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"You speak the word truth, but talk in riddles." Maximo arches an eyebrow at the silhouette. "The woman is of little consequence, and the lantern as well if the soul we seek is no longer bound within. Tell us, how do we save Aram Zey?" As they talk Maximo lays a hand upon Thorgrim to heal both his injuries and fatigue.
"That's it, my friends! Teamwork is the key! Niko, keep them occupied! Thorgrim, I shall watch your back for once. Quarr, I see your bombs are quite effective outside carriages as well!" Maximo's words inspire courage in his companions as he removes a small quiver and holds it toward Latheas. "Should you run out, I have a half quiver of arrows flavored with a dash of ghost salt! I suggest using the white-fletched ones first."
"A feargaunt!" Maximo exclaims upon recognizing the large nightmare. "A dream monster not unlike three-day-old fish! It is incorporeal and can damage the souls of those it touches. It may be responsible for creating these animus shades, which I am sure are figments of someone's droll imagination!" Stepping forward he waves a hand at the shades. "Begone!"
Pointing at the feargaunt, he calls out in a powerful voice that belies his advanced age. "You do not scare me! Love is the ultimate dream, and it conquers all fear!"
If Maximo is offended by being called an "Old Fart" he doesn't show it. In fact, it seems to have the opposite effect on him as his expression becomes one of disappointment. Letting Nikomedes apologize, he waits until the group is ready to move on, then steps into line with Latheas. "I do not think your hostility is well-placed upon us, my friend." He says. "Nikomedes has apologized and offered justice. That you did not let fly a blow shows character, but your words lash out to wound us all." Looking back toward the dark, Maximo puts a gentle hand upon Latheas' shoulder. "This is no place for dark thoughts. Dreams can be fickle things, and it would appear World of Dreams has found the darkest ones within us. We should not let them rule us like a sultan rules his slaves."
"Oh, pipe down boy!" Maximo commands, standing tall and looking at Latheas like a wrathful parent. "You may not want to be here. You may not believe in the tenants of the Society. But you have have made the vows required of all Pathfinders. And you are here of your own free will. Now cease your whining, accept some responsibility for your own life, and for Shelyn's sake, make yourself useful!"
Did you know about him questioning our mission? Quarr says nodding his head to Latheas. Or did you forget, seeing as your memory seems to be failing you. "Erm... Forget what?" Maximo replies, looking troubled. He reaches reflexively for his special flask, but forgets that he already used it recently. "Blast..."
A minute ago... "Curiouser and curiouser..." Maximo mutters as he studies the resting Thorgrim. "What dreams would a sleeper in the World of Dreams dream of? Is there perhaps a World of Dreaming Dreamers?" He stands up and looks off toward the darkness, then back toward the light. "What if the world we call home is but a daydream of some other reality?" Maximo's eyes widen as he suffers a lucid moment. "With each plane it would seem the laws of logic and reason unravel. If ours is not the highest plane, then such laws would become inexorable! Laws of social dynamics and thermal hydraulics! No place for a four-armed gorillas in the Mwangi Expanse!"
Nikomedes blow to Latheas startles Maximo back to reality, tenuous as it is at the moment. "Oh, I have had this dream before!"
Maximo was in the middle of a having tea with the Emporer when suddenly a trapdoor opens beneath him and he falls into a black pit. With a start he wakes into the Dreamworld in free fall. With a cry of surprise he crashes to the ground in a clatter of armor and weapons. "Ohhh.." He groans and clamers to his feet and takes in the sight of the strange place. "Well, I suppose the trip could have been far worse. At least I am clothed." Brushing the dust from his coat and tilting his helm in a dashing angle, he says a soft prayer to Shelyn and seems invigorated by the soft glow that follows.
Not the most perceptive man, Maximo wanders the immediate area of the ruined lodge, more out of curiosity then anything else. "So, we are seeking the lantern, correct? Could we not just imagine ourselves finding it?"
Fully onboard with a jaunt to the Dimension of Dreams, Maximo is undaunted by the spirited arguments over arcane theory. "Most excellent! I shall trust the method of our transport into your most capable hands." Finding a comfortable chair he sits down, kicks up his feet, and gets a head start. "Zzzzzzzzzz...."
"Unless this is an extremely clever code, it would appear someone quite mad was down here." Maximo says as he leafs through the Libram. "There is mention of a lantern though. That sounds familiar..." At Lathaes' explanation of the Libram, he ponders. "A Dimenion of Dreams you say? Perhaps we should take this back to the Grand Lodge."
"Master Grim," Maximo says in a stern voice, "If you expect Baron Maximo Interresante to behave with such dishonor, then prepare to be disappointed!" Maximo drinks his mutagen like a man on a mission and transforms into his more youthful state. Stepping past Thorgrim to lead the way he takes out a flaming stone and tosses it over his shoulder, where it takes up orbit around his head. "This way gentlemen!"
"I beg your pardon!" Maximo retorts at Thorgrim's words. "When it comes to schemes there can be no comparison between Cheliax and Taldor!" He tugs his coat straight and sniffs with indignation. "Without a doubt Taldor is far superior at scheming." He says with a little pride, then catches himself and clears his throat to amend his statement. "Ehem... it is part of the reason that those of noble heart have distanced themselves from it in favor of the Sovereign Court." "I know little of Torch but have borne witness to his legacy." Maximo veers suddenly on topic with a serious glare. "A legacy of assassinations, massacres, slavery, and greed! True, there have been a few bad apples in the Society, but one should never discard a barrel with a few bad apples when one could make cider!" Gazing off in thought, he begins talking like old men do about the good old times. "I have witnessed amazing events in my time with the Society. I was with those who climbed the Wall of Heaven and recovered the wisdom of a hundred Masters. I was there when we stemmed the Silent Tide and saved all of Absalom. I have defeated vile cultists and freed the oppressed. I have won the favor of a celestial and rescued a fair maiden from the clutches of Hellknights." Maximo smiles to himself at the memory of the lovely Paracountess. "The Pathfinder Society may not always bring good to bear, but when they do, they make a difference." And with that he draws Big Love and follows after Thorgrim.
"..does anyone have an explanation how the fog and spiderbeast came to be here? A strange and deadly combination against lesser Pathfinders..." "Perhaps a librarian misfiled a tome on evil sommonings? I'm sure it was an honest mistake. Here, let me tend to that burn." Maximo produces a wand and heals the injured, including himself.
Maximo vanishes for a moment in the flames. As they subside he reappears, standing with his greatsword as if posing for a portrait. He would look heroic, but wisps of smoke drift from his coat and an ember smolders at the end of his mustache. "Victory is ours!" He smiles and casually pinches out the ember. When Quarr approaches with the arm he gives it a Lastwall fist bump before realizing it isn't attached to the gnome. "Shelyn's glaive! What are you doing with that?" *** Maximo's mutagen wears off sooner then Quarr's leaving him drained and a little cranky and confused. Rather then aid in research this time he gathers some alchemical supplies and brews up another concoction to replenish fill his flask.
What do you even call a living book? "A plethora of pages of course!" Maximo replies as though the answer is obvious. Looking back at the locked door, he makes a "hmmm" sound and reaches into the pockets of his coat, recovering a small vial and metal flask. "I believe a toast to danger is in order here." He raises them both in a jolly salute and drinks. The effect of the vial produces a familiar glowing mist, but the flask does something quite... transformative. Color flushes through Maximo's face. As he brushes a hand over it and through his hair, a change comes upon him. His wrinkles and gray hair seem to be wiped away. He suddenly stands taller, his shoulders filling the coat that was before a little loose upon him. "Onward my friends!"
About to introduce himself with flare, Maximo is surprised into silence for a moment by Thorgrim's sudden decision to practice a foreign language. Looking to Nicomedes, he whispers in a stage-aside (meaning he's not really whispering at all). "That sounds quite like Hallit to me. Wouldn't Kelish be the more obvious assumption here with Archivist? Or the civilized tongue of Taldor." Stepping forward, Maximo drops into a deep bow. "Archivist Qilaus, allow me to introduce myself. Baron Maximo Interresante of Taldor, at your service, and in desperate need of yours this fine day. What is the reason for this heightened security you speak of? As it so happens, we are experts on exterminating trouble from ruins, sewers, lairs, and museums. Libraries should pose little challenge."
"If we don't find anything soon, I'm going to have Nigel send out for some beer and entertainment. This is lame and we need a break." "Whine?" Maximo says to Latheas. He then gestures to a refreshment platter beside him. "Or perhaps some Galtan Brie and or Rasmiran smoked sausage? That reminds me of one of my adventures. Have I told you about the Treacherous Jester of Taldor? In the end you could say the joke was on him! Hah!" At Quarr's revelation Maximo kicks out of his chair and dons his helm. "Excellent work master Quarr. Let us away to the Forae Logos post-haste, before Latheas dies of bordom, Thorgrim gets drunk, or Nikomedes roll his eyes so hard they become stuck looking at the top of his skull!"
During Latheas' rant.
"Are you sure those were demons? They appeared more gargoylish to me." Once Latheas has blown off steam, Maximo gives Nigel a pat on the arm. "Everyone's just a little excited right now. I'm sure tomorrow will be a more typical day of research." He says with regret. *** Maximo arrives to the Museum the next day with supplies suitable for a picnic. Settling down in his chair again he picks up book with a title in draconic, marked with a lace handkerchief, and continues reading where he left off. "How do they do it?" He muses to himself. "Such small words scribed with such large claws..."
"Did you say silver?" Maximo regards his greatsword with a sigh. "I suppose it is not yet time for Big Love." Grabbing a small flask from his belt he drinks the contents like a pro. "Smooooth!" A fine mist billows forth and surrounds him in a soft glow. Striding forward, he draws a silver headed hammer reserved for special occasions like now. "Silver it is then!"
"Gesun'tite." Maximo offers a traditional Hallit response meaning "health" to Thorgrim after mistaking the first attack for a sneeze. "Shon'hite!" He offers "beauty" after mistaking the second for another. He takes more notice when Latheas starts cursing and casting spells. "I beg your pardon, but..." His words are cut short as Nikomedes rushes by with a drawn firearm, forcing Maximo to protect his drink from a tragic spilling. "..my word. Who knew that research could be so exciting!" Rising from his chair, he grabs his helm from a side table of discarded books, sets it on his head at a jaunty angle, and unsheathes his greatsword.
Huge props to Maximo's player for making a dewy decimal system joke! I'm really enjoying following along. Pretty sure you're the first PbP group to run through the scenario. Props from the author! Thanks! As Painlord has often said, PbP offers many opportunities to roleplay in ways often unavailable at the table of a live game. With the group of top notch players in this game you should see all sorts of greatness. I'll try to get a review up after we've finished the scenario, and I hope you'll give us some more feedback too at some point.
GM and Nikomedes: Maximo has the Year of the Risen Rune Boon for Taldor. As I understand, it should still apply for the Sovereign Court. Does Nikomedes have it? If so, it might help here.
Year of the Risen Rune - Proud but Discouraged (Taldor): The people of Varisia stubbornly resisted Lady Gloriana Morilla's efforts to found a new aristocracy. In that time, you have learned to rely on your fellow nobles and sympathizers. Increase the bonus of any aid another action you receive from any member of the Taldor faction by 2.
As Nikomedes and Latheas dive into the large task of sifting through the archive, one eagerly and the other begrudging, Maximo stands for a moment near Thorgrim. "Yes. Good. Have at it young man." He encourages Nikomedes. "I will... supervise." Picking up a random note nearby, he frowns and offers an aside to Thorgrim. "Someone should organize this mess. Perhaps an system arranged alphabetically, or by associated numbers... Is that a Tian symbol over there? Well that complicates things immensely. Well then, I suppose it would have to be a number system. With decimals." With an abundance of curiosities cluttering up the archive, Maximo cannot contain his own for long and soon enough is rifling through papers and documents, and peering closely at artifacts and relics that he knows he shouldn't touch, but cannot resist inspecting out of curiosity's sake.
Earlier... "That's a story alright...but you didn't tell me your name..." "Did I not?!" Maximo's eyes go wide as saucer cups at the thought of a social faux pas. "Where are my manners! I..." He drops into a well-executed bow that somehow includes all gathered, "..am Baron Maximo Interresante." Now... So concerned with social graces, Maximo is quite distracted during the meeting with Nigel, though the mention of a scandal grabs his attention. "Yes... how would the Aspis Consortium even know about this secret collection?"
"Well met, master Latheas." Maximo replies in greeting, his smile changing to a thoughtful press of lips. "New to the Society? No no my friend, I have quite a long history with them. Several, in fact!" At the mention of a high death rate among Pathfinders, Maximo scoffs. "By the grace of Shelyn, I will do my best to see that no one dies on my watch. Though that does remind me of one of the many times I nearly met my own end. Years ago an evil cult of Thespians had taken up residence in Magnimar..." Maximo recounts a wild tale of adventure involving evil cultists, sea creatures, a seductive priestess, and a terrible monster lurking in the sewers. Even stranger are some of the companions he claims to have traveled with - a snake-headed woman, a living statue, and a woebegone rock.
"Many thanks, my friend!" Maximo calls after Nicodemes' carriage. Settling back in his seat he looks at the small envelope. Sniffing the contents, he wonders aloud. "Curry? What in Shelyn's name am I supposed to do with..."
*** Arriving at the Blakros Museum, Maximo exits his carriage in a cloud of smoke, smelling much like a Casmaron aloo gobi. "A bumpy carriage ride is not the appropriate place for alchemical experimentation!" He chides Quarr. Dressed in fine mithril armor and a military uniform of Taldor style, Maximo looks quite dashing. Or would have about a decade ago when the cut of his coat was still in fashion. Looking over his companions, Maximo does a double-take at Nicomedes. "You have a familiar face. Have we met before? Ah! Where are my manners! I..." He drops into a well-executed bow that somehow includes all gathered, "..am Baron Maximo Interresante." ***
Maximo strokes his fine beard as Kreighton Shaine explains the task at hand. Of course, he's heard of Blakros Museum, though apparently Quarr is an expert on the place, and so he offers little more then a sagely nod of agreement with the gnome's history lesson. "Finding this lantern should be no challenge. I mean, really, what could go wrong in a stuffy old building full of antiquities?" Obviously, Maximo has not heard the tales of previous incidents at the infamous Blakros Museum...
Oh! I had forgotten that you played Sad Rock! Wow, that was a while ago. That was one of my first PFS games on the Paizo forums (and a whole lot of fun, even though Mortika sort of vanished at the end). I've put a couple GM credits into Maximo over time since, but other then that he's earned all his xp in PBP. He's my favorite character, and I've recently out him on the slow track to get more mileage out of him. Is Sad Rock of a level that could play with this group?
"Hellooooo!" A strong voice calls from just outside Nicodemes carriage when it stops for a moment in the busy streets. Riding in another carriage beside him is an older Taldan nobleman, a broad smile displaying perfect white teeth in a weathered, but still very handsome, face. "Pardon me!" He calls before a reply is possible. "Would you have any Grey Absalom?" He asks, holding up a bottle. "You see, I have a fine vintage of Alkenstar Icewine, a freshly baked baguette, and an excellent wedge of Taldan fontina, but it could do with a robust spread. Don't you agree?" Secret: Maximo is not entirely sane, though that isn't really a secret. As he was getting older Maximo felt his physical and mental abilities slipping, and he became obsessed with restoring the vitality of his youth. His fragile state of mind is due to a failed alchemical experiment he used upon himself in an attempt duplicate the Sun Orchid Elixir of Thuvia.
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