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An impossibly beautiful, nimble and haughty blond Elf stands looking that the horizon.
Nodding to his fellow Pathfinders, his simple words flow from his lips in a beautiful melody. "I'm glad my talents have finally been recognized. I've been stuck travelling all over the Inner Sea trying to find may here, stuck doing odd jobs for travelling cash like a common adventurer. I'm sure we'll finally be getting a mission worthy of my stature."
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An elderly fellow with pockets bulging with various lab instruments enters next. Though he is unmistakably elven, his clothes and manner have something rather, well, goblin about them.
"Evindal Mog, reporting for duty. Did someone say they needed something blown up?"
The lizard on his shoulder rolls its eyes, wearily.
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Before you stands a lean elf, almost dainty with sharp features. There is no hair on his head. He speaks intentionally, almost "at you" making two-way communication the exception. His eye contact seems to be almost looking "through" you, as if conducting some deep assessment of your intentions instead of letting you explain them.
He nods at the previous two agents approvingly.
Ah, two of our kind. This mission has hope yet!
He leans heavily on a dark oaken staff with arcane runes carved up and down its full length.
It's a cool morning in the Grand Lodge of Absalom, where Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin has summoned you to help Rain in Cloudy Daywith an urgent task. When you arrive in the venture-captain’s office, you find Rain in a desperate state.
Rain in Cloudy Day stands on a chair behind a large oak desk covered with documents. “Ah, you’ve arrived! What a relief! I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment, and I could use your help. The Pathfinder Society leadership is in a closed-door meeting right now, reviewing the latest news from Iobaria, the distant land where the Society has focused its efforts of late. I can’t wait to hear more about all the interesting things our agents discovered there! But, while they’re busy, I’ve been asked to catalog the flood of correspondence from our Inner Sea lodges. Just look at all these letters! Ambrus—that is, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin—asked me to sort and summarize all of it, but there’s so much! And, I’m not ashamed to admit that with my relative inexperience, all of it seems urgent! I’ve got to put a report together, but I’m overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar names and places! Here, take these letters. See what you can make of them. I’d hate to miss something important and disappoint the venture-captain, and I think the meeting is almost over.”
"Please, let's do this quickly, and share what you find! You know, like it says, 'Explore. Report. Cooperate.'"
Letters and skills!:
Corelion: TBD
Evindal: TBD
Iusantus: TBD
Mimi: TBD
Voron: TBD
TBD from Quen Pah: TBD
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Evindal eyes the other elves with some evident discomfort. It quickly becomes clear that he's not quite sure how to behave like an elf. "It has been many years since I last lived among other elves," he says a bit apologetically. "I have served one generation of Lord Mogmurch after another, slowly learning my craft at their feet and earning my keep by hunting and foraging for the goblin villagers. In my heart, I am nearly a goblin myself by this point."
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Voron looks taken aback and almost irritated by the leshy's request. He mutters something under his breath to the other elves about "folks handling their own business."
Never-the-less, he approaches the stack of letters and begins to peruse them for familiar material. Setting his discontent aside, he perks up at one of the letters.
Ah! Perhaps this one...
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Mimi arrives on the scene and you immediately notice the wide-brimmed red-feathered cavalier hat which she holds in her hand so as to avoid damaging it on the low doors of the Grand Lodge. She's a tall human female, made taller yet by the heels of her knee-high dark brown boots. At her waist you spy a sheathed rapier with an ornate silver hilt. A long royal-blue coat, open in the front, trails behind her like a cloak. On her head is a long mop of bright red hair, framing a pair of clear green eyes set in an attractive, light-skinned and freckled face.
The swashbuckler hailed from Gralton in the River Kingdoms and could usually be found there between missions teaching classes at her grandfather's fencing academy. She'd returned to the Lodge to report back from her last mission and was preparing for the voyage back to her beloved hometown when she got the summons from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin.
Looking at her fellow Pathfinders, she sees an abundance of elves, a kobold and, except for herself, a total absence of any humans.
"Bonjour mes amis. Am I een de right plece or 'ave I accidentlee stumbled into a meeteeng of de elf societee?" Her wide grin shows her to be joking, and with a flourish, she sweeps her hat dramatically across her front and bows. "I am Mimi de Valence at your serveece. You may call me juste Mimi."
When Rain in Cloudy Day hands over all the letters, Mimi looks them over, but it is quickly apparent to her that she is in over her head. "I am sorree mes amis, but I cannot make either 'eads or tails of dis correspondance"
With little time to spare, Evindal takes two of the letters to examine. Mimi takes a breath before doing her best.
Corelion, Voron, and Jraal all fail to glean anything from the letters. Mimi, of all people and Evindal both come away with information:
Mimi, examining the Jeggare letter comes away with some basic information. Varian Jeggare is a half-elven wizard. He is almost always accompanied by his bodyguard Radovan and his faithful dog Arnisant. He runs a secret lodge from his manor in Cheliax, a nation known for its ties to devils and authoritarian rule where most Pathfinder activity is forbidden. The Grand Lodge’s own archivist, Zarta Dralneen, was once a paracountess of Cheliax before becoming the leader of the Dark Archive, a former Pathfinder faction devoted to finding dangerous relics and occult knowledge.
Evindal, examining the letter from Qadira letter shares. Qadira is the westernmost satrapy of the great Padishah Empire of Kelesh. Qadira once commanded its own faction within the Society, which it used to promote its trade interests across the Inner Sea. That faction eventually became the Exchange, a group more broadly dedicated to influence via commerce.
Upon looking at the letter from Taldor adds some information as well. The nation of Taldor, once a sprawling empire, has long sought to restore its former glory. Lady Gloriana Morilla is a former venture-captain who supported the rise of Taldor’s new monarch, Grand Princess Eutropia. Muesello is the current venture-captain, and he spends much of his time tinkering with custom wayfinders for Pathfinder agents.
Letter 1: Fail
Letter 2: Success
Letter 3: Fail
Letter 4: Success
Letter 5: Success
Letter 6: Fail
Rain in Cloudy Day is grateful for each piece of information, eagerly writing everything down in his notebook. As a brand-new Pathfinder agent, he is especially curious about information pertaining to the Pathfinder Society’s older factions. Rain ponders aloud, "I wonder whether these events might be related, but do you-" he doesn't get to ask the question.
A tall man with tan skin and dark, meticulously groomed hair throws open the doors and strides into the office: Venture- Captain Ambrus Valsin clearly has something urgent on his mind. Rain in Cloudy Day jumps up to interrupt him, proclaiming that the report summarizing the correspondence is ready. The venture-captain, taken aback, accepts the journal that Rain shoves into his hands. Rain watches expectantly as Valsin skims the report.
Ambrus Valsin nods to those gathered and says in a gruff voice, “Ah, yes. Thank you Rain, agents. Let me see… this is all quite worrying! Your thoroughness is praiseworthy. Unfortunately, we cannot act on any of this right now. Another urgent matter has come up, right on our doorstep. I need agents to go to the Blakros Museum and meet with Curator Adjutant Seshuun, who is temporarily in charge. I do not have any details, but she’s requested the Society’s immediate presence, and she seems upset. We’ve worked hard to establish a working relationship with the museum, and I do not want it to fall to pieces now with everything else going on. Please help the curator with anything she may need, and if you can, try to make a good first impression."
“Rain and I will remain here and bring this report to the Society’s leadership. Some of this is quite serious, and we’ll take it all the way to the Decemvirate if needed!”
"Indeed, he is. He has even married into the family wouldn't you know. Huh..."
The booming man turns to Jraal, "Indeed. There are many stories and most are even true."
Before you depart, Valsin takes a moment to briefly correct some of the inaccurate information in the report. "Rain, remember to reference multiple sources before compiling official reports in the future!"
The novice Pathfinder hastily writes down this advice in a section of his journal labeled "How to Report."
Rain in Cloudy Day gives you a sincere smile of gratitude, despite the middling success. "Here! Take these!" He hands over four minor healing potions. He looks at some other options, "I can part with one of these, which would you like?" an acid flask, alchemist’s fire, tanglefoot bag, or thunderstone.
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Mimi surprises even herself with her knowledge of Count Varian Jeggare and Paracountess Zarta Dralneen. Perhaps she'd run into them at one of those Grand Lodge initiate graduation parties or overheard something about them at The Loosened Chain, her favored pub when in Absalom.
When Ambrus sends them off to the museum, Mimi shrugs. "I am not von for visiteeng museums, especiallee if dere ees a pub vith good bière anywhere een de area. But I suppose ve Pathfinders must occasionallee make such sacrifices for de good of de Societee."
Mimi takes one of the minor healing potions and looks over the bombs on offer. "I do not know, Jraal. Do you 'ave a préférence? I'm leaneeng towards takeeng de Alchemeest's Fire maself."
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Evindal scratches his head in puzzlement. Just when it seemed like perhaps the Society would finally be sending them somewhere interesting!, no, it's off to some dusty museum in the suburbs. What a waste of time, sending a team of skilled agents off to dust off old rocks! I'm sure nothing exciting ever happens there! But whatever his misgivings, Evindal grabs one of the healing potions and follows along with the rest of the group.
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Jraal grabs a healing potion, but scoffs at the other options. "The Waybringer does not need no bombs. So neither do I.". He shakes his head and rubs his belly, belching. "My stomach will help in those endeavors."
The kobold turns to Mimi. "Do you know of the glorious Apsu? The Maker of All?". He doesn't wait for a response. "You see, back at the dawn of time..."
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Voron nods at the instructions, humming and sighing as he listens to Valsin. When he finishes, the curmudgeonly wizards asks Have they had any other recent trouble that would give you hints as to what we're walking into?
He smiles and inclines his head in a slight nod as Rain hands out useful supplies.
Thank you, these will be most useful. All of the bombs to the alchemist please! I suspect his aim with them is best of all. Let's wait and see who needs these healing potions!
Rain is happy to be of service, and it's clearly written on his face.
Your journey from the Grand Lodge in the Foreign Quarter to the Blakros Museum in the Wise Quarter is uneventful. Gardeners and landscapers busily haul plants and building materials through the gardens that flank the path leading to the imposing, multistory building that is the Blakros Museum. Its outer walls are crafted almost entirely from a single chunk of volcanic rock. A woman stands near the entrance, speaking with several of the workers in a calm yet commanding voice. She has deep blueish-purple skin and vibrant teal markings, denoting her ancestry as one of the aquatic azarketi.
You notice that the plants—a few real, but most of them fake—are intended to make the gardens appear like a grove straight out of Iobaria.
At your arrival she looks up. "Greetings. I am Curator Adjutant Seshuun. You look like you're here on official business, can I help you?"
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Mimi touches the brim of her cavalier hat in greeting and makes a small bow of her head towards the strange-looking, though oddly attractive woman. Then, flashing the curator her best smile to put her at ease, replies.
"Vhy, madame, I beleeve eet ees ve who are 'ere to 'elp you. Deed you not solicit de Societee's aid een some matter of importence? Venture-Capitaine Valseen 'as sent us 'ere to see vat de problème ees. I, Mimi de Valence,..." She opens her hand to indicate the rest of the group, "... and my collègues are at your serveece." She finishes with a quick wink and another dip of her head.
She exhales a breath that clearly comes with a lot of stress, “So, you’re the ones Valsin sent to fix this mess. No, not the gardens. The shipment! You know, the relics? The Iobarian relics? Surely you can explain why the shipment hasn’t been delivered yet. The Sixwing Drake should have arrived with the relics by now, but I’ve heard no word. We can make the gardens look as authentic as we want, but nobody is going to visit an empty exhibit. The recent business with the curator, Nigel Aldain, has tarnished the museum’s reputation enough as it is. I can’t allow the Society’s delays to cause further problems. You look like you might have questions. Please tell me you can help?”
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Mimi frowns when she hears the ship's name. "De name of de ship seems veree familier to me." She stops for a moment racking her memories for where she'd come across the Sixwing Drake before.
A few seconds later, her eyes light up and she snaps her fingers with a sharp crack, getting everyone's attention.
"I remember now! Eet vas mentionné een von of dose lettres dat ve examined earlier een de Venture-Capitaine's offeece. Eet sede sometheeng about de ship 'aveeng been sighted een de morneeng and de goods beeng availebel at de docks for pickup by midday."
She pauses a second to think, and then continues. "I do not remember seeeng a date on de lettre. Perhaps ve should go to de docks and inquire further." Mimi turns back to the curator. "Vhat preciselee vas een de shipment, madame? What do deez Iobarian releecs look like? Ve veell vant to make sûr ve 'ave de correct crates before returneeng vith dem."
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Good memory Mimi. Check the docks we shall. He nods to her and turns back to Curator to hear the answers.
I suppose all important: would we be able to carry these relics on our person or should we bring a cart, or wagon? Do any of them require special care or protection?
He rubs his chin, thinking of the possibilities (mostly imagining magical relics).
Parsing Mimi's accent, the de facto curator gives an enthusiastic response, “Several interesting items, I’m told! I’m not sure the Society has even had time to look over all of them yet. I still need time to catalog them, so this delay is causing quite a headache. Your name was Voron, yes? I'm not sure to be honest. If you can't, we can make arrangements.”
"We’ve worked hard to establish a working relationship with the museum, and I do not want it to fall to pieces now with everything else going on. Please help the curator with anything she may need, and if you can, try to make a good first impression."
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Mimi smiles at Seshuun again. "Doubtless ve vill recognize deez Iobarian releecs vhen ve come across dem. Do not vorree yourself madame. ve vill find dem for you and breeng dem 'ere to de muséeum as quicklee as posseebel."
Mimi then stares at the curator's face for a little longer than comfortable. "Excusez-moi for gazeeng at your visage, madame, but I cannot 'elp but noteece your somewhat unusual facial features. De coleur and markeengs on your fece and 'air I find to be particularlee attracteeve. I 'ave not come across de same before. I 'ope you do not mind me askeeng, but vhat ees de source of your charmeeng countenence?"
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Realizing she maybe doesn't want to hear about their potential conveyance problems, Voron quickly shifts gears to highlighting their talents instead.
Very well. That's only a small matter. Now cataloging is something that many of us in the society know about!
Voron launches a one minute overview of the categorization of items and effects as taught at the Arcanimirium, and would be too boring to to detail here!
Evindal begins to wax on about the making of some of the exhibits, and potential exhibits. Seshuun does seem to take to agents who know about which she's talking.
"As enjoyable as this has been, time is something of the essence. Here, take this everburning torch. You might just need it." She winks as she hands it over to Mimi.
The journey from the Blakros Museum to the docks doesn’t take long....
The waterfront teems with activity and the sights and sounds of one of the Inner Sea’s largest ports. Once you navigate through the crowded streets, the local dockworkers wave you toward the docks where you can find Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh and the Sixwing Drake.
A tall, broad-shouldered Garundi woman with weathered bronze skin and graying hair catches your eye. She is directing a small group of dockworkers who are busy loading barrels onto a sleek, blue-sailed ship emblazoned with the name Sixwing Drake in faded paint. "Hail! How can I help you?"
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For Mimi's immersive work, take 1 Hero Point.
Mimi slightly raises one eyebrow to acknowledge the curator's wink and takes the everburning torch from Seshuun with a nod of gratitude. "You are too kind madame. Doubtless dees vill come een veree 'andee. As you can see, I am de onlee von 'ere vith merelee regular eyesight. I vill return eet to you vhen ve 'ave retreeved de relics."
The swashbuckler then smiles more broadly, and locking eyes with Seshuun, adds, "After ve successfullee complete dees mission, I vould be delighted if you vould join me for a celebratoree beverage. I know juste de plece; deir bière ees excellente but dey cater to all tastes. You can den recount to me de storee of 'ow such a beautee as yourself came to become de curateur adjutant of such a deestinguished institution."
Mimi removes her hat and with a flamboyant sweep across her front and an accompanying bow, says, "Ve vill take our leeve of you now madame. de docks await!"
At the docks, Mimi goes up to the Garundi woman running the show and introduces herself with a bow of the head. "Good day to you, madame. My name ees Mimi de Valence. Do I 'ave de plaisir of speakeeng vith 'arbormaster 'ansara Molnesh?"
"Ah, excellente." She once again opens her hand to indicate the rest of the group, "My colleagues and I are from de Pathfinder Societee. Vee 'ave been sent 'ere by Venture-Capitaine Valseen to determine vhat 'appened to de crates containeeng de Societee's goods dat supposedlee arrived on de Sixweeng Drake recentlee. Dey 'ave not yet been delivered to de Blakros muséeum as instructed and de curateur ees somewhat concerned for deir absence. Can you tell us anytheeng about dees matter?"
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Evindal doesn't say much. His pet lizard Mogspawn comes out and perches on his shoulder and watches what is going on. Gazing around the docks and the bustle of activity, Evindal watches for any signs of criminal activity. His long life has taught him that the docks are a location where smuggling and thievery are sometimes found and he wonder whether - if something has gone awry with the shipment - the underworld might be involved.
The harbormaster, despite leathery sun-touched skin, blushes a bit. "Well... yes.. Umm....." Her smile turns. The harbormaster frowns in confusion. “So, someone already came by to get the shipment. At least… I think they did? They were… hmm. To be honest, I can’t remember. Come to think of it, everything that happened this morning is all… cloudy. Wait, why are the workers loading cargo on the ship?!” She turns to the crew gathered on the docks and the Sixwing Drake and shouts, “Hey, listen up! The Pathfinders are here for the shipment! Let’s get to work!” Moments later, a dockhand on the upper deck steps rigidly toward a stack of barrels and says something inaudible over the din of the harbor. A series of massive explosions obliterates the Sixwing Drake, spewing flames and charred debris onto the docks. Some of the flames seem literally alive!
While Jraal didn't notice anything weird, the situation just got REALLY weird!
The dozen surviving dockworkers stumble about in awe for a moment before Hansara Molnesh commands them to start putting out the mundane fires that threaten to spread to other docks. She shouts to you, “We’ll take care of the fire—you handle those living flames!”
Initiative assumes Jraal is Scouting
(Avoid Notice)
Round 1:
Voron: Go
Foes: TBD
Corelion: TBD
Jraal: TBD
Evindal: TBD
Mimi: TBD
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Voron goes from polite discussion to shocked horror in an instant.
Unsure of how to deal with the living flames, he first waves a hand from side to forward, commanding a piece of debris to speed towards one of them. After he pauses to focus on them and attempt to recall anything he might have learned in the past about them.
Do any of you have water, or magical frost? There is a hint of desperation in his voice.
Voron's desperation shows up in his aim as he misses by a wide margin. Voron knows these to be fire mephits! They can breath a short cone of pure fire if you get too close! They're also weak against cold of any type.
The party sees the breath first hand! Both dash forward burning everyone except Corelion!
Round 1:
Voron: Miss 2 REF
Foes: FIRE
Corelion: Go + 2 REF
Jraal: Go + 2 REF
Evindal: Go + 2 REF
Mimi: Go
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◆ Interact to draw weapon
◆ Step
◆ Strike
"WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS!". Jraal screams out in pain as they slash fire on him. He definitely did not expect anything here on the docks. The joys of being a Pathfinders...
"Ouch ouch ouch. Fire makes this dragon angry.". Jraal steps up, drawing his weapon, and slamming his pick in the closest one.
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Mimi frowns a little as the harbormaster behaves quite strangely in response to her query. It was almost as if the woman was coming out of some sort of enchantment. But before she can press the matter, the Sixwing Drake explodes and all hell breaks loose.
She ducks down from the explosion and miraculously avoids taking any damage from the flying debris. She isn't so lucky with the mephits' flame attacks though.
Mimi pats out a couple of smouldering spots on her coat. "Ooh la la. Eet looks like de situation ees varmeeng up around 'ere." Before the mephits can attack again, Mimi runs straight at the mephit in front of her and at the last instant, pirouettes to the right and twirls past the surprised creature to the dock beyond.
She turns to face the mephit with a "Ha haa! I take eet dat you vere not expecteeng dat my fiery friend." She then prepares to lunge at it with her rapier, but discovers that it remains solidly in its sheath at her side. "Zut alors. 'Ow inconvenient!" She takes a few precious seconds to draw it out.
With her rapier now firmly in hand, she says, "Much better. Let me see now; vhere vas I? Oh yes, I remember now." And without further ado, she slides her weapon straight through the monster before her.
she slides her weapon straight through the monster before her.