Upon your return to the lodge you have a few days before appointments can be arranged with the VC's that requested your help in the matters in the ruins. During this time Major Maldeis has heard of your dealings with Maurit he gathers the lot of you together and has this to say.
“I know it was difficult,” he says. “The undead sometimes cling to life, but they always turn to evil. This was a hard lesson that I felt you had to learn, to better serve the common good. As Pathfinders, we should always serve the common good and always fight for freedom.”
He smiles as he leaves you to think about this.
A short while later a message comes that you have appointments with Amara Li and al'Hakam.
Ooc: who do you go see first? Who has the sword. Whoever has the best perc give me a perc check...I think that's Elwyn with +9....
Yeah, I'll give you this one....
Examining the katana reveals a hidden area in the hilt. Inside the compartment is a tightly-rolled document, which both serves as a letter of credit and details a trade agreement between any holder of that agreement and a group called the Way of the Kirin. The terms are written in both Tien and Kelish, and promise the holder the full support of the Way of the Kirin, along with naval and war materiel worth 50,000 gp.
Jubei is able to read the Tien portion of this.
I read it out loud.
Ooc: I apologize, if you would rather keep it quiet just correct me. I've done that twice to you now....just correct me if I'm in the wrong.
Ooc: so to Li of al'Hakam? And now....who has the new trade agreement. And.... Does it go to Li or al'Hakam, or do you keep it and cash in on 50k in war aid and raise your own army to try to take over the world? Pinky and the Brain style, of course
No, now your thinking like Pinky....go for a Brain plan :)
Start pondering what I'm pondering....
OOC: Assuming everyone is in agreement with giving the Katana (and it's contents) back to Li...
As the small band of you files into Amara Li's offices she is overjoyed to see the Jade Katana, and shamed that she did not tell you of it's contents before hand. She admits, that while the Qadira do have a slight claim to the documents, they rightfully belong to her family (a knowledge local (or legal if there is one) will reveal that she is most likely correct, but the legal fees would be extreme). she showers the lot of you with praise and thanks you for returning both items to her family. The one to restore it's honor, the other its fortunes (opening these offices so far from her home have drained the family finances).
Heading over to al'Hakam's offices he is please to recieve the trade agreements you have found...and disappointed to learn that you no longer have the Jade Katana...and what it held. He thanks you for doing as requested, and does not mention that he already knew of the Katana's hidden documents.
OOC: This, my friends, is the end of this adventure. I'll try to get the sheets emailed out later tonight, and start the next mission soonish.
In the heart of the Pathfinder Society's headquarters at Skyreach, Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng, a wiry old man with a wild gray beard and glinting eyes, sits on a large plush bench next to a finely dressed, full-figured woman who looks as though this entire meeting isn't worth her time. Dreng warmly greets you all and introduces you to Lady Gloriana Morilla; the Taldan woman tilts her head slightly in acknowledgement of the introduction, but otherwise makes no move to greet you. Oblivious to any social slight on the lady's part, Dreng goes on to explain you mission. "Recently, a contact from the Low Azlanti embassy in Escadar approcahed us with an offer. It seems they have discovered a unique relic of Azlanti origin on the Inner Sea's floor that we have an unique opportunity to add to our collection for study. In Return, however, we must deliver one of our catalogued items to Escadar in exchange. The Low Azlanti drive a hard bargain, so we need you to escort a relics broker to Escadar so he can authenticate the Azlanti item and mediate a fair deal on the Ten's behalf." He goes on to warn you that the Pathfinders may not be the only group that looks to acquire this relic. It seems that the Aspis Consortium has also tendered an offer, and it has been conditionally accepted if we do not finalize an agreement within 30 days.
Lady Morilla stirs from her silence and speaks in a strong, demanding voice. "I have used some of the Empire of Taldor's most skilled operatives to plant a false crew manifest and course plans with the harbor master, ensuring that the Aspis Consortium spies who certainly keep an eye on such matters believe we are moving our relic to Escadar on a ship tomorrow morning. This decoy should occupy the Consortium sufficiently for you to travel overland to Escadar with plenty of time to make the final agreement with the gillmen before the Society's window of opportunity runs out."
Dreng laughs to hinself, then instructs you to go to the Siphons in the Puddles and meet with the Pathfinder Society's ally, information broker Grandmaster Torch. He'll give you a map fro a smuggler's trail through the isle's center that should allow for relatively easy and secret travel overland to Escadar. After meeting with Torch ou will meet up with Nester Rees, an appraiser and relics broker.
Dreng has arranged for lodgings in Escadar at the Grindylow's Goblet (a tavern). Once you arrive, you are to send word to the Embassy and then have Master Rees conduct the megotiations at the tavern on the Society's behalf. He does emphasize that you are responsible for Rees' safety and for the succes of his negotiations.
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al'Hakam can suck it when it comes to the katana. Harboth has enough cunning not to express this view directly - he simply grunts when the Quadiran voices his displeasure at not getting the jade katana.
...
He listens intently to the instructions of Dreng and Morilla. Easy and secret, is it? We shall see. Sounds like I may need to keep the axe sharp.
Harboth furrows his brow, wondering if there might be anything else we should know about this operation that we do not.
Harboth: To the best of his knowledge it's a legit smugglers path...that said, smugglers probably know about it, so be aware of that.
all: he has not dismissed you, so he is open to questions if you have anything. No, he doesn't know what you should take with you or have freebies for you :P
Drawing gives you a good overview of the Tillman race....
Ooc: not covered in the guide, suffice it to say they look like himans with gills on their neck, able to breath air and water..... Sorry guys, nothing of interest with them to describe.
As you get up to leave the Venture captain to be about your business the Lady makes to rise to see you out. Doing so she holds out her hand to Elwyn for assistance.
As you know, the people of Taldor share a proud history that traces their blood to the ancient Azlanti who founded our great nation. I have a letter that I ask you to deliver to the gillman embassy in Escadar, so my request requires no additional effort on your part other than carrying a simple envelope and delivering it when you reach your final destination. I have no hesitation in telling you the letter asks the gillmen to consider an alliance with the nation of Taldor—if the letter finds its way into an influential gillman’s hands, it would please me greatly.
Finding the Siphons takes no real skill, but it does require that you cut through the Puddles and it's continually damp streets to get there. A large half orcmguard admits you in to see the leader of the Shadow Lodge. Here Torch rests in a magically dry room, with even the moisture in the air reduced, sitting in a large tub as attendants continually pour cool water over his burned and featuring body.
“Well met, Pathfinders. I see you have survived as the Decemvirate’s pawns thus far, and for that I commend you. This next task they have for you is more dangerous than the venture-captain may have told you, so let me give you a word of warning. I have made it my life’s work to ensure Pathfinder agents are given all the tools they need to return home from their myriad adventures, and this map is the tool I give you. Follow the directions on my map as strictly as you can. Deviate from this path and
you may encounter challenges far beyond your abilities. Many would paint me and those who believe like I do as betrayers
of the Society, but it is the corps of the organization that I am completely loyal
to. Each and every one of you.
“If you believe you have been mistreated
by the Ten or their representatives, don’t hesitate
to let me know upon your return from Escadar. My network of agents and spies if vast, and I am a powerful ally to have on your side.
”Now be off. You have a long journey ahead of you. And remember, don’t deviate from this map—it’s designed to get you there and back safely!”. With that he hands over the map and quickly explains the symbols on it and reiterate not to leave the path. He also answers any questions you may have about the shadow lodge.
Sorry for the ugly formatting...I'm posting from iPad today as my power is out and the cut and paste function on it doesn't do formatting when it comes back into the browser.
Nodding to Jubei Grandmaster Torchs suggests "Perhaps you will come and talk with us at the Shadow Lodge after you return. We are always open to new operatives within our ranks to keep our brothers and sisters in the Society safe." to him.
BTW, he also hands you the map...its pretty straight forward (damn no posting pics on the boards..., its a fairly straight line from Absalom, to Escadar, with a path marked out in the mountains just north of the city. You wil need to stop in Pier's End to book passage accross the channel to the Isle of Erran.
If no one has any questions for the Grandmaster Torch then I suggest we start out on our trail.
Please feel free to do any shopping you may need, I'm going to progress us mean time.
Heading back to the lodge to meet with Nester Res you find that he is already here and waiting for you. He is a short man, of Garundi decent who walks with a cane, a malady of the heart that has left his right side weakened.
OOC: you guys should all ahve credit in your sessions logs for the last session, and my original four should ahve it for the first session.
OOC2: I'll let you guys decide when to head out...just type something to the effect of your leaving and i'll take it to the first stop.
Ooc: whoa there Rachel, let's not get ahead of ourselves...I've been really busy being really lazy over here! I hope to send them out today...
the path you are taking has been used for years and, while not completely safe is at least manageable. The woods and mountains north of here teem with bandits and all manner of monstrous creatures....it's best not to stray from it.
Heading out it takes roughly half a day to get to the woods north of town. Nester is fairly quiet, answering any questions when asked and struggling to keep pace with his limp.
The Cairnlands, a broken landscape of blood-salted earth and the ruins of countless failed assaults on Absalom’s walls, soon yields to open fields and fertile ground. Ahead, a vast forest covers the foothills of large range of snow-capped mountains. The well-trodden road soon ends at a tall wall of trees, signaling the end of civilization.
As you approach a group of riders approaches out of the west, looking into the setting sun it takes a moment before you realize they aren't riders, but centaurs. One moves slightly forward of the others and calls out" ho there, i am Urdil Thunderhoof, the way into the forest is not safe, a beast hunts these woods, we have been tasked with keeping it to these woods to prevent it from hunting the plains. "
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Fedryn watches the centaur approach, uneasy at this sudden interruption.
"Hail, Urdil," he calls out as the centaur introduces himself, "We are looking to head through to Escadar on an old game trail. Perhaps you could show us where it begins and in return, if we find this beast of yours, we could drive it further into the forest?"
Ooc: Harboth, your good on your knowledge nature check...feel free to look at the entry for them in the bestiary.
Jubei, really, you don't know what a centaur is? I'm shocked!
Ooc: he did :). Which is why I really like Harboth right now.
Turning toward Fedryn, Urdil responds "we have kept the beast to the woods so far, if you plan to head in I suggest you remain alert, it is a smart beastie, at times we have gotten the sense that it was following us..,but it is always gone when we look for it, other than its tracks. Nix wish you well on your journey, be safe.". Turning to Jubei, with a smile and chuckle toward Harboth he says "it is Somme sort of panter, or other large cat. We have not seen more than shadows of it, and it's kills.
Turning to leave he calls out once more to wish you luck.
Ooc: if you have more questions for him I'll answer what I can.
It is nearing dusk when your small group comes upon the follow scene.
The sound of running water echoes ahead, and several muted beams of light pierce the thick forest canopy. Soon the dense forest opens, revealing a river that blocks the way forward. A large felled tree trunk offers a way over the swift moving river. With the exception of the rushing sound of the water, an eerie silence pervades the area, as does the fresh smell of death. The half eaten carcus of a large deer lays near the swift flowing river.
Ooc: marching orders? The trails are roughly 10' wide, with dense forest on one side and the river on the other.
I'm guessing one of the rangers and Elwyn up front
Rachel and Marisan in the middle with the NPC
Ranger and Jubei in the back?
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...are part man and part horse. Legendary hunters and skilled warriors typically found on the fringes of civilization, these stoic people - I'm sorry, what? Attempting to cover his embarassment over having so misread Jubei's question, Harboth turns quickly to the centaur.
Oh, um, yeah, so, large cat, huh? Any more you can tell us about this elusive beast?