As Waggi hurries forward and takes cover, he spots one of the agents that the slaver called for. He launches his arrow and it finds its mark, burying deep in the woman.
She has only time to turn and spot the archer before Fiata comes barreling around the other way and cuts her down with a devastating combination of magic and steel.
Fiata also spots another woman in the inner sanctum. She looks up from her table where she has been studying some object and lets out a put upon sigh.
"Why must there be so many interruptions to my work?"
The half-elven woman scoops up two scrolls and they undergo amazing transformations in her hands, one becoming a short sword and the other a shield. They retain the appearance of paper but are clearly much more durable as she takes a swing at Fiata.
She manages to land an impressive but not devastating blow.
A row of columns lines the inside of this tall, thin dome, each decorated with intricate carvings. The walls are completely covered in flowing script, etched into the red-brown stone with the delicacy of fine calligraphy. In the room’s center, a massive mountain of bronze rises nearly thirty feet. Several crates are visible on the south side of the stylized mountain, opposite the stepped entryway. The flicker of an unseen flame illuminates the room in dim light, the shadows shifting as if something were moving in front of its source.
Round 4 - The Bold May Act
Pathfinders
Apsis
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Waggi's grin widens as another of these 'snake people' crash to the ground in a bloody, lifeless heap. These Pathfinders pay us to do this? Much like raiding work back home..
The crazed Ulfen continues his march ahead, zinging another arrow at the strange half elf. It flies far from its mark.
"Throw down your paper or die here Southerner."
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Late to the action, Castinus hears the melee begin on the far side of the sanctum. Swearing under his breath, he hustles clockwise around the centre, catching sight of their opponent just as Fiata drops injured to the ground. Dropping his bow he draws his rapier and advances into contact, trying to distract the enemy's attention and aid Kal'rion's next attack; "Let's dance, lady"
Move action into contact drawing rapier, free action drop shortbow, stnd action Aid. Apologies, I neglected to update the map with the move action from last round. Now done, as well as this round.
Itham and Dana's mystical projectiles both strike true (as they always do) and set the woman up for Fiata's finishing blow. It is hard to tell which woman collapses first but they both end up on the floor at almost the same moment as though they were two marionettes whose strings were severed by the same snip of the shears.
And just like that, it seems that the Temple is now in the hands of the Pathfinders. The chamber they're in seems to have been turned into a treasure trove and the desk, chair and other surfaces are covered with papers of various sorts and several crates are scattered around the room.
The temple’s inner sanctum is an elaborate representation of Ragdya’s holy texts and major religious iconography, including the legendary mountain Bahmenu upon which he is said to reside. The elaborate carvings on the columns and walls depict scenes from the legendary deeds, from his youthful escapades stealing from the six-armed calikangs of Astangapur, to his wooing of his hundred brides, to his crossing the sea on the back of a celestial garuda.
war, and Gruhastha, god of protection.
The brass mountain at the sanctum’s center is hollow, and holds within it a great statue of Ragdya and a gold-and-gem-encrusted mosaic covering its inner surface. A narrow, 10-foot-high archway in the mountain’s southern face provides access to the statue.
2 Everburning torches and a lantern illuminate the inner sanctum and spill their light out into the rest of the chamber.
With the Apsis agents downed, the slaves sink down to the ground and almost immediately start shivering as the sweat they worked up while working starts to cool. They watch the Pathfinders warily.
"Can you help us?" the oldest appearing one asks Castinus.
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Dana overhears the pleads for help.
”Of course we will help you! We will end slavery whenever we see it!“
”This was an easier fight then I anticipated! Into you all seem to be much more knowledgeable and experienced then you let me believe! It is almost said that you will be forgotten soon ... “ she says with a troubled facial expression.
”And look here: Other deities from the Vudran pantheon play roles in many of these scenes, including Likha, goddess of fables, Chamidu, goddess of beasts, Suyuddha, goddess of
war, and Gruhastha, god of protection. “
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"We will do all we can for you, and escort you to safety if possible. Come here into the inner sanctum. Take the clothes from your jailors - they have no further need of them.".
Later, when their immediate needs have nbeen addressed, Castinus approaches the most cogent, most aware of the slaves, and asks "Now, you must tell us how you came to be here, pressed into forced labour at the hands of the Aspis Consortium. You are a long way from home I believe. Where is home and how did you get here? Can you tell us anything of your captors' intent?"
In between, Castinus retrieves his dropped bow, and casts a suspicious glance at Dana; "What a curious thing to say Ms Katsu. Whatever do you mean? Do your colleagues have a habit of becoming...forgotten?"
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Oops sorry Fiata - I forgot you were down!
"Do any of us have any healing items? It appears Ms Oe still breaths, for now. I myself am ill-equipped to revive her. Ah, thank you."
Retrieving one of the group's two healing options from where they had been carried, he poured it down the injured sylph's throat and watched her wounds start to seal shut.
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Eyes flutter open. "Oooh, am I gonna have a head ache tomorrow." Fiata slowly rises as she retrieves her weapon. "So, I guess that means we one. Yay us."
I really must work on my defensive stance. Twice today have I been laid low. To think one of them was a mere 'scrollmaster'! My instructors would have a field day with that tidbit.
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Seeing everyone run around to clean up after combat impresses Itham and he tries to lend a helping hand as he goes. He himself doesn't know what to do so he just mimics what others are doing or helping them with any tasks.
He is also thankful that despite him helping in the combat, he still has not had the displeasure of a killing blow.
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Seeing the woman fall, Kal'ryon shoulders his pole arm and approaches Fiata. He pulls out a dark black and knobby wand and begins to wave it towards the Sylph... but before he can finish Castinious has poured a potion into her mouth.
"Why, thank you kind sir! I would have gladly used by own magic- though it does have a tendency to make others somewhat... uncomfortable."
*twitch*
Kal moves about the room, looking for anything interesting or useful in the clutter.
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The women continue to watch Waggi warily until he lowers his bow and moves on to other tasks. Then, slowly at first, but with more urgency and confidence, they ransack the bodies of the fallen Apsis agents for clothing. They are loathe to even touch the man who was wielding the whip but between the three bodies they find enough clothing to keep the 4 of them warm.
While taking the clothes off the dark clothed woman that Waggi and Fiata downed first, they knock a bronze badge with the logo of the Apsis Consortium loose and it falls to the floor with a solid ring. One of the former slaves takes a silver badge with the same design out of a hidden pocket from the shirt that the woman who wielded parchment was wearing and tosses it down, as well.
The oldest woman, with graying blonde hair and stern eyes, steps forward to answer Castinus’ questions. ”We don’t really know how we got here. We’ve been trying to puzzle it out in the few times we weren’t working or passed out from exhaustion.”
”We were all bought at the slave markets in Okeno. We were taken aboard a ship and forced to row for months.”
”No, it was only 6 weeks, I’m sure of it!” chimes in the plump woman.
”Hush, Jervelynn! I’m sure it was at least 3 months,” a dark haired, sharp featured woman counters.
”All we know is that it was months,” the first speaker continues.
”And we were below decks the whole time so we’re not sure where we went. It must have been a long way because when we docked we were forced to drink some foul liquid that put us all to sleep and when we awoke, we were here where it is so cold. Where are we, anyway?”
She looks at Waggi. ”In Ulfen lands?”
The sharp featured woman doesn’t bother waiting for the answer. ”We don’t really know what these people are doing here. But it must be important, there have been a lot of agents come through here.”
”There was stinky, and horn head, and one-eye, and the leerer…”
”Shut up, Jervelynn! They don’t want to hear what we called them all,” the sharp featured woman continues, causing Jervelynn to hug the last ex-slave, a teenager who hasn’t spoken yet, closer to her.
”There have been about 20 come and go in the weeks we’ve been here, by my count, unless some never came near us,” the older woman picks up again.
”But who you’re interest in is probably Leska. She’s obviously the leader here. A half-orc woman with a face that looks like she’s always smelling something unpleasant. She left a few days ago with her lieutenant—a mysterious man with a Tian accent who didn’t seem to be a member of the Aspis Consortium himself—and a ratfolk who arrived a few days earlier and had been treated with exceptional respect. Where they were going or how long they planned to be away, I have no idea.”
While Castinus and anyone else is getting that info, the rest of the party searches the room and fallen Apsis Agents.
They find a scroll, tanglefoot bag, masterwork studded leather (that glows when Fiata examines it,) and a masterwork whip on the slave driver as well as a bill of purchase for 4 slaves.
On the woman in black, they find a potion, a vial of antitoxin, a masterwork chain shirt, 3 daggers, a sap and 4 sunrods.
On the papercutter, they find 6 scrolls (including the ones that she turned into sword and shield, which reverted when she lost consciousness) and, in the pile of papers on the desk, they find her spellbook.
At the desk is a detailed map, albeit somewhat allegorical and stylized, of the Vudran peninsula. Upon close inspection the Pathfinders realize the map reveals it hides within it the workings of a know direction spell and functions as a scroll of the same spell.
A small golden statuette of an asura (a many-armed and grotesquely tusked seminaked woman) is partially wrapped for transport to Golarion proper and rests in one of the Aspis Consortium’s crates here.
A much larger statue has been wrapped in blankets and tied with tough twine, and lies on its side beneath the desk. This statue, looks to be the right size to fit in the hole that was being used as a fire pit in the first room the party entered. The statue weighs 1,000 pounds.
Waggi also spots a hidden compartment in the desk. In this hidden drawer Leska keeps a secret account of the Tian ninja Yashi Momota’s recent tagging along on Aspis Consortium missions. She believes he represents only the first stage in a growing alliance between the Consortium and the Golden League of Goka, and has details on other evidence that she believes supports her theory.
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Dana listens and later analyses the scroll that was with the tanglefoot bag with read magic.
Then Dana checks to see if the bill of purchase of four slaves provides any further clues. If not she hands the bill over to the women.
”Thank you for all the information! We will find these other agents and you can have this bill which hopefully will give you back your freedom!“
She checks the papercutter’s they 6 scrolls next with read magic.
”See here everyone: The small statue is a depiction of a beatific one asura! “
”And... The large statue is Meenashdu, god of charity and almsgiving! “
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Waggi looks up from pawing through the desk to answer the graying woman's question "Not the North Lands. We are in a cloth picture on the wall." These soft women rowed for months... unlikely.
He shrugs to discourage any more questions and looks through the rest of the gear, pulling over the magical studded leather with interest. "Good magic? I'll use." He starts stripping off his already borrowed MW studded leather to try on the improved armored.
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Debriefing the ex-slaves, Castinus pulls out a leather-bound notebook, and makes detailed notes with a small, well-used pencil. "About Aspis total, including 'stinky, one-eye, the leerer, hornhead...hmm a tiefling maybe?...lead by a halfy called Leska plus a Tian second. And a ratfolk. Hmm." Castinus seeks physical descriptions of each, with their weapons and armour. He wants to form an impression of how experienced a crew the Society is competing against and how well equipped they are.
Observing the extra badges gathered from the dead Consortium agents he remarks to the others, "That's five of these we've found. They may come in useful if we need to talk our way past the Consortium in the future. I'll take the silver badge - I've done a little undercover work in the past..."
Castinus is not great at Bluff - is anyone else? If so he willingly hands it over. If we need to Intimidate our way past this Castinus is our man, at 1d20 + 1d6 + 6.
Sorting through the assorted loot gathered on the floor of the sanctum, Castinus gathers it and offers it around, "I'll leave these scrolls to you arcane types," he says, "but this alchemical kit I can put to use. What about this studded leather or chain shirt? I'd like to take the leathers, if no-one else objects?"
He takes the tangle foot bag and antitoxin, and sniffs the potion , then shares the other loot about the group according to what each can carry. "This is exactly what the society wanted us to find out."
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The large Ulfen raises an eyebrow to the Half elf as he tries to claim the studded leather. "Use this one I took from the demon man we killed before you showed up." His tone is definitely reminding him of the fact he was late.
"So these badges mean the are all Aspis snake men? We should take them yes." He pockets one of the bronze ones.
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Castinus examines Waggi's discarded studded leathers, sniffs then gingerly, then returns them. "I'll take the chain shirt. These leathers are now infested with the lice you caught from laying with your sister." He smiles at the archer, hoping he is still hitting the right note in Ulfen humour.
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Fiata consoles the women. She also offers them rations and water. "I am so sorry for what has happened to you. You are all so strong. Here, this should help you to regain your strength. Not too fast now."
Fiata considers their story. "There is obviously another entrance to this land. Their presence here proves it. The question is, how do we get them home? The Master of Scrolls said that the tapestry could be used to cover long distances. So it is possible that, if they are from Golarion, they could leave through the rift we came through. Otherwise, we may need to find the spot they came through."
"In either case, it might be nice to get warm near the fire. Set guards up in case our Aspis friends come back, and figure out just what our story will be if we run into more of them."
Dana successfully identifies the scrolls as scroll of lesser restoration, scroll of bear’s endurance, scroll of cause fear, scroll of charm person, scroll of false life, 2 scrolls of identify, and a scroll of tongues,
Fiata determines the studded leather is +1, that the potion is cure light wounds and that the spellbook has the following spells – burning hands, charm person, comprehend languages, expeditious retreat, feather fall, mage armor, magic missile, arcane mark, detect magic, mage hand, and read magic.
The former slaves are glad to tell Castinus all they know. It doesn’t take long before he realizes that most of the names they give him are just the nicknames they came up with amongst themselves for the people they saw. The only real names they can agree upon are Leska and Groetus, who is the slain slave driver.
They are extremely grateful for the kindness that the Pathfinders provide them. But grow visibly dismayed when they find out they’re in a wall hanging.
”What does that mean?” Jersalynne demands in a wail.
They are no more pleased as it becomes evident that the Pathfinders don’t have a clear way to get them home.
They are happy to get to a fire and follow the group back through the temple. As the Pathfinders leave the inner sanctum and pass through the room where the slaves were chopping at the ice, they will find themselves face to face with Leska. There is no mistaking the half-orc woman or the expression of utter disdain she has.
”I leave for a couple days and what happens? Vermin moves in. Well, there’s nothing for a Pathfinder infestation except for to exterminate them all,” she snarls.
Standing next to her is a rather nervous ratfolk with a flute in his hands.
The ratfolk immediately begins playing a tune, one obviously meant to inspire courage in his ally.
Round 1 - The Bold May Act
Ratfolk
Pathfinders
Leska
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With the party caught unprepared by the sudden appearance of the Aspis leader, all opportunity for a non-confrontational solution evaporate. Castinus, rapier in hand, retrieves an extract from his coat and drinks it
"You're done here - run from us or be run through ! " He raises his weapon in direct challenge. "Or do you know how to handle those little knives of yours?"
Move action to manipulate alchemist extract, standard action to drink/cast. AC now boosted by chain shirt and 'Shield'.
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Waggi shrugs once again in response to the 'What does that even mean?' question from the thrall. Its not like he has a better answer to give, he doesn't know either.
He walks silently back towards the exit with the others, quickly picking up on the sounds of company. "Ambush! More snake men!" He hollers warning and his eyes lock on to his favored enemy. Half orc, half man. Your ways are still the same!
Waggi moves forward a bit and draws his bow, firing an obstructed shot around his companions at the half orc.
Dana's psychic missile knocks the half-orc woman off her feet a moment before Kal'Ryon lays her open with one well placed slash of his claw. She is about to cut back at him with one of her kukris when Waggi's well placed arrow gives her pause. There is an instant when she verges on consciousness before her jaw visibly sets, her tusks out-thrust even more prominently and she growls bestially as she slashes at Kal'Ryon then promptly passes out.
The ratfolk let's out a squeak of pain as Dana's mind projectile hits him but does not fall. He avoids Fiata's strike and steps back carefully, pulling a vial from a pouch at this side. Drinking it, he disappears.
Then, a voice speaks out lowly and angrily in Tian. You suspect it's a curse word, unless you speak Tian, then you know it's a curse word. A moment later, a man dressed in ninja garb drops from the place he was clinging to on the wall, unnoticed by the Pathfinders until that moment.
"I yield," he says, hands held up in surrender.
Round 2 - The Bold May Act
Ratfolk (Disappeared)
Pathfinders
Kal'Ryon -18HP
Leska (Downed - Bleeding Out)
Ninja (Surrendered?)
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Rapier still raised, Castinus steps forward to where Kalryon and the halfie lie collapsed at each other's side. He is horrified by the deep gashes inflicted on Kalryon by the twin kukris, but he senses that life has not yet departed.
Warily watching for any hostile move from the freshly materialised ninja or the now-invisible ratfolk, he fishes into an inside pocket for one of their looted heal potions. "That may be Yashi Momota of the Golden League of Goka - we need him alive".
It feels vulnerable to crouch and administer the potion to the fallen Ganzi; at last the shimmering haze of his magical shield extract gives him some comfort.
5' step, move to retrieve potion, stnd action to administer Hey - welcome back!
Very slowly and with obvious care not to make any moves that might be misconstrued as aggressive, the ninja drops a siangham and 5 shuriken to the stone floor.
"How do you know my name?" he demands.
Before that question can be answered there is a yelp of surprise and the tinkling of tiny bells coming from the banyan tree laying across the bridge at the entrance of the temple. One of the branches snaps up, dangling a rope that seems to shake wildly of it's own accord.
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Castinus glances momentarily at the commotion by the banyan tree, then rises from where he was tending to the fallen Ganzi and addresses the ninja.
"Honorable Momota-san. Word of your movements, your associations with the Consortium has spread far and wide. Whilst you have some skills in stealth and concealment, your skill is no match for the arcane arts and divine powers of our superiors. We know of your links with the Golden League. We know of the assistance you have provided to the Aspis thugs here in the Tapestry. More than this I will not say. But perhaps, you might find an exchange with the Pathfinders of Absalom could be of mutual benefit. Perhaps, we could work together as partners, not enemies. Perhaps, our business with you might prove less...unpleasant", at this point he grinds his boot heel into the wounds of the almost but not quite yet expired halforc on the ground beneath him, "than it has for others."
Momota keeps his hands visible but shows a stoic lack of fear or worry as Waggi approaches and removes his weapons. He watches the Ulfen move away before turning his attention to the others.
His face remains stony and implacable for several long moments. Long enough to make his questioners wonder if he's going to answer at all.
Then, he sighs. "I suppose it matters little if I tell you what I know. It is not as though she can tell anyone of what I say. The goals of the Apsis Consortium and the Golden league currently align. My masters sent me here to work with these people and provide them what aid I can. It is as simple as that. We left 2 days ago with...him" he gestures to the trap across the bridge. "I don't know to what purpose but Leska made us turn around for some reason she did not share. And when we returned, we found the destruction you left and set out to kill you."
As Waggi aims his bow at what appears to be empty air, the rope abruptly goes very still, though it twists slowly back and forth.
"I don't think you know where I am," a disembodied voice very quietly replies.
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Castinus sighs and lowers his rapier marginally. With a sympathetic tone he entreats the ninja to open up: "Momota-San, we are all just game pieces on a board; let us deal with each other openly and then leave each other be. We know that there were maybe 20 Aspis who passed by this shrine. All we need from you is how the Aspis travelled from Tien into the Tapestry, and where the rest of their crew have travelled from here. Share these truths with us, and you will have your liberty and my gratitude, to be redeemed in the future as long as it does not compromise the objectives of the Pathfinders. Do we have a deal?"
Castinus persists until he gets as much information on the Aspis as is possible.
Despite the position he is in Momota wears a bemused smile as Castinus continues his questioning.
"Persistent, aren't you? Well, believe it or not, she wasn't very forthcoming with her plans or the plans of the Consortium. All I know is that she was sent here to set up a base from which to carry out other assignments."
"As far as how I got here, I came out in this realm from a sphinx in a great desert. The other end of the portal is somewhere in Varisia. I know no more than that," he finishes with a shrug.
Kal'Ryon will easily identify that the ratfolk they saw is still hanging from the snare that originally trapped him.
"No, no, no, no, no, no!" the voice shouts after Waggi fires his first arrow.
"Stop shooting! Stop shooting! It's a potion! It has to wear off by itself!"
Waggi's 3rd arrow obviously finds its mark. [/b]"Ow! Someone stop him! He's trying to kill me!"[/b]
Despite the position he is in Momota wears a bemused smile as Castinus continues his questioning.
"Persistent, aren't you? Well, believe it or not, she wasn't very forthcoming with her plans or the plans of the Consortium. All I know is that she was sent here to set up a base from which to carry out other assignments."
"As far as how I got here, I came out in this realm from a sphinx in a great desert. The other end of the portal is somewhere in Varisia. I know no more than that," he finishes with a shrug.
Kal'Ryon will easily identify that the ratfolk they saw is still hanging from the snare that originally trapped him.
"No, no, no, no, no, no!" the voice shouts after Waggi fires his first arrow.
"Stop shooting! Stop shooting! It's a potion! It has to wear off by itself!"
Waggi's 3rd arrow obviously finds its mark. "Ow! Someone stop him! He's trying to kill me!"
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Castinus appraises Momoto carefully. In this frozen wilderness it seems absurd to hear that the Aspis entered via a desert location, but he has heard that the barriers between different climates here in the Tapestry are abrupt and unpredictable. Is there any evidence in the ninja's clothing or equipment to substantiate this claim?
Assuming he sees little "Momota-san, thank you. This information is helpful to me and I will stand by my conditional offer of future assistance. I sincerely hope that you and I will not have cause to directly oppose each other in the struggle to come."
Castinus turns to the other members of the party, and sotto voice says "Are we done here? We have routed the Consortium, we have looted their forward base, we have identified a potential site for their ingress into this demi-plane; do we now return to the Master of Spells to report our success?"
He continues, "My only worry is what to do with those we leave behind. I have offered Momoto-san his liberty; I have no such concern for the rat-man. I say we slay him and the others you left stabilised after your combat before I arrived. As for the ex-slave, all we can do is furnish them with the Aspis guards' clothes and let then loose to find a environment they can prosper within. Do you agree?"
Castinus shivers. He is fed up with this frozen shrine, and longs to return to Absalom with news of success.