02 The Shard of Pride

Having been joined by Dariz, a Pathfinder dwarven monk sent by Sheila Heidmarch to aid in the venture, there was hardly time for introductions before the two thugs charged. Without a thought, Dariz dashed forward, she lashed out with a rapid volley of punches, but not before the thug landed a ferocious blow on her in return. There was a sickening crunch then Dariz slumped, crumpled to the ground, with blood slowly pooling around her. Shikoba swiftly drew and shot an arrow, dropping the thug who collapsed wheezing to the ground, his heavy morningstar clattering as it rolled away. Through this melee, the other thug charged Tsadok, swinging his hefty morningstar wildly at the towering barbarian. Tsadok ducked under the blow, Iradil rushed in and stabbed at the off balance thug but missed, giving Tsadok the opportunity to raise his enormous Earth Breaker and bring it down in a mighty overhead blow, thundering in to the thug who slumped to the floor, broken and bleeding.

Iradil asked Tsadok on how she had managed in the fight, he replied gruffly, "Is that a trick question?" Iradil spoke of her ancestors, of how she had elven blood within her from great warriors, of how her ancestors had excelled at battle. Tsadok, unimpressed, berated Iradil, leaving her scowling and aggrieved.

Hellov channeled the divine might of Angradd through his holy symbol, healing magics flowing in to Dariz, magically healing the morningstar's vicious wound. Dariz roused back to consciousness, saw the fallen thugs, moved over to them and tended them, stemming their bleeding wounds before they bled to death.

Knowing that the thugs had tried to alert Natalya Vancaskerkin, the party entered the building swiftly. Too swiftly! Tsadok barged open and rushed through the front door in to a room and in to a festering pit of sewage. The floor had become so rotten, the whole of the basement was exposed, several feet of murky thick sewage pooling below the floor level. Iradil, on seeing Tsadok disappear in to the viscous gloop, asked if the party could pause for a moment. Dariz asked if it was to pay respects to the lost friend, Iradil explained it was just to afford time to re-calculate the wealth she was holding, now splitting the party loot 4 ways instead of 5. Slightly to her dismay, moments later Tsadok erupted from the sewage, gasping for air. As Tsadok spluttered and stook up, the sewage sloshing up to his waist, gathering himself together, stealthy goblins pounced and attacked!

The party noticed a narrow plank across the room, the sewer pipes draining in to the basement below, the goblins, but also the broken ceiling and rafters of an attic up above. Dariz drew wickedly sharp throwing stars, hurling her shuriken at the goblins, who danced back to avoid them, tossing their jangling bags at Tsadok in return. Shikoba's arrows flew true, Tsadok smashed one with his Earth Breaker before Hellov hauled the soaking barbarian back up, reaking with an abominable stench.

More goblins attacked from the next room, one shooting Iradil who collapsed to the floor, her dagger falling from her limp hand,  before Hellov drew on his holy powers to heal her, moments later, back to health and consciousness. Coming round, she saw the fallen goblins and weakly asked, "Loot?"
Dariz glanced around before replying, "No lute . . . let's look for a banjo instead!"

After this tiring battle, Tsadok felt weary, seeking to rest for a few moments. Dariz vaulted up to the rafters above, scouting the attic. Iradil asked Tsadok of battle and her skills with her short, thin dagger, to again receive criticism and scorn. Iradil spoke of her elven ancestors and their accomplishments, their skills in battle, how they could aid her. Vexed by Tsadok's contempt, she murmured words of arcane magic, soft lights flaring around her, coalescing in to a dark figure clad in black jagged armour, materialising in front of her. This form swirled to face towards Iradil, charged towards her and thrust inside her, vanishing in to her body. Iradil gasped as her body writhed and changed, the black form pushing out through her, until Iradil vanished and this new form stood in her place.

The form spoke with a deep, male voice, sharing, "Let me introduce Lord Iradil Dolour of the Great House Dolour of Zirnakaynin, Hunter Slayer of the Morlocks of Sekamina, Knife of Ten Thousand Deaths, Nar-Voth Vanquisher of Darkland's Krba Derro, Flensing Vengeance of Andirifkhu, Lord General of the Army of Sorrow, Guardian of the West Gate of Zirnakaynin."

Tsadok was stunned, whispering, " . . . a drow!" but before further conversation that was a cry from above as Dariz was attacked by two hideous monsters, small flapping creatures with jagged claws and needle like nose. They flapped towards her, she danced aside from one but the other snared her clothes then pulled itself to her, speared her with it's sharp nose and sucked blood noisily from her.

Iradil jumped up, grabbed one of the rafters and pulled himself up, strong and agile despite the heavy jagged armour and wicked gauntlets he wore. As he hauled himself in to the attic, Dariz lashed out with deft precise blows, felling one of the monsters, Shikoba's arrows dropping the other, just as Iradil stood to witness the carnage.

Hellov tended Dariz, concerned about the amount of blood she had lost, as Tsadok shouted below about the drow. Iradil offered to help Tsadok up to the rafters, grinning, as the half-orc recoiled, "I'll take no help from a stinking drow!" Iradil laughed, Tsadok being the one stinking, covered in raw sewage.

The party gathered in the attic, Tsadok inviting the party to defeat the drow. Shikoba was surprised, explaining it was Iradil, that people were prejudiced against orcs, yet Tsadok was accepted as a half-orc. Iradil explained her half-elven lineage was from drow elven ancestors in her distant past, Dariz echoed Shikoba's call for tolerance but Tsadok remained hostile and perplexed. Iradil shifted back to her half-elf form, sought to appease Tsadok but without real progress, Tsadok's suspicion and mistrust increased. Fearing battle, Iradil again summoned and merged with her ancestor, encouraged by the party's desire to swiftly moved on before Natalya Vancaskerkin. Moments later they found her, concealed in the attic with two goblins at her side, demanding the party leave immediately.

Iradil pounced on her, he literally dropped to all fours and dashed to her, leaping across a 10 foot hole in the rafters, to land in front of her. Swinging his heavy bladed gauntlets at her, he attacked 3 times, gashing and staggering her as she and her goblins rallied to attack. The attacks were blurred, Iradil seemingly having more than two arms attacking her, his flurry of strong blows catching her with surprise. Moments later Dariz leapt over, pausing before executing one perfectly timed, perfectly balanced blow that stunned Natalya Vancaskerkin, she reeled backwards before slumping to the floor. With the goblins then defeated, the party recovered treasures. Iradil picked up a copper coloured shard, inspecting it with curiosity. Arcane magics flared as he detected potent illusion magics bound within it. Tsadok ignored Iradil and picked up Natalya Vancaskerkin, the party returned swiftly to Sheila Heidmarch at Heidmarch Manor.

Within the manor, Sheila Heidmarch shared her delight at the recovery of Natalya Vancaskerkin and of the shard. She chided Tsadok on his prejudice against Iradil and drow, politely reminding Tsadok that Pathfinders preached tolerance and cooperation. She then explained that this copper shard was the Shard of Pride and part of an ancient Thassilonian artifact, the Sihedron, crafted by the Azlanti wizard, Emperor Xin, some 10 000 years ago. Sheila Heidmarch explained that she had studied and knew of the shards, looking at the shard in wonder, "Never did I imagine one would fall in to my lap!" Iradil looked at her with irritation, "It didn't, I brought it." Sheila Heidmarch nodded, "You did, you did very well." She took the shard, bound an ioun stone within it then returned it to Iradil who snatched it back, arrogantly claiming it as his. She suggested that the shard could be used as a focus, allowing other shards to be found if Iradil thought of the image of the whole, of the Sihedron. In a very unusual turn of events, not wishing to be told what to do by Sheila Heidmarch,  Iradil declined to do as she suggested, now. He instead intended to do so on his own terms and choosing. Sheila Heidmarch suggested the Shard of Pride could be used to track down the rest of the shards, Iradil again was dismissive and perhaps discourteous in his aloof reply of, "Sounds like a theory, Pathfinder!" He turned the conversation to Natalya Vancaskerkin and what she might know.

Needing to talk with Natalya Vancaskerkin and remind herself of Sihedron lore, Sheila Heidmarch suggested the party return after a short while. Hellov demanded fine food, the party left for lunch. Tsadok sought to find the missing people within Magnimar, Iradil felt they were only peasants and wasn't inclined to agree with Tsadok in doing what Tsadok was suggesting he should do until Dariz and Hellov reminded Iradil of the wealth that Kasadei within the Arvensoar had promised. Hellov wearily asked, "Is it time for dinner yet?" at which the party, not having time to journey far and seek lost citizens, chose rather to dine well.

On returning an hour later, Sheila Heidmarch explained that the Sihedron could be reformed if all seven shards were found and brought together. She felt this would afford Magnimar (and Varisia) a powerful defense against future threats and challenges. Iradil focussed on the shard, evoking a vision of "the Crow", a tower that once supported the might Irespan bridge but is now but a standing tower, some half a mile out in the relatively calm waters of the Varisian Gulf. Hiring a sailor, the party arranged to journey to the tower, questing for the next shard of the Sihedron.

01 Starting Out

It started with a letter.

Sat at home, drinking fresh tea, musing over the vengeance she could plan for her "family" Iradil was startled from her reverie by a messenger. The letter was from Sheila Heidmarch, asking Iradil to attend a meeting at her Pathfinder lodge.

Iradil journied the few streets to the lodge where she met Shikoba. This woman, shorter than Iradil and dressed in leathers with a strung bow and tribal face paint, introduced herself and invited Iradil in to wait for Sheila Heidmarch. Shikoba invited Tsadok in to the lodge explaining, "Come this way, you're expected." Tsadok was not impressed and shouted back at her, "Of course she's expecting us, she sent a letter!"

Waiting in the room was Hellov, a stocky dwarf cleric of Angradd, dressed in chain mail and sporting an axe that was as big as the dwarf! Hellov was initially silent, but on opening conversations on religion Hellov droned on about some tedious dwarven deity, becoming enthusiastic when speaking of justice and battle. Iradil swiftly tuned out as soon as the conversation strayed to such dull matters.

Whilst waiting with them the mighty half-orc Tsadok, almost as tall as Iradil herself, paced around the room like a caged animal. He wore rough leathers and carried a massive maul, an Earthbreaker of fearsome weight. Speaking simply, with short sentences and short words, this mighty warrior spoke fiercely of battle and war and some deity called Gorum. He and the cleric seemed to hit it off.

Gorum, Angradd, they have no sway over Iradil. She thought of Calistria, of her temple The Dome of the Savoured Sting which was a fair walk away, within the Keystone district, of the vengeance and schemes the faithful share within her temple.

Sheila Heidmarch was dressed in elegant robes, presenting herself with a self assured commanding presence. She invited the party in to her library where she challenged them to open a "paradox box" for her, leaving the party scrolls with some research notes about this. She noted this was a difficult task, requiring intelligence, stating this was a test of sorts since her mission required cunning as well as brawn. Tsadok was aggrieved, hearing it was difficult because it needed intelligence, snapping back at her, "Are you calling me un-intelligent?"

Iradil read the scrolls carefully, chiding Tsadok from shattering the box to open it, whilst Shikoba cautiously worked to dismantle some trap within it, a spell of summoning.

The party divined the Thassilonian runes, with one for "wrath" that is associated with evocation magics and also with kindness. Too, the runes on one face differed, spelling out the word "Cruel" with letters which could move. Iradil puzzled over this, with occasional useful help from Tsadok and Hellov, to rearrange the letters to "Lucre" at which point the box opened. Sheila was pleased, allowing the content (a few gems, a silver dagger, a ring of feather falling) to be shared amongst the party.

Sheila Heidmarch then spoke of the mission she charged the party with. A half-Varisian named Natalya Vancaskerkin was aiding the Pathfinders as a street informant, inflitrating one of the local Sczarni street gangs and reporting back. She had failed to report back and has gone missing. Sheila Heidmarch fears for her and sought knowledge on what has happened to her. Sheila Heidmarch stressed that the knowledge was most important, with 500 GP paid for this. Finding and returning Natalya Vancaskerkin would earn a further 500 GP. Sheila Heidmarch feared that she may have been arrseted by the city guard and taken to Arvensoar. Nidalese slavers could have abducted her, since they have been seen within Magnimar recently. Or, since the Sczarni use a middleman, it may be that this middleman "The Amazing Zograthy", a fortune teller in Washer's Row, might know something of her situation.

Journeying to the tower, Arvensoar, Tsadok spoke with thewatch officer Kasadei who explained that Natalya Vancaskerkin was known to them as a petty burglar who runs with the Tower Girls gang, one of the Sczarni street gangs. She shared that the Tower Girls had recently had battles with the rival Sczarni gang, the Wreckwash Blades, with the Tower Girls faring poorly and hiding in a warehouse within the seedy Underbridge district. They were said to be aided by Fenster the Blight, there.

Kasadei also spoke of the slavers and abductions, describing how bakers and merchants and craftsmen had gone missing to then turn up weeks or months later in Magnimar, confused. Kasadei was keen to know more, offering 1000 GP for further investigation of this. Because noble families were not affected, Iradil saw this as pointless, "Peasants going missing to be found later, living as peasants? Why would we investigate this?" Kasadei mentioned the reward, swiftly enticing Iradil to explore this.

Iradil shared with Kasadei how, "You were almost useful, some of the time, for a city official."

Moving to the Underbridge, the party left a gift on a plate for Fenster the Blight who emerged to talk further.

He knew something of Natalya Vancaskerkin but was reluctant to share this, without great reward. Tsadok was persuasive, intimidating him effortlessly to share her location, an old boarding house a few streets away. Cautious and curious, the party concealed themselves around the old boarding house (with varied degrees of success) and watched the property. After a short while it was clear that others were also watching the premises, Tsadok strode out to challenge them, "I'm going to knock you in to the ground and use you as a tent pole."

3 men in chainmail armour heaving wicked morningstars attacked, coordinated by a woman in elegant armour with a hand crossbow, fine whip and a shortsword.

Two of the thugs attacked Tsadok, one charged Hellov, striking him a vicious blow with the thunderingly heavy crunch as the morningstar battered in to him, almost felling him. Iradil warded herself with defensive magics, drew her tiny thin dagger and charged in to battle the thugs attacking Tsadok. Shikoba knocked arrows and let loose while Tsadok evaded the thugs. Unlucky against the woman, she darted in, striking a cruel blow with her shortsword, piercing his side. Hellov felled the thug with his mighty axe, Tsadok shattered the thugs and woman with his massive maul.

Iradil thought of dumping the unconscious thugs in to the deep waters, they had tried to murder them! But she couldn't steel herself to murder, agreeing with Tsadok that they were best left lost and bleeding, unconscious, in the alleys. Hellov spoke forcefully of justice, of law, of the city officials. Iradil, knowing the city well, laughed mirthlessly. She explained that here, the Underbridge, there were no city officials. Tsadok was also reluctant to finish them off, "Let the gods decide!", dragging them to pile the 3 of them in to the alley, bleeding messily and lightly covered up to conceal them.

Moving the unconscious woman to the shed by the old boarding house to rouse and question her, two more thugs emerged. Tsadok glowered and demanded, "If you want to keep your head on your shoulders, tell us where Natalya Vancaskerkin is." The thugs were shaken and one shouted out, very loudly and towards the house, "I'm not telling you that she lives next door!" then drew weapons and moved to prevent the party from entering the old boarding house . . .

Iradil's home

Iradil lives within the Alabaster District in Magnimar.

Tsadok

Speak softly and carry a bit stick.

Who would have thought that I would be in charge of negotiations?

Tsadok, half-orc Barbarian, follower of Gorum, wields an Earth Breaker. 

Stupid and socially awkward he should be great in battle and be able to take a beating. 
Annoyingly, though, he tends to be resistant to magic when he gets angry.

Character Name : Tsadok      

Alignment, Religion : Chaotic Good, Gorum

Race : Half-Orc
Class, HD : Barbarian, 1d12

Gender, Type : Male, Humanoid (human, orc)

Languages : Taldane (Common), Orcish

Skills : Acrobatics, Intimidate, Perception

Dariz Bofack

She isn’t overly clever.

Combat . . . well she is a monk and punches stuff in the face.

Character Name : Dariz Bofack      
Race : Dwarf

Class, HD : Monk, 1d8    

Gender, Type : Female, Humanoid (dwarf)

Skills : Sense Motive, Stealth, Perception, Survival

Hellov Grollog

Just straightforward drunken dwarf brawling with a bit of healing on the side.

Very Wise, fairly strong. 

But he does have a magically refilling Horn of Dwarven Ale and a very large axe . . .

Character Name : Hellov Grollog
Alignment, Religion : Lawful Good, Angradd
Race : Dwarf
Class, HD : Cleric, 1d8
Gender, Type : Male, Humanoid (dwarf)
Languages : Taldane (Common), Dwarven

Skills : Healing, Knowledge History

Shikoba

Shikoba's mother is part of a small Shoanti tribe dedicated to the god Erastil, and found in the Cinderlands. She was trained at a young age in the skills of hunting and tracking, but also showed some talent as a shaman. However she found life in the tribe little challenge, she wanted to explore the world and teach the ways of Erastil to the so called civilised folk in the big cities. 

So, instead of staying with the tribe, she instead followed the path of her father, who was an elven member of the Pathfinder Society. She travelled west joining a small pathfinder lodge in Turtleback ferry. However, the Pathfinders there, recognising her innate talent, sent her on to the lodge in Magnimar. Since arriving in Magnimar, she has found mock gladiatorial battles at Serpent's Run a welcome distraction,  whilst she awaits missions from the local Pathfinder lodge.

Character Name : Shikoba

Religion : Estaril

Race, homeland : Half-Elf, Cinderlands
Class, HD : Ranger, 1d10  

Gender, Type : Female, Humanoid (human, elf)      

Languages : Taldane (Common), Elven

Skills : Disable Device, Knowledge Nature,  Knowledge Religion, Stealth, Survival

Iradil

Iradil is a half-elf who's lived as a noble in Magnimar all her life.

She lives in a very small home next to the sumptuous Derexhi villa in the Alabaster district of Magnimar, it used to be a stable but has been converted into a house. Although this might seem grand, it's actually a bit of a snub. It's as far South as you can be, in the Alabaster District (with the wealthiest/best area nobles being further North, becoming cheaper/less grand as you move further South) so is almost in the Capital District. It's in the East (further from the presitigious sea views Fort Indross and the wealthy noble villas enjoy). An ex-stable, a tiny cottage rather than the grand villas, positioned in the least favourable location, it's a constant reminder to her of all she's lost.

From whichever noble family she once was a part of (and so far she's not telling), she's been disowned and is now an Alabaster Outcast, cast out by the family to live in a humble residence (the worst house in the best area). She's very bitter about this dis-inheritance from her family. She misses the evening soirees with the city's social elite, enriching her noble connections and skills of diplomacy. Although polite and charming with nobles, she has never been courteous or respectful for those not of noble birth, a flaw that is rather starting to haunt her.

Her disinheritance has forced her, for the first time in her life, to earn coin. Labour, a job, would be out of the question, so she generates income through her activities with the Pathfinder Society. It's almost as if it can be passed off as a hobby, a diversion, rather than an occupation to earn much needed gold!

Maybe it's her noble background, maybe it's her youth (she seems to be in her late teens), but she's usually so arrogant/self assured that she's seen to be rather Condescending to those around her.
She's also seen at the high class Captain's Club tavern in the dockway district, or Magnimar's temple to Calistria, The Dome of the Favoured Sting. She openly follows Calistria. Calistria is not evil but she teaches not only to be vengeful, but also vindictive when wronged by another; to take time returning disfavor, maneuvering in order to attain the best position from which to savour retribution.

Iradil has been thinking of how the noble family have wronged her, for some time, now.

Iradil still dresses as a noble, wearing elegant clothes, finished in fine silk, accesorised with a lavish signet ring.

Those having seen her at the Pathfinder Society with Sheila Heidmarch in the Heidmarch Manor Pathfinder Lodge will have learnt that Iradil has skills in arcane magics. She's knowledgeable in magics of this plane but also of Magnamar and local lore, aiding other Pathfinders with her knowledge of the city and area. Pathfinders also consult her to interpret languages. Iradil is known to speak a number of languages. She speaks no secret languages but knows some unusual ones, being fluent in Aklo, Taldane (Common), Elven, Sakvroth (Drow sign language), Undercommon and Varisian.

She claims that her distant ancestors in the Darklands spoke the non-Magnimar languages, that they've taught her and these live on, spoken through her. She speaks of her ancestors a lot. Apparently it was her uncompromising obsession about distant drow blood ancestry in her noble house' lineage, many many generations ago, that resulted in her disgrace and disinheritance from her noble family.

Character Name : Iradil            

Alignment, Religion : Chaotic Neutral, Calistria     

Height, weight : 6' 4", 160 lbs

Race, homeland : Half-Elf, Magnimar (Alabaster district)     

Class, HD : Summoner (Synthesist), 1d8    

Gender, Type : Female, Humanoid (human, elf) Outsider        

Eyes, hair : Blue, red

Favoured Class: Summoner, +¼ eidolon evolution 

Speed : 30 land                    

Starting age : 22 years old

Languages : Aklo, Taldane (Common), Elven, Sakvroth (Drow sign language), Undercommon, Varisian

Skills : Diplomacy, Knowledge Arcana, Knowledge Local, Perception, Spellcraft, Stealth