|
Dolvin backs up near Calephe and channels the divine healing of his patron Desna to help seal their wounds.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Calephe tosses out her prepared cask of oil, but it rolls right over the wick and fails to ignite. Dolvin keeps backing up towards Calephe while calling upon Desna for some healing grace.
The bats continue to circle for a moment before taking off into the setting sun, quickly dissipating across the horizon.
As Dolvin and Calephe make sure each other is ok, the others reach the level above and can hear the two wayward members yelling for them from out of sight below.
|
"Ah, I'm here!" Tellerin peers over the edge. "I just saw some bats flying away from the tower. Are you all right?"
After Hskoro has descended, Tellerin hesitates for a few moments before carefully making his way down the rope.
Tellerin winces upon seeing the bites and other wounds on the two. "Sorry we took so long!"
|
|
"no worries my friend we have survived and that is all that matters, you are looking a little worse for wear lets get ourselves patched up." Dolvin channels Desna's divine grace once again before going over and examining the corpse of the mean Trog. He covers his mouth with his hand and searches the corpse for anything that might be of use to them on their journey.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The team comes together with several members climbing down to check on Calephe and Dolvin. Dolvin channels more healing power, while several people go to investigate the other room, but they find nothing more interesting than bat droppings.
Taking their time, the team is finally able to find the secret door that allows passage between the two halves of this level, and are able to return to the base of the tower to ensure the large troglodyte is indeed dead. It takes several hours of travel to return to the city of Absalom, and the sun has long set before the gates come into view in front of you. Convincing the guards to let you in is easy once you prove that you are Pathfinders, and you hurry off to your Venture Captains to report your findings. Your individual Venture Captains are amazed at your stories and your findings, and quickly congratulate you on your resourcefulness and your initiative before releasing you for a well deserved nights rest and to await your next mission.
You have been stationed at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, awaiting assignment for a mission of utmost importance. Things finally seemed in motion when Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng sent out a summons for available agents. Specialized in the history of Absalom, Dreng is known for putting off-duty agents to work on sundry tasks when he finds them resting within the city’s limits.
Coming to the meeting place—an odd choice of venue, as it is a street corner far from the Grand Lodge—a lone beggar garbed in baggy robes approaches. The only figure visible in the constant drizzle, the beggar sticks out his hands for currency. “Have you any coin to spare, fine folk?”
The question hangs in the air for only a scant moment before the figure pulls back his hood to reveal the wizened face of Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng. He gives a crooked smile, soaked head to toe from his unprotected time in the rain. His clothes smell faintly of cabbage.
“Sorry about that,” he says with a wink. “I always like to play a little joke on agents when I stumble across them during my jaunts into town. Now, why did I summon you fine folk here again…?” Dreng shakes his head from side to side, as though trying to knock water out of his ears, despite the constant downpour.
“Ah yes, the Wounded Wisp! I’m undercover now and can’t stray far from the site I’m watching, but I need someone to retrieve a package for me from that fine establishment. It’s among Absalom’s most storied taverns, you see, and one that holds a special place of privilege in the Society’s lore as the place where the organization began. Well, I could drone on and on about it, but standing out in the rain is doing none of us any favors.” As if anticipating agreement, the bedraggled venture-captain produces a small slip of folded paper from one of his many stitched pockets. Dreng quickly shows a glimpse of the page’s contents: a map detailing the location of the Wounded Wisp bar.
“The bartender is a woman by the name of Heryn Gale, a fine lady who came to own the Wisp after the passing of her father from —oh, bah, it’s really getting too cold for me to give a proper history lesson! If you could just go to the Wisp, and tell Heryn you’re there to pick up my parcel, it would be most appreciated. I’ll be around here for several more hours at least.”
|
Calephe looks at Drandle with a lot of awe and a bit of horror mixed in. I've heard about him, but not met him yet. They weren't exaggerating. This is the person who gives us missions? "Isn't the Wisp the bar where the Pathfinder Society started? How big is the package? Where will you be if it takes longer than expected to get the package?" On a rainy day like this, an inn and some ale sounds nice.
|
|
Tellerin gives out a huge sneeze. He looks positively miserable in the drizzle, glaring every so often at the sky as if it personally wronged him.
When Drendle Drang gives the party their instructions, Tellerin pipes up "Good, great, fantastic! Lets get out of the rain and into this inn! If its famous all the better." As soon as he thinks he can step away without insulting the venture captain, he runs for the nearest eave and huddles against the building. He shouts out "Lets go as soon as you're all ready!"
|
|
Hskoro looks down at the Venture-Captain, "Ah.. the Wounded Wisp. I have heard stories of the place but have not visited yet. This is good chance to visit a place of such honor."
Hskoro just stands in the rain, rather enjoying it. Dry skin always being an issue for a Nagaji.
Hskoro ponders for a moment, "The package seems important, but even so. To assign all of us for this package. Would others be interested on getting package by 'underhanded' means?"
At Calephe's question, Dreng becomes very animated. “To say so would be putting it lightly! The Wisp is one of the most important establishments in the history of the Society. From those old walls, the first Pathfinders met to discuss their adventures across Golarion. Back then they weren’t even called Pathfinders! Nowadays the bar is almost an official Pathfinder saloon, where agents of all varieties go to meet and share tales.”
Dreng waves the Pathfinders concerns away absentmindedly. “Despite my current attire, I’m still a man of taste. The parcel is actually a special vintage of wine from the cellar of the Wounded Wisp. I’ve been sampling their finer wines in descending order of bottling. I dare not disappear from my current role in this district, but I also would appreciate some comfort items. After all, I doubt anyone would judge a
supposed beggar sipping from a bottle of wine.”
|
|
"How have I never heard of this place before," Dolvin thinks to himself as the rain beats down on his cloak. I small stream flows over the edge of his wide brimmed hat and keeps splashing on his hand. Other than that, however, he is relatively dry.
"Sounds good to me. Lead on, I've no idea where this place is." He follows the group still wondering how the knowledge of this place escaped him.
The Wounded Wisp is located in the Foreign Quarter district of Absalom, close to the grounds of the Grand Lodge. You have no difficulty finding the establishment with the map Dreng provided and as you arrive, you realize that almost every initiate or member has heard of or seen the building at some point. Built from dark, discolored wood, the exterior of the Wounded Wisp is the image of an iconic dive bar. Stained and barred windows obscure direct vision into the establishment, though ruddy yellow light bleeds from a window in the front hall. The only distinguishing feature on the Wisp’s exterior is a thick wooden sign hanging from above the bar’s entrance. A brass ring fitted onto the sign anchors a lantern— referred to by the staff as “the wisp” that hangs there during the evening hours.
You quickly move through the front door seeking cover from the incessant rain, and find yourselves in the entry hall. This long wooden hallway leads north into the building, and the walls are covered in numerous decorations and trophies left by successful Pathfinders who've donated minor paraphernalia to the bar. Moving down the hall, you find yourself in the main room. Tables fill the main floor of the Wounded Wisp where patrons sit with colleagues and share stories over drinks. Three sets of stairs lead up to a raised dining area behind and to your left, while the bar sits against the wall in front of you. A door leads off to your left, while an open area passes back through to the kitchen in the far back right of the room.
The smell of smoke and spilled ale assails the senses in this wide-open area. Walls of dark-stained wood make up the sides of the Wounded Wisp, while well-used wooden tables are spread throughout the space. A raised area in the back of the establishment houses several additional tables and eating areas for groups seeking more than just a good drink. An austere bar supported by kegs instead of wooden panels commands the northern end of the room. A stained-glass cabinet stands behind the bar, its dark panes cracked in several spots, yet not so opaque as to conceal the several dozen types of hard liquor within.
There are several groups sitting here and there around the common room, as well as a very harried looking barmaid tending the bar. As you begin to make your way into the room, a familiar looking halfling woman looks up, does a double take, and calls for your group! "Hey there!" Janira calls. "Fancy seeing you guys here! Got a minute to share a few rounds?" Janira asks.
|
|
Calephe steps into the building, and takes a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room. She shakes off some raindrops, and begins to make her way to the bar in the back. She looks surprised, but smiles at Janira's call. She heads over and takes a seat at her table, "Of course It's a wet and dreary day. A round or two with a friend is more than welcome."
|
|
As he looks around Dolvin feels a sense of belonging. So many Pathfinders have passed through these doors and drank from these mugs. Now he, Dolvin, a dwarf who never felt at home has found a semblance of a family.
With a blissful smile Dolvin sits down at a stool next to Janira. "I don't believe I've ever been more in the mood for a drink. How are you Janira? Last time our paths crossed you were facing a Minotaur all by yourself.
|
|
Tellerin is busy wiping his nose and trying to shed the wetness from his clothes when he enters the Wounded Wisp. Murmurs that sound like curses against the drizzling cold escape his mouth. When Janira calls out, his head jerks up and he observes the bar for the first time.
As if the cozy establishment has flipped a switch in him, he raises a hand with excitement and calls out "Janira!". He scurries over, dripping slightly as he does. "How is my favorite story telling halfling in the world doing?"
He beams at Janira before noticing something out of the corner of his eye and adding "Sorry Miron, you're my second favorite!". His words seem directed towards another halfling settled in a seat at the other side of the establishment.
With a turn back to Janira, Tellerin continues "Any new stories to share?"
The group moves over to where Janira is sitting with several other people and they join the gathering as Janira invites everyone to sit. "What'll yall have? Can't be sitting around in the Wisp without a drink or two at hand!! Someone go grab a round, heres a few coppers.." she says passing over the coins.
Turning to the rest, she says "Things have been going well! I am beginning to compile all of my research with your notes and documents. As soon as all of that is done, I will be leading a much longer term exploration out to the caves so that we can learn more about that shrine! And hopefully without the minotaurs!!" she finishes expressively.
"Tonight though, I am just relaxing and rubbing shoulders with some other Pathfinders of note and allied people. May I introduce Aram bin Kaleel, owner and Proprietor of Kaleel's Curiosities over in the Coins District. He sometimes chooses to help young Pathfinders on their way."
At this introduction, a man wearing a flowing robe and light colored headpiece gives a short bow before interjecting "All I do is give a bit of guidance. It is important for young people such as yourselves to learn to stand on your feet."
Janira continues around the table to point out "This is Yargos Gill. He isn't a Pathfinder, but he has helped us plenty in his work as a military historian." With a nod the man acknowledges your presence while inspecting you with his keen eyes. "You never know when the past may surface to help the future." he says.
Turning back to your group, the spry halfling continues. "I've been spending most of my time around here or at the lodge just trying to peice everything together. What have you been up to?!"[/b]
|
|
Calephe nods in greeting to Aram bin Kaleel and Yargos Gill. "It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you both." At Janira's request for a story Calephe looks at Tellerin with a grin, "You're better at telling stories than I am. I'll grab the drinks." Calephe scoops up the coppers and heads to the bar along the back wall.
When she arrives at the bar she places the order for the table, and mentions their mission in brief. "After we're done chatting and drinking with our friend, we need to pick up a package for Drendal Drang. I believe it's a bottle of wine. There's a note somewhere, but I don't have it on me."
|
|
Tellerin gives Calephe a thumbs up and launches into a dramatized retelling of the party's recent foray into the Fallen Fortress. The tale is accompanied by much arm waving and the occasional pyrotechnics, eventually culminating with him dropping his voice to a low and tense rumble "Just as we'd finally cornered the foul smelling ringleader, a great groan, and then a rumbling boom!" Tellerin slams his mug on the tabletop. "Before Calephe, Dolvin and I could jump clear, the floor, walls... everything around us began to twist and crumble. The entire east wing was coming apart!"
"Calephe barely managed to scramble to safety amidst the falling blocks of stone, but Dolvin and I, along with the ringleader, were swept up by the collapse. It was then that the two of us showed our true mettle, clambering between falling stones and pushing off in a split second as the world fell apart around us!" Tellerin casts a Dancing Lights and shows his mug bouncing between falling lights as it desperately tries to make its way back to the table.
"When the dust cleared, Dolvin and I had survived. Battered, bruised, yes. But alive. And the ringleader? Well, we found him broken under a pile of rubble, all the way at the bottom of the tower. A just end for a foul creature." He settles back in his chair. "And thats how it was." He gives a grin to his captive audience.
As you approach the bar, the harried and overworked bartender notices you and motions to wait just a moment. After filling a few other patrons orders, she comes over to you. "What'll you have, lass?" she asks. You place your order and she begins to fill the mugs as you inquire about Venture Captain Drengs package. "Oi.. He sent you after that, did he? Well, take your drinks, and I will be after you in a moment. I have to get one of the girls to cover for me here. I'll come get you as soon as I can." she says, passing over the tray of drinks.
Janira and her friends all react throughout Tellerins story with oohs and aahs, completely entranced as he tells the story of their adventures. At its conclusion the table, and indeed many of the surrounding patrons loudly applaud Tellerins performance. "Bravo!!" Janira calls out as she claps. "Very good story! I hope that the chronicles you filed with the Society are just as exciting as your retelling!!"
After several more minutes of chit chat, Heryn appears at the table. "If you all are finished with your drinks, lets get that package for Dreng. I know that the sooner you get it to him, the sooner you can get out of this rain!"
The party follows Heryn back through the kitchen and a pantry to some wooden stairs leading down to the cellar. "Mind your step here.. We had to have all this rebuilt and strengthened after a significant donation by one of the original members and his assistant, but it got damaged a few years later during the quake of 4698." Heryn chatters as you move through the stone walled cellar. It is packed full of barrels, crates, and cases of various sundries and items necessary to run such a busy inn and tavern. Foodstuffs, drinks, and various other items line the walls and are piled under the stairs as you move through a solid door into the next room.
"This used to be a meeting room where the staff could relax during our breaks, but it suffered significant damage during that quake I was just talking about." the animated bartender continues.
Looking about, you see that several fissures split the floor, leading down to an equally damaged section of the city's sewer system. "We just don't have the time or resources to fix this up, so we lay these boards across the cracks and replace them as we need to. Watch your step.. I've been needing to get down here and work on this, but haven't had any time lately do get it done!" Heryn cautions, pointing out the thick wooden plank that serves as a bridge across the 10 foot deep fissure. Looking down, you can see the uneven and broken bottom of the crack, and that the sides provide numerous handholds and rough areas.
|
|
Hskoro moves up to the plank that crosses the fissure but suddenly stops, "This plank will break very easy. We can cross it one at a time, but even then think it will break."
He looks back at the others, "We can try to reinforce plank, risk crossing it one by one, or climb down fissure and back up."
|
|
"Oh, I see what you mean Hskoro. It does look weak right now." Tellerin inspects it for a bit before shrugging. "Should be able to hold me though."
He crosses, listening carefully for the tell-tale sounds of the plank cracking or breaking. Once on the other side he says "The other way would be to just jump across. There are a few spots where its only a couple of feet across the gap. Might be a good choice for Calephe, maybe a little less good for you two." He looks at Dolvin and Hskoro, both weighed down with armor. "It doesn't look too hard to climb. That might be the safest."
As the rest of the party navigates the gap, Tellerin turns to the bartender "I think its time for a new board! You could have really hurt yourself going over this one."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tellerin scampers across while chiding Heryn about the condition of the board, and Calephe easily glides through the air with a simple leap. The rest of the team decides to go down the chasm and back up the other side instead of trusting to the strength of the overworked wooden plank. Hskoro takes his time climbing down one side and back up the other, while Dolvin grants himself a bit of heavenly luck and gives it a go making it to the other side safely.
Heryn looks on, impressed at the strength and dexterity you have all shown. "Wow!! I could never have done that!" she exclaims. "I will be getting that fixed quickly.. I had no idea it was that bad, but normally, its just one of us barmaids going across so its not a big deal." Heryn leads the party into the next room, where long racks of wine bottles settle and age in the temperate underground room. She approaches the back of the room, still chatting. "This is where we keep all of our wines. There are a number of very expensive and very rare vintages down here!" she boasts good naturedly. "Venture Captain Drengs bottle should be... just around here... Yes! There it is!" she finally exclaims, reaching for a dust covered bottle near the top of the last rack in the room. She seems to struggle for a moment, before the bottle tilts forward like a lever. Suddenly, a section of the wine rack begins to be pulled back into the wall with a deep grinding sound before it slides to the side, out of sight and now revealing a dark passage carved through the stone. Heryn is flabbergasted "What in the nine hells?!?" she exclaims. "That's impossible! I had no idea that was there?!"
The team sorts out their combat order and moves into the room warily. A sturdy silver chain jutting from the ceiling ends in a glowing orb that radiates yellow light across the rectangular room. A simple desk of polished wood, stacked with documents and scattered notes, shelters a pair of wooden chests against the south wall. A series of cracks along the eastern and western walls form makeshift entrances into exposed caverns.
As the team moves into the room looking about, a dark shadow detaches itself from an alcove along the wall and two tentacles snake out for Hskoro. Luckily, the distracted nagaji turns at just the right time to avoid the lashing tentacle!
Calephe
Tellerin
Dolvin
Creature
Bold May Post
Calephe
Dolvin
Tellerin
Creature
Hskoro
|
|
"What in the name of the most holy Desna is that?" Dolvin exclaims as he flicks the wand of bless out of his robes. He raises the wand above his head and shouts "Desna give us your blessing" and then slips the wand into an outer pocket.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"A secret passage?" Tellerin scrunches up his face "So.. then... Dreng must have known... He sent us here to take a look down this way?" As Tellerin is deep in thought, the rest of the party advances.
He snaps out of his concentration when he hear's everyone's exclamations. "What's going on? What do you see Dolvin?"
Tellerin makes his way into the room, hoping to catch sight of whatever is alarming his friends.
"Ugh, its ugly. That's not a troglodyte, is it?"
With exclamations of surprise and disgust, the team moves forward into combat. Heryn hears the clamor of battle and with a quickness borne from years of dodging fights in the tavern above, she dodges back out of the way and peers at you from behind the cover of the wineracks with concern and worry.
Dolvin blesses the party with Desna's grace and protection, while Calephe moves around Hskoro to strike at the creature in the shadow of the tunnel. Before she can get into reach though, the creatures long tentacles snap out towards her.
Luckily, she is able to dodge under the attack, and strikes out with her scimitar. The blade clangs and sparks as it bounces off of the stone wall.
Tellerin hears the din of battle and rushes forward to join his friends.
The creature returns its attentions to Hskoro, lashing out with both tentacles. The first misses, but the second just barely manages to wrap around his neck and start squeezing.
Bold May Post
Calephe
Dolvin
Tellerin
Creature
Hskoro- 7 dmg, grappled
|
|
Seeing the tentacle wrap around Hskoro Dolvin punches out with his shield trying to aid Hskoro in attacking the creature.
He then draws his crossbow.
-Posted with Wayfinder