Tala shakes her head, "I cannot believe what just happened!  In fact, I don't even really trust my own memory!  Can someone confirm what we just went through in the last few hours?"

But Baby....It's Cold Outside...

You step through the tapestry and emerge in a small cavern.  Thirty feet away, the entrance opens up to quite a scene as a small town's screams echo throughout a snowcovered valley.  The cause of the panic is apparent, as a massive white form hovers over several buildings, a cone of deadly frost bursting from its open maw.  Its gigantic wings beat in the falling snow, stirring up small opaque tornadoes.  The beast screeches loudly, then soars to the north, disappearing in the wintery sky. 

City at the Center of the World

   Its port bustles with races, colors, and odors of all kinds.  Heschen briefly speaks to the group, Soba quietly sits on his left.  “Now, aside from Wong, I know you are all newcomers here.  There are a lot of distractions.  Our goal right now is to get to the Grand Lodge.”  He points to a huge tower not far off.  “Dreng is expecting us.” 

As each of you have a restful and productive journey on the Wisp, you arrive at the City at the Center of the World…Absalom.

The rest of the Pathfinders, including those you met, are gathering their belongings and putting them on wagons.  Sam eventually comes off the boat and looks at the group, Robyn included.  “We are all headed to the Lodge, you are welcome to join us, there are about 100 of us, I am sure that 6 or 7 more won’t hurt.”

The walk is brief as an older man is standing outside a large domed portion of the Lodge.  The other pathfinders check in at the door by showing their wayfinders.  Robyn waits with your group, staying near Kulman.  The  man shakes hands with Heschen, then he speaks with a shaky voice.  “Welcome friends.  I take it your trip was relaxing?  I have heard you had been quite busy up north.”  He looks at all of you, then pauses at Robyn.  She giddily speaks, “Master Dreng…I’m so excited to meet you….I’m Robyn…you’re a legend…I mean…it’s an honor…”  Dreng raises his hand.  “Thanks you my dear, and while it is good to hear praise, now is not the time.  Although you are not members of the society, I have made arrangements for you to have quarters in the student rooms, here in the south wing.”  He walks in front of your group, through the doors.  He nods to the pathfinders checking wayfinders, and you all enter without a problem.

The room you enter is huge common room, with a dome that rides 75-100 feet in the air.  Along the walls and the dome are indentations, carvings of the names of pathfinders.  Dreng notices Tala looking at them.  “Once a pathfinder completes their confirmation, or visit Absalom for the first time, it is tradition that they carve their name into the dome.”  He looks at the top of the dome.  “As you can see, some of our members are quite good at climbing.”  The room is full of tables and stools.  There are people of all sorts sitting, drinking, and eating.  There is a line for food, and one for ale.  Doors lead off to the north, east, and west.  “Feel free to grab food.”  Robyn runs to a close wall and begins carving her name into the wall.  Dreng continues as he looks at the druid.  “The meeting will begin in a few hours.”  Heschen nods in acknowledgement.  Dreng calls over a young man.  “These are our guests we were expecting, please show them to the rooms we have set up for them.”

Heschen looks at all of you.  “Dreng and I have a meeting to attend to regarding the issues at hand.  Feel free to enjoy the town, but be back, I would look to meet with you later this evening.”  Then he, and Soba walk behind Dreng through doors to the north.  

I'm on a Boat!

The Welcome Wisp rocks slightly as it pulls out of the harbor of Oppara.  Cheers emanate from the crowd of pathfinders on, and below deck, as a party atmosphere permeates the sea air.  “You’re welcome to our food and our drink, our music and our stories.  For the next seven days you are our guests.”  Those comments, made by Sam, the tall, blonde pathfinder in charge of the vessel, come to mind as several wayfinder wearing pathfinders walk around the boat offering exotic food and drink from all over the realm.  A song flows from one end of the boat, as multiple voices seem to be telling tales of adventure in every corner of the vessel.  “We’re lucky” said Robyn, “Sam’s a good guy, we were confirmed together. When he learned what you did for me, he was more than happy to let you travel with us.  While boat travel is pretty safe here, few pirates would dare attack a ship full of society members.  If any of you are trained sailors, it might help with some typical sea travel issues.  If not, custom is to vomit over the side of the boat, makes less of a mess.”  Mages, bards, and warriors practice their craft over the next seven days…giving you opportunities…if you like…

After a Knight of celebration

You come into the Inn of the Conquest’s End after a long evening of drink and celebration.  Sitting in the corner is a familiar face, a Halfling, feeding cheese curds to a small monkey.  Heschen, looks up and waives you over.  “Friends, it is good to see you.  You look well, I am sorry I could not join you at the Prince’s festival.”  He drinks from a mug, as does Soba the monkey, almost like twins.  “I have come from a meeting of sages in Kaer Maga.  Some of the finest minds in Golarion were there.  We discussed a great many things, but mostly the magic problem.”  He looks to Wong.  “It would appear that an entire school of magic is gone.  Divination.  No one knows why or how.  No one knows if its coming back.  Theories abound.  Arguments raged.  The Worldwound.  The Drow Sickness.  The Mana Wastes.  The Lissala cult.”  He takes a drink.  “Then I brought up the dragons.  It seems as if your encounter with your green dragon is not the only recent appearance of chromatic wyrms.  Evidently a white dragon has been seen in the far north, near the Ice Spire.  And beyond that, rumors of a blue dragon in the sands of Osiron.”  He puts a piece of cheese in his mouth.  “I told them of the green dragon you killed.  The sages are in agreement.  We discussed it all throughout the night, into the day.  We believe there is no doubt.  The rise of the dragons must have something to do with the degeneration of divination.”  He nods to Tala.  “They also think that the dragons’ rise has something to do with your peoples’ sickness.”  He finishes his drink.  “It’s all First World you understand, the dragons, the gnomes, the drow, the elves.  Something has leaked through.  A wise Shoanti Shaman put forth the theory that the dragons are gaining power at the expense of magics, and magical beings.  That seems to be the prevailing thought among everyone there.  The how and why are really the only questions left.”  He raises his mug to the serving girl, indicating he needs more to drink.  Soba does as well.  “We all came away with one solution.  These new dragons…if there is going to be a stop to this problem…if magics, if the first worlders are to survive…they must be put down.” 

A Special Delivery

As you get settled in at the Inn of the Conquest's End, two ratfolk, dressed in fine suits, with all the noble graces one could find in clothing, enter the main dining room.  One carries a small stack of envelopes, and after talking to the barmaid, they approach you.  As they get closer you note that they are wearing small golden muzzles, adorned with diamonds.  One counts out eight envelopes and hands them to you.  Each has your name on it, with one marked for Heschen.  The two ratfolk bow deeply, and scurry on their way, clearly having other items to deliver.  As you examine the finely crafted envelope, you note that each is sealed with wax, bearing the mark of Grand Prince Stavian III.

Upon opening the envelope, a small rainbow bursts from the envelope, then dissipates.  You pull from the envelope the following document, made of a silken paper:

 

The Inn of the Conquest's End

As you arrive at this fine inn, you discover, after checking with the barmaid, that your lodging has been prepaid, and in fact she has a letter for you.  As you glance around the inn, seeing no sign of Heschen, your fingers break the seal of the envelope.

It reads:

Dear friends,

I am happy you made it here, hopefully undelayed and rested from your recent difficulties in Belhaim.  As you can see, unfortunately, I am not here to meet you.  There has been an emergency of sorts, it would appear that some magics, especially divination types, have been weakened throughout the realm somehow.  This has caused several of my acquaintances to have great concern.  As you can imagine, this has development is most troublesome.  Some sages are suggesting that the rise of the dragons, including the one you dispatched, may be siphoning off the inherent magic from the realm.  I can’t say that it is a far-fetched theory.  Over the next few days, I will be meeting with priests, wizards, and fellow druids to try to develop some sort of explanation of the phenomenon.  

In the meantime, I have contacted those I know at the Palace, and I have been informed that you are fortunate indeed.  It would appear that Prince Stavian only bestows titles upon the “Day of Joy”, a national holiday that celebrates the anniversary of his rule.  That event is in the first of the month, which, if my calculations on your travel are correct, will be in two days’ time.  If I am not there to join you, do not worry, you have all proven yourselves to be skilled at both the art of battle, and the art of social grace.  Besides, from what I understand, Prince Stavian is interested in the tales of adventure that you can, and will, certainly relate.  I have been told that formal invitations will be arriving here at the inn for you within the day.  

Finally, if you recall, I mentioned one of the Prince’s lovers, Lady Lashonna Nance.  I hear she has quite the interest in all things dragon.  If you get the chance, please, gather what she can tell you about what you have experienced, especially regarding the artwork found in the vault of Nhur Amethon, it might prove useful.  One word of caution, I have heard that she tends to open up to those who the Prince favors, so do your best to impress!

At the latest, I shall arrive back in Oppara in time to travel with you to Absalom, perhaps 3 days at the latest.  I look forward to sharing what we all have learned.

Heschen