"I don't know about this," Hanifa said.  "I mean, this is the grand temple of Nethys in Osirion's capital.  They probably have all sorts of magical protections.  Besides, I'm not a natural climber like you."<br/><br/>Looking back and forth before continuing, she leaned in to whisper in Menya's ear.  "But if you<em>do</em>find something, then let me know, alright?"<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/ETL7DpY.jpg?1)<br/><br/>Due to sheer coincidence and luck, the trouble with the water elemental earlier caused a security mishap.  Dodging the patrolling guards and getting past their magical detections was surprisingly easy, and in no time at all Menya got past the innermost ring to the garden of the Spire. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=61377)<br/><br/>Its sheer surface was smooth and hot from the midday sun, but climbing up was a relatively uneventful trip.  Menya managed to get close enough to see its top clearly, a miniature fortress built of amber glass proudly piercing the heavens.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Knowledge History, Nobility, or Religion, roll separately for each</div><div class="spoiler_body">DC 10: This fortress is designed in the style of an old-time royal tomb.<br/><br/>DC 15: The designs are intended to house priests.<br/><br/>DC 20: Priests of Nethys specifically, who have a particularly vaunted position in Osirion society.<br/><br/>DC 25: Wait, this is clearly meant to house the greatest of mystic theurges!  There are not too many people, Pharaohs even, who can qualify for this!  No, it couldn't be!  It's no less than Azghaad's royal tomb!</div></div><br/>Before Menya could inquire any further or climb any higher, a loud shriek emanating from within the spire.  Her<em>invisibility</em>spell was dispelled by some internal force, and a blue-white light enveloped her.  Miraculously she found herself at the bottom of the Spire, safe and sound.  Off in the distance she can see some guards rushing over in her general direction.  Guess it's time to split!<br/><br/><em>Menya, professional adventurer and archaeologist, successfully escapes the temple without incident or revealing her identity.</em><br/><br/><br/>"So, what did you find out?"<br/><br/>If Hanifa hears that the tomb at the top was meant to house a particularly famous mage-priest (even Azghaad himself), she'll make a religious gesture.  "Nethys' Grace, that's sacred ground!" she exclaimed.  "Will the Gods please have mercy on this curious catgirl, for she meant no blasphemy!"<br/><br/>After a few moments when they didn't break out in insects or struck down by lightning, Hanifa calmed down.  "Okay, that's enough potential sacrilege for one day.  Anyway, while out shopping I pretty much spent most of my gold on supplies.  We have two fine mares waiting for us at the stables when we leave, along with several days' worth of trail rations and waterskins.  We also have a map of eastern Osirion, suntan lotion, desert robes, and a compass, all packed up at the hotel, safely behind a locked door."<br/><br/>With their traveling gear accounted for, Menya and Hanifa inquired into the devil-worshipers and Aspis merchants.  Hanifa's efforts are for naught; despite being a local assistant and guide, she was not as well-spoken as Menya. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=61378)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Gathering Information, Aspis</div><div class="spoiler_body">Automatic: It's well-known that the Aspis Consortium's an international trading empire which seeks economic dominance across the Inner Sea.  They've cornered the market on many popular trade goods and have bases of operation all over Avistan and Garund, and beyond.<br/><br/>DC 10: The Consortium's main purpose in Osirion is to recover as many goods and findings of the ancient pyramids and tombs as possible.  The Sothis-based branch operates out of Green Emerald Goods, a shop in the bazaar, and their close location to the Lovely Hands Bath House means that they're quite clean, refreshed, and nice-smelling most of the day.<br/><br/>DC 15: The Consortium's lifeblood is its merchants and its mercenaries.  Both groups predominate in Osirion, and are quite mobile.  The Osirion branch is led by Sa'adat, a Garundi woman as skilled with a sword as she is with a spell.  The Lovely Hands Bath House is also a popular destination for traveling merchants due to the exquisite "massages" offered by its beautiful ladies.<br/><br/><strong>Sa'adat:</strong><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/uLYeJ4T.jpg?1)<br/><br/>DC 20: The Consortium's leader is not publicly known.  It's assumed that they operate as a council of influential voices who vote on important matters.  In regards to Osirion and other ancient civilizations, there has been a lot of conflict between them and the Pathfinder Society because they both seek the same things but for different ends.  You've heard quite a bit of violent stories about Sa'adat's goons, although none of them can be proven.<br/><br/>DC 25: The Aspis Consortium's a ruthless organization.  They've been known to sell arms to both sides of a conflict while sabotaging the peace process, using weather magic to unleash drought and jack up food prices, and other sordid deeds.  Unfortunately most operatives are more or less unaware of what the other side's doing, so even their own members do not always realize how bad the group is.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Gathering Information, Cheliaxins</div><div class="spoiler_body">Automatic: Cheliax is an international superpower bent on colonization and conquest of the Inner Sea.  Worship of the archdevil Asmodeus is the state religion, and its military and economic power is second-to-none.<br/><br/>DC 10: Cheliax has been very interested in the continent of Garund.  They even set up the colony of Sargava in the far south!  It's no surprise that they'd be in Osirion, as they're just north across the sea.<br/><br/>DC 15: Most high-ranking Cheliaxians are priests of Asmodeus or otherwise command infernal power.  By the design of their leader's armor, locals figure that she's one of the feared Hellknights, Cheliax's elite police force.<br/><br/>DC 20: The Hellknight's name is Hannelore.  Anybody wearing such armor in this hot climate would perish of heat, so she most definitely has some form of magical protection going on.  She and her fellow "pilgrims" aren't here for a religious retreat, and locals could see the odd mace or blade in their packs.<br/><br/>DC 25: Apparently one of the pilgrims was a little too loud in the tavern, and said to a patron that they were seeking great arcane power in this most ancient of lands.<br/><br/><strong>Hannelore:</strong><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/i272pWQ.jpg?1)</div></div><br/>"I don't fancy tangling with devil worshipers just yet," Hanifa said.  "Why don't we do some reconnaissance on the Aspis folks first?"<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">The Lovely Hands Bath House</span></span><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/dlWCEdL.jpg?1)</div><br/>Located in the more well-to-do end of Sothis, the bath house's mostly male clientele and higher-than-average proportion of "exotic" (non-Garundi) women indicated that a different sort of relaxation was popular here.<br/><br/>Hanifa blushed a little.  "Uhhh...you don't think we'd stick out...as customers, don't you think?  It looks pretty well-guarded around the place.  Got any ideas, Menya?"<br/><br/><strong>Sneak In:</strong>An opposed Stealth check.  Both you and Hanifa must roll, and if one is caught the other will still be hidden.  Whether or not they intervene depends upon what happens.<br/><br/><strong>Customers:</strong>Although they'll look out of place amid the throngs of men, Menya and Hanifa have free access to the public rooms for 5 silver pieces each.  The merchants are in a private room, however.<br/><br/><strong>Working Girls:</strong>This is by far the easiest (and most fun!) way to get in.  No skill check required, the two are pretty enough to pass the part.  The two of them will have unrestricted access to the private rooms, but will have their hands full attending to the needs of customers.<br/><br/><strong>Meeting with Aspis:</strong>It will take some clever bluffing against the guards that the Aspis merchants are waiting for them.  They'll certainly not be expecting them if they do succeed, however, which might be risky.<br/><br/><strong>Other Ideas:</strong>If you have one or a variation on these plans, feel free to tell me!<br/><br/>You can try any combination of these ideas, and I'll adapt to see what happens.