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.
A pair of humans dressed in studded leather, with scimitars at the hip, stand on the other side of the door. At the back of the office a burly half-orc, wearing a breastplate and a greatsword strapped across his back, holds a Keleshite man off the ground, pressed against the wall by his tunic! The half-orc says in a low growl, "Yer gonna pay the Sanguine Beast Mahdi, er Ima break yer fat, stupid nose. Den Ima come back nex week an Ima do it again." The half-orc chuckles to himself at the prospect.
One of the men says, "Mezuk, we got company!"
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Wulf checks his gun, then storms into the room, staying near the back.
"We've got business with the proprietor! We don't need any extra trouble, so you three can bugger off."
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Mezuk looks over at Wulfren and forces a smile, "Pop-lur guy huh Mahdi. Ya wanna wait fer a minnut? Mahdi 'ere waz just gonna pay us, den we leav'in."
The lumbering half-orc lets go of Mahdi, who narrowly avoids falling over as he's dropped. The half-orc's smile look more like a snarl, but he says "Lez go boys, we duna need trouble."
As they leave, Mezuk shouts over his shoulder to Mahdi, "Na worries chummer, we'll be back."
The thugs shuffle out back to the Row and wander off (unless otherwise accosted).
Mahjub Mahdi runs his hands over his slicked down hair, pulling it back toward his ponytail. "Ah! New friends! Welcome, welcome to the house of Mahdi! Mahdi's Chattel, Absalom's Finest! Special friends, you have done Mahjub a great honor running off those camel dung thugs! Please, please, tell Mahjub what it is I can do for you Abadar be praised!"
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Liam silently lets the group of thugs leave, not entirely convinced that the slaver didn't completely deserve their attentions. Trying not to let his distaste of the man's occupation show, he hesitantly addresses the man. "I'm sure in thanks for running off those thugs, you wouldn't mind sharing some information with us? We're interested in a particular handmaiden of Lady Silviana's. A woman named Atlag? We were told you dealt with the lady's solicitor: a mister Solvius Salbus."
Mahjub looks at Liam nodding as the tiefling speaks. He absentmindedly starts jingling his coin pouch. "Ah yes, Salbus! He is a fine frined of Mahjub! Such many details pushed into his contracts! Mahjub always enjoys when Salbus comes to purchase." He slides his right hand over the top of his head, twirling it though his ponytail with a flick. "For special helping friends, Mahjub can make excellent friendship price of 400 pieces of gold as blessing for Abadar to be sharing such information!"
Ic notices a few things on and near the desk, the locked strong-box, a few leather bound books and one book that seems rather expense and garishly decorated titled Order of Numbers.
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Order of Numbers. Now there's something for Ic to like. Staring at the tome, Ic breaks his silence, and starts counting some numbers in order. Because he feels like it. He does so downward. Because he feels like it. Although he is not quite aware of it - it seems - the effect might be rather unsettling to people that don't quite know him...
Five... four...
Mahjub points at Anaristiel, and then at Veviane a broad smile on his face, "Ladies, please! Of course Mahjub is only joking around with new friends. Mahjub can make special deal for savior prices! Mahjub is too many excited for the value of the information Mahjub can offer to new lady friends!" He runs his hands over his hair, slicking it back.
"Because we are to be special friends, and because of your selfless heroism Mahjub is blessed by Abadar to offer you this information. The slave which was purchased for Lady Silviana, she was part of a lot purchased from Waheeda Wardak. She is a very skilled captain and sometimes supplier of merchandise for Mahjub. When meeting her at the Docks last time, her vessel At Sea is flying the yellow sails used by the Okeno pirates. Mahjub is thinking this means she will become a more frequent supplier in the future." he removes the tie holding his hair back, slicking his hands through pulling it all back again and deftly retying it. "In fact Mahjub is to be meeting with captain Wardak dockside tomorrow morning. She has sent work of a new lot which Mahjub may be interested in bidding on. If the At Sea is not already docked, it will be coming through the Graveyard today."
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Anaristiel smiles and nods, "Very well. We will make our way to the docks, then, and inquire there. Thank you for your help, Mahjub." She begins to turn and head for the door, then turns back. "Mahjub, was there anything odd about the transaction with the captain? Did she specifically suggest that particular girl for the position of handmaiden, or was the choice wholly yours?"
To Ic, she says, "Only if things go horribly, horribly wrong, Ic."
Running his hands down his braided beard, Mahjub responds, "Yes, Captain Wardak suggests what things slaves are best at. Many times Mahjub has little time for sorting out who is suited for what."
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"I dont know if I should even ask, but is there any way for Lady Silviana to receive suitable recompense for the grief this has caused her?"
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Mahjub makes a small frown, then lights up again overly animated, "Of course big friend! Mahjub is having Solicitor Salbus nullifying sales contract and fine Lady Silviana is to be getting her refund for troubles. It would not due for Mahjub's business to suffer from such unfortunate incidents."
Looking again at Anaristiel and Veviane, Mahjub slicks the sides of his hair back, "Any more helping Mahjub can be giving ladies?"
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"Indeed, your assistance is most appreciated. I'm sure Lady Silviana will be grateful as well. It's always good business to keep one's customers happy."
Wulfren nearly chokes over the last comment and hurries after Anaristiel before he decides to begin his war on the slave trade right now.
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Mahjub looks down briefly at Veviane's wayfinder and then says, "Mahjub was expecting a pathfinder in tomorrow's lot for bidding on."
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Liam tenses. Now why on earth would he give us a detail like that? What's his game? He gnaws on his lower lip, torn between wanting to get out of there and the sick feeling of a fellow pathfinder in captivity. Finally, he asks. "Now, how would a pathfinder be goin' and gettin' themselves caught as a slave like that then?"
Mahjub shrugs, "How does anyone get anywhere?"
Confused by the incoherence, Mahjub gives an uneasy grin and says "You need something, you come see Mahjub!"
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Veviane appears to be confused, as much by Majub's cryptic words than Ic's.
Idle threats... or is there really a Pathfinder agent on the market?
"What did you mean by that? Explain yourself, Majub. If that's a threat, you might regret it. If that's some useful information, on the contrary..."
She brushes his cheek, looking straight into his eyes, appearing both cajoling and threatening.
"Mahjub got a letter three days back telling for upcoming auction. Letter says very special lot of slaves coming in, includes pathfinder! Special price for Mahjub!" he says very seriously.
The Orphans head from Misery Row to the Docks and begin asking around...
hours
The Orphans are able to learn that the At Sea is not docked currently. Captain Wardak is known by a few as a slaver, and also she has been known to bring in illegal magical beasts for private sale. Her crew is an expected mix of scumbags and hooligans, sometimes including gnolls.
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"Well, I guess we ought to report back to Lady Darchana. We've got some good information. Maybe she'd like to advise us before our next move."
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The Pathfinders leave the bustling Docks and easily travel to Lady Darchana’s estate in the Petals District. It is located much further north than Dimora Manor, much closer to Azlanti Keep. A tall wall of polished stone surrounds the property and its gardens, and many of the plants have arcane or alchemical uses in addition to their aesthetic value. A doorman greets the Pathfinders and escorts them into the three-story residence. He takes you to the estate manager, Jemina. She thanks and dismisses him.
"Pathfinders, excellent. Lady Darchana has been expecting you, please follow me." she says leading you to the upstairs study.
The walls of the study are inset with bookshelves that are brimming with texts of all varieties. A large drawing table in the middle of the room bears an unrolled map of the Inner Sea region. At the far end of the study stands an impressive darkwood desk, and seated behind it is a woman dressed in midnight-blue robes. Her piercing gray eyes look expectantly at Jemina.
The estate manager softly clears her throat and announces, “Senior Lesser Councilwoman, Archdean of the Arcanamirium, Second Spell Lord of Absalom, Lady Darchana of House Madinani, please receive these agents of the Master of Spells Aram Zey of the Pathfinder Society.”
Lady Darchana beckons with a short hand movement, “Pathfinders, join me. That is all, Jemina.” She folds her hands together and waits for Jemina to close the door behind her, then continues. “After my conversation with Master Zey, he agreed by necessity to keep the details that were passed on to you to a minimum. I am keenly interested to hear what you were able to learn based on what you were provided.”
Lady Darchana focuses her attention on Wulfren and motions with her hand, "Please, tell me what you have learned thus far."
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Wulfren squirms a bit, but composes himself to answer.
"Milady, we inquired at Lady Silviana's home and at the office of her solicitor. Both informed us that the slave in question, named Atlag, had been purchased at the shop of a man named Mahjub Madhi. We paid Mahjub a visit. He was most helpful, in the end. He told us the name of the slaver who brought Atlag to him. Her name is Waheeda Wardak. She's the captain of a ship called the At Sea. Mahdi just acted as a middleman in the deal. It seems that Captain Wardak, or someone working with her, arranged to have Atlag placed in Lady Silviana's service. Wardak's ship is due in port anytime. Do you have any suggestions for our next step?"
Listening intently, Lady Darchana responds finally, "Indeed I do, but first..." she gestures to Anaristiel "what can you tell me about your investigation my lovely?"
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Anaristiel looks confused, as Wulfren had basically summarized their investigation thus far, but attempts to expand on his telling nonetheless. "Lady Silviana's majordomo was very helpful; her solicitor no less so, but for very different reasons. Mahjub Mahdi was having some...issues...when we arrived, but we assisted him somewhat, and he helped us out of a sense of indebtedness. He did mention that he was notified that there would be a Pathfinder at the slave auction, but there were no additional details given." Unsure whether she covered everything of import, Anaristiel looks to her companions for confirmation.
“An Okeno pirate captain? Captain Wardak of the At Sea.” she nods her head, a brief smile. “Yes, that would stand to reason.” She flips open a ledger sitting on her desk that bears the seal of the harbormaster and begins scanning the pages, “When I became aware of the eavesdropping handmaiden, using my own magic I was able to follow the arcane trail back to it’s origin. I only got a brief glimpse of the heavily veiled perpetrator, but based on the distance and direction, I knew the culprit was on Stonespire Island—somewhere underground on the island at any rate, with a powerfully enchanted mirror. The Okeno pirates’ base of operations is a city on that island, and the Fleshfairs may be the largest slave markets on all of Golarion. It is a cunning place through which to move these sensored slaves.” Her hand finally comes to rest in the ledger. “At Sea, here we are. It has been to Absalom two other times in the last three months. According to this, however, it has been marked with a bounty. ‘Failure to fully declare cargo value for taxation.’” She clicks her tongue loudly. “Excellent. You said Mahjub Mahdi was expecting another shipment from the At Sea tomorrow? If it hasn’t already docked, it’ll be anchored outside the Ship’s Graveyard, waiting for a pilot. ” Lady Darchana continues, "By law, a ship like the At Sea must have a Pilot’s Guild member bring it in through the hazardous Ship’s Graveyard. If you will excuse me for a few minutes, please..."
She sees herself out, and after a moment Jemina returns with a man following behind her with a massive silver tray of refreshments and snacks. "Please enjoy this while you wait." Jemina says as the man sets it down near the large map. There are several carafes of iced water, a light elven wine, and a small, beautifully decorated teapot with hot green tea. The snacks include fresh fruits, hot rolls, an assortment of cheeses, and several sweet lemon pastries.
---[15 minutes pass]---
Lady Darchana returns, a look of absolute glee in her eyes. “I have spoken with a contact at the Harbormaster’s Grange. There is an outstanding docking request for a ship called Kat Season, which is likely our ship with a flimsy disguise.” She writes out a letter, seals it in wax with her seal, and hands it to Ic. “Carry this note to the Harbormaster’s Grange—it authorizes the inspector to provide you with a rowboat and a pilot. So long as you can confirm the ship’s identity, you are legally free to claim the bounty, in the sum of 725 gold, yourselves. We cannot allow those slaves to make it to the Docks unaccompanied! I trust I count on you to help?"
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Liam sniffs curiously at the wine before making a face and pouring himself a glass of ice water instead. He grins at the sensation of the cool liquid trickling down his throat to form a chilly pool in his stomach. He takes a bit more time trying to decide which of the tasty snakes to try, eventually deciding on a hot roll and lemon pastry.
When Lady Darchana returns, he quickly swallows his mouthful and attempts to be inconspicuous about the remains of his pastry, almost like a small child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Upon hearing her plan, Liam smiles and nods, his mind already starting to makes notes on troubles they're likely to encounter and things they'll have to accomplish. "M'lady, do you happen ta know how many gen'rly crew a slaver ship? I find m'self wonderin' if we can quell them ourselves or if we'll want some harbor guards to help ensure they don't go runnin' away once they find they've been discovered."
"Honestly it depends on the size of the ship. Though according to the records here, a ship that size would probably have a crew up to eight, including the captain." Lady Darchana replies.
Leaving Madinani Estate the Pathfinders make their way to the Harbormaster’s Grange. It has been an eventful day going back and forth across Absalom, now as they head to the Docks, the Pathfinders see the sun sinking lower toward the western horizon as it will soon set for another day.
The Inspection and Pilots’ Office of the Harbormaster’s Grange is cramped and perfumed by a particularly smelly bowl of salted fish stew that’s cooling on one of its several desks. Ledgers and loose papers occupy most of the horizontal surfaces in the office, and a bookshelf on the southern wall sags under the weight of heavy files.
At present only one inspector is on duty. The sleepy-looking halfling woman sits up, covers a yawn, and says, “Welcome to the Harbormaster’s Grange. I’m Inspector Second Class Lilia Ginsi. How may I be of service?”