Recently, You have all been summoned to deal with a very unusual case. A semi-retired pathfinder by the name of Kalkamedes has been struck be an unusual condition and you have been summoned to his home where Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch waits.
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch glances out a window as the last wisps of twilight fade over the Fenwall Mountains. Turning from the sight, she runs her hand along the rustic cabin’s wall and stands beside an occupied wooden bed before addressing you.
“This,” the venture captain says, gesturing to the man thrashing around violently, straining against the bonds that lash him securely to the bed, [/b]“is our colleague, Kalkamedes. Every night for several weeks now, he has fallen into a deep slumber and tried to sleepwalk right out of his cottage. If not restrained, he marches straight north, eventually falling off a cliff or into a bog as if trying to get himself killed in an attempt to reach an unknown goal.”[/b] As though he were expressing disagreement, the man tied to the bed suddenly begins pumping his limbs even harder, the violent spasms threatening to smash the bed into splinters.
“There are those who have recently criticized the Pathfinders for our indifference to the plight of our fellow field agents. It’s time to show that’s not true. I want you to help Kalkamedes, whether he wants it or not. Several of our best spellcasters have attempted an extensive list of magical cures, but whatever sleepwalking curse or effect he’s under tenaciously resists our efforts. All we can do is keep him safe.” Heidmarch pats him with a degree of professional affection, and Kalkamedes rewards her by trying to swat her with his head.
“Kalkamedes’s friends are at their wits’ end, so we are going to attempt the only thing that we have not tried: we’re going to let him go tonight. That’s where you come in. I want you to follow him and keep him safe and in one piece. Let him get to wherever his addled brain thinks he needs to go so badly. Maybe, just maybe, if he gets there, you can find a way to help him. Maybe you can determine who or what did this to him and find a way to undo it.” Heidmarch pulls out a serrated knife. “Now before I cut him free, does anyone have any questions or last minute preparations?”
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Tomas regarded his surroundings and out the window. "Pretty", he thought. Then he looked at Kalkamedes, thrashing about like the damned, and shuddered to think what did this to him.
"I don't know where this poor soul will lead us: wildernes, dungeon, den of iniquity ... ? I don't know how he'll like the situation or how cooperative he'll be. Is there anywhere we should go to stock up the right gear for this area before he leads us God knows where?"
He thought for a moment and added: "What is the right gear for these parts?"
Kalkamedes is a veteran Pathfinder, though his fame does not extend beyond southern Varisia. Although he is now semi-retired and only forwards the occasional report to the Decemvirate these days, his colleagues continue to respect him for his many prior accomplishments.
Late in his career, Kalkamedes developed an interest in lore of the ancient runelords and the rare heroes who dared to oppose the runelords’ tyranny. He relocated from Absalom to Varisia for the chance to further his study.
arly in his adventuring career, Kalkamedes swore the oaths to become a paladin and served as a staunch defender of the meek; however, years later he abruptly left his holy order. Few truly understood his decision.
Kalkamedes was sometimes seen carrying a broken sword. Few but his closest friends know that it is actually a sentient blade, and it and Kalkamedes were inseparable.
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From a shadowy corner of the room, a hooded man stirs causing a glint of candlelight to reflect off the light chain shirt that calmly rests beneath his cloak. Quietly the man listens as the Venture-Captain explains why the society has a vested interest in the vexed man in the bed. Resting on the floor, next to the hooded man foot, are a well-crafted backpack and a tightly strung composite longbow. After considering each of his new companion’s questions, the hooded man steps into the light and adds his voice to the quandary.
“My lady, with consideration of our location and the late hour, it would seem that provisioning for this upcoming challenge will not be possible. Just off the top of my head, I can think of a few basic items that would help a great deal in keeping this man safe as we move about. Would you happen to have any provisions that would help us on this investigation?”
The hooded man glances around the room considering his new companions. “Please excuse my rudeness. I am Thallin Quin. It would seem that we are to become allied in this observation.” Thallin retrieves the powerful looking bow that was leaning against the wall behind him, then waits patiently for the Venture-Captain’s reply.
"How far north have you followed him before?" the weathered looking elf asks. "And, while in his dream-state, does he ever speak?"
"We haven't followed him north before, that is why we have enlisted your help." she smiles towards you with a slow bow "In these states he does not speak. All he does is walk like a zombie with no direction besides north."
Tomas regarded his surroundings and out the window. "Pretty", he thought. Then he looked at Kalkamedes, thrashing about like the damned, and shuddered to think what did this to him.
"I don't know where this poor soul will lead us: wildernes, dungeon, den of iniquity ... ? I don't know how he'll like the situation or how cooperative he'll be. Is there anywhere we should go to stock up the right gear for this area before he leads us God knows where?"
He thought for a moment and added: "What is the right gear for these parts?"
At the mention of a den of iniquity she narrows her eyes, clearly insulted.
"I highly doubt it." she states dryly "You will not need any special clothing or equipment for these parts, but I do not know where he is going. However, I am certain he will have no objection to you looking around and taking things from his cabin to aid in the investigation. There might even be clues that you may understand better than I or the others."
From a shadowy corner of the room, a hooded man stirs causing a glint of candlelight to reflect off the light chain shirt that calmly rests beneath his cloak. Quietly the man listens as the Venture-Captain explains why the society has a vested interest in the vexed man in the bed. Resting on the floor, next to the hooded man foot, are a well-crafted backpack and a tightly strung composite longbow. After considering each of his new companion’s questions, the hooded man steps into the light and adds his voice to the quandary.
“My lady, with consideration of our location and the late hour, it would seem that provisioning for this upcoming challenge will not be possible. Just off the top of my head, I can think of a few basic items that would help a great deal in keeping this man safe as we move about. Would you happen to have any provisions that would help us on this investigation?”
The hooded man glances around the room considering his new companions. “Please excuse my rudeness. I am Thallin Quin. It would seem that we are to become allied in this observation.” Thallin retrieves the powerful looking bow that was leaning against the wall behind him, then waits patiently for the Venture-Captain’s reply.
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Thallin cautiously moves around the room looking for things that might be useful.
“Would it be possible to delay cutting him free until we have had ample time to investigate the area. We may come across some simple items, like rope, that would be useful. Also, as you have pointed out, there might be clues about his condition.”
Thallin cautiously moves around the room looking for things that might be useful.
[Dice=Perception] 1d20+6
“Would it be possible to delay cutting him free until we have had ample time to investigate the area. We may come across some simple items, like rope, that would be useful. Also, as you have pointed out, there might be clues about his condition.”
Having a look around the room you don't see too much, but searching through the wardrobe you find his outdoor clothing (an explorer's outfit) and a pair of strong boots.
A drawer in the end table, next to Kalkamedes' bed you find a series of unfinished charts mapping the Fenwall Mountains.
Inside the stove there is a discovery of a strange half-burnt picture drawn in rough with charcoal.
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"At a quick glance, I don't see much as fare as provisions. If anyone has any rope, we could tie it around Kalkamedes's waist and use it to prevent him from walking into hazards. I would also recommend someone scouting about 20-25 foot ahead."
Thallin spends a moment considering the sketch.
"I would agree that it looks like someone facing the place drew it. That's assuming it is a real place and not just something imagined up. I don't see anything discerning in the drawing that would indicate if it is a real location or not. If anyone knows anything about this, please speak up."
Thallin turns to the Venture-Capetian and holds out the drawing.
"Do you know anything about this?"
The Venture-Captain looks quite stumped as she looks at the drawing and just shrugs her shoulders.
"We had investigated up north for any hidden tomb or temple like that or of any importance, but we found nothing in our search. For all I know this place may only exist in his mind, but my experience as a pathfinder has taught me more. Perhaps he has to walk a certain path to find it or maybe it is hidden by some kind of magic? It's very rough, but even if it weren't I couldn't tell you anything about it." she has a look at what you have found so far and appears puzzled. "He has still been up to his old ways, but it appears you haven't found any of his travelling equipment. Not even his old sword and I swear the pair of them were inseparable."
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Tomas considers what the Venture-Captain said and wonders if there is anything else to be found before they leave.
"Sorry, can we first have another look around in case there's anything to be found we'll regret setting off without?"
He looks and feels under and around the bed, table, wardrobe and stove (careful not to get burnt on the last). When Kalkamedes is cut loose he might check under the pillows and mattress. Also, a quick check around the window area, inside and out, might be worthwhile.
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As he searches he says, without looking over: "Thallin, yes - I've a rope. Securing him might be worth a try, though it could prove a liability to the man he's tied to. Scouting ahead is a good idea. Keeping him boxed in could prevent us losing him: ahead and behind on closed-in paths, on both sides in the open."
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"I agree, If we encounter combat whoever is in charge of the rope will be occupied until they are able to secure it. I propose we secure him just the same. So fare, by the sound of it, he has fallen into a bog and almost fallen off a cliff. I think we should secure the rope around his waist and use it to avoid these natural hazards. If necessary, I will take the back end of the rope myself."
Thallin accepts the rope from Tomas and begins tying it around Kalkamedes's waist. Once the rope is secure, he loosens out about fifteen foot of the rope to allow Kalkamedes some slack to move.
Thallin looks over to Tomas and nods. "I think that should do it."
"His sword, you say?" Otieno repeats. Rubbing his chin, he calmly looks around the room in any common place a man would store his weapon.
[dice=Perception]1d20+8
looking around you manage to find a hidden leaver inside the stove where the picture was. Activating it reveals a hidden chest under the floor boards that appears to be locked.
As the lock is opened you discover many of Kalkamedes's old adventuring equipment. You find bracers of armor +1, a mud-splattered cloak of resistance +1, an elixir of swimming, a dried gourd containing a potion of cure light wounds and an irregularly-shaped mithral flask with jigsaw-like edges containing a potion of hide from undead. The razor-sharp flask doubles as a caltrop or an improvised dagger. At the bottom you find a Mithral +1 Allying longsword with a nasty crack in the centre of the blade, effectively making it have the broken condition.
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Thallin checks to make sure the rope is secure around Kalkamedes’s waist, then glances through the man’s adventuring gear.
After securing a few of the items, Thallin begins preparing Kalkamedes for the trip. First he secures what foot ware he can find onto the man’s feet. Then he places the bracers of armor on his wrists. Finally he places the cloak around Kalkamedes’s neck and then turns to the rest of the group.
"I do not need any of these other items. If anyone else wishes to carry them, please help yourself."
Thallin waits a moment for the group to split up the remaining items, then looks over to the Venture-Captain. “I believe we are ready.”
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Tomas collects up what's left of Kalkamede's gear and stows it in his pack along with the broken mithral sword.
'You never know ... ' he thought to himself, 'we might meet some magic along the way and a mithral sword would be a hell of an asset'.
He then wondered about meeting whatever broke a mithral sword and felt a bit less optimistic.
"Ready!", he said to the group.
Thallin checks to make sure the rope is secure around Kalkamedes’s waist, then glances through the man’s adventuring gear.
After securing a few of the items, Thallin begins preparing Kalkamedes for the trip. First he secures what foot ware he can find onto the man’s feet. Then he places the bracers of armor on his wrists. Finally he places the cloak around Kalkamedes’s neck and then turns to the rest of the group.
"I do not need any of these other items. If anyone else wishes to carry them, please help yourself."
Thallin waits a moment for the group to split up the remaining items, then looks over to the Venture-Captain. “I believe we are ready.”
You manage to get him dressed, despite how difficult it was with him fighting you at every moment.
As you travel and follow Kalkamedes there was a sudden stumble, however he appears fine thanks to the rugged boots and continue to march on.
Soon you find that ahead of Kalkamedes is a large patch of brambles. The spikes on it are very vicious and can cause some major damage to anyone walking through it and it's currently in Kalkamedes's way.