conversations: human
conversations:  More watery sludge... more damp chill...
  
  Your boots slosh through the cold, stagnant water as you plod through the Puddles district of Absalom.
  
  A thick fog hangs in the air, coating every surface with a slippery sheen of dampness and seeming to caress any exposed flesh with an unnatural chill. As you stand outside the Soggy Piper in a foot and a half of brackish brine, you try to recall what was so damned important to demand your presence in this half-flooded slum during Absalom’s rainy season. You remember your meeting at the Grand Lodge just a few hours earlier with your Venture-Captain, Adril Hestram.
  
  A bear of a man with only a few teeth remaining in his head, he motioned you into the meeting hall with a casual wave of his grizzled hand. The human captain outweighs most of Absalom’s half-orcs, and though a layer of beefy blubber coats his frame, those of you who have tangled with him in the Lodge sparring ring know that beneath this thin veneer of fat lies nothing but solid, steely sinew. Adril’s wild beard wags to the ponderous shake of his massive head as he examines a scrap of ancient parchment on the table before raising his eyes to greet each of you.
  
  “ Come in then, friends, and thank you for answering my summons so swiftly. I trust you've been keeping yourselves busy over these last few weeks? I know it's hard for freshly minted Pathfinders to remain patient. Ahhh... I can still remember my first few weeks... 
  
  Adril pauses for a moment, caught up in recollection of past days and past adventures. Then, with a slight start, he refocuses on the present.
  
  " But, I have good news for you, my friends. Your wait is over. The society is in need.
   
  " An old and quite penniless historian, a bespectacled wag-beard by the name of Yargos Gill has recently made a discovery in an old archive that we have a great interest in obtaining: an ancient codebook, left behind in the wake of one of Taldor’s many failed attempts at invasion. What? You thought the widespread resentment of Taldor, bubbling just beneath the surface of this city, was a recent occurrence? Absolutely not! If you believe some of the stories, those bastards attempted to invade this place on a monthly basis!  
  
  " Anyhow... this codebook... this several-hundred-year-old text would prove an excellent addition to our collection, and must be preserved. 
  
  “ Yargos makes his home in ‘The Puddles,’ Now don't frown like that - you wanted to be a Pathfinder, and a Pathfinder's job ain't always sugar and spice... in fact, it never is. Yes, the Puddles are Absalom’s poorest district, and yes, it's known mostly as a haven for lowlifes and criminals. And, no, they still haven't done anything to drain the damn place after that earthquake a few years back that sunk the district below sea level... 
   Adril's tone becomes considerably more serious.  
  
  “ Now, look... The district is the stomping ground of pimps, harlots, addicts, knifers, and hoards of unseemly derelicts... It’s never been a kind place, but recent reports reveal some new trouble on her waterlogged streets. Several persons claim to have seen cloaked, skeletal-like figures marching through the fog. Ill tidings indeed, my friends. Tracking down ol' Yargos is now a priority - lest some yellow-toothed thug cut him down, or one of these strange wraiths carry him beyond the pale. Find him... more importantly, find that codebook. 
  
  " You've been waiting around for your chance to impress the society... well, now you've got it. "
  
  The memory of Adril fades as a fresh deluge of cold seawater rounds a bend in the lane and assaults your legs. The tide must be rolling in.
  
  After searching for Yargos at his favorite eatery, the Soggy Piper, you learned that you just missed him. According to the Piper’s staff, a gang of young tattooed toughs arrived ahead of you. They grabbed Yargos and several of his friends from their dinner table and dragged them out... laughing about how they were going to turn Yargos into fish food. It's not the first time these young punks have done this, and if their previous record is any indication, they're heading to a nearby cliff at the edge of the Puddle District. The city guard was called for, but they will certainly arrive too late, as they often do in the Puddles... when they bother to venture here at all.
  
  And so, you find yourselves standing in cold seawater with clear directions to the cliff known as Torsen’s Maw. Based upon the information from the folks at the Soggy Piper, it seems that the punks (and Yargos) have a solid 30 minute head start... maybe more.
  
  It is early evening, the first Wealday of the month of Desnus, an old man is about to face some awful fate at the sea cliff known as Torsen’s Maw, and you are no closer to finding the codebook Adril sent you for.
conversations: Acro:
conversations: human
conversations:  Abelas hasn't been complaining about the time in The Puddles at all, in fact looking relieved when the water rises.
  
   "Looks like we'll have to hurry.  Come on!" 
  
  She starts off heading towards the Maw, the water seeming to do nothing to slow her down.
conversations: Archpaladin Zousha:
conversations: human
conversations:  Until Abelas spoke, Castor had been distracted, staring blankly at his feet.  Upon hearing her voice, he calmly agreed in a flat tone,  "yes, we should hurry.  We should not be late."   The thin human pressed after the half-elf, but without her enthusiasm.
conversations: SanguinePenguin:
conversations: human
conversations:  Argo is trying to keep up with Abealas and Castor his breastplate slowing him down a little. He is breathing a little hard to keep up in his armor even though it is of nice quality. Argo also takes some glances to the sides to make sure they are not running into a trap.
  
  Argo says a little short of breath and in a somewhat nervous tone. I am following and lets make sure not to leave anyone behind. It is the puddles.  
conversations: doctor_wu:
conversations: human
conversations:  Dalton also in armor, is trying his best to keep up.
   I cannot believe how bad this part of town has gotten...By the gods I hope we can make it in time! As much as the fish need food, no man should suffer that fate!  
conversations: Pezmerga:
conversations: human
conversations:  Argo seems to here the sound of food then starts looking around and checking the surroundings. Argo is ready to run through the area and seems to hurry up a little when he thinks he cannot make it in time. Argo is starting to breathe heavily. Argo looks to see if the cliff is visible.
  
  Argo says
  " Anyone see the cliff yet?  "
conversations: doctor_wu:
conversations: human
conversations:  Plodding along in the water that runs through the roads and alleys like a slow-moving, stagnant river, your small group eventually emerges from the "urban" portion of the Puddles district. It has taken you nearly ten minutes to get this far, but you're finally getting close.
  
  Torsen’s Maw, the cliff that you're looking for, is clearly visible up ahead. And, as expected, you can see that there are a number of figures standing upon the cliff - at least eight. One of the figures is holding a torch, even though it is still early evening. Unfortunately, you're still too far away to determine who is friend and who is foe.
  
  Torsen’s Maw, itself, is a short stubby sea cliff. A gradual hill leads up to a small flat area, which then drops abruptly some 50 feet into the sea below. A fall from that height isn't necessarily fatal, but could certainly cause some damage... not to mention the various sharks and rays that inhabit the waters below.
  
  You're still a considerable distance from the cliff and the group of people standing there. But, unfortunately, there is only one real way to approach... and that is straight ahead.
conversations: Acro:
conversations: human
conversations:  Abelas begins weaving a spell, and then concentrates, making it appear like a wave of water is rising above the cliff with words appearing in the foam.
  
  LET THE SAGE GO, SO SAYS GOZREH
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Abelas is casting  silent image .
   
conversations: Archpaladin Zousha:
conversations: human
conversations:  Argo begins joging up the to the cliff and looks at the figures talking and gets ready to draw his sword if he sees them threatening. All the while he is looking at the figures on the hill talking to see their reactions. Finaly he decides this looks like a threat and draws his greatsword.
  
  Argo then says  Really all you need to do is let him go otherwise things may get rough. 
   
   Spoiler 
  double move forward and draw greatsword as part of move.
   
conversations: doctor_wu:
conversations: human
conversations:  Castor traveled up the hill with a look of amusement on his face.   "I'm curious how this will turn out too,"  he muttered softly.  He followed Argo up the hill as he went.
conversations: SanguinePenguin: