Gods above Drovya whispers. They're like a Evoking Day festival. Three weak and two middling protective magics shimmering white, two moderate and one strong transmutations, scintillating in green, two mid level conjurations, sort of a golden color, a strong, untyped magic, more felt than seen, a mid level death magic grey and black, a mid level enchantment, rosy, and three robust bits of evocation like orange flame.
Whoever they are, they're well equipped.
What items are these auras are emanating from?
"Then we'll be on guard then."
On a sheathed sword, a weapon on the woman's back, the armor of those in the fore, the man's large shield, ring slots, the one cape, and undisclosed locations on the two in back, though one can assume some are in a bag judging by their proximities.
As the group of four neared the adventurers, there were little tells of interest in their presence, though the heavily armored man with the horned circlet's natural ambience rippled with a terse energy invisibly that made all in his proximity feel unsafe, and he did spare energy to gauge the more invested-looking adventurers expressions, one could sense.
His face was not that of a Kellid, and the entire groups' style of dress distinctly marked them as northerners, by Golarion standards.
From a distance of thirty feet, one could hear the heavily armored man whisper something in galtan dialected taldane:
"Opportuneestic pig-dogs are late to scrape from a new master's tablau."
As the group approached, Rohini played her flute, as Drovya requested. "I'm not sure what you expect to find, but here goes..." Rohini plays Obleyth's lament:
Unless they act suspiciously, Rohini will stop playing when they reach about 30 feet away. She is prepared to aid Han in any attempt to gather information.
A cacodaemon with unusually graceful posture circled about of the hooded men. Otherwise, there was little to see.
Kanthuun watches the group approach, trusting in Han and Rohini's lead. He says nothing.
Hanethes waits, his arms crossed over his chest and a disarming (but totally nonthreatening) smile on his lips.
Talon keeps a hand near his weapon, but otherwise displays no hostilities.
As soon as she she spots it, Rohini tells the group, "Be careful. One of the men is accompanied by a Caco.". She will still cease playing when the group is at 30 feet, to be prepared to assist Han.
Haka studies the approaching group carefully, following his companions' lead in observing quietly. Unable to keep totally silent, however, he does a quiet little tapping dance, or as much of one as he can muster on the uneven mud and rocks of the trail they walk. He'll smile as engagingly as he's able, and be ready to assist Han in a cordial greeting to the magically-enhanced group.
Seeing that the other travellers had stopped, and were behaving as if they had the intention of speaking, the horned warrior sighed as the party neared the fifteen-feet mark. He stepped aside so one of his hooded compatriots could step forward, a wispt gray beard visible beneath the cloth.
"With whom do we have the pleasure?" he asked.
"And what need have you for our company?"
"I fear I do not speak Infernal. Abyssal I have some knowledge of, but your tongue is beyond me." Hanethes says in Golarion common, still smiling.
He repeats the above in Abyssal in case they are able to communicate that way. Otherwise, he waits to see if Rohini can translate.
"I got this, Han."
"I'm their muscle and guide, but they are merchants. We are surprised to find other humanoids here and were curious. What is your business?"
"Now, now, I understand all. What must be kept in sight here is that material planes change languages from one to another, but these outer planes are kept constant in tongue. I merely chose what I thought to be a safe bet, though it would seem we shared worlds of origin. As for being merchants, that might explain your exotic wares."
The man approached, eyeing Illyata and Nyota in a decidedly non-platonic manner. Assuming no one stopped him, he begins looking them over like meat in a butcher's shop.
"Crippled celestials, hm? Damaging them might make them more docile, yes, but most around here would rather have a whole one for the devouring..."
The other hooded figure cleared his throat.
"Yes, where was I? I could be convinced to buy one of these girls myself, you know, anyway... Our business is divine in nature, a task given at something of a rally you've just missed."
The horned one snorted derisively whilst the one-eared woman blearily stared at Haka's feet.
Talon keeps his composure as the man ogles the two Yamah. "Them? I think they already have plans for them. You wanna give some details on what your business it?"
"These, yes I'm afraid these beauties have already been paid for. We're delivering them." Hanethes says with a nonchalant shrug. "And I really don't think we want to go back on our word with this particular patron."
He looked to the other adventurers expectantly.
The elderly man reached for what might be a coinpurse, revealing his waistline to be adorned with dangling soulgems, only to be disappointed when Hanethes gives a more definitive answer.
"I would beg a name of the true patron, then? I've hardly had a chance to examine Azata physiology at length, and a vivisection is such a rare chance on an outsider."
The other hooded man again clears his throat, before interjecting in something of a whisper.
"Florin, we are not here to sightsee or shop. These are not those who would bow before the master. Hurry and be done with it."
"Fine. Perhaps I could trouble you for a few samples of sorts, then? I would pay handsomely for a few drops of blood, some hair..."
A gnarled hand reached out in said direction, but stops for decorum's sake.
Illyata was obviously displeased with the proximity of the vile man to her person, and Nyota shook ever-so-slightly.
"Like he said, leave them alone. They're not for sell, not even parts of them. Don't make me get rough with you." Talon cracks his knuckles.
The bearded wastrel took a few polite steps backwards, a hand resting on the flap of his messenger pouch.
"Again, young man, you interfere with your employer's potential profit. It's not like I'm asking for anything that can't grow back or your important client could miss..."
The horned one spoke, revealing teeth filed to wicked points.
"Florin, zee man eez a tad irked at eyou. Obveeouzly he has rights until zee creatures reach zeir deztinashun, and can expect to be 'unted down when zey spurt blonde aazimar babies. Now, unlezz you eentend to ask zem if zey have seen any urdhefan running about 'ere, you should 'urry on. Beezides, by now you should know to not buy zee expensive specimens for zee cutting zat you inevitably mezz up weeth your shaking, doddery 'ands."
Unphased by the conversations, Hanethes nevertheless steps forward to protect his 'merchandise', his hand floating towards his pistol, hovering just over the grip, though he continues to speak in a friendly way.
"As I said, they are reserved for an important patron who has already paid us for them. If you like, I can pass along your interest; perhaps he doesn't have a use for all of their parts and might have some left over once he's through with them."
"As for our patron's name...." Hanethes shakes his head sadly. "Sorry, can't reveal that. Part of dealing with various fiends, you know. A lot of them don't want their names bantered about. For obvious reasons. Those damn gate and contact spells, for one thing."
Sir, Drovya says deferentially to Hanethes, perhaps they would be willing to trade news of our destination for a report on the urdefhan we encountered in our travels...
Rohini says to Hanethes, a bit less deferential than Drovya's tone, but still making clear Han is in charge: "I concur. It would be inadvisable to sell even small parts of that which we have promised to another. A trade of information, however, may be mutually beneficial. This is an unpredictable domain."
Kanthuun steps forward in his best conveyance of parley, his speech and countenance more suited for a sunlight temple than a potentially dangerous encounter on a fiendish plane.
"Indeed, good sirs, we would be delighted to tell you of our interactions with the urdefhan. Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell us of yon pillar and what we might encounter there." He completes his suggestion with a beatific smile.
"Hmmm, well spoken, Kartes." He allows himself to relax once more, continuing to smile congenially.
Haka quiets his dancing feet and even restrains his mouth, waiting to hear how the strange travellers respond to his friends' request for an exchange of information, and wondering why anyone would seek out an urdhefan.
"Hmph. Here I was hoping to get more out of this, Renau. Let it be known that it was your mouth that slipped first." The old man pointed a gnarled, accusing finger at the horned one."But it can be forgiven as you seem to know how to put one at ease."
"We are hunting stragglers of a tribe removed for the good of our master... We believe there are three remaining urdhefan of that group lurking about this marshland."
The one-eared woman produces a necklace that looks remarkably like the ones found on the creatures encountered earlier.
"She likes information for names, places, forewarnings." the woman remarked in the third person, finally able to tear her eyes away from the formerly dancing halfling's feet. "She knows safe words to trade. Words that will not cause Minress to eat her soul for treason."
The man with the cacodaemon familiar snorted.
"Minress, would that be the lord of yon place?" Kanthuun notes the lack of information regarding their origin nor the pillar and offers nothing about the urdefhan immediately.
"No; I am Minress, and I serve the current holder of power in that place, Krishnaheby'Zala'Hu, a obscisidaemon in service to a greater cause... However, were one of these fool I walk with to betray too much, we'd have to stop and deal with you, as well.... Linalee knows what I would do to her, too, were she to be too forthcoming." The man said simply, letting his words linger.
An obcisidaemon is an obscenely powerful bringer of genocide that typically serves the Horseman of War.
This gargantuan fiend has thick claws like a lion’s, the broad wings of an eagle, and the legs of a massive canine. Its face is that of a three-eyed wolf with the jaws of a saber-toothed tiger. While two of the thing’s eye sockets are merely empty holes that trickle blood, the middle eye glows a sickly yellow. A cloud of globular soul-stuff cloaks the creature’s hulking body, bits dripping loosely from its barbwire-covered arms.
It carries a massive halberd that rips the souls from those it fells, and adds it to a cloak of soulstuff about its person, which it utilize to devour said spirits to beneficial effect. It is nearly impossible to retrieve a soul from a living obcisidaemon's cloak, and most creatures felled by the fiend are reduced to ashes at the moment of their deaths, anyway. It is resistant to spells, electricity, cold, and fire, and has an immunity to acid.
The very ground it walks on chars.
It has an incredible DR against anything but good or silver weapons, and its weeping, empty eyes grant it the ability to see everything for what is truly is. It can sense how close someone is to death, as well.
They have a truly terrifying array of spells at their disposal, and can hold their opponents in place while they burn them with poison gasses and burning clouds.
Summary? Avoid conflict at all costs.
Hmmm, that necklace does look familiar. Perhaps I saw one or two like it in the swamp. More information could be forthcoming, as long as you're not too forthcoming, that is.
Talon keeps quiet, mainly because he doesn't know anything about said daemon.
"As well you should. You walk towards a place currently used for a camp after its former guardians, those we hunt or have hunted, we removed. There are ruins in the settlement, and the obcisidaemon's servants moved something important there just as everything grew around it. There have been rallies and instructions given, but the lord of the settlement has spent a great deal of time within." Minress explained.
"She thinks the glow is new." adds the one-eared woman, interest kindled in her otherwise dead eyes. "She has been here before to explore and no pillar shot up from the ruined core. It came with the new master... but not the master-master, of course." she amended hastily.
"There are over a thousand beings in the camp, give or take. There used to be more, but we've dispersed some as orders came." came the voice of the old man. "Most are feeling more cooperative than usual, so you should be safe to enter. Though I doubt many will feel happy about your lugging about reserved merchandise. Well, the mortals, anyway. There are already a few merchants set up to take advantage of the situation, I'm sure. You'll find a place."
"Zere are paleesades and a main gate to keep track of whom comes. Use zat and avoid suspicion or zee excuse someone may claim to shoot you down and take what eyou 'ave. Now, I sink zat e-wee 'ave foolfilled our part of zee bargain?"
"Splendidly, my lady." Hanethes says with a slight bow and a charming smile. "Now what was it you all were looking for again? Urdefhans? We did encounter one or two a while back that way." Hanethes points in the general direction of their escapades with the urdefhan.
"Had to dispatch one, too, if I recall." Hanethes looks quizzically at the others of their group, as though expecting them to fill in the details.
"It was one. It attempted to skewer our friend here --" pointing to Han "-- so we chased it down and dispatched it."
Drovya pulls out the urdefhan's necklace. The one we slew wore this. Looks similar to the one you had there.
"Ah! She knows this one to be the correct symbol!" the woman chimed, moving to grab the necklace from Drovya's hand. Should he not allow this, she merely sniffs it.
Minress narrowed his eyes. You could feel the motion rather than see it.
"Very well. If you've more specific directions, give them. Otherwise, we part ways." the hood almost echoed with the finality of the words.
Drovya tsks as he pulls the necklace out of woman's grasp. Look with your eyes, not your hands, my pretty.
Linalee pouted, shooting Drovya a glare like a wounded child before stepping back.
Haka points back the way the party has travelled, saying ”Keep following this path until it ends, and go on from there. You’ll come to a swampy patch plagued with flies – keep going. A few hours past that, near a spot with some delicious truffles growing, we fought and killed the urdhefan who bore that fetish.”
"Now that's specific." said the old man, smiling under his hood as Minress moved his fingers as if mentally calculating something.
"Yes, yes... that makes sense. As promised, we will leave you, now." the younger of the two hooded men announced.
"Mind eyou watch the blonde one. 'E eez bound to get eyou een trouble if he gets too close weeth zee merchandise." The man in heavy armor cautioned. "I 'ave 'ad to put down 'iz ilk before on such errands."
Loralee shot Drovya one last pouting glare.
With that, the doubtlessly evil adventurers went on their way, lit only by the souls of the damned.
Talon just stares daggers the other man in heavy armor as if to ask permission to put him down.
Kanthuun watches them go, wishing them, and the urdefhan, mutual destruction.
Drovya blows Linalee a mocking kiss as he tucks the necklace back into his bag. Good hunting he offers by way of a farewell. Once the other group is well out of earshot, he mutters...
He switches back to the common tongue and sneers. Probably better not to draw attention or diminish our resources on them though.
Hanethes waits to see if any of the battle commands are carried out, still waiting for the sign that they are in combat.
Kanthuun inclines an eyebrow, getting the gist if not the words Drovya says. "Is that rhoka talking to you again, Drovyushka? ...Come to think of it, they didn't even ask about it."
