The Ambitious (Assas/Brwl) - Great Green God
The Artist (Magus) - Jeff Cook
The Experiment (Oracle) - Rogar Valertis
The Leader (Enchanter) - Yiroep
The Professional (Rogue) - Aerondor
The Vengeful (Slayer) - Upaynao
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.
***
322 seems lost in her own mind, gazing at the walls of the safehouse but seemingly trying to pierce them in order to reach for something even she doesn't really know...
A human, Mwangi man stands in front of you. He has a spellbook and several scrolls he carries with him. He wears a very fashionable teal colored robe.
Rataji will begin by casting Message on every agent and use that to communicate the mission. He will also make sure no one is around to hear any of this briefing.
Can't be too careful.
I am Rataji. I may have already met some of you in your travels. I know this is an unusual briefing, but the gold agents are currently busy. Don't worry, though, as I have received all of the mission at hand and will be accompanying you.
Alright agents, we've been assigned a pretty ambitious and important task. For that, I congratulate each and everyone of you. Our agency has put a lot of weight on our shoulders, so listen up because you won't want to miss a single detail. I apologize for whispering this to you, but the less people around here know, the better.
The Pathfinder Society Rataji spits on the ground as he says those words is about to throw a festival which can provide as a fantastic distraction. Our first objective is to gather any information and meet any informants or complete any objectives that each of you might have that can be done outside of Skyreach. However, once people start gathering for Master of Swords Marcus Farabellus's speech, we need to meet each other again. We will be using the speech as our time to enter Skyreach.
Once we are inside, We have some major objectives.
We need to head to the Antarnicus Wing. My sources say that Master of Spells Aram Zey has key notes on how to open the Hao Jin Tapestry, and being able to open that is key to our mission. We need to prepared to...break into the vault. That is not in my skill set, but I'm sure it is within some of yours.
Once we have those notes, we need to head to the Hao Jin Tapestry and open it so it works two ways. From the sound of it, we may face some opposition there.
After all that, the next task is to get the Sky Key. It is in a small museum above where the Hao Jin Tapestry is located. We need to take out any guards it may have and grab the target. On our way out, there will be another team that takes the Sky Key from us, so don't be alarmed by that. I know their code word and will be listening for it.
Remember, we are not to enter Skyreach until Marcus Farabellus starts his speech, so we have some time to kill until then for gathering information or meeting informants.
Any questions, or suggestions?
Z awoke early with at start. He was normally a light sleeper at the best of times but thoughts of the mission had kept cropping up in his dreams like ache of a bad tooth. It was like déjà vu all over again every night. Stupid briefings, his mentor's missive, his own worries about the dependability of the rest of his crew and their grasp of objectives, security, stealth and plain old reality.
In his dreams it had all gone to s*%#--everytime. There was no plan and everyone just blundered about into ambush after ambush, until they ran in the Mr. Master of Spells himself and got terminally spanked. Even in his dreams was smart enough to vacate the catastrophe, but still it smarted.
And what the Hells had he been wearing? Perhaps in the dream he was trying to be ironic, not that anyone but him would have gotten the joke. Most folks just assumed he was no more than simple pretty face.
Ah irony. Z smiled.
He sipped his black coffee with his huge hands, thumb-sized pinky extended in mock civility.
A couple of days ago when he arranged for the safe house to be vacant for the rest of the crew's arrival he had cleaned the place up and now here was the boss spitting on the fine berber he had so recently replaced. Some people.
He hoped that his suggestion a few days ago to collect enough gold to get some healing mojo for the mission had not slipped people's minds. His own funds were minimal at the moment.
Yep. Reliability.
A short man steps out from the shadows, bowing slightly.
"I am Shohiraj. It is my job to get us all into skyreach. I'll be acquiring the keys during the festivities before the speech. I will also be helping with any..compilations that arise during the mission."
He looks hard around the group.
"Don't look on me to be fighting toe to toe with pathfinders through. My skills lie elsewhere. I'm also here to remind you all to keep a low profile. Wanton murder or damage to facilities at the wrong time could tip our hand and blow the mission."
As Rataji finishes hsi speech 322's pupils suddenly focus and for the first time she seems to notice the other agents. She cbows her head and then speaks, her words sounding like the sweetest honey, although the others cannot but feel something is off about her somehow...
"Welcome. You can call me 322. My job will be to make something marvellous happen in the middle of our guests' feast. That and something else... Our opponents are many and powerful but fear not because the stars are right and we shall suceed" finishes the elven woman before returning to the previous trancelike state.
Marnarius, seated at the low table besides the Mwangi rolls his shoulders moodily, but a sly smile appears across his lips fleetingly as he hear the details of the mission. Dismissing the two seemingly addled members present, he nods appreciatively at Shohiraj's words and takes his turn. "I'm Marnarius. I'm told I have a temper lately. You do right by me, I'll do right by you." he states in a raw voice. "A little birdie told me that a whole bunch of ... fresh meat is getting ready to make Master of F~$+-All Farabellus' speech somethin' that'll set them all on fire." He takes a moment to stare each of the other people present at the table in the eye before continuing. "Same birdie told me the pathfinders also hired a f!*@in' petting zoo for them to show off to their rookies, which happens to be filled with the kind of things that you probably wouldn't want strollin' loose and eatin' your rookies. The kinda thing that's gonna be a useful distraction to have while we're making our way into Skyreach. I'm gonna be lettin' those things loose, because it'll make my little birdie happy. And I do love my little birdie. And I giggle like a baby girl when I see pathfinder guts hangin' loose." he finishes with a dangerous grin. He allows himself a chuckle before adding: "Also, the pathfinders took something of mine and are keepin' it in one of their Vaults. Like I said. Scratch my back, I'll f*&*in' kill the guy trying to put steel in yours."
Having said his piece, he leans back and asks Shohiraj: "Whadya have in mind to get us on the grounds on time?"
"Well.." says the shortish man. "I love a good story, and listening to a good story happens to be a key part of my plan to get us into sky reach. As for the grounds themselves. I'm hoping our esteemed leader has some papers or similar to get us in. Heck, we might be able to just bluff our way in. Half of Absalom is going to be trying to get to that party."
I would be glad to accompany some of you in your...we'll call them "faction" missions. People around here won't suspect anything if we call them that.
I don't really have any sort of information on how to get in besides "Wait for the speech." I was hoping you guys had some more information. I am excellent at deception, though, so I think that lying our way in is an excellent option.
It was suggested that we split up into smaller groups to get everything we need done in time. I think we should start splitting ourselves up. Two to a team perhaps, or does anyone recommend three?
"I too can help out others, once I have secured the key. I'll do that first though."
He jingles some coins in his purse and then acquires a couple of potions of cure light wounds "just in case". - 4gp left over.
"Hold up." says Marnarius, raising a meaty paw as he gives Shohiraj the once-over. Girl or guy? Heh. You gonna f$%~ her if he's a she? No. Then who gives a s*~~? He slowly reaches into his vest as he adds "Someone here able to cast divine spells? I'm gonna say yes because our bosses aren't complete retards. Here." With a flick of his wrist he tosses a pouch heavy with gems and coin. "Should be almost enough for a healing stick or whatever you wanna call it. I'll be taking it's worth off of Pathfinders, on top of my split." Seeing looks of concern appear in the other agent's eyes he rolls his and adds "Don't you worry about me being a f~~+ing retard and screwing us and the mission over. I've waited too long for this s+$*, and I'm not letting anyone take this away from me. Even me."
"I'd recommend groups of three. I'll help Sho with the keys, if he'll tell me what he has in mind. To get into the party, we can sneak in or pretend we're Pathfinders and walk in."Or grow a sack and just walk in. It'd screw over the mission, but s%%# would be funny he thinks with a twisted smile. "Skyreach is probably going to be more difficult. I'm good at sneaking around. Is that something the rest of you can do or no?" He pauses, thinking. A futile endeavor. He was never really good at that. "Rataji, whaddya you know about the Pathfinders here in Absalom? Where's Antarnicus Wing in that tower?"
And balls.
I would be glad to accompany some of you in your...we'll call them "faction" missions. People around here won't suspect anything if we call them that.
"I ain't got nothin' better to do. So I can tag along with folks." Z beams.
"What is my plan for the key? Well, it seems there is a favored Halfling.. some of you may have heard of her. Janira Gavix. Anyway, she's got the key, but she likes to tell stories. I'm willing to bet the pathfinders will have a stage for her somewhere. I'm going to find out where, and then wait for her to finish. Go up and ask for an autograph maybe. And she'll be so happy to give it, I'll just get the key at the same time."
She looks around the group.
"Not sure how much help any of you are likely to be. I can't see this being too difficult. Maybe if we agree where to meet up? I've got a rough map of the place..."
"That way I can do my bit and two of you can work on whatever plans you have. We meet up and depending on available time we split into groups of two and I can help out one of you."
"This one's talents lay elsewhere" states 322 in response to Marnarius question and then she adds as if speaking to no one in particular:"This one needs to explore the grounds beyond this abode's walls. This one's knows it will find what she was sent for when it sees it"
Well, Shohiraj, would invisibility help?
"If I'm unable to acquire it by stealth..." says Shohiraj with a grin "Then I'll avail myself of your magic. But in a crowd there should be little difficulty in obtaining the key. I'm counting on there being a press of people all around to help me."
Rataji tries to rally the agents together into some semblance of order.
So I can better judge what teams we need, who has something they have to do outside of Skyreach?
Z kicks his tree-trunk sized legs up on the table and leans back on the chair his hands laced behind head. "I'm good. I'm only here to make sure no one else screws up. Everything else is gravy. Put me were you think I can do the most harm." He winks toward Rataji.
"I need to get a key to get us into sky reach. Happy to help the others after that."
"Like I said" says Marnarius as he shifts in his chair "I'm making my birdie happy. When that happens is up to you, so long as it happens before Farabellus starts yappin'." He swings his heavy boots onto the table. "Other than that, I aim to please." he finishes, with an ugly smile.
From the sound of it, I'm thinking invisibility could be useful for Marnarius letting things loose, so I can go with him.
I'm thinking Shohiraj could use a little muscle if she gets into trouble, so maybe send Z with her.
That leaves 322 and The Artist. Perhaps they could go together as a team. If the Artist has something to do, they can discuss which they do first.
We can meet up again and discuss once we find out if we have more time. I guess meet in the center of the lodge after we have done something. Sound good?
"Fine. Maybe he can cause a distraction if things get heavy. But I certainly don't expect them to. I am a professional"
Wall of Names huh?
"Getting in shouldn't be too much problem. There will be a few hundred new faces on the Society's grounds at least."
"Even easier getting in if we look like one of the them." Z says after a few minutes getting made up. "How do I look? I'm lookin' guidance here, if anyone's got some to offer."
The heart of the Pathfinder Society is a sprawling campus in Absalom’s Foreign Quarter. Behind its white walls, Pathfinders train for upcoming expeditions, academics study priceless relics recovered from across the globe, and the Decemvirate charts the course for the entire organization from the towering keep Skyreach.
"This one believes it's time to animate things.... Let's wander around and see what we can do to improve this feast..." Says 322 suddenly changing tone of voice and behaviour while waiting for her companions to lead the way.
Rataji points out buildings and structures to people.
"Even easier getting in if we look like one of the them." Z says after a few minutes getting made up. "How do I look? I'm lookin' for some guidance here, if anyone's got some to offer."
Shohiraj also dons a disguise, changing his features to her features and wearing slightly taller shoes. All in all a credible effort.
"I'll do you all as well if you like. No sense in just walking in - some of you have a reputation."
'She' is more than happy to have Rataji show off his knowledge.
As if some great revelation had just made itself manifest 322 moves near Mr Z (secretely wondering about his strange change of appearance...) and cast a spell ripping it out of the dark tapestry itself...
Once inside the grounds, Shojiraj asks around for where the storytelling is taking place.
"I heard there is a competition for who can tell the best..." 'she' says excitedly.
Rataji seems to be quite familiar with the layout of the place and can easily (and rather disconcertingly!) name all the buildings... and brings the large statue of Durvin Gest to the Experiments attention. (Area 16)
***
Turn 1
The Ambitious
The Artist
The Experiment
The Leader
The Professional - starts gathering general information.
The Vengeful
Shohiraj also dons a disguise, changing his features to her features and wearing slightly taller shoes. All in all a credible effort.
"I'll do you all as well if you like. No sense in just walking in - some of you have a reputation."
'She' is more than happy to have Rataji show off his knowledge.
"How's the chin look?"
After 322 gives him some guidance Z says: "Thanks Douses."