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Yes, this Lodge does offer quite the nice accommodations. I am glad you are able to enjoy them. the nagaji says as he ducks through the doorway and follows Falrig inside. That is not always the case elsewhere; away from the city the best we may have been able to offer you would have been a cot in a crowded cabin. And while I and the other Pahtifnders have trained for years for rougher situations, that does not mean I cannot appreciate the small comforts when they come.
Once within the Haruka house, Marsius turns to the merchant. That is actually one of the reasons I am here. You are considering bidding on the Runecarved Key, are you not? He looks towards Sneve with a mix of curiosity and concern. I can understand the appeal; it is quite the rarity. But, and I hope that you do not take this as offense, I wonder if you have considered the potential risks involved in possessing such an artifact? Thassilon was ruled by ancient, and quite devious wizards after all, was it not? If there is one thing I have learned in my travels, it is that magic can be unchecked at the best of times, and spells weaved using darker arts can linger long after their wielders have passed. I have had an unfortunate reminder of those risks first hand.
Our organization has several experts who specialize in handling dangerous unknown, and possibly cursed items. An entire division in fact. I am curious, what about this Key fascinates you so, given how little is known about what it might do? I would presume in a grand city such as Magnimar there must be may deals and endeavors to be had, or if not here than in Korvosa.
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My friend, if you insist on continuing to pursue your interest in the key, please do keep an eye out for early warning signs of a curse descending on you. Bizarre writings appearing on walls, and other such places. Doors slamming with no one around. Strange sounds, things moving. These are all signs to be wary of.
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Yes, Marsius agrees. I was exposed to the energies of the Cage of Spirit Echoes some years back, and ever since I have been plagued by odd impediments and minor struggles. And I praise the Master that my scathing was so minor.
He leans in towards Falrig. Of course if you do not wish to deal with such risk, there are other expeditiojns I have heard of. There is Trade Prince our Society deals with reguarly, who I hear is mounting a major push into Garund and its vast trading routes soon. If you would like, I am sure I can track find an agent to put you in touch with him.
[oooc]Unsure if it’s the type of context where I can attmept another check. If so:[/ooc]
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Pleased with their progress the group reconnects and heads off for their next briefing from VC Shiela Heidmarch.
“There were two women at the pre-auction who paid their deposit in Minkaian coins which, according to our sources, may have been stolen during a recent caravan raid. If such is the case, the duo no doubt have dubious intentions. The women call themselves the Duchesses and they likely have ties to one of Magnimar’s criminal organizations; I suspect the Rushlight Society. Still, it is their finances and not their intentions that most concern us. Some of our more reliable street contacts informed me that the two women were last seen entering the home of a local merchant named Windun Landers. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Landers has a wrought iron rushlight mounted on his door casing. Head to the man’s residence, and see if you can’t figure out how much money these “Duchesses” have. If all is as I suspect, they don’t have enough to bid competitively. I’m also near certain they’re using stolen funds, so leave whatever gold you find. I don’t want us bidding with illegally gotten coin—that’ll create more problems for us than it will solve. Lastly, whatever you happen to find, do not involve the authorities. I cannot risk the courts subpoenaing your testimony during the auction.”
Sheila gives you the address of Windun Landers’s residence as she scratches it down on a torn sheet of paper.
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Hah! Try to convince someone that worshiping an apocalypse deity is a bad idea one time, and you get pegged for life! No, he is a merchant. I think I will try to distract him with a potential business opportunity to distract him.
When Landers opens the door, Kramac will shoot him his biggest grin, and give him his best used-horse salesman routine.
My good friend Mr. Landis! My name is Kramac and I am here with an exciting business opportunity! My uncle recently died, and left me quite an extensive inventory of pickled herring. As I am sure you know, this is a fine delicacy enjoyed by all, and is particularly loved by adventurers for use in their field rations while out exploring lost tombs and engaging in feats of derring' do. I am not a merchant, and have no interest in pursuing this as a career. I have heard you are one of the finest, most capable, fairest merchants in this lovely town and would like to give you the first opportunity to snatch this inventory up at a steal of a price.
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Amelia claps her hands silently in glee as she sees Snede turn pale and cower in his chair. "It must be going well in there! Look!" she mutters to her companions. When Marsius comes to give the good news, Amelia hops to her feet and dances a bit of a jig. "And we didn't even have to do any vandalism!" She sets off back to the Lodge with a spring in her step, humming a lively tune.
Back at the Manor, she listens to the briefing and then moves with the rest of the group to the merchant's property. She walks up with Kramac, and places her arm through his as they wait for the man to appear. When the door opens and Kramac is done speaking, she contributes "It really is the deal of a lifetime, and there are many different ways to market such fine goods to promote easy sales. Would we be able to come in and discuss this with you? The stoop hardly seems fitting for such private conversation. I don't want to give your neighbors or any random passersby knowledge that could make you a very rich man!"
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"Oh! Pickled Herring you say!" The man seems interested though he laughs at Amelia. "Been in this business a long time girl and Herring isn't going to make me rich by any means. But!" He raises his finger and opens the door a bit more to let you in. "It does turn a bit of a profit." He lets you into his home. Up a large flight of stairs there are several rooms. To the west are the common area and dining room where Windun leads you. To the east look to be three bedrooms.
***
Before the door is opened Kelumur and Rallas sneak off and hide. They watch as Windun lets the rest of the group in and scout out the building. Searching about they find no traps but do spot nearly a dozen windows in the house.
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Rallas finds the coast is clear. Motioning Kelumur and Marsius over they lift Rallas up enough for him to set to work on the closest window.
With a small pop the window releases letting Rallas into the southern of the three bedrooms. This bedroom is well organized and looks to be used by Windun who is currently on the other side of the house speaking with Amelia and Kramac.
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Amelia looks around as they enter the house. She doesn't really see anything or rather anyone of interest outside of Windun as he leads you to a modest dining room table. he looks to both of you expectantly for a reply. "So why is it I should buy this from you. If it is such a catch then why not you sell it? Also how much do you have?"
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You should buy it from me because you can! I am not a merchant - I do not have the connections, nor the infrastructure -wagons, horses, porters, accountants, and I'm sure a dozen other things I would need to move this sort of commodity. You should have all that set up already and can pay me a fair, albeit discounted, price for the wares. I'd have to check the paperwork to make sure, but I believe I have well over a hundred barrels of the stuff!
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The trio enter the first bedroom and find nothing of interest. Same with the second bedroom. Same with the third. At first that is. Before long you discover a locked box underneath a bed! It's got Minkain art on it. This must be it!
Windun continues his negotiations with Kramac. "And what are you asking per barrel? I would have to see them first of course." Windum stands. "Would either of you like any tea? Where are my manners."
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Windun sputters. "How the hells am I supposed to make a profit from that!" He laughs. He stands and escorts you to the door. "Come back when you are willing to do some actual negotiations..." His mood seems to have shifted to a bit more perturbed. As he shuts the door you hear his muttering to himself. "Waste of my damned time..."
Returning with your report, Shield Heidmarch seems quite content with your discovery. "Just as I thought. Excellent work indeed."
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“I need not warn you how much of a threat Lady Kaddren is to our mission—she is wealthy, powerful, a wizard, and she hates us. Thankfully, our talented informants seem to have uncovered her weakness: scandal! It seems the lady has been seen slipping in and out of the tower of the Golemworks’s master wizard, Toth Bhreacher, at unusual hours. If the two of them are involved in an affair, it could imply Lady Kaddren might be showing Toth political favoritism—an illicit act that would also break her family’s long-standing efforts to keep nobility and business separate. Such evidence might stand to ruin her if it fell into the hands of her rivals. I need you to collect, fabricate, or purchase enough hard evidence to be able to blackmail her. While blackmailing her won’t help ease her opinion of the Pathfinder Society, it is perhaps the only way we can get her to back out of the auction.”
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Amelia takes the escort to the door in good stride, half heartedly arguing "But its really the best deal! Really, you'd think you would be more open to negotiations!" With a concealed smile and a Humph{/I] she tosses her hair, lifts her nose in the air, and takes Kramac by the arm once more. "Come, my dear. There are [I]MUCH more reasonable merchants we can speak with..."
As soon as the door closes and they are around the corner, Amelia dissolves into a fit of giggles. "Did you see the look on his face!!!" They meet up with the rest of the team and gaily step back to the Manor for their next mission.
After yet another briefing, Amelia chews her lip in consternation. "This is less to my liking, but I guess we can find a way. Who should we bring the evidence to? You? Or should it be found by her enemies? I am not very good at this sort of thing.."
She looks to the rest of the party. "If we have to do something like this, I would rather uncover the truth to be sure I am not ruining some innocent tryst. There is no harm in finding love where you may.. but I would feel much less guilty if there were truth to the blackmail."
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Kelumur shakes his head, somewhat disappointed, but knows it's not to be unexpected. Turning to Amelia, Kelumur speaks in a calm but stern tone, "The evidence need not disseminate. Knowledge is power in this instance, should we inform her that we have this knowledge to our advantage, she will likely yield to our demands. Perhaps it need not even fall into the Society, and we could even conceal the fact that the Society planned this. I'll agree on one thing, fabrication may result in retaliation, the best option would be to uncover the truth."
Pausing, he weighs the possibility at hand, "I'm more incline to infiltrate the household to search for evidence of this affair. Kiboko, Rallas, and myself would prove to be suitable for the task, but we would need back-up should the situation turn south, they could prove to be formidable opponents, wizards."