With the box safely secured, and Miette perched on top, it is lowered into the boat. Once there, the crate is straightforward to open. There's a small mahogany box inside, which contains five books (Practical Thaumaturgy in accordance with creation, Geopgraphic anomalies of the inner sea, Under Kaer Maga: A trial and Travel, Physiology of Dragons: An illustrated reference, Lost Sarusan) and a leather folder contains loose sheets - cargo manifestos, warehouse inventories, and financial logs from a dozen different trading houses and merchant guilds: Cartahegn, Passad, Rauger, the list goes on.
Besides the mahogany box, the chest contains 10 sets of thieves' tools (mwk quality), a dozen or jars of ink, a footprint book, adamantine weapon blanch, three bags of powder, a deck of marked cards, and two sets of loaded dice (average).
After a long search, Aldaeth concludes that the rest of the warehouse is full of mundane items, and very little of interest. Guaril will be interested in seeing his books back, though.
Arriving back at the pickled imp, Guard gives a sneered smile, and says "back already? The task prove too difficult for you?"
When the adventurers show the books and scrolls, he looks positively pleased. "very good. Many pathfinders fail on their first tasks you know. You show promise, perhaps you would consider working for us?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
The Ivy district is quite the walk away from the Docks, and another journey through the bustling crowd of Absalom awaits the adventurers.
During your travels, you can't but shake the feeling you're being watched.
The townhouse of Zarta Dralneen is a magnificent three-story gothic structure. Laquered ebon double doors sweep open after ringing the bell, and a servant stands ready. Greetings, please follow me. My misstress will answer any questions once we reach her quarters. The servant then guide the adventurers through the various halls, ballrooms and marble staircases, to arrive at the study. A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner.
“Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group. “It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh- faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points at Frunobulax. “I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore,” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. “On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits.
“Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.”
Valsins trinket is a seven-lock iron case. It's magically locked an sealed, and I would suggest you do not tamper with it, lest the result be unfavourable to your health. As Zalta explains, a cacophony of booms and crashes erupts from beyond the western door. A servant is greatly misbehaving. You're going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket..
Zalta moves over to the desk in her study, opens a drawer and takes out a silver letter opener. You might need this to get it to submit, she says as she offers a sly grin.
|
"Yes, I would like a bag of powder. And this weapon blanch seems as if it would be most promising."
When the party arrives back at Guaril Karela's shop, Fruno asks, "Do you have a fire available? I would like to blanch my great axe with this blanch of adamantine. This should make it very strong, yes?"
Fruno spends the time to apply the blanch as needed.
"Miette, that was some excellent work with the crate. Really, all of you have done an excellent job. I doubt this final task will give us much trouble at all."
Like I said, a servant is misbehaving. You came for Valsins trinket, right? The servant has it, so if you want it, that's where you should go. If you don't want it, I'll call Aldor to see you out.
|
|
"Well, a silver letter-opener is indeed an unusual piece of equipment. Perhaps we are to use this silver item as a way to bargain with this servant?" the half orc muses.
He shakes his head, "Do not call this Aldor - we shall take the silver item and shall deal with your servant. His love of silver shall be his downfall!"
Frunobulax moves towards the door, but turns to Dralneen. "While I am happy to help you deal with this unruly servant, might I suggest that you contact some sort of agency that can provide you with a servant that is more likely to behave properly."
From what Miette gathers, Zarta does not seem unnerved by the sounds of chaos coming form the bedroom. Perhaps this is just business as usual?
Zarta’s bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax— ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
At the very end of the room, some kind of devilish creature is beyond itself with rage, smashing something against the bedpost.
The imp suddenly looks up at the booming voice of Nijena, then says - still pretty much focused on the box it is holding - it DOES not OPEN! in a maniacal voice.
The imp is at the far end of the bed, about 10 ft in the air.
|
|
With the silver letter-opener in hand, Frunobulax approaches the imp, studying the small creature.
"Hello there, little devil," the half-orc says with no emotion. "I suggest you put that box down before you get yourself hurt." With this last statement, Frunobulax snarls slightly, trying his best to intimidate the creature into complying.
Miette notices a silvered riding crop on a nearby table. Nijena and Frunobulax clearly unsettle the creature somewhat, though it refuses to give up the box. "No, it's mine. What do you want with it anyway? This is for Kreuvus!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Frank throws the silver dagger at the imp, and firmly embeds it in the creatures scaly hide. It screeches in pain and pulls it out, throwing it on the floor.
[ooc]
roll init, if you have higher than above, you may act
-Posted with Wayfinder
The imp lets out a shriek as aldaeth steps up and cleaves the air in a high arc. To Nice n's remark it responds "yes, leave, no fight" as it disappears from view. A soft "pat pat" of blood droplets can be heard and red splashes appear on the floor.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Last thing Frunobulax saw, the imp was still holding it
-Posted with Wayfinder
Frunobulax' wild stab hits nothing but air, and as the dust settles on the room and the imp, it becomes clear why: the imp has moved to the south side of the room, in the direction of the wardrobe.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
Our blue and valiant heroine courageously entered the Dominatrix' lair behind the three big'uns whereupon she inadvertently positions herself next to the imp.
"Give me the box or I shall whip you silly, or ride you...whichever worries you most!!!"
From one of her many pockets Miette quickly whips out a silver riding crop...you have no idea where acquired....
Moet te tries to ride the imp back home, and as it screams in agony from the burning silver, Nijena smite delivers a solid hit on the creatures. It vanishes >poof< and the box lies ownerless on the floor.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"Well, that was indeed an interesting occurrence. Why one would want to employ a devil for housework is beyond me."
With the devil gone, Fruno looks about the room. "Hmm, it seems as though Cheliax has fallen on hard times, if they must use their bedrooms for interrogation," he notes, indicating the large wooden 'X' with shackles and chains.
He picks up the box. "I shall not be the one to open it." He gives Miette's still blue complexion a look. "I say we present the box to Lady Dralneen and allow her the honor."
As our adventurers emerge from zante ' bedroom, the paracountess smirks and speaks "Back already? Did my servant scare you?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"dispatch it? Well, well, you have quite the nerve treating my servants like that. In any case, it had run out of usefulness to me. I hope you treat Alder better as he sees you out, hmm?". She then looks at Frunobulax, as if she is expecting something from him.
-Posted with Wayfinder