Fendel easily opens the door and sees a cramped space designed to keep a creature safe, not comfortable. The man inside blinks as the light is let in the blade in his hand ready to strike. He dressed in fine but crumpled clothes that complement his light green skin, and his usually well-trimmed beard is becoming scraggly from several days without maintenance.
Not seeing the inevitable he expected the tiefling blinks again. "Oh. It's you." He lowers his blade, without dropping his guard completely. "Uhmmm," he clears his throat. "Who are you?"
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Sai peers in around the two shadowy men, and upon seeing the bedraggled man inside she slowly walks forward, saying, "Carlin Nestor. Well met. A mutual friend sent us to help you with your current predicament. She said you would welcome the assistance."
It is not as direct as is normal for me, but it will likely have a mollifying effect on both parties and remain expedient.
"Mutual friend? She?" The man is clever and quickly deduces Qalqmai. "She sent help to me? She sent help to me." he answers his own question with pleasant surprise. He adopts a friendly banter when the errand is explained to him.
“Among other things I do, I arrange sale of certain ingestibles—alchemicals, potions, or stronger—to a whole load of different places. Everything I deal in is strictly legal here in Zjarra, and I don’t bother concerning myself with where they get taken after a sale, see? One day, outta nowhere, this walking tin can Grunyar Cragfell shows up, says that some of his friends died from my wares and he’s tracked ‘em back to me, and he means to make me pay. I tell him I ain’t done nothin’ wrong, an’ he doesn’t have any authority here in Zjarra, see, but he won’t hear of it, and tries to arrest me. ‘Cept it’s not really ‘arrest,’ since he ain’t got no authority here; it’s just kidnapping. I defend myself, and he winds up bleeding out. Somehow, local law enforcement finds out, and they’ve been looking for an excuse to take me down for years—not for anything I peddle, but for certain other activities I get up to—so they bring it to trial. They don’t have a leg to stand on, and I wind up getting acquitted. Just when I think it’s all behind me, another tin can—more literally this time—shows up and tries to arrest me for ‘murdering’ this Grunyar fella.”
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Without turning to face Milton, Sai says without emotion, "Milton, you can wait outside if you can't behave."
Expecting the rest of the group will be more professional, Sai then continues to speak with Carlin before much damage can be done, "Let us focus on the business at hand. It was made clear that you could provide more information on the inevitable named Tavar, so that we could best handle the situation. Please continue and tell us all you know about Tavar."
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"Behave? I am not sure I understand your point? How is being straightforward and honest with Carlin here not the just thing to do? Awen, it was justice you were after right?"
Milton pulls out his card...
"Carlin, I am a barrister, would you like to retain my services to litigate this matter on your behalf?"
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I swear I will send this little wanna be devil to Asmodeus....smug, self-serving...self-agrandising....I need a drink. "Don't mind Milton here, he has self esteem issues that stem from events long before he got here...and will last well in to the future as I understand. He just wants you to know that you can trust as we are being candidly straight forward by honestly stating some of our team have expressed reservations about those who flaunt justice. We have all agreed however, to hear your side and see how we can fullfil our obligation." Two. I need two drinks.
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Carlin was beginning to speak freely about his other enterprises until Milton interrupted. Can he be steered back to this? It is not of vital importance but it is something that Awen and our Liaison at the embassy urged us for, and Awen has not actively tried to derail a pathfinder mission. Awen is more valuable presently. Milton is not necessary to the mission. Milton is an active detractor to the mission. It will be difficult to dispose of Milton's remains without alerting the others. Sai ponders the situation in her mind while she quietly waits for Carlin to respond.
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Awen grits his pointed teeth in aggravation as Milton throws the proverbial ox cart squarely upon him. "I said that I was after justice, yes. I also said that I would listen to the whole story. This version has quite a bit more detail than the story given to us by Yasmin. In fact, all that Yasmin said was that he had been tried for murder, not that he was hunted and defending himself. I actually agree with him on this one. A tool is just a tool.. it is not the smith's responsibility to look after what nails get punched after he sells it. Perhaps instead of trying to scare up clients and throw your team to the wolves, we should hear the man out." his startlingly bright azure eyes bore into the teifling with a cold glare.
Just because [i]that was legal, doesn't mean that the man shouldn't have to face other charges.. I wonder what these "other activities" are[/i] Awen wonders to himself.
Turning back to Carlin, Awen hopes to kill two birds with one stone when he redirects the conversation. "As you were saying, Carlin.. you were telling us of your other activities?"
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Milton puts on his "offended" look. "Scare up clients? How dare you? Mr. Nestor is being chased by an inevitable. Those things are absolute servants of the law; quite beautiful really. However, this one appears to have its program mixed, and short of violence, I see that my particular skills are exactly what is needed here to protect him from death's embrace. As for his other activities, well, Carlin has not yet retained me for services, so it would be inappropriate for me to advise him on how to handle those subjects."
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While the conversation attempts to get it self back on the rails, the detective takes this time to observe both the man, and his 'residence'.
His trained eyes take in Carlin's reaction to talk of the inevitable and blunt conversation about the man's relative innocence. His gaze also seeks out any evidence to support the claim that, 'Everything I deal in is strictly legal here in Zjarra'.
It is clear the man Carlin stabbed died. It is also clear, that the court tried him and found nothing illegal about the kill. It wasn't the knife-wound that killed the man, but exposure to the elements in this hot city.
The room offers very little amenities so it is very difficult gather much information about him or his wares. I might be 10 ft deep, if only 5 ft across. From his chatty nature however, it becomes clear that he has a code of ethics including a loyalty to friends and clients.
"Here's the thing see, Carlin agrees with Qalkami, "I’d prefer to see Tavar destroyed, see. But I'm happy to let you try to talk the inevitable down instead, if you prefer." Either way, he says "Qalkami has a perfect meeting spot, a warehouse she uses just for this sort of thing. See, I can spread word through my underground connections that he’ll be there at a certain time, see. So you can meet the inevitable and get the job done.
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"Setting up a meeting cannot hurt. Indeed, it would hasten the process. Perhaps I could ask around... to find more confirmation about your story in order to employ a more convincing argument to your pursuer. I also would like to know more about this warehouse, its location, and what may be stored there currently as I have no wish to be caught with an contraband."
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"I agree with Nivik. We should balance speed and information gathering to be the most effective. We should consider the following," and Sai faces Carlin and begins to tick off 3 of her fingers
First, knowing more information of your other enterprises will be useful in case Tavar is aware of more than you realize. Second, while I am sure we can handle one lone inevitable, there is a chance that it has placed some contingency where, upon its demise or failure, another inevitable will take its place. And third, as I requested earlier, please provide us with more information on Tavar. We were made aware that it is damaged but nothing specific was said. To the best of your knowledge, what is the extent of this damage?"
She then turns back to her group and continues.
"I recommend we plan for talking with it first to ascertain the full extent of its plans, and to convince it to leave Carlin alone based on the facts at hand. Should it become apparent that the best option is to destroy Tavar we can then proceed with that option."
Fendal's check on the inevitable: Originally invented and forged in the Outer Planes by the axiomites, inevitables are living machines whose sole purpose is to seek out and destroy agents of chaos wherever they can. Kolyarut track and punish those who break contracts. They are enforcers of bargains, traveling to the very edges of the planes in order to punish oath-breakers and see that contracts are kept.
"How is it damaged? It has sparks coming out of its head, wires that don't connect to anything and it makes a funny zha zha zha sound right in the middle of its words. Like: 'I've come to kizhazhazahll you citizen.' Plus its crazy chasing me and I been lawfully acquitted."
The party flatters the scoundrel enough that he gives the 'backwater material planar types' a bit of bravado concerning his skills. He has quite a resume of robbery, smuggling, surveillance, and blackmail, though he regularly mentions his personal code of conduct that casts his actions in a more acceptable light; it’s a spotty set of standards at best, though it does at least convey that he values honor among thieves and loyalty to his employers.
It seems clear that he has not had anyone to talk to for several days with the way he carries on.
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"Huh. Well I do know a thing or two about things that break," Adeah puts in, thinking about her musket. "It's usually better to just fix them-- much cheaper that way-- but since we're not the ones who bought the thing..." She shrugs. "Not our fault if it winds up in pieces, because hey, it was already broken."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The location of the warehouse is just beyond a square with a statue lined fountain. As you approach the warehouse and hear Milton say:
Hey! Let's go, there's an inevitable to piss off!
One of the statues surrounding the fountain turns to the offending voice. "Mission" it says in a chattering stone-on-stone voice, "Accomplished."
Then it swings a massive stone hilted blade and metallic fist at the barrister., , ,
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Has the party decided to undermine the task, that is gather other information the locals can use to make an arrest?
Oh, I definitely want to bring this guy down. Fendel is an investigator for a reason after all.
Knowledge, Local: 1d20 + 20 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 20 + (5) = 39
Fendel sees the speed with which the hunter attacks. Now that he has seen it, he tries to recall all he knows about this ...entity.
The warehouse door is unlocked. It is a small warehouse and shows few signs of use. Most of the shelves are bare, with only a few boxes and parcels here and there.
One of the statues surrounding the fountain turns to the offending voice. "Mission" it says in a chattering stone-on-stone voice, "Accomplished."
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Once outside of Carlin's safe house, Sai says to the group, "Whatever your plans are for once we get to the warehouse, I suggest we include time to limit the warehouse entry points from outside via barricades, even as simple as crates and boxes, stacked up outside. This should encourage Tavar to enter from the point we find most to our advantage. Since Tavar is damaged it may ignore this and break through a barrier, including a wall, so keep this in mind."
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Sai takes up a position in the north eastern corner inside the warehouse, leaving her plenty of room to engage the inevitable no matter his entry point. She takes out her wand of shield and keeps it at the ready in her left hand, ready to trigger it should Tavar turn violent. As it gets close to the appointed time, she focuses her will and her skin takes on a tougher texture. She crouches down and waits silently for her team to prepare and the inevitable to arrive.
Fendal's check on the inevitable: Originally invented and forged in the Outer Planes by the axiomites, inevitables are living machines whose sole purpose is to seek out and destroy agents of chaos wherever they can. Kolyarut track and punish those who break contracts. They are enforcers of bargains, traveling to the very edges of the planes in order to punish oath-breakers and see that contracts are kept.
The pathfinders have a chance to maximize the storage crates to their best advantage, setting up a wall for some to shoot over, and a stack to strangle any flanking attempts. There is not much to work with, however there is only one entrance.
As the city clocks chime the appointed hour a darkly dressed figure approaches the warehouse. It is man shaped, but appears to be part machine and part statue. The creature has seen some action as its body is cracked and chipped. It stops outside with a horrible grinding noise and a shower of sparks shoots from its head. It ignores both raises an open palm.
"Carlin Nestor, I am an officer of the lawzhalawzhalaw law. I demand your immediate surrenderzha ...officer of the lawzhalawzhalaw... surrender. For the murder of Grunyar Cragfell you shall be taken to heaven to face justice."
Nivik holds up an amulet of proof against detection and location.
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On the way, Awen speaks with Sai regarding his experiences setting up hunting blinds and traps. Upon arrival, he pitches in, setting up a barricade across from the door, and another along one side, setting up a L shaped barricade to provide cover on two sides with ingress and egress points for those sheltering behind them. He finds places in the corners to either side of the door and spends what time he can camouflaging his friends so that the owlbear and dog can stay hidden and attack with advantage. Finally, he takes up a post across the room from the door and behind the barricade. He leans his longsword up against the barricade next to him, and sets out a string of arrows.
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Not sure what to expect, but seeing the careful preparations her allies are taking, Adeah assumes inevitables must be powerful beings. She takes up behind a bookshelf in direct line of sight to the door. She unslings her musket, and when the door opens she trains it on the doorway.
"Huh. So that's what a broken voice-machine sounds like." She had never built, or really encountered, anything more complex than her musket. "Yea, definitely sounds broken to me. Even if Hidey-Hole is still guilty of something, I don't think we can trust the word of that thing."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Sai is thankful for Awen's hunting knowledge and she says so, though her words are still as emotionless as ever, "I appreciate what you have done with this urban camouflage. You are quite skilled. This should help us if diplomacy fails."
She then backs away quickly to her planned position and waits for Tavar to arrive.
and waits...
and waits...
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As the city clocks chime the appointed hour...
Sai remains still, listening to the erratic and obviously broken inevitable's speech. Her hand grips the shield wand firmly, ready to activate it at the first indication of violence.
She thinks to herself, "Fendel said this is a living construct, not like a golem or clockwork. Does that mean it has a soul? No matter. We shall see whether Nethys has seen darkness or light for this encounter."
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Milton addresses the inevitable, "It would seem that your programming is having problems law enforcer. Your stuttering is one indicator. Another is that you are pursuing a sentient that has been found not guilty according to the laws of this locale. It is for you to enforce the laws of each different area of the multiverse independently, and not to espouse the laws of one plane or city upon another. By the laws of this locale, Carlin Nestor has been tried and released pursuant to those laws, and as an inevitable, you must abide by that decision. Will you do so?"