Daedin checks out the last pillar, finding that it is trapped just like the other two. He easily disarms the trap, ensuring that it will neither explode nor cause the ceiling to collapse on them all.
Nadya and Kal'Ryon contemplate the dragon...which is not a euphemism in this case.
Then they get to work searching for their true quarry. Nadya spots the portable hole hidden behind a large rock at the southern edge of the cavern to the east a moment before Kal'Ryon.,
Inside are a wyrmslayer’s shield and gauntlets of giant strength +4 (function as a belt of giant strength +4 but occupies the hands slot) and two vials of the sun orchid elixir.
The portable hole also contains two loosely bound folios, seven large scrolls, a steel inkpen over 2 feet long, and a pint of ink. Both folios contain extraplanar observations of phenomena from throughout the Inner Sea region, though notes written in the margin provide ongoing commentary about how these events correlate to Thuvia and teleportation mishaps in the region. Collectively, the books posit that the composition of the sun orchid elixir and its effect on a creature’s age reacted in an unpredictable way when exposed to the Astral Plane— where all teleportation effects briefly travel—a decade ago. This might have caused a dangerous reaction or attracted astral predators; the writer favors the latter hypothesis based on the increased movement of astral creatures around Pashow, as if in anticipation of finding another elixir. The inside cover of each folio contains the words “For you as part of our deal. —S.P.”
The scrolls are all written in large letters as if by a giant. They present the writer’s thoughts about the two folios’ contents, including her skepticism about the alchemical-astral reaction. As you study
these writings, you can tell that the author is obsessed with recovering a sun orchid elixir, though it seems more a point of pride and obsession than it is a matter of rejuvenation or profit. Loaralis’s last scroll records the reports from her spies who attempted to track down the folios’ author. The dragon believes that the author is one Professor Kramolag, a member of the Aspis Consortium who operates several laboratories in Nidal in order to research phenomena from beyond the stars and beyond the Material Plane. There is enough information in these scrolls that a dedicated researcher might be able to deduce these laboratories’ locations.
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"Hmmm, most interesting. A conspiracy indeed, yes?" says Nadya as she studies the various scrolls and folios. "The Venture Captain will be most interested to learn of this 'Professor Kramolag'. And perhaps he will know who this 'S.P.' is. The acquiring of the elixirs seems almost to have been incidental to some larger purpose involving interplanar travel. I would wager that this folio with the larger writing is the work of the dragon herself. A frustrated scholar. Such creatures excel in arrogance."
"Shall we return to the Emir? I'm sure he will be most pleased to recover his prize."
By thwarting Loaralis’s schemes and recovering both vials of the sun orchid elixir, you have ensured Pashow’s continued prosperity and averted the civil unrest and coup that could have rocked the region. Within hours, the rioters disband, and Guldis announces the safe arrival of the last remaining shipments and thanks you heartily. He finds little use for the scrolls or folios.
"I'm sure you Pathfinders can find better use for these than we can," he says pushing them over to you.
The populace quickly repairs the damage inflicted and prepares to hail its renewed fortune. As the true heroes of the day, you can accompany Guldis to dozens of social events in celebration of the elixir’s arrival. Because you slew Loaralis, news of the deed quickly spreads and enhances the your prestige even further. Much of the city’s industries are relieved at the death of the hidden crime lord to whom they often paid protection gold.
In the aftermath, the three Pathfinder teams report back to you.
All three teams succeeded with flying colors and sustained neither life-threatening injuries nor psychological scars.
The Axe-Fixers brag about how they struggled side-by-side with Pashow’s guards, earning the locals’ respect as they prevented an angry mob from destroying a marketplace.
The Scroll-Seekers are a little less animated but clearly pleased as they report that the Aspis gold agent Kitio Aspenthi appears to be the one behind the attacks, and his other attempts to steal elixirs failed. He is now on the defensive, especially because it seems he failed his true master: the aggressive Prince Zinlo of Aspenthar. The team’s best guess is that Prince Zinlo hoped to instill unrest in Pashow and then annex it while it was weak.
The Kernaug group is no less proud but more reserved as they report that the planar connection to the Astral Plane gradually subsided, though a strange cultist shifted to the Material Plane partway through the investigation. The Pathfinders subdued her and attempted to interrogate her, but as she spoke, she began to dissolve into liquid shadow and screamed as she evaporated. Before she died, they learned that she serves a member of the Aspis Consortium from within the shadows of Nidal; however, the team believes that the way she spoke of her master suggested that the Aspis Consortium connection was tenuous or otherwise “not right.” The only belonging left behind was a medical bracelet bearing the number “311.”
Clearly, there is more going on from several angles, but for the moment, you have stymied the conspiracies and have time to enjoy being the heroes of Pashow.