The fetchling may finally be interested in a conversation with the pair of them now - the conversation's topic is about him, after all.
"Firearms? Yes, I believe a few of those fighting on the Shadow Plane may be armed with such contraptions, but their use is too limited and their acquisition too taxing to be a widespread method of victory. If we could arm a thousand fetchling warriors with rifles and train them in the use of such weapons, and field a thousand fetchling warriors against a dozen of the dragons, we may win...but who will pay for the firearms?"
He then turns to Lu, answering, "Well, with the strength of arms and of spirit, primarily." He waves a hand, indicating his azer ally, who nods at the acknowledgement, and continues "Glomrin commands a small military force of Elemental Plane natives." Glomrin then speaks up, his voice grumbling and quiet, though deeper than any mortal. "About fifty fire giants, salamanders, fire mephits and azers. There are many such companies for hire here."
Yetar then continues talking, "Zilfiena is a healer of some note as well, and there are many warriors aching for freedom upon the Plane of Shadows itself. In addition, we were hoping for some..." he muses for a moment before finishing, "Bolstering power from the lord Vizier here."
"Ahh, I see. You have an army of dragons to deal with and not just the one. And apparently your resources include numerous, but untrained forces. Humm.. I assume you have a limited number of casters with access to 4th circle spells? I know of one that is rather perfect with a slight modification. I could make a weapon with similar effect, but such a thing could be taken. Plus such a weapon would be expensive and time consuming to make."
Sparel thinks,
"of course if you were to bolster your unskilled troops by say, turning them temporarily into dragons or elementals, for example, that could turn the tide in your war, correct? I believe I could create a mechanism to accomplish this in mass and for a decent period of time. Also expensive, and surely time consuming, but I'm certain a dragon horde would be worthwhile recompense. Not to mention a flight of dragon hordes. Imagine it, your own army of dragons. Perhaps not the strength of a real dragon, but surely you'd have far more of them. "
"of course you could just leave if such a thing were facilitated. Of course you'd need somewhere to go. I can help with the former, but not as much the latter. "
"also, if you could summon waves of lantern archons that would make quick work of a dragon. The trick there would be getting them to cooperate. I think a staff would be your best option. Hummm. You'd need a powerful effective caster level simply to keep the things around long enough. That would work though. At least on a small scale. You'd want to pick them off using Gurella tactics, but definitely part of a winning strategy. That would be an impressive sight."
Sparel muses aloud as if considering a hypothetical problem and not a possible way out for a mass of impoverished people.
"So you want to strike a bargain with the City of Brass to rid yourself of ze yoke of your draconian overlords?" Lu grins widely and her eyes twinkle with amusement. "I look forward to hearing your tale Yetar of the Shadow Plane - success or fail, it shall no doubt be interesting eizer way!"
"I suppose you could simply call a powerful planar ally such as a solar to help. If the task is aligned with their ethos they may even offer a discount. A goodly creature of light sounds like a good place to start considering. Half a dragon horde given to orphans with diseases sounds like a reasonable price for their intervention. "
Sparel is considering many angles to the issue proposed.
You may note that one of the reasons Sparel can't be in charge is that he perpetually has way too many ideas. Sometimes he has a hard time focusing.
The look of annoyance is back on Sparel's face as he rambles and muses and just keeps talking. "You sure do have a lot to say, don't you...?" he mumbles, before answering, "We can discuss services and magical items and such, built by you or another, after my meeting with the vizier - I like to focus on one thing at a time, and don't want to be considering solutions until I know what these efreet overlords can do for me and mine."
"And if we could just... summon a solar, I think we'd do that. As I understand it, those creatures that consider themselves above mortal affairs - balors and solars and draconals and all - don't take kindly to demands or binding or anything else."
The azer then answers, "He's right. We can bind outsiders, but nowhere near outsiders that strong and even if we could, they don't like being taken from their planes of existence."
The fetchling nods and says, "And these umbral dragons - they are very strong. Even individually. Maybe even strong enough to defeat a solar."
"Everything has a price, even Solars. Though the price is not always gold. Solar was simply an example. There are infinite other options. That was just the first to come to mind. Do umbral dragons have natural enemies? That'd be a good place to start. Inevitables are also a good option if you can find EXACTLY the right kind. Those are a bit specific, but they are relentless. Anyway, there are lots of options. Find me if you find your meeting with the Visier unsatisfactory. I promise nothing, but we can talk. "
"If the vizier doesnt help you could always try and ask someone in Heaven or Hell. Heaven being the nice guys and all, where Hell will probably just make you sign an awful contract but you know.
Having yet another thought,
"You know, the lure of a dragon horde could get a great many adventurers to come to your aid. If you could spread the word among Pathfinders, for example, and facilitate a means to get to your City, I presume it's a city of some kind, you may have some powerful types come deal with your problem for you. It's a bit of a gamble, but not a bad direction to try. I could probably facilitate the latter for you. "
Yetar thanks Sparel for his suggestions when his number is called (which is just a few minutes later) and darkly suggests that he'll be in touch if he needs anything that he thinks the wizard can provide. Then he and his party disappear past the huge brass doors marking the entrance to the vizier's quarters.
What follows is a long wait, as people who seem to know exactly when their appointments are come in just as their numbers are called, and the numbers are seemingly random - not in sequence at all. There are numbers thousands below Sparel's number, and there are appointments thousands ahead that come before them. Eventually, though, (hours later) the pirates' number gets called. "Eleven thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight? The vizier is ready for you now."
The great big brass doors open, and allow the party into a sumptuous and comfortable-looking office building. Pillows and blankets and draperies adorn the floors and the many places to sit, and tapestries of flame consuming people, places, objects, as well as artwork depicting glittering piles of treasure, adorn the walls.
A massive marble desk sits in the middle of the room, and behind it sits an efreet that may just break the stereotype. An ornate and large turban rests upon his head and he is wrapped around with a colourful and beautiful bodywrap. A pair of solid gold eyeglasses with what appear to be diamond lenses sit upon the end of his nose. A book bound in iron rests in his hand, and he idly reads while he waits for the party to enter. When they get close to his desk (which is almost taller than all of them), he leans forward and places a bookmark (made of darkwood and ornately carved into the image of a broken tower) into his book, closing it.
His voice is deep and resonant, and quite pleasing to the ear, actually. His teeth are less so - his smile is too wide and his teeth too pointed to be easy to look at. "Now. What can I do for you?"
Gathering himself first to hide his annoyance at the wait and this city in general, Sparel walks into the room.
"Vizier,
I am Sparel Radymah and these are my companions, Ser Praetorius Liviticus and Lucrecia Henderthane. *indicating respectively*
I know your time is valuable so I will get straight to the point. My companions and I came to the City of Brass to purchase a powerful scroll. Much to our dismay we found that certain things are off limits to all but those the city deems worthy. We are here to find out what service we can offer that will be elevate us in the eyes of the city officials. The end goal being of course that we can purchase what we need now and perhaps return at a later date for other significant purchases. So the question is really what can we do for you?"
When introduced, Lu gives the Vizer a courtly bow and a polite nod but nothing more. The elf can do the talking here. Unless there is ... trouble.
Praetorius gives a nod to the Vizier attempting to look professional.
Praetorius muses to himself in his mind if maybe the City of Brass would ever want to hire Privateers it looks as if they could pay very very well, also if the Vizier actually need those glasses to see.
Aiesha leans forward, putting her big hands on the map and nodding at Tris' suggestion. "Bloodcove sounds good. It'll be quiet enough there that we can go about some level of business without attracting undue attention, but it's also got the atmosphere that we're looking for in the Shackles."
Vimes nods, then. "The Hurricane King won't be a concern in Bloodcove. We can information-gather and hang around for a bit. It might be a bit of a problem for Belor, though - a human settlement operates as usual during the day. There's a nice nightlife, of course, but humans are diurnal."
Aiesha and Vimes turn to Belor as well. "Captain?"
The vizier smiles at Sparel's offer - a wide, wicked smile. "You come to offer me services, do you? Hmm."
He pulls out a massive iron book and begins to leaf through it, its pages clanking as they hit the other page. "Hmm. Errands. Errands."
He looks up at them a moment later. "Describe your abilities to me. Each of you. So that I might evaluate what you can do for me, if anything."
"mmmm"
Sparel mumbled between pressed lips. He's hiding his irritation as he's having to humble himself.
"I am an arcanist of the seventh circle and a divine caster do the sixth. My spell knowledge is limitless within those parameters. Also, I know how to craft any magic item you can think of. How can I be of service? "
Sparel forces a toothy grin.
"As usual Sparel is quite proud of his intellectual abilities, me on the other hand I provide a bit of muscle and arcane firepower, also I can be persuasive to lesser men"
Praetorius smiles with a wide grin. It is very toothy.
"If he is ze muscle I am ze grace. I could cut a page from your book into two, if you desire thinner pages ..."
She raises an eyebrow and rests her hand on the pommel of her blade, daring the Vizer for a practical demonstration.
The vizier laughs at their descriptions of themselves. He doesn't have this context, but true to form, Sparel is rather specific while Lu and Praetorius romanticize themselves. "So we have the brain, the muscle, and the..." he eyes Lucrecia. "...the beauty."
"Quite the team we have here! And quite capable you seem." he leafs through his huge iron book a little bit more, before he smiles a wide smile and looks back up at them. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Our great Sultan has something of a...longing for our Elemental Lord, Ymeri. The Queen of the Inferno has rebuffed his advances again and again, but Sultan Khalid believes that a great enough offering may sway her, and that persistence is the name of the game when it comes to love."
He leans forward, setting his book aside and setting his weight on his elbows. "He has prepared an offering and desires a group that is not immediately recognizable as belonging to him to deliver it so that it is not rebuffed before it is allowed to enter the gates of her Auroric Palace."
"He believes that the grandness of the offering will make her love him. If you do this task for me, of course, and return with the task either completed or rebuffed, I will give you a token of my esteem that allows you to enter all portion of the city unmolested and unenslaved."
Planes
"The vast distance isn't a problem. However, if I remember my reading correctly that part of the plane is significantly hotter than the rest. I don't think planar protection is going to be sufficient. I believe we'll need Fire protection, though immunity would be preferred. I don't suppose you have a few rings of fire protection laying around that you can loan to us for the trip? " Sparel asks, though he expects he knows the answer.
"Just to be clear, we are not the offering, correct? I'd rather not have to resurrect myself merely to get a scroll. "
Lu laughs and gives the Vizer a bow in return for the compliment. Such a shallow creature. I shall play pawn for him? But then, she appreciated flattery for what it was and smiled.
"Hmm, ze romance of ze millennia - surly ..." Despite her words, she didn't seem awfully happy for their sake ...
So. It is one of those deals - drop and run and hope the Sultan never knows it is us ... Or see what he things of this gossip?
... but the frown passed as soon as it came and a blissful look overtook the swashbuckler. Her gaze turned distant, her mind clearly filled with pleasant thoughts.
"For love zen!"
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - so I'll store his in a glass jar after this!
"And when do we start?"
"Just a question on the "Rebuffed" are we expected to live through a rebuffing? Because as Sparel has noted we dont particularly want to die during this mission"
"Why, you could start immediately or you could start tomorrow, whichever is best for you - although I would prefer sooner to later, of course."
The Sultan continues to smile through the questions. "'Expect' is a strange word. I don't know what to expect from any of you - I don't know what any of you can do. That, in part, is what this is for. You may expect employment from me in the future should you perform well at this task."
"I'd prefer to renew my resources before heading into ... Whatever it is we're heading into. We can leave first thing in the morning. What is the token of fiery unrequited love you wish us to deliver? "
"I will have a slave lead you there at your request," he replies, producing an azer with a brass necklace around its neck from...you're not really sure. He crawls out from under the desk? He emerges from behind a tapestry? He's just there.
"Thank you for your business."
"If we're collecting the token in the morning do you want us to come back for the slave or take him with us? "
The efreet noble furrows its brow. "You ought to return tomorrow, if you must go and rest." and he begins to wave his hand dismissively. "The next group should be coming in soon."
"We shall return."
Sparel excuses himself. Presumably his companions do the same.
Later in the street he talks to his companions
"We should sleep here in a magnificent mansion. That will minimize how many resources I need to use. However, before we rest I can send a short message to someone on the crew and they can reply. "
Turning to Praetorious, "Captain do you have anything information you'd like to relay to the crew before we retire?"
Lu excuses herself with a graceful bow and a wide smile at the Vizer.
-------------------Out on the streets (, they are falling one by one)--------------
"Mmmh"
Lu mumbles her approval, her mind on other things. Politics. That was a while ago ! Absent mindedly she drummed the hilt of her sword and looked around at the streets. Anyone watching? Hard to tell sometimes even without magic and shapechangers ...
A smile grew on her lips and she turned her attention back to the elf and the vampire. We'll find a way... With hungry eyes she winks at the mage, her grin not unlike Praetorious earlier.
"Your mansion - does it afford us privacy against scrying and prying eyes? You are such a tasty morsel I want you to myself for a while ... *Giggle* But ze good Captain can join ze feast too !"
Lu excuses herself with a graceful bow and a wide smile at the Vizer.
-------------------Out on the streets (, they are falling one by one)--------------
"Mmmh"
Lu mumbles her approval, her mind on other things. Politics. That was a while ago ! Absent mindedly she drummed the hilt of her sword and looked around at the streets. Anyone watching? Hard to tell sometimes even without magic and shapechangers ...
A smile grew on her lips and she turned her attention back to the elf and the vampire. We'll find a way... With hungry eyes she winks at the mage, her grin not unlike Praetorious earlier.
"Your mansion - does it afford us privacy against scrying and prying eyes? You are such a tasty morsel I want you to myself for a while ... *Giggle* But ze good Captain can join ze feast too !"
Sparel looks at Lu with a confused expression, After a moment he responds.
"More or less. It's on another plane, technically. I can make it moreso if needed."He either isn't picking up on the sexual innuendo or is trying to decide if you're doing this for show. Either way, he's neither aroused nor angry. Just confused and cautious. Not wanting to ruin whatever ploy you may be doing.
"Well zen, let us get zere. I assume you can still relay ze message back from zere?"
She blinks and continues to prod/annoy the elf.
"...So we can get our fill ..."
"Well zen, let us get zere. I assume you can still relay ze message back from zere?"
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+23
She blinks and continues to prod/annoy the elf.
"...So we can get our fill ..."
"We can send the message from the mansion."
Sparel will find some out of the way place and open the portal to a magnificent mansion when everyone is ready.
after watching what can only be interpreted as a Chelaxian mating ritual Praetorius turns to Sparel
"It would be good of you to tell Belor a summary of our situation and that it may take us awhile longer before we return to the material plane"
"Also Sparel I hope you have a plan on how we refrain from burning to a crisp Im unsure if the vizier is actually going to provide us with any assistance in that field."
"I'm thinking about that. There's one spell I have, but it's got it's limitations. The largest unknown variable is going to be exactly how hot this place is. We'll need to stay together in case we have to either bug out of I need to recast the spell on someone. Ultimately, the less fire damage we take the better off we'll be. Naturally. "
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Spare finds an out of the way alley and opens the magnificent mansion portal only allowing entry to his current compatriots.
Before retiring Sparel will cast a few divinations.
He puts on a mask that appears to be made of paper machet book pages. (mask of 1000 tomes)
He searches his virtual library for any information regarding the Elemental Lord, Ymeri and her realm.
Knowledge (arcana)
Knowledge (dungeoneering)
Knowledge (engineering)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (local) +
Knowledge (nature)
Knowledge (nobility)
Knowledge (planes)
Knowledge (religion)
You find no information in your mask about the location or features of the Auroric Palace that Ymeri supposedly calls home - it's likely that you'll have to do some outside research the next day to really find the location. Either that, or do some careful scrying.
Ymeri is one of four Elemental Lords - namely, the Elemental Lord of Flame. She maintains demigod status and a sizable cult of elemental-plane natives. She has the form of a four-armed humanoid woman's upper half, hair blazing eternally, atop a quadripedal draconic lower half. Her alignment is Neutral Evil.
Lu enters the portal and nods approvingly at what she finds at the other end.
"Now zis is a nice tent!"
After a complete survey of the "building" she returns, clearly pleased. Before the mage manages to retreat away to his masks and tomes she pokes him again and blinks.
"Soooo. Are we safe *private* yet?"
---------Assumin Spa has some ward against divination---------
With a sigh Lu bounces over to one of the many sofas and jumps into it. Deftly she throws her feet up on the hand rest and flings her boots across the room, in the general direction of the exit. She flails her arm about a bit to get the attention of one of the many servants and asks it to bring her a snack. When the servant returns she takes the apple and lets out a comfortable sigh.
"Zis is very very nice ..."
All the earlier plotting and subtext has drained from her voice and she seems at ease, looking up into the roof and smacking on her apple.
"Youknow, I zink we should try and learn a bit more about this 'romance' before we leave. I don't zink ze Vizer is helping his Sultan out of ze kindness of his heart. I zink he is looking for a promotion - and perhaps even by creating a vacancy a bit higher in ze hierarchy ... I am not sure. Or perhaps he is not sure how ze Lady will take ze gift?"
She pauses and chews another mouthful of apple.
"But I do know I don't like being a deniable asset. Zey tend to be sacrificed a bit too often for my liking!"
Divinations will include:
Ancestral Communion (to boost my knowledge checks and allow a recheck.)
Going to try those knowledge checks again with a booster.
I should have enough time to research at least the below subject and how they relate.
Knowledge (arcana)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (local)
Knowledge (nature)
Knowledge (planes)
Knowledge (religion)
Vision (Elemental Lord, Ymeri and her realm
Contact Nalfeshnee (If needed, but will keep this to a minimum. My Will save is +18)
Commune (as contact other plane, but this spell...)
Lu enters the portal and nods approvingly at what she finds at the other end.
"Now zis is a nice tent!"
After a complete survey of the "building" she returns, clearly pleased. Before the mage manages to retreat away to his masks and tomes she pokes him again and blinks.
"Soooo. Are we safe *private* yet?"
---------Assumin Spa has some ward against divination---------
Sparel raises an eyebrow at the request. He then casts Non-Detection and touches Lu.
"That should suffice. Did you wish to discuss something?"
With a sigh Lu bounces over to one of the many sofas and jumps into it. Deftly she throws her feet up on the hand rest and flings her boots across the room, in the general direction of the exit. She flails her arm about a bit to get the attention of one of the many servants and asks it to bring her a snack. When the servant returns she takes the apple and lets out a comfortable sigh.
"Zis is very very nice ..."
All the earlier plotting and subtext has drained from her voice and she seems at ease, looking up into the roof and smacking on her apple.
"Youknow, I zink we should try and learn a bit more about this 'romance' before we leave. I don't zink ze Vizer is helping his Sultan out of ze kindness of his heart. I zink he is looking for a promotion - and perhaps even by creating a vacancy a bit higher in ze hierarchy ... I am not sure. Or perhaps he is not sure how ze Lady will take ze gift?"
She pauses and chews another mouthful of apple.
"But I do know I don't like being a deniable asset. Zey tend to be sacrificed a bit too often for my liking!"
"I assumed there was more than described, there always is with planers. However, I've no idea what. No doubt we're walking into a trap. I have every intention to be careful and flee as soon as trouble is indicated. Did you have any ideas how to gather this information? You seem capable. You could ask around the city and see what you can come up with? "
"I was zinking of hitting ze bars - or whatever passes for zem. And pray zey can speak a proper language. My Ignan never was any good!"
She pauses to sit up and stretches her back.
"But first I wanted to know if zere was somezing obvious I should know - like if the palace was underneaz a lake of magma or if ze Lady hated suitors and ate zen for breakfast. Hmh. Do your divinations and see if you notice somezing or give me a place to start."
*Yawn*
"I'll hit ze streets later. I was zinking - could you drop me off somewhere ozer zen ze way we entered? Just if ze Vizer have people watching ze entrance. Wiz your ward against divination I should be able to go unnoticed and meet you all somewhere pre-designed."
"I was zinking of hitting ze bars - or whatever passes for zem. And pray zey can speak a proper language. My Ignan never was any good!"
She pauses to sit up and stretches her back.
"But first I wanted to know if zere was somezing obvious I should know - like if the palace was underneaz a lake of magma or if ze Lady hated suitors and ate zen for breakfast. Hmh. Do your divinations and see if you notice somezing or give me a place to start."
*Yawn*
"I'll hit ze streets later. I was zinking - could you drop me off somewhere ozer zen ze way we entered? Just if ze Vizer have people watching ze entrance. Wiz your ward against divination I should be able to go unnoticed and meet you all somewhere pre-designed."
"We'd have to planeshift out, then teleport back to the city. Seems more trouble than it's worth. I could simply make you invisible before you exit the portal. The ward I placed on you will last for several hours. It will be extremely difficult to gather any information about you magically. I'll let you know what my divinations find if you're around when I finish."
After enjoying the Cousy mansion praetorius speaks up.
"Lu I'd love to join you for a bar crawl, although I don't speak ignan I do have a way of getting people to talk. But it is best without prying eyes. "
"I can make one of you able to speak and comprehend all languages for a few hours. Decide among yourselves who it will be."
"Meh. Perhaps we should pay anozer visit to zat insolent woman at the library and get a scroll. Or should one of us settle for being the silent handsome type?"
"Meh. Perhaps we should pay anozer visit to zat insolent woman at the library and get a scroll. Or should one of us settle for being the silent handsome type?"
"I need to rest and renew spells. Besides, social games have never been my strong suite. "
He's not dismissing you exactly, but he's clearly done socializing for the evening.
"Lu i shall accompany you on whatever you would like for the evening just make sure you have enough time to rest up for tomorrow"
"Yes Bloodcove seems like it would be a good port to check out first. Don't worry about my well being I would propose that you two check things out in the day and I will scout around at night. We can meet up again at dark the next day. I will send Beaufort with you as I will work better on my own. Perhaps I will find my way into the quarter of whoever happens to be in charge. Surely such person would know who's who in Bloodcove."
Anybody exiting Sparel's magnificant mansion in the "morning" (actually probably about 8 hours after the spell was cast) will find the fire mephit "guide" that they have been assigned is waiting impatiently right outside the door. His arms are crossed and he is tapping a foot impatiently, and if the soot stains on the ground are any indication, he's been waiting here for hours. "Can I HELP you, sirs?"