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Nachts finishes shaving his head, the blade sliding against his scarred scalp. "Water, water... All around. But not a drop to drink. Heh. Hehe. HehehehahahaHAHAHA!" he cackles as he carefully puts away the razor. "I am Nachts. Holy symbol of my Lord... The Prince in Darkness. The Prodigal Sun. Zon-Kuthon. May his screams of pain forever haunt the dreams of the unworthy. Do I have the honor of... serving alongside the followers of the Sister in White? The Dove? She who weeps for once was? Sheylyn?" he asks, a disturbing grin plastered across his face.
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Aelwynd's portrait
"Of course you do my beautifully scarred friend!" comes a honeyed, masculine voice from out in the hall. The voice is soon followed by a handsome half-elf with a rakish grin, who practically glides into the room.
He is dressed to impress in the finest pirate outfit many have ever seen. Unfortunately, it appears that the poor fellow didn't have enough coin to buy a shirt, as evidenced by his bare torso beneath his fine pirate coat. Hints of tattoos can be seen in various places on his flesh, barely hidden from view.
Atop his head sits a black and gold leather tricorn hat complete with red plume and golden symbol to Besmara embossed on the front. A rapier rests on one hip, and the way he moves as he walks, shows he is quite comfortable with it's presence. Black leather straps twist around his black breaches, which tuck into sturdy black and silver boots. Flares of red and gold can be found throughout his clothing and numerous belts and pouches show themselves as he twists and turns with each stride while moving about the room, looking something like a cat finding its favorite place to sit.
"I enjoy the company of many gods in my travels." and as he says that he holds up a handful of wooden holy symbols, each to a different god and looped in leather to be worn around the neck. "There is always a time when one or the other will come in handy, Shelyn not the least among them." he says with a wink. "This isn't the first time I've had the pleasure of being in the company of a follower of the Midnight Lord. Hamarabi was his name." he quickly adds.
Then with a look of chagrin coming over his face, he takes off his hat and offers a sweeping bow, saying "Oh, but forgive me please. I am Captain Aelwynd Swiftblade of the Fearsome Tide at your service! But please, just call me Aelwynd. We are all friends here after all."
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The halfbreed stretches his neck backwards, rolling it before coming to rest at an uncomfortable angle, leaving a the vicious looking scar on his voice-box on display. "I have not... Met this one. It is perhaps... Good. Theological disagreements on what our Lord wills... Is... Sometimes... Lethal. Now. Where do you... Hail from, Captain Aelwynd of the Fearsome Tide? Will we be... Aboard... Your boat on this ... Pilgrimage... Of Pain?"
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A throaty female laugh comes from the hallway. More representatives of the gods, and my favorite captain. This is going to be a great mission."
A tall garundi woman wearing full-plate armor and carrying a couple of bastard swords in sheaths on her back walks into the room.
"Aelwynd! How have you been? I think you're going to get me swimming after all." She smiles at the warpriest. "Hello my name is Ariana."
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Where do I hail from? Now there's a loaded question if ever there was one... ARIANA!
"ARIANA!" Aewlynd says with exuberance as he sweeps across the room in a flash to grab, spin and hug the armored female.
Leaning back, but not letting go, he smiles mischievously as he says, "If you ever feel the need to kiss me dear lady, by all means, no need to hesitate. Act on your feelings. Never let it be said that I denied a woman in need."
Turning his head to Nachts, he quips, "We have a bit of history."
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A young human woman dressed in black floats in carrying a raven. The bird seems quite agitated in the aquatic environment. "Now, now Morrey. It's only for a little while. Please calm yourself." She says in a calm voice that is still nevertheless somewhat imperious. The raven nods, but does not seem any less anxious.
She then turns to the other Pathfinders assembled, "Rowanna, at your service. I do hope this won't take very long, planar travel doesn't agree with me."
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The din of a great metropolis fills the giant air bubble encasing Splendor’s Docks, the district where trade goods and travelers usually arrive in the city of Vialesk. The smells of fish, salt, and strange spices waft through the air at the docks. Outside the air bubble, a pod of whales lazily circles the city, tended by an ocean giant shepherd. A blue-skinned woman wearing gossamer robes approaches through the bustling crowd.
Hail, Pathfinders! the woman calls, Welcome to Vialesk, greatest city in the Plane of Water. My name is Zahra ; I am the Pathfinder currently organizing our interests on this plane. We have much to discuss.
Over the past several years, I have slowly pieced together rumors and legends pointing to the location of a hidden font of elemental power. I believe an artifact is stored away inside a giant seashell hidden within the Lambent Bloom—a forest of jellyfish. I set out to inspect the shell recently, but my expedition ran afoul of a spy working for the shell’s current occupants. It seems that it is currently inhabited by a tribe of sahuagin under the rule of a cunning leader named Baron Zemdar. With the help of other Pathfinders agents, I discovered that Zemdar is using the power of the shell to control the tides.
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Aelywynd spins as the gossamer robed beauty approaches. With a swift and fluid motion, he easily navigates the crowd and takes the hand of the blue skinned Pathfinder, bringing it quickly to his lips in greeting. "Well met milady. Tis a grand city indeed and we are honored for your assistance. I am Captain Aelwynd Swiftblade and this lot..." he says with a sweep of his hand indicating the other Society members, "are my fellow pathfinders." He then goes on to introduce each person by name as if they are all old friends.
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"Hi everyone... I'm Lorelendral but you can call me Lore... Dawnflower bless you all! I like um... fire! and food. and ministering to ills of all kinds. And meeting new people, like all of you!"
"Well, all of you except Aelwynd here? Hi, hon! good to see you again!" She runs over to Aelwynd and motions him to lean down to her level and gives him a big hug.
She turns to Zahra with a smile. "So what do you want us to do exactly? Remove the sahuagin? liberate the artifact? both? ... and what do we need brave the area where the shell is located?"
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"The sahuagin are truly fiends of the deep", a hulking muscular tattooed Shoanti declares. "But no sahuagin will stand between the Society and our goals here in wondrous Vialesk. Tell us, beautiful Zahra what part are we to play in this adventure? Are we to cast down Baron Zemdar and liberate this enchanted shell from him? I will grind his treacherous bones to dust beneath my hooves!"
Thunderhoof, as introduced by Aelwynd, is a brawny shoanti warrior. Like most of his kin, the huge man looks to have been literally bred for war, standing over two meters tall at the collar with dark leathery skin offset by brightly colored tribal tattoos. His head and face are shaven in the typical Shoanti fashion but the shadow of dark coarse stubble is visible across is jawline. His features are square and lean which complement his muscular physique and add to his rugged good looks. Those that study him closely note specks of violet starlight in his eyes - a telltale sign of celestial heritage.
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"What no hug for me Lore? Ariana smiles as she passes the gnome, and walks up to Zahra.
She bows. "It is a pleasure to meet you. We are honored to see this amazing city. Please tell me there will be no undead. I'm so very tired of dealing with undead and demons. I assume we need some way to breath under water."
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"Ariana! Of course you get a hug... just an oversight... I got so excited seeing Aelwynd, I didn't see you behind him." She runs over to Ariana to give her a hug... "It's been a while. What have you been up to since I saw you last? I just got back from a trip to Kyonin, well, south of Kyonin... in a swamp... yucky."
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Aelwynd, pleased as he could possibly be to see Lorelendral, goes to one knee so as to receive the small woman's hug. "Tis truly fantastic to see yet another friend, my sweet Lady Teklet." comes his gracious reply. He gently kisses her on the cheek, lingering a moment to whisper, "It has been too long my lovely."
Standing, he casts a wink in Ariana's direction. "Oh yes I heard you. That is a bell that can't be unrung, my dear."
As talk turns to previous missions, he swiftly interjects, "I am afraid talk of the Gloomspires will have to wait for now. Our current mission begs our attention." Hi smile fades slightly, taking on a more serious tone as he looks to Zahra, asking, "As the mighty Thunderhoof requests, what would you have us do to help in this matter?'"
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Zahra lets out a nervous laugh at Aelwynd kiss before continuing, Well, we were able to thwart Zemdar’s plot against Vialesk; nevertheless Zemdar’s power over the tides poses a looming danger to the citizens of Vialesk.
To this end, I have organized a new expedition in partnership with the city guard and a brine dragon ally named Razethka. We will lead the expedition to the shell and help deal with the sahuagin threat. Then, once Zemdar is defeated, we can freely explore the site and locate the artifact hidden inside. Additionally, I believe the shell acts as a magical amplifier of sorts, so once we remove the artifact, we might be able to redirect the shell’s energies to more useful purposes.
We have roughly twentyfour hours until the expedition departs, so use this time to prepare. You should be able to find whatever supplies you need in the markets of Vialesk. Razethka will be able to provide you with unlimited water breathing spells, but it might be wise to pick up additional underwater supplies. There will be no air once we leave the city. Also make sure you stop by the Azure Armory; I have arranged for the city guard to loan you weapons designed for underwater fighting from their stockade, if you desire.
Any other questions?
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"Is anything known about Zemdar and his forces in terms of how they might defend themselves? Is he a caster? Does he have casters in his force and what type? Might help me with my morning prayers to know this."
"I hope they have one of those underwater crossbow thingies at the armory... might come in handy!"
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Zahra responds, For centuries, many petty tribes of sahuagin have lived inside the Lambent Bloom and, over time, they mutated to adapt to their environment. They are immune to the jellyfish poison now and are covered in streaks of vibrant pink camouflage. Until recently, the disparate tribes continually warred amongst themselves, but Baron Zemdar has somehow united them. That makes him quite dangerous. Besides this we know little of his capabilities.
Adding I'm sure they will have an underwater crossbow in there.
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”Might I suggest, as part of your morning prayers Lady Teklet, that you prepare a freedom of movement spell or two, and something that might allow your various fire spells that I know you favor to work underwater? Perhaps something that keeps you dry or protects you from the environment for a large amount of time?” Aelwynd says with sincere concern.
Turning to Zahra he asks, ”What can you tell us about this Lambent Bloom, the poisons they have and the dangers involved in traveling through it?”
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Zahra nods at Thunderhoof, Razethka is a powerful brine dragon that helped fund my first expedition to the Lambent Bloom. I looked into her past before we became partners, so I know that she once ruled a tribe of locathahs in the Brackish Empire. She was dethroned years ago by the schemes of a powerful kraken and still bears the scars of her defeat, though she hides them well. Since that time, she has lived in Vialesk and seems focused on regaining her lost wealth and prestige. I wouldn’t ask about her scars—she is very sensitive about them.
Looking to Nachts, I would not recommended making an enemy of the Razethka, as for fighting underwater casting scrolls may be a trick.
She then shares what she what she knows of underwater combat.
Movement: Creatures with a swim speed can use it to
move freely underwater. Creatures without a swim speed
who succeed at a Swim check can move up to a quarter
of their speed as a move action or half of their speed as
a full-round action. The DC of this check is 10 unless
otherwise stated. If the creature has a surface to walk along,
such as the bottom of a body of water, it can move at half
speed without a check.
Melee Attacks: Natural attacks or attacks with bludgeoning
and slashing weapons take a –2 penalty and deal half damage.
Attacks that deal piercing damage don’t take these penalties.
Ranged Attacks: Thrown weapons are completely
ineffective underwater. Attacks with ranged weapons except
underwater crossbows (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment
17) take a –2 penalty on attack rolls for every 5 feet of water
they pass through, in addition to the normal penalties
from range.
Spellcasting: A creature that cannot breathe
water must succeed at a concentration
check (DC = 15 + spell level) to cast a
spell underwater.
Fire: Nonmagical fire (including
alchemist’s fire) does not burn
underwater. Spells and spell-like
abilities with the fire descriptor
are not effective underwater
unless the caster succeeds at
a caster level check (DC = 20
+ spell level). If the check is
successful, the spell produces
a bubble of steam instead of
its usual effect but otherwise
functions as described. A
supernatural fire effect is not
effective underwater unless its
description states otherwise.
Freedom of Movement: The
spell freedom of movement negates
the penalty on melee attack rolls with
bludgeoning and slashing weapons and
allows creatures to move freely in all directions as if they
had a swim speed equal to their base speed. Such creatures
automatically succeed at all Swim checks.
Invisibility: An invisible creature displaces water and
leaves a visible, body-shaped absence of water where it is
located. The creature gains concealment (20% miss chance)
rather than total concealment (50% miss chance).
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You are able to find all the supplies you seek. You also make your way to the Azure Armory. It's a massive blue barracks built to house the sprawling city guard of Vialesk.
The quartermaster is willing to loan you each a masterwork underwater crossbow with 40 bolts, either light or heavy.
Additionally, if you are willing to leave your own weapons behind as collateral, the quartermaster is willing to let them borrow an underwater crossbow of equivalent value from the armory.
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The next day, You set of to meet Zahra at the city docks, where the expedition is making final preparations. Twenty undines, also called maridar in Vialesk, are busy strapping provisions to whale sharks. They outfit several of the sharks with harnesses, which will allow you (who are not skillful swimmers to tie yourselves to a shark instead of relying on your own swimming abilities.)
Lounging on a bed of seaweed nearby is Razethka , a large brine dragon covered with artfully groomed sea anemones.
When Zahra sees that you have arrived, she calls out Wrap up the preparations, it's time for the expedition to depart.
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Lore walks over to Razethka and stands in front of her... "You... you're... breathtakingly beautiful! I'm Lore and I'm thrilled to meet you! Oops... they want us to leave now... it is an honor to have a chance to present myself to you. Blessings of the Dawnflower!"
She then walks over to a saddled shark and wonders how in heck she's ever gonna get up in that contraption... it's as bad as trying to mount a horse. "Help?" she says quietly.
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Offering a deep bow to the brine dragon, Aelwynd says with sincerity, "Tis my distinct honor to meet you Your Majesty. I am Captain Aelwynd Swiftblade, and I am humbled by your presence."
He then looks over the harnesses and the sharks, hand coming to his chin in thought.
"While I normally have nothing against being tied up..." he quips, "this will be the first time I've been tied to a shark."
He then settles into the harness, making sure that he can easily free himself should the need arise.
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Ariana purchase one of the bathysphere jellyfish at Lore's suggestion. She watches what the others are purchasing and does the same with a few items. She buys two potions of Slipstream and two potion sponges as well. "I let this thing attach itself to my face? Hmm ok." She tucks one away for emergencies.
Ariana trades her +1 Adaptive Longbow for a +1 light underwater crossbow. "Believe it or not I've trained for this kind of thing. I'll keep my bastard sword."
Ariana walks up to Razethka. She studies her up and down. Then bows. "It's an honor to meet you. Thank you for your guidance on this expedition. May your search for wealth and power go well this day."
She moves to the sharks when the call to leave is given. She gives the shark a long look, and climbs aboard and gets strapped in. "This is a new one.
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Razethka nods in turn to Aelwynd, Thunderhoof, and Ariana. And Ariana thinks she even sees a hint of a smile cross the dragon's face.
Before you depart a tiny crab approaches and delivers a letter is wrapped around a piece of stone to Nachts and Rowanna.
The letter is from Zarta Dralneen
Faithful Agents,
One of the greatest threats that those of us who work
in the Pathfinder Society’s archives face is the unchecked
power of dangerous artifacts. For the past several months, I
have been preparing a ritual to improve defenses on these
relics, both to protect the rooms that contain them from
would-be thieves and to prevent the artifacts themselves
from exerting influence upon unsuspecting researchers.
Such wards require a significant repository of magical
energy, which field agents like you have been playing an
instrumental role in gathering.
I read Zahra’s reports regarding a shell that controls the
tides by channeling the power of an artifact, and I agree
with her assessment that this energy could be directed to
different purposes. Follow the enclosed instructions to safely
guide the elemental force across the planes.
Take Care,
Z.
The stone is engraved with instructions for channeling elemental energy across planes into Dralneen’s repositories.
And just a few minutes later the expedition is underway, Razethka casts water breathing on each member of the expedition, and does so each day. And much to your surprise, all told, the journey to the Lambent Bloom takes three weeks of travel and passes uneventfully. After a few days you begin to grow more comfortable in your surroundings. Word goes out among the expedition you are within a day of the shell. You spend the last day of the journey winding your way through the giant pink jellyfish of the Lambent Bloom, which makes for slow travel.
As you draw closer, perhaps the last hour of the journey, the water around the expedition begins to rhythmically ebb and flow.
Zahra suggests, We are nearing the shell, the ebb and flow say it is so. Remove your straps and cling instead to the shark’s fins for the final approach. In case you need to be able to move about freely.
A fantastical forest of giant jellyfish fills the water with a soft pink glow. Glimpses of a massive shell, covered with swirls of orange and white, can be caught through the jellyfish tendrils ahead. Suddenly the water reverberates with a rhythmic clanging as an alarm chime is sounded. Swarms of sahuagin and sharks seethe outward from the shell and ready themselves for battle.
I will deal with the vermin on the right, growls Razethka as
she darts away into the jellyfish.
The maridar and I will handle the foes on the left, shouts
Zahra, Pathfinders, head to the middle and slay Baron Zemdar!
Several of the larger sahuagin are straight ahead of you through a sea of jellyfish, including one that seems to be even bigger than the rest.
Initiative
Round 1
map
Aelwynd
Rowanna
Nachts
S. Lieutenant
Thunderhoof
Baron Zedmar
Lore
Ariana
S. Warriors