You begin in Janderhoff after earlier receiving an urgent missive from Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch directing you to your next assignment.
Pathfinders, the Society seeks your assistance in a matter most urgent. Recent engineering works uncovered a series of lost chambers beneath Janderhoff, but the company that began exploration and refurbishment of this space soon encountered trap-related difficulties. I quickly assembled a group of nearby agents to explore the lost corridors in exchange for a brief window of time in which to study anything found within. I have not heard back from those agents, and a contact has informed me that the team has been missing for two days, prompting the Mithral Mallet Mining Company to send a team of its own specialists to find out what became of them. Nobody has heard from either group since.
It is rare that we have an opportunity to document the interior of a Sky Citadel, so your task is twofold. First, find out what happened to the first team of Pathfinders. Second, explore the recently reopened chambers, and recover or document any historical treasures found within. I doubt that representatives of the Mithral Mallet will be pleased to see additional Pathfinders, so contact Rukha Borthwick, the sister-in-law of one of our agents in the first team. She is a resourceful dwarf and likely knows what steps to take to get you into those ruins. Luck be yours, Pathfinders.
|
“I’m not letting you see! Anyway … it’s probably going to hurt.”
Luisila steps off the bathroom scales and stares in amazement at her young room-mate in the dormitory they share in Absalom's Grand Lodge. While not unhappy with the result, the priestess is floored again by the things that come out of the young warrior’s mouth.
While dressing for the journey to Varisia, Luisila says, “Care to explain what in Abaddon you’re talking about, Eadie?”
The younger Pathfinder crosses her arms. “You know how Maaarv doesn’t like bugs? Well I don’t like bathroom scales, OK? When I was a child I thought it hurt when you stood on them.”
Luisila is still none the wiser. “What made you think that?”
Eadie *rolls* her eyes. “Because every time my mother got on the scales, she started to cry.”
|
Linnea walks out of Tim the Enchanter's House of Enchanting twirling her whip. "Wicked! I hope it's worth two thousand golden florens for this."
She checks in at the Society Lodge in Absalom to find VC Heidmarch's instructions.
She finds her fellow Pathfinders and greets them fondly. "Shan! How have you been! I haven't seen you since we kicked those Consortium clowns out of that frozen outpost." She gives the dwarf a hug.
She then giggles a little and squeels, "LUISILA! Oh I haven't seen you since...well I don't remember - Riddleport, was it? Des tells me you've been working with him. I ran into him shortly after that business with the urn and the mace - he wouldn't open up about it too much. But Sahrek had some sort of freaky growth spurt!"
She greets Varg with a hug as well. "Still bashing heads in?" And she introduces herself to the rest of the group. "Hi, I'm Linnea...so nice to meet you."
As Brachus shares what he knows of the area, the bard frowns. "Ugh, I'm no goody-two-shoes, but starting up brawls and possibly murdering people - that's not going to engender us to the locals."
|
|
At the briefing, Luisila nods and *winks* at Cleaver. “Huscarl Stollufsen, where does the time go? It seems like I was only talking to you yesterday!”
“Calistria must be in Her Elysium … Linnea Joculus, it is soooo good to see you!"
Luisila greets the Bardic Belle with a hug and kiss on both cheeks. “I think Desmond shipped out for some secret location, almost as soon as we berthed at the Dockyards in Absalom. He’ll be fine as long as nothing reminds him of his brush with death in Hinojai.”
She smiles and curtsies to Brachus. “Luisila at your service, my lord! Humble and obedient servant of the Savored Sting.”
“I see you wear the raiment of the Drunken Hero. If our respective Mistress and Master represent Good Times, I hope we can work together to achieve the same.”
The priestess listens to Brachus’ report regarding the word on the streets of Janderhoff.
“A half-elf Pathfinder started a brawl in a brewery? I didn’t know Omrax was coming on this mission.”
As an aside to Brachus. “A jest, my lord. Omrax is a disciplined paladin and good friend to Linnea, Varg and myself.”
More seriously. “Does anyone know anything about this halfling, Beetle? Mayhaps we should track down the rambunctious half-elf after meeting VC Heidmarch's agent Rukha Borthwick? You may gain a convert, Brachus!”
He’ll be fine as long as nothing reminds him of his brush with death in Hinojai.
---
Finding Rukha Borthwick is not difficult, as after 80 years spent as a civil engineer specializing in the trenches and pipes that channel water around and away from Janderhoff, the brunette dwarf has developed a modest amount of status. She ushers you into her office without delay. "Well, Pathfinders, what can I help you with?"
|
A diminuitive fellow in a midnight blue tunic speckled in embroidered stars approaches the Pathfinders. He has shaggy hair speckled in brown and silver and a long, pointed nose. "Ah. Quintus Barber. I -ah, am a Pathfinder as well, and was told to meet, ah, some other agents here." he says timidly. A Halfling, you'd judge by his appearance.
[b]"I don't, ah, think I've met any of you before, but I hope my knowledge will come in handy on this, ah, mission." Quintus says. He wears no armor and carries a pack, quarterstaff and a crossbow, with a dagger in a sheath at his hip, and a pouch of the sort spellcasters often carry hangs on the opposite.
|
|
*Greeting bow before Luisila*
Luisila moves to give Shan a hug and then stands back from him, clasps her palms together and bows from the waist.
“This temporary illusion of individual existence is delighted to stand in the presence of the Mountain once more.”
In preparation for her next meeting with Shan, Luisila forwent her usual fee to have one of her clients translate a phrase into Dwarven for her. She now recites it from memory.
“Ut av hver hundre soldater, ti bør ikke engang være der.
Åtti er bare mål.
Ni er de virkelige jagerfly og vi er heldige som har dem, for de gjør slaget.
Ah, men den ene. Den ene er en kriger, og han vil bringe de andre tilbake.
Purple, ape, oppvaskmaskin - denne dama er så godtroende!”
“Out of every one hundred soldiers, ten should not even be there.
Eighty are just targets.
Nine are the real fighters and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle.
Ah, but the one. One is a warrior, and they will bring the others back.
Purple, monkey, dish washer – this chick is so gullible!”
“Welcome, Master Barber. I am certain your skills will prove most valuable to the group.”
“Good Brachus, I sense our combat styles may be compatible. I suspect we will be given a chance to test my intuition shortly.”
♝♗♝♗♝♗
In the office of the dwarven engineer. “Mistress Borthwick, exactly how unstable are the ruins we are to enter. Is there a safe spot we may be able to enter them unnoticed? Any idea what may be down there that has caused the sabotage on the surface?”
“Mistress Borthwick, exactly how unstable are the ruins we are to enter. Is there a safe spot we may be able to enter them unnoticed? Any idea what may be down there that has caused the sabotage on the surface?”
"I'm not quite sure what caused it but the word is that it is still fairly unstable. The Mithral Mallet is unlikely to allow other explorers into the tunnels, especially because early reports of the parts you might be interested in show that the section seems to need bracing. It may be that speaking nicely to the foreman will gain you easy access to the site, but you’d need to convince him that you’re competent and unlikely to cause any damage to the area. Failing that, I might be able to direct you through a few pipes that let out near that part of the Sky Citadel, but I would rather avoid risking my job to get you in."
"Please, any help you could provide for us would be very helpful and appriciated by us."
"My brother-in-law Sandricaan Molnworret led the group, and he is a wizard of some talent. I know that he brought three others with him—a halfling, a human, and a half-elf. Sandricaan mentioned that the Tian woman has a reputation as a jinx, having been the sole survivor of several previous missions. Sandricaan’s no saint either, especially after his stint with the Aspis Consortium. Still, family is family, and I would rather see my sister’s husband safely out of there."
|
|
"If we need -ah, to sneak in, we Halflings are well versed in not being -ah, seen. And my study of illusion magics will -ah, make that easier." Quintus says. "But yes, let us speak to the foreman first. No sense -ah, breaking in when we can get permission." he continues. "But -ah, do any of us have any skill at disabling traps?" he asks.
|
|
Luisila listens to the other party members before turning to the uncharacteristically quiet Shan.
“Having a dwarf in our party might help our discussions with the foreman. Otherwise, I agree we should try the mountain’s front door first before attempting to sneak in the back.”
Luisila’s gaze falls on Quintus. A pity we have no burglar in the party.
The priestess still has a couple of questions for the engineer. “Does the name ‘Beetle’ mean anything to you, Mistress Borthwick? I assume Sandricaan is a dwarf himself? Have you heard anything of a brawl started by a half-elf Pathfinder on surface? Could this be the same one that accompanied your brother-in-law? Any idea what started the fight?”
|
|
"It's certainly a calculated risk, Cleaver. Do we lose anything by trying though?"
"Remember Linnea did some pretty convincing acting that time we were undercover in Riddleport." Luisila smiles. "Would you say 'no' to her, Cleaver?"
More seriously. "I hear what you're saying, Buddy. Maybe we wait to hear what Shan has to say on the matter? Also, if things go wrong I have no doubt we can adjust and roll straight into a Plan B. Do you agree?"
“Does the name ‘Beetle’ mean anything to you, Mistress Borthwick? I assume Sandricaan is a dwarf himself? Have you heard anything of a brawl started by a half-elf Pathfinder on surface? Could this be the same one that accompanied your brother-in-law? Any idea what started the fight?”
"Beetle? No, can't say it does."
"Sandrivaan is a dwarf, yes."
"No, I haven't heard of any Pathfinder brawls. But then, I also avoid those types of establishments. It's certainly possible it was one of his men, though; there aren't many Pathfinders around here so chances are high."
"Well, if you'd like to talk to the foreman I can lead the way and guide you through Janderhoff to the checkpoint guarded by Delver Ornregar and Delver Kannis. Both of them are warriors from the Mithral Mining Company and have been overseeing the entrance to the tunnels. When you are ready I can escort you there."
Rukha leads you across town to where the two dwarves can be found. Rukha introduces you and then allows you to plead your case.
|
|
The silent dwarf speaks up with a clasp on Brachus's pauldrons.
"You are quite likable, sir. It would be wise if you were to take the lead. I will play the part of my kin that is around just to make sure you all survive tunnels. As for traps, I might be able to find them. Disarming them, I will leave up to you."
To Borthwick, "Do you know this Tien woman's name or what she may have looked like?"
--------------------------------------
When the party begins the conversation with the two delvers, Shan goes "all dwarf" on them.
"Aye these leaf-eaters may have a mite's wit of travelin' da tunnels. But dat's why they got me around. Tell the difference between 'tite and a Piercer, that I can. Watch which way da water trickles and how stay out of the unstable grounds. It's all about how the dirt shifts, am I right? Don't ya' worry lads, we'll be back by supper and split a keg wit ya'."
|
"Well met good fellows, Me and my associates..whom as you can tell are quite adapt at surviving inside tunnels..would like to visit these marvelous tunnels you have here. We are explorers and have heard wonderful stories about these tunnels you have mined out here and we would love to see them for ourselves."
Diplomacy =23 (10+12+1) + guidance and various aid from party members
|
|
Luisila ponders what she knows about dungeoneering.
Hmm … I’m a Pathfinder, so I should be able to contribute something.
“Foreman, have you heard of the Drownyard in Absalom? Scary stuff. In fact, there’s so many dungeons I’ve delved, their stories could be turned into their own Pathfinder Chronicle! I’d call it There and Back Again or maybe Dungeons of Golarion.”
Luisila tries pitching a few survival tips. “Here’s some things I’ve learnt about travelling underground:
✓ Look up and live. The legendary Ezrek Filosten watches the roof of the cavern for bad ground as he marches, NOT the uneven ground he’s marching on. It’s quite a feat to master without stumbling, but it will save your life.
✓ NEVER turn your back on a vertical opening. You’ll forget it’s there, take a step back and … next stop – the Boneyard.
✓There is no safe size of falling rock. I have seen a rock the size of my fist fall 3 yards from the roof and sever a spine. Don’t travel under bad ground – shore it up and make it safe first."
"Do you know this Tien woman's name or what she may have looked like?"
"I'm afraid not."
---
The dwarven foremen seem impressed by your knowledge of dungeoneering, "Aye, you seem like good enough lads and lassies. We can be letting you in now."
A recent, unfinished passageway branches off from a preexisting dwarven hallway. The extension runs for only a few dozen feet before reaching a smooth, worked stone corridor that opens into a large circular room with two exits leading east. Aside from the musty atmosphere, these ancient chambers are strikingly similar to Janderhoff’s more modern construction. Hewn from the mountain, the floor is worked to resemble flagstones and the walls are intermittently decorated with mock brickwork. Arrows—some broken, some splintered, and all ancient—litter the cold floor.
|
|
Quintus speaks softly from behind Luisila. "And they brought me along to help identify -ah, things down there. You know -ah, how light-footed we Halflings are, and I -ah am a scholar of all things underground." he says. He provides some descriptions of underground dangers he has personally observed or researched.
|
|
"It is commonly said 'Women First' upon entering a room. I don't know about human cultures, but the reason dwarven women go first is so that the men can push them through should they get stuck in the doorway."
Shan gives a bushy bearded smile at his quip but then continues on.
"If there are no protests, I would like to scout out head. My senses are more attuned to this environment, even though it has been some time since I've delved the underneath."
Unless somebody has any objection, Shan will scout ahead 40'. He has Darkvision 60' and Stonecunning.
Shan will inspect the ancient arrows. He will try to determine if they have been recently broken/fired, any blood on them and if they may have been fired from the same direction.
|
|
Luisila moves up to position herself between Linnea and Varg. She puts a hand on the Huscarl’s shoulder as she peers around the corner.
Sweet Calistria, let me see through Trickery’s eyes.
“Hmm … got an off the wall idea. If we stand around the corner out of the way of any arrows, Brachus and I could dump two 100 lb columns of water onto the pressure plates, setting them off.”
“I am not wedded to the idea though, if we want to try something else or just jump over them.”
|
|
"That might be -ah, worth trying. It's unfortunate we don't have someone trained in these things. The pressure -ah, plates might also trigger something else." Quintus says. "Is there a bypass switch or something in -ah, the next room perhaps?"
"And -ah, before we go any further..." he says more to himself before drawing a needle from his pouch and pricking his finger and speaking a short phrase of arcane words. The drop of blood on his finger glows, causing a wave of blue incandescence to wash over his skin.
|
|
Shan dusts off one of the arrows and hands it to Luisila.
"Adamantine. Dwarven work, I am sure. Let's hope you don't have to use it down here."
Shan peers into the room before them and visualizes Luisila's suggestion.
"That is a wise idea. And if it doesn't work, I will be more then happy to faery people back and forth by hopping over the pressure plates. Or continue alone to find a counter balance.
|
|
Luisila takes the arrow from Shan, inspects it and passes it on to Quintus.
“I thought adamantine was a sky metal … and I assumed the clan that built these chambers never made it to the surface. Maybe I was wrong about that.”
Once everyone is set, the priestess will ready her water orison. “By Velvet Wing’s bloody tears – cry me a river!”