V.-C. Drandle Dreng's page

"Well, officially I don't have any preferences, you know. But if you ask me, I'd go to see Lady Morilla. I'm sure she'll invite you for some tea. I heard she's looking for somebody to do her a favor. You can also talk to Ollystra Zadrian, maybe she has some stories to share about the Worldwound. I heard she needs a team to participate an auction instead of her. Oh, yes! Maybe you can lend Major Maldris a hand in arresting somebody. I forgot who, but I'm sure he will tell you more about this. Apart from that, there are several smaller gatherings that take place throughout the city." Dreng answers to your question and explains the gatherings briefly.

Grand Lodge Social (Afternoon, Day 1): As part of its
contribution to the festivities, the Pathfinder Society hosts
an informal social gathering with drinks and appetizers
to welcome visiting dignitaries and other people of note.
The event also attracts a handful of representatives on the
Grand Council. The Society displays several dozen relics
for visitors to admire, and on one end of the reception
space, Pathfinder agents take turns demonstrating their
many skills to the guests’ amusement.

Commemorative Service (Evening, Day 1): At moonrise,
a nondenominational commemorative service takes place
in the Docks district. The service is somber and those
remembering Grayrain and his accomplishments take
turns speaking. The event is comparatively small, as most
who needed to say goodbye to Grayrain did so earlier in
the month at his funeral. After the service, many of those
in attendance retire to taverns along the waterfront or in
the Foreign Quarter.

Preinaugural Feast (Afternoon, Day 2): This event
takes place at a great hall in the Wise Quarter from
late afternoon through the evening. It is semi-casual
and heavily attended. Many members of Absalom’s Low
Council attend, though the High Council is not present.
In addition to casual conversation, there is much
conjecture and speculation concerning who shall become
Grayrain’s successor.

Deliberation Day (Day 3): There are no major events
this day. The High Council spends much of the day
in deliberation to determine which candidate should
succeed Grayrain. They call upon several dozen citizens
to offer input and testimony to aid in the decision. Those
not under political obligations take the opportunity to
host private meetings to broker alliances, draft trade
deals, and manage other personal interests.

Inauguration (Noon, Day 4): Slightly before noon, a
crowd gathers in a large open-air amphitheater in the Wise
Quarter. Within an hour, the First Lady of Laws, Scion
Lady Neferpatra of House Ahnkamen, takes the stage and
announces the appointment of Grint Basatrel. Grint then
takes the stage to give an impassioned speech about both the
past and his hopes for improving future relations between
Absalom and its vassal cities. After his speech, the crowd
remains. Music and feasting continue long into the night.

You begin the adventure at the Grand Lodge of Absalom, where you join dozens of other Pathfinders on a lawn in the shadow of Skyreach. Many of the assembled agents hold fliers that appeared about the lodge the day before, hinting at a special announcement to be made here this morning.

Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng emerges from the crowd followed by an assistant carrying a large stool that she sets on the grass. Dreng spryly clambers up to stand on the stool and addresses the small crowd.

"Thank you for joining me here, Pathfinders," the milky-eyed venturecaptain shouts. "Absalom has a long and illustrious history, and today we add a little more to that ongoing record. The esteemed councilor Hadrel Grayrain of Diobel recently passed away, leaving a vacancy on Absalom’s Grand Council. We’re still many months away from the annual inauguration of councilors, and with numerous acts pertaining to Diobel on the schedule, the vassal city is eager to get a new representative. In fact, with Absalom’s assistance, Diobel’s Kortos Consortium has co-bankrolled a festival spread across much of the Foreign Quarter. Ostensibly, this is an occasion to honor the deceased and welcome his replacement. Virtually everyone also sees this as a chance to advertise and earn some new business."

Drandle Dreng clears his throat and shrugs. "Well, the Society is no exception. We’ve already chipped in some gold to help this be a success, and in doing so we’ve received numerous invitations to the more exclusive events. With our recent work in Mendev, we’ve earned considerable goodwill. This is a good opportunity to consolidate those gains by seeing and being seen by the upper crust — as well as hobnobbing with the common people."

He chuckles and gives the crowd a smile. "All at the Society’s expense! Have a good time, keep an ear out for interesting leads, and represent the Society well!"

The venture-captain then hops off the stool and mills about the crowd, greeting various agents by name, slapping associates on the back.

Feel free to do some introduction RP and to ask Drenk some questions.

Dreng continues his way. "You’re probably wondering where I’m ragging you, eh? Seven years ago I sent young agents much like yourselves on a preliminary exploration of the necropolis below the Drownyard in the Precipice Quarter. The Drownyard is the name that was given to the old Tri-Towers School, once home to some of Absalom’s wealthiest progeny. It was destroyed in the great earthquake of 4698 ar, and we thought that all of the children, teachers, and staff had perished. But let be back up a bit. Eight years ago, the Society discovered an ancient necropolis under the Drownyard. It dates back to the third century AR, and if you know anything about Absalom’s history, you’ll know that we know almost nothing about those early years. It took me almost an entire year of negotiating with the parents of the children who died in the Tri-Towers Yard to convince them to grant us access to the site, and when we did, what did we find? A lot of spooky stuff: undead, haunts, and some nasty bugs. But we also found something completely unexpected: a survivor. A little slip of a girl named Junia Dacilane somehow survived in a death-like state for 10 years. The only thing that kept her alive was a ring of sustenance that she had found among the crypts. Junia’s mother, Lady Miranda Dacilane, was of course beside herself when we pulled her living daughter from the ruins and she vowed to not only give the Society full access to the property, but personally underwrite our archaeological efforts there. Soon thereafter I set up an archaeological dig at the Drownyard, and we’ve been pulling out fascinating fragments from Absalom’s early history ever since." He pasuses for a moment.

"Every year I visit Lady Dacilane to renew our contract to maintain the dig, but this year it seems that she wants us to jump through an additional hoop. She wants us, or rather you, to escort her daughter back to the Drownyard. It seems that Junia’s become a bit obsessed with her alma mater, and since the Precipice Quarter is no place for pampered young noblewomen, she needs an escort. Think you can manage that?"

Without giving you a chance to interrupt him, he quickly adds, "Oh, and don’t forget to call the Drownyard the Tri-Towers Yard while we’re at Dacilane Manor. No one who lost children in the earthquake likes to be reminded of that tragedy... even the ones who got their child back."

You receive letters instructing them to meet Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng outside the main gates of the Grand Lodge at noon in formal attire.

Noon comes and you meet at the main gates. Drandle Dreng is late. And you have time to introduce yourself to the rest of the party.

The fall rains have come early this year, and a chill wind blows off the waters of Absalom’s harbor, bringing with it the smell of a storm somewhere far off at sea. Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng hurries down the street in a most unusual outfit for the aging Venture-Captain: some sort of blue military uniform complete with a green sash displaying a pair of ornate medals and a black umbrella. "Ah, there you all are," he half-mutters to himself. "Is everyone here?" Without waiting for an answer, he turns on his heels and heads off at a brisk pace, occasionally turning around to make sure everyone is keeping up.

"Not really troubles, more minor incidents: stealing a crate there, stealing a bottle there. Nothing serious. Some of our agents who’ve encountered the tribe recently claim they’ve seen an actual dragon fighting with the Sewer Dragons, while other agents have found scorch marks on the walls down there. Be careful." Drenge answers to Maximilian's question. "We can fence goods for them and get them supplies at reasonable prices. We can also get goods into the city for them. If the rumors I hear about alchemical substances and traps are true, perhaps we can purchase items they produce for our own use in the field. Under no circumstances do the Decemvirate approve any sort of tribute or ransom, however, so if that’s all the Kobolds want, you’ll need to use your most convincing tactics to get them to change their minds. I think they will accept the offer, but you may defend yourself if things get out of control." he continues to speak with Vanya and Vailis. "I would not call it 'ambassador', but 'broker' would be appropriate." after finishing an apple pie he continues.
"Xarcious had many vices, and I think he did a fair amount of gambling. I have heard he’s gotten into some problems down in the Puddles, but beyond that I’m not sure. If you have trouble finding him, you might look for a gentleman named Greeves. I understand Xarcious owes Greeves a substantial amount of money, and Greeves is likely to know where to find him as a result." Sorry for that missing link.

If you have more questions, please ask. Meanwhile I post the Knowledge checks results:

You are able to find out that 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. The Sewer Dragons have a skilled trapmaster who is sought after by merchants and the wealthy in Absalom proper. It’s rumored that some of his most clever traps guard House Morilla and other noble resources. The Sewer Dragons’ chief is old and said to be planning to turn the tribe over to one of his two children, the elder daughter Yiddlepode and younger son Yippitok.

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. Greeves runs his business out of a former watch station in the Puddles. Three days ago, Greeves was overheard arguing with a slaver about the sale of a skilled slave. Greeves did not seem happy with the outcome of the negotiation.

Discussing the forthcoming mission over a light breakfast of pastries and fruit is a welcome change of routine 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."

He takes a bite from a peach.

"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 the 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 Xarcious to tutor the tribal leader’s children. I suspect Xarcious 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." he says and grabs a piece of apple pie.

kn. local/Diplomacy checks for more information on the Sewer Dragons and Greeves and Xarcious.

Not just for that question, but Drandle Dreng is a common VC in the scenarios so I created an alias for him. In my opinion it looks nicer to see a face to an answer ;)

"This trinket alone seems to minor, but it might lead to bigger treasures, my friend. And it is alway appropriate to ask for motives. And every Venture-Captain will answer your questions if he or she is able to."

This question was actually in the list of questions the player might ask, but nobody asked as far as I remember so Drandle did not answer ;)

"In ancient times, a wealthy merchant cut a ruby salamander ring from the hand of young cat burglar named Horastian. Horastian later became a renowned information broker and art collector. The Pathfinder Society hopes to magically locate the long-dead thief and his fabled hoard by using the ring as a divination focus."