A general summons has gone out to all Pathfinders, and you have answered the call. You stand in the courtyard of the Grand Lodge among a large crowd of other Pathfinders, awaiting further news or instructions as to what this is all about.
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A little lady bounds into the courtyard and up to her assigned team, a smile breaking all over her face. She looks around in wonder at everyone. ”Oh My Gosh! I’m so happy they picked me for this important mission!”
Her eyes grow wide, Oh No they must think I'm some little fool!
The smile retracts a little and her voice drops to a ‘serious’ tone, ”er... I mean, it is great to be here and I look forward to working with all of you professionally. I’m Kaya Leafwing...” she trails off as she resumes gazing in wonder at everyone and everything.
A bright pink scarf wrapped around her neck accentuates the pink and green highlights in her auburn hair. Beyond this flash of color, she is wearing a mostly standard tan and grey exploring outfit with a backpack slung over her shoulders. A glistening piece of jewelry in the form of a multicolored songbird hangs from her neck.
Her attitude indicates inexperience or at least excessive excitement. But her gear reflects preparation and craftsmanship.
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A young woman with long black hair and a smooth, sun-bronzed complexion makes her way through the crowds of Pathfinders, looking a bit lost and almost out of breath. She wears a simple traveler's cloak over a silvery chain shirt. An exotic starknife with thin, yet wickedly sharp, curved blades hangs on a loop from her belt. A morningstar with a black iron head that looks like intertwined roses with thorny stems hangs from her belt on the other side. A finely crafted crossbow, its stock carved with intricate knotwork, is slung over her back.
Approaching the halfling, she nervously fidgets with a carved wooden holy symbol of a butterfly painted in various shades of purple.
"Greetings. I hope this is the right group this time."
She giggles nervously, then looks over a piece of paper in her hand. Looking back up, she nods at Kaya.
"Yep! The description matches! You must be Kaya. Gwendolyn and Pau should be joining us soon."
She tucks the paper in her pocket.
"I am Belladonna. But, you can just call me Bella."
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Pau crooked his eye at the halfling. He’d had dealing with halflings and gnomes before and he didn’t much care for it. Always so blasted happy and excited about everything, he thought. The large middle aged human was leaning against a comfortable tree wanting to see why the muster was about.
”Greetings, Kaya. I’m Pau. It’s …..nice to meet you,” he says, forcing a smile through mostly clenched teeth. ”Your scarf is certainly pink, isn’t it,” he tries to compliment.
The monk also nods to the human. ”Its a pleasure to meet you as well. As I said, I’m Pau,” he responds.
Looking around the courtyard he wonders out loud, ”Anyone know why they’ve called all of us together today?”
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A human swordsman comes stumbling through the entry after finishing off some liquid in a tankard which he promptly hooks to his belt.
He looks up ”Yep, this looks like the place.“ he scans the room
”And a sophisticated group even. I usually fall in with dwarves and barbarians. Why just the other day I was arguing with this dwarf I know about how a heavy crossbow isn’t a practical weapon …anyway. “
He stops and checks his blades ”Viridian here. What have I missed? “
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"A pleasure to meet you, Pau."
She tilts her head politely downward in greeting.
A human swordsman comes stumbling through the entry after finishing off some liquid in a tankard which he promptly hooks to his belt.
He looks up ”Yep, this looks like the place.“ he scans the room.
Bella steps back as the warrior stumbles towards the group. She covers her mouth to stifle a chuckle at the staggering warrior as he waves his arms as if stuck in a room, yet they are clearly outside in a courtyard.
"Oh, dear. This one had way too many drinks."
The warrior begins to tip and sway in Bella's direction.
"Oh no! Help!!"
Bella calls out in fear as the burly warrior topples over into her arms, just about to crush her.
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Bella manages to not get knocked over and she pushes back against Viridian. She gently puts his back against a tree.
"Well, hello there, Viridian. I am Bella."
She says, slightly blushing as she grips his rippling biceps.
"We're about to go on an important mission, I think. We need to get you feeling better."
She reaches for her canteen and holds it in front of the warrior.
"You need some fresh water. Here. Drink."
After Viridian guzzles down some water, she places the canteen back in her pack.
"There. Feeling better?"
She turns to the group.
"This sure is going to be a grand adventure we're going on. I'm quite anxious to know where we'll be going and why it seems to be so important."
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Kaya smiles big at the complement, ”Oh thanks! It’s a rare silk, it was a gift woven for me by…” she trails off as she notices the gritted teeth from the complementer, ”Which isn’t important now, I’m sure we are all looking forward to learning more about the mission and why so many of us are needed.”
She gives a disarming smile to her allies and takes out a notebook, prepared to jot down any details.
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Viridian accepts the water with a smile, unaccustomed to kindness of this sort.
”Thanks, yes. Like I said, I normally keep my drinking self and and working self separated. But a bit of warning makes it much easier to manage you know. I’ll be fine now. We can save the drinks until after we win this thing. “
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"Sorry we're late. Had to help my roommate out the door this morning." says Gwendolyn one of the junior librarians amid the many researchers and curators of the Society's vast arcane collection. A human in her twenties of mixed Mwangi descent, She only average height but seems taller because of her posture, narrow frame, and dark green tights.
"What's all the hubbub about?" she says looking arouind at the assemblage.
”The Decemvirate are truly grateful that so many of you have answered this summons to the Grand Lodge, for they, above all, know the trying lives that field agents endure. Indeed, you have only to look about this courtyard and gaze upon your colleagues to know they have come from all ends of Golarion to be among us. Look not grim, but rather determined, for this summons is not one brought by dire threat or terrible consequence. No! The Decemvirate has instead summoned you to taste the opportunity to enter the greatest contest of martial arts the world has ever known—the Ruby Phoenix Tournament!”
”The legacy of Tian Xia’s legendary mystic arcanist, the nearly immortal Grandmaster Hao Jin, the Ruby Phoenix Tournament is held only once every ten years. The Tournament is run by Sifu Xho Nuo, Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix and sole heir to Hao Jin’s secrets. The prize for victory: an artifact pulled from Hao Jin’s fabled collection of the greatest wonders Golarion has ever known.”
”Though Xho Nuo has made no formal announcement, we have learned the sifu has chosen to hold the qualifying round for this decade’s tournament here in Absalom. The Pathfinder Society has long sought to send one of its members to compete in this tournament. If our information is true, this means that for the first time, the Society has the opportunity to qualify a good number of its field agents. While the chance to glean an artifact from Hao Jin’s collection is enticing, that is hardly the entirety of our goal. However, I shall speak more on this subject at a later time.”
”At present, we have learned that Xho Nuo plans to host a covert meeting to address all would-be contestants. Don’t get too excited though; it’s supposedly being held at a decrepit tavern in the Docks called the Devil’s Dregs. Go there and see what details you can pick up about the competition and the other entrants, but watch your backs. There’s little law to protect you down on the wharves, and it’d take a riot to raise any attention. Oh, and I wouldn’t expect an appearance from Xho Nuo either, as his social status prevents him from contact with such filthy and common places. My guess is that he’ll send one of his agents to rile up as many lowlifes as possible to serve as fodder for the first round of the contest.”
”Lastly, though it’s likely Xho Nuo is aware of our interest in the competition, we need all our agents to maintain as much secrecy as possible. For all we know, he has deliberately chosen Absalom to bait our interests, so it’s imperative that he identify as few of our agents as possible. From here out, to keep our affiliations covert, we request all of you make arrangements for your stay outside the Grand Lodge. Try to pick a place that’s low key to avoid attention. Don’t worry about the cost though. The Decemvirate will pick up the tab. Good luck!”
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"Did anyone else just see a chubby, yellow caterpillar with human eyes tell us there was some sort of fighting competition, and that we should all go down to this seedy bar presumably because it thinks we would fit in... or was that just me? It's a bit insulting if even this fight club organizer is not attending in person." she turns to Torr. "I mean presumably it wasn't just talking to you, right? By the way, I'm Gwendolyn." She smiles and offers a hand for intorductions.
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Kaya finishes up her notes and snaps the journal closed, "Well, if my guess is correct they don't intend ALL of us to fight in the competition. I expect they have organized the groups so that one or two members are the martial experts and the rest of us just have to keep them alive until the final round or so. But... that's just my guess based on the fact we have at least two strapping martial experts here. One clearly the fighting study type and one of the drunken master type."
She pulls out a map and starts looking up the location of their first task, only pausing briefly to shake Gwendolyn's hand.
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Kaya finishes up her notes and snaps the journal closed, "Well, if my guess is correct they don't intend ALL of us to fight in the competition. I expect they have organized the groups so that one or two members are the martial experts and the rest of us just have to keep them alive until the final round or so. But... that's just my guess based on the fact we have at least two strapping martial experts here. One clearly the fighting study type and one of the drunken master type."
"Where?" says Gwen looking around until she notices Belladonna with her mithril chain armor and huge, spiked cudgel.
"So I guess that makes him the 'drunken master'?" she says glancing at Torr.
You all know where the Docks district is, south and a little bit east of the Grand Lodge here in the Foreign District. Moving south, you wander through the amply populated merchant district that has flourished around the Lodge on abundant Pathfinder coin. You pass through a few concentrated ethnic neighborhoods; a small Varisian population has at least temporarily taken over a small street separating what seems to be an Osiriani enclave from a Katapeshi community. Calls for Harrow readings mix with other street sounds in a multitude of languages, and the air fills with the varied aromas from around Golarion.
Entering the Coins district, the sounds of barkers only increases, as merchants and open markets abound. If it can be bought or sold anywhere on Golarion, it can probably be found here, and every merchant is doing all they can to make sure you know what they've got for sale. You press through, engaging or ignoring the merchants to your liking before you find yourself on the edge of the Docks District.
Dirty and unkempt, the Docks is where all that is sold in the Coins--or beyond--arrives. You know you'll never find the Devil's Dregs on any map; businesses in the Docks change names and hands frequently, most often simply to evade taxes, the law, or other unwanted scrutiny. Half the businesses registered here don't and never existed, and half the businesses that operate here operate unregistered anyway. But, where a map would fail, a whispered question is an easy solution. It takes little time at all to find someone willing to point the way, and soon you're heading to the literal docks, as you've been told the Devil's Dregs abuts the waterfront--in fact, it's a tavern that's been built out onto a pier over the bay.
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Kaya shrugs and points at Pau, "The two men I was talking about. Usually their egos are tied to their ability to hit things. Plus honestly, they aren't much good for anything else. As to the martial skills of us ladies, all I can say is that I didn't spend five years memorizing twelve different types of arcane magic to instead stab something with a sword."
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"Psst! Gwen! calls an out of breath young woman in a blue uniform with a brilliant mithril breastplate. "I need to ask you something important."
Annoyed, Gwen excuses herself, and walks over. When she gets to the girl her body language very firmly says "WHAT?"
"I need to know what you know about the Blakros family."
Gwen's eye roll can be felt through the cobblestones.
The girl looks over and smiles hopefully at the rest of the group.
A few minutes later, after passing on what information she has, Gwen returns to the party, and makes apologies for her roommate, who as she heads off shouts and energetically waves both her hands over her head at the monk.
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Kaya will grab her potion of remove blindness and stop by the quartermaster on the way out of the lodge to pick up an oil.
"Let's show them what we are made of, sugar and spice and martial prowess!"
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"Wait. You're 'Pau'? I remember you from that night the library storage annex sprung a leak. I mean Apollyanna has told me all about you, but I just thought you would be a lot older. I guess there's something to that 'Master of Flour' thing after all. Anyhow I know it has put my mind at ease to know you're with us."
In a quiet, rundown section of the Docks, the PCs spot a weathered wooden sign hanging above a wide alcove that reads "Devil’s Dregs." As promised, the tavern is built out over the bay on legs that jut high out of the water below. A pair of thick double doors within the alcove lead into the tavern.
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Viridian strides confidently along with the group, eager to find the Dregs.
”This place sounds perfect. So much better than crawling through dusty crypts or worse, sloshing through sewers. “
He pauses to listen to the conversation between the ladies but then goes back to musing
”Pau! Why are there not more missions involving pubs? When I become Venture Captain, I am definitely making pub missions half the time. Am I right? “
Despite its sizable taproom, the Devil’s Dregs seems filled to capacity. The smells of cheap ale, unwashed bodies, and thick pipe smoke mix in the crowded room, as tightly squeezed contestants push and shove their way about the tavern. Beneath the floor lies the silty, brackish water of Absalom’s wide bay. The dim light of the tavern’s few lanterns exposes few specifics about the patrons or the surroundings. Aside from the front doors from the shore, a set of double doors leads out of the tavern onto rickety piers in the center of both the east and west walls, and a number of windows look out over the harbor to the south.
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Gwendolyn hoots back.
The owl gives a final hoot, and flies off into the night.*
Gwen flexes the shoulder bird had been on a moment before, and says "I really wish she would learn to land on my stave. I mean it's got a perch right there on top. Jackets like this don't grow on trees."
As you press your way into the crowded tavern you notice many and varied characters in the jumble. Most of the crowd seem to be trying to go unnoticed or at least be un-notable, but a few stand out.
These human rogues carry too many short swords, also carry shortbows, and wear studded leather armor.
These human rogues are clearly Red Mantis Assassins, wielding short swords and who knows what else.
Armed with a variety of axes, these human fighters wear chainmail.
The katana and lamellar armor betray this samurai's origins in Tian Xia.
Armed with greatswords and clad in spiked armor, these can only be clerics of Gorum.
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The halfling keeps a discrete running tally of anything interesting she notices.
"Those human rogues seem to be carrying too many shortswords. Of course, what I know about how many shortswords one is supposed to carry is not exactly precise."
"Those two are obviously red mantis assassins and they don't seem to be hiding their allegiances, what with the red armor."
"And those are strong-looking thugs."
"Oooh, that is a Samurai from Tian Xia. Not a huge surprise there, honestly I'm surprised we don't see more from that area of the world."
"And the half-orcs are obviously clerics of Gorum."
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"Hold up, Pau."
Gwen slips to the marching.
"Walk in like you own the place."
Gwen waves and shouts to group of barbarians across the room with an air of friendly familiarity. "Hey guys! Fun party you got there! Where Snorri Ulrickson? Niiice axe! You've been working out."
Without warning, a flash of smoke flares up from the center of the tavern floor. As it clears, a towering, golden-skinned humanoid of hideous and terrifying countenance steps forth, ebon teeth gleaming fiendishly. Standing before the crowd, she greets them with a slow and gracious bow, yet her eyes never look away. The creature gestures to call the crowd’s attention, and one by one they fall silent.
"Good evening, and allow me to introduce myself. I am called Kiang Zhen. My sifu, Xho Nuo, the Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix, wishes for me to tell all of you that he is most pleased to see so many of you eager to attend the tournament. It is his desire that everyone please find a table and make yourselves comfortable at his expense."
The room becomes increasingly packed as contestants file in, and barely a minute later arriving contestants quickly fill all remaining tables leaving the tavern with standing room only – yet more and more continue to fill the place out – it is tightly packed and it is a struggle to both keep a hold of your own food and drink as well as dodging the spilled food and drink of others.
After a few moments, the creature clears her throat.
"Again, your attention please. I regret to inform all of you that Sifu Xho Nuo will not be present this evening, though he has appointed me to speak on his behalf."
"To speak with candor, there are many who wish the Sifu dead and wish to steal from him the ancient secrets he was appointed to guard. This comes as no surprise to the Emissary, for he has been charged with the protection of a great and terrible power. Even now, in this very room, some of these same individuals sit amongst us. To them I say, Sifu knows who you are and fears you not. He even entreats you to join the Ruby Phoenix Tournament, for he shall not compromise the primary intention of the contest – to find the world’s greatest martial artist. Rest assured, this tournament shall test the mettle of its contestants, regardless of their intentions. Competition shall be fierce and violent without regard for contestants' lives. That is your concern – not mine, not the Emissary’s. Those who fail might be lucky enough to walk away with their lives. For this reason, there are few places where our tournament is truly welcome. Thus, given the nature of the tournament and other circumstances, the Emissary has expressed to me the need to retain secrecy. However, I assure you he shall make an appearance before the end of the qualifying round."
"Lastly, I have noticed many of you have come as teams. This is good, for initially, you may need help from allies you trust." The beast pauses for a moment, letting her dark, pupil-less gaze hover upon the crowd. From her belt she unfastens a leather satchel and holds it aloft before the crowd. "I have here 100 rubies. On the morrow, fifty of these rubies will begin to glow, and those individuals or groups in possession of one such gem shall be contacted by one of our agents, who will give them the details of where the first event of the qualifier will take place." Then, with a wide and wild grin she says, "And so it begins!"
On her final words, she tosses the bag into the air, sending the rubies scattering everywhere. The next moment, she vanishes, leaving behind only a vaporous wisp.
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Kiang Zhen appears to be a kuwa oni--an evil spirit made manifest by occupying a human form.
As the rubies scatter, contestants leap from everywhere to grab them. Those few individuals lucky or quick enough to catch a gem before it gets lost in the sea of bodies filling the tavern are immediately assaulted by the nearest empty-handed opponent.
A pair of rubies bounce onto your table, threatening to continue into the crowd behind you!
Surprise Round (bold may make Reflex save)
Pau
Gwen
Kaya ()
Viridian ()
Hera (outside)
Bella
Viridian and Kaya are both exceedingly quick, taking advantage of opportunity looking them in the eye with a reddish glint to say I'm here, take me!
The crush of people increases as everyone starts darting and diving for rubies that clatter all across the floor, and in the crush, your good fortune hasn't gone unnoticed; the pair of Red Mantis Assassins you noted earlier appear between you and the door. "Hand them over and we won't send your souls to serve Achaekek for eternity." They clearly don't expect you to do so, as no hands are offered to collect the rubies.
Round 1 (bold may act)
Pau
Gwen
Kaya
Red Mantis assassins (dark red, bright red)
Viridian
Hera (outside)
Bella