Open for the .
You have been called to the Grand Lodge of Absalom for a briefing. Seated in a small chamber around a darkwood table, various trophies gathered from across the face of Golarion hang from the walls. A monkey-shaped mask with a serpent’s tongue glares out from the center of one wall, a strange halberd with gold rings piercing its thick blade and dragons carved along its haf hangs opposite the monkey mask. You are alone save your fellow Pathfiders, who apparently have been called here for the same purpose.
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Keera enters in the room and goes directly to Alistar.
Hi, we haven´t meet yet I think. I´m Keera and I´d came from Osirion to join the Pathfinder Society. What about you, have bornt in Absalom or yoiu can tell me about foreign places
Keera looks interested in the elf, trying to discern something of him by his looks.
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An obvious tiefling stands, bows, and speaks...
"Greetings, fellow pathfinders. Lady Keera is correct. Protocol insists that we introduce ourselves. I have been requested to provide my unique talents for the duration of our next assignment. I could talk for hours about myself, but I'll try and keep this brief. My name is Baru Brimmstone. I am particularly skilled in chemistry and chemical reactions. On several encounters I have been somewhat of a translator as well, since my travels and studies have afforded me the opportunity to learn many interesting dialects. I'm excited to embark on this new assignment and hope to increase my understanding of chemicals and the amazing reactions they can produce."
Finally, a huge man wearing creaking leathers marches into the room. He looks at each of you, as if he were appraising a handful of gemstones freshly pulled from the earth, and nods curtly. Some of you know him as Adril Hestram, a longtime Pathfider and rumored to be the unwitting architect of the famed Katapesh slave riot of 4702. Adril’s physique puts most half-orcs to shame.
"Welcome, friends. We have a serious problem. Skelg the Ripper came to Absalom one month ago. Like many Ulfen warriors he joined the Longaxes, the Taldan Emperor’s personal guard whose duty it is to protect the embassy and Taldan visitors. Skelg also dropped a heft sum of gold to purchase a manor in the Ivy district, something a Longaxe isn’t paid well enough to do. It is widely assumed that he brought most of his wealth with him from the north—a rumor I know to be true. It seems that Skelg also brought a curse with him. In his letter to me, he speaks of lying abed in this miserable summer dying from the cold. Neither physician nor priest has been able to cure his ailment, and there are no signs of disease or poison. Of course, for such a man, there is no greater dishonor than to die in bed instead of in battle.
Normally, the Pathfider Society would monitor these events and let the authorities deal with them. However, there are three factors that have drawn our interest.
First, Skelg is himself a member of our Society and has asked for our help.
Second, he is a personal friend of mine, and finding a sparring
partner as worthy as Skelg to replace him would be a trying
task.
Last, he claims that artifacts of great power are involved, and that we may be able to recover them for the vaults of the Grand Lodge. We view this situation as having enough importance to assign you to investigate it. Go to the home of Skelg the Ripper, learn what you can, and do your best to help him. If you find an item that is somehow connected to the curse, either retrieve it or glean as much information as you can about it. I trust there are no questions?"
Adril looks at Baru to answer his question.
"Heck, if i knew i would've told you. Go ask Skelg."
Aldrim nods.
"Which is where you come in, i'm sure you can handle it."
Aldrim raises a brow.
"Try and keep up with local events if you want to get anywhere in the Society. He lives in Greydog Manor, on Parkview Street in the Ivy district."
On your way you notice a familiar face. One of the guards you've worked with on the interrogations recently, lets you know things are going well. The old alcoholic lady seems to have gone cold-turkey by force. She still swears, but the rehab's schedule has sessions for that too.
Eventually you arrive at the manor.
Parkview Street is true to its name, running the entire length of the Ivy District park. Standing like a tomb in a flower garden, Greydog Manor is easy to fid. Six-foot-high walls surround the massive, stone building and an immense iron gate flanked by granite statues of hunting dogs stands open, offering access to the interior. Looking along the street, it is
clear that locals give the estate a wide berth. The stone walls seem to give a slight chill to the air, which is not entirely unpleasant on such a hot day.
The stoic 40 by 40ft manor has several windows, but they all have icy blue curtains in front of them. There is only one entrance, the courtyard, which itself is also a majestic 40 by 40ft.
A pair of big sint-hernards sit on the street, Johnny guesses an average medium person could hide behind them if curled up.
Indeed it is ;). I had this little epilogue thing in 1st steps, Sele was 'probing/detect evil' on her during the meet at the orphanage and later was part of the same thing in prison, where she was taken to by the silver crusade.
The courtyard is cool and shady compared to the street outside. Dead leaves are scattered across the flgstones and the granite steps where two Ulfen warriors stand. Each man wears a chain shirt and a surcoat bearing the Taldan crest and carries the traditional imperial guard long axe. The guards look at you sternly, and one of them speaks.
"Skelg is ill. He wants no visitors."
Nobility: The surcoats of these two aren't worn correctly.
The metal crest is on the wrong shoulder.
Perception: The surcoats are worn backwards, true guards would not wear them in such a fashion.
The ulfen warriors step closer to barr passage.
"Didn't you hear us? Skelg wanted rest. How do you expect him to heal if he doesn't?"
The ulfens laugh.
#1 "With that wee fist o' yours?"
#2 "Du vil alle gøre fint trofæ", as he glances over the lot of you with a warm smile.
"You will all make a fine trophy."
#1 "Fine, this way."
The gate is opened and you are given access to the path leading to the house. #1 is leading.
#2, is closing and locking the gate.
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No human languages beside common.
Both Alacorta and Keera pass the check without having to roll dice, but I doubt Alacorta could know what´s happening.
What the hell are you doing? Shouts Keera to #2 as he picks his scimitar. Why are you locking us?.
She doubts they have a good reason, but shouts to make sure the rest of the party know whats going.
#2 "With us not at the gate, we keep it locked against unauthorized people."
BULL!!
The ulfens show colors, as they turn on you.
"Die ubudne gæster !!!!"
"Die intruders!!!"
Round 1
Asami & Johnny
Roc
Baru & Keera
Sele
Ulfens
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Asami smirks at the two ulfens. "Allow me." That makes no sense here. Should I try a different quip? Uh...oh, no matter. With a strange response and a million thoughts on how to right it racing through her head, the suave swashbuckler unsheathes her rapier and lunges at the nearest brute.
If the Parry beats the attack roll:
Round 1
Asami quickly dispatches one of the ulfen.
Johnny
Roc
Baru & Keera
Sele
Ulfens
Johnny's shot hits the ulfen in the shoulder.
The ulfen picks the arrow out of his shoulder.
Now in an accented common her mocks Johnny; "Is thát it? The wöman fights better thán yöu!"
Round 1
Asami quickly dispatches one of the ulfen.
Johnny shoots ulfen for 1
Roc
Baru & Keera
Sele
Ulfens
Round 1
Asami quickly dispatches one of the ulfen.
Johnny shoots ulfen for 1
Roc flies at the 2nd ulfen, drawing blood for 5 dmg.
"Damn fugl!!"
"Damned bird!!"
Baru
Baru makes a wide arch around to attack ulfen #2, but the ulfen steps back in time to dodge.
Sele swings his mighty sword, which the ulfen dodges by sidestepping and back.
Ulfens
#1 (red) He swings in retaliation to Asami's attack, his axe comes down hard on Asami's flank for 10 dmg. Sele is getting a flashback...
#2 (blue) Swings his axe at Baru, who backs away a step, avoiding a hit.
Alistar shoots off an arrow, only to miss with his allies in the way.
Round 2
Asami & Johnny
Roc
Baru & Keera
Sele
Ulfens
Alistar
The ulfen takes the rapier in the side and with a furious look, his eyes turn dull and he drops to the floor.
Johnny shoots an arrow at the other ulfen, but with his allies in the way, the arrow misses target.
Round 2
Asami jabs down ulfen #1
Johnny shoots at ulfen #2 but misses due to cover.
Roc
Baru & Keera
Sele
Ulfens
Alistar