You are in the Varisian city of Kaer Maga
The letter that arrives bears Venture-Captain Heidmarch’s seal, and seems to contain an enclosure.
Greetings, Pathfinders! I have new information for you about our agents’ discoveries regarding the cult of Lissala. When the Ten learned of the cult’s active existence, they sent a team to infiltrate a cell in the industrial town of Palin’s Cove. During that mission we learned that the cult intends to bring back the ancient Thassilonian Runelord Krune to rule Varisia. Pathfinder agents next encountered Lissalans here in the City of Strangers and discovered that the cultists aim to return the runelord by using refuge tokens that he created for his followers to reach his hidden location. Our Pathfinders also uncovered the location of an ancient Lissalan shrine, documented to hold a cache of these refuge tokens. The enclosed map shows the location where the shrine is said to be—the fastest way there is from Kaer Maga west into the Wyvern Mountains.
Find the shrine and recover the refuge tokens so that we may use them to access Krune’s lair, thus preventing the Lissalans from raising their runelord. Don’t attempt to use the tokens yet—we also need to uncover the proper command words. And hurry, please! A group bearing the Sihedron—Lissala’s holy rune—was seen leaving the city two days ago. They must seek the shrine as well.
Should you have additional questions about your mission, seek out a trusted informant in the Downmarket District, a textile merchant named Allira Vandane. She will aid you as much as she can. Furthermore, if you need lodging while you are in Kaer Maga, our agent Súrë Hísië is a local and is always happy to house fellow Pathfinders. He is likely not useful as an informant though, as you may see. Say hello to Miss Feathers for me. May Desna smile upon you, Pathfinders.
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Tolgarov is a very fat human sweating constantly. He weight nearly two hundred pounds for barely more than 5'3 feet high. The bold man is tattooed everywhere with varisian style tattoos, his black pigseyes driven by a cruel glow. His complexion is pale, almost greenish and its teeth are particularly sharp and when he smiles, two of its canines unfolds. He seems embarrassed by the light and protects himself from it by a large hood. He is dressed in an ostentatious way, his large and greasy hands adorns expensive rings of the worst taste. His dresses are detailed and from high quality (but also of the worst taste). Around his neck, he wears a stylized key and some sort of a seven branched star as an amulet.
His has a pretty bad reputation in the society as a merchant. Nevertheless the man has a true presence, troubling and intimidating.
He greats the newcomer in town.
Welcome to Kaer Maga friends ! I'm Tolgarov, merchant and student of the bloodmages. I have some cousins who could help us, or you, to find anything you want. I waited for you to go see the people our Venture-Captain named in her letter.
Hopes you enjoy your stay here.
after making his greasy, sharp toothy smile he added
What I know, it's that a fellow Acadamae graduate recognized his former classmate Naroth Balam as the head Lissalan cultist leaving Kaer Maga 2 days ago. Back in Korvosa, Naroth focused so narrowly on conjuration magic that he completely forsook evocation and illusion spells—he was incapable of even using a wand or scroll of one of those schools.
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Ace starts to primp and preen as he regales the party for ten minutes as to the history and storied past of the area and of Lissala herself.
Ace activates his bardic performance for Pageant of the Peacock. He plays his mandolin as he sings the of the tale of Thassilon and Lissala.
Greetings adventurers! Thassilon was a great of empire. They used giants to build it even higher!
Their leaders were Runelords, great wizards of sin. Krune is the likely choice for where will have been.
We should be prepared to fight the forces of good. If we free them, then we won’t be misunderstood.
We are traveling to the Wyvern Mountains. If it is named aptly, perhaps we should be ready to fly to the heavens.
Naroth Balam shall be our enemy. He abducted a dwarf and noble after he left from the Acadamae.
His is worthless in the schools of illusion and evocation. As was stated by our fellow Bloodmage with great conviction.
We should travel with great haste. They will be using Phantom Steeds and we might find ourselves outpaced.
Lissala is an ancient deity with whom few communes. She rewards service and is obsessed with runes.
Her evil is recognized as the ruler of magic… What rhymes with magic?... Tragic!
Her temples will curse us… which is tragic.
Let us roll out!
The party heads out to the shrine, the voyage being uneventful until you arrive at the valley entrance. Runoff has carried sediment from the recent excavation into a nearby stream, providing a visible path directly to the entrance for any within sight. In the mountain valley, sparse trees sprout from cracks in the steep cliffs, bending in the direction of the constant, howling wind. Piles of scree litter the ground at the base of the cliffs. In a hollow with a muddied brook, a hole in the mountainside opens up. It was clearly excavated recently—piles of soil and rock flank the opening. A perfectly square tunnel the height of an ogre cuts through worked stone, leading to a chamber beyond. Light from within reveals muddy tracks in the dust that coats the floor of the tunnel.
As you approach closer, you note a figure over seven feet tall with smooth golden skin, a muscular body, and large golden wings guarding the entrance, wielding a golden mace. It looks out at you with glowing eyes and calls, "Halt, tomb robbers! You shall not enter this sacred site. One more step and you will be destroyed."
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Osric has some experience with "outsiders", so he tries to remember what he can...
He quietly tells the group:
"It's an angel. A monadic deva, to be exact. Not sure what it's guarding here. Not the kind of protector I would have expected. Probably best not to make it angry, it's pretty powerful."
He then tries to keep quiet as more loquacious team members address the creature.
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Ace approaches with a flourish and a bow. He tips his ostentatious hat with a garish red axebeak feather in the brim before speaking to the diva.
Greetings fair diva! We are no tomb robbers, but great adventurers from the Pathfinder Society. We have come in search of some missing townsfolk who we believe were abducted and stolen away to this temple. I am Ace "The Starchild" of the Flesh Puppets. A humble bard know throughout the land. Perhaps word of my travails has reached you?
What is your name so we may converse better?
If I remember correctly, great diva warriors such as yourself give your weapons mighty names. Would we have heard of the great deeds done by your mace?
The deva answers in a booming voice, "I am called Ahriman and this is Dhu al-Fiqar," the angel raises his golden weapon. "Our deeds are many to too numerous to recount here. I have not heard of your Flesh Puppets," the angel seems intrigued by the name, "but I know of the Pathfinders."
"I will allow you to plead your case and perhaps enter, but you must agree to my terms: remove all magic items and dispel or suppress all magic auras. You must then each voluntarily submit as I discern any lies in your tale. I have been instructed to guard against tomb robbers but if you do not fit that description and follow my terms truthfully, I would be permitted to allow you to enter while still following my own orders. I can then return to patrolling the Positive and Negative Planes, a much more worthy cause than this."
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Oh mighty Ahriman, before we subdue to your will, please allow us to do the same to you.
The suspcious nature of Tolgarov came back when the creature ask them to strip of all their magic items.
He whispered to his comrades
Are you sure it's not an illusion ? or some sort of demon in disguise ? Do you have any habilities to go through illusion or lies ?
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Ace is already half-naked before he realizes the deva said only magical items. He snaps his fingers and his porter runs up, numerous mandolins poking out from the pack worn by the man. He hands his Headband of Charisma, Circlet of Persuasion, Doomharp and Pipes of the Sewers to the man. Ace pulls his prized mandolin (in its case) from the porter's pace.
Ahriman, I trust you as I know the leader we seek does not have the ability to impersonate on of such stature as yourself. That being said, I do not mean to be disrespectful, but may we do this one at a time. I have no qualms with removing my battle gear, but my colleagues are much more reticent to have our entire group strip down. I have done as you asked and I will submit to your spell, but please permit me to use my own spells to ensure that it is nothing more sinister.
Ace waits for Ahriman to respond/cast the spell and uses Detect Magic to confirm that it is Discern Lies. He also attempts to identify any enchantment auras or binding auras on the deva.
We are not here to rob any graves. I myself have never robbed a grave, at least knowingly.
The deva answers without hesitation, "Yes, one at a time will suffice. I understand your hesitation. You may have your equipment back once you have submitted to my questioning."
If everyone submits to the test, Ahriman responds, "No, I have no concerns. You are not tomb robbers and my agreement was to prevent tomb-robbers from entering. You may enter and I will take my leave."
Tolgarov sees nothing invisible and nothing magic outside except for the gear carried by the angel.
Convinced that you are not tomb robbers, Ahriman relents, "Thank you for your cooperation. I can let you enter now, having abided by the terms of my contract. It was a pleasure." There is a flash of white as the angel disappears and reenters a Plane where his duties are more urgent. The party can then approach the shrine and enter.
The impossibly large blocks of the shrine’s walls are in such good condition that they seem to have been laid only decades ago. Carved into the stone, spiky script is clearly visible throughout the room. Stone double doors stand in the east and west walls. Each is decorated with a seven-pointed star, and each blade of a star displays a spiky rune. One rune per star glows with an amber light that illuminates the room. Also in the western wall, a short square tunnel leads back outside, with a score of muddy footprints showing the way. A passageway to the south leads to another lit room. The air inside the shrine is cool and fresh.
rewards that Lissala grants to those who obey.
Three dirt-covered, bald Shoanti sit quietly against the northern wall. There is also a foppish Taldan gentleman bedecked in a deep blue waistcoat with gold trim and what were once matching trousers, although dried mud now covers the entirety of his calf-high hiding boots and most of his breeches. His moustache and goatee, however, are meticulously groomed. Sitting next to him is a relatively thin dwarf woman. She purses her lips as she rubs the gold rings braided into her long, black hair.
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Looking at the Thassilonian runes Tolgarov said
Theses spiky runes are Thassilonian phrases lauding the rewards that Lissala grants to those who obey.
Seeing the group, Tolgarov said Let me try to talk to them before killing them.
With his pachyderm's grace Tolgarov moved to the dusty group a greasy smile on his face.
Greetings friends ! I'm Tolgarov, bloodmage from Kaer Maga. Could I ask you who you are ?
The assembled group looks nervously at Tolgarov. One of the Shoanti answers, "Swift Wind. This is Sleeping Bear and that is Singing Rock." The Taldan gentleman rises and tries to pick some dried mud off his clothing while straightening his moustache and goatee. "Marquis Jeor Haywood," he announces with a flair of grandeur. The dwarf woman remains sitting, playing with her hair. "Wattlee," she responds brusquely.
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After putting his headband and circlet back on, Ace whispers to Jarlgur and Osric, Follow my lead. Doesn't this group sound like who we are looking for?
Ace follows Tolgarov, strumming his mandolin. Tuning it for drop-D, just to get that metal sound. Hail Swift Wind, Sleeping Bear, Singing Rock, Marquis Jeor and Wattlee. I am the newly solo Ace "The Starchild" from the Flesh Puppets. Perhaps you have heard of me? ... We are looking for a location to inspire me for a new hobgob-rock performance that I will be putting on. Tolgarov is my pyrotechnics man. What are you fine people doing here? Perhaps you can show us around the temple?
The Shoanti's eyes light up at the mention of the Flesh Puppets, "Ace 'The Starchild'?" one of them whispers in disbelief. They begin to whisper among themselves. The word autograph is distinctly heard.
Marquis Jeor Hawywood stands up and takes a bow, "Good day, Sirs!" he straightens his moustache again. "We have been instructed by the fat man to stay in this chamber after we helped dig out those doors." He points to the double doors to the southwest. "So I think it is best if we just remain here for the moment."
"Didn't tell us his name, I don't think," Marquis Haywood answers.
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Ace thinks to himself. There are Shoanti, Taldan and dwarves all working together for a man that no one knows and they are believed to be kidnapped. Additionally, they have "dug out doors" together and waited patiently for his return... This sounds familiar...
Well, who can say no to adoring fans! I shall serenade you with one of my new rock ballad anthems. It is written after a meeting with the most beautiful fiend.
Ace plays "The Succubus" and begins a Countersong bardic performance.
I've had nothing but bad luck
Since the day I saw that sigil on my door
From out which you came sweet lady
Coming to get my Charisma score
You laid me on the table
Showing the future, the past
Enthralled with them evil eyes
And I knew it was a spell she cast
She's just a succubus
With evil on her mind
Beware the devil woman
She's looks so fine
She's just a succubus
With evil in her lips
Beware the devil woman
She's gonna seduce you with her hips
Ace snaps his fingers and his porter pulls a signed mandolin from his pack. Ace hands it to the Shoanti and says (in Shoanti) Spread the word. Ace is going solo.
The assembled crowd slowly snap back into the usually wits. The Shoanti are thrilled to have heard Ace in person and receive the mandolin. The Marquis exclaims, "Well I'll be! Thank you good sir." The dwarf woman stands up and starts to novae about the room inspecting the stonework. Marquis Haywood continues, "Well, I'm not sure what came over us but it can't be much safer outside on our own. I hope you're here to escort us back home. Now this fat fellow who brought us here and told us to dig went that way first," he points to the passage to the right, "and the. It sounded like they had a scuffle back there before coming out of these doors here," he gestures to the northern double-doors. "By then we had these other doors cleared and he went in and spoke a strange language with a creepy-sounding woman before telling us to stay out here and closing the doors behind him."
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"Well, thank you for the information. we may be able to provide you an escort once we've had a chance to explore a bit ourselves."
Osric turns to his fellow Pathfinders:
"What say you, comrades? Should we follow the fat man's path? Or head directly to where he was last seen? I vote we explore that right-hand passage first, if it's all the same to you."
The party follows the path of the fat man and heads down the right-hand passage. Near the north wall of this chamber stands a statue of a half-snake, half-human creature covered in Thassilonian runes. The folded arms of the female creature’s torso hold a quill and a whip. Six wings grace her back, and her lower body is a coiled serpent. In place of her head, a disk with a seven-pointed star, each point with a different rune, completes the amalgamation. The statue faces a huge circular door embossed with the same seven-pointed rune.
Ace detects some malfunctioning auras of nearly every school on the statue but also notes that the whip and quill are still in-tact magical items.
With detect magic:
The big wolf pads over to the door and the statue and begins to smell everything, trying to pick up the scent of anyone not among the party.
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Ace activates Pageant of the Peacock to identify the whip and quill.
He stares deeply at the items and a grin crosses his face. Ace waves his hands around like a conductor, belts out a chorus from his #1 hit single "Henny" and the whip leaves the hand of the statue and arrives Ace's. Dibs on the whip. Tolgarov, you might be interested in the quill. It will give you a 1st level spell back each day, similar to a pearl of power. He coils the whip and secures it to his belt. His hands once again move in sync with some melody in the head of the rock star. His voice reaches its apex as he nails the high note in "Henny" and the quill magically comes to rest on Tolgarov's head, balanced just right.
Grimtooth doesn't smell anything unusual in this chamber. Ace is pretty sure that the fluctuating auras represent things as varied as heal and greater heroism to mass inflict critical wounds and phantasmal killer. There seems to be no consistency behind the constantly-altering magic.