Game will start on Aug 3rd, but mustering tables now
Dottity-dot
[ooc]ambitious for me, then. Thx, Kludde!
Ok, I have the following distribution of characters. If everybody is happy, we'll start on monday!
Luke - The Leader
Gerald - The Experiment
Zoomba - The Professional
TheBobJones - The Vengeful
Patheticwretch - The Ambitious
(Wei Ji - The Artist?)
Could you all set up an alias that shows basic stats under the name? They probably don't have the portraits in the system like they do for We be goblins, but there should be plenty that are close enough.
You are Aspis Consortium operatives, hand-picked by your superiors for one of the most daring missions ever attempted against the hated Pathfinder Society. For centuries the Society has been the hyena of the archaeological world, descending upon legitimate Aspis operations to snatch whatever the Pathfinders want, kill hardworking contractors, and grow wealthy on the profits of their “historical preservation.” As they say, the victors write the history books, and the widely distributed Pathfinder Chronicles paint the Society’s piracy as heroism guided by a moral compass as true as the wayfinder each agent carries.
Despite the thick walls and heavy windows of the rented home that serves as your safe house, the passage of Pathfinders from across the Inner Sea region creates a muted rumble as they make their pilgrimage to the Society’s Grand Convocation, an annual gathering in which Pathfinders tell tales of their exploits, show off their discoveries, and celebrate another successful year. Every additional Pathfinder is another set of eyes to spot trouble and another blade ready to defend the Grand Lodge, yet every voice and footstep makes it even safer to discuss the impending attack.
A tall Bonuwat male dressed in flowing robes dyed a subtle shade of aqua, with braided umber-colored hair, speaks.
"My name is Rataji, and I have the honor of coordinating this little team. This is it. For too long, the thrice-damned Pathfinder Society the dogged the Consortium's steps, disrupting our operations, stealing our findings, and locking away the riches of the past, rather than letting them land in the hands of those who would actually appreciate them, rather than locking them away in some dusty vault.
Now, on the day of their Grand Convocation, like a cobra poised to strike, the Consortium is in position to give them a lesson in humility.
Hundreds of Aspis agents and sympathizers are assembling throughout Absalom in preparation for an attack on the Pathfinder Society’s Grand Lodge. Most of these teams are in position to sow chaos, lure the Pathfinders’ attention elsewhere, and keep the rest of Absalom from interceding.
We are to be the lynchpin of the assault. After infiltrating the Grand Lodge (a task made easier by the throngs of unfamiliar faces), we need to do some information gathering, splitting into smaller groups as necessary, until we have what we need to infiltrate the Society's supposedly unassailable fortress of Skyreach. The cue for this will be a speech given by Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus. Agents will start ushering Pathfinders toward one of the lawns and pouring drinks for a toast, giving us a fairly generous window to get inside.
Once inside Skyreach, we have two major objectives: Open the Hao Jin Tapestry gateway, to allow our allies within to come out, and secure the Sky Key, in that order. However, the notes we have only explain how to get one person in and out at a time - to find out how to let the army through, we will need to acquire Aram Zey's notes - and he has them stored in one of the vaults beneath Skyreach—a section called the Antarnicus Wing, used for most of the tapestry’s treasures. Consequently, we will need to go there first.
It’s the usual routine: take care of any guards, grab the target, get out, and keep the whole operation clean. A second team, who will identify themselves by the code phrase “Five fingers till Oathday“ should find us soon after; we are to pass them the Sky Key, get out, and disappear.
Any questions?"
"Invading the Lodge itself? That place will be crawling with those bastard Pathfinders. Is this a suicide mission? Ive heard Zay is a powerful wizard...where will he be while we take his notes? I hate them as much as anyone, but the chances of success don't seem great, the bedraggled elf with the dirty black hair and wild darting eyes speaks up.
"With luck, he'll be toasting with all the others. I've never known a wizard to turn down the chance to prattle on about their accomplishments when given a crowd. And all the better for it: I'm not intending to die today." A short Kelishite woman responds to the elf, as she goes through her pouches and gear, checking and rechecking to make sure everything's properly stowed.
She looks up at Rataji. "Shohiraj. Trapper, infiltration. Tell me: did they give us any intel as to where the Tapestry or Sky Key themselves are? Skyreach's a big place, no matter how long the Society's little party goes."
An angry-looking half-orc listens to the instructions carefully.
If they think I'm going on a suicide mission, they are wrong. If anyone could escape if things go wrong...it's me.
"I'm Zurnzal," the half-orc says with nod. "Though I'm no slouch in combat, I also prefer infiltration and disguise to straight-up brute force."
Rataji raises an eyebrow at the unkempt elf's questions.
"I, for one, do not intend this to be a suicide mission. As far as I can tell, we are each the favored pawn of someone else higher up in the organization, and it would be bad for business if we all died."
He then turns to Shohiraj, and smiles.
"We know where the vaults are, and the museum where the Sky Key is being kept. Although it will be difficult, that's why we've been sent - we each have a reputation, in our own ways, for getting things done."
Untrained Local
The elf looks at the map, trying to figure out more of the layout, but she didnT get much from it, her mind racing considering the job ahead of her.
The Kelishite woman glances at the map, trying to commit some of their targets to memory.
"Hmm. I may have a lead on getting access to a couple of the vaults, but that might depend on how inconspicuous we can be." She lifts her head. "Do we know if our IDs have been compromised? And can the Consortium spare a couple of wayfinders to lend? Gods knows I've heard of enough Pathfinders who treat our badges as trophies - it'd seem fitting enough to return the favor."
Standing at the back of the room, Marnarius has always though it a wise practice to listen first. Get a lay of the land, see who he was paired up with. Never really the team player, he was already cataloging his list of who will he will let die before the other, himself always being priority.
Though the elf did have a leg to stand on, the fact of the matter was he was here to do a job, and get it done. Which job he didn't decide on yet.
Impersonating a Pathfinder, that was going to be the challenge. How to act all high and mighty while being more vile than any moog he did a job with in the consortium might be a stretch. No matter.
"Sounds good."
The Professional has come in well-prepared, full of knowledge on the compound. She clearly recognises the Grand Lodge's main tower (2), the 20-foot-high statue of that ill-revered pathfinder 'hero' and founder Durvin Gest (16). The wall of names (13) is off to the west, next to a menagerie of exotic creatures (10).
With the current crowds, it will be nigh impossible to break into skyreach unseen. It seems it will be nearly two hours before Marcus Farabellus' speech. Time to act!
"Let me know if there is anything you need assistance with. I am good at persuading people with words, if that helps..."
Shohiraj runs down a list in her head. "I wouldn't say no to some help finding a talkative halfling called Janira, or assistance in causing a distraction once I find her. A little birdie told me she's got some of Shaine's keys to the lower vaults. Word is she's a talker, so if we can get her ranting I might be able to lift the set."
"Also, speaking of staying alive, how are we on healing? I've got an emergency panacea myself," she says tapping her bag, "but if we're going into the lion's den it's a good chance that won't be enough."
"I'm good at several things, but small talking with those awful Society members is not one of them. If a more persuasive person would be willing to accompany me for the first hour, that would be appreciated. We can split up after that to find out more about the place."
Zurnzal considers the situation and how best to proceed.
"I would like to find a Pathfinder that I could take out without anyone noticing...then take their place," the half-orc growls.
Skyreach is the huge tower in the middle (2). It is currently well-guarded.
DM:
---
Ambitious - Looking for target
Experiment - Looking for target
Artist
Leader
Vengeful
Pro
---
"So, the clock is runni then. How about we try, if we can, to meet briefly at that statue of Gest in an hour. Check in, see if we've found anything that could require an assist."
Shohiraj spends a minute changing her features, then moves to the Grand Lodge to try and locate Janira.
---
Ambitious - Looking for target
Experiment - Looking for target
Leader
Vengeful
Pro - Looking for target
---
The Leader nods to the Professional.
"Since you asked first, I will assist you with your task."
"Let's get to it, then. All of us gather together r at the start of the second hour then, correct?"
"Agreed. Shall we say we meet at the statue of Durvin Gest?"
The group splits up, trying to find suitable targets for their missions.
The Menagerie:
Broad pavilions and awnings shade segmented pens containing animals from around the world, ranging from harmless rodents and fowl to hulking dinosaurs from Tolguth, a giraffe mutated by the Mana Wastes, and war beasts from the Hold of Belkzen. A few heavily reinforced cages hold even stranger creatures, such as an immense two-headed vulture, a ram-headed sphinx, and an armor-plated serpent with fangs the length of a broadsword.
Wall of names:
Trees surround the small hill that bears a curving wall of black glass, providing visitors some privacy as they read any of the thousands of Pathfinder names inscribed on the surface. More trees grow in tight formation to the west, where the copse abuts the Grand Lodge’s wall.
Despite the huge number of visitors at the Grand Lodge, the Wall of Names has relatively few visitors; currently, on a single man dressed in scholarly, chelish garb stands around, looking pensive.
Statue:
Already carved in larger-than-life proportions, the stone statue of Durvin Gest towers over the surrounding lawn on a pedestal flanked by angelic figures and carved with elaborate friezes depicting some of his most famous voyages.
Several dozen Pathfinders are gathered around the statue, swapping stories and participating in improvised competitions of braggadocio. A halfling is just finishing up a story about Selmius Foster— one of the first Pathfinders published in the Pathfinder Chronicles—and his fabled race against a marid and an efreeti, whom he cleverly tricked into distracting one another while he sped across the finish line. The story earns polite applause, and the woman hops down from the bench she had used as a speaking platform.
The experiment wanders around the grand lodge looking for something sufficiently grand to animate, but is repeatedly disappointed as the statues around the lodge are just friendly creatures, and the gargoyles on the building are tiny. Slightly dejected, she finally moves back to the statue of Durvin Gest.. and.. oh boy.. the thought strikes her. The statue of Durvin Gest is twenty tall, larger than life, and the very symbol of the foundation of the society. What would happen if it came to life, and started pounding on the pathfinders gathered around it?
There's a large circle of pathfinders gathered around it, though, so she'll need to be stealthy or find some distraction.
The menagerie is a prime target for causing mayhem. Several zookeepers patrol the ground, and one of them surely must have the keys to the cages?
That man near the wall of names - rumour has it his loyalty to the society is questionable.
Once returning to the statue, the Leader sees the storytelling circle, with the halfling woman as the centre of attention. That halfling woman is clearly Janira Gavix.
322 meets with the group at the appointed time. "I've got a little surprise for the Society," she whispers. "If I can get a distraction, I've been given a little device that will animate a statue, causing it to create havoc. See that big statue right here? If we can distract those Pathfidners around it, I'll slap the magic box on it, and it'll tear hell off hinges!"