GM Aarvid PFS PbP : The Devil We Know Series
Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a small, unassuming woman
of Taldan heritage with dark hair and eyes, holds a large
sheaf of papers in her small hands and clears her throat. Her
booming voice, the antithesis of her stature, fills the main hall
of the small Pathfinder Lodge in the Taldan city of Cassomir.
“One of our own has been kidnapped. Pathfinder Cestis was
taken just days ago from a relics auction in the Imperial Naval
Shipyards, and we believe his dissapearance to be related to
the six dozen or so kidnappings of the last several months.
Now that one of our own is missing, this has become a Society
matter—something we’ll get to the bottom of.”
Themis gestures to a teenage boy standing beside her, who
nervously regards his surroundings and sweats profusely,
his thick brown hair matted and wet against his head.
“This is Nefti, the assistant to the biggest thorn in my side in
Cassomir—an agent of the Aspis Consortium named Kafar.
Kafar is also missing, taken from the same relics auction along
with Pathfinder Cestis and a dozen other citizens of Cassomir.
Nefti was at the auction, saw where a small group of the
kidnapped victims were taken, and his handlers in Cassomir
have give us access to him so that he might guide us to our
missing Pathfinder. If you happen to find Kafar...”
Themis grinds her teeth.
“Let him go, per the agreement I’ve just
made with his superiors. Your priority is Cestis, and I think
Nefti can lead you to him. Any questions?”
Venture-Captain Hestia Themis waits for any questions from the party as he stares at Nefti. The young man meanwhile tries not to look at anyone and just looks uncomfortable being in the company of Pathfinders in general.
Nefti looks at the Halfling, then back to the Venture-captain. The venture-captain responds instead.
“They started a few months ago. Cassomir has always had some trouble with its citizens going missing, but this was different. Only those associated with the Imperial Naval Shipyards were taken—shipwrights, carpenters, navy guards, and so on. This recent kidnapping, where they took Cestis, was brash and bold. They grabbed more than a dozen people in one attack, neglecting to grab Nefti. Their mistake is our fortune.”
He stares at Nefti and continues...
“There are... rumors of twisted men from the Darklands who climb up through Cassomir’s Locker, the sewers, catacombs, and older ruins below the city. Alas, they are only rumors. We don’t know who’s doing it.”
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August smiles at his friend/liege Nguyen An, calmed by the fact that they will be together on yet another journey. Leaning in to his friend and trying his best to whisper he says, So we can trust these other fellas here, right? I mean, we're what they call Pathfinders now, so are they, ain't they?
Seeing the others asking questions, August tries to be useful. So, you say they been kidnapped? Don't they usually want money or somethin' when they do that? What's it called? A finder fee or somethin'?
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An is a strapping young man of oriental descent. He wields a No-Dachi and wears the do-maru of a Tien soldier. A short, straight edged blade sits in its scabbard on his belt, and a wicker backpack holds his worldly possessions.
"That is right August-san. They are of our house and honourable. I am Nguyen An, warrior of the Dragon King, Pham Duc Quan, of Xa Hoi. It is a great pleasure to meet you."
He bows to all in the room.
Turning to August first.
"So far no ransom note or demands of any sort have been made. We do not know the intent of the kidnappers."
Then back to Kath.
“This boy Nefti, is only to guide you to the place where the abduction occurred. He will not travel with you. We do not need more of the Aspis help than this and he would just get in your way.
The venture-captain has disdain in his face as he finishes, while staring at the young man.
Difficult situations sometimes call for difficult
choices. Nefti, and the Aspis have the information we need about
where to start in this mystery, and if it takes dirtying
our hands with them to get our Pathfinder agent Cestis back, I think it’s worth it. Would you not want us to do the same for any of you?”
"If there are no other questions, then please follow Nefti and find our missing agent. If there is anything else you discover, please provide a complete report back here to me as well."
Nefti leads you down to the docks district and points at an inn from a distance.
"That...that's the place!"
Perched precariously overhanging the dirty harbor water
stands the Inn of the Unlucky Sailor. A fresh coat of white
paint glistens on half the inn’s outside walls, and most of
the windows are boarded up. The roof leans slightly toward
the harbor, as if at any moment the entire thing could come
off and slide into the ocean. The dock leading up to the inn
is made of rotting wood connected to thick, rank-smelling
pilings. Several small rowboats are currently tied up along
its length.
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A young half-elf comes jogging up. Out of breath he gathers himself in a deep breath before speaking Salaam and greeting my fellow Pathfinder Agents. I am Jacen Valaren. Validated Appraiser of the great Qadiran empire and trade prince extraordinaire. I was told you would be in need of my many services.
Holman starts out down the old dock. He can tell several of the boards are loose and very creaky. So far he has not heard or seen anything beyond the sea birds and light splashing of the waves on the small boats.
While the paint on the building looks new, the windows are boarded and you are unable to see into the inn from your current position.
Holman moves up halfway. So far he has not made any "all clear" sign, but Kath is waiting with Nguyen An and August close behind ready to start down the well aged dock.
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The Aspis Consortium... we are choosing some strange dance partners nowadays. This leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. If I was the one taken Of course I would like you to do the same for me Captain Themis but I wonder if you would. There must be more to this. Morvius thinks remembering the hasty words of the Venture Captain as he run along the docks to find the others.
A gaunt young man approuches the group as they seen to be ready to enter an old Inn. He wears the cloths of a gentleman under his armor and his hair is prematurely gray. Greetings, I am Morvius Charthagnion III of the Taldan Empire. Venture Captain Themis asked me to assist you in this endeavour. He says with a bow.
Jacen can tell that the boards are old and probably would break if you moved faster than walking.
Nothing stops Holman, although he makes more creaks and squeeks than he would expect due to the twisted, rotten boards. He makes it to the doorway and is out of sight from the group.
The rest of the party waits, while the Halfling is doing something around the corner.
Nothing can be heard but the light splashing on the pier.
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Well aware of the limitations of his sickly physique Morvius will wait for An, August and Jacen to get to the other side before crossing himself with as much stealth as he can manage.
Cursed docks, Iomedae please watch my steps. He thinks with fear before stepping forward and slowly putting his full weight in the rotten planks.
Holman continues to listen at the door, but does not hear anything. The door appears to be locked (but is not boarded up like the one facing the street).
Nguyen An moves slowly down the boardwalk, adeptly missing most of the loose and creaking boards. Jacen however moves up and cannot hear anything over the loud creaks he hears with each of his steps.
August waits with Morvius and both are about to move up after Nguyen An rounds the corner.
The remainder of the party moves up to see the Halfling listening at the door of the inn with a perturbed expression as he tries to hear over the creaking boards of his colleagues approach.