He snaps out of the daze. He dismisses the aura, and the energies fade even more.
"I can't believe what I have done. I would begin resorting the valuable, but I wouldn't even be able to keep them anyway. I think it is better that I just stay out of everything. I am truly sorry.
He hands Hassari his gold back.
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Veins of strange metal line the walls of this massive chamber. Enormous bronze devices connected to the walls by massive cables spark and spew steam, almost obscuring the large vault door at the far end of the room. The door is labeled with a single word in a plethora of languages: danger. Stagnant water collects at the bottom of a ten-foot wide pool in the middle of the room. A gasping, bleeding elf who looks like an aged version of Kreighton Shane lies across the room.
“Good show, Pathfinders,” the injured form of Kreighton Shaine manages between blood-soaked coughs. “But Lady Arodeth is a true savant and driven to fanatical extremes. The same energies that infected her casters above have also seized her soul, and I fear she has already killed several of your fellow chroniclers. Or will have killed them. Blast, but this is confusing.”
Shaine props himself up to continue speaking. “However noble her goals may have been, if Lady Arodeth forces us to remain in this time, we will all die. If the Sky Key is still functional, you must reactivate it before the Starstone arrives.”
The machines in this chamber begin to spark and smoke, and female bodies take shape from the green miasma.
Shaine continues, “She has learned to create temporal copies of, as I have. She can produce an army, left unchecked. Some teams will need to hold the line here, in this chamber, so that anyone confronting the true Lady Arodeth in the room beyond isn’t overwhelmed by these simulacra. You know your team’s capabilities better than I, but I promise you Lady Arodeth will be not yield easily.”
With that, the chorus of murky green figures announce, “I would have brought destiny back to this world.”
You head to the next room.
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Heavy walls and strange panels in this room all focus on the strange orrery in its center. Raised on a small dais, and separated from the rest of the room by a wide trench, the device oozes a thick, emerald light. The air smells of ozone, like standing amid a roaring thunderstorm.
Standing in the middle of the room is a woman, very similar to the ones seen in the previous room. It is the real Lady Arodeth. She is surrounded on four sides by greater lightning elementals.
"So, you've come to slay me, have you? All I want is a world that made sense. One which Aroden can survive and the Azlanti empire could have thrived on. I believe we still have a chance to achieve this goal. We just have to find Aroden and bring him to the present."
"I have noticed that you have not outright attacked any of my Harbingers that did not attack you. I thank you for using reason, no matter if I believe it is twisted, to solve our conflicts rather the killing many innocent followers of Aroden."
"Now, Pathfinders, what do you have to say for yourselves?"
"Sounds like a threat to me. Watch your words."
Lady Arodeth responds, "Your words are wise, and indeed I am starting to wane about my thoughts of the goal we seek. However, I have not given up hope yet. My Harbingers are still searching the streets for any chance that Aroden could appear before us. And even if it changes the course of history, it may be worth that risk."
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The green dome overhead ripples and flexes, visibly weakened but still present. The same woman’s voice from earlier booms from everywhere and nowhere at once.
“This… this isn’t what I wanted. I wanted a world with purpose again—with certainty. But I suppose there is no greater way to die than in the same fiery cataclysm that marked Aroden’s first step toward divinity. Join me in martyrdom, Pathfinders, and try to die with some dignity.”
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"Perhaps if you are so interested in finding Aroden, we could help you. But, as of right now, we have bigger things to handle. If the Sky Key is overloaded, you would be right in the mix. Then, you wouldn't be able to see if your plan could reach fruition or not.."
Aru tries to reason with the lady with diplomacy and uses her scattered knowledge of the Sky Key to aid with Hassari's point. (UMD)?
At Garam's words, Lady Arodeth looks grim. "I... I... Spoken like a true Harbinger Garam. I just wish that we could have had him back." She seems very moved by the statement.
Hassari talks about the dome. "I don't want to do anything back. I just wanted Aroden back..."
Aru backs up Hassari and offers help of her own. "Would the Pathfinders really be interested in bringing Aroden back? It's reassuring that the Harbingers are not the only ones that wish him to return."
"You Pathfinders are very kind to me..." Seems to be barely holding on at this point. Another argument could send her over the edge.
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Lady Arodeth, I understand the pain that is brought by such a loss, I understand the temptation, especially when one wields power, to try and fix everything which you see as being wrong with the world. But look around you, look at the damage these actions have caused, do you truly believe Aroden would have wanted this. Look to those you lead, see how they have been twisted and damaged by these actions. You are their leader but also their protector, it is to you they look for an example. Be that example and end this now...
"But I just wanted to fix everything. However, you have shown me that the risk is too great."
She sighs and looks toward the device.
"I have learned something of these controls, and I fear the damage my Heralds and I have inflicted in our zealotry has damaged your Sky Key. It now acts less as a projector and instead like a bridge... And a bridge must be anchored at both ends. For any of you to return now, something—someone—must remain behind or else the path home will collapse."
"I have earned this fate. As I said before, I can think of no finer way to die than in the fiery cataclysm that spurs on Lord Aroden’s journey to divinity. It will never be enough to make up for the blood we have shed here, Pathfinders, but know that I truly regret what I have done here today."
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- This is a glad situation. I promise that your sacrifice will be remember, as an example of the Humanity skill to learn form her own mistakes. You killed pathfinders but I dont feel that I was saying goodbye to an enemy, only a good person with wrong elections.
I hope you may find Aroden in the next step of the voyage of your soul, Lady Arodeth.
Maybe, under antoher circumstances, we could be friends. Good luck.
She does a grim chuckle at the dwarf's words. "A nice sentiment, but unfortunately I need to have my faculties to do what I need to do. Further, I doubt a layer of ice will protect me from the fiery end that will come upon me."
She looks towards Hassari. "Thank you for the kind words. I am sure, had not I had to die for this, that we could have been friends."
Then to Aru and Garam. "Please, make sure it isn't forgotten."
With that, Lady Arodeth starts to work on the Sky Key, and the room starts to swirl with green temporal energy.
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The asteroid looms impossibly large overhead, and the air grows stiflingly hot as the world itself begins to rumble. High overhead, the dome of green energy shudders, twists, and finally shatters, and Pathfinders’ bodies begin melting into flowing particles as the world slips away.
Just as quickly, you stumble as Bloodwatered Meadow coalesces beneath your feet, as it does for countless other Society agents. The wildflowers bob lazily in the wind, and nothing but a few still bodies stand as testament to the bloodshed and struggle of the past five hours. Kreighton Shaine, looking several years older, staggers to his feet and gives a nervous chuckle before climbing up a small knoll and waving his arms for the crowd’s attention.
“What we have all witnessed here today has been a remarkably journey that included sights no living soul on Golarion has witnessed. The Sky Key has allowed us to walk among the serpentfolk and Azlanti, gazing upon several of the greatest events to shape Golarion and the region that would one day become the Inner Sea. Let the catastrophe that we witnessed and narrowly escaped humble us and teach us so that we might find value in preserving the messages and wisdom those lost people may have left behind for us to discover. I think we all have some responsibility to remember those who passed so that our modern world can exist.
“You have all observed great things and have notes to share. This much is certain. But for now, let us… let us simply take a few days to reflect. The Society, I imagine, will send agents to collect your notes and interview you about your experiences. Until then, find your families and loved ones, as I know I shall. Failing that, find some passion that ties you to the here and now, and embrace it.
“We survived, Pathfinders. I am proud of your Unrivaled Accomplishment!”
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“We survived, Pathfinders. I am proud of your Unrivaled Accomplishment!”