The Pathfinder Society has discovered a new Aspis Consortium base in the pirate city of Riddleport and sends a small team of agents to infiltrate the rival cell disguised as newly hired mercenaries from Magnimar.
You hear a key turned in the door's lock, and faces of two young girls appear as the door opens, both eyeing you curiously, and then looking at the room to find the remains of the bunyips. After confirming that the creatures are disposed of, they wave to you and open the door fully.
A set of stairs leads up to the watch post. On the upper floor, a man is sitting in a corner with a crude club close to his right hand, used to support his weight from keeling over. His left hand is on his belly, holding back blood that soaks his shirt. He looks at you, pale, and coughs out a quiet "Thank you."
He then looks at his daughters, and calls them over. "Come here, girls. It's gonna be alright."
The younger child does so, but the older one continues to ask for help for her wounded father. "I'm too young to be an orphan with a younger sister. Please, help us!", she quietly asks as tears start rolling down her eyes.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Alessio approaches and applies a charge from his wand.
clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Take it easy, old-timer. We'll get you patched up. Alessio provides the finest care he can.
Yeah - it was on one of the dead acolytes. Juno picked it up earlier.
The man still struggles with his injuries, but at least he's not bleeding anymore. "Thank you.", he says with a calm voice. "Those things got me good. Good thing you showed up when you did, too."
He stands up slowly, still holding a hand to his waist. He waves at you with his other hand, and introduces himself and the girls. "My name is Josef. These little bundles of nervous joy are my daughters Niana, and Frelinda.", he gestures towards the pre-teen half-elven girls that keep eyeing you curiously.
Josef snickers at the halfling. "Funny guy, this fellow."
He takes a step towards his daughters, and turns back to Consequences.
"You're implying the servants of the temple of the Pirate Queen didn't already take whatever I had on me when they kidnapped us. You want this bloodied shirt, big guy?", he looks at Consequences with a raised eyebrow.
The man responds with a passive-aggressive tone, mixed in with a bit of a surprise that your first intention after looting the temple acolytes is to rob the man blind in front of his children. There doesn't seem to be a lie hidden in his expression, however.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Alessio bristles a bit at the mention of threats on the man's family. I will be very happy to shed this facade soon. It grates the soul.. Speak up. The faster you describe what happened here, the faster we can leave.
"I'll not be a part of threatening children. Priests and drunkards are one thing, children another." Badriyah says with a shake of her head. "We got what we came for so I'll be outside when you're through." She then follows Setare out leaving a good distance between herself and the dead Bunyips.
Josef turns out his pockets to prove he has nothing on his person, and briefly explains the situation while the girls huddle up near him and take hold of one leg each.
"My wife disappeared a few days back. Said she needs to lay low for a while. This morning, Besmarans show up at our house and tie us up to bring us here. They summon their fish so that we may be offered as sacrifice to Besmara."
He puts his hands on the girls' heads. "One of the creatures jumps out and bites an acolyte, however. I use the situation and fight the other one. He jabs me with a rapier, but we manage to hide ourselves in this here lookout post while the creatures have lunch downstairs. Then you showed up. End of story."
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
"She's just a ship captain. Nothing special in these parts. She did mention having some sort of a deal with the Besmarans, though. Seeing her grin like that when she mentioned it, and the way the acolytes came after us - it was probably pretty one-sided."
Josef shrugs: "It would probably explain a few things - her cheating the Besmarans out of something, but I am just assuming at this point."
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Alessio takes a look at the scrolls that were looted.
Activating the Dull Grey Ioun Stone in my wayfinder for Read Magic for 1 minute.
I don't see a connection. We should get back with our haul. leave these people.
The man says his goodbyes with an unceremonious wave, and - in silence - leaves with both his daughters. The place is yours, but there's not much else to explore here. Besides the view of the river, maybe.
Female Dwarf Fighter 3 | HP: 34/34 | AC 22 (T10, FF 22) | CMB: +6 CMD: 16 | F:+7 R:+1 W:+2 (+5 vs. cold weather, +2 vs. poison, spells, spell-like) | Init +0 | Perc +8, SM +1, Social -1, Appraise +2 | Speed 20 ft. | Active Conditions: None
As the people walk away, Juno suddenly remembers something.
"Sh**." she huffs.
Hurrying after the people she calls out, "Hey! What's your wife's name?"
If the answer happens to be Redelia: "Then you're in luck. Answer my questions honestly and consider your debt paid: Where's your wife? How I can contact her?"
Male Halfling HP:18/35 | AC 21 FF 16 T 16 CMB +1 CMD 16 | Per + 10 SM +1 Init +5 | Smokesticks: 3/4 Assault Leader 0/1 Adaptable Luck 0/3 uRogue (Escapologist) 4
Her name is Redelia? XD our VA gets around
Consequences considers the three relics I suppose we should return to our aspis contacts...we still don't know where the cult of lissala headquarters, so we still don't have the information we need to complete our actual mission
Female LG follower of Sarenrae | human (actually mostly human Ifrit) | freckles, sweet, naive, fierce personality in battle | Outsider (Native), Humanoid (human) | Resistances: Elec. 3, Acid 3, Fire 2, Cold 3 | Smite 1/1 | Boots of Speed 10/10 | Swashbuckler 5, Paladin 2, Unchained Monk 3, Bloodrager 1 | HP 106/106 | Protector Familiar HP 53 | with mage armor/rage: AC 35, T 30, FF 24 | CMD 37 | F: +23, R: +25 (Evasion), W: +17 | Init: +13 | Perc: -2, SM: -2 | Ki Pool 6/7 | Stunning Fist 6/6 | Rage 6/6 | LoH 7/7 | Panache 6/6 + Plume 1/1 | Reroll 1/1 + Lesson of H. 1/1 | Eefriti Magic 1/1 | Darkvision 60ft | Speed 50ft | Active cond.: Mage Armor
"Oh I ... I am so glad that this bu ... bullying is over. This was such a ... you know ... horrible experience. Let us go ba ... back to the Aspis!" Setare says and it is quite obvious that she has built up a lot of frustration in the last couple of hours.
Unfortunately, you don't find anything that would indicate Redelia's current whereabouts.
With the three relics in your possession, you return to the Barracuda Cartage. The hired muscle escorts you to Jenk's office again, with Jenk anticipating your arrival: "Ah, great! You're back already. I take it you have what you were sent for?", he asks as he scans you for the items he expected.
Seeing two of the three relics used in such a fashion, Jenk frowns at Consequences. "A simple 'Yes' would have sufficed. There's no need for that. We're gifting these to the cult, remember?"
"Now, luckily for you, Spider got back to me while you were gone.", he puts a message on the table and moves it towards you slowly. "Here's the location of the cult. I suggest you don't delay and head there immediately after we are done here. Did you have any problems picking up the relics?", he asks as he takes the relics to inspect them.
Added a page to the handouts document with the message.
Female LG follower of Sarenrae | human (actually mostly human Ifrit) | freckles, sweet, naive, fierce personality in battle | Outsider (Native), Humanoid (human) | Resistances: Elec. 3, Acid 3, Fire 2, Cold 3 | Smite 1/1 | Boots of Speed 10/10 | Swashbuckler 5, Paladin 2, Unchained Monk 3, Bloodrager 1 | HP 106/106 | Protector Familiar HP 53 | with mage armor/rage: AC 35, T 30, FF 24 | CMD 37 | F: +23, R: +25 (Evasion), W: +17 | Init: +13 | Perc: -2, SM: -2 | Ki Pool 6/7 | Stunning Fist 6/6 | Rage 6/6 | LoH 7/7 | Panache 6/6 + Plume 1/1 | Reroll 1/1 + Lesson of H. 1/1 | Eefriti Magic 1/1 | Darkvision 60ft | Speed 50ft | Active cond.: Mage Armor
Setare looks at the others shyly and then steps forward.
"Ehh ... no ... no problems at all! I ... I swear. Aspis' reputation is ... is better than ever. You clearly chose the ... the right people!" she says looking into Jenk's eyes.
Bluff:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Remember Setare, all this is for the greater good and you owe the Scociety allegiance ... oh dear Chaldira aid me!
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Alessio loves working with such an efficient team. Right then, here we go!
Jenk seems satisfied with the answers and outcome of the meeting. "Alright then! Off you go, and let me know when you're done. Remember - no funny business. We want these people on our side."
After you're done in the Barracuda Cartage, you move to thelocation specified in Spider's letter. The journey doesn't take long, but you find yourselves moving through less and less people as you approach your destination. Walking people, anyway. This place seems to be the part of town for the less fortunate. The already bleak buildings of Riddleport start to look more and more broken down as you move
towards the arena. Tenements sprawl across the portion of the Wharf District between Zincher’s Arena and the solid-looking Gas Forges. A shop with a sign reading 'Seven Needles' stands at the end of a dim, trash-strewn alley. The tattoo parlor is abandoned, its windows cracked and portions of its wooden trim looking like they were removed long ago. Getting in is not a problem. Either through one of the windows or cranky, unlocked door. A thin, but very noticable dust layer covers the half-rotten wooden floor, and a few puddles produced by holes in the roof produce a damp, moldy odour.
Perception/Survival 18:
Looking around, you notice a few sets of footprints in the dust, converging towards the northeast corner.
Whoever passes the above check:
Perception 15:
The footsteps lead to a semi-rotten carpet thrown over the floor. It was recently moved, however, and removing it from its place reveals a trap door.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
perc:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Alessio is not paying much attention as he takes the opportunity to absorb an extract into his body. Just in case.
Touch Injection for a healing school extract. CLW. 2 hour duration.
Con, you should take this before we go much further. Alessio hands Consequences an extract of Cure Light Wounds. 1d8+2
Wrinkling her nose at the smell of the alley and old parlor, Badriyah looks around for any sign of the people they are here to find. After a few minutes she spots the footprints in the dust and tracks them to the far corner of the room.
"Seems like someone has been over here recently....and they didn't seem to leave in the same direction." She says to the others while giving the area a closer look but is unable to find anything else.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
He waits for the silence to greet Juno and calmly proceeds to what is to him the plain as day opening in the floor and removes the covering Lets do this fast. Lets burn this mother to the ground and blame the snakes.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Alessio stands there, dumbfounded. That was cleverly hidden! Ok, let's go finish this.
