Game will start no earlier than August 3rd, but let's muster and select pregens before that time.
Rhanloi's character here! Think I'll keep it simple and play a cleric pre-gen =)
Actually, for this scenario, you get to choose from these pregens (link).
Hm, I'm liking the look of either the Artist or the Experiment...
I like the Experiment most, followed by the Professional, the Ambitious, and finally the Vengeful.
=)
I would like to try The Professional. Second choice would be The Artist or The Leader.
I assume the module is required for everyone to use a different character no duplicate.
I'm trying to puzzle together your preferences, let me know if you want to switch:
Rhanloi - The Experiment
GlennH - The Professional
Karrion - The Artist
Pedwiddle - The Canadian
Nik-
Tiaburn -
I'll go with the ambitious for some THUG LIFE.
You are Aspis Consortium operatives, hand-picked by your superiors for one of the most daring missions ever attempted against the hated Pathfinder Society. For centuries the Society has been the hyena of the archaeological world, descending upon legitimate Aspis operations to snatch whatever the Pathfinders want, kill hardworking contractors, and grow wealthy on the profits of their “historical preservation.” As they say, the victors write the history books, and the widely distributed Pathfinder Chronicles paint the Society’s piracy as heroism guided by a moral compass as true as the wayfinder each agent carries.
Despite the thick walls and heavy windows of the rented home that serves as your safe house, the passage of Pathfinders from across the Inner Sea region creates a muted rumble as they make their pilgrimage to the Society’s Grand Convocation, an annual gathering in which Pathfinders tell tales of their exploits, show off their discoveries, and celebrate another successful year. Every additional Pathfinder is another set of eyes to spot trouble and another blade ready to defend the Grand Lodge, yet every voice and footstep makes it even safer to discuss the impending attack.
"Look, I don't know how much the rest of you have been briefed on our mission, but suffice to say, we're going to be spearheading an operation that's going to involve a lot more moving pieces than just ours. The target? None other than the Grand Lodge of the Pathfinder Society itself." He waits for the others' voices to return to quiet, then continues, "How will we do it, you ask? Well, I happen to have a few points to cover along those lines."
"First of all, we need to make our way to Absalom and into the city, using the general commotion to cover our movements. Then, after we've gathered whatever information we can from the general populace, we need to be ready to strike. When the Master of Swords, Master Farabellus, begins making his speech, agents will usher Society members away from the doors, allowing us inside."
"After we are inside, we will need to do two things." He pauses, to make sure he has everyone's attention. "First, we need to open the portal the the Hao Jin Tapestry. I've got some notes here detailing how to activate it, but we'll need to retrieve some additional notes from the Antarnicus Wing, in the vaults below Skyreach."
"After that, we need to retrieve the Sky Key. We'll head to the museum they've got it in, retrieve it, then hand it off and make our exit. We'll know the other team by the key phrase "Five fingers till Oathday"."
"Everyone have that? Any questions?"
"Sounds pretty straightforward boss" The greenskin takes a moment from sharpening an ugly looking blade and admiring its edge "We got any maps of the joint or do we need to case it first? Suppose we have some vault breaking to do too - might need to work out how to smuggle in some tools, in case we need to do it hard... or if we can't find someone to open it force us, after being persuaded"
"Any idea how big this Sky Key thing is?" the shady type asks as an afterthought...
"Ideally, we'll be able to gather enough information that we'll know generally where we're heading. And yes - we'll be breaking into the vaults as quickly and quietly as possible, taking care of any guards before they can raise the alarm; tools will be essential. As for the size of the Sky Key..." Rataji closes his eyes briefly, then, mentally scanning over the information he was given earlier. "No, I was not told how large the Sky Key is, but I cannot imagine that it will be too large to carry on our persons."
He looks to the others. "Any other questions?"
In the corner, sitting quietly in the shadows, is an elf girl.
But that description is not accurate - she was not sitting in the shadows...no, it is perhaps better to say she was sitting with the shadows. Her soft voice, barely louder than a dream, somehow manages to be heard across the room.
"The Professor directed me to aid you in this mission. That is all I need to know."
"I am not familiar with this Lodge, but have no fear of guards being a problem," a dark halfling woman says, brandishing a scimitar. Her face is impassive, years of schooling to hide her emotions as a slave serving her well as she observes her new companions.
Knbow Local (untrained) Assist
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Shohiraj points out what buildings she recognizes
The human rouge, clears her throat "Ahmm, I have information that a halfling Janira Gavix assistant to the Master of scrolls may have several of the keys to the Grand lodge vaults. She is a storyteller and can be found near large crowds. The keys would make our infiltration of skyreach much cleaner."
The Ambitious has done his homework: he clearly recognises the Grand Lodge's main tower (2), the 20-foot-high statue of that ill-revered pathfinder 'hero' and founder Durvin Gest (16). The wall of names (13) is off to the west, next to a menagerie of exotic creatures (10).
With the current crowds, it will be nigh impossible to break into skyreach unseen. It seems it will be nearly two hours before Marcus Farabellus' speech. Time to act!
Rataji nods at the Ambitious' evaluation of the Grand Lodge's facilities. "Good, good."
When the rogue speaks up, he smiles broadly. "Just the sort of information we need. Will you require any assistance with that task?"
He looks to the others, "For any that are not otherwise involved, I suggest that you spend an hour speaking with any contacts you have in the area; make sure all is well, and see if you can find out any information such as this little morsel. We will reconvene here in an hours' time to confirm our progress as well as deal with any...issues...that crop up."
The elf sets off on her own, blending in with the shadows and the Pathfinder crowd as she wanders the grounds, listening to conversations amid the darker areas. She explores the menagerie, the wall of names, and the statue of Durvin Gest.
'A 20' statue of their hero coming to life and attacking the crowd should cause quite the diversion when we need it most...The Professor would like to see that.' she thinks to herself.
I have information that a halfling Janira Gavix assistant to the Master of scrolls may have several of the keys to the Grand lodge vaults. She is a storyteller and can be found near large crowds. "[/b]
"Good, she's small and valuable - just the sort of treasure I'd be keen to pocket. Let's see if we can track her down, and maybe test her jaw"
Can I keep the stealth roll earlier (a 24?)If not:
Hah!!
Rataji manages to uncover some of the latest rumours:
The Grand Convocation is particularly crowded this year. In addition to agents from all over Golarion, several dignitaries from Absalom are in attendance.
Although both Kreighton Shaine and Marcos Farabellus have made appearances, nobody has spotted the Master of Scrolls Aram Zey. It’s not especially surprising, given Zey’s dislike of crowds and dealing with the public.
Several dozen Pathfinders have begun unloading kegs from carts on the Center House lawns, likely in anticipation of Marcos Farabellus’s big speech. It’s an open secret that he intends to announce that the long- awaited reconstruction of the Sky Key has concluded.
Already carved in larger-than-life proportions, the stone statue of Durvin Gest towers over the surrounding lawn on a pedestal flanked by angelic figures and carved with elaborate friezes depicting some of his most famous voyages.
Several dozen Pathfinders are gathered around the statue, swapping stories and participating in improvised competitions of braggadocio. A halfling is just telling a story about Selmius Foster, and his fabled race against a marid and an efreeti, whom he cleverly tricked into distracting one another while he sped across the finish line. The story earns polite applause, and the halfling hops down from the bench she had used as a speaking platform.
The experiment, meanwhile, climbs up the statue, a feat that doesn't quite seem to disturb the pathfinders as much as it should. The device is harder to place, though, it takes a while. Being up in the statue already caused some strange stares and mumblings of hmpf... bad behaviour, but once somebody notices the experiment is actually placing something there, she gets a hey! What are you doing there?
---
The Artist
The Professional
The Vengeful
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The ambitious one is following Shoh, ready to create the distraction, or king hit a halfling.
"I will pay a visit to this menagerie with you, Marnarius, I think. I have some experience with animals", she adds bitterly, remembering some of the less pleasant tasks assigned to her by her former master, "and if a distraction is called for, releasing a few of the poor beasts these Pathfinders have imprisoned there should suffice." After the party agrees on a time and place to regroup, the halfling and human head toward the west side of the grounds.
As they walk, Joliryn chats amiably, telling a few innocuous stories of her run-ins with the Society, and trying to get the taciturn human to open up a little.
In particular looking to see what his motivations for this mission are.
However, as they approach the menagerie, Joliryn waits for a moment when Marnarius is looking in the other direction, casts vanish, and disappears into the crowds and heads instead for the Wall of Names. Once there she looks around for someone Chelish-looking that might be Arminaldi.
Broad pavilions and awnings shade segmented pens containing animals from around the world, ranging from harmless rodents and fowl to hulking dinosaurs from Tolguth, a giraffe mutated by the Mana Wastes, and war beasts from the Hold of Belkzen. A few heavily reinforced cages hold even stranger creatures, such as an immense two-headed vulture, a ram-headed sphinx, and an armor-plated serpent with fangs the length of a broadsword.
The cages all have heavy padlocks. There are quite a few visitors, a well as a number of zookeepers maintaining the grounds.
Marnarius and Joliryn walk around, until suddenly, Jorliryn is one..
You notice that one of the zookeepers is carrying a keyring, with keys that look like they might fit the locks.
Trees surround the small hill that bears a curving wall of black glass, providing visitors some privacy as they read any of the thousands of Pathfinder names inscribed on the surface. More trees grow in tight formation to the west, where the copse abuts the Grand Lodge’s wall.
Despite the huge number of visitors at the Grand Lodge, the Wall of Names has relatively few visitors, though even with the numerous trees that shield the monument, the dull roar of agents testing each other’s wits, theories, and strength invades this solemn space.
Standing near the wall is a scholarly type, dressed in Chelish garb.
Shoriraj and Zurnzal have a look around, looking for their targets. They visit the statue of Durvin Gest and the Wall of Names.
Trees surround the small hill that bears a curving wall of black glass, providing visitors some privacy as they read any of the thousands of Pathfinder names inscribed on the surface. More trees grow in tight formation to the west, where the copse abuts the Grand Lodge’s wall.
Despite the huge number of visitors at the Grand Lodge, the Wall of Names has relatively few visitors, though even with the numerous trees that shield the monument, the dull roar of agents testing each other’s wits, theories, and strength invades this solemn space.
Standing near the wall is a scholarly type, dressed in Chelish garb, almost alone.
The statue of Durvin Gest is a whole different scene. Already carved in larger-than-life proportions, the stone statue of Durvin Gest towers over the surrounding lawn on a pedestal flanked by angelic figures and carved with elaborate friezes depicting some of his most famous voyages.
Several dozen Pathfinders are gathered around the statue, swapping stories and participating in improvised competitions of braggadocio. Among them is Janira Gavin, clearly recognisable from Shoriraj's sketch.
Janira is just finishing up a story about Selmius Foster— one of the first Pathfinders published in the Pathfinder Chronicles—and his fabled race against a marid and an efreeti, whom he cleverly tricked into distracting one another while he sped across the finish line. The story earns polite applause, and Janira hops down from the bench she had used as a speaking platform.
Joliryn approaches the likely contact from around a curve of the wall, almost bumping into him as she pretends to be looking for a name amoung the many inscribed there. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. The wall slithers like a snake through grass."
Indeed it does. None would step on so great a serpent. the man replies in a scholarly, but then his voice becomes filled with hesitation But perhaps it is a fool who invites the viper into his home.
See how many names are on this wall... and how many more would be added because of the actions of one man?
Zurznal keeps note of where the Halfling moves, signalling Shoh to try engage her in conversation so we can take her for a walk - maybe a tour...
Once the hexagonal pad was attached, 322 leaps gracefully off the statue's shoulder, and manifests a set of translucent, inky wings. She flies lazily around the small crowd once, then twice, and finally lands gracefully and takes a bow. "Nice story, by the way." she says to the halfling. "I have seen an efreeti, but never a marid. Walk with me and tell me more about how these creatures were distracted...it must have been some outlandish feat!"
Zurz gets ready to knock the halfling out if she notices the keys being lifted.
The experiment flutters down, and engages Janira in the thing she loves doing most: telling stories of her adventures. Marid? The most powerful of geniekind, but they have a weakness, you know. They are very capricious, so what Selmius did was...
From the corner of her eye, 322 can see the Professional snatch the keys without the halfling noticing. Zurnzal seems nearby as well, looking to be ready to deal a haymaker to the halfling, but fortunately he doesn't have to.
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While walking human shared not much: he was one of the Agents, who was caught red handed and spent several years behind bars. After he escaped, his main motivation to live was a chance to repay Society his debt.
Quickly, Marnarius pointed to a man: "He has the keys, I might need... Help me with him, while I provide a distraction" and he started moving forward.
- "Evening, sir! I actually have a question about that specimen" he approached openly and pointed to a cage nearby, "could it be somehow related to much larger animal, living in Mwangi?"
The vengeful tries to distract the man, but he doesn't fall for it. What are you going on about, man? That creature is from Jalmeray, not from Mwangi! Count Matsanda Falroun caught it himself!
--Current status (phase 1)---
Vengeful - Menagerie, in progress
Experiment - Statue, in progress, complete?
Ambitious - Statue, in progress, complete?
Professional - Statue, in progress, complete?
Artist - Wall of names, in progress
Leader - Grand Lodge, completed
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