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When the Pathfinder Society claimed the Hao Jin Tapestry in Tian Xia, it seemed as though the Aspis Consortium’s influence there had ended. An anonymous informant recently identified an Aspis resurgence in Goka’s Deepmarket, and Venture-Captain Amara Li hopes that a small, well-trained team can ferret out the villains and prevent any greater atrocities. Can the PCs traverse the Deepmarket’s treacherous politics and tunnels and neutralize the Consortium’s local ringleader?
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Never having left Tian-Xia makes his way back to the Goka lodge, ready to enjoy some downtime. During that time, he sends a letter off to receive additional funds from the Bank of Abadar in Absalom but once his funds arrive, he'll go out on the town, purchasing a new fancy belt!
"I wonder what or when my next mission will be. Well, in the meantime, this is as good of place as any to drink and read" Lounging about in the Goka lodge reading the latest edition of the Pathfinder Chronicles.
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Returning to Goka after some serene time spent at the Sanctuary of the Unbound Knot.
The early dawn’s light crests over the Wall of Heaven mountain range, the Lantern Lodge is already bustling with activity. The sound of clashing swords echoes in the air from a nearby training area, and a group of Pathfinder agents silently meditates in the front courtyard. The lodge’s doors open, revealing a long corridor and a faint floral aroma wafts gently in the air. Sturdy shelves laden with artifacts from all corners of Tian Xia line the corridor’s walls. Venture-Captain Amara Li emerges from a door labeled “Taldor Room” in a fine cherry-red kimono.
“Good morning, Pathfinders. I hope your travels have been safe and enjoyable,” Li says. “Please, come inside.”
The Taldor Room is an opulent meeting space with a solid mahogany table and ornately carved chairs. Its walls are adorned with ornamental weapons and portraits of noble families in resplendent finery. Elegant porcelain teacups and plates sit in front of each chair, and several platters of fruit, cakes, and cheeses occupy the center of the table, surrounding a steaming pot of tea.
The venture-captain pours herself a cup of tea and continues, “As I’m sure you are aware, the Grand Lodge was attacked a few months ago. Since then, the Society has been following any and all leads that could help us find and arrest the Aspis criminals behind the assault. From Varisia to Nirmathas to Absalom itself, the Society has successfully gathered a substantial amount of information about Aspis operations. We have combined our own resources with the reports of a turncoat within the Consortium whom we have taken to calling ‘Three Rings’ to create a list of vital Aspis operatives all across Golarion. One in particular, Tseka, lives beneath Goka, in a warren of tunnels and ruins called Undermarket. Specifically, she lives in its deepest levels, known as Deepmarket. Tseka works from the shadows, and makes most of her profits from black market trades."
“Deepmarket is a dark and dangerous community of criminals, thieves, and outcasts. Those who don’t know the area or have connections to protect them make easy targets. I recommend using a little subterfuge to help yourselves blend in, and to give Tseka as little time to prepare for your approach as possible.”
The venture-captain places a small wooden chest on the table and says, “To get inside Deepmarket, I propose that you pose as smugglers bringing in a fresh round of contraband. Once there, find Tseka. We know that she has valuable information, so do everything in your power to bring her back alive, and collect whatever documents you find in her base of operations. I do not know where within Deepmarket she resides. Gather what information you can from the locals in Undermarket, and seek out a guide to help you navigate these treacherous waters. Do you have any questions?”
Amara Li sits back demurely and waits for your questions.
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Elska gasps. "I had not heard that the Grand Lodge in Absalom had been attacked. We have been here, in Tian-Xia, working for the Lantern Lodge, out in the wilds, and have not heard news of these events. This Aspis aggression will not stand!" She pounds her fist into the palm of her other hand for emphasis.
Elska pets Nuk before continuing. "We will sneak into Deepmarket for you, Amara, root out Tseka, and bring her back alive."
"Do you have any recommendations on how we might go about disguising ourselves as smugglers, as you suggest? And what's in the box?" the Mammoth Lords princess asks Amara Li.
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Interjecting "This is troubling news, to think the Aspis have grown so bold as to attack the Grand Lodge!"
Mulling over and thinking about the rest of the briefing, "This may prove difficult, taking people alive is my specialty but disguise, not so much." Looking around at his companions, lingering on Nuk "Do you have any disguises or leads for finding suitable disguises or perhaps illegal goods for us"
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Yes a terrible tragedy. Amara Li replies as she brings forth a disguise kit and two scrolls of disguise self. These can help with the disguises.
She also provides a chest full of contraband.
The chest contains a total of 7 pieces of contraband—a dose of blue whinnis poison, a pistol from Alkenstar, a piece of bawdy artwork depicting a Gokan celebrity, jade unholy symbols of Fumeiyoshi, Lady Nanbyo, and Lamashtu, and an engraved darkwood box containing half a dozen oracular fingerbones smuggled out of Po Li.
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Elska looks over the contents in the chest, perplexed by the strange contraption from Alkenstar and unnerved by the unholy symbols and the fingerbones. She cocks her head sideways at the painting, then back to the other side. "How did she bend . . . ? That just looks uncomfortable . . . "
Remembering the matter at hand, she turns the painting over, out of view. "Well, it seems like we have a plan. We can load this stuff back into the chest and put it on Nuk. If anyone asks, he's there to carry our shipments. But, as you all know, I'm terrible at lying, so someone else will need to do the talking if it comes to that."
Turning back to her Venture Captain, Elska asks, "What else can you tell us about Deepmarket? Is it a dangerous place? What might we expect to find down there?"
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Li looks thoughtful, "Good plan for Nuk. "
Before speaking about the Deepmarket.
“It is said that the area contains ancient passageways that connect to the Darklands. Over the years, many of that subterranean realm’s denizens have made these tunnels their homes. I strongly recommend finding a guide to avoid getting lost in the warren.”
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"Ah my magically non-inclined friend, the light put out by that pales in comparison to a daylight spell."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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The Venture Captain furrows her brow in reply to the query about a guide.
“I don't have anyone specific in mind. However, a local guide would be best, as outsiders are unlikely to know which places and people to avoid, but be careful whom you trust below the city. Unscrupulous individuals prey on travelers, picking their pockets or leading them into ambushes. Perhaps the best place to look is for someone who deals in the Undermarket.”
She seems clearly concerned by her lack of solid leads for you.
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Once he has the go-ahead, he'll race off into the unknown, picking up Miyako as he goes. All the while shouting back at his companions;
"Let's all meet back at the Lodge in an hour or so to share what we've learned!"
"I've certainly never heard much of this place, maybe you can ask some of the locals, Miya?"
"I imagine we can find it below us!"
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"Ah well, it must be a pretty obscure place, maybe one of the others learned something,' Looking around in the crowded market place, Bo will see one of those roasted meet stands on a stick and move over and buy some meat on a stick for him and Miyako,
"Here ya go, Miya!" Handing her one of the sticks of meat, he'll take a bite out of one himself. "We might want to make our way back to the lodge, rejoin the others."
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Most of you know or find out that almost anything can be found in the black markets of Undermarket under Goka, including drugs, poisons, gambling, slaves, and even firearms. And rumors hold that one of the many entrances into Undermarket resides inside a silk shop named the Cresting Blossom. Ordinary customers use currency to purchase wares; however, those who provide contraband to the proprietor gain access to a secret tunnel leading far beneath the city.
Kelson also learns that whispers from the ratfolk of Undermarket tell of the Aspis Consortium’s renewed recruitment efforts in the last few months.
Elska, Bo, and Mido also know that the Undermarket is comprised of large caverns. A canal flows through it, allowing contraband shipments to flow in from the Embaral Ocean. Deeper into Undermarket, lost crypts, burial chambers, and ancient churches liter the ominous caverns. Even locations that seem to be abandoned are frequently repurposed.
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Making your way to the Cresting Blossom, you open the door to the sound of chiming bells. Inside the shop, a lone merchant, a studious looking human with thick glasses, dusts a multicolored glass vase prominently displayed on the counter. The shop’s walls are lined with fine silk tapestries, and its shelves are stocked with fine glasswork. Looking up,
Welcome, what merchandise do you seek this day?