You are in Absalom, the mighty City at the Center of the World.
For some of you the training to become a Pathfinder has just ended ... some of you already had their first missions.
You have heard rumors that the Pathfinder Society is stretched thin at the moment and that junior Pathfinders are asked to complete more dangerous missions than usual.
You always knew that you would be continuously asked to explore one of the countless ruins that litter the plains outside the city’s walls on Golarion. Some of your colleagues have the opinion that this is the best way to start a life of excitement and adventure ... by exploring long-abandoned, dusty halls and perhaps claiming its ancient treasures but what about you?
* * * * *
You have been chosen to be part of the Pathfinder group that will leave to travel to Highdelve on a critical mission for the society.
You are led through the Great Hall of Skyreach past a large table with a shifting illusionary Inner Sea map on its massive surface. Standing around the Hall are dozens of pathfinders of various races exchanging stories of their exploits.
You are directed towards a smaller meeting room, past an ornate fountain with crystal clear water. You can feel the chill from the cascading droplets as some splash you on their decent to the pool.
The placard before the room reads, “The Pipeweed Nook”. Opening the door you see a long table, chairs.
You enter with the other Pathfinders but are still waiting for the Venture-Captain to arrive and give you the final briefing before you travel to Highdelve.
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A happy dwarven lass with long brown hair, braided neatly on the sides, rich brown eyes, and a wide, bright smile stomps into the room. She wears a simple brown cotton dresses with some worn out studded leather armour overtop. She wears no make-up or jewlery and, although pretty, many would call her plain. She’s well-prepared for danger, with multiple weapons and a bulging backpack. Over her shoulder is a well-worn lute.
She looks around the room, sidles up to a central table, plops her backpack down onto the floor with a loud THUD!
Then she turns and walks over to the other dwarf, offering him her hand in a handshake.
"Hi, there! My name's Molly, but folks down at the Wounded Wisp call me Molly Fairsmile. You might have seen me there. I work as a waitress, and try my hand at singing on occasion."
She smiles brightly and takes a seat.
"What's your name, fella?"
Molly pulls out her lute and begins to tune it, plucking away quietly with a dazzling smile while she waits for the others.
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"Ahhh, this will be a pleasant journey, indeed! Honored to make your acquaintance. Ma name's Nei D'Hiel, but my friends just call me Knee. And yes, I have" cough "seen you at the Wisp. Voice like a crushed granite angel, a true joy to hear!" He seems a little uncomfortable and rubs an imaginary stain off of his shield. It and his breastplate are emblazoned with the flaming symbol of Sarenrae. The scimitar at his side is almost cliche.
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A slightly tall young man walks in, his skin heavily tanned from the sun. He has blonde hair. A closer look showing slightly pointed ears sticking out of beneath his hair, revealing he is a half-elf. He is wearing just a plain shirt and pants, no armor. But he has a club hanging from his belt and long bow strapped to his back along with a quiver filled with different types of arrows.
Spotting the two dwarves, he approaches them and smiles. "I am Teraren Val'Tor. Though most just call me Tera."
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"Why, thank you, Nei! That's sweet of you to say. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Turning to the half-elf she adds, "And you, as well, Tera. I'm Molly! Happy to make your acquaintance." she smiles brightly as she tunes her lute. "Have either of you been on any exciting adventures? I've a fondness for a good story."
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"Well, ain't that something! Those are stories worth telling!"
She smiles, then strums a few chords on her lute. "It's stories of heroism that caused me to join the Pathfinders, you know. I've been a waitress a while, but you can't waitress at the Wisp without getting hooked on tales, and adventure! And then my sister, Juno, joined a while ago and... Well honestly, who could resist?"
She lets out a joyous laugh. "Cant sit on the sidelines forever! Why did you join the Pathfinders, if you don't mind me asking?"
The door opens and you see the renowned Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng enter the meeting room.
He looks as if he did not have much sleep as he has a sleepy-eyed look on his face.
He has a violin and a meerschaum pipe in his hand and sets it on the table. He withdraws a small pouch from the slipper and opening it, removes some shag tobacco. He begins to pack the pipe with the tobacco before removing a hot poker from a fireplace in the room, touching it to the pipe bowl, and drawing on the pipe until the contents kindle an ember.
He stands eyeing the assembled group and puffing on the pipe for a long few moments before speaking.
"Well, well, so you are the team they sent here for this mission?! You look tough but are you the right people for this mission? You already heard that we are sending you to Highdelve, right?" he says with a stern look.
"First missions are usually less dangerous but our informant's reasons to ask for a team as well as the nature of the assignment were a little vague ..."
He eyes you again.
"I called you in tonight to discuss a problem I need you to solve." he says as clouds of pipe smoke drift lazily around his head.
"Well, more than two centuries ago, the humans of House Garess flourished in the foothills of the Golushkin Mountains in western Brevoy, where they founded Highdelve as a settlement of human artisans to work the dwarven ore their allies supplied. However, as the years went on, House Garess’s numbers waned, and the noble family scaled its business back. By this time, thousands inhabited Highdelve."
He looks at you to see if you are still listening.
"Rather than languish under House Garess’s neglect, the Highdelvers began to focus on self-sufficiency. It built a robust economy and 50 years ago, the leaders of highdelve approached the patriarch of House Garess in Grayhaven roughly 20 miles south. It wasn’t full independence Highdelve wanted as much as a release from any major taxes and military duties the town might owe its feudal overlords. Not in the position to fight the Highdelvers, House Garess acquiesced. From that day, Highdelve has been independent in everything but the strictest formalities."
He pauses for a moment.
"Have you ever heard of Aurelliax?" he asks.
Being so far north, winters are long and harsh. The short spring and summer seasons require the populace to farm and fish just enough to keep food on the table.
* * * Separate check * * *
You have heard the stories of Highdelve's history in more detail ... what the Highdelvers didn’t know, however, is that benevolent eyes had been watching the situation that the Venture-Captain described unfold.
The settlement piqued the interest of Aurelliax, a gold dragon who had lived for more than a century in a mountaintop lair near Highdelve.
The dragon admired the town’s tenacity, and its people’s generosity toward their neighbors warmed her kind heart. Shortly after Highdelve broke from House Garess, Aurelliax offer the humans her patronage and protection for free.
Elated and humbled, the townspeople accepted—provided that Aurelliax never involved herself in the settlement’s internal affairs. After all, the Highdelvers did not wish to simply trade one overlord for another. Her motivations genuine and pure, Aurelliax assented.
For the Highdelvers’ part, awe for Aurelliax quickly turned into true affection, as the dragon time and again has demonstrated her dedication to this settlement of about 4,500.
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Molly thinks about the important places as they are named:
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Molly smiles brightly. "Of course, sir! I have heard all kinds of songs and stories in my time at the Wisp!" Looking at her companions she adds, "Let me tell you what I know! Knowledge plucked from the tongues of other Pathfinders, and passed on to you!"
"Now, Highdelve is a town of around 4,500 souls located in Brevoy, a country far to the north that's been embroiled in political squabbling for years! Long ago, Brevoy was two vastly different nations locked in a constant state of war. Then one day they were conquered by a despot. After centuries under the rule of a line of conquerors that only recently disappeared, Brevoy must now decide its own destiny." She smiles. "Interesting, huh? I thought so, at least. But, I should warn you. Being so far north, winters are long and harsh up in Brevoy. Hmm... I wonder what the weather will be like when we get there..."
"As for Aurelliax, she's a gold dragon! If the stories I've heard are to be believed, she's lived for more than a century in the mountains near Highdelve. She admired the town’s tenacity, kind spirit, and generosity. Well, that little town warmed her kind heart! It's the truth!" she nods. "Shortly after Highdelve broke from House Garess, Aurelliax offer the humans her patronage and protection for free. Elated and humbled, the townspeople accepted—provided that Aurelliax never involved herself in the settlement’s internal affairs. After all, the Highdelvers did not wish to simply trade one overlord for another. Her motivations genuine and pure, Aurelliax assented. Time and time again Aurelliax has demonstrated her dedication to the town, and these days the townsfolk regard her with genuine affection. Isn't that nice?"
Molly gives a nod of her head and looks at the others with eagerness, clearly expecting at least one of them to have something interesting to add.
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Tera listens to the Venture-Captain and then to Molly. The mention of a gold dragon peaks his interest.
"A gold dragon you say. Never actually encountered a dragon before but a gold dragon would be nice for the first. I've heard that silver dragons are the most beautiful of the dragons but gold ones are a close second."
Dreng smiles at Molly and Tera.
"Correct! Aurelliax is a gold dragon!"
He pauses again.
"I do not want to go into the details of why a gold dragon would protect a small town but I can assure you that we had a hand in that story. This was just background information for you because your mission actually concerns two kids. Well, they are young adults by now. RICHELLE AND TOLWIN are their names. They are not related but they are the kids of two deceased Pathfinders. We placed them under the protection of the mayor of Highdelve 17 summers ago - Winette Qarl is her name."
The Venture-Captain sighs and looks at his feet.
"We received a message that they are misbehaving. I have to admit that this mission is personal for me and I want you to check on them. They know nothing about their parents' history but if you can find out what is going on I would appreciate that."
He looks back into your eyes again and smokes his pipe, sending smoke into the air.
"Of course we would never send you to Highdelve just because of two kids ... this is just a coincidence that I am using to my own benefit." he laughs.
"During one of our other missions we learned of a plot againt Aurelliax that we want to investigate. We do not know the details but we know that an agent of a cult of Kostchtchie, Gilda Korgren, traveled to Highdelve more than a year ago to craft a ring with special significance to the cult of Kostchtchie ... additionally, we learned about a Port Ice–based shipping company that is trying to track cargo that went missing between the port and Silverhall in southern Brevoy. We do know that the cargo included several Thassilonian relics that could also be of value to the Kostchtchie worshipper."
Born a mortal man of Ulfen stock before being cursed, Kostchtchie is now the demon lord of giants and biting cold.
Kostchtchie's main worshipers are giants who have turned from the worship of their traditional deities, particularly Thremyr, and instead embraced the demonic as being a more aggressive philosophy.
Dreng stops pacing long enough to knock some of the ashes out of his pipe and reload it with more tobacco.
"Go to Highdelve and see what you can find out!"
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"Well, this sure is interesting! Check in on Richelle and Tolwin and see why they're misbehaving. And find out what we can about the missing relics, Gilda, the cult of Kossy-chi, and their plans for Aurelliax. Whooo! Sure is a mouthful!" Molly laughs pleasantly.
"Hmmm... I haven't heard of this Kost-chi-chitty fellow before. Who is he?"
Dreng sighs in relief.
"So I assume that you are not fond of demonic gods?! Well ... born a mortal man of Ulfen stock before being cursed, Kostchtchie is now the demon lord of giants and biting cold. Kostchtchie's main worshipers are giants who have turned from the worship of their traditional deities, particularly Thremyr, and instead embraced the demonic as being a more aggressive philosophy."
With a stern look he continues smoking his pipe.
"To be honest we know very little about Gilda Korgren. She is a human follower of a demonic god ... and we know that she has a son from a letter we were able to dispatch. But nothing else."
He tries to assess your level of comfort with this mission and continues.
"This is one of your first mission so be careful. Please make haste and travel to Highdelve."
With those words he turns his attention away from you, picks his violin up, opens the door and begins playing and walking out of the room simultaneously.
HIGHDELVE
It’s late when your caravan arrives in Highdelve.
Most of the travelers are only stopping for dinner before proceeding on to the next town, but you have a mission here, and so you remain when the wagons pull out again.
When you get to the inn you find it unusually crowded. The innkeeper only has one room available, what with the festival tomorrow.
If you’re willing to share, however, she has some cots she can set up and there should be room enough for the four of you. As you walk down into the common room for dinner, you find it, too, is more crowded than you would expect.
A four-top comes open right as you walk in, though, and almost as soon as you sit the waiter comes by with bowls of stew and mugs of ale for the four of you. You eat and have a chance to get to know your new comrades on this mission.
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"Oh, of course we can share!" Molly assures the innkeeper with a brilliant smile. "Thank you for the cots, hon. That would be lovely!"
She gives the innkeeper a nod and gets settled into her room, then she heads down to the common room for dinner. She looks around with curious eyes. "What a lovely inn! The Wisp could learn a few things! Mark my words!" she chuckles, then realizes there's an open table and squishes past the other diners on her way to the table. As her food arrives, Molly smiles up at the waiter. "Why, thank you!"
Looking to her companions, she remarks, "Such wonderful service."
Clearly she's impressed.
She starts to eat her dinner with gusto.
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Tera adjust his bow as he sits down he then smiles, "Sharing his fine with me. We often share anyway when we are out on the road."
When the food arrives he inhales the scent and then sighs. "Hot food is always nice. Better than the rations I usually eat." He takes the spoon and starts to eat, but eats slowly so he can enjoy the food.
Brightbloom Jubilee
During the first evening and your first hour on the jubilee you learn that the Brightbloom Jubilee is a 2-day party with a distinct structure of events.
Before the jubilee, the town elects two young locals to serve as Bloomgivers— an enormous honor for those chosen. Early on the celebration’s first day, the Bloomgivers venture with an empty wagon up nearby Dendra’s Slope, where the largest field of brightblooms grows.
The jubilee then runs throughout the day, and it includes a full slate of amusements, games, and festive street food, all set up in the town’s main Protectress Square.
In the afternoon, the Bloomgivers return to town with the first harvest of brightblooms, and the townspeople fete the youths’ journey by escorting them from the gates back to Protectress Square.
There, the Bloomgivers hand out brightblooms to eager townspeople. The rest of the evening is spent as a public dance party known as the Brightbloom Ball. The jubilee’s second day is spent alternately removing winterizing measures from the town’s buildings and breaking into spontaneous rounds of song and dance.
Several well-dressed professionals stand in a circle bandying about the lingo of seasoned traders. “What a time to be visiting!” one shouts.
“It’s the best time to catch important people in one place. If you’ve any business to conduct in Highdelve, now’s the time for it, to be sure!”
A teenage boy pushes through the crowd with a star-struck look on his face.
“Have you seen her? Have you seen Aurelliax? You know, the gold dragon! The one who keeps the whole town safe! She’s here, but she never stays in one place for long. Everyone wants to talk to her, and she’s so nice—she wants to spend time with us all!”
* * *
For the past decade or so, the people of Highdelve have expressed some concern about sending their youthful Bloomgivers up Dendra’s Slope to collect brightblooms for several hours alone.
The brightbloom field is about an hour’s hike from the town proper, and the foothills are full of threats.
To quell their qualms, and to reinforce that Aurelliax would never suffer an outside threat to the town, the gold dragon has begun lending the Bloomgivers a special amulet called the Golden Pendant each year for their journey up the slope.
Not even the gold dragon has elaborated on exactly what the amulet can do, and she’s instructed the townspeople not to bother examining it much magically, but everyone knows that it’s a treasure that would make Abadar himself proud.
Two elderly women watch a group of adolescents giggle and shoot furtive glances toward the square’s western entrance.
“It warms this old granny’s heart to see those sweet kids,” one of the women says. “So young! So much energy! They just can’t wait for the Bloomgivers to come back from Dendra’s Slope so they can celebrate. But I wonder what’s keeping those Bloomgivers? They’ve usually returned by now!”
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Tera listens to what Molly has discovered, glad she is good at getting the locals to talk to her.
Upon hearing that the Bloomgivers are running late, Tera's arm hair starts to standup. "My instincts is that something might have happen to them. Stuff like that always seems to happen. I say we give a little bit more time before we think about searching for them."
STATUE - A3. Our Gilded Lady
When Molly starts walking she passes the center of the jubilee where a statue of a dragon is visible. She can take in it's majesty up close.
Fully 10 feet high and twice as long, the centerpiece of the square is a gilt statue of a gold dragon with outstretched wings.
A plaque at the base reads: "Highdelve dedicates this statue and all of Protectress Square to Aurelliax, Our Gilded Lady. Long may her golden wings envelop us, and may we never fail her when she calls."
* * *
PUPPET SHOW - A5. Theatre in the Miniature
Strange voices and exaggerated accents ring from the front of a small performance stage, which is framed with a drawn-back velvet curtain. On the stage, elaborate puppets enact a melodramatic scene of confusion and betrayal.
All the while, a rapt audience sits on rows of stools pulled close to the action. No one really notices Molly as she slows to a walk and then stops at the back of the audience, watching the show.
After a few moments, an elegant man acting as the lone puppeteer behind the stage holds up an "Intermission" sign, and the crowd begins to murmur.
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Nei joins Molly as she pauses to look at the dragon. "A truly admirable creature, keeping these people safe. I hope those kids are OK out there. Even a dragon cannot be everywhere at once." He sighs, patting the statue on a claw and follows over to see the play.
"Bah! Just my luck. Intermission already!" His eyes drift over toward the food stalls. "Care to rate them on their outdoor service as well?" he jokes to Molly.
Nei takes the lead and together with Molly starts walking around. You pass a couple of kids who are playing a game with storage boxes and arrive at the food stall.
Food stall A6. Fair Food
Buzzing about the multicolored tents here are townspeople eating fried dough and meat skewered on thin sticks. Rich, delicious smells permeate the air as a tall, broad-shouldered man works the crowd, telling snappy jokes and offering friendly handshakes.
”Well hi there folks! You must be visitors to our fair town! Eh, get it? FAIR town?”
He chuckles as he rushes off to greet the next group walking up. The next time he passes by, he says ”My name's Toshi. Anyway, welcome! What can I getcha? Funnel cake? Corn dog? Fortifies the bones, only one silver!”
Toshi looks at Molly and is quite happy about your decision!
"Well, I am the proprietor and head chef at the Golden Wings tavern so of course it smells good!! As you see I have my hands full working the large crowd of customers and can’t pause for long to talk with you but in a week after all this is over come to my tavern! Next please!" he shouts.
Molly tastes the fried dough and Toshi was not exaggerating about the fried dough’s heartiness!
A PC who eats it gains a +2 morale bonus to all Strength- and
Charisma-based skill checks for the next hour.
Teraren notices a thin trail of smoke beginning to rise from behind the stage. He slightly peeks around the corner.
What you find is a slender, elegantly dressed man in an inelegant position.
He sits with his legs sprawled out and his back slumped against the rear of the stage while stressfully puffing away at a cigarette. A large, silver signet ring on his index finger bares the initials "CG".
He takes several more puffs, lets out a deep sigh, opens his eyes, and notices Teraren .
"O-oh, apologies. You've caught me in a simply dreadful position. Were you watching the show?"
The man looks at Tera with a surprised look on his face.
"You are kind. I am Carth. You really enjoyed it? Oh dear gods. I gave the responsibility for the puppets to my apprentice, Richelle, but ... well, if she would have spent her time learning from my years of experience but no ... and she's not at the festival today and I hope she returns tomorrow. Can you help me??"
You notice that he's trying to sound optimistic about his apprentice, but something is worrying him.
"Mmmm! THIS IS DELICIOUS!" Molly raves. She buys an extra one and grins. "Well worth the coin, Nei!"
Molly proceeds to eat her corn dogs with great enthusiasm!
Toshi nods and smiles - he seems busy but a woman who is standing in the queue next to Molly looks at her and says, “Yes, these are delicious!! My niece loves them too, she is one of the bloomgivers! I mean Kara of course! She and Kameer will surely be back soon!” she says although it is clear that she is a little bit worried.
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Nei tries one of the dogs as well and is equally impressed, although not as vocal as Molly. He nods his agreement while chewing and listens to the exchange between Molly and the woman. Finally managing to swallow, he asks "Surely there is nothing to worry about, they've got a golden dragon to keep them safe, right?"
Molly and Nei had a wonderful meal.
* * *
The man is a little shy when he is asked about Richelle. He takes out a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it over to Tera.
"Look here! It is really sad. And ... you will not see Richelle here today. Can you please leave me ... you see that I am stuck, right?"
Upon picking the leaflet Tera sees that it bears sketches of a scowling human boy and girl, each about 17, along with the following message.
“Be advised: Richelle and Tolwin, apprentices to Carth Garenth and Yarla Bowhammer, are not permitted at the jubilee. If seen, please turn them away from your events.”