A member of the Apsis Consortium is tasked with inspecting all incoming shipments to the port of Bloodcove. The job is too much for one person, and she calls in skilled adventurers to assist with the inspections. Of course, not all is as it seems, and the Consortium’s many enemies have snuck dangers into several of the incoming shipments. It’s up to the hired help to figure out what’s good for transport and what needs a more ‘thorough’ inspection.
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As both Pathfinder Society agents as well as free agents in your downtime you often find yourselves in a wide variety of locations around the Inner Sea, usually dictated by the whims of your employer (or Venture Captain). This day is no different as each of you rise in the predawn hour in the city of Bloodcove, an infamous pirate haven in the Mwangi Expanse that is most famous for its blood red waters. The day promises to be a lucrative one - your reputations seem to have preceded you and have netted an invitation to meet with one Aayah Stronch from the Aspis Consortium regarding a potential job. While the invitation included few details, it does not arouse suspicions, simply instructing you to meet her at sunrise in a tavern called The Pelican’s Kiss.
Upon arrival at The Pelican’s Kiss you find it largely empty save for a handful of early-risers in for a morning meal. At a table near the back sits a dark-skinned human woman sporting an elaborately braided updo and a pressed scarlet uniform. She meets your questioning gaze with a polite nod and beckons you to join her at the table before glancing over at the tavern keeper, who approaches with a plate of coffee and biscuits.
"Please, take a moment to eat and familiarize yourselves with each other before we begin," the woman says.
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A small ysoki (ratfolk to larger folks) cheerfully joins the human at her table. She inhales deeply, enjoying the rich scent of the coffee. Smoothing down her short brown fur, she stuffs a biscuit into her mouth, licks her fingers, before smiling up at the taller woman.
"I'm Zekki, investigator extraordinaire. Pleased to meet ya! But I'm not sure I like the idea of a pelican's kiss. Pelicans are so messy and stinky and their cheek pouches are even bigger than mine!"
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A tall muscled man joins the group. He's dressed in steel with numerous weapons on his belt. He sits at the table looking like he owns the place and rudely calls over the server for some ale.
"ALE! he bawls, unconcerned at the disapproving looks. Finally seeing his compatriots, he introduces himself, "Clarence"
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"Yeah, how does a pelican kiss, anyway?"
The goblin in heavy armor nods vigorously at the ysoki. He carries traditional goblin weapons, but his shield is noticeably painted (and well) with the symbol of Sarenrae. He's also accompanied by a halfling dressed in simpler clothing .
"Rickle of Sawenrae," he says through an entire biscuit.
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"Iskra ir'Decythwen of Taldor" says a young woman pulling up another chair. She is a young and confident in a finely tailored but older dress and an imperious look in her eyes as she looks over those in the tavern and the table.
"I am a duelist these days and like you answer requests from the notice boards.
She crosses her legs and the shortsword and main-gauche at her side shift noticeably. With a tilt of the head she gives a small smile.
The pleasure is yours.
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A tall and very thin creature sways through the doorway, bowing slightly to pass through. She has colourful skin and a bright spray of what look like petals surrounding her head like a rainbow crown. After a brief scan of the room, she joins the other apparent adventurers at the table, declining the offer of biscuits and coffee with a raised hand and a polite smile. "Just water, please. In a bowl?"
"I am sorry for my tardiness. I was enjoying the sunshine on my walk and became distracted by a lovely vine-covered wall not far from here. I am Wysteria, called by some the Reaper of Flowers. May I join you?"
She removes a wicked-looking scythe slung across her back and leans it against a nearby wall, gently descending into the unoccupied chair.
"Ah, and this is Rivulet. He is currently frozen," she says as she places a fist-sized lump of bluish crystal on the table.
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"Pleased to meet you all. What is Rivulet, Wysteria? Since you say he's frozen, maybe some sort of water elemental?" Turning towards Rickle, she continues, "I don't know how a pelican would kiss. Maybe it's more like a tiger, but they're tongues aren't very long and the teeth and bill might get in the way. I really haven't ever thought about it before. Maybe..." Zekki continues muttering to herself, pushing the cups and trays out of the way and pulling out a charcoal stick to start drawing on the table.
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With a haughty laugh, brief but still out of place, " Surely the answer to this silly question is as simple as a bird pressing its closed beak onto another in an resemblance of a kiss.
She clearly finds conversing about absurdity to be some new kind of game for herself.
Her eyes then wander over and past the scythe before resting on Wysteria, " How very theatric, Miss Reaper, I can respect that, but I hope you know how to use that blade on more than just daffodils, and dandelions."
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Wysteria returns a thin smile. "No need to worry yourself. I am... adept. And I find a little magical enhancement goes a long way."
She nods at the Ysoki. "He is, but for some reason he prefers this form for the moment. I suppose I am lucky he does not turn to steam and waft away."
Wysteria smile and nods her thanks to the tavern keeper, who has returned with a bowl of water. She gently places Rivulet in the bowl and dangles a few fingers in the liquid herself, sighing in comfort as her fingertips grow a myriad of tiny light-green tendrils.
"I'm Zekki, investigator extraordinaire. Pleased to meet ya! But I'm not sure I like the idea of a pelican's kiss. Pelicans are so messy and stinky and their cheek pouches are even bigger than mine!"
"I think it must be an inside joke-" the woman begins...
"Yeah, how does a pelican kiss, anyway?"
...only to be interrupted by Rickle's follow-up query. She considers it for a moment and answers, "That's a question for aged sages, I believe." Her expression is very solemn so you can't quite tell if she's taking Rickle seriously or just having a bit of fun in her own right.
The pleasure is yours.
The woman raises an amused eyebrow at this but doesn't seem displeased by Iskra's direct manner. After a few minutes of idle conversation about bird kisses and Rivulet, once everyone has had a chance to have a bite to eat or something to drink, she clears her throat to get everyone's attention.
"Thank you for answering my summons. My name is Aayah Stronch, and I represent the Aspis Consortium, which as you no doubt are aware oversees several trade operations throughout the Mwangi Expanse. This morning, the Consortium is scheduled to receive several shipments. We routinely hire adventurers such as yourselves to inspect incoming cargo for traps and potential hazards before they are sent to the warehouses, which is why I’ve summoned you here. You will, of course, be compensated for your work. Any questions?"
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"I am surprised Aspis doesn't use its own agents for this, but if you want to outsource I am not going to object extra coin."
She turns herself completely towards Aayah like a seasoned negotiator.
"What hazards and traps have the Consortium seen in the past, and what are you paying us so you don't have to do this yourself?"
Her stare is intense.
"Do we get unlimited ale if we complete the tasks?"
Aayah stares silently at Clarence for a moment and then sighs quietly before turning her attention to Rickle and Iskra.
"Do you... get a lot of traps and hazards in your shipments?"
"What hazards and traps have the Consortium seen in the past, and what are you paying us so you don't have to do this yourself?"
"Like any notable organization, there are those who seek to undermine or harm the Aspis Consortium," Aayah answers, meeting Iskra's gaze without flinching. "The traps they set are often designed to activate in our warehouses and target our inventory - sometimes mechanical in nature, other times incendiary or chemical. You'll receive 10 gold pieces each for inspecting and nullifying threats on all five shipments. You can expect there to be five containers."
Here, she leans forward slightly across the table, hands folded together. "Now keep in mind, I said gold pieces and not silver pieces. We could hire any dockworker to perform this inspection, but we are paying more for skilled hands because the last thing we want is to see anyone harmed. You have skills, and we respect that, but we have considered the market rates, and our offer is fair."
You recall that all kinds of cargo move through Bloodcove - not just standard trade goods but rarer things like arcane reagents and live creatures. Therefore, you expect that inspecting the containers will require expertise in various skills.
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Wysteria leans back, removing her hand from the water bowl and allowing the remnants of the liquid to absorb into her cuticle. "Considering the... eclectic nature of the trade that passes through this port, may we view the manifests for these shipments prior to our examination? It may help us detect any unexpected contents, I think."
"And Clarence, you may have my ale, should we be offered any. Enjoy," she says as she gently inclines her head towards the warrior.
"Certainly," Aayah agrees. "I can arrange for a copy of the manifest for you once we reach the docks." She also considers something and turns her gaze to Clarence. "While not unlimited, I suppose 10 gold could certainly buy a lot of ale. Plenty to tide you over until your next job...I hope?"
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She looks side long, appraisingly, but with a contented expression towards this "Investigator" "You seem well qualified for the task. I will defer to your expertise then, to take the lead."
With an open hand upon the chest and a superior turn on the chin with accompanying smile she adds, "I too know my way around a trap, hazard, and concealed foe, but I class myself as a first rate duelist and a trap foe second. Perhaps I could learn an thing or two if your as skilled as you are confident."
"Then it's settled," Aayah remarks with a satisfied nod. "Very good." She rises from her seat, flips a gold piece to the tavern keeper and heads outside, clearly expecting the rest of you to follow - biscuits or no biscuits.
Aayah leads the way through the winding streets of Bloodcove, which bend and twist around the sprawling roots of the looming mangrove trees. The sun, which bloomed over the horizon just minutes ago like an orange-red flower, rises in the morning sky. As she makes her way to the docks, long shadows stretch lazily beneath the orange rays and then recede as the sky awakens into a vibrant, sapphire blue. Laborers and mariners unload crates and barrels onto the water-worn docks, unaffected by the crimson waters that gently lap against the timbers.
Realizing that this is the first time that some of you have seen Bloodcove's docks, she gestures to the blood red waters that give the city its name. "The water here flows from the Vanji River, made red from the iron-rich clay along its banks. Newcomers find it unsettling, but it’s the one thing that never fails to make me feel at home," she explains with a slight smile. "Now, about that manifest..."
After flagging down one of the dock workers it doesn't take long for them to return with the requested piece of paper that reads as follows:
Fruits & vegetables, misc.
Lizards x2
Xa Hoi herbs
Incense
Ale, 1 barrel
Aayah frowns slightly after reading the manifest and passing it along to Wysteria. "Not especially descriptive but hopefully enough for you to work with. Proceed at your discretion. I must address other matters, but I will return to receive your verbal report." As she departs, passersby part and nod to her deferentially. A small crowd begins to gather and observe the inspection from nearby streets. Right now it looks like four of five of the expected cargo items have been unloaded; the dock workers appear to be working on getting the last one taken care of but it looks like it's going to take a bit. Might as well get started on the others in the meantime!
Warehouse Row
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Iskra is peering over someone's shoulder to see.
"Two X lizards, they cannot be serious! That could man thousands of different things! I get what she said about hiring professions to to risky work, but there has got to be a limit!"
She is pouting.
"What are we going to do if the shipment is rigged to break open and let them out! Its what I would do if I was a thrice damned saboteur!"
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Zekki stuffs two more biscuits into her cheeks as she rises to follow Aayah.
At the docks, she peruses the seriously lacking manifest. "Lizards? Live lizards or dead ones? Or were they alive to start? Fruits & veggies? The misc is more suspicious than anything on the list." The ysoki shrugs, sniffing reflexively. "Might as well do closest to farthest. No point in waiting." She strides forthrightly up to the box labeled lizards and checks it out.
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Wysteria moves towards the huge crate as well, staying a few feet away in case it were to spring open. Keeping one eye on the closure mechanism, she step nearer and gently places one hand on the crate, listening carefully for sounds or vibrations from within.
"Only two in a case this size? These are not house lizards, I think..."
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Putting an arm restainingly on Rickle's shoulder, "Slow down there, lil killer. I respect your instincts, but if the Consortium wanted dead lizards they wouldn't have ordered lives ones..." She stops to think for a moment,
"I guess we don't know for sure they are alive, but if they are we should assume they wanted them that way."
With she slowly looks over the crates for damage, tampering, or if they might have been switched with dummy crates during delivery.
Opting to tackle the box that apparently is supposed to have live creatures in it, everyone begins making their way over towards the orange box. It's a gargantuan crate and a cursory inspection reveals it to be sealed tightly. Wysteria's keen ears can detect the subtle sound of movement from within and Zekki's heightened sense of smell detects a faint odor of rotting meat. Something is *definitely* in the crates, that much is clear.
It looks like the crate can be forced open through sheer strength but it might be a little easier to manage if someone has a crowbar...
You do notice a crowbar lying nearby among some of the tools that the dockworkers use. They'd likely let the group borrow it if asked.
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Iskra spots a crowbar just over on the side of an area some dockworkers are busy. She is more interested in looking for traps. Maybe Clarence would grab it for her.
With a soft tone to Clarence, "Oh Clarence, there is a crowbar over there..."
Points
"...that looks likes just what we'll need don't you?"
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Wysteria takes a step backwards in preparation for a possible lizard explosion from the huge crate. "Careful, I did hear something moving inside. I think they are waiting for us."
"Antarita!" she mutters, narrowing her eyes as a glowing shield of force glimmers into existence between Clarence and whatever might come out of the crate...
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Iskra casually points out a nearby crowbar while studying the sealed crate with an intensity that's both amazing and perhaps even a bit intimidating to watch. She comes to the same conclusion that Wysteria did - there's definitely something moving in there. There's also no signs of the crate having been tampered with in any way.
Clarence ambles over and grabs the crowbar; one of the nearby dockworkers begins to object with a, "Hey! You can't just-" but is quickly silenced by one of his fellow workers. "Are you kidding?? Just look at that guy! Let him have it if he wants it!" the second worker hisses.
While Clarence readies himself to force the crate open Wysteria grants him a protective shield of magic while Rickle and Zekki hang back a bit, ready for anything. Yet when Clarence tries to apply pressure he finds that the crate is sturdier than it looks!
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Clarence-Bot will not be defeated by a mere crate! He gets ready with the crowbar and tries again...
...and this time, it works! The lid of the crate pops loose and it's no problem to pull it aside.
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The inside of the crate is reinforced with bars. At first, there appears to be nothing inside except ficus trees and wood substrate. Yet you know there's something here. Zekki suddenly realizes that there are two large, horse-sized lizards within the crate that seem to have camouflaged themselves almost perfectly against their surroundings! Everyone else can tell that there's something here but it's hard to pinpoint where exactly.
You now know that what you must be dealing with giant chameleons, legendary for their ability to change their skin color in response to their surroundings. Their eyes are capable of peering in different directions independently, making them almost as difficult to sneak up on as they are to notice in the first place. They use their tongues to strike out at prey, grabbing hold on a successful hit.
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Zekki
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Giant Lizard Red
Giant Lizard Blue
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Rickle
Clarence
Iskra
Wysteria
Active Conditions:
Environmental Conditions: None
Zekki may act!
Zekki is quick to back off and draw her crossbow once she spots what's lurking inside. The bars of the cage do indeed seem sturdy and not likely to buckle or break without significant force...but you discover that that doesn't mean you're safe. Large tongues suddenly whip out from between the bars, striking both Iskra and Rickle and grabbing hold! Red then attempts twice to bite Iskra but she has no problem twisting away from the sharp teeth. Rickle isn't as lucky; Blue sinks sharp teeth into his arm but the wily goblin is able to avoid suffering a second bite by ducking under the lizard's jaws.
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Zekki
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Giant Lizard Red
Giant Lizard Blue
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Rickle
Clarence
Iskra
Wysteria
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Rickle, Clarence, Iskra, Wysteria may act!
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Taken aback by the speed of the lizards' attacks, Wysteria concentrates for a moment to maintain the shield on Clarence before taking a few steps back and hurling her scythe at the lizard's tongue wrapped around Rickle, hoping that he'd be able to defend himself better without being encased in sticky muscle...
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Taken aback by the vulgarity of the moment "What in the nine hells!" as she is twisting away from the gapping mouth.
She draws her short sword and parrying dagger with a flourish
"Try to keep these disgusting things alive for Aspis!". She had doubts if any of them are even listening or care to save their payday, but she has witnesses that she tried.
Despite the awkward circumstances she sets her posture as a proud duelist and opens with a signature Feint!
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"Close it up! Close it up!" Rickle tries to twist the tongue to make it release him, "Giant chameleons--if they get out they might hide!"
Succeeding only in getting more tangled, Rickle forces his shield in front of him and slips his weapon from his belt. If this is the actual cargo then this is... not ideal.
* The ally is unharmed by the triggering damage.
* The ally gains resistance 5 to all damage against the triggering damage. After the damaging effect is applied, the enemy becomes enfeebled 2 until the end of its next turn.
Though startled by the speed of the lizards, Wysteria is plenty speedy herself. She uses a bit of her power to maintain her defense shield around Clarence before falling back and magically flinging her scythe at the tongue holding Rickle. The sharp blade whips through the air and slices cleanly though the tongue, severing it and freeing the goblin!
Iskra is similarly startled but quickly regains her composure as she manages to draw out her weapons in spite of the giant tongue wrapped around her waist. She attempts a feint to fake out Red...and it seems to work! Iskra is also quick to remind the group that the Aspis probably want the lizards to remain alive, if at all possible.
Rickle, in a bit of a panic, hollers for someone to close the crate up again. He's ready to try and twist free of the grasping tongue, only to have Wysteria cut him loose with some quick thinking. Now free, he...
Meanwhile, Clarence draws his own weapons and hurls one of them, a hammer, at Blue! Unfortunately, the weapon sails too low and clatters against the bars of the cage.
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Zekki
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Giant Lizard Red
Giant Lizard Blue
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Rickle
Clarence
Iskra
Wysteria
Active Conditions:
Environmental Conditions: None
Rickle may act!
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"Close it up! Close it up!" Rickle says, "Giant chameleons--if they get out they might hide!"
Succeeding only in getting more tangled, Rickle holds his shield in front of him and slips his weapon from his belt. If this is the actual cargo then this is... not ideal.
He tries to bash the nearest chameleon with the hilt of his weapon. "Bad lizard! Go back to sleep!"
* The ally is unharmed by the triggering damage.
* The ally gains resistance 5 to all damage against the triggering damage. After the damaging effect is applied, the enemy becomes enfeebled 2 until the end of its next turn.
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Reaction: Clarence is damaged by a critical hit:
Reaction: Clarence is damaged by a non-critical hit doing at least five points: