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You run after Chaim and after chasing Chaim through what must have been half the rooms in the bathhouse, jumping pools and slipping across slick tile, the body of Chaim lies on the floor of a steamy room, a bloody gash where his adam’s apple used to be. An exasperated voice from further in the room exclaims, “’Think,’ I said, ‘before you stab.’”
The steam separates, revealing two sweaty half-orcs in heavy armor, one looking abashed with a bloody kukri in his hand. A man sprawls luxuriantly in a small steaming pool in the center of the room. His visible skin is covered with horrible scars as if from badly healed burns. Behold Grandmaster Torch, a notorious information broker who has helped the Pathfinder Society in the past — but always for a steep price.
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Iso smiles at Torch.
"Iso Meet Torch again. Does Torch Sit in Bath on Ship? Iso Worry that Torch get Sick from spending so much time in water."
Concerns for the information broker aside Iso looks at the dead body with disgust. He ponders the situation for a moment before deciding (predictably enough) on the direct approach.
"Torch know where Chaim sell statue to?"
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Borrobol scratches an imaginary itch under one of his armor plates and waits expectantly for Torch to declare his price. "Funny how it's you inconveniencing us and somehow I have this sneaking suspicion that you're going to end up asking us to do the favor." he looks pointedly at the dead body. "I have a suggestion. How about we bring your over zealous guard along and help teach him patience in exchange for what you might know about where Chaim might have sold the statue. I can promise that Iso and I are very good teachers."
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Celentrai holds up her hands.
"If you know this man as well as you say you do, you would know that making threats is a really bad idea. I am quite sure we will find out what this payment is before we are done. If we want the statues will will have to agree. Either agree or walk away with out the statues. Its up to you."
Then Celentrai moves to the back of the group. It appears she has shocked even herself by saying so much.
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"This guy entered my private bathroom, my bodyguard only protected me. And getting my ass to the Society to extract what I know will take too long, the statues will be out of the country before you have what you need. But I know your word is good, you're a bunch of long-term players, just like me." Torch answers to Tippy's threat calmly. "The four names are: Nasir Tandir, Viraj Arpani, Buri Buri-Ban and Saldin Marafi. Nasir Tandir runs a warehouse in the Overmarket near Candlewood and Zephyr. Viraj Arpani tends to hang around the Overmarket too - he's new in town, but he’s unmistakeable. He’s Vudran and covered with little bells. Buri Buri-Ban’s a Garundi fellow — pretty beefy. His favorite café fronts on Sengali square. And last, Saldin Marafi has a shop in the Secure Market. It’s toward the back in one of the more secure nooks. Good luck getting in there."
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After wandering around the Overmarket looking for a Vudrani covered with little bells, you practically run right into him. What Torch said was true — he is unmistakable. Sitting on the rim of a fountain, the man appears to be contemplating the contents of a small intricately carved wooden box. The many pouches of his flowing, bell-covered robes bulge with various small items, and wands and rods stick out from odd folds. Under his arm he casually carries an item wrapped in shipping linens but by its shape it is almost surely a statue.
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Iso sighs from the alleyway. At least that was in the shade.
Waiting until no guards are directly in site he strides up.
"Nice bells." Iso tosses his own head having the bells in his beard jingle in what to him in an attractive manner.
"Statue is stolen, and smuggled into city. Come with me to Watchhouse to explain why Buri Buri-Ban has statue."
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A loud crash comes from forty feet across the square, followed by the irate shoutings of a maddened halfling. A stand of lemons lies scattered on the ground. Tippy brushes himself off and points a finger up at a bearded man nearby.
"Hey, mister! Watch where you're going! Just because I'm little doesn't give you the right to simply trample all over me and knock me into fruit!"
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"This statue is not stolen, or at least not by me. I bought it. Now be gone or I'm going to use one of my wands!" he says.
Arpani chants and moves his fingers in intricate arcane patterns. His form loses substance and turns to a wispy cloud, but as it does, the bundle under his arm begins to vibrate, crackle, and grow. His eyes widen as his body resolidifies and the statue bursts out of its wrappings, seemingly absorbing the arcane energy from Viraj’s failed spell. Linen, strings, and little bells skitter across the pavingstones. On the ground now, the statue continues to grow, taking on the form of writhing, giant centipedes.
Once the centipedes materialize, the crowded market empties quickly as the merchants and customers flee in terror.
Celentrai
Centipede blue
Tippy
Centipede red
Iso
Centipede yellow
Borrobol
Viraj Arpani
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Celentrai jumps back in surprise at the sudden appearance of the centipedes.
"My, what a wonderful purchase you have made."
slowly Celentrai begins to weave back and forth mumbling something to herself, then throws out her hand as if she were tossing something at the centipede
[ooc]Attacking the centipede who is located 9 across and 7 up.[/oo]
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Celentrai shoots a magic missile at the centipede between the fruit stand and the bistro table.
The centipede next to the well approaches Iso and bites but the barbarian's skin is too strong to let the teeth through.
Celentrai
Centipede blue
Tippy
Centipede red
Iso
Centipede yellow -4HP
Borrobol
Viraj Arpani
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Unimpressed with the bugs, Iso hits it with his axe.
"See, heat bring out bugs. Horrible city. Never get these up in the north."
Assuming that kills it, he then advances on the next two overgrown bugs.
"I hope there is a show to take in. I would hate to write my review of just the market and the bugs here."
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Tippy stabs the centipede in front of him, hitting the weakest point of the vermin's body. The centipede twists and writhes before it stops moving.
The other centipede tries to bite Iso
Iso swings his sword at the centipede which just bit him and cuts off it's head.
The remaining centipede tries to get it's mandibles deeply into Iso's flesh.
Celentrai
Centipede blue defeated
Tippy
Centipede red defeated
Iso
Centipede yellow -4HP
Borrobol
Viraj Arpani