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"I didn't really believe you when you told me of the situation here. Heck, I didn't really believe the instructors at the Academy when we learnt about the Tyrant. But now I've seen and experienced some of it. And I feel way smaller than before. I don't really know if I want to go back there to help some more or take the fastest boat out of here and never come back....And I was very afraid for you for a moment there. I'm supposed to be the one charging stupidly on the battlefield, not you. You could have been killed and I would have been helpless. There's so many death around here, I don't want to lose you on top." "Ah, no worries..." Elien replies, "Larraz fixed me up right as day. I guess I went charging in because it seemed like we needed someone to do it. I've got no deathwish, I assure you. And falling on the field of battle to a necromancer always runs the risk that you'll rise again as his undead servant. So, all the more reason to put them down wherever we find them." The investigator puts his feet up on a nearby table as he reclines on one of the sofas in the Vodavani Lodge. A tome espousing the greater mysteries of arcane magecraft sits open on his lap. "And I know what you mean about Lastwall. It's a sad country now. Renamed the Gravelands purely because of how many died there...as well as how many have been turned into the Tyrant's servants. Ustalav has its own shared history in that regard. We won our freedom, but now it seems threatened again by the Eye of Dread. All the more reason to fight it back, I say." He taps the book in front of him. "To whit, I've been doing a bit of studying on arcane spellcraft. I don't know if Oiyeron inspired me to look into it, or if it just makes sense to fight fire with fire, but adding more tools to the tool shed seems right if we're to have any hope of resisting a lich like Tar-Baphon. I'll likely come nowhere near his power, of course. But I'd like to learn enough that maybe I can help others outsmart him, or at least do my small part in taking down those who serve him." He reaches over to a small side table and lifts a goblet of wine so he can take a sip. Once he eases the cup back down, he regards Elanna more fully. "So...what next for us, I wonder? The Society's seen fit to assign us the same mission three times in a row now. Perhaps, I'll see you again on the next one? Maybe something into your homeland for a change? If not, I'll likely lend Evni a hand here at the lodge in Caliphas as I continue my studies. But I doubt I'll stay here too long. The road calls. And a Pathfinder is ever ready to heed it."
Well, then...cheers to not being permadead. :D Thanks for the game, Mr. Watery Soup. And thanks to all my fellow players for putting up with Elien's longwindedness. Until our paths cross again. Interestingly enough, I believe this gives Elien enough credit to level up. It's his 3rd full scenario completion. So, is there anything special that the leveling process requires within PFS play? I had planned on taking him into the Wizard Dedication archetype.
"Do we have time to torch the building as we leave? I don't feel like leaving anything useful we missed for the enemy to find." "Way ahead of you..." Elien responds. With his hands free from having helped carry the statue down to the cart, he's already unslung his crossbow, preparing another oil-soaked rag to rap around one of his bolts. "Get the cart moving," he says, "I'll see if I can't set the building aflame from a distance...like we did to distract that last horde on our way into Lastwall."
Once he has the missile ready and loaded, Elien lights the oil-soaked rag, raises his crossbow, and fires at the college thru one of the open windows.
"At worst, maybe they'll all think we perished in the fire...including our necromantic friend here. Or, if we're lucky, there'll be enough to smoke to also hide our retreat."
"Good show, Elanna! Resourceful as always, my dear!" Elien says as he watches the necromancer crash to the ground. Bending down, he immediately starts assisting her with binding their prisoner. "We take him with us!" he announces to everyone. "He'll stand trial for his crimes in Caliphas. I'll see to it. And, perhaps, Oiyeron...you'll get the answers you need out of him when he can be properly interrogated." He casts a glance around at Grimm, Nubie, and Kei. "The rest of you, gather what's left of the items we identified. The sword, the painting, and whatever else you may have found in the siderooms. Every second counts! Stow what you have, and get ready to carry the statue to the cart. Larraz? See if you can help Elanna drag this one out, as well. And soothe Desert Wind in case the horse has become skittish from the approaching horde."
Elien can appreciate the drama playing out well enough that he hesitates until Oiyeron has a chance to at least draw out the information he seems to so desperately need about his family. But then, Grimm's defiant roar and attempt to physically subdue the necromancer takes things in an entirely different direction. Amid the flailing arms and feet of everyone else, he slips by Grimm and rounds the corner just in time to trap their enemy between himself and Elanna. The investigator's eyes swiftly assess the unholy priest's defenses, then his blade plunges ahead.
Elien barely has time to register the grievous wound he'd drawn from the skeletal warrior before their fellow Pathfinder undid all the damage with his timely spell. "I'm so glad we rescued you, Larazz!" he shouts, pivoting on his heel to face their adversary. He sizes up his opponent, trying to recall the best means for fighting such undead, then looks for the best opening and swings hard.
Elien watches with satisfaction as his companions hack down the zombies, leaving only the skeleton impeding their way. He starts to move forward to aid Nubie, but Oiyeron's call brings him up short. As the wizard imparts his magical gem spell, the investigator nods and a new strategy comes to mind. "I'm going to make a run for the necromancer!" he explains. Then, Elien squeezes past Nubie and past the skeleton, trusting the magical gem to guard him against the undead long enough for him to reach its master.
On the way, Elien stares down the evil spellcaster, noting his defenses as quickly as he can before slashing hard with the shortsword.
"Well, this is quite the pickle..." Elien mutters under his breath. When Oiyeron indicates he's ready to set the statue down, he leans around the other side so he can see Grimm, motioning with his eyes. "One...two...three..." he softly says, and then bends his knees and lowers the heavy thing to the floor, being careful not to pinch his fingers.
"Two zombies and a walking skeleton are with him," the investigator shares, "I'll take a zombie. Elanna? Get the other one while Grimm occupies the necromancer. The rest of you? See what you can do about that skeleton."
"Yeah...okay..." Elien catches his breath as the combat is over and everyone is talking about moving the statue as quickly as possible. "I can take one end...Grimm, over there...Oiyeron...anyone else?" He prepares to lift one edge of the statue, before leaning back around the iophanite circle's flames. "Elanna, dear? Be quick with that pulley, yes? We'll have this out in the hallway shortly. Nubie? Kei? If you're not lifting, help Elanna..."
Elien briefly admires Elanna's deft bladework before looking back over his shoulder at how everyone else is doing. Seeing that only two remain after Oiyeron's timely spell, he moves between his friends and circles around Grimm to join the unusual mitflit who seems to be fighting on their side. As he approaches the centipede next to it, he looks carefully for the best opening possible before slashing down with his sword.
Elien follows along upstairs, and then grows just as alarmed as everyone else when Grimm calls their attention to the approaching threat. As Oiyeron expresses his determination to retrieve the heavy statue, the investigator listens carefully and thinks thru all the possibilities before offering an opinion. "I have a proposal then," he announces, "I'll join Grimm to put our collective brute strength to the task of assessing the statue and moving it into place so we can use Elanna's pulley system. Kei and Larraz can join us. Maybe we five can then deal with it easily enough. While we're doing that, I suggest Nubie take a quick look in the dormitories to see if there's anything worth salvaging there. Oiyeron can do the same in the study. If there's nothing readily apparent to rescue, double back to us to help ease the statue down to the cart." "Elanna? Oiyeron? If those massive creatures make better time on us that it seems, we may ultimately need to abandon the statue, climbing kit, and all but the cart to see what we've reclaimed to safety...including Larraz and his horse."
Elien is happy to hand off the blade to Oiyeron, nodding as the mage explains its significance. "That's good to know. At a minimum, it looked valuable. I'm glad it has cultural significance and we were able to rescue it." He leaves the makeshift ladder in place in case anyone else has a need for it in the future should someone fall thru the flooring at a later date. The investigator then notices Larraz. "Hello. Who's this?" Once the others introduce him, Elien shakes the half-orc's hand. "Far better to find a fellow Pathfinder alive and well. We're here to get you out, provided we can avoid any undead between here and the border." As Larraz shares more about the upper floors, Elien just listens. And when he describes the statue, he frowns a bit. "Sounds heavy. We could likely move it, and the cart might hold it, but I'm afraid it could slow us down significantly. I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a look and evaluate it. Then, we can make a decision on whether its worth the effort to carry it down."
Team GEO:
Spoiler: With the crafting of a makeshift ladder complete, Elien volunteers to climb down so he can investigate the mess below and determine if there's anything (or anyone's remains) worth salvaging for the return trip. "Thanks for the light, Oiyeron...that should help tremendously. If I find anything, I'll pass it up to Grimm."
TEAM GEO:
Spoiler: "Hold Elien, Oiyeron - that floor does not look safe... " "I noticed that, as well..." Elien nods, crouching down to peer closer at the floor boards. "They'd likely give way under our weight if we attempt to pass over them. It looks weakest there and there. Maybe we could shore it up with some stronger planks if we rest them on the anchor points closer to where they connect to the walls...which are still standing relatively stable by comparison..." He peers into the gloomy hole, trying to see down with his darkvision. "Hello? Anyone down there?" He turns to Oiyeron and Elien, raising one eyebrow, questioningly. Elien shakes his head in response, just as uncertain. Part of him fears that anything which fell thru the hole might likely be dead or undead by now. In a bold voice he calls out, pitched to be loud enough to be heard in the next room "Come Out! We Would Rescue The Innocent, and Crush The Undead! Come Out!"" Elien winces at the volume of the half-orc's voice. "No need to alert the entire floor to our presence," he cautions, "If there are creatures still here, you may draw them out and trap us against this hazard before we can find enough fighting room to take them on..." The investigator gestures towards Oiyeron. "Any chance you can help me craft something a bit steadier than those soggy boards? Or, even a makeshift ladder might suffice for us to climb down and investigate what's below. There's probably a decent chance of finding something still worth taking back with us. After all, if there were valuable relics here, they could have fallen out of sight and any scavengers who passed thru...including undead...might have missed them." Elien will enlist Oiyeron's aid in seeing if they can locate enough spare wood...possibly taken from other stronger flooring in the hallway or the neighboring walls themselves...which they can lash together into a temporary ladder to climb down and back out of the hole.
"Smashing." Elien acknowledges with his typical understated humor. "No doubt, the sweeping movement of your 10-foot chain-ball 'Bertha' will be far easier for us to avoid than the sweeping movement of your razor-sharp polearm..." The investigator looks back at Oiyeron with a roll of his eyes, certain the wizard will understand the irony even if their half-orc friend does not. "You may certainly precede us, if you wish, Master Bana..." he adds, "Oiyeron and I are happy to follow in your wake should we encounter any undead still ambling about...but, remember, if we find more zombies, they're far more susceptible to being cut down with blades than bashed with a bludgeon. So, I'll have my sword handy in case I need to step forward as you fall back..."
"Well, let's press on..." Elien urges, "I'd prefer we complete our mission and make haste for the border as soon as we can. Having to camp overnight with undead roaming about would be bad." He watches Elanna and Kei leave to check out the west room, calling after them to take Nubie as well, and he'll go with Grimm and Oiyeron to examine the west hall. "Let us know if you find anything concerning and we'll do the same with whatever we find. If anything looks unsafe, wait until I can examine it. Or if something is dangerous, just retreat to us and we'll face it together."
"I agree with you. Another one fallen after a last stand.", Elanna sighs. "I was hoping we would find some of them still alive. But there hasn't been a sign yet." "Honestly, the most capable Pathfinders probably would have found their way out of Lastwall by now if they survived the conflict," Elien notes aloud, "Those that fell were still heroes, of course. I don't mean to dishonor them or their capabilities. We're all trained extremely well. Better than most, I'd imagine. But they likely got cornered and just had no way out. Best if we don't let that happen to us. So, let's just get these remains back to our colleagues and those who would mourn them." "Where now? Do we explore the two small rooms by the stairs? Or should we keep together and do one after another?" "I think we should keep together, gods only know what's wandering around in this building still." "That's sage advice," Elien agrees as he moves among the detritus of the smashed desks, "We saw an entire undead patrol on the way to Goldenflame and then multiple zombies still active there. It's not a stretch to imagine there'd be more here in the college given that we can see several slain ones surrounding Bryrigar here." The investigator stops as he contemplates the mauled body of the gladiator as Oiyeron eases it into the bag, then turns away. "Well, I think we've nearly cleared this wing. Let's search the other and then head upstairs together." He looks after Grimm as the half-orc investigates the closet, willing to wait in case something else is turned up that they should take back with them.
"B.H." Elien pronounces the initials aloud as the new wayfinder is revealed. "It seems we've found the body of Bryrigar Hassen...the half-orc gladiator from Tymon turned Pathfinder agent. Poor man went down swinging, it appears...but zombies are best turned by blades, not fists." He looks around at the team. "We should bag him and take him back...make sure his last stand doesn't go unrecorded."
"I concur, Oiyeron," Elien responds to the discussion about the painting, having slipped into the college only after a thorough review of the small notebook in his hand. "Perhaps it was a painting of our deceased friend outside? Or mabye one of their relatives? These notes that were lying next to them are diagrams consistent with the research of many academics. Nothing related to the Society, though. So, we probably don't need to return the body with us to Caliphas. But possibly a student or instructor here at the college. And the painting is likely of someone similar." As the group starts splitting up to investigate the rest of the ground floor, Elien tags along with Elanna and Nubie for the time being, casting his trained eye around each chamber, attempting to piece together any clues as to what happened here.
"Hmmm..interesting..." Elien comments as he looks up at the impressive exterior facade of the college, "Pre-Cheliax construction. I believe there are similar buildings in Vellumis...some of which can be observed from the shoreline when passing by on Lake Encarthan. It would seem that Goldenflame College contributed quite a lot to the identify of the town. Keep an eye out for any other items we might be able to take back with us so its history is preserved." Looking down at the body, Elien then picks up the notebook lying on the stairs and riffs thru its pages to get an idea of who its owner might have been. The creaking floorboards of the steps catches his attention as Grimm and Elanna move past to enter the college. "Careful, you two..." he advises, "The claws that slew this one might still be lurking about..."
GM: Spoiler:
Elien stands by the cart, observing Grimm and Kei make plans to coax the newly arrived horse into becoming their beast of burden for pulling the cart. "Quite fortuitous..." he idly remarks to those around him, "A rider-less horse. And this one doesn't appear to be an undead zombie, so it should be infinitely less trouble...assuming our druid friend there can keep him calm, of course." Elien looks beyond the horse and around at the immediate vicinity in case the owner might also be around...deceased or otherwise.
With his circuit of the remaining buildings complete, Elien swings by everyone else's location and asks them to reconvene briefly in the town square so he can share what he's found before they continue searching further. "Hey, everyone! Great progress so far. There's two bodies now identified that we can take back with us, plus the records Elanna found in the chapel should be an important part of preserving the history of Goldenflame and Lastwall..." he explains, "Also, I did a quick check on the other buildings. I'd avoid the general store for now. There's some mold there that looks pretty concerning. Best if we don't expose ourselves to it unless we absolutely have to..." He then points out the guardhouse and apothecary. "It looks like some Knights of Ozem stayed there as guards, but they're long gone and it's abandoned now. I did see some scuff marks on the floorboards that could mean they stored or hid some items under the beds, though. If someone wants to give that a search, be my guest. Meanwhile, over there is the apothecary. It appears the townsfolk grabbed most of the necessities to take with them when they abandoned Goldenflame, but there are a lot of loose medicinal reagents scattered about that could still be valuable...particularly if any of you need to restock your own supplies." "Beyond that, what else have the rest of you found? Do you need help with anything? And remember, we're here to not only find any lost Pathfinders, but also to take back anything the town would have viewed as culturally or historically important to them. Hopefully, we can accomplish that and still travel light so we can move everything as swiftly as we can on our return trip."
"Hey, I found this body here and there was a wayfinder with GP initials. The body is small and there are ashes around that would fit with someone using fire. So I think this is Gibb Potsmasher's body. He was also an adept of Sarenrae so if we can confirm that, we should bag his body." Already on his way to the chapel with the bag Oiyeron handed him, Elien pulls up short at Elanna's declaration. "Excellent! Top work, my dear! It appears our mission is already off to a good start. Here's a bag we can use to recover Gibb's remains. I doubt we'll find any better confirmation than what you've already deduced..." "The other wayfinder we found had initials with CM. That could be the one of Clement Marten. We know he was human from Taldor. From what we've seen, it may be one of the human zombie shamblers? Elien and Oiyeron, do we have a body that could correspond to a Taldane male?" "We do indeed," Elien confirms, "After examining the bodies, I noted one of them is dressed in Taldan attire. His neck and face show significant damage from a bite wound...quite possibly the reason that zombie horse had his wayfinder stuck in its mouth, assuming poor Clement wore it around his neck." Elien looks back at Oiyeron who's continuing to examine the bodies. "Hey, my good man!" he calls out, "Do you think you could bag that one there? The one wearing the Taldan finery? He should be one of our missing Pathfinders that we need to return for burial..." "I've also got some documents here in the chapel And if I remember well, the captain told us there could be historical records stored here. Elien, do you want to sort them out or shall I do it?" "Probably best if you do it, though I'll be happy to look over the results of your work a bit later, if you like. In the meantime, I'm going to take a quick look in the rest of the buildings...starting with yours...just to see what else I can ascertain before any clues get disturbed or erased. I'm not implying anyone's doing a bad job striking out to search everything. We need all the eyes we can get if we're going to make fast work of things. I've just got a bit more practical experience with these endeavors, and if I can do a cursory examination of each site, I can probably better direct everyone's efforts to maximize our success..." "So, other than these records you've discovered...and poor Gibb's body...is there anything else in the chapel that seemed out of the ordinary? Or anything important to the town of Goldenflame that we should take back with us? I suspect you've already found the most important information, in which case, I can follow after Grimm, Nubie, Kei, or look in upon one of the other buildings..."
Thanks for laying out some alternatives. I completely understand how the nature of the investigator's class abilities can throw a monkey wrench into some scenario designs. The class is a blast to play, though! :) As for the options you described, I'd lean more towards #1. The way I've interpreted That's Odd is that it gives an immediate, cursory bit of insight, but follow-up skill checks are still needed to further refine whatever catches the investigator's eye. I think the #2 option (Red Herring feat) wouldn't be as thematically appropriate as it's tied to an investigator's Pursue A Lead activity which is more of a declared thing than what the That's Odd feat is trying to address. And I wouldn't want to go for option #3 and wind up penalizing anyone just to create an advantage for myself. The rest of the rules for their Perception and Seek/Search activities should stay intact. Lastly, option #4...while nice...would seem a bit too far reaching than the That's Odd feat. An investigator should really just get one piece of information free from having to make a Perception check...but nothing in-depth enough to fully convey why something caught his eye exactly...just that something seems out of the ordinary with respect to one sensory aspect upon entering an area.
Elien joins Kei at the fountain, using the water there to wash his hands as well as the wayfinder he'd managed to free from the horse's mouth. "I believe we've now got our first proof of a Pathfinder here in Goldenflame," he remarks to the druid, "But considering it came from the mouth of an undead horse, I fear that doesn't bode well for whoever it belonged to..." He looks around the plaza and the various buildings with a cautious eye. "So, where'd everyone else get off to? It's probably not safe to wander around alone. There could be more undead skulking about..." Once Kei points out where their comrades went off exploring, Elien nods and tucks the wayfinder into one of his pockets before taking his leave. "Keep an eye out and give us a warning if you see anything dangerous," he recommends, "I'll go help the others with their search. I've got a knack for uncovering clues, you know..."
"Sorry Oiyeron, I should not talk like that... you don't know where your family is and I'm just complaining about fighting zombies..." Elien looks over at Oiyeron as Elanna apologizes for creating any possible anxieties over the wizard's missing family members. He tries to give a reassuring smile despite the grim task at hand. "Yes...well..." he circles back to Elanna's professed discomfort with the undead, "Be thankful for the smell at least. It aids in identifying them before they latch onto you. And that makes it all the easier to put them down again. Honestly, it's the ones you don't smell...shadows, ghosts, spectres, and vampires...that should truly worry you. They're far more dangerous...and cunning. Ustalav's history is full of such legends or tales. And the Whispering Tyrant was known to command them all...not just these...footsoldiers, I suppose." "Nevertheless, you're right. They were people before. It's best to just think of them as they were and not as they are now. If we had time to bury them or set a funeral pyre, it would be nice. But I fear we need to make haste before any more patrols identify us here. In the meantime, let's see if they left any clues behind that could make our job easier."
"Eeerk! If it doesn't work, I can try that as well, but I'm pretty sure that was not part of the job description when I signed into the Society." "While your hands are infinitely more dainty than mine and could likely succeed far more easily, Elanna..." Elien quips, "...I thought I'd save you from the disgusting task as any true gentleman would for a lady such as yourself. My only regret is I'll probably need to wash my hands afterward. I hope that fountain isn't fully dry yet. Maybe Kei can let us know?" He looks after the departing druid and calls out, "Let me know if there's any water over there. I'm going to be feeling a little unclean after this..."
"Hard to say what it is without removing it. Someone willing to give this a try? I'll go search the fountain in the meanwhile" "Sure, I'll give it a try..." Elien offers, "I don't mind getting my hands a bit messy, if necessary. I wonder who this horse belonged to...?"
The investigator then suggests that he'll look over the felled zombies to see if he can make sense of who the victims were.
Hearing Grimm recite the battle cry of those who once stood watch over these lands, Elien feels a rush of righteous anger to punish the undead attacking them. But even with his blood running hot, the investigator keeps his head and looks for the best opening before lashing out at the horse's legs. "Cut them down!" he shouts.
"Quite right!" Elien acknowledges Oiyeron's warnings. "Blades out! Let's form a line!" He then studies the stances of his companions and the approaching gait of the zombies, before making his calculated move. Stepping up to anchor their defense between Elanna and Grimm, he slashes hard at the nearest undead monstrosity once it comes into reach.
...Kei's gaze deviated towards what he thought looked like a horse...."Look at that! Isn't it cute? Nature finds a way to prevail even in dark environments like this one. I wonder if the Whispering Tyrant has a soft spot for animals..." "I highly doubt it," Elien interjects, "We're all animals, Kei. And, if history is correct, Tar-Baphon has no soft spot for anyone or anything. In fact, people are just a higher order of animal, because we can exercise rational thought. But, perhaps more concerning, all animals can become undead. Not just people. And that horse isn't moving quite right. The only conclusion I can draw is it's either wounded or an animated unliving thing now. Given no one seems to be in town, I lay odds it's the latter." "Eyes on, everyone - this is no longer a theoretical research project, Mr Elien. The eyes of the dead may be watching..." "Indeed, Mister Grimm. I believe you're quite right." Elien draws his blade and keeps it in hand. "Everyone make sure to proceed with caution. Keep your eyes and wits about you. We can start looking around, but stay together until we know what we're dealing with..." The investigator moves along with Nubie and Grimm, putting his own skills of observation to work.
GM:
Spoiler:
"Yeah...that undergrowth looks a little too thick to my liking," Elien states, "Our drummer friend here probably has the right of it." The investigator draws his blade and moves to follow in the Grimm's wake, slashing at any remaining vines or briars that might otherwise snag him.
"Whew! How invigorating!" he calls out to his companions, "There's nothing like a hike up a steep hillside...followed by a stealthy escape from an undead army...and then some safari-style exercise to get the blood pumping. I do hope all this effort isn't wasted in seeing us to Goldenflame in record time. But at least any of the Tyrant's spies will have a harder time spotting us among all this vegetation! Can anyone see our Terrifying friend up ahead? I daresay I lost sight of him already..."
"Maybe I could create a makeshift flaming bolt for my crossbow and fire it off this hillside in a different direction from us? With any luck...it might catch a bit of dry grass on fire and a bit of smoke to draw eyes away from us while we scramble down the other side..." Elien proceeds to draw upon some of his alchemical ingredients, a bit of twine and a flammable fuse so he can light one of his crossbow bolts on fire. He then lines up a shot towards a particularly distant area, counting on the height of the hillside to give him the maximum possible range.
Once the bolt is away, he encourages everyone to keep their heads down until he can determine if any smoke has begun from the impact area. Assuming it draws the interest of the oncoming patrol, he then guides everyone down the other side of hill with instructions to keep low and use whatever cover they can find along the way to avoid being seen.
Elien watched with some trepidation as Elanna made the climb, but knew better than to doubt the scout's expertise. He only hoped she could map out a route that would work well for everyone else, too...and that included him. Unfortunately, it appeared the rest of their party was no better at scaling such a hill as he'd be. And before he even had a chance to begin his own climb, he heard the voice of Kei hurrying up behind him. The investigator's hands strayed towards his weapons belt just in case he needed to defend himself, but the young Tian seemed harmless enough. "Hello there," he greets the newcomer. Once Kei introduces himself and explains his presence, Elien nods sagely. "I've been a late arriver a time or two for a mission, as well. But no worries. We're glad to have you. The more the merrier on this trip. After all, the Gravelands...formerly Lastwall...are such a grim place." He points up at the rise where the others are still struggling their way. "We intended to make this a shortcut to speed our arrival into Goldenflame...though, if I'm being honest, it looks like this effort may just wind up slowing us down. You're welcome to give it go if you wish...and I'll follow behind in case you need assistance." He then watches Kei start his climb before beginning one of his own.
"Elanna, my dear?" Elien speaks up, "I believe you're the best of us when it comes to scouting experience. Do you think you can find us a way up and over that rise rather than having to follow the road around it? Might save a bunch of time in searching for these remains and relics if we can get to Goldenflame quicker. And, with any luck, we might avoid the Tyrant's undead altogether and be back in Caliphas before anyone knows we were there..."
"Goldenflame...goldenflame? Hmmm...let's see if I can recall anything pertinent about that area of Lastwall..." Elien muses for a bit while Evni answers Elanna's questions, his eyes occasionally glancing over at the kobold newcomer still trying to get the poor gnome's attention. '' he thinks to himself, '' Finally, he looks up at the Venture-Captain and adds a few queries of his own. "The Gravelands are still a bit of a warzone, yes? Occupied by undead servants and foul followers of the Whispering Way, no doubt? Given that we'll be crossing at the relative security of the border, how will we be traveling overland to Goldenflame? By horse or on foot? I'd imagine it could be slow going if we're expected to walk into the region...and, even though it might draw more attention to us, I can only imagine a few mounts would go a long way to speeding our journey there and back." "Secondly, provided we find the remains of any Pathfinders or various relics or histories worth reclaiming and preserving, how will we be expected to transport them out of Lastwall and still avoid the Tyrant's forces? I mean, depending on how much we find, it could slow our pace considerably, making us an easy mark...and we might have to drop such prizes in order to make a run for the relative safety of the border again." "Thirdly, since it doesn't appear we have a priest accompanying us, are there any other resources we can take with us to combat the undead? Holy water, perhaps? Is that something anyone here could provide to improve our odds?" "Fourthly, has anyone recently emerged from the area around Goldenflame that we could consult with and get a better sense of the lay of the land? Obstacles to steer clear of? Areas of continuing violence? Observed troop movements? And that sort of thing?" "Lastly, are there any other allies inside Lastwall we could call upon or seek out for assistance or protection during our mission? And, if so, I assume the papers you've provided will serve as our bonafides, yes? Or, is there any other way we should identify ourselves to secure their cooperation?"
"...Do any one of you know how to fight these things?" "I know a fair amount....I've spent most of my life learning about and researching the undead and related magical artefacts. How best to protect against them, mostly. I've been on more than a few patrols myself, using my magic to defend against undead attacks. I will do my best to share all I know--when it is needed." "I have a few books I can reference on the subject," Elien adds to the conversation, "...mostly from the research I undertook for my publication. While a lot of it is simply historical data pertaining to the rise of Tar-Baphon and the myths of his conflicts with Aroden and the Shining Crusade, it sometimes included descriptions of his undead legions and the atrocities they committed in the lich's service. I'll be sure to review what I have and see if I can jot down some excerpts that could prove useful for us." GM:
Spoiler:
"Ah. I am sorry for your loss, Oiyeron. There are similar tales all across the shores of Lake Encarthan. Refugees are pouring in from Lastwall. I prefer to still call it that, rather than the Gravelands, honestly. We patriots here in Ustalav have always honored and respected those who took vigil over Gallowspire. We know the horrors of the Tyrant just as keenly, both from our ancient history and now in the present. So, their sacrifices across so many generations will never be forgotten in these lands." "You might be unaware, but I myself recently penned a book on the histories of Tar-Baphon across the Ages. It was something I dabbled in researching back before the troubles began and then more earnestly when he escaped. I used to read excerpts from it in the marketplace below this very lodge, urging my countrymen to accept the refugees and take up arms to resist Tar-Baphon, lest we repeat our past. I also feared the Tyrant's gaze would be upon us shortly after Lastwall fell...but then he turned towards Absalom...presumably because of his long history with Aroden who rose the Starstone from the Inner Sea. In Caliphas, we both celebrated and feared that outcome. I can't imagine what that lich would do if he somehow used the Starstone to ascend to godhood like the legends describe." "All in all, it seems our world is changing," Elien finishes, "That's not to say it hasn't changed before. It surely has across the Ages. But I think perhaps we've entered a new one now. And it's up to us to decide how it too will end."
"I'm Oiyeron Marduzi....If there's anything I've learned staying here at the Lodge these past few months, it's how to deal with grumpy door guards. If we're quiet and don't disturb the peace, the Captain will see us when she's ready. Come on in." "Nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Marduzi. Elien Psirec, at your service..." The investigator looks around as they enter the Vodavani Lodge, "I was actually curious to see if Dr. Trice was here, as well," he explains, "Beaurigmand is my Venture-Captain, you see, as I'm a local here in Ustalav. I know the missive we received was from Evni Zongnoss...a refugee from Vigil since Lastwall fell...and Trice has no doubt given her leave to use our headquarters while he ministers to his patients. You know this facility is also an asylum for many who suffer from madness and mental trauma? The doctor has been quite busy dealing with the aftermath of Tar-Baphon's destruction. I'm sure he has many new supplicants seeking his skills...so, perhaps we'll only be seeing Evni after all..." His voice trails away as they ascend the stairs and enter the room attached to the balcony where they saw the half-orc from the street below. Once Oiyeron produces such a hearty repast, he defers to Elanna so she can partake ahead of him. And he remains quiet for a time as Grimm joins them. "You two look like each other's shadow image! Are you together?" "We've certainly traveled quite a ways together," Elien responds, "Most recently by way of the River Kingdoms, but we've gone as far north as the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, as well. Elanna here's a scout...and a darn good one. I'm more of a scholar and an investigator of strange occurrences and superstitions...mostly with an eye toward righting wrongs and explaining the unexplainable while safeguarding the innocent against things best left alone." "Newly inducted to the Society, and within a week of arriving at Elidir, the Venture Captain despatches me to Caliphas for my first mission! "There's no time to loose" they said, "We want you out of here immediately" they said....Do you know what were are needed for? With the Whispering Tyrant defeated at Absallom, this mission to the 'Gravelands' should be interesting, right? Something to incorporate into a song, after, perhaps?" "Or the Chronicles..." Elien adds, "I'm afraid I've a talent more for the quill than a lute or piano. Thus, I look forward to telling our tale within the written word rather the musical version." He selects an apple from Oiyeron's basket and draws a slim dagger to carve off a slice. "As for the Gravelands, their new name is well-earned, as the circumstances of their razing is both the gravest outcome imaginable...and I daresay, it's sent a great many stout defenders and watchmen to their grave. Or, perhaps worse, the dead have yet to be put to rest and they still walk those lands carrying out the will of the Whispering Tyrant and his followers." "In truth, part of the reason I joined the Society was to apply myself to countering the lich and protecting my homeland. So, whatever mission Evni has in mind, I hope it will lend itself to that goal..."
"You're quite correct, my dear. I have...no idea...who that is..." Elien whispers in return. Then, he politely waves and smiles at the stranger on the lodge balcony before guiding Elanna across the marketplace and up the stairs to main entrance. "I wonder what's keeping Evni? Shouldn't he be here by now?" Opening the door, he calls out to anyone inside. "Hello? Anyone home?"
"You know, I would have thought you’d be happier to go back home. Or am I just reading you wrong?...I sort of noticed you talk a lot about what you learned, back here in Caliphas or in Lepidstadt, but not about your family or any friends you may have had here ? Are we going to meet someone not very happy to see you when we round the next corner ?" "Hah!" Elien smiles, "I suppose many adventurers come from broken families with their own little melodramas or extreme rivalries, but my upbringing arose from no such troubles. My parents owned a very successful business, tailoring the various fashions of the day for commoners, middle class, and nobles alike. It was their hard-earned coin that bought me access to the studied halls of Lepidstadt University. And I felt a great weight of responsibility to ensure it didn't go to waste...unlike a fair number of other rabble-rousers who sought only to wine and entertain themselves while sullying their family's good name." "No, Elanna. There's no hardship or ill will between me and my family in Ustalav," he continues, "When I left Lepidstadt and came to Caliphas, it was for a very different reason. A girl, if I'm telling the truth. Amelie Debrujette, daughter of a noble family in Caliphas with ties to the Palatinates on her mother's side. We met at the university while her famiy was summering in northern Vieland. We dallied in romance for a brief time, but of course, she's from a much higher social standing than I could ever expect to attain. Hence, our relationship wasn't meant to last, and we both knew that, so we parted on good terms. Last year, her parents betrothed her to a more well-placed lad, a martial sort, and a member of the knighthood. Last I heard, he was called up when Tar-Baphon broke free of Gallowspire. So, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's involved in the Gravelands now. I hear they're still evacuating people on ships out of Vellumis, and Ustalav has taken in its fair share of Lastwall refugees already. But part of me fears for Amelie. She must be worried sick for her fiance's safety..." The investigator gives a wan smile. "And that's the source of my pensive thoughts this morning. When I left Caliphas to pledge my service to the Society in Absalom, I was never really sure if I'd be coming back here...or if I'd even have a cause or reason to see her again. Now, the Whispering Tyrant is loose. A Venture-Captain has a mission for us in this part of the world. And here I am wondering if she's okay..." He soon changes the topic so he can regale Elanna on the various aspects of the capital city as their footsteps take them away from the docks and deeper into the Ashtown district. "Prior to joining the Pathfinders, I did a fair amount of work over there at the Quarterfaux Archives, you know?" He points out the large building in the distance, only marginally visible thru the lifting fog. "I would catalog Osirion artifacts for the museum. And I used to write a treatise or two on Ustalavian heritage. And when the troubles started, I'd read excerpts from my book on the history of Tar-Baphon there in the central market, trying to encourage my countrymen to support those seeking to counter his threat to the region." His voice trails away as they continue walking and the Vodavani Lodge finally comes into view down the cobblestone street. "There's our destination," he nods, "The market seems a bit subdued this morning. There's usually twice this many vendors out by this hour. Times are certainly a lot different now."
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