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Each of you has received a letter.
It seems as though the entire Grand Lodge has the air of a celebration. The great gates are flung wide, and the phoenix trees lining the entryway are in full flame. The halls of the main tower of Skyreach, normally somber and reserved, echo with the sound of voices and music. The great ballroom is decked for a celebration, with colorful banners and bunting along the walls, tables replete with food and drink, and a jovial cacophony of conversation rising from Pathfinders of all ancestries, nations, and backgrounds.
After a quick scan of the room, it’s obvious that many of the attendees have gathered in small groups here and there. A half-orc woman in an iconic ship captain’s hat stands near the punch bowl, handing cups to anyone who passes within reach, and a dark-skinned half-elf leads a small group of new agents around the room, introducing them to other attendees. Several senior agents stand in quiet conferral with a dark-haired Taldan man with a distinctive chin strap beard, while a scholarly dwarf tells a rousing tale to a growing audience.
A familiar blond halfling woman bounces over, bubbling with excitement. Janira Gavix, Head Initiate of the Pathfinder Society, grins, “Oh, I’m so glad you made it! After all, the celebration is for you. Have you gotten drinks? Snacks? Be sure to spend some time getting to know everyone—it’s best to be on good terms with the movers and shakers in the Society, that’s how you learn about the latest opportunities. I’ll be here if you need me to help you with anyone’s names or to make an introduction. Just let me know how I can help!”
Janira gestures everyone forward into the room, beaming all the while.
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This common looking dwarf walks into the room. Short, stalky, thickly built. She has a large axe across her back and a she carries a shield in her hand. She is ready for a fight. A bit bewildered at all the people in the room, she stands there, not really knowing who to approach first. However, she does grab a drink and snack after setting her shield down and heads over to the fellow dwarf to hear his tale.
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A rather portly goblin dressed in hide armor makes his way into the room, stopping as Janira greets him "Who me? Ya, ya, snacks? Ok." He scans the room for the snacks then heads that way first, hollering over his shoulder back towards the excited halfling "Name's Flikk."
Flikk grabs a platter, still half full of meats and cheeses, and then goes about topping it off with what's left of a jar of pickles, some spicy smelling round things, and finally a small cookie with pink frosting. Good snack start. He then heads over to the half orc giving out the liquid snacks.
"Some for Flikk?" He smiles. "Good hat. Keep gull's off."
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A tall Mwangi human woman walks into the room wearing fine clothes. It's unusual for her to enter a room and not be announced.
You're not an emira here, Nina thinks to herself. Nobody even knows who you are. She beelines for Fola Barun, the half-elf that invited her to join the Pathfinder Society.
"Agent Nina Jaribu, reporting as requested." Nina clasps Fola's hands in a traditional Mwangi greeting. She introduces herself politely to all the other new agents and marvels at the assortment of weapons they openly carry. Back at the palace, only her guards would be allowed to carry such magnificent weapons so brazenly.
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A Goblin with an array of weapons across her back walks into the room. She has a nasty smile similar to that of the slag bin in a blacksmith's shop. A small doll made from wheat with a sharp pointed nose and too many arms sticks out of the top of her backpack.
"Snacks!" she yells running over to the reception table.
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Lady Stoneheart heads over to the Dwarf, whom she recognises as Gorm Greathammer, the leader of the Grand Archive. He is deep in conversation with Zarta Dralneen, a Chelaxian expatriate once known best for her hedonism, who is now the Head Archivist of the Grand Lodge's extensive troves of knowledge and magic.
It would appear that they are deep into a discussion of the wards of one of the reading rooms, but Gorm indicates that he might have a task for you...
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Flikk heads over to the half-orc, whom he recognises as Calisro Benarry, the former captain of the Grinning Pixie, and now leader of the Horizon Hunters. She is deep in conversation with Aaqir al-Hakam, a well-groomed, clean-shaven man of Qadiran descent, known as one of the Society's main suppliers of adventuring equipment.
It would appear that they are deep into an animated conversation regarding potential trading routes through the Shackles, but Calisro indicates that she might have a task for you...
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Nina heads over to speak with Fola Barun, the head of the Envoy's Alliance, who is chatting amiably with an aasimar woman with violet eyes and natural golden patterns on her face, whom you recognise to be Valais Durant, the leader of the Radiant Oath.
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Flikk heads over to the half-orc, whom he recognises as Calisro Benarry, the former captain of the Grinning Pixie, and now leader of the Horizon Hunters. She is deep in conversation with Aaqir al-Hakam, a well-groomed, clean-shaven man of Qadiran descent, known as one of the Society's main suppliers of adventuring equipment.
It would appear that they are deep into an animated conversation regarding potential trading routes through the Shackles, but Calisro indicates that she might have a task for you...
Flikk stands nearby to the Captain and the Qadiran man, happily stuffing his face (slightly more politely than most goblins, slightly). Pickles first? Yes first, but not all, save some for last! Oh, spicy round things go good with cheese. Kinda taste like meat cooked too long... What this fruity drink, ooo wine...
But after a short while and a few cups of the fruity snack drink, Flikk runs out of patience. "Flikk's turn to talk." He blurts out to Aaqir al-Hakam before turning to Calisro "You got good work for new agent like me? Not bad work... good work, goblins get stuck with bad work too long. Time for us to get the good stuff." He puffs out his chest and stands up tall. Its obvious someone has helped him with his posture and confidence skills.
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Yaegren, a heavyset dwarf with his hood up, ambles in. He is quick to remove it and his cloak, revealing a hodgepodge of weaponry and crafting gear. He nods in greeting to Janira, then looks over the assembled crowd as if in search of someone in particular. Not seeming to find them, he heads towards his fellow dwarves instead.
Though not socially adroit, Yaegren tries to segue Gorm and Zarta's conversation. "Not just any wizard's trap'll keep a library safe, 'course. But I'm sure you get that. Can't go causing explosions in one just to stop a thief. Get some subtler spell, to drop 'em in the Abyss or make an Ulfen run out screaming." The implication to the ex-Paracountess is pretty clear: I can't say it out loud, but please leave.
If Zarta clears out, the dwarf looks a bit more amiable. "Good to meet you both. Yaegren, son of Valrak of Clan Marblehold. Heard tell there was work to be done?"
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Flikk isn't especially convincing, but Benarry is still able to quickly slip him a note explaining the mission:
Apparently, Calisro Benarry has made some weird friends over the years. One of the weirdest — a long-lived naga with unparalleled occult knowledge — was unjustly accused of a crime, punished with the Charge of the Gorgon, and left petrified in Westgate. Calisro’s bribed someone to get permission to restore her friend, but it’ll look a lot more official if a third party takes care of the details, and the party are a perfect fit. She gives the party a greater salve of antiparalysis with explicit instructions that it be used only on the target.
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Yaegren, on the other hand, manages to bring the conversation between Zarta and Gorm to a temporary halt, enabling Gorm to more fully direct his attention to him.
Apparently, a sunken ship has recently washed up on a reef not far from Absalom. Gorm has heard that the smugglers using it as a safe house are involved in smuggling texts and possibly living creatures from Nex. The books are valuable enough that Gorm doubts they’d be left lying around, but he’s interested in any information the party can find about the smugglers’ methods.
In addition, he offer Yaegren *one* of the following: A Scroll of Disrupting Weapons, a Scroll of Heal, or a Scroll of Magic Missile.
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Flikk nods and takes the note, gives it a quick look then sticks it in a pocket, taking his now empty tray over to the snack table for round two. More spicy dry meat rounds! He looks around for any waitstaff "Out of pickles, bring MORE pickles!" He then grabs a fresh tray of pepperoni and heads over to the dark-skinned half-elf giving tours.
"Flikk here for tour. Who all these people? They look important." He stacks 3 inches of pepperoni and eats them in one gulp.
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A Varisian woman comes scrambling up to the room, her vivid red hair streaming behind her. Crapcrapcrap!,runs through her head as she skids to a halt just outside the door, I'm always late to these things. My cousins would never let me hear the end of it.
After a spare couple moments to catch her breath and swiftly straighten her garb from her rush, she strides into the room and looks around, just in time to hear Janira direct everyone to mingle. "If I'm here to mingle and learn, then I might as well listen to some of the more experienced folk," she says under her breath as she scans the room. So she scoots over to the group of senior Pathfinders and listens into the discussion, hoping to find something to jump on.
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Katerina moves over to the group of senior Pathfinders, and discovers Eando Kline, the head of the Vigilant Seal faction, a stern human man of Taldan descent with tan skin, dark hair, and a distinctive chin strip of facial hair, deep in conversation with none other than Kreighton Shane, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls — the Society’s dean responsible for agents’ academic training - an eccentric and absent-minded elf with long, blond hair.
Apparently, they are discussing modifications to the lecture series for the upcoming academic year.
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Seeing as the dark skinned Elf walked right past him Flikk frowns and wanders over to where Valais is talking with Fola "You wanna help people? You should help Goblins. Goblins now have real hard time living like Goblins know how to live. Too many rules: Don't eat that, don't eat them, don't burn that, don't burn them. Goblin tribes suffering. Not enough pickles to go around!"
Flikk knew his experience as a Goblin advocate and representative would someday be useful.
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Yaegren gratefully accepts a healing scroll. "Don't need to be well-versed in magic to see the value of this. Someone I'm jobbing with should be able to make use of it."
The dwarf knows of the Radiant Oath's obvious desire to help people out, but is less sure if Valais has a sense of humor. Still, he brings forth a bottle of Dwarven Stout bearing his own face and full of healing elixir. "Good for what ails you, on two fronts. Made it myself; the bottles too. The run-of-the-mill product tastes like chalk. If you'd like to partake?" Yaegren gladly takes the opportunity to drink some.
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Katerina listens to the conversation for a moment, until the pair of senior Pathfinders turn the topic to one that Katerina is versed in: Thassilon. "While that site shows signs of being built by Cyrusian, I'm sure that it's in the borders of Shalast for most of it's existance," she adds to the conversation, hoping to distract the Master of Scrolls for a time.
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Nina does her best to talk to the other people, as well, but neither Aaqir, nor Kreighton, is especially interested in what she has to say.
However, Yaegren has better luck with Valais, when he unveils his '100 proof' healing potion.
When Katerina interacts with Kreighton, she manages to hold her own when discussing Thassilonian History, which amuses him, slightly.
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Lady Stoneheart walks over to Calistro and attempts to interject herself into the conversation. Her conversation, while witty in her own mind, comes across as rude and somewhat crass in higher society.
She then heads over to Fola to talk, but again isn't the most successful.
Finally, she heads over to Eando to talk to him. Finally! Someone who actually appears to listen to her!
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Buoyed by the thought that someone actually listened to him (other than when he yelled), Flikk leaves the conversation and helps the others distract Kreighton. This one talk so much. His classes not very useful.
"Did you know Absalom have many old things? Island came up from sea, very fast. People keep trying to invade, but not goblins, we stay away. " Now we invade peacefully! Sorta...
He smiles, hoping he got his point across.
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Yaegren does his best, but he does not make any headway with either Aaqir, or Kreighton.
However, between them, Nina and Flikk manage to distract Kreighton, allowing Eando to deliver the following message:
A researcher from the College of Mysteries has unearthed some esoteric lore and has begun experimenting with some of the rituals she found within. These rituals seem particularly dangerous, to the extent that some of her colleagues are concerned about her efforts. Eando wants the party to track down the researcher and determine whether the rituals she is studying are under control or if they are too dangerous and need to be stopped.
In addition, he provides the party with a list of individuals he goes to for information across Absalom, telling the party to drop his name in conversations with those individuals to get the best scoop on current events. This grants the party a +2 circumstance bonus to a single Diplomacy check to Gather Information during this scenario.
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Nina spends the rest of the social getting to know the other initiates.
To Yaegren and Lady Stoneheart:
"Noble dwarves, you are the first of your kind that I have had the pleasure of meeting. You must tell me of your clans, I would love to know more about you."
To Flikk:
"Noble goblin, it is an unexpected pleasure to be fighting beside you rather than against you. If I make any hasty assumptions about goblinhood, I hope you will forgive me."
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"Clan Marblehold was nearly wiped out decades ago, but recovered more recently. A human Pathfinder was raised among us, now a Venture-Captain. He had our home in Kalsgard rebuilt alongside a new Lodge. We are excellent smiths and fighters." Yaegren looks back to Nina. "And you, what of your home?"
Eventually, the dwarf returns to business. "Master Greathammer gave me this healing scroll, if someone better suited to the task could safekeep it. And anyone have a preference on which job to do first? I wouldn't mind seeing the boat, but it can wait."
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To Flikk:
"Noble goblin, it is an unexpected pleasure to be fighting beside you rather than against you. If I make any hasty assumptions about goblinhood, I hope you will forgive me."
"If you say something you shouldn't then I'll be sure to let you know." He gives her shins a quick look, trying to judge the best place to kick if he needs to send a message loud and clear.
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Nina lifts her flowing dress a little to show Flikk her calves are unarmored.
"My dear Flikk, I ensure that should you wish to hurt me physically, you will have little trouble doing so."
She smiles, curtsies, and offers a handshake.
"I am Emira Nina Jaribu of the House Jaribuni in the Mwangi Expanse. I am a little embarrassed to admit that my experience has not entailed mining, forging, or fighting. I was raised in a noble household and betrothed to the emir when I was 3. We have four boys, the oldest, Nita, almost of age to be an emir in his own right."
Nina was ready to talk about her son's recent engagement, but realizes that people outside of the emirate may not be interested in her family.
"This is the first time since I was 3 that I have been outside the purview of the royal guard."
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Noting the scurrying of other initiates around the room, Katerina smiles and begins her own networking and distracting, starting with joining into Aaqir's conversation, discussing the local trade such as Katerina knows the markets...
.... and continuing with an attempt to charm Valais, though nowhere near as effectively as her previous attempts.
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Katerina uses honeyed words to partially distract Aaqir, but is unable to follow-up on that when it comes to distracting Valais.
Similarly, the hungry goblin barbarian does not have any luck with either of them.
Nevertheless, Fola Barun manages to slip the party a quick note, outlining her request:
A recent Pathfinder Society recruit who’s still in training lost a relative who tried sneaking into a famed haunted house to learn its secrets. The house has since been slated for demolition, given the number of injuries and casualties that have occurred there. Fola promised the recruit that she would make sure their relative was laid to rest properly, but she needs the PCs to explore the site and retrieve the body. The easiest way to identify the victim is by the spiral-shaped religious symbol of Pharasma that he wears.
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Nina hears that the reason the scuttled ship is abandoned, is because some kind of fire-breathing construct escaped from one of the crates from Nex, and chased the smugglers off!
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The party is taken out to the wreck by a cheerful half-orc ferrywoman, with gold rings through her braided hair.
As you climb up onto the main deck, she whistles cheerfully:
"Good luck!"
The weathered boards of the ship’s main deck are cracked, warped, and thoroughly covered in a thick, stinking carpet of algae, seaweed, and barnacles. The sodden mess squashes and scrapes underfoot, while squawking gulls circle overhead. The ship once boasted three masts, but they are now broken off only a few feet above the jagged railings. Whatever other distinguishing features might have once existed on this vessel are either long lost or utterly obscured. Empty doorways lead into cabins to the fore and aft, and a dark opening descends into the lower level.
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Everyone *except* Flikk and Stoneheart notice char marks across the deck and railing of the ship, consistent with some kind of fire-based breath weapon.
Sharp beams of sunlight light filter down through cracks in the main deck to cast this cargo hold in a dim light. Though the ship’s original armaments are now little more than rotted ballista mounts, this area shows signs of recent activity, including intact shipping crates, a recently broken crate, a few boxes, and faint trails worn through the slippery vegetation growing over the deck. Wooden doors in finer condition that the rest of the boat stand to the north and south, but the stairs leading further down now lead only into dark, scummy water.
Next to the broken crate, a broken pieces of wood, trash, and other detritus have been lashed together into the crude likeness of a vaguely bipedal creature.
Flikk and Katerina realise that whomever, or whatever, built it, seems to be lonely!
As you move around the room, from underneath the stairs a humanoid constructed from stitched-flesh fragments cautiously moves, and hesitantly looks at you...
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Lady Stoneheart doesn't see much of interest to her. But, she does noice, well, something in the room. While Nina does attempt to talk to it, Stoneheart moves to a more advantageous position should the situation turn hostile. She is smart enough to know that talking isn't her strong suit. Fighting is.
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Katerina opens her mouth to speak, only for the Mwangi noblewoman to start talking before her. With a shrug she looks over the creature with a look of pity before looking around the rest of the ship's hold. "Do you think we should take him back to the Grand Lodge? I'm sure that Captain
Durant at least would want to see us do right for him," She asks the others as she looks over the door to the north.
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The creature opens it mouth, but nothing comes out. Nevertheless, it clearly appears to have understood what you said, shifting its face into an approximation of a smile.
It then happily follows you around the ship.
Katerina identifies the sigil of the Fleshforges on the broken crate, whilst Katerina discovers a shipping manifest, confirming the creature's Nexian origin.
In stark contrast to the rest of the ship, this cabin has been somewhat cleared of algae and cleaned. Six simple beds, complete with fresh linens, are crammed into the space. A few small footlockers are shoved under some of the beds.
Searching the room reveals two Crying Angel Pendants, wrapped in a smelly, salt-crusted rag.
This cabin’s floor has been cleared of the algae present everywhere else on the ship, and a simple table has been set up in the center of the room, with a few chairs pulled up around it. The aft wall bears a large carving of a coat of arms, visible even despite the wear of the elements. An antique lantern hangs above the carving, casting a faint light over papers strewn over the table.
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Stoneheart turns up two items of interest: The first is a bundle of writs of inspection approving the cargo crates for export from the Nexian capital of Quantium. The other is a series of financial records, including notes of sizeable sums paid to the same individual whose name appears on the writs—a clear indication of bribery, and of interest to Gorm Greathammer.