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Looking at the man that has opened the door and not seeing a reason why to not be upfront: My goodman, we have been told that perhaps there si a woman here along with a few of her coworkers whom might be conducting a very dangerous ritual is beyond their scope and skill to handle. The pathfinder Society has sent us and I ask for you kind cooperation in matter. Can you please show us to this talented woman who might unbeknown to herself or others that she is in way over her head?
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Following Titus towards the museum, Wit marvels at the man’s straightforward view and mutters something about ‘plain heroes being the hardest to work with.’ As the Man opens the door, Wit examines him to try and get a read on their level of composure and general attitude towards the group of new adventurers.
The Enigmatic Bard has to clench their teeth to prevent their Jaw dropping as Titus reveals their entire purpose to this stranger. Maintaining composure, they speak to the man in a calm tone, trying to sound knowledgeable and competent.
”Greetings my good Man. It is as my Compatriot says - we are Society agents who wish to ensure that nothing will go wrong. Sources inform us that a great deal of haste here may cause unknown repercussions and as staunch allies of the Blakros family, our leaders want us to provide all the support we can.”
The man smiles and opens the door at Titus' explanation. As he steps back to let you in you see that he's dressed in simple clothes, and leaning partially on a long handled brush. You appear to have interrupted the man's cleaning routine.
"Ahh, you are after Miss Hamavsi. I was told to let any Pathfinder's right up." he paints towards one of the back corners of the building. "Quickest way is the staircase over yonder. It'll take you up to the next floor, and then you want to find your way to the spiral staircase at the other end of the building, that will take you to the top. They are up there."
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As they pass by the route indicated by the man, Roumatha gives him an incredulous glance. "Do you know Miss Hamavsi? Can you tell us anything about her? How many people are with her up there? You know, I sort of expected them to try and keep a lower profile - if we don't succeed, you and the whole museum might be in danger."
"Know her? Well, that would be a tad strong. But she's been coming here with three or four others these last few days. Mebbee a week. Don't know that what they are doing is dangerous. But I suppose this is the place to be if it is. It wouldn't be the first time the end of the world started here." While he talks he goes back to his sweeping, not seeming to notice Roumatha's intimidating presence.
Too easy. They either want us there for some reason or they want to catch us off-guard.
You move through the ground floor of the museum without any issues, and up the stairs.
Boram hurries on ahead, but hesitates when he gets to the hall of animals.
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I make quick movement to follow Boram to the stairs and I allow him the option to go up first...if not, I go up as quietly as I can with my hand on my scimitar...stopping when my head gets to the floor level and I can "Peak" around and see what is occurring so that I just don't blunder into something...awful.
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”Hmm, well being expected is sometimes a positive but mostly not. No matter let us be on our way and not keep the lady waiting.” Wit muses as the Man lets them i to the Museum. ”Ah the infamous Blakros Museum! A truly auspicious place that will cut our teeth splendidly.”
Following Titus closely, ensuring they keep themselves behind the large Half-Elf. As they do so, they keep channeling their magic, seeking out Magic Auras that may be Around.
Roumatha's quick scan of the room shows that there is a lot of traffic to all parts of this area (as you'd expect in a museum. But most of the recent traffic has gone the way Boram is heading.
To your left appear to be a series of offices, as Boram moves forward the room opens up to a large area. Carefully framed spellbook pages hang along this room’s walls, while eldritch relics stand in small display cases in the room’s center. In the far corner, shadows hang thicker than the rest of the room, and it seems a boisterous half-orc woman stands there, surrounded by vague figures, as she welcomes newcomers. Her voice is thin and reedy, but eerily familiar. "Congratulations! Let me spice up that punch a bit for you—to celebrate, of course!"
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Following the Paladin into the room, Wit looks around focusing on their spells. Spotting something they whisper softly to Titus in front of them ”Be careful, magic in those Shadows.” Coughing to clear their throat - and in attempt to disguise the whispered comment, Wit smiles at the half-orc, trying to place them.
”Congratulations? What for Ma’am? We have just arrived and seemed to have missed something. Though if anything like your Punch yesterday evening then I would gladly partake!” he says with a bow and a dazzling smile.
"More punch?" Kra'a perks up and while his bow remains lowered he is looking around for potential attackers.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 6
Kra'a's hopes are dashed as he peers more closely. The shadows don't seem to be responding to your presence at all. In fact, it would seem that this was the scene played out at the Party just the other night. Playing out again, in shadow here like some sort of phantom show.
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Boram, tense as he moves through the shadowy building, overlooks the phantom show until the voice pipes up. The sudden speech from the shadows gives him quite a start. He looks back at the others, "What is that!"
He draws a dagger, keeping it somewhat hidden near his side.
"Do we need to look at that closer?" The halfling points to the shadowy figure. "The cleaner said there was a set of stairs this way."
It seems pretty clear that he's wanting to go to the stairs...
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"Was someone spying on the Grand Lodge from here? I think the Venture-Captain would want to hear about this. And also this sound could have alerted our quarry - let us move on and not be distracted."
Roumatha now keeps his blade drawn in one hand and a small flask in the other, as he moves on some 20 feet further towards the stairs up.
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Aww Gory hell, if we got spies in the Society. I hope that is not the case.....but this is certainly a case of deja-vu with the shadows....best we press on, something is most amiss here.
Not one to take chances, I pull out my scimitar....as we prepare to head up the stairs, cautiously looking around as I do.
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Seeing as the shadows did not respond to them, Wit shrugs their shoulders elegantly and draws their Rapier from the scabbard at their waist. Rolling their shoulders to loosen them, the Bard follows Titus closely muttering a soft verse under their breath. As they complete the incantation a translucent bubble forms around them seemingly formed from little song notes.
"Well let us be on, mayhaps this is just a consequence of the ritual and it is simply reflecting our shared experiences?" They say to no-one in particular as the group progresses through the shadows.
As you move on into the museum, the shadows continue to ignore your presence. The scene repeating and repeating in the corner.
A gigantic reptilian beast is on display in the center of this expansive gallery, ferociously leering over the collection of taxidermy animals and monsters. Shadows flit between the displays, meandering and shuffling shapes reminiscent of museum patrons. Then a distant shriek echoes off the walls, as the shadow of a stuffed owlbear lashes out at one of the shadow-visitors with its talons. The shadow of the tyrannosaur in the room’s center departs from its source and snaps at the misty image of another patron, tossing its head back and seeming to swallow its meal nearly whole. Other shadows snarl and hiss, scuffling amongst themselves as shadow-guests panic and run toward the exit.
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Still following Titus, the Elven bard turns their painted gaze upon the halfling as they voice their question. "From What I hear, this place is always...bizarre. Bizarre in differing ways each time, just to keep things interesting and the unwary on their toes." He laughs slightly to mask their own trepidation at the Shadow mummery happening all around them.
They keep their murmuring going in order to maintain the glowing shield around themselves, tightening their grip on the Rapier in their hand.
[dice=Society] d20 +5
As you move out of the room, the T-rex shadow suddenly snaps at Boram's shadow.
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”Hmm well, funny you should ask.” Wit responds to the halfling as the Dinosaur animates and tries to take a bite out of the small Rogue. ”Some theorise it is in fact both. Magic infused shadows and controlling Shadows with magic. Some maintain it’s all Illusion and trickery. Smoke and mirrors if you like. But either way they can cause serious harm if used badly.”
Shrugging elegantly, the bard continues on through the seemingly haunted Museum, holding their Rapier tightly.
Droning voices echo off the mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling of this luxurious room. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, making space for eldritch markings and mystical paraphernalia laid carefully over the plush carpet. The chamber seems muted and dim despite the crystal chandelier overhead, and a bone-numbing chill seeps through the space along with a metallic scent. A ritual is obviously underway here, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s working as planned. Shadowy energy lashes out from a twisting breach in the center of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls.