Sirius draws on his emotions, pulling upon his empathetic ties to his implements and their resonance with any magical auras. Eyes now attuned, he carefully scans the glade but is unable to find any trace of magic.
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Shruti wonders aloud as the group gathers ingredients for people of Daggermark, "If the assassins seek to use poisons for their craft, why not get it from the source. Perhaps we could get some from the spiders themselves." Growing in boldness all of a sudden, Shruti draws out her dagger and attempts to find whatever she might guess would be the spiders' venom sacs.
Shruti pulls out Shruti's knife, and begins to cut into the corpse of one of the spiders. Black, tarry, blood seeps from the incision but quickly halts- leaving a clear view of a very damaged (and non-functional) poison gland. But something else catches Shruti's eye...
...an undamaged silk gland leaking a sticky white substance!
Using her understanding of medicine and her dagger as a scalpel- Shruti is able to extract the silk gland from the spider's body. As you examine it, you can feel large amounts of the same sticky liquid contained inside the fleshy sac.
Once Shruti has finished extracting the silk gland, the pathfinders quickly reverse course and trek back out of the woods and towards civilization with their precious adhesive.
After arriving back in Daggermark late into the evening- our heroes find their rest at a local tavern before venturing out into the city’s markets to attempt to unload their valuable cargo.
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"The journal composed by the orc, suggests we could sell to an apparently-less-than-honest merchant." notes Razisus. "I have little patience for those who abuse and obfuscate the truth. Like the goddess, truth also eventually finds all." The cleric considers what he knows of other possible merchants in town.
Then, to be certain that his knowledge is reliable, he asks around.
Razisus spends around town, chatting up some of the local merchants. After almost two hours, he feels like he has come to a dead end when he hears a drunk man talking in a tavern, and also the name Ezmerlilly Vanderpoof.
Moving closure, he listens on the conversation.
"She dont know what she got herself into, she don't. Silly gnome. Thinking you could make promises to poisoner's guild and not follow through. Not in this town. She'd best either be fleeing for her life or finding something to make up for it, right quick."
Listening a few moments longer, Razisus is also able to determine the location of her alchemy shop.
Following the drunk man's (relatively complete) directions, Tsuk, Razisus and the rest of the party find their way to Ezmerlilly Vanderpoof's alchemy shop, in the merchant district of Daggermark.
Inside you find a well organized shop, though somewhat light on foot traffic at the moment. The female gnome behind the counter looks you over with a nervous smile before calling out.
"Welcome the Ezmerlilly's Alchemical Warehouse! How may I be of assistance to you fine folk? I don't think I have seen you around town before..."
I am just travelling through.
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"Look, I'm not saying that I have or know of anything, but if one did have a large source of spider venom... no, where are you going? No; come back! Let me finish! It's all just hypothetical!!!"
Before walking into the shop, Feelo asks Desna to help his voice. "Let me have the right words to show people the path you light."
Not sure himself, but reading the other Pathfinders, Feelo thinks Ezmerilly must be nervous. He looks around the tidy shop, the small woman, and the six Pathfinders crowded amongst the rack.
He bursts out laughing. "Oh yeah, sorry, this is quite a sight! But we're no harm, for sure. We look like a big deal, but we're on your side. We just have a little business to do, no big deals."
"We just always travel in packs, haha!" Feelo chuckles again.
We are honest traders.
A mutual arrangement would be profitable for us all.
We just have a little business to do, no big deals
The gnome blinks a couple more times, attempting to comprehend everything that has happened in the last few minutes. As Razisus and Tsuk speak, she noticeably calms- buoyed on by the assurances of both Feelo and Shruit.
"Holy men? Traders? Packs? You surely AREN'T from around here. But you mention trade and come into my shop unexpected. Tell me, what would be so important for honest traders, such as yourselves, to be marketing on a whim?"
The gnome appears nervous at the cavalier talk of the halfling.
"Shsssssh! That type of talk could get you killed around here!"
She hurries to the front of the store, peering out the front in both directions before flipping the sign out front to "closed".
"Now, what is all of this about silk glands? " You see her think through the implications of these goods.
"Well, are you going to show them to me or not? Not that I don't believe you, its just that even the assassins guild themselves have a hard time getting their hands on that stuff"
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"There is a fair bit of adhesive here" she mumbles to herself as she examines the gland and sac. "I think I can give you 75 gp each. How does 150 gp sound? It's going to be the best price you get around here- especially if people realize that there are still spiders in the area."
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"My dear, you are, no doubt, a wise, yet cautious, investor." Razisus responds. "I am sure you recognize that these goods can only be acquired by way of great personal risk. These were not obtained from any ordinary spiders. Oh, no. The creatures were quite large and highly venomous. For goddess' sake, they didn't even dwell underground, but instead sprung upon us from among trees! The trees, I tell you!"
The Garundi man shutters, then continues. "No, these glands are easily worth twice the amount you just offered--a fact of which I suspect a businesswoman such as yourself is quite aware."
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"300 gp is too steep a price! Deals like that wont keep a shop open for long." A pained expression flashes across her face- as if there is some internal struggle.
"200 gp in total. That is a deal I think I can do. Let's neither of us be greedy about this- everyone here comes out the victor. What do you say?"
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Shruti pauses to reflect on the gnome's offer, as well as her behavior, and poses another condition to the offer themselves, "This One thinks 200 could be a fair bargain," they pause, then add, "If you will add in information to tell us what makes you behave so nervously. Perhaps we could be of assistance and lend further services beyond simply selling you some silk."
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Razisus appears to be enjoying the process of haggling. Tree climbing spiders are alien to this man from Osirion, but driving a good bargain... THIS a man of my country knows! he revels.
"Lack of quality merchandise will close a shop more quickly than price." Razisus counters. "Two hundred seventy-five credits is a deal, that I know you can do."
When Shruti speaks, Razisus quickly raises his hand to his chin to match his frown. "I suppose my companions and I may barter for more than coin, if necessary. However, I suspect your coffers are full enough--and will be more so if you have the wisdom to accept our most gracious deal."
The gnome takes a moment to respond- caught of guard by the accusation of Shruti. "This is Daggermark! Only a fool wouldn't behave nervously here. It would also take a fool to cross the poisoners guild, even on accident." Her voice shifts to concern. "Yet that is where I find myself. I promised some alchemical components for their poison, but my ingredients went bad. I couldn't make the delivery date and now they hound me constantly. Despite appearances, 200 gp is all I got- the last of it all- but this silk you have would rightly cover the debt to the guild!"
She hurries over behind a counter and pulls out a crate. As she sets it on the counter, you hear the clank of glass bottles. "Last of my stash here. 200 gp and I'll throw in two alchemists fire and three potions of cure light wounds. Anything to get the guild off my back!"
She glances at you each one last time- and her eyes narrow. "I also know something about an ancient and valuable blade. It seems you lot might just be strong enough to make good on the info..."
"Tough for me to say, seein' as we don't have a deal yet... but I figure the name won't hurt anyone. The blade is silverhex, I know right where its at. So. Have we come to an agreement?"
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Adhesive exchanged and potions/supplies given- the gnome looks about one more time.
“A fair trade’s a fair trade. There was a half-orc blathering about some important blade or sword or something she found. Moonsilver, Sliverhex, or somesuch. Kept going on about its history to any who would listen.” The merchant leans in conspiratorially.“Well I have it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, that she won’t be needin’ that sword where she’s headed. The assassins guild will have that one soon enough. As I said, you never want to cross the assassins guild. You just need to go out there and grab that sword once they’re through, and I happen to know where they found her little camp." Pulling out a piece of parchment she begins to draw out a map into the hills....
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Shruti smiles as the gnome accepts their offer and begins to spill about the orc woman--almost undoubtedly Ulisha--and the weapon she bears.
Just then, Shruti turns toward the door and sees Paemil enter. Their expression grows distant and unfocused for a moment, until they turn to their companions and bid them farewell. "This One has felt the call of the spirits. There is another in need of This One's protection. Go with our blessing, and give our regards to Ulisha. Goodbye."
Without another word, the samsaran slips out of the shop into the streets of Daggermark and begins making their way on to their next destination, wherever that might be.
With Ezmerlilly's map in hand and some distressing news about your old friend Ulisha, you begin making your way to the outskirts of Daggermark. The map leads to a cave a few hours' travel up the Dagger River, where the half-orc has been staying for a short while to be within a day's travel of Daggermark without being surrounded by the hopeful apprentices of the city's many assassin guilds.
Thinking back on these guilds, some of you may recall a thing or two about the guild that has apparently been hired to kill Ulisha.
After traveling the requisite amount of time, you come upon the hill indicated as Ulisha's hideout on the map provided to you by the helpful gnome. The hill ahead is not much to look at. It gently slopes away from the river. A shallow cave is near its top, smoke from a campfire curling upward in the gentle breeze. The grass wafts slowly along a gently curving path up the southern face of the hill, ending in a few switchbacks as the hill grows steep near the top.
As you ascend the last of the switchbacks to reach to top of the hill, a voice calls out from up ahead. "Stop right there and state your names and your business! I'm armed and will shoot if you don't do as I say." Over the crest of the hill, you can see a half-orc woman standing with a loaded crossbow trained on your party, her finger resting against the trigger.
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While traveling to the area indicated on the map, Razisus considers what he knows about the assassins guilds.
He then asks around to see if there may be more to learn about these schools for assassins.
However, he finds that people generally seem unwilling to talk about murder for hire.
Upon approaching the spot, he whirls around in response to the demand by the armed half-orc. He stops and raises his hands while quietly mutters to the others, "This is the 'Ulisha' you've be speaking of these past few weeks? I thought you said that she was a friend. Hardly the hospitable greeting I was expecting."
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Paemil takes the lead as they are moving up the river and towards the hideout. While not by any means sneaky, he does keep a good head on direction and travel. Ranging in front, as usual, is the white leopard Lumi- heading off and circling back like clockwork, keeping an eye out for any unexpected threats.
As the half-orc appears, he tries to be warm in his greetings with her... but leaves the conversation to others in the party
"You must be Ulisha, right? We've been working for you, actually. From your notes, anyway. We've got almost everything you wanted done, done! Don't shoot us, please!"
The half-orc tilts her head up slightly to see over her crossbow's sights as Feelo calls out to her and announces the group. As if suddenly recognizing your party, she lowers the crossbow and breathes a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh thank the gods, it's just you!" She sets the crossbow down on a rock near the entrance of the cave and moves forward. "Sorry I didn't recognize you before, but I didn't expect you out here. Wait. How did you find me? What's going on?"
Ulisha suddenly looks wary once again, and she cranes her neck to look around and past you, her eyes darting from the river below back to the entrance to her cave and all around.
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"Friend, Ulisha." Razisus greets warmly. "I have been told much about you. I am Razisus." he says with a bow. "A servant of the goddess Pharasma--whom we have learned, may be receiving you soon before her glorious throne, if certain persons have their way. My colleagues have been following a series of missives, I understand that they obtained from a book bound by you. They seek gold while I--though not opposed, of course, to any humble portion of the same to which I may be entitled--seek leave to destroy or otherwise see disposed the foul device of necromancy that we have brought with us."
"Though I wished the lantern destroyed outright, I have refrained from doing so out of appreciation of the efforts of my companions--our mutual friends. Yet, now that we are here, I seek your permission to bring its abominable existence to a swift end."
"Friend, Ulisha." Razisus greets warmly. "I have been told much about you. I am Razisus." he says with a bow. "A servant of the goddess Pharasma--whom we have learned, may be receiving you soon before her glorious throne, if certain persons have their way. My colleagues have been following a series of missives, I understand that they obtained from a book bound by you. They seek gold while I--though not opposed, of course, to any humble portion of the same to which I may be entitled--seek leave to destroy or otherwise see disposed the foul device of necromancy that we have brought with us."
"Though I wished the lantern destroyed outright, I have refrained from doing so out of appreciation of the efforts of my companions--our mutual friends. Yet, now that we are here, I seek your permission to bring its abominable existence to a swift end."
"The Lantern? Oh! That old thing! It's not so bad as all that.," Ulisha says, gesturing to the device. [/b]"Sure it looks pretty macabre, and yeah, it might have a tiny piece of a creature's soul trapped in there, but it's not necessarily necromancy! Look, I'll get rid of it for you guys, make sure it doesn't wind up in the wrong hands and all that. And since you went through the trouble of recovering it for me, I'll split the profits with you."[/b]
As Paemil speaks to Lumi in the language of his order, the cat misunderstands the unfamiliar command. Human asks to look? Look for danger. But no danger to look for now. Stay with human. The leopard stays beside her companion, ready to protect him if any dangers present themselves.
When Paemil suggests that the Vessels Between are on their way to assassinate her, Ulisha suddenly grows gravely serious. "Oh no. Someone really wants me out of the way! This is awful. Please, you have to help me. It sounds like they know where to find me, and I'm betting I don't have time to totally break camp before they get here. Let's set an ambush, okay? I'll stay near the cave. You all go hide yourselves in the bushes on either side."