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Ace's shot ends up in the stack of crates.
Shia looks around in confusion, still unable to hear anything, but continues her tune anyway.
She blows ruthlessly on the instrument as she tries to continue inspiring Bogin, but at this point, even a goblin's singing voice would sound better! Thoroughly annoyed, she marches forward and points towards Begrilda and D.
A pile of slick oil forms on the ground underneath D and Begrilda.
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Mr Peppers watches the battles from his cratey crows nest, looking back and forth from the North to the South. The half elf's tune takes a sudden turn for worse and she quits her flute honking. She begins mouthing the words of a spell and points at D and Begrilda.
"Oh aren't you clever. This is MY realm halfbreed.. not to mention MY spell!" Mr Peppers then proceeds to concentrate, speaking slowly, reversing the movements and words of her spell, attempting to disrupt the end result.
Spell Disruption (Su): The arcanist can temporarily disrupt a spell by expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir and succeeding at a dispel check against the spell, as dispel magic. This ability suppresses a spell effect for a number of rounds equal to the arcanist's Charisma modifier (minimum 1). If the spell affects multiple creatures, this ability only suppresses the spell for one creature. At the end of this duration, the spell resumes and the suppressed rounds do not count against its total duration. This ability can be used on unwilling targets, but the arcanist must succeed at a melee touch attack, and the target may attempt a Will saving throw to negate the effect. This ability has no effect on spells that are instantaneous or have a duration of permanent.
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Begrilda manages to keep her feet, but says something nasty in Dwarven anyway.
When the grease dissipates thanks to Mr. Peppers' arcane talent, she bends down and lays a hand on D's shoulder. "Bolka guide your aim, my foreign friend," she says. She then moves behind the Tien and holds her small shield up in front of her.
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Bishop quickly disengages the Aspis agent's boney grip from his arm and turns his attention north only to see two more agents moving against the others. Mother of a gnoll! Too far. He races towards the agents watching as the one in the back finishes some rhyme and points in the direction of Begrilda and D. Shifting his gaze Bishop watches as D. falls to the ground with the other agent bearing down on him. Making a quick decision he narrows his focus on the elven agent and moves to cut her off from escaping. "That's quite the voice you have there lady. It has a certain magic to it. Like a hyena in heat."
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Ace lines up a shot at Bogin's big, bald head and fires his crossbow. The bolt finds its way through the warehouse and implants itself into Bogin's skull. The braindead monk falls to his knees dead, another notch in the Red Arm of Absalom's victory belt.
Shia looks on in horror. "Um, guys? We must be able to talk this out... Right?" Unable to hear herself, her words are slurred and incomprehensible.
In a last ditch effort, she pulls out her rapier and strikes at Bishop.. but misses horribly.
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Begrilda remains silent as she moves toward the other side of the warehouse where Ace stands with his impressive crossbow trained on the sole remaining Aspis agent. The whole time, she keeps her eyes averted from the woman her allies are so determinedly attacking. Fool of a girl. You might have found mercy if you had laid down your weapons. Poor fool of a girl.
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Magali Delroya arrives back at the warehouse about two hours after the last Aspis agent goes down, accompanied by a few of her contacts. At the same time, a small transport ship sails up to the loading dock and several sailors begin to load it with the crates in a very organized fashion. Delroya stands at the front and examines the damaged door.
"Well, Pathfinders, my contact tells me that you have dealt with the Aspis. And by the looks of it, it was quite the task. Excellent job. You have my sincere thanks. My people have arrived to collect the shipment so that it may be safely destroyed."
She looks at the front loading door, "It's too bad the Kortos' warehouse was damaged, but I take it this wasn't your doing."
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Begrilda frowns for a brief moment as the unknown "contacts" begin loading up the crates. Are these people really here to destroy the Whip, or perhaps to reap the profits themselves?
"Nice to see you again, Miss Delroya. Yes, the Aspis agents have been dealt with. We were certainly glad to help, though some Kortos agents came by earlier and busted up the door there. We wondered, though, if this might become a more long-term arrangement between yourself and the Pathfinder Society. Your insights into the Aspis's dealings gave us the opportunity to stop the trafficking of this loathsome drug. If you could continue to provide such insights when you become aware of particularly harmful acts by the Aspis, then the Society could do its part in stopping them before the damage is done."
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Bishop watches the woman come in accompanied with her men. After remarking about the door Bishop smiles at her, "Seems that the Kortos Consortium were not inclined to us closing and locking the doors. Now that we've been able to perform all these tasks for you without revealing your presence in the matter I would ask you join our ranks Lady Delroya. Venture Captain Vaslin knows that your knowledge would be a great accompaniment to the Society.
You had mentioned that in your letter that the Aspis Consortium showed their morale-less was not what you were looking for. I do believe that the Society can provide you exactly what you are searching for without having to lose who you are. We live by the credo: explore, report and cooperate. Without this we would not have been able to accomplish any this.
What do you say Lady Delroya. The Society opens it's arms to you and welcomes you if you would have it."
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"You said you call nowhere home. We hold that common attitude, you and I." Sirettis takes a step forward, frowning at her rapidly decaying pile of hair. Put a smile on, you need this.
"Where will go now? After you destroy this shipment? You know they will continue making it. They will also trace this back to you, and begin hunting in earnest. It is difficult to keep running, yes?"
"The Pathfinder accepted this vessel's past." Sirettis gestures to herself. "Your actions have shown the Society that you have the courage to stand against malevolence. They have the association and family you may be looking for."
Sirettis speaks honestly, but it's mostly in a monotone. Sincere to her, monotonous to everyone else.
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"Those Aspis agents came ready to do harm, and I fear we couldn't stop them from damaging the warehouse. Look at my head - I'll be ok, but it went rougher than we hoped. Still, the drug is stopped, and I think the Kortos weren't interested in spreading poison either. Really, I applaud your efforts! Someone like you really can help us make a positive difference."
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Begrilda senses Delroya and her agents are acting without any ulterior motives. She is being honest about destroying the shipment.
Delroya looks thoughtful. "You're a little bit presumptuous, but I'll tell you this much: I will be meeting with your venture-captain to settle up my payment. I do have a lot to think about and I've decided I will accompany you on the trip back to Absalom for your debriefing. The Aspis have failed me - and everyone in the Kortos Consortium - and I am glad to be free of them.
"As for the Aspis continuing to create the drug, I believe you've taken care of their main producer. That alone will greatly hinder their efforts, and the Kortos' relationship with them will never be the same now that they know of the Aspis' incompetence. They will have no luck distributing that substance in Diobel any longer."
She watches as the final crate is placed onto the boat.
"Your organization sounds like it's more aligned with my goals and your work here is commendable. Let us make for your ship."
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"I do believe you wanted this back did you not Miss Delroya?" He hands her back her writ from the Lord. "Thanks to some good planning and maybe a little bit of fine acting, the Kortos left us to deal with the Aspis on our own terms, free from any names or decrees. In addition, I'd like to mention that the Kortos may have a broken door but they gained an arcane locked secret entrance, complete with a password. You'll find it written on the back of your writ there. I hope you truly consider what my fellow agents here have offered you, and what I suspect Captain Valsin may also propose."
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Bishop bows to the Lady and accompanies her aboard the ship. "A good choice Lady Delroya. You'll find an interesting group of people but all worthy to the cause."
Bishop sighs to himself Back on this blasted floating prison! Great Redeemer make this trip quick.
Smiling back at the others he makes sure to retrieves his daggers and has a quick look over the fallen Aspis agents for any thing of worth. Might as well make it worthwhile and thinks of the shiny coins and baubles he might find.
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Delroya shows a hint of a smile as Mr. Peppers returns Lord Avid's writ. "For discretion's sake, I am so glad you did not have to make use of this, and I'm sure your venture-captain will say the same. That arcane locked door should prove useful for the Kortos against any potential thieves."
On the Aspis' bodies, Bishop finds mostly mundane items that he's already seen before: a boatload of potions and a few alchemical items.
potions of cure light wounds (2), potions of mage armor (2), potions of magic weapon (2), potions of cure light wounds (2), alchemist’s fire, sunrod, tanglefoot bag, thunderstone, potions of cure light wounds (2), healer’s kit, smokestick (2), potion of cure light wounds, acid (2), smokestick, tanglefoot bag
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You head back through Diobel and towards the Sixwing Drake. Captain Zendrani is roused from her sleep when you enter. She yawns, congratulates you on your success and is especially happy that Delroya has joined you, then instructs her shipmates to set sail.
After spending the rest of the night , you arrive back in Absalom as the sun rises to be greeted by Venture-Captain Valsin. He's delightfully surprised that Delroya has accompanied you.
"Pathfinders! Welcome back. And to you, Delroya. Thank you for coming here." He passes her a small pouch of gold coins. "I trust this means you were successful in your tasks?" She nods, but stays towards the back of the group, content with listening to your discussion.
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After the team loads the final items, D. observed whatever dealings Delroya was doing. Observe and learn any subtlefurge he could, of course, he would still be more imposing than charming.
In the evening, he relaxes outside, watching the water and the sky.
The next day, when the team is at the VC's office, and they are asked what happened, he merely nods.
"Yes. There were some unsavory factors to deal with, but it's likely the Aspis and Kortos will be in each other's hair for the time to come."
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Sirettis spends the night on the open deck, gazing at the stars. She enjoys the wind through her hair.
In the morning, she greets the Venture-Captain. "The drugs have been destroyed, as Delroya's agents have performed. Laszo and his notes were destroyed and Kortos/Aspis relations have been devastated. It seems successful from my point of view, but Delroya can decide."