Bram and Roumatha swing into action, between them, quickly dispatching the first creature.
The sudden appearance, catches Kra'a off guard though, and his arrow goes narrowly wide.
The thing dodges in, and bites again this time, it's teeth break through . Kra'a could swear it even grins, then it's next attempt at a bite misses.
Roumatha and Boram together step forward and take out the daemon attacking Kra'a. The bodies of both beasts suddenly vanish. Leaving you all painting in the now very empty square.
After a few moments a voice behind you says, "Hello? What day is it? Actually, what year? Is my sentence complete?" Turning around, you see a quite confused looking naga, looking you up and down.
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Boram turns, smiling broadly that the elixir had done its work, and bows deeply, "Ma'am, it may be but a reprieve if we cannot prove you were falsely accused. Your friend the captain made arrangements to allow for your restoration to flesh, but the locals sought to prevent your release. We negotiated the release based on the claim of a false accusation. We should take you back to the Lodge for the time being, I think. The captain didn't tell us everything and will be better able to fill in the details."
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The encounters scale for 6 players ;)
Boram turns, smiling broadly that the elixir had done its work, and bows deeply, "Ma'am, it may be but a reprieve if we cannot prove you were falsely accused. Your friend the captain made arrangements to allow for your restoration to flesh, but the locals sought to prevent your release. We negotiated the release based on the claim of a false accusation. We should take you back to the Lodge for the time being, I think. The captain didn't tell us everything and will be better able to fill in the details."
[b]"That... yes, that sounds wise. But still, how long have I been here?
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"Venture-Captain Benasry was not very forthcoming with the details. But it can't have been too long ago as she would have found someone else to help, some of us have just joined the Society not a month ago. I'm sure she will fill you in on the details when you let us escort you back to her. Or would you prefer to find her on your own?"
Well, by my reckoning it's the last day of Desnus in the year 4720. It's safe to assume the nags has been entrapped since the end of Erastus 4719.
”Come, let’s talk as we walk - so to speak. Today is the last of Desnus in the year 4719. Does that answer your question?”
"Oh, that's, we'll. It's not as long as it could have been." The Pathfinder-Naga stands feet above you on her serpentine body, scales glistening in the sun, her head, resembling an elf with long ears and a wide brimmed hat makes an odd juxtaposition.
"By the way, just as we began turning you to flesh, we got attacked by some hideous fiends - would you happen to know anything about why they were here, in the middle of the city?"
"I suppose that when they died they vanished from sight? Creatures not of this realm. There are a number of things they could have been. None of which are chasing me to my knowledge. Perhaps they were released by a disgruntled local?"
She bobs along beside you, obviously taking her time to ensure you are not hurried in her wake. "I simply cannot thank you enough for this you know."
The rest of the journey back to the pathfinder Lodge goes easily, if somewhat oddly. Most crowds part for you in plenty of time. An effect the Naga doesn't seem to realise she is having on the folk around her. She keeps chattering away about her recent expedition, and asking you about your exploits other than saving her.
Once back at the lodge, she thanks you gain, and leaves you to return to her apartments. You are ushered into a waiting room, and a small while later refreshments are brought to you. You can finally sit in peace for a short time. In the cool of the building the world seems far away.
Your solitude though is short lived. A servant enters the room after a short while. "Fola Barun requires your presence right away, Pathfinders." You are taken through the citadel by twisting ways until you find yourself alone in a room with the Venture Captain.
"You found our fellow. It saddens me that we were unable to help in their hour of need. Her body has been dealt with solemnly. What else did you find?"
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"Milady, we found a structure too unstable to explore very much. We felt it more important to return our erstwhile ally to the Society and did not tarry once we had located her body. What exploration was done beforehand revealed a stately manor well on its way to collapsing on itself. We did discuss returning to investigate it further, but with three more missions already on our plate and some mysterious ghostly attacker that struck as we were leaving, we did not return."
"Should we?"
"No, I expect the demolition will be well underway by now. The secrets the house held will simply die with it I am sure. Thank you, again, for your help with this matter."
With that, it is obvious you are excused. As you exit the room, another footman, this one tall and dark skinned, is waiting. "Pathfinders, Eando Kline awaits you in his study. This way please."
He leads you to a High room, which is sparsely, but pleasantly furnished. Shelves linked with books and trinkets must detail Kline's travels, if you knew how to read them.
He stands as you enter, and nods to the footman. "Thank you for coming so quickly. Now that I have had time to talk to Tevvar I can see that you made a good decision in acting the way you did. Would you be able to tell me a little more about how you found her, and what you saw?"
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"Finding her was the easy part - the museum guard told us where she was. But once there, we saw... shadows, coming alive and linked to some sort of portal. We fought the shadows but they also turned on Tevvar's assistants and we couldn't prevent them from disrupting the ritual. I think... I think they were trying to break free. But I didn't fully understand the meaning of what was going on there."
"Yes, her ritual was tied into he shadow realm. A dangerous bit of business as you found. I am quite surprised you all survived. Had I known the extent of the danger I would have sent more experienced Pathfinders. You did well though. That is certain. And Teevar may well become a useful asset of the Society."
Upon leaving Kline's office there is a gain a servant waiting for you. This one a small, light skinned halfling.
She leads you down, and down to yet another office. This one had windows thrown wide to allow in the breeze, and the Orc Calisro Benarry sits behind a desk, toying with a looking glass.
"Well met my friends. You were successful! This calls for a drink. Would you tell me the tale? Rum, or Whiskey, I'm afraid I have nothing else."
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Thank you, Venture-Captain, a dash of rum wouldn't hurt.
"It looks like somebody tipped off the locals that one of their precious statues would be taken. We've managed to avoid confrontation with the angry mob, but for some reason a couple of fiends attacked us as soon as we set your friend free. Fortunately, they weren't very powerful ones."
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"We did talk down the crowd by negotiation. You had told us your friend was falsely accused and we convinced the leaders, including a barrister of some stripe, that it would be unjust to not allow her to fight those accusations. After all, if she is truly guilty, she could be put under the Gorgon's penance once more."
He shrugs, hands wide, "It was the simplest way to free her without violence. But it means - and she is aware - that someone may come calling on her to collect that debt once more."
"You talked them down? Well done. I suspect an angry mod would have done some real harm had they turned to violence. That showed great skill, it will be remembered. We do have some work to do now, but thanks to your help, she is free once more, and that makes that work all the easier. You have my deepest thanks."
The day is wearing on, and the stress of these interviews is telling. But as you leave an elven footman meets you for the final conversation. He takes you winding around to a meeting room in the bowls of the Lodge.
There you find Gorm Greathammer pouring over maps rolled out on a huge conference table. His gruff voice is welcome as he looks up smiling. "Pathfinders, welcome. I am told you mission was a success. Tell me, what did you find?"
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Boram gushes, "I made a friend! Well, of sorts. There was a large creature, not a man, but made like a man - and he looked like he had been made, not born, and he looked very strong. I think fighting him would have been very difficult, but he didn't look angry. He looked hungry, actually, I've been hungry and I recognized the look, so I offered him some food. He seemed to enjoy it very much and he went back to his hiding spot under the stairs."
Eyes sparkling, the halfling continues, "And then it got fun! The hold was full of crates of furniture, many nice pieces, I should think, from tables to dressers to sofas. They all had one thing in common..." Grinning, he lets the moment linger, "Each one I looked at - and I looked at many of them - had some ingenious hollow in it about so big," his hands describe a roughly book-sized shape in mid-air, "so we think that's how they are sneaking things in!"
"There was also a bunk room, complete with beds for half a dozen hands. It was far too clean for the condition that the wreck is in and the beds had fresh linens on them - it appears to be very much in regular and recent use."
"Another room contained what appeared to be a meeting table covered with papers. They bored me quickly, but Kra'a found references that the furniture had been shipped from Quantium. And documentation of what appears to be bribes. Same name on the official-looking papers, right, Kra'a? Oh, and there was a coat of arms on the wall over the table, lit by the lantern, but I don't know if it was from the ship's seaworthy days or if it would actually tell you anything about the current smugglers."
"Well done indeed my friends! This confirms my suspicions tha the wreak is in use by smugglers, and with any luck, those papers will leads us to them. This is great work, and a good day for you all."
"Now, go, rest. You've earned it!"
As you leave, this time, there is no servant waiting. Instead, Janira Gavix races down the hall, her blond hair flying in her excitement. "I just heard you made it back—congratulations! It sounds like everything went, well, about as well as anyone could expect. Come with me, I have something for each of you."
The halfling woman leads the way into a small office and distributes finely crafted wooden boxes. Within each, a gleaming compass lid emblazoned with the Glyph of the Open Road and an engraved name lies upon a cushion of silk. "I’m not sure if you’ve picked up your own wayfinders yet, but when you do, you should have ones that prove that you belong. Now it’s official," she beams. "Welcome to the Pathfinder Society!"