Once again you are summoned to distant Tian Xia by a familiar figure.
As the early dawn’s light crests over the Wall of Heaven mountain range, the Lantern Lodge is already bustling with activity. The sound of clashing swords echoes in the air from a nearby training area, and a group of Pathfinder agents silently meditates in the front courtyard. The lodge’s doors open, revealing a long corridor and a faint floral aroma wafts gently in the air. Sturdy shelves laden with artifacts from all corners of Tian Xia line the corridor’s walls. Venture-Captain Amara Li emerges from a door labeled “Taldor Room” in a fine cherry-red kimono.
“Good morning, Pathfinders. I hope your travels have been safe and enjoyable,” Li says. “Please, come inside.” The Taldor Room is an opulent meeting space with a solid mahogany table and ornately carved chairs. Its walls are adorned with ornamental weapons and portraits of noble families in resplendent finery. Elegant porcelain teacups and plates sit in front of each chair, and several platters of fruit, cakes, and cheeses occupy the center of the table, surrounding a steaming pot of tea.
The venture-captain pours herself a cup of tea and continues, “As I’m sure you are aware, the Grand Lodge was attacked a few months ago. Since then, the Society has been following any and all leads that could help us find and arrest the Aspis criminals behind the assault. From Varisia to Nirmathas to Absalom itself, the Society has successfully gathered a substantial amount of information about Aspis operations. We have combined our own resources with the reports of a turncoat within the Consortium whom we have taken to calling ‘Three Rings’ to create a list of vital Aspis operatives all across Golarion. One in particular, Tseka, lives beneath Goka, in a warren of tunnels and ruins called Undermarket. Specifically, she lives in its deepest levels, known as Deepmarket. Tseka works from the shadows, and makes most of her profits from black market trades.
“Deepmarket is a dark and dangerous community of criminals, thieves, and outcasts. Those who don’t know the area or have connections to protect them make easy targets. I recommend using a little subterfuge to help yourselves blend in, and to give Tseka as little time to prepare for your approach as possible.”
The venture-captain places a small wooden chest on the table and says, “To get inside Deepmarket, I propose that you pose as smugglers bringing in a fresh round of contraband. Once there, find Tseka. We know that she has valuable information, so do everything in your power to bring her back alive, and collect whatever documents you find in her base of operations. I do not know where within Deepmarket she resides. Gather what information you can from the locals in Undermarket, and seek out a guide to help you navigate these treacherous waters. Do you have any questions?”
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"Greetings, humans! I am Grandblade-" a boot with a note hits him in the back of the head. The aphorite picks it up and reads it. "Good news, humans! I do not need to tell you about me."
"I appear to know much about the market itself! Aside from what Diaz was able to share, I know that whispers from the ratfolk of Undermarket tell of the Aspis Consortium’s renewed recruitment efforts in the last few months. Most terrible!"
Crowe nods to the others, ”More Snakes.” then he turns to Amara, ”I was right. Good to see you again.”
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Reclining in a deep chair in the Taldor Room, Castinus leans back in a chair, listening intently to their briefing from Amara Li.
Castinus is dressed in his familiar combat leathers and dark velvet overcoat, but today this has been enhanced by further flamboyant additions as though he has come straight from a bohemian party. A new scarlet cloak flows from his shoulders, a silvery-sheened ruffled shirt is open at the neck, and an exotic feathery plume projects from a rakish scarlet wide-brimmed hat. He is stroking the plume, thoughtfully.
"I've been looking into the Undermarket. I'll share what I know." He pauses, then continues: "Almost anything can be found in the black markets of the Undermarket under Goka, including drugs, poisons, gambling, slaves, and even firearms. Rumors hold that one of the many entrances into Undermarket resides inside a silk shop named the Cresting Blossom. Ordinary customers use currency to purchase wares; however, those who provide contraband to the proprietor gain access to a secret tunnel leading far beneath the city. Whispers from the ratfolk of Undermarket tell of the Aspis Consortium’s renewed recruitment efforts in the last few months."
He continues, still stroking his plume "The Undermarket is comprised of large caverns. A canal flows through it, allowing contraband shipments to flow in from the Embaral Ocean. Deeper into Undermarket, lost crypts, burial chambers, and ancient churches litter the ominous caverns. Even locations that seem to be abandoned are frequently re-purposed. Rumors hold that a long-hidden colony of evil malevolent humanoid cockroach-people rule the Undermarket, pulling their plans together to spread disease in the lands aboveground."
He pauses, and hesitantly confesses: "Although I'm less certain on that last point. I was very drunk when I heard it."
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Castinus looks thoughtfully at Ms Li. "Tell me - do we have any contacts in the Undermarket that we can utilise? I would like to target our choice of contraband to maximise our chance of getting closer to this 'Tseka' individual. Once we do find he, we will need to subdue her. What do we know of her capabilities? In what role does this 'Three Rings' source imply she served the Consortium?"
To himself he mutters, "This would appear to be a job for my old friend, Pitt..."
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Kal glances about the room, and recognizing the others, continues to lounge disrespectfully in the furniture provided. He looks much the same as before, having spent most of his gold at the cleaners to mend the scorch marks, and remove the blood stains, from his stark white cloak.
The Ganzi offers little to the conversation about the undermarket or its inhabitants. "As long as I get snake blood, I am happy to help. That said, destabilizing a literal underground economy by cutting off it's head seems right up my alley of interests."
"I will, of course, be providing you some contraband items that you will be able to use," Amara replies to Diazepane, gesturing to a side table standing next to the door you came in. Sitting atop it is a battered chest a bit out of place with the otherwise opulent surroundings. But then, you never know when what appears to be a piece of junk is actually a powerful artifact so nothing really seems out of place.
She nods to Grandblade. "Introductions are never unwarranted. Though you have all saved my life so I will never forget you."
She gives Crowe a faint bow. "Yes, the Apsis continue to be a thorn we cannot pluck from our sides, though I am pleased to see you here to deal with them."
Li listens closely to Castinus as he provides a rundown of the seedy underside of Goka, looking fairly impressed by his ability to gather such information. Until the last bit, when she frowns quizzically.
"Unfortunately, the Undermarket is a place where we have not been able to get any reliable contacts. Oh, we've had plenty come to us with offers, but at best they've been quick to betray us for some fast coin. At worst, their offers have been false from the beginning and a ploy against us. I will not sugar coat it - I am sending you to a dangerous place," she says.
"Tseka is very good at what she does and part of what she does is remain behind the scenes. We know she is a ratfolk but not even what she truly looks like. She is an important mid level leader in the Consortium."
"I am pleased that you are looking forward to the mission,"she says to Kal'Ryon.
"If there are no further questions?" she says after a pause and pauses again to give them time to voice any other queries.
"These may help you on your way," she hands over two scrolls and a small box. The scrolls are of disguise self and the box contains a disguise kit.
Crowe looks at his earthbreaker, his armour, "I'll go disguised as a trained killer, outcast from his tribe." he grimaces, "Should do."
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"Who says we need a disguise? Castinus always seems welcome in places of disrepute! If I must, I'll go simply as one who is out for himself and for a little coin. I know that seem like a stretch to you, my longterm companions, but I trust my ability to pull it off."
A wide smile cracks across Kal's face, and he takes a big swig from the goblet on the side table.
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Castinus pulls himself to his feet and looks around the others. "We may have some provisioning to do. There may be underwater work to do here, what with the rat-people, this canal and the sewers. We should prepare against that risk. Let's all get equipped and meet in what -
2 hours? - at the corner up the street from this silk shop, the Cresting Blossom."
If there are no further details from Li, he exits the room, to go a-shopping...
Crowe shrugs, "Sure." And heads out to get a good feed.
Crowe shrugs, "Sure." And heads out to get a good feed.
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Spurred on by the urgency of the task ahead, Castinus makes earnest arrangements with the others about where to meet in 2 hours time at the 'Crusty Bottom'.
He then looks sideways at anyone who might be tempted to join him in a 'shopping trip', and utters the cunning codeword "...Pub?" before heading out for a drink or three.
When you examine the contents of the box of contraband, you find all manner of curious items - a dose of blue whinnis poison, a pistol from Alkenstar, a piece of bawdy artwork depicting a Gokan celebrity, jade unholy symbols of Fumeiyoshi, Lady Nanbyo, and Lamashtu, and an engraved darkwood box containing half a dozen oracular fingerbones smuggled out of Po Li.
When you open the door to the Cresting Blossom, the sound of chiming bells greets you. Inside the shop, a lone merchant Sheng with cunning eyes and a smile whose oiliness is only surpassed by that of his hair dusts a multicolored glass vase prominently displayed on the counter.
The shop’s walls are lined with fine silk tapestries, and its shelves are stocked with fine glasswork.
"Greetings! Call me Sheng. What can I offer you fine gentlemen on this fine day?" the merchant.
Crowe points at the relevant tapestry, "Behind that one." He looks at the merchant, "I have good eyes. You should hide things better."
Far from being offended by Crowe's words or upset that they have found out his secret, Sheng's smile only becomes more pleased and eager.
The shopkeeper nods slowly and says, “The sun doesn’t set without a price. What does it take from you?”
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Silent, watchful, eyes darting between the curtain and the shopkeeper, the Castinus is fully alert and shows little resemblance to the garrulous extrovert he was only 30 minutes before in 'Knotted Gnoll' public house.
Whilst Diazepane deals with the shopkeeper he runs his eye over the wares on display, specifically looking out for anything of particular arcane significance.
Finally, he wracks his memory to bring to mind the intelligence he managed to gather on the merchant, Sheng. Those beers bought for patrons of the bar, the idle questions to the taff about the area - all were targeted to give him some leverage, some angle he could use to the group's advantage...
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Ichio, as always, is late due to his shady business, since most of them tend to be at night. "Greetings, comrades, we haven't seen each other for a long time, but here I am again. My deepest apologies, Amara, but I have been on a mission and they finish to assign me again under your service, I will update as quickly as possible "
Castinus learned, after only a few shared cups of ale, wine and stronger beverages that Sheng was the man to go to if one was interested in the more "entertaining" forms of art some people favored.
"Yes, yes...quite nice," Sheng says, holding the picture up and examining it longer than would be absolutely necessary to determine it's potential value.
Pulling the cloth back, he reveals a door that is flush with the wall.
"Knock 5 times when you get to the door at the bottom so the guards will know you've paid the toll," he says.
Beyond the door, a metal spiral staircase descends into darkness. It is a disconcerting descent, at some places, the stone walls surrounding the stairs encroaching on them, in others the walls so far away as to be invisible and giving one plenty of chance to fall into the darkness.
50' down, the stairs end at a single doorway.
Crowe makes 5 clear, solid knocks on the door.
The door opens from the other side and a bored looking guard raises an eyebrow quizzically when he sees all the weapons out but only nods as he lets you pass.
You find yourself in a large, musty cavern. The warming light from the sun has been replaced with a flickering orange glow that emanates from torches stationed throughout the entirety of this cavern. Buildings made of various types of wood and stone line the walls of this immense grotto, while other ramshackle shops snake their way through the causeway. A large canal in the middle of the cave moves ocean water deeper into the chamber. Multiple slapdash docks with accompanying dinghies bob slowly on the canal. A large building stretches across the canal, its exterior caked in barnacles and algae. The smell of salt water lingers in the air.
Crowe keeps an eye out for trouble while the others ask questions.
As though to illustrate the dangers of Undermarket, they learn about several less-than-reputable guides, such as the greedy wayang Odemi.
A one eyed halfling tells them "Odemi finds rubes like you and leads them through 'shortcuts', and then demands that they pay her extra money to convince her not to leave them in the middle of nowhere. Lessin' you got money to spare or want to end up in a part of town you don't want to end up in, I'd stay away from her."
Diazepane strikes up a conversation with a woman who introduces herself as Dorice Vaut. Tall, with short hair, she wears a scuffed breastplate and has a longsword strapped to her hip.
"I've been selling my skills and sword most of my life and if I've learned one thing, it's that you can't throw your lot in with people who can't take care of themselves. I don't mind giving you some tips and info, but I can't be seen talking to a bunch of weaklings. It's like a shark's den here in Undermarket and if they smell blood in the water, the'll eat us all up," she says.
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If so, Diazepane flies around the cavern a bit. If not, Diazepane will juggle some knives or something.
"We're not weaklings. We're not invincible, but we're not scared of a little trouble. We just defended a castle against an army, and before that, we had to secure an otherworldly portal from some demons."
Crowe flexes.