"Well, this just gets worse and worse."
"A simulacrum. Lesser strength. This wasn't really him. I'm not surprised." She sighs. "So he managed to stall for more time. We need answers on his normal habits and lairs."
Damiel gives the mush a nudge with his boot "You're right. Just a fancy spell making a copy of him. This isn't going to be as easy as we'd hoped." Nothing's ever easy around here is it.
He starts to give the room a better look over.
A quick search of the pile of slush reveals little more than Black's clothing and a simple quarterstaff - but given that it wasn't even the real Black, it's not that surprising. However, Damiel's keen eyes spot something else hidden among the folds of the robe...
You find a bronze badge of the Aspis Consortium pinned to the underside of the robe's lapel.
After a few moments you all hear the sound of many pounding footsteps before the office door is flung wide and a veritable contingent of Golemworks guards - at least 10 - pile into the room, with Reemis right behind them. "What’s going on!?" he yelps. "I heard all the noise and so I called the guard!"
Damiel quickly pockets the find before the guards burst into the room. "Aspis" He whispers to the others, things now making much more sense.
"From what he was saying as he tried to drug us with booze and restrain us with these chairs, he uses body parts in his golem work. I'm pretty sure that is against the law in Magnimar..." If not then man it should be.
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Hanzi lets out a long sigh Freaking Varisians.....I hate this place already. the gruff snakeman lets out as he surveys the damage and sees the lawmen.
Your Black here is a psychopath. He attempted to murder Sheila Heidmarch and again just now attempted to murder me and mine to use our bodies as raw materials. I demand we shut down this entire golemworks. Now.
Enora shrugs. "Chrysalis Black is part of an organization that directly opposes the Pathfinders. No wonder they malfunctioned." She sighs. "His golems attacked the Heidmarch manor, and when we came to question us he attacked us with more golems. He's a saboteur and a fugitive. We need to track him down, now, and we've wasted too much time already."
Reemis wrings his hands guilty, shaking his head. "First the sabotage of the guardians and now this? I am so terribly, unbelievably sorry that not only did you have to deal with errant guardians but now an attack by one of our own as well."
"I’m afraid that all I can do for now is to reassure you that there will be a complete and thorough investigation into this, including review of Black’s allegiances and any other wrongdoings he may have had a hand in," the pudgy man continues, mopping the sweat from his brow. "As for shutting down the entire Golemworks? No, that is not your call to make," Reemis says, an actual bit of genuine firmness creeping into his voice. "That will be for the city watch to decide as these men here are employed by the Golemworks for security."
"At any rate, I suggest that you folks should attempt to track the real Black down before he has a chance to flee the city. There’s not much I can offer you in the way of assistance except the address of his other business: a toy shop in the Naos District known as the Doll House. Apparently it’s known in certain circles for its' hauntingly lifelike dolls," Reemis explains. "I believe that he must live as well as work there so it would be the most logical place to seek him out."
Looking around, Reemis adds, "And of course feel free to search the rest of Black's rooms here before you set out, if you think you might find anything of use or other damning evidence against him!"
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She looks to Reemis. "Underneath the rug is a pile of dirt someone is using as an Earth Glide tunnel."
"Then let's go. We have a man to catch." Enora pulls out her journal and scribbles notes. "Does anyone need anything from here first?"
As Ashara opens the northwestern door you see that it opens into a small, narrow hallway that ends at another door set in the northern wall. Upon opening this second door you quickly realize that you have found Black’s storeroom. The room is full of all manner of tools as well as many treatises, essays, and books on crafting constructs - likely everything that couldn’t fit on the shelves in the main part of the office. While the collection is quite impressive, none of the books or other contents look to be particularly useful or valuable.
"Sounds like that doll factory is next on the list. We should alert Ms Heidmarch that she's a bit of a target."
Damiel follow behind and peers inside, a look of concern on his face "Could one of you magical savants please scan the room for anything of note? This Black has proven himself to be tricky, we can expect all manner of magical traps, illusions, and defenses."
Once things have been properly scanned for bad magic, Damiel will head inside to look through things thoroughly.
"Yes, I'll take a look."
A thorough examination of Black's storeroom doesn't turn up anything magical - surprisingly - nor anything else of particular interest. Besides all the books on construct-crafting there are all manner of crates containing pieces for various constructs - molds for limbs, stores of brass and other metals and alloys, things of that nature.
After the thorough search of the store room, Damiel heads to check on the other door. "Let's continue with our magical scans and thorough searches." He waves the others over and again checks the door before opening it and awaiting a magic scan.
Having found nothing of interest in the storeroom, Damiel moves on to the other door and gives it a thorough inspection before proceeding any further. The sharp-eyed alchemist is certain that there aren't any traps and further follow-up with Detect Magic from Enora and Ashara doesn't turn up any magical auras.
Opening the door reveals a room dominated by a large table in its center. Hundreds of papers containing strange diagrams and scrawled mathematical symbols litter its surface. Resting near the diagrams is a half eaten lunch and a perfectly folded note detailing a “to do” list and signed “Your Loving Mother”. The list details ordinary tasks such as picking up groceries and taking a pair of shoes to the cobbler to be resoled.
As you study the writing on the note as well as the scribbled diagrams, you notice that there are certain similarities in the writing.
Underneath a pile of papers you spot what appears to be a wand of some sort.
Damiel carefully works his way through the room, pausing as he looks through the papers and notes "These were written by the same person. And who the hell eats liverworst sandwiches? Gross." He also lifts up a wand that's hiding under the paperwork.
"Did you find a wand, Damiel?" Enora scans it for magical auras.
"Oh, it's this wand. Makes sense."
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Have we found anything else interesting or incriminating? I mean other than the fact he was working with or for the damned Snakes? Mykel asks.
I don't think he would mind you eating the sandwich, Karn...I don't think he's going to come back for it... he continues as ha sharpens thew edge on his blade, making sure it is still razor sharp.
While Karn enjoys the rest of the Black's half-eaten lunch, including the liverwurst sammich, Enora has little trouble in identifying the found wand as a Wand of Protection from Energy with 10 charges remaining.
Aside from the scribbled notes and the wand, further inspection of the drafting room and its contents doesn't turn up anything else of interest.
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"Well then, that makes sense. If you find anything that generates intense heat, cold, electricity or acid give me a heads up." Enora stows the wand.
"Ready when you are, gentlemen and lady. Let's see if we can find him at the toy house."
Damiel steers clear of Karn and his liver breath as they finish up the recon. "Ya, let's get to the toy shop next. Something tells me it'll be creepy as hell. Be prepared."
Enora uses her wand of Mage Armor and keeps her staff of embers ready.
After bidding Reemis, who promises to further investigate the weird earth-glide tunnel in Black's office, you set out from the Golemworks towards your next destination - Black's personal business, The Doll House.
It takes a bit of time for you to weave your way back through the city and up to the Naos District but it isn’t long until you find yourselves standing in front of a little cottage. A wrought iron fence encloses a small yard, where a well-maintained path leads to a garishly bright building. The front facade is meticulously painted to resemble a child’s doll house. An exquisitely carved placard reads, The Doll House, with dolls smiling and cavorting all around the lettering. Three window displays exhibit festive scenes, in which dozens of dolls play leap-frog, hide-and-seek, and peek-a-boo.
All is quiet.
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"Oh. This isn't creepy at all." Enora uses detect magic to look for auras.
Once they arrive at the Doll House, Damiel pulls a few meticulously wrapped candies from his bandoleer and eats them one at a time. "You never know when trouble will show itself, other than now, definitely trouble in there."
"Does anyone have the urge to be large at times? I have a nice little candy that provides that experience. It is a magical effect though..." He looks at Karn, Hanzi and Mykel.
Feeling understandably paranoid, Enora scans what she can see of the front of the shop for magical auras while Damiel and Ashara make some magical preparations. There aren't any magical auras that Enora can detect from the outside nor does there seem to be anything of else of note. Unsure of what they may find inside, Mykel waits until everyone is ready and flings open the door...
...as a bell rings to announce your presence! A nauseating riot of color splashes every surface of this room. The shelves are stocked with hundreds of porcelain dolls with looks of vapid joy upon their faces. While each doll differs in hair color, skin tone, and dress, there is something eerily similar about their enraptured faces, almost as if they all bore a family resemblance. A bronze plaque boasts that "All our dolls are made from Mwangi mahogany and Tian porcelain, and are clothed in Vudrani silk and lace."
From over near the showcase windows comes a plump, elderly woman to greet you. "Hello, hello! Welcome to the Doll’s House," she smiles warmly. "I’m Jaelle. How may I help you today?"
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Jaelle shrinks back from Karn, looking surprised as you inquire about Black. "Chrysalis Black? Why, there must be some mistake," she remarks, shaking her head rapidly. "I bought this shop from him over a year ago and I have the documents as proof, if you’d like to see them!" She quickly kneels down behind the counter for a few moments, rustling through papers, before straightening up and handing you a signed deed.
"See? It’s all quite legitimate, you know," Jaelle explains, eyeing Karn nervously. "N-now...unless you have business here I'm going to kindly ask you to p-please leave!"
Actually no, it’s really not...these are most definitely forgeries.
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Hanzi inspects the elderly woman closely. Is she....I mean the place is called the Doll House.
Hanzi begins attempting to inspect this "woman" to be certain she isnt a construct a k a a trap being laid to ambush the party.
Regardless of how satisfied this leaves the veteran Pathfinder he inspects the papers for himself.
He then shrugs not knowing anything about deeds.
Hmm...fine then what color eyes does Mr. Black have if you purchased this from him.
All of this color almost makes Enora retch. "Mister Black is a fugitive from the law, miss. I don't know why you're showing us forged deeds but we really do need to explore this place and learn everything about him that we can. Please, stand aside."
"Could you please stop staring? It's very rude," Jaelle snaps as Hanzi leans for what he thinks is a really good look. "And I think his eyes were blue, but-" she begins in answer to Hanzi's question, only to be cut off by Karn and Enora - the most unlikely pair of Bad Cops. She sighs and rubs at her temples for a moment.
"Really? And today was off to such a good start! But if you're not here for business, then..."
Jaelle suddenly sticks her fingers into her mouth and lets out a loud, shrill whistle. "Looks like we got some garbage in off the streets, boys - time to take out the trash!" she cries, though her voice sounds a little more shrill and panicky than it was a moment ago. The northern door then bursts open and you see two scruffy-looking men, armed with axes!
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Round 1
Ashara
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Jaelle
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Mykel
Damiel
Karn
Hanzi
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Thugs
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Enora
Active Conditions: Bless
Ashara is UP!
"I have so many questions, but so little patience..." Enora taps her staff against the ground.
Damiel looks up from the well made dolls with a start as the ruckus rolls in from the other room "Hrm? Oh... Not good. His eyes wander in hopes the room isn't too overly flammable.
Not a fan of the crowded quarters, Ashara ducks back out the shop's front door and begins conjuring some friends from the heavenly realms to lend a hand.
Jaelle gives her head a good, hard shake, sending a mass of gray hair flying as the wig she'd been wearing falls away to reveal raven-black hair. She draws two kukris as she steps back into the corner and then adopts a defensive stance.
"Who even *are* you people!?" she demands.
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Round 1
Ashara
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Jaelle
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Mykel
Damiel
Karn
Hanzi
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Thugs
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Enora
Active Conditions: Bless
Mykel, Damiel, Karn and Hanzi are UP!
"We said we were here looking for Mr Black, which is still the case. Whether or not you have a proper deed for this place doesn't matter too much to us, but it seems it sure does to you." He looks at the fallen disguise with interest as he draws out a dagger to defend himself.
He draws out and drinks another simple vial as things fall out around him.