|
Rosie moves slowly, avoiding the sharp stuff lying on the floor...
Jastrokan also moves slowly and takes a blind strike at the space in front of him...but only hits air...
The party hears some 'chittering' noise further to the west but can see nothing in the darkness...
Cerryl is able to identify the creature as a darkmantle...he also retrieves his wand and heals himself a bit...
The darkmantle strikes again at the elemental...
...but it too finds only air with its slam and not the air of the elemental...
Combat! End Round 1 / Begin Round 2: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-3)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's elemental
?
Rosie
Jastrokan
?
Cerryl (-8)
Toban
|
|
The darkmantle barely manages to dodge the elemental's attack while Lovissa's strong blow fails to connect due to the darkness but she's fairly certain the creature is next to her...
The darkmantle continues its assault on the elemental...
...but its attack is just as futile...
The source of the casting voice now makes an appearance, as Toban sees another gremlin-like creature pop up and point her finger at him...
...and a magical bolt slams into Toban!
Combat! Round 2: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-3)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's elemental
Another Gremlin-looking creature
Rosie
Jastrokan
Centipede
Cerryl (-8)
Toban (-2)
|
|
Rosie skillfully and gracefully makes it out of the darkness...but her brother is not so graceful as Jastrokan makes it into the light but punctures his foot on a sharp nail...
The centipede slithers over to Rosie and strikes...
...and its teeth latch onto her arm, injecting her with poison...
Cerryl manages to make it out of the darkness with no foot inuries, thanks to Toban...he promptly quaffs a healing potion and is almost back to normal...
Combat! Round 2: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-3)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's air elemental
Another Gremlin-looking creature
Rosie (-3; needs DC13 Fort save)
Jastrokan (-1, slowed; needs DC13 Fort save)
Centipede (dead)
Cerryl (-2)
Toban (-2)
|
|
"Ow!" Toban exclaims, dropping his traveller's any-tool as the missile slams into him. "Hey! Knock it off!"
When Rosie gets bit Toban calls out, "ROSIE!" Looking very serious he steps forward, clutching his glaive in hand. "I'm coming!"
He swings his glaive at the poisonous centipede that hurt his sister.
|
|
Toban, infuriated with the centipede for striking his sister, shakes off the magic missile from earlier and boldly goes straight at the beast and, with a mighty swing, slashes deeply into its head, dropping it instantly...
Meanwhile, the darkmantle continues its battle with Lovissa's air elemental, again trying to get a hold of it...
...and the dark creature connects to the elemental this time but cannot grab a hold of it...
Combat! Round 3: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-3)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's air elemental (-5)
Another Gremlin-looking creature
Rosie (-3; needs DC13 Fort save)
Jastrokan (-1, slowed; needs DC13 Fort save)
Centipede (dead)
Cerryl (-2)
Toban (-2)
|
|
While her elemental fails to connect, Lovissa does not. Her powerful stroke finds the target despite the darkness, cutting the magical beast severely across its midsection...
The gremlin creature hisses at Toban as he dispatches her summoned pet...in a language only Cerryl can understand, she slurs, "Myrsti num! Tyr undir kuit!"
...and another magic bolt hits Toban...
Combat! Round 3: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-10)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's air elemental (-5)
Another Gremlin creature
Rosie (-3; needs DC13 Fort save)
Jastrokan (-1, slowed; needs DC13 Fort save)
Cerryl (-2)
Toban (-5)
|
"Ow!" Jastrokan shrieks. He moves forward, pulls out an iron brush, and starts to paint an magical painting in the air! "Oh, I'm seeing a masterpiece! A few lines here... Oh, yes, just like this... Oh, they're getting strong now! Yes, I see it! Picture perfect! The strength of youth!"
In his painting everyone looks very strong and muscley.
|
|
Rosie resists the poison and bravely moves closer to the gremlin mage...she picks up a sharp object, similar to a scalpel, and flings it accurately at the creature, sticking it in her upper left leg, causing the gremlin to hiss in pain, "Myrsti teensy num hyrl!"
Jastrokan inspires everyone with both brush and song...
Combat! Round 3: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-10)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's air elemental (-5)
Another Gremlin creature (-5)
Rosie (-3)
Jastrokan (-1)
Cerryl (-2)
Toban (-5)
|
|
Cerryl makes the gremlin pay for its insult as his force missile slams directly into her chest. Toban follows up and strikes her hard with his glaive, although it doesn't seem to do quite the damage expected...
Grievously hurt, the darkmantle turns its attention to the source of its recent pain...
...but Lovissa's armor is up to the attack, as it easily deflects the attempt...
Combat! Round 4: The bold may post!
Darkmantle (-10)
Lovissa (-1)
Lovissa's air elemental (-5)
Jinkin (-13)
Rosie (-3)
Jastrokan (-1)
Cerryl (-2)
Toban (-5)
|
|
The air elemental stuns the darkmantle and Lovissa's last words to the creature prove prophetic; with a mighty swing of her blade, she cleaves the beast completely in two...
The jinkin screams loudly, "Xarmigash!"
Seeing her ally slain and the Pathfinders surrounding her from all sides, she skitters under the table and runs through a small crack in the south wall...
Combat over! Pathfinders victorious!
|
|
With the jinkin and her cohorts defeated, you have complete control of the vault and can complete your search. Sascha had stashed her treasure trove beneath several of the flagstones in an unlocked cell, and the Pathfinder can find it easily based on her earlier directions. The trove contains a masterwork breastplate, a set of masterwork butterfly swords, a pearl-studded silver brooch in the shape of a dove, two spelunking kits, two scrolls of mage armor, a scroll of grease, a ring of protection +1, a fine emerald, and a pouch of platinum pieces. In addition, the PCs find a tarnished, plain silver locket whose interior bears only the inscription “Ever Yours—EK.” Upon finding this locket, each of you know your mission is complete...
Cerryl also finds on the table a journal left by the jinkin that fled the room. As he understands Undercommon, Upon perusing a few pages, he sees it mentions ancient Thassalonia and thinks the society will be interested in its contents...
You backtrack the way you came, waving farewell to Grynt (the leshy) before traversing the pipe once again. When you pass by the rat statue, you notice the body of the jinkin is no longer there...
...and upon passing Togg's lair, you soon find out why. The Otyugh greets you enthusiastically. "Thank you for tasty treat you left me by statue...I love taste of fey! Togg so glad I did not eat you! You have best food of any travelers...come again and bring Togg more tasty food!"
Once you say your goodbyes to Togg you climb out of the sewers and, without further ado, report back Venture-Captain Heidmarch and Sascha...
|
|
When you leave the sewers and again meet with Canayven and Sascha, the former Pathfinder anxiously inquires about her locket. when you present it to her, she gives her heartfelt thanks to the Pathfinders and the Society and pledges her friendship to both. Upon seeing Jastrokan limping, Sascha gives him a tonic to take, saying, "Any wounds in the sewer can get infected swiftly, best you take this now." You later find out that Sascha travels to Andoran the following day and uses some of her old connections there to start up a new, but low-profile weapons shop.
The Venture-Captain smiles and also thanks each of you. "This good deed for a retiring Pathfinder is most appreciated. And this journal you found will also be most appreciated by the Society's researchers back at the Grand Lodge. You make a good team...I'm going to recommend that the Society keep you together for your next couple of missions..."
Congratulations, you have successfully completed the Veteran's Vault!
Primary Goal: The PCs reach the vault and recover Sascha Antif ’Arah’s locket. SUCCESS!
Secondary Goal: The PCs recover and decipher key passages from Mifra’s journal of Thassilonian lore. SUCCESS!
|
|
THE CYPHERMAGE DILEMMA
The light from the rising sun performs a splendid dance upon the windows of Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch's Magnimarian manor house as she pours the coffee. Her young servant brings in a platter of pastries and fruits before the Venture-Captain begins to speak about the mission at hand in her distinctively low, breathy voice.
|
|
Lady Heidmarch takes a sip of coffee, followed by a piece of fruit. She looks at the gathered Pathfinders and smiles. "I guess you're wondering why I summoned you here. My husband told me how well you performed on a retrieval mission and recommended you highly. So once you've had a bit of time to eat a bit and relax from your travels, I'll tell you why you're here..."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rosie finds a nice chair near the fruit, pulls her rabbit out of her satchel and places the rabbit on the table. Together they nibble on some fruit and drink some water.
"What's up?"
Seeing her brother, Toban, Rosie waves. "I've been eating really healthy and so has Lily." She smiles.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Jastrokan is already there and painting when Rosie arrives. He's painted a picture of the table and the food. Even the pastries. As everyone arrives he starts to paint all of them, getting beautiful paintings of all of his team mates eating, laughing, and talking to one another.
"Hey Rosie! OH! HI LOVISSA! Hi Toban! Hi Cerryl! Hi Jastrokan -- wait... What? HAHAHA!"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Looking a little unsure still how to handle these two siblings.
...Hi...Jastrokan...umm...and everyone else.
Turning to Toban.
Have you had any luck researching that creature that got away...know it is in the past...but...dont like being stumped on things we encounter so been doing a little myself but havent found everything I was hoping for.
Taking a pastry and an ale for himself, Cerryl sits back and seems to get lost in the pastry while waiting for more information to present itself.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Toban greets and hugs his siblings. He politely greets his host, and then politely greets Cerryl.
Seeing the food he grins. "Oh, my! What have we here?" He eats the pastries, sampling one of each. "How delightful! Oh! How nice!"
Toban nods at Cerryl. "Ah, yes. The jinkin. They are naturally evil fey... However! I'm hoping Shelyn's teachings and mercy inspire it to embrace the beauty in our world."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Hail and well met, my friends!" Lovissa exclaims at finding a room full of people she knows. "Ah! Delicious! I'm famished!"
Lovissa stomps her way over to the table of food, pulls p a chair, and proceeds to eat a ton of food -- pastries, water, and fruit.
"Ahhh! Many thanks!"
|
|
Lady Heidmarch rises and gives a light cough, signalling the beginning of the brief.
"As I'm sure you're well aware, much of the reason Riddleport was founded where it was is because of its easily defendable position as well as the enigmatic Cyphergate, which has baffled scholars since its disovery. The Pathfinder Society has a keen interest in the Thassilonian monument as well, since solving its mysteries would undoubtedly unlock a number of other secrets regarding that lost empire. The Order of the Cyphers has been amassing support from outside sources for some years now and scholars from all over the Inner Sea have come to aid Elias Tammerhawk and the cyphermages.”
Heidmarch takes a bite out of a chocolate-filled biscuit before continuing. "Just recently, however, we received word from Elias himself that several of the visiting scholars h aven't arrived in Riddleport Bay as expected. It seems as though a band of raiders, led by the Vudran pirate Alejia Netrav, has been intercepting the ships at sea, killing the crews, and destroying the ships. While Riddleport is hardly a stranger to the likes of pirates, Overlord Crom already has declared it illegal for any ships that wish to return to Riddleport Harbor to attack ships bearing the Riddleport flag. Alejia's ship is clearly coming from Riddleport-the attacks all took place just outside Riddleport Harbor- but attempts to identify her ship have been unsuccessful so far.
"I needn't explain to yo that the Pathfinder Society is also very much interested in the secrets of the Cyphergate and that the deaths of these knowledgeable scholars have severely hindered progress in unraveling the artifact's mysteries. The unexplained attacks are beginning to wear on the other sailors of Riddleport as well, and it something isn't done about the matter soon, there will be no shortage of civil unrest, if not anarchy.
“In a few days a ship called the Topaz Titan is scheduled to arrive in Riddleport Harbor from Minkai, bearing the acclaimed Tian scholar Hirako Gurukaza, who is also a former member of our Society. We fear that he may be Alejia's next target, and your task is to prevent her assault at all costs, bot ensuring Hiroako's safety and shoring up our relationship with Tammerhawk. I have heard rumors that some of Alejia's cronies have been storing their stolen goods somwhere in the Wharf District, so that might be a good place to start your investigation. Regardless, there is little time to waste, as there is no knowing exactly when the pirates will choose to strike the Topas Titan.”
She pauses a bit before concluding with, ”Are there any questions?"
|
|
Lady Heidmarch tries to answer your questions...
"The wharf district is a big hub; sailors, smugglers, intrigue and black markets thrive there...
"You should've seen the Cyphergate...it's the huge stone arch abiding in Riddleport Harbor. It has runes and speacial symbols on it the Cyphermages have tried to figure out for ages...
“While she is a lowly pirate, Alejia possesses more enemies than friends in Riddleport, having backstabbed many business partners to get to where she is now. Her sudden disappearance and recent activities have only spurred public resentment of her, and many would like to see her dead. In any case, don’t be surprised if your investigation gets you entangled with some of her less savory ex-associates.
"I have not heard the name of the ship they raided ..but I'll try to find out..."
|
|
A runner enters the room, speaks quietly to Lady Heidmarch, and then leaves. The Lady turns back to your party, saying, "The last ship attacked was called the Mighty Flyn...but it was far away from here and I doubt it is relevant to this mission. If you have no more questions, I suggest you prepare to venture forth. Fare thee well."
Before you set out, you attempt to ask around to find out further information about Alejia…
You also try to find out more about happenings in and around the Wharf, as well as the location of where the stolen goods might be stored...
|
|
Nodding to himself as Lady Heidmarch continues the briefing before scratching his head briefly.
Ma'am just wondering has Alejia just been attacking a lot more ships recently, or is there any chance that the attacks are more targeted maybe with others intermixed as a smokescreen? Is there any way that she might be getting information on when the ships are expected to make it easier for her to ambush them outside the port?
Trying to recall the local gossip and information that he heard or read before being called for the briefing.
Hmm...cant remember too much about Alejia other than she and her crew were well known in Riddleport though that should make it both harder and easier to gain additional information...Now the wharf district itself has fallen on hard times lately and with the increase in crime there also seems to be a little more organization involved trying to keep people quiet about what business is happening in the area...I do also remember hearing somewhere that some dockhands have been making a little extra on the side hauling "different" cargo to an "derelict" warehouse...but not sure what the cargo was exactly.
|
|
Lady Heidmarch ponders a bit before answering Cerryl's question. "From talking with Elias, he was very cryptic about why someone would want to hinder his efforts as Speaker of the Order of the Cyphergate so much, but if I had to take a guess, I'd say this is a direct attack against Elias, rather than the scholars themselves. Therefore, I don't think it's so much a smokescreen as it is an overt ploy to discredit Elias' position as Speaker. Ships bearing scholars aren't exactly treasure ships so their voyages aren't exactly shrouded in secrecy. It's probably easy for a pirate with the resources of Alejia to easily find, or buy, news of their sailings..."
She pauses a bit before adding. "If you have no further questions, I have arranged passage for you on a Taldan cargo ship called the Opparan Opal that will be leaving within the hour. Hurry to the docks, and you'll be in Riddleport before you know it."