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Corey finds a dwarven merchant and chats him up, spinning some good yarns about the dwarves of the Five Kings Mountains...
Also, most merchants recommend avoiding Beggar’s Alley, which is home to a gang of pickpockets known as the Hundredfingers.
The Osirionologist Ionacu Lozar is in a terrible rush to get his expedition underway, but he is exceedingly stingy and has no patience for haggling. As a result, the few merchants who are willing to do business with him are taking their time delivering supplies to his caravan’s marshaling area.
Something has the Hundredfingers gang spooked. The normally ubiquitous thieves have been avoiding the bazaar for a few days.
Mistress Zelekhati of the Dancing Dunes is a collector of magical dusts and always accepts them as payment for her house’s services or her artwork. Some say that’s the secret of her magnificent tranquility garden. It may even have given the sand life as one customer claims he saw the patterns shift of their own accord.
An upcoming holy day of Sarenrae has people remembering how a cleric of the goddess tried to purge the land of evil over a hundred years ago; however, the ruins of the old city beyond the cliff walls still hide shrines to the old faiths, especially the serpent cult of Apep. The serpent god’s slithering children are blessed with the ability to go unnoticed by eyes accustomed to the Dawnflower’s light.
Armed with information, the party heads to Beggars' Alley. Here, two rows of decrepit wooden shacks are separated by an alley that serves more as a filthy runnel than a pathway. Broken wooden doors do little to keep the elements or vermin out, but there is little within to steal. Few of the shacks boast more than a chair or two and several threadbare bedrolls.
"Salves for sale! Herbal remedies!" cries a voice as a human woman with Thuvian features enters the alley. She is wearing a sandwich board and carrying a large satchel bag nearly spilling over with small bottles and vials. The board reads,
"Kura Shehr, Apothecary Extraordinary!
Herbs that Curb
All Pains that Perturb!
Salves Sempiternal!
Restores Flesh
As Readily
As the Legendary Sun Orchid Elixir
Restores Youth!"
Spying the party, she makes her way towards you. "Greetings and Good Fortune to you!"
"How youthful some of you look! And what luck for you, as my beatific blends can keep you looking that way as sure as my name is Kura Shehr." says the woman. "And for the rest of you, I can make your skin appear youthful again."
She eyes Theron. "And for the adventurers among you, I have not goods, but greats! Should you accidently trip on your blade or get thwocked by your own mace, my magical mixtures will seal any cut, banish any bruise, or soothe any burn."
"Adventures often have coin to spend, do they not? And you need not keep all my offerings for yourself. Buy one for a lover, a loved one, an ally, a patron, or even an acquaintance!" she continues. "Tell me, how many vials would you like?"
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You have a wonderful collection of herbs, Kura Shehr. You are a true healer and the locals are truly blessed to have such a wise woman in such places. Ashtoret pronounces this somewhat exaggeratedly, imitating the southern emotional manner of expression.
Please tell me, I noticed that there are no pickpockets here at all. Is this typical of these streets? Or did they go somewhere for some reason? The wizardess pretends to be the most innocent and naively bats her eyes when asking these questions.
"Hello, Kura Shehr! Nice to meet you! Wow, you have quite the assortment of cures. It'll be hard to decide what to buy. Hm... Ah, yes! Tell me, do you have anything that can neutralize poison?"
"Of course, I do!" Kura replies. She begins rifling through her satchel, looking for a vial. Finding what she was looking for, she offers it to Merida. "Here you are! All yours for just fifty pieces of gold."
Please tell me, I noticed that there are no pickpockets here at all. Is this typical of these streets? Or did they go somewhere for some reason? The wizardess pretends to be the most innocent and naively bats her eyes when asking these questions.
"Pickpockets!?" Kura replies, suddenly appearing concerned. She looks around nervously. "I am a new to this city, traveling here from far Thuvia. I was unaware of pickpockets being here. No one told me about them! Are you sure your source is reliable?"
Kura instantly pushes down on the contents of her satchel in an effort to close it tightly. A look of concern overtakes the Thuvian woman as she leans in closer to Ashtoret. "And, if so, please tell me. What have you heard about pickpockets here? Who or what should I be keeping an eye out for?"
"I am quite interested in what you have for sale. Do you have potions, that uh, one wouldn't be able to find in a standard potion shop?"
"Of course!" Kura declares. "My offerings are quite unlike any you would find in the Eto Bazaar."
Our source is fairly reliable, ma'am. Might want to tuck that fancy talisman in your shirt pocket...might be a good target. We could help you get somewhere safe...
"What? Oh?" Kura is unsure what Theron was referring to. Following his gaze to the talisman, she hastily shoves it into a shirt pocket. "Why, yes! Thank you! I am holding that particular item for a friend. It is not for sale."
"Now, what would you like to purchase? Should we conclude our transactions here or is there someplace safer you would suggest we go?" Kura inquires.
"I'm looking for potions and alchemical items that our superiors won't allow us to have... Liquid ice? Got any of that? Weapon blanches? Alkali flasks?"
"My, my, you have quite the list! Far more than I currently am carrying with me, I am afraid." Kura replies. "Why do you need so much and just who are these superiors of yours?"
Kura pauses for a moment, then inquires, "Say, one of the local orphans had recently mentioned that some around here work for 'the scarred man in a tub'. You don't happen to be one of them, do you? If so, I believe I have a cure, whether for terrible burns, necrosis, or withering!"
"I don't have such a precious miracle cure on me, of course," she continues. "But, if given the proper address, I would be happy to make a special delivery!"
"I could go with a cure potion?"
"Now that, I do have on hand!" Kura declares, producing a vial. "Just fifty gold pieces, please."
Endure Elements? Nightkit asks. I'd take a six-pack.
"I don't have that particular one on me, I must confess." says Kura.
Merida looks at the vial. "And this really neutralizes poison? I couldn't find such a potion anywhere else, including Absalom."
"It mostly neutralizes," Kura confesses. "Depends upon the poison, actually. But, if you are feeling less robust or healthy, it will restore your health!"
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Corey decides to not make any purchases at this time.
"Thank you for your time, however, I will not be needing anything at this time. Maybe later, though!"
Sensing something is "off" about the merchant woman, Corey attempts to find out what her intentions truly are. Especially after she asked who our superiors are. Surely she knows we are Pathfinders.
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Friends, we have to go, we have things to do. Kura Shehr, it was nice to meet you.
When the group moves away from the trader at a sufficient distance, Ashtoret will share her observations:
So that's why he's in a tub ... I guess he doesn't get out of it much. How much for that cure?
"So, you do know the scarred man?" Kura says. "What is it that ails him, do you know? Perhaps, I should see for myself so that I can whip up a curative potion. Or at least a mostly curative potion. I am offering fair deals, but I can only do so based on volume of sales. Will you tell me where this man is currently staying? From what little I have heard, he is in some need of my special talents."
Well, suppose it us better to have and not need that tge other way around, right?Theron says as he mulls over a purchase,.
Seebonickk fishes through his purse and hands him 50 gold.
"Here you go!"
"I am a woman of my word," Kura replies, exchanging the requested items for gold coin. "Now, what can you tell me about your bathing friend and where I might find him?"
Friends, we have to go, we have things to do. Kura Shehr, it was nice to meet you.
Sensing that her business has concluded, Kura heads down another ally with the remainder of her wares.
When the group moves away from the trader at a sufficient distance, Ashtoret will share her observations:
Within moments, a pair of thugs arrive. They begin breaking down shacks, pushing over tent poles, and causing enough ruckus that several of the locals to break from hiding and begin to flee.
Upon spying the party, the pair tosses caltrops into the streets.
Slides.
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I said I had met him ... but that was a while back in another place Nightkit replies - which was true. And as for your other question, he did not say and I felt it prudent not to ask.
She turns to leave. After Kura leaves ...
Thanks for the warning ... I suspect she's after the Grandmaster ... and I'd rather keep him alive ... he might be ... useful to me in the future
She then notices the two thugs. Hey Theron ... looks like those two wanna play. Let's say we give them some entertainment.
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"Red Mantis Assassin you say, Ashtoret? Strange. I wonder if she's also a member of that Hundredfingers gang we're supposed to investigate."
Corey turns towards the commotion created by the ruffians down the alley.
"Now why are those two causing trouble?" He asks while motioning at the two men down the alley.
"Hey, you two!" he calls out to the men,
"This is a quiet neighborhood! Quit causing trouble!"
He furrows his brow as the thugs toss caltrops on the ground,
"And quit littering!"
Noticing Merida draw her bow, Corey suspects trouble from the thugs and draws his bow as well.
"Red Mantis Assassin you say, Ashtoret? Strange. I wonder if she's also a member of that Hundredfingers gang we're supposed to investigate."
Corey turns towards the commotion created by the ruffians down the alley.
"Now why are those two causing trouble?" He asks while motioning at the two men down the alley.
"Hey, you two!" he calls out to the men,
"This is a quiet neighborhood! Quit causing trouble!"
He furrows his brow as the thugs toss caltrops on the ground,
"And quit littering!"
"The only litter that I see on the street is you!" One of the thugs yells back as he cracks his knuckles, clearly gunning for a fight.
"Good one, Knuckle," whispers the tatooed thug.
"Thanks, Tat. Thought you'd like it." The other thug replies.
"Let me try one, Knuckle," The tatooed thug quietly urges.
"Go for it, Tat." The other thug replies.
Tat shouts down the streets.
"How was that, Knuckle?" The tatooed thug asks.
"Could use some work, Tat." The other thug replies.
Tat thinks and is about to speak, but finds that it is not yet his turn!
As the Pathfinders prepare, the pairs' outline appears distorted, shifting, and wavering.
BATTLE IN BEGGAR'S ALLEY! - Round One Begins!
Seebonickk
Merida
Corey
Thug (Tat)
Theron
Thug (Knuckle)
Nightkit
Ashtoret
?
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"I'm ugly!?!" Corey calls back. "You, sir, are so ugly that you make onions cry!"
Corey suddenly notices the cocking of a crossbow on the roof to his left.
"Sniper, on the roof to the left." he says quietly, warning his teammates.
"Don't attack the sniper. I'll try to charm them.
With a wave of his hand and muttering an incantation, Corey casts charm on the sniper.
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With a wave of his hand and muttering an incantation, Corey casts charm on the sniper.
I know for a fact I'm not ugly...why..your mother told me so just last night... Theron says with a sly grin.
"That is a good one." Knuckles concedes.
"Here, have an ugly arrow... and another!"
"She missed!" Shouts Tat as the first arrow wizzes through his blurred form. This is quickly followed by "Awwp!"
BATTLE IN BEGGAR'S ALLEY! - Round One Cont'd!
Seebonickk
Merida
Corey
Thug (Tat) -18 HP
Theron
Thug (Knuckle)
Nightkit
Ashtoret
Sniper
The gnome considers his options.
One of the thus, having had his last thought interrupted by the business end of an arrow, declares, "None too sporting, that weren't. Good thing that I'm prepared."
He retrieves a potion and imbibes it. The label on the vial looks like it may be familiar.
BATTLE IN BEGGAR'S ALLEY! - Round One Cont'd!
Seebonickk
Merida
Corey
Thug (Tat) -13 HP
Theron
Thug (Knuckle)
Nightkit
Ashtoret
Sniper
Theron's javelin gets imbedded into a nearby shack.
One of the thugs, Knuckle, moves to attack Theron with a sap!
BATTLE IN BEGGAR'S ALLEY! - Round One Cont'd!
Seebonickk
Merida
Corey
Thug (Tat) -13 HP
Theron
Thug (Knuckle)
Nightkit
Ashtoret
Sniper
Nightkit nicks Knuckles.
From her perch on the rooftop, Kura retrieves a thunderstone and tosses it to the ground.
When it strikes the hard surface of the street, it creates a deafening bang that is akin to a sonic attack!
BATTLE IN BEGGAR'S ALLEY! - Round Two Begins!
Seebonickk
Merida
Corey
Thug (Tat) -13 HP
Theron
Thug (Knuckle) -6 HP
Nightkit
Ashtoret
Kura