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The young Chelaxian gets in line. His robes are immaculate and not a hair or item is out of place. His crimson robes with hems of gold colored material are neat and orderly. On his side he carries a large sack which every once in a while moves. Occasionally a small head will pop out to look around and a grey lopped earred rabbit will look around, usually munching on a piece of cilantro or apple and will watch what is going on. Seeing that there is a large saber toothed cat, the rabbit hides in the pouch.
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Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a small, unassuming woman of Taldan heritage with dark hair and eyes, holds a large sheaf of papers in her small hands and clears her throat. Her booming voice, the antithesis of her stature, fills the main hall of the small Pathfinder Lodge in the Taldan city of Cassomir.
“One of our own has been kidnapped. Pathfinder Cestis was taken just days ago from a relics auction in the Imperial Naval Shipyards, and we believe his disappearance to be related to the six dozen or so kidnappings of the last several months. Now that one of our own is missing, this has become a Society matter—something we’ll get to the bottom of.”
Themis gestures to a teenage boy standing beside her, who nervously regards his surroundings and sweats profusely, his thick brown hair matted and wet against his head. “This is Nefti, the assistant to the biggest thorn in my side in Cassomir—an agent of the Aspis Consortium named Kafar. Kafar is also missing, taken from the same relics auction along with Pathfinder Cestis and a dozen other citizens of Cassomir. Nefti was at the auction, saw where a small group of the kidnapped victims were taken, and his handlers in Cassomir have give us access to him so that he might guide us to our missing Pathfinder. If you happen to find Kafar...” Themis grinds her teeth. “Let him go, per the agreement I’ve just made with his superiors. Your priority is Cestis, and I think Nefti can lead you to him. Any questions?”
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"And on a related note," begins the Lady Vulpina, "what relics in particular were being auctioned?"
She is dressed head to toe in a stylish blend of leather and metal, a masterfully-crafted wakizashi seated just above an gold inlaid flintlock pistol on her hip. She carries herself with a superior air, and were she not on the shorter side for a human, she gives off the impression that she would likely find it easy to look down her nose at those around her.
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A bird-like humanoid stands still and quietly in one corner, his dark brown plumage, streaked with black stripes, gives him effectiveness camouflage in the shadows. He is dressed in simple short robes, although under them you can see the glint of silvery chain mail. Other than a well-made crossbow hanging from his belt, he does not appear to be carrying other weapons. Except for his razor sharp claws and beak, that is. He occasionally turns to stare intently at the fair Tian lady until the captain enters and starts the briefing.
Although his avian expression is hard to read, as the briefing proceeds, he gets clearly more and more agitated. He fixes his attention on the teenage boy as he strides forwards, grasping his collar with his sharp talons. With his beak right in his face, he mutters in an inhuman voice, "Boy, is this a trap? Have your Aspis masters kidnapped Cestis and instructed you to lure more of us in? Speak, boy!"
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A large Nagaji in shiningly burnished armor and the holy symbol of Erastil blazoned across his shield and his chest steps into the room just before the Venture Captain begins his briefing. A heavy mace dangles from his belt, and the tip of a bow peeks over his shoulder. He listens carefully and quietly while studying the boy with an intense and motionless stair more common to a snake on the hunt than from a anthropomorphic creature. He finally moves as the Tengu beside him verbally lashes into the boy.
"Peace, brother. His own master and a number of citizens are also at risk. I am sure that Themis here already vetted that possibility if he has been in contact with the Aspis."
Turning his attentions back to the boy, he continues. "However, we will do our due diligence and double check all information he provides.. Will the boy be leading us? Or are we following his directions? What leads do we have thus far outside of this boys story?"
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Have the local authorities been notified?
“They’ve been unable to recover the dozens of other Cassomir citizens who’ve gone missing in recent months. What makes you think they’ll get our Pathfinder back? Besides, Cestis has some... knowledge I’d rather the local authorities not get, and so I need you to get him for me.” VC Themis explains.
"What do we know of the kidnappers? Do we know why he was kidnapped?
“They started a few months ago. Cassomir has always had some trouble with its citizens going missing, but this was different. Only those associated with the Imperial Naval Shipyards were taken—shipwrights, carpenters, navy guards, and so on. This recent kidnapping, where they took Cestis, was brash and bold. They grabbed more than a dozen people in one attack, neglecting to grab Nefti. Their mistake is our fortune.”
"Is it safe to trust this Aspis agent? Why are we working with them?"
“Difficult situations sometimes call for diff icult choices. The Aspis have the information we need about where to start in this mystery, and if it takes dirtying our hands with them to get Cestis back, I think it’s worth it.”
Will the boy be leading us? Or are we following his directions?
"He will be showing you where he saw the kidnappers take them. nothing more.I have verified the boys story am I not to be trusted?"
"what relics in particular were being auctioned?"
"The relics are of ill importance in this matter as nothing was stolen."
You saw where they were taken? What was the area like, and who was around there?
The boy nervously clears his throat. "They were taken to the Harbor. there is an Inn called the Inn of the Unlucky Sailor." VC Themis cuts the boys off. "There are... rumors of twisted men from the Darklands who climb up through Cassomir’s Locker, the sewers, catacombs, and older ruins below the city. Alas, they are only rumors. We don’t know who’s doing it.” She stands from her desk.
"Now get going. We don't have much time."Themis insists as she ushers you out the door.
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Perched precariously overhanging the dirty harbor water stands the Inn of the Unlucky Sailor. A fresh coat of white paint glistens on half the inn’s outside walls, and most of the windows are boarded up. The roof leans slightly toward the harbor, as if at any moment the entire thing could come off and slide into the ocean. The dock leading up to the inn is made of rotting wood connected to thick, rank-smelling pilings. Several small rowboats are currently tied up along its length.
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"By all means, go, and if anyone else feels especially stealthy, feel free to accompany him," states the Lady, "and your plan if you are spotted? I would rather avoid losing one Pathfinder to retrieve another. Among other things, it will reflect poorly on me. Hurry back if the situation prompts it, but what sort of signal will you give us if you need us to rush in, blades drawn?"
Hopefully he proves less brash when he's trying to scout than he does when trying to question witnesses. She ponders offering to accompany him herself, but finds herself inclined to let someone else take the bird's side, should they be inclined to.
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Senach smiles at Lady Vulpina as she objects to the battle arrangement. With a bow, he says "I am sure that we will all find our niches as we work together more. Every soul has a place in the natural order.. we must simply understand what that is. I will be honored to have you at my side, Lady."
Returning his gaze to the building, he shakes his head. "We must be sure that there are no innocents that are caught between us and our foe, and a good hunter scouts the land before committing to his actions. See what you can find for us, Kazu. We will decide what to do when we have more information."
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"Let us send Kazu forward to check things out as walk slowly up to the front door, giving him time to sneak up. No doubt they will see the rest of us but they may not see Kazu. Senach and Mardak up front, Vulpina and me next with Quin in the back." Elowyn says to the others. [b]"Any objections? Good. OK Kazu do your thing." The hunter slowly moves forward with her club in hand and her shield ready.
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Frustrated that he is not able to see much from where he is, he turns back to the party and shakes his head, indicating his inability to see anything from there. Instead, he turns back along the dock, trying to sneakily look through the windows, failing which he will continue up the docks until he can look into the building.
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Kazu steps out onto the pier and quickly finds out that the dock is extremely rotting as every one of his steps sends a new board squeaking over the clattering of the waves. Kazu even steps on a single board that isn't nailed down and swings up a few inches on the warped board as it slams back down.
Holding his breath the Tengu waits to see if anyone comes to investigate and when noone does he moves up to the window to find it covered in dirt and grime from both sides making it nearly impossible to see anything through them. Peering through what little cracks in the grime that he can Kazu sees a few forms flitter inside. Inside he hears some squeaking and the low tones of a humanoid voice.
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As the Pathfinders prepare Kazu swings the doors open wide. The inn’s interior is in much better condition. The floors are new and quiet, the walls are covered in fresh paint, and the entire place smells of recently cut wood. Most of the furniture has been removed, though a few tables and chairs remain and are covered in sawdust and wood shavings. Several buckets of white paint sit atop the bar.
Next to the bar stands a man wielding a large club. "It is time to rid the world of you filthy creatures."
Several massive rats scurry about on the floor as all eyes glare to the open doorway while numerous hostages are tied in the southern corner and another tied to the bar, unconscious as his legs droop over the edge.
Quintillus
Lady Vulpina
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Nature's Cataclysm
Rats
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Mardak
Senach
Kazu
Elowyn
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The young noble trots forward, pulling out her wakizashi to accompany her pistol as she gladly crosses a wooden floor that doesn't threaten to drop her into the harbor at every step, heading towards the club-wielding man and the rat between them. "I do hope you're talking about the rats, dear barman, in which case... I am happy to help."
She swings her arm down like a lever, pointing her pistol at the nearest rat; the barrel flares with a crack of smoke.
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Quintillus and Lady Vulpina rush into the inn as Quintillus splashes a small bit of acid onto the blue rat. A loud sizzle, pop and screech is heard as the rat bellows in pain.
Lady Vulpina quickly draws her pistol and blasts the rat's tail off as she narrowly catches it flat-footed.
keeping the water between himself and the Pathfinders the man screaming of the earth ending opens the palm of his hand a a bright flare of light bursts just in front of Quintillus' eyes.
The over-sized rats swarm the intruders, biting at their heels.
Quintillus (5/7)*2 fort saves
Lady Vulpina
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Nature's Cataclysm
Rats (Blue -1)(Green -6)
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Mardak
Senach
Kazu
Elowyn
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Elowyn orders Fangtooth to follow her as she enters the building.
She immediately goes to the right after seeing Lady go to the left.
She comes in right about when Quin takes a hit. "Conjurer get in the back lest you find yourself biting off more than you can chew!" she yells at him as she prepares to engage the rat with her pet next round...
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Vulpina's practically dances as she moves, slipping between the bird and the snake, twirling past the rats to put one between herself and their paladin. While the rat is distracted by now tracking a target on either side instead of just one, Vulpina lunges forward, wakizashi held straight in front of her as she stabs.