Flyn clambers up the wall with stealth and guile, surveying the grounds of the lodge from the top before sliding to the earth below. The gate remains closed and unguarded, no Pathfinders in sight nearby. Across the grounds, figures of rotting flesh and skeletal bone stagger about, seemingly aimless. The source is readily apparent, as the Mausoleum doors stand open and more undead mill inside.
The second most obvious trouble is marked by a plume of smoke, as flames are visible in the domed tower windows of Starhall. Several groups of humanoids appear to be rushing between some of the out buildings, carrying satchels and large objects. Some of them appear to be climbing over the wall on the far side. Much less concerning but still noticeable is a lone figure appearing to be working on the door of the Center House, oblivious to the state of the lodge.
With access to the inner mechanics of the gate lock, Flyn is able to work the levers and safeties properly to remove the heavy bars sealing the entrance shut, and the ponderous doors swing open to admit those outside.
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Flyn looks to the half-Orc guard. ”Send word to VC Petulengro that the gate has been opened and we pressing on..”
After assessing the current situation, he turns to his companions. ”Chaos is everywhere, all at once; I would judge the fire and the undead horde to be most in need of our attention. My gut tells me we should put out the fire first, before it spreads, but I’m open to either one…”
Quickly coming to the decision that the fires of Starhall are the first priority, the team makes their way across the Grand Lodge with alacrity. While the doors are closed, there are numerous windows sixty feet above the ground open to the air. From one of these billows the smoke cloud that marked the building so starkly.
Rows of bookcases stand burning, as an ashen skinned humanoid with flaming wings walks among them, touching a flaming longsword to scrolls and tomes. It pauses, gesturing to one shelf, causing one of the tomes to teleport to its hand. It briefly peruses the pages before raising the blade again.
The celestial turns and looks at Colin, its voice sounding directly in your minds as it has no mouth. This is the execution of a lawfully signed contract. Do not interfere.
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Colin sighs and takes out his Type40 Wayfinder that he pre-ordered from Kickstarter, "This is Venture-Captain Colin Rosenthal speaking." He gestures to the other archer in the team "And that's Venture-Captain Flyndyngylyn."
"Emergency situations have arose in the Grand Lodge that demand your immediate coorperation. The campus has been breached, and the security has been compromised, therefore new task need to be carry out in fulfillment of your contract on the goal of safeguarding the forbidden knowledge in the library: cease your destruction of the tome, and guard the Starhall from enemies of the Society."
"Compensation for the alteration of your contract can be discussed once the situation is under control."
The archon snaps the tome shut in its hand and lowers the blade. The breach of the Pathfinder grounds is the contracted contingency that enacted the summoning spell set by the agreed contract. As Venture Captain, you are authorized to rescind the terms demanding destruction of the hazardous knowledge. Further negotiation would be required to add extended taskings to the contract.
Looking around, Quenly can see that entire bookcases in the hall are burning, spread out over multiple floors.
With Quenly's spell and Colin's elementals happily splashing torrents of water over the smaller flames, the hall is quickly drenched, leaving only the haze of smoke over the badly damaged collection of tomes.
This tasking is outside of the scope of the contract.
Flyn recalls that guarding instead of destroying such texts is counter to the archon's nature, making it a difficult ask.
Much of this knowledge is vile. But there is justice in knowing the enemy and their methods, to better thwart evil schemes. This Unnamed shall stand guard until all threats have been dispatched.
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Flyn bows in appreciation to the archon and then looks to his companions…
”Good job, my friends; no time to waste, let’s hit the Mausoleum and take care of the undead situation…”
Flyn will take point, heading towards the Mausoleum…and upon arrival, he’ll warily approach to see where all these undead are coming from…
"Well done, Pathfinders." The voice comes from a shimmering image of a woman wearing a rune-inlaid ivory mask, adorned with peacock feathers, blood-red crystalline tears, and silver rings. "Once again you have been called to defend the Grand Lodge and are proving your mettle admirably. I have been monitoring the situation here and in Gallowspire to the best of my ability. I have not been able to locate the rogue member Vahlo, through the influence of his helm, nor have I seen Grandmaster Torch, likely through similar wards. As the only agents available to defend the Lodge, I charge you to stop Vahlo and Grandmaster Torch from causing further damage to the Society."
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Flyn bows as he recognizes the lady from her distinct mask; he had helped rescue her from Adril Hestram after he went rogue. ”Thank you, m’Lady, we will try our best; t’is good to see you again, it’s been a while. Glad to see you’re aware of the situation…”
While he has no reason to distrust her, with the recent revelations on corruption within the Decemvirate, Flyn tries to get a read on her nonetheless…
Flyn bows as he recognizes the lady from her distinct mask; he had helped rescue her from Adril Hestram after he went rogue. ”Thank you, m’Lady, we will try our best; t’is good to see you again, it’s been a while. Glad to see you’re aware of the situation…”
While he has no reason to distrust her, with the recent revelations on corruption within the Decemvirate, Flyn tries to get a read on her nonetheless…
Flyn finds the projected image as inscrutable as ever, but detects nothing obviously amiss to raise suspicion.
"As much as I can be. The future shows me even less than the last momentous event you championed the Society through. You are our best hope to secure the Grand Lodge and avoid entanglements that might hamper the city's defenders in their efforts against the Whispering Tyrant's armies."
"I can only offer you this boon. Within the statue of Durvin Gest you will find a hidden cache placed after the last treachery against the Ten. Use it as you see fit. I have faith in your skill and experience, now with the fate of the Pathfinder Society in your hands.” With that pronouncement, the image fades from sight.