Victory in the Ruby Phoenix Tournament earned the Pathfinder Society a pick of the legendary treasures of the Tian sorceress Hao Jin, and the Decemvirate knew just what item to select: a frayed and dirty tapestry hidden deep in Hao Jin’s vault.
This unassuming tapestry acts as a doorway to another dimension in which Hao Jin stored her most massive items, including entire buildings, battlefields, and the ruins of ancient civilizations. The Pathfinder Society is now methodically exploring and cataloging the diverse locales tucked within this extradimensional space.
Deep beneath Absalom’s Grand Lodge, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Spells, Aram Zey, gestures at the tapestry hung on the wall, surrounded by ladders and scaffolds. Scholars and diviners scurry around the tapestry, analyzing its abstract patterns and comparing insights.
Zey snaps his finger to quiet the room and speaks rapidly. “The aasimar nation of Tianjing contains a handful of temples to Korada, Empyreal Lord of forgiveness and foresight. The Pathfinder Society is interested in exploring these holy sites, but the aasimar disciples in Tianjing are reluctant to grant the Pathfinder Society full access to their faith’s secrets. Fortunately, the custodian council of Tianjing gifted one such temple to Hao Jin centuries ago. This temple—the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment—now sits vacant within the museum demiplane of the Hao Jin Tapestry. We need well-trained explorers to survey the isolated and abandoned site.
“We will transport you to the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment within the Hao Jin Tapestry and provide you with a small cache of supplies. We need a complete report on the temple with a focus on four key locations. First, locate the temple’s meditation room, find evidence of any meditative techniques described there, and record any effects of performing those techniques. Second, prepare a comprehensive catalog of all works in the temple library. Third, find the temple gardens and draft a detailed plan of the garden’s layout. Finally, enter the temple’s crypt and take rubbings of the carvings on each sarcophagus.
“You will enter the tapestry within the hour. Any questions?”
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Rowan stares at the tapestry trying to detect any sort of movement among the fibers, knowing the idea of such happening to be remote. My first big adventure is to enter a temple hidden in a piece of cloth. Who would have thought such would be possible. I assume uh, before we enter, you will inform us on how we are to exit?
Knowledge (history) PCs may recall the following information about Tianjing and the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment.
Knowledge (religion) PCs may recall the following information about Korada.
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"You want us to go into a magic tapestry? Are you bleedin' bonkers, mate?"
The young Varisian man shifts his scarf upon his hips and fidgets with his wide brimmed, fashionable hat, tugging upon the brim.
"No offense, mister, but I got all sorts 'a questions, right I do.'
Mareck begins to tick off his fingers theatrically.
"One, how do we get in?"
"Two, how do we get out, like half-ears here asked?"
"Three, what do you mean, 'Effects of performing those meditative techniques?' Ya mean, we'll all feel calm and meditative like? There, I solved one 'a your tasks already! 'We feel calm.' Done!"
"Four, how do you know it 'sits vacant?' Of course its vacant! It's on a demiplanar thingy. Who'd be occupyin' it in there, all by their lonesomes?"
Mareck pulls his hat off and holds it in hand while pointing accusingly at Aram Zey. "I feel like somebody's maybe bumpin' Desna's pen a bit here. What ain't ya tellin' us?"
"No, don't bother answerin'. Forget it. I ain't goin' nowhere--."
***Stop. Do you prefer Maleck's enforcers? Karela told you to come here. You will be on another plane. How further out of Absalom and out of reach of your mistakes can you get?***
To Aram Zey and the elf and half-elf standing nearby, Mareck appears to tip his head, as if listening to something. He then looks at his feet and shuffles them, then looks up.
"Yeah, uh, well, I've reconsidered. Sorry to be such an ass, there. Just a bit concerned, ya know. If the Society really needs this Temple explored, then... I guess I can't very well turn away."
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"Ah yes and i have thoughth of another few questions. Will we be provided with material to inscribe all of this priceless information on? Do you have an estimated time that you believe this journey shall take? And, in the case that said journey takes more than a day, would you think it wise to sleep inside, or to exit for rest so we can re-explore the next day?"
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"You want us to go into a magic tapestry? Are you bleedin' bonkers, mate?"
The young Varisian man shifts his scarf upon his hips and fidgets with his wide brimmed, fashionable hat, tugging upon the brim.
"No offense, mister, but I got all sorts 'a questions, right I do.'
Mareck begins to tick off his fingers theatrically.
"One, how do we get in?"
"Two, how do we get out, like half-ears here asked?"
"Three, what do you mean, 'Effects of performing those meditative techniques?' Ya mean, we'll all feel calm and meditative like? There, I solved one 'a your tasks already! 'We feel calm.' Done!"
"Four, how do you know it 'sits vacant?' Of course its vacant! It's on a demiplanar thingy. Who'd be occupyin' it in there, all by their lonesomes?"
Mareck pulls his hat off and holds it in hand while pointing accusingly at Aram Zey. "I feel like somebody's maybe bumpin' Desna's pen a bit here. What ain't ya tellin' us?"
"No, don't bother answerin'. Forget it. I ain't goin' nowhere--."
***Stop. Do you prefer Maleck's enforcers? Karela told you to come here. You will be on another plane. How further out of Absalom and out of reach of your mistakes can you get?***
To Aram Zey and the elf and half-elf standing nearby, Mareck appears to tip his head, as if listening to something. He then looks at his feet and shuffles them, then looks up.
"Yeah, uh, well, I've reconsidered. Sorry to be such an ass, there. Just a bit concerned, ya know. If the Society really needs this Temple explored, then... I guess I can't very well turn away."
Tiasar listens to the fighters speech, then responds "Never to fear, I shall take charge of the information gathering, as it's as precious to me as it is to the society. And I lower my suspiciouns for the society as well, as they would never give their members a mission we could not handle."
While he talks, his tone seems to be that of a parent explaining to a child why he's wrong
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Before the group walks a man of dual heritage, but not of the commonly seen elven and human. This man is a mix of humans, more spefically of Varisian and Tien, of east and west. We dresses plainly and carries but the barest of necessities including two "L" shaped clubs. His mess of hair is braided simply and secured in the back by a strand of linen. He bows to the group as a whole. looks up from the bow with a scarf hanging loosely about his neck, cracking half a smile he mutters. Greetings Strangers from a stranger.
"Those are all valid questions. Let me see if I can answer them."
"Getting in will be handled simply by uttering a command word while touching the tapestry. Simple enough."
"Getting out is similar. A creature entering the tapestry leaves a planar eddy in its wake. It looks like a ball of light about two feet across. The planar eddy is visible and usable only by that creature as long as it remains alive. Enter your planar eddy to return here.”
"For the meditative techniques, if we knew the answer to that, we wouldn't be sending you in."
" The temple is likely uninhabited except by ancient guardians or traps, although I suppose some scavengers may have found their way into the structure.”
"Ah yes and i have thoughth of another few questions. Will we be provided with material to inscribe all of this priceless information on? Do you have an estimated time that you believe this journey shall take? And, in the case that said journey takes more than a day, would you think it wise to sleep inside, or to exit for rest so we can re-explore the next day?"
"You will be provided plenty of food, water, ink, charcoal, parchment, rice paper, and measuring twine. I expect a full exploration might take several days, depending on the condition of the temple. Take all the time you need. Hao Jin created her museum demiplane with an environment identical to Golarion’s. It has air, weather, and gravity just as you’d expect. However, in the centuries since Hao Jin’s disappearance, the weather patterns within much of the tapestry demiplane have shifted, so we’re uncertain of the precise environment around the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment.”
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***Ask him if the meditative techniques will result in anything dangerous. Or perhaps physically altering, making it impossible to return via your original planar eddy.***
"Riiiight, good questions."
Mareck focuses upon Zey,"Uhh, Honorable Zey, do you anticipate these meditative techniques to be dangerous, mind altering, or physically altering? We'll still be able to return via our planerr eddie thingee, right?"
"I cannot be certain of anything, but do know that it was an aasimar temple to Korada, an empyreal lord. I would expect it not to be dangerous unless you yourself possessed evil in your heart. But always exercise caution."
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***Ask him if the meditative techniques will result in anything dangerous. Or perhaps physically altering, making it impossible to return via your original planar eddy.***
"Riiiight, good questions."
Mareck focuses upon Zey,"Uhh, Honorable Zey, do you anticipate these meditative techniques to be dangerous, mind altering, or physically altering? We'll still be able to return via our planerr eddie thingee, right?"
***Ask him if these meditative techniques will block telepathic communication.***
"Telepathah, wha?"
***Mind to mind, silent communication, Mareck.***
"Gotcha. So, what about head to head talking, you know, telepathy, will these meditation techniques mess that up... just in case we, as a team, were, uhhh, using such things, ya know."
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Tiasar's raven looks like it whispers something in his ear. Tiasar looks around at the dwarf, and recognizes Sarenrae's symbol. He briskly walks over, "Truly a dwarf cleric of Sarenrae? Now it was my understanding the dwarf god Torag, accepting and friendly towards Sarenrae as he is, didn't care much for worship of the sun? Interesting..." Tiasar scribbles something down in his book. "Ah yes! i believe we are ready to go. However, what were you saying about telepathy?"
"I must say I am not certain. Such information would be valuable to the society though if you can learn something."
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Glenn adjusts his chain shirt, shifting a couple of links that decided become a nuisance. "A priest? Ye must not be too long from the tavern boy, cannae not recognize the vestments of Sarenrae?" turning to Zey, "Guardians ye say? Can ye be a bit more specific?"
"Oh right, right. So sorry, stranger," says Mareck, turning to look at the dwarven cleric of Sarenrae. "I did not see you there until now."
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"Ah yes! i believe we are ready to go. However, what were you saying about telepathy?""I was, just, uh, asking the Honorable Zey if these curious meditation techniques 'effects' might interrupt telepathy. No real reason, just curious."
Tiasar looks very interested "No truly I am very curious, where have you encountered telepathy before?"
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*** Tell him your sister read about it in one of your mother's books on the wagon, before you moved to Absalom.***
"My sister, Savrah, told me about it. She was a big reader when my family was travelin' Varisia. When the Korvosans retaliated against the People of the Road for our perceived support of our Shoanti cousins, my family's wagon and all Mother's books were burned."
Mareck sighs. His shoulders tighten up a bit as he remembers.
"Afterwards we made our way to Absalom to join Father's cousins in a business venture." Mareck smiles and winks at Tiasar as he says this. "But I'm not supposed to say much about that to people not in the Family, ya know."
"I'm Marek Bolthune, stranger," he says, while pulling his hat of again in an attempt at a bow. "Who're you, then?"
An hour passes, each of you preparing to head into the tapestry in your own ways.
As you approach the tapestry, it hangs a 5x7 cloth with tattered edges. A closer examination reveals it to have been sewn that way. An elaborate scaffold has been set up for entry without risk of touch other areas. This is important as you are instructed to enter the tapestry, you merely touch where you wish to travel and speak the command word. One by one you each enter the tapestry, leaving behind you an eddy to travel back to your own world. Ahead you see the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment.
The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment is a wide structure atop a forested hill. The graceful building has no sharp corners; the white marble walls are carved with soft, round edges. The edifice appears well-scrubbed, but despite this obvious care black flecks of mold cover its surface. A gravel path leads into an airy courtyard and up to a pair of large wooden double doors. The doors are carved with an image of four spheres resting inside an open lotus flower.
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Mareck returns from errands to find the others near the tapestry, ready to enter.
"Oh boy," he says, sweat showing on his now nervous features. "Into a tapestry. Desna help me!"
He pulls out a prayer rug, really just a small piece of material, and throws it on the ground, making sure the bottom side is respectfully hidden.
"HiddenfromtheviewoftheMundaneWorld, HerstarsillumunatingtheEarththatthosedeniedthenightskyseeherwonder, nevertheless," he mutters to himself, as if he's never said it before. Very uncoordinated and awkwardly, he sits on the mat, on his knees.
Mareck closes his eyes, tilts his head skyward, and says, "Uh, OK, Lady, I don't do this much, but, uh... Your Will Be Done... I guess?"
He jumps up. "Hope that works. Desna. Your Worshipfulness. Lady."
He rolls up his prayer mat and throws it into his sack tied over his back, along with the rest of his kit.
"Alright, let's do this!" He says the command word, touches the tapestry and steps through.
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Tiasar quickly walks up, and without hesitating enters. Upon seeing the new world, he is already madly scribbling away in his notebook, then remembers his purpose and turns to the others. "So, shall we proceed? Strong men and trapfinders first is how these go, correct?" he says, looking at Mareck and Rowan
The ground in this open courtyard is covered with crushed white gravel. An ornate set of wooden double doors leads west into the temple, clearly the structure’s main entrance. Functional wooden doors lead to the east, one set on each side of the flagstone path leading into the courtyard.