You all been summoned to Osirion to Sandswept Hall, the Pathfinder Lodge in Sothis. Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir greets your party and begins to brief you on the upcoming mission.
Balentiir shutters of the windows in his second-story office overlooking the lodge’s tranquil gardens and seats himself behind his writing desk. He nods and introduces a thin, aging Garundi man in an ornately bejeweled and feathered turban. “This is Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage. I trust most of you know of him already. If you don’t, know that he has served both the Ruby Prince and the Pathfinder Society for many years, uncovering vast troves of lore from Ancient Osirion and mentoring some of our finest agents. He recently approached my colleagues and me with a request for assistance, and the Society has agreed to step up and aid its ally. The arrangement is, in fact, rather mutually beneficial.”
He nods to Amenopheus, signaling the elder man to speak. “Faithful servants of the past, I bid you greetings,” the wizened sage says with a shallow bow. “Our esteemed ruler, the Ruby Prince, recently released me from his service, which has freed me to learn more about a little-known organization to which I belong: the Jeweled Sages, protectors of Osirion’s history and chroniclers of its past glories. Quite by accident, I found myself initiated into this group, and have long believed myself to be its sole surviving member." The sage pauses, steepling his fingers as he regards you with bright, keen eyes.
"Each sage in the group possesses a unique jewel—a priceless artifact that contains memories of Osirion’s golden age.” He pauses as if considering how to express his thoughts “For many years, I have sought news of any other members of the Jeweled Sages. My agents recently learned of the Diamond Sage, whom they traced to the city of Eto in the Osirian Desert. At the same time, I received word from a reliable source that there may be several other jewels in the vicinity. I ask that you travel to Eto, negotiate with my contact in the city for his assistance, and then use what you learn to find the Diamond Sage and these lost jewels.”
Venture-Captain Balentiir frowns and adds, “This contact has tried to remain anonymous, but we suspect he is none other than Grandmaster Torch. If you’ve heard of him—or worse, met him—you may know trading favors is his signature. Regardless of Torch’s past treacheries, we need you to deal with him fairly for the information. There is a caravan leaving for Eto in a few hours, so don’t delay.”
The Venture-Captain leans back in a chair, crossing his arms across his chest. "Any questions?"
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Rapunzel listens politely to both the Venture-Captain and the Sapphire Sage. At the mention of Grandmaster Torch, she wrinkles her nose slightly and shakes her head.
"Is there anything special we should bring your contact, or phrase to prove she really is your conact?"
"How many days by caravan from Sothis to Eto?"
"Do we travel with the caravan under a cover of some sort?"
"Esteemed Sapphire Sage, will you provide us with a letter, written in Osirian of course, which states that we are working as your agents in Eto?"
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I bet Granmaster Torch will find us before we find him. Will our association with the Parhfinders need to be discreet? What can you tell us about Eto specifically any dangers to be aware of. Is anyone else looking for this knowledge too? Izoki asks these questions while he polishes his musket wiping it clean of prints and powder.
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"Torch... the name rings a bell. Something tells me that's something before my time with your Society. Eto... Desert... gods damn it all, I go from the comfort of a ship at sea and now heading into the desert of Osirian. Erm, no offence intended," he recovers to Amenopheus. "How hot is it going to get on the way to Eto? Hot, dry, sandy..."
Loenor, for those who have not met him (everyone?), is a very odd looking elf. Rather than floral or leaf-type patterns commonly associated with his race, he seems more to have tendrils of seaweed about him as sashes and belts. His hair seems matted down with moisture though dry to the touch, and seems to hold a blueish tinge to it. He carries a trident on his back and a cutlass at his hip, and a few blue-green tattoos along his arms and neck.
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Another Jeweled Sage? Arovandeon considers the information revealed by Amenopheus.
A thin, blonde elf, Arovandeon is dressed in light Osirian robes. Though he does not appear the adventurous type he arrived with a crossbow slung over his shoulder with a travel pack bearing a half dozen smaller cases and multi-colored flasks.
For many years Arovandeon wandered the world, at first with his adoptive parents, then later on his own, always seeking sites of learning and advancing his intellect through study and the science of alchemy. Perceiving the limits of books after having read so many, Arovandeon joined the Society to expand his search for knowledge outside the musty walls of libraries. A Jeweled Sage, walking unknown and hidden in the world, held precisely the kind of lore he was interested in seeking.
"Sage Amenopheus," Arovandeon addresses the old man with deep respect. "Have you any notion about the nature of the knowledge held by the Diamond Sage? Also, is there anything we should know about the jewel itself?"
The Venture Captain and the Sapphire Sage both glance at each other as the questions come rolling in. Amenopheus begins. "Torch is staying at the House of the White Uraeus, a fancy inn that caters to those in need of healing and rest. Remind him of the favor still owed to me for past assistance in his grand endeavor. He will know what you mean.”
Shaking his head, he says to Rapunzel. "Since my dismissal by the Ruby Prince, I doubt a letter would be if any help. You'd be better off without a connection to me."
Venture-Captain Balentiir speaks up. "As we all know, Pathfinders have a varied reputation. Discretion is always a wise choice until you know otherwise. As far as the travel, I've arranged for you to travel with a merchant caravan. It will take a few days, but the weather and heat shouldn't be as bad this time of the year." He thinks for a moment. "Let me clear, we only suspect it is Torch and the man is not "standing" with the Society. He has merely gone back to what he does best, peddling information."
The Sapphire Sage speaks once more. "I have no idea of the knowledge held by the Diamond Sage and can think of any particular dangers within Eto, or other who may be pursuing the Sage."
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Marianne nods, sighing, [b]"Well then I expect we are ready as we will ever be, let's be about this. Now I fight, and enlarge myself so I can use the reach of my spear, Izoki shoots, and Rapunzel slashes, what do you new comers do? We should practice some together while we travel, best to work out any major team work kinks without our lives on the line. Oh, and glad to meet you both. Marianne Bennette by the way."
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"Well met, Marianne. I am Arovandeon Isero." Arovandeon introduces himself. "Mathematician, naturalist, engineer, alchemist, and a lifelong seeker of knowledge. I have little skill with conventional weapons, but I am not without the means to defend myself in a fight. I am also capable of healing with a wand, and I have my own with which to do so." He taps a slender sheath lashed to his belt between a metal flask and a small dagger.
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"Good afternoon", two words said as if to convey an entire sentence. Hard-soled footsteps precedes the adult man entering the room. Of Taldan decent, he wears a bearly visible white tunic with a black cravat, underneath layers of black waistcoat, justaucorps, breeches, high leather boots. A strong brow, piercing hazel colored eyes, and tightly greased-back short black hair creates a visage of a perched crow. A trimmed cheveron mustashe and petit goatee completes the mortician look. He curtly bends as if greeting a watchful and silent crowd, "Fästenhyme".
"Ladies, a pleasure for my eyes to see you again", he politely bows to Rapunzel and Marianne, "-Izoki, my friend, nice to see you as well. Please forgive my tardiness. I was trying to convince Jon's Venture Captain to allow him travel with us as his faction's number one priority. Apparently, the captain had another number on his mind."
Fastenhyme sets down his walking cane and gear, brushes off the dust and greets the others.
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Izoki bows to Fästenhyme and hands him a black charred wand (infernal healing) from his pack. In a shrill, screeching voice similar to fingernails on a chalkboard asks, "Would you terribly mind holding on to this wand and using it to heal me or other companions when necessary?"
He is dressed in a bundle of furs, cloaks and leather. Snowshoes, cleats and cold weather gear are strapped to his back. I hope the Venture Captain allows me to leave this gear here for safekeeping. I would be quite overdressed for Eta and would be encumbered by its weight.
Izoki removes his colder weather outfit in privacy and wraps his winter gear in a small bundle and leaves it an unoccupied corner. Looking at Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir, he politely asks, "May I?
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Marianne looks a touch embarrassed, she would be an attractive almost aristocratic looking woman if not for her short boyish haircut and the pock marks that scar her cheeks, "I should say, I am a cleric of Desna - a slightly unconventional one my mentor's view of the goddess does not wholly mirror the majority of the Ladies faithful's. So let me use my magics before you expend your wands."
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"So what do we know about Eto?" He decides to get as much info from the VC and former sage before heading out.
About to also offer a restorative wand to a caster, Loenor stops and stows it again at Marianne's words. Answering he questions about combat tactics, "I prefer the up close kill. I'll get behind them when I can and, when able, strike for their more vulnerable parts."
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Rapunzel smiles at Loenor, eyeing his trident.
After her time with the Snowmask Clan and taking part in their tribal ceremonies, Rapunzel's beautiful, flowing blonde hair has turned a much paler shade, nearly white in fact. She turns to face Fastenhyme, there is a sloshing sound from a small barrel strapped under her backpack. "I am ready to join the caravan. Let us learn what we can of these Sages."
The Venture-Captain tells you what he knows of Eto, then bids you good luck. As you turn to go, Amenopheus raises a hand out for you to wait. He reaches into his robes and withdraws what looks to be a stone. He strikes it once against the wall to break the stone into two crystalline geode halves. "If you find one of the jewels of my order or the person known as the Diamond Sage, I ask that you contact me. Concentrate on the stone and speak a message of a few dozen words. I will hear you and respond with further instructions. It will only work once, so keep it safe.”
After you leave the Osirion Lodge, you have a day to acquire any needed equipment before joining the caravan. The following morning, the party meets the caravan just outside the city and sets off for Eto.
After a few days of uneventful travel, the walls of Eto come within view. The immense rock walls that ring Eto rise from the horizon like a shimmering mirage that gradually sharpens into focus. The city sits inside an elevated crater with sheer, weathered sides broken only in two places by heavily guarded gates. Long lines of caravans wait in a meandering queue awaiting entrance as officials search their cargos for contraband and calculate taxes. Water sellers, food vendors, and guides march up and down the lines peddling their wares and services to the visitors. Beyond the gates, the main thoroughfares fan out around the various districts of the city before dwindling into the dozens of pathways that flow through the bazaar like the delta of the great River Sphinx.
As the party inches forward in the queue, you finally reach the gate. Each caravan or group of travelers is assigned one or more trios of officials, each of which consists of two guards and a customs agent. As a guard come over to speak to the caravan leader, the leader acknowledges that you are guest travelers, which earns you a private inspection. Once you are escorted to the side, the customs agent, a bored Garundi man whose graying beard and tired eyes suggest he’s seen it all and heard every excuse at least a few dozen times comes over.
"Welcome to Eto! I am Mahu, what is the nature of your visit? Business or pleasure?"
Mahu glances up at the line at the wall. "Hmmm? Oh, well we inspect all who enter Eto, for possession of Osirion artifacts. Many try to smuggle them to avoid taxation." Glancing pointedly at everyone, he says. "Do you have anything to declare?"
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"I have nothing to declare," Arovandeon replies, then launches into a dizzying line of questions. "However, your interest causes me to wonder - should I come across an item of Osirion origin or take an interest in purchasing one, what qualifies as an "artifact" worthy of taxation, and how would such taxation be applied? Perhaps a measure of weight, age, dynasty or region of origin? And would this tax be paid to you or another representative?"
Arovandeon continues into a few hypothetical mathematical calculations on taxation and the philosophical concept of taxes.
Mahu nods knowingly as he search through the packs and bags of the party. Coming across the stone from the Sapphire Sage, he holds it up and inspects it. "Hmmm, what's this? It would appear to be of Osirion provenance." He asks, looking over the rim of his glasses.