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This is a start for a face to face game that will finish friday
Venture-Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi sits behind his immaculately clean desk with his head in his hands. He sighs, takes a deep breath, and rises to address his guests. “Originally, I wasn’t planning on sending a team back out to the Zho Mountains. The risk of losing another team is, frankly, too high. If that weren’t enough of a reason, the Society’s assault on the Worldwound has left the lodge’s coffers much lighter—too light to fund another expedition into dangerous territory so soon. However, following some conversations with fellow agents, I am reminded that all Pathfinders must come home—no matter the cost, no matter the danger. The lessons of the Shadow Lodge still resonate.” He nods toward a Pathfinder who stands silently in the corner. “In fact, the recent disappearance in the Zho Mountains has brought a surge of monetary support from the onetime disciples of Grandmaster Torch. It was enough to finance your voyage here, and I would happily provide you the remainder if you succeed.”The venture-captain takes a few steps toward a map of Qadira hanging from his wall. “Six years ago, a team of Pathfinders received a map of an unexplored area in the Zho Mountains, and ever since they have stayed busy surveying the region and sending me updates. Until recently, they had uncovered only a few dozen small sites and a plethora of new plant and animal species, but their most recent update referenced a large illusory barrier. Since then we have not heard from them, and I believe they found something dangerous beyond.“I ask that you use what notes I have on file to track down these agents and make sure they return safely. Investigating the nature of this illusory... field, barrier, shield... is secondary at best. Esmayl pauses for a moment before continuing. “If you have any questions, I shall answer them as best I can, though most of what the Society knows about the mountains is in the logbooks of those agents.
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Laying back in one of the Venture-Captains chairs and obviously fighting the urge to place his well polished boots on the desk and relax. In his hand is a battered and well used notebook, full of scribblings and annotations. Taking down the Captain's briefing and making express notes about the illusory barrier, Nel looks to the figure in the corner before pondering his questions.
"Who are the agents you sent? So that we can look out for them? Do we have any intel on the surrounding area?"
He then turna to the Shadow Lodge agent and asks.
"And what does your organisation have to do with this?"
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The venture captain answers as I said most of what we know are in the logbooks of Damiel, Alain and Freya. The agents you are looking for
The Zho Mountains are the source of many tales and rumors in Qadira, and the PCs might learn of these while in Katheer.
10+ It is common knowledge that the Zho Mountains are home to feral beasts, draconic monsters, and other dangerous creatures.
20+ Qadira’s spellcasters have long practiced elemental magic and conjured genies, and geniekin are relatively common in the region. It is believed that most have gravitated toward settlements in the Zho Mountains, though nobody seems able to confirm this rumor.
Knowledge geography and a bit more local may be available
Azshara speaks from the corner
“The original Shadow Lodge was an underground resistance movement created by Grandmaster Torch and several co-conspirators who were unsatisfied with the detached attitude of the Decemvirate toward the common agent. Its mission quickly took a violent turn, and we were able to cleanse it of rogue elements with the Society’s help. Although Torch has since left us, many of us remain loyal to the lodge’s ideals: hold the higher-ups accountable, and assist the common Pathfinder when disaster strikes.”
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Knowledge (geography)The PCs may already know about the Zho Mountains and the surrounding terrain. Although the mountains rarely more than 2 miles high, they are nonetheless a formidable barrier between Qadira’s Ketz and Meraz Deserts. Two of the most famous peaks are Zhonar and Zhobl, a pair of large volcanoes that violently erupted nearly a thousand years ago.
Knowledge local. Qadira’s spellcasters have long practiced elemental magic and conjured genies, and geniekin are relatively common in the region. It is believed that most have gravitated toward settlements in the Zho Mountains, though nobody seems able to confirm this rumor. The few explorers who’ve tried to locate these communities have found the mountains to be deceptively difficult to navigate, and what looks like a mountain pass from afar is often merely a mirage.