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Almas, Andoran
The private conference room in the society lodge of Almas had probably once been a study for a priest of Aroden back when the Cathedral was still a holy site. Now maps and charts dominate the walls and the shelves are stacked with bound surveys of the geographical features and creatures of Andoran. An autumn chill seeps in through the stained glass window dominating one wall and Venture-Captain Brackett rubbed his hands together for warmth as the librarian began laying out a small wooden box and a map on the table in the center of the conference room. Although Brackett was normally brash and outgoing, the hatchet-faced veteran’s face wore an expression of guarded concern this evening. "I need to get a team into the Aspodell Mountains between Cheliax and Andoran as soon as possible. A dwarven prospector, Torvic, has a team up there searching for the hidden halls of his ancestor, Barek Triongger, a legendary craftsman from a lost empire. Torvic's been obsessed with finding this place for decades and it isn't his first expedition. Normally we'd leave him to his wandering, but this time we think he's onto something and we want in."
At this point, the chapter’s librarian Wystorn Telfyr opens the small wooden case and produces several tattered scrolls and a gleaming, strangely phosphorescent pearl. “We recently acquired these from a vagabond who goes by the name Beggar." Wystorn traces one finger down a scroll looks up excited as he turns it around to face you, "These scrolls describe the Gallery of Wonders built by Barek Triongger during the death throes of the dwarven Empire of Tar Khadurrm.”
Picking up the strangely-glowing pearl, the librarian continues, “Now... This odd variety of pearl is only found in the deepest of the Darklands’ seas far below the surface of Golarion. While not especially valuable individually, a cache of these would be a rare find. From what little records survive we know that Barek did work with rare items like this. According to my divinations, he designed this one as a key. If this opens anything that the legendary Master Triongger thought was worth locking, well that would be information that the dwarves of Emperor's Peak would trade dearly for."
Venture-Captain Brackett took over. "It's fairly obvious that Beggar stole the scrolls and pearl. He denied it up and down, but a wandering scholar of dwarven history he is not. He has his uses though. Looking through these documents and comparing them to Pathfinder Chronicles on the matter, it’s clear that Torvic is close this time." Brackett cocked a thumb toward Telfyr. "Our librarian was able to sift through Beggar's memories and thoughts enough to get a good idea as to where and how Beggar really acquired these items. Since then he's been working out a ritual to track down where Torvic has made it to by now." Brackett passes a crisp new map across the table with a location in the Aspodell mountains marked in red. "I want you to find him and make an alliance with him. You have his scrolls and the pearl. He may need them to find the Gallery in the end or just want them back as heirloom property. I leave it in your hands. If he refuses, track him to the Gallery anyways. Help him from afar if need be, just make sure he succeeds. As long as we get the location at a minimum, we have some leverage with the dwarves of Emperor's Peak. I don't know if any of you have worked together in the past, but I hear good things from the Grand Lodge in Absalom and that none of you are currently on assignment. So I hope you've enjoyed your stay with us, but now comes the price of our hospitality." Brackett breaks into his more characteristic grin and laughs aloud, "I suggest you get a nice warm meal and enjoy your beds tonight. It is going to be a long trek and I can feel the fall rains coming on any day now."
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Wadi looks over the scrolls for a few moments, and glances at his fellow Pathfinders, with a sheepish grin, he says, "I think I am going to need some help with this, who wants to help me research this?"
"Certainly Wadi, I will do my best to be of assistance, although I am afraid that Dwarven is not a language the understanding of which I am blessed with..."
(OOC: I only got a 5 (unless I get the +5 bonus on my assist roll as well))
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The tiny gnome in the smart outfit looked in her backpack at the end of the meeting. She immediately began taking copius notes, about the names and locales described, the questions asked, and jots down a couple points about those in attendance. "Some of them really need some advice on dressing for meetings," she thought.
She listened to the one called Wadi and responded to his question without looking up. "Sure, I'd be more than happy to help. I think we could get alot of interesting work done in this library. I bet its got all kinds of helpful tomes. I'm Alie, by the way." She puts her pen down and goes to look at the voluminous room to attempt to make headway on their task.
Knowledge History
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Wadi, accustomed to dealing with the shorter folk (he knew a gnome in the Actors Guild, where he performed regualrly), bends to one knee, and gives an abbreviated courtsey, so his eyes briefly dip below hers. "A pleasure, my dear Alie! i am Wadi, actor and Pathfinder extraordinaire, at least once I finish my first mission, that is!" He gives the pretty gnome an easy laugh. "Lead the way, Alie!"
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"At least someone in the room knows how to treat a lady. It is very nice to make your acquaintance, Wadi," Alie exclaims to the rest of the gathering, giving a polite bow of her own.
"Tell me more about your acting," she asks momentarily forgetting about the present topic. "Are you a proponent of method acting? What might I have seen you in? Where did your troupe mostly perform? Did you ever play a treant? I bet that would be quite a challenging role," she asks, delighted by the proper introduction to the actor.
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Looking over the group that is to accompany him, Kayluss can't help chuckle, "This should be interesting," he thinks to himself.
As the others busy themselves with the scrolls he approaches the desk and begins examining the map. "I'm pretty familiar with this area Captain, finding this dwarf shouldn’t be difficult."
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Wadi steps back, a bit embarassed by the sudden interest, but he soon gets over his shyness, and replies to the exciteable gnome, "Method acting is the primary technique used by my troupe, and it is extremely challenging, especially when I was asked to stand in for Belloer the Flamboyant, on one of our performances last season. You may have heard of him, he is of the gnomish race as well! As for my most challenging role, I was set to play a half-elvish princess in 'The Courtship of the Lady Alis'. Not much fun, since I had to dress the part, my troupe does not believe in using magical means to completely disguise the actors, if you get my meaning."
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"Belloer the Flamboyant? Of course I've heard of him. I saw one of his performances a few years ago, a one gnome production of The Ballad of Calista. He was very good, except for the singing parts."
Taking a deep breath, and realized she was very off topic, she quickly gathered her notes, wrote down a few scribbled words including Belloer, The Courtship of Lady Alis, and Wadi. "I'll ask you more about your acting later. I bet you have a ton of stories."
"Now where is the section on the Gallery of Wonders? Wadi, you start looking up dwarven clans and the Empire of Tar Khadurrm." She pointed at the alchemist, "Would you mind looking up and reference to Barek Triongger you can find? That should get us started."
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(Bows)
"Certainly Alie. I hope that I find something useful."
(to Kayluss)
"We have a local coming with us? That is fantastic news! It will be so refreshing to have someone around who actually knows the area."
(Sekhemre's eyes focus greedily on the pearl)
"I must admit, though, I am fascinated by the glowing pearl; imagine what you could do with it if you were able to extract the essence causing the glow..."
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Sekhemre clasps Kayluss' hand and shakes it warmly. "My apologies, I have a tendency to become a little distracted when I see something interesting... For example, I have just returned from Sothis where I had an absolutely fascinating time studying the embalming techniques used by the Osiriani. You know, with a little bit of tweaking, I think they could be used to act as a new method of strengthening leather? Imagine the possibilities!" Sekhemre gives a brief, self-deprecating smile, "but there I go again... Sekhemre of Karnak, at your service."
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Kayluss wrinkles his nose at the bitter chemical smell surrounding Swkhemre. "Embalming? That's....interesting." Kayluss relies awkwardly. He begins to wipes his hand off on his pants but stops himself and smiles again at the elf.
Addressing the whole group "Since I am familiar with this region is there any objections to me planning our trip to the Aspodell Mountains?"
Bending over the map again he traces the route with finger.
"I suggest we travel north about a day to the town of Riverford where we can cross the Andoshen River. Following the western shore, it should take us 2-3 days to reach Oregent and from there we could follow the trade route though Arthfell Forest to Perin's Bluff. From there we will be able to set out into the mountains."
"I suggest we take the ferry to the west shore of the Andoshen River and travel west for about a week to the city of Augustana. The town of Alvis is about two days travel from there and then another day or so should get us into the mountains."
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As the team spreads out examining the scrolls and map Venture Captain Brackett throws a heavy cloak over his shoulder and says, "I'll leave you to it then. Do us proud out there." When Khedon asks about a translation, Brackett nods to Wystorn, "Telfyr is your man here. He'll get you sorted."
When several of you express an interest in further research, Wystorn breaks into an eager grin and gestures for you to gather the scrolls, "I am always excited to see a that we are still fielding learned men and women. Come with me and I'll show you to the library proper." A short walk through the quiet halls of the lodge ends in an oversized set of double doors. Telfyr swings them open and row upon row of cataloged volumes, field reports, archived maps, and books from various eras spread out before you. A mishappen creature about the size of a cat skitters along one shelf rounding a corner out of sight. Another perches at the top of a shelf watching curiously, tongue lolling from a mouth filled with tiny fangs. It looks like bat somehow mated with a hairless cat and the resulting offspring were left out to partially melt in the sun...
Telfyr directs you all to a central table and says, "Don't mind my assistants. They'll re shelve anything you reference. Please leave it to them. I have a very specific cataloging system. I'm afraid we haven't worked up any translated copies. I had them duplicated for our collection of course, but in the original dwarven so as to not lose any unperceived nuance to translation."
Kayluss again spreads out the map and traces out a route to the "x" marking Torvic's last known location in the Candlestone Caverns area of the Aspodell Mountains- an exceptionally cave riddled area which further explains how the Gallery has remained hidden all these years.
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Two hours later Wystorn has excused himself for the night and amid a stack of folios, pathfinder chronicles, and with the help of the librarian's quick and rough translation of the scrolls, the team starts putting together what they have learned...
Around 250 years ago, the dwarven Empire of Tar Khadurrm finally tore itself apart after centuries of decline and internal conflicts. Thousands
fled the turmoil of a collapsing empire. Among these exiles, the master craftsman Barek Triongger may have been the most famous. Secretive keeper of techniques known in no other land, Barek refused to bow before any other dwarf. Instead of allying himself with any of the splinter factions breaking off from the empire, the renowned craftsman planned his own hall,
a well-hidden workshop and gallery. Deep beneath the Aspodell Mountains, the skillful chisels of his apprentices excavated a hidden Gallery of Wonders filled with masterpieces of dwarven artistry.
The dream lasted 20 years before the gallery was abandoned. A handful of survivors returned to dwarven lands whispering of madness and murder. Barek was never seen again. His groundbreaking gallery was lost and the majority his advanced crafting technique along with it, becoming another legend of the dwarves’ fallen empire.
More generally the Aspodell Mountains are largely untracked outside of the pass. Barbaric giants and feral dragon-kin make the range their hunting grounds which discourages more broad exploration other than the few rugged trackers and trappers who call the range home.
It looks like it would be about four days hike from Perrin's Bluff to get into the general area.
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Wadi rubs his eyes, and realizes to himself, I don't think I could be a researcher, or a scribe, too much work! He turns to Khedon, who took the lead with this, and gives him a tired nod, also with those who helped him with the project. "Well, at least we have an idea of what happened to him. Now I suggest we get a good night's sleep, because this sounds like it will be a long journey."
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Sekhemre, Khedon, Dakram
Later that night one of you stops by a kebab stand in central Almas. With your order the vendor passes you folded parchment sealed with a wax signet.
Child of the Ancestors,
A recently unearthed legend claims that the infamous serpent priest Atanes once summoned a magical bridge of darkness across the Inner Sea, planting its northern end in a small fortress atop a peak in the Aspodell Mountains. While visiting that inhospitable realm, please be alert to signs of this legend’s origins. It is possible that our land’s ancient glories stretched further than is commonly supposed.
Hopefully while in Andoran you will meet with the dwarven explorer named Torvic Scrathmane. Although not a scholar, Scrathmane is known to possess texts of dwarven lore long sought by our land’s sages—texts we would like you to acquire.
In Furtherance of Wisdom,
Amenopheus, The Sapphire Sage
Wadi
O Most Delectable of Servants,
While in the Aspodell Mountains, you may encounter a woman named Lyrehawk among the dwarf Torvic’s allies. Once a lieutenant in Westcrown’s Dottari guards, she turned against her homeland to live among the renegades of the wilderness. Your task is simple. Deliver the enclosed message—a note from the man Lyrehawk once loved. Discover whether the traitor still feels any love for the fool who once betrayed
her. If so, our land can again profit from her knowledge. Assure her that her betrayal will be forgiven should she return to her nation’s service.
Additionally, your task will bring you near the Candlestone Caverns. Their fae inhabitants are known to produce exotic medicinal agents and toxins. Please acquire any information that you can about these unusual materials. Fail me not or your next whipping will be short.
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
Kayluss
Champion of Freedom,
While in the Aspodell Mountains, your journey should bring you in contact with the dwarven prospector Torvic Scrathmane. Our scholars believe he possesses ancient tablets once belonging to the fallen dwarven clans of Tar Khadurrm. Encourage him to allow you to return these items to the dwarven clans of Emperor’s Peak, a
gesture sure to encourage stronger ties between the dwarves and Andoran.
Be advised that several merchants have recently vanished from caravans traveling Aspodell Pass. It is possible that these disappearances are part of some new Chelish plot against our land. While you are in the area, determine what has happened and whether Cheliax had a hand in these events.
Sincerely,
Captain Colson Maldris
Alie
Servant of the Empire,
My missive shall be brief: the Grand Prince’s physician requires a
sampling of the peculiar glowing moss occasionally found in the mountainous regions bordering Cheliax and Andoran. Have no fear—I am assured that the moss’s legendary acidic flesh-eating abilities are over-exaggerated.
In recent trade negotiations, Andoren nationalists have repeatedly
maligned Taldor’s benevolent ruler. Enclosed, you will find a journal mentioning Chelish military forces massing on the Andoran border and their supposed invasion plans. Place this journal where Andorens will find it—such as on a trade route in the Aspodell Mountains— and let’s hope the Andorens think their enemies dropped it by chance. No one maligns Grand Prince Stavian III. For the Emperor!
Baron Jacquo Dalsine
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Khedon continued to read one of the histories,"Agreed. Not only long, but cold. We'll need supplies and cold-weather gear." While there was obviously some fatigue, it was equally obvious that sleep was not on his immediate agenda.
Before becoming completely absorbed, Khedon looked about the room, pausing at each face, as if imprinting the features, "Wadi, Alie, Kayluss, Sekhmere. Are we missing anyone?"
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"I suggest we travel north about a day to the town of Riverford where we can cross the Andoshen River. Following the western shore, it should take us 2-3 days to reach Oregent and from there we could follow the trade route though Arthfell Forest to Perin's Bluff. From there we will be able to set out into the mountains."
By mid-morning the next day the team is ready to set out. For most of you it is your first time out as a pathfinder without a field trainer leading the expedition and a sense of excitement charges the group. By the time you reach Perrin's Bluff about a week and a half later sore feet and aching backs from many nights spent sleeping on cold ground have dampened that initial surge of excitement. However, just when the travel was beginning to get dreary the howls of wolves at night in the Arthfell Forest brought everyone back to the moment and a renewed sense of danger. Perrin's Bluff, though little more than a village, seemed luxurious with its fireplaces, hot meals and baths, and relatively soft beds.
The next morning you all were on the road again and the weather was turning with frigid winds blowing in from the Aspodell's and the promise of dismal rain finally delivered. One blessing throughout the trip was Kayluss' knowledge of the outdoors. Your guide was consistently able to choose sheltered grounds, get the tents set up, get a fire going and break the camping duties up among you all so that it went smoothly. Without his know how, the trip would certainly have been much more miserable and dangerous. Still- slogging through ice crusted mud is pretty miserable and that was only the beginning of the Aspodell Mountains.
Desna be blessed, you never see any of the feral dragon-kin up close. Sekhemre saw something he thought might have been a long snake-like form whipping through the air one morning, but it was too far away to be sure and too far for any of the humans to make out at all. More terrifying was the second day in the mountains. Late in the afternoon trudging along a narrow path against the jagged stone face of the mountain everyone could plainly hear a thunderously sharp crack like someone chopping down a tree, repeating, but too irregular to be any serious workman. Rounding the bend the source turned out to be two fur clad giants covered in pelts engaged in a slapping contest while drinking from enormous jugs. After a long pull on the jug, one would slap the other across the side of his face with enough force to crush a normal man and laugh stupidly while the other looked stunned. They were only maybe a hundred yards down into the valley below, but so involved with their "fun" that you all managed to slip by unnoticed.
The third night in the Aspodell's and over two weeks since you all left Almas, Kayluss manages to find a cave just off the main pass which has apparently been serving as a campsite for travelers of this pass for some time. It even has some dry wood stacked inside and rocks lining out a fire pit. It is an unbelievable relief to be able to get out of the ripping wind for a night. You have been in the area Telfyr marked on your map for some time now. You must be close, you'll just have to stay alert for signs of Torvic's team now.
Deep underneath the crust of Golarion are the darklands. This pearl, which glows like a candle with hints of fiery crimson would have come from one of the deepest layers of the darklands: Orv. Supposedly the caverns there are so huge that they are like nations connected by oceans the sun has never seen.
Successfully hiding the journal so that it will be found by the next travelers, but without being caught or arousing suspicion from your teammate will require a DC 18 Bluff check.
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Wadi had never been so miserable in his, admittedly short life. Growing up with the elemental blood running through his veins, made him especially suspectible to these cold climates. when he was walking up the trails all bundled up made him look like some magically created golem, and he certainly moved like one, stumbling his way along the rocky trails. To pass the time of the long trip, and to keep his spirits from flagging too much, he regaled Alie with his acting exploits, which she seened to appreciate.
Seeing those giants play that game would give him nightmares for weeks afterwards.
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Briefly, Khedon regretted not binding his power into a hawk familiar; a scout would be useful right now.
"So, it seems the pearl is not enchanted, but that its glow is part of its origins in Orv. As a key, unless the lock itself is enchanted, I presume there must be something unique in its shape and weight that will actuate the lock."
"I am no jeweler, and my sight is not sharp enough to see anything but a sphere. Do any of you see anything unusual about the pearl aside from the glow?"
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For the most part Kayluss has enjoyed the trip, being back in Anoran has bolstered his spirits. Hoping that his previous comments to Swkhemre did not offend, he made an effort to inquire into the Alchemist's travels and studies. As the days wore on he began to greatly enjoy Swkhemre’s company and their daily discussions.
So surprised to making such good time with "green" pathfinders he didn't mind their grumbling until half-way through the trip. While prepaing camp one evening Kayluss overheard part of one of Wadi and Alie's conversations and discovered that the flamboyant sorcerer hails from Cheliax. Since discovering this Kayluss has become as been grown tense and brooding, constantly keeping an eye on the man from his home nation.
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Although he finds this mountainous territory a trifle chilly after his recent sojourn in the desert, Sekhemre spends most of his time keeping an eye on the sky-line or conversing with his companions.
He finds the concept that the pearl owes its glow to some sort of underground radiation source fascinating, and loudly muses about what else such a source of energy could do, if harnessed appropriately...
In particular, he is pleasantly surprised by Kayluss' interest, and is quite happy to chat away on a variety of subjects; Kayluss was undoubtedly relieved by the knowledge that embalming techniques were not the only things that roused Sekhemre's interest, as they went off on tangents discussing incendiary devices, powerful stimulants, and the myriad of uses for a variety of local herbs...
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Wadi sees the examination of the pearl and while the origins of it remain a mystery to him, something the others said about the radiation triggered an idea. "Maybe if we can detect this radiation somehow, it would lead us to where we can use the pearl to gain entrance to the Gallery. Now we just need to detect it somehow..."
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Alie was torn on the trip. On one hand she was quite unhappy due to the inclement weather the group had faced. On the other, she had a marvelous time talking to her new friends. She had went through several sheets of parchment detailing things they had told her about, including their likes and dislikes, favorite colors, childhood experiences, and other such topics. She had decided that after the mission, she would take a bit of time and design a nice set of clothes for everyone, depending on their temperment and preferences. That would make nice surprise, she thought to herself.
Joyous at finding the empty cave, Alie busied herself by looking all around the area. She happily chattered to everyone in the group, while doing so.
For the DM:
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Early in the morning of your fourth day in the Aspodell's the team breaks camp and heads out again. A couple of hours later the trail begins an extended descent into a valley carpeted with pine needles. The trail cuts back and forth between gnarled conifers and rough boulders to keep the angle of descent manageable. Everyone is on alert looking for signs of Torvic's expedition this morning. In the midst of crossing the valley, Khedon spots a thin plume of smoke rising up from somewhere off to the right. Once you get past the trees into a clearing with better visibility you can see that the smoke is apparently rising from the mouth of a cave not visible from the valley.
After some initial searching Kayluss finds a smaller, less maintained trail that cuts back and forth up toward the cave.
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It takes some time to get up the switchback mountain trail, during which the roaring and cursing in Dwarven becomes clearer as does intermittent cackling. Something heavy is slamming into wood which cracks and splinters which each impact.
By the time you make it to the top, the cave has gone quiet...
A makeshift wooden barricade with boughs carved into sharpened spears had been blocking the entrance, but it is broken and flattened in the center now. Within the cave flickering fire light throws shadows dancing around. The dull gloss of an insectoid carapace shines catches the light and it is huge. Luckily it is facing the other way, but it looks like an ant roughly the size of a pony. Beyond it, a dwarf lies face down and two tiny wizened men with blue skin are taking turns poking it with sticks and dancing around and on top of it.