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Balinor decides that having made an impression with his intellect, and having at least shown that he has capability with his strength, decides to turn his attention towards creating a new mutagen so he can boost his strength again later if needed.
All the while, he is paying attention to the locations of his comrades. This seems like a safe place for all of them to be, but one can never be too careful.
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Girzog walks with Thomas to the animal pen, and watches as he practically forces the bird into submission without actions.
"Ah, I see you share my belief that some beasts will only back down if you make them. I'd like to give this a shot."
Girzog finds a large bear angrily bellowing and scratching at the metal pen keeping him from the crowd. Girzog goes into a barbaric rage and begins making physical motions and sounds with his claws that even a simple beast as the bear could understand his intent.
The bear responds somewhat aggressively, before backing down. Girzog calms himself down and steps away, seemingly glad the powers that be have finally sided with him in these evenets.
"For some beasts, there simply is no other option than fear."
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Girzog walks with Thomas to the animal pen, and watches as he practically forces the bird into submission without actions.
"Ah, I see you share my belief that some beasts will only back down if you make them. I'd like to give this a shot."
Thomas nods. "From time to time, yes, though some beasts can become great companions or guardians."
Seeing Girzog intimidate the bear, he laughs.
"That one will not be coming out of that corner for a while."
Girzog, Rilia and the Inspector participate in some more challenges before returning to the group while more Pathfinders stand in line to participate in the challenges.
Intimidate, or wild empathy check attempted during the adventure. Alternatively, the PC gains a +2 bonus on one attack roll against an animal or magical beast.
Sir Laribold Croome, an immaculately dressed Taldan nobleman scrambles for cover behind a table, which his halfling manservant helpfully flips onto its side. Catching his breath, the Taldan fumbles for his monocle before addressing the nearby Pathfinders. “Monsters and villains are attacking all over the grounds,” he states with perfect articulation, punctuated by a crossbow bolt that embeds itself in his makeshift barricade. “Spread out, patrol the grounds, and snuff out trouble as you find it. If you should discover any clues about what the devil is going on, report back here at the base of Skyreach.”
He pulls his sword cane free from its sheath and raises it overhead. “Look alive, and show initiative,” he shouts before performing an elaborate dueling salute in the direction of an elephant and setting off after it.
You jog of towards the north-eastern quadrant and
The Grand Lodge’s campus is overrun with marauders and monsters, while support staff, initiates, and visitors run in peril for their lives. Yet, nearby groups of Pathfinders cluster together and argue about what to do about it, which team should stand back and support the other, and who has the best idea of what is happening. A venture-captain approaches from the direction of Skyreach. You recognize him as venture-captain Janiff Ivulxtin,the former head administrator for the Grand Lodge. Janiff nods curtly "You lot, get over here!"
You gather around the man "Many of the venture-captains are busy investigating the potential source and goals of the attack, we alone cannot coordinate the masses of Pathfinder agents in the Grand Lodge. As a result, there is a vacuum of leadership, and I need dependable agents to remind your colleagues that the Society’s motto includes the word “cooperate.”
He points to two buildings "The repository and the Center House have their own have wards and defenses, but should still be cordoned off and protected from the outside. The Society also has a number of visitors and guests who should be escorted safely off grounds and reassured that everything is under control. Finally, Absalom’s district guards needs to be stalled at the front gates before they overrun the campus and make a mess of everything. These are important tasks but are not necessarily heroic. However it needs to be done and I need you to convince others to take care of these tasks. Get going, I need to get other things moving.
The Venture Captain moves back to the direction of Skyreach and you look around and see several teams of pathfinder that are still undecided what needs to be done.
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Kryas stands atop a chair or whatever else he can find to give himself some height, looking out at all the undecided teams and groups.
Everyone move! the forces of Darkness encroach upon your homes amd loved ones go do what must be done. the brown hairs man speaks with strength in his voice as he stares out into the nervous groups.
he returns to his own group, lets go there's work to be done
Your fellow pathfinders look up to Kryas "We are deliberating what needs to be done, we will get to it once we have decided!"
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Thomas nods, agreeing.
"We all wish to see the day end good, no?
Those of muscle, supported by magics, would be great to keep the guards away and guard the repository & guard house, guards, something we can do without sometimes, while the stealthy can sneak away the guests.
If they intrude upon our day off, then why not show them what we are good at? Challenge accepted, say i, to prove just that."
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Getting angry at the lack of action from some of the Pathfinders, and focusing on ones he recognizes from the weight lifting challenge
"You fools, this is not the time for deliberation, this is the time for action. Do you not see the evil raining down on us? Make your way to the Repository and Center House. They have some defenses of their own, but this may be more than they can handle without our help."
To Pathfinders from the trapfinding and obstacle course challenges
"And you! If you're just standing around here trying to decide what to do, get the guests out of the area, and do it with the utmost speed and secrecy. They are neither trained nor equipped to defend themselves here and will likely bring harm to themselves, if not others."
To the ones he recognizes from the lore challenges earlier
"Someone needs to keep the city guard away. I heard you all earlier during the events and you are perfect for the job. If they charge in here, they're going to get in our way and muck everything up. Whatever you have to do, whatever you have to say -- keep. them. out."
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Balinor scans the quarreling groups and finds some he recognizes from the Lore Symposium. He decides to make a logical appeal to them (echoing the sentiment Girzog offered) about the need to form three groups combining magic and muscle for defense and a fourth group for stealth to ensure the safety of the guests.
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1) Guard Repository
2) Guard Center House
3) Escort the guests outside
4) Handle the city guards at the front gates
Your fellow pathfinders look up to Kryas
Seeing a lack of coordinated leadership from anyone with real authority here Rilia suggests to the random assortment of pathfinders in her general vicinity that we move off and try to do some good first rather than dicker with all the politicians standing here on the North Lawn. "There's nothing to do here!"
"And let's be quick about it while there's still a society to argue over. This way!" Not having any real compass knowledge she arbitrarily points northeast and heads in that direction to see what can be done.
Girzog finds a couple of pathfinders led by an aasimar woman who are discussing where their considerable merit can be put to best use. It is obvious that their arrogance has got the better of them. Nothing a Tengu barbarian can't resolve with some flexing of muscles. Although the woman in charge of the team immediately snaps "Why don’t you guard the stone building with no doors and windows? We’ll capture that giant two-headed vulture over there!” a few choice words from the Tengu rectify that and she swiftly moves to the North-eastern quadrant to guard the repository
Kyras sees an Ustalav man and his team who seem to have lost their nerve quite nicely to go and guard the Center House. Although at first the man replies "“Maybe you should ask someone with more experience? Or maybe it doesn’t need to be guarded? It is haunted, isn’t it?” the half elf quickly convinces him that he is the right man for the job.
A dwarf named Shorvan is the dominant personality in the group that the Inspector approaches. His first reaction to the Inspector's request is unfriendly "“I’m quite confident that Professor Nigel Aldain can find his own way to the front gate. What gives you the right to order us about? You’re no venture-captains!". The Inspector is quick to point out other instances in the Society’s history when temporary measures were taken in an emergency. The dwarf thinks for a second and then calls his team "Oh well, at least we will be doing something. Let's get the professor of the grounds!"
Balinor meets up with a woman named Meesha and her teammates. They want to help but are dubious when asked to stall the district guards at the front gates. There are only six of them and they don’t like their odds against Absalom’s city watch. Balinor reminds them this is a contest of wills, not a brawl with the authorities. He also reminds them that the Grand Lodge was built in the Foreign Quarter for a reason; it has some of the privileges of an embassy. Meesha is coached to tell the guards that if they want to tread across the campus, they’ll need a signed warrant from Lord Gyr first.
These creatures are the result of magical draconic experiments at crossbreeding wyverns and kobolds. Wyvarans are fiercely territorial creatures loyal to their kin and tribe, and allow no interlopers into their lands without good reason or proper tribute. Each defends its personal property, and seeks revenge on any who dare steal from it. Most evil and neutral wyvarans primarily concern themselves with expanding their territory and wealth.
Many civilized races dismiss wyvarans as fast, dumb, selfish brutes. However, a creature who respects the wyvarans' rules about their property finds that they make steadfast and loyal allies. Adventuring wyvarans often view their companions as clutchmates, and are willing to take great risks to protect them.
Characteristics
+2 Dexterity, –2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom: Wyvarans have a reptilian grace and a strong will, but they tend to be a little dimwitted.
Normal Speed: Wyvarans have a base speed of 30 feet.
Flight: Wyvarans have dragonlike wings that grant them a fly speed of 30 feet with clumsy maneuverability.
Slapping Tail (Ex): Wyvarans have a tail attack they can only use when making attacks of opportunity. This slapping tail attack deals 1d8 points of damage plus the wyvaran's Strength modifier.
Darkvision 60 ft.: Wyvarans can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
Low-Light Vision: Wyvarans have low-light vision.
Languages: Wyvarans speak Common and Draconic. A wyvaran with a high Intelligence score can choose from the following: Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, and Orc.
Moving to the northeastern quadrant you spot the aasimar and her woman heading towards the repository. You accompany her a bit and head out to Baphory’s Walk, where you notice that the crude stone heads have all uniformly turned to face southwest at some time during today. Each bears an expression or combination of anger, grief, shock, and/or outrage.
Seeing that for the rest everything seems normal at Baphory's walk you decide to check on the Quadrangle. The solitary figure of Ambrus Valsin himself jogs out of the Quadrangle’s courtyard. “You lot, we have a crisis here that can’t wait.” He turns and gestures to the Quadrangle. “When the banquet started, I dismissed the first-year initiates back here to continue their studies for a few more hours. The damned Aspis were waiting inside two of the dormitories,” the venture-captain says, pointing to two ivy-covered stone buildings. “I think their plan is to leverage the initiates as hostages if they have no other escape route.”
Venture-Captain Valsin regards you with an inscrutable look. “This situation can only become more desperate. The safety of our initiates can’t wait another minute. Consider yourself drafted, because you’re all I’ve got. I’m heading to the southern dormitory. You head to the northern dormitory. Talk them down, or hit them hard and fast.”
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Pointing skyward as a troop of the winged reptilians fly above Skyreach, the Inspector speaks up.
"Those creatures are Wyvarans, the result of magical experiments crossbreeding wyverns and kobolds. They are fiercely territorial and vengeful creatures. Many Wyvarans primarily concern themselves with expanding their territory and wealth."
"And there are a lot of them. We should ask ourselves two questions. Why are they attacking us as a group? And are they allied with anyone else? Given their nature, I'm wondering if they think the Society has done them wrong in the past."
Mumbling to himself, and then aloud, "I can recall no tales of Wyvarans in any Pathfinder Chronicles. Can anyone else?"
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"Well first off, what mad fool thought that we needed more kobold-like creatures in this world? Second, I've heard of them, but know little. If you can remember anything that would help in stopping them, I think we'd all love to hear it!
As horrid as the beasts may be, I'd rather worry about them later. The Pathfinders outside are likely far more capable of defending themselves than the initiates inside the Quadrangle. If anyone wants to try to negotiate to get them out, by all means try. I can't promise I'll wait long. It's the damned Aspis, and I don't see this assault as them wanting to talk through anything.
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"By spell or by sword, they have no special resistances. But the ability to fly makes them a threat. They're hoarders, though..."
The Inspector looks at the Quadrangle.
"Whoever's in there likely doesn't know every individual on their side. If we created a ruse, said that the Wyvarans had turned on us, and that we needed backup, perhaps that would entice the terrorist out."
"You! In the building! I need all agents to the fallback point! The damned flying lizards are turning on us, and the Pathfinders have support. The only agents surviving to attack another day are those that can group NOW!"
Thomas is able to unlock the door.