Seif-al-Din maintains his silence whilst Kixzik works his legalese magic.
:)
Drat, nothing immediately below board we can use that I can see. Lawyers.
Ah, yes, I see this seems to be in order. However this Scroll was supposed to be delivered back to the Grand Lodge by a group of adventurers that had obtained it for the Society per their request. Sadly we've discovered reason to believe those Pathfinders have since been killed and the Scroll of Kakison stolen from them.
Now, your contract is quite clear however there are some discrepancies upon examination. First, why would the Decemvirate, based in the Grand Lodge, send us to obtain the Scroll if no less than three Venture Captains - who also, you understand, report to the Decemvirate - had granted it to you for three months?
Also, why would three Venture Captains be present in Katapesh to hand over an artifact to a third party? Venture Captains are supposed to be the controllers of a whole region, it would be unusual to have three in the same place all at once, particularly as people signing documents and not being involved in delivering said item for evaluation to begin with.
He puts on a pair of reading glasses that are comically stretched to go over his wide-set eyes.
Now, while we have no doubt that you're acting in the best of faith, surely you understand that we must provide a full report regarding the disposition of the Scroll to our own principals? Particularly given the murky circumstances of these transactions.
First, can you please describe the Venture Captains, to the best of your recollection, so that we can verify their signatures and identities when we report back? Second, can you tell us who within the Society you're supposed to send your notes to and where those notes are to be sent? Finally, can we be allowed to examine the Scroll to determine authenticity? Our principals would be most disappointed to determine we'd simply abandoned our charge.
Kixzik scribles a note and passes it to Arthur.
Arthur, my good man, I've just thought of some things we might need, can you take care of this for me?
Terribly sorry to treat you as a servant; can you please take a few seconds to pretend to read this note, use your paladin's powers to determine if this person is evil and then excuse yourself on some errand?
Come back with something powdered from a market if possible - a yellow spice if good or of a balanced persuasion, a red spice if evil; please see these enclosed coins so I can use the spice to pretend to work alchemy.
Your Faithful Companion,
Kixzik Andoranman
He finishes and looks back at the half-elf.
I apologize, my art is quite exact so I have to write extremely detailed instructions so as not to throw off my calculations.
She frowns.
I cannot speak for your discrepancies, however, this is a legally binding contract. Now you on the other hand have given me no reason to question my contract. Who might you be? Why should I give something to you , when three VC's made an agreement with me. What rank do you hold in the Society?
I certainly would not want to allow the scroll to be put at risk. I am happy to allow you to view one of the copies of my notes, if you can verify that you work for the society.
she is a VERY good lawyer, if you are going to out lawyer her you better be VERY good at that yourself.
I beg your pardon. I didn't say anything about this being unsound on the face of it. I'm stating that there are two parties with conflicting interests and we want to come to an amicable agreement.
He pushes his glasses down a bit.
And frankly considering you welcomed us into the office stating, how did you put it, "I take it you are the ones who delivered that fascinating scroll," he folds his glasses and pockets them, tells me you were perfectly willing to pay for goods from people you have not met and sign agreements with parties who may or may not be involved.
Now, there will be an outpost of the Pathfinder Society in Katapesh and I'm sure they'll have the records of your agreement, which according to this document is in accordance with three separate Venture Captains. Since they'll likewise have stopped at the local lodge, they'll no doubt have a copy, with separate attestations which are not attached to this agreement as to the identity of the Venture Captains who signed this agreement.
And one final point. If you did in fact obtain the Scroll from third parties not involved with the Pathfinder Society, who in fact killed Pathfinders, your contract is almost certain to be voided. Which means the Scroll would be returned to the Pathfinder Society as you admitted in the contract that you are in fact using their property.
Now Kizxik will lean forward.
The fact that you declared that you not only do not know who gave you the scroll, but then assumed we delivered it and are now demanding proof of our identity, tells me that you did not in fact verify that you obtained possession from the Society failing in your due diligence as a party to the contract. And that you did so in front of not one, but two paladins is just your bad luck.
Are you threatening me? I know you must not be doing that. I don't believe I have given you the scroll now have I? Now that you have both insulted and threatened me, I suggest you either give me evidence that you are in fact here from the society, or leave. You can find the local lodge at... she gives the directions to the lodge.
I am sure in the presence of two "Paladins" you wouldn't violate the laws of Katapesh.
Arthur plays along with Kixzik's game, reading the note and doing as he asks.
"Sure thing." Arthur scans the note and stands, going out to the marketplace.
A few minutes later he returns with a bag of yellow powder. "Found it for you. Hope that helps resolve things." He raises his brows at the sudden heat in the arguments. He frowns at Kixkiz. "What the hell happened? Of course we wouldn't break any laws."
Ah, Arthur, I was trying to have a conversation regarding the contract with this lady, she apparently doesn't appreciate a discussion regarding law or requests for simple verification.
He checks the powder and nods, looking slightly put out. Any lawyer could always use a good smiting.
But the good news is we've fulfilled our commission from Venture-Captain Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XXII. The Pathfinders we were sent to locate were murdered by bandits led by an evil cleric. The Scroll of Kakison they've discovered is, by her own admission, in the possession of this lady here and she's pledged to turn it over on demand of a Venture-Captain or face what I imagine are some stiff penalties from Katapeshi law.
Kizxik will hop off his chair and make ready to travel again.
Since she's been so kind as to direct us to the local lodge, we merely have to visit the lodge, make our report, wait for Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XXII's no doubt absent-minded arrival and once he's here he'll be able to retrieve the Scroll himself. It does seem a bit anti-climactic I admit, but better an easy job than a hard one I always say.
"Yeah. Let me tell you something about Katapeshi law." Arthur grumbles. Arthur turns to the lawyer. "I assure you, our intentions are honest, on my word as a paladin. Also, Zip Zap Zop, I am big silly head."
Ah good old Fizzy. You mean venture captain "emeritus". By all means return with a venture captain. Now if you can prove to me the Fizzwiddle sent you I am happy to allow you to review the notes i have taken.
She looks at Arthur confused then around Seif the images appear.
Ah yes I will accept that as proof you do know Fizzwiddle. Would you like to review my notes?
Arthur smiles. Say one thing for the gnome, he is an effective leader. "Please, it would be most helpful."
Oh I have an idea. the Gnome looks at Seif. If you need to see them again just say the following. [b]"Zip Zap Zop, I am big silly head!"and the image will appear again for you, at least for a few minutes.
In case any one forgot
She moves across the and returns w a stack of papers
What are you interested in?
He suddenly realizes what he got himself into. "Kixzik, your area of expertise awaits."
Well, much of this is legend, but before Nex created his own country to the south, he had a kick for enslaving folks. Now, bear in mind, if this was not Nex we were talking about I would say it is crazy. But supposedly Nex managed to enslave proteans and bend them to his will. The story is that he created, our of the maelstrom his own pocket plane called Kakishon. Which is virtually an entire world, filled with islands.
Now before he did much with it Nex got distracted by, well by being Nex, and it was never completed and somewhat forgotten. No one thought about Kakishon again until a wizard named Andrathi, that had some kind of argument with genies, the details are not widely known, lots of theory, none that agree. Anyhow he wanted to use the plane as a safe zone to negotiate, if the work of Limdrasus can be believed.
Now, I believe that the scroll is the gateway into the realm. Though how we do that, I have yet to figure out. I suspect the travel into the realm is quick, and I would not be surprised if time moved differently there than it does here. Whether that be faster or slower, I do not know.
Seif-al-Din nods.
"A world within a scroll? I vaguely remember hearing about something similar - in that case, a world within a tapestry. I can see why a group such as the Society would be interested in the Scroll.
I agree, we have fulfilled out contract - now we just need to get in contact with Fizzwiddle, to let him know what has happened."
Kizxik, happy that Arthur manages to have found a way to convince the recalcitrant - and in his mind complicit - lawyer spends time studying the notes.
Kix is flipping through the notes and he stops, looming at an arcane tune and the explanation for it
Excuse me, this rune here - you've translated it as "hot". I'm not certain that's the right translation. What methodology did you use in your translation?
She replies to zephyr and Seif
Yes the Hao Jin tapestry a fascinating piece I would love to study it myself, but this was created by Proteans. He enslaved creatures of chaos and made them create order out of the chaos that was the maelstrom.
Then to zephyr well I think I am on the verge of figuring this out. I have almost completed the translation of the section that will explain how that works...
She frowns, as she is pulled out of yhe conversation with the others by Kix. She stares at it.
you might be right. she moves across the room and gets several texts and opens them and starts to look.
knock...knock. The secretary enters
Da'Lise, te brothers are here, again.
Da'Lise smiles and sighs. She gathers every thing up. . I am sorry I must deal with this. Come back in the morning and I should have this possible mistake figured out. . She gives you directions to her favorite inn as well as the bazaar.
Churley has been utterly confused by all he legalese and such wrangling. The discussion of magically created worlds leaves him even more adrift.
Kixzik notices Churley's confusion and mistakes it for deep thought.
Churley, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
"Yes, but where we find rubber pants in Katapesh in your size?"
After they leave the office, Kizxik looks cross with Chorley but can't stretch far enough to bop him on the head.
No, Churley - we need to visit the lodge to make sure we aren't be fooled about this contract and then purchase more supplies. Something fishy is going on here and we need to be as ready as possible.
"Churley like shopping. Many shiny things. "
Kizxik sighs.
Yes Churley, many shiny things.
Kix does n fact find a copy of the contract in the lodge, though it takes a good 3 hours of time to be able to convince them that he is with the society
"Must get nacho things to make. Churley not forget. "
Once Kixzik has convinced them of his bona fides, he'll request official documentation showing his status since Fizz's letter/magical image isn't as convincing as it could be.
It takes much grousing and cajoling before they agree. They give Kix a document that says.
The bearer of this document is officially a consultant with the Pathfinder Society, under the "supervision" of Venture Captain Emiratus Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XXII. With this he is granted entrance to the community areas of the lodges. He is to be granted all the privileges of a new recruit in the society, barring this conflicting with society business as determined by any Pathfinder above the rank of recruit.
Signed,
Marlowe,
Venture Lieutenant
Done retrieving his sadly disappointing letter, as part of his expedition Kixzik will go out to make sure he has all the materials to create a forgery but won't actually create it - he won't unless there's an emergency.
FORGER’S KIT PRICE 200 GP
WEIGHT 6 lbs.
These inks, pens, papers, templates for certificates, and tools
for modifying or copying official seals facilitates the creation of
counterfeit documents. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on
Linguistic checks made for the purpose of making forgeries.