When four statues of unspeakable power were found in a tomb in Osirion and then stolen, the Pathfinder Society assumed they were gone forever. When they appeared again in the illicit inventory of a Qadiran smuggler in the massive trade city of Sedeq, the Society wasted little time dispatching you there to recover them. Finding the smuggler dead and a familiar face from Absalom responsible, your task quickly becomes a race to retrieve the statues before their brutal power can be unleashed on the citizens of the Satrap. Can you find the statues in time or will Sedeq be swallowed in a plague like none Golarion has ever seen?
“Welcome to glorious Sedeq, Pathfinders. I trust your stay has been pleasant so far.”
The speaker is a strikingly beautiful woman, slender and dark, dressed in the most modern Qadiran fashions. Her study is opulently appointed and seems to have mementos and trophies of past adventures covering every available surface. She favors you and your comrades with a slight half-smile and continues in her thick Qadiran accent: “I am Venture-Captain Yasmin Kal’al—I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced.”
“I am here as you are, by request of honored Venture-Captain Adril Hestram. I have been asked to brief you on the local situation as regards the Osirian artifacts. As you know, the smuggler Matzal Chaim moved the four statues out of Sothis into Qadira. The statues are supposed to be quite valuable and had been confiscated by the Osirian authorities for study. We are not sure how Chaim got access to the statues in the first place—he likely had accomplices inside the Osirian Cultural Ministry. At any rate, Chaim brought the statues here. Sedeq is his permanent headquarters, though he spends most of his time traveling abroad. When he is in town, he spends the lion’s share of his time on the Qalli. While most of the city is given over to the human-chattel trade, the Qalli Spice Market is almost as lucrative as the rest of the city combined. Much of the money seen in Sedeq begins and ends in its stalls and processing plants. The saffron trade alone—” she brings herself up short. “But never mind, this is not of relevance to you. Chaim spends a good deal of his time at the Topaz Pavilion bathhouse. We believe that he uses it as a point of contact with his various associates. Once you find Chaim, you will have to convince him to tell you who he sold the statues to—yes, they are no longer in his hands, we are sure of that. Time is of the essence—if Chaim’s buyer sells to others, the artifacts may quickly move beyond our grasp.”
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Gaius enters the room, his soft blue robes billowing behind him as moves. He takes a standing position in the study, taking interest in the books and ornaments but yet more in the beautiful woman.
He listens to her with keen interest and when she finishes says: "Don't worry Venture-Captain, dealing with shady types is our specialty. We'll set off as soon as we may. The last thing we want is having to follow an endless trail of fences and occult traders." This sort of investigation into dangerous and plainly magical artifacts is Gaius' profession and he feels confident and at his ease. He stands in a tall, dignified posture, awaiting any questions the others might have.
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"Yes, very pleasant! The weather is nice", Amaranti answers the Venture-Captain.
The big Garundi is clearly enjoying the atmosphere in Sedeq. In his youth, sands of Qadira were what he would have called home. Time has passed since, but one knows when his feet touch the soil his ancestors.
Amaranti smiles, and keeps his eyes on the Venture-Captain. His serpent-companion is nowhere to be seen.
"I like you! We get your statues back", he says, flirting shamelessly. "You want the bad man back? In one piece?" the question sounds almost literal.
"Do what you must to retrieve the statues" the Venture Captain replies as matter of factly as Amaranti's question. "Time is of the essence...you'd best be off."
Act 1: Bargain in the Bathhouse
The Topaz Pavilion Bathhouse is located prominently on the corner of Candlewood Street and Shackle Street, a scant block from the ramp down to the Central Market. It is at the bathhouse that you see a man who clearly matches the description of Chaim. For the briefest of moments he glances at you, his eyes widen, and he flees into the bathhouse.
After chasing Chaim through what must have been half the rooms in the bathhouse, jumping pools and slipping across slick tile, the body of Chaim lies on the floor of a steamy room, a bloody gash where his adam’s apple used to be. An exasperated voice from further in the room exclaims, “’Think,’ I said, ‘before you stab.’” The steam separates, revealing two sweaty half-orcs in heavy armor, one looking abashed with a bloody kukri in his hand. A man sprawls luxuriantly in a small steaming pool in the center of the room. His visible skin is covered with horrible scars as if from badly healed burns.
Behold Grandmaster Torch, a notorious information broker who has helped the Pathfinder Society in the past—but always for a steep price. He continues dressing down the half-orc with the kukri until he notices you standing across the room. He appraises you with a quick, sharp eye taking in your varied appearance, outlandish garb and visible weapons. Then he says: “Please forgive the mess—my bodyguard was a bit…overzealous in guarding my privacy. I recognize Pathfinders when I see them, though, and I’m always happy to be of service to the Society.”
Looking at Chaim's body Torch says “Well, whatever you wanted him for, I’m afraid he won’t be able to provide it now. If it was information you were looking for, I’ve got all kinds in stock.”
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"He sold statues. We wanted to ask to who. Now is hard to ask", Amaranti explains, looking at the dead smuggler. He scratches his head in puzzlement. Straightforward plan just got more complicated. Amaranti doesn't like complicated.
"You know things. You know who buys statues?", he directs his question toward the scarred information broker. "Grandmaster. Sir" the Garundi closes up polite, just to be sure.
"Well...information comes with a price; but you folks don't look experienced enough to have acquired the wealth to meet my typical price point." He paces back and forth before continuing. "Tell you what. I tend to come by the very information you are asking about through favors that are owed to me by various individuals that I come across. What say, in lieu of payment, I reserve the right to call upon you for a single favor sometime in the future?" As if sensing your apprehension he adds "Unlike what your superiors sometimes ask of you, my requests will not put you in any immediate danger...in fact if there is the mere possibility of danger I will spare no expense to ensure that you are as protected as possible."
"I assure you good sir that I am on the level. I know all too well how dangerous it can be for a Pathfinder to go out in the field unprepared." He motions to the scar tissue that covers his body. "It is my goal to ensure that this never happens to another well meaning Pathfinder. And the best…nay…the only way to prevent such things from occurring is if you have the proper information so that you don't walk into a situation blindly."
"That's the spirit!" Torch chuckles. "As you move up in the Society you'll often find yourself choosing the lesser of two evils; and sometimes it will be too close to call." He starts to give you the first name before interrupting himself. "“As you find the statues, keep them in a thick bag and don’t let your arcane friends hold them when they practice their art. Bad things will happen.”
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"Sounds like a good start, but I think only a couple of us should approach him though. So we don't scare him, like our dead friend there and we can post the others in the escape routes just in case." Jorus suggests, "Sorry I got distracted by a pretty little lass earlier so I couldn't catch that gent before met his maker."
Act 2: Racketeer Ruckus
Map of Nasir's Warehouse
In the Overmarket, the streets are broader, the buildings farther apart, and the alleyways less dark. The spice levels in the air are much more breathable as well. This is the middleclass portion of the Qalli—not as crowded as the Central Market where the poorest of the poor rub elbows with highpowered merchants. The Overmarket almost has the feel of a residential neighborhood, albeit one with many more shops and stalls than houses and apartments.
Standing in front of the warehouse you can see directly inside the door. Two men are in the middle of a heated discussion. One, behind the low counter, is a fat, jowly man, looking wary but defiant. The man standing across from him is grizzled but menacing—his body lean but for a sizable paunch and his cheeks scraggly with halfgrown gray beard. The fat man blusters, “I’ve already paid you what you’re owed, Belal. You told me protection would be ten a month, plus another five for the mucks. By those rates I’m paid
up through the end of the year!”
Belal reaches across the counter and grabs the man by his collar. “Rates have changed, Tandir. I’ve told you that twice now. If you want my protection”—he jerks on the collar—“you’d better pay me the rest.”
As if sensing he's being watched, Belal Al-Sarif lets go of Nasir’s collar
and looks at you warily. Everyone but Armaranti notices that a pair of suspicious looking characters are circling the area around the warehouse.
The man behind the counter (Nasir) greets you warmly while his would-be assailant stands back, continuing to eye you cautiously.
"Welcome friends…how may I help you?'
Nasir motions for Amaranti to come behind the counter; taking a few steps away but still within earshot of the thug.
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Jorus looks to the tall Summoner, "If you don't mind, while you ask a few questions I'll browse around here." As he says that nods toward to the direction of the thugs. Then gives Amaranti a smirk, "Don't worry I'll try to stay out of trouble, Trapper's honor!" Jorus raises his left hand holding up two fingers while tucking his right hand holding the chakram back under the cover of his cloak.
"Statues? Chaim? I have no idea what you're talking about." Sweat begins to collect on Nasir's brow as he eyes dance nervously from Amaranti to the counter and to the thug in rapid succession. The thug approaches Amaranti "Alright lad, we've business to attend to here. You and your lot best be on your way lest you get hurt."
"The lockbox under the counter. Take it...I want nothing to do with it!" the cowardly Nasir screams as he scurries toward the back of his warehouse.
"Alright. We're doing this the hard way then." The lead Thug brings a signal whistle to his lips and blows twice as he unsheathes his dagger.
Round 1 Nasir's Warehouse
Gaius
Lucian
Armaranti
Jorus
Belal
Thug 1
Thug 2
Belal takes a thrashing from Armaranti. Unable to negotiate the lance, tosses his dagger at the Garundi man. The first thug swings a club at Lucian while the second charges at Gaius doing minimal damage to the Sorcerer.
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Round 2 Nasir's Warehouse
Gaius (-2)
Lucian
Armaranti
Jorus
Belal (-11)
Thug 1 (-4)
Thug 2 (-11)