"The box has something in it that can bind devils and pull them from Hell," the imp replies to Crar's query, "Tell the Paracountess I will accept whatever punishment is coming." The shape beneath the blanket seems to resign itself to its fate. The box is now yours for the taking!
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"I'm glad we managed to catch him. I'm surprised how willing to accept punishment he is. But that's up to the Paracountess."
Latharel takes care that the rope is secure and a little bit uncomfortable but doesn't outright hurt the imp. He has no issues to sacrifice the rope in case the Paracountess wants to keep him bound.
"Targ - can you take the box. Let's bring this bundle next door to the Paracountess and ask her what she wants to do with this badly behaved imp."
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"It's not that I particularly like this little bundle of destruction, but please ask the Paracountess to show some mercy and forgiveness. I don't see that it's done so much destruction that he needs a vile punishment." He turns to the wriggling tied up sack..."Now listen here little one, when we came in the Paracountess said you'd not want us to take the item loaned to the Paracountess, that we have come to collect. I suppose its in that box isn't it?"
Diplomacy
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Crar finds himself greatly wanting to try to open the box to see what is inside. A box that can summon devils? However, tempted as he is, he tries not to give in. After all, their mission was to give the Paracountess a good impression of the Pathfinder Society. He follows the group as they leave the chamber.
"I am still bound by my contract," the imp replies to Latheral, "Your item is indeed inside the box. I'll await my punishment here, if you don't mind." The imp seems resigned to his fate, as though his moment of heroism, for an imp, pains him.
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With everything getting back to normal, Kernsten picks up the imp bound in the blanket, "Well we have what we came for, the quicker we get it back the better as far as I'm concerned." His voice lowers, trying to stop if carrying out of the room, "Not sure I really like this house or its occupants really." He dumps the imp tied in the blanket in the middle of the room and makes ready to leave, "It's for his mistress to impart justice now. We'll need to get you another blanket eh Crar, don't want you to get cold in the night." He is the last to leave the room, keeping an eye on the moving blanket.
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Targ holds up the box, [b}"this. Now off to the docks."[/b]
"With what's inside that box, I'd really rather we didn't carry it around the city. Such an item may be worth a lot to those with evil designs, it should be returned straight away for safe keeping to our master's possession." as Kernsten says this, his face is a little pained as his thoughts are torn in two directions, Such a thing to summon demons or devils should surely be destroyed, but then I gave my pledge to do the Pathfinder's bidding.
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"I would agree - let's best deliver the box directly back to the Pathfinder Lodge. From there the Wise Quarter is closest. So why not go there first.
The pickled imp sounds ominous after this encounter and I rather leave that business to the end. I don't want to spoil my clothes in whatever we have to do in the docks area and then give a bad impression to the ambassador.
We were told to be at our best behaviour - and clean and whole clothes might be assumed."
The Paracountess thanks you for your efforts, although she seems slightly put out that none of you seem to want to stick around for some more... personal introductions.
You return the box to the Vault, where they are very happy to see it. Thanking you profusely, they bustle it away to some hidden corner of the Vault again.
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"Yes" replies Kernsten, "Its very off putting talking to a chap smelling of cheap drink, so maybe we could have some food and a glass of fine spirits instead. That trip to the paracountess sure gives a man a hunger. And if I must eat, then a little drink never hurt anyone." He smiles oblivious to the group's reaction, expecting all to agree with his point of view. Taking a purse from his pocket he starts to count some money, a few coppers and silver. With each coin he adds to a menu order, "Broth, yes enough for some broth.", another coin moves in the palm of his hand. "Cold meat, maybe some ham, yes some cold ham and vegetables..."
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Crar's quite happy to get out of that place. The Paracountess made him feel ... uncomfortable.
"Kernsten," Crar responds to the paladin, "perhaps we should visit the ambassador first as Latharel suggests, then get something to eat on the way to the Pickled Imp. From what I've seen of this city, your coin will earn you a bigger plate of food in the Docks than around here."
You all make your way towards the estate of Grand Councilmember Dremdhet Salhar. Your first sight of his estate is that of a tall, almost monolithic, wrought-iron gate. Gathered around the base of this gate are three guards, well-armed and keen-eyed.
"Greetings," the centre guard says, stepping forward, "You are expected." His voice drips with an Osiriani accent. Turning to one side, he nods to one of his fellows who rings a gong that hangs outside the gate. After a few moments, in which the guards stand as still as statues, a thin servant swings the gate open with surprising ease before indicating that you should step through.
"Greetings, learned Pathfinders," the servant says with a deep bow. It would appear that news of your mission spreads fast, "I am sorry to tell you that the Grand Councilmember is away on business but that I am to take you to his most trusted advisor, Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage. Please, come this way." He explains this as you walk up to the front door of the vast mansion in front of you.
You walk through the home for several minutes, before arriving at a simple study at the end of a long hallway. The servant knocks, then enters after a moment. Inside, a tan-skinned old man sits flipping through the pages of a large tome. Small scraps of paper jut from the book, marking over two dozen different places. As you approach the open door, he indicates with one hand to come in, whilst closing the tome with the other. Once you are all inside, he addresses you.
"Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage and advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say." The Sapphire Sage sits back in his chair, regarding you all individually.
"Since Osirion is reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea - something the descendants of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet," the Sapphire Sage barely pauses for breath as he delivers his speech.
"Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom's Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family's vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room." The Sapphire Sage's eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed. The servant motions to the open door at your backs, making clear the notion that the Sapphire Sage will answer no more questions. He leads you back through the spacious estate and down some sturdy stone steps to the cool basement. Down a hallway, following a couple of turns, you end up at a plain wooden door. He opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow and waits silently for you to enter.
Inside, a plain stone room contains three chests: a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood: a red lacquered chest; and what appears to be a cube of solid steel. Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.
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Kernsten's normal confidence and high spirits are subdued by the Grand Council member's home and the austerity of his servant. Yet despite this he manages to ask the servant a few questions as they walk along. At least this servant isn't so grand. "Thank you, I'm sorry I ddin't catch your name? So have you worked here long? Do you know how long Grand Council member Salhar has been gone? and when he will be back? If its not so long maybe we could wait for him, I don't know what my friends would do, but it only seems fair." As he follows through the house, he asks "So your master, is he good to you?"
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Lilliana has no questions for the servant as they make their way through the grandiose estate, and simply listens quietly to the interchange between him and the other pathfinders.
After the Sapphire Sage completes his speech, she frowns slightly in suspicion, though once again, holds her tongue until the door to the study is closed behind them. "Is this some sort of test?" she asks of the servant, a slight edge to her voice suggesting that she is none too pleased by the thought she is being toyed with, "no doubt you would have already had the map waiting for us if it were as straightforward a task as simply entering the vault and picking it up."
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Latharel inspects the chest with interest - especially if they have any locks.
"I remember when I was at the Szarni - they sometimes challenged each other to open complicated locks - sometimes trapped. I did learn a little bit from them but I'm far from an expert - and I do miss any specific tools. But if needed - I can always try.
But maybe this is rather a puzzle as a lock that needs opening."
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Crar remains quiet and thoughtful as they enter the grand home of the southerner. So this is what the Osiriani live like, he thinks. During their interview with the ambassador's advisor, he tries to get a glimpse of the tome that the Sapphire Sage is reading. Then, as they are issued into the stone room, he attempts to take in what's before them. Meanwhile, Latharel and Targ are discussing how to open each of the chests. He joins in, poking curiously at the side of the wicker basket and looking to see if anything living might be inside. [b] "Hmm, what to do you think these are for on the table? Perhaps they might give us some clues as to how to open the chests? I'm not so familiar with Osiriani beliefs, but there are some legends that speak about puzzle boxes." Thinking, Crar tries to rack his brain, whether he knows of anything that might help.
"My name is Akhom, and I have served the Grand Councilmember for the last seventeen years," the servant replied curtly, "I am afraid I do not know how long the Grand Councilmember shall be away. Perhaps Amenopheus shall tell you."
"The Grand Councilmember is an excellent master," Akhom replies in a manner that suggests that even if he wasn't, the servant would not tell you otherwise.
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"I am only to take you to the basement," Akhom replies to Lilliana, "I do not know what will be asked of you when we arrive."
Once all of you are in the room, the servant shuts the door behind you and locks it. Written on the back of the door is a message:
"Within these cases lies your quest and your way out."
Latharel inspects the cases and jars and finds out the following:
The Wicker Basket: A 2-foot round wicker basket that requires no key to open as the lid rests gently atop its wide rim.
The Glass Jar: A gallon-sized jar which is about half full with a clear liquid. At the bottom of the vessel sits a jeweled brass key.
The Copper-Banded Chest: This appears to be a simple copper-banded chest with a single keyhole.
The Red Lacquered Chest: This smooth, red lacquered chest appears devious, with a solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole pulses with glowing amber runes.
The Steel Chest: This steel cube has only the faintest crack where its lid meets its base, and would be completely featureless save for its narrow keyhole.
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"I don't think that would leave the best impression of us on our host," Lillia comments, "but it does remain an option should all else fail."
Brushing back her hair from her solid green eye, she whispers a pair or arcane syllables, causing a dim light to briefly rise up from within the misty orb. Casting her gaze across the three boxes and the jar, she eventually settles on the glowing runes around the lacquered box's lock.
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Kernsten wanders over to Crar, as he studies the jar with the key in the liquid. He searches close by for anything like a small spider or small insect. Screwing his eyes up, he starts to look around the cobwebs near the side of the room, or round the dusty objects there. As he does this he asks Crar, "So what's that liquid do you think?"
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As Kernsten speaks, Crar looks up from examining the jar and smiles. He also sees Targ carefully trying to pick something out of the basket with his weapon. "Not sure if we're being paranoid, but this doesn't seem to be just water. Here, have a sniff." He holds out the jar for the paladin's inspection. "Maybe we could just pour this out somewhere and get the key? Not sure if I'd recommend just putting a hand in there at the moment." Crar again scans the room.
As Targ lowered his siangham into the basket, a low hissing sound was heard and a small viper leapt out from the linen and bounced off the sword.