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It is a hot, breezeless evening in Katapesh. Here, in a meeting room atop Farseer Tower, the curtains hang listlessly even with the windows thrown open. Unfortunately, the only thing hotter than the air is Venture-Captain Wulessa Yuul’s ire.
Why must I share Katapesh with so-called equals who are incompetent? She huffs between gritted teeth, pacing back and forth before calming herself. My pardon. Let me explain. Some months ago, the crypt of Zahari Mahiman—a scholar and sage from the Age of Enthronement—was rediscovered out in the wastes. I, personally, have long sought one artifact reputedly interred with him: the Monadistic Archive, a collection of scrolls from the Jistkan Imperium. Unfortunately, she grits her teeth, It fell under the purview of the Kotargo Lodge to arrange an expedition. Venture-Captain Dulm took his time getting things underway, in spite of my own requests for urgency and offers of assistance. As a result, by the time his agents got there, the place had already been looted.
Phlegos Dulm’s complacency aside, not all is bleak. The adventurers who looted the crypt were not scholars; they were simply looking to exploit the wonders of the past. The Monadistic Archive, in particular, was sold to Palhuna Murqual, a merchant here in Katapesh. I believe he bought the archive assuming it was merely a magical storage device, not an esoteric repository of lore indecipherable by him. He has shown interest in selling—at a profit, of course—and I need you to make the purchase. I have an Abadaran promissory note that should cover the price, but he is crafty and may bargain for more. I want the archive, whatever it costs. I can’t pay more gold than I already have offered, but if you can find other means of appeasing Murqual, I encourage you to do so.
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Djahan listens to the Venture Captain and thinks. His black hair and blue eyes look almost human but it is clear that the more bestial aspects of his fiendish ancestors dominate his appearance.
This Tiefling exhibits fine sharp teeth and has a long, flexible tail that is moving with each step. It is clear that his feet are more bestial than those of a human and resemble those of a clawed predator.
He wears a fullplate that looks like it has seen battle recently.
He has a sheathed longsword, a bardiche in his hand, a morningstar at his side and a heavy shield as well as greatsword on his back.
Resting on top of his chest, an amulet showing the holy symbol of Irori is visible.
"It is great seeing you all. I hope we’re going to make a great team!!” he says and looks at all of you with a smile.
He looks at the Venture-Captain and nods.
"Can you please give us more information on the archive and this merchant? Anything we need to know about the adventurers that sold the archive? I have not been to Katapesh before … anything to know about this place?"
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The Monadistic Archive is a chest containing numerous magical scrolls. I believe they are currently inactive, but I know a ritual to access their secrets. In fact, I might need your assistance with that later. Until then, it’s best not to open it.
As for Murqual, he is the sort who can see the value in a team of Pathfinders. That’s one reason I am sending you. After Dulm’s gaff, I also recognize that I am too incensed to deal with Murqual in person.
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A jolly gnome with bright red hair and beard smiles and chuckles as he learns the situation.
"Oho, so we're to appease Murqual, are we?" he asks, with a twinkle in his eye. He cracks his knuckles. "Surely he'll enjoy a good show. Would the archive be larger in size than... say... a chicken?"
As if on cue, a chicken indeed pokes its head out of the gnome's backpack.
"Ah," he adds, "It certainly should be. In any case, I'm sure we will be of service, to you, to him, to both, somehow I suspect it doesn't matter as long as we all come to an amenable agreement. Brilliant!"
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An average height Tian-Shu stands, leaning on his staff as he does, and says, "If this Palhuna Murqual tries to get us to do something in addition to the promissory note, what are expectable options? If we reach an stalemate, what are are orders then? Are we to offer to come back to see if more is possible, or are we authorized to use force?"
"Also, what is the Laws of Katapesh when it comes to combat in general, especially if it's in self-defense."
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Tongue poking slightly out of her closed mouth and brow furrowed in concentration, a Halfling woman nimbly hops over Djahan's tail as it sways. A single bead of sweat has started it's slow crawl down the side of her face.
"Oh, oh, oh, has anyone- Damn!" she starts as the tail makes contact with her leg. Taking a spinning step away, she continues. "Anyone heard of Mr. Murqual before? I've never been to Katapesh either! Are there any cultural norms we should follow? I don't want to offend anyone or get into trouble!" At least trouble I didn't mean to start, haha!
She absent-mindedly wipes the sweat from her face. "I'm Ruby! I'll try to stay out of everyone's way and I promise to try to be useful!" She offers Djahan a high five and cheers, "Go team!"
"Oh look! A chicken! I spoke to a farmer once, ok, ok, I got this, um, is it a hen or a rooster?" she asks, looking at the bird with glee. She sticks her elbows out and flaps them gently as they make eye contact.
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Findlefarb brightens as Ruby examines the chicken. "Oh, this one? A hen. I always travel with a chicken. I've never found a situation where I'm better off without a chicken than with one."
He turns to face Ruby, tips his cap, and bows with a flourish. "I am Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteemed Jester of the Buoyantly Joyful Court of Count Razimov, Fenwick Findlefarb Tippletree Woogodoo Nanoquick Balnibarbi Kruknik Whoopsalittleovertotheleftnexttime Nashizzar, the Fourth."
Keeping his bow low, but tilting his head up to look in Ruby's eyes with a beatific smirk, he finishes, "And who do I have the honor of addressing?"
The hen looks around, confused.
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A quite thin man with pale skin seems to appear out of nowhere. Those who are very perceptive might notice that he was standing half behind the curtains before. The man is wearing a lamellar cuirass and has a rapier in his belt.
"Dr. John Watson, Investigator. Pleasure to meet you."
He turns to Djahan Ruuh.
"I am quite good at detection, deduction and persuasion; I'm quick on my feet and really good at not being noticed; I am gifted in the language department and speak several of them; I can open locks and disarm traps (even magical ones); and I dabble in alchemy."
He pauses briefly.
"Oh, and I know things. I read a lot! However, my melee skills definitely need more work. Although I got the basics down - I think..."
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"The Fourth?!" Ruby exclaims, clapping her hands together. "Is there a Fifth? Is the First still alive? What happens if there are twins?" she rambles before jumping tracks to an entirely new line of inquiry. "Does your hen have a name? Can I pet her?" She hesitantly starts reaching a hand out, but retracts it, clearly the battleground between the impulse to do and the wisdom to wait for permission.
"I'm Ruby! ...just Ruby. I don't have any titles or fanciness," she explains. "I do like magic though and helping!" Eeeeeeeeee I wonder what magic we will find on a trip to an unknown land! Maybe I'll learn a new spell? OR SEE AN EXPLOSION?!
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Palhuna Murqual is known as one of the preeminent vendors of magical and mundane devices created for the specific purpose of restraining and storing living (or unliving) beings. Rumor has it that he has a side trade in smuggling kidnapped victims within his wares. Troubles with that business recently cost him some of his more experienced servants, and he is said to be looking for agents to ‘get a few things done’.
Nothing from the K Arcana checks so far.
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Findlefarb's piercing blue eyes look into Ruby's. "The hen is part of my act," he explains, "and you're free to pet her, Ruby."
The gnome looks out the nearest window wistfully. "And perhaps the esteemed Murqual will appreciate the performance."
"Dr. Watson, would you happen to have any deductions regarding the Archive?"
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The investigator shares his vast knowledge with the other pathfinders.
"Palhuna Murqual is known as one of the preeminent vendors of magical and mundane devices created for the specific purpose of restraining and storing living (or unliving) beings. Rumor has it that he has a side trade in smuggling kidnapped victims within his wares. Troubles with that business recently cost him some of his more experienced servants, and he is said to be looking for agents to ‘get a few things done’."
"The Monadistic Archive is said to be a Jistkan collection of knowledge..."
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"Goodness, imagine carrying around a number of baubles to store animal specimens! An enterprising fellow could safely transport exotic beasts for study in Absalom, but a nefarious ne'er-do-well could run around with a number of them trapped in balls to be used for gladiatorial combat."
The truth then dawned on the gnome. "This has nothing to do with specimen transport after all, does it? Dear me..."
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Once you are ready, Wulessa hands you a promissory note worth 10,000 gp from the bank of Abadar and sends you to Murqual’s establishment in the Lower
City.
Suddenly, out of thin air something starts to materialize.
A phantom in incorporeal form appears which looks like the ghostly apparition of a young boy!
”Oh come on!! Not these Pathfinders again! Ehh ... wasn't the Gnome female last time? I was just playing!!! Why am I here?! And you … “ the apparition says with a grin, ”… you are coming to term with me as it seems!!!!“ the phantom shouts pointing at Djahan!
The small phantom clearly seems surprised but claps its hands.
"Well, as child labor and endangering youths seems to mean nothing to you I can also stay now! Right? So let us check everything ouuuuutt!" the phantom says with a funny tone.
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"Oh, sorry, I just get excited! I'll try to talk less, but maybe instead I could be a distraction while you all do something sneaky like?" Ruby suggests in response to Djahan's observation. "Then it wouldn't be rude, but helpful!"
The Halfling pales a little as the Doctor explains what he knows. "Smuggling people?" she says, aghast. "That's terrible! And we need to offer to work for him if he asks for more than your offer?" Ruby wrings her hands. I don't like this, I don't like this one bit! "Maybe even if he asks us to do some nasty things, we can do it our way and keep people from being hurt?"
Taking the promissory note of more money than she's ever seen in her life, she turns around to find... a ghost? "Djahan, do we need to see a priest before we go? I'm sure we can fit a little detour into our trip once we hear from our temporary employer!" Assuming a quick exorcism is now on the agenda, she skips to the door, cartwheels through it, and sets off in the direction of Murqual's establishment of ill-repute.
Djahan's youthful spirit starts laughing .
“Ha ha … you are so soft Djahan-in-flesh!“ the phantom shouts and then dissolves again into thin air.
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"The Monadistic Archive is said to be a Jistkan collection of knowledge..."
"...and supposedly it does not merely document lore from that era, but actually binds the minds of great thinkers into a mental compendium."
The investigator then answers Ruby:
"I also think that it's terrible if it is treue that Murqual is indeed smuggling people. I will not participate in slave trading... I hope we can get other things done for him, if need be..."
He trails off when the phantom appears and watches in awe until it disappears again.
"A phantom? Fascinating. Can you control when he materializes? I supposed it might spook Palhuna Murqual if he suddenly appears. Oh, I see Ruby is already gone. I think we should follow her quickly - to protect both her and the promissory note that she carries.."
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When we get near the shop, Huong will retrieve and use his Wand of Mage Armor. He then looks at the group and says, "Anyone else? I am willing to share."
As to the back and forth about Dhajan's guest, Huong simply shrugs and says, "I don't see what all the fuss is about. In Tien culture the presence of spirits is pretty much normal."
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When we get near the shop, Huong will retrieve and use his Wand of Mage Armor. He then looks at the group and says, "Anyone else? I am willing to share."
As to the back and forth about Dhajan's guest, Huong simply shrugs and says, "I don't see what all the fuss is about. In Tien culture the presence of spirits is pretty much normal."
Djahan looks at the Huong Chan and simply nods.
"Thank you for your understanding. Let us hope that others will as forthcoming and understanding ... Djahan-in-spirit is the name that we use ... the phantom believes to be me. So I apologize for any confusions going forward!" he says with a bow to his companions.
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Dr. Watson answers Huong: "Well, I am wearing armor, but it is nowhere near as protective as the spell you just cast, so I will take you up on that offer. I own a brand new healing wand myself, but currently I am usable to use it..."
He turns to the gnome.
"While we are on this mission, may I entrust you with it, Sir Findlefarb? I believe bards are familiar with this kind of magic. Please use it on any member of this group if they get hurt. The command phrase is 'Klarum Purum'."
He draws his wand and offers it to the gnome.
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"I also have a wand to cure wounds but I also have some rudimental skill in using it.."
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components V, S, F (a piece of cured leather)
Range: touch Target: creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance: no
An invisible but tangible field of force surrounds the subject of a mage armor spell, providing a +4 armor bonus to AC.
Unlike mundane armor, mage armor entails no armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, or speed reduction. Since mage armor is made of force, incorporeal creatures can't bypass it the way they do normal armor.
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Finding Murqual’s shop is easy enough. A few discreet inquiries lead through the Lower City to a wooden door crowned by a plaque that reads “Palhuna Murqual, Vendor of Fetters, Bindings, and Cages Mundane and Mystic.” His establishment defies the stereotype for a shop in the infamous Nightstalls. It boasts a permanent location, instead of one that could be broken down and moved with ease. It is quite lavishly appointed, rather than being a shadowy, smoky hovel, and the air smells of vanilla and cardamom rather than incense. Inside, deep carpeting covers the floor. Chains and shackles, ranging in size from mist-thin links to cuffs that would hold a titan, hang along one wall. Another wall holds an array of mirrors— some reflecting the room and some showing the insides of a bare cell. Lanterns and cages hang from ceiling rafters, and glass cases hold etched gemstones and glass bottles. A central space is cleared of wares, instead sporting several plush seats arranged around a silver samovar.
An obese man swaddled in silks occupies a sofa before the samovar. Standing to his left is a slim, younger man holding a ledger. The fat man makes a series of complicated hand gestures to the standing man, who, after a moment, bows to the PCs and speaks. My esteemed master, Palhuna Murqual, bids you welcome. Please, be seated. Business should be conducted comfortably.
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Ruby stops a step through the main threshold of the shop and inhales deeply, several times in a row. "OOHHHHH do you smell that? It is heavenly!" She sighs contentedly, lost somewhere within the rails of her mind.
It isn't until someone is two steps into getting around her that she comes to with a start. "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" she says, scrambling out of the way, blocking even more of the way, and almost tripping over the hem of her robe as she does.
Tucking low behind the others, she points to the glass cases filled with etched gemstones and glass bottles, and nudges Findlefarb gently on the arm. "Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteemed Jester of the Buoyantly Joyful Court of Count Razimov, Fenwick Findlefarb Tippletree Woogodoo Nanoquick Balnibarbi Kruknik Whoopsalittleovertotheleftnexttime Nashizzar, the Fourth, wait, no, Mister Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteemed Jester of the Buoyantly Joy- or is it Sir Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteem- ugh, never mind! YOU, are those the animal baubles? They look like they could fit in my pockets so easily! And you're sure there are animals inside of them?" Evidently, the start to this social encounter just isn't as enticing as the wondrous possibility of having special little beasts nestled safely in one of her pouches.
It isn't until others move that she unthinkingly keeps step with them, her eyes on the prize. Wow, now THAT'S a soft couch! Wait, when did I get here?
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Huh. Now THAT's interesting. Why would they put on such a charade?
He bows to both men, then sits down and introduces himself.
"I am Dr. John H. Watson. Pleasure to meet you."
He waits until everyone is settled in, then continues.
"We are indeed here on business. Rumor has it that you consider selling a magical storage device - including its contents - called the Monadistic Archive. We might be interested - depending on the price, of course."
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He turns to the gnome.
"While we are on this mission, may I entrust you with it, Sir Findlefarb? I believe bards are familiar with this kind of magic. Please use it on any member of this group if they get hurt. The command phrase is 'Klarum Purum'."
He draws his wand of CLW and offers it to the gnome.
"Certainly, Dr. Watson! I'd be more than happy to assist. I've got a healing wand of my own, as well, as necessary."
Tucking low behind the others, she points to the glass cases filled with etched gemstones and glass bottles, and nudges Findlefarb gently on the arm. "Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteemed Jester of the Buoyantly Joyful Court of Count Razimov, Fenwick Findlefarb Tippletree Woogodoo Nanoquick Balnibarbi Kruknik Whoopsalittleovertotheleftnexttime Nashizzar, the Fourth, wait, no, Mister Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteemed Jester of the Buoyantly Joy- or is it Sir Grand High and Most Inimically Holy and Extremely Esteem- ugh, never mind! YOU, are those the animal baubles? They look like they could fit in my pockets so easily! And you're sure there are animals inside of them?" Evidently, the start to this social encounter just isn't as enticing as the wondrous possibility of having special little beasts nestled safely in one of her pouches.
The gnome chuckles. "Please, you're a friend, Findlefarb is fine! As for the baubles, these would likely not have animals already, as Murqual sells the tools for us to fill ourselves. We will just need to find our own companions."
An obese man swaddled in silks occupies a sofa before the samovar. Standing to his left is a slim, younger man holding a ledger. The fat man makes a series of complicated hand gestures to the standing man, who, after a moment, bows to the PCs and speaks. My esteemed master, Palhuna Murqual, bids you welcome. Please, be seated. Business should be conducted comfortably.
Findlefarb grins widely. "Thank you, good sir! Comfort is most welcome." He folds his legs beneath him, falling to the floor, only to be caught by a suddenly appearing blue cushion with yellow tassels on the corners.
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"Yay! We're friends now!" Ruby whispers with glee, clapping her hands together.
Finally noticing a conversation is happening that might be a little more important than her idle wonderings and whimsy, she stares intently at their hosts. Her eyes widen and strain a little with effort. I'll ask him about the baubles later. First work, then play. The baubles will be there when we're done. What would I put in a bauble? Bauble. Baaaauble. That's a fun word. Baublebaublebaublebauble...
"Oh yes, let's talk! What's that smell? How do you do it? Can I-" she slaps her hands over her mouth as it becomes clear that Skurge had a different sort of conversation in mind. A muffled "Sowwee," escapes the cage of her fingers.
A bunny, that's what I'd put into a BaUbLe!
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As cups of mint tea are passed around, you make your offer. He nods appreciatively at the sum of the promissory note but informs you that he has already received an offer for the item well exceeding Wulessa’s bid. While I respect the Pathfinder Society, to sell to you would seem favoritism. And I’m not inclined to favor one customer over another—without there being an equal favor, in return...
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I'm SO glad you asked.
I have three tasks. Because Palhuna Murqual is as generous as an oasis you may decide among them for those which suit you. He begins to count off tasks on his fingers. I have some sensitive merchandise being delivered by problematic dealers. Another recent acquisition has some unpleasant protective magic that I need dealt with. Finally, you can be my agents to make a purchase from another acquaintance.
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Ruby smiles at her steaming cup of mint tea and sighs deeply, the warm haze first creeping to her nose before being rudely blasted down to the sides of the cup. I could get used to this... Noticing her reflection in the fine liquid, she sticks her tongue out to the side and contorts her face.
"Which one of those tasks involve slaves or trafficking people?" she asks, surly turning the nearest hammer green with her bluntness. "Er, I mean, hypothetically, if any of these tasks were to involve moving people who didn't want to be moved, which one or ones would they be?" She narrows her eyes and raises her brow, giving Palhuna Murqual a knowing look. "Is there anything else you can tell us about these favors?"
Nailed it!
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Findlefarb grins from his cushion, raising his cup of mint tea. "Oh, let's not immediately impugn our esteemed business partner after he showed such generosity! We are Pathfinders, after all, and there's nary a more resourceful group anywhere to be found."
The gnome puts down his cup of tea and snaps his fingers. A pipe appears in his hand. Bubbles rise from the bowl as he puffs away. "Now then, I see your generosity. You could simply take another bid, but you recognize that working with the Pathfinders have greater, long-term potential. You are a most astute businessman. Let's continue this discussion. Explore your needs and your concerns, and let's see if there isn't a better deal to be had between your enterprise, and the most enterprising individuals anywhere in Golarion!"