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And lets get started ..... (may as well post the intro)
The adventure begins at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, where the PCs join a gathering of several hundred Pathfinders for an announcement by Ianareth Alazario, Cheliax’s newly appointed liaison to the Pathfinder Society. With her on the stage is Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus, and the former Chelish liaison Zarta Dralneen (now head of the Dark Archive) looks on from the front row of the auditorium.
A tall, heavy-set woman wearing a black-lacquered breastplate and a sweeping ruby cloak rests a hand on the gold pommel of the longsword at her hip as she readies to address the Pathfinders assembled at the Grand Lodge. She nods once to Marcos Farabellus before beginning. “I am Ianareth Alazario, and I come to you with words spoken by Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune. Pathfinders, your exile is at an end. Cheliax welcomes you once again.”
Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus vigorously leads a round of applause that echoes off the sturdy walls following the new declaration. Ianareth’s smile is as wide as her host’s, though it falters slightly when her gaze falls on her disgraced predecessor Zarta Dralneen.
Ianareth continues, “With your help, I would mend the rifts between us and forge an enduring friendship. I have entrusted your Master of Swords with several promising leads found within our borders. To that I add only this: Pathfinders, the glory of Cheliax is placed in your care.”
Ianareth bows deeply to Marcos and then to the crowd before taking her leave. Marcos Farabellus steps behind the lectern and announces, “I’ve gathered a handful of teams to lead these initial expeditions, and I’ve posted those outside with times to meet me in my office for more details. There’s rewarding work ahead, so don’t be late!”
With that, the auditorium begins to empty. Walking briskly with infinite poise and a clenched jaw, Zarta Dralneen is the first to disappear through the doors.
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”Oh goodness, this is exciting!” A large half-orc wearing glasses grins broadly as he reads through the expedition assignments. ”Do you think we’ll get to meet a devil in person? Imagine, the birthplace of a dead god having sold its collective soul to another - and what relics of both deities we might find there!”
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Uaine is a figure almost completely enshrouded in a deep green robe with a heavy hood. What little skin that is visible (mostly a long, coiling tail) is a paler green, similar but not quite akin to Jahz or other half-orcs. She idly looks over the papers when he is done, scoffing in distaste.
"You would not want to meet a devil. Devils are awful. As is Cheliax as a whole," she rasps. "We would do well to be as quick as possible, regardless of the potential gain."
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An extremely deep but surprisingly quiet voice speaks from behind Uaine. "Sounds like you know it firsthand."
The arm that reaches over Uaine's head to poke at the papers is incredibly muscled and the red skinned hand doing the poking is larger than it should be even for an arm such as this.
"But she's right, big guy," the voice addresses the half-orc. "We don't wanna meet any devils. Or anything akin to 'em."
When they turn to see who speaks, their gaze meets a unique and ferocious mein. Holan-Ji stands well over 2 meters, and clearly weighs well over 100 kilos. He wears no armor, just simple travelers clothes all in black and dark browns. He, too, sports a long whiplike tail, but his is covered in fine soft black hair with a deep dark orange spiral pattern. The thick black hair on his head has two streaks of red/orange down the sides which meet in a V at the back of his head. His two prominent tusks protrude from his upper jaw like oversized smilodon fangs.
"Holan-Ji," he introduces himself in that deep but soft rumble, pronouncing it "Ho-LAHN-Jee." "Looks like we're workin' together," he finishes with a pleasant and completely not scary smile.
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Suussmaar is a muscled and agile man with red hair and bushy eyebrows.
”I see that you are all well informed with respect to Devils and Cheliax! I see your faces ... full of wonders promising more stories to collect! My name is Suussmaar.“
He has a greatsword on his back, a net at his side and a longbow in his hand.
He wears a mithral chainshirt that looks like it has been recently oiled.
Resting on top of his chest is an amulet showing the holy symbol of Grandmother Spider which looks like a Four-pointed hollow webbed diamond.
”I already want to kiss this Chelish lady for allowing us access to Cheliax. I like to collect and we all might be able to help, right?“ he asks with a chuckle.
”Okay, if we have to be honest then I do not understand why Cheliax cannot check out these leads on their own! I would have understood that they want a cut of those treasures that only the Society knows of but these 'leads' sound more like traps!“ he says with a skeptic look on his face that shows what he thinks of Cheliax.
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Mozia, whom many of the Dark Archive members may have seen working in the library before, slink in through the door in full ranger gear, pretending very badly that she is not late at all. Her darkwood longbow scrape against a wall, spoiling her attempt at avoiding attention
"Oh, hi," she waves when she is spotted, "Sorry, Husky... needed a walk."
You all look to the canine that trots in after Mozia. "Husky", despite her name, is most definitely just a wolf, and not actually a husky. Mozia is... like this, sometimes...
"Anyway, I hear something about Cheliax. Is that we're heading this time?" Mozia shoulders her gear. "I'm ready to go whenever."
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"Fortunately not," Uaine responds to Holan-Ji. "Although I have heard such from someone with the utmost knowledge of all fiends. As if it wasn't common sense."
"And greetings. I am Uaine," she adds, primarily to the other tiefling. The way she pronounces it sounds like 'When-Yay.' "I believe I am as prepared now as I will be. Did that leaflet say exactly which task we were in for?"
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Another voice awkwardly booms out from behind Holan-Ji, adding to the discourse about devils.
Oh, I don't know. Dangerous as they may be, you eventually have to get close to dangerous things to study them. But, if not devils than certainly something else interesting. Perhaps wolves... he says just as he notices one following Mozia towards the group.
While loud, the voice has the monotony of somebody reciting a weather report. You turn to see a tall (for a human) lanky figure shrouded in a practical cloak and topped in a very wide-brimmed hat of very similar earthy color. Underneath it you note a very plain face with sharp features. If he has any hair it's somehow hidden under the hat or doesn't exist at all.
Greetings, I'm Ferdrin. He points a sharp finger towards the papers and his eyes narrow as he scans quickly. It looks like I'm assigned to this group as well. Very good!
Turning to Suussmaar, Ferdrin concurs. Indeed, I wonder if they brought us in to endeavor at their less... profitable problems. Though if profit turns up I suspect they'll be quick to get involved.
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"The situation's definitely... puzzling, is that the word?" Mozia ponders. "I can't see why Cheliax would want to extend a friendly hand to us all of a sudden either. A question to ask the Master of Swords when we see him in a moment? Oh, and I'm... Mozia, for those of you I've not met, which is... most, all, of you?" She quickly pulls her dark hood on as her awkwardness start showing.
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When you go see the Master of Swords (but please continue on with the introductions if you're not finished)
As you enter, Zarta Dralneen stands across the Master of Swords’ desk, her back turned to you. She momentarily acknowledges the newcomers before continuing to lecture Farabellus. “Beware the good intentions of a Chelish diplomat. Who controls whom behind closed doors in Cheliax, and who are we serving by heeding the call of Abrogail’s infernal masters?”
Marcos strokes his beard for a moment, buying time to phrase his reply. “Caution is warranted, but you shouldn’t let past follies color your opinion of this opportunity, Zarta. This is our chance to freely operate within Cheliax again. The doors of Delvehaven may still be closed, but we can start to mend soured relations.”
Marcos turns to the recently arrived agents. “I expect everyone who takes an assignment to conduct themselves as diplomats as well as explorers. We don’t need a public debacle to ruin our welcome, again.”
Zarta straightens her back and glares imperiously down at her counterpart. “Folly? One day you will look between the sheets and see you’ve climbed into bed with a snake, Marcos. I sincerely hope none of your agents find themselves in desperate need of a retrieval team; I remind you that devils work quickly to strip hope from one’s senses.” She turns and strides out of the room.
The Master of Swords massages his forehead with one hand and motions to chairs with the other. “Lady Dralneen assumes that we take Cheliax entirely at its word. Ianareth Alazario provided me an incomplete history of a small keep in the Eismonts called Emberhold, once property of House Davian. The reason we don’t hear much of the Davians anymore is that they led the resistance against House Thrune during the Chelish civil war, and her infernal majestrix is not known for showing mercy. I’m sending you to explore the site, learn what you can about what happened there, and bring back any information about the Davians.
He leans forward and lowers his voice before adding, “You’ll be traveling through Corentyn, and I’d like you to pay a visit to the Museum of History there first. The curator, Zefiro Balinger, is an acquaintance of the Society and may have details not available in the official records. Get Balinger’s help, then visit Emberhold.” Marcos presents a small folded map. “You’ll leave Absalom aboard the Sea Sylph in two days. Society’s picking up the tab. It’s been years since we’ve had first-hand reports coming out of Cheliax, so be ready for anything.”
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Roll Diplomacy or Knowledge Local to know more about Zarta Dralneen’s tumultuous history with Cheliax and about the fall of Delvehaven. Dark Archive PCs may add 5 to the roll.
Roll Knowledge(History) or Knowledge(Nobility to know more about House Davian.
Roll Knowledge(Geography) or Knowledge(Local) to know more about the laws of Cheliax and the people who defy them.
A map of Corentyn has been added to the slides.
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Mozia cocks her head to one side. "This... sounds more complicated than our average outing, sir. A once-prohibited society looking into a traitor house... are we really trying to repair relations with Cheliax here? Not that we're not going to try, but, just..." At a loss for words, Mozia makes a gesture of sorts that signify how the mission, on the surface, appears to run completely in the face of the greater scheme of improving relations. "I'm guessing we shouldn't let others know we're agents of the society unless we absolutely have to here."
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"...devils work quickly to strip hope from one’s senses."
At Zarta's comment about devils, Holn-Ji raises a eyebrow and bends down to mutter to Uaine. "Sounds just like the onis I used to 'work for.'"
Evil beings ain't that much different from each other, no matter what you call 'em.
When the briefing concludes he raises his voice just enough to be heard. "I'm with Mozia on this. It sounds fishy - like we're bein' set up for somethin'." He rubs the back of his neck and looks around, as if he senses someone watching him.
He calms after a moment, and slouches back down in the chair. "But even if they ain't out to get us, maybe someone else. This Balinger. Anyone got it in for him? For workin' with the Society, maybe?"
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Uaine nods back. "The 'family business,' or things that look all to similar, have a way of following us."
The tiefling stays otherwise silent through the briefing, until the end. It is then that she lifts her hood. Her face looks much like the surface of a brain, but with facial features and a sickly green complexion. "I hope someone had good reason to send me on such a volatile diplomatic mission. Especially to Cheliax." The hood is quickly flipped back up.
Beyond that partial question, which she doesn't expect any answer to, she can only think of one more. "Might the majestrix have any preferred outcomes of our research? None can be guaranteed, few benefit us, but I'd be surprised if she cared."
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He takes his bow.
"Okay, whatever!" and shrugs as if he really doesn't care.
Suussmaar is clearly on Zarta's side based on his facial expression.
"Good, we will travel through Corentyn and pay a visit to the Museum of History to see the curator, Zefiro Balinger, to receive details not available in the official records. Then we visit Emberhold, explore the site, learn what we can about what happened there, and bring back any information about the Davians."
He thinks for a moment.
"But I am with Zarta on this one. This is a trap in my point of view. So if you know more about the house we visit, the family, enemies who might attack because the PFS is back in Cheliax then tell us. But whatever. We only live once!" he says with a grin.
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The other tiefling in the room is completely nonplussed at Uaine's visage. Instead he looks down at his own red-skinned, fanged, and tailed form and snorts. "You and me both, Uaine." His tail starts to twitch, either a sign of nervous energy or a little worry about their mission. "Not sure how these infernals treat folks like us. Even tho my blood ain't from devils. Where I'm originally from in Chu Ye, it's all oni-taint."
As he looks at the half-orc wearing the glasses, expecting him to have some info on the local attitudes toward tieflings, Jahz starts rambling on about traps.
Holan-Ji waits until Jahz finishes. There's a brief pause, and then the massive oni-spawn punches the huge half-orc in the shoulder as he laughs - a sound like a cross between the purr of a tiger and an amused chuckle. "That was ... good," he finally says.
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Mozia looks around the group, particularly at those nervous. "If anyone gives any of the party trouble, we've got each other's back." She said to Uaine and Holan-Ji. "We might not be able to take them out with weapons unless the situation is highly in our favor, but I'm sure being tripped up by a giant dog as she's walking by won't be exactly our fault."
As if to demonstrate, Husky presses her head against Jahz and ineffectively pushes.
"...Or she'll try at least."
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Presumably you share this information.
On Zarta and the Fall of Delvehaven:
Until approximately three years ago, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen served as the Chelish liaison to the Pathfinder Society—the role that Ianareth Alazario now fills.
Zarta’s tenure ended abruptly after she disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Society agents tracked her down and rescued her, after which she severed her ties to Cheliax and founded the Dark Archive.
Delvehaven, a prestigious Pathfinder Lodge in Westcrown, has been sealed since 4676 AR, when a terrible tragedy in its halls threatened the stability of the city.
Certain Chelish officials “disappeared” Zarta based on fictitious evidence submitted by one of Zarta’s political rivals. Despite the Pathfinder Society’s providing evidence to disprove these false
accusations and exonerate her, Cheliax has provided neither any
acknowledgement of or apology for imprisoning and punishing her for crimes she did not commit.
Only Thrune-sanctioned Pathfinders were allowed to operate in the region prior to Delvehaven’s closure. Reports from Delvehaven were heavily redacted, contained little information of value, and worse, artifacts began to disappear. Tensions between Cheliax and legitimate Pathfinders were ruinous for years even before Thrune closed Delvehaven; even with Zarta’s influence, the Society managed only a handful of expeditions in Cheliax over the past decade.
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House Davian
House Davian, led by Duchess Lannavia Davian, challenged Thrune for control of Cheliax at the Battle of a Hundred Kings, a struggle that devastated Corentyn near the end of the civil war. The house’s holdings
included much of the nation’s west coast.
Thrune retaliated by utterly crushing the Davians. Numerous revisions of Cheliax’s official history have downplayed the Davians’ role during the civil war, such that many don’t even remember the Davian name, much
less that the great house almost defeated Thrune.
Cheliax
Cheliax’s state religion reveres Asmodeus. Though other faiths are not forbidden, none may flout the nation’s laws, challenge the mandates of Asmodeus, or defy House Thrune. Those who revere chaotic deities in particular often find themselves under especially close scrutiny.
It’s an open secret that several clandestine and very illegal organizations operate throughout Cheliax. This includes the Bellflower Network, a halfling run group that liberates the halfling slaves so common in the country. Even discussing the organization openly might be considered a criminal act, if done so under the
wrong circumstances.
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On the morning of the second day, you receive this message from Marcos
(see Handout 1 on the Slides)
When you get to the docks you meet Cassian Redwold, who is tending to the gear supplied by the Pathfinder Society, readying it for the journey in the hold of the Sea Sylph.
The supplies are mostly mundane archeological equipment including shovels, mattocks, brushes of different sizes, rope, sieves, and numerous crates and packing straw with which to safely store artifacts during the return trip. There’s also a small amount of gold for import and export fees, as well as to buy riding horses in Corentyn.
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Holan-Ji stoops down and scratches Husky behind the ears. He may look like a cross between a primordial tiger and a devil, but that doesn't mean he dislikes canines.
"Let's not overthink this quite yet. We know who he really works for, he knows what we're doing, and we all just get on the boat at the end. Or maybe one of you from Team Zarta go say hi and give him the secret handshake?"
Subtly is clearly not the big man's forte.
"C'mon buddy, let's get some real food before we gotta live on rations," he says to the totally-not-a-wolf as he steps away toward one of the street-food stalls along the docks.
Husky, hearing the promise of food, acts exactly like a wolf normally wouldn't, and waits patiently by the stall with Holan-Ji for some fresh, fresh meat.
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"Sounds certainly like a cakewalk. I'm Mozia, and that's... um, where is... Husky? Anyway, big grey dog that used to be here--" she points to the empty spot beside her "--'s my companion. Looking forward to hanging out for the next few days. If you ever need help, just holler. Or maybe we might holler for you instead." Mozia cheekily sticks out her tongue, then also joins the loading effort.
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Uaine doesn't take part in the ensuing conversation. Having been informed of Cheliax's strict policies on banned goods, she withdraws her holy symbol only to find a better place to conceal it. It is visible for but a moment as an icon of a heart with a blade through it, the latter piece indented many times to make it look composed of tiny dots or bugs.
The tiefling also hefts a very mundane club. "If they take this, my fists will serve just as well. A confrontation feels inevitable, but I will hold my piece until then."
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"Ooo! Ooo! Watch this!" Jahz eagerly draws his longsword and speaks in a very clear and deliberate voice, "Sloopperdoop!" The blade quivers, shrinking away from the terrible word and folding in on itself in an attempt to flee. After a few seconds, it is no larger than a dagger.
"Shrinking enhancement!" the half-orc says proudly. "Everyone knows that Corentyn doesn't allow larger weapons inside the city walls currently, so this is perfect!"
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The journey from Absalom to Corentyn is uneventful, with favorable winds and only one stop at the port of Merab. Captain Zaerim of the Sea Sylph states that the short waylay is an excuse to hug the southern shores of the Inner Sea and avoid Chelish naval patrols. You catch your first glimpse of the red Chelish flag days later, and you arrive in Corentyn at dusk a few days after that.
The last fiery golden rays of daylight silhouette the towering monument known as Aroden’s Arch, which reaches out from Corentyn’s southern wall to divide the Arcadian Ocean and the Inner Sea. Corentyn’s numerous fortifications rise behind mighty gray and brown limestone walls. Masts of ships both in port and at sea rise in the hundreds, like a legion pointing their spears toward the heavens.
As the Sea Sylph approaches port, Captain Zaerim orders his crew to ensure goods are neatly arranged and presentable. He’s collecting papers and seeing to the accuracy of his logs when he tells the PCs they should do the same. He expects the harbormaster’s deputies to search the ship and ask questions of the crew. He also warns that Corentyn impounds undeclared goods and that contraband worth more than a gold piece can earn the offending captain 20 lashes.
The harbormaster and his deputies keep an attentive eye on their port and meet any incoming ships before those aboard have a chance to disembark. When you arrive, a small riot is threatening to spill over from the nearby Open Slave Market. City guards bide their time,
waiting for reinforcements from the Hellknights. A few of the armor-clad enforcers are looking not at the crowd, but to the harbor waters.
The halfling customs agent Tamrin Credence and his four human deputies climb aboard the Sea Sylph within moments of docking. Tamrin, a careful and meticulous halfling does his best to wear a strained smile as he interacts with the PCs, but he lets his guard down from time to time when dealing with his underlings, a
disrespectful lot with a penchant for overstepping their authority in regards to their foreman. They immediately take the Sea Sylph’s manifest and begin a thorough search, making notations in their ledgers as they go.
(Make Sense Motive checks at this point please)
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Ferdrin watches the goings on at the port with marked curiosity. He doesn't specifically react to the riot or the clockwork process of the harbormaster, but he finds them interesting in their own right.
Cities are truly living organisms, and the harbor is... a mouth? Prepare to be swallowed! he quips cheerly to his companions.
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Holan-Ji lounges atop one of the crates watching the disturbance ashore.
He takes a deep breath, and emits a long, deep, rumbling sigh. "Trouble at the slave market? Of course. This just keeps gettin' better an' better," he mutters with obvious sarcasm to no one in particular.
At least the oni ain't likely to be lookin' for me here. I've given 'em no reason to believe I ain't dead.
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"Something's up. They're not looking into the crates."Mozia catches the gaze of Jahz and confirms what they're seeing, and whispers to those who are close by. She then approaches the halfling customs agent. "Ahem, pardon me, sir, but what's going on with the riot? We did just dock and all, wasn't expecting things to be quite so exciting right away..."
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"Noticed huh? Tamrin replied. Yeah. We're searching for a rather valuable escaped slave, name of Veld of Ulfen stock. Just before you got here, he escaped the Open Slave Market by bursting his chains and diving into the sea. Never seen anything like that before. So now we gotta check all the ships to make sure he hasn't snuck aboard.
He pauses for a bit.
Captain Zaerim only said you were passengers from Absalom. So what's your business in Corentyn, and I'll need a list of your personal belongings to make sure you're not smuggling anything.
(Is anyone openly wearing a Wayfinder or anything else that identifies you as Pathfinders. Also, make Bluff checks if you're intending to lie about anything. You will be searched so Sleight of Hand or Stealth checks are required to keep anything hidden)