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Mural 1
Mural 2
Mural 3
Mural 4
Mural 5
Considering his companions comments, the half-orc eyes the murals with interest. "Hmm....that all makes sense actually." he remarks with a nod.
Settling his eyes on the final picture he mumbles "Could it not be a simple depiction of this place? I mean, the gold symbolizes mining, right? And dwarves love their rocks. Meanwhile the lizard with the plant....perhaps stating the fauna in the region helps keep the predators at bay?"
The Golden Guardian nods approvingly as Kaya explains the first five murals. “You truly are the worthy bearers of the talisman, so I shall tell you a story that Sigrin of Ashkurhall, the founder of this place, once told me."
“Long ago, when Sigrin’s father ruled as king, the dwarves rose from the depths and built a citadel so mighty that even a titan would gaze upon it in awe. Centuries later, a shower of stars rained upon a land not far from the dwarven hold. The dwarves marched to investigate. They found many wonderful things, the greatest of which was the mysterious artifact they named the Sky Key."
“But dark times soon followed, for their cousins from the underworld fell upon the dwarven citadel. Caught unprepared, the dwarves knew they could not hold off against the siege. The king ordered all but his most trusted guards to leave, and stayed behind to buy his people timed to escape. Before Sigrin and her three siblings left to lead the dwarves to safety, the king gave each of them a piece of the Sky Key, and kept one for himself. The dwarves traveled far and wide, but the dangerous journey across the unknown land caused rifts in their clan. One by one, the king’s children went their separate ways, each taking a piece of the key and a part of the clan. Sigrin’s dwarves made their way to this continent, and though they found it quite inhospitable, they pressed on. After much searching, they found gold and started building this place. Their prosperity grew with each passing decade.”
Grinning, the Guardian continues, “That’s when I entered the picture. We didn’t get along at first, but I came to realize they were decent people, who appreciated stone and gold as much as I did."
“Their luck did not last, however. A sickness came over the dwarves, and the survivors were too few in number to continue their lineage. Rather than slowly die out here, they chose to leave. However, they wanted someone to watch over this place. They chose me. Sigrin went to her grippli allies and gave them her piece of the key. Where the dwarves were going, they couldn’t hold onto their memories and traditions. I think Sigrin made up a monstrous story about me—I probably deserved it,” the Guardian says with a grin, “but the story was to protect this place and the piece of the key.”
The Guardian stares at the last mural for a long time. “The dwarves left to join their cousins who lived in the jungle to the east. They never came back.”
SHe is actually looking round when the kobolds burst in shouting "Aspis are coming, They fell into all the traps but there are too many. Stinkeye chomped on the leg of one of them but they right behind us"
"I WILL DEFEND THE TEMPLE SEE THEY DON'T CIRCLE ROUND BEHIND ME" the gargoyle booms out as he flies towards the open doors
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With a grin, Gruk begins to chant in a strange tongue. During the incantation, he touches different part of his clothing, causing a change in his attire. Bruises, and gashes form over apparent tattered clothing. An oversized Aspis Pendant appears over his heart.
Turning back to the group, he announces. "I think I may confuse them a tad, whatcha think? Do I look good? OH! Yeah...don't forget I"m on your side!"
Without another word, he quickly starts down the ramp. Taking a couple steps, his feet slide out from under him. "AIEEEEEE! Blasted Pathfinders!" he calls out.
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Ahmandé runs out onto the handle and begins inspiring the other Pathfinders.
"We've defeated the Aspis before! Remember the grippli village; they didn't get us then and they can't take us down now. We have the Golden Guardian on our side!"
Inspire Courage (Su): A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. Inspire courage can use audible
or visualcomponents. The bard must choose which component to use when starting his performance.
The Aspis burst in half of them looking stony faced try to take on the Guardian the other bolt towards the hammerhead where you are. In total there are six humans (two looking very stocky but totally not dwarfs) and two hyenas the hyena that raced up the stairs finds its feet scrabbling to cope with the hammer shaft and falls near Gruk
round 1 party is up
Party is blessed and inspired
Ahmande
Gruk -2 prone
Kaya
Kord
Yridhrendir
Hyena -6 prone
Aspis
”Did they rob you of all our pay too?” shouts one of the greys ”Never mind em pathfinders give us a flank on this animated statue!” Shouts another. Kaya shoots an arrow into the stocky axe wielder whose wounds worsen
round 1 bold is up
Party is blessed and inspired
[dice=Gruk fall damage]1d6
[dice=hyena fall damage]1d6
Ahmande
Gruk -2 prone
Kaya
Cord
Yridhrendir
Hyena -6 prone
Aspis ‘dwarf’ -3
Blue Aspis
White Aspis
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Seeing the enemy trying to close on their position, the paladin races forward in an attempt to block them from getting any closer.
He gets to the top of the stairs to create a bottleneck. Gripping his flail casually, Kord takes stock of the fools running up the stairs. With a grin, "Not today. See, I ain't been doin' too much recently, and Ah've been pretty bored. So, you have really come at a good time fer me. Ya want to defile a paladin's temple in front of him? You may want to reconsider."
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Ahmande continues to pick his way across the carved hammer handle walkway, able to keep his footing as Kord blows past him. He continues to inspire his allies to fight hard against the Aspis as he moves.
He slips a small bit of butter out of his pouch. Rubbing it between his fingers, he conjures a patch of slippery grease to coat a patch at the top of the stairs.
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The aspis all fall down. The front two attack defensively as they Foolishly they decide to try get back up again one gets a lucky shot on Kord with her torch for five damage
Including the hyena who does not appear to like Gruk
Also remove Kord's target from the board as the torch wielded crunches to the floor
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'Hmm...decisions...decisions...' considers Gruk as he looks from one group of Aspis to another, and finally back to the wolf nearby.
Holding his Falchion high, he mumbles a few words. The blade flares up with light, and he sneers "Get your mutt off me! Anyway to treat a friend?! By Asmodeus' light, I'll solve the problem myself!"
Turning to the wolf, he swings the glowing blade high.
In all that comotion I forgot to describe the guardians actions he nails the hyena on the first round and another torch wielding 'axeman' in the second the Aspis prove equally ineffective at hurting the guardian
Meanwhile Gruk slices his hyena mutt in two and Kord smashes the brains of another Aspis into the wall
Yridhrendirs opponent wibces but stabs back with his longsword
Scared and slightly green looking The aspis look very ineffectual
Kord smashes the remaining Aspis down the stairs he falls down like a ag doll.
moments later the guardian finishes off the other Aspis and asks "IS THAT IT?" You remember that the Aspis had some kind of aristocratic leader and there has been no sign of him yet
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Ahmande dismisses the grease spell, speaking some simple words that cause the greasy coating on the stairs to fade away. He carefully picks his way to the landing, getting off the rounded handle portion of the walkway.
Standing at the top of the stairs, he draws out his bow and knocks and arrow, ready to fire on any other Aspis that appear.
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Kaya moves back a little bit to get a better angle on the door and see the whole room. "I'll stick close to the alter and murals in case they sneak past. I can also shoot decently from here and can see most of the room. Kick some slithering butt!"
for
The guardian takes up station behind Kaya giving her a clear view of the entrance. two more bruised looking Aspis burst in and are initially fooled by Gruk before a loud voice booms "Fools I did not hire him" and a large spear strikes at Gruk as its large wielder breaks his invisibility spell
nearly skewering Gruk
Kord takes opportunity attacks as he closes on his shrinking foe
a minor blow from the Aspis barely hits and the shrinking figure nearly drops his spear as they both shrink
More combat ensues and the aspis butt is kicked
The guardian helps you and the kobolds clear the debris where Sharrowsmith collapsed the tunnel (kobolds didnt break the place merely redocarated) and you recover his body and stuff as Aya and Ambrus requested.
With Zaril Namoth and his Aspis Consortium expedition
thwarted, the Golden Guardian and kobolds assist the
you in clearing the collapsed corridor of rubble. There
they uncover the remains of Venture-Captain Nieford
Sharrowsmith, which are badly damaged but identifiable
thanks to his crushed wayfinder and other belongings.
The kobolds allow the you to extract the body and its
possessions in peace, but afterward the small humanoids
ae very relieved when you leave.
You return to Nantambu, Aya Allahe is there
to receive them. She listens to your recounting of
their mission, and when she learns of Sharrowsmith’s
death, she nods sadly and voices her thanks.
“Nantambu will not be the same without my friend Nieford
Sharrowsmith. When he was younger, he traveled to all
corners of the Mwangi Expanse and truly made the region
his home, despite having been born hundreds of miles away
in Avistan. He never truly lost his adventuring spirit, and as
this lodge grew, he found his hours dedicated more and more
to paperwork and less and less to exploring the lands’ rich
history. I know his soul would take no offense at my saying
he died as he would have wished—active, engaged, and in
the field. I take solace in being able to provide him proper
funerary rites.
“With his passing, Sharrowsmith’s Exports has no venturecaptain,
but I have corresponded with Nieford’s colleague
Ambrus Valsin and agreed to act as the temporary manager
of the lodge. After all, the full extent of the Pathfinders’
involvement in Nantambu has remained a something of an
open secret, and it would be an embarrassment for anyone
but a friend or family member to take command of the
business so soon after the owner’s death.”
“I dearly appreciate what you have done for the Society, for
your venture-captain, and for me.”
Aya Allahe also examines the metal component the
PCs found in the Krihirik talisman. After a moment’s
study, she quickly stands, recovers a piece of stationary
bearing five graphite illustrations, and slowly smiles.
“This is remarkable,” she announces. “The shape of
the talisman matches one of the drawings Ambrus
Valsin sent me. What you have found is a piece of the
Sky Key, the device even now the rest of the Society is
at its wits’ end attempting to reassemble!” Then, with
quiet affection, she murmurs to the Sky Key component,
“Congratulations, Nieford. You and your agents have
once again done what the rest of the Society could
not—a fitting tribute, and a fine legacy.”