GM Endless Forms' PFS 01-35 Voice in the Void (1-7) (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

You are in the Grand Lodge in Absalom awaiting instructions.

Seems I'm the first one here. Of course. Who knows what drabble they've called to accompany me. A Taldan man waits somewhat impatiently inside the Grand Lodge. Wearing masterwork hide armor that doesn't seem to have been tested in melee, Jaysin Deckert paces slowly back and forth. I may need to purchase extra arrows if the rest of these Pathfinders are always going to be this slow.

A large well built young man stands in the corner looking around with a stoic face. He is well armored and has many weapons strapped to him.

A small, young woman saunters into the lodge, wearing a flowing dress that would seem more applicable to a ballroom or noble court. Close at her heels a small purple dinosaur looks around inquisitively, then dashes between the woman's legs, cowering from the unknown. The woman appears to almost subconsciously pick up the small creature, and casually cradle it in her arms.

Oblivious to if there is any sort of protocol to follow, Nari glances around the room, pauses for a moment to inspect the other individuals in the room, and then declares to no one in particular.
"Hi! My name's Nari. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you all."

A thin, olive-skinned young man enters. He stops to take the whole room in, and then sits down. Though pretty, there's something about him that feels off. He looks blankly at each of the Pathfinders present uncomfortably long before speaking. "Hello," his voice emerges with a deep but genuine baritone that one more often imagines from a much larger man. He falls silent again, eyes fixed on the empty chair at the head of the room, that is likely saved for the Venture Captain not yet arrived.

Manzcar raises an eyebrow at the sight of a young lady in a ball room dress. His deep blue eyes stare intently at the young woman as if trying to figure out if she is one of the chosen or not. He stands up a little straighter and replies,
Good day M’Lady, I am Manzcar Alexander. It is a pleasure to meet you as well.

His voice is almost mono-tone in his reply which gives an impression of niceness but almost bored. He stretches his neck from side to side and loud popping sounds can be heard as he does.

Turning to the newest arrival he simply nods to the polite hello that was given. Manzcar then turns and moves to an open chair and sits down.

ooo, he called me M'Lady. I like him.

a smile splayed across her face Nari moves to one of the chairs, settles into it, lifts the left side of her dress, and produces an inkpen from a small pouch securely attached to her left thigh.

"Here you go Timid." she whispers while lightly tossing the pen in the air. Hearing his name, the small dinosaur gazes up and snatches the inkpen from the air with his mouth, and begins nibbling on the handle.

Manzcar watches the flourish produced by Nari and her little beast and shines a slight smile.

Interesting little creature you have there. Does it have a purpose or simply a nice little pet?

Nice of everyone to make an appearance. Where is our host? The Taldan says to no one in particular. What is the creature that the woman has? I hope it's house trained and stays out of my way.

A tall beautiful woman stalks into the room, she holds herself with a haughty imperial dignity and her large brown eyes are offset by blue eyeliner and long lashes. Her skin is a warm brown and flawless, though she wears a pair of long purple leather gloves that cover her arms past the elbow.

She surveys those already present chin held high and nods to them in turn before speaking in heavily accented common,

"Greetings are given to you all, I am Ormorose, proud bloom of Osirion, I am I think to be work with you. I think none of you are to be the Venture Captain? I pray we will work in the well together and that Pharasma does not see fit to summon any of us to her side for long years."

"Timid has been with me forever. He helps keep my mind straight. I really don't think I could do anything without him. He is invaluable to me." Nari answers vaguely to Manzcar.

She look on at him suspiciously and holds Timid a little tighter to her chest.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
why would someone be questioning me about Timid? He is far to valuable to me to risk anything happening to him... Have to remind him tonight to steer clear of the man with all the weapons. Not that he would have gone near him anyways.

A tall, very dark-skinned Mwangi man enters the room and survey's the party with a piercing gaze. Greetings, I am called Molmbe. It seems I am the last to arrive, forgive my lateness.

arrgg. Ezebelle is my other alias I have with a non-PFS group. sorry cleared history, etc on cpu at work, and must have setup my default alias incorrect afterwords. Didn't notice, and went home. Call that my first blatant mistake. Assume everything that was said was by me if you could. Issue has been corrected.

I think everyone has posted under the wrong alias at some point; don't worry about it.

Suddenly the door opens and in trots a small halfling wearing a brown leather jacket and a fedora. A pistol hangs from one hip and a whip hangs from the other. "Sorry I'm late, everyone. I had to get my own briefing before I could get to you folks. Seems I'm off to Geb to find a lost agent."

The halfling seems chipper and upbeat, obviously excited to be giving your briefing and excited to be going on his own adventure. "My, what a good group of Pathfinders we've got here! I love seeing new agents! My name is Trotter Flaxseed of the noble clan of Flaxseeds in Cassomir, where I recently started up my own lodge. I hope to see some of you there! Perhaps you've read my latest treatise on ancient Azlanti scripts? Or my article in the Chronicles about the lost nation of Lirgen? Well, I digress. . . "

"I've got some information for you so let's get to it. It seems my good friends the Blackros family are in need of our help again and I don't need to remind you what an asset that family is to the Society."

“The museum’s curator and my good friend and colleague, Nigel Aldain, came to me this morning asking for help. Apparently, a wayward daughter of his illustrious patrons, the powerful Blakros family, has disappeared, along with a few of the museum’s watchmen who went looking for her. The Society has helped him in the past, and he wants us to find her, before he loses his job, or worse. Now Nigel’s an old friend, and a former Pathfinder, so I'm sending you folks to help him.

"Now just before I offered up our help as a show of friendship, he made me an offer that was too good to pass up. Not only will he allow the Society access to the Blakros Museum’s extensive and very private library, but apparently this same missing daughter just returned to Absalom with a pack full of ancient relics collected throughout Osirion and northern Garund. And Nigel promised the Society first pick of any of those pieces that catch our fancy. I don’t need to tell you what those kinds of things might be worth, so it looks like you’re heading to the Blakros Museum tonight.

“The missing daughter is named Imrizade Blakros—half-Osirian herself and a pretty successful adventurer and fortune-hunter by all accounts. She just arrived in Absalom out of the blue a few days ago, after a couple of years’ worth of tomb-raiding in the Osirian deserts, and carrying an odd metal cylinder covered in hieroglyphs, like nothing Nigel has ever seen before. Nigel says she went straight to the basement of the museum to do some research in the family’s library, muttering something about ‘whispers in the dark’ and ‘old tapestries,’ or something. He didn’t hear from her for a couple of days, which isn’t unusual when someone is deep into their research in the archives, but he got worried when strange noises started coming from the basement. He sent a watchman down there to investigate, and when he didn’t return, Nigel sent a few more. That was last night, and they haven’t come back up either.

“Go to the museum and find out what happened to Imrizade Blakros and the watchmen. Nigel would prefer them alive, of course, especially the Blakros woman, and the Society and myself would like to see that too. But we are also interested in what she brought back with her. I’ve got a hunch it wasn’t just grave goods and pretty jewelry. Whatever she found, the Society wants it, or at the very least some information about it.”

The halfling stands up from the chair and smiles at the agents around him. "So, think you can handle that?" He begins to dig around in his bag and pulls out several small green stones that he tosses into the air; they immediately begin to orbit his head. "I've got to get running for my own mission but I can answer a question or two before you go."

So being a Blakros and a female her worth in society and the Blakros family is multiplied. Well we should help the fair lady out then

Manzcar puts his right fist into his left hand and squeezes and the sound of crackling knuckles can easily be heard.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Nari sits in the chair seemingly absorbed in her own little world.

I've heard of the Blackros family before. The ladies in the temple back in Oppara used to gossip about which daughter was marrying which prince and for how much. They always seemed to have a massive amount of respect for the Blackros daughter's ability to garner wealth...along with other things. Saving one of them should surely garner me a permanent position in the pathfinders! Time to make this fantasy a reality.

Suddenly, Nari jumps from her chair (While Timid scrambles to stay in her arms), and exclaims "I'm in!"

Now to figure out where this Museum is."

Random listens to the briefing impassively. He jumps in his chair when Nari jumps from hers. "I didn't realize we had a choice."

Turning back to the halfling, he asks, "How wayward was she?"

Next he asks, "We're not supposed to pick out the relic for the Society, are we?"

"I have think the Blakros an extremely interesting family, their beauteous daughters are renowned and filled in guileful as they are lovely. I find them to be an aspiration, rumours say once they are married they join a spy network, formidable women indeed," the Osirion woman grins at Nari,

"We must do well to keep up with these Blakros girls, we are not so lacking in formidability I hope."

Turning to Trotter Flaxseed she inclines her head and asks,

"I can take it that Imrizade is not married, yes? I have not had to read your treatise or article, but I should like it if I can do so. I am very interested in Azlanti, and a lost nation sees too fascinating to throw up... No, ah yes, is pass up?"

Diplomacy GI: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Knowledge History Untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

@Endlessforms I've intended Omorose to be something of a scholar of history - hence her language selection - and was horrified to see I had not put any ranks in it when I went to check my modifier. Would it be permissible to switch a rank from spellcraft to Knowledge History? Perfectly understandable if its not, but you don't get if you don't ask!

Know History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Know Local: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Wow, that was stellar! Seems I wasn't paying attention when these subjects came up in conversation.

Of course we have a choice. You may never receive another chance to make a choice if you say no, however.

Jaysin waits impatiently while the group asks their questions and hopefully receives solid answers.

"I've never met the woman, I only have Nigel's report. And no, I think I'll be on the committee picking out the relics when this is over. You folks just worry about the girl."

@Omorose: Sure, we haven't started yet and you can always first-level retrain.

"I do not think that Imrizade is married, no. It is hard to tell with the Blakros family sometimes, as the women all retain the name Blakros and the husbands marrying in must take on the name Blakros. They are very powerful and influential so the men don't usually complain overmuch."

Trotter readies his pack and checks his pistol in his holster. "So, if you are ready you can get going. Report back to me when you are done but for now I've got a lost agent to track down in Geb. Good luck! And remember: explore, report, cooperate!"

"Sounds simple enough. Findie, no killie. I'm readyish."

Omorose nods her head,

"Yes, I am to ready."

Nari places Timid on the ground, where he quickly scampers between her feet.

"I'm ready!" Nari exclaims.

"Though I would like to ask some of the citizens about the museum and if they've seen or heard anything strange about it recently on the way." She mentions as an afterthought.

Dice roll for diplomacy(gather information) to ask citizens after we depart the grand lodge for the museum
Diplomacy(GI): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Omorose makes to follow Nari,

"It is always wise to know as much as is able about a potential danger, I will aide if it is accepted?"

She follows Nari and gently helps to encourage the citizens to open up, not that Nari requires any help!

Diplomacy Aide: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

A young page enters the room and seeks out Molmbe. He hands the Mwangi an envelope, then stands by waiting. Molmbe opens and reads through the letter, occasionally glancing at the boy or the party. Finishing, he folds the letter and slips it into a pocket and begins gathering his items. You must excuse me, I have been called away for a different mission. My replacement is supposed to be on his way. Fare thee well. Molmbe nods and takes his leave.

Not long after Molmbe takes his leave, a tall man of seemingly celestial heritage enters the room. He stops to survey the party for a moment before speaking. Well met. I am Phyton, the Mwangi's replacement. He briefed me in the corridor when we met in passing. Our we to be on our way then?

The Blakros Museum is a private museum located in Absalom’s Wise Quarter. Owned by the far-reaching and influential Blakros family, it houses and displays an assortment of antiques and oddities the family has collected over the years.

You are greeted on the front steps by the curator Nigel Aldain, clearly flustered. "Oh good! Oh good! I'm glad you Pathfinders have showed up. Please, come inside."

He leads you straight to the North Exhibit Hall and opens a secret door in the ziggurat there to reveal a ramp down into the library below. "The basement is down that way. I have no idea what's been going on down there but I fear the worst. I hope you can save Imrizade. The others as well-the guards. I hope it's not too late. Thank you so much for this, Pathfinders!"

Everyone ready to descend? Who would like to go first? I prefer to be following in order to make use of my halberd.

"Not I, I am feared, I am no warrior, I fight in different ways."

"Lead the way into a scary basement? No thank you... My skills lie in avenues that are best done when not staring down the blade of a sword. And I don't think my dress will provide much protection from the dangers that may lurk down there." Nari mentions, reaching down and producing a light crossbow from a holster on her right leg.

"I would much prefer to be near the back. Let the people with armor lead the way."

What are you looking at me for? You think I can cover your rears with my bow by standing at the front of the line? Jaysin says with a sneer on his face.

Of course if we do not have a better candidate I guess I won't have much of a choice, though I thought we had a tank of sorts, didn't we?

Random knocks on the scale mail of the solidly built fighter. *knock* *knock* "Manzcar, I think this is your cue. Remember, don't kill the Blackros girl. Yet. Mwahaha?" He shrugs, and takes out his shortbow. He looks at Jaysin's longbow and measures him up. "Hmph."

Random can go 3rd, behind Manzcar and Phyton.

"What does he do to my rear with a bow?" Omorose asks, an eyebrow quirked at Jaysin, "I think again and perhaps it would be well I did lead, at least if we fear any sort of trap? I have some skill with such things and my armour is good even if I have no weapons. Maybe I go behind Manzcar where I can keep my eyes, how do you say, skinned?"

Manzcar pulls out his sword and tightens up his shield on his arm.

Well I am ready

Manzcar walks down the stairs his fingers gripping and releasing the sword keeping his eyes open. He moves his head back and forth trying to ensure the safety of the others.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 10

"Gruesome, Omo."

I can give you an example if you like. Jaysin snaps back, swiftly retrieving an arrow and quickly draws back the string of his bow, as if ready to fire. After a quick pause he just as quickly replaces the arrow into his quiver and places a smirk on his face. Can we proceed? Jaysin will fall in behind the frontliners of the party along with the other archer. Why must I always have to deal with people such as these? As soon as I have enough funding I should simply strike out on my own.

A 50-foot-long stone ramp concealed beneath the miniature ziggurat in the museum’s North Exhibit Hall descends 25 feet to the basement. Wide enough to accommodate a draft horse moving large exhibits to and from the basement storerooms, the ramp ends at two sets of double doors, facing each other to the east and west. Wooden placards on the doors are marked “Storeroom 1” and “Storeroom 2.”

So a set of doors to the left and a set to the right. I'll be travelling today and tomorrow morning so won't be able to update until Monday night likely.

"Well I don't really like the look of either of those doors. Especially after that ominous introduction the curator gave." Nari whispers.

She lowers her crossbow to her side, releasing it from one hand and starts whispering under her breath.

Nari cast Guidance upon herself.

"If we must pick one though, might as well start with storeroom 1?" Nari asks.

A little more sure of herself, She produces a crossbow bolt from her quiver.

"It also may get rather dark down here, would anyone object to me bringing some light to the darkness?"

Door number one it is then. Seems as reasonable as anything else. says the Taldan quickly, urging the frontliners to move toward the door.

Manzcar moves to room one and listens at the door.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9

not hearing anything Manzcar opens up the door.

The doors open onto a vast hall draped in shadowy cobwebs and filled with haphazardly placed statues. The air is heavy with dust. Any noise echoes hollowly among the figures, some swathed in thick coverings like misshapen beasts, others bare and uncovered, all coated in a thick layer of dust. Leering visages loom out of the darkness, fearsome wooden and stone faces carved in grimaces and scowls.

This room has a 20-foot-high ceiling and holds a dazzling collection of sculptures, effigies, and statues of different sizes, some draped in sheets, others coated with a thick layer of dust. Unlit oil lamps hang from brackets in the center of each wall. A wooden sign on a door in the southern wall reads “Scriptorium—Quiet Please.”

Map now linked at the top of the page.

Feel free to arrange your tokens to match your preferred marching order.

A certain halfling I know would LOVE this room!

So this is where old statues go to die. How amusing. I doubt our lost friend is in here. Let's try the door across the room.

If no one else moves quickly enough, Jaysin will start to stride across the room to the door.

Omorose joins Nari in casting light, casting hers upon her right glove and scanning the strange room for dangers, eyes shining as she takes in the wonderful array of sculptures,

"We are privileged to be able to see these things, to think of the years of pain taking work that must have gone into them," she whispers reverently.

Take 20 Perception for a 26.

Waste of time if you ask me. Anything short of Taldan sculpture deserves to be hidden away in the dust anyway.

Manzcar looks back at Jaysin.

We should search each room there is no telling where we might find a secret that will aid us

Manzcar moves in cautiously expecting anything.

Total Defense AC 24

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9

"Creepy Room." Nari says, an uncontrollable shiver running down her body.

"I agree we should probably look through the room, it's what we are here to do, though I don't wish to spend any more time in here then necessary."

Nari creeps slowly into the room staring intently at the various figures.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Why would you carve things to look hurt and angry? Someone seriously needs to re-evaluate life.

Jaysin decides not to alienate the party any further. Yes, very well. Let's take a closer look at these droll carvings, shall we? Jaysin will take time to force himself to take a good look about the room, just in case something of note is present. He'll wander toward the area near the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Hold up... hold up... echo..." Random smiles and points up, proudly displaying the echo of the cavernous room. "Take a look at the floor. Is it as dusty as the rest of this stuff? Maybe we'll be able to tell if no one's come this way. If the dust is undisturbed. No point going the wrong direction." He shrugs, and offers a reason if anyone needs one: "Meh. In case she's in trouble or something."

Perception or survival (same mod) to find tracks or lack thereof in the dust (if the floor's dusty), additional +1 if this counts as an opportunity to use ranger's track ability: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Phyton moves cautiously into the room, waiting to see what his companions may have discovered.