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Vurgan leaps around the building but is surprised to find the devil so close and can't manage to land a blow.
Kuriq moves to a more advantageous position and readies an arrow as Hania pushes next to Vurgan and rends her longsword through the devil's right side of it's chest.
Karsa readies a spell as well in case he hears any more of teh accursed language.
With the devil pressed against the hut Eadie boldly and calmly strides in, lopping it's head from its shoulders with her falchion, ending the threat.
As the devil's vanish their weapons are left behind. A +1 flaming
composite longbow (+5 Str) remains as well as a longsword. The papers in Ibn-Hadil’s library lead you to investigate the High Priest Ubaidah’s Tomb.
Kuriq (30/33)
Hania
Karsa
Eadie (101/106; resist fire 20)
Grint
Vurgan
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"I feel like the chances of all this being a misunderstanding have been blown out of the window," says Grint while looking down at what is left of the devils. Grint attempts to scoop up any ash or dust left behind into a collection of small vials while continuing on, "Does anyone know where High Priest Ubaidah’s Tomb is?"
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Eadie downs a potion of CLW like it’s a whiskey shot, lets out a satisfied “Ahh …” and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
She then hands another of the healing tonics to the ifrit inquisitor. “There you go, Kuriq. That’ll put some hair on your chest!”
"Does anyone know where High Priest Ubaidah’s Tomb is?"
“Who’s got VC Min-Katheer’s journal? The one we found hidden in ibn Chablis’ hous… Oh, thanks!”
The warrior licks an index finger and flips through pages until she finds the passage she is looking for.
“Here it is! Have a gander at this, guys.”
The text readily falls open to a section describing the Tomb of the Upright High Priest Ubaidah Abd-Hikmah, several hours' ride up the coast.
It details the isolated site's importance to the local church of Sarenrae.
“I think this is our next lead, but … Kuriq, weren’t you speaking to High Priest Halman at the wedding reception? The Grand Mufti claims to be a descendant of Ubaidah Abd-Hikmah.”
“Maybe it’s worth speaking to him about what to expect at the tomb before we head there?”
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Kuriq finds little of use within the dismal hut as the group discusses the Tomb's location in relation to the journal entry as they depart the Villa itself.
A company of three dozen heavily-armored horsemen and a handful of robed and veiled sorcerers approach from down the dusty road, their splendid equipment gleaming mirror-bright. From their midst, a massively built man rides forward, his face obscured by a golden helm. “Pathfinders!” he shouts. “You are hereby arrested and ordered to appear before the Court of His Exalted Eminence, Xerbystes II, Defender of the Zho and Satrap of Glorious Katheer, praise be upon him. Lay down your arms and come with us to hear your accusers, lest you arouse the terrible displeasure of His Eminence!”
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Well, I did sort of incinerate a bunch of people and their house probably burnt to the ground...but they were bad guys!
Karsa turns on the guards. What are you talking about, what crimes! We are here on behalf of the honourable Master Bashir Al-Mudaris whose daughter's wedding was so violently disrupted. The gifts were stolen and we have tracked some of them here, to his rivals house. A rival who is employing devils in his cause! We must find and deal with the cur before he can summon more such monsters and every moment you delay us makes it more likely that the fiend will escape!
Karsa punctuates his speech with jabbing motions of his bone walking stick, becoming gradually more incensed at their folly.
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"Praise be the Satrap his Exalted Eminence Xerbystes II who has sent his most capable guards to look into the matter of the items stolen from the wedding of the Lady of Silver and the gifts of Master Bashir Al Mudrais. You require our swords we galdly offer them. Vurgam oofers his sword.
"I fear in trying to locate the precious artifacts we have uncovered a diabolical chelish plot. When we arrived at the hallowed halls of flame fire consumed the warriors within who had set up an altar to a devil lord. Perhaps Sarenrae did not take kindly to the descration of her halls? We recovered one item and a note suggesting the others were to be spirited away on a ship named the Incubus and that this was done at the behest of Ramiz Ibn Chadli. Seeking to uncover the truth of this insidious insinuation we travelled to his estate where a devilish imposter and her partner in arms had left but two of his servants alive and attacked visitors with their devilish bows. See how only a mighty devil can draw such a bow and how it lights its arrows with flame."
Vurgan offers the bow he claimed as proof of this claim.
"I do not know where the real Ibn Chadli is but I fear he may be being held prisonner in the tomb of the upright high priest Ubaidah Abd-Hikmah If this journal is anything to go by"
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Quick question, do the devils vanish? Summoned creatures do but called ones presumably wouldn't. I am not sure which these are but if one is his vizier that certainly suggests they are called.
Eadie believes the the company of men to be extremely authentic. The The rider is Garahn Min-Omash, one of the Satrap’s Peerless, master warriors. He scans the area for any wrong-doings as the Pathfinders plea their case. "You had better hope all of that is true, but either way my task is to bring you in. You can explain it further to the Satrap’s Peerless advisors."
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“The bodies of the two erinyes we slew should still be on the grounds of the estate. One has green-eyes and a slit throat.”
“The other has ginger hair and is missing her head. Perhaps you could collect their bodies as evidence, or at least confirm that we are telling the truth.”
Eadie surrenders her two falchions, Lucerne hammer, morning star and spiked gauntlet. She pulls a dagger from inside her right greave and similarly hands it to one of the officials handle first.
“WHAT? These days a girl can’t be too careful you know.”
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There's only 30 or 40 of them, we could take them, I never did trust authority types, this whole thing stinks of devils
As Eadie starts to disarm herself Karsa stumbles, ooh, me aching joints, this heat does me no good he says as he lowers himself onto the nearest chair. I ain't got no weapons, unless you count this old knife I use to cut up me meat, I have terrible trouble wi' me teef. I suppose I've got this old stick too but you wouldn't deny an old man his cane would you lad....
Karsa fumbles about in his pockets, pulling out a rather dirty paper bag.. Mint humbug? he asks, offering them around to the guards.
You aren't gonna lock us up in some horrible dark cell are you lad, not sure me old ticker could take that...
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"I for one am eager to face our accusers. " says Vurgam aloud. " picking a fight with the satraps guards will only strengthen what preposterous claims are made against us and leave the society banned in Kathleer Vurgam returns the message
"We would be honoured to answer the satraps questions. What are we accused of ? Stealing the gifts we were about to receive at the wedding?
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As Eadie starts to disarm herself Karsa stumbles, ooh, me aching joints, this heat does me no good he says as he lowers himself onto the nearest chair. I ain't got no weapons, unless you count this old knife I use to cut up me meat, I have terrible trouble wi' me teef. I suppose I've got this old stick too but you wouldn't deny an old man his cane would you lad....
"I am well aware of who you are and who you represent Pathfinder. No need to feign weakness before us."
His men thunder forth to gather your weapons as some hand them over freely. Min-Omash points to Karsa. "You and you go gather the devils if they are there."
"You aren't gonna lock us up in some horrible dark cell are you lad, not sure me old ticker could take that...
Min-Omash unfurls a paper with each of your information scrolled within it. I have to to take you in as the warrant says. you will be held in a cell overnight until you can speak to the court in the morning."
"Are we coming in in chains or as free people answering questions?
"That is your choice. If you are willing to come freely then myself and my men can simply escort you to your cells. If you wish to resist it could get much worse and end up in chains."
As most of the Pathfinders offer no resistance you are escorted through town where you are housed in the land’s most opulent prison. Your chambers are elegantly appointed, yet the solid iron doors lock from the outside.
Min-Omash speaks to each of you, especially Karsa. "Be careful not to cast any spells within your cells or you will arm the trap within." He points to a glyph on the ceiling. "Symbol of Death that is."
Your weapons and obvious magic items are removed, but you are otherwise treated with grave courtesy. You aren’t even searched.
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Hania reacts calmly as each item is taken away, but if they try to take away her holy symbol, she looks at them questioningly. "Would you try to remove the link a holy warrior has with her goddess? Surely you recognize that this is not a symbol of evil."
Later, when the warning is given, Hania is careful to clarify, "I assume that time in prayer does not count as 'casting a spell?' Would you permit us to heal our injured before putting us somewhere we cannot cast spells?"
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Eadie goes along with the law enforcement officials quietly without making any trouble.
She stays close to the guardsmen transporting her weapons, just so she can give them some advice about how to care for her ‘babies’.
“Smashy is my silver Lucerne hammer. He’s special because he saved my life fighting some chain devils.”
Eadie pauses to consult the grumbly half-orc. “Karsa are kytons considered true devils? I know they used to be, but I think their classification got changed, didn't it?”
“Now, where was I? Oh, holding Smashy! Bet you can’t get guess why he’s called Smashy, Vurgan.”
“Then there’s my cold iron morning star. I bought her secondhand on the docks of Magnimar, when I first got off the boat as a runaway teen …”
You are housed in the land’s most opulent prison.
“What’s for dinner?”
Eadie rubs her tummy. “Hania, Mr Min-Momash said I didn’t have to eat my vegies, OK?”
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"You may keep your holy symbol though as I said I wouldn't risk cast any spells, divine or arcane."
The following morning, you are brought before the Satrap’s court:
The Satrap’s court stands within a grand hall, one of the most opulent structures in the Inner Sea. Dozens of courtiers and soldiers line the magnificent hall, the Peerless advisors of the Satrap. In a small alcove off to one side, an executioner sharpens a massive axe, his face covered by a frowning golden mask. A herald’s voice booms forth, “Pathfinders! You stand accused of murder, theft, and the looting of graves! Come forward and answer for these crimes!” A woman sits on a folding chair beside the herald, her features veiled.
“You stand accused of plotting the theft of ancient relics, and of the planned murder of Master Bashir al-Mudaris so that your masters among the Pathfinder Society might claim the resources of the House of Silver. What do you say to these accusations?”
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Hania steps forward slightly before she speaks. "You have my word as a righteous warrior of Shelyn that I have never been part of any plot to injure Master Bashir al-Mudris. I have never taken any ancient relic away from who I believed to be its legitimate owner. If I lie in anything I say, may the Lady Shelyn remove from me every sign of her blessings."
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Buffoons, the lot of you is what I say!
We have been helping the Honourable Master of Silver recover what was stolen from him. We were the ones who kept his guests safe from the attack on the wedding. We found a bunch of his stuff for him. And we slew the infernal agents of the true culprit.
But would your men listen, noooooo. You delay us here while an actual infernalist who is having truck with actual devils from actual Hell is getting away scot free.
It looks to me like you have been hoodwinked by some damned devil worshipper, so much for the light of Saraenrae's Truth! Blinkers on, the lot of you.
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"Calm yourself my friend. It does not do to berate the court. I am sure the Satraps Questioners and agents are looking into our evidence as we speak. Although I must admit I struggle to see the sense in our alleged scheme. Was our plan to steal the relics we were about to receive as gifts? To invalidate the marriage contract and thus remove any legitimate influence on the House Silver and then murder Master Bashir Al Mudrais. This plan defies all logic. We were gathered to celebreate the wedding when mercenaries from the house of hallowed flame slipped in to release wild animals and cause a distraction so the wedding gifts intended for us by Master Bashir could be stolen. Is this part our plan to murder master Bashir. it seems very strange to plan a murder with wild animals with so many people around including ourselves. We strove to keep the beasts attention on ourselves. Afterwards the relics were stolen. Master Bashir himself said the mercenaries were involved. Perhaps we should have awaited the proper authorities. But we pathfinders are a headstrong bunch and chase after those that have wronged us. A ball of fire exploded inside the hallowed halls. The mercenaries were dead but we did find one of the relics and a note suggesting that Razmir Ibn Chadli was involved. We sought out the estate of Ibn Chadli"
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Kirin stands before the accusers agitated, not in being guilty, but attempting not to be infuriated by the false accusations. He keeps his cool momentarily.
"What tomfoolery! Shenanigans! Hear not lies but the truth we have brought before you. I presume your accusations are not baseless? If not, I'd like to see these evidence myself."
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All of this pomp can’t be for us as mid-level agents … is it the Pathfinder Society that is on trial?
Eadie gets to her hind legs, blinks a few times at all those assembled and begins politely.
“If it pleases you, Ser. The accusations are not true.”
“I was under the impression Master Bashir Al-Mudaris planned to donate several valuable relics to the Pathfinder Society after his daughter’s wedding. So it makes no sense that we would want to steal them.”
“After we saved a lot of innocent people at said wedding, at the risk of our own lives, it was discovered the items had been stolen. Some of which we tracked down to the likely perpetrator’s address – who set Hell’s angels on us as we investigated.”
Eadie sighs. “All my life I have been called simple, My Lord. But I truly cannot fathom how those actions were wrong, let alone how they warrant so much time of someone as important and powerful as yourself.”
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Kuriq watches as the Accuser continues to take notes and Kuriq can't quite get a read on her.
Opinionated bystanders in the hall attempt to interrupt the proceedings with cynical comments and baseless accusations against the Pathfinders. After some moments of the Peerless reviewing the documents, one of them speaks up. "This is incriminating. But how do explain these? Herald, bring forth the letters." The herald presents you with several letters.
Pathfinders:
You go into the holy of Qadira soon! Blessings of Sarenrea be upon you as you go! While there, do not hesitate to use Farendir as a pawn for the Society's actions in betraying the House of Silver. Retrieve these artifacts by any means possible!
Glory of the Dawnflower,
Olystra Zadrian
Oh, the glorious sands of Qadira, how they outshine those of Osiria! I envy you on your trip to the Qadiran capital of Kathere. Please bring me the relics directly, by whatever means possible. Farendir is a dolt who does not belong in the Pathfinders. Throw him to the lions if you must.
Strength and power,
Onomatopoeia
Good sir:
This land of Qadira to which you head is overburdened by laws and rules. Do not be afraid to break them in your acquisition of the relics. Use Farendir as a pawn, for he is worthless. Betray the House of Silver and steal the relics from under old man Bashir's nose. I will see you back in Dioble.
Forever chaste,
Zarta Dralnene
Pathfinders:
Go forth into that lovely land of Qadira and attend the wedding. But use whatever means necessary to bring down the House of Silver. Use Farendir if you must and do not worry about insulting Master Bashir al-Mudaris. He is a stuffy noble who has only earned his position through hereditary advances, not through hard strife and effort like a good Trader.
Dominance through Trade!
Trade Prince Aaqir al'Hakam
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"Please calm down, friend Kuriq. I understand your indignation, but calm explanations will help us more." Hania says softly. Then she raises her voice a bit to be better heard by the court. "The letter to the Silver Crusade faction is clearly a forgery, because it contains several errors that would never be present in a real letter. Look at the misspelling of the name of Sarenrae, and also of the supposed sender, Ollysta."
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“Yeah, it’s a similar case for the Scarab Sages letter.”
Eadie holds out the note for a bailiff to take to the Grand Inquisitor as she points out errors the Sapphire Sage wouldn’t make.
“The nation the Scarab Sages represent is Osirion. Nobody in the Lawbringer’s Court would call it ‘Osiria’ and hope to keep their job. Also, while I might see how our beautiful host country of Qadira eclipses Osirion in many respects, given the history of conquest and wars of independence between the two nations, I doubt any native-born subject of Khemet III would.”
“The Deputy Leader of our faction, the Sapphire Sage is named ‘Amenopheus.’ ‘On-a-mat-up-here’ is usually where you can find his cat sleeping. Amenopheus is a scholarly man, who would never misspell Qadira’s shining capital of Katheer.”
“Similarly, in accordance with our studious pursuits, the Scarab Sages do not preach ‘Power through Strength.’ Uh uh. We seek to unlock the wisdom of the past for a brighter future.”
“Finally, the notion of sacrificing a fellow Pathfinder like Farendir of the River Kingdoms, is anathema to the Society, which does not admit evil members, and preaches tolerance for others through its motto: explore, report, cooperate.”
Eadie looks over at her companions. "Even grumpy old coots like Karsa."
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Karsa takes the letter from his Trade Prince and turns it over in his hands. This certainly looks like it might be genuine, it lacks the obvious grammatical errors of the other letters., he pauses, holding it up to the light. Hah, but it is clearly a fake! The style is entirely inconsistent with that Honourable Trade Prince. Look here, there is no way so clever a man would use "But" to begin a sentence when used as a linking word!
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"When choosing someone to manage the most powerful and deadly artifacts in all the land you usually chose someone who can spell their own name. That letter is worth less than the paper it is written on, at least on a blank piece of paper there is more space to write," argues Grint while he points out the remaining errors. After everyone has finished pointing out how poorly these incriminating letters were produced Grint speaks up again, "We are obviously being set up. Set up very poorly. I've seen goblins create better forgeries and they don't believe in writing. We'll be leaving now to catch the actual criminal, the one summoning devils."
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The trade prince is also from Qadira he has a manor not far from here. there is no way he would refer to his homeland as that lovely land Also he is a trade prince always stressing to us the need to keep things pleasant. Plus as a native of Qadira he knows all titles are given by the emperor not passed from one generation to the other as they do in Taldor. I do not recognise this letter as genuine "
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The courtroom goes silent as the Pathfinders point out the blatant issues with the evidence that has been put forth to the court from the accusing party. The Peerless move to a back room to discuss the proceedings but they are gone for no more than two minutes before they return and demand that the guards give the Pathfinders their gear back and send them along the way.
After you are released, you find a tall dark-skinned merchant waiting for you on the courthouse steps. "Al’Jahar Abu-Targos," the man introduces himself with a hurried bow. "Nephew of the deceased Venture-Captain Targos Min-Katheer. I was at the wedding, although I did not get the chance to speak with you there. I have an urgent update. You must act quickly."
He brings a wand of cure light wounds and offers to heal anyone, giving the wand to Kuriq as a gift for the service the Pathfinders have done for his late uncle.
"I hope you appreciate the gift but the information I've found may be even more valuable. I witnessed a group of Pathfinders headed north of Katheer, toward the ancient cemetery where the Chapel of Ubaidah Abd-Hikmah can be found." Abu-Targos explains, "the Pathfinders looked exactly like you and it wasn’t until I heard that you had been arrested in Katheer that I thought to seek you out and inform you that imposters were traveling up the Inner Sea coast disguised as yourselves. I hope I am not too late but I could do nothing to move the legal proceedings along."
It is morning and you guys did sleep (albeit uncomfortably) while you were imprisoned, for those of you who prepare spells. The chapel north of Katheer can be reached in less than a day's travel.
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Karsa stomps out of the courtroom jabbing his cane against the marble floor hoping to make some dents and most likely failing.
Well, that's all that nonsense dealt with. Time to get back to work. Our infernalist is probably miles away by now.
As the stranger approaches he glares at him. I never knew Targos had no nephew but then Qadira is crawling with families. So, how come you just happened to see a group that looked like us heading out of town? Snooping were you? You might make a decent pathfinder..
If our dodgy sorcerer is heading to this cemetery we best get after him and sharpish. How long is the trip lad?
As they leave Karsa stretches, his back cracking and creaking quite alarmingly. Never did like sleeping in a cell but at least me magic is back to full strength. He casts a quick enchantment on himself, if we're going to some cemetery then there might be undead about, any of you lost want a mage armour?
As they travel Karsa will lean over to Eadie, girlie, were you wittering about wanting some sort of spell cast into that hunk o'rock floating about yer head? , he grins with a mouth full of broken blackened teeth. Well, me powers are back ta full strength and I am feeling almost generous this fine day so if ya want a shield just let me know
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“So if I have it right, our handsome adversaries have a day’s lead on us.”
Eadie rubs her chin. “I don’t know about a teleport scroll, but I would be OK with spending 85gp on a horse and riding saddle. Or is there somewhere we can hire them for two days?”
“Thank-you for the shield spell, Karsa. What do you think about speed versus cost?”
While the group advances northwards through the city, Eadie pauses at a souk to purchase an oil of bless weapon, two pots of alchemical grease and flashes a merchant a Scarab Sages badge, before writing out a promissory note for a potion of fly.
“Take this to Venture-Captain Osretia Cassomiran at the Pathfinder Lodge for payment in full.”
She *winks* “A child of Tahonikepsu always pays their debts.”
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I've no problem buyin' or hirin' a horse, better to catch up on that lot. As far as teleporting there, well given how many of us there are and you two 'ladies' in all that lumbering armour adding a lot of weight we'd need Razmir 'imself to move the lot of us. Probably need a greater one too or risk ending up the gods only know where. Not sure I fancy ending up off target in some random cemetery.