She's stable, and even conscious, though barely.
You now have two prisoners and a rescued princess. Without a chase, it's a simple matter to pilot the airship. What do you do now Pathfinders?
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Roakar turns to the party and says "Let's get the princess healed up and back to Arl so we can figure out how to fix this whole mess. Then we can go chase down you know who."
Looking down to the princess he says "You and me need to talk."
When all is settled and healed, the ship is stable and on it's way back, and everyone is gathered, Roakar says his piece. "I can't play god on this planet full time and still do what I need to do elsewhere. While I will gladly do what is needed, I am not a dictator. Kol Voss is dead and so, looking to the princess, "the only person I can see running this city is you. Though I am no good at peace, I would like to see Arl peaceful and fair to all. I will be back some time and I will not think twice at reclaiming my godhood if needed to fix what I see as wrong. Until then, I wish you luck and hope that you can do better than those before you.
The princess eyes Roakar for some time before speaking, "You have my gratitude, all of you. With my brother's death, *I* and the new ruler of Arl. It will take some time, and the people will grumble, but I will be able to restore peace. I thank you, truly. As a show of gratitude I offer you this. She moves to take the sword from the fake Adril's pool of water. "The Starsword is a symbol of my people and our appreciation for what you've done."
"Our people have great potential. It will take a long time to bring them out of the darkness of their barbaric ways, but it will happen. What will you do with your prisoners? They were Adril's accomplices in this plot."
It was a greatsword, sorry Roos.
Indeed the flight back is relaxing. You can't remember the last time you could just enjoy the scenery. Princess Verrish is happy to talk to you about the history of Akiton. Her excitement and nervousness about the future is tempered by your company, and she is eager to share.
Princess Verrish INSISTS that you stay for a celebration, as it is in your honor. While you enjoy the celebration of your victory over King Adril’s tyranny (even if the man himself still eludes you), Venture-Captain Eliza Petulengro herself comes through the portal! She makes no pleasantries, "Pathfinders, I bring dire tidings: Adril Hestram is in the Grand Lodge of Absalom and an assault is underway. he's using our weakness from the events of the Siege made by the Aspis Consortium to strike. If you don’t come with me immediately, the future of the Society may very well be no future at all!"
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"You should be very careful about such claims. The true divine does not take such claims lightly, and I have a feeling those that claim to be such have a tendency to not live too long after."
"As to the prisoners, . . . I will try to speak with them. Long ago I brought them together to cleans our world of a terrible curse. Both where shown a better road to walk. Perhaps they may choose the light once more?"
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Continuing his conversation, Roakar replies "We appreciate the gesture. When you are ready to make your way from this world, we will be waiting. While Prince Odrian kept your city under secrecy, I don't think it will remain that way. The Pathfinder Society will have great interest in your culture and history, and will be willing to guide and trade with you to help you reach that potential. I hope that the portal our worlds share will become more than just a source of conquerors."
Looking back to the party he says "Your right Igi, this god stuff is heavy. Let's go find Adril and wrap this whole mess up so I can shed all this responsibility and grab a drink."
The princess looks sad, 'I hope they do friend Ignatious, I hope they do."
The PARTY continues.
Ignatious spends much time with the couple. They stay defiant, but each day they grow quieter and quieter. (Make a diplomacy check Ignatious.)
When the Venture-Captain comes to get you she shakes her head at your captives. "We'll send for them after all this is done."
The glowing red portal from Akiton to the Maze of the Open Road on distant Golarion rises from the pinnacle of the towering pyramid ahead, as howling, icy winds tear across the red sands, whipping them into an angry, biting torrent. Venture-Captain Eliza Petulengro rushes up the structure, turning back only briefly to ensure that she’s being followed. Reaching the top of the massive structure, she turns to speak, but pauses for a moment to think. Her voice wavers with a twinge of desperation and fear.
“I… we… We will never catch up to Adril if we take the Maze back. He’s already in Skyreach.” Slowly, her pained expression surrenders to resolve. “I’m going to rift the portal. It’s the only way…”
Ignatious spends some time working with his friends. It appears that Natalya is totally unhinged. Her husband is less so. He appears unrepentant, but his resolve is cracking. Ignatious thinks it'll be worth continuing this after adril is defeated once and for all...
Eliza looks at Ignatious, not as a venture-captain talking to an agent, but as an equal, "it as an extremely risky technique of tearing a hole or “rift” in a portal, temporarily damaging it with teleportation magic such that individuals can slip in between dimensions connected to the portal and exit almost anywhere between the two connecting points. Usually it’s used to make a stop in between two portal points, but I think I might be able to use the same technique to bypass the Maze and pry our way directly into Skyreach’s famed portal room. I cannot guarantee your safety and I don’t think anyone a coward who declines to follow me. Osric, as soon as word came, Osprey brought Grimtooth with him. He's safe for now, but can be reunited with you once we get there."
“I’m going to attempt to tear a rift into the portal chamber at Skyreach. It’s sort of foyer in the tower’s upper chambers— those reserved only for the use of the Ten and their most trusted aides. It should be the easiest chamber to access, as it doesn’t actually exist in Skyreach. It’s more of a hub connected to several dimensional corridors that run through the Grand Lodge. If and when we arrive, we shall be partially insubstantial. The Decemvirate uses this property to keep their identities obscured from one another when exiting and entering their private chambers. While the Decemvirate can enter and leave the chamber at will, we shall be visitors. In order to enter, each of us needs an envoy. Within the chamber stands a basin containing a small number of special ioun stones called eraminho. These stones act as vessels for the souls of the Society’s most trusted protectors, some even former members of the Decemvirate. By activating these stones, we can connect with the spirits to gain access to the inner chambers. Once inside, we should seek out the faction rooms first, and use them to make contact with whatever allies of the Society we each may have outside the Ten themselves. These rooms are the only neutral rooms within the upper tower, so even if Adril seizes command of Skyreach, the faction rooms will remain somewhat of a blind-spot. After that, we need to get to Shemis and protect her at all costs. All set?"[/b]
Ignatious spends some time working with his friends. It appears that Natalya is totally unhinged. Her husband is less so. He appears unrepentant, but his resolve is cracking. Ignatious thinks it'll be worth continuing this after adril is defeated once and for all...
Ready:
Roos
Ignatious
Waiting on:
Roakar
Osric & Grimtooth
Darius
Ready:
Roos
Ignatious
Roakar
Waiting on:
Osric & Grimtooth
Darius
Ready:
Roos
Ignatious
Roakar
Darius
Waiting on:
Osric & Grimtooth
After giving Osric a nod, she approaches the portal and sets to work, soon tearing a lightless hole in its undulating, glowing red surface. A bone-numbing blast of frigid energy shoots from the rift, and it begins to pull you forth. An inhuman shrieking emanates from the rift. Eliza tries to yell something to you as she steps into the rift, but her message is wholly unintelligible, overpowered by the shrieking of the void. Seconds later she vanishes into the blackness.
Then everything vanishes for you too. The darkness envelops you.
Before too long the darkness thins only slightly, ebbing into a deep, blackish purple twilight. The surrounding space appears without clear definition or form. Distance is difficult to judge, though there appears to be some sort of a perimeter marked by darker, shadowed arches. The travel doesn't agree with Roos or Grimtooth, and they arrive with a throbbing headache (sickened condition for 1 hour.)
The strange part is your appearance. Here, all of you appear as medium-sized silhouettes without distinctions of body shape, gender, voice, or even equipment. You cannot recognize each other (including by voice), but the headcount is right for the 6 of you and Eliza. After you confirm your identities, Eliza speaks some garbled words and another figure appears. "Let's go." she says.
You see a basin in the room with crystalline ioun stones in the shape of a humanoid. Don't forget, you need one in order to access parts of the tower...
Eliza (though you know only because she says so) "We're in a room used only by the Ten. It protects their identities, even from each other... This effect should vanish after we leave."
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Darius didn't think these were real. They bear the shards of a willing soul. They act as keys and guardians. You may be able to communicate with them, but their main function is to work as a
-Posted with Wayfinder
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They work, apparently, like any other ioun stone. You just throw it into the air.
These however, are sentient....
-Posted with Wayfinder
The stones don't reach out to you psychicly. They are passive. Only when you seek out knowledge do they do anything. The song remains the same though, "get to Shemis." You don't think they're fully conscious.
The shadow you know to be Eliza speaks up, "I suggest we get out of here..."