I judge everyone as fast as i can shoot them so karrick is a trust worthy guy just dont let him near your stuff.. lol says with a smile if we want to find the gnome we first need to check local bars or docks hes prolly on his way out or gone. We might be able to find a him or a person with the right description saw him and saw where he went.[/b] with his brow up and a smile for the right coin of course mostlikely
"Why not?" Karrick resigns with a flippant wave of his hand, leaning away from the chimney. "Ain't got nothin' against the Reidfords. 'Sides, what'd you do if you got into trouble without me around?" That sarcastic comment comes with a toothy grin from Karrick as he ambles across the floor to Kera's side.
"C'mon, Muziel, we might need somethin' blown up. Never know what me and Pip," Karrick nods in direction to Kera, "could get into." Then, glancing side-long at the younger woman he adds, "She's trouble."
Muziel shrugs. He had been planning on doing some reading while the others were gone, but Karrick had a point - they were liable to get entangled in some mess during the trip. "Well... I suppose I'll join you guys on the trip. I'll just wait outside while you talk to the Head Marshal. What better place to spend the night than the Sherrif's office?"
Muziel crosses his fingers, hoping his "stay" with the authorities doesn't include a prison cell.
The night sky starts to shine brightly as you decide to go see the High Marshal. The sky is amazingly clear for such a forsaken desert. The High Marshal's residence is centralized in the middle of Alkenstar. There are many guards patrolling the district.
Samuel happens to be out on his second floor balcony when you walk by You lot come inside, leave the Nidal. He says flatly as he walks inside. Guards outside insist you relinquish any weapons due to the increase of security You can give them to your Nidal friend and we will watch him and them while you go in and talk, but we are not taking any chances. These guards wear the full gold star of a Marshal.
"I hope tonight is a better one than last night..." Miikae head outside to Sands giving him a couple extra treats after dinner, including the potion she had been given. She poured it in a mug for him and rubbed some directly onto the wound itself.
She would save her healing power in case something went wrong tonight. "We're ready, let's be off." Thankfully the trip there was uneventful, though she couldn't help but keep looking around for signs of trouble and if they were being followed.
To Muziel, Pervince surrenders his pistol, musket, kukri, pouch of bullets, and the power cartridge of the Watts gun. However, he then shows the Watts gun to the guards, and pats it without affection.
"I wanted Samuel Reidford to see this. It is important to following the trail of the assassins. Its useless without the cartridge, see? By the way, the Watts are not behind the assassination, its just that this gun got involved."
As they depart from Kera's place, Muziel, like Miikae, is also wary of being followed, particularly after their last encounter. He keeps an eye out.
Muziel offers a wink to the person across the street in the tavern, but otherwise does not go toward him yet. Instead, he starts collecting the weapons Pervince gives him. Next, he goes up to Sands. "Miikae, I'd be happy to watch your horse for you -- that is, if he won't bite."
Miikae unstraps her weapon sheath and secures it on Sands, then bends down and retrieves the dagger in a small sheath on her right calf and stows that as well. "Perhaps he will watch you instead," she said with a half smile, jokingly.
"Someone over there looks like they know you. Another friend from the embassy?" she inquires, "be careful, they're watching you. Don't worry, we trust you." She then turns to Sands before going inside, "Keep him out of trouble hey."
Kera just nods as Pervince speaks about Muziel’s idea. They had so many leads already it was best to chase some of them down first. She nodded again when Pervince said he would come and his words about a dog.
The Captain was right about Karrick in a way. Kera still wasn’t sure how she felt about the exasperating man, beyond the trust she had bestowed upon him. Of course he spoke up then agreeing to go with her. Kera rolled her eyes at his sarcastic comment about needing him around. Of course he had to keep talking and his words caused Kera to shoot him an angry look.
”Pip? My name isn’t Pip.”
She growled between her teeth but didn’t really want to get into it with Karrick. They had more important things to do right now. Shaking her head she muttered.
”I’m trouble…
He was ten times more trouble then she was. Kera had the feeling he was only trying to get her goat so she just let it go. They could have words later. Nodding to Muziel she opened the door to head out.
”I’ll make sure your not harmed or detained Muziel.”
She hoped she could keep that promise and saw no reason why she couldn’t. She nodded to Miikae’s words also hoping tonight was more fruitful then the one before it. They were off and soon enough at their destination. At the barking of orders Kera gave Muziel her bastard sword, tower shield and all other weapons. She hated to be without them but it was necessary.
When Pervince got in without a pat down Kera was impressed. Though her full attention was on Karrick and how he would react to all of this.
Karrick flashes the guards a smile and slides his daggers out of his vest, turning them around by the bone handles as he offers them out to him. "Careful," he intones while leaning in, "they're sharp. Wouldn't want any of you t'get a nasty cut." As Karrick leans away he holds his arms out, half expecting a full frisking.
Once you all relinquish your weapons, the guards will allow you into the estate. Samuel is there with a tall female gunslinger with two Altkin specials on her hip. He invites you into the dinner room where there is tea, ale and hot cakes made from a local tuber similar to a potato.
Welcome, I am glad you could make it. This is an associate of mine, Klara. Samuel introduces the woman who nods slightly to the party. Before we get into all that, it has been a long day and I need a good meal and some ale. Dinner will be coming shortly, but do try some of my wife's hot cakes they are a unique treat.
As Samuel eats and drinks his fill Klara speaks to the partyWord is you folks had some troubles in the ruins. I notice you brought in that Watt's special. May I see it? The strangely overdressed woman asks Pervince. OH yes, I was curfious about dat oo Samuel speaks with his mouthful spilling hot cakes out onto his beard as he mispronounces most of the sentence.
Eyeing the woman through his goggles as he comes into the room, Karrick tenses for a moment before circling to the periphery of the room and finding a place to lean up against a wall, arms crossed. He keeps his head down, but behind the smoked lenses of his goggles he's observing the proceedings, trying to play off his role as "just a bodyguard."
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Pervince picks up the hot cakes as though to eat it, taking a long sip of ale until Klara and Samuel ask about the Watts weapon. He sets the cake back down, turning to raise the weapon in display. First he takes it to Klara.
"An interesting weapon, to be sure. My father is a Watts engineer, and only once had I seen craftsmanship like this. It emphasizes power-- and well it should, for it is heavier than an earthbreaker hammer sized for a human, and this is sized for a man of my stature."
He lets her examine it for a few moments, then taking it to Samuel. Pervince looks to Samuel as though asking a personal question. "Some might even say it were impressive. The workmanship I've seen this in before was by gnome named Slief, in a repeating crossbow. Shame Slief was involved with Nidal, it seems, but at least this doesn't belong to them. You remember Slief, right?"
As everyone hands over their weapons -- and the horse -- Muziel finds himself extremely overloaded. Keeping a hand on Sands' reins, he asks everyone to stack their weapons on top of Kera's tower shield, keeping only the various daggers tucked away in his belt pouch. He was expecting a certain dagger they had found from the Red Mantis Assassin -- but he was pretty sure he knew who was holding on to that one.
Once the group is inside, Muziel glances quickly to make sure the man outside the tavern is still present. He then speaks casually to the guards.
"Gentlemen, do you mind if I take the horse across the street and tie him down? I don't want to keep him here in case he - ahem - stinks up the place. Wouldn't want Lord Reiford to get mad at us."
Yes, that is fine. I doubt you will go too far with all this. And apologies, you must understand that with the heightened security we have to take some extreme measures even with diplomats such as yourself The Guard answers Muziel and is impressively gracious.
Slief, yes well lets eat first. As Samuel says that many servants come into the room with hot meals. The selection is far better than the hot-cakes he had offered previously. The main course is roast mutton, and there are delicacies from all over Golarion.
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Seeming less interested in the woman now, Karrick keeps his position at the wall with silent vigilance. Discussions, talking and other interactions simply didn't seem to be his particular suit, so staying on the sidelines and ensuring that he's the only one with a knife up his sleeve is all he need do.
Muziel brings Sands and the weapons along, albeit slowly, to the tavern across the street. He takes the occasional break, which is really an excuse to look about and ensure there weren't any other people around. .
Regardless, he plays along with this intrigue. "Of course I serve the Midnight Lord," replies Muziel. Whether he served a Chelaxian like Grachius did was another matter entirely. "But what makes you think I can convince Samuel Reidford? He doesn't trust me. Your evidence has to be beyond reproach, or this plan won't work."
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Sands follows behind Muziel, sorting through the strange smells of this place. He looks around, not letting anyone get close enough to touch him.
As she goes inside with the others, looking back at the man across the street. Greeted by Samuel she smiles slightly and nods back at the woman. Then they are all business.
She refrains from taking the cakes for now, a unique treat indeed. She would wait for dinner to be served but takes an ale instead. She had developed a liking for the drink the first day she met the Duchess. Dwarven ale was her type of drink ever since, in moderate amounts of course. She had gotten drunk once, quite an embarrassing night, it seemed she was one of those types that liked to dance and thinks they are good at it. Funny thing was that she was a better dancer drunk, but every other skill suffered. robbed blind... and then some. She had found the bastard when she was feeling better. Stupid fool had tried to steal Sands too. Yes a mistake she would never make again.
Coming out of her memory to find dinner served, she helps herself. The smell is amazing.
Klara smiles with a wicked grinYes it does look heavy, too bad the Watts ingenuity is hindered by their lack of practicality. I prefer Altkin pistols. Here let me show you mine, and you can show me yours. She smiles aware of the crude innuendo and she bends over and draws her pistols with the quickness of a true master. As she bends over forward to where Pervince is sitting, showing him more than her pistols, you notice a Holy Symbol around her neck
"Alright, well show me what this evidence is, and I'll tell you what I think the plan should be. And tell those men you brought with you to lay low and keep their distance - they're drawing too much attention."
at the captain basically is in a daydream about the sea and his beautiful crimson lady.... just following them all around he notices a beautiful lady being blocked by a short man. His eye grow wide as she says i prefer altkins pistols he says its not the kind of pistol its how you use it. he says withe a wink. i believe i didnt truely noticed something as beautiful as the crimson lady in this room
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Klara looks at Cpt Oliver Sorry hun, I only do outlaws one way, and it isn't pretty. Klara says quickly loosing her playful demeanor and creating a palpable tension. You all better have some real good answers for the Marshal.
Ok, Ok Klara sit down and put yer pistols away. So about Slief, well as you know he had a crush on my sister and she pitted the poor man. Slief isn't the issue, but before I divulge what I know I need some questions answered. Samuel says, taking his first break from mutton and ale since it arrived.
Why were you at the Nidal Embassy, What did Grachius tell you, What exactly happened that night, oh yeah and WHO THE BLAZES ARE YOU? I mean until last night I knew not but two of you and it weren't for your good looks. He says the last part glancing at Karrick and Cpt Oliver.
"Look, a note like this, that promises to hand over the evidence later, would never work. Reidford wouldn't believe it, and it just begs to draw attention to Lord Grachius, which is the last thing we want."
Relying on the fact that Gathrix was impressed by him bringing the weapons, Muziel gestures toward them. "Do you see these weapons? Do you know why I brought them here? It wasn't to just take them away. If we just took them, even fools like them would know that something was wrong. And they could just get other weapons and firearms from the Reifords. Our advantage would be lost."
Muziel takes out a flask of clear liquid from his array with a dramatic flourish. "But this, this is the answer. This reagent is normally quite inert. We can spread it on these weapons, and nobody would be the wiser. But if you add heat, the chemical will react powerfully with the metal, causing these weapons to shatter. And I've got an explosive source of heat right here." Muziel shows off his bomb-making materials, and by mixing just a little bit of the material and throwing the flask on the ground, he generates a tiny flame.
"Once I'm done, I'll come back to the group with the weapons like nothing happened. Meanwhile, I need you to set an ambush on the way back from where we came - far enough not to attract attention from the marshals. When you strike, I'll launch a surprise attack with my bombs. They'll be completely unprepared, and with their weapons damaged, they'll have no chance. And once we deal with them, we can leave, and nobody could trace it back to Lord Grachius."
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Pervince smiles to Klara, not averting his eyes from anything she shows him.
Pervince slowly turns his attention back to Samuel once Klara steps away. He stands in his chair, gesturing as he speaks.
"As I had related earlier today, I am Vince Firetalker, or Pervince Ostgood, if you prefer my birth-name. Journeyman of Greystone craft, justice-seeker in the name of Hana Reidford and the Greystones. I seek the glory in capturing, dead or alive, the Red Mantis responsible for Lord Vyktor Von Zol's assassination. We were at the Nidal embassy as one of your suspects, who was merely witness to the assassination, Venrich Weis, was found by us in the sewers right after we were recruited by Hana. The Red Mantis tried to kill Venrich in our presence, so he must be a witness as he said. Instead, we killed the assassin, but not the one that got Lord Vyktor Von Zol."
Pervince pauses, considering just how much Samuel should know.
"Venrich's status, I'm afraid, makes him useless, perhaps dangerous, to us now. The sewers mercilessly mutated him. As for Grachius, he told us little. At least, he told me little. Kera, did you gather anything from what Grachius said? I'm sure you have more an opinion of him than I."
Pervince smiles to himself, fully expecting Kera to restrain her reaction to Grachius' lewd behavior. She nearly wriggles when she is teased. She makes it too enjoyable to let the opportunity pass.
"Great, keep me informed," replies Muziel to Gathrix. He feels the tension in his chest loosen, at least a little. "Signal the men to gather out of sight from the Reidford estate, and I'll meet them and explain the plan."
Muziel decides he's done dragging these weapons around. He needed to be more mobile. As he drips some of the clear liquid onto each weapon (it's innocuous solvents) he will load it onto Sands, holding only what he must.
Much of what you have said I already know. I just wanted to see if I could trust you. I questioned the survivors of the night you took the Duchess through the hidden path in the ruins of Torag under the city. They told me Kera had looked after them, and for that I thank you. He looks at Kera and nods appreciatively.
He looks at Pervince. So you think because the Red Mantis attacked Venrich they must have attacked Lord Vyktor? Let me tell you what I know. Lord Vyktor was going to turn Venrich over to us. He had been dealing out his brand of unholy justice unlawfully against some of the other Nation's diplomats here. Lord Vyktor knew the importance of keeping things civil, even if he too had a darker side. We believe, but can not prove Grachius put Venrich up to the task of assassinating Lord Vyktor. As the newly appointed guardians of political figures and preventing assassinations, the Red Mantis have many spies in the diplomatic embassies. I believe one such spy got a hint of the planed assassination and attempted to prevent it. And as for Slief, here read this Samuel hands out a letter to who ever wishes to read it, It is written in Dwarven.
We found this note after raiding his home. Before I got the message from your associate(Greysov), I was supposed to meet Slief that night at the tavern. He said he had some information for me. I left a man to look out for him after I received the letter, but I he never showed. I suspect after I locked down the town he thought he had no choice but to run, especially be so disarmed. He adds glancing at the weapon in Pervince's hand.
I do not know who he speaks of in the letter, but I do know that the Vault in Martel holds many secrets. I sent another troop of rifle men and several bounty hunters to Martel to follow up and insure the Duchess is safe. It is a hard ride to Martel these days with all the Magic storms, I hope all is well with her. I know my sister hired you to discover this mysterious killer, but for now I just want to know my sister is safe. You have all proven resourceful, and I would like to hire you myself for a more practical task. Go to Martel and bring back my sister alive. The rest we can sort out after that is complete. I will not pay that Nidal diplomat, as I do not trust him, but if you promise to keep an eye on him I will have no qualm with you traveling with him. If you agree to this I am prepared to give you 100 gold pieces each now, and 400 each upon her safe return. Klara here has already agreed to do this, but I have a bad feeling about all that occurred recently and I think I need a larger team.
Klara looks at Samuel If they refuse, I'd happily accept the extra coin for completing the task alone she says with an impressive amount of confidence.
She is mostly silent as the weapon is shown and Slief is discussed. She hoped they would catch upto him and get some answers one of these days. She was beginning to doubt he was an enemy here, perhaps misguided, perhaps. And then, being in her position at the table she plainly saw the 'pistols' this Klara possessed. Miikae smirked, surely Pervince would not fall for that. Such women irritated her. "Μπορεί να σας είναι γεμάτο ακάρεα." she whispered barely audibly, then normally, "Some of us are here to get a job done."
Thankyou Captain. We need to focus.
WHO THE BLAZES ARE YOU!?
Miikae stopped herself from taking another morsel of the delicious food and prepared to answer when she got the chance. The dwarves certainly knew how to prepare a meal. "I have served your sister for several years guiding diplomats through the waste. I am surprised you are unaware of this." She told the short story of being summoned by the Duchess and sent on this strange mission. "What would you say of the enormous sum she offered each of us? It seems an outrageous amount to me." She waited until he replied.
She cannot read dwarven so therefore waits to see if someone explains the letter from Slief. What if the assassins weren't behind this. More doubts for her to grt to the bottom of. All she wanted was to find out whoever was behind all this and put a stop to it, even if it turned out to be the Duchess, though she couldn't see how that was possible. Then she and Sands might return to slightly more normal times. It seemed she was bound to Samuel now aswell as his sister and it was all getting a little confusing. She was sure she could count on Kera, she was a deputy now after all. The others she hadn't had much time to get to know so she wasn't sure. But Muziel had earned some respect and had given her the healing potion. She had left him with Sands, not that she had much choice. She should check on them soon.
Yes she will go to the vault. To keep Hana safe. To get answers. Did the overconfident woman have to come along... She stood up, ignoring Klara, "Your sister will be brought back alive and well, my... skills will be of use in protecting her from harm."
Muziel starts to place the party's weapons onto the horse, but as he gets near, Sands offers an angry snort. "Woah there, no need to be so fierce!" He backs off. It was time to drag the weapons along again.
Muziel drags the weapons back to the guards, with Sands (hopefully) following along again. Dropping off the weapons, he explains to the guards. "I'm back, but I'm not sure I solved our problem. This horse doesn't like to be tied down." Or touched, or loaded with equipment, he thinks. What good is a horse like that? "But apparently it seems content to just follow me. Would it be okay if I left this equipment here and just walked around with the horse? I'll just hang out nearby."
Kera can only roll her eyes at Karrick’s response to the guards. Of course he had to be a wise ass. At least he wasn’t causing to much trouble. She is glad to be inside the estate, though a little upset that Muziel could not join them. This dinning room is far more her speed. Nothing like the Lord’s posh surroundings this morning. Taking a seat she helps herself to some tea, wanting to keep a clear head.
She nods after Samuel speaks. It was kind of him to offer them an evening meal. Kera took a hot cake and nibbled on it as she listened to Klara speak, she nearly chokes on the hot cake and quickly takes a drink of tea to wash it down. Regaining her composer she holds back a laugh as Samuel spoke with his mouth full. Karrick was being antisocial as usual so Kera took a mug of ale over to him.
”Try and be a little more social…please.’
She whispers to him offering what she has brought over to him. He played things far to gruff, though it was doubtful he was playing. Karrick was a gruff man with a very…unique…sense of humor. Pervince seemed to have the current conversation well in hand. Kera was impressed by the halfling’s ability.
Dinner was then served as Samuel postponed talk of Slief. Karrick seemed content to hold up the wall so Kera shrugged and went back to her place at the table partaking of the meal. Pervince and Klara seemed to be getting along like a house on fire. That was a good thing since they needed information…and friends.
The Captain matched Klara crud innuendo with his own. This had Kera smirking a bit. They did have a lively group. Looking up she smiled at Miikae. It must have been hard to be separated from Sands again. The mood swiftly turned chilly with but a few words from Klara. They had to give answers? They had come here to get answers not give them. Had they walked into a trap?
She nearly growled as Pervince calls her out. Giving him a dark look she then turns to Samuel as he speaks of her kindness. He then went on to say things the group had already surmised. It seemed near a sure thing that Grachius put Venrich up to killing Lord Vyktor then took out Venrich, in a way. With the city on lockdown they weren’t going to make much headway so making sure the Duchess was safe seemed a better job.
Making a face at Klara’s father boastful remark. Standing, after Miikae, Kera nodded.
”I too will take on this mission. It may help provide clues to our current mystery.”
Kera looked over to Karrick to see if he to would agree to this new mission. It was decent coin.
Samuel looks at Miikae Well I have heard of a guide she employs, but I rarely deal with diplomats and such unless its a time like this.For obvious reasonsKlara interupts under her breath.Hmpf, anyways I guess what I was getting at is who are you collectively? I thought maybe you were some band of mercenaries I had never heard of before. Either way it doesn't matter I suppose, as long as you are willing to look for Hana, that is all I can ask for. As far as the large amount my sister offered you, That is sort of the way we do business around here. We have nothing but capital in the Mana Wastes, so in order to attract people to come here you have to make it worth their while. The mines are profitable and we share that wealth to maintain our strength and place in Golarion.
Glancing at Kera, Karrick looks down at the drink and then just slowly shakes his head. "Thanks, Pip, but I don't like drinking on the job. That's a good way t'get yourself killed..." Leaning towards her, his voice is hushed but still coarse sounding. "That's how they get you; nice, comfortable, well fed. Then they're sticking a knife in your back," he motions to the drink, "or poisoning you," his hand comes back down to rest on his opposite arm. "Never trust anyone with more money than you."
Leaning away from Kera, Karrick offers a brief glance to Samuel Reidford, then adds in a conversational tone. "She owes me a few hundred thousand gold. I ain't about t'let her weasel her way out of it, kidnapped or not. I'll bring her back, whether she wants to come or not."
Careful there Karrick, I still have friends in Avernus that are just waiting for your return. You do this right and I am sure she will settle up with you, but like you said She made this promise to you, not me. Without her that promise is worth less than Gnoll piss.
Pervince smiles, sitting back in his chair. He takes a drink before responding. "You'll not find me staying behind. I will go to Martel and find Hana."
So Venrich takes the blame. It may be just as well, so that this new lord might make a bigger trail than the former if he is careless. But first, find Hana.
Samuel's comment causes Karrick to tense up, brows furrowing and fingers curling tightly together. "You best be sure whatever you throw away, doesn't find its way back. I wouldn't want you t'wind up like the people who put me in there the first time."
"I think I've heard enough," Karrick adds at the end, clearly in a fouler mood than he was on first arriving.
Assuming they appear non-hostile, he goes up to them and sees if he can recognize anyone. He also attempts to identify their weapons (hidden or otherwise) . Finally, he looks for a leader of the group to speak to.
After the meal Samuel lets out a large belch then adds, Well I thank you all for coming. My assistant will hand out the gold. I expect you will want to leave soon. A small Dwarven boy comes into the room and hands out 100g coins to everyone. He is having trouble handling all the coin and takes a long time to count it all out.
My men you saved in the ruins want to give this to you since you are heading out to Martel. We have heard there is an increase in Spellscare Fexts from all the magical storm activity. Strange undead magical users that seem vulnerable to glass for some reason.
He hands Kera a MW Glass Bastard Sword.
"Thank you for your praise, brother. Tell your children they shall feast tonight. We will slay them together, and your children may take the bodies so as to leave no evidence. Show me the ambush site so that I may know when to strike."
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As the rest of the party leaves Samuel's estate and gathers their weapons
Klara bids you all a good night and winks at Pervince.
Muziel is not keen on the thought of a stay in the depths of the dungeon. If only there was some means of escape. But what could that be? Perhaps he could at least issue a warning - make sure they are not caught off guard.
As Sands becomes agitated, Muziel is uncertain how to calm him down. He isn't trained in dealing with animals. "Woah, horsie!" .
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Just as you are all getting this information from the guards, Sands comes running full speed to Miikae.