Game on
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The curtain falls on the stage of an Almas playhouse to a chorus of hollers and cheers as the performers take their bows - one of them, a tall man whose face is concealed by his opulent theatrical mask, notices someone in the front row flash the Sign of the Open Road.
"I'll be with you in a moment," He whispers to the messenger as he catches an incoming rose.
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A young, dashing Chelaxian walks into the briefing room, a bright smile on his well-tended, cleanly-shaven face. His clothes are rather simple, those of an explorer save a finely-wrought mithral chain shirt whose color match his eyes. Straight dark hair come down on his shoulders, with a whiff of lavender and icebloom. Seeing that he's the first one to arrive, the Chelish man settles in a comfortable armchair and picks a random Pathfinder chronicle to read while he waits for the Venture-Captain and his companions.
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A young lady with wavy red hair, pale skin, and delicate features walks into the room causing a few heads to turn in her direction. She is wearing the latest Chelaxian fashion, a dress with a form fitting top, but waves of ruffles below in velvet and silk. A choker necklace flows down from her throat with a cascade of tiny bloodstones as if tiny drops of blood were dripping from her neck and a matching pair of earrings dot her lobes. The heels of her black boots click along the floor with each step.
The woman is not merely dressed for a fancy ball or for making an appearance at a noble's court. She carries a rapier on one hip and an unusually complex looking crossbow strapped over her back.
She smiles and takes a seat, crossing one leg over the other as she smooths the ruffles of her dress.
Something seems off about her appearance. While her style, her skin tone all suggest Chelaxian, and even her hair, though rare and a prized or despised hue among some of the people of Cheliax would not be so unusual as to raise suspicion, her face just seems wrong. Nothing particular, that you can put your finger on but the shape might be off. Perhaps it is a sign of mixed blood or maybe there is some other explanation.
Aram Zey strides into the cramped chamber, his withering glare boring into anyone who dares to meet his gaze. One of the smaller rooms in the Grand Lodge’s Skyreach tower, the room is nearly filled by a large table on which lie tarnished funerary brasses and heaped parchments, leaving scant room for occupants. I’m pleased to see you all here, says the Society’s cantankerous Master of Spells, his chilly expression contradicting his words. The Society needs its most capable members on this task.
Unrolling a massive map of Taldor, he continues. A rare opportunity stands before us. A Taldan noble named Makarius Bourtze has sent inquiries to Oppara and Cassomir, seeking buyers for a trove of lore about Qadira’s Grand Campaign against Taldor. Bourtze is the Tribune of Evondemor, a small town some six days’ journey from Oppara. Tracing along the chart, his finger points out an isolated village on the Tandak Plains.
Your mission is to visit this backwater, review the offered items, and acquire them if a reasonable price can be arranged. While we can offer gold, I’d like to instead suggest several fine sculptures in trade. They depict well-known Taldan heroes, including several of Bourtze’s ancestors. Since his line was once quite distinguished, I’m optimistic that they’ll interest him. Aram hands over a bundle of carefully drawn sketches depicting the statues.
Frankly, we considered sending a less experienced team, but Bourtze’s motives make me uneasy. The man’s wife was a scholar of ancient magics who recently died in some sort of magical accident. If something in the collection caused the mishap, we fear the Tribune might try to unload it on an unsuspecting stranger!
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"Ascertaining the value of an archive and dealing with the proprietor? Sounds like you got the right person for the job. What's the approximate value of those statues, just to have an idea? Also, how hard will it be to arrange their transportation to that backwater town? " wonders the archaeologist.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Barter. Counter any possible magic threats. Understood." - states a man from a corner with short black hair. Theese are the 1st words you heard from him, he just nodded to you when you met.
He wears common adventuring clothes: free shirt with silver chain shirt beneath (some may recognize it as mithral), travelling boots, haversack and dark cloak; nothing special. Only two things in his appearance may catch your eye: he seems to have no weapon and wears strangebracers with some metal pieces.
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"Meeting nobility and going shopping on someone else's silver piece. Can't think of much I'd rather be doing," proclaims the woman who entered the room slightly after Auric.
Ursahla rubbed her brow. Did the name Bourtze ring a bell. Perhaps something deep within the stitches of the magic headband she wore was a clue.
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"Hobnobbing, forbidden magic, and maybe a bit of showmanship? I think I can do that." Says a man in fine, flowing clothing and a jeweled mask, behind which fuchsia eyes blaze out, and what little of his skin can be seen carries a strange brassy tinge. Some may recognize him as "The Amazing Vanzetti," renowned Andoran actor.
Aram Zey, looks towards Auric, and thinks about his question.
Well, the cost of the statues to us is negligible compared to the potential lore we would gain about Qadira's campaign into Taldor. In terms of transportation, that has already been arranged to transport you to Oppara. The town, as I said moments ago lies 6 days from Oppara. I have secured 5000 gold coins from the Society coffers. Consider it a loan, which will be repaid upon completion of your mission. Whatever you buy with our coin, will still be considered our property. Now I suggest you prepare for the journey ahead, and leave at sunrise. I do not want this opportunity to be squandered. Any more questions?
Ursahla, thinks back, into the recesses of her knowledge of noble affairs, but cannot think of anything that is relevant about Makarius
Bourtze or his family lineage.
Oh, I almost forgot, you are not getting the funds here, but rather when you arrive in Oppara.
You head out on the road for Oppara. Your journey there is uneventful, except for the custom officials along the way. You reach Oppara, and are given the funds promised to you. After making the purchases you need, you continue on towards the town in question; Evondemor.
Your journey from Oppara to Evendemor is just as eventful as beforel more customs officials. Once past the canals, you are on very worn down and decayed roads past forlorn villages on the Tandak Plans.
About two days pass before Evendemor is visible on the horizon. Thick mists obscure your vision, and the hair stands on the back of your neck, because all you training has taught you that in the fog lies mean things that want to eat you. Luckily enough, you manage to get past the ghostly fog and find that a muddy ditch and lichen-encrusted palisade, guards the village perimeter. Two veterans guard the wall, a man and a woman. Upon nearing the gate, the man bellows out, in an angry and cantankerous voice, No armed bands allowed in town without the Tribune’s say-so. Get on over to the Devil’s Fork Inn and wait there for Tribune Bourtze.
Your group does as instructed, and heads to Devil's Fork Inn.
Flickering candlelight dimly illuminates the common room of the Devil’s Fork. Stained and mended tablecloths cover rickety tables, but the walls hold an impressive display of antique Chelish fighting gear. Battered shields carry the heraldry of the Order of the Lash, an iron barbazu beard rusts in one corner, and a military fork bears dozens of infernal symbols. Men and women sit and drink at various tables. Behind the bar, a dispirited-looking woman listlessly wipes leather tankards.
Just after your group settles into the common room, a blood-spattered man throws the inn’s front door open and storms into the common room. Clad in a blood-spattered heraldic surcoat bearing blue stars on a golden field, this man is the Tribune of Evondemor, Makarius Bourtze. The frantic nobleman gasps out, Bar the doors! They’re right behind me! and the inn’s twelve patrons scatter in panic.
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V takes a break from whatever-the-opposite-of-admiring-is the décor to draw warding enchantments around himself , then approaches the Tribune.
"Have courage, my friend! We shall aid you."
[dice=I give the magistrate aid]1d8+6[/dice]
Tense moments pass, and you hear a banging at the barred door.
Let me in! Hurry! They are following me!
As you peel out a window you see a badly injured guard.
Vanzetti looks out the window, and does indeed see a wounded guard banging on the door, pleading to be let inside the Inn. He wonders if it's okay, but since Bourtze is calling to bar the doors, it is feasible that a wounded guard could have been left behind in the mad dash it seems the nobleman took.
The wounded man, is let inside, and calls again to be healed of his wounds.
They were viscous creatures. I barely escaped with my life.
The wounded guard looks around, trying to find a healer among the Inn patrons.
The Amazing Vanetti starts to cast a spell, and as he weaves his hands to finish the spell, the side of the Inn is broken into. A repulsive, hunchbacked crone has skin the color of a fresh bruise. Despite her hunch, she looms taller than a human.
She scans the room, locating her next victim.
Auric
Vanzetti
Ursalha
Alextara
Razfallo
Periel
Noble
Enemy
Init tracker: round 1
Razfallo: go
Nobleman: done
Alex: go
Periel: go
Auric: go
Ursalha: go
Enemy:
Vanzetti: waiting
You see the ugly hunched over woman, scanning the room for her victim. She points a withered bony finger towards the Nobleman Bourtze and cackles.
You won't get far!
Bourtze, responds by looking to the Pathfinders that stand before him, and moves back behind them to let the more experienced warriors take up arms.
Ursahla looks at the repulsive creature, and recognizes it as an Annis Hag. They are inherently evil, and delight in causing pain and fear.
Auric, knows more about the hag, than what Ursahla could remember. Auric knows that Annis Hags have DR 2/Bludgeoning, they don't have nay particular affinity or weakness to any elemental damage. They are very proficient with their claws, and if they get hold of their victim simultaneously, they then rend flesh from bone.