Sonarisa looks at Wei puzzled, but she grabs the rock she was drawing with and follows after him. Thump-flap. Thump-flap.
Wendir winces as she comes in, pulling back against the wall.
But when Sonarisa arrives in the Crystal Cavern, she ignores Wendir, running straight past him to the planets. THUMP-FLAP! THUMP-FLAP-FLAP-FLAP!
She launches herself at the table, and coos at the little worlds, cradling all three happily in her arms.
"Each world is just a bouncing ball, and I'm not really here at all..."
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Kiku holds up her hand near her face, index finger just touching her chin, as she listens to the others talk. She finally holds up the finger, a silent request for attention.
"I would prefer for us to see to the final rest of these bodies in a more respectful manner. We are journeying back to town, so we can take them with us."
Kiku steps up to Sonarisa, taking great care to make no sudden movements.
"I am so, so sorry. I promise I will do everything within my meagre power to make sure you can be 'really here' once again."
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The tengu's feathers ruffle up a bit at Sonarisa's reaction before falling back down once more.
"Sonarisa? I know you worry for the worlds fair, and that you believe that you're not really there, but you're right here, you need to focus because you are you and not just some things that you found. Remember who you are.
I know it's hard, but stay here with us, okay?"
Wei will attempt to cast Lesser Restoration on Sonarisa as he tries to talk to her, to get her back focused and 'now'.
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Wei, your prepared spell of Lesser Restoration bounces off Sonarisa and has no effect. As a result, I'm giving you all a bonus to this check.
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Sona continues to cradle the worlds in her arms, and then looks up at Wei and Kiku's concerned faces.
Each little world, spinning on its axis
Golarian, Aucturn, and now Triaxus
Sonarisa has mapped them all
Promise... you won't let them fall?
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Uncharacteristically subdued, Grigorii tells the party, "Only powerful magics, or the workings of the gods can help her now."
He quietly removes his armor, giving it a cursory polish before spreading his bedroll on the cavern floor. Before settling in, he sets his intelligent shield against the wall, with a view of the room, "Tomorrow we shall face these challenges anew."
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With Grigorii’s intelligent shield watching over you (along with whatever watches you set), you all get a full night’s sleep in the Nesher Crystal Cave. If you let her, Sonarisa sleeps cradled around her little planets, her bat wing flung over them to protect them from harm.
The only one who doesn’t get a full night’s sleep is Wendir, who works late into the night with a hooded lantern, taking notes from Abby’s journal. In the morning, Sonarisa surprises you with a conjured meal that is nourishing though incredibly bland. But she bounces around excitedly as she shows you what she’s done.
Meanwhile a rumpled and slumped over Wendir hands you a sheath of notes translated from Abby’s diary. His hands are shaking. “The Emissary’s creating an army, and I helped him do it.”
Abtaroh has received visions from an entity she knows only as the Emissary from Beyond, a creature that she believes her family has been waiting generations to aid. The visions drove her to come to Dustpawn after a ship the Emissary had infected crashed in the region, and also to gather the strange crystals that fell from the ship and were scattered across the countryside. She details instructions from the visions about how to grind up the crystals and create the potent toxin with which her cultists have laced the drinking water of Dustpawn, and notes that those who drink the water will be graced with bestial dreams to prepare them for a glorious transformation into the Emissary's army upon its arrival.
Then she details her experiments on her victims. They're gruesome. The worst part is the detached observations of her victims' terror and suffering.
Abtaroh notes that the crew members of the crashed ship have all been transformed by the Emissary's dreams and visions into monstrous half-beasts that the Emissary can use as its soldiers and minions. Once the Emissary arrives, those in Dustpawn who have been prepared via the polluted waters will transform as well, granting the Emissary an instant army to use at its whim. Her notes indicate that a particularly potent and experimental dose of the polluted water has been administered to Nalan Hossler of the Mineshaft tavern—she suspects that when this man's transformation is triggered, he'll not only mutate but increase drastically in size as well. If her suspicions prove correct, she hopes to enhance others of the Emissary's army in a similar manner.
In her visions granted by the Emissary from Beyond, Abtaroh saw a powerful orrery in a crashed ship from the stars, but the orrery was missing some of the planets. The orrery is a powerful item that she wants for herself, and fears for its ability to harm the Emissary from Beyond. If she can control it, she can prevent it from being used against the Emissary, or even offer it as a sacrifice. So far, she's recovered four of the planetary spheres, taking them from a mutated elven oracle from the crashed ship. Abtorah's notes indicate the oracle was obsessed with the spheres and became distraught after they were taken from her. The cultists brought the oracle back to the mine with them, and have her cast create water so they have fresh supplies; all Abtaroh needs to do to enforce her compliance is to hold one of the spheres out in view.
One of the four planetary spheres Abtaroh has gathered has been stolen by a local huntress—Abtaroh notes that she managed to trigger an id mutation in the huntress, but the woman escaped anyway. Abtaroh suspects the huntress fled into the swamp to the east, and though she recently sent a few of her cultists into the swamp after her, she hasn't yet heard back from them and wonders if they may have been killed.
Where to next?
"There's a map on the final page of the notes. It's in the inside back cover of the journal too." Wendir says wearily.
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Four miles per hour is a normal brisk walking pace. So a hustle should be 8 6* miles / hour, yes?
Some distances:
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* EDIT: Found the rate of hustling in Pathfinder's movement rules. It's 6 miles per hour.
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Grigorii's urgent melody drives the party to a hustle as they travel, the music quickening their steps and warding off fatigue.
Look out Glory here we come
Brave, intrepid and then some
Pathfinders of maximum
Audacity whose winsome ways
Show that we are just the team
To strive where others merely dream
Building up a head of steam
On the trail we blaze
Changing legend into fact
We shall forge into history
Turning myth into truth
We shall surely gaze
On the sweet unfolding
Of an antique mystery
All will be revealed
On the trail we blaze
Emissary's close at hand
Sonarisa the vessel planned
Eleven planets on demand
Quite unusual nowadays
Virgin vistas, now defiled
Minds and bodies running wild
Every man defend the child
On the trail we blaze
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"We can also get a cleric on cleansing the toxins from Nalan quickly. If the foulness can be purged before it can erupt, then it would make life a lot easier, I suspect?"
Wei will carry Wendir part of the way unless someone else volunteers because the guy's been up all night transcribing a journal and looks exhausted. If he needs to he'll shed gear to get down to a light load, distributing the weight to the rest of the party for recovery after the march.
Wendir declines to be carried. "I'm a wizard who used almost no spells yesterday. I can cast phantom steed, and I believe you recovered a scroll of phantom steed from me?" He rubs his eyes. "Maybe even found more than one?"
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You pick up Leeara successfully from the cave, but it takes all of your combined diplomatic prowess as a group to convince her to travel with Wendir. “They may trust you, but I don’t,” she says to Wendir with narrowed eyes. “Do you know what you and your cultist buddies put me through? How painful it was? How scary?! I ached everywhere, and I could feel myself losing the battle against whatever it was your girlfriend shot me up with!” She gestures at Sonarisa, hands shaking with rage. “Is that what I would have become? Is this what your girlfriend intended to happen to me?”
Then she pauses, confused by Baaldryn’s presence. “Who’s this guy?”
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You need to warn the town, but you’re also in a hurry to hustle back to the Crash Site. To move us along, I’m going to let you each post five actions in town.
Each of these actions (or interactions) can include:
- Skill Checks -- Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledges or even shows of martial prowess if you can make the case for them.
- Relevant Dialogue Snippets with Notable NPCs
- Spells Cast, if needed
- Items Bought or Searched for (Black Market, Church, Other Places)
- Other fun flavor text.
Explain what you did in town, and who you talked to.
Some Notable Locals:
- Enmet Kurigoss, mayor
- Alyssia Turpin, town priestess at the Church of the Dawnflower
- Dalviss Crenn, owner of the Mineshaft and amateur astronomer
- Nalan Hossler, Dalviss’s assistant
- Elladas Demos, smuggler, black market contact, and proprietor of Demos Leather Goods
- Tara Kidder, Head of the Goater Co-Operative
- Leeara Mulvayne, cook and huntress
- Sonarisa,
- Wendir Heyerdal, Prisoner
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Shel's first thought was to get the girl back to Dalviss and Nalan. Once she does, she quickly fills them in on what the group had discovered. . She stood by smiling as Leeara was embraced by her friends. shel then makes sure to warn both of them about the tainted water supply.
Diplomacy on Dalviss
Diplomacy on Nalan
While the group was in town; the little halfling figured the mayor should be apprised of the situation as well. "The water is tainted. I'd warn the townsfolk to not drink any more of it until we can give them the all clear sign. It does bad things to people. Best be wary."
Diplomacy with Mayor
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Not having spoken to Dalviss before and understanding the evidence for corruption came from the mines Baaldryn accompanies Shel to Dalviss and listens to their conversation to see if the man is being truthful...
Baaldryn goes to is back to the Dawnflower temple to speak to Sister Alyssia.
"I found the others who are trying to avert the corruption of your local flock. We fought some creatures who would have wrecked havoc on the town and the other heroes discovered some tainted water. You need to warn the locals on theses dangers and lead them away from whatever evil path is brewing and back to the sunlight of the Dawnflower."
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If not already stated, Wei will read through the notes Wendir transcribed through the night. Can't have that work going to waste...
Before the party starts to split up, Wei will glance to them.
"Shel, if you're going to the Mine Shaft, let Nalan know he's been heavily drugged with some sort of experimental dosage that's far worse than what Lee and Sonarisa got, something that could make him into a monstrously huge something, he'll probably need some sort of way to get rid of that poison and bolster his fortitude against it.
Wendir, could you go with Shel and the others to the Mine Shaft, you might be able to provide some good there, and at least corroborate Shel's story."
Wei will bring Sonarisa to the Sarenite temple as his first stop, probably arriving shortly after Baaldryn from having to keep the addled elf focused and covering her up somewhat with a blanket to prevent too many stares.
"Sister Alyssia, I am Wei Ji, humble student of the Master of Masters. If the circumstances were not so dire, I would humbly request this time to meditate and learn alongside the Everlight's devoted followers.
However, as you can tell by my travelling companion here, there is a foul toxin afield, that someone has been introducing to the water supply. Sonarisa was hit by a more concentrated dose, but the cultists that hit her with that dose have been introducing a slightly smaller dose over a greater period of time to all the local wells, to prepare for the arrival of some entity known as 'The Emissary' or 'The Eye'.
Unfortunately, I'm not nearly as skilled on the path of masters, so I have no direct means to intervene on Sonarisa's behalf, and she'll require nothing short of a miracle to get back to her former health. If coin, goods, or services are required in sacrifice for same, tell me what you will need and I will make it available to you."
Wei will head to the headquarters of the Greater Goater Co-Op next, and will be very insistent on getting a meeting with the head of the collective, including the method of financial incentive (no more than 50g for an 'expedited meeting').
Provided he gets access, he'll keep it short, to the point, and focused.
"I'm Wei Ji. Cutting straight to the point -- we have it from a very reliable source omeone's been poisoning the wells in Dustpawn. Your herds and people are at great risk if they've been drinking the local water for the past few weeks."
He will then very gently pull up the blanket so Tara can see the mutations that Sonarisa has.
"Sonarisa was hit with a concentrated dose of the junk. I'm not saying scatter your herds, but you might want to get them out of town and away for a while until the water is checked and verified as clean. No, I have no idea how bad it's going to be but better safe than sorry. If you have water supplies that don't come from the city proper here, it might a good idea to check them out, as well."
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Grigorii summons an aura of heroism about himself before interacting with the townsfolk, and again just before arriving at the crash site.
Grigorii talks to Enmet Kurigoss, explaining some particulars about the cursed poison and what can be done about it.
"This is black magic, very evil. It poisons the mind and corrupts the body."
"There are stories of similar circumstances, but history tells us little of how the common folk dealt with the disruption. It is not the part of the hero's tale that audiences clamor to hear."
"But, I know your town is tough and can see this through. So get yourselves organized, and look out for each other. Many of you may distrust the gods' blessings, but you will have to rely on Alyssia if events do not turn our way. Go well."
He also makes sure to impress on everyone the gravity of the situation and how it is necessary to take the threat seriously.
Gesturing toward Sonarisa, "You do not want to end up bat-crazy, do you?"
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The GM is going to sort each of these little vignettes by the NPCs involved.
If not already stated, Wei will read through the notes Wendir transcribed through the night. Can't have that work going to waste...
Before the party starts to split up, Wei will glance to them.
"Shel, if you're going to the Mine Shaft, let Nalan know he's been heavily drugged with some sort of experimental dosage that's far worse than what Lee and Sonarisa got, something that could make him into a monstrously huge something, he'll probably need some sort of way to get rid of that poison and bolster his fortitude against it.
Wendir, could you go with Shel and the others to the Mine Shaft, you might be able to provide some good there, and at least corroborate Shel's story."
Leeara raises her eyebrows at Wei’s suggestion that Wendir accompany them to the Mineshaft. “Really? ‘Cause I know that Nalan and Dalviss would tear that cultist apart for what he’s done.” As Wendir shrinks, she brightens and says, “Actually, maybe you should send him with us... That way I can keep an eye on him and make sure he hurts no one else!”
“Maybe it’s not a good idea that I go to the Mineshaft?” Wendir suggests in a small voice, looking worriedly up at you.
Shel's first thought was to get the girl back to Dalviss and Nalan. Once she does, she quickly fills them in on what the group had discovered. . She stood by smiling as Leeara was embraced by her friends.
Dalviss grabs Lee up in a bear hug, swinging the lightweight teenager around several times before setting her back down on the ground. “You scamp! Do you know how much I was worried about you? Even worse, do you know we had to eat Nalan’s cooking?” He gags in mock horror.
Nalan, with his usual verbal effervescence, merely shrugs at the insult to his cooking and tousles Leeara’s hair. “Missed ya.”
Not having spoken to Dalviss before and understanding the evidence for corruption came from the mines Baaldryn accompanies Shel to Dalviss and listens to their conversation to see if the man is being truthful.
Looking around, Baaldryn realizes that the Mineshaft is not an actual mine, but a tavern that was named that way because it was in a major mining community. Also Dalviss seems to be a fairly straight player.
Then Dalviss asks Shel, “Did Azara get away alright? Also... Who’s that guy?” Dalviss points at Baaldryn.
Shel then makes sure to warn both of them about the tainted water supply.
At the news that he has been repeatedly drugged with a substance that will turn him into a giant bestial monster, Nalan grunts and makes a face. “Knew my day was goin’ too good.”
“What do you suggest we do to prep for this?” Dalviss looks Shel in the eye. “Did you get every last one of the bastards responsible for this?”
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While the group was in town; the little halfling figured the mayor should be apprised of the situation as well. "The water is tainted. I'd warn the townsfolk to not drink any more of it until we can give them the all clear sign. It does bad things to people. Best be wary."
The Mayor eyes you suspiciously and then snorts, his left leg pawing impatiently at the floor in front of his desk. “Tainted? Tainted how? What have you got to do with it? Are you,” he snorts again, “trying to blackmail us? Make us run scared? Maybe you want to get your greedy little paws into our business!”
Grigorii summons an aura of heroism about himself before interacting with the townsfolk, and again just before arriving at the crash site.
Grigorii talks to Enmet Kurigoss, explaining some particulars about the cursed poison and what can be done about it. "This is black magic, very evil. It poisons the mind and corrupts the body."
"There are stories of similar circumstances, but history tells us little of how the common folk dealt with the disruption. It is not the part of the hero's tale that audiences clamor to hear."
"But, I know your town is tough and can see this through. So get yourselves organized, and look out for each other. Many of you may distrust the gods' blessings, but you will have to rely on Alyssia if events do not turn our way. Go well."
He also makes sure to impress on everyone the gravity of the situation and how it is necessary to take the threat seriously.
Gesturing toward Sonarisa, "You do not want to end up bat-crazy, do you?"
Then Grigorii speaks. The half-orc’s lecture on the hows and why of the black magic largely seem to go over the mayor’s head, but the tone which Grigorii uses is commanding. And when the blanket is pulled off Sonarisa’s head, the mayor yells, “Aaaaaaaccck!”
He starts snorting and running around the room as Sonarisa thump-flaps towards him. “What the --” The mayor snorts, hyperventilating for a few minutes until he calms down. “Hells! Is that gonna happen to us?” Then he looks up at you, horrified, his chest still heaving. “Oh. Crap. It’s already happening, isn’t it?”
Harsk follows Shel to the mayor. Does the town have another source of water?
“We got the wells and we got the Grackle River. The Grackle’s a little silty this time of year, though.”
Baaldryn goes to is back to the Dawnflower temple to speak to Sister Alyssia.
"I found the others who are trying to avert the corruption of your local flock. We fought some creatures who would have wrecked havoc on the town and the other heroes discovered some tainted water. You need to warn the locals on these dangers and lead them away from whatever evil path is brewing and back to the sunlight of the Dawnflower."
She pats Baaldryn's hand. "Surely the gods have sent you to us. You've done well, my friend." She frowns at the description of the tainted water. “So that’s why I’ve been spared? Because I’m too old and too lazy to haul my own water from the well?”
Alyssia sighs. “I would love to lead the town away from whatever dangers are brewing. I’ll warn as many as I can, but please know that this town distrusts the blessings of the gods. I can produce water. Gallons and gallons of it. But I’m just one person, and will they listen to me?”
Wei will bring Sonarisa to the Sarenite temple as his first stop, probably arriving shortly after Baaldryn from having to keep the addled elf focused and covering her up somewhat with a blanket to prevent too many stares.
"Sister Alyssia, I am Wei Ji, humble student of the Master of Masters. If the circumstances were not so dire, I would humbly request this time to meditate and learn alongside the Everlight's devoted followers.
However, as you can tell by my travelling companion here, there is a foul toxin afield, that someone has been introducing to the water supply. Sonarisa was hit by a more concentrated dose, but the cultists that hit her with that dose have been introducing a slightly smaller dose over a greater period of time to all the local wells, to prepare for the arrival of some entity known as 'The Emissary' or 'The Eye'.
Unfortunately, I'm not nearly as skilled on the path of masters, so I have no direct means to intervene on Sonarisa's behalf, and she'll require nothing short of a miracle to get back to her former health. If coin, goods, or services are required in sacrifice for same, tell me what you will need and I will make it available to you."
The elderly cleric bows back to the Tengu. “I’ve never met one of Irori’s flock before. Nor have I ever met a... Tengu, is it? It’s an honor to meet one who’s traveled so far.”
She studies Sonarisa for a long time before looking back at you, sadly. “I’m but a small town priestess. I have no miracles of any kind available. For that, you’d have to travel to Isger, or maybe even Absalom. What I do have is two scrolls each of remove curse and break enchantment, that I’ve been keeping for an emergency. This surely must qualify as one, yes?”
She hobbles back into her scriptorium, and hands you both the four scrolls.
“I can also offer what minor magics I can that I possess. Healing. Minor spells. Whatever I can do, you both have my support.”
]Wei will head to the goat herders headquarters of the Greater Goater Co-Op next, and will be very insistent on getting a meeting with the head of the collective, including the method of financial incentive (no more than 50g for an 'expedited meeting').
Provided he gets access, he'll keep it short, to the point, and focused."I'm Wei Ji. Cutting straight to the point -- we have it from a very reliable source someone' been poisoning the wells in Dustpawn. Your herds and people are at great risk if they've been drinking the local water for the past few weeks."
He will then very gently pull up the blanket so Tara can see the mutations that Sonarisa has.
"Sonarisa was hit with a concentrated dose of the junk. I'm not saying scatter your herds, but you might want to get them out of town and away for a while until the water is checked and verified as clean. No, I have no idea how bad it's going to be but better safe than sorry. If you have water supplies that don't come from the city proper here, it might a good idea to check them out, as well."
The office is full of posters extolling the virtues of artisanal goat products. In the distance you can smell the goat fields, and hear the incessant bleating of the herds.
Kidder is a sturdily built thirty year old woman, but she’s been twitching throughout your meeting and explanation. Despite her farm clothes, she looks a bit like a scholar who has gone with too much coffee and too little sleep for weeks. Her eyes are shadowed and haunted looking. Her gaze fades in and out on your speech, and it looks like she’s having trouble listening on your words until Sonarisa’s unveiled and then she blinks, her eyes narrowing with a sudden sharp focus. “I-I-I've s-s-seen s-something like her in my d-dreams. Sc-sc-scared the hell out of m-me.” Her eyes narrow. “I''ll g-g-g-get the w-w-word out, b-b-but w-w-w-where are they? The b-b-bastards that p-p-p-poisoned our w-w-w-wells?”
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Kiku decides to take a moment to plan out her next move, but before she can collect her thoughts, everyone has already dashed off every which-way. She closes her eyes and massages her temples, realizing there's only one place left to go.
She pauses outside Demos Leather Goods. "Hembad, Wise Grandfather. Please grant me the insight to find common ground with those different from me."
She practically tip-toes inside, all-too-aware of how little she matches the typical clientelle of such an establishment. She seeks out the proprietor, taking a moment to get a reading on them from a distance before introducing herself.
"Greetings. I apologize for the intrusion. My companions have heard that you are in the business of providing under-the-counter services and goods. This entire town is in danger, and we were hoping that you could perhaps provide some assistance. A dangerous cult has been trying to poison the water in order to transform the locals into half-animal creatures. They wish to prepare the way for some powerful 'Emissary' from the Dark Tapestry. If you wish to confirm our story, one of my companions has an unfortunate victim we have found. They should be at the Mayor's office right now, I believe."
After getting this far with her spiel, Kiku gathers some confidence, straightening her back and managing a calm smile.
"Any aid you can provide in-terms of healing items, items to cleanse water, or even to help protect the town should this Emissary arrive, we would be most appreciative. I would never dream of assuming that you would provide such aid to the town free of charge, though I and the rest of the town would be eternally grateful for such generosity."
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Responding to Dalviss, Shel skirted around his exact question, as he clearly was looking for revenge. "We got them all right. We even turned one to our side. He's been very helpful in revealing the entirety of the plans. We are still figuring out how to counteract the tainted water. We have a lead to follow up on, and hopefully we can reverse the whole process. You keep watch on Lee here, and we will be back lickety split."
Shel decided to let Grigori handle the ranting from the Mayor. She hadn't liked the response she had gotten from him, and rather than attacking him verbally, she stood there with just a slight sneer.
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The Mayor eyes you suspiciously and then snorts, his left leg pawing impatiently at the floor in front of his desk. “Tainted? Tainted how? What have you got to do with it? Are you,” he snorts again, “trying to blackmail us? Make us run scared? Maybe you want to get your greedy little paws into our business!”
Then Grigorii speaks. The half-orc’s lecture on the hows and why of the black magic largely seem to go over the mayor’s head, but the tone which Grigorii uses is commanding. And when the blanket is pulled off Sonarisa’s head, the mayor yells, “Aaaaaaaccck!”
He starts snorting and running around the room as Sonarisa thump-flaps towards him. “What the --” The mayor snorts, hyperventilating for a few minutes until he calms down. “Hells! Is that gonna happen to us?” Then he looks up at you, horrified, his chest still heaving. “Oh. Crap. It’s already happening, isn’t it?”
Grigorii remains collected and calm in the face of the Mayor's outburst, but his face mirrors Shel's in his disdain for the man.
"Yes, this is happening. And we are here to deal with it. We think the origins of this contamination can be found at the crash site not far away. Those weird prospectors were not what they seemed."
He stops for a breath, "Get your people together and safe. Pray to your gods for protection and relief. We are going to eliminate this threat."
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"The road to wisdom and knowledge is hard. I have confidence and faith in you, Wendir. You're not an idiot." And that way folks can keep an eye on him... between Sonarisa and him I can barely keep an eye ahead!
"Praise be the Dawnflower for the insight of her children in this time of need. I would suggest praying to Her for insight and guidance, for Her way for you is far different than the Way I follow, and I would not lead you astray with confusion."
"We may need these for someone who has been afflicted with a far greater dosage than even Sonarisa was given, thank you. Any we do not use will be returned, and I will be making a donation to your temple when this is done and things are settled down some."
Wei will watch the other two and the disdainful looks and bows his head slightly, murmuring a bit to himself as he does so.
"Leeara managed two of them, we apparently dealt with a leader of a small cult and several of her fellow aspirants. We're keeping an eye out for any stragglers. Also, boiling water from the local wells -- a normal plague precaution -- won't work in this regard, and might make things worse because it might vaporise the toxin and make it airborne."
"Are there any individuals that would strongly resist the direction of your office? Anyone that would try to take advantage of the situation caused by the potential chaos that needs to be dealt with, with a firm hand to keep things stable when things start happening more earnestly?"
He thinks for a moment. Proximity to the Emissary's arrival...
"If there are any small settlements to the north or west of here that your people could travel to, as many as possible until the danger clears, that might be an idea, as well."
"We *think* we got the bastards, but there may be a few stragglers out there to keep an eye out for. Try to do this on the quiet, and keep an eye out. If there are any hold-outs that are still attempting the plan, they may try to speed things up. Do not confront them, though. Let our team know, we're staying at the Mine Shaft."
"Also, do NOT boil any water to purify it. It could make the toxin airborne."
Wei will bring Sonarisa to the Mineshaft along with the scrolls. He's not as skilled with the theurgical as Kiku, so he'll hold out for her to use them as necessary on Nalan and hopefully circumvent Nalan flattening Dustpawn.
If there are any left over, he will suggest the Mayor and Tara for additional targets.
"Dalviss, is it? Wei Ji, from the Home Office. You know Dustpawn, right? Between you and Leeara, you can probably rally them best, given how the Mayor and Miss Kidder were sounding. Work with them to get the town organized-ish and off the well water and possibly out of town if that decision is made.
If you know of any miracles handy, Sonarisa could really use one. Sarenrae's priestess is a bit busy at the moment and the Master of Masters hasn't shown me that wisdom.
We have to go investigate the landing site yet, and that could get... hairy."
Kiku decides to take a moment to plan out her next move, but before she can collect her thoughts, everyone has already dashed off every which-way. She closes her eyes and massages her temples, realizing there's only one place left to go.
She pauses outside Demos Leather Goods. "Hembad, Wise Grandfather. Please grant me the insight to find common ground with those different from me."
She practically tip-toes inside, all-too-aware of how little she matches the typical clientele of such an establishment. She seeks out the proprietor, taking a moment to get a reading on them from a distance before introducing herself.
[dice=Sense Motive (psychic reading)]1d20+10+8
Demos Leather Goods operates a huge warehouse on the west side of town with a small storefront. The writing etched on the large glass windows at the front of the store advertises: Demos Leather Goods: Artisanal Leather Products for the Discerning Customer. A couple of the mannequins in the windows display pedestrian items like leather coats, hats, gloves and boots. As Kiku opens the door, the distinctive aroma of tanned leather and linseed oil wafts out, along with the words of an argument.
“What do you mean you LOST it?! How could you have lost it, you...” The conversation stops abruptly as Elladas Demos looks up. She’s a hawk-like woman, intense and fine boned, and she raises an eyebrow as she studies Kiku. “My, how interesting.” She turns and glares at the halfling she’d been talking too. “Go! Find it. And we’re NOT done here!” The halfling bolts, his clipboard raised protectively like a shield, through the back door. As he goes through, Kiku catches a glimpse of the back warehouse, with about twenty men and women packing hides hurriedly into large wooden crates.
She’s chaotic neutral, and worships no god at all.
The woman returns your assessing gaze, and then smiles. It’s a predator’s smile. “You’re new in town, aren’t you? I’m Elladas. Searching for a new look? Your current one, while... delectable... hides your best features.” She points to the left wall, where there is hanging a skimpy leather outfit that looks better suited to a Calistrian temple than a small town. You’ve seen handkerchiefs with more fabric. “You could try it on if you like. I wouldn’t mind.” Then she raises another eyebrow. “Or... were you seeking something else?”
"Greetings. I apologize for the intrusion. My companions have heard that you are in the business of providing under-the-counter services and goods. This entire town is in danger, and we were hoping that you could perhaps provide some assistance. A dangerous cult has been trying to poison the water in order to transform the locals into half-animal creatures. They wish to prepare the way for some powerful 'Emissary' from the Dark Tapestry. If you wish to confirm our story, one of my companions has an unfortunate victim we have found. They should be at the Mayor's office right now, I believe."
After getting this far with her spiel, Kiku gathers some confidence, straightening her back and managing a calm smile.
"Any aid you can provide in-terms of healing items, items to cleanse water, or even to help protect the town should this Emissary arrive, we would be most appreciative. I would never dream of assuming that you would provide such aid to the town free of charge, though I and the rest of the town would be eternally grateful for such generosity."
The whole speech has Elladas shaking her head. “My little snack, you are new at this, aren’t you?” She studies you for a few minutes. “You don’t have the stink of Cheliax on you. I don’t think you’re one of Abrogail’s spies or lapdogs, and what you just said is so utterly ridiculous it’s likely not a fabrication. So... Sweetmeat, what shall we do?”
She raps her long, talon-like fingers on the wood of her counter, coming to a decision. “I might have some ‘under-the-counter’ goods. But the price on some of them just went sky-high.”
She pulls an item out of a box from the back. It’s a clear, 1-inch thick glass orb the size of a large melon, hanging from a thick chunky chain, filled with water. There’s a cap on top that unscrews for access, but the whole thing looks unreasonably heavy and ungainly.
She holds it up, pleased. “To think... yesterday this was just an incredibly ugly and ungainly piece of magical jewelry that I could not sell. And now I can auction it off to the highest bidder!” She looks at you intently. “When did you say this Emissary was arriving? I’d like to clear my people out well before it arrives, so I’ll be looking for buyers for some of my other exotic merchandise, if you and your intrepid little company are interested?”
+1 ghost touch buckler
+1 cold iron bastard sword
+1 punching dagger
dark blue rhomboid ioun stone
restorative ointment
ring of wizardry I
scroll of cure moderate wounds
scroll of dispel magic
scroll of gust of wind
scroll of false life
wand of longstrider (50 charges)
She nods back to you. “I’ll get this lot packing faster. If you want anything... best get back to me before tonight.”
Meanwhile your various discussions with townfolk conclude and you all head back to the Mineshaft. If you want to share your information or discuss plans, now's the time.
Dalviss sighs. "You want me to organize the town?! Fine. I'll do what I can. But you guys better find this emissary."
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Kiku frowns as the savvy woman mentions raising her prices.
"It saddens me that you would see this crisis as merely an opportunity to increase profits. I will pass on the list of your inventory to my companions, though I doubt that they will be much interested in shopping with someone that raises prices in a crisis. Should this Emissary land and unleash its havoc on the town, I fear you will not have any clientelle to afford such items."
Kiku turns to leave, pausing at the door and glancing over her shoulder.
"Should we survive, the Pathfinder Society shall certainly like to know that this local establishment attempts to take advantage of its agents."
She holds her position for just long enough to give the proprietor a chance to relent, and then continues out the door.
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Elladas pauses, raising an eyebrow. "Pathfinder Society? Hold on, Sweetheart, you just got even more interesting to me. That's a rather large organization, isn't it? And I heard that you guys recently got the ability to operate here in Isger and the Cheliax Empire, but that you've been something of a thorn in Queen Abrogail's side, is that true? I could tell you stories about House Thrune that would make your toes curl."
She holds up the aquarium. "I'm not lowering the price on this little ball. Indeed, I might hang on to it to get my operation out of the area. But we might be able to make some other deals. Come back and shop, and I might even throw in the outfit on the wall as an extra."
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"Let's see if we can stock up on anything at Demos Leather Goods."
Grigorii makes his way to the smuggler's front and meets Kiku as she is leaving the store. He listens to Kiku's account of her encounter with Elladas with a dark look.
"Another scroll of dispel magic could be useful, little as I would like to do with that woman."
Grigorii slams the door open as he enters, barely disguising his anger as bravado and rough character.
As he steps over the threshold, he scans the room and its contents. His gaze lands on the woman minding the shop, and he gives her an appraising look.
As he approaches the woman, he looks around again with disinterest. "I'm looking for something a little more exotic," he says as he raises one eyebrow at the skimpy leather outfit on the left wall.
His eyes lock on Elladas again, "I've got gold for a particular kind of scroll for... dealing with troublesome magical effects. "
"My thanks. And in the future, you may not want to insult strange young women requesting your assistance. Especially, those with friends."
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Elladas sells Grigorii the scroll, but backs up involuntarily at Grigorii's words. "How was I to know that she had friends? Honestly, I was just doing business! And I didn't insult her! Far from it! I just told her she needed to freshen up her look!" She glances up at Grigorii. "That mousy look will only get her eaten alive... Though that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing..."
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"I can see that, doll." Elladas says to Harsk. "Well, unless you boys plan to do more shopping, I've got an operation to close up." Then she pauses. "Tell the delectable little mouse I wish you well. I do like this town as a base. Be a shame to lose it. Good luck." She gives you a cheery wave, and hustles you out the door.
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