And so we come to the conclusion.
At the bidding of the Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus, you set out from Diobel on the west coast of the Isle of Kortos toward the Chelish port of Ostenso. By this point, Farabellus has informed you that you are headed to Ostenso for a highly sensitive incursion into the Aspis Consortium’s backyard, giving you at least that much warning in case you want to make any purchases before departing. He also informs you that he will meet up with you along your journey to Ostenso. Several dozen miles outside of the port, a Thuvian ship out of Merab hails your vessel, and Marcos Farabellus waves to you from its deck. As the two ships approach, Farabellus activates a magic item and flies over to you to provide more information about the task ahead.
Marcos Farabellus rests one foot atop a coil of rope while flicking open a thin leather bag to double-check the dozen pages inside. “I haven’t traveled this much this quickly in a long time,” he confides with a tired grin. “Fortunately, it’s nearly at an end. Thanks to Professor Kramolag’s testimony, we’ve identified the last of the Korholm Agenda’s ringleaders. I recently dispatched a team to deal with the boss in Thuvia, but it sounds like there’s far worse afoot in Ostenso. Kramolag seemed convinced that the lady we’re after is a half-orc named Suliji Peshar, and she’s gotten rich and powerful by smuggling coin out of the tomb of the Consortium’s richest founder, Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn.
“I’ve tried to secure any information about her schemes, but had little luck. Kramolag seems convinced that Suliji is planning some ttack on the Aspis Consortium, which seems a little far-fetched, but after what we’ve seen the Agenda do so far, it’s still within the realm of possibility.” The Master of Swords rubs his beard with one hand in thought. “The Consortium may not be our friends, but they’re a known quantity. Hell, even if such an attack only killed off a leader or two, that half-orc’s proven canny enough that, for all we know, she might be planning to frame the Society for an attack against the Consortium’s home turf—or all of Cheliax itself!”
He hands over the leather case. “The crux of the matter is that we don’t have enough facts to decide how to proceed. Professor Kramolag’s story seems to check out so far, and my usual inside informant Three Rings has disappeared altogether. Something momentous in the works, and the whole thing stinks of Aspis. But without more details, I can’t tell you what to do. It’s going to be up to you to figure out how best to serve the Society’s short-term and long-term interests in the coming crisis. I want you to get to the bottom of it and confront Suliji Peshar. If, as we suspect, she plans to frame the Pathfinder Society, you need to stop her, and otherwise, you’ll be well-placed to take decisive action to gain us leverage over the Consortium toward a peaceful resolution of hostilities. Our best lead at the moment is the mausoleum of Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn.” Farabellus winces at the long name. “It’s on Ostenso’s outskirts, and I understand Suliji’s visited it numerous times over the past year. Check it out, find what clues you can, and take whatever actions you deem appropriate. I’ve already sent your teams ahead to learn what news they can, so once you
know more, consider them at your disposal.”
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Mother Nadya nods her greeting when the Venture Captain alights onto the deck. She is a middle-aged human woman wearing the robes of a fortune-teller and with a wooden holy symbol of Pharasma hanging from her neck. When she speaks, a distinct Ustalavic dialect is evident.
”Forgive me, but I know little of this Alexayn person. Or of his mausoleum. Do you know more about these things? And what might be inside to interest an international terrorist?”
Farabellus nods, quietly approving of you being good Pathfinder agents by gathering all the data you can before leaping into the fray.
"“If you associate the Aspis Consortium with being rich, it’s because its co-founder Alexayn set that trend. He died just before Aroden did, and among his many monuments and public works in his hometown Ostenso was his immense mausoleum. He was both respected and feared in his time, but the Consortium’s come a long way since his death. Everyone in Ostenso knows a building or two named after him, but otherwise he’s just a little-known name in the history books."
He shrugs helplessly, "I can't tell you what Pashar wants there, I only know that my contacts have told me that she has an interest in the mausoleum. Given the activities we know of hers so far, I would guess that she plans to loot it for either artifacts or information."
You can also know some things about Ostenso -
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"In addition to what Daedin said, that Ostenso is Cheliax’s easternmost major port, made all more strategically important due to its proximity to the nation’s rival Andoran; and as the homeport of the Chelish navy, Ostenso is well guarded, prosperous, and frequented by countless ships each year; and that, in fact, nearly a quarter of the city is built over the water, creating entire districts of piers and wooden plazas that span between the natural rock pillars known as the Custodisce Break ...
Ostenso was not always so powerful. Before Andoran seceded from Cheliax, the city was 'merely' a thriving port city. The Aspis Consortium chose Ostenso as its base of operations in part because of its considerable infrastructure but also because of the cofounder Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn’s love of the city. By generously doling out gold and understated violence alike, he expertly earned his neighbors’ admiration and his enemies’ fear. Among the better-kept secrets is that Ostenso’s sewers let out under the docks and create a navigable network of tunnels. Chelish authorities habitually sweep through the sewers to catch casual smugglers, but it’s said the Aspis Consortium maintains a professional agreement that buys them free use of the tunnels."
Once you have asked your questions, Farabellus clicks his heels together and flies back to the Thuvian vessel. You are less than a day’s travel away from Ostenso.
Traffic in Ostenso’s harbor is brisk and efficient, and you have little difficulty going through Chelish customs. It is dusk by the time you can leave the harbor, and from there you can head southwest to the mausoleum.
The trip is dotted with vignettes from Ostenso society. In one place a priest of Asmodeus with an imp fluttering around his head berates a group of children and threatens their souls for playing too loud.
In another a raucous party being held by noblemen lights the streets, the noise of talk and laughter deafening.
A guard arrests a man for disrupting traffic after he is almost run down by a carriage barreling down a narrow street. It is difficult not to note that the man's clothing is rather shabby and worn and the carriage displayed a nobleman's symbol.
When you arrive the mausoleum is a mansion of a crypt that towers more
than 40 feet in height atop a low hill on the edge of the city. Surrounding the structure sprawls a modest park that has benefited from only infrequent maintenance. A broad set of stairs leads up to a looming, recessed stone door partially obscured by the forest of columns that circumnavigates the crypt’s facade.
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A brawny dwarf gives a thin smile at the mention of the Consortium. "More o' them Ass Piss types eh? Well that's alright. We know how to take o' them..." He cracks his knuckles and then sets to sharpening his weapons and polishing his armor.
Daedîn gives a wicked grin. ”We should get along quite well, my friend…”
Upon arrival in Ostenso, the Elf will scout around the mausoleum, before examining the stone door…
…and if it’s trapped, he’ll try to disarm it…
Daedin doesn't find any traps but he does have to pick a rather tricky lock.
He also notices weathered signs of tampering, including places where someone repeatedly attempted to force the door with a crowbar. As night falls, there are few witnesses to the breaking and entering.
The mausoleum has 10-foot-wide halls, 10-foot ceilings, three floors, a basement level, and more than a dozen rooms. Among these are painted chambers that commemorate Alexayn's early adventuring life (including him
slaying a blue dragon), later business successes, and greatest philanthropic works in Ostenso. Another room is covered floor-to-ceiling in effusive testimonials of Alexayn’s accomplishments, credentials, and generosity from important figures of the age; several of these quoted names are scratched out with the word “Betrayer” or “Liar” inexpertly carved nearby. In some places, the tables and stands clearly once held grave goods or trophies but are now empty. Wherever Alexayn is depicted, he appears as a handsome Chelish man with shoulder-length hair (later with a receding hairline) and a rapier worn at his hip.
Among the few pristine chambers in the mausoleum is a trophy room, whose faded tapestries show Alexayn’s greatest combat victories with more than a hint of artistic license. The preserved dragon head here is genuine, having once belonged to an old blue dragon that Alexayn helped slay with four comrades. In addition to the elegant weapons and chests of foreign coins scattered across the ground where the reanimated mogul has pored over them, a score of swords and shields from across Golarion hang from the walls.
As you enter, a mummy is listlessly rearranging his Garundi coinage in small piles that make a crude political map of the continent from a century ago.
As you approach, he stands, takes a reflexive swig from an empty goblet, and glowers at you before saying, “So, has Suliji tired of working behind my back and has finally sent thugs to drive the dagger home?”
The figure scowls at the question, putting an offended hand to his chest then sighs and shakes his head in disdain. "What an uneducated world this has become," he says to himself before returning his attention to Nadya enough to answer her question.
"Yes, obviously, I am Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn. After all the glorious things I've done, it is a sad state of affairs that you even have to ask," he says.
"But then, how can I expect more from you than from those who have taken the lead on the very organization I helped found. Yes, The whelp was to be my hand, delivering a message to the Consortium’s inane leaders: Remember Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn, and restore my legacy across Ostenso and beyond. Of course, they wouldn’t listen to an upstart gold agent, but they would listen to an upstart gold agent who managed to sneak into the innermost offices, kill a few stakeholders, and spell out the message in blood! From what she reported to me, the Aspis Building’s layout has changed little since I died, and she now knows how to bypass several of its defenses. However, when she last visited me, it was clear the foul turncoat intended not to truly restore my glory but to stage a coup and become a Patron herself. Wretch.”
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Nadya listens to the melodramatic mummy piss and moan about his legacy with barely disguised boredom.
"Yes. Is great tragedy." she says in a mildly patronizing voice.
But of course she can't just leave it at that. "But this is nature of mortality, yes? Our lives build sand castles, and time erases them. It is vanity to expect to be remembered forever. Look at the Runelords of Thassilon. Near demigods in their lives, now all but forgotten, their empires reduced to ruins and scraps of lore in old scrolls. Even the language they spoke nearly extinct."
"Why torment yourself over the fleeting memories of men? Mortals focus on the moments of their own lives, and think little of the foundations below their feet. This undead state of yours will only bring you centuries of torment and frustration. Renounce it. Embrace oblivion and journey to meet Pharasma, as all souls do. Meet the destiny meant for all of us. Find peace, dead man."
"We know of Suliji's interest in this mausoleum. Do you know what she might want out of here?"
"Suliji is not interested in this mausoleum. It is clear now that she was coming here to meet Alexayn. To get information from him. Her true target is the Apsis headquarters. As the mummy has told us, she intends to stage a coup --- kill the current leaders and become the new Patron."
"Much as I hate to say it, it looks like our mission is to save the Aspis Consortium from Suliji Peshar."
"As she says," Alexayn says, indicating Nadya, "Suliji came to loot my resting place, but then sought my advice and wisdom once she knew I had awakened from the slumber of death. Though, I did allow her to claim some of my treasures in pursuit of our shared goals.
"Bah, I hardly know what half of them did beyond give me the grim satisfaction of wearing something with an obscene price tag. The upstart laid claim to a Taldan dueling blade—far too clumsy for my tastes—a rather brutal gauntlet I picked up from a Yamasan vampire, General Coren’s second-best breastplate worn as part of Taldor’s Third Army of Exploration, and a handful of rings and other baubles. I found it very amusing when she took only one of the rings that links its wearer’s life to that of someone who wears the other ring, but it seems the little miscreant stole the ring’s partner during her last visit."
As Nadya preaches to him, he truly focuses on her for the first time. He makes a swirling motion with his empty goblet then sips wine that dried up centuries ago as he notes the holy symbol she wears.
"Ah. One of THOSE," he comments condescendingly. "You'll forgive me if I don't take advice from a religious fanatic who is willing to meekly submit to some deity's commands. A mortal has only their life and legacy and only the weak will give up either without fighting with all their might against those who would take it."
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"…but it seems the little miscreant stole the ring’s partner during her last visit."
”And when was her last visit? says Nadya, some concern in her voice. Were they too late?
"Ah. One of THOSE," he comments condescendingly. "You'll forgive me if I don't take advice from a religious fanatic who is willing to meekly submit to some deity's commands. A mortal has only their life and legacy and only the weak will give up either without fighting with all their might against those who would take it."
Nadya gives an impatient dismissive wave of the hand, but anyone watching her closely might suspect that she was actually amused by this exchange.
”Fine, remain here deluded and alone until you finally turn to dust. Clearly you know best. The world marches on without you, but your memories of glory are all that matters.”
”Send word to one of US someday if you change your mind, mummy. Pharasma is patient, and no creature is immortal.”
”But take some comfort in knowing this: we’ll hunt down Suliji and put a stop to her ambitions.”
"It has been some days since the traitorous little wretch was here," Alexayn admits. [b]"Yet, as the city is not burning and there is not chaos in the streets, I can only assume she has not enacted her plan."
He gives Nadya a superior smirk. "I have clearly chosen the wrong tool this time, but that does not mean that I will not be restored to my true glory. I have nothing but time and patience.
"Perhaps I will, someday, call upon one of your kind, but it will not be until long after you have met your goddess, yourself."
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Nadya takes a moment to study Alexayn to make sure he's not spinning a tale to protect Suliji.
"Alexayn, is there any other way into the Aspis headquarters aside from the front door? Is probably best if we don't simply show up at the door and try to force our way in. Or perhaps you have spare Aspis badges lying around, so we can pose as operatives of your organization?"
Nadya is absolutely certain that Alexayn is speaking the truth.
His hatred for those who have dared to betray his memory is so great that he does not hesitate to betray them in turn, even to people he knows are their mortal enemies.
"I will tell you of the same four ways to gain entry that I suggested to Suliji. The first, and most obvious is the Main Entrance. The front entrance of the Aspis Building befits the Consortium’s wealth and pomp, and under most circumstances, visitors are welcome to enter through here, conduct business, and petition the Consortium. Yet, in the chaos Suliji is no doubt causing the building is likely closed for business. A suitably deceptive team could trick their way in, however," he says, the expression on his face as he looks them over suggesting that he is dubious as to this team's abilities in deception.
"The Reporting Entrance sees relatively few visitors so there are likely traps, locks, or passwords that ward off routine thieves." A category of people his expression clearly indicates he puts you in.
"The Sewer Entrance presents the route best able to channel a team deep into the Aspis Building, where they might inflict the most damage. However, such a ploy would expose the team to more danger." Danger he clearly thinks you cannot handle.
"The Shipping Entrance has heavy doors and a portcullis blocking it, so those capable of muscling open the entrance are best suited to this assignment. Once inside, there are likely guards and other workers who would quickly sound the alarm if visitors didn’t have an exotic shipment of goods in tow or at least the accents of foreign merchants." He clearly doubts your muscles and acting skills.
"The gods have truly cursed me if I must trust my legacy to you lot," he says with a sigh.
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Before they take their leave Yuri chimes in. He has been listening silently, clearly not a little discomfited at the thought of having to go rescue the Aspis. "What about this Suliji? What can ye tell us'n of her? She good with a blade? A wizarding type? Any particular tricks up her sleeves as far as ye know? Does she work alone or she gots some minions what need smashing too?"
...
Once the group departs, Yuri will go along with whatever entrance the group wishes to try.
Before they take their leave Yuri chimes in. He has been listening silently, clearly not a little discomfited at the thought of having to go rescue the Aspis. "What about this Suliji? What can ye tell us'n of her? She good with a blade? A wizarding type? Any particular tricks up her sleeves as far as ye know? Does she work alone or she gots some minions what need smashing too?"
“What does it matter? She knows her way around a conspiracy, and she has a fine resume for lying to her betters. The turncoat has a knack for magic of all kinds, and she’s a quick study with a sword. She can stay quiet when she needs to, and there are few barriers she can’t overcome. Honestly, she would be an ideal agent were it not for her turning on me. Stab her a few times, and I imagine she’ll die. I can think of few times it hasn’t worked for me.” Alexayn answers.
When the Pathfinders come out of the mausoleum, they may be surprised to find that they are not alone. But the faces that surround them are familiar and friendly (at least to most of them.)
The Axe-Fixers, Kernaug Group and Scroll Seekers are all gathered outside.
"Where do you need us, bosses?" Janira Gavix says, the little halfling who has helped so many Pathfinders on their Confirmation grins.
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The Axe-Fixers, Kernaug Group and Scroll Seekers are all gathered outside.
"Where do you need us, bosses?"
"Ah. You. I'm sorry, you missed narcissist mummy." says Nadya as she descends the steps of the mausoleum into the sunlight. "Is just as well, he was tedious. Come, let's go over to that grove of trees and talk business."
"Normally I would never leave an undead creature still lurching about. But this one seems inclined to remain in his mausoleum, wandering about amongst his treasures. And he seems to wish to harass and conspire against the Aspis leadership, which may be useful. And amusing. And Farabellus may wish to have a new Aspis informant since his Three Rings has gone silent. This one was more than willing to talk about everything, if one had the stomach to sit through it." she recounts as she walks to the meeting spot she's picked out of sight from the road, under some spreading elms.
"Our target is the Aspis headquarters. The mummy tells us there's four ways inside. It seems to me our best use of your three groups is to provide distractions at three of the entrances while our group actually infiltrates the building and finds out what Suliji is up to. We will of course provide you with money for any equipment you may need, within reason."
"But first, if you've been here in Ostenso for a while, perhaps you can tell us if anything is going on in the city right now out of the ordinary. What is word on street?"
"Call it good living, Yuri," Janira says with a youthful grin.
She serves as the spokesperson for the combined teams and steps up to answer Nadya's question.
"It's chaos out there. Fires, random deaths, break ins. I don't know exactly what's going on, but it seems like someone has gone out of their way to kick the ant's nest. Most of the citizens are staying in their homes but some have gone out to capitalize on the trouble. And there are Aspis agents all over the place trying to deal with the problems. I can't tell what it is, but someone seems to have a plan that they're enacting," she says.
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"It's chaos out there. Fires, random deaths, break ins. I don't know exactly what's going on, but it seems like someone has gone out of their way to kick the ant's nest. Most of the citizens are staying in their homes but some have gone out to capitalize on the trouble. And there are Aspis agents all over the place trying to deal with the problems. I can't tell what it is, but someone seems to have a plan that they're enacting," she says.
Nadya nods grimly.
"Suliji is making her move right now, as we speak. She is distracting her Aspis colleagues while she herself goes for the headquarters. But this gives us opportunity, yes? What is good for goose is good for gander. An empty Aspis Headquarters is also to our advantage. We can go in, deal with Suliji, and get out without being noticed. I do not think Farabellus would want us to start a war with the Consortium, although we may find fellow enemies of our enemy Suliji inside."
"So, distractions. Scroll Seekers, go to the main entrance. Make an attempt to talk your way inside. They'll refuse you. Demand to speak to who is in charge, say it's vital to their survival, whatever rubbish you wish. Don't start fight, but refuse to leave for as long as you can manage."
"Axe-Fixers, you got to Shipping Entrance. Get past the portcullis somehow, tie up the people on the dock with demands about a shipment you are to pick up there. Same sort of thing. No violence but refuse to go, be nuisance, for as long as you can."
"Kernaug Group, you will go to Service Entrance. It is locked and trapped. My guess is that this is where Suliji would go in. Learn what you can. Monitor who is going in and out. If you see half-orc woman come out, follow her, but don't engage her."
"Any questions?" asks the priestess as she begins counting out a sack of coins.
Diazepane sends the teams off with some...dubious directions and advice then the primary Pathfinder Team makes their way down to the docks where the other three teams have managed to get them a couple of skiffs.
You manage to maneuver these skiffs right to the underground docks. The water in the tunnels is only 5 foot deep but it deepens to 15 feet here in this underground harbor.
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"Ahem" a voice interrupts.
The Hellknight in her striking Hellknight Plate steps toward the party at the skiffs, her packbearer and herald in tow dressed in the finest silks of red and black fashioned in the latest Chelaxian court fashion.
"If you are to be wandering Cheliax, you will need to have the right ambassador" she jests as she approaches the party "I came as soon as I got the message, it appears to have been lost in the bureaucracy of the State, you know how these things can be"
***
As they push on towards the lair, Svetlana continues to scan ahead.
Deathwatch