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If there's one thing Nixie can do, it's tell stories.
"It's the tale of the lost god Aroden," Nixie says, looking wistful. "The gillmen speak of Aroden all the time. Some don't even accept that he's dead. He was the last of the Azlanti, the people from whom the gillmen claim direct ancestry. He was the one who raised the Starstone, making the ascent of other deities possible, like Cayden Cailean and Iomedae. When he died, the world was engulfed in cataclysmic storms. One of my friends told me that the storms arose from the grief of the world at his passing."
Nixie casts her dancing lights around the reliefs, so that the party can look at the carvings more fully.
"Aroden was a god who enjoyed being an ordinary man. When Aroden walked amongst mortals he disguised himself in one of twelve forms: beggar, thief, fisherman, hunter, shepherd, farmer, soldier, merchant, tailor, craftsman, artist, and scholar."
Nixie points out the four reliefs that she can understand, showing everyone the details present on each carving.
The relief of the hunter shows a man killing a giant serpentine creature and then parading its severed head through the city streets. The words The wilds are safe to inhabit once the monsters are slain are carved below it.
The relief of the scholar shows a man writing on a piece of parchment and then reading from it to a large crowd. The words Ardon smiles on those who recorded knowledge to share it with others.
The man in the relief of the beggar is depicted kneeling with an alms bowl raised high. The words All should be humble, lest they forget their shared humanity
The Soldier is depicted bearing a lantern through the streets of a city. The words The vigilant shall carry light to the darkest corners of the world to banish the shadows.
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Nimerah listens intently as Nixie tells them of Aroden. She had heard the name before, but knew little about him except that he had once been a god and had somehow perished. Truth be told, she found the tale rather disturbing in one sense. If one god could die, then so could others. Gods were supposed to be eternal, weren't they?
No, now's not the time for such thoughts. Maybe I'll speak to one of the local priests about this when we get back to Absalom.
"Then this is likely a holy site to the gillmen? Given what you've just told us and what Janira shared, it makes the most sense."
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"I d-don't know. M-Maybe we sh-should r-record this s-somehow. It c-could be a find w--worthy of p-publication. C-can you imagine? B-being published in the Chronicles b-before even b-being c-c-confirmed?" Rohini begins looking around in her backpack, eventually giving up when it becomes clear that, like any responsible Pathfinder, she doesn't have anything to make a record of what they've found. "D-does anyone h-have any p-paper?"
The group collaborates on the journal entry which Nixie writes out in elegant handwriting. Satisfied with their work the group packs up and cautiously moves into the next cave.
The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
A lone figure kneels in the water. A Gillman. He hasn’t noticed you.
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A Gillman! And Janira wanted us to make contact!
Not wanting to startle him, Nixie steps to the front and sends a dancing light slowly flying over his head, and then brings it back to the group so that he'll know they're there.
She waves when he looks in their direction. "ಹಲೋ, ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ! ಅಲೆಗಳು ದೂರದ ನೀವು ಸಾಗಿಸಬಹುದು! Hello, friend! May the tides carry you far!"
Nixie speaks the greeting both in the burbling language of her homeland, and in common and she smiles. "I'm Nixie, and these are my friends. Can we talk? We can wait if you're busy."
"Wave at him. Smile." Nixie says to her friends.
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Though Nimerah's attention is immediately drawn to the miniature city - the temptation to move up for a closer look is nearly overwhelming - she realizes the wisdom in Nixie's words.
Yes...we're supposed to speak with these gillmen, if possible. The little city can wait.
"I'm Nimerah," she speaks as Nixie introduces them. "We're here on a mission of exploration and mean you no harm."
The man looks up at the light, twists around and stares at the group. His expression shifts from surprise to confusion and finally settles on indifference. The Gillman squints at Nixie and Nimerah as they talk. He then points to his ears, shakes his head and crosses his arms. Then he touches his lips while he mouths something, points to the group while he keeps moving his lips, taps his eyes and beckons the group closer.
Sense Motive
Perception
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Walking closer to the Gillman, Leela wants to let Nixie do all the talking. She knows her initial demeanor can come off as brash, even aggressive and she doesn't want to scare him. His lack of hearing wouldn't even work in her favor, because, even in a good mood, her face looks anything but friendly. Nixie on the other hand, looks and sounds very friendly. She also speaks the Gillman's language and comes from the same environment. But she knows they're doing introductions so she puts on a smile that feels wrong on her face, places her hand on her chest and says "Hello! My name is Leela!" loudly, as though that would make a difference to someone completely deaf.
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"U-um...I th-think he wants our c-c-cloak. It m-m-matches theh r-rest of his outfit."
Rohini watches the gillman with wide eyes from behind Nimerah's legs, fingers nervously playing across her alchemical reagents and bottles. "I d-don't think he'll u-understand m-me. The s-s-stutter..."
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Surprised by the Gillman, Aislinn and Faolan were put on guard. They did see the wisdom in Nixies approach, so they tried to keep their walk leisurely and with a smile on their face. Aislinn waved when she was introduced and pointed at Faolan when it was his turn. While she was becoming more comfortable talking with her team mates...... The Gillman was a different story. While slightly fidgeting Faolan make sure to keep his ears perked while trying to stand still and look non threatening. At least their knowledge and understanding of body language helped them in this situation.
Faolan
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Nimerah starts as she feels something brush up against her legs, but quickly looks down and realizes that it's only Rohini. Looking back up at the others, she nods. "Rohini is right. The cloak we have is of obvious interest to him...probably because it seems to match the design of his own clothing. Maybe he dropped it in the tunnel and didn't notice?"
The man nods at Nixie. "Better. I am Uri." His words are slurred but he's still easy to understand. "You I am not surprised to see, but why bring the land-folk here?"
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Nixie blinks. He'd missed everything she'd said before, hadn't he? She looks up into his eyes, and speaks in a slow, measured way. First meetings are important, and she doesn't want to rush this.
"I'm a Watersinger, training to be a memory of my people," she says, formally. "Before I can take up my role, I need to travel and learn as much as I can about the world, both in the sea and out of it. I joined the Pathfinder Society to further these goals, and to build relationships."
She smiles up at him. "These women are my friends. This is Leela, Nimerah, Aislinn and Rohini. The furry one is Faolan." Worried that Faolan might be scary to Uri, she hastily adds. "Don't worry, he's not a pig. Aislinn has him well-trained."
"We're all learning together. They're teaching me so much about the strange ways of landfolk and how to fight to protect myself. I'm teaching them a bit about the sea. This is our first mission. We are supposed to map these caves, but we didn't mean to disturb your prayers in this holy place."
Still keeping her gaze on him, she offers up her empty hands. "My friend Rohini says that the cloak she's wearing looks like it may be yours. We found it in the cave. Would you like it back?"
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Uri takes the cloak with a nod. He shakes it out, examines it closely and then places it in his lap. He looks pleased. “Ah. Not mine, another pilgrim must have dropped it. You are kind to give it to me; I will see it back to its owner.”
“It is good, your mission. You do your people a credit, learning and then teaching land dwellers.” He turns to the rest of the group “You are welcome here. You and your non-pig” One side of his mouth quirks up.
“These caves, they are sacred to us. This spring, it is sacred. The waters are pure. We mediate here for guidance. It was Aroden’s once, you can see his city there. But that was long ago. His magic is fading. So are his carvings. We Gillmen, we don’t care about Aroden, but we still respect what was once his. We do not make our carvings over his. If you wish to perform the old rituals to Aroden, you are welcome to.’
He twists around and points towards the exits on the opposite side of the room. “Those passages there. Used to be part of our holy site. Leads to another exit from these caves. But as Aroden’s magic failed the monsters came. Dangerous now. Won’t come into this chamber. But still dangerous.”
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Nimerah nods again in acknowledgement as Nixie makes introductions but otherwise remains silent, content to let Nixie do the majority of the speaking for the group. As her eyes stray over to the miniature city once more, something that Uri says catches her attention.
"Old rituals?" she asks, tilting her head slightly to one side as she regards the gillman with a look of curiosity. "What sorts of old rituals? Would performing them be of help to you or to this place?"
Uri pauses "Ah. Didn't know? Hmmmm. Rituals are Aroden thing, but I know them. Only, I won’t tell you. The point of rituals was to impart wisdom and guidance. If I tell you it doesn’t make you wiser. Searching for answers gives you as much wisdom as the answer itself.”
“Now. As for monsters. I fear them, yes. ” He nods at Leela “But they won’t bother me. They fear me too, ha! Would clear them out if I could but I am forbidden. We are not allowed to fight on pilgrimage. Not unless attacked first. Or someone desecrates the waters. But they do not so I can not.”
“You asked if I would like them gone, sword-bearer? Yes. Too close to the waters for comfort. If you do this I will share what I know. Defending this place, I think it gives a different kind of wisdom. But, you do not need my help. You already have what you need to perform rituals. Just need to think.”
He points at the two exits to the east and west. ”One group in each direction. Kill, come back and I share my knowledge. Or uncover rituals on your own and then kill. You can skip the ritual. Or you can do the ritual and just leave. Could leave right now, Ha! No point in that. But the rest is up to you. It’s your search, not mine.”
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Nixie nods. "It would be good to honor Aroden in his sacred place. I think we should perform the rituals, then go slay your monsters to make your pilgimage more safe. My friends are wonderful warrior women. You should see them in battle!"
Nixie addresses her friends, but still politely faces Uri. "Do you remember the four aspects of Aroden that we studied from the carvings? We could reenact them. There was a soldier." She points at Leela and Nimerah. "There was a hunter." She points to Aislinn and Faolan. "Then there was a scholar, which could be any of us, and a beggar who was someone very humble." Nixie grins at Rohini. "Do you want to be the scholar or the humble one?"
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Leela cracks a smile, one of the wry ones that feel right on her face. Finally, a chance do some fighting. She knows the Pathfinder society might look down on the remnants of bloodlust, but you can take the barbarian out of the tribe, you can take the barbarian out of the woman.
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She smiles fully at Nimerah as she unsheathes the large bastard sword that someone her size shouldn't be able to wield with surprising ease. "Depends on what kind of beast. If it's a big guy, I can call up the blood rage of the barbarians and use this beauty to cleave it in two."
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Aislinn stays back studying the surroundings and listening to everyone talk..... So much talking. She lets out a little sigh of exasperation. But when Uri brings up the monsters hers and Faolan's ears perk up. While the ritual might be interesting both her and Faolan were itching to begin a new hunt. "Getting rid of the danger first sounds like the best plan. Are they big monsters that will need all of us in each place, it divide and conquer? " Aislinn faced Uri as she asked the last part.
Okay. We've got less than two weeks until December 20th. Think we can move swiftly through the combats and finish this up in time?
GM, feel free to roll us in.
Hmm
Uri shakes his head. “Not one big one. They are smaller. I’ve seen their footprints.”
The group moves down the eastern passage. The cave’s damp air becomes increasingly stale as you continue down through this tunnel. Soon the stench of decay grows increasingly evident.The passage turns to the east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper, and other unusable detritus.
Rohini bravely scouts ahead. She spots the creatures in the cave but they don't see her. She reports to the group and they move to ambush the creatures.
K. Religion for Undead
Most undead were once living. Knowing details about the phase of existence that preceded a creature's undeath is often invaluable in determining its motives.
Holy water damages undead as though it were acid. Distributed by goodly religious orders the world over,holy water is the only line of defense against undead for many commoners.
Undead are invariably evil, as are the means to create such beings.
Undead are healed by negative energy and harmed by positive energy.
Undead are immune to numerous magical effects, including mind-affecting effects and abilities that affect a creature's physical constitution.
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Rohini drops a hand to her belt, grabbing a tiny glass flask no bigger than her finger, with a little barrier in the middle of two liquids; one red and one a brilliant green. She tosses it toward the yellow skeleton, where it erupts into an explosion much, much larger than its size should have allowed. The fiery explosion is enough, in fact, to singe the blue skeleton as well.
Her bomb deployed, she scurried behind Nimerah again, making room for the heavier hitters to do their thing.
The fire immediately engulfs the Skeletons. They fall to the floor, the life snuffed out of them once again.
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Always good at multitasking, Nixie not only inspires courage for +1 to group attacks and damage but also shares information on how to fight the skellies.
Five skeletons standing in the yard
Hit them with blunt or hit them hard
With a splash, holy water will do
Hey look! Rohini's bomb got two!
Nixie delays her attack until after Aislinn and Nimerah, going after a pair of skellies if any are still standing.
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In agreement that it might be best to put an end to the creatures lurking elsewhere in the caverns (if only because Leela seemed to be getting mildly twitchy), Nimerah dutifully follows along behind the rest of her companions.
When Rohini creeps back from her scouting to report that there are creatures up ahead, she nods and quietly positions herself for attack. The blast that echoes throughout the cavern from Rohini's thrown object catches the warrior by surprise but she's not inclined to complain given its effectiveness! Her sword in hand, she moves up toward the remaining enemies...
And continues to move forward to engage one of them, swinging her sword down in a graceful strike.
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With blood pumping for the hunt Aislinn and Faolan are more that happy to head into the tunnel. Rohini's bomb gives them a little jump and surprise! Who knew something so big could be made by someone so small! Aislinn quickly steadies herself and surveys the area for remaining enemies. Moving to the left, Aislinn gives herself a clear shot at one of the creatures while Faolan takes off to the right of Nimerah. Taking aim Aislinn release's her arrow at the creatures while Faolan gets into position to attack when the arrow hits.
Both attacking green zombie.
Aislinn
Faolan
Aislinn's arrow thuds into the zombie's eye. It falls backwards, the force that animates it fleeing it's body.
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Crestfallen that the enemy was but a few undead, Leela resheathes he sword. Suddenly Rohini threw a bomb that took out a chunk of them. She picks Rohini up and swings her around in one move. "Rohini, that was brilliant!" before placing her back behind Nimerah. Leela takes out her shortbow and aims it at the remaining Zombie's head and lets the arrow fly.
Leela’s arrow and Nixie’s flask hit hit the last undead at the same moment. It stays standing for a moment before falling to the ground in pieces.
You poke around the bodies and discover a ring and a suit of leather armor that are in good condition.
Along with the creatures you fought there’s the badly mangled corpse of a man. In his pocket you find notes detailing plans to start an army of undead made from the “fish people” who have been frequenting this cave.