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Kronas gives an emphatic nod "Quite right too! Honestly, you people should be ashamed of yourselves! Attacking us like that, and in a holy-ish place as well! For shame..." Kronas starts wagging a finger at the mage as he walks towards his fallen comrade "I mean, how did you even know where to find us? Or do you just skulk around corners, ready to jump on the first Pathfinders you see?"
Seeing that his larger Pathfinders have security in hand, Kronas proceeds to relieve the interlopers of their gear, hopping around as if it's some kind of Winterfest.
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As soon as Katswiri gives the go-ahead, the green-robed half-elf races to the side of the bleeding woman. He glances briefly at Katswiri for approval before pulling out a potion from a pouch and quickly pouring the content down the throat of Bobbi. For a heart-stopping moment it seemed that she has stopped breathing, but suddenly she starts coughing, her most deadly wounds closed. However, she remains unconscious.
"Thank you, I think she has stabilised now." Turning to Kronas, he snorts and replies cynically, "Holy place? Have you had a look around? This is a monument to losers. Ask your most holy of party mates if they detect any trace of holiness in this place." He glares at your party as you methodically relieve them of their gear, before continuing. "You can trust that we have much better things to do than scurry in such a place. The commotion you caused earlier at the Wounded Wisp. Word reached our superiors. I don't know what magic they used, but we were sent here to waylay you and take what you've found." He quickly adds on, "But not to take any lives. Our superiors do not wish to start a conflict with your Society!" He spits out bitterly, "Our lives are probably not worth it."
The orange-robed man wakes up with a start, seeing Katswiri standing over him. He rubs his side, wondering when he had injured his ribs. He looks around and quickly picks up on the situation. "ฉันเข้าใจ..." He shakes his head and tries again. "I ... I understand." He continues in a calm and soft-spoken manner, "Apologies. In the heat of battle, I'm cursed to lose my tongue. Thankfully, it is beginning to fade. I've exhausted much of my healing powers in that intense battle, but I'll see what I can do."
He glances at Bobbi first, but seeing that her breathing is regular, walks over to Talia instead. Quite carefully, and with her approval, he lays his hand on her as cold, healing energy pours into her body. With Xander's approval, he then does the same with him.
Only then does he finally approach Bobbi. Again, in his gentle voice, he comments. "Perhaps it is best to let her stay under for now. She doesn't always have a good temper, there is and no telling what more damage she would cause to her self if I awaken her."
He glances at Kronas and the half-elf. "Come, Evorian. There is no need to be bitter. They have bested us, and we would just report accordingly." He gestures the half-elf towards the still-sleeping halfling, while he squats by the side of Bobbi, getting ready to pick her up. He looks to Katswiri and asks, with a quiet confidence in his voice, "May we leave now?"
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"Just because we're green doesn't make us stupid. Take a message to your superiors that we will not be trifled with. Let's double check and make sure we aren't letting you slip out with something."
Link does a perception check against any sleight of hand to make sure no one is trying to pull a fast one over on him.
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Lincoln does not notice anything untoward that they are doing. Instead, they seem to have their hands full
Evorian, the half-elf bares his teeth, grunting in frustration. The orange-robed man, however, merely smiles self-mockingly, "I believe you and your team have pat us down quite thoroughly," as he points to the pile of gold coins and miscellaneous gear and treasure. Turning serious, "I believe we are lucky to be leaving with our lives. Our superiors perhaps might need to question their tactics of sending four against six. But who am I to question them?"
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Kronas, now standing behind Xander, pokes his head out and says "Pfft, your superiors could have sent a whole battalion and we still would have kicked your butts. Like Link said... We don't like trifles!" he glances warily at Evorian before he starts whispering to the orange-robed man "Did you know you work for the bad guys? I really think you should change jobs!"
Kronas looks around at his comrades and, making sure that Katswiri can see his lips, asks "Is everyone happy to let them go now? I know I'd prefer to deposit our find at the Lodge and celebrate with a few good drinks rather than hanging around here any longer. Plus we need to catch up on all the gossip about Sir Reinhart... Judging by what he's planning to do, he certainly sounds drunk enough to succeed!"
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The orange robed man smiles good-naturedly at Kronas. "And who shall determine good and evil? Does traipsing all over the world (and sometimes into other worlds) to claim the treasures of others for your archives count the Pathfinder Society as the good guys? Let's just say we are competitors and leave it as that. " He then turns and nod his thanks to the rest of the party. Together with Evorian, he gathers up Bobbi and Shellie and make their way out of the Shrine.
You in turn gather up the loot, checked that the notes are still intact, and make your way back to the Grand Lodge. Unlike earlier, the streets are starting to get crowded again with people returning from the Starstone Cathedral. Talk on the street is primarily on Sir Reinhart's failure at the Test of the Starstone, many clearly still horrified by his attempt to vault the chasm on horseback, which ended with both him and the unfortunate mount falling into oblivion. Perhaps he had not consumed sufficient alcohol into his system.
Back at the Grand Lodge, you find Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng in in the same easy chair by the fireplace you found him earlier today. He is fully awake this time, apparently waiting your return. As soon as he sees you enter, he gets up and strides to you.
"That you took more than half a day to return either bodes weal or woe. Did you find Eylysia's stash?" Dreng questions you, excitedly.
As you show him the stack of notes you found and describe to him the events of the day after leaving the Grand Lodge, Dreng's beaming smile gets wider and wider, first in excitement, but later in pride. He takes from you the stack of Eylysia's notes.
"Well done, my fellow Pathfinders!" he sings out in praise. "You have proven the four-hundred-year-old rumours true! And proven yourself to be worthy Pathfinders!" He adds on gleefully, "And you took the Aspis down a peg or two in the process! I'll enjoy rubbing this in their faces the next time we meet!"
Flipping through the papers, he mutters excitely, "This appears to be in some form of encrypted Azlanti. Will take us years to decipher everything!"
He then turns back to you. "As new Pathfinders, you have performed beyond expectations. I'll be speaking with Kreighton Shaine, the Master of Scrolls, to expedite your Confirmation. Good job! Please now, go have a well-deserved rest! Tell Heryn to put your drinks today on my tab!" Grinning cheekily, he then hands Link a note. "And Link, apparently a priestess of Pharasma is expecting your presence there tonight at the eighth hour past noon. You can put your date on my tab, too!" He then turns back and starts scanning through the papers.
As you reach the door though, he suddenly calls you back. "Wait. Eylysia left behind a letter, in Azlanti but unencrypted. You might want to hear this." He then recites it to you.
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To you who are now reading this,
I trust you are members of the Pathfinder Society, for the clues I have laid throughout the city would have only been uncovered by those familiar with its workings. If I was in error though, I can only ask for your assistance not to disturb the rest of the room, and to deliver this note to the Grand Lodge. The gem I have placed here would be sufficient compensation, I hope.
Within this room are numerous findings that I have put together from my years of travels and exploration. Findings that I did not report to the Pathfinder Society. That I have not done so would be deeply frowned upon by many Society members, and indeed a number suspect me of hoarding my discoveries. Including my dear old friend Selmius. I can only reiterate what I have been putting forth on numerous occasions. Uncovering of knowledge is a noble goal, and is an endeavour that I have dedicated my life to in the Pathfinder Society. However, I stand firm that some knowledge must remain secrets, at least for a time, as their uncovering would lead to untold damage to innocents. Herein are information that could topple kingdoms, disgrace the honored and disillusion the faithful. As such, I keep these secreted away here, in the hopes that they only come to light generations in the future. When the ones implicated have passed. When such information are no longer damning but would be mere curiosities.
If my attempts to hide them long enough are unsuccessful, I can only beseech you to look through the documents in fine detail first before submitting them. And I can only look to your conscience to decide whether releasing these information would do more harm than good.
And Selmius, I am truly sorry that my acts have driven a wedge into our friendship. With your untimely demise, I have lost the chance to explain my actions, and so I lay it down in this letter. I know you would never have agreed with my actions, so I can only seek your understanding. May you rest in peace.
- Eylysia, 4412
Dreng sighs deeply. "Yes, indeed. Knowledge can be dangerous in the wrong hands. And who knows if ours are the right ones. But with almost four hundred years from when Eylysia hid these away, I trust that the time is now right for them to come to light. Since you were instrumental into turning these up, I'll keep you informed if we find anything of interest."
He turns back to his papers, but suddenly looks up as if remembering something. "But wait! Did you remember my wine this time?"