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D. is losing his patience, as the man dismisses the crisis and, staying slightly behind the others, dons his combat mask.
He steps forward, focusing his kinetic grip on the man's vest, and lifts him 10ft up into the air.
"I find your lack of concern disturbing. The city is in chaos, with an undead army marching into the city. If many die this day, there are bound to be spirits blaming their death upon those who did not rise up when they could have, resulting in haunting for the rest of your haughty lives."
"Now, would you prefer to aid the city, and be considered an example of 'courage' and duty, or shall you be branded a coward, haunted by vengeful spirits and a broken reputation?"
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"Auughhh!" The man cries as D lifts him up. "Put me down, at once, or I will call the guards!" he demands.
As D sets him down, he fixes the wrinkles in his vest and checks his face in a mirror. "You have made a good point, I will give you that. But I am still not entirely convinced. Indeed, our reputation is as important to us as our lives are, but if being a coward means staying alive, then perhaps it is worth being practical about this." He sits back down on his chair and throws his legs up.
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Gallix stands toward the back, leaning on a side table in the Arapador sitting room. When he sees the man obviously ruffled by D's scare tactics, he lazily stands up and strides toward the heavy-set nobleman. "You know," he says, pulling a cigarette from his chest pocket and twirling it in his fingers, "Before I was a Pathfinder, I spent a long time traveling around competing in fighting arenas. I did alright for myself, but that was a hard, hard life. Now that I've found my way into this little group here, though, I see the real value in defending what you've attained, because I've seen enough instances where it could be taken away, just like that." He snaps his fingers, and lights the end of his cigarette, which he places between his lips.
"Now, I understand the importance of enjoying the luxuries one has earned, but I, for one, am not about to be cowed into leaning on those luxuries when something has come that could take it all away. How about you, Arapador? Will you be cowed by some undead, which we're fully prepared to deal with, or will you take the bull by the horns and defend this city?"
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"Take the bull by the horns..." The man mumbles to himself.
'Cowed?' Does he know?
He stands up from his chair. "If they really are coming here next, then it's clear what we need to do. We are not staying. Guards! You are to join forces with Absalom's at once!" The man shouts out. "The undead are coming, so we are going to take the fight to them first! Go on, join forces and stop them before they can even get close to the Petals District! Grab the bull by the horns!" The man excitedly jumps and claps his hands at the same time. Seems you really got through to him.
"And for us to go down as Absalom's saviors... Oh, it is too much to pass up. Indeed, this is a glorious day! I, for one, see this invasion as a blessing!"
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As the group leaves the estate, Stali comes up next to D and tells him “Please never again do something like that in my presence. It was rude and disrespectful of the host.”
He then accelerates his pace as he says “I will ask Alseta’s forgiveness for my small part in what you did.”
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The Caperinas live in a gothic-styled mansion with towering walls and dark, pitched masonry. The doors are flanked by gargoyle statues, but the inside is much less oppressive, with sprawling marble staircases that are well-lit with torchlight and adequate greenery flanking the entryway.
The family all have narrow eyes and prominent cheekbones, and Annalia Caperina, the head of the family, stands at the center of the room holding her Chelish ragdoll cat in her arms. "Perhaps you are visitors to our humble estate, or perhaps you are not. Perhaps you wish to help us? Perhaps you wish to stop us. Perhaps the undead have taken on disguises." She giggles. "What is it?"
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Stali may not have liked what you did, but the player thought it was great.
D. pays no mind to the glare, that the upset Stali throws at him.
Later when the tengu speaks to him, he calmly replies...
"That depends on the perspective.
While i can agree that my actions were.... shall i say, -direct-, they got through to him. The importance of the city's situation is greater than the ego of that man."
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Mr Peppers heads inside, trailing the others as he stops to admire the architecture a bit. Ahh yes, just the adequate amount of greenery. Perfect. He continues on to approve of the choice of flooring but quickly looks on the dirty torch light with distaste. Torches? Ashe and soot around these beautiful marble floors? Have they not heard of magical light?
He quickens his steps and lengthens his stride to catch back up.
He spies a small necklace with Asmodean symbols around her neck, drawing his attention to her cleavage. "I see you hold Asmodeus in very high regard Ms Caperina, keeping him in a place so close to your heart. I've always heard your family renunciated the dark lord publicly... what's changed that view of late?" The rich women always have the finest cleavage. Is it the stylish clothing or perhaps just the magically augmented assets that make that the case?
He tries his best to be polite with a hint of feistiness, hopefully not too much."Also, may I be one to point out that perhaps permanent magical torches or lights would better keep the shine and polish of those beautiful floors."
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Frustrated, Stali snaps “It has nothing to do with cowardance!”
He shakes himself, allowing his feathers to settle. “What D did in the eyes of Alseta would be about like bringing an undead abomination to a party hosted by a devout Pharasma worshipper. It is barbaric and rude, a guest attacking the host like that! It is not how one responds to a hosts invitation.”
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Annalia nearly drops her kitten as Peppers notices the amulet. She grabs it in her hand at the same time she leans forward to whisper to Mr. Peppers. "What are you doing?! You'll have them all notice me!" A closer examination reveals none of her family members also standing in the room are wearing anything Asmodeus-related.
Clearing her throat, Annalia continues petting her cat as she stares ahead. "Perhaps there's a coming invasion, and perhaps we're here to stay safe. I do appreciate the tips though. Perhaps the robed one is an interior decorator or something?"
She looks down at Stali, dusting her fur-coated hand in his direction. "Perhaps the winged one ought to work on his manners."
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Sirettis hears the argument over D's methods and shrugs. "Hospitality tends to disappear when a zombie horde is clawing at your front door. I don't have time to entertain a merchant family with illusions of grandeur."
Sirettis takes a look around the Caperina estate.
She doesn't see much, but Mr. Peppers mentions the necklace. At least her other family members aren't so foolish.
"Absalom endures a raid"
"For the undead are not afraid."
"Assist the High Council and its defense"
"And the Pathfinder Society will profess:"
"The Caperinas, in glory and fame are made."
Sirettis takes a curtsy and drops her mike pauses for a response.
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"Not bad at all," Annalia bends to put her cat down, and perhaps give Mr. Peppers a better look. "Perhaps you are just as skilled in word play as I. Perhaps I will rally my guards to the cause here. Why yes, perhaps I will. Go on, guards," she points to the group of armed men at the front doors. "Defend Absalom. We'll be right behind you." The rest of the family head upstairs to get their things and prepare to depart the mansion.
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Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam is reading a missive as you arrive. Reading over his shoulder is the Varisian entrepreneur and second-in command, Guaril Karela. al'Hakam briefs you:
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the recent acts of sabotage. Among the undead saboteurs’ first targets was one of the First Guards’ main armories, and without proper equipment, Absalom’s defenders are at a disadvantage. I’ve identified the best source of replacements for the Siege Lord: the city’s arms dealers, who have proven quite unhelpful. According to our informants, many weapon merchants are meeting in secret, planning to hide their wares so that they can sell them at usurious prices. The Siege Lord has deputized us to free up those weapons for use, and I want you to see that it happens. I’ll let you decide whether you want to negotiate with them or cow them into following the Siege Lord’s orders and accepting his compensation."
Guaril Karela chimes in. "We have a document here that proves you have the Siege Lord’s backing. What my colleague has not mentioned is that this parchment also authorizes you to kick in the door and seize the wares if necessary—a practice that is more becoming of common thieves, which,” he clears his throat suggestively, “is a practice of which no court would ever find us guilty. Thankfully we have the city’s blessing. In the interest of maintaining our neighbors’ ongoing goodwill, though, avoid destroying the merchandise or harming witnesses.” Aaqir al’Hakam shoots Guaril Karela a concerned look, to which the Varisian amends, “Or bystanders,” before mischievously curling his moustache around one finger.
Guaril Karela provides you with the document and directions to the secret meeting of merchants in the Docks District.
The document is a written purchase order by which the city of Absalom would pay a fair price for a large number of weapons, failing which the Siege Lord authorizes seizure of enough goods for the city’s defense.
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Mr Peppers smiles at Ms Annalia as she bends over to drop her cat. "A fine animal. I prefer mine a little more feisty and with much less fur..."
"Sirettis is a very accomplished wordsmith. Amongst other things. Sometimes thought it puts you right to sleep if you aren't careful."
He gives her one last look as they leave and hollers back "Once this settled look me up if you want me to measure your drapes." He walks out with purpose towards their next mission.
"Ahh Capitalism at its 'best'." Mutters tall, dark and annoyed. "We'll get the weaponry if you've got a method to carry it all. I can assure you that I'm no beast of burden and the others are well oiled fighting machines not mules."
He nods along as they make it clear to not harm anyone "So you're asking me to avoid fireball. I think I can handle that request.. this time." He cracks a smile, a small one. Damn, I'm not prepared to use nonlethal means today... think...
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Sirettis gives Mister Peppers a curious glance. "Have you danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? Be wary of that woman, Mister Peppers."
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Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam gives his instructions and Sirettis thinks carefully. "If we are looking for nonviolent means of access, I can disguise myself, charm people and put them to sleep. I will follow your lead."
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Stali looks at the address of the meeting. “Any chance we can get there before the merchants do?”
“I would prefer a non-violent resolution, but we should plan for things going badly. It would be nice if we could sneak into the area before you make the demands,”
He pats his sap.
“Let’s go check out the location.”
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"It is likely the meeting has already begun," Karela responds.
Making for the Docks District, you find the specific location - from your view outside, the house appears lavishly decorated. You hear a heated argument from where you stand at the front doors, and looking inside, the home is packed with merchants and their bodyguards.
"I don't care if times are tough. If I don't make good enough cut on this last shipment, I won't be able to buy my daughter birthday gifts!" A turban-wearing merchant pleads.
"If you don't hand over the weapons, you won't have a daughter! We need to honor the Siege Lord's bid!" A younger, dwarven merchant replies.
The bodyguards eye the crowded meeting nervously.
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"Everyone, please. We must come to terms, quickly and efficiently." Sirettis kicks down the door politely opens the door, ready to negotiate.
"Please be reasonable. What is the value of weapons if they are not used for battle?"
"Absalom is a proud nation, and has never fallen to a siege before because brave people like you were willing to lend a hand when trouble arose."
"The Siege Lords in particular knows about trading with weapon manufacturers and rewards them handsomely for their efforts."
"Are there any questions?" Sirettis tries to endure their many annoying queries, but they are wearing her patience...
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Gesturing in the direction of the dwarven merchant, Stali says “Some of you have already realized that brave warriors need proper weapons. I urge you to think long term like they are.”
“Are you really so greedy that you would insist on a few extra coins now when it means people would avoid buying from you in the future, or would you rather be known as honest merchants that didn’t hesitate to provide the needed merchandise and did so at a fair value?”
“Loyal customers make for repeat business and long term profitability.”
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Agreeing with the direction the discussions are going Mr Peppers joins in on the conversation. His tact in mediating the conversations are evident, even though he doesn't always choose this role. "Listen to the wisdom you all know we bring to the situation."
He second's Sirettis's history lesson "You've been outside the walls of the city. The reminders of failed sieges are everywhere. Toppled towers, derelict ships, vast graveyards of defeated soldiers!"
"The military commander in charge is a retired soldier. He knows what to do here. This isn't a political appointment, a neophyte, nor a private in the town guard."
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"We are here to protect everyone in this city. Let us speak with them before threatening to draw blood." he follows Spirit into the meeting and then watches as she begins to negotiate with the merchants.
"We have a common threat and hiding your stock so that you can increase the coins filling your coffer would be a grave decision. It is times like these when we must act on the benefit of everyone rather than only ourselves. And this is not to say you will not be fairly compensated for what you can provide to the Siege Lord and the people that will defend the city."
"For centuries, nations have attempted to besiege the city attempting to bring Absalom to its knees. Yet it has never fallen, one only needs to look towards the Isle of Kortos to see what litters it plains."
"Our situation needs the arms that you can provide that is obvious and without your aid I am not certain if we can fight off the undead threat without your aid."
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The arms dealers eye Sirettis, Stali, and Mr. Peppers suspiciously. "If we give up our weapons to the Siege Lord, what's to stop every other town and village with any sort of crime or goblin problem from asking us the same sort of deal?!" The merchant complains, but several of the others look convinced already. The arms dealers overwhelm Sirettis and Uesugi with annoying questions, but they press on.
"I suppose as a merchant, you understand what I mean," the turban-wearer nods at Stali. "Arms dealers or not, we are as honest as our deals are fair. And I suppose serving the Siege Lord will only make us look better, in the end."
The merchants discuss it over for a while, then get up from their tables and move to a far corner, where a set of crates filled with weapons are hidden underneath a tarp. "Come on, get unpacking. We will support the Siege Lord. His offer was fair enough, I suppose, and I hope this goes a way to building a lasting relationship with Absalom."
One of the merchants - the dwarven fellow from earlier - who didn’t support the plan to hide weapons approaches you. "To be honest, there's more to this than greed. In the past few weeks, a woman had been spreading rumors about falling prices, which encouraged weapon merchants to hide their wares to build scarcity. I used my contacts to find out more about the mysterious woman, and I was able to discover her name: Muhlia Al-Jakri"
You recognize this name. Muhlia Al-Jakri operated as a Pathfinder Society faction leader for several years before disavowing the Society in a scandalous event that left one of her colleagues dead.
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"Muhlia Al-Jakri. Ah yes, she was involved in the Dalsine Affair, was she not? Too many Pathfinders fell at the hand at that lord." Sirettis shudders a bit, as if she felt the pain a thousand Pathfinders.
She smiles when Gallix mentions something. "Do not worry, Mister Gallix. I know your abilities will come in handy soon. Besides, it is the least I can do for helping the Sovereign Court first."
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Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin is busily receiving reports and dispatching teams from near the gates of the Grand Lodge. He meets you there.
"We have received some troubling news from the Puddles. The Muckruckers—a volunteer force of guards watching over the district—have reported that Fort Tempest has suddenly fallen silent, and a strange black flag is flying over the fort. Despite the Muckruckers’ concerns and observations, nobody has stepped up to investigate what’s happened. I suspect that while most of Absalom has been watching the Cairnlands to the north, an enemy force has silently taken over the secondary fort that oversees the Puddles district. Whatever has happened in the fort, the First Guard can’t spare forces to look into it."
"Your job is to lead the Muckruckers into the fort, find out what’s happened, and provide aid as necessary. They look up to you as heroes; don’t let them down!"
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"Well of course they look up to us," Gallix says with his chest puffed out. "If I haven't shared a drink and a tale with half of the Muckruckers' forces, then you can call me a halfling!"
He turns to his companions and gives Peppers "the signal". "Alright, team, the Red Arm has been called upon to lead this city's forces to retake this fort. And we're not gonna let 'em down, are we? Hell no! We've been to half a dozen different planes, fought off the servants of tyrant gods and demon lords, and we're not about to stop now! Cause we're the RED ARM OF ABSALOM! Let's do this! Uesugi, raise that beautiful banner of yours! To the PUDDLES!"
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Stali nods his agreement when Gallix gives his call to the Puddles.
As they approach the area near Fort Tempest, Stali draws his weapon.
“If enemies have taken over the fortress, it might be worth scouting before they become aware of us.”
Looking towards Gallix, he asks “Do you have the spell that allows whispered communication?” He seems to be some sort of Bard, and many of them have it.
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“There was something weird about them when we fought. I wonder if that helped them take the fortress?”
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You find the Muckruckers, a group of militia who wear ill-fitting helmets, hold blunted swords and carry their own tattered Muckruckers flag, not far from Fort Tempest.
"Hey, I've heard of you guys. The Red Arm of Absalom?! I never thought I'd get to fight with you!" The smallest of the bunch; a pale, toothy gnome by the name of Spackle smiles. "This is gonna be great, huh guys? Come on, let's do it, just like The Red Arm would!"
The eager group - their shirts poking through obvious holes in the armor - accompany you to the fort. Except for a tattered black flag waving over the fort, nothing looks out of place as you catch a view of the building.
But as you get closer, you're suddenly overtaken by enemy fire! Dozens of hidden Black Echelon enemies within the fort open fire with ballistae and catapults upon your group!
"AhhhhHhh!! Help us, Red Arm! They're shooting!" The Muckruckers cower.
Instead of rolling, a PC can use a spell or ability that seems especially appropriate to the situation, such as casting levitate to get over the wall. This grants the highest check result a +2 or +4 bonus (depending on how effective the action was). The PC’s movement speed doesn’t affect the result because leaving the Muckruckers behind only
makes them easier targets. Any PC who uses invisibility, teleportation magic, or similar abilities that prevent the Black Echelon operatives from targeting them takes no damage in this encounter, but such PCs cannot help the others with their rolls. If all PCs use such spells or abilities, the inexperienced Muckruckers are obliterated by enemy fire because the PCs weren’t there to lead them. For the purpose of determining how many casualties the Muckruckers take, the PCs count as having failed all their checks.