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Looking to the woman, Omar says "It seems we will be buying your assistance." ...at the cost of quite a bit of good will. For his part, he offers four scrolls of Magic Weapon and 300 gp.
While the others are gathering their funds, Omar takes a few minutes to prepare more spells.
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"Very well, friends. I am happy to part with these items and some coin if it will help you and lead to helping others." as he offers over the various relics of healing. "I hope this brings peace between us, and might set a foundation for us to trust and help each other in the future. The Silver Crusade is a very good friend to have in the darker times."
scroll of lesser restoration (x4) (600)
scroll of remove curse (x2) (700)
scroll of remove disease (x2) (700)
scroll of remove paralysis (x2) (300)
antiplague (3) (150)
antitoxin (2) (100)
bloodblock (2) (50)
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His disappointment that these Swampers do not see the value of entering an alliance and partnership with either the Society or the Silver Crusade, Garinol will take a step back, sitting near Pumpkin for a moment as the others "measure their equipment".
A long time ago, as he sifts through his bag to pull out a keepsake he had found in an earlier adventure, I met a group of mystics of the physical that had created an entire fighting style based off of your kind. as he offers up a small jerky treat he had stashed away. Their,. . . style, their philosophy, it was never for me, but I can certainly see why they would seek to copy your prowess.
"One must wonder what will happen if someone really draws your anger, huh?" he comments off-handedly, before turning to the beast and looking it in the eyes, neither showing fear or hatred, simply understanding. "We are counting on you, you know. Some threats are beyond us, and we need you, all of us need each other, if we are going to get through this."
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The man accepts your offered gold and items with a respectful nod and whispered, "Thank yeh." Then he retreats to the shadows behind the hut. The woman pulls a reed from the nearby swamp, and squats on her haunches in front of the hut, clearly a practiced storyteller.
"Thank yeh. Awr fam'ly's fed by teh deals struck here inna swamp." With the reed, she begins to draw a crude map of interlocking tunnels and sewers, finally circling a single intersection in the dirt.
”Awr scavengahs spotted several swams o’ strangahs, dressed up faw det’,” she pauses a moment to think of the word, ”Yoo’d call ‘em mawners. Dey be movin’ ‘bout teh sewahs an’ tunnels a’neath teh city. Dey got der plumes on. Gems an’ such. Carryin’ bundles wrapped li’a spider’s dinnah in grey clawt." she mimics the elaborate costumes and stiff walk of Karcau's upper class. "Mos’ time we see ‘em on the wes’ end. Thinkun’ dey use awr sewahs t’ reach Eylusia. Teh great stone det’, ya knaw’it? We’b knawn a hiddeh passage ‘at leads der some time. Use be folk went der ‘lone oar paired up. Now’day, as much a pack as be goin’ dat way-fihteen a’mos’. We try an’ stawp dem an’ dey mel’. Intah deh gloom an’ dark o’ teh tunnels, dey gone." she gestures to the surrounding shadows. In an ominous, low voice she continues, "Any who an’ try t’fawlah? If we see ‘em ag’in, dey be dead.”
She waits only a beat before rising to her feet. With a curt nod, she turns to follow her companions from the site. As she is just about to leave the small circle of light, she looks back and raises a warning finger, ”Dat buil’in’s lock' up tigh'. Tightah dan a rat’s pehtootah. Mor’n any good man ought t’ have, I reck’n. Keeps teh mice owt wit’ a few mean nasties, dat one does.”
Our scavengers spotted several swarms of strangers, dressed up for death. You would call them mourners. They be moving about the sewers and tunnels beneath the city. They got their plumes on . Gems and such. Carrying bundles wrapped like a spider’s dinner in grey cloth . Most time we see them on the west end . Thinking they use our sewers to reach Eylusia. The great stone death, you know it? We’ve known a hidden passage that leads there some time. Use be folk went there alone or paired up. Nowaday, as much a pack as be going that way-fifteen almost. We try and stop them and they melt. Into the gloom and dark of the tunnels, they gone. Any who and try follow? If we see them again, they be dead.
That building is locked up tight. Tighter than a rat's patootie. More tahn any good man ought to have, I reckon. Keeps the mice out with a few mean nasties, that one does.
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Looking towards where the woman is leaving, he says "Thank you for the information." but without the warmth he usually has when speaking. I suspect the man wouldn't have told us of the traps had we gone with the other offer. You still charged us far too much for this, but I guess you value coins more than good will.
Omar spends a few minutes copying the map on to some parchment. Looking it over, he says "It will do for now as a rough sketch. I'll have to liven it up a bit for the report once we've gone through the tunnel."
He briefly looks up when Garinol asks his question and says "I certainly hope not. Regardless, we need to put a stop to them."
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If Omar is willing, Ill also attempt to copy the map in my journal, committing it to memory, and for the time guess as to likely locations for traps.
"Im curious why bring the specific people they seem to have taken, there? I can not imagine the Swampers would approve of something so dangerous so close to them?"
The rough map and the reference point of the Eylusia Building are enough for you to be confidant in navigating the sewers and tunnels to an underground entrance to the funeral home. The sewers that the swampers travel are not trapped, the woman was warning was about the building itself.
Are you walking the whole hour back to the city, or do you have a faster form of travel?
19:00
Bloodhound (Garinol) = 9 hours
Barkskin(Omar) = 3h20m
Extended Heightened awareness(Faeranduil) 3h20m
Extended see Invisibility(Faeranduil) 3h20m
Floating Disk, Mage armor, Overland Flight, Protection from Arrows, Unseen Servant (Faeranduil) 10 hours
Extended Mage Armor(Zahra) 20 hours
Extended Mage Armor(Lurgh) 16 hours
Extended Heroism(Faeranduil) 3h20m
20:10
Life Bubble (humanoids) 3 hours
Life Bubble (Pumpkin) 2 hours
You all remember the Eylusia Building from the ride into town and a few of you may know of the owner.
The extravagant Eylusia Building is a towering funeral parlor built by Zeffiro Lesiege, one of Karcau’s most well-known citizens. The structure resembles a giant mausoleum.
Until a little more than a decade ago, Lesiege was a simple undertaker, but his infectious showmanship has transformed local funerals into flashy, opulent affairs—which in turn have made him one of the wealthiest citizens of Karcau. He is now considered a leading trendsetter and a rising star in the city’s social scene, and most of Karcau’s nobility hold him in high esteem and would look poorly upon anyone slandering his name
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Omar is content to walk the distance.
Once back in town, if no one knows anything of the Eylusia Building, Omar will follow his wife around as she tries to find out about it. As she flits from person to person, he will occasionally continue talking to one of them that seems to have a little more information.
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"We should have arranged for a carriage to wait for us." sighs Vrald as he joins the others walking back into town.
"There is no obvious time pressure on us to solve this mystery tonight." notes Vrald. "We could find out more about this Eylusia building. Foreknowledge of ones enemy is a precursor to victory. On the other hand, striking quickly has advantages too. The longer we are here, the more time for people to become aware of us, and suspicious of what we may learn."
He looks out at the mist shrouded streets. "I'm not sure this is a place of great revelry at night. We may be better getting a good nights rest and removing the smell of the swamp from our clothes."
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"I'm sure she would like to be recovered too. I just note she has been gone for several days now, so making sure we don't blunder into anything may be more important for her long term safety than a quick but failed rescue. However as noted, action before our adversaries are aware of our progress may also be advisable. If we are to press on I make no objection."
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Zahra pauses. "I remember something about the Eylusia Building. Remember, Omar, it vas in the guidebook! Oh, vhat did it say... Oh, yes. 'The extravagant Eylusia Building is a towering funeral parlor built by Zeffiro Lesiege, one of Karcau’s most well-known citizens.'" Zahra pauses, converstionally. "The structure resembles a giant mausoleum. Until a little more than a decade ago, Lesiege vas a simple undertaker, but his infectious showmanship has transformed local funerals into flashy, opulent affairs—vhich in turn have made him one of the vealthiest citizens of Karcau. He is now considered a leading trendsetter and a rising star in the city’s social scene, and most of Karcau’s nobility hold him in high esteem and would look poorly upon anyvun slandering his name."
That seems approrpiate for this city of dreams and illusions.
"Should ve spend time asking qvestions tonight? I think maybe ve could get some answers, now ve have starting point. Besides I vish to see this flashy undertaker for myself."
/2 because of trait.
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Zahra looks at the saddle bags, and notices that her brand new mirror is poking out of them. Then smacks her forehead. "Vait. Ve not only can get back into town faster... Ve can find out just how Olivinia fares!" She pulls the mirror out of her pack, eagerly. "Remember vhen ve got this, Omar? It vas so that I could scry. Vell, that and get my makeup perfect."
She pulls a purple sash out of her bags and ties it to the branch of a tree, committing the image to memory. "Furthermore... I can teleport us back to the theater. Ve spent so much time searching it I remember it. It vill take two trips, vhich means I need to know how to get back here. Oh, and I need to do this."
She pulls out a scroll of Carry Companion. "Pumpkin, ve need to carry you for the moment. Come, sveetheart."
She swiftly casts the spell, tucks the tiny tiger figurine in her bodice, and asks, "Vell! Who vants to go back to the theater first? I can carry three of you vith me!"
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Faeranduil listens to Zahra while thumbing through a pathfinder chronicle "There will be no need to gather information from the locals. I happen to know that Lesiege has an appetite for vices of all sorts, from food to drugs to companionship. He spends many nights out on the town indulging his insatiable desires. Those seeking similar iniquities sometimes contact him to learn what Karcau has to offer. Perhaps some of the nobles who defend Zeffiro Lesiege’s reputation do so thanks to the plump dossier of blackmail he has no doubt accumulated over the years....
When Zahra takes the mirror out of her pack Faeranduil leans in closer "interesting, what is that?"
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"I must read these chronicles! They have all the best gossip! You are very vell informed." Zahra raises an eyebrow, amazed. "To answer your qvestion, it is scrying mirror. Ve can use it back at theater to find out how Lady Olvinia fares, no? Now, help me study this location. I have added the purple scarf, but if there is someplace here you find more memorable, than suggest it."
She studies the clearing in the swamp, pacing from tree to shrub to tree again, decking a couple more plants in finery, turning around and around, putting the curve of the earth in her memory.
Then she kisses Omar. "Don't vorry. My heart always lead back to you. Stay vith Lurgh. I return soon." She offers a hand to Garinol and Faerunduil. "Vrald, take Garinol's hand. Ve must all touch."
She visualizes the back stage area of the theater...
Teleport Mischance?
...and they are there.
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"Blackmail material? That does not bode well. On the good side though, it sounds like there is a good chance he will not be there if we visit now. I would judge it far too early for a man like that to retire."
Just before they teleport out, Omar suggests "It may be a good idea to let Bascia know what we are attempting."
In the span of seconds, the party appears upon the empty stage of the Closoi Theater. The candle center stage burns much lower than it was before.
Zahra retrieves the bit of hair that Omar found earlier and her scrying mirror.
The surface of the mirror turns pitch black. The spell seems to have succeeded, but the area around Olivina is pitch black. A door opens outside your view and in the moment of light you glimpse red hair and a blindfold.
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"If this overblown undertaker is blackmailing the local nobility, then we must take action against him." states the affronted Vrald.
"And perhaps have a word with the locals to encourage them to refrain from behavior that would bring their families into disrespect."
He shakes his head. "I have heard that in some realms the nobility has descended into decadence. And I do hope here is not one."
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Omar notes "You just saved us an hour walking back. Faeranduil's excellent knowledge of the local personalities means we don't need to go searching for the information."
"Given that, I think it would be worth the time to know if she is alive and gaining some idea of where to look."
Looking to the others, he asks "Having said that, we are a team. What do the rest of you think?"
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"I vill not see through her eyes, merely see her. But it vould let us know she lives. Alright, let's do this." Zahra pulls out her mirror and concentrates on the scry. "Oh no, she is kept in the dark, and I do not have darkvision! But she appears to be alive and imprisoned. The door opened, and I had a flash of a blindfold and redhair. Does anyvun have darkvision spell for me?"
19:00
Bloodhound (Garinol) = 9 hours
Barkskin(Omar) = 3h20m
Extended Heightened awareness(Faeranduil) 3h20m
Extended see Invisibility(Faeranduil) 3h20m
Floating Disk, Mage armor, Overland Flight, Protection from Arrows, Unseen Servant (Faeranduil) 10 hours
Extended Mage Armor(Zahra) 20 hours
Extended Mage Armor(Lurgh) 16 hours
Extended Heroism(Faeranduil) 3h20m
20:10
Life Bubble (humanoids) 3 hours
Life Bubble (Pumpkin) 2 hours
Before she does, she pauses. She looks straight at you through the mirror, then leaves Olivina and your view. She does not return for as long as you maintain the spell.
Once Zahra finishes with her scrying, you follow the swamp people's directions through the sewers. A sewer grate near the theater shows signs of recent use, but you notice no other marks of passage as you traverse the city's darker paths.
The underground entrance to the Eylusia Building lies past a vertical sewer grate that easily swings open, and the tunnel’s dank brink walls lead to an arched entryway with a strong wooden door and secured with a sturdy lock. The left half of the door is painted black, the right half white, and both are in need of a fresh coat thanks to the discoloration from years of exposure to moist air.
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"A wizard who is not prepared is not worth his salt" Faeranduil says while he casts darkvision on Zahra.
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At the black and white doors Faeranduil touches his forehead in obedience and then suddenly stops, while taking a step back. He smiles.
"Ah, a double entendre. The casual observer would think this symbol is a homage to the all-seeing eye; the lord of magic Nethys. However this doors are painted with the colors inverted. White should be on the left, and black on the right. This seems like a veiled homage to Alichino, a malebranche devil known as the Jester Prince of the Cage whose sacred colors are also black and white."
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If there are devils involved, I may be of limited use in fighting against them as I've been told devils by their nature are immune to fire, and my bloodline is one that relies on the flames. I have a limited ability to turn some of my spells from fire to cold with my rod, but even then, I fear they may likely be resistant. I have a few other tricks, but they are not nearly as potent.
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"Thank you, Faeranduel!" Zahra concentrates again on the mirror. "Oh, there is a dark figure in a mask vith Olivina."
"I think the figure is a Dark Caller, the lay priests of the dark folk, and very magical themselves. She is helping Olivinia to her feet, and gently moving the blindfold to be a gag, and --"
"أوه، رمال قاسية!" Zahra breaks off with a Keleshite oath. "This dark caller, she's looking right at me. She knows the sensor is there and there she goes, taking Olivinia vith her and out of my sight!"
Zahra puts her mirror down, frustrated. "I am so sorry. They must know ve are coming now, and it is all my fault." Then she looks at Faerunduel. "Vhat do you know of these dark folk and their dark callers? Vhat I saw... They vere treating her gently, but now I am vondering. Are they treating her gently because they honor Olivinia as an artist, or because she has value in some sort of ritual?" Zahra gets to her feet. "I think vhatever else ve do, ve must hurry."
Zahra looks at Lurgh. "I am perhaps less dependent on elements. Vould you like to borrow my elemetal rod? It can turn fire into electricity."
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I've encountered the dark folk here before. They can create a darkness impenetrable even to darkvision and have no problem seeing through it themselves. It can be suppressed by daylight, but you'll need a non-magical light source to go with it. If you don't have a way to create daylight, I suggest you try to get one as quickly as possible.
Garinol retrieves his masterwork thieves tools and unlocks the door.
He stows his tools, then slowly opens the two doors revealing the room beyond.
This low-ceilinged chamber features two pairs of manacles bolted to the floor in the center of the room. The stone floor beneath them is stained rust-brown and edged with decorative grilles. Hundreds of half-melted candles populate the floor, along with several ritual ingredients, such as jars of tallow, salt, ash, and small bones. Fifteen alcoves line the room, each concealed with a heavy curtain.