"I will assist anyway I can," says Nagato as she begins to alter the demiplane as per her wizard friend's instructions.
Jacob looked over the Druid and the Wizard practicing their arts to turn the recently created demiplane into a prison for a great and terrible beast. He did, however, have some questions about Validk's choices.
"Don't mean to stick my nose in, but it seems to me like the whole 'Seasonal' and 'High Gravity' traits are a bit of a luxury, aren't they? I mean, I'm all for luxuries, but I doubt that Rover's going to care much about a light cycle. I know you're concerned about the Storm jumping his way out, but you can make a Portal with a diameter of, say, five feet or so." Jake eyeballed just how colossal Golthanos was.
"I doubt that even HE would get through something that tiny. Anyway, I don't want to step on toes, but how many Miracles can Nagato request on a daily basis? It would be nice if the two of you could cover this ASAP, but can the two of you even cast all the requisite spells before this thing wakes up again?"
He gave a bit of a sigh. "If you want me to help, the only thing I could bring to the table would be some Wishes. But if the both of you can take care of this for free, I'd rather save my diamonds for a particularly rainy day." He looked over his shoulder again at Golthanos. "Not to say that this isn't, but you know how I like to prevent things from getting too far into the red. Just... If you need my help, let me know, Val."
Deep down, he really did trust Validk's judgement. If he had a plan, Jacob would be behind it. He was only concerned that his ambition might have been spread too far. But if they could all pull this off, they would be in the clear. Probably would even have some stories told about them for this. He waited on the wizard's answer, not yet sure if he would be weighing in any spellcasting aid or left Validk and Nagato with the demiplane conjuring magic as he kept Golthanos incapacitated.
"The plan is for me to keep bashing it while Valdik does his work. If anyone wishes to assist, I would appreciate it. For today, I still have four Miracles that I can request from Mother or Lord Irori. If necessary, I can ask for nine. If Valdik needs time to rest and prepare new spells, I propose that at least two individuals between Sir Orrin, Katja, and myself keep it down in the meanwhile. It would be tiring, but well worth the effort."
"I will assist you Lady Nagato. This beast will not threaten this plane again if I can help it."
Validk finishes casting one spell and takes a short break before starting the next. Points well voiced Ser Radigan. It is still my belief that Storm knew not the ravages it visited upon the world. I'd prefer to make a prison that will feel as little like a prison as possible. Nagato's miracles, providing lesser traits to this tiny realm, Validk waves an arm about to encompass the obvious characteristics of the incomplete bemiplane, [/b]take a fraction of the time to cast that my spells do.[/b]
Validk grabs a bottle of mead and takes a healthy swig, I can hope that with Nagato's miracles being granted, that a higher power may choose to keep an eye on this realm. For only the most powerful of beings will be able to interfere once we are done here.
Validk rubs one hand across his face, it is a small cruelty now to keep Storm subdued now, to allow it a better existence where its harmful abilities are contained.
Jacob conjured up a snowball and chucked it over at the giant. "I'm not sure if it's really a cruelty at all. Do you know how far inland it got? I mean, we can just thank our lucky stars that this thing didn't turn up somewhere more populated. I can tell you right now that if this thing made land in Absalom, the entirety of Kortos would be one big mass grave. Plus, we're being pretty humane as is. We could've just thrown it in a Dead Magic demiplane and been done with it. Mercy on anyone who had that sort of thing happen."
"Anyways, it seems like the two of you have this mostly under control. I'll keep an eye out on Rover's eyes. Try to see whether or not the figure that looked at us will come back. You never know, right? With all the wards that was put into binding this thing, whoever undid all that must've been pretty powerful. Might've been who we saw see us. But I'm getting ahead of myself, here, take this." He reached into his pockets and scooped up some diamonds. Four of them, well cut and clear.
"I'm not sure if you've got the diamond dust on hand for Permanency, but I figure this will help." He turned his attention to the foliage that began forming through Nagato's Miracles. He plucked an apple off of a tree and took a bite. He sat back, watching Katja and Sir Orrin keep the beast down. Occasionally, he helped with a tactical Selective Meteor Swarm or Mass Suffocation, targeted squarely at the beast. But mostly, he just alternated his attention between the casting rituals on one side and the martial prowess on the other.
"If you wish...?" Nagato says slightly weakly to Katja's odd request. The Samsaran is certainly not one to... argue with an ancient silver dragon. With that said, the golden draconic druid turns her attention to her heir and asks softly, "Mira, do you have one of those four blue diamonds we retrieved from the Vault?"
The sorceress reaches into her magical haversack and quickly withdraws a small leather case. She carefully opens it up and inspects the valuable gem within, "Got it right here, Lady Nagato. Are you...?"
"Yes. If we are going to make this realm permanent, then we are going to need a lot of diamond dust. That should be enough," concludes the oldest Samsaran.
Mira nods silently and begins channeling her arcane power through her arm tattoos. She carefully takes the blue diamond from her case and claps it in her dainty hands. An instant later, the Razmiran woman transmutes it into a pile of expensive diamond dust, which she carefully scoops back into the pouch. Mira then flies over to Valdik and presents it to him.
"Unlike you or Jacob, my Miracles do not usually require an expensive focus. As such, I see no harm in using one of the blue diamonds I own to make Golthanos' gilded cage permanent. In this case, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few," solemnly says Nagato.
It had been a long day and a half since they had taken down Storm. It seemed that someone was keeping an eye on them as the presence that had been detected on the material plane hadn't been seen since.
With Nagato's help, the two of them had transformed this demiplane into a prison that would hopefully hide and house the creature for many decades to come.
As the others kept the creature unconscious and near death, he finished casting the second to last spell. It had been a tough casting with the increased gravity from Nagato's last spell, but it was now done.
I'm ready to cast the last spell. It'll take six hours. When it's done any and all magical abilities will be suppressed. I'll signal when I've only a couple of minutes left in the ritual. That would be a good time to hightail it for the ladder and get up into the access hall. Validk looks at those that have been keeping Storm down, I'd suggest that only one of you stay down here. I'll be finishing the spell from up there myself.
As the others compose themselves, Validk pulls out his tuning fork, and flicks it once with a finger, setting the fork humming. Holding the fork in one hand, and a spell book in the other, Validk begins to draw sigils in the air with the tuning fork. His voice resonates with power as he recites the ancient words of power that seem to soak into the material around him.
As he carefully walks around the perimeter of the demiplane, a trail of glowing sigils marks his passage. Radiating out from that trail lines of magical energy course through everything in the demiplane, like rings from a thrown stone in a still pond. The energy recoils as it flows through and along every surface behind Validk.
After five and a half hours of travel through the demiplane, a process the others have seen him repeat a couple of times already, Validk stands at the end of the hall leading from the great prison room. His feet are planted as he looks down upon Storm laying in the center of a field of gently blowing grass. Nodding to those below, he signals that the last steps are nigh and it is time to leave this place.
Slowly walking along the long twisted hallway, Validk draws the last few sigils needed to complete the spellcasting. Before him the liquid crystal of the portal yawns open, through it he can see the hallway of his personal realm. Turning to look back down the corridor, he sees the waves of arcane energy crossing and crisscrossing along the hall as the spell reaches a crescendo, he draws the last sigil. Carefully watching as the energy waves continue to collide he waits until the right moment when they coalesce into a single point, when he utters the final draconic phrase that completes the casting.
He can feel the drain on his own system as the magic of this pocket world disappears.
Reaching to one side, he pulls on a carefully hinged piece of stone that slides around and clicks closed, sealing off the hallway. Stepping through the portal, Validk turns and closes another stone door, sealing off this side of the portal.
It is done.
"Oh, thank goodness," the sorcerer blurted out. He was visibly exhausted, even though most of the heaviest physical exertion was done by Katja and Sir Orrin. "Do we have enough beds for our celebratory naptime? I don't think we do, Val."
Jacob fished around a pouch inside his robe and pulled out some ivory charms connected to each other on a keychain. His movements seemed less flowing now, more terse. A nearly invisible doorway appeared in Validk's common area of the demiplane. "Conjured space within conjured space. What a sight."
He pushes through the portal. Low light prevailed throughout the hallway conjured on the other side. Several animate suits greeted the heroes with a bow.
"Pick any room you want, everybody. Let the servants know if you need more blankets or anything. I think we earned a rest. In the morning, lets head to Absolom to celebrate. I know a good place. Applejack's good, there's music. On me. G'night, everyone."
He made his way into a room and flung himself onto a bed, enjoying the chance to rest.
It was a long process but in the end the team triumphed over the powerful beast. Even Katja was tired from the exertion. Making her way into the demiplane she goes to rest for a time.
"You know, I think I will take you up on that offer Jacob. Tomorrow sounds wonderful. And then we can talk about the Storm and who or what brought it here."
She moves closer and whispers in his ear
"You still are cute though." she says with a coy smile.
Katja makes her way into a room and retires for a time.
Sir Orrin is diligent in his task, methodically poking the "slumbering" beast with his lance in key/vital spots to keep it down. He constantly has to remind Carolinus to not eat a chunk of the beast... who knows what would happen in a chunk of it started to regenerate and regrow while inside one's stomach!
All the while, Sir Orrin seems incredibly curious about the beast. He leans in close to inspect it at all times, while he opens up a new wound, as it heals, when he takes a short break, as if he's trying to divine how it keeps regenerating the wounds.
As things progress, he shudders as the magic leaves this plan.
"Ugh, I do hate that feeling. I am glad it is just a suppression though. Some of my gear only functions properly if it is used for a week or so without being removed, and I would be most put out if I had to start eating regularly again."
The little cavalier looks about at the finished holding cell. Before retiring with the others, he has to ask:
"We are certain this place will keep the beast away from innocents in other worlds?"
Validk responds, Sir Orrin, there are but two individuals in all the planes that can access this demiplane. Nagato, and myself. And without entering through this portal, from my already secured demiplane, even we would be hard pressed to get out again. Only a god can even find it now.
As Ser Radigna has suggested, we should get some sleep, I for one am somewhat fatigued. There are rooms for everyone, and a few of you have your own private planes accessible through the residential areas anyway.
Validk leads the others through a couple more stone doors and another portal finally into Validk's own personal quarters. Everyone can feel their connection to the arcane and divine powers returning as Validk leads them out to the residential wing of his demiplane. Rest here if you like, I will be returning to Magnimar. Some of the Academy students are on standby and I can tell them to relax and return to their studies. Not to mention Mr. Scardot. I am sure he would like to be let out of my haversack.
Validk mentally checks that there are no beings in his personal plane, and only those he expects in the other planes before heading for the Magnimar portal.
Jacob made a mental note to invest in a couch. Sleeping on workbenches didn't seem to agree with his back too well. On a normal day, a casting of Overland Flight would cause him to sleep soundly without a bed. Since he was sufficiently drained from the previous day's work, he had used up his access to spells of that caliber. He would need to refresh his various castings soon. He checked out his little portion of demiplane Validk made for him. He was pretty happy he opted to model it as if he had an open air ceiling. Even though the stars were fake, they gave a nice view, as well as a focus to meditate as he readied himself for a day of casting. Within half an hour of waking up, he was ready and out the door.
He began knocking on everyone else's demiplane doors. "Rise and shine, everyone! Breakfast on me! Hell, maybe we can pick up a show while we're out!" He stuck his head through Validk's portal to Magnimar. "Val, you know of any shows going on right about now? I feel like we need to get out after all that craziness, yesterday." He floated back through the portal connecting to Absalom, giddy as a little kid. It had been a while since he got to see all of his friends, and he really wanted to show them all a good time.
Lvl 1: 10
Lvl 2: 9
Lvl 3: 9
Lvl 4: 9
Lvl 5: 8
Lvl 6: 8
Lvl 7: 8
Lvl 8: 7
Lvl 9: 8
Lvl 10: 2
Lvl 11: 2
"Hey, everyone!" Jake called back through the portal. "Anyone awake yet? Or did I get up too early?"
Back on Golarion, in the greatest city on the planet, life had continued long before the sun touched the sky. Indeed, it had hardly even slowed. Already the smell of baked goods filled the streets, and street sweepers packed their dust bins away to make room for carmen setting out their wares. Among them moved a pale figure garbed in formal wear far too warm for the sweltering day to come. His mind roiled with a set of faces. He was not sure how he knew them, but he knew that he must find them today. There was something he was supposed to tell them, though he couldn't quite remember it. The gangly man adjusted his cravat and purchased a sticky, sugared cake from an elderly dwarven woman hunched over a kettle of boiling oil.
As he sucked the sugar from his fingers and nervously readjusted his cravat, he ducked into a doorway across from the magician's shop, making himself as innocuous as possible.
Katja emerges from the portal in a lovely gown Like this and with a tasteful amount of jewelry befitting a noble of her status. She also has a fan with her and a small parisol that matches the outfit.
"Well Jacob, you said we were going out so I decided to dress for the occasion. I do love looking my best."
She does a twirl.
"What do you think?" she says to those everyone.
Jake returned through the demiplane portal, realizing he may have been a tad too eager. He gave a smile to the dragoness in her finest. "Stunning, Katja. As always."
He wondered if his own attire would be suited for the evening. His robes were based off a Xin Shalast design, silk accented with gold. He had modified for more durability, but he figured it aught to serve him well while amongst society's higher echelons. The outfit he had on underneath could've been more flashy, however. The best thing he had on besides the robes was a vest he had held onto for the longest time. He made a mental note to head back to the shop and pick up a better shirt and some pants for the evening out.
"You know, does Ore even have anything nice to wear to the opera? Search me as to why, but for some reason high society doesn't necessarily appreciate the full plate armor look. Real shame, too, that would make for quite an interesting scene."
A fresh night of sleep, a long hot bath, and Validk felt much better.
After checking in with the students at the Acadamy, Validk and Orsenn step through the portal into the demiplane. Validk performs a cursory check of who is in the plane as they step over to the Absalom gate.
Mr. Radigan mentioned something about a show, I expect that he will be at the Gilded Swan, they are one of the only places with a morning show. Orsenn gestures down one of the avenues towards the entertainment district, normally devoid of much in the way of populace after the late nights of the many revelers.
Very well then, lead on Mr. Scardot, I'm famished!
Orsenn and Validk push through the doors and scan the room. It isn't difficult to find the others. They tended to stand out to a discerning eye.
Mr. Radigan, a pleasure, as always. And Ms. Silverscale, you look quite radiant this morning. Validk nods to Jacob and Katja before pulling up a chair. Orsenn sits at the next table over where he can keep an eye on the door.
"Before we depart for tonight, let me heal the damage we took during the battle," offers Nagato as the group gathers in Valdik's main hallway. The Masked Monk holds her hands to the ground and begins chanting. "May the Masses be Healed after their great victory."
Mira closes her eyes and smiles as Nagato's spell swiftly fixes the damage that Golthanos inflicted on her. The sorceress is not sure how a druid knows such powerful clerical magic like this spell, but she is sure glad that it is within her surrogate mother's power to do such things. It reaffirms her decision that following Nagato was and still is a good idea.
"If there is nothing else, I bid you all goodnight," says Nagato with a polite bow. She gestures for Mira to follow her to a great mahogany door with a silver door handle.
"...I never knew there was an entrance to the Vault from here," Mira muses as Nagato opens the entrance way to their private dimension.
"Contingency plan," says the druidic monk as she gestures for Mira to go in first. "Just in case we need to escape to a safe location or borrow a cup of sugar. It's usually the latter."
"Val, glad to see you could make it. Sorry to rush, but I'd like to run back to the shop really quick to pick up a change of clothes. Just wanted to make sure that we could get in and get our tickets ready and all." Jacob pulled the pocketwatch from his vest and examined the time. "If I hurry, I aught to make it back before the overture starts."
He turned his attention to both Validk and Katja. "If either of you would want to come with, we could head over. I'd assume Mr. Scardot wouldn't mind saving our seats for us. But we've got to hurry." As Jake said this, he already started out the door.
Jacob hurried through the already busy streets. Validk and Katja kept pace with him rather well, despite any possible encumbrance of their finest. The lot of them together, Jake internally surmised, would probably turn a few heads. He could see enough of the equally well dressed going TOWARDS the opera house, leaving this early might be considered some type of faux pas. He made a note to keep some high end clothes on hand at all times in the future to mitigate this sort of occasion.
The Absalom Radigan Shop wasn't terribly much to look at from the outside. The building had stood there more or less the same as when it functioned as the family house of woodworkers. Jake had made great pains to alter the interior as his craft grew more complex and expensive, adding touches to lure in customers like an open sitting room to spend some time experimenting with the magic items he hoped they would buy. This morning, his older sister Maria was tending the shop counter. Jacob had always trusted her best to take care of the business while he was away. Normally he would've gone over where he's been and what had changed at the shop since was gone with her, but time was short. All he could make out was "Gottagrabmysuitbebacklatertonighteveryonesbackintownbye!" before dashing upstairs and grabbing his change of clothes.
[b]It has been some time since I traveled through the Ivy District. As you know, my own establishment is in the Coins. Validk pauses and gazes at a smaller building tucked between two rather grander, and newer establishments. It is obvious the building is ancient, though well cared for.
To be continued
continued...
Validk stares at the building, as his thoughts drift back into the past...
He was sitting at a table in a small room. His appearance was different, a middle aged elven lord. Finely dressed in a fashion long out of date.
The furnishings were basic but functional. The sounds of a severe storm could be heard outside the sturdy walls, strong enough that gusts threatened to snuff out the the fire in the large fireplace. A pot on a hanger dinged with each gust as it bounced off the back wall of the fireplace threatening to dump the contents onto the coals.
An olive skinned human paced back and forth across the room, his dark hair waving lightly with each step. I tell you, I've found a way! It can be done. I'd like, no I need your help Fnarkkil.
The elf shook his head, we've tried raising it before. Nearly got us killed. We have a good thing going here. The town prospers. The oceans are providing plenty of bounty for everyone. I hear they've even picked a name for this rock. You should be proud, your name will go down in legend. Me, I'll be surprised if I'm a passing footnote. He stood and walked over to a shuttered window. Pressing his hand against the window, he concentrated and the shutters cleared, letting him watch the storm outside. It looked to be coming to an end. The storm will clear soon.
The sight of an old building in Absolom has sparked a memory for Validk's one not forgotten for long enough...
The storms are a nuisance, true, but they are predictable. You can't knock 5000 years of almanacs. Come, the storm ends, let me show you what has been built.
The human stops pacing and turns, It is complete? You found the magi? He grabs a worn cloak hanging from a hook and pulls it on before throwing open the doors, allowing a few blasts of rain to splatter in. He peers through the rain watching as like a curtain, the rain stops falling from one side of the street to the other.
Grabbing his own cloak, the elven Fnarkkil follows the human outside, I found only three mages. It was not an easy task you set me. A wizard, a cleric of Abadar, and a sorcerer, though I think she is mad. The cleric was the easiest, I only had to persuade Cobblehoof.
The man turns and quirks an eye, I did not say it would be easy. And what did the wizard want?
Fnarkkil shutters at the memory, let's not go there. You have your three magi. They have agreed to give their life force to your quest. Their walk had taken them down a broad roadway, much too broad for the few buildings clustered here and there along the way. As they walked along people were just coming out to enjoy the few hours of sunlight before the next storm. As much of a hurry as they were in, all stopped to kneel in homage to the plainly dressed man that strode forward towards the end of the road where it ended at a great ring road. Inside sat a great cathedral. Even as they approached workers were finishing the final touches. Several bridges of wood bridged a large moat that surrounded the cathedral. Once you enter, the magi will complete their ritual. I will wait here until you return.
The human's strides were long and purposeful as he crossed the bridge and entered the cathedral. It seemed like only a few minutes before he returned, holding a strap attached to the sides of a small box bound in leather and fine wood. Your payment. Are you sure you don't wish to stay and see the end result? Without you this would not have been possible.
Fnarkkil shook his head, as he accepted the box. I have been here too long already, you know I am out of time. Hopefully this will get me back. Fnarkkil walks over to a small stone platform with an upright stone in the center. Muttering an incantation, the stone flows revealing a portal embedded in the stone. Stepping forward Fnarkkil pushes the box through and turns back, Trust in yourself. You will raise the stone.
As Fnarkkil starts to fade as the portal draws him in, the man asks one last question What will they call this place?
The answer whispers to him as the portal shimmers and closes. Absalom.
As Jacob changed for the evening, his thoughts turned back to when this little shack was supposed to hold eight people. It certainly was a long time since his family was among the working class. He recalled the neighborhood was quite a bit more unsavory before the higher caliber of trade came in. And he was much less popular, to boot. The neighborhood bullies saw him as a prime target whenever he returned home with a few silver pieces from an odd job.
Jacob wasn't what anyone would call strong back then. He didn't think his lot would change from a middle child of woodworking merchants. And he certainly didn't expect himself to be the descendant or distant relative of any mage. That was probably why it struck him so profoundly when he first manifested his ability. While returning home with his two younger brothers, each sporting a day's pay as selling extra trinkets from the shop on the streets, the ne'er-do-wells accosted the lot of them. He distinctly remembered the resistance he felt in him that day. Most times, he had done jobs for his own pocket money. But that day was a day he worked explicitly for the family store. There was a distinct line in the sand between the two. And passiveness to the blatant thuggery wasn't something he was interested in that day.
He had never learned incantations or arcane sigils. Magic words were beyond him. But for some reason, as his resolve steeled and his blood iced over, he held an image in his mind. Several meteorites coming down and smashing into the bullies. When the chunks of ice actually manifested, he was as dumbstruck as anybody. Of course, everyone ran after that, as most children would do in that situation. But he knew there had been something triggered in him. Whether he did it himself, by fate or by chance, he couldn't say. But that was a long way back. He had surely come far now.
He quickened his pace. Raising his hood again, he dashed downstairs and grabbed a few diamonds from the shop. He dropped a reasonable amount of gold coins before his sister could shout at him from behind the counter. He knew she hated when he absconded with store property for his personal use. It seemed fair enough to him, but family was still family.
Outside, he regrouped with Katja in waiting. "Hope I wasn't too long in there." He looked up and down the street. "Say, where'd Validk head off to?"
Katja returned to Rose University to look after the place and to keep the young students on the right track. No sense in learning if they didn't understand it. After about a week the headmaster approached her.
"Lady Katja. You have a request for lunch. Johannes. You should recall him. You get enough trinkets to adorn this place with from his business." he says with some disapproval.
"Now now, just because you feel I don't show the proper example to the students doesn't make it bad. We are not monks. There is no reason to deprive ourselves of some of the good things in life in order to receive higher learning."
"Tell Johannes I accept. I will be there exactly at noon. Do try to not be overly hard on the students."
Leaning back in her chair her mind takes her somewhere else.
The chief stone had just been laid for the university. Nobody had been there. The other businesses and organizations didn't want anything to do with a newcomer who was altruistic as she. Money was the reason they were in business, and they were not about to invest in a failure. She made a deal with a local man named Johannes, a dealer in exotic items. He would get exclusive rights to provide any and all materials she needed for the place."
It hurt his business for a time. The other merchants would not deal with him for a long time. It was not until they saw the quality of students that graduated Rose University that they realized their mistake. Some of the students eventually went on to become leaders in the community. Katja soon became a prominent member of the city and even sits on the council of the Petal district which she lives in.
"Ah the memories. See that you treat the students fairly. I don't want any more reports of harshness. Understood?" she asks firmly.
"Understood." he says with resignation.
"Off with you now. Deliver my message."
Johannes stands and holds out a hand in greeting, Lady Katja, many thanks for meeting me on such short notice. He waves her to one of the seats and waves a wait person over.
A bottle of the Tudor '6 please, and I'll have the quail.
After Katja orders he settles back into his seat. As customary, he provides some idle chatter about his latest grandchild, politics in Absolom, and so on.
The meal is superb, as usual for an establishment like the Blank Slate. Once the meal is completed, Johannes sighs, time for business.
It's been really weird, the last couple of days the price for larimar, among a few other gems, has jumped by nearly 800%! The largest mine is down in Garund, and all I've been able to find out is that the mine has been cutoff by some disaster. Now we had a deal and I have enough stock to complete our contract. But I just can't renew with this problem. I sent an agent off to find out what was going on, but I don't expect to hear from him for a few days yet.
At least I'm still getting Azir silk though. In fact, I brought a couple of samples for you to look at. Finest silk this side of the 'Sea!
Johannes sets his glass down and clasps his hands, Reason I'm talking to you, well, I sent my third nephew Lars down to that mine six months ago. He was regularly sending me reports every week. I've missed three. The boats came in from Manaket, but his letters weren't there. I'm afraid something may have happened. And the wife, well her family, they're distraught.
Johannes looks up at Lady Katja, Could you, well, do you know anyone,... Can you find out anything for me?
A day's enchanting did not do well for the back. While his organization was large enough to tackle more extravagant custom orders in record time, the process involved several mages chanting incantations around an object covered in sigils and runes for hours on end. And all for some Sparkwave Starknife to be delivered before the prospective buyer's ship left port. The money was good, but the work was tough when dealing with that many casters in close quarters. Jacob sent one of his couriers out with the weapon, hoping he would be quick enough to find the ship still at the docks, and proceeded to take a stroll to stretch his limbs. The city was busy, as any city invariably was, but he didn't mind much. At least, not until the young lad wearing the Society's colors practically crashed into him.
After instructing the runner he aught to look where he was going, Jacob looked over the note from the Venture Captain. He recalled making an application for a rare tome of blueprints a while back. "Good to hear they tracked the text down. I'll make my way over to the lodge first thing tomorrow morning." And with that he sent the runner off.
"Delicious! Always a pleasure to dine here, and with such fine company." Katja listens as Johannes relates his problem to her. She sips her drink while she mulls over what he said.
"That isn't good at all. Tell you what, I will look into it if I could get some of that beautiful silk. Send it over to Rose Manor."
Finishing her wine, she stands and thanks him.
"Once again, always a pleasure. Let me get some things together and I will leave tonight."
With that, she heads to Rose Manor to get some gear for traveling. When she is done, she heads out to Garund.
Jacob spent the afternoon getting ready for the trip. He amassed some of his best gear from his adventuring days. All of it probably wasn't necessary, but his time with the Society taught him two things. First, airing on the side of caution paid off when dealing with the unknown. Second, the adventure hungry Pathfinders always appreciated checking out high end gear. Jacob never felt above being a walking billboard for his wares.
As be readied himself some coffee and headed downstairs, he fished out a bag of coins from his pocket and laid it on the counter. His sister Mira had already opened shop by that time, naturally. She was as diligent with the family business as he was.
"Here. If anything happens around here, find a cleric or someone and Send for me. If there's nine hundred gold in that purse. If you need any more, take it from the register. I know you hate that, but I promise I'll balance it out of my own pocket. Just let me know about everything. If someone robs a store, if one of the employees get sick, even if ma's rocking chair breaks, I want to know about it, alright?"
He felt much better about giving his sister the reigns with these sorts of instructions. Often on the road, he felt anxious without having his finger on the Radigan market pulse. Mira knew this and responded with a nod and wishes for him to stay safe.
Jacob had always waited until he was at least to the front door of the store before using Greater Teleport. He had only an inkling of recollection about the city of Manaket, but the magic of the spell was more than enough to deliver him on the information he had. In a flash, he was transported through the Astral Plane and back, placing him right in front of the Swordmeet Lodge.
Lvl 1: 10
Lvl 2: 9
Lvl 3: 9
Lvl 4: 9
Lvl 5: 8
Lvl 6: 8
Lvl 7: 7
Lvl 8: 7
Lvl 9: 8
Lvl 10: 2
Lvl 11: 2
Jacob took to the air. There were few things that could disrupt his magic like that. He could only hope that the Grand Lodge would hold some sort of answer. He had highly underestimated what VC Valsin asked of him. He repeated what he thought his itinerary that day would've been, had his plan worked. Hop in, do a Greater Prying Eyes, figure out what got spooky, deal with it, and hop back home in time for coffee and dates. He felt rather foolish about how straightforward he had planned it out. Not bloody likely now, huh?
When Jake arrived at the Lodge, he hardly waited on formalities or pleasantries. Those things would need to wait until after he spoke with the Venture Captain. "Ambrus!" He gave the customary salute as he made his way into the door, but only momentarily before returning to his somewhat hurried state. "What in the name of all that is holy happened?! Why can't I get to Manaket?"
He wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to save at least an ounce of dignity. "Or rather, why can't I get to Manaket? I've never seen this sort of thing happen. A Teleport Trap, I could understand, but it's like I just shorted out and got kicked out of the Astral Plane mid-teleport! Why aren't my spells working, Captain, what happened?"
Going through her gear and other items, Katja selects what she will need for her trip. She makes her way to the balcony and looks up at the morning sky.
She smiles, as the sky always has a place for her soaring in the clouds. She lifts up into the air and begins traveling in the direction of Rahadoum. Once she is out of sight of the city she reverts to dragon form and flies at her best speed. Creating wind to aid her, she soars high to get the best air currents.
"Haven't been to Rahadoum in a while. Should be there by nightfall."
Many hours later....
Katja arrives by cover of darkness. As she approaches the site she concentrates and the weather begins to change. She continues to circle as wisps of fog begin to appear. The fog grows denser until it obscures everything. She then proceeds to land.
Looking around, Katja sees if anything is out of the ordinary or otherwise abnormal.
When she is done, she opens herself to the ebb and flow of magic to see if any discernable auras are about.
7th: 5
6th: 7
5th: 7
4th: 7
3rd: 7
2ns: 8
1st: 8
Jacob tried to regain himself and his composure. He wouldn't allow his fear to get a grip of him in the Grand Lodge. It was unbecoming. "A thousand pardons, Captain. It's just... Sir, what happened? There are very few things that can block my magic, I've made sure of that. Even Mage's Disjunction couldn't prevent me from getting there. The only thing I can think of is that the entire city of Manaket suffered an immense catastrophe."
He took the drink, the ice within shaking against the glass. Golthanos was one task to face, but at least the Mwangi Expanse was stark. This was a sprawling city. If no one saw this coming, the death toll would be catastrophic. He took a sip and stood up, offering a full salute. "Venture Captain Valsin, I would be honored if you would let me see what is going on in the city of Manaket!" Maybe he laid it on too thick, but over the top gestures weren't incredibly rare from the mage. "If anything, I can be the eyes and ears for the Society, at the very least."
"Manaket. By all that's holy, what has happened here? This bears investigating in greater detail."
She looks about to see if any sign of life remains other than animals and such. Using control weather, she makes adjustments to the wind to completely negate it.
Katja's searches her memory for what powerful magics could be used to cause such an effect. Manaket was not a small place to have this done to it in such a short time.
Jake scratches his chin in thought, his bristles scratching back against his fingers. "A week may be a bit long. If it's as big as you say, the cause of this could've spread. Has there been any attempt to teleport closer to maybe Azir or Bika-Rano Isle?" The map seemed relatively marred by notes and drawings. Not much did seem available, but when every second counted, it couldn't hurt to ask if there were some sort of shortcut.
"If not, we better get the boat ready posthaste. If I were to try and fly that distance myself, it may cut down a bit, but that would be nonstop movement. Would be rather inauspicious if something were to get the drop on me while I was sleep deprived and flown ragged." It was a long time since Jacob traveled via boat, but he supposed that it would be rude of him to ask the Venture Captain for some ginger or seasickness pills for the journey after his brazen display earlier.