Tahonikepsu |
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Arodus, 4714
Salutations,
People live and die, empires rise and fall, and mountains grow and crumble, but knowledge of the past shall remain eternal. This was a foundational understanding of the men and women known as the Jeweled Sages, and was a philosophy imparted to me when I was very young. With the assistance of Amenopheus, we have taken important steps in reviving the order of the Jeweled Sages, who sought to preserve the art, culture, and technology of Osirion's first age. However, Golarion's people have grown in the millennia since, and with them grows the scope of our mandate. With the assistance of the Pathfinder Society, we shall discover, secure, and explore historical sites across Golarion—perhaps beyond.
Even so, the Jeweled Sages relied on an extended network of agents and a diverse cast of gem-bearing scholars. In the short term, we must build up our numbers once more. That means we must focus on finding other sage jewels that contain past lore and recruiting capable inheritors to become a new generation of sages. Study what once was, understand what is, and strive to become what you will; perhaps one day I will choose you to serve at my side.
For the foreseeable future, I must labor in the sages' sanctuary deep in Osirion's desert. I have secured numerous rooms that were once sealed, but the compound is extensive and dangerous; if the Pathfinder Society honors my recent request, I may soon call upon you and your colleagues to assist me in exploring the sanctum's depths. While I busy myself with that, Amenopheus is in charge of operations further afield.
Walk with wisdom,
Tahonikepsu, the Diamond Sage
The Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign begins the Year of the Sky Key, its sixth season of Pathfinder RPG adventures. Keep the words of Tahonikepsu in mind, and be on the lookout for opportunities to help the new Scarab Sages faction succeed in its objectives. When the time comes, endeavor to participate in Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-04: Beacon Below.
Nars |
Having felt the great and terrible power of the gems for myself, I shall be on the look out for the bearers of such to decide if they be rightful sages. And most certainly to look out for the jewel that was taken from us shortly before our meeting.
The goals of the Sages are still within my own to safeguard magic from those who would abuse it, and so I shall seek more knowledge that we may both accomplish our tasks.
Emordnila |
If it please the Dawnflower, my sword and my mind will serve you as surely as they have served Amenopheus. It is fitting that the knowledge we recover will be a boon to all, not just to one nation, much as the Society has been a boon to all of Golarion.
I recall being asked to pass on blasphemous information to Amenopheus, all in the name of helping our Ruby Prince. I hope this new direction is a good one.
Krakard Vakurt |
Miss Tah-Tahonik-Tahonikepsu
Long names are not my speciality, my apologies madam. I shall address you as Taho for the sake of my convenience, I dare hope this does not offend you.
I eagerly anticipate future expeditions to uncover lost relics for the good of all of Golarion. I hope to see the Scarab Sages become a greatly respected...organization? The discovery of your existence (and the look on Amenopheus' face) was intriguing, amazing, and exhilarating all at once (and perhaps slightly frightening).
The one greatest thing I hope for is that you (and the rested of the Sages) remember those who helped them attain their position.
I raise my blade to your name,
Your humble new recruit and warrior,
Krakard Vakurt
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
"The rebirth of the order of the Jeweled Sages is a worthy goal, and I pledge myself to your cause. I'm sure my two sisters, Rayna and Kristen, will likely follow in my footsteps, as they have similar goals. I hope that someday, I may be worthy of becoming a Jeweled Sage myself. Long live the Scarab Sages!"
Professor Samuel Eldrazi |
*Walks into study, reads the letter, and grins, then starts writing in journal*
Well, it seems it's time for some more history! I hope to find many new relics and historical facts as a member of the Pathfinder Society. It looks like the new management is handling the transition to our faction's new incarnation quite well! Unfortunately, it's time to go teach Taldan History to my students. Until, next time I suppose.
-Professor Samuel Eldrazi
BigNorseWolf |
Were we supposed to vote for something? What happened?
Drel |
Greetings, Tahonikepsu, keeper of wisdom. I have heard of you, although much of my time has been spent farther afield recently and I had not heard of the changes in Amenopheus' job description. I am pleased that he remains involved, as my loyalty is to him for the services he rendered to me long ago. While I was a slave in Nidal, agents of the Sapphire Sage liberated me while recovering several magical secrets of shadow-casting from my master, and I have served the Society in his name ever since. If his order is growing in prominence once more, I will be very pleased to aid it, and you.
Cindrana Longroad |
Greetings Tahonikepsu,
I, Cindrana Longpath Lady of the Rods, greet you. I have heard of the curious events leading up to the discovery of the Diamond Sage and the lost lore of the Jewel Sages. I am currently on 'sabbatical' with kin in Varisia as my past actions seem to have upset certain members of the Aspsis Consortium but I'm sure after I make retaliations against my kin here unprofitable they will cease.
My only concern are the stories of the theft of the Emerald Sage jewel, we cannot let this stand. The man who has it will never use it for it's intended purpose but only his own gratification and empowerment. Allow myself and a handful of those I trust to recover it for you and Amenopheus to discuss who should bear it. From what I have heard the two of you have complimentary natures, that might clash on occasion, both serve your mutual desire to rebuild the sages.
Respectfully,
Cindrana Longpath, Runekiller and Lady of the Rods.
Grakk Kusha-ta-Pahk |
A tall Half-Orc wearing a holy symbol of a sun disk with horns clears his throat, and then speaks.
"Grakk come from Osirion desert. Near cliffs of Kusha-ta-Pahk. Grak wander desert for many years. Grakk explore ancient tombs for survival. Discover shiny gold sun disk. When Grakk pick it up, hear voice in his head. Voice say he ancient god of Osirion. Asked me to deliver gold sun disk to group deep in desert. Grakk do that."
"Grakk train to become Cleric of gold sun disk god. Grakk do not know how he can help Scarab Sages, but gold sun disk god tell me must help. So tell Grakk how he help find new Jeweled Sages for Scarab Sages. Grakk no understand, but Grakk do. Grakk good at doings, not understandings."
Empedocles |
Congratulations, Diamond Sage Tahonikepsu, on securing the leadership for which you strived so patiently, in spite of the results of our council in your sanctum. It heartens me to hear your recognition of Amenopheus' role in forwarding the cause of the Scarab Sages as much as I am glad to hear of his ongoing involvement.
It has been the highlight of my hopefully long-lived career as an alchemist to embody and represent a fragment of the Ruby Sage. I am not Osirian but my mentor, Arcanfrew, is. I have toiled years to do well by him and not bring shame to his teachings as I served his beloved nation under the auspices of the Pathfinder Society. I am grateful for the opportunities that the Society and Osirion have granted me. How I have grown! Still, I recognize how humble my experience remains compared to that of a Jeweled Sage. While I will always bear great love for my mentor, I feel that my contributions to the effort to cure his Resplendentness, the Ruby Prince, and my role in discovering you, Bright Diamond, have satisfied my debt to my dear mentor. He can rest easy that his teachings have played an influential role in the transpiring of Great Events.
I have had much chance to ponder on the qualities of Leadership in the years leading to our meeting. While my dear associates and I did not vote entirely in your favour, I was nonetheless touched by your arguments. Now that events have developed according to your vision, it seems they can also go according to mine.
I am Taldan. I could never claim sole devotion to Osirion and ignore my own roots. I imagined once my debt to my mentor was paid, I would perhaps lend my passion to another cause. I have come across a small number of worthy Great Efforts. Yet here is the Diamond Sage! And though I argued against her, I find myself ironically allured by her wisdom. By acknowledging the value of diversity and broadening the Osirion-centric vision of the first Sages, it seems I may have a place amongst the Sages after all.
If you allow, I will tally a while longer amongst this brilliant lot. I will continue to give my best, this time in my own voice and not as a proxy for a great mentor. I confess I do hunger for the clarity of Intellect I enjoyed while channeling the Ruby Sage. It is just as well that the mythic surge has ended or I might well have ended up addicted! I am inspired and continue to make progress with my own discoveries. Should I once again come into contact with a Jewel, it will be out of true worthiness and not mere happenstance. Should it be that one of you, my deer peers, are one day singled out for this honour, you have my passing envy and lasting support.
To a new era, then, fellow sages!