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Mozzel Ann who has been waiting patiently for her friends stories chimes in with the story of her own commencement at this point
Well, you know I hate to talk about myself, I’d rather tell you a grand story about the exploits of the great heroes of the past or the gods who watch over us, but my commencement into the pathfinder society started back when the acting group I belong too was putting on an Opera in the theatre house. I had done up the hair of Rula, the woman who was playing Vibia in the play, and it looked spectacular, even if her skin looked a bit sickish in the light that night. Anyway, Rula and Pavo were out on the stage for Vibia’s death scene, when all of a sudden out of nowhere a giant black spider the size of a man appeared in the center of the stage. Rula and Pavo were so engrossed in their acting that they didn’t even notice it come near them, and before anyone in the audience could react the spider had already vaulted itself off the stage and onto a fat lady who was sitting in the front row, where it began ripping into her, it completely mauled her face. Anyway, a few adventurous types who had come out to see the play stabbed the creature (the spider not the woman) with all manner of swords and daggers which brought it down. A drunken cleric of Cayden Cailean who had come out to see the show patched the woman up with a few spells, although I think he might have gotten where her nose should be on her face a bit off, but overall it was probably an improvement over what her face looked like before.
Anyway, of course there was an uproar over a mysterious attack in the middle of a performance. Our theatre house dates back to what may even be before the founding of Magnimar itself, and it’s been known to hold an unusual secret or twenty here and there, it’s what happens when you have too many magic users interested in art over time. So, anyway, the pathfinders requisitioned a search through the records of the playhouse to see if they could find any information about how the creature might have appeared there, but they needed a bit of extra help because most of the records in the playhouse have been written in Halfling. You should see some of the funny things that Liek Manius had written about the Chelaxians in the city. Liek seemed to be quite the eccentric Halfling, he didn’t even seem to care about what his personal appearance looked like. I can tell you there was no love lost between him and the Chelaxians. Anyway, it happened to be in his writing that I first found a reference to a ghost appearing on the stage suddenly always giving the audience a shock. After looking through the rest of the records written by him (totaling over 30 volumes I might add) I found a story about how he had befriended a traveling wizard who loved to see the plays in the theatre and felt he could help out to make the show more interesting. Our theatre does not have any kind of trap door built into the stage, so they were looking for a creative way to get actors onto the stage. Well this wizard really knew his stuff, and he was apparently rich to boot, anyway he set up a circle of teleportation from the basement of the tower where he was staying to the center of the theatre stage, but they had to stop using it whenever the tower above it collapsed. He had also rigged it so that to activate the circle someone at the theatre had to step on exactly the right part of the stage off to the right.
Those were all the clues that I could gather from just the records in the theatre themselves, which of course led the society to worry that there was a breech in the Irespan somewhere, it’s full of those giant spiders you know, so they were off to search the city for wherever the entrance to this teleportation circle might be. I knew that the tower probably would not be very far from the theatre, or else it would be a terrible time for an actor to get back to the entrance of the teleportation circle if they needed to appear twice in a single play, which honestly narrows down the searching quite a lot, it also didn’t hurt that I knew about the ruins of a nearby tower that was said to have collapsed during the invasion of the giant spiders that occurred whenever some magistrate or another tried demolishing the Irespan. So, I went to the ruins of the tower. Now this was really the delicate bit of the work. I did not really have any way of telling if some of the giant spiders had been trapped in the basement of the tower when the rest of the tower fell, or if there was a subterranean breech leading from the Irespawn to the tower ruins. So, what I ended up doing was just checking the upper layer of the ruined tower, to make sure there wasn’t any kind of path down to where the basement should have been, but it seemed like it was sealed up pretty tight. After that I went back to the theatre and found the trigger spot on the stage, which wasn’t too hard using detect magic, knowing to look for a strong conjuration aura, and knowing exactly where the actor’s had been on the stage that night. Of course, using detect magic around the stage has always been kind of taboo as far as I can remember, there’s so many different layers of overlapping magic up there, that different people have permanently added over the years without ever bothering to remove. Anyway, I spent a week “triggering” the teleportation circle, waiting for another giant spider to pop out of nowhere and attack us, but no other creature ever appeared, and I am sure the people at the theatre must have triggered that circle dozens of times before without realizing it. Therefore, it is our assessment for now, that only the single spider survived the collapse of that tower during their invasion, and hopefully over time I will prove to be right about that, but for now, the actors are avoiding stepping on a certain square of the stage.
Therin grins a bit, pleased to tell his story with his own share of embellishment.
"Well for my Confirmation, I was sent to Riddleport with the task of gathering some information on boss Kroat's thieves guild. I was working for him a few weeks when things went a bit nuts in town. Turns out a bit of starmetal was uncovered on an island near there. Boss Kroat took a few of us and made his way over there to try and get whatever starmetal he could first. Seemed like as good a chance as any to get in good with the boss, and to maybe learn a bit about the starmetal too. Turns out there was a lot more to the island then we thought. Some weird creature wiped out most of the gang, there was a ghost haunted tower, and the other guilds who showed up didn't exactly get along. Still we fought our way back to the mainland, I got my story, and the boss got a bit of a profit to boot."
1d20+5 Bluff Check(I am assuming he isn't attracted to me, otherwise it is one higher)
Canayven listens intently, nodding as the story concludes. "I heard about the starfall up near there," he says, smiling broadly. "Very impressive work! Were you able to collect any samples for analysis or conversion into artifacts? I was given to understand that the starmetal found there wasn't adamantine, which I find quite fascinating!"
For a moment Corath is silent.
"My Confirmation was not nearly as exciting as Therin's. I was given the task of finding the Moonwing, a small bird with ivory-clored feathers. It is very small, very fast, and only lives in the deepest part of whatever forest it chooses. It is actually just a small white raven. Took me three months to find it's nest though, and another two to actually capture it. When I made it back and learned the Moonwing was to be some spoiled brat's pet, I released, saying that my task was only to show proof I had caught it. The foolish child actually said since I released his pet, he should get Prettykill, then tried to put a leash on her. I believe the local healers were able to reattach his finger, and rumor has it he is better behaved now."
The knight roars with laughter. "I would imagine so," he says, chortling. "Your... companion... fascinates me. I have no small amount of experience in the outdoors myself, but I confess to being more than a little wary of the idea of attempting to tame - or even just ally myself with! - such a creature. I remember seeing a herd of those thunder-footed long-necked ones - 'ven-g'thesh,' the locals called them, but I think they're called brachiosaurs in the Jistkan taxonomy - while examining a temple to the Ape Lord in the depths of the Mwangi Expanse. Majestic creatures!" He chuckles at the memory, then refocues his attention on Corath. "I sympathize with your decision regarding the nobleman's toy, but I hope you were at least able to get some accurate drawings and notes?"
Ar'dreth takes a drink and clears his throat after Corath finishes his story.
"My confirmation consisted of retrieving documents from a local arms shop that proved they were participating in illegal commerce. I was told not to harm anyone and that defensive spells would be best. As night fell I approached the building from the back and could see three men through the window sitting around a table which held the documents. When the time was right I cast sleep on the men and used a scroll of knock that was provided by my contact on the back door. It was a very easy mission after that. The shop ended up being closed down and the owner sent to jail. A just mission, but I would have rather done something more intriguing."
Canayven strokes his chin thoughtfully, exchanging a glance with his wife at the opposite end of the table. "Worthy indeed, but I can understand your interest in excitement. Perhaps there's something I can do about that." He waves any questions away, though, saying, "Let us save business until after dinner."
Mozzel Ann who has been waiting patiently for her friends stories chimes in with the story of her own commencement at this point
Well, you know I hate to talk about myself, I’d rather tell you a grand story about the exploits of the great heroes of the past or the gods who watch over us, but my commencement into the pathfinder society started back when the acting group I belong too was putting on an Opera in the theatre house. I had done up the hair of Rula, the woman who was playing Vibia in the play, and it looked spectacular, even if her skin looked a bit sickish in the light that night. Anyway, Rula and Pavo were out on the stage for Vibia’s death scene, when all of a sudden out of nowhere a giant black spider the size of a man appeared in the center of the stage. Rula and Pavo were so engrossed in their acting that they didn’t even notice it come near them, and before anyone in the audience could react the spider had already vaulted itself off the stage and onto a fat lady who was sitting in the front row, where it began ripping into her, it completely mauled her face. Anyway, a few adventurous types who had come out to see the play stabbed the creature (the spider not the woman) with all manner of swords and daggers which brought it down. A drunken cleric of Cayden Cailean who had come out to see the show patched the woman up with a few spells, although I think he might have gotten where her nose should be on her face a bit off, but overall it was probably an improvement over what her face looked like before.
Anyway, of...
Canayven's eyes widen in surprise as the gnome finishes her tale. "You are from Magnimar?" he says in a pleased tone. "I had no idea we had requested someone local!" He subsides, though, seeming thoughtful. "An active teleportation circle in the city... what a concept! I hadn't heard of any arcanist in the area with such capabilities."
Somewhat unexpectedly, Sheila speaks up, her voice quiet but commanding. "Do you still have those notes? I can only imagine what we might learn from a wizard of such powers."
Therin nods his head slightly at the question after he finishes listening to the others tales. "Just a small scrap, however, and I didn't keep it myself, I left it with the chapterhouse I was working under of course. Hopefully they will learn much from it, as the boss certainly wasn't too pleased to give it up."
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Well you see I never actually got access to any of the wizards records. If there were any I suppose they would be buried beneath the ruins of that tower though. The records of Liek in the playhouse didn't really provide much more on his friend, who didn't seem to be a permanent resident of the city, but Liek always seemed to refer to him very highly. The attack from the Irespan spiders was quite a few years ago, but I suppose it might be possible that the wizard was still alive (I don't even know what his name was). Also, I don't have my notes on me, but I do still have copies of the notes from the investigation at the theater house and a copy should have been added into the pathfinder archives. It seems slightly odd to me that the entrance to the circle was placed outside the theater, it seems that it gave a few actors quite the run in between scenes, but I suppose it was more convenient for the wizard who was helping out to make it from his own lab
Also, I'm not actually from Magnimar, I'm originally from Korvosa, but I have been living here for the past five years.
Will Save
Ar'dreth sits and listens intently but shows no sign of being anymore fascinated with Mozzel's story than any others.
Ar'dreth replies to Canayven's comment in a steady yet excited tone. "I cannot wait to hear what business awaits us, but for now let us eat and converse."
The knight roars with laughter. "I would imagine so," he says, chortling. "Your... companion... fascinates me. I have no small amount of experience in the outdoors myself, but I confess to being more than a little wary of the idea of attempting to tame - or even just ally myself with! - such a creature. I remember seeing a herd of those thunder-footed long-necked ones - 'ven-g'thesh,' the locals called them, but I think they're called brachiosaurs in the Jistkan taxonomy - while examining a temple to the Ape Lord in the depths of the Mwangi Expanse. Majestic creatures!" He chuckles at the memory, then refocues his attention on Corath. "I sympathize with your decision regarding the nobleman's toy, but I hope you were at least able to get some accurate drawings and notes?"
"I admit, had I not raised her from an egg, I would feel the same as you. As for notes and drawings, I'll admit they're not very well done, for I Usually do not write about or draw what I'm hunting. As I said, it was not more than a small white raven. The 'magical abilities' it had were no more than cleverness on the bird's part and children's stories. I may still have an etching if you wish to look at it."
Therin nods his head slightly at the question after he finishes listening to the others tales. "Just a small scrap, however, and I didn't keep it myself, I left it with the chapterhouse I was working under of course. Hopefully they will learn much from it, as the boss certainly wasn't too pleased to give it up."
"I would imagine not," Canayven nods. "I will make inquiries, in case they have learned something of note. Otherwise, I'm sure we will see something in the next edition of the Chronicles."
Well you see I never actually got access to any of the wizards records. If there were any I suppose they would be buried beneath the ruins of that tower though. The records of Liek in the playhouse didn't really provide much more on his friend, who didn't seem to be a permanent resident of the city, but Liek always seemed to refer to him very highly. The attack from the Irespan spiders was quite a few years ago, but I suppose it might be possible that the wizard was still alive (I don't even know what his name was). Also, I don't have my notes on me, but I do still have copies of the notes from the investigation at the theater house and a copy should have been added into the pathfinder archives. It seems slightly odd to me that the entrance to the circle was placed outside the theater, it seems that it gave a few actors quite the run in between scenes, but I suppose it was more convenient for the wizard who was helping out to make it from his own lab
Sheila studies Mozzel for a few moments, looking thoughtful, before leaning back in her chair with a slight nod and returning to her dessert. Sir Canayven shakes his head ruefully. "Ah, madam, I fear you have tempted my wife beyond reason. She too is a practitioner of the arcane arts - in her case, it is the ancient Harrowing traditions of her people - and she will not be able to resist exploring that tower now! If you could find those investigation notes, we can begin planning the excavation. Perhaps you will assist us when you return from your first expedition?"
Also, I'm not actually from Magnimar, I'm originally from Korvosa, but I have been living here for the past five years.
Canayven nods sympathetically. "Ah," he says, "I believe I understand. The plight of the halflings in what passes for Chelaxian culture these days pains me to see. I trust your time here has been more comfortable."
"I admit, had I not raised her from an egg, I would feel the same as you. As for notes and drawings, I'll admit they're not very well done, for I Usually do not write about or draw what I'm hunting. As I said, it was not more than a small white raven. The 'magical abilities' it had were no more than cleverness on the bird's part and children's stories. I may still have an etching if you wish to look at it."
"I would indeed. Magic or not, I am always interested in new species," Canayven says.
At last the servants clear away the remains of dessert, and Canayven and Sheila rise to their feet. "Please, join us in our study for drinks, and we will discuss matters of greater consequence," Sir Canayven says, gesturing toward a hallway. A few steps later, he shows you into a simple, if spacious, wood-paneled room, with leather armchairs scattered around and several small tables and bookshelves placed almost randomly. The wall space not covered by bookcases is instead concealed by large framed maps, mostly of the territories around Magnimar and across Varisia, but a few seem to be of the Mwangi Expanse, and one or two more are of places none of you can easily recognize.
At one end of the room, a large desk sits beneath a map of Varisia fully five feet across, and it is here that Canayven leads you. The desk is covered with papers, but for the moment, they are ignored. Sheila moves across the room to stand in a corner, behind her husband, watching you all.
"Every Venture-Captain handles his Pathfinders in a different fashion," Sir Canayven begins. "For some, every mission is an assignment, with all research and exploration at the specific direction of the Captain himself. For me, however, that simply wouldn't work; I am far too interested in the many things my fellows want to investigate to choose among them. I would much rather have you come to me with projects, and help you find the resources you need to undertake them.
"That said, however, I am going to break that policy for your first work here. Think of this as a second Confirmation of sorts - much like your instructors in Absalom, I want to understand what your strengths are, and I can't think of a better way to find out than to put you into the field.
"So here is my assignment for you all." He turns to the Varisian map and places a long, thin finger on a spot perhaps 90 miles up the Lost Coast, in a deserted area roughly halfway between Magnimar and Riddleport, at the southern edge of the Fogscar Mountains. According to the map, the closest town is Galduria, more than 40 miles away. "Last week, a contact of mine aboard a fishing vessel reported seeing something unexpected when a sudden western wind blew her ship nearly into the rocks here. As you may or may not know, the Fogscar Mountains rise right up out of the Varisian Gulf here, a geological oddity that I believe marks some kind of catastrophic origin for them. The result is that all through this area, the coast is sea cliffs. My contact told me she had seen something in one of those cliffs: an opening, leading into the rock itself. Though sea caves aren't terribly common near there, she likely would have dismissed it as such if not for two things: first, a rock jutting out from the water in front of the cave, that despite the actions of wave and wind was still clearly worked stone, a statue of a human figure, and second, carved into the stone over the cave, the ancient Winged Eye symbol of the church of Aroden."
Canayven's voice grows excited as he continues. "For some time, I have believed that a lost holy site of Aroden was to be found in this area. Ancient reports suggest that, in the wake of Azlant's collapse and the start of the Age of Darkness, Aroden's first footsteps on the continent of Avistan were here, in Varisia. The reports called the place where he came shore 'the Mirrored Sanctuary,' and claimed that, even after Aroden's Ascension to divinity, he would sometimes return there to contemplate the world. The Mirrored Sanctuary was supposedly a natural cave, and some of Aroden's first faithful were said to have built a shrine there; as the barbarism of the Age of Darkness continued, however, the location was lost." For a moment, Canayven merely studies the map, all but bouncing on his toes in his enthusiasm. "The information we have suggests that this cave could easily be the entrance to the Mirrored Sanctuary. I had been planning to lead an initial survey myself, but I can think of no better way to introduce you all to the possibilities of research here in Varisia than to send you instead. I will of course expect a full report - and I would expect you would want to write it up anyway, for the Chronicles, right? - but I would like to give you the chance to be the first to see what secrets, if any, this sea cave holds.
"My contact has her fishing boat standing by, if you wish to use a water route to approach the site; you can sail with the afternoon tide tomorrow, and should be there in two days. Alternatively, traveling overland, it is likely a four day trip, but I can understand if you're not eager to be back on a boat so soon. If you do travel on land, however, you'll definitely need climbing gear to reach the cave from above. Do you have any questions?"
Rufus listens intendly while Canayven briefs them. Most of the names do not mean anything to him, but he gets that there is some significance to the findings, or Canayven wouldn't be so enthusiastic.
"Excuse me, can you tell more about this Aroden? Azlant?"
"Prettykill is not going to like another boat ride so soon, and it might be hard to get her into the cave from the ship, assuming that is a possibility."
"A lost temple, huh? Sounds interesting. I wonder if anything could be living in it... In any case, I think we can handle it. We are a strange group to be sure, but that may very well work in our favor."
"An overland expedition sounds like a nice change of scenery. I assure you Sir that I do not need climbing gear, my arcane studies have taught me to deal with such inconveniences. Next to my mother, my mentor Dessil is one of the greatest wizards in Kyonin." Ar'dreth boasts.
"When are we scheduled to begin our journey?" Ar'dreth asks, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
Therin certainly seems interested in the idea of exploring such an ancient location, though he is less interested in the religious connotations then the social ones, and by mid-way through the story he has quite an amused grin on his face.
"Discovering definitively that Aroden's first steps on land were in Varisia and that he apparently felt enough of a tie to this place to return regularly? I have heard that the Pathfinders are not particularly welcome within Chelish lands as is, this should warm those relations greatly."
Rufus listens intendly while Canayven briefs them. Most of the names do not mean anything to him, but he gets that there is some significance to the findings, or Canayven wouldn't be so enthusiastic.
"Excuse me, can you tell more about this Aroden? Azlant?"
"Prettykill is not going to like another boat ride so soon, and it might be hard to get her into the cave from the ship, assuming that is a possibility."
"When are we scheduled to begin our journey?" Ar'dreth asks, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
Canayven smiles at Ar'dreth's enthusiasm, which he clearly shares. "If you intend to travel the Lost Coast Road, you can leave as soon as you are prepared."
"I have been contemplating a way for me to use feather fall on Prettykill, but all instances seem impossible to me, next to her jumping off the cliff and me casting at the last second. I am sure she would not agree to that."
so if we spend any more time then that inside the cave you would need 2 or another way of getting prettykill out of the cave - so its possible you could let her come in for 18 min and then rush her back out - there's a good chance the caves in the middle of the cliff face rather than the bottom (or the contact probably would have gone in them self) so the raptor might have to make some crazy dive check to reach the boat [/ooc]
"Canayven do you know about how far the cliff is up and down the side of the cliff?"
"My reports suggest it is roughly 85 feet from the top of the cliff to the sea's surface. The cave entrance is partially submerged, with only about 5 feet of clearance between the roof and the water. You might end up swimming a bit."
"My main problem will be getting Prettykill into the cave. If we walk, I will need a way to get her down the cliff."
"My main problem will be getting Prettykill into the cave. If we walk, I will need a way to get her down the cliff."
Sir Canayven nods, stroking his chin for a moment. "Yes, that will be difficult, won't it?" He glances at Sheila. "I think we might be able to assist you there. A pair of scrolls of spider climb would merely a morning's work for Sheila; we would be happy to loan them to you, in exchange for their creation cost at a future date." Sheila nods her agreement, maintaining her customary silence. "I'm sure you'll find your explorations more than lucrative enough to justify the expense!"