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At last, you receive word of your next mission. Report to Shevar Besnik of Uscalin Lodge, located at the Ace of Dreams in the city of Vellumis, in Lastwall. Assist him in an investigation regarding a recently discovered artifact, the Tome of Righteous Repose.
Soon you arrive at Vellumis, the largest city and most important port in the crusader nation of Lastwall, on the shores of Lake Encarthan. The waterfront and city center boast impressive architecture, with many buildings marble-clad, domed, and colonnaded in the once-popular Chelish Old White style, characterized by whitewashed walls, ornately decorated eaves, and massive arched windows.
Though there are an exceptionally large number of soldiers, most wearing Iomedaean iconography, roaming the streets, most are civilians. Flags of a dozen nations and churches can be seen as you navigate the city streets, leaving the elegant city center and heading into a seedier neighborhood that greatly resembles the dockside areas of Absalom.
When you arrive at the address you were provided, you discover a busy gambling hall. Raucous conversation fills the room, as men and women gather around a number of tables, playing various card and dice games. The surly host pulls out his pipe and looks you up and down. "You a Pathfinder or a player? Agents can wait over there." The man points to a small waiting area outside an office. Then he goes back to smoking his tobacco, your presence already forgotten.
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Sparkle Weave leaps to her feet and starts clapping her hands together rapidly.
"Oh boy oh boy oh boyi'msoexcitedtobehere." her wods quickly running into it.
Sparkle Weave is a greenskinned gnome with green hair that's partially sunbleached. When she slows down long enough to be intelligible there's a clear Garundi tint to her Taldane.
Slumbering in the corner is a dragon-esque creature with a rainbow sheen to its scales. Both Sparkle Weave and Orin share an indecipherable Fey rune on their forheads.
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Narayan approaches the host with his teeth bared in a grin that's... unsettling, but entirely heartfelt.
Thank you, ssir. I will do as you ssuggesst.
His jaw juts out over a very short neck, which with his broad shoulders gives him a somewhat squat appearance even though he stands comfortably over 6' tall. His clothing is simple and roughspun, but he has an small cache of various magical implements hung at his belt.
Turning to the excitable Gnome, he gives her a respectful bow with that same fangy smile. I am Narayan Ssingh. Is your delight in shared duty or these games?
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A tall fellow, clad in mostly dark green with a grey cloak, walks over to the waiting area he was directed to. Upon seeing the Nagaji, he pulls back his hood revealing long blonde hair and sharp Elvish features, along with a big grin...he strides over to clasp arms.
"Narayan! Good to see you again, my friend! Haven't seen you since we rescued that Blakros woman from the museum back in Absalom...how have you been?"
After greeting his old friend, he turns and bows to the Gnome. "Greetings, m'lady, I am Flyndyngylyn...but you can call me Flyn..."
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Pigglevitch Whizzlefizz pulled a flask bearing the symbol of Cayden Cailean from his belt, opened the visor on his helm, and took a quick swig. His full plate armor shone even in these lighting conditions, and it looked brand new and well polished. The Gnome inside the armor appeared incredibly average. Not like someone you would remember passing the street. Replacing his flask to his belt, Pigglevitch shut the visor again. Purple tufts of hair appeared from the plate, and he seemed to ignore it. Once he was well situated, he removed the finely crafted ladder from its holster on his back, the weapon taller than he, and leaned against it.
"Hullo. I'm Pigglevitch. Barkeep of Cayden Cailean. Owner of the Tipsy Ladder Tavern back in Absalom. Hullo." Pigglevitch nodded politely at the group, one hand on his ladder and another staying on his flask.
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A tall, heavily built Ulfen man ducks as he enters the gambling house. He is swathed in a cloak made from the hide of a polar bear and carries a black metal hammer taller than he is. As he enters he looks over to the gambling tables and smiles broadly. He takes a step towards them and stops, glancing over to the waiting area and sighs.
He turns to their host and shrugs, Business before pleasure I suppose. Bring us a round of your best beer barkeep he says tossing the man a handful of silver coins as he makes his way over to the office.
He levers himself down into a seat, his full plate making sitting in an office chair a less than simple task. Brushing back the mass of black hair which has a tendency to drop over his eyes he smiles. Names Ethan, looking forward to finally getting into some action. Anyone know what's up this time?
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Flyn nods to Narayan. "Aye, I know what you mean...had dealings with Aspis and demons lately, maybe this will be a change. Either way, it's good to journey again with you, my friend!"
As the two newcomers arrive, Flyn bows to both...and then shrugs at Ethan's question. "Something about a tome...but things never seem to turn out quite like we're briefed, so who knows...my name's Flyn," he says with a grin...
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A large, overstuffed orc wanders into the bar and is quickly and rudely directed to the 'Pathfinder' section. His bare feet pad across the dirty wooden floor in the direction of the others. He walks with a well stained, but freshly cut sapling as a spear in one hand and an apple that is quickly disappearing in the other. A grungy breastplate holds in his enormous gut, which sports a pair of bandoleers holding all manner of fruits: bananas, apples, pears, and coconuts to name a few.
"Hey dare! Dis place fer Pathfinders?" He looks around to the others, tossing his apple core off into a corner before offering his sticky hand in greeting to everyone. "I'mma Luurg!" He says, in a very low and drawn out voice. Luuuuuurg He smiles, showing off some of the most perfect and pearly white teeth you've ever seen, ESPECIALLY on an Orc.
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Finally, the door to the office opens and you enter into the back room of the Ace of Dreams. You get your first look at Venture-Captain Shevar Besnik, a handsome man who looks perfectly in place in this seedy den. Loud and raucous conversation filters through the door from the common room as he closes the door.
“I know it’s here. I had it just a moment ago.” Venture-Captain Shevar Besnik lifts piles of papers and numerous boxes off of his desk, stacking them on various side tables and chairs in his clean but overly cluttered office. The tall, Varisian man’s face parts in a toothy grin as he lifts up a solid oak box. “Found it!” As if to punctuate his discovery, a crowd of players in the gambling hall erupts in cheers. Distracted for a moment, Besnik stares at the closed office door that leads to the common room. “Desna laughs. Well, she laughs at me, but she smiles on them.” The venture-captain shrugs. “All they have is gold; what I have in here is far more valuable.”
Besnik opens the box’s lid painstakingly slowly, careful to keep the contents out of sight. With reverence, he lifts a large tome from the box and gently sets it on the table. “Careful, the binding hasn’t held up well. This is one of the few Tomes of Righteous Repose left in the world. I’m pretty sure there’s one in the library of the Sancta Iomedaea in Vigil, but I’m—well, let’s just say I’m no longer welcome there. That’s a story for another time.”
“Up until today, I’ve only skimmed the pages. I didn’t want to damage it, but now that you’re here, I can’t wait any longer. Care to plumb the depths of this most ancient and wonderful storybook? Oh, the marvelous adventures we will soon read! This tome is a collection of tales describing how various crusaders died gloriously and honorably. I’m hoping to find some clues in the text that will lead us to an as-of-yet undiscovered site or relic. Maybe we can trade a bit of what we find with the Knights of Ozem and earn ourselves some goodwill. After what happened last time, we need it."
He looks up at you, expectantly. “Care to peruse the pages with me?”
The author, Rellakarabee Fustbickle is a gnome poet, known mostly among literary scholars. His subject matter revolves around heroic figures and tragic deaths. His style is too melodramatic to gain significant acclaim, though he is popular in some circles.
Fustbickle based his poems on true stories from the Shining Crusade. However, the finer details are ambiguous at best. Rumors suggest he was on speaking terms with the mortal Iomedae.
Lastwall was established in 3828 ar, when it seceded from Taldor. It is a military dictatorship, primary focused on keeping the Whispering Tyrant locked away and the orc hordes of Belkzen at bay.
Lastwall originated from the remnants of crusaders living in the area after the conclusion of the Shining Crusade, the great war against the evil wizard-king Tar- Baphon (also known as the Whispering Tyrant, who rose after his death as a lich).
Lately, Lastwall has had to recruit less pious individuals to fill its ranks. On the borders, followers of Gorum and Kurgess are more common than paladins of Iomedae and Sarenrae.
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Ethan looks over the book. This was written by a gnome! How reliable do you think its contents are likely to be? He looks sideways at Pigglevitch. They aren't always the most...stable...of people
He shakes his head and turns back to the Captain. Of course we want to read it, I assume that's why you called us here? What is happening with the Knights of Ozem? Why exactly would we need to earn some goodwill?
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Luurg leans forward a bit to try to get a look at the Tome but the others have it pretty well surrounded. "Dat book sure does look old mang. Best be easy wid dem papers. Old tings break easy.." He says with a shameful look in his eyes. He awkwardly rubs his sticky hands together and takes a step back from the book.
After a few moments the smile returns to his lips "But if you find somewheres gud in dare I can help you find it! I'm real gud in da woods, take you wheres you wanna go no problems!" For what its worth, by the looks of him, Luurg seems to be at home in the wilderness.
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Flyn ponders. "Lastwall...Shining Crusade...Whispering Tyrant? Now there was a fellow they were fortunate to defeat. Orc hordes? I wonder where this tome may lead us..."
The Elf nods in agreement with Narayan's words after hearing Ethan's. He speaks in Ethan's direction. "Easy, my new friend, we be having two gnomes in our party, one of which has a dragon friend...wouldn't want to be starting this venture at odds from the beginning. Besides, as lack of stability goes, I've heard the same about the Ulfen...in fact, witnessed it firsthand prior to being summoned here. Big flying Oracle of an Ulfen, mad as a Spring hare...dang near killed me afore we brought him down..." Flyn grins.
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"No, he's right," Pigglevitch responded in his slow, drawling tone definitely not befitting of a Gnome. "Some of us are just plain crazy. I should know. I grew up in a brewer's family."
"I know a little about Lastwall, but I'm sure Flyndyngylyn knows more than me. I'm not that good at remembering. Might be the brew. Might be too many knocks on the head. Might be bad at stuff that's not bartendering or bouncering."
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The Venture Captain turns to Ethan and chuckles. "They’re an order of Iomedaean knights based in Vigil. That’s about it; they aren’t
typically an exciting bunch." Then he thinks about the second half of the question and his cheeks go red. "Have you heard of the Boartusk Twins? Garl and Shrade saved the lives of one of my teams a few years back, so I offered them field commissions." He shakes his head and signs. "Then they got us in trouble by using wayfinders like badges of authority. I shipped them down to Old Mutton Chops for some training, but gaining the knights’ trust again is taking time.”
He smiles at Luurg. "Yes, hopefully we find a location for you to visit and use those street smarts!" The Venture Captain seemed lost in thought for a moment and then suddenly veers up "Speaking of! The tome! Let's see..."
He retrieves two pristine white gloves from a drawer, puts them on and opens the tome, seemingly to a random page.
“Minkai art! Let’s see, the Minkai Empire was founded in 3619, and the empire’s first explorers didn’t reach the west coast of the continent until at least 3691 ar, which leaves only sixty years before the beginning of the Shining Crusade itself. These women could have been among the first Minkai citizens to reach the Inner Sea! Let’s see, what secrets does the poem on this page hold? Come, gather next to me so we can all read it together. Please be careful and do not touch the book!" He specifically looks at Luurg as he says it, eyeing his sticky hands.
Stranglegut are legion, forces of death,
Soldiers of the lich who were promised might.
A bold samurai struck forth; in a breath
A thousand orcs struck down before her sight.
From tow’ring giant green, a challenge thrown;
The chieftain Slarg upon the bloody field
That she would stand in front of him alone
And not for less than death would either yield.
With cries of faith cast to the rising sun
The brave samurai charged and met his steel
Her blade she shoved beneath his ribs, she spun
A scratch from poisoned blade forced her to keel
In Torag’s house the elf was last interred.
With view of Kala’s Tears, her peace insured.
He paused for a moment, focused on the poem. "So she died in battle, victim to orcs’ treachery. If we can locate this ruin and retrieve the samurai’s remains and her blade, Any ideas on where this might be? Looks like there are some clues in the poem."
Hordes of orcs live in the Hold of Belkzen, most of which is a barren wasteland with terrifying creatures and very few resources.
Fresh water is one of the most important commodities when traveling in Belkzen, as there are very few natural sources available.
Most major orc settlements and fortresses are in the ruins of castles and keeps built by the Shining Crusade or the dwarves before them.
A shining crusader charged into battle alone against a horde of orcs. Before dying, the crusader fought through the ranks and slew the chieftain, sending his clan running. This story is often used to teach faith in the face of impossible odds.
The vast Stranglegut Clan was under the control of Tar-Baphon.
When the sonnet’s hero died, the crusaders buried her and her sword, which had shattered against the orc’s bones, in a dwarven ruin. After the orc chief perished, his hordes fled. Without this victory, the Shining Crusade would have suffered major losses.
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Narayan pays rapt attention to the captain, especially regarding the early travel of the Minkaian women. Anccesstors of mine in sspirit if not in flesh.
Narayan carefully studies the poem, but though he is a great lover of poetry, the references here mostly elude him.
If there were many orcss, we should examine the Hold of Belkzen. Thiss sstory is ssomewhat familiar to me as well. There was a member of the Shining Crussade itsself who performed a deed that could be thiss duel.
Does anyone know anything about Kala's tears?
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Ethan looks over the poem. Belkzen, hmm, that place is a blasted wasteland, we will need to be careful. The orcs have overtaken many old dwarven ruins there. We will need plenty of supplies, water is particularly scarce in the Badlands. Can anyone create it? If not I recommend plenty of waterskins. He pauses and furrows his brow.
I have heard of these Strangleguts, they were slaves to Tar-Baphon, a huge clan of orcs although that was long ago. Who can say what has happened to them since. This samurai slew their chieftain so they may well have fallen to infighting. It is the way of orcs. It seems that she is buried in this dwarven ruin. If so then it may well have become overrun with orcs or worse.
He scans down the length of the poem. Perhaps this Kala's Tears refers to some sort of landmark which might still exist, even after all this time?
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Luurg pulls his hands back as the Captain eyes them up and their proximity to the tome. Heh, dis guy must like apples too...
As the talk goes to Belkzen and the orcs, Luurg's smile fades a bit into recognition. "It true, most orcs not nice people, I know. They fight, they take, they die. Luurg not like that, Luurg help people, join Pathfinders, help Bossmen." His smile starts to return as he holds up his Wayfinder proudly.
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"Sorry, most of this is going in one ear and out the other, but I at least will try to remember some of this information in case it becomes relevant." Pigglevitch says with a nod. As if realizing there was a way for him to remember at least some of it, he pulls a quill, inkwell, and parchment from his pack and started writing down the poem in slopping Gnomish.
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The Venture Captain continues to look puzzled, but gratitude shows on his face as the group explains some of the significance of the poem. ”Ethan, you may just be right. Kala’s Tears is a landmark, if I remember correctly. And it may still be around…” His thoughts are interrupted by Luurg’s excited show of Pathfinder pride. ”Umm… Yes. Thank you. I’m sure your, um, fruits, will be very helpful. Flyn, don’t leave just yet. I think this landmark may be important. I wouldn’t want you to go wandering around the Orc wastes without a specific destination in mind. Let’s examine the scroll further. Perhaps there is still more to glean.”
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Ethan takes a few more minutes with the scroll, careful not to touch it. A thorough analysis of the poem reveals the following information, which is sufficient to pinpoint the location. The Stranglegut clan was a prominent horde of orcs allied with the Whispering Tyrant; in their day, they controlled the orc’s largest settlement, Urgir. Kala’s Rage was the name of a massive waterfall in Belkzen, 40 miles east of Urgir. Over time, the mountains became dry and the waterfall slowed to a trickle, earning the waterfall the name Kala’s Tears.
Besnik smiles and claps his hands. "I knew I brought in the right crew! Excellent! Now to get started! I have a special stake in this adventure, so here are some of my personal tools." He reaches into a drawer of his desk and pulls out a small bag. Inside you see a wand of cure serious wounds (5 charges), a wand of protection from evil (7 charges), and a traveler’s any-tool. After a moment more, he snaps his fingers. "Wait! Not yet! I was going to trade these for a guide, so that they could find the falls for you. Instead, you can have them!" He pulls out four vials. "Two potions of bear’s endurance and two potions of resist energy (fire). You never know when that will come in handy!"
"Alright, it seems you are ready!" the Venture Captain says. "May Desna smile on you, I hope to see you again soon!"
You manage to find the former waterfall known now as Kala's tears after almost two weeks of travel. You camp near the waterfall, eager to find the dwarven temple tomorrow. After breaking your fast you climb up into the mountains.
After climbing halfway up a rocky mountain to a wide ledge, you reach an obvious entrance carved into the rock. Four stone columns mark the entrance, where a fifteen-foot-wide stair descends into darkness.
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At the mouth of the dungeon, Narayan spends a few moments in preparation, drawing his ki forth to harden his scales to the consistency of iron, then overlaying it all with a thin layer of pure force.
Or that was the plan. When Narayan withdraws a wand to grant himself some protection, however, all he is able to draw forth from it is a series of sparks and a foul smell.
Nonplussed, the hulking nagaji turns to his new green friend, bowing with his wand held across his hands, Ssparkle Weave. I humbly requesst your asssissstancce in thiss matter.
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As they arrive at the entrance Ethan makes some of his own preparations. He concentrates and a sphere of darkness emerges from his hands and engulfs his head, seeming to sink into his face and vanish. A moment later a softly glowing light surrounds him before fading away. He then pulls out a pair of wands and activates them.
Ok, I am ready for whatever is inside there he says stepping forward.
Ethan has combat reflexes so here are a couple of opportunity attacks should they be relevant.
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Luurg enjoys the trip to the mountain, although he is a bit nervous about having to deal with some angry orcs. "You guys real gud in da woodz. You live outside too?" He makes small talk along the way.
Once they've gotten to the entrance he takes the time to have a snack before heading inside. He draws out a cloudy, crudy vial and a lemon. He rolls the lemon around on a rock to loosen up the juice before squeezing it into his mouth and gagging a bit. He then tosses the vial of liquid in and swishes it around before spitting it back into the vial. "Whew! Lemons n dat potion make real gud mixer! Make you feel... like hero!" He chuckles, stowing the vial back away.
He readies his spear and takes the front, a bit behind Flyn, who's really really sneaky. "Where'd he go? Dat one sneaky Elf man!"
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As the group gathers near the entrance and prepares, Flyn sneaks ahead into the darkness. Those who can see past the light of Piggle's ladder see an ancient hallway with stonework seemingly untouched by time. You watch as Flyn takes the first left turn, as you discussed on your journey.
Flyn enters the first room and takes a good look around. This room’s stonework suggests a dwarven architect, but the foor and walls display carvings of Tien design. Carvings of swimming carp cover the western wall. The eastern wall carving depicts a katana over the sun. On the northern wall is a carving of two Minkai elven women standing before funerary pyre. The foor boasts the carving of an imperial sky dragon.
The fish and the katana over the sun are the holy animal and symbol of Shizuru, the Tian-Min goddess of the sun, honor, ancestors, and swordplay.
Through the southern hallway, Flyn hears a sound! It is a female Orc voice, speaking in their guttural tongue. A male voice answers her. They sound calm, and the syllables of their harsh words may be repeating in phrases...
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Flyndyngylyn takes a step forward. Off to the West is another corridor with an alcove he can't quite see into. Then he peeks around the corner. A charred orc corpse hanging over a pool of blood accentuates the grisly atmosphere in this befouled shrine. Broken implements of bloodletting and torture lie on the bloodstained stone altar. Your innate knowledge of world religions tells you that this sanctuary to Torag has been rededicated to Nulgreth, the orc god of bloodlust and fighting.
At the altar is a female Orc in a bear skin robe. She is wielding a blood caked Kukri and slicing off bits of the sacrificed orc and throwing them into the pool of blood. With each toss she says a ritualistic phrase, which is repeated by the two orc warriors to her right and left. The blood from the altar is flowing down the steps and into the pool.
Meanwhile, Oren can't smell anything but the sickly sweet fruits of his gnome's companion.
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Having seen the ritual performed, Flyn thinks diplomacy is not an option. He whispers "I agree...stay behind me as I sneak back...I'll fire and then you can rush 'em..."
Flyn will sneak back...
...if he makes it back undetected, he'll fire at the female Orc in the bearskin, whom he assumes is some sort of shaman...
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As the group gets into place, Flyndyngylyn sneaks forward. Drawing back his bow string without even a hiss, he lets loose his arrow! It flies over the pool of blood and over the sacrificial altar, into the bear priest's chest! She roars and turns to the door. Pointing with her kukri, she yells in orc. "Inntrengere! Fullfør dem før Groblek hører!"
"Intruders! Finish them before Groblek hears!"
The two orc thugs glare at the intruding archer and both pull potions from their belts. Drinking them quickly, they both disappear! The priestess laughs and begins intoning a traditional Orc war chant. "Nulgreth vil blod deg. Du skal bløde."
Setting down the remains of the bloodied and flayed arm upon the altar, she calmly wipes her kukri's blade upon her bear pelt cloak. Then, she waves her left hand and makes a complicated magical sign. "Nulgreth, du gir meg et offer. Gi meg Hast til med ditt offer."
She just cast Haste.
Her skin glows for a moment and she smiles and Flyn, returning to her war chant. "Nulgreth vil blod deg. Du skal bløde."
Sparkle-Weave x2
Pigglevitch
Otha
Ethan
Luurg
Narayan
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Black Bear Priest 15 dmg
Orange Thug
Blue Thug
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Ethan moves forward next to Flyn. Where are the rest of them? he asks.
Raising one hand Ethan focuses his mind and engulfs the altar in a blaze of brilliant light before settling into a fighting stance, ready for the enemy.
Ethan has combat reflexes and can take up to 3 opportunity attacks per turn. He uses a reach weapon.