"What's important again?" Fuzzzy's Magnificent Hat echoes.
Lady Glorianna Morilla smiles, seemingly pleased that you are already sharing our knowledge.
Lady Ziralia's look is more of perceptive concern, and she sighs.
“As I already stated, Emir Guldis has hired us to test the defenses he has arranged. You are correct that we want the heist to be as successful as possible.
Pashow’s citizens favor magic, so expect constructs, illusions, and traps within the transport itself. The convoy’s wardens will likely be soldiers and trained animals. The Emir assembled two independent teams to prepare the escort and the transport itself, so I recommend performing reconnaissance at the guard barracks and workshop building the transport. Learning their vulnerabilities on site should help you plan an effective heist.
Insofar as ulterior motives, be they the Emir's, or my father's... it is a delicate matter. If you prove your ability to exercise discretion and subtlety during the tasks I have laid before you, perhaps we can discuss the situation.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Is it?" the hat echoes.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"How delightful!" the hat echoes
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Being quiet got boring," the hat confirms.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Got that sorted." the hat agrees.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Apek takes a few steps closer to Fuzzzy and sniffs his talking hat. It also doesn't seem like food. How disappointing.
Lady Morilla grins and gestures a hand to one side in front of Lay Ziralia, "Don't worry, this is Fuzzy ... he is another of our specialists."
Lady Ziralia frowns. "Lady Morilla, this is a stealth and infiltration mission. You must forgive me, but I doubt the Emir has any 'specialists' in his employ that behave like this."
Lady Morilla smiles more broadly. "Oh, Fuzzy can take many forms. Can't you? Maybe the form of a more inconspicuous 'specialist'?"
Lady Morilla raises an eyebrow, and looks over at Fuzzy, sharing her concern discretely.
"The society has always trusted their members and I hope that I can trust you. You all are a reservoir for great power, and we feel it is our duty to make sure that power is used towards the goals of learning and justice. I know you will learn well from my example, and perhaps you can even join me ... in my more private goals." She looks at Lady Naysha, the only member of her faction in the room.
Lady Ziralia smiles kindly at Lady Morilla, and continues speaking.
“I’ve recruited Abadaran priests to stabilize any guards who are critically wounded during your operations, so using force is permitted. I would ask that you refrain from excessively lethal tactics, however, as it would be best for this exercise to proceed without casualties. That being said, I strongly advise against trying to simply overpower the guards. You are likely to find yourselves outnumbered. If you can complete the mission without any violence, all the better.”
She turns to the lady Morilla . "Your agents will need to learn the convoy’s route through the desert in order to find the best place for an ambush. I imagine Guldis’s navigators will debrief the convoy’s escorts before the practice run, so spying on the guard barracks will help you plan your attack.”
Lady Ziralia pauses for a moment.
""I know the guards are short-staffed and the convoy workshop needs skilled artificers, so posing as new recruits may get you far if you have the skills to back up your claims. You might also be able to pass as supervisors sent by Guldis, as long as you can avoid suspicion from middle management. Of course, there’s always the option of just sneaking around and stealing information. Don’t get caught engaging in suspicious behavior or this little test will be over before it begins. You are likely to meet with far more success if you to divide your forces between the two sites to cover more ground. You only have three days before the practice run, so every minute counts.”
She seems to carefully look over the gathered group, a rag-tag bunch by any account, as if she might have her doubts.
"Both sites are preoccupied with preparations, so anything could happen. Your most likely obstacles are traps protecting the officers’ notes and guards interfering with your surveillance. My advice is to either blend into the background or make a positive impression; overseers are more likely to scrutinize a nuisance than someone they enjoy. Also, watch out for anyone else spying on the operation; with so much at stake, we can’t afford to miss any foul play for the sake of our own heist.”
She laughs briefly and quietly, and continues.
"You could try to sabotage the wagon... if you can call it that ... transport would be a better word ...before it sets out, but the key is that we want to fully access where there might be gaps in their defenses. So we don't want them to just cancel the trip."
Ziralia seems to think for a moment, and then resumes talking, "I should mention that his is a trial run, so a less powerful elixir will stand in for the sun orchid elixir during this exercise. If you successfully locate and steal the mock elixir, however, you may keep it. Your payment will also be based on your performance, so please take this exercise seriously.”
“The Emir himself sanctioned this heist, so no one involved will be breaking the law. If Guldis’s men imprison you, I will ensure you are released, but being captured will not reflect well on your performance in this exercise, or on my trust in you.”
Lady Morilla daintily sets down her teacup, and stands gracefully.
"Well then," she says, straightening her skirts, "I can't imagine any other information Lady Ziralia could have for you. Off you go."
She smiles, and gently gestures towards the door.
Before the PCs depart for Pashow, Lady Gloriana summons you to a secret meeting. Gloriana sees Zinlo as a rising star in Inner Sea politics, and believes helping his daughter offers an opportunity to learn more about the ambitious prince.
She asks Lady Naysha to collect information pertaining to Zinlo’s associates and political machinations while she participates in Ziralia’s heist.
After concluding their business in Aspenthar, the Pathfinders undertake a long journey across the desert, traveling with the camel caravans, until they finally arrive in Pashow, in southern Thuvia.
It is a large town, but the smallest of the Thuvian city states, and the most vulnerable.
The adventurers divide into two groups and make their way to their respective targets.
|
Dylph eyes his companions. "As I'm no good at disguise and talking, I'll tackle the barracks. I'll sneak in and try to figure out their route and any other plans they might have..."
The rogue will use his various thieving skills to infiltrate the guard's barracks, staying as concealed as possible while eavesdropping and pilfering/reading what missives he can find...
"What are we going again?" his hat echoes.
"Exciting!" the hat agrees.
"I'm a wizard, you know." the hat echoes.
Lady Naysha is a great performer!
[dice=Perform Comedy]1d20+8
[dice=Profession Magician]1d20+5
[dice=Sleight of Hand]1d20+8While spying, Lady Naysha pays close attention to what the people in charge look like.
[
Suna and Sita use plant shape to try to be invisible at the barracks. They listen (and watch) for what happens around them.
[dice=Sita perception, aid Suna]1d20+5
[dice=Suna perception, aid from Sita, alertness]1d20+8+2+2
SETTING
The transport’s escorts reside in a single barracks, where they plan routes, train animals, and prepare for the harsh environment.
Guldis’s penchant for teleporting elixir shipments left him with few veteran escorts, so Pashow’s current recruits are inexperienced. As a result, the senior officers are desperate for skilled fighters and take on any recruit who demonstrates talent in a required field.
The barracks is a sandstone complex with thick walls and few windows, designed to shelter trainees from prying eyes. Recruits share bunks in the easternmost building, adjacent to the officers’ quarters where the Emir’s appointed overseers supervise preparations.
The western building contains an armory and a mess hall, each guarded by more experienced sentries. The buildings surround a massive training field, where recruits spar and practice on dummies while wranglers train guard animals in the southeastern paddock.
Animal training, led by Ishyal.
The first day revolves around training the convoy’s guard animals. Handlers teach tricks to a pack of barely domesticated Thuvian desert dogs—vicious beasts native to the barren wasteland—while recruits learn tactics for fighting with them.
Ishyal is a boisterous Qadiran woman covered with scars. She loves the outdoors and views buildings as cages that prevent living souls from reaching their full potential.
* * *
Player's choice: Dylph, Ranus, Suna
You think that you could start working with Ishyal through the heat of the mid-day sun and could gain her favor.