A deep bath with stepped sides and filled with steaming water occupies nearly half of this room. The bath’s contents are heavily salted with rare minerals mined from volcanoes and other fiery sites, and the composition is particularly soothing to outsiders with the fire subtype
or other ties to the Plane of Fire. A small fountain nearby contains cool, clean water, and the single counter holds dozens of salts, oils, and perfumes.
Map.
The next door reveals only a long corridor that obviously leads to other sections of the palace. You think it´s not worthy to explore more there.
The door on the left side directly opposite reveals a similar situation.
Only one door is left now on the right side and that is locked.
The door at the outer side on the left is more interesting though.
Countertops that line all of the walls of this room except in the southwest corner, where a large iron oven stands.
The room is currently empty but for the foodstuffs that are arrayed across the counters as if abandoned partway through preparation.
The upper door on the left reveals:
This room houses two iron stakes planted into the ground, each attached to a heavy iron chain and even thicker collars. Two savaged corpses lie in the middle of the room, their humanoid shapes barely recognizable. Scorch and claw marks blemish this room’s once-burnished bronze walls.
Neither your search nor the use of magic finds anything of interest so far. Everything points to the door in the middle between the two statues.
Map.
Bronze walls sweep to the east and west, framing a magnificent throne room decorated with metallic mosaics that seem to shimmer and glow with their own incandescence. The throne itself is a large chiseled mass of obsidian, and it rests upon a solid brass dais shaped like a fiery sun.
On the throne sits a magnificient red-skinned women, hed head adored with a crown and horn-like portusions, wearing a richly ornament armor and a sword at her hips.
On the right side of the room stand 4 bound and gagged humanoids, three humans and an older oread.
The magnificient women motions you to stop right at the door and greets you.
Well done! I´m indeed impressed and bid you welcome as my honorable oponents! I wonder what brings you here though. Might it be you search these ones here? She points at the three Pathfinders.
Map.
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"Well, it may be too late for that, even if we where to simply free our friends and leave, I think the dogs of war might already be loose. But, indeed, we are seeking our allies. Now that we know what vile things have gone on here, though, we have multiple tasks to deal with, "Lady". But, with that in mind, we do offer you a way to turn from this evil. Few are beyond redemption. War would have gained you nothing. We extend out proverbial hand, leaving it to you to bite or to grasp it that you can pull yourself from the darkness coming to drown you. . ."
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"Do us all a favor and release the Pathfinders into our custody unharmed. Under the constitution of the Pathfinder Society, we have an obligation to habeas corpus other members of the Society. Furthermore, having prima facia evidence of their current good health, it becomes incumbent upon us to certiori their condition post haste. Finally, should they become injured, we will be forced to assume that post hoc ergo propter hoc and take such redress as seems appropriate to us, without regard for outside opinion, therefore, it is in your best of interest to remand them to our custody forthwith."
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Milton turns to Natalia and speaks
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"Give up now we do not have to fight just leave walk away and i promise my friends wont lay a hand on you."
-Posted with Wayfinder
I´m Tygora indeed. Self proclaimed tyrant is a misinformation though. I´m the rightful ruler of this settlement, as i built it like it was wished for. I´m sure you know i can grant wishes...you would need behave a bit better than that still. It´s good to see you have some manners though. I can udnerstand your gravings, but if we are to have a deal, it might not be one-sided. I can acknowledge what you have accomplished and
what is grieving you as well as the oread. I do propose a nonviolent resolution to the situation. One that allows you to leave with your friends unharmed - one that also leaves me in power.
Smiling, she traces her right index finger over her forehead just to the chop and leaves it there, looking very cute.
As Tygora speaks you notice one of the Pathfinder agents to stirr a bit, moving her hands in familiar patterns at her side.
Following your eyes as you look there, Tygora also turns her attention.
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"While I recognize the accomplishments of what you have done here, I question your resolve and willingness to make a proper arrangement with us, fearing there may be pitfalls in that arrangement."
I am using the Bluff skill to pass the following message to my compatriots:
"Mistrust her, there is a trap."
And then Milton will look good and hard to see if the referenced "trap" is one that will like dump the Pathfinders if we screw this up, that sort of thing.
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"Look, you can go ahead and cut that lil' attempt at our emotions out. We already know what your Wishes bring, and we are not interested in being enslaved and manipulated like you did with the elementalfolk. And they are not interested in having a Queen, much less one that would steal their children away. . ." and suddenly the sword shouts, "or starting a childish war!" before Yanos continues, "yes, or pushing to try to start a bloody war. But, it doesn't have to end badly for you. Accept our help, and turn away from this, and you can still be saved, even honored, rather than just feared. Step from the shadows and into the light. Be a true Queen."
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Natalia notices the Pathfinder's signal, and tries to get the attention back on to her.
"Tygora, in fact, if we can just settle this peacefully, I think that there is a lot of potential for both of our people to get along quite nicely. We can work to establish a government that will retain its nobility, but works with the common folk instead of oppresses them. Perhaps you could learn from the long history of Taldor... we have been able to bring many peoples into our vast empires, and left civilization wherever we went.
"And then there is the Pathfinder Society... we have learned so much in the last few years of ancient civilizations... perhaps we can learn much more from each other!"
Some of you notice that the pathfinders seem to stand on some sort of plates and there are small holes in the floor around them. Tygora did not notice your hand signs.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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'How do we manage this? We'll need to pull as many of the captives off the traps as we can. Let's keep talking. But about what?
'Keep her talking'
"So, what is your proposal for a non-violent solution, Queen Tygora? Perhaps, as a show of good faith, you would be willing to release one or more of the hostages?"
The hostages are not bound to the floor, just bound.
My proposal for a non-violent solution? That is very easy actually. I´m willing to let you go and take your friends with you. You vanish without making further fuzz here and mingling in our affairs. I´m staying with my ifriits and the oread. Very simple indeed.
Tygora seems more serious to let the Pathfinders and you go now.
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"Hey Milton, got a second? I know you are just wanting to secure our kidnapped friends as per the letter or the instruction, but consider this. What's our main job as pathfinders? Explore, right. Are we really doing our job if we allow this major find to be closed off, not to just us, but to the entire Society, by agreeing to her terms and failing to keep our word to the earthfolk?"
Just as Yanos begins to call down the power of Erastil, Tygora shouts out in fury:
You lowly human scum! You never wanted to negotiate, but planned to attack and drive me from me rightful place right from the start! Suffer!
Map.
Tygora cries out in pain as a brilliant flash of shimmering light hits her from Yanos hands. She brings her own hands together like holding a cup and concentrates.
Rays of fire shoot through the room and she concentrates again.
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Natalia will cast her spell, Divine Favor, and move towards the captured Pathfinders on the left, blade at the ready.
Map.