Mido's touch fails to connect, as does Nergi's axe even as the halfling heals some of her wounds.
The standing figure at the opposite end tosses a stone etween Rika and Firaxus.
As it lands it explodes into a cacophany of sound, threatening severla of the party's eardrums.
Initiative, round 2
Rika (& Pratts) - need DC 15 Fort save
Rika's eardrums popping throws off her aim as her over-sized blade slams into the cobblestones. Her better half gets a good hit though, lunging past a cowering Yargos to lash out at its target's less-protected leg.
The two men at the alley's other end grin at the seeming chaos behind the group. Shifting their positions, the cocky pair attempts to duplicate their earlier success by striking at Nergi.
"This can stop. All we need is the book. No paper's worth a life."
for
for
for
Initiative, round 2
Master Mido - need DC 15 Fort save
Cirri
Wadi
Firaxus - deafened
Nergi 15/35
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Firaxus, still deafened, attempts to continue inspiring his allies.
Continuing his song, he steps 5ft forward next to Master Mido, drawing his longsword.
"I am not going to look at your tapeworm, even if it's your wife!" Firaxus responds to what he misheard.
Firaxus boldly lunges forward, striking toward his foe!
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Cirri blanches as Rika begins cursing words she wished would stay on a pirate ship. Still, Pratts and Rika seem to have this end under control, so she heads towards the apparent leaders.
"If you don't think this paper is worth a damn, then why are you trying to kill us?" She murmurs some incantations, then stomps her foot. "Sit down and think about your actions!"
A burst of energy erupts around the thug in the Orange hood, but it's nowhere strong enough to topple him.
Wadi and Master Mido's strikes hit true, causing their combined target to fall to the ground, his coral-hilted sword clattering onto the cobblestones.
Nergi in turn strikes out at the other ruffian before her. She then moves north to a safer vantage point.
for
"Get off me you monster!" the thug cries out across the impromptu battlefield as he strikes at the mauling Pratts.
for
Initiative, round 2
Rika (& Pratts) - Rika deafened
The man crumbles under the combined assault from the tiefling and raptor, and falls to the ground bleeding.
The remaining man, looking at three dropped partners before him and seven angry faces still standing, takes a visible gulp, then turns to flee out of the ally and ducks into the busy main street.
From his crouched and huddled position, Yargos Gill cautiously takes his hands away from his face and looks up as the sounds of fighting stop. "Is it over? Are they driven off?"
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Cirri stows her wand away. "I'm OK, thanks for asking. We could probably use these potions instead of your wand, though."
She looks at the coral-hilted swords. "Just like the dagger Lauralei had...it's the same design." Cirri picks up one of the blades. "What does it mean?"
"Let's tell the town guard to arrest these guys and keep looking for Ollysta."
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Rika, looking annoyed for no apparent reason, flicks blood off her sword before wiping it on her opponent's clothing and finally sheathing it. Pratts, perhaps sensing weakness, cocks his head at her, hissing, but a stern look and the threat of being punched in the snout seems to make him reconsider his actions.
Sighing loudly, she leans against a wall, waiting for the ringing sound in her ears to dissipate.
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"Huh, why are you..."
"No really, why are you pointing at your ears like that?" Cirri thinks to herself, stumped by this turn of events.
"Oh! The thunderstone! You're probably deafened. It will wear off in an hour or so- you can't hear what I'm saying, right..." Cirri grabs a sheet of paper and her pen so she can write her thoughts down.
"Yes, well," Yargos replies somewhat sheepishly to Nergi, standing back upright. "I'm not accustomed to combat, not like you clearly." Realizing that the majority of his audience can't hear him, he shakes his head and moves to the alley's entrance to flag down a guardsman. Before too long, a pair of city guard arrive to secure the scene, and take the surviving assailants into custody.
The rest of your travel through Absalom is luckily much less 'interesting', and soon an assemblage of dilapidated wooden shacks, baked-clay huts, and random tents denotes the edge of the neighborhood of Gilltown. The smell of stale water mixed with a hint of long- decayed seafood permeates the air here. Only a handful of people wander the area, the majority of them gillmen, though a smattering of other humanoid races mingle here as well. Most seem to be perusing the small stalls and impromptu markets, haggling with their gillman owners.
"I'm, I'm not sure." Yargos admits, puzzled. "They certainly do look like a unqiue composition. Not common of course - can't recall a single nation that uses them as part of their armaments. I wonder if their design is ceremonial or practical in some sense..." The military historian trails off as he begins considering the matter.
This portion of the market seems a bit less crowded than the more posh city districts. It takes you little time to find the tall armor-bedecked woman that Nergi immediately recognizes as Ollysta Zadrian. As you approach, you can clearly hear her and a gillman merchant loudly haggling over a strange looking unholy symbol.
"That price is outrageous! 12,000 gold should be more than its worth."
"Ah, retrieved from Norgorber splinter sect. Very rare, facets of four, not one. 15,000, or I am out much coin."
[dice=Know Religion 12]The object, while unique in appearance, seems to be a Phylactery of Negative Channeling[/spoiler]
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Nergi looks at the other Pathfinders and nudges her head in the woman's direction. "I think that's who we're looking for."
Seeing the woman argue over the object, the halfling approaches her and taps her on the knee to get her attention.
"It's not my business, but I'd keep my hands off that thing if I were you... That kind of magic will taint you. Also, you Ollysta Zadrian? I might have mispronounced that. Apologies if that is the case."
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Why would Lady Zadrian purchase an unholy symbol? I sure hope she hasn't switched faiths! Firaxus chuckles to himself at the thought.
Firaxus nods to Cirri in thanks as she jots down the conversation with Ollystra. He scribbles back, Glad we found her! You all take the lead, I'll follow until I can hear!
Ollysta gives a respectful nod towards the group as you approach. She responds with a warm but steady voice, slowing her cadence slightly to clarify her words as she notes several of you straining to read her lips. ”I appreciate the concern Miss. As well as you dedication,” Ollysta nods towards Nergi’s holy symbol. ”But the item is not for me, except so that it not go to anyone else.”
”Of course. In just a moment. I must finish my negotiations here first.”
The gillman hawking the symbol also takes note of you seven, and at your comments excitedly exclaims. ”See! They understand magic here! Very strong, use yourself or threat for foes! You lowball insultingly. 16,00 now!”
As Rika rips into the merchant, Ollysta looks taken aback by the fierceness of the tiefling's threats. She opens her mouth to say something, but is cut off by the gillman himself, who seems a shade more blue than a mintue ago.
"Fine. Agents of the gods, get good deal. 11,000 gold. Never go and say Beriqua is no friend of faith." His face gives a wide smile, but his eyes dart slightly nervously from Ollysta towards Rika
Ollysta Zadrian pays the man with a slight frown on her face before turning back towards your party. "I...appreciate your enthusiasm." she says to Rika. "But threatening a man for haggling is not the way to do things. Even if you disagree on the morlity of such an act, its hardly the way to get others to want to work with you in the future, is it?"
"Now," she straightens up and looks you over, "It is done in either case, and from the looks on your faces you've had quite a night already. Nodding towards Wadi's belt: [b]"I see you bear the Open Road's glyph proudly. Pathfinders then. I am glad to see the Society is taking my offer to cooperate seriously. How can I help you tonight?"
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Wadi gives the artifact claimed by Ollysta a second glance before turning his attention to the matter at hand. Giving her a winning smile, he motions for her to step away from the crowds and to a more private location. Once everyone is situated, he says quietly "Our mission here is to recover the Celestial Song. We believe the tome must be joined back together with the Incantation as they are both needed to reverse the ritual."
Ollysta raises an eye at Wadi’s mention of the two tomes. ”The Song and the Incantation? I’ve heard about those two texts of course, but only by occasional description. And what is this about a ritual?”
As the six of you tell your tale, the paldin’s face grows more and more concerned. As you conclude your summary, she turns towards Yargos Gill, who has steadily shrunk back as his poor decisions are repeated out oud. ”Yargos.” she sighs as she castigates the scholar. ”This isn’t the first time reading things you shouldn’t have has threatened others. You’re supposedly a man of some regard: act like it. Your mistakes do not only harm you!”
Turning back to you, she continues with a more helpful tome. ”Your thoughts aren’t wrong friends. Some of the mentions of the twin volumes I have seen in various religious codexs say that the pair can be sealed by pressing each cover against each other. A few advised there was a phrase that should be uttered as well – “Nirvix”, a pidgin of the Celstial and fiendish words for ‘balance’ – but it’s unclear if that is a key command or simply tradition.”
”But that is the extent of the good news I can give you. I never saw this Nicola girl you sent Yargos, nor received the Song! Before today I thought the closest set of copies were in Druma.”
Ollysta Zadrian trails off, disturbed by the revelations you’ve brought.
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"Nicola had the same kind of dagger those thieves carried." Cirri trails off. "She... may have been a traitor, and passed the book off. They planned this as soon as Yargos got his hands on the books, I bet." Cirri shakes her head.
"If we find out who carries these weapons, maybe we can find their lair." Cirri readies her wand. "Anyone good at asking around without making a big fuss?"
"That would be my fear." Ollysta agrees with Wadi. "But Cirri is also correct that we would have to be discrete in looking around. The books are not exactly common knowledge but enough have heard of them in this city that pointed questions would lead to smart men and women drawing dangerous conclusions. And we need to avoid any pani..."
The gillman merchant at the stall nearby cuts Ollysta off with a loud clearing of his throat. "Eh-ehm. Beriqua not snoop, but you talk loud. And those blades are very nice. Very particular. Saw some myself, down in gill tunnels. In hands of men then though."
"Could draw path for you. Very good deal only 10 gold! Frequent buyer discount!"
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Rika rolls her eyes at the gillman's latest attempt at making coin, but otherwise does not react. she calls loudly, wishing upon every known or hidden kami that her deafness would pass faster. Fetching the sum out of her pocket, she looks to the others, again checking in to make sure she isn't going against their wishes.