"What do yo u know of these aboleth? Who are they and where do they reside?"
@Gizmo "As many as we could our survival depended on it."
@Dio "Very ancient, very powerfull and extremely dangerous. They rule the depts of the oceans. They once ruled the world and long to do so again."
Jordy gestured at the dead skum. "The skum don't seem that dangerous, frankly. I meant what I said before- if your people and our people can work together we can both benefit. I would ask you not to flee immediately. Let us attempt to rid ourselves and you of these monsters. If we succeed, stay and work together with us. If we don't," Jordy shrugged, "well, we'll be dead, so you can leave as you wish."
They had the option of coming to the humans and explaining the problem. Deranthil says to Jordy. They will never be accepted after their crimes. Somethings are not forgivable. It would be best if they leave and never return. Turning to the Grindylow queen he adds If we let you leave we will require of you your wealth and magic so that we might use it against this woman in the observatory. It seems the least you can do.
"We have little you would consider of value but you can have this ring she tosses a ring to Derantil. That woman gave it it to me it allows you to grant surface dwellers the ability to breathe underwater for a few hours."
Ring of waterbreathing
Cast waterbreathing 3 times/day caster level 5th
value 2500 gold.
"Very well. And thanks for this gift."
Gizmo is leery about letting such creatures go free, but his is also not interested in keeping them here. Plus, an underwater hideout could prove handy later, perhaps.
"So, shall we go check out this 'observatory'?"
I can think of no other plan. Deranthil confers.
A useful item for the group. Deranthil says as he studies the ring before tossing it to Gizmo. Of little use to me personally though.
You take your leave and the grindylow gather up and take their leave going out to sea to find another home far away.
You return to the colony and report what happened.
"So this woman at the obervatory is likely reponsible for what happened to the previous group of colonist as well. I'd like you to go and see if you can take her alive but if you must kill her do so but try to look for clues as to what happened to our missing people." says Ramona (colony governor / leader of the expedition)
"While your away we will be doing a discreet search for anyone who might have been replaced." says Captain Markosi (captain of the vessel that brought you here / secondary leader)
You guys can level up to lv 4 and we will proceed to the trip to the observatory when your all ready.
"We'll do what we can," Diomedes says.
They had the option of coming to the humans and explaining the problem. Deranthil says to Jordy. They will never be accepted after their crimes. Somethings are not forgivable. It would be best if they leave and never return.
Jordy shrugs. "I wonder how unforgivable cooperating with this woman will be the first time the settlement has a food shortfall and these people could bring seafood harvested from the ocean floor. Countries have done worse to each other before becoming allies in the face of disaster."
***
"We'll do what we can," Diomedes says.
Jordy nods. "Alive is harder, but if we can, we will. The effort we've gone through- some people might think we'd earned extra shares in the venture's profit once we start divvying it up."
Alrigth then let us proceed. Do you go see the venture captain?
Sure, let's do that.
yes
Hearing what has happened so far the venture captain. Has a very serious look on his face.
"The aboleth are a serious concern we need to know if their being involved is true or not. This island was once an important stronghold of the Azlanti empire. Millenials ago the Azlanti Empire was ruled by telepathic creatures known as the aboleth. The Azanti eventually came to realized this and revolted againts their masters and won their freedom and the aboleth in vengance retreated to the ocean depts and used their power to call down a meteor on the Azlanti destroying their empire. This is the event we now know as earthfall. In the last years of their empire the Azlanti build many places were they studied the stars, places such as this overservatory you mentionned. They sensed long in advanced that the meteor was coming and took precautions to prepare for it but it was not enough to save them."
Diomedes sighs at hearing this news. "So they sound pretty terrible. Are you able to tell us anything else about them? Do they have any weaknesses?"
"Well the Aboleth are more or less giant fish so they are restricted to water and they are also notorously lazy. They depend on mind controlled slaves for pretty much everything. From my understanding only a few extremely srong willed people can resist their influance"
Deranthil shudders. The world wou;d be a better place without such creatures.
”Man, I signed up for some adventure, but mind-controlling fish that have the power to bring down the heavens?!? How can we be up for this? But who else is there? Fine, ok... I’m in. But I would feel better if we could find a way to combat mind control.”
"So it's possible this woman at the observatory is being mind controlled. That's interesting. If we could break the control she could probably tell us a lot about what's actually going on here."
"We'll proceed with caution then."
"That would be indeed a handy spell to have!"
Bastien shakes his head. "Mind control magic can be very deadly. I just hope we do not meet one of those!"
Jordy nods. "Let's go see about this observatory, then."
Perhaps we should try to locate a wand containing this spell?
"If you going to the observatory I will go with you. My knowledge on the Azlanti might be valuable and I can handle myself in a fight" says the venture captain.
"Excellent. Shall we be on our way then?" Dio is ready to go, wand pending.
Bastien grabs his polearm tighter and smiles.
"Better I join you too. One never knows what dangers might lurk in the shadows.
Jordy nods at Dio. "I'm ready."
You head out towards the mountain were the observatory is located. You are going along the path when you come across some ruins. In the center there is a plaza were when you approach an image of a man in long robes appears and begins to speak to you (in Azlanti)
The captain looks up. "Incredible. The azlanti used these speaker platforms to send out messages to the various settlements. This particular one is repeating a message telling the people that the black blot in the sky is nothing to worry about and to continue on their duties as normal."
Wonderful magic but I fear the message here is never trust your leaders.Deranthil says sardonically
Diomedes snorts. "Hmph. Seems like a pretty terrible message to me." He checks the sky, just in case.
Jordy nods in agreement with his companions. "It's amazing this message is still working, though. Azlanti magic was incredible."
The trees thin out around this field of shattered stones and fragments. Toppled marble columns jut haphazardly from the ground and are partially covered with moss. These rocks are the only evidence that buildings once stood here, but the passage of thousands of years has left little but their broken stone skeletons. One remnant remains incongruous with the ruins: a circular marble dais carved from a distinctly lustrous pinkish stone, perfectly preserved but surrounded by a crumbled stone rotunda that has not weathered the ages nearly as well.
the message that repeats “Loyal citizens of the empire—fear not. The blot in the heavens is but a ruse by veiled foes to keep us distracted in this time of mounting chaos. Tend to your regular duties, and trust in the Ioun Imperative and your emperor to keep you safe. Do not fail us, and we shall not fail you.”
"Also notice the helm the man is wearing? That's a decemvirate helm. I long suspected they were artifacts recovered from the Azlanti. I believe this island is part of a chain that was explored long ago by the founding members of the pathfinder society."
A decemvirate helm. These powerful objects protect the anonymity of the Decemvirate, so long as someone wears ones of these helms it is impossible to locate or deduct any information about the wearer using magic.
With nothing more to do here you proceed forward.
In a grassy field pockmarked with piles of fallen stone and sparse trees stands a monument that is relatively free from damage. A path of broken white marble leads to it, and the grass is curiously cut and edged away from it. The monument itself is a smooth marble disk, about thirty feet in diameter, and marked with representations of the phases of the moon. A semicircular row of thirteen columns surrounds the northern side on a curved marble base, the ends of which have broken off and subsided into the ground. Two adjacent columns near the center are broken and the lintel between them is sundered. Two curved stone benches sit before the semicircle on either side of the path, and two stone buildings lie to the north.
As you get close two stone statues of women animated and move to appraoach you. They do not appear hostile but they block you path to the monument. They speak azlanti.
"This is a holy site dedicated to the goddess Acavna. Godesse of the moon and patron deity of the Azlanti empire. The godesse Acavna tried to save the Azlanti empire from the meteor by moving the moon in it's path. She was partially sucessfull the meteor hit the moon and broke into pieces that showered all over the land. I believe had she not done so the damage would have been far greater than it was. Unfortunatly the effort of doing so caused the godesse to die. These statues are keepers of the site so long as we promise not to damage or take anything from the shrine they will not impede us."
Jordy nods at the venture captain, amazed by the well preserved magic and monuments. "I won't take anything from the shrine, I swear." If that was enough to reassure the statues, he goes to look more closely at the monument, approaching slowly and cautiously to make sure he doesn't upset anything.
"Incredible. Just incredible," he murmurs. "Of course, we won't take anything from the shrine, nor cause any damage." He's glad they found this out before-hand. Who knows what they might have picked up otherwise?
Seing that several of you speak their language the statues seems pleased.
"Please stay for some time and we will teach you about the history and culture of the Azlanti empire. They had to seek shelter because of the starfall but one day they will return." they say speaking in unison.
There doesn't seem to be any traps but a large ornated darkwood chest does get jordy's attention. The chest itself is likely worth around 2000 gold.
The dais itself seems to be a calendar based on the phases of the moon and the movement of the stairs.
from here you see a stone path that seems to lead to the top of the mountain.
Bastien sits down and tries to remember every important word being spoken. As member of the pathfinder society, this is very interesting to him.
As bastien seems interested in listening the statues begin a long exposationary dialog teaching about the Azlanti that has no signs of stopping.
The venture captain is also captivated by the lesson and takes a seat.
Joshua looks at the others sitting and approaches them "While this may be important I think we came here to see about the aboleths and that's up the mountain, isn't it."
Hmm yes it is, why don't you go guys go on ahead and investigate and I will see what I can learn from these ladies." says the venture captain.
"As you wish, but please, keep an eye out for trouble."
This history lesson is very compelling but a distraction from our mission. Deranthil muses. Do not let it fascinate you to the point of not paying attention to your surroundings Venture Captain.
"Of course, do come see me if you run into problems or need help understanding something Azlanti."
"Of course, come back and see me if you need help with anything" he replies.
You continue on and proceed up the path when from the forest comes a rumbling and hundreds or even thousands of small metal balls come rolling in your direction.
When they get close thy assemble toghter and form a ten foot tall humanoid golem.