|
"Well, we'll let the Decemvirate try to untangle this knot." Tikrit says. "Let us hope we have seen the last of this Shadow Lodge... haha, I don't think that is true!" he adds with a roll of his eyes.
"I may wish to examine those scrolls." he says. "Perhaps I can scribe one or more into my spellbook!"
After looking them over, he says, "This Invisibility Scroll I can, but this other one is a little beyond my understanding."
|
Kishara nods along with her comrades planning as she examines the bard's posessions, paying particular attention to the documents and the potion with markings like those the goblins had. "Yes, I think the Decemvirate will want to speak with him themselves. But let's make sure we've done all we can before we make way. Tikrit, you have a way with linguistics, yes? Can you make any sense out of this code they used on these lists?" She indicates the documents that seem to be coded supply lists and possible destinations.
Kishara turns to the bound bard, loosening his gag enough to answer, if he will. "So was it you who killed Horis Collgardies, then? No sense in being dodgy now. You don't look as if you have the strength to crush someone's skull." She lets the implied slight hang in the air, hoping anger may cause him to answer rashly.
|
Under Kisharas direct line of questioning the bard comes around and confesses to having Collgardie murdered, "My only regret being that it appears my actions were too late".
Kish also determines by the look and style of the bottles that the potions are most certainly being manufactured here in Kaer Maga, and a visit to the Markets is very much in order.
|
Grim scratches his head and looks at his companions. "The Duskwardens are the local equivalent of the lawmen, right? So it would be good to hand him over to solve their murder case. But there may be Shadow Lodge infiltrated into that organization, so this is my last choice."
"The Ardocs would certainly maintain a better hold on him, and perhaps wring even more information out before they're done with him. But they have no allegiance to the Pathfinders and will only use him for their gain. This is my second choice."
"We all owe allegiance (more or less) to the Decimvirate and they have the most to gain or lose from his actions. It may be a pain to transport him, but this is still my first choice. And I don't mind dragging him through the wilds...it may improve his disposition..." he finishes, with a gleam in his eye.
|
Haemish agrees. "We can just take him back to Magnimar and let Sheila have her way with him. She'll probably just throw him through the Tapestry and let the Absalom folks sort him out."
After cleaning himself up a bit and handing his magical healing wand to Kaneko and politely asking her to heal him and the wolf, Haemish grins, "So who's up for beer and wenches?"
|
|
Both the Duskwardens and the Ardocs would probably love a chat with Pratt, but you give him a reprieve in that he will be instead transported to Absalom. Plenty of slavers and merchants run caravans down the 'path so finding Pratt a temporary custodial dwelling is little problem until you depart.
Whilst you now know there is a splinter group operating in Kaer Maga and possibly other Inner Sea cities, you don't know the size and scope, and deciding it's not your problem right now you send swift word back to Absalom ahead of your journey.
The days work done, you return once more to your lodgings, ready to enjoy your spoils - and Haemish's most excellent suggestion
|
|
You wander a Downmarket street a few days after the events at the theater, when suddenly the street is empty of residents, the choking mass of humanity and monsters suddenly remembering they had something better to do.
Standing about you in a loose circle are six burly men carrying cudgels and a seventh man, skinny and bedecked in robes and jewels, his right hand in a pouch on his belt. All of the men stare intently at you.
“Dakar says you owe him a favor,” says the skinny man in robes. “You’ll need to come with us.”
The men are familiar, you recall them from your last rides around the city. They hold the hoods and gesture to their waiting wagon once more.
|
|
Haemish stands next to Lady, scratching her behind the ears as Dakar's thugs approach. He looks around at the men as they surround his group. Lady's ears lie back flat and a low growl plays around the back of her throat as she bares her canines. "Now, now, Lady, let's be civil. They may look like a snack, but we'll have to go hungry today, I'm afraid." The wolf briefly looks up at the halfling before hiding her jagged teeth, yet doesn't take this eyes off the men.
|
|
Kishara purses her lips as she approaches Dakar's men, observing their body language. So now we will discover what service we've bargained away.
"Seems our chauffeur has arrived. Still opposed to the sight-seeing route then, fellas? What a shame." She winks at the one that had been amicable toward them before and steps into the carriage, donning her hood like a good little captive and prepares to listen for sounds and take note of smells in hopes she might get a clue as to where Dakar's lair may hide.
|
|
Once again your heads are bagged and you are stuffed inside a small, dusty wagon and driven in bumpy, painful circles around the city for at least an hour before being dragged from the wagon, marched through small streets or large hallways, and then stopped. At this point, the bags are removed and the you find yourselves again in the club or private residence with carpeted floors, potted plants, slaves waving fans, and a giant backlit screen along one wall. A shape, decidedly vague in outline, can be seen behind the screen and a voice speaks.
“It is time for us to balance the ledger and conclude our business.”
”The two largest political entities in the city, the Commerce League and the golem-making Ardoc’s have decided the reign of the Shadow Lodge within our walls is at an end. Both parties see this problem easily solved by the Pathfinder Society, and so it comes to you to track down this ‘Shadow Lodge’, find its headquarters,
exterminate its members, and rid the city forever of the meddlesome organization.”
|
|
Haemish nods, "Aye, the Shadow Lodge has shown that they're a bunch of silly nitwits and ne'er-do-wells. Who gets goblins to do their dirty work for them? A town like Kaer-Maga with trolls and worse running around and they get goblins. It's idiotic! If I wanted to bring down the Shadow Lodge, I'd give them goblin minions myself."
The halfling strokes his beard for a moment before addressing the figure behind the curtain again. "Erm, our bosses might want to have a word with these Shadow Lodgers. Would you mind if they're removed from Kaer Maga and NOT exterminated?"
|
|
Now Grim rolls his eyes at Haemish. Not exterminated? That was the worst strategic choice of them all! His lessons at the academy were specific about that...when you go to war, go to war. Once you commit to strike an enemy, never stop until the enemy is completely destroyed. Grimaldus and all of his battle brothers were bred and trained for this...it defined him. He knew his purpose and what must be done, even if the others may be squeamish.
Although capturing one or two high-ranking members of the Shadow Lodge could provide valuable intelligence. This was also true and an axiom for combat. Know your enemy.
|
|
"Well, you seem to be a fount of useful information about the events and figures in this city...we will work faster and more efficiently if you would share whatever leads or intellignece you have gathered on the Shadow Lodge, its members, and their activities. The more we know the better the eradication."
|
|
Kishara observes their surroundings closely, looking for some sign that the man meant to deceive them or had ulterior motives to yet see them disposed of once their 'usefullness' was at an end.
"Your information proved helpful last time, though it did seem Pratt was expecting us. A mere happenstance, I'm sure. Your people must be vetted, after all." She cuts her eyes around the room mistrustfully.
"We are prepared to honor our agreement. I may have a lead on this so-called Shadow Lodge, but your extensive intelligence on the group would go a long way toward helping us to achieve this task to the benefit of us all, yes?"
|
|
"You all raise the good point, and to that end I can only suggest that the removal of the Bard has caused the Shadow Lodgers to go mostly to ground, but their Goblins poke out in odd places and are uncontrolled. We don't know where they are holed up this time, but they are obviously operating out of a base in the city although it hasn't shown itself to us yet. They are like rats in the walls. Pratt was waiting for you because he'd been awaiting your arrival, or some sort of arrival and was trying to work out how to kill you all along."
In reply to Yhen - "That's right, we want clean streets next time we look, free of any signs of Shadowlodge. Gone, eradicated, dead, buried, do what you want, we just don't wish to see them ever again. Kicked out? We want them dead and gone, but mostly gone."
|
|
With consensus being reached, Dakar makes small talk and chats with the
you all, but eventually the time comes to be bagged, stuffed back into the wagon, and driven about the city again. After an hour, you're dropped back at the same place from where you were taken.
The thugs give you all a friendly farewell, you wonder whether your paths will cross again.
|
|
Kish and Tik get a lead that suggests they take that symbol down to the markets in Meatgate, they'd know something for sure...
***meanwhile***
'Miss Feathers' is easily located once more, his eyes scan the party appraisingly; the conversation goes well, Grimaldus inspiring quite open discourse with the flamboyant escort.
"I haven't seen any of these Shadow Lodgers, but the word on the street is that your group killed a bunch of them at the Naderi Theatre, everybody is talking about it. I'm glad you are safe, but any day could be your last now... so if there's anything you were waiting to try in life, there would be no one judging you for indulging it" he looks at Grim that moment too long, conveying the full innuendo.
He then smiles to Kaneko and adds "If there haven't been other arrangements made, of course"
|
|
After leaving the 'interview' with Miss Feathers, Grim can be heard humming a catchy little tune, then mumbling under his breath, "L-O-L-A, Lola...La La La La Lola...Dadada Da Da Dum Lola...
"Perhaps we should inquire with the Duskwardens about their intelligence on goblin incursions: patterns, suspected hideouts, operating bases, targets...You can aim high or aim low for these organizations," Grim suggests.