The PCs receive instructions to travel to the remote village of Gundrun for this mission, and they can purchase supplies before setting out. They encounter no threats of note during their journey to the village.
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"Well, isn't this just a weird mission? Usually hey tell us exactly what they want us to do before ending us to a Wild and strange locale. This place seems like none of the above," the blue haired gnome mutters to the others collected. "Anyway, I'm Doodle! Nice to meet all of you!". She spoke excitedly when she did so, punctuating her sentences with a flourish.
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Theodore likely help the sailors on the ship in your voyage over here. You see he has a rather nice box to stand on top of, with straps and buckles to buckle it down to the ship. With it, he reaches the steering wheel of the ship with ease despite his small stature.
Theodore is a middle-aged gnome (120 years) with green hair wearing a breastplate and carrying a silver holy symbol of Cayden Cailean; a silver tankard. The holy symbol is actually currently filled with beer! He has various scrolls and wands in his possession and, most of the time, a smile on his face.
He says in a calm and friendly, although somewhat slurred, voice,
"Hello everyone! My name's Theodore, and it's nice to meet all of you!"
"Gundrun. Where is this town again?"
He takes a swig of beer from his holy symbol before continuing.
"Oh sorry, I'm sure you want to know what my abilities are should a situation arise. I focus myself on healing others as well as calling upon the blessings of Cayden Cailean to enhance our fighting capabilities. I'm elusive, but I'm no fighter!"
He looks at Irizati and Thaeos. "Oh, but Irizati or Thaeos could have told you that. Out from the furnace and into... whatever this turns out to be!"
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Irizati is a less then attractive young man. You see he wears finely crafted full plate made from some black organic material.
Accompanying him is a large tiger. Since is wearing a harness and not trying to eat anyone you assume it is well trained.
"Theodore! Glad to see you. *looking at the others present* I'm Irizati and this is Baloo."
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Thaeos glances at Irizati and Baloo, then greets the newcomers, "I'm Thaeos, head librarian emeritus of the the Bredentious Library. Please tell me your names, and how was each of you educated?"
He then walks over to the halfling and hands him a wand and a case of parchment, "Good to see you again, young priest! There's a new one in there for you. Some powerful healing."
- scroll of breath of life
- scroll of death ward
- scroll of freedom of movement
- scroll of heal
- scroll of lesser restoration
- scroll of restoration (level)
- wand of cure light wounds (48)
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A rake-thin half-elf, leaning heavily on a darkwood staff, the tip of which seems to burn with a Continual Flame, nods politely to the others.
"I am Numair, Numair Salmalin. My education? I was taught my letters in Erages, back in Kyonin, but my real education began when I left there, and traveled the world..."
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"Education? Aw, cmon, school is for nerds. Could you imagine how boring it would be, listening to dusty old mages drone on and on about the theory of magic," the gnome laughs as she elbows the wizard. "That'd be awful! No, I never actually had any higher education. What magic I can do comes from somewhere inside me...I just need to figure how to get all of it out!"
Gundrun is a ramshackle village built on the remains of a once proud clanhold, yet it’s among the few proper settlements that eke out a living in what was once Sarkoris. From the rough yet sturdy buildings, a Mwangi man bedecked in polished, nearly golden plate armor emblazoned with the holy symbol of Iomedae steps onto the dirt road and approaches with a friendly wave. It’s Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury.
“Pathfinders, it’s good to see you again. Walk with me, if you will,” Jorsal requests as he turns toward a crude wooden structure. The he gives a quick signal to a standing guard and opens the door, motioning inwards. “Though the Pathfinder Society doesn’t have an official lodge here in Gundrun, the locals have allowed us to use part of Clefthorn Lodge as a war room to discuss upcoming missions and objectives. Please take a seat.” As the room begins to fill, he closes the door behind him and makes his way to a small desk, where a large parchment map supports a host of red and blue figurines.
[/b]“During the First Mendevian Crusade, an Iomedaean cleric named Ghalcor and his assistants built a once-secret weapon to combat the encroaching demonic threat; however, the fighting ended before he could put it to use. I say ‘once-secret’ because the demons heard about the weapon and attacked the tower when combat resumed years later. It seems Ghalcor was caught off-guard. He and his team died in the assault, but not before they triggered special safeguards to keep anyone from capturing the weapon—demon, crusader, or otherwise. Since the weapon was never used, no one knows quite what it does or even how it works. What we do know is that we’ve spotted demons scouting the site as if they intend to break in soon. I trust you understand how that could be worrisome.”[/b]
He picks up several of the blue figurines and moves them from Gundrun to a site labeled ‘Ghalcor’s Tower.’ “Queen Galfrey has sent some of her forces to hold the area around Ghalcor’s Tower, but she needs specialists to find a way in. You,” he says with pride, “are those specialists. Travel north to the tower, enter it, handle any hostiles, and find out how the weapon works; you may also be called on to arm and even activate it, if circumstances demand. A brigade of Nerosyan’s crusaders is already on-site awaiting your arrival, and the esteemed Ollysta Zadrian is due to arrive soon with a small contingent to reinforce their position. She may have more details once you arrive.
“Make haste, and may the Inheritor guide your actions.”
Knowledge History or Religion
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"Demons? That's no good. Cayden gave me the power to smite those of such abb-kor-int evil." Theodore takes a sip of his 'water'skin upon saying Cayden's name.
"I'm excited I get to see Ollysta too."
Theodore just chatters and can't think of any questions to ask. The mission seems pretty straightforward to him.
We are interested in this weapon due to the fact that we’ve never had such a stalemate in previous crusades as we have today. Any ground we gain on the demons, they gain back in another area. By capturing this weapon, we hope to gain significant momentum and conclude the crusade quickly. And there has to be documentation about how the weapon works anywhere, it’s likely in the tower. I have faith that with a little ingenuity and skill, you will succeed at activating it.”
"As for the location. It’s approximately 20 miles north of here. Once you are fully prepared, I have an ally who can provide you swift and reliable transportation. I wish you all luck.”
With that he leads you to a robed figure with a cover over her face. He hands her a bag, most likely filled with coins. She nods to the venture captain. She leads to a clearing and stars a chant. A few moments later phantom steeds appear, enough for each PC.
If you wish to buy additional supplies, you have a limit of 750 per item.
Ghalcor’s Tower looms over the surrounding wasteland on a plateau that plummets down to the defiled Sarkora River below. At a distance, the tower looks like nothing more than a large outcropping of weathered rock, though this is an illusion maintained by the towers safeguards to help it avoid attention; the mirage fades away at a distance of 100 feet to reveal an octagonal keep of smoothed stone with a central tower that soars more than 100 into the air. Surveying from the foundation to the top of the tower, there’s no obvious entrance; the structure appears sealed.
Several hundred crusaders have erected a palisade crowned with cold iron spikes around the tower. Dozens of tents fill the enclosed space. Nearest the tower stands a large command pavilion, where a dozen crusaders strategize over battle plans and maps. As the PCs approach, the crusaders call to them to identify themselves and state their business. Ollysta Zadrian, a paladin and retired Pathfinder, joins the crusaders to vouch for the PCs, welcoming them into the camp.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Pathfinders,” Ollysta states calmly. “I hope that Venture-Captain Jorsal explained the situation to you fully because the demonic scouts that we found surveying the tower, have sent for reinforcements. Our movements have not gone unnoticed, and we spotted a large contingent of demons and fiend-spawn moving this way. There are more numerous than we had anticipated, so we are relying on you to secure and prepare Ghalcor’s weapon. I intend to assist in the defense of the camp, and everyone is placing their faith in your success. Venture Captain Jorsal chose each of you for a reason, and I am confident in his decision.” With that, she dons her helmet, walks out of the tent, and calls to her crusaders.
Ollysta’s crusaders form a circle around her. If there are any Silver Crusade faction PCs, she motions for them to join in as she speaks to those under her command. “Without a doubt, the evil we face today is a challenge. It is a challenge of our skill at arms, and we shall be victorious. It is a challenge of our valor, and we shall bravely face the most dreadful threats as a united whole. Last of all, it is a challenge of our grace, for the Silver Crusade fights here not to conquer but to liberate. Do everything that you can to ensure that the weapon within this tower does not fall into the hands of the demons. Go, and bring light to this forsaken land. I trust each of you to do what you believe is right in accomplishing this goal, for the Society is watching and judging the merit of good by your actions.” She claps her hand on the back of the Crusade PCs before nudging them back to their comrades.
As you approach the tower, you see a barrier shimmer in the lighting.
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Numair nods appreciatively at Ollysta's pep-talk, and cautiously approaches the barrier.
As he does so, he notices that his Wayfinder is growing warmer than usual.
Taking it out, he sees that it is pulsing with energy, and the compass needle is spinning wildly.
He watches in wonder as the barrier ripples in time with the pulses, revealing a door into the tower.
"I know not why this works... How is it that my wayfinder has such an effect?!"
He then carefully checks the door for traps.
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After the Silver Crusade speech, Theodore says sarcastically, "Sure, Ollysta. I get it. No pressure." He smiles at his own statement, then he then straightened his speech, a little slurry, "I'll do what I can."
Upon approaching the tower, Theodore decides to cast Longstrider on himself. He waits until the party is inside before any shorter duration buffing.
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"A few moments to prepare.
Irizati takes off his backpack and hands a wand of Mage Armor to Doodlevain. If you would use this on Baloo and anyone else who needs it I would appreciate it.
He takes out his rod of lesser Extend and casts extended Barkskin on himself and Baloo.
"Sorry buddy, Tigers and indoor places don't mix. We gotta make you fit."
He will then cast extended Reduce Animal on Baloo.
He will cast Greater Magic Fanf on himself and Baloo.
He then casts Longstrider on Baloo and uses his wand of Longstrider on himself.
"There are mysteries to solve. So I will stay human for now. But someone should hold my supplies, I may need to change quickly."
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"Ghalcor was a true scholar who respected all knowledge, even that which others might have considered taboo or unimportant. Toward the end of his life, he recruited select crusaders for a mysterious project. Rumors say that it involved other planes of existence and the study of ethics.
"Even though his work was crucial to later accomplishments like the wardstones, Iomedaen scholars today downplay Ghalcor's work, for it dipped into taboo Sarkorian rituals of bloodletting and self-sacrifice"
Everyone heads into the tower.
A curving corridor angles to the north before disappearing around a bend. The walls and floors bear gashes and holes, bearing testament to a terrible battle long ago, and a mass of corpses—some humanoid, some demonic, and all dead—litter the cold, tiled floor.
Numair is able to locate a pressure plate that leads to an arrow launcher. Or you could just avoid that particular one pressure plate.
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Theodore follows along, but before the party gets too far, he casts Freedom of Movement on himself and Magic Circle against Evil on himself. Before doing so, he takes out his Lesser Versatile Metamagic Rod to extend both of them so they will last 2 hours 40 minutes each.
He keeps the metamagic rod out and also takes out his buckler.
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Auriferous, who has been remaining quiet until now looks on in wonder as the tower door reveals itself to the wayfinder.
"It looks like he was expecting pathfinders to follow and explore his tower. Let us hope he has left other clues for us."
She'll move up to near the front, where her skill at arms would be helpful. Nobody is going to expect her to spot any traps though!
The PC's bypass the pressure plate that leads to the arrow tube. A few feet down the corridor, Izrati's foot sinks about an inch and an audible click be heard. A half a second later a fist sized orb drops from the ceiling exploding on contact with the ground, engulfing Izrati, Baloo, Theodore and Auriferous in holy fire.
Continuing down the corridore you find a corpse wearing a fine set of full plate. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be made from Mithral and he clutches a vial in his hand.
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Auri ducks just in time, and luckily her natural resistance to fire helps out even more.
Auri sighs at Doolevain. "If I didn't already have a suit of mithril pull plate myself... I'd be slipping into that beauty right in front of you. I wonder who is inside it? Poor soul. Can you tell how he died?"
"Maybe the rest of us shock stick further back..."
You turn the corner.
Flowing script of inlaid silver lines the polished walls of this octagonal chamber. A thick, iron door reinforced by four thick, horizontal bars of stone blocks the way to the west, and an open passage leads to the east. A niche in the north wall contains a glass octagonal prism clasped between a set of steel prongs. Liquid that glows with a blue-white radiance fills much of the prism’s interior. A stout lever is set into the wall next to the door.
The words in this chamber are written in Celestial and are little more than semi-coherent phrases praising The Inheritor Iomedae. In fact, the words merely frame lightly etched images of Iomedae’s miraculous feats and moments of greatest triumph. Each of the four bars across the door has four dials, each numbered from zero to nine with an eleventh blank facet, and each bar also bears a unique inscription in Common and Celestial See hand out in presentation
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Thaeos looks at Numair, then the rest of the party, "I thought you said you were educated? These are the 11 acts of Iomedae, mandatory learning in any beginning theology course!
"Please do not tell me that I need to list and explain them all."
Second: She defeated a coven of Garundi witches, freeing the city of Eleder from their tyranny.
Third: While riding a griffon in an aerial battle, she cut the wings from Segruchen the Iron Gargoyle, so-called King of the Barrowood. While falling and before he could escape, she pursued and slew him.
Fourth: With heartfelt words and a prayer to Arazni, she convinced a regiment of mortally wounded knights at the Second Battle of Encarthan to hold back a wave of wraiths long enough for reinforcements to arrive at dawn to save them.
Fifth: She smote Erum-Hel, Lord of the Morghs, at the Battle of Three Sorrows (where the Whispering Tyrant returned Arazni’s body to the Knights of Ozem). This drove Erum-Hel to flee, crippled, to Orv.
Sixth: After the Whispering Tyrant used magic to break her sword, she fused it together with a prayer and an oath to bring an end to his evil, with her pure heart and righteous ire reforging it in an instant.
Seventh: An image of Iomedae appeared at a shrine to Aroden in Absalom, healing anyone virtuous who touched it and burning wicked folk who came too near. When she later became a goddess, the shrine was expanded into a temple dedicated to her, named the Seventh Church.
Eighth: She convinced the graveknight known only as the Black Prince to throw himself upon his sword as punishment for his evil. This reversed his undead state, redeeming his soul and allowing him to be judged in the Halls of Aroden.
Ninth: She gave nine drops of her blood to free nine righteous knights imprisoned by the vampire-mage Basilov; she and the knights then slew him when he attempted to recapture them.
Tenth: She ruled the city of Kantaria for a year and a day while its lord, heirless patriarch of House Narikopolous, was missing. The city prospered despite constant attacks by shapechanging horrors—horrors which she battled personally.
Eleventh: At the Pit of the Starstone in Absalom, she cast her cloak of common wool before her. It straightened and expanded to become a firm walkway across the gap, allowing her to enter the Cathedral and take the Test.
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"The first bar encodes the sixth and ninth acts of Iomedae, while the second bar corresponds to the fourth, eighth and eleventh acts. The third bar continues with the first, third and seventh acts, while the final bar encodes the fifth, second and tenth acts."
Thaeos begins turning dials, not even asking for agreement before acting on his assumptions.
2 4, 8, 1, 1
3 1, 3, 7, blank
4 5, 2, 1, 0
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"A broken sword reborn in knight saving blood" she pauses.
"The broken sword is her sixth deed. Saving the knights with her blood the ninth. Not too sure about saving Absalom. The seventh deed was about sorting the righteous from the unholy in Absalom."
She moves to the second inscription
"Inspired by her courage..." she starts
"That would be her eighth deed."
The third bar she sighs. "This is not my area of specialty. By Escaping the wound..."
"Could that be her first deed? And the King of the Barrowwoods defeat you said was the third deed. Her assention through was through the cathedral, which was her eleventh deed, and we don't have that on the bars."
She turns to the last bar. "Battle of three sorrows."
"This is mixed up history again. The Battle of three sorrows was her fifth deed. Her second deed involved the city of Eleder, and her tenth, maybe the zero, the city of Kantaria."
Thaeos enters the combination with Auriferous chiming in. They pull the lever to see of it releases the door. The prism on the wall flashes as everyone is it with a blast of holy energy.
Good characters are unaffected by it. Neutral characters take 24 damage(DC 19 Will Halves it)
The first and fourth bar retract into the door leaving the two middle inscriptions.
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Auri changes the second bar to just have the eight deed recognized, and the third bar to be one, three, one and one.
"I'm not too sure about that second bar, and also whether the two ones really do represent eleven..."
She waits for those who were injured to retreat before pulling the lever a second time.
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Peering around the corner, Numair reflexively winces as he sees Auriferous playing around with the dials.
When he sees that she is leaving the second bar to just the 8th deed, however, he shakes his head.
"Don't be ridiculous. The second one can't be just the 8th deed. It must be more than that. the 4th deed fits, as well."
He then ducks back around the corner, in case he is wrong.