She nights after listening to your stories and it seems as if she really wants to understand you!
"You do not know the Shadow Lodge? Well, you are new and there is much that you still have to learn about the society! For decades, a growing segment of the Pathfinder Society's membership became disillusioned with the Decemvirate. Whether they held personal grudges against the masked leaders of the Society for slights they felt were never remedied or watched too many of their friends suffer for the good of a Society that seemed to thank them very little, these rebels' numbers surged at some point, swelling the Shadow Lodge's membership. Several fringe cells of the underground resistance movement broke off from the main body of the Shadow Lodge and began a series of open attacks on the Grand Lodge and those loyal to it. To be honest, I do not know if they still exist or how this topic will be resolved. But the Shadow Lodge killed many innocents and Pathfinders and is a product of our history!"
The Halfling woman shakes her head.
"No! Of course we do not abandon anyone! We even risk our lives to save our comrades ... but there are people of every alignment in the Society! And some have different views! You have to make your own judgement call when you meet someone." Janira says with a smile.
She listens to your answers and suddenly seems optimistic and cheerful.
"Hey everyone, these are good answers!!!" she says smiling at Erôth. She takes her ale and takes a sip.
More than anything, Janira seeks to assist and enlighten Pathfinders around her. She sees herself as a mentor to novices, working to assist them without taking over their missions.
"You guys are alright! I am always eager to assist new or potential field agents. So if you need anything come to me! I spend most of my time either at the Wounded Wisp or on the grounds of the Grand Lodge. Now you have to excuse me, my table is waiting for me!" she says smiling and goes back to the table she was sitting at.
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"Of course, it was a pleasure speaking to you. I hope your table appreciates the value of the wisdome you impart." Sirani smiles as Janira returns to her table.
He makes his way over to the reading merchant. "Aram bin Kaleel? I apologize for interrupting you if you would prefer to read alone, but I have heard that you are an excellent storyteller of your adventures."
The Kelishite man looks at Sirani and answers "Oh young man of course you may join me discussing the book. Please sit down and let us have tea first."
He politely starts pouring you a cup of tea and sets his book aside.
"You are correct, my name is Aram bin Kaleel. You being in this tavern most certainly means that you are a Pathfinder. But I have not seen you here before. Oh and yes ... advice and such as you phrase it is what I can share."
Aram bin Kaleel starts a deeper discussion with you and whoever wants to join in. He opens his cloak and you see a holy symbol of Sarenrae.
"I like how you Pathfinders stand together when they are pushed. We all here share similar roots ... and are so different ... I see a little of myself in your current situation as new Pathfinders." he says smiling.
During the discussion you feel that Aram bin Kaleel wants to give advice to younger Pathfinders but never steps in directly on their behalf. If you want to know something you could surely ask.
Aram then looks at the your group and waves you over. “Your Pathfinder friends can join us!“ he says.
He then concentrates on Sirani and others that join the table.
"One warning for you. I espouse a belief in a balanced approach when acting on behalf of the Society — particularly when it comes to Pathfinders with little knowledge and an overabundance of brawn."
Aram continues “A Pathfinder should stand on his own two feet, but be able to lean on a fellow agent when needed. That is a common mantra espoused by Keleshite and also my philosophy ... but tell me more of yourself - what are your goals in the society?"
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Yoko sees that Aram is very much on the level. Nothing hidden. An open book.
My goals in the society. Well first of all is to learn and explore. Learn more about myself and the world around me. I have found more strange things this way than I could have imagined, and to that end, my goal would be knowledge and experience. Then to put that into use for the good of the people.
"That is a cause I can relate with my Kitsune friend ..." he sighs.
"But I am a little jaded by many recent events in the Pathfinder Society and to be honest I come to the Wounded Wisp to relive what I believe were the Society’s golden days. That you are here is a good opportunity to go back to the principles of the society ... back to the past."
He shakes his head.
"Oh no ... I started again. I apologize!"
His facial impressions turn into a challenging smile.
"Let us talk about practical matters. Are you all well prepared for your missions in the field? I mean the various threats that often hamper Pathfinder expeditions such as magical effects, swarms, traps, and other vexing obstacles? I want to ensure you and your friends are prepared for the challenges to come."
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"We did think ourselves well prepared at one point," Sirani answers, a bit ashamed of their hubris, "yet on our first assignment, a few of us came very close to the end. We were well prepared for a battle, but not so much the aftermath."
Sirani attempts to shift the conversation back to Aram's thoughts on the Society. "What do you feel we can do to restore the Society to what it once was?"
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Grim thanks Janira for her explanation, "I feel I learned not only things about our past, but also better how to treat others, strangers and allies, moving forward in the future. Thank you."
He then joins Aram at the invitation, "Well met, Aram. I would say my goal is to not only support my fellows, but also help explore Golarion. Many ancient secrets to uncover, glorious lands to map and explore."
The Sarenrae follower nods in approval after hearing your stories.
“You all have good intentions and obviously we’re able to defeat evil … together! That is a good start!!“ he says proudly.
"Regarding danger: Well, the most important tools in my view are splash weapons. Have you ever tried to fight a swarm of bugs with a mace? Will not work! Except of that I believe you will be in good shape." he says with hope in his voice.
"Unfortunately, I have to leave now. But I invite you and your friends to visit my shop, Kaleel’s Curiosities, in the Coins district if you find yourselves needing advice about something that you find ... well ... curious." he says with a sly smile and with a courteous farewell leaves the Wisp.
After about half an hour Heryn comes to your table and says: “Are you ready to go?"
++++++++++
After you all confirm that you are ready she takes you through the kitchen (A7) where three cooks prepare appetizers and larger meals with a wood-burning stove and several stone-surfaced tables. She opens the door to a back storeroom (A8) where a set of stone stairs leads down from here into the basement level of the Wounded Wisp.
The stairs descend into a tightly packed storeroom (A10) where barrels, boxes, and crates of assorted foodstuffs and drink garnishes are pushed against the walls or under the stairs.
Heryn suddenly has a stern look and says
“If you were not here because of business associated with Dreng I would never let you in here … firstly because it is embarrassing and secondly because I will let you alone down here, what I also do with Dreng. So please enjoy and respect my trust and also Dreng’s I suppose. You will see why I say embarassing because we usually do not use the rooms beyond this room anymore.” and with that she opens the door and shows you the next room (A11) and continues.
”Ahhh … formerly the next room was a meeting room where the staff could converse or take time off between shifts, but this chamber suffered significant damage during the earthquake of 4698. Several fissures split the floor that are leading down to a section of the city’s sewer system. So please, please keep quiet about this, okay?” she says with a pleading look.
Heryn is slightly relieved after Sirani confirms confidentiality but confused about his question.
"Ehh ... I thought you want the bottle for Dreng?"
She shows you the next room and the hole in the floor ”Look, nobody had the money to pay to repair the damage, so before I even started here they had acquired a broad wooden plank that serves as a bridge across the fissure. Now go through this room and enter the cellar on the other side. Actually, Dreng asked me to get the bottle and give it to you but … I am afraid of heights and I cannot come with you. I am sure you will need time to find what you are looking for because except Dreng nobody knows this place anymore.” she hands you a piece of paper with the name of a vineyard and a certain vintage (from a year preceding the creation of the Society) and waves goodbye hurrying up the stairs.
Neglected since it was “installed,” the plank isn’t as sturdy as it once was. You have to move slowly to get across or somehow reinforce it with skill (Disable Device).
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As the party begin to look around, a familiar taldane woman dashes in, gently closing the door behind herself while panting.
"My... apologies for my being late, the Master of Swords would not let me leave until I'd completed my ripsote tally and... She looks around, sees she is clearly interrupting.
"I... believe I may need a little briefing, my apologies.
Heryn is just about to leave when Xildina enters and she smiles at Xildina.
"I think that you did not miss anything. You are still here to get the bottle of wine that Venture Captain Dreng wanted you to collect I think. Get over there and then into the wine cellar. This is the number of the bottle I think ... well, that is what Dreng told me!" she says and leaves you.
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Be wary of this... Plank friends. Looks like noone has done anything to it since it was put here and doesn't look stable. We could move slowly and hope for the best, or if anyone can... sturdy it up, that would be wonderful.
To Xildina
Hello, Really not terribly much to catch up on, we talked ideals a bit, and now we are here to get the bottle, and hopefully not fall into the sewers.
With Yoko realizing that you have to move slowly, he tries and reaches the other side without any issues. And the others follow his example so that you are now all on the other side.
You walk into the cellar (A12). This chamber is where the Wounded Wisp keeps its supply of specialty wines and ales for important occasions.
You start searching for the wine bottle and it feels like searching for a needle in a hay stack.
Finally you find that particular bottle from a very old vintage but it is stuck in the wine rack. You pull again and get it out only to see that behind the bottle a strange lever is hidden
Roran finds the bottle after a while!!
It is a particular bottle from a very old vintage but it is stuck in the wine rack.
Roran pulls again and gets it out only so that you all see that behind the bottle a strange lever is hidden.
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"Uhhh... everyone? I seem to have discovered something here. I found the bottle, but... there's a lever behind it."
Roran scratches his chin.
"I did think it bizarre he would send us for just a bottle. This specific one, no less. I think we're meant to pull the lever."
He places his hand around the lever, but waits to pull as he scans the others for permission.
You all check for traps but find none so permission to pull is easy to give.
When you use the lever the complete wine rack slides back. The sound is almost not to hear but the dust that comes down shows that this secret door has not been opened for ages.
You look into a short stone tunnel that leads into a hidden room (A13) that is illuminated.
+++++++++
You enter the tunnel just a little to see what lies ahead and check for traps but cannot find any.
A sturdy silver chain jutting from the ceiling ends in a glowing orb that radiates yellow light across the rectangular room. A simple desk of polished wood, stacked with documents and scattered notes, shelters a pair of wooden chests against the south wall. A series of cracks along the eastern and western walls form makeshift entrances into exposed caverns.
The only light source in this room is a plain rock that bears a continual flame spell and hangs from a chain. The illumination is enough to brighten the room but leaves the connecting tunnels dark.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You look at the desk and see that it contains various notes and leads. A first glimpse shows that these were obviously penned by Selmius Foster with later annotations by a certain Adolphus.
Selmius Foster was a Pathfinder who was published in many of the early Pathfinder Chronicles.
Adolphus was a Pathfinder who began his career as the assistant of the Pathfinder Selmius Foster. He published the account of his master's death in Volume 3 of the Pathfinder Chronicles. He went on to found the Pathfinder lodge in Quantium.
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Well. It seems that it was actually more than just picking a bottle of wine...
The one that speaks is a very tall and thin half-elf (almost two meters), jet-black hair and green eyes that observe carefully everything around him. He wears plain traveller clothes: black leather boots, red trousers and brown shirt. Under his traveller cloak one can see that he is no a mere commoner: the sheath of a large sword and the metallic shine of an armor show it. He also carries a big metallic shield that he seems to use well when needed.
My name is Seltyel and I was called on the very last minute to join the mission. Sorry if my sudden arrival startled you.
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"Those notes may be valuable to the Lodge, if only for historical purposes. We should take it with us, yes?"
Grimwald steps into the small office area, and looks around.
"Well, lets take a good look while we are here."
He jumps at Seltyl's appearance. "Ho there friend, were you sent on the bottle recovery as well?"
You are discussing and standing in the silent room that looks like it was not touched for ages. Suddenly, you hear hundreds of high-pitched squeaks fill the air as a mass of small, carnivorous bats surges forth, all of them hungry for blood.
Seltyiel Half-Elf 23
Everyone except of Seltyiel and Roran is utterly surprised when the swarm of bats enters the room through various tunnels and is all around you.
Seltyiel and Roran hear the screams a little earlier and are ready to react.
BAT SWARM CR 2
N Diminutive animal (swarm)
Init +2; Senses blindsense 20 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15
Speed 5 ft., fly 40 ft. (good)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
They cannot be hurt by weapons but only AoE spells or weapons.
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +4 size)
hp 13 (3d8)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +3
Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune weapon damage
OFFENSE
Melee swarm (1d6)
Special Attacks distraction (DC 11), wounding
Wounding (Ex) Any living creature damaged by a bat swarm continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing magic.
]
~
Round 0 - Surprise (only move or standard action)
Roran
Seltyiel
Swarm
~
Round 1
Roran
Seltyiel
Yoko
Grim
Xildina
Sirani
Swarm
BOLD may act!
The swarm of carnivorous bats suddenly fills the room and makes breathing difficult. Two of you are filled with terror as the swarm engulfs them and the young Pathfinder's bodies start to bleed.
~
Round 1
Roran
Seltyiel
Yoko
Grim
Xildina
Sirani
Swarm
Sirani throws up and Roran realizes that the swarm cannot be hurt with normal weapons.
~
Round 1
Roran, -4, bleed 1, nauseated 1 round
Seltyiel
Yoko
Grim
Xildina
Sirani, -4, bleed 1
Swarm
BOLD ARE UP.
The swarm of carnivorous bats moves up and engulfs more of the group, Seltyiel, Roran and Grim!
~
Round 2
Roran, -11, bleed 1, Fort save
Seltyiel,-6, bleed 1, Fort save
Yoko
Grim, -6, bleed 1, Fort save
Xildina
Sirani, -5, bleed 1
Swarm
BOLD ARE UP.
The blast hits the ground and leaves a mark but the swarm is not harmed!!