"May the light of Sarenrae forever kiss you." Atlag says, returning to her work.
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Talking to people...seems like time that could better be served in the woods.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The Pathfinders travel back across Absalom from the Petals into the Coins in search of the Red Letter. The Coins district is always busy with people going about their business it seems, regardless of the time of day, but in the early morning it seems crisp and peaceful. After asking a few merchants along the way, the Pathfinders come upon the building they are looking for...
Located in a rented office space in the Coins, the office is located on the ground floor of a recently rebuilt two- story building that houses several different professional offices 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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"Hello there sir! We are here to ask you, like, a few questions? About something that happened at Lady Darchana's recent party? You work for Lady Silviana, right? We heard you're the puurrrrfect guy to answer our questions." Kaylee winks seductively at the solicitor, hoping to beguile him a bit.
Unfortunately, she is a bit too suggestive, and a button pops right off of her shirt, the fabric splitting down the middle, giving the surprised man a bit more than he bargained for. She quickly retreats and busies herself sewing the button back on, cursing under her breath at her failure.
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Well I suppose one way to get a man's attention is to show a little flesh Belven thinks to himself while watching the interaction between Kaylee and Salbus.
"Don't be alarmed by the bluntness of my friends. We have been tasked by the Society to follow up on this incident and you were a name given to us that could provide us with some additional information. Anything you can tell us would be useful."
Salbus wrinkles his nose and snorts a little, "I am sorry, but I do not make it a habit of discussing my business with..." he gives a dismissive wave at Ragnar, "...rif-raff. Perhaps you should be going? I have an appointment I need to prepare for."
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Recovering from her embarassment with a newly mended shirt, Kaylee turns around. "Oh, but you're the only one that can help us! The Pathfinder Society TOTALLY needs your help! And I'm sure Lady Silviana wants to get to the bottom of the situation as well.... is there anything we could do to change your mind?"
She elbows Mathurian to tell him he's up... she's sure his charm will be able to win this guy over.
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"An appointment you say? I'm sure you'll need these papers," Ragnar offhandedly pushes a stack of papers off Slabus' desk. "Oh, I didn't notice those! What about some ink to write down your affairs?", Ragnar picks up an ink bottle and offers it to Salbus, only to drop it and watch it break to pieces. "Are you sure you have no time to speak with us?"
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Kaylee looks very angry at this turn of events, but allows things to play out, stepping back.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Typical Pathfinders..." Salbus mutters to himself.
Watching the ink spread over some of the papers and ruin then, Salbus unexpected smiles, bowing his head slightly at Ragnar. "I suppose this is how you settle all your problems? Haven't met a problem yet you cannot smash your way though?" the venom in his voice obvious.
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 pointing to an ink-soaked folded paper on his desk. "However Lady Silviana had a letter delivered to me prior to her departure for Taldor, You are welcome to read it, if you are capable."
"Now, if you please, before you commit more acts of destruction of personal property I bid you good day."
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It seems I'm not the only one with limitations in human interaction.
Belven follows Solvius' finger to the paper he is pointing to on the desk and reacts to pick it up, hoping they are able to read it before the ink has blocked out too much information.
"Ragnar my friend, while you may have gotten him to speak to us, I'm not sure that was the best way. Let's see what this letter says before this ink soaks through the paper completely and ruins everything."
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Ragnar grins at Balbus, apparently satisfied with the mess he caused in the solicitor's office. Once you show even a little strength to his kind, they flee tail-down as soon as possible. Pathetic. "I'm glad we were able to reach an agreement so quickly, without more of your precious belongings falling." He moves as if to push another small wooden box off the table, but stops at the last second, winking and smiling almost childlishly although no one else seems to find the situation too amusing. "See? Now that you're a friend I'll be more careful."
As Belven and Kaylee object to his methods, Ragnar raises an eyebrow before saying in a quiet voice "Results are what matter. I will not stand by while you", he looks sharply at Kaylee "unsuccessfully try to bed the man on this table in front of us or while we all beg him for information. The mission is what is important, the end justifies whatever means required."
Scrambling to make sense of the ink soaked letter, are not able to make out much more than the name Mahdi.
Heading across the Coins you approach Misery Row...
Misery Row 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. The Token Guard, the guards responsible for patrolling this part of the city, are notorious for intervening only in particularly egregious crimes or those they’re paid to investigate. As a result, petty criminals have numerous opportunities to ply their craft. Asking around for Mahdi's Chattel yields you many conflicting answers, and many offers for better prices, better quality chattel or both. Each merchant in Misery Row seems bent on undercutting their rivals and making new friends of the group of Pathfinders. Eventually you find yourselves in front of the shop you seek.
Mahdi’s Chattel is located along the platform, where his many-windowed storefront can catch the eye of discerning buyers. 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.
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Seeing the broken window, Belven decides to take a look around to see if anyone, or anything, seems to be watching the group of Pathfinders.
"Well, it looks like someone has already given us access to enter the building. A broken window is never a good sign though, either someone is here, or someone recently was."
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Belven walks around the side of the building checking things out, but finds nothing else.
Kaylee tries the door and finds that it is, in fact, unlocked. There are also some scratch marks in the wooden frame by the lock. Hrothgar peers around as well, and thinks he hears the faint sound of breaking glass from behind the eastern door.
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 stone statue stands almost 2 feet tall, weighs 15 pounds, and has simian features, massive horns, and a long tail. The windows have been smashed, and broken glass lies on the floor and on the desk on the opposite side. The work table in the center of the display parlor conceals a heavy, polished stone with a 4-inch-diameter steel ring attached to the top, providing an anchor for manacle chains.
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Belven draws his longbow and readies an arrow, focusing on the window where the noise came from
-Posted with Wayfinder
As the Pathfinders get into place, expecting the worst, Mathurin moves up and opens the door pushing past Ragnar.
Mathurian and Kaylee get a good view of the activity going on in the next room
This large office 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.
Several smashed bottles of wine lie on the floor next to the refreshment cart, and the half-orc holds a bearded Keleshite man off the ground by his fine-spun tunic. Through his tusked mouth, "Pay up Mahdi. The Sanguine Beast will get the money, one way or another. Mezuk's not leaving empty handed." Without lowering the bearded Keleshite, the half-orc looks over his shoulder at you and bellows, "Get out. You can have sloppy seconds when I'm done."
Two cloaked men stand between the half-orc and the door watching with sick grins.
The half-orc looks at Ragnar without lowering Mahdi and says, "You seem a decent fellow...I hate to kill you."
Kaylee seems to have gotten the attention of the two thugs, one of whom says to the half-orc "Mezuk, let's take the girlie instead. Ol' Mahjub's been holding out on us!"
The half-orc drops the Keleshite man who half-lands in a pile before catching himself and standing up. He runs his hands over his hair then straigtens his tunic.
"Don't be stupid Tom, " the half-orc retorts. "You come back with that girl, boss'll cut it right off ya won't he?"
Mezuk gives Mahdi a shove into the desk and walks off toward the door. "Let him earn his keep, for a change," he says to the thugs. Looking over his shoulder he warns Mahdi, "We'll be back."
All three thugs begin heading out the door onto the street...
Mahdi mistakes Kaylee's attempts to check his health as attempts to check him out!
Running his hands through his hair, Mahjub continues, "Mahjub is thanking you all for what you have done here! Truly Abadar has his finger on my scale! Now, please? How is it that Mahjub is assisting you? You have come looking for the finest chattel in all of Absalom no doubt! Laborers? Special attendants? Please, tell Mahjub your desires and we can make a special price for special new friends!"
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Kaylee whirls on Ragnar. "OOOH RAGNAR! Why do you have to be SOO MEAN!!???!?! Don't be mean to this poor man! He was just roughed up by ugly brutes!"
She turns back to Mahdi. "Don't worry sweetie, no one's going to hurt you." She gives him a supremely seductive look. "Now, just tell us about this At-leg lady so that we can leave you to sell your fine items. Does that sound good?"
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"Threats may not always be necessary, but it is hard to argue with results. Tell us what we need, and you may get back to this place you call a business."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Mahjub Mahdi looks nerviously from Ragnar to Belven, then to Kaylee. "Sweet girl, you are keeping strange friends Mahjub is thinking. Maybe we can be discussing this business over ..." he turns and gestures to his smashed refreshment cart and frowns. "Well, I suppose not." He runs his hands over his hair and twirls his ponytail around his finger. "Mahjub is thinking pretty girl comes with him for a drink to discuss? Friends are happy to wait, Mahjub is sure."
Mahjub lets out a hearty laugh, "Yes, of course, bring angry man with you." Mahjub motions toward Ragnar. "Mahjub is sure he is guarding your booty many times."
Mahjub suggests an inn just outside Misery Row where you can go.
Mahjub leads Kaylee, Ragnar, and any other who wish to follow to a Inn a short distance away after locking up his shop.
Upon entering the Wicked Cockatrice the middle aged halfling proprietor waves to Mahjub and he leads you all to a semi-private table in the common room. A strapping young serving boy, hardly dressed comes over and Mahjub orders wine and food for the table. Mahjub sits next to Kaylee, very close to her. He fidgets with his hair a few times, and says "New friends, you were so helpful with Mahdi's problems. You are wishing to know things, yes? Mahdi knows a great many things! Many powerful friends, perhaps you too new friends will enjoy relations with Mahdi?"