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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend. If you disappear for more than 24 hours, especially during combat, I will simply place your character on infinite delay just to keep things moving.
2) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
3) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
4) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
5) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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A human with a distinct purple sigil on his forehead joins the room accompanied by a curious-looking creature with the same sigil on its forehead. The creature looks to be a cross between a lion with its majestic mane, a bull, with large horns on its head, and a walrus, with its distinct blubber and fangs.
"Greetings fellow pathfinders! Martin Amblecrown, a candidate maven from Absalom's Arcanamirium. This is Mavenee. An unusual-looking creature, I know, but I assure you she's tamed. Nice to meet all of you!."
Mavenee greets everyone with an energetic bark.
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An elven woman kneels in front of Mavenee, confused and curious. Not the first time she's faced a lion's jaws before. But this time she's conscious!
"Howdy there Mavenee. I'm Miladistra, pleased to meet cha!" She looks up at Martin. "Do I pet her, stroke her mane, or... one moment." She turns around to look at the young grey furred wolf.
"Come on Deroff. You said yesterday you wanted to go on another trip. Now you won't even say hi. Come on up here, she ain't gonna bite!" Miladistra waves the wolf over before turning to her teammates. "Deroff usually isn't this shy, even around other animals."
What is this smell?
What is this pose?
Is it rearing to attack?
Is it eating?
Deroff sees the Missus is safe, for now. He fights his better instincts and approaches her and the... other animal. He stands cautious, keeping watch over her.
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A human covered in mystical tattoos joins the gathering Pathfinders. He looks around with a serious look on his face. "Greetings Martin, Mavenee, Miladistra." he says before nodding at Tarkii, "I'm Arlen. Arlen Bales. I hunt demons, daemons, and devils, though I hope we don't encounter on this mission."
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A muscular, purple-blueish, woman donned in full-plate enters the room. She has long, purple hair, several gills on either side of her neck, and a necklace with a single, eloquent pearl resting around her neck. Strapped to her back she wields a long polearm with a hook at the end, and she has several seashells tied to her backpack.
Torrent speaks excitedly and looks at everyone one-by-one with a warm, gentle smile, "Hope I'm not late! Had the charter boat from Taldor drop me off a few miles off-shore and arranged to pick up my belongings here at the lodge. Can't quite beat such a swim! Name's Torrent. Just finished my first few missions with the society and most recently served as a translator at one of the newer base camps! I'm eager to see what lies ahead!"
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"Me too, Arlen. Devils smell terrible. I spent weeks scrubbing the... yuck... away from Deroff. Smelled worse than a pig pen." Miladistra pets Deroff again to get him to relax.
"Howdy Torrent. Howdy Tarkii. Good to see ya. You definitely smell like the sea, Torrent. And Tarkii, you smell... well, I'm not sure, really."
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A half-elf, his Mualijae heritage visible, walks down the path clad in full plate armor. Strangely a great helm or similar device does not adorn his head. It is graced by a fancy hat embroidered with gold thread and set with beads. He carries a shield strapped to his arm. A pick and a machete hang from his belt and a quiver of javelins is strapped to his back. A young Mwangi woman dressed in traditional garb accompanies him.
"Greetings everyone I am Toanthel. I hail from Nantambu as does Mbali. She is an initiate at the Magaambya and I am guiding her in her studies. She is a skilled engineer as well as a student of the arcane."
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Your adventure begins in the Grand Lodge of Absalom, where Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin has summoned you to help Rain in Cloudy Day with 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."
Rain hands you six pieces of parchment (see pages 4-5 in the slides).
"Feel free to share these among yourselves and exchange information."
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"Howdy Torrent. Howdy Tarkii. Good to see ya. You definitely smell like the sea, Torrent. And Tarkii, you smell... well, I'm not sure, really."
"Isn't it lovely? Nothing quite like the smell of the sea!" she says, grabbing one of her sea shells, placing it near her nose and inhaling deeply.
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"RAIN!!! So good to see you again my friend! It seems like it was just yesterday we saw each other. But of course it was this morning! Yes, let's get right to it!"
Torrent looks through the letters fairly quickly, "I'll do whichever is left over. I recognize a lot of these names and places..."
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The Ruby Prince restricted Pathfinder Society activity in Osirion in no small part because of a cursed relic the Society accidentally presented to him as a gift.
The Sandswept Hall in Osirion’s capital was for many years one of the most active Pathfinder Society lodges, due to being located in one of the oldest and most prosperous empires in the Inner Sea. Osirion’s interests once warranted the dedication of an entire Pathfinder Society faction, a group that eventually tied itself to the Scarab Sages to pursue ancient knowledge and the artifacts known as sage jewels.
The Ruby Prince restricted Pathfinder Society activity in Osirion in no small part because of a cursed relic the Society accidentally presented to him as a gift.
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.
Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh is one of the city’s many harbormasters in charge of managing the cargo flowing to and from Absalom on hundreds of ships each day. She is known for her uncanny ability to predict the weather.
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As you give Rain this information, he eagerly writes it all down in his notebook. As a brand-new Pathfinder agent, he is especially curious about any information pertaining to the Pathfinder Society’s older factions. Rain ponders aloud whether these events might be related, but before he can ask for more details, 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!"
As you prepare to depart for the museum, a grateful Rain hands you a small pouch filled with vials of red liquid (4 x lesser healing potions). He also offers you the choice of either an acid flask, alchemist’s fire, tanglefoot bag, or thunderstone (all moderate level).
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Arlen shakes his head, "The Blakros Museum. Never know where the line is, do they?" he says handing over his work, "No problem. We'll take care of it."
The Blakros Museum. Prime example of what happens when you mess with stuff that should be locked up in a vault or handled by experts, not put on display for the public.
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"Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh can predict the weather? Ma and Pa would love that kind of power. Do you water the plants today, or do you let Gozreh take care of it? Puzzled my village for decades..." Miladistra flips through the tome.
"Ah, Moldy Onions! Venture-Captain, don't startle people like that-" Miladistra holds a hand to her chest to steady herself. "Okay, what is it now?"
Miladistra scowls, like a beetle bit her in the one spot she couldn't reach. "Blakros. Always Blakros. Come on, Deroff." Deroff stands up and follows her.
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Before Ambrus arrives, or perhaps on the trip to the Blakros Museum, Torrent eagerly shares what she learned in exquisite detail. . She also speculates about the Dark Archive as it was before her time but sounds quite interesting!
Torrent doesn't seem too keen on any of the supplies, deferring to others.
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Your journey from the Grand Lodge to the museum is uneventful. As you arrive, you see gardeners and landscapers busily hauling 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. She approaches you and introduces herself.
"Well met. I am Curator Adjutant Seshuun. What business do you have at the museum?"
The plants—a few real, but most of them fake—are intended to make the gardens appear like a grove straight out of Iobaria.
Oh! The Missus is barking!
Deroff barks in unison with her.
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"Howdy, I'm-" one of the flowers is especially potent. The scent wafts up her nose like a needle, and she starts coughing, violently.
Oh! The Missus is barking! Deroff barks in unison with her.
Turning to Miladistra, Seshuun tsks in irritation at Deroff's barking. "Will you please keep your animal companion quiet? Maybe you should step away from the plants, if they're bothering you so."
"If you had wanted some Iobarian foliage for your exhibit you should have asked the Society. We've always been happy to lend our services to the museum."
"The Society is always ready to help, is it? Then why haven't the relics arrived yet?!" she irritably snaps at Toanthel.
"Greetings Curator Adjutant Seshuun! It is not every day that I find another land-dwelling azarketi!" she says as her neck gills subtly flair with excitement. "I am Torrent, it is a pleasure to meet you. As my companions mentioned, we have been sent to help with something of great importance!"
"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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Torrent sees that Curator Adjutant Seshuun must be very concerned about her relics if she doesn't acknowledge her own kin. Torrent speaks in Azlanti . Torrent speaks in a calming voice and tries to reassure the Curator that this has the upmost importance
"Shamwari yangu, hatina kukunda tichipesana nealghollthu kuti timire nyore. Isu tinodzosera relic sekunge kuti ndiyo yaive Lysianassa's pearl."
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At Torrent's calming words, the curator relaxes.
"I apologize for being short with you. This job has been really maddening. I need to make a good first impression with the museum management. But all these disruptions are getting out of hand. I am grateful for any help you can provide. I hope that the museum can assist the Society as well."
"Now then, it is imperative that you make your way to the docks to see what has happened to the relics aboard the Sixwing Drake. We can talk of other matters later, but for now you must go to the docks as soon as possible. I do have some items for you, though. These may help you in your search for the relics." She hands you an everburning torch, as well as a small statuette of a black dog. The statue is about an inch high. "His name is Dusty. To summon him, you need but to place the statue on the ground and speak his name."
Hero Point Time: Please nominate 2 players to give a hero point to. You may either vote openly, hide it behind a spoiler, or send me a private message. I'll award the points to the highest 2 players in 48 hours.
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The PCs’ 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. A helpful dockworker points you in the direction of the docks where you can find Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh and the Sixwing Drake.
Hansara Molnesh is a tall, broad-shouldered Garundi woman with weathered bronze skin and graying hair. She directs 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.
"Well met! What is it you need?"
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"Like my friend said here, we're looking for the Sixwing Drake. Some stuffy- I mean, Curator Adjutant Seshuun wanted to know what happened to the shipment. She's concerned about the Iobarian relics aboard."
Miladistra offers her hand to shake. "Pleased to meetcha. I'm Miladistra. This is my friend, Deroff."
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The harbormaster frowns in confusion. "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.
Two creatures resembling burning piles of refuse move across the dock opposite you.
Toanthel, Defend: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 = 27
Miladistra, Search: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13
Tarkii, Search: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24
Martin, Search: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 23
Arlen Bales, Scout: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12
Torrent, Search: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
Circle Init: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Square Init: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Recall Knowledge (1 action): Arcana/Nature
Tactical Map
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BOLD may go
Circle
Square
Toanthel
Tarkii
Martin/Mavenee
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Torrent
Miladistra / Deroff
Arlen
Circle causes a large quantity of materials and rubbish to spew out in a fiery beam at:
Arlen, take damage, DC 21 Basic Reflex Save
Circle then follows up by hurling a small fireball at Toanthel.
Square oils forward and stops in front of Toanthel. It seems to explode into a large cloud of noxious fumes that catches everyone in a 15' cone.
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