A summoned creature suddenly appears in front of Tasskar. As the summon touches the floor, you heard a creck-creck on the tower floor. The creature starts wildly attacking the troglodyte, hitting him in his legs and arms, biting him in the head.
Nigel pronounces an arcane word and Tasskar feels a sudden horrible fear.
He starts running towards the opposite place from the gnome.
"Noo, the white gnome is here! Nooo! I have been a good trog! Nooo! Don't take me!"
As the troglodyte lowers his defences, Lionel draws his mace and helped by Draylan's glaive, he hits him on the head, smashing the skull into two pieces.
The trog body continues running as possessed by a phantom, and even continues running when it passes the archway, and... when it arrives to the balcony rail. The body hits the railing and spins in the air, falling into the Tower's sky.
You see nothing more, but just after a couple of seconds you hear a dry sound, Knock!.
The summoned swarm causes a little bit more of pain, but short after some seconds it disperses into the tower staircase.
As you carefully look through the balcony, you see, the body splashed over the tower's rubble where you fought the dogs. It is not moving anymore.
Your attention is taken then by the chest next to the throne. The hoard is composed by a masterwork short sword, 15 cold iron shurikens, two flasks of acid, 2 potions, a wand, a gem and 247 gold coins.
A potion of cat’s grace.
A potion of lesser restoration.
Wand of summon monster I (CL 3rd, 9 charges).
An amethyst worth 100 gp.
Balenar observes you carefully "Ah! I see you are powerful allies, it was just so easy for you to crush that troglodyte before he could even react. Perhaps you want to become part of the Pathfinder Society, have you thought about it? I can take you to the Grand Lodge in Absalom and sponsor you for membership in the in the Society. It is an organization of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers. What do you think?"
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"Woah. You frightened that troglodyte good, Nigel. The Lion ain't never gonna mess with ya. Now, the little croc is unconcious, and, you know, I'd rather not kill a beastie like that. If noone objects, I'm gonna tie him up and bring him to Absalom. If someone more knowledgeable says it shouldn't be free, I'll just get a pair o' shoes off the bugga."
As Lionel sees the treasure hoard, he whistles in amazement. "That's a lotta stuff. Lemme see if I can identify some of it, though I think is clear that I ain't the most... edjacated of people."
"Uh-huh. Thems are potions, alright. Unless they're poisons. In either case, I ain't drinkin' them. And the wand is definitely magical. Yup. No doubt on that."
Maaaaaan, I suck at magic.
Turning to Balenar, Lionel says, "Well, I ain't exactly bein' paid for ma job, as fun as it is. I may be willin' ta take yo up on ya offer. See, I don't know much 'bout arch..arco...diggin', but I sure love me some adventure, and I haven't ever left Absalom for whole ma life, so might as well see the world on someone else's money.", finishing with a grin.
Adressing his companions, Lionel says, "I suggest we all get the stuff and get outa here, the smell is kinda clinging on me, and that ain't the cling I want. Did we miss something, gents? A room, or an item of interest? I got a mule outside, if them godsdamned dogs didn't eat it, so we can pretty much take whatever we can carry." Lionel takes a long glimpse at the throne-chair. "Say, Demario, ya reckon this here seat is somethin' Museum Nigel wants? If ya think we can nick it... sorry, liverate it, and he doesn't want it, I think I can pay ya a bit o' gold for it? If is too heavy, we gonna leave it though. Shame."
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"Funny you should mention that. My sister Mirimae mentioned in a letter about her romping about here in Absalom, and I was wondering what she got herself into." The elven wizard nods as he considers the offer. "Being a part of an organization to get me feet under me and allies to help me find her whereabouts would be most welcome. Consider me interested."
"Sure then, you can give that as done! Becoming a Pathfinder usually involves a series of tasks in order to make sure you can do the work, but I think you all have already proved your value. I will gladly sponsor all of you." Balenar takes you to the Grand Lodge were you are introduced to the Pathfinder Society.
Venture-Captain Ambrush Balsin signs your adherence to the organization "Congratulations, you got a very good sponsor. You will be granted room and food. Short enough you will receive your first task. Perhaps some of you will be extra tested, but I think you overall are prepared if what Balenar says is true." the bard nods with a big smile.
Short after you return to the Blakros Museum, Nigel is surprised on seeing you "Oh dear! You did not succeed to go inside the tower, is that the reason you came back that fast? Have you at least discovered what happened with the tower? It was not open then by the Earthquake?"
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Among all the findings, none excited Mithrennon than the little scroll of invisibility the group unearthed during the explorations. Early morning after the explorations, Mithrennon takes the time to decipher the spell and copy the spell into his own spellbook. Once complete, the wizard breathes a sigh of contentment before journeying back with the group and reporting the findings.
At the museum, Mithrennon bows slightly in greeting, and smiles at the Nigel and his questions. "We did succeed in a rather thorough exploration of the tower. While there were several malformations as a result of the earthquake, and likely time and weather erosion, we were able to discover a group of troglodytes had taken up residence therein. We took the liberty of clearing the historic fortress of the foul creatures, though I have no doubt other denizens will make use of it soon enough." The elven wizard gladly shares any information gained from the explorations, as well as artifacts uncovered for the mission.
"Ah! Troglodyte smell is a hindrance!" the officer looks closely to the party members accepting the frog statue, the banner and the other materials you found. He then opens a desk and places a bag full of coins over the table "You have worked well and you deserve your payment. Here you have. Perhaps you would like to work for our Museum, there sure will not be that interesting, but I could do a good service of some new guards. What do you think?"
After the new Pathfinders kindly rejects Nigel proposal, the group decides to join in the Lodge bar to celebrate the completed mission.
You split up the earnings and prepare yourselves for your incoming adventures with a feeling of greatness and good luck. You won the Master of the Fallen Fortress, you got all you could from it, you are true explorers, you are Pathfinders.