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Fen searches the room for clues to the Veiled Lady, and also for any sort of scrying device she might have used. He will then pick up whatever loot is available, and head back tot he outside, gathering any of the remaining former slaves to escort them back to safety. Dropping them off in town, he heads back to Absalom to make his report to the Venture-Captain, and then goes back into the Grand Lodge's courtyard to await his next mission.
Fen examines the room carefully once it is clear there is no threat. "Jairo spoke truly; the Veiled Lady is not here. We have failed." He begins to search for any notes, personal effects, or other clues which could help track or scry their quarry. Is she gone, or just away? Would laying an ambush be of value? We'd need more gnolls...
What business do you have bold ones with my mistress the Veiled lady? Hopefully it is not of a beastly nature, as I do not wish to fight you. [/b]
"Yes, there is something else you can help us with, Jairo. We have been told that the lady used a large mirror in the commission of her crimes, and we are bound to bring it back to our masters. May we please explore her domain and remove it?" Fen asks matter-of-factly.
Fen repeats his opening statement, assuming the creature wasn't completely listening, and adds some detail. "Greetings, Jairo. I am Fensyriath Orochi, and my companions and I are here to retrieve the Veiled Lady and return her to face judgement for her crimes. Are you aware that she is an evil spy, trying to turn many people against each other for her own personal gain? "
GM:
No problem, wasn't looking for game effects, but please note it on the Chronicle anyway - I will buy it but it's nice to have the history of the item. I have a monkey pet I claimed from Mists of Mwangi as well (fairly paid for). Fen raises an eyebrow at the blue man on the balcony, then bows low. "Greetings, Jairo. I am Fensyriath Orochi. To be bold and blunt, we are here for the veiled lady, who has wronged our employer and must be brought to justice. I hope this does not put a damper on our relationship - you seem most cordial and polite, rare traits in the people of these lands."
"We should also free the halfling woman who was brought in with us," Fen suddenly remembers. "She can oversee the freed slaves and help them make their escape. As for the gate..." Fen produces a large iron key from his pouch. "This skeleton key should allow you to open the lock, Korshad. Please leave it here by the main portcullis if you leave before we get back." Once everyone is ready, Fen continues into the cave, trying to follow the fleeing gnoll.
"One got away inside!' Fen shouts to his companions. "We must prevent alarm!" Fen casts expeditious retreat and starts to head inside, only to stop when he realizes the group is not following. "One got away!" he repeats, louder. "If we wish to maintain surprise, ... " If the group still seems intent on not following, Fen shakes his head and regroups with the others. "I expect the veiled lady will now be ready for us... what is the plan?"
Fen turns to Elay. "This one understands the fear these gnolls feel by leaving us armed," he begins. "If harm was meant against those ones, it would certainly bode ill for those." Fen ponders, thinking back to what Lady Darchana told them back in Absalom: "... you need only allow our enemy’s agents to escort you to their hidden stronghold. Once inside, it should be a modest challenge for you to escape and take their leader by surprise. Your goals are to capture the veiled spymaster and to bring the scrying mirror I observed back to Absalom for further study. If the spymaster dies before she is brought here, that would be regrettable but also understandable.” He looks at the gate of the hidden stronghold, which they are already inside, and counts the number of gnolls, weighing the odds. "If harm was meant..." he trails off meaningfully. There is no further need for this ruse. Surprise has been achieved. We should act.
"Does Vangur put his weapons in the chest, too? If not, there is an imbalance." Fen cocks his head at the gnoll. "I will note that we did not harm you during the trip - you slept while we stood guard. I find your lack of trust... disturbing." Fen turns to his comrades. "We must consider this "request", and whether we wish to do business under these conditions, or whether we can already achieve our goals."
"Greetings, Korshad Satevis. Do you take us for fools? Your master with whom we have business with is "away", and we should disarm ourselves and trust to the good will of a man we have never met? I may not be from Avistan, but I did not arrive yesterday by way of a turnip cart." Fen remains calm, despite his strong words. "I think not. Until we have proof that your master still lives, and has not been overthrown by an overly-ambitious henchman, I believe we will remain in possession of our protective items." Fen states things matter-of-factly, without any hint of threat, as if discussing the weather or other matters of simple fact.
Fen notices the halfling woman, and casually gets up and stretches, and then wanders over to the slaves. When he passes close to her, he whispers the word, "Bellflower" without looking at her, and then continues on. Reaching the gnolls, he offers them some of his food. "Tonight, we rest, as friend Vangur says. Tomorrow, this journey will come to an end... at least for now. Who truly knows what tomorrow will bring?" He looks casually at the halfling woman as he says this.
Fen will purchase hot weather clothing and change into it, as well extra feed for his ram and extra water skins.
As the slaves are brought forward, he looks them over as if inspecting livestock. "The small one will slow travel," he points out. "If these ones wish, she may ride with me." Fen indicates his saddled ram.
Fen is not disguising himself or his items in any way, but he has not brought his wayfinder with him on this trip. To Mahjub: "Please, execute your duty efficiently; this one does not enjoy having his time wasted with inane pleasantries." To the gnolls: "Indeed. This one already tires of the stench of this place, let us depart."
Fen is ready to travel, and so has nothing pressing to do. He will aid others in their preparations if needed, or visit the Grand Lodge's libraries to learn more about Okeno and this "Pasha Muhlia al'Jakri". He also prepares his mount for the seaborne journey, transfering its gear if necessary into the magical chest.
Fen considers the news carefully. "Gnolls are like man and hyena," he responds to the Shoanti. "Slavers, and lazy. It is unlikely those will follow a human female leader unless that leader is exceptionally strong." "This one does not feel being a slave is a wise disguise," he continues. "While the Lady may be certain these ones will be 'shipped back to Absalom' in case of failure, this one is not so certain. Gnolls often eat captives, especially ones that fight back. This one still feels that stealth is our best option. Sail to this 'Okeno', and pose as slavers in order to find the inland fort. Then travel there, reconnoiter the place in stealth, and strike with surprise and stealth." Apparently assuming the group accepts his wise course of action, Fen looks at the group. "Human ones will need magical means to see in the dark, and noisy ones will need magical aid for sneaking. And all of these will need a ship."
"Greetings, Wahkoowah Otaktay. 'May your spirit guide you'. The Plane of Shadows is all around these ones. Not in the spaces these ones can see, but between them. Shadow Absalom is like this place, but unlike. Darker, different... but here just the same. This one's ancestors came from there, long ago, escaping... wrongness." Fen settles into an uncomfortable silence. You are talkative, today, aren't you, Fen? Why don't you tell them all the rest? No. Are you afraid to? Afraid of what they'll think, or of what they'll do? Yes. Now be quiet.
Hey folks, sounds good. I will try to keep up with the post level - this is a lot faster than most PbPs I'm in, so feel free to 'bot me if you need to move things along and I haven't posted. I like to use my wand of cause fear to break up the bad guys, or trip using the scorpion whip (staying 10'+ away to avoid AOs).
Fen nods to each of the newcomers, repeating their name and introducing himself in turn. To Elaysil Verhair: "Ah, that one speaks of a different Tapestry. This one forgives your insult, as it was not meant. Also, that one is an elf and cannot be expected to recognize feelings of these ones." To Derizione, in Wayang: "Well met to you! I see you speak my language; how you learned it must be an interesting story. Did you have a teacher, or was it purely book research? Your accent is impeccable." To Lady Madinani: "This one has spent enough time as a slave to know it is... undesirable. Is this the only way in? Might not stealth be a useful option?" Fen tries to recall anything he knows about Stonespire island beyond its location on a map.
Fen regards the spritely newcomer with a single raised eyebrow. When it is clear the elf is done speaking, Fen nods. "This one welcomes you, Elaysil Verhair," he responds, butchering the sylibification of the elf's name. "This one is not from the Dark Tapestry, and is surprised why you would believe so. Does Elaysil Verhair know differences in betwen the Shadow Plane and the Dark Tapestry, this one wonders?" Inner monologue:
Give it a chance. Elves are flighty. It is a Pathfinder, after all. Yes, a Pathfinder, we will give him a chance.
As the Venture-Captain enters, he sees a small greyish figure sitting quietly in the corner, apparently playing a small flute carved from bone that emits no sound. He looks like a dark-skinned gnome, with strange spiral patterns of raised white dots on his face and arms and the unnatural tendency to disappear when a shadow crosses him. A good-sized pack sits by his chair, with a small bow and quiver of arrows leaned against it. The creature follows the Venture-Captain into the office wordlessly. Inside the office:
Knowledge (planes) DC 5: This creature is a wayang, a race of small supernatural humanoids who trace their ancestry to the Plane of Shadows. They are extremely gaunt, with pixielike stature and skin the color of deep shadow. Shy and elusive, they live in small, interdependent tribes.
"Janira, this one used Janira's scroll, in a failed attempt to contain the beast. Please accept this one's apologies for the waste of resources, and allow this one to replace the item." Fen hands back Janira's backpack, containing the gear he was carrying of hers: a tanglefoot bag, the scroll of mage armor (CL 6) three unidentified scrolls, and the unidentified wand as well. "This amulet goes to the Society for study, as well. This one has not divined its purpose." Fen gives Janira the amulet of natural armor as well.
Fen stands dumbfounded at the swift conclusion of the battle. Perhaps the accompaniment of those well-equipped to deal violence has its place. What could you have done, fool, to save her?
Fen continues to the stream and leaps across, surveying the site of the carnage. "Is Janira injured?" he asks the halfling, concern in his eyes. Once it is certain that no further threats remain, Fen will use the opportunity to record some notes on minotaur anatomy in his journal. Luckily, little further dissection is required! ;)
If there are no further issues, Fen wishes to return to the cave system, to recover his mount by the cave mouth, to speak again to the gillman and relate the story of the minotaur, and to copy the Aroden-related carvings and other archaeological lore into his Journal.
Fensyriath is again shocked at the violence of his comrades. Kobolds are hardly a friendly race, but surely our mandate of "Explore, Report, Cooperate" is hampered by killing everything we meet... He shrugs, accepting that he still does not understand his new home, then turns in alarm as he hears Janira's voice. "Janira needs aid!" he yells, running towards the river, heedless of any potential traps. He leaps across the river and sprints down the cavern until he can see Janira.
Fen doesn't understand the dialogue, but the intention of the small lizardmen seems clearly defensive. He shakes his head sadly as the small creatures choose to fight instead of surrendering to clearly superior odds. Unless there are more of them hiding...? Fen puts his scroll away and moves out into the tunnel, watching intently for other threats.
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