Both Athea and Rossby cannot hit the two thugs but Tessara's blast knocks out both of the attackers!
In one of man’s pockets you find a potion of cure light wounds, two flasks of acid, a tanglefoot bag, five daggers, a set of thieves tools, and a small purse containing 25gp. On the ground by him is an everburning torch and a short sword.
As you search his pockets, the goblins who warned you climb in the window, their hands raised to show they mean no harm.
”No hurt friends! Father wants talk with you. You come with us, talk to father! Our father Zig father! You friend to Zig, we friend to you! Warn you about men with knives, you come talk to father!"
|
...and it's over before she's even warmed up. She checks all the pockets of the downed men carefully, looking for notes or information as to whom they could be working for, and when she can't find any she isn't surprised.
"I'm also inclined to trust these particular goblins." Desna help me and gathers the rest of her belongings quickly.
She offers the Cure Light Wounds potion to Tessa, since she was the only one injured so far. Althea eyes the other acid flask and tanglefoot bag. If no one objects, she'll add them to her pack.
When you all reach the ground, either via the ropes hanging from the window or by more conventional means, one of the goblins pulls out three small burlap sacks. "You put on you head, we take you to father, yes? Very secret! Keep goblins safe!"
When they see you decline the bags they think.
"No, you have to...welll, ok. You super-secret swear that you no tell other longshanks where father is, yes?"
The goblins lead you through the city to Fine Trades, a shop in the Lower City district. The open a storm door down into the basement which is filled with goblins, each dressed in a different outfit: a goblin lamplighter, a goblin cobbler, a goblin barmaid, and more all stand around in a semicircle.
At the front of the room stands an older goblin, taller than the rest and wearing a silk suit stretched over a protruding waistline. While the other goblins might fidget and chatter quietly among themselves, this older goblin stands perfectly still with the air of easy command one might expect from a nobleman, and when he speaks, it is with an easy, husky voice.
“Welcome, my friends, to my humble home. My name is Moneymaker. Yigrig Moneymaker, at your service, and this is my family.
“I have heard good things about you from my son, Zig. Sweet kid. A sweet kid who should not suffer for a crime he did not commit, wouldn’t you agree?
“Let us cut to the chase. I am led to believe you have been looking into Phlegos Dulm. He was your friend, but he betrayed you. He was my friend too, but he has betrayed me, sacrificing my very own son to do it. It is in the best interests of both of our organizations to see him pay for his crimes, wouldn’t you say?”
|
"It's in our best interest that the truth about Phlegos Dulm comes out, whether he's guilty or innocent. We're not hired thugs, so we're not here to do your bidding. If you have evidence Phlegos was behind the attack on us, we'd be appreciative. If you have evidence Phlegos was behind the death of your son, we'd be happy to help investigate. But you don't get to decide how he's punished."
"Zig is not dead!! Did you not know that Zig had been arrested? And I know that you had been to Dulm's shop! You are concerned, too! I know a lot and sent my children with a warning of the Pikes' attack!"
He spreads his arms and gestures to the many goblins in the room.
"I have many children to tell me things. And I have no evidence for you but I have a lead that you could follow if you so wish! Our interests are aligned not that my son is prison! Lobda, would you please step forward, my dear? She told me that you can be trusted!"
Stepping out from the crowd is Lobda, the goblin you met tending the store at Dulm's lodge. She grins and waves to you, then steps back into the crowd.
|
|
Ezekial steps forward, We would not let an injustice like Zig sit in jail. No true Pathfinder would, casting aspersions on whomever set up the poor goblin, So what is your lead, we'll certainly follow it up. We are trustworthy, and give you our word we can be trusted. he waves to Lobda as she disappears into the crowd.
|
|
When Rossby says "death of your son" Althea looks alarmed. What? I thought he was just arrested? Did Rossby see something more? then relaxes when Yigrig confirms Zig is still alive.
Althea will add pleasantly "Both Zig and Lobda have been of great help to us, we would be poor friends if we weren't willing to repay the favor. Indeed, it does seem like most of the clues lead to Phlegos' guilt - but unfortunately most of it is circumstantial at this point. We would be thankful for any lead you are willing to share, and will of course investigate to our full abilites."
"Good, good, evidence, exactly! Evidence of Dulm's wrongdoing, and not just in the poisoning. Tell me, why do you think he would have done such a thing, hm? It's because those bards were on the trail of some manumitted slaves! Slaves currently enjoying Dulm's 'hospitality', or so I hear!“ he says and looks at you.
”I am quite sure that Dulm is behind the poisoning, in an effort to prevent those three bards from meddling in his affairs and stirring up more anti-slavery sentiment. I doubt, however, that he administered the poison himself; that's not his style. Lobda tells me that one of the other employees at the party was working for him, a woman named Vinius Borr. Even if he was not present at the time of the poisoning, perhaps it was her hand that served the drink!“ and he watches Athea.
”Anyway, I have a proposition for you: I tell you where to find those slaves, and you bring back any evidence you might find that would exonerate poor Zig. Deal?"
|
|
Tessara goes back to the inn, yawning mightily. "Wa'ever we're doin', I'm going back to sleep first."
She tells the innkeep, on her way in, "You gotta work on that security pal... a bunch of thugs attacked us half an hour ago. Clean up on aisle three, by the way... one of them still asleep, knocked himself out by hittin' the doorframe."
"Wonderful. The slaves in question are being housed in an old converted pub near the docks, which serves as the heart of Phlegos’s slave trade as well as the headquarters of the gang he’s using to carry out his dirty work. Two of my children will show you the way, if you'd like. Now go!" he says and retreats without answering any further questions.
~
The goblins lead you through the city quickly, taking many shortcuts and backalleys in what turns out to be a very efficient if somewhat unconventional route. When you arrive, you find that the pub is actually small complex of three buildings, one to the north, one to the west, and one tot he south, and all of them run-down and in serious need of repair.
Before you can approach, one of the goblins holds up a hand to stop you.
She puts a finger to her lips and points at a guard just rounding the corner with two mean-looking dogs.
These are some crates and a campfire so they offer little concealment.
|
|
After finishing her night's sleep, Tess insisted to get a hearty breakfast and then pulled out a rough looking journal with all kinds of blueprints, markings and engineering drawings in it, several of which appearing to be explosion propagation equations with various ignition points and catalytic mixtures... She cleans her gun carefully and loads it with a special cartridge... Hrmm... might as well, since we're in town and we don't necessar'ly wanna kill 'vryone...
"Awright... I'm ready lady and gentlemen."
============================================
Seeing the guards and the dogs, Tess issues a few choice curse words inwardly. "I can try stealth, but with the dogs, it'll be risky. Stay put, and I'll go forth to observe and come back to report. Rossby, why don't you go chat them up to cause a distraction while I sneak around the building to the north?"
|
|
As an alternative to stealth, Althea will suggest subterfuge. "We could pretend we are buyers, here to inspect the 'merchandise'." Her face puckers in hostility as she suggests it though.
Tessara can sneak around while Althea and Rossby approach directly. Ezekiel can choose which path to follow.
If agreed, Rossby will approach with lucerne hammer in hand - he'll play the part of Althea's mercenary.
You start to move in when suddenly one of the dogs starts to bark and is about to move in Tess's direction!
(Sense motive Skill Unlock bonus)
]
Ambush!
Althea
Ezekial
Rossby
Tessara,
Dog red
Dog yellow
Thug
These dogs are combat trained and instinctively
bark at intruders to raise the alarm.
The first flatfooted dog is hit by Althea and the bolt explodes in blood! The dog still runs towards the Paladin to be hit so hard on the head that it drops unconscious and the other dog has the same fate when it approaches the lucern hammer!
The guard starts to shout!
”Intruders!!! Come out!!!“ and runs away.
Althea listens but cannot hear anything.
From behind you two of the goblins that accompanied you run towards the door that is next to Rossby and enter!
The building looks like any other bar except for the dozen or so men and women who lie on cots at the southern end, manacled to weights.
This is obviously the place where the Pikes are keeping the slaves they have under watch for Phlegos Dulm.
One of the goblins with a book on his hand smiles at you and shouts, “Look! With much of his stock lost in Absalom and the rest already sold off to pay down debts, these slaves are all the “inventory” Phlegos has left to restart his business once he has control of the Pathfinders in Katapesh!! Go get the others! We will take care of this building!“
Ezekial moves forward and sees into the building where the guard went into.
Tess moves forward but hears nothing from the building to east.
When she moves to the northern building she hears shouts!
This portion of the pub contains many sleeping cots, making it into an impromptu resting area. Several tables are covered in notes and papers, and several sacks of coins lie scattered about the area.
This building seems to serve as the Pikes’ headquarters while they work for Phlegos; those not on duty probably rest here, while their leaders keep track of their work.
Scattered across the tables in this building are several documents from Phlegos.
-
The people inside the building were probably asleep as they are standing up and are not armored!
The only famale in the room is Vinius!!
The group stands up and moves forward but the guard that woke his companions attacks Ezekial with a scimitar but only hits air.
Ambush!
Althea
Ezekial
Rossby
Tessara,
Thug, yellow
Thug boss, red
Thug, green
Thug, blue
Vinius, white
|
|
Ezekial, out in front, takes up a defensive position with his scimitar and buckler, crying out at the man, Slaver, your days here are numbered! Your actions are a blight on societies. Who do you work for? his scimitar spins in the air, striking the man had with the unsharpened back edge of the blade.
When the guard approached, Althea thrust her Rapier but the man was able to dodge.