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The professor hesitates for several moments, giving the freight elevator a long inspection as he ascertains its function and weight capacity.
As always, when he is uncertain, he talks in vagaries.
"Yes, yes... this elevator could transport a lot of weight, but likely not significant weight, if you catch my meaning..."
Agreeing with the others that this floor of the museum should be secured first, he falls in line with the other Pathfinders, nearly tripping on his slippers as he proceeds.
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This enormous gallery stretches beneath a high arched ceiling. A grand staircase rises to the north and a pair of mahogany doors stand to the south carved in a relief of one of Absalom’s countless sieges. At the room’s center, a gleaming collection of glass and metal—like some sort of abstract bird—rises upon a single steel support toward the ceiling. A number of glass cases lining the walls have been shattered, scattering strange devices and clockwork limbs amid the broken glass. Seven bodies litter the floor; four in black robes and three dressed in respectable local fashions. A smoky haze still fills the air.
George immediately spots the scuffs on the ground, leading from the eastern gallery through the grand exhibit hall, and up the stairs to the second floor. A human-sized figure passed from the grand exhibit hall into the historical gallery shortly before dragging a heavy object back.
ZZZZZZAP!
Suddenly everyone freezes as the sound of buzzing electricity echoes through the exhibition hall and a flash of lightning explodes a few feet away from George's feet. From high above, at the top of the platform, comes a harsh voice belonging to a female.
"You get the hell out of here, you freak! Don't come any closer or I'll disintegrate you!"
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Freak? I'm hurt by that... George mopes a bit.
If no one takes the lead... We are here on a mission from Drandle Dreng. We are here to protect Nigel from men in black, but it seems that you have that covered. He ushers at the black-robed individuals on the floor with his claws.
Mr. Chips pops out of George's cloak and throws a rock at the dead person. It misses by a few feet and scribbles under a broken exhibit.
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"Fortunate companion," Shahrazad calls out to the woman, "Have you heard the tale of Dalila? She was known as Dalila the wily for the tricks she played on merchants, walis, wadis, and other people of importance. But 'Ali came along and showed her that this was not done in good faith and she then became a trusted and faithful companion of 'Ali's, even marrying her daughter to 'Ali. And her life improved markedly."
"We are Pathfinders sent here on a rescue mission. Please come down and join us, for we mean you no harm."
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"You get the hell out of here, you freak! Don't come any closer or I'll disintegrate you!"
Sad draws his club, reacting negatively to the barbs and insults he has heard far too often...and something that he had been clarifying ever since he entered the Pathfinder Society.
Sad rages, daring the man to come closer with his hurtful words.
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The professor pushes his own jaw shut after gawking at the abstract metal semi-bird after musing on the origin of its composite materials.
"Dis-Integrate?!"
Pushing his goggles up the bridge of his nose, he squints at the (to him) unknown figure looming above.
"I'll have you know the dismantling of molecules is not something that one should be doing without express permission, or in the presence of hostilities..."
As if suddenly realizing they may already be engaged in hostilities, the professor attempts a pose that perhaps would be better effected by a martial artist from the Far East.
"Now is this right, Mister Rock? Open hands? Or closed... Oh bother, I can never remember..."
Performing a bow, the professor dusts his robes and squints again at the (to him) unknown voice.
"Come down here, you, you... whatever you are, we mean no harm."
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The professor gives Tywin a long look.
"Hogwash! Exploring first levels first is just a thing that they tell you at the academy... the seasoned sorts of Pathfinders carve a straight line to the most important treasures first!"
The professor waddles along after George.
"... and uhh, umm, someone said something about a young boy in imminent danger."
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Warm colors and skillful paintings of scenes and landscapes lend an inviting charm to this salon. A few small tables and chairs have been up-ended and scattered around the floor. Double-doors to the north are labeled “Hall of Incantation,” while open passageways lead east and west. Strange, vibrant plants slowly but dangerously animate and whip about their trio of tendrils with spiked heads.
Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. Kalendir
2. Strange plants
3. Sad Rock, Tywin, George, Shahrazad, Professor F
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2. A nauseating poison seeps from their tentacles.
3. Stew, maybe with a roasted kobold?
2. No weakness
3. No DR
4. No
5. It has a reach of 15 feet, but the tentacles don't actually threaten any squares, so it can't makes AoOs.
Kalendir takes down one of the plants before they could even react to the Pathfinders' presence!
The weedwhip moves slowly towards George, and lashes at him with its tentacles, but misses.
Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Kalendir
2. Weedwhip
3. Sad Rock, Tywin, George, Shahrazad, Professor F
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"I have heard, O fortunate companions, that Gharib and the ghul Sa'dan were taken to the marid king, the father of the female jinn that was shot with the arrow. Gharib apologized for shooting at his daughter, as they thought she was only a bird. The marid accepted the apology and made friends of Gharib and the ghul, promising to marry his daughter to her love and end the feud between the two jinni kings...."
Shahrazad continues her tale!
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Round 1, Group 3
The professor squints at the plants.
"Bah! If I was interested in plants, I'd be a professor of botany and not... wait, uhh, what is it I teach again?"
While looking around for help in his inquiry, the professor shakes his trusty wand from his pajamas and waves it at the bardess.
"Inspire them, do you? Well, I see your inspire and raise you one blessing of Brigh!"
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George answers Sad Rock without even turning around. Only a few months. I was a supplier of services to various individuals and it seemed safer to join the Society once a target was put on my back by the Guild.
The Society doesn't let me practice as I wish and requires we work in teams, despite my proficiencies in the solo arena. However, it's good pay, so I don't complain.
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The Hall of Incantations displays magical objects of historical significance that have fallen into the hands of the Blakros’ family. Spellbook pages depicting nearly two-dozen cantrips have been carefully framed and hung around the room’s perimeter. Most of the items on-display are actually nonmagical replicas created just for the show.
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As George moves forward, he spots a strange metal disk on the ground, which could very well be a trap, for all he knows. As he monster closer to examine it, another robot emerges from the far side of the room where it was hidden.
"BZZZZZ You have been deemed unrecyclable. Beginning termination process, please wait while you are slaughtered."
The robot looks at George with its eye that never blinks, aims and shoots a ray at the alchemist, but it is badly aimed and finishes its course in a nearby glass case that shatters.
Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. robot
2. Sad Rock, George, Tywin, Professor F, Kalendir, Shahrazad