|
You all return to the Grand Lodge, the Lodge's capitol located in the glorious coastal metropolis of Absalom. The sight of the Skyreach Tower from the side of your sailing vessel alone is a sight to behold and brings comfort and excitement for what may lay ahead for each and every one of you.
Once back at the docks, you gather your belongings and make your way to the Glyph of the Open Road. Having earned yourselves the title of Pathfinder, you all find yourselves welcome within the massive walls of the Grand Lodge Once inside you find lodging and food readily available to you all. Having reported your success from your prior mission, you all gather around the Grand Hall for food and relaxation as you await your next summons.
|
Evanora speaks lovingly to her pet while nibbling on olives from a platter. "Oh, I know Snookums. I thought for a moment that it could have been baba yaga's hut, but it was just some silly old guard post. Don't you worry though. I'm sure we will find some truly wonderful things out there yet."
She looks up from her little Dino to glance around the room, smiling at each for the Pathfinders as they enter. While her smile is not anything nefarious, it's not what you would call 'warm' either.
|
Ah, well, so this is the place then? Righto, well at least the world's not moving under my feet again. Damned boats, I knew I shoulda walked
The dwarf mumbled to himself as he sorted his way around unfamiliar streets until he found his destination and went in to talk to whomever he needed to talk with there. Before finding himself a good, stable chair, and something a little more potent than water to drink.
|
|
The armored half-orc enters the chamber, nodding to Evanora as he set his large wooden shield painted with a whippoorwill down to the side of the chair. May this next place be a fair sight warmer than the last. I still feel that chill to my bones. Well met Pathfinder, I am Chalmers, called the Redeemer; devotee of our Lady of Graves.
|
|
Kebrin, Hearthlight, formerly of Magnimar and points west. he said with a nod to the half orc, gathering that he was the only one present that didn't already know the others, either by reputation or experience. well met, or at least it is, so long as I'm not about to meet your Mistress personally. Would really rather hold that off for a little while yet if I can. That last was said with a light hearted laugh, of one who knows the risks of his current occupation all to well
|
Shirin enters the scene and looks at the others with a sly smile.
"Don’t worry Faustus. I actually ditched them when Wolves attacked but they managed, right? I really have to admit ... I am absolutely intrigued that you all made it Chalmers and Evanora! Or did Zot and Talion die by the goblins’ hands??!!" she says with genuine interest but little concern.
She stands up and walks with slow steps and it is obvious that this gracile and beautiful woman knows her worth.
"Greetings to you Kebrin." she says to the dwarf.
Her stylishly cut dark hair looks like it has been recently perfumed. She is wearing a chain shirt armor and fashionable clothing that still serves as functional adventure gear. She also carries a backpack.
“Shirin Asal is my name! My spirit guide, the astral dragon Aurax, might join us as well … potentially… I don’t know.“ she says absentmindedly.
“So are there any other rumors we should know of?“
|
|
Abruptly and without warning, each of you receive a summons from Drandle Dreng. The summons comes in the form of a small note wrapped in an equally small envelope, hand-delivered from one of the Agent Couriers there at the Grand Hall. Each of you in turn open the summons and find it to be brief and a bit odd:
“Meet Kreighton Shaine urgently in the stables to discuss missing artifacts.”
Aside from some briefings during training, few Pathfinders deal with the Society’s Master of Scrolls. Taking the summons with a bit of urgency, you all gather your belongings and quickly make way to the Grand Lodge Stables.
Once there, you take note of Kreighton’s scholarly robes dragging through the muck, his soft shoes clearly soaked through from what seems to be a bit of pacing. From the look of it the Master of Scrolls doesn’t seem to notice the muck at all.
Seeing you all arrive, the Master of Scrolls eagerly begins his debriefing: “I’ve been working on an extensive study of religious relics, trying to ascertain whether items gain a certain aura of divinity that cannot be detected through normal means. I’ve been collecting these artifacts through a series of well-known dealers in the God’s Market. We’ve never had any trouble before, but recently several of our couriers have been waylaid by a particularly elusive bandit.” Kreighton pauses briefly as his mud-soaked robe snags on a nail and he nearly falls over, but a stable boy catches his arm and steadies him.
“As they were headed through the Ascendant Court,” he continues, “a group of thugs ambushed our couriers. The first time I thought it was a coincidence — a random mugging. After the second time, however, Grandmaster Torch had some harsh words with me. He suspects someone has targeted our couriers specifically. The Drandle boy suggested I have you all investigate the disappearances.” There is a long, uncomfortable pause and for a minute it seems the elf has completely forgotten he was discussing something.
Finally, he glances up with a sort of stunned look on his face. “Oh yes, here , this list will help you. The Grandmaster has helpfully provided it as a starting point.”
Although he remianed silent throught the -briefing- if one wishes to call it that, there was a bit of increased brightness in his eyes, and a slight grin behind his well kept beard at the words 'master brewer' in the note. The rest, well that was somewhat up his alley too. As far as assignments go, this was looking like it had potential to be a good one.
|
|
Seeming to blank out for a moment he shakes his head and regards Faustus with further details. "There have been two robberies so far. The first stolen relic was a shard from a lance Iomedae used in a battle with a demon when she was mortal. The other was a pen that a Chelish noble claims was used by Asmodeus to create the accord with House Thrune. Neither of the relics has been validated as authentic, so their worth is questionable. Nevertheless, they are invaluable to study and the fact that they are likely going to be sequestered in some private museum or collection is infuriating to the Society."
Turning back towards Evanora, the elf seems frustrated at his response. "The graycloaks are handling the matter." Bitterly he adds, "The Graycloaks are a force of professed nonbelievers who police the God’s Market and the entire Ascendant Court. Their atheist bent is meant to ensure that no one group of worshipers receives any special treatment."
|
|
"Oh yes, the graycloaks. Well, I think that..oh, hello...Nem did you say? Yes, well, I think that you must be right on time. Anywho..." She says, addressing the rest of the Pathfinders: I would think that it would be prudent to start with the freshest lead first. That being this Jared fellow and the Gaycloaks."
|
|
Kebrin nodded to the ratfolk in quiet greeting, before looking back at the elf.
So realistically speaking, there is a fair chance that these artifacts are, really, nothing more than old bits of junk, that someone is peddling off as holy relics, or perhaps not, and at present there isn't much way to tell for sure? Might be helpful knowledge, if we decide to set ourselves a bit of a trap.
|
|
Shirin’s eyes go wide when she sees the ratfolk lady and her grin shows that she is clearly happy to see the newcomer.
”Oh you look delicious exotic Nem! Where are you from? I’m Shirin … “ Shirin is about to continue addressing the Ratfolk pathfinder when a flesh of bright light startles her and right next to the beautiful half-elf.
A rune of fine pure light that looks like a draconic head appears on Shirin’s forehead!
The light reveals a large portal which lets you look into a silvery-grey void!!
Out of this void steps a 6 ft large serpentine dragon with deep blue scales, large black horns and sharp ebony teeth!
Unlike other dragons, the serpentine dragon's body resembles that of a snake and has no wings! The dragon’s scales are very smooth and fine which might reveal that it really is quite young.
The serpentine dragon also bears a glowing draconic rune on its chest that is identical to the rune that appeared on Shirin’s forehead when the dragon appeared.
The dragon is wearing a fine bracelet around its tail that it almost shows off. The dragon looks directly at Shirin and starts speaking with a fast pace.
”Oh Shirin are we doing this pathfinder thing again??! Really? I was again on this party in the Astral Plane, it was close to the center of the Inner Sphere. There were sooo many dead people! You know … souls of dead mortals on their way to their final judgement before Pharasma so some were partying like there was no tomorrow!!“ the dragon says.
Shirin is startled but briefs the dragon on the mission objectives.
“Ahh, I’ve talked to so many people baby! Of course I know about that!!“
She looks at Rem and Kebrin and Faustus and raises an eyebrow. “Are you freshlings in this society thing!!?“ but before anyone can answer the dragon starts educating.
“Well, one of the dead guys told me that the commander of the Graycloaks is Runewulf the Unbeliever, a hard man known for being harsh but fair in all things. Runewulf doesn’t believe in anything he can’t see or feel for himself.
There is a thriving underground black market of items sold in the God’s Market for those who know where to look and whom to ask. Such illicit trading includes both banned items and stolen goods. So you guys keep your eyes open!!“
|
|
As Aurux made their presence known, the horses in some nearby stables prompted to the Stable hand to stop attending the Master of Scrolls and instead trip and stumble over to try and calm the horses, giving an exhausted look back towards the pathfinders as they did so.
Meanwhile Venture-Captain Kreighton Shaine watched on as if this was a normal occurrence. At the mention of a party, the elf seems to space out a tad, mumbling to himself. "I had thought the stars were not properly aligned, perhaps THAT was in retrograde..." the elf began, then sadly admitted. "I was really looking forward to attending that party. Duty calls I guess,". He looked down upon his shoes, somberly nodding his head in a mournful acceptance.
After what seems like another moment of awkward silence, Shaine suddenly looks back up towards the lot of you, "Oh yes! Well, if you all have nothing more of me I will take my leave. I have a class to attend to." After another odd pause of him clearly staring into space he seems oddly lost and then heads to leave.
|
|
After some discussion, you all decide to go to the freshest lead first: Jarid Moltwin in the God's Market.
So you all take your leave of the Grand Lodge and head your way to the God's Market. Once there you find a wide variety of the city's religious merchant's selling religious items such as holy symbols, water, texts, and clothing. Scrolls, potions, and other minor magic items, as well as the services of moneylenders and skilled craftsmen such as jewelers, are also available in a more limited capacity with each merchant having their own stall.
You all browse around until you come across a large sign proclaiming “Estelle’s Last Hope Mercantile.” A smaller sign below, obviously in a different hand, advertises “All merchandise verified
authentic,” and in even smaller text below that is written “No Refunds.” The stall is filled with a variety of unique items bearing various claims, each less likely that the last. “Cayden Cailean’s Lost Loincloth” sits on a shelf next to a clumsily preserved, half-eaten apple claiming to have been discarded by Norgorber on the day of his ascension.
Hidden within, you make out a rotund Qadiran counting coin towards the back of the stall.
The dragon slithers to the front and checks out the wares.
“Hello Sir! Or madam! Gender is so hard to guess with you humans. Maybe you’ve already heard of me. I’m Aurax. Super famous on the astral plane … well known maybe. I mean people have heard of me … ahh … I mean how are you? We’d like to buy something I think … “ he says but is obviously not sure anymore and turns to Evanora.
“Why are we here again?“ he whispers.
He doesn’t wait for an answer and turns back to the proprietor.
“Well, whatever!! You look wonderful today and your shop is most exquisite!!“ he says charmingly.
|
|
"Is that even real ivory? Looks wooden to me."
Looking over the rest of the merchandise, Evanora cannot suppress a giggle. "I wonder how he lost the loin cloth? That is a story that needs to be told. I do appreciate the alliteration though."
After the Qadiran's attention is gained, "The shard of Iomadae's Lance, brought to you by a Jarid Moltwin. What can you tell us of this story? Also, how much for that holy water?"
|
|
Nem places herself a little away from the group she wants to observe without attracting notice. She starts looking at a few baubles on the table though her attention are not on them but on the merchant and any people in the bazaar that maybe working with the Merchant.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 6
[dice=Stealth]1d20 + 8;
Shirin looks at the ratfolk and she’s suddenly gone.
“Wow, Nem!! Hmm … that is a neat trick! You have to teach me that!“ she says but she can’t see the little pathfinder.
|
|
The pottly man takes note of those entering his stall, a look of warm excitement crossing his face as he quickly stashes his coin away. When Aurux appears, the man seems aghast and suddenly taken off guard. "Au-Au-Aurax you say? I don't normally get... dragons... as customers in my shop. And astral plane you say?" he quickly looks around his shop, having missed Nem's disappearance all together. "Well, then I'm sure you'll recognize many of our rare artifacts here! Yes indeed! And if you are looking for something in particular, perhaps Jarid can help you... for the right price of course." he offers with a toothy grin.
As Evanora points out the faulty piece and the mention of his taken stolen artifact, he suddenly seems to get defensive. "Perhaps you need a much more refined eye to appreciate that which I sell here. Besides, I had no reason to expect it was stolen. I’m already out good coin, and now you’re here trying to scare off my legitimate customers by QUESTIONING the integrity of my fine establishment! The audacity!”
After what seems like an awkward moment, Jarid attempts to assemble himself. "Now... if you are interested in regular old Holy Water, you can go down the street. The Holy Water you see there happens to be expertly preserved tears of Iomedae herself, having shed them not even days before she attained divinity!" the man would explain. "Normally such an artifact would easily be worth 75 gold pieces! But for you..." he would offer, glancing more towards Aurax now, "I could possibly part with it for... 50 gold?"
The party at this point gets the hint that without a purchase or a bribe, Jarid isn't going to be much in a talking mood. Meanwhile Nem is able to get a good hiding spot, but picks up a number of Graycloaks picking up on Jarid's outburst. They went from their normal patrols to having suddenly stopped, watching as to what the ruckus is.
|
|
[ooc]((Kebrin's look through the store recognizes the bottle of holy water. Despite the fact that it is, in fact, a bottle of holy water, it appears to have been dressed up with Iomedae's holy symbols to give credibility to his claim. Despite the dressings, you recognize that it is only really worth 25 gold. Purchasing the item could provide the needed boon to get you all back on his good side and get an idea of where he got the artifact from.))
“Look! You have to know something about stolen items! We’re talking about the shard!! Come on!!“ the dragon whispers with a smile.
|
|
Jarid ponders the situation, having been on the verge of calling the Graycloaks he recognizes a potential opportunity. "My most esteemed dragon, this is true Jarid knows of where the Shard came from. I help you, then I ask you help me in return. Speak praise of me upon your leave and Jarid will see to it I do the same." He then scowls thinking of what got him in this situation. "If you truly wish of it, I will speak to you of where I got such a beautiful relic. I bought the cursed item from an unwashed man with scraggly black hair by the name of Barnel. I can trust him to get some odds and ends, and this shard seemed too good to pass up. I was a fool to trust him this time around and it has cost me greatly." Jarid seems defeated at this point, his irritation clearly flushing away.
He then shrugs, "Good luck finding him now though, after the Graycloaks came here he's stopped coming around. He's hard to miss if you look around though and I'm sure there are others who still do business with the odd man."
Aurax winks at Kebrin.
She focuses on the merchant. “Thanks a lot!! I’ll praise you don’t worry!!“ he says with a sly serpentine smile.
~
When they leave the dragon says loudly.
“Oh this Jarid is a fine and knowledgeable merchant!! So many holy items!! Wonderful purchase we made here!!“
~
When they are farther away she looks at the team.
“So what now?! I mean you humans all look the same so how should we find this crook that sold the shard?“ he asks.
“Oh … we just ask people!!!“ the dragon says confidently.
|
|
Nem places herself a little away from the group she wants to observe without attracting notice. She starts looking at a few baubles on the table though her attention are not on them but on the merchant and any people in the bazaar that maybe working with the Merchant.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 6
[dice=Stealth]1d20 + 8;
Shirin just makes sure that they don’t loose Nem.
“Hey girl! Come on … let’s go!! So tell us more about you Nem!! You’re so different… I like that!!“ the half elf says beaming to the ratfolk.