The man in purple looks to the man in Orange and curses under his breathe "You know what! Fine I out of here. Corcra, you go get 'Bob' and I'll met ya top side." The man in purple shrugs responding "Alright Oráiste, I'll get good ol' Bob. He's great at cards."
Corcra heads off to the back of the cells in the corner. You here him talking to 'Bob' and trying to speak a few words in Vudrani. He and dark skinned man dressed like the monks above follow after Oráiste out of the Monastary and you can hear them chattering away with an you hear Corcra exclaims "Oh My God look what they have done up here. I have never seen someone sliced and diced like that before." an unintelligible sound you think might be someone tossing their cookies comes from above and Oráiste says "Yeah glad we are high tailing it out of here. No telling what that old man with the stick could do to you Corcra." he laughs as you can hear more cookies are being tossed.
You find yourselves in a quiet room now save for the 4 prisoners chained to the tables. A small chest can be spied in the corner.
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”Old man with a stick? Why I never…” Golthwur hrrumphs. “If ignorance were bliss then that man’s head would contain the whole of Heaven, Nirvana, and Elysium combined.” The old man with a stick chuckles at what he considers to be humor, then feeling the need to explain himself to the others, he turns to the party and says, ”You see, Heaven, Nirvana, and Elysium of which I just spake are planes—tha”t is to say they are dimensions beyond this, the material world. More so than that, they are planes of the good alignment and, thus, contain great measures of joy, happiness, and contentment, of which the term “bliss” is similar in connotation if not definition.” The wizard goes on to explain, as a parent may often do to a child, with a sincere desire to educate but in a manner that the audience finds to be both grating and condescending nonetheless.
”Even more so than that,” he continues, “as they are planes, they are—by their very definition—infinite, that is to say, beyond measure.”
Golthwur taps his stick on the grounds as if punctuating his speech. Therefore, when I said, ]“If ignorance were bliss then that man’s head would contain the whole of Heaven, Nirvana, and Elysium combined”, I was, in fact, alluding to the idea that that man was rather quite ignorant indeed!” Golthwur chuckles a second time, once again quite pleased with himself.
“But enough edification for the inept.” The wizard now turns toward those now chained to the workbenches and then sets his eyes upon the woman. He considers her present plight and agrees that it is indeed quite… What was the word she had used again? Oh, yes…thought-provoking.
The wizard gives a short bow in the woman’s direction and announces,”Before you stands, Golthwur Strath, Maharajah of Mages and Caesar of Sorcery.” Then, flashing her a smile, he says, ”I believe you have a message for your mistress.”
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Mei pushes past Gulthwur,
"Stuff your message old man!"
She pulls out her remaining 2 days worth of trail rations and turns to her party,
"I only have two left..."
"If you hadn't pulled that spectacular stunt at the campsite, you would have three..."
"You stuff it too, I don't need to be reminded of that!"
"...can two of you spare a days worth? Blossym, can we free these people?"
Although Weak and Malnourished from the time spent chained to the table the woman Golthwur is attempting to converse with manages to snub him in his request with a loud "Hmph. Mistress indeed."
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Although Weak and Malnourished from the time spent chained to the table the woman Golthwur is attempting to converse with manages to snub him in his request with a loud "Hmph. Mistress indeed."
Golthwur Strath is initially taken aback by the woman’s rebuke. Do not be discouraged, he thinks to himself. Are you not Golthwur Strath, Assuager of Assumptions and Pacifier of the Presumed? Though reassured of his own correctness and propriety, the wizard nevertheless attempts another to take another tact.
Turning toward Mei and Nuethro, he scolds, “Have you no manners?! This woman, the Lady Sananda Florez, has been held prisoner for a considerable amount of time.” He turns toward the woman, looking for a glint of recognition when he says what he presumes is her true name. When he thinks he sees it, he attempts to smile reassuringly.
“And though she still looks… fair and fit… for the most part…” he continues, trying to sound cheerful and hopeful, despite her obvious, unpleasant appearance. “She and her companions are no doubt in need of nourishment! Now, be helpful and considerate for once, won’t you, and provide her with some!” Golthwur pauses to for a few casting prestidigitation in an effort to address the disheveled appearances and accompanying odors of the four apparent prisoners while waiting for the others to offer food to the prisoners.
”As for those shackles,” he says, looking at the irons with obvious concern, “a simple open spell would address those easily. Unfortunately, I prepared this day for combat this day—to defeat the vile Zamir… and also to mount a rescue of you, of course.” he adds, hoping that his mostly-truths sounded convincing. “Alas, many of my more potent magics have been spent in the conflict, but it is possible that some of my fellow Pathfinders here may be able to help you with those.”
Golthwur looks at the others pleadingly in an effort to gain their assistance in freeing the woman and the other prisoners, "Some of you, in fact, fancy yourselves to be 'champions of freedom', do you not?"
Nuethro looks through the small chest and finds a small sack of with 245 crowns and a few bundles of arrows. Pulling a few rations from his bag he and Mei go about the room distributing the food to the prisoners. Whom are over joyed at the presentation of food. They immediately start to devour with a voracious fervor you have ever seen. One of the men begins to choke as he tried to swallow without chewing first; after struggling a moment he finally clears the obstruction.
You find that the locks securing the prisoners to the tables are your basic average locks.
Having yet to come face to face with Zamir and completing your mission to confront the Self Styled Bandit Lord. you proceed through the next door way leading deeper into the catacombs of the fallen monastery. This large hall is relatively clean and empty. A few racks on the walls contain wooden training weapons, and targets and straw dummies stand here and there. A strange wooden statue stands in front of a large alcove in the south wall. It has three tiger faces on its head, each facing a different direction, and six arms. The statue’s hands hold a variety of weapons; quarterstaff, sai, nunchaku, siangham, and kama. In the back of the alcove is a large wooden door.
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Realizing that Florez could be an acceptable recruit for the Dark Archives, but that his time around those less skilled in wizardcraft may have dulled his powers of persuasion, the wizard decides that the best approach for securing the woman’s allegiance is to impress upon her the value of the faction’s ability to acquire knowledge of magical artifacts and objects of mystery. He then regales her with the intricacies of an arcane theory that he has been analyzing through experimentation on a series of chalices that radiate magic from the transmutation school of magic that were found in the hat box of a deceased widow in Oppara.
When he realizes that he is not quite making headway with the sorceress, Golthwur Strath does the unthinkable!
For perhaps the first time since arriving on the island, he--ever so slightly--humbles himself, and and looks towards the mage and then the others with sad, pleading eyes in the hope of garnering some assistance in his endeavors.
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"Oh, wow is he blowing this, or what? Oh dear deities above is this fun to watch!"
"Oh, yeah! This is definitely a moment to savor. Wait, what's this? Holy Schnizz, it looks like he is...asking for help..."
Precious! Should you allow him one of the harsh lessons of life?"
"Nah, then I will never be able to hold it over his head the day he would have failed without the assistance-otherwise, he would just end up being able to justify it in his mind that it was her problem not his."
Mei lets the wizard flounder a bit in his own inept diplomacy, and then swings in to save the day.
"I think what he means to say Miss, is that the Dark Archives is a place for everyone of all different backgrounds and capabilities. So much so that they sent a "work in progress" to demonstrate their openness for all types, great as yourself...and small!"
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A strange wooden statue stands in front of a large alcove in the south wall. It has three tiger faces on its head, each facing a different direction, and six arms. The statue’s hands hold a variety of weapons; quarterstaff, sai, nunchaku, siangham, and kama. In the back of the alcove is a large wooden door.
Golthwur Strath surveys the statue, trying to see if any of its details jog his memory about something he may have already learned.
As Golthwur approaches the wooden statue getting within 10 feet feet of the statue, it animates and moves into a combat-ready stance. Brandishing its many weapons preparing to fight.
Blossym stumbles forward out of the shadows where she's been throwing up since entering this area. "Oh my gosh.... so sorry about that. It must have been something I ate!" she blabs as wipes the sweat from her brow.
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"I suggest that you all keep your overwhelming desires to engage in physical conflict in check and, thus, withhold any attempts to engage with this construct." Golthwur Strath cautions the party with regard to the statue. "It is, of course, no more than a simple arcane device used for sparing purposes--a facsimile, if you will, of those used by those crazed spell blades that soil the purity of magic by seeking to interweave it within their more base physical and martial pursuits. I can see nothing to be gained by toying with it other than some unpleasant bruising, perhaps, from a slam by its hardened fist or its false weapons, and, of greater import, the possible alerting of our target as to our impending approach. Let us be on!"
The wizard motions impatiently to the others to open the door beyond the statue. Now, as I mentioned to the malnourished sorceress earlier, I was not afforded sufficient time for the common luxury of having prepared an open or knock spell, so if you would be so kind as to handle the portal ahead, then we may proceed in adequate haste."
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"I don't think he really wants us to answer him!" Blossym whispers to Mei and then proceeds into the room with the construct. The elf smiles at the old wizard, "You truly are the Administrator of Arcana!" Listening carefully at the doors as the group gathers to Nuethro, Blossym tries to drown out the verbiage spewing from Golthwur's lips and see if any discernible threat is beyond the door.
As Nuethro Begins to approach the, now determined, 'Sparring' Construct. It moves into a defensive stance and looks to Nuethro as the monk moves closer the Statue-that-is-not-a-Statue raises its many arms readily to swipe at Nuethro should he take a further step forward.
Blossym you notice that it seems that the Statue is an unfortunate guardian of the doorway alcove you wish to pass through. Many of you also notice that the construct is only readying itself to attack if anyone comes within a few feet. Should they come up to the Construct it seems that it will begin to 'spar' with them.
Golthwur looks at the Not-a-real-Wayfinder and sees the needle points directly at the door, behind the construct.
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"I've noticed that a number of you seem to enjoy the sort of needless, physical exertion for which this device was constructed." Golthwur Strath pontificates, as if he were knowledgeable in the subject. "Why don't one or two of you practice your sparring moves with it--keeping it preoccupied--while the remainder of us deal with the business for which the Society has sent us here."
Thus speaks Golthwur Strath, Avatar of Avoiding and Shah of Shirking!
"Why don't one or two of you practice your sparring moves with it--keeping it preoccupied--while the remainder of us deal with the business for which the Society has sent us here."
"Why don't one or two of you practice your sparring moves with it--keeping it preoccupied--while the remainder of us deal with the business for which the Society has sent us here."
"Why don't one or two of you practice your sparring moves with it--keeping it preoccupied--while the remainder of us deal with the business for which the Society has sent us here."
As Stonelance sends a bolt flying hitting the Construct squarely in the chest he notices the Bolt although normally would have done severe damage to a human it barely makes a scratch on its body. Having been attacked the Construct begins to take a step forward towards Stonelance any any others within its range too.
Golthwur
Stonelance
Nuethro
Blossym
Mei
Construct
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"Oh confound it all!" cries Golthwur Strath. "The word that I spoke was 'PREOCCUPY'." the mage stresses, slowly and deliberately, "Not 'PROVOKE'! Undertrained undertakings lead to underperformance. Understand?"
[b]"I suppose that I will have to deal with this most simplest of tasks myself." mutters the mage. Stepping away from the foray (but notably behind is "undertrained companions" within relative safety), the wizard retrieves a scroll of grease, from which he then casts.
As the wizard of wonder casts his spell the construct is covered in a slurry of grease and falls prone.
As you all descend upon the 'statue' and attack, although helpless in its current greased state your attacks seem to cause no real harm to it. Even Blossym's magical assault does little more than frost its backside.
Taking this opportunity along your group decides to head for the door in the little alcove the construct was 'guarding' dodging in and closing the door you enter a room that is nicely decorated and comfortably furnished,
unlike the rest of the complex.
Cushioned chairs create a comfortable sitting area, and a large tapestry depicting a battle of dozens of dervishes in a bright yellow sandy desert adds color to the room. The air is scented with cinnamon and cardamom. Trophy heads and animal skins from the local inhabitants decorate the floor and remaining walls.
After your eyes adjust to lower light in the room you can see a man, matching Zaamir's description you have been given, busy studying the fake scepter of the arclords while his pet rests at his feet. Hearing the commontion you make entering the room. He gets up and begins to speak "You have got ta be kidding me I tell ya one thing... as he turns around fully he stops mid sentience seeing your gathered team and stares dumbfound at you snatches up the Scepter and blurts out "Who... who..who are you?! Did the Thakur send you?" his hand points the scepter in your direction and continues to speak "You.. you.. better get out or I'll use this on you! Its... Its the Scepter of... The Arclords. fear its power!"
He seems to be slowly moving to the back of the chamber.
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"We fear no such thing, King of Bandits! For as you are no doubt now well aware—as are we—that the object you hold in your hands is a fake!" Golthwur Strath responds. "And I should know, for I am Golthwur Strath, Authenticator of the Arcane and Signifier of the Sorcerous!"
"And just as we need not fear the faux trinket in your hands, you need not fear now being within ours! We are no servants or lackeys of the Thakur. Nay, sir! We are Pathfinders and, I, Golthwur Strath am a distinguished member of that notable cabal known as the Dark Archives, am well aware of your activities regarding the obtaining and dismantling of magical artifacts as well as their being smuggled into the heart of Cheliax.” The wizard holds up his stick staff and gives an open gesture with the other. “As we value an individual with your means and talents, we are here to offer you an arrangement.”
“But know this, whether you fear now being in our hands or not…” Golthwur brings his staff down against the floor with all the force the old man can muster. “Within our hands, you most certainly are. Therefore, I suggest that you take our most favorable offer.”
Zaamir's Eyebrow perks a little, yet he is still reserved yet he is appearing more indifferent to your request at the moment.
With the assistance of Blossym and Nuethro, Gulthwur is able to get the point across that working with the Society is his only real hope of getting out here alive. Zaamir speaks rather calmly now "Alright I see where our coming from. I see working with the Society could prove to be mutually beneficial for all involved. Also working with you lot might save my neck with the Thakur anyways." Zaamir begins to visibly relax and starts packing a bag with a few things here and there. "Come Jumra, we must be going." A rather largish looking Tiger comes out from under the table and mews slightly as Zaamir beckons to the animal.
"So I guess'n ya need ta take me in?" Pack on his back he is ready to follow you back the couple of days it took you to get out here.