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The gala inside the Chelish embassy appears to be in full swing, and as the faint light from the building falls upon the alleyway outside, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin's mission briefing is hard to forget.
"Pathfinders," Valsin boomed out hours earlier in the briefing chamber within the Grand Lodge, "Zarta Dralneen no longer exists. She never existed. She's never worked for the Chelish embassy here in Absalom, and she's never been in charge of the Chelish Pathfinders. At least that's what I was told, repeatedly, to my face, through three layers of Chelish bureaucrats. I know those people, and the all knew Zarta. They didn't just forget about her. She's been 'disappeared'."
After a short break he continues. "I don't know where she went and I don't know who took her. What I need you to do for me is to go into the Chelish embassy and find out as much as you can by snooping around for a bit. I want to know where Zarta is, I want to know who took her, and I want to know why she was taken. We can't afford to offend Cheliax, so you'll have to infiltrate their embassy quietly. I've devised a cover story that should get you in the side door with orders to see the new Chelish ambassador. An ongoing diplomatic gala scheduled for the same time and a clever ruse by Venture-Captain Amara Li - who is also attending the gala - will keep the ambassador busy, but you'll have to act quickly if you want to secure the information we need before he arrives to meet you. You must get into the embassy, get what we need and get back out of the embassy without the Chelaxians ever catching on that we've been rooting around."
Valsin hands you packet. "Here is a packet of information that bears on Chelish interests in Sargava. It's legitimate intelligence that we probably would have passed on to Zarta eventually anyway and that we're willing to give up for free as our ticket into the building. You'll enter the embassy through the north entrance of the residential wing, where Chelish imperial security receives all of their informants. Even if you have a good cover story you might have difficulty getting past the guards there - if necessary, you'll have to resort to bribing your way through. Once you're in, the guards will likely make you wait for the ambassador when you tell them you have important information for him. Don't give it to anyone else, since once they have the information there will be no reason for them not to show you the door. Amara Li will keep the ambassador pinned down at the gala while you break out of the waiting room and snoop around. She will also meet you just before you enter the gala to cast a message spell on you, just in case you need to keep in touch during your mission. You just need to make your way to Zarta's chambers - tey're in the southwest corner of the residental wing, but you'll have to find a route that doesn't intersect with the gala's attendees or residents of the embassy. Try to get in and out in less than an hour. That's my best estimate at how long the gala and Li can keep the ambassador preoccupied. Once you've got the information and made it back to the waiting area, you just have to wait for the ambassador to find time to see you."
"My informants tell me that Ailenia Hospar, one of the clerks you'll likely run into at the embassy, is addicted to shiver. I've procured some of the drug for you to slip her if she initially proves less than accommodating. You may also have to deal with Anstrella Trelax, the pompous night-duty officer. Beyond that, what you'll face is beyond my knowledge. I've ordered for you to receive several tools that might help you in your mission. Good luck, Pathfinders."
Before you exid the Lodge you are given two scrolls of disguise self and two elixiers of hiding from the Pathfinder Society.
The Chelish embassy to Absalom is in the Ascendant Court, a part of the city better known for temples and cathedrals than for diplomatic and government buildings . The embassy is housed in what was once a large cathedral to Aroden, but which has been repurposed incompletely. The religious decorations and iconography in the grand chambers that the Chelaxians use to entertain visitors have been taken down and replaced with imperial symbols, Egorian school architectural flourishes , and Asmodean religious statuary. Much of the rest of the building, on the other hand, is devoted to private quarters, office space, interrogation rooms, and the like, and the s e areas have been modified in a sometimes slapdash fashion, with the original artwork merely painted over, ceilings lowered to more human dimensions, and walls added or removed as necessary. Thus, much of the embassy has a messy, disorganized appearance, somewhat at odds with the usual Chelish stereotypes of rigid structure and order. Eventually the whole cathedral will be done over in the traditions of Asmodeus and Thrune, but for now redecorating remains low on the priority list.
You are just outside the side-entrance to the Chelish embassy. The so-called "spy's entrance" is a nondes cript entrance in an alley that runs along the north side of the Chelish embassy.
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You see a well-groomed woman with honey-blonde hair loosely gathered into several braids. Her eyes are a deep blue, with small flecks of silver near the iris. Her skin is fair and pale, indicating northern ancestry. She has small freckles on her nose, high cheek bones, and a strong jaw. She is dressed in scale mail armor, with a rust-brown cloak. She holds a polearm with a hooked, concave blade and opposing spike. You also notice wicked spikes on her gauntlets and several chakram gathered at her belt. She is tall, with a solid frame and straight posture.
She has a reluctant look on her face. "A reconnaissance mission... and I just bought this full plate armor. I might be needing that elixir for making certain I don't alert half the neighborhood when I try to sneak around."
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The woman is joined by a stout dwarf with chestnut hair and beard, a gray streak in his widow's peak, and dark goggles. He carries a backpack, attached to which are numerous tools, pouches, flaps, straps, and buckles--an almost ludicrous number of fastenings for the gear he carries. A waraxe and pistol ride at his hip.
"Norgorber's nuts, I'm with ya," he growls to the tall woman. "I ain't built for no sneakin', though I imagine I'm a sight better at it than you are, in that great clunkin' armor." He snorts slightly. "Ya look ridiculous. That'll hardly stop a bullet or a spell...though I guess it'd do alright 'gainst a sword. Hopefully we won't be meetin' up with many of those." Extending a hand, he says, "Name's Graxzos. My friends call me Grax. You can call me Graxzos."
He lets the joke land for a moment, then bursts into raucous laughter. "GAHAHAHA! Lighten up, blondie, I'm jokin'. Call me whatever you want. And what should I call you? 'Tall, pretty, and armed?'"
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"Jessica?!" Sothy looked surprised, because he saw no woman around except Wibeke. He was wearing nice studded leather armor. Behind his back, Keleshite man was carring a travelling bag with pockets. Across his chest, Sothy had a bandolier with several scrolls and daggers. Rainbow of different potions found place on his belt.
"Oh, you are joking... Anyway, we need this to be done. So, let's split our resources. This", he took a scroll, "I take for me. I have something alike", Sothy made a gesture, like checking his belt, "but you never know, when it might get handy".
He looked at Wibeke.
"Please, take this potion, it will make you attract less attention. Probably the second one, should go to other one, who carries heavy or medium armour," he scanned around.
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Another dwarf approaches the group. His sun-lightened blonde hair cut short and his beard trimmed close to his chin. His nose looked ... wrong, as if it had been broken and not properly set, and his skin was darkened by the sun. A light shirt of chainmail wrapped around his barreled chest with a bandolier stuff with a few bottles crossing it. At his hip, rode a battleaxe, but his hands were both wrapped in cloth and one was covered by a cestus, the metal shining brightly.
The dwarf nods to the gathered group before speaking to the group, a toothpick moving around his words.
Hmmm, I must be in the right place. The name's Argus, good to be working with you all.
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A tall, beefy man strides up. His gait is not the normal gait of a man, but has a waver to it. Thickly corded muscles extend from rolled up sleeves. His thick mane of black hair, and dark black eyes cast a serious pall upon those around him. "Did I hear sneaking? Great"
Behind him shuffles a small black bear, never straying more than a few feet from him. The bear's tongue swings back and forth, slivia dripping down to the floor. "And a gala too?" He turns to the bear "Bear, what are we gonna do?"
He turn to address the assembled "Well met brothers and sisters, and Jessica too. I am called Negrep. This is Bear. We are happy to be here, but we have no idea how to sneak. Smash, yes, sneak, no. Looks like this is shaping up to be a lot of fun!"
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Graxzos bursts out laughing. "Bwahaha! Jessica, eh? Serve me right fer runnin' me mouth off." Turning to Sothy, he adds, "I'm no great shakes at readin' magic, so if I can have the other o' those potions, might be best. We seem to be short one means of disguise, so whoever thinks they can sneak in undetected should probably be the one to go without." He glances at Negerp in amusement. "Don't know how in Abadar's eyes yer thinkin' to get that bear inside..."
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"Ugh. Methinks you are right Grax. Bear will pose a problem. Bear ... stay" Bear raises his large head and looks sadly at Negerp. His lowers his head in submission and walks away, blending with the shadows some 50 yards from the embassy.
"Mercenaries eh? Sounds like a good plan to me. Should we concoct a cover story?"
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"Sothy, what you say rings of truth; yet the problem remains. I count 5 of us without Bear, but only 2 ways to change our appearance, and 2 ways to make us more stealthy for some to sneak in and about. Do we travel as a group of 3, two disguised, and 1 in normal appearance, while the other 2 sneak about with us?
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"Grah, I forgot about Valsin's cover story," Grax says, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Well, if that's the case, I tell you what--why don't we all five head in to deliver the package, and the sneakiest two be prepared to quaff those drinks when an opportunity presents itself. Sounded from what Valsin said like we'd have a wait in some sort of antechamber, so mayhap the rest of us can distract the clerks, guards, what-have-you while the two sneaks head off toward Zarta's chambers."
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While you are waiting at the spy entrance several people in fine cloths are passing and heading for the main entrance.
At the spy entrance you see one guard on duty.
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Graxzos startles visibly, staring into space momentarily. "I hear ya," he whispers back to Amara. "We'll head on in."
Turning to his companions, and suddenly seeming much more focused, he says gruffly (but quietly enough not to be overheard), "Just heard from our lady on the inside--she's set up and rarin' to go. Says we should head in with the packet of secrets, and insist on giving it only to the ambassador. That should buy us enough time to snoop around." Making sure all of his straps are properly fastened, he adds, "Let's shake a leg--if she's in place, I think we're on the clock!"
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"Sorry, mate," said Sothy, pushing along his friends, "We didn't mean to offend you, but you know, this is something important and we already paid enough to get here quick," ten gold coins one by went went down in guards pocket,"and I believe you feel our urge to do this thing right."
Sothy kept talking to guy, feeding his pocket with gold. After ten gold pieces, dark-skinned man made a pause, to understand guards reaction.
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"Ok, ok! It's fine! It's my job to ask questions." The guard steps aside and opens the door for you.
The red paint that covers the walls of this high-ceilinged chamber does little to hide the raised outlines of ancient religious mosaics that once decorated this former temple. Behind the chamber's large and imposing desk sits a woman in clerk's clothing. The woman Looks at you and says. "Well, you are obviously no gala guests. Why are you here?"
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"HarHar" emitted a rumbling laugh from Negerp. "You and my friend Sothy do have quite a direct way of talking don't you? It seems that our information is marked for ambassador eyes only, and as pretty as you are you are not the ambassador. Look, here is the thing, there is a gala going on. You are stuck here, we are stuck delivering this package, not fun for either of us involved. I have heard that Chelish women do like to have fun though."
In a soft whisper Negrep leans in, "Heard something about ... shiver. Hear lots of things though."
Negrep straightens up, looking directly at Aliena he continues, "You should really see Bear's two-step though. Worth the price of admission ..."
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Graxzos snorts at Negerp's attempt at subtlety. Damn, boy, no need to load it like that. I had half a mind to try out that shiver meself and just invite the lass to join in. But since the others have spoken first, Graxzos remains silent, just keeping one hand on the butt of his pistol as he takes in his surroundings.
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"Ok, if this information is so important, I'll call the night officer on duty. She has to decide what to do, I'm not in the position to summon the ambassador myself." the clerk says and leaves the desk. After a minute she returns with another women.
Anstrella Trelax is dressed much more finely than the lower functionaries, and wears an imperial dress uniform. She is striking in red and black and looks down her nose at you. "So you have some important information I heard? If you don't have an apointment with the ambassador I'm afraid you can't meet him today. But you can hand it to me and I will pass it on."
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Graxzos sighs in irritation. "Listen, lady. This information we have's very, very important, get me? Th'ambassador's gonna be glad you got 'im, gala or no. But we can't hand it over to you. That's how sensitive it is. If you think he'd rather wait a day...or three...to hear this, then I suppose we'll just haveta leave. The Taldanes will probably be able to put it to better use anyway..."
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"Are you kidding me? You are not in the position to intimidate me or any other chelish guards. The amassador is busy at the gala as you might know and I don't want to summon him without a very good reason." Anstrella says.
But somehow she thinks Graxzos is telling the truth. "Ok, follow me to the waiting room. I'm going to call the ambassador. I hope you have really important Information." She leads you into the waiting room next door. "Wait here, the ambassador will be available in about 60 minutes." Anstrella locks the door behind you.
The room is sparsely furnished with only a few old chairs and a couch. Two doors - one to the east and another to the west - lead elsewhere within the embassy. One minute later you hear a key being turned in the door on the other side of the room and the door is opened a crack.