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After several weeks around the Grand Lodge, you are summoned to Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin's office.
Thanks for coming, according to Dreng you lot did well with that museum business, can't say that was a pretty situation, but you handled it like well seasoned agents. Anyway can't have such good people sitting around the Lodge too long. Your off to the Isle of Jalmeray in the morning. New Venture-Captain Vasuman Mihir has some trouble with a local down there. He'll tell you more when you get there.
He looks down at a piece of parchment.
Been booked on a ship called Pride of Almas. Spend the rest of today to get you affairs in order. And good luck.
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Jalmeray! The Kingdom of the Impossible!
Garduk's scarred face splits into what those who know him recognize as a grin, although strangers might get the idea he is about to bite them.
"How long is the journey, sir? I don't speak Vudrani, but I have some books on it I could review on the ship, maybe practice with some of the crew."
After a breath, the half-orc almost visibly throttles back his enthusiasm.
"Um, also, what kind of local problem needs a team sent all the way from Absalom? Not that I'm complaining! Just want to be be prepared. Sir."
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Well always hard to tell by sea, but somewhere around 3 weeks. Speaking Vudrani wouldn't hurt, but the common tongue is spoken there too, so if you know a little of the native tongue all the better, but I think you'll do fine without it too.
It's true we would like to be able to react more quickly here, and Katapesh is closer, but sounds like the 2 lodges there have more than there fair share of action right now.
He uses his fingers to curl his mustache hair, Mihir will give you the details, but let's just say your old friends from the Aspis Consortium are involved.
At that he stands and looks at a different piece of parchment, as he seems to be moving onto the next thing on his agenda. He glances back up at you. Like I said Mihir will give you the details.
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The winds and weather are with you and you complete the journey in just under 3 weeks; arriving in the of city of Padiskar near the northern tip of the Isle of Jalmeray. Padiskar is not so much a city as a ring of small villages surrounding a massive, howling ruin, from which terrifying screams of whatever the Vudrani Maharaja Khiben-Sald left there in ancient times can still be heard.
At the docks, you are greeted by a young Vudrani man. Hi, I'm Waman. I'm Venture-Captain Vasuman Mihir's porter. He looks around to make sure the coast is clear, then continues. He maintains a small safe house for the Pathfinder Society here, taking over from Padiskar’s longtime Venture-Captain Aamina Shahrazad, who was recently murdered by men loyal to Zamir, a bandit lord and rumored Aspis Consortium agent who operates out of the nearby jungles. Bad people! He says in a hushed tone with an excited look of someone who is spilling the beans. Come on, I'll take you there.
It's not far from the docks to the safe house and Waman moves quickly. The house is small but looks well maintained.
Venture-Captain Mihir’s nods as you enter and motions for Waman to leave. He moves to the door and peeks out before speaking quickly and in a serious tone, after introducing himself to you all in person. He picks up a scepter from the table.
This is a fake Scepter of the Arclords, he says, hefting the bejeweled staff in his hands, it bears glowing runes across its surface. Convincing isn't it? You will lead a caravan toward Niswan carrying this false relic and several crates of minor magical items. My porter, Waman, will give you a detailed travel itinerary, which you must follow with care. Except that it is almost certain that you will be ambushed before you reach your destination, since young Waman is a spy for the Aspis Consortium and has sold out and murdered a dozen or more of our brethren and associates, including our former venture captain—I’m sure of it. He pauses and let's the gravity of what he just said settle in.
The scepter is bait in a trap, and you are the teeth. Do not let on to Waman that you know of his transgressions—we need him to lead us to his master, the bandit lord Zamir. We’ll either make Zamir our man or disrupt his business permanently. I’ll deal with Waman myself once this affair is resolved.
Venture-Captain Mihir holds up a second item, a plain-looking but easily recognizable wayfinder. This wayfinder is also a fake, although unlike the scepter, it does have real power. The dial always points to the scepter. Mihir demonstrates, moving the wayfinder in a circle around the scepter, the needle pointing unerringly at it.
Waman gave Zamir information that enabled the bandit fool to steal artifacts from dozens of our caravans and even from safe houses such as this one. Zamir has a method of disassembling the artifacts so that he can smuggle them off the island with ease, bound for ports of call in Cheliax. What we do not know is where Zamir is, since he never attacks with his men.
I gave Waman the information about your journey, so at some point along the route, Zamir’s bandits will ambush you. Previous experience indicates that his bandits will not kill if they don’t have to. Let them steal the scepter. You must put up a small struggle, maybe even kill or injure several of his men, but most importantly you must let them escape and they must escape with the scepter.
Give them a few hours after the ambush to escape and then use the wayfinder to track Zamir to his hideout. Zamir is an arrogant man whose loyalties lie with whoever can make him famous to the people of Jalmeray. Right now he believes the Aspis Consortium is the answer. You will either convince him that the Society is the answer—as he could be a very powerful ally in the region—or you’ll end his operations for good. How you handle it, I leave to you. You have two days to prepare. Good luck on your journey and may the gods guide your hand.
When Venture-Captain Mihir finishes explaining the mission, he sits back a little as if expecting a few questions.
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Leaning back in his chair he addresses both Kulga and Garduk, He’s a rebel and a bandit and the people of Padiskar know him from his youth as a fool who desires fame above all else. But truth be told, he's proven to be a rather effective fool. He's develop a good deal of local clout or at least notoriety. While, I don't see us using him for his smuggling talents, it would be better off with him on our side than against us. If not, then dead. But yet, this life longer desire for fame is why I think his loyalty to the Aspis Consortium is thin at best and there’s a chance he can be brought to our side rather than simply slain.
And yes, afterward you can tell it however you like, Kulga.
Then addressing more of Garduk's question. No, they don't worship bandits here, but someone like Zamir does develop a following.
Venture-Captain Shahrazad, was attempting to find Zamir's stronghold, when Zamir's men found him first. He didn't make it. As for the other artifacts it depends, bring them back if Zamir is dead; leave them if he turns to our side instead.
Any other questions then? Mahir inquires.
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Garduk considers and rejects a dozen potential questions, assuming that like other venture-captains, Venture-Captain Mihir will quickly run out of patience and send them on their way.
"Does his method of disassembling the artifacts before smuggling them off the island conceal their magical auras to avoid detection through divination spells?"
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The Venture Captain looks a little sad as he responds to Bokkah, Well I didn't think it could be true, but then something only he and I knew was acted upon by Zamir, at first I thought we were unlucky, then it happened again. So I set up a few tests, and he failed all of them. I have no doubt about it.
No more questions then? Tomorrow morning Waman will give you the details of your trip. Remember do not let on to Waman what we talked about here.
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Zamir is rumored to be a weretiger or perhaps a rakshasa.
Zamir is wanted by the Thakur (the leader of Jalmeray) for his activities as an unlawful revolutionary.
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The next morning, you find a cheerful Waman pouring over maps in the safe house. Ah good, glad the boss brought in a special team to transport this artifact. Can you believe we have the actual Scepter of the Arclords! Now here's the best way to get to Niswan. He uses the maps to provides you with instructions on how to guide the caravan to Niswan. He concludes his briefing with There it is should be fairly easy I think.
The path Waman wants you to travel is the long way to Niswan.
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Prior to entering the safe house, Brayne whispers rumours he heard on a night out in the local tavern. "So I heard.. this Zamir fella might be more trouble that we thought. He's a weretiger rakshaha! Unbelievable huh."
He tries to whip the worried look off his face to keep up appearances as they enter the safe house. "Sounds simple enough. So how will we be travelling? By foot? Will we have horses? or will we ride inside the caravan?"
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Garduk looks over the map along with the rest of the group, but has little to add to the directions.
We have horses and a cart for you to use. Waman reveals. The cart is loaded and I saw to the horses myself this morning. He gives a confident grin.
Garduk grunts at this. "Aren't you coming with us?"
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Everyone knows he's some kind of tiger-man, Brayne! Bring some silver and all should be well. We should be careful about discussing our hopes for an alliance with him though, the Thakur is hunting him fiercely.
Kulga eyes the guide with a familiarly sour expression on her face, but doesn't comment on the chosen route. Well, at least we know he's a terrible guide, or that he is really a traitor.
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Rakshasas are outsiders but born on the Material Plane. There are many different types, they have animal heads and and backward-facing hands. The reincarnations of manipulators, traitors, and tyrants obsessed with earthly pleasures, rakshasas are the embodiments of the very nature of materialistic evil. They can only be damaged good or piercing weapons and can both resist and cast spells of there own.
Looking to Garduk, No I have to stay back, but I think you can handle it. He says reassuringly, then turning to Brayne. Yeah, one of them is white. But can't get a read on the young man.
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After receiving the details from Waman. You set off on the course. At the end of the second long day of travel through rough hills, a campsite comes into view. Smoke curls upward from a small fire, there a man is tending a roast on a spit. Three more men are setting out bedrolls and four mules are picketed beside a pile of sacks and bundles nearby.
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"It sounds like negotiating with this rakshasa might not be a very good option. We should definitely be prepared to slay him."
Bokkah struggles to hold her tongue when Waman shows them the long route. She is only able to contain herself by the thought that they would meet up with the treacherous porter again soon enough.
When they approach the campsite, Bokkah asks quietly, "Have we reached the ambush site already?" She examines the campers, trying to identify any kind of markings or anything that will reveal their identity.
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Bokkah studies the camped men, noting that at least one of them wears a chain shirt, and there seems to be short swords and bows around the camp, but he sees no obvious signs of them being Aspis agents.
Kulga gets a read on them and can tell they are legitimately shocked by your arrival and if they are ambushers they were not expecting you yet. They look more like camped travelers.
Garduk puts up his beige protection.
The lead man steps forward arms in the air.
Greetings fellow travelers, I am Samarjit. You look to be fellow merchants?
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Garduk remains on his horse and raises his hands as well. In Vudrani, he says:
"आपको बधाई! हां, हम व्यापारी हैं"
Switching back to Common, Garduk continues:
"Well met, Samarjit. I am Garduk. My companions and I are on our way to Niswan." He gestures in the direction of the wagon. "We have a few trifles for the markets there."
Leaning down from his saddle, he points towards Brayne and says, in Vudrani:
"मेरे चचेरे भाई को ध्यान न दें उनके पिता ने हमें अपनी शिक्षा को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए कहा, लेकिन उनके पास वाणिज्य के लिए कोई सिर नहीं है।"
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Addressing Brayne, Greetings, I would have thought with horse drawn cart you would be merchants, seems a strange place to wander in. Yes we are merchants.
When Garduk speaks up he replies.
अच्छी तरह से मुलाकात की, आपके पास जेलमरेरी के मूल निवासी का नज़र नहीं था, इसलिए मैंने पहले आम कोशिश की।
Well met You did not have the look of natives of Jalmeray so I tried the common tongue first
He gives a wry smile to Brayne before continuing in common.
Greeting Garduk, we are traveling to Padiskar with cloth and carpets to sell. He studies your group a bit more before adding. The roads these days are treacherous, but there is safety in numbers you are welcome to join us here at our camp. We were just setting up for the night. He gestures toward there camp.
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Garduk nods in response to Kulga's suggestion, without turning away from Samarjit.
Can't go on much longer today anyway, and there may not be another good campsite for a while.
"Thank you, Samarjit. We will be glad to join your group for the night. As you say, the roads are treacherous in these times."
Garduk dismounts, and makes no effort to hide his relief at being out of the saddle.
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After a short existential crisis, Brayne walks up alongside Bokkah as they discuss about night duty. "I am the night. I shall take the second watch. I enjoy the loneliness and despair of the midnight darkness. Also we'll need some light, please feel free to sue my Ioun torch" He takes a moment or two to search for it through his very messy backpack.
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Kulga will see that the cart is set up relatively centrally, though with a couple of easy paths to escape nearby. She wraps up the scepter rather sloppily as a separate parcel, which sits in the back of the cart, a little bit of metal gleaming through when the light catches it.
She then hauls out her bedroll on the opposite side of camp, takes off her armor, I'll grab the second watch; once it's dark, she says with a snort, and quickly falls asleep.
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"I guess I'll take third watch. I don't mind the dark." Garduk ties up his horse near the others, and spreads his bedroll on an open spot between Kulga and Brayne. He pulls out a book to read for a bit, but the exhaustion of the early start and full day on horseback catches up with him and he quickly falls asleep.
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Initiative
About an hour after Brayne switches off watch with Kulga, as she and one the merchants stand guard over the camp, a snap of a twigs...Bandits!
They are pretty stealthy and are on the camp before Kulga can really react. Coming from the north and through the bushes to the southeast. The 4 Bandits to the north move down to the merchants horses. The most forward of which has a battle axe at the ready, while the one behind him has a short bow. The other 4 slip through the bushes. The merchant doesn't seem to notice at all.
Surprise Round
map
Merchants
Bokkah
Bandits
Garduk
Kulga
Brayne
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Kulga shout rouses the sleeping camp. The other merchant that was awake sprints toward there horses drawing his sword, while yelling Wake up you fools!
He takes a swing at the first of the bandits with his short sword, missing with his swipe. The other merchants begin to groggily rise.
Round 1
map
Merchants
Bokkah
Bandits
Garduk
Kulga
Brayne