In the ruins of a fallen empire built on the power of sin lies the key to awakening a great evil from a time long gone.
The Pathfinder Society isn't the only organization seeking this potent artifact, however, and the result of failure could mean disaster for the whole of Varisia and beyond.
* * *
The letter that arrives bears Venture-Captain Heidmarch’s seal, and seems to contain an enclosure.
“Greetings, Pathfinders! I have new information for you about our agents’ discoveries regarding the cult of Lissala. When the Ten learned of the cult’s active existence, they sent a team to infiltrate a cell in the industrial town of Palin’s Cove. During that mission we learned that the cult intends to bring back the ancient Thassilonian Runelord Krune to rule Varisia. Pathfinder agents next encountered Lissalans here in the City of Strangers and discovered that the cultists aim to return the runelord by using refuge tokens that he created for his followers to reach his hidden location. Our Pathfinders also uncovered the location of an ancient Lissalan shrine, documented to hold a cache of these refuge tokens. The enclosed map shows the location where the shrine is said to be—the fastest way there is from Kaer Maga west into the Wyvern Mountains.
Find the shrine and recover the refuge tokens so that we may use them to access Krune’s lair, thus preventing the Lissalans from raising their runelord. Don’t attempt to use the tokens yet—we also need to uncover the proper command words. And hurry, please! A group bearing the Sihedron—Lissala’s holy rune—was seen leaving the city two days ago. They must seek the shrine as well.
Should you have additional questions about your mission, seek out a trusted informant in the Downmarket District, a textile merchant named Allira Vandane. She will aid you as much as she can. May Desna smile upon you, Pathfinders.”
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... A strange looking octopus like creature finishes reading the letter. It looks up at the servant it recruited so long ago, an aquatic elf who looks like he had been drugged out of his mind. The elemental disguised as an octopus folds up the letter, stuffing it away in the Elf's bag, then splashes him with water.
The elf looks up with minimal signs of interest or surprise and looks to his familiar. The elemental points further down the way of Absalom. The elf then stands up, and begins to walk with the familiar leading the way.
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Arriving in the Downtown District, the elemental points to the shop of the textile merchant, Allira Vandane. The elf follows the elemental inside, and goes to have a seat.
"Hey.. How's it going everyone?" He says absent-minded. On his chest is a Tian tattoo that reads #13: Deep Tofu, which looks out of place. "I can cure any ailment that hits you, brothers and sisters." He says in a very peaceful and centered way.
Hexes: Healing, Herblore (Archetype Specific), Aura of Purity, Falter Blood Hex.
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A lanky elf, wearing a rumpled longcoat sidles up, stubbing a cigar out and pocketing it with a practiced gesture.
"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. Don't think I've worked with any of you before, I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
He pats his pockets absent-mindedly, pulling the out the cigar he just snubbed before reluctantly returning it after a glance at his surroundings.
"Mostly what I do is know things, and see things. I've been around a long time, and I've done a little bit of everything. I'm a detective, by trade, but I shouldn't slow you down too much in a fight, if it comes to it. Which it always does."
1st (6)—expeditious retreat, longarm, shield, monkey fish, OPEN, OPEN
2nd(2)—acute senses, defensive shock
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A bald androgynous humanoid seemingly just appears. "Chrone is how I am often referred," their voice seems to be spoken in two different octaves and in harmony. "I am to view this event. I have seen this event and will only observe, unless I must step in to correct." They carry very little, only a cloak, a headband, a wand, and a small pouch.
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"Kaer Maga again, Mvumbu. The City of Monsters. A more honest pit of corruption than most, but still, corrupt."
The speaker is a towering grey-black half orc warrior, clad in mithril breastplate and carrying multiple weapons. His hair is bleached white and worn in dreadlocks beneath a shapeless hat. His face is scarred and tattooed.
More unusual than any of that though, is his companion: a large hippopotamus clad in studded leather barding and a fine cloak. The hippo bellows in reply to the half orc as the two make their way to the rendezvous in Downmarket.
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"Kiboko greets you, fellow pathfinders. Kiboko has faced these Lissala cultists before. They were wizards and thieves, and they fell to Kiboko and Mvumbu. It is right that we should stop their plan."
The warrior motions towards his companion: "She is Mvumbu the Wise and Beautiful."
"Moooaaarrgghhh!!!" bellows Mvumbu the Wise and Beautiful.
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"Kiboko will take tea, friend. Mvumbu would like water, and cabbages to eat, if you have any. She will also eat cultists, if the opportunity arises. You did not tell Kiboko your name, friend Elf-With-Tea."
Kiboko regards Chrone next: "Kiboko hopes you have strong magic, Chrone. Kiboko sees no weapons upon you. What did you mean, you 'will only observe'? Kiboko is not here to babysit for tourists!"
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A heavily armored and well-armed Gnome walks in. She smiles at the party, radiating charismatic magnetism. "My name is Quiella of clan Durgil. You can also call me Holly. Or Holly's Harp. Or Hollysharp. But most people know me just as Quiella. I serve Erastil, and this my oath" she introduces herself before intoning:
I will always speak the truth
I will never slay a harmless being
I will always keep my oaths
I will never leave an ally behind on the field of battle
I will always seek to correct injustice
I will never give up in the face of evil
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Skidding into the doorway of the textile merchant is a lean human with pale blondish hair and brown eyes. Carrying a scimitar and several wands tucked into holders at his belt, the lightly armored warrior appears to have run in from the street.
Gesturing furiously through the doorway, the warrior yells to an unseen companion "You son of an ox! You call that navigation and conveyance! I'd have been better off attempting to swim the sewers to get here on time." Pausing from a shouted retort you cant quite make out, the man recoils and then yells again "You'll get no more from me you lout!"
Stomping away from the doorway, the man realizes he's made a bit of a fuss. At the edge of the sitting area, he regains his composure for a moment. "I am sorry my companions for that outburst. Travel in a foreign city is not my forte it appears." Bowing low, he continues, "I am Endrin of Manar, warrior and magus from the lands of Taldor. I do not think I have met or adventured with any of you and I ask for your indulgence at my tardiness."
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The elemental, Ikarus, begins to speak.
"Blrblrblrblbrlrblbrlblrlblrb!"
Suddenly Tofu goes into a trance and begins to whisper.
The magic of the trident sings out what he is saying.
To all of you have little knowledge of myself,
I am Ikarus; Lord and Master to this elf.
My servant, Deep Tofu, usually is not within the current hour.
Do not fret, however, for I will make him grant you power.
Those who are knowledgeable about history may recall more information about Thassilon's past.
Covering much of modern-day Varisia, Thassilon was an ancient empire that enslaved giants as warriors and laborers to build enormous monuments.
Each of Thassilon’s seven provinces was governed by a Runelord, a powerful wizard who embodied one of the seven deadly sins.
Krune was the slothful ruler of Haruka, which was east of modern-day Kaer Maga and north of Janderhoff.
The most powerful and audacious Thassilonians bound angels to their service to guard important locations.
* * *
Rumors on the street may provide useful information to knowledgeable or personable characters.
The Wyvern Mountains are home to fearsome aerial predators, such as wyverns and giants. Few expeditions travel there, so any site could have gone undiscovered.
A fellow Acadamae graduate recognized his former classmate Naroth Balam as the head Lissalan cultist leaving Kaer Maga 2 days ago. Back in Korvosa, Naroth focused so narrowly on conjuration magic that he completely forsook evocation and illusion spells—he was incapable of even using a wand or scroll of one of those schools.
The Lissalans abducted several travelers outside the city, including a dwarven merchant from Janderhoff and a Taldan noble.
The Lissalan cultists used enchantment spells to enslave their prisoners and summoned phantom horses before riding off at an incredible pace eastward.
* * *
Those who have made a study of religion may recall more information about Lissala.
Lissala is not a deity commonly worshiped among today’s faithful.
She was a lawful evil Thassilonian deity of runes, fate, obedience, and the reward of service.
Lissala is worshiped by Thassilonians as the goddess of magic. Her holy symbol is the Sihedron Rune, and her favored weapon is the whip. Her cult was known for its flagellations and mortifications of the flesh.
Lissalan temples are known to bless followers and curse unbelievers.
The market is bustling as usual, and in no time you find Allira Vandane. When she sees you she continues working her shop, but passes her customer off immediately to other assistants.
"Ah friends, business is good, but my real business is just beginning! How can I help you, you got Heidmarch's letter I take it?"
Downmarket is the name of one of the core districts in the Varisian city of Kaer Maga. It is the commercial heart of the city where countless foreign merchants set up temporary stalls and tents to display their wares and conduct business.
* * *
Standing atop the Storval Rise, the cliff-top city of Kaer Maga (pronounced kare MAH-gah) is built inside the ruins of an ancient fortress: a six-sided ring of 80-foot-high seamless stone, stretching more than a half mile in diameter and topped with towers of every shape and design. Also known as the Asylum Stone, Kaer Maga has served as a refuge for exiles, misfits, and ne'er-do-wells fleeing persecution and prosecution for thousands of years, and is known throughout Golarion as a place where anyone can fit in, and where anything can be bought and sold.
Though an anarchic "civilization", a loose consortium of groups, gangs, and families rule the people of Kaer Maga. The entire city is a melting pot of citizens from all cultures, such as the Ardoc family of Bis, the Brothers of the Seal, who are ready to kill each other over whether or not they should open the great portal they guard somewhere deep in the caverns beneath, the gently whistling Sweet-talkers of Tian, with their lips sewn shut to keep them from uttering the true name of their god, the troll seers who predict the future by casting divinations with their own intestines, and finally the bloatmages, with the leeches that keep them alive attached to their bulging bodies.
"That we did. Bit light on details. Hoping you could add more."
Allira Vandane is a human in her forties.
"The map you received has the location you are seeking as close as we know. According to our sources, the shrine lies about 100 miles west of Kaer Maga in the Wyvern Mountains, through the Ash-Blown lands. This is the most important information you need I suppose."
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"Ikarus. no sapient creature should be 'Master' over another... Tofu, do you hear Kiboko? This creature claims dominion over you. What say you, Elf-With-Tea?"
"My little buddy? He's my best friend." Tofu says, with a simple smile.
"Only by stabbing. Perhaps our friend Deep Tofu, though?"
"Uhhh... Maybe.. I don't know."
The elemental replies."Blrblrblrb."
Once again, Tofu mumbles the words the elemental says.
Feed me the spell, then yes, we can.
"Kiboko and Mvumbu are from the Mwangi Expanse. We are accustomed to heat.
Vandrane, how may we recognise the refuge tokens that we seek? And is there any mode of transport available in this pit of a city that might enable us to reach the Temple quickly?"
The woman thinks for a moment.
”To be honest we do not know what exactly they look like. The research indicates that several dozen are stored in the shrine. We don't know how many are hidden elsewhere. Please do
not break the tokens, as they do not transport you to Krune! Sheila will break you if you do so! We also need to learn the words that must be spoken when rending a token. Otherwise a broken token is worthless!“ she says with some concern.
”How you travel is of no concern to me. Remember that the Lissalans have a head start as they were seen leaving two days ago! Perhaps they will arrive ahead of you. Perhaps they have been mired with obstacles. Who knows?“
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Before we leave, Caelem is purchasing the following:
10 scrolls of endure elements
1 scroll of magic circle against evil
15 elven trail rations
blood-boiling pill
blood-chilling pill
2 antiplagues
2 antitoxins
smelling salts
a scroll of lesser restoration with five castings (2 PP)
for a total of 1,030 gold and 2 prestige.
"Do you know anything more of the shrine itself? What does it look like? Do you know anything more of the Lissalans?"
She shakes her head.
”I have no information on the shrine. And to be honest I thought you are the experts here. I doubt that I could tell you anything you don’t know! As you really have no clue how to travel I will organise horses for you. Here is the pickup location and hurry!“ she says with a stern look on her face.
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”Thank you for your information and your patience Ms Vandane. We will ensure we’re prepared to meet the Lissalans.”.
Turning to the others, ”I’m prepared to take the horses as the travel method as I do not have sufficient skill yet to enable us to travel magically. Does anyone else possess those means?”
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Kiboko makes a few purchases:
"Horses will have to suffice. Mvumbu will keep up with them."
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"I was prepared. Before we set off, I would get a closer look at all of your timelines." Chrone stares intently at each member (even the Hippo), their luminous pure white eyes seeming to see something that no one else can.
Components V, S
Effect
Range touch
Target one willing creature
Duration 24 hours or until discharged
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You are able to tweak tiny variables affecting a creature’s immediate future in order to grant the target a bit of luck at the right time. Roll a d20; once during the duration of lucky number, when the target creature rolls that result (regardless of what type of dice the target rolls), the creature has the option to either reroll the result or add a +2 luck bonus to the result. The creature must decide to use this ability before the success or failure of the original roll is known. A creature can have only one lucky number at a time. If lucky number is cast on a creature already affected by that spell, the new number replaces the previous one.
You all make the necessary preparations and purchase what you believe is going to support you on this mission!
The trek with the horses is uneventful.
In the mountain valley, sparse trees sprout from cracks in the steep cliffs, bending in the direction of the constant, howling wind. Piles of scree litter the ground at the base of the cliffs.
In a hollow with a muddied brook, a hole in the mountainside opens up. It was clearly excavated recently—piles of soil and rock flank the opening.
A perfectly square tunnel the height of an ogre cuts through worked stone, leading to a chamber beyond.
Light from within reveals muddy tracks in the dust that coats the floor of the tunnel.