Corliss slaps his forehead as he suddenly remembers Captain Catarro was the original target of Cujo's shade and is languishing as well. He excuses himself and heads to the docks hoping that the Bloody Fortune has weathered the storm and made it to her slip. Fortunately, the Fortune is where she's supposed to be and Corliss sends a couple crew rowing over to the Black Goat to fetch Catarro.
It's not quite noon when Corliss returns to the apartment with Catarro and Veric, who has come along to support the weakened sailor. The waiting crew at Menzir's have been killing time with sweet tea and small talk as they wait, but finally all is ready.
Menzir has the three drained men sit on pillows facing the altar in front of the open window as he lights yellow and pink tapers and incense. He puts a small diamond on a metal plate and smashes it with an iron mace and then the old priest places the book on the altar and prays aloud for quite a bit before turning back and sprinkling diamond dust on each of the seated men followed by a simple healing spell.
Menzir looks unstable on his feet and quickly leans against the altar before sliding down onto his butt. He crosses his legs and blinks at the Jim, Kaul and Catarro for a moment before slowly smiling as he sees vigor return to their countenances. "Thank the Everlight! It worked!" he announces.
Jim stands slowly, flexing his fingers, then grins. "Much obliged, sir. I think we'd best be getting out of your hair and the guard station, though...as you might have guessed, we don't usually get a cordial invitation to a guard station."
Catarro stands up with a relieved expression. He lifts his arms and stretches. "I feel much better. My heartfelt gratitude to you all. I was beginning to wonder how much longer my mates were going to put up with an invalid on board."
Veric snorts. "Oh, we'll keep you onboard, but you're going to have to be captain again. I'm already tired of listening to everyone's gripes."
Kaul mugs a grin at Jimmer's words;
"Hur. Guard station... leastways not walling about one free an' not in a cell... Our."
Dingus cringes when the beautiful stone is smashed but is relieved when the spell seems to work.
"Well that's a hoot. I'll have to learn to do that... maybe without breaking beautiful gems however".
Where do we go now"?
Veric raps his knuckles to his brow in a mock salute. "We're back to the Black Goat to sort things out. Didn't you have that fancy little meeting with those purple robes at Heidmarch Manor today?"
Kaul's beady eyes glitter as he mulls the situation and returned strength to his thews.
"Hur. That we did Veric... Tends to be riches at Manors lads. Why don't we attend an' liberate those purple robes o' their treasures? Course iffin' they resist why Ol' Kauly will hav' to rob 'em o' their lives too! Hur-hur-hur!"
The bosun's axehead slides into view and bobs with enthusiastic affirmation...
"Mate, I think they just want to talk to Dingus. Figure we'd better let him have his meeting--he just helped get us our strength back, so we owe him one."
"Plus, this meetin' has all the hallmarks o' a free meal, or at least a few trays o' snacks," Corliss chimes in. "Count me in. Mayhaps they've even heard tales o' Red Aesha...or can at least point us in her direction."
The two crews depart Menzir's apartment heading in opposite directions with Veric and Catarro heading back to Beacon's Point and the rest heading back toward the Irespan where a wide thoroughfare rises from the foundations of the enormous bridge to the towering deck. The weather is still cold and the streets wet from the overnight storm, but the exertion soon warms the sailors as they reach the top of the bluff and a plaza with yet another monument, this one depicting a knight battling a great two-headed sea serpent, in front of some government building decorated with robed figures and gargoyles.
A thoroughfare continues northwest across the upper city to what must be the wealthiest part of the city. The crew ask directions again and are directed south to a beautiful plaza near the southern wall of the city. The plaza is paved in dark stone and dotted with abalone shell to appear something like a starry expanse. At opposite ends are a grand theater and a temple though it's unclear which god it honors. Just past the temple to the east the crew finally arrive at Heidmarch manor which is something of a compound with a strange mix of what appear to be scholars and weathered adventurers entering and exiting the main gate.
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Feck...looks like a bunch of Pathfinders. If ever I have offspring, I hope they and theirs never grow up to join that lot.
Jim chokes down his revulsion as he enters the den of wastrels and adventure nerds known as a "Pathfinder Lodge". A large two-story manor house nearly fills the compound. From the front gate, a wrap-around porch and enormous conservatory attached to the building leave room only for a formal pond with exotic plants a glimpses of strange orange, black, and white mottled fish immediately before you, a hedge labyrinth to your right and a bunk house to your left. A path circles the pond and leads up to the porch and the front entrance of the manor.
Several groups of four to six individuals, and they are truly individuals, of unusual nationalities, ancestries, and professions confer over esoteric matters on the porch distinctly reminding the crew of the Fool's Market back in Freeport. The crew pushes past through the open doors and toward the hub-bub inside where they spot the purple-robed pair of Prasidium and Cesta in the lounge snacking on finger food and punch available on a long table in the main hall.
Kaul eyes the locale with a belligerent eye;
"Hur. We could raze this place. Loot it..."
"Maybe after I've warmed me bones a bit," Corliss tells Kaul as he starts searching for the nearest open chair closest to a fireplace. It appears the cold climate of the north doesn't agree with the priest in the least.
Dingus is fascinated by the bewildering display of different things... and outfits, and is almost distracted to the point of not recognizing his contacts, but he finally sees them and rushes forward to embrace them.
He stops along the way near a Gnome with a feathered Headdress. "We must speak later. I love the way you've laced the feathers in with the gold thread, and rhinestones".
"There you are... and here we are". He begins to fill his mouth and pockets with any sweet treats available.
Kaul circles the room with unsettling attention on the decorations on the walls and carried by the other attendees. Mostly there is a lot of old stuff and functional equipment. Nothing obviously flashy, but the value of relics and artifacts is often not obvious from their looks.
A closer perusal of the drinks and snacks offered reveals hot tea flavored with mint in addition to the cider punch and an array of cookies including a selection enscribed with interesting runes, flat bread with an array of dips, and a few other sweets. One is layers of parchment thin dough layered with nuts and floral syrup. When Dingus asks one of the staff about Candied Sparrow, she is not familiar with that treat, but directs him to the Magnamarian confection known as Angel Wings which looks like sugary fluff.
The gnome is ecstatic about Dingus' compliment and readily agrees, using the terms "genius" and "maven' to describe the sorcerer's own stylings.
"Ohh, Dingus. I hope you did not have any difficulty finding the Manor. It didn't occur to me until afterwards that you were new to town and might not know it. Unfortunately, you have missed the lecture, but please, let me introduce you to our hostess," Prasidium offers and leads the way through a door to the lecture room. Several unusual characters stand among the rows of chairs in intense discussion including a lovely woman with black hair and an impeccable emerald-colored dress in conversation with an elderly elf in more subdued pastel blue robes. Prasidium approaches with a swift bow and states, "Dingus, may I introduce you to the Lady of the Manor, Sheila Heidmarch, and Sephriel, envoy for the Mordant Spire."
Dingus awkwardly bows, then curtseys with a smile marred only by the sticky residue of the "not candied sparrow" he was still trying to swallow. He then grabs a mug of something off a nearby table and washes down the crumbs, frowning at the taste of what he had just drank.
"It is indeed my great honor and privilege to make your acquaintance. I am Dingus, newly adorned prophet of Soralyon. and these are my disciples Kaul, Jim, and Corliss".
He makes an elaborate flourish as he introduces his shipmates, then turns back to the group.
"I am sorry I missed your lecture as I'm sure I could have remained awake throughout it, but perhaps we can still share information. We are quite intrigued by the ruins throughout the city, and for reasons I can expound upon later have dire need of knowledge".
Dingus then sits down in a nearby chair nearly passing out from the effort of string words together so that they made sense.
Diplomacy
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Dingus turns to see that not all his mates have followed. The others look rather confused by the introduction, but are won over by the young adventurer's sincerity.
Lady Heidmarch smiles, "Ah, the Mystic Angel is well honored in Magnimar, but knowledge of the lost Thassilonian Empire is hard won. Nonetheless, new discovered are being made all the time. If you have information to share, by all means, please do so. The guiding principals of the Pathfinder Society are to Explore, Report, and Cooperate. What particular knowledge are you seeking?"
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Jim follows Dingus, trying not to rubberneck. Feck...Kaul's going to get himself in trouble, and I'd best keep an ear open for him.
As Lady Heidmarch and Dingus exchange pleasantries, Kaul ambles over mugging a jigsaw grin;
'Hur. Nice gaff ye got 'ere Lady H. Bet ye there's some stories in these walls eh... Hur-hur... Bet ye there's some stories 'angin' on 'em an' all..."
"Well. Not to beat around the bush... I've got quite a large group of friends, that seek a choice for a god to pay tribute to. Through vast amounts or research, we've chosen Soralyon as the recipient of our newfound worship. Believe me the other choice would cause the elimination of this people, who only want to be left to exist in peace".
Dingus then walks about the room touching a few things and picking out another leftover mug to drink from. He acknowledges Kaul's and Jim's presence with a smile.
"It seems as though the fates have deemed that I become the harbinger of this god and his number 1 prophet... so if you have anything to share, or might know where I can begin my search it would be greatly appreciated".
"I'm sure there is something we could help you out with in return"?
Once he's warmed himself, Corliss decides to be sociable and joins the little gathering around Lady Heidmarch, introducing himself by name only. He keeps his buckler emblazoned with Besmara's holy symbol tucked inside his heavy cloak, which he removed upon entering the Pathfinder lodge.
Lady Heidmarch nods at the new arrivals. "Ah, here are you companions, Dingus. Kaul is it?" she acknowledges the inquisitive half-orc. "You don't have to look to the walls for information about the Society's greatest journeys and the ancient lore we've uncovered, much of it can easily be found in the Pathfinder Chronicles. Of course, only members have access to all the volumes, but a couple volumes are publicly available. In fact, if you all are particularly interested in Thassilon, I published much of my early discoveries in Volume 44, but I can give you a quick synopsis since you missed the lecture."
She gestures at a large map on display at the front of the lecture hall. "As you can see this is a map of the northwest quarter of Avistan and this is where the ruins of Thassilon are found. What is now Varisia was the heart of the empire ruled by the Emperor Xin who divided his empire into seven kingdoms named for the seven virtues of rule that he promoted. Unfortunately, those that followed him turned those virtues into vices. Magnimar now stands on the border of Bakrakhan, the realm of wrath, and Eurythnia, the realm of lust. Fortunately, those kingdoms fell long ago and better spirits now inhabit our home."
"I am not a specialist on Soralyon, Dingus but I'm sure that you are in good company with Prasidium and Cesta. And what is your opinion on Soralyon, Envoy Sephriel? Your people serve as guardians of the Ruins of old Azlant."
The old elf frowns, "For good reason, Lady Heidmarch. Some secrets are better left buried or drowned as the case may be. I still honor Acavna, an ancient Moon Goddess who is no longer, but I should think that many of us would agree with Soralyon's judicious approach to revealing secrets."
Dingus immediately leaves the meeting to meed up with Prasidiumm and Cesta without so much as a thank you.
"Well that was a waste of time. She just sent me back to you guys. How do I find out more about Soralyon, and make sure my people are able to embrace this worship. Do I need to do some quest or find something, or even speak to this god myself to get anything done around here"?
Dingus turns his back on the hostess to loudly complain to the Runeguards next to him. Cesta gives Lady Heidmarch a pained expression and tries to help the intense young sorcerer. "Soralyon's commandments are to Study monuments, Craft stone, and Guard ancient sites. All these things please Him. We Runeguard are here in Magnimar because there are so many monuments to study and Lady Heidmarch has provided more direction to our research by sharing her discoveries. And certainly there is danger in uncovering lost knowledge as Sephriel has said, but where we differ is that one can prepare for known dangers and perhaps some lost lore will be useful for fighting against those dangers."
Lady Heidmarch nods. "If one Runelord could suddenly reappear to threaten all of Varisia as has happened in the recent past, then it could happen again. It was only by luck that disaster was averted last time. We must be better prepared as Karzoug was only one of seven."
Sephriel snorts. "I would warn against looking to deeply in the past. There are worse things than the Runelords. You are a young race and your ambition may exceed your capabilities and bring doom to the world as happened to the Azlanti. I should be going now. I have to prepare for my return to the Mordant Spire. Thank you again for your hospitality, Lady Heidmarch."
"I hope you have chosen a more trustworthy ship this time. There won't be any Pathfinders along to protect you this time," the hostess chuckles as the elf departs.
Cesta continues her discussion with Dingus, "Though you have not said who your people are, I take it that you are not from around here. Do they have some ruins to guard against the return of an ancient evil or perhaps there is already an evil artifact that has been released upon the world and must be stopped?"
Corliss is quietly admiring the view of Lady Heidmarch when something she says jogs something in his muddled memory. He looks at the map the Venture-Captain pointed out and suddenly realizes that some of those Thassilonian ruins the lady mentioned are in the Steaming Sea...the very place Red Aesha is rumored to be searching for artifacts!
The priest approaches her Ladyship, asking for a few moments of her time. He inquires about the runelords who once lorded over the areas in and around the Steaming Sea...and what sort of magic artifacts they might've once wielded.
Making up for Dingus' rather rude dismissal, Corliss engages her Ladyship:
"Please, just call me Sheila," Lady Heidmarch replies. "The westernmost kingdoms would be Bakrakhan, centered on what is now the Varisian Gulf under the Runelord of Wrath; Cyrusian, extending into the southern Lands of the Linnorm Kings under the Runelord of Pride; and Edasseril, which was shattered into the Ironbound Archipelago in the Steaming Sea. That kingdom was ruled by the Runelord of Envy, Belimarus. The capitol, Xin-Edasseril, may have been on Chakikoth Island, but I'm not aware that anyone has explored it yet given the wild and dangerous state of the area."
Jim frowns at Dingus' abrupt departure, but turns back to the lady of the house and listens as she describes some aspects of ancient history. "Huh...you might be interested in meeting my old friend Professor Deveril. He's at the Freeport Institute, though, and that's a bit of a trip for a casual visit.
"It's interesting you should be mentioning guarding such things. My mates and I, we're nothing so mission-driven as that, save when we have to be. We're simple sailors who happen to have seen a few things, hey? However, at the moment, we happen to be on a collision course, one might say, with someone carrying a potent piece of old magic. Have you heard aught from the Shackles about a place called Sentinel Island, and what befell it?"
"The Shackles? Is that where you are from?" Sheila asks. "I was stationed in Thuvia and I've been to the Mwangi expanse, but not so far west as the Shackles. No, I'm not familiar with Sentinel Island. Do tell."
Dingus turns his back on the hostess to loudly complain to the Runeguards next to him. Cesta gives Lady Heidmarch a pained expression and tries to help the intense young sorcerer. "Soralyon's commandments are to Study monuments, Craft stone, and Guard ancient sites. All these things please Him. We Runeguard are here in Magnimar because there are so many monuments to study and Lady Heidmarch has provided more direction to our research by sharing her discoveries. And certainly there is danger in uncovering lost knowledge as Sephriel has said, but where we differ is that one can prepare for known dangers and perhaps some lost lore will be useful for fighting against those dangers."
Lady Heidmarch nods. "If one Runelord could suddenly reappear to threaten all of Varisia as has happened in the recent past, then it could happen again. It was only by luck that disaster was averted last time. We must be better prepared as Karzoug was only one of seven."
Sephriel snorts. "I would warn against looking to deeply in the past. There are worse things than the Runelords. You are a young race and your ambition may exceed your capabilities and bring doom to the world as happened to the Azlanti. I should be going now. I have to prepare for my return to the Mordant Spire. Thank you again for your hospitality, Lady Heidmarch."
"I hope you have chosen a more trustworthy ship this time. There won't be any Pathfinders along to protect you this time," the hostess chuckles as the elf departs.
Cesta continues her discussion with Dingus, "Though you have not said who your people are, I take it that you are not from around here. Do they have some ruins to guard against the return of an ancient evil or perhaps there is already an evil artifact that has been released upon the world and must be stopped?"
Dingus nods sagely at Cesta finally getting to the point. "Aye! My people are ancient... even before the time of the elves, and the fear is that an ancient evil may indeed be released. As far a evil artifacts... well I may or may not have had one at one time, but it is safe for now. This all happened in Freeport, and there are thing beneath the streets there that are both evil and ancient. Hence... we need Soralyon to become the god of choice".
"It's an island in the Shackles that used to be the home of a monastery of sorts, housing the Brotherhood of Righteousness. The monastery was destroyed by the sea's dead, summoned from their graves by something called the Stone of Solesh. I haven't seen the thing myself, but my mates and I fought the remnants of the group that did for the monastery." He shudders. "Feck, that was a hard night. Anyway, the Stone is supposed to be an artifact of the...what were they called? Abilets? Aboleths? I can't remember. So have you heard of this thing?"
Shiela shakes her head, "I haven't and I know very little about the Aboleth."
Prasidium chuckles, "It's enough to know that they are ancient and powerful. They claim to be older than the Gods and even more powerful. That's pretty good for a bunch of giant slimy fish and I don't know that I'd take their word for it; I have also read that they are inherently deceptive and master manipulators."
Cesta overhears and looks at Dingus with concern. "Is it Aboleths that threaten your people? Then just as we ask Soralyon's guidance to follow Xin's ways of virtue without being led stray by the corruption of the Runelords, your people must find the enemies of the Aboleth and harness their power to protect yourselves!"
Kaul tries to keep up, but loses focus when talk turns to Roonlords and their ilk.
At Cesta's words he perks up, shooting a look toward the snake hipped sorcerer;
"Whose this Aboleth? Want me an' Lopps to deal with the fecker Ding?"
"Nah, mate. That stone Red Aesha used to get you Lopper, it was made by aboleths. 'Least, that's what Groomy said, and he knows these things."
Shiela shakes her head, "I haven't and I know very little about the Aboleth."
Prasidium chuckles, "It's enough to know that they are ancient and powerful. They claim to be older than the Gods and even more powerful. That's pretty good for a bunch of giant slimy fish and I don't know that I'd take their word for it; I have also read that they are inherently deceptive and master manipulators."
Cesta overhears and looks at Dingus with concern. "Is it Aboleths that threaten your people? Then just as we ask Soralyon's guidance to follow Xin's ways of virtue without being led stray by the corruption of the Runelords, your people must find the enemies of the Aboleth and harness their power to protect yourselves!"
"I don't know. I don't think so... It seems to be a schism withing different sects of my people... but on second thought, I guess some ancient evil could be behind the whole thing. That almost makes sense".
Dingus then looks around to see who else is listening, then decides he really doesn't care.
"So who are these 'enemies' from past experience".
"So who are these 'enemies' from past experience".
Cesta looks to Prasidium and the gnome chuckles, "Experience? No experience thankfully; just some side research. For creatures rumored to think themselves superior to the Gods, at least on Golarion, I have been surprised that I have yet to turn up anything about their influence on Thassilon. Granted the field of research is still young, but one would think the Aboleths were still a threat. The Aboleth are likely to have other rivals beyond Golarion of course, but so far as on Golarion itself, the oldest Thassilonian records I've seen mention an Age of Serpents from before the rise of the Azlanti. Supposedly, an empire of serpentfolk existed back then and I doubt that the Aboleths would have played nicely with them. Other than that, possibly the elves may have brushed directly with the Aboleths, but they tend to be really close-lipped about their past."
"No. I've certainly never come across a reference to Aboleths in my research either, Prasidium." Shiela confirms and then she smiles again causing Corliss' heart to flutter. "Say Dingus, if your offer of assistance still stands, perhaps I have something for you. All our Pathfinder agents are currently occupied with something I'm not at liberty to discuss right now, but-" she glances around lowering her sultry voice to a seductive whisper that causes Corliss' eyes to bug. "Not too long ago I received a report that the ruins of an Elven watchtower was discovered in the Velashu Uplands north of Riddleport."
"The Velashu Uplands are a remote area that was once part of the Mierani Forest, an ancient Elven stronghold which I expect predates Thassilon. The forest has long since receded westward along with the Elves, but in the past few years along with a number of strange occurrences around Riddleport including a small sky-stone nearly hitting the town, the Elves appear to be resettling the Mierani Forest. I believe that the tower has long been forgotten by the Elves and might offer an opportunity to investigate the state the Elves and this land prior to the rise of Thassilon."
"That is if we can investigate before the Elves rediscover it. It's not that I don't trust the Elves, but as you saw with Sephriel, they can have a somewhat paternalistic attitude toward non-elves. Certainly, I'd prefer to have an unfiltered look at the place."
A little confused, Jim interjects, "So, what you're proposing here is that since the Stone of Solesh was created as a weapon for these creatures, we look to their enemies--serpentfolk and ancient elves--for some sort of countermeasure to it? Makes sense, I suppose. According to the surviving monk we spoke with, Red Aesha used the Stone to call down lightning on top of everything else, so if we took a ship against her she'd blow it out of the water."
Kaul nods sagely;
"Hur... Can't trust 'em longears... an' what's worse is the 'alflings. Little basterds ain't fit fir nuthin' but chum... Dibbs' being the ex-ception."
He taps his scarred noggin with a crooked grin.
Corliss takes a few moments to regain his cool.
"Accordin' to yon map, this elf-tower would be on the way to the Steamin' Sea an' our quarry," Corliss points out. "I wouldn't mind goin' a bit out o' our way to help Lady Heidmarch an' her studies."
"The Stone does sound like a dangerous artifact, Jim. A countermeasure or some context perhaps. The tower may have nothing of direct use, but there is always a chance. I believe that you have the proper mix of curiosity and caution to go far."
Sheila graces Corliss with a radiant smile. "That's the spirit and it is my sincere wish that you find something of use."
She turns to Dingus, "What do you think, Dingus? I cannot promise that this won't be a waste of time, but I think the tower may be an important link to the past and hope that Soralyon blesses this endeavor."
Dingus rubs his chin stubble, and whispers to Richard before turning back to Sheila.
"Well. At least it's a place to start which is more than I had before I came here. What do you think Mates? Are we in"?
Dingus prepares to spit in his palm to shake hands on it if his shipmates agree.
I'm not sure where I picked up this spit and shake thing... but I like it.
"All I ask is that you verify the tower's existence and share anything you learn. If all are agreed then." Sheila waves to a weathered man in formal attire. "Canayven, my love, would you please bring down that map to the Elven tower in the Velashu Highlands from my study?"
Jim nods. Might be a bit of loot in it for us...I'm sure the crew'd be happy to get something out of the trip besides being in our good graces.
Lord Heidmarch returns shortly with a rolled map which he hands off to Sheila with a kiss. She hands the map over to Corliss, who perhaps is a little disappointed that there is a Lord Heidmarch. "I take it you have your own means of travel to Riddleport. The tower looks to be approximately 50 miles north of there just beyond the fall line of the Velashu river. Typically, the Pathfinder Society covers travel expenses for members, but please, let us provide a small investment for your journey. And I wish you all good luck." Lord Heidmarch slips Dingus a purse with 15 gold coins before the Lord and Lady take their leave.
Prasidium looks quite excited about Dingus' mission. "Imagine. A possible peek at the Elven society during the Thassilonion Empire. So interesting. I am jealous, of course."
Corliss appears a bit crestfallen upon learning there is indeed a Lord Heidmarch, but he deals with the news well.
Well, had to get that outta me system! Fine lookin' woman! Can't be fallin' for Red Aesha's charms when we finally catch up with her.
Kaul stoically listens , then nods, mugging a harelip grin;
"Hur. Find the tower. We get to keep any coin? Kill any longears we find? Halfers too?"
The scarred brute chuckles as he hefts Lopper;
"Hur-hur. Lopp's 'ere will cut through any door them longears leave locked."
"Come on, mate. We've got our marching orders, and maybe if the Queen's kind someone'll try to roll us on the way back to the ship." Jim takes the scroll and gives the Pathfinder a short bow. "Thank you, and we'll be in touch." Feck, did we just...?
It's a long walk back across town made even longer as the crew is joined by Prasidium and Cesta who amble along deeply engaged in an arcane discussion for the benefit of Dingus. The day is waning by the time the group begins descending the cliff road down to the Dockway District.