Setting up the threads. Check in here. We have a couple months before we get rolling on 6 October, but feel free to chat and get to know eachother.
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The human noble enters the room next, looking around with a sniff. He wasn't particularly impressed with the gathering he saw. "Can any of you lot use a wand of Mage Armor, I believe the mages call it? I find the magical armor much less restrictive than the common armor most like to clank around in.". He takes a plate, and plucks a large section of cheese and bread, picking at it until the briefing was done.
There has been much buzz about one of the latest assignments handed down from the Decemvirate. There is to be a team assembled and stationed in Varisia, to be at the beck-and-call of Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch. You have been selected from the many applicants and have set out to Varisia. You have a little time during the trip to get to know each other.
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A dark-skinned figure stands to the side. Covered mostly in cloths and cloaks, he observes the other arrivals carefully while fingering a small scarab pendant on one of his clasps. He gives a short nod to the halfling.
"Hello Adinomo. I am Tebed. It is a pleasure to meet." Tebed's voice is raspy.
Tebed looks around at the others. "I must say, I have never been to Varisia before. Or even west of Isger, and that was an unfortunate time. Have any of you met Miss Shelia before now?"
Tebed brightens at the half-orc.
It seems we have walked similar paths. It is wetter here than the desert; is that what is causing the problems with your lungs?
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Pai procures a handkerchief and holds it over his mouth and nose at hearing of the sickly, probably disease ridden orc. He doesn't say anything, but he makes a conscious plan to stay as far from that one as possible and file a complaint with the Ventire Captain's assistant once this mission was done.
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”I’m Jarsk. I hunt evil beings and protect investigators and explorers for the society”
He’s a dwarf with a longbow and an assortment of the more expected dwarven melee weapons. A warhammer whose silvered head glistens and the sharp battle axe of cold iron. His breastplate is polished but looks to be of regular steel.
Finally you arrive at Heidmarch manor, a sprawling estate. A couple of serving folk take your bags (to be placed in your rooms in Bakrakhan House on the grounds) and you assemble in the meeting room of the manor awaiting the Venture-Captain herself. After a short wait she enters and addresses you.
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 turns to a nearby guard. Ebrylis, if you could show them the way, please, Sheila says as she turns and departs. A 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.
Ebrylis guides you around the back of the manor where three stone cottages stand. There is a small plaque hanging on each. Ebrylis leads you to the last cottage which is named Bakrakhan House. This is your cottage. Any of you with mounts I will arrange with a local ostler to stable them.
Bakrakhan House is a cozy stone cottage with a slate shingled roof and stained glass windows depicting colorful Varisian designs. The ground floor consists of a den centered around a wide stone hearth, a small kitchen with a side dining area, and an exterior sun porch. The second-story loft contains private sleeping quarters for up to eight people.
As each of you goes to your room you find a small envelope atop your luggage. You may take the rest of the day to conduct any business you may have such as shopping, exploring etc.
While you travel to Varisia, I am stuck here in Absalom trying to shore up political alliances. But allies and assets are not limited geographically, and your new assignment in Magnimar presents a unique opportunity in the subtle struggle for popular opinion. Dress yourself as a courier and deliver this letter to the Versade Villa in the Alabaster District. The letter is my cordial acceptance of Savasha Versade’s invitation to attend her next spectacular party (to
which I wasn’t invited and which I don’t plan to actually attend). You are unlikely to meet the lady of the house, but make sure you act the part in front of her servants. While you are there, I trust you to subtly imply that Savasha and I are close friends and that I anticipate continuing our intimate acquaintance. Done properly, this should start rumors in Magnimar that dear Savasha and I are closer than we truly are.
Devilishly yours,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
The new avenues of trade opening up in Varisia represent a fantastic opportunity for us. I have heard of a new drug known as “Midnight Milk” said to be manufactured in Magnimar. To have sole access to the supply of this pharmaceutical throughout the Inner Sea would mean massive profits. However, my last agent sent to acquire samples never returned. Go to the Dreaming Dryad, a drug parlor in the Lowcleft district, and inquire of the owner, Vert Klydus, if he has such a narcotic. Observe the man’s reaction carefully. If he indicates that he does possess the drug, do not sample or purchase any! Escape immediately and report your findings as soon as possible.
May your fortunes be shaded from harm,
Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam
Your assignment to the Society’s newly established lodge in Magnimar is indeed a choice posting. Unfortunately, our long-time rivals, the Aspis Consortium, are already well established in Varisia. Eventually we intend to publicly drive this scum out of the country. Until that time, however, I ask that you attempt a preliminary and discreet reconnaissance of their main base of operations, the Bronze House in the district of Dockway. Under no circumstances attempt entry into the building, but I require an accurate diagram of the exterior of the building with all visible points of entry marked, as well as notes on where concealed entrances might exist.
For the Society,
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin
By now, you are in Magnimar, a city founded a little over one hundred years ago by those who wished to shrug off the yoke of imperialistic oppression. I’m sure you can see the many similarities between Magnimar and Andoran itself. Our government seeks to expand the size of our newly established embassy’s grounds in Magnimar, but certain bureaucratic and legal technicalities are delaying these requests. Please present yourself as my representative at the Pediment Building in the Capital District as soon as your other duties allow. Obtain an appointment with the lord-mayor’s secretary, Valanni Krinst, and try to convince him to expedite the paperwork. It may be difficult to see such a busy man at such short notice, but my sources say he’s the only one who can make this happen.
For liberty,
Major Colson Maldris
I deliver most urgent and unhappy news. Our most divine ruler, the Ruby Prince Khemet, the third of his name, has fallen under a mysterious and terrible curse, struck down while admiring an ancient Varisian relic brought back to Sothis. Be assured, the Forthbringer still lives, his will is strong, and all steps are being taken to ensure his recovery. As the source of this curse came from far-off Varisia, you are most fortuitously situated to aid in ascertaining a cure. The library at Heidmarch Manor contains one of the few known copies of a work that could be of much use to our court physicians. The treatise is called “Thassilonian Runic Auras, Both Malevolent and Benign.” Obtain this volume immediately and convey it to our agent in the Bazaar of Sails in Dockway for its immediate delivery to Sothis.
Be as swift as the desert wind,
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage
Be vigilant during your time in Varisia—it is a land with a long history and many ancient evils still
slumber there. That said, many of the folk in Magnimar are decent people devoted to Desna or who follow the ways of the angelic spirits. There are other beings, however, who have lost, or never found, the right spiritual path. Be an example of wholehearted goodness to all those you come across. Strive to show charity, kindness, and mercy. Sometimes all it takes is a feather’s touch of compassion to set a living being on the path to redemption and virtue.
Blessings of the light upon you,
Ollysta Zadrian
A small task is required of you. We are currently introducing minute amounts of a hallucinogenic
mushroom, known as the yellowcap, into the diet of one of our targets. However, the batches our agents were harvesting have become infected with fungal blight and are now useless. Sooner or later, you are sure to be traipsing through some nasty muddy environment such as the Mushfens. If you come across such a mushroom, please obtain a healthy sample of it and package it carefully for delivery to me.
Do this for Taldor,
Lady Gloriana Morilla
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Pau reviews his note, nods, and tucks it into his backpack for safekeeping. He begins settling in the manor. He'd had worse assignments all right. It might be broing, but at least he would have time to keep his mind and body right, and you couldn't beat free dinner. He wasn't sure about being in close quarters with that sickly orc, though.
You all head out that evening for a fine meal at a local tavern. As you approach your house something seems amiss. Is it a sound you just heard?
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In the Lodge's library, Tebed saunters up to the librarian very confidently.
Hello. I'm not a doctor, I am a Pathfinder. But you have a book that doctors could use to help stop a curse. It is about Thassilonian Runes. And Auras. Malevolent ones.
I cannot guarantee when it will be returned, but it is very important it go all the way to Garund. An important figure is suffering.
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After that went literally as well as could be expected, Tebed eventually is talked into going out with the rest of this group of Pathfinders into the large city for food and drinks. Coming back to Heidmarch Manor, the monk is in good spirits, and even mildly swaying.
That was an interesting *hicup* restaurant. I did not know the same quick process for cooking a chicken or fish could also cook a tomato. Or a coin.
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"I come at the behest of the Andoran embassy. The ambassador understood there have been some delays in reviewing the application for the building permit for the extension. We went over the application once again and see no reason not to grant it, so that is why I was send. A face-to-face meeting works much quicker than sending letters back and forth, don't you think?"
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As the group returned from the restaurant Adinomo holds up his hand and whispers "Shhh. I heard something! Let me investigate"
He disappears in the shadows and slowly moves towards the noise.
Urias is certain that he hears someone or something upstairs. Adinomo sneaks upstairs to investigate. He sees a small goblin, oblivious to his presence, rifling through the group's possessions.
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A heavily muscled half-elf, wearing an outrageously large hat, topped with a spectacular peacock feather, and clad in shining full plate, stomps into the room behind the others.
Doffing his hat, he winks.
"Sorry about that - it took me a while to catch up to the rest of you. My name is Jarlaxle, and this, he says, drawing a mithral longsword, "is Gamin."
The goblin struggles against Adinomo's grip
The goblin manages to escape the grip. She looks toward the window, searching for an escape route.
The goblin manages to avoid both attempts to trip. She has no weapon drawn so she cannot strike back but glances at the window again and makes a run for it, jumping out of the window.
At the start of the chase, have all participants roll initiative to determine the order in which they move. It takes a move action to move through a single square. When a character exits from a square, he must choose one of that square’s two obstacles to face as a standard action before moving to the next square. Instead of exiting a square, a character can choose to take another action not directly related to navigating the chase’s course, such as casting a spell or drawing a weapon.
A character may attempt to move three squares during his turn by taking a full-round action, effectively bypassing the second square and moving straight into the third from his starting position. That character must overcome both obstacles on the square he is leaving. In this case, if a character fails either obstacle check by 5 or less, he only moves one square forward and his turn ends. If a character fails either obstacle check by more than 5, he cannot move
at all that turn. A character unfortunate enough to fail two obstacle checks in a turn becomes mired in his current square. A mired character must spend another full-round action becoming unmired, effectively losing his next turn.
A character can also choose to make a ranged attack or cast a spell during his turn in a chase. If the action is a full-round action, he can’t move at all. Use the number of squares and their established distances (in this case, 30 feet) to determine ranges as necessary. The terrain where the chase takes place might provide the target partial or even full cover or concealment. A character can only choose to make melee attacks against targets that are in the same square.
There is a map of the chase up. Check the map link at the top of the thread. Required skills are there too.
Round 1 - Bold may Act
Pau
Tebed
Urias
Jarlaxle
Adinomo
Goblin
Jarsk
Pau follows the goblin out of the window and down the side of the house.
Urias also climbs out of the window and down after the small, green thief. Tebed shoots through the street and off ahead of the running goblin.
The goblin moves from outside the mansion and into the street.
Round 1/2 - Bold may Act
Pau
Tebed
Urias
Jarlaxle
Adinomo
Goblin
Jarsk