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Fresh off your induction into the Society and the completion of your basic training within the organization, you all find yourselves in the office of Ambrus Valsin, the venture-captain in charge of daily operations in and around the Grand Lodge. The efficient and straightforward chamberlain greets you curtly and motions for you to sit.
"All right, Pathfinders! Listen up. I know you are new recruits eager to make names for yourselves in the organization, but first we need to make sure you are up to snuff and won’t get yourself killed out there. I have a number of small assignments for you and your team, and it would be best if you could finish them before the day’s end."
"Every day we get some doe-eyed hopeful or some sniveling bootlicker willing to do anything to join up with the Pathfinders. Most of them are good kids, but not all of them have the salt to make it in a world like this. It’s rough out there and I’m not just talking about the ruins, tombs, and wilderness Pathfinders find themselves in on missions. We’ve got people who look down their noses at us, folks who think we squander our resources, and agents who want to take everything we have collected. This wealth of knowledge and these items of lore make us the most powerful organization on the planet. That said, since we are fractured and widespread, it’s difficult for that power to light on anything for too long. For every friend of the Society, there are two enemies."
"Your first mission, to test your mettle and loyalties, sends you to meet a few people important to the Society living here in Absalom. These are other venture-captains or close allies of our organization, so follow their orders as you would mine. I’ve prepared a list of things I want you to do. They’re not arranged in any particular order of importance, but I want them all completed as quickly as possible. Only report to me once you complete them all. Included in the envelope you hold in your hands is the list, complete with the name of your contact, and directions to the meeting location."
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Assignment #17:
☐ A man named Guaril Karela runs a curio shop in the Docks called the Pickled Imp. Go to him and fill his request as a favor to the Society. I believe it has something to do with a set of rare books.
☐ Ollysta Zadrian requested aid and is expecting you at the Temple of the Shining Star in the Ascendant Court. She needs someone to deliver a parcel of medicine and curatives to a needy orphanage and verify the character of the recipient.
☐ Visit the offices of Osirian nobleman Dremdhet Salhar in the Wise Quarter. The Pathfinder Society needs to obtain permission to delve the Salhar ancestral vaults beneath Sothis. He has made a verbal agreement, and your visit makes it official. You will receive an official charter and detailed maps. Do not embarrass the Society in this matter.
☐ Chelish Paracountess Zarta Dralneen possesses an item loaned from the Vaults. Meet with her in her estate in the Ivy District and retrieve the item in her possession.
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I hope not have to lick boots...
A tall, strong, and absolutely hideous half-orc awaits orders. He wears scale armor and a red cloak, so battered it is hardly wearable. He carries a fine, cold-iron nodachi.
"Harrow Tatterhood is name. Someone read mission list to me, and I... listen and make sure read right," he says.
It is not clear how civilized this half-orc is; but the look in his eyes seems wild and short-tempered.
Nearby is a shaggy, wild horse of wild temperament. It kicks at and attempts to bite any passers-by, and seems to be creating quite a commotion. It does not appear to be tame.
"Hush, you!" Harrow yells at the horse.
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A likewise tall and broad shouldered human stands nearby, with a wolf watching the nearby wild horse with a hungry glean in his eye. "Cinder... no." He says to the wolf who turns and watches the man for a moment before lying down and crossing his paws.
"I am Alek Stormcrow, well met Harrow Tatterhood." he wearily offers his hand to the half-orc. Once Harrow either shakes or does not shake, he turns to Tacitus. "Your suggestion holds merit, good sir. I believe this will bode well with the Society."
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With his blue hair shaped in a pompadour style and his clothes and skin stained with various oil and grease marks, the gnome in the room seems to be only half-listening to the Venture-Captain's speech. Once it's over, he returns to impatient consciousness and stands up quickly, snapping his fingers, "Yeah, VC, we got it covered."
He then turns to the others, "Listen, I got a lot of work to do in my shop, so lets get these errands done. The name is Van, Van Potter. I've spent some time up in Numeria, and I've seen things you wouldn't believe, so I didn't just fall off of the apple cart. I'm sure you cats gotta have your heads on straight to get this far, so let's all stick together, cooperate, and get this stuff done on the quick."
"Widdershins or the curio shop, don't matter to me, let's just go. Wows, you cats brought a lot of pets along, eh?"
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Looks at Tacitus, tossing a bomb back and forth in her hands, like it might be a fidget toy, Well, if you really feel like Dremdhet Salhar is more important, lets go there first. I don't really have a preference. I just don't like to dawdle.
Glancing around at the rest of the group, Name is Opal. That's all you need to know about me right now. Chances are good we'll never see each other again after today.
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Well met fellow adventurers! I am Sir Dydimus of Eastgate, and welcome newcomers to my home the City at the Center of the World! The excited halfling removes his jaunty hat and give the assembled pathfinder a sweeping bow so low that his rapier almost slides out of its scabbard. He then snatches up the list from whom ever is holding it and begins to read it to the rest of the group, using his most important sounding voice. When finished he puffs out his chest, Well heroes it seems we have work to do! Follow me I know this city like the back of my hand! With that he dashes down the street towards the docks. Less than a second later he skids to a halt and turns sharply on his heels, Ha, I forgot we are going to the Wise Quarter first ! and he heads off in that direction.
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I am Tacitus and I fare from Taldor. There is little else that needs to be said of me for the purposes of these errands. Let us follow... Sir... Dydimus to the Wise Quarter. We were instructed to finish these tasks before the end of the day and we should not disappoint the venture-captain or the other dignitaries.
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A young Man in the room towering over the others. Broad muscled shoulders covered in only hard leather and chain with furs covering them. A hood made of fox fur covers most of his jet black hair and shining green eyes, holding more experience than they should for his age, pierce out at the others. A great sword the size of a man with a rather large crack running down some of the middle is lightly held In his right hand the tip resting on the ground. On his back 3 javelins protrude up above a backpack. The pack was a gift from the society. In his left hand he holds an entire leg of roast charred to his exact specifications. He steadily Munches it throughout the meeting.
more foolishness and time wasting. We should be out in the wild. Ridding this world of undeath and there masters...
He steps forward quite imposing.
Arrack, son of Garrek finds these tasks wasteful and insulting to a warrior. I joined this order to slay undead. Not run errands.
He takes a bite from the leg of roast then smiles
But... protecting these people will work for now.
he looks around the room.
I shall see these tasks done. Whether or not they are unworthy. Though I will leave most of the talking to others.... Does anyone have any Mead? I seem to have ran out?
He will walk over to the man with the wolf.
wonderful creatures are these. Strong, rugged, beautiful. Everything I am! Hahah. I had one as a pet... Of sorts on the frozen plains when I was a child. He came and went I had to leave him when my tribe moved but whenever we returned he was there waiting
. until the dark day. But that is a story for another time.
He will attempt to pet the wolf not really asking.
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The party knows that among the tasks on your list is visiting an Osirian nobleman named Dremdhet Salhar in the Wise Quarter to get permission for the Pathfinder Society to explore the Salhar ancestral vaults below Sothis.
What Tacitus knows in addition is:
- Salhar serves as a member of Absalom’s Grand Council and is often out of the house on matters of business.
- His aged advisor, Amenopheus, operates the Osirion (Scarab Sages) faction of Pathfinder agents.
- Amenopheus, also known as the Sapphire Sage, is a tan-skinned old man.
- Amenopheus is a powerful Wizard.
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How interesting. Such a grouping of adventurers!
A small dark skinned woman wearing an ash grey robe and matching cloak leans heavily on her walking stick, taking in the goings-on in silence. She draws deeply on her lit cob pipe and exhales, filling the air with the rich aromatic smells of burning herbs.
"I am Serwe, and I am at your service good masters. I have some minor skill in the healing arts learned from my mother, who learned from her mother before her." the small dark creature beams a prideful smile at the assembled company.
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You all make your way to the rich estate of Grand Council member Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by a guard who is expecting them as they reach the tall, wrought-iron gate.
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"Pathfinders," the guard says in a sonorous baritone. "You are welcome here. You may proceed."
He pulls open the obviously heavy gate with ease.
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A servant makes his way out to the party and offers greetings, "My greetings to you, Pathfinders. Master Salhar is not present. He was called away on important Council business. However, his most trusted advisor is available to negotiate any business you may require"
The servant leads you through the estate, down well-decorated hallways, past expansive rooms. After a few minutes, the group arrives at a simple study near the end of a long hallway.
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Inside Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. As the group approaches the open door, the wise sage silently gestures the PCs into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading.
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"Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say."
"Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet."
"Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room."
The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.
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All. In my zeal to be all inclusive, I allowed 8 players into the game. My sincere apologies, but we need to split into two tables.
The following players should continue to use THIS thread for game play.
1. Serwe – Wayang Witch
2. Harrow – half-orc Cavalier
3. Tacitus – Human Arcanist
4. Arrack – Human Barbarian
The following players should go over to the NEW thread for game play.
1. Sir Dydimus – Halfling Bard
2. Opal-Alchy – Elf Alchemist
3. Van Potter – Gnome Arcanist
4. Alek – Human Hunter
Again, sorry for the kerfuffle. :-)
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The dark little creature at the side of Arrack tuggs at its pant leg trying to get his attention. She seems to be beckoning you down to whispering level. "So what do you think awaits us in these vaults Good Master Arrack?"
"Maybe something in one of my old history teachers books will show us the way". The tiny black skinned woman scratches her chin whiskers for quite some time before reaching an 'a ha!' moment.
[ooc]could I make a knowledge History check to see what I know of the landmark we are on our way to? If so the roll will be right below:
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After leaving Amenopheus’ study, the servant brings the group back through the spacious estate, leading them down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a couple turns, the party ends up at a plain wooden door. The servant opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow, and waits silently for the party to enter.
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Leaning heavily upon her walking stick and drawing hard from pipe once more the small dark woman seems to be sizing up the situation.
Looks like it's omwards for us my companions. I see quite wel in the dark but should need arise for those who cannot see I bring a blessing of light where ever I tred...
She whsipers words of magic in a leathery tongue and grants Master Arrack some Guidance.
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The servant remains silent and stoic. He simply waits for the party to enter the vault. Then he shuts the door and locks it behind you all.
The plain stone room contains three chests: a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood; a red lacquered chest; and what looks to be a cube of solid steel. Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.
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I don't suppose any of you can pick locks or disable traps?
I cast Detect Magic and then search the room and chests for traps.
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The first thing Tacitus notices is that written on the back of the door is the message: "Within these cases lies your quest and your way out."
Detect Magic:
- Round 1: Yes! You detect the presence of magic. (aside from those magical auras presented by your allies)
- Round 2: The school is illusion.
- Round 3: The strength is "faint" and is centered on the copper banded chest.
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A green viper was at the bottom of the basket hidden among wadded cloth along with a rune-etched key. The viper, key, and cloth are all dumped onto the ground when the half-orc upends the basket.
The writhing, angry viper, disturbed from it's rest, gives the party a look that clearly conveys its thoughts: "Oh no you didn't just dump me onto the ground when I was nappin'! This floor is so cold and the basket was so warm. Sheeooot! It's on now!"
Tacitus, you're up first. Then the viper. Then the rest of the party. Tacitus may also make a (free action) Knowledge(Nature) check to find out what he might know about the viper.