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((I may as well post the intro))
The adventure begins in Corentyn’s Museum of History. The former courthouse rises above many of the other buildings within the High Quarter. The museum has endured the touch of time well, and it houses those artifacts from Corentyn’s illustrious history that the Thrune regime has approved. Earlier, a courier sent by Ianareth Alazario—the new Chelish liaison to the Grand Lodge—informed the PCs that a package provided by Athenaeum archaeologists awaits them at the museum and that they are to contact Zefiro Balinger, whom they met during their investigation into the ruined keep of House Davian.
Motes of dust float in the air as the midday sun shines through the skylights of the museum roof. Several scholars and students move about the bookshelves and display cases on the main floor and the balconies above, while some are hunched over tables piled with heavy tomes. Zefiro is in discussion with a colleague when he notices the visitors.
Ah, you have returned. Welcome. He shakes hands with everyone. Right, we have that package for you. Zefiro beckons to a student at a nearby table. Run up and fetch the Athenaeum materials from my office. He turns back from the student, though he occasionally glances nervously at the people going about their work around him.
The ruin you’re about to investigate is certainly a major discovery, and it’s sure to earn great prestige for my colleagues at Egorian’s Athenaeum. A lost colony of ancient Taldor right within the Kharijite province would certainly give our beloved empire a strong claim to the region. Zefiro steps a little closer and lowers his voice. I would be very interested to discuss your findings when you return, with a bit more privacy. Come see me here in the evening and we can have a talk in my office.
Zefiro takes a step back as the student returns with the package. He hands it over to the PCs, If there’s nothing else, I must get back to my duties.
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Taking his cue from Zefiro to 'get lost,' Holan-Ji stands up and stretches.
"Hey, Jahz, we checkin' out that Osiriani restaurant tonight, yeah? The smell o' them cookin' that goat was makin' my mouth water walkin' over here."
"And I heard the belly dancer there can pick up coins with her..." he pauses and looks around the room. Suddenly it dawns on him that Mozia and Husky are nowhere to be seen. "Damn. Gonna miss that dog," the giant cat-demon-man says in the saddest voice ever as he heads out to get dinner. Planning, of course, to return later for their real briefing.
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Suussmaar stretches his muscled and agile body and moves a hand through his red hair and bushy eyebrows.
”I see that you are all here again in Cheliax! I see your faces ... full of smiles that show a community feeling!“ he says smiling.
He still has a greatsword on his back, a net at his side and a longbow in his hand.
His mithral chainshirt looks like it has been recently oiled.
Suussmaar takes his amulet, showing the holy symbol of Grandmother Spider which looks like a Four-pointed hollow webbed diamond, and presses it to his forehead.
”I am ready for dinner!“ the almost human Aasimar says to Holan-Ji.
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Uaine has reluctantly remained in Cheliax, not wanting to leave only to come back so soon. In the interim, she's been vaguely trying to help the researchers, but more often just sitting about.
"Very good. We'll be back after dinner." Just before leaving with the others, the tiefling turns to ask a question. "Are we to wait on opening this?"
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"Oh yes, dinner..." Jahz's voice trails off as he plaintively looks back at the unopened box. "But... well, maybe we should open it now? I mean, we don't want to leave it here unattended, and the last time I ate food from Osirion I got oil all over myself and had to buy new clothes and I'd hate for that to happen again and ruin whatever we've been given, but we don't want to take the entire box with us to dinner because that's very suspicious and people will give us funny looks, so maybe we should open it now and put whatever's inside away? For safety?" He looks pleadingly at his companions.
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Ferdrin had taken advantage of the museum since their recent mission, helping out here and there where he wasn't in the way.
He almost doesn't pull away when the rest of the group arrives and Zefiro transfers the package.
Great! Yes, we can open it and review the details of our assignment over dinner. Otherwise we might never make it to dinner! Funny looks? No, I don't think the other diners will care at all about our business.
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A burly half-orc wearing a heavy breastplate looks quite out of place in a museum-- or would, if it weren't for the similarly bedecked Pathfinders around him. A large, wickedly-curved sword crosses his back, and tusks protrude from his mouth. On his chest is the recognizable holy symbol of Sarenrae.
His face splits into an apologetic grin. "Sounds like you all know each other already. Hope I'm not intruding too much, the Lodge thought you could use another pair of hands. I'm Gorrig, servant of Sarenrae. Dinner sounds fantastic, I'm starving!"
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Holan-Ji offers Gorrig a warriors-grip shake and introduces himself, pronouncing it "Ho-LAHN-Jee."
"Glad to have ya' Gorrig. Ya' look like you can handle yourself in a fight. You'll fit right in," he says with a wide grin.
"Let's see how ya' handle Osiriani food. And yeah, before you ask, that is about all I think about. Well, maybe one or two other things, too." he adds with a knowing smirk.
He stops at the door when he realizes the smart ones all want to look at the package. "Yeah, sure, probably ought to open it first."
Holan-Ji stands well over 2 meters, and clearly weighs well over 100 kilos, all of it muscle. He wears no armor, just simple travelers clothes all in black and dark browns. Like Uaine 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. Oni-spawn tiefling mixed with tiger.
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You discover that the lost colony lies under a ruined Rahadoumi village called Ibhir, which is located a couple of days’ ride southwest from the city of Khari. A collapse uncovered the site as a fierce battle was fought in Ibhir during the Everwar. Centuries later, a forgotten war
diary led the Athenaeum archaeologists to rediscover the colony and mount an expedition to exhume it. According to the Athenaeum archaeologists, Taldan colonists established the settlement as part of the Third Army of Exploration, sometime after Corentyn was founded in
1520 AR.
The Athenaeum package contains several items: an official document that authorizes its bearer to inspect the archaeological site, a map of the Kharijite province that has a route to Ibhir marked on it, and an archaeological report that details the discoveries made at the site.
(on slides)
After departing the museum, you make their way to the docks where Ianareth has arranged passage to Khari aboard one of the ships that the Chelish navy uses to patrol the Hespereth Strait. The sail to Khari is quite uneventful, and the crewmembers—none too pleased about having to
transport civilians aboard a military vessel—keep to themselves.
The Chelish frigate cuts through the waves by the Arch of Aroden as sunrise paints the harbor of Khari red. Vessels from all around the Inner Sea are moored at the docks, waiting for their cargo to be unloaded or for new goods to be brought aboard. The city spreads around the bay, with sandstone buildings and twisting minarets marking its Rahadoumi origin now emblazoned with red-and-white banners of Cheliax.
Most of the inhabitants dress in a Garundi fashion of colourful robes and billowing blouses, but occasionally a regiment of Chelish soldiers or a Hellknight parts the crowd. Several open air markets fill the city with clamor as merchants and patrons haggle loudly under many-colored stalls.
At one of the stalls, an exasperated man with an Osirian accent complains loudly, It would be bad enough if it was just the damned dockworkers who take their time unloading my goods, but now I have to wait for those infernal bureaucrats to grant me a travel permit to even leave the city. I swear I’m about to lose my mind with the incompetence of these people!
The Society has provided you with basic archaeological equipment (picks, shovels, brushes, sacks, parchment tags, and notebooks) and sufficient funds to cover essential expenses and purchase mounts; they can keep anything left over as a bonus. You may gather information and prepare for the journey as they interact with the local people, but before they leave the city, they must acquire a travel permit.
Could each of you please roll the following:
Diplomacy to Gather Information
Knowledge Geography or Local
Knowledge History
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You'll fit in... despite not all of us being quite so inclined for the up-and-close fighting!
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.
Well met, I'm Ferdrin. I won't bore you with my spell study, but I do think you'll find them useful when times get tense!
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Diplomacy:
A gruff barkeep informs the PCs of the tight grip Cheliax keeps on the city. Recently they’ve been cracking down on any shady business, so everyone needs a travel permit to leave the city. I hear the inspections of coming and going cargo are pretty thorough as well. Good luck at the magistrate’s office—the lines are bound to be as long as the Arch.
A bored caravan guard provides information about the archaeological expedition. They had plenty of scholars and soldiers as well. The number of tools and supplies they were willing to lug across the desert surprised me. Our caravan shared the road with them for a while, but they kept mostly to themselves.
An unscrupulous merchant reveals information about the Aspis Consortium caravan that went to the expedition site. The Aspis Consortium transported a caravan full of supplies to the ruins. I’m not sure what they were carrying in those crates, but I hear they looked heavy—not that they were advertising this on the streets or anything, but I have my sources. It didn’t take long for them to receive appropriate permits either. I guess it helps to have friends in the right places.
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Knowledge Geography or Local:
The people of Khari see themselves more as Chelish citizens than as Rahadoumi despite their ancestry. Lord-mayor Marsiol Giovenci, a steadfast ally of the Thrune regime, rules Khari. Giovenci takes a harsh stance against anyone who would engage in smuggling and black-market deals.
This time of the year, fierce sandstorms tend to plague the area around Ibhir, and it’s bound to get even worse in the following weeks before the storms subside. It’s a good idea to make the journey there and back as soon as possible. Learning this you a +5 bonus on the Survival check to notice the encroaching sandstorm on their way to the excavation later in the adventure.
The settlement of Ibhir has remained abandoned for centuries since the Everwar. At campfires, the local people whisper ghost stories that revolved around foolish travelers who took shelter in the ruins during a
sandstorm and never returned.
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Knowledge History:
Cheliax forcibly annexed the Kharijite province from Rahadoum during the Everwar, and Rahadoumi diplomats have been demanding that Cheliax return the region to its rightful owner ever since.
The Everwar, also known as the Wars of Expansion, was a century-long war of conquest launched by King Haliad III in 4305 ar that—among other territories— expanded Chelish control into northern Garund, allowing them to control both ends of the Arch of Aroden. The Everwar lasted through the reigns of five Chelish monarchs and finally ended in 4410 ar.
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Following the recent exposure of an extensive smuggling ring, Khari’s government has tightened security on who can or cannot leave the city. Even your official authorization to explore Ibhir is insufficient to get them past the gate guards. In order to leave, the Pathfinders must secure travel permits from the office of Magistrate Mavius Giovenci.
Scores of applicants hoping to procure official travel permits fill the bulky sandstone building, and clerks steadily work their way up and down the lines to identify each applicant and inquire about their business. Once a clerk confirms your authorization from the Athenaeum, she fetches a letter, lowers her voice, and tells you, Magistrate Mavius Giovenci wants to handle this matter in person. This is an invitation to attend an evening function at his estate. She forces a smile and then turns her attention to the next group in line. As promised, the letter requests that the PCs join the magistrate at sundown for a fancy meal.
Diplomacy to Gather Information, Knowledge Local or Knowledge Nobility to learn more about your host.
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What you get:
Mavius is a cousin of the lord-mayor of Khari. The magistrate takes advantage of his station to enjoy all the pleasures the city has to offer, therefore his palanquin is a regular sight on the street as Mavius travels between the mansion and several high-end establishments and the opera.
The lord-mayor, Marsiol Giovenci, isn’t too fond of his cousin. He secured the post of magistrate for Mavius as a favor to Mavius’s father, yet Marsiol feels that his cousin doesn’t live up to the city’s standards. The lord mayor is concerned that Mavius might make him regret the favor by becoming entangled in some scandal.
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You have several hours before the function which allows you time to get the above information and acquire new outfits for the fancy occasion.
Once you are ready to meet with the magistrate:
The magistrate’s mansion is of modest size but well-maintained. Upon receiving the invitation, a halfling servant guides everyone through an iron gate with flowery designs onto a terrace overlooking the bay near the Arch of Aroden. A ring of sitting pillows and several water pipes furnish the terrace. At the end of the hall sits a handsome, dark-haired man with an easy smile, though years of indulgent living seem to have taken their toll on his physique. The air is humid as thundering clouds gather far from the shore.
Mavius beckons everyone to sit down, My dear guests, please relax and enjoy yourselves. There are plenty of local delicacies, and the wine is quite exquisite. I’m sure you’re eager to get down to business, yet there’ll be time for that later.
As advertised, Mavius has provided a sumptuous feast, and he greedily partakes of the many delicacies.
((Who bought courtier outfits or has them?))
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After they've gathered info on the magistrate, some angles start to form in the mage's mind.
Hmm, so it seems he just wants to be entertained, and made to feel important. Most of all, if he's aware of how he's seen by his cousin, he would appreciate if we could make him look good in the eyes of the Lord Mayor.
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The wizard nods and puts on his best social grin. Yes indeed, quite a feast! I would ask what you recommend, but I'm guessing you've only had the best prepared so that there's no wrong choice!
He gives his warmest smile for the first impression.
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Suussmaar buys a nice noble’s outfit and jewelry to show that he can mimic any culture to hoard and protect communities that show their respect and pay their dues, as grandmother spider asks her followers to do.
“I hate it when positions are filled by ancestry or by the connections one possesses. Let’s see what this spoiled magistrate wants from us!“ he says.
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“Thanks for your hospitality!! I am not used to such festive events and love the food!!“
He tries to remain polite and make a good impression.
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Uaine considers buying a courtier's outfit. Her robes are bumpkin's garb in comparison, but do the job of concealing her brain-like face. She looks to Holan-Ji and the others for guidance. "I'd rather not buy new clothes, and both options could make things harder. What's better for the mission's sake, do you think?"
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Having little sense of fashion, Gorrig places his trust in the nearest tailor, who selects for him an ensemble of black velvet slashed with gold.
"Thank you for your hospitality," says the half-orc, looking rather as though he had taken clothes by force from someone of higher station. Gorrig leaves most of his weapons and armor behind but wears his holy symbol proudly on his chest and, unless there is strong objection from the magistrate, keeps a machete at his waist-- "you'd be amazed how often trouble seems to find me on Pathfinder missions."
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"Well, you're going to look a bit silly if you're the only one wearing your regular clothes," Jahz comments as he pulls a rumpled maroon velvet dinner jacket from his pack. "Oh! You could get a fancy robe thing that covers your head and say it's for religious reasons! That's totally a thing? right?"
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Holan-Ji follows suit and picks up a courtesan's outfit. Something that makes him look more like an undercover bodyguard or courier that could fit in at court, and not like a dandy. It would probably be pretty hard to make him look like a dandy anyway what with the tail, fangs, and red-leather skin. Seeing Jahz in his fancy garb, though, he snickers. "You look good, man. No, really," he chuckles.
"Yeah, Uaine, buy somethin' nice and wear a veil like they do in Jalmeray and Casmaron. It'll be fine. Hell if we're the weirdest things he's ever seen, then this guys a rube."
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At the mansion, Holan-Ji makes nice, and samples all the food and wine. He compliments Mavius' selection, and even comments on some of the flavors and unique ingredients.
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Once the bulk of the meal is done:
The magistrate orders a servant to bring out an ornate board with several dozen ivory pieces, Would anyone care for a friendly game of Siege—unless one of you can entertain us with some Chelish opera? Hah!
((Roll Sense Motive - unless you decide to sing in which case roll Perform(sing) ))
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Holan-Ji sits down next to Ferdrin and cracks the knuckles of his oversized hands.
"Heh, not so different from the game we played back home called 'Shogun.' Sure let's give it a go."
"Of course, back there, the loser got eaten. For real," he says looking straight into the magistrate's eyes with a smile.
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"I could probably do the recitative parts, but the last time I tried actually singing Chelish opera the chandelier fell down and the floor under me collapsed and I fell in an underground lake and had to find my way back upstairs," Jahz answers with a chuckle. "I've never played this game though, so you'll have to remind me on the rules..."
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Holan-Ji begins with the normal moves from his days playing Shogun as a kid in Chu Ye, where, yes, if a slave lost a game to one of their oni or giant masters they were indeed eaten. But early on he makes a mistake...
"Whaddya mean squires can kill knights? That's not how it works." The big man's shoulders tense up, and his hand grips the table. It looks like he's about to not just flip the table but possibly throw it completely across the room.
The storm in his eyes breaks with the same suddenness that it came on, and he laughs. "HA HA HA!!! You'd think I'd a' realized the rules might be different. It is called a different name, after all."
He rises from the table to head back to the buffet, but not before performing a typically Tien-style bow to their host. "Good game, sir. Congrats on the win. Can I get you anything while I'm up? Another o' those tarts?"
Or maybe that saucy little servin' "tart" over there. The redheaded one....
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Those wearing appropriate expensive courtier's outfits get a +2 to their checks.
The fact that you're trying, even though you lose is enough to satisfy the magistrate ((You succeed in this skill challenge))
After the games:
Tell me about this expedition you are embarking upon. I have heard a little about it here and there—enough to get me intrigued. I’d love to know more.
((Bluff, Diplomacy or Perform(Oratory) - At least two of you must impress upon Mavius the importance of their mission for Cheliax.))
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"We are bound for a long-forgotten Taldan province at the outskirts of Cheliax," Uaine says, leaving plenty of time for someone else to take point. She throws in details from earlier when there's an opening. "Obviously we don't yet know what awaits us there. But out last mission here pitted us against an oddly intelligent ghoul, which wasn't even the strangest thing we met."
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Yes, there was a vulnerable troll too, which is something you don't hear about every day! You'd think it would be gracious at our arrival, but no, it turned out just as opportunistic from its lesser advantage as it would be in a normal situation.
Ferdrin recounts some of the details of their journey into that place, but very quickly leaves room for the more silver-tongued to take over. His academic tone and rhythm were just never very suited for dramatic retellings.