Welcome to GM Chadius's Solstice Scar B.
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Tuning his mandolin, the young man looks up at the grumbling northerner and grins, plucking a few strings.
"Now, I do say that waitin' can take a bit o' toll, which is why I found the joy of music! If we are waitin' for the same thing, I recon I should introduce myself. Back in Cheliax, I was given the name of Astolfo, but y'all can call me whatever you wish."
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Jajee strolls over to the pair of pathfinders, offering a salute as he approaches "Aye, the calm before were sent into the field again, that brief window of time before it all begins always feels like.. Eternity, but a good minstrel helps pass the time! Pleased to make your acquantices, the names Jajee. You said your names were Astolfo, and.." Jajee looks over to the sea weathered man and gives a nod in his direction "..Im sorry, didn't catch yours, what title does the veteran of war before me go by?" He remarks, taking a seat by the others and setting down his heavy shield, his arm glad to be free of the constant weight. Though made of Darkwood the spiked shield was still quite exhausting to heft around all the time, or perhaps that was his age showing again...
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"I am flatter'd bein' called a good minstral good Jajee. I do say it may been some sort o' curse that lets my strings pluck the way they do, but, makes a good livin'. Heard that this here Society pays fer travel t' other countries, so I decided t' join up. Was told by a wee halflin' gal to come to this here lobby and wait t' be called on. Also muttered 'bout not doin' some confirmation or schoolin' 'fore I do jobs. Told 'er I learn better from livin' the lessons, and not some book."
Finally tuning the mandolin to his liking, Astolfo grins as he begins to strum for a moment before playing a quiet, yet happy tune to alleviate the lack of music in the chamber.
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Jajee strolls over to the pair of pathfinders, offering a salute as he approaches "Aye, the calm before were sent into the field again, that brief window of time before it all begins always feels like.. Eternity, but a good minstrel helps pass the time! Pleased to make your acquantices, the names Jajee. You said your names were Astolfo, and.."
"Give it five minutes." the big Ulfen says scowling, his arms crossed across his broad chest. "Name's Agirran, and the imperialist strummer's Whatever, or maybe Mr. Wish if you're tryin' fer formal."
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A young girl wearing bright leathers in shades of red and orange bounces into the room. She looks around at the group and begins to laugh at the Ulfen man.
"Waiting is dreadful! I agree! So I won't wait to introduce myself. Hello everyone....my name is Yoon...and this is GOM-GOM! Rawr! Hah, just kidding I know toys are for kids but I can't bear to get rid of it." says the young girl as she shows off her stuffed owlbear.
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"My name is Sythka'landrianna Seiðkonur and while that name may be more difficult for some of you..." she says looking at the Shoanti and Ulfen... "You can call my Sythka. Tis a shortened name good for humans to pronounce." Sythka nods to each in turn then finds a seat acutely aware she may be the only non human among them.
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Jajee greets Yoon, her companion Gom-Gom, and Lady Sythka, offering a courteous bow to each. "I apologize in advance Lady Sythka, if I butcher your name, I'm sure it sounds nowhere near as eloquent rolling off my brash tongue. And what's this? Is that an Owl beardoll?!! Gom-Gom looks fierce indeed! I had one of these back in the day..." the large Shoanti man remarks excitedly to Yoon
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A young Kitsune passes silently through the door, and tries to make it to a shadowed corner before anyone sees him. As he's moving cautiously along, he lifts his head, and realizes everyone is looking at him as he tries to "stealth" his way through a well-lit room in full view of everyone. "Ah, hello! How are you all? Um... quite the Torchbearing we've been having, eh? How did you all do at the, ah, camouflage contests?"
The fourth and final day of training has come to a close at the Grand Lodge of Absalom, heralding the end of this year’s Torchbearing. Pathfinders the world over attend this annual symposium to share their knowledge, teach each other new skills, and reinforce their connections across the Inner Sea and beyond. To celebrate the end of festivities, the lodge has hosted a grand banquet in the visiting agents’ honor. A refreshing winter breeze blows through an open window, flickering torches and sending papers scattering. The smell of freshly baked desserts fills the air while initiates clear away the remnants of the first course.
The Three Masters, along with other notable Pathfinders, taught a variety of classes, from Golarion’s history to spellcasting techniques, and ran obstacle courses and a triathlon.
Based on the result of a Diplomacy (Gather Information) or Knowledge(Local) skill check, you might know more about the Torchbearing.
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"My name is Sythka'landrianna Seiðkonur and while that name may be more difficult for some of you..." she says looking at the Shoanti and Ulfen... "You can call my Sythka. Tis a shortened name good for humans to pronounce." Sythka nods to each in turn then finds a seat acutely aware she may be the only non human among them.
"Sounds good to me Ice Queen."
The Three Masters use the Torchbearing to keep an eye out for particularly talented agents that embody the Pathfinder Society ideals: Explore, Report, and Cooperate. **Snort!** Guess we're all on the naughty list. Probably get a wayfinder built into an anchor.
"Whatever." Agirran says sullenly.
Agirran returns to his third bowl of stew--drawing it to his lips and slurping loudly. His silverware, remains unused, still wrapped in its cloth napkin. He bare hands a warm roll out of a passing basket and mops the rest of the stew out of the bowl before downing the mashed bun, and setting the bowl atop the tower of dishware next to his elbow.
**BUUUUUUUURP!** "You gonna eat that?" he asks of the person next to him.
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"That is a pretty name Sythka! Happy to meet you!"
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After spending some time with other guests sporting her charming smile she has exciting news to share.
"Oh oh oh! Did you all hear? The most exemplary Pathfinders get special Wayfinders and some even get whisked away for super secret missions? Maybe they will choose us next especially if they hear the way I will tell our story." she starts to giggle at the thought of being brought before everyone.
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Jajee throughout the week picks up some helpful hints in the roguish arts.
"Super secret missions and wayfinders? Now theres my cup of ale!" Jajee replies to Yoon, before proceeding to wolf down a plate of what looks like every dish that was offered all combined together unceremoniously, the Shoanti man lacking any noticeable table etiquette.
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Eating a couple of bites of food before placing his elbows on the table, waving his drumstick at the others. "You know, I've heard that some of these agents tend to disappear for a while during this event. Something about possibly seeing The Decemvirate, or something."
Dropping the drumstick onto the place, Astolfo grimaces for a moment, massaging his hands. "Training has been pretty nasty, moreso than what I would have thought. They expect EVERYONE to participate in the physical courses and scholarly classes, aside from what they want to specialize in. That may be why most come to school here before becoming a Pathfinder!" Chuckling a bit, he takes his goblet and drinks a bit. "At least I found a few titles in the library to practice during some of the off time."
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The front doors of Skyreach burst open with a loud crack. Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin strides to the edge of the platform, with a slender elf dressed in practical but expensive clothing trailing meekly behind. The red-faced venture-captain addresses the crowd in a booming voice.
“Pathfinders, I regret interrupting the festivities, but we have something of a situation. Approximately twenty minutes ago, unknown forces invaded the Blakros Museum. Fortunately for everyone involved, the Torchbearing is about cooperation and helping our colleagues, so let’s think of this less as an inconvenience and more as an opportunity to practice what we preach.”
The elf, Nigel, exhales sharply, then speaks, “Now, Ambrus, I’ve spent a king’s ransom fortifying the museum from all sorts of invaders: sentinels from the Golemworks, magical wards from the Arcanamirium, and even contracts for guard beasts, both magical and mundane—spared no expense. I didn’t want to come here, but I’ve got no choice.”
Valsin’s forced smile cracks slightly, showing his annoyance. “Out with it, Nigel. Get to the point.”
“Someone broke into my museum and set off the magical protections! I was preserving priceless Shining Crusade pieces for our new exhibit when the first alarm activated. I sent for district guards and went to investigate, but by the time I arrived, the thieves had already locked themselves in my study. They somehow caused the Shining Crusade relics to fly around the museum and attack my sentinels. Everything is going haywire! The magical traps started to target me, the sentinels are not responding to my commands, and—”
Valsin holds out a hand to steady the increasingly agitated elf. “The last you knew, the thieves were still in your study?” Nigel nods. “Very well. Pathfinders: the Seekers should prepare to teleport directly into the Blakros study—“
“That won’t work,” Nigel interrupts, “The study is magically sealed. After that dreadful Numerian exhibit, I turned it into a magical safe room. The robbers must have figured out how to activate it; no one can get in or out while the wards hold. I can work on breaking the wards, but meanwhile my sentinels are smashing up the collection. Some of those priceless relics are on loan from your own Society lodges, so helping me is really helping yourselves.”
“Fine.” Ambrus Valsin takes a deep breath and then turns to the assembled Pathfinders. “Pathfinders, go to the Blakros Museum, secure any relics you can, disable the security systems, and apprehend the looters if possible. Stay safe.”
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'that is terrible Sythka mutters under her breath...
Watching the gathering of pathfinders scurry about Sythka looks for safety with some other entry level agents. "Who am I to go with?" she asks aloud. Unable to find a suitable number of elves to join for this mission Sythka moves to stand behind the Shoanti and the Ulfen she met earlier.
"Well then... let us not delay... after you two..."
The Blakros museum. Again.
What do you remember about the Blakros family? Make a Knowledge (nobility) check.
And what about the Blakros Museum? Make a Knowledge (local) check.
And what do you know about Nigel Aldain? Make another Knowledge(Local) check.
You finish gathering your supplies and head towards the Skyreach.
The front doors of Skyreach burst open with a loud crack. Venture- Captain Ambrus Valsin strides to the edge of the platform, with a slender elf dressed in practical but expensive clothing trailing meekly behind. The red-faced venture-captain addresses the crowd in a booming voice. “Pathfinders, I regret interrupting the festivities, but we have something of a situation. Approximately twenty minutes ago, unknown forces invaded the Blakros Museum. Fortunately for everyone involved, the Torchbearing is about cooperation and helping our colleagues, so let’s think of this the less as an inconvenience and more as an opportunity to practice what we preach.”
The elf, Nigel, exhales sharply, then speaks, “Now, Ambrus, I’ve spent a king’s ransom fortifying the museum from all sorts of invaders: sentinels from the Golemworks, magical wards from the Arcanamirium, and even contracts for guard beasts, both magical and mundane—spared no expense. I didn’t want to come here, but I’ve got no choice.”
Valsin’s forced smile cracks slightly, showing his annoyance. “Out with it, Nigel. Get to the point.”
“Someone broke into my museum and set off the magical protections! I was preserving priceless Shining Crusade pieces for our new exhibit when the first alarm activated. I sent for district guards and went to investigate, but by the time I arrived, the thieves had already locked themselves in my study. They somehow caused the Shining Crusade relics to fly around the museum and attack my sentinels. Everything is going haywire! The magical traps started to target me, the sentinels are not responding to my commands, and—”
Valsin holds out a hand to steady the increasingly agitated elf. “The last you knew, the thieves were still in your study?” Nigel nods. “Very well. Pathfinders: the Seekers should prepare to teleport directly into the Blakros study—“
“That won’t work,” Nigel interrupts, “The study is magically sealed. After that dreadful Numerian exhibit, I turned it into a magical safe room. The robbers must have figured out how to activate it; no one can get in or out while the wards hold. I can work on breaking the wards, but meanwhile my sentinels are smashing up the collection. Some of those priceless relics are on loan from your own Society lodges, so helping me is really helping yourselves.”
“Fine.” Ambrus Valsin takes a deep breath and then turns to the assembled Pathfinders. “Pathfinders, go to the Blakros Museum, secure any relics you can, disable the security systems, and apprehend the looters if possible. Stay safe.”
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"The Blakros are one of the wealthiest and most well- known merchant families from Taldor. They own a variety of businesses with interests all over the Inner Sea. For years, the Pathfinder Society and the Blakros family have been allies, even if only at arm’s length. Occasionally the family invites notable Pathfinders to one of its high-society affairs." Picking looking at the others, he brings out his mandolin after retrieving all of his gear. "The Blakros Museum is located in the Wise District, owned by the Blakros family, and curated by Nigel Aldain (a former Pathfinder). It is open to the public when an exhibit is on display. Though the exterior of the building is ugly and squat, patrons marvel at how much bigger it is on the inside."
As the group makes their way, the bard talk the most about Nigel, "Though the relationship between the Society and Nigel is often strained, they remain steadfast allies. Nigel often collaborates with the Society, loaning artifacts and trading information. He has obsessively researched the Shining Crusade for the past several months. Nigel is a former Pathfinder who resigned to marrying Dhrami Blakros; the position of curator was part of his marriage contract. Nigel’s museum has suffered many mishaps since he became curator, which the Society has regularly helped clean up. Nigel still tries to distance himself from the Society and act independently, but when trouble befalls the museum, he often turns to the Society for help.Recently, Nigel has spent a fortune in security for the museum, particularly in magical protections from the Arcanamirium and Golemworks in Magnimar."
Hurriedly, he keeps up with the group, making sure they get all the information he knows.
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'that is terrible Sythka mutters under her breath...
Watching the gathering of pathfinders scurry about Sythka looks for safety with some other entry level agents. "Who am I to go with?" she asks aloud. Unable to find a suitable number of elves to join for this mission Sythka moves to stand behind the Shoanti and the Ulfen she met earlier.
"Well then... let us not delay... after you two..."
With a sideways look at Sythka'landrianna, Agirran takes a long slow, loud slurp of stew.
"Rich bugger. Probably nicked something from them when I was professional pirate. 's just a hobby now."
"Down at the burlesque they're showing 'Legs of the Shining Crusade'. A sort of tie-in, I guess. Pass. What with all the time and relative dimensions in space-stuff they got goin' on in the inside we'll have to go in the old fashioned way--through one of the museum's port holes."
"Quill-necked geek."
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Jajee listens as Agirran and Astolfo recount what they know about the Blakros family and museum, laughing out loud at the quill-necked geek comment
"Aye, sounds like we have a mission finally! Never ran into a REAL life owlbear before though, let's hope that's not what awaits us. First floor here we come!" Jajee remarks, pumping himself up by beating his fist against his Darkwood Shield a couple of times, the loud THUD resounding in his ears, making his adrenaline rush
Long shadows cast by ruined displays and broken furniture litter the floor. A humanoid-shaped figure made of shattered clockwork lies slumped over a bench. Above, an elaborately painted sign reads “Crusader’s Chronicles.”
You hear the barks of startled guard dogs as you approach. One of them leads the pack and takes the frontline, barking loudly.
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"Agreed, would be a shame to have to engage in open combat with the pups, I think the alphas the one in front if anyone has a knack with animals. Always been fond of em myself, but them not so much me, guess I smell worse then they do..a fact Lady Skayaya so affectionately reminded me of."
Jajee awaits, shield raised in front of him, weapon at his waist
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"Well well now. Dogs of war? No, mere pups to guard the area! How about maybe we let these dogs do what we may have learned from their kind!" Pulling out his mandolin, Astolfo plucks a few notes before grinning widely as his fingers begin to strum faster, creating a feverish pace of music. "That sounds better! Look alive fellow heroes, and I'll write a ballad of your deeds!"
Agirran's glower is enough to shaken the dog, but not enough to back down. It growls and barks at him, and the others behind it begin to move!
As Astolfo strums, a puddle of slick grease forms under the alpha dog's legs.
It manages to keep its footing.
Astolfo
Sythka
Yoon
Jajee
Doggos (Alpha Shaken 2 rounds)
Agirran
Karu
Astolfo, Sythka, Yoon and Jajee are able to engage before the dogs are truly ready to strike.
Jajee enjoys the tune, but he finds no joy in putting the alpha dog down.
Sythka'landrianna stares at the dog with the yellow collar, but she only sees anger and defiance. Still, it's enough to weaken its resolve for a brief moment.
Astolfo (Inspire Courage +1)
Sythka
Yoon
Jajee
Doggos (Yellow -2 to attack)
Agirran
Karu
Yoon has a chance to move before the dogs do.
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"Throw food at at... then throw more food towards the door to see if they follow it out..." Sythka says to the others not wanting to kill the dogs outright unless absolutely necessary.
"I think I got a wedge of cheese on me somewhere if you want to fish around." Agirran says looking at his belt pouch. "But they're just Collies it's not like they're ninjas or anything."