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Ah, you're right. I totally missed the sword being listed on the bottom as well. Concerning the subtier 6-7 items, I was thrown off by the two column on the bottom part of the page. When laid out like that, it's often split by subtier. The fact that the wand of shocking grasp is repeated along both columns further strengthened that idea.
Thanks, DevilDoc. That's a really nice chronicle, all in all. :) I'll give feedback later, when I have the time to give it some proper thought. For now, two questions about the chronicle:
Aznive was meant as a rogue/brawler hybrid fighting unarmed, but maybe this sword is nice enough for some retraining. Tempting...
Aznive looks mighty pleased that they've been able to aid in getting to the bottom of what happened at the Grand Lodge. She's delighted by the prospect of having impressed the pipefox, intrigued as she is by the creature. When they get back at the lodge, she tries to spend quite some time with her, doling out more and more secrets while trying to learn more about the state of affairs in Tian Xia. She also meets up with several other contacts after the whole ordeal is done.
--
"Oh, well hello there, Yrishi." Aznive recovers quickly and tries to make some small talk. "Yes, of course we remember out deal. You've been most helpful in getting us where we needed to go. It's obscure tidbits and secrets you were interested in, weren't you?" She's silent for a moment as they walk, trying to sort out what to tell and what to hold back. "You might find it interesting to know that her hideout was once a place dedicated to Lamashtu. Grizzly place, all in all. She has some fungus-creatures working with her. Working with her, mind you. Not for her. They're growing some other kind of fungus, packing it into crates for shipping." "There was also a ratman, an alchemist of sorts, who performed all kinds of experiments on six-legged rodents. Kirrix? Well, he won't be performing those anymore. Or any kinds, really..." She tries to throw in some more things, to spice up the story. "Now, here's something you might really find interesting. You know those badges that mark Aspis leadership? Bronze, Silver, Gold? We found a fake one in there. Who can you trust, even even people from your own organization have to fake their status..." "Anyway, we finally came upon this sorry bunch. Hardly an actual prize, but it'll have to do. We did learn that there's quite some unheaval in the Aspis. Seems like this Tseka showed a bit too much ambition. And not enough results, if you get my meaning..." Aznive keeps chattering away, filling most of her sentences with useless details, while trying to give the impression that she's actually telling quite a lot.
Aznive stows her alchemist fire again when she sees Tseka going down. "Gah, good riddance!" Moments later, Nemesis drops from the poison. "Oh, dear. Getting out of here might be a problem. Let's hope those passages lead out of her safely. We might have to make a sort of stretcher for Nemesis."
After helping to make sure Nemesis is in a comfortable position, Aznive helps to search the room. "We'd best make it quick. Who knows when they'll come looking for her. Let's take those maps and diagrams and stuff them in the chest, they look important. That's Goka, and that's the Lantern Lodge. Along with something about a tapestry? This definitely goes high-up in the Aspis..." "Hmm, this is odd. Tseka wasn't deemed fit for a Gold Badge, but here she has one. Is this one fake as well?" Aznive studies the gold badge to see whether it is fake. [b]"And here we have a letter that is definite proof that this Marnarius was involved. No clue where he is now, though. "place his trust in the hands of people who have failed the Consortium". Who could that be?"/b]
"Nice shot, Rimble!" says Aznive as she surveys the fallout of the gnome's spell. She still has to deal with the second Tseka that stands in front of her. Aznive moves her hand to her belt as if to draw one the fighting fans tucked behind it, then suddenly lunges forward and thrusts her elbow up at the ratwoman's jaw. --
"Businessmen foremost. And plotters, second, along with attackers of the Grand Lodge. Right? Or would you claim that you had no involvement in that? Summoning an army through the Hao Jin Tapestry - Also doesn't ring any bells, does it?" Her accusing tone makes it clear that she doesn't really expect an honest answer, but she hopes that she just might goad the two Aspis into a confession.
Aznive returns to the rest of the group. She keeps an eye out for Xavian from around the bend, so that she can assist if he runs into trouble. Meanwhile, she tries to discuss the progress of their mission with the others. "I think we've found some things so far that would place Society Leadership, but we might still run into Tseka. How do you propose we deal with her? Could we use the information in the journal in our favor, I wonder. Suppose that we meet Tseka, and she figures out that we're Pathfinder. What if we say we're here for Makino? We know what her plan is in that case, and we might use that to our advantage..." She thinks for a moment. "Then there is the matter of what to do with Tseka, of course. Find and possibly arrest those responsible for the attack. What is Tseka was responsible? Could we arrest her? How do we get her out of here? Perhaps we'll cross that bridge when we get there..."
Aznive stifles a mirthful laugh at Abaal's deadpan joke, knowing full well that they are still on an infiltration mission. "Never mind," she waves away his incomprehension. She's saved by Xavian, who seems to have paid better attention than the others. [b]"That's interesting, Xavian. You're right that this could be important. If they leave this much information out in the open, think about what they might hide. She walks over to the secret door and examines it, to see how it might open (and whether it is trapped).
Aznive is startled by the body falling in the pit, but she decides to make the best of it, and searches the body for anything useful.
She watches Abaal for a moment, smiling broadly at his modesty, despite her current form. "You really take this whole not-touching thing seriously, don't you? Even though I'm currently a man?" Her expression changes suddenly, when she realizes she may have said too much. He probably things this is just a very good disguise. She quickly talks over her mistake. "We should watch out that we're not interrupted. And we should probably drop the other body down the pit as well. I should be able to reset it, so that anyone who comes in later doesn't see the bodies..." She leaves the magic items to the spellcasters of the group, but studies the Aspis badge with interest. "This is odd. It's a fake... Why would someone in an actual Aspis hideout have a fake badge?" --
She notes the various ledgers and notes. "Well, all of this is good stuff. We'd best take it with us, and sort it our later. Can anyone makes heads or tails of it now?" The metal bars likewise draw her interest. "Could be worth something, I suppose." She realizes they've hit something important when they finds the evidence about the Korholm Agenda, and the schematics of the Grand Lodge. "Jackpot! Leading an army out of the Tapestry. Is that how they did it?" She sees a possible links between what Azaal said. "Could those conjuration items be linked to dragging that army out of the Hao Jin Tapestry? Or am I grasping at straws here?"
Aznive teeters on the edge of the pit for a moment, but can't quite catch her balance and falls in. "Who puts a pit trap here," she exclaims angrily. "Really?!"
Aznive steps around the corner, hesitant to move into the grizzly room further than necessary. As she walks, she draws one of her fans from her belt, swishing it open to show the painting of a lake at dusk. She takes a quick look around the room, and decides to hold her ground. As she hears Ashara perform some magic, she stands ready to strike the rat-creature, should it come near.
Aznive sticks her head through the door behind Nemesis and Stavian, but she's quickly bored with it. "Just leave them, they seem like a waste of time." She hustles to catch up with Ashara. "I was wondering. Isn't it odd that they let us traipse around the area like this?" Moving silently, she peeks around the corner to the left.
Aznive shivers as Nemesis tells her of the function of this right. "Right... I'm getting less and less eager to meet this Tseka. What kind of person would want to set up shop in a place like this?" She moves along the edge of the room to the door on the other side, making sure not to step on the inlaid symbol, and not to disturb anything in the room. In the next room she follows Xavian to the northern door. "Be careful," she urges.
Aznive peeks in past Ashara and over Xavian's shoulder. That doesn't look all that pleasant... "That fungus fellow doesn't look all that talkative," she whispers to the others. "We'd best not make him angry." "Excuse us," she addresses the large fungal mass. "We have reason to believe that Sheka is beyond this room. We would like to pass, but you seem to be in the way. Would you let us through?" Casual, as an afterthought, she adds "Those packs seems interesting. Are you working for Tseka? Is that merchandise?" Never know when info could come in useful...
Aznive stays silent at the checkpoint, playing the role of the dumb henchman. She breaths a sigh of relief when they're given the password and are being led through. "So far, so good..." --
Aznive studies the symbol on the gate for a moment, and leans in to Nemesis to whisper "Lamashtu. I don't blame her...."[/smaller] Aznive opens the chest and holds out several items of interest, making sure that not everything is shown yet. "We have potent toxin, some relics from these lands, and from across the sea. I'm sure they'll hold interest for any buyer, I do."
Aznive is relieved that the creature does not take offense at Nemesis's stunt. She finds herself agreeing with the woman now. "Yes, we can make no promises of what we find out, of course. But if it's obscure tidbits that you're interested in, we'll be sure to keep our eyes and ears open." She gives the creature another critical look and her curiosity gets the upper hand. "If you don't mind me asking... I've never seen anyone like you. Are you from here?" Right, that should be subtle enough. I can't well ask her what she is...
Aznive studies the odd creature intently, trying to ascertain what species they're dealing with. Fox-headed, but with the body of a snake? She's trying to come up with some interesting tidbit of information, but is too distracted by the creature's strange form. Is it just an illusion, meant to confuse us? She coughs as the ashen-skinned woman spouts fire, only barely missing their contact. She gives the woman a stern look. What is she doing?! We're trying to get it on our side!
Aznive tries to draw the person in, without giving away too much. "Well, if there are many buyers, then it seems we may need some help in selecting the right one. Such help would be well-rewarded, of course." She tries to force the issue: "Are you such a person, who could help us in finding a buyer?"
"She may be bad news, but it seems like it is the only solid lead we have. Of course, given what transpired, I hope Abaal's contact did not purposefully send us to this Odemi, out of spire..." She turns as if to leave, then reconsiders. "It's a good thing we learned a little about the interests of Tseka. It seems like we would have to hold tight to the blue whinnis he have, and possibly the fingerbones...? We might draw her attention with those items."
"That's a troubling thought indeed," Aznive says as she adopts a slouching walk for a few paces, trying to decide whether it fits with her chosen form. "It's a shame the woman was so addled. Or maybe lucky, because we can be pretty sure she's not a spy herself. Regardless, the though of someone within the Lodge turned traitor is worrisome. The opposite as well. What it they know that this "Three Rings" character has spilled the beans? Everything he knows and has told us could be compromised, or might be used against us. We'll have to tread carefully." She walks straighter, dropping the slouch eventually. "Let's see how the others are doing..."
Aznive smiles warmly at Ashara, quite at odd with her stodgy form. "You handled that very well, I think. It takes a kind soul, to want to help people who are so deep on trouble." Checking that no one else is close enough to overhear, she continues. "So, what do you thin? Aspis checkpoints could be a problem, so we'll need a really good story to be down there. Word of the attack has gotten 'round, but that's no surprise. That 'traitor' think worries me. Could that be about our informant, I wonder?"
Aznive shoots Ashara a look, eyebrows high and the corners of her mouth low, in a quizzical gesture. Right. Any ideas on how to handle this? "I'm sorry to hear that you've fallen on hard times, ma'am," aznive says to the Tengu in the gravelly voice of her baker's disguise. She doesn't give up that easily, though. She pulls some silver coins from her pouch and offers them to the woman. "You were a ship's captain, you say? Did you sail the open seas, or the lake down here? You must have seen a lot of the area, if you did..."
Aznive gives the shopkeeper a curt nod, fitting with her disguise. She follows the others down, and gawks when the size of the Undermarket becomes apparent. "She wasn't exaggerating, was she?" I'll be right back." With that, like Xavian, she approaches one of the people already there. "Look, I'm not here to bother you and I'll keep it short. We're new here, and we have some stuff for sale that doesn't really belong on upside markets. Where should we go?"
Aznive steps in, trying to soothe the silk vendor's mood. "Don't worry, my companion was just kidding," she says in her gravelly voice. "We have just the kind of thing for you. A gift, of course. Marvels both from here, and from abroad. Anything particular that would suit your fancy?" she asks, with a quick look to Xavian, rummaging through the chest. -Posted with Wayfinder
Aznive lets Xavian do the talking, getting into the role of her broad-shouldered baker. Maybe he's originally from Galt. Or Brevoy. Family reputation in ruins, and turned to smuggling out of necessity? Or a bit of a simpleton, recruited into a life of crime without even realizing it? As she lets various backgrounds pass in her mind, she see Xavian nodding at the tapestry and realizes that she must have missed a clue somewhere. Stay focused, Aznive. The prettiest backstory falls flat on its face if you mess up the delivery, or worse: fail to spot the cue.
Aznive itches to learn more about this myserious "Three Rings", but she senses that now is not the time or place. "Very well. We should get going, while the scant information we have is still valid. Maybe later, we'll have the opportunity to speak more. I'd really like to assist in the efforts to uncover Aspis movement, in any way I can." Aznive finishes her tea and stands up. "We should settle on our disguises and get going. Is there a back exit to the Lodge here, somewhere inconspicuous? It wouldn't do for any Aspis eyes to see us leaving the Lodge in our disguises." Aznive excuses herself for the bathroom. A scant minute later a broad-shouldered man in his fourties steps out, with slick hair and a pockmarked face. He wears coarse trousers and a leather vest over a simple blouse. People familiar in Absalom might recognize the man, who runs a bakery three blocks from the Grand Lodge. "I'm ready," the man announces in a gravelly voice. "Everyone set? (It's me, Aznive...)"
Aznive takes a deep breath in as soon as the group leaves the portal, taking in the smells along with the sights. Home again? Who'd have thought... She notes the coincidence of their meeting taking place in the Taldor Room, and takes a seat after the Venture-Captain has sat down. Taking tea and nipping at some fruit and cake, she listens intently. "Indeed, it was a deeply troubling day, from the accounts I've heard. It is good to know that the full might of the Society's network is being used to find those responsible." She thinks for a moment. "This Tseka, do we know anything about her background? Is she from here? And the one you call "Three Rings". Are we sure he can be trusted? Games within games, and all that..." Shortly after the meeting, Aznive returns with some of her own information. Apparently, she's found time to change wardrobe as well, now wearing a light-blue kimono with a pattern of stylized birds. "I've heard the same, Ashara. We might start at the Cresting Blossom. It seems like an ordinary silk shop, but it's said there's an entrance to the Undermarket in the back. We should be able to bribe our way in. I also caught some conversation suggesting that the Aspis has been on a big recruitment drive. Could that be our cover? Posing as smugglers and wanting to join? Bit risky, could be too transparent. The Aspis have to know that we'll come after them, after what they pulled." She waves away Xavian's modesty. "Don't sell yourself, ah... short." She giggles at the unintended pun. "Use what you have to your advantage. If they underestimate you and look for the others, all the better if you can watch your adversary without being observed yourself, isn't it?"
A young Taldane with a glint in her eye regards the assembling group. She's still dressed just as well as in the Lodge earlier, but has traded her gown for a crimson coat with practical breeches. The young woman's not particularly beautiful, but has a youthful charm and - judging from her clothing and jewelry - excellent taste. She stands and make several small bows, acknowledging those who introduced myself. "Please to meet you. Abaal, Ashara. Rimble and Antoniollus. Is her a roc, really? Fully grown already, or will he grow even bigger." She walks up to the gnome. "Can I pet him?" She leans in close to Rimble, talking behind her hand. "You might want to take care with her in fire. I have a bad feeling about that..." She winks conspiratorially. She straightens and addresses the group. "My name is Aznive, of House Demiral. I must say, I'm really excited to be going to Tian Xia, finally. I read a lot about it when I was little. I even taught myself Tien back then, because Laurenna told me I couldn't."
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