Each of receive this message at wherever you where at.
Greetings,
I will cut straight to the point. The owner of the Green Market, Zeeva Foxglove, needs our help. I’d normally require a more substantial explanation than what she’s given us, but Zeeva is a friend, and she knows a thing or two about prophecies. If she says disaster is about to strike Korvosa, I believe her. Time is of the essence. When you receive this message, head to Korvosa at once. Travel to Eodred’s Square and inform the local guards that you are looking for Zeeva, and she will come out to meet you. I’ve enclosed a letter of credit that should be sufficient to secure you passage to Korvosa. Best of luck to you, Pathfinders. I look forward to reports of your success.
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch
After Reading and traveling
Take this time here to introduce your PCs and what you look like. Maybe tell where you where at when you got the message.
After Intros and story
// Part 1
An ill wind stirs whitecaps on the dark Jeggare River, carrying with it the faint odor of spoiled meat. Travelers crossing High Bridge into Korvosa grumble and pull their collars up against the cold. Past the somber city gates is a sprawling square plaza. Throughout the area, small clusters of people gather close together, stuffing their hands in their pockets as they engage in quiet conversation. Several guards hover around the edges of the plaza. A gray tabby cat rests nearby, its bright yellow eyes seeming to watch over the crowd.
what would you like to do ?
A Sarenite in his faith's colours shuffles his feet get the blood flowing again. He looks about the square, seeking out a member of the local guard.
If only my faith could stave off this cold...
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A half-elven woman wearing rather expensive clothing and jewelry breathes deeply of the Korvosan air. "Ah, always good to stop by home. Too bad brother isn't here to enjoy it." She frowns slightly at the memory of her dead sibling, then shrugs it off and heads towards the nearest guard. "Excuse me, we are looking for Zeeva Foxglove."
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The bird sat uninterested.
"I'm not familiar with this Heidmarch to tell the truth," Dhane continued. "And I can't figure out why'd she go through the trouble to pull me into Varisia. Still, a break from Galt's what lead us to Greengold in the first place. Couldn't hurt to keep going west, huh Dru? 'Sides, it looks like someone else is footing the bill for our trip, so that makes it a winner in my book."
A sturdily-built man with yellow hair tied back into a ponytail and a bush of facial hair hiding a slight grin sizes up the crowd of Eodred’s Square as he crosses into the plaza. He cocks his head slightly to talk to a reddish shadow on his shoulder, "Flit around n' see if there's anything of interest. If you see anything out of place, just lemme know. I'm gonna go find a guard n' get this letter sorted out... After I browse a shop or two. Maybe I'll get lucky n' find this Foxglove's Green Market."
The bird on Dhane's shoulder flies into the air to get a better vantage point, but is preoccupied by the cat, as birds often are.
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A sloppily dressed Tengu in bright colors struts over to one of the guards; he's all-but juggling his walking stick and his last horn of Kalsgard's finest mead as he tries to keep them from being tangled up with the gaudy scabbard of a sword that he seems to keep forgetting he's wearing.
Swaying a little too close, his beak nearly digging into the guard's tabard he demands LOUDLY and insistently to be shown to Zeeva Foxglove, not really pausing to allow an answer.
"Honestly with the service here I don't see how Korvosa can stay in business - Zeee-vaaaa Foooccckksss Gloovvve? Should I ask the cat instead??"
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While some might say one has no right to complain about the cold when one isn't wearing a shirt, Bailey has never been one to listen to the tripe otherwise known as "logic." Complaining, like pyromancy, is best without silly constraints. And so, clad only in heavy breeches and an armored silk cloak complete with hood, Bailey crosses the bridge and seeks out the nearest guard. He had been looking for the largest concentration of out-of-place lunatics, but it appeared as if his fellow agents have not gathered just yet.
"Excuse me, sir, but I have an appointment with a Zeeva Foxglove on behalf of the...Pathfinder Society." He starts strong, but peters off slightly and quickly flashes a Wayfinder rather than speaking out on his affiliations in such a public place. "If you would be so kind as to alert her?"
We don't have anything faster, more reliable? No chance I can use that Hao Jin tapestry I've heard so much about?
Out loud, he had asked, "Anything else I should know? Any important rules 'bout the Green Market, Aspis activity, anything?"
The Venture-Lieutenant who had given him his tickets shrugged. "Dress warm. As in, put on a shirt. It works."
"Maybe, but some of us are willing to sacrifice comfort for style, warming fire magic, and the chance to complain."
A shadow creeps across a dimly lit alleyway. Out comes a small rodent, standing upright, with a long and scrunched nose. His whiskers hold the crumbs of meals past, and his face holds the scars of memories past. He dons tattered, baggy traveling outfit with a cloth turban atop his matted crown; your typical vagabond, cloak and all.
The rat surveys the alleyway before leaping up, bouncing from brick wall to brick wall up to the ledge of a window, adorned with intricate wooden designs. With a masterful flick of his wrist, the lock on the window is undone. Magic. He carefully opens the window. A creak eminates from the hinge. The rodent freezes, then continues and enters the house.
He draws a thin sword from a scabbard at his waist
A dark bird, its feathers the same shade of the rodent's taps on the window. "Shhh ..." he whispers. The raven taps again. He mumbles under his breath, "Well, I can't have this damned bird wake the master. What do you want?"
A tube at the raven's ankle holds a message. Greetings, the letter begins. The rat, Norvegicus, frowns disappointedly. Not the salutations I expected from the lovely captain. He keeps reading.
When he finishes, he turns to the bird. "Korvosa, eh?" He looks at the raven with a wry grin. "This theft will have to wait. I'm traveling north."
Staring at the entrance of Korsova, his favorite place to visit as a youngun', Norvegicus takes a deep breath. He always enjoyed the brisk air of the north. Growing up with it, he stomached it better than others.
Walking up the entrance gate, Norvegicus freezes, realizing what he was doing; going into Korsova. "My mind will be clearer with a mug in hand and cigar in maw."
He sits down on a bench just outside the gate, procures a mug, bottle of ale, matches, and a Smokeoak leaf (his favorite), pours the liquor into the mug, rolls the leaf into a cigar, and lights it.
His courage high and anxiety levels low, Norvegicus walks coolly to the gate and exhibits his traveling papers to the gatekeeper.
Inside, Norvegicus looks around at the people. So many people. So many large people. He didn't like it. He rolls another cigar, strikes a match on a wall, and keeps walking.
When he reaches Eodred's Square, he feels more at home among merchants and scavengers; the misfits. He swaggers up to the closest guard.
"Hello, stout yeoman. I am looking for one Zeeva Foxglove." A nervous paw runs through his fur. "Your captain has informed me of her ... sightings ... and let's just say we both find paths." He winks, hoping this will stir a reaction of recognition in the guard.
The guard explains, “Zeeva Foxglove told us that she had important guests coming from the Pathfinder Society. She assured us that she would know when they arrived in this square. Don’t really understand it myself, but I suggest waiting right here until she shows up.”
Within a few minutes, Zeeva Foxglove arrives in the square.
The group stands around Zeeva each of you realize that you all waiting for the same person. Each of you pull out the letter from the Venture Captain..now what?
"Quite the group we have 'ere, eh?" Norvegicus remarks, looking around at what seems to be a three-ring circus. "And admirable avian, he says to Raijan. What I have on my head is my business alone."
Norvegicus turns back to the owner of Green Market and the guard. "So," he says slyly. "What's the story, morning glory?" he asks with a wink at Zeeva. "The captain tells of disasters. Any insight? Or foresight?"
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"Indeed, it isn't exactly polite to go about asking such questions," Bailey scoffs, almost indignantly. Out of the corner of his mouth he adds to Raijan, "Only in Goka, and I was framed. I was trying to stop that mage, I didn't know he had such a way with words, or the sheer power to fireproof a dire bear, as if I could have taken one in the first place."
The ifrit shakes his head, replacing his reminiscences with thoughts of the task at hand.
"Either of those would be nice, yes," he says to Zeeva. "The letter was very vague, but it implied you thought a disaster was to strike here. Some specifics would be useful if you want us to prevent it."
A bounty? I think that highly doubtful...I mean there was this pretty girl back in Absolom, but she....um...never mind. I assume we are all here on Society business? If I can help with this disaster aversion, I am ready. I hope my meager powers are enough for the job.
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“In my experience, if someone wants you dead then all you have to do is wait and they'll eventually have their turn on the gallows. Of course, things probably work differently in these parts.” Dhane grins under his moustache, “Even considering bounties, this is a better lookin’ group than the type I usually work with.”
"I agree with beaky," concurs Norvegicus. "What are we doing here? What's the 'so what'? "
A large-eyed woman in a green gown waves, and then introduces herself by handing out cards bearing her name— Zeeva Foxglove—and the address of the Green Market in South Shore. A cat bearing a striking resemblance to the one that rested on the square’s cobbles walks alongside her. “I owe you an explanation,” she says, “But let us travel as we talk, for my market cannot do without me for long. I know it sounds ridiculous, but there are actually three disasters waiting to strike.”
The merchant walks briskly, slipping gracefully past the crowds and carriages. “It began after I heard about a Varisian caravan parked outside the city. The vagabonds had lost everything to bandits, and, my marketplace is so profitable now, I can afford to share my bounty with those whom fate mistreats. I brought them some produce, and in return, their fortune-teller offered me a harrow reading.”
Foxglove’s rosy complexion pales. “The spread foretold good fortune, almost to excess—that is, until she turned up The Yellow Prophet. A legendary lost card, although I didn’t know that then. Its appearance upset the soothsayer. She said the card required that three more cards be drawn, and she did so hastily, giving me hardly any insight. What I’ve learned since is that each of those cards portends a dark fate—a disaster.”
She produces a deck of cards from her handbag. “It seemed the fortune-teller was hiding something, so I obtained my own harrow deck and researched the cards’ meanings. But I am still in the dark, and my own auguries tell me that time is running short. I need brave investigators, well-versed in the arcane, to determine where these calamities will strike—or, failing that, track down that fortune-teller, so that she can explain her strange behavior.”
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"Me n' Dru, here, we're used to dealin' with the arcane. Part of our trainin'," Dhane says, along with a serious glance.
"These cards, what were they? What did ya find out about 'em? Can ya tell us 'bout the other cards from the readings? I can't imagine that Varisian fortunetellers would be too terribly rare in these parts. If we can't track down yours, we might be able to find someone who can tell us somethin'. Don't want to take those cards out of context, of course, so the full reading would be mighty handy."
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"A 'lost' card? How does that work?" Bailey asks incredulously. "What exactly were the other cards, and their significance? What are the corresponding disasters, if you know?"
Bailey suddenly realizes Zeeva is being bombarded with questions, but knows it can't really be helped. He thusly focuses on listening to more questions and answers and wondering whether the cat is going to make a move on the bird.
Norvegicus tries to recall where he's seen these cards in his studies, and what they mean.
It doesn't require a Sense Motive check to see that she clearly doesn't understand what's going on. But who does? he contemplates.
"Solet me get this strait; something terrible's gonna happen, and we're supposed to stop it from happening? I'm not a firm believer in the supernatural (though I'm a practitioner of the arcane, I stick to what can be explained by natural laws), I feel like these events are kind of pre-destined."
These Harrowing cards are beyond my ken...I must defer to you who have training in the arcane arts.
Zeeva realizing she is being questioned heavy tries answer in this approach.
Why are you sure these disasters are going to happen?
“Few people know this, but I’m something of a witch.
Through dreams and auguries, I’ve confirmed that
something dire is just on the horizon. I just don’t know
what or where it will happen.”
What is “The Yellow Prophet?” “A chilling card, and
not one that appears in a standard harrow deck. It depicts
a fortune-teller, clad in black and yellow. My research
says it signifies false presumptions and self-fulfilling
prophecies. There’s no copy of it in my current deck, but
I’d love to find that fortune-teller to study it in depth.”
What about the three cards? “I have them here. Harrow
cards can be tricky: an ominous card isn’t always negative,
and a cheery card can turn calamitous. Instead of relying
on their traditional meanings, I’m guessing the cards
have connections to people or places in Korvosa. Maybe
you can catch something I’ve overlooked?” At this point,
Foxglove shows the PCs The Betrayal, The Cricket, and
The Unicorn.
Hey! These three cards all have fruit in them. “I’m a
fool—studying the meanings so intently, I missed what’s
right in front of me. If this means that my marketplace
is in danger, I should return at once. But please, keep
investigating other possibilities.”
How can we find the fortune-teller? “She and her
troupe vanished into Korvosa days ago. They could be
anywhere. Maybe ask around? She cut a memorable
figure—a Varisian half-elf with scraggly black hair and
rotting teeth.”
What’s going on with that cat? “Nimeeta and I share a
close connection. She noticed that you had arrived, and
came to find me.” Nimeeta is Zeeva’s familiar.
Zeeva waits for the party to speak. Then she says Before you leave let me give you a reading. She pulls out her Harrow and pulls nine cards from it. She starts to shuffle and says Let me see what Luck will provide for you
The Guards listen in chucking at Zeeva. One of them leans over to Kaminari The Varisians often gather in a building called Traitor’s Mews in Old Korvosa, and that the fortune-teller that Zeeve spoke of was recently seen near that building. That's all I know.
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"Of course, Zeeva. Consulting the Harrow is always good before such a venture."
After receiving her card, Rose ponders for a moment. "This sounds more dangerous than I believed. I shall fetch my brother before we get too deep into this mystery." She returns to her room for a moment before returning with a tall robed figure bearing a blackened scythe. "Allow me to introduce my brother. He goes by the name Asael now, ever since he went away."
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"I think you're right about that. I'll chat up a few locals, too, and see what we can find," says Dhane. "In the meantime, how ‘bout you fly around the marketplace, Dru, and see if anything matches up to The Betrayal, The Unicorn, or The Cricket."
Dhane pauses and gives a grin. "I guess I should take you up on that fortune tellin' before I go, though."
"Greetings." Asael speaks barely above a whisper, but is somehow easily heard above the market crowds.
At the sight of Asael, Norvegicus simply raises an eyebrow and silently continues with the task at hand (card pun?).
Zeeva looks at Crossing patter in which lays outs. She looks up at Kaminari You have drawn The Foreign Trader. This card will give you luck when questioning motives at some point. She then moves on to the next party member.
Zeeva looks at Crossing patter in which lays outs. She looks up at Rose You have drawn The Vision. This card will give you luck when questioning knowledge at some point. She then moves on to the next party member.
Zeeva looks at Crossing patter in which lays outs. She looks up at Rose You have drawn The Rakshasa. This card will give you luck when attempting to heal at some point. She then moves on to the next party member