There is a small note pinned to the door of Drendle Drengs study
Back in a moment. Please come in have a seat but DONT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE,
Inside there are six chairs arranged around a desk cluttered with various bits of paper with various knick knacks holding the down including a Taldan Shoulder Epaulette from a dress uniform. There are no windows just three ropes hanging off the ceiling with continual flame cast on them and a ribbon with the same effect hanging on a wall behind the desk in front of which lies a cushioned chair
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"Ah, must be early" Darven enters the room and notices one other figure in the room. "Don touch anyting. Ok. Serious nut this guy it."
Darven walks over and sits down in an open seat next to the half orc. "Ello there, my name is Darven. Your?" He asks, however with his thick garundi accent making sound more like a demand. He drops his bag on the ground and pulls it close to the chair.
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Having returned his Weapon to the smith to be reforged and borrowing one from the armoury for his mission ahead, Skilgannon reaches Dreng study, sure he would be late for the briefing. Pushing open the door to find only Durland and a stranger there he sighs.
"Yes, four easy tasks but some of them worthwhile I am sure. That last scrap could have been worse than it was though!" He laughs softly before finding a seat, laying his borrowed spear down by the side. Leaning forwards, he runs his mask through his hands and nods to Darven.
"Skilgannon, Gladiator of Tymon. A pleasure to meet you friend."
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After her first mission in Absalom Tatiana stays in the Grand Lodge waiting for her next mission.
With luck she hasn't to have to wait long. A Venture-Captain she doesn't know yet, a certain Dranldel Danrelel or something calls for her.
She happily obliges and went to his office.
You can see a young woman with raven hairs and pale skin, pinked from her run. She has an holy symbol of Pharasma around her neck.
Greetings everyone, I'm Tatiana Malkolva. Follower of Pharasma. May Destiny bless us in this new mission.
Looking around her, she sees some face she recognize.
Ho! Hi Dúrland, hi Skilgannon nice seeing you again.
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The tall half-elf who enters looks familiar to many of the others. He seems a bit leaner, and perhaps somewhat lighter on his toes than he did before.
"Well, it's nice to see so many familiar faces here! Durland, Skilgannon, Tatiana."
He nods to each in turn. He extends his hand to Darven and says:
"Pleased to meet you, Darven. My name's Jasper. I'm something of an entertainer - maker of speeches, teller of tales, that sort of thing."
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A pleasure meeting you all. - said Akter, a little too comfortable on a bouncing chair, as he stands up - I'm Akter Phruse, guide extraordinaire and adventurer on the free time.
With a longbow and arrows on his back and a longsword pending from the belt sheath, the ranger adorned a somewhat used studded leather armor and wasn't particularly attractive or charismatic.
Drandle Dreng’s entrance is as understated as always at the meeting with him this morning. He carries stacks of papers and tomes, and shedding stray pages as he makes his way toward a large, cushioned chair; once seated, he greets you warmly.
“Welcome, welcome, glad to see you’ve made yourself at home. No point in beating around the bush, since I’m sure you’re all very curious why I called you here today, hm?"
“As you may or may not know, the Society has been bolstering its influence with the esteemed Blakros family for some time now, and have assisted them and their famous museum with various incidents over the past few years—discovering several new levels of catacombs in the process."
“Just recently, the Blakros Museum’s curator, Nigel Aldain, informed us that he’d discovered a mysterious portal within the building’s vast catacombs, and sought information regarding how to open it. We sent one of our agents, a man by the name of Anumet Akrostera, to help research the matter further, which involved delving into the various attics and crawlspaces of the Blakros Museum in search of clues that might lead to the whereabouts of the portal’s key."
“Earlier today, Nigel showed up here, claiming that something was wrong with Anumet. It seems that the Pathfinder set off some sort of curse or trap while poking around in the place’s attics and was acting strangely, and now he can’t be found at all. I need you to head to Blakros Museum and get to the bottom of this. Find Anumet, and if he has gotten himself into irreparable trouble, you’ll also need to take up where he left off and find that key."
For those with knowledge History roll once
was the stronghold of an eccentric wizard. After being
abandoned for centuries, it was bought by the Blakros
family, who turned it into a museum for their vast
collection of curios.
what is now the Blakros Museum thousands of years ago
as an observatory to study distant worlds (and some say,
to be studied by them). He later disappeared following a
mage-duel with another of Absalom’s early wizards.
of volcanic stone with the help of fell powers granted to
him by otherworldly patrons, supposedly to hide the
powerful artifacts secreted in the catacombs beneath
the keep. In addition, some tales hint that Ralzeros was
actually abducted by alien monsters from the worlds he
had studied so obsessively.
Similairly Knowledge local (or diplomacy to gather info after you leave) one roll
Blakros, an extensive clan whose family members have
made their fortune by trading odd antiquities across the
border of Taldor and Qadira, as well as by marrying off their
beautiful daughters to wealthy nobles all around the world.
They store many of their curious gifts and the findings of their more adventurous daughters in exhibits in the Blakros
Museum, which they purchased for just this purpose.
alliance with the Blakros family to gain access to their
extensive collection of historical and arcane treasures.
connected to the Dark Tapestry or other otherworldly
horrors studied by Ralzeros.
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Skilgannon listens to the briefing in silence, ceasing from playing with the metal mask in his hands for a moment until the Venture-Captain has finished. Slowly, as if still mulling over the wuestion as he speaks he turns to Drandle.
"Have we any notes about doscoveries thus far or is the Portal a recent find? Any characteristics we will need to find our lost brother?"
Dreng nods at the questions asked by Skillgannon and Tatiana"Anumet Akrostera is a Kellishite scholar from Osirion. He is vey proud of his scholars robes of blue and gold and gets upset when people call him Kyra. Other than that I know little of him. Nigel Aldain has been working more closely with him he may know more and will bore you silly with the possibilities the portal holds given half a chance. Kreighton Aram can talk to him for hours"
"Well if you do have any further questions I am sure Nigel can answer them" says Dreng as he ushers you out of his office.
You head over to the Museum. You introduce yourselves to Nigel Aldain who has a disturbed expression, but looks slightly relieved now that help is at hand. “Thank the gods you’re finally here. It would appear something quite bizarre has happened to my new Pathfinder-turned-assistant, Anumet Akrostera, while we were researching the key to the newly discovered portal beneath the museum. I had warned Anumet that many corners of the museum hold mysteries that, as of yet, have never been looked into, but I’m afraid something got to him all the same, as the last time yesterday I saw him he was acting quite strangely, and he failed to return today. I fear something evil in the attics of the museum may have cursed him.” He fidgets with his silver rimmed spectacles
Nigel Fills in a bit more trying to answer all your questions “Well it began when a portal was discovered a couple days ago when the museum’s workmen were clearing the basement levels out to store more of the Blakros family’s treasures. It’s a door a bit bigger than a human, and its bizarre decorations made my stomach churn just looking at them. You’re welcome to have a look for yourself if you wish.”
“Anyway Anumet was very intrigued by this door and was exploring the museum’s attics and towers looking for clues about the key to this portal in the museum’s catacombs. This morning, he went up to the attic for a long time, and when he came down, he acted strangely, as if he didn’t recognize anyone. His voice was hoarse and the words he used were bizarre and archaic. He kept rambling about Ralzeros the Overwatched, but nothing he said made sense.”
“He made for the catacombs and stared at the portal we’ve been trying to unlock for some time. I don’t think he realized I was still there, and I followed him around the other areas in the catacombs, where he seemed to be desperately searching for something. When he couldn’t find it, he was furious. Anumet avoided me after that, but I saw him look something up in our copy of Jackdaw’s History of the True Art, a book about famous wizards and astrologers. He took the book with him and ran out of the museum. I didn’t dare follow him, and haven’t seen him since.”
In a rather peeved tone Nigel continues “I have not had chance to study that book properly. It does discuss Ralzeros the Overwatched quite a bit. Forae Logos is the only other place I can think that would have a copy.”
“As for the Attics, they’re too rickety and awkward for any practical use these days, but they’ve been there since the Blakros family bought the place. Tales say that Ralzeros the Overwatched put machines there that he used to observe the stars and heavens above. Judging by how strangely everything up there is laid out, I suspect that the stories are right when they say he was insane.”
“I’m not sure where he went in the attics, but you might be able to follow his trail in the dust. The attics are filthy. I have no plans to climb that ladder any time soon ”
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SKilgannon heartily claps Nigel on the shoulder as they enter the museum, forgetting his own strength as he does so. Looking around at the Museum's reception area he nods at the collection here and at the signs leading off.
"Wonderful," he says with a hint of sarcasm, "When you say 'strange' what do you mean? And what were you both messing with?"
At the talk of strange happenings, the Gladiator reaches behind himself and unhooks the spear from his back, holding it loosely in his left hand.
Nigel collects his glasses that were sent flying by Skilgannons tap on the shoulder.
"Well if you must see the portal" Nigel leads you down into the catacombs, revealing a passageway hidden behind apparently solid stone. At the passage’s end stands a gleaming doorway, copper in color, inlaid with malachite, and covered with intricate arabesques. No obvious handle or lock is visible.
themselves in an ill-conceived maze of crawlspaces, attics, and tower chambers, each connected by stairs, ladders, and cramped walkways. Reeking of vermin droppings, sagging walkways and cramped stairwells connect the museum’s winding upper levels. Stifling heat fills the sealed-off rooms and crannies, and cracked and rotten boards pop and creak at the slightest touch. Dry-rotted debris lies heaped atop broken furniture and shattered crates in the long-disused chambers. Boot prints make an uncertain and winding trail through the thick dust on the attic’s floors. See map on slide 2 (Click on the echoes link in my tag line for slides map)
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Jasper, wary of his embarrassment on the last adventure, does not look long at the door.
"Thanks for looking closer. I wonder what strange force is at work?"
"I am prepared to go up to the attic. It might be best if I took only my bow and quiver, and left my other weapons and pack down here, but I'm fairly quick on my feet. Would anyone else care to take point?"
If the others agree, Jasper will take a place towards the front of the group. Akter and Darven look like good, sound lead-types to him.
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Skilgannon shrugs, taking little interest in the portal after Nigel's dire warnings about it. At Jasper's suggestion he drops his pack and spare weapons, keeping only his daggers and gauntlets, thinking the Ranseur would merely get in the way.
"I am happy to take point, I will stick my head up first and look around before climbing in. I will call if it seems clear."
With that the Gladiator dons his ceremonial mask before climbing the ladder with confidence.
After a moment he pulls himself up and looks around, Dagger in hand.
It is hot and rickety up here." he calls down "but clear of immediate threat. I will step away from the ladder bow for the next person, be prepared to duck."
He also listens for any odd sounds.
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Intrigued by the portal, Tatiana follows Dúrland in the basement.
I see it too. But except for that nothing of interest. May be Anumet's spririt was taken by an ancient evil kept at bay by this Ralzeros?
Let's find what he found in the attic.
Tatiana follows Skilgannon, waiting for his go before climbing up.
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Darven drops his bag next to the ladder before going up, keeping his long sword and shield with him. He makes it to the top and places his shield on his arm, but keeps his sword in its scabbard.
As soon as Darven's head clears the landing he takes a look around. He finishes the climb and starts to move into the room leaving room for the others. He pulls his wayfinder from his pocket and activates it lighting the area.
The party led by Skilgannon and Derven soon make thier way to where a once secret door has been opened. (the frieze on the plaster wall beside you continued over the door). The rotten wood gives an ominous creak and although it appears to bear the weight of one scholar neither Skilgannon nor Derven think it will bear much more.
The area inside the yellow box is the dangerous bit It could possibly be strengthened by a disable device check or you will have to enter the room beyond one at a time. I have removed the footprint trail and one of the masks to give you some indication of the room beyond. but you can only see a fraction at the moment.
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Holding his breath as the floorboards groan and creak under their weight Skilgannon stops as he surveys the rotting floor before them. Not confident they will support the group he turns back to them.
"The flooring here is particularly weak, anyone have the skills to reinforce it? Else we must be careful and make sure the first has passed before the next one crosses."
If anyone volunteers, the Gladiator moves back to allow them room, however if none are able he will slowly and carefully move across the boards.
With no one with the ability to shore up the walkway Skilgannon moves to the door and looks into the room beyond. He sees strange, organic-looking patterns wind across the walls and ceiling of this chamber, and the stone walls look as though they had grown winding tendrils that enshroud the area. At the chamber’s center stands a massive, rust-covered device of gears and arms about fifteen feet across. The end of each arm supports a different colored sphere. Strange projections and barbed arrows point through each of the globes, their directions seemingly random. Opposite from the chamber’s entrance, a naked and clearly dead body of a Kellish man is impaled by such a rust-red arrow Its skull cracked open at the top. The corpse faces a gray, wooden door, which stands ajar.
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Stepping into the room and away from the rotting floorboards, Skilgannon sighs as he sees the figure impaled upon the device before them. Shaking his head he calls out to his allies, dagger drawn warily.
"I believe we have found our missing ally and Nigel has been fooled. Any of you scholarly types able to discern this thing?"
He also looks out for traps more mundane in nature.
Initative
Perception (dc 18 to spot)
The party enters the room carefully. Tatiana approaches the body as she does so Blue energy crackles across the bodies wounds before shooting towards her
Skilgannon hear the sound of something squishy being eaten. and you all have a horrific vision that invades their minds. In the vision,
a withered humanoid figure with an elongated, pointed tongue bursts forth from the gray door and grabs the then living Anumet, subsequently tearing him apart with its jagged claws and teeth. As the terrifying vision fades, the monster hisses, “The gate shall soon open!”
Initiative Bold to act
Skilgannon(surprise round action only)
Jasper
Durland
Tatiana
Darven
Akter
Haunt (again)