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Pathfinders you have just ascended a mountain trail to meet with Old Pak in the Broken Temple, one of many recently discovered archaeology sites that litter the northern slopes of the Kullan Die mountain range in Dtang Ma on Tian Xia.
Your climb has allow you the chance to get to know a little about the assembled team.
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The half-elf seems to enjoy the climb, though he's not terribly proficient at mountaineering. "It's been a while since I've had to use these skills," he says softly.
He wears a shadowy cloak with runes on it, and around his neck is holy symbol of an eye with a crescent-moon pupil. He carries a bow and rapier and moves with swiftness and grace.
Enora, a small female halfling in fine robes looks at all of you with interest.
She walks very fast in your direction "Oh I am very sorry for being late!!! But now ... I am here!! My name is Enora. I assume we are all professionals here so some hard Pathfinder business will not be a problem, right???!! Might be a good chance to get to know each other. I am from Rahadoum originally and am quite interested in magical phenomena - I hope to have your support in uncovering the secrets of this wonderful world. And I am quite optimistic that we will be successful!" she says cheerfully.
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The elf-lady that accompanies the group introduces herself as Ansha, and she looks far too delicate for mountaineering, though she weathers the hardship without complaint. Tall and slender, the elf woman is achingly beautiful, with long pale blond hair that writhes about in the wind like a flag in a storm. She is dressed in a green bodice and underbust corset, a matching long-slit skirt, black leather boots and lacy fingerless opera gloves.
A sword at her belt and a staff in hand as she ascends, the elf engages enthusiastically in small talk that inevitably leads to flirtation and innuendo, and it definitely seems likely words (and invading personal spaces) are her true weapons.
"Good of you to join us, Enora," she says with an amused, crooked smile as the halfling joins them on the trail to the Broken Temple. "And I thought I had a bad habit of sleeping in."
The elf winks at Enora. "I'm Ansha, by the way. Ran into a man from Rahadoum once in the market at Absalom. Told me I had the most captivating smile."
Ansha turns the smile in question on the halfling. "But enough about me. You were telling us how you came all the way from Rahadoum just to see some musty old ruins full of magical lore."
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Kalangkang is a young human male dressed in a blue cape with a hood on his head. Based on his attitude and dress it is obvious that he is from a wealthy family. An experienced observer can notice that he is quite awkward.
He approaches the other Pathfinder and introduces himself, "Hello there! I am Kalangkang! I hope this climb will end soon because I'm already very tired."
Oh, and you Enora, you also like magic?
Sitting on his shoulder, a small Imp smiles.
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A brazier wafts the scent of tobacco throughout this intricate shrine. A hunched over old Tian-Dtang man inhales these fragrances, giggling to himself as he does so. Amid his laughter, he looks up with watery eyes and exclaims, “This cool mountain air does not agree with me! Greetings, I am Old Pak.” The elderly Pak stands to the sound of several arthritic pops, and he hobbles between the room’s four large bas-reliefs.
“As you see, these images tell a tale, and until recently, these carvings were thought to solely chronicle the exploits of the folk hero, Ankilhi. Look here at the north carving; we see two efreet overcoming a shaitan, but look past them to the background. Here, we see a lumbering colossus crushing several foes. Look now at the east carving, particularly at the weapon the efreeti figure in the foreground wields—do you see the crystalline spike in his fiery grasp? Do you see him luring the giant colossus to this ring of fire? Come now, gather around the southern image, where we see that same crystalline spike driven into the colossus, pinning it against a cavern wall. Odd though, in the previous two carvings the carnage did not take place within a cavern—could the ring of fire depict a portal?”
Scratching the few whiskers on his wrinkled chin, Old Pak gestures toward the western carving, illustrating a towering old man turning a woman away from a snow-capped mountain, a heap of fire-blackened armor in the woman’s arms. Old Pak interjects, “If we are to take these carvings as a complete story, perhaps the spike is hidden within that snow-capped mountain, and perhaps this tall figure is a guardian spirit keeping the folk hero, Ankilhi, away from the spike’s resting place inside that peak.”
Before Pak continues, a shrill whistle startles him. “Ah, tea, anyone?” With renewed vigor, Old Pak straightens as he moves to retrieve a boiling kettle in the corner of the room. With a practiced expertise, he pours several cups of luminous, spinach-hued fluid, steaming with the profound scent of medicine. “Here, drink this; you’ll need strength in your bones.” Taking a draught, Pak’s wrinkled face turns to a smile as he puts the tea down. “Where were we? Ah, yes...
“As you know, the Pathfinder Society acquired a precious stone called the Untouchable Opal, a nigh-unbreakable gem that imprisons the benevolent elemental lord of air, Ranginori. Despite our best efforts, the Society has failed to break open this gem and liberate the lord within. The Society has learned of a powerful weapon, forged at the core of the elemental Plane of Earth. This weapon, known as Fossilblight, is capable of shattering many materials. Legends suggest Fossilblight was stolen from its shaitan creators and banished from the elemental planes.” Finishing his tea with an amused look, Old Pak points to the carvings and offers, “What if that crystalline spike is Fossilblight? What if that fiery ring opened a portal deep within that snow-capped mountain and the final resting place of Fossilblight is here within the Kullan Dei mountain range?”
An impossibly wide grin stretches across Old Pak’s face. “Only one way to find out!”
Pak produces a large map marked with a trail from the Broken Temple to the summit of a nearby snowcapped mountain called Toam Puong. Before his smile recedes, Old Pak inquires, “So, would you like some tea?”
Born into a community of rice farmers, Ankilhi possessed a beneficent morality not often seen in common folk. During her time tending the rice paddies, she heard the kami’s call, and under their guidance she abandoned her paddy to become a hero.
Known for her 68 great deeds, which included slaying great beasts, acts of kindness, and unifying the people against a common enemy, Ankilhi is a local folk hero. She traveled the Hero’s Path that ascends toward Toam Puong and was later honored with the construction of the Broken Temple.
To travel the Hero’s Path pays homage to Ankilhi’s 67th deed, which saw the hero ascend Toam Puong to cleanse the world of the nefarious graveknight, Pnao Kilnak. Ankilhi sought to dispose of the graveknight’s remains within the volcano’s molten core. However, for unknown reasons, the spirit that guarded the mountain turned her away.
The kami responsible for turning Ankilhi away is a powerful jinushigami known as “Old Man Mountain.” Aware of a dormant threat within Toam Puong, the kami feared that bringing Pnao’s remains within proximity of this monstrosity could have dire consequences. The kami directed Ankilhi toward the nearby smoldering peak of Mount Pho-Yim, where she forged Pnao’s remains into a tetsubo in Yamatsumi’s honor, thus completing her 68th and final deed.
Fossilblight is a heavy pick, tempered at the center of the elemental Plane of Earth, and it is made of adamantine and diamond.
Forged to aid Sultana Ashadieeyah bint Khalid’s forces in her quest for vengeance against the efreet, the weapon was gifted to a renowned shaitan general.
The nameless general grew overconfident, and in his hubris he lost the weapon in a battle with the efreet. Adding to the general’s shame, the efreeti thieves dubbed the pick “Fossilblight.”
To atone for his everlasting shame, the nameless general volunteered his soul to power a construct that wheeled forth to crush the efreeti outpost of Lavaloch. However, news soon returned that efreeti forces had lured the general away from the Elemental Planes and used Fossilblight to trap the great construct on the Material Plane.
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Ansha moves to study the old map. "So what is your interest in Ankhili, Pak? Is it her connection to the Broken Temple?" The elven enchantress breaks off her line of questioning at the offer of tea--"Oh, yes, please." Taking the offered cup, she takes a sip and continues, "I take it that we'll be following the Hero's Path, then?"
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"I have heard of this Fossilblight. Word of it has reached the First World, even. I came across it in a library in Anophaeus, the great city at the base of Imbrex. Near the god's left ankle, I think it was. The weapon is a heavy pick, forged in the Plane of Earth of adamantine and diamond. A nameless Shaitan general was gifted it to defeat the efreet, but grew overconfident and lost the weapon in battle. It was the efreeti who named the weapon, mocking the Shaitan - the 'fossil'."
The half-elf sips some tea.
"The story matches the carvings, Pak. The weapon in the possession of the efreeti, and a diamond pick could well be represented as a crystalline spike."
He thinks.
"I have had some noteworthy missions for the Society, but recovering a legendary weapon such as this... that would be something to remember."
”Oh Kalangkang and Ansha! You are so kind and welcoming! I ... I have to admit that I am quite interested in magic! More so than the typical Rahadoumi should be ... I have witnessed the power of the gods of magic and the artifacts that were built under their guidance. I ... I am reluctant to return to my family ... they would not understand my choices. What about you? What is your story?!“
”You are very knowledgeable! I have nothing to add!“ she says smiling.
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"Did you know that to travel the Hero’s Path pays homage to Ankilhi’s 67th deed, which saw the hero ascend Toam Puong to cleanse the world of the nefarious graveknight, Pnao Kilnak. Ankilhi sought to dispose of the graveknight’s remains within the volcano’s molten core. However, for unknown reasons, the spirit that guarded the mountain turned her away. "
"The kami responsible for turning Ankilhi away is a powerful jinushigami known as “Old Man Mountain.” Aware of a dormant threat within Toam Puong, the kami feared that bringing Pnao’s remains within proximity of this monstrosity could have dire consequences. The kami directed Ankilhi toward the nearby smoldering peak of Mount Pho-Yim, where she forged Pnao’s remains into a tetsubo in Yamatsumi’s honor, thus completing her 68th and final deed. "
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Wembly is young for a gnome. He is casually dressed, in clothes that do not seem to fit, and maybe have been slept in more than once too often. His hair is badly in need of a comb, but he seems oblivious to his appearance while his eyes dart back and forth from his strange green cat, to the sky and back. His mind is definitely not focused on the here and now, as he smiles caught in his own thoughts.
So sorry. I am late. Overslept actually. I was visiting the Sanos forest and well...um. Sorry, I am here now. Oh and this is Whiskers.
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Old Pak serves Ansha some tea, Ankilhi? A girl, a hero—she is both. Yes, this temple around us honors her. I know little of the affairs of the elemental planes and their ties to a girl from Dtang Ma, but a great planar war must have waged, and the vanquished banished to our world. Find out more of Ankilhi, if you wish, I'm sure there are lessons to be learned in her story. But as far as the Society is concerned, we seek only Fossilblight.
He pours some tea for Ranalus and agrees with his assessment Yes, yes, ha ha.
He pours some tea for Wyran, and looks toward Kalangkang as he speaks, Now! this one knows things, very good. He nods at Wyran as well.
Travel the Hero’s Path and retrace Ankilhi’s journey to rid the world of evil. Whatever iron entity she held in her arms must have been her downfall. Succeed where she failed, and the spirit shall grant you access into Toam Puong. Old Man Mountain, yes!
He looks to the late arriving gnome, Seems you've arrived at precisely the right time. ha ha.
Old Pak looks to Kalangkang, Wembley, and Enora. Now what about you do you? Want some tea as well? Perhaps a bowl of it for the kitty?
"Tea, tea, tea! Yes yes!" says little imp on Kalankangs sholder.
”This is a truly exciting challenge! I am looking forward to finding this artifact and inspecting it’s magical properties. Hopefully, we can really use it to destroy the gem and free the elemental lord of air!“ she says smiling.
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Old Pak finds a small teacup and gives some tea to the imp, his own grin matching the little devils. Then he sits down to rest on one of the pillows. As you begin to prepare to leave, Old Pak stays seated on his pillow slurping his tea and taking long pulls from his tobacco pipe. A satisfied grin on his face, he waits until he starts to feel some impatience in the group before speaking again.
Ready to leave then, I have this for you. He says as he produces a scroll tube containing a scroll of communal protection from energy and a scroll of comprehend languages.
After that Old Pak leads you to a little used path a short ways away from the temple. Well off ya go bring me back an artifact, haha. Looking back you can see him watching you as you go smoke rising from his pipe into the mountain air.
Once on the trail, you travel further up the mountain range toward Toam Puong. After several hours, you crest the mountain’s cloud layer and arrive at a gate, a tori-style arch. Beyond this gate the world is calm with melodic bird songs piercing the mountain air. The vistas from this height are remarkable, as you look back down toward the valleys to the north you spy what you believe are several uncharted ruins peeking out from the forested mountainside’s northern slopes. To the south rests what might be a small nagaji village teeming with activity.
”Tea is always welcome!“ Enora says and sips.
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After the party has all left, Ranalus comments, "One should be careful. The last mission I was on, we were served poisoned drinks and desserts. I abstained from any such food, as I had my suspicions, but some of my companions were not so lucky. The assassins paid dearly but we made it too quick and painless in my mind, considering their betrayal of hospitality.
I had a good feeling about Old Pak, though."
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Wembly stops at Ranalus' comment.
Wait. Do you think there could be anything wrong with this tea? I could not tell. It tasted good to me. And I thought Old Pak was nice. I thought he said it was magical tea. But can something be magical and poisonous at the same time? Or can the poison be magical..you know like the poison spell? Should I drink an antitox potion? I am starting to feel funny. Is it hot in here?
Wembly starts counting his heart beats and blinking his eyes quickly and slowly while holding his breath.
After a minute he stops as he runs out of breath.
Oh well, I guess if it was poison I might be dead already. Or if we all died already would we still be able to talk and travel together...but you know, like but dead? But together?
He starts daydreaming while riding Whiskers to the next destination. Fortunately the green winged cat seems to roll its eyes and follows the others.
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Ranalus smirks at the gnome. "Should I die, I will be transported to Nighthold, in the First World. To serve in the court of Count Ranalc. I am Feysworn. But what duties would I do for a god that nobody has heard from in four thousand years? And you are a child of the First World yourself, so perhaps we would walk together again."
He continues, "But no, I had a good feeling about Old Pak. I do not believe he poisoned us."
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Wembly smiles and responds to Ranalus....in Sylvan
ඉන්න? ඇත්තටම? අපට පළමු ලෝකයට යා හැකිද? විස්කර්ස් කොහෙද යන්නේ ... මම ගෙදර යවන විට. කූල්.
Wait? Really? We could go to the First World? That is where Whiskers goes...when I send him home. Cool. I am glad we are not poisoned though.
Wembly smiles uneasily as he observes his fellow travelers.
Ok, better stop talking. I think you may be freaking the others out. Again.
So are we there yet?
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Ranalus walks along quietly. He listens to Ansha, thinks, and then responds.
"Of all the gods there are, Ansha, this one called to me. He loved the nymph Nyrissa, and bestowed a fraction of his grace and power on her. His fellow Eldest rejected her, and betrayed him. For the 'crime' of his love for Nyrissa, he was banished. There is such a story in my family's past, as for more than a few half-elves. But though many believe the Count long dead, he grants power and blessings still. Including wards against betrayal... and gifts to explore this world and the First World."
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As you stand at the gate you are ready to cross over and continue on the path. You deduce that the arch signals the beginning of the “Hero’s Path".
This sacred gate is a metaphorical border between the mortal and spirit realm. Once you transcend this barrier they must show proper reverence to tradition and follow the rules of the trail beyond, or they risk offending the guardian of the entire mountain range, the jinushigami Old Man Mountain.
Embedded within the gate are several prayer wheels.
You surmise that this gate is dedicated to the hero Ankilhi. The dedication warns those seeking to proceed further that they must honor Ankilhi as they retrace her steps to visit with a figure referred to only as “Old Man Mountain.”
The prayer wheels provide a brief history of Ankilhi’s deeds, especially her victory over the graveknight Pnao Kilnak.
A worn engraving carved into one of the prayer wheels provides advice which surprisingly reads in Common: “Pay the proper respect to Old Man Mountain, as flattery wins you his way.”
Enora points at the arch.
”Team, the sacred gate is a metaphorical border between the mortal and spirit realm. Once we transcend this barrier we must show proper reverence to tradition and follow the rules of the trail beyond, or risk offending the guardian of the entire mountain range, the jinushigami Old Man Mountain. So is anybody well versed in these traditions?!“
”Oh look! A worn engraving carved into one of the prayer wheels provides advice which surprisingly reads in Common: “Pay the proper respect to Old Man Mountain, as flattery wins you his way.” What does that mean?!“
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Ansha frowns, looking at the prayer-wheels' unknown languages. Not turning as she addresses Enora, she says, "If I had to guess, I'd say it meant that we need to show respect as we travel the trail. I'm not sure if Old Man Mountain is anything more than an old legend, but maybe if we get too far from the Path we'll fall prey to nature? Anyone familiar with local customs?"
She returns her emerald gaze to Ranalus. "Anyway, that sounds like a fascinating legend itself, Ranalus. Who is this 'Nyrissa'? She must've been quite exceptional even for a nymph, to catch the attention of a fey lord, no?"
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After entering the gate, you travel about a mile until you reach the tree line, where the mountain’s vegetation recedes and is replaced by mineral hot springs, steam vents, and craggy terrain spotted with vibrant wild flowers. An impressive set of broad stone stairs winds around several natural hot springs on a steep slope.
The stairs are numerous, in fact there seems to be 68 stairs here, one for each of Ankilhi’s heroic deeds. Each of the stair’s risers bears an inscription in Dtang, Nagaji, and Tien. The inscriptions provide a brief context of each deed, followed by the phrase, “name this deed.”
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"Hmm... do the deeds have particular names that are typically used when referring to Ankilhi? Is the 67th called 'The Ascent of Toam Puong'? Or perhaps 'Approaching Yamatsumi'? Is the 68th called 'Forging the Tetsubo' or 'Honoring Yamatsumi' or 'The Fate of Pnao'? It seems likely that we are to call out the name of each deed as we ascend the stairs, but I do not know the proper names."
Ranalus turns to the aasimar. "Wyran, you speak the language, do you know the right phrases?"
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But...um...what of the prayer wheels? Do we spin those and only step on those particular stairs? Or call out out the phrase on those stairs specifically? This is very interesting...a puzzle almost.
Wembly looks up the stairs and considers flying to the top on Whiskers.
That would be quicker. But don't be silly, then we would not find out the riddle of the stairs...and it seems like it would not be reverent.
But thinks better of it.
Impy imp also looks at the stairs in more detail hoping to notice something else.
Enora looks a little bored.
”I am also fascinated by puzzles and by magical phenomena but I have to admit that I do not see anything that helps us to understand what we have to do so maybe we just use common sense and continue on this path with the hero in mind!“ she says and starts walking the path.
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Ranalus notices a pair of slight indentations upon each of the stair’s treads, as if prior visitors have knelt upon each step.
After that revelation, Enora reasons out that they must ascend Ankilhi’s 68 steps, prostrating themselves on each tread while deciphering the accompanying inscription and reciting the alluded-to deed.