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Newt enters, followed close behind by a stone-skinned man who stands almost a head taller than the pale young man. He pulls back his hood and looks at those gathered, quick to break eye contact.
"Hello. You can call me Newt," the young man says in a soft, hesitant voice. He seems to pick a space--seemingly calculated to be not too close to others so to not appear familiar and not too far from others so to not appear stand-offish--and walks directly to it.
Newt turns his head and speaks to his stone-skinned companion, "Mae'n dal i fod mor galed i fod yn y thinas."
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The stone-skinned man pats the young man on the shoulder. "Peidiwch â phoeni, fy mab. Bythwch yn dod i arfer ag ef."
He surveys the room much more confidently and intently than the young man with onyx eyes. His skin is graven with deep whorls and other symbols--Shoanti, to those familiar--and his three-fingered hands hold an earthbreaker on his shoulder.
In a deep voice, he greets those gathered, "I am Kivi."
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The door opens to one of the many meeting spaces within the Grand Lodge and a tall, willowy-looking woman with pale skin and silvery-white hair dressed in simple leathers strides in.
"Hah! Looks like I finally found the right place," she says as her gaze zeroes in on the oread already present. "I've been wandering all over this place trying to find the right meeting room - I swear this place gets bigger and more confusing each time I'm here!"
The woman takes a seat at the table and regards the others that had arrived ahead of her - especially the odd-looking stone man that was clearly not an oread but something else entirely. "Name's Liora," she grins, offering a hand to anyone willing to shake it. "I guess we'll be working together on whatever the higher-ups have planned for us all."
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Jyrrar rises to his feet and shakes the sylphs hand, giving her a warm smile. "Ahhh, Liora...all you needed to do was to listen to the stones. They would have guided your path!" His voice is low and strangely melodic, and also with a note of teasing.
Turning to face the ulfen man he nods to them, "I am Jyrrar," before addressing them in accented Terran,
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A series of hollow clangs thud down hallway, with two muted voices arguing. A moment later, the door swings open as a tall armored man ducks his head into the doorway, sword drawn. His face is covered in green scales, and his eyes are a deep yellow.
"I just don't think that I should have to be making deliveries! I am a Paladin for Iomedae's sake, not a Porter!" Four medals are welded onto the left side of the breastplate, to the right of a Symbol of Iomedae sculpted into the armor.
Another voice echoes back to him, seemingly out of nowhere. "Yes, but you were at the commissary! You were already picking one up for yourself! And Liora is in the group that you'll be leading!"
"Hmm. I suppose. Which one of you is Liora?"
"Aren't you forgetting something Grythyk?"
With a befuddled look, that suddenly turns into excitement, the tall snake man bows, before the room, showing a startling amount of grace for the Fullplate he is in. "What? What could I be... Oh yes! Welcome Pathfinders! I am Grythyk, and this is my trusty compatriot Gamin! We have been called upon for the Glory of Iomedae.." as as far as he can get before the disembodied voice interrupts him. "You mean the Pathfinder Society."
"Gamin, I will put you back in the sheath if you don't behave! The Glory of the Pathfinder Society to go on this Holy Journey, and Bask in Iomedae's Light!"
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A red-haired woman dressed in loose clothing with a string of prayer beads around her neck enters and presses a fist into the palm of her other hand. "First the Starstone, now Aucturn's Tear. The Decemvirate sure do love their comets." She speaks with a noticable Kaer Magan accent. "Greetings, I am Volyana." She looks at Jyrrar and nods, "Always good to see a fellow traveler here." She turns to see the paladin, revealing a number of criscrossing lash marks across her shoulders.
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A tall, vivacious female gnome with bright orange hair and large, expressive purple eyes skips into the room with a large grin that shows off her sparkling white teeth. "Hi! I'm Trixalana, but you can call me Trix for short! Looks like I'll be joining all of you on this exciting adventure!" She joins the others at the table, staring openly in excitement at the giant snakeman with the talking sword. "YOUR SWORD TALKS!" she practically squeals with excitement before jumping back up and running over to examine the blade up close. The next several words that pour from her mouth string together in an excited jumble. "OHMYGOSHTHATISAMAZINGWHATISYOURNAME?!"
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Newt smiles shyly at Jyrrar and nods. He seems about to speak to the oread when Liora answers him, and the young man withdraws his attention.
He starts when the red-haired skald enters and addresses the room. He opens his mouth as if to introduce himself, but as more and more people arrive, he appears to try to fold in on himself. The result is simply to look uncomfortable.
When Trixalana begins to speak louder and faster, the nervous fidgeting that began when the nagaji arrived increases in intensity: he vigorously outlines his thumb with the forefinger of the same hand, over and over and over.
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"Wise words," the elemental replies to Jyrrar, speaking in Taldane for the sake of the others in the room. He stands behind Newt, looking much more calm and self-assured than the young man, as the others arrive. He almost appears to be physically and intentionally preventing Newt from retreating to the back wall.
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"Um...hi, I'm Liora," the sylph waves over the commotion of Trixalana and the other new arrivals to the small waiting room. "Did you have something for me?"
She happens to glance over to where the rather quiet young man seems to be... meditating? Or was he just trying to remain unnoticed? Liora wasn't entirely sure.
"Isn't that a little uncomfortable? You look like one of those pretzel things!"
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"What?" Newt startles again when Liora addresses him.
"Oh. Sorry," he apologizes reflexively and consciously attempts to adopt a more natural looking stance, which looks stiff and forced.
Kivi gently knocks him on the shoulder.
"Even after a few years, I'm still not used to people talking out loud. It's fine, though. I'm honored to be working with experienced Pathfinders."
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Newt nods in response to Atronia's question. After another knock on the shoulder from the stone-skinned man, he speaks his answer. "Yes. I lived on an island for most of my life. Ilma and Kivi and the others watched over me," he smiles a little as he mentions these names, "Taught me to fish and make shelter."
He chuckles hesitantly, "We talked in our heads, though. So quiet. Except for the waves, wind, and terns. It was nice."
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Looking directly at Liora, apparently forgetting about his previous argument, Grythyk smiles, baring his fangs and a serpent tongue.
With a flick of his wrist, a brand new wand springs out of the sheath on Grythyk's armor into his waiting hand. "The Commissary got a message that you needed one of these. Some halfling said she would cover the cost for you, as thanks for protecting her from a... What's that thing called again?"
"A Minotaur. Taller than you, big axe, Half Beast?"
While scratching his scaly head, Grythyk looks down at Gamin. "You mean like those folks from the north?"
Gamin's voice nearly drips with disdain. "Yes. That's it exactly."
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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"I didn't know. Didn't remember. What civilization was like. I couldn't remember my parents. I remembered the idea. But not them," Newt explains to Liora, "So when the longship discovered me on my little island, I was curious. I went with them. After a while, Kivi convinced me that there was much more to see than waves and the docks of trading ports."
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?”
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.
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You might know the significance of the Spire of Nex and what it might be used for.
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You might know more about the new comet in the sky.
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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Liora's face brightens as Grythyk delivers both message and wand to her. "Oh! Awww, Janira sent this to me? Be sure to tell her thank you - and that I hope she's staying out of trouble," she grins. "It sure made for a heck of a story but I'd like the next one to involve something a little bit safer!"
Then she looks up suddenly. "Hey, it's almost time isn't it? We'd better get out to the meeting place or we'll miss all the good stuff!" She leaps to her feet and grabs Jyrrar by one arm and reaches for Newt's arm with her other hand. "Come onnnn, you won't see anything new by sitting around in here!"
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When they arrive just outside the Spire of Nex, Liora's eyes flit this way and that at the sight of the assembled crowd. "Oh wow, looks like they've got something big planned! I'm gonna go see what I can find out - be right back!" With that she disappears into the crowd, hoping to try and learn a little more about what lay in store.
A short while later, the sylph reappears just as quickly as she disappeared. "I couldn't find out a thing! Everyone was too busy to talk and it was too noisy to listen in," she pouts. "On the bright side, the comet's easy enough to explain. It showed up all of a sudden a few months ago and no one's really sure why. According to what I've seen it's traveling on an odd path and just passed Akiton not long ago."
She gazes up at the sky. "It should pass us within 24 hours or so. Funny thing, it was spinning at first but now it seems like it's stopped - and it's putting out a lot of air, which is strange too. Most comets usually put out ice crystals and water vapors."
Her thoughts are interrupted when the elven man and the youngster pulling the cart approach, carrying offers of supplies for the journey ahead. Wait, journey? "You mean we're going up there?" she gapes. Then she grins broadly. "Sure, I've helped face down a minotaur so why not up the ante this time? In that case yes, I'll take some of that magic please!"
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Jyrrar is surprised when the sylph pulls him to his feet. Always in a rush...yet even the stones seem rushed, a rather unusual sensation... As he gazes at the unusual structure he attempts to gather the attention of a couple of the Pathfinders who seem to know more than him.
Unfortunately the others are too busy with their own affairs to pay any attention to the soft-spoken Oread. Knowing little of this strange place he looks to Liora who provides him the details. "That is indeed odd behavior for a comet, not that I claim to be an expert here. It is a safe assumption we are to determine why this is happening." He nods slowly in reply.
As the elf hands the supply pouch to him, he takes it with a solemn look. "Thank you for this assistance. I believe I should also prevail upon your protective spell as well. Few things shift more than that which floats free."
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Volyana grins. "Last comet I saw in person was the Starstone itself. Hopefully this goes better than that did." She gets in a few warm up stretches while she waits and looks around the plain. "The whole city is talking about it. All the fortune-tellers and doomsayers are out in force." She frowns and shakes her head. "So many speaking without knowledge or insight, lost and frightened."
When the elf comes by, Volyana gratefully takes the spell and items offered. "Control is key, without it we are at the mercy of chance. Better to have a thing and not use it, than to be in need and not have it."
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Newt blushes as the woman grabs his arm, but he follows along without resistance.
At the construction, he stares around agape. "When they told me they had a new assignment for me, I didn't imagine this!"
The young man does his best to hide his disappointment when the sylph lets go of his arm. He blushes more. Paradoxically, Newt seems more comfortable in the crowd than the small meeting room.
He takes the offered gear when the man comes. "Thank you. I'm not sure what all you're talking about, but those dangers sound terrible, especially if they're offering magic to protect from it."
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Atronia wanders around trying to see if anyone knows more than she does about this mission, but can't seem to find anything relevant.
As she comes back to her group, she thinks out loud, "I wonder why Nex built this during the siege of Absalom. It really is as gigantic as I had heard, perhaps more."
When the elven man shows up with the caches, she grants him a great smile as she takes the small cache of items and puts the leaf around her neck. "I'll gladly accept any help you can give us, including that spell."
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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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As the gate cracks open, Large feathers wings erupt from the back of Grythyk's Full Plate, as a beautiful language reminiscant of a Choir of Angels erupts from his mouth. His eyes glow a powerful gold, as he leaps into the air, cutting a large flying chunk of rock out of the air.
"Here we go again! I have no idea what he says when he gets like this, but keep yourselves safe!"
As Grythyk flies off, to keep the worst of it away from your party, creatures of Rock and Stone coalesce out of the earth.
Liora, with the sudden appearance of these Rocky Foes, draws her scimitar to defend herself, and taps Kivi on the shoulder. "This looks dangerous! We can use all the help we can get!" With a gentle glow, Kivi seems slightly more apt for combat.
Bold may go!
Liora the Skydruid
Newt the Drowned
Volyana
Trixalana
Kivi the Troll
Jyrrar Rivurder
Black Earthman
Brown Earthman
Atronia
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"Elementals? I may be able to calm them down," Newt advises, "I'll know soon enough."
The shy and drab young man lifts a wreath of holly and mistletoe while chanting what sounds like a foreign lullaby. He releases the sedating energy towards the earthen foes.
"Dychwelyd y ffordd yr ydych yn dod. Mae'n beryglus yma."
Standard: Cast Calm Animals (DC13)(modified by Elemental magic), affects 2d4+1 Hit Dice and makes them docile and harmless unless attacked, but does not charm them. His suggestion below is only a suggestion.
Free:Speak
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Kivi marches forward, his feet melding with the dust and clay of the ground. He stops just in front of his allies, holding his hammer defensively.
"Peidiwch ymosod arnom."
Standard: Ready Action: Attack elemental if it approaches in range aggressively, will use Guidance for this attack if triggered.
As Newt casts a spell attempting to calm them, they seem to readily shake off the mental magic, their force of will powering them onward.
In a voice sounding like grinding rocks, they respond to Newt's suggestion.
Liora the Skydruid
Newt the Drowned
Volyana
Trixalana
Kivi the Troll
Jyrrar Rivurder
Black Earthman
Brown Earthman
Atronia
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Jyrrar nods in reply to Newt and readies his weapons while slowly advancing upon the stony creatures. "I do not believe words will resolve this conflict, sadly." He slowly advances upon the creature in front of him while addressing them in their native tongue:
Volyana, with her sectioned whip, crunches into the first Stone soldier, knocking a huge chunk out of it's side.
Jyrrar, not to be outdone, attacks the other Earthen Assaulter, but his spear point plinks harmlessly off its rocky exterior.
The brown Soldier, swings a mighty fist at Volyana, but the massive chunk missing out of his shoulder throws his balance off.
The Coal Crusher, steps closer to Volyana, swinging a mighty fist catching her square in the ribs breaking bone and bruising flesh, practically knocking her off of her feet.
Kivi's massive swing bounces off the stony plate that is the body of these earthen invaders.
Atronia
Liora the Skydruid
Newt the Drowned
Volyana (-12)
Trixalana
Kivi the Troll
Jyrrar Rivurder
Black Earthman
Brown Earthman (-9)