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Tabar scouts ahead, taking a quick look around the kitchen before heading into the pantry. He's followed by Dale who heads straight for the remaining snacks on the gleaming island. Sammi-Sue also returns to the kitchen, now with her balloon in tow. She points out to Dale and Soddy where the snacks are kept, and the cabinet the maid seemed reluctant to open.
As he stuffs another finger-cake into his mouth, Dale spots two things. One of the cabinet doors in the base of the island seems to have a trip wire attached it. He also notes that one of the drawers behind where Sammi-Sue is standing has a lock on it.
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Tabar finds a pantry with sacks of flour and grains, barrels of cooking wine, and shelves containing root vegetables and dried herbs. Stone steps in the center of the room lead deep beneath the house and end at a large wooden door.
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Sammi-Sue tales along behind Dale with a nonchalant air, occasionally mentioning some of the interesting things she saw or heard, including the warning of a trap and the fact the rooms to the north supposedly hold sleeping guards.
When he points out the tripwire, she gives a long 'ooooo', and is suddenly down on her hands and knees beside him looking at it intently.
"Doesn't seem very nice putting a trap in the kitchen." She says with a small frown. "Unless the tarts area really good!" She adds a moment later, before getting back to her feet to see if there are any such tarts.
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With the coast clear for the moment Soddy finally trundles on into the kitchen with everyone else...
...finally getting her creeper-vine on, as she does. As Dale points out the locked drawer just to the side of the door she nods her head and moves to have a closer look at it.
"How strange. Why do fleshies lock their kitchen things?" she asks aloud. "Or put traps in them? I agree with Sammie-Sue - it seems like something other fleshies would find rude?"
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Dale stuffs a tart into his mouth and grabs a handful of cheese destined for his pocket, mumbling something about a trip wire on the cabinet. Dale avoids the traps for now, and instead looks around for some silverware, particularly some butter knives.
Once he finds something suitable he creeps over to the guard's rooms and tries to quietly wedge them closed with the knives (assuming they open out into the kitchen).
Take 10 on stealth: 16
Take 10 on disable device: 25
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Soddy can tell that the drawer is indeed locked, though it completely eludes her as to why anyone would lock a drawer in a kitchen. Maybe some fleshy food is worth its weight in gold. Or do some fleshies eat gold?
Dale listens to the different doors and finds two with snoring, which he proceeds to jam closed. Just as he's wedging the second one closed he and the others *in the kitchen* hear something muffled and faint from the pantry...
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Tabar carefully checks everything over, and when he's satisfied that it's safe, he opens the door. As it reaches the halfway point, he hears two things almost simultaneously. A click that draws his attention to a trip wire inside the room, and a man yelling.
"The air is poison! Hurry!" cries the man who is manacled to the far wall of this wine cellar carved into the bedrock deep beneath the manor. Rows of wooden casks line the smooth stone walls, and an impressive wine rack carved of rare polished woods displays tiers of wine bottles, their labels obscured by a thin layer of dust. Directly facing the entrance, three 10-foot-tall steel vats tower over the room. It's to the valves in the top of these vats that the trip wire leads.
The Varisian man immediately sucks in a deep breath and begins to strain against his bonds.
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Hearing a cry, Seldiir heads into the cellar.
"That's fermentation gas. That fills up in here and you've got about half a minute until-"
As Tabar disables the device, he shrugs, "Never mind, let's get out of here, Torch will be pleased."
The ranger turns to leave, then pauses a second, "Hey." he narrows his eyes and looks at the chained man, "What's your name?"
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Dale cringes at the commotion, looking back at the doors with the sounds of sleeping, then quickly backtracking towards the pantry door and looking down. The air is poison? He takes a short breath, almost like rolling the air around his mouth and lungs like tasting a wine.
"I'm not sure I agree with that statement, but maybe he's talking about the air down there. In any case, probably would be a good idea to get him up here. I can make him invisible to help get him out."
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The man watches Tabar clamber up on top of the vats and easily close the valves. The soft hissing of escaping gasses ends, and the room is suddenly too quiet. Until he lets out his breath with a *whoosh*.
"Wow! Youse guys are fast!" he exclaims.
When Seldiir mentions Torch and asks for his name, he eyes the team warily. "Emilio Bucsa," he says by way of introduction. "I'd shake yer hand and thank ya', but..." he jangles the manacles at Elby.
"Here, honey, a little help, please," he says with a smile. "If ye're worried about the noise, just shut the door. It's safe now, and that door'll block any sound. I oughta know; I been down here almost a week."
"But you says you work for Torch, eh. That'd be quite the coincidence if true. I don't knows you," he says as he scrutinizes his rescuers. "You gots some proof o' this?"
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Soddy shrugs and turns away from the locked drawer and trundles over to the stairs leading down into the wine cellar. She heads part of the way down before spotting Tabar, Elby, and Seldiir with the rescued man.
"Oh, there he is, you found him," she remarks cheerfully. "Hello! My name is Soddy Daisy. Tomorrow I might be someone else but Soddy Daisy is who I am today. Grandmaster Torch sent us with some information that is very important - so important that we needed to make sure to rescue you so you can pass it on for us. He is very persistent and expects his agents to be the same, you know."
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Dale munches on another stray tart with Sammi-Sue, wondering just what is taking the others so long. "I'm not sure everyone realizes just how important time can be in a situation like this..." Ironically he reaches for yet another cup of tea and a pair of jam slathered biscuits, thoroughly distracted by the snacks. A bottomless pit is an accurate description of Dale's appetite.
Dale cannot fail an aid roll on bluff or disguise with +9, which he'll use to bolster Sammi-Sue's ruse, whatever that may be.
"Oh, hey, sorry fer doubtin' youse. Yeah, youse makes a good point, who else would come ta get me?" he asks rhetorically. When Tabar bolts from the room without unlocking his manacles, he again jangles his restraints at Elby hoping someone will free him.
He then sighs heavily. “That damned Kalistocrat really had it out for me. She came down here every day to rub it in my face that she finally caught me. As if I coulda forgot! But she also let me in on a little secret, too,” he says conspiratorily.
Emilio licks his lips and smirks. ”She done some research on some ruins back in Varisia chock full o' treasure an' magic. All she needs to trip the wards is the blood of one of the ancient Families -- that’s where I comes in," he says a little proudly before his tone changes to one of relief. "She was plannin' to drag me out to Varisia and bleed me in some cave, then take everythin' for herself. That’s how I’m supposed to pay my debt. But here youse are, bustin' me out. I know where she keeps her notes, so let’s nick ‘em and take ‘em back to the boss.” He looks at you all expectantly, hoping that you'll help him grab these notes from Irel before escaping.
At Soddy's introduction, he smiles in some confusion. "Soddy Today, I got's it. But what's dis here information Torch wants delivered? And who'ze it goin' to?"
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”Dale, I don’t steal!! Are you saying that because a rat could only be a thief?!? Better help me!! Here just a push I think!“
When he hears Emilio’s story Tabar is slightly bitter.
”I really think you humans are the real pro... “ he says but swallows his last words.
”Lady Halfling. What Emilio describes can only be behind the secret door, right?!“
He then unshackles Emilio and hopes for Dale’s help.
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"Oh, it goes to Mulhia al-Jakri," Soddy replies cheerfully. "Something about their hideout not being safe anymore, I think. So they'd probably like to know about that sooner rather than later."
When Emilio mentions swiping some additional documents the leshy considers this for a moment. "Hmm. Do we have time? The boss might find them interesting...but he probably wouldn't be happy if we all got ourselves caught trying to get them."
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Dale watches Tabar work the lock and you can just tell he's beside himself with curiosity. "Ok, you got me, what the heck is in there... some fine chocolates? The stash of organic vanilla beans? Or maybe its a PIE SAFE!" He blurts out a bit at the end, sticking his own pick in to help buy Tabar some more time.
He also helps with the manacles if he needs it.
"What's this about a magic ritual and a cave? NOW we're talkin'!"
Emilio rubs at his wrists as the manacles fall away from Tabar's picks. He smiles up at Elby even as he speaks to Soddy.
"Oh yeah, Muhlia'd wanna know 'bout that, for sure. And, yeah, we oughta get goin', but it ain't like those stupid Path-losers are gonna attack her hideout anytime soon," he says with a big cheesy grin as he stands and brushes the cellar dust off his pants.
"Irel's notes are over in the library. Opposite corner of the manor from here. It won't take no time to pop in there and grab 'em. So whatya youse all say?"
He seems to have a deathwish as he says to Elby, "Yer in, right sweet-cheeks?"
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Meanwhile, up in the kitchen, Tabar and Dale have opened the locked drawer. Tabar bolts back downstairs to free Emilio, leaving Dale looking at a well-worn leather-bound notebook labeled Secret Recipes of the Most Wondrous and Fabulous Chef Zarzubroshtor Loquamethic. KEEP OUT!
Dale's curiosity gets the better of him, and he discovers that the book is full of techniques for using spices to draw out the maximum flavor and benefits of almost any drink or dish. In fact, his knowledge of alchemical processes makes him sure that some of these techniques could be applied to potions and extracts too. But he'd need more time to study it....
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Dale flips through the book and his eyes go wide. Now this is something worth reading carefully! He digs out a blank piece of paper and quickly writes a note.
Sorry Chef but Irel stole all my bank and I need to trade this for some favors! -Emilio
Dale eases the drawer back closed and relocks it... or tries and then gives up.
"Time to grab some notes?" Dale asks the others as he tucks the book away into his haversack.
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"The library was empty earlier right? And the servants are either sleeping or working in the kitchen. We can probably go get the notes real quick before we leave," Soddy pipes up after thinking it over just a little more. "Irel will certainly come back if we just stand around talking about it, though. So we should go now if we want to get them."
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Seldiir steps in front of Emilio, "We don't have orders to f*$+ around. You want to die finding out how she'd like to kill you? Come back later. Let's get out of here."
He looks to the others, "Make this bozo invisible and lets get out of here before that bodyguards shows up and starts ripping heads off."
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Seldiir gets in Emilio's face as Dale rummages through his pack for that scroll he got earlier.
"Yeah, yeah, fine, fine," Emilio stammers in agreement. "Look, I'd love to get them notes, but I can't do it myself, and I sees you ain't gonna help." He smirks at Elby just as Dale makes him invisible, "Be seein' you, sweet-cheeks."
Annnnd, as soon as Dale finishes casting the spell, Nyeli bursts into the kitchen. "What are you doing in here? I thought I told you to remain in the front room," the tiefling asks angrily. As she looks around for Sammi-Sue, she spots the crumbs in Dale's beard.
"Ah, ran out of snacks?" she asks, her temper dropping a bit. "Dear, your father should have asked the staff to fetch them. That's the polite thing to do. And other people's kitchens can be ... dangerous," she finishes as she looks around for any signs of destruction.
Not seeing any, she turns to Dale and Seldiir. "The gardener has agreed to meet you at his cottage. Go out the front door, turn left and swing around the manor. You'll see it."
She holds the door to the front room open as each of you leave the kitchen. "Ms. Irel will be home very soon, and I have duties to attend to before her return. It was a pleasure meeting you, my dear," she finishes with an uncharacteristic smile to Sammi-Sue.
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Soddy freezes as Nyeli bursts into the kitchen and remains very still as she addresses the group...and seems to conclude that they were simply raiding the kitchen for snacks.
Maybe if I don't move she won't see me? No, wait, Poffis said that was die-no-sores or something...
As the tiefling holds the door open to usher them out of the kitchen the leshy does her best to surreptitiously move along with the rest of the group...
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Dale grins at the woman "Best tarts I've ever had! Don't blame her, I've never been good with setting boundaries." He shrugs sheepishly. "Thanks for your hospitality, have a good day." Dale hustles outside and waits for the others, hoping to delay things long enough to give Emilio ample time to sneak outside before she shuts the door.
"So, gardener, gardener..." He walks towards the corner of the manor to look for the cottage.
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Nyeli doesn't seem to notice the extra person-plant in the group, though if she did she'd likely chalk it up to druid-gardener-plant-salesman-shenanigans. She gives Dale a tight smile as if to convey that he should work harder at being a better parent, but she holds her tongue.
Emilio, too, holds his tongue and keeps his hands to himself.
Back at the Silver Spoon Inn and Tavern, over a round of Azer’s Tears and extra strong fruity fizzy drinks, final arrangements are made with Emilio.
”I don’ know why Torch didn’t give youse these earlier, but this here is a safe-passage token that’ll let you bypass the magical wards around Muhlia's stronghold,” he says as he hands over small coin-sized tokens imprinted with the image of a flaming torch. ”I’ll get this intel to her, don’t you worry," he says as he leaves you to go gather his remaining belongings from his room there at the Inn.
Emilio’s rescue garners you good will from Kristoff, and he gives you room and board on the house. As an added bonus, he can now collect the rent that Emilio owes him.
After Emilio departs, Kristoff informs you that Amynta Irel was very displeased to discover that her prisoner had gone missing. She’s filed a formal complaint with Kerse officials and has mobilized a force of Blackjackets to find those responsible for the theft. She's especially irked at Emilio for having stolen from her again, even if this time it was only a recipe book. Kristoff assures you that since you escaped cleanly, the Society can shield you from Irel’s vengeance.