Loenor readies an attack for fakers!
Fastenhyme pelts the creature with a missle!
Marianne stabs the creature!
Izoki fires, but misses the creature!
Arovandeon hits the sandman once more and the outsider burst into a clolud of sand particles!
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Without looking to Torch's paper, Arovandeon quotes the instructions pertaining to this situation from memory:
"The paper given to us says: The half-elf Madam Zelekhati, owner the establishment called the Dancing Dunes, is most adept at acquiring secrets, and I need you to find out how she does it— no doubt it’s something she’d rather keep hidden from authorities. Further, convince her to share what she already knows with me. Threaten to reveal her secret if she’s stubborn. End the scheme if all else fails."
Raising his healing wand, Arovandeon says, "If someone would please bind her, I will wake her and we can ask our questions again."
After Arovandeon's healing, the half-elf blinks, looks around, struggles at her bindings for a moment before giving up and glaring at the party.
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"My guess is-", Fastenhyme wistfully ponders, "We just destroyed your method of learning secrets - the elemental, yes? Unsuspecting guests and bodies of interest, having private conversations, or so they thought. Hmm? Your ring must be some sort of bond?", he couldn't help thumbing his own arcane bond.
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Marianne nods, "We would really prefer to do this in a reasonable fashion, you can still be sensible here. Whether you really know who Grandmaster Torch is or not, trust me that he is an information broker in a far bigger league than your own, you would do well to ally yourself with him and that is still an option."
Zelekhati merely glares at the party, her eyes darting to her ring once.
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Marianne shakes her head, casts a quick spell for guidance and snarls, "Fine, we're going to knock you out again and take this ring to Grandmaster Torch. You want it back you go see him and agree to work for him, I would not advise trying to take him on you would die. Or you can share your information and swear to work for Torch now. Anyone got any objections to that plan?"
She seems quite unshaken for someone in her position....
After Loenor speaks up, Zelekhati finally sighs loudly and looks around for onlookers before saying quietly. "Fine, you win. I use this ring." She motions toward her hand. "I use this ring to control the sandman. Sandy, that's his name, eavesdrops on my client's conversations and reports what he has learned each evening. Or did rather.... She says, looking at the spot where the sandman was.
Marianne detects quite a few magical auras coming from the woman, mostly from a few scrolls, a wand, and her ring.
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Marianne takes the magic items from the bound woman handing them over to Arovandeon to identify and after another quick spell saying, "Very well tell us what you currently consider the most notable secrets you have uncovered and we will pass them on. In my opinion your best bet is to impress Grand Master Torch and earn his favor right now, so the better you information the better your chances."
Zelekahti thinks for a moment, then tells the party the latest and juiciest secrets see has learned lately.
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"Excellent, Grand Master Torch will be in contact, no hard feeling, but just in case you change your mind on our way out..." Marianne cracks the butt of her spear over Zelekahti's head knocking her out, ensuring all valuables have been removed from the woman's person.
"Let's get back to Torch and put this sordid business behind us. She may have deserved it, but I have no stomach for this kind of double dealing."
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Arovandeon's mouth is half-open in preparation to talk when Marianne seemingly reads his mind and states his thoughts for him. As Zelekahti goes down for a nap, he closes his mouth, then shrugs. I suppose that is as good a plan as any.
"Let us return to Torch."
He turns and walks away, examining the ring again.
Leaving the Dunes, the party heads back to the White Uraeus, finding Torch soaking in yet another bath. He nods as the party informs him of the information garnered. "Very well! It seems all worked out splendidly."
Torch fulfills his part of the bargain by giving you several old maps. One is a map of Osirion, clearly marking Eto and an unnamed site to the north. The second map has a much smaller scale and marks the route between Eto and the mystery location. The last sheet has a charcoal drawing that depicts two large rock outcroppings connected by a smooth wall with a single gate. It is entitled “Seeker’s Folly” and signed “V.L.”
Torch sneers at the implication of the writing. "“There are some parts of my past that I’d rather not revisit. Thank you for picking at old wounds, Pathfinders.”
In response to Arovandeon, he says. "I have never been to the site. If you are going, I'm sure the sage friend of yours and yourselves will do the proper research."
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"I am not happy to be doing your dirty work, but I suppose I cannot say you have not kept your word to us." Marianne concedes grudgingly.
As she turns to leave she pauses, "I assume your wounds are beyond normral healing magic? You do not seem to be lacking in resources. If not I offer my services Desna would not wish you left it pain if it can be helped."
The next day....
A new day dawns in the Osirian trade city of Eto only hours following the meeting with Grandmaster Torch. In exchange for a handful of services, he delivered several maps and sketches of landmarks that collectively point the way to the last known resting place of one or more sage jewels—enchanted gems capable of storing memories of Osirion’s past and reviving the Sapphire Sage Amenopheus’s order. “Those will take you where you want to go,” Torch declared while handing over the maps. “Deviate from the path if you know what you’re doing.” As an afterthought, he added, “You’re not the only ones who know about that site. I hear a group of foreigners set out from Totra not too long ago and are after the same prize. Sounds like there’s no time to waste.” You recall his words as you look to the next mission....