Bump bump!
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..!
Each of you received a missive from you Venture-Captain. The message concise and curt. "Make your way to the River Kingdoms...Emerald Spire has been opened up for exploration. A contact will meet you in Fort Inevitable.....
By horse, boat, and foot, you've all made your way up to the rolling plains near the West Sellen River. Looming above you is Fort Inevitable, a formidable stronghold of Hell Knights bent on bringing law and order to this lawless land, and providing the only safe place to conduct commerce for dozens, if not hundreds of miles around.
Walking through the cheerless, drab cobblestone streets, populated by by two and three story tiled roofed buildings, the inhabitants are an industrious and serious lot, though lacking a welcoming mien.
Sitting in a quiet tavern, you are approached my a man dressed in the fashion of Brevoy and carrying an Aldori dueling sword on his hip. He glances around the subdued common room, then says. "You must be the recruits they sent up to risk your lives in the Spire, eh?" He says, shaking his head. "Name's Vitor. Vitor Bresnarov."
Grabbing a chair, he seats himself at the table and motions to the barkeep. "The Spire is six miles to the northeast. If you require anything, buy it here. There's nothing else around for miles." Taking a long drink from the tankard set in front of him by the serving maid, he continues. "I can't tell you much about the Spire, having never delved it myself. In fact, you lot will be the first to document it. Any questions you have, I'll try to answer the best I can."
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Makkoa tried to keep his hood on as much as possible in the city limits. Hellknights always made him uncomfortable, as they never seemed to trust his Orc blood. He was a little shorter than the average half Orc, and the only things that stood out about him were his shiny Falchion and a large lump of a Spellbook, jutting out of his rucksack.
"Nice to meet you, Vitor. I'm Makkoa. This is my first mission for the Society. Do you know anything about the history of the spire? Does anywhere in town sell hardware for an exploration such as this, like ropes, pitons, and the like?"
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"Why open the Spire to an expedition now?" A scowling dwarf demands. "Somethin change recently?"
Born in Rolgrimmdur and trained as a warrior priest, Aillig's skills served him well in the city watch as an inquisitor ferreting out criminals and troublemakers. He was suspicious of everything, some even said he was paranoid, but he was successful at his job and a very good interrogator. Unfortunately, his skill with diplomacy and tact was atrocious (even by Dwarven standards), and one day he employed his skills to proclaim the guilt of the son of an influential Forgemaster to hard labor. When he suggested the Forgemaster might also be corrupt he quickly found his authority stripped and his reputation in jeopardy.
Believing a conspiracy among the city guard was to blame for the turn of events Aillig left his home to seek Torag's justice elsewhere and on his own terms. He set out from the Five Kings Mountains and traveled many Varisian trade routes as a caravan guard.
A few years later Aillig met a Pathfinder, the Baron Maximo Interresante, who convinced Aillig to seek a higher purpose with his skills. Traveling to Absalom, he offered his service to the Society and was in time confirmed into their ranks.
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Exploring crypts is a bit of a interst of mine, closed off dungeons created by unknown sources... Seems similar enough... I have recently trained with the Bold Striders here in the River Kingdoms, so I am familiar with the area, but nothing was mentioned of the "Emerald Spire". I will have to let Karu know of this development. The Osiriani seems relaxed as he reclines in one of the chairs, arms resting on the back of the chair. He has no questions himself, preferring to improvise and fully experience a place, but he doesn't mind listening any information offered by the man in response to his partners' questions.
Vitor sits back and puts his boot up on the table. "The Spire is old, heh.....no one knows for sure who built it. Most scholars believe it is an Azlanti ruin or workshop."
Taking another pull from his tankard, he wipes the foam from his beard with the back of his sleeve. "As far as provisions, there is Braddon's. He keeps a good supply of gear around. Being the only settlement around, you can find most anything you need, or at least have it made buy the local blacksmith, leatherworker, or what have you. It's not a large twon, so most people don't have a lot of money to buy rare relics and such, but we can always use Society channels to obtain or unload rarer items."
Shrugging, he continues. "When I say opened up, I merely mean, the Society has decided to take an interest in it. People in the past have entered the Spire, but few have returned to tell about it. A wizard explored the upper levels a few years back, but never returned from his last delve. After this much time, its hard telling what may lay in wait. I've heard this area was once overrun by goblins in the distant past, led by some goblin king named Zog or something. Aside from that, I don't know."
The waitress stops by and hands Vitor a letter. Pausing, he opens it and reads it a few times before looking up. "It appears I've been called to Varisia for mission. Town called Ravenmoor." Standing, he nods to you. "Well, I'd best be off. Good luck to you all!"
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After procuring any last minute equipment, the party hikes out to the Emerald Spire. As you approach the crumbling ruin, you notice that the name is not a misnomer as the spire is constructed of a strange, green glassy material.
Getting closer, you see the stone staircase that led up to the tower’s door is now nothing more than a rubble-strewn cliff. On the tower’s south side, a dirt path winds up the steep embankment to a pitch-black doorway.
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Well, if the pay is good enough I guess I could take the lead here. I have, umm, some experience with traps and the like. I imagine this place oughta have a few if goblins and such are around.
Joey takes a quick look at the stairs and will check out the door. If the party wants to go around the Spire before deciding on a course of action he will wait to open the door.
Circling the spire, you find another, well hidden path that leads to a secret door on the southwest side of the spire. Continuing you circumnavigation, you find no more entrances.
Checking the door, Joey finds it neither trapped, nor even locked.
Having been nominated by the party, Joey opens the door and is greeted with darkness. Even the sunlight streaming in is swallowed up be the darkness just five feet inside the doorway.
Everyone, but Joey and Senma have no problem seeing into the spire.
Those who's vision can pierce the darkness, see a narrow tunnel that turns to the right after about ten feet.
Senma lights a torch and moves into the tunnel, only to find that his light is swallowed by the darkness as well, illuminating only a five foot radius around him!
Senma edges forward cautiously, unable to see more than five feet in front of him. The tunnel travels about ten feet, before turning right and enterting a hall of sorts. Those with darkvision can see that this curving hall has been badly damaged, but there are intact doors to the north, east, and south, as well as a large doubledoor leading west to the core of the tower. The southeast corner of the room has collapsed in a mound of green glass rubble, but a tunnel runs through the debris, shored up with rough timbers. All the broken glass and rubble makes traversing the floors difficult.
"If it's all like this, you're going to have trouble."
Moving into the room, you see doors to the north and east, as well as a passage to the southwest.
Peering into the southwest passage, you see a triangular chamber with a door in the western wall.