Venture-Captain Amara Li is waiting in a well-maintained private garden behind a house on a quiet street in Ramparassad, the capital city of Dtang Ma, a nation in eastern Tian Xia. She speaks once everyone has arrived and has had an opportunity to enjoy tea. “When first I arrived in Absalom two years ago, I had a simple but nuanced mission: to increase communication and sharing of resources between the Pathfinder Society and its counterpart in Tian Xia by establishing the Lantern Lodge’s position on the other side of the world.” She pauses briefly to sip her tea, before adding, “More than a year ago we successfully purchased and restored the house known as Hinojai, which was once a base for the Way of the Kirin. When we acquired Hinojai, it was as much a gambit to attract the attention of the remaining agents of the Way of the Kirin as it was an opportune acquisition of real estate. And indeed, a man claiming to be an agent of the Way recently contacted me by leaving me a message here.”
“Although the Way of the Kirin fell into ruin with the fall of Lung Wa a century ago, its far-reaching resources remain valuable, and it still commands great respect. If the Pathfinder Society could ally itself with the Way, the relationship would be of immense benefit to both organizations."
Amara’s voice reveals her satisfaction as she says, “Pathfinders, we are on the cusp of just such an alliance. In a day’s time, we shall meet with this representative from the Way of the Kirin, and you are to act as security for me and ensure that the meeting is a success. I do not expect any trouble from the Way, but after all of the betrayals and double-crosses that the Society has experienced over the past few years, I worry that this is an elaborate setup by the Aspis Consortium. I have arranged for us all to be transported to the site early tomorrow morning, so take care of any errands you have in Ramparassad this afternoon. There are no settlements near our destination, and we will be spending the night there. I expect you understand the need to be fully prepared.”
Amara Li stares into the dregs of her tea as though she were attempting to discern some lost thoughts in the green leaves floating at the cups bottom, then looks up. “Ah yes—before the negotiations begin in earnest, I will host a formal tea ceremony to set the tone. I encourage you to participate, though doing so is not required. I would, however, expect you to dress appropriately for the event.” With that she stands and waits to accept any questions.
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Rika frowns, troubled. "原谅我荣幸的风险上尉，但我们在哪里见到这些人？ 我不知道麒麟人的这些方式，我想在这样的事情中通知我的同事，以便我们确实做好准备。 我们在旷野要多久，我们应该担心得水？"
Amara Li smiles with a conspiratorial hint of glee. "In order to ensure utmost secrecy, I must keep the location confidential until we depart in the morning. Far too many curious ears in Ramparassad. I do not believe you will require provisions, as I have procured enough for a proper greeting." Looking to Kensaku, she adds. "It is not, however, being held at Hinojai. The house is stately, and would be a perfect meeting site, had our counterparts deigned to select it. I understand that the estate was cleansed of some evil by a previous group of Pathfinders, which suggests to me the wisdom of their decision."
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Darshan is a Vudrani man very snappily dressed in a courtier's outfit, and displaying more tasteful jewelry and ornamentation than those who already know him have seen before. This includes a signet ring that looks to be of Qadiran make. He has a rapier at his side, and a handy haversack that doesn't quite go with his outfit.
"It is my pleasure to meet you, Lady Amara Li," he says.
To the others, he says, "I am Lord Darshan al-Hadir of Brevoy, but of course as we are fellow field agents, there is no need for constant formality, so just call me Darshan."
He nods to Kensaku, Shigeru, and Chomper. "Kensaku, Shigeru, and Tentacle McTentacleTentacle, it is good to be working with you all again."
Back to Amara Li, he says, "A friend of mine, a rather excitable gnome, told me something about the haunting of Hinojai. Mostly what I got out of it was that there was a really impressive telescope there; I'm not quite sure what else happened. In fact, I'm not quite sure the telescope was all that impressive, but it was shiny and attracted the attention of this gnome for a time."
Darshan does wonder if he knows anything....
A Minkai member of the Golden League visited Ramparassad recently—the local Xun all seemed afraid of him. Named Mikogu Shimazi, he is a ruthless man with a reputation for throwing away the lives of his subordinates to accomplish a goal.
Amara touches a finger to her lips thoughtfully. "It will be a formal occasion. Typical attire is court dress or formal armor. I doubt our contact will care which you select."
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Aware that Venture Captain Li was calling for an audience, a certain tengu attorney had decided to dress for success. He'd laid out his coin, the courtly dress just HAD to accent the lamellar armor they had.. just so.
Normally, Karasuma wouldn't be this picky about clothing, but Uncle Guaril was less than helpful in detailing what he might be running into here in Tian Xia.
...what he hadn't counted on was how much the tailors took upon themselves to produce quality work, and then trying to fit it around a tengu frame, and... and...
It was only the chiming of the bells at a given hour that stirred him from the bureaucratic haze of waiting for his garments, and his feathers stood on end as a harried negotiation to pick up his garments 'in a little while' ensued.
He then took off running for the garden, ducking and weaving fluidly through the streets of Ramparassad, then quietly working himself into the background as the briefing was given... somewhat.
The attorney is clad in regionally appropriate armor, at least, lamellar armor that is made of some dark leafy substance, and over his shoulder a large curvy blade rides. Of equal importance, however, is the well-appointed briefcase he carries like a relic of jurisprudence. A hand started to go to the pouch carrying his business cards, but given that the Venture Captain started her briefing, it'd be rude to interrupt.
After questions have been asked and some introductions made he'll respectfully chime in.
"Karasuma Tazou, Attorney At Law. I'm here to help make sure negotiations go without a hitch." Well, any more than trying to deal with people around here has been like... "And if things go the other direction, we'll be able to handle it."
Courtier's Outfit 30gp
Bling for Outfit 50gp
"Precisely, Mr. Tazou." Amara Li agrees with a satisfied smile. "I expect no trouble from the Way of the Kirin, and the Lantern Lodge has taken considerable measures to maintain the secrecy of this meeting. Even so, I expect that both the Golden League and the Aspis Consortium would leverage every resource to disrupt this meeting. You are the countermeasures we have put in place to safeguard against that."
“Much as the Society has gathered rivals in the Inner Sea, the Way of the Kirin has made many enemies in Tian Xia." Amara responds. "The Golden League is a powerful criminal organization with influence throughout Tian Xia. They are masters of subtle manipulation, bribery, thuggery, and assassination. Their enforcers are called Xun, merciless thugs who don’t hesitate to maim or kill a person for the league families they serve. They are easy enough to spot by the nearly full-body tattoos that they favor. Should you see any Xun here in Ramparassad, keep clear.”
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They certainly don't sound like pleasant people, Kensaku says nervously, not at all excited about potentially having to defend against assassins. Still, she was going to potentially get to attend another tea ceremony, so there was that. Before I go get fitted and my armor polished, what can you tell us about the Way of the Kirin? I'm afraid I don't know much of them, myself.
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"Yes, the Golden League," Darshan says. "Nasty fellows. Think of Aspis agents, only without the sympathy and ethical restraint. They've been seen all over Ramparassad recently, and they're probably looking for someone. There's one guy in particular, Mikogu Shimazi, who has a reputation for considering his own agents expendable if it helps him accomplish goals. He's visited Ramparassad recently."
A shadow seems to pass over Amara Li's face at Darshan's words. "Then it is well chosen that you will be in attendance, should the presence of these foes mean they are sniffing at our trail."
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"Something to bear in mind is that any enemies of the Society or the Way MIGHT not be working with each other, but in parallel. This may provide us some avenues of attack one might normally be able to exercise, and if any animosity can be spread amongst the groups during the course of our efforts, that can only help the Society and the Way?" Karasuma offers thoughtfully. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy, nothing more or less.
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Shigeru sits quietly as he listens to the discussion, methodically cutting into the fruit, pulling out another as he finishes the first, then the second, then the third. Finally finished, he tosses the cores to his eidolon who greedily devours them in a comical display of tug-of-war between their various mouths. He wipes his hands and blade on a clean handkerchief pulled from a side pocket on his backpack.
One by one he distributes the slices evenly among the gathered adventurers, smiling warmly at Darshan and Kensaku as he gives them their portions, and whispering a comment to the tengu to keep from interrupting the flow of the conversation.
At a lull, he finally interjects. "Shigeru Kotabe and Chomper reporting, Lady Li. Again, my apologies for being late. I have two questions thus far. One, what do you know of the contact you have alluded to? Have you had communication before, or was his letter out of the blue? Two, you have said that the Golden League is a criminal organization. Should a conflict with this Mikogu be unavoidable, is their clout with the local authorities sufficient enough that we should refrain from using lethal force?"
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Rika snarls at this talk of her least favorite opponents. "I has killed Aspis. I am not in feared of Aspis of East, Golden League or Golden Shower as they want to be the called. Mikogu want fight, I give him fight. Then I give him head of his."[b] She pauses for a second before adding [b]"Maybe Rika need wear skin of stupid ones who get in way of Rika. Maybe tattoo skin cape make good warning."
Setting these thoughts aside, she declares: "I do not care if work parallel, sideways or other. You say what I do Venture-Captain Amara Li and I make happen."
Amara Li accepts Shigeru's offered treat with a smile. "The letter is my only contact with the Way of the Kirin. It is signed by Iko Tsuneo, but I have learned little of who this man is, or if he truly represents the Way. You are all my insurance against any dastardly traps." She chews thoughtfully for a moment. "To my knowledge, the location we are traveling to is outside of legal jurisdictions. Any conflict will be a private manner, and legal repercussions will be difficult to pursue." Her smiles turns slightly predatory as she looks to Rika.
With the mission clearly understood, Amara Li bids her team good evening. The city of Ramparassad remains open to those with coin to spend, and the many establishments catering to tastes of all kinds beckon.
The Pathfinders are able to find what they seek without much issue, as all of Ramparassad is spread out before them. Even the more exotic features of Darshan and Rika draw little commentary once the gold is produced. Inquiring of the Golden League brings signs against misfortune and hushed whispers of gossip. "What you say is true, but what I have heard of this Shimazi tells of his conflict with an enemy, one that his former benefactors refused to stand against. Now he curses the Way of the Kirin, swearing his sword to the Golden League." Little else has been heard of his business in town, or the movements of the League.
In the morning, Amara Li greets you warmly, accompanied by two servants. Both carry large packs filled with bundles of many sizes on their backs, and produce scrolls of arcane words. "Take hold of each other, so that we may be transported." the venture captain instructs, and once the chain is connected, the servants intone the final chants and flourish gestures of arcane sigils, and the comfortable villa disappears.
In the new vista that is revealed, a black stone pier juts out from a beach, though years of pounding surf and use make it impossible to discern whether it was magic or skilled hands that constructed the pier. Igneous black sand peppered with chunks of dark gray rock makes up the beach. Further up the hill, the landscape is filled with strange shapes eroded from the charcoal-colored stone. Wild basalt beasts, bizarre pumice chimneys, igneous archways, and twisted stone snakes line the winding mile- long path that crawls up the steep hillside. The black tiles of a lighthouses’s rooftop is just barely visible between two of the more serpentine stone menhirs. A light mist dampens the docks and darkens the stone to a glossy black.
"This is our meeting site, a small island on the northern end of the Minatan Archipelago." Amara Li announces. "We should ascend to the estate and prepare it for our contacts arrival."
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The half-elf falls in line next to the tiefling as the group begins to make their way up the slope of the beach. He speaks in a slow and deliberate manner. "Excuse me, uh, Rika, was it? I notice your Taldane is a little bad. Are there languages you are more comfortable with? Other than what you spoke yesterday. I did not recognize that one."
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Shigeru sighs and looks off into the distance. "నేను దానిని ఇంటికి పిలుస్తాను, కాని చాలా కాలం క్రితం నేను రోడ్డు మీద ఉన్నాను. ఇది ఒక కొత్త భాష విశ్రాంతి మరియు తెలుసుకోవడానికి బాగుండేది. సొసైటీ నన్ను ప్రాచీన పురాతన శిధిలాలకి మరియు వదిలివేసిన కోటలలోకి పంపింది, స్పష్టంగా, నా పే గ్రేడ్ పైన." He shudder as he begins to recount. "ఒక జోంబీ మారింది గాట్. నా స్నేహితుల తలల నుండి మెదడు సాలెపురుగులను ముక్కలు చేయవలసి వచ్చింది. హాస్యాస్పదమైన మాయా వ్యాధులతో ఎలుకలతో సోకింది." Running a hand through his hair, he turns a weary gaze to Rika. " మీరు ఎప్పుడైనా ఒక Xacarba చూసిన? ఇది ఒక పెద్ద పాము బాహ్య వ్యక్తి. మీరు ఎప్పుడైనా ఒక పోరాడడానికి అవకాశం ఉంటే, లేదు. ఒక ఐరన్ గోలెమ్ సహాయంతో నా బృందం మాత్రమే బయటపడింది."
He shudder as he begins to recount. "Got turned into a zombie. Had to tear brain spiders off my friends' heads. Got infected by rat men with ridiculous magical diseases."
Running a hand through his hair, he turns a weary gaze to Rika. "Have you ever seen a Xacarba? It's a gargantuan serpentine outsider. If you ever have the chance to fight one, don't. My group only survived due to the aid of an Iron Golem ... run from those too."
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The tengu appears long enough to do the teleportation then fades back into the background once more while watching for any possible threats to the party... or potential clients that might need legal assistance.
He's not really keen on being here in Tian Xia, as this is a whole continent removed from his contacts and his knowledge base, but he's also glad to be here.
The discussion in Celestial is a bit off-putting, but he doesn't raise too much comment, as it'd blow what bit of blending he'd managed to attain.
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Kensaku smiles as if she understands what Rika and Shigeru are talking about, her eyes wandering across the estate while she "listens." Do we know anything of THIS place? she asks Amara Li in Tien, assuming the party was out of earshot of anyone who might jeapordize security, and are we allowed to fortify it? Just in case.
The climb is not easy, but the grade is forgiving enough to make it only a moderate exertion. Amara Li nods, waving a hand to the barely seen structure. "That is indeed the house we shall occupy. This location was delivered to us by our contact, meaning we know as much of it as we know of him. I have my suspicions of the meaning, but nothing to say for certain."
Nothing of note leaps out of the surroundings as the Pathfinders climb the hill. Darshan notes the terrain is imminently defensible, the rough ground suitable to deadfalls and other traps. The ever-present mists would make excellent concealment. Karasuma finds it easy to blend with the obscuring cover, and numerous curves and switchbacks could allow for a proper ambush. Shigeru finds no notable landmarks with which to identify the locale, but judging by the features of the island and the venture captains description, he is certain it is part of the many small isles that dot the ocean by the archipelago.
Emerging from the mists, a lighthouse towers above a two-story house. Both structures are made primarily of the local soot-colored basalt. The lighthouse appears to be intact, but the manor has fared less well—its windows lack screens and its roof sags, suggest it has suffered badly from decades of neglect. These structures perch at the edge of a cliff, with the north-facing side of the house supported by tall stilts anchored deep into the cliff.
The door to the lighthouse stands open, leading into a circular room filled with a haphazard pile of supplies. Boxes and barrels lay in the center, while a curved staircase winds up the wall to the higher floors. The bare traces of a worn path run from the lighthouse door to a doorframe in the wall of the house, but grass has grown up in the once clear walkway and no door blocks entrance to the house. Above, a bridge leads from the upper floor of the lighthouse into the second floor of the manor, enclosed and protected from the elements.
Amara Li adds to her instructions as the party approaches. "When you deem it safe to proceed, I shall prepare our materials for the meeting. I do not know the hour that our counterparts will arrive, but I do not imagine it will be long. Be swift, but also thorough."
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Darshan looks at Rika, and nods. "We should take a quick look at the whole place to see if there's something that clearly needs our immediate attention. I will head upstairs for a quick look first."
Darshan will head up the stairs, rapier in hand (just in case), and look around as he does so. He'll also take a look at the bridge that leads back to the house.
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"If time is of the essence, then we should split up to cover ground more quickly. Rika and Darshan can take the upper floor as Kensaku and myself take the lower while Lady Li and her helpers stay outside where it is hopefully safe. Preparations, however, are in order first." Shigeru states as he draws out a length of copper wire.
He points at each member of the party and Amara as he intones. "Gentle winds carry our words. To only our ears shall they be heard. As if on fluttering wings quick do they fly and through their sounds we are all the better to spy. MESSAGE." With a flick he silences the wire, which had begin to vibrate and hum as he cast the spell.
"There, now we should be able to let each other know if we run into some-...where's Karasuma? I didn't get him with the spell."
Darshan finds the upper portion of the lighthouse dark, barely able to see the top of the stair from the dim light spilling through the ground floor door. Rika has no trouble seeing that the area is empty, further stairs leading to a trap door in the ceiling. The enclosed bridge leads to a closed door.