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Sebnet hurries off and returns with four letters. "Here! They're a little form-feed, but I penned some letters of recommendation for you. Obviously my name has some clout around here, so giving one of these to the right person can work wonders." With that, she ushers you out, but repeatedly asks if you have everything in order as she does so.
Mer will probably make some comment about batting my eyes at passers-by and hoping someone tells me what I want to know. "I'm off to find out about Ohrlavi. Wish me luck!"
Fumbus rubs his greasy belly after the second turkey leg is polished off. He grabs one of the letters and heads off, "Gonna check out the trail of paffinder stuff, see y'all back here!"
After conferring with his allies, Valeros heads off to see what he can find out about ooze-crafting. Not what I thought I’d be doing today, but I guess we all need a break from the taverns once in a while!
Ezren will pursue the Arcana lead and use one of the letters of introduction to do so.
Merisiel will begin figuring out the best way to acquire an audience with Igrigi.
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Kyra looks for a lead but is a step too curious and turned away.
Valeros finds an elderly ooze-crafter, and is close to stumbling on a tidbit he didn't know. But after asking for some display of magic, the man turns out to be an overly devout Nethysian who ushers Val out.
Ezren spends far too long chatting up fellow wizards, who agree to show him tricks to slow down a construct. Though you already have them, he agrees. It's just as well, because knowing what he does, he can tell these gestures are faulty and would speed a golem up!
Fumbus hears tell that two Ohrlavi siblings, Bijan and Zaynap, are trying to quietly fence a folio about the Open Road Pact. However, due to its extreme obscurity, most potential buyers assume it's made up.
Meanwhile, Merisiel is able to locate Igrigi in a squat building next to a huge palace formerly belonging to Nex himself. The man is embroiled in building permits. He stops working as company arrives. "Hello there! Don't tell me, you're a Pathfinder. Not from around here, but I can tell. And I'll always make time for you!" He invites the elf and any others with her to a meal at a high-brow restaurant. "I'll admit to liking my new vocation even more, but I remember Nexus House fondly. Now, what can I do for you?"
Fumbus shares his findings, "Dere may be a secret pathfinder folio selling meetup latah, we shuld check it out."
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Over another round of expensive food, Igrigi hears tell of your suspicions. "Bijan Ohrlavi? You think he did...whatever this was? I wouldn't put it past him. Seemed downright obsessive over ooze-related arts, to a worrying degree. He might steal what I know he couldn't afford. I heard tell he and his twin, who I haven't had the displeasure of meeting, would hole up most of the day with their craft.
"If I remember correctly, the pair haven't moved. Been based out of an apothecary for the past few years. Wishful Cures, I believe it was called?" The wizened man dabs at his chin with a kerchief. "I can check that, and get you the shop's address besides. After we're done here! It can't be so time-sensitive as to miss the Bandeshar's trifle!"
"The trifle sounds wonderful, Master Igrigi. Do you know whether Ser Ohrlavi or his twin had the skill to animate statues?"
Fumbus shovels more food into his maw, "I culd get usedta dis, gud fuds an only a coupla statues tryin ta kill me."
He listens to their informant's chatter, "Oh yeh, das da name o da guys selling the paffinder info. Betta check em out."
"Many thanks for your valuable information Master Igrigi. I must ask, do you have any additional information specifically about the Ohrlavis or their establishment, namely, the Wishful Cures? If we are to journey there and investigate, it would do well to be thoroughly prepared, wouldn't you say, good sir?" offers Ezren.
He respectfully eats with the others, taking care to mind his societal expectations in such a fine dining establishment.
Upon the conclusion of dessert and small talk, Ezren will accompany Igrigi and the rest of the Pathfinders to obtain the information about the Wishful Cures establishment, including where it is, as well as its owners.
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"I'm not certain, but it seems a safe assumption. Many alchemical practices and bits of knowledge translate to parallels in magical science. As I'm sure your...friend here can attest to." Igrigi waves a hand at Fumbus, having noticed his impressive collective of vials. "That, or they've studied the arcane arts as well. It isn't too hard a gimmick, and this is Nex."
The trifle is served shortly after. It's not bad by any measure, but you get the sense Igrigi was talking it up some.
He retreats to his small building after asking you to wait for a bit. He returns within half an hour, bearing detailing directions to Wishful Cures. "Now, I recall how Pathfinders operate. You'll likely need every ounce of your training, as usual. But do try to bring them back alive!"
Walking to the apothecary is a similarly short task. A tall, thin building, Wishful Cures is covered in graffiti. It had several stories of windows, all of which are shattered. The door is securely bolted.
Kyra smiles at Igrigi's admonition. "Of course! None of us are Vigilant Seal." She looks around at the rest of the party. I think.
Fumbus replies to the comment about alchemy and magic, "Yeh, lotta stuff all da same. Jes uses maths. Cooking also relly simlar to alchmy and wizrd magiks." He takes a trifle of trifle, popping it into his mouth, "Ooooh, delish!"
Later, he carefully attempts to avoid being seen, offering tips to his allies if they wish it.
Valeros keeps an eye out for anything unexpected.
I should be able to get this open. No problem.
Valeros backs up and then rushes the door.
Ezren's eyebrows shoot up and he whistles softly at the tremendous athletic display.
"Prithee share with me your diet good warrior. Your prowess is astounding!" offers the wizard to Valeros as he makes his way into the opened doorway with the rest of the team, his staff at the ready.
Fumbus looks over at the broken window and figures he'll probably be ushered through it to open the door as he is the obvious smallest member of the group. He sighs and begins preparing for the task when Valeros loudly plows down the door. Huh... that's nice and to the point. He follows everyone in.
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Valeros is able to force open the door with ease. Though the massive force could have shattered the bolt, the fighter keeps it intact and relatively quiet.
Surprisingly enough, the shop's inside is cleaner than its exterior would make it seem. It's still rather dirty, and all its wares have been plundered. There is a fairly evident trapdoor behind the wooden counter. Its well-oiled hinges suggest frequent use.
Underneath is a similarly bare stone basement. One wall looks to have blasted in. The resulting hole leads into Quantium's sewer system, which is processing a foul greenish slurry.
Merisiel knows what her job is when it comes time to explore, and she takes to it with practiced efficiency.
As they prepare to enter the shop and the trapdoor, Ezren casts a few spells to start. The first is a Light spell on his spinning Aeon stone. The second is a defensive spell on himself, giving him Mage Armor. As they are long-lasting, they should suffice for the duration of the day.
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Ezren will detect magic while exploring.
Kyra likewise Searches for signs of anything out of the ordinary, particularly concerned about attacks from oozes.
Amiri will also search.
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The next small chamber is a jumble of boxes and crates, most of them left ajar, and heaps of yellowed papers and dried herbs scattered across the floor. The air contains a sour, chemical smell emanating from an opening in the far wall of the closet to the south.
As you enter, Valeros has a sudden premonition of disaster and decides to look around. Luckily so, for he spots slightly raised pieces of floor amid the slurry. He also sees five nozzles mounted midway up and around the walls, primed to trigger.
Whoa! Careful everyone. Valeros points at the floor. Pressure plates. He points at the walls. Likely connected to those. Seems someone doesn't want any visitors.
Any check needed to disable the nozzles? If not, Valeros will disable the one north of him.
Kyra glances over at Merisiel. "This looks like a job for my favorite larcenous elf."
Fumbus steps back out of range of the nozzles, knowing that he might be able to figure it out eventually but it isn't his forte to disable traps.
”Already on it, my dear!” Merisiel cracks her knuckles and pulls out her thieves’ tools.
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Merisiel disables each nozzle with ease. She even finds a ring looped around one, which detects as magical. You are free to move forward without fear of spraying acid. You come to a crossroads. Straight ahead is a rocky sub-passage with deeper, murky blue sludge instead of the usual green. To your right is a larger room.
The sludge-stained ceiling of this sewer chamber rises to twelve feet high. Wide passages containing slow-moving slurry flows from north to west. In the northwest corner of the room are several loose stones and a few metal canisters. To the west, a staircase ascends north to an area illuminated by a steady light source. A wooden plank has been turned into a makeshift bridge over the northern sewer canal.
Everyone on the lookout notices: you aren't alone in this room! Just underneath the refuse lurks a massive yellow blob, easily betrayed by its clumsy bulk and odd color.
Valeros peers at the blob, but has trouble making it out.
Ezren taps his chin and ponders the mysteries before him.
First, he looks at the ring, attempting to discover its potential.
Ezren need not fret, as he has assurance in his magical training.
Second, he observes the blog, working out where he's read about it before.