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Okay, apologies for the delay. Here are the pregens to choose from:
The Ambitious (Brawler)
The Leader (Enchanter)
The Artist (Magus)
The Experiment (Oracle)
The Professional, Unchained Rogue
The Vengeful (Slayer)
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And here he is.
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You are Aspis Consortium operatives, hand-picked by your superiors for one of the most daring missions ever attempted against the hated Pathfinder Society. For centuries the Society has been the hyena of the archaeological world, descending upon legitimate Aspis operations to snatch whatever the Pathfinders want, kill hardworking contractors, and grow wealthy on the profits of their “historical preservation.” As they say, the victors write the history books, and the widely distributed Pathfinder Chronicles paint the Society’s piracy as heroism guided by a moral compass as true as the wayfinder each agent carries.
Despite the thick walls and heavy windows of the rented home that serves as your safe house, the passage of Pathfinders from across the Inner Sea region creates a muted rumble as they make their pilgrimage to the Society’s Grand Convocation, an annual gathering in which Pathfinders tell tales of their exploits, show off their discoveries, and celebrate another successful year. Every additional Pathfinder is another set of eyes to spot trouble and another blade ready to defend the Grand Lodge, yet every voice and footstep makes it even safer to discuss the impending attack.
As you join your Aspis allies, you take a moment to check the missive given to you regarding the mission.
Congratulations are in order, my friend! Three years in the Consortium, and you have already earned the silver badge! What’s more, you are in charge of a critical element of the upcoming mission. As the ranking agent on your team, this is your first shot at being in charge, but I warn you that this first team isn’t one you’ll want to boss around; this is a coalition force, and everyone seems to be the favorite of someone else a lot higher up in the food chain. Aim to coordinate, not command.
Look on the bright side, though: after all of those briefings that you had to sit through, now you are the hotshot who gets to lay out the plan. I’ve summarized the objectives below so that you don’t forget, but it’s up to you to make it interesting and inspire your team. You’ll do great.
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Hundreds of Aspis agents and sympathizers are assembling throughout Absalom in preparation for an attack on the Pathfinder Society’s Grand Lodge. Most of these teams are in position to sow chaos, lure the Pathfinders’ attention elsewhere, and keep the rest of Absalom from interceding.
You are the lynchpin of the assault. Infiltrate the Grand Lodge, using the festival and throngs of unfamiliar faces to cover your movements. Gather what additional information you need, meet with any informants your team knows about, and lay the groundwork for your assault—split into smaller groups if necessary. Your cue to enter Skyreach—the towering stronghold the Society thinks unassailable—is a speech given by Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus. Agents will start ushering Pathfinders toward one of the lawns and pouring drinks for a toast, giving you a fairly generous window to get inside.
Once inside Skyreach, you have two major objectives: open the Hao Jin Tapestry gateway, and secure the Sky Key in that order. I have included some notes about how to activate the tapestry, as well as the coordinates within the tapestry where our allies are gathered. However, the notes only address how to send one person inside, not how to bring anyone out. It seems Zey is paranoid about even keeping any notes about cracking the tapestry open, and he only stores them in one of the vaults beneath Skyreach—a section called the Antarnicus Wing, used for most of the tapestry’s treasures. Be prepared to break in. Once you have secured the notes, get to the tapestry chamber quickly.
Handle any opposition, open the gateway, and welcome our allies from inside the demiplane. Make sure that they have some sense of where they’re going.
After that, ascend to the small museum where the Society is keeping the Sky Key. It’s the usual routine: take care of any guards, grab the target, get out, and keep the whole operation clean. A second team (listen for the code “Five fingers till Oathday“) should find you soon after; pass them the Sky Key, get out, and congratulate your team.
Mission accomplished.
Make the Patrons proud,
Myrosype
I promised you I would get you out, didn’t I? After three long years in captivity, cast away by the Pathfinders who cared nothing for your humanity or the life you had left behind, you are finally back. I must accept some of the blame for your being stranded, for it was I who assigned you to that lucrative post; however, it was that fool Aglorn who failed to guard the gate and lost us not only our way into the tapestry but also several of our finest agents. This injustice shall not stand. I would not assign you a mission if I did not have the highest confidence in your abilities, and I consider securing you this particular venture a small step in reconciliation. The Pathfinder Society shall burn, and you shall have the revenge you seek.
There are several hundred of our agents throughout the Grand Lodge ready to inflict damage and provide you the distraction needed to reach high priority targets. Anything you can do to make their jobs easier by preparing a few distractions of your own would help you as much as it would them. I already have numerous arsonists ready, but nobody seems bold enough to do anything about the zoological garden the Pathfinders keep. That’s why we’re fortunate to have a resourceful agent like you, willing to aid these fellow wretched creatures also unjustly imprisoned by the Pathfinders. I am sure they, like yourself, would love a chance to extract some justice from their captors. In addition to the forces within the Grand Lodge, hundreds of people who, like you, wish to escape from the confines of the tapestry are massed by your old base camp. I am sure that if your fellow agents forget where your allies are stationed, you can steer them in the right direction.
Do you remember the weapon I sent you to recover in Hao Jin’s hellhole? After they secured the gate, they snatched it up, and it went right into one of the vaults beneath Skyreach. Find it, and it’s yours to keep and use as you see fit. Wield it in the name of vengeance and the Consortium.
Regards,
Tseka
“Oh my dear 322, how does freedom feel? Are you still staring at the sky in wonder and fear? Do you still dream of the doorway between the stars? Have you kept writing in your journal?” The masked woman paused as she looked at you, and then smiled again. “Had you stopped wondering if I would find you again? Hardly. You are as drawn to uncover your own secrets as I am.” Shaking her head as if remembering some sweet memory, she continued. “Clinical experimentations ceased because you demonstrated increased capacity to channel the Lurker’s dark mysteries. I have guided you to Absalom in order to participate in a field study—a live test of your powers. Prepare yourself to work with members of the Aspis Consortium. Assist them to the best of your abilities.”
“You have two other responsibilities, both important to our studies and our allies. The first is this,” she said while conjuring a glassy, hexagonal pad out of dreamstuff. “It emits a resonance similar to the stars beyond, just as you do, so none of your allies will know how to operate it. I have used it to channel cosmic life energies into tiny homunculi, but I suspect that it could animate something far grander. Find a suitable host, attach it without drawing attention to yourself, and activate it when you see fit.”
“Your other task is even more important. At some point during your mission, you will find a simple lantern among your possessions. If opened, it captures the escaping essence of whoever dies near it, ensuring Pharasma never judges the unfortunate soul trapped within. Only one Pathfinder can repair the damage inflicted in the upcoming Aspis attack: Aram Zey. Ensure that the Society cannot call upon his expertise ever again, and I shall ensure his expertise helps you learn more about yourself.” The masked figure raises her arm in a salute. “Godspeed, my curious disciple—whichever gods those may be.” With that the dream ended.
After hearing the reports of lesser agents operating under lesser commanders, allow me to express how pleased I am to hear that you have accepted this job. What I have heard from my colleagues about your coworkers sounds equally reassuring; they are all competent in their respective fields. However, none of them can compare to your practical, on-the-job experience I am relying on you to ensure that this mission goes off without a hitch. Each bystander’s scream, nearby explosion, or track left behind is another complication that could jeopardize the operation.
My other agents have been watching the Grand Lodge closely. I have included the incomplete map that they created, noting the locations of your objectives in Skyreach. In addition, the agents report that the Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine—normally responsible for managing the keys to Grand Lodge’s vaults but concerned about his ability to keep them out of reach—has delegated several of the keys to one of his protégés, a halfling named Janira Gavix. My intelligence reports that she practically worships the Master of Scrolls, so there is no chance that she would take a bribe. Supposedly she is rather proud of her storytelling prowess, though, and can often be found near large crowds. If you can relieve her of the keys, your infiltration of Skyreach should be all the cleaner. I have enclosed a sketch of the halfling to assist your efforts to locate her.
May silence hide your footfalls,
Kitio Aspenthi, gold agent
It’s been several years in the making, but the coalition of some of the finest Aspis minds has finally manifested in this approaching assault—a fight to regain the Consortium’s glory and put the Society back in its place. I have not forgotten your earlier contributions, and I have pulled a few strings to secure you a key role in the upcoming operation. You won’t have the tiresome chore of leading the team; one of my colleagues has elected one of his cat’s paws to the role, and I trust you’ll let him parade about while letting you get the real work done. In fact, everyone on your team has powerful connections and probably thinks highly of themselves. I am betting on this, actually, because those connections have been particularly cagey about their own reasons for participating in this raid. Just as a tracker can tell the health and drives of an animal by the spoor it leave behind, you can help me gaze into my colleagues’ minds by discerning what it is that their agents want to accomplish. Keep an eye on your comrades, and report what you can to me about their ulterior motives.
Of course, I would not demand information without sharing some in return. One of my many spies in the Society is a Chelish man named Arminaldi Charthagnion, a disciple of Nethys’ divine secrets. He is unhappy with the Society’s treatment of artifacts, and I have managed to keep him selling me secrets with the promise of helping him liberate a relic or two. I am expecting his latest report soon, but since you will be there anyway, perhaps you might meet him at the Wall of Names and use the intelligence as you see fit.
He won’t acknowledge you as my agent unless you tell him “The wall slithers like a snake through grass.” You’ll know you have the right man if he responds “None would step on so great a serpent.” He should give you what you need to know, and no more need be said. Just try not to spoil his cover or your own by making a scene about it.
I await news of your victory,
Suliji Peshar
We have reviewed your work over the past four years, and so far your performance has gone beyond the expectations to which we typically hold our contractors. The Consortium is always on the lookout for resourceful, intelligent operatives who know how to do more than just bash heads together—useful a skill as that is. I have a key vacancy in my roster, but I need more than just a knee-breaker who will knock down what I point at. Consider your current mission a tryout of sorts. At least one of your teammates is taking notes on your performance. Impress them, and you’ll impress me. Do that, and I’ll have a bronze badge waiting for you.
The upcoming attack relies on chaos, and that same chaos can cover your team’s tracks. What could be more upsetting to the Pathfinders than discovering that someone in their midst was a traitor? Of course, you may have to make a traitor by making an upstanding but easily missed Pathfinder disappear. If he happens to be a traitor already, that’s even cleaner. A missing traitor means no alibi, and that means someone disguised as that traitor could pin any number of crimes on him. Whether you do that or not is up to you; after all, an agent able to delegate effectively is just as valuable to me as one who can do the job himself.
Your friend in Tamran
Zurnzal sits near the window, a powerfully-athletic half-orc in light, maneuverable armor with similarly light weaponry. Staring at the closed window, he mentally reviews the note again. He's long since memorized it, and it still sat folded in his pocket, but Zurnzal wanted to miss no detail.
He turned his black eyes once again to the others, wondering what each brought to the team. Zurnzal had seen enough adventuring to make good guesses about a few in the room ... others would reveal their role soon enough.
He wants nothing more than to ask the details of their assignment, but patience often pays off. So he continues to wait, and watch, and force himself to calm until this group's leader lays out the mission.
-Posted with Wayfinder
”So,” the half-orc finally says, drawing out a well-worked shortsword and spinning it idly in his hands, ”Any of you worked together before? Or is this one of those ‘we brought the best from all over’ kinda gigs?”
He gives the blade one more spin before sliding it smoothly back home. ”I’m Zurnzal.”
Sitting lotus-type silently in the corner is an elf with a black-as-midnight-sky cloak drawn about her. Her face is easily visible through the cowl, but she seems to take no notice of anyone in the room. Her open eyes do not appear to focus on the room at all, isteaqd staring out into some nebuolous void only she can plumb. A fine dagger balances on her fingertip as she sits and stares.
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A woman stands in the corner. Her composure and mind calculating. She seems on point and focused.
Skip the introductions. No point in getting close to each other as any of you may die today. We are here to do a job and you are already becoming complacent which will lead to your death. Complacency will get you killed. We are here to do a job. She says with a sort of calm and even professional tone as she double checks the letter and her equipment.
Zurnzal gives the woman a flat look, "Not knowing who anyone is or what they're actually capable of? Doesn't seem like a smart way to run an operation." He shrugs, "But that's just me."
Marnarius. Says a heavy set rugged looking man in light armor, a sword in his waist and a bow strapped to his back. I am an explorer by trade, but tonight our job will be more bloody. We will strike a blow against the society scum that they shall never forget.
It is not for either indeed. Marnarius says with a savage smile.
Rataji listens to the banter in turn before adding, "Look, I agree we don't need the background about how mommy didn't love us or whatever, but we should know the others physical skillset. This is also a big mission, so I don't want any backstabbing. The Pathfinders are no slouches and we need our A-game on this."
Rataji looks about and makes sure that everyone is paying attention and ready. "Hundreds of Aspis are assembling for an attack on the Pathfinder Society’s Grand Lodge. Most of these teams are in position to sow chaos, lure the Pathfinders’ attention elsewhere, and keep the rest of Absalom from interceding. WE are the lynchpin of this assault. We are to infiltrate the Grand Lodge, using the festival and throngs of unfamiliar faces to cover. Let's gather what additional information you we need and lay the groundwork for entry. Our cue to enter Skyreach is a speech given by that loser, "Master of Swords" Marcos Farabellus." The condescending tone at the title is dripping with disdain. Agents will start ushering them toward one of the lawns and pouring drinks for a toast, giving US a fairly generous window to get inside.
Once inside Skyreach, we have two major objectives. ONE bust open the Hao Jin Tapestry and get our final revenge on their plans with it. TWO steal the artifact known as THE SKY KEY."
"I know a little bit about how to operate the objects, and I'm the only one who does, so make sure you've got my back. Unfortunately we don't know the whole process, so we're going to need to steal the notes of that fop Arem Zay while inside. We go in that order, and we'll meet up with another team inside. I know the sign and counter sign to identify them."
Zunzal nods along to the briefing, committing the three objectives to memory as he considers possibilities. ”So will we need to create or find cover identities? Or will there be enough activities and chaos at the celebrations that we can simply walk in?” He pauses before continuing. ”And it sounds like we’ll need those notes before we hit the Hao Jin Tapestry. Any instructions on how we’re supposed to get at that?”
He shrugs, ”If not, we may be able to do some prep-work to find a few angles. I could likely sneak in disguised as one of the hired hands for the celebrations to see if I can gain us a few of those angles. I can stay out of sight pretty well, but I'm not exactly known for my silver tongue ... so I'd need a simple enough cover that I don't need to lie.”
The elf, silent and vacant during most of Rataji's outline, comes out of her reverie at the mention of Aram Zey. That one can undo us, she says, her voice hollow and distant. We must remove him, and seal his essence in this. She holds aloft a lantern, of all things, as she finishes. Only then is our mission complete; Zey cannot thwart us if he is unable to return from Pharasma's realm.
I think we're all agreed on this. I want us all to succeed, and will lend my skills at enchantment and the arcane to that end. Let us go, mingle, and reconnoiter."
Zurnzal nods. ”In the chaos, we’ll want to make it look like the Pathfinders have a traitor in their midst. Cover our tracks a bit. Given that this Arem Zay has the only notes on operating this tapestry,” he glances over at 322, ”and that we’re gonna remove him anyway, he seems to be a good candidate. But I don’t know anything about him. Would the Pathfinders buy him as a traitor? If not, who’s someone we can pin this on? Or is there anyone we actually know is already a traitor that we could set up to take the fall? That’s one of the things we should do first.”
The half-orc looks around the room, weighing each team member in his mind. ”I’d suggest the more social of us—which sure ain’t me—circulate to try to determine where Zay will be when we need to hit him as well as get a feel for if Zay is a good traitor. Or, if not, find out someone who might be.” ”Then I and whoever else is good at getting places without being seen—and especially someone with some ability to bypass locks and such—could try to find the best way for us to infiltrate during that speech.”
”That’s likely to eat up our first hour, anyway. Hopefully we’ll have the info we need, and we can spend the rest of our time before we need to get going picking up any last-minute equipment needs we discover.”
He sits back, waiting to see what the Aspis members think of his plan.
"I'll go with whoever thinks is over their head, unsure of a tactic, or needs to...convince someone of something."
Rataji will absorb the conversations as he passes. Once someone needs his help, or he THINKS they need his help, he'll jump in.
Diplomacy (Gather Information), general research:
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Although both Kreighton Shaine and Marcos Farabellus have made appearances, nobody has spotted the Master of Scrolls Aram Zey. It’s not especially surprising, given Zey’s dislike of crowds and dealing with the public.
Several dozen Pathfinders have begun unloading kegs from carts on the Center House lawns, likely in anticipation of Marcos Farabellus’s big speech. It’s an open secret that he intends to announce that the longawaited reconstruction of the Sky Key has concluded.
Although nearly every Pathfinder at the Grand Lodge is allowed to wander about and relax, several dozen are on guard duty on the walls and in Skyreach. Most of these assignments are punishments for debts
incurred to the Society or bungled expeditions. Part of the reason that Aram Zey hasn’t been seen yet is because he is supervising these patrols.
Two of the unfortunates assigned to guard duty are Loshari and Telandril, part of a team sent to Isger to recover a relic lost during the Goblinblood Wars. The venture was a debacle and resulted in part of a town being set on fire and inadvertently let goblins loose in the town square. Most blame Loshari, but Telandril stubbornly insisted on sharing the punishment—likely so that he could lecture her further.
The half-orc looks around the room, weighing each team member in his mind. ”I’d suggest the more social of us—which sure ain’t me—circulate to try to determine where Zay will be when we need to hit him as well as get a feel for if Zay is a good traitor. Or, if not, find out someone who might be.” ”Then I and whoever else is good at getting places without being seen—and especially someone with some ability to bypass locks and such—could try to find the best way for us to infiltrate during that speech.”
322 skulks about about looking for a suitable "fall guy"; Zurnzal's idea is appealing to her.
Zurnzal spends a bit of time skulking around looking for the best ways to get to Zay’s notes, as well as good paths to access the Tapestry and the Sky Key, once they’re ready.
While he’s out, he also looks around to see if he can identify if there are any worker groups that the could quickly disguise themselves as if they need to enter Skyreach incognito.
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We will need a key. The Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine has delegated several of the keys to one of his protégés, a halfling named Janira Gavix. My intelligence reports that she practically worships the Master of Scrolls, so there is no chance that she would take a bribe. Supposedly she is rather proud of her storytelling prowess, though, and can often be found near large crowds. I will relieve her of the keys, so that our infiltration of Skyreach will be all the cleaner.
Shohiraj says as she heads out into the crowds.
Shohiraj strolls about the grounds as she listens to the multitude of conversations. She hops to pick up some key information that others may have missed.
Thinking back to the picture she has in her pocket she looks around for the one named Janira Gavix.
Rataji continues to hold back and await a request for assistance.
I guess I'll join up with Marnarius.
I would have shared it all with everyone.