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Korasu stops and catches his breath after the fight. Did that... thing... hit him? Did it not? After the various assaults on his will and sanity he still isn't sure, but no permanent harm seems to be done. More importantly, though, the abomination has been dealt with!
"Ah, I thought we were supposed to contact the sage when we found the Sage or evidence of him. If this truly is a shattered Sage Jewel, then that would imply that the Sage here has perished.
Ah, I... I could be wrong, though. I still feel the lingering tendrils of that creature's touch. I'm sure by tomorrow they will leave me, as my doubts have flown before."
Yet from his soul wells up an echo, booming, haunting "Nevermore..."
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Pooka replays the events in his head, like reading a book of things that happened. Suddenly a light bulb goes off, if such things existed.
"The three at the table! They were the sages! Ruby, Emerald, and Topaz. Sellana told us there used to be 4, but one of them left. The other three argued all the time. Apparently they argued so much they died in that position at the table. Or something, like the Allip, killed them in place."
Pooka clanks his gauntlet on his helmet a few times, trying to knock more thoughts loose. "I don't know how I didn't put this together before."
"So we found the Ruby fragments, bodies of three previous sages, and have currently lost any other leads. Nothing on the diamond sage yet. Amenopheus said if we let him know when we find something he would provide us with further instructions. The more I think about our situation, the more Xull has the right of it, we need to let him know what we have found. We could always still wait until tomorrow morning though before we travel back, and then question one of these scarab seekers before we leave."
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Xûll takes the parchment from Warpac and reads over it, nodding appreciatively.
"How about this?" Xûll scribbles a few changes in so it now reads...
Found ancient corpse of Court Librarian of the Song Pharoah, the shards of the ruby sage’s gem, and a long deceased team of scarab seeker Pathfinders ('Asha' and others). Pathfinders had message from Decemvirate commanding them to search the place. There is much information contained in these walls on Ancient Osirion, a lot of cursed items, a sarcophagus for speaking with the ancient dead and a trapped water elemental that we believe you should help free (she was trapped by the Jeweled Sages). What do we do now?
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After receiving the message the Pathhfinders have a response. "I will be there in one hour."
The Pathfinders spend their time in different ways, Warpac keeps staring east and the pile of rubble, wondering what lies beyond. Xull wonders what the water elemental is doing, and if she really wants to keep him forever. Toorin pours over all the manuals and rubbings he took, asking Korasu for clarifications on verb conjugations. Amarok searches for arrows that he is able to recover. Pooka and Luna lounge around, both seeming to scratch at a troubled area at the same time. One guesses the old adage about dog and owner growing to resemble each other contains at least a kernel of truth.
As promised, Amenopheus arrives 1 hour after you contact him about the broken sage jewel.
He walks over and gathers the shards of the sage jewel in his hands. "So much lost. So much that we can never get back. Wait a moment, there is something still in here. Risky, but I must try."
Placing the shards on the table, he begins to cast a series of spells, spells that Warpac, Xull, and Toorin do not recognize. Once he completes his spellcasting, there is a tense moment when nothing happens.
Slowly, the shards begin to glow with a soft luminescence, and a beautiful woman appears before it. She smiles a benevolent smile, before addressing the assembled.
"Thank you, brave men. You are truly heroes of a new generation. That crazed spectre that you destroyed, he was once a friend, as dear to me as a brother. You see though my essence is contained in a broken jewel, I can see and hear. I am aware.
"Perhaps it would be better to tell you my tale. Qadira began its purge of the Jeweled Sages, and we remembered that this fortress had been abandoned due to changing trade routes and a lack of resources, so it made an ideal place for the us, the Emerald, Ruby, and Topaz Sages to go to ground.
"We stayed here for an untold time. The days passed in much the same fashion. Wake, meditate, read. We did not need to eat much, or sleep much, for we were sustained indefinitely by our magic.
"Gradually, isolation with no end in sight wore at our minds and drove us to fight amongst ourselves.
"The Emerald sage broke first, and a mighty magical battle ensued. Our first victim was the Topaz Sage. I died next, my jewel shattered. One might call the Emerald Sage the victor, but our arcane battle left him crippled.
"As despair and madness set in he ... changed. Once couldn't call him a jeweled sage anymore. He had transformed. He was now —the Sage of Plagues. He elected to take his own life before his thoughts could corrupt the gem’s memories. Despite his selfless intentions in that moment of lucidity, his spirit lingered afterward as an allip that tapped the emerald’s power to sow the ruins with curses that changed over time and at the spirit’s whims.
"Your bravery has finally set him free of his madness, and I pray that he is now at peace.
"There is more that I need to tell you. Only one day before, the topaz and emerald
jewels sat on this very table alongside my shards.
"When one of the men handled one of my shards, I was able to read his thoughts before he discarded
the fragment and fled. He is a thief, Kafar, who had intentions of delivering the jewels to the Diamond Sage in a region known as the Pillars of the Sun.
"It is there that we Jeweled Sages’ built our sanctum."
She exchanges a look with Amenopheus. A brief moment of understanding passes between the sages.
Amenopheus finally speaks up, "It is odd that the Diamond Sage would collect the gems there instead of finding new candidates to become sages elsewhere in Osirion. I fear that the Diamond Sage’s
actions are not typical for the order. More so if the jewels are in the hands of known enemies of the Pathfinder Society."
Once more the Ruby Sage begins to speak, "I too sharing my fellow sage’s concern. To help you combat this threat, I am able to offer you some of my power—mythic power—to you noble Pathfinders, if, and only if you are willing to chase down the thief Kafar, reclaim the stolen jewels, and find the Diamond Sage to learn what she intends."
You all feel a surge of power within you. Your feet bounce with new found power, your thoughts clearer, your arms flex with more defined muscles.
With that said, her corpse slumps and returns to its desiccated form.
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"Why was the diamond sage not hiding out with you in this place?" asks Xûll, too curious to bother with the normal pleasantries, and she's dead, after all, "The oddest thing is that he did not flee here with you. I am frankly amazed that madness did not set in for the three of you earlier than it did. You consider yourselves 'sages' and yet you fled to isolation here in Osirion where you were persecuted rather then further afield. This seems ludicrous to me."
"You trapped a water elemental and set it as a guard here," Xûll notes, "The treasure she guards is no longer there... and the commands you gave her are no longer relevant. Before I accept this quest, you will set her free."
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Pooka nods sagely along with Xull's demands, assuming there is no longer any reason to keep the water elemental, and so the request seemed more than reasonable.
"I do accept milady." he says simply and bows.
Pooka grins at the surge of power within him. This should be fun... He chuckles, scratching a troublesome spot underneath his helm on the back of his head.
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Luna barks at the animated woman for a moment before settling down when her master gives her the hand signal to lay down.
When the strange woman finishes speaking, she also feels that surge of power within her. She stands up quickly, shaking her head and body, sand flying everywhere. Before she walks over to her master, she plops her hindquarters down, scratching a troublesome spot on the back of her neck, just above the hem of her barding.
"Why was the diamond sage not hiding out with you in this place?"
"Not ever sage is in harmony all the time. Some felt that staying and attempting to change things was better than fleeing, some fled to different places. I do not know and cannot say what the Diamond Sage with thinking."
"You trapped a water elemental and set it as a guard here," Xûll notes, "The treasure she guards is no longer there... and the commands you gave her are no longer relevant. Before I accept this quest, you will set her free."
"I fear that I do not possess the power to do that. If I did I would surely do this for you. Perhaps you can ask Amenopheus."
The Sapphire Sage turns to Xull, "Lead the way. Let us see what we can do."
The Pathfinders and Sage exit the chamber and make their way back to the fountain. There they see the sword resting at the fountain's feet, yet it is not longer spitting water. Xull rushes over to see his friend Sellana, but cannot seem to find her.
Amenopheus picks up the sword, turns it over a few times, casts a few spells, and turns to Xull.
"Looks like a pretty powerful scimitar. One designed to slay dragons."
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Amarok bows to the ghostly form of the once Ruby sage in true Osirion fashion,
"We will if course honour this task and see it completed, thankyou for your boon honoured sage"
He turns to Amenopheous before asking his next question, following him to the room of the water elemental to ask his next quesyion.
"Honoured sage, what do you know of the 'scarab seekers'? It seems the decemvirate sent them here to examine this place, yet they fell to infighting and traps. We have access to a coffin here which allows discourse with the deceased and found scarab wayfinders which i have not seen before."
Turning to address Amarok, "Really? That is fascinating that you have a coffin here that allows you to talk to the deceased. I would love to see it."
"As for these scarab seekers that you mention, I have not heard of them. I have only been with the society a short time and I am not familiar with all the factions within. I would have though that a collogue would have mentioned to me, at least that they were planning a expedition to an ancient fortress that held priceless histories of Ancient Osirion. Do you know when they were assembled?"
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"We have not managed to discern their purpose in here yet, nor do I know of the order. As our message stated, we asked the court librarian of the song pharaoh, who was in the sarcophagus. Most interestingly, there were note pertaining to the creation of gems, possible the Sage Jewels, but the librarian knew nothing of your order."
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"Thank you for agreeing to set the elemental free, Master Amenopheus," Xûll is sombre in his gratitude, "And I'm glad to hear that we already freed her. She was... persistent and annoying, but pitiable.
"As for the Pathfinders, we did not have a date on the note. It requested to be burned, but I memorized it before doing so:
'Thanien,
'Agents in Qadira found documents that were taken from Osirion during the interrogation... or something like that.... they spoke of ancient scholars and revolutionaries who were repressed by the pharaohs during the Second Age.
'We think we've found an abandoned fortress where some of these sages hid their treasures. The documents also say the sages had priceless histories of Ancient Osirion, which we need you to retrieve.
'Assemble a team of the Scarab Seekers... a very strange request, since I don't know who these are either... and this letter's instructions. Disguise yourselves as merchants and hire a caravan to near where the fortress is.
'If the authorities discover you, we can’t have it traced back to the Society. Burn this letter once you’ve memorized it.'
"That was all, I think," Xûll is no longer sure about his memorization, nor the wisdom of burning the letter. He shrugs, and lifts one of the dead Pathfinder's up and over his shoulder. "Well, I guess we can always ask this one. Shall we?"
With that he carts it over to the sarcophagus and helps with the ritual.
"In which month and year did you come to this fortress (now known as 'Seeker's Folly')?" he asks, boldly confident in the appropriateness of his question.
Once again the Pathfinders all pile into the secret chamber. They revlentely remove the body of the court librarian. Not seeing a place to put him, they place him on the alter.
Akwardness aside, Amenopheus marvels at all the man could tell them about Osirion's past. He pours over the notes that Toorin and Amarok give him as Pooka, Warpac, and Xull drag in the fallen pathfinder they found by the entrance.
Once again they perform the required magical rituals and the mouth of the sarcophagus opens unnaturally wide.
"Desnus......"
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Toorin will give the Sapphire Sage the notes he deciphered regarding the creation of the jewels. He also gladly accepts the challenge to find the jewels stolen, particularly if it gets him to the temple mentioned. So much history and new knowledge!
"I am a bit confused about the thief. The sage's spirit said, 'He is a thief, Kafar, who had intentions of delivering the jewels to the Diamond Sage in a region known as the Pillars of the Sun.' If he is returning the jewels to the Diamond Sage, he doesn't seem a thief as much as messenger, returning the jewels to the order. Is there some reason we should not want the Diamond Sage to get the jewels? And do we know where this 'Pillars of the Sun' is?"
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Pooka whispers to the others, not wanting to spoil a question.
[smaller]"Should we ask him who sent them here on their mission? Probably should ask him why they wanted the... *gasp*"[smaller]
Pooka's face turns white as he stops mid sentence.
"It was Grandmaster Torch. He sent this group here to steal the Jeweled Sages secrets long ago. That's how he knew where this was. That's how he knew there was another group coming here. He probably sent them. He was a part of the society back then, wasn't he? He was looking for the jewels but didn't want it tied back to the society because he knew people like you, Amenouphus, would be asking questions. He wanted it all for himself."
Pooka's conspiritorial mind kicks into overdrive. He walks over to the other side of the room, takes a deep breath, and leans against the wall.
"That could be crazy. I've been known to have a bit of crazy in my family. What would we ask the body to either confirm or refute that theory?"
"I am a bit confused about the thief. The sage's spirit said, 'He is a thief, Kafar, who had intentions of delivering the jewels to the Diamond Sage in a region known as the Pillars of the Sun.' If he is returning the jewels to the Diamond Sage, he doesn't seem a thief as much as messenger, returning the jewels to the order. Is there some reason we should not want the Diamond Sage to get the jewels? And do we know where this 'Pillars of the Sun' is?"
The Ruby sage turn to Toorin, "What would you do should you find the sage jewels? I suspect you would return them to Amenopheus. What makes that different from Kafar is that you would collect no money, and you have no intentions of selling the jewel to another.
"In the brief time I had contact with Kafar, I could tell that his intentions were profit. There is a difference between what you are trying to do, and what he is trying to do,
"At least I hope."
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"Good idea, Toorin! Lets command it to tell us all it can about the Scarab Seekers. We'll probably need to be specific," Xûll muses, "Maybe something like, 'What are the names of all the members and leaders of the Scarab Seekers that you know'. I'm sure Amenopheus, you will either know or be able to find out Grandmaster Torch's real name prior to his... scarification.
"And way to think outside the box, Pooka!" the Shoanti praises his friend, "What do you think, will my question encompass both yours and Toorin's?"
Again the mouth of the sarcophagus opens unnaturally wide in response to Amarok's question.
"Scarab......seekers"
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"Who sent the scarab seekers here to collect this places treasures?" Pooka asks, hoping he already knows the answer.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Again the mouth of the sarcophagus opens unnaturally wide in response to Pooka's question.
"It......was"
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"What would you do should you find the sage jewels? I suspect you would return them to Amenopheus. What makes that different from Kafar is that you would collect no money, and you have no intentions of selling the jewel to another.
"In the brief time I had contact with Kafar, I could tell that his intentions were profit. There is a difference between what you are trying to do, and what he is trying to do. At least I hope."
Toorin did not reply, but wondered if there was such a difference. While the Pathfinders often undertook missions for humanitarian reasons, all expect to make enough profit from their activities to keep at it.
But he wondered if there was some problem with the Diamond Sage getting the jewels that the Ruby Sage was not willing to tell the living.
He watched the proceedings for asking the Pathfinder corpse about their mission, curious what the group would learn.
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"Well, that's our three questions," Xûll shrugs, "Master Amenopheus, unless you want to wait here another day to asks some more questions, perhaps we had best be on our way. Unless, that is, you need to inspect any more of this place for yourself? I imagine you'll be coming back here later... maybe with Korasu and Toorin in tow. I'm afraid I can offer you little else by way of help in deciphering the riddles of this quite literally cursed hide-out cum tomb.
"Unfortunately, though," the Shoanti adds, "I don't think we are any closer to finding your Diamond Sage friend... other than by process of elimination. We know he's not here. That just leaves the rest of Golarion. Unless I missed something?"
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The Shoanti seems embarrassed when he is reminded that they still have one more question to go. "Oh... umm... well, I don't think we should ask about Torch," he notes, "His name - as far as we know - wasn't mentioned in the list of Seekers... and he may well have been known as Torch as far back as then. Let us ask something else... perhaps what the the mission statement of the Scarab Seekers is?"
"They .... think ......stumbled.....ruins ...... accident"
CONCLUSION
"I can see now that you are destined to complete this quest, and I will have no need of others to help. Come, let us return to Eto and gather supplies so we may track down the thief Kafar and head to the Pillars of the Sun."
With that, Amenopheus once again performs the magical ritual to teleport the Pathfinders back to Eto.
"For those unaccustomed to the hard desert elements, I fear this will only make our task more challenging. If any of you need to resupply before we make the trek to the south, please do. The Pillars of the Sun is a very dangerous region of towering rocks, searing wind, and terrible beasts. With the fate of my order riding on your success, I will accompany you to Sanctum of the Sages."
The growing light of predawn filters in through a window of the two-story building that Amenopheus has rented in Eto, and the aging Garundi man takes a seat on one of the cushions set out for this meeting. He produces a sealed letter from his robe, placing it in the middle of the floor before speaking.
“Good morning, Pathfinders. As you know, we have had our share of setbacks recently. Not only have the emerald and topaz gems sacred to my order slipped through our fingers, but we also faced the frustration of finding nothing but fragments of the once great ruby. Thankfully, its power is not lost entirely, and through the Ruby Sage’s blessing, it lives on in you. I am thankful that you have agreed to act on her behalf and see this through to the end.
“As we speak, the scoundrels who seized the two gems cross the Pillars of the Sun to meet their employer, the cryptic Diamond Sage.” He sighs heavily. “What she intends to do with the gems
is a mystery, but the sage jewels are too important for me to take risks with. If the power that you wield is representative of a shattered jewel’s potential, imagine what one might accomplish with three undamaged stones! Until we know what her plans are, it is paramount that we get to the jewels first.
“Kafar and Nefti have a rudimentary map of the Pillars of the Sun, and last night I found a bartender who spotted them poring over it between drinks. She recalled little of the map, and she could not make sense of the marks or annotations; however, the right spells have allowed me to probe her mind and determine Kafar and Nefti’s entry point into the mountains. We will follow them from there.” With a somewhat chagrined smile, Amenopheus adds, “It may be that they will lead us to the Sanctum of the Sages, a hidden complex I have long suspected might be in this area.” He stands and announces, "Just so you all know, though I expect all Pathfinders to be prepared for a variety of situations and conditions, I expect the Pillars of the Sun to become quite hot once the sun has reached it zenith. If you are not already adequately equipped, I suggest you do so. Prepare yourselves quickly. We shall leave momentarily. "
Before you leave, you all have been given a letter from Venture-‐Captain Norden Balentiir.
Loyal Pathfinders,
The Sapphire Sage has requested our help once more as his hunt for the lost order of the Jeweled Sages and their iconic gemstones continues. Amenopheus tells us that Kafar and his pupil Nefti have snatched two of the gems: an emerald and a yellow topaz. It goes without saying that the Aspis Consortium’s involvement in this matter troubles me deeply; I will not have them outwit us as they did my colleague, Hestia. It saddens me that such a pair of brilliant operatives may die before your mission is over, but I would sleep better knowing that they were no longer a threat to the Society. Were that they had chosen to become Pathfinders rather than pawns of the Aspis Consortium!
I hereby deputize the Sapphire Sage Amenopheus to lead this expedition, and you shall assist him in his quest. Remember our tenets: explore, report, and cooperate. I look forward to receiving word of your success.
Godspeed,
Venture-‐Captain Norden Balentiir
Diplomacy (gather information) or Knowledge Local)
about the Aspis Consortium.
Knowledge (Geography) Pillars of the Sun.
with temperatures dropping drastically at night due to strong winds.
harsh conditions and aggressive fauna. To this day, many ruins stand as reminders of these
ill-fated enterprises.
another to circumvent the most difficult of the mountainous terrain.
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Korasu spends time winding through the town, making careful and polite conversation under the guise of setting up his next caravan route. After sufficient time, he returns to the group to share what he found.
"Ah, it appears that our quarry has perhaps a three day lead on us. The one known as Nefti is a flutist, perhaps a bard, whereas Kafar has traveled to herbalists and apothecaries, perhaps an assassin or alchemist? Both appear to have ties to the Aspsis Consortium, however, they may be looking for a new patron and are willing to sell their knowledge."
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Luckily, as Xûll questions Mahu about recent events, Korasu is paying far more attention.
Xûll looks back at the Sapphire Sage. He has hardly been listening to the man. Too many moving pieces. In truth the Shoanti had been distracted. As crazy as she was, that insane water elemental was the first female to show him anything corresponding to affection for quite some time. That alone was cause for concern... but it turns out he felt something for her. At the very least, Xûll would have liked the opportunity to have said goodbye.
"So, Master Amenopheus," Xûll begins, hardly sure what to ask but knowing that it was for some reason always expected - why don't they simply tell us all that they know? - and clears is throat before asking, "What can you tell us of the Pillars of the Sun?" and for extra credit he adds, "Especially of their historical significance."
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"I am less skilled with magic, though I am not a fool to dismiss it's powerful effects. Can you tell me if the endure elements spell would be sufficient in such a hot area?" Pooka asks the wizend sage.
"Well done on your information gathering Korasu! It seems that with the right words, we might be able to convince these two thieves to join the society. It would be worth the effort at least."
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Toorin nodded at Korasu's summary of scuttlebutt on the new quarry, Nefti and Kafar. He had learned almost as much except for the last part about possibly wanting a new employer.
To Pooka's question about sufficient preparations for the elements, he says, "The spell known as Endure Elements should be sufficient for dealing with extreme heat and cold. I have a supply of scrolls to cover my own needs and can prepare the spell if need be. The pillars are in those mountains you can see just south of Eto. It's a half-day ride in ideal conditions. I recommend we be prepared for climbing as well. I will get some mountain climbing gear look for any other magic that might help, if I can afford it."
Purchasing a Climber's Kit for 80 gp, 5 lb., grants +2 circumstance bonus on Climb checks.
Once more the Ruby Sage begins to speak, "I too sharing my fellow sage’s concern. To help you combat this threat, I am able to offer you some of my power—mythic power—to you noble Pathfinders, if, and only if you are willing to chase down the thief Kafar, reclaim the stolen jewels, and find the Diamond Sage to learn what she intends."
Assuming you do.
You all feel a surge of power within you. Your feet bounce with new found power, your thoughts clearer, your arms flex with more defined muscles. You have all gained Mythic Power. See chronicle #1 & #2.
With that said, her corpse slumps and returns to its desiccated form.
Amenopheus turns to Xull, "Toorin has the right of it. The Pillars of the Sun are know for their harsh environmental conditions. I wish I could be of more service, but my specialty of history, and I fear I have little practical knowledge to share with you."
"Historically speaking though, they are said to contain the lost tomb of Pharaoh An-Hepsu XI. Not sure if that will help us on this mission or not, but since you asked." Xull can tell that he is trying to restrain himself and be focused on the mission, but once a historian, always a historian.
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Oh, dear. Climbing in plate mail is quite the chore. Last time I did that I had sores on my bruises. I had better start practicing. And perhaps get some gear or, isn't there an Ioun stone that will help? I'll look for one of those.
For a large part of the rest of the time in Eto, Warpac is industriously practicing his climbing skills in plate mail and shield.
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"Hey Warpac, you should pick up a few of these!" Pooka smiles, showing off his newly penned scrolls of spider climb and [I]ant haul[I]. "Who needs ropes when you have magic, right?"
Turning back to the sapphire sage, "We are pathfinders after all, any chance we would get an opportunity to explore that tomb once we have finished our task? Or perhaps our task and that tomb will be intertwined." he muses.
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"Hey Warpac, you should pick up a few of these!" Pooka smiles, showing off his newly penned scrolls of spider climb and [I]ant haul[I]. "Who needs ropes when you have magic, right?"
"Ant haul I could do, but I'm not so good at those fancy wizard spells. Wouldn't know what to do with the spider climb scrolls. Or were you thinking we could get Toorin to cast them on us?"
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"Well I'm certainly no caster! Ha!" Pooka laughs as he claps the dwarf on the shoulder.
"Yes, I had hoped one of our arcane friends would do me the favor of casting these spells for me."
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