| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
You've had three days so far of the annual Torchbearing festival at the Grand Lodge. What is the Torchbearing festival? It's the best opportunity to Explore, Cooperate and Report that the Pathfinder Society offers. There are classes, contests, and countless learning opportunities in which you can hone your skills.
You are all coming back from a great class of 'Monster Mania: How to Stick 'Em Where It Hurts' and chattering as you are heading to what smells like an absolutely scrumptious banquet in the Grand Lodge's Great Hall.
|
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5... and 6!" A pretty Tien girl wears a tabard that marks her as one of the Runners for society events. Overhead, hanging from a curtain, a monkey stares at you all inquisitively as she counts off the Pathfinders that make it to the Great Hall. "We have a full table!" She checks off your names with satisfaction, gesturing at you all to follow her. "Come, follow me and I'll show you to your seats. I'm Jasmine Wu! My family makes Wu Chai Tea, 'The Tea with the Monkey on the Box!'"
At this cheery announcement, the little monkey drops to her shoulder and chatters at her. "Ah yes, Samji! You are right! We should give them all tea! I have found that tea and monkeys makes everyone happy, and happy people fight better!" She hands you all yellow boxes of tea, each embossed with a red monkey. Then she smiles and bows. "Please... I should not do all the talking! Introduce yourselves! Banquets are best if the company is at least as good as the food! Who are all of you? What have you done in Society? Tell us!"
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Thank you, Jasmine Wu, for such a generous gift." Skye accepts with both hands and bows. He's a thin, charismatic young man, with the pale skin of the Jadwiga and the dark hair of a Kellid.
The snowy owl on Skye's shoulder ruffles her feathers and rotates her head at the abrupt appearance of the monkey. "Easy, Sova. Jasmine and Samji share a bond not too unlike our own."
Skye fingers the stone fetish of a saber-tooth tiger and the wooden holy symbol of Desna hanging on a leather cord around his neck. "I am Skye, shaman of the Lyrune-Quah, the Moon Clan of the Storval Plateau in Varisia."
His midnight blue eyes sparkle like starlight, and he exudes an aura of otherworldliness. "Please, accept this small bag of herbs from my homeland. It eases a troubled mind when smoked or eaten in baked goods."
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
A large, muscular nagaji male looks around at all the excitement with a vaguely bemused smile on his reptilian face.... At least you think its a smile... There seems to be a great deal of sharp pointy teeth on display, anyway.
Despite his size and obvious strength, he seems to carry himself with an unexpected, compelling grace. When he finally speaks, his voice is strangely accented, and seems to flow with an odd lyrical cadence.
All of this is new
And so far from Quain Province
But the tea I know!
He indicates the box that Jasmine just handed him, and 'smiles' once more, comforted to see something familiar, even if just a box of tea.
He then bows to the smaller woman, an obviously familiar gesture, before continuing.
Although not my name
They call me Five Seven Five
I do not know why
He attempts to shrug, but like the smile, it seems a little off. You start to wonder if human-like body language is something he's not quite used to.
|
|
"... Tea?" The half-orc says. "I am not familiar with such a drink. A child once introduced me to hot chocolate at The Wounded Wisp. It was... Delicious." Zavubak opens up one of the packets and dumps it on the table, picking up some of the leaves to examine them closely.
"Hmm." With the same signature stoicism he had been known for, he crushes up a leaf and then releases it on the table, then smells it curiously. Social graces were never his forte. "Interesting."
On Zavubak's back is a large axe with two heads, a row of tape running along the shaft. The weapon had clearly seen better days. His fingernails are sharp and his hands massive, more akin to the claws of a dragon. His hair is tied back in a sort of man-bun, and his face is lined with old scars and freshly healed wounds.
"Five Seven Five, eh? I'm Zavubak," he says, sizing up the nagaji. "You seem like you know your way around a fight, but where are your weapons?"
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
A young Tian-Shu man steps lightly into the banquet hall. He is garbed in simple robes, although they cover what appear to be gleaming mithral breastplate. Interestingly enough, there appears to be a constant breeze around him, gently stirring his robes and his long flowing jet-black hair. And when you pass near him, a faint static field around him makes your hair stand on end. He is staring wide-eyed at the crowds of famous Pathfinders, wandering almost aimlessly around. That is, until he almost crashes into Jasmine.
Fung stares at the beautiful Tien lady, realises he is staring, and quickly turns to look at the floor blushing. After a while though, without realising it, he is staring at her again. Only after a few heartbeats does he notice the proffered gift. Defying human biology, his face turns even redder.
"Um, thank you ... thank you ... thank you," Fung replies, lost for words. Again, only after a few heartbeats does he actually take a look at what the box is. Eyes wide-opened, his previous embarrassment forgotten, he exclaims aloud, "Wu Chai Tea? I've not seen this since I left Goka more than ten years ago!" He looks back at Jasmine with a bright earnest smile, "Thank you! Thank you for this little gift to remind me of home." He glances it for a while, then tucks it away carefully. Master Wu would like this.
He settles down discreetly into one of the empty seats at the table, and glances with some trepidation at each of the other Pathfinders. He frowns especially when the nagaji introduced himself. Huh?
Not really noticing if anyone is paying attention to him, Fung introduces himself. "Um, hello. My name is 宣峰, I mean, Xuan Fung. Please call me Fung. I was originally from Goka but followed my master here to Absalom when I was still a teenager. I help out in his apothecary during my free time. Had quite a bit of that since my return from the elemental planes."
Curious, he glances over to the herbs that Skye handed over to Jasmine. His eyes widened once again. But oh... that's... hmm. Uncertain how to proceed, Fung decides to keep quiet, but continue glancing at Skye from time to time.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
An elderly yet spry man walks into the banquet hall, hobbling slightly as he uses his cane to support him. "That class was a complete waste of time...learned all that stuff the hard way..."
Glancing around him looking for the table where his teammate were assigned to, he spies a rather eclectic group (at least in his own mind). "Guess that's my cue..." Swearing softly under his breath as he finally makes his way over to the others. he spies the hostess Jasmine. With a smile and a broad flourish of his cane, he bows to her in a somewhat competent attempt.
"I am here Miss Wu, just as you requested." He waves in greeting to each one of the others. "I am Ezren, apparently a famous resident of these parts. Apparently Miss Wu thinks you are all a little wet behind your ears. That is why I am here."
|
|
Lost in contemplation of the time-space continuum when the elder Pathfinder joins their table, Skye's eyes widen at the newcomer's introduction.
"Ezren, dude, grab a seat." Skye pulls a chair out from the table and gestures for him to sit down.
"It's not Blu-Emu, but try some of this for that leg. It's my own blend, from my gardens in the Storval Plateau." Skye hands Ezren a small packet of leaves and some thin rolling parchment.
"I'm Skye, shaman of the Lyrune-Quah. This is Zavubak, Fung and, uh, 575. Don't ask. Unless you're a haiku fan."
Skye observes the wizard examining the baggie and the paper. "You can probably light that yourself with a cantrip."
|
A young woman with dirty-blonde hair and pale green eyes wanders along with the group, a mild look of good-natured confusion on her face. She carries a simple pack on her back and the aroma of fresh-baked bread seems to follow her as she moves along. When Jasmine introduces herself and hands her a box of tea, her eyes light up.
"Oh! I normally don't get to drink tea very much so I'll have to make this last," she smiles happily as she fumbles about for a moment and tucks the box away into her pack. "Thank you, New Friend!"
She looks around for a moment at the others that had been assembled with her and then sticks out her hand. "Hello, More New Friends! It's nice to meet you. I'm Corona Merrion and I'm a baker, see?" To prove her point, she roots around in her pack again and pulls out several individually wrapped little packages. "Fresh cornbread! I made it myself this morning," she explains as she offers them to the rest of the group, including Jasmine. "New Friend Jasmine, maybe you can put those herbs New Friend Skye gave you into your piece. I bet it would taste good!"
|
|
Jasmine raises an eyebrow at the haikus of 575, but smiles.
"Time for Torchbearing
Reflections on what we learn
As we sip Wu Chai."
She pours cups for everyone, then sniffs the herbs that Skye hands her. "Oh, I know people who would like this. You might be right, Corona, that it would be good on Cornbread. Or other things." She wraps the herbs back up for later, then turns to the group. "What has been your favorite lesson so far from the Torch Bearing Festival?"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I enjoyed Merisiel's symposium on information gathering, targeting, and link analysis. A thorough knowledge of the humanoid terrain is often a social and tactical advantage. I plan to study the subject further."
Skye sighs, a wistful look in his heavy-lidded eyes.
"And she's hot. I asked her if she likes to surf. I've always wanted to get a long board and ride the waves."
He looks over at Ezren. "No, bro, not like that. You have to inhale and hold it a moment. It's like controlling your breathing during meditation. Yeah, that's it. Groovy."
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
575 looks totally oblivious when Jasmine mimics his speaking style, not noticing the difference at all. You wonder if he even realizes he does it.
He ponders the tian woman's question about favorite lessons thoughtfully, before finally speaking.
Exercise the mind
Or exercise the body
Such topics are rote.
He seems to scoff at the idea of the training entirely.
Beauty unrealized.
Harmony in the mundane.
There you find insight
He loses focus for a moment, as he recalls events from earlier... though apparently not the same as others may have.
Tune out what they say
But watch their face as they speak.
There you see beauty.
Ignore who is winning
Observe the crowds as they cheer.
Therein lay harmony.
He again does the slight lifting of his shoulders that passes for a shrug.
You're not sure he payed attention to a single one of the lessons or events that occurred, instead spending the entire time quite happily watching the people instead.
|
|
"What part of this ... event.. did I enjoy?" Zavubak ponders Jasmine's question. "Head down to the alleyway next to the Pig's Paunch. You'll find three thugs, bruised and battered, still recovering from a run in with a certain clawed creature. But why, you might ask. What did they do to deserve this?" Zavubak slowly paces the ground in front of 575, Skye, and Corona. "Did they attempt to rob someone? Or threaten him? Or were they just a bunch of drunken, blathering idiots?" He stops in place. "No. That's not it at all. As you'll all soon see, I have little patience for three things: Discrimination, weakness, and immaturity. Yesterday, I ran into all three at once." Zavubak has a seat on a barrel and drags a rock across his axe. "That was what I enjoyed about the Torchbearing."
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Well..." Corona ponders, scrunching up her face as she thinks back to the various events she'd observed and taken part in. "I ran the obstacle course! Um, I've kinda been told that I'm clumsy sometimes so I thought participating might help me improve my coordination a little bit," she explains. "There were some parts that weren't too bad, like slogging through a mud pit. Slogging and running I can do, just not super fast because of my armor and all." Then she shakes her head. "But um, the agility parts were a lot more difficult - jumping over bar stools, ducking under these arm-swinging training dummies, climbing up and over a wall..."
She looks down at her arms, where the remnants of some scrapes and bruises can be seen. "I think I need more training. And it didn't help that right at the end, when I was trying to shimmy down this rope, that there was a-"
"Bawk!"
Turning in unison, the group sees what looks like a chicken fluttering its way towards them, ducking under the grasping arms of other Pathfinder agents as it makes a beeline towards Corona.
"Oh no," she groans. "How did it find me? This crazy chicken's been following me around all day! All I did was feed her some leftover cornbread when I went to buy my eggs this morning and now she won't leave me alone! That merchant probably thinks I stole her!"
As the chicken approaches, Corona waves her arms at it. "Shoo! Go home! You made me fall off that rope earlier and that really hurt! I don't have any more cornbread for you!"
______
Still trying to shoo away the errant chicken, Corona tries to recall what she's heard people say about the Torchbearing festival - because surely there's still more to come, right?
But it's surprisingly difficult to concentrate on much of anything when you've got a chicken trying to nest in your hair.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I enjoyed Merisiel's symposium on information gathering, targeting, and link analysis. A thorough knowledge of the humanoid terrain is often a social and tactical advantage. I plan to study the subject further."
Skye sighs, a wistful look in his heavy-lidded eyes.
"And she's hot. I asked her if she likes to surf. I've always wanted to get a long board and ride the waves."
He looks over at Ezren. "No, bro, not like that. You have to inhale and hold it a moment. It's like controlling your breathing during meditation. Yeah, that's it. Groovy."
Ezren takes a long drag of the fine tobacco and slowly lets the breath trickle from his mouth. "Ahhh...that is very good....high quality! Much appreciated! I don't mind doing things the old-fashioned way...not in the least! As for Merisel," He smirks slightly, a twinkle in his eye, "I would chase after easier game, my friend."
As Jasmine asks him to reflect upon what he learned, he shakes his head in bemusement. "More like what have I NOT learned...Still plenty of things to know...maybe I will continue my learning about the seedier aspects of life..."
"Torchbearing Ceremony?....heh....something ELSE I never heard of. You would think I would be saying that less often the older get..."
|
|
Zavubak scoffs at the ridiculous scene unfolding before him. A chicken? What does she think this is? "Keep that thing away from me, or we might just have two extra wings and thighs for dinner," he says with a glint of fire in his eyes and a smile on his face.
Walking through the crowd, Zav manages to glean some information from another half-orc, then returns to the group. "Turns out the Society's Torchbearing has a hidden agenda. Sort of. The Three Masters use the event to keep an eye out for particularly talented agents that embody the Pathfinder Society ideals. You know, Explore, Report, ... whatever."
As the Pathfinders conclude the dessert course, a small origami swan flutters through the room and lands In Xuan's outstretched hand. In moments, it unfolds itself into a crisp and crease-less piece of paper.
Pathfinders,
My apologies for interrupting your feast, but Nigel Aldain has just informed me that there is trouble at the Blakros Museum. Once your bitter laughter has subsided, let us continue. Nigel says it can't wait until morning. We don't want to jeopardize our relationship with the Blakros Family, so we will do what we can to aid him. Please gather your gear and meet in the main hall within Skyreach. I will give more instructions then.
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin
_____
|
|
"Ow, okay, okay, I lied! If I give you some more cornbread will you lay off?" Corona exclaims, digging out another piece from her pack. The chicken immediately ceases its flapping and pecking and flutters back down to the ground, watching Corona expectantly. Still grumbling, she crumbles the piece up and lets the crumbs fall to the ground.
"There! I hope that's enough to last you because I'm not giving you any more," she huffs. She turns to the others apologetically. "I am so sorry! I've never had a chicken do this before, or anything else for that matter!"
______
With her New Feathered Friend distracted by delicious bread, Corona is at last able to turn her attention to filling her own stomach. She munches happily on a piece of cheesecake, stopping only when the strange little origami swan lands in Fung's hand.
"More birds! But at least this one is just made out paper, New Friend," she exclaims. She leans over and peers at the note with interest.
"Oh, that's that dark, squatty little building over in the Wise District, right? I've never been inside but I've heard people talk about how it seems so much bigger inside than you'd think," Corona comments. "As rich as they are you'd think they could've hired someone to build them a prettier building, though."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"What has been your favorite lesson so far from the Torch Bearing Festival?"
Fung scratches his head, thinking back upon the myraid of lessons that signed up for. Surprisingly, the least expected one was the one that stood out the most. The class he stumbled into by accident, and then felt too embarrassed to walk out after he realised.
"Um, I think my favourite was the one by Kreighton Shane. I really didn't mean to attend it, not knowing much about magic and all. And honestly, I didn't understand half of what he was talking about. I mean, I did accidentally made that black sphere thing eat up half the table, but hey, I got it to move!" Fung exclaims, with a proud grin on his face.
Fung is startled when a chicken dashes into the banquet hall, and soon, Samji the monkey joins in the fun. Fung grins broadly at the spectacle. He concentrates briefly, and a mote of swirling winds appear by his feet, which gradually consolidates into the rough form of a scorpion, and as he concentrates, the elemental creature skittles over to the monkey.
That is until a flying origami crane lands on Fung's hand, startling him. The elemental scorpion poofs out of existence. Turning all serious, Fung unfolds the paper and reads it content to everyone at the table. Despite being concerned about whatever troubles these Blackros Museum might contain, he can't help but grin wryly to himself. Never a dull day with the Pathfinders.
"Do you like Tien Arts, Xuan? They certainly like you!"
Fung blushes faintly at this. "Um, yah, I guess. The Tian-Min art of paper folding is most exquisite. In fact, this Jinin elf who came by my master's shop a couple of weeks ago showed me what he can do. Within a few short seconds, he not only folded a form of an eagle, he turned it into a real one! He was really proud of that trick."
"Oh, that's that dark, squatty little building over in the Wise District, right? I've never been inside but I've heard people talk about how it seems so much bigger inside than you'd think,"
Fung turns curiously to Corona. "Bigger on the inside than the outside? Sounds wibbly wobbly to me. I've been in Abasalom for more than ten years, but there are still many parts I know little about. Like this museum. Or the Blackros Family. Are they famous?"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Why won't anyone answer my questions about the Torchbearing? Kreighton Shaine insisted these herbs were neither addictive nor harmful. Why is that chicken staring at me? Whoa, was that a paper swan?
Is it possible my biological parents were from Galt?
"The Blakros Museum's district is Wise, it's named for the family, and it was cured by Nigel Aldain, who used to be a Pathfinder. It sometimes displays itself publicly. It's ugly and squat on the outside and bigger on the inside."
"The Society and Nigel often strain one another, but play well together. Nigel is a Society collaborator, a lender not a borrower be he. He's a data trader. He's become hot for the Shining Crusade."
Skye closes his eyes and presses his palms against his temples. His stomach rumbles, foreshadowing impending doom.
"Zavubak, can you please pass me the Andoran doritos and some scarab dip?"
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
575 watches the origami swan float down, fascinated, though feels slightly disappointed when it becomes just a simple flat note in Fung's hand, its former shape lost.
Being new to Absalom, he knows little to nothing of the local sights, so is content to let his companions mine that information from their own experiences.
The folding of paper
To a myriad of shapes
An art all its own
He says, with an appreciative nod as he gets up, intent on heading off immediately to Skyreach as instructed. He pauses suddenly, realizing the rest are not following as quickly, all of them distracted by drugs, food, chickens, or the quest for, or feeding of them.
I know the tenets
Wish us to cooperate
But by passing dip?
He looks unsure how to proceed, his normally orderly and efficient mindset thrown off slightly by the chaos around him.
|
|
Andoran... Doritos...? Dip?
Zavubak peers around the banquet hall and looks for something resembling Doritos. He finds a bowl of grey-green dip next to a sack of dried potatoes and assumes this must be the dip, so he collects them, offering them to Skye. "How... Do you eat this?" Digging his hand deep into the dip, Zav slops a mound of it on his tongue, his eyes lighting up as the saltiness spreads throughout his mouth. "Hmm, not bad... Does this compliment those rolled smoke sticks of yours? I have never seen such things before."
|
|
Jasmine takes a bite of the dip, and then gets up with one graceful movement. "I am sorry to eat and run, but if we need to gather with our gear to the main hall in Skyreach, I will need to find my bodyguard, Ryuko! Go get your gear! I will hopefully see you later!"
She bows to everyone, kisses the blushing Xuan on the cheek, and then run off into the crowd.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ezren continues smoking his fine tobacco as the chaos erupts around him, seemingly impervious to the various noises around him, from the clucking chicken to the fluttering origami note. Once Jasmine has departed, his hand reaches out and the note flies into his hand of its own accord.
Blakros? Again?? Guess that's why they picked me for this mission...Joy...
Waving the other Pathfinders over to him he intones in a solemn voice, "Before you all run off like chickens with their heads cut off," glancing briefly at the chicken clucking around the woman corona, I can tell you the museum has been closed for the past several months, ramping up for a huge exhibit, “Legacy of the Shining Crusade,” opening next week, supposedly." He pauses, taking another drag from his tobacco, "I have heard rumors shadow magic makes the inside of the museum larger. A few years ago the inside changed drastically, which drew the curiosity of many in Absalom. Ralzeros the Overwatched was a powerful wizard who owned the building before the Blakros Family. Evidence suggests he cursed the building on his death. The number of accidents and strange events that occur there would seem to support that rumor."
As he slowly rises to his feet leaning upon his cane he adds wryly, "Nigel’s museum has suffered many mishaps since he became curator, which we have helped clean up. Nigel still tries to distance himself from the Society and act independently, but when trouble befalls the museum, he often turns to the Society for help. Also recently, Nigel has spent a fortune in security for the museum, particularly in magical protections from the Arcanamirium and Golemworks in Magnimar. I'll bet whatever took place means we will have to deal with those measures."
|
|
"Um, I think you're supposed to put the doritos in the dip and then eat them both up New Friend," Corona points out as Zav seems content to simply scoop out handfuls of dip to eat.
"Anyway, the museum sounds exciting! I guess we'd better get over to Skyreach, huh?" she continues, also rising from her seat.
All around you, Pathfinders are gathering gear, some in a buzz of excitement, others with resigned expressions on their faces.
|
The front doors of Skyreach burst open with a loud crack. Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin strides to the edge of the platform, with a slender elf dressed in practical but expensive clothing trailing meekly behind. The red-faced venture-captain addresses the crowd in a booming voice.
“Pathfinders, I regret interrupting the festivities, but we have something of a situation. Approximately twenty minutes ago, unknown forces invaded the Blakros Museum. Fortunately for everyone involved, the Torchbearing is about cooperation and helping our colleagues, so let’s think of this less as an inconvenience and more as an opportunity to practice what we preach.”
The elf, Nigel, exhales sharply, then speaks, “Now, Ambrus, I’ve spent a king’s ransom fortifying the museum from all sorts of invaders: sentinels from the Golemworks, magical wards from the Arcanamirium, and even contracts for guard beasts, both magical and mundane—spared no expense. I didn’t want to come here, but I’ve got no choice.”
Valsin’s forced smile cracks slightly, showing his annoyance. “Out with it, Nigel. Get to the point.”
“Someone broke into my museum and set off the magical protections! I was preserving priceless Shining Crusade pieces for our new exhibit when the first alarm activated. I sent for district guards and went to investigate, but by the time I arrived, the thieves had already locked themselves in my study. They somehow caused the Shining Crusade relics to fly around the museum and attack my sentinels. Everything is going haywire! The magical traps started to target me, the sentinels are not responding to my commands, and—”
Valsin holds out a hand to steady the increasingly agitated elf. “The last you knew, the thieves were still in your study?” Nigel nods. “Very well. Pathfinders: the Seekers should prepare to teleport directly into the Blakros study—“
“That won’t work,” Nigel interrupts, “The study is magically sealed. After that dreadful Numerian exhibit, I turned it into a magical safe room. The robbers must have figured out how to activate it; no one can get in or out while the wards hold. I can work on breaking the wards, but meanwhile my sentinels are smashing up the collection. Some of those priceless relics are on loan from your own Society lodges, so helping me is really helping yourselves.”
“Fine.” Ambrus Valsin takes a deep breath and then turns to the assembled Pathfinders. “Pathfinders, go to the Blakros Museum, secure any relics you can, disable the security systems, and apprehend the looters if possible. Stay safe.”
|
|
A pretty but somewhat pouty girl grabs her spear as she walks past you, muttering to herself. "I can't believe that we're rescuing my demented family again. What have they gotten themselves into this time? I've lost track of the amount of times that I've had to rescue them and their creepy ass museum!"
She huffs, and disappears into the crowd of Pathfinders heading to the Museum.
It's a large crowd of Pathfinders that heads through the streets of Absalom. Although some of the streets wind and twist, it seems that just about every Pathfinder present knows the way.
Dozens of Wise District guards surround the Blakros Museum. The sergeant nods to Ambrus Valsin as he approaches, a subtle smirk dancing across the venture-captain’s face. The museum itself is alight with swirling whorls of color and the sounds of metal and stone clashing. Occasionally, brief flashes of light burst from the front entrance, illuminating a toppled banner that says “Legacy of the Shining Crusade.”
The broad-shouldered, middle-aged Ulfen man salutes, a somewhat bemused expression on his face. “Well met, Venture-Captain Valsin. I am Svaralk of Asleifar, Sergeant of the Learned Guard. The Guard appreciates your assistance.” He points to his subordinates, “Our initial attempt to quell the animated relics within failed. I’ve ordered the Guard to withdraw and form a perimeter.”
Ambrus Valsin returns the sergeant’s salute, a gesture of mutual respect. “You once served in Grand Prince Stavian III’s Ulfen Guard, did you not?”
Svaralk nods, “That’s right. Afterwards, I retired to Absalom and have served this city for seven years. This is not the first catastrophe I’ve responded to at the Blakros Museum, though none has been quite so dramatic as this. As if anyone needed further proof of the museum’s reputation for trouble.”
The Ulfen confides to the Venture-Captain, “After Nigel Aldain harangued me for dereliction of duty in not immediately retaking the museum, I’m in no rush to sacrifice the lives under my command until the warring creatures inside wear each other down.” He holds up a hand and shakes his head, “I don’t hold Nigel Aldain’s outburst against him. I recognize the elf is rightfully concerned—albeit rather precious—about his exhibit.”
Svaralk turns to your team of Pathfinders and says, “Before you enter, I can provide you an overview of the museum’s layout and tell you that there are animated relics and guard animals on the ground level, and clockwork creatures skirmishing with each other on the floor above. We also have an especially challenging problem in the gardens at the southeast corner of the museum grounds. Some kind of magical runes displaying swarm-like behavior, more magical devices really than living creatures. They proved too complicated a challenge for me and my guards; we simply lacked the skills to disable them.”
|
|
Zavubak drops the bowl of dip as Valsin bursts out of Skyreach. He listens closely, ensuring he gets every detail. "Well, well, well," Zav says, drawing his double axe. "It looks like we've got some criminals to apprehend. Looting a museum during a banquet is so unbecoming. Say, Ezren, Skye, I hope you guys know a thing or two about magic. From the sounds of it, we'll need to do something about those defenses. I have limited experience with such complex things as that..." he gently trails off and tosses his axe a few times. "But I can help subdue the robbers."
Some day, I'll be more than just two claws and an angry face.
|
|
"Oh wow...um..." Corona ponders, trying to decide which direction might be best. "Maybe we should either start with the ground floor or the garden, first. You know, make it safer down here and outside first before we try going upstairs? Unless one of you is good at being quiet and wants to take a peek around first..."
"Not me, though. I'm...not really good at being quiet," she mumbles.
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
575 is quietly relieved when everyone finally gets sorted out and on the mission at hand as instructed. Knowing little about Absalom or the museum in question, he merely follow those who do to the site of the disturbance, listening to the guard's description of what is transpiring, his head tilted at an odd angle as he does so.
As Corona suggests possibly dealing with the problem in the garden, he frowns slightly... another facial gesture he doesn't quite do right.
Scores of small creatures
Moving together as one
Can not punch a swarm
He apparently is not enthused about the idea of swarm-like opponents.
|
|
The brisk march through the chilly night air helps Skye clear his muddled mind.
After hearing the Sergeant of the Guard describe the chaos inside and outside the Blakros Museum, Skye shakes his head. "I can help spot the creatures in garden, and possibly identify their nature, but I lack the skill to disable these swarm-like constructs or whatever they are."
"Scouting is not my strong suit, either. I am ready to support the team to the best of my ability."
"Although it's not very subtle, perhaps we're best suited to a direct approach."
Inspiration flashes across Skye's face. "While we decide, I'll ask Sova to fly around the building and recon the exterior. Maybe she can tell me what she sees."
The owl takes flight from Skye's shoulder, her feathers reflecting the stars that shine in the heavens. A small nimbus of light surrounds her.
Zoom, zoom! "Hoot, hoot!"
|
|
A warm feeling descends on Fung with the parting kiss, but that is short-lived as everyone starts rushing to the Skyreach room. The memory of it lingers on, however ...
With the impending threat as the party faces the museum, Fung gather himself together, focusing on the issue at hand (putting aside a certain flower out of mind for now). He first withdraws a couple of wands. Let's see how much of what Master Shane taught I can actually remember. He struggles to activate them, finally giving up on one but managing to activate the other eventually. Oh well, I guess not much.
Fung sighs as he stows them away. Then, he grunts in concentration, and almost immediately, static electricity starts crackling around him bringing an unearthly glow to his eyes. Even when the static electricity dies down, the constants winds that surround him seems to have grown stronger.
His preparation, he finally looks up and joins in the discussion. "My lightning attacks are effective against swarms. Usually. But these are magical ones, so I don't know. And I, uh, have some talent in moving around undetected. Uh, some thing I picked up from my youth. If you want me to, I can scout ahead and report."