A messenger knocks on the door as he lets himself in. He rushes over to the table and hands VC Dreng a message. Dreng sets down his muffin and read over the letter quickly.
Ah yes, here we go. Thank you, Tane.
I have had several informants gathering information to help you along. It seems that Greeves runs his business out of a former watch station in the Puddles. Anja seems familiar with the region, I'm sure she knows where it is.
It is also rumored that the Sewer Dragons have a skilled trapmaster sought after by merchants and the wealthy in Absalom and it may be that some of his most clever traps guard House Morilla and other noble resources. I would not doubt that you will encounter some of his famous traps along the way, so be careful.
In response to Brother Shan, VC Dreng says, Under no circumstances do the Decemvirate approve any sort of tribute or ransom so if that's all the kobolds want, you'll need to use your most convincing tactics to get them to change their minds.
Now, we could fence some goods for them and get them supplies at reasonable prices. We can also get goods into the city for them if that's what they want. If the rumors I hear about alchemical substances and traps are true, perhaps the Society would be interested in purchasing items they produce for our own use in the field. I'll leave the negotiations up to you in either case.
Shan:
The Sewer Dragons are one of the more powerful kobold tribes in the sewers of Absalom. Kibizax, the Sewer Dragons' chief, is a powerful sorcerer with a dragon ally who blasts the tribe's foes to dust with lightning.
Anja:
About a month ago Xarcious disappeared. The apartment where he lived was abandoned in a hurry. The day before he disappeared, he was seen arguing loudly with Creeley Greeves, a moneylender and bookie from the Puddles.
Desmond: you can not assist on Knowledge checks, sorry.
Anyone else can still make checks if they haven't already.
The aged Venture Captain shuffles into the room and sits down with a heavy sigh. He takes a moment to cough into a handkerchief before reaching for some food.
Discussing the forthcoming mission over a light breakfast of pastries and fruit is a welcome change of ruotine from Venture Captain Drandle Dreng's usual midnight requests.
As you well know, the Society has a need for discreet ways of moving goods into and out of Absalom. Over the last year we've developed some reliable routes through the sewers and caverns underneath the city and this has worked well for us until recently.
Over the last few months, a tribe of kobolds calling themselves the Sewer Dragons started disrupting our supply with traps and ambushes. We know of several tribes of kobolds beneath Absalom, and generally, they are only a nuisance, but these have proved particularly troubling. They have blocked a few vital deliveries of late and some Pathfinders have disappeared. The Decemvirate is starting to get concerned.
I need you to track down these Sewer Dragons and resolve this problem. I would prefer you make an effort to negotiate a truce of some sort with these pests. While I have little respect for the reptilian creatures who plague our sewers, I suspect if we exterminate them, some other threat will fill in the void they leave behind.
Dreng pauses a moment to finish eating a peach, then continues You could wander around the sewers for days and not find one of these Sewer Dragons. Fortunately, I have found a resource for you. A few years ago they hired a Taldan scholar by the name of Emral Xarvious to tutor the tribal leader's children. I suspect Xarvious can lead you to the Dragons.
The Decemvirate has a shipment of antiquities coming next week and I expect this situation to be resolved by then. It's up to you to ensure the shipment goes off with no hitches. There is no time to fool around-you need to get moving. There is supposed to be one more of you if I am not mistaken. Perhaps you should delay for just a minute and hope that they arrive soon. Oh, and before you go I have a few letters for you anyways.
Andoran:
Fellow Guardian of Freedom,
The news that you are going to be dealing with the Sewer Dragons is of particular interest to me. In our recent dealings within Absalom, some of our better agents have been having difficulties with some particularly clever traps employed by our rivals. One of my own trapsmiths says they emulate the works of a famed engineer who wrote under the pseudonym Feeble Terrance. Kobolds are known for their traps, so while you're among them, see if you can find any books by Feeble Terrance that might help us avoid further injuries to traps he designed.
Liberty awaits,
Major Colson Maldris
Cheliax:
Greetings, Pet,
Some of my contacts were recently approached by the Society about the location of a man named Xarvious, whom I believe you will be sent to find. He is currently in the possession of a lowlife named Greeves who runs numbers in the Puddles. I have little respect for the man, but he has certain uses to Her Infernal Majestrix's goals. If he is a little worse for wear when you are done, it doesn't bother me, but make sure Greeves and the gang of thugs who work for him - who call themselves Furies - survive your little visit.
Success brings great pleasure,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneed
Grand Lodge:
Esteemed Pathfinder,
While investigating these missing shipments in Absalom's sewers, we sent a fairly green group of Pathfinders underground, and they were caught in a flash flood. They panicked and ran, and one of them was lost - most likely killed. Gil was a young lad and his father was a great Pathfinder and friend of mine; now I have to explain to his family that he's met a nasty end. I want you to discover for certain that he's been called to the Boneyard and, if possible, recover something they can use to remember him by.
Take care, agent,
Venture-Camptain Ambrus Valsin
Lantern Lodge:
Honorable Friend,
As we increase our influence in the Inner Sea region, the Lantern Lodge's need for allies and friends is great. The Taldans are a shallow people and I feel we can suitably impress them with a simple gift. Their princess Eutropia is celebrating her upcoming birthday with a grand party and I have secured an invitation. Keep on the lookout for something truly unique as a gift to impress the young princess. My informants tell me antique musical instruments are popular in the fickle Taldan courts these days, so that should give you a starting point. I know you're going into the sewers, of course, but as they say, "one man's junk. . . ."
Most humbly,
Venture-Captain Amara Li
Osirion:
Knowledge Seeker,
The Sewer Dragon kobold tribe, whom I understand you are to be sent to deal with, has among its numbers an alchemist who has made a hefty profit from selling a new type of embalming fluid to some of the city's less reputable mortuaries. It is my belief that this wonderful embalming fluid is not new at all, but is in fact a recipe stolen from our Osirion ancestors. If you encounter this alchemist, see if you can find any Osirian texts on embalming among his books and remove it from his collection.
Find truth where you can,
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage
Qadira:
Servant of the Satrap,
It is most unfortunate that the Pathfinder Society has come in conflict with the Sewer Dragons. For the past several months, some of my suppliers have been working with the tribe's trapmaster, Yippitok, the son of the tribe's current chief. His works now protect several of our interests within city limits but his biggest project is unfinished. I don't want someone stumbling across details for those traps when pillaging his laboratory, whether as an ally of the tribe or a victor in this needless skirmish. If the trapmaster is killed and his records risk being found, search his laboratory for any references to jobs conducted for House Damaq and destroy them.
Take care and profit,
Trade Prince Aaqir al'Hakam
Sczarni:
Hand of the Family,
Your organization contacted me recently about a man named Zarvious, and I believe they'll soon send you looking for him to help them track down the Sewer Dragons' lair. I believe he's currently a guest of a former associate of mine named Creeley Greeves. Last time I worked with Greeves there were some problems and he wound up flapping his tongue to the wrong people. I want to send a little message out. Don't kill Greeves, but when you pay him a visit, I want you to collect his overly flappy tongue for me. We'll see how much better he keeps secrets when all he can do is
mumble.
Don't disappoint,
Guaril Karela
Shadow Lodge:
Vigilant Watcher,
You are not the first Pathfinders to be charged with eliminating the problems associated with the Society's new smuggling route; a young fellow by the name of Gil Flemish was out with a team of agents recently and was killed, or at least he never returned. Something in the reports his fellow Pathfinders turned in has me worried that one of them might have betrayed the poor lad. See if you can find his body and determine what killed him, and if it was a fellow agent, I'll ensure the culprit pays for the crime and that they claim no involvement with our movement.
Seek the Truth,
Grandmaster Torch
Silver Crusade:
Bringer of Light,
These are dark times, my friend, and in the dark must we shine our brightest. As you delve into the sewers beneath our city, I would ask that you bring a little light into the world of the kobolds you are beings sent to meet. Until I speak with you next, I simply ask that you focus on the tenets of our society and take the path of peace whenever it is offered; if you can show mercy, others may see the value of avoiding undue violence as well.
May the Dawnflower bless you,
Ollysta Zadrian
Taldor:
Agent of the Empire,
As you search for the Sewer Dragons, you are likely to need to find the scholar Xarcious for information. Before he tutored the kobold chief's children, he served as a teacher at a Qadiran school in the Foreign Quarter. I believe he may have some information on where we might find the Kelish jackal Pasha Muhlia al-Jakri, whom we hold wholly responsible for the assassination of Baron Dalsine - information he likely doesn't even know he has. Seek him out and make sure he agrees to take the cabin I've booked for him aboard the Tainted Dutchess on its voyage to Cassomir. Once there, the Lion Blades will interrogate him to get the information we need, though he needn't know that part.
To future victories,
Lady Gloriana Morilla
Although Dreng is pushing you to get moving, you may ask him questions before you leave.
At this time you may make a Diplomacy (gather information) or Knowledge (local) check to see what you know about the Sewer Dragons.
You may also make a Diplomacy (gather information) or Knowledge (local) check to see what you know about Greeves and Xarvious.
