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Hi everyone, I've got some questions I was hoping you could help with. I finished running my players through the EotT four parter at the start of the year and we're picking up the same characters for higher level content shortly. We've built up some continuity for the characters that I'm keen to continue that. My intention is to briefly outline how various groups have been impacted by the events of Eyes of the Ten, chief amongst them: the Society. Eyes of the Ten finale spoilers:
Has there been any indication who has been elevated to the Decimverate? Say by Venture Captains suddenly no longer providing missions/briefings, etc. My intention is for there to have been quite a public bun fight amongst Venture Captains, many being forced to retire or leave as indiscretions, instances of incompetence, etc come to light as the VC's manoeuvre against each other as the vie for the top post. Eventually some are 'retired', 'reassigned' etc as a cover for their ascension, but the average Agent will just have seen a pile of promotions to VC to cover a batch of retirements and some unsavoury stories surfacing. I don't plan on revealing directly to the players who has ascended, but if you know any names that are a good fit or who are implied to have been promoted, it'll flavour the info they'll receive about what happens. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Theo produced the sheaf's of paper and deciphered the code on the prisoner receipt. He growled in consternation: Doesn't quite work. This is what I've got. Destination: INDE-INITE-REMIT ON RE-UESY
Five'll get you ten that 'B' is 'F' so it becomes... INDEFINITE-REMIT ON RE-UESY
And hey... that 'Imperial Seal' number. Check out the list of names we translated. 79402910 corresponds to this name here: Tancred Desmire. What do we think gents?
Theo sheathed his shortsword and nodded to Okawe, "Hell of an arm you've got there friend, glad you're with us on this one." he dusted himself off and moved back to the cabinet labeled "Internal Security: Dossiers" and flicked back through it, "No telling if someone heard that, we'd best get a move on."
Theo spluttered at Okawe slapping his back. He straightened up, massaging the rippling, tingling pain from his shoulders, but managed an appreciative smile at both Okawe and Kiyoshi. "Heh, thanks. I guess Ive got the gods to thank for my brains. And the milkman for everything else." his smile turned sheepish as he looked up to the vent. "What are we thinking? It'll lead to another of Zarta's stashes? Or out of here?"
Theo shuddered at the sight of the implements, "You know, I don't think I'm as enamoured with our lady as I thought." He picked up at the letters Okawe discarded and inspected them closely. "...look. The number of letters per word on the bottom right of this note correspond with the number of letters at the start of the letter. The punctuation too. See?" He picked up a quill on the table, dipped it in an inkwell and scrawled on a fresh sheet of paper. What a man! I just have to Vent. Every production he's...
"So if each letter replaces another letter then the cipher looks like..." He kept scribbling on the paper: A = I
"And if the other paper uses the same cipher, then the results should look like..." NORAVIA A--US
Theo straighten up with a satisfied grin, throwing the quill back into the well with a flourish. "Not too shabby if I say so myself. What do you think friends? Names of places? Or people?"
Theo placed the canvas back on the table and turned his attention back to the woodcutting and the keyhole. He pulled his thieves tools from a belt pouch and span the picks through his fingers. "I don't see why not. Looks like a fairly normal lock, to me leastways. I'm guessing she was relying on it remaining hidden, rather than being secure."
Theo nodded his agreement with Okawe as he observed the rushed attempts to redecorate the rooms, "I agree friend, this is pretty sloppy. Good news is, it makes our job that much easier." He began rifling through Zarta's effects and let out a low whistle as he uncrumpled the canvas, "Our lady certainly has quite the opinion of herself." he paused and at it squinted momentarily, "Mind you, nice... birthmark. Do you think... erm... anyone would miss this?"
Theo grinned at Okawe as he pulled the tunic on and adjusted his bandolier and belt for comfort. "I doubt this will turn any heads," then he spied the Chellish badge on the breast and picked at it "Although it'll probably turn all kinds of heads if we wore them out to the next Pathfinder's ball." He did his best to make sure the disguise hid the bulges of his equipment and nodded to Dasim, "This'll make moving around so much easier. But what kind of clues to Zarta's whereabouts are we looking for? Where do we go from here?"
Theo crouched down again and surveyed the lush gardens. He stooped slightly, craning his head to spy the ongoing ball and let out a low whistle - nice party, the wine was flowing and there were plenty of unsuspecting rubes. Plus whatever would have been upstairs. He sighed and shook his head, thieving and conning werent exactly his line of work but he could appreciate a missed opportunity. Wistfully, he glanced over at the on lookers at the balcony, then back to the garden, picking out a path through the ornamentation. He nodded back to his comrades with a confident smile. "Might be time to tan those elixers chaps - drink 'em if you've got 'em. See you on the other side." With that he slipped out of the servant's door and into the garden.
Theo caught the keys and smiled back at the cleric, "A bit ropey there for a moment. Didn't think we were going to make it without you Zander." He stuffed the keys into his pocket, moved over next to Dasim and crouched down, "I say we just go for it." he whispered, "Just walk through like we own the place, always works for me."
Theo patted the Okawe's arm and smiled a 'thank you' up at him. He stepped up next to Dasim, pausing momentarily, trying to decide how to approach the duty officer.
He did his best to mimic Dasim's practised bow, "Sorry ma'am, but he's right - our orders don't leave much room for negotiation. The empire's holdings on Sargava may rely on the information. I appreciate it's not convenient, but we can't hand it over to anyone other than the ambassador
Theo shuddered slightly at Dasim's attempt at charm - he had laid it on a little thick, and Theo's initial impression of Hospar lead him to believe she wasn't the type to melt under glowing Varisian charm. A pity, because the charm offensive was Theo's preferred tactic too. "My friend, he's uh... a bit of a dog" Theo chuckled, stepping forward and gently nudging Dasim in the side before flashing him a quick wink. "Can't help himself around pretty ladies." He smiled sheepishly and offered his hands up apologetically, "But he's right, we're sorry, but we wouldn't come at this time if we didn't have important information for the ambassador. And we're hoping you can help." He stuffed his hands back into the pockets of his worn brown overcoat and gripped the vial of Shiver. Just in case.
Theo picked up a vial of the elixer, held it up to the light and shook it, watching the thin, silvery liquid spin and swirl. How did this stuff help you hide? "Ugh, I don't get it. Magic, right?" he shook his head and shrugged. Turning to the rest of the team, he offering them the curio in his hand, "I'm pretty quiet as is, I figure these could go to people who aren't so light on their fee-" He caught sight of Zander favouring his leg and stopped short. "Uhm... Sorry, didn't mean it like that."
Theo offered a half glance to the embassy, as he scratched the back of his head. He wasn't worried per se and he would never knowingly be nervous. He'd dealt with individual Chellaxians before, sure, but he'd heard stories about their fire and brimstone routine. And for their first mission to be walking right into the biggest concentration of them and 'snoop' around their stuff? Well, that just gave him cause for... concern. Yes, he liked that: concern. That's all it was. But then again, they didn't have a plan for the inside of the embassy. And they didn't even know what exactly they were looking for. For a moment, he was seized with concern. He fingered the knives tucked into his bandolier, counting them for comfort when the cleric brought him back to his senses. He managed an easy smile and placed his hand on Kiyoshi's shoulder, "It's good to have you along Brother. And don't worry about being a 'burden'. We work together on this and we'll be in and out of there before the Chellish realise what hit them. Besides, five will get you ten, you'll be the one who finds what we're looking for." |
