[AP] The Shackled City Adventure Path by GM Rutseg (Inactive)

Game Master Balacertar

"Oh g-gosh...I d-don't really know," Marigold admits. "It s-seemed big to m-me, but most things do you kn-know," she adds with a wan smile. "And d-dreams don't always exactly m-match reality, either. Wh-when and if we find that p-place...I think I'll kn-know it no matter how b-big or small it is..."

"Just so long as we have a happier ending than those dreams you told us about, Marigold, I reckon we ought not complain."

Kikinnin looks Ryan over, as morning rouses them to action. "Armor's looking better, praise Abadar. Can't have your shell half-cracked going into the next Test."

He turns to the others, as they ready to head out. "Who wants to bear the Lantern?" He pointedly does not look at Kaurophon as he asks the question.

"D-do you want me to? I'm armored enough to b-be up near the front and it'd let the r-rest of you still b-be able to fight like you n-need to," Marigold offers.

Kikinnin nods his approval. "You'll be within ear-grabbing distance of JJ, too. Sounds good to me." The black beard takes his place nearby of Kaurophon, so keeping eyes on the half-fiend is easy enough as they proceed onward.

"Why would she want to... hey..." asks the initially curiouis JJ.

"Anyway.... With that armor on, I'm not sure she could reach my ears."

The oppresive nature of the plane however means that even JJ quickly settles back into a subdued mood, rather than engaging in any horse-play.

Thought that always seems to end up with me being the one with soot on my face..

Once you are ready you start walking once more. The landscape slowly changes, leaving the celestial debris at your back while you get into a large extension of plains. “These are the flats. Herds of fiendish creatures and thunder beasts roam here. Make no mistake, while fierce, they are tame compared to the hunters." explains Kaurophon "It might take us days to traverse the flat lands, the food basket of Occipitus. I suggest we find a furrow so we can travel unnoticed. That might take us some time and lose the guidance of the lantern. What would you prefer? To look for cover even if that means a detour or to ensure we follow the beam of light?"

JJ looks around at the others. "While I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary fights... losing the guidance of the light while we are being tested doesn't sound like the best of decisions to me."

He shrugs, looking at the others for their opinions.

"The Lantern should do its job, when we need to. I say we go the route that keeps us under cover. Delays from travel, or delays from battle, either way, we need to know that each step we take on the plains is one step closer to the next Test."

Kikinnin turns back to Kaurophon. "You didn't see any other challengers approaching the First Test, is that right? From what you know of the Lantern, is there another one sitting back there, for anyone who passes the Test of Judgment, while we hold onto this one? Or is this all ours, until we've failed?"

"Armor's looking better, praise Abadar. Can't have your shell half-cracked going into the next Test."

"Heheh, yeah the last time could have went better, thanks to you and JJ it was only my armor that was cracked and not my head."

[i]Later as they observe the plains and listen to Kaurophon's words.

"The beam from the lantern should work for us even as we follow the fissures to remain out of sight of the local predators, however by that same token, JJ will need to be ever aware so that he doesn't blunder into one hidden by the very fissure we travel thru." Taking the lantern and walking back and forth Ryan tries to test his hypothesis, before turning back towards Kaurophan "What do you know of the hunters, not generalities but specifics. Lives, perhaps you own, depend on the information you provide. If the threat is as significant as you say." diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

"The safe route sounds good to me", says Juraan.

"Or as safe as one can be here."

"S-sounds like we're taking the s-scenic route then," Marigold shrugs, the beam of light wobbling a bit in response. "We're h-here until we succeed or d-die, so I g-guess it doesn't m-matter too much if we t-take things a bit s-slower and s-safer."

"A-anyway, what s-sort of beasts? Th-thunderbeasts? Wh-what are they like?"

"They are terrible beasts that roam around eating this strange soil of Occipitus. All the better you do not get to know them" Kaurophon makes a sign to follow him and he looks for a furrow "Let's take this way"

During the rest of the day you run unperturbed thanks to the concealment. Only for a while you hear a tremor like if there was a stampede close to your position, but the trip is quite for the rest. After another daily rest hidden on one of Maxim's Tiny Huts the group restarts walking through the furrow. Orienting yourselves with the beam is a bit more difficult from here, but besides of losing some hours you are able to advance fast through the land.

One more daily rest and you start looking at your rations with worrisome, you picked up supplies for a jungle trip and ended up going through caves, deserts, tombs and now a different plane. Despite the food shortage the next "morning" you emerge from the furrow and the beam of light directs you into a new area.

Dozens of broken weapons, shields, and the occasional bone litter the ground here. Every twenty feet or so, a translucent ovoid—like a cocoon of some kind—lies on the ground. Each has a black tube on one end that disappears into the ground at the other. Bipedal silhouettes are visible in some of the nearer ovoids.

"The Plain of Cists... why the lantern would guide us to hear?" Kaurophon frowns then explains "The essence of the slain demons was absorbed back into the Abyss almost immediately, but Occipitus still struggles to absorb the fallen celestials. Hence the cysts, each of which contains the body of a celestial or a good-aligned object."

"Some demons say that the more the cysts... 'digest' is the word, I suppose... the angels, the more good is infused into Occipitus and the more dangerous it becomes for fiends here" his voice sounds severe now "I guess we will have to walk through. The beam points directly into this direction"

Marigold shivers as she gazes upon the plains. She'd seen this place before, in one of her more recent dreams.

"The p-place from my dreams...we're g-getting closer to...s-something..." she whispers. Almost unconsciously she begins to scan the horizon, looking for the great skull and ribs that should be visible from somewhere upon these plains.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Juraan looks around too, trying to spot potential trouble more than anything else:
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

"These cysts are fallen angels?".

JJ really can't help himself. Slowly he advances on one of them, then reaches out and again tries to use his innate connection to the celestial realms to help "heal" the cyst and provide comfort to remains of the fallen angel within.

As he notes the supplies in his pack dwindling down to nought, Ryan speaks up.

"Food and Water will not be a problem, Ruphus taught me a trick that was used of old to solve long trips and rations. Abadar's graces will allow me to create a veritable feast. If somewhat bland, enough food for 25-30 people plus water. However the food will go bad in a day, yet the next day his continued grace will allow me to purify that same food that is beginning to spoil. So while after a bit you might feel were on a steady supply of gruel and hard bread, it will be an endless supply of it. Food and drink will not be a problem. "

Ryan will change out the 3rd lvl - Searing Light for Create Food and Water, also changes out Cantrip Create Water to Purify Food and Water

Kikinnin continues to march, checking on the light the Lantern sheds for them and their purpose. When Kaurophon explains the nature of the Cysts, the black beard's despair of such a fractured land deepens. The bodies of celestials, no longer living. Corpses finding their way back into the ground... but it feels like a violation. It's not true ground. It will never yield a crop, or change with the seasons. It only leeches what comes into contact with it.

Kikinnin watches with a sad interest in JJ's attempt to heal the land again, the boy's hand made to look little against the breadth of the land that extends out before them.

"The p-place from my dreams...we're g-getting closer to...s-something..."

"Food and water will not be a problem."

"Glad we don't have to harvest or hunt this wretched land. Abadar provides." Kikinnin responds to Ryan, but he keeps an eye on the halfling lass, as she speaks softly about something she recalls.

This is starting to feel like a reckoning for the miss. Something leading her to this forsaken place, giving her those premonitions. I'll not speak my concern again. I'm sure she feels it deeper than any of us. Just hope she doesn't crack under the building pressure...

Maxim raises a bushy eyebrow as Ryan takes the role of conjuring quartermaster;

"Ain't got no prayers or benedictions fir smokes or liquor do you Taskerhill. My bandolier o' stogies is almost empty an' hip flask down to drops..."

At Marigold's words the gun-mage shoots his bror a quick look of concern, then places a calloused hand gently on her shoulder;

"Somethin's better than nothin' Lil' Miss... Recollectin' anything from your dream vagaries?"

He follows the oracle's gaze trying to pick out anything untoward or unusual;

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"Bland food is better than no food!" Juraan tells Ryan.

"N-not right off...b-but there sh-should be bones somewhere...g-great ribs and a skull, j-jutting out from the ground," Marigold responds, still scanning the horizon. "I d-don't know where, they m-may be on the other s-side of these plains or j-just over the horizon. B-but in my dreams...I w-went there. Or whoever I used to b-be. To that sk-skull..."

Maxim eyes the cysts with a furrowed brow;

"Kaurophon. Ye say these here cysts hold the remains o' angels an' other good souled celestials an' such? Could it be that the remains o' whomever Lil Miss here was, or is connected to, lies here still?"

Ryan makes preparations for the party to not become starved in this strange plane of existence.

---------------------------------

JJ touches one of the Cysts, it feels like it's made of gelatin, soft and slightly quivering upon the disturbance, his healing hand seems to bring comfort to the land, but it does not seem to fix anything.

Kaurophon reflects on Maxim's words "Well, it would be interesting to better understand the connection of Marigold with Occipitus... if this is a kind of feeling that brings her here... yes you might be right, if it rather is an image of the place, then it is not probable its an image seen by one of these celestials, because all of them perished here ensemble and thus they had no opportunity to see the cysts"

Marigold and Juraan look around trying to see the Skull and any danger respectively. There is nothing to be seen, only a large array of cysts, but the skull is likely hidden behind one of the fibrous forests.
New Map of Occipitus with the areas you have likely spotted from some point or another

Shortly after you feel teleported and find yourselves back at the start of the Plain of Cysts. Kaurophon looks confused around "Wait, what was that? Are we finally within the Test of Resolve?"

The light of the lantern points towards the Plain of Cysts in a determinate direction.

New map for the Plain of Cysts.
Because the squares here are 15' I have decided to just place there the token of Marigold as the lantern bearer.

Marigold stumbles, thrown off by the sudden teleportation, but manages to catch herself before she tumbles to the ground.

"Wh-that was st-strange! There w-wasn't anything around at all, so wh-who or what trans-p-ported us??" she gasps, looking around. "D-do you think the m-mummy guy will sh-show up again or do we get a new p-proctor for this one?"

"Wait, what was that? Are we finally within the Test of Resolve?"

Kikinnin steadies himself as the land suddenly shifts back to something just visited.

"Why would you say that, half-fiend? Something just sent us back to the outskirts of the Plain, like the mummy did, when we didn't do what he wanted." The black beard looks around, warily, but his gaze always returns to Kaurophon.

"Perhaps that means the test will revolve around the plain and the words of Adimarcus, let's see they were something to the effect of 'deal with your rivals first and then deal with your enemies.'. Does anyone else have a better recollection?"

As they have been turned back to the plain once again Ryan will take a moment to inspect the nearest cyst.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 and heal: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

why would celestials bleed black?

"What is this 'Test of Resolve?'" asks JJ of Kaurophon.

"Maybe I wasn't paying attention before, but I don't think I have heard of it before you mentioned it."

To Kikinnin he nods "But if so, then what it is that we are not doing? And if so, these tests seem to be designed to get us used to following someone elses orders... and I worry about that here in the abyss..."

"I g-guess we're supposed to keep trying to f-follow the lantern," Marigold suggests. "B-but I'm sure there's some sort of t-trick to it, m-maybe to do with that r-remark about rivals and enemies. Either way, we w-won't know until we t-try it."

"I thought we were following the Lantern." Kikinnin looks over Marigold, as she holds the Lantern toward the Plain of Cysts. "You seeing something different, for holding it?"

When the boy questions Kaurophon, Kikinnin takes reassurance that his companion also senses that the half-fiend is holding out on them. "JJ's right. You spoke about three parts to the Test of the Smoking Eye. We've got 'Judgment', now 'Resolve'? What's the third part, and what else do you know, and you're not sharing?"

"N-no, I'm not," Marigold replies. "I was j-just saying that I guess we're st-still supposed to follow it b-but there seems to be some s-sort of catch or something now that we're here at these p-plains. M-maybe we did something wrong or we t-took too long standing around t-talking? I don't know."

"Well, this is a bit worrying.
Someone or something is determining out path for us."

Juraan then casts a spell: « דאַנסינג לייץ » . . "dancing lights", in terran

And sends the lights in the direction the lantern is pointing, just to see if something interesting shows up.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Maxim mulls the situation and adds his own take;

"Perhaps the resolve that's being tested is how long we suffer wanderin' in circles after a darned lantern?"

The gun-mage still clearly doubts the merits of this whole affair, but defers to those more of a righteous bent than his own mercenary outlook;

"Still think we're being played here... I got me some ammunition fir my pistol that illuminates like a flare... Could fire one up an' see what comes sniffin'? Maybe these shadowy rivals we're bein' pitted against?"

JJ looks at the cysts. "Maybe it didn't like me trying to provide comfort. Though how that relates to resovle I don't understand."

A determined look crosses his face. "But here... here is somewhere I can make a difference. I just know it. "

He looks from watcher to watcher, his face unusually serious. "You re the family I never knew. Marigold - you're my sister from the orphenage, and Kikinnin is kind of like a father figure - stern and providing direction."

He fumbles with his words, a little unsure about where he is heading.

"Look, all of you, even Marigold, at least you knew your families - even if you no longer have them.." he glances at Ryan. "Or perhaps don't want at least one of your cousins." Another pause. "But I never knew mine... no memories anyway. Just uncle Alex. And sometimes... sometimes I kind of wondered 'why...why was I even born?'."

A sigh comes out of the lads lips. "And these last few months... I've found a talent... for killing.. it's not one I'm that comfortable with to be honest. But also..." he looks down at his hands. "For healing."

Then standing up and looking around. "This place. It's not Cauldron. But here... here my talents make sense. I CAN make a difference. My blood... well, we already know about Grandmother. Maybe my connection there can actually help heal this place. It can certainly provide some comfort. And my talent for killing... well, here at least it would seem there are a lot of horrid things the world...plane..whatever could do without."

Kikinnin raises both eyebrows in synchronicity, as JJ speaks on family, but he finds nothing objectionable in the boy's words, until his last.

"What are you saying, exactly? You mean to spend your better years roaming these Plains, killing where you can, healing when you're able? You understand the size of that task?" Kikinnin doesn't, exactly, but he looks over the Plains, and sees no end in sight.

"I don't mean to diminish the worth of Occipitus, but something tells me you're destined for greater things, JJ. We need to make the acquaintance of the Cagewrights, eventually."

Ryan departs to examine a cyst while the others talk.

Kaurophon looks back at JJ "I know nothing else about the other two parts of the Test. You were talking these past days about what happened in the Cathedral. I do not remember who said that, but I heard you mentioned the proctor said something about go and face the 'Test of Resolve'. So my guess is just that. We should be in that test right now" he then turns to listen Kikinnin "That is all I know. Perhaps we just should walk through the plain walking over the cysts or whatever else we cross about. That is true resolve"

The plane walker turns then as Ryan suddenly appears back next to Marigold after some seconds away from the group while you were talking.

"Perhaps even though that is a mighty task you wish to take on JJ, and would require quite a bit of resolve to see it through, we should follow the lantern upon the path it provides us. There may be yet another Test of Resolve for us to solve. Besides weren't you just wondering about getting back to Sarah? "

JJ shugs at Ryan. "Yes. This is certaily no place for her. " He gestures around the cysts helplessly.

His attention returns to Kikinnin "But think how long the land remains of these dead angels have lain here, resisting the corruption of Occipitus? "

He keeps shaking his head. "I guess we just follow the lantern. That was what we were told to do. But before we leave this place I want to return here. There must be something we can do to .... make this less wrong."

He gestures to Marigold. "When Ryan got too far from the lantern he vanished. Maybe we have to stay close to it. Not sure what that has to do with resolve though."

"I d-don't know either but we're not going to get anywhere by st-standing around talking," Marigold declares, trying to sound resolute. "S-sometimes talking is good and s-sometimes you just have to j-jump in with both f-feet. Let's t-try moving forward together and s-see what happens if we all st-stay close to the lantern."

"But think how long the land remains of these dead angels have lain here, resisting the corruption of Occipitus?"

"Feels uncomfortable setting my thoughts on that, JJ. If the balance of corruption can be tipped like a panner's scale, then maybe by finishing this set of Tests, you'll be able to influence the evil of the land. Possible, I wonder."

"I d-don't know either but we're not going to get anywhere by st-standing around talking..."

Kikinnin nods. "Lead the way, miss Marigold." The black beard stays close to Kaurophon, while trying to stay close to Marigold and the Lantern.

JJ jumps ahead, staying in front of Marigold as much as he can without getting too far ahead. His eyes though... they are constantly straying to the cysts that mark the grave of a fallen celestial.

"Let us hope so Kikinnin. Though if angels couldn't save this place, I'm not sure how much chance mere morals like us have."

Assuming Marigold follows Kikinnin's encouragement

After walking ahead one hundred feet the lantern beam suddenly turns pointing to the left.

A nearby cyst seems to contain a glowing, golden longsword. Deeper into the cyst, the glint of other metallic objects beckons.
See the map for the cyst with the sword location.
Remember each square are 15'

"That is odd." notes JJ.

"It is like the cyst formed around the blade rather than around a fallen angel. Or maybe the sword belonged to an angel?"

He shakes his head.

"Odd that it has not disolved. Maybe it too resists the corruption that is everywhere in this place."

His eyes light up for a moment.
"You know in Episode 3 of the "Holy Chronicles", Sir Perivale took to the horrid Ur-Ghast Krinzathor with a holy sword. I wonder if that could be one of them..."

Kikinnin's eyes open wide, as a cyst reveals a weapon that glows gold. "Is this the Test, then? Are we being tempted by well-forged weapons now? I can understand the Test a little more, if that's what's afoot. We're supposed to stay on the path, eh? We stray, we start over, I gather."

The black beard considers for a moment. It doesn't feel like greed to him, the desire to wrest the blade from its blight. The whole Plain is blasphemy, and he sees Abadar's instructions to forge law from chaos. Chaos is winning here. For now.

"Miss Marigold, would you hold on for a moment? Stay on the path, and I'll try for the sword. If we get bounced back again, at least we haven't traveled too far."

Kikinnin steps towards the sword cyst, and if he makes it there, he cuts it open, and hopes that it isn't some trick of the eyes, this golden 'chalice'.

"Agreed it is odd, yet much of what we've seen here was not as it appeared. Remember the various looks the cathedral gave us. Also you've had a bit of trouble with pretty things not being what you thought."

Ryan cautions, eyeing the lanterns path versus the deviation for the sword.

"We left the path before, should we chance leaving once again?"

Marigold nods as Kikinnin makes his suggestion. "I th-think you might be right. T-temptations to see if we'll st-stay the course or not...if this is the T-Test of Resolve, that makes s-sense."

She remains on the path, watching as Kikinnin decides to test his theory and makes for the golden sword. "If he g-gets warped back to the start or if we all d-do, then we'll h-have our answer!"

Maxim's eyes glitter at the prospect of so much lucrative weaponry;

"Temptation it may be... Also might be a test o' how much we can carry out'o this here place... 'Sides my resolve fir doin' right by Occipitus, when it's light on re-ward, is also bein' sorely tested..."

The gun-mage scans deeper into the cyst attempting to discern any of the other items;

"We can see the blade... wonder what other treasures await?"

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

"Can't take too many chances in a place like this!", Juraan says and casts a spell: « זען ומזעיק » . . "see invisibility", in terran

(lasts for 80 minutes)

Juraan will then look at the goody-laden cyst, thinking it's definitely too good to be true!
Focusing on any invisible creatures that might be lying in wait:
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

"Too true, Juraan. No doubt this place is filled with deception. Sharp eyes, so we don't fall to traps or lures." Kikinnin continues his action, not exactly sure what to expect.

Ryan remains standing guard against the unknown while Kikinnin investigates the cyst and Maxim decides if the test of Resolve can turn a profit.

Sorry all been preoccupied with the snow storm that hit the area, GM hope you enjoyed your time away