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Misarru looks at the different ropes and pulleys arranged close by.
"Throwing a rope onto the hook seems like a good idea Artix." Now where is one that's long enough?"[/b]
Misarru will look for a rope that's long and strong enough to reach the hook from the ground and a weight (pulley or something) so the rope goes down the other side when thrown over the hook.
"Let's see if this works.", he moves closer to the hole in the floor and tries to throw the rope over the hook.
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Feeling the strange healing magic running through his body as his leg mends.
"Thank you, Sparkle. That is an unusual healing magic, feels different than the type I am use to, but I can not deny the effect." A strange smile comes to Artix's face as he looks from Orin back to Sparkle. "I do suppose I could get the gnome up there. That is a possibility Orin, but lets see if we can not work something else out."
Artix offers up the pulley he found and watches as Misarru readies himself to try and get the rope over the hook.
Misarru succesfully throws the rope the way he had intended. The party can continue with their plan.
One of the planks under Misarru's feet wobbles, and Misarru tries to keep his balance.
By using his tail Misarru easily regains his balance. He now stands halfway the plank.
Again, Misarru almost loses his balance.
He's able to regain his balance though, but only after stepping back.
Sure of his own skill in walking planks, Misarru tries again and this time succeeds on reaching the crate.
Misarru has an easier time walking the plank this time, and arrives safely at the lever. He pulls the lever and the crate's dragged from the small platform it rests on, and places the crate safely in front of Sparkle's feet.
Eager to see what's inside, Sparkle opens the crate. The rescued crate holds a smaller mahogany box inside, which contains five books and a few loose sheets of paper in a leather folder. The titles and subjects seem completely unrelated to each other: Practical Thaumaturgy In Accordance with Creation, Geographic Anomalies of the Inner Sea, Under Kaer Maga: A Trial and Travel, Physiology of Dragons: An Illustrated Reference, Lost Sarusan. The leather folder contains cargo manifestos, warehouse inventories, and other financial logs from a dozen different merchant houses and trade guilds.
The crate also contains 10 sets of masterwork thieves’ tools, three flasks of alchemist’s fire, a flask of acid, a dozen jars of various inks, a footprint book*, adamantine weapon blanch*, three bags of powder*, a deck of marked cards*, and two sets of average loaded dice*.
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"A strange assortment of books, but at least we have what Karela wanted."
"Well we were told to take whatever else we could use from the crate and warehouse. Better than letting it all go to waste." Artix will grab one of the vials of alchemist fire and a bag of powder. He then heads to where he saw the composite longbow and slings it over his back.
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Misarru makes note of the books in a small journal he keeps and notes the owner of the Pickled Imp as the new holder of these volumes. He then takes the deck of marked cards and the sets of loaded dice, thinking he could make them work to his advnatage when he's on a break. He also quickly pockets the masterwork thieves's tools, only saying:
"Things like these should be handled by an expert."
While discussing how to divide the loot, the party travels back to the Pickled Imp. Here they deliver the items Guaril requested.
"Ah, you're back!", Guaril says as the party enters his shop. "Did you find what I requested from the warehouse?"
The party gives the shopkeeper the items, and his face brightens. "Ah, thank you! I take it you didn't run into any difficulties? No? good! I'll have Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin know you completed this request."
Before the party can get in a word, Guaril urges them to leave. Back on the street, the party has to decide where to go next.
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Artix looks to the group and back to the shop. "Well I guess we should decide where to go next. I believe the Ascendant Court is the closest to us at the moment." He looks up at the sky trying to judge how much time they have to complete the mission. "Hmmm we might want to hurry, if we are to complete the other tasks in time."
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"Agreed, the fastest route is the most desirable one if we want to impress Ambrus. I for one would like to get a good first impression so we can start of an bigger adventures after that."
Misarru says as he pockets the last few of his new items.
"To the Ascendant Court we go." And those orphanage brats...
At the center of the City at the Center of the World lies the Ascendant Court—Absalom's religious hub, the site of ascension of four gods, and the final resting place of the Starstone itself. The Ascendant Court is the religious center of Absalom, holding the preponderance of the city's temples as well as the cathedral of the Starstone Located at the physical center of Absalom, it serves as a hub between other districts: all roads in the Ascendant Court lead to the Starstone.
Not far from the Starstone Cathedral one can find a number of major temples such as Sarenrae's Temple of the Shining Star. When the party gets closer to the Temple of the Shining Star, they get a feeling something’s wrong.
Arriving at the Temple of the Shining Star, you’re immediately directed to Ollysta Zadrian. This paladin of Sarenrae is young in her years, but holds herself with the poise of a queen and warrior simultaneously. As she notices the party’s arrival, she strides forward, addressing the group in a strong voice.
”Thank the light of Sarenrae you have arrived! I knew Ambrus would come through for us in the Silver Crusade. I desperately need you to bring medicine to an orphanage and let me know if the headmistress, Gilga Baltwin, is deserving of our charity. Since our quest began, the needy have clamored for our aid, and I suspect some are abusing our generosity. It may sound cruel, but there are plenty of dishonest people out in the world eager for easy gold.”
”Do you know of the Silver Crusade? After discovering so many factions splintered the Society, a number of us banded together to proliferate the cause of charity and kindness using the Society’s resources. As it is said, ‘The Dawn brings new light’ and I’ve made it my life’s work to use our recent darkness to bring a new light to the world and to the Pathfinder Society. I apologize for straying off point. Will you bring this parcel of medicine to Auntie Baltwin’s Home for Recovery in the Eastgate district?”
Ollysta think for a moment before she answers. "I don't have any information to give you. My advise would be to ask the locals for information while on your way to the orphanage. My guess is they will know more. Once at the orphanage, you might want to ask the kids some questions too."
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"If that is what we must do to get your approval, we will do so."
This might get more fun and interesting than I initially thought, gathering intel to see if someone isn't a swindler. Well takes one to know one I'd think.
"Of course we hope that 'Auntie Baltwin' is in proper need of those medicines, not for personal gain."
He grins at the young paladin, smiling his wicked smile as he knows the paladins aren't quite overjoyed with his kind.
When the party has no more questions for Ollysta, they will leave the Temple of the Shining Star. Before the party heads to Auntie Baltwin’s Home for Recovery, they may wish to ask around about the orphanage and the headmistress’s quality of character.
Nearly swarming with cats and children, this fine upper-class home appears to be clean and in good condition considering the number and ages of its inhabitants. Three young boys shoot marbles in the dirt near the side porch, and inside strewn toys and more cats lie about on the floors. A few children take care of chores, while coughs and sneezes softly erupt from the children’s dormitories upstairs.
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Misarru will ask any people they meet close to the orphanage and children as well for possible illegal activities or fraud of Auntie Baltwin.
Misarru mulls this over before speaking to the others about it.
"The way people speak about this lady Baltwin, she can afford good alcohol and sends the children 'off to town'. Seems to me like she might be having a few things on the side, else she couldn't afford such luxuries with so many kids. Either that or she's filthy rich to begin with, but then she could have bought medicine herself I'd wager."
Misaaru walks into the Recovery Home and looks to the children shooting marbles. He grins and walks over to them. He begins doing small talk, asking their names and talking about shooting marbles himself when he was a kid, he entertains them with his nimble fingers and conjures up marbles, exchanges them with coins and lets them check in which hands he's got them.
"Now you try and try to fool me." It's a simple test to see if they have the pickpocket skills he thinks they might have.
"So I hear you go out to town everyday, what do you do there? Play around? What kind of games?"
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"Seems like she can be quiet the demanding person, and she likes her drinks. I'm not entirely sure on what this 'off to town' is, but it could be something."
Artix looks over the large and well kept house and down to the children playing.
"The home does seem very well maintained for having so many little ones. That does bring up some concerns."