|
A nerdy looking half elf, dressed in something that is a cross of a scholars outfit and a traveler's outfit walks into the pathfinder lodge. It looks smart but not really at the same time. As he walks in, he absorbs his surroundings in a manner that looks calculative, then enters in.
"Hello everyone! The name is Kitt, I've just got off a job designing a basement! Didn't see it built but boy was it ever so good to be able to design it with the minimum materials, and maximum space, 200% efficiency! Now I'm ready to head back on the pathfinder road! Here with me is my pet dog Terra!"
Followed closely behind him is a creature that looks like a dog. But bigger, and somewhat angelic in nature with flowing furs of light brown with tints of heavenly white. On her forehead, there is a marking. The creature speaks in a low and somewhat feminine, but firm of tone, voice"I have told you, I'm not your pet! I'm a mystical being whom shares a bond with you."
Kitt looks back and says very nonchalantly "I guess so."
|
The half elf is followed closely by a fairly...solid-looking oread. He wears studded leather armor, and a katana is strapped to his back. While physically intimidating, however, his wise garnet eyes hold a measure of peace held by few.
Despite that peace, however, the oread shifts uncomfortably as he introduces himself with a low, gravelly voice. "Greetings. My name is Gavan, crusader of Shizuru."
|
Hikari steps into the lodge, garbed somewhat differently. His armor is lighter, a well-crafted chain shirt now, and he thus appears more nimble on his feet. Also, while his katana still hangs on his side, in his hand he is holding a well-crafted darkwood longbow. What does not change is the holy symbol of Shizuru hanging around his neck.
He turns and nods at Kitt, and replies quite formally, "Greetings, Master Kitt. I bid you welcome to the Grand Lodge of Absalom. I take it that you are new to this lodge?" Despite his moderately warm welcome, Hikari stares suspiciously but discreetly at the speaking "dog", quite uncertain what to make of it.
Hikari turns and looks with almost similar eyes at the walking statue that enters the lodge. He almost immediately spots the symbol of Shizuru that he is wearing. Somewhat warily, Hikari approaches and bows stiffly. " I am Hikari Hayashi, similarly a servant of Shizuru, Empress of the Heaven and Divine Ancestor of my homeland Minkai. Do you similarly hail from Tien? I am unaware that her worship has taken root here in the lands of the setting sun, nor, pardon my ignorance, amongst the stone people."
|
|
Obviously unaccustomed to speaking much, Gavan nods and replies, "I was, indeed, born in Tian Xia. However, my family could not come to terms with my...heritage. They sent me away rather than accept me as their own, and I ended up in this land, with this name. I still keep the faith of my ancestors, however, martial as my expression of it might be."
|
Looking at the other pathfinders he ventured with earlier and the new ones, Yakari sighs and lowers his head.
"I may need some time outside to... gather my thoughts. I had fun, friends. But I need to mature a little bit before venturing once again. May Gozreh accompany you!"
Saying this, he exits the lodge slowly with his roc companion.
|
A strange little creature walks into the lodge after the young man's departure. His skin is greenish and some patch of it are purple. Salty scents fill the room as he looks at the party with googly red eyes. His wide and toothless mouth gaps open with a loud *SHMUK*.
"Name's Popole. Been at sea lately. Heard there was loot... I mean... lot of people to meet in the pathfinder society. Nice to meet you. I'm from the Absalom Phoenix Genocide. We're just... some professionals. We were hired by the faction named 'the Exchange'. Nice guys, these ones..."
The man wears a studded leather armor and has a light crossbow, a sap and a trident at his side. A net hangs in a ball from his belt.
Over the leather armor, he wears a leather vest with a logo on its back displaying a burning phoenix with the letters APG.
|
|
Noting the arrival of a new face to the Lodge, Kitty prings into action.
"Hey I 'm impressed, must be an effective gang, haven't seen a single phoenix since arriving in Absalom - so then you lot would be out of work but hey you're in luck... ever considered being merchants? I can do you a spectacular deal on a wholesale lot of cabbages, as a gesture of goodwill and to help you get started I will even throw in a pallet of carrots. So how many can I put you down for?" the Halfling smiles broadly.
|
|
In a serious tone, Kitt replies, "Well, could you build furniture out of cabbage? What's the brittleness of a cabbage? I probably could build a vessel out of cabbage, wouldn't be very efficient, but it'll get the job done! We'll need to coat the cabbage with some alchemical component so that it doesn't wither, or maybe compost them into light weighting bricks, but that might pose a commitment on time....."
He continues blabbering on about what the rest of you assume is how to build a boat out of cabbage.
|
|
The Halfling looks at the fellow for a moment with an appraising eye, "Are you one of those fellows who spent too much time in an Academae? Has the intelligence to know a tomato is a fruit, but not the wisdom to leave it out of a fruit salad? Of course you can't build cabbage furniture - by the time you went to all that effort you could have used wood or even cane. I see you are half Elven, is the other half Gnomish? Now I can suggest that produce this fresh would make a terrific stew - and with a complimentary box of carrots, well all you'd then need is some potatoes - and on that note may I just point out you are in luck today my fine friend..."
|
|
Hikari glances briefly with some suspicion at the grippli when he shared on his occupation, but decides to leave it at that. He also hears the conversation about fruits and boats, and resists scratching his head in confusion, wondering what company he has fallen himself into.
He turns back to the conversation he was having with Gavan, this time with less wariness in his voice. "I seek your forgiveness. I had under the impression that the stone people were a race of its own, but it sounds like you were born of human parents. Please pardon my ignorance. Any offence was unintended. I am pleased that you have held onto the worship of Shizuru, whose shining beacon would light your way, even in your exile. Have you been away from your home for long? I myself have been away from the capital Kasai for 3 years now."
|
|
Gavan nods in understanding, "There is nothing to forgive; it was a surprise to my family as much as to anyone else. As to your question..." He ponders for a moment. "I have been in these lands - in exile, as you call it - for the past 71 years. Of course, the same blood that gives me this," he says, waving his hand at the granite-like composition of his body, "also grants me a certain longevity."
|
|
Water laps steadily at the pier as sailors, laborers, and merchants rush busily around Absalom’s port. The venture-captain’s summons called for a meeting aboard the Sixwing Drake, a sleek sailing ship. The Drake’s captain, a Varisian woman and fellow Pathfinder named Zarah Zendrani, stands at the helm of her vessel. “It’s not like Valsin to be late,” she mutters, furrowing her brow. As if on cue, a tall and meticulously groomed man pushes his way through the crowd and up the gangplank, cursing audibly. “Whoever supervises this mess of a port needs to be dumped in the sea!” he grumbles. The tall man looks around at those gathered before him. “Just the group I requested. Perfect. I’m Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin, and I took great care in selecting just the right Pathfinders for this assignment.”
Valsin reaches into his belt pouch and withdraws a small, folded paper before continuing. “A few days ago, I received a curious note from a rather unexpected source. It’s not every day that I get a request from an agent of the Aspis Consortium.” Captain Zendrani’s eyes widen, and Valsin smiles knowingly. “But Magali Delroya does not appear to be your typical Aspis agent. As you surely know, the Aspis Consortium pursues a variety of activities across the Inner Sea that the Pathfinder Society finds abhorrent. It seems that Delroya has been working with them for some time, but can no longer stomach the snakes herself. She wants to stop a shipment of an experimental drug from leaving Diobel later this week. It’s bound for a number of locations across the Inner Sea region. According to Delroya, she can’t ask the local authorities for help, because the Aspis Consortium has already struck a deal with a faction of the Kortos Consortium, a powerful merchant collective. Her hands are tied, so she’s come to us for help. In this note, she outlines three different tasks that would help to disrupt the Aspis long enough for her to move the shipment to a secure location, out of the clutches of the consortium. Once you accomplish two of these tasks, she’s willing to meet with you, but not before.
“Normally, I wouldn’t trust an Aspis agent at any hour of the day. But our sources in Diobel have confirmed the Aspis and Kortos consortia’s activities. Everything checks out, so we are presented with a unique opportunity. If we help Delroya, we might not only strike a financial blow against the Aspis Consortium, but we could also reveal their dealings with the Kortos Consortium—and possibly prevent their arrangement from turning into a more formal alliance. Furthermore, we hope to stop this drug from spreading across the Inner Sea region, and if we—if all of you—do a good enough job, we might even convince Delroya to join the Society. A turncoat agent would be a valuable asset in our ongoing run-ins with the Aspis Consortium.
“Take some time to look over Delroya’s note and the tasks she has set for you. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask. Remember, the Aspis Consortium is a long-time enemy of the society, but the Kortos Consortium, while certainly suspicious, is not our enemy. It is a complex organization with many factions, and we should avoid antagonizing any of them, except when necessary to oppose the Aspis Consortium. Any questions?”
|
|
"Scandalous! The Overflowing Oyster is selling fakes and forgeries to unwitting punters and engaging in nefarious and underhanded trade!? What an outrage! Perhaps time to go and put a fly right in their ointment" Kitty does her best to look scandalised, but it is clear she isn't really all that phased.
"Still, a good opportunity to engage in totally legitimate agricultural trade with the fine folks of the Kortos Consortium, no doubt they have need of a source of rural produce from a more suitably agrarian clime than Diobel has to offer..."
She turns back to the Venture Captain:
"Will the Kortos folk take undue interest in our activities should they find out about us?"
|
|
Although he usually appears serene in nature, Hikari starts to become flushed in outrage as he reads through the documents. You hear him repeatedly utter under his breath, "だめ! だめ!"
Looking up after he has finished, he looks disconcertingly at Kitty and Popole over what they appear to be concerned about. Choosing to ignore their comments for now, he keeps a tight rein on his voice as he speaks, "This is an abominable act. Not just to peddle such destructive drugs but to mass manufacture for export all over the Inner Seas. I am not familiar with this Aspis Consortium but they are clearly a vile organisation, if what this Delroya speaks is the truth. Is she trustworthy?"
|
|
"The Kortos Consortium? It pretends to be a legitimate merchant guild dedicated to stamping out smugglers, but it participates in its fair share of illegal activities. It is powerful enough to rival Diobel’s teriarch, or governor, Lord Avid. A fair number of prominent people in Diobel are in the Kortos Consortium’s pockets, or are prominent members of the guild themselves. If possible, try not to get on the group’s bad side. I suspect that if you don't hurt them directly, they won't interfere, though." Valsin explains to Kitty, before turning to Hikari.
"I met Magali several years ago, when she was barely a grown woman. It must have been just before she joined the Aspis Consortium. She’s a wanderer, never comfortable in one place for long. I saw great potential in her as a Pathfinder, but she always preferred to work alone and felt that the society was a poor fit. Had I known that she would wind up with the Aspis Consortium, I would have put more effort into recruiting her."
|
Whatever the tasks, I'm sure we'll be able to put a stop to all of this nonsense. I'm ready to take on the job. Though this first task does not seem to fit my talents I believe we have no choice but to stop this meeting. I would be more of use in the task of getting a sample of the drug itself, however.
|
|
"Hmm, hmm, what dirty business! The decision should be clear! We stop this evil deeds! My suggested route of action would be to take the task that takes the least effort but yields the biggest outcome! That's efficient!"
the half elf speaks in a proud manner.
"But of course it's in my honest opinion the first task is most cumbersome! We don't know what we don't know!"
Terra the eidolon speaks. "But it would be in the benefit of her safety, we cannot let anyone get hurt."
They both give each other the stink eye.
|
|
Gavan nods to Hakari. "I agree that we must do what we can to keep these drugs out of circulation, and protecting the identity of our informant so that she may continue her works. To that end, I believe our best courses of action to be disrupting the meeting and stopping it at its source. The first and third tasks, then, though I don't know what help I might be for the first."
|
|
Popole chuckles at the mention of "keeping the drugs out of circulation".
"*SCHMUK* *SCHMUK* That's utopia, friend! The better you... we can do is slowing down the market. Is all."
Turning towards the rest of the group, he shrugs.
"Where to first? Boaty or falsypearly? I'd say boaty *SCHMUK* *SCHMUK*" laughs the grippli, apparently making some sort of a froggy joke.
|
|
Hikari nods back at Gavan. "Yes, I agree we must stop it at the source, and the source is this alchemist that has been creating the drugs. Popole, I humbly admit ignorance of the workings of the underworld, but denying them the creator would severely hamper their operations, would it not? Disrupting the shipping would also severely slow down the spread of the drugs to other parts of the Inner Sea. However, I am not certain our party is skilled for sneaking aboard a ship."
|
|
Captain Zendrani and the crew of the sleek Sixwing Drake steer the ship up to the massive barrier of broken war-barges, crumbling walls, and jetties of iron and wood that protect the port of Diobel. “Well, here we are,” says the captain. “I’ll make sure everything is in order with Diobel’s inspectors and charter you a barge to the port. You aren’t carrying anything particularly valuable, so you shouldn’t draw much attention from the inspectors or pilots, so long as you don’t run your mouth. My crew and I will wait here with the ship. You can return here to rest, if you need to, but remember—there isn’t much time!”
Delroya’s directions lead to an isolated alley in the Bristles, and then down into the sewers beneath Diobel. The stench of sewage mixes with the sharper odors of chemical fumes and decay and permeates the damp tunnels. From this intersection, tunnels lead west and south into the darkness. A third tunnel heading east is filled with detritus, filthy beddings, food scraps, broken glass, and rotting furniture. An alcove lies beyond a collapsed portion of the tunnel’s southern wall, and further east, a statue of a giant rat rests in the dead-end passage. Countless empty flasks and discarded alchemical ingredients lie on the floor around the statue. On a nearby workbench sit several organized but empty flasks and jars.
Four people live in the tunnels and alcove near the lab. These people have been using some sort of drugs, and they are in a sorry state. They suffer from malnourishment and can barely speak. In their delirium, they take little notice of you.
|
|
Hikari deftly descends the ladders into the sewers, barely wrinkling his nose at the foul stench. He almost nocks his bow when he sees movement in the in the tunnels until he realises the decrepit state the men are in. He leaps across the sewer waters to give his party mates space in the cramped quarters but does not move in further until everyone is in.
He notices a statue placed at the end of the tunnel, however. "Someone seems to have set up an altar here. That is Hanspur, a lesser-known deity of waterways and smugglers. And from the looks of it, an alchemical lab as well. But our quarry doesn't seem to be present currently. I doubt it is any of these four." Without approaching just yet, he stares at them intently (but still with pity in his eyes) to understand the condition they are in.
He then turns his attention to the rest of the sewers.
|
|
The wolf like being named Terra sighs very loudly, in fact, she has sighed so much this trip you wonder if it's intentional.
Kitt turns to the party with a greenish look on his face, "Err, guys, I'm not feeling so well, this fumes are making me nauseous, guess this isn't the most efficient means after all huh? Heh. You probably don't want to join me, unless you protect yourself from being sick."
|
|
Hikari beckons towards Kitt and his 'pet'. "Come out from there. Let me see if washing that off you would help."
If Kitt does so, Hikari calls forth the divine powers of Shizuru to summon water from the air around Kitt and Terra to fall as a downpour of rain until the sewage has washed off.
Turning to Kitty, he replies, "That might be difficult though. If we are to search the alchemist's lab at the end of the tunnel, we would have to approach the beetle. Does anyone have any means to appease the creature? Let me take a look at the people."
Keeping a close eye on the beetle, Hikari leaps across the sewer waters and carefully moves past Lithrac to squat beside the nearest man, pulling out his waterskin and some ration to offer to him. He then asks the man, "My name is Hikari Hayashi. What is yours? What are you doing living here in the sewers?"
|
|
Gavan shakes his head at the response. "The best we can do for these people is to deal with the alchemist." He juts his chin at the bug, saying, "It seems to me that we'll have to deal with that thing as well. We are alerted to its presence, however, so that should be easier than it might have otherwise been."
|
|
"Unfortunately, we do not know when he would return. We still have the other mission we need to accomplish and both would need to be done by today. Should this man only return at dusk, we would have wasted most of the day. Let's see if we can find any clues when he might return. But watch out for the beetle."
Hikari turns back to examine the now-unconscious man. He checks his pulse to determine the regularity (or irregularity of his heartbeat), flips open one eyelid to determine how bloodshot it is, as well as other physical examination to see if he can determine when he had his last dose of the drug and when the drug would wear off, guessing that the man is likely to return just before then.