Astronomers have marveled as the famous comet Aucturn's Tear once more soars through the solar system, yet this cycle, strange portals have begun opening on each planet the comet passes, and a powerful entity trapped on the other side of these gateways desperately calls for help. To the Pathfinder Society, this is a once-in-a-human-lifetime opportunity to discover what lies through these portals—and either free the captive trapped within or ensure that it remains sealed forever.
The woman in the red mask was quiet. She had been watching all the teams, taking note of each one on her clipboard as they filed in.
Would they be ready for what lay ahead? She had no idea. Whatever happened though, she knew it would be out of this world.
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"'Ello Mates! The name's Razzy! I'll be yer scout slash trap decoy extraordinaire through our adventure together. If there's a trap that needs fondlin' I'm your guy. I like fast women and faster gold... and kittens. Not in that order." Razdin, a tall, slender young man with a welcoming smile and messy hair introduces himself to the group.
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A young woman with bronze skin and red hair that is so fiery it almost seems to lift with heat off of her shoulders when she moves arrives. She wears light almost see-through clothing revealing a mithral shirt for protection. At her hip is a rapier and a few other light weapons as well.
"Ree Soiel at your service... well at least as long as the society continues to pay my bills at least!" She winks to her companions and the woman in the red mask.
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A large human with a big pot belly, trousers barely held up by worn suspenders. His big old white beard has bits of dirt, food, twigs and leaves in it and his large brimmed hat doesn't do much to cover his bald head.
"Well Howdy-do ther' folks, ma name's Huckleberry Buck, monster hunter at yer service, Heh heh," He loads his rifle and fires it into the ceiling, "YEEEEEE HAW, we gonna hunt us some monstars t'day!"
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Kaya looks around with wide eyes as she sees the sheer number of people amassing. It's not unlike being at the lodge, except... Well, everyone's getting geared up and ready to go instead of just the few that were signing up for work. And there was significantly less alcohol in sight.
The adventurers were getting ready - it was a bit intimidating. Not for the first time, she asked herself whether she was in the right place.
"I'm Kaya," she introduces herself to her assigned team. She's a bit nervous - new meetings always were and on the last jaunt, there'd been a particular paladin... "I've still got a lot to learn, but I'd like to help scout and, you know, keep and eye out for traps and the like."
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A young man looks around, he fiddles with a symbol dangling from his neck, a wooden carving of a frog strewn with herbs.
"Well, hello everyone. Loveley to meet you. Well, well, well... Isn't this nice... Oh, I, um... I'm a serveant of Immonhiel, you might have heard of her, probably not, although you should have, a true protector."
The Society's Master of Spells, Sorrina Westyr, looks up with approval upon the 30 foot platform the society is erecting around the base of the Spire of Nex. Her slate-gray skin seems to blend into the stonework behind her, but her manner is lively. She grins as she addresses the unkempt beggar beside her. ”See, Drandle, we were ready in time. You owe me a beer.”
The old Venture Captain titters. “Heh. You’re not away from the spire yet. We’ll see.”
“So we will.” Sorrina nods, then waves at the assembling crowd. “Pathfinders—welcome and well timed. Please, make your ways to the designated safe areas quickly and carefully, and please mind the wards. Try to keep the paths clear, as we have some very delicate equipment coming through. I have some amazing discoveries to share in just a few more moments.”
Meanwhile in the crowd, the aura of excitement continues to build. Rumors are flying everywhere as Pathfinders ask each other, “What’s this all about?”
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Kaya's eager to hear what news they have that's so exciting, but... Everyone wants to know and the murmurs nearly drown out whatever she's going to say next. Kaya nearly turns bites the person standing behind her when they shift a bit too far forward into her personal space.
As it is, she keeps both her calm and her human guise. What's next? They'd all answered the call - so what next?
Starlight brightens the grassy plain surrounding the immense Spire of Nex. Overhead, a comet lazily streaks across the night sky. Heavily armed patrols guard the perimeter, and the shadow of great wings occasionally blots out the stars. Sharp flashes of amethyst light, quick shouts, and chanting briefly periodically rise above the waiting crowd’s chatter as spellcasters hurriedly construct and maintain crackling wards. These efforts revolve around a thirty-foot-tall upright gleaming metal ring constructed at the Spire’s base.
You might hear rumors of the Society’s latest activities related to this gathering.
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You might know the significance of the Spire of Nex and what it might be used for.
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You might know more about the new comet in the sky.
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A tall elven man approaches your group. He is followed by a youngster dragging a small cart in which you see stacks of small rucksacks. You notice other people moving around the group that are also followed by an adolescent with a cart.
”Well met, I have been tasked by the Venture officers to provide magical assistance on your trip outside of Golarion’s atmosphere and into a low-gravity environment."
He waits for a moment to let the news sink in.
"Yes, the comet! I won't be joining you there. But I can protect you from environmental temperature extremes, the vacuum of space, and damage dealt by radioactivity. I wouldn't plan on leaving Golarion without it!"
"It lasts for the better part of the day and I can cast it on each of you. The faction leaders have agreed that together they will pay for the costs. Of course they will find a way to make you pay for it in the end, but you first need to survive on the comet...”
He reaches into his spell component pouch "So, what do you say? Who wants it?"
Later the elf takes one of the small sacks from the youngster ”In addition, the Society has put together caches of supplies to help Pathfinders trapped in hostile conditions make it back in one piece.” He hands over the rucksack.
SUBTIER 1-2
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Her mind whirring with this new information, Kaya can't help but be amazed at the sheer vastness of what they're about to attempt. "There's something going on in the Elemental Planes. There are gateways to other places - worlds? - opening around the world," she reports back to her assigned group. "Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr has been meeting with scholars to discuss it."
When the elf approaches with his aid, Kaya nearly bursts with excitement.
"I can't even begin to imagine what we're going to be up against!" Kaya exclaims, thinking of the scrolls. "I'll certainly take whatever aid you can give me!" After a pause, she asks, "I heard that there are scrolls about the solar system and interplanetary travel - will we be getting a copy?"
She accepts both the spells and the sack.
Sorrina Westyr, the Pathfinder Society's returning Master of Spells, hurriedly concludes her conversation with Drandle Dreng before stepping onto the platform in front of a giant metal ring the Society has constructed. The starlight glimmers in her crystalline white hair, though her obsidian oread features are visible only in flashes from the nearby glowing wards.
“I thank you all for traveling here on such short notice, Pathfinders. A unique opportunity has come to us from the stars.” She gestures gracefully to the comet trailing gas in the sky above her head. “The asteroid Aucturn's Tear quietly travels our solar system once every fifty-six years. For the first time it now flares with brilliance. We have learned this phenomenon is the work of an entity trapped on Aucturn's Tear and, whatever this being is, it is calling out for help. We do not know its intentions, yet it is in our interest to learn more. If it is benevolent, it may prove a powerful ally and friend to the Society if we can free it. If it is malevolent, then we will do what we can to ensure it stays sealed away where it can do no harm.”
She casts a spell, briefly creating an image of Golarian’s solar system, and the asteroid’s trajectory within it.
“As it approaches planets, the entity has opened gateways in magic-dense regions, as if calling out to powerful champions that might come to its aid. Based on our calculations, the first of these gateways on Golarion should appear in a matter of minutes, and we have gathered in this magically infused site to draw the portal here and stabilize it, allowing us to travel to the asteroid ourselves. Our observations show billowing clouds pouring out from three locations on Aucturn's Tear. These both create a livable environment we can navigate as well as provide three entrances to the asteroid's interior so that we can find the source of these events.” Red arrows appear at each entrance as the image keeps focusing closer and closer to the asteroid itself. “The first entrance is at the base of an enormous crater, where there are monumental fortifications— likely making that the most difficult approach. The second plume is coming from the remnants of a frozen fortress, which could contain incredible secrets in its own right. The third plume is coming from the sunward side of the comet and is issuing from a number of lava tubes. Our observers also spotted the wreck of a metal craft near there.”
Sorrina pauses a moment, letting the significance of all of these observations sink in, and then continues.
“This will be an unusual environment, so prepare for unusual conditions: extreme temperatures, low-gravity, and airless pockets are likely. Everyone should have received a package of supplies to assist in managing these hazards. While the gateway should remain stable, a contingent of conjurers is staying here to monitor it, and additional teams are on standby to provide escape routes to extradimensional shelters in case of complications. Perhaps most importantly, we've ringed this area with defenses to prevent any outside interference with this expedition, and the bronze dragon Ahelvetinn has agreed to keep watch in case any evil attempts to escape through the gateway into Golarion.”
The Spire of Nex begins to hum, the vibrations creating a stomach-churning resonance as a pinpoint of light appears in the center of the portal ring and begins to grow.
Sorrina Westyr shouts to be heard over the deafening noise, “It's beginning! Be ready to move through and split into teams to investigate each of the three possible approaches. Once we're inside we can regroup and compare notes.”
The metal of the portal ring incandesces, and a blast of freezing air pours out as the gateway opens. The place beyond is a field of jagged grey stone, and once several dozen Pathfinders step through, the earth itself springs to life in the form of countless elemental creatures that swarm toward the gate. From further in, a terrible draconic roar accompanies the appearance of a flight of crystalline dragons sweeping out from the lip of a crater.
“Secure the gate! Do not let any of them through!” Westyr shouts as she sends a lance of swirling black and white energy into one of the wyrms, sending it careening end over end as the forces meet.
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As she listened and saw the announcement, Kaya couldn't help but be privately relieved she'd left as much of her kit as home as she had - certainly, if the trip was going to last her a day, there was no point in bringing everything with her and... if it was to be a short mission (as it seemed to be slated for a day's effort), she didn't want to weigh herself down with everything.
"It's not always like this," she says, eyes wide, "But wow, I don't think we'd all be able to handle it if it were!"
She slipped the potion of endure elements into her belt pouch, carefully cushioning it with the small pouches of air crystals. She then affixed the snapleaf to her cloak.
She gripped the hilt of the cold iron dagger on her belt for luck before exhaling. "Well, which entrance do you think we'll be?"
You're no sooner through the portal than you're in the thick of battle! Two vaguely humanoid rock monsters rise from the asteroid's surface to attack!
Combat 1st RND
All of you go before them
Rock Foes
Razdin hits with both his attacks but quickly finds out that this foes is immune to the rogues precision damage...but both his attacks cut deep and make the foe a bit staggered...
These are small earth elementals. Like most elementals they are immune to critical hits, precision damage, bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep effects and stunning. They also can’t be flanked.
An earth elemental gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are touching the ground.
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Once everyone arrives Ree will sidle up to Fentar with a grin on her face and wink as she asks "Heya handsome would you be willing to hang onto this wand of mine and maybe tap me with it if I get bruised or bloody playing around with our enemies?"
Ree just kinda blinks a bit as the speech from the Mistress of Spells goes way over her fiery head. However once the dizziness of space travel wears off she's super quick into the action! Her rapier flies from its scabbard as she dances around to the far side of the (blue) creature to set up a flank for her team-mates as she attacks!
If the creature strikes at her she will attempt to Opportune Parry and Riposte!
(opposed roll vs attack)
(if she blocks the attack this is her counter-attack)
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YEEEEEHAAAAWWW" Huckleberry spits out his chew as he lines up a shot and blasts the rock monster!
"Dat der gonn' look real pretty on my porch, yeaaah!"
And the gun backfires sending black powder into his beard and face, sputtering! "Wooooo Whey this gun is rarin' to hunt some monsters! Its just toooooo excited!"
Ree and Kaya both get into position vs the rock foes with ease and Kaya manages to deal enough damage to the red one that the foe cannot retain its shape and it crumbles into a pile of rocks. Ree deals a solid blow just as Huckleberry misfires...
Fentar moves forward and misses with his attack against the elemental.
The rocky foe tries to slam Ree...
... and completely misses with a powerful blow...
Combat 2nd RND
All of you go before them
Rock Foe (-9)
The groups combined efforts bring the stone monster down in a flash, leaving the area around you clear for now. You see the smelly man bouncing toward you, leaping far higher in the lower gravity than he usually world.
"Ach, yer alive! I found another straggler, looks like he needs a hand. Jogun Fairweather's his name me thinks. He has a boomstick. Play nice!" He gestures toward a pathfinder who is just popping through the portal!
Jogun joins the team
The man clears his throat. "Ye got three choices here! You can check out the Crater, the Frozen City or the Sea of Light!"
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"The water is frozen so I don't expect it to be very wet. I'm only worried about us surviving the adventure. The Sea of Light is definitely my second choice if we feel we have enough to take damage. Being a soft guy that likes to get up close, I don't want to depend on me and Kaya and you to get the majority of attention." He says, not wanting any party members to be struck by a foe, as they are all squishies besides Rae.
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"I'd rather talk our way through difficult matters than fight our way through difficult enemies," Kaya says aloud. At Razdin's comment, she looks at their group and realizes that they are, in fact, better at hitting things from afar or, you know, from behind. "I agree that we're not optimally comprised of those who can take on difficult foes directly."
She crossed her arms for a moment, hunching in thought, before nodding decisively to herself. Although she didn't much like conflict, being in a new place... Well, it was important to speak up.
Looking at Ree apologetically, she says, "I'm sorry, but I also think we should go to the far side of the asterisk - I think the Frozen City may be better for us. If I remember correctly, the Sea of Light also has some technological bits and pieces and... Well, I've been to one such site and it wasn't exactly pleasant." At the memory, one fo her hands moves up to her throat, as though she could feel the air constrict around her, the sudden vacuum both strange and painful to fight through.