15th Rova, 4714
Built in the shadow of megaliths, Magnimar endlessly endeavours to surpass the overwhelming scale and grandeur of the ancient wonders that litter the Varisian landscape. A place of great opportunity,
social stress, and cold beauty, the city exudes the air of a southern metropolis, seeking to rise above its ignoble beginnings as a refuge for Korvosan outcasts to become a beacon of culture and freedom in an unforgiving land. Yet its towering monuments, elegant gardens, ostentatious architecture, and elaborate sculptures form but a cracked mask over a struggling government and a desperate people in need of heroes.
As you go about your normal business on this cool autumnal day a letter that will change your lives and the lives of hundreds of thousands of Varisians, forever, arrives…
Sealed in wax with the sigil of the Pathfinder Society, there can be little doubt as to where the message comes from. You each tentatively open the letter, the script inside is elegantly written yet enigmatic in its content.
Greetings, fellow seeker of adventure!
I am Sheila Heidmarch, Venture Captain of the newest Pathfinder Society lodge—and the only such lodge in Varisia at this time. You have come to my attention as someone who possesses a certain amount of skills and interests that make you an excellent addition to a highly specialized team I’m putting together for a matter of grave import, not only to the Society, but to Varisia as a whole. Please report an hour before noon on the morrow to Heidmarch Manor—you will be compensated for your visit, but that reward will pale in light of the riches that await you should we come to an agreement on my proposition to you. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Sheila Heidmarch
Granite stretched, several of his vertebra popping at the action, as he stepped off the boat. It was both a blessing and a curse that he had been relatively close, reading up on the Test of the Starstone in Absalom. The blessing was that the trip could have been longer. The curse was that if he'd been far enough, the Society might have actually bit the bullet and just paid for a teleportation spell. But either way, the journey was finally over. He hated travel. All the in-betweens, neither really here nor there yet. It wasn't the time it took. It was the lack of resources. Absalom had great libraries. Magnimar had great libraries. The water in between, not so much.
I'm just glad I was about done with my research when I got that letter. He rubbed his temples as memories of past headaches came back to him. I don't see why they'd be so vague on this whole 'ascending to godhood' thing. I mean, what could possibly go wrong if everyone knew how to do that? Or what the gods were like before they ascended. He winced. Apparently his headache didn't like mental sarcasm.
But still, whatever this Sheila character wanted, it was sure to put his mind on something else for a while. He had to admit, he was a bit of a sucker for a mystery. That more than anything had grabbed his attention. As he made his way down he dock, he got directions to the manor. He grimaced, more bad luck: it didn't even look like he had time to grab a drink before the meeting. On the bright side, this means he was all that much closer to finding out what all the fuss was about. The anticipation made his steps all the quicker. He barely even noticed his surroundings as he made his way. Didn't even glance at the beautiful garden he was rushing through until he found himself knocking at a door to a reception area.
"Hello? Anybody around? I believe I'm expected."
Granite felt a tug on his clothes, and a voice, seeming to come from nowhere close on his level of vision
"Yes yes. Am here. Found letter. Read read. Then come here."
If he were to look down, he will be met with a bundle of clothes, that seem to be talking and moving on its own. If he looks more carefully, he will see the bundle of clothes has a tail and also seems to have eyes. And maybe a snout.
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Heavy boots made a distinct sound stepping on stone floors. That kind of sounds came closer to those already in the hall, until Ran appeared in the entrance of the meeting room, where he stopped.
The physically fit man looked like a cliched marble statue become alive, with clearly defined features and muscles. Pointed ears gave away his mixed heritage, and the amount of weaponry he brought along gave away his role in Sheila's plans. Dressed in a Chain shirt, there was a sword and quiver on his belt, and a shield, a weird-looking spear, as well as a bow on his back.
Scanning the hall, eyes briefly lingering on the moving bundle of clothes with a tail, he sighs: "No women? The compensation better be worth it."
With that, he moved from the entrance, further into the room towards the two already waiting:"Name's Ran. If you've been to the Arena, you probably already know that. But who are you? You're also here for Sheila, right?"
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A softer voice asks "So if I'm coming along, then the compension doesn't have to be worth what? Diddly squat? Cause if that is the case, I'll glady take your share." A face smiles, peering down over the lip of the roof.
The pile of clothes seem to pivot on its axis. A snout comes out, then words
"Oi! Oi! What about us us! We want shiney shiney too!"
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Ran looks up at the new voice, returning the smile on the face, then taking a few moments to get a good look at the body attached to it, before meeting the eyes of Zhai again and stating, shamelessly: "We certainly can find an arrangement, if you're interested in my share. You have something wild about you. I like that."
When the clothes pile pipes up near his feet, Ran answers, without looking: "No such luck in your case, Squeaker!"
The pile of laundry tries to kick his shin
"Ikit! Not not Squeaker!" mumbling can be heard eminating from the pile
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Given that she is laying on the roof and is merely peeking over the edge, looking at anything more is quite impossible, unless he clambers up, "An arrangement? Hmm, how about this arrangement, I don't hurt you and you give me whatever I want and you don't call him squeaker."
"Ikit like like you" something akin to laughter ripples from his cover
He then makes hissing sound at the man
"Not like like him though"
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Not taking note of the pile of clothes trying to kick at him beyond lifting his leg out of the way, the young man keeps focused on the woman on the roof: "Oh, a challenge. Refreshing. You are certainly welcome to spar with me. Winner gets what he wants, is it?"
Jumping backwards, with a fluid motion, Ran retrieves his spear, pointing it upwards: "Or do you prefer to spar with words?"
It seems pretty clear that the man knows how to use the weapon, and seems rather eager to test himself against someone.
If they are to be part of the same team as I, best to see what they are capable of now, rather than depend on them later to learn Sheila misjudged their abilities...
Moving his head halfway towards the pile of clothes, keeping both it and the womans head in his field of vision, he calmly continues to talk:
"And you, Ratling Ikit, I asked your name, you had not given it before feeling it an opportune moment to petition me for my future pay. You were squeaking at me. Had you instead introduced yourself proper, I would have had a name to call you by." Looking back upwards, his smile returns, albeit seeming more malign than it did before: "The same goes for roof girl!"
Zhai quirks an eyebrow, "Well, aren't you one for seriousness. I was making witty remarks of insult and mock threats of violence, not challanging you to a duel. Isn't that how you city fighters playfully banter with each other? Besides, as fun as a little sparring would be, we are about to undergo a mission, and we shouldn't waste significant energy on each other that we might be needing for more serious threats quite soon. As for names, you had not asked mine yet, so of course I had not given it, as the topic has arisen however, I am Zhai Tamaki. However, you should be nicer to him. One day he might have the choice between saving me or saving you. I think he'll remember what you say to him should that time come."
Granite blinks as the mansion goes from empty to bustling in next to no time. He coughs awkwardly, attempting to break the tension between Ran and Zhai. "Well, since we're on names, I'm Granite Ward from the Order of the Shield." He indicates a small buckler with a stylized eagle on it. "I take it you also got this mysterious summons. Any idea what it's about?"
There's nothing particularly striking about the man. He's dressed comfortably for traveling, though he's still wearing good quality armor. The couple of weapons he's wearing are a bit more mundane though they're well taken care of. Seeing that they might be there a while, Granite removes his backpack and sets it down with a loud thump, making sure not to drop it on the ball of rags or any of his appendages including...was that a tail? Shrugging, Granite rolls his shoulders a few times to loosen them now that they're free of their burden. The bag is a lumpy thing with the handles of a few tools sticking out.
"Or, for that matter, any idea where our dear host is?"
"Introductions are a form of politeness. And taking threats from strangers not serious, rather assuming they are only mocking, that's dangerous. Alas, you are right, we may spar later, all the same. I may have gotten too excited, there."
Acknowledging Granite's introduction, he then points at Ikib:"And he may well remember what I say. I don't do nice. I do respect. And that needs to be earned beyond a basic measure reserved for each sentient creature. I believe our dear host, and I have no idea why she has us waiting, had reasons to include each of us in whatever plans she has. But greeting me with idle threats or demands for my money does little to improve my opinion."
With that, he skillfully places the spear on his back again, walking up to the door:"As said before, I am Ran. I am a warrior. I assume my role in this will be to stab things before they hurt you. So again, who are you, and why are you here? What can you do? If we are to work together, and it looks like that, then we need to know more about why we've been choosen."
With that, he gets ready to knock on the door, heavily, but holds in case anybody else wants to introduce themselves more verbosely.
"How, when, and the importance of, introductions are performed differs from place to place. You don't honestly believe it is the same everywhere, do you? As to why I'm here, I am a swordsage of the seven methods. I can fight, use magic, and I have studied a fair bit of lore. In what capacity I'm needed for this mission, I don't know yet. We shall see."
Heidmarch Manor the Alabaster District of Magnimar
Finally the doors to the Manor open and before your small group are a pair of attractive women. In an unusually deep voice the human female speaks, "Ah, I see you are all getting acquainted. Thank you for answering my summons. I am Sheila Heidmarch. This beautiful elven women standing beside me is Koriah Azmeren".
"Please come in". You follow the two women down a hallway and into the Lodge Library and Study. The walls are lined with bookshelves, while several tables in the middle of the room are heaped with scrolls and books. One table in the center, however, supports only a single object— an ornate cubical stone coffer covered with runes.
"Please have a seat around the table. I apologize for the delay, as I must conclude my business with Pathfinder Azmeren before we meet. In the meantime, though, I thought you could help us with another minor issue. This stone coffer is an ancient Thassilonian puzzle, a cunning feat of magical engineering known as a paradox box. As you’ll see from even a casual investigation, what appear to be seams on the sides are only shallow grooves—there’s no obvious way to open the thing. Each paradox box has its own secret method of being opened.
Essentially, a paradox box substitutes hidden catches and magical triggers for a lock. Given time, anyone clever enough could figure out how to open a paradox box, just as given time, a locksmith can open any lock.
This particular box was among those items recovered by Koriah—the scrolls next to the box are her preliminary notes on possible triggers
or methods of opening it, but she’s not yet had a chance to sit down and properly investigate the thing. So... why don’t you put your heads together and see if you can’t do that for me?
Even if the box is empty, as I suspect it probably is, knowing the method of opening it makes it a valuable find anyway. I’ll return shortly, and I hope to see that box open! Think of this as an audition, if you will—because the actual task I want to speak to you about soon will require as much wit as it will brawn!”
She and her other guest rise to leave.
"A box box? Give give!" a little claw pokes out from somewhere in the pile. And its followed by a puzzled "Please please?"
All the little rat heard was puzzle and engineering. And that peaked his interest over anything else that was explained.
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When in Magnimar, do as the Magnimarians..., Ran thought to himself when Zhai downplayed the importance of introductions, but did not speak up. He might have, if his thoughts were not interrupted by 2 stunning beauties opening the door he was ready to knock on.
The name seemed familiar, but Ran was unable to connect the dots. That, of course, might also have had to do with his current task of following directly behind the two ladies, giving him a good view of their swaying backsides. Which young man could be expected to think straight in his position-
But he WAS here for a job, and when they arrived in the Study, and Sheila explained, Ran focused and listened:"We'll do our best. I look forward to working under you, Sheila, as well as to your timely return. Koriah, it has been a pleasure to make your aquaintance."
When they left, he took a closer look at the pedestal: A rune-covered ancient box was to be their test? Ikit seemed eager to get his paws on it. Just as well. If he blows up during the audition, I would not want him handling these things out in the wild anyway.
Disregarding the notes, to not have a pre-formed opinion, Ran picked up the cube, rotated it once, looking at the Runes and trying to make sense of them, then handed it to Ikit:"Try your luck luck, Ikit"
Once Ikit had the box, Ran made sure to step a few meters away from the pile of clothes with the snout, sharing whatever he managed to understand from the runes.
Ikit eagerly grabs the cube and it vanishes under his coverings. Noises, that could only be described as scratching amd grinding, can be heard from the depths of the laundry pile
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Granite winces slightly at it still appears that two of his future comrades are about ready to tear each other a new one. Not exactly a fortuitous start...
Hmm, the Darklands? Interesting.... Not exactly related to my previous research, but it should provide a fun change of pace. That is, assuming that she wants us for a matter related to what she wants Miss Azmeren for and that the two tasks aren't completely separate.
Granite bows deeply to the two women. "A pleasure to meet you both. And might I say Pathfinder Azmeren, I found your treatise on the descent of the dwarves into the madness of the duergar fascinating."
He nods as Sheila speaks, smiling politely. "Of course. Take your time. We shall endeavor to find the answer to this puzzle while we wait." He's almost a little too curt in his excitement to start investigating the puzzle. As Ikit dives into poking and prodding the thing, Granite dives into the notes already taken about it. He was a little disappointed to have been beaten to the punch of looking at the object himself, but he had no doubt he'd get to eventually examine the object.
Zhai drops off the roof spinning and landing on her feet in one graceful move. Soon Zhai joined Granite in studying the papers. If any are in thassilonian she'll translate them for him. She is organized about it, categorizing them, Mqostly already done, but she is making adjustments to the stacks.
Heidmarch Manor the Alabaster District of Magnimar
Pathfinder Azmeren smiles at Granite, "I am happy to know that my works do not go unread!"
After they leave the room the small group begins to examine the box.
Ikit's inspection indicates that the box cannot be disabled by normal means of springing locks. The combination lock is too complicated to be "tricked" in this manner.
Zhai and Granite review and translate the documents provided by Koriah. The scroll lists translations of the significant runes on the box—one of the most oft-repeated symbols was the rune for “wrath,” which Koriah notes is associated with evocation magic, and in the earliest days of Thassilon with the word “kindness.”
Her notes indicate that this rune merely marks the box has having once belonged to a citizen of the Thassilonian nation of Bakrakhan, and that the rune likely has little to do with the method of opening this particular paradox box.
Another of Koriah’s scrolls observes that five of the box’s faces are identical, but on one face, several additional runes appear. These runes spell out the word “CRUEL.” Koriah believes that this word is somehow linked to the box’s mystery. She’s also noted that each of the individual runes in the word can be reorganized by touching two runes at once—doing so causes the two touched runes to exchange places for an hour before reverting to their original spelling of “CRUEL.”
Ran notes that the key may be hidden in anagrams of each word.
Ikit seems to laugh for a second
"Got it! Yes yes! Next?" the box appears again as he holds it out to someone else
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"Fun, in a way. I'm pretty sure this goes there, and this there", Ran adds, after fiddling around with the possible anagrams for a while, passing it on.
"I agree, this seems like you simply rearrange letters to form the password. Easy enough really." Zhai leaves them to it while she continues looking through the collected research.
"Perhaps I might suggest 'lucre'? Though I must say, the word is very associated with 'wrath' save that mistreatment of the former often leads to the latter."
"Seems the best guess we have...go ahead and set the word. Think it really is empty, as Sheila assumes?", Ran stands away from the box, watching Ikit and 'Nite do the final adjustments.
Heidmarch Manor the Alabaster District of Magnimar
As Granite opens the puzzle box it is accompanied by a flash of light! Appearing on the table next to the box are two tiny creatures! They look like the world’s most revolting lapdog had somehow learned to walk on their back legs! The creatures eye the precious objects of the room with a sinister glee.
Ikit
Ran
Zhai
Granite
"Pugwampis? You won't pass on your bad luck to us!" Granite declares, pointing an accusatory finger at them as he takes a step to try to form up with his allies. "Everyone, make sure your shoes are tied. Also, don't trip over Ikit. Hopefully since they were stuck in that box they haven't had time to set any of their little traps." There's a pause as he draws his sword. Then he hurriedly adds. "Also maybe try not to wreck our dear host's library or research notes." Attempting to demonstrate, he swings his rapier at the nearest one, making sure to jab it parallel to the table.
Ikit moved back a bit, and suddenly their was a deafining sound as the smell of burned black powder filled the room
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Ran moved into position to flank either of the creatures with his allies, retrieving his spear as he did so:"So, they are nasty little watchdogs? Not some weird-ass pet?"
He wasn't entirely certain about attacking these creatures, but after the deafening explosion from the middle of the cloth heap, he felt it was a necessity to get rid of these creatures. Exploding his future allies was not acceptable.
Zhai sighs, then draws her blade as she steps into flanking.
Heidmarch Manor the Alabaster District of Magnimar
Granite quickly identifies the foes, the Pathfinders find that the knowledge to be quite useful as each one steadies their hand to keep this fight from getting out of hand!
The first Pugwampis is sliced by Granite's rapier as the second one is sent flying en flambe' across the room slamming into the wall. The first attempts to scurry away but Ran's spear pins it to the table upon which the Puzzle Box was opened.
By the time Zhai draws her blade there is nothing left to attack.
Soon after the sound of footsteps can be heard coming down the hall as the doors to the study are flung open by Sheila with Koriah only a step behind her. "What happened!"
"Yes yes! Box went click click. Then.... poof! Things cane out out... now gone gone" one claw pointing to where the things went down. It sounded like the voice was rather pleased with his explination
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"A trap it seems. These two to attack whoever opened the box. Shall we see what they were guarding?" Zhai looks inside the box, careful to not touch anything just yet.
Granite nods at the others' explanations. "Yes, I'm afraid two Pugwampis appeared when we opened the box. As you can see, we quickly dispatched them." He indicates the motionless bodies. "Err...sorry about the mess," he adds, eyeing the dent in the table where one body is pinned. He self-consciously retrieves the second body to put with the first, attempting to clean up a little with a spare rag in the process.
Run laughs, loudly, then points his hand at the bodies with an amused smile, retrieving his spear in the process: "So you didn't know about those? I had honestly suspected that was part of the test.", adding, with a sheepish smile:"Apologies for my outburst, I know little about these boxes, so I simply assumed guardians to be standard issue when they appeared-"
"I think the entire concept of 'standard issue' does not apply to magical locked things. Kind of reduces the effectiveness of protections if everyone knows what to expect. Just my opinion."
"But knowing guardian creatures are standard issue if you don't have some command word would be a pretty effective deterrant to prevent people from just using trial and error to open your magically locked gimmick", Ran replies with a shrug. "Sometimes, you want people to expect something and act according to what they believe to be true- but whatever works, I guess, I can see your point - and know too little of Thassilon. But I suppose that may change, in the near future?", he then turns to face Sheila, confident that they managed to pass the challenge set before them.
"Most people are more afraid of something unknown than something known. It is like meeting an idol you once fawned over as larger than life only to find out they are actually mere people just like everyone else. Knowing about a thing reduces it's grandeur. Once the thing is known, it becomes more relatable, real, and easier to deal with. On a more practical note, it is easier to prepare for protections when you know what to expect. Expecting guardians? Bring warriors. Expecting poison? Bring an apothecary, or a potion to cure poison. What do you do when you have no idea what to expect? Hope you're smarter than the person who crafted the protections."
Granite blinks as Ran and Zhai pick up their bickering from earlier as soon as they don't have anything better to do. Either they're going to end up killing each other or getting married. I have no idea which.
"Why, simply open it up and deal with it. If there's nothing to be expected, then why would I expect something. If I know there will be trouble, I could decide that it's not worth the effort needed or the risk it poses. If I have no idea if there will be a problem, then why would I worry about what-ifs? The way I see it, the unknown part must be the strenght of the response, not wether there will be a response. We were lucky, in that this box only had Pugwampi's guarding it. Rather than some fiend from the outer planes tearing us into pieces before levelling this manor.", Ran continues, using a piece of cloth to wipe his spear clean, before returning it to it's resting place on his back.
"Aye, but people like you, or us really," she waves a hand indicating the group, "have a rather uncommon attitude towards such things."
Agreeing, Ran grins broadly in response:"And I suppose that is why we are here...", his gaze shifting from Zhai over to Sheila again, expecting her to speak up.
Heidmarch Manor the Alabaster District of Magnimar
As Zhai peers into the box it is disappointingly empty.
Sheila takes a deep breath and exhales, "No test, that trap waited an eternity to be released it seems".
Koriah smiles, "Well done new Pathfinders, you managed to open the box and prevent the horrors within from causing any damage to the valuables in this room. I believe it is time for me to take my leave Sheila. Good luck my new friends".
Sheila walks Koriah to the door closes it and heads back to you all, "Please each of you take a seat and I shall discuss the true reason I brought you all here.
First, allow me to apologize for that unpleasantness regarding the gremlins—but it does provide an excellent object lesson. The life of an adventurer is not one for the weak-hearted. That you not only took care of the gremlins but also got the box open in the first place is all the confirmation I need that my gut was right—you’re the perfect group for the job I have in mind.
You see—I’ve recently had trouble with one of my informants here in Magnimar, Natalya Vancaskerkin. She’s a half-Varisian who recently approached the Pathfinder Society with an offer to serve as a street informant. She runs with the Sczarni—I’m not sure with which group. A week ago, Natalya sent me a cryptic hint that her gang was on the verge of uncovering an item that would be of great interest to the Society. Since the Sczarnis’ methods of uncovering something often involves an armed robbery or breaking into somebody’s personal chambers, we thought it prudent not to press for further details and instead wait to see what it would produce. Suffice it to say, she hinted strongly that it pertained to Thassilon, and promised to meet with me to discuss this find three days ago.
She never kept that promise—instead, she seems to have simply vanished. Initially, I assumed that the acquisition of this item was simply taking longer than expected, but now I’m hearing rumors that the Sczarni are looking for her as well.
It seems likely that Natalya has absconded with this item she’s discovered. And this is where you enter, my friends. I want to know what it was that Natalya and the Sczarni found. In fact, I’m more interested in that than in what happened to Natalya herself. For now, I’d like to keep all of this quiet—if you can find out what happened to Natalya without letting a lot of people know she was also working for me as an informant, that would be preferable—that’s a big part of why I’m coming to you, as new members of the Pathfinder Society, with this task. You don’t yet have a reputation in Magnimar, and as such, the lowlifes and criminals you are likely to encounter may be more likely to talk.
So... go out there and look for Natalya. Find out what happened to her, and to this item she and her gang discovered. If you can secure the item, all the better—bring it back to me and I’ll have a reward of 500 gold pieces for you. And if you can bring Natalya back alive for me to speak to, I’ll double that!”
"So we go look look for lady? And dig dig for item. And then bring back back? Ikit can do do. Ikit no scaredy scaredy. Great great honor to help help!" cames his voice from deep beneath his rag bundle
"Where can we start start?" the last question comes a few seconds later. As if he wanted to leave but only to realose he didnt know where to go
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