The adventure begins in the Events Hall of the Grand Lodge a few hours after midday, as the festivities are in full swing. The hallways are chock full of agents and guests filing in and out, jovially introducing themselves, discussing recent ventures, and swapping stories. In one of the offices of the Envoy’s Alliance faction lounge, the Pathfinders gather at the behest of Fola Barun. Fola and several other familiar agents are in the middle of undoing and resewing some gilded letters stitched onto a large green banner when the Pathfinders arrive. She momentarily stops her needlework to greet them.
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*Croak* Wow Zepth, you really filled in over our break! You takin' supplements? You got a special alchemist contact?
Then he focuses in on the last part.
Other Pathfinders? Not as nifty as us though, right?
He moved on from it quickly.
Anyway, I spent my week doing some guest chef gigs at restaurants in the Petals. Funny how having my name appear in chronicles opened up more opportunities than my risottos, rigorously honed for years in the Puddles.
Shrugging, he turns to greet the the faction leader.
Hello Fola! How've you been? Did you get a chance to try that shepherd's pie recipe I passed on?
His tonge flicks out and washes over his right eye while his left hand distributes moisture over the top of his head.
Fola waves hello as she approaches. Interrupting their conversation, she places hands together before her face. Thimbles cover the tips of all her plaster-bandaged fingers. “I sincerely apologize for pulling you away from all the fun, but as you can see, we have something urgent to remedy.” She nods in the direction of the green silk banner. One of the agents yelps, having stabbed themselves with a needle. “The seamsters misspelled a crucial word and I only caught it this morning. Originally at this hour, I was scheduled to give a fellow Envoy’s Alliance member, Taiwalei, a guided tour of the Maze of the Open Road. Since I’m unable to part with my duties, however, I would like you all to act as his guide instead. Of course, this counts as a regular Pathfinder mission, so you will be compensated. It also shouldn’t take very long. I informed Taiwalei there’s an event here he must attend around late afternoon. You have three hours before the event starts. Once the time is up, you can all return to the ballroom in the Event Hall to join the party and consider your mission complete. Any questions?”
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Where might we find this "Taiwalei."? Should we traverse every branch of the maze? How thorough does this tour need to be? Or can we mill about the entrance and lecture about it for five minutes and call it a day? The place always breeds trouble after all!
The Tengu then elbows Moist.
Is it me, or does Zepth look different with that new haircut?
Indeed. I wonder if I should be trying new "looks." he whispers back.
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Olegaro jogs into the room, heralded by the clatter of chain mail.
"Sorry, got held up back at the Swords and Flute - last drinks and all." and then pulls up to a sharp halt "Whoa Zepth you've changed! Love the new hair cut."
and then realises he has interrupted "Sorry, yes the briefing. Did I hear something about the maze? Did we need to go any place in particular?"
"Wait!" Fola calls Hanu when she sees the vanara leave to find Taiwalei.
She shrugs. "Well, it looks like you should follow him and look for Taiwalei. And yes, your group shall guide him inside the Maze. As you know, it is a grand historical hedge maze on the grounds of our Woodsedge Lodge in Galt. It was a gift from the Forest King Narven Feathereyes, who filled it with portals to various locations of interest to the Pathfinder Society to help with travel. That was hundreds of years ago; it has played a great part in some of our recent ventures. I can show you the full chronicles after the tour, if you would like."
"As for Taiwalei, we agreed to meet before the heads of Baphory’s Walk. Knowing him, he should have come this way when I didn’t show up on time, but there is quite a crowd to mingle with between the statues and here. So, he’s likely somewhere among the crowd.” Fola smiles a little awkwardly. “Maybe we planned too many distracting attractions during this event..."
"Anyway, Taiwalei is one of the Envoy’s Alliance’s most esteemed recruiters, and one of several recently promoted venture-captains. He comes from the eastern Okaiyo Ocean and is quite the accomplished seafarer. To easily find him, well, he is human, male, quite well-built and tan, as most seafarers are, and he should be easily identified by the traditional tattoos on his right shoulder and neck.” Fola hesitates, “Unless he’s decided to wear a tunic today. Let’s hope he’s still in his usual white sash.”
"Also, remember to buy and prepare any supplies you need now," she reminds them. "I am confident that Taiwalei and your group will get back in time for the surprise." she adds before she leaves the group to find Taiwalei.
Moreover, other than being transposed from their previous entry and exit points, some of the portals of the maze have merged. This is particularly the case with portals to the various the elemental planes, likely the side effect of the Material Plane containing large amounts of all elements.
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Rybar says "From what I can remember, the Forest King Narven did not pass much knowledge on about how to maintain the maze’s condition. The hedge maze declined after his death. The planar fabrics were frail in certain areas, which led to gradually worsening instabilities that have only recently been resolved. Eliza Petulengro, a member of the Decemvirate that leads the Pathfinder Society, took point on the recent stabilization efforts."
"Where are we likely to find Taiwalei? If he's an adventurer, he's not likely to hang out in the Events Hall. I wouldn't."
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Otani Yoshitsugu seems a bit surprised by all the knowledge that the Tengu actually knows about their quarry and the maze.
He gladly informed the group with a bit of shyness...
The Battle Oracle nods to both Zepth and Rybar.
Agreed! He is more the action oriented type. I like him. To the Baphory’s Walk!
The Tengu begins Searching for any exciting opportunity presented that would entice the new VC....
The Tengu is seen wearing an eye patch.
Shortly while on their way to their destination to find Taiwalei, they come across an elderly Garundi woman.
"Hello, Pathfinders! Would you mind helping an old woman who is lost? That's me, yes. I am looking at a certain here in the lodge." she then describes the vault she is looking for to the group.
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After a moment of confusion, Olegaro jogs to catch up with his fellow heroes "Baphory's walk ? That's not near the hall is it?" and then shrugs and falls into pace with the group.
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Upon meeting the woman, Olegaro thinks for a moment and responds.
"Ah certainly ma'am. I believe the vault is just down the corridor over there, then down the stairs and third door on the right. But ah may I ask what you need it for?"
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Wait, I think a group of Pathfinder Society agents once led an expedition from the maze into the depths of Hell. The group never returned, leaving the portal still connected. Luckily, several sod hounds yet patrol the area to deter unlucky souls from stumbling through from either side of the portal. Wild story. Okay let's go find Taiwalei.
The group helps the elderly Garundi woman by giving directions the the vault she is looking for.
"Thank you so much! Alyreha is my name, by the way. I will follow the directions you just gave me. I believe I will not be lost this time." she tells them.
“By the way, do you know Taiwalei? He was recently promoted to venture-captain. Would you mind sending him my congratulations if you come across him? Thank you so much! I went over there and exchanged pleasantries but forgot to congratulate him—silly old me! He mentioned he’s meeting with Biglock and Mr. Glovely in the Quadrangle. Do you know them? Are those real names? I should probably meet them, but I have a vault to check! Thank you so much!” She gives them directions to where they can find Taiwalei and quickly leaves the group for the vault she is heading to.
Sure enough, when they follow Alyreha's direction, they find only Mr. Glovely making hand signs in front of a big door of one of the workshops of the Quadrangle. Through the big door's small opening though, you can see someone behind the big door communicating with Mr. Glovely, "I think the answer to the riddle is a cat, is it correct?" someone tells Mr. Glovely. Mr. Glovely gives an obvious no to that answer.
"Huh? Well, let me think again." the person answers back, thinking hard about the answer to the riddle.
The person behind the big door extends his hand through the small opening, signaling that he is Taiwalei. Meanwhile, Mr. Glovely waves at Olegaro and gestures toward the big door and the person behind it, answering Olegaro's question.
"That's me, I am Taiwalei. We're playing a riddle while I wait for Fola Barun to escort me through the Maze. Riddle's tough. I just hope Fola doesn’t find me like this before she arrives for the tour." the person says, drawing attention to the arriving group.
"Why are you looking for me, anyway?" he asks.
In between the conversation, anyone can hear a subtle giggling noise next to Taiwalei.
"Oh, I see." Taiwalei tells Moist. "Adventure, you say? We'll that would be exciting! Why don't you wait for me while Mr. Glovely and I finishes the riddle so that I can get out of this big door." he adds with a wink while pointing at the big door. "It does not budge unless I answer the riddle correctly."
He then turns to Mr. Glovely. "I think it is a giraffe. It has a neck." in which Mr. Glovely responds with an indignant no. As usual, anyone can hear a subtle giggling noise next to Taiwalei.
Olegaro proposes another way for Taiwalei to win, to which Mr. Glovely happily agrees. At first, Olegaro struggles in the hand-wrestling match, but as Mr. Glovely tires, Olegaro seizes the advantage and wins. Mr. Glovely then challenges Zepth, but the bard easily secures victory.
With the game won, Mr. Glovely directs them to the big door. However, before they can open it, a small giggle escalates into laughter—emanating from the door itself! The door then transforms into a massive chest, which finally gives way, allowing Taiwalei to escape.
“Ha! If it weren’t for your friends, you’d never have gotten out!” The group recognizes the voice coming from the big chest, Biglock. “Nice to see you again, Pathfinders! I would have let Taiwalei go if he had given up, but he was determined to solve the riddle. Haha!”
Taiwalei finally steps out of the workshop, bypassing the the now-big-chest big door entirely. “That was fun! Anyway, so you’ll be the ones giving me a tour of the Maze? Taiwalei of the Eastern Okaiyo Ocean—pleasure to meet you all.” The charming, seafaring Venture-Captain offers a slight bow. “I leave myself in your capable hands, then! So, who are you all? What have you been up to lately? Fola must be quite impressed with your work to entrust me to your guidance!”
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The Tengu Samurai bows before Taiwalei.
Otani Yoshitsugu, at your service, Venture Captain. My sword is yours.
The Oracle of Battle then begins practicing his katana skills.
Unfortunately, if not properly instructed by those Battle Spirits, the Oracle is untrained in such fancy sword play.... dubious but true....
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"Biglock! That's where you go to! Nice disguise."
Olegaro then smiles at Hanu "Yes we haven't seen the man in the hat much since we go to the Grand Lodge but we keep an eye out."
Looking back at Taiwelei, Olegaro continues "I'm Olegaro, very good to meet you. Yes well, we've being doing all sorts of things for the Society lately, rescuing leshy agents, discovering Azlanti ruins, exploring Azlanti ruins, chasing down stolen artefacts for the Blakros Museum, cataloguing items in a vault, oh and saving leshy agents and meeting these two characters. There's been a bit of Absalom nightlife thrown in, but I am guessing that's not your immediate interest."
Taiwalei observes in awe as Hanu cartwheels in front of him. He graciously receives the banana and eats it. He feels full just by eating the banana. "I feel... invigorated! I might want some more later."
"Cooking is essential when you have a long adventure," he comments at Moist's response.
Biglock, on the other hand, gives Olegaro a grin. "Biglock turning into 'big door' is not what you will have in mind, is it? Haha!" the mimic says with a laugh.
"That's interesting! So you were the ones who found the leshy and helped him finish his confirmation?! I read it in the Chronicles. On the other hand, nightlife, I think, is fun. But I have new priorities now, being a new venture-captain." he tells Olegaro and gives Rybar a nod of recognition.
Taiwalei is currently unarmored, with only a dagger for personal defense and the set of expanded healer’s tools. "Anyway, as for me, I became a Pathfinder Society agent while exploring Tian Xia with my cousins, having sailed there from my home islands in the eastern Okaiyo Ocean. Now, I would like you to give me a tour of the Maze. I will let you take the lead and prove yourselves, but when needed, I am ready to step in to protect you."
He meets Biglock and Mr. Glovely to say goodbyes and leave them. "Thank you for the short time we had with that riddle, I had fun! Gotta go with these Pathfinders." he tells them and motions the Pathfinders to follow him toward the portal.
But before they leave, Biglock approaches the Pathfinders and opens himself like a big chest should be, revealing provisions that they might need for the mission. "How about take your Pathfinder provisions from me? Just makin' myself useful!" of which Mr. Glovely gives a thumbs up of approval and begins showing the items one-by-one that they might want to pick.
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When the Pathfinders and Taiwalei arrive at the portal, four dozen agents step through from the sailing lodge, the Grinning Pixie, with an incredible amount of luggage and crates. After they enter the portal, they follow a series of five pointing statues to arrive at the entrance of the hedge maze that is the Maze of the Open Road. Across a vast paved garden courtyard is the two-story stone manor that serves as the Woodsedge Lodge. When they first arrive, Taiwalei exclaims in awe and spends a few seconds taking in the sights.
“This place really is like the rumor says. Vast distance covered but with a few minutes of walking!” Taiwalei pulls three slips of paper from within his sash. “I managed to collect the routes for three different lodges before I arrived in Absalom, namely Heidmarch Manor in Varisia, Nexus House in... Nex, and Starrise Spire all the way in Mendev. I can’t decide which I want to visit first, so how about you take your pick?”
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"That's interesting! So you were the ones who found the leshy and helped him finish his confirmation?! I read it in the Chronicles. On the other hand, nightlife, I think, is fun. But I have new priorities now, being a new venture-captain." he tells Olegaro and gives Rybar a nod of recognition.
"Oh yes, speaking of that, we met Alyreha on the way here and she asked to pass on her congratulations. Congrats from us too!
"How about we go in reverse order? Mendex, Nex and lastly Varisia?" responds Zeph as he looks around.
"Sounds good to me! Let's head off to Mendev"
"Starrise Spire in Mendev, then." Taiwalei agrees.
"Lead the way, Pathfinders!"
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Moist spends the first ten minutes looking for the right way to go, but he seems to be having trouble navigating toward their target location in the Maze. Fortunately for him, as he continues, he catches a glimpse of a portal in the distance that leads them to the lodge they are heading to.
Once they get through the portal, they arrive and enter inside the foyer through the main door of the building that has a single story with a small stone tower. The building is constructed out of brick. The building has no windows, but its interior is well-lit with magical light sources and chandeliers which give off bright light. Outdoors, it is currently daytime.
Directly opposite the main door on the wall is the coat of arms of the lodge, which all of them recognize: yellow with a black mountain flanked by two stars. On both sides of the coat of arms of the lodge are two doorways.
The building looks... empty.
With the information shared to everyone, the venture-captain draws his weapon and uses the Pathfinder Society’s universal sign language, Napsu-Sign, to communicate that the Pathfinders should check out the display room whose doors have been left ajar while he goes to search for those who were supposed to be guarding the place.
Now left to deal with the situation, the frontliners push the door to enter the room. They find that this large exhibition room is lined with 3-foot-tall shelves. A center display stands on a 1-foot-tall platform. On the far end of the room is a set of stairs that goes up three feet to an elevated corridor, which is fenced off by 2-foottall guard rails. At a glance, most items on exhibit are tastefully expensive.
Zepth easily spots that some of them are guarding the entrance!
Terrain Feature(s): Walls block line of sight.
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP
Note(s):
CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT! STRIKETHROUGH NAMES ARE ELIMINATED.
➤ Zepth | |
Red-Masked Robber |
Blue-Masked Robber |
Hanu, Friend of the Wood | |
Moist Definitely | |
White-Masked Robber |
Otani | Cursebound 1 | |
Rybar Ganon | |
Black-Masked Robber |
Olegaro | |