"Considering I have no way of understanding what would be occurring, any lounge chair advice I give may fly in the face of what seems appropriate at the time you observe the event. If anything, I would suggest having something that preserves your memory. Evidence suggests that may be altered but the physical presence and remains of whatever catastrophe may be triggered by the play does survive. There must be a way to avoid forgetting and being forgotten."
Pausing to consider this, Curator Vhrest sips his tea. "Given the situation, I will have my secretary Bartleby provide you with possible leads regarding any magic items, artifacts, and obscure magics the Forae Logos is aware of which could supersede the more common and standard mind protection spells. Once your're finished outfitting and deciding how you will initiate your investigation, Bartleby should have that put together for you."
The Curator responds to Xaveer while offering his cup.
"The Decision of Adio is certainly the most descriptive in his footnotes and annotations. In fact, I believe it was the author himself that named that truncation. As for the actual scenes and language versus the occurrences, I admit I do not think anyone has thought to chart this. I will have some of our apprentice scholars get to work on trying to organize some kind of reference. Good thinking, Xaveer!"
Have 1 RC, Xaveer! I really hadn't thought of that myself.
As Ciri makes her suggestion, Curator Vhrest chokes slightly on his tea. Coughing, he waves his hand to show he's fine and once he catches his breath, he looks at Ciri very intensely.
"While you may find it necessary in the course of your investigation, I would strongly advise against doing so. While reading it should be harmless, reading it aloud or performing it in any way could greatly jeopardize you which in turn could very well put your results at risk as well. As this is less about preventing a calamity and more about discovering if indeed a recurring threat does exist within the play, adding to it or becoming the cause of it is not what I am asking you to do."
The Curator sweeps his firm gaze across the assembled Pathfinders. "While I would encourage you to do what you can to stop any supernatural or magical occurrence you discover if possible, never forget that written copies of this material are strewn across the nations of the Inner Sea. Living to return here to the Forae Logos Apocrypha in order to confirm there is a danger is more important than anything else. If you all die or fail to provide conclusive evidence of the suspicions regarding Thrice because you attempt to prevent a catastrophe, then I will be in no position to make my recommendations to those above me. We must have proof!"
He takes a moment to sip his refilled tea. "I realize the implications of what I ask, and that it will certainly be a struggle for some of you to not intervene if such a decision is before you. Do what you can to offer succor to those in need, but realize you are serving the greater good in classifying the object of your investigation first and foremost and then getting your report to me by any means necessary. After that, I give you free rein to weigh the circumstances against your conscience and act according to your own virtue. I cannot stress this enough."
The Curator laughs. "My dear, Caorann. It may seem logical to assume I know everything, but I am only human. I have no idea how old the elfess may be. I applaud your thinking however, and I encourage you to seek put playbills in the more mundane sections of the Forae Logos. You may get lucky and some for Decadence or another troupe she funded may have been transcribed if the bills were brought to Absalom."
The Curator regards Caorann with a hand holding his chin with a single finger lying across the slight smile on his face. He says nothing but seems pleased.
"I leave it to you on how best to proceed. Do not forget the resources you may find in the Stacks or even the more mundane sections of the Forae Logos." This is said with a slight chuckle.
"However, you will need to know this. Thrice has over 100,000 words which encompasses five Acts with three scenes per Act. In addition, Dahmveer von Filstein wrote an additional 47,000 words of annotations and footnotes regarding how the play could be broken up into 'teaser' pieces. Essentially miniature scenes and how they can be linked congruously. Some of the language is very interesting. Filstein was very adamant regarding some and much more relaxed about others."
The Curator pauses and finishes his tea. He looks thoughtfully at each of the staff members and then speaks again.
"I had considered explaining the premise of the play to you, but actually it would be better if you read or experience it for yourselves. I have arranged for a special transcription to be made. My secretary Bartleby should be bringing it by shortly. In the meantime, you are more than welcome to ask me any additional questions or discuss your ideas on how to proceed. I will remain with you for a time."
Reaching for his teacup, Curator Vhrest remembers it is empty. Glancing around he asks, "Would anyone happen to be feeling kind enough to make some more tea?"
The Curator listens as his staff begin to take interest in the work. Listening to some of their responses, he chuckles softly.
Coarann Llythe wrote:
Caorann listens with interest. "How very curious. When and where was the first recorded partial performance of Thrice?"
Regarding Caorann, Curator Vhrest says, "There may have been many leading up to Thrice's completion as von Filstien released the work episodically as he finished writing the scenes. He had already achieved some renown in Ustalav at that time, so the player troupes enjoyed being able to do the partial scenes leading up to a grand finale of a full performance. Or rather that was oft the case. As I said, we have no record of such a performance, but many conjectures."
Ciri de Vicque wrote:
"Who leads this troupe, Decadence, and why have they chosen to perform such a potentially disastrous play?" Ciri wonders aloud.
"Many such player troupes enjoy the danger associated with the play. Imagine their own notoriety if indeed something were to happen during or after their performance. Anyone who survived may very well become lauded and sought after regardless of their actual skill," the Curator says wryly. "As for the leader of troupe Decadence, the title of director belongs to a human with the moniker Monsieur Laurent LeBeau while the main producer holding the purse strings is Madame Farfenoix, an elven noble lady."
Responding to the various other statements made, the Curator says this, "Do not forget, your purpose is not to solve the reason behind the potentially mystic causes of these events, but merely ascertain if they are indeed resulting from its performance. Whether they are from arcane or perhaps divine means is somewhat immaterial. That is what the scholars here in the Forae Logos Apocrypha will study if your results indicate we must pursue this piece. First, we must decide if it is even worth our limited time and abundant knowledge to to make such a priority. Of course, any notes you make of your observances will be thoroughly reviewed and studied in our pursuit of answers if a worthy undertaking this proves to be.
"As for the last performance of any part...who can say truly? I mentioned a noteworthy event that occurred 50 years ago, but by no means should you assume that to have been the most recent. People seem drawn to performing this play which is itself disconcerting. I would have you make a determination once and for all. This mystery has gone on for long enough, and if it does indeed represent the threat it appears to be, we will be in a place to identify it for the Pathfinder Society, and perhaps discover a counter measure. That is on what I would have you focus. I know you will not disappoint me."
I will have more details soon, and from there we will get under way. Sorry this took so long!
"An interesting and astute conjecture, Xaveer," the Curator says, his hand lifted and finger pointing slightly in Xaveer's direction. "It is possible that is exactly what happens. The problem is we do not know for sure. Rumors of odd happenings surround this play even when it is not performed in its entirety."
Curator Vhrest settles back into his chair more comfortably and casually tents his fingers together.
"Dahmveer von Filstien is a name you will probably hear quite frequently in the Forae Logos Apocrypha. To date, he has contributed more...pieces...than any other single author to our collection. And by that, I mean to say, many of his artistic creations have been deemed unfit for the public, and therefore relegated to our care.
"Not all of his works are considered to be harmful, but we have not yet been able to discern if those which have been were intentionally meant to be...or if they were in fact altered later on for nefarious purpose. Von Filstein's creative legacy is not consistent, and years passed between the creation of one piece of apocrypha and another during which he was still actively writing and composing many works which appear harmless."
The Curator pauses and sips from his tea cup which still steams with warmth.
"One of the books of his creation which has been confined here, A Walk in the Forest, seems innocent enough. It has no special intelligence, no enchantment which attracts a reader, nothing to make one suspicious. Yet people who have read it find them selves drawn in by the words so much so that at some point they realize that it is no longer within their mind's eye they see the forest around them, but rather with all their senses. The result is that whomever reads the novel finds themselves suddenly walking on a path in the forest outside of von Filstein's home region in Ustalav. Not particularly harmful one would think, yet all of those who have done this become frantic to read the rest of the novel."
A grim expression appears on the man's face. "Unfortunately for them, when they are teleported by the book, they leave it behind wherever they were in the world. Even upon reaching home again and taking up the story once more, they will once again find themselves in the forest sans book. This obsession will literally last until the end of their life if left unchecked and has been observed to become the sole driving force completely removing any other motivation they once had."
Curator Vhrest drinks more tea and lets the information swirl.
"Now...as for Thrice itself. What we think we know could clearly be coincidence, or it may be as Xaveer suggested, and the complete play is in fact a conduit for a ritual or spell. However, one of the only things which makes this unclear is that there are inconsistent results from the completion of the play.
Everyone, roll one or both if you have them.
Knowledge (History) DC 15:
You have heard of Thrice and the odd and sometimes very disturbing things which have been attributed to its performance. As most are unsubstantiated or heard from a friend whose cousin once sat a bar with a woman whose son's best friend had performed in the play, it has always been hard to believe the rumors.
Furthermore, you know that it is most common to see scenes of Thrice performed during festivals or holidays which are celebrating the dead or darkness.
Think Halloween and people watching horror movies around that time of year.
Knowledge (Local) DC 20:
You have actually scene a performance of a snippet of Thrice whether it was just a reading around a campfire, an impromptu soliloquy in a drunken moment at the local pub, or an actual production on a stage in a theater or at a festival. You may or may not have heard of something strange or unusual happening after it was complete but there is a 15% chance it did. Furthermore, there is a 5% you actually saw the strange event.
Roll 1d100
"Thrice is usually performed over a period of days or in pieces due to the stigma of its reputation. Oh yes, even the theater community is aware that unexpected things seem to coincide with performances of the play as do many audience members. Part of the thrill of performing it and watching the performance, if my understanding is correct." Curator Vhrest seems to smile slightly at this.
"About 274 years ago, Scene 1 of Thrice was performed for the Massri household which are members of the royal family of Osirion. The following day, one of their sons apparently went wild and began attacking servants and slaves beating them and attempting to tear out their throats with his teeth. When he was finally subdued, he no longer seemed sane. He made bestial sounds similar to a large cat and didn't respond to anyone who knew him. Weeks later, a traveler told a story about a lion they had slain which they had thought was attacking them. Before it had died of its wounds, the traveler claims the lion tried to speak to him in Common, but the only thing the traveler says he was able to make out was the words 'son' and 'Massri.'"
The Curator pauses and pours more tea.
"Another such moment is a tale of a performance of The Decision of Adio which is comprised of select scenes from Thrice's Act 1, 2 and 4 and refers to a substory of one of the supporting characters contained within the play. It was performed not more than 50 years ago in Westcrown's grand theater in Cheliax. All accounts say it was a grand success, yet after the performance, the actor playing the part of Adio went on to butcher the entire cast with a large kukri. When he was found he was naked, covered in blood, sitting, and rocking himself incessantly. He kept repeating over and over, 'It had to be done. It had to be done.' The next night he was discovered literally torn to pieces in his cell, and no explanation for his behavior or his killer was ever discovered."
Once again the Curator pauses to allow the information to digest.
"I can imagine you must all be curious by now about what we know of the first full performance. If you will attend me further, I will speak it."
"The first performance of the play is suspected to have occurred about 363 years ago shortly after the work was completed. We only know this because a Pathfinder agent came across a barren field and discovered the buried ruins of what appeared to be an amphitheater. One of the items unearthed was a very damaged handbill. The most we were able to glean from it was the name Farlston—presumably a town or village, the name of the production Thrice, and the incomplete date stating the year. The reason this is significant is that there is absolutely no evidence of a town named Farlston anywhere. Not in the local government's office, merchant logs, or even the tax comptroller responsible for this area. Further evidence of a town called Farlston was discovered as more and more ruins were unearthed nearby. It seems Farlston was completely covered in earth in the years since the performance. Further corroboration of the date was found as other articles mentioning dates were discovered in the ruins and none were past the year dated on the handbill. Evidence suggests the town of Farlston had a lively trade with other populated regions making the lack of records or memory on the part of those areas rather perplexing.
"It's as if the town was somehow destroyed and erased. Of course, odd happenings in Ustalav are hardly unusual, and as you can imagine, it is difficult to assign this mystery solely as the result of Thrice but coupled with what we already suspect, I have decided the matter should be investigated thoroughly now that an opportunity to witness the full play has come."
Curator Vhrest purses his lips slightly as if hesitating, but then continues, "I feel obliged to tell you that there is no record anywhere of a complete performance of Thrice in known history. Only the one suspected full performance in the town of Falston."
"The discovery of Falston is what truly put Thrice on the watch list as possible apocrypha. Until now, the examples I gave you and the many others history has recorded of the partial productions of Thrice have never seemed to be more than coincidence possibly intentional mischief or sensationalism of the play to increase its notoriety. As there are many performances each year which do not seem to result in any such disturbances, what was there to suspect? But now...now that we have discovered Falston, and our research has proven a glaring fact overlooked for centuries. No full performance is recorded anywhere. Ever. Why is that? Is it because all the others are also erased? The ruins of their performed locations removed from memory? This is the task you have before you. Find out. And try not to be forgotten."
The Curator takes a breath. "I have more to tell you, but we can take a break for questions if you have any." He looks around the room at the staff present.
After the door closes, the Curator looks at Ciri with an unreadable expression. "I think I would like to speak with you further regarding our mutual acquaintance the young Arielle. Perhaps you may shed some light on the enigma which she represents."
Turning to Caorann, he says, "As for the god Aroden, I suggest you read the tome most recently used as a doorway." Standing Curator Vhrest approaches the book the size of a halfling leaning open against the column and closes it. The title is not in Common, but is written in an elaborate and evidently ancient tongue.
"The Death of Prophecy and the Loss of the Future. A treatise on possible causes of Aroden's death presumably written shortly after the event itself. It is written in Azlanti though not a dialect found in other examples we have of the language. Whether this denotes fraud or additional proof of its legitimacy is up for debate. That said, the suggestions it makes are things only conjectured by our current scholars, yet it speaks of many historical events as fact despite there may be little to no corroboration these events took place. It almost reads a little like a Pathfinder Chronicles volume to draw a parallel. As if the author was present at all things it mentions...which should be impossible even if you believe the events happened." Reseating himself, the Curator lifts a hand as if to say he had no stance on the conundrum.
"Be that as it may, Caorann, I suspect you will not be able to study the matter for the moment as I am sending you all on a little journey. It concerns some rumors regarding the play Thrice. There will be a performance of it, if my sources are correct, in a town east of Cassomir in Taldor. A company of players called Decadence has been traveling south from Galt. According to their catalog, they are expecting to arrive at the township of Barathal about 30 miles west of Cassomir in about a two months where their season will end with a spectacular rendition of the complete Thrice, unabridged and faithful to the original written text by the author Dahmveer von Filstien." He pauses here looking at each of his staff.
"I need you to find out more of this play and depending on what you find, either attend it's performance...or prevent it."
Curator Vhrest looks at Caorann with an amused smile. "Common history tells us it was the Starstone that allowed him to transcend this mortal world. However, I fully suspect you truly mean to ask something else."
The Curator starts to say something else, but a large tome leaning up against one of the room's many mismatched columns of various art styles opens up, and a small child emerges from within its pages. Her simple yellow dress looks a little ragged and there's some dirt smudged on her face. Her shortish chestnut hair is tousled and was obviously cut by an unprofessional hand. In her arms is a worn stuffed bear with only one glass eye, its twin long since lost. Her face is sad, and her eyes seem large and voluminous. They almost seem luminescent in the dim light of the lounge.
Raising an eyebrow, Curator Vhrest says softly, "Arielle...it has been a while since you graced our illustrious halls." Vhrest pauses and watches the girl who stares back at him with naught but a sad expression. He glances around the room at his staff, and raises a slightly placating hand. "Do you need anything?" he asks the child.
The Curator looks at the halfling knight and replies, "Choosing your questions wisely is always an investigator's greatest skill. Something I like to remind everyone." Then he winks at Xaveer.
A door opens off to the side of room between two plinths holding unique sculptures, and a man enters the Staff Lounge. The man is tall with dark hair and wears a deep blue scholar's robe which carries gold fringe on the hem indicative of his station. His linked chain of office rested about his shoulders, draping down the front of his robes. The link above the Forae Logos Apocrypha medallion stating simply "Curator" without preamble.
"Knowledge of Gallowspire is not expected to have any bearing on your assignment, but naturally one can never assume," the Curator says, his deep voice resonating with authority. He seats himself in a comfortable chair near an unlit fireplace across from the window and facing Caorann's perch.
J'thaalz'nder snaps his little journal closed and approaches the cabinet where Zayn had withdrawn the beverages. Bringing out what appears to be a tea service, the little creature swiftly brings it over and pours the Curator a cup of hot tea. All this despite the tea service being succinctly out of proportion for his Tiny size. J'thaalz'nder then offers Xaveer a small plate of biscuits which were also on the tea service conveniently enough.
After adding some cream and a sugar cube, the Curator looks over the room's other inhabitants as he idly stirs the cup's contents.
"I see curiosity in all of you. This is good. It proves you are suited for my tasks. However, we wait for but one more of you to arrive. In the mean time, I am available for your questions regarding anything you like. Choose your questions wisely." The Curator smiles displaying perfect white teeth, and then he sips his tea.
