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Sirius Löwenhaupt is a rather average sized young man with a rather slim stature. He has inherited the rather elfish looks of his mother, especially the pointy ears and the azure blue eyes of his father. He has white skin and very long hair in the colour of freshly honey, and usually wears egshelled clothes made of ostrich leather and linnen.
In battle he wears a chainmail of elfish origin and a bardiche.
His voice is a very deep, yet smooth pearly tone.
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You receive a letter from Kreighton Shaine describing a mystery that the Pathfinder Society needs to unravel.
Pathfinders,
I have recently uncovered a series of notes that I believe hold critical truths about the origins of the Pathfinder Society and the founding of the Decemvirate. A gnome Pathfinder by the name of Eylysia was well-known at that time and was held in high esteem until an assassination attempt on members of the Decemvirate organized by Eylysia led to her ejection from the Society. These notes I have found indicate there may be quite a bit more to Eylysia’s story than we previously realized.
The most legible of Eylysia’s notes reference a “speaking artifact” purportedly lying beneath a “false rider.”
Descriptions drawn from recent visions suggest the “speaking artifact” originated in Varisia. I suspect it is related to the Shoanti, a people well-known both for their oral traditions and horsemanship.
It seems Eylysia suspected that the noted explorer, Montlarion Jeggare, had glimpsed this “speaking artifact”. Head to the Jeggare Museum in Korvosa, where Montlarion’s ancestor, Mercival Jeggare, serves as curator. Once there, see if you can locate this “speaking artifact”. I await your findings.
Sincerely,
Kreighton Shaine
You are not going to meet him in person to ask any questions, but some of you might know the following:
under the command of Field Marshal Jakthion Korvosa. Once
completed, it served as a defensive position from which settlers
and explorers would enter Varisia. Korvosa has since become a
major cosmopolitan city. Imps, otyughs, and shrew flies pose
concerns for unsuspecting visitors.
Korvosa led a band of soldiers from Cheliax into Varsia.
They met fierce resistance from Shoanti tribes (or “quahs”).
As Korvosa’s troops wore down, relief came by way of the
gentleman explorer, Montlarion Jeggare. Leading an expedition
up the river now bearing his name, Jeggare delivered transport
and supplies to Korvosa’s beleaguered soldiers.
Cheliax’s armies during the Everwar. Where the army went,
Pathfinders could readily study sites previously disallowed
by local groups. The Pathfinders plundered numerous
abandoned sites. The lack of Society oversight from
distant Varisia left few to question such methodologies.
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It looks like Arin got picked up for this mission as well? The little guy survived once the crew went their separate ways, good!
If one thing is obvious about Mhazruk it is his profession as an alchemist. His black duster is covered in iron vials of various liquids and blast marks from his experiments. As he walks into the museum in Jeggare his vials, gear, and elaborate spear clink occasionally but most peculiar is the shifting of his bandanna atop his head.
"Lovely, lovely Korvosa. Plenty of business if you don't mind the imps and other pests. You look out of place in a museum...about as much as I do. Pathfinder? If so you can call me Rook." he says to the half-elf while looking around.
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A little gnome, hovering just to the side of the museum entrance has a youthful face and starkly white hair. He maintains a very peaceful demeanor, and yet seems distant to most, in stark contrast to the overt compassion that usually accompanies a healing gift. His face forever lacks emotion, and it's never clear whether he doesn't experience it or doesn't express it.
When he sees former mission teammates, Pai a follow gnome from recently, or Mhazruk, from a series of missions long back, he offers a polite nod of acknowledgement. He definitely won't refuse conversation from these.
Once rejoined with his fellow agents...
It's interesting that even the society has its internal struggles. I wonder what Eylysia's motivations were at the time.
He nods to Mhazruk. It's been a while. Have you worked with any of the others since we all parted? His demeanor remains as stoic as always.
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A bright peach colored female gnome with flaming orange hair and light green eyes bustles into the museum next. After paying admission, she spots Arin. She calls out as she bounds across the lobby: "Arin! Hi! I'd heard you were coming too! How's it going? Who's your friend here?" She's definitely a chatty one, and most certainly not using her library voice, as one generally does in museums.
Once introduced, she prattles on about what she knows about the area.
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Oh, apologies, this is Mhazruk. We were part of an adventuring team early in my Pathfinder career. He's a reliable alchemist, and good with a lock or device in a pinch.
Arin very briefly glances up at Mhazruk's bandana and makes a courtesy check before presuming to reveal something too soon...
Is that something you like to show off early to new teammates or do you like to wait until it comes up...?
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A man of Taldan stock enters the museum. His steps very light, but with purpose. His wickedly curved blade bounces on his hip as he moves. His Long hair done in a tail, with his knot done with the same colour sting as the tassles on his sword. He nods in acknowledgement to the others.
Nice to meet you all. I am Mykel, of the Cassomir Therinors. It looks as though we have a well rounded group here...good.
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A small humanoid, deeply cloaked in all black, enters the museum after the others. After paying admission, and a brief conversation with the attendant, he starts scanning the gallery for... something. His gaze pauses on the assembled Pathfinders, but continues on to cover the rest of the gallery before returning. He seems to settle on something and approaches the group.
Lowering the cowl of his cloak, he introduces himself. "I'm Tenibri. You must be the other Pathfinders? I got a letter from Shaine...." His deep purple skin is covered in an intricate pattern of tattooed white dots that trail off beyond what you can see of his face, clearly identifying him as a wayang. Having overheard some of the conversation about Korvosa as he approached, he qualifies what the others have said by sharing some (perhaps unpleasant) facts about how the Society took advantage of things at that time.
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"Oh you know Needle has a mind of...well you know how he acts. He will come out sooner or later when he has a craving for chalk." he says while jiggling the bag of chalk attached to a chalkboard on his hip.
The bandanna begins to move around more wildly before a small winged reptile bursts out and flys around the room before landing on the chalkboard. While it eats a snack of chalk the others might notice it shares the same skin color and texture as Rook.
"And there he goes. Anyways, this is the first job I have taken since we parted ways. Been working with some of our old clients hauling alchemical supplies around and trying my hand at the Sun Orchid elixir...to no success. However it looks like you have not lazed about either, it is nice to meet a friend of Arin." he finishes with a greeting for Pai but ends his tangent of catching up as others being to arrive.
[b]"You are in the right place, Tenibri. Hopefully Shaine is more bearable this time but then again that my be why I was chose.
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As the winged reptile bursts from beneath Mhazruk's bandana, Pai's eyes widen in delight. "Oooooh! What is that? It's so cool! Gosh! Can I pet it? What's its name? Needle? Oh! Is it because its teeth are needle sharp? Wow! Can I hold it? Or does it only like you?" She watches it flap and glide around the room with wonder, prattling on without giving Mhazruk a chance to answer until she finally stops to draw a breath.
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The museum’s striking marble edifices rise above the surrounding terrain. Upon your arrival, you are greeted by the museum’s current curator, Mercival Jeggare.
"Welcome to my museum Pathfinders! I am Mercival Jeggare, the head curator."
This declaration comes from a portly man adorned in a frock coat and ruffled blouse. The scholarly figure gestures toward a grand entryway dotted with displays of weapons, artwork, and fossilized remains.
"Come in, come in! Always a pleasure to host members of the Society. I assume this is in regards to the missive I received from Mr. Shane? Wait. He said he's going to send seven agents. I guess we have to wait for the last one to arrive before I show you the Shoanti collection."
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A tall man, with a wild mane of red hair, enters the place. He's quite slender, but with a good muscular definition under his chain shirt. His pace is regular, and he carries himself with purpose.
He salutes his fellow Pathfinder, introducing himself as Erhun Gabarris, from the Scarab Sages.
An oversized axe and a bec de corbin are his obvious weapons.
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"Ok, let's go." Mercival Jeggare says and leads the way.
Mercival directs you to the largest gallery containing Shoanti artifacts. Skylights illuminate this gallery. Exhibits displayed within decorative alcoves include several wooden totems and tools. More wood-carved pieces rest within a raised exhibition area to the north. A massive glass-walled case dominates the center of the gallery and holds three bound volumes of the Pathfinder Chronicles. To the south, a table bears two metal chests as another holds two wooden reliefs.
"Do you have any questions?" he asks.
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Rook is somewhat surprised by the the attention Needle is getting.
"Well, to be technical he is an experiment...or the result of one going wrong. He is my brain tumor when I wanted him to be an extra set of arms." he says as if completely normal.
With a sharp whistle he holds up his chalkboard where Needle stops eating to instead draw the words HELLO HELLO on it before showing it to Pai. He then tosses her some chalk to feed Needle when she wants.
"Seems he is fairly sharp for a tumor...I suppose. "
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Rook does take some interest in the Shoanti relics and seems skilled at recognizing them.
"Please do lead the way. I would like to learn of these relics but more importantly the specifics of why we are here." he says in Shoanti but can be roughly understood by those present who do not speak the language.
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"Most of the exhibits displayed here were collected by my family and ancestors. Of particular note is the esteemed Montlarion Jeggare. Presently, some personal effects of his are undergoing restoration for public debut. Antiques from Korvosa’s founding, vestiges of conquered Shoanti tribes, and ancient rune-etched artifacts account for the bulk of the collection." the curator answers.
"According to our books, these artifacts have been checked by scholars of the Pathfinder Society, but this was long time ago. They did not find any magic on them."
It seems they are authentic Shoanti artifacts made from various plant-based materials, such as woven baskets, scraped-bark suits of antique elven armor, and similar relics. But they do not bear any signs of gods or deities. You know that Shoanti practice ancestor worshipping.
You hear a strange noise coming from above you. It sounds like something chewing on wood.
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"A false rider? A ‘rider’ may suggest someone mounted or else a proviso or alteration of some prior statement or decree. What are you looking at?" Mercival and also looks up, just a second before a cascade of wood dust heralds the fall of an enormous glass skylight which shatters upon the marbled floor followed by three swarms of shrew flies and a giant fly which spread out and start to eat through the wooden artifacts and books.
"What the... Quick, protect the artifacts while I get some help! I'll be back as fast as I can!" the courator shouts while running out of the room. Outside he continues to shout "Barney, Feng! Where are you, grab some scrolls and hurry to the Shoanty gallery! Insects! Insects everywhere!"
Mykel
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue
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Tenibri
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Swarm red
Swarm purple
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Arin
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Giant Fly yellow
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Sirius
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Pai's blast misses the swarm, somehow the pests seem to evade the energy. Mazhuk tosses a bomb at the floor and the explosion burns away a lot of insects. Mykel rushes forward to attack the big beast.
The first swarm starts to eat an artifact.
Mykel (P/R)
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue -6
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Tenibri
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Swarm red
Swarm purple
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Arin
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Giant Fly yellow
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Sirius
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Tenibri steps forward, getting closer to his target, and opens himself to Nethys' arcane energy, ever-present and always swirling through the fabric of reality. Using that energy, he quickly tears open a rift, opening a portal to the plane of air; he draws an elemental through, sending it at the farthest swarm.
The air around the swarm immediately begins swirling as the elemental attempts to suck up all the tiny little insects into its swirling control, flying up and out of the building as high as it can go!
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Tenibri begins to cast a spell and an air elemental appears in the room. The elemental engulfs one of the swarms and attempts to carry it away.
The swarm with red flies moves over to the shelves to chew at a wooden bowl.
The swarm with purple wings also moves over to one of the artifacts and starts to eat away a basket.
Mykel (P/R)
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue -6
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Tenibri
Elemental
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Swarm red
Swarm purple
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Erhun
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Giant Fly yellow
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Arin
Sirius
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Erhun throws the flask at the swarm, but misses. The splash hits the swarm.
The giant fly tries to bite Mykel who was waiting for that and parries the attack. He strikes back but misses.
Mykel (P/R)
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue -7
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Tenibri
Elemental
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Swarm red
Swarm purple
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Erhun
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Giant Fly yellow
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Arin
Sirius
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"Gosh dang it! I thought that was good!" Pai is annoyed that her last blast didn't connect with the swarm. She shifts her focus to the blue swarm, seeing as how the others seem to have a lot of action around them. Pattering closer so she can get a good shot, she focuses her aim on the writhing mass and again releases a sizable electric blast from the outstretched palm of her hand at the blue swarm.
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Sirius attacks the swarm in front but misses. Mhazruk throws another bomb and burns away more flies. While Mykel continues to cut the giant fly into pieces, Pai's blast hits the swarm and a lot of individuals explode. Arin blesses Pai.
Mykel (P/R)
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue -15
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Tenibri
Elemental
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Swarm red
Swarm purple -6
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Erhun
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Giant Fly yellow -16
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Arin
Sirius
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Tenibri takes out a wand while he moves and shoots a cone of fire at the swarm on the left side of the room, carefully not to burn anything valuable.
The elemental tries to catch the swarm once more and begins to move it away from the wooden artifacts.
The swarm desperately tries to get away from the whirlwind while the swarm next to it continues to eat wood.
Mykel (P/R)
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue -15
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Tenibri
Elemental
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Swarm red -7 (caught)
Swarm purple -9
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Erhun
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Giant Fly yellow -16
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Arin
Sirius
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Erhun attacks one of the swarms with his axe, but is not able to kill many of the insects.
The giant fly next to Mykel attacks him. Mykel is able to parry the attack and the counter strike kills the giant fly.
Mykel (P/R)
Pai
Mhazruk
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Swarm blue -15
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Tenibri
Elemental
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Swarm red -7 (caught)
Swarm purple -9
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Erhun
Arin
Sirius
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Arin approaches one of the swarms.
He pulls a miniature whistle out of his belt pouch but cups his little hands around it as if playing something privately. When he opens his hands a barely-visible orb of shimmering air bursts forth towards the nearby swarm.
As it flies towards it he utters some harsh, guttural abyssal in a booming voice that seems like it shouldn't come from a humanoid so small. All the while his hair starts glowing a sickly yellow and floating about as if it was in water. You believe his eyes might be glowing in the same way but he has his back turned to most of the party.