Open to dot for those nominated to play n recruitment and discussion.
Dotting! :)
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Crowe the bloodrager is ready!
On your travels for the Society, treasure and artifact smuggling and stealing, simple sendings and other countless base errands all of you somehow ended up in Sothis lately, where Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir let´s you stay in the Pathfinder Lodge. You´re not sure why exactly, but you began to muse that the notoriety of Pathfinder Agents might be part of it.
Then, one night, you are woken at uncouth times by seemingly sleepwalking yet highly alerted servants who know no pardon in shooing you into Norden Balentiirs office.
Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir rubs sleep from his eyes as faint pre-dawn light filters into his office. He shutters the window as a thrush begins singing loudly in the garden below before gesturing for everyone to have a seat and addressing the matter at hand. I’ve received a request from the Diamond Sage, Tahonikepsu, the leader of the Jeweled Sages. You may be familiar with her as an associate of Amenopheus, longtime friend of the Society and our trusted expert on matters of Ancient Osirion. She has asked the Pathfinder Society to send its best Osirionologists to the Pillars of the Sun to help explore a sealed-off area in the sages’ stronghold there—so I have recommended you.
He searches his desk for quill and ink and scribbles out two notes, sealing one with wax imprinted with the Way of the Open Road.
I’ve made arrangements with a caravan to Eto and provided directions from there to the Pillars of the Sun. Once you’ve reached the Pillars, Tahonikepsu has promised a guide to see you the rest of the way. We have maps and sketches from the last expedition if you want to familiarize yourself with the site, and I have also withdrawn several scrolls from our reserves in case your Ancient Osiriani is rusty. Feel free to arrange alternate transport—at your own expense. Don’t try using magic to reach the sanctum directly, though; there’s no telling where you’d end up.
The venture-captain rises from his seat to see everyone off, and hands over the two letters. Show the first letter to the caravan master. The sealed one is your letter of introduction to the Diamond Sage. Remember, the Jeweled Sages are invaluable allies in our exploration of Ancient Osirion, and it’s a privilege to be invited into their sanctum. Treat everything there with care, and help to preserve the region’s past.
The Venture Captains pauses and seems to wait for your answers and questions. It might be a good time to share some knowledge you recall or maybe gathered in the library in Sandswept Hall.
bonus on all Bluff and Diplomacy checks made to influence someone at some point in this scenario.
Crowe looks at Venture-Captain Balentiir inquisitively. "Osirionologists? And you've recommended me? No clue why, but I'm always up for exploring. I hope I don't disappoint."
Oloch emulates Crowe's concerns.
"I'm not much of a researcher, but I can help keep everyone alive."
|
Dariamus shrugs, Of the Pillars of the Sun I know little, I am from Sothis. Of the Jeweled Sages, I know somewhat more than I can openly discuss. They are the leaders of the Scarab Sages, an order of scholars to which I belong. Amenopheus, The Sapphire Sage and a former adviser to the Ruby Prince, usually coordinates scholars in the field. The dragon Tahonikepsu, The Diamond Sage, leads the effort to find and reunite all the sages and return much knowledge that has been lost to the world.
Continuing on Dariamus explains some of his field qualifications, My primary area of expertise is linguistics, including many of the dead languages we we would be likely to encounter. I am quite fluent in Ancient Osiriani, Azlanti, Draconic and Thassilonian, along with many other tongues. I also have some minor skill as a historian.
"Well, then, you sound like just the right person to tell us where to swing our collective swords. Lead on, my good man."
Crowe defers to Dariamus' plans on where to go and when to do it, just looking forward to battle.
Oloch is ready to go, but will wait to hear more from Balentiir. Before they leave he will purchase a few last minute supplies. (2 scrolls of infernal healing, 4 trail rations)
Very well. I don´t know of any particular hazards there, but who knows what dwells in the Sanctum. You can confer with Tahonikepsu once you are there. I´ll give you this as a support.
He hands you over some scrolls, three scrolls of comprehend languages, a scroll of tongues, and a field primer .
You have some time to make last preparations, the caravan starts at noon. Don´t ask me why they choose the hottest time of the day. Caravan masters are some superstitious folks. He shruggs his shoulders.
You´re proven agents, i trust in you abilities to represent the society. Wish you good luck!
No purchases for Crowe, he's ready to go.
Short before noon, you gather at the caravansary, talk to the caravan master, who looks at your gear shortly, nods and points you to a place in the caravan.
There are no noteworthy obstacles in your journey west to Eto and then south to the Pillars of the Sun. There, two sage acolytes wait for you: a
handsome young Garundi man in white robes named Garai Weheliye
and a sweating,middle-aged Taldan woman named Helena Arendall. They greet you excitedly
Oh hello there, we have been waiting for you! You were sent by Norden Balentiir, right? Where did you come from?
Sure, sure! says the sweating Taldan. It seems you are the ones. Follow us please, we bring you to Tahonikepsu.
They march of a twisting path between the many peaks of the Pillars of the Sun. The two lead you along the unlikely path, stopping now and then wispering some words and looking around with blue glowing eyes.
Strangely, there are no signs of any monsters or dangerous animals on the hunt here, as you expected.
(bah, no idea)
Do they seem to be afraid of whatever they are looking for?
They don´t look afraid. More like looking for street signs or directions. The area is like a maze and often you change direction after such a short pause.
The woman answers Dariamus:
Oh no! Tahonikepsu keeps he area clean and save, no need to worry! We will be there soon. We are not looking for threats, just for marks.
She also keeps Dariamus from casting mage armor, ensuring him of his safety.
You march along the desert mountains as suddenly you come into a dead end. Within about a hundred feet, however, the valley end fades, revealing a beautifully engraved facade and door carved directly into the mountain face. A dozen acolytes live outside the sanctum in a small tent community, where they meditate and debate the finer points of Nethys’s holy text, the Book of Magic.
You are lead into the mountain where Tahonikepsu waits inside the entrance hall.
Ornate rugs and a small pile of sitting pillows create a small soft space in the marble room, where a finely dressed Garundi woman sits by a fountain. She looks up from a puzzle of broken pottery fragments as the two escorts announce the Pathfinders. After thanking and dismissing Garai and Helena, she beckons her visitors forward. Welcome, Pathfinders. You and your venture-captain have my thanks for agreeing to aid us. I am Tahonikepsu, the Diamond Sage. You have something for me?
Tahonikepsu smiles at you, takes the letter, opens and reads it.
The venture-captain has great faith in you. I shall extend you the same courtesy. She gestures for everyone to sit before continuing. My sage jewel grants me some knowledge of this complex, and my own research has confirmed many of those memories. That said, the site’s long abandonment has made exploration difficult. I believe the next most productive step would be to reopen the archive, whose interior has defied out attempts at divinations. On the lowest floor of the library reside the written history of our order and a crystalline artifact attuned to the sage jewels. I would like you to explore the area, inventory the contents, and report your findings to me. Please be careful; these halls contain delicate, irreplaceable cultural treasures and writings.
"Thank you for your belief in our abilities, mistress... we will try our best not to disappoint you."
Crowe is ready to head to the site.
Oloch is also ready.
That is good to hear! I am not sure the extent of the collection. The sage who bore the amethyst jewel was responsible for the archive, along with several assistants. The Diamond Sage had other responsibilities. I do know the archive is divided into three levels. Librarians cataloged acquisitions on the first floor, repaired them on the next, and stored them in the library below, which is accessible only through a special gateway. The portal requires a sage jewel to activate, and should activate when I unseal the complex. If not, await my return.
Well, if you are tired after your travel you can rest and go there in the morning. Otherwise you can go there right now. Do you have any other questions?
After ensuring that you are ready in the next morning, Tahonikepsu leads you to the adjoining hall where a 5-foot-diameter crystal—the Screening Stone—hovers a short distance off the floor. She beginns to chant in an old sounding language. The stone hums in response to her chant; the glyphs on the west door fade and the stone cracks open and melts into the surrounding walls.
Beyond, a hallway illuminated with magical light extends 30 feet and then descends down a twisting flight of stairs.
The Diamond Sage turns to you: Thank you my dear Pathfinders! I hope you can do well down there. Whenever you need, you are welcome to rest outside in the camp with the acolytes. I´ll leave you now to your task, since i have important matters to look after somewhere else in the solar system. She gives all of you an incredible sweet and winning smile that is endlessly wise and superior at the same time. Then she turns and walks out of the complex, where you can see her form change to that of an awesome dragon and take off in flight.
Then you are left alone at the entrance, only some acolytes working in the hall, watching your moves curiously.
After a 50-foot descent, you arrive at the Halls of Study, where the sages examined new acquisitions. The rooms and halls have 20-foot ceilings, and magical illumination provides dim light. Unless otherwise noted, the floors and walls are smooth stone.
Fragrant scents float on the warm breeze that circulates around this columned chamber. Jasmine, grapevines, mandrakes, and anemones grow from pots hanging around the room, vibrant and fruitful despite the lack of sunlight. Sycamore saplings fill the alcoves, and a phosphorescent moss has overgrown some of the walls and ceiling. A great seal bearing a written inscription covers the center of the floor.
At the end of a floor opposite to you there is some fog. There seem to be some shades moving and you can hear the sound of a battle.
Map..
Crowe nods to Dariamus. "Let's go."
"I am ready."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Crowe follows the dwarf, smirking at his joke.
You clearly hear several voices in high pitched voices shrieking in an impossible tongue
Over that you hear other voices ushering something.
You also mean to hear fire crackling.
You also see that the shape before seems to be large and burning.
Alcoves along the walls hold racks filled with scrolls , but the cracked scroll cases are unable to resist the heat created by the fiery thing over there.
Sorted initiative: LFM; FM1; FM3; Saruna; M1; Sveinki; Dariamus; Badru; FM2; Oloch; Cartman; M2
map.
You see the large fiery thing moving out of sight, but can still see fire reflections lightening the fog. Then you hear the sounds of battle:
Slamming, scraping and sizzling!
Crowe double-moves right up to the elemental, drawing his earthbreaker as he goes. He prepares to strike at the thing using his lightning strikes on the next turn.
Oloch will cast resist energy on himself (fire) and move in to fight. He will draw his weapon as he moves.