|
Nigel Aldain has had a long and turbulent history with the Pathfinder Society, largely tied to his role as the curator of the Blakros Museum. Recent events have led the Blakros family to begin to doubt Nigel's fitness for the role, and the Pathfinders have been hired as an independent consultant to investigate Nigel directly. As the tangled threads of hidden plots begin to unravel, the PCs will have to determine who is truly a friend, and who is a foe in friendly guise.
|
Jorgen is a dwarf with long red hair, parts of it in braids some not. His beard is in multiple long braids. He is wearing hide armor and you don't see any weapon on him besides his clan dagger that looks like it has not come out of it's sheath in quite a long time.
Next to Jorgen you see a medium sized Albino Ape. The ape looks to be very obediently standing next to Jorgen, the ape also has barding on it.
|
Fortiva is a young elven woman with a charming, crooked smile (for the people she likes) and a blade casually sheathed at her waist (for those she doesn't). She has a habit of tossing her long, honey-colored hair over her shoulder at times, and does so as she greets the others.
Her pale skin and the brightness of her blue eyes speak of a youth spent living in places deep underground, although her patched and well-worn armor, athletic build, and ease with the blade speak more of years spent as a mercenary.
|
Shahbaz is a man in has late twenties, though thanks to the years spent in the unforgiving sun of Qadira he looks rather middle-aged, which goes along quite nicely with his grandfatherly attitude. Very unusual for folks hailing from the south is his red hair that has been blessing and curse in the past. Touched by fire, it ushered him right into Sarenrae's arms.
That Shahbaz is a devout follower of the Dawnflower is apparent quickly, since he isn't trying to hide the angelic ankh around his neck. On top of his at time almost zealous devotion, Shahbaz is a skilled healer and battle-proven medic, as indicated by the various bits and pieces of tools and equipment he's carrying to treat the wounds of his allies.
He does so with a constant warm smile on his bearded face and some encouraging words for his patients.
|
|
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin stands behind an oak desk and addresses the agents with a dour look on his face. The Pathfinder Society has allies in many parts of Golarion, he begins, and we do our best to honor our alliances. Today we need reliable agents who can do our allies justice. The Blakros family has helped us immensely over the years. Without their aid, we likely would have lost many Taldoran relics during the Grand Campaign. Recently, they’ve had issues with one of their major holdings, the Blakros Museum here in Absalom.
He opens a drawer and shuffles through some papers inside. Between thefts, disappearances, and worse, the museum has suffered numerous setbacks these past few years. Now its stakeholders want a neutral party to investigate the curator, Nigel Aldain, for incompetence. Of course, nothing is ever easy. Nigel and his wife Dhrami Blakros are longtime friends of the Society as well. With two valuable allies at odds with each
other, we need to ensure we make the right judgment.
Ambrus produces a letter bearing a red wax seal from the desk drawer. The Blakros family has provided us with an official missive, giving me the right to appoint you as investigators in this matter. First, stop at Dhrami’s townhouse in Westgate, where you can interview her and review her records. Compare what you find there with a search of the Blakros Museum. Tour the museum with Nigel, check his records, and make sure everything that should be in the museum’s vault is still present. Then return to me with your recommendation.
Ambrus clears his throat before handing over the letter. Dhrami and Nigel don’t know you’re coming, and they’ll be understandably tense about finding themselves under investigation. If you put them at ease and show your objectivity, you might learn more details from them as their trust grows. In the end, be objective, be fair, and be honest. Understood?
|
|
|
|
Who is carrying the missive?
You leave the Grand Lodge, walking through the crowded streets. As you are heading toward Westgate, Fortiva, Zanu and Shahbaz all notice that you are being tailed by a female dwarf. She appears to be sticking close to crowds for cover, avoids putting her hands in her pockets and has her fingers extended and at the ready as she approaches from behind you.
What do you do?
|
|
Fortiva snags the missive out of the dwarf's belt as she flees and even manages to snag a small pouch with some gold and gems for her trouble.
Missive secured, you continue on your way to Dhrami's Townhouse in Westgate. The property sits at the end of a trail set off from a main thoroughfare. Plum saplings lining the path, leading into a walled courtyard. The stone walls are 10ft high, with the wooden doors leading within hanging open.
The courtyard contains a lengthy stable, several immaculately trimmed hedges, and a clear pond stocked with large koi of various colors. Two granite gargoyles stare menacingly at the front gate. The double doors at the center of the building, like the entrance to the courtyard, stand ajar.
Let me know how you would like to proceed.
|
|
Fortiva glances at her companions and queries, "Anyone else think both doors and gates being open is odd? The Lady is a friend of the Society, so I didn't expect an armed response, of course, but..."
Leaving the sentence unfinished, she moves toward the main entrance and looks about for any signs of life besides the koi. She has a shield strapped to her left arm, but neither is it raised nor her weapon drawn.
|
|
"We should knock. I know, us agents tend to end up in hairy situations all the time...This surely isn't case here, though." Shahbaz says with - potentially - blissful arrogance.
With a broad smile and a wave to the group he marches towards the door to knock. "Oh and Zanu, put that thing away...We're here to talk, no?" He says with a smile and points at the bow, while continuing to approach the door.
|
|
You step inside the door. Well-upholstered sofas and finely crafted rugs show off the luxury that this room normally possesses. However, much of the rest of the area appears in a state of upheaval. Pieces of furniture are overturned, papers lie scattered haphazardly across the floor, and the spilled dirt of a potted fern covers the eastern wall. An unconscious woman slumps on one of the sofas, her hands and feet bound and a bright purple bruise on her left temple.
|
|
Pushing past the others, Fortiva rushes to the woman's side. Her nimble fingers quickly undo the bindings, while her sharp eyes scan the area for any threats still lingering about.
Applying a cold compress to the bruise, she attempts to revive the woman. "Can you here me, dear? Come back to us... it's going to be okay."