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Subject of the Ruby Prince,
It is with a sad and worried heart that I bear to you ill tidings of our most esteemed ruler, the Ruby Prince Khemet III. A month ago, while enjoying a visit to an exhibit of antiquities in Sothis, he stepped away from the many Osirian relics on display and took particular interest in several artifacts from ancient Thassilon. Among them was a statuette of the goddess Lissala—a long forgotten deity of runes, obedience, and fate.
Oh, but was fate not twisted that day. For no sooner had he set the statue down than it crumbled to dust in his hand, seemingly turning the Ruby Prince’s arm to a dried husk in the same instant. Only a moment later, as the Risen Guard rushed to his aid, his face took on a terrible pallor as though it were turning to ash, and flakes of his once radiant skin began to slough from his cheeks like pieces of parchment blown by a raging sandstorm.
Between his own powers of healing and the arcane knowledge of Sothis’s best wizards and sorcerers, the Ruby Prince was able to stave off much of the quickening deterioration, and even restore some of the heavier damage to his mortal form. But to date no cure to his condition has been discovered, and there is only so long he can hold its effects at bay.
But the problem is worse than that, dear friend, for the Lissalan idol that seems to have caused this curse was brought from Varisia to Sothis by a Pathfinder, a promising young agent who I had taken under my wing. It was I who urged her to impress the Ruby Prince with relics of an empire older and ultimately more feeble than Osirion itself. And since I was indirectly the cause of the Ruby Prince’s interaction with that damned idol, he rightfully blames me for his condition. If I am unable to find its source and, more importantly, a cure—and find them quickly—he has promised that my time serving the Osirian throne will be at an end.
Thus I need you, who are more able to explore the ruins of ancient Thassilon, to search for lore on Lissala and the magic she and her faith may have used to forge such a harrowing curse. I will work here in Absalom to piece together what clues I can from the works in Forae Logos and the Grand Lodge on a potential cure. I may, from time to time, ask you to retrieve reagents or ingredients that I can’t easily get while conducting my research; know that such requests are of dire importance, for the life of the Ruby Prince may well rest in all of our hands.
May the secrets of the past undo the damage they have caused,
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage
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Such ill news of the Ruby Prince is concerning, indeed. Though I suspect my travels are unlikely to lead to the ancient ruins of Thassilon for some time now, I shall keep a vigilant eye out for anything that may be of use.
As always, I am your humble servant. Whatever requests you may make of me, I shall strive to carry them out with the utmost care and haste, should it be of such dire importance.
- Khet "The Constant"
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My friend! What ill news! I sincerely hope this was not one of the artifacts that I smuggl... eh, returned back to Osiron! The solution must only be found by the acquisition of more items of historical importance. May the Ruby Prince live forever!
-Osiric the Risen, owner and proprietor of Osiric the Osirion's Opportunistic Trading House.
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Gloomy tidings, indeed, Wise One. I yet have faith that we will find a way to restore the Ruby Prince to his rightful glory. We are Osirioni. We know the cycle of decline and regeneration... the phoenix, dawn following dark, the resurgence of the rivers bringing fertile soil to a tortured land... We know these things. The turning of time will see us prevail in the name of the Ruby Prince!
I pack my gear and will put my trident and kukri to good use in Varisia!
-Wupatki the Risen
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Though I spent my years as a youth trying to leave the land of my birth, my heart still holds a special place for Osirion, the land of my mother's people. And though I have yet to venture into the Thassilonian lands, my yearning for old knowledge and artifacts calls me even now. But I fear I will need the assistance of everyone in the faction for though I am not as physically adept as some, my knowledge is vast and I am more than capable of delving to the deepest recesses of the world to uncover lost secrets.
If anyone is willing to venture forth with me, perhaps we can meet and save the king from his affliction together.
-Tessara, Archaeologist and Actress
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Honored Sage,
Please find enclosed an account of my recent encounter with a Lissalan sect in a small Varisian port city north of Korvosa. Regrettably I did not find anything that will be of immediate assistance to the Ruby Prince, but perhaps those wiser than I can find some clue in my account of the events that transpired.
~Godric Skarsgard
Servant of the Ruby Prince
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Argh, curse this damn sanctioned retirement. Hear this humble sage, even though the society has deemed it necessary to not send me out on missions unless they are of world shaking importance I will find a cure, even if I have to go through a portal to the moon or traverse the planes! The Ruby Prince will be saved and your name will be cleared so says Drezi the Constant of the Risen Guard.
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Subject of the Ruby Prince,
It is with a sad and worried heart that I bear to you ill tidings of our most esteemed ruler, the Ruby Prince Khemet III. A month ago, while enjoying a visit to an exhibit of antiquities in Sothis, he stepped away from the many Osirian relics on display and took particular interest in several artifacts from ancient Thassilon. Among them was a statuette of the goddess Lissala—a long forgotten deity of runes, obedience, and fate.
Oh, but was fate not twisted that day. For no sooner had he set the statue down than it crumbled to dust in his hand, seemingly turning the Ruby Prince’s arm to a dried husk in the same instant. Only a moment later, as the Risen Guard rushed to his aid, his face took on a terrible pallor as though it were turning to ash, and flakes of his once radiant skin began to slough from his cheeks like pieces of parchment blown by a raging sandstorm.
Between his own powers of healing and the arcane knowledge of Sothis’s best wizards and sorcerers, the Ruby Prince was able to stave off much of the quickening deterioration, and even restore some of the heavier damage to his mortal form. But to date no cure to his condition has been discovered, and there is only so long he can hold its effects at bay.
But the problem is worse than that, dear friend, for the Lissalan idol that seems to have caused this curse was brought from Varisia to Sothis by a Pathfinder, a promising young agent who I had taken under my wing. It was I who urged her to impress the Ruby Prince with relics of an empire older and ultimately more feeble than Osirion itself. And since I was indirectly the cause of the Ruby Prince’s interaction with that damned idol, he rightfully blames me for his condition. If I am unable to find its source and, more importantly, a cure—and find them quickly—he has promised that my time serving the Osirian throne will be at an end.
Thus I need you, who are more able to explore the ruins of ancient Thassilon, to search for lore on Lissala and the magic she and...
Do not blame me, I am neither from Varisia or a female.
However I do have a question. Who replaces the Ruby Prince? Once he's dead. I find human lives so short that it's curious, the scrambling of ants on the ant hill.
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Qa'Pelos walks in quietly, preceded by a servant, and takes a seat with a stony, inexpressive face. The seneschal politely approaches those present, asking after the health of the Ruby Prince.
"My master has just returned from visiting his merchant interests ... yes, thank you, his carpet weavers do well for him ... and he has heard little of the condition of the Ruby Prince after his tragic affliction. Pray tell, have you word of the search that has gone out for a cure?"
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Ragen approaches Amenopheus and kneels respectfully...
My Lord, in a search for a cure for our Prince's ailment, I have found 3 several small carved figurines in the Thassilonian style. I have been told that they are crucial in your research.
I have also found a scroll referring to the Aucturn Enigma, ancient knowledge which will give us a decided edge against our rivals.
Life, Health, and Strength be yours and to our beloved Ruby Prince.
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My Lord Amenopheus, I have rather pleasing news. I recently recovered a rare extract of amaranthine juniper, a pharmacological remedy which may stave off the Ruby Prince's suffering. Ragen hands Ameopheus a vial with a cutting of the plant You will need this extract to relieve our Lord's suffering. Life, Health, and Strength to you and to our beloved leader. Ragen bows.
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Qa'Pelos nods stoicly in approval and appreciation of the men who approach Amenopheus offering their findings and possible leads to a cure. He gestures simply with a bare, stony hand, indicating something to his seneschal.
The polite, if somewhat bookish, man again appraoches some of the people in the faction house, and converses with them, asking questions and offering answers codially.
"Many thanks are to be given, gentlemen. It is my Master's Most fervent prayer that the Ruby Prince shall soon recover from this grave affliction. He wishes to ... why, yes, my master is in fact Qa'Pelos the Risen, one of the pharaoh's personal Risen Guard ... he wishes to inquire whether there are any known relations between any of these leads? He is quite concerned that our esteemed Sapphire Sage is playing this rather dire situation inordinately close to the vest, so to speak."
Qa'Pelos nods quitely, as his stony gaze sweeps those in the room, as if he were both looking for something and seeing deep into the ether, percieving things beyond mortal sight.
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Actually, all the information I've been using is the faction mission from the scenarios I play and I have read your posts. That's about all I know. I only started playing a month ago or so. I know little about the faction plot. All I know is the Ruby Prince is sick. I'm posting what I find through scenarios. I want to be involved with the faction, so I post. This is an important thread for our faction.
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Ragen Gravekeeper steps forward.It is hoped that the cutting from the plant I provided to you can ease his discomfort as for the statues, I admit I have no theory as to how they would be important. I was simply told they would be valuable for your research.
Qa'Pelos nods stoicly in approval and appreciation of the men who approach Amenopheus offering their findings and possible leads to a cure. He gestures simply with a bare, stony hand, indicating something to his seneschal.
The polite, if somewhat bookish, man again appraoches some of the people in the faction house, and converses with them, asking questions and offering answers codially.
"Many thanks are to be given, gentlemen. It is my Master's Most fervent prayer that the Ruby Prince shall soon recover from this grave affliction. He wishes to ... why, yes, my master is in fact Qa'Pelos the Risen, one of the pharaoh's personal Risen Guard ... he wishes to inquire whether there are any known relations between any of these leads? He is quite concerned that our esteemed Sapphire Sage is playing this rather dire situation inordinately close to the vest, so to speak."
Qa'Pelos nods quitely, as his stony gaze sweeps those in the room, as if he were both looking for something and seeing deep into the ether, percieving things beyond mortal sight.
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Master Amenopheus,
I wish that it were not such ill news that you share with me this day. I knew not of this tragedy. I have already begun to scour the libraries here in Absalom for as much knowledge as I can find regarding the ruins of ancient Thassilon. I expect that my research should be completed within a fortnight and then I shall be on my way to Varisia as expeditiously as possible.
May the reign of the Ruby Prince be interminable!
~Merellien Ealodiir, your servant
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A slender and alert man of non-Osiriani descent arrives. Clad in a clean, well-cut artisan's outfit with a number of kits strapped to his sides and backpack, he strides purposefully carrying a small crate in his hands. While he does fashion a bow, it is not the *official* bow proper to the civilized folk of Osirion. Hey, cut him some slack, he's trying. He can't use Knowledge (local) untrained. If it makes a difference, he probably can use the finely crafted warhammer that seems to be the one item at odds with the rest of his accoutrement.
"Greetings, fellow Pathfinders. I have only recently been allowed the privilege to number myself among your fine ranks. To fulfill a duty to my late mentor, the obscure alchemist known to few as Arcanfrew, I have traveled to many parts of Avistan. I have searched over many leagues for anything that could be of significance to my mentor's beloved Ruby Prince. Curses and diseases I have suffered in my quest. While I have added to Osirion's great prestige, it was not until recently that I secured a sample that may yet prove pivotal to our current predicament. Behold!"
Empedocles places his crate on a block and carefully opens it. From within, he removes a bundle wrapped in canvas. Donning gloves, he allows the canvas to fall from the sample it wrapped.
"This is - oh! How rude of me. Begging your pardon. Unless begging is offensive to you. In which case I'll just assume your pardon. Anyway, my name is Empedocles Chasmcross. Yes, from that same line of Chasmcrosses that has known some reknown a few generations ago as bridge builders in my homeland of Taldar. Though I don't expect you care about any of that. At least you know my name. I resume:
"This is a carefully extracted sample of masonry from what is believed to be the Black Edifice. It is hoped that an analysis of its divination-warding properties can provide a much-needed hint on how to curtail the darkness which is preventing discovery of the solution to the Ruby Prince's affliction. This I deliver freely onto you. In the meantime, I shall attempt to resume my search for a solution."
[color=blue]I marathonned 7 PFS sessions at PrairieCon. Unfortunately, only 1 of them was season 4.[/color]
