The clerk looks at the schedule in his hands, "Unfortunately you need an appointment to see Novaria, and her schedule is quite full at the moment. If you leave me your names or the name of the person who sent you I'll be happy to pass it along to her."
The clerk checks the schedule and hmms, "It'll be about three days."
When you mention that Aya sent you, the clerk pauses, requests you wait for a moment, and retreats into the building. When he emerges several minutes later, he bids the visitors to follow him.
Novaria receives you with a pleasant but detached demeanor. She gives each character an appraising look before smiling in approval and saying, “Always a pleasure to work with your illustrious Society. The last time I dealt with your people, it led to a mutually beneficial arrangement that I have not forgotten. In fact, my current position at this trading house is a direct result of our last encounter. I sincerely hope that you come today with another such opportunity.”
She raises one neatly trimmed eyebrow, "Is this the only piece of information you need? Or do you need something more?"
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After a long day of hard labor, Fethril quickly looses patience with the indirectness of the conversation.
"I should think that adages like 'safety in numbers', 'birds of a feather' and 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' all serve as precedent here. We should work together on this. So we all benefit. Together. Against the Aspis." The mage seems unaware that he did not have much to say, as the words come to their slow and awkward conclusion. He stands as if he finished a speech at the Grand Convocation. The elf looks to all in the room, slightly disappointed they are not all clamoring to agree to his forthright insight.
"Oh my, you've quite a tongue on you." Her smile turns from a blank merchant's facade to absolutely predatory, "I like that. Alright, House Cartahegn will join with the Pathfinder Society. Before I can finalize any arrangement I'd like to ask a favor, as you look like capable sorts.
"Recently, a local pirate crew led by a thug named Ungala has been intercepting our trade barges and wagons and stealing our cargo. It is the gods’ fortune that you came to see me today of all days, as we are preparing to move an exceptionally valuable shipment to Warehouse Row to be loaded onto a ship bound for the Inner Sea today. After our usual guards’ failure to protect the last two shipments from Ungala’s raiders, I’ve lost confidence in their abilities. But where they have failed, you might have a real chance. Up to this point, Ungala and her ruffians have always attacked while our supply carts were passing near Free Trade Square, where they can strike in the narrow streets and disappear into crowds quickly. I have no doubt that they’ll be planning such an attack for today’s shipment, and I want you to be there and ready to intercept them."
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Sabert graciously steps aside for Fethril to take the lead in the negotiations. As the plan for the "favor" comes out, he once again speaks up.
"Are we to be lying in ambush, or do you wish us to take the place of your guards through the transport?" he asks curious as to the arrangements. "If we are to ride with the shipment, is there anything that you can do to help us blend in? We seem to be having trouble with that lately.."
"You'll be taking the place of my guards and will likely be ambushed. If you like I can provide some long cloaks, but with this heat I don't think you will appreciate it."
"That nasty pirate Ungala of course! As for the cloaks, my guards don't wear these ones. They wear the fancy ones that help beat the heat as it were. Unfortunately with their constant loss of product I've taken those away."
"In a few hours the shipment will be leaving this very building, and so long as you are here we can move along."
Novaria puts a finger to her lips in contemplation before answering, "The ones that are off duty, certainly. Just don't distract those doing their jobs is all I ask."
The card game is rather intense for such a casual game. Cards fly, money tokens change hands, and eventually it comes down to Kelris and Umbaboo, one of Novaria's best guards. Umbaboo certainly has Kelris worried with his poker face, but when the cards are finally laid down Kelris comes out the victor, a straight flush in spades vs a regular flush in hearts.
Soon after Novaria introduces your group to the teamsters driving the wagon, shows you the expected route, and wishes them luck. The tiny caravan winds through the northern half of the city while sticking to the sturdier streets, which are increasingly crowded as the procession approaches Free Trade Square.
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Just look at James, totally unaware of the immediate dangers of the world around him. Oblivious if you will. Here we are, being told of danger ahead and he is simply lost in thought. A private reverie of his own construction. Who knows what idle chatter occupies that chaotic mind of his. Hmm...this may make a wonderful case study. Perhaps an experiment. I must consider what the parameters would be. Oh thanks Nethys for something to finally do! Now, where should I start?
Sabert, sitting up in the front of the cart with the teamsters manages to notice the subtle changes in the crowd just before the cart reaches a barricade in the streets. Warcries and howls of challenge come from the rooftops and alley-ways as men and women jump from concealed positions, causing the crowds to begin to disperse and flee.
A woman with a blurry outline, dressed in the attire of the native tribes, raises a shortbow to open fire as her band comes out from hiding. She opens fire on the nearest target, James, while the others focus on their nearest targets as well .
Only the arrow aimed at James hits, the others landing somewhere in the crowds of people. Sabert begins singing about a group of adventurers, ambushed by rivals and prepared to fight to the last breath to save themselves.
Aura scrabbles at the wall, but can't get enough purchase to make any progress.
The woman and her band of pirates continues to rain arrows on the party, each picking different targets. The woman chooses a special arrow from her quiver and takes aim at Fethril. One man drops his bow and begins pushing through the crowds to stop Aura from climbing while the others open fire on Sabert, Kelris, and James.
The crowd is a hindrance to the pirate's aim as at least one shot is spoiled by the quickly disappearing sea of people. Not so for Fethril, who is shot by Ungala, her arrow breaking through even his mystical defenses. The injury is not as bad as the feeling of heat and pain flooding through his veins from a substance coating the arrow.
Ungala smirks at Sabert's ploy, but keeps her bow raised, turning it in his direction now.
James cuts down Aura's attacker with impunity, the man dropping to the street and beginning to bleed out.
The crowds finally disperse entirely leaving you facing off against Ungala and her pirates.
Fethril's missile, undeterred by Ungala's blurry image, hones in on the woman and takes her in the side drawing a fresh curse from her lips.
Aura successfully scrambles up the wall, engaging the man on the rooftop with Ungala. He immediately drops his bow in favor of his longsword, taking a tentative swipe at Aura.
The others see the big armored man of Kelris bearing down on them and open fire, hoping to slow him down.
The arrows clatter helplessly against his armor, deflecting into the ground at his feet.
Ungala retrieves two more arrows, firing one each at Fethril and Sabert, trying to take out the dangerous casters.
She is clearly the superior archer among the group, rarely missing with her own arrows.
Kelris delivers a mighty chop with his halberd, severely wounding his opponent who begins looking for a means of escape.