The Pathfinders are unable to find any tracks left by Clovesh here.
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"Maybe we should take a look at the distillery? There might be a clue to where Timinic was moved. Although if I were an assassin that is where I would hang out to get at him if he came back. We will need to be careful."
Going to Blandur's work may draw unwanted attention to the guy. But we might have to risk it.
Aatish, I am not sure what this Pemak fella you are talking about has to do with all this? An apothecary owner and guild member?"
Cuethric returns in from the sleet and gathers his stuff.
"I vote distillery."
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"Fine then," Solumn replies. "Let's go find this Pemak and see what we can find out."
"More importantly, what should we do with our late captain? He probably has enough favors to the local church to receive a Raise Dead spell." Manus says as he gestures back to the dead.
"His last words were to see this through. If we are quick in catching the killer, then we can get help with making arrangements."
Pemak's Tinctures is hidden among some ramshackle tenements a few minutes' walk from Dryblade House. A wooden sign depicting a flask of blue liquid hangs over the door of this cramped building. A faint aroma of burning vinegar wafts from the windows, which remain open despite the sleet.
Inside, an urbane half-orc woman with a toothy smile greets you. "Ah, customers! What brings out here on a fine day such as this?"
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Aatish is still sitting on her riding dog.
She looks at Pemak with a malicious look on her face.
"Death brings Aatish out here on a fine day such as this!!" Aatish says sarcastically.
"You have connections to the Daggermark Poisoner’s Guild and our Venture-Captain is dead ... you will be dead in a minute if you do not spill why he was poisoned!" she says with all sincerity.
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Arriving at the little alchemist shop with the rest of the group, Solumn bows in greeting to the half-orc woman, but is beat to the punch by Aatish. The mask over his face hides the surprised look at the blunt accusation from the little gnome woman, but he quickly regains his composure.
"Attish, that's quite enough," he says, though with no anger in his tone. He redirects his attention back to the shop owner. "Apologies, but it's been an eventful day, and we are somewhat pressed for time. We come seeking information about an attack on the Pathfinder Venture-Captain Istivil Bosk. We are trying to apprehend the one that poisoned him, and we hoped that you may be able to help us."
"I see," says Pemak, looking less cheerful. "In my line of work, I often help to provide specialized medical care-- you understand? My shop was burglarized recently, and I'm in the market for some private security specialists."
You recall that the business of assassination is often discussed in coded terms in Daggermark. Pemak seems to be hinting that she is involved in supplying poison to the assassins, and that the burglary may be related to this.
Pemak nods. "I do some work on experimental medicines from time to time, but I always make sure they are used within the rules. Some samples of a new potion I'm developing were stolen in the burglary. It was only a prototype, but effective enough. I worry that whoever took it is planning to use it for unauthorized purposes."
"I think the thief may be connected to some activity around the Dripping Wall Distillery, but I haven't been able to investigate directly. If you could... that would be a great help."
"As for Bosk, I didn't know him personally, but I know he was well-liked and made sure not to draw any unnecessary attention. I think it's unlikely that his death was authorized. Could you tell me more about the circumstances?"
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"If people know that someone is intentionally trying to not draw attention to themselves, then I'd say they failed at doing so. As for the effects, well, he struggled to get out some words, but it seemed like his throat was closing or his lungs were being damaged in some way." Manus says as he appraises the various poisons and potions in the store.
Pemak looks impressed by the Pathfinders' detailed description. "That does sound similar to my project," she says thoughtfully. "I think that tracking down the thieves may help us all. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
"If you want to speak with Brandur," says Pemak, "I can tell you where he lives--" (and she proceeds to give you directions). "He's always seemed like a good representative for our military. Very popular."
"Cladara... hmm. I don't recall the name."
A painful trudge of fifteen minutes or so through the sleet takes you to the Dripping Wall Distillery.
Pipes line the rafters of this squat building, channeling runoff from Daggermark’s curtain wall into large collection barrels. Simple wooden chairs and tables fills the main room, separated from the barrels by a bar stocked with whiskey. A staircase leads down to a lower chamber with a floor of packed earth.
Being well before lunchtime, the distillery is nearly empty. A human woman tends the bar, while a few patrons quietly nurse their drinks.
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Aatish enters and looks around.
She walks to the human woman and suddenly smiles. She hides a little behind the counter so only her upper body is visible.
”Aatish’s colleague Timnic might have been here. Now, he is gone and Aatish’s trying to find him. You seem like a girl that can handle a man. Maybe you handled him too well? What were you two up to lately?!“ Aatish says still smiling.
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Cuethric walks to the bar with Aatish. He nods to the bartender but doesn't speak to her. He takes a look around the bar and its patrons.
In the pause for the woman's answer, Cuethric whispers to the gnome but loud enough for the bartender to hear.
"Aatish, I think you should add that he doesn't owe us money. We just need a few words with him." "Plus insinuating the bartender is involved romantically with Timinic is rude to most humans. This I know as a half human."
Cuethric gives the bartender an apologetic smile.
"Yes, I'm Ramyla," says the woman at the bar, fetching Nargal an ale. "Are you Pathfinders, too? I've been worried sick about him! He says he's been seeing strangers down in the sewers near the basement."
Cuethric sees a dwarven man drinking at the bar , a half-elven woman reading a book by the window , and a human woman drinking at a table .
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"Too?" Solum asks, quizzically. "I wasn't aware that Timinic's membership was common knowledge. We are from the Society, and are trying to gather information about him and his work. Seems that Timinic has gotten himself into some trouble, and we've come to help, but our Venture-Captain was poisoned before we could get his location. Would you be able to help us? Also, we're reasonably certain that Brandur Clovesh may have something to do with this. Possibly someone named Cladara."
"I don't know about those other people," says Ramyla, "but Timinic's a friend. Of course I know he's a Pathfinder, he was running his expeditions from here! Apparently, our basement has a good entrance to the area he was exploring."
"I don't know where exactly he was staying, but he said it was on the edge of town..." Ramyla provides all the details she can remember.
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"I believe you're correct, I know exactly where that safe house is as well, surprisingly. I guess that's where we are headed." Manus says.
After we head off, Manus tries to advise his party, "Look, someone just told us to go somewhere expecting us to do it. In a city like this, I don't really trust anyone, so lets go there expecting an ambush. Anyone stealthy enough to check before we all go barging in?"
The trip to the safe house takes a considerable time, located as it is on the far edge of town. You find a cabin with sturdy wooden walls, and thick glass in its two small windows. A covered porch looks out over the banks of the Dagger River to the west, though steady sleet obscures the view.
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On the way to the house, Cuethric will keep checking for people following them. He will continue to do so even while the others examine the house.
"What is the code phrase again...Friends of the open road or something like that..." "Shouldn't we just go up and knock?"
Cuethric looks at the others with a puzzled expression. "I am more worried about leading the assassins to Timinic, then someone ambushing us from a supposed safe house." "Either way I think we should knock and give the phrase, if things don't seem right we can always regroup and plan a raid."
"If you watch my back I will do it." "What's the phrase again?"
Cuethric sees no one taking an undue interest in the party along the way.
Nargal finds the cabin to be sturdy and secure, with nothing suspicious about it.
After Aatish's speech, the party hears the sound of the front door unlocking. It opens a crack to reveal a furtive-looking gnome.
"Open roads? Yes! Pathfinders!" he exclaims. "Come in, quickly, quickly, before anyone sees!" He opens the door further and gestures hurriedly for everyone to come in.
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Happy to let others in the group take the lead, Solum spends the time traveling to the safe house in thought. We still haven't found out who killed Venture-Captain Bosk, but at least we've managed to track down Timinic. Thankfully, we've been too busy for the demon to have a chance to get out.
At invitation from the gnome, Solum steps into the cabin. "Timinic, I presume? We've been charged by Venture-Captain Bosk to make sure that you're okay. Unfortunately, someone managed to poison him before he could give us much information. Would you be kind enough to fill us in on the details?"