Ghost Dot Here please. If you don't know what that is, it means to make a post and then delete it. That way this campaign shows up on your campaigns tab and it doesn't clutter up the start of the game. Thanks!
Whether you were just passing through Absalom on your way elsewhere, you live there and were home from a mission, or were in town for a bit of R&R, you receive notice from the Grand Lodge in the middle of the night of an immediate need for pathfinder agents. The notice invites you to quickly respond to the Overflow Archives, an building near the Grand Lodge Library used for miscellaneous storage. As you enter the West doors, you see three individuals arguing. Water is leaking from under the double doors to the East.
As you enter, a blond elf is explaining “I have no love of puns,” announces a peeved Kreighton Shaine, the Master of Scrolls in the Grand Lodge, “Yet it cannot go unremarked that the Overflow Archives have begun living up to their name.” The pale elf gestures across the library’s stone lobby toward a pair of shut double doors from beneath which water steadily seeps. He is only one of the midnight visitors bearing witness to this disaster. Next to Shaine, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen stands with folded arms, glaring at an initiate whose hair and clothes are utterly drenched. All three speak at once, but Shaine’s shrill voice rises above the din. “Magical shenanigans in the archives are prohibited, especially this soon before the Grand Convocation!”
“Let us prioritize,” Dralneen suggests. “Are the artifacts within the vaults in danger?”
“How should I know?” Shaine barks back. “This delinquent initiate— what was the name? Wormell?”
“Virml, sir,” replies the sodden Pathfinder.
“Virml says he sneaked into the archives on a dare,” summarizes Shaine, painfully emphasizing the initiate’s name with scolding disdain. “Presumably, he thought the holdings would be harmless. Instead, in his naivete, Virml triggered some dormant curse or other. So, yes, thanks to Virml here, the archives and the vaults below continue to flood, threatening all the books therein.”
Miserably, Virml holds up an armload of soggy manuscripts. “I salvaged a few, sir.” Sighing, Shaine leads Virml towards the stairs. “Take them up to the scriptorium. Start making dry copies.” Then, turning to survey the rest of the room, he continues issuing orders. “The remainder of you should wade in there and plumb the origins of this deluge. Stop it, if you can. I must report this debacle to my colleagues and begin organizing the cleanup.” Abruptly, he seems to notice the paracountess for the first time. “What are you doing here, Dralneen?”
Zarta smirks and shrugs. “Unlike you, Shaine, I love a good pun.”
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The man's reinforced boots emit a distinct clink each time he takes a step in the entryway. He looks calmly at each person in the room, visibly uncomfortable at the tone of the elf's voice towards the boy. He steps in between the two crossing his arms. Speaking slowly and with great effort, "Leave 'im lone. He is just..." He pauses searching for his words,"a kid. Kids do dumb things. He c... c... copy the book for punishment. I here to to fix mess." The tarnished mail over his shoulder rise and fall as he takes a deep breath after his monologue.
He turns to talk to the initiate. As he does so, the room sees the massive 6 and a half foot long bastard sword strapped to his back. The worn grip and scuffed blade betray the years of battle the sword has seen but the fine mirror edge reflects the light, showing the care this blade has seen from its master. To the kid "What 'appen down there?"
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A slight man stumbles into the room, wiping sleep from his eyes. Plopping down in a chair as the Shaine berates the young pathinder, he smiles. 'Serves him right. Forcing us up at this unholy of ours!' he considers.
Raising an eyebrow as the stranger steps in to defend, he takes stock in the wares. 'Metal...metal...and oh look! A wet floor....this could be fun.'
Though easily overlooked, the small man seems to have meager armaments. No armor to speak of and but a dagger at his waste next to a strip of leather and two bone carved wands.
Leaning back in the tall chair, he motions a single finger towards the arguing group. Without even the hint of enthusiasm, he speaks "So, Creighton...you dragged me from my bed in the middle of the night for a plumbing problem? Mind you, this is immediately after I helped save a GOD?! So be it. Any particular concerns we should watch for in the archives?"
"Kid, spill. What happened down there. Don't give me this 'I don't know' and 'Nothing' because they were both members of my last group and I saw them die."
As an afterthought, he adds "Oh, I'm Vraxam Uldar by the way. Master of electricity."
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A busty halfling comes in dressed for adventure apparently. She looks around and spots the flow of water.
"Interesting timing to attempt to build a private pool now isn't it? I'm Hootie Bell, troubleshooter." she grins.
Her bust strains at the seams and it's apparent that great care has already being taken to ensure no accidents will occur but she is top heavy and that's describing it likely.
"What can we expect to find down there besides traps and curses? Any beasts chained up inside or worse? How did this happened and are we getting paid for this?"
She crosses her arms and waits.
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Nahko, a large man, bald with white hair, enters the room with his companion. The cheetah seems very well behaved, following closely and staying quiet while Nahko takes in the scene. Old tattoos--dark with age and stretched over the folds of his large body--peek out from his collar and sleeves.
Yes, Zarta, I'm sure you're here just for the puns. He gives her a small signal with his hand to indicate that someone from the home team was on site. Ignoring the initiate, he questions Shaine. "What are we really saving down there? What's the most important? 'Cause you know there will be losses.... what can't you afford to lose? Any special manuscripts we should be aware of?"
You get the idea that the question might really be for Zarta, though his outward attention is definitely focused on Shaine at the moment.
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Rayanoushyant watches intently as the situation unfolds, taking note of the tension in the room and eyes going wide at the sight of the damaged scrolls.
"Master Shaine, Paracountess." Rayanoushyant nods to each of them in turn before addressing Master Shaine directly. "This is most dire indeed, the wealth of knowledge at stake! Are there any items in particular we should seek to salvage? Any hazards of particular note to beware?
Looking at his companions and really seeing them for the first time Rayanoushyant inclines his head in greeting. "Hail and well met pathfinder's. It is an honor to work alongside you, I am Rayanoushyant Basar, Evoker. I trained in the great schools of the Arcanamirium before fate sent me here to the city at the centre of the world. Know that if we work together, this is a problem we can overcome.
To the kid "What 'appen down there?"
"Kid, spill. What happened down there. Don't give me this 'I don't know' and 'Nothing' because they were both members of my last group and I saw them die."
Shaine jumps in to report, “Our delinquent initiate here is vague on the details. But clearly, some unclassified item in there must have borne a well-concealed curse.”
He glares at Virml who sheepishly relates, “I...I merely picked up a wee scroll, read part of it aloud for fun—some kind of riddle about birds and fish? And then it flew to bits in my hand, and I caught the quickest glimpse of a handsome man...and then ker-ploosh! I washed out here!”
Leaning back in the tall chair, he motions a single finger towards the arguing group. Without even the hint of enthusiasm, he speaks "So, Creighton...you dragged me from my bed in the middle of the night for a plumbing problem? Mind you, this is immediately after I helped save a GOD?! So be it. Any particular concerns we should watch for in the archives?"
"What can we expect to find down there besides traps and curses? Any beasts chained up inside or worse?"
Any hazards of particular note to beware?
Shaine rolls his eyes, "hazards? You are worried about hazards? DON'T DROWN... that sufficient? Now hurry along and stop this mess so we can start the recovery process."
"What are we really saving down there? What's the most important? 'Cause you know there will be losses.... what can't you afford to lose? Any special manuscripts we should be aware of?"
You get the idea that the question might really be for Zarta, though his outward attention is definitely focused on Shaine at the moment.
"Master Shaine, Paracountess." Rayanoushyant nods to each of them in turn before addressing Master Shaine directly. "This is most dire indeed, the wealth of knowledge at stake! Are there any items in particular we should seek to salvage?
Virml feebly volunteers that he rescued a few texts before Shaine interrupts. “Don’t waste your time with the individual pieces. You must arrest the flood at its source—or reverse it, if possible.”
...and are we getting paid for this?"
She crosses her arms and waits.
The Master of Scrolls blinks indignantly before launching into a rant about saving knowledge for knowledge’s sake, but Zarta Dralneen interrupts with a very sarcastic smile, “Oh, I agree, Shaine, there’s no reason to compensate capable people for their risk and hard work, especially when they came of their own accord to help at this late hour.”
Unsure how to respond—but now self-conscious about seeming like a tyrant—Kreighton Shaine verbally backpedals and declares, "er.. well if you collect some intact items of value I may let you keep them as a reward... but I'll need to review what I'm letting go. We don't want the town flooded with another cursed scroll, now do we?"
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At the mention of being rewarded an item in the vault, Vraxam suddenly sits upright. "Oh, you don't say Master Shaine."
Rubbing his chin, his grin spreads wider...and wider as he tosses a look to the paracountess. "In that case, I believe we should get to it before the poor documents are ruined, don't you agree? We wouldn't want those artifacts and learning potentials to...dissolve now."
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Grix listens carefully at the exchange. His eyes showing a keen intellect behind the gruff appearance. At the end of the conversation, he nods to the initiate and pats him on the back. "You go trans... hmm... copy the ma-nu-script, now. We go fix the mess." He gives him a wink and draws his sword. Looking back to the rest of the pathfinders he says "I am Grix. I go first? Or be you scout?"
Stepping up to the door he presses his ear and listens for any sounds on the other side.
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A grey, grumpy, and gross-smelling elf drags himself into the room. "What? is about all he asks, with a kind of 'why are you bothering me' attitude. Upon seeing the water, he sighs, "Great, we're all gonna drown."
"Yo! Slow down there, big guy! Curses and traps aren't fun." With a resolved 'whatever' shrug, he finally adds, "I guess I'll have to take a look first."
For those who notice, the transformation is odd. His eyes, though not darting around, seem to have taken in the whole room. As he drags himself toward the door, the motions become fluid and deliberate. He may not want to be here, but he's going to do his best anyway.
"The rest of you's keep your eyes open, in case I miss something" Did he end that sentence with 'again' under his breath? Or did you imagine it?
If there is no other light, he'll pop a sunrod.
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Hootie seems slightly assured now that she knows at least her trip won't be in vain. She snorts as the elf decides he wants to be front and makes a swift decision to let him.
No point risking herself if there's others wanting too. Instead she opts to make herself quiet.
Once he pops a sunrod though, Hootie thinks.
Bah. Amateur....There better not be any beastie attractd to that light though it helps.
Seeing the pathfinders anxious to get started, Kreighton Shane nods as if things are taken care of and heads to the west doors, "sounds like you all have it under control. I have a great deal to do." With nothing further he leaves in a rush.
Virml, who had been heading upstairs to start the copying process, stops and turns to the group holding up a scrap of paper. "This uh... is part of the scroll thing, maybe it'll help you all."
With the room more or less to herself and the pathfinders, Zarta takes a second to motion to Vraxam and Nahko. She whispers a few things and then wishes you all well with a smile, "Good Luck!"
She shrugs and smiles before continuing. “That said, I know that there is more than junk beyond those doors. I’ve heard that someone squirreled away a copy of The Darklands Precepts somewhere in there, and it’s far too dangerous a tome to leave lying about. Get it out of there and return it to me, no matter what excuse Shaine might make to toss it back in the pile.”
Grix hears nothing but a little splooshing of water.
Naneryn inspects the doorway, door and locking mechanism. Certain that it holds no inherent dangers, he turns back to the group.
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After looking over her shoulder a while to 'read the paper' Naneryn groans, "Great, if we don't drown first, we'll be eaten by a hideous creature from the darkest depths of the ocean." After staring over her shoulder a little more, "well, door's safe. Might as well get started. Lead the way, big guy." He drags himself over to the door and opens it.
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Putting one grizzled hand on the large door, he gives an effortless push and swings it open. He peers inside, looking carefully for any sign of danger.
"Elf, what your name? You be front to look for trabs. I follow close. You see peril, you be behind I. Udershtand?" Grix follows closely almost protectively behind the scout. His sword is up and ready.
Naneryn pulls the right door open, motioning for the human to head through. Grix, either concerned about his girth or wary of an elf holding a door for him opens the left door as well before looking through.
Inside they see a spacious library that is a damp catastrophe. A lake of dark water clogged with books, scroll cases, and a few overturned shelves obscures the floor. Steps descend into the brine from the western doors, while at the east end of the room a spiral staircase rises from the water to a mezzanine above. The same metal staircase must descend into a basement below as well, for the water there burbles downward in a dark, lazy whirlpool.
The mezzanine above seems to be the source of the water as gushes of it periodically flow over the edge or down the stairs.
Shallow bogs increase the DC of Stealth checks by 2 (which makes sense, tis harder to sneak when sloshing through water and like above, I’ll handle this unless you also wish to penalize your own roll ahead of time).
As you enter, you see a couple small creatures sitting on top of a bookshelf. They appear to be fishing and arguing at the same time. They look at the newly opened door and then resume fishing and arguing. You hear a few common words and another language mixed together as they bicker back and forth.
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Having watched the back and forth between Master Shaine and the others followed by the arrival of their erstwhile companion, Rayanoushyant follows the others inside, making sure to stay near the back and keep his eyes open for any unseen hazards.
Leaning towards Hootie and taking a look at the scrap of parchment Rayanoushyant asks quietly "What do you make of it? And more importantly what do you make of those?" Rayanoushyant inclines his head towards the strange bird people on the far side of the room.
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"We won't let you down m'dear." whispers the gnome, glancing towards the other companions near the door.
With a slight bow, he moves to join them as they earnestly inspect the door. "Huh, neat poem I suppose. Perhaps it'll make more sense after we get the other bits."
Smiling at the strange creature fishing from their perch, Vraxam slowly makes his way down the stairs into the waist deep water. "Hey, you there! Catchin anything good?"
Glancing back to his slower companions, he shakes his head. "You all realize it's probably just a create water spell gone haywire, right?"
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Hootie snorts, "Gathlain Sorcerers, magic using fey. Also likely trouble. Someone talk to them cause I certainty can't."
Her eyes scan the room to see if anything in particular stands out and also if there are any other creatures inside this room.
Expected. They all look over shoulder to read this note. More like they want to see if my chest blocks my view of my feet......... she thinks.....
The two small bird-headed humanoid-bodied creatures look up from their arguing over proper fishing methods. In broken common one hollers, "YOU STAY AWAY! SCARE FISHY PAPERS! NO COME CLOSER!"
You can clearly see they are 'fishing' for various scrolls and bits of paper. A collection of soggy items is accumulating behind them and they were bickering over their latest 'catch', a somewhat sturdy looking piece of scroll work that appears less drenched then their other items.
Right after the first one hollers, the other one punches him in the arm, "silenzio! Lei potrebbe mangiarci!"
Hootie notices that among the myriad of papers floating through the room, a couple seem to be resistant to water and might have retained their value.
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Sensing this could quickly turn violent Rayanoushyant brings a spell to the forefront of his mind, ready to unleash it the moment these creatures turn hostile. Seeing Hootie's intent, Rayan attempts to engage the creatures in conversation to distratc them.
"Ho there, do you speak the common tongue? We mean no harm, we've merely come to remedy the problems plaguing this place."
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"Do what? Oh no, certainly no one here wants to eat you." replies Vraxam with a grin. "We simply need to make sure you have the proper licensing to fish in this pond."
Glancing towards his companions, he nods before continuing. "You see in order to fish her you must have a license. Annoying, I know. However, it is the rules. The penalty for fishing without a license is imprisonment...."
Frowning, he shakes his head "Now, I don't know about you, but I don't feel like dealing with all the ruckus of that tonight. It's late. How about we make a deal. You give me the fish you've caught so far, and we look the other way...that is of course if you stop fishing. Once you have your license, you'll be free to fish all you want."
"How's that sound?"
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The disheveled elf picks up on the distraction theme and, since he cannot bluff his way out of a soggy paper bag, he opts of a different kind of assistance.
"Ack! Imprisonment! Please don't mention prison again! I've heard tales of the guards being so rough!" He then pantomimes being caught stealing, roughed up, and tossed in a cell. That final part resulting in a large splash as he throws himself on the ground.
The group notices that Hootie slips out very quietly into the stacks. At some point you all think she darts across to the other side. Shortly later, she is standing behind everyone with a couple slightly damp pieces of paper. There is arcane writing of some sort on them and they don't appear to be damaged by the water.
Nahko moves up with his bear staying close. Three of the pathfinders start throwing out confusing questions and arguments. One Gathlain responds to the first question with a shushing motion, "be quiet! No wake her up! She eat you!" He points up above him to the mezzanine where, on que, a gush of water sprays over the edge.
One of the Gathlains looks oddly at the serious Vraxam, "fishing license? What is that? I mean, we didn't know..." He is quickly interupted by his companion who stops him and says, "HE LYING TO YOU! There is no such thing as a fishing license! HAHAHA You Funny!"
Both of them watch Naneryn's performance intently and then gasp as he splashes into the water, "ACK! No you scare fishy papers away! Be quiet!"
Noticing the halfling for the first time as she speaks up, one Gathlain responds first, "well um... we are fishing for papers. I mean, we were fishing for fish before and then we got gushed out here by the big fishy thing and..."
The other Gathlain interupts his fellow, "no you idiot, she means what are you doing here, as in what is the meaning of your life! Well my dear, I'm happy to discuss that at great length. See, I believe that we are here for a greater purpose. Not just to fish and eat or be eaten. I think we are here to provide some sort of guidance to the world. Maybe even to you all! But I don't know for sure, the world is mysterious and things are never as cut and dry as one hopes. And this place is certainly not dry."
He continues rambling on about various things. His companion uses this distraction to continue fishing in relative peace.
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Moving a little closer to the pair, Vraxam nods as his companions speak. "Yes, any advice you could give would be useful. We are here to see to the plumbing. You see...this place isn't supposed to flood such as this. We were sent ahead of Mario and Luigi to solve this issue."
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Naneryn climbs up onto one of the wood things, "Might as well get dry. I hate soggy food." He looks around and then something occurs to him. "Perhaps you are here to provide guidance. Can you please tell us what is she and is she the only one like her around? Or are there others above too? Maybe we can work together to get you back to where you were so you can fish for fish again."
One replies quickly to Nahko, "no go to her! She eat you swallow up whole!"
The other looks at Hootie questiningly, "fish for magic, duh. We got one already. Need more to become super powerful!"
The first one seems very confused and replies to Vraxam, "plumbing? What is plumbing? No I don't know those guys. Do they give the fishing licenses?"
The second one sighs and looks at Naneryn, "she's up there! Are you not listening!" He thinks for a second, "probably more things, not sure. All came out in a gush!" He visibly shakes, "no go back! Here is fine!"
The first answers Rayanoushyant's question while grabbing and holding tightly to the scroll he points to, "what no! This is ours! It worth waaaay more than gold."
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"Oh, that's what you're after?"
Looking about his person for something useful, he considers the situation. Slowly, picking up his sling, he looks at it longingly. Glancing sideways toward his companions, he lets out a rather exaggerated sigh.
"Well...I do have something that could be worthwhile. It's been in the family for a loooooong time. My great-great-great grandfather used it."
Holding the sling up for the duo to see it, he frowns. "It's quite powerful but only activates in the hands of sufficiently powerful spellcasters. I was hoping to someday be able to activate it myself. But if it's magic you must have, and it seems my companions really want that scroll....so be it."
The Gathlain holding the scroll hugs it tighter, but his eyes lighten up with the claims of Vraxam. "But I am a powerful spellcaster! I bet I can get it to work! YOU HAVE A DEAL!" He slowly flaps his way over, trades the scroll for the 'magic sling' and then flits away to a corner, trying to figure it out.
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"The story of my life" grumbles the rogue to himself when the sorcerers make the trade. While the PCs are reading the newly acquired scroll, Naneryn is eyeing the overturned bookcase nearest him. With a uncharacteristic show of life, the grungy elf exclaims, "Next up, Dinner!" as he takes a short running leap across the water to the other bookcase.
He lands gracefully and reverts, almost magically, to his low-energy self. He eases his way back down into the water and drags himself to the the spiral stairs and does a quick trap check.
Looking back at the party, "Anyone else ready for dinner?"
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Rayan nods approvingly at Vraxam, impressed at his quick thinking. "Our most humble thanks." Rayan says to the small winged creature as it retrieves it's prize.
Looking up at the stair top where Naneryn is now standing Rayan nods and moves to join him "I am ready brother." he says as he wades towards Naneryn.
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Nahko raises an eyebrow at Vraxam's ruse. Tricking fey? They're the ones usually do the tricking. Gotta watch out for that one, he's got a golden tongue. Talk me out of my pay, maybe he could.
He and Kuti begin slogging through the water to follow Naneryn. He calls to the scroll fishermen before mounting the spiral stair. "Going to see the fish. Send word if we don't return."