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Oh, but Mister Valsin, I have worked very hard over the years enhancing my skills of dexterity. Allow me to demonstrate. Redd pulls a nearby human-sized chair closer to the group. She climbs up onto the seat then grabs a hold of the backrest and attempts a handstand while straining to balance to not tip the chair over backwards. Having extended her arms, body, and legs as straight as a pole while upside down, Redd attempts a one-handed handstand on the back of the chair. By now, a small crowd has gathered. She pants while straining to keep only one hand gripping the backrest and extending the other arm outward...
Suddenly, Redd loses her balance and the chair slips out from underneath her. She tumbles to the ground with a thud and a leg breaks off of the chair. The crowd bursts in laughter while pointing at Redd. With utter embarrassment, Redd sits up and begins sobbing into her hands. "I'm never... gonna make it... as a pathfinder." She sobs while rubbing the big bump on her forehead.
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Ornaculus nods with a hearty laugh, accepting a large helping of Calisro's rum. "Always with the proper drinks for a party!" He fixes his hat from Calisro's ruffling and takes a swig.
"Master Valsin, I assure you that you'll find no lack of efficiency with our little band of adventurers. Why, we've already gathered a list of tasks from two faction leaders. In addition, we've made plans to brush up on our Academics by visiting the archives. I've recently finished reading several treaties on polymorphism of living creatures that I hope..."
Redd crashes to the floor, jarring Ornaculus from his speech.
"Oh my! She may have fallen but she was reaching for extreme efficiency. Holding oneself aloft with one hand is much more efficient than two hands! And Filtune and Dorian here are striving to maximize efficiency as well, but I'll let them tell you about their efforts."
He sweeps a hand, gesturing the floor to Dorian and Filtune and will step over to Redd and offer a hand up off the ground.
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Dorian came up and nodded at the half-orc graciously accepting the rotgut. He takes a big swig and smiles letting a pleased ahhh! escape his lips almost as good as dwarven myco-brew. A haunted house yu dont say. I aint fraid of no ghosts
then he squinted his eyes wondering how best to answer the serious Master Valsin. As Redd began her balancing act and Ornaculus began showing his knowledge he stood just watching. Then Redd went tumbling and he put a heavy booted foot out to stop the chair from doing more than tipping, pinning it the floor quickly and deftly, while at the same time, catching the bouncing bard by a collar and quickly lifting her and setting her on her feet, so that only for an instant was she even touching the floor. I assure yu Master Valsin, We are all skilled in our own way. ...then to Redd he said clearly and loudly. Lass didnt you notice the balance was off on that chair, why one side isclearly glued together poorly. Any good dwarven craftsman can see that. I should have alerted yu to it before yu got ontop. My apologies.
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Yes I saw the chair was put together poorly as well! Filtune says nervously. But the important thing is that she got back up! Sometimes that can be the best work ethics in itself, get back up and try again. She smiles.
She moves closer to Valsin with a bit of confidence. I may be small but my years of hunting back home have made me pretty toned.
Filtune Flexes.
VC Valsin's facial expressions run the gamut from alarm at Redd's teeter-tottering, to relief and appreciation as she lands unharmed with Dorian's skilled help, to a frown of concentration as he carefully picks up the chair and examines the craftsmanship, saying absently, "Nice catch, Gravendak." He says nothing about Filtune's less-than-impressive flexing.
Calisro laughs heartily. "As long as you have friends to pick you back up, what's a little tumble? Make full sail and reach for the horizon, I say! Bravery and a love of adventure will serve you well." She slips the downcast Redd a small, unmarked hip flask. "Here's a special pick-me-up for when you really need to get back on your feet!"
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Redd wipes away the tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, my friends," she says to Filtune, Ornaculus, and Dorian as they help her to her feet. "Luck is not on my side today. For a moment I thought maybe this Pathfinder stuff is not for me. I could get myself killed, or even worse, get all of you killed!" A look of great worry falls upon Redd's face momentarily as she looks at each one of her companions. Redd turns to look at Valsin and Benarry with her head bowed. "Please do not think lowly of me, Sir and Madame." She then stands defiantly. "I will prove my worth on the assignments we have been given. This haunted house sounds quite frightening. And challenging," she adds. "Be sure, however, that I will do my best to keep me and my companions safe."
"I sure would like to have some punch now. And a little sip of whatever is in that flask, if you don't mind." Redd says with a grin.
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Ornaculus leans over to whisper to the party
"Pssst... That's a Healing potion! Minor variety; Must be diluted from the "pick-me-up" she added. Let's hope we don't need it."
Ornaculus Mage Hands a goblet of punch over for Redd and looks around.
"I think we've made our impression here. Where to next gang?!"
He looks down expectantly at the party and rubs the back of his neck.
I'm going to strain my neck adventuring with these three. How did I end of with three of the small folk?? I'll be stooped over looking down the whole time...
Gorm Greathammer, his favorite lute slung across his back, scratches his beard as his entertaining story about a barmaid, a mephit and a goblin dog is interrupted by an iruxi holding a large sheaf of papers. "A what now?" he says, bemusedly.
"The Owl was high in the Northern quadrant in that season," you hear Urwal reply, calmly. He traces a line with one claw on one of the papers he holds. "Behold, this chart demonstrates the course of her wanderings. The description of the sky in your song is incorrect, as can be seen by these calculations, here." He waves the rest of the papers. "Nature's truths cannot be denied simply because one wishes to make a pretty rhyme."
Gorm Greathammer, dwarven prince of Kraggodan, renowned storyteller, and respected scholar of history, is clearly out of his depth. He casts a glance in your direction, silently inviting you to approach.
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There's that Mister Urwal fella.
Sounds like he's talkin' about stars in the sky.
I think I've heard that song before.
"Hello Mister Greathammer. Hello Mister Urwal. My name's Redd. Pleased to meet you. I just love looking up at the stars. The stars and constellations can help guide those that are lost. Ships at sea use stars to find their way at night, you know. And that one constellation..." Redd babbles on with what she knows about The Great Tapestry.
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Urwal blinks, lizardlike, at Filtune. "Not at all. In fact, the Owl is not—" He blinks again as Redd begins determinedly reciting every fact she can possibly recall about stars. "Ah. Your understanding of these matters is quite impressive. And their beauty is, indeed, unsurpassed..."
[Botting Dorian]
Dorian stomps over to Urwal, and launches into a discussion on how one might navigate safely through the Mwangi jungle.
The two soon get embroiled into a spirited argument of whether climbing a tall tree to see the stars is sound navigational practice, and how to tell if such a tree is infested with biting ants.
Gorm gives the party a thumbs-up, and says, "A sunken ship's washed up on a reef not far from Absalom. I've 'eard that some smugglers are usin' it as a safe house. Smugglin' texts, and possibly livin' creatures, from Nex." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "Any such books would be valuable enough that they wouldn't leave 'em lyin' around. But I'm interested in any information you can find out 'bout the smugglers’ methods."
He nods towards Urwal. "I may not know much about the stars, but I know a bit 'bout practical magic! Take one of these scrolls and keep it in yer back pocket, eh!"
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"A wrecked ship & smugglers? Oooooh. Scary."
"Well, fellas, I can't cast magic so you all should choose whichever scroll suits you," Redd says to her companions.
"As for our missions, let's start with the first one we got and go down the list. Does that sound good to you guys?"
"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you two, Mister Gorm and Mister Urwal. The Tapestry holds many great mysteries. I believe a lot of magical energies come from the stars. Keep looking up!" Redd says with a smile.
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Dorian looked at Redd and responded..Let me be thinkin. Find a Researcher in wierd magic and find out if its safe or not. Un-stone someone who broke the rules. Stay in a Haunted House over night. explore a sunken ship washed up on a reef.
he looked at the others...Am I missin anythin?
then added after a pause. seems the easiest yes to start out with
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"I don't believe you are." Ornaculus says to Dorian.
Addressing the rest of the party.
"There can neve be a wrong answer where adventure is the final outcome! I'm fine with going down the list unless protocol dictates otherwise."
"As for the scroll, I think it's always prudent to have some extra healing lying about. I'm sure Filtune here has quite the knack for it already, but it's best to be prepared if her deific connection is exhausted."
Turning at last to Urwal and Gorm.
"Thank you for the guidance and aid. We look forward to pleasing you with out findings." He gives a curt bow.
You leave the Grand Lodge behind, and head east, through the temples of the Ascendant Court, to the Petals District, where the small but exclusive College of Mysteries stands. Here, as the sun's evening rays catch the giant crystalline dome of the College, nearby buildings are painted in a shimmering kaleidoscope of colors.
As you enter the College grounds, you attract supercilious looks from passing individuals. There is a surprising variety of them: some carry musical instruments, others display religious symbols; some walk about with piles of books, and others simply have an unexplainable presence about them—but all are wearing what look like academic robes of the quality only copious amounts of money can buy.
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"Look at all these studious people. I wonder if this is where I will do my training in magic when I am ready?" Redd looks around in all directions, a fascinated look on her face.
Redd turns towards her companions. "Me thinks we should ask around to find out where we can find this researcher who may be doing the dangerous rituals."
Redd flags down a pair of passing scholars and makes inquiries.
"Dangerous rituals, eh? Well, can't say that narrows it down too much... we all do some dangerous things here," the boastful—but admittedly, beautiful—human replies to Redd's question, while striking a heroic pose that shows off his chiseled jawline.
"Don't be a jackass, Edirr," his magenta-haired gnome colleague interjects, rolling her eyes. "She means Tavvar, obviously."
Redd learns that the name of the researcher you're looking for is Tavvar Hamavsi. She’s been working on a ritual to create partially-real shadow illusion manifestations of memories from people, places, and things.
"Personally," the gnome continues, "I wouldn't want my memories being extracted for other people to view. But that's not even the main problem. The ritual seems to pull an unpredictable amount of shadow energy from the Plane of Shadow, which might drag, er, things along with it. If you know what I mean. I can't believe she's been allowed to continue with this line of research."
"Yeah," agrees Edirr. "Especially when she's so hesitant herself. Confidence is essential when conducting rituals. They can smell self-doubt. You gotta show them who's boss." He smiles, and the light glints off a set of dazzling white teeth.
Another eye roll. "Anyway. If you're looking for Tavvar..." The gnome pulls out a golden pocket watch and checks it. "It's after hours, so she'll be in the Blakros Museum with her research assistants. It's the obvious place to test the ritual, not only because the veil between this plane and the Plane of Shadow is thinner there, but also because of the wards and protective measures they've got installed now. Gods know, there's been enough supernatural incidents there, over the years."
The gnome puts her watch away, and tugs at Edirr's robe. "Come on, stop posing, you big lunk. We'll be late for cocktail hour, and then we'll be stuck sitting with that old bore Kurzal talking about his outmoded metamagical theories..." She waves absently to Redd as they leave. "Good luck, miss... try not to get killed too much."
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"OK, thanks! Byeee!" Redd waves back as the scholars hurry off.
"Well, they were quite the odd pair. Lotsa useful information, though." Redd says quietly to her companions.
"Anyway, we need to go to the Blakros Museum, find this Tavvar who has a confidence problem, and put a stop to her meddling with the shadow plane. I'm sure we can teach her confidence - we're Pathfinders! However, Ornac, her talk of pulling things from the shadow plane does sound like we will possibly see something. The Blackros Museum has a long history of problems, by the way. I've heard many Pathfinders have had great adventures in there over the years. Mister Aldain, the curator, asked the Society several times to send agents to assist with wierd things going on in the museum in the past. I'm sure we're in for some big surprises. Best be alert for any danger once we get there. So, what're you all waiting for? Let's go!" Redd hurries off towards the Museum beckoning her companions to follow.
You stroll northwest through the Petals District, which is starting to come alive with the bejeweled nightlife typical of the wealthy noble families that make up most of the population here. In the far distance, the evening bells from the temples of the Ascendant Court bid farewell to the day.
Before long, you arrive in the Wise Quarter, a district dominated—if not physically, at least culturally—by the Arcanamirum, and make your way to the infamous Blakros Museum. Lamps and torches of passers-by bob past you, pools of orange light and shadow. It is now well past closing time, and not surprisingly, the front door of the museum is shut—though anyone who tries it finds that it is unlocked.
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Ornaculus will approach the door and attempt to open it.
Finding it unlocked, he turns to the party and shrugs.
"I guess security is a little lax when you're fiddling with the Shadow Plane? My dear dwarf, would you be so kind as to lead the way? You seem to be made of sturdier stuff than the rest of us."
Ornaculus opens the door and gestures for Dorian to proceed.
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Redd backs away from the museum and peers upward to see if any light appears in any of the windows. Suddenly, her attention is brought back down to the main entrance when she hears Ornaculus creaking open the front door.
"Oh, dear. Wait up, fellas." She whispers as she darts forward to follow the group inside.
Before joining the others walking in the front door, Redd notices that there is light visible through every window of the museum.
Ornaculus boldly opens the front door and gestures for Dorian to walk in.
The first thing the party sees upon entering is a reception counter with some informational pamphlets. The second thing is an aged human man in workman's clothing and wire-framed spectacles, using a soft cloth to polish a bronze bust of some ancient personage.
He peers at you. "We're closed. Opening hours are sunrise to sunset."
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Dorian walks boldly into the museum at the ready. When the elderly human workman speaks to him he says gruffly We been told we would find Tavvar Hamavsi here. Ya seen her?
he glances around intently looking and listening for anything that might tip him off of either danger or signs of the person they were looking for.
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After a few moments of awkward silence, Redd moves forward to address the museum worker. "Hello, kind sir. What my friend means to say is that we're Pathfinders and were sent on behalf of Eando Kline and Zarta Dralneen. We need to speak with Tavvar immediately and put an end to her possibly dangerous experiments."
"Ah. It's Pathfinder business again, is it? Alright, go on then. Try not to cause too much damage. She's upstairs on the third floor with her assistants." He directs you to the nearest staircase which will take you up to the second floor, and goes back to his cleaning.
As Redd noticed earlier from outside, the museum is brightly lit throughout, the light emanating from numerous braziers hanging from the 15-foot ceiling. The unobtrusive staircase you were directed to takes you up into a hallway near a set of small rooms with glass-windowed doors that look to be staff offices.
Dorian and Filtune both fancy for a moment that they see some vague shapes moving at the far end of the hall where a gigantic reptilian beast is on display . But when they look again, they're gone.
Besides the large hall and the offices, there are two enclosed rooms which you can't see into from here.
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Filtune detects magic, alright. This place is chock full of it!
Redd moves to the nearest enclosed room and peeks into the doorway. The rows of seats and the low stage at the southern end suggest this is a lecture hall. At first glance the room seems empty, but a moment later, it seems as though the shadows of an audience fill the the plush seats. A chill draft sweeps through the room, just reaching Redd in the doorway, and she hears a whispery voice echoing from the unoccupied podium.
“...and rather than engage in a responsible, controlled study of the codebook, Yargos Gill decided—imprudently—to simply execute the signals listed therein...” The voice trails off into a looming silence.
Meanwhile, Dorian hugs the wall, cautiously holding his shield before him as he explores the rest of the hall. He passes by a second enclosed room, which an engraved sign on the outside wall identifies as the Hall of Incantation. Looking in, he sees that 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 to him that a boisterous half-orc woman in a piratical hat stands there, surrounded by vague figures, most of them much shorter than her. Her voice is thin and reedy, as if coming from a great distance away, but eerily familiar. “Let me spice up that punch a bit for you—to celebrate, of course! Haha! Stolen anything yet, me hearty? No? Why not?” A moment later, the apparition fades.
The intrepid dwarf moves closer to the gigantic lizard that leers over the collection of taxidermy animals and monsters at the western end of the hall. As Dorian carefully watches for more signs of movement, he sees shadows flit in and out of existence 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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Redd backs out of the room after realising no harm befalls her. She turns to speak to Filtune and Ornaculus who are still standing at the top of the stairs.
"There are some shadowy images in here and one of them seems to be a professor giving a lecture about The Silent Tide. I learned in history class that about 10 years ago, the great nation of Taldor concocted and nearly carried out a military operation called the Silent Tide designed to conquer Absalom. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be anything harmful in here. Just a boring history lesson" She says with a look of relief.
Redd closes the door then moves towards Dorian. "C'mon, Filtune and Ornac. There's nothing to be afraid of." She calls out encouragingly as she makes her way across the hall.
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"Yes, nothing to be a afraid of... yet. But be wary my friends. These apparitions are assuredly tied to whatever ritual our friend upstairs is doing. These are shadow memory-reenactments. Be on your guard. Things may get nasty as we get closer to this ritual."
Ornaculus casts glances around as he moves close to his dwarf companion. As he does, he begins muttering a short incantation and a blue image of
full plate armor with a fleur de lis pattern surrounds him.
"I know you declined early but I really must insist now that we are close to danger..."
As he whispers this to the dwarf, he makes gestures with his fingers as if they're a pair of legs walking. You see magical energy flow from the walking fingers down into Dorians boots, where smalls wings now sprout from the boots.
The party heads up the stairs to the third floor, prepared for the worst.
As you climb the stairs, you hear the drone of voices coming from the upstairs room. Emerging into the top of the stairwell, you enter into a large room with mahogany walls and a domed, plaster ceiling. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides, 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.
A bespectacled human woman stands near this breach, her face twisted in a determined grimace as she chants. Around the edges, three other scholars, presumably her research assistants, frantically blend their voices with hers, gesturing in unison. They look exhausted.
Your arrival seems to coincide with a ripple of energy. Seven flaws are now evident in the circle, appearing like shadowy dancing flames. Each of Tavvar's three assistants seems to be trying to keep one of these under control, while Tavvar herself is the focal point for the entire ritual. Tavvar's eyes flick briefly towards you, a silent plea for help, filled with self-doubt.
Rolling initiative:
Initiative Order:
Redd
Ornaculus
Dorian
Ritual
Filtune
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Redd strides into the room but hesitates engaging in battle with the wispy beings. She seems a bit frightened of the shadow creatures flying about the room. Seeing that Tavvar must be the leader in the center of the room, Redd remembers hearing Tavvar has confidence issues. Redd begins shouting words of encouragement to Tavvar, hoping it will lower her feelings of self-doubt.
"You can do it, Miss Tavvar! You are a strong-willed woman and you can defeat these shadows! Your mind is more powerful than you know! Stay strong, Miss Tavvar, and send them away!!!"
Oh, dear. She must be really struggling with these things. Maybe she doesn't even know I'm here.
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Dorian growled low in his throat as he saw what was going on. He could feel the tension from Tavvar and her assistants and knew he and his friends needed to take control of the situation quickly. He moved without hesitation to beside The leader, pulling his hammer as he walked purposely to her side, preparing to defend her actions from the flitting shadowy shapes he said simply We got yur back Tavvar. Don yu be worryin however his own anxiety came through as his voice hesitated.
Redd moves up and speaks encouraging words. She doesn't get through at first, but her second attempt seems to fare much better, and the westernmost flaw closes up.
Dorian draws his trusty hammer, moves closer to Tavvar and tries to help in the same way, but his soothing words don't carry the weight of conviction.
Initiative Order:
Redd (acted)
Ornaculus <<<
Dorian (acted)
Ritual
Filtune
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Seeing that the magicks are out of hand Oranculus strides to the nearest flaw, wracking his brain as he goes.
”Keep them alive! I will try to fix the magick! Filtune, can you aid me?!”
Seeing a ley line misplaced, Ornaculus begins moving it to the correct position.
Gesturing methodically with his hands as if weaving on a loom.