The nearly abandoned settlement looms up into the hills surrounding the dockside warehouses. Several rowboats bringing other Pathfinders to begin the disembarkment process reach the docks and tie off, bringing their passengers to solid land in mere moments.
“From everything we know, this island has been nearly uninhabited despite many attempts to settle it.” Zarta Dralneen holds a few sheafs of different maps made of the island’s interior while she gestures out to the small settlement. “Which makes it a perfect place for a hideout, even from the Ilizmagorti forces.”
“Pathfinders, we’ll form a beachhead here,” Eando barks his orders to the agents around him. “Break up into scouting parties and see if we can find where this Red Mantis Dispatch hold court. Once we know where they are, we can find out where they have prisoners hidden and figure out how to bring them down.”
Zarta puts a hand on Eando’s shoulder and takes control of the conversation again. “Remember that we learned about a dark presence here. Something that commands the undead. Keep focused, keep calm, and report back. Somewhere on this island is this Red Mantis Dispatch. Find them!”
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Armed with the crude map from the stevedore, you find your way deeper into town to a small back-alley office with a hand painted sign decorated with dark roses and gold writing that reads “Baccara Holdings”. There is a soft light within that barely makes it through the grime covered windows, but not shedding any light into the streets beyond the alleyway.
The interior of Baccara Holdings is as unremarkable as its entrance. The small office has a single dust covered counter with an unswept floor littered with mud and footprints from the characteristically rubber-soled dock worker shoes. A small everburning torch lights the entrance and several melted candles offer their meager light to the counter and a heavy desk covered in books and letters far beyond. From a nose deep in a ledger on the desk, a tall, dark-haired aiuvarin man stands up wearily to approach the counter.
“Welcome to Baccara Holdings. I am the Curator.” The Curator’s clipped accent doesn’t resemble that of the island’s other inhabitants. “Are you here for a loan or for other business needs?”
As the Curator approaches the counter, the candlelight brings his features into focus.
Nigel Aldain. Curator of the Blakros Museum and former Pathfinder Society agent. “How can Baccara Holdings be of service this evening?”
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Nagaikaze’s gaze switches from Nigel to the Professor and back again. Something is tickling at his memory and he’s not quite sure what it is. He has been to the Blakros museum and this name came up did it not? The person in charge was an Azarketi lady though, he thought.
His curiosity taking over, Nagaikaze scans the room, looking to see if there is anyone else around, what the ledger details, or if there’s anything else of note.
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In an attempt to assist Emdi's introduction Nagaikaze adds:
"Greetings, oh, " glances momentarily at the Professor, Nigel. I am Nagaikaze. We are a scouting party for the Pathfinder Society. We have landed on this island so far from, and so different to Absalom in great numbers to rescue hostages and end the threat of this Red Mantis splinter group. It is good that we have managed to find you. Can you now help us in this endeavour?
He produces his Wayfinder in the hope that it will provide some corroboration, and not just make him seem like someone who mugged a Pathfinder.
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Nigel curses uncharacteristically under his breath. “Hells! No, they would have let you know if they knew you were coming here, of all places. I think my messages have been intercepted. The question is whether it is the family, the Alliance, or some other organization with eyes on my pursuits. No matter which one, it seems my time here on the island has come to an end. I suppose I’ll find my way back to Mediogalti, and then Absalom with haste.”
He tisks. "Ah but that does't help you, does it? The Dispatch, you said? Well, that is a lie made truth. They are what happens when skilled individuals decide to take on a role they aren’t quite qualified for and do not own the rights to, but drive leads them to dive in regardless. The Red Mantis Dispatch may have begun as a small smuggling operation using the Red Mantis’s reputation to protect their goods from prying eyes, but from my understanding, they have stepped into picking up actual assassination contracts. The trouble is, they aren’t exactly incapable of fulfilling their contracts. There are two heads to this monster. A ghoul named Sotroz. They have become far more capable and powerful than any other ghoul I have encountered. The other is an aiuvarin woman named Rowan the Whispering. She is... formidable. Honestly, had she not teamed up with the ghoul, I’d have expected her to become an agent of the Red Mantis herself.”
As he pauses for any other questions, he starts to gather some belongings from the counter in front of him.
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”Well, let me see. First I suppose….would you like to share your missives with us now? Perhaps we could assist you further? And then I suppose we need any information you can give us about our enemies, their location, their minions, other defenses, and where other prisoners might be?
Nagaikaze glances at the others for more ideas.
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Continuing to follow him through the Holdings building as he fills his go-bag, Nigel exhales. “Yes, well, without the missives I suppose my being here makes no sense, does it? So a bit of back story for you. One of my contacts warned me of a Red Mantis contract out for my wife. However, inquiries I trust in the Red Mantis organization found this to be unwarranted. So, my research led me here, to a false... and therefore far more dangerous, if you can believe that... organization. I sought out and disposed of the contract and dossier for Dhrami under the pretense of seeking a new exhibit for the museum. But destroying a single contract would not put her life in any less danger, so I remained to gather what information I could in order to stop the threat from reforming. But I am nearing the end of my resources and capabilities in this situation. Hence, why I was desperately trying to make contact with the Society.”
“The Dispatch have a Headquarters of sorts where they work through their contracts and dossiers of their targets near the center of town. There is an old inn called No Rest for the Wicked. I’ve tried infiltrating it a few times, but Sotroz’s ghouls prowl all but the front entrance. Inside is an elderly man, a records keeper of some sort, named Hessil that maintains the front. I had to work with him to set up Baccara Holdings and keep Sotroz’s minions from my threshold. Not an inexpensive agreement, I assure you.” With a practiced hand, Nigel draws a detailed map to the small warehouse far from the docks on a handy scrap of paper.
“There they hold two prisoners that I know of specifically. One is a Nexian child named Tiziri. I’ve dealt with thon’s father in the past, a construct crafter of some talent. The other is a powerful voice within the Pathfinder Society, and she can make or break a reputation with just a rumor. I could not leave until I found a way to free them both. I believe a third was brought in more recently.” He hands the monk a small notebook. “This has my notes on where I think they are being kept. Make sure someone gets eyes on this.”
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Nagaikaze looks as if he's squirming a little. His curiosity is rising.
"Stolen by...Nigel?"
He peers back at the Curator, a pleading look briefly appearing on his features.
He shakes it off, with the belief that perhaps it will filter down to his 'pay grade' after the notes are delivered to the Captains.
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Nigel nods at Emdi and smiles a rueful grin toward Nagaikaze. “Yes, actually. I’ve been able to abscond with some useful information in my numerous visits to pay Hessil for my ‘business license’. Here...” and hands over anotehr scrap from below the counter.
“It seems, despite their alliance and business relationship, the Red Mantis Dispatch is mostly two individuals that do not trust each other at all. I imagine both have been seeking ways to undermine the other when their relationship inevitably sours, but I was only able to find this tidbit in a book hidden in a cloakroom while Hessil was getting us drinks. Lucky for us, he doesn’t have many people to talk to and craves companionship. Ultimately, if they aren’t brought down soon, I’m curious to see whether Sotroz or their dangerous business partner, Rowan the Whispering, comes out on top.”
With that, he exhales deep again.
"Well that should do it for now, I'll have to arrange for some crates to follow me home. But it is time for me to leave this place. You have a long night ahead of you, Pathfinders, but I'm sure I will speak to you again -- in Absalom -- with free tickets to my new exhibit... if you find a way to bring down the Red Mantis Dispatch, of course. Alas, the Society hasn't failed me, yet."
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As you proceed further inland toward the hideout shown on his map, you notice the streets of this small settlement once had some promise, with tall structures of brick, stone, wood, and plaster over flagstone streets. Most of the structures have become derelict over time, with only hints of habitation here and there. Yet the streets are eerily silent for a settlement that provides a home—even temporarily—for teams of workers to load and unload cargo on the nearby docks.
The flagstones beneath your feet are flat and sturdy, and suddenly betray the sounds of others nearby, not walking so steady as you. Around the corner, you see the visage of an undead woman whose eyes widen as they see you!
Dran'Tilt
Prof. Whitegourd
Purple <undetected>
Nagaikaze
Orange
Yakuthiel
Song Jun-Mei
Emdi
Red
Yellow
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Dran'Tilt springs into action and hits hard. Whitegourd does the same with a fiery blast that fills up the alleyway.
Suddenly, a shadowy creature emerges from the walls of the building to the southwest. It lunges for the monk, pulling at his own shadow and draining some of his strength away.
Dran'Tilt
Prof. Whitegourd
Purple Shadow
Nagaikaze -8 damage <enfeebled 1>
Orange -19 damage
Yakuthiel
Song Jun-Mei
Emdi
Red -74 damage
Yellow -9 damage
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Nagaikaze was just preparing to rush over to try to finish off the Red undead thing that seemed quite damaged when he is surprised by the horrible purple Shadowy thing.
He worries that it is too insubstantial to be affected, but feels he should find out rather than just run off to fight the physical foes. He hopes his strikes will be mystic enough.
for
for
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Nagaikaze fortifies and gets one solid punch in. One of the forlorn women stumbles out of the smoke and wails.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature is frightened 2.
Failure The creature is frightened 2 and paralyzed for 1 round.
Critical Failure The creature is frightened 3 and paralyzed for 1d4 rounds.
Dran'Tilt
Prof. Whitegourd
Purple Shadow -11 damage <stunned 1>
Nagaikaze -8 damage <enfeebled 1>
Orange Woman -19 damage
Yakuthiel
Song Jun-Mei
Emdi
Red Woman -74 damage
Yellow Woman -9 damage
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Emdi freezes in place and ponders. Yakuthiel ends the shadow's walk promptly and Song Jun-Mei finds bone as well.
The other women move up and flail. The cleric is waylaid but the monk dodges easily.
Dran'Tilt
Prof. Whitegourd
Purple Shadow -62 damage
Nagaikaze -8 damage <enfeebled 1>
Orange Woman -30 damage
Yakuthiel
Song Jun-Mei -34 damage <grabbed>
Emdi <frightened 1, paralyzed>
Red Woman -74 damage
Yellow Woman -9 damage
Each team of Pathfinders is visited by a simultaneous glowing orb that quickly transforms into the Glyph of the Open Road and reports a message in Venture-Captain Viore’s voice. “Our forward patrols have uncovered information—mostly through force—that claims an old inn, No Rest for the Wicked, is the headquarters for this ‘Red Mantis Dispatch.’ Convene there as soon as possible. According to Giovana, they will have contracts and dossiers for each target. We need all of it for anyone to be safe.”
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Nagaikazes hears the wail and it cuts deep into him. He redoubles his efforts to shake the paralysis off but still seems shaken.
Seeing the unpleasant Shadowy thing getting dropped rallies him further and he prepares to battle something more substantial.
Trusting that Yakuthiel can hold the line protecting Emdi he rushes into a flanking position to try and release Song Jun-Mei.
for
for
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Gunslinger is precise once more. The druid fills the area with vitality and the revenants squeal like mice. The monk rushes over and lands the old one-two and she drops where she stands... and utters her last words.
"They called us. They control us. We sustain them. Sotroz must be judged...”
The other turns to Nagaikaze to ravage, only getting through as her desperate swipes mount.
Dran'Tilt
Prof. Whitegourd
Nagaikaze -18 damage <enfeebled 1, frightened 1>
Orange Woman -34 damage
Yakuthiel
Song Jun-Mei -26 damage
Emdi <frightened 1>
Red Woman -121 damage <destroyed>
Yellow Woman -13 damage
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"-never mind," Emdi continues, after a very awkward pause. "The women are Revenants - obsessed, undead stalkers who arise from their own murders and are driven by only one thing: revenge against their killers. they can be temporarily hampered by seeing themselves in a mirror. If only stopping my ex was that easy."
Emdi moves into the center.
He fires at Yellow.
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The cleric self-heals but cannot quite harm her target. Emdi's first arrow finds his though.
She turns her wrath upon the fighter, but is punished for it. Her bony hands hold firm, however.
Dran'Tilt
Prof. Whitegourd
Nagaikaze -9 damage <enfeebled 1, frightened 1>
Orange Woman -34 damage <enfeebled 2>
Yakuthiel -1 damage <restrained>
Song Jun-Mei -2 damage
Emdi
Yellow Woman -84 damage