Available for dotting
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Somewhere there is a small temple, whose gilded exterior is only partially visible beneath a coating of several years' worth of cumulative ash.
Inside, Nemesis reassures her patient as he thrashes and screams under her arms. "Yes, I am certain this is the best way. Nothing cleanses like FIRE."
Nearby, a gnome in yellow and orange vestments who has been staring intently into the central hearth suddenly rises.
"Nemesis? Message for you...."
“Pathfinders, I’m sure you know our associate, Guaril Karela, if not personally then by reputation,” says Ambrus Valsin while gesturing to the Varisian man seated across from him. “We’ve had reports from a confidential informant in the Aspis Consortium that trouble is brewing in Tamran. Probably not coincidentally, several of Karela’s shipments bound for Tamran have gone missing.”
Guaril adds, “You see, the Molthuni navy maintains a rather tyrannical blockade around the city—a blockade past which my associates and I have helped Ambrus move items numerous items. It’s not so difficult; the Molthuni are not the brightest stars in the sky. Or at least it wasn’t difficult until recently. An unknown party has intercepted my last dozen shipments, and I doubt Molthune is responsible. When I lose shipments—”
“—Our lodge in Tamran loses much needed supplies,” finishes Ambrus. “Not to mention the fact that Guaril provides many important goods to the people of Tamran, such as food and medicine. Your mission is to accompany Guaril to Tamran and investigate the disappearances and thefts. Hopefully Oraiah Tolal, our venture-captain in Tamran, will have more leads.
“You depart with Karela in two hours. If you have any questions, or any supplies to purchase, I advise you do so now.”
“Hmm, quick history lesson: Molthune was part of the Chelish empire that broke into pieces following the death of Aroden. The country’s militant leaders continued to exploit the forests to the north, driving the rural population to secede and form their own nation called Nirmathas.
Molthune has maintained an ongoing campaign ever since to recapture the rebel-held lands, though most of the Inner Sea region’s leaders now recognize Nirmathas’s legitimacy—or at least do not denounce their efforts. The blockade is one of Molthune’s ongoing ways of harassing its northern rival. While the blockade is succesfull in blocking goods from coming in there are still enough possibilities for people to get in and out.”
Ambrus then answers Silas
“If it’s not the snakes, then it could be the Church of Razmir. We’ve had unpleasant dealings with them in Tamran in the past, and I wouldn’t put it past the Razmiri to hold a grudge. We also can’t rule out any of Guaril’s enemies or rivals, of which I’m certain he has many.” Guaril does not comment, merely offering an innocently apologetic smile and shrug.
You might be able to remember something
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A somewhat unnatural-looking, yet stunningly attractive woman wearing fine, strategically-cut clothes beneath a custom-made gilded breastplate, with a black sunburst-shaped shield at her back, a plain-looking sword at her side, and a stylized emblem of faith made from solid gold and shaped like four flaming swords in her hands, has been listening quietly so far, but the impassive look on her face breaks when she is suddenly struck by a thought.
"We like to keep the Tamran people on our side Sritaro."
Nemesis tells you what she knows:
The Nirmathi are outmatched by the Molthuni in numbers, and so they rely on guerilla tactics to win their war of independence. To this day, the capital Tamran and its surrounds are not protected by a single army but by loose collection of militias.
Molthune has captured and occupied Tamran five times throughout its history, but the Nirmathi have retaken it each time. Fortifications proved ineffective against the Molthuni armies, so the Nirmathi simply tore down the walls; this makes it harder for the Molthuni to hold the city, and the forces invariably withdraw and burn down the city after sustaining too much harassment.
Armies of the Shining Crusade fought the forces of the Whispering Tyrant over the area now occupied by Nirmathas, and the ruined fortresses left behind by the crusaders still remain to this day.
"Will that be all Pathfinders?" Ambrus asks while Guaril Karela picks up his backpack. He opens the door and holds it open for you
"I do hope you take care of your personal hygiene, I can't abide stinking people. Please buy some soap if you haven't done so already."
"Where I come from, those asking for help do not insult those they are asking for help from."
"Oh, you might have misunderstood the assignment then. Ambrus and me had a mutually beneficial arrangement that has been disturbed. Therefore we both will try to solve the situation. Where I decided to investigate personally Ambrus has decided to send you in."
Guarill twists his moustache, so that it's points are as fine as a knife "Any grievances you have should therefore be directed at your esteemed Venture Captain, not at me"
"I agree completely my dear pathfinder, but washing helps me getting along with you."
Once you have made your preparations, Guaril Karela leads you to a ship that takes you and him Tamran, using the cover of night and Guaril's cunning to slip through the Molthuni blockade. You reach Tamran in the early hours of the morning. A local Pathfinder agent named Reginar Lacklan surreptitiously greets you and offers to take you to the Ashfall Lodge, the Society’s base of operations in Tamran. Karela explains that he has his own enquiries to pursue and arranges to reunite with you at the Ashfall Lodge in three days to see what you have learned.
Like much of the city, Ashfall Lodge rises above the marshy ground; however, whereas most other buildings stand atop piers and pilings, the Pathfinder lodge straddles three broad cypress trees. Rope bridges and wooden slat ladders wind across its outer branches, leading to a handful of tiny cabins for storage and visiting agents. Two bell pulls hang from the southern tree—one weighted by a medallion depicting the Glyph of the Open Road and the other weighted by a bronze symbol of two faces in profile.
Reginar takes hold of the Open Road rope and gives it a sharp pull, sounding a high-pitched bell in the lodge above. From above, a gray-haired halfling woman examines the visitors, smiles, and drops a rope ladder. She nimbly clambers down and gestures grandly to the elevated structure. “Welcome, Pathfinders. May Ashfall Lodge be your home away from home and your welcome to a new land. If you’ll accompany me, I can answer any questions you might have.”
The halfling introduces herself "Well met, I am Venture Captain Oraiah Tolal" and leads you to a small meeting room inside the lodge. There she explains that her own attempts to investigate the thefts were stymied by a pernicious rumor spreading through Tamran slandering the Pathfinder Society in general—and more specifically herself and Reginar—as Molthuni sympathizers. Oraiah suspects that the rumor campaign may be linked to the disappearance of Guaril Karela’s shipments, but she has no proof.
She suggests that you might be able to learn more, given that you are newcomers to the area. After all, whoever is spreading the rumors hasn’t had the chance to fully turn the city against you. Oraiah recommends several sites that might be worth investigating in the city:
Karela’s shipments across the lake haven’t been getting through, which means the bandits must have a ship. If they have a ship, they’ve probably visited Tamran’s docks.”
“Many consider it the only inn in town worth staying at—a harsh verdict but a great place to dig up rumors.”
“That’s the town’s most popular feast hall. These days it’s seen a lot of traffic from members of the city’s various militias. You probably won’t get a very friendly reception, what with the rumors around town, but talking to the militia patrols is your best bet at learning what’s going on outside the city.
“We haven’t been getting our supplies, but several of the more… illicit… items Karela used to bring into the city are still appearing in the market. That suggests someone in town is fencing goods for the thieves.”
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"I'd suggest the inn if only because it's sensible to start somewhere comparatively small and safe and where strangers are welcomed - I don't object overmuch to the docks, but they will be a lot more ground to cover, and are no doubt more dangerous."
"Also, if you want my guess as to who's trying to defame us to the Nirmathans, my guess would be Molthuni agent provocateurs - it's what I'd do if a powerful but elusive organization were the coal bucket sustaining resistance to my plans of conquest. Divide and conquer."
"What does the other rope... the one with two faces do?"
"Didn't you recognize the symbol of Alseta, goddess of doors, transitions, and years? I am a priestess of her and provide services to the community as well as being a Pathfinder. If you need some healing or other divine aid I would be happy to provide that. And of course you are also welcome to stay here in the lodge if you need a place to rest."
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Oleander sniffs the air, not sure that soap will really help in a town built over a swamp. Still having been aboard ship for a while she takes the opportunity presented by the lodge to freshen up a bit.
Once all ready she leads the team down toward the docks, glaring at anyone who sniffs in her direction.
"What? You can just gather some rosemary or lavender in the swamp and use that. No need to pay money for soap if you can grow it yourself."
And indeed, the woman smells as if she bathes regularly and uses rosemary and lavender to smell nice too.
While Oleander and Nemesis are talking, Silas is listening:
Several of the hospitals and temples in town are running low on medicines and potion-brewing components ever since several key blockade-runners stopped making deliveries to Tamran. It’s said the Pathfinder Society had worked with these smugglers before, and the Society has paid them to divert goods to Molthune instead.
While most of the goods Karela smuggled into town are no longer available, some of the more illicit or expensive items like drugs are still for sale in the market from less scrupulous merchants. Rumor has it that the Pathfinders are trying to get the Nirmathi soldiers addicted to drugs.
Although Molthune blocks much of the trade to and from Tamran, the city still does brisk business with other Nirmathi settlements up the river, and there’s plenty of fishing to be done well before reaching Molthune’s
interdictors. As a result, the docks still bustle with activity during the day.
After 6 hours of asking around you manage to locate Jonathram (a middleaged male half-elf), an amateur apothecary.
Jonathram has not aged gracefully, despite his elven heritage. He is completely bald and wears a silver earring in one ear and a snowy white beard. When asked about the thefts, he replies
“Thefts? I don’t know nothing about no thefts. I know about receiving stolen goods though, and I ain’t about t’get locked up on no fool charge like that. Some Varisian feller come by wanting to buy up mah vermin repellent, trying to barter off some potions or whatnot. But I sees the Glyph of the Open Road on ‘em, and I ain’t about to touch no Pathfinder stuffs, so I tell him to shove off. Boy that got ‘im real mad. He was itchin’ up a storm, he was! Must have been living in them marshes, where them skeeters live.”
"That's what I said!" the half-elf responds to Silas. He is obviously annoyed by this question but does answer the elf
"Shores’ lousy with marsh. They all are teeming wit' skeeters"