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Shaking his head in disbelief; Jivo roused himself from the ornate...and very comfortable... bed. He never would have believed that a woman with as much sway as the Paracountess would be so...submissive behind closed doors...who would've thought that she would want to be lashed to that cross and whipped?...will wonders never cease?...but I should've known she would also be insatiable to the point of exhaustion... Grinning in that way that people do when they have satisfied certain fantasies; the half elf bid Dralneen a good day with promises to return again in the future and returned to his quarters at the Society house where he lodged.
The invitation to the famous Snapdragon festival made what was already a great day even better...surely the gods shine on me this day... although a quick look at his slightly dirty outfit had him frowning...they'll need a scrubbing and me as well I suppose...
Jivokun finished his chores as fast as he could and oiled his leathers as his clothes dried...after getting jumped in the streets theres no way I'm going anywhere without them...and that goes for my blades as well... He finished dressing and hid a couple of daggers on his body.
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On the way he snatched a fancy looking scarf from a not so observant vendor.
He waited until he was around the corner before placing it round his neck. It wasn't hard to find the party and he looked around for anyone he knew.
Hail Slagtoes, how goes it? Are the others here as well? I thought I saw Raoul but he was wearing robes of all things?
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The party has all chosen to dress well for the occasion, and this appears to have been the correct decision...
After spending some time enjoying the party you are invited to the private study of the illustrious Tien diplomat and pathfinder Amara Li. Arriving in the study you find her seated on a reed mat before a low table set with an exquisite porcelain tea set, that appears to tell the story of a man and woman. She motions for you to sit with her around the table, and once the door is closed behind you and you are seated, she begins talking in a low, hushed voice without even a hint of a Tian accent.
“Well met, Pathfinders, and welcome to the Lantern Lodge. I hope you find the Snapdragon Festival and my hospitality worthy of your time and energy. I have not brought you here for mere pleasantries, however, and wish to ask you to partake a dangerous mission on my behalf.” Amara Li absently runs a finger along the rim of a teacup.
“Long ago, one of my most esteemed ancestors, who was rich in power but poor in sense, gave a gift to a foreign prince, a gift that prince did not deserve and my foolish ancestor had no right to give — a ceremonial jade katana. At the time the gift was sent, its recipient was invading this island. He laid siege to Absalom from his fortress in the foothills of the Kortos Mountains. Like those who came before him, the warlord failed to take Absalom and perished in the attempt. On the very day of his defeat, his castle crumbled to dust in a violent earthquake and has been lost to the centuries ever since. My family’s heirloom was lost with it.”
The Tien woman stands and begins to pace. “A recent report by a group of Pathfinders gives me hope that they have finally found the ruin, and I might finally recover my family’s treasure. I’m looking for an intrepid group to retrieve it for me, and I’m hoping that is you. The fame and wealth you will doubtlessly recover will bring you much honor within the Society, and if you deliver the katana to me, you will have my favor as you begin your careers as full agents of the Pathfinder Society.”
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Pozuket arrives to the party wearing a silver-colored outfit with teal highlights which match his hair. All his weapons have been left behind, except for his best one: his voice. That one puts in a great deal of appearances over the course of the evening, as he exchanges pleasant conversation and some not-so-pleasant jibes with the other guests.
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Pozuket pays Amara Li the appropriate compliments on the party, concluding with "... and we are so very honored to be invited."
After the Tien tells her tale of time-lost treasure, Pozuket ponders some potential problems with this project, then poses one: "Do you know if there is anyone else who might be attempting to acquire this katana? Historical treasures such as that often attract artifact thieves and their ilk." He flips over a hand as he continues, "Or do you have any knowledge of any beasts which may have laired there? It is always wise to prepare appropriately for any new adventure, and a fallen fortress would make a wonderful lair for all manner of creatures." The other hand joins the first, in a gesture of entreaty. "The more we know, the more likely we are to succeed in recovering your family's katana."
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Amara Li listens carefully to your questions, her expression thoughtful and interested "I am not aware that anyone else would be seeking the katana itself, as its true value lies in the intangibles of family honour rather than just material worth, but a new ruin may entice fellow treasure hunters. It is an old ruin, very old, so there could always be ghosts of the past walking as though still living or the like, one must always exercise caution in such places, maybe traps and wards left by the last occupants."
"Enjoy the festivities, you have shown yourselves to be a worthy group in your efforts for the society in the field, and accomplished also in the subtler arts off the field. Leave for the ruins once you have rested from the festivities."
With due politeness, you leave the chambers and return to the party, map and directions in hand.
***
While mingling with the guests, a man whom some of you recognize as Major Colson Maldris, approaches the your party, decked out in the military fineries of an Eagle Knight’s ceremonial uniform — a bright blue overcoat with polished gold buttons, gold eagle epaulets, and a fine, black felt tricorn hat. The handsome man is a charmer who clearly thinks very highly of himself. He speaks loudly and confidently, as if he wants the entire party to “overhear” his conversation with your group.
"Greetings, Pathfinders! I hear you’re headed out into the Cairnlands on official Society business. Best of luck outside the city walls, though you look like sturdy enough adventurers. Perhaps not Eagle Knight material, but qualified for the work of a Pathfinder." He says as he picks a stray piece of lint from his uniform.
“A word of warning, though, friends—beware the walking dead. The crumbling ruins surrounding the city are rife with them, and you’re likely to run into more than your fair share over the course of your career. Undeath and the undead are more than just a physical peril, however. Undeath is the worst kind of slavery. And it should be eradicated like all servitude, whether to aristocracy or to mental control. Being enslaved to the flesh beyond when Pharasma calls one’s soul to the Boneyard is a fate I wouldn’t wish upon my greatest enemy".
He looks at you all with a big cherry smile.
"So while you plumb the depths of Asad’s Keep, remember your solemn duty to your fellow man—both living and dead. Any undead you encounter along the way should be freed of their earthly shell. If you prove your dedication to freedom, the resources of Andoran will be at your disposal in your future endeavors".
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Hating people that threw around their pomp and circumstance as if they were physical things; Jivs kept his mouth shut in reply to the Major's comments. He had absolutely no intention of going out of his way to hunt down undead...unless it is to back up one of my more foolhardy fellows here... It seemed like an easy enough task to retrive this katana; excepting of course the threat of undead but one could get ran over by a stage coach in town if they werent careful. He partly tuned the Major out as he started planning what sort of supplies he would need for this journey.
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Florentine, remembering the necromancer that had destroyed his parents farm and had taken away his parents with his personal undead bodyguard lisstens intently to the man. If he hadn't have thought to keep his sister safe by hiding he would likely have died or been captured also. Death was meant to be a well deserved rest after an honest and hard-worked for life. The fact that there were undead roaming the cairnlands set Florentine's heart beating. "If there are undead, where did they come from? Is there a necromancer hiding out there?" Holding out hope of rescuing his parents or finding the one who destroyed his family and home was sometimes the only thing that kept him going some days. He hoped Sierra was able to cope better than him. They hardly talked about it...
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Raoul listens to what Major Maldris has to say. He simply nods at the Majors words, but mostly keeps quiet. Once the Major is finished, Raoul assures him, "There is nothing I detest more than the undead. I can assure you that any undead I come across will be set 'free' of their undead bondage."
Hmm, already a couple of warnings about possible undead. I will need to carefully select my spells for tomorrow.
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Raoul smirks a little at Aranan's question. "It's quite simple, Aranan. One kills the undead by removing the head or destroying the brain."
Bit cliche, and I hope this link works for those outside the US
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"yes indeed, physical means work quite well. The Cairnlands practically crawl with undead, so many battles out there over the centuries as people contested ownership and fell magics were used with wild abandon... many raised creatures then left free to roam afterwards in eternal bondage. Holy water, fire, steel - all work well enough". He looks again at some bright shiny buttons, as though off hunting undead in his mind.
Moments later a member of the serving staff, decked out in a finely crafted silken robe, approaches the major and interrupts him, whispering something in his ear.
The major looks back at you all, smiling, "Eagle Knight business, I'm afraid. I wish you the best on your mission, beware in there and keep your eyes out for any undead, free them from their unlife as a great priority. May Desna smile upon you all, and may the flames of freedom burning at the heart of Andoran alwas warm you" He quickly excuses himself and departs.
***
As the party winds down and your group is preparing to leave, a well-dressed Keleshite man approaches you and asks for a quick word. You have seen him drifting around the party and had heard that he is Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam - a softspoken and subtle man, quite the contrast to Major Maldris’s ostentatious pomposity. He draws you all to the side, away from any crowds or activity, and addresses you in a slow, level voice with a strong Kelish accent. “Like a fast-spoken djinn, I’ll get to the quick. I know where you are going. House Damaq of Qadira claim the ruin, but we are willing to allow you access for the price of a small deed easily accomplished during your adventure. You will be well compensated, I assure you, for profits are most rewarding when shared. I assume treasure-seekers like yourselves are interested in such a proposition?”
Without waiting for an answer, he continues, his eyes intent and his posture rigid. “The ruin is Qadiran, which is why we claim it, and we are willing to defend it, but there are really only certain things left in Asad’s Keep we are interested in: trade agreements, of which we believe there to be many within the ruins. All we ask that you do is to turn over all trade agreements you find to us as soon as you return to Absalom, as we will be able to hold the signers to them even centuries after their signing. The satrap of Qadira—nay, the entire Padishah Empire of Kelesh—has much to offer the Pathfinder Society, and I personally have no qualms about sharing those resources with you, specifically. Shall we shake on this agreement?”
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"Then perhaps we have a deal?" he offers hopefully, awaiting a sign of response from the others.
"The histories of Asad are mostly just hearsay and legend as he was so far away from the chroniclers in Qadira, but the traders were quite active around the time of the siege, and some of the old agreements that may be held there might still have use and value today... perhaps just as historical record, but possible in relation to current trade, who could know? Asad launched his attack on Kortos, and was a rather typical Qadiran warrior, unfortunately his campaign was not to bear the fruit he sought."
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"Who could tell after such a long time? Qadira has always protected its treasures with traps, mundane and magical... no doubt you are already skilled at dealing with those"
The Trade Prince seems pleased enough with the outcome of the conversation and departs your company quite warmly.
Eventually, each of you returns home to rest after enjoying the fabulous festivities.
***
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..and yet another one trying to push us to work towards their own goals while they sit back all safe and sound...Grandmaster Torch has the right of it...I'll have to meke sure these men make it back...
Jivs kept his thoughts to himself as the westerner made his claims on the so called Trade Agreements. The others had already agreed so he wouldnt argue that they didnt have any proof the Qadira was able to back up its supposed claim.
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Some time around the crack of noon, the party departs Absalom. leaving the hustle and bustle of the City at its full swing, you are finally relieved to have some peace and quiet out on the roads. Following the map and directions to Asad’s Keep, you eventually find the travel to the site to become quite arduous; the terrain is rocky and marred with the scars of millennia of wars, making it thirsty work for you to to reach your destination, but you encounter no resistance. At the end of the gully, about fifteen feet above the ground on a cliff face, is an ancient, iron-bound door. Its wood is dried and cracked. Directly in front of the door is a steep slope of rubble and dust-crusted debris that, as luck would have it, provides a path — albeit a rough and difficult one—right up to the door.
Perception:
Aranan -
Florentine -
Grogson -
Jivokun -
Pozuket -
Raoul -
Only Aranan, who was mid sentence, fails to immediately notice a woman scramble across some rocks and drop down from the cliff in front of the party. “How long will it take you all to cure, I wonder? You seem so full of life, and I am oh so hungry.” she says quietly to herself as she lands.
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Raoul tilts his head slightly as he studies this woman. Hmm, a cannibal?
"Excuse me, madam, but I think that to try and eat any of us would be a difficult task. Do yourself a favor, stick to livestock if you want meat. To think, trying to devour a group of Pathfinders..." He shakes his head softly.
Though he clearly thinks that something is wrong with this woman, Raoul asks, "Do you know anything about these ruins? We seek an artifact within and if you could share anything you know, we would be most appreciative."
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Pozuket moves up a bit so he can see the woman, pulling out a pouch of dried meat from his rations as he does. "My dear woman, there are surely too many of us to cure at once, and I suspect my friend Slagtoes here would give you horrible indigestion. However we would be delighted to trade some of our supplies for knowledge of the area." He studies her as he holds the package out to her, waiting to see if she'll accept, or if she's incorrigibly (and terminally) short-sighted.
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"Pathfinders!?" her attitude abruptly changes.
Her head jerks, and her expression softens as the foul signs of sickness drain from her eyes somewhat. She straightens from her crouch, and calls out to you all in earnest. “Friends, it is I, Maurit Zergo, a Pathfinder as well, even in this horrid form. I can help you, if you will take the help of someone as damned as I.” She almost seems normal and healthy for a second, but soon shambles back to her crooked slouch. She is clearly quite ill.
She looks at the food offered by Pozuket, but makes no other move...
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Suspicion was ever at the back of Jivo's mind and now it was like a bell that wouldnt stop ringing...yep, something bad here...
What do you mean by 'this horrid form' and 'someone as damned as I'?
With hands folded under his arms he watched the woman as a hawk would a mouse.
You have this one chance to be straight up with us.
The half elf could tell that Slagtoes was ready to pounce and from the previous few days he knew the others wouldnt hesitate either.
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...but sick how exactly? and help us how exactly?
"Yes, yes! I have seen much, I can show you! Take you there! Very dangerous inside but I know the traps! What do you seek!?" she seems almost giddy with excitement...
"What happened to you that has left you in this condition?"
"We were attacked, I was wounded. I woke up like this, lost and sick"
"She canna be trusted, boys. She'll be gnawin' our bones the first chance she gets."
"LIES! LIES! I can help you all!"
"You agree!? I can show you the way, help you find things!"
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"We found this lair, we were the first ones, we could tell. We had started exploring the musty halls when we were jumped by a strange creature, it ran right through us! Most of the party fled, with the creature in pursuit, they left us for dead... it all went black, I don't know for how long... but I am so hungry..." she stares into the distance.