You have been summoned by the Master of Spells Aram Zey to the Grand Lodge of Absalom, center of operations of the world-spanning Pathfinder Society. A man of few words, and most of them often verging on rude and demeaning, Zey's only instructions were to meet him in a vault deep below Skyreach — and to dress warmly.
If you want to buy anything or trade in Prestige Points, please do so now. When you are ready, make an introductory post for your character's entrance to the vault.
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Seemingly arriving first, Garinol strides in. A small frown crosses his face as he sees he is alone.
"Did I come to the wrong vault? How many deep-below-Skyreach-vaults can there really be? And not even any snacks. I say, it might be time for a new host. . . But, I guess we can't have everything, ha ha."
Looking about for some method of distraction, "Hello! Anyone there? Helllooooo. . ."
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The Master of Spells?! How exciting.
The tiny gnome walks into the room, wanting to be sure she was in the right place. "Master Zey, are you here? Anyone?"
She sees the armored male standing around the corner. "Hey there, I'm Pai. I assume you received the same missive I did, looking at your heavy coat. I've never really been in a cold weather situation before, how about you? Looks like you have an affini for the Dawnflower. I like her...maybe she can keep us warm on the trip," the gnome laughs, scanning the room for any treats that might have been provided.
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"Pai, interesting name", he says with a smile, offering his hand. "I am Garinol. And yes, I was sent a request to meat Spell-Master Zay somewhere down here. It's been some time since I was last at the Grand Lodge, and I had forgotten how he tends to work on his own time. That and well, offer less than helpful advice. ha ha ha".
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A strong-looking man with a hard-lined face bundled in layers of thick winter gear enters the vault just in time to hear the introductions of Garinol.
"Hello there. Garinol, is it? Not much to you, is there?" Ruford says, looking him over. "Though there's a fair bit less to this one." he says gesturing at Pai. "What did you say your name was, creature?"
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Sweating in his heavy winter coat, a nondescript Andoran walks in. "Good, I'm not late. Haven't dealt with Master Zey before, but you hear stories. Too hot for this stuff now." He sheds a heavy pack and his winter coat after leaning a guisarme against the nearest wall. "I'm Kilian. Don't think I know any of you."
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"Grleetings?", the native inflection of the Tian Xia people precedes a venerable human stepping into the room. The man has seen better days, his skin is gaunt, taunt and dark, much like the skewered grilled lizard he's snacking on. Grey robes of monastic traditions states his general neutrality on philosophical matters.
He flicks the remains of the garlic treat away; rests his cane and straw hat against the wall introduces himself to the Master and others. "I am Mu Ping. New rlecruit, rleporting foh duty." (Either someone needed a quota filled at the recruiting station or his application was misdirected from the Napfinders.)
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"Greetings Mr. Ping. I'm Pai, this is Kilian, Garinol, and Ruford. He's a battle expert. It's a pleasure to meet you.". Despite her politeness, Pai was surprised to see the decrepit old man, answer the call, as this mission seemed to be for the newer members. Maybe he's a higher up sent to spy on us? Must treat him well.
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"Shyka the Many that's who!", Mu winks at Pai's fey ancestry. "Rleincarnate! Rlight out of Gozleh's glaveyard whea all I was doing was keeping yua great-papa company!", he squints at Ruford through sagging and scrutinizing eyelids, "You new rlecruit too?! You like Tian food? I brought my supprlies. We all be frliends afta you taste my cooking." Mu waves a hand at his pots and pans tied amongst his gear.
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A young human woman hurries into the vault, clad completely in furs with a silver holy symbol of Pharasma hanging from her neck. Her large gray eyes take in each of other Pathfinders curiously before she finally speaks in a quiet voice.
"Forgive me for my tardiness, I just got off the boat from a mission in Varisia and they told me to rush down here after I bought some warm clothing." She looks down at her outfit and sniffs distastefully before continuing. "My name is Maddie and I'm a servant of the goddess Pharasma. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
As if summoned by Garinol's insult, Aram Zey enters the room as the inquisitor is making his jest and folds his arms, silently glowering behind the unsuspecting man.
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"Well, I wasn't personally there, but there was a time, in the most dire of circumstances involved the stupid tapestry, a friend was on yet another of those barbaric Tia, . .. uh, I, . . . he was sent on a mission within the Tapestry to unlock a religious riddle. So they went to talk to this reincarnating assassin to get a glowing book, written by the person that first created the dang tapestry. They finally got it, and returned it to the, um, um, and let me emphasize this "master of spells", but he wouldn't even bother to look at the dang thing, I hear. A mage book, written by a mage, containing this huge answer to a mage problem, not to mention him personally needing to answer the arcane riddle, but it came down to the Priest of a different deity entirely to piece it al together without any mage at all. There was also this one time, in bard camp. . ." he seems to go on and on, one story relating to how Zay almost botched a ritual, another about how he left so new recruits standing and waiting on a "critical" mission brief for 2 straight days, another on how he and "that Heidmarch character" almost got everyone killed three full times in a row with some golems, basically until someone stops him. The final one is how he just "magic's" another friend and his faithful allies into an enemy stronghold with next to no clue what they are supposed to do except not get shanked, and can't be bothered to answer any questions."
Zey raises an eyebrow, clears his throat, and waits.
Garinol gets the sudden feeling that someone is standing behind him and turns to find Aram Zey there with a wicked little smile.
“Pathfinders,” He says in a curt greeting. He gestures toward the tapestry.
“As I’m sure you know, we recently came into possession of this wonder —the Hao Jin Tapestry—by winning the Ruby Phoenix Tournament in distant Goka. Within this piece of fabric lies an entire world in which one of Golarion’s greatest magicians placed treasures and mysteries beyond imagining. And it was supposed to be ours alone. This promise of exclusive access was made a lie, however, when the Aspis Consortium found a way into Hao Jin’s astral vault that bypassed the tapestry altogether, and Aspis agents are now busy stealing whatever they can move, hoping we will act too slowly to protect our winnings. Fortunately, a recent mission into the tapestry managed to uncover a clue about a possible Aspis base within the tapestry. That is your destination. Or perhaps your tomb, depending on if your skills are truly what I have been told, and not just baseless stories. Zey lets that sink in for a moment before continuing.
“The camp is within a great stone temple complex uprooted from the Vudran jungle many centuries ago by the sorceress herself. Since her disappearance, that part of the tapestry has been encased in a massive glacier. This temple—dedicated to a Vudran monkey-god, we believe—could prove enlightening on its own, notwithstanding the Aspis presence there. It’s a grim thought imagining what the Consortium has done to the place, but apparently more than three-quarters of it is still protected by the glacier, so we can still salvage a great deal.
“Vanaras—the simian humanoids responsible for constructing this temple—are great builders, and this temple is representative of the huge complexes that once graced the Vimada Forest before their wars with men and the rise of Khiben-Sald. It’s a representation of the cosmos, really, a series of nested squares with symbolic shrine-mountains all directed toward great Bahmenu, the mountain birthplace of the god Ragdya and, the vanaras believe, the center of the universe. This symmetry may serve you well, if you have any brains to remember this advice, since it will help you predict the layout and functions of the temple as you make your way around it. Every corner of the temple will be fitted with a small shrine, all facing the symbolic mountain.”
“Even an abandoned temple is a holy place to the vanaras, as it is to most of us Vudrani as well, and we hope you respect that fact. If you can save the sanctuary from the insolence of the gods-damned Aspis, it may draw the mirthful and enlightened eye of Ragdya himself upon our Society.”
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Whispering back to the group, "See, the coot has already forgotten I was just explaining about the dang tapestry. . ."
"What else can we expect? Other natives we know about? Do we have anything on these Aspis agents? What are they doing there, how did they get there to begin with, if we have the tapestry? How long do we have?"
If any of these are relevant:
(probably anything about the tapestry or the demi plane within)
(probably involving any of the deities/faiths mentioned)
to see if he's holding anything back (just for fun)