|
Tûrak moves on while drawing another bomb from his bandolier. Cormac moves through the wall again and attacks. The Phantom hits the remaining ghoul. Serpentfang readies an attack.
The ghoul tries to get rid of the Phantom behind him.
Bernard
Ishingka
Serpentfang
Kraww
Tûrak
Cormac
-----------
Ghoul red -5HP
-----------
Faren
|
|
Ishingka swings her hammer at the remaining ghoul, hitting it right on the head which breaks open. The creature drops and stops moving.
You uncover a hidden stash of the goods the ghouls once valued during life, including a pair of boots, a finely crafted jade brooch and a weather-worn journal.
You are able to correctly reassemble and repair the shrines which makes the once again ward the path against misfortune.
|
|
After Serpentfang packed the things he found you continue on the Path of Many Shrines trhough the mountains for an hour before reaching a 50-foot-wide, mile-long crevasse.
The narrow mountain path ends at the lip of a fifty-foot-wide crevasse that stretches out of sight in both directions. A pair of carved stone pillars stands at the edge of the chasm and a matching pair of pillars can be seen on the far side. The remains of corroded iron chains, set within the stone pillars, dangle limply into the crevasse. A relatively gentle slope leads to the bottom of the crevasse. The slope on the far side is much steeper, and is covered with jagged, precariouslooking rocks.
Spring thaw has increased the chance of a rockslide on the far slope.
|
Kraww glowers darkly at the party for not wanting to remain and tend to the holy site.
"Waarrrr, No good will come of it. This place is infested with evil spirits. This bodes ill for us."
"Between the shrines and our destination lay a wall of rocks unsettled by winter's passing. We should tread carefully to avoid a rockslide. WARK."
|
|
"We'll still need to climb, Turak"
"Yeah, but with a rope it will become more easier, huh? And we don't need a grapnel. Cormac can just tie the rope in a sturdy and safe place."
The alchemist decided just to ignore the plagues of Kraww. "If this place really have evil spirits, I'll put them in their places."
After Cormac fix the rope, Turak satisfy itself that it is firm enough and uses it to cross the site.
|
|
Bernard sends his phantom to mount the rope on the other side of the broken bridge. With the rope you are all able to get to the other side of the crevasse.
You move and and after about half an hour of walking you see a strange rock formation, known as the Two Brothers. Two rock formations, shaped like a pair of thick pillars, stand prominently near a cliff’s edge. One pillar stands fifteen feet tall and the smaller stands ten feet tall. A shallow cave, just to the side of the pillars, looks as if it might provide some shelter from inclement mountain weather.
The taller of the two formations is known as Big Brother and the smaller is known as Little Brother. Local legend maintains that the Two Brothers were once men who successfully protested against injustices using peaceful and nonviolent means. Upon death, their bodies were transformed into unyielding rock, corresponding to their nature in life. It was not uncommon for representatives of opposing groups to endure the harsh climb to meet here to engage in peaceful negotiation. Often a representative from the monastery would also be present to ensure that the peace was maintained or even to act as mediator.
|
|
"I think it is not the yeti's lair, Ishingka".
Tûrak explains:
"I read about it in one volume of the Pathfinder Chronicles, just don't remember in which for now. But, I can tell you that the taller of the two formations is known as Big Brother and the smaller is known as Little Brother. Local legend maintains that the Two Brothers were once men who successfully protested against injustices using peaceful and nonviolent means. Upon death, their bodies were transformed into unyielding rock, corresponding to their nature in life. It was not uncommon for representatives of opposing groups to endure the harsh climb to meet here to engage in peaceful negotiation. Often a representative from the monastery would also be present to ensure that the peace was maintained or even to act as mediator."
After a short pause, he continues:
"Interesting how those men need these rocks to make peace. So, it seems that it is not our final destination, let's continue in our way."
Before continue, Tûrak just watch the statues more carefully.
|
|
The Clouded Path Monastery lies 2 hours’ travel up a steep incline from the Two Brothers, and takes the PCs above 5,000-foot altitude.
A large stone building lies nestled in a shallow stone cul-desac, hollowed out from the surrounding mountainside. The building shows evidence of poor maintenance — the roof is missing several tiles and the once-proud, central double doors lie in a pile of ruined timbers. The remains of a giant bell, and the wooden structure meant to support and sound it, dominate the center of the flagstone courtyard before the stone structure.
This is the Clouded Path Monastery that Venture-Captain Amara Li instructed you to locate. The monastery once served as a place of learning for those following the teachings of the Iroran faith. The monks who once lived and trained within the monastery have long since left and much of the building has succumbed to the ravages of time.
|
|
Low Peak or High Pass (5,000 to 15,000 feet): Ascending to the highest slopes of low mountains, or most normal travel through high mountains, falls into this category. All non-acclimated creatures labor to breathe in the thin air at this altitude. Characters must succeed on a Fortitude save each hour (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or be fatigued. The fatigue ends when the character descends to an altitude with more air. Acclimated characters do not have to attempt the Fortitude save.
You head to the cave near the Two Brothers and rest for the night. This time the camp is not attacked by wild animals and you can relax and prepare for the next day.
|
|
You attempt to climbt the path to the monastery the next morning and most of you feel better than yesterday. You can even enjoy the view from the mountain top.
Atop a ten-foot rise of gray stone steps stands a wide paved forecourt surrounded by worn, red-painted wood pillars and faded rust-colored walls. A massive copper bell rests in the center of the area, surrounded by a mess of wooden scaffolds and a carved-smooth tree trunk, all collapsed into a pile around the carillon. The north wall features an intricate mosaic of monks walking on clouds. A pair of staircases flanks the wall, leading up to a ten-foot-high porch and three sets of wooden doors beyond.
When the monastery was still in use, the monks who lived and meditated there would sound the massive copper bell here to mark the passage of time, helping them structure their daily lives and strict training schedules. Since the monastery’s abandonment, the ropes holding the wooden support structure failed, leaving behind a collapsed pile of broken timbers.
The monastery has masonry walls and flagstone floors. Something has damaged or torn out all of the doors. The front yard is occupied by a young yeti, which uses the wooden structure and bell as a primitive shelter. The yeti attacks as soon as you enter the monastery.
Cormac
Faren
------------
Yeti
------------
Serpentfang
Kraww
Ishingka
Bernard
Tûrak