Another day aboard the Sixwing Dixie brings more singing from the crew. You'd love to celebrate the trip, but the bottomless bag and the missive from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin remind you of your quest.
"We'll be in Hinji by the morrow." The dwarven captain speaks. "Chileax is nice this time of year. Not too hot, if you catch my drift." She grins.
Experienced Pathfinders,
We recently made inroads with Lady Victiria of House Junianis, a noble family in Cheliax based in the city of Hinji. She gave us the opportunity to catalogue a series of their ancestral heirlooms that survived the Chelaxian Civil War. We sent a team of novice Pathfinders to perform the assessment, as it seemed a simple enough assignment for fresh agents.
Unfortunately, the assignment wasn’t as simple as it seemed. After the novices’ first day of examination, they did not return to the Junianis manor. Lady Victiria attempted to contact them using the resources at her disposal, and then reported to the Grand Lodge that our agents were missing.
Your task is to find our four missing Pathfinders and, if someone was responsible for their disappearances, make sure they are no longer a danger to the Society. If you find any of our agents, bring them to the Junianis manor. Lady Victiria has agreed to harbor any Pathfinders you find until your investigation is complete. Although the Junianis family has many connections in Hinji, it is important that you do not visit the Junianis manor except to drop off the missing agents for protection. You can go to Lady Junianis for additional information as a last resort, but relying on her for help might jeopardize our future relations. If the worst has happened and you find that the agents have died in the field, be sure to respectfully retrieve their remains and belongings.
After you bring the missing agents to the manor, complete the cataloguing of the heirlooms and report back to Absalom with the agents or their remains. Included with this letter are basic dossiers on each of the agents sent to Hinji, as well as a bag of holding and scrolls of gentle repose that are only to be used for the missing Pathfinders should they prove necessary. It is important that you use discretion—they were likely targeted for being members of the Society, so don’t go about flashing wayfinders and demanding answers.
Begin your search at the Waypoint Inn, where the agents were staying. The innkeeper is expecting you.
Explore, Report, Cooperate.
Amburs Valsin
Feel free to introduce your characters here.
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A stout dwarf with a mug and holding a shield that looks like the top of the barrel enters.
"Greetings. I'm Kargoth. Dwarf who's a protector of the brew! I'm not much good except for getting your spirits up and healing some wounds. I wonder what kind of alcohol they have here..." the dwarf says, sipping from his mug.
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Another dwarf shuffles in, accompanied by an earthly looking fellow. The former, made even shorter that most dwarves by a constant slouch, mutters something indecipherable in response and scowls at Kargoth.
Across his back is a large instrument of pounding; across his front is a large hunk of flattened metal; at his side is a quiver of javelins; and at his feet, a backpack.
The earthy looking fellow at his side, stands in stark contrast to the dwarf. Though not tall for a human, he does 'dwarf' the dwarf; furthermore, he sports a smile broad enough to make up for the both of them.
"Don't mind Hancock. He'll get over it soon enough. He just does not like cataloging. Though that part about rescuing folks in danger should appeal to him. My name's Bruce, by the way, and I work for the grump."
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Martin steps forward with an air of calm, his presence quietly commanding. His dark green coat, adorned with primal symbols, marks him as a spellcaster connected to the natural world rather than the arcane. His eyes are sharp and perceptive, like a predator in its element, constantly scanning his surroundings with intense curiosity. At his side is Mavenee, his beast eidolon, a powerful creature that embodies the wild forces Martin draws upon. Together, they move in sync, as though their bond runs deeper than mere summoning. Martin's words are few but purposeful, and when he speaks, there’s a weight to his voice, like ancient wisdom drawn from the earth itself.
"A pleasant day to all of you. I am Martin and this is my companion, Mavenee. We look forward to working with you."
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What can only be described as an upright bird steps onto the deck. He bows extravagantly to the assembled Pathfinders as he introduces himself.
"SQUAWK! Nice ta meetcha'll! Roark! Roark Thunderbird!" He looks over the assembled Pathfinders. His eyes seems to light up as he sees Hancock and Kargoth. "Ah! Dwarves! A good friend of mine's a dwarf. Perhaps you've heard of him? Stitch is his name; from clan Steeltoe! Rides an abominable contraption he calls Meat Wagon! Crotchety old dwarf... his ride's smoky, smelly and loud. Greasy as all heck! Grease gets all over my feathers! Good in a fight though..."
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A red headed dwarf with somewhat unkempt hair but a beard that is usually carefully tended gives a single wave and a nod from the railing. He has spent much of the ocean-going journey there, "chumming the waters." His face seems set in a perpetual scowl that makes his already small eyes almost completely disappear. Yet, somehow, it becomes even more intense as he turns it on anyone who starts singing within his earshot.
Despite his apparent incapacitation on the ship, the well-worn dwarven waraxe strapped to his back and equally used clan dagger at his waist suggest that he will be useful if trouble comes when they're on dry ground.
"Perhaps you, me, and Hancock here could join you and Stitch for a drink after the mission. Should be a lot of fun!"
Hancock is aghast at this and motions, not to subtly, that h is NOT agreeing to this. Of course Bruce ignores him. He considers it part of his job to 'socialize' Hancock. Besides, he can usually wheedle a free drink out of these sorts of arrangements. As in blackmail.
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As a tiny fairy, Shimmer has had an easy time keeping herself out of the way on the ship. Observing. And napping.
Seeing the other Pathfinders gathering, she hurries over.
"Hello, I'm Shimmer. I've never been to Cheliax, and I can't say I'm looking forward to it. Um, if you've all encountered fey before I should reassure you that I'm Wingless. We're called the Wingless because we're born without physical wings, though most of us learn to do something like this."
Green light shines from her back, taking the form of dragonfly-like wings. She flies far enough to alight on the railing before the wings break apart into bits of light again. "We're sprites born here in the mortal universe, and I'm mortal like you--please don't test that theory. The important bit is that we're less... like that. More down-to-earth than our ancestors.
"I know exactly why they picked me for this mission. I know all about detecting. I used to follow a detective around, you know."
Also included inside the bag was a description of several Pathfinders.
Tanno Kembers
- Tanno Kembers is a human man who made a living as a self-taught tomb robber.
- He first came into contact with the Pathfinder Society at a dig site in Nex, which he reached before the Society did.
- After assessing his skills and artifact collection and determining his willingness to work toward more noble ends, the Society gave him a field commission.
- Tanno is skilled at disarming traps, and is wary of potential foes at all times.
Selia Torossel
- Selia is an elf historian who specializes in the Chelaxian Civil War. She is perhaps slightly overzealous in her desire to uncover the truth of what brought Thrune to power, a dangerous topic of study.
- She is strongly affiliated with the Grand Archive faction.
- She is a novice practitioner of divination.
Jespya
- Jespya is a halfling martial artist, a skilled unarmed combatant with a reputation for bravery.
- They joined the Pathfinder Society after their partner died in the field.
- They are one of Marcus Farabellus’s favored pupils for their efficient yet overwhelming combat tactics.
- They were assigned to this mission as protection for the other, less combat-capable agents.
- They requested not to be resurrected in the event of their death.
Kiiruba
- Kiiruba appears to be a human woman, but she is actually a kitsune who favors her tailless human form.
- She is proficient in diplomacy and emissary’s duties and dreams of seeing the world.
- She was recruited to the Society through the Lantern Lodge. This is her first mission after completing her Confirmation in Absalom to become a full agent.
Shimmer finds many people confuse her for an imp and are willing to talk to her about the state of Hinji, often asking if she can offer a favor of good luck. They'll pay her back "later", whatever that means.
The criminal underworld of Hinji almost entirely revolves around the production and illicit trade of a singular narcotic: ice tears. This ingested drug bestows visions of the past and “possible futures” to those under its effects, and its trade is largely controlled by criminal gangs that abuse those who become addicted.
The Sixwing Drake reaches the docks just after runrise. A pleasantly quiet trip is now filled with the hustle and bustle of crew and dockworkers loading supplies, taking inventory, and getting you out of the way. The Wayport Inn isn't too far off.
"Greetings and Salutations!" A gnome greets you as you enter. "My name is Sellinore, and as long as you can pay the bill and you don't bring trouble, we'll get along just fine!" They hop off the stool and clap towards one of the workers, who shoots awake and scrambles to get your stuff. "Ah, help these days..." Sellinore shrugs.
"Wait a moment, are you... Pathfinders, by any chance? You match a description... Ah yes! My good friend Lady Junianis said you would come here to look for the other agents." They climb back up the stool and pick 4 keys off the wall. "The Society paid up until next week, so I've left their rooms alone, and opened up some rooms for yourselves." They hand you the keys. "Now the sooner you finish this the sooner I can open more rooms. Best of luck, now!" They sit back down on the stool.
Your rooms are rather plain, but it is a comfy enough place to sleep.
Bruce will try to get Hancock to fork over some cash for a visit to the bar, but gets a scowl in return. So, instead he works the crowd, chatting them up and seeing if any of them might be convinced.
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"Why do you want to open up rooms if they're currently occupied and paid for?"
Shimmer is a little startled at the implication that she's been issued an entire room sized for a human or dwarf.
But that's not the room she wants to investigate anyway.
She'll also see what she can hear by leading some conversations with a few well-placed words. That is her specialty, after all.
Ulfgar decides to head to Junianis Manor directly. When you ask if he's going to introduce himself, he nods, but he's still feeling seasick. Maybe he caught something nasty.
"If you all decide to leave early, I keep the money and reopen the room." Sellinore leans back in their chair... stool? How are they leaning back so far? "That's just good business!"
Shimmer begins her investigation and... wow this room is much too big for someone of her stature. She decides speaking to the patrons is a much better plan. One man gets her attention. He reeks of booze, but he's one of the few who thinks she's a sprite. "Yeah? Huh. There was a lady elf and a male human who came here a few days ago." He takes another swig. "They wanted to know about Snake Tails, a gambling den."
Kargoth hands him a lighter ale, and he gives a thumbs up before going bottoms up. "Later that day there was another human and a halfling. They ALSO asked about the elf and the human."
Martin and Roark search the rooms but find nothing out of the ordinary.
What was Hancock and Bruce doing in the meantime?
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What was Hancock and Bruce doing in the meantime?
Bruce was trying to gather information and get a free drink.
Hancock was just getting a drink.
Note: Since Bruce is a hireling I cannot have Bruce take an action AND Hancock take separate actions. So Hancock's 'action' is just to visit the bar while Bruce did the action 'Diplomacy to Gather Information from the inn goers and people who live nearby'. I put the roll in a spoiler since you said 'These are secret rolls so you can tell me your bonus or roll them in a spoiler'.
Bruce talks too much and gets too pushy. The woman he talks to is interested in selling her services to him and just got here an hour prior.
Roark, meanwhile gets a frosty reception from the patrons. His stigma as a tengu seems to carry here.
Hancock figures the ale is alright. Could be better. But they never listen to his advice...
Looks like you got all of the advice you could from the patrons. You may have enough information to get going. Or maybe the rooms have something Glimmer and Martin missed?
Outside of Snake Tails you breathe some fresh air. Much less smelly than whatever was going on in that tavern.
The second thing you notice are three women wearing studded leather armor and packing clubs and gauntlets. "This is them. Asking too many questions, getting too nosy. Let's show 'em what happens!" Her teammates grin as they approach.
The patrons inside Snake Tails seem uninterested. Just another day, another turf war.
While they were waiting in ambush, Martin, Kargoth and Roark are quick on the draw.
Martin
Roark
Kargoth
Purple
White
Hancock
Glimmer
Gray
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Martin realizes these gangsters aren't in the mood to talk. Neither is Mavenee, who catches the woman off guard and critically impales her.
Roark quickly dances past the woman, gets her attention, and then pecks her with a bit of grace. She even catches his attention with his scarf, filling him with more Panache.
"Sonova-" the woman in Pink puts up her gauntlets and starts swinging. "Help me with this chicken."
"Sorry mister, I don't like roughing up a pretty face." The thug in White whistles as Roark starts dancing. "But business is business." She surrounds Roark before flanking him and punching him twice now that he's off guard. She's quite good at seeking his weakpoints.
Both Pink and White seem much more aware of their surroundings.
But Hancock and Glimmer are ready to act!
Martin (Guidance)
Roark (24 damage, Panache)
Kargoth
Pink (36 damage)
White
Hancock (Guidance)
Glimmer
Gray
Hancock grins, the time for talk is finally over. Bruce continues to finish off a few more drinks and get friendly with the patrons.
Hancock lands a glancing blow on the woman in Pink, and she's still standing.
Glimmer flies out and unloads on the first target she can. Her aim is good and she adds a bit of red blood on the woman's White sash.
Around the corner, Glimmer sees a woman in Gray robes curse as she lowers her sling. She's much too slow for the ambush. She Strides into position and gangs up against Roark. While she isn't flanking him directly, her two allies keep Roark distracted enough to land a few more unsuspecting blows.
Martin (Guidance)
Roark (43 damage, Panache)
Kargoth
Pink (43 damage)
White (6 damage)
Hancock (Rage)
Glimmer
Gray
The woman with a White sash feels her confidence shake when Martin taunts her. The sash is torn when Mavenee critically impales her.
Roark takes careful Steps back, realizing all of the women are watching him and his every step. The woman in White grunts. "Where are you going, handsome?"
She punches him so hard she disrupts his movement.
Kargoth's words shake up one of the women, and she slaps her Purple gloves against her head. "Ugh, snap out of it girl!"
"Ignore the bird. Let's take out this seal... thing." She Steps up to Mavenee.
"Come on! I need some back up here!"
"Yeah. Right. I'm on it." The woman in White Steps into flanking.
"Damn this thing is quick!"
Martin (Mavenee: Protect Companion AC 24)
Roark (61 damage, Panache)
Kargoth
Pink (47 damage)
White (36 damage, Frightened 1)
Hancock (Rage)
Glimmer
Gray
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A bit disappointed nobody attacked him, Hancock gtries to draw some attention from pink.
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4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit, shove on a crit
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4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit, shove on a crit
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4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit, shove on a crit
Hancock lands one solid hit on the woman, but she raises her Pink gauntlets to parry his follow ups. "Yeah yeah, we'll get to you a second."
Martin (Mavenee: Protect Companion AC 24)
Roark (61 damage, Panache)
Kargoth
Pink (57 damage)
White (36 damage, Frightened 1)
Hancock (Rage)
Glimmer
Gray