|
Welcome to the illustrious Starrise Spire, location of the splendid Pathfinder Lodge within the great city of Nerosyan (which lies in Mendev just outside the scourged Worldwound). The Spire towers above the barrier walls as one of the many defensive outposts jutting into the endless sky and offers a clear view of the river and docks below.
Awaiting the arrival of in Venture Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury you approach a small group of other agents, as dozens of Pathfinders mill about the large room.
|
The tiny wayang clad in gray nods at the gathered assemblage. I was hoping to see some familiar faces but not just yet. He wanders from group to group introducing himself to other Pathfinders.
"Well meet, I am called Kivuli. A pleasure to meet you."
Keen eyes spot what could only be fine chainmail under his shirt. The estoc at his side seems to be very well crafted.
|
A towering, grey-skinned, heavily-scarred half orc enters the room. He is clad in a bright breastplate and wears his bleached white dreadlocks under a shapeless cap.
"Kiboko greets you, Kivuli."
The half orc gazes out over the cityscape, towards the Worldwound beyond...
"Kiboko does not know which is the more corrupt: the city, or the worldwound."
"Haaarggghh!! Haaaaarrrgggghhh!!"
The large, armoured she-hippo nuzzles the half orc warrior next to her, honking as if in agreement with his sentiment.
|
|
A tall, thin dude in a dark grey cloak enters the room, eyes roaming the room till he sees a couple he recognizes. He pulls the hood of his cloak back to reveal long wavy blonde hair and sharp Elven features...
"Kiboko, my old friend! I was thinking I might see you since our last mission was so very near here...I suspect we might see Kramac as well..."
He reaches down and scratches the beloved hippo behind the ears. "And Mvumbu! How is my favorite girl doing? You look more beautiful every time I see you!"
Seeing a Pathfinder he does not recognize, he bows, saying, "Greetings, Kivuli! Flyn, at your service..."
Hearing Kiboko's words about the Worldwound and Nerosyan, Flyn smiles grimly. "Having been to both before, I can assure you, old friend, that as corrupt as the city may be, the Worldwound is far worse. I can't remember ever seeing a more desolate and forsaken place in all of Golarion..."
“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.”
|
|
There are several towers of note in Nerosyan:
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 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.
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.
Woundward Tower 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.
|
A tall but lean Taldan pathfinder sits down at your table and smiles broadly. "I don't believe we have met. My name is Thereus of Isger, I am a Seeker with the Society. I know a large gathering like this can be quite chaotic but if there are any questions I can answer for you, please feel free to ask."
|
|
"It is a pit of corruption, like all cities! The Worldwound wears its corruption openly. The city wears the cloak of civility, but is just as full up with venom and spite. It is unnatural for men to dwell in such wise."
Kiboko scowls as he takes a seat. His surveys the room, checking entryways and egress points, expecting the chaos that the Seeker Thereus speaks of to emerge at any moment in some twisted, malevolent shape.
'Do you know why we have been called to this place, Thereus? Kiboko assumes it has something to do with the treaties that Kivuli and Cygnus mention. Kiboko hopes we will be mounting an expedition to the Worldwound."
|
|
Flyn nods and bows to Venture-Captain Jorsal, recalling his brief from his previous excursion into the Worldwound. He sits down and awaits.
Upon the Seeker's appearance, he nods at Kiboko's words. "Greetings, Thereus. What can you tell us of this venture? Shall we be journeying into the Worldwound?"
|
|
Dressed only in shades of black and grey, a dull magma skinned half-orc, whose hood obscures most of his facial features, approaches the group and gives a hearty, perhaps unwelcoming, grunt as he eyes and studies the features of the party. Four daggers made of silver and cold iron hang tightly on his belt. He carries a worn grey handy haversack that seemingly never leaves his possession at any time, and a mithril shield rest on the back of it.
"Kramac, Kiboko, Flyn..."He speaks as he gives a cursory nod, before turning to Kivuli and Thereus to briefly introduce himself with only his name. "Kelumur..."
To the questions on what has brought everyone together, he then listens and waits intently for the responds.
|
|
Thereus nods as each of you fill the group in with your parcels of lore.
"Well studied, and yes, Kiboko, to the Worldwound indeed. Cold iron weapons - if you have them - will be your best defense against the demonic hordes. There will be time to purchase them if you haven't yet and bless the wardstones, we should be safe enough here until we depart."
He takes a long sip from a wine glass at the table and shrugs.
"To be honest, the Worldwound is a vast expanse and there are many locations of historical value still yet to be explored, so demon hunting might not be our primary mission, although with this venture captain, it is likely. The sheer size of this venture though...makes me wonder."
|
|
Kramac, Kiboko and Flynn have fought demons together before. We all come prepared with Cold Iron weapons.
Kramac flicks his wrist, and a scroll pops out of his bracer. And Kramac has these to bless weapons for the more powerful demons.
He roots around in his pack for a moment, before pulling out a scroll and handing it to Cygnus.
Good Wizard, Kramac keeps some scrolls of Fly in case we fight aerial foes. I cannot use this magic however. Can you please hold on to them and use as needed?
An expedition this large into the Worldound to explore historical sites seems foolish - it will attract far too much attention. Better to send small groups that can navigate by stealth. Kramac thinks the only reason to assemble such an army is to enter the Worldwound looking for a fight.
|
|
Flyn grins widely. "Thought I'd be seeing you here, Kramac old friend, considering our recent mission...
"Kelemur! Now this is a surprise...haven't seen you since we took out that nasty ghast cleric...that was a close call. Good to know there'll be old friends watching my back..."
Then looking towards the two Pathfinders he has not journeyed with before, with a friendly smile he adds, "...and new friends as well..."
|
|
"Brother Kramac! It gladdens Kiboko and Mvumbu to see you and Jino join us again! Kiboko hopes we will be entering the Worldwound, where the corruption is evident for all to see; not lingering in this pit where the false glamour of civilisation clouds the hearts and minds of good people."
"Cygnus, Kiboko also has a need for your arcane talents. This wand holds a minor shielding spell. Be so good as to use it to cast the spell into Kiboko's purple ioun stone when necessary. If the spell would benefit you, please use it as you will."
"Kelumur, another old friend! Perhaps Kiboko's stay in this place will be tolerable with such company."
|
|
Kramac will rifle around in his pack again for a few moments, and pull out yet another long scroll. This one appears to have several sets of magical writing that are blackened and faded. He hands it to Kivuli.
Kramac is always happy to share. Here, this scroll can be used to align your weapon to be more effective against the demons. Use it at your discretion.
|
|
Flyn nods solemnly at the crusader. "I journeyed into the Worldwound a year or so back with several other Pathfinders on a rescue mission. Demons had captured a squad of crusaders; we were sent, along with a veteran, Sir Ilivan, to rescue them. We tracked them into the Worldwound...they were being held and tortured by a major demon and several minor ones..."
Flyn swallows hard and then continues. "Just as we planned to attack their camp and attempt a rescue, dust arose in the distance...a horde of demons were on their way to rendezvous with their comrades...we could not stand against so many. Sir Ilivan rode out to meet them alone to delay the horde while we killed the demons in the camp and rescued the surviving crusaders...his sacrifice gave us just enough time to get the captives out of the Worldwound and back to Mendev...he saved our lives and died a hero...
"The Worldwound is a bleak and desolate place...I have the utmost respect for you crusaders who constantly sortie back and forth there. The mental strain of journeying in that hellhole is no easy burden..."
“Pathfinders, please get settled. I’d like to start in a few minutes.”
|
|
Kramac has been to the Worldwound a few times. Most recently, Kramac, Flynn, and Kiboko explored the outskirts of the region searching for a suitable base from which we can launch expeditions to the Sky Citadel.
Kramac quiets down and listens as the Venture captain begins to speak, idly petting Jino as he listens.
|
|
Thereus acknowledges the group's tales from the Worldwound, then casts his eyes to the roughly eighty Pathfinders gathered in the busy mess hall. A few faces familiar from his years in the ranks, others obviously new recruits.
"Think of the stories that will seed today."
As he sees Jorsal moving to the focus of the room and the crowd reacting in time, he whispers under his breath.
"Yes, something historic happening here."
“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!
|
|
There is a moment of uneasy silence as the group realizes the shocking nature of the interruption. Almost instantly, several Pathfinders take flight with a flash of magical energy. Other disappear instantly from view. Chairs shift and fall as the remainder of the room rises as one.
Moving with the throng to peer out the lone window, Jorsal speaks again.
“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."
The Venture Captain circles back to the center and your awaiting ears. A bespeckled wizard next to him conjures a visual map of the city to float next to him as he speaks.
"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.” Surrounded by an entourage of other high level Pathfinders, he is whisked to the planning rooms upstairs.
He turns back before walking off, adding, “Keep an eye out for Venture-Captain Thurl. If he is not already helping, ensure that he’s not pinned down.”
Thereus nods to your group.
"You know what you have to do. Stay together and watch each other's backs. This will be a long night but we will prevail." With that, he too takes to the air with a boot click and soars for the main doors.
|
|
"Where shall we go first?
The Battle District is likely the best defended. A wise warrior faces his enemy where he is strong and the enemy weak.
The Confluence District abuts the rivers. Mvumbu may like to go swimming! We may face aquatic foes.
We may assist the cavalry in the Egelsee District brother Kramac.
The archers in the Woundward District may benefit from Flyn's skill and advice.
Or, we go immediately to the fight outside the walls...
Let us choose quickly. Kiboko suggests the Battle District first."
|
|
The sounds of battle assault your ears the moment you open the doors to street-level. Racing through the heart of town to the battle district, a piercing feminine wail catches your immediate attention.
As your group dodges through the district alleyways searching for the source of the scream, a huddled group of citizens comes into sight, eying a horribly mangled corpse at the front entrance of a large storehouse.
An elderly woman stumbles toward you, fear filling her eyes with terror. “Please, we need your help! This crusader was taking us into a safe house for protection from the demons, but he was slain by an awful trap. We know we’re in danger out here on the street, but none of us are willing to go inside for fear of what else might be in there! And even if we go somewhere else, there may be other crusaders that try to shepherd people this way. Could you lot go inside and do a sweep?"
|
|
Stand back! We shall sweep the house and make sure it is safe to use as a shelter. Kelumur, seems like your area of expertise. Kiboko - perhaps it might be worth using your want of heightened awareness on Kelumur before he searches?
If Kiboko doesn't want to use a charge for whatever reason, Kramac will cast the spell from his daily allotment.
|
|
Flyn and Kivuli easily spot the lumps in the carpet inside the door. The circular pattern betrays the summoning circle hastily constructed beneath them. With several deft strokes of the flat of his blade, Kivuli weakens and disperses the magical conduit and thus five demons have their tickets to Nerosyan revoked on this day.
Examining the area closely, the poor crusader was devastated by some sort of blasting rune upon opening the door.
More caution as you head inside would be prudent.
|
|
"Kiboko regrets that this spell functions only for its caster - or wand-wielder" says Kiboko as he draws his Wand of Heightened Awareness, and casts the spell upon himself.
"But if Kelemur or Kivuli can make use of the wand, by all means go ahead."
Kiboko scans the fallen crusader for lingering magic auras.