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You find yourselves at one of Lady Gloriana Morilla’s estates, just outside of Oppara. When all are assembled and refreshments have been served, she gets down to the business at hand.
”A Taldan merchant named Hanoris Dellum contacted me recently with an very intriguing proposition; one he promises will make the Society incredibly wealthy and even more famous. Normally I wouldn’t be bothered to entertain this type of proposition; after all, the Society certainly lacks for neither wealth nor fame...or infamy, for that matter. But my curiosity was piqued when he mentioned that it involved a disgraced Taldan family—the Adellas. He claims to be the last living scion of this family, if you can believe that! While I’m certainly skeptical about his claim, he also mentioned he thinks he’s located the family’s legendary, at this point practically mythical, secure and remote boneyard, known to time as the Tomb of the Iron Medusa.”
”I’m asking you four to go meet with this Hanoris Dellum and find out more. He wants to meet this next Oathday at a remote roadside inn northeast of Zimar, called the Lion Sleeps Inn, and he is insisting on absolute discretion. I’m afraid that’s about all I can tell you at this point. I’m counting on you to see where his intriguing claims lead.”
You find yourselves at one of Lady Gloriana Morilla’s estates, just outside of Oppara. When all are assembled and refreshments have been served, she gets down to the business at hand.
”A Taldan merchant named Hanoris Dellum contacted me recently with an very intriguing proposition; one he promises will make the Society incredibly wealthy and even more famous. Normally I wouldn’t be bothered to entertain this type of proposition; after all, the Society certainly lacks for neither wealth nor fame...or infamy, for that matter. But my curiosity was piqued when he mentioned that it involved a disgraced Taldan family—the Adellas. He claims to be the last living scion of this family, if you can believe that! While I’m certainly skeptical about his claim, he also mentioned he thinks he’s located the family’s legendary, at this point practically mythical, secure and remote boneyard, known to time as the Tomb of the Iron Medusa.”
”I’m asking you four to go meet with this Hanoris Dellum and find out more. He wants to meet this next Oathday at a remote roadside inn northeast of Zimar, called the Lion Sleeps Inn, and he is insisting on absolute discretion. I’m afraid that’s about all I can tell you at this point. I’m counting on you to see where his intriguing claims lead.”
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As the other Seekers enter the Morilla estate they find a Half-elf—at his side a cane with a head of cold iron and a shaft of darkwood—already seated and having tea with Lady Morilla.
”I dare say that I missed our afternoon teas, Gloriana; with the situation in Thuvia I’ve had little time to return home to Oppara.” He sets down his cup. ”However this is quite interesting—the tomb of House Adella—I’m glad I received your missive when I did. Now it’s been some time since I’ve had to use common facilities—my apologies for the question but where is this inn you refer to?
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Striding out in front of his companions, the small green haired gnome places one arm around his waist and extends his other hand, palm up, towards Gloriana as he takes a deep bow. ”Venture-captain, Seeker, Lance Corporal Gilliby Ban at your service Lady Morilla.“ As he rises back up with a wide a pleasant smile across his face He continues his respectful greeting. ”Merchants can be tricky, but I have a knack for befriending even the roughest of tradesman. We will find out as much as we can from this Hanois Dellum and will follow up on any leads that might shed more light on house Adella’s boneyard.” He looks around at his companions. ”Though I have not worked with all of these fine gentlemen, I have heard nothing but extraordinary tails of their skill and prowess. Their track records should speak for themselves. Your mission is in good hands.” He bows again before turning to his associates once again. ”Should we prepare for the road. If I’m not mistaken, Zimar is a short travel to the south east and I’d like to be a day early if possible.” A flash of excitement crosses his eyes at the thought of adventure and everyone in the room is taken aback as he skips a little as he retreats from the room.
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A smile remains on the Half-elf’s face as he sees the gnome introduce himself.
Good glory, why is HE here?
Putting his true feelings aside, Lord Xavier Kahlvet follows the gnome out and extends his hand in greetings to the little man.
”Pleasure to see you once more, Lance Corporal. I see you’ve fixed your previous...affliction. How are your joints feeling, my good sir?”
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”Right as rain, right as rain,” he assures. I owe a debt of gratitude to you and the society for returning me back to Absalom...” he exhales heavily, ”and to my proper state.” Shaking himself from his thoughts, his cheery completion returns with a large grin. ”The funny thing about that situation is that I just so happened to be carrying a scroll of stone to flesh with me that day. It doesn’t do any good though if it gets petrified along with you,” he chuckles. With a slight nod of appreciation he continues. ”Thank you sir. You are a true gentlemen. Now, let’s hope that we are all prepared for the unexpected this time around. I’d hate for anything dire to happen on this endeavor.” With a wink at the half-elf he opens the door and begins to whistle joyously.
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In the corner of the room stands tall elf with long black hair. A puma is sitting next to him.
"I think that there should be no problems with this mission, since we are all experienced here."
"Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. For all those who do not know me I am Delduwath, and that is Brun." He looks at his puma.
Brun sits and licks his paw.
The door knob turns and then opens to reveal a.....man? This humanoid figure has the standard basics and shape of a human, though the proportions are slightly off from that of a human. It stands around 6'3" with, what appears to be dark stone for skin which occasionally chips off as it moves. These features would lead one to assume that this is an Oread due to the stoney skin and reflective sheen that makes its appearance. However, all specific proportions as mentioned previously do not lean toward Oread but more demonic in nature. This creature wears a cloth that wraps loosely around its body and covers a large majority of the torso region and nothing else. It also wears some sandals, a familiar amulet, a standard cloak, and a belt that constricts the cloth at the waist.
He gives a nod, little bits of stone crumbling away, "I am Obsidian."
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So an overly-optimistic gnome, a demonic rock, a shut-in with a cat, and someone barely versed in the Taldan nobility. Gloriana, what were you thinking?
With an internal sigh, Lord Kahlvet holds open the door out of the room.
”Gentlemen, from the sounds of things Lady Morilla has told us all that she knows—and she is a very busy woman, so we’d best be on our way to meet with this Mr. Dellum. My chariot is awaiting my return outside of the estate; seeing as we’ve the same destination you may all accompany me to the Lion Sleeps Inn. Now chop chop! We’re wasting daylight.”
As everyone is herded into the opulent chariot which sets its course for the inn, the half-elf seems to be speaking to an invisible force.
”Masayoshi, I don’t care what you saw in your drunken stupor; Miss Heidmarch has requested aid in an Aspis situation. Go to Varisia for her.” The half-elf turns his attention to his compatriots. ”My apologies, my son can be a bit of a handful and tends to spend his time inebriated—it’s a religious thing, apparently. But that’s neither here nor there.”
Total: 30
“Now, House Adella is one of very few noble houses in Taldor to be wiped away. So if this Hanoris Dellum fellow is truly the last surviving Adella then it’s likely that he’ll respond better to a kindred noble. Gilliby, I understand your excitement and ability to persuade, but please refrain if you can; your personality can be quite...much to the Taldan nobility—please let me do the speaking.”
Xavier turns his attention to his other two companions. He eyes them up and down before waving his hand in dismissal. ”As far as anyone is concerned you two are the bodyguards to Gilliby and myself. Please, just don’t talk.”
Obsidian simply grunts and nods to Xavier, seeming quite equitable with the situation.
At some point along the way he does speak up in a deep, gravelly voice, "It is important for me to say because several other Pathfinders I have done missions with have forgotten. If you stay behind me, I can mostly assure you won't die. If you run ahead of me, you are on your own. I have seen many fellows die in from of my eyes. Because they were in front of me." After his minor monologue he scoots back into his seat and remains silent (unless asked more I suppose).
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A flurry of memories return to Xavier—always seeming to haunt him whenever death looms overhead.
Xavier, face-to-face with the great Runelord Krune. The Runelord disappears and barreling down the hallway comes a massive triceratops that impacts with him, sending the half-elf flying into the path of yet another triceratops that collides with him.
The opulent foyer of a grand mansion, filled with a horde of giants. Another comes around a corner, riding a triceratops! The beasts barely reach the flying noble and annihilates him.
High in the Varisian mountains Xavier plays dead to escape the wrath of a swarm of harpies. Xavier opens his eyes to find a most horrifying and unbelievable sight: four winged woolly rhinoceros stampede going straight through the group of harpies, and he was in their path. He barely had time to comprehend the thought before being trampled to bits under their feet. Upon coming back a few second later, he was told that he need a Breath of Life spell cast on him twice in order to bring him back.
Xavier, seemingly unaffected by these memories, nods at Obsidian.
”I will remember that. But know that just because I look like a noble does not mean that I cannot hold my own when hands need to be dirtied. After all, I went toe-to-toe in a duel against Chafron Dalsine, cousin of the late baron Jacquo Dalsine,” Xavier hangs his head and a dark expression crosses his face. ”May the Lady of Graves bless him in the next life.” For the idiotic, self-righteous prick that he was.
Xavier pulls out two identical scrolls. He rolls one up and places it in his wrist sheath, the other he holds out to the group.
”Breath of Life. Best to not keep them both on one person. Anyone have a chance of using it?”
"No, I don't die," Obsidian responds simply, clearly not understanding.