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Purrupup is a Grippli, a small frog-like creature that stands barely 2 feet tall. Despite his strange appearance however he is extremely friendly, open, and likeable.
"Hello! My name is Purrupup."
He nods his head as he speaks like a certain other frog who also finds being green difficult.
"I am a fiend-keeper of the grippli, yes. A most important task this is. My tribe is from Kaddodi, and we had a most powerful fiend to keep, oh yes. We siphon small parts of the fiend and take them far away, and tap their power. Over time the fiend gets weaker and weaker until it is all gone. I took my part to the society of pathfinders! I know they fight fiends too, so I could fight fiends while I was fighting fiends."
He smiles as he bobs his head.
"Would you like to help me? I have a ritual each morning to tap the fiends power. If you join in you can also take a small piece of the fiends power. It will make it so mad! It will also make you more powerful, just a little bit"
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A tall, beautiful Varisian woman answers.
"Greetings, Purrupup. My name is Arie. Very nice to meet you!I would be happy to join in your seance!"
Arie appears to be a tall, slim female human. She has Varisian features with long black hair with a reddish brown streak in it. She wears black leather armor and few weapons.Her voice caries extremely well and is obviously the voice of a professional speaker.
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A man of middle years enters wearing a severe expression and expensive-looking priestly vestments in black and red.
"Siphoning power from a fiend? Majestic. My name is Antonaides de Guile, esquire. I understand that this expedition is in need of legal services and I have been retained to that end.
"I am also qualified to provide healing and certain other magical boons and dispensations as need arises. However, before I can offer any of them to you I will require you each to sign a waiver releasing the Church of Asmodeus, the nation of Cheliax and all its political subdivisions, and our Dark Lord, his agents, assigns, and intermediaries, etc., etc. from any and all liability incurred in the prosecution of this matter."
Antonaides rolls out a lengthy parchment and places a quill and inkwell beside it.
"And no, before you ask, you will not be bartering away any portion of your immortal soul by signing. It is simply a standard waiver form. However, if you'd like to discuss the possibility of an infernal bargain, arrangements can be made."
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An imposing half-orc stands before you. Clad in fullplate and carrying a sword the size of a small horse he appears to mean business. He wears heraldry of the famous Molthuni Arsenal, as well as badging of the Liberty's Edge faction.
Lance Corpral Grim Krieger at your service! Well met Purrupup and Arie!
Seemingly ignoring the Asmodean he continues..
"While your task sound valiant Purrupup I'm not sure my Lord Ragathiel would appreciate me "tapping" a fiends power. I will pray on it and get back to you."
He moves to take a seat and wait for mission briefing.
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Puurrupup looks hurt at Antonaides' contract.
"Oh no. You work for a fiend? That is very bad. So sad"
He greets the Lance Corporal much more effusively though.
"Oh hello! I am happy to meet you! It is OK if you don't want to tap the fiends power, but know that the sooner we tap the power of this fiend, the sooner it will be dead forever! It is like slaying a monster but very very slowly"
He is not offended though and happily cleans out his small pistol while waiting for the briefing
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An imposing half-orc stands before you. Clad in fullplate and carrying a sword the size of a small horse he appears to mean business. He wears heraldry of the famous Molthuni Arsenal, as well as badging of the Liberty's Edge faction.
Lance Corpral Grim Krieger at your service! Well met Purrupup and Arie!
Seemingly ignoring the Asmodean he continues..
"While your task sound valiant Purrupup I'm not sure my Lord Ragathiel would appreciate me "tapping" a fiends power. I will pray on it and get back to you."
He moves to take a seat and wait for mission briefing.
"Why Porrupup, my lord and master has only perfected the art that you yourself are practicing: exercising dominion over another creature and extracting value from it. He'd be delighted to see a fiend being used in such a way."
A few days ago, before boarding the boat to Sedeq, you each received a letter.
Oh Trustworthy Pathfinders,
I require your aid in tracking down the disgraced former Venture Captain Phlegos Dulm. Pathfinder agents discovered that he had been using his power and influence as a Venture-Captain to further his own ends. When I started to give him competition in Katapesh, he used bribery, sabotage, and poison to disrupt my efforts for the Society. Thankfully, trustworthy Pathfinders like yourselves were able to uncover his plot and dislodge him from Katapesh. Now he’s on the run. My divinations show him in a rundown manor house, the sound of the ocean nearby, but I couldn’t get any more information from that with my magic.
The Decemvirate would like you to track him down and bring him back alive. As much as I’d like to wring his neck personally, he has much to answer for and should be brought to justice. I’ve arranged for you to meet Karisa Starsight, a prominent leader of Liberty’s Edge, in Sedeq. She has a lead on Phlegos and needs skilled agents to find and capture him; bring him back alive. She will meet you in the Drunken Gnoll Tavern in Sedeq in two weeks.
Safe travels Pathfinders,
Venture-Captain Wulessa Yuul
And so, you travel. By boat, the journey is only a few days south of Absalom to Qadira.
A mix of odors fills the tavern, chief among them stale arak with a faint hint of cleaning products and vomit. The bright-eyed steward of Liberty's Edge operations, karisa Starsight, sits in a dark corner of the room.
Her hood casts shadows on her face, but her bright eyes shine out as two points of light in the otherwise dimly lit tavern. She makes a gesture as if to call a server while subtly waving you over.
She pulls back a fold of her cloak to reveal a pin depicting a golden longsword on blue wings, the Liberty's Edge insignia. "Welcome to Sedeq. I hope you made it here wihout too much harassment from the residents. This city is as despicable and crime ridden as any I've seen. Everyone seems to be under the thumb of someone even more vile, so it's difficult to find anyone to trust. This establishment has just the right amount of ill repute." She stops speaking as a server approaches the table. "A pitcher, please." The server eyes Karisa with disdain, then walks towards the bar while scratching their rear.
Karisa starsight takes a moment to compose herself again. "Venture-Captain Yuul tells me that you are fine agents and will be able to help me track down the ex-Pathfinder, Phlegos Dulm. I've got a lead on some missing Pathfinder agents we believe he poisoned and sold into slavery to cover his substantial debts. I can't track both at once, so I'll be relying on you to find Phlegos and bring him in. Meanwhile I'll be locating our missing agents. The Decemvirate would like to question Phlegos, so bring him alive, if possible.
"I would start by talking to Corvius Vayn, a slave merchant and genie binder. His is about as untrostworthy and despicable as they come, but he was also Phlegos's primary contact here in Sedeq. If anyone knows where he is, it will be Vayn. I've managed to obtain a letter of introduction for you. He'll know you're Pathfinders and will likely suspect you want information on Phlegos; his spy network is extensive.
"You might also be able to obtain information on Phlegos from Khanuur, Vayn's efreeti slave who rarely leaves his side. Normally I'd recommend freeing Khanuur in exchange for information, but Khanuur is an evil genie, an efreeti. Freeing him would mean letting a powerful evil force free into the world but keeping him enslaved seems unfair to any creature. I trust your judgement to do what you feel is right.
"Before I depart, do you have any questions for me?"
Knowledge (Local) or Diplomacy (Gather Information):
Also Knowledge (Local) or Diplomacy (Gather Information)
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On the journey over, Purrupup conducts his seance every morning. It's not a particularly interesting ceremony, he his everyone who's participating sit in a circle holding hands, and gives you a few words in grippli to say at points. The grippli parts sound more like gargling than speaking, and Puurrupup makes some terrifying growling noises in places, but at the end of it you can't help but feel that something has happened.
He spends the rest of his days on the boat making bullets with his alchemy kit, and generally being friendly with everyone, even Antonaides, for whom he spares some sad head shakes from time to time.
When they arrive he listens to the briefing gravely, tutting and saying "Oh no" at opportune moments.
At the end he has some questions for Karisa.
"Do you know much about Phlegos? Does he worship fiends? Sometimes fiends are behind things even when they don't seem to be. Some of them corrupt people you know. Oh and what about the missing Pathfinders? If we find him first maybe we can get a lead on them too, so it would be good to know who they are I think. Mmmhmmm"
He then helps out with the asking around and offers a suggestion for a gift.
"In my tribe I once received a gift of a net made of stinging nettles. I was very impressed, though I am not very good with nets. I could try making a net, I wonder if I could find nettles in the desert..."
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On the way.
"I have prayed to my Lord Ragathiel and he has given me way to join your séance Puurupup. While I would normally shy away from torturing a sentient being, fiends I suppose are ok.."
At the bar.
"Well met Karisa. I thank you for sticking it out in such a vile place and doing what you can for liberty. No one deserves to live in such conditions. I will do what I can to assist you."
After listening..
"This Corvius sounds like a real a*%!*~#.. It pains me that we must have dealings with someone like that. For the greater good however I see we must."
"I could think of a good gift or two.. Asswhooping seems like the ticket to me.."
What sort of gift do you think Corvius would like?
"Well, Corvius is extremely rich, powerful, vile, and a target I've been watching for awhile. He's already bound genies, so he can almost wish anything he'd like into his possession. He does have a love of rare possessions and will collect anything he finds unique: alcohol, jewelry, slaves. It might be efficient to give him a rare alcohol or other unique gift if you have access to such."
"As for Phlegos, he's a vile rat, and ex Venture-Captain who attempted to poison agents at Venture-Captain Roderus's retirement party. Roderus turned over all his influence and responsibilities to Wulessa, but not before tasking her with tracking down the corrupt venture captain.
"He had a few missions go sour under his watch, too. Some say he even enslaved his own lodge members. If my hunch is correct, these missing Pathfinders are a part of this group, and Phlegos is somewhere nearby."
Karisa's eyes flash for a moment, almost literally, as she remembers something and reaches into her pack. She pulls out a small pouch and hands places it on the table. "These are for you. Hopefully you can find a good use for them, if not in freeing Khanuur, then maybe in finding Phlegos." The pouch contains a Greater Chime of Opening (A chime of opening that operates at caster level 20) and an Adamantine Metal File.
"Any other questions?"
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Puurrupup offers Arie a strange key that he keeps on a chain round his neck.
"If you use this is might help to activate the scroll"
"Does anyone have any rare alcohol? I tried some once but it tasted like bad pond-water. We could buy some from the market? That wouldn't be rare or unique though"
He looks thoughtful for a second and then shrugs.
"Oh well. Evil slavers shouldn't get nice things anyway. Let's just talk to him and see what he says."
With no more questions, the Pathfinders move out. They walk the streets with a tight grip on their coin pouches and valuables, turning down ever increasingly sketchy streets until the area suddenly becomes opulent.
Corvius Vayn's estate is a palace with gardens full of exotic plants, an entry hall with rare works of art, and a sitting room the size of a large townhouse. Once the Pathfinders arrive and presend their letter of introduction, they're brought to a sitting room by a suli (genie-kin) in flowing silk robes, then offered any manner of refreshments they desire. Shortly after receiving whatever refreshments the Pathfinders request, Corvius Vayn himself joins the Pathfinders.
A sturdy blonde man with long-free-flowing hair strides confidently into the room, his fine black and white silk robes fluttering behind him. An efreeti in midnight black robes with gold trim and a black metal collar follows immediately behind. The human addresses the room at large. "Ah, Pathfinders. I was wondering how long it would take you lot of murderers and graverobbers to seek me out. My money was on about a month earlier, but no matter. It only cost me a few thousand platinum." He slowly starts to sit as several unseen servants assemble a throne of throw pillows below him. "I, as you're aware, am Corvius Vayn and need no further introduction. You however, do. Please," he says, carefully eyeing each Pathfinder individually, "introduce yourselves so I can start to think of you as more than a group of homicidal archaeologists."
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"I am Antonaides de Guile, Esq., loyal servant of Asmodeus and attorney at law. Might I say, while you have an impeccable reputation in hell, it does not prepare one to meet you in person. I like your style.
"I can summon minions from the darkest depths and cast spells to reward the worthy and the contract-bound. I can also make some introductions once you make your way downstairs.
"My business card," he adds, extending a glossy, black and red card toward Corvius.
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"Hello!"
Puurrupup waves emphatically.
"I am Puurrupup, fiend-keeper of the Khaddodi Grippli. I walk the world slaying evil fiends with my pistol, and weakening the great fiend beneath Khaddodi by siphoning it's energy away slowly. I once helped stop an outbreak of demon fiends in a town called Saringallow and the nice townsfolk game me some gifts, like these boots!"
He gets the sense he might have gone on a bit too long, so he finishes off with "Hello!" and another wave.
Corvius gives each Pathfinder an appraising look as they introduce themselves. Once the introductions are over he speaks again. "Let us cut deep. You're here because of former Venture-Captain Plegos Dulm. He betrayed you. You want him... dead? Captured? Somethign unpleasant, I'm sure. He owes me a great deal as well and I can't be letting him get away with it--no; bad business. Letting you handle him is cheaper than hiring the Red Mantis to do it for me. However, I can't be giving away something for free, even information--etiquette you know. In exchange for information on phlegos Dulm, including where to find him, I offer you this onetime deal:"
Corvius stands and stretches his arms towards Puurupup. "You will become my indentured servant for one month--oh, you don't have to do anything unseemly. I'm not a Calistrian. I just want to take you to a few lavish parties, dress you in fine clothes, show off your various talents; standard arrangement. You don't have to start now--I understand you're in the middle of something. Come back when you're done and get pampered for awhile. Deal?"
"A shame really, to let your talents go to waste because of your foolish arrogance. Nevertheless, instead, each of you will owe me a favor to be determined later. I could use a few 'adventurers' in my pocket--" a clear chime sounds through the room. "My apologies, I have an engagement I must get to. Let me leave you here to relax and deliberate. I'll return in one hour to hear your decision--though you really don't have a choice do you?" Corvius chuckles to himself as he leaves the room, leaving the efreeti to stand at attention beside the door.
"Is there anything I can get for you?" sings the genie in an almost cheerful fashion.
The genie turns to Arie first. "Well, we've got a wide assortment of just about anything you could want, including some stuff from other planes of existence. Let me know your taste and I can accomidate."
"...Yes. I...I am Khanuur. How did you know my name?"
"I don't really remember not being a slave," The genie utters. [b]"I've heard there are worse masters through."
The genie fetches the exact bottles of wine requested by Atnonaides and Arie, pouring a generous glass of each before returning the bottles to the cellar.
At Puurrupup's request, the genie perks up. "I will aid you, if I can. However, you must remove this collar;" he looks around nervously before talking in a much more hushed tone. "it binds me to Corvius's will. As long as it is intact, I cannot assist you and must perform everything corvius asks. Set me free and I offer you the information you seek in exchange. Nothing more and nothing less."