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Your latest mission for the Pathfinder Society finds you in Varisia. You get the impression that your selection for this mission was rather rushed, as you were not even given a face-to-face briefing, but rather simply asked to meet at the main hall of the Grand Lodge in Absalom, and were there given a missive from Venture-Captain Amara Li Aram Zey, then ushered to a caravan bound for Korvosa.
The missive from Venture-Captain Amara Li Aram Zey was clear, and comes to mind as the skyline of Korvosa rises into view over the calm waters of Conqueror's Bay in southern Varisia.
"Recently the Society acquired a new ally in Absalom named Sendeli Foxglove. Now she has made something of a personal request. Sendeli has a sister named Zeeva in Korvosa who owns a successful marketplace. A competing business interest is threatening Lady Foxglove, and her sister requests the Society investigate and intervene."
"If you consider the matter pedestrian and more suited toward the local constabulary, I wouldn't blame you. Even so, there are extenuating circumstances. First, the competing business interest is the Aspis Consortium. It makes little sense for them to harass a local greengrocer, so there must be a deeper layer to this. Maintaining close ties to Sendeli Foxglove is an agenda the Society feels is worth pursuing in and of itself, but if we can assist Zeeva while also hampering the Aspis Consortium's efforts to gain influence in Korvosa, all the better."
"There is smoke here, now find the fire. Extricate Zeeva Foxglove from this feud with the Consortium. If she's anything like her sister, she'll want to be an active part of this team-but you are ! We've made that clear to her, and you're expected to abide by it and ensure she does as well. If this matter is simply crooked business, then just resolve it and continue on to Magnimar where Venture-Captain Heidmarch will surely have more in store for you."
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A pretty and exotic young lady stands in the room, you think that she is an elf with her pointy ears. She introduces her as Reiko. For those who know her, wasn't she a half-orc last time you saw her?
"I would be glad to oppose those filthy snakes and disrupt their business. The girl shall come to no harm."
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A stunning tattooed beauty walks into the room, her arms and bossom adorned by various tattoos, most notably a scorpion strategically placed to accentuate her vibrant.... assets. She cracks a wry smile as she winks at the Venture Capatain.
"Aram Darling,so happy to see you."
Her whispering voice can somehow be heard above the ambient noise in the room, perhaps it's just the fact that any room falls silent whenever she enters.
Peri will just assist diplomacy with Ignatious, when he makes his rolls.
Aspis again? I thought we took care of them with the whole giant monkey showdown.
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Well, Exiel smashes the DCs, and shares the following info with the party as you make your way through Korvosa towards the Green Market.
The Green Market is located in a populated area of South Shore. Locals who can provide information on its history are easily found throughout the neighborhood or even the market itself.
Zeeva Foxglove is the second owner of the Green Market. Both occasions it has been open, the business was always popular and successful.
The previous owner died, closing the doors roughly ten years ago. His death was unexpected and sudden. Oddly, at no ti me has any owner of the Green Market failed to show at least a fair profit.
The previous owner's death was mysterious-a wasting disease struck quickly, without warning or discernable cause, and never spread. Local farmers and
craftsmen believe the market is otherwise lucky, but they don't discuss its history openly.
The Green Market was built on or near a site of importance to the Shoanti. Not as significant as the Grand Mastaba, but nevertheless still considered sacred.
Zeeva Foxglove has lived most of her life in Korvosa, and she is well known among locals. Her reputation in the local community is solid.
Her business dealings have always been fair, despite always being lucrative.
She was brought to Korvosa from Magnimar as a child. She is technically nobility in Magnimar, but she has no connection to it, and she lays no claim to a noble title in Korvosa.
Orphaned after her parents died tragically, Zeeva and her siblings were raised by a distant cousin in Korvosa. Her sister Sendeli now lives in Absalom, and her estranged brother Aldern returned to Magnimar. Zeeva sold her portion of her inheritance to buy the Green Market, and so far it has been a good investment.
Some suspect Zeeva is a witch, but a good one who is willing to use her powers to help her neighbors.
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Eventually, you find yourself at the place known as the Green Market. The Green Market is a mostly wooden structure built like a massive barn. It stands on a flattened section of raised earth five feet higher than the surrounding street. The structure is only a single story, but the ceiling rises to twenty-five feet and has numerous glass skylights that can be opened and closed with extending poles and ladders for lighting and ventilation.
To the south is the main entrance that has large iron gates which can be slid and chained shut. On the southeast and southwest sides are exterior docks with sliding bay doors, where farmers and merchants can unload the wares from their wagons directly into stalls or bring them into interior kiosks.
Inside, the majority of the ground is hard-packed earth, except for the stalls, which have wood flooring. Only the four southeastern stalls carry goods other than produce. The southern-most stall has casks of wine, oils, and vinegar. The other stalls sell quality clothing, jewelry, and finished furniture. On the northeast side is an office that can be secured by another sliding iron gate. North of the office is the market's back entrance. Finally, in the center north is a park-like area with a large tree and flowered bushes kept alive by an open skylight above.
The Green Market is open to the public, and merchants hock their wares from their booths as customers bustle to and fro.
You have no problem finding Zeeva Foxglove, as the winsome ways of Ignatious and Exiel allow the party to gather the information easily. You find her wandering the market floor, keeping an eye on the crowds for signs of Aspis Consortium activity, thievery, or customers or clients in need of her assistance.
Zeeva Foxglove is a stunning woman with chin-length, strawberry blonde hair, wide brown eyes, and a generous smile. She carries no weapons and wears no armor. A sleek, black cat rubs itself against her ankle. When you introduce themselves, she greets you warmly.
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Before heading out, I'll hand everyone a platinum ring similar to a wedding ring with small celestial script etched into it. Each looks similar. "Wear this at all times. If we come unto serious threat, stay near me and mother will protect you as she does me."
Indicating a scroll hanging from his belt, "I also had the pleasure of forcing the harlot Zarta to do something benevolent, in hopes that even her decrepit soul might at least have a chance to let the spark of goodness grow, or more likely simply not have the excuse that she never had the chance when she sits before the judgment.", .
With that out of the way, I'll hang back with Peri a bit. "It is nice to see you once more, my friend. How have you been? I had heard from a few friends, Garinol and Yanos, that they had quested with you, and things went well. Something about a speaking sword leading into a demon sanctuary and nightmares, and also some sort of golem thing to protect a village from certain ruin."
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As you weave through the crowd, you notice that two of the "ordinary market shoppers" have large curiously-shaped packs under their cloaks. You spy the bottom of large scabbards peeking out from under their cloaks as they walk towards your fellow pathfinders. A third figure appears to be following behind them, and you spy a sheathed dagger tucked into her belt. You can take a full round of actions.
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"We shall protect you, and also give the Aspis the massage, that you are not interested. Here, please take this and wear it. If you are in trouble, it will protect you." as I give her a platinum ring as well.
"Perhaps it would be wiser to seek them out, that we can give the message quickly, and perhaps avoid some sort of trouble here in the streets?"
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"I suppose we will need to be on our toes then, since we are waiting for them to come to us..." Exiel sighs as he looks around warily.
He taps a tattoo of a thrush on his upper left arm. As he does, the tattoo shifts, then moves, then peels itself off his arm, turning into a ordinary-looking thrush of flesh, blood and bone.
"Lucien, your eyes are sharper than mine. Would you kindly help us by keeping a look out for trouble?"
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Oswin listens to Zeeva Foxglove story intently.
"Yes, that sounds like normal Consortium tactics. So far... They often make things more...complicated... Still, we should be able to protect you. We should probably assume that we won't scare them much. If we do confront some their number, a prisoner could prove to be quite a valuable asset."
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Reiko shadows the suspicious trio as they make their way towards Zeeva Foxglove. Zeeva turns to continue her tour of the market only to find herself face to face with a stern-looking woman who addresses her in a softly menacing tone.
"Ah, a fine morning, is it not, Miss Foxglove? But so many people about. We of the Aspis Consortium would like you to come with us to...a more private location, to ... discuss business. I trust you will not object? After all, it would be a terrible shame to have to cause a scene in such a serene setting as the Green Market."
The strange woman notices that you lot are armed (Exiel, your hooked lance in particular would visible from a distace, and the swords and maces/morningstars carried by the others would be plainly visible once they got near unless you were actively hiding them), and eyes you warily.
"Out of the way, mercs. You riff-raff may think you're hot stuff in a tavern brawl, but you ain't worth a s%*+ before seasoned Aspis Agents. You walk now, you get to keep your lives, hmm?" The big men adjust their cloaks so that the hilts of their greatswords are now in clear sight.
Zeeva steps away from them and looks to all of you (except Reiko, who is hidden behind the man's massive frame) with a worried look on her face.
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Reiko draws her wakazashi undetected, grabs hold of the womans shoulder and points the weapon into the hollow of her back (so that she feels it). She menacingly speaks into her ear.
"Well it seems that these seasoned Aspis Agents are even worse then us riff-raff if they leave themselves so vulnerable. I suggest you do not move and tell your cronies to do the same or the poisoned blade might slip. And I warn you, I am not the only hidden blade amongst the crowd."
If she tries anything suspicious Reiko will strike her with the blade
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Intsrpossing myself between them and our ward, "We are not "mercs", mr. And Miss Foxglove has made it clear she is not interested in your propossed aliance. There is nothing more for you to say at this point. The answer was no. Like you said, the place is crowded with many eyes. Surely the seasoned warriors of the Aspis are not so STUPID, so INCOMPETENT as to try anything. It would be bad for you. For your purses, of course." (not drawing a weapon)
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The strange woman's face shows faint annoyance as Reiko threatens her and Ignatious mocks her. "You should know, the Consortium is well-prepared for dealing with...accidents. We already have contingencies..."
As she is in mid-sentence, she suddenly sweeps her arm behind her. There was no incantation, no sign of drawing a weapon, nothing to indicate that she was up to anything, but perhaps Reiko discerned her intention nonetheless?
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There was no wind-up, no prior tensing of the muscles, just a sudden flick of the arm backwards. The woman distracts Reiko with her words, then suddenly throws her hand backwards, attempting to simply touch Reiko.
It is but the lightest touch, a brush of the hand, but for some reason, upon contact, Reiko finds herself bursting out in laughter. It is manic, uncontrolled, and lasts for but a brief moment, but in that moment, the woman is able slip just slightly further away from Reiko, and call to the 2 men with her.
"You will pay for mocking the Consortium! Die you fools! Men, take them down!"
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If possible Reiko will move back into the crowd where you hear her laugh dissipate and she dissapears from sight. She will use her hat of disguise to take the shape of a bald human female instead of the elf that she looked like before. Her clothing changes to a wide robe so she can hide her sword in her clothes while her hands are in front of her (like monks with big robes that cover their entire hands and arms)
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"Damn that ninja.
"Let's make this quick shall we darlings?"
Peri casts haste on her companions.
When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature's full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation. (This effect is not cumulative with similar effects, such as that provided by a speed weapon, nor does it actually grant an extra action, so you can't use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round.)
A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.
All of the hasted creature's modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject's normal speed using that form of movement. This increase counts as an enhancement bonus, and it affects the creature's jumping distance as normal for increased speed. Multiple haste effects don't stack. Haste dispels and counters slow.