Gundar's second roll against the tripped pugwampi.
Gender hits and damages the pugwampi, but it does seem to heal a little after the strike.
1) what are their saving throws from weakest to strongest; 2) what are their weaknesses
1) FORT < REF < WIL
2) Cold Iron
Round 2
The grappled pugwampi thrashes about with its free hand, slashing a curtain, and knocking some delicate artifacts off the table to shatter onto the floor.
The tripped pugwampi flounders around, with no documents to eat and rip, it decides to stand up.
This will provoke from Caius, Gundar, and Khalid.
Khalid follows through with his threat and also attacks the standing Pugwampi. You grappled one better pay attention!
+ prone bonus
+ prone bonus
Caius continues to show no mercy for the creature, be it fey or demon. He lashes out,
Gundar swings his hammer, missing the pugwampi. The head of his hammer continues on and crashes through an ancient Osirian tablet, turning it to dust and rubble.
Khalid's horse chopper narrowly avoids the pugwampi's skin, but it does manage to slice cleanly through an ornate tapestry that displays an image of a human, with rays of light around him lifting him to the sky. The lower part, containing many runes and words falls to the ground and lands in a puddle of spilled ink.
Finally, Caius brings down his greatsword and severs the pugwampi's body in twain.
The party is now up for Round 2!
Khalid will take a 5' step and ready a trip attack should the pugwumpi break free of the grapple.
Gundar, not an admirer of historical artifacts like his kin Cordwin, hardly thinks of the tablet and continues to try to batter the pugwampi.
Gundar’s swing at the grappled pugwampi goes wide and smashes a matched pair of millennia old dwarven reading lanterns.
"Is this how you treat the home of our host?" Verilich asks incredulously.
Verilich attempts to pin his squirmy little bugger.
Gundar’s swing at the grappled pugwampi goes wide and smashes a pair of dwarven reading lanterns.
Verilich pins the pugwampi.
Caius will retrieve rope to bind the pinned, foolish helion since the manacles he retains for that purpose are too large! You've got some answering to do, fiend! He proclaims as he wraps the gremlin tightly.
As do you all... He adds as he scans the other vagrants nearby.
Caius pulls some rope out, and the group, after stumbling at tying some basic knots once or twice, manages to tie up the remaining gremlin.
Shortly after, Sheila Heidmarch returns. She stares, aghast, at the remains of her library. She reaches out and rubs her fingers down the remnants of the tattered tapestry. "No less than three Pathfinders were put into medical retirement following the retrieval of this tapestry." She shakes her head, and glares at you. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that the Venture Captain is not pleased with what has occurred. Finally, she takes several deep breaths.
She blinks, and begins, "First, allow me to apologize for that unpleasantness regarding the gremlins—but it does provide an excellent object lesson. The life of an adventurer is not one for the weak-hearted. That you not only took care of the gremlins but also got the box open in the first place is all the confirmation I need that my gut was right—you’re the perfect group for the job I have in mind.
You see—I’ve recently had trouble with one of my informants here in Magnimar, Natalya Vancaskerkin. She’s a half-Varisian who recently approached the Pathfinder Society with an offer to serve as a street informant. She runs with the Sczarni—I’m not sure with which group. A week ago, Natalya sent me a cryptic hint that her gang was on the verge of uncovering an item that would be of great interest to the Society. Since the Sczarnis’ methods of uncovering something often involves an armed robbery or breaking into somebody’s personal chambers, we thought it prudent not to press for further details and instead wait to see what it would produce. Suffice it to say, she hinted strongly that it pertained to Thassilon, and promised to meet with me to discuss this find three days ago.
She never kept that promise—instead, she seems to have simply vanished. Initially, I assumed that the acquisition of this item was simply taking longer than expected, but now I’m hearing rumors that the Sczarni are looking for her as well.
It seems likely that Natalya has absconded with this item she’s discovered. And this is where you enter, my friends. I want to know what it was that Natalya and the Sczarni found. In fact, I’m more interested in that than in what happened to Natalya herself. For now, I’d like to keep all of this quiet—if you can find out what happened to Natalya without letting a lot of people know she was also working for me as an informant, that would be preferable—that’s a big part of why I’m coming to you, as new or prospective members of the Pathfinder Society, with this task. You don’t yet have a reputation in Magnimar, and as such, the lowlifes and criminals you are likely to encounter may be more likely to talk.
So... go out there and look for Natalya. Find out what happened to her, and to this item she and her gang discovered. If you can secure the item, all the better—bring it back to me and I’ll have a reward of 500 gold pieces for you. And if you can bring Natalya back alive for me to speak to, I’ll double that!”
”What do you want to do with this one?” Verilich seems to ask out of pragmatic immediacy at the expense of prioritizing intel about the upcoming mission.
Ghaernan casually whispers words of magic, and makes a flowing, almost dance-like arcane gesture towards the damaged tapestry. Ink begins immediately fading from its surface, with the clean area steadily spreading as he then turns his attention to Sheila Heidmarch…
”I fear it will take more than such minor magics as these to rectify, but a start certainly seems worthwhile. Venture Captain, allow me to apologize in turn for the damage done in the defeat of the gremlins, once we discerned the secret of the box’s opening. I think it was perhaps due to some manner of bane that the nasty fey themselves possess. Credit to Verilich and Caius for capturing one and slaying the other, respectively.”
”What manner of leads or other information on Natalya’s haunts, associates, or last-known whereabouts might you be able to offer us when our search begins? I daresay we’re interested in the reward. Anything else with which you think we might need equipped to better our chances of success where such information might take us?”
Gundar, not appreciating the finer things in life, looks questioningly when she metions the part of the medical retirement. Eh? Medical retirement fer that? No offense lady, but ye could have found a newer and nicer one in jest 'bout any town!
He forgets all about his indignation at the mention of the gold coins. Now yer talkin'!
Khalid doesn't know much about dwarves' lanterns, or finding thieves.
”What do you want to do with this one?” Verilich seems to ask out of pragmatic immediacy at the expense of prioritizing intel about the upcoming mission.
Koriah reaches out a hand and takes the lead of the rope holding the Pugwampi. "I fear the box itself is responsible for the summoning of this gremlin, and the creature simply began acting in accordance with its direction, per the summoning spell. I will hold this creature until the Venture Captain is prepared to handle it. Most likely to detail a mission to send it back to its kin."
She leads the creature out of the room, so the dreaded "unluck" field can be dispensed with.
The Venture Captain takes note of Ghaernan's honeyed words, as well as his efforts to fix the damage wrought.
"The bane brought by the presence of the pugwampi is not unknown to me Ghaernan. As you mention it, I believe you are correct, the destruction wrought here was not the fault of your companions, but rather by the mere presence of the gremlin. Let us move past that unpleasantness." She looks to Verilich and Caius, "apparently, it is to your credit that the beasts did no more damage than was done. The Society makes sure to reward those who do it service." She reaches into her pockets and pulls forth two potions of cure light wounds, and she hands one each to Caius and Verilich.
She reaches down and picks up the paradox box itself. "Ahhhh, I see there is treasure indeed, which you had no time to explore while handling the gremlins." She pulls out 3 garnets (50gp each), a masterwork silver dagger, and a very ornate ring. She hands the items to Ghaernan, "to the victors go the spoils, after all. I trust you can see that these are properly used and distributed amongst your companions. I will keep the box, however." She chuckles, "It would not do to have another round of those creature set loose in a market or schoolhouse."
"Now, back to real reason of your presence here. As you may, or may not know, the Pathfinder Society has among its members individuals of all religions and ethos. Well, maybe not ALL religions, but enough to make me able to say that we have a cross section of society that have banded together for the common purpose of learning, protecting knowledge, and gathering artifacts. With that in mind, I do not mind telling you that we have made progress in establishing ties to the various Sczarni gangs here in Magnimar, of which there are six: the Creepers, Doolun’s Lads, the Gallowed, the Tower Girls, the Washside Wringers, and the Wreckwash Blades, with the Gallowed being the most powerful Sczarni family in the city. When Natalya originally approached me, she came with the proposal that she serve as an informant on Sczarni activities in the city. At that time, she had an associate called The Amazing Zograthy, a Varisian who keeps a permanent tent and fortune-telling business in Washers’ Row in Dockway—specifically, at the end of a narrow alley that serves as a permanent street fair."
Shelia continues, "I fear that I have little more information for you, unfortunately. I will say though, that there are rumors of Nidalese slavers prowling the streets of late, and if these are true, being abducted by a slaver in the middle of the night would certainly explain Natalya’s absence. She might even have been picked up by the city guard for some reason, in which case a visit to the Arvensoar might yield some clues. Beyond this, I can but offer you wishes for luck."
"Ghaernan, you asked me what other equipment I might provide. I must admit that I do not know what methods your group will use. It has been my experience that each team of Pathfinder Agents develops its own unique methods over time. Perhaps if you were more specific?"
She turns her head and stares at Gundar, "and as for you, Gundar Ironbeard. Your clan has produced many proud adventurers over the years, some of whom were even Pathfinders. I am sure you will be a credit to them. However, I will leave it as a thought experiment to you, as to just why I might prefer a genuine matched pair of reading lanterns that had survived intact since nearly the founding of Absalom, instead of some Abadarian knockoffs that likely do not distinguish between their blues and greens."
Caius takes the proffered potion and places it within easy reach on his belt.
These gangs are a source of great wealth for one in my profession.
I think it obvious that a gang named "the Gallowed" should prevail over the others! Much lies in a name.
Caius scratches his chin, recalling what he knows of Washer's Row.
I've had little occasion to venture to Washer's Row but this locale is the obvious haunt of the Washside Wringers. They are one of Magnimar's larger gangs and Washer's Row is a front for their illicit dealings.
And of the famed Arvensoar or, perhaps, the Nidalese slavers?
Well, everyone knows the city watch garrisons in Arvensoar! I am a fount of useful knowledge, Caius congratulates himself.
At Sheila Heidmarch's rebuke, Gunndar blinks a few time and shrugs. A lantern is a lantern, it was all the same to him. Fancy people put to much value on fancy things, but he wasn't going to argue with the fancy person that was going to pay him fancy gold.
Ghaernan inclines his head in respect and gratitude with Sheila Heidmarch’s information and gesture, as the ink steadily continues to bleed away from the ornate tapestry…
”Thank you, Venture Captain, for your understanding of the situation as well as your insights, and of course your generosity for the contents of the paradox box.”
The bard turns toward his companions, showing them the garnets, ring, and dagger, thrusting the last into his belt before carefully easing the others into his belt pouch for later study…
”My thanks as well for entertaining my question. Certainly understandable, to your point, on not yet perceiving our methods; I can readily confess the same, in truth. I was thinking more specifically of things we might learn that we need, depending upon the circumstances revealed in this search, that we do not yet possess, nor indeed have the resources for acquiring. The potions with which you so graciously rewarded Verilich and Caius would be such an example that comes to mind. Subject to that provisioning, I’m certain that we can otherwise set out soon in service to the cause you have given us.”
Ma'am, do you know any more information about The Amazing Zograthy? Perhaps something or a token to help us gain her trust?
Verilich thanks the host for the potion and will let the talkie talkie types do what it is that they do.
When there is no chance Verilich will rudely interrupt, he will inquire as to the skills of his companions: "Does anyone have the ability to see if these items are magical? and what they might do if they are?"
Ghaernan's eyes widen almost imperceptibly in surprise at Verilich's interruption. While still subtly directing the fading of the ink upon the ornate tapestry, he steps quickly over next to the Wyvaran and speaks to him in a much-lowered voice...
"Ah Verilich, my new friend, I possess the abilities of which you speak. That said, to do so at this time would be impolite to our host, so long as she gives us this privilege of an audience with her. Sheila Heidmarch is a Venture Captain of the Pathfinder Society, a position of high status. I understand this may be a new experience to one of your kind. We will do well to offer respect in her presence, particularly if this mission and the chance for you to become a Pathfinder are of interest. Patience, my friend; we shall learn of what we have soon enough..."
Verilich responds in a similar lowered voice. "My apologies good friend. I took the long drawn out silence as the talkie talkies were done. you do have a strange definition of interruption. I shall make note of it." He gives the Aasimar a wink of his dragon eye.
”STUFF.”
Sheila listens politely and replies, "No, I fear that there comes in every Pathfinder's career a day upon which they must set out, unaided by higher authority, and with only their wits, gumption, and that of their companions to rely upon. Today is such a day for you."
Ma'am, do you know any more information about The Amazing Zograthy? Perhaps something or a token to help us gain her trust?
"I fear that I do not. All the better to have maintained my plausible deniability of that person, should it be needed."
I propose we inquire at Arvensoar after our missing Natalya... Cauis looks towards the Venture Captain. A good description of this informant of yours would greatly improve our chances of finding her. Perhaps there has been a grand criminal event that will give us a clue what this "item of great interest" is.
Failing her turning up there, we can seek out her associate, The "Amazing" Zograthy, in his den of criminals. Perhaps we can get the guard to issue a bounty for her capture and make it known we seek to collect.
Khalid takes a last longing look at the library, sure that there are secrets there which could assist him in becoming stronger and more powerful. Alas, it seems time to make a departure and reconvene with his new acquaintances to come up with a path forward. Assuming of course a common interest can be found. Thank you Ma'am, I and any willing associates will take up this noble quest!
Sheila nods, "indeed, a description is in order. Natalya is of Varisian descent, and she tends to dress as such. She has long curly brown hair and brown eyes. An attractive woman, she is competent with both sword and spell."
Ghaernan smiles at Sheila’s polished denial of further assistance, inclining his head in acknowledgement.
“Then I shall consider us ‘provisioned’, Venture Captain, in your assessment of the mission at-hand. As Caius notes, the Arvensoar seems a pragmatic start. When your valuable time with us is concluded, I’d like to remain here in the library for a brief while, as a Pathfinder, with my new companions as we plan our investigation. The resources here within our Pathfinder Lodge may prove of some use, and of course I’d like to at least complete the removal of the ink from the remnant of this magnificent tapestry, as a start towards its restoration.”
The Venture Captain nods, "indeed, stay and use the library until you are ready to leave. Sebastian will see you out when you are ready."
When the library is left to the adventurers, Khalid will start looking through the library looking for hints about this thing called Alchemy. He is convinced that this is the way for him to achieve fortune and fame.
"Many thanks once again, Venture Captain; we shall endeavor to prove worthy of your discretion and trust..."
Once Sheila Heidmarch leaves the library, following Koriah and her captive pugwampi, Ghaernan gestures for his companions to join him around the table as he withdraws the former contents of the paradox box from his leather harness and belt pouch. He places the three garnets, masterwork silver dagger, and ornate ring upon the table, then begins the arcane words and weaving of the Detect Magic spell to discern the presence of any enchantments among the objects. Concurrently, Ghaernan uses his Spellcraft capabilities and leverages the resources of the Pathfinder Lodge Library as may prove useful, in identifying the properties of any items that detect as magic during his assessment.
, plus other modifiers deemed appropriate while using the library...
The humanoids do have strange customs regarding speech and appropriate times for it. Perhaps that is why some of the order take vows of silence. I should perhaps consider this if my speaking bothers the others.
Verilich seeing that there is still clean up to do, does all he can do with he 2 hands. He begins picking up the pieces and looking for some place to put them.
Once the Venture Captain leaves, Verilich feels more like he can speak and not upset anyone. "Friends. I will probably not contribute anything substantial to the planning of our events but I do offer that my unique skills do allow us to have aerial cover when we maneuver through the city. I can take to the skies and keep a watchful eye about the side streets so as to thwart any ambushes or malfeasance along the way. That being said, please be clear whenever we begin a fight on whether you wish me to subdue our prey or dispatch it. I possess skills that can achieve both." And with that he finds a place against the walls to watch the exists and awaits the full company's response.
Ghaernan smiles at the results of his casting and spellcraft, and turns to his companions with his assessment…
”Quite the first find, friends. The ornate ring is magical, with the power of the Feather Fall spell imbued within. Its wearer will suffer no harm from falling a substantial distance. I’d like to wear it for now, if others don’t object. Looking among this group, I can easily conclude that I’d be the first to succumb to injuries from a fall of serious distance. Are any interested in carrying the silver dagger for now, in the event that we come across an enemy that proves vulnerable to the metal? Although the garnets appear mundane, I think both the dagger and the ring warrant further scholarly research. Given their presence in the paradox box, they’re likely artifacts of Ancient Thassilon, and their worth may prove far greater than their functions.”
Ghaernan listens to Verilich’s explanation, and nods in appreciation…
”Your flight is an excellent advantage to our reconnaissance as we seek out this Natalya, Verilich. While we’re within the City of Magnimar, I would suggest an initial default to the subdual option; the laws of the city could easily turn the authorities against us, if they perceive any dispatching were not warranted. Still…”
The Bard then speaks in a far lower voice, and for a few seconds in arcane words, while reaching within the leather belt pouch opposite the one used earlier to store the gems and ring, then subtly gesturing toward the Wyvaran with a glint of copper spiraling the length of one finger…
”…we can also speak in near-silence at a distance of up to 110 feet, using this manner of magic, should your watchful vigilance result in a need for us to alter the lethality of our engagement, in these dangerous times.”
Khalid will quickly study these tombs, finding numerous ideas for some future enhancements. Perhaps a new combination of a few ingredients will enable spectacular results!
Surely one of my companions will profit more from this silver dagger than me.
When Ghaeran announces the capabilities of the ring, Verilich does seem very interested, but waits until several seconds of silence before interjecting his thoughts.
"My good bard, I appreciate your understanding of risk and the fact you may be the most at risk from a severity perspective, but I would also introduce to the conversation the probability axis of the risk calculation. While you are and should remain firmly on the ground, I will be the aerial reconnaissance of our group. And even though I am able to fly, my kind are not very graceful in the air. If I run into any trouble in the air, which seems to have a greater probability than you running off of a cliff..." he winks at Ghaeran..."and if I do somehow get stalled above the ground, the fall would potentially be devastating."
Ghaernan smiles at Sheila’s polished denial of further assistance, inclining his head in acknowledgement.
Ghaernan reflects upon Verilich’s sudden articulateness, considering for a moment the possibility that the Wyvaran is not the simple monk honoring the heritage of his namesake as he claims, but perhaps the evolved familiar of some hidden Thassilonian wizard seeking his arcane master’s ancient lost treasures… The Bard swiftly dismisses the errant thoughts, however, in the context of both the discrete specificity of the Venture Captain’s invitation to this gathering, and of the disciplined character demonstrated thus far by Verilich. A surreal moment, nonetheless…
”Verilich, I find your argument sufficiently compelling. Hopefully the quality of your reconnaissance will ensure that I can avoid the circumstance entirely.”
Ghaernan returns the wink, and hands the Wyvaran the magic ring while securing the silver dagger at his belt, hearing no further interests.