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Before you stand a short (for a human) man. He has a longbow strung over his shoulder and a quiver overstuffed with arrows. His neutral colored clothing looks more at home in the forest than anything else. On his other shoulder is a hawk, perched and so still that at first you think it might be asleep, or worse, dead. Thankfully, you realize that the more you stare at it that it appears to be meditating or something. In any event, he is very well trained.
Celas, however, doesn't say anything, he just nods his head in your direction.
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A member of the snake-like Nagaji walks through the door. His skin is green and scaly, and the large smile across his face helps ease the discomfort of those who meet his yellow eye slits. As he walks towards the group, his clothes shift to reveal a large, scaleless, birthmark on his shoulder in the shape of a rhino. The earthbreaker hung across his back seems fitting for an adventurer, though the hoe and shovel do seem a tad out of place.
"I hope I'm not late! This is my first time in Absalom and I sorta got lost."
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You each received word from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin to meet him first thing this morning in his office in Skyreach which is located on the grounds of the grand Lodge in Absalom’s Foreign Quarter.
Seated behind a large, antique desk in his wood-paneled office, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin looks up from the pile of papers before him and shuffles them to one side. “Perfect timing! Welcome Pathfinders!”
Clearing his throat, he continues ”I had an interesting conversation with the Master of Spells Aram Zey yesterday. An old friend—Lady Darchana, Archdean of the Arcanamirium here in Absalom—contacted Master Zey. She's a council member on the Low Council, too. It seems her dinner party last week had an unexpected guest: a handmaiden of her fancy guest's had picked up a scrying sensor somewhere. When Lady Darchana learned that someone was attempting to eavesdrop on her party, she used her magic to trace the sensor back to its source. It sounds as though she didn't learn anything conclusive, and she's interested in bringing in an independent party to try and learn more. Master Zey agrees.”
He gives you a serious look, ”Make no mistake, this is an excellent opportunity for you to impress a well-connected friend of the Society. Lady Darchana requested that the Pathfinders call upon her at her estate in the Petal District once they learn something of the origins of this servant. The owner of the handmaiden is named Lady Silviana Dimora. Lady Silviana isn't a councilmember or the like—at least not yet. From what I understand, though, she is an up-and-comer who is rubbing elbows with all of the right people, and she likely has little knowledge of where the slave was purchased. I recommend speaking to her majordomo Milana about the handmaiden, or you can pay a visit to her solicitor, a Chelish fellow named Salbus over in the Coins.”
Having finished he looks at you expectantly ”Questions?”
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Shalendra Yllaban sits comfortably in one of the seats as she listens to the briefing. "Can you tell us more about the two contacts Milana and Salbus? You don't think Lady Silviana Dimora was involved in the scrying and blaming her handmaiden?"
The blond elf shakes her head. "More slaves. Why does it always involve slaves when I have a mission from the Society?"
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Ambrus answers Celas' question first "The scrying sensor was centered on a handmaiden owned by Lady Silviana Dimora. Usually the scryer has to know about the subject or have some item which is connected to the subject in order to scry successfully."
looking at Lumo, "Unfortunately, no. The Society has no connections with ether Milana or Salbus."
Thinking for a moment before answering Shalendra, "I'll I know is that Milana is Lady Silviana's majordomo which is the chief steward of her household. Salbus is solicitor who handles Lady Silviana's legal affairs he would most likely have dealt with the purchase of her handmaiden. Yes, slave ownership is legal in Absalom, though not widespread."
Ambrus takes a breath before continuing, "As for Lady Silviana Dimora sense she was at the dinner party why would she need to scryer her own handmaiden? You're mission is to investigate the origins of this servant and report to Lady Darchana once you have solid information.
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Ambrus furrows he eyebrows, "The sensor isn't so much as placed as created when the scry spell is casted. It would last for however long then vanish. Then when the scryer cast the spell again on the target the invisible sensor would again be created. The sensor isn't a physical object only a magical point to see and hear from."
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Ambrus answers Doldrak, "I don't know if the handmaiden is still with Lady Silviana."
"Sounds like you have a plan, Good luck Pathfinders." With that Ambrus dismisses the meeting.
Heading into the The Coins Quarter, the group locates an office on the ground floor of a two story building that houses several different professions and merchants. A small plaque with an Asmodean pentacle and an inscription reading "Red Letter Solicitor Salbus" hangs outside.
As the office door opens, a small bell chimes overhead. Inside, the cramped space holds a meticulously organized bookshelf and a rosewood desk. Seated at the desk, a middle-aged Chelish man with short red hair and a widow’s peak peers intently at a sheaf of legal documents as he carefully copies out key clauses, then acknowledges his visitors. He looks up from his work with a slight smirk on his thin lips and introduces himself. “Solicitor Solvius Salbus. What brings you across my threshold this glorious day? Though I must warn you, given my current workload, accepting new clients may not be possible at this time.”
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The elf, reluctant to say anything so far, speaks up.
"We have no time to make an appointment. We simply need to investigate this matter further immediately. It would go much smoother and faster if we had your cooperation. I think my companions here would agree."
Glexit tries to be polite , but also puts some urgency in his voice.
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Salbus seems to take a dislike to Celas's authority voice, but Lumo's continued diplomatic smile and charm convinces the man to help your group.
Grimacing slightly, the Chelaxian spreads his hands to admit defeat. “Ordinarily I would not speak of privately executed contracts with an unaffiliated third party,”
Solvius says before patting a folded paper on his desk. “However Lady Silviana had a letter delivered to me prior to her departure for Taldor, authorizing me to disclose to the deputized agents of Lady Darchana the identity of the chattel merchant. Mahjub Mahdi is the purveyor in question and can be found at the northern end of Misery Row. His private shop is called Mahdi's Chattel. It's a step up from the Slave Pits to be sure—a much more orderly experience, a very fine display parlor with excellent lighting, and he always keeps excellent wines on hand. I trust you will treat him with the respect that he deserves.”
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Salbus waves you out as he returns to his paper work.
The group makes their way to Misery Row. The street is an enormous, elevated platform that runs along the eastern edge of the Coins district, and serves as the main destination to buy and sell slaves in Absalom. The cages are set into the platform such that slavers and prospective buyers can walk over the pits to inspect the merchandise easily. The massive wooden platform is well worn by foot traffic, and is active all hours of the day and night.
It is well known that the Token guards responsible for patrolling this part of the city, intervene only in particularly egregious crimes or those they’re paid to investigate. As a result, petty criminals have numerous opportunities to ply their craft.
A many-windowed storefront positioned to catch the eye of discerning buyers is located along the platform. A hanging sign identifies the single-story building with large, full-length windows as “Mahdi’s Chattel Absalom’s Finest.” Heavy curtains are drawn over all of the windows—one of which has been smashed—and a small painted sign that reads “Closed” hangs over the latch of the door. The door is not completely closed and shows signs of scratches and damage to the wood around the latch.
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Sensing something isn’t right Lumo draws his weapon.
Shalendra hears the sound of breaking items and calls for the others to enter.
Narkas didn’t hear a thing.
Lumo enter through the unlocked door.
Celas confirms hearing something break and readies his bow.
Also hearing it, Glexit heads for the door stopping to cast mage armor on himself.
Doldrak trusting the others draws his axe and follows Lumo
Not to be left out Narkas draws his rapier and enters the door.
Inside Mahdi’s Chattel is pleasantly decorated. An Andoren rug lies over the polished wooden floor of the entryway, and a small decorative table holds a curious stone statue. The eastern half of the room is in slight disarray, apparently from light renovations that are nearly complete. The main room is empty, but a door leads to another room where there is more sounds of muffled angry voices and things breaking.
Continuing forward Lumo reaches to interior door first and opens it revealing a large office that doubles as a private parlor for Mahjub Mahdi to conduct his legal but objectionable business. The room’s furnishings consist of a round table with two comfortable chairs, a desk with a metal-banded strongbox beneath it, and a refreshment cart. Two paintings hanging on the north wall both depict the bustling harbor of Katheer. Your entry interrupts four people within in the room.
A merchant looking fellow in light brown robes with a beard and facial tattoos, An angry half-orc who has the merchant by the collar and seems to be threatening the merchant with bodily harm. Then two thugs who seem to be guarding the door.
One of the thugs calls out ”Mezuk, we have company!”
Mezuk the angry half-orc snarls at you ”Leave now and mind your own business if you know what’s good for you.”
Turning his attention back to the fearful merchant ”Mahdi, you're late on our payment to the Sanguine Beast! I’m here to collect one way or another! So, pay up.”
[Round 1: Bold may act]
Glexit:
Celas:
Mezuk:
Thugs:
Thugs:
Lumo:
Narkas:
Shalendra:
Doldrak:
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"I believe you have that wrong. If you leave now it will be beneficial to your health. Now we make it our business."Glexits eyes begin to glow and he concentrates. He lifts his hands and points at the thug(orange) and a heaping glob of acid is shot from his fingertip.
Maybe they will stay. Then I will show my true power.
"Do you still wish to stay?Glexit smiles at the thought.
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Celas sends an arrow into the Thug in orange wounding him.
Glexit does the same using a magic spitball of acid.
The Thug in Green pulls his short sword and stabs at Lumo whom is still flat-footed, but he misses anyway.
The wounded Orange Thug pulls out an acid flask and hurls it at Glexit, it falls short landing in the square in front of Lumo splashing on Lumo, and both thugs.
Mezuk releases Mahdi by shoving him in the corner, then moves forward drawing his Heavy mace and points it at intimidatingly at Celas ”I said Shove off Mate, mind your own business!”. The threat chills Celas’s spine for a moment.
to hit
to hit
DC 13 Shaken for 1 round +1 per 5 over. Shaken –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Glexit:
Celas: (Shaken -2 att, saves, skills for 1 round.)
Mezuk:
Thug orange: 5+3+1=9 dam
Thug green: 1 dam
Lumo: 1 dam
Narkas:
Shalendra:
Doldrak: