The compartment itself doesn't radiate anything.
Where to then Pathfinders?
The rooms along the west are not as they appear. Each door bears the standard of a faction within the Society.
You can see that the doors have been altered over the years. National emblems are still barely visible, as is a lantern and a shadowy flame.
Inside each room is a small library and desk. The trappings of the rooms hearken back to the nation of origin of the ideals each holds aloft. On each desk is an item you've learned about in training. It's half of a Sending Stone. These stones, when held to the ear like a seashell, allow for limited conversation...
When you hold the stone to your ear, Colsin Maldris sends you a thought: So, you're inside Skyreach? You're one of the greatest agents we've ever seen...We are working with the Silver Crusade on something, and have been for years. Somewhere within the upper levels is displayed a disturbing piece of art known as the Pillar of Screaming Angels. I have recently learned that not all the screaming angels within are illusory. One was sculpted from the tortured psychic essence of an Eagle Knight named Aistor Garislog. Find the pillar, and attempt to free Aistor’s essence by hosting it within in you and returning to Almas once you defeat Adril. Godspeed.
When you hold the stone to your ear, Guaril Karila sends you a thought: [i]So, you're inside Skyreach? You're one of the greatest agents I've ever seen... A few years ago, a number of our most promising agents traveled into the depths of Orv in search of a unique substance called black blood. Of these missions only the last succeeded, though in the years since, stray whispers and rumors have found their way back to my ears that others taking part in these missions were directed to perform unethical experiments to exploit the transformational effects of spells worked with black blood material components. These experiments resulted in the vile and ultimately deadly mutations of several Pathfinders, among them several loyal to our cause. For years, their true fates have been covered up, though one of my sources divulged to me that copies of these mission reports still exist. I seek to recover any evidence of these events in order to charge those responsible for their crimes. If you can recover any copies of these missives, please bring them to me as soon as possible.
|
Roos looks around and tells the others "Seems that the rooms over here have been altered over the years... maybe? These markings look like a lantern and dark looking flame....no it cant be...Could these be the old emblems of those old lodges what were they called again? Hey these are sending stones. Wow cool. Lemme check this one out."
"Well that's interesting. Save Shemis with all haste they say....but stop and do this other thing too. Sometimes they have the worst timing."
Where to?
|
Nodding his head as if Major Maldris would see, "It shall be done if it can be done."
I'm not sure just what to think of that man. On one hand, is proposed mission sounds to be a noble one. On the other, the tactics he endorses by allowing his servants to enact them without repercussion undermine the whole thing and cause even more harm than possible good half the time. And then, the rumors about the man himself. . .
Roakar looks sadly at the faded flame. He then takes some flint and crushes it in his hand, mixes it with a little sweat and grease, and darkens up the flame a bit. Better
I'll help out as well. "In all my years in this realm, I have so few regrets. What we allowed to happen, how we did not fight for our brothers and sisters with the Pathfinders stabbed them in the back while biting the hand keeping them from slipping into that dark pool, that is amongst the top of them. What happened to the truest of us is a shame we shall all bear, one that can not be washed away. We should have seen the real threat, instead of joining them."
|
|
Roos listens to Iggys eulogy and explanation of events. "Many thanks. I joined the society soon after the closing of the two lodges and never really got filled in on what transpired. Any-who I'm gonna see what is around the corner here." and with that Roos walks over to the right "Oh look sofas. I am tired." he tells the others and then sits down.
Roos and Osric head back to the observatory where the murdered Pathfinders still lay
As roos walks over to the observatory he passes by the Statue known as "Pillar of Screaming Angels" and looks into the Ballroom. The room is empty, but looks like it's being set up for something lavish beyond a commoner's dream.
|
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"What are you and Roak going on and on about?"
"I've been with the Society for a long time, and I can honestly say that in that time, I have few regrets. We are morning the best amongst us, a fall that shames us all."
"Some years ago, there was a group within the Pathfinder Society whose secret aim was to look out for the younger, newer, less experienced agents, and to keep them from being used and abused so often. The group, called the Shadow Lodge, had begun as a band of brothers and sisters that the Decemvirate, and more than a few of the Venture Officers had abandon, neglected to tell them pertinent information about a mission, or simply been ignorant themselves. Not all of them had perished, and as more and more survived, they banded together to avoid it from happening again."
"However, there where some within the Shadow Lodge who instead wanted, in reality a deserved revenge against the leaders of the Pathfinder Organization, and these "false" Shadow Lodge agents went to war with both the "true" Shadow Lodge, but primarily the Pathfinder Society itself, for it was they who had left them to die, or tried to have them killed. Or their friends. Or family."
"All of this was in the shadows. The Pathfinder Society had no idea who was destroying them, and so easily, so precisely. It's because the Shadow Lodge was inside the Pathfinder Society already. They new first hand who the bad apples where, and how to strike. They new first hand the Society's plan, strengths, weaknesses, and also had the same access to the same resources. It was then that the "true" Shadow Lodge came out to save the Pathfinder Society. Led b one Grandmaster Torch, the Shadow Lodge informed the Society of the true threat, and they joined forces to destroy the "false" Shadow Lodge, but only after the Decemvirate bowed to the Shadow Lodge's terms. No more would agent's simply be left to die. Or swept under the rug because of a Venture-Captain' ignorance or laziness. The Shadow Lodge also developed special strike teams that would deploy to find and retrieve missing agents, at least returning their bodies home for healing or burial."
"But as I had said, we honor the best of us, and that means they are no longer with us. Not really. There are rumors that they still exist. Out there, somewhere. But I've only hear of them once in passing, and it's been some long years now. With the threat of the "false" Shadow Lodge gone, and things truly beginning to look up, the Decemvirate pulled a nasty trick. Truly vile. Utilizing some sort of Doppelganger or some sort of magic, now on really knows for sure, they staged a public betrayal of both the Pathfinder Society and some of the Shadow Lodge's most loyal by "Grandmaster Torch", and in one simple stoke, tore it all down."
"Our shame, all of us, for we are all equally at fault here, is that we did not fight back. We did not support our brothers and sisters when they needed us the most. With the spectacle of Grandmaster Torch's betrayal, the Shadow Lodge, now the only Shadow Lodge was dissolved. After thrusting the knife into our brother's backs, they then repeated the efforts on our sisters, adding in an extra twist of the blade: the Decemvirate was even so gracious as to, "allow them to return to the fold". Yes, ponder that for a moment. The Pathfinder Society "allowed" the Shadow Lodge to "return to the fold". That is like saying that Cheliax, in all seriousness and honesty both offered to allow Andoran and the Liberty's Edge to return to their rightful place, and then fully expected them to drop to their knees and crawl back. It's outright ridiculous."
"We all allowed this to happen, and even now, whilst many are so eager to defile all that the Shadow Lodge had been and done, there are those who don't even have the competency to know that they do it. Such as the whore of Cheliax, whose own symbol is just a weak rerepresentation of a greatness that was. Look upon the whore's symbol, a burning book, and see that her agenda is one and the same. To destroy the truth. Not to find it and keep it."
"I apologize. I find it very irksome that someone so unworthy, and in fact an entire retinue of her slaves would dare to even claim some sort of kinship with the Shadow Lodge, even if it is simply through their associated symbol, and ignorance is no excuse. For Zarta, it never was. But the Shadow Lodge as somewhat similar in many ways to both your own and my own Factions. Perhaps most of all, but even Darius's friends have more than a few similarities. Like Darius's allies, the Shadow Lodge worked from behind the thrown, always seeking to make alliances with the most unexpected people, for one never knows when one, or one's friends, may need a favor. But they had a plan. A focus. Beyond power and influences, that is. Their efforts where to fix the broken Pathfinder Society, and for a time, they did."
"Like Liberty's Edge, or at the time, the followers and idealists of the nation of Andoran, the Shadow Lodge was perfectly willing to punch an idiot barking orders in the face if that idiot was, well an idiot. But I've heard many stories about Major Maldris, and while in the end, the Pathfinder Society turned Grandmaster Torch into the same hypocrite as those stories may indicate, both of the groups that followed them did so for the purposes they espoused. The Shadow Lodge was also similar to, and perhaps the most similar to my own alliance. They sought against all odds, to improve the world. While the Silver Crusade does so with the Society, the Shadow Lodge did so regardless of, or even in spite of the Society if need be. But they where also a group that believed the ends justified the means, for better or for worse."
"You may wonder why a group called that would be called the Shadow Lodge had a symbol of flame. I wondered this myself. But consider that they where more than willing to fight fire with fire, and it makes a bit more sense. Poetic, of sorts. While the Darkive hoards "darkness" and pretends to be of use, or even needed with their treasures, the Shadow Lodge took those same evils that others didn't want, but the Society was too weak to destroy, and used them for good. Or rather, used them against evil."
Roos listens to Iggys eulogy and explanation of events. "Many thanks. I joined the society soon after the closing of the two lodges and never really got filled in on what transpired. Any-who I'm gonna see what is around the corner here." and with that Roos walks over to the right "Oh look sofas. I am tired." he tells the others and then sits down.
|
|
Seeing the statue, and recognizing it as this "Pillar of Screaming Angels", I'll attempt to do the only thing I know how to do in order to "take it within myself". "Aistor Garislog, I summon thine soul. Come to me, and be free. My soul, if I have one, is not here," placing a hand upon his heart "as you mortals tend to think of them. Instead, my "soul" and my flesh are one. You may, if you have the strength, use this to become within my me, not unlike a spirit would a vessel."
The statue is actually quite huge (and thousands of pounds.) Ignatious was born for this though. The statue begins to exude some kind of energy. Energy, which the Seeker of Flame absorbs. The transfer would be exceedingly traumatic to anyone else, but he bears it well.
You feel glimpses of the past, of missions, of successes, and of failures. They're not coherent enough to truly impact you, but so long as you have Aistor within, it does interfere with your mind a bit. You take 2 Wisdom damage from the ordeal. You're confident that when you "deliver" him to Andoren, your mind will be yours again.
|
|
"Only in spirit. While I never officially joined, neither did I officially ever actually join the Pathfinder Society or even the Silver Crusade for that matter. I've just been here for so long, everyone just assumed I belonged, and this is where mother wants me. I do it because it is the right thing to do. And there was much good that came from the Shadow Lodge's efforts and beliefs. A close friend of mine was, or is, it is hard to say, a member, and makes an effort to keep the Shadow Lodge alive regardless. It makes no sense to me that they would simply vanish from existence, but it does make a great deal of sense that they have retreated from operating in the open. So perhaps there is something to it."
The statue is actually quite huge (and thousands of pounds.) Ignatious was born for this though. The statue begins to exude some kind of energy. Energy, which the Seeker of Flame absorbs. The transfer would be exceedingly traumatic to anyone else, but he bears it well.
Grasping his stomach for a moment as the ordeal happens, Iggy finds it very strange. It's a rare ordeal that his kind host a soul, outside of powerful spiritual magics, but even then, that soul is that of a powerful angel, and somewhat more familiar. A few mumbled words escape his mouth as the transfer sets in, ". . . my chains are broken."
Ignatious is pretty sure it's his burden to bear so long as the soul is within him.
Where to Pathfinders?
A long, curved hallway encircles the perimeter of the tower. Light filters in from rows of narrow, steeply arched windows.
Darius:
Shirley: Darkvision, Low-Light
Ignatius: Darkvision
Osric:
Roos:
Roakar:
Despite going half way around the tower, none of the other doors betray a sound or smell giving hint as to what's beyond...
The door seems safe enough, and indeed when Roakar opens it, nothing untoward emerges.
This small gallery displays an impressive collection of Tian art. Upon shelves lining the room rest dozens of hand-blown glass baubles, each hiding a tiny etching of a bucolic scene within. Above the baubles, stylized brush and ink paintings hang upon the walls, depicting carp and dragons amid rolling waves and wind-whipped mountains. Wooden stands about the room display a menagerie of small ivory carvings, including a pair of foo dogs, several unusual dragons, a bear, a fisherman, a cluster of rats, and an osprey.
They osprey radiates as magic, and is quickly identified as a Figurine of Wondrous Power. It's a custom build. Looks like it works as a Silver Raven... just made to look like an osprey.
Roos makes a pass around the outside of the tower. The only thing of note is in the south. A towering stone totem pole serves as this hall’s centerpiece, its faces consisting of various jungle animals with anthropomorphic features. A bronze plaque set into its display base reads, “The Mwangi.” Framing the totem, and set upon a backdrop of colorfully patterned cloth, hang an arrangement of wooden masks and shrunken heads. Eerily, the heads are enchanted such that when they are addressed, guests can converse with them, though they express mere pleasantries and offer no real information. It doesn't radiate as magical. It seems to be simply a work of art.
The doors Roos passes by are as quiet as the rest of this place.
Darius gives it a solid look, and doesn't find anything...
|
|
Darius picks up the Osprey and examines it.. "Wonder if this is connected to our dear friend and venture captain.."
"Coincidences rarely truly exist. If the agent that brought us here was simply a disguise, it's possible that no one else in the Society, well besides some of the Faction Leaders, even know we are here. It wouldn't hurt to see if we can get some help or at least update others. Let us see."
Taking the small Silver Osprey, "Awaken"
The bird reacts to Ignatious. It's head tilts as if awaiting something.
Spellcraft DC 18.
|
The bird darts out of his hands as soon as the message is complete... now it hopefully finds an ally.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"Well that's a neat trick! Hopefully he gets the message quickly, I've got a feeling we'll have our hands full. Anyway, I think I saw some double doors. Anyone want to open them while I cover?"
Osric moves over to what seem to be a set of doors. He stands with an arrow nocked on the string, ready to aim and shoot if there's trouble on the other side.
AFter Roakar offers to open the door with Osric covering, you find yet another unoccupied room. The walls of this wide hall are hung with hundreds
of exotic masterwork swords, daggers, and other bladed weapons from distant locations within and beyond the Inner Sea region. Small placards beneath each provide the weapon’s name and details on its use, history, and country of origin. To the west, the hallway ends at the foot of a massive, curving staircase.