Murder on the Silken Caravan

Murder on the Silken Caravan, a Pathfinder Society scenario written by Greg A. Vaughan for tier 1-5, was released in August 2008.

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Volunteers are needed to escort the body of a deceased venture-captain across the parched Qadiran desert to Katheer. The Silken Way offers passage, hauling exotic treasures across the perilous sea of sands. You'll brave bandits, spies, and unwelcome mourners hell-bent on paying respects to your dead companion. Worse still, the caravan's mistress, a satin-swathed Qadiran princess, has designs of her own on you and your cargo.

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Scenario overview

Level	1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Type	Journey Wilderness
Location(s)	Qadira

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Background

In 4708 AR, legendary Pathfinder Venture-Captain Targos Min-Katheer died in the Qadiran city of Lopul, apparently of old age. In view of his contributions to the Pathfinder Society, the Decemvirate decreed that, in accordance with his last wishes, Targos' body should be transported to his home town of Katheer to be buried with full honours in his family vaults.

Adventure

Venture-Captain Adril Hestram charges a group of Pathfinders with escorting Targos' body from Lopul to Katheer. This will require them to join a caravan that travels the Silken Way.

The Pathfinders travel from Absalom to Lopul, where they find Targos' house surrounded by what appear to be mourners. However, the mourners are soon revealed to be cultists of Lamashtu, led by a priest named Ben-Garri the Scarred. Because Targos opposed the followers of Lamashtu during his life, the cult hopes to steal his body and defile it. The Pathfinders defeat or drive away the cultists, and recover Targos' body.

The Pathfinders join a caravan led by the Qadiran noblewoman Jamila al-Shafah. Among those also accompanying the caravan are the aged Taldan knight Gaspar du Mer, the Katheeri souk merchant Mahmoud, the Osiriani water merchant Hokama Pashket, and Pashket's slave boy Atmar.

The caravan is beset by a sandstorm as it travels, and the Pathfinders, Hokama, and Atmar are separated from the other travellers and then attacked by goblin and hobgoblin brigands.

In trying to catch up with the caravan, the Pathfinders find Mahmoud's slain body with a dagger in his back.

Still chasing the main caravan, the Pathfinders attempt to cross the Zho Mountains near the Shat-al-Qadr River. Their path brings them near Kamawgyar Shrine, an abandoned temple to the god Irori. The shrine is now the home a predatory harpy named Mother Halima and her daughters. The Pathfinders struggle with the harpies but survive the shrine.

Upon completing their crossing of the mountains, the Pathfinders re-unite with the main caravan only to discover that Gaspar du Mer has taken Jamila hostage and is leading bandits to attack the caravan. Gaspar is revealed to be a Taldan agent intent on crippling trade along the Silken Way, and Jamila is revealed to have been Targos' lover. Jamila and Targos were close to discovering Gaspar's identity and bringing him to justice prior to Targos' death.

The Pathfinders defeat Gaspar and his bandits, and it is further revealed that it was Jamila who killed Targos, as an act of euthanasia at the ageing Targos' request.

Targos' body reaches Katheer and is buried with a hero's funeral.

Recurring characters, concepts, and locations

The following characters, concepts, or locations can be found in this scenario, but also significantly appear in the publications listed below:

Map support

Murder on the Silken Caravan uses two custom maps.