You each receive a message directing you to report in at the Pathfinder Lodge in Almas, the capital city of Andoran.
You are to meet Venture-Captain Brackett there and investigate a theft. He will provide you with details once the team has assembled there.
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A young, 7 foot tall human with an exceptionally athletic build enters the Pathfinder Lodge in Almas. He wears a suit of Hellknight Plate armor covered by a diaphanous cloak covered in elven runes. He carries a 5 foot long adamantine greatsword over his shoulder, a heavy flail on his belt, and a masterwork darkwood composite shortbow that most people can't even draw...
As the first one into the Lodge, Grimaldus finds a chair or bench near a wall (or pillar), rests his greatsword within reach, and settles his bulk. He looks around the room, and if there is any food or drink available, he gathers a plate and fills a glass with (hopefully) an amber liquid that smells of smoke and possibilities...
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The next Pathfinder is a burly half-orc with striking features. He wears no armor, clothed only in a purple robe embroidered with gold thread and a gray cloak. His muscular arms, legs and chest are all studded in crimson scales. The occasional whiff of smoke, reeking of sulfur escapes his nostrils. He is festooned with all sorts of rods and wands, but he carries little else.
He nods at the Pathfinder already in the room and takes a seat.
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"Ah, beloved Andoran. Such a delight to be home again," muses the gnome as he walks into the lodge.
He has goggles pushed up onto his forehead, a haversack bulging with alchemical items and tools of many sorts, and a large dog with a riding saddle tagging along behind him.
"Good morning!" he greets the orc and human brightly, although he takes a second glance at the human's hellknight plate. "Johann Erlenmyer, itinerant inventor and Lance Corporal Eagle Knight, at your service!"
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A tall, beautiful, but sever looking priest of Sarenrae enters the room. He has an otherworldly look about him, almost as if he was not really fully paying attention.
"Greetings in the name of the Dawnflower. I am Chaul Drammarson,
priest of the dawnflower and pathfinder of the silver crusade."
He wears a shining breastplate and carries a hefty looking shield, while at his side hands the expected scimitar.
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Chaul is followed in by a tall Osirian man in his mid thirties, wearing the elaborate ceremonial clerical garments of one of the older gods of his country. He holds a tall wooden stave with entwined serpents running up its length and a silver jackel head on the end.
"Well met all!" He says, smiling slightly, as he looks around at the others that have assembled, a curious look on his face.
"My first visit to Almas." He adds, "Fascinating city!"
"Oh, manners." He bows deeply at the waste. "I am Doctor Menes Strang. Physician by trade, but well-learned in many esoteric topics from the arcane to the divine. Originally from the Land of the Pharaohs, but lately plying my trade in the grand city of Absalom."
He continues to talk cheerfully, about pretty much any topic that comes up, or brings things up if no one else does. He appears interested in pretty much everything.
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"Well-met, fellow Pathfinders. My name is Grimaldus, of the Order of the Gate. Although only recently joining the Hell Knights, I find that my martial life before was perfectly aligned with this order, so my transition into the ranks was quite smooth. I am honored to accompany you upon this mission!"
Venture-Captain Bracket comes up to the assembled group and says "Please follow me. We need to talk with our head librarian, Wystorn Telfyr."
He leads you through the Pathfinder Lodge down into the basement of what used to be a cathedral of Aroden. The building now houses one of the Society's foremost libraries.
There you see the head librarian. He does not seem in the best of mood. At seeing the group, he cries out “Our manuscripts are sacrosanct! You must make an example of this thief!”
He continues to rage. “I don’t expect you field agent types to grasp the gravity of such a theft.”
Behind Telfyr, Venture-Captain Brackett winces and tries to smile apologetically.
“Somehow a thief sneaked past the wards of our reliquary,” continues the librarian, “and stole the Fleshforge Manuscript, a priceless example of the illuminator’s art, embellished in rare inks and exquisite gilt. Certain scholars of the arcane arts—myself excluded, of course—might also perhaps covet it for its content. The Fleshforge Manuscript details how Nex’s fleshforges in Ecanus supplied monstrous beasts for its ancient war with Geb."
"I myself have a modicum of talent for constructs.” Telfyr gestures immodestly toward several homunculi shelving books around the library. “Yet I freely admit this manuscript has proven beyond even my comprehension.”
Seeing the librarian has finished his dramatic performance, Venture-Captain Brackett carefully unfurls a map on a table. Addressing the group of you, he says “Thank you for favoring us with your presence so swiftly, fellow Pathfinders."
Gesturing to the map, Venture-Captain Brackett explains "Divination pinpoints the manuscript on a tiny island off Nex’s barren coast—the Monastery of the Unremitting Tide—here. The mission is twofold. Return the Fleshforge Manuscript safely back to the Society, and ensure this thief will never try to steal it again."
Looking to each of you in turn, he then asks "Questions?”
“Fire?” Wystorn says, a trace of concern evident in his voice.
Shaking his head, he says “No, it is made of paper and any fire would surely destroy it. We normally keep the manuscript in a case to protect it, but even that is unlikely to offer much against a fireball or other such magical attack.”
“The manuscript is a scroll made from three sheets of paper sewn together, scribed in Osirian hieroglyphs around 150 years ago, illuminated with gold leaf, and bound to two scrimshawed rollers each carved from a human rib.”
Looking towards Venture-Captain Brackket, Wystorn says “I would have rather you sent agents skilled in putting out fires rather than starting them.”
Venture-Captain Brackket replies “Considing Lurgh checked if it would be safe, I think he has shown he knows when to be carefull using fire.”
Gesturing towards the group, he says “All of these people are skilled field agents with multiple successful missions.” Not some faint-hearted scholar that never leaves the confines of the stacks,
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Strang gets immediately distracted, as Telfyr leads them down to the Lodge Library. He can't help but stop and start scanning the titles of the tomes and scrolls housed there. He even starts to reach for some of them, eager to look inside, when his ears catch the Head Librarian's complaints nearby, and the Venture-Captain's explanation.
"What's that? The Fleshforge Manuscript?" His attention is immediately peeked once more.
"I've heard tell of it. Always wanted to take a look at it too." He gets a little excited. "Some of the anatomies supposedly detailed therein can be found nowhere else!"
"During my studies in Eto, it came across many references to it. I had no idea it was in one of our libraries."
"Traveling to Nex to retrieve it though... that is no easy trip." He looks thoughtful. "Though perhaps that is why the thief has taken the Manuscript there... to utilize Nex's magical resources somehow."
“If that were the case, wouldn’t our own divination been blocked?” Brackket asks, looking to the librarian for confirmation.
Looking at the map, Telfyr says “Although close, I believe the isle is outside the area blighted by Nex. The Monastery of the Unremitting Tide is a peaceful order of Vudrani monks dedicated to Irori — specifically Irori's aspects of knowledge and history.”
After a moment’s thought, the librarian says “I can’t be sure, but I doubt any direct involvement by Nex.”
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Strang shrugs. "Merely theorizing. One can only assume they ran off to this Monastery for a reason, beyond evasion. Are the areas of knowledge and history recorded there covering a specific period or area of study?"
"Still, I am eager to find out." He grins. "Not to mention get a chance to peak at the Manuscript myself once we locate it."
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"My experience with monasteries has taught me that while their rules may be esoteric, and sometimes may even seem cruel, the often operate under strictures of order. It would perhaps do us well if anyone knew of the rules of this monastery. I'm afraid I haven't been there and it sounds like we don't have time to spend looking through stacks of books."
Venture Captain Brackket replies "If you can do the research quickly, I have no issue with that. Assuming you are taking a ship to the island, I would like you to sail tomorrow."
"In that time, you may also want to investigate the scene and ask questions about the crime."
"Are there any immediate questions, or would you like a tour of the scene now?"
Shaking his head, Venture Captain Brackket says "We don't even know if the thief is a member of the monastery. All we know is that the divinations indicate the scroll is currently there."
"Telfyr will take you to where the manuscript was stolen and answer questions. If you need me, come find me."
With that, Venture Captain Brackket leaves you with the librarian.
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Telfyr leads you to the section of the library where the scroll was stored.
"The Fleshforge Manuscript was one of several documents I moved down from the West Chapel into the reliquaries fifteen days ago. I noticed the scroll was missing four days ago."
After a brief tour of the reliquary and the West Chapel, you are left free to question people on your own.
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Dr. Strang starts to examine the other scrolls, brought down at the same time as the Fleshforge Manuscript, to see if they cover similar topics or if what topics they do cover might be relevant... but is soon caught up in perusing their contents, soon forgetting their supposed to be investigating a theft.
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"I visited another monastery once. A cold and desolate place, although I do admire their adherence to order and discipline. We shall see what this trip holds for us."
Once down at the scene of the crime, Grim examines the area and asks questions of the attendants. But the seven foot tall man in Hellknight plate armor is rather more intimidating than diplomatic, and his curt, aggressive questioning lends credence to the threats. It's not that he means these people actual harm, but he can not control their interpretation of his earnestness as violent tendencies...
While you are zealously following the clues, you cause a few people to admit to other minor infractions such as failing to return materials in a timely fashion. You convince them to immediately correct these lapses immediately.
There does not seem to be anything lax about their general security. The door was locked each night and still locked in the morning. It is strange though, the security on the West Chapel is much lighter than that in the reliquary.
Investigating this further, you find out that there is a difference in the magical protections at the two locations. Although the reliquary has several wards, the West Chapel only has one. Shortly after Aroden's death, clergy of Iomedae blessed the chapel to make it hallow ground. The ancient blessing is still in effect to this day.
On a slightly different topic, you find several experts who state that the Fleshforge Manuscript alone would not allow even a talented mage to recreate the nightmarish creatures. They would need to either recreate portions of the procedure or find the information from other sources. A few joke about "Too much being left as an exercise for the reader."
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"Well, given that the only warding in the chapel is a hallowing spell, I suggest it was less likely that the manuscript was stolen by an undead creature, but given that there were fewer wards than the reliquary, we cannot rule out teleportation. Truly, a lock is most insufficient in protecting what is most valuable."
Checking the wards, you find they will stop most divinations and normal methods of teleportation.
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"But undead... they have many tricky ways in and out that do not depend on teleportation. A ghost could pass through a wall, or a vampire turn to mist." suggests Chaul.
"If we are to face the unliving then I will prepare myself against such an eventuality. I only hope we find the monks on the island still alive and well. It was probably something of significant power that crept in here."
He thinks a bit further.
"Though there are other questions... if the scroll only just moved..how many people knew it had moved? And if something powerful enough to evade the wards but not the hallow really does have it, then it suggests they have no allies who could operate in that hallowed area either."
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"Ah yes, the dead would make competent burglars, were they want to do such things." Strang agrees, with a thoughtful look. "Though some would have difficulties manipulating the prize."
He smiles. "Still, it is a novel thought to ponder.... especially given the necromantic energies that still linger in the area of Nex from their war with Geb."
"A mystery indeed!" The thought seems to excite him, as he waves absently at the scrolls. "All these valuable texts, and they chose that specific one. I can't wait to see it!"
He gives Johann a disappointed look. "Half the fun is to hypothesize disparate theories, then set about testing them! Skipping to the end bypasses half the experience!"
You get the impression that, left to his own devices, the good Doctor would be happy to sit scribbling theories on parchment all day.
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"My inquisitions verified that the proper security procedure was followed. The door to the reliquary was locked each night and still locked the next morning. Of course, while I was zealously following the clues, I caused a few people to admit to other minor infractions such as failing to return materials in a timely fashion. They have agreed to correct these lapses immediately." Grim announces to the others.
"If the physical locks and mystical wards were all in place, that indicates an inside job by someone knowledgeable of and/or trusted by the security protocols. I wonder if anyone is missing from these halls..."
Checking with Telfyr and Venture Captain Brackket, you get a few names. Chasing them down, you find all of them had reasons: a broken leg, recovering from filth fever they had picked up on a recent Pathfinder mission, and similar alibis.
You find a ship to take you to the island. The sea journey across the Obari Ocean is pleasant and allows you to drift silently up to the island’s beach unseen and under cover of darkness.
The island where the Monastery of the Unremitting Tide stands is only a quarter-mile across, and holds little else of interest. The monks own a simple ship, hove up on the island’s only sheltered shore. The crops have grown wild across the rest of the island.
It looks like the monastery was built a few hundred years ago from wood and pitch. The timber has been replaced many times since then due to the warm rains that sweep in off the Omari Ocean. It also appears as if the monks have not kept up with the repairs recently.
The group is ashore near the small boat.
Other than Johann, Grimaldus does not detect any chaotic auras.
There are no obvious magical effects here either.
Where would you like to go?
The monastery's wooden gates stand tightly sealed. Hundreds of carvings cover the gates, no two of which appear alike. The wood is badly weather-worn in places—split or crumbling. To either side of the gates, wooden walls rise fifteen feet to a peaked terra-cotta roof. Inside, several buildings rise above the wall, including two towers nearly one-hundred feet tall. A nearby crop garden appears overgrown and untended. The plants' lush growth contrasts starkly with the lifeless waste a stone's throw away on Nex's mainland.
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Dr. Strang stops to look at some of the foliage with a curious eye.
He nods at Chaul's observation. "Certainly not what I would have expected from a group of dedicated monastic types."
"But this sort of disrepair is systemic of long term neglect." He observes thoughtfully. "Certainly not in the time since the manuscript was taken."
"Perhaps even an indication of why this location was chosen." He adds.