You are awaiting your briefing.
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Alie wasn't her chipper little self as she drew this mission. Her last one had ended poorly, as she had been kidnapped by some awful xill, before being returned by a search team. It was the first unsuccessful expedition she had been engaged on.
She quietly sat in the corner, nibbling on a bite of cheese, and barely touching her tiny glass of wine. She had a clear look of worry on her face, not her normal chipper smile.
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Terramor dismounted from Morningstar, his magnificent stallion and boon companion, entering the Lodge with a clatter of plate armor and the heavy tread of one quite sure of his position.
On spying the sorceress and assessing her mood, Terramor gave her a formal bow, accompanied by not-unpleasant scents of musk, steel and oiled leather. "Fear not, good lady. I am Terramor, knight of the Order of the Dragon, sworn to protect my companions at all costs. My specialty is protecting spell casters. Stay near me and I shall keep you from harm throughout our mission."
Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir rubs sleep from his eyes as faint pre-dawn light filters into his office. He shutters the window as a thrush begins singing loudly in the garden below before gesturing for everyone to have a seat and addressing the matter at hand. “I’ve received a request from the Diamond Sage, Tahonikepsu, the leader of the Jeweled Sages. You may be familiar with her as an associate of Amenopheus, long-time friend of the Society and our trusted expert on matters of Ancient Osirion. She has asked the Pathfinder Society to send its best Osirionologists to the Pillars of the Sun to help explore a sealed-off area in the sages’ stronghold there—so I have recommended you.”
He searches his desk for quill and ink and scribbles out two notes, sealing one with wax imprinted with the Way of the Open Road. “I’ve made arrangements with a caravan to Eto and provided directions from there to the Pillars of the Sun. Once you’ve reached the Pillars, Tahonikepsu has promised a guide to see you the rest of the way. We have maps and sketches from the last expedition if you want to familiarize yourself with the site, and I have also withdrawn several scrolls from our reserves in case your Ancient Osiriani is rusty. Feel free to arrange alternate transport—at your own expense. Don’t try using magic to reach the sanctum directly, though; there’s no telling where you’d end up.”
The venture-captain rises from his seat to see everyone off, and hands over the two letters. “Show the first letter to the caravan master. The sealed one is your letter of introduction to the Diamond Sage. Remember, the Jeweled Sages are invaluable allies in our exploration of Ancient Osirion, and it’s a privilege to be invited into their sanctum. Treat everything there with care, and help to preserve the region’s past.”
As promised, Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir gives you three scrolls of comprehend languages, a scroll of tongues, and a field primer . You have a few hours to purchase supplies and research the Jeweled Sages or the Pillars of the Sun before the caravan departs, and of course Venture-Captain Balentiir is available for questioning.
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A dwarf wearing smoked goggles, a pith helmet, and a musket on his shoulder enters the room and nods to the Venture Captain. "Aye, I've met the ma....lad...whatever she is. Also been to those damnable hot Pillars. Reason why I got me this helmet." He say, inclining his head. "Took the time to learn Ancient Osirani as well."
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"The Pillars are in central Osirion." Maps says from a place near the window. In his hands he holds a plain leather-wrapped notebook, which he was reading prior to the meeting. Leaning against the wall nearby is his cold iron guisarme, that despite its craftsmanship and prominence, is a secondary weapon to the firearms holstered beneath his coat. "Harsh place, full of monsters, ruins, in a maze of rough, mountainous terrain. Guessing it's probably hot."
The Venture Captain nods at Alie and Map. "Some cool clothing would be recommended and perhaps even some magical protection against the hot weather. Sandstorms will be a concern on your way there and make sure you bring plenty of water."
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Wreck is a half-orc, if he isn't in his tribal painted full plate, with the symbol of Gorum etched into it, you would see, just like his plate, he is covered in tattoos. He has a very fine cloak on, and a very thick belt too
He has a few scars on his body, also, carrying a greataxe that seems to be translucent at times. Also a Comp Longbow he carries around.
At a glance he looks mean and scary, but once you get to know him...
He's a friendly guy, a bit slow maybe. But he has a good heart and is always there to protect. A true defender
Wreck walks in. He looks around. A huge grin on his face when he sees all the familiar faces
"Wreck greet old friends! And new ones!"
Walking over to Alie he gives her a tight hug
"Wreck no remember Alie to be sad. Alie happy one! How can Wreck help? Maybe Wreck go scare one who made friend Alie sad?"
Then looking at the VC, he lowers his head
"Wreck sorry. Wreck forget manners sometimes. Wreck ready to help!"
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"Hrrmm, that is most unfortunate, Miss. I heard a small retired halfling singing a blues song about that mission.
That mission was rough, with all the casualties.
Fear not, however. I am certain with Masters Maps and Wreck and the others, we will be fine this time. Although,
I better pick up another scroll or three to be able to supplement our water supply."
Looking around at the others, Fendahl bows to each in respect.
You encounter no noteworthy obstacles in your journey west to Eto and then south to the Pillars of the Sun. There, two sage acolytes wait for you: a handsome young Garundi man in white robes named Garai Weheliye and a sweating, middle-aged Taldan woman named Helena Arendall. They greet you excitedly and lead you to meet Tahonikepsu.
The Diamond Sage personally maintains a twisting path between the many peaks of the Pillars of the Sun, chasing away monsters that would otherwise hunt along the route. Garai and Helena lead you along this trail, guided by hidden glyphs they sense with the aid of detect magic.
The Sanctum of the Sages is an extensive underground complex set into the side of a mountain. At a distance, illusions disguise the structure’s features. Within about a hundred feet, however, the illusion fades, revealing a beautifully engraved facade and door carved directly into the mountain face. A dozen acolytes live outside the sanctum in a small tent community, where they meditate and debate the finer points of Nethys’s holy text, the Book of Magic.
Tahonikepsu waits inside the entrance hall. Ornate rugs and a small pile of sitting pillows create a small soft space in the marble room, where a finely dressed Garundi woman sits by a fountain. She looks up from a puzzle of broken pottery fragments as the two escorts announce the Pathfinders. After thanking and dismissing Garai and Helena, she beckons her visitors forward. “Welcome, Pathfinders. You and your venture-captain have my thanks for agreeing to aid us. I am Tahonikepsu, the Diamond Sage.”
She then requests the Pathfinders’ letter of introduction and reads it carefully before again addressing you.
“The venture-captain has great faith in you. I shall extend you the same courtesy.” She gestures for everyone to sit before continuing. [b]“My sage jewel grants me some knowledge of this complex, and my own research has confirmed many of those memories. That said, the site’s long abandonment has made exploration difficult. I believe the next most productive step would be to reopen the archive, whose interior has defied out attempts at divinations. On the lowest floor of the library reside the written history of our order and a crystalline artifact attuned to the sage jewels. I would like you to explore the area, inventory the contents, and report your findings to me. Please be careful; these halls contain delicate, irreplaceable cultural treasures and writings.”[/i] She gives a knowing look to Wreck when she says this last bit.
"I have expended considerable effort communing with the memories of my predecessor, who was so kind as to store her memories and those of her proteges in the sage jewel I carry. Even then, not every memory is perfect, and her knowledge is limited to what she personally knew or saw."
"So you understand, then, that I am not sure the extent of the collection or the guardians or traps that might lie in wait. The sage who bore the amethyst jewel was responsible for the archive, along with several assistants. The Diamond Sage, whose jewel I bear, had other responsibilities and did not have first-hand knowledge of the archives. I do know the archive is divided into three levels. Librarians cataloged acquisitions on the first floor, repaired them on the next, and stored them in the library below, which is accessible only through a special gateway. The portal requires a sage jewel to activate, and should activate when I unseal the complex. In not, await my return."
"I will be here, but I have numerous responsibilities and I hope that my partnership with you will allow to alleviate this one responsibility without my intervention at least for the time being."
After a 50-foot descent, you arrive at the Halls of Study, where the sages examined new acquisitions. Fragrant scents float on the warm breeze that circulates around the columned entrance chamber. Jasmine, grapevines, mandrakes, and anemones grow from pots hanging around the room, bibrant and fruitful despite the lack of sunlight. Sycamore saplings fill the alcoves, and a phosphorescent moss has overgrown some of the walls and ceiling. A great seal bearing a written inscription covers the center of the floor.
As you stand in this entrance chamber, a strange sight suddenly greets your eyes and ears: you hear a moaning from the hall in front of you as a pair of mummies suddenly stumble into view. They seem to be charging into battle straight down the hallway and a split second later you see them meet their foes: a large fire elemental charging at them from the south, three small fire mephits flying about its head and shooting firey rays at the mummies!
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"Wreck no understand. Monsters. Yes? But why we not fighting monsters?"
as he points to the battle going on, while getting his weapon ready and locking it into place
-Posted with Wayfinder
The mummies and elementals continue to battle each other, struggling to gain the upper hand over the other faction! While watching you notice that the mummies have dozens of valuable amethyst fragments integrated into their wrappings and that the flames leaping off of the elemental are starting to burn some of the scroll sitting in the ancient pottery arrayed in small alcoves along the hall.
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"Hrrmm, that will not do. The fire creatures may be destroying that which we seek. Kirrah, come!"
Fendahl casts resist fire (communal) on himself, Kirrah, Wreck and Sir Terramor. (If he can reach Alie, add her as well).
"Master Wreck and Master Terramor, if you want to engage, let me know, otherwise Kirrah and I will move in...but will block the hallway."
Fendahl protects some of the party against fire as Maps puts a bullet in one of the mephits! Alie then creates a pit. The elemental leaps out of the way but one of the mummies falls in!
meph: 14 dmg
Undeterred, the mephits fly over the pit and breath fire on the mummy! The mummy deals a blow and knocks one of the mephits out of the air!
mum: 9 dmg