Please Dot in
You have been called to the Grand Lodge of Absalom for a briefing. Seated in a small chamber around a darkwood table, various trophies gathered from across the face of Golarion hang from the walls. A monkey-shaped mask with a serpent’s tongue glares out from the center of one wall, a strange halberd with gold rings piercing its thick blade and dragons carved along its haft hangs opposite the monkey mask. You are alone save your fellow Pathfinders, who apparently have been called here for the same purpose.
Finally, a huge man wearing creaking leathers marches into the room. He looks at each of you, as if he were appraising a handful of gemstones freshly pulled from the earth, and nods curtly. Some of you know him as Adril Hestram, a longtime Pathfinder and rumored to be the unwitting architect of the famed Katapesh slave riot of 4702. Adril’s physique puts most half-orcs to shame.
“Welcome, friends. We have a serious problem. Skelg the Ripper came to Absalom one month ago. Like many Ulfen warriors he joined the Longaxes, the Taldan Emperor’s personal guard whose duty it is to protect the embassy and Taldan visitors. Skelg also dropped a hefty sum of gold to purchase a manor in the Ivy district, something a Longaxe isn’t paid well enough to do. It is widely assumed that he brought most of his wealth with him from the north—a rumor I know to be true.
“It seems that Skelg also brought a curse with him. In his letter to me, he speaks of lying abed in this miserable summer dying from the cold. Neither physician nor priest has been able to cure his ailment, and there are no signs of disease or poison. Of course, for such a man, there is no greater dishonor than to die in bed instead of in battle.
“Normally, the Pathfinder Society would monitor these events and let the authorities deal with them. However, there are three factors that have drawn our interest. First, Skelg is himself a member of our Society and has asked for our help. Second, he is a personal friend of mine, and finding a sparring partner as worthy as Skelg to replace him would be a trying task. Last, he claims that artifacts of great power are involved, and that we may be able to recover them for the vaults of the Grand Lodge.
“We view this situation as having enough importance to assign you to investigate it. Go to the home of Skelg the Ripper, learn what you can, and do your best to help him. If you find an item that is somehow connected to the curse, either retrieve it or glean as much information as you can about it.
“I trust there are no questions?”
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The long thin human sat in the corner silently sipping a cup of warm tea he took from the provided refreshments. He sniffed at seeing the group he had been assigned to. Not a proper human nobleman amongst the lot of them. He'd clearly have to do most of the heavy lifting in this mission.
"Has this Ripper," the man asks with a rolling of the eyes, "...been known to exaggerate the truth? What are the chances he has an actual artifact with him? Has he published any works that describe such a powerful magic item?"
Adril sighs, as he really didn't seem to expect any questions. But he answers.
"I don't know more about what these artifacts may be, but the man has always been honest with me, so I do not expect he is exaggerating... at least not greatly. Perhaps he has something with him... go ask him and find out."
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A blond half-elf woman sits toward the front of the room. She nodded to Pau when she entered recognizing him from a previous assignment. She is dressed in studded leather which has extra sparkle and flourishes covering it. She clearly does not want to fade into the woodwork.
"Can you give us directions to the manor once we reach the Ivy District?"
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A dwarf wanders in, as if lost. Once he sees the collection of likely Pathfinders gathered in one place he smiles, believing he found the right place... at last.
A curse! Sounds kinda bad to be freezin' ta death in the summer! I don't know nothin' 'bout no arty-facts or them things but I'll take a look at the fella and see if there ain't somethin' ta da to help him.
Oh! I'm Kildrek, of the Autumnwind clan. I ain't smart or nothin' but I'll promise to ya that I'll do all I can ta help ya!
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A blonde elf with speaks up from a chair near the wall. His sudden speech is actually a bit jarring for while you knew he was there he was doing something so that you kept looking past him.
He speaks in that melodic voice commen to the elves:
Sounds pretty straightforward. We go and help the Ripper get over his curse and while he is healing steal his cursed item so that nobody else gets hurt. Does that sound about right?
Now that your eye is drawn to him you realize this elf while having a nice voice is otherwise completely forgettable. His face is neither handsome nor ugly, his leather armor worn but In good repair and he seems of average weight.
As he settles back into his chair he seems to sit very still waiting for an answer almost becoming just more background filler in the room.
Hestram looks at Meran, and growls, “Try and keep up with local events if you want to get anywhere in the Society. He lives in Greydog Manor, on Parkview Street in the Ivy district.”
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A gnome comes rushing in, red hair in a messy romp. He looks around,
Is this the right place? I went to the room on the right instead of the left. Sorry bout being late to the party...at least I am fashionably late, a smile crosses his face.
My friends call me D.W. and subtlety is my forte. I know the basic workings of traps, but I ain't no expert.
After hearing the VC go over the mission, and seeing jos brow furrow at having to explain it ONCE again, he gives a simple nod.
Got it, find out about this curse and stop it if possible.
Parkview Street is true to its name, running the entire length of the Ivy District park. Standing like a tomb in a flower garden, Greydog Manor is easy to find. Six-foot-high walls surround the massive, stone building and an immense iron gate flanked by granite statues of hunting dogs stands open, offering access to the interior. Looking along the street, it is clear that locals give the estate a wide berth. The stone walls seem to give a slight chill to the air, which is not entirely unpleasant on such a hot day.
The manor has several windows that can be seen from the street, but all have curtains drawn.
The building itself is 40 feet by 40 feet, and the courtyard at the front is the same size. The courtyard is cool and shady compared to the street outside. Dead leaves are scattered across the flagstones and the granite steps where two Ulfen warriors stand. Each man wears a chain shirt and a surcoat bearing the Taldan crest and carries the traditional imperial guard long axe. The guards look at you sternly, and one of them speaks. “Skelg is ill. He wants no visitors.”
The guards are wearing their surcoats backward.
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Demario looks at the coats the guards are wearing. He turns up an eyebrow as he realizes they are backwards.
I wonder if these are true Taldan guards or if I should stab them right here
Demario grabs a dagger from his hip, and readies it should things turn ugly. He than goes up to Grog and taps him on the shoulder and motions him down to tell him something.
They have their coats on backwards, I don't trust 'em
As Kildrek makes his case to come and heal, the guards shake their heads, and one says "Skelg has decided he would rather die in peace. Go now."
But once Meran shows them the gig is up, they move to action, closing the gate before you can react!
Metal bars - you can see and fire weapons through.
The walls are only 6-ft high. Climb DC of 5, but 1/4 movement unless you have a climb speed.
The guards watch you, and get ready to attack with their great axes. Pau, Narnel and Demario climb over the wall while Grog struggles with the gate.
Both guards fall asleep.
All is clear.
You all gather in the courtyard, and have two sleeping (temporarily) psuedo-guards.