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A look of comprehension dawns on Katswiri's face as Kreighton Shaine speaks. "Oh no. This time was not brought to us. We were brought to it. Kreighton, what needs to be done to find the Sky Key Vault? Is it being searched for by spell or by hand, is there likely a need to excavate, do we have any clues to where it may be and what else may stop us from seizing it? And what must be done to sever the connection between the Harbingers of Fate and the Sky Key? Do we slay any of the robed figures touched by the mists, or is there more to it?"
Katswiri hesitates, the next questions on her lips unimportant for their task at hand, but her curiosity gets the better of her. "And just who are the Harbingers? Do you have any idea why they have done this? Is Aroden here, at this time?"
Kreighton nods. "Excellent questions young one. The Hargbiners of Fate are an obscure Arodenite cult dedicated to resurrecting the
dead god by forcing prophecies to come true."
“As for separating the Harbinger of Fate mages from the temporal energy inside them? That’s the lovely part: I’m not completely sure! Advanced magical theory was always more Aram’s bag. But then, it does seem to be a sort of magic, so anything you have to shut down magical effects should do the trick. And if it is a magical effect, it will certainly expire upon their deaths—tragic, certainly, but better than all of us dying here. Then again, these Harbinger spellcasters must be of some relative skill based on the spells they performed. You may be able to coax them into dismissing the effects themselves, though their temporal investitures seem to have made them a bit… erratic.”
“And as to how to find the Sky Key Vault, I don't know. Divine providence? I’m not sure, as it’s made of steel and sky metals, but also buried approximately 30 feet beneath the earth, which shields it from most of our available direct divinations. I remain open to suggestions.”
Despite his words, Shaine ponders the issue for a while longer before offering a few suggestions as to how clues as to the Sky Key Vault's location might be found:
• Make a Knowledge (engineering or geography) or Profession (architect) check to identify displaced earth or foundations resulting from the vault’s appearance underground.
• Other creative skill uses
• Creative use of spells and abilities.
You will need a few 'successes' to gather enough clues to help the efforts to find the Sky Key Vault. If you want to use a skill, you will need to explain how you are using it to gather clues. Same with spell and abilities.
You can roll knowledge checks straight away, but if you are doing something that will take more time, like burrowing underground to search, then post one action or course of action at a time.
Kreighton looks to the next group of Pathfiners and says hurriedly before dashing off, "I must go, good luck Pathfinders!"
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Despite her usual agility Daisy was unable to dodge as the complex began to collapse around them. Startled by the vision of Lady Arodeth -- whoever that was -- she was badly bruised by falling debris.
Making her way over to the others she listened to their discussions with confusion. "Resurrect a god? How is that even poss--" Her comment was cut off as suddenly, everything shifted, reforming into a whole new environment, the ancient Azlanti people surrounding the groups of Pathfinders. Not knowing any language that was close to Azlanti, she didn't even try to communicate with the shouting, surprised time-displaced people.
At least the shift in time came with some benefits... Daisy felt some of her strength come back as the effect of the snakes' poison from earlier in the day, and some of her wounds, disappeared.
When she saw the priestess kiss Katswiri, she was rather startled. Maybe a bit jealous. Well... I can't blame her. In a crazy situation like this...
In response to Kreighton Shane, Daisy nods in thanks for the potion they received.
"This all seems so... out of my depth..." Turning to her teammates, "I don't know what the best way to help would be, but please, just let me know what I can do if you need my aid with anything."
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"Everyone, any ideas how we might find this thing? Kreighton is right that the dirt will block the basic divinations I currently possess. I suggest we start by trying to trace back towards where we think we started the day, then begin searching from there. I think...hm. This way, maybe?" Katswiri looks at the sky, covered by the swirling tendrils of energy. "I am uncertain if it will work, but the lightning and the mists are being projected by the Sky Key. There may be some spatial relationship between its location and the energy flows. Perhaps I will be able to help determine a direction to refine the search."
Once the group finishes backtracking to the best of their ability and starts searching, Katswiri's eyes glaze over and she falls into a trance, arcane knowledge flooding her mind of how the energy patterns holding the group in the past relate to the Sky Key. A few moments later, her eyes regain focus and she starts to quickly examine the details of the energy in the area. "Come on, I hope this works... she mutters under her breath.
Katswiri and Sapper work together to retrace their movements and feel like they have a general idea of the area. Sapper then utilizes his expertise in engineering to study the displaced foundations of the surrounding buildings to great success. While he sets out to do his studying, Katwsiri does studying of her own with the energy in the area.
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Kharina was quite perplexed on how to find the location of the vault. It was an intellectual pursuit and one not really suited to her. Still, she decided that she could give it a try anyway. She thought about where the best place to put a vault that could survive the kind of damage that would black out the sun for so long a time, and then looked to the dome that delineated their pocket of time, she wondered if she could determine where the center was by using the edges of the dome as a guideline. It was worth a try anyway.
The party quickly breaks up and utilizes their many talents to work on locating the exact location of the vault. Having exhausted the tools at their disposal, they quickly transcribe the information they have gathered and relay it back to Kreighton Shaine when he passes by again.
An arc of green lightning gathers above and crashes to the surface, leaving something bizarre in its wake. Kreighton directs them to help elsewhere while he gathers other Pathfinder to begin excavating an entrance using magic and summoned creatures. No sooner than Shaine departs then an arc of green lightning gathers above and crashes to the surface nearby, leaving something bizarre in its wake. It begins to move towards a group of villages, clearly intent on doing something disgusting to them. This blob of protoplasm is somewhat transparent, allowing the bones of undigested meals and a dark nucleus to be seen within.
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"It's a giant amoeba! They're slow, but will grab you if you get to close! Keep away from it and pelt it with ranged attacks!"
Katswiri, not having ranged attacks herself, will follow the first half of her advice and put some distance between herself and the ameoba, drawing her morning star as she does.
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Kharina was utterly repulsed by this...thing. She saw the actions of the others, and heard Katswiri specifically say to stay away from it and made sure to keep her distance. She moved a few steps to get a clear shot and drew her small crossbow, firing at the creature. Her revulsion at the thing caused her shot to fly well wide of the thing, pinging into the building behind it.
Weakened by Sapper's earlier shot, Muroi blasts off a chunk of the right side of creature. Still pulsating however, it looks as if it intends to move towards you any second.
Daisy heeds the advice of Katswiri and throws a dagger into the blob. It seems to hurt it, though it doesn't appear to bleed like a normal creature. The blob slowly moves forward and attacks to slam Sapper, but is too slow and the attack is easily dodged.
Tsadok'ul's frustrated attack is sufficient to chop the blob into so many pieces it is no longer a threat. Once you have regrouped from the attack you quickly look around to try and pinpoint the source of the dome. You see a number of people glowing with an unearthly green radiance, similar to the dome overhead and the strange lightning that deposits monsters from the past.
The first you come across is a human female wearing fashions very similar to that of the ancient Azlanti folk all around you. She is nervously looking to the sky, eyes in near panic.
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"Friend!" Katswiri moves to the woman and puts her hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "It is going to be alright. You see the fiery rock in the sky, yes? Your leader's attempt to use the Sky Key has accidentally transported us back to the time of Earthfall. Though Aroden yet lives, he is but a mortal man at this time and not here to view or save. Doom comes for us from the sky, but all is not lost. We can return home, but need your help to save us all. Please, release the power flowing through you. Help us, and we can undo what has been done to you and return home, away from this time of death."
At first the woman is quite resistant to Katwsiri's claims. It becomes evident however when her face pales though that she knows exactly what the big rock in the sky represents. Through the oracles excellent knowledge of ancient history she is able to clearly point out the discrepancies in the mage's story. The woman slowly claps in her hands and says "I suppose you want me to release part of my magical might? You have shown yourself knowledgeable and diplomatic, so I will grant your request. Now begone and enjoy the beauty of Absalom as it was supposed to be!" The barrier on her side of the dome weakens some, become slightly more transparent.
A bit further away you see a man sitting behind a table, he seems to be shuffling some cards and clearly looks out of place. Suddenly he spots you and calls out. "Ah, more travelers. Welcome, welcome. I see you too have sought out Binui Skostravalus, master fortune teller! Come closer, and lets see what the fates have in store for your."
He appears to be of Varisian descend. As he beckons you closer, there appears to be no malice or subterfuge in his invitation.
"Do you want me to read your past, present and future or do we play a simple game of Towers?" he asks while shuffling a deck of harrow cards
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Muroi looks at the man trying to determine what intentions he has.
If the man has good intentions, Muroi says "Man, there is no time to play right now. I would love to know about my future, but at this time we don't have time. If we cross again after our mission, I would love to know about my future."
If the man has bad intentions, Muroi says "Man, let me know what are your true intentions here. It seems there is no time to games."
The man laughs heartily and quite loudly, "NONSENSE! With the chaos all around, now is the time for games half-man! Come, sit, sit! Sit down and I will perform a harrowing for you."
He shuffles the cards expertly from one hand to another, moving them with the same sort of razzle-dazzle that one would expect from a street magician. "We’re in the end times, now, can’t you see? Portents of doom in the sky, portents of doom in the cards. Time storms, Pathfinders, these Azlanti fools and Harbingers of Fate like myself." He lays down nine cards facedown onto the table, staring at each of you.
"These three columns are your life." He points to the three cards in the left column. "This is the past."
Flip. Although the card is labeled ‘The Peacock’, it looks more like a ravaged wyvern sitting on top of a skull. It wields a key.
"The Peacock! The Peacock is a creature of astonishing beauty, but it is a beauty that can only be retained if frozen like a cockatrice’s statues. Smarter people accept the passage of time and dance out of The Peacock’s way. Its appearance always signifies a sudden personal shift in attitude or societal change. Perhaps a change as momentous as what the Harbingers of Fate are creating right now. How appropriate that it belongs to the suit of keys, when the fate of a key and the fate of the world hang in the balance?"
Flip.
"The Publican. Fellowship and Camaraderie, a place of refuge for those in need, but... it is misaligned. Perhaps the refuge is false. Perhaps it was a place where you once thought you belonged, but found out that you didn’t." He looks you over and sneers. "This is the card of orphans, outcasts and Pathfinders."
Flip.
“Interesting. The Locksmith. " He grins with satisfied glee, and points to a card that looks like a thief in the night, holding on to a host of keys. "The locksmith presents the subject with the keys she needs to unlock her destiny. He grants the tools to access a new location, clue, or treasure. He does not grant insight into how or where to use the tools granted. This card often represents a strange, ancient, or magical object." He laughs. "Know of any of those that you might have lost, lately?"
He expertly gathers all the cards and shuffles them again "Now for that game of towers..."
"HA!" the man shouts loudly, slapping the table with his palm. Looking up at Sapper he shakes his head slowly, a sly grin on his face. "You're good, you're good. Well played sir! Well played."
The man steeples his fingers and looks at Sapper, "You won, so what is it I can do for you sir?"
The man with the harrow deck claps his hands. "Alright Pathfinder, thank you for playing my game. I will step out of your way now and release my anchor."
He picks up his harrow cards, kisses them, and then lets go, the green light spiraling out of his mouth until there's nothing left. He coughs and says, "That's that. Go find the rest of the fools, then! Have fun chatting up Gad Gemple!" He laughs, hollowly. "The deluded idiot thinks that he's a god, and that all this is for his ascension day!" He points to the meteor lighting up the sky.
He giggles, tossing you a harrow card called, 'The Empty Throne.' "Remember! Those who are gone will always be with us! They teach us important lessons, but do you have the time to learn them? I don't think so! Ha ha ha ha!"
Searching in the area that the harrow deck dealer suggested, the group finds what another human male dressed in robes with a dagger at his belt and no visible armor. Beyond giving off a green glow, he is indeed acting strangely. He seems to be strolling along without a care in the world, walking up to the occasional citizen too flabbergasted to move away in time, and upon reaching them, makes a large gesture of munificence, appearing to be granting his blessing upon the confused Azlanti citizen. None of you think he is casting any spells, you sense no divine power. More like someone who's a few components short of a cantrip.
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Kharina found the whole ordeal becoming very...strange. First there was this woman who was connected to the anchors. Katswiri quickly talked her down and convinced her to release the power so that we could help get them all home. Then they came upon the card player, Kharina was still bemused, and actually becoming quite aroused by the chaos around them, she found herself quickly becoming useless to accomplishing anything. When the game was done and the man kissed each of them Kharina followed her gut reaction and turned the kiss into something very passionate and would likely have tried to take him right then and there if she didn't have work to do still to get back to her own time. When they then found the man who glowed green and was obviously insane Kharina felt a pull and approached him to ask, "Who are you and what, exaclty, are you doing?"
The man smiles genially as he sees you, and waves. “Oh hello, you’re just in time! I’m about to have my ascendancy. Would you like to come join my followers? My name is Gad.” He dances merrily, handing a chrysanthemum to each of the women in the group. He prestidigitates it to match each of your outfits, and puts extra sparkles on it for Katswiri. Then, not to be rude, he also puts a flower in the lapel of the men as well. “I’m not quite sure what I’m going to be god of... Grandpa Aroden has not make that clear to me yet. Do you think it’s flowers? I do so like flowers!”
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"Oh! Thank you Gad, its beautiful." Katswiri smells the flower, inhaling deeply. "I have always loved flowers, the way they smell and the delicate, colorful curves of their petals. Unfortunately, we have little time to admire the flowers. We must talk about your ascension."
"We have been trying to find a way to survive the Earthfall, and have come to discover that your ascension to godhood is the key. Once you ascend to your rightful place, you will be able to protect us from the fiery impact and restore us to an altered time in the present. We've consulted with Lady Arodeth and Kreighton Shaine, and we believe that the temporal distortion energies from the Sky Key are forming a fourth dimensional barrier between the ethereal boundary plane and your soul's ethereal projection. It is blocking the application of divine power needed to extract your soul to the great beyond. You need to release the Sky Key's power, and when the barrier drops, you will be able to ascend. We've worked with the others to drop their parts of the interfering barrier, but you must drop your part as well and quickly, before we are all doomed."
Gad listened to Katswiri's explanation and was easily caught up in her extravagant solution. Seemingly entranced he nodded his head as she spoke and was about to respond when a flaming green blob plummets from the sky and lands directly between Katswiri and Gad, slamming into the ground with a wet splashing sound. Arising out of the blob is yet another one of the giant amoebas the group fought earlier. Curious as to what it is, Gad peers at the object with interest. "What the..."
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With the sudden attack by the amoeba thing Kharina called out to the man, "Back away from that thing!" With that said she did something very unusual for her, she quickly moved to put herself in harms way to protect someone. She took the chance that the amoeba would be too off guard to do anything about her and moved right past it before drawing her morningstar and preparing to fight it.
The blob clearly has no reflexes and does nothing to move out of the way of the small meteors as they blast into it's gelatinous body. Gad looks at Kharina curiously, and then steps back several feet with a smirk on his face. Clearly he does not believe himself capable of being injured here.