Fresh off their induction into the Society and the completion of their basic training within the organization, you find yourselves in the office of Ambrus Valsin, the venture-captain in charge of daily operations in and around the Grand Lodge. The efficient and straightforward chamberlain greets you curtly and motions for you to sit before jumping straight into your assignment.
"All right, Pathfinders! Listen up. I know you are new recruits eager to make names for yourselves in the organization, but first we need to make sure you are up to snuff and won’t get yourself killed out there. I have a number of small assignments for you and your team, and it would be best if you could finish them before the day’s end."
"Every day we get some doe-eyed hopeful or some sniveling bootlicker willing to do anything to join up with the Pathfinders. Most of them are good kids, but not all of them have the salt to make it in a world like this. It’s rough out there and I’m not just talking about the ruins, tombs, and wilderness Pathfinders find themselves in on missions. We’ve got people who look down their noses at us, folks who think we squander our resources, and agents who want to take everything we have collected. This wealth of knowledge and these items of lore make us the most powerful organization on the planet. That said, since we are fractured and widespread, it’s difficult for that power to light on anything for too long. For every friend of the Society, there are two enemies."
Ambrus gives all of you an envelope containing a handout outlining your tasks.
"Your first mission, to test your mettle and loyalties, sends you to meet a few people important to the Society living here in Absalom. These are other venture-captains or close allies of our organization, so follow their orders as you would mine. I’ve prepared a list of things I want you to do. They’re not arranged in any particular order of importance, but I want them all completed as quickly as possible. Only report to me once you complete them all. Included in the envelope you hold in your hands is the list, complete with the name of your contact, and directions to the meeting location."
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I take the proffered envelope excitedly.
We will not disappoint.
I quickly read over the list before addressing Ambrus,
Given the lack of prioritization I presume proceeding in geographical order is acceptable. It seems the most sensible given the limited schedule.
Turning to the others
I suggest we start in at the Ivy District with the Paracountess Dralneen. Though my curiosity about the rare books means I could easily be convinced to start there. Either way we should follow the Arc of the districts clockwise from Ivy to Wise to Ascendent to Docks if we start in the Ivy District or counter clockwise if we start at the Docks.
I suppose any of these individuals could send us who knows where but it is good to have a plan.
Do I know anything about any of the 4 individuals or the Temple in question?
The History of the vaults in question seems less likely to have relevant information but just in case:
Turning back to Ambrus
Is there anything about these individuals you could share that might be of assistance Captain Valsin?
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Rabbai turns to Oric and Rikka in turn and nods,
That sounds logical to me. I'd just as soon follow your lead for the moment if you are more familiar with this area than I. It's rather... crowded here. If ---
He breaks off as the large half-orc comes through the door.
I'll have to keep an eye on this one. Looks like the type who might alert some carefully-stalked prey at an inopportune time.
Greetings.. The plan - well we didn't have one till a moment ago. These two proposed a route through the city that sounds reasonable to me. We should proceed as such.
Turning back to Ambrus,
Thank you, captain. You will see us again soon.
To the others, with a grin,
I'll follow you out as we head to the Docks. I think someone should keep an eye on our tails - if Captain Ambrus's math is correct we should now have quite a few extra enemies...
Guaril Karela is a wellconnected Sczarni who has his hands in as many pots as Absalom can provide. Based out of such a bustling city, Karela keeps his eyes on the harbor and what valuable items cross its docks.
Ollysta Zadrian is a paladin of Sarenrae who's young in her years, but holds herself with the poise of a queen and warrior simultaneously. She joined the Silver Crusade at an even younger age and has made it her life’s work to end darkness and bring a new light to the world.
Dremdhet Salhar is a Grand Councilmember who's usually very busy and often leaves his rich estate for Council business. While working on Council business Salhar lets his most trusted advisor negotiate other business.
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen is an influential diplomat from the devilworshiping nation of Cheliax. She dislikes when people say people from Cheliax worship devils, and claims they only use devils as a tool for power.
Info you have because of your knowledge (religion):
Silver Crusade: Ollysta Zadrian, a retired Pathfinder and paladin of Sarenrae, coordinates the Silver Crusade's operations out of the Temple of the Shining Star in the Ascendant Court. Pathfinders who support the efforts of the Silver Crusade are often priests of Golarion's good-aligned deities. Most Silver Crusade Pathfinders are good-aligned.
Ambrus turns to Oric to reply to his question. "The contacts on the list are either venture-captains like me, or important contacts of the Society. The yare to be respected and obeyed. Also, they'll be paying for your reward at the end of the day. So keep that in mind when dealing with them."
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Broker I feel like we have crossed paths before. Did you ever run collections for the Gimp over in the puddles? If you did I was as likely to be your mark as your partner depending when you worked with her. There was a time when ale and brawls was just about all I knew. I never could seem to find enough silver for my ale bill those days. Employee or not the Gimp always gets paid. That was some time ago of course and I am sure all this reading and writing has softened my fists body quite a bit.
Oric is flipping through a journal as he walks reading small bits on a page before skipping forward or back in the book as if trying to cross reference something.
As the party moves into the Docks District you all notice how the streets are more crowded here. A lot of the people on the streets are dock workers, but there's plenty of housewives doing grocery shopping, young lads flirting with lasses, and neighbors spreading gossip. In between the houses there are several shops, often with a living place on the next floor. You do see an increasing amount of storage houses, which also appear to increase in volume the closer you get to the actual docks.
The party eventually arrives at The Pickled Imp. This creepy shop contains myriad odds and ends, most bereft of any discernible use. A number of malformed creatures and creature parts bob in jars on a long, prominent shelf, a tiny fetal devil centered in this macabre lineup. The shopkeeper, a greasy-haired Varisian with a thin mustache, shouts from behind the cluttered counter: "Ah yes, I see the Pathfinders have arrived. I’m glad Ambrus was able to lend a few of his new recruits to help me. Please come in and let me tell you what I need."
Looking around as if to be absolutely certain no customers are browsing the aisles of knock-off Thuvian burial urns or supposed Azlanti porcelain, he begins again. "Well met. I am Guaril Karela. A friend of mine has a warehouse near here and he received a parcel on behalf of me and some of my associates, but there’s a problem. See, Master Gelbane had to leave town in a hurry and our shipment is still waiting at his warehouse. Rumor is he ended up in trouble with the law and the place was seized. I heard tell from someone down at the docks that some creep was snooping around his warehouse just the other night, so I want to make sure nothing of mine was taken. He keeps all kinds of things, from beer to nails, in that old pelican, but every now and then he stores something really special. This is one of those cases."
"There’s a big crate marked with three crows arranged in a triangle. Inside that crate is a smaller container with a few books and papers in it. That’s the only parcel I’m interested in, and as far as I’m concerned, you can help yourself to the rest of the crate. Honestly, anything else you want in the place too. I’m sure the once things get sorted out, the city will seize most everything else anyway."
"My associates and I often work with the Pathfinders when it comes to special relics and documents, getting them in and out of ports and across borders where the authorities ask too many questions. Most people don’t realize what they have and frankly many don’t deserve to have it, so sometimes we help take the goods off their hands. If things work out well and you get this done, I’d be glad to talk with you more and help you out with any future endeavors, as long as you help me out too. I’m good at returning favors, trust me."
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Rabbai walks a few steps behind the group, his eyes darting around carefully. He looks down a particular alley and begins to look away when he hesitates and his eyes narrow. his gaze rests on this alley for a short beat before he looks away again. His expression seems subtly different as the group continues on
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While walking the rest of the way to the shop Oric seems more distracted than usual ganging about a few time before shrugging and returning to his journal.
Well met Master Karela. I am Oric the Seeker. Rikka Shaedestrike is correct. I am certain we will be able to help with your shipping problem.
Do you happen to know of any security measures your friend or the local watch may have set up? It seems to me the more we may know the less . . . disruption . . . there is likely to be.
Have I heard anything about Master Gelbane that might shed some light on his warehouse or its protections?
"Like I said, inside that crate is a smaller container with a few books and papers in it. I don't know what else the crate contains, because it doesn't interest me."
"The warehouse's located in an area with a lot of abandoned warehouses. There shouldn't be official guards," Guaril sighs, "but like I also said there was some creep snooping around at night."
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Broker ponders Oric's question as he follows along to their first destination.
"Canna righty think Ah met yer. On one hand, the other says likely but Ah'm just looking for ways to pay for me ale if yar know what Ah'm talking."
At hearing the request to retrieve the items. Broker simply nods.
"Ah see. Get in, get it out and get it back to yer. Sounds simple enough."
Broker heads to the door, already figeting to be off.
"Shall we, mah friends?"
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When they all get together in the alley, Rabbai says to Oric, "You, seeker, I noticed you hesitate back near that alley. I think you saw what I did...We share The Eye, perhaps." Turning back to address the others he explains, "We saw a girl with red shoulder-length hair watching us from an alley on the way here. An instant after noticing her, she vanished. just like that--" he snaps his fingers. "I'm sorry to have held us up like this, but I want to make sure we're all on alert as we make our way to this warehouse. I've stalked enough game to know what it feels like to be watched myself."
He turns away, pauses and then turns back,
"My name is Rabbai Alaknar. I've just come in from the deep deserts of Osirius, where I live. Pardon me if my approach to social situations is bizarre to you. I've just now noticed I hadn't introduced myself. Let's get to these warehouses."
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Oric offers his hand to Rabbai.
I suppose we haven't been formally introduced after all. I am Oric. I seek knowledge of all kinds and have been a resident of this city all my life. I can't say I have the eye but I did see the woman you speak of. It probably will be best if we are all on our guard. It may be nothing but Captain Valsin did mention we will have. Enemies beyond our own when we are on the business of the society.
Perched on the end of a long pier fifteen feet above the water, the warehouse appears to struggle against its own roof, threatening to sag into the bay below. No light shines from the building’s windows and only the movement of gulls and pelicans stirs the scene.
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"See the keel? It sits low and there's ample space for one to row without interruptions. The boat itself looks well maintained and should be able to handle a significant amount of weight which makes it suitable for the shifting of cargo."
Broker absently speaks, no trace of accent, stutter or misprouncement in his speech.
Riika checks if the door's open, but concludes it's locked. All is quiet inside the warehouse.
The warehouse has a few windows, also one on your side, but the windows are blocked by a filthy, oily film. The boat looks like it will continue to stay on top of the water.