Each of the party members receives a message delivered by carrier pigeon.
My Dearest Poppet,
It pains me to interrupt your well-earned rest at the Lodge, but I find myself bereft of company and excited by the prospect of a vigorous and adventuresome sort such as yourself calling upon me. Please make your way to the Archives beneath Skyreach with utmost dispatch, for my moods (and tempers) are mercurial fleeting. I assure you the experience I have in store for us will not be easily forgotten (nor survived). Come quick my sumptuous dish lest your rivals for my affection arrive before you.Your next (and possibly last) great adventure,
PS Sorry about the pigeon.
The Pigeon coos twice before disappearing in a puff of white smoke and gray feathers. **POOF!**
|
Lasaraleen looks up from her tasks at the Temple of the Dawnflower to observe the pigeon with the note. She opens the fancy letter and reads it to herself.
Oh dear. As much as this sparks my interest, I best check with the Abbot before I depart on such an 'adventure'.
She scoops up her belongings and scurries down the hall of the temple while thinking of her last meeting with Zarta.
The Paracountess is definitely cultured, of that there is totally not a doubt. But by the Dawn, it is her scruples, or lack thereof, which must be questioned.
She muses to herself as she collects her blades and backpack...
I wonder who else she has invited?
***
Arriving at the Archives of Skyreach, she smiles as she sees Jair.
Reaching out for a warm hug...
Jair, girl! How are you...well after our last adventure?
I assume you were also invited to this merry band.
I am so glad to see you again!
Well, I'm early. Fighters like me are usually late to meetings.
The depths under Sky Reach practically ring with the noise of a dozen voices amid a frenzied commotion. Archival Lodge staff rush to and fro and chaos seems to reign.
”You there.” calls a very large, and very feminine sphinx. She is sitting calmly amid the hullabaloo, like a queen cat, but is dressed in naught but a gold headpiece, and a more-than-less revealing, gauzy, white drape. Her voice is the voice of a sultry Calistrian hetaira’s silken pillow talk mixed with a lioness’ deep low growl--the sort meant to be heard across the savanna. It cuts through the noise surroundings and hits the chest of the Pathfinder agents before it does their ears.
"Query: Each of you has at least one. They belong to you, but are used by others. What are they?”
|
Jair hugs back Lasaraleen and says with a wry smile to her friend.
Nice to see you again my dear. I'm good! After the last one I've chosen to get back to the dusty libraries of the Grand Lodge, safer than the ruins of old Jistkan!
Yes, Lady Zarta send me an invitation too.
Hi! How are you Saruna? says with her smile Jair before answering the Sphinx
I will say an advice? Because, everyone has an advice!
|
Chandu reads the letter with a little sigh, the woamn never changes. She gathers he pack, straps on her armour and and weapons and heads down into the archives.
She nods at the other pathfinders assembled here I hope thhis lot knows what they are doing before spotting the Sphinx.
I thought we were here for a mission briefing, and a pretty dire one at that, not to answer riddles... she asks with a raised eyebrow. Where is Zarta?
Hi! How are you Saruna? says with her smile Jair before answering the Sphinx
I will say an advice? Because, everyone has an advice!
"Incorrect."
She rises to her feet and pads nearer restating her question with more of an edge this time. "Query: Each of you has at least one. They belong to you, but are used by others. What are they?”
-----
THEN
-----
Happily minding her own business, Leona flinched when something slammed into the window of the inn she was staying at with little effect. As it was, she opened the window to see what it was that had startled her so... Only to look down to see a very obviously stunned pigeon.
Oh, dear, she thought somewhat dubiously. Not another one.
It's only the work of a moment to fetch the bird and its message. She left the former with the cook to send off upon recovery and took the latter back to her room.
This note... Was puzzling. Leona wasn't really sure what to make of it - or the person that had sent it. Still, a summons was a summons and no proper Pathfinder Agent would ignore the call for an interesting adventure.
-----
NOW
-----
Arriving on the scene in time to see two friends reuniting, Leona paused to give them time to reply to the well-decorated Sphinx before realizing they've already failed to answer her.
"A name," she blurts out, not wanting to see how much further that temper would go. "Everyone has at least one name!"
After an awkward pause, she adds, "Mine's Leona, by the way. Might I get yours?"
|
Chandu sighs at the persistent Sphinx. Many different things could be the answe to so broad a riddle but I suppose the answer, here, is liable to be a wayfinder. Everyone does have a wayfinder dont they... she asks, looking at the group.
"I don't." sniffs a passing man in a white toga as if affronted by the idea.
”I agree with ‘Name’. Mine is Lasaraleen by the way. My friends call me Las. It is a total pleasure to meet each of you. “ she bows as she smiles.t
"Answers: Acceptable." says the sphinx to Lasaraleen and Leona.
The tension in the room lessens.
Pushing a few singed hairs back from her face, Zarta gives an acknowledging smile to the new arrivals and lightly places a hand to direct Valsin’s attention. “We aren’t sure of another way to safely close the portal permanently. And here we have some of the Society’s best (well, two of them anyway)" she continues nodding to Jair and Shrec, and looking puzzled by everyone else. "Well they're all very eager to assist."
Valsin frowns, but Zarta quickly stymies further argument. “This is a risk but also an opportunity. Think of what censored history we might uncover from a pre-war Thrune. And if we fail, you’ll still have the pleasure of smashing the talisman. I have the experience and… this is something I need to do, Ambrus.”
As Valsin stalks off, Zarta smirks as though about to make a cheeky response. She quickly refocuses, producing a dark iron talisman set with a ruby and inscribed with Infernal script. “This, my friends, is a melancholic talisman, a device of diabolic manufacture that opens a portal to a specific point in Hell. It activated spontaneously yesterday, allowing a flight of imps access to Skyreach.” Zarta continues with pride. “The Dark Archive has prepared for such planar incursions after last year’s intrusions, and we quickly destroyed or captured the devils. With information gleaned from the imps, I carefully reopened the portal and ventured through. I found myself in the city of Dis in the Nine Hells. I learned through my contacts there of the talisman’s connection to Gellius Thrune, a scion of Cheliax’s ruling family from just after the Everwar about 300 years ago. Gellius sold his soul to a devil named Leventi. Another devil, the osyluth Vetrivides, noticed my investigation, as they too are investigating this Leventi for acting against the interests of Hell. If we can find proof of Leventi’s wrongdoing, Vetrivides will award us the soul of Gellius Thrune, who we can then question on how to permanently close the hellmouth. Vetrivides provided me with writs to act as their agent for the next 48 hours.”
She smiles impishly and concludes, “If your enemies every yelled at you, telling you 'to go to Hell', well, now's your chance.”
checks to navigate Dis.
Leona narrows her eyes at this new information, before nodding her acknowledgment of the situation. Given the task at hand, it seems imperative they gather all of the information they have.
"If I remember correctly," she murmurs, "The city of Dis occupies the second of the Nine Hells. The archfiend Dispater rules over it from an impossibly tall tower, the Iron Scepter. Legions of devils patrol the streets of Dis, enforcing Hell's laws, and the city is home to millions of damned souls and other fiends. Its markets absolutely teem with merchants and exotic wares from across the multiverse, though we'll be hard pressed to find simple food and drink."
She considered her rations supply - enough for four days - and continued. "Dispater rules the city, with some other high-ranking fiends carrying out his will. I believe the archfiend himself is married to Erecura, a demigoddess who rules by his side. The Erinyes Queen, Eiseth, also claims a portion of the second layer from her aerie, Widow's Cry..."
|
|
Name?! What a good answer, why don't I have think of it first...
Thinks Jair when Leona and Lasalareen give the answer to the Sphinx.
She gives her name to the creature and continues with her teammates.
Jair listen carefully to the heated arguments between Zarta and the Venture-Captain and then to Zarta's briefing.
Hell!? At least il will be warm there... but I'm think I will be uncomfortable there, I'm not military and Dis is some sort of big encampment for Hell's army. But solider are talker, so I could learn a lot of secrets! What an opportunity!!!
Thanks to her ability to suffer Shaine's lectures, Jair knows a lot about Cheliax and the Thrunes and tells what she knows about it to her comrades.
This Gellius seems like an interesting fellow, it will be hard to make him talk without his consent. she adds after explaining what she knows.
Turning to Lady Dralneen she says
My Lady, I will need some time, not much, to adapt my spell list to the dangers ahead.
Shrec isn't knowledgable in well anything, but he trusts his allies are and that they aren't lying to him about what they tell him.
Turning to Lady Dralneen she says
My Lady, I will need some time, not much, to adapt my spell list to the dangers ahead.
Zarta just looks back at the woman.
"Vetrivides provided me with writs to act as their agent for the next 48 hours.”
Chandu shrugs, I always travel light, I am ready to go whenever the rest of you are
She turns and gives Zarta a rather hard stare, You have said how we are getting to Hell, how do we get back and what do we do if one of us falls foul of local "law enforcement"
"What do you do now dear? Besides for the next two days we are honorary deputies."
|
|
Chandu snorts with derision, Deputised yes, and if we end up crossing the wrong devil because your intelligence is faulty, the politics of Hell are hardly stable and I dont see the factions riding to our rescue if we end up rotting in some infernal cell. Do you guarantee our return? Also I note you didnt answer the fist question, how do we get back.
|
|
Lasaraleen nods and looks concerned.
I am totally not sure I want to be spending time in a dreadful place like Dis. I know I complained about not liking the fridgid north, but going to hell, literally, that is like...ewww. I am not a fan.
She considers Jair's words.
If we have time to change spells to be more adaptable to the plane, that would be helpful. But if not, it still may be worth purchasing a spell or two to help us. I am not normally concerned with fire, but there are other things like toxic smoke or ash which could be problematic.
Chandu snorts with derision, Deputised yes, and if we end up crossing the wrong devil because your intelligence is faulty, the politics of Hell are hardly stable and I dont see the factions riding to our rescue if we end up rotting in some infernal cell. Do you guarantee our return?"
Zarta looks astonished. "A garuntee? You want a garuntee? Really child, there are no garuntees here or in Hell. There are however rules, which we should strive to abide by. How have you have made it this far in the Society escapes me if you are only learning that now."
"Also I note you didnt answer the fist question, how do we get back.
Zarta looks smugly at the woman. "My sweet, like many things this door goes both ways." Then she winks at Chandu.
"That reminds me." she says spinning on her heel to address the group.
"Oof, that's certainly going to put a dampener on things," Leona remarks, frowning slightly. Though she has nothing but respect for the law, the notion that evil will be reigning supreme pulls at her gut. Things described as good or evil both have their own place and purpose. As far as she was concerned, removing one altogether was... dangerous.
But hey, they were Pathfinders. What about this mission wasn't dangerous?
"I imagine as the effects are inherent to the locale itself, attempting to hide our predispositions won't help us negate any unfortunate effects we may experience," Leona murmured, turning her attention to Zarta, "But if I'm wrong, please correct me."
Though she wasn't capable of such spells herself, she certainly wouldn't be opposed to seeing if they could find someone that could if it would help.
"Oof, that's certainly going to put a dampener on things," Leona remarks, frowning slightly. Though she has nothing but respect for the law, the notion that evil will be reigning supreme pulls at her gut. Things described as good or evil both have their own place and purpose. As far as she was concerned, removing one altogether was... dangerous.
But hey, they were Pathfinders. What about this mission wasn't dangerous?
"I imagine as the effects are inherent to the locale itself, attempting to hide our predispositions won't help us negate any unfortunate effects we may experience," Leona murmured, turning her attention to Zarta, "But if I'm wrong, please correct me."
"Well, I wouldn't go around flashing the wrong holy symbols about town if you know what I mean. On the other hand it is a planar metropolis. There are no cities that I know of on Golarion that match its size and grandeur. We might find anything there if we look long enough. It is an immense city of iron and fire and delights and torments of the flesh, with sights of wonder and horror in equal measure. I wouldn't worry about smoke and ash. We won't be there that long and most of the city is quite cosmopolitan. It's some of the beings we'll be interacting with that will be the more caustic. Most there will be eager to learn your heart’s desire and provide it at a price. Rest assured, they will strip you of freedom and hope in rapid succession given the chance. Don’t let a friendly demeanor deceive you. But there are rules to this, and we can use them to travel safely (more or less). Keep to your word, and use caution in giving it. Now, are we ready to go?"
My Lady, I need only a few minutes to be better prepared. Says Jair bowing to Zarta.
Given that she doesn't exactly have anything immediately castable that could help her or her teammates, Leona waits patiently while the others prepare. "Whenever you're ready," she agrees, somewhat impatient, but glad that they're mostly done with whatever rituals they need to engage in.
I'm ready to.
Once everyone is ready, Zarta holds up the melancholic talisman (the strange jeweled bauble she and Valsin were arguing over). She points it at the middle of the room and speaks the command word. "SIDRAT!"
The talisman’s jagged engravings twist and spin as if alive, and a wide, fleshy maw of teeth and smoke tears itself open within the room’s warded circle. Thin films that cover the interior of the portal snap open like layered eyelids, slowly swelling outward as if under some great pressure. As the last membrane retracts, a blast of heated air billows into the
room. In what was naught, but empty space over a scorched stone floor there now spins a tunnel like a sideways tornado of smoke and fire the depths of which are illuminated by heat lightning. The tunnel's final destination lies unseen beyond its twisting impossibility.
Pocketing the talisman Zarta squares her shoulders and steps through into the maelstrom.
The odor of seared blood permeates the choking, hot, smoky air.
A low scream resonates from countless writhing bodies impaled on spikes atop the surrounding towers. Fiendish sigils adorn banners hanging from palace walls that stretch across city blocks, while a river of fire wends its way through canals below the nearby courtyard. Flights of imps patrol the bloody skies, while the winged figures of erinyes perch atop buildings, always watching.
At the center of it all, a tower of impossible height stretches endlessly upward, its walls covered with gargoyles. Zarta checks a series of rods placed around the portal. “These should conceal the portal’s presence and keep anyone from accidentally wandering through,” she explains before looking around at the city and grimacing. “Ah Hell…being away for five years wasn’t long enough.”
She gathers herself and continues. “We have two writs and, with only two days to search for clues across a very large city, I suggest we pursue separate leads. I have a good supply of sending scrolls, so we can reconnect.”
She gestures along the canal. “In this direction lies the Fallen Fastness, a library of mortal sin. Vetrivides waits there and may have more information.”
She gestures in the other direction, toward the river of fire. “Following the Andrimal this way leads to the floating Market of Breaths. Information and treasure flow there, and my contacts say Leventi’s associate Arenthea frequents the market. Leventi’s business dealings may offer some…” She smirks, “…damning evidence.”
Zarta hands three scrolls of sending each to Jair and Lasaraleen. "Use them wisely."
Link to the post that explains who the people mentioned in this post are.
|
|
As they appear at the other end of the disgusting tunnel Chandu almost retches. Gods the stink of this place is awful.
Are you suggesting well all split up or that you go off on your own and we head out as a group? I have no particular desire to wander this place alone regardless of any writ.
I suggest we start with the horses mouth and speak with this Vetrivides in the Library...none of the options sound appealing but if we at least have similar goals it may be a good place to start
"Excellent. Since I know my way around, I'll head to the market." Zarta says pointing to a distant spot in the ashen sky. "Be wary of Vetrivides. He's not our friend. Contact me when you find out anything. Tah."
Zarta tosses her travel bag over one shoulder and strides out into the city of devils and the damned.
The Fallen Fastness turns out to be a mountainous stone structure that pierces the burning skies of Dis like a jagged thorn. A battalion of fiends with writhing snakes for beards monitors all visitors entering its hundred-foot-tall iron doors, while inside a legion of diabolic scholars moves through a maze of iron-chained shelves.
Tomes silently beckon to prospective readers and promise infernal secrets, while bottled souls peer longingly or fearfully at passersby.
Hundreds of floors stretch up from the atrium, and beneath the smoky obsidian floor, countless imps and other fiends toil over a scroll that spirals downward from the tower's impossible heights. many more crowd around it waiting for their turn.
Jair... whispers a voice only Jair can hear from one of the seemingly infinite shelves of books.
"How the here should I know!" screeches the imp before flying away in terror.