GM Rinaldo |
After travelling to Dtang Ma, you ascend a mountain trail to meet with Old Pak in the Broken Temple, one of many recently discovered archaeology sites that litter the northern slopes of the Kullan Die mountain range. You meet up on the path, and have a chance to get to know each other before arriving at the Temple to meet your contact.
Post an introduction and do a little roleplay as all the players arrive!
jing kwan |
A small Tien male walks in with a 6'6", 300#, ancient suit of armor slightly floating behind him. The suit of armor is black with shifting colored etchings, glowing red eyes, and is weilding a +1 adamantite greatsword.
"Greetings! My name is Jing Kwan and this is my bodyguard, Tiny"
Tiny grumbles in a deep, gravely voice "Yes master" His eyes slightly glowing brighter as he does.
Narayan Singh |
Narayan approaches with his teeth bared in a grin that's... unsettling, but entirely heartfelt.
His jaw juts out over a very short neck, which with his broad shoulders gives him a somewhat squat appearance even though he stands comfortably over 6' tall. His clothing is simple and roughspun, but he has an small cache of various magical implements hung at his belt.
Not all sservicce is compulsion. I am ccertain Jing Kwan treatss his bodyguard with resspect, or he would not sstill have a body to guard! But I have interrupted your disscussion. I am Narayan Ssingh, and it is my joy to sserve as a guard for all of your bodies alongsside Tiny.
Rhuul Irontoe |
A jolly dwarf enters the VCs office. He carries a battleaxe at his side, but his hands are taken up with a longspear, from his flutters a well worn banner depicting the Rune of the Open Road.
The mere sight of the banner fills you all with pride!
Unlike many dwarves this one has a hard time keeping a smile from his face and the crinkles at the corner of his eyes are a sure sign that he spends much of his time enjoying life.
"Greetings to one and all. I'm Rhuul. Once of the Irontoe forges, now long disowned by me par, and making a living telling jokes at the expense of me audience."
He looks around at the halfing, Nagaji and man from Tien. He blinks a couple of times at the armour.
"And this looks to be a fine setup line as ever I saw. Who brought the haunted armor with them?"
GM Rinaldo |
For location: You are ascending a mountain trail, having been told to seek out Old Pak at the Broken Temple.
Waiting for one more player to check in before getting started.
jing kwan |
"Tiny is my Eidolon. I summon him from beyond and have shaped him into the form he now holds. He is my friend and protector. Isn't that right, Tiny?"
Tiny's eyes glow red as he says "Yes Master in his deep, gravely voice.
Fek |
Most of the time, the tip of Fek's beak is the only part of his body visible from inside his hooded cloak. That is, if you actually notice the quiet tengu at all. He never makes any noise and on the rare occasion when he talks, he tends to whisper to one individual at a time.
Hmm . . . some wands and a scroll, but no smelly herbs or god's sign. But just one cheap dagger. Maybe? Fek tugs on Narika's sleeve, then whispers something into her ear. "Um, excuse me. Are you a--can you cast spells? I have some magic words that I need help with."
@Narika: He hands you scrolls of darkvision (2), invisibility (2), spider climb.
Rhuul Irontoe |
"The strong silent type eh?" says Rhuul to Tiny.
"I'll get a laugh out of you before this mission is over, or my name isn't Rhuul Irontoe."
Narayan Singh |
Narayan stares quietly at Rhuul Irontoe, waiting to discover if that is his real name.
Sihir Aneh |
"'Rhuul Irontoe,' you say? Imagine meeting you here!" Chirps a small individual in dark-colored exotic finery that is surprisingly light for the snowy climate - if he'd been there before, nobody'd noticed him. His doll-like features are wickedly sharp, almost appearing two-dimensional from the side, and even more striking than his indigo skin and intense purple eyes is his wild hair that somehow manages to be vibrant black and lambent white simultaneously. "Of course, perhaps that is not your name, and you are somebody else - perhaps we all are! All things being equal, however, let us all assume that I am Sihir Aneh Yang Mengembara Alam Semesta - 'Sihir Aneh,' if you prefer."
Rhuul Irontoe |
"Well, I'd rather imagine meeting a stout dwarven matron with a good beard myself. But one makes do with what the world provides." replies Rhuul.
"And yes, it is me name, always has been. Of course there are other Rhuuls around as well, but I'm the only one in the Irontoe family. Broke the mold with me they did. Of course me father did mention something about that only being because I dropped it. Probably why he didn't want me working the family forge no more."
He puts on an exaggerated sigh.
"So Tiny. What brings you here? Following Jing?" he leads forward to the Tien man. "Not much inside that helmet eh? Seems to think you are called Master. Now I knew me a dwarf called Master... but generally we prefer to avoid titles like that as names. But I know your folk out Tien way are a bit different."
GM Rinaldo |
Feel free to continue the inter-party conversation on the side, but it's time to go ahead and get this started.
----------------------------------------------
The Broken Temple is one of many recently discovered archaeology sites that litter the northern slopes of the Kullan Die mountain range. A brazier wafts the scent of tobacco throughout this intricate shrine. A hunched over old Tian-Dtang man inhales these fragrances, giggling to himself as he does so. Amid his laughter, he looks up with watery eyes and exclaims, “This cool mountain air does not agree with me! Greetings, I am Old Pak.” The elderly Pak stands to the sound of several arthritic pops, and he hobbles between the room’s four large bas-reliefs.
Without even waiting to allow you to introduce yourselves, he nods at each of you then begins as if lecturing a group of students.
“As you see, these images tell a tale, and until recently, these carvings were thought to solely chronicle the exploits of the folk hero, Ankilhi. Look here at the north carving; we see two efreet overcoming a shaitan, but look past them to the background. Here, we see a lumbering colossus crushing several foes. Look now at the east carving, particularly at the weapon the efreeti figure in the foreground wields—do you see the crystalline spike in his fiery grasp? Do you see him luring the giant colossus to this ring of fire? Come now, gather around the southern image, where we see that same crystalline spike driven into the colossus, pinning it against a cavern wall. Odd though, in the previous two carvings the carnage did not take place within a cavern—could the ring of fire depict a portal?”
Scratching the few whiskers on his wrinkled chin, Old Pak gestures toward the western carving, illustrating a towering old man turning a woman away from a snow-capped mountain, a heap of fire-blackened armor in the woman’s arms. Old Pak interjects, “If we are to take these carvings as a complete story, perhaps the spike is hidden within that snow-capped mountain, and perhaps this tall figure is a guardian spirit keeping the folk hero, Ankilhi, away from the spike’s resting place inside that peak.”
Before Pak continues, a shrill whistle startles him. “Ah, tea, anyone?”
With renewed vigor, Old Pak straightens as he moves to retrieve a boiling kettle in the corner of the room. With a practiced expertise, he pours several cups of luminous, spinach-hued fluid, steaming with the profound scent of medicine. “Here, drink this; you’ll need strength in your bones.” Taking a draught, Pak’s wrinkled face turns to a smile as he puts the tea down. “Where were we? Ah, yes...
“As you know, the Pathfinder Society acquired a precious stone called the Untouchable Opal, a nigh-unbreakable gem that imprisons the benevolent elemental lord of air, Ranginori. Despite our best efforts, the Society has failed to break open this gem and liberate the lord within. The Society has learned of a powerful weapon, forged at the core of the elemental Plane of Earth. This weapon, known as Fossilblight, is capable of shattering many materials. Legends suggest Fossilblight was stolen from its shaitan creators and banished from the elemental planes.”
Finishing his tea with an amused look, Old Pak points to the carvings and offers, “What if that crystalline spike is Fossilblight? What if that fiery ring opened a portal deep within that snow-capped mountain and the final resting place of Fossilblight is here within the Kullan Dei mountain range?” An impossibly wide grin stretches across Old Pak’s face. “Only one way to find out!”
Pak produces a large map marked with a trail from the Broken Temple to the summit of a nearby snowcapped mountain called Toam Puong. Before his smile recedes, Old Pak inquires, “Who would like more tea?”
At this point, as Old Pak pours more tea, feel free to ask him any questions you may have. You can also make Knowledge checks to see if you have any background information. Rather than make a long set of spoilers, I'll have you roll then give you the total information you receive. The first check is one of History, Local, or Nobility (each player can pick their best to roll); the second is Planes.
GM Rinaldo |
jing kwan |
"hmmm....let me think...."
knowledge(local): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
knowledge(planes): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
portfolio re-roll on the planes check, it that's ok
knowledge(planes) re-roll: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Jing Kwan cast MAGE ARMOR on Tiny. His AC is now 26/12/24.
Narayan Singh |
Narayan lacks a solid foundation on which to assess these claims, but is wary of the traps desire can lead well-meaning people into. Thiss Fosssilblight sseemss to be a perfect tool. Is there anything asside from these carvings that ssugesst the sspike is the artifact?
Rhuul Irontoe |
Rhuul takes the tea with a splutter. Quickly reaching into a pouch he pours a good dose of dwarven spirits in "To bring it to me optimal temperature" before sipping away.
"Could not the mountain itself be the spike?" he asks "And I don't be thinking I have heard of this Ankilhi before. What more can ye be tellin us about her."
history: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
planes -loremaster take 20: 20 + 10 = 30
"And who are the other figures. The colossus? The Efritti? Are they the other elemental lords?"
He thinks "I was born surrounded by stone, but what would happen if we find this shard and remove it from the colossus? Might that not rise again? And what would be the impact.."
GM Rinaldo |
While Pak prepares another round of tea, Jing Kwan relates the story of Ankilhi:
Born into a community of rice farmers, Ankilhi possessed a beneficent morality not often seen in common folk. During her time tending the rice paddies, she heard the kami’s call, and under their guidance she abandoned her paddy to become a hero.
Known for her 68 great deeds, which included slaying great beasts, acts of kindness, and unifying the people against a common enemy, Ankilhi is a local folk hero. She traveled the Hero’s Path that ascends toward Toam Puong and was later honored with the construction of the Broken Temple.
To travel the Hero’s Path pays homage to Ankilhi’s 67th deed, which saw the hero ascend Toam Puong to cleanse the world of the nefarious graveknight, Pnao Kilnak. Ankilhi sought to dispose of the graveknight’s remains within the volcano’s molten core. However, for unknown reasons, the spirit that guarded the mountain turned her away.
The kami responsible for turning Ankilhi away is a powerful jinushigami known as “Old Man Mountain.” Aware of a dormant threat within Toam Puong, the kami feared that bringing Pnao’s remains within proximity of this monstrosity could have dire consequences. The kami directed Ankilhi toward the nearby smoldering peak of Mount Pho-Yim, where she forged Pnao’s remains into a tetsubo in Yamatsumi’s honor, thus completing her 68th and final deed.
--------------------------------
After cooling his tea to a more Dwarven temperature, Rhuul relates lore he has heard about Fossilblight:
Fossilblight is a heavy pick, supposedly tempered at the center of the elemental Plane of Earth, and made of adamantine and diamond.
Forged to aid Sultana Ashadieeyah bint Khalid’s forces in her quest for vengeance against the efreet, the weapon was gifted to a renowned shaitan general.
The general (whose name is lost to antiquity) grew overconfident, and in his hubris he lost the weapon in a battle with the efreet. Adding to the general’s shame, the efreeti thieves dubbed the pick “Fossilblight.”
To atone for his everlasting shame, the general volunteered his soul to power a construct that wheeled forth to crush the efreeti outpost of Lavaloch. However, news soon returned that efreeti forces had lured the general away from the Elemental Planes and used Fossilblight to trap the great construct on the Material Plane.
--------------------------------
Returning with the tea, Pak nods his head, pleased at hearing that his team includes well-read scholars.
"As to whether this picture is Fossilblight or no, there is but one way to find out, isn't there!"
Ask any other questions you would like. Is anyone other than Rhuul drinking Pak's tea?
jing kwan |
Jing Kwan drinks the tea after sharing his knowledge, listening closely to Rhuul's memories of the tale of Fossilblight.
Narayan Singh |
Narayan gratefully accepts the tea, though he doesn't spike it with anything, and bares his teeth at Pak's reply,
Indeed, the journey untaken holds countlesss ends.
Rhuul Irontoe |
"So... this lost shaitan general. I'm still unclear about whether he was an evil creature, one of light, or just one of stone with no strong moral leanings one way or other." he asks Old Pak.
"Also, what more do we know about Old Man Mountain? If he was willing to turn Ankilhi aside to protect the mountain from a dormant threat, how likely is he to allow us to remove the pick?"
GM Rinaldo |
What does the first small sip of the tea taste like? I'll know after that is answered if she drink more.
It is a pleasant herbal tea, reminiscent of chamomile.
---------------
"So... this lost shaitan general. I'm still unclear about whether he was an evil creature, one of light, or just one of stone with no strong moral leanings one way or other." he asks Old Pak.
The old man shrugs. "You know as much as I do, dear bard. Whether he would be considered good or evil is unknown, but as you related, he volunteered his own soul to power a weapon to be used by his people against their enemies as penance for his own arrogance. Is that a good act? By whose standards do you judge?"
"Also, what more do we know about Old Man Mountain? If he was willing to turn Ankilhi aside to protect the mountain from a dormant threat, how likely is he to allow us to remove the pick?"
"Travel the Hero’s Path and retrace Ankilhi’s journey to rid the world of evil. It is my believe that whatever iron entity she held in her arms must have been her downfall. Succeed where she failed, and the spirit should grant you access into Toam Puong."
Rhuul Irontoe |
"So first we go to Mount Pho-Yim - and find the tetsubo that Ankilhi dedicated to the lord of the mountains. Then take that back along the hero's path and talk nicely with Old Man Mountain?" says the dwarf, trying to clarify the exact suggestions of the old man.
"Good tea master Pak. Be there any more?"
Fek |
@GM: I don't remember anything from that series, and Fek is unlikely to have paid attention in the first place.
Why does she want to know? She's not a guard, is she?
"I, uh, my name is Fek." He whispers the words as quickly as possible, then slips out of ear shot. But after checking with several other people, he tugs on Narika's sleeve again. "Um, excuse me, again. Can you use these ones too. Please?"
After the scrolls, he hands the sorcerer some wands as well. "And, uh, these too?"
Scrolls of death ward, lesser restoration, natural rhythm, and silence. Wands of infernal healing and reduce person. The latter is very important to Fek in combat.
Fek |
Why does he want us to drink? It must be truth serum! Or a sleeping potion so he can steal my stuff.
Fek watches Old Pak very carefully, and eventually tries the tea if convinced that it's just tea. At one point, Fek abruptly interrupts Old Pak to shout, "A treasure hunt!" But the little tengu immediately shrinks into the corner after his outburst, and refuses to speak again.
Take 10 for 37 Perception and 28 Sense Motive before drinking the tea.
GM Rinaldo |
"So first we go to Mount Pho-Yim - and find the tetsubo that Ankilhi dedicated to the lord of the mountains. "
Pouring more tea for Rhuul, Pak replies, "I see no need to go that trouble seeing as you're already here. I expect that showing proper respect to the guardian should be enough."
-----------
Take 10 for 37 Perception and 28 Sense Motive before drinking the tea.
Certain he is about to be poisoned, Fek sniffs carefully at the tea while watching Pak with one eye. After several other people drink with no apparent ill effects, he ventures a small sip.
-----------
Noticing how the tengu keeps pulling out scrolls and wands to hand to Narika, Pak goes to a shelf and picks up two more scrolls and sets them in front of her. "You appear to be the arcane scholar of the group. You may find these useful."
He gives you a scroll of communal protection from energy and a scroll of comprehend languages.
"If there is nothing else, finish your tea and I will show you where the Hero's Path begins."
Old Pak is clearly eager for you to get started, but manages to contain his excitement to let you make your preparations.
Narika |
Narika again smiles gently at Fek. "Some of these I can use on you. Others, I can try, but they might or might not work. I don't know if anyone else here can use them better, though. And one of them I would really prefer not to use except in an emergency. The wand of wizard's healing just leaves me feeling dirty after I use it. Perhaps I can share my healing wand with you instead? By the way, thank you for reminding me, I need to see if anyone can use my healing wand."
Narika takes a step away from Fek before speaking more loudly to be heard by the rest of the party. "Can any of you use this healing wand for me? I can try to use it, but it won't always work for me."
Rhuul Irontoe |
Snap, mine is 15 too
"I'll be pretty busy anyway." says Rhuul. "And can already do that other stuff without a scroll. You take the paper, I'll wave the flag."
Sihir Aneh |
Sihir readily accepts and drinks the tea.
Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
He knows nothing of this story that the others don't.
Noticing how the tengu keeps pulling out scrolls and wands to hand to Narika, Pak goes to a shelf and picks up two more scrolls and sets them in front of her. "You appear to be the arcane scholar of the group. You may find these useful."
He smiles at the unintended irony. "Which is the greater mark of an arcane scholar?" He says in a small, polite voice. "To be the one who appears as such...or to be the one who *disappears*?"
Sihir Aneh |
"What do you know of this area, and the Hero's Path? I could be mistaken, but the latter sounds like something the true nature of which is more a journey of mind than matter."
What might *I* know about the area?
Knowledge (Geography): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Narika |
Narika hears what the others have to say, and walks a little closer to Fek, and softly says, "Some of the others have a greater chance of using your scrolls that I can't necessarily use. You can ask them to help, or I will do it if you are more comfortable with my help."
UMD is only +11 for Narika.
Narika takes the scrolls from Pak with thanks.
GM Rinaldo |
Sihir knows that this part of the Kullan Dei mountain range is sparsely populated, but a few villages of humans and nagaji are dotted around the foothills. The volcano is dormant but not dead; occasional plumes are sighted from the peak. The climb will be steep in places, but you are not so high up that thin air should be a problem.
He also suspects that the Hero's Path, as a metaphysical as well as physical journey, will have some sort of clear border such as a sacred gate or natural archway.
As he relates this, Pak nods and says, "Again, I am impressed at the level of scholarship in this group. Your venture-captain chose well."
You guys are nailing the knowledge checks!
I'll give a few more hours for last questions, then move us along this afternoon.
Narayan Singh |
Sigh, my UMD of +14 normally stacks up well :p
Narayan grins at the complement paid to his new friends.
Ready!
GM Rinaldo |
Departing the Broken Temple, you travel further up the mountain range toward Toam Puong. After several hours, you crest the mountain’s cloud layer and arrive at a tori-arch style gate.
The region beyond this gate is calm with melodic bird songs piercing the mountain air. The vistas from this height are remarkable, and as you look back down toward the valleys to the north and south you can spy several uncharted ruins peeking out from the forested mountainside’s northern slopes. To the south rests a small nagaji village teeming with activity.
Embedded within the gate are several prayer wheels, inscribed in Dtang, Nagaji, and Tien. The inscriptions warn travellers that they must honor Ankilhi as they retrace her steps to visit Old Man Mountain. The prayer wheels provide a brief history of Ankilhi’s deeds, especially her victory over the graveknight Pnao Kilnak.
Off to one side, easily missed by those less observant, is a worn engraving. Surprisingly, it is written in Taldane, and says “Pay the proper respect to Old Man Mountain, as flattery wins you his way.”
Old Pak tells you, "Your path lies beyond the gates. I shall await you back at the Broken Temple."
Does anyone wish to do anything before proceeding?
Narayan Singh |
Narayan bows deeply and speaks, respectfully but still projecting his voice to be easily heard.
In ssearch we come of knowledge and of wisdom to the heart of Toam Puong, Old Man Mountain, earth-holder and fire-keeper.
Our feet tread lightly on thiss ssacred sspacce.
Before he passes under the arch he taps himself with a wand, preparing some of his protections. Not all trials are of the sspirit alone.
UMD: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 Mage Armor
jing kwan |
Jing Kwan bows deeply, gesturing to Tiny to do the same, and says in Tien..."We humbly follow in the past steps of the hero Ankilhi, as we follow her trail to seek audience with the mighty and wise Old Man Mountain."
Fek |
@Narika: I also have a wand of cure light wounds for just such moral quandaries. And the others don't have read magic, so on the whole it is probably easier for you.
@Rhuul: At some point, Fek will realize that you are the best person to give his heal stick to.
Fek instantly notices the eroded Taldane warning, and very quickly deposits a polished tea spoon that looks suspiciously like one of Old Pak's. "For you, Old Man Mountain. So you don't hurt poor Fek."
Rhuul Irontoe |
"Does it help against ghosts?" says Rhuul.
"Dwarven steel is good for many things, but my last outing..." a shudder passes through his jovial face.
"It wasn't nice."
He calls out in a deep voice.
"Old Man Mountain. We come on the trail of Ankilhi. We know only with your blessing can we succeed, so we be humbly asking your favor on our trip. We be hoping what we do is what she would want."
GM Rinaldo |
The group makes its preparations, which include most of you speaking words to Old Man Mountain (and in at least one case, leaving gifts acquired by surreptitious means).
About a mile past the gate, you reach the tree line, where the mountain’s vegetation recedes and is replaced by mineral hot springs, steam vents, and craggy terrain spotted with vibrant wild flowers. An impressive set of broad stone stairs winds around several natural hot springs on a steep slope.
Sixty-eight stairs in total stretch before you. Each of the stairs' risers bears an inscription in Dtang, Nagaji, and Tien. The inscriptions provide a brief context of one of Ankilhi's deeds, followed by the phrase, “name this deed.”
Rhuul Irontoe |
perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
"Can any of you remember all her deeds? Old Man mountain must either be a spirit of patience or have an overt fondness for hearing the same things over and over again."