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You all are gathered into the back room of the Ace of Dreams, a gambling house that serves as the Pathfinder Society's Uscalin Lodge.
Loud and raucous conversation filters through the door from
the common room of the Uscalin Lodge, which doubles as the Ace of Dreams gambling house.
“I know it’s here. I had it just a moment ago.” Venture-Captain Shevar Besnik lifts piles of papers and numerous boxes off of his desk, stacking them on various side tables and chairs in his clean but overly cluttered office. The tall, Varisian man’s face parts in a toothy grin as he lifts up a solid oak box.
“Found it!” As if to punctuate his discovery, a crowd of players in the gambling hall erupts in cheers. Distracted for a moment, Besnik stares at the closed office door that leads to the common room.
“Desna laughs. Well, she laughs at me, but she smiles on them.” The venture captain shrugs.
“All they have is gold; what I have in here is far more
valuable.” Besnik opens the box’s lid painstakingly slowly, careful to keep the contents out of sight. With reverence, he lifts a
large tome from the box and gently sets it on the table.
“Careful, the binding hasn’t held up well. This is one of the few Tomes of Righteous Repose left in the world. I’m pretty sure there’s one in the library of the Sancta Iomedaea in Vigil, but I’m—well, let’s just say I’m no longer welcome there. That’s a story for another time."
“Up until today, I’ve only skimmed the pages. I didn’t want to damage it, but now that you’re here, I can’t wait any longer. Care to plumb the depths of this most ancient and wonderful storybook?"
"Oh, the marvelous adventures we will soon read! This tome is a collection of tales describing how various crusaders died gloriously and honorably. I’m hoping to find some clues in the text that will lead us to an as-of-yet undiscovered site or relic. Maybe we can trade a bit of what we find with the Knights of Ozem and earn ourselves some goodwill. After what happened last time, we need it."
“Care to peruse the pages with me?”
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A particularly demonic-looking tiefling sizes up the others. Though her features are unsettling, perhaps the worst is that her hair seems to have a life of its own. Strands of her hair move and writhe of their own accord, as if she were a medusa with a head full of snakes.
"Greetings, fellow travelers. I'm Calypso, the resident beauty queen. I'll handle any required seduction, if that's okay."
It appears she is quite serious. A hermit crab emerges from her hair and bobbles about, wearing a shell and clacking its pincers, happy in its home.
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Sorry I'm a but late...ran into an old friend on the way...anyways...let's learn something if we can. a tall man if Taldan descent says as he makes his way towards the Venture Captain. He carries a wicked looking blade with braided tassles in Taldor's colours streaming from its pommel and a shiny buckler on his off arm. His slender build indicates a warrior that deals with speed and accuracy and not brute force. His armored shirt seems to move like a second skin on him.
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"I'd be curious to know the reasons why you are not welcome anymore in the library of Sancta Iomedea, Venture Captain, but I suppose the tale can wait a little longer. Truth be told the tome intrigues me as well..." says beutiful young woman with long raven black hair wearing an heavy looking armor and shield while just entering the lodge.
She then aknowledges the other pathfinders gathered inside the Lodge and adds:"Well met friends! I'm Ashara and I'd be adsisting you with this marvellous adventure, I'm sure we'll get along just fine"
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Rellakarabee Fustbickle is a gnome poet, known mostly among the literary scholars. his subject matter revolves around heroic figures and tragic deaths. his style is too melodramatic to gain significant acclaim, though he is popular in some circles
Fustbickle based his poems on true stories from the Shining Crusade. However, the finer details are ambiguous at best. Rumors suggest he was on speaking terms with mortal Iomedae
Lastwall was established in 3828 ar, when it seceded
from Taldor. It is a military dictatorship, primary focused
on keeping the Whispering Tyrant locked away and the orc
hordes of Belkzen at bay.
Lastwall originated from the remnants of crusaders
living in the area after the conclusion of the Shining
Crusade, the great war against the evil wizard-king Tar-
Baphon (also known as the Whispering Tyrant, who rose
after his death as a lich).
Lately, Lastwall has had to recruit less pious
individuals to fill its ranks. On the borders, followers of
Gorum and Kurgess are more common than paladins of
Iomedae and Sarenrae.
The Venture-Captain jolts upright.
“Minkai art! Let’s see, the Minkai Empire was founded in 3619, and the empire’s first explorers didn’t reach the west coast of the continent
until at least 3691 ar, which leaves only sixty years before the beginning of the Shining Crusade itself. These women could have been among the first Minkai citizens to reach the Inner Sea! Let’s
see, what secrets does the poem on this page hold?”
"So she died in battle, victim to orcs’ treachery. If we can locate
this ruin and retrieve the samurai’s remains and her blade, we
can present them to the Knights of Ozem for proper burial. Any
ideas on where this might be? Looks like there are some clues in
the poem.”
Hordes of orcs live in the Hold of Belkzen, most of
which is a barren wasteland with terrifying creatures and
very few resources.
Fresh water is one of the most important commodities
when traveling in Belkzen, as there are very few natural
sources available.
Most major orc settlements and fortresses are in the
ruins of castles and keeps built by the Shining Crusade or
the dwarves before them.
A shining crusader charged into battle alone against a horde of orcs.
Before dying, the crusader fought through the ranks and slew the chieftain, sending his clan running. This story is often used to teach faith in the face of impossible odds.
The vast Stranglegut Clan was under the control of Tar-Baphon.
When the sonnet’s hero died, the crusaders buried her and her sword,
which had shattered against the orc’s bones, in a dwarven ruin. After the orc chief perished, his hordes fled. Without this victory, the
Shining Crusade would have suffered major losses.
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A weary looking elf enters the gampbling den, his jaded eyes looking down on the establishment. Without pause he heads towards the back room.
"Valandil, scholar of the society. I heard you had an interesting find here.."
-third check -
-forth check -
"Had to flee from a tribe of orcs on the way over. The creatures in fest the hold of Belkzen like fleas infest them. I was looking for some fresh water - its hard to find out there - in an old crusader castle, but the horrible things had turned it into a camp of their own."
He looks at the ancient book with revered awe. "This is a work of beauty. And the story...whether true or not, has been used to teach faith to many. Likely it is based on a true happening. The orcs of the time were pawns of Tar-Baphon. I imagine without the heroine's sacrifice the Shining Crusade would have suffered a major loss. Likely they buried her with her sword and shield - armored for fighting in the after life."
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"It is said Rellakarabee Fustbickle, the book's author, knew and spoke with the Goddess Iomedae herself when she still walked among us mortals... Exciting to say the least!"
"Lastwall is the bastion of the north keeping the darkness sealed in Ustalavat and the greenskin hordes back in their holes!"
"A sad tale hiding a major truth. Although the price might be steep, in the face of impossible odds only the righteous may suceed! And If I remember correctly I believe the surviving crusaders buried the heroine inside Dwarven ruins..."
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Besnik nods with the mention of belkzen, and grins widely
"please hurry and get there it is a 13 day travel, and time is of the utmost importance."
With that he provides you with the following
Wand of Cure Serious wounds 5 charges
Wand of protection from evil 7 charges
A travelers any tool
2 potions of bear's endurance
And 2 potions of resist energy fire
During the time it takes you to travel, it is rather uneventful though seems to drag out till about 2 days out from Belkzen. Where the sound of orc war drums can start to be heard almost constantly.
You continue to make your way cautiously, and find yourselves outside your destination, the Dwarven ruins.
Hot winds blow ash through the air; it collects against the ricky wall of this ancient structure. Four stome columns mark the entrance, where a fifteen-foot-wide stair descends into darkness.
Just at the top of the stairs is an old decayed orc body looking like it was trying to crawl out, though something wasnt letting it, and you are unsure as to what.
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Calypso's hair writhes in anticipation of the mission. The crab clacks its pincers as she speaks.
"Ah, Lastwall and the vanquishers of the Whispering Tyrant! she cackles. "I have heard much of this place," she adds, then goes on to share what she knows.
Once they have arrived at the ancient structure, she looks at the old decaying body.
"I wonder what happened to this poor unfortunate soul!" she says.
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While Hydris contemplates the ruins, Vrald does preparations of his own, casting a couple of longer duration abjurations to keep himself protected from physical assaults.
"I can provide some light for when we are down there." he offers.
He too looks at the orc.
"What would make an orc run? And then not let it? Dwarves? But they wouldn't leave the body. I hate to think what may be down there.."
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"The Venture Captain said that time is of the utmost importance... but if you think this may help us let's just wait. An hour might be a small price to pay to get otherworldly help to our cause and judging by this orc remains I think we might need all the help we can find..." Ashara nods at Hydris, supporting his request.
Once he's finished with his rituals Ashara points at the entrance:"I believe it's time we get inside this place... let's go!"
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With the survival check you notice that his face is in shear terror.
Perception check on the area reveals nothing else
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Mykel absorbs all the information the rest have discerned, slightly embarrassed by his lack of historical and religious acumen.
I am glad some people learned things in school...I know only of the way of the sword...
He looks over the orc's body.
whatever it was that he was running from is no joke...we must be ready for anything... with that he double checks the vials in his bandolier, memorizing their place.
Let's go...He says as he heads in the door, inside the radius of light cast by the elf
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Atop a stepped daise is a gargatuan human skull that glows with an eerie blue light. A wagon with a broken axle leans against the northern wall. Damaged wooden crates spill out from the cart onto the floor
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Its more along the lines of a human skull sculpture, nust a very large one, and no you detect no magic from it
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Hydris will take a peek at the skull and cast detect psychic significance.
Items within range that contain significant psychic energy spark a recognition in your mind’s eye, but no other information is imparted. This spell doesn’t automatically detect magic items or strongly aligned items, though such items often have storied histories and might have had previous owners who possessed psychic abilities.