You are awaiting your briefing for the upcoming mission.
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A man dressed in gleaming full plate marches into the meeting room, on his chest are a number of military medals and ribbons, and his cloak is emblazoned with a silver eagle. Removing his helmet you see a handsome man, in his early 20’s, with dirty blond hair, light steel blue eyes and a proud bearing.
As the Grinning Pixie lurches and sways in the storm, Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry of the Arcadian Mariner’s Lodge grins widely as she slides a clay jug of strong Sargavan rum across her table. Though broad-shouldered and half a head taller than most humans, the intimidating half-orc speaks with an almost childlike excitement in her husky voice. “My apologies for all the secrecy,” she says. “I had to make sure some pirate rascal didn’t catch wind of our mission. Now that Drenchport’s a week behind us and we’re hugging the Eye of Abendego, it’s time to give you lubbers the full run-down.”
Benarry waits for the jug to make its way back to her, then takes a long swig. “I mentioned in Drenchport that the Society wants you to explore a recently discovered ruin somewhere north of the Shackles. Well, that was partly true, but it wasn’t exactly the whole story.” Benarry’s eyes narrow and her grin becomes unsettlingly sharklike. “We’re actually sending you to the Gloomspires, to Old Sevenfingers’s tomb.” Chuckling softly, she slides the jug back across the table. “Here, have another nip. Looks like you need it.”
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A blonde dwarf with bright blue eyes looks up, interested but not particularly concerned, as he sharpens his urgrosh.
"Gloomspires and seven fingers? What's that yer talkin' about?"
"Now, exploring some ruins, that's what ye bring me for! If ye be tellin' me it's overrun by goblins, so much the better! Just got off a gig protecting some of the smelly things, and it was hard to stomach."
“Well I’ve been researching the Gloomspires for a very long time."[/b] the Venture-Captain responds to Savari, "Before I sailed to Absalom and joined the Society, I was a Free Captain here in the Shackles. Back then I learned about the Gloomspires, Old Sevenfingers, and all the treasure and secrets the old devil took with him when he sealed himself in his tomb.”
A long, rumbling growl of thunder makes Benarry pause, and she takes the opportunity to wet her lips with another swig of rum before she continues. “Since joining the Society, I’ve been able to learn even more about the Gloomspires. Most importantly, I’ve discovered that they’re tied to certain alignments of the stars, and that twice each year—beginning on the nights of the summer and winter solstices—the columns cease moving for exactly three days.
"And Sevenfingers was a powerful wizard and pirate active in the Shackles three centuries ago. After a very long and successful career full of killing, looting, and assorted depravity, he entombed himself alive in one of the Gloomspires. His legendary tomb has lured pirates, explorers, and treasure-hunters to their doom ever since.
“So, tomorrow’s the summer solstice. Now that you know the ‘where’ 'who' and the ‘when’ of this little caper, you need to know why the Society’s sending you.” Benarry pauses before continuing in a more conspiratorial voice.
“I recently came into the possession of a logbook once owned by the pirate captain, Mazzer Thrennt. Before Thrennt ended up as lusca-bait seven years back, he was a moderately successful pirate who shared my obsession with the Gloomspires. It turns out his log contains an inventory of the plunder he liberated over the years, including the loot he found in Sevenfingers’s tomb. One item on Thrennt’s list immediately got my attention: His log described with perfect accuracy a relic from lost Lirgen called the Orb of Stars. I’m certain that this device can manipulate the alignments of the stars—or at least how we perceive them—and historical accounts suggest we could also use it to trick the Gloomspires into thinking that the solstice lasts more than just a day. The Society and I both want that orb, and it’s going to look really good to the folks back home if you’re able to secure it. Here,” she says, passing a sheet of parchment across the table, “I’ve written down some of the particulars.”
She hands you a piece of parchment:
Reefs surround the Gloomspires, so big boats like the Pixie can’t get close. You’ll need to use my magical folding rowboat.
At dusk, when the columns cease moving, make your way to the column containing Sevenfingers’s tomb—it’s the one with the shipwreck wrapped around its base. Climb aboard the wreck, and you’ll see a set of narrow stone steps that wind their way to the top of the column. Once up top, find a way inside the tomb and then find the Orb of Stars.
Thrennt’s log claims he hid the Orb in a side chamber connected to what he called the ‘hall of the flesh eaters’ and then collapsed the entrance to keep it safe. So, I’m giving you some picks and shovels since you might need to do some digging.
I’m certain there are multiple levels to this tomb, so keep good notes, and document anything you find that might help future expeditions. Check around the top level, but don’t go any deeper than you have to to find the Orb. Remember, you only have three days to do this before the columns start moving again.
The Orb of Stars is a solid sphere made of a dull copper-colored metal inlaid with dozens of star-shaped moonstones, rubies, and blue sapphires that mimic the stars of the Cosmic Caravan.
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"Anyone used a magical folding rowboat before?"
Savari slowley shakes her head, her eyes big. "There are few boats in the desert, magical or otherwise."
A few months ago she was just another shepherd, traveling from one oasis to another with her tribe in a far off corner of Casmaron.
Then one day at an oasis she met a woman, a Pathfinder, that was traveling in search of individuals that used a rare sort of magic, created in the minds and bodies of certain men and women. Savari had a ability to move things with a thought - a talent she believed was passed down through her family, and few had thought the ability more than some sorcerous power imparted by a djinn or some other outsider to one of her ancestors. The woman knew otherwise and convinced Savari and her family to send her west to gain an education and learn the true potential of her powers.
She never thought that would lead her to this boat, surrounded by a desert of undrinkable water. About to explore a site bearing multiple names with dire implications.
The Doomspire? Hall of the Flash Eaters? what have I gotten myself into?
The trip from the western edge of the Eye of Abendego takes about 2 days and you experience minimal difficulty navigating the waters to reach the base of Sevenfinger's Tomb.
Strange, wind-resistant fog envelops the Gloomspires, although the actual structure of the Gloomspires are so large that you are able to see them from a distance: At first glance, the clean, rectangular design of the Gloomspires seems rather plain. However, a palpable sense of wrongness saturates the Gloomspires as shadows flicker and move in unnatural directions, strange sounds and unidentifiable scents tease the senses, and alternating sensations of claustrophobia and agoraphobia periodically assail you as you approach.
It took nearly two hours to climb the narrow, winding steps to the summit of the great stone column containing Sevenfingers’s tomb. Although the swirling chaos of the Eye of Abendego lies only a hundred miles away to the east, the violent storms it constantly hurls across the seas seem to have forgotten this eerily quiet place. Surrounding the monolith are dozens of nearly identical columns, their ominous outlines stretching down into the mist. And here, atop Sevenfingers’s tomb, is a small clearing surrounded by a thick and utterly silent veil of tropical trees, hanging vines, and thick undergrowth, all shrouded in fog.
A lush canopy of tropical trees, flowering vines, and thick undergrowth forms a dark green wall around this small clearing. A broad trail cuts through the foliage and vanishes into the mists to the northwest. To the south and east is the edge of the column, and a sheer five hundred-foot drop. The ground here is a soggy carpet of thick green moss and black soil.
north.
A low, raspy voice emerges from within Theleb's cloak.
कुछ यहाँ शिकार करता है. हड्डियों और पुराने शिविर आग देखें. इसके निशान उत्तर की ओर जाता है.
This clearing is shrouded in shadows thanks to the thick jungle canopy overhead. A dozen makeshift beds of leaves and palm fronds surround a sickly campfire that barely manages to keep smoldering in the humid air. A few splintered bones and cloven skulls litter the clearing, and all show signs of being gnawed upon.
A savage sits motionless, vacant-eyed and drooling, among five of his brethren, who stand about on guard against the intruders approaching their camp!
From within the foliage, Quasimodo will scan the savages looking for any sign that one of them is casting a spell. If such is found, he will fire his crossbow attempting to disrupt the spell.
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Savari would have preferred to go a different way, like maybe back to the ship, but she set her jaw and followed the others. As they encounter the savages she readies herself for trouble, her eye catching a nearby rock which begins to tremble.
"Maybe we could offer them food.." She says, hoping violence isn't necessary.
Telekinetic blast at anyone that makes an aggressive move.
The party prepares for what seems the inevitable....
The savages begin to mumble and growl something in a language none of you have ever heard before.
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Henrick doesn't seem to be quite as reserved as his fellow travelers when it comes to dealing with these creatures who seem intent on making him into their dinner.
He fires his crossbow at the green one in front, and then drops the crossbow and readies his urgrosh for the likely charge that is coming.
Two of the barbarians begin pushing their way through the heavy undergrowth to get around the party. The other three step right up to face off against Henrick and Athraz! As they do, they are met by a barrage of attacks! Theleb's javelin misses, as do Savari's and Quasimodo's attacks. Henrick deals a minor wound to the first savage though.
blue: 1 dmg
Theleb swings and misses and Athraz heals his allies. Savari and Hirnoaki also miss but Henrick lands a blow on one of the cannibalistic barbarians! The savages then press their attack!
As one of the savages bites into Henrick, he slurps up the blood from the wound, hungrily gaining power from the act!
blue: 1 dmg, 1 thp
yel: 9 dmg
Henrick misses but Savari blasts one of the cannibals!
blue: 1 dmg, 1 thp
yel: 9 dmg
pink: 10 dmg
The savages continue to press their attack, foaming at the mouth in anticipation of a good meal!
blue: 1 dmg, 1 thp
yel: 9 dmg
pink: 10 dmg, 1 thp
Theleb deals a nasty blow to the red savage and Quasimodo puts a bolt in the far savage sitting drooling on its mat. Savari's hit knocks over one of them and he lays on the ground unconscious!
blue: 1 dmg, 1 thp
yel: 9 dmg
red: 14 dmg
S: 2 dmg