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"Good thing we didn't rush out of here then." He gives a wry smile to Forvenniel before reading the new instructions. "Now we have to meet her on the southern edge of Bristles where Gull Street meets the water. Have we seen these streets already? I always get turned around in new places." Zev tries to recall where Bristles and/or Gull street might be.
Zev sits back with an eyebrow raised. Surprised no one wanted to use the saved addicts as evidence of Laszo's depravity but coming to terms with the fact that his friends don't operate as he suspects. When they find that thread and leave a not he shrugs. "Well, that's settled. A drink sounds fine enough, assuming the Oyster isn't the only place to get one."
"Let us drop him off and return to Absalom. We have done what we came here to do. " "Hold your horses Forvie! That's only the first half of our assignment. We still have a Ms. Delroya to meet with if I'm not mistaken. " Zev says, trying to remember the specifics. "She said she'd send orders, so we've got to stay put for a little while. Plenty of time to read your book at least." Zevryn continues looking over his shoulder and exchanging various rude faces and gestures with the teens as they heckle the party from behind. When they arrive at the guard station he lets the others handle Laszo while he asks about the group that followed them. "Local kids cause a lot of issues out here? Cause that might not be so good for tourism, you know?"
"Normally I'd be with your Norril, but if the Society gets this info, it's just one more thing for the Aspis to try and steal back, putting other Pathfinders in danger." Zev shrugs. "Seems safest just to get rid of it and call it a day."
"This potion is curative by the one, one of the pricier ones, assuming you get the same stipend I do anyway."
"Well, can't say we didn't try, right?" Zevryn draws his wand of magic missile and fires at Laszo. A missile of force shoots from the end and smashes into the alchemist as the half-elf frowns.
Bevole makes overtures of leaving his place of comfort in Zevryn's arm, but given what happened to the skunk last time, Zev doesn't let the skunk free.
Zev tries to get a handle on this new angle but doesn't seem able to read the strange man. He looks at Sejiri with a bit of surprise as he offers coin for the second time today. Not digging into my coin purse again, that's for sure. Zev thinks with a frown. "Sometimes you need to trust people Laszo. It's not always easy, but is destroying peoples lives and leaving them brainless in the sewer really what you want to do, is it really worth the funding?"
Zevryn stays mostly quiet, tapping his toes behind the group as they deliver the addicts to salvation. He's eager to make it back to the sewers to stop their target. Finally in the sewers, Zevryn joins the others in negotiating surrender. "You created a new drug, obviously you're an accomplished chemist, wouldn't you rather works towards the betterment of other people, working in an office and not some damp sewer? You entry in the history books could be so much more prestigious than this."
"They're starting to get anxious, I don't think we'll have time to take them somewhere and be back in time for Laszo. I'm with Kembe, keep them comfortable down here, then get them help when all's said and done." Zev says. "If you're that determined to take them out, then go I guess, but some of us should stay here and prepare."
"I thought you'd be able to handle bad smells a littler better." Zev says as he pets the skunk, trying to calm him down.
"I don't believe these people are in any state to work for Laszo, Forvie. You see addicts like this in Riddleport all the time, they can't function right now. They barely seem to realize we aren't their supplier. Regardless, I say we suck it up and wait until dusk, catch this bastard by surprise and stop him from doing this to any more people." He looks around, dismissing Bevole, he wanders into the open area to the south. "Maybe we can stage an ambush?"
"I asked for my gold back since he didn't keep the deal and he didn't. Maybe I spent too much time in Riddleport but that seemed like a pretty good reason for a fight." Zev grumbles back to Kembe. "I wasn't going to kill the guy though." The half-elf frowns and goes to clean up, not bringing p the subject any more as they continue with their mission. He uses the wand when Kembe asks and summons his dancing lights as soon as they enter the dark sewer, keeping them floating around the party so everyone can see better. The moves forward along the wall, stopping short of one of the beggars. He summons Bevole next to him and asks the Skunk to sniff anything out if he can while searching himself for any evidence of the man they're looking for.
Zevryn's eyes flutter open and he looks at his companions and groans, hand reaching up to where the crossbolt hit him. "Damn bar owner took our money for nothing!" He mutters. "If this was back home I'd tell every performer and they'd ruin him." His face turns red as his anger bubbles up again. "But I don't suppose there's anything for it now, sorry to burden you all. To the sewers next yes?"
"Alright, who wants it then? How about you Pal, for taking my money?" Zevryn growls, angry that the plan fell apart so quickly. He brandishes his wand and fires a magic missile at the bar owner.
"Bevole, some back to me!" He shouts and the skunk does as he's told, reverting to magic and reappearing on Zev as a tattoo.
Well, there goes all pretense we had of playing nice. Zev thinks angrily as Everbloom *accidentally* spills her drink.
Mid discussion Zev turns his head to look at his familiar, jaw slack.
Spray Mechanics:
Up to twice per day, a skunk can spray a stream of noxious musk at a single target within 10 feet as a standard action. With a successful ranged touch attack, the creature struck by this spray must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1d4 rounds and then sickened for 1d4 minutes by the horrific stench. A successful save reduces the effect to only 1d4 rounds of being sickened. A creature cannot use the scent ability as long as it is affected by this musk. The save DC is Constitution-based, and includes a +2 racial bonus.
"Look, Pal, we've payed you, as you asked. We've forked over more money than we've spent on drinks here, you're looking at a profit that, judging from this place, you haven't seen in a little while. I could take my business elsewhere, but you see the benefit in this, don't you?" Zevryn taps his fingers on the bar impatiently.
Zev looks up at Everbloom and gives her an incredulous look. "I don't even know who the target is yet." He whispers through gritted teeth. Hoping it's been long enough so as not to be suspicious he wanders over the bar to order a drink, seeing Kembe lean over to Sejiri, he pulls up a seat next to the halfling, hoping to get an update as well. "How's it going gentlemen?" He says with a nod, pretending to be unfamiliar with them. "Don't suppose any of you are in need of a traveling entertainer are you? Just arrived here in Diobel and my partner and I are looking to earn some gold." He locks eyes with Sejiri and gives a hopeful smile.
"Right, and we might want a plan before we actually get inside. I don't know what you guys were thinking, but, well, I've got a pet skunk." Zev says as he plugs his nose and mimes smelling something aweful. "Few things are as disruptive as getting sprayed by a skunk, might just clear the place out and make our lives easer." He shrugs and listens for any other suggestions, barely noticing the water still dripping from the bottom of his pants.
Happy to breathe fresh air again, Zevryn looks over the port and wonders what they'll be getting themselves into today. "Overflowing Oyster, yeah? Can you tell us anything about it on the way? Sounds like an interesting sort of place, good food at the least, yeah?" Zev seems indifferent to the Markus' indifference and tries continuialy to engage the man in conversation about any local information.
"Sejiri!" Zevryn laughs, surprised at the halflings nimble dance moves. "You certainly don't seem so stuffy now!" Emboldened by the Paladin's ability to loosen up, Zevryn joins the rest in the small storage space and tries to follow along with Forvenniel's dance, unfortunately he's not used to the rocking of the ship and he's unable to do more than stumble back and forth a bit before sitting down red faced and looking at his feet. "I think I'll take some of that drink now."
"Well, I thought we were saving the drinking for the tavern, my feet are unsteady on a boat as it is, I'll save the alcohol for later." Zev smiles good naturedly as he sits up to inspect Forvenniel's tattoo. "Dancing, eh? I knew you loved the moon, Forv, but I didn't realize you had room in your heart for anything else. We should show these guys how Varisians party one of these days. It certainly doesn't involve sitting in the cold storage hold of a boat. If we can find my old troop I'm sure they'd play us some of the old favorites!"
"I wonder Norril, if you too will wander off one day, and leave a group of nubile Pathfinders to wonder if they should ransack your abode in an effort to uncover secrets of times gone by?" Zev says absentmindedly when Norril talks about becoming a member of the Arcanamirium. "Why did I join the Society?" He asks Bevole, ruffling the skunks fur with a smile. "Probably for the same reason I do anything. Because I can. I used to wander Varisia, taking in the gorgeous countryside, visiting the ancient ruins, performing with my caravan of misfits. When I tired of that, I studied history for a while in Riddleport, trained with the Cyphermages. It was fun, interesting even, but I quickly realized there was so much more of the world I wanted to see before spending my time stuffed in a small academy." He shrugs at Norril a little apologetically. "So, I left. Headed to the Grand Lodge, took a commision as a Pathfinder and spent my free time performing on street corners for extra cash. My confirmation was dull, a trip to an old ruin, but I take excellent notes, and we unlocked a few secret rooms after solving a couple puzzles. Before we left I compulsively touched some ancient rune while I was trying to translate an old Thassilonian phrase and that's where the Stinker came from. So, now I'm a confirmed agent, with a background in ancient culture and a compelling reason to uncover more Thassilonian secrets, really seems to have all worked out for the best as far as I can tell." Having spoken about himself at some length, Zevryn seems to be feeling better and less irritated than before.
"Yeah, I wonder why they think we're irritating. Not like anyone pressed the buttons of our direct superior." Zev says gloomily as he heads down to the storage area and eventually lies down on the floor. Bevole appears in a puff of smoke and curls up on his chest, snoring loudly while Zev mutters to himself, crafting a story or maybe just complaining to his familiar.
Zevryn's smile turns to a sneer as Everbloom suggests eating Bevole. Seemingly sensing his master's discomfort the skunk turns around and faces the newcomer, tail raised for just a moment before disapearing in a puff of magical smoke and taking place once again on Zevryn's arm, appearing as a snarling skunk head. "That's Bevole, he's my friend and not for dinner. We can probably fish you up a snack on the way to Diobel. Assuming we aren't sent on some worse assignment now that Ambrus is all worked up." He frowns and moves as far from the kitsune as he can. "Ah, Kembe, Norril, welcome aboard. Glad someone knows a little more about what we're getting into. I really should get around to learning a little more about what happens on this island..." He trails off and rolls his eyes as Norril continues to dote on Everbloom and waits impatiently to get on the ship and be under way.
"Well, I can't say I have the same moral high ground as Sejiri here, but given how much effort it took not to break into someone's home, I can promise you that he's not kidding when he says he won't steal!" Zevryn looks at the halfling and gives him a playful smile, while Bevole waddles along the edge of the docks. "So I guess that means a trip to an inn and the sewers, delightful, I wonder what kind of story I can make from that." Zev pulls a notebook from his bag and begins jotting a few things down, muttering something about keeping Kembe alive while he does. Eventually he realizes that he doesn't know everyone else that has arrived and looks up with a smile. "I'm Zevryn, by the way, and I'd love to answer your question about Rat Street, but other than the briefing we just got I have no clue what we're dealing with."
Unless I'm mistaken the Alexandrite gem counts towards the Scarab Sages recover a gem faction goal, yes? We seem to have a number of healing options for the moment, does anyone object to me picking up a wand of Magic missile with 2 PP instead of my usual CLW prestige purchase? Healing is useful but as a low level sorcerer I'm woefully low on spells as well and not sure how useful I'll be in combat until we level a little more. If we need more Melee I can look into rebuilding Zevryn into something else as long as it fits his themes. I'll shop around and see if I can find anything that fits.
"Well, all we've got are these scrolls and potions, not exactly compelling evidence." Zevryn says with shrug at Sejiri. "I can explain what brought us here, and you guys have your wayfinders right? That might help them trust us at least, but I have no idea what we can use as evidence."
"I know we don't have anything to prove it but look, you can inspect the bodies, maybe you'll find something we didn't. We're here on Society business, just trying to uncover some secrets, which we've been able to do pretty peacefully up until these wiffles attacked us. Kembe here nearly died defending us from their blows, if it wasn't for him you'd be dragging all our sorry carcasses out of this temple."
"We should probably get these notes to safety, maybe the local guard can drag them off instead." Zev says, nodding in agreement with Kembe. "I think the rest of you have bled and sweat enough to night, but I don't quite have the strength to drag these lot along." The half-elf waits to see what Kembe finds, hopeful there's some missive or something that might inform them about why they were attacked.
"And Kembe goes down, shielding his allies from an onslaught surely none of them would have lived through. Behind him, his fellow Pathfinders rally!" Zev says under his breath,making sure the story if prepared for when If they make it out alive. He keeps his eye on Sejiri's target and musters up the energy for one more spell, tapping into his arcane rescources.
Still playing with the glowing stone as they leave, Zev keeps his dancing lights hovering around the party, which takes some of the surprise away from their would be attackers. Wish I wasn't out of spells though. The half-elf thinks as he fires a ray of cold magic through his companions at one of the would be assasins. His arm begins to itch as Bevole considers joining the fight, but Zev keeps him stored away for now.
"Another office hidden behind a crude tunnel in a weird building? No one is going to believe that happened twice in one adventure, I'm going to have to alter this a bit." He mutters to himself noting the signs of magic along the cave walls that suggest it was created by a mage. When they move toward the desk, Zev summons his dancing lights to help anyone that wants to go over the papers, but when he sees how complex they are he frowns and starts throwing the gem from one hand to another, marveling at the light coming from it, but unable to determine it's source. "Looks like we finally cracked the case though, right? Go us!"
"Gah! If I'd known I'd be crammed in a tomb on some random assignment while waiting for my wayfinder to arrive I would ha-" Zev's eyes widen as he smacks himself on the forehead. "Wayfinder, pathfinder coin - beeeehiiiind the naaaame plaaaate!" He says mocking the voice in the recorded message. He looks for Caskmails name plate and sees if he can move or lift it.
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