|
Ok, I've done a good bit of study on the enigmatic figure of the Chelish Druid Osprey, member of the Pathfinder society.
And, with him being the venture-captain my pathfinders report to, I am left wondering how my characterization of him is, from the little information provided.
Currently, as he stands, Osprey in my campaign is a good hearted, but manipulative man, who occasionally manipulates the players, feeding them limited, or sometimes even outright false information, in an attempt to avoid endangering them, or showing his hand to corrupt aspects in the society he is attempting to weed out.
He rubs up against Ambrus Valasin, who, being Valasin is loyal to the Decemvirate to a fault, even to the point of glossing over corruption and internecine rivalries in the name of "good competition".
Osprey prefers to manipulate, and work outside the system, even recruiting my party as a group of unassociated agents, leading them to believe they are pathfinders, in an effort to keep them off the rolls, so that the corrupt elements are not apprised of their existence.
A few choice quotes from my interpretation of Osprey;
“Ambrus is loyal to a fault. That’s a very good trait in retainers and dogs. Not so good in Venture-Captains. He might not trust anyone but the Decemvirate as far as he can shotput them, but he lets the corruption thrive, festering like a wound. He thinks it makes him more like the ten, allowing infighting to thrive in the name of spirited competition.”
-Venture-Captain Osprey, on the subject of Ambrus Valasin
“He’d sooner bury any evidence than bother the Decemvirate with trivialities. He hears more than a hundred rumors daily about people plotting to rob the society, slaughter us all, bring the society crumbling around us, every man woman and child in Absalom brought to their knees, blah blah blah. Usually it’s all a spectacular load of tosh. It’s just the name of the rumormonger that changes each time.” – Venture Captain Osprey, when asked why Ambrus Valasin is unwilling to take action against the corrupt elements of the society.
-Venture-Captain Osprey, on the subject of Ambrus Valasin
“They don’t do anything about it precisely because they can’t. Responding to the rumors would make the society look weak and unsure of ourselves, like we’re wide open to attack from our enemies. Starting an inquisition would be political suicide, the Society would tear itself apart in sheer outrage alone, not forgetting that we, quite simply do not have the resources to do so, resources we have to dedicate to defending ourselves from other enemies, enemies without.” – Venture Captain Osprey of the Pathfinder Society, Grand Lodge Faction
“In all honesty, that’s part of why I wanted to keep you unofficial. There was danger in letting you trade on the Pathfinder name without true registry, but it would have been simple to disavow knowledge of you, had you failed.” – Venture Captain Osprey of the Pathfinder Society, Grand Lodge Faction
"Osprey! What in the name of the ten have you been up to!? I’ve heard you’ve been harboring fugitives, we’ve got Hellknights beating a path to our door and right now you’re at the top of my list of “People most likely to be the cause of this brouhaha”!
I-well well well well. What have we here? Osprey, do you mind explaining yourself? Out of earshot?
(Osprey nods and steps out with Valsin, the PCs hear muffled shouting from both that grows fainter over time. Osprey and Valsin step back in about 20 minutes later.)
Osprey has made an interesting case for himself. He claims that you’re a group of rookies he sent to his homeland as a part of a “test” he assigned.
I believe he’s lying to my face. The masters of the Sword, Scroll and Lore don’t report having certified anyone of your descriptions to me. And I hear every certification they give in the Grand Lodge, though he claims you all to have been capable enough to attempt to earn yourselves a set of field commissions and that he wanted to give you a head start on impressing the Decemvirate. Pfah!
But, he is right on one count. You managed to tweak the Cheliaxan’s collective noses and lived to talk about it. Politically dangerous you might be, useful, you might be also. It takes a great deal of skill to do that.
In that spirit, I formally invite you to join the Pathfinder Society.”
-Venture-Captain Ambrus Valasin of the Pathfinder Society, Grand Lodge Faction
A penny for your thoughts?
Just a minor detail, but I couldn't resist: It's Valsin, not Valasin. Check out your resources, mate ;)
Other than that, this was the most descriptive piece of information on Osprey I found on a short notice, and it filled my needs for the time being. Nice work.