Despite the close quarters combat involved Avi's crossbow shot finds its mark and fells the last lacedon!
Andros continues battling the flames.
With only one area left to search the Pathfinders enter the hold where the slaves were imprisoned. The stench of death is even stronger as the remains of many other slaves float in the seawater leaking into the hold.
(low-light)
Andros finds a small padlocked chest of wood and hardened leather. Inside, wrapped in moldering velvet, rest four tablets each crafted from a different material— copper, gold, lead, and black slate. The crudely fashioned tablets are incredibly ancient forgeries of the original tablets marking the royal seals of four of the Old Azlant’s noble houses. Regardless of their non-authenticity, their uncanny detail provides great insight into lost languages and historical data associated with the four houses.
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The dwarf kicks some water on the fire and then kicks the undead bodies a few times, "Well, there we go. Let's find those tablets before this place sinks."
He sighs at the loss of life as they look, "I really hoped we coulda saved some of them. This ain't no way to go out. Maybe shoulda let the ship burn, one o dem pyre thingies and all."
And then he heads upstairs to see if fancy pants managed to scarper off.
Pip glares at him, "The murdering slaver? Just let him go? No penalties for his horrible crimes? Yeah? That work for you?"
Still trussed up like a chicken DuMoire stays silent.
The group gags DuMoire and Nails, not slowed by the extra weight, loads DuMoire into the rowboat. You quickly salvage anything valuable along with him and row back to the docks.
In a normal, lawful city one would expect such a situation to attract some commentary or even attention from the constabulary. However in Diobel that's far from the case and it seems such things are a regular enough occurrence. The couple guards near the merchant area of town quickly buy Avi's tale that DuMoire simply enjoyed shore leave too much and needs to sober up. Oddly DuMoire doesn't resist or try to draw attention.
When you enter The Tails, Osprey is still at the table where he met you earlier. He stands and greets you, "Welcome back. It appears you brought a friend with you too. Were you able to find what you were looking for?"
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Avi holds up wrapped tablets.
Here are the tablets. We believe they are counterfeits, but still quite valuable. They convey accurately information about the actual time of the original tablets. And...
he nods at Nails to throw captain DuMoire forward towards Osprey.
One thieving and slaving captain. We figure the society can figure out what to do with him, which authorities they'd best like to work with, and so on. That is... above our pay grade.
"It's above mine too. And although the moment won't last for long your efforts have reduced the risk of war starting between Andoran and Cheliax. I knew I picked the right team and you all did an excellent job! Come, let's get back to the Grand Lodge as swiftly as possible."
Osprey and your group hustle back to the docks and an awaiting ship. Once everyone and everything is safely aboard, Osprey gives the word to the Captain to set sail for Absalom!
All of you receive several agents who congratulate you on your accomplishments while you wait for word from Osprey. When you next see him he hurries over to you and tells you, "You've got to make this quick. We need to get you cleaned up and changed into better clothing; you have an appointment."
A quick visit for some prestidigitation and some borrowed finery later your team is brought to one of the ceremonial halls in the Grand Lodge. Among the introduced visitors are the Ambassadors from both Andoran and Cheliax. It doesn't take great insight to see these two men despise one another but maintain a civil front for the occasion.
Both Ambassadors congratulate you on a job well done and you are invited to a dinner in your honor!
A couple of days later hushed whispers travel the halls of the Grand Lodge and your curiosity gets the better of you. At the end of the docks in Absalom is a grim display: Dariselle DuMoire's corpse swinging from a yardarm. A sign hangs around his neck detailing his lengthy crimes for which he was given the ultimate punishment...
Pip is happy. Well, he isn't, really, but he is content, "Well, justice was served at least. I'm honestly surprised. Maybe this organization will be able to do some good things. I think I'll stick around."