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A well dressed gnome in Taldan noble garb and adorned with jewelry enters the room. He has a thick blue beard and his blue hair is barely visible under his outrageous noble hat. He has several wands, scrolls, and spell pouches.
Greetings! My name is Simon! It is a pleasure to once again go on another escapade for the Pathfinder Society. I do enjoy myself a good adventure; solving problems, meeting new people along the way, and even sometimes an occasional conflict, haha! I am a tailor who hails from Taldor. Haha! What delicious alliteration, no?
As for my adventuring talents: I am skilled in the art of enchantment. A mind is a fickle thing, is it not? Some individuals are sooo easily manipulated. But fear not! I would never dream of using my magic on another Pathfinder. I also have some talent in talking to others, and I am well educated. Simon will smile, showing pearly white teeth. His smile seems to emanate a sense of warmth and welcoming, almost as if magical in of itself.
I hail from Taldor, land of lush entertainment! Oh, how I wish I could sing and dance as well as some of the famous actors around there, but alas it is not my lot in life.
Anyway, like I said, I like meeting new people and would be veeeery interested in some of your stories as well!
As 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 your own work in 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?”
A quick peek at the chest reveals 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.
While entertaining questions, a servant enters and humble offers up a Disguise kit, as well as two scrolls of Disguise Self.
Almost anything can be found in the black markets of Undermarket under Goka, including drugs, poisons, gambling, slaves, and even firearms.
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.
Whispers from the ratfolk of Undermarket tell of the Aspis Consortium’s renewed recruitment efforts in the last few months.
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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Sure... I can "pretend" to be a smuggler...
"A dangerous mission to a place filled with the worst scoundrels and thieves... sounds grand! Although, rumor has it that the Aspis Consortium is eagerly recruiting again, so we should be careful."
"I know of a place there, the Cresting Blossom. Might be our way in, if we can offer something of interest to the owner. We could also try floating in from the ocean - there is a way. But I prefer the silk to the slime, if its all the same. Those caverns and empty chambers... well, let's just say they don't often stay empty for long. We should try to stick together... watch each other's backside... keep a keen eye open, eh?"
"So. where did these items come from, and what's their value?"
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Lem Starts Amara li A pleasure to meet you in person. Now I have not had chance to ask around just yet but off the top of my head I recall
The Undermarket is a series of caverns with a canal traveling through it that passes through old crypts burial chambersd and even old churches that may not be as abandoned as they seem and reused for other purposes eventually leading through to the Darklands.
As for entry the Silk shop Cresting Blossom will allow entrance if shown the required illicit goods to the owner. I believe the aspis have been keen to recruit Ratfolk from the undermarket of late. Or is my information out of date? He asks Amara
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Yes, I've wanted to visit the Cresting Blossom! I know it's more than meets the eye, but I am always on the hunt for the finest of silks! How fine they are is left to be judged.
Ah, a little bit of smuggling experience never hurt anyone.
I also must say, this is quite an impressive room Amara Li. You have excellent tastes.
Do you have any more information about this Tseka?
"These items were requisitioned from the Grand Lodge. Honestly, I'm not sure their resell value, that's not really my area of expertise."
She looks at Simon, slightly crestfallen as she does so, "I wish that I had more information. You are the first Pathfinders to report on any real information here."
Will
Lem
Caerwynn
Simon: +12 (Skill and spell)
Ragnar:
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"We're going, uh, underground?" Caerwynn asks furtively of the Pathfinder next to her. Oh, not again. Let's hope there are no bloody machines this time.
"I can try to, to act as a guide, maybe. Or a hireling to carry the box?"
Caerwynn is the last to make use of the disguise kit and looks very unhappy about it. She uses the paintings around the room as a reference for making only modest Tian alterations to her appearance.
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Disguise check -1
"Harumph. I don't see why I should disguise myself at all! I don't wave a wayfinder about and trumpet my allegiances and besides, I happen to have a very reputable calling for a smuggler. Being a scholar of the dead, I imagine I'd fit in nicely with those ne'er-do-wells. Though I, of course, am no such thing myself. I'll go in my traditional black and worry not about trifles such as disguises." Ragnar looks indignant at the whole idea of trying to be someone else.
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Will +9
Lem +14
Caerwynn +6
Simon: +12
Ragnar +6
Got it!
Once the party convinces the cantankerous dwarf to disguise himself, you set out.
When you open the door to the Cresting Blossom, the sound of chiming bells greets you. Inside the shop, the lone merchant 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.
One of the tapestries conceals a hidden passage.
The shopkeeper greets you with a smile, "Welcome! Welcome! I am Sheng. What merchandise do you seek this day?
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Will let's Lem take the lead here, but then chimes in to help when it seems appropriate.
"Yah. I hear tell you might be able to help those of us who perhaps have something to offer, you know, besides the fine silks you have here. I am sure we can find something in our containers for you as well, for your services."
The shopkeeper nods slowly and says, “The sun doesn’t set without a price. What does it take from you?”
The shopkeep eyes the unholy symbol with a curious eye. He tries to withhold his smile, but clearly it interests him. "I'll not lie, that goes a LONG way to it, but a touch more does the trick."
When he sees the artwork, his smile comes out of hiding. "Well, that IS a piece worth acquiring." The merchant looks around carefully and then nods towards the tapestry behind him. Pulling the cloth back, he reveals a door that is flush with the wall...
Beyond the door, a 50-foot-tall metal spiral staircase descends into darkness. The shopkeeper adds, "the stairs end at a single doorway. I warn you that you must knock five times before entering to signal to the guard before paying the toll."
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Lem also heads down stairs ready ready to knock five times when he reaches a door he casts light on the base of the hilt of his sword I don't think we'll need a compass to get to the bottom of the stairs he chirps hoping his fellow pathfinders take the hint not to crack out way finders and blow the disguise
He pauses at the bottom it may be an idea for one of the Wizards to have a whispering message spell up before we proceed. Sadly it not in my reportoire yethe whispers to the group
The door opens and a guard nods as you enter.
The warming light from the sun has been replaced with a flickering orange glow that emanates from torches stationed throughout the entirety of this cavern. Buildings made of various types of wood and stone line the walls of this immense grotto, while other ramshackle shops snake their way through the causeway. A large canal in the middle of the cave moves ocean water deeper into the chamber. Multiple slapdash docks with accompanying dinghies bob slowly on the canal. A large building stretches across the canal, its exterior caked in barnacles and algae. The smell of salt water lingers in the air.
Welcome to Deepmarket.
It would take years to learn your way around. As you move about at first you can see all manner of unsavory types. You even see a few Aspis badges (all bronze). The place is overwhelming.