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You have all been summoned to the Swordmeet Lodge in the Rahadoumi port city of Manaket for an important mission. Once there, and the Venture-Captain is ready for you, you are ushered into the grand hall.
A candied aroma wafts from multiple barrels of pyment—a beverage of fermented grapes and honey—strewn about the surprisingly barren grand hall of Manaket’s Swordmeet Lodge. At an ornate banquet table with legs carved in the stalwart forms of Rahadoumi crusaders wielding immense falchions sits the room’s lone occupant, Venture-Captain Obo . He is a broad-shouldered man wearing an olive tunic trimmed with gold filigree and sporting a puffy gray beard mottled here and there with black patches. Next to him sits a large bottle of pomegranate wine, several empty glasses, and a silver plate adorned with a half-eaten roast hen, a fig tart, and a small mound of creamy bread pudding topped with ground pistachios. Obo’s attention is clearly focused on the ornate siege board arranged as if two players had played a game into its late stages, with the monarch threatening to leave via the right edge of the board, thus winning the game for the defenders. As he stares at the pieces, Obo holds his fingers atop one of the attacking pieces, a knight carved of crimson marble, studying the placement of the defenders—white caliche castles protecting a lone sovereign. His other hand absentmindedly stirs the bread pudding with a spoon.
Venture-Captain Obo mumbles to himself while studying the siege board. “Now, if the invader moves parallel to the defender, resting in the seventh hall of the first tower, then the sovereign will be exposed to counterattack from—bah, I will never remember all of Valsin’s cryptic strategies!” Obo slams his free hand down on the table, and then gestures at the open chairs before him. “Sit, sit, for our very own game is afoot. Troubling news arrived two weeks ago from one of the Society’s trusted confidants, an artifacts expert and appraiser in the souk of Azir. Goes by Torvad. Torvad Shalzadin.”
Obo produces a small roll of parchment, its wax seal clearly broken. “This letter indicates that Torvad had been recently asked by a client to verify the authenticity of a rare artifact. Much to his surprise, every detail about the relic indicated that the fragment is one of the shards of the Shattered Shield of Arnisant. That’s supposedly impossible; all of the remnants of the shield are kept safe in Vigil, right under the Watcher-Lord’s nose. Per reports from both the Decemvirate and the Dark Archive, no one in Lastwall suspects any of the shards are missing. Torvad reports that the shard’s current owner, a clandestine auction house for illicit divine artifacts in Azir, the Sacred Cobra, intends to sell it in just seven days! If that shard is in fact a piece of the Shattered Shield of Arnisant, we must stop such an important relic from falling into the wrong hands.”
“Though it would be faster to go by sea, a rash of piracy just beyond the Arch of Aroden means reconsidering the route. I’ve arranged for you to go by caravan. Once you arrive, find Torvad and convince him to disclose the location of the Sacred Cobra auction house as well as the precisely time of the auction. The Cobra’s whereabouts are known only to a few major players in the artifacts trade, so you’ll need to act quickly before the shard can be sold and potentially lost forever. To even be considered as a buyer, you’ll need him to lend you his bidder’s banner, a token the Sacred Cobra uses to identify clientele considered in ‘good standing’ with the organization. It’s probably safest if you can acquire the shard by winning it at auction, though I trust you to do what is necessary to obtain the shard for the Society. Take this.” Obo again slides his hand inside his tunic to retrieve a small bundle of parchments. “Each of these ten letters is a bank note from Manaket, good for one thousand gold pieces. Showing these to the clerk of the auction house should help establish you as a serious buyer. Use the Society’s money wisely to ensure you obtain the shard, but if you see any other artifacts on auction that might be better off in the Society’s possession, you can use these funds to obtain those as well.”
Please introduce your characters and react to the mission briefing.
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"Do we know precisely how many shards there were?" a nearly middle-aged man asks. "If we were able to fit the known pieces together, perhaps we could determine whether the piece in the auction is a forgery or not."
He pauses a moment, then turns to the others gathered. "Sorry, I should introduce myself. Wilbur Faust, cleric of Sarenrae, at your service."
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A hard faced and heavily muscled Chelaxian male wearing scale mail armor and bearing a halberd enters into the lodge. He eyes everyone wearily before finally setting down his things and taking up a seat when directed to.
Omero nobs along as the Venture Captain details the mission at hand and takes notes of what needs done.
"What can you tell us of the organization known as the Sacred Cobra? How do they come by the artifacts?"
The Venture-Captain seems a little preoccupied, splitting his attention between you, the food and drink, and the pieces on his game board, which illicit a frown of concentration whenever he looks at it.
"Do we know precisely how many shards there were?" a nearly middle-aged man asks. "If we were able to fit the known pieces together, perhaps we could determine whether the piece in the auction is a forgery or not."
Obo sets down a half emptied glass of wine on its way to his mouth and remarks, "You know, I remember seeing the number but I do not remember. Not really important as all of the pieces are safely stowed in Vigil by the Watcher-Lord. Which makes this rumor of an authentic piece in an auction alarming. I rather expect that you discover that it is fake, but Torvid is thorough and we should not take any chances. The origins of the shield are shrouded in mystery. Some believe that the god Aroden carried it when he was a mortal, while others claim that it was fashioned by Aroden after he became a god. The Taldan general Arnisant carried the shield during the Shining Crusade, and it was instrumental in defeating the Whispering Tyrant—that’s when it shattered. It is possible that even a fragment of the shield could be dangerous if used for nefarious ends."
The goblet resumes it's journey to the man's mouth but reverses course as another question is fired at him.
"What can you tell us of the organization known as the Sacred Cobra? How do they come by the artifacts?"
'“From what I’ve gathered, it’s a brokerage for illegal divine artifacts and relics that moves its location throughout Azir every so often to keep the Pure Legion from discovering it. That’s why we need Torvad. Only someone who travels in those circles would know where the Cobra has most recently set up shop.”
Th goblet again ventures towards his mouth, more quickly this time, only to be interrupted again. Almost with annoyance, Obo sets it back down with a clump and responds with a little (undeserved) annoyance.
"What if they unexpectedly raise prices and we need more funds?" she asks without raising her eyes from pieces
"You are pathfinders, find a solution."
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The short, squat grippli had been focused on the delicious looking by plate of food by the VC. He licked his lips, his long tongue looking quite different than his more “normal” compatriots.
He introduced himself as Eegru. He didn’t wear any armor, but he had a few weapons strapped across his back and carried a large net as well. ”Torvad. Torvad,” he repeated the name, hoping to remember it.
His eyes lit up at seeing the large amount of credits they had been extended. That was more money than he’d ever dreamed of seeing. He sat quietly while the others asked their questions.
Distractedly, and without looking up, Obo responds to the grippli's croaking.
"What was that? Torvad? What would you like to know about him that I have not already told you?"
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An Ulfen man walks in, kicks Wilbur in the pants, and looks around to the assembled Pathfinders.
"Well, well, well, looks like I have my work cut out for me this time," he says with a wide grin. "My name is Snorri Thordenskjold. I'm sure a few of you have heard of me. I look forward to making sure more people know my name- and all of yours!" He lifts one of the Pathfinders is a warm, if awkward, embrace.
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"Do we know precisely how many shards there were?" a nearly middle-aged man asks. "If we were able to fit the known pieces together, perhaps we could determine whether the piece in the auction is a forgery or not."
Or perhaps to find out that more than one is out in the world. a cloaked figure at the back of the party grimly mutters.
Figuring it's his turn to be introduced he throws his hood back, to reveal the sleek and youthful face of an elf. His brown hair is thick but unkempt wisps run off onto his shoulders.
I'm Turel.
Remember to make intelligence checks to open the spoiler above. This is not a skill roll and you do not have to be 'trained' in anything.
@Snorri
Looks like Snorri won the chicken dinner. Does he do anything with the information?
@Eegru
Do you follow up on his question about Torvad?
Any more questions before you set off on the road?
”Does Society know of anything else concerning this Torvad? Places he likes, people he likes, where he might be located?”
"Well, Torvad wears a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and an old golden bracelet he found on some archaeological dig or other. Last I heard, he was a guest of Inusi Mendalari, a noblewoman from the Artisan’s Souk in Azir, with a habit of ‘collecting’ artists and other intellectuals she thinks might benefit from her patronage. You could also look for anyone with his fingers jammed inside an ancient magical cookie jar. That’s probably Torvad.”
Snorri? Care to share your info?
Snorri's advice causes a brightening in Oro's countenance and he relaxes. His attention is now fully on you and he smiles encouragingly.
"Now I'm ready to take on that sneaky Valsin in the tournament. I'm going to beat the bastard this time. Here!"
Grinning, he pulls a small purse from his pocket to give to Snorri.
"Anything else? I suppose you should know about the major players in Azir, the capital city of Rahadoum, and Rahadoum in general."
"Rahadoum has a thing about gods, as in they are outlawed. They had a few nasty wars because of religious differences and reacted by outlawing religion altogether. They make life miserable for worshippers or anyone that even carries so much as a wand of cure light wounds, much less a holy symbol. Usually they will toss you in jail or levy a fine, but punishments also include public humiliation or banishment. Selling divine artifacts? I think the city would be in an uproar and heads would roll. Well, that might be an exageration. The rules are enforced by the Pure Legion, a branch of their peacekeeping force that is tasked with hunting down violations of what they call the First Law. The are stalwart enforcers of the nation’s laws, but they are educated, civil, and disciplined. Far from reckless killers, most members of the Pure Legion consider it their duty to protect Rahadoum’s citizens and view their vigilant adherence to the First Law as the most effective way to keep each resident safe from the strife caused by religious zealotry. Generally, most members of the Pure Legion resort to violence only if left with no other choice.
"Though they have a mad on for religion, most Rahadoumi hold a deep respect for rhetoric and philosophy. As a result, most Rahadoumi are well-educated, promote civic-minded behavior, and place a high value on self-discipline and familial loyalty. And there are some citizens who worship various gods within the country’s borders, secretly of course. Nothing like making a rule to provoke some to break it. Years of confiscation of divine artifacts, combined with the clandestine demand for divine paraphernalia, has also contributed to a considerable secret trade of smuggled religious items.
"From what I’ve gathered, the Sacred Cobra auction house is a brokerage for illegal divine artifacts and relics that moves its location throughout the city of Azir every so often to keep the Pure Legion from discovering it. That’s why we need Torvad. Only someone who travels in those circles would know where the Cobra has most recently set up shop. Besides, being illegal, they are careful about who is allowed to attend one of their auctions and provide banners to vetted bidders. Another reason you will need to find Torvad as he will have access."
After the meeting Obo pulls Omero Tegus and Navatsiyk aside snd reminds them that the Sacred Cobra auction will have many other relics and items of interest to the Dark Archive beyond simply the shard, and encourages them to do their best to secure as many of the other relics and magical items available at the auction as possible.
Manaket lies approximately 225 miles east of Azir. It will take you just under 6 days by camel to reach the capital city. Any preparations you would like to make having a better understanding of what lies ahead?
"My assistant will take you there when you are ready, and will help you shop if that is your desire."
He rings a bell and the assistant enters. A man who seems to double as a waiter or cook as he has a bit of Obo's meal on his vest. Obo tells the man to help you and returns to his meal, waving you on out.
You begin your journey after you finalize any preparations and the caravan makes slow but steady progress. It is unpleasant and dusty terrain but the caravan is well equipped for it.
After travelling for 4 days you are blanketed by a violent electrical dust storm and the caravan circles up.
Omero and Turel hear braying and some metallic thumping coming from outside your ring.
The rest of you hear Turel declare something and head out into the dust storm. It's pretty noisy in the storm so you can each decide whether or how you hear him :)
Looks like you are all headed out into the storm?
Your first task is to find the source of the noise, which is not all that easy because of the noise and the fact that you can only see 5' in front of you. To make headway towards the source, make a DC 16 Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nature), Perception, or Survival check.
Since it has been over 24 hours and this is a timed event I will bot Navatsiyk.
If your eidolan has a better perception, you may want to use it in the future. I do not see any stats for it on your character sheet so it makes it hard to bot. Your sheet is pretty dang sparse. Do you have anything out there with more information on it and do you have a character sheet for your eidolan? I did not notice your eidolan being introduced other than something about a shadow that may or may not be an eidolan.
I do not see any bonuses to ANY of the skills required on your character sheet so I believe you are a straight d20. You are going to have to get lucky to make this challenges roll :(
Phase 1) 1 success
You make some progress towards the source but it still seems a teensie bit out of range.
Phase 2 starts now. Turel knows, but has not communicated, that time is of the essence. But at least he is leading the way in the right direction :)
Shadowy human-sized being appears on Navatsiyk's command.
The eidolan appears and helps Turel lead the way.
Phase 1) 2 successes.
You feel like you are getting closer.
Note: If you have any spells, special abilities, or creative solutions you think might help you can use them instead. You can also aid another instead of rolling for yourself.
Everyone make your phase 2 rolls!
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Turel knows, but has not communicated, that time is of the essence. But at least he is leading the way in the right direction :)
Time is of the essence! Someone was choking to death out here. Surely one of you heard it? He does not elaborate. Okay that would be unhelpful :P
He does continue looking around to make out the best direction.
but his senses begin to falter. Maybe the others are faring better.
"Heard very little of a person supposedly being choked. It wasn't just wind though."
Omero has an idea. It is a good one, but it proves fruitless and nothing detects as evil in the direction they are going. Still. Nice to know it is not a trap by some evil creature that likes to lure good adventurers into an ambush. Nav attempts to detect magic and... YES! There is some magic up ahead, and along with the perceptive Eegru and Snorri they make excellent headway.
But then the storm picks up and starts to rudely throw electrical charges at you.
Phase 3)
Dangerous Shocks: This type of dust storm builds up stunning static charges, blinds travelers, and can even bowl over creatures. The PCs can evade or withstand the shocks with a successful DC 16 Acrobatics check, DC 16 Ride check (if mounted), combat maneuver check against CMD 15, or DC 13 Fortitude save. Once the PCs complete this task, they reach Kazima, beginning the next task.
Everyone make another set of rolls with the new skills. Again, you can be creative. I'm giving you one free success with this because of the creative uses of the spells last phase. I like creative!