Each of our respectable pathfinders receives the following letter.
With your letter in hand, you travel to the Druman capital of Kerse,
to your meaning place, the manor home of Temel Passad, a prominent Kalistocrat. You are escorted into an opulent lounge to await your host. With grace and care, you are served the finest Chelish wine and delicate sweetmeats arrayed on platters in the center of the room. One of the servants bows deeply and says,
Honored pathfinders. Please wait here until our Master and his Guests arrive. We thank you for your patience. Let us know if you desire any other food or drink.
status:
Male,Human:
Racial Traits: Base human
Id Rager/Urban Rager Bloodrager: level 1
a young, dark hair human follows up after the half-elf's introduction.
"Well if introduction are in order then i might as well introduce myself, the name is Coetis Reorum, I'm from around, i don't like to stay in one place for too long."
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Howdy. - says the Human at the back. Very rough looking, with eyes tired, he didn't actually seem that old at all. He probably drank something last night, though - or maybe this morning.
I'm Gyrand. Just joined the society recently. Glad to make your acquaintance. - he completes, more automatically than actually friendly.
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A being enters the lounge. He is clearly not human, with golden hair and golden eyes. "Apologies for running late. I just had to finish acquiring some supplies."
There is a gentleness in his countenance as he looks around the room. "My name is Rilmor. I've done some missions for the Society in the past and I'm always glad to serve."
He sits down and asks for a glass of wine.
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A young human woman steps in. She sighs upon hearing that Temel Passad is not there yet, grabs a glass of wine and sits in an armchair.
"Well, I guess that will give us a chance to get acquainted"
She waves to everyone, smiling. "I'm Atronia. I'm new to the Pathfinder Society... It's an honour to meet you. May our lives be prosperous and our stories worthy of song."
Two silent servants open a pair of richly lacquered doors, and a human and two dwarves stride into the lavish parlor. The man, clad in immaculate robes of whitest silk, is short and round with a blond oiled beard, and his eyes are alert and amused. He takes a touch of snuff from a golden box and sneezes before saying,
“It is a pleasure to welcome Pathfinders to one of my estates once more. I am, as you may know, Temel Passad. Allow me to introduce—”
One of the two dwarves, a redheaded female in deep scarlet robes, curtly interrupts the man.
“We can introduce ourselves, Passad. I am Metella Raugar, representing the interests of several Highhelm mercantile consortia. My companion..”
—she gestures to a dwarven man with leathery skin baked by the sun, his head swathed in a bright yellow scarf
“is Amauhak of Reth Bezel, a mystic of the sand dwarves of Osirion.”
He bows his head momentarily to the pathfinders.
Temel seems rather annoyed and ruffled by the interruption, but continues.
"I'm sure that you're superiors have already advised you of the dreadful business. M boat, the Abacus, will take you to the glass river to search for your missing dignitaries."
"Missing?"
Grumbles Metella. "Kidnapped you mean."
"Missing."
Insists Passad. "It's bad business to accuse a entire country of wrong doing without the means to back it up."
Metella grumbles at him as he continues.
"You will be searching for the Gray Revolation Inn. Once you have searched for the dignitaries, the Abacus will take us the rest of the way to Mendev."
Amauhak speaks for the first time in a deep gravelly voice.
"Best if nobody knows we're along for the ride. Considering the first crew at all.
"Agreed"
says Passad. "Any questions Pathfinders?"
of Melcat 52 years ago and now acts as both sovereign and god of those captured lands.
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"I don't really see how this can be considered anything other than a kidnapping, but if a covert mission serves us better than open accusations, so be it."
"I know rather little about the situation in Razmiran. Should we be particularly careful about other people finding out about our presence or identity? Other than the priests, that is," Atronia asks, looking more to the two dwarves than to Temel.
Passad sniffles a little as he speaks.
"Other than those normal dangers you might find on the road, it is mostly the Razmiri that are the danger. All other faiths are prohibited in the nation, though foreign priests are tolerated as long as they are not proselytizing and just passing through. All nonresidents are subject to sundry tariffs and unannounced inspections. It would probably be for the best not to announce to loudly that you are not a follower of Razmir, nor proselytize to them about your own gods."
"I don't have any, the ones I had were already answered"
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Daedîn nods at Rilmor's words, thinking...I'm not glib of tongue either...I'll keep a low profile and try to stay in the shadows...
To the Venture-Captain, he speaks. "One last question. Who exactly are we searching for? All we know is that we're looking for three dwarves...only our dwarven friends here can recognize them and, if we're separated for any reason, it might help us to know..."
Points towards Daedîn "He does bring up a fair point."
Metella chuckles at Daedin's question.
Three dwarves: Rakuska Imgardam, a well-known Five Kings diplomat
and devotee of Torag; Holfist Sendstrom of Taggoret; and Pechas Domri—like Amauhak, a Pahmet dwarf of Osirion. To say all three stand out like sore thumbs would be putting it lightly. Add to the fact that it's more than likely that their.... accommodations...
She glares at Passad as she says the word.
may be less than comfortable, suggests that they will be easy to pick out in a hurry. If, for some reason, you find a large group of foreign dwarves who are also being held captive, I'm sure they won't complain about a impromptu rescue.
She tries to smile as she says it, but anyone with a passing ability to read people (Take 10) can tell that she's nervous and worried about her comrades.
Coetis Thinking to himself the possibility of being able to help more people out of capture goes across his mind, as quickly as a smile forms across his face, But quickly dissipate as it had formed.
"I agree with my fellow pathfinders here, we shouldn't dilly dally here any longer."
He said looking around at the others.
Passad nods and says,
Agreed. The sooner we reach Razmir, the sooner we can find the lost envoy and have this business done. Please, meet at the Abacus tomorrow morning at dawn. Use anytime you need to prepare.
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After the team is boarded on the little ship, they set sail for Razmir. Thankfully, journey along the coast of Lake Encarthan from Kerse is uneventful. Passad’s hired hands (five sailors in all, including the captain) are quiet and efficient, and the boat, a modest craft, reaches the mouth of the Glass River and heads east without incident. As the boat enters Razmiri waters, however, Passad calls the pathfinders into his Cabin, Metella and Amauhak standing to one side, with Metella's barely concealed annoyance at Passad making the air tense. Passad takes a sniff of his snuff, sneezing delicately as he pats his nose with a white kerchief.
Pathfinders, we have entered Razmiri waters, and there is... a bit of a disagreement of how we should proceed. Since you are in charge of our saftey, we decided that it be best to defer to your decision.
Metella speaks up, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Passad thinks we should sail right up to Xer, pay the tolls, and go on. Completely ignoring the risk, of course, that we'll be searched for contraband, found out, and dragged off.
Passad glares at Metella's rude interruption and continues.
Better than our dear dwarven envoy's plan to try to sneak by and simply hope we are not boarded on the water by patrols annoyed at us for not paying said tolls. At least by paying the tolls, they should have no reason to search the ship.
He pulls two shining platinum pieces from a while silk pouch and places them on the table for the team.
I'm happy to pay the cost myself, and the extra should help smooth our passage from any prying questions.
He shrugs a bit.
In the end Pathfinders, we defer to your wisdom. This sort of subterfuge is the realm of adventurers like you, not merchants. Whichever you think is the best route, we will take.
Coetis specks up first
"I agree with Passad, as long as we don't act in way that would draw attention to us they won't feel necessary to search us. The less suspicious we look the better"
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Daedîn shrugs. "Pay 'em now or pay 'em later...we'll have to deal with the Razmiri at some point...makes no difference to me when..."
Expecting trouble, Daedîn leaves the cabin and heads to the deck. He draws his longbow and tries to find a good spot to keep an eye on things and, more importantly, to conceal himself...
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Atronia nods as Coetis speaks.
"We might as well pay them now. Hopefully, they'll leave us be after just a couple questions. What should we tell them, though? And who wants to do the talking?"
She looks to her fellow Pathfinders, then frowns, thinking of something.
"Passad, is it customary for merchants to leave a little extra like that? I wouldn't want that to make them suspicious..."
Passad chuckles.
A bribe is absolutely expected, especially in Razmir. It'd be quite suspicious if one wasn't left. But, your welcome to try and pay them the exact amount of the toll first. I trust you to be able to read them and know when you need to increase the funds being offered... though it sounds like your in agreement that we should simply pay the toll?
Passad gives Metella a smug look and she sends him a glare that could kill back.
Coetis speaks up after Gwerrmet.
"By the look of things, the majority has decided to pay the toll."
Passad nods.
Alright then. You can stay up on deck, the rest of us will stay below. Just pay the men at the dock, then we'll shove off as quickly as possible...
Metella nods as well.
Be careful pathfinders.
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a few hours later
The city of Xer occupies the north bank of the Glass River, and its dozens of docks remain busy as ships headed both east and west call at the port. Grubby men and women in bulky jackets patrol the docks, and few smiling faces are to be seen.
The Abacus pulls up into Xer, and the boat’s captain chooses an isolated berth sheltered on either side by tall warehouses. One of the sailors tosses a mooring rope to the dockhand, who quickly ties it down for them.
Unfortunately, fate does not seem to favor our heroes at this time. As the Abacus arrives at the dock, three Razmiri enforcers, armored and with crossbow's and swords on their belts—one holding the
taut leash of a slavering, halftamed wolf—approach. The one holding the wolf walks up in front of the plank that extends out to the dock.
OYE! Come down eh, In the name of the living God Razmir, and present to us a count of your passagers and goods. Who are ya, and what business do you have in our great country?
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While she doesn't like the way the enforcers are addressing them, Atronia figures they've just stumbled on authoritative people... with a wolf. She takes a few steps in the required direction, but tries to let someone else lead the way.
We should have discussed what we would tell them more. Why didn't I think of that when it was time?
The enforcers start looking annoyed when no one speaks to them, and the one holding the wolf steps forward. As he does so, one of the others walks away, shouting at one of the dock hands to Tie down that ship!
It doesn't sale anywhere until it's passed inspection!
The Enforcer leader looks at the group and speaks in a tone that sounds almost like a growl.
Are you deaf, or merely dumb? I asked what your business is here! How many are traveling with you? These are simple questions, you idiots! By Razmir's Mercy if you don't speak I'll drag you all in for questioning!
The wolf snaps his jaw a few times in the air, clearly feeding off his master's frustration and anger.
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Daedîn sees the situation declining fast. If they tie down the ship, we're done...this ends in a fight either way...the female dwarf was right, we should've bypassed this dock. He decides to act now while he still has the element of surprise...
Daedîn fires an arrow at the enforcer holding the wolf, hoping to take out the one giving directions. He hopes the surprise will allow his companions to react first and the captain to cast off before the ship is tied down...
Daedîn yells to his companions, "Fight!" and to the captain and crew, "Cast off, now!"
Daedin's arrow streaks through the air, slamming into the eye of the Enforcer leader, who falls to the ground without making so much as a peep, the whole dock seeming to go silent at the sound of his body impacting the wood. His two companions are shocked still for only a moment before moving to the crossbows at their hips. Who would be faster?
Bold may act:
Daedin
Gyrand
Coetis
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Thug 1
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Rilmore
Atronia
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Wolf
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Gwerrmet
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Thug 2
Daedin dashes across the boat, weaving past his friends as he draws another arrow, knocks it, and looses it through the air. His aim is pure and true, and it strikes the second enforcer dead center of his throat, his blood spraying out in a fountain as he slumps to the ground.