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"Why do men always want to show me the Hells. I was at this party with Corvius Vayn, are you familiar with the slave merchant from Sedeq? Anyways we were have a greet time at a party hosted by a colleague a few months ago and he introduced me to this Phistophilus Devil who was so enthralled by me, he asked if I would go to Dis with him. I wonder what juicy info he could find in the libraries there about you?"
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Orst says to the man, "I would not be so sure of your power and influence in this town anymore. We are here to investigate under writ of the council and we found some very damning evidence of your smuggling operations and more. If I were you, I would get while the getting is good, Mr. Sloan."
"Hurt my family indeed...You will be lucky to get a cup of tea out of the council much less dark favors." "Secondly, several dozen people here tonight saw your people attacked us unprovoked. We could have avoided much of the fighting had your people just talked to us peacefully." "Any place that operates with such reckless abandon has no place in Magnimar."
"Perhaps I should apprehend you for trial right now? That may save a lot of council funds on the man hunt for you." "Perhaps you and and your too bullies should drop your weapons while wait for the town guard to arrive."
Orst places his hand on his sword hilt in the scabbard and places his shield in guard position.
"Drop your weapons."
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Toral thinks about all the incriminating evidence that they found.
"It is unbelievable that you dare to confront us. If we show everyone how you stole and broke laws all these years and which artifacts the city of Magnimar lost because of you then everybody will see that you are not an honest merchant but operating one of the biggest scams of the city!" Toral shouts.
The growing number of city guards watches your discussion from a safe distance. They do not appear interested in making a scene by arresting either you or the powerful Sloan.
Maiveer Sloan's henchmen look to each other, then to Sloan as Frost addresses them. The man on Sloan's left scratches his meager mustache and takes half a step back.
Frost continues to explain in practiced legaleze that the Writ of Authority granted to Lady Sheila Heidmarch permits the group to search the building for evidence of illegal looting of Thassilonian artifacts.
Sloan sputters in response to this revelation, "Ptt- This is highly irregular! I shall speak to the Mayor of this-" he trails off as Walla and Orst chime in.
"I have no business with Hell and I doubt you do either" he sneers then nervously addresses his henchmen, "Keep your weapons, men. We shall depart to consult with my own barrister." he laughs at Orst's accusations, "Where is your proof? You have none.
He adjusts his coat and addresses the party, "The Council sends rats to steal from me? You think your flimsy piece of paper will hold up in the courts?" He dismisses it with a gesture. "No, you vermin have become too bold." Despite his words, it is quite apparent that you have succeeded in flustering the man.
Sloan's Involvement in the attack on the Grand Convocation - Lady Heidmarch learned from an informant that Sloan was involved in the attack on Pathfinders. She does not have proof, but you could Bluff to convince him that you do. Alternatively, use Linguistics to create a forgery.
The Smuggling Operation - You can present three pieces of evidence as proof of the smuggling operation.
Conspiracy - Sloan probably did not act alone in orchestrating the attack on the Society. You can imply as much and gauge his reaction with Sense Motive, or attempt Knowledge (arcana) to determine what magical expertise in particular Sloan would require.
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Toral checks out Sloan and sees the ring.
“You have been fooling this town for so long that you have become too confident!“
Toral looks at the guards.
“One of Mr. Sloan's chunky rings have Thassilonian runes that must have come from the Thassilonian dig site. This definitely counts as a piece of evidence for showing that Mr. Sloan is at the center of the smuggling operation!“
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“Additionally, Mr. Sloan we know of your involvement in the attack on the Grand Convocation of the Pathfinders. And we have proof!!“
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He then looks at Sloan spits about some of the theories the Society has to gauge his reaction.
“So what do you say about that?!?“
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"We know you did not act alone in the attack, you had to have help," "Turn over the names and maybe you won't be hanged..." Orst pulls his sword up slightly making a scraping noize and slams in back in place to make sure Mr. Sloan is looking at him. "...this week."
He tries to get a sense of the man and his reaction.
Toral assaults Maiveer Sloan with a barrage of evidence (only some of which was quickly fabricated from the records you found).
When you point out his pilfered ring, Sloan remarks, "Ahh, you do have a keen eye, don't you? And you've been nosing about far too much of my business. We would all be better off if you had stayed in those ruins...permanently."
Sloan shakily mutters to himself while scratching at his hand. "Impossible...does it surprise you that one of your masked leaders dances to our tune? Did you truly think there was honor among thieves?"
While taken aback by your accusations, Sloan's confidence seems to have returned as more guards gather within earshot, and he's suggesting a traitor lurks among the Ten.
Looking between Frost and Orst he adds, "You stand so high and mighty in the name of justice, you'll let a snake slither right past you." he looks meaningfully at Orst's sword, "Unless you plan to actually put that thing to use?"
Orst's singing catches the man's attention, "So you know about our unwitting spies. You miscreants turn on each other so easily. When you feel an ally's blad at your throat, remember I guided it there." He motions to the guards standing away from your conversation, [b]"You there! Arrest these interlopers!"[/b]
At that moment, your ally Kasadei appears with her own patrol of guards, holding a fresh set of orders from the Council. She stops to look at you all, "Well done, Pathfinders. What evidence did you find in Bronze House?" As you detail the documentation of Sloan's crimes, Kasadei nods and gestures to her guards to secure the evidence to Sloan's visible annoyance.
"Alright, Sloan. I believe it is time you come with me." Kasadei retreives a set of manacles from her belt and strides toward the man. Before she can get close to him, the guards standing around move to stand in front of Sloan and block her way. "Please," she entreats them, "Let me take this criminal to be tried."
The guards do not back down. One mutters, "The Lord-Mayor wouldn't take kindly to letting that happen." but otherwise the group remains mostly mute. Looking around in frustration, Kasadei signals her patrol to back down. "I'll not spill blood today, but mark this Sloan. Your schemes won't last forever."
Sloan smiles once again and says to you, "A minor setback, but one I'll remember, Pathfinders. Can you not see the futility of your efforts? A hundred more wheels are in motion. Your only virtue until now was you were too insignificant to squash." before he ducks behind the line of guards between you and him and departs.
When he is out of sight, Kasadei spits and says "That man." before leading you back to Heidmarch Manor to debrief. On your way back, you notice flames spring up around the city. When you arrive, the last of a fire is being put out in the manor's East wing.
Venture-Captain Heidmarch receives you in her library. She is soot-covered and suffered burns. "I've just recieved reports that several of our allies have endured this fire attack as well. Even as we strike a blow against them, the Aspis plot to strike at us." She sighs and pours herself a cup of tea before offering the pot to you all.
"Good work gathering evidence today. The Lord-Mayor launched an investigation into Aspis activities in the city and publicly fined Sloan himself; Consortium profits and influence in Magnimar will suffer for it. Did you learn anything of interest while confronting the man?"
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Frost outlines the mission, the people the party encountered, and provides an unvarnished retelling of exactly what happened.
"The Aspis are well organised and may well have penetrated our ranks. We have seen this before with the Shadow Lodge and the number of Pathfinders who were happy to hold grudges and engage in less than open and honest ways with the Society, against the co-operate ethos we all purport to follow. Anyhow, we haven't seen the last of him, I would be watching him very carefully if I had the resources to do so, and wouldn't be surprised by reprisals or petty acts of revenge"
The fox makes a deliberate gagging sound at the name Sloan, otherwise seeming fine.