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"Hopefully I can just jump up there and grab it, with your assistance, of course"
Shallya steps back as far as he can, and with arms stretched as far into the air as he can he jumps for into Molos's hand and then for the key.
If he fails :
"Obviously, this jump is beyond my prodigious ability. Anybody want to form a human pyramid?"
*looks around for any humans*
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"Its ok, I'm a professional. You can trust me to get this right"
If he can tell which key is most likely to fit into which chest he'll try that (after looking for traps, of course).
No idea what skill(s) that would be. Added a skills button to my header stuff.
If he doesn't know, he'll put key number into chest
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Wailan turns the key, and suddenly both he and Shallya turn a bright shade of blue, and the chest does not open. Trying the final key, you find a set of maps with Osiriani text and a wand.
When you leave the room, the servant waiting outside the door smiles ever so slightly at your blue companions, and informs you that Amenopheus will make the necessary arrangements with Master Salhar, and that the sage has left for the day. You are welcome to keep the maps and wand, but must return the keys you found.
Act IV
With that settled, you head off to the shady, tree lined streets of the Ivy District, seeking the townhouse of Paracountess Zarta Dralneen. Shortly after arriving in the neighborhood, everyone returns to their normal colors. You come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height, The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Even in this wealthy neighborhood, the house is quite impressive.
Moments after ringing the bell, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting the you as though you were expected. Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, you finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door.
A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.
Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards you all with a wry smile and winks at Cara, putting away a few papers before standing to address you.
"Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group. “It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh-faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points at Molos.
“I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore,” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. “On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits."
She pauses for a moment, as a series of booms and crashes comes from the next room. When it subsides, she continues.
“Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.”
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When Shallya first turns blue he looks a little startled. Then he laughs out loud at the joke.
To the servant :
"Please tell who ever put in that trap that I truly appreciate it. Its rare to find somebody with a sense of humour in this line of work"
Since clearly a blue Kitsune is even more amusing (And a fitting tribute to the prankster) he turns back into Kitsune form.
Later, when Zarta makes the comment about us being overdressed I click my fingers and my clothing turns into an armband.
"Not all of us, my lady" says the blue anthropomorphic fox.
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"Auntie!!!"
Cara runs up to Zarta and hugs her legs. Gazing fondly up at her mistress, she begins to blurt out, "we killed some big rats today. You were right; they're nasty! And we got some stuff for that guy with the greasy hair who likes to keep his imps in jars instead of making them do stuff for him. Then we met the fuddy duddy who works at the big church, and she yelled at me. I told her that she wasn't going to tell ME what to do. And then we met an old lady who smells like whiskey, and she makes all HER orphans do BORING things, like working for rich people who should pay them WAY more for what they do. And then we went to see this old guy who seems pretty smart. He made us do a puzzle. And there was a snake, but we killed it. We got some maps and stuff. Then we came here. I like being a Pathfinder!"
She pants...
"What's that noise?" Are you having play time in there today?"
She cackles and grins.
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OK, what that "kid" said is just wrong on so many levels. I REALLY hope it is some kind of devil
Shallya has his armband turn back into normal clothing. guess that I shouldn't tease the poor prig of a paladin TOO much. Pity
Edit: Shallya turns to Zarta, gesturing at Cara. The "this" is spoken with as much scorn as he can manage.
"so, it is at your command that we're dealing with this. I wonder if you'd be good enough to tell us why"
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Zarta gives a coy smile at Molos' growl and comments. "Indeed, there is a servant greatly misbehaving in there. You'll have to deal with him to retrieve your little trinket."
"You'll have to tell me all about that, dear, especially what that mustachioed man had you pick up. In the meantime, you'd better take this." She opens a drawer and pulls out a silver letter opener.
She chuckles at Shallya before explaining, While it isn't "playtime" now, it is tremendously amusing to watch you all in action. And what's the point of spending time with Pathfinders if one can't have a bit of fun? Besides, you'll have to be able to handle much worse than this mischievous little thing once Valsin sends you out into the world."
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"Oh, now telling you who he is would spoil the fun. But do whatever you need to." the Paracountess says with a smile. "I'm sure you'll find that opener useful, though."
"The item is a case Valsin couldn't open. I've proven unable to as well. It would be unwise for you to try."
Zarta will deflect any further questions. When you open the door, you find yourself in Zarta's bedroom, decorated in the colors of Cheliax— ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin.
A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
A small red creature with wings and a whiplike tail holds a box almost as big as he is, as he bounces around the room.
Everyone except Molos is up.
Calcifer double moves into the room to stand next to Wailan.
Calcifer swats at the flying thing.
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Assuming the imp survives all the AoOs, Molos draws his sword while double moving to its current location and roars:
"**** ** **** ***, *** ***** ****** ****!!!"
If it tries to fly away, I'll go for a disarm combat maneuver as my AoO to try and knock the box out of its hands.
Calcifer charges forward trying again to swat the thing out of the air.