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Awakening from hibernation inside of a dank, dark, colorless cave, our saproling hero unfolds his annulus into thin stalks, pulling himself out from the upside-down "hole" dug into the cavern's ceiling. Experiencing individualized consciousness once again, he is surprised to hear his own voice "Let me see now - what do I do with myself now that I can move?"
Touching his mycelium into the dirt below him, he "feels" for his "voice", connecting himself to a greater invisible collectivized consciousness of particulate matter, tapping that system for access to information beyond the ken of most creatures - and certainly mundane invertebrates! - asking in tandem several questions at once (including the one enunciated), and receiving sufficient answers to satisfy the re-emerging sensation coursing through his body - curiosity!
"I need to make new friends now! But. Where can I find new friends?" enjoying the moment with remastered glee, he holds the question inside of himself - indeed, some things are best discovered on their own - and why not this!
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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, you gather at the behest of Fola Barun (female halfelf ambassador). Fola and several other familiar agents are in the middle of undoing and resewing some gilded letters stitched onto a large green banner when you arrive. She momentarily stops her needlework to greet you.
Fola waves hello as she approaches. Once she arrives, 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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Banterknell (or BK to his frineds) is dressed up in wildly colorful clothing, perhaps to compensate for a very slight bleaching that has begun in his hair, though he keeps that mostly hidden under a jester's cap. His mouth is stretched into a wild grin, perhaps a bit too wide. He eyes show desperation and everything he says seems like it ends with an exclamation point.
"Greetings, fellow pathfinders! Though I am not sure why all of us are needed to retriever this mysterious visitor, I am hoping it is because it is a dangerous and exciting mission!"
He says this while wildly waving his flute in the air like he is doing battle with something a lot larger than himself.
"Banterknell, adventurer par excel lance, at your service! Say, rat person Nykor. Are you here for adventure and excitement too?! Is it because a life underground is dank, dark, and dreery?! If so, YOU ARE IN LUCK! For not only am I a famous adventurer, I am also a superior entertainer!"
Of course he puts his mouth where his mouth is... Er, well, something like that. Anyway, he plays his flute energetically to prove his point.
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"Greeting everyone, I heard there was some celebration going on and decided to join..." says Balagos, a burly bearded half elf donning a chain armor made to look like dragon scales with tints of red in between the metallic color.
"But I guess celebrations can wait. I'd be more than happy to get some exploring done on the maze as well." he replies.
"Were can we find Taiwalei?"
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The banner is supposed to say Congratulations on your promotion but the first word was misspelt Fola replies with a sigh.
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. 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.
As to where he is, 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...
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Fola reminds you to buy and prepare any supplies they need now, as there is always the risk that stepping into a portal becomes a one-way trip. That said, Fola is confident that Taiwalei and you will find a way back in time for the surprise.
Roll Pathfinder Society Lore or Society to Recall Knowledge
Roll Arcana or Pathfinder Society Lore to Recall Knowledge
Also, do you have any further questions?
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Realizing that asking questions yields only vague answers, Hyphy holds his tongue.
From the scroll table, he grabs a Scroll of Mystic Armor, unfurls it, ponders a moment, and then reads it aloud whereupon our shy hero literally grows a spine!: Fronds of spotted thorns grow in spiraling arrays obeying the golden ratio to form barnacles that protect soft flesh below.
"I feel more confident now - I am ready to locate Taiwalei"
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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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Hyphy has played #3-12, Fury's Toll
Digging his mycelia into the ground, Hyphy "accesses" a greater consciousness "What I know of the Maze is that it is unstable, and without a governing organ to regulate it's growth, can have unintended side effects, including entry and exit points to elemental planes merging, probably because the Universe has so many, well, elements in it!"
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As you go to look for Talwalei you encounter an elderly Garundi woman. She identifies herself as Alyreha but ... some of you may know me as Zykyryz Her eyes twinkle when she says that. but that was in my old head..y days. Anyway. could one of you be so kind to point me in the direction of the Vault where I was. Zarta asked me to check if any of my other items are in there.
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That is a success (and you only need one)
Alyreha is able to tell you where she last saw Talwalei. When you get there, you find Biglock (or Bigdoor in this case) and Mr Glovely are engaged in an intense riddle-me-this-to-open-the-door contest with Taiwalei in one of the workshops of the Quadrangle. When you show up, Taiwalei is locked behind Biglock, stuck on the riddle.
You can attempt a Games Lore check to solve the riddle, an Athletics check against Mr. Glovely to win a hand wrestling contest, or a Thievery check to “tickle” Biglock into opening up.
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"Biglock! So nice to see you again. and Mr. Glovely, of course. Now, biglock, we have need of Talwalei here and need you to open up."
Waggling his eyebrows, BK pulls out a set of thieves' tools and waves them at Biglock.
"And I have just the encouragement you need! Besides, there is nothing so boring as an unanswered riddle."
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That is a success. Biglock while laughing opens up. Once released, Taiwalei thanks you for helping him out; Biglock would have released him if he gave up, but he really wanted to try to guess the riddle. Biglock then comes through with the answer and also correctly answers Hyphae's riddle.
When you 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. While you wait for the crowd to pass, Taiwalei takes the brief waiting time to formally introduce himself and learn your names.
Taiwalei of the Eastern Okaiyo Ocean, pleasure to meet you all. The charming seafaring venture-captain gives a slight bow. I leave myself in your care! So, who are you all? What’ve have you done lately? Fola must be really impressed with your work to ask you to be my guides!
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"Besides helping Your jailors with a wonderful sense of humor, I helped put a stop to Aslynn's antics in the vault. Oh, and then there was that whole business with the lich and his dreary abode. Can't say I really enjoyed that one much, but it was interesting, and a fellow in my positions," he pauses there to point out the bleaching in his hair, "can't be picky, you know. Mmmm. Helped a witch out with some cooking. Oh, and helped open an outpost with the help of a Djinn. A few other odd jobs here and there, but those were the main missions."
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"I am Hyphy!" with excitement, our fungal hero describes his strange origin.
"Though my spirit is old, my body is new, and by your counting, I am 1 years old. My maker created me in a crevasse deep in the Finadar Forest, but I was born sharing this vessel - my body - with another... I call him Dark Hyphy, and his spirit is not of this plane... usually, he sleeps, unless I get angry! So, I try to never get angry. And! Helping us to regulate as one creature, is my best friend Sym!"
At first glance, it appears that Hyphy simply has a rash, or perhaps cold sores, spotting his lips and mouth... that is, until, they move!
Gathering now from each infected spot, a singular consciousness seems to govern the movement of living creatures that, like a hive-minded swarm of microscopic constituents, weave together with a geometry of fluid dynamics...
...and suddenly leaps off of it's host's face with a SPLAT to land upon the ground, writhing, as if seeking another lifeform to leech into!
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Taiwalei is currently unarmored, with only a dagger for personal defense and the set of expanded healer’s tools that his experiences as a venture-captain have taught him never to leave at home. He explains that he wants
to let you take the lead and prove themselves, but he reassures you that he’s ready to step in to protect you or awaken you from unconsciousness if you get in over your heads.
After entering the portal, you 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 you 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?