|
Ralph takes a deep breath as he enters unseen into the presently-empty briefing room. Whilst he had been chronicling the adventures of several other agents for some time, it had been awhile since he had been sent out into the field itself.
"Alden and Exiel both performed well in their last mission, and it will be good to observe them first-hand. Exiel especially. It has been a long time since we were last on an assignment together. And I believe the one known as 'Subject 42' will be in charge of chronicling this mission for us."
" I hope this venture will be well worthy of the chronicles," he muses as he walks to a corner of the room and leans against the wall. He is careful to be as silent as he can, wanting to observe his companions before making his presence known.
(Invisible and standing still.)
|
|
"So, there I was, stuck in the belly of a plant monster, getting ready to cast a spell, then all of a sudden, the dame thing died on me." 42 takes a swig of his drink before sitting it down onto the table. "I've been in worse spots, but that last mission really took it's toll." He looks down at his tattered armor. "I wonder how much it will be to fix this up."
At that moment, a tall man with green hair walks into the room and sits down at the bar. 42 imminently takes notice. But he turns back to his companions, a grimmer expression on his face.
|
|
"In Soviet Artrosa, salad eat you," Exiel observes with a dry chuckle, but his mood soon darkens as talk of that ill-fated expedition brings to mind those who fell in that dark dungeon.
He takes a long pull from his tankard, and he only barely notices the newcomer on account of his striking green hair.
|
A tall Qadiran man enters the tavern, squinting in the low light. Finding an open stool at the bar, he sits down, nodding to anyone who meets his eye. Clad in the blue-and-gold colors of the Dawnflower, he seems just one of the many dervishes in the service of the Satrap. The perceptive notice a ring bearing the Glyph of the Open Road.
He waits until the barkeep looks at him before speaking. "Greetings, my friend. A glass of Chelish red, if you please."
|
A halfling looking to be in his mid-twenties by human standards enters, guiding a wolf wearing a saddle. He wears full plate and has a lance and steel shield strapped to his back, with several other weapons hanging from his belt.
"Hello again, friends. For those of you who do not know me, I am Alden. It is good to see you again, Exiel... 42." He bows to each of you in turn. "As you can see, Naala is back to her old self. I have also been training to keep her safer in battle. I don't want to lose her again." He rubs the wolf's head, and she nuzzled him.
|
|
Exiel's mood lightens visibly at the sight of the halfling and his wolf. He moves over and pats Naala on the head gently.
"Well met, Alden. And Naala! So glad to see you back amongst us! I have not forgotten your courage, my canine friend. I am glad to be travelling with you and your halfling again so soon!" he laughs as he rubs her chin and raises his eyebrows at Alden.
|
|
The green haired man notices 42 sitting at the table. He motions for 42 to approach.
"Excuse me for a moment." 42 says as he leaves the table heading for the green haired man.
They the green haired man offers a seat to 42 but 42 shakes his head. After a few minutes of conversation, they head back towards the table. The green haired man passes Aram, Balik and Lavode and motions in the pathfinder sign language for them to come along.
42 points to the green haired man, "This is Amsheagar. He and I go way back, long before I joined the society. But our history is ours to solve." he moves off to the side to let Amsheagar speak.
|
Amsheagar nods to 42, "Thank you 42, you can go now. You need to get your armor repaired."
42 doesn't like the dismiss, but he leaves.
Amsheagar turns back to the group now gathered around the table. "Greetings Pathfinders, I have been sent by Venture-Captain Thurl to give you a mission." he pulls out a piece of paper and lays it on the table. “A novice doing busywork in one of the archive storerooms in the Grand Lodge came across this two days ago. I’d normally be the first to chastise new recruits for whispering and rumor mongering, but I’m glad the boy had heard of the current situation with the Shadow Lodge. I don’t know exactly what he heard, or how much of it was true, but he had heard enough to make a connection. He showed his instructor, who passed it all the way up to the Ten. They have instructed me to pass it to you, and to give you your next assignment.”
8 Pharast, 4581 a.r.
Stumbled into the Storast a safe house today, on the run from t h a t angry Kellid shaman. Pretty lousy substitute for a real lodge, but decent enough, I guess. Kept that t ribe from gutt in g me, anyhow.
While I was there I had a chance to read a bit of that Prophecy everyone says is so great. No idea why. All gib berish if you ask me. Listen to this bit :
“the Eye opens, drowned lands deserted a chittering host, Sarkoris perverted the gaze to the future shall come to an end the world will know wounds that no magic can mend”
and also:
“the mightyt ower that reaches the Sky shall fall to the Shadow and legions will die
the Ten, unmasked, will meet their demise and in their place a new Lodge shall arise”
If I didn’t know better I’d think this “prophecy” below had some thing to do with the Decemvirate, but who am I to decode these things?
Ah well, tomorrow I head south toward Ustalav to see if I can’t find that rusty old mace.
|
|
Exiel frowns as he assesses the document.
"4581 a.r. Unless I am much mistaken, this supposed prophecy predated and foretold the appearance of the Eye of Abednego and the World Wound, which marked the beginning of the Age of Lost Omens. This would attest to the prophecy's credibility. "
"I do not know about the tower that reaches the sky...perhaps the Silver Mount in Numeria has been prophesied to fall? No matter, my guess is that it is the last line of the prophecy that worries the Decemvirate... it potentially refers to them and if so their demise. They want us to find the place where this note was presumably written and find out whether the prophecies are real. If they are, I'm sure they want us to retrieve the rest of the prophecy. Of course, we may also find the prophecies to be fake, a ruse by the society's enemies to to draw unwary agents into a trap. Possibly an elaborate Aspis ploy. But the Decemvirate will be anxious enough by this to send an a team to investigate."
He looks at the note again.
"It speaks of a lodge. A pathfinder safe house? The words Storast and Sarkoris mean nothing to me though. From this, it seems that Storast might be the place that the prophecies were discovered and Sarkoris was the name of the cause of the prophesied events, or else the place where the cause is to be found."
|
|
“What you have in your hands is a portion of a journal written by a Pathfinder in Sarkoris years ago. It seems a crazy old woman had been possessed by some power beyond our understanding, wrote a library full of that sort of gibberish, then keeled over dead. At the time, everyone thought it was nonsense, a false prophecy that defied the most trusted claims of history’s greatest seers. Had they only foreseen then that her predictions may be among the few viable prophecies of the current age, the world might be a very different place right now. What matters now is that we get our hands on as much of the original document as still exists, but that won’t be an easy task.” Amsheagar pulls out a weathered map and lays it on the table.
“The Sarkorian Prophecy was last held in a Pathfinder safe house ten miles east of Storasta, in a nameless trading post once under the city’s control, in what is now the demon infested wasteland known as the Worldwound, not many days’ travel from here."
Amsheagar picks up 42's unfinished drink and takes a swallow.
“We can’t teleport you past the wardstones set around the Worldwound’s perimeter to keep the Abyssal hordes contained, so you’ll have to walk across the border. Get to Storasta, get as much of the Sarkorian Prophecy as you can, and get the hell out of there. This is perhaps the most dangerous mission you’ve ever been on. The Decemvirate don’t trust you enough to think you’re going to survive the Worldwound, so you aren’t the only team they’re sending, but go in prepared for the worst."
Amsheagar looks down at the map.
"In fact, I’d make sure you’ve got all the food and water you can carry. Unless you’d like to eat what’s growing in there.”
He allows you to examine the map, even copy it if you have the skill. The he rolls it back up and walks away after finishing off 42's drink.
|
|
"We're not expected to survive the Worldwound? And yet we are being sent in? I see the Decemvirate cherishes its agents as much as they ever have. No matter, it will be far from the first time I would have proven them wrong. Oh and hello Exiel. It's been awhile."
Ralph dismisses his invisibility and nods to his old friend, then begins to study the map carefully. Then he closes his eyes and concentrates intently, using his spell study ability and expending the energy from the spells Enlarge person and Heightened Awareness to cast Memorize Page on himself . The whole process take about 10 minutes but once done, Ralph attains a photographic memory of the entire map.
"You mentioned that we will be teleported to the border, and will need to walk from there. Is there anything preventing us from teleporting once we get past the border? Furthermore, do we need to leave now? If possible, I would like to have about 8 hours to re-prepare my spells and purchase a few scrolls for this mission."
|
Lavode looks over the map. If no one has more skill, he will do his best to copy it.
.
{ sigh } The World Wound again. { sigh }
From the last couple of times, I would suggest that any of you that use weapons make sure you have something from cold forged iron.
We will need to move quickly. I have a horse and obviously the halfling has a mount. What about the rest of you?
.
Amsheager, what else can you tell us about Storasta. Either what it used to be or what it is now? Also, who or what has been sited in the area?
|
|
Amsheagar laughs at Alden's comment "I like your stile, and yours too young one. he says and pats Naala. he turns to Lavode, "Storasta
is a place that is located near the convergence of the West Sellen and the Sarkora Rivers on the southern edge of the abyssal wasteland. As for teleporting once you are in the border..." he pauses for a moment, as if trying to remember something that was said to him. "Should be alright, we can't teleport you past the boarder, but i don't see any reason why you can't teleport once your inside. he says as if he knew about the hidden sage sitting in the seat. "You can take all the time you want, It takes a few days to travel to Worldwound since I, a druid, can't teleport you."
|
|
Aram looks over the documents thoughtfully. "I agree with Exiel, these documents seem to foretell the Worldwound and Eye of Abendengo. However, I believe I can also identify the "tower that reaches the sky" which is prophesied to fall - that sounds like Skyreach, the center of the Society's Grand Lodge and the home of the Decemvirate."
"Sarkoris is the nation destroyed when the worldwound opened; now the borders are blocked by the Wardtsones, to prevent the demons from being able to teleport out."
Aram stands up. "I have fought demons before, and am well-prepared to fend them off," he states flatly.
|
|
"Alden and 42 have fought their share of demons, from what I've read. And I always have several tricks up my sleeve."
"As for teleportation, if the society will not provide it, then I will do it myself. Based on the map, the Mendevian capital, Nerosyan, should serve as a suitable and safe destination for my teleportation spell and place for us to rest, which I will insist on doing upon our arrival since this will use a good portion of my power and I want to be in peak condition when we enter the Worldwound.From there we can travel over land past the wardstones and towards Storasta. It would still be by far the fastest way to get to Starosta that we have available to us."
|
|
The man looks like a tramp.
He wears dirty robes that were, at one time, orange. He is unarmored, save for shoulder pads, one of which features a raven perched atop it complete with droppings and the other has a moldy looking skull pinned on a spike that stares at you with a vaguely embarrassed look on its skeletal face.
The man himself is scarred and ugly to begin with. He's got one eye nearly closed from a scar and the other looks perpetually open and staring. He leans heavily on a wooden staff and drops into an open chair with a sigh.
"Oh, so the masked bastards are sending us off ta die again, are they! Well, they keep sendin' me off ta die and I keep dragging meself back, so up theirs! Now we're ta save their arses, are we? Feh. " The man spits, scratches himself in a very public place and nods at the others. "I'm Balik. Nice ta make yer acquaintances, one and all!"
|
|
Exiel jumps a little at Ralph's sudden appearance, then quickly hides his surprise.
"Well met, Ralph! It's been a long time," he begins then falls silent as Ralph begins casting his spell so as not to break his concentration.
He is surprised by Ralph's casual offer to teleport the group to Nerosyan. "You've come a long way in your spell-slinging, Ralph. I'm still a ways away from being able to perform such a feat, though my service and devotion to Torag has yielded its own rewards."
"We had a saying back in Xa Hoi that roughly translate to 'he who gives a lift on his carriage sets the rules'. If Ralph is offering us free and instant passage all the way to Nerosyan, I think it only fair that he be allowed to recover thereafter. And if he is capable of such feats of magic, we will want his full power available when we enter the Worldwound."
"I am however waiting on a member of my trading caravan to bring me an...ah, nevermind. Here he is."
As he speaks, a young man dressed in simple but well-made travelling clothes walks up to Exiel and hands him a small box. Exiel nods to him and hands him a sealed letter, then thanks him and sends him on his way. Exiel opens the box and takes out a golden band engraved with runes, which he puts on his finger.
"Nevermind, I am ready to go."
|
|
Before you depart, another message appears for each of you.
Defender of Liberty,
As you surely know, your path leads you soon into the heart of the vicious Worldwound, where demons threaten the very fabric of all we have worked for in the relative peace of the Inner Sea. While I do not envy the challenges that await you, your mission does present us with several unique opportunities.
A young paladin named Illayna Kradow left the Eagle Knights’ ranks a few years ago to fight the Abyssal hordes as part of the Mendevian Crusade. We maintained contact with her as an agent in the north, but all contact with her ceased several weeks ago after she was sent on a reconnaissance mission near the ruined city of Storasta. Uncover her fate if you can, and if possible, bring her back to Andoran safely.
I am also aware of the prophecies you seek and am intrigued by their rumored contents. Our learned loremasters have informed me that the volumes may contain information on the possible fate of our organization and Andoran’s influence on the rest of the world. I would like nothing more than to find encouragement for our cause to spark an even greater spread of democracy. Though the prophecies are massive, try to find me anything you can regarding our land.
May the spirit of freedom protect you,
Captain Colson Maldris
My Delectable Little Pawn,
Of all the places you’ve been sent by the Ten, none rankles me like the Worldwound. The very thought of it disgusts me to such a degree that the normal pleasures of my position now elude me.
Such unfettered chaos as plagues the Worldwound should be squelched as efficiently and unequivocally as possible, and I need your help to do so. Bring me a sample of the air, earth, and water of the Worldwound—specimens that accentuate the unpredictable and devastating nature of the region. With these we can study and combat such phenomena both there and closer to home.
I shouldn’t need to warn you that you will surely encounter the denizens of the Abyss in the barren and ravaged wasteland of former Sarkoris. When you do, brand an upturned pentacle into the flesh of the most powerful demon you encounter. Send those fiends a message that the Hellknights and Asmodeus himself will render the chaos they spread into order soon.
Make your trip worth it and warm my heart; perhaps I can warm yours in return.
Don't disappoint,
Paracountess Zarta Drainoon
History’s Protector,
Your journeys take you now to a land whose secrets may be even less accessible than our own, not due to the continual march of time, but rat her by the extreme threat the environment and its invaders present. I speak, of course, of t he dreaded Worldwound. I am sure you will not fall victim to the dangers that have claimed so many , but nevertheless I want you to make your trip of value to t he Ruby Prince—we can’t know when we’ll have another chance.
Much of t he culture of t he barbaric Sarkorian tribes who once lived in t he region has been lost to the Abyss, but surely some remnants survive. Find what you can and create as detailed a report as possible. Our Pharasmin clerics are especially interested in their funerary rites, so be on the lookout for their characteristic burial mounds.
While your companions and the Society may be primarily interested in the content of the socalled Sarkorian Prophecy , I am more intrigued by the documents’ author. Such a conduit of foresight has not been seen on Golarion for over a century , and I would love more information about her. If you encounter anyt hing giving her name, lineage, or story, please ensure it finds its way back to me.
For the greatness of Osirion,
Otoneraphim, Humble Scribe of the Ruby Prince
Entrepreneurial Servant of the Satrap,
We are ever searching for new ways to exploit the vast wealth of the Inner Sea and further cement ourselves as the mercantile power in the region. That means we must be willing to go where no one else will to procure the rarest goods and reach the most starved markets. How better to fill our coffers than the with the abandoned wealth of a now-empty nation—or at least what’s left of it? Use your time in the Worldwound to scout out any natural resources that have been untainted by the Abyss and collect for me anything you can find to shed light on trade in the now-lost land of Sarkoris.
Additionally, a member of the illustrious house of al-Maraba was among the Pathfinders believed to be at the Storasta safe house on that fateful day the very earth broke open beneath them. He was never seen or heard from again, and it has now been over a hundred years so I do not expect you to find him or even his remains.
He did, however, possess an heirloom bag of holding he used to smuggle goods in and out of lands he explored which his family would very much like to have back. If you come across such a relic, be sure it finds its way back to Katheer.
Go always in wealth,
Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri
Loyal Servant of the Emperor,
It seems these so-called Sarkorian Prophecies are making quite a stir
among both the Pathfinders and our rivals. I believe we can use the current fervor to our advantage, if you play your cards right. When you locate the documents, place the following false pages in among the rest. They are some “predictions” I put together to suggest to our Andoren and Chelish friends that their abandonment of the Empire might have dire consequences in their futures. Whatever you do, though, don’t let anyone else know you’ve tampered with the Prophecies—the power of these words comes from believing them true.
While you’re in the Worldwound, keep your eyes peeled for an Ulfen Guard deserter named Embla Clefthelm who was recently seen travelling east through the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. If Storasta is her destination as it is yours, inform her that “The lion hungers at the scent of the linnorm’s blood.” She’ll know what that means.
In Taldor’s glory,
Baron Jacquo Dalsine
|
|
Ralph looks intently at the map once more.
"Gather what supplies you need and meet me at the front of the bar in two hours. It should only take us an hour to walk to the border of Mendev and the Worldwound, and once we're past the border, I will teleport us directly to Storasta. It would take us only an additional hour on foot from the border, but we'd be travelling through demon-infested territory, so I'd consider the spell well-spent if it allows us to avoid getting waylaid by demons."
"Provided no one needs more time or has a better plan."
|
|
Aram looks at the others. "I have been in the Worldwound before, once... it is a terrible place. I will be purchasing some extra antitoxin to help endure the poisonous air." He stands and slings his pack. "Two hours, then, in front of the inn."
He will also use one of his adamantine weapon blanches on regular arrows, giving him 10 adamantine arrows.
|
|
The terrain within the Worldwound shifts both subtly and drastically from moment to moment, resulting in strange, fleeting sights in one’s peripheral vision. What remains of an overland road passes through a circle of long-standing burial mounds. Most sport collapsed entrances, though the northernmost barrow remains intact, its door looming ominously. Air vents billow forth putrid steam in all directions, and the ground is soggy with filthy water.
Round 1
Alden, Exiel
World
Ralph, Aram, Balik, Lavode
the tops of several of the ancient barrows have been
blown off, as though they exploded from the inside.
If you made the perception you can roll a Knowledge Planes.
You see in the distance a swirling current of air. It is too far to tell what it is at this point.
|
|
Before setting out from Nerosyan, Exiel will cast mage armor on himself. As they cross over into the world wound, Exiel will cast an extended bark skin and an extended heroism on himself (both using his metamgic rod).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
As he nears the burial mounds, he also casts heightened awareness in order to keep an eye out for trouble.
Unforunately, he does not notice anything suspicious and presses on oblivious to the danger. He eyes the billowing vents and the soggy ground, and decides to trust his friend's magic to keep his mount from slipping on the treacherous ground.
He moves around the air vents and over the swampy ground towards the open door of the ominous-looking barrow.
"Wonder what's in that thing?" he calls out to his allies as he moves towards the door.
|
|
Anyways for the rest of you, you see a bloom of abyssal energy gush up from the mound directly to your east. about 60 feet away. creating a storm of dust and ash to blow into the air, making visibility difficult to see. you each take and 1 point fire damage.
An unforeseen force moves closer.
Round 1
Alden, Exiel
Ashstorm, Geysers, World
---Next Up---
Ralph, Aram, Balik, Lavode