A broad coral structure dozens of stories tall emerges from the boundless sea. A steady stream of submersibles dock and depart, while dockworkers unload goods and carry them to carefully protected glass tunnels. Water mephits swim and flit about, surveying the new arrivals. Your turtle-drawn carriage swims up to one of the tunnels. As the carriage’s bubble of air meets the tunnel’s mouth, fresh air flows into the carriage, carrying with it the smell of fish. Within the glass passage, an elf with teal hair, webbed fingers, and gills stares out at the sea. As the turtles come to a stop, she raises her pale blue hands in an unfamiliar greeting. A golden wayfinder is secured tightly to her wrist, and a pair of long coral daggers is strapped to her back. “So, she actually did it,” the elf comments, tilting her head and giving a small smirk. “I had heard Zahra was threatening to summon agents to investigate what happened, but I thought it might merely be bluster to save face. Still, whatever cause has brought you here, you are welcome in our city. I am Lileone Blacktide, and I wish you luck, but I warn you that there is no culprit for you to find beyond Zahra herself.”
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A man decked out in a strange array of gadgetry snaps to attention at the sound of the Elf's voice.
"Commander William Iosef Blazkovich reporting for duty! It seems as though my application for a commission has finally been approved. I'm sure my retinue will arrive shortly."
He is of a tall and lanky stature, bulked up by his esoteric effects. His shirt of mithral chain features barbed protrusions, predomininantly around the shoulders, elbows, and chest. His left hand is adorned with a jet black adamantine cestus, and hanging from his collar is a mask of strange design. Designed only to cover the mouth and nose, it seems to have no decorative function aside from an occasional red pulsing light. Slung across his back is a pair of... weapons? They appear to have the design of weapons at least... Additionally, a small sidearm rests at the ready on his hip. It has the look of a pistol of sorts, but this sure isn't any Alkenstar make...
"At ease, commander." the elf responds, drawing the rank out slightly, almost condescendingly. "If you'd like, I can take you to your 'leader' Zahra." The sarcasm on the title was even more pronounced.
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A two foot tall frogman walks confidently out from the carriage. A gold sun symbol glitters on his little chest. He wears no armor, but only cleric's vestments of white and yellow. He smiles warmly at his travelling companions, and also at Lileone. "Hi, I'm Tad. I serve the Lady of Light. Mostly, she has me heal people."
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The rather short Half-Orc steps off the carriage and begins to wobble a little. "Oi, neva though' this job a had me rid'en turtles. Buhh." Finding his center Ebonwolf stands to his full five and a half foot height. Looking to the rather strange elf Ebonwolf thinks "Wha' be in her mix?" shrugging as he trys to recall something about her sub race. "Well met Lady Blacktide an' thank ye fer the warm welcome." seeing as condisention is in the air Ebonwolf follows along with his own inflecitng certain words. "Aye we best meet up with our 'contact' Zahara, thank ye fer bein' our guide." Ever causious Ebonwolf gauges Blacktide's reactions.
A female dwarf in a golden dress leaves the carriage with grace and walks to the rest of the group. She bows and smiles to greet the elf but stays silent for the time being.
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"Erm... leader?"
A look of mild confusion crosses his face and he turns to meet his 'retinue.'
"Erm... wait... you are civilian?"
He pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket, and reads it carefully before looking back at Thaddeus. "Tad? You are Thaddeus Treeskipper? But how can that be? We are of the same rank and..."
A look of anger flashes across his face, then quickly subsides. "So my request for a commission has been denied YET AGAIN! No matter... Well comrades Treeskipper, or Tad if you prefer... and Comrades Metalbender and Shardra I presume. I am Comm-... er... I am William Iosef Blazkovich. It appears as though we shall be serving alongside you for the duration of this assignment. My noted indicate that you all have exemplary records, and it will be my honor to serve by your side. I will do my best to ensure that this mission goes by smoothly and that our contingent exceeds the expectations of our commanding officers."
He turns back to the driver of the carriage. "So... any briefing on the situation or will we be learning in the field?"
Lileone nods to Shardra and Tad. "A pleasure to meet you." She looks at William with an amused twist to her lips. "Very well then, William. I can give you an idea of what has occurred recently and why you were requested." While he doesn't recognize her stature in Vialesk, Ebonwolf senses that the elf bears no ill will to the gathered Pathfinders, but rather is failing to keep her frustration with the topic of conversation from coloring her comments. As the rest of the party exits the carriage, she launches into a detailed explanation.
“A week ago, Zahra set out on an expedition towards a sea of jellyfish known as the Lambent Bloom. She believed she had made an incredible discovery: the remnants of one of the lost elemental lord Lysianassa’s servants, which might still hold a fragment of Lysianassa’s power. I was skeptical of her claims, but I joined her. If there was any chance she was correct, I thought it was worth investigating. I should have thought better of it."
"Not two days into our journey, Zahra steered our caravan too close to a patch of the Carmine Scourge, a poisonous red algae that drifts through the plane on the tides. They say it blooms in places where the elemental lord Kelizandri has passed, and it certainly shares his hunger. It sprung upon our caravan as if drawn by a magnet, sending everything into chaos and killing most of our precious whale sharks. Several members of our expedition are still violently ill, and I only survived myself because I was scouting when the incident occurred. Worse yet, though we managed to escape, the algae clung to us as we fled back to Vialesk. It broke off and settled among the coral reefs, and now the reefs have begun to die."
“Zahra has managed to convince herself some great conspiracy is to blame, rather than her poor navigation decisions and her inability to listen to anyone else. I have no doubt she truly believes she’s innocent; she has always been stubborn and arrogant, and it has always led her into trouble. The Society may have overlooked her errors in the past due to her superb mind and her talent for damage control, but this time, I will not allow them to slide. I warned her that the waters ahead didn’t seem right to me, but she couldn’t be troubled to listen. She has no excuse for the damage she has done and I will see to it that she is held accountable for her negligence. I look forward to your attempts to prove me wrong.”
Shardra begins speaking and her voice is thick for a female dwarf.
"Dear Lileone, thank you very much for your explanation. Allow me to ask questions and please tell me if you believe these questions are irrelevant."
"Can you tell us more about the sea of jellyfish known as the Lambent Bloom?"
"Can you tell us more of the lost elemental lord Lysianassa and his servants?"
"This patch of the Carmine Scourge, the poisonous red algae that drifts through the plane on the tides has now afflicted your reefs but do you know of a way to heal your reefs so that they do not die?"
"Who is the elemental lord Kelizandri?"
"What is the process now to hold Zahra accountable for her negligence?”
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William is taken aback. "Attempts to prove you wrong? Who do you take us for... fools? An investigative assignment is to uncover truth! I am a soldier, and only a foolish soldier follows a negligant commander into battle! If Zahra is in fact negligent, it will be my privilege to recommend a court martial and removal from her post. Removing one fool strengthens the force!"
He shakes his head before continuing in a less heated demeanor. "But by the same token, to face defeat when confronted with a superior foe is the fate that will befall us all eventually, and if Zahra's only crime is that of finding said foe... well... once again it will be my privilege to see to it that our force learns and grows with her knowledge and guidance."
He shrugs. "I do not care what the outcome is, so long as it contributes to the strengthening of our force."
He snaps back to attention and begins to pepper her with questions alongside Shardra, not even waiting for the first set of answers.
"Good questions Comrade Shardra... Hmmm... additionally, do you know of any forces capable of manipulating the Carmine Scourge? Was your caravan inspected for anything capable of attracting it? Was Zahra's disinclination to acknowledge your warning done so with any rationale? Does anyone other than the accused stand to gain from the results of this investigation?"
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A tall, athletically-built Elf with platinum hair and turquoise eyes, outfitted both with a brace of stunning Elven weapons and an elegant silver spellbook, stands in the back, looking out at the plane in silent wonder.
Suddenly, and without turning to face the group, he interjects:
"If the Carmine Scourge is such a known and terrible danger here, why were you not better prepared for it? There are many ways to counteract and detect poison - and if you knew of Zahra's foibles, why didn't you or someone else at least try to compensate for her lack of planning?"
"My apologies, Shardra..." Lileone offers, "...but you would be better asking Zahra for such lessons. I can say that Kelizandri is the elemental lord of water, undisputed among this plane since defeating Lysianassa ages ago, both of whom are spoken of in legend more than reality. As for the Carmine Scourge, I'm not aware of-" She breaks off sharply and stares at Zeno. "And would you be able to afford to protect an entire pack of whale sharks along with riders from poison for days at a time when your caravan master cannot be bothered to? Enough then. I shall take you to her and you can ask her yourself."
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Finally departing from the carriage, Thokzazt clanks to the floor of the tunnel. Red robes embroidered with the Pentacle of Asmodeus wrap around his massive Hellknight plate, the faceplate etched with a vortex design. The deep voice echoes "I am Thokzast, and I have been sent from the Order of the Gate to restore Order to this situation. I am a barrister by trade, so at the very least, we will discover the truth of the situation."
Nodding to Lileone, Thokzazt approaches William with an outstretched hand. "I have heard many things about you Commander Blazkovich. With any luck, they will be true. You have my Shield at your service."
"Mistress Lileone, How would we best reach Zahra in order to collect her Testimony?"
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Tad instinctively shrinks away for a moment from the symbol of Asmodeus, but then the seems to sigh inwardly and relax. Last mission one of those weird people from Rahadoum, and now a servant of Asmodeus. The Society does indeed bring me together with some strange companions. However, the Lady of Light wishes even such as these to feel her mercy and love, so I will do what I can.
"If you will all follow me, I shall take you to her." the elf answers. "She dwells in the air district of the city, as most non-natives do."
"Thank you Lileone, please be assured that we understand your situation and that we will try to bring clarity to this situation ... and that we only wish the best for your people!" Shardra says with a thick but calm voice.
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"Aye Lass, sorry fer the cold shoulder but as ye might guess when be'n approached with near hostility I be go'n on tha offensive." Ebonwolf addresses Lileone directly "Might'n we be get'n a chance ta improve tha situation o' course we 'ill try ta do that; and get'n infermation from a respectable scout such as yerself might'n help us resolve any angst ye be haven with us and Zahra's debacle."
Lileone leads the party along long tunnels of air, magical barriers preventing the water of the plane from filling the open space. Aqueducts allow loaded crafts to carry dry goods from the docks to the rest of Vialesk proper. Through the clear waters, the air district can be seen spreading out before you, stone buildings rising from the waters in air-filled bubbles. Off the edge of the walkway, the underside of the city is a symmetrical half extending down into the depths below. Sea elves, tritons, water mephits, and others move about their business without concern for the inversion.
As you arrive at a comfortable residence in a well-off residential area, the elf turns to you. "I will avoid making a scene by leaving you here." She gestures to the door. "I wish you luck in whatever tasks she assigns you, and hope for your success. If you will accept, I have this to offer as assistance." She produces three vials and offers them to Shardra. "Should you require access to the ocean district, you will be able to breathe for some time. I hope that this amends any ill will between us."
Inside, you find a woman pacing the length of the common room, garbed in loose clothing reminiscent of Qadira. Her blue skin gives her away as an undine, and the wayfinder on her belt leads you to believe this is Zahra.
"Ah! Pathfinders, I am overjoyed you could join me." The anger on her face is not quite washed away by the relief at your arrival. "How apprised are you of the situation? I have called for your help to investigate the failure of a recent expedition. I am certain that foul play led to the disaster, and while time and tides have destroyed the on-site evidence, I believe investigating who was a part of the expedition and who could have set themselves against it may prove that our misfortune was no mere accident." Scattering pages from the low table nearby, she produces a sheet with gentle script down the length of it. "I have assembled a roster of those who are still in the city and may be good sources of information. I would caution you against being too overt in your questioning, in case a saboteur was among the members of the expedition."
Members of the Expedition
Honoke:
Caravan master, provided the expedition’s whale sharks. I do not think him responsible. His sharks were his livelihood, and he lost most of them to the toxin. Investigate his whale sharks instead, something may have been done to them to steer them off course.
Tsomo Qorra and the Murajau current-chasers:
Tsomo’s murajau guides were responsible for mapping our route, and must be double-checked. Some of them had an unhealthy interest in the shell settlement and under the circumstances this is suspicious. It is also possible Tsomo failed to keep his maps up to date. As the Plane of Water is always shifting due to the tides, current-chasers are meant to keep track of these changes, but I have known things to slip past them.
Razethka the Scarred:
A brine dragon who lives apart from the Brackish Empire, though I have heard claims that she is in exile. She worked together with Yuka to provide our supplies to his submersible caravan, so she would have had the same opportunities for sabotage that Yuka did. I have yet to think of what Razethka's motive could be if she were responsible, but she is a dragon and I am certain she could find one with great ease.
Yuka Kannamen:
A selkie engineer and alchemist from Mapailek who provided and maintained a number of submersibles to protect our expedition from the jellyfish stings. He may be a genius in his field, but he is rather self-centered and inconsiderate of others. He is one of two with the greatest opportunity to sabotage us, as the Carmine Scourge, like other algae, can be deliberately attracted and spread with iron. Yuka would have had ample opportunity to lace his submersibles with that material, though I cannot argue that he would have the ambition for it.
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"Ah, my thanks! A well equipped squad is always able to operate at peak efficiency."
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William does his best to maintain a stone face as he listens to Zahra's hasty requests. "Zahra, I do hope you understand the severity of the allegations levied against you. We will do our best to shine some light on the situation at hand, but you must understand that it is my duty to find the truth and remedy the situation in whatever method best maintains the efficiency of our forces. This may reveal uncomfortable truths about companions you once saw as friends, or reveal truths that many prefer hidden. Know that this is for the greater good, and please do your best to facilitate our work."
He accepts the offered list and begins to review it. "While I admit that subtlety is most certainly not my forte, I will do my best to avoid compromising the investigation through oversharing of our motives. I would find it interesting to speak with this engineer Yuka though. Perhaps we could find some common ground. Those most comfortable with their interrogators frequently overshare."
"I have no concerns about you uncovering the truth. I welcome it, as it will vindicate me before any doubters." Zahra smiles with an edge of exultation. "I have double checked my navigation and know that I was not at fault. I believe we were sabotaged because of a signal we heard half an hour before the incident. There was a rhythmic clanging in the distance, though I do not have any idea what or who caused it. But I am certain it was related to the algae appearing before us."
"I am happy to hear that you are also interested in the truth. May we start with some questions:
"Can you tell us more about the sea of jellyfish known as the Lambent Bloom?"
"Can you tell us more of the lost elemental lord Lysianassa and the elemental lord Kelizandri as well as their servants?"
"This patch of the Carmine Scourge, the poisonous red algae that drifts through the plane on the tides has now afflicted your reefs but do you know of a way to heal your reefs so that they do not die?"
"What is the process now to hold you accountable for your alleged negligence?”
"Of course, I'll explain as much as I can. The Lambent Bloom is a school of giant pink jellyfish that stretches nearly a hundred miles wide. The jellyfish stings don’t affect sharks, so we employed whale sharks as our caravan beasts, and engaged a number of submersibles to protect ourselves." At the mention of the elemental lords, her face turns a shade more serious.
"Lysianassa was the very reason for this expedition. As one of the lost elemental lords, she was said to rule this plane in ages past, before Kelizandri imprisoned her. Kelizandri rules much of the plane now, although he spends most of his time in the Palace of Salt and Bones. I had located several sources that claimed Lysianassa was able to gift her breath to a giant nautilus named Riam the Unyielding, who she sent to govern in her stead." A pained expression creeps onto her face as she continues. "Riam was lost, when the witless brine dragons that serve Kelizandri mortally wounded him, and he dived into the Lambent Bloom. I had hoped to locate his shell, known as a site holy to the lost lord, but divination has failed to reveal its location and teleportations have failed as well."
"I do not know how the scourge can be dealt with. I think it will take a great deal of effort from Vialesk to do so. But I do not know how many understand the damage, given the reefs are so far outside the city boundaries." She considers the last question for far longer than the previous, finally speaking quietly. "I imagine that it will become difficult to launch future archeological expeditions, if not impossible, should the lenders of Vialesk require greater assurance before supporting our missions. The Society's efforts to explore the Plane of Water could well be crippled. If my resignation can avoid that, I will gladly tender it, but I worry any Pathfinder agent may face such scrutiny if my name is not cleared."
"I've noted my thoughts of each of them on that parchment. I have little evidence to support my thoughts, so I hope that you might uncover some motives to provide such grounds."
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"Very well. I thank you for your candor... we shall get to the truth of the matter. I am glad to hear you are willing to face the consequences should our investigation prove negligence. Remember though, it is no shame to find yourself bested by a stronger foe so long as you learn from your experience and are willing to pass on your lessons learned. If this investigation proves no wrongdoing on your part, I would be honored to serve under your command."
"Ah, one last thing!" Zahra exclaims. "You might speak with some of them about the damage to the reef. Individually we cannot do much, but many of the survivors have ties to larger organizations. A word from them will bear much weight." With that, she bids you good luck.
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"Perhaps we should see this Mr. Tsomo," Zeno suggests after looking over the list. "I will admit to having a professional interest in seeing how one charts an Elemental Plane...and if it really shifts so rapidly, we should see his maps sooner rather than later, lest they become further more out-of-date!"
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Silently listening to the conversation, Thokzazt scoffs at the sound of the Rhythmic clanging. "Those Gorumites do find there way everywhere. Banging whatever weapons and armor that they can find together, while proclaiming their own might. I believe that we should see Honoke. With the blow that was struck to his livelihood, I would assume he would want the culprits caught as swiftly as We do."
Shardra speaks up with a thoughtful expression. "I would also like to meet Razethka first."
Travel through the city is much like any other metropolitan traffic, with only the vista of endless sea outside the air bubble to remind you that you are indeed on the Plane of Water. All manner of water-dwelling races are among the crowds, along with scattered representatives of the material plane. Nearly an hour passes before you stand before the open space of the dragon's pool. As you make your way between the free standing stained glass windows encircling the property, a deep voice from within calls out.
"Visitors, that I am not prepared for. Await the pleasure of my company there. I shall arrange a more suitable chamber for entertaining guests." You find yourself blocked completely by the windows, which scatter dazzling hues of green across the ground around you. With little more to do, you must wait the pleasure of your host.
Half an hour later, two panels swing open, the expansive pool of water beyond now clearly visible, spattered with the brilliant light through the stained glass. That impressive sight is enhanced by the sizable dragon lounging halfway on a wide rock at the pools edge, halfway in the water, only a short walk from the entrance. "Ah, Pathfinders! Please do enter, I have expected a delegation soon after our last adventure." All across her scales are brilliant sea anemones that do not quite hide the scar tissue marring her form. "Allow me to make you a most attractive offer; should you wish to set out another expedition to the Lambent Bloom, I will fund it fully from my own resources."
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"Many thanks for the hospitality Comrade Razethka, and it is wonderful to hear that not only are you already willing to consider another foray to the Lambent Bloom, but that you back your confidence with your own resources! A tactical decision that should not be taken lightly I'm sure..."
"So, what is it that you feel we can provide you to elicit such a generous offer?"
"Satisfaction." The word comes out in a slight growl. "I take the previous expeditions failure quite personally. The resources lost can be replaced, but the knowledge that my name is associated with such a catastrophe is a much larger hurdle to clear. A successful venture back will wash much of that stain out."
"Believe us that we understand your loss. May I ask you about the damage to the reef. You know that individually we cannot do much, but we heard that you have ties to larger organizations. A word from you will bear much weight we assume." Shardra says with a smile.
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His deep voice echoing from behind the Swirling Vortex of a Helm, Thokzazt adds "I can understand Satisfaction. As an envoy of the Prince of Law, I ensure exactly as much satisfaction as the Law can afford."
Stowing his large shield on his back, Thokzazt retrieves a small notebook and inkpen. "Do you swear, upon the Hand of the Prince of Law that your testimony will be True and Complete?"
"I swear to deal honestly with you and to speak the truth to the best of my knowledge, yes." She snakes her head closer, listening to Shardra's words. "Pointless philanthropy would be a meaningless endeavor." she muses, a critical eye looking over the dwarf. "But you do not speak incorrectly. A dragon's word carries much weight. But I will not touch this reef myself. Find workers to employ in good public works, and I shall ensure they are put to good use."
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"Hah! Satisfaction! Now that's a cause I can get behind... give me a mission where I can kill some demons and I won't think twice. I dream of the day where my arsenal is complete... back in my homeland of Numeria there exists a weapon from ages past... the Rail-gun... one day I will acquire this weapon and bring it to the Worldwound. Then we shall see how the demons fare against such a big [expletive deleted] gun."
He grins from ear to ear before snapping back to a semblance of composure.
"Yes... just as the wound mars the once green fields of Mendev, so too does this Scourge leave a blight on your reefs. It may be too late to rejuvenate the battlefields north of my homeland, but the Lambent Bloom is not yet lost. We shall seek out workers capable of such task knowing that your world shall ensure that they are used well."
He scratches his chin then adds. "So, what is it that you seek within the Lambent Bloom to have made this mission of value to you before?"
She snakes her head closer, listening to Shardra's words. "Pointless philanthropy would be a meaningless endeavor." she muses, a critical eye looking over the dwarf. "But you do not speak incorrectly. A dragon's word carries much weight. But I will not touch this reef myself. Find workers to employ in good public works, and I shall ensure they are put to good use."
"Thank you very much dear Razethka! We will try to employ workers and will come back to you!!"
He scratches his chin then adds. "So, what is it that you seek within the Lambent Bloom to have made this mission of value to you before?"
A rumble of amusement rolls from her maw. "My interests aligned with your ally Zahra's, to locate the shell of Riam. The prestige of revealing that archeological site would have been well worth the expense of the caravan." A single claw trails the edge of the pool thoughtfully. "I did not see a need to personally partake in the expedition. Perhaps that was a mistake. While I do not have firsthand knowledge of the disaster, I will answer whatever other questions you have of it as best I can. Do not hesitate to bring any suspicions you have to my attention."
"Zahra had expressed such to me after the remnants of the expedition returned. I do not doubt the possibility of sabotage." Razethka rolls one shoulder in a non-committal gesture. "The journey is the better part of three weeks, providing ample time and opportunities for an outside force to interfere."
"I have confidence in the members of the caravan, else I would not have attached my name so prominently. I would suspect outside aggression first. The Lambent Bloom hosts several tribes of sahuagin that might have defended their territory."
its army.
share their kinfolk’s bloodthirsty nature.
"I know that Sahuagin are a prosperous and warlike aquatic race, launching constant raids on coastal races and underwater cities. I also know that they once had mighty empire on the Plane of Water, but bitter in fighting caused it to crumble."
She thinks a moment.
"Would it be possible that the Sahuagins used their strong affinity for sharks, that allows them to telepathically communicate with the creatures, to somehow sabotage the mission?"