The tentacled monster holds it's grip on Nat...
Nat can feel the poison flowing in her veins as the thing bites down hard on her leg.
There is no sign currently of the other devilfish in the water... but that doesn't mean it's not there...
PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Natulcien-27 -1str
Li Shou -8
Etienne
-----------------
Devilfish A -14
Devilfish B -26
-------------------
Brady
Nat struggles for a moment and jams and alchemist fire into it's gullet. The resounding "BOOM"! inside it makes the thing shriek with pain and release Nat for just a moment, it reaches out to latch again, only to find Nat has been replaced by a VERY angry piggy.
The Boar rips into the beast, eviscerating it and opening a great wound it it's stomach, causing it to twitch and spasm and sink down beneath the waves...
That's one of them... WHERE IS THE OTHER ONE!? EVERYONE OUT OF THE WATER!
PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Natulcien-27 -1str
Li Shou -8
Etienne
-----------------
Devilfish B -26
-------------------
Brady
Nat grabs onto the rope with one arm, and with squealy in the other as she's yanked aborde by her friends just as a dark shape floats in the blood below, tentacles reaching out towards her, but instead grabbing onto the bodies she left behind. Li helps support her as they are pulled over the edge. Guaril, finally getting a hold of his stomach, waves them over to a boat he has hidden inside.
Quick! Let's get out of here before that thing decides it wants fresher meat!
Guaril helps row back, putting his back into it as much as anyone else. Once they reach shore, he leans against a post at the warf, wincing in pain.
“Every investment is a gamble, and it seems this paid off— barely. I assume that sly fox Aaqir told you about the plan, yes? Let your enemies see you in a moment of weakness, allow them to strike and taste blood, then lure them toward a trap while they think they’re winning. I, ah,” he motions noncommittally towards the blood running down his body from his numerous wounds.
“think I may have let them taste too much blood tonight. I'm sorry about your friends, You can imagine how thrilled Uncle Guaril is that a few of his heavily armed friends happened to be in the neighborhood in his time of need,” he remarks while flashing a knowing smile.
“Speaking of deals and mutual backscratching, you should know that Aaqir and I have nearly finished one to help us perform the other. I got a little too ambitious in Varisia and made a few enemies we didn’t intend to unleash, and that’s made staying in business as we are… less than wise. Fortunately, Aaqir’s looking for talent like ours, and I’m not really in a position to say no. “That’s not to say I’m breaking up the family business—hardly the case. This is just a mutually beneficial marriage of two honest enterprises in which everyone gets a juicy cut—so long as we play nice with our proverbial in-laws. Be prepared to be even
more upstanding than usual, but be ready to do things the old fashioned way. This is the start of something big.”
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Sorry. SORRY? They gave their lives for you, you... you... GRRR!" Nat flexes her fists, the aspect of Bullish strength making her temper stronger, too. "You better send their families something that reflects what your life is worth to you. If they have families. Holy Ketephys, I barely even know their names... I'm not even sure 'Magus' was his name, it might have just been a title... And this was all a ploy, a strategem... You deserve to be in that monster's belly, not Grynt, not Magus. But you're alive, and they're not. So f~$@ing be it."
Nat's nostrils flare, and she turns away from him and puts her back into rowing the boat.
|
Brady shares a lot of Nat's frustration and anger, though he doesn't voice it. Aaqir is the head of my faction. He wouldn't have sent me here if it weren't worthwhile. We all know, as Pathfinders, that there's risk. Too much risk here, maybe? But I have to see it through.
Gauril gets a severe cold shoulder from the brawler for the rest of the return trip, however.
Guaril almost has the wherewithal to look ashamed. Almost.
Ah, Sorry Niece, but these things happen in this kinda life.
He winces as he tries to stand.
Trust me, those blood seeping monstrosities where NOT part of the plan... and their family will be compensated the best I can.
His mustache face frowns a bit.
Sadly, I can't bring them back... even when we had all the money in the world, that was a tall order, and now that the family is buying our way out of our debt by combining with Aaqir... all I can do is promise that their families will be taken care of. Any next of kin will be in the pathfinder registrar.
He shakes his head again and is back to his chipper and slightly slimy self.
Let's go.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Li frowns and bows to the ocean where Pathfinders have died. In a surprisingly deep and mournful voice he says:
"Sea recedes from beach
Tsunami out of nowhere
Too many deceased."
A pause, another bow. He is silent on the return.
Upon arriving onshore, Li insists on finding fresh water and ritually cleaning his face and hands, quietly blessing the kami of the water for helping him remain pure.
After Guaril is returned, everyone gets the chance to find some solstice, and are promised that they would be left alone....
but when has Lady Morilla ever let something like that stop her?
You all receive a message to meet her on the last day of the festivities at a local tea house. When you enter, she holds up her hand.
I have heard about what happened. I want to extend my condolences first and foremost. Losing team members is the hardest thing about being a pathfinder. That being said, I have a mission for you... and a safe one for once.
She gives a sad smile and continues.
“Nearly a year ago, I and several of my best agents began assembling a grand Army of Exploration to do battle in the Worldwound and inspire others to do the same. Admittedly, we also aimed to restore some of Taldor’s lost glory, if its leaders would show initiative by funding their own crusaders. Most of my peers continued to sit idly and mock our efforts, yet now that the army has proven victorious, these critics are racing to claim that they were key contributors.
She sets her tea down and continues...
“Several of Grand Prince Stavian’s loudest sycophants— including the boorish Lord Minovitas—are in Absalom for the dedication of ‘The Opparan Trace Commission,’ which is a new guildhall intended to host Taldan business and is scheduled to open tomorrow afternoon. One of my agents serves as an aide to Lord Minovitas, and he reports that the lord commissioned the celebrated Varisian painter Amya Illanaf to create a
series of portraits to hang in the grand hall.
She sighs deeply.
I have since learned that these are entitled ‘The Heroes of the Worldwound.’ The one my agent chanced to see portrayed that portly hound Lord Minovitas in pristine battle regalia with his foot planted on a
dead fiend, as though he had slain it himself— all while Iomedae sings his praises in the background!
She puts her face in her hand.
“We cannot afford to let Absalom see these, for they would perpetuate the stereotype that Taldor is a land of foppish aristocrats dedicated to their own grandiose delusions. If we let this happen, we would reward the ineptitude and indolence so common in Taldor’s upper class. We would also surrender much of the credit we are due.
She takes her hand away and grins mischievously.
“So, I have decided to make arrangements to sabotage the portraits, which Lord Minovitas is keeping covered until they are unveiled to the public. If you can get to the paintings first, you might secretly deface or alter them to embarrass Lord Minovitas and send a so message to other Taldan nobles who would do the same. At present, the art waits in a warehouse in the Wise Quarter. Find a way in, do what you must, and try to avoid hurting innocents or being caught in the act, or getting hurt yourself; we’re trying to help Taldor, not start a civil war.”
She stands and waves to them to follow her into a back room. There, she lays out several scrolls, and motions to two canvas paintings.
If worse comes to worse, there are 3 scrolls of "Erase" here that would scrub the painting clean. I'd prefer to do better than defacing them though... which is why I had these made, if a bit hastily.
One is a fairly realistic depiction of Lady Morilla mustering soldiers, nothing overdone.
The other however, shows the team killing demons in the world wound. Front and center is Grynt and "Magus", looking appropriately battle weary but determined. Whoever painted it obviously didn't know them personally, because they look far more handsome and regal in the portrait, but it is a fitting tribute to the fallen.
If you can pull it off, swap out his trash with these. Your friends deserve to have a place of honor in the halls for their sacrifice. As for the third painting... I have this scroll of "Fabricate" and a painting set if you wanna get creative. I also have this silver raven... when your finished, let me know and I'll set things in motion.
Knowledge (local)15+:
the Wise Quarter and Foreign Quarter, so it contains a
wide variety of goods. Prospective clients visit often to
rent out space or order shipments of goods, which often
includes a tour of the facility.
Knowledge (local )20+:
to transport six flat crates from the warehouse, but they
are yet to arrive at the guildhall. His lordship sent word
that he intends to dispatch replacements soon to retrieve
his possessions.
Knowledge (local)25+:
owner is late in paying his employees’ wages—much to
the workers’ chagrin.
|
|
Li isn't actually the greatest talker, but he is a marvelous judge of character and can usually intuit just the right things to say.
After a few hours, Li knows what he needs to know.
"It seems The warehouse in question helps to stock shops in the Wise Quarter and Foreign Quarter, so it contains a wide variety of goods. Prospective clients visit often to rent out space or order shipments of goods, which often includes a tour of the facility."
"Lord Minovitas sent for a handful of Taldan guards to transport six flat crates from the warehouse, but they are yet to arrive at the guildhall. His lordship sent word that he intends to dispatch replacements soon to retrieve his possessions. We should be those replacements."
"Finally, I've learned that Business has been slow for the warehouse, and the owner is late in paying his employees’ wages—much to the workers’ chagrin. We can use that to our advantage."
|
|
"That seems a good way to go. What plays to our strengths? You are all impressive warriors, and I'm immodest enough to say I'm quite learned, but neither of those skills seems to be of much use here. So payment that leverages discontent might be prudent rather than trying to pretend to be someone else."
"We also a need a plan for these paintings. I might be able to harness the power of these erase scrolls, but if someone is more creative than me . . . and I think at the very least we should use the painting provided of Grynt and Magus.
I could also conduct a Harrow reading to try and divine the best course of action."
Elodien flips over some cards but the harrow are being coy today and not letting him know much.
The team doesn't have much trouble arriving at the warehouse.... convincing the workers will require some sweet talking, and they will be unwilling to help if the supervisor is looking over them the entire time...
|
|
"I can certainly tell the supervisor his auras are out of alignment and that a harrow reading might help him. That is one way we could distract him. We should probably have someone parlay with him, perhaps Brady given his merchant experience, and Li can talk with workers while I distract the supervisor with a . . . overly dramatic reading."
|
|
"I could easily pose as another merchant who is interested in contracting with this warehouse for storage. Though I've mostly been employed as a caravan guard, I've seen these negotiations often enough. I know what looks and sounds right." Brady's tough demeanor already begins to take on a more professional attitude.
"Etienne, you could be my advisor. After wasting his time on the details of the contract, I could say I never retain business services without a favorable Harrow reading. You then make the Harrow reading take as long as possible, and ultimately unfavorable."
"That should give Li plenty of time to get things done with the workers."
"Nat, that doesn't leave much for you to do; you and Squealy can, of course, keep an eye out for trouble. Someone on the lookout, ready to respond, is always useful. Unless, of course, you see some other task for yourself?"
|
|
Brady, with Etienne in tow, approaches the supervisor. "Hello, are you in charge here? I'm an importer, and I'm looking to establish a new branch of my business here. Mostly imports from the Mwangi and Kaava lands, southern Garund, you know. I'll need a warehouse, of course, and I was wondering if we could discuss my enlisting your services. Could you perhaps give me a tour, and then find us a quiet place where we could speak?"
The supervisor blinks and shouts to his men.
Jaque! Your in charge! I want those pallets moved in before lunch!
He then smiles.
Gordon, at your service sir. Why don't you follow me, and I'll show you what's available? We can handle plenty of space... and we can speak in my office after...
He leads Brady and Etinne away inside...
-------------------
OUTSIDE
-------------------
The one name Jaque gives him a foul look and turns back.
You guys heard the boss! Come on!
It's clear by his tone that his heart isn't in it. The men start to get back to work when one of them looks at the remaining team.
Ain't ya goin with your boss?
----------------
INSIDE
----------------
The man waves his hands showing off the multistory warehouse.
As you can see, we can store almost anything in here to meet your needs. Are you looking at perishables? Non? If there are valuables, I can even hire guards for short stints, such as these fine folks...
He waves at two men who stand near a section.
|
|
Brady notes the guards and crates, happy to have found what they were looking for quickly. He smiles at the guards, and praises the supervisor. "Yes, excellent. I'm hoping to earn business with the Blakros family, and their museum; you know it, right? I would expect to need such protection; there could be items of significant value sometimes."
"These look like very capable guards. Are you equipped to handle... ahh, unexpected... ahh, events? I'll only be trafficking in items of the utmost safety, of course. I'll be ensuring that everything is magically inspected to be certain to be curse-free and all, but it's always best to be safe, you know." He gives Etienne a deliberately knowing glance, building up an air of mystery around the witch.
Of course, in my experience, the Blakros' only traffic in cursed items!
|
|
Etienne follows Brady and the supervisor, remaining a respectful step behind Brady, as would a trusted servant. As they walk, he'll run his finger along a box or door lintel, as if inspecting the cleanliness of the facility, and regardless of what he finds, his reaction will show dissatisfaction. He will remain silent, trying to add to the mystery, until it is time for the Harrow reading.