The two men nod. "We can tell you what we know about the jewel and the Diamond Sage. But please, get us out!" Kafar calls out as the two men sink slower into the quicksand.
The two defeated Aspis Consortium agents are pulled free of the quicksand and prove good to their words, not attempting to escape or attack you. The two men are quite different: Kafar is a dark skinned Garundi man with a turban and thick black beard, while Nefti is a fair skinned younger man with a charming smile and thick curly dark hair.
Kafar speaks first. "Listen, I don't know who you lot are, but we're simple merchants. We were travelling here to meet with a client about selling some information, nothing more!" Nefti continues, their repartee appearing practiced. "Honest, masters! We are just merchants! We fled when we saw such imposing sorts as you chasing us!"
"We are not carrying it with us! We were selling the information on where it is hidden. Standard operating procedure: you never bring the goods to the meeting." Kafar protests.
Under Hagrym's scrutiny, the story seems to fall apart. Kafar seems to deflate slightly. "Alright, alright! But we've already sold the gems. There, check that satchel, you'll find the bills of sale." Cautiously checking the satchel, you discover three documents: two bills of sale and a letter of credit for 6,000 gp, all signed by one Angvar Branmaz.
"We were selling the name of the buyer to the Sage. It's safer than dealing with those jewels ourselves."
While Hagrym and Karos seem pretty intimidating, perhaps it was the way that Rekgar SMASHED A MOUNTAIN that really causes his silent glare to make the Aspis pair squirm. Finally they seem to share a silent look and Kafar sighs deeply. "We sold the topaz, to your buddy Torch. That's his alias there. He paid us 6,000 gp, but we forged a fake bill of sale to slip the Consortium that says we sold it for 4,000 gp. We hoped to pocket the difference. Here," He pulls off his boot and fishes in the toe and reveals a small secret compartment. He pulls a leather pouch out, and spills the emerald onto Hagrym's hand. The moment it touches his skin, he feels a strange empathic feeling from the jewel; first surprise, then recognition, as it senses the Ruby's influence on you.
"We were going to offer that to the Diamond Sage. Rumor has it that he or she would pay handsomely for it." Kafar sighs and Nefti takes up the speaking. "Please, if you can help us with these bites, they've been getting worse. We're not bad people, I swear. We only worked for the Consortium because they pay well. Honestly, we'd rather work for the Pathfinder Society; I suspect the Consortium might try to have us killed when they find out we didn't do the sale with the Sage. Please help us."
From behind you comes the sound of huffing, as Amenopheus appears from one of the passages. He is covered with dust and blood stains, but he smiles tiredly at all of you. "So, what did I miss?" he asks nonchalantly.
Amenopheus nods. "Let us focus on the matter at hand, as it were. Where is the Diamond Sage now?"
Kafar points toward a blank wall. Amenopheus steps foward, waves a hand and murmurs a few words before making a throwing gesture at the wall. Suddenly the wall shimmers and waves and reveals a doorway! Behind the seamless illusion of a rock wall lies the mountain pass to the Sanctum of the Sages. Beautifully engraved columns support the ornate entablature topped by a wide tapered cornice. The style hearkens back to Osirion’s golden age, and the impeccable design and craftsmanship lives up to the standards set by the ancient dynasties. A short flight of stairs ascends to a stone door in the mountain.
"I think we can help them to resist the disease, with time. But I do not possess the means to cure them." Rekgar removes their bandages and examines the wounds. and He cleans the wounds, washing away the foul worms and rebandages it. and While Kafar's wounds look better, Nefti does not seem to be much improved. Rekgar shakes his head. "That's all I can do for now. They need treatment, but they won't die for several more days yet. We should have time to get them back before they succumb to the disease."
The door proves to be unlocked, and swings open at Hagrym's tenuous touch. Inside comes the sound of gurgling water. Water gurgles in fountains set at either end of this crescent-shaped chamber. Fourteen columns support the vaulted ceiling, and the walls are polished to a smooth finish that reflects and scatters any light that the PCs introduce or that shines in from outside. Spouts in the wall replace any water removed from the fountain, replicating the effects of a decanter of endless water. Other than the water, the room is peaceful, with a sense of calm serenity.
The next chamber is a little different. This chamber’s floor angles upward as it meets the walls, which in turn angle inward like those of a pyramid, creating a space shaped like a cut diamond. The walls are smooth and somewhat transparent, like foggy quartz, save for where three opaque doors stand to the north, east, and west. In the center of the room, a clear 5-foot diameter crystal hovers a short distances from the floor and spins slowly.
Amenopheus stares intently at the crystal and walks toward it. His face lights up as the crystal's face reflects an image of a sapphire as he approaches. In a clear voice he calls out "My name is Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage. I seek the Diamond Sage." As he says this a door opens in the wall directly opposite the entrance, showing a hallway beyond.
As each of the PCs approaches the crystal you feel a sudden acknowledging presence in your minds, a brief welcoming touch. However, Kafar and Nefti stop dead in their tracks, and reflected in the crystals' facets is the image of a door slamming shut with them on the outside. Kafar swallows heavily. "I don't think it wants us to go further."
Amenopheus looks distracted as he replies. "I confess, I do not. But I am quite excited by the prospect!"
Kafar and Nefti both promise to stay put and move back to the fountain room to set up camp there.
Amenopheus starts forward toward the hallway, but if anyone else tries, it suddenly flashes with bright menacing light and seems to be waiting.
|
"So we're not allowed in, after all?" Sir Quinton asks. "I thought the crystal seemed to like me. This reminds me of that time deep in the Mwangi Expanse, where those primitives seemed to like me ... only to decide later they wanted to try to eat me!"
He looks around to see if there's any other way forward.
The crystal glows and displays an image of the Ruby. It does not stop you as you head toward the door.
Once more the crystal glows and Hagrym is allowed inside. Rekgar and Karos do the same, introducing themselves and announcing their desire to meet the Diamond Sage, and they too are admitted. Karos is the last, and as he passed, the crystal ejects a small piece of itself, which Karos grabs and hands off to Amenopheus, who smiles.
Two curved ramps ascend gently from one end of this semicircular room toward its northwest entrance. More than a dozen statues line the intricately painted walls, and all face toward an immense crystal that projects from the southeast wall. The statues are carved in the Osiran fashion, some bearing the heads of animals, and many holding objects like staves, ankhs, oil lamps, and scepters in their supple marble hands. Four engravings in the likeness of gemstones are set into shallow circular recesses in the floor arrayed before the huge jewel.
The walls are covered in murals of Garundi men and women taking Osirian artifacts, carving gemstones and other scholarly duties.
In fact, one of the illustrations looks suspiciously like Amenopheus himself!
Amenopheus steps toward the immense crystal and holds out the crystal key. As the key touches the crystal, there is a sudden flowing of the crystal creating an opening to the room beyond. Amenopheus turns his head and calls out, "Come now, let us head through the other room!" However, as soon as any of you reach the center of the room, there is a blinding flash and Amenopheus is encased in a crystal prism like a fly in amber! At the same time, a booming voice speaks in an ancient tongue*! At the same moment four of the statues that are holding lanterns suddenly have them burst into white light.
Each statue is holding something in one hand and holds the other out as if holding a lantern. The bullseye lanterns appear to be moveable. Right now two of the bullseye lanterns are shining straight at the encased Amenopheus in his prism, causing the light to refract and shine on the gems set into the floor. Right now the lights are, from left to right: blue, unlit, unlit, red. The other two bullseye lanterns shine off into the room but do not hit the prism!
Finally, the statue to the far south suddenly comes to life and moves toward you in a threatening manner!
sages stand."
Initiatives:
Round 1:
18 Karos
17 Hagrym
10 Guardian
3 Quinton
2 Rekgar
Karos fires at the statue! , but his musket misfires and jams! He moves away from the statue to try to clear the jam!
Hagrym steps up and flings the dust of disjunction at the statue! The statue suddenly slows and seems to move in a jerky fashion! It moves forward toward Rekgar, but is unable to attack due to the dust!
Rekgar flurries at the statue, defensively! and His first attack lands, dealing damage, though it seems his fist cannot penetrate deeply into the statue's thick stone skin!
Quinton swiftly grabs the torch and places in another statue's hand and the light shoots out, hits the crystal and refracts, shooting a green light into the second gem! Now only the third gem remains unlit!
Unfortunately, a second guardian grinds to life in the northern half of the room!
Round 2:
18 Karos
17 Hagrym
10 Guardian
3 Quinton
2 Rekgar
Hagrym steps up and strikes the statue, causing clay and stone to fly off it in a cloud!
The staggered statue attacks Hagrym! , dealing damage and causing Hagrym's wounds to bleed for 2 additional damage each turn until they're healed!
The newly animated statue charges Rekgar! , and dealing damage and 2 bleed! Rekgar looks pale as the construct hits him, and he flurries defensively, trying to cause it to back off! and , but unfortunately neither of his strikes seem to do any harm to the statue!
Quinton stares for a long moment at the statues, then back at the crystal. Taking his gut instinct he races to the statue he believes correct and thrusts the last lantern in its hands. There is a moment as the light shoots out, refracts and sends a yellow light into the last gemstone. Suddenly the two statues stop their actions and return to their posts, looking once more inanimate. The crystal prism surrounding Amenopheus dissolves and the crystal door flows back to create a passage through. Amenopheus lets out a long breath. "My. That will teach me to take a moment before I act, will it not?"
He steps through the doorway and motions for you to follow. A broad, simple, flat-topped column of sandstone rises from a deep pit in this circular, domed chamber with a white tiled floor. Though no wind can be felt, particles of sand slowly blow around the pit as if circulated by a lazy breeze, their movement creating a soft, rasping susurrus.
Standing next to the column is a Garundi woman dressed in the Osiriani fashion. She smiles at Amenopheus and the party as you enter.
"Welcome to the Sanctum of the Sages. I am Tahonikepsu, the Diamond Sage. Welcome home."
Tahonikepsu smiles. "Welcome, Sir Quinton! And Hagrym and Karos and Rekgar! I have watched your careers with great interest! And welcome Amenopheus! I see you have retrieved the Topaz gem from my agents. Do not judge them too harshly; they are good agents but they have fallen in with a bad crowd."
Waving her hand toward the room, she continues, "This place was once the Hall of Sages. It was here that the Jewel Sages debated matters of importance and helped to shape the future of our land. And it is here that I have brought you for that same reason: The order of the Jewel Sages must be returned to Golarion. And I would like to lead them."
Amemopheus politely clears his throat. "While I am in favor of our Order's return, do you think it necessary to establish leadership while only two of us exist? And if there is to be a leader, I would humbly place myself as a candidate for leadership."
Tahonikepsu nods. "Just so. There are two of us, but four Jewels reside in this room: the Topaz and the Ruby," She sweeps her arm toward Quinton, Karos, Hagrym and Rekgar. "As representatives of the Ruby, they must have a vote. So let us discuss."
Amenopheus steps forward. "I am Amenopheus. I am a formed advise to the Ruby Prince, recently separated from his service. I thus have much time to spare for these pursuits. I have contacts across the land and I have the ear of the Decemvirate, which we shall need as allies in our quest to move forward. I believe that the Sages perished because of outside forces beyond our control and I believe that by staying spread out and without a central location, the Sages can better survive any new troubles. Indeed by being spread out, the Sages can act quickly and decisively in any situation." He pauses and stares at the Diamond Sage. "Furthermore, I have my doubts about you. Possessing a Jewel is not the only thing I have done. Can you provide any bona fides?"
Tahonikepsu looks momentarily annoyed, then smiles. In a flash of light, Tahonikepsu is gone and a dragon the size of a small hut is there. This dragon's cracked scales creak with frightening, patient power. Some of its horns are ancient and brittle, others new and pristine. The dragon regards you with an amused look. "Is this credential enough?" Then shimmers and returns to the attractive sage.
"I believe the time has come for the Sages to stand together and work under leadership to shape the world. We fell in the past because we failed to stand together and we were vulnerable, as we will be again if we spread out and dilute our influence. I have watched the course of history for a thousand years, content to simply observe, but the discovery of the Jewel has given me an opportunity and an obligation to make the world better. I believe we must recruit new sages from the ranks of those in the position to effect change, advisers to kings and pharaohs, men and women of wisdom and concern."
"I disagree," Amenopheus calls out. "We must choose scholars and sages, men and women learned and wise, who will know it is best to intervene less and study more. I wish to recreate the Sages of the past, to use time-honored ways and techniques to create the future."
"Foolishness." Tahonikepsu says, "You will repeat the mistakes of the past and condemn us again by them. I wish to create a new order, to use new methods, to innovate. We cannot rely upon tried and true; we must experiment."
Both Sages eye one another, but it is with respect for the other's wisdom and passion. You sense that no matter the outcome, they will abide by it and support the decision of the leadership.