You have been summoned to Aspis Consortium headquarters in Ostenso for a meeting. You are not told who you will be meeting with. However, it's clear that should you wish to attend any meetings (or anything besides the Boneyard) in the future you will attend this meeting.
Word gets around about these sorts of meetings and several of you have received correspondence from a contact, while a couple others feel compelled to review some events of their past year.
“Let it never be said that the Aspis Consortium lacks a sense of humor. Fortunately for some of you,” he adds before swirling the glass and taking a sip,
“it also has an underreported appreciation for mercy. It is now apparent that the Korholm Agenda, a rogue faction within the Consortium, has been provoking the Pathfinder Society into violence against us, all the while maneuvering for a power play whose details are above your pay grade. We’ve come to an understanding with the Society that by sharing intelligence about these upstarts, we can better crush them and get back to the ugly business of clawing at each other’s throats. Pathfinder agents recently uncovered troubling evidence that the Korholm Agenda has been siphoning hard-earned gold from our accounts to fund an operation in eastern Nidal. Take note: stealing from the Consortium is a bad idea because a powerful Patron —me— will send a team of armed professionals —that’s you— to make an example by destroying everything you hold dear.”
Mr. Ratarion pauses for effect before continuing. “This Nidalese facility is hidden within or beneath a plantation known
as Wirholt’s Rictus, with which the Consortium does business twice yearly. I’ve never received reports of a clandestine operation beneath those hills, so they’ve no doubt found ways to hide their presence. Your job is to ferret them out; secure any records that can inform me to their plans, contacts, or other safe houses; kill any of the traitorous operatives, and leave their hideout a smoldering ruin that sends a clear signal to their friends. Do whatever you can to avoid raising the alarm. If they’re smart—and assume they are—they’re also prepared to destroy key evidence if they suspect they’re under attack.”
He pauses in a moment of self-reflection. “I did say something about mercy, didn’t I? Perhaps that was an exaggeration. Regardless, do you have any questions? I hope you have questions. The last team that didn’t ask questions flubbed their mission and found themselves tragically unemployed—fatally so, in some cases.”
"Seems straightforward enough," Eramay remarks, voice clear and confident. "What legitimate business does this plantation pretend to do? They must have a cover story."
Ratarion looks to Zurnzal, "If we knew who worked at this facility, or even how to access it, we wouldn't be sending you to find and destroy it. If you bring back some names and information, that would be very useful in making sure the Kornholm Agenda is fully eradicated."
He then looks to Eramay, "The Nidalese are obsessed with pain, and some of them grow bored with whipping themselves and driving spikes into one another’s flesh. Wirholt’s Rictus grows a wide variety of medicinal plants, which its employees convert into a wealth of pain-inducing chemicals and drugs."
Looking to Rataji, he continues, "The market for such curiosities is rather sparse beyond Nidal, but the Consortium makes enough money shipping the stuff to distant ports that we can afford to send a convoy
there twice a year. Our last convoy visited the plantation about a month ago, so we aren't expected back for at least a season.”
He continues looking at each of you in turn, "You do understand that means you can't be flashing your badges to everyone, don't you?"
"That goes without saying. I'm confident I can blend in just fine... although I'm worried some of the ones you chose for this mission are not as skilled with appearances. But surely their other skills will make up for that..." says Thestil in an almost joking tone.
"You're learning. Are there any other details of the mission I can help you with? It would be unfortunate for you to fail and me to have to find another way to strike at the Kornholm Agenda."
Eramay neglects to react to either Iaovin or Thestil's jabs.
"Remaining unseen is blending in," Eramay suggests. "A group of 6 may raise alarms, but a group of two or three less so," she says, thinking splitting into teams may be an ideal approach.
The elf and the half-orc should have no trouble on the quiet side. Thestil and Rataji seem more of the blend-in type. That leaves Falth...
"Is there anything else we know about the Korholm Agenda? Any other projects? Associates?"
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Blending in seems like a good idea to Rataji.
"We will need the names of who runs Wirholt's Rictus if we are going to present ourselves as prospective buyer. Would it hurt anyone's feelings if we presented ourselves as members of the Pathfinder's Society on a quest to purchase medicinal herbs. It is the same trick that the Kornholm Agenda used to disgrace me. I would love to pay them back using there own methods. It may draw them out of hiding thinking that they are on the aggressors and we would just be defending ourselves."
"You have some of their former associates in your midst, my loyal Eramay. Rataji here. And Shohiraj and Zurnzal. They assure me they've been duped, and that they are truly interested in working for the Consortium. I suppose we'll find out their true motivations together."
"As for the fools that accompanied them on their foray to Absalom - the dancing halfling, the vengeful one, and that experiment - they aren't here, so I can only assume their loyalties lie elsewhere."
"We don't know much about their other projects, but my sources tell me that they are doing occult, possibly extraplanar, research at this site."
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Rataji stiffens that the accusation and glares at Ratarion.
"I was never a member of the Kornholm Agenda. I received order and a promotion to lead that raid on the Pathfinders. One does not question orders from Aspis Consortium with consequences. There was no way any of us could have known that the orders were false. We should have been warned that the Agenda was out there working against us and using Consortium members as pawns."
Calming himself he leans back in his chair and picks up his wine glass.
"This time will be different. I have no reason to doubt the orders I am receiving. I know who is using me as a pawn today and why. I will have my revenge on those who played me for a fool."
All this time Falth stood in silence, trying not to break something by accident.
'Hope I don't have to kill them right now. I just need a little companionship... Well, of course, I can kill them later. But first, I want at least to talk. Everybody just die so fast around me... Nobody to chat to...'
At some point he still loses concentration and leaning on the stand, he pushes on the glass display. There is a loud crunch, and the glass falls on a collection of knives. In the room hangs an unpleasant silence.
'Oh s~#&.'
'Eeehem. In general, everything is clear. To know all, kill all. As usual. Will be done as effectively... like now. It seems to be a coincidence, but... people are burning, houses are burning, everything is burning, someone runs and stumbles, falling on his own sword... Fun and in a big way. In short, everything we love. Breeze. Ready to move in.'
"Charming. Can we go now? I suppose we can find out something about Wirholt’s Rictus along the way..." says Thestil sounding eager to be on her way.
"Very well. Make sure to leave that blade in it's case Falth. It's worth more there than in your hands, despite that glass."
You travel northwest from Ostenso a few days journey through the Menador Mountains and into the foothills of the Mindspin Mountains to the Wirholt's Rictus plantation near the small town of Brimstone Springs.
The plantation manor sits high on a hill giving a view of the surrounding lands, which are filled with rolling rows of cultivated bushes, shrubs, and grasses.
Easily enough, one of your party can scout more closely and quickly gain an idea of what the remainder of the buildings are.
2 - Greenhouses
3 - Warehouse
4 - Processing Facilities
5 - Residences
6 - Smokehouses
7 - Kuthute Shrine
8 - Threshing Yard
"Remember, we are a team. If you arouse suspicions, this goes poorly for all of us," Eramay tells the group, her gaze subconsciously lingering on Falth. "Cover each other's backs."
"Play to your strengths- -you know your capabilities. I'm headed to the warehouse. I'll get a look at their cargo, see if there's any contraband. Let's meet here and regroup in about 20 minutes or so. We cannot fail."
The Taldan woman, wrapped tight in dark leather armor and closely packed gear of all types barely sticking out from her pack and sheaths, had remained exceptionally silent during the briefing with the Patron. Even quiet however, her eyes remain bright and sharp, taking in all of Iaovin's words while glancing occasionally to Rataji and Zurzinel... and even more to the three she does not recognize.
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Once the group nears the outskirts of the Rictus plantation, the quiet thief finally whispers out. "Clear spot for a facility's under the manor. Less people going to and fro, plenty of chances for a 'decorative' architecture to disguise the real floorplan. Of course its the obvious spot too, and likely guarded."
She nods at Eramay's suggestion. "Understood. I can scope one or two of the plants. If you're sneaking I'd say spread, but any of you feel like spinning a yarn might be best to do it in pairs. Only thing more suspicious than unexpected guests is a lone unexpected guest."
As she begins to leave, she pauses for a moment and adds. "Rataji. Zurnzal. Not enough of us left from that cluster' it seems. Let's not go down further." The Taldan then sneaks off in the direction of the closest processing plant, as her armor shifts in appearance to a very dark set of field clothes.
Falth has no specific plan. Just a feeling that soon something will happen. And again, he will be blamed.
'I guess I'll go with...' - whats her name? - '...with taldan rogue. I will cover her if something happens.'
Thestil follows the others until Eramay splits from the main group:"Very well then. I shall go to the manor house. I trust my ability to belnd in. Remember, if asked we are a group of merchants, here to browse some special herbs for a Kuthunite party"
So saying the woman suddenly changes features resembling more and more a devout of Zon - Kuthun...
Zurnzal - Greenhouse
Eramay - Warehouse
Shohiraj - Processing Plant
Rataji - Distance
Falth - Processing Plant
Thestil - Manor
1
Considering her options Thestil decides against trying to infiltrate the manor all alone and moves towards the Kuthute Shrine instead checking it out carefully.
One says to the other, "Wasn't Maldyr supposed to be helping us today?"
The other replies, "Yes, but he got pulled for product testing by Halvair."
"I'd love to see the notes he's got stashed in his processing facility."
She'll glance through the boxes briefly, but her focus will be on searching towards where those animal noises seem to come from.
"No, it must have just been a merchant looking to do business with Temarra."
"I just hope it wasn't someone from the Umbral Court."
"Well, they won't be able to get in the gates to the manor without Temarra or Halvair. Temarra will find them immediately, if they try to."
"Is that what happened to Etan?"
"No, he got curious about the pipes. He heard some voices from them. He asked Temarra about them and disappeared into the manor to never be heard from again."
"Ah, yeah, I've wondered why there would be such big pipes coming up from the ground - there about a foot right? I guess the grates keep birds out. You didn't hear me say anything about that though."
"Interesting stuff... I guess I could always take the mace and the cat o nine tails... they will implement this form nicely..."
Thestil takes the two implements of pain and once sure there's nothing else noteworthy insie the torture chamber she leaves it moving towards the processing facilities instead.
As the two do a quick reconnaissance of the two small buildings, Shohiraj moves them into a quiet corner and whispers again to Faith.
"So, a half-dozen disaffected - or just busy, either way works for us - workers, a locked chest, and a set of keys. Seems as good a time as any to begin liberating some things to get more info. I'm gonna try to get the key ring and see what's in the box. Cover me and distract if things go wrong?
As her clothing shifts to resemble that of the pharmacists, Shohiraj begins to carefully make her way towards the keyed man.
Eramay will take note of the information, and leave as quietly as possible, peering into one of the smokehouses on her way out.
Shaking off her frustration, the theif whispers. "Keys snatched. Now we get to see what they're working on. "
She breaks off towards the chest, carefully timing her movements to avoid notice.
Once at the chest, the rogue unlocks it. Poring over the papers however she frowns as it reveals reams and reams of careful writings and semi-nonsensical math. Of course. What'd you expect A: a nice red folder marked 'incriminating details'?
She tries to sift through the documents as best she can, but eventually takes as much of the files as can carry and hold and slips out before someone notices her presence.
Shohiraj and Falth think it would be a good idea to leave the processing plant before they get noticed and find Thestil on her way there as they are leaving.
Once they make their way back to a safer nook, the thief lays out some of the details about the "Medicines" being produced here to the others.
"So, looks like beyond the typical pain inducers they're cooking up plenty of dulling narcotics too. With enough nasty side effects about nightmares that I'm not exactly thrilled to go find out why they want more and more of it at the manor.
Which, obvious as it may be, is looking more and more to be a likely place to scope out next. Cliche or not, good shot the compound's real 'in' is in there. What about you, did you lot find anything strange around here?"
Thestil notices the others coming out of the processing plant and rejoins them:"I was just ready to explore the plant but you preceeded me. Found anything interesting? I can't say my discoveries were exciting..."
"The manor is likely the way in, but the compound is underneath it. There are small grated pipes scattered throughout the fields, according to a couple of loose lipped warehouse workers- -ventilation for an underground facility, maybe.
Two people can get us into the manor- -Temarra and Halvair- -anyone meet anyone with those names? From the conversation, sounds like Temarra's a guard or lookout or something- -quote "Temarra would find them immediately" endqoute. They think I might be an agent of the Umbral Court; I saw no reason to correct them."
Eramay nods to Thestil. "Interesting or not, let's hear what you learned; leave no stone unturned, even uninteresting stones."
'I just tried not to break anything this time. Partner coped with everything perfectly.'