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The crisp chill of the Arcadian Ocean can be clearly felt as it sweeps across the fetid waters of Riddleport Harbor and onto the city streets, and the briny air inspires recent memories.
Only a few days ago, back in Magnimar, Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch detailed the covert mission from behind the oaken desk in her office.
"Lissala is the Thassilonian goddess of runes, fate, and obedience," she explained. "Her followers are wicked and secretive, but they can be bought for the right price. The Aspis Consortium offered that price. In exchange for creating a back door into the Hao Jin Tapestry — a museum demiplane that we Pathfinders thought was entirely our own — the Aspis Consortium promised a river of wealth to the secretive cult. The Pathfinder Society ejected the Aspis Consortium from the Hao Jin Tapestry and the Consortium defaulted on its contract with the cult of Lissala. As you might expect from followers of a goddess of duty, the Lissalans are irate at the Aspis Consortium for defaulting. Tensions between the two groups are at their breaking point, and I need you to finish the job. Vidrin Jenk is a silver agent in the Aspis Consortium, newly arrived in Riddleport and anxious to prove his worth to the organization. The Aspis Consortium recently purchased the Barracuda Cartage company, and Jenk operates out of the offices there. Jenk plans to patch up relations with the cult of Lissala, which is well hidden somewhere in Riddleport. To help him, Jenk requisitioned a group of Aspis Consortium specialists — all bronze agents led by a mysterious troubleshooter named Thestil Shadowtongue."
At this point, Venture-Captain Heidmarch slid several bronze badges across the desk, some flecked with blood. "Those specialists aren’t going to make it to Riddleport. You are. I want you to pretend to be the Aspis Consortium agents Jenk requested. Do as he asks, but only to keep suspicion off of you until you find out where the cult of Lissala is hiding. Once you know that, I need you to do two things. First, sabotage the Lissalan safe house as completely as possible. Second, throw the blame for the sabotage onto the Aspis Consortium. How you complete these tasks I leave to your discretion, but I want you to keep murder to a minimum. One of the Lissalan cultists is feeding us information, and I don’t want to risk you killing this valuable source. Furthermore, we want the Lissalans to remain alive so they can turn their full ire against the Aspis Consortium. Once you’ve accomplished these two mission objectives, return here."
Heidmarch smiles broadly. "Welcome to the Aspis Consortium. Any questions before you leave for Riddleport?"
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Lissala was the Thassilonian deity of runes, fate, duty, and obedience. Her worshipers are generally sadistic self-flagellants who believe that self-inflicted pain opens the mind to enlightenment.
Lissala taught the seven virtues of rulership to Thassilonians, but these virtues became perverted under the runelords to reflect the seven mortal sins. At that time, Lissala’s worship grew more secretive and more sadistic. Many scholars assume that Lissala, like most Thassilonian gods, is no longer worshiped.
Lissala may have created rune magic. Her followers commonly use runes and glyphs, including rune-carved guardians akin to golems.
The Aspis Consortium is a supranational trade organization with shadowy leadership and a reputation for ruthless trade practices.
The Aspis Consortium hires countless common mercenaries and merchants. Bronze agents hold the lowest rank of actual membership in the Consortium. Bronze agents are overseen by silver agents, who are in turn overseen by gold agents. A gold agent usually administers affairs in a large city or small nation.
The Aspis Consortium has made several loans to power groups in Riddleport, including the three primary temples. These loans were drafted with intensely legalistic language and included steep interest rates, which the temples are often reluctant to pay, further entrenching them in debt.
Riddleport’s primary temples are the Publican
House, a tavern-temple of Cayden Cailean; the House
of the Silken Veil, a brothel-temple of Calistria; and the
Fish Bowl, a temple of Besmara.
The Publican House is the tavern-temple of
Cayden Cailean. All are welcome in this crowded, rowdy
drinking hall, except for cyphermages. Gambling and
drinking contests are common at the Publican House.
The Besmaran priests at the Fish Bowl are rumored
to perform blood sacrifices on those who have displeased
the Pirate Queen. These sacrifices often involve feeding
victims to dangerous sea creatures.
Worshipers of Calistria whisper that Shorafa
Pamodae, mistress of the House of the Silken Veil,
harbors a seething hatred of Vidrin Jenk.
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"I know little to help here, but I have heard of the The Publican House, which is the tavern-temple of Cayden Cailean. They say all are welcome in this crowded, rowdy drinking hall, unless you are a cyphermage. Gambling and drinking contests are common at the Publican House. Other temples in Riddleport include the House of the Silken Veil, a brothel-temple of Calistria; and the Fish Bowl, a temple of Besmara. "
"I am not a fan of subterfuge, and will be performing no murders in any case, but I understand what is needed and will do what I can to comply."
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"Finally a mission that requires more brain than brawn. I've been waiting for something like this for a while now. Stephani covered most of what I know, but I can add that the Aspis Consortium is quite a shadowy trade organization and I've heard they were involved in various ruthless trade practices, some of which seemed to be quite illegal to my sources. Membership there is organied by levels uninspiringly named after metals. Bronze is the lowest level, then silver and then gold - a gold agent often runs a city or even a small nation. An acquaintance of mine once tried to join them, but left after a week or so - the stress was too much for her, unfortunately without much information."
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Dusklord smirks.
"Ah, the Aspis Consortium...the a supranational trade organization with shadowy leadership and a reputation for ruthless trade practices. My favorite. We can do this. Of course, we would never want to harm ay innocents. We will shed as little blood as humanly possible," the wizard says with mock sincerity.
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A remarkably well-built half-elf joins in, but it is not until he speaks that you realise this is the same half-elf you have been travelling with before. He had evidently been working out, for his muscles are twice as pronounced as they had been previously and he moves with an easy grace that suggests he is a little quicker too. Gone are his flute and bag of juggling tools. In fact, gone are all his weapons as well, and only the wrappings on his callused knuckles give any indication as to his new favoured means of combat.
"Been awhile since I practiced the art of spinning a yarn, but I'll do what I can I suppose. Fortunately Stephani has kept up her story-telling skills, eh? Hope this mission doesn't chafe at your principles too much, Stephani."
He slams a fist into an open palm.
"If we need to crack a few heads without killing, I should be able to perform well in that regard."
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"Jenk doesn’t know anything about Thestil Shadowtongue other than by reputation. Thestil is known to be a loyal Aspis Consortium agent, but goes to great lengths to remain mysterious and anonymous. Almost no one knows what race Thestil is, or even whether Thestil is a man or a woman. I recommend that your best liar claim to be Thestil Shadowtongue, and that he or she emphasizes Thestil’s ‘enigmatic spy’ reputation. Jenk's task involves Riddleport’s temples, but beyond that rumor I have no suppositions. Thestil Shadowtongue has a reputation for being an all-around troubleshooter concerned with anonymity. Since Jenk requisitioned a team with diverse skills — just like the group of you — you should be prepared for anything. His business has something to do with money, he gives loans to temples. His 'official' business is a warehouse selling any goods." Venture-Captain Heidmarch answers.
You arrive at Barracuda Cartage in the guise of Aspis Consortium agents at sundown. Despite the late hour, the up-and-coming trade house is lively as ever.
The Aspis Consortium’s headquarters in Riddleport is a dilapidated compound showing signs of recent repair. The cartage company’s main building rises three stories above the filthy streets. Behind this main building stands a coach-house large enough for four wagons. A weedy yard is enclosed by a high brick wall, but the large wooden doors to the yard stand open to admit new business, even in this evening hour. Beside the doors, a wooden sign reads, "Barracuda Cartage. Under New Management."
A group of six thuggish Aspis Consortium mercenaries loiter in the loading yard, overseeing a dozen laborers loading carts with a large shipment of fine sailcloth.
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Starling swallows in surprise at the mention of her name, having paid more attention to tuning her lute and cleaning her flute than the details of the mission. "Umm.. yeah, I guess I could be this Thestil Shadowtongue. I always wanted to impersonate a real spy and this seems like a great opportunity to do so." She thinks for a few seconds then adds with a wink and a smile, "Well, other than our lives depending on my performance. This might be good song material for the future, you know."
Starling dresses in black and veils herself for this mission, adopting a soft and low voice, sounding much more serious - and dangerous than her usual self. Once the group reaches the Aspis Consortium's yard, Starling approaches the group of mercenaries confidently and asks their leader, flashing her bronze badge, "Jenk asked for my services. Where can I find him?"
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"Good to go. Any thoughts as to how we sabotage the safehouse?"
Serak shrugs.
Fire is always a good starting point. At least, it's where I start, anyway...The gnome follows along behind the group, not much use in sharing intel on the Consortium or the mission, instead rummaging through his small hoard or stuff from his pack. Once at the mercenaries, Serak stands beside Starling, flashing his toothy grin.
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"Boss Jenk is on the second floor of the main building, ma'am." one of the mercenaries says with a slight bow.
Jenk's office is easy to find. Behind a door labeled with 'Office' you find a snappish, sharpnosed administrator dressed in the elaborate finery of a merchant-prince. He stands behind a desk strewn with contracts and ledgers, doing his best to read multiple papers at once. Hey looks at you.
"How may I help you?" he asks.
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Serak maintains his position beside Starling, his wild crimson hair barely reaching her waist. This time, a little worm of fire snakes its way though his fingers, much like a street entertainer runs a coin through his knuckles. He flashes his toothy grin and stares wide eyed at Jenk.
She's in charge here. I'm just hired help.
He speaks while jerking his thumb toward Starling.
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Starling nods at the mercenaries and leads the others through and up to Jenk's office.
Starling nods her head to acknowledge Jenk but smiles in silence for a moment, looking at him in the eye but saying nothing. As he begins getting impatient, she moves forward and shakes his hand. She then speaks in short sentences, trying to sound like a professional agent by pronouncing every syllable but without any superfluous information. "Master Jenk. You've requested my services. This is my team of professionals. What's our mission?"
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Jenk pumps Starling's hand. "It's a pleasure for me to meet such a resourceful operative. I've had troube with one of my contractors. I want to present goodwill gifts to them, but collecting these gifts will take some legwork and maybe some coercive negotiation. This is what I need your help for."
"The Consotrium previously loaned each of the three temples in Riddleport a substaintial sum, the interest on all these loans is overdue. I don't want this interest in money, instead I have already sent missives to the temples and directed them to pay ther back-du interest in form of a religious icon or magic item. I have informed each temple that agents will be coming by tonight to collect the items, so you should be expected."
Jenk directs you to visit the Publican House to acquire a sacred mug, the House of the Silken Veil to obtain a magical dagger, and the Fish Bowl to pick up a magical bicorne hat. "I want all three items recovered and returned to me tonight. I expect that at least one of the temples may be reluctant to part with the items."
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Aeleth knocks his fists together and grins.
"Busting heads. I'm good at that."
"Though hopefully I won't need to... sounds like the temples of Cayden Cailean, Calistria and Besmara. More likely than not, the temple of Besmara is where we are most likely to find resistance, if not the temple of Calistria..." he thinks quietly to himself.
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You leave Jenk's warehouse and head to the Publican House.
The Publican House is a sprawling building of rough-hewn wood and weathered shingles. Large bay windows of leaden glass provide an expansive view of the river. Loud cheers issue from the tavern, as does the sweet smell of spilled ale.
The Publican House is crowded this evening, as the tavern-temple's overseer, High Publican Arnando Rolf, has arranged a goodnatured contest. After a drunken dis agreement earlier in the day about drinking people "under the table," Rolf declared a drink-balancing challenge. This competition is now in full swing. Several intoxicated patrons lift stools and tables stacked with metal cups brimming with ale. As might be expected, the interior of the Publican House is spattered with large puddles of ale and broken furniture.
"Any orders?!" a waitress shouts between the men.
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Rolf is a bearlike man with meaty fists and a notched sword swinging at his hip. "It's all about lifting a barstool, table or a heavy sideboard which is loaded up with three, six or nine full cups of ale. At your choice. You must lift the furniture over your head without spilling any ale! Easy, huh?" Rolf answers.