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Currently posted to the Society's Grand Lodge in Absalom, you have been summoned to the office of Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin in the Pathfinders' towering fortress of Skyreach.
Upon entering the room, you are shocked to find Ambrus Valsin sitting behind his desk sporting an affable smile instead of his typical, trademark scowl. This on the Chamberlain of the Grand Lodge is an extraordinary and frankly, unsettling, sight - causing you to wonder for a moment if the man has been replaced by a doppleganger.
The reason for Valsin's odd behavior quickly becomes apparent, however, as he gestures across his desk to a tall Garundi man with short black hair and gold-rimmed spectacles.
"Ah, Falroun, these are the agents I was telling you about," The Venture Captain tells him. "Pathfinders, welcome! May I introduce Count Falroun Matsanda of Alkenstar."
Valsin’s guest stands and offers his hand in greeting as he speaks. "It is a true pleasure to meet you. I have purchased several antiquities from your Society in the past, and I have always wondered about the people who acquire such treasures. I must say, you do not disappoint!"
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I'm sure we will not disappoint this time either!
Guy's excitement radiates from him, though he does look around uncertainly as though hoping for someone to add substance to his claims, having none himself. He does not appear particularly confident in himself, his small stature folded up even further under the uncomfortable weight of the scale armor he is constantly adjusting and scratching under. The armor is hung embarrassingly loose upon his body. Somehow, the fastenings look contradictory. It is as if he knows how he SHOULD attach things but chooses not to for comforts sake. Anyone with medium armor proficiency will probably be cringing when they observe the mess he's made of it, and would probably conclude that he has probably made the whole thing LESS comfortable with his pathetic attempts.
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With his breast raised high, so that anyone can see the crest of house Salani, Varis enters the room as if all inside belonged to him. Seeing the important guest, he draws his enourmous hat and bows deeper than necessary, even though he has not the slightest idea of the man's significance.
"Dear Sir, let me say I am most pleased myself." he croaks out, and then rushes forward, trying to intercept Marros and be the first to shake the count's hand.
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"That's quite the hat. I like it." Gedulan smirks, watching the Tengu. He is standing around as well, having entered quickly after, not really mentioning the man or his mission. He himself has a wide brim hat and his many pockets are filled with various potions and elixirs. His voice is quick and quiet, but he seems casual enough.
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What would disappoint him, I wonder?
She didn't voice that aloud, lest the ire of the Venture Captain be drawn. The rustle and rattle of Guy's armor more than masked the light footfalls as Lissanya stepped off to the side, keeping a respectful distance. The smooth wood of her unstrung bow did not even come close to knocking any of Valsin's knickknacks askew.
"You honor us with your praise, my lord."
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Ambrus Valsin smiles at the Count's compliment, but the smile becomes considerably more forced as he watches people shake hands with Count Matsanda in such a familiar fashion. The Count himself, however, does not seem to mind - in fact, he appears quite pleased by such familiarity, and enthusiastically shakes every hand offered to him. "The honor is very much mine to meet such a diverse and interesting group of people! And that truly is a most impressive hat! As to what you can do for me - or, more precisely, what we can do for each other - we will be getting to that shortly, I believe."
The Grand Lodge's Chamberlain clears his throat somewhat forcefully, apparently trying to break up the joyful union before it gets out of hand. "Agents, your next mission will take you to the island of Jalmeray. We’ve received reports that the ruins of a previously unknown temple have been found in a part of the Segang Jungle known as the Urapangi Lowlands. From its location, I think this temple could be one of those abandoned by the legendary Maharaja Khiben-Sald when he left Jalmeray over four thousand years ago. A temple untouched since Khiben-Sald’s time would be a major find for the Society. Of course, getting to Jalmeray on such short notice poses some difficulties."
"I believe that’s where I come in," the Count interjects. "I’m arranging a hunting expedition to Jalmeray for myself and my new father-in-law, Baron Bomande Rudyahm. Bomande was quite the sportsman in his day. However, some years ago he was wounded during a tiger hunt in the Segang Jungle. He’s been grumbling about getting revenge on the beast for so long that I thought taking him on a trip back to Segang might earn me some credit with the old man."
"Falroun has graciously offered to provide transport to and from Jalmeray and to outfit us with everything we need for our journey into the jungle." Ambrus Valsin continues. "In exchange, you’re going to help his father-in-law, the Baron, with this tiger hunt and make sure he gets the better of the beast this time around, as it were. You’ll have time to discuss the details of the hunt during your voyage to Jalmeray."
"A voyage for which I must make some final arrangements," adds Falroun, "I’m afraid I must depart. Once again, it was a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to our journey together." With a last nod, he exits the room. As the count’s footsteps recede down the hall, Ambrus Valsin’s smile fades from his face.
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"The jungle... Rather flammable, I think. I can make it work." He pauses. Or is the rain forest not flammable from all the water and stuff? I suppose I'll find out.
"I know a tiger can catch ablaze so I suppose I will be of use." Gedulan seems to ignore the mention of the temple, and is deep in thought.
Wait, that doesn't make sense, right? Wood is wood. No way it can't catch. I'm definitely trying.
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Burn us?! Oh, I think not! The jungle is wet. Wet AND hot.
With that he gives his armor an even more serious tug, as if dreading the ordeal.
You have any idea what that kind of heat and moisture does to metal? We'll be oiling and honing, honing and oiling, and I just know I'm going to be envying you sorcerers and wizards your staffs and cloaks. *sigh* Still, I AM grateful for this opportunity and if there ARE any undead I'm sure we'll make short work of them, Guy seems to actually brighten up at the prospect, though I'm not sure, Marros, what gives you the idea undead are involved. Sounds more like a tiger hunt/ruins exploration to me.
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"Aye, wet it is. Can attest that much, just got back from Bloodcove. And a jungle is a jungle, so shouldn't be much different. Where is this Jalmaray anyway?" Varis clatters almost too fast to understand.
"Maybe he somehow thinks all old temples are full of undead? I have no idea, and I hope there are none. Haven't met any yet and I do like it this way."
While Tengu are physically incapable of grinning, you get the impression that Varis does it anyway. Apparently one can grin with his eyes alone.
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"Oh, come off it. Real important for us to know your loyalties? Undead don't just happen, they need special sorcery to get 'em up. I doubt any necromancers are going to be hanging in tree houses any time soon." Gedulan smirks, but seems quite annoyed. "Temples, though. Maybe, but still a rather strange place for a necromancer to hole up, at least while surrounded by jungle."
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"Where's Jalmeray?" Ambrus Valsin grumbles. "What *does* Kreighton teach you kids these days? Painting roses and dancing with butterflies?"
He taps his desk impatiently, but decides to follow up with an explanation after all. "Jalmeray is a big island in the Obari Ocean, east of Nex and southwest of Quadira. It has been a province of the Vudrani empire for most of the time since Nex granted it to the legendary Maharajah Khiben-Sald roughly four thousand years ago. It is known mostly for its monasteries, genies, and for the monuments that Khiben-Sald built there before returning to Vudra with his court."
"Segang, where you will be travelling to, is hot and muggy this time of year. It’s a jungle, so expect dangerous plants and animals, venomous creatures, and disease. As for Undead, I don't know about that - I hope not, since we would like to find the temple intact and undisturbed. You may however encounter some looters at the temple, if you don’t get there fast enough - Word travels quickly when it comes to such discoveries, no matter how much you try to keep them secret.”
"Ordinarily, the Society would cover the costs of an expedition like this." The Chamberlain admits with a hint of chagrin, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. "However, our resources are stretched thin at the moment thanks to our campaigns in Varisia and the Worldwound. Until such time as those ventures pay off, we’re going to have to rely on people like Count Matsanda to cover some of our operating expenses. I’m trusting you with the Society’s reputation on this mission. Fulfill our end of this bargain by helping the baron bag his tiger, and try to make nice with at least one of these nobles."
Valsin nods to Lissanya. "You are probably correct regarding the motivation for this expedition. It is likely a good idea to work with the Baron to help him get the closure he is looking for. Count Matsanda has only told me the rough outline of what happened, though, so if you want the full story, you’ll have to ask Bomande when you see him."
"Now, unless you have any questions about this temple, go get your affairs in order. Your ship sails in the morning."
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Listening quite intensly to Valsin's explanation, Varis nods several times and finaly speaks again.
"Ah right, the place with the genies. Heard a pirate sing a song about it, but forgot the name. And I'll show that tiger true Taldan steel!" Varis seems to fight the urge of drawing his rapier and show a performance of his skill - but there is a time and place for such things and he chooses to wait.
He looks to Cleo. "Aye, true. Lovely the jungle is, but deadly too. Hope where we go now, there are fewer demons and more genies. They seemed like a nicer bunch from the stories I heard."
Before leaving, he turns to Ambrus Valsin again.
"And Sir, Master Kreighton did indeed try to teach me painting flowers. He was quite dissapointed to learn that he would have to find a different Tengu to study my people's art. I don't even know nothing bout Taldan art, so I got no idea why he came to me in the first place. Funny man though."
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Well, I for one have no affairs to get in order, other than a good night rest. As for the temple, I assume you have already told everything important that we would need to know, right?
After a pause he adds
Now that I think about it though, you never did say much about this Maharaja Khiben-Sald. Who was he? Perhaps you assumed we would all know?
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"Everything you need to know, certainly. Everything you want to know, perhaps not." Ambrus Valsin replies to Guy, indicating the stacks of paper on his desk. "I'm a busy man, so I do not tend to wax poetic about things that everybody *ought* to know, unless you specifically ask for them."
He nods to Lissanya as she asks him about the temple. "What do we know about the temple - if it is, as we believe, one of those temples built by Khiben-Sald during his stay on the Island, and if it hasn't been looted so far, then it could contain extremely valuable insights into ancient Vudrani culture, not to mention long-forgotten magics. It will certainly be dedicated to one of the Vudran deities, but beyond that we don’t know." He indicates a mask on the wall that seems to resemble some kind of simian. "My contacts tell me the locals have several superstitions about monkeys. If that represents some leftover remnants of the temple’s faith, it could be dedicated to one of the monkey-faced deities, Ragdya and Lahkgya, or to Chamidu, the goddess of wild animals. Unlike Zyphus, neither of them have any fondness for undead, as far as I know, so I would not expect any there unless someone has disturbed the graves, which is always a possibility.”
"As for Khiben-Sald. He was the man who first united all of Vudra unter one rule." Pushing aside some papers on his desk, the Venture Captain reveals a sketched world map of Golarion, where the Kingdom of the Impossible is marked in on the continent of Casmaron, far to the east beyond even the Padishah Empire of Kelesh. "The stories about him claim that either he himself or his direct ancestors were part of the group of heroes that slew Korthogaz, the spawn of Rovagug, when it attacked Vudra, in a battle that cost 'a million' lives. That claim may or may not be true - the trouble with being legendary, after all, is that all it really means is that people love to tell tall tales about you, and it's up to the likes of us to sort out the fiction from the facts. In fact, the true history of Khiben-Sald is one of the things that I hope your finds in the temple may shed some light upon."
"What is most likely true is that he cut down his only true rival for rulership of a united Vudra, the Jungle Princess Chhaya, in her own palace, and that he arrived in Nex with a fleet of 101 ships around 563 AR. Given his aggressive unification of his homeland, it was probably a smart move by Nex to cede Jalmeray to him so he would be busy and not get interested in Nex' own domain. Once in Jalmeray, they say he stayed for ten years before sailing back to Vudra, bought the natives' loyalty with magical treasures, built countless temples to Vudran deities, and called elemental creatures to help transform Jalmeray into a better likeness of his homeland. They even say he visited Absalom and proclaimed it 'The Great Jewel of the Inner Sea' - but again, try and take the tall tales with a grain of salt, especially if they paint the one who's telling them in a grandiose light..."
Valsin blinks as Varis tells him that Kreighton actually asked him to paint flowers, but decides - perhaps wisely - to decline to comment, rather than getting into a discussion about the Master of Scrolls' teaching habits. "Yes, a funny man indeed. So, will there be anything else?" The Venture-Captain looks around at the group with an arced eyebrow. "If not, have fun on your all-expenses-paid jungle trip, and I'll be expecting your reports."
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The night is short and uneventful, and early in the morning, you head down to the docks to be in time for the departure.
The ship that Count Matsanda has hired for your voyage is the "Genie Princess", a swift two-master with a sleek hull and an artfully crafted figurehead depicting a female Genie. From what you can tell after a quick inspection as you arrive at the harbor the next morning, the ship appears to be in good shape, and the crew scurry about preparing her for leaving Absalom's harbor at the rising tide.
With a call of "Welcome, Pathfinders, welcome!" Count Matsanda waves you aboard, and introduces you to a handsome, dark-skinned Garundi gentleman of advancing years, with a thick black mustache and graying hair at his temples. "May I introduce you to Baron Bomande Rudyahm, famous war-hero of Alkenstar, and more importantly, the father of my lovely wife Yoliri?"
"Of whom you will no doubt prove worthy in time, my dear Falroun." The Baron injects, before turning to face your group. "So, you are the Pathfinders that we made the detour all the way here to Absalom to pick up? I take it you have experience with jungle trips and with hunting dangerous, wild predators, then?"
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"Oh my, yes!" says Cleo, knocking her fishing pole for emphasis "I was born and raised in the jungle you know, and did my fair share of work to keep the family fed, if you get my meaning. I even have a few traps prepared if you wanted to discuss strategy!"
Cleo waits excitedly for the good Barons response.
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Baron Bomande nods approvingly at Cleo and Lissanya's remarks. "Straight and to the point - I like that. Sounds like you do know a fair bit about hunting. I would love to take a look at those traps you have prepared later today. As for two-legged prey, I have also had occasion to hunt plenty of that - how about you all join Falroun and me for dinner tonight? Then we can swap war-stories and get to know each other a bit."
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All that talk about predators and dangerous prey make Guy nervous. He makes a small *gak* sound and shrinks (hides) behind the biggest brute available. At least on board ship I don't have to wear that hunk of metal he muses and a smile returns to his face. I could really get used to this sailing business
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"Aye, good Sir! While the jungle has not been my home, quite the contrary, I did have the pleasure of strolling through one just recently. Bloodcove may not be what you would consider a respectable place, but a jungle is a jungle. And I take it that demon monkeys would count as dangerous predators, aye?" Varis winks towards the older gentleman and takes off his enormous hat, bowing very deeply, even more so than when he met the man's son.
Once he stands upright again, he continues. "Varis Salani, of house Salani of Taldor. I live to serve."
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"The Mwangi is a jungle if anything is." The baron states gravely and examines the odd Taldan before him more closely, his interest piqued. "After fighting the forces of the Gorilla King myself, I can attest that demon monkeys are among the most dangerous predators of them all. I look forward to hearing the story of your battle against them, Varis Salani, of House Salani of Taldor."
"Are you not feeling well?" Count Falroun asks Guy quietly, apparently having noticed his retching sound. "If you are getting seasick, I am sure the ship's doctor can give you something to help with that."
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No, it's not that. I hate to say it, but certain... events in my past have made me adverse to violence. The idea of all that metal and claws and fangs waving about makes me far more sick than this sea ever will. Still, I will do my part, preferably from behind. I hope that being able to heal is sufficiently useful. If someone goes down I will be the first person by his or her side, I assure you. Nothing stiffens my spine like a fallen comrade or undead.
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Varis looks towards Guy with one brow curiously drawn up, his hat still firmly grasped in his claws.
"You seem like a nice lad, but are you sure this is the right job for you? Lots of violence awaits, aye!"
He puts the hat back on his head, making sure it sits correctly and the feather is pointing in the right angle.
"But I sure as the hells am glad to have you back me up!"
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I'm not satisfied just tending a shrine or temple. I want to make a go for glory. And Sarenrae encourages such things. On my own I would be worthless, I know that, but as part of a Pathfinder group?!? Glory awaits! From what I've heard, there are plenty of famous Pathfinders that are not front-line types. Hopefully, I can be like one of them.
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"I can sympathize, not being overly fond of violence myself, and I am sure your contribution will be quite valuable." Count Falroun assures Guy, which earns him a rather critical look from Baron Bomande. "The Healing Light of Sarenrae will surely be of great help on our journey, and your Venture-Captain has not been amiss in sending plenty of accomplished hunters with us after all."
"Well, thank you all for coming. If you will excuse us, Falroun and I will be making sure all the supplies have been loaded and consult with the Captain. There have been bunks prepared for you below decks, where you can store your things. Please make yourselves at home, I look forward to seeing you at dinner tonight." With that, Baron Bomande excuses himself and his son-in-law, and leaves you to your own affairs. You can see as he heads towards the aft of the ship that he walks with a prominent limp, and carries a finely crafted walking cane to help him amble about.
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"Sooo, anyone up for some sparring? What better way to learn others than with the tip of one's sword!" Varis cheerfully croaks while he swiftly turns around, rapier drawn and ready to strike before anyone even had the chance to respond.
He takes his hat off and throws it skillfully to whatever post or bar ist handy and abusable as a hat rack.