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- We are the Nisku, we leave in woods outside Ilsurian. Sometimes city people come to us for trade. The man came last sunset and spoke to the chief, they traded. Chief got some of white caress. He called Kymeth, Rogi and me for this mission. Chief said it should be quiet and we are the stealthiest of the tribe. He shared some of his stash and we drifted in the dream, but than he woke us and said that he will give us more as we return.
Zakhar moved forward a bit.
- I am telling the truth. We done nothing bad. Me and Rogi were inside. I took nothing. I just want to leave. Will you let me go?
He points back to the floor:
- She went out and then screamed. Kymeth jumped over the floor, but she went down deep and I haven't seen her
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Because of her awareness and cautious Ayla used her spear to press the floor plates. She was trying hard, when the mechanic click sounded like a thunder in the vault. Ayla started falling, but Philty was there to catch her arm, Keelee grabbed her back and unfortunate robber caught her coat, keeping her balancing on the edge.
Twenty-foot deep and ten-foot wide hole opened in the floor, right in front of Shasta and Madame Iridestine. Traces of blood and scattered stuff were visible on the floor beneath.
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Walls are worked stone, so there is some chance to climb up, if you don't afraid to lose a fingernail or two. Keelee saw some stuff scattered on the floor - shiny-metal chandelier was among the stuff in Zakhar's bag. This could be used as improvised disable tool.
Creature in the pit took an opportunity to reach Camaenor hand, jumped up as high as possible, but could only reach half of the height of the cell it was in.
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"Whoa!" Ayla exclaims as she nearly falls in the pit, but is luckily held back by the others. "Thanks everyone!"
Ayla tosses her spear on the floor behind her and takes her rope from her backpack. "Every Pathfinder should always carry rope."
She lowers one end of the rope down the pit while telling the others, "Help me pull her up!"
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As Pathfinders act quick, they are able to pull Rogi out of the pit before lid closed. She hugs Zakhar and thanks everyone for saving her. She licks her lips and asks for water.
- Please, some water. I was afraid that I will die in this hole. Than I heard voices from above and I understand that I may get out. Have you heard me crying?
- No, we haven't, said Zakhar.
- I thought, you did. Are we going to jail?, she asked and Zakhar raised his eyes to see your decision.
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Even after taken to Sheriff, both intruders keep the same story. Some humans from town (male, sturdy, bearded) hired their chief in exchange for alcohol and drugs for them to do a heist coming and leaving the place undetected. Their leader was skulk named Kymeth, who was doing this job before in some other houses in town. Kymeth had keyring to open all doors and knew where they need to take their goods. Kymeth ran away with some loot from the vault, when Rogi was trapped and left Zakhar. Both skulks are quite afraid of what will happen with them later, but cannot provide any more help.
Sheriff thanks Pathfinders for cooperation, but said that mysterious man could come from the Carnival and she is not totally ready to dismiss the idea of Varisian innocence on this. She agreed to keep both skulks in a cell, so they could be questioned more if needed. But, both skulks seem to be quite depressed by being caught so they have less desire to cooperate as now.
After visiting the Sheriffs office, Pathfinders returned to lady Agnes, who shares her gratitude offering agents a small award of several hundred gold pieces.
- I still need to go through Archi's records to find out who owns what, before I can distribute the stuff from the vault, so if you would like to buy something you need to use other locations. Ask Vea's, might be she will have something interesting for you on sale. Or might be you are interested in stuff that is displayed upstairs?
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Agents got some hints on how to find the tribe, but other skulks provide not as much information. Chief said that guy comes sometimes with hints on where and when to get the stuff, pays him gold and shiver. He usually leaves a place where to put some of especially desired goods. He doesn't know guy's name, but he knows that beard is fake. No one returned and chief thought burglary went bad and they are killed.
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The skulks were asked to retrieve jewelry and some other small and precious items - intricate scabbard, paintings. Everything else - weapons, tools and pricey clothes - were meant to be just for their own profit. From chief speech you could understand that "client" didn't knew much about vault contents in details, just several items that were rumored around city to be in pawn shop. He expected to receive some small and precious reward in exchange of the keys. The location were to drop items was a large tree hollow north to Ilsurian.
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Friends spent some time looking around camp for fake-bearded man or well-hidden skulk, but had no luck. The villagers keep ariving, but tend to stay in close groups. Murder happened at carnival last night was making more people want to attend and see themselves those foreigners. But, one the other side, Layla felt a tension in the air: many of Ilsurians brought hidden daggers or other weapon, ready to protect themselves.
Once Pathfinders were heading a trading ground, one of the villagers rudely shoved Madame aside and ran to the open area, putting a rock in a bag.
- Those Varisian rabble, will pay for that theft, - he mentioned to his friend running besides him, holding handle of his short sword.
As you turned around, you found the tricky situation. Several performers are surrounded by angry mob and only two circus guards are holding them from attacking. Angry townsfolk are almost ready to start the fight, but are withholding because they don't want to deal with armed guards without significant advantage.
- You are not running your scums here! - exclaimed one of the villagers, - We wouldn't tolerate thieving in a bright light!
- We are not thieves! - responded the Ulfen guard.
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"Hot heads make bad decisions, I should know, you ever met a drunken Dwarf?" Philthy asks as he pauses to take another gulp of his lunchtime whisky, it being clearly too late for his breakfast rum "So the way I am seeing it, both of you seem keen on bloodshed, which is a pretty fool idea, and I am inclined just to let you have at it - however this is a carnival, and some carnivals have fighting tents where wagers might be made and grudges settled, but all things being all fair and even - one on one and rules in place"
"So I'll give ya your choices as the way I see em. One, knock it off ya hot heads and go home whilst the actual thinking gets done by us lot that have no bias to either side. Two if you simply must fight, then you each pick your champion and we can rope off a ring and we can see a fair match with some fine wrestling and boxing and might make a few coins in wagers while we are at it. Or three, ya can have at it now and we can have a great big dance right here right now - and then the only question is 'who wants to take on the dwarf'?"
Philthy smiles as he draws his axe, running his other rough hand covered in rings through his greasy beard and looking all the world like a Dwarf keenly awaiting an answer.
"I recommend the first option, makes the most sense when ya stop to think about it"
Diplomacy
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Camaenor positions himself near the villager who appears most likely to start something nasty. He mutters an arcane phrase and stands ready to touch the man if he makes a move.
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Meanwhile, Ayla noticed a boy from the Carnival troop waiving her.
- Daring lady, please, come with me, I need to show you something!
He leads you to the Sphinx tent. This enormous tent is dwarfed only by the big top itself. The southern side has no wall, just a tall curtain pulled across its front. A sign posted outside advertises that this area has been set aside for meeting the sphinx at limited times throughout the day. Just inside is a large metal cage with no floor and bars running across the top. A single large door is set on the north corner of the west face, secured by a heavy lock. Strewn about the grass beneath the cage are silk sheets and piles of cushions and satin pillows. Small magic lantern hangs on top of the tent, giving a dim light across the tent.
Close to the east side of the tent, you find a woman's body. The boys shows you and says:
- We've just discovered her. I wanted to call miss Almara, but met you first. She's not from Carnival and this will bring trouble to us. My friend ran to Master Venlock, he is Carnival Guard chief. I'll better run for lady Delisen now.
As boy rans away, your eyes adjust to a dim flickering light, to identify the dead body as cleric lady you saw yesterday, taking away body of Archivin Walder. She has wounds on her forearms, face and chest left by large animal.