Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury has requested a meeting with you. You await his arrival.
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An older man stands peacefully. A hawk perched on his walking stick.
The man seems unremarkable except for his eyes which seem to twinkle with some distant light. Then for a moment all light seems to fade from his eyes as they become pure darkness, they seem to suck in the surrounding light, but only for a moment, then they return to their sparkle.
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A pleasant looking elf female wanders into the room. "Greetings, dearies. I'm Ms. Tessara. So nice to see such young blood in the Society. Strong young sword arms," she smiles broadly. She looked much younger, but as you cal with elves, her appearance didn't betray her age.
Tessara ignores the food, moving to the most comfortable looking chair in the room. While waiting on the others, she pulled out a piece of fabric, and two knitting needles, and began her process, neatly and quickly adding to the as yet unfinished cloth.
Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury is stoic yet shows signs of exhaustion as he strides into the room and places a piece of paper on the table. “Pathfinders, some weeks ago we received this letter from an anonymous source, advising us of the discovery of a Sarkorian site in rural Mendev, near the village of Dawnton. We sent three Pathfinders to perform an initial investigation.
“Word came to us two days ago that the entire team has been arrested for murder and is scheduled to be hanged in seven days’ time. I would appreciate your traveling to Dawnton, investigating the crimes, and finding any evidence necessary to clear their names.”
He pauses for a moment, as if gathering his will or holding back strong emotion. “As much as it grieves me to think this possible, you may find evidence that implicates our comrades. If they are guilty of this crime, let them hang. It’s justice of a sort, and we must all remember that we are guests in Mendev and subject to all its laws. Your predecessors’ reputation has tarnished the Pathfinders’ name in Dawnton, so I recommend you not travel and investigate openly as Pathfinders agents.
“Be careful,” he recommends, “and remember that three comrades are relying on you.”
Murder? The Varisian bard says with a raised eyebrow. That is a serious situation indeed. We'll see what we can discover right away. Before we go, was the information in the letter true or did the team discover that the information was false?
I've never been but I do know that Tobias Luin is both the village’s sheriff and mayor. Local opinion holds that he is fair to the point of being soft. It would be unusual that he would hold an execution, but local law calls for a vote of the citizenry to decide the fate of those guilty of capital crimes such as murder.
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Wadreskus speaks both slowly and purposefully, So you want us to find the truth in this matter. If execution is unusual then there must be something outside the ordinary with this situation.
Once done with the briefing Wadreskus will head out with Jarrin and Avarus and see if he can find someone whom has traveled through Dawnton recently.
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"Ahhh yes... I heard of Dawnton. It is like all the other towns in this area, almost useless until the festival arrives. They dabble in trade of minor resources and distrust outsiders."
Avarus looks around at his associates and then states, "Looks like we are not going to easily blend into this scenery." We are going to need help or we are going to have to come up with a plan. Any ideas?"
As long as we do not brandish wayfinders or declare we are Pathfinders we should easily blend in to such an environment. We could be mercenaries, merchants, travelers, whatever. Outsiders are outsiders, we'll never pass as locals. I do not think disguise is needed if we pay attention to what we say and how we behave.
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"Generally, if you keep your head down and look like you know what you are doing, you won't have much to worry about. but if we are questioned, we could always say that we've been sent to check out the area by our merchant employer. Making sure the town is safe for a large delivery, and all that lot. Can't disprove that..."
"Does the Society still have any friends in Dawntown?"
"With the recent developments, that remains to be seen."
"What information do we have on the Sarkorian site and its location? Also what do we know about Dawnton and its people?"
"Dawnton is a small village at the crossroads of the local trade highway and the Setian River, a tributary of the Egelsee. It has a small permanent population, but swells to many times its size on festival days and during the harvest. As with many small villages in the region, Dawnton has become distrustful of strangers since the fall of Kenabres. This distrust is especially virulent toward tief lings and others with demonic roots, influence, or appearance."
Murder? The Varisian bard says with a raised eyebrow. That is a serious situation indeed. We'll see what we can discover right away. Before we go, was the information in the letter true or did the team discover that the information was false?
"As far as I know it was true, although I am sure you will discover more in your investigations."
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It seems for once, like our venture captain has actually put some thought into selecting pathfinders for our mission.
I can bind with spirits that wander by in the morning. There are many varieties of spirits. I have permanently bonded with a spirit of the heavens, but thought you all might have some input on what other type of spirit I should bind with.
A war spirit would boost your might if we get in a fight.
Battle Spirit (Su): A shaman surrounds herself with
the spirit of battle. Allies within 30 feet of the shaman
(including the shaman) receive a +1 morale bonus on attack
rolls and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level and 16th level,
these bonuses increase by 1. The shaman can use this ability
for a number of rounds per day equal to 3 + her Charisma
modifier. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
A spirit of death would not be very helpful here I think. Besides it would make me look like death.
Touch of the Grave (Su): As a standard action, the shaman
can make a melee touch attack infused with negative
energy that deals 1d4 points of damage + 1 point of damage
for every 2 shaman levels she possesses. She can instead
touch an undead creature to heal it of the same amount
of damage. A shaman can use this ability a number of
times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier.
A fire spirit might make them confuse me for a demon.
Touch of Flame (Su): As a standard action, the shaman
can make a melee touch attack that deals 1d6 points of fire
damage + 1 point for every 2 shaman levels she possesses. A
shaman can use this ability a number of times per day equal
to 3 + her Charisma modifier.
A life spirit might be a good choice.
Channel (Su): The shaman can channel positive energy
like a cleric, using her shaman level as her effective cleric
level when determining the amount of damage healed
(or dealt to undead) and the DC. The shaman can use
this ability a number of times per day equal to 1 + her
Charisma modifier.
A nature spirit could have it's uses.
Storm Burst (Su): As a standard action, the shaman causes
a small storm of swirling wind and rain to form around
one creature within 30 feet. This storm causes the target
to treat all foes as if they had concealment, suffering a
20% miss chance for 1 round plus 1 round for every 4
shaman levels she possesses. The shaman can use this
ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma
modifier.
A water spirit may help if we don't want to kill someone.
Wave Strike (Su): As a standard action, the shaman can
perform a melee touch attack that drenches a creature and
pushes it away. The opponent takes 1d6 points of nonlethal
damage + 1 point for every 2 shaman levels they possess
and is pushed 5 feet directly away from the shaman. This
movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A
shaman can use this ability a number of times per day
equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier.
My personal suggestions are either life or battle.
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A well-groomed halfling, with short brown hair steps into the room. A falcata on his hip, while strapped to his forearm is a silver buckler.
He looks around, and the various assortment of idividuals, is this the place.... His thought stops mid-sentence as he sees the Captain's glare send shills down his spine. Sorry for being late, I had some unexpected visitors come see me. Um, it won't happen again sir. Ryskovich, salutes the Captain, and takes a seat for a quick briefing.
Murder, that's never good. We will have to get to the bottom of it.
After a few moments of silenced, and hearing the rest of his group discuss the matter at hand, he looks to the others, My name is Ryskovich, from Taldor. I specialize in the art of Taldan Duelist, falcata and buckler. I may not be the hardest hitting individual, but I can handle myself if the need arises. I also have a silver tongue if the need desires, so...I wonder what the locals will say
If a PC meets or exceeds the DC, he earns the PCs one success at that location during that phase. For every 5 points by which a PC exceeds the listed DC, the PCs earn one additional success at that location.
Dawnton is little more than the crossroads of a highway and a navigable river, and its population barely exceeds 100 during most of the year. Because of this crossroads, though, as many as 3,000 people converge on the settlement just after the harvest to transfer crops from wagons to barges. In the off season, more than half the village’s buildings lie empty, awaiting their seasonal tenants’ return. At the peak of harvest season, a tent city forms in the fields east of town to house and support the surplus population.
It is not harvest season, but Dawnton is crowded with visitors who have come to witness the executions. Despite the morbid circumstances, the villagers see this as an unexpected opportunity to gossip, barter, and celebrate, giving much of the village a festive atmosphere complete with games and drunken revelry. At night, most of the village becomes eerily quiet as people retire and fearfully watch the shadows for signs of more murderers or demons. A portion of the tent city remains active long into the night.
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I'm not so sure if I came about this talent or if it came about me. I have been able to sense and bond with the spirits arround me since I was a boy. I shall bond with a battle spirit in the morning.
This would have happened on the journey over, the next morning Wadreskus looks a little dirtier, perhaps just from the day of travel. His hawk has a more noticable change, it seems far more muscular than any hawk you have seen before.
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In the morning Jerrik will visit with the accused and the local authorities if he is permitted to.
The afternoon will be to follow up on anything they say and/or find some gossip at the General Store.
While not a heavy drinker by any stretch, will visit the Tent City and will try to discover what he can from those there and at the Beer Garden in the evening.
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Avarus begins pacing as the group talks about so many ideas. He then stops and calmly states,
"Well all... it seems we might have a problem. I don't know about each of you but the merchants I have protected in my day didn't wander about villages separated from one another. Protection in numbers people. I believe we should travel in teams or as a group. What do you say?"
As for Tess's question earlier, our boss's name should not be spoken and the specifics of goods not identified.
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I agree, all going in different directions is not smart, groups would be best. All together will delay or ability to find out more information. If it when we divide, we should separate based on our strengths. I am okay at finding out information from the locals, therefore I should try not to go with another with skills similar to mine, make sense?
The Tent City: Wadreskus and Avarus
Dozens of tents of sundry sizes ring an open area where the visitors gather for games and talk. The field near the tent city is abuzz with activity this morning. An impromptu marketplace springs up during the early hours of the morning, locals set up festival games, and dozens of men and women of all ages participate in contests and sports.
Orug's General Store: Ryskovich and Nikomedes
One of two permanent businesses in town, this sprawling shop occupies three large storefronts on the main road. The center room is the general store, where you can purchase most mundane supplies. The east room holds stored goods, an office and a small apartment for Orug Foram (half-orc) and his wife Tessa Greenagh (half-elf). The west building is Orug’s barbershop. It contains two chairs in the front and three rooms in back for hot baths.
Heath and Harvest: Tessara
The village’s inn is huge for a settlement of this size, but it grows full to bursting during the harvest season. In fact, it is quite full now with travelers interested in the execution, although there are still two rooms left (if you would like to claim them; costs 1 gp per night and includes meals). The pub downstairs is the only restaurant option available in town during the off months, and still very busy at mealtimes despite the competition from food stalls at the tent city.
Tobias Luin's: Jerrik
Jerrik wishes to speak with the accused but quickly learns that that requires the permission of the village's mayor and sheriff, Tobias Luin. Tobias’s house is the largest private residence in Dawnton. He lives there alone, having lost much of his family in a demon attack more than ten years earlier, but his basement doubles as the region’s jail, where he currently keeps the three Pathfinder prisoners. Though the building is hardly an airtight prison, a trio from the local militia—the closest thing Dawnton has to a police force or town guard—stands watch outside at all hours. They are able to point Jerrik in the right direction to find Tobias Luin as he patrols the streets.
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Avarus rides along side Wadreskus toward the tent city. Just before entering Avarus demounts and walks in to the area looking for somewhere to maintain his mount, LiLee.
"Wad, this looks like my kind of place with games all about. Wll Wad, who do you think we should talk to here? There are so many people and nothing really stands out to me. If anyone maybe master of the games. Anyway, before we get all involved lets find somewhere for LiLee."