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How many stairs was that?
The dwarf grimaced as he finally reached the proper floor of Starrise Spire. He never felt comfortable being so high above the ground. Just didn't seem too natural to him. The lodge in Nerosyan was the largest he'd seen -- save for the Grand one in Absalom -- and he stood and marveled at the architecture.
"Look at that, I'm the first one here. That can't be right."
In the distance, a conversation just might prove him wrong.
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A smiley gnome sits herself down at your table. "Hi, I'm Prisim. Gosh, it is so exciting being up here, with the world-wound just a short distance away. I bet my friend Apollyanna is around here somewhere. Have any of you seen her?"
Nerosyan is divided into several districts, though the local crusaders often group smaller districts together. The four amalgamated districts include the Egelsee District to the southeast, Confluence District to the southwest, Woundward District to the northwest, and Battle District to the northeast.
Considered the heart of Nerosyan, the Cruciform Cathedral is the center of Iomedaean worship in the city. Acting as a tactical command center, the cathedral allows crusaders to quickly move about the city via the interior walls that section off the city.
Battle Tower: The northernmost point of the city is the most likely to weather an assault by land. Earthen revetments surround three layers of nested towers, making the tower the most heavily fortified site in Mendev.
Confluence Tower:[b] Confluence Tower is geared towards defending Nerosyan from attacks across the two rivers that meet at its base. The tower has held its own through several riparian attacks from Dread Barges and other Abyssal craft that periodically swarm up from the Sarkora River. At its base is the Crusader’s Quay, a set of military wharves that offer shelter for the small crusader navy in ingenious covered slips.
[b]Egelsee Tower: Located at the eastern point of the Nerosyan diamond, Egelsee tower serves a second purpose as a rapid-response staging area for Nerosyan’s cavalry, which can ride out at a moment’s notice through special large-scale sally ports built into its outer walls.
[b]Woundward Tower:[b] Almost completely surrounded by the West Sellen river, the Woundward Tower defends the city against aerial assaults. The tower bristles with spyglasses that scan the skies, as well as the most advanced siege engines and the best archers in Nerosyan. The city’s wardstone is housed in this tower, as close to the border as possible.
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A young half-orc with a heavily scarred visage and brightly-polished scale mail hesitates at the doorway; the holy symbol of Shelyn over his heart definitely received the most attention. Despite the polish, the armor has clearly seen some use, as has the glaive he carries. His tousled black hair might look casually sexy on someone else, but his craggy face and lightning-bolt nose, combined with stumpy yellowed tusks, makes him appear more like a hobo. Only the shine on his armor denotes him as anything else.
His small brown eyes dart around the room, looking uncertainly at everyone. "I-is this...? That is, I think... erm... I think I'm in the right place...?"
He sidles over to the side of the doorway and leans against the wall, arms crossed, face broadcasting his discomfort.
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"Well.." says Prisim.
"Nerosyan’s 20-foot-thick walls form a straight-edged diamond, in part the reason the city holds the title 'the Diamond of the North.'" she enthuses.
Pathfinder activities in Nerosyan operate out of the Starrise Spire, which is led by Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury. Jorsal is a pious man and a skilled combatant; he’s believed to have made no fewer than 50 missions into the Worldwound in search of artifacts for the Society.
While Jorsal officially oversees Pathfinder Society operations in the area, there is a second venture-captain in Nerosyan who’s in charge or a second lodge—a nononsense dwarf by the name of Thurl. Covered in tattoos and piercings, Thurl operates undercover as the leader of a mercenary company, and he handles far fewer noble missions for the Society than does his colleague.
There have been rumors among Pathfinders that Venture-Captain Thurl has not been entirely honest in his dealings with the Decemvirate. A group of Pathfinders who recently finished a mission in Numeria were then sent to review the work of the dwarf and his agents, but those Pathfinders have not been heard from in months.
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Lybram has the look of a woodsman wearing studded leather and traveling clothes with a promenant feather being that of his his necklace of a bow and arrow, the holy symbol of Erastal. He has a pack hanging from one shoulder and a finely made battle axe in the hand of the other.
"Well, I am here just coming from Corylen in Cheliax. I believe that is how you say it. I am originally from a small community in Isgar. I have never been this far north before."
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The buzz of excitement in the air can almost be tasted. Gossip swirls back and forward, each time getting wilder!
The Worldwound is infested with demons. Evil and destructive creatures, demons are native to the Abyss, though they can be summoned by means of magic. Many of the demons within the Worldwound emerged from the rift at the center of the region.
The demonic hosts are kept somewhat in line by powerful overlords known as demon lords. The exact number of demon lords is unknown, but many such creatures are revered on Golarion. Each demon lord has a portfolio, similar to that of a deity; however, most demon lords lack many of the powers a true god possesses.
"Ohh... I think I see Poly over there, I'll be back in a jiffy.. You guys should totally get to know each other. Who knows when you'll be working as a team on some exotic assignment." suggests the gnome.
Oddly enough, her hair seems to actually change colour as she darts off toward a tall figure in shining armour who has seated herself near a table groaning with food.
“Fellow Pathfinders, I am Jorsal of Lauterbury, Venture-Captain of Nerosyan. I welcome you to the Starrise Spire and bid you to find a seat and speak with the other guests. Once everyone is comfortably seated, I will get to the point of this great gathering.”
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Argus shakes his head as he comes back with a heaping plate of food. "I know little, only that there was an open call for as many Pathfinders as were available. Considering where we are, I thought maybe I could be of use."
He then starts into the huge pile, but is surprisingly dainty as he eats, taking care not to make a mess. His tusks make this a particularly difficult venture, but he does his best.
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Kinosis finally makes her way up to the meeting room. "Quite a trek that is. Glad they have a weapon storage at the entrance."
The half-elf walks over to the table with everyone else and has a seat. Her scale mail shines as if it had been freshly polished and the holster going around her back suggest the weapon she carries was made for a two handed grip. Strangely, at her side is a small harp hanging from a makeshift holster.
"My name is Kinosis. What have I missed?"
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A tall, blonde haired elf with purple eyes and holding a wine goblet along with a fist-sized brick of orange cheese walks up to the table and takes a seat. He is wearing an olive drab robe
"Good evening, my fellow Pathfinders. I am Xusius Xometh, and I have been assigned to zis table for zis feast. I apologize for being zo late, but my ship from Absalom only docked an hour ago. Ze journey was delayed by a storm at zee."
His ears twitch as he drinks deeply from the goblet and motions to a waitress for a refill.
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"Oh I've seen a demon or two before.." sighs Prisim.
"Ugly things. Shelyn knows why she lets them live here. But we are supposed to find beauty in everything. Just between you and me... I've not found any in a demon yet. But maybe that is why they havn't accepted my application to become a paladin yet."
Or maybe it is just that Prisim, ever-changing hair aside, is perhaps the scrawniest individual that anyone at the table has ever seen. Her arms look like they would not be able to lift even a small longsword, let alone wield it while wearing armor.
"Anyone been on an interesting mission recently?"
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"I don't believe we were required to check them in but I'd feel a bit foolish trying to sit here and leave my glaive laying about against a wall or by my chair." says Kinosis toward Lybram.
Hearing Prisim finish she says "I too am a follower Shelyn. While I have not seen a demon myself I do believe there is an art to battle and war and the rage that you can feel burning inside you during said things. It makes me feel alive. It's as if I am a piece of living art in her name."
Kinosis' face is flush with excitement at the thoughts of battle and art.
"Could you please tell me more of your experiences with demons or battle or with Shelyn?" says Kinosis to Prisim.
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Argus glances at Kinosis' mention of not having her weapon about, glances at his glaive leaning against his chair, and turns bright scarlet, hiding behind his massive plate of food.
At the mention of his patron goddess, Argus opens his mouth to comment, but clamps it shut and goes back to eating, eyes downcast.
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"Oh well... I went to talk with Apollyanna. She is a paladin of Shelyn. Once... well... back when the Aspsis attacked the Grand lodge actually. Polly and I, and a few others got thrown together. And well, we were all worshippers of Shelyn, so we became the 'sisters of Shelyn'."
She smiles at the memory.
"I've mostly only seen Poly and Pau since. Of course Pau is a boy, but he is a monk, so we let him me an honorary girl. Of course he is ugly as, and I don't think he worships Shelyn either now I think about it... but he has an inner beauty."
She thinks. "There was Evarice..a priest of Shelyn, myself and Polly, and Gailen - another paladin of Shelyn, Pau of course and Wyatt. He doesn't worship Shelyn, but he is handy with a bow and quite hunky... if you ask me."
She pauses for a moment. "As for demons...The Worldwound is infested with demons. Evil and destructive creatures, demons are native to the Abyss, though they can be summoned by means of magic. Many of the demons within the Worldwound emerged from the rift at the center of the region."
You think a bit more about what you may have heard about the worldwound.
The nation of Mendev came to prominence during the First Mendevian Crusade in 4622 AR. This crusade was built up from the weakened church of Aroden and followers of the goddess Iomedae. Since that time, Mendev has engaged in four crusades against the demonic threat.
A series of specialized artifacts keeps the demons of the Worldwound at bay. Known as wardstones, these artifacts are layered in runes that ward away demons. Powered by regular acts of faith, wardstones dot the border between Mendev and the Worldwound, keeping the demons from crossing in great numbers.
Wardstones prevent any form of teleportation magic, demonic or otherwise, from working across their borders. Despite this incredible ability, the wardstones don’t hinder such magic from working within the confined areas.
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Argus contemplates the empty plate before him. "She is more concerned with beauty of spirit than of flesh. Coal, once pressurized, becomes diamond." He looks a little sad when he says it. After a moment gazing at the empty plate, he pulls a small tome from his backpack next to his chair and begins reading from it.
“Pathfinders, please get settled. I’d like to start in a few minutes.”
“Welcome one and all, to the city of Nerosyan. I am Jorsal, Venture-Captain of Starrise Spire. I know you all have questions about why you’ve been sent here, and I intend to spend the evening answering those questions".
“I shall start by telling you why the Society has sent so many skilled agents to Mendev. Intrepid agents recently uncovered information that points to a startling find in the old nation of Sarkoris, now known as the Worldwound. These agents have discovered that a dwarven Sky Citadel, one of the rarest sites on the planet, rests within the Worldwound. It is known to us as Jormurdun.
“It is the will of the Decemvirate that we should come together and find the exact site of thi—”
The speech is interrupted by a distant explosion and the sounding of war horns!
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Jorsal approaches your group.
“My friends, it appears the city is under attack by a force of demons from the Worldwound! How such a thing is possible, I do not yet know, but I do know that this attack cannot stand. Our treaty with the crusaders of Mendev binds us to join the battle. Give me some time to rally our agents as best I can, and in the meantime I trust you to pick where your skills can best be put to use. Go forth into Nerosyan or hasten to the skirmishes outside its walls, and aid where you can. I shall summon you again when I know how to best combat this
enemy.”
He turns back before riding off, adding, “Keep an eye out for Venture-Captain Thurl. If he is not already helping, ensure that he’s not pinned down.”
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As soon as the explosions are heard, Argus is out of his seat, glaive in hand, looking about bewildered. At the group's words, his grip tightens on the haft of the weapon.
"Agreed. Demons are an affront to the Eternal Maiden. I will go with the others, but I strongly recommend we rid the city of their filth first. We should also keep an eye for the Venture-Captain and see if we can lend him a hand."
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You quickly head off through the city. Chaos abounds. Soon you come to a makeshift barricade. The street is littered with bodies almost equally split between those of demons and those of crusaders. The sounds of battle intensify ahead, demonstrating that more fighting is happening nearby.
Cowering behind the barricade is a small group of defenders while a horrible demon can be seen approaching from the other side!
"Help!" they cry.
Status, bold may post
Gromther
Argus
Shaeri
Lybram
Xusius
Kinosis
Demons (pink)
Crusaders (red/blue)
OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT
Pathfinders have struck a blow against the invaders in the Battle District