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Jordan readies an action to start reading the scroll with Zhu Li once she unfurls the scroll.
Arnaut delays until after Zhu Li.
Sahess readies to open the door to the courtyard once she gets the okay from Zhu Li to do so.
Zhu Li nods at Sahess, who then kicks open the doors to the courtyard, interrupting the judge’s speech. The crowd looks towards the Pathfinders in confusion and shock. Zhu Li opens the scroll in her hands and she and Jordan begin speaking in a sinister and coarse language loudly to the crowd, who look on in dumbfounded shock.
Seeing the crowd sufficiently distracted, Arnaut uses his Reach rod [ooc]which I presume would’ve already been in his hand and casts glue seal on the guillotine using his Spellsong feat.
The Gardeners shake off their initial shock and look on angrily.
”Servants of the accused! We mustn’t risk his soul escaping!”
“But what of the password?!” Judge Maerdrahl exclaims.
”We will find another way! Citizen Order, drop the final blade!”
Blue—Citizen Order—moves to the guillotine and pulls a lever. Aric of Halvon closes his eyes and prepares for the embrace of death—when it never comes he peeks one eye open and finds the blade of the guillotine stuck in place at the top of the apparatus.
The Gray Gardeners look at the guillotine in shock before turning toward the new arrivals.
”What have you done?!”
Green double-moves up to Sahess . Purple moves up as well. Yellow charges Zhu Li .
Judge Maerdrahl straightens his ridiculous hat as he points a finger at the Pathfinders.
”You have proven yourselves enemies of the Revolution by interfering with this great ceremony—You are all guilty! Thus is the decree of the Savored Sting!”
The judge casts a spell and a roiling ball of squiggly etheric lines bolts right in the middle of the party, spreading outward and lashing out against all within 20’.
Jordan takes 5 damage.
Zhu Li takes 10 damage (5 if she used inspiration).
Sahess, Arnaut, and the Gray Gardeners are unaffected.
A Huge cloud forms behind the guillotine—5’ above the ground—and a chittering voice echoes throughout the courtyard.
”Kann Beliac in diesem Land ohne einen König gerichteten.”
From the cloud of brimstone extends a spear that impales into the blade of the guillotine, ripping it from its wooden frame. The cloud dissipates and standing in its place is an icy blue, towing, insectile monstrosity, its multifaceted eyes coldly judging all that stand before it.
Beliac looks at the guillotine blade stuck to his spear and strikes it against the ground, shattering it into a million pieces. From the shrapnel rise a horde of translucent, ghostly figures, their faces distorted by wrath into hideous masks.
The six ghosts scream and wail as they phase through members of the Mob, instantly dropping those citizens. The rest of the crowd panics and runs out from the gate to the east—all the while the apparitions give chase to the not-so-angry Mob!
Round 2
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Gray Gardeners
Judge Maerdrahl
Sahess
Jordan (Standard Action already finished)
Zhu Li (Standard Action already finished)
Beliac
Arnaut
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Round 2
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Gray Gardeners
Judge Maerdrahl
Sahess
Jordan (Standard Action already finished)
Zhu Li (Standard Action already finished)
Beliac
Arnaut
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"CAYDEN'S BEER-SOAKED PANTS, ZARTA, WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS DID YOU JUST HAVE ME DO?!?" Zhu Li exclaims, backpedaling and drawing her sword, settling into her modified Kirin fencing stance as she does.
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”Well it’s hardly our fault you never bother to perform proper maintenance on your equipment,” Arnaut responds innocently. ”Why, it’s a wonder the whole thing hasn’t rusted over with how much blood you splash all over it.”
”Oh, she had you summon a geligon by the name of Beliac who broke the final blade and released all the souls trapped within,” Arnaut replies helpfully. ”And oh look - there they go making friends somewhere else. A shame. Now the real question is if Mr. Beliac regards you and Mr. Viola there as friends or as subjects, isn’t it? Care to ask him to leave our new, red friend alone?”
Arnaut reads from his scroll and fades once more from sight, but his voice lingers in the air. ”We’re stronger together - now let’s finish this!”
Sahess strikes twice against Green’s half-plate, leaving behind a massive dent and knocking that Gardener to the ground!
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4
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Gray Gardeners
Judge Maerdrahl
Sahess
Jordan (Standard Action already finished)
Zhu Li
Beliac
Arnaut
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Purple advances upon the group and strikes against Zhu Li!
The two Gardeners strike against the woman mid-air before she falls to the ground!
Yellow then similarly strikes against Sahess’s legs!
Blue looks up at the insectile creature before him, his knees shaking wildly. With a little-girl-scream the Gray Gardener gets the hell outta the courtyard!
Anyone who saves against the fear aura is unaffected by it for 24 hours, (like Frightful Presence).
If a duration isn’t listed, then the duration is 1 round per HD (as it’s like the fear spell).
And while I’m on the subject, I’m going to say that Judge Maerdrahl is just outside of said aura.
”BY CALISTRIA’S LASH! WHAT IS THAT?! Call off your beast, servants of the foul noble!”
Maerdrahl casts a spell…
…and suddenly a column of wildfire erupts from right behind the pair of bards .
Arnaut takes 50 divine fire damage; everyone else takes 25.
Maerdrahl steps back.
Beliac looks upward and pounds the butt of its spear two times into the ground—instantaneously transporting itself right next to Judge Maerdrahl .
Round 3
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4
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Gray Gardeners
Judge Maerdrahl
Sahess
Jordan
Zhu Li
Beliac
Arnaut
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Zhu Li lets out a sharp bark of amusement as she hits the ground, even past the bite of weapons through her armor. "You chose the wrong Pathfinder, boys," she says, analyzing Yellow from her vantage point on the ground.
She lines up her strike from the ground, since standing would be a poor choice here.
Zhu Li swipes at the Gardener's ankles, but the Galtan quickly leaps above the ground before the woman's blade hit him.
Jordan’s shot knocks Purple to the ground!
His next two shots, however, miss horribly.
Yellow continues to swipe at Sahess’s legs!
Maerdrahl looks up at the devil before him as he begins hyperventilating and he tries to rapidly move his corpulent body as far from the creature as possible! Unfortunately for him, Beliac stabs at the magistrate.
But somehow manages to miss the Calistrian.
Beliac casually walks to the fat man and brings his spear down on him!
Round 4
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4
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Gray Gardener
Judge Maerdrahl (-30)
Sahess
Jordan
Zhu Li
Beliac
Arnaut
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Zhu Li stabs deeply into the Gardener’s ankles, but the masked man remains standing. When Arnaut moves past the man he casually extends the end of his halberd to trip the bard as he moves.
But Arnaut is well-aware if such schoolyard tactics and leaps over the weapon!
Round 4
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4
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Gray Gardener (-40)
Judge Maerdrahl (-30)
Sahess
Jordan
Zhu Li
Beliac
Arnaut
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”’Thingy’?” The remaining Gray Gardener turns his head and sees Beliac in surprise, but before he is even able to comprehend the sight he sees he is shot by all of Jordan’s arrows before falling to the ground!
Maerdrahl continues to run away, horrified, from the gelugon until he finds himself between a rock and a hard place—or more accurately between a devil and a wall. Fear overcoming him, the magistrate falls to the ground into a fetal position, to scared to even beg for mercy—even if he could, though, the towering beast would show none. Beliac raises his spear over his head and rapidly brings it down upon the cowering man, not stopping until the corpulent man is beaten to a bloody pulp—his beard and hair frosted into clinging to other individual hairs and his hat completely demolished. Judge Maerdrahl, however, is not dead—close, but not quite.
The gelugon scoffs, sending chilling air out of its mandibles. ”Die Wahrheit der Menschen zeigt sich, wenn sie in eine Ecke gehoben werden, wo sie nirgendwo hinlaufen können. Eine erbärmliche Entschuldigung für einen Richter.”
The devil turns to the Pathfinders as its mandibles twist and contort into something strange-looking considering its insectile appearance—if you had to guess you’d say that it’s sneering. A voice skitters and crawls into your minds, sending a chill down your spine as it does so.
“These dogs have learned my lesson well, and I thank you for bringing me once again to this wretched world. In the meantime, I have business to attend to at the Woodsedge Lodge, where I think I will be staying for a time. Until then, may the dark blessings of Asmodeus follow in your benighted path.”
The devil pounds the butt of its spear onto the ground twice in quick succession and vanishes in a wave of chilling air.
Aric of Halvon, strapped firmly into the guillotine that was once about to take his life, blinks in a combination of surprise, shock, astonishment, and confusion.
”That was…I don’t even know.”
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"Have you ever considered asking Zarta what her little gifts do?" Arnaut asks as he unties Aric. "By Shelyn's yellow tail feathers, that thing was called, not summoned. Who knows what it'll do now - but we all know it'll be bad." As he finishes and helps the man to his feet, Arnaut grins. "But at least we have the pleasure of making your acquaintance, Lord Aric of Halvon. Tell us, how did you end up in such an unfortunate state of affairs? Tell the magistrate his hat looked awful?"
Aric rubs his wrists as he is undone from the guillotine.
”’Tis because the government of Edme is not in communication with the Revolutionary Council of Isarn. I was a scapegoat; scapegoats do not last long in Galt.”
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Zhu Li scoffs as she picks herself up off the ground. "Heh. There's a measure of irony in the council trying to execute the Red Raven, isn't there?" She wipes her blade clean and sheathes it, the rapier melting back into a cane as she does. "And Arnaut, Zarta sends letters. I still maintain we didn't have an idea on how to stop them executing our avian friend outside of it. We'll just need to burn that bridge when we come to it. Osprey and the Captain can handle it." She walks up to Aric, leaning dramatically on her cane. "So, Aric, there's been a lot of that 'framing' thing going around lately. Who's messing with you?"
Aric sighs.
”Well, I suppose I misunderstood you. I suppose some answers are in order.”
Aric moves to the front of the estate and speaks.
”Sweet Geppa.”
The front entrance opens to reveal a chamber. An ornate purple carpet bisects this huge audience chamber, running from the huge double doors that lead to the courtyard to the east all the way up a short flight of steps to a beautifully carved wooden throne that looks out over the chamber. To the left of the carpet is an enormous dining table with two long benches. Unfinished meals and drinks rest upon the table, as if more than a dozen men abandoned a meal in progress not long ago. A smaller table on the other side of the carpet is piled high with stacks of paper, maps, and envelopes, arrayed in a pattern that suggests a formal investigation. Doors on the east and west walls appear to lead to other chambers.
Aric motions to the papers as if to say “read these.”
”Well, what would you like to know?”
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"To start with, how did you arrive at the conclusion that Adril murdered Montrose?" Arnaut asks after skimming through the letters. "And what did you find that would prompt you to paint yourself red and go after him yourself instead of reporting him to the Revolution? Also, what did you do to warrant a meeting with a Final Blade?"
Sigh, he thinks to himself. Geppa was the sorcerer we fought below. If she was his lover, this could become difficult...
”After some time and haggling, I procured a set of scrolls of speak with dead, which I used to speak with the late Montrose. I used multiple to ask the same questions that I might be sure he was telling the truth. When I asked who his murderer was, Montrose answered ‘Pathfinder Venture-Captain Adril Hestram of Absalom.’ You don’t exactly get more explicit than that.
“And it seems you misunderstand—understandable for a non-Galtan—the Red Raven has existed for years; I did not create the persona for this mission specifically. I chose to don the cowl because I could not have that man’s blood on my hands—that is to say Aric of Halvon could not kill the man, I have publicity to uphold. And the edict made it very clear that I was tasked with bringing Montrose’s murderer to justice—‘blood for blood,’ thus is the Galtan Way.
“The Council gifted me these estates for my efforts to the Revolution as the Red Raven, for they know my secret. If I were to guess, I’d suppose the people of Edme found it blasphemous that such wealth and land was gifted to an outsider—I am from Halvon, not Edme—rather than given back to the people. While I admire the motive, the means to that end is a dastardly one. I could not reveal my identity as the Raven—that would put too many at the risk of the Mob and the Gardeners, and I cannot do that to my friends.”
Aric turns to Zhu Li. ”I know not, for my mission was to avenge Montrose; I did not look further into the others.”
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Jordan rifles through the papers a bit before asking, "So, all these people were dead. And we almost died to ruffians and sorcerers because one man in our order made some mistakes? The Decemvirate knows it shouldn't play games with lives, right? RIGHT? Gah. Should have stayed retired.
So, you exacted revenge. Now what? Speak with the rest of the names? To what end?"
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"Sometimes I think the power goes to our superior's heads," Zhu Li commiserates with Jordan. "But the information... that's helpful. The Society's networks beat some nations'." She shrugs her shoulders. "Eliza might be able to make use of this map, or identify the other names we have. And our avian friend here isn't safe. If the other names are alive, they'll remain such a little longer without our intervention, as best I can tell... and I'm running low on magic and supplies. I need a night in a bed, a hot shower, and an hour or so to resupply and brew some more extracts. And I don't like that devil where I can't see it."
Zhu Li seems to realize something then. "Oh, blood and ashes. It went to the Lodge. Eliza is going to kill us, she moans, covering her face with one hand.
Aric raises an eyebrow. ”Well, if it is rest you require, I can certainly provide. And, admittedly, my mission was with Montrose, not these others. With Hestram dead, he can’t harm anyone else, so what do you suggest we do?”
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Arnaut arches an eyebrow. "Oh?" he asks pointedly. "The one man was so fearsome that you brought twelve archers, a pair of thieves, a sorcerer, two immature purple worms, and multiple stone golems with you to take him down? And then the rest of us were what, collateral damage? If this is what Galtans mean by 'blood for blood', it's a wonder anyone's left alive in the country."
"And just tell Eliza to send a strongly-worded letter to Zarta," he suggests with a grin to Zhu. "You could even have Beliac deliver it in person."
"Admittedly, yes. I had assumed that anyone who associated with a man such as Adril Hestram was just as worthy of death as the man himself," Aric looks askance with sorrow and embarassment. "Recent events have proven otherwise."
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"Galt could stand to learn a lesson about tarring too many people with one brush," Zhu Li comments, walking over to the Magistrate to see if he's finished bleeding out yet or if he can still be saved.
"Speaking of, d'you have any attachment to this nitwit? I'm debating patching him up or putting him down, but I'd rather not do the latter if he's a positive force in the community."
"I'd rather not have too much unnecessary blood shed. Of course, I am the one who brought 'twelve archers, a pair of thieves, a sorcerer, two immature purple worms, and multiple stone golems' with me, so what do I know about sparing lives?" He says sarcastically.
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"Speaking of Cale," Zhu Li says as she searches the Magistrate for weapons, spell components and holy symbols so that she can divest him of them, "That elf was a piece of work. I've heard the phrase 'cut off your nose to spite your face' but I've never seen someone willingly embrace death for... nothing." She shakes her head as she starts to patch up the now-disarmed Magistrate.
"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead. Don't move, you're in a bad way. What have we learned about kangaroo courts today?"
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"Hah! Apparently only Galtan blood is worth not spilling unnecessarily?" Arnaut replies pointedly. "I'm glad you've learned something about assumptions in any case."
As Zhu mentions Cale, Arnaut grins. "And speaking of which, I do believe there's a certain sword missing from the Lodge. Perhaps we might find it in this manor that once belonged to a Pathfinder - and who knows what else!"
As Zhu Li wakes up Judge Maerdrahl he looks about ready to strangle the woman—until she decks him in the schnozz and he sees stars once more.
Aric pinches his nose. ”I knew Cale’s tunnel vision would kill him…”
The noble straightens himself before continuing. ”I suppose that’s fair. My life for a sword? Must say that I’d make that deal any day. If I’m being completely honest, I just sent Cale after it so he wouldn’t do something stupid and ruin the primary objective—seems I put too much faith in that man to not do something stupid.”
Aric directs you all to a treasure room that contains various antiquities and magic items—including the Pale Maiden, which Aric gifts to you all!
As the group searches the rest of the complex, they find
A sturdy door leads from the keep’s barracks to a dark prison lit by a single torch in a forlorn wall sconce. The light illuminates two cells barred with iron. The southern cell is empty, its door slightly ajar. The northern cell contains a handsome human man with blond hair wearing the costume of a servant of Eliza Petulengro.
Upon seeing the Seekers he grips the bars tightly. ”Pathfinders! You must help me! My name is Alondais, and I’ve been captured by the Red Raven!”
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Zhu Li rubs the bridge of her nose after possibly breaking the cleric's. "Why is everyone here so damned aggressive?" she asks, looking up to the sky for answers and not receiving any. Not from Cayden, at least. She sets his nose then stands, looking to Aric. "Help me get him to a bed. You wanted him alive, he's your problem now. Try to talk him down when he comes around? And don't mess with his nose, or it'll heal crooked."
In the dungeon, Zhu Li rolls her eyes and rests her head against the refreshingly chill stone wall. "Alright, how does everyone keep making me as a Pathfinder? Is it tattooed across my forehead? I keep my wayfinder in my pocket for a reason, damn it all."
Alondais looks at Zhu Li confused.
"You're Zhu Li, savior of the Jeweled Sages, right? That would make you a Pathfinder because you work for the Pathfinder Society..."
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Zhu Li just looks at the man. "Yes. I am. You'd think bailing an entire faction's leadership out of that mess would serve as evidence of my loyalty," she says flatly, before glancing around the room for a key. Picking the lock would be rude, after all. "So, how'd you get yourself kidnapped, anyway?"
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”If people didn’t recognize me as a Pathfinder by this point in my performing career - well, they might just mistake me for a dashing young pirate captain! Just think of the scandal!” Arnaut says cheerfully. ”Come now Aric, release the poor man - I’m certain the Raven wouldn’t want more innocent blood on his hands,” he adds with a wink to the noble.
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"If we were in Taldor they might know me, I'm not as beloved outside our fair borders. Or perhaps if we were back on Tian Xia. Being an ambassador for Nagajor does tend to give one fame, but we are numerous and you fleshlings have trouble telling us scaled folk apart sometimes." Sahess muses, smiling. "If they didn't recognize a senator I would shriek."
I always hold true that, barring extraneous circumstances, Seeker-level Pathfinders are well-known for their exploits because said exploits have been published in the Pathfinder Chronicles, so to those who read the Chronicles religiously (such as a good number of Pathfinders), then y’all are pretty recognizable.
In any case, I use that rule of thumb for flavor, it won’t hurt your mission unless explicitly outlined in the scenario.
Aric raises an eyebrow at Arnaut’s suggestion but ultimately gives in.
After a night’s rest, Aric bows deeply to the Pathfinders. ”You have saved my life, Pathfinders; I am forever indebted to you.”
With these parting words, the Seekers, Alondais, and the Pale Maiden make their way back through the Maze of the Open Road—uneventfully traveling across the country in a matter of minutes, making your way back to the Woodsedge Lodge.
Eliza and Osprey leap to their feet the moment the servants bring you into the Lodge’s Great Hall, where the Red Raven first attacked Adril Hestram and drew you into this mess. Both have been nervously awaiting your return.
“You’re back!” exclaims Eliza, her face lighting up with a bright smile. ”I trust you tracked the murderers to their lair?”
Osprey steps forward. “Well,” he says expectantly. “What have you learned?”
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"Well, wonderful to see everyone survived," Arnaut says after a night's rest. "One magical maze later and we," he pauses for dramatic effect to high-five Sahess, Zhu, Jordan, and Alondais as they step through the exit to the Lodge, "are back where we started. Hopefully with less dramatic sorcerers this time."
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"To their lair and beyond!" Arnaut says, twirling his cape around himself in response to Eliza's and Osprey's questions. "And the Maze itself should be a bit safer thanks to the efforts of the Society. We found the most curious thing inside - a collection of statues created by a medusa that all came back to life with blood-red eyes. Even the medusa had such unusual pigmentation. We also discovered a phoenix bound to both cave and ring by Montrose Tebbin, a former Pathfinder and Lord of Galt who apparently was murdered by none other than our very own Adril. Thankfully, we were able to demonstrate the tact and resourcefulness the Society expects from its agents to save the life of one Lord Aric of Halvon, even as his, shall we say, zeal for vengeance against Adril put this entire Lodge in peril." He bows with a twirl of his hands. "A grand tale if I do say so myself."
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Zhu Li nods in agreement. "Aric of Havlon was the Red Raven today, but the mantle is... discarded at will, essentially. That's where the conflicting reports of his capabilities come from, and why we didn't see the so-called Raven Spirit during the attack." She rubs the back of her head nervously. "Um... Beliac is Zarta's fault. Just... Throwing that out there. I genuinely didn't think it was a magic scroll, my goal was to invite a riot as a distraction to stop the Gardeners from using a Final Blade on Aric."
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"I have learned that I still don't like venture captains with an exceeding few notable exceptions. You aren't one, are you Osprey? Please don't hurt me so. I like Dreng and I can tolerate that Marcos Fara-whatever, but I strongly dislike most of the rest." She doesn't even comment on the fact she left Eliza out.
"You are all far too... subversive for me. I am a senator, I am an honest representative, and I show my feelings except when such things would be unlady-like..." Her words clearly contradict her actions, but if you can't be two faced as a politician, well when can you?
Eliza looks at Zhu Li, confused. ”’Beliac’?”
Osprey stares at Sahess. ”I am not a Venture-Captain; I am a proxy for the Ten. And I do not expect you to like your Venture-Captains, I expect you to respect them. You ought to be careful with the openness of your opinion—some day it may be you calling the shots and getting disrespect from your subordinates.
“Murder of a fellow Pathfinder is a grave crime, indeed, especially for a Venture-Captain. Venture-Captains have proven their mettle and loyalty to the Society many times over; an accusation of this caliber is not to be taken lightly. What evidence do you have of Hestram’s alleged treachery to the Society? And what could possibly make the man act as he did; what was his motive for killing this Teppin Montrose?”
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"While the motive may be unclear at this time, we do have a lead." Arnaut produces the folded note found in the maze and the maps found in Adril's room and Aric's estate with a flick of his wrist. "This note was found in the Maze. You may note the name that has been crossed off. Cross-referencing the names on one map with the initials on the other, it looks as though several folks have been charting paths through the Maze and have marked locations based on prominent individuals. Perhaps Montrose was only the first of several intended victims - in which case, further investigation could discover more connections from visiting other people named here, and that would give us insight as to the true motive behind his death."
"And as to Aric's motive, why, the spirit of Montrose himself rose from the Boneyard to ask for vengeance, and named Adril as his murderer. Granted, his sprit spoke with the help of several scrolls of speak with dead and enough castings to verify the information obtained, but it sounds so much less dramatic when you tell it like that." Arnaut puts up a good show of pouting.
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"I do nothing to encourage disrespect. I am forthright and honest, and I carry my own weight. I would never expect anyone to do anything I would not do myself." She almost laughs at the idea of being a venture captain, as that would be not only a demotion from senator, but also a retiring from adventure. Though Dreng still seemed to find the proper amount of trouble. Perhaps she could be mistress of blades once old Marcos Farabellus retired. She knew his name, she just liked to jest because it was so long. Much like why she went by Sahess, rather than her full name.
"Here I liked you, Osprey, and you chastise me so. After all we've done together, all we've been to eachother..."
Osprey sighs.
”These individuals, they’re all Venture-Captains for the Pathfinder Society, and their lives are in danger. It seems the stories are true. The Shadow Lodge is real. We must warn the other targets. But first, I believe we need to have a talk with someone. Eliza, where did you put Adril’s body?”
“In the guest room that he was using.”
Without another word, Osprey moves rapidly to Adril’s room with a scroll in hand. Eliza takes out a key and unlocks the door. Osprey throws open the door to reveal the plush and well-kept bedroom that it was before, completely the same from when you all were last in the room—including a significant lack of a dead body.
Adril Hestram is gone.
Group: The PCs show compassion for inured/killed Woodsedge Lodge servants (including healing them). Fail
Group: The PCs successfully recover and return the Pale Maiden or prevent its abduction in the first place. Success.
Group: The PCs broker a truce between the Pathfinder Society and the Red Raven. Success.
Group: The PCs free the phoenix Zaliex by giving it the phoenix ring. Success.
Individual: A PC impresses Eliza in the Talespinning Ceremony. Success from: Arnaut, Jordan, Sahess, Zhu Li.
Individual: A PC impresses Osprey in the Talespinning Ceremony. Success from: Arnaut, Jordan, Sahess, Zhu Li.