The Pathfinder Society went through many changes in the last few years. You joined the Society since then and finished your training only recently. You’re officially Pathfinders, and you’ve been waiting for the invite to the celebration.
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A young man dressed in fine clothing spends his time practicing flowing music on a harpsichord, his hands dance across the keyboard as you'd expect dancers to glide across the floor, only occasionally stopping to repeat a figure, committing the motions to muscle memory.
The music spills out of the doorway of the studio into the hall in the Grand Lodge. Normally the door would be kept closed, but the man was expecting something and this way his practice would not be disturbed by having to answer a knock at the door.
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Out in the training yard, a blonde-haired man of mixed Varisian decent is clad in rumpled clothes and leather armor that looks new but already has many stains. He seems to be practicing unarmed combat on a training dummy, and though it is clear he has had some training, he is nowhere near the skill of a true monk. As he continuously makes small mistakes and slip ups he keeps shouting ‘dang it,’ ‘sonova,’ and the like.
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A halfling wanders into the training yard while Paulie fights the training dummy unsuccessfully.
He's fairly wild looking for a halfling, a thick mane of hair grown out with the occasional braid, hide armor well taken care of but clearly worn, and a giant (for a halfling) axe slung across his back.
He rocks back and forth on his heels for a moment before tilting his head and calling out in.
"Watcha doin?" He waves a hand at Paulie before bothering to see if the other man turns around and skips forward to have a closer look.
"When I punch things I do it like this!" He huffs, slamming a closed fist into the post. It's a solid hit, but it clearly lacks the finesse Paulie is attempting to achieve. The halfling looks up with a toothy grin.
"I'm Hangust!"
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Paulie puts his hand behind his head and kinda ruffles the hair in the back of his shaggy head.
"Oh, uh, hi. Sorry, didn't realize anyone else was out here, must be making a right fool of myself. My name is Paulie. Paulie Tribulani"
With that he reaches down and grabs an old, used wine bottle and begins guzzling it. After a moment he thinks better, stops, and says:
"Oh, uh, don't worry. Just water. If you can't afford water skins, you can just use old wine bottles you know. Anyway, my uncle was trying to get me to learn how to defend myself, but, y'know, I guess I don't catch on as fast as him."
"Huh. Pathfinders?" A man with scaled skin and a lizard's head turns to face you. "Are all of you new? We need more Pathfinders. What brings you here?"
He crosses his legs and sits on the ground, scanning all of you.
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The Varisian kid ruffles to back of his hair at the Lizardfolk. ”Huh? Oh, uh, my Uncle. Not really my uncle-actually my aunt-by-marriage’s brother. . . Anyway he was a pathfinder and saw m’life was kinda. . . uh. . . headin’ downhill and, uh, well he kinda picked me up and started mentorin’ me. Teachin’ me the basics of pathfinderin’. Really helped me turn m’life around. Still haven’t taken all his lessons to heart but he kinda lost the nerve to teach me after his son died. He was also a pathfinder. Actually, my cousin is too but I haven’t seen him around yet. Anyway, just completed basic training and I guess that means I can go on missions. Last thing I did was file paperwork for some mission in Cassomir.”
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Hangust waves excitedly at the scaled man as he listens to Paulie.
"Pathfinding is great, your uncle had a good idea. I'm uh, sorry about your cousin. Hopefully you'll hear from the other one soon!"
He sits down as well and strokes his chin for a moment.
"I was a Pathfinder already, a few years ago. I went to Jalmery for a hunt, I fought the Aspis Consortium when they invaded the Grand Convocation, I've even been to the Blakros Muesum!"
He rubs the back of his head a little awkwardly for a moment. "But, when the rebellion happened in Cheliax, I quit working for the society to go make sure my family was safe. Thinks have changed since I left, so I decided to come through like a new recruit. I'm excited to go on more missions!"
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A hobgoblin with a relatively smooth, undamaged face enters the training yard. Traveler's garb can be seen under his first layer of clothing, which looks like the skeleton of heavy armor, with any piece that would afford protection stripped off. He seems ready to go to town on some dummies with a halberd practically twitching out of his grip. But when he sees he isn't alone, Olexbu decides to stop and chat instead.
"I'm new," he answers the Iruxi with a curt nod. "You may have seen a relatively fresh batch of hobgoblin recruits about. Their success led more still to join the Society, mostly under their tutelage. I was among that second wave. It seemed like a good line of work." Olexbu spins his halberd, which instead decides to slam end-first into the dirt. He scowls.
"Even shortly into training, I found myself entrenched in all this. In too deep to leave. I'll likely be here for the long haul, if they'll have me. Not to say that there's nothing to like about it. Meeting so many new people can be a refreshing experience."
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Having finished with the harpsichord for now, Aleksandr joins the others in the yard. Not to be separated from his music, the young man has brought a lute with him. He takes a seat on the marble bench at the edge of the garden. As he begins to play he tells a story.
"I am Aleksandr, Aleksandr Ostenoff, though I doubt that name means much to you. My reasons for joining the Society are many. But the pertinent parts of my tale happened almost 60 years ago. I was an up and coming musician gaining reputation within the courts of Caliphasian nobility. I had gained a small cadre of admirers. One was a young girl, Elisabeta... my Elisabeta... We had grown fond of one another. She was a lady of class and refined intellect, as much to be admired for her brains as well as her beauty. She possessed a charming smile and a vault of knowledge that old sages would be jealous of even though she was but 19 years of age... or so she claimed."
"Yet she was not. She was nearly into her third century and Elisabeta's charms were more than mortal beguiling. In her arms I would have gladly welcomed the cold embrace of death and the subsequent awakening into an immortality fueled by blood. Though it has been decades since I saw her, I sometimes wonder if I wouldn't just wilt in her grasp again if we did meet again."
"In fact, on that fateful night I had planned to do just that. In my chamber she brought me close to the precipice separating life and death." Aleksandr pulls down the ruffled collar of his shirt to show the two small scars at the side of his neck. "But she had been hunted. My entourage were not warriors and they fled from my house without raising the alarm. The vampire hunters wounded her, but Elisabeta fled before they could destroy her. Before she could rip me free of the mortal coil, she was gone. I was left hanging on a razor's edge."
"After that night, I never saw her again. I imagine it was a risk she could no longer afford to take. So for over half a century I wallowed in despair. I no longer played and my followers disappeared more quickly than they had joined me. Without a patron I was destitute. I lived on the streets."
"Yet, at my lowest, as I pined for my Elisabeta, shut out from the realms of the living, the dead and the undead, she came to me. Not Elisabeta, but rather the Lost Maiden who had answered my prayers in a dream. She revealed that Elisabeta and those like her and those like me were suffering. Though I had wished an end for myself many times, my way out would not be so easy or cheap. I still have a part to play, a gift to share with others, to find those suffering and give relief either by seizing them from despair and death or giving them one last push into the void. So I have joined the Society to learn and also to meet those in unique circumstances who need my divine succor."
"Hmm." The bronze-scaled man nods as Aleksandr plays his lute and tells a sordid tale. "Hmm. The border between life and death is difficult, yes. Straddling the center is a worry. But you will decide where you want to go some day." He cocks his head to the side.
He pours a bag of rocks across the ground from a sack on his back. Some of them are large, some are shiny, a couple are sharp. "I carry a rock collection with me. Maybe I'll put this in Westyr's office." He looks up. "But which one should I give her?"
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"Definitely the shiniest one!" Hangust says, pointing at a few that might be good candidates. "I can't imagine the Master of Spells would want a dull rock, I bet she likes some color."
Without asking he begins sorting the rocks by type, trying to help as best he can. He talks to Aleksandr while he does, rattling off compliments and questions and will do so until interrupted.
"That was a really pretty song you played. Do you think you're gonna find Elisabeta one day? Will you push her into the void? I hope not. Well, she is a vampire I guess..."
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Olexbu listens intently to Alexsandr, nodding slighly.
The hobgoblin agrees with Hangust's opinion on the rocks. "Westyr is quite enthusiastic. Often overly so, I say. This one-" he points out a blue one if there are any, "-it seems appropriate."
"You needn't censor yourself for my sake," he rumbles at Paulie. His tone makes it sound like he means otherwise or is angry, but that's just how he speaks. "As my superiors have drilled into my skull, I am here representing my species. If I'm to get angry at anyone or anything, it will be my spellbook."
"Apologies, I don't think I've introduced myself. Olexbu."
”Ah, blue and shiny.” The lizard man carefully packages up the stones. ”Yes, I will get this into Westyr’s office.” He turns to leave, but then stops and digs some letters out of the bag. ”Here you go, Pathfinders.” He then, in a single bound, leaps atop the walls of the grand lodge and begins climbing across the rooftops.
The Pathfinder Society went through many changes in the last few years. You joined the Society since then and finished your training only recently. You’re officially Pathfinders, and you’ve been waiting for the invite to the celebration.
When there are enough new Pathfinders, the Grand Lodge invites its members and leaders to converse, talk, and eat to your heart’s content.
You watch the lizard man fade from view before you check out the letter. The wax seal on the back bears the glyph of the open road. This is it!
I do hope you’ll join us at the Grand Lodge for the celebration to congratulate the most recent group of initiates- yourselves included! A good time is certain to be had by all, but it’s more than just a party. Gatherings like this are an excellent opportunity to rub elbows with the Society’s leadership and get to know them. That means you’ll always be quick to know about the best opportunities as soon as they arise. I hope you’ll take advantage of the event to put your best foot forward.
I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Janira Gavix, Pathfinder Society Head Initiate
I do hope you’ll join us at the Grand Lodge for the celebration to congratulate the most recent group of initiates-. I have to say, I’m proud of how far you’ve come since you were an initiate, and I look forward to seeing you support the next generation of Pathfinders. Besides that, gatherings like this are an excellent opportunity to rub elbows with the Society’s leadership and get to know them. That means you’ll always be quick to know about the best opportunities as soon as they arise. I hope you’ll take advantage of the event to put your best foot forward.
I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Janira Gavix, Pathfinder Society Head Initiate
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A kobold stalks into the yard, his head held high. He has black scales, and wears a matching leather loincloth. Vestigial wings sprout from his shoulder blades. He looks around at those assembled.
”This is the place, yes?”, he barks in a high-pitched voice. ”Good good! I am DREADFANG! Soon all will know my name and tremble! You may bow if you like!”
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"I'm not one to tremble nor do you look like nobility, Mr. Fang. But I'm sure if you play your part well, then fame and riches could be in your future if that's what you are interested in."
Dreadfang narrows his eyes at Aleksandr, but then his expression softens. ”Hmmm, ‘Mr. Fang’”, he muses, nodding his head slowly. ”I accept your title”
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"Oh, nice to meet you Dreadfang!" Hangust gives a small bow absentmindedly as he reads his letter.
"Looks like we have a graduation to attend. Do you all want to go there togeher? I'm excited. I never thought I'd get to graduate a second time!"
Hangust hops up from his standing position and starts heading toward the Grand Lodge, his questions to Aleksandr forgotten in the excitement.
"I'm glad Janira is still around!"
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You notice that Urwal seems to have left a letter behind. You step to retrieve it, but it floats up, seemingly of it's own accord. A strangely pink feline with long tufted ears begins batting at it playfully and you hear a disembodied giggle as the letter begins to bounce about in response.
"Silly Sabre..." says a high, feminine voice. The shape of a young Gnomish girl is revealed as she steps away from her hiding place against an ivy covered wall. "You gave away the game!" The leafy patterns on her skin begin to fade and change to images of fanciful creatures in pastel shades of pink and purple.
"Hello." She waggles her fingertips in greeting. "My name is Rosette Thistledown, and this little troublemaker is my companion, Sabre." She reaches over to scratch Sabre's ear as she opens the letter and you note that both cat and girl are about the same size.
"Oh a party, how lovely. Whatever shall we wear?" She asks as she begins experimenting with different shades and patterns on her skin and waving her hand over Sabre to alter her coloring as well.
You reach the Skyreach Tower’s Invocation Halls, ready for the celebration.
It seems as though the entire Grand Lodge has the air of a celebration. The great gates are flung wide, and the phoenix trees lining the entryway are in full flame. The halls of the main tower of Skyreach, normally somber and reserved, echo with the sound of voices and music. The great ballroom is decked for a celebration, with colorful banners and bunting along the walls, tables replete with food and drink, and a jovial cacophony of conversation rising from Pathfinders of all ancestries, nations, and backgrounds. After a quick scan of the room, it’s obvious that many of the attendees have gathered in small groups here and there. A half-orc woman in an iconic ship captain’s hat stands near the punch bowl, handing cups to anyone who passes within reach, and a dark-skinned half-elf leads a small group of new agents around the room, introducing them to other attendees. Several senior agents stand in quiet conferral with a dark-haired Taldan man with a distinctive chin strap beard, while a scholarly dwarf tells a rousing tale to a growing audience.
A familiar blond halfling woman bounces over, bubbling with excitement. Janira Gavix, Head Initiate of the Pathfinder Society, grins, “Oh, I’m so glad you made it! After all, the celebration is for you. Have you gotten drinks? Snacks? Be sure to spend some time getting to know everyone—it’s best to be on good terms with the movers and shakers in the Society, that’s how you learn about the latest opportunities. I’ll be here if you need me to help you with anyone’s names or to make an introduction. Just let me know how I can help!” Janira gestures everyone forward into the room, beaming all the while.
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"Thanks Janira!" Hangust says waving excitedly at the other halfling. He looks like he's about to ask something but then notices the captains hat and instantly heads toward the half-orc woman.
"I like your hat!" He says excitedly, standing on his toes to accept a drink when she hands him one. "Where did you get it? Are you actually a captain? Where is your favorite place to sail? Who is your first mate? Do you think I could be a sailor?..." And on and on.
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Paulie will go up to the dark-skinned half-elf and with the new agents.
Ruffling the hair on the back of his head, he says ”Hi, uh, sorry to disturb you. This is all rather new to me. . . I guess I’m in over my head. Never was good at formal social stuff. You seem to know what to do with new recruits, any idea where I should be going?”
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Aleksandr joined the soiree wearing fancy clothes that were well maintained, but a bit dated.
He ate only small morsels and sipped slowly from his drink so as not to appear a glutton or drunkard.
Familiar with parties both formal and not, he begins to mingle, moving from place to place never staying in one spot for more than a few minutes.
Hangust and Olexbu approach the half-orc woman.
Is she a pirate? She wears a tri-corner hat and is currently serving punch to anyone who comes by. ”[i][You may be the worst pirate I’ve ever met/i], the Commander said. Joke was on him, I already sabotaged his rudder and my personal crew was hauling the treasure to shore!” She laughs, realizes you’re approaching, and makes some space.
”Hey! You there! Come on, drink up. Courtesy of Calisro Benarry. I head the Horizon Hunters faction here. We find ‘em, and bury them here at the Grand Lodge. If you need a little bit of… pep, I can add something from my personal flask.” She taps a flask at her hip, engraved with an image of a ship. "Hey Zarta, don't drink all the good stuff, leave some for the new recruits!"
Everyone has heard of Zarta. This Chilexian woman used to be the bridge between the Chileax Empire and the Pathfinder Society until Chileax damned her over false charges. Now she is the Head Archivist, storing and tracking dangerous artifacts for the Society. "Hmpf. Don't tell me how to enjoy myself. Besides, this is missing something... punchy, if you catch my drift." She smiles and then turns to the halfling and hobgoblin.
Paulie will go up to the dark-skinned half-elf and with the new agents.
”Ah, hello there.” The half elven woman smiles as you approach the entrance. ”I am Fola Braun, and I welcome you here on behalf of the Envoys’ Alliance faction.” She smiles. "Down to business, eh? Just relax a little. I have some tea if you'd like. Chamomile, Lemon and Cinnamon." She carefully takes her teapot and pours water into a teacup. She places it on a plate and hands it to Paulie. "Just let it seep a bit."
”Now, I ask every new Pathfinder the same question: What drove you to come here and be a Pathfinder?” She chuckles and then turns to Urwal, who has been standing still and watching the crowd. "Urwal, speak up. Introduce yourself. Not everyone knows who you are."
He looks at Paulie and nods.
The storytelling dwarf catches his eye, so he goes to join the crowd around him.
As Dreadfang approaches the dwarf, he sees Sorrina Westyr talking to him, a bit bothered. She is the Master of Spells, and her oread heritage gives her slate-gray skin and silvery-white hair. "...and that's when I feel a pile of stones on my butt. Someone just dumped a bunch of blue stones on my favorite chair... probably Urwal, AGAIN."
Gorm Greathammer begins laughing at Westyr's misfortune, and she's clearly irritated. "Always watch where you sit, that's what my momma taught me, hehe."
”Hey, new Pathfinders! Get over here! Say hi to ol’ Gorm Greathammer. My day job? Lead the Grand Archive faction. My night job? Hearing complaints from other faction leaders! But you know what? Pathfinders tell the best stories, I tell you what!” He slaps his knee. ”So, anything interesting for me? Or is this when I interest you in stories of my own?”
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”Why am I here? Oh, uh, my uncle I guess. He’s not really my Uncle I just call him that. My aunt-by-marriage’s brother. His name is Vinnie. Vincent Goldhirch; was a pathfinder for a while, he kinda took me in when my life was headin’ downhill. Trained me for a bit and told me the Pathfinders were a great way to turn my life around. So I got here and have been doing what I can, trying to follow in his footsteps. I have to say it’s a lot better than picking pockets on the street. Haven’t, uh, haven’t done that in years though.”
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Dreadfang strides purposefully toward the tables. He grabs a turkey leg, and starts gnawing on it. The storytelling dwarf catches his eye, so he goes to join the crowd around him.
Sabre follows the Kobold, playfully chasing his scaly tail and the scent of roasted turkey meat. "Sabre, what are you after, you silly! Very sorry, Mr. Fang. I'm afraid she's just a kitten still. But that turkey smells delicious." She grabs a turkey leg of her own and joins him in listening to the dwarf tell his story, pulling off bits of meat and feeding Sabre by hand.
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Dreadfang strides purposefully toward the tables. He grabs a turkey leg, and starts gnawing on it. The storytelling dwarf catches his eye, so he goes to join the crowd around him.Sabre follows the Kobold, playfully chasing his scaly tail and the scent of roasted turkey meat. "Sabre, what are you after, you silly! Very sorry, Mr. Fang. I'm afraid she's just a kitten still. But that turkey smells delicious." She grabs a turkey leg of her own and joins him in listening to the dwarf tell his story, pulling off bits of meat and feeding Sabre by hand.
”Gah! This is my food! Get your own!“, Dreadfang snaps at Sabre. ”Bad dog!”
He takes another bite. ”It is tasty”, he adds to Rosette. ”They make a good feast here”
When Gorm asks about stories, he puffs up his chest. ”Yes!”, he declares. ”I am Dreadfang! I led a team to return a valuable statue, that was stolen by a disgraced warrior! We crossed the seas, and fought her in her lair, but we were victorious! And now they have this feast in my honor!” He spreads his arms wide.
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"Some people tell me I'm peppy enough already, but I say I could always use some more!" Hangust says holding his cup up at the offer of Benarry's flask.
He stares at Zarta, knowing her past but still holding a deep mistrust of humans from Cheliax. He instinctually takes a closer step to Olexbu and waits for them to speak or move on.
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Social interaction isn't Olexbu's strong suit. Not that he's awful at it, but the icebreaker is often the hardest part. The hobgoblin gladly accepts the addition to his glass (partly to stall for precious seconds). He then tries for common ground with Zarta, while working to make it not sound like the most awkward words he's ever uttered.
"Well met, I am Olexbu. Your reputation precedes you, especially considering your long involvement with the Society. I'm sure you've had plenty of experience with curses as a result. Have you any tips or stories on that front?"
Olexbu and Hangust talk to Zarta Draineen and Captain Benarry
Olexbu asks a pointed question to Zarta, and she flashes a trademark smile. "Curses are quite problematic if you don't know how to handle them. If you know a cleric or two if helps to pay them for their services. Don't be stingy with tips, either!" She laughs. "Isn't. that right, Captain?"
You notice Captain Benarry scowl briefly before she sighs. "Yeah, yeah. Some sea hag cursed mah right hand man, and I told him to get it done right. But he went cheap. The curse was delayed for maybe a week. And then he turned right back into a newt." She huffs.
"Now you see why she's here rather than sailing the seas." Zarta takes a sip and laughs again. "So, what do you know of curses? Maybe we can compare notes. Chileax has taught me more than I wished to know, Frankly."
Captain Benarry just shakes her head. "Frankly, if you fellas and your friends are willin' to help me out, I do have a request. I know someone who can break curses and owes me one. Get your friends over here."
”Now, as a Pathfinder you get to make a lot of friends along the way. One of my friends, she has a snake for a body. Real smart lass. Except when she was accused of a crime she didn’t commit and didn’t flee town.” She huffs. ”Curse of the Gorgon. Now she’s a stone statue and gathers birds in Westgate. I know someone who can get her out there, but I’d like to do it officially.” She glares at you for a moment.
”Take this salve. Go to Westgate. Use it on the statue and ONLY on there. This stuff ain’t cheap. I’ll... I’ll be in your debt.” She seems sincere for a moment before regaining her jovial manner.
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Olexbu is slightly taken aback at having managed that. But fear not, for he's about to ruin the mood for someone! He unlatches a heavy tome from his belt.
"This is my curse." The hobgoblin sets the book down on the punch table with unnecessary force, causing glasses to rattle. "I retrieved it from the end of an obstacle course during my Pathfinder training. I don't know if my drill sergeant knew of its nature, considering anyone but a fellow hobgoblin might see it as a divine blessing. The drive and ability to use magic, at the expense of martial prowess."
"Now, this jealous book refuses to let me use my halberd. I'll refrain from demonstrating with so many tables and partygoers around. I've gotten some fixes from a...third party, shall we say, but I've stayed here in hopes of a more permanent solution."
"Sounds simple enough," he says to Calisro. "I haven't heard of this Curse of the Gorgon, though. Is it something that befalls criminals here? No matter, we'll see to your friend."
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Dreadfang reluctantly drags himself away from Gorm, but his interest is piqued when he hears about breaking curses. ”Curses are no match for those of Dragon blood!”, he declares. ”We lay them low with our foul breath, and crunch them up in our mighty teeth!”
In his excitement, he spits a glob of acid, which lands on his turkey leg. He looks crestfallen for a moment, but then perks up. ”Like this!”, he adds, and takes a bite from a part that’s not dissolving.
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Captain Benarry just shakes her head. "Frankly, if you fellas and your friends are willin' to help me out, I do have a request. I know someone who can break curses and owes me one. Get your friends over here."
”Now, as a Pathfinder you get to make a lot of friends along the way. One of my friends, she has a snake for a body. Real smart lass. Except when she was accused of a crime she didn’t commit and didn’t flee town.” She huffs. ”Curse of the Gorgon. Now she’s a stone statue and gathers birds in Westgate. I know someone who can get her out there, but I’d like to do it officially.” She glares at you for a moment.
”Take this salve. Go to Westgate. Use it on the statue and ONLY on there. This stuff ain’t cheap. I’ll... I’ll be in your debt.” She seems sincere for a moment before regaining her jovial manner.
"With the body of a snake? I think I know the statue you mean... Shame the birds won't be able to perch there anymore. Maybe Sabre can help thin the flock." She said as she accepted the jar of salve.
She patted the Captain's hand in comfort. "Don't worry, we'll be sure to return her to her natural state. You can rest easy." Her skin became a soft, soothing shade of lilac as she spoke.
Janira is always happy to help, and so she runs right up to Zarta. "Oh! Are we talking about curses? You wouldn't believe this one curse Follynoggin thought up. Every other sentence you say has to rhyme. I've seen one of our Pathfinders just tongue-twisted for weeks because he kept talking about oranges and couldn't finish his thought. Now, to break the curse he had to apologize to the woman who cast it upon him, but she was halfway back to Irrisen by then. So he had to get on the first boat out of town, but he did..."
Zarta puts up a hand to slow Janira down. "Perhaps I've drank too much... your stories are. A bit too much for me. I'll head back to my room for some rest." She bows to you, Janira and Captain Benarry before leaving.
The Captain smiles as Rosette gives some comforting words. "Thanks, it means a lot to me. You don't have to do it immediately, of course. Enjoy the party, we'll be here for a while."
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When Zarta leaves Hangust breathes a sigh of relief.
"She's a little scary." He says sheepishly to everyone else. He looks around and sees that the party is still going, and is a little intrigued by the story telling dwarf, but also kind of wants to rescue the snake lady.
"What do you guys think? Can we save Captain Bennary's friend and come back to the party?"