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A lone dwarf stumbles into the room, his dusty clothes scattering the light from the hallway. He seems to be the first one here, which suits him just fine. He props his shield against the wall and notes its angle and location (for expediency later) and then pulls out his axe, instinctively cleaning the edge off on his trousers. He waits patiently for the next to arrive, although the longer the better. More time to think.
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After a short time, the door bangs open and a thin and freckled redheaded woman stumbles into the room. She appears to be dressed in simple traveling clothes of purple and silver, a small wooden symbol of a multicolored bird hanging from her neck.
"I'm so sorry," she gasps. "I was all ready to go and then I ran into my friend Jillian and I was trying to convince her to ask our other friend Marcus out for coffee..." her voice trails off as she realizes it's currently just her and a lone dwarf over in the corner. "Oh. Maybe I'm not as late as I thought?"
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A young human woman wanders in shortly after Penelope. She was pretty and probably not much older than her early 20s, with brown eyes and chestnut-brown hair gathered in a ponytail. Dressed like an explorer with bandoliers and pouches criss-crossing an athletic frame garbed in earth-toned clothes and leather armor, the woman carries a shortbow and a quiver of arrows on her back, and a longsword and dagger at her belt. Looking around as she enters, she purses her lips.
"Seems I'm early," she murmurs. She pauses, shrugging her backpack from her shoulders, and retrieves a journal. Perusing it for a moment, she shakes her head and shuts it again with a quiet thump. The Taldan woman smiles at Penelope as she replaces the journal in her pack.
"It seems you are neither late, nor am I early," she says, her gaze going from the Varisian to the dwarf nearby. "My name's Lara Evangeline Ellicott-Tillingworth, formerly of Oppara."
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Lara looks over her shoulder at the half-orc. "Oooo. I haven't had carnival food in years," she says, eyeing the pastry Rose is eating.
She looks past the half-orc to the streets outside, noting the time by the amount of daylight. "We should probably get over to the Irorium if we're going to find seats."
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Nella laughs as the half-orc wanders in almost right on Lara's heels. "You brought snacks? I like you already," she grins. She holds out a hand first to Lara, then to the dwarf and half-orc. "Penelope Tabor, but I usually go by Nella. And formerly of Magnimar. It's good to meet you all."
"And you're right, I guess we'd better get a move on," she adds in agreement. "The combat displays aren't really my thing but I'm so looking forward to seeing all of the costumes!"
As you make your way through the streets, a lean-faced man hiding behind a long cowl slips alongside. “A moment of your time,” he says and pulls you aside, into the shadows of a nearby alley. “It seems we have two things in common, an eagerness to participate in good celebration, and this…” He punctuates his sentence by holding out an elaborately carved wayfinder, the type only granted to Pathfinders of great importance.
“I assure you, its mine,” he adds quickly, closing the device and tucking it back into the folds of his cloak with a quick, easy motion. Then he continues, “I know a good number of you are already planning to attend the festivities this evening. I need but a casual favor. An old associate of mine, Charvion Eater-of–Bones is set to make an elaborate display of some artifact he claims to have recovered. I’ve not had contact with him in a year or so, and I’ve a curious feeling about the event. More I cannot say; however, I’d appreciate you keeping an eye on whatever stunt he’s considering. He’s a natural charlatan that one. Just keep an eye out is all—nothing serious. Don’t let him know that you’re watching, and do not approach the artifact during the showing. Most importantly, tell no one of this conversation.”
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"Oh! Looks like you caught us just in time," Nella smiles as the gnome hurries up to join them. "You're right about the reenactment but there's a whole carnival-like atmosphere about because of it - and Rose here brought proof!" she continues, indicating the half-orc and the half-eaten eclair in her hand. "I'm sure she still has a few left; if not we'll stop and get you something on the way if you'd like. I'm Nella Tabor and these are Lara, Rose, and...uh, I think our dwarf friend is named Dreggar. He's been a little quiet but I'm pretty sure I've seen him around the Grand Lodge."
When the group is approached by the mysterious man, Nella gives him a curious look. "A 'curious feeling'? Huh. Ma always told me to follow my own hunches," she responds thoughtfully. "You just want us to keep an eye on your friend then? Sounds easy enough, but is there anything else we should know about him - or you?" Although her voice and manner remain pleasant, curiosity is replaced by an appraising look as she continues to regard the strange newcomer.
The man turns back into the alley he came from and says "My name is Osprey."
You loose sight of him in the dark alley and after a few seconds see a small bird of prey flying up. You investigate the alley but find nobody.
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"Yeah, that was pretty strange," Nella agrees, gazing thoughtfully towards the sky. "But you know, I think he was telling the truth. Maybe we should keep an eye on this Eater-of-Bones person; not like it'll be that hard to do since we're going to be watching the goings-on anyway."
"By the way, I like your sense of humor too," she adds to Rose. "And as far as bird-brained schemes go, remind me to tell you about dive-tackling this guy one time..." she chatters as they head on towards their destination.
While the girls are chatting you make your way to the Irorium, where you find your seats in the Mezzanine.
1. Field Seats: These seats are on the lowest level, closest to the ring. They are reserved for important and wealthy attendees. Field seats are accessible by descending staircases from the mezzanine level.
2. The Mezzanine: This level sits just above the field seats, though it is entirely separated from them. The mezzanine has a slight overhang that extends over the last two rows of field seats. These seats are open to the general public; however, they cost a couple of gold pieces apiece (depending upon the event), and thus their occupants tend to be middle and upper class citizens. The mezzanine is the central hub of the Irorium, providing access to all other levels as well as the most of the exits. It connects to five of the Irorium’s exits: the main gate and the four side exits. From the mezzanine, several sets of stairs climb to the upper levels as well as descend to the field seats.
3. Terrace: The Terrace consists entirely of open-air stone bleachers carved into the structure of the Irorium. The view of the field is still good enough to observe events. A terrace seat usually costs a few silvers. Stairs from the mezzanine provide access to the terrace.
4. Grandstands: This level consists of rickety wooden bleachers. Seats cost a few coppers, or are sometimes free, depending on the event. Stairs from the Terrace provide access to the grandstands
5. The Ledge: The top level of the Irorium is a broad, 15-foot-wide railed ledge that encircles the entire arena. It is so far away from the arena floor that it provides only a pitiful view of events below. Stairs from the grandstands provide access to the ledge.
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"No, not matchmaking...although under other circumstances I guess the fellow in question would have been happier to see me," Nella laughs. "It was during a...surprise mission, I guess you could call it. The guy was holding hostages so myself and Smiley, dwarf fellow...maybe not the brightest but definitely brave, started a distraction so some others could sneak in the back. Then we rushed the guy when he peeked outside to see what was going on." Thinking back, she smiles and shakes her head. "Maybe not that bright of me either, but thankfully it worked out."
"You know, I've never been here once even during all the time spent in training," Nella comments as she looks around. "So any seats sound fine to me."
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Anna walks along listening to her companions banter, amused. When they arrive at the Irorium she shudders a moment at the size of the crowd. Everyone's here. She follows along to their seats, and grins at Dreggar's comment.
"I wouldn't know, and I don't think I could eat during it, but a little bit of drama and adrenaline in front of me instead of in a book is a nice change."
Her breath catches as the device activates.
"Playing with spirits in plain view of the gods and everyone is never wise says the book of ghosts. This will go badly I fear. If we have to break for it, head for those stairs?"
She gestures at a staircase to the terrace, looking at the group questioningly.
A booming voice rings through the Irorium - "Welcome to Absalom! On this glorious eve we gather again in celebration of our wonderful city and its freedom from tyranny. We present to you all — the Passion of the First Siege of Absalom! A performance great and terrible, reenacting Absalom’s victorious slaughter of Warlord Voradni Voon’s troops upon the city’s rocky shores. As the highlight of this years performance, directly following the Passion, the Pathfinder Society has generously agreed to a public unveiling of its latest acquisition, a terrifying device dredged from ancient ruins in the Mwangi Expanse. And now, ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The performance is about to begin!"
The Passion is long, tediously so, though the rowdy crowds more than entertain themselves, booing and cheering th performers and throwing rotten cabbages. In all, it turns out to be a fine afternoon of celebration.
Following the performance, a large stage is wheeled in to the west side of the Irorium. The stage is covered with a large curtain. Beneath is a scaled set of a ruin and in the center stands a bizarre, cage-like structure of weathered metal covered with strange runes and other ornate etchings. A man who fits the description of the Pathfinder known as Charvion Eater-of- Bones stands next to the cage.
“Good evening, friends! On this auspicious night I present to you an incredible spectacle, the type of which you have never seen before. From the darkest jungles of Mwangi, I have procured an ancient device, an artifact capable of ripping through the very cloth of our reality!” Charvion touches something on the cage, and it falls open, slowly unfolding like a blossoming flower. He steps inside, and the cage begins to close around him, crackling with swirling tendrils of mystic, silvery ether.
In an ominous and unearthly voice he bellows, “I am now fused to the ethereal plane—the realm of ghosts! Ask me what you will, and the dead shall answer through me! But be wary of what you seek, for you may not like the answers.”
Assistants walk among the crowd and one heads your way. He is dressed in immaculate leathers and asks you "Fine ladies, don't you have any questions to ask the dead?"
The man shrugs "I am just making a few coppers by going through the crowd and passing the questions to the stage"
he nods to the man on stage "If anyone has issues with Pharasma's clergy it would be him, not me."
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A human female dressed in an off-white shirt, bright orange belly sash, and a forest green peasant skirt, seated nearby raised a hand speaking over towards the assistant, "I have a question for those who live in the realm beyond. Do they feel restless when this device is activated and we wake them from their endless sleep?"
The woman was adorned with small charms and bangles which jingled quietly as she moved. She wore a smile despite her feelings about disturbing the spirits she had heard plenty of stories about their wrath.
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Rose just sits there contemplating the situation. She says to the cleric,"Im not a particularly superstitious person but even I think this is kind of wrong. Are you sure this is safe? If anything did you ask the dead? As our newest compatriot just pointed out you are waking the dead. Its not even a pun you are literally waking the dead."
She then reaches out and attempts to hand Lynn a pastry. "Im sorry what is your name?,"she asks Lynn.
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Lynn waved the pastry away, "No thank you, I recently had some treats from the festival myself. They are all quite sweet indeed. I'm Lynn by the way, Traveling performer and member of the grand lodge. A pleasure to make your acquaintance miss?"
Lynn was a bit far to extend a hand to shake the half-orc's or to accept the pastry anyway, but she did offer a bow of the head after making her introduction.
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"It might be fake, but that doesn't mean they can't put on a good performance," Nella responds to Dreggar. "If they're really good, maybe it'll seem as if we're really there. Hopefully it'll do," she chuckles.
And although Nella does enjoy the Passion for the most part, she's honestly a bit relieved when all the displays of battle finally come to an end. When Charvion takes the stage she sits up a little straighter, paying so much attention to him and his strange device that she hardly registers the curious woman sitting close by. Truth be told, the entire thing was puzzling. She'd heard of magics that allowed one to speak with the dead but a device that allowed it?
"Even if the dead don't mind, isn't it dangerous to open up a conduit to another plane like that? You never know who or what you else might grab the attention of!" Nella adds, thinking of some of the denizens of Hell and the Abyss that she'd heard stories about.
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Lynn nodded to Rose, now speaking to the entire group and finally to the assistant once more.
"I do not want to completely shut down the show, I just wonder if this has an effect on the dead. I would like to take some notes about the device if I was allowed later.. ooh ooh! I have a better request, would the spirits sing us a song?"
Unlike Nella, Lynn wasn't concerned about the possible repercussions as much as she was interested in the possibility of learning something new.
Charvion Eater-of-Bones has given some answers to how deceased friends and family members are doing and now rises his voice
All is silent for a bit and then he speaks again
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Unsure of his new companions martial skills, Dreggar draws his axe and slides his shield off of his back with a drop of his shoulder. He looks around for any other unusual activity other than the huge dragon.
"I've a wand of healing in my pouch if anyone needs it. Stay together lasses and we'll do just fine."
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"A dragon!?" Nella gasps as the great creature swoops down and then takes off towards the Grand Lodge with Charvion and the artifact. Anna's call to action stirs her out of her shocked state and she quickly nods, drawing her crossbow. "I don't know what we can do against a dragon, but Anna's right - it headed straight for the Grand Lodge for some reason. We need to get back there as quick as we can; I'm sure everyone else will do the same and hopefully we can figure out what in the world is going on!"
Rising from her seat, she nods at Dreggar. "And I've got one too, but hopefully we won't need it. Let's get moving!"
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Lynn had never seen a dragon before, a mix of terror and amazement and she couldn't tear her eyes from it through all of it's attack on the stage. "oh wow that was.. wait, we need to go yes. I have a wand as well. I hope those at the lodge can hold the beast off."
Lynn stood as Anna and the rest of the group started towards the exit, she swallowed a lump in her throat hoping that the venture captain was okay. Placing a hand on her rapier she followed behind the brave dwarf and gnome. "I agree with the dwarf stick together we don't want to get separated in a crowd."