Nidal is a very warped and corrupted land. It long ago sold its soul to a creature from beyond called The Midnight Lord. The entire country is a very martial land ruled by the worshippers of The Midnight Lord. Demon and devil summoners are 'common' in the country and there is always need for sacrifices and laborers due to the very brutal nature of the society.
The Amazing Zograthy has a fortune telling business in Washers' Row. Washers' Row is a tangle of open-air washhouses, launderers, and Varisian wagons and tents - while the bulk of those who live and toil here do so in the laundry and tailoring industries, there are some who practice other trades, such as the Amazing Zograthy.
Officer Kasadei glances up as Taize asks her question, "No, no one has been asking about her." Then, she returns to her work.
You head out of the Arvensoar and move towards Washers' Row. When you arrive there, you find that it's a large open-air tangle of merchants, wagons, and tents.
At the southern end of Washers' Row, a tattered banner hanging over the entrance to the small side street advertises "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.
By talking to one of the questionable carnies or a stooped old barker with a retching cough, you are quickly pointed to the abode of the Amazing Zograthy, Seer of the Dark, a small, well-patched tent crudely painted with mystical symbols and decorated with chicken bones and other oddments.
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.
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."
Talon smiles at the old man, taking a seat in front of him. He reached into his coin purse, procuring two gold pieces and setting them down on the table. "I'd be happy to hear a fortune, sir - not my own, but someone that perhaps you know of. Natalya of the Tower Girls," He asks him, looking at the man directly in the eye.
As they enter the 'Stupendous Exhibition' K'nyaz curls his tail up further to wrap around his pouches, less so his money as much as his component pouch. As they enter the confines of 'The Amazing Zograthy' he wonders just how amazing the man is, and if any of his fortune-telling equipment aids him in his divinations. As Talon sits down to talk to the man, K'nyaz tries to quietly and subtly read the room.
Keeya smiles at the man an innocent smile, "Hi! I'm Ceila Do you really know all? I don't let go my silver so easy yaknow! Oooh I know, tell me somethin' 'bout me and if I am impressed might be i'll do it."
Keeya walks up and taps on the crystal ball and sticks her face into it.
"How Do I make it do with the magic stuff?" She tilts her head to the side confused for a moment, "hmm..."
Keeya stands back up straight and begins to wander around the curious tent sticking her nose into various things looking over everything she can looking for anything magic, or mundane that might be of value, or might be related to the missing girl.
Taize enters quietly and simply observes, wondering if his techniques are real and how they differ from those of her homeland.
As she does, a smile briefly crosses her face as she wonders how Mister Amazing would have reacted to them saying 'If you know all, you know why we're here', though she doesn't speak.
He smiles back an indulgent smile at Keeya, "Well, young Miss Ceila, through the spirit world I can know the answer to any question you have or see what Fate has written for you in her book." He looks her up and down, a knowing smile creeps onto his deeply lined face, "For example, I know about the incident where you..." he trails off as he looks around at the gathered party, "hmmm, but I assume you don't want me to reveal that secret here in front of everyone, that could prove quite embarrassing for you." he gives her a sly wink.
Bluff:
When Keeya starts to tap and mess with his crystal ball he yelps, "Please don't touch that! It's been attuned to the mystical energy flows of the universe! Tampering with it could prove quite dangerous for all of us in the room if you mishandle it any longer."
Bluff:
When Talon asks about Natalya, he smiles, leans back in his creaking, rickety chair and says, "Ahh, secretes. Perhaps my greatest trade! For the very modest fee of 50gp I will answer all of your questions to the best of my ability."
K'nyaz is curious about the crystal ball with 'mystical energy flows', for as far as he could tell there was no magical auras emanating from it. "Does this crystal ball need beinG' activated, or use source of power beyond magic? It is not havinG' presence of magic about it at all. What is mystical energy flow you are speak of? I yam not familiar this power."
He is genuinely interested in the idea of a whole other energy source beyond magic, as the ball clearly doesn't have any. Voroan himself is more interested in all the shiny baubles about, and turns his head this way and that looking for the nicest one.
Keeya is taken back for a moment as he threatens to reveal her secrets... she had so many. No, no, Cayden no! not yet... they don't know me well enough yet... not yet. She said to herself under her breath in a slight panic before regaining her cool.
No... he couldn't know... could he? He won't tell. I'll be okay.... She nodded, "I already know my own secrets... I suggest we keep it that way for now."
Keeya glance at him quite sure the crystal ball was just for show. But wizards had many ways to see things with out a ball so she said nothing and decided it was best to let the others talk to him. Her smile couldn't get them out of every situation she figured. But when he offered 50 gold for information her first instinct was to cut him. It required every ounce of her will power not to pop out her knives and start throwing them. But Talon was a large intimidating man and Taize and Pai were both mysterious in their own ways and K'nyaz would know more about this man's magic than her, so she stayed her hand and paid close attention to the others.
Noticing Voroan looking at the shiny bits on the shelf she gives him a half smile and addresses the familiar with a solemn tone unusual for her , "Not all that glitters my friend."
Fifty gold pieces, huh? Talon takes the garnet stone out of his coin pouch, spinning it between his fingers. He didn't know it's exact estimated worth, but considering it was in that box, it was probably worth more than enough to pay for any information that they required.
He narrowed his eyes at Zograthy. He was b$~*#$&%ting Keeya with that confidence play, and it looked like she'd bought it - obviously she thought that he might actually know about something in her past. He didn't know what flustered her so, but he wasn't going to let it slide. Especially considering his reaction to her touching the crystal ball - he was pretty sure he was lying about it. In fact, he had a good hunch that this guy had absolutely no magical power whatsoever.
"How do I know that any information that you give us right now will be good?" Talon asks him, tossing the garnet up and down, up and down, letting Zograthy's greedy eyes following the glittering gemstone. He hoped that his allies would take a look around while he was keeping his attention for any advantage or edge they could use in negotiations. "As I've seen, you've already lied twice to my friend. And my magical friend here," He gestures to K'Nyaz, "Just confirmed that there's nothing magical at all about your crystal ball. So now I'm rather concerned that paying you anything will be a bad investment on my part," he tells him.
Instinct told him to tell the con man he'd pay him one gold coin at a time, orally, if he gave them bad information. But he stayed his hand from that path - let Pai enter the negotiations here. She was probably better at negotiation than him - he was just lucky enough to catch the man in lies they could use to their advantage.
When K'nyaz asks about the crystal ball and how it works without being magical, The Amazing Zograthy smiles an indulgent smile and says, "It has been especially attuned to be a very good conduit for the flow of mystical energy, it doesn't need to be a 'magical source' in itself, but aid and focus the flows that are around us. Combined with my own talents for seeing and manipulating those flows, it is a magnificent tool. People who are not attuned to it can disrupt that delicate balance, possibly resulting in a misdirection of the flows in dangerous ways."
Bluff:
Zograthy appears to be nonchalant about the gem Talon is tossing idly in his hand and remarks about the value of his services, "I was under the impression that you wanted information about certain people - that requies no use of my mystical talents, I am very well connected with a number of groups and influential people in this city, I learn many things from them and provide them with much information. If you want your own fortunes told, I would be happy to provide that service, but if you want to know what has happened to other people - I can tell you what you want to know."
Talon stares firmly at Zograthy for a few moments, gauging his words. Granted, he was cutting the b@*!&&!&, and the Venture Captain had already confirmed that he was a good lead. Combine that with the fact that they were desperate for leads at this point, and his decision was already made for him.
The garnet landed in Talon's hand once more, before being tossed forward, into Zograthy's waiting palm. "There. Now, like I was saying, we're looking for Natalya Vancaskerkin of the Tower Girls. As I've heard it, she's disappeared and the other gangs are looking for her - that she took something that didn't belong to her." Letting him know what Talon already knew meant that he couldn't neglect to speak on those details.
"So, where can we find her? Or who would know where she is?"
K'nyaz is skeptical, but has no reason to believe that what the man says is untrue. If it is a different form of energy, he is unable to gauge it or how it works. Instead, he watches it intensly, looking for any signs of the aforementioned energy. Voroan, however, is eyeballing the Talon-tossed gem in excitement. When he addresses K'nyaz in their shared language, the conjurer dismisses him as being drawn to all the baubles in the room, and cares more for the crystal ball.
Keeya stood quietly saying nothing as Talon spoke But she was listening intently.
Zograthy deftly catches the gem in midair and quickly makes it disappear into the folds of his robes.
"If, as you say, Natalya took something that didn't belong to her explains a lot. The Tower Girls have been looking for her, and word is, when they find her, she'll probably disappear again. I don't know exactly how far their search for her has gone but they say she went mad before she disappeared, she was very unstable and she could have done anything or went anywhere."
He adds apologetically, "And don't even ask where any of the Sczarni are or how to contact them directly, that information is worth more than you can afford. I can work as an intermediary if you wish, but around the time of Natalya's disappearance, The Tower Girls became very hard to contact themselves and haven't been seen around their usual haunts. It would take a while for me to get word to them for you."
"I'm not surprised she disappeared though, a lot of people along the Waterfront both here in Beacon's Point and over in Dockway have disappeared lately. A few each week, some just vanishing out of their beds at night. As long as only poor Varisians, the destitute, and the undesirable disappear, the chances of the City Guard doing anything about it are zip."
"I can confirm it wasn't the Sczarni though, they've had a few of their members disappear as well. They're actively working to solve this issue themselves - they're very protective of the people around here; many are family, friends, or people who aid them from time to time, such as myself. They view themselves as the true 'law' in this area and want the proverbial story of the virgin with the bag of gold wandering around unmolested at midnight to be accurate."
"The leading theory on the street is slavers capture them and sell them offshore to Nidalese slave ships."
He extends his wizened palm and adds, "A few more gold for a poor old man please for this next juicy tidbit of information."
Making the coins disappear like he did the gem he continues, "Thank you, I can get that Cure Blindness spell for my poor old blind mother now. I don't put much stock in the Nidalese slavers rumor, it doesn't sound right to me. However, rumor has it the weekly pickup of the kidnapped will happen tonight at midnight at an old, boarded up shoreline tavern in Dockway called the Puffy Pelican."
"If you do find out the source of the kidnappings and where the disappeared have gone, it would be worth a few gold to me to know as quickly as possible. Budding young Pathfinders such as yourself tend to get into all sorts of mischief and uncover all manner of useful information."
"Then we go to the Puffy Pelican tonight." Keeya said in a mater of fact tone.
"Guess I am going to have to disappoint Mr. City Guard after all." She says with a mischievous smile. Sneaking around an old tavern at night in an attempt to foil slavers. This would be fun. Keeya enjoyed the thought of wrapping herself in the dark, it was more her speed.
K'nyaz silently agrees with Keeya's assesment of their course of action with a gentle nod. Still not quite grasping how Keeya operates, he offers her some advice. "There is still time before nightfall. I yam thinkinG' it would be good with stoppinG' by for tell him you will not make appointment. He can make other plans for night, and maybe you plan with him for spend time on other day."
Keeya gives K'nyaz an innocent smile realizing he hadn't quite 'got' that she was lying to the poor lug.
"Um... sure K'nyaz... I'll probably send him a messenger or somethin'."
She wasn't quite sure why she lied to him but she sensed an innocence about him, despite his demonic appearance, that she was quite unwilling to stain by explaining herself further. Slightly ashamed of herself she sighed, before giving him another softer smile.
As usual, Talon has a hard time telling if he's telling the truth or not. He seems to be honest, though. The swordsman decides to take him at his word for now, standing up and nodding to Zograthy. "Thanks for the information," he tells him, nodding to the rest of the group and gesturing for all of them to convene in a huddle.
"All right, we have until midnight, apparently, so I think that if anyone needs to get anything you think we'll need, now would be the best time for that, or do anything else to prepare, we should all go off to do that," He told them all. "Let's all meet up at the Fifth Wind monument two hours to midnight - that'll give us enough time to do what we need to do and then scout out the Puffy Pelican."
Regardless if anyone else tags along with him, Talon will then make his way to the Battle of Charda monument.
He's heard of the blessings that this monument can bestow - sadly, he's unaware of the exact ritual that could bestow such a blessing. Undeterred, he waits around for a while, watching other people coming to get their own blessings, to see if he can't figure it out that way.
Keeya nods and departs the group, however having no where to go she circles back around and stealthily attempts to follow Talon out of an innocent sense of curiosity and bordem.
Stopping when he stops and hanging back far enough to attempt to not be noticed.
Tripping and stumbling over a man accidentally she fell onto her rear right in an opening of the crowd. She gave her position away at the Battle of Charda monument in the process. She Flashed Talon an innocent smile, then stood up and dusted off her rear and waved to Talon and slipped back into the crowd.
Minutes laterFinding a local tavern she slipped in and approached the bar keep and with an innocent smile, she asked if he had heard any interesting rumors, She placed a gold coin on the table in front of him. Her shirt 'mysteriously' (mischievously in actuality) had managed to undo it's top button, exposing some of her modest cleavage and her strange blue swirl like patterns on her skin. Leveraging this to her advantage she leaned in, looking up at the barkeep.
her hair seemed to dance on a curious breeze as she smiled.
"I'm just curious see... in from outta town and all... kind of a big city... you don' have an' interestin' rumors for me do ya?"
Taize listens and observes. She notes the information in her journal after they leave and returns to her room to get the rest of her equipment and verify her spells.
After that she decides to explore some of the monuments of the city, having heard of their ability to aid townsfolk.
As Talon and Keeya go on to their own plans, K'nyaz is a little at a loss for what to do in the unfamiliar city. In the end he follows Taize, basically wandering amongst the city looking at the noteworthy features and taking notes in his journal.
"K'nyaz, is it? Hi. Have you heard the stories about the monuments here? Supposedly, by following specific procedures, they grant blessings to people. I wish I knew more of how to do it, though."
"Aye miss, we have all sorts of rumors about. If you're new in town, watch out for the Nidalese slavers about - they steal people down near the dockside and whisk them off for unspeakable rituals to their evil god. Also, avoid underneath the Irespan - there are Shriezyx, enormous spider-like demons, that lurk in dark hollows beneath it. Finally, there are strange, sinister white-eyed little blue folk who sneak out of hidden underground chambers in the dead of night to perform vile experiments on paralyzed victims," he nods as if affirming they're all true, "Be careful miss, the city can be very dangerous right now and the watch aren't doing anything about it."
Once Talon understands how to activate the blessing of the monument, he steps up, unsheathing his two-bladed sword, before going through the forms. Double Fang. Two Claw Strike. Second Sting. Each unique in their execution, yet still requiring years before he would fully master them. He finishes up with a cry of strength, imagining his opponent, handless and headless.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem like it was enough for the time being. The Battle of Charda was not shining in his favor today - perhaps some other time, then. He sheathed his sword, heading over to the Fifth Wind - after making a detour to his little apartment near the Seacleft to get the rest of his equipment and armor. At night, one needed to be prepared to defend themselves.
The massive stone weather vane was an incredible sight to behold, the images of air elementals and dragons running up the sides of it, dozens of windsocks flying high on the top. It would take a rather unfortunate person to miss this place - then again, all of his companions were new to Magnimar. He certainly hoped that they would find their way here.
Once the group is gathered, he gets to business. "All right, being particularly honest here, I'm rubbish at scouting and sneaking around. So, who among you feels like the sneakiest, and who thinks they've got the best eyes?" He asks. "We need that person to take a look at the Puffy Pelican, get a good read for all of the visible entrances and exits, see if they can see anyone inside or not - once that's done, then we plan how to enter."
He makes only a minor correction of her pronunciation of his name, before he responds to the talk of monuments "I have not heard of these monuments you speak. Grant of blessinG' belonG' to gods, No? It is much curious how these monument work. Would you care I join you in visit them? I yam interest in journal what I see."
K'nyaz nods with Talon's assessment, offering his services to the task "I yam have excellent vision in dark, and can be quiet when is needed. I yam not expert in sneak, but am capable. If need can try scout."
Arriving back with the party with a swagger that can only come from light drink and her usual smile, less manufactured now then before Keeya listens to Talon and the rest before adding, "I can usually move pretty quietly when I wan' to... Ignorin' my mos' recent clumsiness I mean. And I've always had good eyes at night." Keeya spend the last few hours slowly sipping an ale, her cheeks slightly flushed from it. And practicing talking to people, practicing holding their attention and getting their attention.
"We nee' to be careful tho' I heard some unpleasant rumors an' 'parently the townsfolk don't have much faith in the town guard. Also some kin' of blue, white eye'd boogie men come at night and snatch up folk to do unspeakable thin's to 'em. Sounds like rubbish but 'suppose we are looking for a missin' girl. Tis but a tavern tale tho' spun to a wide eye'd girl, so take it with a grain if you will."
She reaches down and begins to fasten the buttons on her shirt she had undone earlier. Her blue swirl patterns on her skin visible for only a moment, vaguely resembling Varisian tattoos though of different design. She smiled at the party vaguely embarrassed by it. though in actuality she showed very little skin.
"um..."
She nodded, "I mean to say I.. um... I mean, I am 'expert in sneak'. Well I've experience I mean." She smiled at K'nyaz as she mimicked his speech pattern, "So what's our plan lookin' like then?" She immediately turned towards Talon deferring to him.
"I, too, need little light to see, but I cannot see in pure darkness. Also, unfortunately, I'm not particularly sneaky."
Talon nods, understanding their particular aptitudes in this instance. They would all be useful for the trials to come. "All right, then. Keeya, I'd like for you to get in close to the Puffy Pelican, scout out the windows and doors and check what's unlocked, if there are any people inside, how many. Taize, Kay, you two can check with me around the perimeter - gangs like this usually have scouts around adjacent buildings or alleys to alert their allies. We'll regroup after fifteen minutes to share information."
The swordsman waits to see if anyone has any objections, before leading the way there. Once they've arrived, he goes and scouts along the perimeter for any lookouts, hopefully with Taize and Kay filling the gaps.
Keeya nodded to Talon before setting out, Purposely leaving the group behind, so that if spotted they won't be. Sticking to back alley ways and tights roads she begins to slowly approach the old building. Sticking to the shadows and walking softly and slowly.
Approaching each window, staying concealed in shadow she peaked in one at a time before moving on.
(Taking a 10)
You arrive at an old boarded-up shoreline tavern that was once known as The Puffy Pelican - a faded painting of a fat pelican still graces the facade of the derelict building.
As you approach, you notice a few flashes of flickering light shine through the cracks between the boards over the windows. It looks like someone is inside walking around with a hooded lantern. With only an occasional glimmer shining through.
Keeya approaches the building very stealthily, sticking to the pools of darkness between the buildings. Peeking between the slats covering the broken windows, you can see a bit more of the light, but you can't get a glimpse of it's source, it's down a hall in a room that has no window you can pear through. You merely see the occasional flash of light shine through the inside door into the hallway.
When you walk around the building, you find that the back of it has a half-collapsed wooden deck that hangs over the high-tide mark. The boards over the back door have been recently removed.
After your scouting foray, you easily sneak back to the place where the party is waiting.
Keeya returns to the group and reports, "For sure its bein' used by somebody. Didn't get no good look though."
Talon nods to Keeya when she returns, listening to her report. It seemed that they hadn't found any scouts on the outside, so moving in was logically the next best step here. "Okay. We don't want to lose the element of surprise here." He slips a sunrod out of his pack, before handing it over to Keeya. "I'm giving this to you. We should sneak in through the back, Keeya in front with me behind her, then Kay, and then Taize. Keeya, you'll set the way for sneaking without alerting the people inside, and the rest of us will follow your example. Keep an eye out for traps as well. Since these guys need lantern light, I'm assuming that they've got bad night vision, so if we stick to the shadows we can stay undetected until we're ready to reveal ourselves. Once we've confirmed these people are enemies, Keeya, I want you to strike the sunrod, and that will be our signal to attack."
Talon looks to the other two. "Taize, Kay, if you two have any long lasting spells to cast before a fight, I suggest you cast them before we enter, if they last longer than a few minutes. Any questions or suggestions?"
Armor penalties suck.
K'nyaz nods in agreement with Talon's plan of action and, upon his warning of preparing for danger, decides to conjure a shell of force around himself for protection. The light was a non-issue for him, as light or dark, he would see just fine due to the curse of birth.
Keeya points out the best path for the party and moves swiftly and silently ahead of them holding the sun rod in her off hand. Her bow strapped to her back and knives arranged around her body. She leads them through the shadows, her hair fluttering in a silent wind. As she begins to approach the rear entrance to the building. Approaching she peaks her head into the building and if clear begins to enter the building.
Taize follows as cautiously as possible.
Or so she hopes.
Upon reaching the doorway, Taize looks around cautiously.
The party enters the derelict old tavern through the recently unboarded back door. Keeya goes first and successfully opens the door without it creaking a warning to whomever is inside. Everyone moves in single file into the building, heading down the hallway towards the doorway with the lights flickering inside. The occasional slight creak of a loose floorboard or rustle as someone kicks some detritus on the floor makes everyone stop momentarily, hearts pounding loudly in their ears, and holding their breath to keep from making the slightest noise, while watching the flickering light for any sign that its owner heard the noise.
You slowly move past a few doors on either side of the hallway leading into pitch black interior rooms with no windows. You all peer into the darkness, some with more acuity than others, but don't see anything except piles of old, broken furniture and the occasional scurrying rat.
As Talon and K'nyaz pass in front of one of the doors, Taize hears, through a large gap between the wall planks into the side room, the slightest noise, possibly a voice muttering at the threshold of audibility and has just enough lucky reaction and wherewithal to call out, "Watch out to your right," as a humanoid figure appears out of thin air amongst the wrecked furniture in the midst of casting a spell and momentarily later, a giant rat drops into the party from a large gap in the ceiling boards.
Round 1:
Initiatives:
Rat:
Dark Figure:
Keeya:
Talon:
K'nyaz:
Taize:
Order: Dark Figure, Talon, Taize, Keeya, Rat, and K'nyaz.
The Dark Figure finishes casting his spell and, due to everyone's having adjusted to the dark, a blindingly bright flood of colors spew from his open hands washing over the party and through the large gaps between the wall planks.
Will DC: 15
Keeya Will:
Talon Will:
K'nyaz Will:
Taize Will:
The dazzling lights overwhelm you and you slump to the ground unconscious.
Unconscious 2d4 rounds
Keeya Will:
Talon Will:
K'nyaz Will:
Taize Will:
He cackles merrily as he rushes to the party and slips pre-tied slipknots around everyone's hands and ankles. As you wake up and your head slowly stops pounding and your vision returns you see a thin man with a weak chin and a ratty, self-inflicted haircut. He wears once-fine noble's clothing that appears to have been worn for weeks and carries a wickedly curved dagger. You smell and see the giant rat sniffing around you and when it's twitching nose looms in your face you semll awful rat breath.
The capering figure sees you all return to consciousness and laughs, "Ahhh, my own pet Pathfinders, you are going to make a fine present." He chuckles and dry washes his hands as he gathers some of his things, "My rat will go tell my benefactors I have you all wrapped up nice and neat. Don't worry, you won't have to wait long, they should be here soon." He hands a note to his rat, who takes it in its mouth and scurries out a large hole in the wall onto the street outside.
"oooow..." Keeya says, struggling against her bindings barely conscious.
"Did we get bad touched? Who... Who are you?"
Keeya begins attempting to wiggle out of her bindings. Using the Darkness and her training to hide her attempt.
Even if he can't see me its going to take at least a minute to get out of these bindings.. and then what? hes a mage I am sure of it, that... rat is that a familiar? What did he hit us wi--- right, Color Spray, it had to be Color Spray. And we all went down. I need time, Maybe I can get him monologuing
It was rather insulting, to be perfectly honest. Here Talon had planned out things for the best possible way of getting the jump on someone - and yet he hadn't planned on wizardry. Blinking the spots out of his eyes, he glances around, noting the three dark lumps around him - the rest of their merry band, it seemed. Their captor cackling at them gleefully, managing to get the drop on all of them at once. It was positively insulting, this crazed man capturing all of them.
"Your benefactors?" Talon speaks up, trying to get him to focus on him - he really hoped that the others were better at slipping knots than he was. "Who the hell are you? What are you planning on doing with us?" He demanded, glaring at him. "You think that you'll get away with this? When I get free, I'm going to choke you with your own damn rat," The warrior growled, visibly struggling with his bonds.
K'nyaz can't believe they all fell prey to such a simple spell. He doesn't bother with words, trying instead to just look defeated. Meanwhile, however, he maneuvers his tail up towards his hands to try and work the bonds. At the same time he works his claws into the rope itself to cut the rope.
He also looks for signs of Voroan, to try and get his pet to help him. He notices the bird trying to look inconspicuous up in the rafters, not able to have done anything by himself while the others were unconscious.
Good Talons awake.... and I think K'nyaz is stirring too. If they can keep his attention I can get out of these... just need more time. Keeya thought to herself as she began to subtlety wiggle loose of the binds.
Keeya quickly undoes the ropes around her wrists and even subtly loosens the ropes around her ankles, freeing herself, but keeping everything in place so its impossible to tell.
Talon fails to break the ropes around him. His attempt to intimidate the scruffy man doesn't seem to shake him, instead it causes him to respond to Talon and ignore the other's attempts to free themseles.
He chuckles and leans down closer to Talon, "My such a mouth on you. Me? I'm Plutivarch and I'm selling you to a few people who don't like the Pathfinders - they'll pay me handsomely for you four. What they plan to do with you is entirely up to them, but I doubt you'll like the results."
Knowledge (Local) DC 13:
K'nyaz uses his tail and claws to great effect, but the awkward angle and difficulty of doing it behind his back makes it take a while, eventually his hands are free, but the ankles aren't. Plutivarch does not seem to notice K'nyaz's actions.
Oooh, this guy is worth a bit... I think I can do this. Remember your training Keeya.
Keeya grinned to her self in the dark, she slowly and carefully popped one of her daggers and waited for Plutivarch to spend his time taunting Talon.
Keeya violently but gracefully flings the dagger in her hand at the distracted arcanist, there is determination in her eyes.
"Nobody sells Keeya Callec!" she yelled loudly. Wind whipping around her from no where.
Keeya successfully hides the knife until she throws it at Plutivarch. The blade sinks deeply into his side, he clutches at it as he turns to look at Keeya. His face twists in agony and as he sees Keeya moving to attack again, his eyes go wide in fear.
He drops to his knees, covers his head with his other arm, and begins to plead, "I give up! Pleeeease don't harm me again!" He whimpers and cringes.
As the dust settles, taize says "Anyone need healed?"
Talon mentally praises the quick actions of his colleague, her sneak attack causing the crazy man to surrender immediately. He was very glad that Keeya managed to resolve this quickly, but he spoke hastily to her before she took any other actions. "Don't kill him yet. He may have useful info. Right now, we need to get free, bind him, and set up for an ambush against his colleagues, quickly - and don't forget to gag him as well," He instructs her.
Talon stands and grabs his two-bladed sword, unsheathing it and pointing the tip of it at the cowering wizard. "You so much as breathe wrong in our custody, and I will snap your fingers, one by one, so you'll never cast a spell again," He warned the man, before turning to the others. An empty threat, but he didn't have to know that.
"Keeya, scout the rest of the building, quickly. Exits and entrances. Kay, I hope you have a similar spell like that flash he used on us. If not, whatever you do have that'll give us a tactical edge, be ready to cast it. Taize," He turned to the blue-skinned woman, before pausing, knowing little about her actual abilities. "First, check what this Plutivarch guy has on him. Second, it would be helpful to know exactly what kind of powers you have. Anything that will hit a group of enemies without causing any damage to us, even hindering them, will be very useful. It would be good if we could take some of them in alive, but I doubt that will be possible."
Talon will then look for that rat, ready to capture it and stuff it into a sack so he can make due on his previous promise to feed it to the wizard should he get uppity.
"My abilities are mainly clerical. As a Divine Channeler of Gozreh's power I can strike with both lightning and storm, however, currently I can only target one opponent at a time."