The minotaur takes an arrow to the... shin, then dances deftly through the flames. He doesn't much appreciate Virog's impertinence, and decides an axe is in order. With a large harumph he closes on the human. His horns he keeps locked with Mivvy.
The minotaur knocks Virog down with a forceful swing of his axe, a strong bellow as he fells another foe and turns full fury on Mivvy.
The giant beastie swings his massive axe at the poor Tengu who wandered into his threatened area, walked right up to him, and tried to swing...
He clobbers the small beaked one something awful, and she consequently also falls down, giving him all the more encouragement to drive these usurpers out from his territory. While his attention is on the bird, however, he gets another poke in the back from Mivvy and roars loudly in frustration.
Drea walks up to the minotaur and it absolutely slaughters her, leaving her nothing but a bloody crumple on the ground... except it doesn't, because it doesn't have combat reflexes. Saya lands another arrow in the minotaur, and for the first time in the fight, it looks like the thing is on the ropes.
It is however the beastie's turn, and he still hasn't been able to swat Mivvy like the fly she is.
It is a telling blow that lays our poor swashbuckler low, but not down quite yet. She yet stands and there are two in the fight now! Though half the party lay on the ground bleeding into the dirt and mud, some yet struggle on.
With a final swing, at long last Mivvy fells the beast, who falls in a crumpling groan.
Janira does indeed have potions (clearly labeled), and two are Cure Light Wounds.
Once she is healed, she rises slowly, then begins moving much more swiftly, finding her pack and the labeled wand of healing therein, using it on any remaining downed members.
Janira leads the expedition back to Absalom without further incident. Once safely back in the Grand Lodge, Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine inquires excitedly about what you found and asks to see your notes. He compliments those who recorded notes for being certain to write down ideas and observations while the thoughts are fresh, observing that it’s difficult enough to remember what one had for breakfast the day before as it is to recall exactly what one was thinking while studying an inscription.
Over the next several days, many of you meet with the other Masters, who officially induct you into the Society, as your confirmation has been completed. As part of the ceremony, that mentor also gifts a
personalized wayfinder to each of you, reminding you that this is not only the symbol of the Pathfinder’s trade but also a reminder of the three principle duties: explore, report, and cooperate.
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Saya feels a great swell of pride as the final blow fells the great Minotaur. Seeing all was well in hand tending to the fallen, she drops to one knee, places her bow on the ground and fetches her charcoal and paper, quickly sketching the final scene : the Pathfinder and her companions strew around the menacing Minotaur, nimble Mivvy facing it down, majestic Drea following through with her great swords, brave Shaya standing her ground...With quick strokes , the combat takes form, rough but with energy and the danger conveyed.
Finished, she trots across the bridge to help minister to the others...
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Saya beams when presented with her own Pathfinder, bowing her head as she was blessed with the name herself.
Shyly she submits her drawings from the cave to Master of Scrolls...
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Myvanwie submits her report several days late, she has used heavy, scented paper and four different colours of ink.
Being a Report Upon the Travels and Adventures Various of Myvanwie Jadrine Keostela Hetherington and her Fellows in Arms.
After accompanying Madame Janira Gavix on the arduous trek to a cave in the foothills of the Kortos Mountains, we were waylaid by a minotaur.
Although somewhat reluctantly, my fellows and I entered the caves while Janira sought to draw away the minotaur. She evidently felt well able to hide from the lumbering brute once we had entered the cavern’s depths.
Within we found carvings devoted to Aroden’s worship, notably a figure known as The Artist, who Drea Zelgath, a sylph amongst our company, knew much about.
Deeper within, we found an ornate cityscape carved from the rock. It was decorated with many trinkets: a reasonable speculation might be that we had found some shrine used by the gillmen. We also found a gillman, he was barely able to communicate, perhaps in a reverie or drug-induced fugue state. Eventually, after we confronted some corpses – long dead but still moving – and laid them to their final rest, the gillman told us that the gillmen had taken over this shrine now that Aroden was gone.
Despite an opportunity to recover the robes of a gillman pilgrim, the robes were instead taken by the gillman we spoke with.
Venturing further into a cave network, we found a large tunnel and a smaller side tunnel.
Wishing to be thorough, our group entered the side tunnel and were assaulted by small lizard-people who attacked us and were soon dispatched.
At that moment, we heard the sound of Janira’s continuing battle with the minotaur and rushed to her aid.
Although the minotaur laid-low many of my bold companions, Saya Teynr’s precise arrows and a few telling thrusts of the rapier defeated the mighty beast.
Finally, Janira managed to resuscitate the group and we returned to Absalom to report.
Unfortunately, we did not feel able to explore the wider passage further at this time. Should the society desire to delve deeper beneath the sanctuary, we would be keen to return to the locale.
After receiving her wayfinder, Mivvy is rapt, activating and cancelling the enchantment several times over, before gathering herself. She hangs the device at her hip. Oh, that old thing, I'd forogtten it was even there...
Seated behind a large, antique desk in his wood-paneled office, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin looks up from the pile of papers before him and shuffles them to one side. “Perfect timing! Welcome Pathfinders!"
“I had an interesting conversation with the Master of Spells Aram Zey yesterday. An old friend—Lady Darchana, Archdean of the Arcanamirium here in Absalom—contacted Master Zey. She’s a councilmember on the Low Council, too. It seems her dinner party last week had an unexpected guest: a handmaiden of her fancy guest’s had picked up a scrying sensor somewhere. When Lady Darchana learned that someone was attempting to eavesdrop on her party, she used her magic to trace the sensor back to its source. It sounds as though she didn’t learn anything conclusive, and she’s interested in bringing in an independent party to try and learn more. Master Zey agrees."
“Make no mistake, this is an excellent opportunity for you to impress a well-connected friend of the Society. Lady Darchana requested that the Pathfinders call upon her at her estate in the Petal District once they learn something of the origins of this servant. The owner of the handmaiden is named Lady Silviana Dimora. Lady Silviana isn’t a councilmember or the like—at least not yet. From what I understand, though, she is an upand-comer who is rubbing elbows with all of the right people, and she likely has little knowledge of where the slave was purchased. I recommend speaking to her majordomo Milana about the handmaiden, or you can pay a visit to her solicitor, a Chelish fellow named Salbus over in the Coins. Questions?”
"For that and many other answers, you will have to discuss it with Milana, as I said. I don't have anything on the handmaiden and I don't have time to repeat myself."
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The young man fusses about his clothing as he listens, looking slightly concerned, twisting his head forward to the left, and tilted slightly to the right as he starts to speak. "So, we're supposed to find out everything we can about the slave of someone building political connections, without their permission, or hopefully knowledge, before reporting our findings to a Council Woman? An interesting challenge, at least."
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"I don't see any reason why we can't let the slave's owner know. After all, we are asking her where she got the slave. It'll likely be a point of enbarrassment for her, so unless she is the guilty party herself, she will likely seek to help as much as she can while remaining discreet about the whole issue." Lady Yumiki responds to Firth.
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"But slaves tend not to take actions which could cause their owners to become angry without good cause. Being noticed gives her owner plenty of reason to become angry. This suggests she is either doing her master's bidding or she is still following the orders of another. Neither case is likely to be something the would-be socialite can afford to have known. Thus, we should avoid revealing our investigation to her."
After Venture Captain Valsin dismisses you, citing that you're just talking in his office and he has more important things to do like not answering the question you asked because it's not in box text.
Based on consensus, you travel to speak to the majordomo at the estate. An 8-foot-high fieldstone wall surrounds Lady Silviana Dimora’s estate. The grounds are recently tended with thick, soft grass, several well-placed shade trees, and many species of flowering plants. Directly in front of the manor house is a pond with several large lilies and a lion-shaped marble fountain that bubbles gently. As you claim to have business with Lady Silviana, members of the household staff entreat you to relax in a parlor furnished with plush blue couches and chairs.
Lady Silviana is not is Absalom, having departed for Oppara in Taldor 2 days ago. Her majordomo Milana, a stern-looking woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, formally apologizes that Lady Silviana is not available to take unscheduled meetings at this time. She invites you to arrange a scheduled meeting in the near future but gradually tries to direct you toward the door so she can return to her other duties.
Milana has little time to spare and little inclination to sacrifice the time she does have to deal with private investigators.
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"I know you, don't I? You were with the Fortescues in Oppara. Used to take little Pelende to the polo? She wore that old-fashioned bonnet: so cute." Mivvy is all affectionate memories.
"Yes, I seem to remember you moved on in something of a hurry. Something about... well, I won't embarass you. I'm sure Silvie will remember the details when we see her next... I went to Pharban Aske with her neice, Selende. We were very close."
Sometimes, you have to remind the help of their station.