|
Should we let him go? Piotr thinks for a moment.
Professor Masaendri shows up just in time to hear Halmont whining and begging to be released. Piotr turns to look at the Professor for guidance.
"Turn him over to Capthain Maldrith or let him go?"
That was a stupid question. He knows darn well what the Professor's answer is going to be.
"My toof is feeling better. Not as sthowlen".
|
Professor Masaendri snorts derisively at Piotr's question. "Let him go? Honestly. You're giving him false hope." Her eyes slide down the length of her nose to pin the bound would-be-briber with an imperious glare. "You would do well to cooperate with those who control your fate."
Once Halmont's finished talking/blubbering/trying to talk his way out of this impossible situation, she turns to inspect the entrance to the cellar for signs of traps before descending.
|
|
"Should we call the town guard to take Halmont over to Capthain Maldrith? We can all invethtigate the cellar together."
"Or, three of us go down to check it out. I'm willing to go in firtht."
Piotr taps the ancient femur as it passes in front of him while still in a slow orbit around his body, making it bob and tumble for a moment.
|
The Professor sees that this basement is a storage cellar that contains a wide variety of foods and bottled drinks. Looks like Halmont has already moved some of his luggage here to prepare for his flight from Absalom…
She spots a sealed box atop the cabinet in the northeast corner. Her keen eyes also notice scuff marks along the floor, as though the cabinet has been slid forward and back many times…
|
|
"Ah, excellent!" The Professor passes the box up to the Pathfinders still in the kitchen. "Please be so kind as to check this for evidence, will you? Gnagnatsu♥, I'm sure you'll be able to determine exactly *how* Halmont has been sliding this cabinet back and forth. Was he simply muscling it, or is there a lever or switch somewhere?" She begins looking as well; the excitement of discovery is getting to her.
|
|
Gnagnatsu finds the box of documents unlocked, thus the mystery of the key is still unsolved. However, as you sift thru the papers, you find illicit ledgers, proof of embezzlement, and other sordid details…you also discover he has a secret bank account thru the local Church of Abadar…and it mentions a safe deposit box…
|
|
"Ohh myy. I do so want to inspect the contents of that safe deposit box, though I suspect it would be wise to deliver our prisoner to his jailer first." She flips through the documents, scanning the contents, chuckling mockingly. "Oh dear, oh dear. Someone's been very naughty."
"Oh, ho-ho! Lemme see those." Piotr takes the papers after the professor has had a chance to go over them. He lets out boisterous laughter after going through the documents himself.
"You should have taken me up on my offer to assist the Sovereign Court and have Princess Eutropia secure an early release for you, my friend." he says to Halmont. "Looks like you'll be rotting in prison."|
|
Seeing you’ve gathered enough dirt on the man, you formally arrest a very downtrodden Halmont, and bring him, along with all recovered evidence, to a a very pleased Major Maldris, who makes arrangements for his transport back to Andoran to face trial. After dealing with Halmont, Maldris invites you to speak with him privately. In his meeting he confides his future plans, which include a drastic change for the faction he leads.
“There are many who have flocked to Andoran’s freedom, yet in the passing years I have come to learn that a great number of these individuals see not love in our movement, but selfish opportunity. I fear that the direction our politicians have led, while on its surface seemingly inspired and courageous, has ventured little from the rule of our exiled nobility. Class warfare remains and much of our nation’s political power is controlled either directly or indirectly by the wealthiest members of our society. Many are formal nobles who publicly renounced their titles, but privately held onto power. For these individuals, renouncing their titles permitted them even greater opportunity and upward mobility, especially those who worked their way into trade and politics.
“I find the irony of fighting tyranny and corruption as an agent of a government that harbors the tyrannical and corrupt difficult to stomach. We may have captured a few of the snakes, but there are at least ten more villains for each one we have brought to justice. As it struggles with itself, Andoran cannot combat tyrannies as it should, so I am stepping away from Andoren politics to deliver its unadulterated philosophies to other lands. I, and anyone who is bold enough to join me, shall remain enemies of slavery and tyranny, yet without direct national ties, we shall be able to engage in even more daring actions abroad and cleanse even my homeland of its malaise without the oversight of those we seek to purge!”
Realizing he’s given a sermon, he apologizes to you for proselytizing, thanks you again profusely for your service to him, and wishes you well for the remainder of the festivities…
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Piotr steps forward to address the Captain.
“Captain, your words cut deep—and true. I’ve seen what you speak of: nobles shedding titles like snakeskins only to coil themselves tighter around power. I've walked halls where liberty is preached, yet behind the doors deals are struck no different from those in the Taldan Senate.
But I do not believe we must abandon all thrones to free the people. Milani fights for those who rise up and for those who tear rot from within. She does not demand we forsake every banner, only that we refuse to be blinded by them.
I am a baron by Taldan decree, but my hands are calloused from labor and bloodied in revolution. I do not wield my title to rule—I wield it to protect. And if I can cleanse my own homeland of corruption from within its courts, then I must believe the same is possible here. Not easy, not clean—but possible.
You take a daring road, and I do not fault you. The world needs firebrands willing to carry the flame where governments cannot. But as you march into the dark, know there are still those of us who remain in the halls and chambers, holding the line, fighting to ensure liberty isn't just a dream we export—but a truth we defend at home.”
Piotr sits back down, realizing he, too, has given a sermon.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Professor Masaendri, for one, enjoys a good lecture; sermons are simply lectures based on beliefs rather than empirical facts. She nods approvingly at the speakers' passion. I would prefer more eloquence and data, especially from a Venture Captain, but they effectively communicated their opinions. B+, A-.
|
|
Fresh off your successful mission, you no sooner return to your quarters than to see a message awaiting you…upon opening it reads…
Greetings, Pathfinders!
Word of your prowes has grown in the recent days of this celebration. And it just so happens I have need of those such as you as I’m throwing a modest get together for several nobles and politicians interested in learning more of our Society and what we do. Your job will be to keep these folk entertained with stories and perhaps even demonstrations of said prowess. Report immediately to the Grand Lodge secondary auditorium and report to me directly…
Ventures-Captain Ambrus Valsin
You only stop to freshen up for a few moments before heading over. You enter and a guard looking for your arrival takes to the soirée, which has already started, and straight to Valsin.
He smiles curtly, ”I assume business kept you…but you’re not too late. I assume you read the missive and know your duties? I am quite busy juggling different nobles, so, if there are any questions, make them quick…”
|
|
Valsin rolls his eyes over Gnagnatsu’s quip, murmuring under his breath, ”There’s one in every group…”
He shakes his head and continues. ”Most are minor politicians or nobles from around Golarion but I’ll be dealing with most of the more prominent; does not matter whom you choose to speak to, they are equally important and you need to represent yourself well as you reflect on the Society and this is purely for PR purposes. Now, I’ll get back to my guests…”
|
|
Piotr nods to the captain in acknowledgment, then turns his gaze to the gathered nobles. He scans the crowd carefully, searching for anyone who appears to be—or once was—a warrior.
Wearing a fine Taldan noble’s outfit beneath a tabard emblazoned with Taldor’s coat of arms in three quadrants and a black rose on a red background in the fourth, Piotr confidently approaches a group of nobles engaged in conversation. A gaudy ring bearing a prominent bloodstone—symbol of his title as a Baron of Taldor—gleams on his finger, which he subtly angles into view, hoping to catch their attention.
|
|
With Piotr as your spokesman, you mingle with the nobles and politicians, telling of stories and answering question. They appear most impressed with you…
Several minutes into the conversations, a terrified Pathfinder enters the room in a panic. Valsin spots the man and signals you to handle the matter, including a Pathfinder hand sign that expresses “and keep it quiet.” Hoping to draw the visitors’ attention away from you and the recent arrival, Valsin announces that he has brought several relics recovered over the past year to show off, and the crowd excitedly gravitates in his direction...
The frightened agent is a tiefling, Kalkuin by name, and he ushers you into a side room before explaining the situation.
“There aren’t many agents around the Grand Lodge, so when I heard an explosion and ran to investigate, I was the first one there. It seems something bad happened in one of the laboratories—really bad. One of the researchers stumbled out all covered in boils and blood, and when I tried to lend him an arm, he bit me and tried to tear out my throat! It was all I could do to fend him off, and two others helped me drive him back into the lab and barricade the door.”
He pulls back a tattered sleeve to reveal a bite wound that is festering as though days old, insisting, ”This isn’t part of my heritage, no matter what you think. I think it’s some kind of infection, and I intend to find a cleric as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have agents in trouble at the lodge. Somebody’s gotta help them!”
|
|
Piotr's eyes go wide at the sight of the nasty wound.
"Holy—! Let me have a look at that..."
"Hmm. A necromantic, flesh-eating disease. He is not in immediate danger from the wound, though he could die if not treated in the next several days. It is also unclear whether the infection is contagious…"
"Get to a cleric, quickly. Where is this Lab? We'll take care of whatever is happening there."
|
|
When you arrive at the entrance to the Society laboratory, a groundskeeper is on hand to give you a key to open the thick wooden door reinforced with thick metal plates. The door opens to a hallway with several preparation rooms used to concoct various items used in alchemical research. Each such room’s door has a glass panel that allows you to look inside. Most of the rooms show signs of hasty vandalism, overturned tables and such, and then the same mayhem in other rooms...
A set of stairs at the end of the hall leads to a lower level. These are sticky with an unfamiliar substance…
|
|
Upon arriving at the laboratory, Piotr goes through the horrific and painful transformation into wolf form.
Moments later, Piotr stands transformed—hulking, furred, and panting. Steam curls from his mouth in the cool air. The man is gone. The witchwolf has taken his place.
"I am ready." he growls, thumping the butt of his polearm on the floor. "Let's go."
The beast takes a look around...
"Hey. Look what I found here in the corner."
"Two flasks of Alchemist's fire. Nice."
Piotr notices the sticky residue on the steps. He keeps his distance from it.
"Can anyone figure out what the strange substance is?"
|
|
As you get towards the bottom of the stairs, you see a laboratory with a couple of tables, equipment strewn about, chairs knocked over…
But more importantly, you see three large quivering piles of tumorous flesh, these creatures obviously the ones leaving a trail of slime as they seemingly hungrily search for sustenance. Luckily, they do not appear to know of your presence just yet…