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Heccan laughs audibly at Melufiuos' remark. "My dear lad, thank you for that. If there is one thing I have found lacking in my travels with our beloved Society is humor. Tell me, are you always this amusing? If so, the red will by on my coin for our return voyage. But alas, tying the lady up would be a bit drastic if not utterly bad form. We do not want to be perceived as Kuthites, eh? That being said, I have certain...abilities...that all but assure the lady shall accompany us should we decide it is in her best, or our, interest."
The former barrister bows deeply and reverently to Quiella. "My lady is too kind. I but humbly serve and am honored to use my many and varied talents to the benefit of our team. I have a knack for placing people at ease, and when one is comfortable, there is no telling what secrets they will spill." Heccan gives the gnome a wink.
"I also agree my lady. Let us speak to this Zeeva person we have heard so much about. Perhaps we may get to the root of the matter."
Heccan extends a gentlemanly hand, gesturing for Quiella to lead the way.
After speaking to a few friendly locals, you quickly locate The Green Market in the South Shore District of Korvosa.
The Green Market is a mostly wooden structure built like a massive barn. It stands on a flattened section of raised earth five feet higher than the surrounding street. The structure is only a single story, but the ceiling rises to twenty-five feet and has numerous glass skylights that can be opened and closed with extending poles and ladders for lighting and ventilation. To the south is the main entrance that has large iron gates which can be slid and chained shut. On the southeast and southwest sides are exterior docks with sliding bay doors, where farmers and merchants can unload the wares from their wagons directly into stalls or bring them into interior kiosks. Inside, the majority of the ground is hard-packed earth, except for the stalls, which have wood flooring. Only the four southeastern stalls carry goods other than produce. The southern-most stall has casks of wine, oils, and vinegar. The other stalls sell quality clothing, jewelry, and finished furniture. On the northeast side is an office that can be secured by another sliding iron gate. North of the office is the market’s back entrance. Finally, in the center north is a park-like area with a large tree and flowered bushes kept alive by an open skylight above.
After perhaps being slightly distracted by the wares, you ask around for Zeeva and a merchant helpfully points her out to you. The person in question is a stunning woman with chin-length, strawberry blonde hair, wide brown eyes, and a generous smile. She is wearing no armor and does not carry a weapon. Under her feet is a sleek, black cat that rubs itself on her ankle. After brief introductions, she greets you all warmly, "Thank you so much for coming. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I’ve complained to the city, but it’s as if the Aspis Consortium has bribed everyone or the authorities just don’t care. I’m happy to pay for your lodging while you’re helping me. If you like, I can show you around the market and answer any questions about anything you haven’t already been told."
"Oh, I haven't the faintest of idea of where they are located, sorry. Initially they wanted to buy the Green Market, but I wasn’t interested. It’s been very successful and, though I never thought I’d find myself saying this, I love what I do. Then they wanted to lease space inside of it, but when I found out what they wanted to sell I declined. That’s when they started to harass me."
"You see, they wanted to sell weapons, armor, and magic goods. Those things have their place, but my customers are not adventurers. They are people looking for food and goods they need to survive. The Green Market is a community-based business."
"At first they just sent over pompous businessmen to convince me an alliance would benefit us both. I repeatedly declined their advances, so they started sending around thugs to 'persuade' me. Till now, I’ve run to the city guard or otherwise eluded the Aspis thugs, but it’s only a matter of time before their methods of intimidation get too dangerous for me to refuse."
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Heccan listens aloofly as Valandil queries Zeeva as he looks about the market. Heccan thinks about what he sees Quaint but impressive. I wonder if I could ever have been satisfied with such a humble but profitable venture. I suppose I will never know...
After a few moments, the Chellaxian perks up and offer Zeeva a wickedly charming smile. "At last, the Lady Foxglove" Heccan bows deeply as would a proper noble then straightens. "Please be assured you are know in the most capable hands. I am Heccan Abraxi, most formerly of the House Abraxi, Egorian, though I am no longer consider a part of that family. I pledge to you that we will ended this barbaric oppression to your free market rights. I must say it sickens me to think these ruffians would try to intimidate a most stunning and achieved merchant such as yourself. I assume these snakes have left open a channel of communication? A place to meet should you change your mind?" Heccan smiles and looks about the market curiously. "perhaps we may discuss this as you show us to your most interesting marketplace."
"I'm afraid that I've just spurned every attempt they made to do business, I don't know of any way to contact them. They've always just come to the market. Perhaps if the Aspis Consortium sees that I have protectors of the likes of you Pathfinders, they’ll leave me alone. How about you stick around the market and see what they do? It’s only a matter of time until they come back to try and strong-arm me again. You're welcome to come up with another plan, I'll just feel safer if at least some of you stay here during business." Zeeva suggests to the group as she begins to lead you around to show the various stalls and merchandise for sell.
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Heccan nods once to Zeeva. "Indeed, Lady Foxglove. I would rather like to meet these thugs in person. I am sure we have much to discuss." Heccan flashes Zeeva a wide evil looking grin. He turns to his fellow agents. "We may want to lay a trap of our own. Might I suggest that I wait with Lady Foxglove in the open with Quiella while the rest of you hide in ambush. I am hopeful to avoid conflict but it does not hurt to prepare worse outcomes. Also, if any one of you is particularly skilled at hiding or stalking, I could use my abilities to aid you so that you may follow one of these thugs to their base of operations. Once we have them, we can make arrangements to settle this dispute...permanently."
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During all of this, Mel is pretty quiet. Although upon seeing the graceful cat nuzzling her legs those next to the magus hear him mumble, "You see, that's how familiars are supposed to behave... I should have gotten a cat!" He swats at the parrot perched on top of his head, but the vain attempt only earns him another peck on the ear. "Ow, you know I need those, right?"
He does try to listen intently to Zeeva, wondering if she really does know why the consortium wants her place. He's a bit too superficial for that kind of stuff, though, so he knudges the wise monk beside him, whispering "What'da'ya think? Think she knows what they're really after?"
When Heccan gets around to the good stuff, Mel perks up. "I can sometimes avoid being noticed." He swats at the parrot on his head who then squawks very loudly. Sighing, "Really. My Lady Beltona is just being ornery. She knows what to do when things matter. But I'm not so good at that tracking stuff."
During the tour, he detects magic in the area, especially the tree and downward into the earthen platform. At this point, he is not hiding.
Melufiuos detects no magical auras in the market proper.
While Heccan begins to lead the group in making preparations to ambush the Aspis Consortium, a group of three men approach Zeeva and stand in her path. The robed figure then addresses her in a causal manner, "Good afternoon, Zeeva. Have you given anymore thought to our proposal?" With that the two men next to him adjust their heavy cloaks to reveal greatswords on their backs. "Why don't you come along with us to discuss business in private? We'd hate to cause a scene in such a serene setting as the Green Market."
Zeeva gulps and looks back at her group of Pathfinders, "Oh dear, that didn't take very long at all!"
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Heccan pauses in mid sentence as the band approaches. He smiles and approaches the group and speaks to the robed figure. "Ah yes Lady Foxglove, the interested part is indeed...interested. As you can see, the market is doing quite the business today, many customers with prying eyes. I believe my rather stern looking friend is in the right. Let us re-convene in a less open area and discuss what you desire from our dear friend."
As Valik drinks a potion and Melufiuos uses a wand, the group of three men begin to look nervous. The robed fellow calms down a little as he listens to the silver-tongued Heccan, "Well, we were thinking a private meeting. I guess it would be okay if you were to join us, but your friends aren't really invited. Especially the gnome with the mouth."
"Bah, these guys are getting ready to attack us, Narris. Don't listen to the slick guy." One of the thugs counsels, as he draws his greatsword and looks ready to attack. The other thug nods and draws his weapon as well, "Yeah, we just want the woman, we don't need no company. The bosses won't like company."
As combat begins to seem imminent, Zeeva swiftly moves away from the thugs and hides behind Valandil.
Initiative (Round 1)
Zeeva
Valandil <= Up
Robed Figure (Narris?)
Valik
2 Thugs
Heccan
Quiella
Melufiuos
Valandil casts a spell coating the gray-haired thug's greatsword with grease and it slips from his grasp.
Although he seems conflicted about doing any harm to Heccan, the robed figure identified as Narris casts a spell and a cloud of golden particles erupts from the sky around Melufiuos, Quiella, and Valik, threatening to blind them all and making invisibility quite impossible.
Afterwards, Narris moves away from the front-lines towards the tree growing in the north.
Initiative (Round 1)
Zeeva
Valandil
Robed Figure (Narris?)
Valik [Will save needed] <= Up
2 Thugs
Heccan
Quiella [Will save needed]
Melufiuos [Will save needed]
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Valik walks right past the brute protecting the caster who just tried to blind him. He walks past the caster, not caring about his dagger, premising that he is not that skilled with it.
That wasn’t necessary, why must you Aspis always resort to violence, as Valik tries to grab ahold of the robed man.
Valik avoids getting blinded and moves swiftly to intercept the spellcaster. He does not realize, however, that the thug still holding a greatsword has honed combat reflexes and Valik takes some injury from said weapon as her moves forward. The robed man also retaliates with a slash from his dagger, but it unable to pierce the monk's defenses. Nevertheless, Valik grabs hold of the robed figure and grapples him.
When it appears that Melufiuos is blinded and Quiella is not, the thugs ignore their supposed leader's plight and engage the Pathfinders. The man who lost his greatsword switches to a bow and fires an arrow at the flat-footed Quiella that just bounces off her armor.
The thug who still has he melee weapon moves forward to attack the blinded Melufiuos. He takes advantage of the Magus' disabled state to strike him in the torso, leaving a nasty injury. "Get gone or get dead."
Initiative (Rounds 1-2)
Valandil <= Up
Valik [15 Damage] <= Up
Zeeva
Narris (blue)
2 Thugs (red, purple)
Heccan <= Up
Quiella <= Up
Melufiuos [26 Damage; Blinded, DC 18 Will save at end of turn to negate] <= Up
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Valik gets slashed across the shoulder, his eyes show one of shock. He keeps moving though, undeterred and grabs ahold of the caster.
He continues to grapple the man, trying to forcefully move him towards his allies, refusing to allow him to stand in the back and pepper them with magic.
Valik easily moves the man against his will, holding him between all of his allies.
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Heccan wrinkles his face in distaste and takes a step back. "Ah yes, violence. How did I know it would come to this?" Heccan turns to Narris and quips "And here I thought we were getting along. You will find it would have been much preferable that way." Heccan's eye flash with concern as he sees Mel in trouble. "Let us better the odds."
Heccan begins to speak in a low guttural otherworldly language, loud enough to be heard but mumbled enough to obscure its substance. The infernal sorcerer grit his teeth as if in pain and calls upon his dark inner power unleashing it at Mel's attacker.
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level antipaladin 2, bard 2, bloodrager 3, cleric/oracle 2, inquisitor 2, shaman 2, sorcerer/wizard 3, witch 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, F/DF (a small, straight piece of iron)
EFFECT
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target one humanoid creature
Duration 1 round/level (D); see text
Saving Throw Will negates; see text; Spell Resistance yes
DESCRIPTION
The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place. It is aware and breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech. Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A winged creature who is paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A swimmer can’t swim and may drown.
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"The one with the mouth?" Quiella says to herself as she pulls out her sword. "If they don't like being called snakes... Why is it in their emblem?" Quiella approaches the nearest active foe. She slashes at him with her sword. "You're not nearly big enough to take me out, punk." She slashes again "This mouth has TEETH!"
for
for
While it initially looked like the purple thug was going to hit the blinded Melufiuos, the elf's honed instincts kick in and he dodges the greatsword blow.
Valandil begins casting a spell that takes a long time to finish.
Valik drags the grappled Narris towards the center of the group.
Heccan casts a spell that instantly paralyzes the thug next to Melufiuos.
Despite not being able to see, Melufiuos hits the paralyzed thug next to him, activating his stored spell and doing some sneak attack damage in the process. Afterwards, he steps away and casts Mirror Image, creating 5 duplicates of him.
Since the thug next to Melufiuos is paralyzed, Quiella instead steps up to the one with a bow and strikes him, but does not land a critical hit.
Zeeva eeps as events become more violent, then makes some strange hand gestures as she attempts to place a Hex on the thug with a bow. The man frowns as he feels the weight of Misfortune on his shoulders.
Narris attempts to break Valik's grapple, but fails miserably.
Finding himself without a non-greased melee weapon, the thug with a bow steps away from Quiella then attempts to hit her with two arrows. Thanks to his Misfortune, both arrows miss.
The thug breaks out of his magical paralysis with a growl and a litany of curse words. .
Initiative (Rounds 2-3)
Valandil <= Up
Valik [15 Damage] <= Up
Zeeva
Narris (blue)
2 Thugs (red, purple)
Heccan <= Up
Quiella <= Up
Melufiuos [Blinded, DC 18 Will save at end of turn to negate] <= Up
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A small sphere of light appears in amongst the Aspsis agents. A palatable aura of menace radiates from it, unsettling them. Perhaps more unsettling is the twin beams of light that jump from it, striking the man with the bow.
Meanwhile Valandil lifts his staff and calls out "If snakes you be, then let you meet some."
Two magical snakes, one black and one white spring from the tip of his staff, slamming into the archer. The elf then dashes back between the next row of stalls.
"Get out of there Zeeva"
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Heccan mutters a curse as the thug breaks his spell. "I need to work on that one...". The sorcerer surveys the field and spies the thug with the bow. Shaking hsi head, he winces as he once again calls upon his power. He speaks to the group "Do try to leave one alive please. I have questions."
Heccan's eyes flash red as he extends his palm toward the bow wielding foe. Two beams of blazing hot energy streak toward the man as Heccan lets loose a stifled cry of pain.
School evocation [fire]; Level sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect one or more rays
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes
You blast your enemies with a searing beam of fire. You may fire one ray, plus one additional ray for every four levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of three rays at 11th level). Each ray requires a ranged touch attack to hit and deals 4d6 points of fire damage. The rays may be fired at the same or different targets, but all rays must be aimed at targets within 30 feet of each other and fired simultaneously.
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The young magus grows a bit overconfident and begins laughing. "This is fun! What have you got for me, my old friend? I hope it isn't fragile!" He performs spell combat again, this time firing his wand of true strike before launching a non-lethal attack on the robed figure he cannot see.
At the end of my turn
"Awwww, I can see again. Bummer, I was having so much fun!"
Valik continues to drag the spellcaster around like a bag of flour, this time placing him near Melufiuos and Zeeva.
Valandil's summoning spell finishes, and a Lantern Archon appears. Although its menacing aura does not seem to affect the enemies at all, it does hit the enemy with the bow once with its light ray.
Valandil then uses his staff to cast two snake-like magic missiles at the archer.
Heccan casts a Scorching Ray spell, but neither hits their target thanks to the chaos of the fight and the soft cover of various combatants.
Mel draws his wand of True Strike and uses it to supplement his attack on the grappled spellcaster, which he easily hits for some nonlethal damage. The glowing dots also finally clear out of his vision and the magus/rogue can see again.
Quiella steps up and slashes twice with her greatsword, but she does not land either blow.
Zeeva backs further away from the fight and places a Fortune Hex on Melufiuos.
Apparently still angry about the Hold Person spell, the thug with the greatsword charges Heccan. Despite the advantage of the charge, the enemy still does not hit.
The thug with a bow steps back and fires upon Quiella again, with the same failed results.
The robed caster makes another vain attempt at breaking out of Valik's hold, then tries a more diplomatic approach, "Hey listen, let me go and I'll call off my dogs. Deal?"
Initiative (Rounds 3-4)
Valandil <= Up
Valik [15 Damage] <= Up
Zeeva
Narris (blue)
2 Thugs (red, purple)
Heccan <= Up
Quiella <= Up
Melufiuos <= Up
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The archon, flying about 30' up, continues to attack the red archer, but tries to attune its light to stun, rather than damage the man.
Valandil continues to summon serpents to smash into the archer. Again a serpent of white light and shadow appear at the ends of his staff and streak toward the man, biting him before vanishing.
The elf himself moves out from the stalls and stands between Zeeva and the attackers.
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Valik listens to the man’s deal. If he judges it to be honest and sincere, Valik responds with a counter-deal.
You call off your men, to lay down their weapons and STOP fighting. After such I will release you. You make any threatening action, and I will stop playing nice and resort to using my fists and feet to make you change your ways
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Heccan, always one to seize the opportunity in a contest of wills jumps on the request to cease hostilities. He plays upon the rapport he has already established with the robed man.
"I knew you had some sense to you friend. I do believe a deal is to be made. Let's say we agree to release you, but I have terms of my own. Call off your men and send them away. You shall remain as I have a few questions that demand answers. Upon the conclusion of my inquiry, you have my word as a gentleman that you shall be released, unharmed." Heccan gives Valik a knowing look then turns his attention back to the robed man. "I trust we have a deal. I have seen what that man can do with his bare hands and let us just say it is something that I cannot witness again, not without loosing my breakfast from my gullet." Heccan does his best to suppress a smile. "So...deal?"
Valik can tell that the man is not being completely truthful about his offer.
