When you free the woman, she mutters a quick thanks, then jumps to gather up a pile of trinkets that are spread out on her bed. "Don't just stand there--some of these are priceless. Oh, and grab that bust in the next room. Pateba would be furious if it were destroyed."
Benedict is able to extract the dagger from the man's stomach without causing further damage. The wound left by the dagger seeps with black, ichorous blood and will need further treatment, but the man presses his hand firmly to it and mutters, "There's no time! Please, help me out of here." A close examination of the blade reveals that it bears a small inscription, engraved along the edge of its blade, written in a strange tongue.
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Jahz has the presence of mind to interrupt Barrabas before the man can fully articulate his offer, even with his arms fully loaded with trinkets and other artworks. "Oh, but we don't have anything like that on us. Guards would have confiscated it at the gate and thrown us in prison if they'd found something like that, wouldn't they?"
It's a good thing that you are careful, for when you get into the courtyard you are met by a group of Pure Legioneers!
They are consumed with putting out the fire and checking for survivors--you see them rescue a young girl from the stables outside--but they do keep an eye on you and there is a brief stir as Barrabas heals Torvad. Luckily, it is easily smoothed over with an explanation of his alchemical gifts.
Barrabas, as you lean down to heal Torvad, he whispers in your ear: "I know why you've come. The Sacred Cobra auction house is currently being staged right under the Pure Legion’s noses, on the second floor of Azir’s Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History in the Grand Souk—and is scheduled to begin at approximately 10 a.m. in the morning. Thank you for the help, my friend." He also surreptitiously hands you his bidder’s banner.
Torvad makes a grand show of passing out from the pain.
The woman turns to Bask, appearing shaken but steadying herself. "Yes, I am Inusi. Thank you again for your help--it was horrible. Torvad and I were discussing... She glances at the members of the Pure Legion who are milling around ...business. We heard a commotion outside and suddenly golden monsters burst through the doors.
"There leader was a figure deeply hooded and wearing long robes. She cast some sort of spell on Torvad and I, then she chained us to the fireplace, as you saw. She made me swallow the key to the manacles, then stabbed that dagger into the table before saying, 'Today your truth shall be revealed.' Before leaving and setting the estate ablaze, she said 'Place your bets,' as she placed the small stack of gold on the table, cackled, and walked away. That ingrate Torvad tried to take the dagger and cut the key out of me, but I managed to wrestle it away from him."
Inusi frowns, "I stabbed Torvad accidentally in the struggle, but it's about what he deserves. He also let slip some information about a...business meeting that is happening to the villain, so I'd be careful if you are going to attend it."
"I should give you something for your help. My friend Pateba is going to be at that meeting tomorrow. He is a a Mauxi man with a keen interest in his ancestors.If you take him the bust you rescued, I'm sure he would be most cooperative with you."
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"That is truly awful, I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I would suggest seeing an apothecary or an alchemist to get checked out, there is some dark magic at work here."
"Did Torvad tell you about being afraid of anyone? We'd heard he had taken to travelling armed for fear of being attacked. Anyway thank you for your time"
Bask scratches Salim as he thinks about the case, but he just looks increasingly confused.
Torvad is wearing the bracelet that the venture-captain mentioned.
As you say, things are shrouded in mystery and danger, but you know where and when the auction will take place tomorrow.
Assuming no other questions, you are easily able to find a safe inn to spend the night, though the common room is abuzz about a rumored disease outbreak in the city that people are calling the aurum death. (The diseases symptoms match those described to you by Kazima.)
The Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History is one of the most prominent buildings within Azir’s Grand Souk. As a purely academic and historical institution, the museum focuses on exhibits and displays related to anatomy, arcane studies, archaeology, astronomy, debate, law (including an exhibit focusing solely on the history, development, and evolution of the Laws of Man), mathematics, philosophy, science, secular history, and zoology. Constructed of three stories of stacked sandstone blocks, a prolific archway over the main entrance, and white marble columns accented with silver trim, the structure itself is already becoming an icon of the city as much as the Pure Legion patrols that often pass by its front steps. Many of Azir’s residents spend time reflecting in the museum’s main courtyard, which features a magic pool of eternally clear water surrounding a colossal, white marble statue of Kalim Onaku, author of the Laws of Man.
Upon approaching the museum, you are stopped by two guards who inform you that the building is "closed for a private event."
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Barrabas shifts his appearance before heading to the museum. He spent the morning making some minor adjustments to the vials of extracts that sit in his belt pouches.
Barrabas walks up to the guards with the rest of the group. He looks around before responding, We are well aware, friend. He flashes the bank notes to suggest we are well-funded.
"Look, it's not that kind of party, pal."
The guard doesn't seem that impressed by the show of cash. Perhaps he's looking for something else?
Seeing the token, the guards usher you into the museum and to the upper floor. You can see five other people milling around and waiting for the auction to begin.
There will be a bit of time before the auction starts if you want to talk to anyone.
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Bask will approach Pateba and deliver the rescued Bust.
"Pateba? Inusi Mendalari has had a fire at her estate. In the chaos we managed to save a few items, I believe this bust belongs to you?"
"Oh my name is Bask Rahid, from Merab. You appear to be a man of fine tastes judging from this item, do you have any choice picks from the auction lineup?"
The man turns at Bask's approach. "Ah, I appreciate your candor. I had heard that there was an interesting statue for sale at the auction, but I always keep an ear out for unique opportunities. Inusi had been enticing me with that bust you have for quite a while--I had promised to pay her for it, but we had not been able to make sufficient arrangements and I had quite given up hope on getting my hands on it."
Pateba takes a close look at the statue. "You say this was in a fire? It's in remarkably fine condition for that. You must have worked quite hard to save it."
The man steps back and visibly considers the bust. "Yes, it is quite fine. I tell you what: If you are willing to give me the bust it seems only fair that I pay you what I was going to give Inusi. I have a note here for 2,000 gold. That is I all have brought to spend at the auction today, but I'm willing to part with it to gain this excellent sculpture. What do you say?"
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Bask looks confused, and about to refuse the money as he thought he was just bringing it as a favour, but he stops himself.
This could help our goal, and getting the shield fragment is a holy mission. We must be selfish now for the greater good
"I accept, thank you Pateba. May the light of S-, er, sunlight, guide your way"
He then bows and completes the transaction.
Pateba hands over his banker's note and takes the bust. He looks very pleased with how things turned out. Bask, he very clearly catches your slip of the tongue and gives you a wink before heading for the exit.
Meanwhile, Jahz speaks with Madame Adenalar, a tanned woman with strong arms and a bit of dirt under her fingernails. She chuckles a bit at the half-orc's attempt to be discrete. "Oh, the exhibits are all as exciting as usual--that is to say, not very exciting. I don't think I'll be tipping my hand about my interests today. No, I don't think so!"
Waze, you would have found that the dagger has an inscription in Necril running along the blade; it reads: "Blood flows like pouring rain.
To the Midnight Lord, I devote this pain.”
Benedict, once you approach the gnome, you realize that he's actually examining the support beams and buttresses around the vaulted ceiling, not the exhibits themselves. He's also muttering to himself. "Hmm...Pedestrian design. Plain as a toad's ankle. Bulky and uninspiring!"
Startled a bit at your approach, the gnome looks closely at Benedict. "Ah, not often we get a samsaran here. Tell me, have you ever had a lifetime where you've seen a less-impressive example of "sturdy utilitarianism"? He sweeps his arms out to incompass the whole of the Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History. "Not a hint of whimsy or imagination in the whole design!"
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Bask would have smiled sadly at Waze when he asked about spellcraft.
"Alas, such a task would require the casting of a magical detection spell. I am unable to do such a thing here, for I am no alchemist or wizard"
He would then have looked impossibly shifty despite no-one being around.
In the auction house he overhears the gnome and hopes that someone in the party can talk knowledgeably about engineering, but knowing that he cannot he approaches the siblings and bows low.
"Greetings, I am Bask Rahid of Thuvia, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Have you been waiting long?"
The young gentleman affects a haughty look and, instead of answering Bask, turns to his sister and says, "Abeesa, it looks like they will let just anyone in here these days. Even tactless foreigners!" He sniffs and pointedly turns away from the half-orc.
You can practically hear the young woman's teeth grinding as she stares daggers at her brother's back. "Please excuse my brother. He's a bit of an...preoccupied. He's preoccupied by all of the excitement."
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Startled a bit at your approach, the gnome looks closely at Benedict. "Ah, not often we get a samsaran here. Tell me, have you ever had a lifetime where you've seen a less-impressive example of "sturdy utilitarianism"? He sweeps his arms out to incompass the whole of the Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History. "Not a hint of whimsy or imagination in the whole design!"
“Indeed, Rahadoumis seem to have lost something of both whimsy and humor in the Laws of Man. Have you been to Absalom? A delightful array of styles there. Surely you have interests beyond architecture to bring you to this . . . party.”
The gnome answers, "What could be more interesting than architecture? What a strange thing to say! At any rate, you overlook the varied architectural heritage that we enjoy in Rahadoun. In the city, you can still find Jiskan influences, while of course the Osiriani conquest left its mark. In the north, there are even some Chelish influences--though staunch nationalists have been doing their best to stamp those out. Why, just the other day..."
The one-sided conversation goes on, at length, about similar topics. He seems a bit obsessed.
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Bask calls Robb over, remembering in that moment the note that Robb had shown him earlier.
"This is Robb, and Robb this charming young woman is Abeesa. I believe that letter you recovered from the fire was intended for her, I'm sure she would be grateful to be reunited with it"
"We regret reading it, but it was unfortunately necessary to find its owner. I hope its contents will make up for the invasion of privacy"
Abeesa seems very interested in what you have to say, especially as her brother's attention seems to have wandered away from your party already.
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"Oh, that is so true," Jahz says from behind the gnome. "Why even in this room you can see those styles. Chelish arched ceilings, Osirioni columns, and this wonderful stone that the Jiskan Imperium first discovered how to chisel into perfectly flat sheets. But don't you think that all together, it's really a fine example of what makes Rahadoun so unique? It takes the best of what people have created and brings it all together in one place. And there - that joining in the corner? That's entirely Rahadoun handiwork - nobody else has managed to fit blocks together like that without the need for sealant. While such creativity certainly lacks the flair of gnomish architecture, the mind that created it must surely have been no less fanciful." Jahz bows deeply. "My apologies - it appears I got carried away. Tell me, who might I have the honor of conversing with?"
The wizard is wandering along the building, trying to find something interesting for the party. That could be something about the auction or something particular like someone observing.
Section A is the museum restroom. Nothing terribly interesting about it.
Down the hall, you find a series of offices.
They are mostly unremarkable, but in the corner office at the end of the hallway, Barrabas notices a small pool of a dark liquid forming beneath a safe that is tucked under the large desk.