Venture-Captain Drandle Drenge, a stout and hardy Taldan with thin, graying hair and a thick, bushy mustache, unfurls a map on his butcher-block table and places a meaty finger on the parchment. “The abandoned district of Beldrin’s Bluff was once the gem of Absalom’s Precipice District—now it is but a weathered crag of broken rock at the edge of the roiling sea. When the great quake hit ten years ago, entire blocks of the Bluff sheared from the mainland. Cliffside tearooms and exclusive estates fell into the waves and carried hundreds of nobles to a watery grave. An elite academy, called the Tri-Towers Yard, remained on the mainland, but sank wholesale into the earth. Children unfortunate enough to survive the quake lay pinned under debris as sewer water slowly rose from the ground and drowned them. Nearly every student perished."
“Today, crumbled stone walls and weed-filled lots sprawl where gentlemen’s clubs once filled with pipe smoke and hobnobbing lords. The Drownyard—er, that’s what the illmannered call the school these days—lies behind a fence of black iron pikes, constructed by the families of the dead to discourage morbid trespassers."
“Even respected archaeological groups have been denied official access. Our own Society has itched to explore the site ever since the quake—that is, ever since we discovered that the school fell through the roof of a lost necropolis. Unfortunately, the emotional trauma attached to the school has remained fresh. But finally, after ten years of mourning, the politically-connected families of dead students have sanctioned our delve request.”
With a toothy smile and a clap, Drenge says, “I’m pleased to announce that I’ve selected your team for the delve. I want you to find a way into the necropolis, document your findings with professional detail, and recover artifacts of historical significance. The Society is interested in one artifact in particular—a two-finger ring topped with a ruby salamander.”
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"A lost necropolis!?" An exceptionally dark-hued and sharp-featured Wayang's response to the briefing would, were it most any other race, be described as "lighting up." "I thank you for such a privilege, Captain Dreng! Do we know who built it? Have we any idea of how old it is? And what is this ring?" He pauses, as though an afterthought has caught him off-guard, and his next question is spoken with caution rather than enthusiasm. "What has become of the noble children's corpses?"
Xasay wears his indigo hair in an elegant mane, and his eyes, though many folk cannot help but mistake them for mirror-like platinum-white, are in fact radiant infrared. He wears a modest teak breastplate over jolly and clownish (by Wayang standards) exotic garb. His left forearm is covered by a lovingly-polished buckler of black steel, and below that he carries a dense bundle of the hallmark stylized metal stencils of his race in a sweatless death-grip.
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A tengu sets up camp near the fireplace for a goodly bit without complaint, her masterfully crafted black and green leather lamellar armor drying slowly but not cracking under the sudden heat.
Her feathers are dyed somewhat oddly, it would seem, with white feathers blending into brown plumage, with a ring of black around her neck, which serves as a base for the wooden chain bearing a wooden symbol.
This symbol is a hand bearing a willow staff, with a ring of black feathers around the wrist. It would appear to be a symbol of Andoletta (Grandmother Crow), for those who are familiar.
"You mentioned the politically connected have finagled this. What about the not-so-connected? Are there any particular groups that are outspoken against this expedition, or have promised to bring it ill?"
She considers quietly for a moment.
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Sounds fun. Hopefully this trip underground won't result in a sewer like last time, eh Andrietta?
The halfling strides in, dropping his pack to the floor and then using it as a headrest as he lays out next to the fireplace and his tengu friend, watching the venture captain as he explains the mission.
So wait, when it fell into the ground, it fell into a necropolis? Geez, that place couldn't catch a break for nothin', could it?
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"Grandmother provided in that case, thankfully. It's amazing what some kind words and some understanding can do to help find alternate ways of doing things, isn't it, Hennet? Of course, we won't have the power-bard with us, but this group is looking pretty solid too."
After the halfling's outburst the tengu shakes her head.
"Either that, or something really had it in for them. We'll prob'ly be finding out about that on our little trip."
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The muscular half-orc in well maintained armor looks at the map and cracks his neck with a tilt of his head.
"This wont be to hard a simple walk though the catacombs eh. Well if it was sealed after the cave in then they might still be there broken and rotted through, sad if that's the case. Yes that is a good question what of others that might be sneaking in to raid this tomb"
"yes small one a sad way to meet your end, we can hope their death was quick when they hit and not and painful one"
Vires turns to the tengu and give a small nod in greeting "My name is Vires Sangre, what is yours"
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"Andrietta Ebonfeather. Andri works if we're taking fire, or 'hey, you', or anything that gets the point across and isn't too rude. Don't expect anyone to try and stumble through all that trying to tell me to duck."
She motions to the halfling.
"And this gentleman here is Hennet Starstrike. He hits hard for his size and I'm glad to back him -- and now you, too -- up on this upcoming expedition."
There's a bit of a glance to the exuberant wayang. "Haven't had a chance to get properly introduced to this fellah yet, but I'm sure it'll happen in time. Grandmother providing, and all."
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The intense looking human in the corner shakes his head. "Is the place still flooded? Last thing I'd like is another mission where I have to swim and try and use magic to breathe water for hours at a time! That was a damned nightmare," he grumbles as he listens to the VC.
At hearing the others doing their introductions, Fahd turned to the others and curtly responded, "Call me Fahd."
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"Swim? Really? I don't swim."
A small, feisty halfling with spiky purple hair and violet colored eyes is behind the voice.
"But exploring a sunken part of the city, now that sounds fun! I would also like to introduce you all to my dog..." she points to a small, blue, serpentine creature with big black eyes, large floppy ears, and arms. "This is Scritch. He don't bite. Well, as long as you don't make him mad. He is pretty sneaky, and fun to play with." The small eidolon takes a bow, and grins with a large, sharp-toothed grin.
"Oh! And look at these! I call these 'kabooms', cause ya know, they go kaboom when I throw them. I am getting better at throwing, ya know..."
"Oooo! A ring! That sounds pretty!"
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Hennet pokes his head up from off his pack to look around at the introductees and gives each a small wave.
Thanks Andrietta! She's got the right of it, though. I'm here to make things stop moving when they need to, with Desna's blessing. That, and to explore. I can't wait to uncover the secrets we'll find in there!
His head flops back down onto his pack, and he starts humming a little tune known to halflings as "The Wanderer's Song".
“Moldering texts tell of a coastal necropolis, rich with ancient treasures. There is no indication in the texts of who built it or why. Until the Tri-Towers Yard sank, no one knew the necropolis’s location. What you will find down there is anyone’s guess. Rumors abound that Beldrin’s Bluff is full of the restless dead, and I’m sure that applies double to the Drownyard. As to whether the place is still flooded, no one knows. That’s what we are sending you to find out. However, no one expects you to explore any flooded areas. If you find them, report back, and we will send a more experienced team out in the future.”
”There are several groups who have been trying to obtain permission to enter the ruins. It was only recently that the Pathfinder Society was granted that privilege. The news of this has been kept pretty quiet though, so as not to raise any eyebrows. I don’t expect any overt interference, but do keep your eyes open.”
“The ring does indeed have a bit of an interesting story. In ancient times, a wealthy merchant cut a ruby salamander ring from the hand of young cat burglar named Horastian. Horastian later became a renowned information broker and art collector. The Pathfinder Society hopes to magically locate the long-dead thief and his fabled hoard by using the ring as a divination focus.”
Drandle Drenge pulls an iron key from his waistcoat. “I leave you with the key to the Drownyard gate. Remember, the Drownyard is a deeply personal site for many powerful Inner Sea families. You will tread upon the graves of their children. Be sure to give the site the respect it deserves.”
As the group is leaving, a household page in fine livery approaches the party. He hands the group a note written on delicate (but expensive) parchment. Dinner Invitation After delivering the message, he turns on his heels and walks away without uttering a word.
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Kelsier Palance is a spry, strong-looking man man of above-average height. He seems to carry an inordinate quantity of various weapons and adventuring gear. He is quiet throughout the briefing, simply observing his companions and absorbing the venture-captain's instructions.
He frowns when they receive the invitation. "Finery." He sighs. "Shopping time."
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"I don't know about you all, but the party sounds a lot more fun than wading through a floating graveyard. Still, just think about what we might find!"
"There were a lot of spoiled..er... privileged kids at the Tri-Towers Yard academy when the quark hit. I expect we will find some of their remains... kids... yah, party sounds more fun."
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"This is probably going to involve getting wet. Everyone be sure to bring stuff to dry out your gear, holy water is probably a good idea, too."
Andrietta will impart the knowledge in case anyone else isn't aware of what the situation is, so they can make appropriate plans.
When Andrietta shops for her 'fine garments' she also makes sure that they can be worn over her masterwork-quality armor just in case, perhaps even incorporating the armor into the outfit...
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Hennet sighs.
A party. Sounds dull. Gotta do it though. Fancy a bit of clothes shopping, Andrietta?
He stands up, and slings his pack over his shoulder. Then, he adjusts his rapier and nods to the other party members.
Welcome aboard. I'm Hennet, and this is my friend Andrietta. Over there is Leepo. Nice to meet you both.
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"I would much rather minister to the needs of the poor and downtrodden in the worst parts of town than attend some fancy shin-dig, honestly. Parties tend to be stodgy sorts of things where people with coin lament about how horrible it is that there's no one to take their coin to do their work for their usually tedious and unwanted work. Most of them probably never worked an honest day in their lives. But part of the mission is to *respect the noble families* so it'd seem that yes, we've got to do this thing. Still going to keep on guard, though."
The tengu nods to Hennet. "Yes, I'm going to try and get some custom work done... and sorry about the abrupt introductions! Andrietta Ebonfeather, humble servant of Grandmother Crow."
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"The concern would be is if our expedition was extended by any of a number of means and we missed the party. Same token, having something to impart to the families would be useful. Tough call, though my gut is set on the hope that the nobility involved might provide some better idea of what the situation is?"
She'll nod to the other tengu and offer a slightly breathy raucous combination of consonants and vowels...
After a bit of shopping and sprucing up for those who choose to do so, you arrive at the address on the invitation to find a sprawling estate surrounded by a tall, wrought-iron fence and overly decorated in statuary, fountains, and a carefully landscaped garden. The interior of the Dacilane house exhibits a new level of over-the-top opulence, with gilded furniture, painted ceilings, gold-spun wallpaper, and valuable Chelish rugs that, if sold, could easily feed a family in the Puddles District for a year.
You are greeted in the foyer by the Lady Dacilane, a short, plump, dark-haired woman of Chelish descent. Although she is extremely polite and proper, you can tell she is uncomfortable dealing with people of your social station. You do detect the tone of sadness she coveys is very much real. Throughout the passage of the ten-course meal, she focuses the conversation on small talk, pointedly avoiding the subject of her daughter and the Tri-Towers Yard.
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As tempted as she is to push the conversation towards the meat of the matter, Andrietta resists that urge. This is a big dinner with proper fittings and the sort, and the woman providing the meal is poorer for having lost her family member.
Despite having the outfit plus jewelry and the social graces to go with dealing with others by the blessing of Andoletta, she understands the reluctance of the noblewoman. It's the same reluctance that most of the party had to go to the dinner in the first place.
It's probably obvious that this is all levels of awkward for her, too, though she tries to cover it a bit better than the hostess.
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Hennet sighs.
Well, let's get this over with then...
The Halfling settles on a black outfit, with a purple undershirt, and matching purple accents, including a dark amethyst ring and earring. He keeps his chain shirt on underneath his outfit, as well as his rapier on his hip. The rapier, however, matches the ensemble quite nicely as its pommel has a butterfly shaped amethyst stone set in it. His holy symbol stays on his neck, and is visible.
Lets hope this is enough to impress the rich folks. I feel like a clown.
During the dinner, he tells stories of his, Guntir's, and Andrietta's adventures with the Pathfinder's with much embellishment, including, but not limited to, using a loaf of bread as a sword to illustrate just how he skewered a Dretch in the sewers.
He remains polite, and does his best to not address the Tri Towers Yard until the hostess brings it up.
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Guntir gives a jerk of his head and a loud grunt of recognition at Hennet and Andrietta. "'s good to see ya' again. Glad to see you're still kicking."
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Guntir acquires a finely crafted set of clothes in the style of the Five Kings Dwarves, accented with stout Dwarven jewelry. When the others see him as they gather for the dinner, he looks like he would blend in well with the entourage of a Dwarven noble. Guntir keeps quiet throughout the meal, nodding politely at the Lady's comments and answering any of her questions. He does, however, seem to greatly enjoy the spirits served over the course of the meal, and compliments the host on their quality.
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Guntir gives a jerk of his head and a loud grunt of recognition at Hennet and Andrietta. "'s good to see ya' again. Glad to see you're still kicking."
Hennet beams as his dwarven ally enters.
Guntir! Good to see you! I hope the assignments you got were easy enough... Andrietta and I had a pretty gnarly one, that's for sure. Not sure if I'm allowed to share too much of it, though. There were a few... private matters involved.
The halfling seems to be in great spirits, due to adventuring with friends. He seems quite close to Andrietta, asking her opinion frequently whilst shopping, and walking with her as they visit various stores. That doesn't mean he ignores the others in his group, though. He talks plenty enough that they all get a piece of the "Hennet Experience".
Lady Dacilane listens politely to Hennet's stories, although you detect mild disapproval in some of her reactions. Toward the end of the dinner, she finally broaches the subject of her daughter and the TriTowers Yard.
“My daughter Junia was one of so many children lost. Hundreds of them pinned under the rubble in that sinkhole. The black water rising—the kids screaming.” She quiets for a moment. “None of us could get to them.”
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"Just as important, do any particular details remain stuck in your mind from that horrific day that didn't seem to fit? Any small detail could be the difference in attending to what you seek and not being able to..." The tone is gentle -- not coddling, but not harsh, either.
The motherly tengu nods thoughtfully as she looks to someone who has lost her hatchling. Those sorts of memories don't fade easily or gently...
"Anything...anything at all. Any word or sign of her that you find, please tell me. I've learned nothing since that fateful day, and I miss her terribly."
"I do remember that Junia once mentioned that some of the lesser children—not my Junia mind you— would skip class to tell ghost stories by
candlelight in an abandoned corridor beneath the school. Beyond that, I really can't tell you anything more about the place."
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Guntir nods slowly, then bows. "I thank you for the meal and fine spirits, m'lady. I hope we can find something that will bring you comfort."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"No, I don't need any mementos. Just bring me word of my daughter."
The meal comes to a close, and the Lady herself sees the group to the door.
"Thank you for coming. Good luck with your explorations, and please, any word or sign of Junia, let me know."
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Hennet sighs with relief as he gets changed back into his adventuring gear.
I felt ridiculous in that get-up... It feels good to be back in my travelling leathers, ya know?
He adjusts his rapier among his belt pouches and hefts his pack.
Well, let's be off. Time's a wastin' and a bored Pathfinder is a useless Pathfinder... At least according to Master Dreng, anyway.
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"You and me both, Hennet. That was not the kind of thing I want to repeat any time soon if it can be helped. Poor woman probably can't talk with anyone about it, probably been suffering all this time in silence hoping that someday..."
She shakes her head then gives an approving nod to Guntir.
"So what's this rumor I heard about you taking out a minotaur or something crazy like that?"
Andrietta will also translate into Tengu for Taicho.
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"Aye, we encountered a minotaur on t' way to explore some caves beneath Kortos. Our halfling guide, a wee brave lass, lead him away so we could explore the caves. A few hours later we came out t' other side t' find 'em both still at it, though mighty worn down. I made my way down t' hillside to them. Planted my feet a moment, then made a charge at the big brute and set my axe right between his eyes. I kept his head fer a memento." He sighs.
"Had to pass t' axe on though. Needed something with a little more wingspan." be pats his Dwarven longhammer.
-Posted with Wayfinder
After the somber and somewhat odd dinner party, the party heads out to regroup for the next morning’s explorations.
Beldrin’s Bluff is a rotting ghost town at the edge of a hungry sea. Throughout the derelict landscape, seagulls perched on splintered timbers reflect your passage in their glassy black eyes. Overhead, dark clouds move ashore with the promise of a storm. The Drownyard is on the west side of Beldrin’s Bluff. As you approach the site of the former school, you see a fence of black iron pikes surrounding a block-wide yard. Dead tree branches reach out from the fence like the arms of emaciated prisoners desperate to escape. A man is on the inside, cutting the trees down. Some of the dismembered branches remain, stuck in place by knotty elbows swollen around the iron.
The man looks up from his sawing and watches the group approach. His thinning hair is matted and sweaty. Beyond him, partially collapsed buildings and three whitewashed towers lean in a lake-filled yard.
