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Minata... Not much seems to have change since I was last on these islands. Wilen's wonderings bring Ilathor back from his brief stint down memory lane.
"Wise, Mr. Proudbrew, it would be prudent of us to keep on our guard, even now," he agrees. He takes a moment to transform his clothing into those suitable for travel and adjusts his grip on his staff.
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Lebraerio buys some traveler anytool and more alchemical supplies, with some nice clothes to boot.
"I wouldn't think that they'd know of this place, but you never know," Amara says, as she and the servants begin to work their way up the island to the lighthouse in the light rain. "From what I was told, this has been in the Way's purview, but it's been left alone for some time. Hopefully, that will be enough of a protection." As you all weave though the basalt pillars and outcroppings, there aren't any threats of note, but it wouldn't be hard to set traps among these stones.
A lighthouse towers above a two-story house. Both structures are made primarily of the local soot-colored basalt. The lighthouse appears to be intact, but the manor has fared less well—its windows lack screens and its roof sags, suggest it has suffered badly from decades of neglect. These structures perch at the edge of a cliff, with the north-facing side of the house supported by tall stilts anchored deep into the cliff.
"We have several hours to prepare for Master Iko,"Amara says, as she sends the servants to prepare a space for the meeting. "Look around, we don't expect trouble, but it's better to be prepared."
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What do you think is best to prepare, Amara? Should we scout the surrounding area or is there defensive work to be done within the house? Or, are there some safer meeting rooms down below
Wilen points at the different places he mentions, and continues to turn and scan the surfaces up to the lighthouse, looking for potential convenient assault points. He particularly looks down the cliffs where a boat might pull up alongside to sneak up the face of it.
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"This house belongs to the Way, so I only knew of the location for this meeting by their choice,"The Venture-Captain admits. "I know relatively little about this domicile. I hope that we don't have any uninvited guess, but do whatever you see fit to do if we do have them." At which point, Amara and the two servants move into the great hall, and begin to clean and prepare the room for the tea ceremony.
This house has seen better days. While the basalt stone structure of the house is still solid and most of the flooring is sound, the screening that was the windows has most fallen away, leaving openings that someone could come though. However, there is a large variety of solid furniture that could be used to barricade those holes. Most of the doors are solid as well, especially the front doors.
As for the cliffs, You would guess that while you don't think you could get a boat to the cliff's base between the small islands you can barely see through the light rain and mist, someone could swim up to them and climb the cliffs. It wouldn't be the easiest climb, but you would think it's at least possible.
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Nylthe's search in the Lighthouse's base does turn up some old fuel, in the form of a 20-gallon barrel of whale oil. She also turns up a couple old bear traps, but the surprise is the disassembled catapult, or rather, most of one. Some of the pieces are missing, however, And would need to be replaced if it was to be used.
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Ilathor's search predictably comes up blank. Aside from whatever Amara and the party are carrying, the cantrip finds nothing.
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Lebraerio's search discover several things of note. First of all, there is a secret passage in the main hall, leading down into a lava tube in the basalt rock of the island. In addition, the second floor has seen some water damage in the master bedroom. You think you could rig the floor up to give way if someone came in through the window.
Also of note if you're willing to damage the floor elsewhere, The front door is inset in the house, with a small room above it. With time, you could cut arrow slits or the like in the floor to attack from above.
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Ilathor will put his mind to helping Lebraerio fix the catapult and sabotage the floor. Additionally, he works to include eyeholes into rooms without having to stand in an entry way. Industrious people on this team, what a change of pace! Prior, it was like I was the only one with a mind for strategy.
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Like most of the house, the lighthouse has weathered time somewhat poorly. about half of the glass panes, including the lens for the beam, are broken. However, you are fairly sure that you can relight the lighthouse, if you refilled the empty reservoir with fuel, for a sizable light source.
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With your skill, you are completely confident in being able to reassemble the catapult if you could get several pieces of wood to replace the key pieces that are missing. However, that requires a well-trained eye for woodworking to accomplish.
On the other hand, both jury rigging the floor and cutting some holes for sight (and maybe some explosives) in the floor of the spare room is easy enough to do, espiecally with the addition of Lebraerio's recent purchases.
It takes some time, and a joint effort from the party, but after about a half hour of work, the catapult is finally rebuilt.
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Wilen nodes in satisfaction at their completed catapult.
It won't win the beauty prize, but it should be effective against any unexpected assault up the hill.
He wipes his hands clean and turns to address the group.
Okay, Lebraerio, how about cutting some holes for sight (and maybe some explosives) in the floor of the spare room. The rest of us, I see enough old furniture for roughly a dozen sizeable barricades. We should start placing them on the ground floor at all windows and openings.
The halfling suggests.
As the party begins to fortify the building, Amara and the servants meticulously clean the great hall before setting up an elaborate tea ceremony. As the last of your defenses are finished, Amara changes into an elaborate silken robes, dyed azure and dove gray. Soon after, an armored figure approaches the house alone. As he reaches the doors, you can see that the samurai is actually quite elderly, though his movements do not show any sign of the armor weighing on him in any way.
Amara formally greets the man, "Iko Tsuneo, I presume? It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Shall we convene within?" With a faintly gravelly voice, Master Iko replies, "Yes, it would be quite pleasant to get out of this drizzle. Will your defenders be joining us as well?" He asks, examining you all as he enters the building.
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"Master Iko, thank you for the invitation, but I will leave you to your ceremony. It has been many, many seasons since I last participated in such an event and wouldn't want to sully the experience or put the bitter taste of personal disappointment in my mouth," Ilathor explains before heading back up to his position upstairs. Shame, really, I've the perfect outfit! Alas, I was too confident in my memory. I'll have to relearn it before hoping to participate again.
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Nylthe decides she's marginally more likely to help than make an absolute fool of herself when dealing with etiquette she's ignorant of.
She uses her sleeves to change her outfit to a long gown of shimmering gossamer, and greets Iko at Amara's side with a low curtsy. Aconite mirrors her by ducking his head down to rest upon his paws.
"I would be truly honored to partake. Aconite will, of course, wait without, but he too wished to show."
While the party prepared for defending the structure, Amara and her servants where equally busy preparing for this ceremony as a means of introduction. It is a intricate affair with Amara and both of her servants juggling several steps effortlessly. As water begins to boil, Master Iko turns his attention to the pair of you. "So, I must confess, the Pathfinder Society is a rather unknown quantity here in Tian Xia. Seeing as your most serene... Venture-Captain, I believe was the title, yes? ... bought you and yours as precautions, you must have some experiences within your organization. Would you be willing to shed some light onto your society for me?"
"For instance, How does your Society treat it's members? What about it's other allies? My associates have had rather inopportune interactions with a group from your lands that refers to itself as the Aspis Consortium. Would you be willing to tell me how you differentiate from them?"
As the ceremony continues in the great hall, you look out about the island as the light begins to fade from the rain-filled sky. After a moment, however, it seems to lighten to the south, a warm reddish-orange that seems to brighten, almost in defiance of the storm itself.
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"One of the primary ways in which we differ is in how we treat our allies, Master Iko. With the Aspis Consortium everything is seen in terms of profits and short-term gains. I have seen the dissolution of their alliance with the Kortos Consortium firsthand, and at its heart was the simple fact that they always wanted more. More than they'd bargained for, more than their allies could bear. As historians and preservers, we take a longer view."
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The Society treats his allies with the same respect they show to the Pathfinders. It's a two way road. No one with evil intentions is admitted in the Society. The temptation of power and corruption is too far and wide since the beginning of Time to say no one inside the Society as ever succombed to the darker paths. A few, maybe, found redemption inside our ranks too. The pursuit and preservation of knowledge is the main goal of the Pathfinders, but there are many ways to achieve that goal. The Aspis Consortium is a long time foe of the Society, they focus on the material value of things, while we seek the historical worth of items, places and legends. As for myself, the Society has provided me the opportunity to grow as a man, to refine and expand my alchemist's skills,to find a network of associates, of like-minded people I can consider friends. I even
A warm smile appears on Lebraerio's lips
found love, if only briefly. I traveled to places I've never heard of, I've meet and fought creatures I had barely knowledge off, I learnt much about everything, myself included.
Master Iko nods as you answer, as you catch a faint smile and nod from Amara as well. "What about the actions that you've had to perform in your duties? Does the Society insist on acting honorable while doing your assignmients? Have you ever been placed in a position that called for dishonorable actions, like assassination attempts or that ilk?"
Giving a closer look, the glow isn't from the sky, it's from the pier. And the source is rather large even in this weather.
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Wilen's eyes widen as his suspicions are slowly becoming confirmed.
That's not from the sun peaking through the storm, it's from the pier! Something is docking there and likely about to unload a heap of trouble on us. It looks like our fortifications are about to be put to the test. We should inform the others and get into positions...
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"The right path is not always the one that travels through the noonday sun. When dealing with the treachery of the Aspis, sometimes trickery is required. However, I have never been asked to perform an assassination, or any act that I found abhorrent."
She pauses. "It appears, however, that a ship is docking on this island while we enjoy our tea."
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"Agreed, our preparations have proved prudent," Ilathor says while pulling a small, red figure from his bag. "While not always as expeditious as one would hope, this might be able to give us a better idea of what we are up against."
"Meanwhile, I shall ward the secret passage and return momentarily," he explains, walking down the stairs.
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I had a few fights in my career, where I was in a kill or get killed position. Some missions require discretion, adaptability, quick thinking, deception maybe, a fast tongue and faster fingers, because fighting isn't always the best solution... But no, I've never been tasked with an assassination attempt by the Society, and were that the case, I would cut all ties with the Pathfinders, and do my best to protect or at least warn the target of the attempt. We aren't killers, assassins or thugs. I wish I could say the same of some, not all, of the Aspis agents.
Master Iko looks slightly confused by Nylthe's comment. "A second boat? There shouldn't be room for another craft with my vessel docked at the pier." He stands up and moves upstairs to look from Ilathor's vantage point.
After a couple moments, he looks startled, before turning toward the pathfinders, rage etched on his face. "What is the meaning of this!?!" He cries out, "That's my ship, and it's burning!!!"
He spins back to look out just as a trail of torch light begins to slowly make it's way up the hill. "No, no, this wasn't your doing..., he quickly realizes apologetically and admits, "This isn't an attack, It's an invasion...,"
He looks to Amara, "In the caves beneath, there's a place I can call for some help, but it will take them time to get here." She nods and she and Master Iko head for the secret tunnel. As Master Iko and the servants head into the lava tube, Amara turns to the group of you and stats, "Do whatever you can to hold them here. Just hold out until Master Iko's reinforcements arrive, okay?" And she goes to follow the others, leaving the you with the house an approaching mass of men.
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"With a fortification to defend, whoever has foolishly decided to invade will have poor chances of success. Rest easy, we shall hold the fort until reinforcements arrive," Ilathor promises through the holes in the floor.
"We've still that oil slick to set and bear traps to ready. Would anyone mind looking around back as well? A crafty foe would have us looking one way while sending a few from the other direction," he points out to the others. "Anything else we can do in the meantime?" That catapult is going to see some use, how exciting!
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When your mantis returns, the trail of light is still about 10-15 minutes away at the pace they're traveling at. (They are moving at a slower pace then you all did when we arrived.) From what it saw, you'd guess about 4 or 5 dozen men are in this mob, coming up here with torches to see the way. The majority look like conscripted troops, with only one in full heavy armor.