The agrawgh's bellowing and thrashing slows as the healing light from Ayo's wand bathes it. Ebonfeather stabs at the ground where the elemental disappeared, but only gets mud on his blade. Alrik watches carefully, but after half a minute the ambushers have yet to return.
As the mud underfoot begins to re-solidify, Nef and Annie cautiously herd their beetle charges back to join the rest of the caravan. "Oh Rockhead!" Annie squeals, wrapping her arms around the agrawgh.
"Thanks for calming her," Nef continues, checking that the serpent's load is still securely tied to the great beast's back. "It would have been terrible if she'd run off. Though I don't know why a gang would be operating this close to the Vault - or attack so openly." She kicks at the fallen elemental, now little more than a pile of rocks.
The caravan begins moving again, though the Pathfinders are now on high alert. After a little over an hour, the group finally arrives at a large estate made from granite and obsidian into curved shapes that suggest it was molded rather than carved from the surrounding rock. A large shaitan with bronze skin waves them inside. "Good, good, you're here," he says briskly in Common, pulling out a clipboard. "Let's get to work."
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"...and that's everything." The shaitan nods and hands the dwarves several clinking bags of coins. "And I understand you ran into some trouble along the way - for your troubles." He takes a silver ring off his finger and hands it to Alrik. "My family's crest, that all might know how you have served the Issawa's with courage and skill."
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As the caravan arrives back in the Opaline Vault proper, Nef and Annie wave farewell to the Pathfinders. "Thank you so much for you help!" Annie calls. "We'll be sure to give you a good review!"
Inside, Ebonfeather finds an official-looking notice of white marble affixed to the door to the Pathfinder's barracks. Terran runes cover the top half, while a translation in Common fills the bottom.
Recruits,
Captain Othis and I have been in communication about several incidents that occurred surrounding your unit in the past weeks. Due to this operation’s ties to Her Imminence’s military and our nation’s sensitive political climate, I take these allegations very seriously. Report to my office at dawn for a formal hearing. Be prepared to present a case defending your actions in training.
Sincerely,
General Faiza bint Hanif
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Taariik received the Aspis Badge from Ebonfeather and talked about the arguments so he does not talk like he usually talks.
When they are summoned, he approaches General Faiza bint Hanif. He asks the spiritual teachings of Irori to guide him!!
“Dear General, it is a pleasure to meet you! I hope that you allow us to present to you several findings which show that Captain Othis has had no intention to welcome us in the Ungrounded! We do not know if he told you that he is an Aspis Consortium agent and is following his own agenda!“ Taariik says and shows the bronze badge they found!
The next morning finds the Pathfinders gathered outside a overly large door of polished marble inside one of the Opaline Vault's largest buildings. When the door is opened by a pair of silent oread servants, a spacious, immaculate office is revealed. Glass cases along the walls display medals, ceremonial armor and weapons, and framed commendations granted to former and current members of the Ungrounded. A large mahogany desk stands in the center of the room, with General Faiza bint Hanif seated on one side and Captain Othis on the other.
"Please take your seats," the general orders, her voice brokering no argument. As the Pathfinders obey, she continues, "You have made very quick progress through the basic training, and incurred no dismerits - very good. However, there have been irregularities that require explanation." She folds her hands. "Proceed."
Conig joins Taariik in his prosecution...
"Silence," General bint Hanif commands as the ratfolk begins to speak. "You will each tell me what happened - I have no wish to be assaulted by a chorus of truth-spinning silver tongues."
“Dear General, it is a pleasure to meet you! I hope that you allow us to present to you several findings which show that Captain Othis has had no intention to welcome us in the Ungrounded! We do not know if she told you that she is an Aspis Consortium agent and is following her own agenda!“ Taariik says and shows the bronze badge they found!
diplomacy, marshal spirit +1 : 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 1 = 20
diplomacy 20 from above plus spirit surge : 20 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ 20 + (4) + 1 = 25
As the general looks over the note and badge , Captain Othis scowls. "My membership in the Consortium in no way interferes with my fulfillment of my duties to the Ungrounded," she protests, "but it has taught me the valuable lesson to not trust anything that comes from the nest of roaches that is the Pathfinder Society."
General bint Hanif nods, but not in agreement with Othis's words. "Very well. Have you anything else to back up these claims?" she asks the other Pathfinders.
Taariik (Aspis badge and Note)
Conig (???)
Ayo (???)
Ebonfeather (Poison Samples)
Damhán (???)
Alrik (???)
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Ayo presents the picture that the group was given by the captain of their target in the earlier guard duty.
”Most Honored General, this lowly nobody who stands before you wishes to present this picture. The Captain instructed us that we should specifically target the person matching this description during our investigations. My wise comrades followed up and discovered the picture matched your description, so we pursued another avenue of investigation we might not have driven off the true culprit otherwise. In the humble estimation of this unworthy servant, Captain Othis either wished us to fail or wanted to test us. Even in the latter case, she thought that she could freely set up her own commander, the Honored General bint Hanif, for potential embarrassment at a public event to suit her own whims.”
"Further, General. The combat test we endured was rigged against our favor. Poison was used against the spirit of the exercise. Provided by the Captain as we found the vial in the office as well."
"You will note that the contents of that bottle are as harmless as simple salt to a superior being with a connection to earth such as yourself," Captain Othis counters as Conig passes the vial to General bint Hanif. "It merely renders humanoids temporarily unconscious - an added incentive to dodge a blow rather than attempt to endure it, as you instructed I include in basic training."
The general seems less than satisfied with the captain's explanation.
”Most Honored General, this lowly nobody who stands before you wishes to present this picture. The Captain instructed us that we should specifically target the person matching this description during our investigations. My wise comrades followed up and discovered the picture matched your description, so we pursued another avenue of investigation we might not have driven off the true culprit otherwise. In the humble estimation of this unworthy servant, Captain Othis either wished us to fail or wanted to test us. Even in the latter case, she thought that she could freely set up her own commander, the Honored General bint Hanif, for potential embarrassment at a public event to suit her own whims.”
Captain Othis smiles thinly. "An obvious test," she drawls. "A good soldier must always be on the watch for false information the treacherous efreet slip into legitimate channels. Using a description of your Esteemed self, while an exceedingly blatent falsehood, would have resulted in the humiliation of only the most incompetent of recruits."
General bint Hanif nods in agreement with the captain. "Indeed," she answers simply before setting down the stone tablet and picking up the vial of poison again. "But tell me, how was this used? You mentioned a combat test?"
Taariik (Aspis badge and Note)
Conig (Poison Samples)
Ayo (False Description)
Ebonfeather (???)
Damhán (???)
Alrik (???)
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"While that might be the case Captain Othis, you used you rank in order to have soldiers under your command use the poison during the training session against us, and specifically ME! Of course, that was after you tortured one of them. General, I believe you may want to get some MP's to bring Dell and the others here in order to talk to them in person. Ebonfeather said.
"While that might be the case Captain Othis, you used you rank in order to have soldiers under your command use the poison during the training session against us, and specifically ME! Of course, that was after you tortured one of them. General, I believe you may want to get some MP's to bring Dell and the others here in order to talk to them in person."
General bint Hanif raises a single eyebrow. "For the sake of your companions, I will continue in your Taldan tongue," she answers. "Let us hear from this 'Dell'."
There are a few minutes of quiet as the oread is summoned from the Ungrounded barracks. After several more minutes of stuttered recounting of the combat trial and the obstacle course, Captain Othis snorts derisively. "His team was not up to the task of providing an adequate challenge - not without assistance at least," she argues, giving Dell a harsh stare. "Pathfinders are notorious for lacking humility and respect for their superiors, as everyone knows, so it was necessary that I provide them with challenges that would wipe the smug grins off their faces."
"Silence, Othis." General bint Hanif fixes the captain with an icy glare. "You will not waste any more of my time." Two shaitan officers open the office doors as if summoned by magic. "Secure her while I launch a formal investigation," the general continues.
Othis does not say another word, but glares at each of the Pathfinders as she his escorted out of the office.
"Thank you for your honesty," General bint Hanif continues. "It would be unwise to retain your service during the investigation, but I will grant you all an honorable discharge from the Ungrounded." She pulls out a drawer and fishes out several jeweled cloak pins bearing the Ungrounded sigil. "That all may know you have acted with honor," the general announces solemnly. "Take this as well, as a personal token of my trust." She pulls out a jeweled scimitar, small as a dagger in her large hand, and hands it to Taariik. "Know that you will always have a place in the Ungrounded should you return to us later."
Trusted Agents,
Word of your success in gaining the trust of a shaitan general has reached my ears. Congratulations and thank you, on behalf of our common cause. As allies, genies promise power and influence in ways few mortals could ever offer. The next steps of our plans are considerably ambitious, but with the world-shaping power of wishcraft on our side, as well as steady and experienced hands to wield it, doors that seemed inexorably sealed may open to us at last.
Sincerely,
Lady Gloriana Morilla
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Taariik is truly honored by the gift and very glad that they got out of this unbelievably difficult situation.
“Team, we did it! Unbelievable resolve is the right ingredient to follow the path to perfection!!“ and these words seem to be memorized and not his own.
“And today we have created a bond that will also allow us to make our homes a better place at some point in the future! Thank you all for being such a great companions!“ he says.
When they later receive the letter, he claps Ayo on the shoulder.
“I hope to see you again soon Ayo!!“