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Maria's anger finally bubbles over, "Is that what we are doing now? A human being who is likely effected by a mental illness is too much of a burden on your perfect idea of a society and must be executed? Nice. I know elves are harsh, but you dwarves take it to another level. What is too many sins Rumble? One? Two? Fourty-Five? What does it take to get an execution order from the Mighty Torag? Or does it even matter? Obviously you all don't care about a justice system doing its job. Laws apparently don't apply when seeking another check mark on the board of holy vengeance."
Her voice drips with sarcasm, "Might as well go back to the first room and bash the brains out of the the cultists Parison saved for trial so we don't have to carry them out of here. Their weight might drag down your lofty morals."
She turns from the dwarf and leans down by the cage, pulling out a ration and snapping off a piece, tossing it to the wounded man. "Hey, we are gonna get you out of here and get you some help. Can you tell me why there was a fight?"
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"These cultists... killed each other? Some kind of schism? I wonder if the div had anything to do with it?
This madman should be brought to the city authorities if possible. Maybe the Sarenites can help. I don't know if he's redeemable, but he's not a div and if his sanity can be restored it might be possible to learn more of this Ahriman cult and the threat it poses."
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"I agree, if less caustically," Zithembe says. "There was no reason to save the cultists earlier if you simply intend to execute them all, Rumble."
He changes the subject, addressing the others, "I suspect that the madness is caused by the gem or rather the div's old master inside the gem."
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Rumble rolls his eyes and continues to wait. Elves are getting soft now too. Guess that's what happens when your kind has a history of just waiting for your problems to die of old age.
Rumble shrugs and clears his throat. " 'The Black Moon rises. She shall bring glorious ruin upon the world. I can hear her. She is almost here. Ahriman, look upon our great work, and grant me a place in the House of Oblivion,' " he recites evenly.
"Trial, sure. Aye can geh behind thah. Buh yer only foolin' yerself if ye think he's lookin' fer redemption. He's already found iht. They'll either rot in ah cell er geh executed. Tha justice system does ihs job, tha job ihs punishment in jus' abouh every society aye've evah been tah. Whah abouh ye?" he retorts. Never seen a cultist spared the death penalty either. It'd be a first.
"Even in Heaven we were doin' tha righ' thing buh nah in tha righ' way an' we were almos' judged 'arshly. We made ah mistake. He made ah choice tah worship Ahriman, an whah ever 'great work' he did tah 'bring glorious ruin upon the world.' Aye know whah tha judgement in tha Plane aye plan on livin' eternity on woulda done, an' tha Paladin's Code o' Torag woulda supported iht," he says in closing.
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With a calm and attempted counterargument, Maria attempts to reply in kind, "listen, I just want consistency in response. When we left the tomb we set out with the box of memories with the purpose of finding the div, learning more about why it had been imprisoned and stopping it from doing anything terrible. And while we track every step the creature has made we gather a ton of information about how much this creature can CAUSE MADNESS and STRONGLY INFLUENCE PEOPLE."
She takes a slow breath to keep her calm and continues, "But when we get here, it and the followers it influenced attacked. Nothing we can do except defend ourselves and take them down. At that point, I certainly assumed we would stabilize them as we don't generally kill or allow sentient living creatures to be killed. Those that were likely influenced would be given a fair opportunity to explain their actions like the alchemist has been allowed and the div would be interrogated to determine its role in influencing."
The elf snorts, "But then instead of trying to actually finish our mission you and Parison get all holier-than-us and start acting like you are judge, jury and executioner all rolled up in one. Parison starts going on about quitting the organization if we don't pass immediate judgement on this evil creature and you simply execute that judgement upon it. Obviously I was pissed about the loss of a great lead, but can understand where you all are coming from. Everyone has their obligations." She glances at Hepsubia with a smile, "Well, most do at least."
Turning quickly back she continues, "So listen, you start going all executioner on a creature from a known evil plane of existence, fine, I can work with that as long as I know it up front, which I now do. But you start passing judgement on a regular human because they deliriously repeated some mantra at you and it offended your sensibilities? I'm gonna have to step in. Simple enough?"
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Parison emits a drawn out sigh. He'd hoped that this discussion would have not taken place until the group had managed to finish their business here and get back to Merab, but with the discovery of the cultist who doesn't appear to be all there, the tenants of faith and righteousness versus the individualistic morals of goodness and mercilessness have resurfaced quickly into a new conflict and one that the party can ill afford to have at this juncture.
He steps forward, first to address Maria and what he says to her might come as a complete surprise to the elf.
"I will stand with you," the cleric says. "She's right, Rumble. We kill him and we'd have to kill everyone Veshtahz ever influenced to do wicked things or drove mad, for starters. And even then, there's no proof that this man's malady or choices was the div's handiwork"
Parison circles to where he can get a good look at the cultist, disgusted but yet feeling some pity for the man. "While this man's words are self-incriminating, he isn't inherently an evil being. All I can do is offer him a chance to turn from the path he's chosen."
"I can live with passing judgement on Veshtahz, I guess," the cleric says. "Had I felt that if he really wanted to live to change his ways instead of just to seek revenge on his former mistress or to tell us what we might have wanted to hear to spare him, I would have spoken thus to do so. Had Sarenrae, Torag, or any divinity of Heaven, Nirvana, or Elysium chosen to intervene and speak for Veshtahz to be spared, it would be done. But none did," he said softly.
"But this man deserves a chance to be relieved of his condition, just as Veshtahz was," he says. "And all of them have a chance to either choose redemption or face justice for their misdeeds. Either way, they will face punishment and that isn't something that Torag would be opposed to."
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Maybe all this s*@% is starting to get to me and I'm getting too extreme. Rumble weathers the storm as well as any, but it is clear when Parison steps in that maybe, just maybe, this isn't the right way to be.
"Frankly, aye think aye jus' don' see tha world tha same as ya do, Maria. We're gonna 'ave tah agree tah disagree. Buh aye'll admih thah ah tha least aye'm nah bein' consistent. Aye think all o' this mess is startin' tah geh ta me head," he admits, taking a seat now on the floor.
"As long as aye getta smash demons an' tha rest o' 'em tah pieces, aye'll go easy on tha real people," he finally concedes before exhaling deeply, closing his eyes, and resting his head against the wall. Torag, if I've displeased you, I will do better to earn your favor again. I'll consult with some of the priests and pray for the answer to situations like this. There has to be a right answer.
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Would we agree on this course of action: bring the cultits-sorry, cultist- to a temple of Sarenae. If someone can redeem him, that's them. If he can't be redeemed, they will probably imprison him somewhere where he can do no harm. No one here will have blood on his hands, at least no more that we currently have after all that mess. Everybody stays friend with everyone, and we all go to the beach!*
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Maria nods at the group, boosted with a bit of confidence that Parison is backing her up.
She replies to Rumble, "I think I can agree to that. Is everyone okay with smiting Demons, Devils and the other creatures that are native to the evil planes? Anything beyond that we do our best to bring sentient creatures in alive, especially if it can be done without extra risk to ourselves?"
The elf looks around at everyone again, "I don't think there is a perfect answer here for everyone but that's just how life works, the importance is a willingness to communicate and compromise when necessary. I don't want to split apart such a well oiled group, even if I don't agree with everyone on every point of order."
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"Works for me, Maria. I never shot a real person before I joined the Society, and it doesn't sit right with me. Had to do it when a bunch of norgorberites attacked us - kind of like these Ahriman cultists, y'know? Do or be done to."
"Pistols don't exactly have a 'safe mode' though. If we keep getting mixed up with people who want to kill everything and burn the world, fair chance that some of 'em ain't gonna get back up when I put 'em down."
Effie sighs sadly. "Beach sounds pretty good about now, Hep."
The addled cultist hungrily chews on the piece of jerky that Maria tosses over to him, eyes only halfway focusing on her when she tries to coax answers out of him.
"The Black Moon, bringer of ruin...her foes, they must have whispered into the others' ears...whispered LIES! But it is fine...the true believers will join Ahriman in the House of Oblivion...and the traitors will wither and die like all the rest when the Black Moon rises..."
It seems unlikely that you'll be able to get more out of him than that, but his words do seem to lend credence to Effie's theory that the cultists must have only recently turned on each other for some reason. Whether that reason was Veshtahz's work or not will probably forever remain a mystery.
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After a potentially volatile argument on the nature of evil and redemption and the treatment of foes is quickly averted by rational discussion and a consensus on what to do going forward, you decide to leave the cultist where he is for the moment and return for him when you finish exploring the rest of the complex. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be much else left to explore.
You first make your way through the western-most door, after exercising proper precautions as always. This leads you outside, to the balcony you saw earlier when you first approached the complex. Four thin pillars support the stone overhang above this narrow balcony running along the western side of the building. Two doors - one to the north, one to the south (that you just came through) lead inside. A robed corpse leans against one of the pillars, a dagger plunged into his chest up to the hilt. The dagger radiates a magical aura.
From there, you head back inside and take the door to the north, revealing another long row of cells much like the other two that you've seen already. Several of the doors leading off this cross-shaped hallway stand open, revealing more ten-by-ten-foot cells. Some of these cells are empty while others contain multiple pallets, used for sleeping quarters. In one cell you find the corpse of a human male whose throat has been slit. And as before, several of the cells contain small idols and figures dedicated to Ahriman, Lord of All Divs.
Finally, you make your way to the northern end of the cell block and through the last door there, emerging into a guard room much like the one on the other side of the complex - except this one has all of its walls intact.
With the last room investigated you're now certain that you've completely explored the Dungeons of the Ever-Dying and that there is no more to be found or learned here. It would seem that it is now time to take your prisoners and return to the surface...
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"Oh, it's not like this is an easy place to find, Rumble. Whatever we leave here will stay here until the relevant authorities decide to take a look, I'm certain.
As for the big evil gemstone - let's wrap it up in the magic cloak we found and stuff it at the bottom of a backpack. Or my mule's saddlebag. Unless, that is, one of you has got one of them extra-dimensional whatsits to hold stuff in. 'Cos that'd make the most sense. C'mon."
Effie heads back to the central chamber to collect the gem, using the found cloak of resistance. She carefully wraps the stone up without directly touching it. She stuffs it in her pack until reaching her mule. The prisoners she rounds up at gunpoint: "Don't make me. You've no idea how much I wanna right now."
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Maria thinks for a bit, "I don't think undead are created just because. If we take the bodies outside and bury them properly with Pharasman funeral rights they shouldn't be raised. And we are taking all the magical items with us when we leave, so shouldn't be anything strong enough to create undead... in theory."
While you decide on how best to proceed with your prisoners Effie takes a moment to carefully collect and wrap the mysterious gemstone you found, tucking it away into the bottom of her pack for safekeeping. Nothing strange or unusual happens as she does this, which makes the rest of you feel a little better about transporting the thing directly.
As you gather up the prisoners you've taken there's a brief moment where it looks like there might be a problem as the cultists who were taking part in the ritual begin to yell muffled curses at the cultist you found hiding and rambling in the cell. At least until Effie gives them all a look and waves her gun again for emphasis - that shuts them all up pretty quickly.
Once you all come to an agreement on how to proceed it ultimately turns out to be little hassle to return to the surface with the knowledge you've gained, the items that you've found, and the prisoners you've taken. There's initially a bit of an uproar with the local guard when you emerge on the city streets with the battered cultists in tow but after taking a few statements (carefully worded on your part) and reaching out to Venture Captain Diya to corroborate them (which she does) they're more than happy to take the cultists off your hands and let you go on your way. And that 'way' is back to the Twisting Garden Lodge, to give your report.
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After leaving the captured cultists with the local guard you join Venture Captain Diya Akan back underneath the pavilion at the Twisting Garden Lodge, the cushioned benches a welcome resting spot after the day you've had. But today there is a third party that joins you - an older Garundi gentleman dressed in austere red robes, his demeanor overflowing with mystery. He offers you all a respectful nod of his head before addressing you in a soft, cultured voice.
"Greetings, esteemed agents. I am Amenopheus, one of the Jeweled Sages of Osirion and I wish to thank you for putting an end to the evil creature that haunted this city. As I mentioned in my letter I could feel the creature pulling, hungering for my sage jewel and its' powers. But no longer do I sense this presence and I have you to thank for it - a thanks I wished to give myself, in person," he smiles.
Venture Captain Diya nods in agreement. "Yes, I'm sure the entire city will sleep a little more soundly once word gets out that you've put an end to that monster." She then grins. "In fact, the city guard were quite happy that you killed two birds with one stone - apparently they'd been trying to track that cult for some time but never could get any solid leads on where their hideout was."
"But I'm curious how this cult and the monster were connected. You tracked the creature down - were you able to discern its motives at all? What was it seeking?"
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"Hello, Amenopheus" Effie greets the Sage with a small bow.
"This has been quite an unpleasantness, all things considered. The div, Veshtahz, had been imprisoned in the old dungeon that was found by Obadar and company, by a necromancer or somesuch in the days of Ancient Osirion. His old mistress stole his memories in punishment for some unknown betrayal, and it drove the evil creature mad. The div craved vengeance. It found the Ahriman cultists and somehow helped them derive a ritual to contact its mistress, all so it could scream at her. There was some sort of schism amongst the cultists, and half of them killed the other half. The survivors started their ritual, but we interrupted them. Veshtahz's mistress is trapped within this gemstone" Effie retrieves the black gem and unwraps it, setting it before Amenopheus.
"And apparently there are other similar jewels, and Veshtahz's mistress is also within those. How that's possible I don't know. We saw a flash of the div's memories before we destroyed it, and it seems that its mistress sought to cheat death in some way. If her spirit lingers on in this stone then perhaps she succeeded.
I hope this makes more sense to you than it does to me."
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Maria nods in agreement with the outsider, "Excellent logic Zithembe, that hypothesis would explain all the evidence."
She adds a bit of her own thoughts, "I'm not quite sure if the gem holds her spirit, but it definitely holds at least a copy of her memories. We do know the ritual intended to bring he back in some way, though we aren't sure how."
The elf skims through her notes, "From our overall evidence and the interrogation of the div, we believe it had some powerful influencing abilities. Consideration of that should be given when dealing with any of its victims, though their attitude once that influence is removed is probably more important than anything."
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"Yes," Parison adds. "The div created some havoc in Merab. Those that it bent to its will should not be punished too harshly for their actions."
"However, there is something you should know that no one else has mentioned," the cleric says. "While we found the dungeon where the cult was hiding, we had to cut a deal with Grandmaster Torch to do so. He's been concerned, same as you, that whatever is in the gem is not only a threat to you but all of the Jeweled Sages. He sent an agent, Zurnzal, with the knowledge of where this place was, but in exchange, we had to promise him that the Society wouldn't try to stop Torch from aiding us if this spirit somehow managed to return to Golarian to pose a threat."
Amenopheus and Diya listen with great interest as several of you give your report on your exploits and all that you've learned. After Parison finishes speaking there's silence as the venture captain and Sapphire Sage exchange a worried glance.
"From what I have heard, Grandmaster Torch doesn't make deals lightly," Diya remarks. "If his agent, this Zurnzal, knew where to find you and where to send you...he or his people could easily have visited those dungeons and dealt with the div. He must truly be concerned about this spirit if he was willing to force a deal with the Society to ensure his assistance will be allowed."
She pauses, making a face. "Still, his dodgy antics have caused much grief over the years. Of all the 'allies' we could have recruited...well, I would've chosen someone else. But what's done is done."
"Yes, I agree," Amenopheus nods. "We are obliged to uphold our end of this verbal agreement but given the circumstances I certainly cannot blame you for doing what you felt you needed to do. And this gem...it's recovery is beyond anything we could have hoped for! What you have returned with is the onyx sage jewel - once thought lost to the ages! How or where those cultists discovered it, I do not know, but it is fortuitous, in its' own way, that they did."
The Sapphire Sage carefully rolls up his sleeves and reaches over to pick up the gem. "Now...let me see if I can communicate with my ancient colleague's memories that are stored within..."
Amenopheus closes his eyes and concentrates as he turns the onyx jewel over and over in his hands. For a moment, nothing happens...and then the jewel suddenly flares angrily and Amenopheus instinctively flings it away! It clatters across the stones of the pavilion and comes to rest some feet away. The light within grows dim and fades.
Amenopheus catches his breath before walking over to wrap the thrown jewel in a thick cloth. "Unfortunately, this confirms my earlier theory: the sages’ memories are not alone within these gems. The records you recovered and observations you made suggest that the first Jeweled Sages might not have created the sage jewels on their own, but rather modeled them off someone else’s design. Now it seems that prototype was the soul receptacle for an utterly depraved servant of the Pharaoh of Forgotten Plagues who inflicted countless atrocities upon northern Garund. If she is awakening, the whole order is at risk unless we can use your findings to deduce some way to purge this evil."
He massages his forehead for a moment before noting, "Whatever lies ahead will be difficult, and the future of the Jeweled Sages relies on what we can do about this threat. Once we have a plan, you shall be the first to know."
"Oh...and the dagger? May I see it?"
Once one of you pass the dagger to him he studies it for a moment and then nods before handing it back.
"Merely a Dagger of Venom. Unsurprising that you found it where you did."
Roughly two weeks after having concluded your mission in Merab and after having taken some time to attend to your own personal affairs - whether that be training, meditation, business, or simple relaxation - all of you find yourselves back in the Grand Lodge at Absalom. On this morning the sun is shining brightly and you're enjoying a light breakfast of pastries and fruit in one of the Lodge's many private meeting rooms, albeit with one small twist.
Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng has seen fit to join you, for he apparently has the lot of you in mind for handling a mission of some importance. Though it might be a bit disconcerting to be sharing breakfast with a venture-captain, at least it's better than Dreng's usual midnight requests.
"As you well know, the Society has a need for discreet ways of moving goods into and out of Absalom. Over the last year we’ve developed some reliable routes through the sewers and caverns underneath the city and this has worked well for us - until recently."
"Over the last few months, a tribe of kobolds calling themselves the Sewer Dragons started disrupting our supply with traps and ambushes. We know of several tribes of kobolds beneath Absalom, and generally, they are only a nuisance, but these have proved particularly troubling. They have blocked a few vital deliveries of late and some Pathfinders have disappeared. The Decemvirate is, understandably, starting to get concerned."
"I need you to track down these Sewer Dragons and resolve this problem. I would prefer you make an effort to negotiate a truce of some sort with these pests. While I have little respect for the reptilian creatures who plague our sewers, I suspect if we exterminate them, some other threat will fill in the void they leave behind."
Dreng pauses a moment to finish eating a peach, smacking his lips loudly. "Mmm, delicious! As I was saying, you could wander around the sewers for days and not find one of these Sewer Dragons. Fortunately, I have found a resource for you. A few years ago they hired a Taldan scholar by the name of Emral Xarcious to tutor the tribal leader’s children. I suspect Xarcious can lead you to the Dragons."
"The Decemvirate has a shipment of antiquities coming next week and I expect this situation to be resolved by then. It’s up to you to ensure the shipment goes off with no hitches. There is no time to fool around - you need to get moving soon. That said, there is time for a few questions, if you have any."
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"Well, I've gotta say it. The first thing that comes to mind is what kind of Taldan takes a job schooling kobolds? And the second thing that comes to mind is, what kind of kobolds hire a Taldan to teach them? These don't sound like regular kobolds, Venture-Captain."
Effie polishes off a sticky pastry and a hot cup of coffee. She looks to be carrying less gear than before - her pistol is missing, for one thing - but she's wearing a tidy new bandolier.
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"It may have been arcane tutelage," Zithembe hypothesizes an answer to the ifrit's question. "Kobolds have an aptitude for wizardry, do they not?"
"Does Emral know that we are coming? Is he already convinced to aid us or will we need to negotiate with him as well?" the shabti asks Drandle.
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Maria's brow furrows, "Wait wait wait... several pathfinders have GONE MISSING and the Decemvirate is JUST NOW getting concerned? Wow, I see what value we all have. I think finding them is our priority, then we can worry about the shipment."
All our missions and the importance of saving lives and now a shipment is more important than fellow agents. I'm glad Dreng isn't my Venture Captain though... my own VC is probably the same way. It's always about the things isn't it.
After her inner monologue she tacks on a simple question, "And where are we most likely to find Xarcious?"
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As they leave she slips her backpack off and hands it to Rumble, "I appreciated you carrying this on our last mission. I should have something resolved soon about my gear, but for now I would greatly appreciate if you would carry it again."
Then she moves up to Parison and holds out one of her two scroll boxes, "Sir Cleric, I have obtained a few scrolls that should be beneficial for the group, but are only usable by one with your magical inclinations. Would you be willing to carry them and use as necessary?"
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Does anyone of us speak the kobold tongue, if needed? I suspect the scholar is in league with the kobolds, and they sell him the stuff they snatch, keeping a few shiny baubles for themselves...and silencing any undesirable witnesses. Both the kobolds and the scholar must know the sewer system quite well, the kobold better of course, cause they live down here. So find and stop the scholar, and the kobolds won't have their own spy upstairs the sewers. Case closed, without getting dirty and smelly.
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Bet you five gold the scholar is in. Come on, we have meet creatures from Heaven, we fought a Div who possessed people, we have meet a ghost in a long abandonned school, and you think My idea of a smuggling ring between kobolds and a scholar is far fetched? I have no evidence to prove my theory, sure, but we have seen stranger things in our career amongst the Pathfinders, you must admit, Zith. So five gold it is? I know you're not much into bets and games, you like facts and proofs and stuff like that, but it's just a silly bet between friends. No harm in that. Hey, who has a goofy theory too?
There's absolutely no anger or malice in Hep's voice, it seems she's just happy to throw things to the wall and see what will stick (or, even more probably, just for the fun of it!)
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Rumble gives the Dreng a serious look during the brief, sticking a finger into his ear a few times to make sure his hearing is right. "Did yeh say Kobolds? Like, tha lil lizard people? An' we're gonna help 'em, make peace wit' 'em?"
He isn't sure what else to do beyond stare at his oatmeal and sausage links. ...whaaat?
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"I do not even know where to begin," he says. He rubs his chin as he stares at the elf, trying to diagnose her mental illness. "We should be careful what we accuse others of without proof--even in jest--for those words can fly like arrows loosed in the dark, landing where you know not, harming who you know not. Help me here, Rumble."
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After the debriefing in Merab, Parison takes a week to stay behind in order to offer his assistance to the temple of Sarenrae within the city. A part of his time is done to grow closer to his goddess but it is also spent following up on the people who were influenced or driven to madness by the div, helping to guide them on a road of penance or to assist in the recovery and restoration of their states of mind.
Two weeks follow and like his fellow agents, Parison is summoned to the Grand Lodge in Absalom. He looks over his fellow agents. None from their assignment in Merab is missing. The cleric is relieved to see his battle-buddy in attendance, but is secretly relieved to see that everyone else he's grown accustomed to travelling with since the sojourn to Heaven there as well.
Despite the differences in our morals and the unspoken codes that may drive us, it would be tough to do this with a new Pathfinder agent or agents. We are a band of brothers and sisters-in-arms.
As Zithembe and Hepsubia have their discussion, Parison does his best to keep a straight face. We may fight like siblings, anyways, but we take care of each other like a family of siblings. The priest takes Venture Captain Dreng's words with the weight that they are entitled, but when he mentions that Pathfinders have gone missing in previous forays through the sewers since the band of kobolds have started making things difficult, Maria's words echo his own sentiment.
"I don't deny that what we have to do is important for the Society, but we also need to find out what happened to the agents that have gone missing in dealing with these kobolds," he says. He gives Rumble a pat on the shoulder. "My friend, I don't like the prospect of being diplomatic with kobolds any more than you, but Venture-Captain Drang has the right of it. We know what we're dealing with when it comes to kobolds. If we kill them or drive them out, something else could take their place that we might not so easily be able to deal with."
When Parison turns to look back at Dreng, he is surprised to see Maria before him with a scroll box. "Yes, Maria," he nods. "If you feel comfortable with putting these scrolls in my care, I will make sure to use them for the betterment of the task that lies ahead of us." The acolyte then turns his attention back to Dreng. "This man, Xarcious. Where would we find him?"
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Zithembe's call for aid brings Rumble's mind back out of his breakfast. Ok, gotta be like Parison. Firm, but the benefit of the doubt.
"Aye think Zithembe 'as ah point. In tha wrong place, words, even, when yer makin' ah joke'll be taken tah tha wind. We've all 'eard ah story o' someone's reputation bein' unjustly tarnished," he points out easily. "Buh... aye, um... aye'm sure tha Hep 'ere knew she was wit' friends in ah safe place an' thah her.... uh, ramblin' wouldn' be tha ruin o' this Xarcious fellow," concluding with a little bit of strain as he tries to come up with the words and push them out of his mouth. Ok, so not the full truth, but not a lie either. I feel dirty. I need a bath. By the Divine, I've never been more thankful to not be a diplomat.
He looks at Hep. While there is a general lack of trust on his face, his effort is genuine.
Saved from this awkward and uncomfortable moment by Parison's hand on his shoulder, he eagerly drops the conversation and turns back to the Kobolds. "Aye suhppose thah turnin' Kobolds tah friends is bettah than havin' somethin' more horrid move in. Lesser Evil an' whah not, yeah? An if ih means tha safety o' Pathfinders and tha people of Absalom, by the Almighty's will, so shall ih be done." I'll just stick to the back when the talking happens. Sounds like there'll be a lot of that. The more distance between me and Kobolds, the better!
"Wait wait wait... several pathfinders have GONE MISSING and the Decemvirate is JUST NOW getting concerned? Wow, I see what value we all have. I think finding them is our priority, then we can worry about the shipment."
"Well yes, of course, any news of the missing agents - or their recovery if they're still alive - would be an extremely welcome outcome of all this," Dreng agrees, looking a bit pained. "Believe me, I'm as worried about the missing agents as you are. It's my hope that you'll be able to accomplish both goals, without having to resort to brute force."
Dreng pauses long enough to give Maria - and the rest of you - a look of appraisal. And as if to mirror Parison's private thoughts, he adds, "While there are plenty of more experienced agents out there it's been rare to end up with an entire *team* that seems to work together as well as the group of you do. And that's why *you* are the ones I'm tasking with this."
"Does Emral know that we are coming? Is he already convinced to aid us or will we need to negotiate with him as well?"
"And where are we most likely to find Xarcious?"
"This man, Xarcious. Where would we find him?"
"No, I'm afraid not," Dreng sighs. "We've not been able to make contact with him. Xarcious has many vices, and I think he did a fair amount of gambling. I have heard he’s gotten into some problems down in the Puddles, but beyond that I’m not sure. If you have trouble finding him, you might look for a gentleman named Greeves. I understand Xarcious owes Greeves a substantial amount of money, and Greeves is likely to know where to find him as a result."
>Unwarranted (Or Not?) Speculation<
Dreng considers the back-and-forth speculation about Xarcious' involvement in all of this and then smiles. "You know, there is such a thing as meeting in the middle. You, my green and glossy friend," nodding at Zithembe, "are very right that you can't simply throw out wild speculation without any manner of evidence to back it up. Well, you can but depending on who you're speaking of it may come back to bite you if it turns out that you were wrong."
"But you also have a point, Agent Althein," Dreng continues, still smiling. "A Pathfinder must endeavor to discover the truth of a matter before acting *but* they must also be able to maintain an open mind while in search of that truth."
"Now...are there any other questions?"