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Soren will breeze into the room and his form blurs as he shifts back into his natural shape...
While unable to understand the choir of rock grinding noise being discussed at the moment, it might be obvious to Soren that the current social environment is very...unwelcoming. If that is the case, he will turn to the Doctor with a look. "How is it, Doctor? I get the sense that this is not going quite as you have planned. You may want to move to a safer distance, if this creature proves...unyielding."
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"What? Oh, right!" Strang says, forgetting the others could not follow along. "No, its going fine. This is Korj... the one who created the murals back there, apparently."
"We seem to have reached an understanding, for now. He seems willing to talk, at least!"
"He knows of the disturbance, and is saying that those that caused it came here to monitor it. Apparently there's some sort of device for doing just that around here somewhere!" He seems somewhat excited about that last revelation.
Obtrivi - 12 dmg; 1 Wis dmg;
Dr. Strang - dmg; 1 Wis dmg; overland flight;
Soren - dmg; freedom of movement (1:23); resinous skin (1:23);
Ignatius - dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Dunia - 5 dmg; Sage Jewel;
Obsidian - 5 dmg;
It is difficult for Soren to sense much of the Ozimat's mood, given that the conversation is taking place in a language unknown to him, but if anything he senses that perhaps the creature is not *quite* as unfriendly as when they first entered.
Korj answers Dr. Strang in Terran: “It is a powerful device that the masters used to monitor the storm over Jaizun Citadel, to see when it would be safe to return. It did this by keeping a fraction of the storm’s power within it. I cannot reactivate the elemental gauge to release this bound energy, but if the energy were released, I could use it to free my siblings from their physical husks.”
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Strang's ears perk up as Korj talks of the Elemental Gauge.
"They set up a remote monitoring station? Amazing." He says excitedly in Terran before repeating that same fact to the others in common.
"We'd love to see this Gauge." He continues, in Terran once more. "If it is indeed connected to the storm, perhaps that is what is causing the imbalance we're looking into!"
"Why have you not been unable to activate it yourself?" He stops, recognizing Korj's current less-than-corporeal state, then quickly amends, "Admittedly, your current situation might prove to come with some manipulation issues, but it seems like you're on good terms with those spirits controlling the constructs, could they not assist?"
"Perhaps you could show it to us?" He proposes hopefully. "Maybe we can all help each other."
He turns back to the others, "He says there's something called an Elemental Gauge, that the Jistkan's set up to monitor the storm they created at the Jaizun Citadel." He pauses, a thought coming to his mind. "Though he did not say whether they created the storm on purpose or by accident."
"Anyway, I'm trying to see if he won't show us where it is, maybe keep any more golems from getting frisky. Apparently its storing part of the energy from that storm, and no one's been able to activate it to release it. Probably what was causing the disturbance Amenopheus was referring to."
Korj seems to warm to the group somewhat and he becomes a bit more forthcoming.
"As I told you, I once inhabited a construct vessel. The elementalists of Jistka brought us here in shackles to power their works while we suffered in endless servitude. But they were hungry with power and made a mistake by activating the elemental gauge when the doors to Deep Sky were sealed. The reverberating energy allowed us to take control of our own fates long enough to rise up against our captors. I have been here since, working to liberate my siblings."
He continues, "I am not exactly sure how I survived shedding my physical form, but I believe it has to do with the elemental energies brought about by the storm over the Jaizun Citadel. I can only guess that the energy diverted from the storm weakened my magical prison. The activation of the focused energy within the elemental gauge helped me finally break free. Ever since that fateful day, I have worked to help my siblings to free their own spirits, but without the energy bound within the elemental gauge, I cannot save them. Perhaps you can help me? Perhaps you can help us?"
Answering Dr. Strang's question about the workshop, he is reflective. "Aye, I tried to master the skills of vessel construction, hoping to reverse engineer the techniques to free my siblings from their bodies." He sighs. "Eventually I realized that vessel creation was entirely beyond my abilities."
"If you can release the remaining energy within the elemental gauge then I will know that you are truly as you have said, and I shall be in your debt."
He gestures back to the room from which you came and the as-yet unopened door. "The gauge lies there, guarded by Ilaton. He helped to create Deep Sky and the elemental gauge. We were once friends. But no longer. He slipped into madness and I into my solitude."
Korj also gives you some general instruction, such as he understands it, regarding how to control the elemental gauge.
"No, the others left some 8000 years ago. But he, he is bound here it seems. I'm sure he can tell you more. Though whether he will or no, that is not for me to say. The long years have been hard on him." He pauses, as if reflecting on the cruelty of time, before continuing. "And yes, he is a shaitan genie, the same you saw in the murals outside. Our masters not only bound elemental spirits, but enslaved genies as well. One made of fire was forced to use its ability to grant wishes to bring this complex into existence. A genie of each element was then tasked to create other objects and structures within Deep Sky.”
From the doorway of the next room, you smell the rich scent of palm wine, pipe smoke, and cinnamon fills this chamber. An enormous clockwork device with a spherical base, dials, and metal gears takes up the southeast corner of the room.
A large creature stands within the room and squints curiously at you when you open the door. It resembles a towering human with skin of polished stone and glittering agate eyes. It is almost eleven feet tall.
"Visitors? Intruders? But what? Visions from a dream? How now, comes here these ones, and with what foul intent? Stand ready. Aye, more suffering, always more. They shall pay! Or will they? They are as the ones I once did... Or no, perhaps they have come to... That must not be! Their fashion is not as the Jistkans, but fashions can change with the years, and many years it has been, mayhap they are... Aye, they look much like them. 'Tis strange, most strange, these tricks the mind plays... Where am I? How long have I been here? They must not...!"
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Dr. Strang frowns slightly, realizing that Korj was not exaggerating when he said that the shaitan had gone mad from the isolation. He gave his companions a warning glance, hoping they would think to tread a little lightly here, in hopes of not pushing the genie the wrong way, off the wrong cliff.
"Visitors indeed!" He replies, trying to use the same language as the genie, hoping to keep it on a level keel. "Not visions at all, but here to help, and to learn!"
He holds up his hands, both empty, trying to look non-threatening. "We are not of the Jistkan people. We have only heard of them... as memories are all that remain of them for us too. In that we are much the same."
He tries to gauge the shaitan's state of mind for a moment, and then indicates the strange clockwork device across the room. "We have come because of that. It would appear to be malfunctioning, and is causing disturbances that have started to cross even planar boundaries. We believe that the Gauge was not meant to hold such energies for so long. It needs to be released... its been so long, and there is no one else left to do it."
"You are Ilaton," He says, trying to make his tone sound like he's making a formal proclomation. "One of those responsible for constructing this place. Deep Sky. Why you have remained here, all these millennia after your fellows left, we do not know, but I can only assume that the Elemental Gauge is part of that reason. Perhaps we can help you there, as well."
Dr. Strang's words appear to have a somewhat calming effect on Ilaton, who no longer looks quite as unfriendly as before.
"Aye, you have not the look of Jistkans, though what you are is passing strange. No doubt the worlds have changed much while I have languished here. Oh how I have languished! And yet you ask me why I stay, as if these 8000 years were a mere trifle, a fancy, a choice! Cruel outlanders! How you mock me! Know you nothing of the shaitan, mighty among mighty? Tell me not that the shaitan have all perished from the lands! Tell me not that I am the last, the very last! For if you knew anything outlander, well you would know that a shaitan keeps his promise to those who call upon him. And so I have, to that accursed one, Ocosten some call him, though his very name fouls my tongue. He stands in the next room, frozen forever, yet not perished, and I must protect him, curse his name!" Ilaton sighs a terrible sigh.
"You ask after the elemental gauge. Of course it is here - " he gestures to the astrolabe-like device in the corner of the room - "and if you meddle with it, mayhap I shall die! That must not be! How strange, after all these years, that yet I fear to die... Yet I must live. While there is yet hope, I must live. Jistkans or no, do not think I will let you handle the elemental gauge! Did I not help create it? Am I not Ilaton? I think I am... but it has been so long? Have you heard my name? Do outlanders yet remember me? Do my brethren?"
He glares through the doorway at Dunia and then down at the elemental gauge, where portions of the inscriptions flare with a ghostly light. "I have seen that jewel you carry. Oh yes, I have seen the destruction it can wreak. Oh, the jewel, I’ve seen its smooth surface, heard the voice that compels obedience.”
"Aye, Ocosten, the Jistkan who summoned me and bound me in his service. He stands yet, frozen forever, like a seeming statue in the next room.
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"Wait, are you suggesting one of those statues back there is the petrified remains of one of the Jistkan elemental summoners? This Ocosten?" He replies to Ilaton's comment, with surprise, and excitement. "Why, we might be able to sort that out! Perhaps with a little convincing, he could send you home yet!"
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As Obsidean mentions damaging the gauge, he looks at the man in shock and confusion.
"What?! Of course not." He blurts out. "Why would you do that?!"
He looks at Obsidean in confusion not quite sure why he would even suggest such a thing!
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"Don't be ridiculous!" He replies. "Are task is to try to find the source of the imbalance and correct it."
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Destroying things could just make it worse, and would not be very Pathfinder.. uh... y!"
....
He turns to Ilaton, and switches back to terran. "May we examine the Gauge? It was not meant to be active for this long, and is building up excess energy that is having a backlash effect, in this plane and beyond."
"It is quite possible it is also what is holding you here!" He adds, hopefully. "We have an idea what we need to do, but seems prudent to at least examine it to make sure our information is correct."
Ilaton stares uncertainly at Dunia and the Sage Jewel. "You speak flowery words outlander, but I know that you and the jewel are not the same."
Turning to Dr. Strang he answers, "Yes, of course that is Ocosten. I am bound here until he releases me."
When the subject turns to the gauge, Ilaton seems undecided. "You wish to examine the gauge?... But how can I know that you will not destroy it, and with it, me? Perhaps I should simply destroy you... Yes, that might be best... But then perhaps I will languish for another 8000 years. You are my first visitors in a long time... I suppose I could slay you and keep your heads for company...."
"Very well, outlanders, you may examine the gauge, though I will watch you carefully..."
If you enter the room you are able to examine the elemental gauge more carefully. If you wish to dissipate the energies stored in the device you can attempt a Disable Device or Knowledge (Engineering) check. Or you can follow the instructions already given you by Korj (the ozimat in the previous room). What would you like to do?
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Dunia looks carefully at the gauge. Her learning, though broad, wasn't particularly focused on the mechanical workings of objects. Still, she had spent more time than most studying fallen civilizations such as the Jistkani, and some knowledge of their secrets came along with that study.
Still, this device seemed as though it could easily prove quite explosive if mishandled. So before she made her final adjustments, she reached out through her connection with the sages to Amenopheus.
No shame in asking for a consult.
Dunia examines the device. When she touches it, the elemental gauge’s gears begin to whirl and its dials spin. These displays register the low strength of the storm around the Jaizun Citadel and indicate the accumulated elemental power stored within the device. Dunia mystically reaches out to Amenopheus, who gazes through her eyes and is able to help her make the proper adjustments to the elemental gauge (which, you note in passing, conform to the instructions that Korj had given you - it does not appear that the ozimat was attempting to betray you). With a tremendous a wave of energy floods from the machine through the chamber and beyond. Its crackling is palpable and you have no doubt that you are happy to have avoided mishandling the device in such a way that might have caused these energies to be released in a more harmful manner.
With the dissipation of the energy in the gauge, the animating forces in the various golems throughout Deep Sky are released from their captivity.
Ilaton seems confused and uncertain, but also relieved to see that the release of the energies in the gauge have not destroyed him. "But I remain captive here! Why? Am I cursed? Help me gain my freedom. It has been so long. Too long."
When you return to Korj's room, you see that both of the stone golems there have been transformed into ozimats much like Korj himself. You also see that the stone statue in the corner is slowly transforming to flesh. Over the course of 10 minutes it gradually reveals a male human, who seems groggy and disoriented, much as you probably would be if you had been petrified for 8000 years.
He speaks to you. "Who are you? Do you serve Ahriman?"
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Dr. Strang looks at the Elemental Gauge with a puzzled frown, not entirely sure how any of it is supposed to work.
"I'm used to working with biological machines." He mutters. "This sort of thing..." He shrugs, clearly not sure how it works. "Is a bit beyond me."
Luckily, Dunia is far more knowledgeable about such things, quickly pointing out the important bits, and making the adjustments necessary!
"Oh, very good!" Strang exclaims proudly, as he shifts into observation mode, making sure to note what happens as she manipulates the machine, and what readings are being shown as she goes.
As the energies dissipate, he can only let out an excited cry.
"Do not worry my friend!" He says to Ilaton. "We'll get you sorted out as well."
He doesn't mention that he's not entirely sure how just yet.
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Returning to Korj's room, to check on the elemental creature, his excitement has not waned.
"See Korj, it worked! Any luck with your friends?" He glances at the golems, not sure if he'd even be able to tell if the spirits within were free or not.
Noticing the petrified man in the corner starting to recover, he gets quite excited once again.
"Ocosten, is it?" He asks, in Jistkan, moving over to check the man out, from a medical standpoint. "Take it easy while I have a look at you. You've been through quite the ordeal."
"I'm afraid you've been out of commission for some time. Ahriman's influences have not been here for millenia now. That battle ended a long time ago."
He glances back to the others, switching to common. "Can you believe it? Imagine what we can learn from this fellow, an actual survivor from the Jistkan Empire! And petrified for eight thousand years?!"
You're not sure if he's more excited about talking to him, or studying the effects of the long petrification on a human body.
"Ocosten... Ocosten... yes, yes, that was my name. Yes, that IS my name! Ocosten, sixth artificer to the grand master of the Jistka Imperium. But what's that you say? Eight thousand years! I hardly know what to say. Who rules Jistka today? And if you are not followers of Ahriman, who are you? And to whom do you owe your allegiance?"
He pauses for a few moments, as if some memories are returning to him. "The last thing I recall, I was protecting myself from golems that had gone berserk. I saw an elemental spirit called an ozimat tear itself free from a destroyed golem and reach toward me. And then, and then, ... nothing. Until now."
"But what of my fellow elementalists at Deep Sky? Did any of them survive the attack?"
"And what of the Citadel of the Weary Sky?"
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"No, the Jistkan Imperium faded with time as well, I'm afraid." Strang responds. "The world is very different now. We are members of an organization known as the Pathfinder Society. Learning about all these lost civilizations and knowledge, is one of our primary goals. I would love to take you to meet our scholars, there is much we could teach each other I suspect."
"As for what happened here, in Deep Sky... that is not as clear. The ozimat did indeed break free from his prison, and raise up against those here. To be honest, the Imperium's penchant for binding others to do their dirty work is really what lead to their downfall in the end... so this was just another precursor I suppose."
"Its been eight millennia, it is a miracle you made it out this end. Certainly no others did, beyond Korj and Ilaton... and neither of them were exactly rooting for you, I suspect. Though there was the ghost, I suppose... she could have been one of yours, but whether she manifests again or not, there's no way to know. Hopefully releasing those energies will let her move along finally as well."
"Which reminds me!" He adds. "Ilaton has been trapped here, in this place all of those years, unable to return home because of some promise made to you. Unfortunately, his mind has not survived as well as the rest of him, but if you could perhaps release him from whatever service he owed you? I think he's more than earned a reprieve."
He continues to chat with the artificer cheerfully, learning what he can, while he can. Assuming he agreed to accompany them back, it was unlikely he'd get the opportunity again.
Ocosten is greatly saddened to hear about the fall of the once-mighty Jistkan empire, having hoped it might recover despite pressure from fledgling nations such as Osirion. However, he takes an immediate interest when you tell him about the Pathfinder Society. "An organization dedicated to recovering ancient lore! I would be delighted to accept your invitation to meet your scholars!" When he realizes what happened at Deep Sky all those years ago, he is angered that the constructs dispatched his fellow elementalists and saddened that he appears to be the only survivor. Still, he readily accedes to your request regarding Ilaton's freedom, considering it the least he can do to repay you for releasing him from his long imprisonment. "Ilaton, you have faithfully discharged your commitment to me, and I now release you to return to your own plane."
Ilaton is overjoyed at the prospect of freedom and, as the energies of the gauge have dissipated he also seems to be slowly regaining some of his mental faculties. If you ask him about what he recalls of the Sage Jewel, he cannot remember much, other than to say he expected its bearer to be issuing cruel and imperious commands. After thanking you for helping him, he departs, giving you his gear as a token of his gratitude.
Korj is also deeply grateful to you for finally completing his ages-long quest to free his brethren. "When the Jistkans had their genie servants create the elemental gauge, they specified that it could only be operated 'upon the touch of a living mortal.' The genies thought nothing of this request, but I discovered to my great regret that neither I nor Ilaton could do anything with it. Once we were friends, joined by our shared confinement, but the long years overwhelmed us: he slipped into madness, and I into solitude. But now at last he is free, and I rejoice for him, as I rejoice for my brethren here, at last released from their imprisonment. We too shall depart from this place and seek a new, happier life, in a place more suited to ozimats such as ourselves." Though Ocosten was once his enemy, and indeed it was Korj who petrified him, he considers that 8000 years as a statue have acceptably punished him, especially since he was merely a cog in the Jistkan system, and he has no objection to him departing with you. Like Ilaton, Korj too rewards you with some various loot long ago left behind here.
If you inquire about the ghost Kalvanon and her undead comrades, Korj informs you that they were the restless spirits of slain Jistkan elementalists. Kalvanon was one of the senior elementalists at the Jaizun Citadel. The retreat to Deep Sky frustrated her, as she felt her comrades were simply hiding out while invading Osirian armies marched upon their home. She believed it was still possible to harness the elemental storm over Jaizun Citadel even as the rebellious golems arose to overthrow their Jistkan masters. Even after her corpse was dumped into the cavern, her obsessive spirit would not rest.
After the completion of your conversation, Korj departs from Deep Sky, together with the spirits of the other golems scattered throughout the complex, now all transformed into ozimats, as they seek out a new ozimat homeland for themselves. With the departure of all the residents, you are free to explore and take notes about the rest of the complex, which, in due course, make their way into the Pathfinder chronicles.
When you return to the lodge, Venture-Captain Obo thanks the PCs for the care taken in their approach, emphasizing the trust that such care has earned the Pathfinder Society with the Concordance of Elements.
Amenopheus meets with the Scarab Sages PCs to express his concern that something hostile lurks within the jewels, and he hopes that with his agents’ ongoing assistance he can determine what it is and how to eliminate it before it brings harm to the faction.
hydraulic push. she has both h push and h torrent, at both tiers. At high tier it seemed like a reasonable option because even 20d6 falling damage wasn't (probably) going to one-shot you. Though I can imagine you might have felt differently about it ;-)