The pair swivel to Kensaku and nod, eager to break the gaze with the Gorumite. "I'd like to see what you have. We're aware of their reputation and our agreements are out of convenience rather than necessity. If there is something that threatens our business. Well... Then the arrangements may need to be changed."
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She pulls out the journal from the Alchemist's lab, careful to show them only the parts that mention the Aspis rather than the drug formula, This is the journal of an alchemist the Aspis had at their... employ. It details how they commissioned him to make this new drug and give it to them to distribute on your streets, and how they took the formula before it was finished and safe to manufacture and distribute it themselves.
Kensaku allows this to sink in for a moment before continuing, A clear breach of trust on their part, wouldn't you say? We also have it on good authority that they plan to ship this to other regions in the Inner Sea, and that they plan to use your consortium's assets to do so.
As Kensaku pages through the journal the clawed figure groans loudly. After she closes the book he thinks in silence for a moment, looking out at the various Pathfinder agents. He nods as if he comes to some decision and snaps points towards the exit. His antsy companion shoots him a look of disappointment but walks out without another word. Once he is gone the Kortos agent speaks. "We will depart to let you deal with the Aspis agents. I was never here and know nothing of this engagement. We were detained and won't arrive until later this evening to find what I hope to be the warehouse intact and the vermin dealt with."
He doesn't wait for a response but turns and leaves the warehouse. You hear the sound of several other creatures moving about outside and departing into the night.
The group prepares itself for the inevitable arrival of the Aspis. About an hour later the door to the breakroom thumps loudly against the crates that are blocking it. Whatever curses they may be issuing are quickly drowned out from the howling scream of a man who is completely consumed by the bear trap. He screams and curses loudly for help, apparently stuck and in a tremendous amount of pain. A woman's voice behind him seems to calm him somewhat and ease some of his pain, but not all of it.
Zero's arrow aim is only sightly off as the arrow flies wide of trapped man.
No sooner than Gaeldrung moves towards the cage than the large doors to the south swing open. Two figures clothed in black enter the room and catch sight of Gaeldrung. One of them wielding a longsword (white) shouts, "You! What are you doing here! Down on your knees!"
Kensaku and Siival have great ideas in their attempts to attack, but both fall short in their execution.
Zero's adjustment from her last attack is just enough to allow her to sink her projectile into his chest and undo all of the healing that was just done to him. He screams and stares at her with furious eyes, "Why when I get out of here I'm gonna tear you apart you b*@*+!"
Gaeldrung's charge slams into the robed man and demolishes him in a single blow, sending him sprawling to the ground in a bloody pile.
He injured man hobbles forward, impaired by the bear trap and closes the distance between he and Zero. He waves his longsowrd in her face and says, [sm]"I'm gonna enjoy burying this in you!"[/sm] From behind the trapped man a few words are uttered and again healing the wound that Zero just inflicted as a woman follows him in and touches his back.
The Aspis next to the Gaeldrung who just watch his companion get annihlated hestiantly whips his longsowrd towards the half-orc, only connecting because of Gaeldrung's lower state of defense due to the charge. Nonetheless, the blade slashes across Gaeldrung's back (9 damage).
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"Calm down a bit; anger gives you wrinkles, and you don't want to look old when you die young," Zero quips back, dropping her bow and drawing her katana. "You think you've cornered me, but you've been outflanked," Zero nods to Periel. "Every move you've made has been according to plan."
Zero takes a quick slash with the tip of the katana, trying to keep the gentleman off balance.
Siival's fire misses so badly it hits a nearby crate and it burst into flames catching on fire.
The man with the bear trap still firmly gripping his leg jabs his longsword towards Zero but clearly is distracted by the pain he is in and doesn't come close to striking her. The female Aspis behind the bear-trapped one takes a step back, pulls a tanglefoot bag into her hand and throws it at Periel where it breaks apart all over him.
The agent clad in black near Gaeldrung pivots and moves five feet north into the moonlight and swings wildly at Gaeldrung, coming nowhere close to hitting the half-orc.
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"You seem like an okay gentleman. A couple of red flags though: Not too bright, walking right into a simple bear trap. And not very good with a sword. Poor choice of friends. Foul-mouthed. Prone to anger."
Zero chuckles, and drives her katana into the man's chest.
"But the real deal-breaker is the eight inches of steel run through you," Zero continues, twisting her blade as she pulls back for the next strike.
Zero's attack drops the bear-trapped man while Periel's assault misses due to the sticky goo all over him. Kensaku's attack misses but Gaeldrung's blade chops down another Aspis agent, clearing the southern group.
The remaining agent takes a step back and casts a spell as she reaches down and touches the fallen agent who stirs back to life as sound of his wounds close. The fallen man who has been brought back from deaths door twice now glares at Zero with intent.
The man on the ground seems taunted by Zero's words and he reaches for his blade. Siival catches yet another crate on fire as the flames fall short of his intended target.
Zero slices open yet another wound on the man which again sends him into unconsciousness.
With a heavy sigh of frustration at the fallen man's predicament she calls out two names, likely to the other two fallen agents that Gaeldrung dismissed with ease. When no answer arrives she sighs heavily with frustration as she sees the Pathfinder's close in all around. her. With no avenue of escape visible she throws up her hands and falls to her knees. "I surrender."
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"Good call. If you'd like to live, you're going to need to stay with us for awhile," Zero addresses the soon-to-be-ex-Aspis. "The Consortium kills failures, you know. You can't go back."
Zero points to the unconscious man.
"The two of you will need to help us clean this place up. None of us were ever here. Not you, not us."
Zero will endeavor to tidy up the place. Remove signs of combat, drag crates over the bloodstains, remove bear traps from people's legs, etc. While the work is being done, Zero will casually ask: "What was your exit strategy for when the Consortium inevitably stabs you in the back?"
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My guess is that an exit strategy wasn't in the cards for these ones, Kensaku says while also tidying up, perhaps they believe they have a rapport with their superiors. At any rate, we are still waiting for another possible group, yes? Perhaps it would be best to keep these... she pauses as she searches for the word to call their current captives, people here, to keep them from bringing more down upon us? At least for the time being?
With the exception of a few scorched crates from Siival, the party is able to return the warehouse back to the condition they found it in.
With the defeat of the Aspis agents, the warehouse is safe, and Delroya is able to enact the final stages of her plan. Delroya bribed the town guards to stay away from the warehouse days ago, so the operation goes smoothly once you defeat the invading agents. Delroya and her contacts arrive to move the goods from the warehouse, and she sends some items to the Pathfinder Society in thanks for your assistance.
Back in Absalom, Ambrus Valsin personally thanks you for your successful mission, stating that you dealt a major blow to the Aspis Consortium’s operations on the Isle of Kortos, and prevented a great deal of suffering from spreading across the Inner Sea region.
Delroya attends the meeting with the venture-captain, and Valsin commends you for representing the best qualities of Pathfinders. Delroya herself remains quiet during the meeting, but her demeanor has softened a great deal since the ordeal in Diobel, and it is clear that she feels at home among the Pathfinders.
I want to see one of these sermons
I think you just did.
I'm missing a few email addresses for the new recruits. If I don't have it either post it here or PM it to me please, I use that to send out the Chronicle Sheets.