A courier finds you all lounging in a local tavern's backroom and smiles. Excitedly, the small gnome whispers "You here for the mission?! Yeah?! GOOD!!! So there's been a mix up...you's supposed ta meet onboard the Cap'ns ship. Uh...head down to the docks and they's gonna take you out to 'er." Without another word, the stranger vanishes.
As you make your way, as instructed, a dockworker guides you to a small rowboat and takes you out towards a ship moored off the island. The tiny boat rocks hard in the brutal waves and howling winds, but you arrive safely.
Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry, a powerfully built half-orc, stands defiantly on the deck despite the driving winds. Sparse clouds are resplendent with the calm colors of twilight, but waves lap roughly against the ship as sea spray mists the air.
“Good. You’re here. Come with me.” She leads the way to a room below decks, where a hanging lantern illuminates a canvas map of the isles of the Shackles, with currents and depth marked, fastened to a wooden table with rusting nails. A model of the Grinning Pixie, carved from cork, shows the ship’s current position.
“I hope you lubbers aren’t afraid to get your feet wet. Here’s what I’ve got for you: you’re here to find a Thuvian caravel called the Pride of Aspenthar. The Pride’s captain was Jaheem Quinn, a half-elf with a magical knack for the water. Not a wizard or such, but I’ll be damned if the water didn’t do what he asked when he asked it. I hired Jaheem to take our agents on a mission to the Gloomspires, and neither he nor his ship ever returned to Drenchport. Divinations confirmed that the ship was lost and suggested that no one was aboard, but that could mean anything from them all abandoning ship to a hold full of dead sailors. The winds around the Eye of Abendego are always perilous, but sending Jaheem and his crew into such dangerous currents is one of my few regrets.” The half-orc pauses and shakes her head, her face hardening with resolve.
“The winds have been strange of late, and it seems they’ve turned up news of the Pride—wrecked, of course—near Tempest Cay. It’s a rough place where outside eyes aren’t welcome. You won’t find anyone willing to give account to strangers. I’ve developed a number of connections here, so I’ll see what I can discover on land about any survivors. Your task is to seek out the wrecked ship itself. I’ve been studying these waters and their currents a long time. If a ship has wrecked, it should be around here.” She stabs at the map with a strong finger. “At low tide, the water should be shallow enough to explore on foot in relative safety, without the waves lashing down. You’re to look for any information about why the ship went down, especially if it had to do with these currents. If you can, keep an eye out for Jaheem’s log. It should tell us quite a bit about what happened.”
“Follow any leads you find, but if something’s too much for you to handle, come find me on Tempest Cay. You can ask for me at the Drowned Dwarf in Drenchport. Otherwise, I’ll meet you back here.”
Her gaze lingers on each face in turn. “Right. I’ve got to go landside to catch my contacts while they’re in their cups but still talkative. Be ready to leave an hour before dawn. Enjoy the comforts of the ship tonight, and make sure you visit the quartermaster;
I’ve requisitioned specialized supplies for you, and you can ask her any questions you might have. Oh,” the halforc grins, showing gleaming fangs, “and ask her to wish you luck.”
Some locals believe the mostly absent ruler of Tempest Cay, the druid and pirate captain called the Master of Gales, must be controlling the mysterious winds and currents.
The pirates of the Shackles utilize the Eye of Abendego as a part of their defenses. Many of the residents of these isles are involved in piracy to some degree, which is related to their unwillingness to answer questions from outsiders.
The Eye of Abendego is a vicious, perpetual hurricane. Although its exact cause is unknown, it formed roughly at the time of the death of the god Aroden. Its intensity is variable and unpredictable. Its weaker winds can tear the sails off the biggest ships, while its stronger gales can reduce a ship to splinters.
Pirates and rough seas are not the only dangers in the Eye of Abendego. Sailors who have braved the outer rim of the hurricane also report encounters with ghost ships, aquatic undead, powerful elementals, and vicious sea monsters
No one has survived a journey to the center of the Eye
The Concordance of Elements is interested in preserving elemental balance, and the recently formed Concordance faction is interested in developing a healthy relationship between the Concordance of Elements and the Pathfinder Society. Ranginori, the good-aligned elemental lord of air, was recently freed from his long imprisonment by an alliance of Pathfinder Society and Concordance of Elements agents.
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Taarik nods and bows as would be required in Tien culture to show respect.
”Thanks a lot Venture Captain! We will find out why the ship went down, especially if it had to do with these currents. Of course, we will keep an eye out for Jaheem’s log and will seek you out if we cannot handle the situation!“ Taarik says in a low voice.
”I have accumulated some knowledge in the past that might be useful ... “ Taarik says and he starts to educate you.
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"A'ight," comes a muffled cry from the back of the room, amidst a pile of furs. The furs flip aside, revealing a gnome beneath them. He's wearing studded leather armor of dark green and brown, which complements his wild green beard and hair, with streaks of grey and brown. He begins gathering the furs together, wrapping them in a bundle with some snowshoes, cleats, and other supplies. "Halunzet Methrigum at y'r service, but my friends just call me Hal. Probably won't be needing all of this, so I can leave some of it here. Can never be prepared enough, I know, but you've gotta know your terrain ..." Once he has it secured into a bundle, he nods to the others again. "Off to the quartermaster, then?"
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“I hope you lubbers aren’t afraid to get your feet wet. Here’s what I’ve got for you: you’re here to find a Thuvian caravel called the Pride of Aspenthar. The Pride’s captain was Jaheem Quinn, a half-elf with a magical knack for the water. Not a wizard or such, but I’ll be damned if the water didn’t do what he asked when he asked it.
"Apparently you were feeling nostalgic then when you assembled the roster this time?" asks Altorin, raising an eyebrow to what sounds like another half-elf hydrokineticist.
...
Leeda nods as Taariik fills her in on the area. Knowledge is power, she muses. "All right then. Let's see what the quartermaster has in store for us."
"Agreed. We better get everything we need now if we can't count on the locals."
With a smirk, the captain glances back towards Altorin, "I don't know what you mean." she calls out. Winking, she disappears among the other sailors, barking orders.
A few deck hands point you in the right direction and you quickly make your way to the quartermaster. The quartermaster is a brightly dressed tengu who introduces herself as Kakikko. Her graying ruff feathers betray her age, but her eyes are bright and her bearing is spry and cheerful, in contrast to the seriousness of the venture-captain. It’s clear that she enjoys her post. “Hello, fellow Pathfinders,” Kakikko says. “You’re here to find the wreck of the Pride of Aspenthar, right? Good. I’ve some gear for you.”
"Please, make sure you return anything you don't end up using. " she adds, cautiously handing over a final token shaped like a hand-sized wooden boat.
"This isn’t just any splinter. It’s a token that transforms into a swan boat.” The quartermaster leans forward, clacking her beak. [b]“This boat drives itself by magic. It will only last for one day, but that should be much more time than you need. Now, do you have any questions?”
Smiling at the flood of questions, she turns to the gnome and begins. "You lot look pretty enough to solve anything that is required, but I would suggest you take your gear just to be safe."
"It's my pleasure to share what I have allotted. Just need you to return what isn't used so I may share again in the future. Not really sure if it had anything to do with the tides or not. Nobody's quite sure why she went down. A rescue party was sent to the Gloomspires a while back...the did find a few survivors of the landing party but...well... I suppose we shouldn't call them survivors."
Trailing off a moment, her eyes seem to drift to someplace lost to time before she continues. "They didn't fare well." Shaking her had, the quartermaster presses forward. "Sorry, that would be an understatement for sure.ey hadn’t fared well. Well, that’s an
understatement. Honestly, they were raging cannibals when they were located. We did at least learn the ship was hale and whole when they left it to explore the tombs. That's the last report we received. I truly hope you'll return with better news."
"HA! You're not the first dwarf that's told me that." chuckles the woman. "But I assure you..."
Her head snapping towards Altorin, she beams from ear to ear. "Did she?! HA! It's an old joke between us. Sailors are a superstitious lot, and many of them consider it good luck to have a tengu aboard. They call us 'jinx eaters', and they think we can dispel bad luck. Does she believe it, or is she just ribbing me? Who knows anymore? But, good luck, all the same!"
"I know the city is full of crooks, ruffians, and pirates." she replies with a wink. "They aren't typically the like to appreciate others snooping about and really distrust outsiders."
"As for what they were searching for? I apologizes...I'd assumed you knew. It was all reported some two-years ago but I suppose it's probably something they don't talk about much anymore... They were looking for Seven-Finger's tomb!"
"Is there anything else I can help you with? If not, I suggest you take the opportunity to rest before you head out in the morning."
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Leeda is busy scanning the tengu's wares when she finally spots what she wants. "Ahh, air crystals," she says. "I'd like to grab a couple of those. You all may want to grab some as well, just in case."
Her head snaps up when she hears her mention the tomb. "Got any information on that? It sounds unusual."
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Hal grabs one pouch of the air crystals, a potion sponge, and a water purification sponge, and a pair of swim fins, handing over a small pile of coins.
He motions from Taariik to the wand. "You should take the wand. Not sure of everyone else's abilities, but seems you're likely the one who would be most adept at wielding it."
Completing your purchases, the quartermaster thanks you and bids you luck as you are lead to your sleeping quarters. The next morning, you are all taken above deck where the captain is no where to be seen. Asking around, you hear she has gone ashore to see what she can find out.
"She did tell us to remind you to pick up the old captains journal if you find it."
Activating the boat token, you climb in. No sooner have you managed to get seated and the boat takes off on it's own. Shooting through the waves, you can only hope it's going the right way... Sailing around the worst of the storms, you come up to a small reef, the wreckage looming into view. Shark fins can be seen circling that end of the reef through raging waves.
The small boat stops on the far end of the reef in a relative safe place. Looks like you'll be walking from here.
The skeletal network of pink and red coral, outlining a series of tidal pools, presents only a single accessible break large enough for a small boat. The air is brackish here, with the scent of salt and dead fish hanging heavily. The coral tapers to razor-edged, ridge-like points at varying heights, while the tidal pools are slick with algae. In the shallows, wooden planks and flotsam from many shipwrecks are visible in various stages of warp and decay. A decaying ship lists along the outer edge of the reef, with a large hole torn through its hull like a menacing open maw. The painted name Pride of Aspenthar is just barely visible in flaking remnants of ornate gold script on the ship’s prow.
Looking at the red coral, you feel confident you could build a bridge over it to protect your feet
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Leeda looks around, trying to get a feel for their surroundings. "Well, it looks like we should be able to walk most of the way there. I'm a little hesitant to just jump out in the deeper water given those shark fins." She prods the sharper coral with her sword. "THAT looks like it'd make a mess of skin real quick."
Hell's gates, maybe I should have invested in some hip-waders. With a sigh, she begins moving forward through the shallows.
Recognizing the potential time saver, Hal and Leeda quickly set to fashioning a makeshift bridge over the jagged, red corral. After a few minutes work, they feel confident it'll hold well enough for them to cross one at a time.
Many of the shallow tidal pools contain tiny fish and other aquatic creatures that hide within the algae fronds, waiting for the tide to come back in. Shark fins occasionally slice through the deeper water that surrounds the reef as the hunters scout for easy prey.
As you step back on solid ground, several oversized crabs scurry out of the pond and creep towards you slowly
They creatures seem curious but not overtly hostile
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Hal deftly moves across the bridge. "Watch the ankle-biters," he mutters, motioning toward the crabs but not seeming overly concerned by them. He motions to the north. "We can build another bridge here. Leave that one we made intact. If we need to make a hasty retreat, it'll be useful to have these in place for us." He begins gathering wood for the next leg of the bridge.
As he gathers wood and builds the second bridge, he looks around toward the deeper water and the ship they're heading toward, alert for any threats that may come their way.
"In the woods, I'd suggest that I scout ahead a bit, but I'm good at ranged and there's not much I can do to hide out here where we're exposed, so I'd suggest maybe the dwarf and any other melee fighters take the lead moving forward."
Determining the creatures aren't dangerous, you ignore them and move on. Those they follow you a ways, they quickly bore and return to their home. Thinking it wise to keep a quick escape route handy, Hal sets to building another bridge. However, as he picks up the first bits of wood, tiny crabs surge outer of the pool and head towards him!
You know these crabs are indiscriminately carnivorous and could likely be distracted by a hunk of meat
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Hal
Altorin
Taariik
Leeda
Crabs
Baalin
Diminutive Hungry Crab Swarm
Have Swarm Traits
Immune weapon damage, immune mind affecting
Special: Distraction DC 13