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No purchases?
Imrana and Numair, could you please add stats to your profiles? Anything similar to what Jair and Rendala have done would be great. Thanks!
We begin in Absalom.
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The gala inside the Chelish embassy appears to be in full swing, and as the faint light from the building falls upon the alleyway outside, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin’s mission briefing is
hard to forget.
“Pathfinders,” Valsin boomed but hours earlier in the briefing chamber within the Grand Lodge, “Zarta Dralneen no longer exists. She never existed. She’s never worked for the Chelish embassy here in Absalom, and she’s never been in charge of the Chelish Pathfinders. At least that’s what I was told, repeatedly, to my face, through three layers of Chelish bureaucrats. I know those people, and they all knew Zarta. They didn’t just forget about her. She’s been ‘disappeared.’
“I don’t know where she went and I don’t know who took her. What I need you to do for me is to go into the Chelish embassy and find out as much as you can by snooping around for a bit. I want to know where Zarta is, I want to know who took her, and I want to know why she was taken.
“We can’t afford to offend Cheliax, so you’ll have to infiltrate their embassy quietly. I’ve devised a cover story that should get you in the side door with orders to see the new Chelish ambassador. An ongoing diplomatic gala scheduled for the same time and a clever ruse by Venture-Captain Amara Li— who is also attending the gala—will keep the ambassador busy, but you’ll have to act quickly if you want to secure the information we need before he arrives to meet you. You must get into the embassy, get what we need, and get back out of the embassy without the Chelaxians ever catching on that we’ve been rooting around.
“Here is a packet of information that bears on Chelish interests in Sargava. It’s legitimate intelligence that we probably would have passed on to Zarta eventually anyway and that we’re willing to give up for free as our ticket into the building.
“You’ll enter the embassy through the north entrance of the residential wing, where Chelish imperial security receives all of their informants. Even if you have a good cover story, you might have difficulty getting past the guards there—if necessary, you’ll have to resort to bribing your way through. Once you’re in, the guards will likely make you wait for the ambassador when you tell them you have important information for him. Don’t give it to anyone else, since once they have the information there will be no reason for them not to show you the door.
“Amara Li will keep the ambassador pinned down at the gala while you break out of the waiting room and snoop around. She will also meet you just before you enter the gala to cast a message spell on you, just in case you need to keep in touch during your mission. You just need to make your way to Zarta’s chambers—they’re in the southwest corner of the residential wing, but you’ll have to find a route that doesn’t intersect with the gala’s attendees or residents of the embassy. Try to get in and out in less than an hour. That’s my best estimate at how long the gala and Li can keep the ambassador preoccupied. Once you’ve got the information and made it back to the waiting area, you just have to wait for the ambassador to find time to see you.
“My informants tell me that Ailenia Hospar, one of the clerks you’ll likely run into at the embassy, is addicted to shiver. I’ve procured some of the drug for you to slip her if she initially proves less than accommodating. You may also have to deal with Anstrella Trelax, the pompous night-duty officer.
Beyond that, what you’ll face is beyond my knowledge. I’ve ordered for you to receive several tools that might help you in your mission. Good luck, Pathfinders.”
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A well-muscled half-elf with finely chiseled features raises an eyebrow.
"Right. So, we need to bribe Ailenia with narcotics, charm Anstrella, and then sneak around the embassy (avoiding the gala attendees) to find Zarta's former quarters, and look for evidence. What could possibly go wrong?"
Numair cautiously proceeds to look over the tools procured by the VC for the mission, half-expecting them to bite him.
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Quite an interesting mission ! Going in the Embassy of Cheliax ! There must be a lot of secrets, my Master will be pleased
Jaïr is a petite woman in simple black robes who highlights her silhouette. She's pale but her charming smile and her simple green make-up make her immediately friendly.
At her side, a short sword and a wand.
She step up from the shadows and said Hello everyone, I'm Jaïr. Pleased to meet you all. after smiling to everyone she asked the Venture Captain.
So we must infiltrate the chelaxian embassy, without killing anyone to find... what, the reason she "disappeared" and eventually where she is ?
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I can try to distract some folks. I am not too bad at holding an audience.
She chuckles to herself, then becomes serious, When did you start hearing from folks that Zarta didn't exist? Do the people appear to be under any influence when they make the claims she doesn't exist? Has this disappearing happened before? If so, how often and has it ever been someone so high ranking? If it has happened to someone high ranking before, was it possible to find them?
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The robes she wears bear the personal symbol of the wizard Nex. Her straw-blonde hair is tied back in a practical ponytail, and her skin is the kind of pale that burns in the sun.
"Venture-Captain Valsin. Do you know if there are any tomes of arcane knowledge within the embassy, and are we allowed to remove or copy any of them?" Her voice has the clear tinge of a Garundi accent, as well as the cheerful, matter-of-fact tone of precocious youth.
She turns to the rest of the party. "Oh! I am most sorry! I have forgotten to introduce myself. Greetings, everyone. My name is Imrana. I am a wizard, personally sworn to serve the great Nex and to oppose Geb and undead everywhere. I am here seeking ways to help free the great Nex."
She bows, then pulls out a tome and swiftly begins scribing down everything that Valsin just said in shorthand. Her head pops up from her writing, as she pauses.
"Oh, if I ask any questions, please do not mind. I have been in stasis for 4139 years."
She goes back to writing, humming an upbeat tune.
"Also, what is Cheliax?"
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Rendala, I don't know the exact amount of time she's been missing. Zarta is free to come and go as she pleases. But the fact that the Chelaxians claim she never existed is alarming!
Imrana, I don't care what you do with Chelaxian property as long as you 1) get the information we need to Zarta back and 2) don't leave any evidence that would implicate the Pathfinder Society. The others can fill you in on current events on the way to the embassy.
He hands the party two scrolls of disguise self as well as two elixirs of hiding.
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My master provided me with power to disguise myself in another person as well as charming people.
I will ensure that no one know that the Society is involved in this Captain.
I'm ready
Jaïr before taking anything asked the other.
Did some of you can use these scroll ? I could, but I also could be stealthy so one or another is fine by me
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I bought some scroll of disguise self for myself in case of need, but I'm also not bad at moving silently.
So, I will take one of the elixir.
I'm quite good at bluffing people, especially men as they are people of lust. So if we need to use some ruse to get in or out, let me do the talking.
I'm also trained in history, planes and religion. I think I will be able to fill the blank for Imrana since her "stasis".
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Imrana stows her book and bows to Jair. "Thank you very much, Miss Whisper. I have been doing my best to study-up on what I have missed, but there is so much I have missed."
Imrana pats her backpack. "I have a number of scrolls myself. You are free to look if you would like."
"Oh, is anyone here a martial-type person? I have a potion here that might be helpful to such a warrior." She holds up a potion of Enlarge Person, a fact easily discerned from the large label. "I put labels on my potions to make them easier to share with allies unschooled in potions." She smiles brightly.
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Jair looked at Rendala with amusement, using this distraction to cast guidance on her before telling the guard
Please excuse my friend for her good joke, as Pathfinder we tried to cheer up people.
We are here to deliver an important message from the Society to the Ambassador.
This is for his eye only. Can you let us in and ask for the Ambassador ?
I'm sure as important he is, he is very busy but these document is of the greatest importance, so please hurry.
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With that last joke, Rendala breaks the guard's poker face and he has giggle fits for about a minute.
Yeah, I don't make that much, either, he says between bouts of uncontrollable giggling. Go on in.
He opens the door and allows the party through to a reception room. The red paint that covers the walls of this high-ceilinged chamber does little to hide the raised outlines of ancient religious mosaics that once decorated this former temple. Behind the chamber's large and imposing desk sits a woman in clerk's clothing.
She seems a little surprised to see you, and more than a little miffed. Who are you?!? You don't have an appointment! This is highly irregular!
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The woman's eyes focus on the item in Jair's palm and never leave.
Why, I never! ...
Beads of sweat form on her brow and she frowns.
I'll... She pauses. I'll just have to confiscate that. Ahem. Yes. She grabs the items from Jair and quickly pops it into her desk.
Obviously you have business with the ambassador. But this is highly irregular. She calls out in a suprisingly strong voice. Duty Officer Trelax, we have guests who wish to speak with the ambassador!
A striking Chelish woman dressed much more finely than the lower functionaries--wearing an imperial dress uniform--opens a nearby door. She looks down her nose at the party, Bureaucrat Hospar, were you unable to handle these people yourself? she asks with a toxic, derisive tone.
Addressing the party, she asks: What business have you with the ambassador?
Behind her, through the still open door, you see several Chelish guards wearing padded armor and wielding masterwork short swords.
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Jaïr showed the package to Officer Trelax and bow to her before saying
Grettings Officer Trelax. We are here on official business. The Pathfinder Society as documents for the Ambassador, for his eyes only.
We were ordered to give them personnaly to the ambassador.
If he's busy we can of course wait as long as needed.
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The duty officer gives Jaïr a long, thoughtful look. Her eyes... linger... here and there. Addressing the cleric of Norgerber, she says: Call me Anstrella.
She takes a step very close. My shift ends at dawn, and I have the rest of the day off. Maybe after you've delivered this package, you could show me around Absalom? Hm?
Bureaucrat Hospar interjects: But, Duty Officer Trelax, you've been all over Absalom, you...
A sharp, seething glance from Anstrella cuts her short. The bureaucrat lowers her head in an obsequious manner and her eyes flick towards the drawer with the "confiscated" contraband.
So hard to train good help these days, isn't it? the Duty Officer asks. The ambassador will see you, but he is busy for the time being. You'll have to wait.
Taking long, slow strides that seem to accentuate the perfect fit of her dress uniform, she goes back to the guard room. Officer Fife! she commands, Bring our honored guests to the waiting room!
With so many foreign dignitaries here, we'll have to lock you in the waiting room. I'm sure you understand. She walks all the way back into the guard room; they all snap to attention. This is a woman who commands respect and fear.
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How did you know my name? he asks, clearly startled by the knowledge that Rendala plucked out of the air. :-)
The room is sparsely furnished with only a few old chairs and a couch. Two doors—one to the east and another to the west—lead elsewhere within the embassy.
After being led here by the duty guard, you are locked in and left alone. The only other door out of the room is locked as well, but shortly after you are placed in the room, you can hear the interior door unlock and open a crack...
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Jaïr smile widely at the officer offer and said, whispering to her hear. I will be my great pleasure officer Trelax, may be in return could you show me, some of the most private part of Cheliax ?
With the help of this Jaïr showed one of the two elixir I could be very stealthy !
She drank it and said. I will take a tour to see if everything is fine. Don't forget the scrolls the Captain gave us. In case of need I have two other.
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You met the chuckling guard outside of A1.
You met the addicted bureaucrat in room A1.
The Duty Officer and embassy guards came out of room A3.
The waiting room in which you were locked is A2.
The unlocked door leads to area A4--a mini hallway.
You see nobody in the hallway beyond (area A4), but a set of keys hangs from the keyhole. Included in this set are three keys of note:
(1) One obviously goes to this door.
(2) Another looks like a "normal" key.
(3) A third is an odd key that ends in the shape of an Asmodean cross.
At the end of the hallway is a red curtain. Beyond the red curtain is a larger hallway (area A5).