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A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 5–9.
A simple retrieval mission takes an unexpected turn when the Pathfinder Society learns a valuable treasure was under its nose—within the curious demiplane connected to the Hao Jin Tapestry. The descendants of the original owners have changed in the centuries since their sequestration, though, and initial attempts to parley have ended in failure. Can the PCs discover what became of this lost people and secure the relic they guard?
Content in “Tapestry’s Toil” contributes directly to the Year of the Sky Key metaplot as well as the ongoing storyline of the Grand Lodge faction.
Written by Steven Helt.
(Recruitment is handled via the document located here.)
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A Half Orc with a dark green hooded cloak draped over his shoulders sits silently in the corner of Master Zey's waiting room. His cowl is pulled up, and obscures most of his facial features. His stillness seems unearthly and the smell of sulfur wafts from his corner of the room. Curiously, motion can been scene from inside his garments and the large half-man orc scowls with both mirth an irritation, Ember! what are you doing!
A small weasel with brilliant orange hair and eyes so red they seem to be alight, pokes it's head out from the folds of the large 1/2 orc's cloak. I just fed you! The 1/2 Orc reveals his face with a toothy smile.
His features (you can see now), are covered in tattoos. You recognize some as Hallit markings, others as Orcish, and still others, of unknown origin. The big half orc takes his expensive looking falchion slung across his back and sets it against the wall. He then, un-shoulders his back-pack and rummages through the pack. The 1/2 Orc produces a little bit of dried meat from his pack and offers it to his pet weasel. The little creature scampers out of the folds of Petrok's cloak, and runs down the big man's arm, to reach the meat in the Grizzled Shaman's open palm.
If I didn't know any better ember...I'd say the spirits gifted me with a miniature swine instead of weasel... The Weasel gets a little overly excited devouring it's meal and nips the 1/2 Orc mystic's hand.. Ouch you little devil! You may come from the Gods only know where ..but, I'm only flesh and blood! Careful with those little needles you call teeth! The big Mystic's anger is clearly not serious, and it's plain that he and his companion are inseparable.
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An elf in a green cloak enters the room. On her back she carries a backpack, a bow and a sword. Next to her enter a wolf and a cat.
When she notices that others are also waiting she introduces herself. "Good day, may name is Elenial. Are you all waiting for Aram Zey's meeting? This is Barry, the wolf and Fabian." she says while pointing at her followers.
She sits down and waits.
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The Hao Jin Tapestry hangs on the wall of this stuffy basement room in the Grand Lodge. The tattered piece of fabric, five feet wide and seven feet long, looks more like a worn tablecloth than a storied artifact. The Pathfinder Society’s Master of Spells Aram Zey stands before the tapestry, his arms folded across his chest. He speaks without greeting.
“As you all surely know, the Society labors at some cost to assemble a dwarven relic known as the Sky Key.” The Master of Spells produces an intricately sculpted piece of metal decorated with fluid carvings. A sudden flash of excitement fills his weary eyes. “The object I hold in my hands is one of five pieces of that curiosity. The pieces that the Society has obtained so far share the same luster and artistic sensibilities, but have different shapes and functions within the assembled artifact. Today, hopefully, you will retrieve another piece. Previous missions lead us to believe that a fragment of the Sky Key lies within the tapestry, in the company of a dwarven clan that left Golarion for Hao Jin’s realm some time ago. Your task is to enter the tapestry and make contact with these dwarves, discern what they know about the Sky Key, and negotiate for their piece, should they still have it.”
The taciturn sage produces a hexagonal beard clasp of thick, polished metal. “Pathfinder agents retrieved this beard clasp from one of the sites that we suspected of holding the Sky Key fragment. It belonged to an ancestor of the dwarves who live in the tapestry, and it may assist you in your negotiations. Return it to me if it does not gain you the fragment you seek. We hold no particular ire for the dwarves. Retrieve the Sky Key fragment if possible, but try not to murder anyone.”
Aram Zey adds grudgingly, “Does anyone have any questions before I send you into tapestry?”
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*exasperated sigh*
"When I show you how to operate the Tapestry, you will be dropped in the immediate vicinity of Naldak's Point. As for their knowledge of their existence in a demi-plane: I cannot say. You will be making the first contact. What we do know is that they are the descendants of those who followed Prince Naldak, son of the last ruler of Jormurdun, King Gutheran.”
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The dwarf named Touchy is not the most inspiring comrade. His hair graying, his belly poking out from under a breastplate not quite sized right. He constantly leers at everyone, making them somewhat uncomfortable in short order. He sports the rather prominent religious trappings of Calistria.
"Excellent!" He says, with an ignoble smile. "Old King Gutherin made a name for himself back in the day... much like myself."
He spreads his arms, and smiles. "Lord Touchy, of Kravenkus, at your service."
"Or services." He adds, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Been a bit of a mystery, what happened to all his heirs." He adds. "Was with the lot that marched across the frozen wastes of Irrisen to find that cursed clasp. Near to froze my dangly bits off, I tell you."
"Came as quite the shock when all we found was a big hole." He explains, then laughs, before adding. "Not something I usually say."
"But my bits all recovered nicely." He adds, though no one asked.
He ignores Arem Zey's disapproving looks as goes to look at the tapestry up close.
"So they've all been hiding inside this carpet the whole time you say?" He adds absently.
"I'd have used a big bear skin rug, I think." He offers. "Then it could serve double duty!"
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Aram Zey looks at the "new" half-orc.
"... at least you won't make me repeat myself."
under his breath: "I swear we're going to need to add a "Master of Time Management" for training our new agents! ... hmm... it doesn't start with an "s" though..."
He regains his composure, and addresses the group.
"Now, did any of you need to make any purchases before heading into the Tapestry?"
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A stern looking woman in a blue andoran military uniform into the room, her blonde hair disheveled as she takes a stand by the door, performing a rather practiced salute.
"I am hereby reporting Lance Corporal Ron for duty!
The Flame Alchemist apologises for being late!"
A mere second later, a man in his late 30's walks in. He's likewise dressed in the blue and white uniform of the Eagle Knights, with a thick black overcoat hanging on his shoulders like a cape. While glancing over the occupants in the room, he starts tugging on the fingertips of his white gloves, before finally pulling them off his hands, and tugging them into the breast pocket on his coat.
"At ease." A short nod towards the woman tells that his words were ment for her, not the whole group. Probably. The soldier's posture becomes a bit more relaxed, though she seems to keep a sharp eye on the room.
"Explore. Report. Cooperate. Emphasis on the Cooperate." A short pause. " I'm here to ensure all of us come back in one piece, and I do that mostly by making sure threats to our lives are eliminated with haste. "
A heavy sigh escapes his lips. "I've just returned from an expedition to the Sky Citadel Jormurdun, and I do not want to see the same mistakes repeated here. Before we leave anywhere, make sure you have all the necessary equipments - this includes at least one vial of antitoxin, antiplague, and cure light wounds. Minimum. Does everyone have two spring-loaded wrist sheats? If not, I have an extra pair. The potion goes to the other one, you can choose the other's content yourself.
And just a reminder. If someone tells you to scatter - Do so. We almost lost a dwarf on the last mission when he ran to the middle of our group - and was nearly disintegrated by a fireball. A vial of Oil of Daylight is also recommended, as is a potion of touch of the sea, or something else that can prevent you from drowning. And something to deal with flying enemies."
Roni takes a moment to check his pockets to make sure he has everything he needs. "And honestly, don't worry about me. Make sure you stay safe, and your friends stay safe. Except if you see my expression turn vacant after some sort of mental spell directed at me - then you should scatter. Don't panic, unless it helps you scatter farther." Another short, pondering pause. "In short, stay cool, or you won't stay cool."
"Questions?"
Roni clearly doesn't intend to come off as arrogant or as if he was looking down on the rest of the party, but it seems clear that he's seen more than a few pathfinders lose their lives for not preparing properly and by acting rashly.
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When all of the You are ready to depart, Aram Zey teaches you a command word and instructs you to place your fingers one at a time on a specific spot in the tapestry. As long as you follow his instructions you are whisked away into the tapestry.
The hot, humid air announces an abrupt change in the local scenery. A large earthen hill fades into view, surrounded on each side by hills covered in vines, grass, and stands of jungle trees. In one direction, mountains rise until they meet a haze of thick clouds. In the other direction, the deep blue sky is barely visible through an expanse of thick jungle. Just ahead lies a small village, its stone buildings overrun with vegetation.
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Roni pulls out two wands at taps himself with each of them until they work. "First things first. Preparations."
-> Success, 11 charges left
-> Success, 10 charges left
Roni then offers the wand of lucky number for anyone else who wants a tap. "Anyone else? A Lucky Number could save your life!"
Afterwards, he proceeds to open a small satchel containing five vials, pulls out four of them, and downs them all one by one. The last of the vials he stuffs it into his other wrist sheath. There seems to be another, identical satchel on his belt.
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Denying Roni's offer Elenial attempts to stealthily move forward into the bushes next to the path.
"Stay there for a moment, let me check out if there's something mean. If I see something, I'll come back. If it's clear I'll make this noise and you can follow me." the elf says and makes a bird's chirp. "Unless you have another idea, of course."
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Elenial and Dark Claw notice that there appears to be a creature inside the circular structure.
Elenial is close enough to make out a few more details.
The horse-sized creature has the face of a dwarven woman wearing a silver nose ring. Her body resembles that of a large bear with scaly wings. A barbed tail writhes
She does not appear to have spotted you, or any of your companions.
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Eorsten moves towards the strange creature with intentions to peacefully parley but ready if combat start "Hello my name is Eorsten and I am a member of the Pathfinder Society I dont know if you know what it is, Aram Zey one of our greatest sages sent me to locate and talk to a race of dwarves that should live around here, you know something about them?
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Petrok steps to the right of the Paladin just behind hands clearly away from all sheathed weapons. Yes my gallant friends and I are searching for the descendants of Nadlak, son King Gutherin, last King of Jormurdun. We come in peace, wanting to parlay with the leaders of those, who now lead the clan.
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Upon noticing the group:
The horse-sized creature has the face of a dwarven woman wearing a silver nose ring. Her body resembles that of a large bear with scaly wings. A barbed tail writhes wildly behind her as she threatens with a sonorous growl.
After listening to the party's sincere sounding words, the creature loses her intimidating posture, hangs her head, and begins to speak,
“Master was last of Naldak’s Point dwarves. They were good and proud until evil came and took the youth away. Now they live in the mountain to the east. Their heads are bald and their skin is gray. They should cut their beards in shame.”
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"The youth shamed themselves by going. Those gray dwarves left Naldak's Point taking that path to the mountains." She says motioning to an overgrown path to the East of town.
"If you are in search of the true dwarves of Naldak's Point, as your green one said, know that my master was the last of them. They are no more. But if you are seeking out the shameful ones that brought that about, you may take these with you..." She rummages around and presents you with a scabbard and a wand.