After spending the last three years as Initiates, finally your dreams have realized and last week you went through Confirmation. You are now an official Field Operative for the Pathfinder Society. This last week has been spent in celebration, nursing of hangovers, and dreaming of missions to come. Upon returning to your room this morning, you found a slip of paper on the floor, obviously slid under the door while you were away. You pick up the piece of paper and see that it is addressed to you. It reads. Pathfinder, congratulations on your Confirmation. Venture-Captain Valsin requires you to report to his office at ten bells, sharp. Do not be late.
You faintly remember nine bells ringing sometime ago and decide you had better hurry down to his office. Upon arriving at Valsin’s office, you find the room abuzz with new recruits talking in excited tones. The manservant comes over to you and advises you that Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin will be here shortly.
After spending the last three years as Initiates, finally your dreams have realized and last week you went through Confirmation. You are now an official Field Operative for the Pathfinder Society. This last week has been spent in celebration, nursing of hangovers, and dreaming of missions to come. Upon returning to your room this morning, you found a slip of paper on the floor, obviously slid under the door while you were away. You pick up the piece of paper and see that it is addressed to you. It reads. Pathfinder, congratulations on your Confirmation. Venture-Captain Valsin requires you to report to his office at ten bells, sharp. Do not be late.
You faintly remember nine bells ringing sometime ago and decide you had better hurry down to his office. Upon arriving at Valsin’s office, you find the room abuzz with new recruits talking in excited tones. The manservant comes over to you and advises you that Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin will be here shortly.
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Hmph. Ygdnur looks to the left and to the right, then grunts again. Hmph... Well, isn't anyone going to say anything? I guess I'll be the first. The names Ygdnur, Ygdnur Copperhand and I'm here representing the dwarfs of Highhelm. I'm here to do some exploring. Anyone else care to speak, or are you just going to keep yer traps shut? Aye, this is going to make for some long journeys...
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"Here here lads! If we're to be working together it is imperative that we remain in high spirits. Gwion Bach is the name & treasure hunting is my game." Gwion looks up at the Dwarf...who seems pleased to have someone looking up at him for a change. "Aye...now here is a fellow that knows a thing or two about treasure! We should get along just fine! Just fine, I say!"
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In walks either the tallest dwarf you've ever seen, or perhaps the shortest Aasimar. As he walks in the door, you swear you feel a cold breeze, though it is a room in the heart of the lodge. The dwarves in the room may notice trappings from the Stonecutter clan of the Five Kings Mountains.
He limps, and you think perhaps that he's retired, but he is geared, looking ready for battle.
"Greetings, I am known as Gabriel, Messenger of the Stonecutter Clan."
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Rúnar stands with the others, his robes of midnight blue looking out of place next to some of the more martial-looking would-be explorers. He listens quietly as each of them introduce themselves, nodding a greeting in particular toward Ygdnur and Gabriel. He raises an eyebrow at Crondor's brash entrance.
In a gravelly voice, he utters a short greeting. "Rúnar Arnasson. From Magnimar."
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"T'would have to be a tall, majestic beast to pay homage to your stature. Strong and silent, I'd say. Perhaps an Elk?"
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"Well Horvon, I suspect that your reach and my axe will make for some fine 'adventures' along the way. And it will be good to have some companions from home" said Ygnur, nodding towards the other Dwarves. Looking slightly down, with a big, terribly crooked smile, he says "Well, if treasure is what you want, then I'm more than happy to accompany you. Just make sure it's not the treasure out of me own pocket that you put yer eye on, since you are such a sly fox!" Looking slightly over his shoulder, towards the door that just recently swung open with a crash, he raised his eyebrows and said quietly to himself...
As you all mill about introducing yourselves, suddenly a figure you recognize as Ambrus Valsin, comes stalking in the shuffling through a handful of papers. He seems intent on his reading, not even seeming to acknowledge your presence as he stops at his desk. He grabs up a pen and jots down some notes before looking up and staring at you for a few long, silent moments. Then he barks.“All right, Pathfinders! Listen up. I know you are new recruits eager to make names for yourselves in the organization, but first we need to make sure you are up to snuff and won’t get yourself killed out there. I have a number of small assignments for you and your team, and it would be best if you could finish them before the day’s end. “Every day we get some doe-eyed hopeful or some sniveling bootlicker willing to do anything to join up with the Pathfinders. Most of them are good kids, but not all of them have the salt to make it in a world like this. It’s rough out there and I’m not just talking about the ruins, tombs, and wilderness Pathfinders find themselves
in on missions. We’ve got people who look down their noses at us, folks who think we squander our resources, and agents who want to take everything we have collected. This wealth of knowledge and these items of lore make us the most powerful organization on the planet. That said, since we are fractured and widespread, it’s difficult for that power to light on anything for too long. For every friend of the Society, there are two enemies. “Your first mission, to test your mettle and loyalties, sends you to meet a few people important to the Society living here in Absalom. These are other venture-captains or close allies of our organization, so follow their orders as you would mine. I’ve prepared a list of things I want you to do. They’re not arranged in any particular order of importance, but I want them all completed as quickly as possible. Only report to me once you complete them all. Included in the envelope you hold in your hands is the list, complete with the name of your contact, and directions to the meeting location.” He finishes speaking, crosses his arms, and stares quietly at the group.
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"If the need was truly dire, why wouldn't they walk across town themselves to deliver it? Damned bureaucrats!" Gabriel takes a moment to breathe. "Forgive me sir, I appreciate the fact that they are providing medicine to the needy. Truly, if the need is urgent, we will attend to that task post haste."
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Rúnar looks over the list and nods. "Agreed. The Temple of the Shining Star it is."
He puts a finger on another part of the list, then looks up. "Venture Captain, this Paracountess...", he speaks the title as if it is something slightly unpleasant on his tongue, "...is she aware that the Society wants the item back?"
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"Well, whether or not she's aware is not an issue. It should go back to whom it belongs. It would be good to know ahead of time if there is going to be any 'resistance' though. The sooner we're off, the sooner we're back and ready for something new. I'd say let's get to the medicine, then head to the wise quarter to pick up the charter. After that we go retrieve the item from the Paracountess, return it, and then head to the docks and figure out what's going on with these books. This is,of course,if everyone agrees and if we don't run into any trouble along the way. The other thing we don't know is where this orphanage is located, which could throw us off in a completely different direction!"
Venture-Captain overhears you speaking of the Paracountess and looks up. Of course she knows your coming, she borrowed the item from the Lodge Vault, regardless of her affiliation with Cheliax, she is a Faction Leader. You would do well to remember that and give her the respect due to a superior of the Society. He scowls at you as he finishes speaking.
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Ygdnur scratches his head, thinks for a second, then says "You know, if we're going to all this trouble to rent two coaches, we might aught to get two of these jobs done at the same time. Three of us go one way, then the other three go to the other jobs, and meet back here. I don't imagine there'd be that much danger if we have to stay within the city, but if we've got to journey out then we find the other group and make a trip of it. What say ye?"
Ambrus Valsin looks up at Crondor's question. Well, I suppose you could split up. Your Pathfinder's now albeit, new ones, I'm not here to hold your hand. You have to use the judgement we taught you these past three years. I will say two things. One it's not a race, you just need to be finished by the end of the day. He glances out the window. Though it may become a race if you spend anymore time standing here discussing tatics on how to complete a list of errands. He gathers some papers and starts walking out door, over his shoulder he says And second, why do you think I summoned six of you if I thought it would take less? To waste Society resources, you take me for a fool? And with those final words, he disappears down the hallway.