Dran'Tilt aims right between the Purple basilisks's eyes and releases a critical shot, leaving a mess across the plaza. Rysk takes this opportunity to slowly retreat.
Sensing Radim's sluggishness, the Red frilled basilisk moves to the base of the stairs and glares at Radim, hoping to slow him down even further. Then it waits for Samantha to move before quickly glaring at her.
The White frilled creature runs down the stairs and tries to bite Samantha.
The basilisk reacts to Pre Fix's movements with a baleful glance.
White Lizard (26 damage)
Rysk (Slowed 1)
Dran'Tilt (Avert Gaze)
Red Dotted Lizard
Green Dotted Lizard (8 damage)
Radim (Slowed 1, Fort Save DC 22)
Samantha (Avert Gaze, Fort Save DC 20)
Pre Fix (Avert Gaze, Fort Save DC 20)
Eddie (Avert Gaze)
Green does not fear Samantha, but maybe it should have. Radim takes advantage
Eddie was quick on the draw and two lizards are unable to evade the lightning.
The basilisk in White decides who to glare at: Radim or Rysk? It tries to petrify Radim.
Now, who does it bite? Radim or Dran'Tilt? If Radim endures the petrifying glare, it will go after him.
The basilisk reactively flashes its eyes at Rysk, but he's already affected by its glance.
Eddie (Avert Gaze)
White Lizard (47/59 damage depending on Radim's Slowed status)
Rysk (Slowed 1)
Dran'Tilt (Avert Gaze, 10 damage if Radim Fails the Fort Save)
Red Dotted Lizard
Green Dotted Lizard (68 damage, Flat-footed)
Radim (Slowed 1, Fort Save DC 22, 10 damage if he succeed the Fort Save)
Samantha (Avert Gaze)
Pre Fix (Avert Gaze)
Rysk takes the shot and kills the basilisk with Green frills.
Dran'Tilt quickly blasts another basilisk.
And then there was one. It glares at Radim before running down the stairs to meet him. Samantha does not like being ignored and takes an attack of opportunity.
The basilisks really like Rysk, but he's already slowed, so they have to focus to affect him further.
Red Dotted Lizard (11 damage)
Radim (Slowed 1, Fort Save DC 22, 10 damage if he succeed the Fort Save)
Samantha (Avert Gaze)
Pre Fix (Avert Gaze)
Eddie (Avert Gaze)
Rysk (Slowed 1)
Dran'Tilt (Avert Gaze, 10 damage if Radim Fails the Fort Save)
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Samantha raises her head and makes a threatening approach as her crest flares.
Samantha follows up with a massive overhand slash.
The basilisk never had a chance, as your combined efforts tear it to shreds.
Naturally, the guards arrive just as you slay the final basilisk. "Kesstraka!" The finest dressed guard looks at her, then turns to you. "Greetings, I'm Captain Hazar. I heard a violent hissing noise and got here as soon as I could."
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Eddie doesn't notice anything odd with the hissing.
Eddie pulls out a couple plump juicy berries from their pocket, dusts off the bits of bark and lint and hands them to Radim "Fix you up nice!" And then proceeds to see if they can help the stoned woman, otherwise they relax somewhere cool and dark to refocus.
"Hmm... a basilisk?" He looks at the corpse and the statue of Kesstraka. "Ah, of course! We can smear some of its blood on the statue to free her..." He points to some of the guards. "You heard him! On the double!"
Kesstraka's demanor breaks for just a moment as she spits out some basilisk blood. "Never a dull moment in this job." She looks at her dress. "This will require several days in the laundry." Kesstraka renews her demeanor. "But I thank you, Captain. I think things are under control here?"
Captain Hazar nods. "Yes, this isn't my first basilisk rodeo. We'll perform a formal investigation, track down where they came from. But the immediate crisis is resolved." He turns to the other guards. "Alright, let's clean this up!" The guards begin to haul basilisk carcasses away.
Kesstraka pulls up a chair at a large table. "Now that the small talk and entertainment are taken care of..." She motions to the chairs. "Let's get down to business."
“Tell me of the lands that you come from. What is your peoples’ greatest achievement, the thing you are most proud to show to the rest of the world?”
“We have those here who range and explore in the wilds and go on grand adventures. I am told it is a business that keeps your mind on the present. But what about your future? Do you ever think about your plans five years from now? Ten?”
“Explorers and adventurers like to talk about their great achievements, I find. But not so often do they tell tales of their mistakes. Will you share with me a time you failed?”
“You have come a long way to negotiate a trade agreement—and from what I am told, you do not belong to this Vidrian you represent. Why come all this way to speak for another?”
Kesstraka is quite chatty, but she's also patient, giving you a few opportunities to respond or start your own conversation.
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A circle of smoke in the air...
I come from Alkenstar of course! The place where people and the dwarfs first are in advance on the other parts of Golarion. we developed all the technology to construct robots and build some weapons from a new age. Look at this one.
And he produces his Hammer gun before her marveled eyes.
Diplomacy:
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Eddie bows, removing their pirate hat, as Samantha had done earlier "Hello, I am Eddie 'Bo' Leetus. You ask many interesting questions.. questions I don't usually think about.. hrmm.." They take a few moments to think, as they do Toady gives Eddie some guidance on the task at hand.
"I prefer to not fight, I come from the forests far to the north, where its much cooler and less sweaty." They bob their head a few times in self-agreement. "I like to travel and see new places, especially the wild places between places. Someone needs to look at both the wild places and the people places to make sure things are doing ok."
Eddie ponders a bit on the question of failure and long term plans.
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Thank you. Radim nods to Bo and eats the berries.
_____
Do you ever think about your plans five years from now? Ten?
.
My father is a famous venture capitan. My mother is no less well-known Pathfinder, although without such high-profile titles... Here he hesitates a little, as he suspects that his mother may be a member of the Decemvirate ...I can firmly say one thing - no one has prevented so many mass catastrophes as the Pathfinder Society. And in 5 and 10 years we will be doing the same - save the world - in addition to treasure hunting and other similar things.
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Samantha introduces herself, before playing bad lizard.
"I, Samantha, hail from the Sable Tip Tribe.
Beset upon by the ferocious Terwa Lords, I know that one would do well to seek out any allies again, and do do so before the storm, for as many in my tribe learned too late, when you are already beset it is too late to make friends."
"The Terwa Lords." Kesstraka almost hisses before catching herself. "We do not agree with their beliefs or methods, they consider us weak for using our words instead of our claws. My mother always wished they would learn the power of allegiances."
She stands up from her seat. "There are too many to ponder at this point. I need some time to consider who was behind this." She gestures to the trails of basilisk blood. "Unfortunately I have a few appointments that will prevent me from joining your Vidrian trade talks. If I may give some advice? A variety of topics will help you, more than a simple silver tongue."
She gets up and leaves, thanking you and the guards for your help.
With your discussion complete, you return to the embassy. Eras and Calisro are reading the documents when they look up at the door opening.
“Hey, it was worth a shot.” Calisro remarks by way of congratulations, raising her glass as though in salute. “Kesstraka's always busy, we don't need her to get this trade deal in the bag. Besides, we have one more lizardfolk for you to wrangle.”
Eras rolls his eyes and sighs slightly at Calisro’s comment, before resuming his previous pleasant demeanor. “Other than the fact that they prefer the term ‘iruxi,’ and that we wouldn’t want to imply any disrespect by comparing them to farm animals, my colleague here is correct: there is one more local whose support we hope you can secure. It’s one of the members of the Council of Stars, the ruling body of Ekkeshikaar that we’ll be arguing our case to tomorrow. His name is Lashweather—apparently he gained it in his youth, when he served as a weather mage aboard an iruxi...” he coughs meaningfully “...shall we say, ‘privateering vessel?’”
This time it’s Calisro who rolls her eyes, jabbing Eras playfully in the ribs. “The word you want is ‘pirate,’ Eras. No need to dance around it here.”
Eras frowns uncomfortably. “If we’re too loose with our words in private, it becomes all the easier to slip up and say it in person. And the last thing we need is to offend the man.”
Calisro snorts. “I’ve never known a pirate who couldn’t handle being called a pirate. Hells, it’d probably be a good way to win him over.”
“With any luck,” Eras retorts, “we won’t need to win him over. Our sources indicate he’s predisposed towards our cause, the problem is that he apparently hasn’t been seen in days and isn’t responding to messengers. We’re worried he may not show. Apparently, it wouldn’t be the first time. So, we want you to head to his observatory—it’s a tower on the edge of the city, you can’t miss it—and make sure he’ll be there tomorrow.”
“And try not to do anything that’ll make him change his mind about voting our way, yeah?” Calisro adds playfully.
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Eddie listens quietly to the VCs, they are a good listener, or at least they look that way. Finally after some thought Eddie speaks up "Did you hear Kesstraka was turned to stone by some basilisks? They don't let them wander the city do they? Seems like it would be a hazardous place to live if so." They bobble their head more rapidly than usual.
"Maybe Lashweather was also attacked and turned to rock. This wouldn't be good!" Eddie bobs vigorously, agreeing with Dran and Pre they should head out immediately.
"Basilisks?" Eras the Needle frowns. "I know they sometimes prowl outside the city limits, but why would they be-"
"Sabotage." Captain Benarry sobers up. "There are some isolationists who don't like outsiders meddling with their trade routes. Knocking Kesstraka off the table for a few days would give us one less advantage during negotiations."
"My friend here has a point..." Eras the Needle replies. "We'll check up with the authorities to get a report on their research, and apologize to Kesstraka. In the meantime, please ensure Lashweather is safe."
---
The walk from the embassy to the observatory takes 15 minutes.
The observatory takes the form of a spiraling white stone tower, worn smooth by age or craftsmanship, that rises some forty feet into the air before widening rapidly to create a circular platform, covered by a glass dome, creating the overall impression of a giant egg in a stone nest. A set of chimes made from hollowed bones hangs next to the only visible entrance, a round stone door at ground level.
The door is locked, but a simple knock is enough to alert your presence. But no one answers immediately. You're not sure if he's safe, or busy. There must be some way to get his attention...
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"Let's knock louder.. and maybe look around the outside some? Does anyone climb good?" Eddie asks.
Eddie starts to look around for anything that could be deemed odd or suspicious, pressing their toadstool face up against the glass and peering inside when possible.
"Oh!" Eddie squeaks as they run face first into the hanging chime.
About 10 minutes of knocking and ringing later, you hear the door open. "Good news, everyone! I've discovered an all-new astrological analysis technique! It involves a celestial alignment that will take a week to complete. Now, it's important that nothing interrupt me during my research. So good bye!" Lashweather half-heartedly closes the door before turning around and heading right up the stairs.
Luckily he forgot to actually lock it.
It seems as though every inch of space in this cluttered tower is spoken for. Rising from cramped living quarters on the ground floor, successive floors require navigating a narrow, meandering path between pieces of furniture piled nearly to the ceiling with books and tomes on astrology, astronomy, and weather patterns, both magical and mundane, as well as star charts and the various tools used to make them. Only on the top floor is there any space to speak of, with the various desks and tables all pushed to the edge of the circular room, leaving a large circle in the middle where various constellations have been inlaid into the stone floor in silver.
Lashweather is already glued to the massive telescope.