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Raising an eyebrow, she speaks “I expected a broader question on this subject so I will not hold back to punish your remaining tally. I know of four of their recent contracts.” She begins counting them off on her fingers. “First was a contract on Dhrami Blakros, one of the prestigious Blakros roses. But there has been no movement on it, so I suspect the contract was vacated. One of them is for a woman named Kassi who enjoys an immunity from Red Mantis involvement. That alone would cause my concern. A third is for a teacher from the Magaambya. Though that contract goes beyond a simple assassination, so it is, again, something the real Red Mantis would not entertain. And finally,” she points her finger at the Pathfinder’s head archivist, “there is the Ice Queen, thrower of the best parties in Egorian, and Paracountess icon, Zarta Dralneen. It was her contract that finally drew me forth. Her ladyship enjoys some protection from Red Mantis attention for reasons only she can tell you.”
"You have two more questions left, Pathfinders."
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"For my inquiry I may rely a little on the generosity you showed to our second question. Tell us more of the Red Mantis. For operatives of our level the available information is somewhat limited. You are Assassins, but not without restraint. You have a code that you honour. You always wear your Masks to conceal your identities."
Nagaikaze briefly meets her eye with a slightly raised eyebrow before continuing.
"You worship mighty Achaekek, who...is currently more famous than ever. You are led by Blood Mistress Jakalyn, whose leadership has been questioned with an attempted coup? I feel that the reason that the Dispatch are secret to you and do not fear reprisals may be because they have roots within your organisation. Unless they just believe themselves harder to kill than Gorum"
Nagaikaze concludes with a slight nod implying respectful gratitude.
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As the monk's revelations mount, she lets out a slow breath, preparing to admit something she doesn’t want to. “Your spies have served you well, and much of what you say is true. My organization does have strict codes of behavior, some that only make sense to us, I'm sure. But they have served us well for centuries. My lack of disguise is an offering of my authenticity, and dare I say... desperation. We have a celluar structure, so what one of our groups does usually does not interest any of the rest of us. What must be done must be done, afterall. But these contracts were different. I cannot be specific without giving away all of our secrets, but please trust my instincts. I have my doubts that this group is truly of the Mantis. This Red Mantis Dispatch has evaded my grasp, even as they operate in my city. And once one of my informants disappeared while bringing me one of their contracts, I knew I had to take personal interest. But I didn’t have the necessary resources prepared to perform a large scale investigation and invasion. But you do. So, I called in a favor the Society didn’t realize it owed.”
Once Emdi chimes in, she seems relieved to answer the final question.
"I do not require you to kill this day, but I reserve that right for the future should it become a necessity. I do however require that you bring back any you find as prisoner for us to interrogate. That seems to be the only adequate solution at the moment. Their efforts must not continue. Your Society will thank me for that one day."
She closes the conversation with mirth. “That is enough for now, Pathfinders. But please, do tell Eando to ask for himself, if he has any more questions of me. I’ll be right here, waiting.” She waggles her fingers playfully at you as you depart, a smile dancing on her lips.
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With Eando not available at the moment, and the island not yet in view, you slide over to the newly freed-up Paracountess.
“I could tell you tomes about Mediogalti and most of the surrounding islands.” Zarta Dralneen gestures to a dozen thick books splayed about her table and four heavy chests by her side by way of greeting. “But our destination is little more than a rumor to me. So, I need your best expertise in this venture. We need to figure out as much as we can about local lore, the navigational issues in these seas, and possible meteorological unpleasantness we can run into. Anything that I can bring to the Seekers’ Quest’s captain to save us from unexpected... situations.”
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Nagaikaze closes his eyes and shudders inwardly. He really doesn’t like situations where his feet cannot be firmly planted on the floor. However he is physically strong and his athleticism could make a difference to the missions success. He sighs, and narrowing his focus tries to help out however he can.
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While Nagaikaze and Yakuthiel do the unheralded rig-work with ease, Emdi's hireling takes their sweet time coming up with a suitable route to follow. Dran'Tilt can't quite make heads or tails of the specific destination but the others do learn a bit more about the Island.
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"The Professor and I have uncovered the following: The Island of Claimed Souls has been unsuccessfully settled eight times, sometimes by traders looking for an out of the way home base, and more often by local pirates looking for a secreted haven against prying eyes and competitors. Each time, the structures and towns built were more or less abandoned within a month or two with rumors of “accidental” deaths, missing crew, and the rise of undead forces. And each time, the settlements went abandoned, leaving buildings, goods, and sometimes even meals behind."
The priestess smirks slightly. "It appears, my friends, that the island is haunted."
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Emdi is a little late to the research, and the best books are taken. Luckily, the dozens of Pathfinders in the hold seem to have discovered the requisite information already and there are enough brutes and scouts on deck to keep the ship moving onward.
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From his spot up in the perch atop the mainsail, Venture-Captain Viore Ciobanu slides down the rigging to land near the Pathfinders with uncharacteristic flair. “Good, you lot. I need you for a moment.” He leans over the deck rail, gazing through his scope at something far ahead of the Seekers’ Quest. “Somewhere ahead of us is a creature I’ve spoken to through a message spell only briefly, named Tesparisod. He has agreed to meet with our representatives when we slow down to get past a maze of reef ahead. It will be up to you to parlay with him, see if he has any valuable information that can help us, the crew is preparing a rowboat for you as we speak.”
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As you reach the indicated area, out of earshot and barely in sight of the Seekers’ Quest, a cobra-headed sea beast peeks its head out of the water, looming over the rowboat. The vicharamuni does not attack, instead treading water effortlessly (and seemingly waiting patiently for one of you to introduce themselves).
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Nagaikaze's knowledge of Nature is simple. He has spent many Off-Hours Studying in the Libraries of the Grand Lodge researching various aspects relating to the culinary arts, but his knowledge of Nature mainly relates to what would make a good ingredient for cooking or for Natural Medicine.
The mighty Sea Creature looks like far more than an ingredient.
Knowing what he knows, he glances around to see if anyone else is going to talk, or if he should do the introductions...
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Nagaikaze stands, pausing for a few seconds to ensure that nothing bad occurs and his stance remains as firm as can be hoped for.
With a cautious bow he begins, "Greetings, oh grand and impressive Vicharamuni. Forgive me, I know not of any titles you may posess, it is 'Tesparisod' is it not? I am Nagaikaze of the Pathfinder Society, and these are my companions.
After a pause allowing anyone who wanted to, to make introduction he continues, "Our mutual acquaintance Viore Ciobanu has sent us to explore how our friendship may grow.
The Seekers’ Quest drops its heavy anchors as the crew tie up the massive square-rigged sails. From the sides of the main deck, pairs of rowboats are lowered into the choppy waters below for you to follow the scouts towards the docks revealed in the parting mists of the inlet.
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Tesparisod seems slightly confused by your colloquialisms, but he deems you friendly enough. “The island you seek is among many places of magical significance I have added to my yearly migrations. And it is because you and your allies have come that I found myself in this place at this moment to come to your aid.”
His serpentine face then twists into a mildly terrifying, yet friendly smile. “Based on what I have seen of their refuse, you are going to the Island of Claimed Souls in search of the Red Mantis Dispatch. They do dwell on the island, but it is one of their leaders you must seek out. Sotroz. They are a ghoul of unheard power for their kind. They force their will on others of their creed and use their organization to dispose of those they cannot control. Be prepared, their magics are unholy and myriad—and they possess a magical means of transport well beyond their capabilities. Though I can say no more about it, for no matter my suspicions, I have not been able to prove my hypothesis."
As the mists part, revealing the docks, the naga slips back under the roiling waves. "But alas, it looks like you are destined eleswhere.”
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The first few landing boats from the Seekers’ Quest (including your own) pull into the slip inlet leading toward the docks adjacent to a small settlement. Teams of workers push through the midday heat to load crates marked with Red Mantis stamps onto small barges for the next pass of courier ships destined for parts unknown. But as the newcomers arrive, a few of them take notice and call out, “Hey! You’re not supposed to be here!”
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Emdi moves up, draws his shortbow, and warns Orange.
"This is going to look very bad on our report! Stand down!"
vs Orange Will DC
Emdi is unwilling to fire the first shot, but he'll use Retributive Strike if they attack an ally, and nonlethal if they're <50% health.
↺
(-2 for nonlethal)
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A couple of them race forward and target the mouthy one with the flat of their blades. The closest one makes a complete mash out of it.
Song Jun-Mei
Emdi -12 damage
Yellow Stevedore
Orange Stevedore <frightened 1, off-guard to Emdi>
Yakuthiel
Red Stevedore
Dran'Tilt
Nagaikaze
Purple Stevedore
Prof. Whitegourd
Pink Stevedore
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Yakuthiel strikes particularly hard and punishes the dockworker, guiding him swiftly into the water. . Luckily for him it is not too deep.
Another races forward to take his place.
Song Jun-Mei
Emdi -3 damage
Yellow Stevedore <enfeebled 2>
Orange Stevedore -38 damage <off-guard to Emdi, in water>
Yakuthiel
Red Stevedore
Dran'Tilt
Nagaikaze
Purple Stevedore
Prof. Whitegourd
Pink Stevedore
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Nagaikaze enters his fighting stance and bobs and weaves trying to peer through the melee ensuing before him. There was no easy way to get to his foes, and he definitely didn't want to have to swim. He'll have to try and bundle through.
If he gets past YELLOW he'll try to shove RED into the water, following him to end up where RED stood
If he failed to pass YELLOW he'll step back to the square he started in.