inspection. While it would be easier to tell for certain with more time, the tengu is reasonably certain that the tablet is an object of actual value rather than a clever fake or a useless piece of signage, such as directions to a long-ago privy.
"Of course, of course," the two elves nod in accordance with Malachi's request. "We would expect nothing less from Shinri and those in her employ."
Both Dr. O'mayga and Hepsubia take a turn at inspecting the tablet, though Dr. O'mayga is (unsurprisingly) more thorough about it. While they both can detect an aura of magic about the tablet, Dr. O'mayga can tell that it seems to be a combination of abjuration and necromancy magics.
"What else have you to offer?"
"What's the plan with the failed thief, if you don't mind me asking? Use her as bait or something to trade? Blackmail? Making an exemple for other would-be robbers?"
"I'm afraid you're currently holding the nicest item of the lot in terms of relics but our reach here is wide," one of the elves answers as he strides towards the eastern wall where several boxes are stacked. Everyone *but* Hepsubia notices that as he passes through the undergrowth of the mango roots he taps the ring he wears against one of them, almost as though it's a reflex. He opens one of the boxes and holds up several documents, along with what looks like some manner of cipher. "Here, records of our many investments in and around Bloodcove, among other things."
The elf then walks over to where additional boxes are stacked against the southwest wall and produces even more documents before returning to Malachi's side. "And here, a record of our ship manifests - every aspect of our operation is thoroughly documented and accounted for." If Malachi flips through the manifests, he finds that they detail exactly where guild resources are spent in order to keep operations running. In particular he notes that apparently the rare seeds and minerals used to placate the Saltroot druids come from several operations throughout the Fever Sea, which frequently relocate due to the damage they inflict on the surrounding environment when harvesting these resources.
Though Malachi also gets a fair look at the list of investments, he quickly realizes that some of the information will need to be decoded using the cipher, which is only partially complete. It'll take some time, more time than the overseers are likely to give you just by standing around and chatting.
"We also have complete dossiers on each member of our staff; composition, fitness, training, the works. As for the thief? Eh, she is likely to of little use to us once she spills everything she knows about her employer," the second elf adds with a dismissive wave of his hand. In fact, neither elf seems particularly concerned about the bound woman, nor do they seem to be watching her very closely.
"Ah, but those are back in the office," the first elf remarks. "Should I procure them for you or have you seen enough to feel confident in our operations here?"
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