You all were asked to gather at Ambrus Valsin's office in the Grand Lodge just before Noon. The only other information you were given was to come hungry.
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Eltran walks with slow steps in his full plate armor and heavy shield which clearly encumber him heavily.
He is clearly quite chubby and not really the most attractive man. His mixed Taldane and Tian Xia heritage together with his Ifrit blood make him an oddball that does not feel welcome in most places.
When he meets the group he waves.
"Greetings to you all." says the corpulant man with a self conscious smile.
Resting on top of his chest, an amulet showing the holy symbol of Pharasma is visible.
Facing you all he bows but more out of tradition than courtesy you believe.
“Eltran Katsu is my name!“
He does not really have a natural presence and unfortunately might come across as strange sometimes.
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The bearded knight limps into the office and sits on a bench, leaning his unstrung bowstave against the wall. He pulls out an empty wooden goblet. Then he lifts it to his lips and drinks a sip of cool, crisp water.
"Good to see everyone again. I trust the Dawnflower has been with you since our last excursion. I admit, I needed a bit of a rest after that."
He stretches out his wounded leg with a wince.
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"Behold, mundanes!" declares the wizard as he enters the room. "It is I, Golthwur Strath, Connoisseur of Conjuration and Sommelier of Sorcery!"
The old man, adorned in traditional wizarding robes complete with pointed hat, punctuates his pronouncement with a small clap of thunder.
Looking around and spotting the two, he looks disappointed.
"I had hoped for a larger audience."
Once everyone is in and sat down, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin strides in and takes a seat behind his large and meticulously arranged desk. Shadowing his movements to stand beside the desk is the smirking, mustachioed likeness of Guaril Karela. Ambrus nods at everyone, and offers seats to anyone not seated yet with a gesture. “Some of you may not be acquainted with Mr. Karela. He’s an ally of the Society and he’s provided the Decemvirate pertinent information concerning this situation. I’ve invited him to participate in your briefing. Please extend to him every courtesy.” Ambrus nods at Guaril to take the lead.
Guaril preens at the recognition, smoothing over his mustache, and sets aside his dockside slang. “By way of my own resources, I’ve learned of an individual looking for a buyer for a collection of valuable lore. These are legends—researched, annotated, and correlated with allegedly verifiable sources and maps. This poor, unfortunate soul has gotten himself in over his head with the loan sharks, and he’s seeking to liquidate his assets before he finds himself… liquidated—if you follow me.”
Guaril grins toothily before sobering. “Cap’n Vaslin and I arranged a meeting with him. We’ve let him think he’s getting paid on the spot, but that’s just to ensure that he actually shows up. But the Pathfinder Society doesn’t survive by trust alone. You’re going to need to talk him into coming to a safe house while we authenticate his collection and verify it’s worth the gold we’ve promised him. It’s the best offer he’s likely to get because word is the Aspis Consortium has and interest as well, and we know they have no reason to look out for a man with a price on his head.”
Guaril frowns deeply for a moment before shaking his head and looking back at everyone. “This shouldn’t be a complex job. No deep politics, planar gallivantin’, or diggin’ fleas out of your trousers. Nevertheless, this collection could spur many more meaningful missions to come. Good coin and uh— I guess, lost secrets and such— ”
“Exactly,” Ambrus Vaslin interjects. “This individual, by the name of Syrdathiel, is an elf with expensive tastes. He wants to meet somewhere he feels safe. The Golden Serpent is a high-class restaurant in the Ivy District. Security shouldn’t be a problem, but by selecting you we’re leaving nothing to chance. Just persuade him to come in for the night, and in the morning he can walk out with cash in hand to settle his problems.There’s no travel expenses required here, but the Society is glad to reimburse you for dinner. I’ve eaten there myself; the menu is impeccable.” ]
Ambrus pauses for a moment to let everyone process the information before asking, ”Now, do you have any questions?”
promote a moral ethos. The local theater often features daring and even risqué performances, and the brotherhood and the watch have clashed on the theater’s legal right to do so.
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Tath snorts and thinks that in his home country, an over-educated elitist like the wizard would be sent to a reeducation camp so that he may be of some use to the people. Muy Tath, Tath being his given name, is big and burly with nasty looking naginata strapped on.
"The Ivy district is full of bourgeois bloodsuckers, including the nobility. There's quite a conflict between deluded religous orders and capitalistic mongrel dogs enforcing the class structure; that is the Brotherhood of Abadar and the mercenary Ivy Watch. Decadence reins, as it does in these benighted lands. There is conflict about the sick, risque performance that you call theatre."
"The Golden Serpent is a restaurant that has turned its back on the people, serving the rich and famous. Its currently owned by a Zendali Foxglove. She is new in town, but she owns the restaurant outright."
"May our work honor Grandmother Pei and the People's Revolution," Muy Tath says loudly, as if he expects to be overheard by someone in the walls.
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Hayden nods at Tath, before raising an eyebrow at the characterization of 'deluded religious orders'. "Well...Good information there." He turns to shrug at someone, but finds himself facing Golthwur and he simply sighs. "Should have stayed to do paperwork with Angela..."
He straightens himself on the bench, then rises to his feet. "Well, the Ivy District should be a nice visit. Perhaps we can even get a decent meal from Miss Foxglove. But how are we to verify the collection? Do you have an inventory of what he is claiming to have? I'm not a scholar of artifacts."
"If the Aspis are after it too, it's smart to secure him and it first. Is the collection small enough for him to bring it to the restaurant?"
Ambrus keeps a neutral face on for Tath's clear signs of aliegence and political views. He then turns to Sir Hayden and gives a nod, "He's only given interested buyers a few tidbits of what might be in his collection. But you aren't to verify the collection, you're to make sure that he and it make it safe to one of our safe houses in the Ivy District where we have a few scholars waiting to verify the authenticity. From what correspondence we have had, it should be sizable but not to the point he can't bring it with him."
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“This poor, unfortunate soul has gotten himself in over his head with the loan sharks, and he’s seeking to liquidate his assets before he finds himself… liquidated—if you follow me.”
"Egads! The loan sharks are seeking to kill him!" Golthwur declares, quite pleased with his own insight.
"No deep politics, planar gallivantin’, or diggin’ fleas out of your trousers...."
"I am not sure, then, why you would deem to draw me away from my important studies for this?" huffs Golthwur. "Though, I suppose I will accept a fine meal."
"Well, the Ivy District should be a nice visit. Perhaps we can even get a decent meal from Miss Foxglove. But how are we to verify the collection? Do you have an inventory of what he is claiming to have? I'm not a scholar of artifacts."
"Then you, sir, are most fortunate," the wizard informs Hayden. "For I, Golthwur Strath, Prober of Possessions and Authenticator of Artifacts, am among the most prominent and practiced of pundits."
"Now, show us to the area at which we are to dine."
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"I am not sure, then, why you would deem to draw me away from my important studies for this?" huffs Golthwur. "Though, I suppose I will accept a fine meal."
"You would refuse your responsibility to this organization and to the people?" Tath says, shocked and mortified.
Tath tries to think like a bourgeois elf who is in debt. "He thinks that we will have money to pay him there. What happens if he refuses to leave with us without some coin? Should I take him by force? Will the restaurant refuse us if we're in armor and have weapons by our sides?"
Ambrus barely keeps a smile on his face as Golthwur walks into the room. He'd almost prefer not to have to bring the wizard in, but he was smart and good at authenticating. Ambrus instead turns to Tath again and nods. "Don’t kill him, obviously, but we’re aware he’s not thinking clearly, and has self-destructive tendencies. If you have to apply some ‘five knuckle persuasion,’ or charm him through guile or magic, so be it. Either way, we’ll look after his best interests after the transaction is complete. We do have a positive reputation to maintain. Also we have already gotten permission from both the Ivy District Watch and the Golden Serpent for you to come in full gear, part of why we keep that positive reputation."
Ambrus waits for a moment for any other comments before giving a brisk nod and then spots a note on his desk. As he stands up to leave he adds, "Right, one of my secretaries asked me to remind you to 'keep the receipts' of she'll 'stick you with her longspear.' And I believe, unless there's anything you need to ask or add, that is it. Dismissed. Now if you excuse me I have a meeting that started... uh, 5 minutes ago! Curses!"
Ambrus rushes out of the room, Guaril following with a dockside salute.
As everyone leaves the office Angela rushes up to everyone and hands a letter to Golthwur, Sir Hayden, Eltran. "You've got some mail from the faction leaders. Also I meant it about the receipts." Giving everyone a hard look for a moment, she then gives everyone a wave and heads back to her desk.
It takes a good thirty minutes to get to north to the Ivy District and the Golden Serpent. Arriving outside, there's a place to tie up Hon Rach before you head inside. The Golden Serpent is a sizeable, well-lit opulent establishment with a raised stage occupying the center of its common room, a roaring fireplace on the south wall, and a long bar along the north. An elevated row of tables overlooks the main floor on the room’s western edge. The mood is subdued, the only sounds being hushed conversations and the clanking of cutlery on dishes. Very few pause to take any notice of new arrivals. Over a dozen wide round tables fill the room, most packed with customers; one table is conspicuously empty, with only one elf sitting there with a few sizable bags beside him.
A stunning woman with prominent features, long blonde hair pulled back with a begemmed hairpin, and fine clothing greets you at the door. The name tag on her shirt claims her as Sendeli. She takes in your weapons and armor with a glance. "Ah, Pathfinders? We were expecting you! Your party is waiting for you already." She gives you a look that is hard to parse, before leading you to the table with the elf.
He stands up and extends a hand, calm and collected. "Syrdathiel! Pleasure to meet you. We should talk about my collection. Now tell me what can you give me for this?" He lays a hand on a leather folio on the table in a meaningful way.
Syrdathiel gives a frown and slides back into his chair. "I was hoping to handle this quickly and then we could enjoy lunch, but if you want to drag this out, then sure. I've already ordered."
He seems reluctant to let Eltran at the file, but doesn't completely stop him from looking. "What are... Fine I guess you do need to examine the documents before you buy them. But only your chubby friend and one other can look at them. Their value is in the knowledge they contain and if all of you learn it then what's the point of this?"
As soon as Sir Hayden's hand goes up, Sendeli moves in with a wine list and a menu, almost as is she had been waiting for the perfect opportunity.
She gives a restrained smile and hands over the menu to the paladin. Before starting to give information about the day's specials.
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Hayden takes the menu from Sendeli, then looks up at her. He looks down again at it. "Ah, what's your fancy, Authenticator of Artifacts? A Chelish Red? Or perhaps you would enjoy a sweet wine instead?"
Suddenly Tath and Eltran begin to feel slightly euphoric. At least that's the best description when you suddenly feel like your life force is overflowing. Whatever this is, you gain the sense that as long as the older knight is with you, you simply can't die.
He turns to the elf. "And what are you enjoying, sir?" He hands the menu off to Eltran, quickly.
[spoiler=GM]Hayden will ready an action to rush and grapple the elf if hostilities break out.[/ooc]
"That is not the elf you’re here to meet! Someone else got here first and took the other elf and left, along with whatever else it is you hoped to obtain. These bastards have taken everyone hostage in order to fleece you Pathfinders; and once they get you out of here, they plan on robbing everyone in my restaurant.
There’s one by the door and another one up above. They claim they’ll burn the place down if we warn you. For the love of everything decent—help us!
Even if you leave, I know many of these people are going to die!
-Sendeli Foxglove"
Syrdathiel the elf gives a sigh and then adds, "I got an Andoran white with a fish in a cream sauce, if you must know."
Sendeli, the owner, looks down at Hayden with a questing smile before asking, "Can I get your order, sir? What will do you for today?"
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He seems reluctant to let Eltran at the file, but doesn't completely stop him from looking. "What are... Fine I guess you do need to examine the documents before you buy them. But only your chubby friend and one other can look at them. Their value is in the knowledge they contain and if all of you learn it then what's the point of this?"
Golthwur considers the man and the documents.
He gains a reading only on one of the two and thus remains silent until.
Hayden takes the menu from Sendeli, then looks up at her. He looks down again at it. "Ah, what's your fancy, Authenticator of Artifacts? A Chelish Red? Or perhaps you would enjoy a sweet wine instead?"
"Yes, a Chelish red sounds refreshing, not that I'd expect you to understand the finer points of vinification," Golthwur mutters.
Eltran casts his spell.
Syrdathiel falls to the ground laughing as a flash of light extends out from Eltran. His poise and demeanor drop as his accent moves to a dockworker's slang. "Vin'f'cation? Da hell's is DAT? BWAHHAHAHAHA!"
As the elf rolls on the ground, a human on the balcony stands up from one of the tables, the other two people at the table's faces blanching as he does, he glares down at the party in the center of the room. "WAIT! The fat one just cast a spell on Amistis! Frankie get 'em There gonna steal our fake maps without paying us!"
Another man, sitting to the south, who is an exact copy of the previous man stands up from his seat, knocking over the table as he does. "KARL! You idiot! You just blew our cover!"
Before either of them can do anything, Hayden rushes over to Amistis(?) and tries to grapple him.
Hayden is just barely able to get the man in a grapple before anyone else can react.
Eltran, knowing about his spell, gets the jump on everyone else, getting to react before anyone else. Sendeli gives a shriek and points at Karl, in white, on the balcony. "He's got a Necklace of Fireballs! Don't let him use it!"
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The Jig is Up!
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
★ Eltran
Amistis: Grappled
Hayden: Grappling
Sendeli
Thugs
Golthwur
Tath
Bolded may act.
Eltran knows these kinds of people well!
Karl falls to the ground, laughing up a storm as well, unable to grab at the necklace in his hands. "Ya rhyming is so damned hilarious! Churn! Burn? Hhahahaha!"
Amistis, on the ground and grappled tries to recovery his breathing and stop laughing so hard.
It takes some time but he soon calms down. He stares at Hayden, trying to keep his false identity up. "Stop that? Is this how the Pathfinders treat potential sellers? Like hogs on a farm? Just wait until everyone hears about this!
Fearing she might get caught up in the fighting, Sendeli moves away from Frankie and starts evacuating people. The rest of the patrons, not wanting to become a story in the newspaper rush for the front door or the kitchens.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The Jig is Up!
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Eltran
Amistis: Grappled, prone
★ Hayden: Grappling
★ Sendeli
Thugs:
Karl, white: laughing, prone
Frankie
Golthwur
Tath
Bolded may act.
Eltran recognizes the elf's real name and the mark on the armor of he thugs. These men work for the Crownsworn, a bit of a misnomer gvien it is a group od theives and bandits sworn to noone but themselves. Given a bit of time to think about it or consult your notes, you could probably recall where their base is, but for now you have a general idea. You have heard that it recently changed ownership to an surprisingly new guild master when the previous one started showing his age and making mistakes. He hasn't heard much about these three though as Frankie and Karl are both clearly low level grunts and Amistis is a higher rank but hasn't pulled off any major heists in decades.
Hayden gets the elf pinned and looks over to Sendeli, who grabs a table cloth off of the nearest table and stats wrapping it into a rope but doesn't have time to tie him up.
Karl on the upper level tries to stop laughing.
He curls up into a ball as he snorts further over the 'funniest rhyme of the decade.'
Frankie decides to move in and help. He pulls out his rapier as he moves up, but has to run and can't take a stab immediately.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The Jig is Up!
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Eltran
Amistis: pinned, prone
Hayden: Grappling
Sendeli: holding rope
Thugs:
Karl, white: laughing, prone
Frankie
★ Golthwur
★ Tath
==========
Round 2
★ Eltran
Bolded may act.
Golthwur sends three bolts of magic into the back of the only fighter still standing, giving a few crunches of noise as a bone or three breaks from the force. He glares back at Golthwur but his boss takes priority.
Tath moves around to the stairs and starts up them, hoping to reach Karl before he stops laughing like a hyena.
Eltran gets a moment to put in a few inspiring words for everyone as he helps get people directed around the fight.
Amistis, done laughing, tries to escape from the pin so he doesn't get tied up.
He flails around a bit but fails to break Sir Hayden's hold on him and can't do anything to prevent Sendeli from coming in and tying him up.
She then makes sure she is not near the fight anymore.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The Jig is Tied Up!
General active conditions Inspire courage +2 to hit and damage
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Eltran
Amistis: Tied up, helpless.
★ Hayden
Sendeli
Thugs:
Karl, white: laughing 4/5 rounds, prone
Frankie, black: -15
Golthwur
Tath
Bolded may act.
Frankie takes an arrow to the chest and clutches at it for a moment to stem the bleeding, but stays standing. But he's not looking good. He strides closer and tries to cut the ropes off his boss.
He is able to get the rope off his boss and gives Sir Hayden the middle finger. "Ha! See how you like that!"
Karl keeps laughing on the ground.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Cut free of Your Bonds!
General active conditions Inspire courage +2 to hit and damage
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Eltran
Amistis: prone,
Hayden
Sendeli
Thugs:
Karl, white: laughing 3/5, prone
Frankie, black: -27
★ Golthwur
★ Tath
=========
Round 3:
★ Eltran
Bolded may act.
Frankie doubles over for a second as Eltran tries to fog his mind.
He stays doubled over as drool drips from his mouth and he is dazed for a second.
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Golthwur sends three bolts of magic into the back of the only fighter still standing, giving a few crunches of noise as a bone or three breaks from the force. He glares back at Golthwur but his boss takes priority.
cries the wizard as his staff magically flies from his hand toward the thug, Frankie.
Tath keeps running, chugging up the stairs and closer to the laughing Karl and his dangerous necklace!
Golthwur sends his quaterstaff flying into the combat and beans the dazed and confused Frankie over the head and definitely giving him a concussion, he just barely stays standing.
Finally able to do something this fight, Amistis stands up from prone, provoking from no one, and pulls out a masterwork longsword and a gorgeously decorated shortsword with a masterwork blade and a jeweled grip and pommel. He can't do anything else this round however.
Sendeli looks at everyone and then at Amistis and raises her hands in a proper Taldan expression of incredulity. "We ahd him tied up! What the hell are you guys doing letting him get back up!" She then backs further away from the fight, looking to go help Tath with the thug upstairs.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Heeeeere’s Johnny Amistis!
General active conditions Inspire courage +2 to hit and damage
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Eltran
Amistis:
★ Hayden
Sendeli
Thugs:
Karl, white: laughing 3/5, prone
Frankie, black: -31
Golthwur[/b]
★ Tath
Bolded may act.
Karl keeps laughing as severly hurt Frankie sways in his daze.
[ooc] Everyone is up!
The daze cantrip from Eltran slides off the more marshalled mind of Amistis.
Hayden puts the final blow into Frankie, leaving the poor man bleeding on the floor.
Tath gets his weapon out as he rushes to the last thug who is still laughing on the ground.
Golthwur sends his weapon flying out at Amistis, but he slides past the flying quarter staff and grins at the man. "Just wait your turn, I have to deal with a certain grappling man first!"
The finally freed and combat ready Amistis turns to Sir Hayden, a wicked smile on his face. "How fitting the one who pinned me down was just the kind of person I like to cut down. Elf AND Human all in one." He dances over to the paladin and then slices out with his longsword.
He gives a sniff of the blood on his long sword as he cuts in with the short sword.
"Ah there we go. How sweet that blood smells! I don't think I could ever get over this!"
Sendeli shouts down from the upper story. "Should have kept him tied up! He's INSANE!" She keeps running and tries to get closer to the laughing Karl who will be out for another 2 rounds.
Karl keeps laughing
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Lawd he swinging!
General active conditions Inspire courage +2 to hit and damage
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Eltran
Amistis
★ Hayden -27
Sendeli
Thugs:
Karl, white: laughing 2/5, prone
Frankie, black Bleeding out
★ Golthwur
★ Tath
=========
Round 5:
★ Eltran
Everyone up.
Hayden fires a shot at Amistis but I misses the ranger as he side steps the arrow with a smile. [b]"Fiesty, carving you up will be a pleasure! And then the others here too! I mean how often do I get to slice up four humans?" **