The half-elf perks up at the mention of Cerpera and Kaer Maga. He looks to the side and whispers, "Did you hear that, Oog? We might be able to find this girl, and then we can finally save everyone!"
"I will," Savendir answers. "In the first place, there is still a young scion out there who may yet live and I have agreed to seek him. Where I find one, I will likely find the other."
"In the second, I am sworn to confront those who meddle with the natural order of life and death."
"And last but not least, your temple has rendered aid to us when my companions and I needed it. It will be a noble cause to seek your oracle."
He turns to the half-elf. "I don't believe we are acquainted, sir, but you speak as if you are on a similar mission. I am Savendir Inaris."
The half-elf cocks his head to the side and then reaches out to poke Savendir in the shoulder. "He's alive, too, Oog. What a relief."
He smiles awkwardly at Savendir. "My name is Ilias Kale, and my companion's name is Oog," he says as he gestures to...nothing perceptible beside him.
"You too lost your friends and family who beg you to save them?" Ilias asks hopefully.
Savendir regards Ilias with some trepidation. "No. I was contracted to do a job, but I think something larger is afoot." He does not mention Oog, as he somewhat suspects the half-elf is crazy.
"I was hoping to find Cerpera here, but her disappearance...worries me. Now that I have a lead, I'd like to pursue it. If you wouldn't mind, Oog and I could accompany you to Kaer Maga. Oog is quite formidable, I can assure you." Ilias pulls a bit of twig out of his hair and examines it.
Savendir sighs. "Yes of course. I plan to set out while the trail is fresh. First light, if that suits both the temple and constable."
Ilias doesn't wait to hear anyone else's response. "Shall we meet here at sunup, Savendir?"
"May Pharasma bless you, thank you for helping us," answers the sister. "You are both welcome to stay here for the evening if you wish. Hopefully, the stench of the smoke will have moved out by this evening. I'll have one one of my sisters go to our two suppliers and tell them you are assisting us on temple business. You will be able to sell your items for 80% of their value and purchase new items for 90% of their price.
Constable Sust steps forward, "I have a cousin in Kaer Maga who is watch captain in the downmarket section of Kaer Maga. His name is Fraderk Braejar. Make contact with him, we can share information through him. Please keep me informed of your progress and if we gain any information from these ancient books, I will let you know. Be safe Savendir. With that I will take my leave."
"Thanks for reminding me, Oog. Those ancient books...are they related to Thassilon, by any chance? I've been hearing...heh...things about ancient texts about Thassilon being stolen."
20 Lamashan 4711
After a day and a half journey, Savendir and Ilias arrive in Kaer Maga. Home to 8,000 inhabitants, older than almost any other city in Golarion, Kaer Maga, and no central government, Kaer Maga has independently survived on the edge of the Storval Rise for over 10,000 years. It is roughly divided into 11 districts. For more background information on Kaer Maga.
As most visitors do, Savendir and Iliasa enter the city from the north west through an ancient breach in the wall surrounding the city. They move through the poorest section of the city. The crude road is guarded by local muscle hired by the cities merchants to keep the inhabitants at bay and allow caravans and visitors alike to enter more or less unmolested. Still a throng of locals clog the street clamoring and hawking their services as guides, porters or runners.
In the mean time, the Watch Captain, Fraderk Braejar looks up from his desk as one of his lieutenants enters his office. "You have some visitors, they don't have an appointment, but said you would be expecting them. They have been hired by an associate of Jol Haverston," the lieutenant tells him.
"Ah yes, I have been expecting them. Show them into the interrogation but make them comfortable. They have business with us."
The lieutenant leads the three visitors to a dusty room with a rough table and a chair on either side in the center of the room. "I'll get you two more chairs. The watch captain will be in to see you shortly," he tells them and then leaves.
A tall woman draped in colorful robes enters the room. Gold jewelry jangles as she bends to look at one chair, a gauzy azure headwrap exposing only her odd eyes and henna-patterned forehead and temples. She pauses at the sight of the dust in the place, retrieves a filmy cloth from her belt pouch, spreads it on a chair, and seats herself gingerly, her movements graceful and precise.
Ilias can't help but stare at the press of people in Kaer Maga. "Oog...Savendir...have you ever seen so many people?"
"I have," Savendir says, "Although it is never good for so many to live in so small an area."
A strange crystalline woman dressed in loose purple clothes walk into the room and quietly takes a seat. Her eyes dart around the room, nodding to and lingering on the strangely dressed woman, and taking in every detail. Finished with her appraisal of the area, she pulls her legs up and crosses them on the chair, closing her eyes and entering a meditative trance as she waits patiently for the others to arrive.
A smallish, worn-looking man in battered military gear enters the room following the robed woman. Without making eye contact with anyone, he moves to the corner facing the door and slumps into a chair, glancing furtively at the strangers in the room. As he sits, he unravels a long coil of knotted rope from around his body and begins to count the knots.
Zarine nods as the others enter and are seated, not moving from her perch on the edge of the chair.
"Are we all Rodril Brole's bird dogs?" she says softly, amusement in her voice, "I am Zarine. Well met."
Savendir and Ilias make their way through The Warrens to the Downmarket district. After making some inquiries, they are able to find the watch captain's office building. The building is nondescript and it is tightly squeezed between two larger buildings. They enter the building and see a young officer sitting at a receiving desk writing in a journal. A small bell rings when the door opens. The young man looks up and asks, "May I help you?"
"We are here to see Fraderk Braejar. We were sent by Constable Sust from Sirathu." Savendir grits his teeth and hopes that Ilias does not say anything absurd.
"Are we all Rodril Brole's bird dogs?"
"Yes."
Owen pauses briefly, then continues counting knots.
"Has anybody had a chance to nose about Kaer Maga yet and turn up a scent?" Zarine asks lightly.
"Yes, Oog, they are real people and not apparitions. I'll show you." Ilias reaches out to poke the officer in the shoulder.
"Are we all Rodril Brole's bird dogs?" she says softly, amusement in her voice, "I am Zarine. Well met."
Nyxalia's eyes remain closed and her body doesn't move but a small voice pipes up with "I am Nyxalia, but you may call me Onyx. I am nobodys 'bird dog' as you put it, but I have been contracted by Rodril Bole, yes".
The officer takes a quick step back as Ilias reaches out for him, narrowly avoiding the probing digit. "I'll inform the captain, please wait over there." He nods toward two chairs along the wall.
A minute passes, and the officer emerges from an office in the back accompanied by a stern, neatly dressed middle aged Varisian man. The veteran captain quickly sizes up the two visitors with a piercing look honed by years of separating the wheat from the chaff. "I am Captain Braejar. Sust sent you to me." he says in a clipped manner. "Why?"
"Good day, Captain Braejar. I have been investigating a series of disappearances in Sirathu. I uncovered records of a cabal trafficking in kidnapped victims. The evidents suggests that the victims are brought here, to Kear Maga, before being smuggled elsewhere. I need to investigate where this trail leads."
"I hope the chair is comfortable for you, Oog." Ilias stands during the conversation.
"I am looking for a lost girl named Cerpera, who is evidently one of these kidnap victims." Ilias notes that Savendir is sighing and rolling his eyes less with the captain.
Braejar cold eyes look intently at Savendir. He measures his words carefully, looking for any hint of ill intent. "Kidnapping and smuggling from Sirathu to Kaer Maga? You are well aware, I'm sure that Kaer Maga has a bustling slave trade. In fact, I'm sure you noticed the flesh block on your way to the office. What makes you think these kidnappings are anything more than legitimate trade?
"In the first, I am sure even among the legal slave trade, kidnapping free citizens is frowned upon. In the second, at least a few of these victims have been pressed into service as undead, not as living chattel. I trust kidnapping, murder, and the animation of corpses are forbidden in Kaer Maga as they are elsewhere."
Zarine's delicate, chiming laugh fills the room. "Well met, Onxy, though you do not seem to realize the truth of your situation. Of course, that does not matter. We are all looking for the same thing, are we not?"
She turns to the young man counting knots, eyes smiling over her veil and the shadow of a smile visible beneath. "I beg your pardon, but I did not catch your name, sir?"
Zarine's delicate, chiming laugh fills the room. "Well met, Onxy, though you do not seem to realize the truth of your situation. Of course, that does not matter. We are all looking for the same thing, are we not?"
She turns to the young man counting knots, eyes smiling over her veil and the shadow of a smile visible beneath. "I beg your pardon, but I did not catch your name, sir?"
"Owen. Just another hired hand." His voice is quiet and smoke-roughened.
He meets her gaze only briefly. Reaching the end of the rope, he carefully coils it and hoists it over one shoulder.
"Un...dead...Oog, do you remember Savendir talking about undead?"
"You are new to Kaer Maga. It is a city that can be unsettling at first for many" answers Braejar evenly. "As far as your query is concerned, kidnapping and murder are frowned upon yes, but animation of corpses is allowed as long as they are controlled. You should visit Ankar-Te to see what I mean. In fact, anything is allowed in Kaer Maga, as long," he pauses for a moment, "it is done within moderation."
"However, in this particular case, it seems we may be working along similar lines. I have been contacted by a friend of a friend who has organized a group here in Kaer Maga to investigate the disappearance of a man named Nadu Piersiff. It is alleged that he was kidnapped in Sirathu. Are you aware of this victim?"
"Yes," Savendir says. "It is his disappearance I was investigating initially. He was most likely brought here to Kaer Maga."
"In that case, there a few people here you should meet. Please follow me." Braejar leads you behind the desk and down a dark hall. He passes through a door. Beside the door is a sign, 'Interrogation Room'.
As you enter the room you see three other figures sitting and talking among themselves.
"Ladies, gentleman, you seem to have a mutual benefactor. These two have recently arrived from Sirathu. They too are investigating the disappearance of Nadu. I have been asked by Jol Haverston to assist you in your investigation in whatever way I can. Bear in mind, my assistance cannot be overt. Keeping things in order in this city is a fine balancing act. One cannot appear to favor one side or the other too much. However, I can provide information and also divert patrols as necessary to assist in your activities. I will allow you some time here to share information. If you need me, inform the duty officer at the front. Adieu."
With that, the former soldier snaps straight, makes a quick turn, and exits the room.
The half-elf, still looking utterly disheveled despite Savendir's efforts to get him to clean up, moves nervously to a corner of the room. "I haven't been this close to so many real people before, Oog," he whispers to thin air.
Nyxalia's shallow breathing deepens as she ceases her meditation and opens her eyes to take in the newcomers.
She looks each of them up and down before looking down at the table and waiting for someone else to break the ice.
Savendir rolls his eyes at Ilias's ramblings before speaking up. "Good day. I am Savendir Inaris. I was tasked with investigating Nadu Piersiff's disappearance in Sirathu. The perpetrators of the kidnappings should not be underestimated. They overwhelmed my party, and I was the only one who escaped with my life."
"There is a network of kidnappers who were trafficking victims from Sirathu to Kaer Maga and beyond. They key players are of a decidedly necromantic bent, and they do not hesitate to use those who have fallen to further their goals. While they seem to have a preference for keeping their victims alive, I believe we should proceed as if time is of the essence."
Ilias stares at Savendir in surprise when he hears about Ilias's party. "Oog, he lost everyone close to him too. We're kindred spirits, Savendir and I."
"Greetings, Savendir and friend. We are Onyx, Owen, and Zarine." Zarine indicates the owner of each name with a graceful motion of her hand as she speaks. "We have all been hired by Rodril Brole to track down poor, lost Nadu. He sent us straight here, so he must have heard something after deploying your party. And I am sorry to hear of the loss of your friends, Savendir."
"Your timing is fortunate. This is our first congregation and we have not yet discussed our findings - if any. So welcome! Let us put our heads together and figure out how to fulfill our charge."
"My name is Ilias, ma'am, and my companion is named Oog." Ilias gestures to an empty spot on the floor. "It is nice to meet you all."
"My name is Ilias, ma'am, and my companion is named Oog." Ilias gestures to an empty spot on the floor. "It is nice to meet you all."
Owen glances at the floor, then at Ilias, his eyes narrowing.
"Hurm..."
Nyxalia's eyes leave the table and she nods at Savendir. Her eyes then move to Ilias and narrow as she looks at the point where he indicated Oog should be.
As if to indicate to the others that he shares their puzzlement, Savendir simply shrugs his shoulders.
He clears his throat and goes on. "A ledger recovered from the kidnappers in Sirathu indicates that the kidnap victims were transported to a warehouse here in Kaer Maga. That seems like it would be a good place to start our investigations."
"Ah, yes," Zarine chimes in smoothly, "Though we must take care. I do not know if they are related or not, but I have heard tell that followers of the Reaper of Reputation are at work lately, kidnapping and thieving. They can be quite dangerous, though I do not know if they typically practice necromancy."
Her gloved and beringed fingers play with the edge of her veil rather thoughtfully. "This place may be more a temple than a warehouse, if the rumor is correct and they are related."
"That would not surprise me. The detachment in Sirathu appeared to be under the leadership of a necromancer known as Lady Zinnastina. I have a suspicion the kidnapped victims may be put to some necromantic use."