I looked shocked at the new scenery, 'Well. this is very different. But still beautiful in its own way, if I was a painter of skill, I would definitely have to paint this view. Unfortunately, painting is one of the many things I am unable to do, Shelyn forgive me.'
I may have to get used to that view, if the tome is not in this city, then I shall have to venture out in search of it. If that is the case I will have to head back and inform Qilue that I will be gone a while. I hope she will understand, if it comes down to it.
I look at the area in awe, having never been on the other side of the gates. After recovering my composure, I turn to the others.
So, where should we start?
Karethas strokes his beard thoughtfully. He believes he looks very wise when he does so, though in reality it just draws attention to the fact that the beard seems a little thin due to his youth. "Well, we know Gilad was involved in a spice trade and that he wished to return to Thuvia. Perhaps we should ask around for Thuvian merchants or those who deal exporting spice from the city?"
I wonder if Gilad was of noble birth such that his kidnapping would be worth something? Well, lets find this Platinum business we are looking for, we gotta find this before that jerk with the imps will give us any more information.
Diplomacy-Gather Info on Platinum named merchants:
'That is a good point, I really don't want to have to put up with those little devils stabbing me again. I still feel a little clumsy after the last time they got me. If you search over there and I will go this way and see if we can get any information about this Platinum business.'
Fool's luck perhaps, but even before Kzrira can walk over to the nearest shop, a merchant wanders over to Faelar, "Is it the Platinum Assurance you are looking for young master? Pardon, but I overheard you. Their wagon is over there, across Broken Plank Bridge, third wagon on the right after Cheeho the talking dog, before you get to Datorro's."
'Ah, thank-you; kind sir, for your timely help in our investigation. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.' I bow to the man in a sign of respect and thanks.
Karethas' face shows faint shock as the merchant walks away. "Perhaps we should just announce our questions aloud in the middle of the street, hoping that the answer presents itself out of the cosmos." He clears his throat, "Great Cosmos, where is Gilad right now?" Spreading his arms, Karethas looks up to the sky in silence for a moment. Eventually he lowers his arms smiling, "Or maybe we should just go speak to someone at this Platinum Assurance."
The state of revelation being what it is in the Age of Lost Omens, the adventurers quickly determine that they had better continue their investigation. The sun is bright overhead as they reach a wagon with a sign in silver paint that reads "Platinum Assurance".
Stairs lead up to a closed door and the top part of the near side of the wagon is hinged at the top so it can be raised to create an awning above a long window creating a service counter. A sharp looking Garundi man stands behind the counter awaiting commerce.
Amir steps forward and bows. Good day, we have come looking for a friend of ours who seems to have lost his way. Have you, by chance, seen or heard from the young trader Gilad?
The man scratches a dark eyebrow and shakes his head, "Gilad? Doesn't ring any bells."
"Are you sure sayedy? We have reliable information that he came here to inquire about insurance for a trip to Thuvia. A young lady would have brought him? She may have been somewhat foul tempered?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. It's been pretty slow lately and I don't know of anyone bound for Thuvia."
Sense Motive:
I whisper to Amir. He is lying through his teeth. Look at the drop of sweat running down his forehead.
I step forward. Sir, we really need to find the whereabouts of Gilad and this young lady. I need this information to save my mother. And if anything happens to my mother, I will be unhappy.
Intimidate:
As usual, I am casually spinning a very sharp crossbow bolt in my hand as I say this.
At the mention of the man lying Amir will step back slightly and rest his hand casually on his sword. Doing his best to not be aggressive about it, Amir will take to looking around the area for other threats or people watching.
Hearing Kzrira getting angry I turn to the proprietor, 'My good sir, you may wish to answer the young lady. You should never anger a lady, especially a pretty one such as this. They do say that all the levels of Hell cannot withstand a women's wrath, do they not? Besides, would you really want to make her upset, all she wants to do is save her dear mother, surely you could help her with this small task?'
Amir takes a look around the milling crowd, but isn't certain where the man was looking. The merchant blanches as he sees the gleam off the sharp edge of Kzrira's bolt and he moves to hit the brace and close the window as he yells, "Anshara!"
Amir
Karethas
Faelar
Kzrira
Merchant
Sighing - You do realize that this is not a great way to attract business.
Looking over my shoulder. Karethas, any chance you can neutralize this fool.
I am going to ready an attack if he approaches me. Readying my rapier.
Attack:
Damage:
I looked very shocked, 'Anshara, what is Anshara?!'
'Why did it have to end up as violence, we could have just talked this out. But at least we now know, that has some information for us.'
The merchant knocks the brace away and the heavy plank swings down narrowly missing your heads as it shutters the window.
Three thugs race up from nowhere dressed in leather jerkins and armed with clubs. Two take on Kzrira as the other swings at Faelar. Kzrira dodges the first blow, but takes the second to the head. Head ringing, her training kicks in and she impales a thug with a sudden lunge.
Faelar receives a grazing blow to his shielding arm and ripostes leaving a second thug wobbling on his feet.
Amir acts on instinct, moving to flank the last of Kzrira's attackers he flexes his wrist and the knife in his sheath springs to his hand. He jabs at the thug with precision and skill.
Ummmm....well if I could see him, then yes I could neutralize him." Seeing the thugs being handled ably by his companions (and wishing to avoid any sharp, pointy implements heading in his direction), Karethas moves quickly over to the door of the wagon. He attempts to open the door while standing to the side, in case there is an unpleasant surprise waiting inside. This is crazy, why are these people so eager to pull out deadly weapons and use them on each other?
Men - why do you just attack for no reason. Just because you are involved in the kidnapping of a young child, the punishment for which is death, is no reason to send your thugs out to die, but the decision is yours.
Attack-Thug:
Damage:
Amir quickly steps behind the unwounded thug and with an expert thrust of his dagger between the ribs, the thug falls. Karethas meanwhile finds the door locked.
With a quick flick of my wrist, all the blood that had managed to stain my rapier, finds itself on the floor. I take out a cloth and start to wipe the remaining blood off of my blade. 'It would be a lot better for you if you were to come out now. Your 3 friends have all fallen, so please do not make us break your door down. All we wanted to start with was answers and once we get them I shall leave you alone. You have my word as a Pathfinder.'
Kzrira's thug block her strike and swings feebly at her in return as he collapses coughing up blood. The last thug staggers to his knees striking Faelar sharply in the shin with his club before he falls unmoving on the ground.
THere is no response from the wagon.
Amir approaches the wagon door and pulls his tools to start to work on the lock. Faelar my friend would you please make sure there are no other exits? Kzrira I would appreciate you being with me when I hopefully get this open. Faelar, if you have such talents it would probably be ideal if these men stay fallen but not dead... Amir drops to his knees and looks the lock over.
Karethas moves from the rear of the wagon to it's far side, making sure no one is attempting to flee. He purses his lips for a moment, "Was the merchant confident that these buffoons would dispatch us or was he merely buying time?" Karethas bends his knees slightly as he bends over to look under the wagon.
Hearing Amir's request, I wipe my rapier, and then stand by his side ready to attack should anyone jump out.
After hearing Amir's request, I walk around the wagon, looking for any more doors. At seeing Karethas kneel down to look under the wagon, I also look underneath, to see what he is looking at.
'I am sorry my friend, but I don't have any abilities that could keep them alive and down. I could heal a couple of them and remove their wounds, but I can't guarantee that they would stay down. I have not studied the finer workings of the body, I may have to find a book that I can read to learn about that though.'
Karethas unfortunately bumps his head bending down to look under the wagon. Faelar starts to walk around the wagon and spots the shifty merchant duck into the crowd that has gathered around the scene of the fight.
'FOUND HIM, OVER HERE! HE IS GETTING AWAY THROUGH THE CROWD!' I point towards the direction that the man is fleeing, so my friends can also see. Then I start to mumble a few words and begin to weave some complex hand signs. About 30 feet in front of the fleeing man, appears another me, out of no where, facing towards him. . Once the image is up I shall start to follow the man with my friends.
Hopefully that will give us a little more time to catch up to him.
"Damnation!" Karethas stands up holding his forehead. At Faelar's words he moves towards the fleeing merchant, his hands and mouth begin the ancient formulations. Circles of arcane symbols form around his head and mouth, and suddenly the energy is gone, spent. A thick layer of grease forms on the ground under and in front of the merchant. "Watch your footing.", he mutters to his friends near him.
The sneaky merchant disappears into the crowd so Faelar isn't sure where to place his illusion. However, Karethas' conjuration clears the crowd somewhat as a half-dozen bystanders fall to the ground and you spot the man running behind a tent.
I run as fast as I can after the man. Max speed = 4x20'=80' or whatever the max is in the crowd.
Amir furrows his brow for a moment. To chase too or finish his task? Feeling that he has little to offer on foot Amir attempts to open the door.
Seeing Faelar and Kzrira chasing after the merchant, Karethas dismisses the Grease spell. The thick layer of grease on the ground dries up leaving nothing but a low level fog over the area. Turning to see Amir continuing his attempt at the lock, Karethas frowns and makes a quick decision. He yells back to the others, "I'm staying here with Amir, you catch him! Karethas then walks over to Amir. It would be a poor decision for one of us to stay alone considering we were just involved in an altercation.
Amir moves about the door with his tools, picks in his mouth as he works,Thank you my friend. There may be items of note in here and I worry if we leave, we have no other chance to find information if authorities arrive. Hopefully it will be but a moment more
'Okay, you see what you can find of worth or that is useful information. Kzrira and myself will catch this fleeing merchant!'
I too shall act on the chase, running as fast as I can after the fleeing store owner .
The quick elf pulls ahead of Kzrira as he pursues the fleeing insurance salesman. Rounding the tent, Faelar finds a tipped over fruit cart in his path.
Meanwhile, Amir hears the tumbler click into place as the door is unlocked.
Faelar vaults over the upturned cart and closes on the man. Just as he reaches out to grab the back of the fugitive's tunic a flying dagger strikes his arm as a short angry looking woman dressed as a market guide intervenes.
Got it!
Amir opens the door and looks about the small cart for anything of importance.
As Amir steps into the wagon his foot hits a string and with a sharp twang! a crossbow bolt strikes his shoulder
Exploration of the wagon reveals besides the trap, an office area separated from a sleeping area by a curtain. The office has a desk with pens, paper, and drawer holding haphazardly stacked contracts.
The bed has piles of assorted men's and women's clothing tossed on and around it. A dresser with more clothes and a small chest with 56 gp in Thuvian coin and a vial. There is an open trapdoor beside the bed that opens beneath the wagon.
'Excuse me; my lady, I am in a hurry and I did not mean to bump into your fine self, I am very sorry. It is just that that gentleman is involved in the disappearance of a young apprentice and we wish to make sure that he is safe.'
A shock of pain runs through my pain, originating from the new wound I have received from the dagger. I place my hand there to see why it hurts and when I pull it away, I see that my hand is covered in blood, 'I am bleeding? I wonder how that happened, ow, ow, ow! Lets see ...'
I start to mutter a few strange incantations and perform some rather complex gestures with my hands, at the end of the gesture I place my bloody hand back onto my new wound
'That is a lot better' Pulling my hand away from the wound again, it is still covered in blood, but that pain in my face and body language has now receded.
Faelar
Kzrira
Merchant + Moll
Kzrira rounds the corner to find an upturned fruit cart blocking her way and spots a surprisingly unconcerned Faelar heal his bleeding arm as he's flanked by the merchant and a young woman that fits the description of the guide that was with Gilad.
Faelar's apology to the murderous woman does little to dissuade her from trying to kill him as she charges him. The merchant spins drawing his shortsword as he teams up with the woman to flank Faelar.
Faelar quickly goes down as he is stabbed in the chest and back.
Seeing that the merchant has an accomplice, I stop, draw my crossbow and shoot the merchant.
Attack-Crossbow:
Damage: