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Pinball winces when the guard falls in emphatic fashion. Oops. "....sorry," she mouths to the charred figure. "I hope you didn't have a family."
She turns on the woman, now extra annoyed. Pinball leaps over the tiny banister railing that divides the upper and mid-level balcony, races along the upper gallery, and then jumps out into space to land on top of the bookshelf next to the woman.
"Are you finding this all funny?" Pinball asks her archly, because of her earlier laughter. "Okay, then."
She taps the woman in the gut.
Theleb's fire hits the woman, freezing her laugh, just as Pinball touches her. She falls in slow motion, landing on the floor with a wet crunch. She's not dead, but she's unconscious and bleeding out. A piece of parchment floats out as she falls, landing atop her.
Blan stabs at the swarm and with a sudden rumble, it disperses.
The note reads:
"By the authority vested in the Imperial Ministry of Historical Accuracy by Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, Signifer Iluvia Thorn is hereby authorized to apprehend the suspected traitor Zefiro Balinger, to question his known associates, and to confiscate any unlawful items found within the Museum of History in Corentyn. Zefiro Balinger and any evidence are to be delivered into the custody of the Sirmium bureau of the Imperial Ministry of Historical Accuracy. – Inspector Lusarious Deckland"
The note looks quite authentic and you realize you're on the wrong side of Chelish justice.
There is a door upstairs, behind where Thorn was standing. On her body you find the following: brooch of shielding, pearl of power (1st), potion of cure moderate wounds, lesser reach metamagic rod, wand of identify (22 charges); mwk sickle, cloak of resistance +1, spell component pouch, Sisters of the Golden Erinyes gold pendant (worth 50 gp), 28 gp
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Pinball scampers down the bookshelf and looks darkly at the woman, feeling for her pulse.
"If only I could have done that for that poor guardsman, rather than you," Pinball sighs. She grabs the note, reads it, and sighs again. Pinball rubs at her forehead with both hands, sitting down on the floor and passing the note to anyone else to read.
"We have a problem. Manius, you in particular are in an awkward position, I think. Also, if Zefiro's still here and being tortured-- she said through the eastern door, no? --then we may need to get him out first. Whether it's the law here in Cheliax or no, I won't let an ally of the society be condemned to this sort of "justice'."
Pinball quickly rummages through the woman's belongings, passing them out.
"If we leave her alive, she can identify us by sight. That could be especially bad for you, Manius. I am willing to consent to her execution-- it was my hand that stayed what would have been her death by combat, after all, so that's my responsibility."
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Pinball returns Blanmeiux's look steadily.
"Yes. I stabilized her, because if I had let her bleed out and then discovered that this was some enormous misunderstanding, I could not retroactively change my mind. It's always better to err on the side of mercy when a split decision must be made.
"Now we have clarified the situation, and confirmed that there's no misunderstanding, but rather that the Chelish government has declared we're to be apprehended. So now the course of action must be re-evaluated... but at least it can be re-evaluated, as opposed to the decision already made."
Pinball takes a breath and looks to Manius. "I think you are the most affected of us, Manius. I may avoid ever returning to Cheliax again. You do not likely have that luxury. As I said, I will bear the responsibility for her death if you think it's the best course. It's only fair."
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"It will be her word against mine if she decides to confess to her failure. I'm not sure she would want to mention that she lost to a member of a diffent order. I'm fine with letting her life...or die."
" ...but I agree with your assesment Pinball..it might be best to avoid Cheliax until everything calms down a bit.."
Bookshelves and display cases stand in the corners of this large office. An oaken desk sits in the middle of the room with large windows set in the wall on either side of it. Doors to the south open to a raised terrace, and a large painting of Abrogail II hangs on the north wall.
Perception checks!
There seems to be a secret door hidden behind the painting. You spring it open, sliding the painting aside to reveal a hidden office! Several bookshelves, a desk, and a display case crowd this cramped room. To the left stands a statue of Aroden.
This hidden room behind the painting holds most of Zefiro’s secret research and illicit projects. Among other things, you find an early (and now publicly redacted) diary filled with tales of infernal war crimes committed by Thrune, an Aspis Consortium cargo manifest for a shipment from Taldor to Khari, and Zefiro’s holy Arodenite scriptures.
Theleb can identify key records that he knows the Pathfinder Society would want preserved, that will surely be destroyed by the Hellknights.
You gather these up and head out, pausing to stop at a guard post to inquire discreetly about Zefiro. You are told he was taken last night and removed from the city. Clearly rescue is going to require a little more planning. Cognizant of the fact that your crimes will be discovered you board the first ship out under assumed names before you can be stopped.
You make your way back to Absalom and needless to say, the Society is Not Pleased with this turn of events.
Blan, do you have a Dayjob?
I will try to get the chronicles sorted. I apologize, but I may need to delay Part 3 due to some personal issues I have to attend to.
Approximately five days after the escape from Cheliax:
The captain’s quarters aboard the Hornet’s Nest sits in uncomfortable silence. The normally composed Zarta Dralneen awkwardly shifts in her chair, repeatedly glancing across the room at a stocky halfling with short salt-and-pepper hair and practical black clothing. Between them stands Venture-Captain Dennel Hamshanks, the ship’s captain, who seems relieved to have other visitors.
“Welcome, agents,” Hamshanks announces. “My other guests have already skipped the social niceties, so I don’t see why we need to start now. Zefiro Balinger, a Corentyn museum curator and ally of the Society, has been abducted by agents of House Thrune on charges of ‘treasonous misinformation’—which is to say the heretical preservation of unedited Chelish histories. The Decemvirate cannot afford to lose such a valuable asset, nor can it allow these documents to be thrown onto a ‘clarity pyre,’ but Cheliax would love nothing more than to do exactly that.” Hamshanks pauses as if waiting for someone else to pick up the conversation, then clears his throat at the distracted Zarta.
Zarta snaps to attention. “Pathfinders discovered that Zefiro has been taken to Ostenso. His prison is called the Bloody Nail, a facility where political enemies disappear for interrogation and punishment. Trying to spring a captive from a high-profile prison in the heart of a major Chelish city would normally be suicide, yet that is our only remaining option.” Zarta’s expression sours slightly, and she glances at the halfling again before muttering, “Fortunately, I know someone who specializes in such suicide missions, yet curiously always
seems to come back alive.”
The halfling smirks at Zarta, hopping to his feet. “Please, Zarta, the pleasure is all mine. The name’s Tamrin Credence, longtime Bellflower and master of coming back alive. The lovely paracountess laid
out your situation for me. Luckily enough, liberating Chelish prisoners is a favorite hobby of mine, so it looks like we’ll be working together on this project." You recognize this halfling as the same Customs official who boarded your first ship to Cheliax searching for something other than contraband.
“Infiltrating the Bloody Nail won’t be a picnic, but it seems my luck hasn’t deserted me yet. Turns out tomorrow is Loyalty Day, a national holiday celebrating House Thrune’s oppressive regime and those who willingly agree to be oppressed by it. Citizens are required to attend the festivities, and since Ostensons aren’t exactly known for their docility, that means lots of guards in the streets keeping order. Those extra guards have to come from somewhere, meaning we’re looking at a short-staffed prison detail stuck working a holiday.
“So here’s the plan: we march up to the Bloody Nail looking all intimidating. I’ve still got some clout with Ostenso’s guards from back when I worked for the Consortium, so I’ll convince the lead interrogator to bring some of his guards with me to deal with a Loyalty Day ‘emergency.’ Fortunately for him, I’ve brought some of my own agents—that’s you—to cover for him and his soldiers while we’re away. Knowing Chelish prison administration, he’ll agree as long as one of his lackeys can supervise you. I’ll keep the interrogator distracted long enough for you to get the lay of the land, ditch your babysitter, break in, get what we came for, and get out before anyone smells a rat. We’ll meet back at the southernmost docks of the Custodisce Break and sail for Andoran. Easy enough?”
The halfling smiles. “In a past life yes, before I learned they were funding the slave trade as rigorously as they were my Bellflower activities. The Consortium loves to have its cake and eat it too.”
Zarta looks slightly confused. "What other contact? I have many, but you'll need to be more specific."
"Him? He was a messenger, nothing more. I have no need of his services at the moment. As for Balinger's capture, I have my suspicions but no proof and I have not risen as far as I have by operating on mere suspicion." She looks disdainful. "Thorne is dead. I assumed you dispatched her. Was I incorrect? Nevertheless she is dead so cannot testify. However your descriptions are being widely circulated in Corentyn. Fortunately you are headed to Ostenso, where your infamy ought to be much less. Still, I recommend you disguise yourselves somewhat. Nothing too extensive, but a change of hair color or a convenient scar would through them off the scent. Likewise Goldenglow is in Corentyn and of little use here. As for Aroden," She makes a 'so-what' sort of gesture, "I have little care for who worships what, so long as they're still useful to me and the Society. And Balinger still is an asset with a great deal to share."
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Pinball's face settles into the droopiest look at their briefing. Ohhh great, a prison break. Back in Cheliax. The mission gets better, and better...
She spares a sympathetic look at Manius. While she has no love for Hellknights, she imagines this mission must be giving him even more ulcers than it is here.
Garret's question earns an approving nod. "Smart thinking. I'll buy a disguise kit-- spells and scrolls are great, but makeup and wigs and the like will last all day if you don't smudge it... I think I'll pick up some more scrolls while I'm at it, though."
Zarta shrugs. "Kill, don't kill. Whatever, puppet."
However Tamrin cringes slightly. "Do what you have to do, but if the interrogator returns to a charnel house, he’ll mobilize the guards faster than you can wipe the blood off your swords. If that happens, better hope you can beat feet to the docks faster than all of Ostenso’s law enforcement on high alert.”