[Outpost I] GM Abraham's CORE Ancients' Anguish (Inactive)

Game Master Abraham Z.

Please dot in here.

The note was short and to the point:

I request that you report to the Winding Road Lodge as soon as possible for a matter of some urgency involving the Diamond Sage, Tahonikepsu. She will give the details when you meet. Your passage has already been arranged on the Green Gull, which awaits you now at the Absalom docks. Make haste!
V. Sincerely, Venture-Captain Roderus

The journey on the Green Gull is pleasant enough, at least as much as sea travel ever is, and it affords you ample time to get to know your fellow Pathfinders.

Please go ahead and introduce your characters.

A stout and bare chested dwarf arrives on the Green Gull. His satchel is small, light and unobtrusive.

As the other pathfinders arrive he waves to each in turn.

"Oggil Redhand. Pathfinder, historian and student of the Ouat. As the rivers tumble pebbles together, so have the seas of fate placed us. And I am pleased in that."

A tall, aged dwarf, balding but with a thick grey beard floats onto the ship. muttering as he goes. Aint never liked boats, don't see why I could'na just teleport to the damn briefing. Bloody long way ta go on this bloody deathtrap.

As he arrives on deck he nods to Oggil and heads down below to the nearest cabin which he claims for himself.

Theodore's days of long ship rides and lengthy walks on foot are over... mostly. Now that he has learned the art of teleportation, he can go where he pleases, bar hopping and visiting interesting locale all across the globe.

He walks to the docks, feeling at home. The spell of sea air is familiar to him, and he mingles with the sailors that have gathered here, sharing stories of the seas.

Theodore is a middle-aged gnome (120 years) with green hair wearing a breastplate and carrying a silver holy symbol of Cayden Cailean; a silver tankard. The holy symbol is actually currently filled with beer that he occasionally takes a swig out of. He has various scrolls and wands in his possession and, most of the time, a smile on his face.

As he enters the briefing area, he proudly says in a calm and friendly, although somewhat slurred, voice,
"Hello everyone! My name's Theodore, and it's nice to meet all of you!"

"Nice to meet your fair dwarves, although I'd say to bury your nervousness about boats. Why, you have a sailor on board... yours truly!"

Theodore continues to take swigs of alcohol as he talks and mingles with everyone. Eventually, he pipes up about himself, talking with a drunken slur. "Oh sorry, I'm sure you want to know what my abilities are should a situation arise. I focus myself on healing others as well as calling upon the blessings of Cayden Cailean to enhance our fighting capabilities. I'm elusive, but I'm no fighter!"

Ragnar seems comfortable on the boat though he avoids the edges. He spends much of his time with his companion to avoid another "incident" but while she sleeps he will move around.

"Hi. I'm Ragnar 'Handy' Sorvino but you can call me Ragnar. And my friend's name is Pookie. If we are going to be adventuring together I'll introduce you to her as soon as I can."

Ragnar is a homely man with a bow. He doesn't mingle with the sailors much but as we reach our destination he says "Welcome to Katapesh, The city of trade." and he seems to fit right in.

"Good days to you Ragnar, Pookie, Theodor and Alonso!" smiles Oggil.

"I have heard of teleportation, but the wise say the point of a journey is not always to reach the end, but to make the most of the trip."

He moves with a casual grace, unfazed by either boat or sea.

"While the sea is large, but recently I was on the plane of water itself. That does tend to provide some perspective about such fears."

Alonso floats back onto deck and looks over to Oggil. It's big, wet and stupid and full of things that want to eat you which ya wont see until they are already attached to you face. I would wish us in Katapesh as soon as possible if only the stupid place wasn'a so damn hot and sticky.

He wanders off towards the rear of the ship grumbling to himself.

s'pose I should better prep an endure elements, why can we never get sent somewhere temperate, its either bake your brains hot or freeze ya blood cold. Should'a stayed at home...

Having done a wander around the ship grumbling to himself Alonso comes to settle next to Oggil and Ragnar.

Right you two. No doubt Tahonikepsu's gonn'a send us in to some sort of horrible messy danger where we have to fight for our lives with little to no information. Me, I'm far too old for this nonsense so I'll mostly be flying around invisible like and casting spells to help you both out. However, I have got one trick I can use a fair bit which can help you get into, or out of, the enemies face.

With that he places a hand on each of their shoulders. Now, be ready and keep hold of your lunch. I don't want either of you spewing on me new boots.

With that he will make several practice dimensional steps to make sure both of them are comfortable being teleported about.

Now, you'll na be able ta see me most of the time but I always try and let you know what's about to happen...well, if there's time of course.

He looks over to the gnome, I've no doubt you are familiar with this sort of thing, you look like you've got itchy feet and you serve that damn unreliable drunk!

"Nice. We could have used you back in my smug... er, Shipping and receiving days."

Oggil nods his agreement to Alonso. "While the point of a journey is rarely the end - neither is an unnecessary death with an arrow in ones lung. The orc standing on the shoulders of an ogre is all the more formidable."

After Alonso finishes his display a man steps quite literally out of his shadow. A man far too large to have fit within it in the first place. Sir Godfrey is the pinnacle of stereotypical paladin, shadow walking aside. He strides into view proudly, his massive form covered in full-plate that barely whispers to his steps. The chest and arms of which are covered in Sarenrae's iconography.

He strides to a good position in the sun, literally basking in it as his long, blonde hair is caught in the wind. He sets his hands on his hips and puts a large smile on his face, revealing too perfect teeth that a single sparkle of light shines off. "Greetings friends, new and old. No doubt you have also heard the news that we are once again off to face down villainy and the enemies of the light! For those of you that don't know me, I am Sir Godfrey and a champion of the Dawnflower." He glances slightly over one shoulder to the sword across his back. "I will face down our foes head on, or in feinting assaults with the aid of my dear shadow!"

Alonso shudders a little at Godfreys sudden appearance. He looks around suspiciously. Where is that monster of yours hiding Godrey? Get it out into the light where we can all keep an eye on it...

Oggil, looking confused, points to the paladin's shadow. "Tradition is that ones shadow is attached to ones feet. Surely even a holy warrior of the dawn must abide by such rules?"

Theodore takes a few swigs and gives Alonso a quick glance. "You worry too much. It'll work out."

At Godfrey's speech, he responds, "I'll drink to that!" And again the swigs continue.

"He is no monster, friend Alonso! He is a mighty tool of the Dawnflower here to teach villainy that even the darkness can't succor it from the light of the sun. For the sun is what gives them their shade!" He states everything with a touch too much fervor bordering on fanaticism, finally being distracted by Oggil's confusion. He gives the monk a broad grin and then points down at his shadow which proceeds wave up at Oggil on its own.

Godfrey raises a fist to Theodore since he carries no mug. "Here, here!"

Oggil jumps back from the shadow, before carefully approaching it and giving it a gentle poke.

"As the clouds form random shapes in the sky not geometric matters, thus does your shadow break the rules by which I thought all were cast." says the shocked monk.

A little Halfling nods to all and smiles. "I hope I am not to late! I am Lem, bard extraordinaire!"

"So many extraordinary Pathfinders. Let's hope we won't be asked to infiltrate anywhere."

Ragnar waves to the newcomers. And after pausing for a moment

perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 2 = 35

he waves to the shadow.

Theodore quickly gulps down his current sip as he remembers something.

"Ah, almost forgot." He does a quick survey of the party. He hands a platinum ring each to Godfrey, Oggil, and Lem. "You should wear this ring while we travel together. It's just a focus component for a spell I may cast on you. And apologies Lem... I usually buy these for our larger folk here, but it should work if you wear it on your thumb." He then flashes the 3 matching rings he has back to the party.

As you arrive in Katapesh harbor, the view from the deck of the Green Gull is tantalizing - the spires and towers of the great city beckon. Before you have an opportunity to venture out to revisit your favorite locales, however, a teenage boy greets you at the bottom of the gang-plank. ”Yer the Pathfinders, I reckon by the looks a’ ya. Venture Cap’n Roderus sent me to fetch ya and he ain’t like to be kept waitin’.” The boy leads you past many shops and plazas - each seemingly more interesting than the last - to a dingy neighborhood on the outskirts of town, where a small building - part inn, part chapterhouse, serves as the local Pathfinder lodge.

”Welcome, welcome, I’m so glad you could come at such short notice,” says an elderly gentleman, slowly rising from his chair. ”I am Venture-Captain Roderus and my humble lodge will be your home, at least for tonight. But you must be tired from your journey!” He claps his hands and soon each of you is receiving a footbath from a servant, while other servants lay out a meal of lamb and honeyed bread. Watching Roderus’ worried face as you eat, it’s difficult to say whether he simply has the rheumy eyes of an elderly man, or whether he fears that perhaps he is serving you your last good meal.

When all have eaten their fill, he ushers you into a secret basement, where Tahonikepsu awaits. If any of you have met her in previous adventures, she greets you by name, inquiring after your health and well-being since you last met.

“Pathfinders, you have my thanks for agreeing to aid us. I am Tahonikepsu, the bearer of the diamond sage jewel. I am also the leader the Jeweled Sages, an ancient order of scholars. Together with my colleague Amenopheus, I strive to restore lost secrets of the past for the benefit of the present.”

“To this end, I seek the missing sage jewels, each of which contains the memories of the sages who bore that gem before and the lost lore of the ancients. Last year—thanks to the efforts of brave Pathfinder Society agents—we secured a way to track these jewels, and I have since used that beacon to find the missing amethyst sage jewel. The gem lies in Nex’s northern desert, where magical interference has obstructed my attempts to divine the sage jewel’s location more accurately. Remote divination can do no more, and the Pathfinder Society has offered its assistance.”

”While I can point you in the right direction, you must find the exact location of the gem yourself. To aid you in this task, I will give you a magical crystal that is infused with the beacon’s power. I ask that you explore the area and, most importantly, retrieve the gem. Anything you can learn of what befell Amethyst Sage would also assist my order. Take care while searching the desert, though; while using the beacon, I could feel a strange resonance, as if something was not right with the sage jewel.”

Tahonikepsu looks toward the ceiling as if watching something beyond. “This coincides with the appearance of a strange visitor in our skies, and I must attend to it and confirm its intentions. I wish you fortune in your travels and offer my thanks for your contributions.”

Oggil puts on the ring. "The apprentice must often question the master in order to receive enlightenment." he says with a puzzled look at Theordore.

He nods a greetingto Tahonikepsu. "Greetings once again Tahonikepsu!" he smiles, speaking straight without metaphor for a change.

"How does one use the gem?" he asks.

To the others he adds "I have travelled the deserts before, and the heat was like a hammer at the forge. Do nay of you have a way to protect us from this?"

Theodore looks around for a refill of his mug while speaking. "Dredge though a desert? Do we know enough to be able to just teleport there?"

"What don'tcha think is right with the sage jewel?"

Alonso sits back and enjoys the footbath. He makes a number of very un dwarflike sounds while he does so.

Floating down to the meeting with Tahonikepsu he sighs, I knew it, more trekking into the vast sandy wastes of yet another gods forsaken desert. I've literally just got back from Osirion chasin' after stuff for you Sages and now we get sent off to the desert again. Why could'na any of ya settle somewhere more comfortable.

He turns to Oggil, best protection is just ta be sensible, travel at dusk and early mornin. Carry plenty of water. But if ya worried about a little heat I can probably protect ya. Might want to pick up another of them pretty pearls, me spells ain't unlimited.

"No worries about the water! I got it covered. Endless water from Cayden Cailean!" Theodore sips a bit before demonstrating his Create Water spell.

"I can also help with the protection, but it will require another prayer to Cayden in the morning to do so."

"A wand would be more efficient and allow you to save your spells. I have friends here who owe me a favor or two. I can pick one up if needed."

Looking uncomfortable with someone bathing his feet but letting it slide he asks Tahonikepsu some questions.

"So you believe this sage is dead? Do you have a map of the area you think this jewel is?"

And since the visitor in question is in Ragnar's past I'll just ignore that.

"Hello again, Sage leader. Of course we shall shatter this mystery and return to you the jewel. Fear not." Godfrey stands there in his glory, armed crossed over his armored chest as he listens to the briefing. He gives the others a grin. "Worry not, the desert burns with Sarenrae's glorious fire, it shall merely test that we deserve the goal we seek."

The large paladin rubs his chin as he quietly thinks. "Mistress sage, would you know anything about the spirit within the jewel we're seeking, or the previous owner? It might beneficial to know the sort of person they were or are for when we find the jewel."

Lem bows deeply."Quite an honor, quite an honor!"
Hearing about the desert heat, the halfling shrugs. "I am not good with that, but maybe Theodore can prepare some spells to aid with the heat!"

Tahonikepsu smiles grimly in response to the flurry of questions.

Turning to Oggil, she hands you a crystal. "Here, take this seeker stone - it is imbued with the power of the beacon and will help you find the location of the amethyst sage jewel. It is somewhat imprecise, however, so you will likely still need to spend some time in searching."

”For that very reason,” turning her attention now to Theodore, ”teleporting there will not be practical. We’re not quite sure where there is. As for what may be wrong with the sage jewel, I wish I knew. I can simply sense some sort of disturbance. Hopefully, you can learn more and report back."

She turns towards Ragnar, ”Unfortunately, we have no maps or sketches of where you are going. In fact, we are not quite sure where you are heading, only that the beacon is telling us that the jewel is to be found somewhere in the desert of Nex. But, to be sure, please bring back whatever maps, sketches, or other information you can produce.”

Tahonikepsu glances again towards the ceiling, as if she is looking beyond it, and a worried expression crosses her face. ”But my time grows short. Another urgent matter summons me. I bid you good fortune in this journey, with my great gratitude for your bravery. I have asked one of the Amethyst Sage’s companions to attend you and answer any questions you may have about him. She knew him as well as anyone.” She steps to the door and ushers in a peculiar looking figure. ”Saruna, here are the Pathfinders. Please help them in any way you can.” And with that, she takes her leave of you.

Saruna appears to be a mummified sphinx. She gazes around the room at all of you and speaks in a dusty ragged voice, ”Welcome Pathfinders. How may I assist you?”

Oh my

Alonso backs away a bit from the undead sphinx. Err, you knew this Amethyst Sage yes? What can you tell us about him?

Few things stop a Caydenite from interrupting the flow of the drink, but Theodore stutters slightly at the sight of a mummified sphinx.

"And what do you know of where this beacon may lead?" Theodore says this with a serious face, despite some swaggering and slurring.

“He asked for loyalty but was loyal only to his ideals. Whosoever trusts him shall be rewarded like Saruna.”

"Hello Saruna. To see you again is as the fresh breeze from the cool mountains after a week in the desert."

He gazes at Saruna a bit harder. "Did you manage to overcome your geas yet?"

To the others he explains "Saruna didn't choose this existence. She was tricked into undeath by the Amethyst sage."

Alonso raises one eyebrow, well he sounds like a perfectly deplorable fellow! Why would he do such a thing?

Saruna cocks a quizzical eyebrow in return. "As the head librarian, Saruna was tasked with cataloging tomes and relics. But the riddle remains as to whether the spirit within a shriveled body is Saruna still."

Godfrey immediately stares at the mummy sphinx with an eye for detecting evil, he must know what he is being forced to work with, and if he can even work with it! The paladin crosses his arms over his chest and considers the creature before them. Finally he puffs his chest out. "Am I to understand that the Amethyst sage is a ne'er-do-well? If this is the case then we have even greater need to find him, so that I might give him a stern talking to about not being evil."

"Do you have any idea why he has gone to Nex, and what his current goals are? And should we... do you wish to keep being what you are?"

Sir Godfrey senses the unmistakeable aura of evil around Saruna. She turns sorrowful eyes towards the champion of Sarenrae, and speaks, "The sage asked Saruna to trust him; the reward was a cold stone where the heart once was. Saruna does not wish to exist, but it is not yet her time; the shameful wrong must be righted before the wronged can depart.”

Turning towards Alonso, she intones, "“Over countless dynasties, across countless ages, which kings and queens predate the sages? To know their acts and know their names, preserved is so few extant pages. Yet some feared death and thwart it still, refusing to rest in carved stone cages. My onetime master learned these and more. What did he study?” she looks expectantly towards the group for an answer.

Oggil clears his throat. "The kings of Ossirion. The pharaoh's of plagues and others." notes Oggil.

"Did he use the rituals on himself?"

Behind Sir Godfrey's back Alonso rolls his eyes.

Can you give us any clue where we might find the Amethyst Sage Jewel? Where is he likely to have gone?

Even Theodore looks somber at the Sphinx's explanation, but he has no further questions.

Saruna nods sagely and hisses her approval at Oggil's response. "His methods were lacking, his creations imperfect. Seek your answers in Saruna, who still exists yet no longer draws breath."

Turning towards Alonso, she replies, "Once we lived in the Sanctum of Sages. The machine soldiers sought him there three millennia ago. The sage fled, scared. Saruna remained, betrayed."

She pauses for a moment, and it is not difficult to see the bitterness glittering in her eyes. "Where is he now? His obsession lays the trail, but where can one go and hope to escape justice for wrongs committed?"

"Well it seems your life was not easy. Tell me what do you think we should seek him? Because you can´t escape them. They follow you everywhere."
Lem chirps in.

Saruna acknowledges Lem's answer by inclining her head and gouging furrows into the floor with her claws, and says no more.

”You should depart in the morning,” Venture Captain Roderus pronounces. Feel free to make any final purchases or preparations. At dawn the next day, Roderus helpfully provides you with everything you need for the journey, including camels and riding horses. A stable boy brings out two mules loaded with tents, maps, food, water, dried dung for making fires, and other supplies.

You set out and follow a route marked on the maps for more than a week, crossing the Elemion River and continuing to the southwest for another day. As Tahonikepsu had predicted, the seeker stone picks up a faint signal, leading you onwards...

Lem tries his bardic magic.
Diplo/GatherInfo: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34

I need each PC to give me either a Survival or Perception check.

The wind begins to pick up, sending dust flying in the air, and oppressive clouds gather in the sky. The sun darkens as if a heavy veil had been pulled in front of it; only a gleaming crescent remains visible. The wind grows into a howling gale, and soon after, a massive wall of sand starts rising in the distance and approaching at a high speed.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Hmm, travelling in t' desert can be dangerous, bandits, scorpions, gnolls or worse. Even those weird scorpionfolk. Best be on the lookout for sandstorms too...

Alonso forgoes a camel, he casts overland flight, mage armour and endure elements at the start of each day. He will add plenty of water and food supplies to his handy haversack. He also remains permanently invisible while travelling (using his ring) and keeps Message up on everyone at all times

Nature: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

That looks like a doozy of a storm comin down on us. We best get to those hills yonder to take cover. I could create us a shelter but I dinna think there's time ta cast it. I could try an teleport us over there but I can only take me'self and 3 others and I wouldna' wannae leave all these camels here to die given the captain was so generous in providing em in the first place.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"Let's go!"

At the coming sandstorm, Theodore will cast Longstrider on himself to help outrun it, extending it with his Lesser Versatile Metamagic Rod. Will last for a really 18 hours anyway... probably would have done that each day of the journey.

Oops, I missed making the initial perception check and just missed the edit window

Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35

I'm guessing Lem shares what he learns from his diplomacy. Ragnar can't fail the Survival/Perception checks.

"Let's try to save as many supplies as we can!"

Ragnar casts Longstrider on Pookie then leads the mules towards the hills.

Sir Godfrey admittedly knows little of the weather, and despite he clear charms he isn't suited for collecting information from scattered locals. Thus he allows his fellows to lead the charge in both of those regards, happily working to manage their horses and supplies instead.

At the approach of the sandstorm he immediately alters his course towards the hills under Alonso's directions, making for the hills. "I agree with your assertions, Alonso! If that sand gets into my armor the rest of this trip shall be miserable! Hopefully we can make it in time, and don't run into anyone with a bad demeanor thinking the same as us!"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24