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Your initial training in the ways of the Society complete, you are finally summoned for your first score. Before you know it, you are in a room full of relative strangers, and endure the strange sense of discomfort that a room full of relative strangers brings with it. You are barely into your pensive introductions when a figure you recognize as Ambrus Valsin comes into the room, flipping looseleaf pages as though grading exams. He seems very intent on his reading, only vaguely acknowledging you all as he enters. He grabs up a pen and jots down some notes before looking up and staring at you for silently yet studiously, as though appraising, Then he barks.
“All right, Pathfinders! Listen up. I know you are new recruits eager to make names for yourselves in the organization, but first we need to make sure you are up to snuff and won’t get yourself killed out there. I have a number of small assignments for you and your team, and it would be best if you could finish them before the day’s end".
“Every day we get some doe-eyed hopeful or some sniveling bootlicker willing to do anything to join up with the Pathfinders. Most of them are good kids, but not all of them have the salt to make it in a world like this. It’s rough out there and I’m not just talking about the ruins, tombs, and wilderness Pathfinders find themselves in on missions. We’ve got people who look down their noses at us, folks who think we squander our resources, and agents who want to take everything we have collected. This wealth of knowledge and these items of lore make us the most powerful organization on the planet. That said, since we are fractured and widespread, it’s difficult for that power to light on anything for too long. For every friend of the Society, there are two enemies" he looks about, almost accusingly.
“Your first mission, to test your mettle and loyalties, sends you to meet a few people important to the Society living here in Absalom. These are other venture-captains or close allies of our organization, so follow their orders as you would mine. I’ve prepared a list of things I want you to do. They’re not arranged in any particular order of importance, but I want them all completed as quickly as possible. Only report to me once you complete them all. Included in the envelope you hold in your hands is the list, complete with the name of your contact, and directions to the meeting location.” He finishes speaking, purses his lips almost as if in a challenge, and simply looks at you all.
His eyes slip the envelope expectantly.
Note.
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"Ah a note, so we being our pathfinder experience.... We shall be on our way" The Cloaked figure in front of you states his horns nearly visible under the brim of his cloak... a set of nasty teeth showing as he speaks... Most telfling you've probably ever met look not like this one he seem to almost be a create of the devil himself... with small out line of wing visible thought the cloak, nasty looking teeth and scaled skin... but no weapon visible you have to wonder what he'll do in a fight..
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Grimaldus reads the note, then thinks about the layout of Absalom. "I recommend we visit Dremdher Salhar in the Wise Quarter first, then proceed to retrieve the item from Paracountess Dralneen in the Ivy District. After we have concluded our business for these nobles, we can take care of our tasks in the Temple and the Docks."
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A broad-shouldered raven-headed humanoid with black feathers stands close by. He wears a kimono-style tunic over studded leather armor. At his belt is a long-handled Tian weapon called a Katana alongside a dagger. A book folded into a leather satchel is slung across his chest and hangs under his arm. His voice is surprisingly deep when he speaks. "I like your suggestion." he says.
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As you begin to conclude your deliberations and introductions, you note a map on the wall illustrating the various districts of Absalom.
Map.
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The party gathers themselves for the task ahead and departs from the massive fortress that is the Grand Lodge in the Foreign Quarter. Imediately after departing the safety of the Lodges walls they find themselves thrust into the rich multicultural tapestry of the area where people of all ethnicities and exotic races rub shoulders in a buzzing and vibrant atmosphere. A couple of Osirian carpet sellers pound your ears about the bargain prices of their wares, whilst opposite them a pair of Qadirans argue that theirs is the superior stock and to avoid the ‘cheaper Osirian imitations’; as they turn on each other in heated debate and momentarily forget about your presence, you are accosted by a Mwangi merchant keen on bringing you to his rare and exotic spice shop.
Aegon - Perception
Grimaldus Perception
Mandrak - Perception
Tikrit - Perception
Yhen - Perception
As you move through the bustling Foreign Quarter, you see a face in the crowd you vaguely recall seeing near the gates of the Grand Lodge, you suspect this person may be following you and trying to keep a low profile. A knowing look slips between the pair of you as you both noticed the person at the same time, but just as it happened, a couple of wandering touts were yelling up a storm about the Irorian Arena and todays matches, after you managed to slip past the ticket seller, the stranger was gone
Eventually making your way through the Foreign Quarter and its delightful scents and sounds, you find yourselves entering the Wise Quarter and the quiet atmosphere of a district home to several prominent schools and libraries, including the prestigious Arcanamirium, one of Golarion's most well-known magical schools. Scholars, philosophers and students of all manner roam about in discussions of science, medicine, religion, and just about any other topics imaginable; the pitch varies from hushed whispers as they walk to rather pointed and hotly contested debate, yet regardless of their deliberations, the rather impressive and grand buildings in this seat of learning offer a certain stony solemnity to the streets they flank; the only departure to the otherwise staid theme is the rather dark and macabre Blackros Museum, alleged to have been carved from a single enormous piece of volcanic rock by a mad astrologer and wizard named Ralzeros, within its basalt walls is displayed the Blakros collection, which includes numerous artifacts of dubious arcane origins.
The party makes its way to the rich estate of GrandCouncil member Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by
a guard who is expecting you all as you reach the tall, wrought-iron gate.
Once you are all inside, a servant tells the group Salhar is not present, called away on important Councilbusiness, but his most trusted advisoris available to negotiate any business they may require. The servant explains this while leading you all down well decorated hallways, past expansive rooms. After a few minutes, you all arrive at a simple study near the end of a long hallway.
url=http://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9235-Sapphi reSage.jpg]Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage[/url].
Inside Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. As the group approaches the open door, the wise sage silently gestures the PCs into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading. Once the you are all inside the study, he addresses the group.
“Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say” he pauses momentarily to wet his lips and collect his thoughts, “Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet”., he pauses once again, this time reading your faces to ensure full understanding, then continues, “Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room.” he concludes, gesturing half distractedly at the manservant who brought you here; The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.
Begging your permission and a thousand pardons, the manservant quickly ushers you away from Amenopheous’ chamber, as though you are curiously welcome guests who might accidentally overstay their welcome, and he brings the group back through the spacious estate, leading them down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a couple turns, the party ends up at a plain wooden door. The servant opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow, and waits silently for the group to enter...
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Intimidate
Despite the stares from Grimaldus and the hard tone, Grimaldus is momentarily distracted by Tikrits gentle words, Yhens subtle magics aren't enough to get Grimaldus back on his game and the old man stays silent as the grave, merely staring at the floor as a manservant in such a place is inclined to do.
Grimaldus gallantly steps through the door to the awaiting chamber beyond...
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Kishara looked up from her preparations at the light swish of a envelope sliding under her door and blinked her violet eyes in surprise.
The young Half-Elf sprang lightly from the bunk and plucked the missive from floor. She turned the sealed envelope in her hands and observed the mark of Ambrus Valsin on the exterior. She opened the envelope and removed three items: a map of Absalom, a list of objectives and a handwritten note.
Kishara,
I know I encouraged you to familiarize yourself with the city more before the Society assigned you any official tasks, but we're an agent down on this team and need you to meet up with the group. From what I understand, they decided to visit Salar's offices first and have gone ahead to the Wise Quarter. You'll have to hurry to catch up.
She quickly scanned the map and list and scoffed lightly to herself.
Orphans need medicines and I'm headed to bandy words with a politician? She sighed aloud to the empty room and quicky tucked the envelope in her inside vest pocket and gathered her things.
Kishara left the Grand Lodge and hurried along the streets trying to keep her eyes and ears open and not attract attention to herself as was her habit. She arrived at her destination and was lead to the study just in time to hear most of Amenopheus' speech. Somewhat bothered by his demeanor, she attempts to discern what she can about the man and his intentions before being ushered out of the room.
The corner of Kishara's mouth pulled reflexively at Grimaldus threatening tone and speaks for the first time to her new team.
"I don't think that's how they do things around here... We are representatives here today, no?"
Turning her attention to the manservant, "Sir, is there danger ahead? Is that why we must be the ones to retrieve the maps? We will fare better if we are prepared, eh?"
For the journey:
Perception
Stealth
For the Sapphire Sage:
Perception
Sense Motive
Knowledge (Local)
For the servant:
Diplomacy
For entering the next room, looking for traps:
Perception
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Your further dealings with the Sapphire Sage are likewise very straight forward, however you get the distinctly clear feeling his motives are akin to appraising your worth like a desert native might assess the worth of a camel. You judge by his smmothness that the man is hard to read and well practiced at appearing precisely how he chooses...he would not be an easy customer in a debate or a trade.
Kishara runs in late, just meeting the party as they are entering the room, and still looking a bit flustered from the trip. Identified as a fellow Pathfinder novice, she joins the group. Her initial commentary draws almost a half look from the manservant, you suspect it might almost be one of thanks, yet is countered by Mandraks dark stare.
He looks back to Kishara as though to answer her question, but only shrugs and mumbles in an apologetic display of unknowingness. You suspect he is probably being honest and possibly just following instructions with no further information...
The party completes their entry to the chamber beyond, and the manservant closes the door... locking it behind you. Written on the back of the door is the message: “Within these cases lies your quest and your way out.”
This plain stone room contains three chests: a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood; a red lacquered chest; and what looks to be a cube of solid steel. Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.
The Wicker Basket
This is a 2-foot-round wicker basket with no apparent locks, its lid resting gently atop its wide rim.
The Glass Jar
This gallon-sized clear glass jar is about half full with clear liquid. At the bottom of the vessel sits a jewelled brass key.
The Copper-Banded Chest
This a copper-banded chest is of a smooth, dark wood. A single lock of typical design is built into its face.
The Red Lacquered Chest
This smooth, red lacquered chest bears a solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole that pulses
with glowing amber runes.
The Steel Chest
This steel cube has only the faintest crack where its lid meets the base, and would be completely featureless save
for its narrow keyhole.
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Tikrit steps up and puts a hand on Mandrak's arm before he dumps the liquid on the basket. "Hold! We don't even know what is in the jar or in the basket." he says. "Don't be hasty." he says before drawing a dagger and using it to flip the lid off the basket to see what's inside. "Pour it out in the corner if you must. Maybe give it a smell first, or test it with something."
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"I'm inclined to agree with Aegon, if the liquid is corrosive we must find this out first, no?" Kishara said and took a moment to think, tapping her lips with her forefinger as she deliberated. She then plucked a blue tinted hair from her head and moved to drop it into the liquid and observe what happens.
"I suspect our host means to test our mettle today as well, Mandrak. Perhaps we can find something that can give us an idea of what we must do here..." she says as she lights a candle and begins actively searching the room. "A little help would be nice..."
I
Room: Perception
Copper: Perception
Red: Perception
Steel: Perception
Wicker: Perception
Wicker, after nudge: Perception
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The Glass Jar
Radiates no magic.
Neither Mandrak or Aegon see any obvious traps, Grimaldus similarly notes nothing out of the ordinary with his detailed eye for engineering. That said, a cautious sniff of the liquid suggests it was 'not right' and likely dangerous, which bears out when tested on the wicker.
The Wicker Basket
Something within radiates magic of the transmutation school.
Kishara gets a bad feeling about the basket, however can't place it.
The small amount of liquid decanted from the glass jar at first does nothing, then slowly appears to sizzle gently and some of the wicker pops and expands from chemical reaction.
Tikrit stands to the side and flips the lid gently with his blade as the others look on, Inside, a blue stone key rests atop a pile of crumpled linens – which reveals itself to be the item radiating faint magic.
The Copper-Banded Chest
Radiates Magic, of the illusion school, it seems to be covering the whole chest.
Kishara believes that it is not trapped, but is locked.
The Red Lacquered Chest
Radiates the Universal school of magic, most likely the amber runes.
Kishara believes that it is not trapped, but is locked.
The Steel Chest
Radiates the Universal school of magic.
Kishara immediately calculates the chest is indeed trapped with a magical trap, triggered by touch. She is also certain she has better than average odds of being able to disarm it.
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"Two keys. Three chests. One key lies at the bottom of a jar of acid (or something similar). Another key rests atop magically enchanted rags. One chest is magically trapped. Each is a test of some sort...
My instincts say if we remove the blue stone key from the basket the rags will somehow attack us. I propose one of our fast-handed members snatch the stone key from the basket while another waits with the glass jar - as soon as the first is clear of the basket the other pours the liquid on the rags. Perhaps the acid will eat away the enchated rags before it harms us. If not, I will be ready with my axe to finish it.
Either way, we also expose the brass key at the bottom of the acid. This is my initial recommendation. Once we have both keys we can turn our attention to the chests..."
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"Hmmm..." Kishara paces slightly, tapping her lips with her forefinger as she considers the puzzle before them. She turns to Yhen as she speaks and then flashes her quick smile. "I make no guarantees, but we'll give it the old academy try, eh?" Upon hearing Grimaldus' suggestion, she shudders slightly. "I might be able to snatch the key, but I'd like to try a few things first... Say! If the first key is immersed in that acid (or whatever), perhaps it will not harm the second key either and Mandrak can go on with his idea to pour the liquid into the basket, yes? She looks at the other's expectantly with obvious excitement over the possibility of this idea.
Knowledge(any)
"Then again, there is always..."Kishara then draws her rapier with a flourish and states with the enthusiasm of a hawker at saturday market; "Zee Wicker-Sticker!
Sleight of hand
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"We could use Mage Hand to get the key out of the jar if Tikrit or Yhen has it. As for the key in the wicker basket I say we just take it, I'm not afraid of rags. If we can complete some part of this puzzle without the acid in the jar we should, we may need it to open one of the chests or the door and better to attempt all of our options first before expending our limited resources." Aegon takes a starknife off his belt and readies it in case the chests, rags or keys decide to get uppity.
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"Mandrak, I nominate you to snatch the key - Kishara will have to pick the locks of any chests we do not have keys for. Tikrit, if the rags do something...funny...pour the acid on them. Aegon and I will stand ready to engage anything, and Yhen can provide covering fire if needed.
Oh...and everyone watch your feet when the acid eats through the wicker basket. Maybe we should put the basket on the steel chest and kill two birds with one stone?"
Grimaldus notices Tikrit looking at him after this comment.
"Umm. No offense, good magus..."
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Several things happen in unison, Mandrak shoots for the key whilst Tikrit stands by with the acid and Grimaldus ready with a blade ready to lay waste to the basket. Mandraks hand hits the key and the basket flurries with activity as something lurches within, the rags flapping about... which is the signal for Tikrit who dumps the acid into the basket and whatever is inside.
Damage
Reflex Save
Attack
Hand free of the basket, a small green snake launches outwards at Mandrak but is too slow to hit him , the snake appears rather worse for wear at the acid striking it.
Meanwhile, focused in the task at hand, Kishara smiles confidently as she sprinkles a fine powder on the steel chest and then blows a liquid across it and watches as the liquid congeals and drips... smudging and ruining whatever invisible glyph might be warding the chest. She is satisfied it is now safe.