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A lone servant leads the way to the library, where Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch stands waiting, along with two seated guests: an elderly man and a woman in uniform. The venture-captain finishes reading a paper with a satisfied smile, and dismisses the servant. “Thank you, Jardan. Welcome, friends. I apologize for the hour, but Aspis spies are about, and this matter requires they suspect nothing. As you know, we have struggled with the Consortium’s stranglehold on city politics.
Maiveer Sloan and his agents still hold sway with Lord-Mayor Grobaras; fortunately, the Council of Ushers has grown tired of the Consortium’s illegal smuggling of Thassilonian relics and the Lord- Mayor’s failure to enforce the law.” She gestures toward the seated man, “Lord Deverin represents members of the Council that would see something done. They have provided a writ empowering the Pathfinder Society as their agent in this matter. We are to investigate a smuggling operation, find evidence of the Consortium’s complicity, and, once we have proof, tear apart Bronze House to uncover the rest of Sloan’s illegal activities.”
Lord Deverin speaks, his words interspersed with rasping coughs, “Please, Lady Heidmarch. You are merely authorized to search for evidence and defend yourselves if any resist. We don’t want a war in the middle of the city.”
Heidmarch offers a placating gesture, “Of course, I understand. Pathfinders, remember you are acting as the city’s agents; do not literally tear the building apart, and absolutely do not harm Maiveer Sloan. This is an investigation, not an assassination.”
She turns to the seated woman, who rises. “Kasadei is a member of the city guard and she will act as your liaison. She has some authority to request assistance, but is primarily an observer. Kasadei?”
Kasadei moves to greet each of you in turn, and then continues the briefing. “Thank you, Lady Heidmarch. I’ve read of your Society’s exploits, and heard much of its actions around the city, mostly good things. I’m eager to see you in action.
The city guard recently identified one Thassilonian site we suspect the smugglers are looting. I will guide you there when you’re ready.”
Lord Deverin grumbles about the hour and needing some wine to soothe his throat and departs. Kasadei escorts him out. Lady Heidmarch turns toward you, waiting for the others to depart before speaking again. “Officially, we’re working for the city to stop this smuggling operation and, if you succeed, we can drive a wedge of public embarrassment between Sloan and the Lord-Mayor. More importantly, the Aspis dared attack the Grand Convocation. We’ve learned from an inside informant that Sloan was instrumental in planning that attack. The Grand Convocation should have been a celebration of our achievements, but thanks to Sloan, Pathfinder agents lost their lives that day, and the Society lost valuable artifacts that we’ve spent the last year collecting. Sloan must pay. Physically harming him is not an option, but find as much evidence of illegal activity as you can, and any information on Aspis activities while you’re at it. We have a rare chance to legally go in and look at his books. You aren’t authorized to seize property that the Consortium obtained legally. That being said, if a particular object catches your eye, well, I’m sure I can explain away one item disappearing from the Bronze House, as long as you can prove it is not of Thassilonian origin.
If you do meet Sloan, trick him into revealing as much as you can. He’s a cunning old fox, but he’s not infallible; the Council turning on him and our knowledge of his complicity in the Absalom attack might shake him. Desna smile on you, Pathfinders.”
With that, she provides the pathfinders with the council's writ of authority ()
Hagnar also thinks about what he may know of the city , its history, and anything else useful!
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The Galtan man-of-the-sea turns up sporting an even more showy outfit and an even more expensive bottle of red wine than usual. Passing out the fresh bread and soft cheeses to his friends he uncorks the bottle with his teeth and sloshes out a few glasses of deep ruby coloured comfort for everyone.
Placing a glass in front of Venture Captain Heidmarch, he smiles "Good thing I understand Thassilonian" Blackjack offers as though that fact alone should be enough to complete the mission by morning.
Raising an eyebrow, part flirtatious and part appraising, Blackjack greets Kasadei,
"Captain Blackjack of The Raven, Knight-Captain of the Eagle Knights, Grey Corsair of Andoran. If you see us in much action I'd suggest things have gone very wrong for us"
Blackjack knows the faces of the Pathfinders in the room "We worked well together last time, Ouroboreia - the charming and brilliant, Ceobryn - a man of action, I heard Elindriel would be joining us...?" he looks about.
"I don't recall us meeting" he hands Hagnar a glass and a firm handshake "But I can tell by your observant appearance we will be good friends"
With that, the Galtan gets comfortable and rests his tricorne on the table.
The bronze house? We do not have an exact map, but it's a very classic manor with a central hall and two wings.
As for the thassilonian site, details are scarce as well. It's apparantly a site that has been uncovered after having been buried in a landslide thousands of years ago.
- Magnimar
- Aspis rumors
"And a pleasant day to you, too, good sir! Welcome to the party!" Hagnar returns the captain's greetings.
Magnimar and Korvosa are the two major city-states of southern Varisia. Korvosan dissidents founded Magnimar a little over a century ago. The city’s most prominent landmark is the Irespan, a ruined portion of an enormous Thassilonian bridge that towers over the city.
Magnimar is divided into nine distinct districts, with wealthier citizens living on the Summit atop Seacleft Cliff, and working class citizens living on the Shore. The poor and many criminals live in the Shadow beneath the Irespan. The Council of Ushers, a legislative body of nobles and merchants, the Varisian Council, and Lord-Mayor Grobaras jointly function as Magnimar’s government.
In practice, the Lord-Mayor controls city governance while the Council of Ushers remains locked in endless debates.
The city’s Golemworks is famous for its constructs, most notably the angelic guardian.
The Aspis Consortium established a presence in Magnimar near the city’s founding. They operate a successful shipping and money-lending business.
The Consortium operates from their headquarters in the Dockway district, the Bronze House. Maiveer Sloan is the executive director.
The Consortium operates numerous successful smuggling operations in Varisia and has been shipping Thassilonian relics out through Magnimar for decades.
After setbacks in recent years, Sloan has reinvigorated his projects in Varisia, and Consortium ships delivered a fresh wave of agents and resources in recognition of his success. Bronze agent Melnat Glimsilk, a gnome illusionist, is among the new arrivals.
Take you time to prepare, Kasadei says, but be ready to leave shortly after dawn. The journey will take about six hours on foot, four when mounted.
The next day, Kasadei leads the expedition north on the Lost Coast road. She steps off the road a short distance past a wayside shrine to Desna, and follows a winding footpath leading into steep rolling hills until she reaches a fallen statue of a man wielding a feathered staff. “Our diviner puts the site just over this rise, though he could see nothing else.”
There are signs of wagons passing through in the previous day.
The statue is of Xanderghul, Thassilonian Runelord of Pride.
Once the Pathfinders reach the smugglers’ camp, Kasadei signals the city guard scouts waiting nearby. The road winds down to an excavated cave entrance. Outside the cave are two partially loaded wagons, filled with straw-stuffed crates marked as Jeggare wine.
You can confim that the crates indeed carry the mark of house Jeggare
The wine comes not from the local Korvosan branch of the Jeggare family, but all the way from Count Varian Jeggare‘s vineyards in Western Cheliax. The count is a prominent Chelish venture-captain.
Shining jewels, ivory statues, and platinum coins glimmer within the wagons, while a dozen empty bottles litter the ground.
Halfway up the path, a drunk man is singing loudly, out of tune and supported by a crow that seems to screeching along: With a mug in his hand and a mug in his head, he took the test of the stone. With a resolve of iron and a liver of steel...
The stoic half-elf woman has been silent for most of the journey, cleaning and checking the pistols holstered at her hips, but at Jacques comment she laughs and elbows him good-naturedly. "Guess we know what 'item' the good captain here might 'liberate'," she jibes. "Never cared much for the fancy stuff myself, more of a a hard spirits gal."
In Ceobryrn's view, the man is drunk like an Irriseni army...
...cider swilling time again! Booh-hah! Booh-hah! He might have one, he might have TEN! Cider swilling again, boo-hah! the man sings, barely able to pronounce the words, while the black bird goes Craw! Craw! to accentuate the song.
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"Desna herself blessed us with Galtan wines, Andoran ships, Taldane art, and Varisian women" the Captain continues the banter "Nothing wrong with hard spirits gals, it shows their decisiveness, never met a rum drinking woman who didn't have her hand firmly on the tiller of her own destiny"
""When we are done on this journey, come for a sail on The Raven we can ply the Inner Sea route and do some wine tasting, see if we can find you a variety you appreciate"
"Shall we go ask our new companion his opinions on the matter?"
Hagnar revels in telling the rest of the group what he knows about Magnimar and the Aspis Consortium operations there.
As the group passes the statue, Hagnar remarks, "The statue is of Xanderghul, Thassilonian Runelord of Pride."
At the camp, Hagnar confims that the crates indeed carry the mark of house Jeggare.
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"I only really know of Krune, and his connection to Lissala"
Blackjack adjusts his tricorne to a suitably jaunty angle, and heads with the brash confidence and braggadocio one would expect of a seasoned pirate captain and starts heading for the drunken fellow.
With that said, he keeps an eye out for traps - one doesn't live to be a captain of infamy without also being somewhat cautious sailor.
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Elindriel gasps for breath briefly as she catches up to the group. "I thought I'd never free myself from Lady Heidmarch's reprimands for my tardiness. It's as if the woman has never been late a day in her life."
Taking in the situation, she looks to the drunken man. "I can't imagine this one is alone; be on your guard." With that, she unfurls a short flag bearing what looks like a stylized phoenix crossed by a lute and curved blade. "Behold, what made me late in the first place...", she says, smiling, as she grasps it in her off-hand. She glances briefly around the camp as Jack approaches the drunkard.
Whoa! the man shouts as he sees Jacques approach () Highwaymen! he blurts out, springing to his feet.
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Bluff
"Where?" Blackjack feigns looking about "No Highwaymen to be had, no, I was sent to help on the Thassilonian translations, I'm a specialist in such things..." Blackjack pulls up his sleeve, revealing a seven pointed star - a Sihedron Tattoo, indeed he has a sleeve of Runelord symbols and Thassilonian script inked into his skin, accenting and surrounding a strange looking ocher gem embedded in the flesh. As the images move and shift under his skin, it is obvious they are not mundane. "Did you wish for me to repeat that in Thassilonian for you? Or should we partake of more wine and get comfortable?" - Blackjack smiles.
Big bunch of baloney! the man shouts, spittle covering the the captain, before Ouroboreia can even open her mouth. Guuys! Help me! he shouts, but nobody answers.
"Time to get in it, I suppose..."Hagnar mumbles as he pulls out several flasks and bottles, drinking one after the other and belching loudly. The look on his face reveals his view of the potions' flavor combination...
Hagnar will stand ready to rush on if the Captain and Ouro need him.
"Hey, who are you calling highwaymen?" Lirianne asks, following Jaques at a short distance . At the drunk's hostile shout, she draws her pistol and casts her eyes around for the man's supposed friends.
Nobody seems to come to the man's aid, so he shouts I'll take care of you myself then!
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Hagnar
Ceobryrn
Lirianne
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Chauncey
Marla the Raven
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Jax
Elindriel
Ouroboreia
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Okay, okay, I surrender. Just stop shouting. Oooh, my head. the man says, drunk rush slowly wearing off. You're lucky that Meinat and Alexei aren't here. he grumbles.
Hagnar quickly ties the man and has a gag ready, but leaves it off for their questions.
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"I'll remember to thank Besmara that your crew wasn't here" Blackjack says almost seriously "But in the meantime, now we have your surrender, you can tell us about the activities of the Consortium and some Thassilonian items, for I told know lies about my knowledge"
****
"Any good around ships Elindriel? You know if we swapped that flag for the black flag and dressed you for the part you'd make a very convincing Captain yourself!" Blackjack offers with warmth.
Meinat is a powerful illusionist, a gnome, and Alexei is one of those sneaky types, from Irrisen. He tends to lift more than his fair share of valuables, that one. Nalme is a recently hired Shoanti mercenary and ex-gladiator.
We are with the Aspis Consortium. The shipments from local Thassilonian sites all travel through the Bronze House. Sometimes I sell some Thassilonian relics on the side, though.
Chauncey's wagon is loaded with relics, and also contains a journal. Meinat's Chauncey explains/
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Elindriel smiles briefly at Jacques' comment. "As effective as I might be at controlling a pirate crew, I'd not see them enslaved or intimidated, as I've heard many are. It's much better, I think, to work toward a common goal, rather than to impose one's will on others, don't you think?"
*****
At the mention that the man is with the Aspis Consortium, Elindriel barely manages to contain a hiss. Instead, she casts a spell to detect magical auras, then scans the contents of the journal.
Hagnar also studies the journal and the contents of the wagon.
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"Ahhh Elindriel, that is why my crew is all volunteers - free folk from Galt, celebrating the principles of Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Sadly, my Galtan countrymen have taken things too far and the blood still flows like rivers - the Andorans are the closest to our ideals and seem to have struck a balance, but even there some corruption has begun to take hold again - like barnacles on the hull of a vessel. Indeed it is best to co-operate and collaborate, and we make a good living hitting slaving ships and the like moving around the inner sea...amongst other things..."
Blackjack pours himself some more red wine, offering the bottle over to Chauncey "No doubt you have been following the conversation? There's better coin to be made for us honest men who carve out a dishonest living" - satisfied the man is no longer a threat, Blackjack treats the fellow charitably, as per the terms of parley.
Elindriel touches the journal, but a magical ward seems to have been placed on it. It activates as soon as her finger touches the cover. She suddenly feels a stiffness in his joints creep up his arm.
Jacques inspects the wagon, detecting magic, and sees an invisible, magical rune on one of the artifacts: 'Pride' ()
Ceobryrn finds many traces leading into the cave.