Understanding the basic command of "guard", Fion's flight path changed slightly as she began to circle lower and lower until she was within charging distance from above Banon's head.
As Banon and his hawk stand ready to attack anything on the other side, and Kellean acts nonchalantly for the citizens on the pier the others shoulder into the door until it gives way with a screeching sound. Only a few of the fishermen glance your way, quickly looking back at their poles, not wanting to know what goes on at the warehouse.
No enemies pour out, so Banon enters and begins to look around followed by the others.
Darkness fills the warehouse, the ambient light from the outside blocked by a filthy, oil film on the structure's few windows. Darting illumination comes from light reflecting off the water through a splintered hole in the floor. Throughout the warehouse, crates, boxes, and barrels lean against each other in vaguely sorted stacks. A lingering smell indicates some of the contents are certainly spoiled. A crane used for loading and unloading boats clings to a rail running the length of the warehouse, hanging 5 ft below the high ceiling.
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"My grandmother remembered playing as a child on stacks of coffins during a deadly 'bad stars' outbreak in the city... Such is life and death," Kellean says in her ethereal voice, entering and drawing her sword.
She says prayers for Guidance from Sarenrae over Banon, Castien, and Fenchil and then moves to where she can see the whole of the occupied warehouse, casting Detect Magic and beginning her scan for auras.
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"Fion. Tak' a swatch aroond fur onie signs ay life."
Lowering his bow, Banon followed into the warehouse after the others as he gave his companion a brief order. Keeping the weapon on hand, the ranger looked about with the others, spying the crate they had been tasked with finding in the process.
"Gie some ropes an' tie them aroond th' crate. 'at shoods dae it."
Giving himself the task of finding such materials in the questionable contents that looked salvageable, Banon began to move about the building in search of ropes, or any other material they might be able to use to secure the crate.
Taking Banon's new order to heart, Fion flew in with her master. Taking to the rafters, she began to beat her wings against the stagnant air, on the lookout all the while for any signs of life.
By and large, there is enough rope around to tie to the crate, but there doesn't seem to be any easy way to get to the crate. As you walk to the edge of the splintered hole, the floor seems to shimmy and shake and it appears if you tried to go out on it, the whole thing might give way, sending you and the crate into the harbor below.
There does not appear to be anything magical in the warehouse, and the crates you look at do not appear to be coffins, but rather mundane storage boxes for things like nails, books, or in one case, beer.
The birds fly throughout the warehouse looking for signs of life and both return with the same message (one delivered in signal, the other empathetically): "There is something alive under these crates on the north wall."
Just as you wonder what might be in the crates, a trio of dire rats come creeping out of the piles, looking for some warm meat to add to their diet.
Rat Food - round 1
22 Culsar
20 Banon
18 Red Rat
14 Kellean
13 Fenchil
11 Castien
11 Blue Rat
7 Green Rat
4 Fion
Culsar points at the middle rat of the trio that faces them, casting his Misfortune Hex upon the creature!
Rat Food - Round 1 - continued
Green Rat successfully overcomes the magical hex from Culsar but is not fortunate enough to avoid the arrow from Banon, which skewers the squealing rat, knocking it backwards into the pile of boxes and crates.
Red Rat races forward, biting at Fenchil as he comes, but the ranger avoids the gnashing little teeth.
Drawing her scimitar, ready to attack any targets foolish enough to come close, Kellean stands behind Fenchil, who lashes out at the Red Rat with his rapier, wounding the feral rodent.
Rat Food - round 1 - concluded
Castian shoots at the distant Blue Rat hitting the rodent, but not damaging it badly enough to discourage it's rush attack on Fenchil, biting through the poor ranger's leathers and sinking it's feral and disgusting teeth into his off-arm.
Diving at his natural prey, Fion slashes at the rodent with talons and beak. Snapping the rat with his beak, the hawk rends it's flesh ending the poor creature.
End of Round 1
Rat Food - round 2
22 Culsar
20 Banon
18 Red Rat
14 Kellean
13 Fenchil
11 Castien
4 Fion
Rat Food - Round 2 - concluded
The tiefling, although inexperienced with the crossbow, fires a lucky shot rolling the remaining rat over and over with the force of it, and killing it instantly.
End of combat
With the threat of the rats ended, and no more creatures to worry about, the initiate Pathfinders turn their attention back to the precariously balanced crate, the hole in the floor, and exactly what to do about it.
The boxes and crates you open are filled with mundane, everyday items. Nothing looks particularly useful.
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"We should, I hope, be able to find some rope around here somewhere, and then find a hook to go with it - a grappling hook, stevedore's hook or pole, or even an ice hook could be made to work," Kellean says, climbing up onto a box for a better view of the warehouse's contents.
"We could even build out from the good boards to the crate if we had enough lumber (some crate lids, even?), nails, and a hammer, then pull it onto those."
"But, we should have a safety in case the crate's lid comes off or we accidentally knock it off or cause a collapse. A cargo net, perhaps? Or ... ?"
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Slinging his bow over his shoulder, Banon listened to the conversations with interest as he began looking about the warehouse for anything they might be able to leverage. Crossing his arms over his chest, the ranger nodded in agreement with many of the suggestions before turning to Castien.
"Soonds loch plan. toss mah spyug a body end ay th' rope tae slin' ower th' rafters.
Pointing to Fion, Banon looked to Castien with his free hand open, beckoning for the rope.
The amazing animal companion flies the rope around the crane using it for a lever point. Meanwhile, Fenchil rows the boat under the weak spot in the pelican warehouse, just in case, the rope plan goes astray.
While the crane arm doesn't make the most friction free lever, the rest of the party hauls on the rope, lifting the 200lb crate up into the air. Tying off the rope, and using it to slide the crane arm past the weak flooring, the PC's soon have the crate on more secure land.
Prying open the crate, as Fenchil returns to the group, the initiates find a small mahogany box which contains five books and a few loose sheets of paper in a leather folder. The titles and subjects seem completely unrelated: Practical Thamauturgy in Accordance with Creation, Geographic Anomalies of the Inner Sea, Under Kaer Maga: A Trial and Travel, Physiology of Dragons: An Illustrated Reference, Lost Sarusan. The leather folder contains cargo manifests, warehouse inventories, and other financial logs from a dozen different merchant houses and trade guilds. It is unclear why Guaril Karela would want these items, but it appears these are the items he was looking for.
Additionally, the crate contains 10 sets of MW thieves' tools, 3 flasks of alchemist's fire, a flask of acid, a dozen jars of various inks, a footprint book, silver weapon blanch, 3 bags of powder, a deck of marked cards, and 2 sets of average loaded dice.
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"I'll take a bag of powder, some ink and the footprint book - you never know what you'll need."
"I also have alchemist's fire and a flask of alkali - I've learned my lesson by being crawled over by a thousand biting spiders - but I'll take the acid if no one else does."
"Silver weapon blanch is useful, too, though - trust me - you want to blanch your weapons before the battle you need them in. I already have 10 bolts so blanched."
One adventure as the backup and you're talking like you're already a V-C! Kellean chides herself.
After everyone has everything that they need from the large crate, Kellean clears her throat and meekly makes a request. "One final thing: Since we have what we need to accomplish the task for Mister Guaril, there's no reason we can't make a small victory against the cheaters and thieves by throwing their tools into the harbor."
After dumping the rest of the gear into the sea, the group returns to The Pickled Imp, the door bell jangling again. Guaril Karela limps out of the back, and grins sheepishly at you. "Couldn't get the crate eh? No harm in that. Many want to be Pathfinders fail at first. Tell me, did you find anything useful?"
As Castien pulls the mahogany box out of his pack, the Varisian swindler look amazed. He opens the cache and looks over the contents. "So you were successful after all. Well done! I will report to Valsin that there is more to you lot than meets the eye. We could use Pathfinders like you in the Scarzni faction. Consider joining up with us, should you care to."
He ducks into the back and returns counting out 111 gp per player.
The Temple of the Shining Star is the Ascendant Court's massive temple to the sun goddess, Sarenrae. It is also home to Ollysta Zadrian, a retired Pathfinder, and now head of the Silver Crusade faction, dedicated to using the Society's resources to spread good deeds and help those in need around the world.
Arriving there, you are immediately escorted to see Ollysta, a paladin of Sarenrae herself. She is surprisingly young in years for someone of her stature, but her poise and composure remind you of a queen and a warrior simultaneously. As you arrive, she strides forward to greet you, speaking in a clear strong voice.
"Thank the light of Sarenrae you have arrived! I knew Ambrus would come through for us in the Silver Crusade. I desperately need you to bring medicine to an orphanage and let me know if the headmistress, Gilga Baltwin, is deserving of our charity. Since our quest began, the needy have clamored for our aid, and I suspect some are abusing our generosity. It may sound cruel, but there are plenty of dishonest people out in the world eager for easy gold."
"Do you know of the Silver Crusade? After discovering so many factions splintered the Society, a number of us banded together to proliferate the cause of charity and kindness using the Society’s resources. As it is said, 'The Dawn brings new light' and I’ve made it my life’s work to use our recent darkness to bring a new light to the world and to the Pathfinder Society."
"I apologize for straying off point. Will you bring this parcel of medicine to Auntie Baltwin’s Home for Recovery in the Eastgate district?"
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Although she had been to the temple innumerable times, Kellean still feels overwhelmed by the beauty and holy purpose of the temple.
Kellean, despite her best efforts, only responds in a timid, wavering voice. "Yes, ma'am, very familiar. It is I, Kellean Kalyer... We met at a reception for new priests of Sarenrae... I am from Qadira... Well, Taldor originally..." She feels herself beginning to babble.
Like a child asking for some Great Bard's autograph, she scolds herself for her foolishness. She is also still embarrassed, though, for aligning herself first not with the Silver Crusade, but with the Grand Lodge itself as it was Pathfinders from Absalom who saved her and her family.
"I will always be happy and honored to help the Silver Crusade with its tasks."
The patient paladin smiles as Kellean stumbles over her words. She thanks the girl heartily for assuming the mission. "When you make this delivery, find out whether the orphanage is operating on the up and up. Report any observance that the place is not worthy of the higher principles of the Silver Crusade."
With that she dismisses you, giving you the address of the orphanage, a run-down area in Eastgate.
Along the route, you see the area is not wealthy, and a number of working people are in the streets going about their business. When you approach the structure that must be the orphanage, you see a market on the opposite corner, two people on the porch next door enjoying the fine spring weather, and an elderly man planting flowers in his yard nearby.
The house appears to be in good condition, considering the neighborhood, and seems to be swarming with children and cats. You also see three young boys in the yard outside the house, shooting marbles.
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"Aam nae much ay a fowk bodie...but that's a guid idea."
Giving a nod of agreement with Kellean's suggestion, the grizzled Ranger gave the cleric a pat on her back to get her moving. Smiling broadly he chuckled before giving a short word of advice.
"Yoo're a guid lassie. Jist be mair sure ay yerself."
And with that, Banon began walking about the outside of the orphanage, keeping his eyes peeled for anything out of the usual.