The light from the rising sun performs a splendid dance upon the windows of Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch’s Magnimarian manor house as she pours the coffee. Her young servant brings in a platter of fine pastries and well-ripened fruits, setting it within easy reach before withdrawing quietly.
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Pentament quickly grabs two plates and examines the food closely before selecting only the best from each dish. He makes a wall of muffins around the outside of the first plate--one blueberry, one cranberry, two chocolate chip, and one pumpkin spice--an expert move that lets the plate hold extra pastries without any falling off. Once the plate is prepared, he adds a chocolate stuffed croissant, apple and cheese danishes, a cream puff, three of those wonderful cheesecake bites, a lemon square, and coconut macaroon; and then layers the top of the pile with sugar cookies.
Pentament turns to the fruit tray and simply puts one of each on his second plate (except for the bananas, of course), and starts walking back to his seat. Hmm . . . best not to offend my hostess by refusing her gifts. Perhaps she doesn't know how evil bananas are. Most big folk don't. Pentament pulls an about face, expertly tipping the plate to catch a runaway apple, and adds the smallest banana to his fruit plate. There! Now nobody can claim Pentament is being rude.
As each new Pathfinder enters the room, Pentament licks his fingers clean, wipes them on his doublet, then offers his hand in greeting, "Pentament Ulgolmul at your service!"
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The smell of beer comes first when Galant get inside the room.
Hips ! Hi... I'm Ga... Galant. What a night ! Hips ! People know how to party in this town.
He almost falls in one of the chair and smiles to the Venture-Captain once he finally reach some precarious balance.
In Cayden's Name, I'm ready for the mission !
Then he quickly falls asleep, snoring quite loudly.
Galant is a young varisian man, with a rapier on his side, a strange blue breastplate made of some sort of creature skin. He wears a symbol of Cayden Cailean around his neck. He smells of cheap ale and cold tobacco.
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A bit of screaming could be heard coming from down the hall just before the office doors open, followed by a two legged dinosaur running in, with what looks like a stick in its mouth. A few moments later, gasping for breath, enters a small, green haired gnome. Dressed in furs, and with quite muddy feet, the gnome rests his hands on his knees for a couple of moments before looking up. "Give me back my beatin' stick! You know I dont..... like..... Oh hi everyone!" Just noticing the people in the room, Ribli bows slightly, "I'm Ribli, and this troublemaker is Dri'na....... my stick!" Leaping for the club in the beast's mouth, the gnome over shoots, and lands face first into the side of the desk of the Venture-Captain.
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A dwarf in polished armour and carrying a lot of weapons stands near the table and helps himself to a pastry.. Taking care not to get any crumbs in his beard which is held in place by a magnificent silver clasp of Torags hammer. Among the weapons on his back is a silver war hammer a cold iron great axe and a bow and a quiver full of arrows."Greetings Lady Hindmarch. I am Jarsk. I take it we do not have another sleepwalking pathfinder to deal with today"
Venture-Captain Heidmarch purses her lips in a prim line at Jarsk's question and waits for Ribli to get a handle on his pet while nodding for someone to wake Galant. Then she begins in her characteristic low, breathy voice.
"As I'm sure you’re well aware, much of the reason Riddleport was founded where it was is because of its easily defendable position as well as the enigmatic Cyphergate, which has baffled scholars since its discovery. The Pathfinder Society has a keen interest in the Thassilonian monument as well, since solving its mysteries would undoubtedly unlock a number of other secrets regarding that lost empire. The Order of the Cyphers has been amassing support from outside sources for some years now, and scholars from all over the Inner Sea have come to aid Elias Tammerhawk and the cyphermages."
Heidmarch takes a bite out of a chocolate-filled biscuit--one of the few Pentament left behind--before continuing. "Just recently, however, we received word from Elias himself that several of the visiting scholars haven’t arrived in Riddleport Bay as expected. It seems as though a band of raiders, led by the Vudran pirate Alejia Netrav, has been intercepting the ships at sea, killing the crews, and destroying the ships. While Riddleport is hardly a stranger to the likes of pirates, Overlord Cromarcky has declared it illegal for any ships that wish to return to Riddleport Harbor to attack ships bearing the Riddleport flag. Alejia’s ship is clearly coming from Riddleport--the attacks all took place just outside Riddleport Harbor--but attempts to identify her ship have been unsuccessful so far."
She coughs lightly into a napkin. "I needn’t explain to you that the Pathfinder Society is also very much interested in the secrets of the Cyphergate, and that the deaths of these knowledgeable scholars have severely hindered progress in unraveling the artifact’s mysteries. The unexplained attacks are beginning to wear on the other sailors of Riddleport as well, and if something isn’t done about the matter soon, there will be no shortage of civil unrest, if not downright anarchy." She spits the word like a fish-bone.
"In a few days, a ship called the Topaz Titan is scheduled to arrive in Riddleport Harbor from Minkai, bearing the acclaimed Tian scholar Hirako Gurukaza--who is also a former member of our Society. We fear that he may be Alejia’s next target, and your task is to prevent her assault at all costs, both ensuring Hirako’s safety and shoring up our relationship with Tammerhawk. I have heard rumors that some of Alejia’s cronies have been storing their stolen goods somewhere in the Wharf District, so that might be a good place to start your investigation. While in Riddleport, keep a low profile and try to avoid pulling any of the crimelords into the situation. Tammerhawk would appreciate discretion and subtlety if possible. Regardless, there is little time to waste, as there is no knowing exactly when the pirates will choose to strike the Topaz Titan."
The Venture-Captain takes a long sip of her coffee and awaits her agents' questions.
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"Mmm . . . fantastic . . . mhmm . . . my compliments to your pastry chef, Madame." Pentament grabs the last sugar cookie and pops it into his mouth whole, "mmmhhhmmm . . . Alejia's cronies probably aren't the only ones hiding stolen goods in the Wharf District. How do we find the right smugglers? Do we at least know their aliases or what they stole?"
Heidmarch nods. "True enough for Riddleport. Still, even a city as lawless as Riddleport rarely sees human cargo being smuggled--and thus the fact that Alejia is targeting arriving scholars' ships might be a place to start." She pauses briefly. "While she is a lowly pirate, Alejia possesses more enemies than friends in Riddleport, having back-stabbed many business partners to get to where she is now. Her sudden disappearance and recent activities have only spurred public resentment of her, and many would like to see her dead. A few questions in the right ear could go far. In any case, don’t be surprised if your investigation gets you entangled with some of her less savory ex-associates."
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Panting slightly as he rubs the neck of his companion, the gnome looks quizzically as Sheila. "So, we are to look for these goods without drawing too much suspicion? I think I can do that, but Dri'na can't speak so good yet, and tends to nip at those she don't like." Ribli then grabs a chocolate filled pastry and bites into it before frowning slightly and placing it back onto the platter. Turning about and walking towards the window, he continues, "Oh, are we going to be on a boat? Last time I was about to go on one, Dri'na had a stubborn fit and wouldn't board!"
"A ship, yes. Trade between Magnimar and Riddleport is strong at present, and there are ships leaving several times a day to traverse the Varisian Gulf for the City of Cyphers. I have arranged passage for you on a Taldan cargo ship called the Opparan Opal that will be leaving within the hour. Hurry to the docks, and you’ll be in Riddleport before you know it."
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Discretion and Hips ! Subtlety are my two names Hips ! Says an - almost - wake up Galant. After smiling to the Venture-Captain trying to better fix his hair he asks
Do we act as Pathfinders or do we hide this fact ? If I have understood well, there is several forces in Riddleport and we will work for one. Do we know more about the other ?
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The gaunt Kuthite abstains from the buffet, and remains silent throughout the briefing, before quietly asking,
"You mentioned that Mr. Guruzaka is a former Pathfinder. Did he leave the Society on good terms?"
Once she answers, he pauses for a moment before turning to the others.
"I don't believe I've worked with any of you before, so it might be helpful to compare talents. Some of us might blend in at a dockside bar..." he glances pointedly at the Caydenite, "while I might fit in with a more scholarly crowd, or environments some of you might find...uncomfortable"
"Do we act as Pathfinders or do we hide this fact ? If I have understood well, there is several forces in Riddleport and we will work for one. Do we know more about the other?"
"I don't see a compelling reason to flaunt your identities. There many pirate gangs in Riddleport, only the most famous of which are the 12 Pirate Bosses, of which Overlord Cromarcky is principal. Take care amidst that web."
"You mentioned that Mr. Guruzaka is a former Pathfinder. Did he leave the Society on good terms?"
"Indeed, we are quite pleased to see him involved with this project--the Society would be strengthened by the opportunity to work with him again."
The Venture-Captain sets down her coffee. "If there are no further questions, I have arranged passage for you on a Taldan cargo ship called the Opparan Opal that will be leaving within the hour. Hurry to the docks, and you’ll be in Riddleport before you know it."
The sea voyage to Riddleport is swift and without much incident, and the Pathfinders soon find themselves in the bustling Wharf District. Word from the Cyphermages is that the Topaz Titan will arrive in two days' time.
After hours of poking heads into shops and chattering at bars, the Pathfinders learn a few things. Pentament shares a sandwich (or, more precisely, several sandwiches) with a halfling at a pricey inn off the Wharf called The River Runner, and the fellow (named Imil Shallowkeel, or so he says) shares that Alejia's gang is well-known among the pirate gangs of Riddleport--even before her latest unlawful attacks on the Riddleport flag. "Ruthless, the lot of 'em. Very efficient at commandeering and sinking their targets though, got to give 'em that. I hear they switch ships or even alter them somehow to conceal Alejia's true whereabouts."
Ribli runs into a gruff-looking dwarf coming from a gas-forge by te Wharf, who shares that the dockside Wharf District has fallen on hard times. Although once one of the most prosperous parts of Riddleport, in recent years the district has declined into a state of shabbiness, and crime is rampant throughout many of the run-down shops and warehouses.
Galant has a little more luck in the Golden Goblin Gambling Hall, though not luck of the monetary variety. Sitting at a Ghoulette table, which employs an animated goblin head that insults the players, the Caydenite strikes up a chat with the dealer, Lixy Parmenter. Shady folk have been paying locals in the Wharf District to keep quiet about anything they might see or hear, and some mercenary dockhands have found work hauling oddly-shaped cargo to what was thought to be a derelict building. Lixy leans in low, palming a few chips from the drunk man seated next to Galant. "I even heard, friend, that some pirates paid dockworkers to look the other way as they led a gagged and blindfolded bloke from a large crate into a derelict warehouse on the edge of the Wharf. Now how 'bout that, friend? Chips in please!"
The foul, mucky weather is enough to make any possible source of refuge look at least a little more hospitable, but the tattered sides of this rundown building have clearly seen better days. The waterlogged boards that hold it up have numerous holes that have been boarded over with newer planks. The warehouse’s few windows are high off the ground and intermittently broken; those still intact are far too grimy to see through anyway. While the building itself hardly looks like a viable base of operations, a flicker of light can be seen from within. The east and west loading doors are closed, as well as the narrower south door, which has a sliding peep hole built into it at eye level.
Pentament's circuit reveals no detectable magic within the decrepit building.
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After loosing a lot of money at the Golden Goblin Galant's luck turned when the dealer tells him about what's going on in the Wharf district.
After meeting back with his comrades they decided to go where the warehouse stands.
A few feet away from the warehouse he asks Is one of you able to tell a good lie ? We could try to pass for one of the gang ?
The other way is if someone good with locks. I'm not with either of it.
The party moves toward one of the loading doors quietly, and finds that it is locked. From the inside.
The other loading door is also barred from the inside; the smaller southern door is locked, but the lock appears to barely keep the door shut.
Galant does his best and unfortunately the door stays shut. He makes enough noise though that the peep hole slides open and a pair of eyes glares out from under bushy eyebrows. "Oy! Get lost!"
"Yeah, fat chance bud. Get lost!" The peep hole slams shut.
It takes Jarsk several tries to smash through the door. When his hammer finally beats it down, a thick, lazy smoke comes drifting out the door, obscuring all sight within.