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The elf glides into the room, his feet just inches from the floor. Behind him two big chests on a shimmering purple disk of force follow him. He comes to a stop near one of the walls.
One of the chest opens of it's own accord and a folding chair glides toward him. He sits down in it and a table unfolds in front of him. On it a stack of books and scrolls gather out of the other chest. He picks one and starts to read while an unseen force makes some tea.
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A rough and tumble half-orc leans against the wall in a position where he can see every entrance to the room. His black hood is pulled up over his head, obscuring most of his face. A greatsword on his back catches a bit of light, reflecting strangely on the walls around him.
As the wizard enters the room, the half-orc simply observes the elf watching and studying each magical occurrence as if he's saving the information for later. He remains completely silent and the lower half of his face wears an incredulous toward his fellow pathfinder.
“Rachikan has been discovered!” exclaims the hulking Venture-Captain Adril Hestram. He peers up from a collection of ragged maps, dusty tomes, and tarnished coins stacked up on a massive desk to make sure everyone has arrived before he continues. His excitement quickly fades and Adril gestures toward an elderly man sitting by the hearth. “May I introduce a former Pathfinder and respected friend, Benton Grone. This gentleman has suffered a great loss to bring a grand discovery to us and he has agreed to trade all rights to his claim of locating lost Rachikan in return for locating his missing nephew. Go with him and make haste; he has agreed to guide you to the Pillars of Anferita in Cheliax.”
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"Sorry I'm late," a large man, wearing loose fitting clothing, says as he steps into the office. Strapped to his back are a pair of long hammers "My name is Arasmes Thraller, I've been assigned to your mission."
"Forgive me, but I am not well educated on such things. What is Rachikan? And the Pillars of Anferita?" he asks, clearly uncomfortable that he doesn't know anything about the subject of their mission. You'd think by now I'd know some of this stuff... I can find Cheliax on a map at least...
"Come on now Arasmes! Weren't you paying attention during your training? Rachikan was a city in the once mighty imperium of Jistka which controlled all of northwestern Garund. Its influence on modern Golarian is still seen today, like in the Jistka counting system that is still used exclusively by scholars and royalty", the enormous venture-captain explains.
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The elf stands up and waves a wand while the unseen servant brings some folders to the wizard's hands. He browses through them for a moment before handing them back.
Only then he looks at the others "Ah yes, you are lucky to have Faeranduil with you. The Venture Captain is correct. The mighty Jistka Imperium helped advance Golarion during the Age of Anguish. At their height, they spanned parts of Cheliax, Rahadoum, and Thuvia. Their numbering system is both highly effective as efficient. I suppose it is beyond your intellect to comprehend.
The empire was known for their golemworks artificers who created many mathematical wonders. Occult whispers hint at the forged pacts between the Jistka artificers and fiends from the lower planes to grant unsurpassed skill at the forge. Evidence indicates the Jistka Imperium was filled with secret, diabolist societies and that these societies worked hand-in-hand with the golemworks artificers to create frightening fiendish constructs.
He drones on for a while "What might also be relevant is that a member of the society spent several ancient coins from the Jistka Imperium recently in a town called Macini in southwestern Cheliax along the Inner Sea coast. He claimed to have found lost treasure and has since disappeared. Recently, large purchases of mining equipment have been shipped from several cities in Cheliax to the Pillars of Anferita.
A beautiful woman made a large purchase of slaves from a desert slaver near the Arch of Aroden — she indicated they were heading to a dig site in the Pillars of Anferita. Haliduris Karn, a feared and respected man, is the man behind the recent slave and mining equipment purchases and it’s rumored that the Aspis Consortium funds his every move."
He looks at the eldery man "Could it be that this missing pathfinder is your nephew?"
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"I see. Devils and constructs are bad news, but I should be well equipped to handle such things. Unless one of my companions wishes to make preparations before we leave, I am ready to follow you Mr. Grone. How will we get there?"
Arasmes seats himself in a chair. It groans with effort as it supports his physique.
He looks at the eldery man "Could it be that this missing pathfinder is your nephew?"
"I'm afraid so..." the elderly man says solemnly. "So you'll understand if I am in a hurry to get this journey underway."
"I see. Devils and constructs are bad news, but I should be well equipped to handle such things. Unless one of my companions wishes to make preparations before we leave, I am ready to follow you Mr. Grone. How will we get there?"
"There's a ship ready for you on the docks", Adril explains after resting a hand in comfort on Grone's shoulder.
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There is a loud squawking noise from outside and the sounds of junior pathfinders scattering, out of the way you fools, no, don't step on him, sorry, coming through...., there is an ominous crash and a thud against the door and then silence.
It opens and a tall dark haired half elf squeezes inside, clearly trying to keep something else out of the room, not again Binky, down boy! she whispers.
The woman is dressed in shining mithral armour decorated with many multi-coloured scarves and a prominent symbol of Sarenrae. Sorry I am late everyone. Did I hear you right, we're heading to Cheliax? Miserable place, full of dreary people. Best hope we don't meet any of those damn hellknights! Oh, apologies, the name is Ameko at which point the door she has been holding shut is shoved open and a large beaked head emerges, and this is Binky, he hates being left outside...sorry Adril I think he stepped on one of your trainees...again
...sorry Adril I think he stepped on one of your trainees...again
"I'll find someone to clean that up later. Get going. The ship isn't going to wait all day!" Adril says as he shakes Benton Grone's hand one more time and shoos everyone out the door.
***
Seven days at sea end at a view of the Pillars of Anferita bursting from the Chelaxian coastline, waves crashing against their rocky flanks. The central pillar’s curves, flora, and shape are perfectly represented on the discolored Jistka coins Adril sent along with the expedition. As sailors from the hired vessel row toward the central column, a second rowboat in tow, Benton Grone breaks his days-long silence.
“It’s got to be here; the coin says so. Look at the picture on the back: A temple-foundry high atop this pillar awaits to be discovered. If old Rachikan of the Jistka Imperium is inside, then my nephew must reside there as well. Please hurry — find my poor Eldis. He's the only family I have left.”
As the sailors row away from the pillars, taking Benton Grone with them but leaving behind a rowboat to return to the waiting ship, the waves slowly begin to push higher up the rocky harbor, signaling the beginnings of high tide. An unguarded, well-maintained rope stretches up the cliff, beckoning to the plateau high above.
The base of the central pillar is a haven for gulls, seals, and other wildlife that chirp and bark in the distance. Salty air assaults the senses, burning the nostrils on each deep inhalation. The wet surface of the pillar offers many nooks and crannies creating a dimpled appearance suitable for climbing up the pillar’s edge. High above, the top of the pillar can be seen cresting to what must be a great plateau. Somewhere up above, a rope, in excellent condition, is anchored and runs down the cliff to the rocks below.
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Ameko raises a querying eye at the cliff and looks back at Binky. Not to worry, Sarenrae provides for her faithful . With that she bows her head against Binky and mutters several prayers. Binky shifts uncomfortably as if nervous of what is about to happen.
Vaulting into the saddle Ameko gives a whoop and urges Binky into the air.
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Arasmes clasps Benton's shoulder. "Mr. Grone, I can only imagine how you feel. If I lost my Lilianna, I don't know what I would do. We will find Eldis."
Before starting his climb, he looks over the route the rope travels up the cliff.
If he does not detect anything amiss, Arasmes wastes no time getting off the wobbly boat and onto some solid stone to begin his climb.
Edit: Sarenrae provides, but she has never given me anything like that!
Arasmes finds no signs of weakness in the rope or cliffside and no signs of traps or other hidden dangers. He easily begins making his way up the cliff.
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Still at the briefing, the half-orc removes his hood to get a better look at Blinky, then gives an unimpressed look to Ameko.
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Once on board Unnvar approaches Grone. With sort of a grunt, I'm Unnvar. So this is southern Cheliax. How far is it from the Arch of Aroden to the Pillars of Anferita? I wanna know how much of a head start this Aspis scum have on us.
He gives the elderly man a stern glare studying the man's face.
What does this nephew of you look like, how old is he?
With sort of a grunt, I'm Unnvar. So this is southern Cheliax. How far is it from the Arch of Aroden to the Pillars of Anferita? I wanna know how much of a head start this Aspis scum have on us.
"It's not far. No more than a mile or two. You can see the tops of the pillars from here at the top of the cliff, look", he explains as he points into the distance.
He gives the elderly man a stern glare studying the man's face. What does this nephew of you look like, how old is he?
Benton gives the orc a detailed description of his nephew's features. Unnvar gets the distinct impression that much of the details are from when Eldis was a boy.
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So when was the last time you actually say your nephew? He follows up with Grone just before the man departs.
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Unnvar draws out a wand and casts Barkskin on himself as they reach the cliff. Unnvar's face then suddenly becomes more simian looking, and his arms seem to elongate. He then follows the Barbarian up the climb, leaving about 10 feet between them as he goes.
Still at the briefing, the half-orc removes his hood to get a better look at Blinky, then gives an unimpressed look to Ameko.
At the briefing:
SQUAWWWWWWK
Binky peers curiously at Unnvar then nuzzles his beak into his pack hunting for treats.
As Faeranduil reaches the top of the cliff two angelic figures with dark feathered wings and ornate bows wreathed in flames come into view.
From her elevated position Ameko hears movement atop the cliff.
Faeran recognizes the women as erinyes, executions from the depths of the Hells. They are accomplished archers and have assorted powers for overwhelming their mortal prey.
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Beware all, vile fiends assail us from the cliff! Saraenrae protect us!
With that she weaves a quick ward around herself and directs Binky to close on the closest creature getting right into its face.
As she reaches the monster she glances back to see how Unnvar and Arasmes are doing, Friends, do you posses the means to fly? she calls out.
I bloody well hope they do, I don't really want to fight these things on my own, maybe the Wizard will do something useful...
SQUAWWWWK!
The devil beneath Binky tries to bring her fiendish magics to bear but loses her concentration. The other's eyes glow with infernal power and fear creeps into the axebeak's mind.
Binky maintains a steely eyed determination in the face of infernal onslaught. Her head turns to the enemy in the distance and she utters a low guttural clucking noise.
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Couching her lance Ameko urges Binky into a charge against the distant enemy. Binky lets out an ear piercing SQUAWWWWWK and the two of them pound across the top of the cliff at the distant enemy. Scarves flying Ameko gives voice to a joyous whoop!
This is what it means to be truly alive!!!
Ameko Lance Charge
Binky's jaws snap forward as they reach the enemy, seeking to crush her with bonesnapping force!
Gobblegobblegobble
Ameko struggles to pierce the devil's pristine skin but Binky has more luck, tearing a chunk of pale flash from the erinyes.
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"Foul she-devils, you will return to hell soon!"
Faeranduil sends a ball of crackling electricity towards both devils.
Faeranduil's sparking rays hit the eryines solidly and overcome her infernal resistances. The fiendish woman shrieks in pain and fixes the elf with a hateful glare.
The bitten and scorched erinyes retreats a step and out of the range of Ameko's polearm before raising her fiery bow. Both fiends fire on Binky.
Two burly demonic figures emerge from the nearby foliage. They brandish polearms and hideous twitching beard sprout from their chins.
Faeranduil recognizes the newcomers as bearded devils, Hell's elite warriors.
Both bearded devils are badly scorched by the blast of intense electricity.
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Bink roars in pan at the arrows thud into her flesh. Alarmed Ameko weaves curative magic into her flesh, hoping she can survive another onslaught or buy time for her allies to get here. Blood and burnt feathers fly everywhere.
I could really do with some help up here people!
With a nudge she directs Binky down to the enemy devil once again getting into its face.
SQUAWWWWWWWK!
Binky jumps forward at the enemy archer, beak snapping in fury.
Gobblegobblegobble
Perhaps distracted by his wounds, Binky misses the wounded erinyes by several inches.
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Hoping to bring down one of their airborne opponents the erinyes continue firing on the bloodied axe beak.
The badly fried bearded devils charge across the cliff and bring their glaives to bear on Ameko.