Damian thanks you and orders the servants to prepare everything for you. He also informs the guards.
"Please come back as soon as possible and ... treat this discreet! Thank you!"
Damian Blakros returns to the main pavilion.
|
Hamish adds in a bit more diplomatic tone, "of course we will help, thank you for this opportunity. I'm sure the lady of honor just wandered off. Does she need to be brought back or shall we just make sure she is safe?"
Once the clarification is made, he grabs his pack on the way out. While heading up to the old ruin out of sight of the guards he releases his peace bound weapons and slips his spiked gauntlet securely in place. A kidnapping would not be a surprise. With this family's wealth and influence it's probably a weekly thing. Saving her would be quite a feather for our influence with them.
”I completely understand what you are asking and please be assured that I want her to be safe and at the same time by my side! So I assume that you will find a way to achieve both!“ Damian says with a genuine smile.
SEARCHING THE BRIDE
The Pathfinders travel as one group with any gear they wish returned.
You go quietly along the path towards the ruins of the Blakros summer house.
Shafar's mercenary guards are patrolling the pavilions, but there are no guards on the route to the southwest.
|
"Alright, on Tibbens I can keep up with everyone else if we decide to move quickly." Terrance lights up a cigar, then pats his riding rat Tibbens on the side. He is enormous for a rat!
"I say we take the empty road and search for clues. According to the map, that should lead us to the ol' summer house."
Once you get on that path, you pick up signs of passage. A lone walker came this way very recently.
The walker is wearing inappropriate footwear, judging by the indentations in the ground. You follow the tracks to the ruins.
The summer home’s charred and crumbled outer walls still stand, framing the bare, scorched earth and collapsed tiled roof within.
The ruin overlooks the sea from atop a steep granite cliff. The view of the setting sun is magnificent, and romantic. If Michellia came here for this, you would understand why.
* * *
You find tracks left by a humanoid woman (or a lightweight male) dragging what appears to be a body. These new tracks are made by booted feet. The dainty tracks left by the inappropriate footwear are gone.
The new tracks lead you to a natural break in the cliff face and a path leading down to a private, secluded beach on the western coast of the island.
You follow the tracks down the path.
As you reach the beach, you see an ulfen longboat landed on the shore. Several figures are moving around by the boat. You can make out four men, and Michellia Blakros.
|
|
Hamish quickly points out to the group, "oooh, looks like a kidnapping, I had a feeling!!!"
He pulls everyone to the side before they get in hearing range of the men, "okay, we don't want them to freak out and kill her but I doubt we have enough cover to sneak up close enough. I'll pretend to be a drunk partygoer and try to distract them. That way we can at least make sure what they are doing. Anyone is welcome to join me or hide out like Terrance is... wait, where did he go?"
_____________________________________________________________
Once the group agrees and makes their own plans, he casts heroism on himself and walks out in the open, pretending to stumble a bit. If anyone is with him he adds, "okay so I found this hidden little beach last wedding er... it was really nice and... oh sorry, looks like it's occupied! Haha, no skinny dipping for us today!"
He pauses a second, "wait aren't you the bride, oh you naughty lady. I don't recognize any of these men! Uh... you don't need a boat to skinny dip, what is that for?" The half-elf pretends to be very confused.
You have the feeling that you have not been detected yet.
|
Offering a slight bow, he acknowledges, "We'll do our best."
Scurrying along as fast as his tiny legs can carry him, he glances towards the giant rat longingly. "Well...some of us aren't quite as quick as you lot."
Quietly following the trail pointed out to him, the wayang huffs and puffs, concentrating on keeping up.
Tugging an oak stick from his belongings, Umbrato mumbles an incantation and taps himself with it. A translucent shimmering field seems to engulf the small man suddenly.
Hunkering down in the weeds, he tugs a piece of parchment inscribed with magical runes. "Can you tell if she's a willing member of their group?" he whispers in a hushed voice.
|
"Milady! I am so glad to have found you." Mosi steps out of the treeline, leaning slightly on his staff. "Your husband is looking for you, and has asked us to retrieve you for him." Mosi smiles, not wanting to add too much. Honestly, it didn't really seem necessary. They were sent to look for the bride, and now they have found her.
The drag marks are curious, perhaps if we ask the right questions, or of I am perceptive enough, we can stumble on a clue as to what happened.
"Who are your friends here? I should like to know their names for when your husband asks." Mosi smiles disarmingly.
Michellia turns around because of Hamish and Mosi and when she sees you, she starts smiling.
She walks in your direction.
The Ulfen starts casting a spell.
|
|
Hamish follows along next to Mosi, staying quiet. Eh, ruses aren't even my thing. I'd rather try this plan, hey wait what is that guy doing? Ooooh, preparing for a fight I'm guessing. Better tell Mosi.
He nods at the Ulfen and attempts to whisper a message to his MONKey companion.
"Watch out, they might be prepping for a fight."
His brow furrows, did I say that as loud as I thought I did? Oops. Maybe I did have too much wine.
|
|
Terrance keeps his crossbow at the ready if a fight breaks out. He's seen defensive magic before. He stares as silent and as calm as the night within his hidden post.
I don't like the looks of this... If they get too close or too cozy with a spell... I think I need to drop the most unsuspecting target... He thinks to himself, looking over each one of them.
Terrance draws an Alchemist fire and stuffs it into his Explosion Pocket.
Alchemical Onslaught (Ex): At 5th level, an opportunist gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls with alchemical weapons and bombs and can add his Intelligence modifier to damage rolls for splash weapons. He can draw an alchemical weapon as a free action once per round.
This ability replaces weapon training 1.
Blood of the Beast Pg20
An explosion pocket looks like a cloth pouch just large enough to contain a Small or Medium humanoid’s hand. When placed against a shirt, vest, jacket, trousers, or similar piece of clothing, this ragged green patch attaches to the clothing, creating a loose pocket. The pocket functions as a normal pocket, but once per day the pocket’s wearer can, as a standard action by speaking a command word while his hand is in the pocket, cause the pocket to create a single vial of alchemist’s fire. If a vial of alchemist’s fire is in the explosion pocket when it is commanded to create a vial of alchemist’s fire, the pocket instead supercharges the existing vial within so that it deals double the normal fire damage a vial of alchemist’s fire would normally inflict. An explosion pocket can be removed as a full-round action, allowing it to be placed on a different piece of clothing as the owner wishes. A vial of alchemist’s fire created or supercharged by an explosion pocket reverts to a vial of inert, bitter-tasting water 1 minute after it is created or supercharged.
Source: Chronicle 8-22, Wrath of the Fleshwarped Queen
|
|
Smirking just a little, assuming his question might have hit a raw spot, Mosi presses the subject.
"I apologize sincerely milady if you don't remember us. You must have met hundreds of new people and your head is spinning as much as mine for all of the undercurrent of political pulling and pushing going on. I am Mosi, of the pathfinder society, and these are my companions. You seem to know these men, why are they casting spells? Even if they weren't invited, surely there is no need for something so aggressive, right? Do they realize we aren't guards? As I said, we are just here to bring you back to your husband's side."
Mosi's hands grip his staff tighter as he begins to measure the ulfen men, and he continues to approach the group at the shoreline. The fancy word play isn't easy for the rough-around-the-edges monk, but he keeps his smile as best he can.
vs.
Michellia Blakros starts walking in your direction. She speaks to you, whilst adjusting her hair.
"Oh! Uh, hello. It's alright. Nothing to worry about, really. This is my friend Olaf. It's lucky he was around! My fool of a sister Eleanir lured me out to the old summer house, told me she wanted to reminisce about the old days but she didn't want to disturb the wedding ceremony. Then she attacked me! Tried to beat me over the head! But Olaf saved me. He overpowered her, and he has kindly agreed to take her back to Absalom. The family will deal with this. Just hold on there a moment, and I'll follow you back to the wedding party."
You all believe what she said and don't feel any deception.
|
|
Hamish's brow furrows and he steps into the conversation. "Oooh, well that uh... doesn't fit what we saw at all. There was only one set of tracks leading up here and your friends there appear to already have a boat ready for something that just happened. I mean, this whole situation seems a bit odd."
He changes tack, trying to get a bit closer to the boat by asking, "may I see your sister? I might be able to figure out quickly if she was under the influence of some sort of possession or magic. I've had some recent experience with that."
Hamish knows that since their rise to prominence, Blakros women have married a variety of nobles from various lands including Qadiran pashas, Vudran rajahs, and more than one Mwangi tribal chief.
Blakros women are renowned for their beauty and fertility, and marrying a Blakros woman is a sure path to wealth and power.
But ... the Blakros family demands a considerable dowry from suitors for the privilege of marrying one of their daughters. And ... the Ulfen warriors Hamish is seeing at the beach do not fit the typical suitor.
Nonetheless, Hamish knows that Eleanir Blakros is an adventurer and thus the Ulfen here would rather fit to the people that Eleanir would have chosen as companions.
Hamish's brow furrows and he steps into the conversation. "Oooh, well that uh... doesn't fit what we saw at all. There was only one set of tracks leading up here and your friends there appear to already have a boat ready for something that just happened. I mean, this whole situation seems a bit odd."
He changes tack, trying to get a bit closer to the boat by asking, "may I see your sister? I might be able to figure out quickly if she was under the influence of some sort of possession or magic. I've had some recent experience with that."
vs. Bluff
Michellia raises an eyebrow.
"I am really sorry but I am the Blakros here! Your friends just explained what your orders were and none of your demands fit to those orders. I am coming with you now! Satisfied?" Michellia says in an authoritative tone as would be expected from a woman with the Blakros name.
Again you all feel no deception at all.
She starts walking to the trail that would lead back to the wedding ceremony and just shakes are head as if she does not understand how you people could really talk to her like this on her wedding day.
|
|
"Ahh, Nigel, my man. Please, just a moment. I like you, and I think we can help each other. With your position at the Blakros Museum, you get to see everything that comes into the museum... even those artifacts that never get put on display. Can you be sure to give us in the Dark Archive a heads up if anything seems... ahhh... particularly dangerous? It would be a big help, and we can lend our knowledge to you at the same time."
Kolris seems amused by Bedard's interest in him, especially how the man wants him to be an Eagle Knight. I think he believes me to be a paladin. When did I ever give him that impression? Well, this should be fun regardless; no sense disavowing him of that thought. The investigator allows Bedard his mistake, and continues to celebrate with the Andoran up and until they are all called off for another task.
_______________________
Kolris listens as each side, Michellia and the Pathfinders, make their various cases. It seems almost to be on the verge of a battle, but then Michellia just... acquiesces. This is all very odd.
"Well, that was lucky then. I know your new husband will be glad to see you again; he was quite nervous." That sister must be quite the padfoot... she didn't leave a single track anywhere. "Glad Olaf was here to help, and I'm happy that we can escort you back." I think.
Michellia turns around when she sees Hamish walk to the boat and again in an authoritative and cold tone addresses you.
"If you want this day to end with diplomatic relations to the Blakros family intact ... I advise that you accompany me now. This is your last chance."
And again she turns around and continues to the path leading back to the ceremony.
** spoiler omitted **
Kolris seems amused by Bedard's interest in him, especially how the man wants him to be an Eagle Knight. I think he believes me to be a paladin. When did I ever give him that impression? Well, this should be fun regardless; no sense disavowing him of that thought. The investigator allows Bedard his mistake, and continues to celebrate with the Andoran up and until they are all called off for another task.
|
|
"She is right. Though it is a good thing that your Husband now bears the Blakros name. We do not want to cause an unfortunate misunderstanding." Mosi smiles and bows, but does not turn around.
"Olaf! You should come and meet Michelle's husband. The Blakros family is wealthy, and you should be rewarded for saving the bride on this wonderful day! This is a deed that we simply can't pretend as if it just didn't happen! Come, come, bring your attendants as well. We shall keep you in the shadows so as not to create a scene. Damien Blakros may not be able to pay you with fame and upset the wedding reception, but I'm sure he has other ways to show his gratitude." Mosi smiles again. This time he reaches out an arm to offer to Michelle.
"We noticed you had some difficulty walking through the mud in your shoes here. Please, allow me to help." Mosi looks down at the woman's shoes and legs to point out what he is talking about.
Olaf just stands at the beach without saying a word.
Michellia looks at Mosi and is clearly agitated now.
"I think you understood me well enough the first time!" she says and if you do not hinder her she continues walking back to the ceremony.
|
|
Terrance, still listening in on all this, decides perhaps it is best after all to prepare a separate kind of explosive.
Carefully he extracts from his Handy Haversack a Shriek Bomb.
This yellow ball of volatile resin has a hemp wick. Lighting the fuse is a move action; 1d3–1 rounds later (a result of 0 rounds takes place at the end of your turn), the shriek bomb explodes, dealing 2d6 points of sonic damage to creatures in a 10-footradius burst (Fortitude DC 15 half). A shriek bomb can be thrown as a splash weapon with a range of 10 feet.
About 16 or 17 yards until the best possible target zone... That should be reasonable to get.
|
|
When Michellia hauls out the Blakros switch and starts metaphorically beating the Pathfinders with it, his ire rises.
"Now wait just a minute there. The Pathfinder Society is nobody's tool. We certainly want to curry favor here, but we're not at your beck and call. We are not your servants. Too much of this seems off."
He holds his hand out and starts ticking off each point as he comes to it.
"There are only two sets of footprints; one is yours, but which is your sister's and which Olaf's; don't his friends leave prints?"
"Where is your sister now, and why won't you let us examine her; we have healers and can make sure she's safe, if nothing else."
He looks at his hand with just two fingers raised. "Well, I guess it's just those two things," he holds them out in a palm-out 'V' towards Michellia. "Oh, yeah. Your attitude!" He waggles his hand as he raises a third finger. "These all bug me. There's nothing wrong with taking two moments here to clear things up, unless you want things to remain muddied! So... how about an answer or three, if you don't mind, Mrs. Blakros!"
While the Ulfen men now seem to carefully eye everyone, 'Michellia' motions for a wait.
"We're not going over there. Since you're not going by my word alone, i'll indulge you. I am Michellia's twin sister. Michellia is obviously not happy with the marriage, doing only so for the family, and my warrior friend Olaf here has had a vision of a great catastrophy. My twin sister was by his side in it, and he fervently believes she is key to avoiding it. But she must go with him at once."
She pauses for a moment.
"I have studied her new husband, Damian Kastner. I would take her place, Michellia would not be pressed into an unhappy marriage, and the disaster my friend here had seen would not come to pass. Nobody save us here would be any wiser."
She looks at you with the question hanging unspoken...
|
|
What a load of crap. Terrance thinks to himself. May as well get the drop now.
From his hiding spot, he lights the Shriek Bomb.
"You can't leave without catching the Bouquet!"
Alchemical Onslaught (Ex): At 5th level, an opportunist gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls with alchemical weapons and bombs and can add his Intelligence modifier to damage rolls for splash weapons. He can draw an alchemical weapon as a free action once per round.
This ability replaces weapon training 1.
Blood of the Beast Pg20
This yellow ball of volatile resin has a hemp wick. Lighting the fuse is a move action; 1d3–1 rounds later (a result of 0 rounds takes place at the end of your turn), the shriek bomb explodes, dealing 2d6 points of sonic damage to creatures in a 10-footradius burst (Fortitude DC 15 half). A shriek bomb can be thrown as a splash weapon with a range of 10 feet.
The Ulfen men are a little confused when something lands in their midst.
One of the Ulfen makes a small step, takes the grenade from the ground and throws it into the water.
* * *
Eleanir shouts "STOP! No fighting! We can wake Michellia!"
Especially the man named Olaf tenses up, visibly, the twin motions for him to hold.
"This will not change anything, Olaf."
|
|
Hamish starts laughing, no, guffawing. He stops for a moment to clarify, "oh wow, that's just soooo exactly what I was expecting to happen at this wedding! Some sort of convoluted crazy sneaky backdoor whatever! Oh wow, that did not disappoint. Okay, all we need is your sister to confirm this is the plan and no issues from us. We don't care about your schemes, honestly. Hahahaha, oh wow. The Blackros do NOT disappoint! Ah, it was pretty boring until... oh S$%#!"
As something with a hissing fuse is tossed from behind a rock Hamish ducks for cover.
|
|
"If your sister agrees with this plan, then why did she need to be dragged here?" Mosi now grips his staff with two hands, in a defensive posture. He moves towards the group carefully, not taking his eyes off of any of the ulfen warriors.
"Now that you have told us this story, which seems to make at least some sense, I'm sure I don't know that I believe anything you say. I would hear it from Michellia's mouth."
Perception act in surprise round
vs.
* * *
Initiative
One of the Ulfen, Syl’las, Mosi, Kolris, and Eleanir hear Terrance and see the grenade flying!
* * *
Surprise Round
0. Terrance initiated
1. Ulfen warrior
The Ulfen warrior draws his weapon!
2. Eleanir
3. Syl’las, Mosi, Kolris -> YOU ARE UP!
|
|
Kolris sees Terrence's bomb fly, and instinctively clasps his hands to his ears at the tremendous noise, grateful he wasn't closer to the blast!
As chaos ensues, he quickly drinks an extract and draws his rapier. "Eleanir, was it?" he asks the woman in front of him. "I wouldn't think about going anywhere or doing anything crazy now. Talk those men off the ledge if you can!"
Shield creates an invisible shield of force that hovers in front of you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you. The disk also provides a +4 shield bonus to AC. This bonus applies against incorporeal touch attacks, since it is a force effect. The shield has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance.
Round 1
1. Ulfen warriors & Olaf
You see Olaf eyes Hamish and that Eleanir's words but also Hamish's words obviously had an effect ... but Olaf nonetheless shouts in a strange language.
"Prepare to fight to the death! If we fail all this world has to offer will be destroyed!"
The Ulfen warriors and Olaf move forward and draw their weapons.
Olaf and the only warrior that saw Terrance both are now standing in front of Terrance.
The other two moved to Mosi and have readied actions to attack if you take hostile action.
--
2. Umbrato -> YOU ARE UP!
3. Eleanir
4. Syl’las, Mosi, Kolris, Terrance, Hamish