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Artemis
Opening the boxes you are suprised when you open the second of the boxes. You spot immaticulate exotic fruit. Everything seems to be artificially cooled to keep the food fresh.
The main traffic has been from the boat to the shore where all the crates are stacked. A smaller trail leads to the entrance leading west.
No tracks are seen going to the stairs and north.
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Chanix quietly mentions to those whom are close to the western cave mouth
"This fruit is still fresh and surprisingly cool."
Suspicious of the northern passage unsheathes a dagger and his rapier.
"It's apparent that the crew has moved west. That northern passage has my curiosity though. Rescuing the scholar is foremost important though."
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Toren grins to himself as he has to jog to catch up and retake his position in the lead with Markus. Maybe now I can finally pay off some of my debts... he thinks to himself, oops, better make sure I help keep me friends alive an' kickin'
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The tunnel runs for 20 feet west and opens up into a large chamber.
Three sets of wooden stocks hang from the northern wall of this room, pitons chaining the devices to the rock. Light flickers into the room from the water out in the cavern's main
chamber to the west, and small holes in the ceiling act as skylights, ensuring that the room needs no torches to light it during the day. Several natural stone columns break up the center of the cavern, sending shafts of shadow across the dimly-lit chamber.
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A few photos to show Viper Cove:
You carefully move closer. Chanix and Tal raise their hands to stop you moving in as they seem to have heard some shuffling feet.
A woman steps half way sideways from behind one of the rock pillars - careful to keep her cover. She has an old human slumped in front of her. Clearly a prisoner. Two humans - seemingly her thugs - step left and right to give her cover.
"Well - doesn't this look like a rescue party. Not to disappoint you - but you better let me go or I will kill this scholar.
She has her cutlass rested on the throat of the bound prisoner.
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Artemis raises his hands up high and makes his way to the front of the group. As he walks by Chanix he jests quietly.
"After this is over I am going to have to teach you how to speak with women."
When he reaches the front of the line he speaks directly to the woman.
"Good day miss. I believe we are getting off on the wrong foot here. My name is Artemis, and I'd like to have a little chat with you about this whole scholar business, as I am one myself."
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Toren scratches at his beard looking up slightly, wondering, Why was she takin' em in tha first place? Why's she so apt to let him go now? Hmph...I don't trust it, she's got somethin' up 'er sleeve.
He lowers and rests his shield on the ground and angled to look non-threatening and looks back and forth between the lady, Artemis, and Chanix.
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"The way I see it....you're not in as good of a bargaining position as you would like us to believe. There is a reason that scholar is still alive...my guess is that your employer needs to know that something he knows. That tells me two things; that you have no intention of killing him and that you have no intention of letting him go once you get to your ship.
Now me? I don't care if he lives or dies. No offense to you personally sir...I'm sure you're a wonderful person and obviously very smart. Come to think of if...I don't care if the three of you live or die either. What I do care about is that there are four people in this room that have information that we need for our employer; and I don't intend to let anyone leave this place until we have it.
So while I would love to do this little dance with you for a while longer; the fact is that I left a very important hat on a hook many miles from here and I'm starting to worry that it won't be there by the time I get back. So the deal is that we ask some questions, you all answer them and then we'll talk about what happens next. Agreed?"
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"It's politics. You won't understand as you are not from here. Researching the Cyphergate is a complete waste - its been done since hundreds of years - and hav you seen any break through.
But people in power like to sponsor the scholars. By denying them what they try to protect, they slowly get into an untenable position.
You see - I don't care if one more scholar is dead or alive - but others do - others do care a lot. And this is their weakness.
But enough talk - here is my offer - you step back and let me through. No weapons drawn. I will leave with the Topaz Titan. Once I'm save close to the exit to the sea I will have him jump. I hope he swims - at least long enough until you pick him out of the waters.
And don't try tricks - or he won't survive that long.
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Looking at her two body guards. "I suggest you guys take off before your cut-throat captain their slips and ends your lives in the process. You know what she did to her last consorts... Come on now boys... you can still make it out of here alive, she does't care for you, you have no reason to care about her."
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Should I mention something about us bein' Pathfinders? Toren chuckles a bit and says, Now, lass, there's no point in all this threatenin'. We ain't here to kill ya, we're here to get that scholar to tha Cyphergate. You don't really care one or t'other if'n another scholar gets to that gate or not...Right? And I don't care particularly if you were to go about yer merry way. In fact, yer pretty much the reason we got hired in tha first place so it would kinda behoove us to let you go. Job security sorta thing.
How 'bout you take that there cutlass off'f yon scholars throat and as you can see we all have our weapons lowered. Who knows, maybe we could all be friends. I'll even start, me name's Toren and I'm gemfinder and gemcutter. See? I'm startin' ta like us all better already!
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I'm not entirely satisfied with this resolution.
It seems like our original mission was to prevent the scholar's capture but that's already happened.
At this point which part of our mission takes priority, saving the scholar or stopping the woman?
Wrong thread :)
I will leave this up to you. Feel free to discuss between yourself - just use spoilers that the GM should stay outside.
Yes - preventing the capture never was a real option. So you are left with a Dilemma - guess this is where the title of the scenario comes from.
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Tal nods to each of his companions and saves his final nod for Chanix where he also adds a wink.
Look, sorry....I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't try this one more time. You are outnumbered...what say you just, I don't know, give up?