It is briefly after your induction into the Pathfinder Society and the basic training has been completed. You have all been called to and now find yourself in the office of Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin.
"All right, Pathfiders! Listen up. I know you are new recruits
eager to make names for yourselves in the organization, but fist we need to make sure you are up to snuf and won’t get yourself killed out there. I have a number of small assignments for you and your team, and it would be best if you could fiish them before the day’s end.
“Every day we get some doe-eyed hopeful or some sniveling bootlicker willing to do anything to join up with the Pathfiders. Most of them are good kids, but not all of them have the salt to make it in a world like this. It’s rough out there and I’m not just talking about the ruins, tombs, and wilderness Pathfiders find themselves in on missions. We’ve got people who look down their noses at us, folks who think we squander our resources, and agents who want to take everything we have collected. This wealth of knowledge and these items of lore make us the most powerful organization on the planet. That said, since we are fractured and widespread, it’s difficult for that power to light on anything for too long. For every friend of the Society, there are two enemies.
Your fist mission, to test your mettle and loyalties, sends you to meet a few people important to the Society living here in Absalom. These are other venture-captains or close allies of our organization, so follow their orders as you would mine. I’ve prepared a list of things I want you to do. They’re not arranged in any particular order of importance, but I want them all completed as quickly as possible. Only report to me once you complete them all. Included in the envelope you hold in your hands is the list, complete with the name of your contact, and directions to the meeting location."
He gives a mission handout to the first to step up and take it.
"Any questions?"
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"Why, I think you make a most fetching errand boy." The beautiful auburn haired woman beams at the noble elf as she takes the list and peruses it. "I wonder what important tasks our dear captain has set for one esteemed Chelaxian noble and his lackeys." the swashbuckler muses, clearly not intending to be anyone's lackey by the tone with which she pronounced those words.
"The name's Asami, by the way. Asami Kinjito."
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The little white haired halfling stood in the back, seemingly unnoticed. He liked it that way as a general rule, but it was probably good that the others knew he was there and coming along with the group. "Errands are a good chance to make new friends. The more friends one has, the more influence one has. I for one am looking forward to the opportunities hidden within our envelope.
His keen brown eyes hid intelligence as well as prudence and he drank in the situation like it was a Ulfen Mead at the end of a rowing day. This was an interesting group, but could he trust them with his life? He may have to regardless of what he thought. At least the elf was from Cheliax. It felt good to have someone from a familiar place.
The venture captain looks at you.
"Good, no questions then. Off you go, we'll meet again after the tasks have been completed."
With that said, he returns to his desk and logs. Standing outside you notice the crow has increased, as the city gets on with its daily routine.
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As Asami scans the list, her eyes sparkle at one of the requests. The woman looks up at the elf and smile mischievously. This will be fun indeed. I think we should save the best for last. Hehehe...
Nonchalantly, the swashbuckler flicks the sheet over to the noble-elf. In a too casual tone, she offers her thoughts. "I don't care much which order we complete these. What say we start from the top and work down the list?"
"So, does our fearless leader have a name? Or perhaps I should call you Noblesse Elfe?"
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"I am Nym, wizard and conjurer. I'll thank you to cease your patronizing. This task is demeaning enough without friction from the riff-raff I have to be associated with. No offense, Sele, you have proven your worth many times over, and I value your blade. It's just...halflings and half-rodents...really to be treated as equals with them, and then given Valsin grocery list, is really just too much. I should be locked in the library studying spells with Aram Zey, not running around the fouler parts of Absalom picking up laundry."
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"Oh, I don't know. It looks like we'll be needing your rather noble skills this trip. Have you seen this list?" Feeling like Nym's got more than enough of her all-too-valuable attention, Asami turns from the elven wizard to the much more polite paladin. "Sele dearest, do you have any suggestions as to which we should tackle first? If my recollections of the districts fail me not, I believe running down the list allows us to travel from the Docks and northward as we complete the tasks, before a slight jaunt westward to the Ivy District for that last item on the list. What do you think?"
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After peering around him for vermin in a slightly nervous way, Fosco realizes that he meant to insult his fellows. Not completely understanding all of it, the halfling bows his head in a humble gesture toward the aristocratic elf. "Oh, I fully acknowledge my inferiority. I am but a humble servant sent to do the bidding of my master. Because the master has perceived there to be talent in me and sent me here to accomplish his will. I am Fosco, Fosco Whetherbe at your service." He gave a slight deepening of his bow.
When given the information and order of errands, he looks slightly confused. Not only is he slightly unfamiliar with the city, but really doesn't know where to begin. "I have no opinion on the order of these particular events, but I am impressed with the importance of tackling them in the correct fashion. If you feel you have a grasp of the geography, let's use that to our advantage."
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Errand... yes, this will fit to me
As a foreign visitor, I´m not as familiariced with the city as you, so if you feel it will be fastest if we go by the list, I´ll agree doing in this by.
But if I´ll have to decide just by myself, I´ll go first to the third quest. Time had passed since I had the opportunity to talk with another Osirian
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"Well, seeing as we agree on the first item, we can at least head in that direction and see what Guaril wants of us. I know the district well enough. Shall we?" The swashbuckler stands and takes a quick stock of whose accompanying her on this interesting trek around town, and heads out toward The Docks District.
As she steps outside, Asami takes a look at the sky and marks the time of day, wondering if they'll have enough time to make it from one end of town to the other and get it all done before the day is gone. "Best we hurry a bit, just in case the tasks bog us down."
Easily navigating through the masses, despite a few wrong turns, you find your way to the docks. The salty sea smell and the sound of seagulls welcome you. Sailors are busy loading and unloading cargo.
You find the shop called The Pickled Imp and quite frankly, it looks like a dump from the outside.
This creepy shop contains myriad odds and ends, most bereft of any discernible use. A number of malformed creatures and creature parts bob in jars on a long, prominent shelf, a tiny fetal devil centered in this macabre lineup. The shopkeeper, a greasy-haired Varisian with a thin mustache, shouts from behind the cluttered counter:
“Ah yes, I see the Pathfiders have arrived. I’m glad Ambrus was able to lend a few of his new recruits to help me. Please come in and let me tell you what I need.”
Looking around as if to be absolutely certain no customers are browsing the aisles of knock-of Thuvian burial urns or supposed Azlanti porcelain, he begins again.
“Well met. I am Guaril Karela. A friend of mine has a warehouse near here and he received a parcel on behalf of me and some of my associates, but there’s a problem. See, Master Gelbane had to leave town in a hurry and our shipment is still waiting at his warehouse. Rumor is he ended up in trouble with the law and the place was seized. I heard tell from someone down at the docks that some creep was snooping around his warehouse just the other night, so I want to make sure nothing of mine was taken. He keeps all kinds of things, from beer to nails, in that old pelican, but every now and then he stores something really special. This is one of those cases. There’s a big crate marked with three crows arranged in a triangle. Inside that crate is a smaller container with a few books and papers in it. That’s the only parcel i’m interested in, and as far as I’m concerned, you can help yourself to the rest of the crate. Honestly, anything else you want in the place too. I’m sure the once things get sorted out, the city will seize most everything else anyway. My associates and I often work with the Pathfiders when it comes to special relics and documents, getting them in and out of ports and across borders where the authorities ask too many questions. Most people don’t realize what they have and frankly many don’t deserve to have it, so sometimes we help take the goods of their hands. If things work out well and you get this done, I’d be glad to talk with you more and help you out with any future endeavors, as long as you help me out too. I’m good at returning favors, trust me.”
After which, he looks at you with a look spelling "questions anyone?"
"If i were not credible from past dealings, you would not have been sent to me by the good venture captain, now would you? I have a shop to run and no employees to take the parcel for me."
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Keera looks the man not completely trusting in his words. He´s offering us a thievery as a pay for a favor? I doubt the Society wants to have problems with the authority of Absalom, and sending unproven agents to an illegal task sounds like a good way to have this kind of problems.
But... haven´t that guy in the Grand Lodge, told Venture Captains prove new recruits in many different ways? Could be this just a test?
You´re word hold some truth, but maybe my lizard friend worries to do anything illegal. Can we have your word that the crate belongs to you?
With the same sly smirk;
"Can i have your word the scaly warrior is truly your friend?
Your worries are totally unfounded, you go in, retrieve the parcel i am due and get out. Whatever more you feel like doing there is of no concern to me."
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"Oh Keera, why do you have to be so paranoid? Perhaps this nice man is just too busy to take care of this menial labor, and decided to call in a favor from us? After all, what better way to make use of a Chelaxian noble, no?" The swashbuckler makes a dramatic pause to ensure the resident elf gets the wrong idea. "To make the necessary connections so that we can be proper leaders in the future ourselves, of course."
Turning to Master Karela, the sly Asami flashes him a winning smile. "We would be more than happy to help you with this task, which of course will constitute reciprocation of the favor. Thank you for offering us the choice of what remains outside of what you need. I am most happy to hear you take favors seriously. You can be sure we will get your parcel back to you, and please don't hesitate to call on me in the future once you see how efficient we are at handling your needs, however big or small."
"Now, about all that may be there. Should we be worried others may have designs on your...parcel? I would hate to be ambushed retrieving what is rightfully yours, and would like to be able to properly defend it against miscreants and their vile designs."
The man smiles.
"My, my, what manners. Aside from the snooper, there have been no signs of others within or around the warehouse yet."
The roll was for the trip over to the shop.
But you missed the DC by a bit.
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Fosco found himself bowing and leaving only to find he was the only one in the street. He faintly heard conversation coming from inside, it didn't sound heated, so he expected people to be exiting shortly. In some respects it was easier to be such a small person as he could make a hasty exit. On the other hand it was a problem because if Keera didn't remember him being there, the favor returned later could have difficulty being collected.
The group navigates the streets of the docks district, eventually coming to the destination mentioned by Karela.
Perched on the end of a long pier fifteen feet above the water, the warehouse appears to struggle against its own roof, threatening to sag into the bay below. No light shines from the building’s windows and only the movement of gulls and pelicans stirs the scene.
The pier this pelican warehouse sits on stretches 100 feet from the boardwalk and the docks proper, and stands 15 feet above the water. The planks on the pier are sturdy but weathered. A few local fishermen and some kids sit scattered along the pier casting nets or bobbing lines into
the waters below.
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Fosco is less interested in skulkers and more interested in whether or not this pier would hold up the combined weight of his party. Something with this kind of disrepair would only get someone hurt.
But it seems fine to him, so he tromps out happily to take a look for someone's misplaced goods. Hopefully it would go quite smoothly for them.
None of you notice anything remotely suspicious.
Glances from the people on the pier at you though are unmistakingly cast.
One of the fishermen; "Ahoy, what brings a large group like yourselves to such a rickety warehouse?"
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"We're here to retrieve a parcel on behalf of a client." The beautiful woman winks at the people staring at the party. "I'd tell you more, but you would have to jump the dock, in a manner of speaking." Asami makes a shooshing motion. "Now move along, everyone. Unless you're the snooper the store owner warned us about, hmm?" She scans the group in a half-self-mocking, half serious search.
One of the kids fishing too looks funny at Asami, who in return, doesn't see any guards stationed around the warehouse. She however notices a small boat tied to the pier floating. From the direction you came from, you noticed there's a loading door on the water side.
"Uncle, this lady is acting weird.", this got the lad a short slap over the head.
"Let them be, if there's trouble we know what they look like. Good day to you miss and company." They return to their fishing and chatter.
Sele in turn grabs the door of the warehouse. It's locked tight.
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Fosco, realizing that the door is locked, took another look around. It was really shabby. Perhaps there was a way inside. He was pretty small, and so really only a small hole or a loose plank would be necessary to get his little self inside. He keeps his voice down as he addresses his compatriots. "If there's a little spot I could squeeze through, maybe we could get me inside and I could unlock it from there."
From the pier itself, there is no alternative entrance. The few windows are filthy and provide little to no view inside.
Using the small boat, to those who went in it, you make your way to the front. The door itself is 10ft above the water, but from below you notice a narrow ledge around the door. Which surprisingly looks strong enough to hold people standing on it.
Aside from that, there is some room to navigate your boat underneath the warehouse.
After breaking some sweat and maybe a chipped nail or two, you manage to pry open the loading door.
Darkness fills the warehouse, the ambient light from outside blocked by a fithy, oily fim on the structure’s few windows. Darting illumination comes from light reflecting of 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.
Dim lighting here.
In the middle south, a large hole has formed, with a crate resting on it's small wooden island. A crate stamped with three crows in a triangle. You sorta stick slightly away from the hole, whatever caused the hole left the edges looking unstable.