Please check in for the game with a dot, but don't forget to delete it so as not to clutter up the beginning of this thread. Thanks!
As you wait for your mission briefing in a large chamber deep beneath Absalom’s Grand Lodge, your minds hearken to recent events. Victory in the Ruby Phoenix Tournament earned the Pathfinder Society a pick of the legendary treasures of the Tian sorceress Hao Jin, and the Decemvirate knew just what item to select: a frayed and dirty tapestry hidden deep in Hao Jin’s vault. This unassuming tapestry acts as a doorway to another dimension in which Hao Jin stored her most massive items, including entire buildings, battlefields, and the ruins of ancient civilizations. The Pathfinder Society is now methodically exploring and cataloging the diverse locales tucked within this extradimensional space.
Your mind has been naturally drawn to this momentous event because at the moment you are arrayed before this legendary artifact. The Hao Jin Tapestry looms before you, taking up most of an entire wall, surrounded by ladders and scaffolds. Scholars and diviners scurry around the tapestry, analyzing its abstract patterns and comparing insights. Disturbing your individual reveries, each of you mark the sudden approach of the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Spells, Aram Zey, who gestures at the curtain as he comes to a stop before your group. Zey snaps his finger to quiet the room, which occurs with remarkable haste, and speaks rapidly. “As you all should know, if you have paid attention to any of your cultural studies here at the Society, the aasimar nation of Tianjing contains a handful of temples to Korada, Empyreal Lord of forgiveness and foresight. The Pathfinder Society has long been interested in exploring these holy sites, but the aasimar disciples in Tianjing are reluctant to grant the Pathfinder Society full access to their faith’s secrets. Fortunately for us, the custodian council of Tianjing gifted one such temple to Hao Jin centuries ago. This temple—the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment—now sits vacant within the museum demiplane of the Hao Jin Tapestry. We need well-trained explorers to survey the isolated and abandoned site.”
Aram Zey turns back toward your group and continues to speak, glaring down any who might think to interrupt. “We will transport you to the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment within the Hao Jin Tapestry and provide you with a small cache of supplies you will require to complete your mission. We need a complete report on the temple with a focus on four key locations.” Zey holds up one fist and begins to tick these points off on his fingers. “First, locate the temple’s meditation room, find evidence of any meditative techniques described there, and record any effects of performing those techniques. Second, prepare a comprehensive catalog of all works found in the temple library. Third, locate the temple gardens and draft a detailed plan of the garden’s layout. Finally, enter the temple’s crypt and take rubbings of any carvings you find on the sarcophagi.”
The Master of Scrolls lowers his hand, clasping both behind his back as he gazes at each of you in turn, his face set in his usual expression of mild annoyance. “You will enter the tapestry within the hour. Any questions?”
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Regnum walks in, big, burly, gruff. Clearly human, he has stylized his beard like some of the more fanciful dwarven beards out there. Nestled in the crook of his arm, his large bore musket looks mean and intimidating.
"You said this is a demiplane. What's the difference between a normal plane (earth, air, water, fire) and this demiplane?"
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Gery quietly slips inside the meeting room taking a seat in fronty, trying to hide his nervousness about being sent on his latest (well actually his first) mission. As always he wished Lucina was here with him but from what he heard she was up in Kaer Maga for whatever reason he knew not. He knew she would like to be with him as he continued his efforts to free Kintargo from the grips of the despot Barzilia Thrune.
Quickly pulling his attention back to the matter at hand, he paid close attention to the briefing, his heart quaking in excitement on hearing he would be entering the fabled Hao Jin Tapestry.
"Are there any historical records of this Temple that we may review before we enter the Tapestry? Being forewarned of what the Temple was used for may prepare us for what we may encounter now." He asks in a slightly nervous tone.
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Finnius von Galimar stands near the door, his red cape gently swaying as he balances a knife blade on his finger. His blue eyes narrow with excitement as he hears of the chance to cross the threshold of the Tapestry again.
Finnius flips his dagger with a flourish, returning it to his belt before carefully checking the other blades on his person, two in each boot, a second at the belt, two full bandoliers worn across his armored chest, and two at his wrist launchers.
"Do we have any idea whether we shall find friends or foes when we arrive? You say the Temple is abandoned, but have we any reports of what creatures may be living nearby?"
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A 5'6", 150# Varisian male walks in and quickly steps to the right of the door. Clad in a traveler's outfit and carrying a simple staff and dagger, he lowers his backpack to the floor, clears his throat and speaks softly..
"I am Vladamir Dufau, brother of Alexandre Dufau, and I am most pleased to be joining with all of you. I have a couple quick questions. You mentioned you would be sending supplies with us. What are the supplies? Also, how long should we expect to be there?"
Zey turns to Regnum. "I have neither the time, nor inclination to give you all a free lesson in planar studies. However, I can tell you that Hao Jin created her museum demiplane with an environment identical to Golarion’s. It has air, weather, and gravity just as you’d expect. However, in the centuries since Hao Jin’s disappearance, the weather patterns within much of the tapestry demiplane have shifted, so we’re uncertain of the precise environment around the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment."
In response to Gery, the Master of Scrolls answers. "Perhaps you should have paid better attention to your historical studies. In any case, the layout and study of the temple is what you are tasked with. We have no way of knowing exactly what you'll find, save for what has been seen before in such temples - the locations I have just outlined in some detail." His gaze shifts to Finnius. "The temple is likely uninhabited except by ancient guardians or traps, although I suppose some scavengers may have found their way into the structure." Again, we have no way of being certain. That is why you... agents are being sent to conduct this scholarly endeavor as best you are able. I trust you will not be derelict in your duties."
Turning then to Vladamir, Zey answers. "Your supplies will consist of enough food and water to complete your journey as well as your investigation of the temple. You will also be supplied with ink, charcoal, parchment, rice paper, and measuring twine in order to conduct your archaeological studies. Beyond those basics, you are expected to supply your own equipment to assist you in surviving whatever threats you might encounter. I would expect a full exploration might take several days, depending on the condition of the temple. Take all the time you need."
Taking a deep breath, as though annoyed at answering the queries of the party, Aram Zey closes his eyes and then opens them again. "Do you have any further questions? If not, I would suggest you make any purchases you require and reassemble here within the hour, if you must. Otherwise, if you have come ready to go, I can send you forthwith."
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All questions having been answered, the impatient Aram Zey escorts you all one by one to the scaffold, instructing each of you to place your fingers upon a symbol that appears to represent three linked circles embroidered upon the tapestry. The Master of Spells utters a word of power and the one touching the symbol disappears from sight of the others that await their turn! One by one, each of the Pathfinders is whisked away into the Hao Jin Tapestry in a similar manner.
Your group finds itself standing atop a forested hill in front of a large, wide building of burnished white stone. The sky above is bright and the air smells clean and fresh, not at all what one might expect in a demiplane found within a slightly frayed and centuries-old magical tapestry. After a few moments of looking around, each of you take note of a 2-foot-diameter sphere of pulsing blue light that floats in the air behind you, invisible to everyone save those that it gently trails along in the wake of, apparently no matter where or how fast you move.
Turning your attention to the large structure atop the hill, which you presume to be The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment itself, you note that the graceful building has no sharp corners; the white marble walls are carved with soft, round edges. The front of the edifice appears well-scrubbed, but despite this obvious care, black flecks of mold cover a good portion of its surface. A gravel path leads into an airy, open courtyard and then up to a pair of large wooden double doors. The portals are carved with an image of four spheres resting inside an open lotus flower. There are no windows apparent, at least not on this side of the building.
There is no sign of any movement outside of the building and all seems very quiet and peaceful on this beautiful day.
After a brief discussion regarding the spheres, it appears that only those that they follow behind are able to see them. The spheres that trail along behind anyone else cannot be seen at all!
The ground in the open courtyard is covered with crushed white gravel. An ornate set of wooden double doors appear to lead into the temple itself, clearly the main entrance. However, stepping into the courtyard reveals two other sets of doors as well. Both are plain and functional in appearance, a single door to the right on the north side of the courtyard, and another set of double doors to the left on the south side.
All of the doors are closed tight, but none of them appear to be locked.
The day is bright and sunny, which some of the Pathfinders might find to be an odd thing considering the age and faded nature of the magical tapestry into which they'd been transported.
In the back rank, Regnum readies his musket while Vladamir casts a protective spell upon himself. In the front rank, Finnius draws twin daggers as the diminutive Gery readies his rapier in one hand and eases open the door with the other.
The room inside the entrance strongly resembles the exterior in terms of its craftsmanship. The walls are about 20' high and made of a smooth, rounded white stone that the dwarf knows is in fact marble. Hanging lanterns containing torches that burn without heat are spaced every twenty feet or so, providing good illumination.
Engraved upon the smooth floor is a spiral of purple hue that has been badly scuffed from centuries of traffic. Three golden circles form a diagonal row as well. For an abandoned temple, the place seems remarkably clean at a glance from the threshold.
Another set of double doors stand in the opposite wall, and another door is set in the wall to south. To the north, two hallways exit the chamber, one to the west and the other to the east.
The group heads northeast, and they can see the passage west as well as they move through the northern part of the chamber. More doors are seen, though they can also continue north where the passage takes a bend beyond their line of sight.
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"At least to check and make sure no one is hiding behind the door, sure, I agree with you. But, what if it leads to more door choices, what then? I hope you don't suggest that we split up the party and each take a section to explore. I seem to recall something in my training about not doing that." Regnum says rather gruffly, but politely.
This room is a lofty, open space. The stone walls are carved with several figures in various meditative poses. A few large mats cover the stone floor. The only other furnishing is a rack containing a few wooden staves and several stacked glass spheres, each no bigger than a plum.
The Pathfinders are startled to find a human male of apparent Tian heritage sitting upon one of the mats! His legs are crossed in the classic lotus position as though meditating, and he wears a simple white tunic with several small bells sewn into the hem and sleeves. His hair, though mostly dark and worn long, has a streak of grey making his age difficult to determine. In one open hand that rests upright upon his left knee, three glass spheres rotate serenely upon his steady palm, which don’t waver in the slightest when he opens his hazel-colored eyes as the door suddenly opens.
“Ah! Visitors to the temple! Welcome, welcome.” The Tian seems surprised by your appearance, but his tone is friendly and polite. “Please enter and have a seat. Have you come to the Room of Meditation to learn of techniques in communing with Korada? I can teach you of them.” He smiles beatifically and gestures for you to enter the peaceful-looking chamber of meditation.
Player Map (Slide #2)
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Gery, mindful of the group's mission to find the meditation room, offers an uneasy smile. "Ahhh, I would be more that interested in learning more of these techniques. Can you tell us more of them. How long have you been teaching these to your disciples?" Hoping to distract the man from Vladamir's casting.
"Enter then, at be at peace, brothers. I am Zhuang, and you may take a look at the carvings upon the walls to gain an introduction to the instructions of proper meditation. I will guide you, and teach you of the second component, which is the repetition of a short mantra."
Vladamir detects no magic emanating from the room, nor can he detect the magic of the tapestry itself - at least not from the demiplane. He does note that the sphere that follows behind him has a magical aura, however.
Looking over the carvings, the party can see that the techniques seem fairly straightforward. A few gentle stretches, some of them involving the use of a staff, then sitting in a lotus position, and finally the spinning of three glass sphere on the palm of one hand. This latter is easy enough to glean from the instructions, but seems most difficult to enact in practice.
When the party (whoever is willing) is ready, Zhuang begins to speak of the mantra, which is not depicted upon the wall carvings. "It is best if you follow along as a group. After you have stretched - and there are staves you may use in the rack over there, if you have none of your own - take three of the glass spheres and sit upon one of the mats in the indicated position. Then, as you set the spheres to spinning in your outstretched palm, speak the following mantra."
The old monk demonstrates, deftly setting his own glass spheres to spinning with a flick of three outstretched fingers. Then he begins to chant:
Light combined,
My peace find;
Calm my soul,
To control;
Woes I sift,
Catching gifts
Player Map - Feel free to move your tokens into the room wherever you'd like to settle down on a mat (doesn't have to line up with a mat on the map itself.)
Kyra will do all four unless her knowledge about the meditation says different.
Picking up a staff she starts to spin it
"This is much harder than I thought"
Though some of the Pathfinders skip over parts of the meditation, Zhuang seems to appreciate the efforts, his hazel eyes reflecting his mirth as Gery, Vladamir and Kyra attempt to spin the spheres. The sorcerer manages the feat for a brief moment or two, but no longer than that.
"If you would like, I can walk you through the sequence again? Perhaps the rest of you would like to learn, eh? Or if you are finished, perhaps you would like to see the rest of our temple has to offer? I could guide you, if you wish."