You join your fellow agents in the gladiator city of Tymon at Smine’s Weaponworks, famed smithy and clandestine Pathfinder lodge run by the dwarven Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine.
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Roc rumbles into the lodge. He stands a just shy of shoulder height to most humans, his skin is almost as dark as his black hair. He stares at each of you in turn with his hard looking green eyes before speaking.
"Hi all. Let's see what form death takes this time as it tries to separate us from this mortal coil."
"Smine, your shop needs a new door. Your current one is a waste. Come let me tell you about the finest doors in all of the inner sea. Delvers' Darkwood Doors - When all else fails our doors don't."
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Having spent the last month or so facilitating relations with the local Kellid tribe there was already a man sat at the tables when the others arrived. A tall, well built Kellid warrior, he has long silver-gray hair tied back into a warrior's braid and wears heavy leather armour. As Vinnie and Roc enters, he runs a hand over a tattooed and scarred face and stands.
"Well met, you are fellow agents yes?" his voice is low and like gravel "I have been here for a while, the name is Kain of the ShadeWolf clan. Master Smine, have you finished working on my Blade yet? I assure you it is a work of art."
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Nuar is a weathered Elf wearing a hooded cloak but no shirt. His body is covered by tattoos depicting some of the more common evil creatures being destroyed by the elements. Devils being ripped apart in a lightning storm, Orcs failing to flee a brushfire, etc.,..
"Hello Tymon, My fellow Pathfinders. I am Nuar Vala. Were we called forth to slay evil or simply handle one of those small but necessary favors that keeps our allies friendly?"
Nuar smiles briefly at Kai when he says his name. Anyone who speaks elven knows that Nuar Vala is not a name but instead a direct translation of the words Fire Power.
The faint scent of smoldering beeswax lingers sweetly
beneath the smell of burnt coal permeating the simply furnished common room. The modest decor of Tymon’s Pathfinder lodge allows it to masquerade as a boarding house above Smine’s Weaponworks, the most popular blacksmith shop in the city.
Below, the cadence of hammer striking anvil rings clear as apprentices toil to meet the demands of gladiators, warriors, and adventurers alike. Heavy footfalls thump up the stairs, and the door opens to reveal a sturdy dwarf, clad in a thick leather apron and covered in soot— Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine.
His sentences are short and staccato like the sounds from the forges below.
“Aha, good! Asked for some veterans, looks like I got’em, so I’ll be direct. We’ve found another piece of Sky Key—rather, found someone who knows where to look. Seems the favors we did in Mendev are paying off. Some dwarves there, they came forward with information—good, reliable information about a community in Chesed.”
He pauses for a moment as if awaiting a reaction. “In Numeria,” he adds. “I’ve pieced together some histories. It all seems legitimate. Looks like the eldest prince from Jormurdun went that way. He settled down, had kids. Our contact, Ingret Jor, is his great-somethinggranddaughter. We’re betting she inherited more than just his good looks.”
Smine takes a moment to start pulling a hunk of bread and a block of cheese from a cupboard as simple refreshments.
“There’s a boat for you at the docks. Plan’s to get you up to Chesed, find Ingret Jor, and make friends. Friends talk. Of course, your friend gets to talk about the Sky Key. Chesed dwarves are pretty close, though. You’ll need to make sure you’re good friends, or at least be her friends’ friends. We dwarves like anyone who has dwarves’ best interests up here,” says tapping his head, “And here,” he says with a hand over his heart.
“Chesed’s a free city in name, but the Black Sovereign and the Technic League own it. Probably already watching Ingret. Learn what you can. When you know where the key is, go get it. Nice people got it? Play nice. Off in some ruin? Go be Pathfinders. Technic League’s got it? Well, make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Smine looks at Roc and Imbroglio with a concerned face.
"The Technic League? Dangerous. Dastardly. Cutthroat. That’s on good days. Very secretive with lots of wizards. Long on ambition, short on morals. They’ve been studying the Silver Mount and other things that crashed on Starfall. Really don’t like other people snooping—especially Pathfinders. In fact, Pathfindering’s illegal—punishable by death. How’s that for tyranny?”
He grins wryly but becomes serious again if nobody else laughs. “Anyway, best to lie low and not make a ruckus. Unless you have to.”
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The door to the lodge's common room swings open and a dwarf enters, covered from head to town in sweat and grime. He carries a coil of rope over his shoulder. Unlike many dwarves his beard is cut short and the hair on the top of his head grows wild where it hasn't fallen out in clumps. But what's even more remarkable than the visual is the olfactory stimulus assaulting your noses that the dwarf has brought with him. The whole room quickly reeks like the shoreline at low-tide... where a beached whale has been left to rot in the sun.
The "Granite Helm" is now ready for boarding! You'll find not a sturdier hull on the waves! These must be the rest of the Pathfinders. Everyone calls me Tortuga. Not only will I be the captain of your ship, I'll be accompanying you on your mission. No wondering if the boat will be there when you are finished with your mission, not with me! No sir!
Tortuga offers a hand in greeting and doesn't seem too put off if your refuse to shake it as if it is a reaction he is long accustomed to.
Tortuga pulls off his pack and fishes out some wands and some scrolls.
Now who among you are the spell casters. I've got some gear that I need others to use for me. Like this stack of wands. Let's see, I got them carefully labeled:
A wand that makes people big.
A wand to give me some armor.
One to heal slowly.
One a little quicker.
One that breaks curses
One that helps you escape from all sorts of bindings
And finally a wand that restores vigor and vitality
Now I got a ring here that lets me hold spells that I can cast on m'self when needed, but I need someone to charge 'em up with these scrolls.
It can hold one o' these to put a barrier before me.
And another to turn me into hairy ape, though some say they never notice the diff'rence.
Smine replies to the dwarf warrior confident with his intel.
Ingret Jor runs a tavern on the east shore slums. Earns her a lot of coin and respect. That sort of work also makes her too public to hide a secret well; she’s going to be tight-lipped. No love of strangers asking questions.”
Kn:Geography: Chesed is the largest city in Numeria and the dominant economic power in the region. As one of the last stops along the road to Mendev and the Worldwound, Chesed has seen an enormous influx of crusaders and other travelers that only serve to further fill the city’s coffers
kn:arcana: Many believe the Technic League is the true power behind Numeria’s ruler, Kevoth-Kul, who holds the title “Black Sovereign.” High-ranking members are said to meld technology into their very bodies, using it to fuel their magic and vice-versa.
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"As the last stop on the way to the Worldwound Chesed has grown in size and economic power recently. And you are right to be concerned about the Technic League. There are strong rumors that they are the puppet masters behind Numaria's ruler Kevoth-Kul aka Black Sovereign. Some of the highest ranking members of the League are known to meld some of the Sky Key's odd mechanical magics into their body and those items are closely tied to their power. I have heard of the Sky Key of course but have never seen it or it's magics in person."
"Tortuga I can help you with some of those items. You can keep the devil magics though, It should be avoided unless it is an emergency.
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Kain listens closely to the briefing and nods solemnly, steepling his fingers and leaning forwarss on the table inbetween helping himself to bread and cheese. Listening to Naur's intel, he smiles darkly, having had a run in with these sorts before and knowing quite what they are capable of. As he is about to speak, his nose is assaulted by the smell of Tortuga and he spins to look at the newcomer. Good show! Means i can set my lot huntin' he thinks with a grin.
He gives a dark chuckle at the Venture Captain's 'joke' and sighs.
"Right, so we have a city getting fat off crusaders influenced by the corrupt league. Great. My friends, i do not know if they will be used in the city but be wary of the league's 'Gearsmen'. They are mettalic onstructs which are resistant and hit hard, electricity is a shock to their system however."
Seeing no need to delay, the Kellid gathers his blade and scabbard from the bench it was being worked on and makes ready to leave.
"So Tortuga, how seaworthy is your ship? Also, I can use the devilish wand for you."
Smine also bends down pulls aside a floorboard and extracts a leather-bound book.
Keeping his voice low, This here is a copy of A Thread of Silver, a very valuable text and one that
the Technic League takes great pains to keep from falling into anyone else’s hands.
The book contains detailed field notes about dozens of Numerian crash sites and other points of interest in the region
Smine continues It is a copy the Pathfinder Society recovered from the Technic League at great cost.
He places the text on the table with a serious look It is yours to use for the duration of their mission. Just don't lose it.
Venture-Captain Smine wraps up...
You free to travel to Chesed however you wish. If ye don't have any strong opinions,
I will offer to book passage on a boat that leaves at dawn, traveling downriver to Kallas Lake and then up the Sellen past Sevenarches and Hajoth Hakados
to eventually reach the Lake of Mists and Veils. Any other questions? No?
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Kain pauses as if remembering something and then rummages through his pack, taking out a heavy leather book-like object. Opening what turns put to be a case of sorts, the Kellid warrior pulls out a crystalline rectangle and brushes his hand over it. The piece is a single crystal and perfectly transparent.
Layingn his finger on the crystal eventually brings forth a face of an odd woman, stern and in a foreign uniform.
"This lady should help us of we come across any 'Technology' I believe it is called, she can also assist me in removing the dastardly traps left by them in case we need them."
When you are done with questions and purchases, you head the next morning to the boat to depart.
Travel to Chesed from Tymon is realtively expeditious and punctuated by a few failed attempts by river pirates to waylay your craft, which you easily chase away. Reaching the port city of Chesed late in the afternoon.
Mighty Chesed stands proudly where the headwaters of the Lake of Mists and Veils flows into the Sellen River. On the western bank, the spires of the Cathedral of the Lawgiver and those of the council offices tower above the opulent estates of merchant princes, and the clamor of the wealthy patrons of the luxury markets mingle with the cries of excitement coming from the arena.
Across the river, the east bank sits in comparative squalor. Short mud-brick and wooden hovels crowd together in rundown blocks. Filth-lined streets occasionally give way to a morass of poorly drained night soil. Yet everywhere one looks there are people—nobles and ruffians, humans and halflings, crusaders and merchants alike mingle in the markets. Shop stalls and vendors set up on every street corner give the illusion that the city is but a single, extended bazaar.
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When out of Tymon, Kain decides it is time to shrug off his Kellid Warrior guise and takes one more fitting to the task at hand. His clothes become that of a woodsman, brown leather trousers and tunic with a dark green overcoat over a shirt of mail. He keeps his Scimitar buckled on his belt but changes the blade to dull Steel and to remove Smine's mark. Placing the Crystaline pane into the leather case he introduces himself to the group once more.
"It is best if we play adventurers looking to make a name of ourselves in the crusades, or another such tale. This place will be full of gold and glory hounds. I am Arathorth, a pleasure."
Once ashore he will take in a deep breath.
"An interesting placce to be sure, now we must find her or her friends and become them."
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Pandora was quite during the whole meeting with the Venture Captain but she does share everything she knows about Chesed with the party.
She follows Tortuga's advice and buys a heart metal scroll before leaving for the trip.
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Despite not being particularly beautiful, the northern woman walks in Chesed streets with her usual graceful and charming movements. As she speaks, something in her voice results specially attractive "The Cathedral of the Lawgiver looks impressive. I wonder whether if there will be some spare time for a cultural visit"
She nods to Kai and Roc "Good idea. It must be easy for us to look as crusader candidates. I am more concerned on how to make Ingret Jor collaborate..."
Be it as it is, Pandora walks with the party to the east shore slums and asks for information about the main places in Chesed as well.
Provided she has time, she helps Imbroglio to get information about their target "I wonder if there is anything that will impress a Chesed dwarf"
By asking a few questions, you can learn that Ingret Jor runs a small tavern called the Silver Lining, which is on the dockside edge of the Fleshward on the eastern bank of the Sellen.
Pandora learns a bit with her inquries with a surly dwarf merchant near the docks.
“Ingret Jor, she knows plenty of like-minded folk in Chesed. Look for community leaders who care about us dwarves’ lot.
Brissa Klygvauther comes to mind; she’s earned a lot of respect, what with being the high priest of Abadar inna city made of coin. If you see her, give’er my regards."
He waits for strangers to pass by then finishes in a hushed tone.
“There’s also a fellow—Vel Bindergorrp—got a salve and tonic shop.
Bit of an eccentric one, but trustworthy.”
You are on the western side of town (see red star on map).
The Cathedral of the Lawgiver is visible about a quarter mile away. Sitting atop a small rise at the heart of Chesed’s western side is the walled complex dedicated to Abadar.
The Cathedral of the Lawgiver is equal parts house of worship, bank, loan office, and fortress. The outer walls still bear the scars of Numeria’s violent not-so-distant past. Guards in shining mail patrol the towers’ parapets. Crowds of people move from stall to stall, jostle for better positioning, or clamor for the attention of the gold-and-silver robed Abadaran priests who pursue their duties with all the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. Bargains are struck, deals are made, and the worship of coin continues on.
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At the cathedral Pandora makes inquiries about a possible meeting with the high priestess approaching a guard with they Key holy symbol of Abadar "Good morning young fellow. We might be crusaders one day and want to know if it is possible to have an appointment with the renamed Brissa Klygvauther" she looks back to the team, then to the guard "We might help the church in exchange for access to some contacts"
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Following his companions into the Church of Abadar Arathorth splits off from the main group and eavesdrop on the conversations taking place to see if there might be an interesting tidbit they could use in their favour here. Cautiously he stands at one of the more prominent stalls, browsing the wares and taking up the pretense of haggling, though he has little intention of buying anything right now.
"Good day, I hope trade finds you well. I look to press on into the Worldwound and it would not do to be insufficiently equipped. Tell me, what would you recommend?" he asks the Merchant at the stall, trying to keep his cover as an adventurer for hire.
As you enter the compound, you ask to speak with Brissa
Klygvauther the ranking high priestess of the Church of Abadar in Chesed.
Finding Brissa is easy, for she immerses herself in the
most worshipful act she can perform in her god’s name:
business. She moves through the crowded courtyard
brokering deals and accepting alms.
The high priestess
is clad is fine fabrics and wears a massive golden key—the
symbol of her office—on a silver chain around her neck.
One of the acolytes approaches you.
What name(s) shall I announce to her holiness?
Assuming you give a name, the acolyte will guide you through the crowd
Your eminence, travelers from beyond our city bounds wish to greet you.
Brissa turns to you and extends a polite but
curt greeting. Ah yes, welcome to our fair city. I hope your business dealings here are profitable. Visit again soon. Thank you
She looks ready to turn away to the next guests...
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Pandora performs a reverence and nods as Imbroglio presents the group interest "That is in fact your holiness"
"We work for a southern organization interested in relics of distant past that might help protect society nowadays. We came looking to get access to a dwaven relic which access is hold by Ingret Jor" the woman makes a pause at this point "We heard you have some influence on the good dwarf and wanted to know what can you tell us about him before we have direct contact"
"Of course we will also be interested to hear about any dealings or help the House of Abadar has in Chesed. Strengthening our bonds can both benefit our organizations. I am convinced of this" she finishes with a smile.
Your plea recaptures her attention.
Yes, I am always amenable to a business proposal. Please continue. And include the cost benefit and what you hope to gain.