Please dot and delete in the gameplay thread.
The note was short and to the point:
I request that you report to the Winding Road Lodge as soon as possible for a matter of some urgency involving the Diamond Sage, Tahonikepsu. She will give the details when you meet. Your passage has already been arranged on the Green Gull, which awaits you now at the Absalom docks. Make haste!
V. Sincerely, Venture-Captain Roderus
The journey on the Green Gull is pleasant enough, at least as much as sea travel ever is, and it affords you ample time to get to know your fellow Pathfinders.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A man with a youthful countenance and an otherworldly beauty walks slowly toward the appointed location. On his shoulder, a dull gray thrush with a rainbow colored tail whispers advice into his ear.
He dresses in blue and white clothing over a golden armor with a gleaming silver sword and the murmured voices of sword and burd mixing around him to form a disconcerting song.
He also wears a white gemstone around his neck indicating his rank within the Jeweled Sages.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Enora, a small female halfling in fine robes looks at all of you with interest. She walks through the room and quietly sais "Hello, my name is Enora. I assume we are all waiting to meet with the Venture-Captain. Might be a good chance to get to know each other. I am from Rahadoum originally and am quite interested in magical phenomena - I hope to have your support in uncovering the secrets of this wonderful world. And I am quite optimistic that we will be successful!" she sais cheerfully.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A vudrani human bearing a handful of tattoos sits with you aboard the Green Gull. At times, it appears he is deep in a trance-like meditation, other times you can see that he carries a heavy weight of the mind with him.
"Like the blade to the warrior, I hope I prove to be a useful tool for this mission, and perhaps like a blade finds it's mark, maybe I'll find mine..."
With that, he returns to staring off into the distance, both sadness and determination on his face.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Ah, hello there friends!" A man dressed in fashionable Osiriani garb strolls across the deck toward you, a grin on his face. His skin is bronze and his hair is so red that it's nearly indistinguishable from flames. "The name's Sard. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I have recently returned from a rather delicate mission on the plane of fire--quite the experience, let me tell you. I suppose I have been sent along to bring a bit of that fire to your disposal, though I found my tongue to be of more use while in the City of Brass. Anyway, it is a pleasure to meet you all." Sard bows with a flourish, and as he does his eyes fix for a moment on Ali's gem. Ah, yes, another sage jewel. Soon I shall have my own, though something, I think, a tad more fiery than that one.
|
Yanndu turns towards Ali and Sard, after which they hear the following voice in their own thoughts:
telepathic bond, 110 minutes duration
***...these sage jewels...what are their function, and under which circumstances does your order decides to grant one?...***
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The tiny halfling marches onto the ship as if she owns it. She has two small well used kukri strapped to her side. She presents with a commanding air which is in stark contrast to her squeaky high pitches voice.
”I’m Shel. The Baroness. You’ve no doubt heard of me. I suppose I’m here to lead you lot and keep you out of trouble.” As she introduced her,self, she slowly looked at all of the gathered collection of adventurers, silently judging all of them.
As you arrive in Katapesh harbor, the view from the deck of the Green Gull is tantalizing - the spires and towers of the great city beckon. Before you have an opportunity to venture out to revisit your favorite locales, however, a teenage boy greets you at the bottom of the gang-plank. ”Yer the Pathfinders, I reckon by the looks a’ ya. Venture Cap’n Roderus sent me to fetch ya and he ain’t like to be kept waitin’.” The boy leads you past many shops and plazas - each seemingly more interesting than the last - to a dingy neighborhood on the outskirts of town, where a small building - part inn, part chapterhouse, serves as the local Pathfinder lodge.
”Welcome, welcome, I’m so glad you could come at such short notice,” says an elderly gentleman, slowly rising from his chair. ”I am Venture-Captain Roderus and my humble lodge will be your home, at least for tonight. But you must be tired from your journey!” He claps his hands and soon each of you is receiving a footbath from a servant, while other servants lay out a meal of lamb and honeyed bread. Watching Roderus’ worried face as you eat, it’s difficult to say whether he simply has the rheumy eyes of an elderly man, or whether he fears that perhaps he is serving you your last good meal.
When all have eaten their fill, he ushers you into a secret basement, where Tahonikepsu awaits.
“Pathfinders, you have my thanks for agreeing to aid us. I am Tahonikepsu, the bearer of the diamond sage jewel. I am also the leader the Jeweled Sages, an ancient order of scholars. Together with my colleague Amenopheus, I strive to restore lost secrets of the past for the benefit of the present.”
“To this end, I seek the missing sage jewels, each of which contains the memories of the sages who bore that gem before and the lost lore of the ancients. Last year—thanks to the efforts of brave Pathfinder Society agents—we secured a way to track these jewels, and I have since used that beacon to find the missing amethyst sage jewel. The gem lies in Nex’s northern desert, where magical interference has obstructed my attempts to divine the sage jewel’s location more accurately. Remote divination can do no more, and the Pathfinder Society has offered its assistance.”
”While I can point you in the right direction, you must find the exact location of the gem yourself. To aid you in this task, I will give you a magical crystal that is infused with the beacon’s power. I ask that you explore the area and, most importantly, retrieve the gem. Anything you can learn of what befell Amethyst Sage would also assist my order. Take care while searching the desert, though; while using the beacon, I could feel a strange resonance, as if something was not right with the sage jewel.”
Tahonikepsu looks toward the ceiling as if watching something beyond. “This coincides with the appearance of a strange visitor in our skies, and I must attend to it and confirm its intentions. I wish you fortune in your travels and offer my thanks for your contributions.”
|
|
Sajan remains resolute and mostly silent upon meeting the venture captain. While he normally wouldn't participate in a foot path provided by others or food prepare why other hands, he doesn't know the culture of the Katapesh people very well, despite the numerous other Vudrani that live here, and doesn't wish to offend by declining.
"I have honed my body through meditation and training for this task and I will either return with your sage jewel, or fail and become all the stronger by it. Should I return your jewel, perhaps you can share any information you might have about a Vudrani girl named Sajni, but not before I have returned, for that is reward alone for this trial."
Enora stands up and says: "Oh this is so exciting! We are looking forward to finding the sage jewel. We would of course also study any maps or sketches from past expeditions. And please do not worry we are experts in these matters." She looks around and then notes: "And be assured that my colleagues and I understood that we need to urgently learn what happened to the Amethyst Sage."
|
|
Yanndu eyes Sajan incredulously, but nods approvingly at Enora's mention of the notes from past expeditions. He then ventures into a question.
"Ahem. Dear Diamond Sage, some of us would, ahem, prefer details beforehand, rather than after the fact. As I wished to inquire from, shall I say, the tight lipped or very loyal, depending on one's point of view, members of your Scarab Sages organization on our way here, I would like to understand the function of the sage jewels. As well, I would like to understand under which circumstances your order decides to grant one to certain individuals. What are the powers of these jewels? How are they activated? and finally, are the bearers in contact with each other? Thank you. When you have provided answers to these basic inquiries I would like to move towards the subject of the magical interference in Nex, and whether this interference also applies to psychic magic, if you will."
Enora starts thinking:"Hmmm ... what have I heard about this in the past?"
|
|
Ali perks up at hearing another voice inside his head. This is not unusual for him between the grumpy sword and endlessly exasperated teachings of his Bird and jewel. As such he simply smiles and says You will learn soon enough
Ah of course, Tahonikepsu it would be my pleasure to assist you in this matter. Archimedes and I were just speaking on thus matter. We are in excellent health and have mainly been engaged in self study since last we met. The Amethyst Sage Jewel owes our efforts however we can provide them. It would be my honor to lead this expedition. I encountered this beacon -
The Amethyst Sage is a bit maniacal in his pursuit of knowledge - he has been around since Ancient Times and forced his acolytes to live on as mummies and constructs to serve him as he himself chose the life of a lich. He is our brother but potentially very dangerous.
|
|
Looking at the monk, "Admirable. So what will happen once you leave these shores? You are the sum total of all your ancestors. You have earned and learned more than you think. When life offers you a ripe fruit for sustenance, it is unwise to refuse it. Fate may present something you have earned or which others have earned for you; do not be stubborn and refuse Her."
Returning his attention to Ali and Tahonikepsu, Yanndu pushes further, "For the rest of us here, would you both be so kind as to instruct us in the basics of sage jewelry? you say this Amethyst Sage is... undead?"
At this, you note a certain gleam of vengeance in Yanndu's black eyes.
Enora sees some of the pondering faces and says: "Team, let us put our heads together and see what we can learn - maybe I can assist you to fill in some details!?"
Tahonikepsu smiles grimly in response to the flurry of questions.
She nods toward Ali Salujah. ”I am glad to see that you are continuing your studies of your jewel. It will take time, but I have no doubt that it will reveal much to you.” She hands you a crystal. "Here, take this seeker stone - it is imbued with the power of the beacon and will help you find the location of the amethyst sage jewel. It is somewhat imprecise, however, so you will likely still need to spend some time in searching."
”Alas, my friend Tafhat, I know nothing of this girl of whom you speak. However, the sage jewels contain much information that would otherwise be lost. While my jewel does not speak to your quest, if we can recover the Amethyst jewel, perhaps it may assist you.”
She turns towards Enora, ”Unfortunately, we have no maps or sketches of where you are going. In fact, we are not quite sure where you are heading, only that the beacon is telling us that the jewel is to be found somewhere in the desert of Nex. But, to be sure, please bring back whatever maps, sketches, or other information you can produce.”
In fact, Enora had already recalled much about the order of the Jeweled Sages on the boat ride from Absalom, undoubtedly to the amusement of both Ali and Sard:
Tahonikepsu regards Yanndu gravely, ”Aye, it would make my task of rebuilding our order much simpler if we bearers of the jewels could communicate with each other, but alas, it is not so, and hence we have feared many of the jewels, and their bearers, are simply lost. It has been a remarkable stroke of good fortune, won at no small cost, to recover this beacon, with which, I hope, we will be able to track down the lost jewels. The fact that it is pointing us towards the Amethyst jewel is very promising, though as I said, I also detect that there is something untoward with it. Hopefully you skilled Pathfinders can find out what may be wrong. I hope that it is nothing related to Nexian magical interference, but without going there to see firsthand it’s difficult to know more. As for your question about how one joins the order, well I’m sure that we are always happy to have new recruits if you would like to join us!”
Tahonikepsu glances again towards the ceiling, as if she is looking beyond it, and a worried expression crosses her face. ”But my time grows short. Another urgent matter summons me. I bid you good fortune in this journey, with my great gratitude for your bravery. I have asked one of the Amethyst Sage’s companions - indeed, his most devoted servant - to attend you and answer any questions you may have.” She steps to the door and ushers in a peculiar looking figure. ”Badru, here are the Pathfinders. Please help them in any way you can.” And with that, she takes her leave of you.
Badru gazes around the room at all of you. An amethyst glitters on - or perhaps in - his chest, and his face is a veritable funerary mask. When he speaks, his voice is strangely both flat and eager. ”Welcome Pathfinders. How may I assist you?”
|
|
Ali gives Badru a deep incline of his head and Gamin mutters something under his breath about being cautious around him before Ali waves him off.
Ah Badru, good to see you once more. My fellow Pathfinders, this is Badru - he is a former servant of the Amethyst Sage and one who I believe still wished to be in his good graces as I recall? Anyhow, Badru we require your help finishing the quest of locating your master so he can rejoin our order. Would you be willing to help me, your good buddy Ali, once more. Evidently Nex's magics are interfering with the beacon his jewel gives off.
Badru turns his expressionless face towards Ali. "I, Badru Ibidau, am a loyal servant of the great Jeweled Sages, and I served the Amethyst Sage as Master of the Archives. The Amethyst Sage— his name was Sinuhotep—was a most noble soul and peerless scholar! His quest was one for the greater good - to preserve the secrets of old. He granted me the honor to become something greater. I dearly hope he has survived to this day.”
If Badru could smile, he surely would. "Ah, to find him, you must surely understand him. My master studied the acts and accomplishments of the Osirian pharaohs. After the Keleshites invaded Osirion, he focused his research on the immortality rites once used by those great pharaohs. During the years I served him, he made great progress." Badru pauses, and gestures towards himself. If it was not already apparent, you recognize that his body is a sort of construct of some kind. "Know that I volunteered to help him in his pursuit of immortality. He transferred my soul from my weak mortal body into this strong new one. A blessing, truly, for it has allowed me to continue my master’s great work. I hope one day all humanity can live eternally like me. As you can see, he made me immortal. But his great work was not finished—the ritual still needed more research to be perfect. Unfortunately, before he could complete his work in the Sanctum of Sages, my master fled three thousand years ago when servants of the Padishah invaded the Sanctum." Badru's mask of a face seems on the verge of finding a way to express emotion. "Where is he, you ask? Logic dictates that he went looking for the missing piece in his puzzle of immortality.”
"This is so intriguing!! I have never seen nor talked to an immortal, intelligent construct before. Dear Badru, do you have any suggestions with respect to our preparations before we leave?"
Yanndu senses that his spell has failed but Badru turns towards him and spreads his arms wide magnanimously. "I am here at the request of your Captain, and the wise Diamond Sage, and I have freely shared with you what I know. May it help you in the great task that awaits you."
Turning towards Sard, Badru says nothing, but it's possible that there is a faint twinkle in his eye.
”You should depart in the morning,” Venture Captain Roderus pronounces. At dawn the next day, Roderus helpfully provides you with everything you need for the journey, including camels and riding horses. A stable boy brings out two mules loaded with tents, maps, food, water, dried dung for making fires, and other supplies.
Common desert dangers include gnoll raiders, basilisks, jackals, jackalweres, sand eels, and scorpions of all sizes. Because the climate is arid and sand is much more prevalent than dirt or rock, sandstorms are common in the region.
Travelers also fear creatures commonly known as the scorpionfolk. Half human, half scorpion, they are peerless trackers and hunters, capable of killing caravan guards and porters in the night without anyone noticing until the morning.
Less well known is that the scorpionfolk—also known as girtablilus—are noble guardians of ancient secrets. They take their role very seriously, and despite their violent reputation, they rarely strike out of malice.
Some sandstorms occurring in the region are not quite natural. According to legend, these sandstorms are far fiercer than any mundane storm and carry the taint of some evil curse.
You set out and follow a route marked on the maps for more than a week, crossing the Elemion River and continuing to the southwest for another day. As Tahonikepsu had predicted, the seeker stone picks up a faint signal, leading you onwards...
|
|
The wind begins to pick up, sending dust flying in the air, and oppressive clouds gather in the sky. The sun darkens as if a heavy veil had been pulled in front of it; only a gleaming crescent remains visible. The wind grows into a howling gale, and soon after, a massive wall of sand starts rising in the distance and approaching at a high speed.
You know that staying out in the open during a sandstorm as fierce as this one is dangerous; wind-propelled sand can cause painful injuries, suffocation, and blindness, and the high winds can also fling heavier objects. The best course of action is to run to higher ground, find shelter, and wait out the storm. Luckily for you, there are hills nearby that should provide sufficient protection against the storm.
|
|
The night before their departure Yanndu plumbs the depths of his mind in regards to their upcoming journey with the help of his assistant Lanliss.
After dictating his findings to his assistant, he instructs him to prepare individual letters to each Pathfinder and deliver to their rooms no later than eleven bells.
|
|
After more than a week of travels, much beyond saddle fatigue at this point, Yanndu witnesses the dire incoming weather event.
[automakes Knowledge Nature]
Yanndu casts Telepathic Bond twice to include the entire group as he halts and veers his camel back towards the nearby hills. Telepathically, he addresses the group.
***...we need shelter from those hills...make haste...Shel, please show us the best route...***
Yanndu takes a bearing on his Wayfinder, just in case things don't go so well, before stuffing it back in his Handy Haversack.
Yanndu is unable to recall anything further about cursed sandstorms than he already has, but he apparently knows quite a bit about girtablilus.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
“Seems like you are very perceptive Yanndu! Thanks for the heads up!”
|
|
here
***...no problem at all Enora...from one bright mind to another my dear...***, answers Yanndu telepathically.
Yanndu casts see invisibility and heightened awareness as the camel heads to the hills, focusing his mind for a few seconds before each spell is released. As he further nears the hills he momentarily clasps his staff of minor arcana to activate a shield spell.
[automakes concentration vs. violent motion galloping camel]
[mage armor and false life already on; duration 11 hours]
|
|
Diplomacy
Perception
Shel appreciated the fact that the ifrit had clearly paid attention during his studies. He knew more than she did about rumor collecting.
When she noticed the sandstorm approaching, she immediately directed the group to ‘head for the hills,’ as that would be the safest place to wait it out. ”His will be uncomfortable as hell, but we will get through it,” she directs as she leads the others ahead.
|
|
Ali follows the group and moves forward to the front. He helps to find a good place to take shelter under the hills and helps to set up camp, though he isnt much of an outdoors person.
Still he puts a smile on his face and his relentless good nature is reflected as he and Archimedes sing together while they work and Gamin grumbles.