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As everyone shares what they've learned from their interviews, Raoul glances at the door to the orphanage.
"Well, this all doesn't paint a pretty picture of this Auntie. I mean, the little 'uns seem alright, but this business of cheating at games, shady characters and keeping the whiskey supplier in business may not sit well with the Silver Crusade. Can't wait to hear her side of the story."
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True...but she might have good reason to play those games. We don't know her situation yet. It could very well be done with good intentions and necessary.
Jivokun hoped he wasn't coming across as just being contrary. Appreciation for Raoul's discretion was heartfelt and wouldn't be forgotten quickly...perhaps the first time a pure born didn't call me out...or take the easy the jab... He would be disappointed if the group couldn't find more common ground...
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"Grogson has the right of it. I'm fairly certain that what we know now would be sufficient to deny her the aid of the Silver Crusade, regardless of her reasons or justifications. Still, it would behoove us to get the other side of the story before we return. Never let it be said that we did not attempt give all sides a fair hearing, and she does seem to be doing well by the children."
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Responding to Jivokuns question, the kid darts inside whilst the party await the Lady of the house to come and greet them. Before long the woman appears, beaming the warmest smile she can manage, her eyes survey the group and her face seems to remain mostly impassive as her eyes scan across the group, pausing to take in Pozuket momentarily before looking back to the group. ”Are you just dropping off the one orphan then?" She points at Pozuket "Who is the man in charge here?” She looks rather doubtfully at most of the party, as though trying to work out who is who. She spies Raouls injury, ”Oh my, you seem to have done yourself a mischief, why don’t you take a seat on the balcony and we had best take a look at that before it festers your fine Elven leg” she almost spits the word ‘festers’, but you wonder if there was a bit of inflection on the word Elf as well.
Aranan - Heal
Florentine - Heal
Grogson - Heal
Jivokun - Heal
Pozuket - Heal
Raoul – Heal
Florentine and Raoul both spot broken blood vessels in the eyes and nose, shaky hands, glassy eyes, and a fine sheen of sweat on the woman.
She calls inside for a chair and some bandages to be delivered, and a couple of the older kids bring out a few chairs and a satchel of supplies. ”Best I see to that leg, then you can tell me how old Aunty can help”
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"Dear woman, he ain't no little 'un - he's a gnome. And as much as I'd hate to admit it, I would be worse off than this here scratch on my leg if it weren't for him." While it stung his ego that he wasn't more effective in the skirmish with the rats, Raoul does recognize Pozuket's keen use of that crossbow.
As Auntie Baltwin sets him down in a chair, Raoul gives Florentine a knowing glance. He notes the signs of a drunkard, as he saw much of that during his days on a pirate ship in his previous life. Hmm, that seems to fit in with what the others found out from the locals...
"Oh, I would appreciate if you could take a look at it. Thank ya kindly." He figures that she must be at least a functional drunk - the children seem in good repair.
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Florentine watches as Auntie takes a look at Raoul, catching his eye he nods. Waiting a few seconds for her to get comfortable before speaking, "Your benefactors from the Silver Crusade send their greetings Auntie," he says cheerily, "They asked us to come and have a look at things here and make sure everything is up to their standards. I hope you will not mind us asking you a few questions and looking around? We already have received reports from neighbors."
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Pozuket nods his head towards Raoul in acknowledgement of the compliment and adds: "Indeed, I am no child, although 'tis a common mistake, and no offense is taken."
As the children bring in a chair, he takes the opportunity to look around and examine the quality of the furnishings.
He then winces as Florentine blurts out their goal so blatantly. I shall need to remember that subtlety is not his strong point.
Shooting the human a dirty look, he jumps in: "What Florentine is trying to say, in his own particular way, is that the Silver Crusade is pleased to provide you with the medicine you requested from them. They simply wish to confirm that it is going to where it is the most needed. As I'm sure you are fully aware, every house of good works could always benefit from more resources, but no ones pockets are infinitely deep. May we visit with the sick children, so that we are able to inform Madame Zadrian that her generosity is being put to good use?"
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"Dear woman, he ain't no little 'un - he's a gnome. And as much as I'd hate to admit it, I would be worse off than this here scratch on my leg if it weren't for him."
"Indeed, I am no child, although 'tis a common mistake, and no offense is taken." Pozuket mentions, his eyes resting on the chairs, which appear in quite reasonable condition
A slightly disbelieving look crosses her face until the reminder of the hurt leg comes up again.
She sits down and starts attending Raouls wounds with a rather deft and well practiced touch, indeed he is very surprised by its delicateness, although she seems to be muttering under her breath a bit as she goes, and although the content is a bit of a mystery, the disapproving nature of it is quite plain. Raoul suspects it has something to do with Gnomes, and maybe her reluctance to accept such a story.
"Your benefactors from the Silver Crusade send their greetings Auntie," he says cheerily, "They asked us to come and have a look at things here and make sure everything is up to their standards. I hope you will not mind us asking you a few questions and looking around? We already have received reports from neighbors."
“and we have your requested medical supplies.”
”And yet the lot if you turn up appearing decidedly unkempt and looking like you must have roamed around in whoever knows what, with one of you injured. Standards are slipping, slipping they are at the Silver Crusade when they seek representation by such a motley lot”. She looks closely at Florentine, ”You, have you washed your hands? Those boots look like you have been wandering the woods with them, and something large bit your friend here, and you seek admittance to a house full of young tender things? I am not so sure, perhaps a polite cup of tea and a biscuit on the porch, but I am not so sold on marching the great unwashed masses about this fine house, completely out of the question” she scolds, as though talking to wayward children.
"What Florentine is trying to say, in his own particular way, is that the Silver Crusade is pleased to provide you with the medicine you requested from them. They simply wish to confirm that it is going to where it is the most needed. As I'm sure you are fully aware, every house of good works could always benefit from more resources, but no ones pockets are infinitely deep. May we visit with the sick children, so that we are able to inform Madame Zadrian that her generosity is being put to good use?"
”Why you dear child, such polite manners for one so young. I suppose I could take you to see a few of the sick children, who benefit from my care, but your friends are in dire need of a bath, especially the Dwarf, and that man with the dirty boots, and the fellow with the leg probably needs a wash, and I am not so sure about the other elf either, normally they have much fancier ways than to ever be untidy”
”Can you leave your carers to come with me on a quick tour then?” she offers to Pozuket.
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Quite unabashed at the others looks and not noticing their attempt to smooth things out thanks to him, the countryman turned fancy city boy (in his mind) looks at his boots in annoyance before looking back to her. "I addressed you politely and merely asked a question. You say I am dirty when most of the children we saw coming in from the city fared no better. I shall take off my boots and clean my hands for you Auntie," he says with another smile, "I would not want to make more work for your otherwise full hands. You don't look to well yourself, are you ok?"
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Aran has stood and watched and simply shook his head as Flo spoke, smiling as Pozuket made his statement, realizing that the gnome may become his most favored acquaintance in the group.
"Madame Baltwin, I can assure you that I am well kept enough to come as well. I wish to see if there is anything we might be able to assist with beyond the simple supplies. I have some experience in treating wounds in my travels," Aran says with some flourish, his attire belies his association with the rest of the 'ruffians' as it were, since he was raised by nobility and tries to hold to it as much as possible.
Diplomacy:
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As soon as Auntie Baltwin starts mentioning his companions' dirtiness, Pozuket mutters the words to a prestidigitation spell, and one-by-one their footware looks moderately cleaner (never the one she is looking directly at, though).
Meanwhile, although he is slightly annoyed by the fact Baltwin didn't accept the correction despite his clearly non-human coloring, Pozuket nevertheless politely responds: "I would be honored if you would show me around, Auntie."
After the spell has had time to clean up the worst of the dirt, he adds "I don't think my companions are quite as begrimed as they appear, though. I'm sure after a good handwashing, they wouldn't pose any risk of contamination to your establishment. Still, if you would prefer to not have the lot of them tromping through your home, I'm quite willing to take the tour alone."
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"I'm sorry,ma'am, the boy is my only nephew and a dwarf never lets his eye off an only offspring. Why you know how dwarves can be and all. My brother would never let my children's children hear the end of it. So if the child is to take a tour, I'll be needin' to go with him. A caring woman such as yourself must see the prudence in this request, yes?"
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As the old woman finishes treating Raoul's wound, he is pleased with the result. However, not wanting to allow her to take Pozuket into the house alone, he supports the dwarf's story.
"The dwarf is right, Madame. Grogson wouldn't hear the end of it if his brother found out that little Pozuket had been separated from 'im. We're not asking pick up the little sick tykes or anything, the Silver Crusade just wants us to take a look around. No harm in that, is there?"
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Whilst Florentine and Aranan attest to their cleanliness and condition, Pozuket quietly invokes some subtle incantations that remove the dirt and grime and leave both the affronted party members much tidier than they were but moments before. The old lady squints once again and looks a little perplexed at the changes in appearance but says no more on the matter, her pursed lips clearly wanting to spit out some sort of comment, but perhaps not sure which comment to make.
”Very well then, Master Dwarf, accompany your little nephew, and you can come too then” she indicates to Aranan. ”The rest of you can enjoy some hospitality out here until we return shortly”.
She gathers up the party of three, ” I suppose I can take you to see some of the sick children who benefit from my care, and, I do ask you to keep it down a little near the sick ones and respect their peace and quiet, and of course we will need to be swift as it is almost afternoon tea time and the children will need supervision...but perhaps a slice of cake and a cup of tea at before you go wouldn’t be too over indulgent” she at least warms a little at the last part.
The old lady takes you all on a bit of a brief tour of the place, the kitchen, the messing hall, and past the dorm rooms with their utilitarian looking but clean bunks, before she finally urges you to silence and shows you the sick bay. A few children are swaddled in blankets and appear to be receiving treatment for various ailments, and all smile as Aunty walks in. An older child is sitting in the corner of the room and appears to be keeping watch. ”Alls well in here then? ” she enquires of the child before he answers in the affirmative.
She moves the party out and closes the door. ”If it weren’t for this house, who’d know how those poor urchins could have ended up. Why its a good thing we receive supplies from all these generous donors, though is it ever really enough? ” She really lays the melodrama on heavily. ”Have you seen all that you needed? Or can we move on to tea and biscuits? ”
Meanwhile, Jivokun, Raoul, and Florentine, are left apparently unsupervised...
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As the others go into the house with Auntie, Raoul strikes up a conversation with Florentine and Jivokun, "Well, I see where she keeps her whiskey. But, it looks like she did a bang-up on my leg here. Hey Jivokun - good work with those kids."
He turns and scans the front side of the house. He mutters to himself, but loud enough for the others to hear, "I guess they should be alright in there." But he keeps watch for anything suspicious.
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Thank you. I was much like them when I was younger. I'm sorely tempted to give them a set of those loaded dice to play with.
This was all said with a mischevious grin on his face.
Glad the old lady patched you up. Rats have the nastiest bites sometimes...hey, why don't we look around out here a bit while we wait?
Jivo will wander the yard and see if anything is amiss or out of the ordinary.
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"Forgive me if I spoke too quickly before. Somehow I know what we have found so far is not going to sit well with the silver crusade. She is a drunk at best. Looking after kids. Working them too? Nothing wrong with a little honest work however." Florentine looks around the place, for anything else suspicious or out of place.
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Grogson, Aranan, and Pozuket complete the cooks tour of the place with Aunty leading the way. All three of you feel that the children seem only to be suffering the usual symptoms of the various illnesses that plague any large city, but no common themes or suspicious maladies. All appear to be in a state of reasonable recovery. It all seems rather above board and what one would expect of a well run hospice.
Pozuket picks up that the older children certainly snapped to attention pretty quickly when Aunty passed by or addressed them, which goes to a feeling that discipline might be rather strong here... but no indication anything is terribly untoward. That being said, the party has already seen that the old woman can be ornery and a bit stern, and have heard whispers from the neighbours that this is a pretty common rumour.
Raoul and Jivokun relax in the yard, but see nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary, just a few more children debating the differences between elves, pixies, and fairies as they occasionally look over at the pair.
Florentine makes his way through the house conducting a bit of a search, although knows he wouldn’t have time for a more thorough search and has to settle with a determined but brief perusal. He does note that in Aunty’s sitting room is a nearly empty bottle of whiskey, as well as another half bottle in the kitchen.
Eventually the tour comes to an end - ”So, lets enjoy what we may before I have to get back to work” she sits down with a heavy slump as though very tired, she picks up her cup of tea with one hand, and with the other withdraws a small hip flask and splashes a goodly dose of rum into her tea ”did you wish to try some too?” she offers “Ha! Seems most days you need it if you want to make it through the day in this house. These children are killing me! I saw the looks you gave me when you arrived, I knew my game was up right then and there and that you will get back to the Silver Crusade and tell them all about 'Aunty Lush and her special medicine'... but what can I do? Who else will take care of the kids? Am I sunk? Or do you forgive an old woman her indulgences and weknesses and just look at the greater good? I know I should cut it down, but it is what gets me through the day...”
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"Ma'am, I don't believe that anyone would have a problem with you partaking after the children had been put to bed, but it is a bit of an issue that you are drinking in front of the children and while it's still the light of the day. I, also, do not believe that the Silver Crusade would be pleased if their supplies were somehow funding your drinking. How do you pay for this place? Is it paid for by the city?" Aron asks as he watches her like a hawk, curious how this will play out. He felt that the Silver Crusade would only care about her drinking IF it was coming from them.
Sense Motive:
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Raoul agrees with Aran. However, he does enjoy the tea and biscuits and decides to let the others do the talking, feeling that he doesn't have anything to add to the conversation.
Unsure of how long they've been sitting at tea, Raoul gives a little poke and whispers to Jivokun, "D'ya suppose we got enough on Auntie to satisfy the Silver Crusade? This tea is nice and all, but we probably ought to get a move on.
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Pozuket enjoys his snack quietly for a bit, but as the conversation reaches a lull he chimes in with some questions of his own.
"Personally, I have no objection to anything I've seen, but as my friends and uncle" (with a slight nod to the dwarf) "have said, the Silver Crusade may have objections of their own. Perhaps you can provide us with some more information that we can use to sway their opinion?"
The gnome leans forward on his seat and ticks things off on his fingers as he continues: "For example, what chores do you have the children doing in the city? What happens to them when they're too old to stay here any more? Do they learn a trade or some other way to provide for themselves without turning to the dark side of society?"
Pozuket and Aranan continue their line of enquiry,
"Ma'am, I don't believe that anyone would have a problem with you partaking after the children had been put to bed, but it is a bit of an issue that you are drinking in front of the children and while it's still the light of the day. I, also, do not believe that the Silver Crusade would be pleased if their supplies were somehow funding your drinking. How do you pay for this place? Is it paid for by the city?”
"For example, what chores do you have the children doing in the city? What happens to them when they're too old to stay here any more? Do they learn a trade or some other way to provide for themselves without turning to the dark side of society?"
”Yes, yes, I know, ‘not in front of the children’ and all that, I admit I have been pretty bad about my habits and that might leave a mark on impressionable minds, and yes I know the Silver Crusade’s tea-totalling ways would frown on the vice…so I will listen to you and try change my ways… but being a drunk doesn’t make me a thief!” she claims, rather defensively.
Aranan is not confident that she is being entirely truthful with the party somewhere in her statements… but she continues ”The children do what chores they are capable of, household work mostly, cleaning, tidying, laundry, whatever odd jobs the house matrons around these parts need done in their houses that they can loosen the purse strings to have done so they don’t have to themselves. When the kids grow up they have to do what they can to find their own way… they learnt how to make an honest coin doing honest work, there’s a thousand taverns out there that can use a barmaid who knows her way round a galley, and plenty of work out there for young men not afraid to get their hands dirty, but I can’t keep em all away from turning dishonest can I? It’s a big city, and there are bad people always looking for a gullible new mark… I’m just one old lady, so very old, and so very alone here. That’s why they have to work, to pay their way because I can’t afford to keep ‘em all for free, and so they can have a job when they leave. Sometimes the people they work for like them so much they get adopted, which is why I tell them to smile a lot when they work.. no one likes a rude little upstart” Aranan believes the last part to be probably quite truthful.
"I must get back to my duties, please feel free to finish your tea and treats before you leave" She stands to depart.
Meanwhile, the rest of the party eat cakes and watch on...
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Upon returning to the Silver Crusade, Raoul addresses Zadrian with a bow.
"Dear Captain, we have returned from Madame Baltwin's orphanage. The children all appear to be well-cared for. Some are sick, but not with any ailment that is out of the ordinary. They all have good things to say about their "Auntie." However, in out visit to her, Florentine and I noticed definite signs of heavy alcohol use - bloodshot eyes, cold sweat, ruddy nose."
He then gestures to the others in the group, "While Jivokun and I spoke with the kids, the others asked around the neighborhood about Baltwin. A local shopkeep confirmed that she purchases a good amount of whiskey regularly. We also found out that she has "shady" visitors on occasion, and is known to cheat in some of her endeavors."
Raoul continues, "Baltwin did fess up to the heavy drinking - feels she is justified because it's rough caring for all the little kids. I don't doubt that it's difficult, but felt you should know about it regardless. We didn't press her on the other matters, as she had already got a little defensive of any implication that she may be dishonest. We didn't want to upset her."
"I hope that our execution of this task has proven useful to you and the Silver Crusade.
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"There is actually more, Lady Zadrian. I can't be positive, but my gut tells me that she is taking more than she is giving. She has the children working, no doubt making coin...for her. She got extremely defensive when I made a comment about her not using the supplies properly, and she ignored my question about how she funded the place, not to mention how she funds her extreme drinking habit. The fact is, she is drinking quite a bit, all day long, in front of children, and hiring the healthy children out. While some of this may lead to adoptions, I am sure it leads to a fair amount of coin to feed her drinking habit. She is no doubt doing good, but if she has been there for a good number of years and you have only just started giving her supplies...I think you could probably find a better place to be sending them. And you may wish to keep a closer eye on the ins and outs of what she has those children doing," Aran had seen what other kids had had to do growing up and how hard labor could lead to problems...even death. He did not wish that to happen to these children.
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"I'm sorry to say that I agree with Aranan," Pozuket begins. "Madame Baltwin is doing a great service to the community, and despite her personal habits, the orphans appear to be well cared for, gainfully occupied, and happy. There were no indications that she mistreated them, was unduly harsh, or in any way failing at her job."
He pauses for breath, then continues in a sadder tone. "However, she is clearly worn down by the position, in a manner of which I am quite sure you would not approve. Her drinking may cushion her against the ups and downs of raising so many children, but it also provides a poor model of behavior for those same children."
"If I were associated with the orphanage, I would attempt to retire her nearby, and find someone to continue her good works. I do not know how long you have been supporting Madame Batlwin and her orphans, but if you have any influence over her, I would suggest following that path. If not, I fear for the next generation of kids under her care."
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Ollysta Zadrian maintains an even toned expression as you make your contributions and share your observations. She gives very little away as you speak, but you still get the feeling she has concerns about what she is hearing.
”The Dawnflower teaches us temperance and patience in all things. Compassion and peace are her virtues, and if people can be redeemed, then they should be, and we will act in accordance with that wisdom. Our future actions are something we must consider carefully and your suggestions will certainly help our deliberations, but not matters for you to trouble yourselves any further, for your diligent efforts have most certainly been of great service to us and we would ask nothing further from you.”
She departs once again, both courteous and regal, and leave you to your duties. You are certain that you left a very good impression.
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Florentine doesn't feel the need to say anymore but nods agreement with Raoul. There was indeed something going on there that no small promises to tone it down would convince him that all is well. "I'm rather inclined to think she promised to be more responsible so that we would leave her alone and not uncover more of her wrongdoings." He bows to Ollysta as she leaves.
"Let us seek this Paracountess and recover whatever it is that is in her possession."
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Eventually making your way through the Absalom, you find yourselves entering the Wise Quarter and the quiet atmosphere of a district home to several prominent schools and libraries, including the prestigious Arcanamirium, one of Golarion's most well-known magical schools.
Scholars, philosophers and students of all manner roam about in discussions of science, medicine, religion, and just about any other topics imaginable; the pitch varies from hushed whispers as they walk to rather pointed and hotly contested debate, yet regardless of their deliberations, the rather impressive and grand buildings in this seat of learning offer a certain stony solemnity to the streets they flank; the only departure to the otherwise staid theme is the rather dark and macabre Blackros Museum, alleged to have been carved from a single enormous piece of volcanic rock by a mad astrologer and wizard named Ralzeros, within its basalt walls is displayed the Blakros collection, which includes numerous artifacts of dubious arcane origins.
The party makes its way to the rich estate of Grand Council member Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by a guard who is expecting you all as you reach the tall, wrought-iron gate.
Once you are all inside, a servant tells the group Salhar is not present, called away on important Councilbusiness, but his most trusted advisoris available to negotiate any business they may require. The servant explains this while leading you all down well decorated hallways, past expansive rooms. After a few minutes, you all arrive at a simple study near the end of a long hallway.
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage.
Inside Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. As the group approaches the open door, the wise sage silently gestures the PCs into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading. Once the you are all inside the study, he addresses the group.
“Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say” he pauses momentarily to wet his lips and collect his thoughts, “Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet”, he pauses once again, this time reading your faces to ensure full understanding, then continues, “Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room” he concludes, gesturing half distractedly at the manservant who brought you here; The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.
Begging your permission and a thousand pardons, the manservant quickly ushers you away from Amenopheous’ chamber, as though you are curiously welcome guests who might accidentally overstay their welcome, and he brings the group back through the spacious estate, leading them down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a couple turns, the party ends up at a plain wooden door. The servant opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow, and waits silently for the group to enter...