You press onward, Nefti still bound.
***
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 stone door in the mountain.
After wondering at the entrance you push forward into the entrance hall.
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 your lights and the ambience from outside.
The Sage speaks up, "I know this.. those spouts in the wall replace any water removed from the fountain, replicating the effects of a decanter of endless water. Much of this sanctum is sealed to anyone not of the order of the Jeweled Sages, so this room provides pilgrims and petitioners a safe place to take shelter until a sage might acknowledge them."
After refreshing yourselves at the fountain and replenishing your water supplies you look to the next chamber.
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 ponders for a moment, "I recognize this crystal as a gatekeeper built to prevent non-sages from traveling deeper into the sanctum" He presents himself to the Gem "I am the Sapphire Sage and I seek the Diamond Sage". The crystal briefly shows an image of a Garundi man walking toward the north door in the room, then a small, keyshaped sliver breaks off of the crystal.
Amenopheus nods, picks up the key, he turns back to the party momentarily - "The north door will lead you onward" it opens as he approaches and he moves through it...
As you move closer, you receive an empathic feeling of curiosity and inquiry, as though the crystal is trying to determine who you are.
Nefti looks really nervous, as though he is hiding something
|
The half-elf with long poking stick advances towards the north, but at the feeling of, well, feelings he kind of pulls up for a second.
"We're here representin' th' Ruby Sage, an' likewise seekin' th' Diamond Sage, thank y' "
Hey, it can't hurt to be polite, can it?
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20
Kel looks over to Nefti and points with his rapier.
Hey mate, you look a bit shady there... You got something to say to the rest of us?
Nefti seems lost for words, and his darting eyes betray him as they look down to his boot. A more detailed search of his body uncovers the Topaz gem...
"I thought you'd just kill me if I handed it over. I cannot pass through here though, that gem won't let me - it keeps telling me to stay away"
***
For the rest of the party, as you identify yourselves the crystal seems to read you auras, and as it picks up on the mythical blessing of the Sages, it recognises you and allows you to pass through the North door.
Nefti is left outside.
You take his crystal.
***
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 wall paintings portray many scenes of Garundi scholars carrying
Osirian treasures, using architectural tools, surveying a
mountain range, cutting gems, and receiving gifts from
three supernatural figures.
You identify one of these figures as Nethys depicted in an archaic style
You identify the others as Ptah, the ancient Osirian god of architecture and inventions, and Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing.
You identify one figure that appears in several illustrations and that looks remarkably like Amenopheus.
Amenopheus moves to open the next door and it flashes with blinding light. When the light fades, Amenopheus is trapped within a crystalline prism like an insect sealed in amber, and the four oil lamps held by the statues have lit with bright white light. At the same time, a spoken message in Ancient Osiriani echoes through the room: “As the light aligns, so too do the sages stand.”
Two of the statues begin to animate and head for the party...!
R1
Agraic
Kel
Magrim
Roscoe
Rog-enora
ENEMY
|
[dice=Perception DC15]1d20+10
"Weird ... Just how old are you Amenopheus? That kind of looks like you in some of the pictures."
As the statues animate ...
This is why I don't like tombs ... they are unnatural!
Roscoe charges the statue ...
[dice=MW Lance]1d20+9 for [dice=Piercing]2d6+4
[dice=Threat]1d20+9 if [dice=Confirmed]4d6+8[dice=George (Bite)]1d20+4 for [dice=BPS]1d8+5
[b]R1[b]
Agraic =Attacked
Kel
Magrim - Cast
Roscoe - Attacked
Rog-enora
ENEMY
Agraic lashes out striking the statue twice!
Magrim casts!
Roscoe goes thundering in with a lance - hitting the other beak headed statue square in the chest!
P 36
T 37
*Should have made you fight the T6-7!
|
Kel dashes forwards and stabs hard at the statue, trying to find an opening in the stone.
He then stabs again, finally jamming his rapier into a crack in the stonework!
Kel darts in swinging - landing a neat strike on the statue!
The statues respond!
Attack
Attack
Attack
Damage
Crit?
Add Damage
+2 points of bleed sdamage each round.
Attack
R1
Henrick
R2
Agraic
Kel
Magrim
Roscoe
Rog-enora /Delay
ENEMY
P 58
T 37
*Should have made you fight the T6-7!
The statue explodes into rubble as Roscoe once again manages to find a weak spot!
R1
Henrick
R2
Agraic
Kel
Magrim
Roscoe - attacks!
Rog-enora /Delay
ENEMY
P 58
T Rubble
The lizard stalks up behind Magrim, snapping protectively at the statue from behind her master.
...CRASH!
The other statue folds under the weight of the attacks...
***
The defenders out of the way, you movs the lights and crystals into the correct rainbow hues. 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 newly opened 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."
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 THREE Jewels reside in this room: the Topaz and the Ruby," She sweeps her arm toward the party. "As representatives of the Ruby, they must have a vote. So let us discuss."
The sages clear their throats and begin to state their cases:
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.
.
|
|
"'ey! Th' two of you have forgotten a key aspect of the Pathfinder Society, which'd be a great thing for whatever way you're gonna go here. That's the big thing th' Society's about, but the other side of it.. well, can't the two 'f y' compromise? I mean, th' lessons 'f the past get lost if y'r only doin' new fancy things, an' there's no future if y' don't try out new things, right?"
Maybe it's the remnants of the Ruby Sage's power flowing in him, maybe it's hearkening back to some lost memory, but the barbarian continues. It could also be him winding down from the rage, too.
"Y'all lost a lot 'f th' history here, we ran through it on our way here -- y'can't do nothing in the *NOW* if y' can't reconcile the past and th' future. So I'm sayin' both y'all take a page from th' Society, wit' all due respect, set aside the spots you disagree on, an' work th' bloody 'ell together. You'll get a lot more accomplished doin' that than if you're sitting here on opposite sides 'f the bench doubtin' th' other's tactics."
"I dunno, maybe y' could name it something new, an' incorporate both your goals into it, make it somethin' special and not tied to any one thing in particular, but th' whole deal?"
Half-pay with a contract for future work is better than no pay, right?
With the discovery of another Jeweled Sage and the recovery of a third sage jewel, you have helped Amenopheus recreate the lost Osirian order.
Both he and Tahonikepsu agree that the sages shall work with the Pathfinder Society toward their mutual benefit, and they aid you in returning to Eto without further conflict.
The Ruby Sage’s power fades from you as you depart the Pillars of the Sun. Amenopheus is uncertain as to whether or not the ruby sage jewel can be restored, but he will begin researching the possibility soon.
Nefti's fate is debated, but he ends up being an agent for the Society.
Venture-Captain Hestia Themis pens you each a letter congratulating you on killing Kafar, and finally ending one of the more insidiously dangerous menaces to plague the Inner Sea region. There is some regret that you didn't drag Nefti off for execution, but thanks is still forthcoming.
***