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Gilfroy moves forward while Vrald and Claire try to kill the creature in the water, but they fail. The beast attacks Claire with its three mouths.
Claire
Vrald entangled
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Thognorok -21HP
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Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
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Tasutek -43HP defeated
The toxic fumes in this room are finally harming your health. Every breath hurts and you feel your stomach rumble.
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Vrald, finally escaped the web, examines the creature in the water. It's still alive, but bleeding heavily and will most likely die within the next minutes.
Tori and Vrald search the priest for valuables and find the following:
two scrolls, a wand, a +1 breastplate, a mwk greataxe, a heavy mace, a javelin, a locked gauntlet, a silver unholy symbol of Rovagug and 17 gp.
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Vrald dispatches the creature and suggests to leave this place. With killing the cult's leader you removed the threat from the cult. You head back to the chamber where the dwarf is still waiting for your return. "I'm glad you return, I was about to leave this place without you. Can you please try to get my fortress out of the trap?"
You tie a rope around the fortress in a way that it shrinks the loop on its own when the fortress shrinks. Once everybody is out of the danger zone the dwarf says the secret word and the fortress begins to shrink. What you expected happens and the ceiling of this chamber collapses while you drag the fotress out of the way. With a smile on his face the dwarf packs the tiny fortress into his backpack and leads the way out, back to the Tar Kuata.
The commonly accepted path toward self-perfection rarely involves revelry, yet when you make your victorious return, even stoic Tar Kuata celebrates news of the cultists’ defeat. Bertrag narrates his account of
your deeds, and Aeotsep warmly congratulates you on overcoming such a trial. Honoring your bargain, Itephta and Menkha formally transfer their Sky Key component to the Pathfinder Society. Itephta also gives you a sealed letter to deliver to the Society, extending his compliments and friendship.
Finally, Itephta also offers you honorary admission to the monastery, should you wish to continue your studies.
When you present him with both the newly found piece of the Sky Key and the letter of praise from the monastery’s leader, Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir praises you for a job well done. He arranges to have a ship take him and several other agents to Absalom so that he might ensure the relic arrives safely. Acknowledging that additional security is always appreciated, he welcomes any of you who wish to join him.
For those with business elsewhere, he arranges for your transportation and wishes them the best wherever their next adventure takes them.
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A few weeks pass and you are summoned to the town of Silverhall in Brevoy, the fortified capitol of the Lebeda family’s territory. The adventure begins as a diplomatic mission for Lady Gloriana Morilla and takes you to the audience hall of Silverhall, where you await your host’s arrival.
Noble Pathfinders,
As the Worldwound’s threat grows, the forces of many nations unite with the common goal of beating back the demon horde. I have been building my own army that I intend to field alongside the Pathfinders. In order to increase our numbers and bolster our resolve, we must have a symbol to rally around, one that embodies might equal to that of the golden age of Taldor. My agents have recently discovered that one such item, the Horn of Aroden, has survived since the Age of Enthronement, and is still in the possession of its original owners, House Lebeda. Alas, whatever magic was bestowed on it when it helped to drive Deskari’s forces into the Lake of Mist and Veils has since faded, but through careful study, we may be able to find a way to restore its powers. Dame Sarrona Lebeda has graciously offered to allow us access to this item, though how much access is yet unclear. Ideally, it would remain in ossession of the Pathfinder Society while being studied and — gods willing restored, and then will be sent to the Mendevian front.
Do your best to persuade Dame Lebeda to permit this transfer. No doubt she will require some task of you in order for you to claim the Horn of Aroden—one simply does not part with such a treasure on a whim! Remember that she and her family are influential in Brevoy and beyond, and winning their friendship could bring great benefits in the future.
Eagerly anticipating news of your success,
Lady Gloriana Morilla
A fire burns merrily in the large hearth of the audience chamber, casting warm light over the long wooden table and high-backed chairs. A pair of guards opens the engraved wooden doors, and a regal woman enters, her hair tied into a tight bun. The guards stay by her side as she scans the room and then takes a seat at the head of the table.
"You must be Lady Morilla’s Pathfinders. I am Dame Sarrona Lebeda, and I am well aware of your desire for the Horn of Aroden. I am sympathetic to the cause of the crusade, and am curious to learn whether the Horn’s magic can be returned; however, the horn has already been pledged to King Noleski Surtova as a fitting part of the dowry for my daughter’s hand in marriage, and such promises cannot be overturned lightly. Nonetheless, I am willing to find a replacement gift in exchange for one kindness on your part: bring my son back home. As of late, my son Lander has been neglecting his duties in favor of playing the part of an adventurer. His swordplay admittedly shows promise, but wielding a weapon is only one facet of being a proper lord. Worse, the style and legacy that he has become obsessed with is that of Baron Aldori, which many houses perceive as a sign that we are not as committed to a unified Brevoy as we may appear. The truancy of a second child may not seem much of a threat, but with his older sister spending her days in the capitol negotiating the web of Surtova politics, the increase of bandit activity and wolf attacks in our lands, and Lander neglecting his responsibilities within our holdings, I am concerned that he is as much a liability to our family as an asset. You are adventurous types yourselves, and understand the hazards and difficulties of the lifestyle. Perhaps you could find Lander and convince him that the way of the sword is not the life he romantically envisions?"
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"Thank you for meeting with us, Dame Lebeda, my name is Maximillian Arcos and I'm a paladin of Iomedae. I would be happy to discuss the difficulties of being an adventurer with your son. Are you aware of his current location? Just to be clear, under what conditions are you willing to allow the Pathfinder Society access to the horn? If we convince him to return home is that enough, or must we also convince him to give up adventuring for good?" An aasimar in attendance asks, currently wearing heavy armor and carrying a greatsword on his back.
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Taliesin Staccato enters the room elegantly. She is impeccably well-maintained and clean. Beautiful beyond description, she examines her nails as if bothered by all the details of a Pathfinder mission. She wears a new, form-fitting mithral shirt and carries a mithral buckler carved in a flower motif. An elegant banner hangs from a finely-crafted longspear she holds nonchalantly.
She sighs and then she stands before the group. Like the lighting of a torch, she is suddenly cheerful and diplomatic.
"We are about to embark on a courageous mission, fellow Pathfinders! We shall discover the villainous ne’er-do-wells, punish most justly the perpetrators of evil, and finally return home with valor to receive the cheer and adulation of all! "
As she finishes speaking, she unfurls a banner of the Pathfinder Society, then curtsies with a flourish.
"Oh...I suppose we will also bring back the prodigal adventurer, and retrieve the Horn of Aroden!"
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While normally attired in fully plate armor, for the meeting with Dame Sarrona Lebeda, Vrald instead wears his finest clothing.
With a reverent bow he addresses the Dame. "I am Vrald Sehir, and your servant. Rest assured we shall bring back your dear son so that he might learn the other skills of leadership from you."
He pauses for a moment.
"Perhaps we should have a token of your patronage, or help convince him that we truly speak for you?"
Before being ushered in, Vrald will also try to size up one of Dame Lebeda's servants as a potential contact for the sovereign court. Takes ten on diplomacy for that as well for 19. FJC mission.
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A half-elf of Minkai descent walks stiffly into the room, weapon at the ready. He bows, speaking barely above a whisper: Zuriel, at your service my lady. I give you my word that I will bring your son home safely, and with no further illusions of the 'grand life of a warrior'. We are honored to help, and pleased that you are friends of the Society.
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The oread in the room, closer to four feet in height than give, blinks very slowly as if he's still trying to wake up. He smiles casually at all present, bobbing his head in a very dreamlike manner.
"Greet'uns Patshfinda's... Ah'm Jagged Stone..."
He takes a deep breath.
"You might already know me, as I have been told ah'm some'thun of a rock celebrity..."
He blinks - very slowly again.
"... and ah'm also a rock pers'un who makes rock mus'uck."
He holds up a few jagged rocks that he apparently pulled from the dried leaves that cover his stony body.
As he realizes the others are all seem to be looking at the oversized bird in the room, he nods but then seems to be thinking very hard - like he's trying to remember for himself who the bird is.
"Oh... this is Siz'uhs. He also, is a roc celebrity..."
Jag pauses, trying to remember other details as he counts off his fingers.
"... and also is a roc... protect'un us against the vile, untrustworthy... Pap'uh!"
With his introduction complete, he smiles casually at the Dame.
"Greet'uns Dame. We're happy to talk tuh' Land'uh and let him know that adventuring rarely finds pathsh or treash'uh but mostly just finds dang'uh."
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"Lander has taken to associating with a blacksmith named Marek Bogdan. Marek is a retired soldier and a practitioner of the Aldori style, and Lander says he’s a fine instructor, but my son spends too many hours at the Three Tongs smithy practicing his swordplay when he should be overseeing our cottars and building alliances. He was headed to the Three Tongs when last I saw him, two days ago. It's enough when you bring my son back alive to earn the Horn of Aroden." Lady Lebeda answers.
You earn one of Dame Lebeda's servants as a potential contact for the sovereign court.
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"Aldori... they use slightly odd swords. Not really my style to be honest - probably more like how Claire fights."
Comments Vrald. Still, he doesn't seem phased.
With a bow and a florish to the dame, he makes his departure from the manner house.
"Good thinking, let us learn what we can about this sword school while we go there."
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"Aldori... they use slightly odd swords. Not really my style to be honest - probably more like how Claire fights."Comments Vrald. Still, he doesn't seem phased.
With a bow and a florish to the dame, he makes his departure from the manner house.
"Good thinking, let us learn what we can about this sword school while we go there."
I agree--while such swordplay isn't suited to my tastes, you have to admire the man's dedication to such learning. If he possesses the discipline to learn such difficult techniques, there is hope that he could apply his studies to endeavors more helpful to his family. Let's go visit this smith.
It is clear that Zuriel considers the matter resolved, and he moves towards the door.
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After the meeting with Lady Lebeda you head out to the Three Tongs smithy. Racks of weapons and metalwork line the walls of the Three Tongs smithy, and the forge is visible through a wide door. A pair of crossed Aldori dueling swords hangs on the wall opposite the front door. The antlers of several deer and elk decorate the walls. A staircase wraps around the eastern wall, leading upstairs.
A bald Taldan man approaching middle age is working in the back, but he quickly notices potential customers and moves into the storefront to talk. "Welcome to the Three Tongs smithy, how can I help you? Are you looking for a new sword?" the man asks.
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Vrald smiles at the man, but pats his own sword reassuringly.
"My own sword is the work of a master. No, rather than a weapon, I came looking for someone who knows how to wield one. In particular I was looking for the young Lord Lander. I heard he was learning from a master here."
Still, he does peruse the weapons on display and tries out one or two.
"These are nicely made" he concedes.
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As Scissors takes to the air, landing outside on the smithy's roof, Jagged steps in, following the other Pathfinders.
He takes a long sniff.
"Jagged Stone smells met'uhl."
He nods sagely, as if this is some sort of revelation.
Crossing his arms, he stands in the back, knowing that humans tend to like to talk to their own kind while rockpeople like him keep to themself.
He tries to smile, since he's heard that helps in situations like these.
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Vrald notices Marek's maker's mark, an eagle clutching a pair of tongs, on the weapons.
Marek invites you to his apartment upstairs to talk. The upstairs room is cramped and sootsmudged but comfortable, with a number of sturdy wooden chairs set out around a small table and a quilt-covered bed built into a corner. A stuffed eagle clutching a pair of tongs perches above the door to the staircase. A cage holding pigeons hangs just outside the window.
Marek leaves you alone for a moment and returns with seven glasses of milk.
"I last saw Lander two days ago. He was headed out of town on the southwestern road. Over the past month or so, he’s been trying to put his training to good use — slaying monstrous vermin in the outskirts of town, that sort of thing. With the recent attacks by bandits, Lander was convinced that he could stop them himself and live up to Baron Aldori’s legacy." Marek answers while he hands out the glasses. "Please sit down and have some milk."
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Milk!
Jagged Stone smiles and sits down like a small child (well, a small o'ree'ud, really), folds his hands in his lap and pushes his imaginary hair back.
"Milk sounds dan'duh..."
He eagerly accepts the glass and begins rubbing the milk on some of the rougher patches of stone on his elbows.
"Sounds like Lan'duh's a good lad, fightin' monsters and such."
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Maximilian and Taliesin know that people in this area serve milk or liquor to their guests.
"Ah, bandits are everywhere. Although Lander has improved quite a bit in the months I’ve been teaching him, he is still likely no match for any bandits. Though it’s unlikely he’d even find them—he doesn’t have much of a head on his shoulders for the wilderness, and is far more likely lost somewhere. If he’s lucky, he’s lost out in the countryside somewhere, playing the hero. If he’s unlucky, he’s encountered some of the nastier critters that live in the back country. I’m worried for his safety. The eagly inspired my mark." Marek answers.
Marek is concealing something and notice that he consistently attempts to steer the topic away from bandits.
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Jagged Stone smiles at the nice man.
"Oh, if Lan'duh is lost, Jagged Stone and Siz'ahs will be able to find him!"
Jagged stands, not gaining much height in the process.
"We're both good track'uhs. Aren't we Siz'ahs?"
Jagged looks about slowly for his bird before realizing he left his roc outside.
"We'll probably go look for Lan'duh now..."
Jagged apparently feels the need to clarify where.
"In the countryside."