The sphinx starts to laugh. "Is this how you solve problems? With cartwheels and food fights and awesome stories? Alright, you are very different from the previous humans at least. We may exchange the gift of riddles."
Zandyk stretches, crosses his paws and says:
My tines are long
My tines are short
My tines are gone
Ere I report
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"Oooh, that's a good one. I like it. I have one to share with you too if you want, but I will wait my turn."
"So do we only get one guess for the bunch of us, or one each?"
Bee ponders the riddle for a bit. "Mmmm. Long, then short, then gone entirely, ... then a report? I always hated doing paperwork. But that might not be what report means."
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Arching his brows a bit, as if both intrigued and confused, he agrees with Bee, "It is a good one indeed.", and after a quick consideration, Ashun turns to the others, "I would have said a deer or similar, however they are not able to report much. However, a Tree fits the description, it can have both large and small branches that can fall off. And if you are able to count their rings, it can tell you a lot about the tree's life, thus bring able to report their past events.", but he sighs before saying " Although I do not think such magnificent intelligence would create such an easy riddle as to be solved in seconds." and give a small defeated side smirk.
Sitting on the ground besides the iguana, the changeling starts thinking deeper and waiting for his companions input.
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The sphinx raises an eyebrow. "Is that an official guess, or are you just thinking out loud?"
The sphinx settles down, continuing to play with puzzle box. "Alright. I'll let you discuss it amongst yourselves."
"Let me know if you need a clue, as you amused me with your food fight story," Zandyk says, his large paws continuing to manipulate the gears on the puzzle box.
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"It's not a tree, or a plant of any kind." The sphinx grins, and then says, "Here's your clue."
I flash,
I dash
Silence
And then clash
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I flash,
I dash
Silence
And then clash
"Hey, that sounds like me - I can do all of those." Bee pulls his sword back out again and goes into a shadowboxing routine. "Ha, ho, wahaha. ... OK. Maybe not that third one." He puts his sword away again.
"Though that description does remind me of another performer that I met. He was from Tian Xia and had some paper contraptions that he would light on fire and then they would explode in a big blast of sparkles and smoke."
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After the clue, Ashun's face sparks up, "Ah! I think I got it! However, I would like to hear what others have to say first."
He then leans in to Bea and whispers what he thinks it is into his pet's ear.
mlem
He then squints to the blue lizard, "I bet Bitty would be able to understand what you meant..." and smiles a sigh again, then turning to Bun, "Hmm, it does make sense. They have roots, which could be short or long or non-existent once they fall off, to an expert they can show what the person has been through, you can flash your dashing smile, they do not speak, and you can chatter them.", the changeling ponders for a bit, confused again, "It is different from mine, but it could be the answer."
Zandyk inclines its head, and then offers you all a slow clap. "Well done! It was indeed Lightning and Thunder!" He tosses the puzzle box to Dar Lek. "Now, you said you had a riddle for me?" he asks, eagerly.
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A .. report ... is also the name of the sound ... a gun makes ... when it ... goes off
"That's what it was. I knew there was some other meaning for the word 'report'."
"And yeah, the tines clue matches too with the spikey shape of the lightning with long tines and short ones. I'll get behind that as our official guess."
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"Now, you said you had a riddle for me?" he asks, eagerly.
"Oh, yeah. I do."
"Hmm... I don't have much to offer you if you get it right though. But we can think of something."
"Anyway. Here goes. I heard this one a while ago."
It is greater than the gods
More mysterious than the Dark Tapestry
The rich need it
The poor have it
And if you eat it, you will die.
The sphinx pauses a moment, strumming his fingers.
"Greater than gods... the rich need it, the poor have it, and if you eat it..." Then his eye widen. "I think I have it."
"Nothing is greater than the gods
Nothing more mysterious than the Dark Tapestry
The rich need nothing
The poor have nothing
And if you eat nothing, you will die."
The sphinx blinks. "Am I close?"
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"A classic, Bee. I quite like that one." claps once and then looks towards Zandyk, pausing a bit to formulate the sentence in his mind before speaking.
"If I may... The sun and the shade know no math, but they once told me that when you add six to seven you get one. If that is the case, how much is nine plus five?" and he nods to the sphinx a bit unsure, "I am not very good at rhymes, but if my calculations are correct, I can spare one hundred and fourty four clues."
The sphinx has scratches and several deep cuts on his flank. "I would graciously accept your healing. Thank you."
Then he pauses, considering the riddle. "The sun and shade know no math..." Zandyk cocks his head and considers. "Are you referring to the months of the year? The fifth month is Desnus. If you add six months to it, you go back to the beginning of the year, Abadius. So for 9 plus 5, the ninth month is Rova, and if you add 5 months to it you wind up in the second month, Calistril."
Then the sphinx frowns. "But I am not certain what 144 clues would do here. Perhaps I am on the wrong track? Perhaps you are referring to a clock that also cycles back when it reaches the number 12."
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Impressed by the sphinx ability to solve riddles, Ashun's face blushes into a surprised but pleased smile. "Who would have thought that the master of riddles would have not only discovered the answer so quickly, but also give another?", he bows a bit, thanking the sphinx, and draws another trick glyph into the air, pulsing into existence a small sun clock. Walking closer to the sphinx, he presents the trinket to Zandyk "It is indeed the clock, however, the calendar also gives you indeed the same answer."
At the same time Zandyk takes the gift, the small window frame in which they touch, Bea's eyes glow purple and the changeling hands are covered in a barely visible fog, giving the Sphinx a light and quick cold tingling sensation in their veins as any of their wounds start closing.
Taking a few steps back, "It was very pleasant to meet you, Zandyk. I hope may our paths cross in the future once again."
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Looking at both the sphynx and Ashun, Cath bows as well towards Zandyk, "As I said, I am no good with riddles, but I am glad that Ashun and Bee could offer answer and return with their own. Perhaps, if our paths cross again, I would have some riddles of my own, and be able to better answer when asked of me!" Watching Ashun use some magics to heal, the woman nods and begins fumbling about her person before pulling out a glass bottle. "Perhaps I can help with some of those cuts with this potion, if you would like?"
"The riddles were delightful, thank you." The sphinx graciously accepts the potion, and then offers a second gift. "Feel free to search the area and see if you find anything else to your liking."
You all search through the ruins, but Ashun proves to have the sharpest eyes. The changeling discovers several other clockwork pieces with the Wizelboom mark to take back to Tidbit. Then the sphinx turns to all of you and says, "May I ask one more boon of you? I would love contact information so that I might write to you. You have renewed my faith in people, and I would love to stay in contact once I begin my studies at the Magaambya."
Once you give the sphinx your Lorespire contact information, Zandyk says farewell to all of you and takes to the sky. A couple hours later, you make it back to the Bent Coin.
Tidbit greets you and orders cool drinks and a full meal for all of you. "How did it go? Were you successful?"
"Oh, certainly!" Tidbit expertly works the puzzlebox, moving levers, spinning dials, twisting and turning the device until it opens, showing the main drawer with her grandmother's letters to her all tied in a ribbon. "But there's another secret puzzle within the box that my grandmother left me." Tidbit turns the drawer, pops a button and spins one more dial and a tiny hidden drawer pops out with a single piece of paper that she hands to the rest of you.
"It sounds like you had quite the adventure! But maybe someday you would like another. This is a treasure map that my grandmother left to me. I was never brave enough to go seek it out, but maybe someday you will be able to do so. Thank you for retrieving my puzzlebox!"
Adventure done, you rejoin the Caravan the next day and travel on to Sothis, where you catch a boat to Absalom. Once you arrive in the Pathfinder dorms, a familiar face greets you!
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"It sounds like you had quite the adventure! But maybe someday you would like another. This is a treasure map that my grandmother left to me. I was never brave enough to go seek it out, but maybe someday you will be able to do so. Thank you for retrieving my puzzlebox!"
"Oh, that's really neat," Bee says while taking a look at the treasure map. "Can I still get a lap or two around the campground on your wagon with swords?"
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Your adventure begins during a meeting in a briefing room in Skyreach, the primary fortress of the Pathfinder Society’s Grand Lodge in the city of Absalom.
Banners adorn the walls of this impressive meeting room. Symbols of dozens of groups emblazon the banners, but overshadowing them all is an enormous tapestry at the hall’s front depicting the Pathfinder Society emblem: the Glyph of the Open Road. Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin, steward of the Grand Lodge, saunters into the room from a door at the opposite end of a large table. He doesn’t bother taking a seat at the table, instead pacing around while he speaks.
"Welcome. I’ll keep this brief; I don’t have a field assignment for you, but I do have some requests from the three deans. Given that you’re all in-between missions, the deans have requested that you take part in some training upkeep trials. Nothing serious, mind you. We just want to make sure those skills of yours don’t get too dulled!" Valsin ends with a brief chuckle, as though joking to himself.
"You’ll want to go see each of the deans at your convenience. In case you’ve forgotten, that would be: Kreighton Shaine, the Master of Scrolls; Sorrina Westyr, the Master of Spells; and Marcos Farabellus, the Master of Swords. I place you in their capable hands, and may fortune be with you all." With his delivery complete, Valsin makes way for the exit. "Oh... yes, you’ll find the deans in their respective offices. If you don’t know where those are, then just ask around."
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The three masters oversee initiate studies, alongside a group of instructors and senior Pathfinders. Time is split between three schools: Scrolls, which promotes academic mastery and the study of languages; Spells, which teaches eldritch skills and how to disrupt hostile magic; and Swords, which focuses on tactics and physical skills like disarming traps and vaulting obstacles.
Marcos Farabellus is the Master of Swords and is regarded as the most personable of the three deans. Kreighton Shaine is the Master of Scrolls and is a dedicated scholar and engaging teacher, though known
to be a bit eccentric. Sorrina Westyr is the Master of Spells, having filled the vacancy of her successor and predecessor, the lost wizard Aram Zey. She is a devout follower of Nethys, the god of magic. The three masters oversee initiate studies, alongside a group of instructors and senior Pathfinders. Time is split between three schools: Scrolls, which promotes academic mastery and the study of languages; Spells, which teaches eldritch skills and how to disrupt hostile magic; and Swords, which focuses on tactics and physical skills like disarming traps and vaulting obstacles.
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"You make it! You made it!" She practically jumps up and down
"Hi Bitty. Good to see you again."
"The trip was mostly boring. Lots of sand and desert. We did meet another Gnome that had a really cool wagon. And we had to go find a puzzle box that had been stolen. We ended up trading riddles with a sphynx to get it back. That was pretty neat."
Bee looks around a bit. "Now I just need to figure out what I am to do here." He follows the rest of the group to meet with Valsin.
"We just want to make sure those skills of yours don’t get too dulled!" Valsin ends with a brief chuckle, as though joking to himself.
"You’ll want to go see each of the deans at your convenience. In case you’ve forgotten, that would be: Kreighton Shaine, the Master of Scrolls; Sorrina Westyr, the Master of Spells; and Marcos Farabellus, the Master of Swords."
"So do we need to meet with them as a group, or do we split up? I'd like to meet with the Master of Swords first - that is what I would do best at and it would let me know what to expect from the others." He looks over at Ashun and Rinshu. "But others may be thinking the same thing - just with different results."
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Some ideas arrive immediately in the orc's mind. Do you tell with a curry sauce? Or more with a pepper one and salted vegetables? But he fortunately stopped them before to answer to Bitty.
Of course, I've haven't had a lot of occasions to meet some of them you know. I'm pleased to meet you too. The others told me about you during our trip.
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Immediately upon return to Absalom, Dar Lek is sent on a mission involving a magical gun. ((4-12))
What looks like a pile of kelp seaweed rises up into a humanoid shape and bows to the Venture Captain.
Thank you for the mission Honorable Venture Captain Valsan-sama
They speak with a Tien accent. They then turn to the other Pathfinfers.
I am the humble Konbu. Seaweed leshy and Thaumatuge. Honourable Pargfinders-san. Who do I have the honour of adventuring with this time?
They bows to each of them in turn.
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"You make it! You made it!" She practically jumps up and down as she says, "Egg really missed all of you!"
"Hello there! I'm glad to see you and Egg again!" Cath says with a smile. "Bee's on the right of it with all the sand and heat and whatnot. It was interesting actually meeting a sphynx. They seem more intimidating in person than the tales I have heard when I first came to the halls of the Society."
Staring at Konbu for a moment in awe, she shakes her head before speaking, "I apologize for staring, I just haven't met a leshy before. I am Cath and hail from Korvosa, pleasure to meet you Konbu."
"I'm with Bee on wanting to go to the Swords first, but as long as we manage to get to all the schools, I believe that we should, hopefully finish what the Venture Captain wanted us to do. Besides, it would be nice to see what school everyone seems to excel at!"