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"You don't have to tell me twice!", Nikolai says, grabbing Janira's bag and heading into the cave.
"Seems like we're going to need torches in here."
"Yeah, I'm on it. Let's see what Pint-Sized had on her." He opens her knapsack and begins rifling through it, ostensibly looking for torches, but anything useful certainly catches his eye.
After fleeing into the caves you see the minotaur chasing after Janira through the trees, fighting its way through the dense undergrowth. Soon the cacophony of the chase fades and the sounds of the forest slowly return to normal.
After looking through the backpack you find several meticulously labeled items.
Potion of barkskin, potions of cure light wounds (2), potion of feather step, potion of vanish, scroll of entangle, scroll of gust of wind, scroll of identify, scroll of mage armor (CL 6), scroll of obscuring mist, wand of burning hands (CL 3rd, 4 charges), wand of cure light wounds (CL 3rd,8 charges), alchemist’s fire (2), holy water, smokestick, tanglefoot bag, thunderstone, antitoxin, sunrods (2)
This cave system stretches deep below the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, though most of it is accessible only through a narrow keyhole tunnel. All of the tunnels in this area are between 3 and 10 feet wide and vary equally in height, though most are a comfortable 7 or more feet wide in each dimension. The caves are damp, . Water dripping from stalactites and the distant rushing of underground streams creates an eerie backdrop as you explore. The caves’ walls are patterned with blue-green luminescent fungi that provide dim light.
Petroglyphs—most depicting marine animals or spiral shapes—periodically decorate the tunnels’ walls, becoming increasingly frequent. The rough surface of the carvings provides a natural platform for the fungi, causing it to grow thicker and making the carvings glow slightly brighter than their surroundings.
The narrow tunnel twists and turns for several hundred feet before slowly opening to a wider passage. A large hole spans the cave’s width and stretches ten feet down the path. The pit is filled up halfway with water. At the bottom of the pit, half submerged in the water, lies a small bundle of cloth. The tunnel here is 10 feet wide and 10 feet tall with a ceiling mostly devoid of stalactites.
You can determine that the hole in the ground is artificial
Above spoiler, plus: you can tell that the pit is at least a year old
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"I do hope Janira will be alright," Professor Faust says. "But she is our teacher here, and we are the students. She will teach with whatever methods she finds suitable."
He takes the two flasks of alchemist's fire from Janira's pack. "If no one minds, of course," he says.
He looks into the pit ahead of them. He coughs several times and looks confused as to the best way to bypass the hole.
"Rope might come in handy here," he says as he removes a coil of rope from his pack.
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Seleena wraps one end of the Professor's rope around her waist, hands the other end to Nikolai, and calmly climbs down into the pit to retrieve the wet bundle of cloth, then makes her way back up and hands the cloth to the professor.
"If we can secure the rope to something on the other side somehow, I can get across."
Seleena recovers the cloth and, unfolding it, notices that it is a cloak for a medium-sized person. Kazzak can detect that it is magical, but lacks the skill to identify it.
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Aznive waits her turn to dive into Janira's backpack. "I'd like these," she says as she withdraws one potion of cure light wounds and two sunrods from the backpack.
She moves her hand along the wall, trying to figure out how difficult it would be to climb to the other side. Or maybe I could make the jump. The ground seems slippery, but I've had worse and it's only about ten feet.
As Seleena mentions tying the rope on the other hand, she thinks of something in the backpack. "Janira had a tanglefoot bag in there. Maybe that would be strong enough to hold the rope down? Or did anyone bring a set of pitons, maybe?"
"Man-made, indeed. I think it's fairly old, though. This has been here for at least a year."
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Nikolai braces as he lowers the half-orc into the pit, allowing her to reclaim the parcel. When talk comes to pitons, Nikolai unshoulders his pack. "It's like nobody knows how to prepare for a job anymore," he grumbles, pulling out some rope, a hammer, and some pitons. "Here, someone set about hammering the Prof's rope into this side," he says as he takes a seat, beginning to tie large knots in the rope at regular intervals. "I should be able to make it up the other side with little trouble. Once I'm there, I'll hammer this rope into that side, toss it in. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy."
Nikolai's ingenuity creates a makeshift rope bridge that allows you to traverse the pit with little difficulty.
Ironically, approximately 30 feet beyond the pit and out of sight around a corner is a long, 3-foot-wide wooden plank that rests against the cave’s wall.
The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.
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"Nice work, Nikolai."
As they more further through the tunnels and come across the long plank, Aznive studies it for a moment. That's awfully convenient. Something feels off here... Or is this what the inhabitants use to pass the pit on their way out? Like a drawbridge being lowered?
--
Standing besides Seleena, she studies the glyphs. Some of them seem vaguely familiar, but she can't make heads or tails of the others.
With a little collaboration, the aspiring Pathfinders can discern quite a bit of information.
The carvings here are different in style from the petroglyphs found elsewhere in the caves. Scattered throughout the cave are inscriptions from the History and Future of Humanity, the principle holy text of Aroden, and images that depict these passages. The carvings focus on parables that feature Aroden’s 12 guises, meant to illustrate his hopes for humanity, but only 4 of the 12 remain (the others being too eroded): farmer, fisherman, merchant, scholar.
The sections of the holy text depicted are slightly different than those that appear in the known version of the History and Future of Humanity, suggesting that these might represent an earlier version of the work.
The Farmer is depicted plowing four lines in a field, retelling Aroden’s prophecy that humankind would prepare the rocky earth for planting and over generations wear the pebbles down into fertile soil.
The Fisherman is depicted hauling in an enormous catch of small fish to take back to Absalom, illustrating Aroden’s declaration that a great host of creatures could accomplish a great task, whether that be taming the wilds or feeding a nation.
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Seleena simply nods in agreement as Kazzak shares his findings, only speaking up if he leaves out any details.
Seleena looks into the other part of the cave.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Aznive walks around the cavern a few times, studying the various images and inscriptions, interpreting them with the help of the others. As she makes her rounds, she's talking to no one in particular while ordering her thoughts.
Now, I'm not big on religion - although a pint in Cayden's temple has never done me wrong - but I don't get it. We're being led into this cave - in the mountains - because of some gillman that we haven't seen any track or trace of. And then there's these inscription that don't seem to make sense. So I was thinking..." There's a pause as Aznive is putting some things together. "This assignment is our last mission as Pathfinder recruits, right? Could it be that we're here to learn some final lesson? I'm looking at these feats of Aroden, and they seem to match up perfectly with the tenets of the Society: Explore, Report, Cooperate. Just like Aroden here," she points a finger at one of the carvings, "wants the people to gather knowledge and spread it. To work together for great results. For the betterment and prosperity of everyone."
"How does that sound? Does anyone know what the other eight would have been? Maybe that'll give us some more information."
In the silence, Aznive has a thought that she doesn't share yet. Does that mean that this entire Confirmation is a sham? Was the Minotaur outside planted there, or something, just to give Janira an excuse to let us go on without her?
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Nikolai listens to what the rest of the party says about the inscriptions and faded statues with interest. He glances at the one that Kazzak identifies as a farmer. "Really? A farmer?", he says skeptically, his neck angling first to the left, then to the right. "Well, if you say so."
"Could it be that we're here to learn some final lesson? I'm looking at these feats of Aroden, and they seem to match up perfectly with the tenets of the Society: Explore, Report, Cooperate. Just like Aroden here," she points a finger at one of the carvings, "wants the people to gather knowledge and spread it. To work together for great results. For the betterment and prosperity of everyone."
Nikolai snorts as he hears Aznive speak up. "Yeah, for the betterment and prosperity of everyone - except that some of those everyones get better prosperity than the rest of us. If you think that the Society has a moral obligation to help humanity, well, there's this partially built bridge in Magnimar I'd like to sell you."
Seleena simply nods in agreement as Kazzak shares his findings, only speaking up if he leaves out any details.
Seleena looks into the other part of the cave.
Seleena scouts ahead a bit, finding:
The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface.
Kneeling in the water by the “city” is a lone gillman. He has his back turned to you and doesn’t seem to notice you.
The city in the water--Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey. All of you can identify the diorama as an intricately detailed model of Absalom, easily identifiable by its Starstone Cathedral.
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Aznive strides up close to Nikolai, standing just a couple of inches inside his personal space to show that she means it. She doesn't like to be derided and a flaring temper makes her voice a bit louder than necessary.
"A moral obligation? No. But a purpose? Yes, or course! What are we doing otherwise? Just writing a report to land in some desk somewhere? Hauling in artifacts that will only disappear in the vaults from one of the Decemvirate? I don't buy it. Sure, there's inequality and I don't say that we can fix all of that. But by the Gods, when we're out there, in the world, we see things. And we can change things. And if you just turn a blind eye and walk away from that, I know where you can put that bridge of yours."
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Nikolai doesn't budge an inch as Aznive closes the space between them. Rather than the awkwardness she likely intended, Nikolai is more amused than anything else. "Lady, if you think that people aren't using us for their own purposes, then you need to wake up. Sure, we're exploring tombs and finding out the weird stuff that's been hidden after Earthfall and whatever, but we're hardly lone operators. At the very least, we're all working for shadowy masters that hide what they look like under helmets that change their body shape. And while that's weird, others are using us for their own purposes. The only change they want to see is the change that can line their coinpurses. So excuse me if I sound a bit cynical to your starry-eyed optimism - try living in the City of Strangers for a time, and see how quickly that's beaten out of you."
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Professor Faust holds a handkerchief to his mouth and coughs softly. When he pulls it away, it appears to be slightly bloodied.
He watches the interaction between Aznive and Nikolai with interest, but does not seem to have the energy or desire to intervene.
Looking at the massive cavern and the diorama of the city, he moves forward.
"Fascinating. Most fascinating, indeed. Perhaps this is the gillman we are looking for. If any of you would speak on our behalf, it would....errr...perhaps it would count for extra-credit."
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Aznive's temper shows in a clenched jaw then she notices that she's met with amusement. Her stance softens, though, when she hears Nikolai explaining himself. Well, he isn't dumb. Nikolai spoils it be her a starry-eyed optimist, which is met with a warning raised eyebrow. "Look, I can't argue with a lot of what you're saying. Sure, there's a lot of unknowns about the leadership of this club we're joining. Surely they are 'using us' in their own way. But I can't be sure about what their reasons are. And that means that you can't be sure either. Your guess is as good as mine. And even so, that doesn't mean that I can't have my own reasons. I believe... No, I know that there are people in the society who feel the same way I do." Have I said too much?
Aznive takes on a more emphatic tone, taking a different approach in an effort to be understood. "I've never been to Kaer Maga, or to Magnimar for that matter. There's a lot of rough places out there, I know. I'll be the first to admit that I've had a pretty easy run in life so far, but that doesn't make me naive, or an optimist. I see it as pure necessity. Something has to be done, and I won't wait around for others to stand up. Who will, if I won't?"
At that moment, Aznive is distracted by the professor caughting, and she notices the blood. "Are you all right, professor? ... What, are you serious? There's actually a gillman in here?" She gives Nikolai a well-meant shrug. "Sorry, big guy. Seems like we have to settle this some other time." A gillman? So it wasn't a sham? I have to see this.
She gives Nikolai an opportunity to respond, and then rushes into the tunnel with the blue torches to see what's up.
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"Well, on that we can agree," Nikolai says, a bit more reconciliatory. "You can wait your whole life for someone to stand up for you, or you can get on your own damn feet and stand up for yourself. You learn that fast in Kaer Maga. And you also learn that people who want to change things always say it will be 'for the better.' Those people usually either end up heartbroken, dead, or worse. Maybe you'll be an exception, though."
Nikolai also turns as the Professor coughs, but he is blind to the red stain that colors the man's handkerchief. "So Pint-Sized was right. So...anyone speak Gillmantalk?"
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"Let's just try common first, shall we" says Aznive as she walks up to the water.
With her arms outstretched, away from the rapier at her side, Aznive walks up towards the gillman. Well, well. A real gillman after all. And a miniature Absalom?
In a soft and friendly voice, so as not to startle, she speaks to the gillman in Common. "Excuse us. We mean you no harm. We came here to investigate. Can you tell us why you are here?"
There is no response to your words at all. However, when Aznive disturbs the surface of the water even slightly, the gillman turns around.
He is bent-backed and his face is lined with age, and the old man watches you closely.
Who are you? What is your purpose here?
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Nikolai reflexively drops into a defensive stance as the gillman begins to turn on the group, only lowering his fists once it's clear that he is not immediately interested in escalating things. "Name's Nikolai, and like the lady said, we're here exploring. And trying to find out why a gillman like you would come this far inland."
My reasons are my own, Nikolai, the gillman says, without further comment.
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Great, Nikolai thinks after the gillman responds to his question. This guy's almost as stubborn as I am. This is going to go nowhere fast. We might have a way into his confidence, but let's see how Starry-Eyes does first with her words. He folds his arms in front of him and lets the Taldane swordswoman take over the conversation.
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Hrmpf, this man could be an oread. Sounds just as gruff as Rumble, and his features tell me nothing!
Erm, very well. We won't question your motives. Can you tell us about this place, then? It seems like a magical place, with the carving further up, and this model of Absalom. Does does cave hold any special meaning to you? We have heard from a friend that you visit here when the moon is full..."
Aznive looks at her companions for some support or ideas. This isn't at all like talking to some hothead Taldan noble.
"Gillman want cloak? Yours looks like one we found swallowed up by pit earlier. Is this cloak belong to you?" Rumble nods at the cloak that the group had procured earlier.
Yes, the cloak is mine. You...would gift this to me?