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Joining Obyrn is a slyph wearing an elaborate outfit covered in feathers. Stalking behind him is a bird as large as any man. The slyph's hair is streaked with white and blue and his eyes have a faraway vacant look, as if he is not quite seeing his immediate surroundings. "Oh hello! My name is Súrë . This is my pet bird Ilivan. Do you like bugs? I have a beetle collection you might be interested in...."
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What the hell... Jaysin's expression falls somewhere between shock and awe as the slyph and his companion arrive. Bugs? Do I like bugs? What kind of question is that? Do you think I'd eat them like your.... friend might? Beetle collection, really? I must say that is something you ought to keep to yourself, especially if you're going to be working with me.
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Súrë turns to his newest companion and responds, "Oh! Hello there, my name is Súrë and this is my pet bird Ilivan. No, he doesn't eat bugs and neither do I. I collect them! If you see any interesting beetles that I don't have cataloged yet, be sure to let me know! My name is Súrë by the way." He gives a vacant smile in Jaysin's direction, completely unaware of the archer's attitude.
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Jaysin simply stares at the creature and slowly shakes his head. They'll let anyone through The Confirmation nowadays. I remember when it was a privilege to become a Pathfinder. The archer starts to walk away and then stops and turns back to the sylph and says, Just be sure you stay out of my line of sight unless you want some arrows in your backside. Though I don't take you for one of them frontline types. What is it that you do, anyway?
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The Elven woman in the corner, doesn't even bat an eye at the discussion happening in front of her. Her attention seems totally focused on her knitting needles and the yarn she was turning into some sort of a garment. She didn't even look up at the arguing, continuing to sew and whsitling a jaunty tune as she did so.
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What is it that you do, anyway?
The sylph stares at Jaysin for a moment. "My name is Súrë and this is my pet bird Ilivan. We're Pathfinders! But I collect bugs in my spare time. Oh, we like to go out and live in the wild. . . when we're not in Kaer Maga visiting Miss Feathers, that is. Do you know Miss Feathers? She's my girlfriend."
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Obyrn looks over the sylph, not certain if Súrë is real. He has had a lot to drink today, more than usual--even these days. Anything to stop that damn headache. Bloody elephants. He does wish the uptight one would quiet down some though. "Hey there, loud stuff, tryin' to have quiet drink here. Explore, Report, Cooperate."
Downing his twelfth drink, he stands unsteadily to his feet, takes a moment to regain his balance, and extends his hand--which reeks of hard alcohol, flavored with soiled leather and sour wine--by way of greeting. "Obyrn's the name," he says, utterly without expression. "Do much collecting on assignment?"
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Jaysin peers over with an exasperated look at the half-elf. That's exactly what I was telling this, Sura was it? As long as... they... stay out of my line of fire they'll be cooperating. Surely one of your experience knows that.
Maybe I could use a drink or twelve if the rest of this adventuring party shapes up like this.
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Obyrn shrugs, his face again devoid of expression. "Or you could just not shoot us in the back. Your call. But I'll try to stay out of the middle. 'Sides, I'like it better that way."
If he knows his trade at all--and he should--the knitter in the back is the most dangerous of everyone in the bar. The archer might talk big, and even hit pretty hard, but it's the quiet broody types you've got to look out for. And magic... well, he's only had limited success with that.
The sylph, of course, is completely harmless.
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Of course I won't shoot you in the back! I'm an expert marksman with the bow! WHo do you take me for, some commoner on the city watch? I'm just saying to mind your own so I don't have to do it for you, that's all. No need for arguing about it.
Upon seeing Velidor, the archer's eyes simply close in exasperation. Another one of them gun-toting types. I do hope I've brought my earplugs.
You have all been called to Nantambu, on the edge of the Mwangi Expanse.....
The sun bears down oppressively through the jungle’s humidity, causing the air to shimmer and lending an even greater feeling of otherworldliness to the Mwangi city of Nantambu. Aya Allehe enters the sweltering room in the local Pathfinder Lodge with a worn and harried look in her eyes. “Thank you for agreeing to meet here on such short notice,” she begins. “As you may already know, the venture-captain of this lodge, Nieford Sharrowsmith, has been away for several weeks heading an expedition into the interior of the expanse." She sighs, then continues.
"A week ago, I received a letter addressed to Sharrowsmith from our agent working in the Aspis Consortium-controlled city of Bloodcove, Malika Fenn. The letter appeared to be a routine report, though I recognized that it hid an encoded message that describes an impending Consortium expedition up the Vanji River, planned to depart within the week." Her face grows even more grim.
“Malika additionally informed us that this expedition’s aims are of great concern to the Pathfinder Society. She has collected substantial intelligence to this effect but is unable to get the information out of the city for fear that the Consortium will detect and intercept it. To make matters worse, Venture-Captain Sharrowsmith has failed to check in with any other Pathfinder contacts in the region or send back any messages during his own expedition. The timing of these two events is too convenient for my liking, so even though I am only overseeing this lodge in Sharrowsmith’s absence, I ask that you travel into the lion’s den to retrieve the information that Malika has gathered on this expedition so that we can find out if it is connected to Sharrowsmith’s disappearance. Malika has indicated that she left a message for us in the Witchlight Inn that will help us find her information, so head there first."
“Though these are grim circumstances, they also present us with an opportunity. Once you have infiltrated the city, try to sabotage the Consortium’s preparations for the expedition. You won’t be able to stop it completely, but you can at least buy us some time to determine its nature and formulate a response. I also want you to make some inroads for the Society in the city. Gaining the ability to move agents and supplies through Bloodcove more easily would be a massive boon for our operations in the Expanse. I have some information on some disenfranchised citizens of Bloodcove who may be up to the task. Finally, gather some intelligence of your own. Talk to the people of Bloodcove and see how complete the Aspis’s control over the populace is. Report to me any groups or people of influence who may be sympathetic to our cause and support us in future moves against the Consortium. Once you’re done, get out of the city. Leaving in a different way than you arrived tends to be best.”
She sighs agains. "Any questions?"
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Well, this should be fun. "Looks like you've got the right man for the job," Obyrn says, flashing his wayfinder. In addition to his name and the date of his Confirmation, "Aspis Hunting Division" is engraved on its interior. "You said that you had some useful information on a few Bloodcove citizens?"
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Lillian sighs.. "We're going to Bloodcove to cause the town to hate the Aspis is the nutshell version. Oh yea and retrieve the info, make friends with the locals, sabotage the Aspis trip.. Oh yea and not get killed.." She looks at the VC.. "Are you sure there's something else you dont want us to do while we're there? Collect Dragon tears or something? Who are these disenfranchised citizens that we need to talk too?"
Aya shakes her head. "No group in particular, just keep your eyes and ears open." She sighs, then says. "One more thing. In her message, Malika mentioned that she suspected that her cover had been compromised, and she has gone to ground in order to stay safe. Any direct contact with her could further endanger both her life and her role in the city.”
"Unless you have any further questions, I suggest you begin."
Once the party is ready to depart, Aya secures you passage on a convoy of small, fast riverboats bound for Bloodcove. The rest of the voyage is relatively uneventful....
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"Pleasure to serve with you again, Velidor. No, my twin isn't with us today. I assume two of us together might have drawn too much attention for this tactful mission. What role do you all want to take for this mission? I'm guessing merchants might be the easiest with this group, but I'm open to suggestions."