Whether this is your first adventure or not, you are all still new to the society so getting letters from ranking officers is nothing new, but this time it's:
Pathfinders,
I have recently uncovered a series of notes that I believe hold critical truths about the origins of the Pathfinder Society and the founding of the Decemvirate. A gnome Pathfinder by the name of Eylysia was well-known at that time and was held in high esteem until an assassination attempt on members of the Decemvirate organized by Eylysia led to her ejection from the Society. These notes I have found indicate
there may be quite a bit more to Eylysia’s story than we previously realized.
The most legible of Eylysia’s notes reference a “speaking artifact” purportedly lying beneath a “false rider.” Descriptions drawn from recent visions suggest the “speaking artifact” originated in Varisia. I suspect it is related to the Shoanti, a people well-known both for their oral traditions and horsemanship.
It seems Eylysia suspected that the noted explorer, Montlarion Jeggare, had glimpsed this “speaking artifact”. Head to the Jeggare Museum in Korvosa, where Montlarion’s ancestor, Mercival Jeggare, serves as curator. Once there, see if you can locate this “speaking artifact”. I await your findings.
Sincerely,
Kreighton Shaine
Our Adventure starts when the last of you arrive at the Lodge in Korvosa, which right now seems unattended by any venture captain but still employs a small staff to provide what they can as needed.
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A short Tian women was waiting in the Lodge for quite some times. She was sent directly to here for her first mission right after her admission into the Pathfinder Society. She looks at those who seems like fellow pathfinders and stands up: "It's a pleasure to meet you all, my name is Joyce Rosenthal. I come from Tian Xia and have recently earned my master degree in illusion magic from Eastern Front Academy at Taldor. My journey as a illusionist and a pathfinder is just beginning and this is my first mission, so I am excited to see where it takes me. People say that I seems to have a knack for identifying creatures and deciphering spells. I am eager to show what I can do with my illusion magic and continue growing as a pathfinder."
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The elf walks somewhat arrogantly into the lodge reading a letter and snorting derisively.
"That was their first, biggest, and obvious mistake: holding a gnome in high esteem."
He looks at the human mage and listens intently. He then speaks with a superior air: "You don't advance in magic by going to a school, you advance by practicing. You obviously need to add as much magic as you can to your book."
He produces a large spellbook, but it is mostly empty. He opens the spellbook on a table. "You may want to transcribe any spells in this book you don't already have."
Level 1: Monster Summoning I, Grease, Mage Armor, Charm Person, Enlarge Person, Color Spray, Comprehend Languages, Protection from Evil, Magic Missile
As if he isn't annoying enough, he adds "Taldor calls their magic school an academy?? He puts air quotes around the word academy. "How quaint."
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Years of being scold at by her professors make her oblivious with the elf's tone: "Yes, one advance by actually using the magic. That's why I'm in the Pathfinder Society. Yet one has to start somewhere, unless she was born with it."she pull out her spellbook and compares the difference. "Sometimes you only receive scholarship from only one school so you don't really have a choice."
Lv1: Color Spray, Mage Armor, Grease, Shield, Enlarge Person, Comprehend Languages, Obscuring Mist, Protection from Evil.
"I will be really grateful if you would let me copy some of your spells. You can copy mines, too."
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It's my first mission too says a fairly tall human male, decked out in scale mail and a greatsword on his back. My name is Jack Hurricane. Some people call me 'The Oncoming Storm'.
He looks over at the two mages. And yeah, I'd recommend sharing spells. After all, one third of our motto is 'Co-operate' so I hope you two will get along. Now ... does anyone know where the bar is?
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I stole it.
Says with grim humor a man dressed quite casually under a shinier chain shirt, who came quietly into the Lodge's room.
He's under six feet tall, with a bushy brown beard and mustache, and matching hair.
Hi, I'm Corgrim.
He's got a short sword by his side, and a short bow strapped on his back.
So this is your first mission? Welcome. I'm here to ensure we don't fall into traps, or to unlock closed doors, even those of taverns in the dead of the night. I'm no Caydenite but I know one when I see one.
he winks to Jack
We should chek our equipment before we go. The Lodge usually has some minor items to sell
Corgrim and Jack get to know each other at the modest bar stocked with well drinks and a dusty cask of small beer while Joyce and Tannivh set up at a table with ink and quill to begin copying their spells, it seems your party is still waiting on a couple of Pathfinders.
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A halfling girl with flowers in her hair, wearing adventuring gear that includes a few weapons but all of it looking barely used, trots into the room. "Oh! Did you all receive letters as well? I am happy to meet you! My name is Lilac, and this is my second Pathfinder mission!"
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A Caydenite, a Calistrian, and an halfling girl enter a bar... Seems a legit joke but I don't see the butt of it. That makes me a disapointed Calistrian.
He chuckles and offers a beverage to the newcomer
Nice to meet you, Lilac. Do you need help to get seated? And I ask by courtesy, not to make fun of you.
Fort Korvosa was constructed by Chelish marines under the command of Field Marshal Jakthion Korvosa. Once completed, it served as a defensive position from which settlers and explorers would enter Varisia. Korvosa has since become a major cosmopolitan city. Imps, otyughs, and shrew flies pose concerns for unsuspecting visitors.
Near the conclusion of the Everwar, Field Marshal Korvosa led a band of soldiers from Cheliax into Varsia. They met fierce resistance from Shoanti tribes (or “quahs”). As Korvosa’s troops wore down, relief came by way of the gentleman explorer, Montlarion Jeggare. Leading an expedition up the river now bearing his name, Jeggare delivered transport and supplies to Korvosa’s beleaguered soldiers.
Dozens of Pathfinders followed in the wake of Cheliax’s armies during the Everwar. Where the army went, Pathfinders could readily study sites previously disallowed by local groups. The Pathfinders plundered numerous abandoned sites. The lack of Society oversight from distant Varisia left few to question such methodologies.
After sufficient time to research and ply the public for information about the history of the city and the area, you head up a hill to see Jeggare Museum's striking marble edifice's rising up above the surrounding terrain.
A barrel bellied man with a mane of red hair tied behind his ears and a beard and mustache to match dressed in fine blue linen with yellow trim awaits you at the door,“Welcome to my museum Pathfinders! I am Mercival Jeggare, the head curator.” This declaration comes from a portly man adorned in a frock coat and ruffled blouse. The scholarly figure gestures toward a grand entryway dotted with displays of weapons, artwork, and fossilized remains. “Come in, come in! Always a pleasure to host members of the Society. I assume this is in regards to the missive I received from Mr. Shane?”
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Tannivh squints at the displays. "For a human display, this seems a credible attempt at basic classification."
He asks Mercival: "What do you have that passes for a wine cellar here? There are some notable vintages in the area that were worthy of collection."
The elf is trying to endear himself with cultured conversation.
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“Come in, come in! Always a pleasure to host members of the Society. I assume this is in regards to the missive I received from Mr. Shane?”
"Probably, since this visit is in regards to a missive we each received from Mr. Shane." She peers at some of the displays. "Do you have any exhibits on riders of things? Perhaps false ones?" To this strange question Lilac offers no further explanation.
Tannivh squints at the displays. "For a human display, this seems a credible attempt at basic classification."
He asks Mercival: "What do you have that passes for a wine cellar here? There are some notable vintages in the area that were worthy of collection."
The elf is trying to endear himself with cultured conversation.
[dice=diplomacy]1d20-2
Mercival does not seem to notice the sarcasm in Tannivh's voice; "Oh yes, the Jeggare Family Cellar is most prestigiously stocked, but I'm afraid it is not onsite here at the museum, but rather in the Family Manse." he replies, leading you all into the museum.
Erm ... yes sir. Something to do with a speaking artifact below a false rider
"Probably, since this visit is in regards to a missive we each received from Mr. Shane." She peers at some of the displays. "Do you have any exhibits on riders of things? Perhaps false ones?" To this strange question Lilac offers no further explanation.
Mercival stops in a hallway to visibly ponder the question before,“I am unsure. Adding an enchanted mouth could make an artifact speak, I suppose. A ‘rider’ may suggest someone mounted or else a proviso or alteration of some prior statement or decree. Most of the exhibits
displayed here were collected by my family and ancestors.""Of particular note is the esteemed Montlarion Jeggare. Presently, some personal effects of his are undergoing restoration for public debut. Antiques from Korvosa’s founding, vestiges of conquered Shoanti tribes, and ancient rune-etched artifacts account for the bulk of the collection. In recent years, the collection’s expanded to include treasures from other all over Golarion. Why just this morning, we procured several Tian antiquities.” he tells you boastfully as he leads you through more hallways deeper into the museum.
Skylights illuminate this gallery. Exhibits displayed within decorative alcoves include several wooden totems and tools. More wood-carved pieces rest within a raised exhibition area to the north.
A massive glass-walled case dominates the center of the gallery and holds three bound volumes of the Pathfinder Chronicles. To the south, a table bears two metal chests as another holds two wooden reliefs.
Suddenly, a resounding and cascade of wood dust heralds the fall of an enormous glass skylight before it shatters upon the marbled floor.
Mercival Shrieks in terror,"NOOOO not the Shrewfly's AGAIN!!!!" He shouts as he turns on his heels and runs out of the gallery shouting, "Please, protect the artifacts!! I'll be back with more staff to help!"
You all see hundreds if not thousands of these shrewfly's dance and drone into 4 dark and ravenous clouds.
These are Shrewfly's, a local variety of swarming insect very similar to locusts. Under crowded conditions, these normally inoffensive relatives of the grasshopper change color, breed uncontrollably, ravenously consume any available vegetation, and wreak vast destruction to farms and settlements.
You also look around and see that this particular gallery has artifacts and displays that are almost entirely made of vegetation or wood, with very little metal.
you also get 1 question about its features/stats.
The largest swarms, known as plagues, can include billions of shrewfly's and cover hundreds of square miles. Shrewfly's in these swarms are larger and more aggressive than common ones, making the swarm a true danger to everything edible in their path and even to inedible objects as well.
You also know that these swarms have a special ability:
Devour(Ex):[i] A shrewfly swarm causes damage to unattended objects in its space each round as though they were creatures. It even
damages inedible objects.
you also get 1 additional question about its features/stats, and 1 more for every 5 you beat the DC by.
Jack Hurricane, it is your turn!
jack takes a step toward the nearest swarm and cleaves straight through, cutting the swarm in half.... only for a second before it forms again, seemingly unaffected by his physical swing.
The swarms descend Voraciously on the artifacts!
Everyone else, it is your Turn! Jack, you can post your turn 2 action whenever you'd like.
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Tanivh fires a dart of acid from his hands at the same swarm to the right.
"Nasty swarms, probably use fire bombs if you have them. They can hurt the artifacts and people. A very few people are more important than these artifacts." He looks around. "I see two in this room by the way."
You wonder, if Tannivh includes himself in the two, who else is he including??
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"Nasty swarms, probably use fire bombs if you have them. They can hurt the artifacts and people. A very few people are more important than these artifacts." He looks around. "I see two in this room by the way."
"Thank you!" Lilac says gratefully after a few quick gestures to the animal companion who had agreed to accompany them. "You are the first I have met who refers to an animal friend as a person!"
She looks for an artifact she can pick up and take away from the swarm.
The small ocelot, no bigger than the halfling herself, pounces onto the nearest artifact and swipes its claws at the insects swarming around it.
The fire and acid are super effective, and seem to do half over as much damage as expected! Corgrim's alchemist fire continues to burn on throughout the swarm as well!
The swarms continue to voraciously consume the artifacts!
=2
=6
=12
=6
Whether through it's own hunger or with help from Corgrim's fire, the swarm closest to him seems to have slightly damaged the integrity of its artifact, and so has the swarm that Tannivh and Joyce attacked; The swarm to the north of that one however, completely consumes the entire artifact before your eyes!
Everyone else, it is your Turn! Jack, you can post your turn 2 action whenever you'd like.
Coregrim moves up and grabs an artifact this round.
Lilac emerges from the swarm with an artifact, covered in tiny bites and cuts from the insects while her ocelot and Joyce goes back for another and Tannivh hits it with another bolt of acid, thinning the swarm significantly.
Jack runs into the swarm bravely and gets his hands on an artifact, but is distracted by the buzzing and fluttering of wings and Coregrim is able to move up and grab an artifact as well.
swarm 1 continues munching on its artifact while swarm 2 flies over to corgrim and the Ocelot and begins munching as well. Swarm 3 moves on from its destroyed artifact to another just south of its position and Swarm 4 veers over to Lilac and the stash of "saved" artifacts!
Another Artifact is devoured by a swarm and Lilac looks like she could be next!
Everyone else, it is your Turn! Jack, you can post your turn 4 action whenever you'd like.
The ocelot grabs its artifact and rushes to the center of the room, still holding the object in its jaws.
Joyce continues to move artifacts out of the way, while Tannivh fires a 3rd acid dart, finally dissipating the swarm enough to dissolve it! Lilac and the Ocelot move to protect more artifacts with Jack and Corgrim tosses another alchemist fire, significantly scorching and dispersing his swarm as well!
swarm 1 advances up to Joyce but the buzzing and scatching of the insects doesnt seem to damage the artifacts this turn, only Joyce.
Swarm 2 seemingly oblivious that jack took the artifact it was munching on,m mindlessly moves on to the 2 remaining to its north, but arent able to do any noticable damage to it this turn.
Everyone else, it is your Turn! Jack, you can post your turn 4 action whenever you'd like.