As the Jistka Imperium decayed from within, its artificers and elementalists struggled to repel invaders from Osirion to the east. To channel their elemental power, the spellcasters constructed the mighty Citadel of the Weary Sky, but so much energy attracted a mighty fiend that crushed the tower. The Pathfinder Society knows that many of the mages escaped, but only recently and with the help of a new ally did it learn where they fled. Now the PCs set off for a forgotten Jistkan sanctuary where otherworldly forces now reign.
Mission Briefing:
“Welcome Pathfinders, please sit and be comfortable.” Venture- Captain Obo motions to various benches. A gentle breeze of sea air carries with it fragrances from the lush gardens surrounding Swordmeet Lodge. In the distance, the low rumble of the ocean surf echoes throughout the port city of Manaket on Rahadoum’s northern coast.
“Millennia ago, when Ahriman, the Lord of the Divs, attacked the famed Jaizun Citadel, a few of the resident arti cers and elementalists of the Jistka Imperium made their escape. Their whereabouts, and the secrets they took with them, were lost to the desert sands and the ages. Soon after, the Citadel of the Weary Sky, as the Jaizun Citadel became known, was demolished by a fierce elemental storm.” Obo glances over to the thin man standing to his side, “The Sapphire Sage, Amenopheus, is lending a hand in the nascent partnership between the Pathfinder Society and the Concordance of Elements. This new alliance is already beginning to bear fruit. The Concordance was particularly interested in the information we had about the Citadel of the Weary Sky. Recently, they detected an unusual elemental energy to the south, in the Napsune Mountains, and asked us to investigate this disturbance.”
Amenopheus clasps his robes tightly about himself, “We have long suspected that the Jistkan refugees from the citadel may have made their way into the mountains and constructed a hidden stronghold there. There appears to be some connection between this refuge and the elemental storms that battered the Citadel of the Weary Sky. This connection made our new friends in the Concordance of Elements nervous; they do not wish a resurgence of violent elemental storms any more than we do. Now that we’ve identified this lingering elemental imbalance, it must be corrected.”
Obo steels his gaze, “If we’ve truly discovered the ancient elementalists’ retreat, then it may well pose a very real danger. Our alliance with the Concordance is tentative at best and I wish to show our goodwill, but I cannot in good conscience order you to investigate. Instead, I offer you the right of first refusal—more an invitation—to explore.”
Obo withdraws a map from a scroll tube. “The Concordance gave us this map to the location of the disturbance. An ancient Jistkan mechanism blocks the entrance. The Concordance was unable to gain passage, but described it as some kind of sealed portal. From my collection of Jistkan puzzle-boxes, I’d wager it will take keen minds, such as you possess, to unlock this portal and gain entry.”
Venture-Captain Obo holds out the map. “If you are all in agreement, then good luck, Pathfinders. May the gods look down upon you and grant you good fortune.”
You may ask either the Venture-Captain or Amenopheus questions. You may also attempt a Knowledge (history) or Knowledge (planes) (pick one) check to see of you know relevant stuff.
As soon as Berosius mention pies, several of the house staff drop off trays of apple biscuits, assorted pies, tea cakes, sandwiches, and assorted beverages.
Male Gnome Alchemist 9| HP 58 | AC 23; Touch 16; FF 21 | F +7; R +8; W +5 | CMB+6; CMD 21 | Speed 20 ft | Init +2 | Perc +15 | Stealth: +6 Alchemist 8
"Greetings all. Those apple biscuits look delicious" A gnome comes in with gadgets strapped across his waist as well has a bandoleer of round ceramic things across his chest. He proceeds to grab a biscuit.
Venture-Captain Obo gives Dimble a meaningful look. Dimble knows (no Sense Motive check required) that Obo would like to have a private word with him regarding the mission. Perhaps this has to do with their shared affiliation with the Grand Lodge faction? The Venture-Captain seems a little worried.
Half-orc Inquisitor 7 / Cavalier 2 / Rogue 1 | HP 76/76 | AC 23; Tch 12; FF 22 | F +12; R +6; W +10 | CMB+13; CMD 24 | Speed 20 ft | Init +4 | +1 Cruel Keen Nodachi (adamantine): +15 (1d10+10/15-20) | Perc +17
Harrow looks excited at the delivery of fresh apple biscuits--his favorite--but looks slightly less hungry at the mention of extra-keen minds needed to solve the puzzles.
"Harrow not always know stuff, but sometimes Ragathiel make Harrow extra smart..."
Sorry for the slow posting. Paizo's website isn't working for me most of the time this week.
Knowledge (Planes): There are several ruins in northern Garund left behind by long-lost human civilizations, most famously the Jistka Imperium. The Jistkans were famous for building golems and other mighty constructs.
Turmoil led the Jistkan magistrates to build Jaizun Citadel to focus the power of their elementalists and extraplanar allies.
The Jistkan elementalists bound the spirits of elementals into golems and constructs during their crafting. They used these golems as guards and soldiers.
Half-orc Inquisitor 7 / Cavalier 2 / Rogue 1 | HP 76/76 | AC 23; Tch 12; FF 22 | F +12; R +6; W +10 | CMB+13; CMD 24 | Speed 20 ft | Init +4 | +1 Cruel Keen Nodachi (adamantine): +15 (1d10+10/15-20) | Perc +17
Harrow shares with the others all that he knows about Garund and their golems. It is clearly information he could never have come up with himself, but it seems Ragathiel does reveal things to the half-orc from time to time.
"Maybe Harrow help solve puzzle after all," he says.
Obo pulls Dimble aside: "Our alliance with the Concordance of Elements is more tenuous than the Pathfinder Society likes to admit. Please try to defuse the elemental energies in the least destructive manner possible so as to avoid another catastrophe--which could sour relations with the Concordance. This is of utmost importance to the Society!"
On a separate note, can anyone understand Jistkan?
But, what IS the Concordance? I believe that was part of Mareq's research/Knowledge (planes) query. Anything we can k now about it?
No. The knowledge check had nothing to do with them. However, Venture-Captain Obo will simply tell you.
"The Concordance of Elements is an extraplanar organization of elementals and genie-kin who seek to bring balance to elemental energies by any means necessary. They are our allies."
You head to the place marked on Obo's map. You head to a really big mountain. About 3/4 of the way up, the narrow, stony mountain path broadens as it ascends to a narrow ledge. The rock face to the south towers hundreds of feet in height. Two massive doors made of green marble loom within. They lack any hinges or handles but are carved with enormous, stern, scowling faces. Next to the doors is a shallow indentation containing a tiny stone door with a weathered metal handle.
Nope. It's too small. Though, it looks like the tiny door isn't locked.
Somebody opens it.
The tiny stone door opens freely. Within, five thin metal strips are attached to the rock face, with large rivets set at the top and bottom. Above the metal strips, a phrase is carved into the wall.
Written in Jistkan:
"The spaces between notes are just as important as the notes themselves."
Each metal strip bears faded images of hands with raised fingers.
The metal strips here can be played like a xylophone.
A delicate wooden mallet hangs from a hook next to the strips. Though, the Jistkan empire fell 8,000 years ago--so, the mallet is in a very, very fragile condition.
Male Halfling Oracle of Life (Spirit Guide) 10 - HP 77/77, AC 21/T: 14/FF:18 - Perception +2 - F: +7*/ R: +8* / W: +10* - CMB: +5 - CMD: 18, Speed: 30, Init. +3
"Some of my spirits were here during the Jistkan Imperium," says Berosius. "Or at least that's what they say -now-. The note says that the spaces between notes are just as important as the notes themselves."
Male Halfling Oracle of Life (Spirit Guide) 10 - HP 77/77, AC 21/T: 14/FF:18 - Perception +2 - F: +7*/ R: +8* / W: +10* - CMB: +5 - CMD: 18, Speed: 30, Init. +3
Nope. I can't figure the pattern either. I'm thinking that the finger represent a number of notes and the last number is the number of beats between sets of notes. But I don't know what to do about the unknown numbers.
Male Halfling Oracle of Life (Spirit Guide) 10 - HP 77/77, AC 21/T: 14/FF:18 - Perception +2 - F: +7*/ R: +8* / W: +10* - CMB: +5 - CMD: 18, Speed: 30, Init. +3
"Harrow, maybe you are meant to be the one who tries it," says Berosius, knowing his friend, while not bright, is capable of great wisdom when he wants to.
Male Ifrit Summoner 10 (HP63/63; AC 20 / T 12 / FF 18; DR5 (fire); F +4, R +5, W +7; Init +2, Perception +0, Diplomacy +18, Kn(a, pl) +13, Darkvision 60')
Perhaps an ally is appropriate at this juncture, thinks Mareq.
He concentrates upon the whirling maelstrom of the planar barriers between the Prime and the Heavenly Mountains of Arcadia and pries them apart with only sheer willpower until he can call upon an celestial ally.
To the others, they simply see a glowing tear in reality, followed by a sword-bearing hound archon.
"Oh, dedicated Dfarfu, warrior of Mount Celestia, can you aid us in opening these doors? Perhaps open them from the far side?" beseeches Mareq.
Basically, the hound archon will cast message, then Greater Teleport to the far side of the doors and figure out how to open them.
Putting what happens in spoiler tags since the party members don't know this. I don't mind if you read it. :-)
What happens to the Hound Archon:
Surprise round:
The archon pops over to the other side of the double doors.
A massive dark gray creature responds as soon as there's something in the room. "Intruder." It says, flatly. (The archon knows this due to truespeech.) And it moves aggressively towards the archon.
Male Ifrit Summoner 10 (HP63/63; AC 20 / T 12 / FF 18; DR5 (fire); F +4, R +5, W +7; Init +2, Perception +0, Diplomacy +18, Kn(a, pl) +13, Darkvision 60')
The archon cast Message so he could communicate with Mareq (and others) about what he sees/encounters. Limits of Message: 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal (or a thin sheet of lead), or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks the spell. Just curious if he is able to communicate back to Mareq.
