Awaiting each of you at your places of lodging are scrolls of parchment tied with red silk string. Inside is a hand-addressed invitation to a party being held at the Lantern Lodge, the beautiful and exotic estate of the Tian Venture Captain, Amara Li, in Absalom's Petal District. Tonight, the invitation informs you, is the Snapdragon Festival, a traditional Gokan holiday featuring fireworks and rich plum wine. You are encouraged to dress to impress if you are able, and to seek out the hostess and head of the Lantern Lodge, Amara Li upon your arrival.
At the party that evening;
Only the luckiest or most influential Pathfinders receive invitations to Amara Li’s annual Snapdragon Festival celebration, and wise recipients take advantage of them. The aroma of blooming orchids and flowing wine mixes with the acrid tang of recently exploded fireworks, and the sound of strangely discordant music comes from a duo of Tian women playing an unusual stringed instrument and a reed flute. The crowd mingles calmly, most guests clearly hoping to be seen more than actually paying attention to those with whom they converse, though the plum wine seems to have affected many who now move about the lodge’s grounds waving sparkling wands of fire and shooting whirring, whizzing fireworks into the sky above the koi pond.
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Drogan is a large human male, easily six and a half feet tall. Long wavy black hair and tanned skin tells that this man is someone who spends time outdoors.
Not having the money to purchase an expensive suit, Drogan decides to attend the party in his vestments: a black robe, with embroidery of silver and grey thread. There is a large silver swirl on the back of the robe along with smaller swirls on the shoulders. Staying away from the koi pond, and sparkling wands, Drogan grabs a glass of the plum wine, sniffs it, and takes a sip. Determining it's not as bad as he would think, he takes a longer drink while stationed near the musicians. A waiter with several walnut-sized sandwiches grabs Drogan's attention and he snags a couple after learning they are called kotu-lei or goat bun. Drogan marvels at the sour goat meat along with the sweet honey bun on which they are served. Downing the second morsel of food, Drogan looks at the rest of the guests while tapping his foot to the nearly discordant rhythm of the music.
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A young man stands uncomfortably near the entrance to the event. He wears his black hair closely shaved, and has a noticeably broken nose from some old fight. He stands at 5'9, but with very broad shoulders and an understated but reasonable physique he appears larger.
He had not anticipated the finery of the party, having only been recently arrived in Absalom and feels self-conscious in his soldier's uniform. He had brought some golden jewelry from his native Osirion, and bought a new red cloak upon his arrival, so he was not as out of place as he could have been, though this was of little comfort. A longsword is strapped to his belt, hanging in a well-worn sheath off his left side.
Abasi had received his invitation because of a word of recommendation from the Ruby Prince himself. One would think this would inspire some sort of confidence in the young man, but from what appears to be his attempts to meld into the background he does not seem to share this sentiment. He accepts no food and adamantly refuses any alcohol. He awaits the moment when he can leave while retaining some measure of politeness with impatience, though it does not show.
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Not a young man of great means, Halkale spent some of his remaining gold on a fresh set of clothes, keeping his well worn but comfortable clothes in his room, Halkale enters the Festival Celebration wearing a green linen tunic with a dark green vest with a muted longbow emblem over his heart. His brown pants and boots pay homage to the his love of nature. He carries an old, but cared for, longsword on his left hip. His cloak is worn but clean, a dappled green and fastened with a little wooden replica of a longbow.
He moves through the crowd with some unease, dodging partygoers as they appear to pay no real attention to where they are going.
Halkale is 6'1" with an athletic build and tanned skin. He has brown hair which is kept short. He has blue eyes and he seems to have a grin on his face most of the time.
He takes a small bun filled with meat and tastes it, finding the food very good, but while he carries a glass of plum wine, you don't see him drinking it much. He stops near the koi pond and begins to watch the kor swim, in between watchful glances around the party.
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Not one for extravagant parties or for putting on heirs, Fedorean usually prefers the darker seedier side of the capitol and spends most of his time with people who would only attend such a thing in search of a mark, but as a new member of the society and eager to use this invitation to his advantage, he decides that it would be beneficial to him to at least make an appearance, After all he might learn some valuable bit of information that could be used at a later date, find a group of adventurers willing to take him along, or at the very least find an opportunity to lift some unsuspecting patrons purse.
Dressed all in black as is his custom,Fedorian is a 6'1 Elf, his ruby red hair is pulled back in a braided pony tail that is clearly visible under his wide brimmed hat. Under his black silk shirt is hidden his dagger and a set of thieves tools, Both instruments that are never far from him, on his hip in a black leather scabbard is a short sword, one of the few possessions that he owns that belonged to his father. His other articles and possessions are being kept at the Inn that he runs with his mother.
As Fedorean arrives at the party, he sees lots of people milling about the front entrance but most noticeably 2 guards checking for invitations, realizing at that moment that he has forgotten the scroll that invited him here, decides that he would rather not try and explain himself or travel back across town, instead opting to sneak around the back and jump over the hedge. Winding his way through the myriad of party goers, his emerald green eyes always on the lookout for something valuable.
After Several minutes of wandering through the crowd,Fedorean eventually finds himself standing next to a coy pond full of fish with several other patrons that were milling about. Some consuming little meat filled buns and drinking plum wine, Other just watching the crowd like himself. Deciding that any occasion is a good occasion to imbibe he takes a glass of plum wine and drinks it down, and decides to have another.
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Anya returns from her first (self-guided) tour through Absalom to find an envelope awaiting her at her lodgings. Setting aside a few of the curios that she had purchased, she opens the letter. "An invitation, hm?" she murmurs. "A Tian-style festival? That sounds exotic...I'll have to find something to wear."
Of course, it would help if she hadn't just recently spent all of her money that she had when she arrived in Absalom. So maybe she could spruce up one of the outfits she had taken with her--it was fashionable enough in Taldor, so she could probably pull it off....
Anya arrives to the party fashionably late, a delicate-featured young elflady, six feet tall and slim with almond-shaped azure eyes and long platinum-blond hair. Achingly beautiful, she is quick to smile, but her attention seems to be drawn less to people and more toward the exotic koi pond and Tian accents of the lodge. Smooth porcelain skin is complemented by unbound platinum-blond hair that frames her face and flows over her shoulders like a cloak, reaching her knees before tapering off.
She is dressed in richly-embroidered, blue and white robes, tailored to fit her form and tied at the waist with a colorful red sash. A finely-crafted black choker adorns her throat, supplemented by several necklaces of fine silver chains. She wears a considerable amount of jewelry, with two platinum studs in the arch of each ear, a rain-drop shaped sapphire earring in each lobe, and several gold bracelets peeking out from the loose sleeves of her robes, along with a signet ring engraved with her personal mark: an open book appearing to take wing like a bird.
She smiles at the guards, handing off her invitation and proceeding inside. Noting several of the more unusual characters at the scene, such as the man in the uniform of Qadira, she heads straight for the koi pond, peering at the fish from a few feet away from Halkale. "I've never been to Tian," she remarks, staring at the fish, though apparently speaking to the ranger. "It must be quite fascinating."
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Halkale glances at the beautiful elven lady before gulping down some wine.
I haven't been that far from Absalom actually. I was born here, well not here here, but in the city..or rather just outside. But, I'd like to travel and see other parts of the world. The words rush out a bit too fast, showing how nervous he really was. He grins awkwardly, a blush appearing on his cheeks.
I am not even sure why I am here. I don't really fit in this crowd.
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The elf watches as a koi fish wanders close to her, staring at her with its fishy eyes. It spooks after a moment and swims away in a flurry of fins, and Anya glances up at the ranger. "No? I'm from Kyonin, originally, but I came here by way of Taldor. Just arrived a few days ago, in fact. You have a very diverse city--elves, halflings, dwarves...they all mix so well, here."
Her gaze settles on him and she looks him over. Raising an eyebrow, she asks, "Pathfinders come from all walks of life, do they not?"
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Perhaps my involvement in the Pathfinders is the reason I am here. Halkale nods thoughtfully. I know that the Pathfinders offer me a chance to see the world and perhaps help protect the innocent. You are probably right, I guess it's harder to see things when you see them everyday. Are you a Pathfinder too?
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Standing next to the coy pond, Fedorean spots a pretty nice looking she elf in fancy garb, with what appears to be some very nice jewelry strung about her neck, as he listens to the conversation she is having with another patron, he mulls over the idea of lighting her load by alleviating her of some of her jewelry, but decides that maybe these two might be the kind of folks who might be up for a more prosperous adventure. Fedorean grabs two glasses of the plume wine and casually saunters over to the female elf to introduce himself.
"Hey there, whats a pretty elf like you doing in a place like this"? he says to her with a wry smile on his face as he hands her one of the glasses of wine.
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Anya seems pleasantly surprised when another elf approaches her. "Oh! Hello!" she replies in Elven as she accepts the glass of wine. She looks to Halkale and switches to Taldane again. "That seems to be the question of the night!"
She looks from Halkale to Fedorean and back. "I'm Anya. And you two are...?"
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Fedorean bows to Anya, takes her hand and fighting off the urge to steal her ring, kisses it gently and says in elvish "My name is Fedorean Silverleaf,and I am at your service,it is such a pleasant surprise to meet a fellow elf here, especially as one as charming as you" he then bows to Halkale and says in the common tongue "My names Fadorean nice to meet you sir"
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"yes i am, lived here my whole life, my family owns a small tavern here in town down by the docks, nothing fancy and definitely not a place accustomed to high class visitors, but its been a living i guess, maybe later we could stop by there for a pint of ice cold ale?..you'll find no better in town I assure you!"
After you spend several minutes enjoying the party and getting to know each other, a servant approaches and you are invited into Amara Li’s private study. Reed mats surround a low table set with an exquisite porcelain tea set. The door is closed behind you, dampening the sound of the party outside, and you become aware of a scent of tea leaves and incense. A panel in the opposite wall slides open to reveal a beautiful Tian woman in a richly embroidered pink and white silk kimono, her shiny black hair assembled into an elaborate style featuring long silver hairpins with dangling pearls. She motions for you all to be seated and once everyone does so, she sits at the table on the mat furthest from the door and begins pouring the tea. She pours a cup for each of you, taking her time with practiced elegance before taking the cups and placing them before you, all the while talking in a low, hushed voice without even the hint of a Tian accent:
“Well met, Pathfinders, and welcome to the Lantern Lodge. I hope you find the Snapdragon Festival and my hospitality worthy of your time and energy. I have not brought you here for mere pleasantries, however, and wish to ask you to partake a dangerous mission on my behalf."
“Long ago, one of my most esteemed ancestors, who was rich in power but poor in sense, gave a gift to a foreign prince, a gift that prince did not deserve and my foolish ancestor had no right to give—a ceremonial jade katana. At the time the gift was sent, its recipient was invading this island. He laid siege to Absalom from his fortress in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts. Like those who came before him, the warlord failed to take Absalom and perished in the attempt. On the very day of his defeat, his castle crumbled to dust in a violent earthquake and has been lost to the centuries ever since. My family’s heirloom was lost with it.
“A recent report by a group of Pathfinders gives me hope that they have finally found the ruin, and I might finally recover my family’s treasure. I’m looking for an intrepid group to retrieve it for me, and I’m hoping that is you. The fame and wealth you will doubtlessly recover will bring you much honor within the Society, and if you deliver the katana to me, you will have my favor as you begin your careers as full agents of the Pathfinder Society.”
She finishes her speech just as she sits again at her own place at the table and picks up her cup to sip delicately at her tea, her eyes watching you through the steam rising before her face.
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Halkale takes a sip of his tea, glancing at the cup, surprised he finds the tea quite good. He opens his mouth to say something, then stops and takes another sip, clears his throat then says, I thank you for the opportunity to attend the festival, the koi were quite interesting to watch. I do not speak for everyone, but me and my bow will take up your task.
With that, he blushes and bows his head shyly.
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Anya smiles noncommitally at Fedorean's offer (she really hates the taste of ale), but is spared the need to reply by a servant's approach. She follows after the servant, seating herself before the low table.
She politely accepts the offered tea with a bow of her head, sipping at the liquid as she listens to the Tian woman's proposal. "I'd say that I knew that there was something more to this gathering than a social call, but that would imply that I wasn't interested," the elf replies with a smile. "Where exactly are we to retrieve this heirloom from? The ruins of the warlord's castle?"
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Abasi starts when the servant approaches him. He follows the servant with some trepidation, taking slight glances at those who had also been invited.
Abasi raises his eyebrows at the Venture Captain's request. "How blunt. At least she had the manners to invite us to the party rather than recruit us at another time. Though..." And here he takes another glance around the room, takes a sip from his tea, and breathes in the marvelous smell of the incense, "I suppose manners is one thing she has in abundance."
He waits until everyone else finishes with their questions and comments before saying anything.
"I will take on this mission. It seems to a fine way to begin our calling as members of the Society."
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Fedorean follows the group into the the study where he sits down and has a cup of tea and listens while the woman makes her speech. He gets the feeling that there is more to this story than what she is telling,by experiance he knows that if something is easy to get, then there is no need to hire someone to get it, thinking that if the katana was just some lost family artifact laying unguarded in this ruinous castle then why did the previous group of pathfinders not retrieve it?..and better yet..how much is this reward she mentioned?
"Excuse me miss, but i have a couple questions before i accept this mission, primarily i would like to know if the previous group of pathfinders that made the report, attempted to retrieve the katana,and if so why weren't they successful?..and secondly I would like to know exactly how valuable this heirloom is to you and why?, you have been pretty vague on the details of the reward? and last but not least could you describe this Katana, so that we will know it when we see it?"
He then sits back in his chair and waits for the women to answer, trying hard to get a feel for her motives.
From behind her teacup, which she lowers a few inches, still letting the steam from the hot water to waft past her face, Amara Li says, "The team discovered the fortress, but I only learned of its discovery when they returned - they were not there to seek the Katana. The Katana is an heirloom. It belongs to my family and therefore is its value. The reward is my friendship. And finally, the Katana is a Katana, made of jade, with a gold hilt and housed in a black ceremonial hilt." Amara smiles. "I hope that answers your questions."
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Fedorean, taking another drink of the tea, studies the women a bit more, and even though he still feels like somethings amiss, realizing that she may have been offended by his questioning, decides not to press the issue any further he agrees to take on the mission.
"Very well, i will also take up this mission, I'm sure your friendship will be a valuable asset, and i cant imagine whatever obstacles that face us would be a real challenge to this group" He gestures to the others in the room .."But one further question, what should we do if we discover that this relic has been destroyed or isn't there like you suspect?..after all if it is still in existence, it has been buried in a ruined castle for all this time?..for all we know it could have been destroyed in the earthquake or taken deep into some unimaginable hell by a creature?..is there anything else of value that may be found in its place that will earn us your friendship and trust?"
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Elian, being fairly new to Absalom, was surprised to find the invitation waiting for him. The offer was intriguing... what would such an influential individual want with him? He would of course attend, and yet... He glanced down at his clothing, it would certainly not impress...
Later, at the party...
Elian arrived at the party wearing a collared black tunic with silver brocade design and stylish gray pants. Over the tunic he wore a fine charcoal gray vest with silver filigree and a large, stylized eight-point star on the back of the vest. He wore only a dagger on his belt.
His long silvery-gray hair was pulled back into a simple tail, allowing the guests a glimpse at his strangely exotic eyes. Elian's eyes were a rich, deep blue surrounding the irises and faded to a bright silver color along the edges. They almost seemed to glimmer whenever his gaze shifted amongst all the gathered guests. He was handsome, but in a fey way... it was obvious he had elven blood.
When he was approached by servant he nodded his understanding and followed behind to the meeting. He looks around the table at the assembled party, gauging them before Amara spoke. He listened quietly as she laid out the plans and listened to the concerns of the others. Valid concerns, but ultimately did it truly matter? That's what Pathfinders did... secret missions full of danger. He awaited Amara's answer to the latest question.
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Grabbing another glass of plum wine as he's escorted to the study, Drogan receives a stern look from the steward, so Drogan downs the plum wine in two gulps before entering. Seeing the elaborately decorated low table, Drogan is confused and looks around for a chair. Seeing everyone else sit around the table on the cushions, he grimaces, then sits on one and moves around a bit to get more comfortable. Drogan listens to the woman from a far away land, then listens to the others, rolling his eyes at the request of a reward from the male elf. We're Pathfinders. Sure, we're green but our reward is exploration. Going places no one else has. Oh yeah, and killing undead.
Drogan readjusts himself on the cushion. How can people think these are comfortable? Having no questions of his own that haven't been answered, Drogan sips his tea quietly. His pinkie finger is pointed out as he has been told it is the way that nobles drink tea.
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Guido quaffs his cup of tea.
"Tell me more about these riches that we will 'doubtlessly' encounter. Supposing we do not encounter the riches that you suppose are in the fortress, other than your fancy sword, will there be a reward of some sort? As nice as your favors may be, it takes coin to pay the rent."
"Many Pathfinders do indeed grow wealthy, but that is not what one joins the Society to achieve." Amara says to Guido frostily, setting her teacup down so softly it makes no sound. "Perhaps I need to inform the other Grandmasters of your priorities. A few years tending the gardens at the Grand Lodge might straighten those out."
"As is the case with all Pathfinder Society assignments, you are compensated for any relics or other treasures you return to be catalogued. The true benefit to young Pathfinders like yourselves of performing tasks for the Grandmasters is the prestige you acquire with your peers. Much can be achieved, and yes, even purchased with the Prestige of a Pathfinder." she explains, and though you sense her patience is wearing thin, her manners remain impeccable.
Turning to Fedorean, she smiles sadly. "If it is the case that the Jade Katana is truly lost to me, then it is a dark day for my family. But this assignment is in the nature of a bargain between us. Provide the Katana, and my gratitude, and the prestige that confers, will be yours. If you do not bring it back, all is not lost. You may still earn the accolades of the Society as a whole for successfully exploring the ruin, for that is the purpose of the Pathfinder Society, to explore the past and preserve its secrets!" she says.
She rises from her seat and bows. "I thank you all for undertaking this mission, if you find the Jade Katana, please return here with it and I will be eternally grateful." she says, and unless there are further questions, she says, "Please enjoy the rest of the festival as my guests. Have a pleasant evening and I wish you luck on your journey tomorrow."
The door opens, and you are suddenly aware of the noise of the party once again. Amara Li bows once more before returning to the inner chamber.
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When they reconvene outside the room, Abasi frowns heavily at the party that still continues, and then slightly at his would-be companions. "Perhaps we should not have pressed her. She was correct - we are Pathfinders. Our work is not always paid through gold. Regardless, the mission is ours and now we go to work."
He then introduces himself to the group. "My name is Abasi Essa. I am a soldier from Osirion, in the south. I am glad to meet you all. I hope together we find success in this endeavor."
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Fedorean Laughs merrily and slaps Abasi on the back
"Don't worry about her friend, she'll get over it! Besides, she must be desperate for help if shes asking a bunch of low level guys like us to go fetch her this katana, and it never hurts to ask the desperate for more! am I right Guido?" Fedorean nods at Guido and flashes a sly Grin "..and I'm sure we will find success in this adventure for sure!..but I'm just hoping we find GOLD!!!" ...but anyway once we are finished at this party, you are all invited back to my inn for the evening where we can rest up and eat, then we can set forth at first light!"
with that Fedorean laughs again,drinks another glass of plum wine and starts to once again look around the party.
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Guido points out a few of his many scars.
"I won't say it *never* hurts to ask the desperate for a bit more, be sure to watch the well armed and desperate, but it hasn't killed me yet.
As to her point about us working for pride and prestige, I haven't found it pays for much, and the pride at least tastes horrible going down."
With reagrds to Fedorean's invitation:
"Fedorean, anywhere you're buyin', I'm drinkin'."
Gesturing across the garden,
"I think that guy over there is pouring the plum stuff."
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Anya sighs and rolls her eyes at her fellow Pathfinders' poor manners, offering a sympathetic--and apologetic--smile at Amara Li. She returns the Tian woman's bow as she stands and departs. Once the group reconvenes outside, she shakes her head in dismay at Guido and Fedorean's manners. "I am Anya," she introduces herself, "And I believe that I will retire for the evening to prepare. See you all tomorrow."
With that, she excuses herself and slowly works her way out of the festival toward her lodgings, to prepare for the journey ahead.
Before anyone can depart, however;
Approaching your group is a handsome man in the military fineries of an Eagle Knight's ceremonial uniform - a bright blue overcoat with polished gold buttons, gold eagle epaulets, and a fine, black felt tricorn hat. He speaks loudly and confidently, as if he wants the entire party to 'overhear' his conversation with you.
“Greetings, Pathfinders! I hear you’re headed out into the Cairnlands on official Society business. Best of luck outside the city walls, though you look like sturdy enough adventurers. Perhaps not Eagle Knight material, but qualified for the work of a Pathfinder." he says.
“A word of warning, though, friends—beware the walking dead. The crumbling ruins surrounding the city are rife with them, and you’re likely to run into more than your fair share over the course of your career. Undeath and the undead are more than just a physical peril, however. Undeath is the worst kind of slavery. And it should be eradicated like all servitude, whether to aristocracy or to mental control. Being enslaved to the flesh beyond when Pharasma calls one’s soul to the Boneyard is a fate I wouldn’t wish upon my greatest enemy." he says with severity.
"So while you plumb the depths of Asad’s Keep, remember your solemn duty to your fellow man—both living and dead. Any undead you encounter along the way should be freed of their earthly shell." he continues with some passion.
“If you prove your dedication to freedom, the resources of Andoran will be at your disposal in your future endeavors.” he finishes with a salute.
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"Yes sir!" Drogan replies a little to loudly, drawing looks from other patrons. "If there are any sort of undead in the ruins you can consider them... um... well... I will make sure that they are not walking anymore." Drogan clicks his heels together and makes a gesture like a salute, but far worse than the crisp lines the Eagle Knight proffered.
Turning back to his companions, "I am Drogan Thundermane. I walk before you as a servant of Pharasma, though she hasn't blessed me yet. I do like a nice ale to this plum wine. I feel you need to drink a keg of this stuff just to feel a tickle." Drogan looks around at the dinner party some more. He sees another tray that has a fist-sized ball of red rice, and picks one up. Drogan is told by the waiter it is A-Lo or Lave Rice. Inside each ball is a pnogu cookie, made of a licorice flavored flour. In the cookie is usually a wise saying. Drogan munches on the rice ball and gets to the cookie, still hard despite being in the middle of the rice, snapping a piece off, he sees a strip of parchment. Drogan pulls it out and reads it aloud, "You may all come on different ships, but you all are in the same boat now." Drogan looks up stunned. "Well I guess that describes us." Drogan chuckles, "With that, I am going to head to the inn. I will meet you all at the Grand Lodge in the morning."
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Quiet Elian likewise offers Lady Li an apologetic smile and nod of his head when she retires from the rather... blunt group of adventurers. He listens to all the introductions, though to the others he appears as if his attention it elsewhere. Elian's eyes are always drifting about, not really staying in one place for too long. One might believe him to be disinterested; however, such assumptions would be far from the truth. The half-elf was extremely perceptive of all around him, and rarely missed much.
He listens to the boisterous declaration of the man who obviously is more interested in the rest of the party learning of the group's destination than of his apparent motive... Elian ponders his ulterior motives...
Elian's strange eyes take in the man standing before them. "I'm sorry, friend, I don't believe I caught your name. My name is Elian Darkstar."
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Fedorean listens to the Eagle Knights warning and request, and wonders to himself what exactly this guy knows about this adventure and what the group may be facing, he hands the man a glass of the plume wine introduces himself to the Eagle Knight and says:
"My good sir, It is apparent that you are a man of great experience, and as such i was wondering if you knew what type of perils we may face on this journey of ours?..you warn of undead and ask us to lay to rest ..permanently..any of those poor souls we happen to come across, shall I take that to mean that you know we are going to encounter such foes?"
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Halkale ducks his head, when the man starts speaking loudly. After the speech is over, he says to the Eagle Captain, while looking at his companions, "Freedom is a great thing and striving to be an Eagle Knight is a worthy goal, perhaps you could hold off judgement of our worthiness until we actually begin our first Society mission?"
Halkale then renders a perfect salute, holding it until the superior officer has rendered one back.
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Abasi smiles at Halkale's subtle display of disobedience. He then also offers a salute towards the Eagle Knight, his matching Halkale's in its skill. After all, he had spent many an hour as a soldier holding such a position.
"I believe Elian is correct, sir! It is only proper to introduce yourself to a subordinate before making any requests of them."
Abasi bows and introduces himself to the Knight. He then asks:
"Now - I am curious, master Knight, how you knew where we were headed? And even it's name, something we ourselves have yet to learn. Did the Venture-Captain tell you?"
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Anya doesn't make it very far before the Eagle Knight in full uniform approaches. She listens patiently, but chooses to hold her tongue. Aristocracy nor mental control, hm? Certainly no friend of mine, then.
"Yes, that is a good question. As is why you chose to announce it to the entire gathering," Anya says, frowning.
"Major Colson Maldris. Of Andoran. I just assumed everyone in the Society knew who I am." he says to Elian.
"I think you will find that at a certain level everyone will know what your missions are. That's how the Society functions. But don't fear! You are doing your bit for the betterment of the Society!" he says to Fedorean. "As for the Undead, well, I have experience exploring the Cairnlands, and the place is positively thick with them. I always expect to encounter some Undead when I go there. Best to be prepared!"
The man's eyes widen slightly at Halkale's salute, and smiles. "Ah! A worthy ambition, indeed! But only the best and most dedicated are chosen! Forgive my presumption, but I must see proof of worth, and perhaps this mission will set you on the path." he says to Halkale.
"I'm sorry, miss, I did not think I was being too loud. It's these damnable fireworks! Haha!" he says to Anya's comment.
A member of the serving staff approaches the Major and interrupts him, whispering something in his ear. He smiles and turns back to you.
"Please excuse me, Eagle Knight business needs my attention. I wish you good luck and good fortune on your mission." he says before walking briskly for the exit.
As you are preparing to leave, a well-dressed Keleshite man approaches you. "May I have a quick word please?" he asks politely in a soft voice.
He draws you to the side and addresses you in a slow, level voice with a strong Kelish accent.
“Like a fast-spoken djinn, I’ll get to the quick. I know where you are going. House Damaq of Qadira claim the ruin, but we are willing to allow you access for the price of a small deed easily accomplished during your adventure. You will be well compensated, I assure you, for profits are most rewarding when shared. I assume treasure-seekers like yourselves are interested in such a proposition?” he says. Without waiting for an answer, he continues, his eyes intent and his posture rigid.
“The ruin is Qadiran, which is why we claim it, and we are willing to defend it, but there are really only certain things left in Asad’s Keep we are interested in: trade agreements, of which we believe there to be many within the ruins. All we ask that you do is to turn over all trade agreements you find to us as soon as you return to Absalom, as we will be able to hold the signers to them even centuries after their signing." he continues.
“The satrap of Qadira — nay, the entire Padishah Empire of Kelesh — has much to offer the Pathfinder Society, and I personally have no qualms about sharing those resources with you, specifically. Shall we shake on this agreement?” he finishes.
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"Aaqir, I like that you don't mince words. While retrieving these agreements, may be a small thing to us, they will surely mean a great deal to your house. I have some concerns that the profits may not be evenly distributed. As you say, they are most rewarding when shared, don't you think we should try to bring as much joy to this world as we can?"
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Abasi is concerned about the man's intent. Roping people into centuries old trade agreements while they might not even have knowledge of them did not sit well with him. Regardless, he was not about to openly refuse the man. "Perhaps if we come across these contracts we will bring them to you, sir, but there is every possibility that they have been lost to time. But we will keep your offer in mind, certainly."