You find yourselves in the Osirion city of Sothis, resting between assignments. You've been a week here and the heat has taken some time to get used to. The whole city is abuzz with the Evoking Day festival, a day of vibrant explosions, skillful wielding of spells, and much dancing.
Early on the morning of 17 Neth, the day before the festival, you receive a message from Norden Balentiir —Venture-Captain of the Sandswept Halls— to aid Society ally: Amenopheus, advisor to the pharaoh. The client has requested you meet him at a small tea shop named the Golden Palm regarding some missing goods that need retrival. With discretion, of course. You find yourselves on the way there...
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Herondal is a handsome young man though you rarely see his face as he often wears both goggles and a mask. Currently his mask matches the theme of the festival. He is wearing a chain shirt and carries a shortbow.
Festivals can hide pickpockets so as he travels with his fellow Pathfinders he keeps an eye on his surroundings.
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Kamil is an handsome well dressed human male. Clearly of chelaxian origin, he strangely has the tan skin of people more accustomed to jungle and sun than Cheliax climax. He moves gracefully into the room, his armor clinging lightly as he walks. His eyes are cold, as his smile, and at his side a blade of Tian origin.
When people tries to approach him to sell him something, one look from him, as he puts his hand on the hilt of his strange blade, scares them away.
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Hamarel is not handsome in the slightest. The elf is practically covered in bruises, casting his body in a sickly yellow hue. His clothes are those of a commoner, ripped in places. He carries little, but not out of necessity, as he has prodigious muscles unusual for his kind.
Fortunately, his last assignment was also in Sothis, guaranteeing that he'd answer this summons. He makes his way to the tea shop, pushing through smaller throngs of revelers. "It happens every year, but my appointment won't wait. Clear out, I say!"
Several people scatter at the menace of violence as the Pathfinders agents make their way down the tea shop. The streets of Sothis are crowded as people are in a festive mood, young children running past with small fireworks and sparklers. Among some streets, magicians perform several tricks, some of them quite good, especially the sleigh of hand tricks. The Eyes of Sothis patrol the streets, and although you haven't seen or heard of any pick pockting, people do tend to get carried away as early in the morning you already see several drunkards shambling down the street, their celebrations come early.
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The Golden Palm is filled with lively conversation as dozens of Sothis’s citizens enjoy their midday refreshments. An older human man, Amenopheus, sits at a small table in a far corner just beyond the sight of the other patrons. The man picks at a pastry that has been mostly falling away to crumbs. He looks up and puts on a relieved smile.
“Pathfinders!” he calls out. “Yes, yes, over here, please. I’m glad Norden was able to reach you on such short notice. I’m sure you’re all quite busy with preparing for the upcoming festivities. As am I! Well... to be honest, I was expecting to be busy, but things are not going as I’ve expected.”
He produces a note from his breast pocket. “You see, I have been happily performing a variety of duties for Pharaoh Khemet for some time now. However, as of late, the Ruby Prince’s requests have grown far more demanding, and he has given me far less time to meet his needs.”
Amenopheus sighs and stares into his tea for a moment, a forlorn look on his face, before placing a note on the table. “The Ruby Prince has requested that I handle festivities in the Old City for Evoking Day —a holiday sacred to the faith of Nethys, the god of magic. It’s a big celebration, with dancing, magical duels, and brilliant fireworks. The fireworks in particular are something the public looks forward to, especially those who want to participate but who lack magical skill of their own, and the Ruby Prince specifically asked that I distribute a supply of fireworks that were ordered for the event. The holiday’s tomorrow, but unfortunately, my busy schedule kept me from finding the request until quite recently. When I finally located it, I rushed over to the storehouse where the fireworks should have been awaiting distribution, only to find it empty. I fear I must locate the festival supplies so the Evoking Day celebration is not ruined for the people of Sothis. However, attending to my other duties has left me short on time, so I thought it was best to call in a favor with the Society."
“Pathfinders, I need you to find those supplies as soon as you can! But I request that you keep my name out of your investigation. If the pharaoh were to learn about this, er, situation, it would not do my reputation any favors. I suggest heading to the storehouse in the Old City down by the docks to see what you can find there. Perhaps one of the locals noticed what happened to the supplies. It wouldn’t hurt to ask around. We haven’t much time, so it’s best that you get going from here.”
He slides across the table the note with the address of the storehouse to you. With this, Amenopheus sits back and enjoys his tea, seemingly the first break from his duties in some time.
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"That won't do at all," Hamarel says, seeming more invested in the festival than before. He runs a hand over a bald spot. "I assume the overseers of this warehouse were of no use if you're asking us. As expected. Still, might they be around to speak with? Every detail could help.
"No, that'll take too long. Your plan is likely better. Worry not, we will find the culprit and show them their folly."
Amenopheus coughs politely, obviously embarrassed. "That will be a problem. As I was uninformed in a timely fashion about the adquisition of the fireworks, no guard were set into place. The vendor delivered the supplies to the storehouse and locked the door. This kind of thing makes me believe someone in the court wishes to see me fall from grace and I do have some idea of who it might be; however, I'll deal with them. Right now I need your help to stymie them by locating those fireworks inmediately."
"I believe your lodge provides payment? Those fireworks are for the masses, but I'm sure once this is over I might provide you with some entertainment for the festival, once this is done.", Amenopheus smiles wryly before taking another sip from his tea cup. "Do you have any further questions? Your friend here is quite eager to begin, and I do appreciate such eagerness. I will not stand for losing face in court, mind you."
Amenopheus slides the note given to him by the pharoah towards you. "You should be able to find the storehouse easily with this note. The address is listed there." He stands up slowly. "I need to go. Thank you for your aid. Contact me through the lodge if once you've solved this little... situation. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Amenopheus bows and leaves.
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You make your way past the tea house and towards the city's docks. The Old Docks are at least 100 feet away from you and are mostly used for fishing nowadays. Even here the press of people is astounding as people queue around firework vendors peddling their wares. Several of the queues are at least a block long from all the late shoppers.
"Skydragons! They zip through the sky! Get some for your kids!"
"Bouncing bobbers! Set them alight and watch them explode in wonderous colours!"
"Gentlemen, ladies! Get your dwarven daisies!"
You reach the location of the festival supplies without any issue. It's a relatively small building, about as tall as a human and mostly built for storing tools and supplies. Doors on the front open to the city road, while the back doors open toward a dock to facilitate loading or off-loading cargo. The door to the storehouse is slightly ajar and swings open when touched.
You also hear not-so-relevant information from the local kids, who are all excited by the festival. "There's a giant crocodile in the river! He's Sobek's son and catches children who don't give thanks to Nethys."
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Acid? Not usual for breaking and entering in a place... Oh?! What have we here, tracks...
Once his comrades have finished to talk to the people around the storehouse Kamil points at the start of the tracks he founds.
Guys, someone was here and let some trail that I suppose we could follow.
None of you can tell what these tracks are or where these track lead off to. Inside the storehouse, faint outlines in the sand that has settled on the stone floor give the impression that crates and bags once filled the storehouse, but none of the containers are left. However, you do notice that there are some wagon trails leading from the entrance towards the stall of a female Garundi fireworks vendor with a rather large queue in front of her.
Zano informs you that the local kids believe that a large crocodile comes out and eats children who don't give thanks to Nethys on Evoking Day. They also speak of a water spirit who saves drunks that fall in the water.
The tracks continue down the docks to a square where the female vendor has set up a stand to sell fireworks. The stand is full of a variety of different fireworks and the queue to buy her wares is impressive. Already, several grumble at the fact that you're "cutting in line", as everyone is quite eager to get their Evoking Day supplies.
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Herondal has an odd tone to his voice. And he seems quite flustered.
As he talks his mask changes to a worried expression.
"Pardon us ladies and gentlesirs. We have important questions for the proprietor of this establishment. Once our business is concluded we shall be on our way. Happy Evoking day all."
The queue calms down for a moment, although there are still angry murmurs in the air.
"He better not be buying the last dwarven daisy. Promised my kid I'd get one."
"They look like they have money, perhaps they're important?"
"Pshaw, looks more like hoodlums to me."
"Is this going to take long? I still need to buy tomorrow's dinner!"
The vendor, chipper and enthusiastic, pushes her fireworks onto you, uncaring or at least ignoring politely your interruption to her sales.
"What can I get you, my friends?", she offers while flashing a smile. "I've got bouncing bobbers, burning breaths, charmers, Desnan candles, dwarven daisies, firelicks, firesticks, skydragons, and more! Nothing finer!"
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Herondal leans in and speaks in a low voice to avoid being overheard.
"We have reason to believe your stock may contain product obtained in a manner that is not entirely on the up and up. If we could speak privately for just a moment we can ascertain the veracity of these theories and avoid the significant loss of income that even a temporary shutdown by the authorities could mean."
If the tracks are in view he glances at them then back at her.
The vendor becomes defensive. "Excuse me?! I have all my papers with me. These are all legitimately acquired for sale. Otherwise I wouldn't be an official government provider. The gall of you people, who the heck are you?", she says indignantly.
You are certain that what she says she believes as truth. If anything, she's deeply offended by what you're implying. She glares at all of you.
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Continuing to keep his voice low.
"I believe you. We are Pathfinders searching for missing fireworks. Witness reports suggested they may have been transported recently and we found fresh wagon tracks leading here. If not you then a rival perhaps? Other then yourself who would be the primary seller of a large shipment?"
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Kamil used to liar also tries to see if the vendor is really offended or if it's only some sort of comedy in front of his client.
Of course, you are an honest merchant. But clearly someone broke into the nearby storehouse and put his wagon close to your shop. May be you've heard something? May be something irrelevant for you or something so extraordinary that it could be unbelievable, like a crocodile in the street. But, the owner of this storehouse would like to know what happened to their merchandise and as a business owner yourself, I'm sure you can understand their concerns.
Kolima Tirmai blinks at Herondal and Kamil. "By Anubis' scales? Tracks leading out?! I'm the one that put them there in the first place! I placed those fireworks in the storehouse just two days ago. Not an easy task, I'll tell you. Those crates were almost 5x10 feet long! They're supposed to be used for the Festival tomorrow. Supposedly they were going to send someone from the palace to count the crates and sign the receipt, but no one showed up and after an hour of waiting I left. It's not like they don't know where to find me."
She turns towards Kamil, "Funny you should mention a crocodile. As I was setting up my stall this morning, I could have sworn I saw a crocodile, maybe? Well, it was dragging a large burlap sack towards the Old City docks. Strangest thing I ever saw."
From the queue, the crowd waits no longer, their patience at their limit.
"HEY! YOU GOING TO TAKE LONG?! I'VE THINGS TO DO!"
"HEAD TO THE BACK OF THE LINE!"
"YEAH!"
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Turning to his comrades Kamil says A second mention of a crocodile, I was joking first when I talk about it, but it seems that there is really some sort of reptilian creature... Lets go to the Old City Docks. May be we will get more info there.
Turning to the woman he says in a flourish bow Thank you.
As you head for the dockside, you all notice a group of people rushing out from the south. Their screams are barely audible, but it doesn't take long for them to reach you!
"MONSTERS!"
"THEY'RE GONNA EXPLODE!"
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
"TEETH! LOTS OF TEETH!"
As they rush past, their panic is infectious and the other people around you stampede. You receive numerous elbowings and shoves as even the queue disperses and the firework saleswoman leaves her stall, as a loud angry roar comes from the south.
The sound of a sail catching air reaches your ears as children scream and run teary-eyed past you.
"It's him! Run for it! Don't let it catch you!"
What lies in front of you is definitely not a crocodile.
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A sissing voice speaks "توقف عن ذلك! اخرس! أنت صاخب جدا!"
As the crowd disperses, some of them slamming against you, you see a long reptilian-like creature with black scales, a long slender tail and thin, battered dragonlike wings. It glares at you and lets out a roar; black, dark saliva slathering the old wooden dock.
"لا تقتلني! سوف أحاربك!"
As both Kamil and Harondal move they immediately spy encounter fire and water. In front of Harondal, hidden behind a barrel is a water spirit of sorts, further ahead an open crate of fireworks; however, Kamil's situation is more dire, as the crate in front of him is covered in black mucus and the fireworks within are already lit and ready to blow!
The winged creature roars defiantly, takes wing and lifting up clouds of rotten wood and sand as it reaches 10-feet in the air and spits out a phlegm from its jaws towards Kamil. It bursts on contact.
It then flies off towards the western pier before its old, battered wings fail him and collapses on a bunch of crates, breaking them and scattering wooden planks. It moans pitifully.
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