OutPost I: Redelia's Beyond the Halflight Path (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

Please dot and delete.

/dot

"Long" Beau pokes his head into the venture-captain's cubicle. "Hello? Anybody home?"

As you are each resting from your previous mission, a letter is delivered to you.

Greetings Friends,
For some time I have been making diplomatic inroads into Kaer Maga, the so-called City of Strangers. The Society would love to gain access to the many vaults carved beneath the city long ago. However, because of the danger of the vaults, the group in charge of protecting them—the Duskwardens—rarely allows anyone to stray from their carefully patrolled paths. The Duskwardens seemed willing to consider allowing Pathfinders to venture beyond their protection, but only if we were acting on behalf of one of the city’s major factions with their endorsement. They want us to prove that we are willing to work as partners to a faction and that we will not upset the city’s existing balance of power.
After receiving the Duskwarden’s reply, I reached out to the leaders of several of the city’s largest factions with evidence of our agents’ skill and goodwill. Most of the responses I received were noncommittal. However, Halman Wright, the leader of the Freemen faction, took a greater interest. A few years ago, Wright led a successful slave revolt, and his followers took control of the Bottoms district. Since then, the Freemen have maintained the Bottoms as a safe haven for former slaves. They also do everything they can to promote the cause of freedom without Kaer Maga without disrupting society enough to unite other factions against them. Halman has requested that I send a team immediately to investigate the disappearance of a group of his allies. He did not provide further details. Before you go, you should know that very few in Kaer Maga are beacons of morality. Halman’s Freemen are perhaps the most upstanding organization in the city. I would rather secure an alliance with them than any of the alternatives. Do your best to prove yourselves to them.
Sincerely,
Sheila Heidmarch

You will soon be teleported to Kaer Maga. Do you wish to make any purchases or do anything else first? You will meet your companions right after the teleport.

Jaan waits patiently, ready to be teleported.

"Long" Beau and Scratch are ready for the arcane commute.

Teleportation magic is so neat, Reesa thinks with a grin.

I've never teleported anywhere before. I've always enjoyed time to appreciate the journey.

"Time for an adventure!" exclaims the excitable acrobat, and with that, the tiny circus troupe picks up and readies to depart.

Enclosed with the letter is a simple map of Kaer Magma. The location of a tavern called the Common House, the headquarters of the Freemen, is clearly marked on the map.

You each find yourself magically teleported to a point just outside the city walls, on the same plateau as the city. There, you find others who have clearly also just teleported.

I'm going to stop here briefly so you can introduce yourselves in character, and to give Otto a bit more time to join us.

Before leaving his townhouse in the Ivy District of Absalom, "Long" Beau scribbles a quick note on a sheet of fine stationery.

Dear Roxanne,
Off to Kaer Maga on Society business. Shouldn't be gone long, it's another teleport, not an extended journey over land and sea. By Old Deadeye's grace, I should be back within the week.
Don't worry, Erastil's blessing and my faithful companion Scratch will keep me safe.
Your loving husband,
Beau Blakros
PS I left you two dozen roses. Why two? Because everyone else gives a single dozen.
PPS Please have one of the servants pick up that loden green tux from the tailor.

---

Arriving on a desolate plateau outside exotic Kaer Maga, the cleric greets his fellow Pathfinders. He's a lean six foot tall man with tanned skin, black hair, and grey eyes. He's outfitted in elegant but functional attire and a light woolen cloak over his mithral breastplate. He leans on his longspear like a staff. A longbow is slung over his back.

"Howdy, friends. My name is "Long" Beau. I'm a traditional priest of the Stag God. Nothing too crazy for you all to wrap your heads around." He flashes a brilliant white, easy smile, and his grey eyes sparkle. "And this celestial creature is my companion Scratch."

"Say hello, Scratch."

The medium-sized mountain lion regards the party with feline disinterest. She takes a seat at "Long" Beau's knee, licks her right forepaw, and catalogues the varied scents wafting from the filthy city of men and stranger beasts.

"Meow."

A terribly ugly Oread man joins the group, accompanied by his pet elasmotherium. "Kaer Maga, eh? Good, I've been up and down the length and breadth of Golarion, searching for that accursed dog, with barely a trace to be found. But a colony of freed slaves - why that might be the very spot for him! I'll be keeping a close look-out, that's to be sure. And if, along the way, we can help these Duskwardens to keep everything neat and tidy, well, I'm sure we'll all agree that that's just how things ought to be!"

The elasmotherium ignores his master's commentary and sniffs about to see if there is anything interesting to eat nearby.

A lithe cat-woman dressed in dark tones, with finely made mail of delicate black chain slides into view, she only appears to be carrying a beautifully made crossbow and a quality haversack.

Following beside the cat-woman playing a jaunty tune on a mandolin is a small 2' tall angelic woman dressed for adventure in a fine leather jerkin with a child-sized crossbow that looks too big for her. A large black and white spotted dog follows along barking playfully, a miniature trick riding saddle on its back with small saddlebags.

The angel calls out to passers-by “Now touring Kaer-Maga! The Scarlet and Poppy Show with Rusty the Wonderdog! Acrobatic displays! Magic! Death-defying tricks of derring-do!"

The three arrive to greet the others who have arrived ”Scarlet” she introduces herself, ”And that is my fellow provocateur Poppy” she looks at all the other animals "I see we're expanding the circus?"

Decked out in Hellknight Plate, Jaan removes his helmet to reveal a reddish-brown rocky skinned Suli with flowing smokey hair, and an extremely fashionable necklace.

"Greetings, I am Armiger Jaan, Order of the Pike."

Jaan glares a bit at the Scarlet Scoundrel and her levity.

The aasimar smiles broadly as she takes in her surroundings. ”It is so nice to meet all of you! This adventure should be so fun! And we have a kitty and a puppy with the party....how amazing. I’m Reesa,” the woman grinned. She was a tall, unarmored beauty with a few feathers clipped into her hair. She had scrolls and wands stowed for easy access on her person.

She moved to pet the dog, as nothing was more important at that particular time to her.

The lithe halfling with mocha colored skin is dressed in exotic leathers. A dagger at her side appears to have seen little use. Her skin has taken on the texture of bark, tendrils of vinous plants constantly grow, budding with the thick smell of fresh earth and the floral blooms that grow on the vines. These blossoms fall off as the vines die back. The cycle then begins anew.

"Greetings. I am Flora, a name my father gave me. He called me is little flower..."[b] Her voice trails off but then she continues. [b]"Like him I am an explorer, though I must admit to being more than a little uneasy in big cities."

Noting the dog getting some tender loving treatment Scarlet continues "Rusty was a gift from the Travellers in the Embeth Forest for helping protect them from angry Fey. He's an Embeth Hound, big and strong and have a good ability to climb and jump up on things, not so good in a Manor house, but great in a circus - so now he's family"

And is basically a variant mundane Riding Dog

You enter the city, passing first through an open-air meat market called Meatgate. As you leave the meat market, you find a hole in the city walls. As you approach the hole, your are swarmed by a variety of individuals who offer to guide you around the town for a 'very reasonably price.'

The priest of Erastil flashes a smile at the crowd gathering before them. "It seems we have a number of 'excellent' guides to choose from. Would anyone care to handle the, em, 'negotiation' of fees for such services?"
("Long" Beau has a +9 Diplomacy mod.)

Jaan makes no effort to volunteer himself to make the diplomatic efforts.

"I'll go, let's bring some joy to their little faces"

Poppy flaps forward on her small sparkling wings now playing an accelerando tune on a flute, and as the tempo increases, Scarlet performs a series of flips and summersaults to arrive at the front of the 'guides', landing with a flourish.

"I believe I have found the goose that lays the golden eggs! Or perhaps just an urchin worth a fortune!" she jests as she pulls a gold sail from behind one of the more promising 'guides' ears.

"Perhaps you could be my guide? Perhaps not" starts the cat-lady

"That would depend on the info you've got!" chimes in the angel.

"Ahh indeed he'd be in with a shot" quips Scarlet

"Provided that 'fair' isn't more than we've got!" the angel replies!

"Let's see what he says, sir what's your favourite spot?" Scarlet asks the Guide.

"We can pay you quite fairly, if your prices are hot!" The angel finishes.

"Remember, we're all just carny folks!" she finishes (this time in Varisian, like, perhaps, a Sczarni might...)

Hmmm, I'm trying to figure out from the adventure's mechanics how to give you a bit of an advantage for that amazing performance...

Scarlet looks around, and notices that a few of the guides do indeed seem to be rather shady looking, in subtle ways that less trained eyes might not notice. Many of the guides do look trustworthy, however. In particular, the halfling who Scarlet was talking to appears unlikely to rob the party.

"I could find my way through the trackless wilderness, but I might get lost in a small hamlet never mind a huge city. I say we take one of them up on their offer."

”I’m sure they are all wonderful in their own ways. I wish we could hire all of them, but I think it’s best to keep our numbers small...,” Reesa says as she smiles at the throng surrounding them.

Bewildered by the chromatic display of hellspawn and azata, "Long" Beau figures it can't hurt to try to help.
"The most efficient route to Halman Wright, leader of the Freemen of the Bottoms district, is all that we seek. We won't be here long, less than a week."
Diplomacy to Aid Another: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

The halfling who Scarlet talked to doffs his hat. "The name's Andy, ma'am. And I would be honored to show you around for half the usual rate. 5GP for the day."

1d3 ⇒ 3

"Long" Beau gives the halfling an appraising look, attempting to assess any hidden motives or other deception.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Otto watches the chaotic scene with evident distaste. While his companions seem to be sturdy enough, and will undoubtedly show their mettle in battle, he finds the sheer... jocularity of the Scarlet Scoundrel to be unnerving. And, Flora, why, it appears that the vegetation is simply growing out of her! Willy nilly and pell mell! I don't suppose she would allow me to offer her my pruning shears...

Seeing the assembled crowd of ragamuffins and ne'er-do-wells vying for the party's business, Otto pulls out a handkerchief and pretends to be blowing his nose, but it's pretty obvious that he is just looking for an excuse to shield himself from any possible odors or unwanted vapors.

Sidling up to the Suli Hellknight, he inquires, "Tell me, friend Jaan, what is this order that you belong to? I've heard of the Hellknights and their dedication to the laws of society and the forces of order, and I've wondered if perhaps they can help me in my quest to find my mother's long absconded dog." As a matter of fact, Otto will become a Hellknight Signifier when he levels up, so this adventure will hopefully provide some good backstory for that interest...

Jaan responds "I am from the Order of the Pike. We mostly operate out of Ciradel Ordeial, although I am from our newest citadel Fort Inevitable. From there we slay monsters and keep bandits away from the Crusader Road as much as possible. Having met many members of the Society on their way to Mendev I found they traveled many hazardous paths. I always did love a good mystery and received permission to join after being offered a field commission after rooting out a particularly troublesome demonic presence harassing one of Guaril's supply caravans."

Jaan then chuckles a bit about the dog comment "Perhaps the Order of the Torrent in Kintaro might be of help. They have a reputation for rescuing abducted people. Although with all the chaos there communication with our brothers and sisters there has been haphazard at best."

"Abducted!?! No, no, my friend, that rotten dog ran away on his own four legs. Even left us a goodbye note! But I'll hunt him down if it's the last thing I do... I thank you for your information about the Hellknights, though, and will be sure to look into the orders more closely. In these lawless times, when even a mother's beloved dog will break the commitments that bind him, it's good to know that the knights of Hell are strictly maintaining the regulations of society."

Beau finds no reason to doubt the halfling's truthfulness.

"Andy, how about three gold now and the rest when the work is done?" "Long" Beau offers with a winsome wink.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Kaer Maga seems like the sort of city where some good-natured haggling is expected, even when the some is inconsequential.

Andy smirks at Beau and shakes his head cheekily. "Nah, I'm already offering the pretty lady a deal."

The other guides see your party negotiating with Andy, and move away.

Flora gives the other halfling the 5 gold coins requested.

"Andy it is"

"We need to meet with Halman Wright the leader of the Freemen, and probably the Duskwardens. We'll need a decent Inn in a fair location, warm beds with no bugs and no troubles"

Hopefully having paid off a local it limits the amount of pickpocketing, scamming, price gouging, and other assorted out-of-townery we'd probably be subject to :p

”That Andy fella seems like the nicest little guy. I’m sure he will do a great job. There might even be a tip in it for you, Andy, if you work really hard,” Reese says, smiling broadly at the group’s new guide.

"Lead on, Andy." "Long" Beau is ready to finally meet these Freemen and their leader.

Andy starts to chatter happily about all of the best places to eat in town, and leads you in the direction of what he says is the best beer in the entire city.

"As long as that beer is where we're supposed to be going I have no objections." comments Jaan.

"Andy, take us to our meeting with the Freemen in the Bottoms district first. Afterward, we can all enjoy a tankard of beer. If they're both at the same spot, even better."

"True. Business before pleasure Andy"

Flora nodded in agreement with the others.

Still, to be sure, she decided to do some reconnaissance of her own. Concentrating on her headdress, she gave life to the spirit of the wood within, animating it. Using the feathers that line the headpiece it takes fight, soaring like an osprey and circling through the sky overhead. As it spots anything unusual, it will fly back to her to report what it sees.

Using the Elemental Whispers wild talent. The familiar has 8 Int, +18 Perception, and +16 Stealth and has the Speak with Master ability. It disperses if it takes any damage. (AC 18, touch 15, Ref +8 improved evasion).

Andy stops for a minute and looks sheepish. "Well, you see, I've never heard of where you want to go. Do you have a map or something?"

A slight frown creases the cleric's brow. This guide's clearly worth every piece of gold Ms. Mossgreen paid him.

"Long" Beau looks at the rest of the team. "A map?"

"Andy, just get us to the Bottoms district, and help us find Halman Wright and the Freemen. Then we can discuss, how exactly you intend to prove worthy of the fee my colleague paid you for your 'services.'"

Scarlet warmly interjects "Just a quick talk with Andy" and draws him away "I know how it is Andy, I am a former urchin and chancer who was always on the hunt from one coin to the next, but this is serious - only two possibilities here, you were desperate and said anything for the promise of a handful of gold, or you are trying to bump the agreed fee. Now Andy, I have to be honest with you, neither are acceptable. If you have made a mistake then talk now, you can keep the gold given for your trouble - but I need you to make good and recommend a PROPER guide where they know what they are doing AND a deal is a deal. That's a Hellknight, Andy, and he's a long way from Cheliax and a short way from your neck... help me help YOU Andy"

Andy gives Scarlet a sad look. "I do know most of the city, just not that particular place. Are ye sure that you don't have more information about the place you want to go, or even a map?"

"Long" Beau gives himself a face-palm. "Your lucky day, Andy. Here, take a look at this map of Kaer Maga."

”We know you will prove yourself up to the task. All we need is to go to The Common House. I think it’s marked on the map. We’ve got faith in you,” she smiles broadly.