Marcos Farabellus, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Swords, has received an official challenge from Orlaelia Aldori, an Aldori swordlord of no small renown. Orlaelia proclaims her students to be superior to any currently training under the Master of Swords and welcomes Marcos to prove her wrong. The blademaster has received countless similar challenges, and normally would ignore it outright. The swordlord, however, has sweetened the pot significantly by offering up a weapon as prize should the Pathfinders prevail in the wager—a renown weapon she last used as a crusader, before taking the name Aldori: her old longsword, Inheritor’s Fury. As this is a powerful weapon brought into the depths of the Worldwound during the 5th Crusade, it is a prize the Society can’t simply ignore. Marcos is also keenly aware that the Pathfinders currently have very little influence in Brevoy, and even a friendly rival might be helpful in that regard.
The Pathfinders traveled by river boat up the East Sellen river to Restov, the capital of Brevoy. As they disembark, Marcos Farabellus greets them on the docks. He is a man of sturdy build with a bald head and a full beard.
....but before we get to that, why don't you introduce yourselves?
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A brightly coloured gnome with bright blue hair is next to arrive and looks shyly around. She wears shirt, shorts and small boots over what could be swimming clothes. The rest of her gear, including her leaf weave armour is in her backpack.
Hi. I'm Ami she says softly. Water kineticist ... um .... does this place come with a pool?
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A tall, darkly dressed Elf wearing a mask joins the group, seemingly muttering to himself. Yes, I am travelling again, this time up a river from the sea. A new set of companions. Some sort of contest I think.
He looks toward the gathering group. Greetings. I am Tavin. as if that explains everything. He wears leather armor, and you see several knives immediately available to draw.
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The evening prior, over a village far yonder, a young child, perhaps the age of 1d4, stirs with it's eyes pressed against the canopy of night, a sea of blackness over which tiny speckles of radiant cosmicstuff glistens with the silent volume of distributed lumination, all nearly uniform in intensity and held still in the firmament, until Lo, a single, defiant spectral point looses itself from the array, and shoots across the sky with a sudden and violent speed, falling from the heavens, and gaining in intensity as it crosses the threshold of the atmosphere that surrounds the planet of Golarion, disappearing nary as soon as it was shot...
...and by the time the child has nudged the nearest elder, pointing it's eager and curious finger: It is gone!...
“Ah, agents!" says the boisterous Marcos Farabellus, "So very good to see you! Welcome to Restov. No pool I'm afraid, but we have a lovely fountain! I hope your journey wasn’t too bothersome. This time
of year the mosquitoes on the Sellen can be worse than falling face first and buck naked into a patch of poison ivy.”
Marcos punctuates his own jest with a bellowing laugh. “Let’s get you all a bit freshened up before I get to the heart of the matter.”
Marcos leads the Pathfinders to a nearby street vendor who sells fried fish and vegetables. He buys each member of the team a portion and buys himself a skewer of crayfish. While everyone eats and walks, he elaborates on the mission.
“First off, thank you for coming. This is a bit of an unusual ‘mission’, so let me get right to it. I received a challenge recently from Orlaelia Aldori. She’s an up-and-coming swordmaster here in Restov. Claims her students are capable of besting any of mine. Now, I get challenges like that all the time, and normally I ignore them. But this time? Well, there’s a little bit more to it. A double-edged sword, so to speak.” He lets out a small chuckle. “Which is apt, because one of these extras is a sword. Orlaelia has bet Inheritor’s Fury, her old longsword, on this deal. She used to be a Mendevian crusader, you see, and the sword has seen the depths of the Worldwound. It’s a relic in its own right and an item the Society would love to study in depth, not to mention a valuable piece of modern history deserving proper cataloging and preservation.
“While the pursuit of a relic alone would not merit taking you away from your other duties, this challenge also gives us a chance to make new friends and acquaintances in Restov. It’s been a while since the Society had an active presence here. Rising to this challenge could give us a friendly rival at worst and some new friends at best.
“Orlaelia, though a veteran of many battles, is still Taldan at heart, from what I know at least, and still loves the arts. So! While this challenge will culminate in a duel between you and her students, she will most likely have a few other tests in mind that go beyond raw combat. Who can say what they’ll be. From what I hear her style is quite practical, but old veterans like us see lessons in the strangest of places.” He smiles, perhaps thinking of similar examples from his own past, though doesn’t elaborate further.
“I’ve opened up Birchwood Hall, our lodge here. Haven’t managed to get all the damp and dust out yet, but that shouldn’t bother us overmuch. I’m sure you’ve all seen much worse during your travels.”
The group arrives at Birchwood Hall just as Marcos finishes speaking. He leads the Pathfinders inside the building, through the main sitting room and into a wood paneled conference room. There’s a faint smell of dust in the air that the open windows have yet to dispel.
"Orlaelia and her students should be arriving shortly, so... any questions?"
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Emerging from the crater, a being, perpetually wet across the living wooden frame that houses a small onyx crystal that sparkles with singular intensity in it's depths, with an otherwise roughly humanoid shape, and drenched in seaweed and mollusks, makes it's way for the lodge.
Untalking for the time, it listens to the briefing, nodding it's head in the negative - indeed, as in the course of fulfilling it's purpose, though diplomatic ventures are among those deemed important, or at least unavoidable, it isn't always imperative to make use of one's voice upon matters whose proportionality in the cosmic scheme of all things remains well within the visible spectrums (so to speak) - especially among those allies who find themselves most well equipped!
To accompany the nod, the being's eyes meets each one of said allies in turn - it makes a silent vow of protection in each of these same moments.
"Sit where you like, though I don't think we'll be waiting very long at all.
"As for what happened here... Venture-Captain Alvar Hadrias used to be in charge, but he’s been missing since the Siege of Gallowspire. Due to the time that’s passed, we must assume he perished during that mission. The hall hasn’t had a venture-captain in residence since.
"Orlaelia Aldori? She was a crusader under the banner of Queen Galfrey. After the closing of the Worldwound, she began training as a swordlord. She quickly defeated many of Restov’s duelists and established her own school after becoming a swordlord herself. The name Aldori is taken by most who learn the style, part of taking the swordpact. But reaching the rank of master, that’s not easily done, especially since she focused on an entirely different fighting style before coming here.” The admiration in Marco’s voice is clear.
"Out of politeness I didn’t check her student roster, but I know she’s bringing her four best students. They will all have sworn the swordpact and taken the last name Aldori. They’re neophyte swordlords and will be more then capable with the Aldori dueling sword. It’s a well-balanced blade, excellent for parrying, and the style focuses on unnerving opponents.
"She, uh, likes poetry?"
He looks apprehensively at Lokoloko's vial. "We do still need our lodge, afterward."
There is a hard knock on the lodge door. Marcos asks the Pathfinders to accompany him to the sitting room and be on their best behavior—but to also try to look impressive. He carries a slightly nervous air as he opens the door.
A party of five waits outside, led by a middle-aged human woman with her dark hair pulled back into a simple knot. She wears woolen trousers beneath her sensible skirts and a thick leather jerkin with an emblem embroidered on the right side. Catching sight of Marcos in the doorway, she grins widely and greets him with a firm handshake; one that goes on a little too long. The four students behind her wear similar jerkins. All carry a distinctive Aldori dueling sword strapped to their hips. As the guests enter the lodge, the instructors share a bit of competitive banter, and the team has a chance to meet their competition, who hide their nerves under a thick veneer of pride. These students were told Pathfinders see battles unlike those in the streets and dueling halls of
Restov, so they’re looking forward to seeing what their opponents can do.
The first to introduce herself is Dura Aldori, a half orc woman with long black hair in an intricate braid. She wears her school jerkin partially open to reveal a spotless white blouse underneath. Her pants are a light brown linen and don’t show a crease out of place. She wears black leather shoes with silver buckles. As she introduces herself, she winks at Ami.
A human man with short brown hair steps up next, introducing himself as Halran Aldori. He looks to be in his late twenties. He completes his school jerkin with riding pants and boots and wears a single pearl earring in his right ear. As he introduces himself, he gives a fancy bow.
The ysoki beside him with white and gray fur is a bit more standoffish, though not unfriendly. They introduce themself as Rhenei Aldori. It is hard to guess their age due to the natural gray fur. Their school jerkin has a few extra pockets sewn on and they wear colorful layered skirts along with wraps around their back paws, leaving the toes open. They curtsy to the Pathfinders while introducing themself.
The final student, a gnome with golden hair in a bowl cut that looks as if she performed it herself, practically thrums with energy. Her introduction is very swift, and she looks ready to explode into a thousand questions, but it does come across that her name is Thisnabel Aldori. Her school jerkin looks as if it had several minor accidents with various substances and bears odd stains. She wears practical leather pants laced up down the sides and leather boots which have seen better days.
Orlaelia is most interested in testing her students’ martial prowess against that of the Pathfinder agents. However, she explains that her experiences in the crusades fighting demons have taught her that to not only survive, but win decisively, one needs more than a strong sword arm and quick reflexes. She proposes to have a total of three challengers, with the third and final challenge being a duel between the students. As she issued the main challenge, she tells the Pathfinders they may choose which other two challenges they wish to accept. She does her best to explain the nature of each challenge, as she wants to test her students’ mettle against their opponents’ strongest abilities.
"The challenges I have prepared for you are...
" --that is, a round of flyting, a bragging and insult competition demonstrating each contestant’s wit. I believe unnerving one’s opponent can win battles before they are even fought. A demoralized, distracted,
or enraged opponent is much more easily subdued in a duel.
" --one of my favorite challenges is a poetry slam. I was born and raised in Taldor and know from experience that a good poem can really get the creative, problem–solving juices flowing. Also, a good poem can impress friends and allies and discredit an enemy, giving an advantage before a duel even starts.
" --to test everyone’s physical prowess without resorting to duels, I like a good, old-fashioned tug of war. It not only tests raw strength, but also teamwork and steadiness.
" During official duels and training matches there is always a first aid professional close by; however, by their nature duelists usually aren’t so lucky when accepting a challenge in the heat of the moment outside of such formal settings. Not only that, I have seen enough of my friends and comrades die in the Worldwound before first aid could reach them. Therefore, I feel it’s always best to be prepared and have someone on your team trained to save your life.
" --sometimes you have to take down an opponent in an unconventional way, without harming them.
"Or --conditions on the battlefield and during a duel often vary. One might have to battle with the low sun blindingly shining in their eyes or be awoken in the depths of night by a rampaging creature. A sharp sense of perception can be the difference between life and death.
"So Pathfinders, choose two of my challenges!"
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Impassive, indiscriminate, and immobile except for a single starfish that wriggles a single tentacle attached to his hip, Awakened Prime of Celestia gathers not his attention to selecting from among the options provided, feeling pulled only in the direction already laid by the excitement of his provisional protectorate.
"Looks like Tug of War and Sight Unseen," says Marcos, tallying the votes.
"Very well!" says Orlaelia, extracting a length of rope from her bag, "Outside for that one--front yard?"
Outside, she directs her students to one side and the Pathfinder team to the other 30 feet away, then ties a bright ribbon to the center of the rope and draws a chalk line in front of each team.
"Your goal is to pull the rope until the ribbon crosses your line. Treasure up the rope... and... PULL!"
The Aldori students start to slip, as the ribbon moves towards the Pathfinders.
The Pathfinders are clearly winning the competition, but the outnumbered and largely out-sized Aldori students are still managing to hold them back a little.
"Don't falter now, Ami!" Marcos calls reassuringly, "As long as you don't fall, steady your feet and keep trying!"
The Pathfinders pull the ribbon over the line in front of them.
"That's the game!" calls Orlaelia, "Pathfinders win!."
"Well done, team!" beams Marcos.
"And good effort, students! You're all trained primarily in swordplay, whereas Pathfinder field agents have more diverse skill sets and some specialize in less physical skills. Still, their team was larger and you managed to hold them back for a while.
"Next up: Sight Unseen! This is an obstacle course competition. Marcos and I will set up in the kitchen, and we'll be ready for you shortly."
The two instructors disappear into the kitchen. While they're waiting, Halran, Dura, and Rehenei mostly try to avoid staring at Awakened Prime of Celestia; Thisnabel makes no such effort.
After a few minutes, the instructors emerge and Orlaelia produces several blindfolds from her bag.
Once blindfolded, the competitors are let into the kitchen one by one, and then spun around repeatedly to disorient them. The obstacle course gets reset after each participant. There are various obstacles to avoid, like a precariously stacked heap of pans, a tripwire tied to a bag of flour, and onions scattered across the floor. Each obstacle is intended to amusingly inconvenience those who fail rather than cause injury.
The instructors seem to have been particularly devious in their course design.
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Lokoloko tries to create a blind man's cane to try to probe his way forward.
He tries it out and runs smack into something. He then tries to tumble out of the way.
He attempts to check where he is on the course.
Unsure of his location, he moves off in a random direction, smacking into something else and trying to get out of the way again.
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Blindfolded, Raphaeleos tries to sense his surroundings and obstacles with his other senses.
He keeps moving because that is all he can think of doing appropriately.
Maybe a sense of direction after having tried with his other senses, he tries if it works.
Hero Point!
"Okay, this is harder than I anticipated. Not that fun. he struggles on this challenge but keeps sensing his direction to avoid the obstacles.
Marcos beams at Tavin and Lokoloko, and Orlaelia looks impressed with their performance though she tries not to show it.
Orlaelia smiles apologetically at Raphaeleous. "Well, I suppose no game is for everyone. Your performance was adequate, however. Two of your teammates did better, spectacularly even, but you did well enough."
Marcos offers words of encouragement to Ami and Awakened Prime. Orlaelia grins. "Clearly this type of challenge was not on your teacher's agenda. How foolish of him."
Marcos tries to offer encouraging words to Calvyn. "No, not--don't with--your face."
"Oh dear," says Orlaelia, grinning widely.
The Aldori students emerge from their turns in the kitchen. Rhenei has more flour on their clothes than when they went in, but their team seems largely unscathed.
After some discussion, the instructors nod and face the group.
"The best performances did come from the Pathfinder team, but also the worst and a few others struggled."
"On the whole," Marcos seems reluctant to agree, "the Aldori team had more consistent success. We consider them the winners."
"It was a near thing," Orlaelia admits, "You did well Pathfinders. My students' victory in this challenge was not so decisive as your first win."
She claps her hands. "Now then! I think it's time for the moment I know you've been eagerly anticipating. Yes, that's right--lunch break! I want everyone to be well-rested for the final challenge.
Furthermore, I want to ensure the combat challenge is non-lethal. This whole day has been a test to make my students stronger and I do not want lasting injuries on either side, but I still understand that there’s no test as telling nor teacher as effective as actual combat. Therefore, I've hired some ritualists. Their magic will ensure that no injury sustained in the training room can cause death or lasting harm. That way, you can use your tactics and skills to your fullest without risk of casualty. They need about an hour, so we have plenty of time to rest while we wait for them.
"As Marcos is kindly hosting, but this lodge is not currently staffed, I have arranged for a food delivery--and I believe that is them now."
Fresh baked bread, vegetable soup, and sausages are all brought in, still hot and steaming. As food is consumed, Marcos and Orlaelia engage each other in conversation, trying to lightheartedly one up each other with tall tales. Marcos even offers to teach Orlaelia the Farabellus Flip.
The students seem to be making an effort to socialize with the Pathfinders and not just each other.
"Have you been on any missions with the Society so far, or is this your first 'mission'?" Dura asks.
"What's the most interesting or exciting thing you've seen in your travels?" Harlan asks.
"What kind of missions do you hope to get in the future?" Rhenei asks.
"What the heck are you?" Thisnabel asks; this last question is directed more specifically at one field agent in particular.