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Kara looks at the implements of sexual bondage (she may be sheltered, but she's not innocent) and considers the imp's last words with a shudder.
Well, that's an image I can't not see in my mind now.
She also looks a little disappointed at how quickly the imp was dispatched, although pleased to at least be teamed with competent (if somewhat impulsive and/or condescending) teammates.
Zarta takes a look at the dagger, then at Lizbeth.
"Well, you can keep that trinket, if you were to come back later for more... Enjoyment..."
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Kara. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Kara shows Lizbeth the note.
I believe he's some sort of Osirian nobleman, but frankly their various sultans and shahs and emirs and sahibs I find quite confusing. We need only not embarrass the Society and seal the deal with him.
You make your way to the rich estate of Grand Councilmember Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by a guard who is expecting you as you reach the tall, wrought-iron gate. Once you are inside, a servant steps forward, bows and adresses you.
"Master Salhar is not currently present, as he was called away on important Council business, but his most trusted advisor is available to negotiate any business you may require"
He then leads you deeper into the mansion, past well appointed rooms, before stopping at a simple study. Inside, a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. As you approaches the open door, the wise sage silently gestures you into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading. Once you are all inside the study, he addresses the group.
"Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say.
Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet.
Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room.”
The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.
Amenopheus briefly looks up from his book.
"Well, let's call it a test, shall we. I always find it interesting to see what the newest crop of Patfinders are capable of."
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The Gray creature dutifully turns to follow the servant, Shadowfang at his side.
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Sauntering into the mansion's grounds, it almost looks as if Lizbeth was planning to case the joint with the attention she paid to the various trappings of wealth displayed, truth is she was simply curious and enjoyed good art. As the servant led them to the advisor, Lizbeth gives the man a sweeping bow Old man Amenopheous eh? Captain didn't have much to say about him.
"Being forewarned is being forearmed, any hints, subtle as they may be, about the nature of this test?"
Once everyone is ready, Lizbeth follows the servant.
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A test inside another test. This day is becoming more interesting for moments. Says Pyrgo pondering what kind of test it can be.
He could want to see how we will face against traps, or maybe a more subtle test to see if we can treat their ancestors relics with the proper respect.
Once Amenopheus had answered Lizbeth questions in one way or another, Pyrgo will talk to his companions. Would you mind if this time we make a less "bold" actuacion?
Amenopheous dismisses Lizbeth's question with a wave of his hand.
"If I told what is in store for you, where would the fun be?"
At Lebraerio's Osirian phrase, he just smiles and gestures to the door.
After leaving Amenopheus’ study, the servant brings you back through the spacious estate, leading you down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a couple turns, you end up at a plain wooden door. The servant opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow, and waits silently for you to enter.
The plain stone room contains three chests: a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood; a red lacquered chest; and what looks to be a cube of solid steel. Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.
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Lizbeth keeps the smile on her face as Amenopheous answers her questions with a casual air of dismissal Jackass is the thought through her mind as she makes her way to the basement with the servant. Her initial look at the room makes her smile wide.
"Well, this is interesting! Right in my ball park!"
Carefree she wanders into the room and looks aroundfor anything she has missed before indicating the chests.
"I can see about getting them... Free of their contents, but I just don't have the patience to look over them carefully. Would anyone mind?"
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The gray thing allows himself and his wolf to be ushered all around the house without saying much. When they reach the room with the chests, he and Shadowfang walk in. He looks around.
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As you all enter the room and start to examine its contents, the servant swings the door shut and locks it. Written on the back of the door is the message: “Within these cases lies your quest and your way out.”
Lebraerio goes to work on the chests. First the dark wood chest, which he, after several attempts, can't seem to open. Then to the red-laquered one, which also dosen't yield to his efforts. Finally the cube of steel. It has only the faintest crack where its lid meets the base, and would be completely featureless save for its narrow keyhole. Lebraerio applies his tools once more, but alas, to no avail.
While Lebraerio toils in vain, Veilblade spots a jeweled brass key in the glass jar half filled with liquid.
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The little wrinkled thing tests the liquid with the tips of its fingers, clambering on to the table if necessary.
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Archimeles nods in approval at Lebraerio's Osirian salutation.
Once lock in the room the philosopher withdraws a slate board and an bit of chalk from his bag and proceeds to observe and note the party's progress while taking in the room as a whole. Is not the room itself just one more container--perhaps the largest in a series of such?
Alas, the 'nested doll' theory itself captures his imagination and distracts him from the test at hand.
Lizbeth's arcane incantation slides the lid off the wicker basket, and a soft hiss can be heard from within.
Stopping the samurai just before his fingers touch the liquid, Kara hands him the rod instead. Plunging it into the jar produces yet another hissing noise, this time accompanied by thin wisps of smoke. Nevertheless, Veilblade manages to hook the key onto the rod and fish it out.
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Veilblade hands the key to Tobraeil and says it probably goes to one of the chests.
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Kara's spell brings another key into view, this one made of blue stone. Snatching it out of the air is child's play, but in doing so, one can see a small viper nestled at the bottom of the basket, now thankfully out of striking distance of the key.
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Lizbeth smiles and uses the same minor spell from before to replace the lid of the basket back over the viper. Stopping Kara from just placing the keys in, she casts another over the chests.
"These could be hiding a dangerous magical trap my dear, it seems to easy."
If nothing shows she will motion to Kara that it is safe and she should continue.
As Lizbeth scans the chests, she realizes that the copper-banded one is an illusion; there is nothing there. In addition, the steel cube has a faint aura as well
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The bony mass of gray offers what appears to be some sort of smile and then does as asked.
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Vielblade tries the brass key red lacquered chest, but it does not fit. Kara then tries the blue key which opens the chest.
Veilblade and Kara hear a faint click from the ceiling as you open the red chest. There, 10 ft up from the floor, hangs a golden key. In the chest it self there lies a jewel scepter with a key forged on the end.
Pyrgo tries to identify the aura surrounding the steel cube.
The cube radiates faint universal magic.
Lizbeth's cantrip fails, as the cube is still locked.
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If we can´t open the cube with the key, we should try to catch that key, Pyrgo says pointing the hanging golden key, and try it in the scepter.
But first lets check for more traps He continues before casting detect magic.
If there´s no detected traps Pyrgo will jump again and again until he picks it.
Pyrgo finds no traps. He does however manage to catch the golden after stumbling a few times and almost falling over.