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Almost surprisingly the discouraged Pathfinders respond well to Antonella's cheer-up, though they appeared quite reluctant at first. "I don't know... shouldn't you ask someone with more experience? Well, you have a point there, lass. Cooperate? Wait, it isn't haunted, is it? Our last experience in Ustalav was... Aspis you say? Well, I suppose we could do something about it. Men, on your feet. Let's give these Aspis the taste of a good Pathfinder blade! Explore, Report, Cooperate!" he echoes after Tuna. With those inspiring words, the half-elf's team moves out, with the clear intent to fight for what they stand for.
At some distance, a gruff dwarf glares at you. Coming to you, he starts shouting. "Hey you! Yes, you lass! Who put you in charge? The Pathfinder charter clearly forbids Pathfinder agents to give orders to other field agents. We're all equals here. Don't you dare tell me what I should do! You're no Venture-Captain."
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"Dwarves and Pathfinders aren't supposed to be cowardly idiots either, but it seems that memo didn't get circulated her or back at home, did it?" Stag says as he bristles at the dwarf's words.
"The Aspis are attacking. Now get your fat ass into the grounds and draw your warhammer or I will toss you out there myself!" the man bellows as he looms over the irate dwarf.
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"uh-oh... usually not the best way to deal with a dwarf..."
"Come on now... he might have been harsh but you know he's telling the truth. We need to cooperate if we want to suceed here. The very existance of the Society might be threatened today! Listen to what Antonella said and show everyone what are true pathfinders made of!" says Rogar trying to help Antonella convince the reluctant pathfinders to shake out of their torpor
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The dwarf appears surprised by Antonella's argument, but he doesn't say anything except: "I... Aye, you're right I guess, lass. What do you need help with?"
You come across a band of Pathfinders who scowl at you as you approach the building known as the Repository. From the looks of it, they don't seem too pleased with guarding that place.
"Hey, you there! Come over here and take over, will you? This building needs to be guarded at all costs. There are far better uses for our team of considerable talent. Why don’t you guard the stone building with no doors and windows? We’ll capture that giant two-headed vulture!" argues their leader, a gorgeous aasimar dressed in embroidered silk robes.
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"Whaaaat???? Of all things why does she want to do that now???"
"That's kind of you to ask my lady... but I fear I'm not used dancing while wearing the tools of my trade..." says Rogar trying to change the subject.
Anyway I think Stag's point is well made: STOP TRYING TO SKIP YOUR DUTIES AND SO AS YOU WERE TOLD!"[/b]
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Kalista is most perplexed by this form of 'diplomacy', but having nothing better to offer, remains silent and lets the oddities continue.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Stag leaps into the center of the area and grabs Tuna's legs, carting her around the open grass area. "Waiter! I think these fools need the check because they're gettin' served!" yells Stag into the air.
After driving Tuna around, Stag releases her feet and begins to pop and lock in front of the a+$%*$@ Pathfinders. "Oh... yeah... suck it... In your face!" punctuates each movement.
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The aasimar is flabbergasted by Tuna's acrobatics antics, but that hardly manages to convince her of anything. Unfortunately, neither Stag nor Rogar manage to make them understand the meaning of their duties.
"I knew we could count on you. We're off to slay the dragon!" and with those words, they abandon their post and disappear into the crowded mess of the Grand Lodge Yard.
A Pathfinder messenger - probably a new recruit by his looks - reaches you, panting. "Venture-Captain Ivulxtin sent me - there's trouble at the gates, you're needed there!"
Following him, you find yet another team of agents in dire need of leadership. A halfling girl looking completely at a loss for words or directions is there, clad in a scale armor so shiny and pristine that it has probably never seen any use in battle yet. She's the apparent leader of a band of five other agents who stand there, awaiting orders from her. Yet the orders do not come.
When she sees you, she almost throws herself in Stag's arms. "I'm so glad you came, you surely know what is to be done. There are Absalom city guards out there, but we've been ordered to stall them. The only thing is that I haven't got the slightest idea of what to do. I've been trained to dig archaeological sites, not meddle in city politics!"
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"It comes in waves." Stag says cryptically to Rogar.
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"You could do all of that..." Stag says as Tuna goes on a paladin-adjacent rant. "Or you can tell the guards to get lost. The Society is basically an embassy and they need a warrant signed by Lord Gyr before they step foot in here." Stag says.
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Antonella's pep talk is just enough to give enough confidence to the young Pathfinder, but Stag's argument proves to be the weapon she'll have at her side. Rising to her feet, she moves forward with assurance, and manages to convince the guards that they won't be allowed to enter if no warrant is presented. The city guards grunt, but do not remain there for long, preferring to pull back for now.
"Wow, that was something!" says the now-enthusiastic agent. "That turned out pretty well, thanks to you! I think I'll be able to manage the task I've been assigned. I'm grateful for your words and advice."
The beauty of the Grand Lodge’s well-manicured grounds is shattered by the sounds of shouts and screams from panicked initiates, support staff, and visitors. Frightened innocents trip over hedges and stumble through fountains and pools in an effort to get to safety by the most direct means possible, especially when the landscaping otherwise leads them to certain peril.
Suddenly, you see two blue-furred cats that are chasing the fleeing guests! They stop as they see you, ready to pounce.
The two cats are the first to react, and disappear out of sight! The phase out, but you distinctively feel *something* running and tearing through you. Claws rip your guts from the inside, leaving a terrible pain.
The Menagerie Runs Amok - round 1
1. Cat creatures
2. Rogar, Stag, Kalista, Antonella
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Kalista avoids some of the damage from the unseen cats. "Watch out! Those are..."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Preternaturally, Stag pivots out of the way of the stampeding cats, avoiding the brunt of the attack.
Stag draws his greatsword as he darts around Rogar and sets up a flank with Kalista. "Draw a dagger or something!"
Ready to strike when a flank is established, Stag swings his greatsword at that opportune moment.
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"...pards! Very fast! Very bad! They'll shift out of phase to run right through you! Just like that! Use magic weapons if you have 'em, but don't use fire or electricity!"
I wish I had prepared something OTHER than those two elements...
She steps back and throws two magic orbs which transform into two small birds which dive at the blue pard.
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Rogar avoids the creature's attack and reacts instantly by taking a swing at it, but fails to hit the creature.
Both of Kalista's birds fly and dive at one of the pards, hitting it.
Stag is taken completely by surprise, and is stunned by the pard's onslaught.
Antonella also chooses to eschew her defenses in favor of an opportunity to strike at the pard, but her whistling fist only meets thin air. The Iroran strikes twice more, but only one of her blows manages to hit the elusive creature.
The blue-furred pard shifts slightly, flanking Antonella, before lashing out at her with claws and fangs.
The other cat also focuses his attacks on the Iroran threatening it.
The Menagerie Runs Amok - round 2
1. Cat creatures (blue 14 / red 0)
2. Rogar, Stag, Kalista, Antonella
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As Rogar yells that he has the southern pard under control, Stag moves to flank the northern pard with Tuna. "Distract it, Tuna!"
He tries to leap over the flowers and tumble behind Kally to avoid a swipe from the catlike creature before bringing his own greatsword to bear. "Paardon me!" he yells with a chuckles as he swings down the greatsword in a huge arc.
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With a formidable blow, Rogar slays the red-furred pard!
Kalista's missile almost manages to kill of the other one. It lashes at the wizardess with its claws and fangs!
Unfortunately, Antonella and Stag both miss their mark.
The Menagerie Runs Amok - round 3
1. Pards (blue 19)
2. Rogar, Stag, Kalista, Antonella
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The thunder of hooves nearby captures your attention as Seelah of Katapesh, Paladin of Iomedae, rides by. A host of Pathfinders in her wake spread out in every direction combing the area for enemies, Pathfinders in need, and the wounded.
Seelah draws up her steed, pulling it around to face you.
She says "Blessings and well met, Pathfinders! You look as if you have more trouble heading your way."
She tosses you lot a whistle, like the ones you've seen soldiers on the field of battle use to direct troops.
She then says "If you are ever in need of aid, blow the whistle and Pathfinders within earshot will come to your assistance."
With waiting for a response she turns her horse about and thunders back off into the fray without waiting for a response.
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five forms.
Aid Another: A Pathfinder agent helps the PCs solve a puzzle, disable a trap, or accomplish some other task as if performing the aid another action for a PC.
Allied Offensive: A Pathfinder agent strikes a creature at the same time as the PC, increasing the damage dealt by one attack by 1d8 points. In addition, after the attack, the target is considered to be flanked until the beginning of the attacker’s next turn.
Burst of Healing: A Pathfinder agent heals all of the PCs of 1d6 points of damage. Alternatively, the agent can instead cast neutralize poison, remove curse, or remove disease with a caster level equal to the table’s APL (minimum 5).
Spellcasting Synergy: A Pathfinder agent casts a spell at the same time, increasing the save DC and caster level of a PC’s spell by 1.
Timely Inspiration: A Pathfinder agent provides the effects of a bard’s inspire courage bardic performance for 3 rounds. The competence bonus
is +1.
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A quick check allows the Pathfinders to ascertain that the Wall of Names hasn't been attacked - quite a relief, for the monument is the testimony of the many sacrifices agents made to bring the Society to where it is now. However, there seem to be some agitation near the statue of Durvin Gest, not too far from there.
This tall statue is cast in the likeness of Durvin Gest, the most famous Pathfinder of all time. Carved in a likeness of the adventurer in his later years—still dashing and bearing an assortment of scrolls and adventuring gear—the statue stares intently off into the distance. Beneath the statue, pedestals stand adorned with angelic figures and elaborate friezes showing some of the more memorable scenes from the Pathfinder’s long and celebrated career. There, the angelic figures, moving, wreak havoc in the ranks of the Pathfinders and their guests alike.
Monument Mayhem - round 1
1. Kalista, Rogar
2. Fallen Angels
3. Stag, Antonella
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Kalista flips through her mental rolodex of creatures to come to the entry for these things. "I know an animated object when I see one! They're too hard to hurt normally with weapons. And see if you can't use charms and enchantments! Oh! And most importantly, don't blink! Blink and you're dead! These things are fast! Faster than you can believe! Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink!"
Not having much options here and wanting to reserve her magic, Kalista draws her longbow and fires a shaft at the northern angel.
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A dull hum emanates from Skyreach as the ground trembles, trees sway, and glass shatters. A moment later, most of Skyreach’s northwest tower tears free from the keep; however, rather than crash to the ground, a visible aura holds the structure aloft and causes it to float above the Grand Lodge. Even the shower of stone blocks floats, swirling around the airborne tower in a nimbus of speeding debris.