“No.” Kegan automatically replies to Farl.
Farl sighs loudly and looks visibly dissapointed. Nephmet just gives him a look with a lifted eyebrow.
Tereze moves around stabilizing any damaged pirates and Riverbane.
The only one left who clings to life is Riverbane, the remainder of the thugs appear to have left this mortal coil.
Would that be a Profession(Courtesan) check?
The group is ushered quickly to the Black Marquis' study when they arrive, Bazzak waiting patiently for their return. "Ah, it appears that you have returned. Tell me, what did you learn with your investigation?" he asks eagerly.
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"What have we learned? One of your vessels was abandoned save for giant spiders, and partially flooded.
When we went ashore to see what became of its crew, we found them spread across the way towards the site."
"Let us see, one was in a spiked pit, another was used as a puppet as bait, and likely the rest was consumed by monstrous arachnoid humanoids, which had taken up residence at the vault."
"And your favored Riverbane, she meant to ambush us. That did not turn out well for her and her cronies."
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Kegan dumps the bound Riverbane on the floor.
“Farl and Zukka have been rescued.” Turning to Locke, he adds “You should really lead with the good news!”
Turning back to the Marquis, he then says “We found orders in Riverbane’s hand on the ship that tried to attacks us. Farl and Zukka can tell you what happened to them.”
Nudging the bound and gagged Riverbane with his boot he adds “We figured you should decide her fate, but I believe Farl would very much like to be the executioner if that is the sentence passed.”
Bazzak listens to the recounting of the events grimly, his fingers steepled against his chin as he leans back in his chair.
How do you respond to this, sir Marquis? Were you aware of her machinations, or was she acting independently?
He lifts an eyebrow at this question, though he does not respond angrily. "I was not aware, for it appears most of her movements were done subtly and in character for her less than...pleasant...demeanor." The Marquis gets up from his chair now, pacing around the bound pirate on the floor as he thinks.
Locke chuckles faintly.
"I find it is better to end with the positive, mister Kegan."
"Oh, I definitely agree," says the Marquis. He draws a rapier from a sheath hanging on his belt and moves over to Riverbane to briefly block her from view.
He snaps his fingers as he moves away, Riverbane now dead on the ground, and one of the guards enters the room. "Take her away, and make sure she serves as an example for others who might think to betray me thus." The guard nods, and begins to do so. Bazzak turns to the Pathfinders.
"Our deal is finished. Return back to your Venture-Captain, he will handle anything further that needs addressed." He moves to his chair, sitting down as he pulls out a cloth to clean his now stained weapon.
Indeed there was a book, which was the agreed-upon payment for the assistance rendered. Is the fake that Riverbane carried the only one?
Bazzak nods dourly, sheathing the now clean weapon back in its sheath. "Aye, it appears so. Double-cross on both sides from her, it seems. Such is the way of the River Kingdoms," he says. “If nothing else, your involvement here has helped free the region of a dangerous menace. Hopefully, that’s worth a quick mention in a Pathfinder Chronicle. No?” The Marquis makes a motion of dismissal, indication for the group to depart.
"You may keep the spoils you have found, as agreed. May your travel back to your...Lodge...be less eventful than your last."
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Well, that was certainly ... disappointing. I should hope my clientele this week is more entertaining. If nothing else, they will provide some additional distraction.
Feel free to call on me if any of you wish to avail yourselves of my services, or merely to have a glass of wine and discuss in the interim. If not, I shall see you all in a week or so for our next assignment.
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Kegan is disappointed that it was only the fake book. It would have pleased Zarta if we had found the real book!
“As you said, these things happen. Best of luck to you.” Kegan gives a bow and leaves the room.
He doesn’t appear to be especially upset about the situation and certainly is in good cheer on the trip back to Absalom.
“Although many swear by it, I don’t see the attraction some have to sailing.”
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Yes, zis whole thing turned out to be very disappointing. I was so looking forward to seeing what was in zat book.
Tereze consolidates herself by heading over to her friend Gwen's tavern and performing for the various patrons there.
Being distracted by the poor results of the last mission, her dancing really isn't not up to her usual standards. However the regulars at the Warrior's Ring really were not the harshest critics. Particularly when Tereze is more then happy to flirt with them.
While she was there visiting her friend she even let Gwen give her a few boxing lessons, just to really get her into adventuring shape.
After a restful week of downtime at the Grand Lodge, everyone finds a note deposited in their quarters just on the inside of the windowsill when they wake up in the morning; the parchment rolled and bound in coarse twine, with a bird's feather sticking awkwardly out from within the roll like a avian ornament.
There is nothing else contained within the rolled parchment, and the morning appears to be a pleasant one; the sun shining bright on the horizon on a clear day. Breakfast is being served down in the mess hall, where a cheerful matronly human woman is taking orders while her kitchen staff bustle behind a counter preparing the meals. Pathfinders stream in an out of the room about their daily business, the location serving as a good gathering place for discussions and preparations for the coming day.
You locate a map of the region around Railford, with the town marked by an 'X' on the map.
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Kegan reads the note with interest. Taldor, eh? Certainly should be better than that job at the Blakros Museum I just finished! Wish it was someone other than Osprey giving the mission. I’ve heard that fellow is very selective in what information he gives out.
He takes the note with him down to breakfast, reading it again as he eats. He periodically scans the room to see who else might be around.
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Melisande wanders in from outside the lodge, clutching a similar parchment, looking slightly bleary-eyed but interested. The thing I want to know is how did Osprey find me at the Open Flower to know to leave a note there for me. My client was very surprised. She shakes her head. Described as simple. Can't possibly go wrong.
A servant brings out strong coffee, cream, and sugar to the table; passing out mugs, plates, and utensils to the gathering agents. They return again to pass out servings of bacon, bread, pancakes with syrup, and hash browns.
With a grin, he answers “I just hope it is as simple as it seems. Any idea where Railford is in Taldor?”
Inquiring with the quartermaster will easily reveal that a Pathfinder vessel bearing several other groups of agents is bound out of Absalom towards Golsifar later this evening. The fees for traveling by this vessel can readily be assigned to Osprey's tab.
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Tereze asks around her fellow pathfinders who has been to Railford.
As the Halfling responds Tereze brightly replies:
Zank you Pathfinder! I do so appreciate it, have you been zere yourself? Any local stops we need to visit while we are zere? It will be the first time for all my companions.
Then after the conversation she books passage fot the group on the next Pathfinder vessel heading that way.
Zank you Pathfinder! I do so appreciate it, have you been zere yourself? Any local stops we need to visit while we are zere? It will be the first time for all my companions.
"Oh, I am afraid I haven't been there yet myself!" the halfling professes. "I happened to see it in a footnote while reading Taldor's Wine Country: Getting Drunk in Style. I am not entirely sure why Kreighton Shaine is having all of his students read this for book club right now, but he is a...unique...Pathfinder for sure!"
The path to Railford is hardly an easy one to follow, especially after the spring thaw waters turn the thick clay soil to slough. Only a few crudely scarred trees denote the secluded route as it winds through the syrupy mire of flooded vineyards and vague remnants of rotten trellis with grapevines choked out by pervasive briers and heavy blankets of peat. The rain starts during the journey and the light from the sun darkens. The creepers and overgrowth do little to help the situation, blocking some of the rain but casting strange twisting shadows.
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Melisande sighs seeing the condition of the road. Too bad I couldn't bring a horse on that ship to keep my boots out of the mud. At least I can clean them with magic at the end of the day, but I hate walking with wet feet.
Melisande suddenly holds up a hand for quiet. There's a campfire ahead along the road with at least 2 people and a dog or wolf. Does someone want to scout? I can probably spare an invisibility if that will help.
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Melisande looks slightly miffed by her companions disinterest in scouting. Men. More interested in preserving their fancy boots than it getting the hard work done. I'll do it myself.
She uses her wand for Mage Armor, then casts Invisibility on herself and will stealth up to see who/what is sitting around the campfire without getting too close. She has Darkvision 60'.
As Melisande creeps closer to the encampment, she will notice a pair of human men sitting down next to a sputtering campfire in a clearing. The pair wear studded leather armor decorated with some kind of livery, sheathed longswords at their side while their longbows lie nearby. Sprawled around the fire are four dogs in various states of snoozing. As she observes this, an errant wind breezes from behind her and one of the puppers near the fire abruptly lifts its head into the air; its snout sniffling wildly as the other dogs nearby alert as well. The sniffing dog starts barking loudly, setting of a cascading wave of barking from the other dogs, causing the men nearby to startle and shout loudly "Intruders!"
-Marsh: The muddy terrain functions as a shallow bog, -2 acrobatics to move through and effectively functioning as difficult terrain
-Drizzle: Drizzle reduces visibility ranges by 1/4, resulting in a –2 penalty on Perception checks. Ranged weapon attacks and Listen checks are at a –2 penalty. In addition, drizzle has 50% chance of extinguishing any unprotected flames.
-Mire Mists: Mire mists rise from the ground, obscuring all sight (including darkvision) beyond 10 feet. Creatures 10 feet or more away from an attacker gain a 20% miss chance.
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Locke had been doing some research in the field of alchemy, finally making a breakthrough on the application of alchemical substances, something suited for the field.
Once again gathered together, Locke is silently kind of eager to put it to the test.
Men. More interested in preserving their fancy boots than it getting the hard work done. I'll do it myself.
*snicker*
The soldiers finish rising to their feet, as do the dogs, but they all seem slow to orient themselves quickly!
Initiative Order:
Round 1:
Melisande
Locke
Tereze/Aryxis
Kegan
Puppers
Tetsudo
Soldiers
-Marsh: The muddy terrain functions as a shallow bog, -2 acrobatics to move through and effectively functioning as difficult terrain
-Drizzle: Drizzle reduces visibility ranges by 1/4, resulting in a –2 penalty on Perception checks. Ranged weapon attacks and Listen checks are at a –2 penalty. In addition, drizzle has 50% chance of extinguishing any unprotected flames.
-Mire Mists: Mire mists rise from the ground, obscuring all sight (including darkvision) beyond 10 feet. Creatures 10 feet or more away from an attacker gain a 20% miss chance.
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I think you should stay there to meet my friends.
Melisande casts Web (Purple areas on the map), covering all of the soldiers and two of the dogs, anchoring to the trees on either side of the path.
DC 19 Reflex save from all of them or be stuck in the web.
Melisande will move back a bit from the enemy.