Welcome to a small section of GM School, being overseen by Redelia.
This is a Gameplay thread for one of the players/GMs at GM Lorenzo's Mentoring table, being run by GM Wageslave.
This is a 'private' campaign for members of that particular table and observational parties that are witnessing the training process.
After a couple of days to recover from the trip to the Basillica, a courier delivers a message to the team.
The courier seems a bit harried and downright glad to be done with the task of message delivery, and the message comes with the attendant amount of funds for a trip to Qadira.
Trusted associates,
Ah, Qadira, our fiery neighbor! I need you to travel to its deserts and visit the Ghazali family. They’ve acquired Honaria’s lost
sword, an item that’s appeared in my research into her life. This is no common blade, but a powerful weapon given to Honaria by the Church of Aroden. Its existence alone might prove the Alcastis’s worth.
I’ve included the original record of the sword’s transfer to Honaria as a reward for her services to the Church and the Empire.
Show this record to the Ghazali matriarch, Arajida. She should be reasonable.
Safe travels,
Remaio Alcasti
The trip to Omash is uneventful, and the guards
at the city’s main gates help the PCs find the Ghazali
family manor. The luxurious estate lies on the outskirts
of Omash, outside of the fortress-city’s towering walls.
The property uses its own walls for protection.
The two-story building boasts intricately patterned stone
floors, rich wall hangings, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
A sandstone wall decorated with geometric mosaics surrounds
the opulent Ghazali manor. Through the brass front gates, white
cobblestone paths wind through a garden of flowering cacti and
acacia trees to the manor’s entrance. A pair of guards clad in
polished armor flanks the heavy wooden door to the residence.
"Hail, travellers. What brings you to the Ghazali home?" the right guard inquires as their stances shift from casual dis-interested to focused and alert.
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"Aye, your Dawnflower's blessings are powerful, indeed. Reminds me of the forge, though much brighter." Dol chuckles.
"As to the matter Ijo mentioned, it regards some historical research into an item recently acquired by the Lady. We think she might be fascinated to learn more of the story of this item."
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As Ferdrin follows along he constantly "billows" his cloak to let it breath. It's pretty hot inside of it. Not hot enough to give up his ability to hide within it... but close.
He coughs from the local dust and sand as he attempts to help them make the case.
Yes... *cough*... it's not often an explanation for your... *cough*.. recent findings... *wheeze* finds its way to your door. *cough* *cough* *cough* *cough*
His cloak becomes a billowing mass of violent jerks and elbow-shapes as he attempts to keep his sneezes contained within it.
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With a vigorous nod, the aquatic elf agrees with Ijo, "Indeed, the heat causes us outlanders some discomfort."
I may be amphibious, but this dry air has doubled the amount of moisturizer I've been using. Should have packed more for this trip.
The oracle bows, "I am Melicertes Palaemon. My colleagues and I seek an audience with the Ghazali family's matriarch, Arajida. We have some documents we would present to her regarding an ancient and storied sword we believe to be in her possession."
His clumsy attempt to bow in the Qadiran fashion undermines his attempt at courtesy.
"Ah, yes. Lady Ghazali had informed me that she would be seeing some guests today." the guard notes with a professional yet guarded tone, verifying the party's paperwork cursorily.
"If you would follow me, please?"
The domed ceiling of this grand room soars above red and white
tiles whose pattern resembles roses in bloom. Between the
mahogany bookshelves that line the chamber, suits of armor
stand at attention. An empty weapon rack faces the doorway.
Arajida al-Fakhiri, Lady Ghazali , a middle-aged
Keleshite woman, sits alone with her head in her hands. As the team enters she raises her head and rubs her bloodshot eyes a bit.
"Ah. You must be the ones working for Remaio, yes?" Her tone is a bit subdued, however, though polite.
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"Good day, Lady Ghazali. Thank you for seeing us. My name is Melicertes Palaemon."
Melicertes nods, when Ferdrin notices her distress. "Something troubles you, yes? Is there anything we can do to set your mind at ease? We're here to discuss an ancient sword we believe to be in your possession." The aquatic elf hands here the documents Ramaio had given them. "Our business can wait, if your concerns are serious."
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"Lady Ghazali, you have quite the wonderful home. The blending of beauty with the functionality of a fortified exterior is a testament to your family."
Deciding to take a more open approach than his teammates, Dol decides to extol the party's abilities and hope that the Lady will make her own inquiries.
Dol retrieves the paperwork and begins to lay it out on the desk. "As you say, we have been retained by Remaio to look into the matter of his family's history.
Remaio knows us as problem solvers, and we have proven that role to him, helping him to retrieve valuable information, though honestly the problems he sets before us have not been all that challenging.
The things a Taldan think are challenging, rarely seem so to those of a more worldly nature, I think."
Lady Ghazali nods quietly at the somewhat pro forma approach the party is taking. "Thank you for the courtesy and respect."
"I do own the weapon, but it is not currently in my possession." Lady Ghazali begins, giving the empty weapon rack a somber glance. "You claim to be problem solvers and capable of meeting challenges? Then bring my son back to me, alive if you can. If you can, then I'll give you the cursed thing. If you cannot bring my son home, then I cannot part with it."
The matriarch looks at the party intently, apparently waiting for both acceptance of the task and inquiries into what is known....
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Dol nods with understanding.
"Your son was overcome with visions of Heroism, is that the way of it?
Very common affliction for boys of a certain age. I am sure staring at a truly heroic sword had a bit to do with it.
Aye, we can make sure he's not in too much trouble and heal any hurt he may have taken. Do you have any idea where he would have chosen to prove his metal?"
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"If your son can be found, then we will find him. It seems you're not sure where he went, or you'd have already brought him back yourself."
Melicertes rubs a rough patch on a dry cheek, cursing the hot, arid climate. "May we have your leave to look in his room and around the grounds of the estate? Perhaps, we can find a clue as to his intentions or to his destination."
"Aayef, my dear son, is a scholar and isn't trained in the arts of combat. My eldest daughter is the one who is going to be going to the battlefield, and Aayef has always wanted to match her despite his lack of... well, pretty much everything that would make a warrior a good one." Lady Ghazali says with a bit of a grimace before continuing. "I'm worried about him, he's not suited to the rigors of such a thing, and he probably went off looking for some dragon to slay or the like in the wilds."
When Melicertes speaks up she shakes her head. "He's not within listening distance of the estate, or he would have returned by now."
"Certainly. Please! Act quickly. I'm worried he's gotten into something he cannot handle!"
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Ferdrin trails off from the discussion and begins poking around the estate grounds.
Soon he returns to the main room hold a scrap of blue cloth.
I found this in the dirt along one of the outside walls. One of your estate guards identified it as from one of his outfits. I can show you where; it likely indicates the direction he went.
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[ooc(Can't make a DC25 Survival or a DC28 Perception)[/ooc]
Melicertes examines the scrap of Aayef's clothing. "Well, it looks like he left the estate, probably going in this direction. Anyone spot his tracks?"
The aquatic elf looks to the Ghazali family's men-at-arms. "Don't suppose you have a skilled tracker in your ranks, do you? Otherwise, we'll just have to break the bad news to the Lady of the house."
"We don't have a tracker, but we do have personnel that have served in security for a few years and we've had to deal with the occaisional wannabe thief as a result. We'll get our eyes on what you've found, and work with your team. Together we might find what we might have missed individually."
The guards join the Pathfinders in their search with diligence and an organized effort.
Using the information gathered from the scrap as a good starting point, the combined effort of Pathfinders and estate guards is able to put together a rough idea of where to look for some sort of sign, and sure enough, some VERY cleverly hidden tracks go off into the wildnerness.
Once the party gets out into the sandy wilds, it's much easier to see which direction the wayward son has headed, as the air is somewhat still and the sand clumpy enough to clearly mark the path.
Aayef ’s trail leads three miles east to the sand blasted ruins of a circular building. Chunks of wall and broken pillars stand as the last testament to what was once a shrine to Sarenrae. Rubble covers the deep sand around the structure, creating difficult terrain.
A chunk of twisted deadwood rests atop a pile of ashes in the lee of a fallen stone column. Cinders surrounding the desert wood suggest a recent fire.
Sayeed, the Guard who arranges for the warm weather gear and provisioning for the party regretably informs the team that there are no bloodhounds available, nor seeing eye dogs.
Steps ascend the wreckage to a smooth stone dais. A cracked
stone shrine stands before the eastern wall. Bones and other
detritus litter the floor around the altar.
As the party draws closer to the altar and dais, it becomes painfully obvious that there is a giant scorpion attacking an unknown person, and both have managed to get their licks in on each other...
????
Melicertes
Ijo
SCORPION!!
Dol
Ferdrin
The unknown person attempts to fend off the giant vermin with guarded probing attacks.
Unfortunately, their defensive efforts just barely prevent them from landing a blow past the carapace of the creature.
Melicertes calls upon divine blessings!
Ijo steps up and gives the critter some what-for, taking a huge chunk out of it though it is still upwardly mobile!
The big bug spins around as it gets whacked from behind and turns it's attention on Ijo!
The first claw easily misses the spiritualist....
...however, the second does grab Ijo very tightly.
Ferdrin lets forth a brace of magical darts, that again gouge bits and pieces off the scorpion! It looks in pretty bad shape, but it's still going!
???
Melicertes
Ijo
SCORPION
Dol
Ferdrin
Dol's dart manages to sear off some more of the mass of the scorpion with a bubbling hissing sound!
??? -12
Melicertes
Ijo -9, Grappled
SCORPION -28, Grappling Ijo
Dol Action pending 1st round
Ferdrin
"I can't let you be murdered by this thing!" the stranger yells as they take a swing at the bug.
As if inspired by the prospect of not letting complete strangers get murdered on their watch, the young man stabs into the area weakened by Ferdrin's forceful magical darts and Dol's corrosive weaponry, and manages to partially gouge into the tail!
The scorpion collapses in a heap, releasing Ijo in one death spasm before the next one clamps the pincers shut. The subsequent locking of the appendages leaves little doubt as to what the spiritualist's fate would have been had the beast not been brought down.
The young man looks to the party. "I could have easily bested the beast in a few more moments if you hadn't interfered. But that's neither here nor there. What brings you strangers to the wilderness, and in particular this shrine of the Dawnflower? Oh, where are my manners? My name is Aayef."
The young man's shirt appears to have the same blue coloration as the scrap of cloth that the team found earlier.
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Dol smiles and nods warmly, speaking with sincerity. "Aye, of course. Yet, even the greatest master smith needs assistants to pump the bellows.
Nothing is ever certain in the wilds, and we always seek help in case fortune turns against us.
Here now, you are wounded, though certainly not as badly as poor Ijo. Allow me to bring the Forgefather's warmth to cleanse your wounds, while one of my partners tells you the tale of why we are here.
Perhaps you could share the story of that truly magnificent longsword. I would normally expect a warrior of this area to use a scimitar..."
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"Well done, lad!" The aquatic elf congratulates the young man. "Aayef, my name is Melicertes Palaemon. We are Pathfinders and acquainted with your family. Your mother will be so proud of your heroics and the members of your household impressed by your victory. Come, let us accompany you home, where we can join you in the celebratory feasting!"
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Greetings Aayef, I'm am Ferdrin. You fought well. We wizards appreciate a strong front-line from behind which to unleash our arcane bolts. This battle will make a great tale of your heroism. I think it would be best if we returned you home so that we may put it to pen before we lose our memory of the finer details.
A deep voice cuts through the dry air. Strangely, it seems to originate with the jeweled sword in Aayef’s hand.
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Dol looks up from his channeling in shock when the longsword starts talking, and his hands start shaking, remembering some of the times members of his family were called upon to investigate the properties of intelligent weapons.
Flattery is usually a good start with a magic weapon
"The Soldier's Glory? It can't be!"
Looking around at the others, he asks, "Why did Remaio fail to tell us that the sword once wielded by his ancestor Countess Honaria Alcasti was, in fact, Soldier's Glory? We would have been better prepared to greet it."
Turning back to the sword, he addresses it. "Greeting, Soldier's Glory. I am Dol Stormmaul, priest of Torag, the Forgefather." He names the others in the party.
"We are Pathfinders, as you say, and come into the desert in search of young Aayef here. His mother was quite worried for his safety. Had we known that he was wielding you, we would not have been so worried.
I am glad that you allowed us to help out with dispatching this scorpion, though it was hardly a challenge worthy of such a renowned weapon.
Oh! The knowledge and tactics you must be able to tell us!"
Dol stops to think. "Speaking of challenges, I traveled briefly with another Pathfinder. A warrior named Jacques N'Fey, who had done substantial work acquiring resources and personnel to take on the demons emerging from the Worldwound far to the north.
Your powers would be of great aid to the challenge. If you would consent to travel with us for a time, we can make sure that you find your way to the frontlines and earn more glory!"
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"Why, yes, em, the Pathfinders have a long history of service to Golarion, em, vanquishing foes, and, em, preserving the historical memory of the world."
Melicertes stumbles for personal triumphs to share. "Yes, em, while I happen to have only recently achieved Field Agent credentials, I did, em, get a participation trophy in an intramural swim day event as a child."
The aquatic elf shuffles his webbed feet, uncomfortable admitting his lack of professional experience.
"So, em, Soldier's Glory, you've probably led a storied life. Care to share?"
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Ferdrin approaches the blade with a newfound sense of fascination. Out of sheer curiosity he very briefly casts a magic scan in its direction, unwilling to pass up this opportunity to learn and make observations.
After the brief moment he quickly moves onto introducing himself and attempting to supply the intelligent blade with heroic tales.
Ferdrin Ternyth. Delighted to meet you and utterly fascinated by this opportunity. Well, to be completely honest I've only recently been dispatched by the society. I'd become overly comfortable with an academic setting wherein the scariest risk was an experiment or spell gone wrong, and hilarious side effect that lasted for weeks. I'll never live down that two-month case of nagaji-tongue. Anyway, when the call came to investigate missing artifacts at a basilica, I found myself rushing headlong into a dangerous chase of ratfolk thieves with this fine crew. It was exhilarating to employ my arcane power in the field against active hostility for the first time. It is a simple tale, admittedly, but likely the first of many to come!
As he speaks he's still surveying intricate details of the blade.
It's a lot easier on the speaking parts you have. You mentioned Remaio and Honaria Alcasti -- has something happened to her descendant?" There is a bit of a pause as the blade tugs at Aayef's hand a bit.
The young man coughs. "Thank you for helping out there. If... I've learned anything from this it's that working alone and untrained is a sure-fire death sentence. I need to go and become better trained and equipped to handle the wilds. We... should probably head back home. Mother is probably beside herself with worry."
On the trip back Glory recounts a tale...
"...Honaria was always the embodiment of honor and a paragon of nobility. During the Conquest, when she defeated her opponents she always treated them fairly. Her dignified treatment of said opponents made her many allies where others in the Army couldn't be bothered to listen to what the other side was saying with respect.
The sad part is, I think if she had only had been given the resources she needed Taldor would have won the war. It was Command constantly hamstringing her supply requests and tactical suggestions that always irked me, though she always made do with what she had."
Glory is suddenly very eager to help the party restore Honaria's name.