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The woman in the red mask was quiet. She had been watching all the teams, taking note of each one on her clipboard as they filed in.
Would they be ready for what lay ahead? She had no idea. Whatever happened though, she knew it would be out of this world.
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Most of you have never seen this many Pathfinders in one place before, although you have all seen a Venture Captain send you out on missions with this little information before. After reporting t0 the Grand Lodge for what is obviously a very large and important mission, you were simply told "Get to the Spire of Nex in the Cairnlands yesterday!"
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Anduris enters the lodge picking a piece of straw out of his beard with one hand and deftly packing a long stemmed pipe with the other. He is slightly distracted, stomping the muck off his heavy traveling boots ,but not so much as to miss the large group of people occupying the building.
As he moves further in, he thinks to himself, "What is the Nine Hells has got this many together in one place. Ahh well should be interesting at least." After several attempts, he finally lights his pipe. Expectantly he eyes the crowd for someone who may be looking for him or if that fails for someone who does not return his same lost questioning gaze back at him.
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Graxzos, a chestnut-haired dwarf strewn about with bandoliers, bottles, pouches, and a single gleaming pistol, stomps into the gathering. "Too many damn Pathfinders all in one place!" he grouses. "The Spire o' Nex, eh? Must be one o' them weird ol' siege engines what be outside o' the city..." He looks around and his eyes light on Anduris. "'Ey! You! You Anduris? Think yer s'posed t'be on my team..."
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Darvan strokes Sahba's eye ridges as he listens for more from the Venture-Captain. Surely there's more? Some preparatory note? Some warning? He sighs, shaking his head when no more instruction follows. Ah well...
He hefts his pack and directs his gaze to the assembled Pathfinders, looking for a group that might be able to use himself and Sahba. He happens across a couple of dwarves and ambles over, velociraptor trailing behind. "Would you mind if we tagged along?"
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After packing the necessaty equipment, Anibal moves towards the large mass of agents in the cairnlands. He strolls around for a bit looking for suitable allies. He walks over towards the group and drops his wide hat from his head. The hat remains dangling on a thread tied to the long coat. He removes his scarf and backpack, then rests his hands on the unstringed longbow.
"Pathfinders...", he addresses the group with a brief nod.
"Mind if I tag along as well? The instructions were fairly brief."
He checks the bandoliers around his chest. Several vials of chemical concoctions are safely attached in their place.
"Anibal's the name, bounty hunter by trade. Pleasure working with you folks."
He extends a hand for a handshake to anyone who accepts.
"Anyone knows what's with the commotion?"
The Society's Master of Spells, Sorrina Westyr, looks up with approval upon the 30 foot platform the society is erecting around the base of the Spire of Nex. Her slate-gray skin seems to blend into the stonework behind her, but her manner is lively. She grins as she addresses the unkempt beggar beside her. ”See, Drandle, we were ready in time. You owe me a beer.”
The old Venture Captain titters. “Heh. You’re not away from the spire yet. We’ll see.”
“So we will.” Sorrina nods, then waves at the assembling crowd. “Pathfinders—welcome and well timed. Please, make your ways to the designated safe areas quickly and carefully, and please mind the wards. Try to keep the paths clear, as we have some very delicate equipment coming through. I have some amazing discoveries to share in just a few more moments.”
Meanwhile in the crowd, the aura of excitement continues to build. Rumors are flying everywhere as Pathfinders ask each other, “What’s this all about?”
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Starlight brightens the grassy plain surrounding the immense Spire of Nex. Overhead, a comet lazily streaks across the night sky. Heavily armed patrols guard the perimeter, and the shadow of great wings occasionally blots out the stars. Sharp flashes of amethyst light, quick shouts, and chanting briefly periodically rise above the waiting crowd’s chatter as spellcasters hurriedly construct and maintain crackling wards. These efforts revolve around a thirty-foot-tall upright gleaming metal ring constructed at the Spire’s base.
You might hear rumors of the Society’s latest activities related to this gathering.
- - -
You might know the significance of the Spire of Nex and what it might be used for.
- - -
You might know more about the new comet in the sky.
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A tall elven man approaches your group. He is followed by a youngster dragging a small cart in which you see stacks of small rucksacks. You notice other people moving around the group that are also followed by an adolescent with a cart.
”Well met, I have been tasked by the Venture officers to provide magical assistance on your trip outside of Golarion’s atmosphere and into a low-gravity environment."
He waits for a moment to let the news sink in.
"Yes, the comet! I won't be joining you there. But I can protect you from environmental temperature extremes, the vacuum of space, and damage dealt by radioactivity. I wouldn't plan on leaving Golarion without it!"
"It lasts for the better part of the day and I can cast it on each of you. The faction leaders have agreed that together they will pay for the costs. Of course they will find a way to make you pay for it in the end, but you first need to survive on the comet...”
He reaches into his spell component pouch "So, what do you say? Who wants it?"
Later the elf takes one of the small sacks from the youngster ”In addition, the Society has put together caches of supplies to help Pathfinders trapped in hostile conditions make it back in one piece.” He hands over the rucksack.
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A tall human with features equal parts Varisian and Ulfen pushes his way through the crowds to end up at the area where he was told to wait, finding himself among several others. His next team.
"Forgive me I am late. Hamith Caid," he says to the others, sporting a grin. He wears full plate armor with his helmet resting under one arm. Strapped to his back lay a massive greatsword, the leather scabbard embroidered with the sword-and-sunburst symbol of Iomedae. He shakes Anibal's hand when it is offered. "Well met. We will be fast friends I think." He takes a moment to scan his fellows, sizing them up. He'd gotten good at it over the last few missions. He knew where people needed to be when the crises came, and by the Inheritor, he was not going to lose a team member.
One aiming to become the First Sword Knight of the Inheritor does not let people die.
"I heard rumors of strange gateways opening across the Inner Sea and beyond. We must be here to deal with these gateways."
Then he straightens a little more, and says, "If any would like to join me in prayer, I would be honored to lead one for the group."
He steps over to the side, and shortly after begins his prayer with a benediction he learned in the early morning chapel services back home. He can still smell the wood of the pews as he recites the words.
"There is no rain, no dark, no storm.
By your sword, by your power, let none come to harm.
The light is there behind the clouds.
The light is there behind the clouds."
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"Ho there friend. Least I can depend on one of yee to be a proper companion." A grin breaks through his well established beard. He extends his arm in greeting noting the obvious experienced manor in which Graxzos carries himself.
"Guess we look o'bout and try to get the best o' the litter so we can make it through this with the skins on our backs."
Knowledge Arcana
Diplomacy
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After briefly participating in the prayer and diatributing handshakes and further greetings, Anibal smirks. "Heh. I thought he said we're going into space."
With nobody else laughing, Anibal's smile fades as his cheeks lose colour and some droplets of sweat appear on his forehead. He accepts the spell without hesitation.
He receives his package and checks the content, then stores it safely in the backpack.
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As the rest of the group is assembled, a blonde haired elf wanders into the group, her eyes trained on the spellcasting going on all around the many pathfinders, as well as on the tower. "Oh! Pardon me!" she says as she stumbles into someone. "My apologies.. There is just so much going on here!" she exclaims breathlessly. "My name is Amelia. I think this is where I am supposed to be.." her voice wanders off as her eyes once again rove through the surroundings.
She is jostled once more from her ruminations as a pack is shoved into her hands and she absentmindedly tosses it over her shoulder and promptly forgets about it.. until she sees the Snapleaf adorning one of her companions cloaks. Without hesitation, she opens the pack to find the additions to her kit, and drops the Snapleaf over her neck while putting the air crystals into her pouch.
As she is doing so, her eyes look about the group and rest upon Graxzos for the first time. "Hey, I know you! You helped clear that old tomb! Its good to see you again!" For the first time, Amelia seems to really be present and not supremely distracted by her surroundings.
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"Blondie! Er, whatsername, Amelia! Good t'see yer! Sounds like the Society has us plumbin' the depths o' somethin' much weirder than an ol' tomb this time..." Graxzos turns to the group. "Name's Graxzos, or Grax if'n yer Amelia! I ain't heard anythin' about these gates, but if we're gonna be goin' to tha' comet I definitely want that spell you got!" Seizing the bag of supplies, he tucks it safely away and prepares himself for the spell.
Sorrina Westyr, the Pathfinder Society's returning Master of Spells, hurriedly concludes her conversation with Drandle Dreng before stepping onto the platform in front of a giant metal ring the Society has constructed. The starlight glimmers in her crystalline white hair, though her obsidian oread features are visible only in flashes from the nearby glowing wards.
“I thank you all for traveling here on such short notice, Pathfinders. A unique opportunity has come to us from the stars.” She gestures gracefully to the comet trailing gas in the sky above her head. “The asteroid Aucturn's Tear quietly travels our solar system once every fifty-six years. For the first time it now flares with brilliance. We have learned this phenomenon is the work of an entity trapped on Aucturn's Tear and, whatever this being is, it is calling out for help. We do not know its intentions, yet it is in our interest to learn more. If it is benevolent, it may prove a powerful ally and friend to the Society if we can free it. If it is malevolent, then we will do what we can to ensure it stays sealed away where it can do no harm.”
She casts a spell, briefly creating an image of Golarian’s solar system, and the asteroid’s trajectory within it.
“As it approaches planets, the entity has opened gateways in magic-dense regions, as if calling out to powerful champions that might come to its aid. Based on our calculations, the first of these gateways on Golarion should appear in a matter of minutes, and we have gathered in this magically infused site to draw the portal here and stabilize it, allowing us to travel to the asteroid ourselves. Our observations show billowing clouds pouring out from three locations on Aucturn's Tear. These both create a livable environment we can navigate as well as provide three entrances to the asteroid's interior so that we can find the source of these events.” Red arrows appear at each entrance as the image keeps focusing closer and closer to the asteroid itself. “The first entrance is at the base of an enormous crater, where there are monumental fortifications— likely making that the most difficult approach. The second plume is coming from the remnants of a frozen fortress, which could contain incredible secrets in its own right. The third plume is coming from the sunward side of the comet and is issuing from a number of lava tubes. Our observers also spotted the wreck of a metal craft near there.”
Sorrina pauses a moment, letting the significance of all of these observations sink in, and then continues.
“This will be an unusual environment, so prepare for unusual conditions: extreme temperatures, low-gravity, and airless pockets are likely. Everyone should have received a package of supplies to assist in managing these hazards. While the gateway should remain stable, a contingent of conjurers is staying here to monitor it, and additional teams are on standby to provide escape routes to extradimensional shelters in case of complications. Perhaps most importantly, we've ringed this area with defenses to prevent any outside interference with this expedition, and the bronze dragon Ahelvetinn has agreed to keep watch in case any evil attempts to escape through the gateway into Golarion.”
The Spire of Nex begins to hum, the vibrations creating a stomach-churning resonance as a pinpoint of light appears in the center of the portal ring and begins to grow.
Sorrina Westyr shouts to be heard over the deafening noise, “It's beginning! Be ready to move through and split into teams to investigate each of the three possible approaches. Once we're inside we can regroup and compare notes.”
The metal of the portal ring incandesces, and a blast of freezing air pours out as the gateway opens. The place beyond is a field of jagged grey stone, and once several dozen Pathfinders step through, the earth itself springs to life in the form of countless elemental creatures that swarm toward the gate. From further in, a terrible draconic roar accompanies the appearance of a flight of crystalline dragons sweeping out from the lip of a crater.
“Secure the gate! Do not let any of them through!” Westyr shouts as she sends a lance of swirling black and white energy into one of the wyrms, sending it careening end over end as the forces meet.
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For every 5 that you exceed the DC, you may ask for 1 item from this list.
For every 5 that you exceed the DC, you may ask for 1 item from this list.
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Amelia seems to come out of her daydreamy attitude with a vengeance once the creatures bear down on the team of Pathfinders.
"An Elemental and a Mephit! Use magical weapons, and the elemental is immune to most effects!" she cries out, making sure that her companions can hear her over the sudden din of joined battle.
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Round 1-2
Effects none
Gravity 1/5 normal
Terrain none
- Red -
- Blue -
- Darvin -
- Sahba -
- Graxzos -
- Anibal -
- Hamith -
- -----Round 2-----
- Anduris -
- Amelia -
Anduris' blow cuts off huge chunks of rock from the elemental's side, then Amelia rocks the mephit with magical force. The guardians' retaliation is swift and lethal however, as the earth elemental slams Anduris hard enough to crumple his legs like twigs, then burrows into the asteroid. And the mephit quickly swoops down to try and finish off the vulnerable dwarf.
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Anibal quickly strings his bow and draws an arrow. He aims at the flying critter and lets lose.
He squints his eyes and grumbles as the arrow swooshes by the target, almost hitting the dwarf.
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Amelia quickly taps herself with her wand of Mage Armor before she slides forward towards the Mephit. "Be careful of the Mephit! If it gets close enough, it can use a breath weapon full of stones and earth!" she cries out to her team.
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Hamith moves around his companions while smoothly drawing his greatsword from its scabbard. He chops down at the creature with all his might.
Move 20ft
Attack blue
Hamith will move up to Anduris and draw his wand of cure light wounds from his wrist sheath and heal him.
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Graxzos curses as the two earth creatures appear. "Well, c'n I still shoot 'em?!" Raising his pistol, he breaks into a trot and fires at the mephit! As the noise of the gunshot fades, he's already rammed a cartridge into place with a new shot.
Move: 15'
Standard: Shoot, using Up close and Deadly
Free action: reload using a paper cartridge
Graxzos moves to the same spot and readies an action to shoot the earth elemental if it reappears . He doesn't use Up Close and Deadly against the elemental.
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Round 2-3
Effects none
Gravity 1/5 normal
Terrain none
- Red -
- Darvan -
- Sahba -
- Hamith -
- -----Round 3-----
- Amelia -
- Graxzos -
- Anibal -
- Anduris -
Darvan's scimitar finds a weak spot in the mephit's hide, and digs almost a foot into the monster's flesh, killing it instantly. Sahba moves to defend her master, and Hamith starts healing Anduris' wounds. Amelia conjures her magical armor, then the three ranged warriors wait for the elemental to reappear.
Unfortunately, only Anduris manages to harm the creature. And once again, the monster gives better than it gets. Anduris falls to the ground unconscious and bleeding from several broken bones sticking all the way out of his skin. Thankfully, Darvan dodges the second blow.
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As Anduris falls into a crumpled puddle of viscous shattered bone, bruised and leaking soft tissue the last thing he thinks is "What are they feeding these creatures as to hit so impossibly hard. Never heard of an earth mephit hitting with the power of a giant and for that matter for such a small elemental its power behind its attack was somehow beyond explanation."
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Graxzos, seeing Hamith step between him and the elemental, lets out a curse and steps forward, stowing his pistol to draw his ax. "What th'hells is this thing?! Where'd it come from?!" He takes a two-handed chop at the elemental, then yanks his shield off his back and holds it up in front of him.
Move: Stow pistol
None: 5' step northwest
Free: Draw ax
Standard: Attack!
Free: draw quickdraw shield
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Seeing Andrius on the ground, the Iobarian makes a quick incantation and whispers a quick prayer. He focuses for a moment and Andrius's wounds stop bleeding. So much...
"I do realise I don't really have any authority over you, but I sugest killing it before it touches our dwarven colleague again."
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Amelia steps forward, screaming out at the earth elemental as the rest of the group lays into it. "GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU PILE OF LATRINE MUD!!" She conjures a large ball of ice and snow and sends it speeding at the creature over the tops of the combatants heads. As the snowball flies away she draws her sword, ready to carve this thing apart. Her eyes flash dangerously as anger fills her at the sight of her companions broken body.
If the creature falls, Amelia rushes forward drawing her wand of Cure light wounds and begins to tend to any injuries.
If the creature still stands, she uses "Hand of the Apprentice"
+6/1d8+1
Sabha handily slays the elemental, at which point you hear applause.
”You handled those elementals with flair!” The woman in the red mask is leaping towards you, spinning in air as she bounces off the surface in her shiny red boots. She is obviously enjoying the low gravity.
”We have located the three avenues of approach and have some more information on them. It is your choice how to proceed, so here is what we know.”
”The crater is swarming with defenders. If you choose to go there you need to be prepared for combat, but it seems the most direct route to the center of the asteroid.”
”We have located a frozen city on the asteroid’s dark side. If you want you can explore the city to see if we can find the means to help the trapped being.”
”On the sunny side we have located the wreck of a metal craft. It might contain the same kind of objects as can be found in Numeria. If you want to explore that be aware that that side of the asteroid is bathing in direct sunlight, without any protection from an atmosphere.”
”It is your decision, I’ll be off to brief that group over there on what we found” and she moves away before you can even start to think of questions.
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Before he does anything else, Hamith kneels down and uses his wand to heal Anduris back to consciousness.
Once Anduris awakens, Hamith stands and offers him a hand to pull him to standing.
"It's a little early to be going unconscious, master Dwarf. The darkness of space awaits."
He then looks to the others after the woman in the red mask bounces away in the low gravity. "For me, I always appreciate the direct path. Let it be done quickly with sword and spell. What about you all?"
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Anibal observes the high jumps performed by the woman. "Fascinating. I'll need to try that."
He looks at the ground again, and scouts the surface for potential landing spot. He sees the unconscious dwarf again and decides to take a different course of action.
He quickly moves to the wounded, producing a wand along the way, and puts the thing to use.
He stands still for a moment, waiting for Andrius to recover.
"That should do it!"
He makes a high jump attempt immediately afterwards.
He leaps into the air, and his eyes widen with excitement and a bit of fear. When he lands, he takes a deep breath. "Quite the sensation! I can only recommend giving it a try or two."
Once he calms down, he turns towards Hamith.
"Not that I am opposed to the idea, but first we should see what we are up against. Failure to prepare is preparation to fail."
He peeks at the crater, trying to recognise the creatures inside or any details about them.
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Graxzos is too surprised by the red woman's appearance and sudden departure to react quickly, but he watches, fascinated, as Anibal jumps up and down. "Innerestin'...wonder if tha'll affect my gun?"
When Anibal tells them how many there are, Grax frowns. "Normally I'm all fer goin' in wit' gun blazin' and heavily armed backup, but...tha' first fight nearly killed Anduris 'ere. An' there's no point gettin' into the crater if no one knows how t'free who or whatever ''tis down there. Personally I'd vote fer the frozen city, but I'll follow th'group."
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Amelia walks forward and stands beside Grax. "I agree with Grax here. If two of those almost took one of us down, I'm voting for the road less travelled! Besides.. who know what we might find down there that can help direct the rest of the pathfinders!"
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