[BtG1] PFS2e - 06-20: Overthrow of Ambition (P4)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Please dot (add a post) in here and then delete your post to add yourself to this campaign.

1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.

2) Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.

3) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.

4) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.

5) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week

6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.

7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.

8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.

Manny keeps playing, plucking on the lyre's strings.

He has a worn longsword and a whip on his hip, ready for action at a moment's notice.

"Sup ya'll. I'm Emmanuel but you can call me Manny. He stops playing long enough to shake hands. "I'm trying to be on my best behavior- my guardian angel is around here somewhere and she got me good the last time I had an all-night concert."

"You!" the word is half growl, half accusation.

It comes from a figure half Manny's height though with as much muscle. The gnome's features are feral and sharp with wild hair. He wears a suit of armor made from the barely cured hide of some thick-skinned beast, fabric wraps with arcane sigils half obscured by blood stains and oversized leather armbands.

Zabu grins as he offers his muscular hand with its sharpened nails. The teeth he shows and fierce look in his eyes suggest that shaking the hand of his rival as often as ally is an act Manny will regret.

"Oh... Sup Zabu." Manny completes the handshake and wonders how Zabu controls his nails like that. Must take a lot of practice. Or Manny's just lucky. "I think we're just waiting for everyone else to catch up."

Zabu has had Manny's back too many times to count. Even when he's chasing Manny's fans after a concert there's always one heckler who can't wait to wipe Manny's smile off his face, only to meet Zabu's scowl.

It's been a begrudgingly beneficial partnership.

Zabu is not a particularly peaceful or forgiving person and there's a wicked grin on his face as he waits for Manny's response.

But, it's hard to keep up a one-sided rivalry so, when the other man proves reasonable and friendly, Zabu secretly hates and respects him more.

On the surface, he just becomes nicer. A little.

"Well, I'm sure we could handle whatever this is by ourselves, but the people in charge like to send people to slow us down," he replies.

A large orc with scars all over his body and armor approaches. He wields a vile looking weapon on his back.

"Well met. Name's Gronk, the Large. I smash things and trip them and mock them. Not good for much else." he says.

A tall, thin, pale and ginger haired Half-orc dressed in a trench coat stands leaning on the wall, watching everything, and occasionally joting down notes in his notebook.

He is hesitant to shake hands, making sure to surreptitiously clean it after any hand shake. He noticeably forces himself to make and maintain eye contact but in a way that still comes off as odd and like he is trying too hard to appear 'normal'.

By his body language he is far more comfortable with the murderous gnome than he is the full blooded orc.

You each receive a summons from Ambrus Valsin. The message from Ambrus Valsin was short and without any room to be misunderstood.

"Agent, come to the Grand Lodge at once. Time is of the essence, and Zarta Dralneen has explicitly asked for you. If you're closer to another lodge, go there and tell the Venture-Captain you need teleported here, showing this letter as proof and a guarantee that we will ensure the lodge is reimbursed the associated costs. "[b]Regards, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin, Chamberlain of the Grand Lodge."

As you arrive, you are escorted to an empty office where a light breakfast and snacks are set out for you. As you wait to be called into Ambrus' office, you take some time to get to know each other.

Please introduce yourselves here (if you haven't done so already!) :)

"Sup everyone. I'm Emmanuel Holysmith. Friends call me Manny." He goes to shake everyone's hand.

"Sup Gronk. I'll set 'em up, you knock 'em down! Maybe we'll do some weight lifting afterwards."

"Bore-axx, right?" Manny tries to reach for a shake but opts to wave instead when he notices the half-orc's discomfort. "Make sure you catch my good side in your notes." He grins.

"Sounds like Zarta and Ambrus wanted us here personally and ASAP. Something tells me I'm gonna miss out on another concert..." He sighs. "Shylye said I'd never get a day off..."

"Hey! That's what I do!" Zabu says to Gronk, eyeing the orc who is many times his size suspiciously. He already knows they're going to be rivals, he just doesn't know whether they're going to be friendly or not.

He just nods to Bore-axx, sensing a kindred spirit.

"Well of course Zarta explicitly asked for me," he says, giving a broad wink to Manny that suggests he thinks it might be for more than just a mission.

Then, he sets about demonstrating that a light breakfast doesn't have to be light if you eat enough of it, scarfing down pastries and fruit with all the table manners and patience of a stray dog.

"Gronk do what Gronk does best. Growl and knock down enemies." he says. He starts devouring the food in front of him, focusing on the meat.

"Gronk need to stay large."

Walking in and taking a seat is a massive half-orc. He stands at 6'8" and almost as wide as the door. His skin a light shade of green, his eyes a dull yellow and his jet black hair pulled back in a bun. He wears various furs and over his torso hide armor with runes etched into it. His bottom half is covered with brown, loose slacks and what look to be well worn shoes. On his person are only two Items, a pouch on his left hip and a massive great axe on his back. Rather than being pristinely polished it seems to have dried streaks of blood.

His voice rough and low, "Apologies, I had trouble with my travel arrangements. I am Jonn Manhunter, pleasure to meet you all and look forward to working with you."

He piles food on his plate and begins eating.

Eyeing the philistines and looking to separate himself from his biological brethren, he selects a cup of fine tea, and slowly sips on the warm brew savoring the delicate flavors.

He then looks at Manny and speaks for the first time. “I believe I caught one of your performances last week, it was at that delightful cafe around the corner from the White Grotto. Very interesting use of time signatures. I had been musing if that had been purposeful to add to the narrative.”

"Sometimes you gotta mix up time signatures to get people in the groove. They like a surprise now and then." Manny nods to Bore-axx. "One sec, I gotta say hi to the newcomers."

"John Manhunter, good to see you. I hope you don't hunt me down!" Manny gives the heartiest shake he can before grabbing a couple of pastries and returning to Bore-axx.

"It also makes a great party conversation. Everyone wants to know. Some REALLY want to know, if you catch my drift." He chuckles.

A somewhat sickly looking elven man, with a gaunt appearance, arrives shortly after the others. He is wearing a sleeveless robe that seems covered in writing, and he carries a staff made of paper as well. His skin is the golden tan of a desert elf, and it too is absolutely covered in magical writing and tattoos which seem to shift and change as you watch, depicting scenes and telling stories of Pathfinders accomplishing great deeds. His eyes glow a soft blue, obscured though they are behind his spectacles.

"Greetings, I am Zodrathel, but friends call me Zod. I am a chronicler dedicated primarily to researching and documenting the Godsrain and War of Immortals, and the impacts of those events across the Universe and beyond. I don't believe I've met any of you before, so would be honored if you'd allow me to interview you about your experiences during the Godsrain and any encounters you've had with warshards or any other fallout from that event. We can do so during any travel time this mission requires, or perhaps after we complete whatever this task is. In the meantime, I will use my magic to keep you all alive, so that you can keep performing deeds worthy of being chronicled."

The scholars among the party may recognize Zodrathel's name, as either an author of the Pathfinder Chronicles or as an outspoken anti-theist.

Zabu literally growls as someone else comes up with a plate and starts to get some of the food. But he doesn't go any further in defending what he considers his food.

He just nods at the newcomer. "Don't need any help staying alive. Just stay out of my way so I can kill stuff faster," he says. It won't take much for Zodrathel to guess he's not a scholar so the likelihood that he recognizes him is low.

Zodrathel smiles a wicked grin and replies, "Good, the less healing I need to do, the more time and power I can spend learning about any threats we're dealing with...and blasting them."

As you enjoy the light repast provided at the Grand Lodge, the door opens and the familiar face of Rain in Cloudy Day enters the room. Rain's gloomy demeanor is quite the opposite of his typical excitement, and if prodded he doesn't have much to say beyond his concern for the possible loss of the Society if Hesla Embersplitter has her way. Rain escorts you to Ambrus' office.

Entering the office, the small space is lit by a few traditional lanterns on the walls, and the sole desk in the room is covered in a disarray of papers. The modest space of Ambrus Valsin's study feels even more cramped not by the number of people now gathered, but by the heavy weight of concern on his face, as well as those of Valais Durant and Eando Kline, who have already joined him here.

Taking a deep breath, Valsin begins, "Thank you for diligently following my directive and arriving so quickly. It's my hope that getting you here so speedily will help give Zarta some extra time to prepare to activate her plan."

Taking over, Eando continues, "As you should already be aware, a group of Society agents were able to thwart Hesla Embersplitter's plans of taking over Sarkoris through the use of Deskari, a demon lord killed many years ago, whose corpse she had raised once again. Afterward, we implored our spies to watch her, and they quickly confirmed that she is planning to enact her final revenge with a direct attack on the Grand Lodge, hoping to destroy the heart of the Society itself. As such, we need to stop her. Rather, we need you to stop her. Zarta has been working with the Decemvirate to devise a plan of defense, but it can't be completed without assistance. So, we ask this of you: will you take on assisting Zarta in the defense of the Grand Lodge, the defeat of Hesla Embersplitter, and the destruction of a demon?"

Eando Kline hands you each a folder marked 'Hesla'. "We've put together the following dossier on Hesla. In case you're not completely caught up on her misdeeds."

"We get to slay a demon? AWESOME!" Manny is certain a bunch of important stuff was said but even MORE important was the demon slaying stuff. "That's almost as cool as slaying vampires! Count me in!"

"...who's Helsa?" Manny looks dumbfounded as Kline resists the urge to facepalm. Instead Manny gets a dossier.

"It's like she almost figured it out, but... vengeance is a cruel mistress." He shakes his head.

Zodrathel listens to all of this, quietly nodding and taking notes in a journal that he magically pulled from his staff. Once Eando is done speaking, Zod simply says, "Let's show Hesla and everyone else who aligns themselves with demons, devils, or other kind of fiends what happens when they dare target the Society. The Grand Lodge will be defended, you have my word."

Zabu looks up, his mouth stained with crumbs and jam. He picks a piece of bacon out of his teeth with one exceptionally long, sharp fingernail.

"Huh? Right. Right. A demon. No problem. When are we going to meet up with Zarta?" he asks, all evidence pointing to the fact that he hasn't been paying attention.

Bore-Axx will start an investigation inquiring as to where heals
Is, and what is she up to.

”We will find her and make sure she is either apprehended,
Or stopped.”

Jonn will finish off his plate. Then chimes in I've had a few dealings with Hesla both in Sarkoris (6/14) and at her manor. (6/16) Hopefully we'll grow one step closer to stopping her schemes this day.

"So much to learn. Gronk head hurt," he says.

Bore-Axx will start an investigation inquiring as to where heals

Is, and what is she up to.

”We will find her and make sure she is either apprehended,
Or stopped.”

Heals == Hesla.

And should clarify, my investigation is how we can stop Hesla.

(Thank you autocorrect for letting me actually spell Hesla without repeatedly changing it for me.)

At some point in the small moments, Bore-axe will respond to Zod’s question regarding what he knows about Godsrain.

“I have heard talk of the warshards, but have not seen or handled any myself. I was recently in Tian Xia to render aid to a dragon in return for her help to the society to further our understanding of these artifacts. But as I said, I did not deal with any of the shards themselves.”

"Oh yeah, there was this big blob that absorbed some of Gorum. Me and a bunch of Pathfinders had to win a contest to get the right to chase it down and destroy it." Manny sighs. "Host was weird."

Yep, Zabu was part of it... something made him discuss literature I think... That game was particularly memorable because that was the last table credit I needed for 5 glyphs! :)

Eando opens the door to call for Rain in Cloudy Day to come back and escort the group to meet Zarta in her office. As he does so, Rain falls into the room, clearly having been listening to all the is happening. As he stands, brushing himself as he apologizes, Valais pulls you aside. "I'm certain before the end of this day, you will face Hesla head on. I implore you to consider that she was raised by the very cult she saw slaughter he parents, and the internal torment she must have suffered her entire life. Is it our right to judge her with the ends of our blades, or would she be better served by facing the full judgment of the law?"

Before you can ask Valais any questions about what she has said, Ambrus Valsin interrupts, reminding you to follow Rain in Cloudy Day to meet Zarta at once.

As he walks you to Zarta's office, Rain apologizes for listening in. "I just wanted to learn more about what is going on." When you reach Zarta's office, Rain knocks loudly on the closed door. Zarta answers, looks at Rain in Cloudy Day, and immediately gives him a task for her that will send him to the far end of the Grand Lodge, as she's used to managing nosy agents. She welcomes you into her office and offers each of you a seat as she heads back to her desk.

In stark contrast to Captain Valsin, Zarta's office is far more welcoming. Bookshelves line all the walls, and comfortable seats surround the room, creating a cozy library for members of the Dark Archive to use as they catalog and research. In the far corner of the room is an ornate wooden desk, with only an open book that seems to shimmer upon it. Standing next to Zarta is Decemvirate member wearing a helm made from carved ivory, covered with peacock feathers, runes, and red crystal tears. This member is known as Shemis.

Zarta sits behind her desk and begins your briefing.

"I would offer you more than a seat, but there isn't the time for pleasantries. Shemis has seen ahead to what may happen if we do not succeed in the tasks ahead, and it is the destruction of the Pathfinder Society as we know it."

"I have been studying this, the Resurrection Grimoire, since the start of the Godsrain, and I believe I understand what Hesla has done, and what we will need to undo the damage. As her fervor has been powered by her anger and pain at what happened to her family, we must counter it by building the ritual from things that she cared for, both good and ill. Take this list. It has what we need, and where you should be able to find them. Once you've gathered them, come back and meet us on the balcony at the entrance of Skyreach."

Zarta hands you a list and a map. She then hands you a type I spacious pouch.

"If you have trouble gathering the items, I believe we can make the ritual work with only three, but it will be better to have all five. Time is of the essence. Stop by the armory for your provisions."

So, where do you want to go first?

Jonn takes a look at the map. The Grand Lodge and the Fairgrounds are fairly close to each other. Maybe we should start there and then expand outward.

Manny only has time to nod to Valais before he's interrupted.

He's read about Valais's history. He figures it's a bit personal for her. Hesla's been through a lot, but dealing directly with demons backfires every single time.

"So gather the ingredients, enact the ritual, salvage the ritual when something disrupts it, capture Hesla."

"May as well start with the Grand Lodge, since we're here already."