THE REFUGE OF TIME Regular (Inactive)

Game Master Helikon

The letter that arrives bears Venture-Captain Heidmarch's seal, and seems to contain an enclosure.
"Greetings, Pathfinders! I have new information for you about our agents' discoveries regarding the cult of Lissala. When the Ten learned of the cult's active existence, they sent a team to infiltrate a cell in the industrial town of Pali n's Cove. During that mission we learned that the cult intends to bring back the ancient Thassilonian Runelord Krune to rule Varisia. Pathfinder agents next encountered Lissaians here in the City of Strangers and discovered that the cultists aim to return the runelord by using refuge tokens that he created for his followers to reach his hidden location. Our Pathfinders also uncovered the location of an ancient Lissalan shrine, documented to hold a cache of these refuge tokens. The enclosed map shows the location where the shrine is said to be-the fastest way thereis from Kaer Maga west into the Wyvern Mountains.
Find the shrine and recover the refuge tokens so that we may use them to access krune's lair, thus preventing the Lissalans from raising their runelord. Don't attempt to use the tokens yet-we also need to uncover the proper command words. And hurry, please! A group bearing the Sihedron-Lissala's holy rune-was seen leaving the city two days ago. They must seek the shrine as well. "Should you have additional questions about your mission, seek out a trusted informant in the Downmarket District, a textile merchant named Allira Vandane. She will aid you as much as she can. May Desna smile upon you, Pathfinders."

"I've dealt with these Lissalans before... bunch of nasty spellcasters and thieves the lot of them. Unfortunately for them we prevented the theft of the runecarved key but it seems like it wasn't enough to convince them to scurry back to the holes where they hid for the last few centuries... no matter, the Pathfinder Society crushed them once, we'll do it again" a tall and muscular Taldan man wearing a set of full plate armor comments as the purpose of his next mission becomes clear.

"Point me in the right direction and I'll smack them!"

Anyone who looks at Barm will see a half-naked strong man. His face is dyed in color. He carry his large Bastard sword. "Sorry! I did not introduce myself. My name is Barm!"

A imposing figure, his cloak white with gold trim, reads the letter and scowls.

These wretches again. You'd think they learned after I slaughtered the leader of their wrath cult. But then again, Cultists are not known for their wisdom.

He looks to the others and bows.

I am Mutahir Hashem. Known to many as "The Cleric Killer of Rahadoum." I am a specialist in rooting out and killing cultists, and a representative of the Pure Legion's interests in the pathfinder society. If any of you are devotees of the gods, know that you are safe from me so long as we are outside of Rahadoum, and you respect my boundaries. I will not harm a fellow pathfinder.

He gives a dark grin.

If you are a devotee of a so called "Kind god", do not bother to attempt to assist me. You will find your spells mostly worthless when applied to me.

A 5'6", 150# Tien-Da man clad in traveler's clothes clears his throat and asks "What about wands, Mutahir? I have a couple that may be needed, but I would not like to waste charges if I don't have to."

"My name is Jing Kwan." Jing Kwan points out the slightly floating suit of armor behind him.."This is my companion, Tiny. We are both ready to go, aren't we Tiny"

Mutahir survey's tiny, his eyes flashing in rainbow colors for a moment Detect aura before nodding approval, apparently recognizing it as a non divine form.

Wands neither. I can only accept healing from arcane sources... I have a wand hidden on my wrist for the purpose if I need it, but the standard issue pathfinder healing wands are made by the clerics, and they do not work on me.

The 6'6", 300# ancient suit of slightly floating armor answers in a deep, gravely voice..."Yes, Master"...as it taps the pommel of the +1 Adamantine Greatsword strapped to it's back. Tiny's red eyes and the red sigil that both share flares brighter as he speaks.

NOTE: Tiny usually floats about 1/2" off the ground unless instructed to do otherwise.

A tall, slender, young Chelaxian man in black wizard's robes waves to everyone. "Hey guys, I'm Vybus and this is Max." A tiny, lithe woman with delicate butterfly wings surrounded by sparkling lights and gentle rainbow arcs flits about around the wizard, smiling at everyone in turn.

I need to set up my profile for PbP. I'll get that done shortly.

False Life: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

If you want to find your contact please make a Diplomacy or Knowledge (local) check.

"Let's go find this Allira Vandane, shall we."

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

knowlege local Vybus: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 knowlege local Max: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 I'm not sure if I remember where we can find her. Max, let's ask around. You're good at that. I'll try to help you. diplomacy Max: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 . Vybus diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

You do find Allira. She is ready to answer your questions.
"Allira, you searched. Allira, you have found. What do you want to know?"

Max asks, "How far is the shrine? Do you know anything about the cultists who were seen leaving the city, and if they were headed in the direction of the shrine?"

Rogar nods at Vybus' questions and adds one of his own:"Well met, beautiful lady... As I understand we need to recover these "tokens" made by the runelord for his blasphemous servants. Do you know what they look like? And more importantly do you know where Krune could have stored them? Our opponnets had an head start, everything you can tell us about our mission's goal could help recovering the ground we lost..."

You can make knowledge history about Thassilon´s past, Knowledge (local) or Diplomacy (gather information) for rumors on the street that may provide useful information and knowledge (religion) for information about Lissala.

knowledge(local): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

Allira will tell you the following:
"Perhaps they will arrive ahead of you. Perhaps they have been mired with obstacles. Who knows? According to our sources, the shrine lies about 100 miles west of Kaer Maga in the Wyvern Mountains, through the Ash-Blown lands. And we do not know how the tokens look like. It is just a footnote in some texts. No pictures."

Jing will learn the following: The Wyvern Mountains are home to fearsome aerial predators, such as wyverns and giants. Few expeditions travel there, so any site could have gone undiscovered.

"Guys we go there! I like surprises!"

"I do not... but I see little point in delaying at this point. We are far behind those cultists and can't afford to to bide our time I'm afraid. So let's go find this place and secure the tokens as Venture-Captain Heidmarch requested!"

I will fastforward by this evening. Any more knowledge rolls or questions?
Botting Mutahir.
KnowLocal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
KnowRel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Mutahir will know and tell you the following:
The Wyvern Mountains are home to fearsome aerial predators, such as wyverns and giants. Few expeditions travel there, so any site could have gone undiscovered.
A fellow Acadamae graduate recognized his former classmate Naroth Balam as the head Lissalan cultist leaving Kaer Maga 2 days ago. Back in Korvosa, Naroth focused so narrowly on conjuration magic that he completely forsook evocation and illusion spells-he was incapable of even using a wand or scroll of one of those schools.
The Lissalans abducted several travelers outside the city, including a dwarven merchant from Janderhoff and a Taldan noble.
Lissala is not a deity commonly worshiped among today's faithful.
She was a lawful evil Thassilonian deity of runes, fate, obedience, and the reward of service.

dotting. Never saw that this began. Will post soon.

"Well then, hostages as well. There is no time to loose. Let's go Tiny."

Tiny's deep, gravely voice rumbles.."Yes, Master." as he follows Jing Kwan out the door.

Vybus Local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 Vybus Religion: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Max Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Max Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Max says, "I can't remember anything else. Vybus?" "Nope. Let's head out."

Warpac is a typical dwarf, gruff, stout, and warlike. He carries a Dwarven double waraxe and travels in plate armor. Unusual for dwarf, he also proudly sports the holy symbol of Desna.

"Hostages, huh. These guys sound nasty to the bone. I look forward to removing their scourge from the earth. Let's go."

No skills to help in the briefing.

Your voyage is uneventful until you arrive at the valley entrance. Runoff has carried sediment from the recent excavation into a nearby stream, providing a visible path directly to the entrance for any within sight.
In the mountain valley, sparse trees sprout from cracks in the steep cliffs, bending in the direction of the constant, howling wind. Piles of scree litter the ground at the base of the cliffs. In a hollow with a muddied brook, a hole in the mountainside opens up. It was clearly excavated recently-piles of soil and rock flank the opening. A perfectly square tunnel the height of an ogre cuts through worked stone, leading to a chamber beyond. Light from within reveals muddy tracks in the dust that coats the floor of the tunnel.
Suddenly you hear an angelic voice shout in common.
" Halt, tomb robbers! You shall not enter this sacred site. One more step and you will be destroyed."
Please add your token to the map!

We are not here to rob tomb! says Barm.

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Guys I'm not much of a diplomat. Can someone else take over this?

In celestial: "We are not here to desecrate the tomb you guard, but to gather the tolkens to prevent the rise of the runelord once again"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Jing Kwan then casts Mage Armor on Tiny and himself, fishes his Ioun Torch out of his belt pouch and activates it.

Max replies, Good angel, we are certainly not tomb robbers! We are here on a greater quest to prevent an ancient great evil from rising! Vybus says, The Lyrakien tells the truth.

Max diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 Vybus aid diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

The angelic voice is to be heard again.
"You are allowed to come closer, but leave all magical items behind!"

"THAT'S not going to happen!" Warpac mutters under his breath.

"We need to keep possession of all our items to defend ourselves. The evil servants wanting to raise the Runelord are close behind if they aren't already here."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Jing Kwan whispers to Tiny, "Does the speaker sound right to you, my friend?"

Tiny concentrates for a minute, evaluating what has transpired so far...

sense motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Max politely asks, "Why must we leave all our magic items behind?

"As my friends most eloquently put, we are here to stop lissalan cultists from pillaging this tomb... they were far ahead of us... so that poses a question... did you meet them? And if so... did you let them pass?" Rogar asks leaving his sword into the scabbard but making no move to discard it.

Warpac scowls a scowl only a dwarf can aspire to. As is his habit, his ax makes a restless circuit around his body, constantly in motion, and frequently tapping objects near him, though he does seem to take care not to make contact with the other pathfinders. When he speaks he seems to punctuate with gestures or thumps from his ax, on the ground, against his shield, or off a nearby rock or tree. It would not take a skilled tracker to follow his trail. A growl escapes his lips and his eyes narrow when the cultists are mentioned.

"As a token of good faith and also because many magical items mask intentions and hide lies."
A monaic Deva appears.
"I have been lied to many times and if you want to truthful parlay, I will listen to your words. I will also ask that you will volunteer to a dweomer that will compel you to tell the truth."
If you want you can try a sense motive check.
Jing thinks the deva is telling the truth.

sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Warpac had run into too many shape shifters and folks not what they represent themselves to be to trust this thing to cast a spell on him. Nope, not Warpac.

Warpac just grunts and grips his weapon more tightly. In fact he will touch his butterfly shaped holy symbol and call upon the blessing of his deity, Desna, to fortify his armor - just in case. (i.e. sacred armor), figuring that if it is evil that will provoke it to attack and stop this nonsense.

"Of course I will submit. I have nothing to hide and time is wasting." Jing Kwan then turns to Tiny and says.."This creature will cast a spell on me. You will allow it to do so, understand?"

"Yes, Master." Tiny grumbles, obviously not too happy about the command.

"Do you need all of us to get rid of our equipment? Getting in and out of a full plate suit of adamantine armor takes quite some time... and we are short on time at the moment!"

Warpac eyes Rogar's armor with unbridled lust.

"Only the magical." the angelic voice adds.

"Cast your spell on me and ask your questions. I have nothing to hide."

Jing Kwan says as he and Tiny move forward a little.

If I have to leave magical things here, then I can only go in there naked.

Oh just cast a spell! We need to enter quick!

Now all who are without magical items can try to parlay with the Monaic Deva that appears.
"Do you swear by the gods that you have no magical item on you and that you are willing to tell the truth nothing but the truth as the gods are your wittness?"

Vybus and Max remove all magic items and present themselves before the Angel. Max says, "We swear to tell the truth. Ask us anything." Vybus says, "Yes, I swear."

Barm removes all magic items and says "Yes, I swear!"