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Ailyn Ghonstavos is particularly eager to hear everything she can from the group regarding what they found in Delvehaven. "The treasure in the sealed lodge belongs to you, you’ve earned such items as surely as any Pathfinder earns treasure from exploring " "I am interest in learning the fates of the missing Pathfinders, what can you tell me about them? She pauses, "I'll be leaving for Absalom tomorrow to deliver the report."
The pathfinder joins the conversation, Well, it's getting to be near dusk and the building is not far from here. Are you planning a nighttime or daytime entry? She looks at the members, "The compound is surrounded by a 12 foot wall and sealed iron gate."
Shaking her head in disbelief, "When is the foray into Delvehaven?" Before anyone answers she asks, "Where's Orsin?
"When Delvehaven is entered that will provide numerous answers to us pathfinders, that in turn will open up secondary funding to the brotherhood." She looks at the items on table from the wavedoor. "Orsin, and your group, through tireless efforts have helped to solve some mysteries." She smiles, "but other questions exists."
"Sure ...sure pseudonymns at least till this is finished that would be wise." Her eyes staring at the description of the Bearded Devil Szasmir's History provided in the KNOT, "did Duncan really hold his temper when he was struck by the bearded devil. Fascinating the negotiation that you all did...spectacular."
"That is fine observation and concern, perhaps a code using initials and you can create a cipher song." She sits with the parchment and begins to read enthralled with the deeds and descriptions, several audible gasps can be heard.
Orsin you wake up and find your face pressed against the writing table, your parchment and ink put to the side. A gently hand stirring you, trying to wake you, "You'd find a pillow softer than the table."
Ailyn pulls Orsin to a side room, "That is a an unfortunate ending. At least there is some closure with Coriana fate. Duncan was good man, a bit hotheaded but passionate, you were lucky to know him." She lays a comforting hand on your shoulder, "You smell and need to clean that armor." she teases.
"If you find the missing pathfinder bring her ashes back to me. You would have answered the mystery of the two missing pathfinders."
The child you rescued was a political prisoner...very valuable, and that seems to ahve gotten both the council and the hellknights attention. Who knows, the House of Thrune may be involved." The pathfinder says as she and Orsin emerge from a side room. "Her father is Lord Byron Gudsmith of Andoran. Put nothing past Thrune and its need for dark, vile corruption."
Orsin: [b]"I've been communicating with my superiors about your deeds here lately. They ask that you write up a summary of your journey into the Knot and your findings there. No pathfinder has ever ventured in to the Knot and survived. That along with your other exploits have earned you a lesser field commission. If you get into Delvehaven and document the secrets of the last 70 years that could earn you a full commission." She hand s you a small pin that designates your standing.
"Orsin, may I have a few words with you in private?" Ailyn has an interesting gleam in her eyes. "I've something you might be interested in."
"Well, if I'm not mistaken Sir, that's a symbol of love and beauty" she gestures to your holy symbol, "favored by Shelyn, the Eternal Rose, so you undoubtedly are made of good moral fiber." The lady extends her hand to you.
Nods in agreement with Lucrezia. Wonder what he is up to, he is interested in us...why and what can he offer? Ailyn remains expressionless.
"Do you need extra backup."
Ailyn would say that a Wayfinder is not expensive usually about 500 gold but if its gotten on black market, it could face a premium. "I'd lend you mine but it was horribly damaged on my trip to Westcrown." She pulls out her wayfinder that is pierced through. "Ran into a bit of trouble on my way here, but this saved my life from a heavy crossbolt that would have hit my heart."
Faelyn when you wake the next morning before you speak to the eryines, you catch Ailyn and Orsin chatting in a sitting room. Orsin and Faelyn Only: Ailyn will provide you a little history of the pathfinders as she knows it. Since the Pathfinder Society was founded in 4307 AR, numerous Pathfinder Lodges have been established in cities as diverse and widespread as Kalsgard, Magnimar, Quantium, and Sothis. The city of Westcrown is no exception—in its heyday, Westcrown’s lodge (known locally as Delvehaven) was one of the most celebrated lodges in the Inner Sea region. Its venture-captain, a wealthy retired adventurer named Aiger Ghaelfin, designed an exceptional home for his fellow Pathfinders, complete with not only beds for rest but also vast reliquaries to display its members’ discoveries. Delvehaven was as much a museum as it was a place for Pathfinders to plan and recover from their expeditions.
Among Delvehaven’s most famed regular attendees was Westcrown’s proudest Pathfinder team—the Amber Privateers. Using Westcrown as a base of operations, these six Pathfinders and their sprawling cadre of porters, servants, chroniclers, organizers, translators, and hangers-on launched several successful and highly publicized forays to regions as remote as the Crown of the World, the Rivers of No Return in the legendary half-caverns beneath the Isle of Phahalen, the jungles south of Sargava, and the remote reaches of Iobaria east of Brevoy, yet it was their final expedition that secured their fame. Led at the time by renowned explorer and Pathfinder Donatalus Bisby, the Amber Privateers made clear their intent to brave the depths of the Mwangi Expanse to seek out a mythical ruin that had heretofore escaped explorers’ note—a forgotten city called Jaytirian. Hoping to discover
Orsin the sun is beginning to come up by the time you finish your conversation. "Simply call me Ailyn for now. Pathfinders are not welcomed in Westcrown ...at this moment ...no need risking discovery. This is also why I have been in the background, so far."
Ailyn would pull out her journal and begin to confide to Orsin the following information: “In late 4605 ar, a Pathfinder named Donatalus Bisby returned to Westcrown from a mission to the Mwangi Expanse—a mission previously believed to have been lost. Bisby’s unexpected return brought much celebration, despite the fact that of the dozens who traveled with him to the southern jungles, only he and his chronicler had returned. Word soon spread that Bisby’s journals would revolutionize what was known about certain lost tribes of the Mwangi, and that he brought back with him a potent artifact. Yet before his journals could be published, Aroden died." “Upon Aroden’s death, panic seized Cheliax. Details of what happened in Delvehaven are sparse, but it seems that the majority of the Pathfinders stationed in Westcrown—Bisby included—perished in the riots and mayhem. Worse, his journal and all of Delvehaven’s artifacts were cut off from the Society for over thirty years. In 4674 ar, many years after the House of Thrune seized control of Cheliax, they made a great show of reopening Delvehaven and inviting a select few Pathfinders back to run the lodge—but those choices were not the Grand Lodge’s to make.
“In 4676 AR, something happened in Delvehaven that caused the deaths of all the Thrune Pathfinders and its subsequent sealing by the government itself. The House of Thrune has to this date refused to open Delvehaven or allow the Society access to the lodge, and various conflicts with the Aspis Consortium and the House of Thrune in other parts of Cheliax since then have effectively distracted us from Delvehaven’s legacy. General consensus in the Society today is that Thrune looted Delvehaven to the root and that nothing of value remains within." “But I’m not so sure. Over the past several months, I’ve grown more and more intrigued by the unexplained mysteries of exactly what happened in Delvehaven. Of perhaps more interest to you as Westcrown natives, I’ve learned a bit about the artifact Bisby returned with, an artifact that was in Delvehaven at the time of Aroden’s death and that hasn’t been seen since. Notes on this artifact are vague, alas, but from an initial report sent from Delvehaven just before Aroden’s death, it would appear that the artifact had ties to a dualistic religion of light and shadow. The fact that it was only a few weeks after the House of Thrune closed up Delvehaven that the shadow beasts first appeared in Westcrown can’t be a coincidence. I suspect that they found this artifact in Delvehaven, but in so doing triggered the lodge’s defenses and caused something. I’m not saying that the source of the shadow beasts is hidden in Delvehaven, or even that the artifact is involved—but in my experience, there are no coincidences.”
Orsin the pathfinder says, "I'm sure there are quite a few mysteries in Delvehaven both magical and not. Those five names are all missing pathfinders it would be nice to bring closure to this chapter." She grins, "The missing pathfinders would bring a nice reward for proof of their fate, and that cipher poem sounds promising." Her eyes widen some, "It seems like it would behoove us to look into the missing pathfinders and the cipher poem before undertaking an entry into the Delvehaven." "You know the grave candles would be useful to interrogate the remains to learn what actually happened. That Ghaelfin the venture captain"
"Jesper Verys was a renowned pathfinder who did indeed contribute greatly to the our knowledge and understanding especially in the relationship between song and magic." She grins widely. "This opera Barolon is still being taught in most bardic colleges. His ability to use words to meld color is classic teaching."
"Are you looking to become a chronicler because you need to have authored something for another person who paid for the item." She looks at the bard, "What do you have in mind?
"From what I hear and what I have seen you have had an exciting life of adventure and you would make a fine addition to the Pathfinder brotherhood."
"I've come to learn it's best to tread lightly in the affairs of devils," Orsin replies, taking a seat opposite of Ailyn. "And thank you for your concern, but I'm alright, I just haven't slept much in the last few days. What I wanted to talk to you about was the Pathfinders. I've been reading the chronicles ever since I've had the money to purchase them and if death comes for me in Delvehaven or thereafter, I'd like to die a Pathfinder." "To live and die the life of a Pathfinder is to seek adventure, mystery and answers where life may take you. Is this a Path you desire to follow?" She smiles, "The joys of life may be simple but they can be found in most situations."
She smiles at Orsin, You look troubled, what is on your mind. Oh, and good to see you keep you temper with Khazrae." She directs you to have seat int he small study she is occupying. She slides the parchment she is working on aside for the moment.
"I know you all don't know me well and have risked yourselves on deeds I've requested." She nods solemnly, "I thank you for what you have done. I would like to remind everyone when Arael and Janiven founded this group it was to weed out corruption in the government and take back the nights for the shadowbeast." She looks each person in the eyes, "That is worthy cause to fight for it is equally important to respect the law. I worry about the group and I know Arael and Janiven have concerns. You have a member, John, who will be inducted into the Hellknight of the Scourge tonight a high honor. He is a rigid person who must obey the tenets of his philosophy to deftly seek out lawlessness
"She may be able to help with the Delvehaven mystery and the missing pathfinders." Her voice calm, "Perhaps we can let her rest for the night, then ask her a few pointed questions in the morning."
An audible, "Oh my" escapes the pathfinder's lips.
Ailyn sits down with Andrea in far corner to flip through the ledger. |
