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The heat of the stifling day in northern Garund is barely held back by the sandstone walls of the Sandswept Lodge in Sothis. Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir shutters the windows in his second-story office overlooking the lodge’s tranquil gardens and seats himself behind his writing desk. He nods and introduces a thin, aging Garundi man in an ornately bejeweled and feathered turban. “This is Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage. I trust most of you know of him already. If you don’t, know that he has served both the Ruby Prince and the Pathfinder Society for many years, uncovering vast troves of lore from Ancient Osirion and mentoring some of our finest agents. He recently approached my colleagues and me with a request for assistance, and the Society has agreed to step up and aid its ally. The arrangement is, in fact, rather mutually benefcial.” He nods to Amenopheus, signaling the elder man to speak.
“Faithful servants of the past, I bid you greetings,” the wizened sage says with a shallow bow. “Our esteemed ruler the Ruby Prince, recently released me from his service, which has freed me to learn more about a little-known organization to which I belong: the Jeweled Sages, protectors of Osirion’s history and chroniclers of its past glories. Quite by accident, I found myself initiated into this group, and have long believed myself to be its sole surviving member. Each sage in the group possesses a unique jewel—a priceless artifact that contains memories of Osirion’s golden age.” He pauses as if considering how to express his thoughts. “For many years, I have sought news of any other members of the Jeweled Sages. My agents recently learned of the Diamond Sage, whom they traced to the city of Eto in the Osirian Desert. At the same time, I received word from a reliable source that several other jewels were in the vicinity. I ask that you travel to Eto, negotiate with my contact in the city for his assistance, and then use what you learn to fnd the Diamond Sage and these lost jewels.”
Venture-Captain Balentiir frowns and adds, “This contact has tried to remain anonymous, but we suspect he is none other than Grandmaster Torch. No doubt you’ve heard of him—or worse, met him—so you may know trading favors is his signature. Regardless of Torch’s past treacheries, we need you to deal with him fairly for the information. There is a caravan leaving for Eto in a few hours, so don’t delay.”
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The tall tan human had remained mostly silent. At the mention of the name ‘Torch,’ however, his nose wrinkled and his smile upturned. ”Not this awful torch again! The man has no moral compass whatsoever. My past dealings with him weee quite repugnant,” he growls as the group receives their task.
The words of the sage didn’t carry much weight with the warrior. He wasn’t a history specialist...he focused more of the intercepting of those who wanted to stop the mission from being a success.
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The tall tan human had remained mostly silent. At the mention of the name ‘Torch,’ however, his nose wrinkled and his smile upturned. ”Not this awful torch again! The man has no moral compass whatsoever. My past dealings with him weee quite repugnant,” he growls as the group receives their task.
Balentiir raises his hands in a calming gesture. “I assure that much of the Society shares your feelings; however, Torch has leverage that we would rather he not use against us. Any violence directed toward him would be revisited on us a hundredfold, so don’t be, hmm, intemperate. Save your vendettas for another day.”
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"There are many secrets of the organization that I do not myself know, despite being -- technically speaking -- a member. I performed a rediscovered ritual that bound the jewel to me, and found secrets within it that have led me to send you on this quest. But I have never met another Jeweled sage, something I hope this journey will begin to change."
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Amenopheus pulls a weathered stone from his robes and strikes it once against the wall to break the stone into two crystalline geode halves. He hands one piece to whichever of you would like to carry it, instructing you, “If you find one of the jewels of my order or the person known as the Diamond Sage, I ask that you contact me. Concentrate on the stone and speak a message of a few dozen words. I will hear you and respond with further instructions. It will only work once, so keep it safe.”
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The overland journey takes several days of travel, and while there are occasional tense moments when you see clouds of dust rising in the distance, hinting at the possibility of bandits or raiding gnoll tribes, you arrive at Eto after an uneventful trip.
The immense rock walls that ring Eto rise from the horizon like a shimmering mirage that gradually sharpens into focus. The city sits inside an elevated crater with sheer, weathered sides broken only in two places by heavily guarded gates. Long lines of caravans wait in a meandering queue awaiting entrance as officials search their cargos for contraband and calculate taxes. Water sellers, food vendors, and guides march up and down the lines peddling their wares and services to the visitors. Beyond the gates, the main thoroughfares fan out around the various districts of the city before dwindling into the dozens of pathways that flow through the bazaar like the delta of the great River Sphinx.
The walls of the cliffs rise 60 feet above the city, and look like they would be very difficult to climb, were you so inclined. The gates are open, with a patrol of guards at each one. You have a long wait ahead as those before you undergo detailed inspection, searching for contraband or undeclared osiriani relics. Over the last several years, the Ruby Prince has opened the ancient ruins of Osiriani history to explorers, allowing them to take relics, but requiring these to be documented and taxed.
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Telka carries nothing that would be contraband, at least nothing that he thinks would be illegal. As they approach the city he slows down to take in the sights, gawking like a country bumpkin tourist. He happily chats with water sellers and hawkers, buying the odd trinket or piece of fruit here and there.
Have you ever seen so impressive a city? he asks out loud.
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Telos gets a slightly concerned look on his face when the group discusses the items that aren't allowed in the city.
I don't know how much is "too much", but these alchemist's fires could be trouble.
He sets about to rearranging his pack so that they are hidden within inner pockets that appear to be for holding his wands and scrolls.
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Your caravan is met by a group of customs agents, and the leader of the caravan has apparently told them that you are passengers rather than part of the caravan itself.
"You lot, over here," calls a bored Garundi man whose graying beard and tired eyes suggest he’s seen it all and heard every excuse at least a few dozen times. "I am Mahu, at your service, welcome to Eto how are you today, alright, enough pleasantries. Let's see what you've got."
He begins looking through your belongings, nodding slowly as he sees entirely ordinary adventuring gear. He asks each of you questions, showing some interest in your foreign appearance and exotic dress. Where are you from, where are you bound, what interesting sights have you seen -- he seems to regard you as a bit of a change of pace from inspecting yet another silk or spice merchant.
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While Mahu searches their belongings, Telka and Pau chat with him and soon have him smiling and making small talk with them. While searching Pau's gear, however, the smile falls from his face as he discovers the geode half. "Hmm, what's this, what's this..." he mutters as he inspects it, holding up a magnifying glass and muttering a command word to activate some kind of magical power.
"Well, I'm sure you weren't trying to hide it, but this looks like an artifact from ancient Osirion. Where did you get it, Mister Pau?"
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"Well, alright. You should go to Aki bin Lisimba, he's one of the government-approved appraisers. If he says it's from ancient Osirion, then you'll need to pay the tax on it. Otherwise, you're fine." He passes you a slip of parchment with the address of the man he's recommending.
"Everything else seems in order. Is there anything you need while in Eto, anything I might be able to help you with?"
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"Certainly, my friends," Mahu answers. "Go through the gate, turn left onto the main street, Arwija, and..." He proceeds to give you detailed directions, that quickly see you to your first destination in Eto.
The House of the White Uraeus is a two-story, whitewashed stone structure located in one of Eto’s more upscale districts. A large brass plaque above its door depicts a snake with two “necks” that split from its body, each with its own head. Although its exterior is unassuming, the interior of the White Uraeus is richly decorated with panels of gold-veined marble and bubbling fountains in secluded courtyards. Cool breezes carry the scent of blooming desert flowers throughout the clean halls. Two half-orcs keep watch outside one set of closed doors. After a moment inspecting the visitors, they pull open the doors to reveal a tiled bathing chamber beyond.
“Welcome to Eto, Pathfinders,” rasps Grandmaster Torch as he lounges in a steaming tub. “I didn’t imagine we would meet again under such heart-warming circumstances, yet the White Uraeus certainly knows how to make a traveler comfortable. What can a humble secret monger such as I do for you?” he asks as he leans forward in the tub and flashes a knowing smile.
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Telka wanders through the house marvelling at the opulennce, the moeny spent on this place could feed a dozen families for a year..., he scowls a little, such a waste
Entering the chamber he is surprised to find the man in the bathtub, what on earth, can this really be the famous Torch, I knew he was eccentric but...
Caught off guard by his questions he stammers, err, we are here looking for information about the Jewelled Sages and the Diamond Sage in particular, Amenopheus said you could help?
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He nods amenably as he listens to Telka explaining the request. “Amenopheus may have overlooked the fact that he owed me several favors before I ever asked for his help, but I don’t mind extending a discount to repeat customers,” he remarks with a rasping chuckle as he snaps his fingers to summon one of his bodyguards, who arrives carrying a folded piece of paper. “Let’s see what’s on today’s schedule,” he murmurs as he examines the paper’s contents. “Yes, all of this will do. Consider this my price—all of these tasks completed to my satisfaction in return for what I know of the sages’ jewels. Do we have a deal?”
His bodyguard hands over the sheet for your perusal:
The academic Ionacu Lozar from the Sinomakti School of Sciences is preparing for an expedition to a site in the Pillars of the Sun. I have a scarab-marked prayer book dedicated to the god Khepri that needs to be placed among his personal effects without him suspecting anything is amiss.
An associate has delivered a shipment of valuable Osirian artifacts to just outside Eto. She claims that the objects are hidden inside a dry well southeast of the Sunrise Gate. Retrieve these and bring them to me. The magic rod is of particular importance; everything else is expendable.
The half-elf Madam Zelekhati, owner the establishment called the Dancing Dunes, is most adept at acquiring secrets, and I need you to find out how she does it—no doubt it’s something she’d rather keep hidden from authorities. Further, convince her to share what she already knows with me. Threaten to reveal her secret if she’s stubborn. End the scheme if all else fails.
I recently heard that the leader of the Hundredfingers gang had an important message for my ears only. Track them down, get the message, resolve any loose ends, and report back to me.
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Telos accepts the sheet and quickly scans the tasks to see that none of them are hiding unbounded obligation.
He does not get any hints of unfair abuse or manipulation.
How could we possibly refuse! We'll get to work immediately. If you don't mind, I also have some potential business with The Exchange to suggest. Aaqir al’Hakam believes he could establish beneficial trade relationships in this area. If you would be able to provide the contacts in Eto, you would get advantage with him in the resulting trade that could be conducted. How does that sound?
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Pau blushed seeing the man yet again. He hadn’t revealed to the others that he is currently in the debt of the information broker, stemming from his last mission for the Society. Clearly they are testing me for some reason. Why would they send me back to perform more errands for him? What am I missing about the Society, he thinks quietly.
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"Well, well, al’Hakam wants my contacts does he? Hmm, I might be inclined to agree, but only if you can perform the tasks I've asked for particularly well. If you lot can manage to smuggle those relics mentioned into Eto without any customs agents knowing, or secure Zelekhati's cooperation without any violence, I'll pass along the information."
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Telka sighs quietly as Telos agrees so quickly, we could have negotiated a better deal he mutters.
I suggest we go to the well first. Its otside the gates so we should deal with it before things shut upp for the night and there may be things there that can be of use to us if the Rod is the only necessary item.