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With the business concluded, and wine flowing, Tenibri nods to Kazu and begs a moment of Shofara's time.
"This isn't anything to do with our official business here, but it's of interest nonetheless. There's a certain faction of Pathfinders," Tenibri clears his throat loudly, and almost looks as if he wants to spit at the name, but refrains to do so in such nice confines. "We've had... well, we've crossed paths with them in the past, and they left us with a bit of embarrassment. Well, it would be a delight to embarrass them back."
"I know the reputation of Calistrians--and how important that is--so I know this isn't something that you're likely to do, but I have to ask. We're to understand that you're hosting some event for them soon. Could you be convinced to make sure that this upcoming event doesn't go well? Just something to shame them... not harm them, so to speak."
Dropping his voice, he finishes "Unless you'd be open to that?"
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Seeing their "official" business concluded, Kazu rather reluctantly step forward, but more than happy to let the wayang take the lead. Beneath his breath, he curses his faction leader for foisting such a task on them. What in the seven hells is Liberty's Edge doing with.... entertainers like this?
He nonetheless speaks up after that, "Uh... We... uh snakes would love sticking it to the Pathfinder hobos." He realises his unintended double entendre, especially where they are at now. You can't quite see it but Kazu turns bright red under his plumage.
Shofara seems surprised, and mentally enumerates her upcoming arrangements. After a few seconds, she speaks up.
"I don't think I was approached in this matter. I know they are throwing a ball or something of the sort. Of course, I could try to weasel in some of my servants that could spill some wine on the fine white shirts, if that's what you had in mind. For a price, naturally."
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"Hmmm... was thinking maybe something, I don't know... grander. I think we will continue exploring options. Please continue as normal for now; someone will contact you if that's the way we want to go."
Stained shirts? Still, it shows that they would do it, but for real, I thought Calistrians had more imagination than that.
Tenibri nods, and tries to get Cypher's attention that they are ready to leave. And tries. And tries. Finally, abandoning discretion--since that's not working--he simply approaches their "leader" and the acolyte currently being entertained.
He coughs loudly, then taps Cypher on the shoulder. "Shadowtongue... we're ready."
"Well, naturally - it depends on the payment. Since I don't know what you're after I won't start with public humiliation and ... other, more nefarious acts, straight away; will I?", Shofara responds, and has that predatory smile on her face again.
With the three relics in your possession, you return to the Barracuda Cartage. The hired muscle escorts you to Jenk's office again, with Jenk anticipating your arrival: "Ah, great! You're back. I take it you have what you were sent for?", he asks as he scans you for the items he expected.
Jenk briefly examines the items, and puts them back on the table. "Great. We can contact the cult now and nurture this new relationship."
"Now, luckily for you, Spider got back to me while you were gone.", he puts a message on the table and moves it towards you slowly. "Here's the location of the cult. I suggest you don't delay and head there immediately after we are done here. Did you have any problems picking up the relics?", he asks as he takes the relics to inspect them.
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"Nothing the boss couldn't handle, Bro." Eadric chimes in, resuming his tough man act now that he is out of the brothel and in much more comfortable surroundings. He's currently standing protectively to "Shadowtongue's" left side, accentuating his large biceps by crossing his arms across his chest. Woah! A most excellent signature. He thinks to himself as he sneaks a peek at the letter. "Ha, their honeyed tongue can, like, totally stop a raging banshee from screaming, if needed. Priests are easy!" He chooses to omit details on the collection of the hat, not knowing how much Jenks should know about that situation.
You demonstrate excellent initiative in collecting our overdue debts and offering them as gifts to the Lissalans. This way, we can start to stem the hemorrhage of our goodwill with the Lissalans for very little actual cost to the Consortium. Deliver the items to the Lashmistress at the Lissalan safe house with our best wishes for future negotiations.
If Thestil Shadowtongue’s team has impressed you, they can make the delivery in your stead, but be sure they understand that the situation is politically tenuous. Indelicacy here could do us serious damage. The Lissalan safe house is located underground. Their complex is accessible via an abandoned tattoo shop called “Seven Needles” just south of Zincher’s Arena and the Gas Forges.
The Lissalans remain paranoid, secretive, and edgy. Tread carefully, so we can turn this situation around. Success so soon after our arrival in Riddleport would mean accolades for me, and thus for you.
—The Spider
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"No difficulty at all. None of 'em were too happy to give up their prizes, of course, but that wasn't any trouble, in the end. Too bad that dagger's got to go to the Lissalans; I bet you'd look good swinging it." Tenibri smiles broadly, the white-dot tattoos on his face standing out brightly.
As he reads the letter, he forces his smile to settle down, though internally he's shouting in glee at having the location of the Lissalan safe house. And that's what we needed... He looks up to Cypher. "Are we ready to go, boss?"
Jenk seems satisfied with the answers and outcome of the meeting. "Alright then! Off you go, and let me know when you're done. Remember - no funny business. We want these people on our side."
After you're done in the Barracuda Cartage, you move to thelocation specified in Spider's letter. The journey doesn't take long, but you find yourselves moving through less and less people as you approach your destination. Walking people, anyway. This place seems to be the part of town for the less fortunate. The already bleak buildings of Riddleport start to look more and more broken down as you move
towards the arena. Tenements sprawl across the portion of the Wharf District between Zincher’s Arena and the solid-looking Gas Forges. A shop with a sign reading 'Seven Needles' stands at the end of a dim, trash-strewn alley. The tattoo parlor is abandoned, its windows cracked and portions of its wooden trim looking like they were removed long ago. Getting in is not a problem. Either through one of the windows or cranky, unlocked door. A thin, but very noticable dust layer covers the half-rotten wooden floor, and a few puddles, results of holes in the roof, produce a damp, moldy odour.
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Garr nods to Eadric and readies to plop down inside the trap door to see where it leads...
"Ready! Let's do this. I'm going to loot and pillage this safe house like a band of drunken orcs. Are we expecting anyone to already be down there in wait at all?" Garr tenses up to jump down the opening with Eadric
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Eadric underestimates his strength - a bit. The half-corroded hinges on the trap door are already loose, and he simply rips the entire thing out, revealing a ladder to the underground.
The trap door in the tattoo parlor leads to a series of stone tunnels beneath Riddleport. While they are not polished marble, someone definitely maintains the area in workable condition. Somehow, the air still smells of blood, and animal urine - even if only slightly. The floor is otherwise swept, and the ceilings are illuminated with stones that burn a heatless, magical flame. The stones are attached to the ceiling with a small chain each. Next to each stone you can find a series of three loops in the ceiling, and a triangular cloth hanging from one or two loops by hooks secured to each corner.
The hall just underneath the trap door is rather wide, but quickly narrows into a 10-ft wide tunnel leading deeper into the complex. In the middle of the tunnel, you see a simple drawing made of geometric shapes.
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Once down the ladder and into the musty hallway, Garr takes a second to sniff the air..
"Smells like old people in here." Garr remarks, peering down the hallway at the complex shape on the floor. Not of any familiarity to the monk, he still knows it's potentially dangerous intent. Helping point out any details he can notice with his fey touched sight, Garr tries to help anyone understand it's purpose
"It looks complex. Maybe it's a magic trap. Or a portal to another brothel." Garr remarks, providing no useful info whatsoever
The glyph is set to trigger once a non-faithful passes it. It is set up to dispel a different spell when activated - illusory wall, that makes up a part of the western tunnel wall.
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"Should I touch it?" Eadric asks, secretly hoping it is a trap and not the entrance to another brothel as Garr suggested. "If everyone, like, stands way back, I think I can totally set it off safely..." He says as he edges past Cypher, inches closer to the runes, and unslings his shield - apparently, he takes his role as bodyguard very seriously. "I have most excellent reflexes." He adds with a reassuring smile.
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Eadric lowers his shield and turns around to watch everyone stare at a blank wall instead of heading for cover. "So, umm... Am I doing this or not?" He asks after thanking Garr for the backup. "I mean, like, what's the worst a disappearing wall can do to me? If there're bouncers behind there, they would have totally attacked us by now. So, like, how could this even be considered a trap?" He wonders, scratching his head. "It's most confusing! I'd still totally prefer it if you guys were hiding behind that wall over there when I do it though."
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"Hmm, I seem to be able to see vaguely through that section of the wall. Strange, all it seems to house is a cage, with what appears to be an 8-legged lizard in it. Why would the purpose of the glyph be to reveal the creature? It can't attack us from its cage, can it?"
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"Come on boss. You know everything, quit thinking about the acolyte, and tell us what it is already!" Garr snorts, having seen what "Shadowtongue" is capable of Garr attempts to get Cyphers head back into the game
Garr seems to only further distract Cypher with his obnoxious drunk ranting
"Oh yeah I see it now, I'm not drunk. There's a huge lizard with 8 legs in a cage. Let's jump OVER the trap and attack it while it's caged."
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Cypher glares down Garr, though he can tell by the smirk that they are trying very hard not to laugh.
Look, I do know this. The glyph removes the wall. That can't be good for us, or why else do it? However, I can't dispel magic, and I don't think any of us can disable a magical trap, am I correct? In which case, I think we'll have to do it Eadric's way.... set it off and be ready for a fight.
They rack their brains, trying to think of what it could be... they KNOW this...
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"Well then..." Eadric says, slinging his shield and opting instead to go for his spear, readying himself for a nasty battle, "I guess we'll just have to see what this gnarly lizard can do. Get back guys, I've totally got this!" He gives everyone a smile and a confident wink, "When it's done surprising us, you guys can totally surprise it." Once everybody is safely hidden, the self appointed bodyguard lowers his stance, ready to strike, and takes a deliberate step to the right to break the plane of the glyph.
Eadric steps over the rune, and the illusion immediately dissipates. Beyond the wall, you see an cage with an eight-legged lizard-like creature turning towards the changed environment. It sets its gaze upon Eadric and its eyes shine with a pale light.
Eadric stays in his defensive stance, but is otherwise unaffected by whatever the creature just did.