You find yourselves gathered round the entrance to The Office of Ambrus Valsin in Skyreach, Absalom
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A tall, lanky man leans against the wall next to the office door. His ink-stained fingers and complete lack of armor clearly label him as a wizard. He gives the other assembled agents a friendly smile.
"Ah, I see I'm not the only one who has been corralled by Valsin. I fear that I've spent too much time in the Vaults, so it's been a while since my last mission... Oh, where are my manners? I'm Tomren Tellius, Dark Archivist."
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A gnome walks in with a crude looking breastplate but nice weaponry. He carries a small anvil around his waist and has a Glaive and Gnome Hooked Hammer strapped to his back, as well as a composite longbow. He seems rather strong and hardy... for a gnome.
He speaks in the deepest voice you've ever heard for a gnome. "I'm Bravo, formerly a weapon-smith in the sweatshops in Javvox fueling the endless need for weapons for the Galtian revolution. Got out of there and joined the Pathfinder Society as an arms-man. As it turns out, the Exchange was interested in my weapon craft. I may be small but I can pack quite a hit behind my glaive."
"Dark Archivist, huh? Haven't met many of you in my travels yet."
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A tall, rake-thin half-elf, his features weather-beaten and tanned from many hours outside, strides into the room. He is dressed in impeccably cared for traveling gear, and leans heavily on a darkwood staff, one end of which seems to be on fire.
"Greetings," he says in a deep, sonorous voice. "My name is Numair. I will be providing the arcane artillery support for this little outing."
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"Arcane artillery huh..." offers a blonde-haired Chel, closing the venture captain's liquor cabinet with a melodramatic sigh. "I suppose you don't double up as a premier purveyor of fine refreshments? Valsin sure doesn't. This idea that Jeggare wine is the nectar of the gods, regardless of the year... I'm almost appalled." He stands up and rubs his neck, wincing. Shaking his head, he continues with a bow, a smile and sly grin: "Iago Dalamitri, tomb ... explorer. At your service." Rising back up, he directs his attention at the gnome.
"So, you're a weapon-smith huh? Mind if I talk shop? I'm thinking of a replacement for this old workhorse here" he says, patting a rather mundane-looking greatsword. "Is there anyone you'd recommend in town? Or perhaps you might be open to forging something? I'm thinking skymetal, but the prices out of Numeria these days... I'm not sure I want to take the chance and outwait them, given our line of work..."
As a clock chimes the hour, Ambrus Valsin opens the door to admit his guests then resumes his seat next to a grey-eyed woman wearing the robes of an academic. “Please seat yourselves quickly so we can begin. This is Lady Darchana Madinani, archdean of Absalom’s premier school of the arcane, the Arcanamirium. She’s has come to the Pathfinder Society on delicate business.”
“As Second Spell Lord of Absalom, I continually investigate magical attempts to attack our home. The Pathfinder Society recently aided one of my investigations by capturing a disguised Okeno slave ship used for several months to transport various unfortunates to Absalom for sale as slaves to the city’s noble families. Normally this would be legal, yet it seems someone has marked each of these slaves for use as divination foci. I can’t ignore the threat posed by such an insidious spy network. With the capture of that ship, we’re now in an excellent position to strike back at the hidden mastermind behind the slave-scrying.
Know that I do not come to the Pathfinder Society lightly. I am taking on a calculated political risk by asking you to handle this investigation for me. But my long friendship with your master of spells Aram Zey has given me confidence in the abilities—and discretion—of Pathfinder agents.
Using my own spells, I acquired an image of the slaver: a humanoid woman wearing a heavy veil and peering into a mirror. Her clothing is common in Kelish fashion, and I could sense her location was somewhere underground on Stonespine Island.
Although we could pursue conventional means of tracking down the slavers, I have taken measures to ensure our quarry does not see you coming, and I would appreciate a similar effort from you. I propose disguising yourselves either as slaves for sale or possibly the slavers selling them. If successful, you need only allow our enemy’s agents to escort you to their hidden stronghold. Once inside, it should be a modest challenge for you to escape and take their leader by surprise.” Lady Darchana pauses for emphasis. “Your goals are to capture the veiled spymaster and to bring the scrying mirror I observed back to Absalom for further study. If the spymaster dies before she is brought here, that would be regrettable but also understandable.”
“Before you get too concerned,” Ambrus adds quickly, “it isn’t the Society’s practice to sell our field agents into slavery. We’re sending you with a reliable cover story and a magical edge we can discuss in a moment. This isn’t just because it’s a dangerous assignment; we also found the name ‘Muhlia’ associated with the captured Okeno ship. It’s not a common name, but if you haven’t kept up with recent history, I can understand why you may not remember her. Pasha Muhlia al’Jakri was an associate of ours who represented Qadira’s interests to the Pathfinder Society. Three years ago, she departed following very ugly circumstances in Taldor and hasn’t been seen since. If it’s true that she’s building a spy network in Absalom, we need to head off the threat she poses to the society before she can strike.”
Darchana answers Numairs question. “We have considered other options, but posing you all as slaves gives you the best chance of taking the spymaster we seek by surprise. Besides, if you fail, we have every reason to believe you’ll simply be shipped back to Absalom where it’s convenient to retrieve you.” She means this to be reassuring, but fails to come off as so.
Ambrus sighs before responding to Iago's question. “Muhlia is a resourceful negotiator and agent who was known for nursing grudges even before she disappeared. Over the past several years, her name has appeared documents recovered from Aspis Consortium operations. We believe she may have had a close connection to the Desimire brothers Aglorn and Tancred, both associated with the Consortium and slain during conflicts with the Society. Muhlia favors deception and ambushes, so be on your guard.”
Ambrus Valsin adds, “We do have a detailed report from Rilla, a Pathfinder who spent some time as a prisoner of our enemies. Rilla remembers being separated from the other Pathfinders while in Katapesh, taken to Okeno, then marched inland to a little fort with a lot of gnolls. The gnolls deferred to a humanoid woman who always wore a heavy veil that concealed her head and face. At least once, the veiled woman used surgical tools to take some of Rilla’s blood.
Rilla vaguely recalls lessons on how to serve multi-course meals and help nobles into and out of fancy clothes. When the veiled woman was satisfied with Rilla’s progress, the gnolls marched her and several other slaves back to Okeno and put her on a ship bound for Absalom called the Kat Season.
The gnolls tend to nap or just relax during the day, trying to avoid
being given chores. At night, they’re more active and alert, and usually several of them leave the fort to go hunting. Rilla wished she could help us more, but her memory of the last few months is hazy. We found and removed a curse placed on her to weaken her resistance to divination, which may also explain this memory issue.”
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"OK" replies Iago, a look of worry on his face. "So we have a woman scorned, whose allies we've killed who tends to remember when people s@#& in her oatmeal. And we're supposed to get the drop on her. Good thing I like a challenge" he finishes with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "So we're looking for Gnolls huh? And we all need to be slaves? I was going to ask about my chances at posing as a slave-driver, but then again... I'd hate to perpetuate the stereotype."
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"Iago, don't know much about sky metal myself. I made pretty crude weapons when I did most of my crafting; just regular iron really. I can only recommend Adamantine if you can afford the price, and silver or cold iron if you need it for specialties. If you can get some fancy sky metal to serve the same purpose, then by all means go for it. I myself plan on getting my armor made out of Adamantine when I can afford it."
Bravo polishes his glaive some while listening to the briefing and subsequent questions. "Acting as a slave. Don't like it. I basically worked like on when I was a weaponsmith in Javvox. Deadlines damn near killed me sometimes. Suppose I can stoop into that mindset again."
"What's this magical edge you are sending us with?"
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As the mission briefing goes on, the door opens and a smiling young man, with a drunken gait and a mug of beer in hand.
Oops! Sorry to be late to the briefing. I'm ... I'm, oh yes, I'm Galant, follower of Cayden Cailean, to serve.
He bows to Lady Darchana, with a bright smile. My lady, always a pleasure to meet you.
After hearing what he miss he says Rilla! I've saved her! Good memories!
Being a slave, I don't like, destroying slavers, that I like!
Lady Darchana smiles at Galant "It is good to see you too. Now I do believe it is not uncommon for a slaver to accompany his charges to the compound and visit briefly So One of you posing as a slaver could work. Although I suspect one wearing the symbol of Cayden Cailean may raise suspicions even with gnolls. As to the nature of the mirror I do not know but it is something i would like to study further."
In response to Bravos question Ambrus Valsin excitedly rubs his hands together as a proud grin cracks his businesslike expression. “Thought you’d never ask! I’ve brought one of our experiments out of development for a field test,” he explains while planting a boot on an unremarkable cedar chest. “This is a magic chest warded in much the same way as our craftspeople sometimes enchant small pouches. From the outside, it’s nonmagical and holds whatever you put in it as expected. However, if you speak the right command word before it’s opened, it instead accesses a secret, extradimensional space that can hold several hundred pounds of gear. It’s yours to use on this trip and should help smuggle most of your gear through Okeno. The forged paperwork we’re sending with you notes the chest is part of the shipment.” Valsin demonstrates the chest’s use and command word. "Anything else you want to bring needs to be something you can hide on your person and keep hidden.”
Lady Darchana nods her approval and adds, “I can also shrink one essential tool or weapon for each of you. It should provide you enough of an edge in breaking out and recovering the rest of your gear.”
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Galant smiles back at Lady Darchana As always my lady your wits are far beyond mine. In this case I will play the slave and if it please you, will ask you to shrink my holy symbol.
But how will I survived without my dose of beer!
Galant observes the chest and asks Did it will be able to contain all our equipement? Armor, weapons, tools ?
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"Riceak, the glaive is a fine weapon, although last adventure I went on I couldn't hit anything with it! Pulled out my gnome hooked hammer and started bashing things. If it comes to it, hopefully I'll have a better experience this time."
"Well, I'll get into the changing room and put my stuff in the chest."
One knowledge local check about gnolls
Major Colson Maldris, head of the Liberty’s Edge faction, approaches Galant the grey as you’re preparing for your mission. He puts a loose bundle of maps he’s carrying down on a nearby table to have a hand free for saluting Galant
“I have heard about your participation in Darchana’s plan, and I’m proud to know that you’re involved. Daring acts like these strike terror in the hearts of slavers and give hope to the subjugated. I know you’re unlikely to have—or leave—many witnesses, but if you can strike fear into the hearts of this villainous operation’s leadership, strike down the more dangerous and oppressive slavers in a dramatic way, or just be seen battling in the defense of the oppressed, we can share your exploits and inspire a new wave of freedom fighters.” He considers his advice for a moment and adds, “But don’t throw your life away trying to burn Okeno to the ground. Pick your fights carefully, and return a hero.”
So brief reminder of what you want shrinking (having read one of the first spoilers) who if any is acting as you slaver (mission also works with everyone as slaves) If there are any other items you wish to hide in your slave clothes a sleight of hand check will be required. Hope to post on your arrival in Okeno next time
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Tomren gives the more martially inclined party members a rundown of how shrink item works.
With one lecture over, he transitions into a new one.
"Gnolls are humanoids with hyena-like features. They are cruel and tend to keep packs of hyenas as pets. They also love hunting but try to make slaves do everything else for them. They are primarily nocturnal, typically worship Lamashtu, and are known to kill and eat sentient creatures. Some exceptionally aggressive, strong, and clever gnolls are known as flinds, and they typically rise quickly to the top of their pack hierarchies. They’re known for using flail-like weapons called flindbars."
Realizing what the major's maps detail, Tomren rolls his eyes at Maldris' starry-eyed idealism.
Those who plan to pose as slaves need to remove or hide their gear and don cheap tunics or loincloths. To complete the outfit, they must also don a slave collar, a metal band outfitted with a keyed lock. Those who plan to pose as slavers should take care to hide symbols of any organizations with a reputation for freeing slaves, such as holy symbols of Cayden Cailean or the Sword and Eagle of Andoran. Soon a Pathfinder agent leads them into the Coins district, where a nervous Kelishite slave trader named Mahjub Mahdi writes up he appropriate paperwork to identify your 'slaves' as slaves bound for Stonespine Island. He then transports them to the impounded Okeno slave ship, which is already outfitted with a new crew loyal to Lady Darchana and additional cargo bound for southern coasts. The voyage south is fairly uneventful.
Sharks casually feed on cast-off corpses that float like buoys marking the channel into Yellow Harbor. This close to Okeno, the rocky mountain range that gives Stonespine Island its name is a blur against the sky, hidden by the city’s haze of smoke and dust. Each pier is crowded with yellow-sailed slave galleys, pirate clippers, and the occasional, heavily armed merchant ship. Past a row of taverns, the slave markets are smelly and crowded, packed with auction blocks and pens
The group is met at the pier by one of the harbormasters, and given directions to a specific pen in the Fleshfair. There another harbormaster consults a logbook and tells Numair and Iago that they’re right on time, should expect their client to arrive for pickup later that day, and can place the merchandise in one of the pens until then. As if on cue, a pair of gnolls ambles toward the group and inquires about their shipment. The harbormaster grins, identifies the 'slaves' as the cargo in question, and calls over several assistants to finalize the transaction.
One of the gnolls looks at Iago and Numair and asks "And who you be?" They arrange their slaves in order of heigh and pass a rope through your slave collars to keep you together. you are also lumped with a halfling woman at one end of your chain and two human males at the other on e Kelishite with a handdog expression and a ragged kellid man with fresh welts suggest he is not properly attuned to being a slave just yet. "a bad harvest" mutters the halfling woman
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Numair bows.
"This one comes from Osirion, by way of Absalom. I am looking an expanding my network of 'livestock procurement' agents, and would be interested in seeing more of your operation, in order to determine whether I wish to do business with you in the future." He then nods to the 'Pathfinder Slaves'. "Consider this shipment to be an example of what I am usually able to procure. That one," Numair says, nodding to Iago, "is my bodyguard."
"Grrr. One of those. Save the speeches for her Ladyship she enjoys em. I'm Hargur, this is Vangru, and that's our bodyguard Snapper" He nods to a scratching hyena as Vangru barks "Arf, Arf, Arf" at Hargurs joke about snapper
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Galant is not embarrassed to be in loin cloth, it's even an upgrade compared to some morning when he wakes up after a night in a Cayden's Temple! He've seen and been quite worst!
The only thing he didn't like - at all - was to be chained like a dog...
But for the sake of the mission, he says nothing.
What this crap about weather and harvest?! he thinks as Tomren says something back to the hafling woman.
The halfling looks up sharply at Tomren then makes anervous glance at the gnolls. They dont appear to be paying too much attention "You too huh. Talk quietly and they wont bother us too much. Just let them do the laughing. I'm Gima. Thats Talmin and she's Epanas"
Galant and Epanas* end up carrying the chest and you soon leave Okeno and start travelling through the Pesh fields on the outskirts.
Tomren gets a whack on the back for his comment from Vangru. "I wonder wit you taste like?" He growls. "three counts of insubordination before we can eat them you know da rules" Both gnolls break out into barking laughs.
At around midday the gnolls order a stop in a ruin that provides a little shade. As the gnolls doze Gima begins to fiddle with her collar