With an innocent look (but a definite twinkle in her eye), "Which one? Cruel? Or ulcer?"
"Awww, look, it's the key that's my holy symbol, not the chain it's hanging from." Erwin doesn't even manage to try to look offended as he tries to sneak a peek at the mystery box.
It takes a few moments for Uraisa to swap the letters into the proper order as the discussion continues around her. Once she does, though, there is a slight shifting, a subtle twist in reality, and the seams carved into the stone become actual openings. Lifting the lid, she discovers that it has indeed become a stone box, and various treasures glitter within. Closer examination reveals half a dozen gems, a matched pair of silver daggers, and a bronze ring.
"Filthy Lucre, love it!" Galyna says with a grin.
Oscar whistles and removes his helmet to scratch his head when the treasure is revealed. "Whew"! "You guys are alright by me".
Appraise - Gems
Appraise - Daggers
Appraise - Ring
Oscar can't see the gems or the ring well enough to make good assessments of their value, but he's reasonably certain the daggers are masterwork.
"oooo treasure," the Mage utters as she instinctively casts a Detect Magic spell on the items found inside the box.
Shiv watches with keen interest, from his place leaning against a bookcase, as the treasures are pulled from the box one by one. However, he also keeps an eye out for our hostess returning, this is a test. Betcha she already has a accountin' o' what's inna box.
Spellcraft ring
Spellcraft gem
As if Shiv's thought were a summons, the door opens, and Lady Heidmarch and Koriah Azmeren step back through. Seeing the box open, Heidmarch looks pleased, reaching out a finger to touch a few of the items scattered over the table. Smiling, she picks up the paradox box and says, "Excellent work. You've done well to get it open so quickly; I'm extremely confident this shows I've found the right people for the work I need. I'm going to keep the paradox box for additional study, but you have definitely earned the rest." She indicates the gems, daggers and ring. Raising a hand to indicate a request for a moment's patience, she turns to her half-elf companion and the two exchange brief farewells.
Before she leaves, Azmeren bows to you all and murmurs, "Good fortune on your searches, Pathfinders," before withdrawing and closing the door behind her.
That done, Sheila Heidmarch turns back to you and asks that you take seats. "I think it is time to discuss my actual purpose in asking you all to come here. I'll come right to the point. I’ve recently had trouble with one of my informants here in Magnimar, Natalya Vancaskerkin. She’s a half-Varisian who recently approached the Pathfinder Society with an offer to serve as a street informant. She runs with the Sczarni — I’m not sure with which group. A week ago, Natalya sent me a cryptic hint that her gang was on the verge of uncovering an item that would be of great interest to the Society. Since the Sczarnis’ methods of uncovering something often involves an armed robbery or breaking into somebody’s personal chambers, we thought it prudent not to press for further details and instead wait to see what it would produce. Suffice it to say, she hinted strongly that it pertained to Thassilon, and promised to meet with me to discuss this find three days ago.
"She never kept that promise — instead, she seems to have simply vanished. Initially, I assumed that the acquisition of this item was simply taking longer than expected, but now I’m hearing rumors that the Sczarni are looking for her as well.
"It seems likely that Natalya has absconded with this item she’s discovered. And this is where you enter, my friends. I want to know what it was that Natalya and the Sczarni found. In fact, I’m more interested in that than in what happened to Natalya herself. For now, I’d like to keep all of this quiet — if you can find out what happened to Natalya without letting a lot of people know she was also working for me as an informant, that would be preferable — that’s a big part of why I’m coming to you with this task. As either new members of the Pathfinder Society or outside contractors with no history yet connecting you to the Society, you don’t yet have a reputation in Magnimar, and as such, the lowlifes and criminals you are likely to encounter may be more likely to talk.
"So... go out there and look for Natalya. Find out what happened to her, and to this item she and her gang discovered. If you can secure the item, all the better — bring it back to me and I’ll have a reward of 500 gold pieces for you. And if you can bring Natalya back alive for me to speak to, I’ll double that!"
Ellantera claps with delight at the successful opening of the box. When the venture-captain enters with her guest, Ellantera moves to stand near Shiv and listens to the offer. She leans close to whisper in his ear.
Spitting into the vase once again the rogue grins, "Me an El are in. We'll find the wayward lass for ya an' ya can be sure it'll be alive fer that sort a coin. That's a course she's still breathin' when we git ta her. Not wise ta cross the Sczarni. They mighten be inclined ta take it out o' her hide." Glancing between the rest of the group and the treasures arrayed around the box, "Well if'n we're ta be workin together we mighten' want ta come up with some equitable way o' divvyen up the loot."
Oscar looks at the rest of the group for approval, and picks up one of the daggers to look more closely.
"I know finely made weapons when I see them, and these are the works of a master". "Don't know if their magical or not, but they could certainly be enchanted from the workmanship". He then returns the dagger to the box.
"I'm in as well". "This already looks profitable", he says with a grin. "As far as splitting up treasure...I'm good with whoever can make the best use of it being rewarded, and if it's something we can all use we'll just take turns". "Money is easy to split".
Kassandra snorts quietly when Sheila remarks that she cares more about the artifact and information than her informant. not surprising, she thought to herself, these upper class people only care about themselves . As Sheila continues, her attitude changes and she listens attentively, smiling a bit when she thinks of their accumulated treasure so far. That was easy enough, we didn't even leave this room. now if only the next task would be so simple...
Turning back to the offer, she quietly adds: "I'm in as well. Sounds like a decent pay for the job".
even though Uraisa hoped against hope that Sheila would announce what exactly was in the puzzle box, the Mage realized she would have to address the others. "Um, well, both the ring and the gem are magical. I recognize the ring's magic. It's to keep the wearer from falling great distances. . I couldn't figure out what the gem does, exactly."
"I'm in." Miet then turns to Uraisa "Let me have a look at the gem maybe I can figure it out."
"You don't even need to ask. As far as the split I'd say whoever finds it most useful, if nobody, then sell it."
Reaching down to rest her hand on the pommel of her longsword, Ellantera says, "I'm not sure how best to proceed. As a group, we will draw attention, but there's strength in numbers - as long as those numbers don't trip each other up."
Looking around the assembled group, she asks, "In a fight, where will you best contribute? I think it's smart to talk about it before we need to know it, is all. For me, I plan to be in the front, aiding him if they are foolish enough to give us an opening." She jerks a thumb at her brother as she says it.
Spellcraft
Miet cannot identify the gem either.
Kassandra holds the gem for a while, concentrating and muttering strange words and using arcane gestures. After a few moments, she shakes her head and places the gem back on the table. "Its magic is too strong for me", she admits.
Lady Sheila watches the discussion about loot distribution with an amused expression (and Shiv's antics with the vase only provoke a quirked eyebrow). After letting them proceed for a few moments, she speaks up again. "Clearly you have much to work out amongst yourselves, and I will leave you to it," she says. "Before I go, though, let me share one final thing. The only leads I have to offer you are these: Natalya first contacted me through a broker of sorts for the Sczarni, a street-fair charlatan named 'the Amazing Zograthy.' I'd recommend speaking with him, if you can track him down. I've also heard rumors of Nidalese slavers working the streets after dark, kidnapping people - I don't buy it, myself, but if there's anything behind the rumors it's possible that's what happened to her. And then of course there's the chance that she had a run-in with the law. A trip to the Arvensoar might be in order. I look forward to hearing soon of your success." She smiles, picks up the paradox box, and slips out, closing the door behind her.
Shiv grunts and nods in affirmation to Salt's and Galyna's responses, "These kind o' things tend ta get a bit sticky with some sorts if'n they're not figgur'd out first. Someone likely ta get a knife in the gut...or back if'n it gits too disagreeable." Waving his left hand toward the treasures you notice it appears he is missing most of his ring and pinky fingers from it, "I'll say my piece then an' see if'n anyone else has a claim. I tend ta get myself in...dangerous predicaments from time ta time. Some sorts like ta protect themselves with pits an' the like." He smiles to himself as if at some inward joke, "I'll likely be out in front o' the lot a ya unless yer good at keepin quiet. I like ta have the drop on whatever we come across not tha other way 'round. That ring might make all this a bit more likely." Gesturing toward Ellantera, "El here knows her way 'round a blade. I'mma thinkin she can make use o' one o' those fancy silver shivs."
Taking a moment to spit in the vase again and rub his chin, "Ah've heard bout this 'Amazin' Zograthy'. He's a frontman for some o' the Sczarni gangs. He'll git ya in with em if'n ya grease his palm a bit. He's down the way o' Washer's Row in Dockway, roun'about's the river."
"Well, let's go find this Zograthy then. Maybe he can tell us more..."
Separating out 125 gold for El and himself the rogue slides the coins noisily into one of his pockets from the tabletop. Hearing no immediate objections to his 'piece' Shiv grins broadly at Uraisa as he picks up the ring and flips it, as one would a coin, end over end in front of her. As it starts to come back down he snatches it from the air in front of her in a closed fist, "The rest o' this lot can catch up when they figgur what they are 'bout. Let's git a walkin' that reward ain't gonna earn itself." He takes a moment to flip El one of the silver daggers and tosses Uraisa the magical gem, "Maybe ya kin figgur out that on the way."
Ellantra worriedly looks to the others and waves them to quickly follow, "Hurry, the last time he did the talking I ended up in a bar brawl with a bloatmage and his retinue." She shudders as she remembers one of the leeches coming off in her hands and begins to wave them along even more urgently.
Galyna eases out of her chair, scooping up her portion of the gold as she does, and taking a moment to check the many weapons stashed on her before making her way out the door to follow "Shiv"'s lead.
Even simply walking down the path from the elegant villa, her movements seemed like a predatory prowl.
"Someone should be sure to get the rest of those non magical gems. We might need them for a bribe or something," Uraisa says as she stows the magical gem into one of her front pockets for safekeeping.
Oscar picks up the other finely made dagger, and finds a place for it on his belt. He then scoops up his share of the wealth, and heads out with the others. "Well let's go find this guy then". "And I am definitely not quiet".
Kassandra shrugs, scoops her gold and takes the remaining, non-magical gems - no use to leave them here. She looks around at the surrounding books and leaves with a soft sigh, following the others.
"So where we going first?"
Not breaking stride Shiv spits in front of him and then says over his shoulder, "Washer's Row ta find Zograthy unless'n ya got a better idea."
"Oh no no washer row is fine."
It takes the better part of an hour to travel from the exalted heights of the Alabaster District atop the Summit to the slums of Dockside on the Shore; although Shiv knows where he's going, the bustling Mangimarian crowds simply don't allow you to make all that much progress all that quickly. When you do at last reach your destination, you find yourselves looking up at a tattered banner hanging over the entrance to the small side street, advertising "Professor Callivario's Stupendous Exhibition of the Outrageous and Sublime." Beyond this overly exuberant advertisement is a squalid setup consisting of little more than a series of rundown sideshow booths and carts with assorted games and amusements of the meaner sort. To one side, urchins pitch pennies at lily pads floating in a small, scum-covered fountain while a bored carnie looks on. Nearby, the sound of cats hissing and fighting arises from behind a cart where a small crowd of ne'er-do-wells has gathered to cheer and place bets. Everywhere lurk faces pinched with suspicion or hunger — expressions worn by carnival workers and visitors alike. This is not the sort of place to be careless with a coin pouch.
Speaking with the stooped barker posted at the street's entrance (whose wracking cough makes you wonder who would ever consider him suited for his position), you quickly learn that the Amazing Zograthy, Seer of the Dark, can be found in a small, well-patched tent about two-thirds of the way down the closed-off street. The tent is small, crudely painted with mystical symbols and decorated with chicken bones and other oddments. A hand-painted sign, done with more ambition than skill, proclaims the name of its occupant along with a number of lofty titles and promises of arcane insight into matters of wealth, romance and the afterlife, all of which appear dubious in the extreme in the current context.
Speaking with the group before they approach the man. "Might scare him off, or make him shut his lips if we all show up". "Maybe the more glib of us could go and talk to him". "I don't mind hanging around here outside and keeping an eye out for trouble".
Ellantera grabs her brother's elbow and steps close. After a moment he nods and steps away, melting into the surrounding small crowd. She approaches and agrees with Salt, "He's going to look around Zograthy's tent to see just how much 'protection' he has. I suggest we take this opportunity to talk with the man. I'll wait with Salt ready to back up whoever wants to do the talking."
"I'm not good at talking either,"Uraisa stammers as she takes a spot outside.
"Let me give it a shot." Miet moves to head in.
"Well, it looks like we've got more staying out than going in"..."So I'll go in with you".
Within the stuffy, cluttered tent is a table covered in blue velvet stitched with moons, stars, and arcane symbols. A dusty crystal ball and a dog-eared harrow deck sit upon it. Behind this table sits an aged, bald, Varisian man with threadbare purple robes and piercing eyes - presumably the "Amazing Zograthy." As you enter, he gestures broadly and states in a tremulous voice, "The Amazing Zograthy sees all and knows all. A double fist of silver for a turn of the cards or a vision in the crystal; a treble fist of gold for the secrets of the multiverse."
Perception
"Greetings and salutations sir I am Miet Silverback and this is my associate Oscar salt." She gives a polite bow "We've looking for someone and were hoping you could help us?"?"
Zograthy leans back, his narrow face split by a twisted smile. "Ah, secrets! Perhaps my greatest trade! A fist of platinum, and you shall know all I know."
Seeing only two decide to enter the tent, and not wanting to attract any undue attention with a large crowd loitering outside, Uraisa steps in as well, to see what the fortune teller had to say. A fist of platinum? I don't think we have that much...
"Sure just a sec." she pokes her head out the tent "I dont suppose anyone here has the equivilant of a fistfull of platinum do they?"
Zograthy smiles, showing his teeth. "My dear," he says to the gnome, "while I'd not turn down such generosity, my greed is not what you would imply. 50 gold crowns, or five platinum, is all I ask for my services."
"Okay as the good genleman said anyone here have 50 gold ....I'm kind of short right now."