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You begin the adventure at the Grand Lodge of Absalom, where you join dozens of other Pathfinders on a lawn in the shadow of Skyreach. Many of the assembled agents hold fliers that appeared about the lodge the day before, hinting at a special announcement to be made here this morning.
Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng emerges from the crowd followed by an assistant carrying a large stool that she sets on the grass. Dreng spryly clambers up to stand on the stool and addresses the small crowd.
"Thank you for joining me here, Pathfinders," the milky-eyed venturecaptain shouts. "Absalom has a long and illustrious history, and today we add a little more to that ongoing record. The esteemed councilor Hadrel Grayrain of Diobel recently passed away, leaving a vacancy on Absalom’s Grand Council. We’re still many months away from the annual inauguration of councilors, and with numerous acts pertaining to Diobel on the schedule, the vassal city is eager to get a new representative. In fact, with Absalom’s assistance, Diobel’s Kortos Consortium has co-bankrolled a festival spread across much of the Foreign Quarter. Ostensibly, this is an occasion to honor the deceased and welcome his replacement. Virtually everyone also sees this as a chance to advertise and earn some new business."
Drandle Dreng clears his throat and shrugs. "Well, the Society is no exception. We’ve already chipped in some gold to help this be a success, and in doing so we’ve received numerous invitations to the more exclusive events. With our recent work in Mendev, we’ve earned considerable goodwill. This is a good opportunity to consolidate those gains by seeing and being seen by the upper crust — as well as hobnobbing with the common people."
He chuckles and gives the crowd a smile. "All at the Society’s expense! Have a good time, keep an ear out for interesting leads, and represent the Society well!"
The venture-captain then hops off the stool and mills about the crowd, greeting various agents by name, slapping associates on the back.
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A tall, lean half-elf listens intently. He wears his platinum blonde hair long, and it loosely frames his face. His hand, which bears a rough brand, rests on his sword's pommel.
He wears no armor, symbol of deity, or implements of magic-use. Instead, he is dressed in the fine, flashy garb of a noble. Aside from a pack resting nearby, his only possession seems to be an elegantly-crafted adamantine blade. This sword appears to be a bit over three feet long and very slightly curved. It is not the blade of a brute, but of a duelist. The half-elf's long limbs and agile build seem well-suited to be a swordsman.
When he speaks, it is with a tone full of hubris.
"I am Erevan Stormstride," he says, almost as if it is a boast. "I know my way around a party. I can find the information you need. With my considerable skill with my blade, I will overcome any problems, as well. Is there any new business in particular the Society is interested in?"
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A beautiful tanned woman with hair as black as the deepest night and matching eyes leans on a corner of the room observing the half elf. Suddenly a slight smile appears on her full red lips and she speaks:"Any problem? You sure are modest, are you not?" she chuckles before continuing:"My name is Vanya. A fellow Pathfinder agent. I can't boast I can solve any problem but I might know a thing or two about infiltration and making sure people learn what they need to know" - so saying she blinks at Erevan - "Besides that... I also have some skill with blades as well. Nothing too fancy, mind you, but serviceable in case of need..." as she finishes speaking Vanya raises her right arm with a flourish and out of thin air a dagger appears in her hand.
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A male Shoanti human strides up armed with a longbow and various tools for woodland usage and dressed in leather lamellar. "I asked for an assignment in the wilds of the woods and got an assignment in the wilds of society instead. My name is Quinnik. I wont be the one doing the talking at the party as that may lead to a fight. But I will cover you all with my bow."
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"Well, officially I don't have any preferences, you know. But if you ask me, I'd go to see Lady Morilla. I'm sure she'll invite you for some tea. I heard she's looking for somebody to do her a favor. You can also talk to Ollystra Zadrian, maybe she has some stories to share about the Worldwound. I heard she needs a team to participate an auction instead of her. Oh, yes! Maybe you can lend Major Maldris a hand in arresting somebody. I forgot who, but I'm sure he will tell you more about this. Apart from that, there are several smaller gatherings that take place throughout the city." Dreng answers to your question and explains the gatherings briefly.
Early that day just as the drunks are arrising from alleys near their favorite dives, Pree stands in a circle of dock workers, teamsters, and a local street gang known as the Black Widows. She tosses some coin in the ref's hat where it mingles with everyone else's. She stretches and cracks her knuckles, neck and sandelled feet. Her opponent approaches.
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A woman with long silver hair and bright blue eyes walks up to you. She wears a black skirt and a frilly beige shirt, and has sturdy leather boots on her feet. The observant person may notice there's a very finely crafted mithral breastplate below the woman's shirt. On her back is a backpack with a glaive tied to it. The woman has an earth breaker and greatsword hanging from her back as well. Despite the heavy load on her back, the rather slim woman moves as if she's not even aware of the weight.
"As a member of the Silver Crusade, I'd like to go see Ollysta and help her. Though I don't mind seeing the others either, especially Lady Morilla. I'd quite like some tea."
The woman nods politely at the other Pathfinders talking to Dreng. "My name's Aryn, Aryn Seavon. Pleased to meet you!"
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"No need for false modesty, eh? I shall hold you to it then... remember that any problem is a pretty large category, though" chuckles Vanya before turning serious at Drendle Dreng's words and sighing:"Better to get Old lady Morilla out of our hair as soon as possible. She can be quite persistent if she wants to be... and she has the resources to cause trouble for us if she refuse the very polite invitation that VC Dreng just delivered as a carefully worded suggestion... Trust me, I've seen her do this before. Sometimes I think I liked the other guy more. He was an ineffective fop for sure, but at least he stopped questioning your actions once you delivered the flavour of the month he wanted you to collect for him. Lady Morilla... she means business. A very hard woman that one, don't let her gracious manners fool you. So in short we've better go see her do what she wants and if all goes well she'll even recompense us. Later we can see whoever you want, let's just make sure to be at the commemorative service. After all, it wouldn't be right not to give our last salute to the man"
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A Kellid with sun-weathered features and a small owl perched on his shoulder appears. "My apologies...I was far afield and only just arrived." He is caparisoned with various leathern fringes and beads in the style of Kellid mystics, and his owl seems to be asleep, its plumage dark black with light spots indicating the constellations above it.
"I am Shungur Edge-of-Sky." His solemn demeanor disappears as he cracks a smile, showing wrinkles around his green eyes. "A shaman can be surprisingly fun at a party."
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During the festivities you spot Lady Morilla a few times while she maintains alliances and keeps up appearances. You are able to talk to her briefly and she invites you to meet her at a teahouse in the Petals District.
Once at the tea house you are taken to a private dining room where a team of servers brings in an array of snacks and drinks, she checks to ensure that nobody is eavesdropping and then addresses you.
"Nearly a year ago, I and several of my best agents began assembling a grand Army of Exploration to do battle in the Worldwound and inspire others to do the same. Admittedly, we also aimed to restore some of Taldor’s lost glory, if its leaders would show initiative by funding their own crusaders. Most of my peers continued to sit idly and mock our efforts, yet now that the army has proven victorious, these critics are racing to claim that they were key contributors."
"Several of Grand Prince Stavian’s loudest sycophants — including the boorish Lord Minovitas — are in Absalom for the dedication of ‘The Opparan Trace Commission,’ which is a new guildhall intended to host Taldan business and is scheduled to open tomorrow afternoon. One of my agents serves as an aide to Lord Minovitas, and he reports that the lord commissioned the celebrated Varisian painter Amya Illanaf to create a series of portraits to hang in the grand hall. I have since learned that these are entitled ‘The Heroes of the Worldwound.’ The one my agent chanced to see portrayed that portly hound Lord Minovitas in pristine battle regalia with his foot planted on a dead fiend, as though he had slain it himself — all while Iomedae sings his praises in the background."
"We cannot afford to let Absalom see these, for they would perpetuate the stereotype that Taldor is a land of foppish aristocrats dedicated to their own grandiose delusions. If we let this happen, we would reward the ineptitude and indolence so common in Taldor’s upper class. We would also surrender much of the credit we are due."
"I have made arrangements to sabotage the portraits, which Lord Minovitas is keeping covered until they are unveiled to the public. If you can get to the paintings first, you might secretly deface or alter them to embarrass Lord Minovitas and send a so message to other Taldan nobles who would do the same. At present, the art waits in a warehouse in the Wise Quarter. Find a way in, do what you must, and try to avoid hurting innocents or being caught in the act; we’re trying to help Taldor, not start a civil war."
Lord Minovitas is a Taldan nobleman who has spent much of the past year in Absalom laying the groundwork for future business endeavors, though most of that time he has spent intoxicated while wining and dining influential citizens.
His lordship is fighting a losing battle to maintain his upstanding image in Absalom as several Taldans have begun telling stories of Lord Minovitas’s habitual exploitation of his ancestral lands and its people. At least two of these rumormongers have disappeared very suddenly in the past month.
Lord Minovitas’s superiors have formally censured him on at least two occasions for "ignoble conduct", which would qualify as felonies if performed by a commoner.
The warehouse in question helps to stock shops in the Wise Quarter and Foreign Quarter, so it contains a wide variety of goods. Prospective clients visit often to rent out space or order shipments of goods, which often includes a tour of the facility.
Lord Minovitas sent for a handful of Taldan guards to transport six flat crates from the warehouse, but they are yet to arrive at the guildhall. His lordship sent word that he intends to dispatch replacements soon to retrieve his possessions.
Business has been slow for the warehouse, and the owner is late in paying his employees’ wages — much to the workers’ chagrin.
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Vanya makes her best to sound polite and respectful:"A grave matter indeed. We shall do our best to make sure this... profiteer, doesn't claim an unfair share of the glory won on the field of battle by your agents" says Vanya hoping to appease her faction's head.
"Is there any way you may help us accomplish the deed, though? False credentials maybe? Something to... make the guards look the other way?" sha adds, waryly.
"Let's start with the tea, then," Erevan agrees. "I'm sure some of these events can help me...us get ahead with the Society."
"Got one." Says Pree smiling. Her long, muscled arms and legs are scuffed and she has a busted lip. She holds up an empty Black Widow helmet. "Well, I had one."
She plunks the helmet down and takes tea the same way a longshore man might take a triple-decker sandwich with too much sauce. She listens to Morilla until the lady finishes, at which point she belches long and loudly and wipes her face with the back of her dirty, bandaged hand.
"So, high brow urban tagging?"
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Quinnik says to Lady Morilla "We shall do our best." Afterwards he goes and scurries around to find anything he can talking to locals...
Quinnik comes back to let the others know what he found out. "The warehouse in question helps to stock shops in the Wise Quarter and Foreign Quarter, so it contains a wide variety of goods. Prospective clients visit often to rent out space or order shipments of goods, which often includes a tour of the facility.
I also found out that Lord Minovitas sent for a handful of Taldan guards to transport six flat crates from the warehouse, but they have yet to arrive at the guildhall. His lordship sent word that he intends to dispatch replacements soon to retrieve his possessions."
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"I've also learned some things," Aryn says as she, like Quinnik, returns from talking to the local populace.
"Minovitas's a lazy bum who likes drink. His superiors have formally censured him on at least two occasions for "ignoble conduct," which is a fancy way of saying he committed felonies. Pretty sure he'd be in jail if he were a commoner."
"What's more, there are several Taldans who have begun telling stories of Minovitas's habitual exploitation of his ancestral lands and its people. At least two of these rumormongers have disappeared very suddenly in the past month."
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Shungur is cornered by an elderly duchess who insists on telling him the lineage of her pseudodragons over the centuries in her family...said description appears to take centuries as well. "Yes...Madame, that is fascinating. May I freshen your drink?" He scurries away to find Aryn.
"Meteorites and mammoths, I was nearly kidnapped at this soiree," says the Kellid a bit forlornly. "I think I was going to be put in a collection."
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"I know that I'm asking a difficult favor, and I'm willing to contribute material resources to help you accomplish the job. I can offer the following: three scrolls of erase, one scroll of fabricate and ample paints to repaint a portrait and two unframed paintings of my own that you might use to replace Lord Minovitas’s gaudy art."
One of the painings is a fairly realistic depiction of Lady Morilla mustering soldiers, and the other shows Vanya battling a daemon.
"Let's just go and punch some people."
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Seeing herself pictured in the painting the normally self assured Vanya blushes visibly:"What the... ehrm... yeah, right. So... you can give us 2 paintings and the means to destroy more if needed. But do we know how many paintings did Minovitas commission exactly? Anyway I suggest one possible course of action: one of us could pose as an art critic sent by Minovitas to make sure the paintings are worth what he paid them. The rest of us would pose as the "critic's" enturage. Once we reach this warehouse we give the guards some forged papers, convince them the "critic" needs to check on the paintings alone and then he or her will proceed to exchange Minovitas crusts with our works of art, and eventually modify the other paintings or erase them. Then we leave and wait for Minovitas to give honor where honor's due and maybe have a good laugh too"
For a moment Vanya looks pensive before speaking again:"Or we could just evade the guards, enter the warehouse do what needs to be done and the slip away in the night"
"Or we could just evade the guards, enter the warehouse do what needs to be done and the slip away in the night"
"If we yammer much longer it'll be night."
"Or even the artist and their....model?"
"I'm allergic to fig leaves. I could do without the rash."
Pree flicks something out from between her teeth with a tooth pick.
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"I know that the replacement guards hired by Lord Minovitas arrived in the morning to pick up the six crates, which they loaded into a close-topped wagon. They are currently escorting them from the northern end of the way they have to take multiple detours to get around street festivals and parades, causing them to arrive late to the unveiling. There the guards will carry the paintings into the building, where others place the covered art on large easels on a stage at one end of the great hall."
"Lord Minovitas will deliver a speech to commemorate the occasion and unveils the paintings to Foreign Quarter to the Opparan Trace Commission building. Along the the polite applause of those in attendance. That means you have several hours to do what you think is best, although I prefer you don't destroy the painings entirely." Lady Morilla gives some last hints.
does anyone have a silver tongue to bluff the guards? if not then we may have to sneak up and knock them out. good either way.
"Sorry. Golden gloves."
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"That's fine by me, I actually know how to tell a lie or two if needed says Vanya, accepting Aryn's suggestion.
"Anyway I insist we forge some papers to make our story more believable. That's the first thing a guard worth his salt should ask. Once that's out of the way we'll have an easy time solving this problem"