The adventure begins in the city of Korvosa in southeastern Varisia, a land just north of Nidal. There, the Pathfinder meet Venture-Captain Sir Canayven Heidmarch in a run-down shop in Thief Camp, an informal district just outside the city itself.
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Dana walks with slow steps and is not the most gracile or beautiful woman from Tian Xia.
When she meets the group she waves her hand.
"Greetings to you all." says the corpulant woman with a self conscious smile.
Her right eye has been cut in the past which has led to a scar that is clearly visible on her right eye section.
She has a Wayang bleaching exactly around the scar.
Her asymmetrically cut black hair with pink highlights looks strange and out of place. She is wearing a full plate armor that clearly encumbers her heavily and with which she walks slowly.
Her armor has gadgets and colored leather straps which are more fashion items than functional adventure gear. A small buckler is attached to her left arm. She also carries a backpack.
Resting on top of her chest, an amulet showing the holy symbol of Chaldira Zuzaristan is visible.
She does not really have a natural presence and unfortunately might come across as aloof or arrogant.
Facing you all she bows but more out of tradition than courtesy you believe.
“Dana Katsu is my name.“
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A man not particularly more attractive, though fitter nods back to Dana and gives a little salute. His features are all a little too rough, his cheekbones prominent, his mouth, nose and ears all a little too big, his eyes a little too small and far apart.
His hair is worn in a thick top knot on top but shaved around the edges and he has a neatly trimmed goatee framing his mouth. The hair on his head and face are both a mousy brown color.
He is not encumbered by the chain shirt he wears, or by the warhammer at his side, the hatchet on the opposite side of his belt, the quiver full of javelins and darts on his back or the shield strapped to his back.
It may just be the most modified shield you've ever seen. Designed to be drawn and stowed quickly, it is covered in spikes and has a boss in the middle with a vial secured inside it.
"Hello. I'm Djorn."
He grins, the crooked expression doing little to improve his appearance. "You borrowing that armor?"
Almost out of nowhere, a lean elven woman appears over Dana's and Djorn's shoulders. She looks around at the group, sizing them up. She spots the cut over Dana's eye, examining it after she walks a bit closer.
This cut took a while to heal, correct? The edges are a bit jagged. Must not have been a sharp blade...poorly maintained blades are a sign of sloppiness. she says as the copious amount of blades secured around her body become apparent.Always keep your blades sharp...it could save your life...trust me. she says as she steps back. I am Mersiel. Any idea why we're here? This is cutting in to my tavern hopping time..
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"Good to see your arrival" you hear a hissing voice out of the shop "I am happy to count on more Pathfinder colleagues for this important mission"
A large and muscular nagaji appears from behind a corner coming from the Green Market street. He is mounting a big lizard-like snake and wears proud a shield with the coat of the Grand Lodge emblazoned within. The spikes in the shield are integrated with another coat of arms.
Dismounting he presents himself "My name is Xien, defender of Nagajor in the Grand Lodge, and herald of Nalinavity in the Inner Sea. And this is my loyal mount, Eidi"
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"So...maybe it is borrowed?" Djorn asks, briefly as confused as Dana.
He is about to speak, even opens his mouth to answer her question in return but then snaps it closed. The truth will likely just confuse her more. "I'm an ambassador and troubleshooter. Although I'm far worse at the former than the latter. Those two things seem to be what the Pathfinder Society is most about so I'm doing what I can with and for them."
"Good advice, though sometimes you have to be blunt about things," he says to Merisiel and pats the warhammer hanging from his hip.
"No idea why we're here other than to meet Heidmarch. I assume he'll tell us when he shows up."
He nods at Xien's arrival. "Welcome to the party. Good to have some muscle to mix it up with the baddies."
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A gnome with stark white hair and an overly youthful face approaches. While he doesn't seem incapable of empathy, he is very stoic and seems distant much of the time. His face remains constantly expressionless, even while he does at times offer warmth that can be detected in his voice.
Wow, I appreciate a varied group. I'm Arin, a vessel of unknown divine power. If you ask me what that means, you'll discover I'm still figuring it out myself.
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"Message was vague, even for Society," A female voice responds to Djorn and Merisiel's musings, with an Mwangi accent. A half-elf with a mocha skin tone slips out of a nearby alley and joins the group. She has leopard spot tattoos around her deep brown eyes and forehead, which continues back into her shoulder-length black hair. The tips of her ears poke though her hair just enough to make her heritage obvious.
She has a dulled chain shirt on, further hidden with a drape of mottled brown and green fabric, and a long leather tunic. Along her hip hangs a quiver, with the end of a bow hanging out of it along with several arrow fletchings.
"Was told come here on boat," she continues, showing a proficiency in Taldane, but not fluency, "I assume hunt of some sort."
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"The Blakroses are among the oldest and most influential families in Absalom,” Venture-Captain Canayven Heidmarch begins, wasting no time. “And based on your recent work in their museum, they've specifically requested you. The shadowy group of power-mongers who call themselves the Onyx Alliance doesn't take defeat easily, and it seems they’re set on breaking into a particularly ancient barrow mound in northern Nidal. Normally, we wouldn’t worry too much about amateur tomb robbers in such a dangerous area, but apparently they’re prepared to recover a potent relic from inside. They’ve some plot to use whatever this ancient talisman is against that Blakros family—and probably against you as well."
“It’s rare that we get a promising lead in Nidal, and the prospect of earning more good will with the Blakroses is even better. The barrows are thought to contain graves dating all the way back to the Age of Darkness, and the Society has very little information about the mysterious ‘horselord’ ancestors of the modern Nidalese people."
“Luckily we have contacts within the Whispered Song, a group of Desna worshipers who work against the local government in Nidal. Agents of the Whispered Song have been tracking the Onyx Alliance, and believe these grave robbers are close to discovering the entrance of a tomb they call the Cairn of Shadows. If we move quickly, we should be able to get you into Nidal and in touch with the Whispered Song in time to catch up with the Onyx Alliance and prevent them from acquiring this relic. And if you can learn something about the ancient tribal people of Nidal in the process, so much the better.”
Canayven leans in, his expression becoming even more serious. “Nidal is a perilous destination and one where we’re not welcome. I don’t mind some subtle heroics, but I’d refrain from any particularly overt displays of gallantry if you want to come back alive. If you attract too much attention in Nidal, there’s no chance we’ll be able to help if you’re captured, or worse."
“I know a member of the Whispered Song who frequents the Broken Cup, a rather morose tavern in Nisroch. He should know how to lead you to where in the Onyx Alliance is searching for the Cairn of Shadows. He’s also prepared to help you avoid tangling with the local authorities. I can get you on a ship there in an hour, after which I leave you to meet with him with all haste. From there, I’m trusting your resourcefulness. Explore, report, cooperate, and secure whatever treasure the Onyx Alliance is after. The risk is significant, but so is the danger if the Onyx Alliance acquires what they’re looking for.”
within the Barrowmoor changes, making it impossible to properly explore or map.
[spoiler=Knowledge (local or nobility), DC 15 or Chronicle #2-11]Until a few years ago, the dark secret to the Blakros family’s success was a tenuous alliance with denizens of the Shadow Plane, specifically an organization called the Onyx Alliance, who received the service of the first Blakros daughter born into each generation. This practice ended in 4710, when the Pathfinder Society interceded, destroying the contract that enforced this terrible tradition before the twin daughters of this generation were taken away.
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Suddenly, Dana looks at you with blank eyes.
"Ehh ... I am Dana. Nice meeting you."
She then listens to the VC as if nothing is amiss.
"Ah, well. I think my brain has some undamaged areas. Before Earthfall Nidal was inhabited by tribal peoples often referred to as horselords. After Earthfall ushered in the Age of Darkness, many of these tribes made a bargain with Zon-Kuthon. They offered to loyally serve and worship the Midnight Lord, in return for his protection. Those chieftains who opposed this bargain were brutally suppressed, paving the way for thousands of years of Kuthite control over that land."
Then she thinks again and touches her scar.
"The Blakros family is a powerful matriarchy that made its fortune smuggling goods and secrets between Qadira and Taldor since the early 41st century ar, and by using its daughters’ marriages to form powerful alliances. Until a few years ago, the dark secret to the Blakros family’s success was a tenuous alliance with denizens of the Shadow Plane, specifically an organization called the Onyx Alliance, who received the service of the first Blakros daughter born into each generation. This practice ended in 4710, when the Pathfinder Society interceded, destroying the contract that enforced this terrible tradition before the twin daughters of this generation were taken away."
She starts playing with her pink hair.
"The Onyx Alliance retaliated during the Grand Convocation of the Pathfinder Society in 4712, but the Pathfinders were able to defeat the fetchling led invasion. Ever since, the Onyx Alliance has licked its wounds, rebuilt its holdings, and sought a new advantage."
True...skeletons require a smashing...fair point..
I got nothing...not ringing a bell...I mean, yes, I know of the Blakros'...but not in my area of expertise..
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Xien listens to the Venture-Captain then absentmindedly to Dana "Oh, yes, my flien Eedong Galsia tol me about that event vith the Onys Aalians."
"It souns gleat boss, ve met vith this Vispelet eSong at the Bokeng Cup in Nislok" the nagaji does not even think into asking further questions, following orders he sets himself ready to board the ship with his loyal mount.
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"Well, if nothing else, at least the people involved have a knack for names," Djorn says with a wry smile.
He looks a little nonplussed by the fact that the woman with obvious memory problems is the one who knows the most about the situation. Still, he doesn't know any more, though he's been in trouble in the Blakros museum before (and wishes he could say it was the first...or last...time he almost died while working with the Pathfinder Society.)
"Be subtle. Keep the relic from the Onyx Alliance. Find out more info if we can. Got it," Djorn says at the end of the briefing.
He can't think of any questions, either and heads for the boat.
Subtle, I can handle... Merisiel says with a mischievous look in her eyes.
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Some of us were involved in that affair with the Blakros twins, so we're minimally familiar with the operation of the Onyx Alliance. They deal comfortably in slaves, and I suspect they will be more "at home" in Nidal, and particularly dangerous. He glances at Nali, indicating her as one example.
Arin speaks from personal experience, not having much to add in the way of historical knowledge.
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Arin listens to Dana's input on the history of the area, thinking on it and adding his own bits.
Barrowmoor, a rocky region in the North of Nidal, was important to the horselord tribes. They burried their dead there and, while local tradition forbids general exploration of the cairns there, tomb robbers would sometimes get to the buriel mounds-discovering vast riches or traps and ancient curses. The locals believe the number of cairns changes, making it impossible to reliably map the Barrowmoor.
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“My contact's name is Golbrier Frosh. A skittish sort of man, but given that he works for Desna in the joy-hating nation of Nidal, his bravery cannot be questioned. He's a male human, and you'll probably recognize him because he'll be attracting all sorts of unwanted attention by playing his guitar and consorting with loose women. I told him to lay low, that there were bounties out for him, but I guess telling a bard to be quiet isn't very effective.”
"Speaking of laying low, you best steer clear of flashy displays yourself. You don’t want to call what passes for law in the
place down on your heads."
Cavorting with drunken women? Easy to spot. We'll do our best to not get noticed...I don't relish the thought of spending my years in a prison...
The Pathfinders' voyage to Nisroch proves fortuitously uneventful, and the ship docks in the evening at the Portside district after the captain pays a considerable harbor fee. The city is a dreary place constructed of wood and slate, and one of the region’s common downpours makes it feel even more oppressive. The Pathfinders can easily find their way to the Broken Cup, a tavern in the Southbank district that caters to common folk.
There is nothing bright or cheerful about the Broken Cup. The walls are worn gray and the furniture drab brown. There are few lights, the brightest sitting by the stairs that presumable lead to rooms upstairs. There is no singing, no laughter, and no real sign that the tavern even welcomes new customers. Those who linger here mostly mind their food and themselves, going out of their ways not to make eye contact.
Three individuals stand out to you.
1. A human female sitting in the back of the tavern with two empty beer mugs in front of her, staring at you.
2. A half-orc male sitting in one of the side chambers, longbow by his side, pretending not to look at you but not doing a great job of it.
3. The bartender (human male), cleaning a glass as he eyes you suspiciously.
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Xien leaves his mount outside of the tavern "Ya bettel rest heel my flien. I vil be back soon Eidi"
As the group gets access to the Broken Cup, the nagaji advances himself, weapons sheathed, towards the counter and addresses the bartender "Hi goot balmang. Ve ale looking fol a pelson ve vele tol ve cout fint heel. Pelhap you know by name. Vispelet eSong. Do ya' know vhele is Vispelet eSong? He saa' be heel in this tavel'"
A mug of the good stuff, if you don't mind...need a good stiff drink. Mersiel says as she looks around at the features of the bar.
Oh, and can I get some bread and sausages to chew on...drinking really gets my stomach growling...
The bartender doesn't move at Dana and Merisiel's requests.
"Only locals get to drink on tab here. Outsiders gotta pay up front. Two silver for an ale, two gold for a rum."
The bartender only glares at Xien when he mentions the "Vispelet eSong." The bar is audibly quieter as the patrons sound out the words in their minds.
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This city is worse then Ostenso... Nali mentally grumbles, her mouth shut as she scans the room. She gives the two customers a once over, noting weapons and attention as Xien begins to speak.
Pelhap you know by name. Vispelet eSong. Do ya' know vhele is Vispelet eSong? He saa' be heel in this tavel'"
It takes all of Nali's willpower to not facepalm immediately from that. Instead, she gives a look to the other people in the room for their reactions.
Of course, I'm not asking for a tab...we just met. I'm Jania...nice to meet you. Now how about a compromise...i'll give you a gold for the rum and the munchies, sound fair? I'm not asking for preferential treatment, just don't overcharge too much, deal?
The bartender shrugs, and walks away, leaving you drinkless.
Nali, Arin, and Dana don't have to guess at the woman's intentions. She walks over and calls the bartender.
"They're with me."
The bartender shrugs again, and pours out a mug of ale for everyone who wants one - and two for the woman.
The woman grabs a mug in each hand and leans back against the bar, taking alternating sips from the mugs.
"I feel like celebrating," she declares. "Everyone's with me!"
The applause from the audience is scattered and muted. Although the patrons gladly grab a free ale, they quietly toast the woman and wander back to their tables. The half-orc does not grab a free drink.
The woman throws two platinum coins on the bar.
"I don't got change for that," growls the bartender.
The woman takes back a platinum and fishes out a few gold pieces instead.
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Djorn rolls his eyes as the bartender tries to gouge them. He can't even begrudge the man, it just puts him in a boat with most people in the world...worlds. Even in the best places, there are people who are only out for themselves and will prey on everyone else when they can. When you're in a place like this, it seems like everyone is either predator or prey and the latter are always trying to become the former.
He doesn't bother giving the man his business and heads over to the table and takes a seat, ready for trouble to arise or their contact to show up.
"I'm not celebrating today, I'm celebrating tomorrow![b]" she beams. "[B]I'm getting paid tomorrow. Which bounty hunter has two thumbs and captured Frosh? This gal."
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As the baretender asks for money Xien retrieves his bag of coins and starts counting copper coins, leaving them all over the counter, one by one. By when the nagaji is about the sixth coin though the woman approaches, and he nods approvingly.
Xien accepts the woman's generosity "Goot. Ant vhat crime this Fross has commitet? Ar' ya' getting much coin flom it?" despite it, the nagaji does not drink and only stares at the new woman.
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Nali's eyes narrow slightly, and after giving the half-orc a second, more suspicious look, she turns to Merisial. With a confused expression on her face, she asks in Elven,"Má iarrann sí, maíonn sí ní thuigim an ghnáththeanga?" She pauses for a moment before adding. "Is féidir liom é sin a bhréige. Deir sí go bhfuil sí ag bailiú deolchaire ar ár dteagmháil, ach nár íocadh fós í. Ciallaíonn sé sin gur gabhadh í áit éigin gar dó. An mbeifeá sásta dul ag lorg air agus é a shaoradh? I mo thuairimse, is féidir liom a chlúdach tú sneaking timpeall beagán.'
"If she asks, claim I don't understand the common tongue. I can fake that. She says she's collecting a bounty on our contact, but she hasn't been paid yet. That means she has him captured somewhere close. Would you be willing to go find and free him? I think I can cover you sneaking around a bit."
Merisiel winks at Nali. She says to Nali in Elven.
Pardon my fiend here...she doesn't know the common tongue...raised by some crazy elves that never taught her. She needs me to translate for her...
She goes to her new bounty hunter friend.
Are the rooms here decent? We need a place to crash for the night...
After a minute or so, after Merisiel guns her drink.
Where's the "ladies' room", if you catch what I'm saying.. she asks with the air quotation marks. After finding out, she'll head that way and try to find a way out.
"Goot. Ant vhat crime this Fross has commitet?"
"Crime committed? When was the last time you saw a wanted poster for an actual criminal? I'm guessing he's just made enemies with the wrong shadowy vampiric politician. But as long as they're payin', I'm huntin'."
The half-orc suspects something is up, and takes a keen interest in Merisiel as she walks upstairs.
"Is not still in your custody or something, is he?"
She laughs. "Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not letting you take him and claiming the bounty yourself. Go find your own bounties!"
Have you been getting a lot of jobs like this lately?
"What rock did you crawl out from under?" she laughs. "As long as they're purging Desnans, bounty hunting is the only game in town. Look at this chump," she nods towards the half-orc. "He's second place, and second place is first loser. He's waiting for me to drink too much so he can murder me and steal my bounty."
She raises her glass at him, and he snorts in disgust.
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Merisiel easily sneaks upstairs.
There is muffled yelling from one of the rooms. The door is not trapped, but it is locked. (DC 25 Disable Device check to pick)
Merisiel quickly gets out her tools and tries to open the lock.
Second try. Inside is Goldbrier Frost, bound and gagged.