The rainy season had reached Absalom, and foretellers believe the rain to last for almost a week. Gloomy clouds have gathered on top of the Isle of Kortos to give an even more depressing feel to this autumnal evening. The streets have been prepared for the grand influx of rainwater, and all sewer hatches have been opened to let the water flow freely. Eerie lamps on the streets give little light for the seldom travelers.
A courier has delivered an urgent message to a select group of Pathfinder agents currently residing in Absalom. Some might lounge at the lodge, studying past chronicle or honing their skills, some seek solace at a tavern. The message is brief.
"Come see me first thing in the morning in my office in Skyreach."
Signed by Ambrus Valsin.
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At the crack of dawn, a tall, brown-skinned woman is standing outside Ambrus Valsin's office. Leaning with her back against the wall, she is indifferent to the few pedestrians hurrying to an early work, indifferent even to the pouring rain hitting the already soaked pavement and roofs with a muffled, low drumming sound. She has taken refuge under the porch, protecting her heavy steel armour from the rain and the danger of rust.
She is holding an urgent message in her left hand. Although she knows it by heart, she keeps re-reading it. It's brief, written in a shaky and unintelligible hand.
To Erica Come home asap must see you
Your father.
She stares at it, as she is waiting to be let in.
She is carrying an urgent message in her right pocket. It's brief, written in a steady and almost elegant hand, and she does not need to re-read it.
Erica,
We buried your father yesterday. Come home when you can.
Your mother.
Sometimes, she still stares at it. Mostly, she feels like she's seen it long enough.
She doesn't know what to think. So she doesn't.
She needs something to clear her head.
Outside of the office of Ambrus Valsin, a tall, brown-skinned warrior waits.
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"Hey, you there!"
A raspy, weary voice calls out to the woman. If she turns to look, she sees a sorry sight of a man - well, only the head and shoulders, as the rest of his body seems to be down a sewer grate as water pours in around him. In one hand he has an empty bottle of what one can easily assume to have been alcohol, as the running water has not be sufficient to wash away the smell.
"Can you help me out here? I was coming to... um... meet someone. I seem to have fallen in this hole."
On the edge of the roof top, a hawk sits and screeches loudly. "Quiet!" the man yells, and then holds his head as he regrets that decision.
And then back to the lady, "Come on, missy. What say ye? Can ya help a man out of a hole? I won't bite."
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Erica's gaze rests on the poor sod of a man calling for help.
"Goddess," 'she swears under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Some days you just woke up full of energy for an epic quest, and some days you got this.
"Can't a man get out of a hole in his own?" she replies with dry sarcasm, although there seems to be more weariness in her answer than bite. "Or learn how to say 'please' or 'ma'am'?"
She nonetheless folds her letters carefully, tucking them away in her backpack, before walking to the hole and extending her gloved hand to the man.
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Umdar enjoyed the rain. In a big city like Absalom it's hard to feel at home, as there's always too many people. But the rain scared them away into their homes, making the streets all the more peaceful.
He had been grateful for the opportunity to join the Society and study at the lodge, it's a far step from what he was doing before, helping farmers deal with dying crops, or the odd wolf.
But he was getting anxious for some adventure, or at least something to take him out of the city. When he received the letter from Ambrus Valsin, Umdar couldn't hide his excitement.
He grabbed his things and aimed to be there bright and early. Once there, he sees a tall woman help a poor wretch up from a sewer grate. With such an imposing form and the full armor he assumed that this must be Ambrus Valsin.
Somehow I thought Ambrus would be a man, maybe derives from Amber or something similar. I swear I'll never get the hang of these human names
Grinning his wide smile from under a beard decorated with leaves and thorns, he raises his hand.
Good morning Miss Valsin. Umdar Thornbeard reporting in. Allow me to give you a hand with this fella
Without waiting for an answer, he then proceeds to help the other man to compose himself, he initially though him to be a hobo from the smell, but the quality of his clothing revealed otherwise. Recognizing the odor coming from the man's pores and the leftover from the bottle he was still holding he commented:
Ha! Goodberry Brandy, hey? That'll put a kick in your step in the evening, but in the morning a kick in your ears!
The thing about him is that he seemed as if he was impervious to the rain, like a grinning tree, alive, expectant and oblivious.
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"Please. Ma'am."
Will reaches up to take her hand, and then tries to pull himself up. With some added assistance, he is able to pull himself up out of the hole.
"Dangerous, that. Leaving those grates open for water flow." He shakes like a dog, water flying everywhere.
"So, this must be the place. You all friends of Ambrus, too? Wonder what dangerous farce he has planned for us today. Still, might be fun, eh? Let's go in and see."
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Sylvester places his scroll case in his backpack and places this backpack in Shaggy's waterproof saddle bags. The sorcerer then rides to his destination. At arrival he looks around to see if there are any familiar faces in the bunch but finds none yet.
"I wonder what these crazy people have in store for us today?"
The diminutive gnome muses loudly. If this was said aloud by accident or on purpose is difficult to determine.
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Becoming visibly red in the cheeks Umdar turns to the woman.
So you are not Ambrus? Terribly sorry, fairly new to everything.
He looks around to the Gnome who apparently has a difficulty in separating his thinky voice from his speaky voice, and laughs mostly to himself.
Well aren't we a bunch? How about we all go in and figure out what this Ambrus fella has to say?
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"I wonder what these crazy people have in store for us today?"
Erica stares at the talkative gnome with his slightly less talkative dog, the man that she had assumed was a drunken hobo (and please let him not be another Cayden Cailean follower) , and the gnome who just mistook her for a dude for no reason. In that order.
"Don't we all," she mumbles in response to the thoughts of Dog-Friendly Gnome.
Unfortunately, "being a bunch" simply seemed to be the ways of the Pathfinder Society. At least it had proven de rigueur so far.
[b]"I'm not Ambrus- no, no need to apologize. Let's just go in, and... Good luck for your first day, I guess," she manages to utter, hoping not to sound too gruff.
She opens the door, and leads the way inside.
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The tall half orc woman was certainty not some warrior with a pair of glasses on her nose and robes that reached down to cover her feet.
Anyone looking at her can see her spell pouch that contains precious spell components for any respective wizard as well as the clearly an arcane tome hanging in a holster at her waist.
Several wands are tucked into her waist band that is simple in make but girds in a way to let others know her gender.
All in all a proper looking wizard except for the large heavy axe strapped to her back.
Its twin blades gleam in the light and reflects its deadly sharpness. The haft well worn and reinforced with leather wrapped around it for better grip. The fact that the axe is large enough to belong in the hands of a giant and the woman hefts as easily as breathing.
Looking around her as the door is opened.
"Reporting in. Florin Leogil as required. We should get in."
The pathfinder enter the Grand Lodge and find their way to Ambrus Valsin's office, leaving behind them a trail of water dripping from their clothes. While drenched clothes never feel nice on one's skin, Pathfinders have surely been hardened to endure such conditions.
The team enter the office as instructed. Seated behind a large, antique desk in his wood-paneled office, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin looks up from the pile of papers before him and shuffles them to one side. “Perfect timing! Welcome Pathfinders!"
“I had an interesting conversation with the Master of Spells Aram Zey yesterday. An old friend—Lady Darchana, Archdean of the Arcanamirium here in Absalom—contacted Master Zey. She’s a councilmember on the Low Council, too. It seems her dinner party last week had an unexpected guest: a handmaiden of her fancy guest’s had picked up a scrying sensor somewhere. When Lady Darchana learned that someone was attempting to eavesdrop on her party, she used her magic to trace the sensor back to its source. It sounds as though she didn’t learn anything conclusive, and she’s interested in bringing in an independent party to try and learn more. Master Zey agrees."
“Make no mistake, this is an excellent opportunity for you to impress a well-connected friend of the Society. Lady Darchana requested that the Pathfinders call upon her at her estate in the Petal District once they learn something of the origins of this servant. The owner of the handmaiden is named Lady Silviana Dimora. Lady Silviana isn’t a councilmember or the like—at least not yet. From what I understand, though, she is an up-and-comer who is rubbing elbows with all of the right people, and she likely has little knowledge of where the slave was purchased. I recommend speaking to her majordomo Milana about the handmaiden, or you can pay a visit to her solicitor, a Chelish fellow named Salbus over in the Coins. Questions?”
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Crossing his arms and gently picking at the thorns in his beard, Umdar mutters audibly to the party:
Hmmm, so either Lady Dimora is in it, and she is the one that instructed the handmaiden to carry such a device, or she has nothing to do with it, in which case, the handmaiden had been carrying such a device from when she was...sold
This last word came out heavily. Was slavery allowed in Absalom?
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The more details Ambrius gives about their mission, the less enthralled Erica feels about their mission. Today must really be a special day if the daughter of a poor sharecropper has to defend the interests of slave-owning patricians.
"So, the Society accepts the patronage of aristocrats dealing in slavery?" she shakes her head in disbelief. Her thoughts drift to Janira Gavix, the Head Initiate she has befriended, the cruel fate befalling to halflings in most slaver nations, and a lump lodges itself in her throat, and she can hardly hide her indignation." Quite a controversial association. I imagine Lady Dimora's political ambitions must have earned her some enemies. Any leads as to who might want to place her under surveillance?"
Ambrus Valsin takes turns to address each questionnaire. First he pays his attention to Umdar's dubious words. "Slavery is, in fact, legal in Absalom. Though slave trading is only allowed on a specific street in the Merchant Quarter, the Misery Row."
The venture-captain nods to Erica. "I'm unwilling to count the Society among those organizations that favor slavery. There are agents in our ranks who have been slaves in the past, and sought protection in the lodge after their liberation. May I point out that our patron, Lady Darchana, didn't own the slave in question. She merely noticed the scrying sensor. Someone is spying our patron, and we're glad to help our allies."
"According to my understanding, Lady Darchana learned something about who wanted to surveil, but nothing definitive. You had best ask her yourselves."
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Ambrus's words did little in terms of easing Umdar's demeanor. The fact that slavery is confined to a particular street might mean the evil is contained, but still exists.
Only Civilization and their Laws would allow something so unnatural to exist. Allowed or not by law, no one should be kept against their will. Nature might be ruthless and cruel at times, but all elements are free. It's good the Society working against this behaviour.
He turned to Will on hearing his comment on visiting the solicitor Albus first:
We could start with the solicitor, but I can think of no motivation for him to reveal the source of the handmaiden, do you have any Ideas?
Still picking at the thorns in his beard, he Turned to the room in general, but seemed like he was talking to himself.
If we started with Majordomo Milena, however, I think we could imply that it's in interest of her Lady to help keep her reputation clear by helping us out
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Sylvester's eyes light up as they talk about Milana.
"I think that talking to a Majordomo is far more interesting than some boring solicitor. Imagine what she will know! I think we should start there. Plus, Majordomo. It has a nice ring to it and you have to admit ... a good deal of gravitas as well."
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THe Half Orc pushes her metal rimmed glasses up her nose as she considers her next question.
"This Lady Darchana is already expecting us I would assume. So We would have to interview both Lady Silviana Dimora and her handmaiden. It would be a start to figure out who would have placed the sensor. Is there any information on who was trying to eavesdrop in the first place?"
Ambrus Valsin answers questions diligently. Perhaps he is on a good mood today.
"You are free to look for other leads other than majordomo Milena and solicitor Salbus, but those are most likely the best leads. Looking for the specific slave trader at the Misery Row could take days."
"And I stated earlier, Lady Darchana could not discern who the scryer was. She can perhaps tell you more, but you better bring her more information about the handmaiden before you seek audience."
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""I'm unwilling to count the Society among those organizations that favor slavery. There are agents in our ranks who have been slaves in the past, and sought protection in the lodge after their liberation. May I point out that our patron, Lady Darchana, didn't own the slave in question. She merely noticed the scrying sensor. Someone is spying our patron, and we're glad to help our allies."
Erica grunts and leans back against the wall, not entirely convinced that the Society could easily split its aristocratic patrons between those who owned slaves (bad) and those who didn't own any but still counted slave-owners among their friends or allies (i]good?[/i]).
Still, the reasons why Lady Darchana may be actively spied on are nothing but obscure, at this point. The motive could be anything ranging from petty political interests to a powerful enemy having designated her as an obstacle to be struck down. Finding out who is spying on her and why is going to require some investigation, that might as well start with the (unwilling?) carrier of the scryer.
"We could start with the solicitor, but I can think of no motivation for him to reveal the source of the handmaiden, do you have any Ideas?
"The solicitor might be convinced to talk," she says. With this type, I'm guessing that his motivation is either going to be a large sum of money, or the promise to break each of his fingers if he's not going to talk."
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"No matter what. we'll still need to get going. We need to find them in order to interview them for their answers."
"You're right, time is of the essence, shall we head to Lady Silviana Dimora's household? If we can find her there along with the handmaiden and Majordomo Milana, we can kill three birds with one stone"
Half turning to Erica, with a roguish smile of approval, "Figurative stones, for now"
A woman walks in. "My deepest apologies, My prayers ran longer then expected."
Some of you may have met Kyra before. She is an attractive woman wearing a breastplate with a holy symbol of Sarenrae on it.
"I heard something about a plan, If we are in a hurry you can fill me in as we go."
The rain subsides as the group heads out of Ambrus Valsin's office, though the sun stays hidden behind the gray overcast. The humid air is slightly cooled by moderate southern winds which only bring a word of more rain. Walking through the city to the Petal district is arduous, although the streets aren't as crowded as normal. The trek takes long enough so they can reiterate the mission briefing to Kyra.
A tall fieldstone wall surrounds Lady Silviana Dimora’s estate. The grounds are recently tended with thick, soft grass, several well-placed shade trees, and many species of flowering plants. Directly in front of the manor house is a pond with several large lilies and a lion-shaped marble fountain that bubbles gently.
As the pathfinders approach the manor, the manor guards stop them at the gate, politely inquiring them about their business.
"Walk no further, travelers," the headguard speaks with a stern voice, "you may not enter the grounds without permission. What do you seek?"
The guards, a total of three of them, are lightly armored and carry with them only light clubs. Two standing at the back are less experienced, and show slight nervousness in the presence of an adventurer group.
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Umdar steps forward, making his Grand Lodge badge visible, trying his best to look both authoritative in his small stature, but friendly, in spite of being new to the Lodge and the Society in general.
"Good morning Sir, we are part of the Pathfinder Society, sent by Ambrus Valsin, here to look into a sensitive matter regarding your Lady Silviana Dimora."
"If you inform her that we are here, I am sure that she will want to see us."
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"Walk no further, travelers," the headguard speaks with a stern voice, "you may not enter the grounds without permission. What do you seek?"
"It seems we seek permission."
As Umdar speaks far more eloquently, Will turns and says "Ah, and what he said."
Then he starts examining his dirty fingernails, as if the presence of dirt was an absolute surprise.
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Sylvester turns to Umdar.
"Were we not to speak to Milana and complete our preliminary investigation first before consulting with Lady Silviana Dimora? This seems like the best plan of action so we do not disturb her ladyship unnecessarily."
He turns to the guards.
"Of course that depends if the Majordomo is available?"
The guard gives a vexed look at Will for making such a comment. Seems like it's a common joke heard when guarding a gate. The headguard does recognize the society's name though, and nods to Umdar.
"Then welcome to the Dimora manor," the headguard says as the two other guards open the gates, "I'll guide to the parlor where you may wait for majordomo Milena to receive you." He orders the other guards to stay by the gate as he walks the Pathfinder agents to a charming terrace with a view to the garden. The household staff quickly arrives to entreat the guests to relax on the terrace furnished with plush blue couches and chairs.
After a moment of enjoying life's simple pleasures, a stern-looking Taldan woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes arrives, wearing a lax, short dress.
"Greetings to you, pathfinders," she begins, moving straight to the point, "first and foremost I must apologize for Lady Silviana Dimora is not available to take unscheduled meetings at this time. If you like, you could arrange a formal, scheduled meeting in the near future." Her speech is quick, her tone lacks enthusiasm, it is as if she had something better to do than attend to a seemingly random inquiry by the Pathfinder Society.
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"Greetings to you Majordomo Milena. We are here on utmost urgency that may require you to aid us so that we may remove any shame or guilt being laid upon Lady Silviana Dimora. It is unfortunate that she is not around but her fortune is that you are." Florin pauses as she sees that she's has captured Milena's attention. Knowing how the nobility prize their reputation above all else.
"Due to the actions of one in the employ of Lady Silviana, her stellar repute may now be in tatters and it is part of our mission to see that the true culprit be brought out in the light and thus clear her name. Is there any information you that you could share with us?"
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Umdar couldn't help being surprised at Florin. He knew that there was something about her that was more than met the eye.
The level of fluency and intelligence that clearly exuded from her speech, plus her ease in carrying that hefty Axe around, had he been in a less formal situation would have made him wide eyed amazed at mouth agape with wonder.
Truly I am in the presence of the most diverse experienced group of adventurers. I thought I was open minded and seen much, but I still have much to learn
He observed Milena's demeanour as Florin gave her very compeling and logical reasons to cooperate.
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Erica accepts only a simple glass of water while waiting for the majordomo. Aware that she has a personality that would be considered, at best, as abrasive, she is more than happy to let Florin do the introductions. She, at least, seems knowledgeable about the kind of social etiquette required in such a place.
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Sensing the situation, Will's never-may-care attitude shifts suddenly.
"Of course, scheduling a formal meeting is a good idea, but before we are even ready to meet with the lady, we would really like to collect as much information as we can. But first, may I say, this estate is gorgeous and very well maintained. You are your staff are to be commended!"
"Surely, such an excellent staff would notice things that the nobles would not. What can you tell us about Lady Dimora's handmaiden? Anything weird someone might have noticed? Or even her name and where she came from?"
"Hold on," majordomo Milena interrupts, "you come all of a sudden, out of the blue, without a scheduled audience, and drop meaningless compliments as if to sugarcoat something sinister. Forgive me if I appear to be suspicious, because I am!"
The woman eyes Will Hawk as if trying to peer into his thoughts. "What particularly interesting would I find in an ordinary handmaiden? Just exactly what are you truly trying to say?"
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"No, no - please don't misunderstand me. I don't know that you would necessarily know anything about said handmaiden. But I do suspect that you keep a watchful eye on anything that happens on the estate, which is why we ask. I know many nobles learn to simply not even 'see' servants come and go. But if you don't know anything, no worries here. I just thought I'd ask. We need to start somewhere."
Kyra listens quietly at first.
"To put it simply the handmaiden has been connected to something shady. Quite probably through no fault of her own. We simply wish to clear up any misunderstandings and keep all interested parties happy and all reputations unbesmirched."
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Sylvester nods at Kyra's comments embellishing a little.
"You know if word got out about what happened it could be quite damaging to your ladyship's reputation or at least embarrassing. If we know about it then it is likely that others do as well. We are here to try to straighten out this mess."
(Bluff of 20 with a take 10)
Majordomo Milena sighs heavily, but not out of frustration but of anxiety.
"I know far too well what you are talking about," she says with her tone softening and even trembling a little bit. She shakes her head, touching her hand to her forehead.
“Yes, Lady Darchana’s dinner party. What an embarrassment for Lady Silviana. Can you imagine being told that your handmaiden is some sort of... well... spy? Dreadful. The woman’s name is Atlag, and she has been here for almost three weeks! Three weeks! When I think of the private conversations that happened in front of Atlag? It makes me ill, honestly ill.”
Composing herself, Milena continues, “Lady Silviana retains a solicitor, a Chelish gentleman named Solvius Salbus. He works out of an office in the Coins called the Red Letter. He drew up the paperwork for my Lady to complete the transaction on Atlag with a man named...” She wags her pointer finger a few times, shaking her head as she tries to recall the name. “Mahdi Mahjub. No, Mahjub Mahdi! He does his business down in Misery Row, of course. It’s a small shop with several large windows to allow passersby to see into his display parlor from the street. ‘Mahdi’s Chattel: Absalom’s Finest,’ so the sign claims. Honestly, I think every third building in Misery Row claims to be ‘Absalom’s Finest.’ I wonder how many spies like Atlag he’s sold over the years? It’s a dreadful, dreadful business. I am not sure there is anything else I can tell you, but I am sure you understand my Lady’s desire to move on from this embarrassment? Good? Yes? Thank you.”
She composes herself once more, takes a sip from a glass of something stronger, clears her throat, and continues, “You seem to possess a keen understanding of how things work in Absalom, so perhaps you might be willing to perform a small service for my Lady. It would be unheard of for Lady Silviana to demand recompense for her handmaiden purchased from Mahjub Mahdi; however, were you to secure such a deal, it would be gracious gesture that might lead to a budding friendship, don’t you think? And should he refuse you, who were you to ask in the first place?” She shrugs her shoulders and frowns slightly.
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One of the guards comes in followed by a young man.
"He said there was an emergency for someone named Kyra."
Kyra looks concerned as the young man rushes over and whispers into her ear.
Kyra stands up.
"My deepest apologies. A friend is injured and I wish to tend to their wounds. I will Call in a favor and send someone to help in my place."
She bows and she thanks the guard as they both rush out.
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In the wake of the Sarenite and her anxious courier, you notice a small gnome standing in shining armor. It's a little hard to understand how you missed her in the first place--even on such a tiny frame, full plate armor generally stands out.
"I'm so sorry I'm late!" She worries the words out sheepishly. "I think I got the gist from Ambrus... and I think I'm lucky we found you! You guys are busy busy, for sure! What did you learn from Lady Silviana, and where are we off to next?" Her initial timidity has seemingly disappeared, as these last questions fire off rapidly, with barely time for a breath between.
Just as someone is about to answer, she blurts out one final exclamation. "Oh my gosh... Ny'a! My name is Ny'a! I'm one of Iomedae's arms here in the world. More a small finger, if I'd describe it myself, but they keep telling me not to sell myself so short, but I say that I am short so why not? What's wrong with being realistic? Anyway, that's me, Ny'a!"
"Atlag? She's still part of our staff, but she's not partaking in Lady Silviana's convoy until this mess is dealt with," Milena answers, "and in case you are worried, she isn't persecuted for the incident."
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Relieved that Atlag was not being punished for being involved in a scheme of the games of higher Society, Umdar relaxed.
"Thank you for all the information madam, we will endeavour to get to the bottom of this, hopefully discreetly"
After Kyra left, leaving her more heigh-appropriate companion behind, a big smile comes to his face.
The Pathfinder Society employs a lot of gnomes! Good to see that
"Welcome to the group Ny'a, here's what happened so far..." And Umdar proceeded to resume the conversation with Majordomo Milena "...and that's it!"
Umdar then turned to the whole group.
"So where to? Misery Row directly, or do you want to go to Coins first? I'm leaning towards heading to Mahjub Mahdi's directly, and get to the bottom of this."
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"Thanks for your answers," Erica tells the majordomo. "We'll come back to you if we have more questions," she barely has the time to add, before a well-armed but strangely sheepish gnome enters the room and starts blurting out apologies and questions at an alarming speed, Way too quickly, in fact, for anyone to get a chance to answer, which was a bit of an issue with most talkative people. You never had a chance to talk back.
Yet, the perspective of going on a mission with a fellow Iomedaean was... Somehow soothing? A little?
"I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself here," she greets Ny'a, letting Uldar fill her in on their mission. "I'm with going straight to Mahjub Mahdi."