You find yourself onboard the ship: 'Sunken Maiden' from Absalom to Katheer.
It is led by a cunning but friendly hobgoblin captain named 'Olzu the beauty', and the crew consists only of Goblins. The crew seems very chaotic and they are pranksters, every now and then you find yourself locked in your cabin hearing laughter when you try to get out. Another favorite is hiding a fish in other boots.
You soon also learn where the name came from, whenever captain Olzu catches her crewmate not behaving, they sunk the maiden. The goblin needs to put on a dress and is being thrown into the water from the bow and is caught on the lasso when passing the stern. That usually cools down that individual temper and provides plenty of entertainment for the rest of the crew.
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Ogren found life on the boat an odd feeling. There were so many other goblins! He quickly discovered he got slightly different treatment than the other passengers. He was in on many of the jokes, got given things to do every now and then, mostly being on the rotation for being the mast figure, but it was fun. But he'd never really had this before, he'd had trouble befriending others his 'age' back in Kraggodan. Being green was a big problem, not to mention he aged faster than most dwarves so anything his age was still toddling around learning to walk and talk and he barely had enough time to find a friend in the same developmental range before he out grew that range.
So this was new, and odd. It didn't help that he was still held at a distance. Olzu had tried to put him on watch duty once, but the moment he jump from the crow's nest and dented her deck with his armor, she'd had him dunked and then forbade him from climbing off the deck every again. He did get his fix being the figure head, so it wasn't all bad. He also learned how to replace a plank!
Slipping a fish into the Ulfgar's boot with a note that ostensibly should have read 'Sorry for pranking you, I hope you enjoyed it' in Dwarven runes, but more so was a squiggly mess of Dwarven rune adjacent lines, Ogren rocks up and down on his heels and heads for the main deck. He checks his gleaming steel plate armor and shield in the morning sunlight making sure there's not any rust attempting to form, especially on the Dwarven unes that Deepa added to the plate, before giving a broad, nearly as bright as his armor, smile. He waves to the night shift and bellows a
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A pale-skinned goblin plays sea shanties on the flute much of the days of the journey. He does his best to stay on everybody's good side, providing entertainment, and remaining willing to be the butt of jokes, but he is definitely not interested in being locked in his room.
"Jiki is harder to confine than that!" he says proudly to some crew members who were snickering at their prank. He got good use of the prestidigitation spell after he was in the drink.
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Ulfgar almost walks off the ship once he sees the make up of it's crew. In the end, he just growls and makes his way to his cabin giving anyone he comes across a glare that would peel paint. You can't really say it's something in his eyes since his eyes are buried in folds of wrinkles and skin at the best of times and almost disappear entirely when he squints or scowls...and he scowls a lot. It must just be the way he hunches his shoulders and leans threateningly toward the target of his ire, occasionally spitting to the side with uncommon distance.
When he sees Ogren, he almost dives into the water and starts to swim back to shore. Instead, he rolls his eyes and gives a long suffering sigh.
As the journey continues, his attitude does not improve, but at least he's not one of those exploding dwarves. He never shouts or swings at any of the goblins when he is the butt of a joke. Instead, he just scowls, snorts, spits and largely tries to act as though nothing has happened or its not worth noting.
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The almost equally surly-looing Panarug tries to keep himself in his cabin, which often deflated the fun of the goblins (but not by much) when locking his cabin door when he hardly comes out anyway.
His weak constitution, however, forces him out on the deck more often than he would like, and when he does, he glares at the pestilence of goblins on the ship, daring any of them to come close. Not that it does much good...
Strange as it might be, the half-orc starts gravitating towards the dwarf.
Despite the crew being absurd in how they treated their passengers, the ship arrived mostly on time to Katheer the capital of Qadira.
As you disembark and leave the ship, goblin sailors wave, yelling to again use their ship for further travels. As you set your feet on the firm ground a message approaches you saying that
"Venture-Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi invites you to his personal estate." he points at a richly looking carriage pulled by 4 horses. Within the next hour, you arrive at a palace.
Signs of wealth abound; fine cloth awnings hang over an impressive spread of food and drink, with fruits, meats, and grains from across the Inner Sea. Esmayl's attire is expensive, finely pressed, and immaculate. When you arrive, the Venture-Captain clasps the arm of each of you at the elbow one by one (waiting a moment to watch for any social cues that might indicate the physical contact is unwelcome) and invites you to enjoy the refreshments.
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Ulfgar is silent for the trip through the city, though his bushy eyebrows raise like two caterpillars doing a side stepping dance when he sees the opulence of the carriage and estate.
He grips the Venture Captain's arm so firmly it verges on being tight and lingers before going to the food.
He nods his thanks to any staff who helps him but eats heartily, perhaps greedily, his days as a soldier having taught him to eat well when he can since he can't know when his next meal is going to come.
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Ogren positively bounces down the gang plank, a happy spring in his steps. He reaches up and gives Ulfgar a pat on the back before waving a sad goodbye to the goblins on the ship. He also gives the proper salute to Olzu the beautiful, blowing a kiss, before turning to the docks with bright eyes. "OOOOHHHH, Ulfgar, look, FISH!"
He stays excited through the carriage ride, barely able to contain his excitement and adding to the rocking of the carriage with his excited bobbing in the seat. Greeting the Venture Captain, Ogren gives him a salute and then graps his arm in return before shaking it up and down violently, not quite understanding how the gesture works. "Ogren Bound, 'prod-a-gull' son of the Crookedtoes Tribe, adoptee of the Deepwall Clan, reporting for duty!"
Ogren takes a plate and tries to be on his best behavior at the palace, taking a plate and adding food to it in the manner his Meemaw showed him how, trying a little of everything at least and a modest amount of the things he thinks he'll like. The then takes a chair his feat swinging back and forth as he tries to remember not to talk with his mouth full.
Venture-Captain Esmayl asks you to sit after exchanging plesantries with each one of you. In this palace there are no tables, simply richly decorated carpet with big pillows on the ground.
Venture-Captain takes a sit and begins speaking
"Welcome all of you to my home, and thank you very much for coming. I have invited you here so you can help me settle an important matter on behalf of the Pathfinder Society as a whole. As you know, our lodge here in Katheer is the only location we have in the whole of Qadira. This is something I plan to rectify personally, so I have contributed a small fortune to purchase a plot of land for another lodge, close to the slave port of Sedeq in the south."
"We’re having this conversation here due to my personal stake in the matter. As it happens, I’ve come across a problem that’s brought the sale to a complete halt. Two different merchant families, the Agarja and the Patari, have approached me with papers claiming they are the proper owners of this land. Both attest they are descendants of the original landowner, Prince Agar ibn Karatari. I was under the impression I was to deal only with the owner of his estate until these two families stepped forward. The process to complete the sale alone will take months, but thankfully, this is a problem that can be rectified."
"With your assistance, we can determine which family is the legitimate heir to the property. There are four documents we can use to authenticate the prince’s lineage, which I have tracked to the bazaars of Katheer. Here is a list of the four merchants you’ll need to speak with. I would recover them myself, but I have another appointment I’m afraid I must keep. While you are in the bazaar, I will be discussing another matter with a fellow Pathfinder agent. I intend to use the new lodge as a safe house for the Society and our allies released from slavery, and I have intelligence that indicates some of our own could be moving through Sedeq from across the Inner Sea."
"If you’re able to recover these documents on my behalf, not only can we move ahead with saving our compatriots in chains, but we can establish further relations with the nation of Qadira and hopefully within Casmaron itself."
Esmayl waits for a moment letting you ask any questions that you may have
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Ulfgar scowls at the briefing and looks down at his outfit. The sturdy clothes are clearly better suited to outdoor work than wandering some fancy bazaar tracking down paper (and he's better at tracking down animals, too.)
But then he takes another bite of chicken, shrugs and gives a thumbs up to the Venture Captain.
"Any issues, no. Walking around the bazaar might be a challenge for you as it is hard to navigate in. People are people so there is no saying how helpful they might be. But you should be fine."
Says Venture-Captain and reaches for a date fruit.
"The Agarja family deals in trading spices to and from other lands, and the Patari family farms cattle local to Qadira. I know nothing about disputes, but they are both merchants, so there must be some. I am eager to find out who truly owns the property we seek."
Says Esmayl and takes a drink of wine.
"How do you like the food?" asks and gives you a sheet of parchment with written down locations
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Ogren listens to the briefing as he nibbles on the food and tries his best not to spill anything on the lush carpets. He nods in agreement at the right spots and tries to remember his manners. He'd been laughed at on the ship the first time he'd said thank-you and please.
He wipes his mouth with what he hopes is a napkin and stands taking the paper with the list of places to check. "Thank-you for the meal. It was delicious. What's this light brown paste that you dipped the this pocket bread in?"
The Patari family has ties to central Qadira. As part of their cattle trade, they do business in very peculiar mammals with the geniekin of the Zho Mountains.
The Agarja family’s spice trade has allowed them to surpass the wealth of the Patari family, despite the latter’s expertise in rare or magical creatures. The Agarja family also deals in black market smuggling, which includes a cut from the Patari family as they supply menageries for the rich. If the Patari family’s claim to this land succeeds, they will have a compelling justification to remove the Agarjas from their role as intermediaries and significantly increase their profits.
The Patari family has ties to central Qadira. As part of their cattle trade, they do business in very peculiar mammals with the geniekin of the Zho Mountains.
He wipes his mouth with what he hopes is a napkin and stands taking the paper with the list of places to check. "Thank-you for the meal. It was delicious. What's this light brown paste that you dipped the this pocket bread in?"
"It is hummus with extra bits of lime and coriander, I am glad that you liked it. Let me ask to pack you some for the road." responds Venture-Captain.
As you leave the Venture-Captain palace you are being taken with similar carriage to the entrance of the bazaar. Small stone-made buildings cover a great area of the city, the narrow streets are made even smaller by the merchandise being set on tables in front of the buildings. As you pass by the stalls you are frequently asked by the owners: "Just have a look ... you would look great in this silk My good Sir ... How about buying some diamonds for the better half... You are my first customer today, you need to buy something to bring me luck...."
The Opulent Bazaar of Katheer is magnificent. Qadira’s satrap, Xerbystes II, certainly spared no expense in the upkeep of the capital and is paying an even greater fortune in its expansion. In between merchants from nearby Casmaron and from all over Golarion attempting to hawk their ware, you need to find your way to the merchant of choice.
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Ogren gives a look at the bustling place and quickly decides he'd rather not have to be dealing with it. Instead he looks for an open wall ND quickly climbs up to the roofline.
"Oohh there's a great view from up here! Lookit the curtains! There's a few hundred pigeons as well! Can we keep one as a pet, Ulfgar? I'll make sure to feed him you can get pigeon cuddles!"
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Ulfgar simply raises an incredulous eyebrow at Ogren's offer of "pigeon cuddles." However, he makes no other indication about whether or not the goblin has permission to capture and domesticate a pigeon.
He does take the map and try to figure out where they are and how to get to where they're going.
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In a somewhat grudging voice, Panarug shares with the party what he has heard of the Agarja and Patari families. "Quite seedy dealings. What you would expect from civilised lands..."
Once amongst the bazaar, Panarug starts to draw back, intimidated by the crowds but pretending, rather poorly, otherwise. Instead, he sends Tyren his apprentice-in-training to ask around.
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Ogren looses track of what he should be doing, and instead starts to focus on getting a nice pigeon pet. He takes a few leaps at the birds.
After a moment, Ulfgar finds a pigeon bound in rope dropping from the ceiling. "I found one! Can you carry him? ...Or her? I'm thinking of naming him Kevin... or her Kevina, if that's the case. Still thinking about it, let me know what you think!"
As you begin to delve into the depths of the bazaar Jiki has no issues asking the right people for directions.
Ogren attempt to get a better view by traveling on the roofs of the buildings but is forced to go down after not being able to cross big gaps.
Panarug's hireling get themselves into an argument with a merchant who promise to help them only if they buy something.
Ulfgar try to make sense of the market layout and find the way on its own, but the chaotic architecture of the place is to much for him.
Finally (mostly due to Jiki) you find the place, with the pigeon tied down. You get some interested due to Kevin but some beggar yells to try and roast them for better taste.
Satrap Esoterica is the sign that you finally find
Anebu, a Garundi woman of very eclectic tastes, owns the Satrap Esoterica.
"My name is Anebu, and in Satrap Esoterica, I have everything you want under the Qadiran sun and everything you need under the Satrap's starry skies."
She pauses for a moment "Why are you carrying pigeon strapped with a string?"
You know that Venture-Captain has tracked a book here which allegedly contains Prince Agar’s memoirs, written in his own hand.
When you mention it Anabu says
"The truth of the matter is that I own several books that may contain what you are looking for. Let me bring them to you and let you look through them"
She brings a small stack of books for you to review.
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Ulfgar looks at Ogren incredulously as the goblin hands him a bound pigeon. He just shakes his head but puts the creature carefully in his back pack.
When a preparation method is called out, he gives a thumbs up, indicating that he caught the suggestion.
And when Anebu asks about it, he just rolls his eyes and hooks a thumb toward Ogren as though that explains everything.
He scowls when the books come out. He's not one of those nuts who doesn't think there's anything useful in books, he just hasn't ever cultivated the skills to capitalize on it.
So, he leaves the research to the others and steps back out into the street looking around to try to figure out the path to the next location.
Why can't anyone build things on straight lines?
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Ogren gives the helpful beggar a look of abject horror at the suggestion he eat Kevin. He grabs the bird out of Ulfgar's pack and, clutching the poor bird a bit tighter, he hurries after everyone else.
The small goblin beams in pride as Anebu comments on Kevin. "He's going to be my pet! This is Kevin! Kevin say hello to the nice lady! I hope Kevin can one day teach me how to fly!"
He sets Kevin down on a good perch, holding onto the string, and takes some time to peruse the books that Anebu brought the group.
He quickly gets distracted by Kevin looking like he's about to move his bowels and hurries to get the pigeon out of the building before things get bad. "NO, no, no! KEVIN! Not indoors! Bad Bird! Bad!"
He decides to try climbing up to the roof line again, one more time.
Anebu joins you few times and helps in your research. Few times she speaks something in another language that might have sounded like "Why couldn't they send someone with a brain, and not only muscles, and some city ranger!"
With joint effort, you finally find the book. Anebu sends you on your way and wishes "May satrap bazaar be easy on you."
You spent some more time looking for the second place: Morning Sands!
The sun seems to shine more brightly upon the sign of the Morning Sands. Perhaps divinely so, as this quaint shop serves as an antechamber to one of the many churches of Sarenrae in Katheer.
The Vudrani priestess Zarida spots you and says
"I informed the venture-captain that I recalled reading about Prince Agar in the church's library."
"I would be willing to part with it on Esmayl’s behalf to you if only she can remember whether I found it. Come and help me to look for it among the sacred texts or within the archives."
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Ulfgar does not disagree with Aneba's analysis. This group no doubt has many skills and abilities, but they are in a very different direction.
Then again, it often seems that the search criteria for a group of Pathfinders is "the ones that are closest" rather than "the ones with the most appropriate skills."
As the others are looking at the books, he once more tries to figure out their next destination.
Jiki and Panarug helped Zarida find the necessary text in the archives. Which did not take as long as in the previous location.
As you walk out of the stall, yet again you begin to find the best route between points. But it seems that as Bazaar evolved the structure has become a real mess. As you walk through some narrow streets you meet a preacher pointing his finger at Ulfgar
"Turn away from your path! I can see doom awaiting! Abandon what you are doing "
The man looks old, and carries a badly groomed beard and he held a book. Soon he turns towards another person walking by and says similar things.
After few more turns and stalls of endless fruits, textiles, knick-knacks and others you find: The Four Dunes
The Four Dunes is a cartographer’s shop run by a pair of halfling twins.
"I am Fali, and this is Farul Dunes. We serve merchants and navies alike"
You quickly discover that they own more maps of the seas than the local deserts (scribbled with their own messy handwriting, no less)
may make you question their profession as cartographers.
"Come on in, tell us where the property of an ancient Qadiran prince is and we would find the suitable map."
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For someone rather knowledgeable and intelligent, Panarug doesn't actually like books. He stares at the piles of maps and sighs, before digging through them studying the terrain depicted between Katheer and Sedeq.
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Tyren, perhaps over-confident from his earlier success, gets a bit too cocky and obnoxious.
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When Ulfgar is singled out of the crowd by the preacher, his heavy eyebrows lower in a scowl that make his small eyes all but disappear. His only response, however is to spit into the street, amazingly without hitting any of the numerous people passing by.
He is clearly much more pleased to be in a shop full of maps than he was either of the shops full of books and he starts examining them along side the other Pathfinders and the twinlings.
Once that is done, he heads outside to orient himself for the journey to the next spot.
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Ogren tries to keep Kevin company outside the second location as it seems the pigeon is dead set on not getting house trained in the first day of domestication.
At the third location, he finds a nice place to tie the bird up with some bird seed he bought on the way over. He heads into the door and smiles at the shop keep offering him a hand shake as well. "I could tell you where there are likely undead and thus possibly where a prince would kept his lands, as they all have died?"
Having struck out, he moves back outside, grabs Kevin and starts asking the nice shop keepers about the fourth and final shop.
Jiki, Ulfgar and Panarug are on the point in finding the right map. Ogren however gets wandering off with his Undead consideration.
With the newly acquired map, you head to find the last spot. Royal Concessions.
Onlau , a Tien scribe in the government of Katheer, operates Royal Concessions. They've turned their job in genealogical studies into their passion. As a specialist in noble lineages, their most frequent clients are people seeking familial prestige.
They are fond of the saying, "It’s not where the apple
falls, but the height of the tree."
As you begin to chat with a bit odd scribe you can hear a voice
"I told you to turn away from your path, now you will pay for being stubborn."
From the small street comes the preacher followed by another thug.
The preacher calls to his allies "Get them, make them pay!"
With his sword drawn, he begins casting and sends a mental jolt at Ogren.
Round Tracker - bold can go
Charlatan green Inspire Courage
Jiki
Panarug
Ulfgar
Ogren -4? will save DC20
Ruffian red Inspire Courage
Ruffian blue Inspire Courage
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Ulfgar scowls and spits at the preacher and shakes his head dismissively. But he waves the rest of the party toward him and the lackey in that alley then points to himself and the man in the alley on his side and gives a nod.
Though it can't quite be called "rushing" due to his stubby legs, Ulfgar hustles up to the man, studying him for weaknesses along the way. And quick as a goblin's attention changes, his axe is in his hands and he's swinging it at the man.
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Not quite able to see what's happening, Panarug moves out of the alley, standing beside Jiki. He chants monotonously under his breath, and very quickly a swarm of spirits manifests around him, surging towards the pair ahead. Like a swarm of poltergeist, they start picking up the debris around the area to slam them against the enemies.
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Feeling an odd sensation of the world whizzing by for a second, Ogren shakes his oddly suddenly achey head and bounces over to the new person trying to stop them with a broad smile on his face. Just to be safe he keeps his shield up, but the mace out of his hands. "Hello! I'm sorry we couldn't stop like you asked us to, but we need to do this. Could we try talking this out some way? Make a deal? PPLLLLEEAASSSEEEEEE?"
Jiki inspires his allies, draws his bow and moves out of the tight passage.
Panarug moves next to Jiki and begins casting. Market merchandise begins to fly and hits Ruffian and Preacher.
Leaving some solid wounds.
Ulfgar moves against his foe and attacks with his dwarven axe. Hitting which sprays some blood on nearby desks.
Ogren moves closer and wishes to talk, but fortunately does that from behind his shield. Then he takes out his mace. The enemies are not interested in talking.
Both Ruffians take out their clubs. The one with the red vest moves and attacks Ogren
The Ruffian clubs Orgren and keeps a hold of him with his other hand.
The other Ruffian attacks Ulfgar
But misses both times
The Preacher keeps on cheering his fellow thugs "You will not weasel yourself out of it goblin! Crush them!"
He moves out of the flying debris area and attacks with his sword.
Round Tracker - bold can go
Ogren -4 -38 dying 1
Charlatan green Inspire Courage -6
Jiki
Panarug
Ulfgar
Ruffian red Inspire Courage -6
Ruffian blue Inspire Courage -7
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◇ Cast Lingering Composition
◆ Cast Inspire Courage
Party gets a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects for 4 rounds.
◆◆ Cast Sound Burst
plus Fortitude save DC 20
A loud blast can be heard in the nearest proximity, causing all pigeons to fly away. Almost all, as Kevin is still tied so he jumps away from danger.
The thug feels the blast but after shaking his head few times seems unaffected.
The preacher however is caught unprepared and seems to can't hear a thing.
Round Tracker - bold can go
Ogren 0HP dying 2 inspire courage 4 rounds
Charlatan green Inspire Courage -24 deafened 1 round
Jiki inspire courage 4 rounds
Panarug inspire courage 4 rounds
Ulfgar inspire courage 4 rounds
Ruffian red Inspire Courage -15
Ruffian blue Inspire Courage -7
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Panarug growls in frustration, seeing the goblin fallen but no way for him to get there. What's worse is that Jiki and him and right open for the ruffian to come after them.
Again, Panarug starts to chant, summoning even more of his ancestral spirits. They arise and coalesce in front of the ruffian in the form of a zombie, which immediately starts attacking the preacher.
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Ulfgar hears the chaos occurring in the other alley but can't see what's happening over there. He focuses on his target here so that he can got over to help the others, if necessary.
Whipping out his Clan Dagger, he slashes at the man in front of him with the same motion.
Then, swings with both weapons.
Then, reorients his dagger to block any incoming attacks.