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The elven priestess enters into the room. Her hair is red as fire and her eyes are green as the spring grass. She is dressed in robes which is black and yellow in the stylized fashion of a wasp. On one hip she carries an elven curved blade, the other a rolled up scorpion whip. Around her neck is the symbol of Calistria and on her shoulders a white cloak, a gift from a former paramour.
I am Atae of emissary from Kyonin and a devotee of the Savored Sting she says to the party.
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin hands you a letter, alongside four minor healing potions. "Thank you for taking this mission. Discretion is of the utmost importance."
I’ve assigned you a particularly important mission, but one that requires a level of subtlety. One of our own, Venture-Captain Varian Jeggare, has gone missing. We received a letter through hidden channels from his majordomo, Benedet, at Greensteeples Manor. Count Jeggare apparently departed in the middle of the night and according to Benedet, he missed his prearranged check-in and has been missing for longer than they consider normal for the venture-captain. I’m sending you to help them find out what has happened.
I don’t need to remind you that all Pathfinder activity in Cheliax is clandestine in nature, so you are to avoid any involvement with local authorities. You will be travelling with a trading caravan to the capital city, Egorian, and you’ve been provided writs to allow you to enter as mercenaries hired to work for the count. As long as you don’t make a scene like new recruits, you should make it to the Sorrowside district and Greensteeples Manor without trouble. Benedet is waiting for your arrival there.
Follow whatever clues you can. Find Varian or—gods forbid—his remains. As always, be careful, and remember— Cheliax is not safe for Pathfinders. Keep your guard up at all times.
—Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin
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A few hours earlier...
The tranquility of the warm spring day is shattered when a young half-elven woman in leather armor emerges from the woods surrounding Seeker's Plaza on the campus of the Pathfinder Society's Grand Lodge. She is loudly arguing with someone.
"Look, those statues in there are of pathfinders that have accomplished some sort of great deed and the empty plinths are there for anyone that does something great in the future. You don't qualify. Now stop sulking and get out here."
She turns and looks back along the path that leads towards the plaza. She stares into the woods for several minutes, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
"I'm waiting."
A piercing cry fills the air.
"Screech!"
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The young woman frowns.
"'Being an owl' does not count as a great deed." She lets out an exasperated sigh, "If you come out you can have the last of that Tien barbeque that you like."
She reaches into a belt pouch and pulls out a small piece of meat and waves it towards the woods.
"Come on, I know you want it." she says teasingly. "You're always thinking with your stomach."
"Screech!" Another cry fills the air.
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"Ha! I knew you would want this. Now go get it!" She turns and throws the meat high into the air.
Before the meat can hit the ground, a snowy owl bursts from the trees and snatches the treat mid-air. The bird lands and quickly swallows the meat whole.
The woman laughs at her friend as she unstraps a shortbow from her back and inspects it thoroughly before replacing it. She steps over to the owl and scratches his head. "I sure hope we get a mission soon, Silence. A good long one. We're still banned from the library after 'the incident.'" She makes quotation marks in the air with her fingers. "Maybe if we're gone for long enough that librarian will have forgotten about it and let us in to read some more chronicles. Come on. Let's go see if Venture-Captain Valsin has something for us to do."
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The young ranger sticks her tongue out at Atae. "I'll have you know I'm an excellent archer. I even shot an apple off of Knab's head and didn't hit him even a little bit."
She reaches over and snatches the letter out of the older woman's hand.
"Come here Silence, let's see what our mission is."
She holds the letter out for the owl to see and begins to read.
Silence turns his head upside down and peers intently at the letter, hooting softly.
Silence looks at Meadow and flaps his wings. "Screech"
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A golden and coppery-scaled dragon arrives with slightly out of breath. He walks with a bit of a hunch, but his eyes shine with powerful expectation. He wears a patchwork of leathers and carries a wooden shield. "My apologies for being late. Argoni only send me his request to join you last night. The flighty halfling has overcommitted himself it would seem. But the power of The Dragon is now with you. I am also called Rhaegal, defender of mighty Jadirahx!"
The kobold reads over the letter from Valsin. "Clandestine meetings? Oh, I see why Argoni had been chosen. He's a bit of a sneakthief at times. But Dragons can be clever too."
"Best of luck to you all." The Venture-Captain wonders if he chose the right agents. One elf argues with her screeching bird, another one seems to be a danger magnet, and the quiet halfling sent a roaring dragon in his steady. And where was the last one?
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In stark contrast to the graceful fields of black roses that sway in the breeze along the busy road hugging Lake Sorrow, the ornate black and red spires of the City of Thorns stand menacingly over the city walls from beyond the Sorrowgate. Hundreds of travelers, traders, and residents wait for their chance to bring their caravans into the city. With dozens of heavily armed soldiers clad in the black and red of Thrune livery inspecting every carriage and roughhousing those who dare to complain, the long wait to pass through Sorrowgate goes by with little incident as the crowds are cowed into acquiescence.
“Could be worse,” a merchant comments to his traveling companion in earshot of all those nearby. “The Southgate has Hellknights on patrol, and they won’t let anyone with gold or weapons through without making them pay a hefty tax. And the gate up by the Vice has been closed for months.” The guards review the merchant’s papers and allow the pair to pass into Sorrowside, with little hassle and few questions regarding their armaments and goods bound for the merchant quarter.
Through the open gates, the smaller structures of the Old City look worn and ancient compared to the more modern Thrune-era establishments which encroach on the district, including many with hints of foreign influence. More black-clad soldiers patrol the cobblestone streets, a harsh reminder of House Thrune’s dominance in every corner of the city.
Slowly the line moves up to allow another group of carts through the Sorrowgate, inching ever closer to the Old City beyond.
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Better to be late than.. dead? Yes that's about it. A Dwarven bodyguard arrives to join the trio to Cheliax "Sorry, I should have arrived early but my wagon was delayed, please don't ask."
Not one for his subtlety, clad head to toe in steel plating and shields embossed in symbols of Torag, the Creator. "I'm Kernal Klank, just a blacksmith here to secure some market share for myself." He gives a wink and a nod to the other three.
He turns to the merchant leading their caravan "You come through here often? You must be able to turn a good profit to risk all this harassment."
One of the dwarves smiles at Klank. "Oh yeah. Cindi's Smoke gets a steady stream of customers looking for the finest steel weapons and armor. I suspect Cindi gets a lot of customers because her apprentices are well trained." She chuckles. "Also she under reports her earnings and passes on the tax savin's to us."
"The Hellknights are a bit nicer to the people who arm them. But just a bit."
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A golden and coppery-scaled dragon arrives with slightly out of breath. He walks with a bit of a hunch, but his eyes shine with powerful expectation. He wears a patchwork of leathers and carries a wooden shield. "My apologies for being late. Argoni only send me his request to join you last night. The flighty halfling has overcommitted himself it would seem. But the power of The Dragon is now with you. I am also called Rhaegal, defender of mighty Jadirahx!"
The kobold reads over the letter from Valsin. "Clandestine meetings? Oh, I see why Argoni had been chosen. He's a bit of a sneakthief at times. But Dragons can be clever too."
Meadow's face lights up when the kobold enters. "Hey Silence, look who's here. It's our little dragon friend, Rhaegal. Rhaegal tell this crazy lady how good an archer I am." She points at Atae.
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Cindi's Smoke.. maybe I need a catchier name to bring in the customers.. "Anyone with a solid head under their helmet should know to treat their supplier well for the best deals."
Klank looks back and forth a few times between Meadow and her Owl friend "Name's Kernal, good to meet you and your bird friend. I thought owls only came out after dark?"
Meadow knows Egorian is one of the most powerful capital cities in the Inner Sea region and remains the seat of power for Cheliax’s House Thrune. Laws in the capital city are strict and heavily enforced and the Egorian City Guard’s power is bolstered by local Hellknight contingents. After the revolution in Kintargo, most routes into and out of the city are well-monitored and travel is regulated to avoid any kind of uprising against the imperial house. Pathfinders aren’t welcome in Egorian and they risk being imprisoned or worse, for charges up to and including insurrection, if they are discovered.
The guards at the gate glance at your paperwork and let you in without a second thought. The gate shuts behind you as you enter the city and the caravan stops in front of your sancuary.
Dwarfed by the ostentatious black and red buildings that surround it, Greensteeples stands out as a small, ivy-covered manor of an architectural style that seems to predate its neighbors and outclasses them in subtleties of classic design elements. By comparison, the larger structures surrounding the manor telegraph their designers’ need to display their loyalty to Cheliax’s ruling house. Nothing about the unassuming building speaks to its role as Cheliax’s only active Pathfinder Society lodge.
“Milo, get those horses fed. His Excellency won’t appreciate underfed mounts,” instructs a halfling in a crisp and clean uniform bearing the same heraldry that’s emblazoned over the entrance to Greensteeples. The servant they scolded pulls on the reins of a pair of horses that follow him into the nearby stables. A few other halflings approach the uniformed halfling, and they continue giving orders as another pair close the courtyard gates behind them. All of the servants look up warily from their duties at the arrival of newcomers.
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Klank looks back and forth a few times between Meadow and her Owl friend "Name's Kernal, good to meet you and your bird friend. I thought owls only came out after dark?"
"Silly dwarf. Snowy owls aren't nocturnal. Sure they have excellent nightvision but they mostly live in the far north where it can be daylight almost the entire day in the summertime so they pretty much have to hunt during daylight. Then they head south as the days grow short in the winter and pretty much continue to hunt during the day. Everyone knows that."
She pauses for a moment before realizing she forgot to introduce herself.
"Oh I'm Meadow and this is my best friend, Silence. It's nice to meet you Kernal."
She frowns as she turns to Atae but then she forces a smile. "It's even nice to meet you Atae."
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“Milo, get those horses fed. His Excellency won’t appreciate underfed mounts,” instructs a halfling in a crisp and clean uniform bearing the same heraldry that’s emblazoned over the entrance to Greensteeples. The servant they scolded pulls on the reins of a pair of horses that follow him into the nearby stables. A few other halflings approach the uniformed halfling, and they continue giving orders as another pair close the courtyard gates behind them. All of the servants look up warily from their duties at the arrival of newcomers.
Meadow approaches the uniformed halfling. "Um...We're here to see Benedet."
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Meadow's face lights up when the kobold enters. "Hey Silence, look who's here. It's our little dragon friend, Rhaegal. Rhaegal tell this crazy lady how good an archer I am." She points at Atae.
"Meadow! And hello, little Silence." The kobold pulls a small strip of dried meat from some pouch and tosses it up in the air to the owl. "Yes, Meadow is a great hunter! I mean, not as great a hunter as a dragon, but for a non-dragon, she is very good."
When they get to the manor, Rhaegal chimes in. "Yes, Benedet should be expecting us."
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"Surely I'm not the only one that doesn't know about snowy owls.. surely?" He looks between the others for some validation on that fact?
"Good to meet you all. Glad we've been able to escort these fine merchants here safely, and yes, speak with a Master Benedet?" Klank removes his helmet and stows it away in his pack before straightening up any fly away beard strands.
"Greetings, visitors. I am Benedet. What brings you to Greensteeples Manor?" The halfling looks up from their ledger, absentmindedly flipping a pen between their fingers. "Perhaps it is better we speak somewhere a bit more private?"
They direct you within an antechamber, where you see an Ustalavic wolfhound stand up and begin eyeing you. "Now now, Arnisant. Come here. Have a treat." The hound is almost as tall as Benedet, and takes the offered snack. Eventually he circles atop a large bed and flops down.
Benedet bids you to sit before a pair of halflings arrive to take your equipment. "Voren and Galen here will take your equipment to your room. Malla will be responsible for cooking food during your stay. Once you are ready, I suggest you do some research within the Archives."
Arnisant looks up for a moment before flopping back on the bed. Benedet puts their hands behind their back. "Now then, what questions can I answer?"
Silence flaps his wings. "Screech."
Arnisant is quite receptive to Rhaegal, sniffing him and demanding petting.
"His Excellency is secretive about his travels. It's safer for us if we know nothing when the inquisitors arrive." Benedet adjusts the pen in their hands. "Count Jeggare has dealt with many assassination attempts over the years. A few weeks ago he performed some research within the estate archives. Then, he left in the middle of the night. After one week, he usually sends some kind of message to explain his long trip, but I have not heard from him since. This is concerning." They pause to adjust their glasses and hide their concern.
"According to Procedure 423, if the Count has not checked in for at least a week, I am to request aid from the Society, and direct them to the archives to begin research."
"Dinner is a mix of pork and collard greens, with an almond honey glaze."
Benedet stifles a chuckle. “You do know you’re in Cheliax, correct? If we disregard any enemies he might have garnered as a venture-captain, His Excellency is still a high-ranking member of Chelaxian nobility."
"Assassination is much too common, here. It would be easier to list who wasn't trying to kill him. Lady Dubois, for example. She likes baking sweets. Turns out her assistant was trying to add poison to her cakes, she was innocent." Benedet looks fondly. "Those jawbreakers almost lived up to their word, eh, Aristant?" The wolfhound looks up from his pettings, ruffs indignantly and returns to rest.
"His research is quite varied. In between maintaining the manor grounds and dealing with overzealous investigators I haven't been able to keep up. My apologies."
"Are you ready? Very well, then." Benedet adjusts their glasses. "Follow me."
You follow a series of stairs, ramps and curtains until you enter the archives. Bookshelves burdened with knowledge crawl from the lower floor to the second floor's celing. Maybe the chandeliers are hiding books. One thing you don't see are windows; unfinished rock peeks out between the shelves.
"My assistants will bring food and water upon your request. Please ring the bell when needed. Your rooms are next to the library, and will be cleaned periodically."
Benedet removes their journal and writes some calculations. "Lord Varian Jeggare is a public figure. I estimate in about 2 more days the city guards will arrive to begin their... investigation." Benedet rolls their eyes before regaining their composure. "You will have to move on before then. Good luck."
The doors shut, giving you peace, quiet, and time. You already notice a pile of food and water on the central table. Arnisant is lounging underneath, his head lying on his paws.
Research Collection: Two floors high, this library contains bookshelves with stuffed and mounted creatures of all shapes and sizes and other treasures from Count Jeggare’s travels.
Map Room: Greensteeples’ map room is hidden behind a portrait in the library of a Chelaxian noblewoman, labeled Countess Pontia Jeggare, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the venture-captain. The room is filled with maps and scrolls of multiple scrolls, littered with secret codes known to Pathfinders.
Arnisant: The aging Ustalavic wolfhound is only too happy to escort the Pathfinders throughout the library. He follows Rhaegal around the most.
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Klank paces between the three rooms afforded the group, it quickly becomes obvious he's not a very well read individual. Most of his training is in the more 'active' pursuits, but he does have some skills with crafting.
"I think I'll be of most use here in the map room. Maybe I can figure out some of these codes.. they remind me a bit of metallurgy formulas. Something I do have experience with."
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Meadow looks longingly at the library and sighs. She turns to the owl. "We'll have to come back here later and take a long look at the library. That mean librarian won't let us in to the one at the Grand Lodge. You'd think he'd have forgotten about everything by now."
She brightens up as they pass through the hidden door into the map room.
"Wow! A secret door! Nice. Ooooh! Look at all the maps. Sooooo many interesting places. Isn't Golarion neat?"
"Screech." Silence flaps his wings.
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Meadow frowns at her friend. "Yeah, yeah. I know. I've heard this all before. The maps are wrong. Golarion is flat. Blah, blah blah. I think you're just upset that you can't read maps. Besides even if Golarion is flat that won't change the smaller scale maps enough to make a difference. You just stick to owling and I'll do the scouting, okay?"
Some time later as the owl has lost interest in research and retreated to a tall shelf to preen his feathers, Meadow reaches into a pouch and sneaks a piece of dried meat to Arnisant.
"Here you go old boy. Don't let Silence see you eat that. It's a piece of his favorite Tien barbeque."
Most of the party settles on the Map Room to begin their research. Kernel Klank finds a manual about shield repair that uses technically correct terms but it's phrased oddly, and he suspects the manual hides a cipher. Rhaegal notices a map of a forest in Galt with highlighted locations of interest. He realizes he can use the names, combined with the cipher, to make several sentences.
Meadow is busy arguing with Screech when she has a critical discovery: If you lay the maps flat and connect them, they form the shape of a compass, pointing south.
Outside, Rhaegal and Meadow entertain Arnisant with food and pettings. He endures both treatments, but takes a critical eye to Rhaegal. Eventually he starts pawing away at a book on one of the lower shelves. It's a cookbook containing recipes for Arnisant's favorite meals. But more importantly, there is a bookmark for Southward Meals. A page is cleverly tucked in, recalling some events.
A rebellion sprouted in Kintargo thanks to a group called the Silver Ravens, inspiring other freedom fighters in Chileax to rise. One group called the Glorious Reclamation, were defeated and captured by the Chileax army. The leaders were executed publicly, but the Count believes there are survivors.
Count Jeggare’s has a lot of gardening notes. He's a fan of roses, and they have bloomed all over Cheliax. He has been unable to plant roses since the attempts to reopen Delvehaven in Westcrown, but there may be a hidden library hidden within Delvehaven's chambers.
Arnisant is a good boy, and demands more pettings.
Greensteeples Archives Research
Atae 0/2 checks
Klank 2/2 checks, 1 Map
Meadow 2/2 checks, 2 Map, 1 Arnisant
Rhaegal 2/2 checks, 1 Map, 2 Arnisant
Greensteeples Archives Progress
Research Collection 0/?
Map Room 4/4
Arnisant 3/4