Silbeg's Slayers: Thornkeep: The Enigma Vaults (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

This is a closed game, Slayers only.

When the mad wizard Nhur Athemon wasn’t tinkering with his subjects on Golarion, he found his way to even stranger worlds, be they other planets, other planes, or even other dimensions. The myriad relics and strange mementos he returned with held great power, and in his hands they proved potent tools that he used to further explore the universe as well as solidify his earthly domain. the dread magician even managed to capture creatures from the impossibly distant locales he visited thanks in part to his stolen technology. His most prized findings inevitably found their way into his personal collection, a museum-like complex only recently unearthed and cryptically referred to by its strange denizens as the Enigma Vaults.

"Can I touch these? Is it ok if I pick it up? When I was younger I was always told not to touch the things that can break easy. Like when I picked up that crystal orb that my mommy like so much. She would always say, 'Ophiuchus you stupid-good for-nothing-worthless-piece-of-s$&&-child. I will beat your ass until it glows if you so much as look at the orb.' My mommy was such a loving woman. All the children loved her almost as much as I did. They would always call her mother, so formal. I called her mommy. Not sure why they added f!!%er at the end."

"When I was younger, I liked to touch things also... but no-one was around to tell me not to. I nearly broke my 'thing' as a result... so maybe having a bad mommy is better than none at all?" replies Arturo, clearly drunk if he's trying to match words with Ophiuchus, "Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, that librarian totally had the hots for me. But I was all like, 'hands off, baby, deal with the tragedy first, then come get a taste'. Then we had to go. Total bummer."

Arturo's week at the beach had really mellowed him out.

The brute looks at the other two mildly. He didn't know the origins of his birth...whether or not he had been sold as a baby or been birthed by a slave (and become a slave himself in the process), but having not had a mother figure, he didn't necessarily understand what Ophiuchus was talking about. Still, he enjoyed the nagaji's quirky stories, so remained silent, listening with his lips pulled up into a faint smile.

As Arturo started to go on about the librarian, as with Ophiuchus the brute remains silent, knowing that although his companion alters reality to best suit his whims, the man was a solid fellow to have at your back. Fully healed after the harrowing ordeal at the Temple, the large man was ready to delve back under Thornkeep once again.

Jaender chuckles at Ophiuchus's antics, and then makes a sorrowful face at Arturo's sad story.

With a sigh, he goes back to his own drink, and comtemplates the unfortunate reputation his race has started to get for blatent racism.

Its not me dear Desna! Oh... if only I could smack some sense into them...

Over the last few days, each of you has been visited by Osprey, a Pathfinder Agent (Seeker of Secrets 13), and told that you must join him at the Greenforest Inn in Thornkeep. He did not say what he wanted, but that he was operating under the orders of Venture-­‐Captain Istirin Bosk of the Dryblade House in Daggermark.

You all arrive at the inn, and are greeted by Innkeeper Shandar Tulman, a balding, middle-­‐aged human with a mustache like a bristle brush. He seems to expect all of you, and ushers you into a back room, where you are given a decent meal, cooked by Tulman’s wife, Jalia. Vess, the young server, keeps your tankards full, and he gets you more food if you need it.

It is not until after dusk that Osprey finally arrives. "I see that you all made it here. I was wondering if that was going to even be possible, seeing how some of you stumble around so. It is a wonder some of you can even find your way out of a tankard.

"We are to meet with Baron Tervin Blackshield first thing tomorrow morning, at Druscor Keep. You are to listen to everything the Baron has to say, and then do whatever he asks. I don’t know why the Society cares about the politics around here… we must be planning on using it as a waypoint into to the Worldwound or something. Whatever it is, I don’t care. Fix whatever problem is going on here."

The Chelaxian druid grabs the tankard that Vess has been holding for him, sniffs it, and sets it down. "If I am not here in the morning, you go to the tower. You will be expected."

With that, Osprey leaves the back room, without any time for questions.

The brute just casually nods as the curt man gets up and walks out. The large man wasn't one for many questions or words, anyway, so he could relate with such an approach. As the door swings shut, he turns to the others, "I wonder if this meeting will go as well as the goblin party?"

Arturo shudders at the mention of the goblin party.

"We can only hope," he agrees half-heartedly, "Did hey just say he'd 'flown' from Daggermark? His wings must sure be tired... and does anyone know where we can fund Druscor Keep? It doesn't seem to be on my map..."

Arturo lays his map out on the table, accidentally knocking over a tankard as he does so.

"Sorry Vess... maybe I can make it up to you later?" Arturo gives her what he hopes is a charming wink.

Vess comes over to wipe up the mess that Arturo just made. "Antun Druscor was the founder of Thornkeep... and the keep is also known by his name. Do you need another beer, or are you gonna switch to milk now?"

"Are you lactating?" Arturo asks before he can think better of it.

SMACK!
The next thing he knows, Vess is standing over Arturo (BTW - Vess is a he) and he is seeing stars.

"Keep it up, chump, or you ain't gonna be able to eat anything but baby food... if you are lucky"

...Vess, the young server, keeps your tankards full, and he gets you more food if you need it.

In Arturo's defense, I read the name Vess and immediatly thought of a woman too. I had to go back to see that you did, indeed, indicate it was a male. And this is now better than giggle pokes and goblin partys...

I can see Arturo saying that, without even looking up.

Arturo's face goes red when he realizes he's talking to a man.

"Well, with that girly long hair and his cleanly shaved face, he looked like a girl!" he explains to his comrades when Vess is gone, "And that tantalizing walk of his..."

Perhaps I have had a few too many ales...

Jaender chuckles, but quickly stands up to help diffuse the situation.

"My friend has been chasing snow goblins and harrying false priests for too long. I am afraid that anyone with long hair anymore, all he sees is a certain librarian." Leaning in towards Vess, he whispers "He really hasn't been the same since he couldn't quite close the deal. Damn demons always messing things up."

The tiny wayang steps back and speaks up again. "So what do you say I buy another round, and throw an extra tip so you can tip one back when your shift is over. No harm, no foul, right?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Ophiuchus open his mouth, shakes his head, then continues to look at the map. Maps were wonderful creations. They showed where places were, and had pretty colors, and had a musty smell about them.

"Daggermark he hears.

He particularly liked the compass rose, and the intricate designs they made.

"Baron Tervin Blackshield" he hears.

Perhaps he could have a map made with all his travels and adventures. Maybe they could make a duck compass rose. What a wonderful idea.

"Druscor Keep" he hears.

Early the following day, Arturo gathers up whichever of his companions want to come along to speak to Brodwyr - whoever that is - at his smelter.

*Knock knock knock*

"Hellooooo! Mister Brodwyr? We're the group who have been exploring Thornkeep and heard - though I can't remember where from - that you might be interested in some of the ore contained therein?" Arturo just yells at the closed door, regardless of any response or lack thereof, "Well, while we forgot to speak to you the last two times we went down, I figured I'd finally get around to grabbing some equipment off you this time and that we'd look for some ore while we were down there. We didn't find any last time, but there was this drilling machine..."

The brute silently follows Arturo, not really having much business with Brodwyr, but knowing that to let the rogue wander off alone was a recipe for disaster, or a little Arturo. Perhaps both. He stands behind Arturo, uncrossing his arms and trying not to look menacing.