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You are alone, sitting in your workshop, at your prayers, cleaning up, reading a book, or practicing forms, as is typical for you on a Saturday morning.
Suddenly your mind feels a shift, and though your broom or chair, weapon or Symbol of faith may remain, everything else is just a blank white. You are arranged in a semi-circle with a group of others, each stranger than the last. There is nothing else around you to see, but you feel something; a presence, a benevolence that surrounds you and welcomes you. You do not feel threatened. However, there is a hint of urgency to it; a strong desire.
You have been chosen. You are about to go on a journey. The people that have invited you are not of my design, and have their own reasons for doing so, but I intend to make use of their choices. You are a rare individual, and may have the strength needed to succeed where so many others have failed.
Little is as it seems, and you must be able to see beyond the raw elements around you to see the truth beyond. All is not as it should be, the veil grows thin and should it be breached and not resealed, a great many will suffer. Go now. Accept the summons. I will aid you where I can.
A moment later you are back in familiar circumstances. You never spoke. Nor did the strange looking champions you saw surrounding you. There was no time, and the thought never even occurred to you.
A mere moment later there is a rap at the door. Upon opening it, you see a man standing outside dressed in fine livery*. He asks for you by name, and then hands you a letter upon confirming your identity. He says nothing else, standing ready. You notice that he is still holding another scroll tube, and that he has made no move to depart, even if you provided a tip. You take this as indication that you are to read the letter immediately.
You break the seal on the letter, and read as follows:
Greetings. Though I have not had the chance to meet you in person, your reputation brought you to my attention. I have great hopes that you will accept my invitation and present yourself at a great event that not only offers the chance for significant remuneration, but will increase the prestige already beginning to be associated with your name. I apologize for the lateness of the request, but tales of your exploits have only just reached my ears.
You are formally invited to take part in the Breaching Festival, held Tomorrow, the last Sunday of Desnus, wherein champions of all walks attempt to gain entry to the College, surmounting its defenses. The one doing so will not only do the college a great favour, informing us of any weakness in the defenses, but also win great renown and recompense. A prize sum of 153000 Sails will be awarded to the winner, to do with as he please. Commensurate to this reward are the risks, as the wards of our fair campus are designed to discourage intrusion quite prejudicially. However I feel from what I have learned of you that your skills are up to the task.
Please gather what you will need, and accompany this courier to Korvosa forthwith. All your expenses will be covered as a guest of the festival. I look forward to meeting you in person.
Sincerely
Toff Ornelos
of house Ornelos
Headmaster
Acadamae of Korvosa
The courier stands waiting for a response.
The dwarf moves to grab his pack, his gray cloak and his gray hat in which he places the latter upon his head. Returning to the courier, "Looks like it's time ta go ta work," he mentions to no one in particular as he looks upon the sky before turning his attention to the courier and nodding. Darnak waits for the courier to lead on so as to follow.
"I would be happy to help ensssure sssuch a prestigiousss inssstitution isss protected from forssed entry. Pleassse give me a moment to gather my thingsss." Angelo goes inside to grab his gear. He emerges a moment later with two bandoleer-like sashes crisscrossed across his chest. Attached to them are two wands, a rod, several potions, scrolls and five grenades. Double checking to make sure everything is well secured the synthesist nods to the courier. "I am ready. Letsss go."
Raven, a huge, hulking ape of a 'man', swathed in a disturbingly bulky grey cloak, his expression unreadable behind a heavy, gilded wooden mask, wordlessly accepts the missive from the courier.
Breaking the seal, he glances over the message contained within.
This could be interesting... One could accomplish much with more than 150,000 Sails. Still, that is quite a large amount... perhaps too large? Why is such a ridiculous sum on offer? It must be either a trap, or simply an impossible task... However, I have made a habit of accomplishing the impossible...
In a sepulchral voice, his words surrounded by faint echoes like the whispers of the Dead, Raven speaks:
"Give me five minutes."
He then shuts the door in the courier's face. Exactly five minutes later, he returns, with a fully-loaded backpack.
"Let us be off. I have a prize to win."
The strange multi-armed snake thing looked down at the courier, who to his credit does not blanch.
"A substantial prize, yes? Me thinks this will be no idle challenge, yes? Good. I enjoy a challenge. I am prepared. Let us go."
With that he simply slithers out after the courier, gesturing with one hand for the man to lead, grabbing a wide brimmed hat to cover his head with another, and securing his gunbelts with yet another. He makes no effort to conceal his appearance, and the neighbors might glance his way, but all appear to have seen this before.
Jeska, taps her blade on her buckler in a rhythmic fashion, carefully considering the challenge laid before her. Eager to prove herself worthy, she eyes the Courtier, gives a simple nod, a devilish smile, then says with confidence:
"This should prove...interesting. Let us be on our way then."
Jeska follows the courtier, whisking her tail back and forth as she walks down the path towards claiming her reward. Even her stride seems to be as if she is walking in rhythm...
Rost'Nomn held the open letter in his hands and knew the vision he had just recieved...not the first of its like and most likely not the last...had been real and this caused him just a small measure of discomfort...forces beyond my imagination and control have had their fingers in my life since before I was born unto this world... The young man resigned himself to his apparent fate and gave the courier his answer to the summons.
Please give me a few moments to gather my things and I will be ready to depart.
The slightly built man returned to his room and picked up his meager belongings before returning to the door.
After you sir.
One element of your invitation seems unusual; invitations normally come from the Dean of Abjuration, not the Headmaster.
The courier escorts you outside and walks out a ways from your residence. After a short distance he stops.
"Please, stand close."
He pulls out the scroll tube and pops of the cap. Pulling out a piece of fine velum he unfurls it and begins to read aloud.
The world around you vanishes in an instant and the familiar locations near your own home are replaced with the orderly buildings and manicured lawns of the campus of the Academae Korvosa.
"This way sir (or ma'am)."
You are escorted through the paths and walkways between topiary beasts like dragons and chimeras to a fine looking building. You are brought into an anti-chamber where several other guests are waiting. Just as you arrive, a few other guests are escorted in by other couriers until you are all collected in the room together. Several are rather strange looking, and more than one looks dressed for war. These are obviously not students. Among them you distinctly recognize several individuals who were with you in the vision you received just half an hour before.
Of those not with you in the vision, there is a small, rather nerveous looking Halfling; a slim, somewhat homely looking woman sporting an oft broke nose; a solid built dwarf in armour; a tall, lanky looking man in a tunic and breeches; and last, an indistinct shape covered in an all encompassing robe.
You are left for a few moments to mill about on your own and perhaps get to know your competition.
Excellent, no wasted time.
Angelo immediately walks over to the other serpentine looking synthesist, looking him openly up and down before saying "Hello."
The serpent you approach is tall, his height propped up to about 7 feet, though it appears he could easily vary that based on where he chose to sit in relation to his tail. He has no legs and rather seems to move by slithering like a snake. Like the one speaking, he also has a glowing rune upon his brow indicating the nature of his form. He has four arms, each resting near a holster for a gunbelt, hung from the shoulders as he has no hips. He looks the competitor he saw in the vision up and down before responding.
"Greetings. It seems someone here has a good sense of style, yes? And perhaps someone else has a good sense of what form of champion has the best odds here, yes?" he says, noting that there are three synthesists present, and that all were among those seen in the vision.
Raven gazes around the assembled horde, his features hidden behind his mask.
Such a shame that only one may win. Would it be better to thin the herd immediately, or wait until the goal is within reach?
Angelo grins, such as a snake face can. "Yesss. It seemsss ssso. do you know who is in charge here?"
Darnak looks around the place, observing all involved. "Well, this looks ta be interestin'," he mumbles to himself.
Once You have presented your personalized invitations to the campus guards, you are led on to another chamber. You notice that those individuals who were not with you in your vision are led into an office room on the right, while those who were present are led into the office at the fore.
Toff’s office is an austere, well-organized chamber with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a large oaken desk. The wizened headmaster stands to welcome his guests, his long beard wagging slightly as he moves to shake their hands. Once you escorts have left the room and you are seated comfortably, Toff speaks.
“Welcome, and thank you for answering my invitation. As I’m sure you well know, the Breaching Festival is a longstanding Acadamae tradition, with prizes both material and magical. You might also know that entry in the contest is traditionally reserved for only the best and bravest of our students and a select few representatives of other Korvosan institutions. This year, though, we’re changing tradition and expanding the invitations further than ever—we want the most powerful, qualified individuals to compete, in other words. It has been a century and a half since the last—the only—winner of the Breaching Festival won the prize! One of you surely must bring glory to yourself and the Acadamae by enduring the traps and tricks in the Hall of Wards. We have gone far too long without a winner, and people are starting to loose faith in the contest. I’m even willing to bend the rules to allow a team of allied competitors like yourselves to cooperate as a single unit — whatever it takes to get a winner tomorrow.”
"Now, you must have questions... feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer."
"Ssso if we work together and all win, we all get paid?" Angelo asks. "How doesss it benefit you to have usss win your contessst, have to pay usss and only have ssshown everyone that your wardsss can be defeated?"
"It benefits me because people are starting to assume that the contest is unfair; either that it cannot be won, or that we are taking unfair... steps, to make sure that it cannot be won. I assure you that this is not actually the case. The challenges are very real, and have been insurmountable for a very long period of time, but they are static, predetermined things. Once the contest is begun, the faculty, nor any agent of ours, may take any step to interfere. All that is required is for someone to have the intellect, gall, or brute strength to bypass them; a tall order indeed, but this is exactly why I have invited YOU here."
"Should someone win, we loose nothing in reputation, as we can simply take steps to shore up the means by which you succeeded. We tell everyone that the same trick will not work again, and then the defenses reputation is that much stronger. Besides that, news that the Breaching has been successful for the first time in 150 years will have people talking about the Academae as far away as Absalom. That kind of publicity will be worth the prize money for the calibre of applicants it will bring in!"
"I sssee. Ssso it'sss 153,000 each then?"
He smiles, "No, no, I'm afraid not. The prize money is set aside each year and is added to any previously unclaimed total. I cannot change the amount; nor would I if able. That much money is more than some Kingdoms see in a year. I think splitting it should suit you quite well, particularly since this way, you'll be able to survive long enough to claim it!"
"Can you prove that thessse othersss aren't evil? How do I know they won't ssstab me in the back and take the prize?"
"I have researched them all and invited you here to form a team, and thus complete this challenge. I would not invite someone with a history of doing so. Furthermore, interfering with another contestant of the contest is expressly forbidden, and would mean forfeiture of the prize on the part of that individual, even if they did go on to win. While the faculty will not interfere, we, as well as several other independent observers, will be watching the proceedings by means of divination. Be assured, the contest is fair. Should you agree to this challenge, the prize will be split evenly between all surviving members of the team upon your successful completion."
His face takes on a grave aspect, "Believe me, while I know from my research that you are each formidable individuals, the challenge represented here is significant, and even working together, some of you may perish. I do not care to dwell on the chances of one of you working alone, though you are free to attempt it if you wish."
"I sssee. That'sss sssatisssfactory. Are we on a time limit?"
"You have the day. By sunrise, if you have not entered the Hall of Wards and emerged from the far side, the contest will be considered over, and survivors will be dismissed."
"Our only goal isss to passss through the Hall?"
"Yes. Simple as that, though I warn you that it is no simple task to gain entry. A magical key of sorts is needed to gain access, and each of the keys is guarded by its own series of wards. The specifics of that will be explained at the outset of the contest tomorrow."
The young Aasimar had been standing towards the read of the group of what could only be described as...a very effecient looking group...albeit also very strange...someone has gone to a lot of trouble to put men such as these together...well, they're not all men it seems...
He appreciated the bizarre...dragon?...creature asking some very pertinent questions and held his tongue for the time being.
Raven listens impassively as the serpent and the headmaster discuss the rules.
Well, that, at least, takes a weight off my mind. Even if we work together, and split the reward, that will still be a *lot* of gold...
"Might as well spread the news of our victory now! I don't make a habit of losing!"
Jeska says half smiling.
Doesn't hurt that I have some strong looking comrades either...
Darnak takes in the conversation, appeased with the information given. "Alright, so we meet back here in the mornin' do we?"
"Is there any further advice or hintsss you could provide usss?"
Darnak takes in the conversation, appeased with the information given. "Alright, so we meet back here in the mornin' do we?"
"That's the basic minimum, yes. I've also appointed you a guide who can show you around campus a bit, should you choose, so you can familiarize yourselves with the facility before the contest actually begins."
"Is there any further advice or hintsss you could provide usss?"
"Not really. The traps and wards you will encounter are very real and very deadly. They vary a bit from year to year, but on past occasions they have included all manner of things from basic fire wards, to traps that summon severely nasty creatures, to only gods knows what else. Each year we choose our best and brightest to come up with the traps for the festival, so there is no telling what they might produce."
"Well, if that is all, I'll introduce you to your guide. "
A lanky looking human wizard enters the office.
"Gentlemen, and lady, this is Jandar Lilswin, one of our bright young mages, and a recent graduate of the Acadamae. He now works here as one of my personal assistants. He'll show you about."
Jandar waves an arm to show that you are to leave the headmaster's office now, and takes you back out into the antichamber.
"If you please, gentlemen and lady, as the headmaster said, I will show you about if you care to see the campus, otherwise I will return to my personal studies. While it is a pleasure to assist Master Toff, I do have urgent experiments to see to as well, so it is to you discretion as to whether we tour as the headmaster suggested. If you prefer, I can show you to your rooms and you can prepare yourselves for your trial tomorrow. I am told rest helps with such things."
"I'd like you to ssshow me everything you know. I mean everything." Angelo says to Jandar. He then stands there looking at him expectantly until the wizards begins his tour.
"I'd be interested in goin' on this tour o' yours." Darnak tells him as he pulls the front of his wide brimmed hat down a bit.
The man takes a breath and brings up a hand as though to speak, but stops himself at the last moment. He lowers his hand and takes a deep breath instead.
"Of course. Sirs. Follow me."
A poorly concealed eye-roll follows as he waves you after him towards the building's main entrance.
Just before arriving however the silence of the Saturday morning is shattered by a woman's high pitched scream. It is followed only moments later with a thunderous crash that sounds like a bolt of lightning not only struck the building, but originated within it. The sounds came from behind the closed doors of a room just off to the right. There are set of doors just behind you, and some just ahead, so the party is instinctively separated as half move to one entrance, and half to the other.
Inside is apparently a lecture hall, and rows upon rows of seats sit to face a dais. Being Saturday, there are no classes and the room is empty of students. On the dais however, is a massive spider creature, larger than a horse, or even than an elephant. Its eyes shimmer with malevolent energy. Near the thing lies a woman, face down on the platform, her wizard's robes burned and smoking. She is not moving.
Jandar looks stunned, as though he truly had no idea something like this would or could appear here. All he manages to say is, "What the hell?" before the beast's eyes sweep around to you, assembled at the entrances to the room.
"Right, so it seems there is a physical before we are allowed to participate..."
Raven casts a spell , and then, whilst standing perfectly still, moves through the air, towards the creature.
"It's a Retriever; an Infernal construct that likes to shred things in combat, but also has eye rays which can turn a man to stone, or fry him with cold, fire or electricity."
"Throw up your defenses everyone! This thing looks and sounds nasty!"
Jeska casts Heroism on herself (+2 Attack, Saves, and Skills, I need the save boost!)
Lasts 1 hour
Then she moves a little closer to the beast...
As Raven approaches the monster, it lashes out with one long clawed leg, raking him and arresting his advance.
The snake tailed man's hands blur as he pulls forth a small metal weapon; four of them, one in each hand. A cacophonous roar erupts as fire and a booming thunderclap erupts from each.
The bullets tear into the creature, digging deep and blasting off chunks left and right.
Rost knew instinctively that the masked man was correct in his assessment of the Retriever...perhaps the game has started already?.. To buy the group some time the Aasimar accessed the void of space to scramble the Retriever's brain.
Will save DC 19 or confused for 1 round per
The Gift bestowed by the stars finds no recipient and the effect passes over the mindless automaton. It seems it has no mind to affect...
Angelo snaps his fingers and disappears from view. A moment later he reappears between the infernal creature and the unconscious mage. His cobra like head darts forward and snaps down on one of the thing's many legs.
The Spider thing's eyes flit about, trying to lock down all of the foes that so suddenly appeared. It turns its attention on the closest creature; the one that tried to attack it, while saving its eye beam for the one assailing it from a distance and causing so much damage. As it does, the damage to itself starts to repair on its own.
A beam of fire lances out from one of the things eyes and strikes Rotann, bathing him in flames.
Rotann emerges from the flames, moving fast as his snake like appearance would imply, causing most of the beam to miss. He brings his guns to bear, and lets off another barrage.
The shots tear into the creature, lifting out larger and larger chunks as it is starting to be torn apart.
Invisible creatures are visually undetectable. An invisible creature gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls against sighted opponents, and ignores its opponents' Dexterity bonuses to AC (if any). See the invisibility special ability.
Angelo ingores the fact that he's in its mouth and bites it, along with striking at it with his knees. The nimble construct holds his knees away, but Angelo's fangs sink into it again.
Angelo rakes the thing with his fangs, tearing its face apart. This latest assault seems to be too much for the thing, and its legs give out, and it crumples to the floor.
It's jaws relax and Angelo is able to pull himself free without difficulty.
Drawing a wand from one of his bandoleers, Angelo taps himself on the chest. "I sssuppossse sssince we're fighting together I ssshould introduce myssself. I am Angelo." Drawing another wand in his other hand, he pokes the wizard girl on the floor.
Rotann slithers forward to inspect the creature. One of his hands pulls forth a wand and taps himself, while the others all work at removing the spent casings from his weapons and reloading them.
"I am Rotann. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, yes. A simplistic test, yes?"
"I wasss ssslightly concerned to be in its mouth, but your ssshooting made that irrelevant. Thanksss."
Jandar steps forward, still in shock, "Not a test. No, this thing was not supposed to be here! Seska! Are you all right?"
The burns and weals on the woman, a young woman you can now see, begin to close, and you can see her breathing now that you have the chance to observe her.
Jandar moves to her side and examines her. "She is alive, but still gravely wounded."
A few other faculty members and assistants start to file into the room from the hall. Jandar shouts to them, "Get a stretcher! And someone make sure the infirmary is ready to receive her!"
He looks around for some sign of what happened. Near the girl is a blank piece of velum; he picks it up. "You summoned that thing? You foolish, foolish girl. You could have been killed. Would have been if we hadn't been walking by..."
The girl appears to be waking, thanks to the fast healing imparted by Angelo. "I'm sorry; I thought I could handle it. I was going to bind it. It wouldn't have hurt anybody then..."
Just then, Headmaster Toff comes in, moving in quick purposeful strides. "So that's where that stolen scroll ended up. Miss Imintar, you are in a great deal of trouble, young lady. I hereby fine you twice the value of the scroll, plus any damages to the school, and the costs of removing this carcass."
Jandar cuts in, "Sir! Twice the value? There is no way a student can pay that off; that alone is some 600 platinum."
"She's lucky I'm not expelling her. If she cannot pay it, she'll have to work it off in indenture to the school. How ever many years it takes."
"Yes sir."
Toff turns to the group, "Thank you for your assistance. This was definitely not a part of our planned activities for you. I'm afraid that I will require Jandar's services for the rest of the day dealing with the logistics of this nightmare. You may view the campus at you leisure, but I'm afraid it will have to be without a guide. Now, if you'll excuse me."
He turns off to give instructions to Jandar. Just then the stretcher is brought in and the girl is being loaded into it. She turns to the group and mouths, 'Thank you!'