You have an instant empathic link with the Crystal Beacon, which imparts upon you knowledge of this place and also a sense of urgency, as if quickly action is needed to save the archices:
Two arcane devices greatly expand the library’s capacity and preservation of stored materials: the Sky Vault of Ra and the Crystal Beacon. The Sky Vault is the 30-foot-diameter solar disk that gradually migrates across the cavern’s ceiling, shedding light much like the sun.
The Crystal Beacon is a large crystal capable of manipulating the Sky Vault and its contents. One can command the beacon through a combination of light, words, and mental signals.
The Sky Vault has begun to travel towards the Crystal Beacon as a sort of fail-safe, like a meteor hurtling toward a planet in slow motion. The movement of such an immense extradimensional space could be dangerous if it reaches the Cystal Beacon. If the Sky Vault and the beacon come in direct contact with one another, the release of energy can sunder the library and all it contents.
You estimate about 2 minutes before the Sky Vault reaches the Beacon. To prevent the collision either the Beacon must be destroyed or the Sky Vault must be stopped.
As a possessor of the sage jewel, you can command the Sky Vault to cease moving as a full-round action while within 5 feet of the beacon but it will take it a while to slow down and lose momentum.
AC28(32)/Touch21(23)/Flat21(23)/CMD30(32)(34 vs bull rush and trip)||HP69[69]|Fort:+10;Ref:+15(+17);Will:+6(+5)|Percept+17(+19 stonework)|Init:+7| SR14 Dwarf Gunslinger (Musket Master) 6 Alchemist (Grenadier) 4
"I thinks the gem is in me head." Ryster says in amazement. "I feel need to hurry. The disk o'er there is the Sky Vault, and its moving toward the Crystal Beacon. If they touch, it will be....bad....real bad. We got about two minutes. I can try to stop the Sky Vault, but we might need to destroy the Beacon."
Ryster moves over and commands the Vault to stop! "Stop ye infernal disk!"
It takes all of Ryster's concentration but you notice the momentum of the Sky Vault (the sun moving across the sky) begin to slow in its collision-course with the Crystal Beacon in front of you.
Unfortunately, you seem to have attracted the attention of the other inhabitants down here, for the inevitables that Badru warned you had invaded begin to move to your position. Two mechanical centaurs with golden, clockwork wings move forward. A humanoid mostly hidden behind plates of elaborate golden armor with only small bits of black stone flesh peeking through follows behind them, staying silent.
Humanoid:
DC 25 KN (planes):
Behemoths of onyx and golden armor, marut inevitables shake the ground when they walk, each thunderous step ringing a death knell for those they've come to take. Rarely seeming to hurry, a marut's onslaught is deliberate, purposeful, and relentless. Its quarry may impede it or flee, running for decades or centuries, but from the initial meeting onward, the target must always look over its shoulder with the knowledge that, like death itself, the marut is ever at its heels, slowly but surely approaching, bringing balance through inevitable oblivion.
They are outsiders (extraplanar, inevitable, lawful). DR/chaotic, SR, constant air walk and true seeing, with fists of lightning and thunder (lightning and sonic damage that can blind and deafen, respectively).
Centaurs:
DC 19 KN (planes):
Zelekhuts are bounty hunters and executions all rolled into one. They seek out those beings who continually evade justice-either through active flight, or through power and station-and bring law and justice to the multiverse's most notorious fugitives and criminals.
Ironically, while zelekhuts are implacable and unrelenting in their duty, they ahve little interest in passing judgment of their own, a fact that often confuses other races. Rather, a zelekhut is content to enforce the laws of any given society, and while it might hunt a condemned serial killer or notorious thief across half a dozen planes, it will not shift a single hoof to capture a corrupt ruler whose offenses are 10 times worse, so long as the atrocities are within her technical rights as rule. All zelekhuts understand that laws can and must differ from place to place, and it is not the zelekhut's job to moralize, merely to track down those who seek to flee their punishment.
They are outsiders (extraplanar, inevitable, lawful). They have constant true seeing. They have DR/chaotic and SR. They can regenerate, although this is stopped by chaotic damage.
The centaurs approach you and demand, "Stop! Why are you here? Who are you? Are you collaborators with the criminals known as the Jeweled Sages?"
[b]"We are certainly not collaborators with the Jeweled Sages. We are mere Pathfinders here to try to catalogue the Wonderous items in this place. Well, not this place exactly, but the place that transported us here, that is."[\b]
The centaurs nod in approval at Alie and turn to Sir Terramor, "This land's lawful Qadiran authority has marked the criminals self-designated as the 'Jeweled Sages' for execution. The fugitive known as the Amethyst Sage has broken the law and the judgement is death. We will accept cooperation in their apprehension."
Male Half-elf HP 130/130 (172 for troll) AC33(40 for troll) Touch 13 Flat 31; F+17 R+11 W+18(+2 ench,+4 fey) INIT+4 Perc+21 CMB+16 CMD+30 Lion Shaman 13/Samurai 1, {see in posts} Shape changed 1/5 Beads 0/3, Rerolls 0/3
"We have already destroyed Badru, the self-proclaimed servant of the Amethyst Sage.
We recognized his ill intent and dishonorable behavior against the library and his alleged conflict with your group."
"The Qadiran authorities that rule this land," one of the mechanical centaurs answers Maps. "And we care little about the Sage's apprentices; it was they were subjected to the crimes of the Amethyst Sage. The Amethyst Sage stands accused of indecent acts in regards to undeath and the capturing of unwilling souls."
AC28(32)/Touch21(23)/Flat21(23)/CMD30(32)(34 vs bull rush and trip)||HP69[69]|Fort:+10;Ref:+15(+17);Will:+6(+5)|Percept+17(+19 stonework)|Init:+7| SR14 Dwarf Gunslinger (Musket Master) 6 Alchemist (Grenadier) 4
Ryster glances over his shoulder at the party. "I think they're a little behind the times. Should we inform them that Qadira hasn't ruled here for a......LONG time?"
The Sky Vault continues to inch ever closer to the Crystal Beacon....
"Did you say that Qadira is no longer in control of this region? Their laws no longer stand?" one of the centaur beasts asks. "If that is true, these past crimes no longer concern us."
Male Human Cavalier 10 (Honor Guard, Strategist) - HP 85/85 ,- AC 25/T: 12/FF: 24 - Perception +13 - F: +10 R: +6/ W: +4* - CMB: +14 - CMD: 27, Speed: 20, Init. +2
Sir Terramor knows his part in all of this is not mystical or esoteric. He remains focused on the mechanical creatures, ready to spring to Alie's defense should the peace evaporate.
Male Half-elf HP 130/130 (172 for troll) AC33(40 for troll) Touch 13 Flat 31; F+17 R+11 W+18(+2 ench,+4 fey) INIT+4 Perc+21 CMB+16 CMD+30 Lion Shaman 13/Samurai 1, {see in posts} Shape changed 1/5 Beads 0/3, Rerolls 0/3
Being lawful in nature, Fendahl addresses the centaurs. "Yes, the laws of Qadira no longer apply as they once did. The world has changed. The sages have lost their relevance."
"Then this no longer concerns us," the inevitables respond. "What happens if the sun meets that crystal?" they inquire. After Ryster explains the danger to them, they respond, "Then continue halting its progress, by all means." By this time the Sky Vault has come to a complete stop, but requires much of Ryster's concentration to hold it in place.
Really the only way to prevent the catastophe is to destroy the Crystal Beacon entirely. But you might want to investigate it and the rest of this place first.
"How long can you hold it, Ryster?! If you are hurting we can leave now, but if you can stand a bit more, we ned to explore this place, just to see if we can find any items and return me with us."
Human Pistolero Gunslinger 6 / Alchemist 2 | HP 64/64 | AC 25 [F 17 T 19] | CMD 28 | F+11 R+16 W+6 | Init +10| Perc +11/+16 | Grit 2/4
"Speakin of items." Maps looks to the centaurs. "We were told you were taking things from the library. That true? Since your laws don't apply here anymore you should probably return them."
The centaurs shake their heads. "We would not unlawfully seize property. We were here to apprehend the Amethyst Sage. In his escape the Sage took much with him."
Ryster:
You empathically realize that if you were to stop concentrating for a few seconds the Sky Vault would start moving again but you'd also be able to use the Crystal Beacon to locate any Jeweled Sage you named to the Beacon.
Descriptions of the rest of this place coming momentarily.
Since you can see the map tags on the Library of the Sages map I'll refer to the rooms that way:
C2
This rest area provides water and bathing facilities for sages and their acolytes. Cabinets hold incense and soap for ritual cleansing before handling any of the materials in the library. A metal mirror frame depicts men and women in erotic and tortured poses.
DC 25 Knowledge (history or nobility):
You can trace the work to the reign of Ahabaris I, the Pharaoh of Long Shadows.
C3
The shelves are 20 feet tall with ladders on each side and are interspersed with benches, tables, and chairs. A roof covers the central shelves. The shelves are almost bare. A casual inspection reveals that someone carefully emptied the shelves, rather than hastily ransacking them. A tall statue stands in each of the library’s four corners.
DC 20 Knowledge (religion):
You can identify the northwest statue as Ptah, the southwest statue as Thoth, the northeast statue as Ra, and the southeast statue as Isis.
C4 (The Crystal Beacon)
Three statues with outstretched arms surround a giant crystal shard, seeming to hold it aloft without actually touching it. Below the softly glowing crystal swirls a pool of sand, whose particles coalesce to form tiny, short-lived images of people and cities. A set of wide, tinted lenses are mounted on adjustable arms around the luminous gem, reminiscent of an armillary, each lens focusing the crystal’s light in a faint beam toward one of the eleven columns arrayed to the north. Each column contains niches sized for scrolls, though most are empty. A shimmering sphere of dark purple energy surrounds the statues, sand, and floating gem.
DC 15 KN (history or religion):
The statues surrounding it depict the first two mortal pharaohs, Azghaad I and the Naga Pharaoh, and Nethys, who guided them.
Reading glasses on the altar function as goggles of minute seeing. Beads of force set in the floor power the barrier around the beacon.
Alie runs in the room and grabs the goggles and put them on, hoping might be revealed to her that she hadn't noticed. She also tries to grab the beads of force, knowing they might be useful somehow.
Male Half-elf HP 130/130 (172 for troll) AC33(40 for troll) Touch 13 Flat 31; F+17 R+11 W+18(+2 ench,+4 fey) INIT+4 Perc+21 CMB+16 CMD+30 Lion Shaman 13/Samurai 1, {see in posts} Shape changed 1/5 Beads 0/3, Rerolls 0/3
"Hrrmm, there is not much here to see...we must be missing hiding in plain sight"
Fendahl will help Alie grab the beads of force. If the beacon becomes unprotected he will use his weapon to try and destroy the beacon with the others...unless it is destroyed by some other means first.
You can absolutely smash the Beacon with normal weapons.
Only one bead of force survives the extraction from the Beacon but when they are all removed, the barrier around the Beacon (which was acting like a resilient sphere) disappears and the party is able to smash it to pieces before the Sky Vault is able to reach it with catastophic consequences, thus saving the Library!
If you can, you should try to get the skill checks above and look around this place some more.
Human Pistolero Gunslinger 6 / Alchemist 2 | HP 64/64 | AC 25 [F 17 T 19] | CMD 28 | F+11 R+16 W+6 | Init +10| Perc +11/+16 | Grit 2/4
Maps looks around the place, wondering why they went to all the trouble to save it.
Maps has a few knowledge skills, but none of the ones asked for. Gotta say it's rare to see anyone take history or nobility. A little surprised no one in this group has Religion though.
I take history and nobility all the time! Great flavor and when it comes up and you get it, everyone at the table is usually impressed.
And unfortunately by missing those and a few things earlier, you didn't earn enough Preservation Points to get the second PP. Sorry!
Rediscovering the hidden library, the Crystal Beacon, and the Sky Vault of Ra not only secures a significant repository of ancient knowledge but also prevents the Amethyst Sage from spiriting away more relics. Tahonikepsu returns several hours after you emerge from the library, and reports that with time and care, she might be able to repair the beacon and use it to locate the other wayward sage jewels. She also compliments you on their resourcefulness, particularly with regards to the flawed sage jewel.
The actions of the Amethyst Sage trouble her greatly, and she muses aloud whether other sages might have also survived the Qadiran attacks and either passed their knowledge on to proteges or secured exceptional longevity. Either way, she notes your efforts may have drawn the attention of the current bearer of the amethyst, and that sage might contact her and return to the order.
Saruna, she demands Tahonikepsu lift her geas and grant her freedom. Tahonikepsu allows the sphinx to depart, albeit with some reservations about losing an ally from a past age. Saruna thanks you for siding with her in the end.
Tahonikepsu greets the inevitables as unexpected foreign dignitaries trespassing in her home. She politely insists on revisiting the sage’s alleged crimes in light of more recent events. The inevitables acknowledge her request, especially in light of their earlier conversation with you, but they make no promises until they are given the full report.
Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir is pleased to hear of your success and offers you his impressed congratulations.
And that's it! Thanks for playing everyone! I hope you enjoyed it.
Awesome! That one was really fun. I was a bit muddy on exactly we needed to do towards the end, but I liked the encounters! Thanks for running for us, DM!
Awesome! That one was really fun. I was a bit muddy on exactly we needed to do towards the end, but I liked the encounters! Thanks for running for us, DM!
Ha, that was the exact complaint I made in the GM discussion about this scenario. It's written out nice an neat in the scenario what needs to be done. . . but they didn't really include any obvious way for the players to know that. A GM who didn't catch on to the fact that the person with the flawed gem had an empathic connection to the Beacon (or who interpreted empathic strictly enough) could easily leave the players in the dark and let the destruction happen without giving them a chance to succeed. The rest of the scenario was fine but that whole Beacon-Sky Vault-preventing-a-catastrophe thing was really poorly designed/implemented/written.
But other than that tricky thing, I thought the scenario as a whole was really interesting and fun.
Male Half-elf HP 130/130 (172 for troll) AC33(40 for troll) Touch 13 Flat 31; F+17 R+11 W+18(+2 ench,+4 fey) INIT+4 Perc+21 CMB+16 CMD+30 Lion Shaman 13/Samurai 1, {see in posts} Shape changed 1/5 Beads 0/3, Rerolls 0/3
I liked it. So one question I had - would we have had the choice to fight either of the guardians Badru or the Sphinx or only Badru? I was getting the impression our choices would lead us to fight one or the other...which I thought would be interesting.
You basically had to choose sides but you could have fought either of them and allied with the other. You could have also killed off both but that makes the rest really hard to do.
