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It is a cool fall morning and you enter the city of Magnimar and make your way toward Heidmark Manor, where you have been summoned to serve as on call agents for a few weeks until another batch rotates in. as you approach the Manors gate you are greeted by a half elf guard who seems to recognize why you are here.
"Hail Pathfinder! Lady Heidmark is expecting you shortly. please make your way to the parlor and make yourselves comfortable. Once the last of you has arrived, Our Lady will address you directly.", he says as he smiles briefly and points you toward the interior of the manor.
As you wait in the parlor, the other Pathfinders who share your assignment begin to filter in and you have the oppurtunity to get aquainted with them before sheila greets you all.
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An unusually small frog folk lounges against what appears at first to be an oddly shaped couch, but which on further examination is revealed to be a giant chameleon lounging on a divan. Propped next to him is an unusually tall bow, that seems to call further attention to his small stature. The bow is made of layers of some dark wood, carved and inlaid to give it the impression that forked lighting is wrapped around it.
He nods as each person enters the room but beyond a nod and a grunt to acknowledge greetings, says little.
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You see sitting in one of Heidmark manor's more fireproof chairs an ifrit he is holding some alchemical items in his 2 hands and hands you a vile with a third hand. if you chose to take a vial it is labeled "in case of hangover drink contents". As he sees each of you come in he puts down the the alchemical items in his main hands and starts writing in a journal and gets up to ask each of you if he can measure your dimension so he can better craft his explosions as not harm you.
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A quiet, tanned, red-headed elf in robes enters the sitting room, with a red-furred weasel sitting on his shoulder, using a long spear made of Darkwood as a walking staff. Looking at those gathered already with his piercing emerald eyes, he says, "Hail and well met, fellow Pathfinders. I am called Ruathan; this is Ron." in a somber, sonorous baritone voice, pointing at the weasel.
"How are you known?"
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A green eyed female saunters into the room, her slightly pointed ears are partially hidden among a mass of striking red hair. Slung across her back is a longbow finely carved with forrest animals, and dropped at her hip a great sword. Her lithe body seemingly too small and delicate for such a weapon, but upon closer inspection her well toned body proves otherwise.
A shaggy adolescent wolf trails behind her, sniffing excitedly as he follows her into the room. He stops to investigate the channeleon, tilting his head to the side in confusion.Nodding to the frog she calls out to the wolf. "Meeka, come on, leave them alone. You'll have plenty of time to say hello later."
She nods to the ifrite and takes the proffered vial reading its label and thinking to herself, You never know when these things will come in handy. Though, until I know a little more abut this... thing. I've got to learn to trust my party again. That stupid xacarba really messed that up. Well, worse case scenario it may be flammable"
Turning to face the elf, her face lights up momentarily before she pulls herself back together. Another elf, its been weeks since I've seen a familiar face. She absentmindedly reaches down and berries her hand in the wolfs scruff taking comfort from the animals presence. Hi there Ruathan, nice to meet you and Ron. I'm Lireal, and this here is Meeka"
She looks around and sees an empty couch on the side of the room sits down, lays her head back and closes her eyes.
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You see a small, gangling, washed out grey skinned, creature wielding a war-lance with an impaled shield sitting tenuously half way down its length trot in on a ferocious, intimidating worg like wolf with emence anger in its jet black eyes. Upon closer inspection his full plate has a small engraving of a dragon on his right peck. His banner (displaying the symbol of the open road.) instead of hanging from a pole, hangs from his spine from implanted metal hooks. "Hello friends, how do you feel on this fine day." He unmounts from his near feral looking mount, who like a service dog having his harness removed, looks happy and playful with the anger in his eyes being removed near instantly with the light blue coloring returning to its eyes. "I go by the name Safark now a days, I look after my own and we should consider ourselves lucky that fate has brought us together on this fine day for this mission."
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Jumana shrugs and opens his mouth as if to answer Liareal's question, only do be distracted by Safark's introduction.
It would not take a very perceptive person to see that he welcomes the interruption as a chance to avoid discussing the topic of the chameleon's name.
"It is fortunate that our hostess favors large sitting rooms."
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Shorty after the Wayang arrives, a side door opens and in strides Lady Heidmarch who says, "“Welcome to Varisia, welcome to the city of Magnimar, welcome to the Pathfinder Lodge of Heidmarch Manor, but most importantly, welcome to my home.” Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch greets you in her low, breathy voice, finishing with a warm smile.
“Varisia is a land of ancient wonders and exciting possibilities,” she continues, “and I’ve found it most helpful to keep a team of Pathfinders on call at the lodge at all times, should anything of interest to the Society come up unexpectedly. This assignment is only temporary. We’ll rotate in a new team to take your places in a few weeks, but rest assured, there’s plenty of potential for you to make a name for yourselves as Pathfinders here.
“I’ve arranged for you to stay in Bakrakhan House, one of our guest cottages, for the duration of your stay here. It’s currently unoccupied, so you’ll have the place to yourselves. You’re on duty starting tomorrow morning, so take some time to settle in, wrap up any unfinished business you have in the city today, and should the Society have need of you, I’ll contact you directly." She looks to the half elf guard, “Ebrylis, if you could show them the way, please,” Sheila says as she turns and departs. The half-elf guardsman steps forward. “This way, please,” Ebrylis says. “Bakrakhan House is the last house on the end. I’m sure you’ll want to unpack, set up your bunks, and so on. Dinner’s at sunset in the manor’s dining room. Look for me at the gate if you need anything else. I’ll leave you to it.” With that, Ebrylis strolls back down the path.
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Ruathan looks around at his companions, then says, "Well... this is rather unusual. I've not had the pleasure of meeting Venture-Captain Heidmarch before; is this... normal when dealing with her?"
"I guess we should look into our quarters. Coming?" With that, he strides off toward the Bakrakhan House.
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Jumana mounts up, and seems more comfortable on the Chameleon's back than he did leaning against it. As they ride after the guard, Jumana fastens a somewhat complicated set of straps and latches on the saddle, itself a bit of a strange contraption. Outside the pair tend to follow above and behind their guide, with the chameleon scrambling up the sides of buildings and scampering along the tops.
"Ebrylis, I suppose you don't know what sort of duties these would be. I do not know much of what goes on in this city, or what the Captain needs of us."
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Upon hearing the door open and a new voice enter the room Lireal again lifts her head and follows the sound to a very formidable looking female. She sounds friendly, but she looks like she could bite my head off if I said the wrong thing... She quietly listens to the VC while stealing glances at the rest of her party around the room. This is definitely an interesting group of people, or should I say creatures, I don't think anyone is human... except me, and even then not completely
Meeka lowly grumbles beside her. It's ok girl. I know its a lot of new people, but they all seem friendly enough she whispers to the animal. Meeka settles down a bit, resting her head on Lireal's lap, her ears twitching and following any small sound she hears.
I wonder how long we will be staying here, and what we may end up doing. It will be nice to sleep in a real bed for a change. And dinner, a real dinner that doesn't smell of smoke and isn't half burnt sounds wonderful! She raises from the couch and turns to greet Lady Heidmarch, Hi there I'm Lireal and this... her words trail off as she abruptly turns and walks out closing the door behind her.
Lireal tilts her head to the side and glances at Ruathan, making eye contact she mouths What the... shrugging her shoulders she returns her attention to lady Heidmarch.
Sighing she turns to follow the rest of the party out the door. Quickening her pace she slows as she reaches Ebrylis' side, stopping slightly as the chameleon brushes past her. Yeah, Ebrylis, I'm curious too, can you tell me anything about the city, I haven't been here before.
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Ebyrlis guides you through the compound to your room.
To Ruathan: "You'll have to excuse the Lady Heidmarch, what with the Lodge being so new and one of only 3 lodges in Varisia, Lady Sheila is very busy and your assignment did not need much explaining." he says matter of factly, as he strides out of the room.
To Jumana: " Oh I imagine you'll be informed of the details of your assignment in the mornings but I wouldn't expect too much excitement, the last group that came through just had to un-box some golems but somehow that ended up torching most of the green house." he says as you round the path past the green house. I has suffered some fire damage and has some new wooden sections that are very noticeable, " others groups have just patrolled around the complex and done the odd errand job or acted as a messenger."
To Safark: " and what dark place do you hail from? Magnimar may not be perfect but it is a free city and a man can make himself whatever he desires here." You seem to have offended the man.
To Liareal:"Magnimar is the greatest port city in the Inner Sea, A man can find his heart's truest desires within these city walls...If he only knows where to look" he winks at Liareal slyly as he finishes his sentence.
After a short stroll through the lodges ground you arrive at Bakrakhan House. It is a 2 story cottage, complete with Kitchen, downstairs Living area with couches and comfy chairs, fireplaces both up and downstairs, and 6 beds in the great room on the second floor.
Ebyrlis opens the front door and hands the key to Ruathan,"Sleep well Pathinders, you're most likely in for a slow several weeks; Unless you have any other questions, I really ought to get back to my post"
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Jumana turns, on the verge of going up to the second floor (without bothering with the stairs.)
"What happerned to the team that burned down the green house?
Jumana can't actually fail to notice the wink, but he does ignore it. Instead he make a mental note that this is a man who believes he knows where to find things that may not be above board.
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I was mainly making the jest based on the fact that this is the biggest port city I have ever seen, so the smell of fish is quite strong. I hail from parts known but that I would rather forget. while he says this he starts placing his thing out for the long stay and takes out a set of leather armor he insists on calling his pajamas.
Also Ruathan, you can't call my mount he is trained to only answer me, but you may refer to him as "Redemption".
I also see the wink and make a mental note
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As we are led to our temporary abode Bruce leads a donkey pulling a cart that has seen better days to the house, it reeks of alchemical smells and looks charred and burned. He pets the donkey's head as he unharnesses it from the cart, then ties a 50ft stand of rope to its collar that is attached to the cart and gives it some food and water. he starts to slowly and carefully unload boxes labeled with different chemicals, beakers, flasks, and a trunk with into his temporary room. Bruce says I highly suggest that you don't touch my stuff unless you know a lot about alchemy, because I would like you to not accidentally blow your self up because I would feel bad for your animals having no one to care for them he then waves at the samurai being followed by a robot before he starts setting up his alchemy lab in his room.
I see it and ignore it entirely
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Ruathan ignores the Wayang's failure to understand a formal Taldane turn of phrase, Ruathan bows to Redemption and says "Greetings, Redemption. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
He notices the wink, and snickers quietly at the look on Lireal's face. Turning to Ebyrlis while accepting the key and tucking it into his belt pouch, he says "Busy or not, less than two minutes to greet her new assignees is quite abrupt, and not the way I'm used to being greeted by a Venture-Captain."
Upon hearing about the incident in the greenhouse, he exclaims "My friend Omari was one of those Pathfinders! He was very upset about not being able to apprehend the person behind the attack."
Ruathan takes his leave and claims a bed, laying down to rest and meditate.
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Following the elf through the compound, looking around at the buildings making note of where we have come. Half-listening to the ramblings of Ebrylis as he answers everybody in turn. Lady Shiela did seem kinda short, but I guess if you're that busy it happens, I do hope we get to do more than patrol the complex or deliver messages.
Hearing her name, she shifts her focus to the half-elf, looking up at him, she catches his sly wink. Did he just wink? Did he just wink at me? He can't have. But why else would he be winking? Maybe he *was* winking at me...
Startling, and blinking a few times, she turns her head to the side to avert her gaze, but the sudden rosiness of her cheeks gave her away, looking back she smiles and asks; "Where, Dear Sir, would you suggest one begin their search, if they were indeed looking?
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Ebrylis answers your questions before heading back to his post:
To Jumana: " As the elf said, they were able to solve the mystery and found that the golems had been tampered with, however they were not skilled enough to apprehend the deviant responsible."
To Safark: "pfft", he snorts, " your race must have an extraordinary sense of smell."
To Bruce: nervously, Ebrylis says, " I do hope all those have been through customs... the masters of the house would be most displeased if there was another fire on a routine job."
To Ruathan: " I understand your sentiment, but Lady Heidmarch is very busy of late; what with the group exploring the Crow bringing up dead pathfinders once or twice a week and trying to track down the wizard your friend's group let escape, she has been at her wits end trying to manage the Manor."
To Lieareal: " I'd try the market m'lady; Just remember the more exotic the market, the more exotic the products...." he trails off as he leaves.
Everyone give me a perception check as you settle into your new accommodations.
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"if no one ignorant of alchemy touches these chemicals then there will be no accidental explosion, burns, fires, freezing," as he says this he is counting on his fingers as he says every way people have died while mishandling his chemicals or have been unfortunate enough to be that target of his chemicals "dissolving slowly in acid, being stuck to the floor while being on fire, poisoned from ingesting the chemicals, or boiling alive in water. Yeah I think that about covers the dangers of accidental alchemy, so just tell people to tred lightly around my equipment if they value their eyebrows and there will be no problems"
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Running her hand along Meeka's back she looks around the large room. Picking a bed close to the back of the room she drops her backpack down, and pulls out a thick blanket, placing it on the ground in front of the bed, letting the wolf know this is home for the time being, she lays down closing her eyes to relax.