You have all been called to Magnimar and asked to report to the Society's newest Lodge at Heidmarch Manor. The guards let you gain entrance and you are shown to an office where a few other Pathfinders are milling about. Soon enough, Sheila Heidmarch glides into the room and greets you.
“Welcome to Varisia, welcome to the city of Magnimar, welcome to the Pathfinder Lodge of Heidmarch Manor, but most importantly, welcome to my home.” Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch greets you in her low, breathy voice, finishing with a warm smile. She walks over and sits at a lager, oaken desk. Allow me to get straight to the point. “Lissala is the Thassilonian goddess of runes, fate, and obedience,” she explained. “Her followers are wicked and secretive, but they can be bought for the right price. The Aspis Consortium offered that price. In
exchange for creating a back door into the Hao Jin Tapestry—a museum demiplane that we Pathfinders thought was entirely our own—the Aspis Consortium promised a river of wealth to the secretive cult. The Pathfinder Society ejected the Aspis Consortium from the Hao Jin Tapestry and the Consortium defaulted on its contract with the cult of Lissala. As you might expect from followers of a goddess of duty, the Lissalans are irate at the Aspis Consortium for defaulting." she shakes her head. sipping from a glass of water.
"Tensions between the two groups are at their breaking point, and I need you to finish the job. Vidrin Jenk is a silver agent in the Aspis Consortium, newly arrived in Riddleport and anxious to prove his worth to the organization. The Aspis Consortium recently purchased the Barracuda Cartage company, and Jenk operates out of the offices there. Jenk plans to patch up relations with the cult of Lissala, which is well hidden somewhere in Riddleport. To help him, Jenk requisitioned a group of Aspis Consortium specialists—all bronze agents led by a mysterious
troubleshooter named Thestil Shadowtongue.” Heidmarch reaches into a drawer of her desk and removes several bronze badges, tossing them on the desk, some flecked with blood. “Those specialists aren’t going to make it to Riddleport. You are. I want you to pretend to be the Aspis Consortium agents Jenk requested. Do as he asks, but only to keep suspicion off of you until you find out where the cult of Lissala is hiding. Once you know that, I need you to do two things. First, sabotage the Lissalan safe house as completely as possible. Second, throw the blame for the sabotage onto the Aspis Consortium. “How you complete these tasks I leave to your discretion, but I want you to keep murder to a minimum. One of the Lissalan cultists is feeding us information, and I don’t want to risk you killing this valuable source. Furthermore, we want the Lissalans to remain alive so they can turn their full ire against the Aspis Consortium. Once you’ve accomplished these two mission
objectives, return here.” Heidmarch smiles broadly. “Welcome to the Aspis Consortium. Any questions before you leave for Riddleport?” she says, a faint smile playing upon her face.
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Zynep slyly looks over at Varg with an arched eyebrow and smirk when Heidmarch remarks on keeping "murder to a minimum."
"Jenks, you say? I've dealt with a similarly named man on my last mission. I wonder if they are kin."
"Do these bronze agents have any particular uniform or badges they where to identify them as such? Is this Shadowtongue a real person or somebody we've made up?"
Bit of Luck
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Roland enters the room and observes the veteran Pathfinders assembled. Being only his second mission, he listens intently to the mission and questions asked by Zynep and the others.
He nods to the others when given a chance for introductions.
"Welcome to Magnimar. I am Roland, and am honored to 'ave a chance to work with you. I 'eard of your successes on your last mission in Absalom. "
He looks at Varg's axe wondering if the stories from his Taldan sources were true that he decapitated three mercenaries in a single swing.
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Ernest is a Osirian/Chelish man, sporting a paler skin than most Osiriani while still retaining their facial structures. He is 5'6", but is clearly has a number of similarities with the pig he carries around (most notably his weight). On his back is a backpack of dungeoneering gear, and on his belt hang a set of wands with an imprint of the Osiriani royal scarab embedded in them. Inside buildings, he is carrying his pig when able, whom of which is wearing a wig and glasses sized for a creature of his size (and are styled in the manner of a stereotypical scholar's appearance.)
Before the meeting, Ernest looks absolutely awe-stuck and ecstatic at the number of obviously female Pathfinders. "Oh, Torag, I'm so glad you're not the god of marriage. I hope we're going under Kaer Maga; He looks around at the women. It'll be just like my fan-fictions..." He is lost in Imaginationland until Sheila calls the meeting.
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Ernest's expression sours greatly throughout the briefing. "Another city romp? When's the ADVENTURE? The dungeons? The dragons?!? And we're just going to pretend to be THUGS?" Afterwards, he looks to Zynep and attempts to fixate on her face as hard as he can. "Aspis agents are a lot like Pathfinders, if the Society's goals were profit-oriented as opposed to knowledge-oriented." He points a meaty finger upwards and closes his eyes, in focus. "They're generally a motley crew of whomever signed up, but they find history in order to sell it; not catalogue it. They identify each other primarily by their badges' colour."
Heidmarch motions to the badges she set on the desk, "Yes he is correct", nodding towards Ernest. "The badges identify one as an Apsis agent and the color of the badge denotes authority, bronze is the rank and file, silver oversees the bronze, and gold oversees them all. She picks up the one of the badges, turning it over in hand. Thestil Shadowtongue "was" a real agent...now it's up to you. We have booked passage on a ship for you, the Hero's Folly, it sails in the morning. You'll have the journey to work out whos playing Thestil and work on you acts. Any more questions?
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Linnea listens intently. Oh boy, this seems like an exciting task. I might finally get to put my disguising abilities to use!
"Venture Captain Heidmarch, did this Jenks know Shadwotongue personally? What sort of personal details would he know about Shadowtongue - gender, race etc?"
Looking around at her fellow Pathfinders, Linnea notes that the party is made up equally of men and women. Unusual, Pathfinder tasks are normally such a boys' club.
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In his heavy Varisian accent, Roland points to a bronze badge...
"Alas, I am more accustomed to camouflage zhan with disguises . Methinks zhe less talking I do, zhe more likely we are to succeed. "
I never figured to 'ave to act like one of the Aspis that I despise when I joined the Pathfinders. Fortunately, the others look more skilled with diplomacy and subterfuge.
Heidmarch shrugs, Jenks had never met Thestil, Shadowtongue was fairly secretive, working through emissaries. Jenks does not know if Shadowtongue was a man or women or what race. She rubs her eyes, looking suddenly weary. Your ship leaves with the morning tide, so you have this evening to gather what gear or supplies you need.
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Linnea nods. "Thank you Venture Captain. we'll do our best to fulfill this assignment. Well, I've got to pick up some supplies. Anyone care to join me?"
Once everyone is excused, Linnea finds the closest shop for armaments and purchases two spring-loaded wrist sheaths. (5gp each) She sets up one on each arm. In the one on her left arm, she readies her wand of Grease. In her right-arm sheath, she readies her wand of Cure Light Wounds.
Once on the ship. Linnea volunteers to play the role of Shadowtongue.
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You hear a *yawn*, then a *deep intake of breath* which seems to originate from under the refreshment table in the briefing room and then a *thud* like someone has hit their head on the bottom of the tabletop.
The linen tablecloth covering the table is thrust aside and something crawls out from underneath it on all fours.
Before you is what appears to be a prone half-elven female of an indeterminate age. Her face is pale, her dirty blond hair is tousled, her weather-stained clothes are rumpled and there is quite extensive bruising down the right side of her arm and face. The triple-sting emblem of the Goddess of Don’t Call Me Fat – Look What Happened to Aroden! dangles limply from a leather cord around her neck.
She pauses to slip on a pair of Smoked Goggles before getting shakily to her feet and turns to check out her new companions one-by-one …
Hello, Handsome!
What a cutie. Wish I could get away with a bob-cut like that!
NICE abs!
Not bad … probably likes both kinds of music … Country and Western Andoran … but that’s fine … I will need to have a word to him about dressing up one of his pigs as a Priestess of Calistria though – that’s pretty offensive. Hang on a minute …
The woman then gestures with a limp hand to herself. “Hi everyone. Please call me Luisila. Let me get some tea and I’ll probably feel a bit more half-elven in a jiffy.”
She goes back to the table and says …
To Roland: “Can you pass me the honey, Honey?”
To Linnea: “Can you pass me the sugar, Sugar?”
To Zynep:
She then collapses into a chair saying … “So, what did I miss?”
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Ernest jumps back at the sound of something hitting the table. "Aaah!" Upon Luisila trying to get up, Ernest shakily offers a hand to try to help the woman up. Seeing her bruises, he sputters a little "Hap-blah-uhhh, Miss Luisila, uhh, do... ugg-uhh you need a healing spell for those bruises? I've got a stick for tha- I mean a wand! Not a stick! A wand!" He zones into a self-induced trance of thought, though is still clearly bothered by something. "I mean, a wand is a stick, but I didn't want to say stick because stick can mean other things and that could be seen as rude, and I don't want to be rude to a beatifu--"
He continues to sputter uselessly until asked what the meeting was about. "Err, our mission is to impersonate Aspis thugs and ruin the relations between the Lissalans and the Aspi- OH, TORAG, I SAID RELATIONS. I didn't mean to say relations, because I'm most definitely not thinking about any kind of relations of anything whatsoever. I meant to say relationshi- oh, gods, I didn't mean that either! I meant... uhh... friendship. Yeah, their frienship. We're supposed to tear them apart." Ernest gets some errant thought in his mind that turns him a nice shade of red upon thinking about tearing.
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Luisila gratefully accepts the helping hand from the wizard.
“Thank-you, Ernest. It seems there are still gentlemen left on Golarion.”
She flicks her eyes over to Zynep. And apparently, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“Thanks for your concern about my condition, but it’s kind of an occupational hazard for Pathfinders, isn’t it? I’m sure I’ll be fine by the time we reach Riddleport.”
“I do like your friend. He looks so … learned.”
Luisila will then accidentally on purpose …
“Oh, clumsy me … I’ve upset the sugar bowl and now there are sugar lumps all over the floor. I’ll go and get something to clean that up once we’re all finished in here.”
“Now, down to business. Lissala was it?”
With a Bit of Luck I might know something about that cult.
“The other kinda random thoughts I’ve had include … I’m going to leave my Wayfinder here in Magnimar – it pretty much screams Pathfinder, and we’re supposed to be Aspis.”
“I’ve been told I’m good …
Nobody does it better, in fact!
“Do Aspis have to be non-good? I wouldn’t have thought so … but I don’t know. The aura gift from my beloved Lady in the Room is chaotic rather than good, which is a start I suppose.”
The party gathers their belongings and heads out into Magnimar to make any final preparations, before returning to the Heidmarch Estate for the evening. Upon returning to the Heidmarch Lodge, you all find a letter addressed to you on you beds.
The following morning, the party boards the merchant ship, Hero's Folly. After an hour of preparations by the ship's crew, the clipper ship eases out of her berth with the morning tide. In a short time, the ship gracefully slips out of Magnimar harbor and within the hour, the city is but a speck of land on the horizon.
The ship's bow slices easily through the calm waves of the Varisian Gulf and the journey to Riddleport in easy and less than eventful, calm enough to avoid all but the most minor bouts of seasickness. They group is able to use the time to familiarize themselves with their companions and become knowledgeable on the strengths and weaknesses of each party member.
On the dawn of the second day, you here a sailor in the crow's nest holler, Land Ho! and as you step to the side of the ship, you see the Riddleport's Cyphergate begin to arch into view. Within what seem a short time period, though the sun is now cutting a downward arc in the sky, the ship glides under the famous arch of the City of Cyphers and the ships captain call for all hand to assist in bringing the ship in to port. The harbormaster's boat comes out to guide the ship into it's berth and at last you have arrived in Riddleport.
The docks thrum with activity, as ships are loaded and unloaded of their cargoes and the populace goes about finishing the day's business. The party now finds itself standing on the docks, the sun's shadows lengthening toward evening.
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"Ahhh, Luisila. Once again waking up on your knees under something with four legs," Zynep says with a playful smile in a thick Varisian (read Hungarian) accent.
Before the party leaves on the Hero's Folly, Zyneps asks everybody to join energy on the dock for a prayer. Zynep makes sure she places Ernest between herself and Luisila for her own entertainment. (please let me know if did NOT join in)
"Calistra, I call thee, come forth and grant us your protection.
"Goddess of fortune and knowledge, I ask thee to bless this caravan. May your sting provide swift vengeance against those that would us harm.
"Provide us a safe . . . and profitable return home. May fortunes be good."
During the trip, Zynep pulls Linnea aside, "Are you up for the role of Shadowtongue? Lives will hang in the balance of your performance. I believe you can do this, deary, but do you?"
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Zynep makes sure she places Ernest between herself and Luisila for her own entertainment. (please let me know if did NOT join in)
Ernest takes in the sights around him on this boat, during this very new experience. Meanwhile, his pig is in his room, eating the emergency rations provided to him by the Society for travel purposes.
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Linnea confides to Zynep, "I understand the gravity of the situation, and I appreciate your supplication to Calistra on behalf of our task. I have some practice with social skills - I picked some things up working as a carnival barker for my uncle. I think I should be able to pass myself off as Shadowtongue without too much trouble."
Linnea appreciates the cleric's concern and is grateful for the group that she is travelling with. She spends time on the ship perparing for the 'role' - speaking with Ernest to find out whatever he knows of the Aspis consortium and also reviewing all the paperwork that was provided.
In the deepest voice he can muster, he looks to whomever took up the Silver Badge. "So, Thestil, ready to meet the special order?"
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Roland follows along...observing the social interactions of the group.
"Interesting customs these folks have. I spend entirely too much time hunting in the woods. At least creatures in the wild make sense. But they are the veterans . Speaking of which, that reminds me of the letter..."
Roland will approach Varg and show him a note from Taldor.
"Um Varg, is she serious or is zhis some kind of practical joke? "
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"I'm sure you will dear. I'm sure you will. Just let me know if there is anything I can do for you," Zynep says in a motherly manner while running her long nimble fingers down Linnea's face. A flash of sadness across Zynep's face, but is quickly replaced with a smile and exits.
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Zynep's long black hair twirls in the wind as the ship makes it way into harbor. Zynep is dressed in traditional Varisian wanderers' garb, highlighted with blacks and yellows. Zynep chuckles to herself as she slaps the note back and forth over her hand. She double checks her items before docking at Riddleport. She finds a depp pocket to hide the note, then applies the bronze sigil on the inside boarder of her shawl.
"We need to find out where this Barracuda Cartage company is so that we can ... check in. Let's split up so that we can find out where the BCC is and other news."
Zynep scans a the dockside for a tavern and points.
"Let us meet there in two hours. Luisila, I need to pay my respects to the Queen Bee. Care to join me?"
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“So you have worked as a barker, Linnea – how interesting!”
Luisila turns to guess who? “That sounds like something you would be well qualified for, Zynep.”
"... Luisila, I need to pay my respects to the Queen Bee. Care to join me?"
Luisila’s brow begins to furrow … Why am I thinking I’m going to regret this …
But she smiles, “Of course, sister – I’d be delighted. Why, I was just about to suggest the same thing!”
When Zynep can’t see her, Luisila will check whether her own breastplate offers any protection against knives in the back.
“Oh yeah … Apparently, Lissala was the Thassilonian deity of runes, fate, duty, and obedience. Her worshipers are generally sadistic self-flagellants who believe that self-inflicted pain opens the mind to enlightenment.”
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On the way to the docks in Magnimar, Luisila looks Varg up and down quite openly.
By Threv’s Froggy Features, why does that Sable Marine Company parody enter my head whenever I look at this guy …
‘Call Varg, if it absolutely, positively MUST BE DESTROYED overnight.’
“Varg, I hope we shall be friends – I do so admire people who love their work … and call it a hunch … but I suspect you are VERY good at what you do.”
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"Luisila, Zynep - I haven't traveled with clerics before. You two seem... well, different than what I would expect. I guess you could say that I worship Shelyn, but I'm not super devout or anything."
Linnea turns to Varg, "So, 'Cleaver'? Can't wait to see you put that nickname into action. Cleave'em and leave'em...in pieces. Am I right?"
She breathes in the ocean air as the group ambles through the docks. So this is Riddleport; never made it this far with the carnival. Uncle Venn would like it - just enough riff raff to keep things interesting
"So, you're going to be singing songs sometime? I know an old tune that might interest you, Roland. It's about a warrior that shares your name. 'Roland was a warrior, from the land of the midnight sun...'" Linnea can't help but break out in song, but she knows how to read a crowd and knows just when to cut the song short.
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" Aye, Linnea, we may sing a song or two on our trip from ze old times...you are welcome to join Varg and Me if you want to join in zhe merriment. I am sure you 'ave a much better singing voice zhan either of us.. I 'ave not 'eard any songs with my name before. Zhat would be interesting to 'ear. I am sure Varg and I could teach you the songs from our youth as well."
Roland stops in thought...letting his mind wander.
She seems very friendly. Not sure if she will want to help with our song if she knows the lyrics, but she definitely can out sing either of us . Still not sure what to make of those other two ladies. More sting than sing in their makeup, I reckon. Still, they seem nice enough in their own way."
Roland smiles awkwardly and nods as Luisila and Zynep catch him staring. He checks his backpack and bow as a distraction.
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"What where you expecting, darling? Maces and mail? That may have been the case generations ago, but not now. Shelyn, she is a good god. I like her. Her innocence suits you."
Zynep catches Roland's wandering eye and saunters up next to him.
"Surely you know a few of the old songs, childe Roland. Come now, with me. This is one of my favorites"
Varisian rover, come over the hill, down through the valley so shady
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang and he won the heart of a lady
Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day, ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
She left her fathers castle gate, she left her own fine lover
She left her servants and her state, to follow the Varisian rover
Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day, ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
Her father saddled up his fastest stead, roamed the valleys all over
Sought his daughter at great speed and the whistling Varisian rover
Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day, ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
He came at last to a mansion fine, down by the river Clady
And there was music and there was wine, for the Varisian and his lady
Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day, ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
He is no gypsy, my father, she said, but lord of these lands all over
And I will stay til my dying day, with my whistling Varisian rover
Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day, ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady.
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Somewhere on the high seas …
Luisila storms up a companionway of the Hero’s Folly just like she’s been having a row with ... someone … someone, who has gotten the better of her!
She spies Ernest and the Professor, visibly calms herself and walks over to them smiling. She produces a pot of honey, opens it and sets it down for the pig.
The pot is engraved = Property of the Magnimar Pathfinder Lodge =
“Ernest, you’re a scholar, right? Smart … been to school and all that? Well maybe you can settle a figh … small disagreement between two … friends?”
“You have surely heard of the wicked Darklands race called the drow, right? Well, I say you pronounce the word ‘drow’ to rhyme with the Taldane word ‘bow’, BUT Zynep says you pronounce it to rhyme with the word ‘row’.”
“So tell me, Ernest, which one of us is right?”
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"Luisila, Zynep - I haven't traveled with clerics before. You two seem... well, different than what I would expect. I guess you could say that I worship Shelyn, but I'm not super devout or anything."
To Linnea: “Oh, Linnea the subject of faith changes from one person to another, depending on so many things. And truthfully, different foci attract different people.”
“I have a friend in the Pathfinder Society named Omrax the Bold, whose creed is so different to my own … but his faith is unshakeable … and we get along just fine!”
“What’s important, in my opinion, is that everyone needs something to believe in. It helps you stay sane in this crazy world, while preparing you for the next one.”
“What the Eternal Rose stands for is certainly worthwhile and noble, but I LOVE worshipping a Power I am passionate about.”
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“So tell me, Ernest, which one of us is right?”
Ernest begins to sputter and try to avoid direct eye contact, which seems to be par for the course. "Uhh, pbah, well, uh... um... it would... um... really depend on the uh... dialect, I suppose... I guess it could uhh... go either way... though in the common Taldane, you would be... uhh... correct." Ernest now actually spots the obvious jar of honey, which is currently being devoured. "Is... is that honey from the lodge?"
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Varg smiles at Luisila.
I am sure that we will be fast friends, as soon as the blood starts flying. I will be needin' the services of you and Zynep regularly. I tend to get myself quite cut up on most occasions as Zynep can tell ya. The other guys just end up back in the mud.
He turns to Linnea and Roland.
We would love to have ya along. I am sure that Roland and I can share some soungs of good ole' Taldor with ya. I, personally, can tell ya some stories so that you can sing of my Axe and the blood that it lets! Zynep can probably come up with a few diddies for me, like Roland's. Join us for a pint, and let the saga tellin' begin! Where and when do we meet up to trash this house?
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We are barely into the sea voyage. Riddleport must be a day away at least.
Luisila tries a Bit of Luck.
Luisila pats the wizard's shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Ernest. It is enough for me that you and I know that I'm right."
"My lips are sealed. I will never reveal my source, no matter what."
"As for the honey ... not sure where it came from originally ... Roland gave it to me."
*Taps the side of her nose* "It's the quiet ones you have to watch, as my foster mother (Sweet Calistria grant her final reward) was fond of telling me."
She walks off, along the way asking Varg : "Hey, Cleaver. Have you seen Zynep?"
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"Never been much of a man of faith. In Sandpoint, most revere Desna, and we 'ave a festival...Swallowtail Festival each year. Zhat is about all I know. I think my uncle prefers Erastil, great for archers, but he is too stuffy for my liking. "
"Now let me see if I can recall zhe words to some Songs for you Linnea . "
He sits while thinking...staring out over the waves.
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"Has the bee spread her pollen all over this ship, Luisila? It is time to get back to the Hive."
Zynep then looks down upon Ernest and a smirk comes across her face. She steps up beside the nervous wizard and takes his arm. She nods at Luisila to take the other with a laugh. While it is more of them escorting him, they walk down the dock together toward Riddleport.
"Now tell me, Ernest, have you been to House of the Silken Veil? It is one of Riddleport's hidden treasures . . ."
Remember, boys and girls, meet back up in 2 hours.
The docks thrum with activity, as ships are loaded and unloaded of their cargoes and the populace goes about finishing the day's business. The party now finds itself standing on the docks, the sun's shadows lengthening toward evening.
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Momentarily forgetting his new appearance, he squeaks with his original voice when grasped by the elven woman. "Th-th-th-th-th-th' House of the Silken Veil? M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-my grandfather... uhh... he... uhh... told us stories about a.... uhhh... place like that while watching us as kids once. D-d-d-d-didn't really sound like a house, uhh... but... uhhh..." He looks wildly around at the docks while the inquiry of necromantic female enhancements. Redonning his deep, "mwangi" voice halfway through his dialogue, he starts up again. "Don't we... uhh... gotta to to th' fish-packin' place first? Ya' know, get th' job started?"
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Linnea watches as the two clerics escort the portly wizard off into the streets of Riddleport. She remarks to Roland and Varg, "Those two would clean up on the carnival circuit - they sure seem to know how to spot a mark. Maybe they can get Ernie to come out of his shell a little."
"Sorry to disappoint you fellas, but I'm not as free with myself as Luisila and Zynep. But, I know how to have a good time. Let's find ourselves a tavern and try out some of the local brews. We could ask around about Jenks, the Barracuda Cartage and Lissala as well. Whadya say?"
She holds out both arms, waiting for the men to escort her.