After several minutes of escaping through alleys and back streets, Zoreck says, "So... those klaven were agents of the Jagledine, right? I don't think they're going to give up that easily. We might need to keep a lower profile."
Drancis nods in agreement, "I agree Zoreck. It troubles me that we don't know who specifically is hunting us. Maybe Mr. Sarlu could help us further...should we exceed his expectations."
"Certainly. A creature like Mr. Sarlu is likely to have access to a great font of information. I see no mistake in utilizing it if given the chance." Locke adds.
Back at the flat, Zoreck takes some time to mold a few more bullets and alchemical cartridges.
The next morning, Basher and his rat-faced cohorts stand warily at the door to Mr. Sarlu’s compound. Three more half-elven thugs have joined him, each carrying a bow and quiver. Next to them is a large, box-shaped cart on four wheels — 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and about 6 feet tall — covered by a canvas tarp.
Basher looks a bit nervous, but fixes a baleful eye on everyone, "Look. Sarlu’s got mind powers, okay? But they got a limit — 40 or 50 feet near as I can figure. Make sure you don’t get too close or you might find a tickle of a thought in your head saying you should slit your own throat — or mine. So, stay with the cart and do what I say or I’ll knife you myself".
"You sure we don't need to know what's in this crate? If it's going to explode on me, I'd like to know so I can get away from it," Rikkan calls out as he takes a step away from the cart.
"Look, it ain't going to blow up... do you really think I would be here if it was!!!" Basher seems in quite a hurry to get moving, "Look... what is in here ain't none of your concern... I'm paying you for your muscle - not your minds!!!"
Once Basher knocks on the door, Mr Sarlu's aide, Oulek swiftly answers... the door opening into Mr Sarlu's impressive home. The oulbaene eyes Basher's group testily before stepping aside to let them enter. Basher directs the friends in first, followed by himself, between them and the aquarium, while the ratfolk and the rest of his thugs take up the rear, pushing the cart. As Oulek gestures toward the atrium’s pool, he asks offhandedly if Basher would like to "Say hello to Mickles and Verney"... presumably the names of the corpses at the bottom of the pool.
Oulek chats casually to the friends, "Has your employer told you about Mickles and Verney? Told you what a disloyal, untrustworthy snake he is? Has he told you who he’s stolen from? Can you rely on him to hold up any bargain he’s struck with you?"
“That’s enough, Oulek, you bootlicker”, Basher retorts. "Things better be just like I said or I’ll drop this in the tank", Oulek looks back at the bahgra, who holds a vial of colorless liquid... "She’ll be dead quicker’n greased spogash, and then where will your sweet master be without any Screen to buy off the Coteries?"
"Oh, things are like you asked", Oulek replies, "Mr. Sarlu’s at the far end of the room, secured, as you requested. It’s the gods you need to worry about, Basher. The gods despise a traitor”.
Drancis keeps quiet, while also keeping a threatening look on his face as his new role required. The dimensions of the package being delivered is noted...I think I can keep that vial from being dropped into there... The exchange is also noted with interest but he bides his time for now.
Zoreck sizes up the dimensions of what's in the wagon, Basher's threat, and what's in the bhagra's hand. It suddenly clicks.
By the gods... this is a ransom negotiation! Basher has kidnapped another creature like Sarlu... his mate?
And then, he wonders what "Screen" might be...
At this realization, Zoreck's hand casually drops to his hip. Without drawing undue attention, he releases the strap on his holster and cocks the hammer of his pistol.
He then estimates how difficult it would be to shoot that bottle of poison out of Basher's paw without any of its contents getting into the tank...
Screen is one of Argosa’s most potent drugs — a euphoric only recently introduced onto the streets. The secret to manufacturing this substance is something the other Coteries covet... and, so far as the friends know, none of the other Coteries know that Mr Sarlu, however he is involved in the trade, is connected to the drug.
Both Drancis and Zoreck see the danger here - that the vial of liquid wielded by Basher is likely a poison... and both are already planning on ensuring that the bhagra has no opportunity to deploy it. Each watching the other for signs of escalation, the group are finally guided through into a room that they have not seen before...
The domed ceiling of this cavernous chamber peaks 25 feet overhead. Two gates, both metallic rings nearly 10 feet in diameter, one red and one green, stand at opposite ends of the room, and at its center is a strange mechanism of dark green material, from which a number of tangled cables snake across the floor. Some of them attach to the metal rings, while others head east to a baroque black iron cradle holding an egg-shaped stone pulsing with mottled hues of orange, yellow, and red. Doors lead on to the north and the east, while an iron ladder leads upward...
At the north end of the chamber sits the portable water tank seen earlier at the interview with Mr. Sarlu, save that a large segmented worm — anaemic white in colour with yellow blotches along its length — now occupies it. An iron chain secures the tank to the far wall. Basher halts his group as Oulek walks carefully over the cables to stand beside the aquarium.
Oulek states that he shall act as Mr Sarlu’s voice during the exchange - The Oulbaene firsts reports that Mr Sarlu Wishes to see that she’s unharmed". Basher complies by taking off the tarp on the aquarium manned by the ratfolk. Once removed, it reveals another translucent water tank occupied by a smaller aquatic worm identical to the worm in the northern tank, save that its body also carries dozens of black-skinned leech-like creatures the size of a man’s thumb.
After a sigh of relief from Oulek, he conveys, "Mr. Sarlu appreciates that she appears unharmed. Now, if you’ll turn her over as you promised, we’ll give you your blood money".
Zoreck's hand moves to the grip of his gun, but does not draw it... yet...
He watches Basher and his other men carefully.
Rikkan held his ground, waiting for the magic words before acting.
Locke conceals his disgust at seeing what Basher had stolen from Sarlu. Sarlu is one thing, but this Basher is a monster. He crosses his arms in such a way that a hand is close to the hilt of his axe and he waits for Basher to do something stupid.
At Oulbek's demand to turn over the ransomed creature, Basher holds the opened vial of poison over the top of the tank, "No! Don’t take me for a fool! Give me the loot first and then I’ll hand over Mrs. Sarlu!"
There’s a brief pause as Oulek appears to telepathically confer with his master, Very well, Basher... Wojack!" From a side door on the west wall, an emaciated dwarf appears with shackles on his ankles, carrying a leather case. He walks awkwardly over the cables, a chain trailing from him to the room from whence he came, and he sets the case down in the centre of the room before retreating again. Basher's cronies skitter forward excitedly to examine it.
"Basher?" Oulek speaks as the two rat-faced creatures open the case and giggle with glee, "You may have played this dangerous game well today, but sooner or later you will make an error".
Drancis glances towards his companions as the code-phrase to turn upon their erstwhile employer is given.
First things first...time to remove their leverage...
Standard: Use Basic Telekinesis to grab the vial of poison from Basher. If he decides to break/drop the bottle Drancis will capture the poison itself preventing spillage.
Unprepared and unwitting, Basher can't hold on to the vial as Drancis rips it from his grip... cursing and swearing, Basher damns Lomrick for his psychic trickery.
Enraged that Basher had kidnapped Sarlu's wife, Zoreck jerks his pistol and fires at basher's head.
He then drops an alchemical paper cartridge down the barrel.
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
Bullets: 19
Powder: 19
Alchemical cartridges: 10
Rikkan pulls and chugs his Cat's Grace extract, improving his defenses and throwing ability!
"Some advice. Don't trust hired muscle that forces its way into doing a job for you the night before the job." Locke's voice drops deep at the last word as he transitions into a dark and brooding song of violence, he swings his axe off of his back and directly at Basher, aiming to cleave the bhagra in half.
At Oulbaene's words, Locke and Zoreck combine to send the bhagra reeling... shouting about treachery and threatening the worst possible death to the group, the badly injured Basher tries to put Mrs Sarlu's tank in between himself and his attackers...
Locke doesn't let Basher escape. He brings his axe down on the bhagra again. He keeps his swing overhead as to keep his blade from the tank itself. The hired muscle have no reason to stay if we take out their meal ticket!
Locke's blade cuts deep into Basher's arm... sending the snivelling bhagra limping behind Mrs Sarlu's tank. Basher, as furious as he is hurt, barks out orders to his minions, "Kill them... kill them all... we'll take the gate and Mr Sarlu's damned coterie with it". Rushing forwards at the demand of their paymaster, the thugs inexpertly slash and stab at the friends...
Easily dodging his opponents's attack,
Zoreck grins maniacally. "Time to die." The Numerian then attacks the half-elf in fron of him.
*CLICK*
"Damnit!!"
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
Bullets: 19
Powder: 19
Alchemical cartridges: 9
Drancis, still holding aloft the vial of Surge in his mind, knows he will need to relinquish it in order to use the rest of his powers. Giving their former employers a glare, he gathers the vial over to his hand and safely stows it away.
Much as I would love to shove this down his throat, I don't think Mr. Sarlu would appreciate if I spill it beforehand.
Rikkan takes a 5' step backwards and throws a bomb at the closest enemy.
RTA
Fire damage
The half-elves, somewhat clumsy in their attacks against the friends, prove to be easy targets for Zoreck and for Rikkan...
Locke's frustration grows as Basher hides behind his allies. He attempts to behead Geldek with a heavy swing of his axe so he can close the distance with Basher again.
Basher's ratfolk ally is quick to duck Locke's clumsy axe swing... and, in return Basher's muscle tries to push some kind of advantage... complaining about "Some kind of mind control from that damned worm", not one of them can land a telling blow.
Shouting encouragement to his apparently incompetent minions, Basher slides a longsword from his belt... and sneers at Locke.
Zoreck continues to fight the half-elf, stabbing him with his sword and pistol-whipping him for good measure.
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
Bullets: 19
Powder: 19
Alchemical cartridges: 9
Drancis faces the half-elf in front of him calmly while gathering his power in front of him. He then steps back while thrusting his spear at the bandit...sending a wave of aetheric energy into him!
Rikkan again throws a bomb at the same enemy he just damaged.
RTA with Cat's Grace
Fire damage
Locke takes another swing at Geldek, all while glaring at Basher as if to say 'bring it'.
Whilst Zoreck still can't get past the half-elf standing in his way, Drancis and Rikkan send their opponents crashing to the floor... Locke too lands a telling blow. The sudden change in initiative send the last of the half-elves rushing to the door...
Suddenly surrounded as Mayenyi steps backwards, Locke is cut badly by one of the ratfolk... whilst, blade in hand, Basher runs towards Mr Sarlu's tank...
Zoreck lunges at Basher, slamming into him, and wrestles the bhagra to the ground.
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
Bullets: 19
Powder: 19
Alchemical cartridges: 9
Drancis also focuses his attention on the fleeing bahgra, using his mind powers to encircle Basher with an aetheric bubble.
Smashing into Basher, as the bhagra fends off Drancis' enveloping ether, Zoreck crashes the kidnapper to the ground... snarling threats at Zoreck as he lies prone, Basher is already attempting to squirm free.
Locke lets the Half-Elf flee and focuses on Geldek and Riaz. He swings and watches Riaz deftly dodge his attack. They seem to take well to fighting as a pair, I'll have to be careful.
Rikkan again throws a bomb, this time at the enemy just to his right.
RTA with Cat's Grace
Fire damage
Possible critical
Fire damage
Rikkan's bomb sets the ratperson alight like a firework... aflame, with the blazing fire reaching high enough to scorch the ceiling, Basher's hired muscle is instantly dead. Mr Sarlu's plan has proved well founded... Basher never stood a chance once the poison was whipped from his hand... and now, grappled beneath Zoreck, he starts to shout obscenities in the direction of the tank. Threatening death, pain and retribution, the bhagra suddenly stops... and starts to choke on the blood spontaneously oozing from its throat...
The remaining henchmen drop their weapons and beg forgiveness...
Locke's chanting fades and he takes several deep breaths to steady himself, "That went rather smoothly, wouldn't you say?" He throws the words in the direction of Sarlu.
"Do we need to bring her to a different tank or something?" He motions to the worm creature that Basher had kidnapped.
Drancis stares at the dying bhagra feeling a momentary sense of pity, before a colder part of him responds, That one deserves his fate...betraying his employer does have a way of rebounding on one, doesn't it?
"If you need assistance in moving her Mister Sarlu, I am more than willing to help out." He adds.
Still pinning Basher, Zoreck eases up a little as the bhagra starts to cough up blood. He then looks at Sarlu's tank, remembering his employer's words forming in his head yesterday... mind-magic!
Zoreck waits to see what happens to the bhagra, particularly to see if he's somehow faking to get Zoreck to drop his guard.
Looking upwards at Zoreck, a look of desperation in his eyes, Basher tries to say something... but the words are lost in the dark blood choked from his mouth and he collapses... stone dead.
As the last foe is subdued, Oulek calls for assistance in unchaining Mr. Sarlu’s aquarium from the wall and then pushes it across the room until the two tanks are adjacent. "Ahh, you are safe now, my beloved", the sarlu transmits to those in the chamber via his silky telepathy, "Those ruffians can’t hurt you anymore".
One of Mr. Sarlu’s guards, foot tapping eagerly on the ground, suddenly asks, “Boss! Is it okay if we have a taste? It’s been an age!” The sarlu’s feeler tentacles writhe about in apparent assent and so, two of his mercenaries produce tin cups and trot over to their employer’s tank - they fill their cups with its green waters, then move quickly to Mrs. Sarlu. Each pluck off one of the squirming leech-like organisms that cover her body, the fat black worms wriggling as they emit high- pitched squeals. Without pause, both pop a leech into their salivating mouths and drain their cups. Vapid grins break across their faces almost immediately and their bodies relax, clearly overcome by an enveloping euphoria - the intoxicated guards then pass through the
eastern door towards their barracks.
Zoreck stands, looking down with contempt at the now-dead Basher. "Idiot." He picks up and sheathes his dropped shortsword, and then takes a moment to clear his jammed pistol before returning it to its holster.
Watching the post-battle proceedings, the Numerian makes no attempt to hide his look of disgust at Sarlu's guards actions. "Ugh."
As the guards leave, he turns to Sarlu's tank. "So, Mr. Sarlu... I'm glad we could rescue your missus, and also take out one of your enemies. I believe we have held up our end of the bargain."
Drancis turns away in disgust as he sees the guards digest the alien leeches. I am beginning to see the hold Mister Sarlu has upon his employees...
"Yes, Mister Sarlu we have done what you asked. Forgive me for sounding impatient but time is wasting."
Rikkan waits on an answer from the strange creature. He does pull an empty flask, and moves to the tank, plucking off a fat leech and stowing it away for later study.
Locke merely grimaces at the display, but is no longer surprised by the strange customs and dealings of people from beyond Golarion, "Glad to be of service, that Basher was a real piece of work. Now as my companions say, on to our end of the bargain?"
Rikkan feels a slight trace of inquisitiveness in the back of his mind as Mr Sarlu watches... but does not respond to Rikkan taking one of the leeches from Mrs Sarlu's body... and then, as the conversation turns towards Mr Sarlu's side of the bargain, Mr Sarlu's voice breathes assent in the minds of the friends.
Oulek clacks his beak and calls upon dwarf once more. The manacled fellow plods over to the dark green mechanism at the center of the chamber, slamming a fist on a number of protuberances, which sparkle with light, then places his open palm on a smooth panel. With an almost sensual howl the red ring shudders to life, with thin arcs of energy crossing the ring’s center. The morose dwarf gives an incongruous wink, “Step through, friends! Another world awaits!”