You are in a tavern in Korvosa, enjoying a welcome rest after your previous missions. It seems several other pathfinder agents have also chosen this place as a place to get some rest before they head back to Absalom.
One morning, after you have broken your fast you head back to your room to get your coat before heading out into the city. You immediately notice the letter on your pillow. Your room is still locked and everything seems to be in the same place as you left it.
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A tribal looking female with a white owl perched on her shoulder come out of a room looking rather annoyed. Earlier in the day she had introduced herself as Inkita Spirit-friend. Inkita looks over the note after being disturbed by the tiefling during her spirit commune time, hence the look on her face."It seems we are to prevent an assassination attempt against Guaril Karela, who appears to be the head of a Sczarni family himself... internal squabbling more likely." Inkita also says "The note states not to embarrass the society in Kaer Maga and we are to play one group against another. That is an area I am afraid I have very little skill in."
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The hulking tiefling gasps. "Did you read Krunch's secret message? It's supposed to be a secret! Wait, did you write Krunch's secret note?"
Krunch is a massive brute with obvious otherworldly origins including bestial features, pair of thick jutting tusks, and skin the color of ash with the texture of cured hide. One beefy hand is noticeably bigger than the other and covered in a stony texture but no less dexterous or able. He wears armor composed of scraps of leather and silvery metal that does little to cover up his thickly muscled and scarred torso and a pair of worn bracers.
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"Go and prep your gear" she calls out to him and then wonders how this mission will go remembering a different mission where a rather high brow long tusked half orc tried to to the sweet talking once the group was surrounded and how it did not go so well for her and her mates. She shudders at the thought of that happening again.
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Theodric comes out of his room, always at the height of fashion, "Ah, dear friends it seems subterfuge is required. Luckily I dabbled in theatre in my younger days, and can appear quite convincing with a bit of preparation.... the note mentions playing these factions against one another... I would require intelligence on these factions in order to prepare a convincing disguise."
"But first things first: we need to uncover the factions' relationship towards the Gael family..."
Ezren gathers his things and steps out to meet the others. "Hail and well met, fellow Pathfinders... I am Ezren. It seems we have a mission ahead of us of some delicacy. Not my bailiwick in general, but I shall do my best to assist you as I can."
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"hmmmm.... just the four of us. Well then Theodric, I hope your armor is tough enough since you will be the main target up front. Ezren and I will help you two out as much as we can from the back. Ezren, I have heard a lot about you from other pathfinders and we did meet once on one of my earlier missions for the society, but I am sure you forgot about me as I was still very junior to you in experience. Well met again. Now if you all will excuse me I have a ritual to perform."
The four of you travel from Korvosa to Kaer Maga. Standing atop one of the highest spots of the Storval Rise, the cliff-top city of Kaer Maga is built inside the ruins of an ancient fortress: a six-sided ring of 80-foot-high seamless stone, stretching more than a half mile in diameter and topped with towers of every shape and design. Also known as the Asylum Stone, Kaer Maga has served as a refuge for exiles, misfits, and ne'er-do-wells fleeing persecution and prosecution for thousands of years, and is known throughout Golarion as a place where anyone can fit in, and where anything can be bought and sold.
You ask around for an inn and a boy takes you to one called "The Sorry Excuse" in the hospice district. The proprietor, a lank middle-aged human man, stands behind the counter and looks you up and down. He does not seem to be disturbed by Krunch at all. A burly half-orc clad in a leather outfit sits on a chair, polishing a great axe.
"Welcome to Kaer Maga, my lady and lords! I have just the room for you. As you surely know these are pitiful times, so I have to ask you to pay in advance, but I am certain that is no problem for people like yourselves. The fare is five silvers a night per person if you choose to stay in one room together."
He smiles friendly "Sure thing, sending up those things will cost you extra though. I will take an additional deposit of 10 gold next to the tariff for one night to cover any additional demands."
He takes your money (12 gp) and shows you a room. It is big enough for four people but lacks furniture, carpets, facilities to wash or even a window.
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Theodric's fine noble tastes are assailed by the plain nature of the room. "Does anyone have some kind of magic to spruce this up?" Theodric's mind is already racing to try to recall an item he might have seen in the past which would decorate or provide magical lodging... he seems to remember seeing a rich Taldan once with a jeweled cane who could tap it twice on the ground to create banquet, complete with pillows, chairs, tables, etc. But he is unsure. "Inkita... I sense that I'm getting angry... if I go to the front desk I will make things worse... could you please nicely ask the gentleman to give us a room upgrade or failing that, some furniture? I will pay for it..."
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"Good sir. Are there any other rooms available that are better than our current accommodations? I would hate to have to explain to my companions and to my superiors how you have decided to take our money and given us poor living conditions. Being a shoanti I am used to 'roughing' it but I usually do not pay for a lack of furniture out in the wild. I think a room with beds and a carpet would be better. So if you could do that... that would be great."
The innkeeper bows "Ah, you wish for our more luxurious rooms? Of course we can provide that."
He hesitates for a moment "Although I must say I do not care for your 'taking our money'. You asked for a room and I rented you one. No mention was made of beds, carpets, a place to loosen your bowels or anything like that. Given that I am a reasonable man I will provide those for the meager price of 10 gold a person, excluding the deposit already made. Heck, I will even throw in a window to look out of for free!"
"That seems a bit steep for a rented room... I could buy a roomful of furniture for 10 gold! Be reasonable, I implore you." Ezren says with a scowl.
He bows slightly to Ezren "Given your more advanced age and the nice lady in your company I will even waive the deposit already made, so the total price would only be 40 gold, including all taxes"
He looks at the Theodric and Kruch
"But if you throw in another 10 gold I will give your bodyguards a spare room, so you and the lady here can have all the fun you want in your own room!" while giving Ezren a thumbs up.
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"That is generous of you Sir, I accept!" Theodric gives the man 50 gold pieces. "As the owner of the Avistan Exploration Caravan (est. 4701, Oppara), I do appreciate when innkeepers provide extra lodging for my bodyguards. Thank you, kind Sir." Theodric motions for a few of his men to come in; they file in carrying luggage, folding chairs and other implements of comfort.
Anyone looking at Theodric can see that he is exercising great restraint at the moment, and that his honeyed words barely cover a deep disdain for the innkeeper.
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"That's good, dear Inkita, since they have standing orders to stay out of the way unless called for! However for certain missions I like to have people of trust keep watch over equipment and stay on top of my affairs in an administrative capacity. There's no rule that you can't mix work and, well, side-work when you join the Society, dear... matter of fact, the Society has no jurisdiction outside their own halls, and I wonder if they have any authority in Absalom even. That's the downside of having a secret leadership I guess... you can't really expect to have people serve body and soul for an organisation whose leaders remain secret in order to keep their day jobs. So, yes. I don't see the harm in securing trade agreements wherever the Society requests my presence, dear."
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The innkeeper's jaw almost drops to the floor, but he accepts the money and shows Theodric a much nicer suite that even has a window. The guards and carriers are escorted to the earlier austere room and the innkeeper disappears grumbling "it's not fair when they bring their own furniture!"
Inkita gets settled in and starts casting her legend lore
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- The Ardoc family of Bis who specialize in Golemcrafting;
- the Brothers of the Seal, who are ready to kill each other over whether they should open the great portal they guard somewhere deep in the caverns beneath;
- the gently whistling Sweettalkers of Tian, with their lips sewn shut to keep them from uttering the true name of their god;
- the Augurs, troll seers who predict the future by casting divinations with their own intestines; and the bloatmages, with the leeches that keep them alive attached to their bulging bodies;
- the Duskwardens, respected rangers who protect the city from monsters from the undercity
- the Bloatmages, wizards who believe blood is power, more blood must therefore equal more power. They do everything to increase the amount of blood in their bodies, becoming horribly bloated in the process.
- the Twice-Born, a sizeable population of mindless undead that perform chores for their masters.
- the Commerce League, a loose union of local merchants and traders
that seeks to foster peace and goodwill in the market districts, paying for roving guardsmen and allowing all merchants to save money by organizing and cooperating in various ways.
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Once settled up in their room, Theodric addresses his fellow agents, "First step, hide that Wayfinder and don't take it out in public. Forget you have it until we're out of Kaer Maga. Second, in order to prevent a hit on Guaril Karela - which I shall refer to as Mister Plowshare from now on - we must find him. Any chance your contacts in Kaer Maga could help us with that, Krunch? I have heard rumors that you... might be trusted by certain members of the merchant community. I think finding and talking to Mister Plowshare should be our first priority, as he may be able to steer us towards the most problematic factions identified by Inkata. Thank you for that, by the way, dear Inkata. Your spellcasting is a lovely thing to behold. You saved us days of fumbling around..."
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Inkita spends the necessary time to cast her spell of Lore focusing on the important people and factions of Kaer Maga. During her ritual she is almost bothered a half a dozen times by Theodric's hirelings who buss about setting up furniture in the right way so as to accommodate the group. Krunch's prying eyes do nothing to assist in the spell either. After revealing all that she uncovered Inkita seems a tad weary and sips from a cup of wine as the group prepares for the next step.
"That is a good idea Theodric. Or is it Lord Theodric? Regardless... a local guide would help us out on this mission." Inkita replies and then goes about to see if she can hire a local guide to fill the task required.
Inkita goes out on the streets and asks a young woman that is wearing a basket of vegetables if she knows where to get a local guide
"Oh misses, if you want to know stuff about the city you should find one of the Tallow Boys! Off course, finding them might be a difficult thing. But you'd best start with hiring one of those strapping lads that work the sheets. They are also eager to do other stuff and they might even teach you a few tricks if you let them do their own trade. You're husband will be gratefull!"
"So what are these Tallow Boys? Sounds like hiring one might prove to be very informative if the woman knew what she was talking about it. Let's do it.. I have a little cash, but very little, to spare to contribute to that endeavor."
Ikinta tells you that the Tallow boys are informants / spies that double as male prostitutes.
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"Krunch knows just where to start!" the big tiefling says excitedly. "Miss Feathers is always happy to help Krunch. She works in the Hospice district with lots of other pretty ladies. Should Krunch go talk to her?"
"A most splendid idea Krunch! do you wish to remain inconspicuous and go alone or do you wish for us to accompany you?"
Krunch.
Purple Dragon Knight
Inkita Spiritfriend