#4-23 Rivalry's End

[Richard Loh]

The Cypher Lodge is one of Riddleport’s finest inns, and Grandmaster Torch currently inhabits its finest suite. Flanked by his ubiquitous half-orc bodyguards and the weasel-faced Varisian businessman Guaril Karela, Torch speaks.

“I cannot overstate how dangerous Dorianna Ouidda is,” the scarred Pathfinder begins. “She wears many masks, and she uses them all to orchestrate the utter destruction of the Pathfinder Society. As a high profile politician in Andoran, she blocked the Society’s expansion into that nation. As a Gold Agent in the Aspis Consortium, she uses the Consortium’s limitless wealth to frustrate the Society’s business however she can. As the criminal mastermind known as the Spider, she engages in elaborate plots to frame the Pathfinder Society for her misdeeds. Ouidda even hired the Red Mantis Assassins to murder me, although I’m still a step ahead of those assassins for now.

“Dorianna Ouidda is one of the few people on Golarion who know the secret identities of the Decemvirate. She previously crafted an elaborate plot to turn a loyal Venture-Captain against the Decemvirate, and we suspect she is plotting to destroy the Decemvirate even now.

“Loyal Pathfinders have foiled Ouidda’s schemes again and again. We arranged her arrest in Andoran, but she leveraged her political connections and escaped. The time has come for more drastic action.” Torch gestures to the Varisian man at his side. “Guaril has a network of informants here in Riddleport, and they’ve identified the Spider’s lair.”

Guaril Karela smoothly adds, “I would say ‘observant acquaintances’ rather than ‘informants,’ but no matter. Ouidda owns a controlling interest in the Weaver’s Parlor, a gambling hall in the Free-Coin District. She transacts private business from ancient chambers beneath the gambling hall, visited by only a few trusted associates. These chambers are accessed through a hidden door at the west end of the gambling hall’s wine cellar.”

Grandmaster Torch continues, “We know the Spider is in her lair now. Enter the chambers beneath the Weaver’s Parlor. Capture Dorianna Ouidda and return with her here. Ouidda may have made notes about the Decemvirate or their identities— bring that information back as well. Let me stress this: Ouidda must be captured alive. We need to learn the extent of her information about the Pathfinder Society and find out whether she has revealed this information to others.”

“You need to make haste, but I don’t want to rush past any questions you have. The better informed you are, the more likely you are to succeed.”

[nightdeath]

"Who are her trusted associates?"
"Does she have further contacts with the Red Mantis?"
"Do we have any other contacts we can rely on?"

[comradechris]

"Awww... why can't we just off her? That'd be so much simpler."

Mulls Kit as he checks the sharpness of his daggers... ALL of them.

[Daryl Kong]

Shel Kazer stretches her body while seated on a high stool, cleverly showing off her bodily curves, extending her arms into the air and purrs sexily like a cat with high charisma, intending to get the attention of the boys.

"What games do they have in the casino, I wonder...? And I don't have black dress outfit... perhaps someone would like to gift me one?"

[Richard Loh]

As Guaril hands out a set of masterwork manacles, a good lock for the manacles and a voluminous cloak in which to cover up their prisoner, Grandmaster Torch elaborates:

“It’s not likely that there are any Red Mantis Assassins involved. Ouidda doesn’t keep any staff or servants in her chambers, as far as we know. We’re commissioning you because we’re confident you can perform this mission as directed. You must take Dorianna Ouidda alive. That isn’t negotiable. We’re worried that spells to raise the dead or speak with the dead might fail.”

Torch motions a half-orc over to bring his unguent to him to soothe his burns. "We know very little, unfortunately. They are her private sanctum, and she only rarely transacts any business there with others. We have heard they have a spider motif, and are very old, but we don’t have any information about their layout. And that is why you are selected for this mission, and not just any new Pathfinders. I hope you'll not disappoint me. Good luck!"

Information about the games going on in the gambling hall can be obtained with appropriate Knowledge (Local) or Diplomacy check.

[Daryl Kong]

My diplomacy is +16, and I'm sure our wizards can hit over 25 knowledge local easy!

"I like to know more about the gambling hall's security.
Are magic users allowed?
Are there other entrance/exit for staff?
Does the Shadow Lodge or Sczarni have the means to acquire false staff identification or uniforms for us?
Or perhaps pass us a few tens of thousand gold coins so that we have infiltrate as high rollers?"

[Richard Loh]

With your high Diplomacy, Shel was able to gather the following information:

- The Weaver’s Parlor is currently holding a week-long gambling tournament for wealthy gamblers. Only wellknown gamblers or those with a large bankroll are admitted.
- The other owner in the Weaver’s Parlor is Gaston Cromarcky, the Overlord of Riddleport. Overlord Cromarcky shamelessly uses the Gendarmes, Riddleport’s city watch, for personal events, so the Gendarmes will be providing security at the Weaver’s Parlor.
- One of the Spider’s agents commissioned the construction of several clockwork guardians months ago, but the current whereabouts of those guardians is unknown. It is rumored that the Spider uses the guardians herself, as she is unwilling to trust corruptible mortals to ward her inner sanctum.

"How you infiltrate the Parlour is not really my problem. I'm sure the Society pays you well, given that the weapon you're holding is worth several thousand gold crowns at least. For identifications and uniforms, you are Pathfinders! Surely, you're resourceful enough or I'll be sending the wrong agents out into the field!"

[Richard Loh]

Nakayama Hayato braving the clockwork soldiers indicated to his companions to fall back as he will hold the line, knowing that for the party to survive the deadly clockwork soldiers' attacks, they will have to spread out.

Confident of his lacquered o-yoroi's ability to protect him from the deadly halberds, he issued a major kiai shout to channel his ki into his katana as he slashed viciously from the clockwork soldier's left shoulder to right hip. Tilting it's head slightly as the blow cut a deep gash across its mechanical body, the automaton's rotating hands twirled the halberd over it's head and slashed down in a similar fashion into Hayato. The ronin fell to his knees and in defiance, he gritted his teeth, leaning heavily against his sword as blood spilled from his mouth. As he attempts to stand up from the assault, the automaton raised his halberd directly above the samurai's head and the last thought of the ronin Nakayama Hayato was of hoping that his valiant stand against the automatons gave the party time to regroup and that, ultimately, his honour is once again restored, even if it cost his life doing so.

In a way, although he was far from home, his honour indeed was restored. The Venture-Captains of the Society honoured him as a fallen hero who stood against the deadly Spider Dorianna Ouidda and that when the accursed name of Grandmaster Torch was brought up, there are certainly toasts raised in memory of Nakayama Hayato.