In a stone chamber deep beneath the Pathfinder Society’s headquarters in Absalom’s Grand Lodge, a sea of scribes, scholars, and other studious types hover around a single, worn tapestry laid out carefully in this otherwise austere chamber. Marcos Farabellus, the broad-shouldered Master of Swords, sticks out like a sore thumb in this crowd of erudite individuals. His bald head and wide smile are only intensified through a booming laugh that blasts forth from behind a thick, black beard. “Pathfinders! Gather here.”
The Master of Swords strides toward a tactical map pinned against one of the wooden scaffolds that clutter the room at various angles and heights. With a meaty, scarred hand he points to the well-drawn map. “We discovered the location of the Aspis Consortium’s forays into the Hao Jin Tapestry. Somewhere within this stone sphinx hides the Aspis Consortium’s base of operations. We believe a portal within the building somehow grants the Consortium a back door into our hard-earned Hao Jin Tapestry. I know the tapestry is usually under the purview of my spellcasting counterpart Aram Zey’s, but this mission is of a purely tactical nature: clear out their base and secure the portal for our own use.
“Now, this stone sphinx is believed to contain a shrine dedicated to the demon lord Areshkagal. Whether the Consortium’s working with demon worshiping cultists, I don’t know, so be prepared for anything. I don’t care how you reach the Aspis Consortium’s portal, but we need to teach those greedy profiteers a lesson for trespassing on Pathfinder territory. I need you to get in, wipe the shrine clean of Aspis filth, and secure the tapestry side of their portal. By no means enter it, however. Your job is to secure the site and activate the portal only. The Decemvirate plans to send a more experienced team of agents to investigate what lies beyond. Once you have activated the portal, report back here.
“Any questions before you go into the tapestry?”
Through your success on this mission, the Society will ensure exclusive control of Hao Jin’s extraplanar museum demiplane, and much glory will come to you for your efforts in bringing this about. But we must ensure that the Lantern Lodge is not overlooked as accolades are being awarded for your heroism. While in the Aspis Consortium’s base of operations, attempt to locate any accurate maps they may have of the geography within the tapestry that we may present—as members of the Lantern Lodge—to the Society as a whole. Your Tian brethren will thank you for your extra efforts and our lodge will only increase in respect and influence.
Desna’s luck be with you,
Venture-Captain Amara Li
The demon lord Areshkagal is rumored to come from an Abyssal region riddled with a strange red gemstone. In fact, it is surprising that anything so beautiful could come from somewhere so foul as the Blood Clefts. If the rumor is true, this red gemstone—similar in most respects to the Golarion diamond save for its exotic hue—would fetch a tremendous price at our markets. If you come upon any unflawed samples of this crimson stone, bring them back to me. Not only would I like to confirm the existence of these otherworldly diamonds, but a bauble featuring one would make an exquisite gift for my daughters, don’t you think?
Thank you for indulging me,
Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam
I need you to rescue a business partner of mine named Besnik. The Decemvirate sent Besnik into the tapestry to scout the Aspis base camp over a week ago and he has since failed to return. I believe the Decemvirate sent Besnik to his doom because he had, in the past, and completely of his own volition, sequestered certain valuable relics from the tombs of the world on my behalf, before the Decemvirate had the chance to “research” them. While I hate that he brought me into this by doing me these favors unprovoked, I nevertheless hope he is safe. If he yet lives and you have the chance to free him from whatever bonds the Consortium has him in, covertly give him the message I am sending with you. Do not let anyone see you provide Besnik with my note—after all, the Decemvirate wants him dead.
May your road be long,
Guaril Karela
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Sahar looks perplexed, "Master Farabellus, we travel into the Hao Jin Tapestry to the sphinx, to locate the other end of a portal the souce of which we do not control somewhere on Golarion? Staffed by Aspis Consorium agents? And we may have to deal with minions of a demonlord?"
The fox paces under Sahar's feet nervously.
Knowledge Planes:
Farabellus looks unfazed by Sahar's question. "Yes, Pathfinder. That is precisely what I am asking of you."
Areshkagal appears as a faceless female sphinx with six legs, midnight blue fur, and pale flesh. Her wings are draconic and her tail is a hissing viper. Her unholy symbol is a faceless woman’s head decorated with a bloody pharaonic headdress.
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Before the master of swords had begun his directions to the Pathfinders, Desmond wanders into the room, smelling like a foundry.
"Well I'm sorry, but I needed blanch my arrows. Your baking isn't all that great anyway - just tell people you're providing more minerals for their diet."
As he enters the room, he is followed closely by a wolf. As Desmond sits down, the wolf begins circling his feet to lay down, but instead gives the air a sniff and notices a fox underneath Sahar. "Heel boy," says Desmond softly as he scratches behind the wolf's ear. The wolf lays down with a thump on the floor.
Upon listening to the Master of Swords' words, Desmond blinks hard and shakes his head a bit. "You mean, we're going into the tapestry? If you say so..."
He knows that other planes exist and that portals can be found in strange locations, but the tapestry takes the cake for the ranger.
“Areshkagal is the demon lord of greed, riddles, and magical and mundane portals. She’s the daughter of Lamashtu herself. Whether the stone sphinx in Hao Jin’s collection is active with demons and cultists, we don’t know, but if it is, they will likely present as much of a challenge as the Aspis Consortium will.”
"We sent a spy named Besnik to investigate the Consortium's activity, and while his reports were limited, we know the Aspis have enough guards to secure the site, but how many are there at any given time, we’re not sure. It seems there are always agents coming and going through the portal, and an equal number traveling between the base to other locations in the tapestry. It could be anywhere between a dozen and a hundred agents, for all we know.”
"Now, as for our spy Besnik, we believe he was caught. Whether he still lives remains a mystery to us, at any rate. The Aspis Consortium has not offered any type of prisoner exchange.
"The Pathfinder Society acquired the Hao Jin Tapestry only recently upon our victory at the Ruby Phoenix Tournament. The tapestry contains a pocket demiplane, created by the Tian sorceress Hao Jin to hold her largest and most dangerous treasures. Any creature can select a target location on the tapestry and enter the demiplane instantaneously with the utterance of a command word.
"Behind each arriving creature floats a 2-foot-diameter sphere of pulsing blue light, each visible only to the creature whose journey to the tapestry created it. A creature stepping into its own extraplanar eddy is shifted back to the Material Plane, to the same place it traveled from, with any carried objects."
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"Master, as the spy - Besnik, is it? Well, did he send any information at all that would be useful? Any idea where he was last?"
His brow furrows a bit, "So, go into the plane, locate the portal within the sphinx, deal with any cultists and Consortium hoods we come across, secure the portal for the Society, return here using the extra-whatsit Eddie. That about the size of it?"
"We have not heard any word from Besnik."
"Yes, that's essentially the mission. When you are ready, step up one at a time and I will assist you in entering the tapestry."
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Desmond mutters to himself, "They sent in just one spy? Sounds like poor Besnik was sent on a suicide mission."
He then steps up to the tapestry. "I think it's best if I head through first, make sure that we don't meet up with any kind of welcoming committee." Desmond turns to the Master of Swords, "I am ready."
You step through the tapestry one by one with Aram Zey's help. You arrive in Hao Jin’s realm as the last rays of the demiplane’s arcane sun crest the desert dunes . You appear in the demiplane approximately 100 feet south of the stone sphinx behind a large outcropping of rocks.
The great stone sphinx rises over a sea of brown sand, breaking the otherwise monotonous, dune-filled horizon. Flanking the impressive sculpture, two faceless statues stare eternally into the endless desert. A faint flicker of torchlight dances from within the stone structure, causing the sphinx to belch out strange shadows at irregular intervals. A quiet rustling of nearby palms and the gentle splashing of water offer refuge from the hot sun.
To the west, several palms lap up crystal waters from an oasis that provides a welcome blue to the otherwise brown landscape. The area is mainly desert, and aside from the occasional shrub and rock formation, nothing else stands out.
Dozens of sets of humanoid tracks circumnavigating the oasis.
Desmond identifies the tracks as having been made over the course of several patrols. Desmond also easily identifies three distinct sets of prints among the cluttered tracks. The ground is hard and dry and these tracks likely represent many patrols. It is difficult to determine how often they come out, but it seems like they occur quite frequently (at least a dozen times a day).
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"Sahrek? Sounds like an ogres' name."
Upon arrival in the demi-plane, Sahar stoops touching the sand with her hands. With a note of joy you've rarely heard in her voice she says, "Sayeed Filosten! It is not the sands of Katheer, but oh! It has been so many years since I've last set foot in the sand." The fox seems noticeably uncomfortable walking around in the sand.
After Desmond is done investigating the tracks and sharing the information, "Since we don't know how many snakes are inside that sphinx perhaps we should waylay the patrol when next it passes? Better to spill their blood on the sand, than let them trap us in the belly of that beast. And if they are outfitted for desert protection, it may be difficult to see their faces if you catch my drift."
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"Her largest and most dangerous treasures?" Shan says to himself before being helped into the tapestry.
When the northern monk arrives on the desert plane, Shan looks visibly disturbed. His bushy orange eyebrow ungulate up and down.
"That is a wise idea Sister Sahar. It is bizarre that they would patrol such a small area instead of setting a watch at the entrance."
If there are no immediate threats, Shan checks out the pool of water.
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Desmond follows the tracks a bit. "I agree that an ambush is best." He looks around, "I'm going to post-up right in these rocks. I should be pretty well concealed. Who knows how soon the patrol will be out again."
Sah-rek follows behind Desmond and sits near him among the rocks. Desmond pulls out his bow and knocks an arrow. "What do you think, should we try to talk things out, or do we make with the hurtin' right away?"
The water is deep enough to hide in.
All of the guards stop in their path as they notice Shan, Sahar, Ezrek, and Sahrek. They immediately draw their rapiers.
Desmond's arrow sinks deep and the lead guard is bleeding profusely.
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Sahrek winces at the attack from the Aspis guard. He growls a bit and attacks right back.
If the attack hits, Sahrek also gets a trip attempt.
Desmond is able to dodge the swings from the guards that now surround him. He sees that Shan has one of the guards flanked. Desmond drops his bow, draws his greatsword and swings at the flanked guard.
Sahar's shot misses. Shan runs toward the action. Desmond's crossbow bolt his a rock. Sahrek bites into Guard 1's leg and pulls him to the ground . Desmond pulls out his sword and slices the arm off of Guard 3, who crumples to the ground.
Guard 1 shouts a few obscenities and tries to stab at Sahrek from the ground.
Guard 2 takes a full withdraw and begins to run back toward the sphinx.
Sahrek, upon hearing his master's command rushes to try and stop the other guard from getting any further.
Shan, Sahar, and Sahrek move up to the running guard, although Shan is unable to grab him. Desmond and Ezrek quickly kill the first guard.
The remaining guard will attempt another withdraw action to get to the sphinx, but will provoke from Shan in the process. If Shan is unable to stop him, he has enough movement to get into the sphinx.