|
Igor shuffles along the darkened halls of the Grand Lodge, with his step ladder and cleaning supplies, taking down the wall tapestries one by one, hanging them out the window and beating the dust out of them with his rug beater before returning them to their places along the wall.
|
A short Gnome roams the hallways of the Grand Lodge. He speaks in Gnome to himself. Almost as if he holds a conversation with someone who isn’t there.
”Yes Plak. We will show them what you can do!”
”My eidolon is mighty and powerful. Chaos he welcomes.
He walks the halls admiring all things. His white mustache curling up towards his forehead.
|
Former Master of Spells Aram Zey addresses the assembled Pathfinders as more agents stream into the Grand Lodge. “Pathfinders, an entire world is in danger! The Hao Jin Tapestry is on the brink of collapse. If we do not act now, all its wonders and its people will be lost to us forever. Find your assigned group, aid in our preparations to enter the demiplane however you can, and await further instructions.”
|
|
"Thank you so much for caring about my skin, Sir. The air is so dry here." Quen says to Igor.
"My name is Quen, it's nice to meet you. Do you have any idea where to go now? I want to help, but how. I'm new to this organization. I didn't even finish my courses here. I hope they do not send us into the tapestry. What happens if it gets destroyed. Are we captured in there forever?"
Countless Pathfinders stand ready in a large stone room deep beneath the Grand Lodge. A ragged tapestry covered in clashing colors and abstract symbols rests on an inclined slab in the center of the room, surrounded by scaffolds and ladders. Scholars frantically rush along the scaffolds, studying a flurry of rips appearing on the tapestry.
A harried oread woman approaches. “I am Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr. I won’t mince words—the situation is dire. This cloth is the famous Hao Jin Tapestry, an ancient relic the Pathfinder Society acquired in the Ruby Phoenix Tournament six years ago. It contains a vast wealth of locations, treasures, and peoples torn from Golarion by the sorceress Hao Jin. We have explored many regions of the tapestry, struggled to keep the Aspis Consortium from turning its populace against us, and devised a means to use the tapestry for fast travel across all of Golarion. But now, it has begun to unravel. We must act quickly to repair the tapestry—and that means sending agents into the demiplane itself. Our former Master of Spells, Aram Zey, knows more about the tapestry than anyone here. He is preparing a formal briefing. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with your team, discuss any previous experience you may have with the Hao Jin Tapestry, and gather what information and resources you can.”
”One more thing, and this is important: you will be able to retreat safely from the tapestry to Absalom. However, we cannot risk damaging the tapestry further by sending groups back and forth. Be sure that you gather everything you need before entering the tapestry, because once you return to Absalom, you will no longer be a part of this mission.”
As Pathfinders scramble to and fro, you have opportunities to prepare for the upcoming mission.
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
Absalom City Guard recently arrested a group of Aspis Consortium agents. The guards know they were trying to break into somewhere, but they aren’t sure where.
”Oh! The Consortium isn’t trying to break into the tapestry.” An elven woman giggles for much too long. ”We tried a week ago, but it’s too unstable. Your problem!” She sticks out her tongue from between the prison bars.
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
What do you know or remember about the Hao Jin Tapestry? You take a moment to recall memories and speak to other Pathfinders about their journeys.
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
DC 12 or higher
DC 15 or higher
DC 18 or higher
|
|
Igor suddenly pops up behind Westyr while she is speaking. With a clothing brush cleans the specks of her that in her rush have fallen off and dirtied her shoulders.
“...But now, it has begun to unravel....”
Igor thinks back to that new cleaning solution he concocted to clean the tapestries with. Without looking at it he quietly nudges a bucketful of the bubbling green stuff out of scene with his boot.
When he gets a chance he looks over the wall rug. It looks okay to the normally threadbare alchemist.
And gets a creepy(ier) feeling. Like he has awoken from a nightmare which is not actually all that strange come to think of it.
He checks his equipment and removes his little Galtish maid's bonnet. It looks as though they will be well-supplied.
Then when that is done he turns to aid his fellows with their preparations.
"We will have to prepare ourthelveth for all manner of environmental challengeth."
During his preparations he shouts:
|
|
From out of a broom closet there scuttles a small aberration wear a more or less complete Galtish maid's outfit. The horrid thing seems to be a crudely sewn together pastiche of every creature ever put in a bestiary (including the tojanida), a sort of collected crib note of fauna-kind. If ever anyone needed a remembrance of some mammal, insect, crustacean, reptile, or cephalopod they need only look at this thing for a hint.
"Ppppprrrrrrrrrrtttt." It squelches wetly.
Igor orders the ghastly collection of sewn parts to help him prepare, which the thing does.
|
|
By all the seas and the seven winds, what do they think I am? A carpet seller? Lemme see that loot, willya?
The half elf woman power walks toward the Igor and gets a look at the tapestry
An old, smelly rug like that, powerful?
See these six holes? I Heard of travels by pathfinders that were in these part of the world, didn't ya? Can't be a coincidence. My name is Evelyn, if you need a name.
she scratches her head, right Under the bandana up her hair. She doens't seems (too much) affected by Iggor's appearance
We're on the same crew, it seems. I'm a fencer and a sailor, what is your trade?
|
|
We're on the same crew, it seems. I'm a fencer and a sailor, what is your trade?
"I'm Igor" says Igor as if that explains everything.
|
|
Ruinor listens as the Master of Spells describes the problem at hand. Concerned that such a valuable relic could be lost, he moves closer to get a better look.
Without any formal training in weaving, the best he can do is help point out a few things.
He also does his best to help someone interrogate the prisoners.
Finally moving on to something he might be able to help with, he tries to recall what he has read about the tapestry.
Snapping to attention at the sudden chill up his spine, Ruinor tries to determine what it was.
He also tries to recall what he has heard from others about the tapestry
|
|
Grollax listens intently trying to pick up any useful knowledge from his fellow Pathfinders.
”Ive heard of Pathfinder agents adventuring in the tapestry and dealing with all manner of different peoples and creatures, from ratfolk and lizardfolk to ancient mummies and manipulative demons.”
A gnome says from the corner.
”I do believe my eidolon and I will enjoy this trip.”
”I can barely contain myself.”
|
Assess the Damage:
Interrogate the Snakes:
Knowledge of the Weave:
Something Is Watching:
Supply Check:
Tales from the Tapestry:
Travel Tips:
"A one-way trip, eh?" Zil digs through his pack. "A gnome must be prepared... Oh! I believe I know some people who can help!"
"All right, so I've never been in myself, but I've heard quite a few things about the Tapestry. Perhaps some of this will be of use to us?"
"Where are my manners?" The gnome sweeps his hat off his head in a low bow. "Zildaastin Pembledrove, at your humble service!"
|
|
Aram Zey cries out in alarm as a massive rip appears in the Hao Jin Tapestry. A silvery void dances within the breach. “The rifts are widening—we’re running out of time! Quickly, Pathfinders. Finish your preparations and gather around the tapestry.”
Aram Zey’s gaze remains fixed on the tapestry as he addresses the crowd around him. He is harried and pale, with dark bags under his bloodshot eyes. His hands tremble slightly as he sets a mug of coffee down on a table already littered with empty cups. “Pathfinders, the Hao Jin Tapestry is falling to pieces. Both the physical object you see before you and the mystical realm it contains have been unraveling for several months, possibly even longer. My only hope is that there is still time to save the tapestry
and those who live inside.”
The former Master of Spells glares at the tapestry for a moment, and then a new rip catches his attention. He jabs a finger at the frayed fabric. “There! You see? The degradation is causing—or perhaps caused by—rifts to the Astral Plane that are appearing throughout the demiplane. Fixing these tears is not as simple as stitching fabric or performing a few rituals. We must enter the tapestry itself, find the rifts, and repair them as best we can. But the tapestry is in chaos—undead horrors are emerging throughout the demiplane, and we do not quite understand why. On top of that, the people and creatures of the tapestry are reacting to the chaos, and they are only making matters worse! That, Pathfinders, is where you come in.”
Aram Zey finally turns to face the crowd gathered around him. “The tapestry is a massive realm, and we have spent years exploring it and using it for travel. I fear that our activities are at least partly responsible for the degradation. I don’t think it’s a coincidence many of the six most damaged areas of the tapestry are sites of previous Pathfinder missions.” Zey’s face twists into a pained expression, “My efforts to repair the demiplane over the course of the last several days have met with nothing but failure. The decline continues to accelerate. I have no choice but to send you into the tapestry to deal with the chaos around these six sites. I’ll be sending in other teams to perform the laborious work of patching the rifts once you’ve established control of the situation. Then I can work on a permanent solution. Time is of the essence. By my estimates, in a little over two day’s time, the entire demiplane will collapse without your efforts. I don’t care what motivates you, whether you want to preserve powerful artifacts, save innocent lives, or be a good Pathfinder—get in there and get the job done.”
Aram Zey returns his gaze to the tapestry, raising his hand to his forehead and wincing in pain. In a low grumble, he adds, “You all are this demiplane’s last hope. Don’t let them down.”
|
|
"Theeing how dirty it ith, we thhould give it a good beating before going in." Igor says raising his rug beater.
Aram Zey retreats to Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin approaches you to deliver some more information.
“As Aram Zey said, we have identified the six most damaged areas of the tapestry. Unfortunately, each of these areas is populated. In some of them, you’ll find allies who require aid, and in others long-time foes that would thwart our efforts. We must defeat these foes or win them over to our side. Choose your missions carefully! If you have visited the tapestry before, its people are likely to remember you, for good or ill.”
“I do have one piece of good news—the tapestry’s attempts to repair itself have caused loose threads from these six locations to connect to each other. What that means for you is that traveling between those locations once you’re inside should be straightforward. Advance scouts tell us these connections look like bridges made of tattered fabric decorated to resemble the two locations in the tapestry that the bridge connects.”
“As for getting back home, when you enter, you’ll leave a little blue portal behind you. It’s called an astral eddy, and it’s your personal connection to the Material Plane. Walk back into it, and you’ll reappear in Absalom. Once you’ve come home, though, we won’t be sending you back in.”
“You have two days to complete as many missions as you can, but don’t be so hasty that you throw away your lives. Take the time to rest if you find a safe place.”
Valsin hands you a sheet noting the missions. Six of them, in fact. Where will you go first?
Completing any of the missions below can assist in the Pathfinder Society’s efforts to secure a region of the tapestry. Choose carefully, as you likely do not have time to tackle every mission.
Mission 1: Visit our Muckmouth lizardfolk allies, help them fight back an incursion of undead, and secure a source of magic relics for their tribe.
Mission 2: Our ratfolk allies in Round Mountain sent out a call for help. The entire mountain is unstable, and dangerous creatures abound! Secure passage to the Pagoda of the Rat.
Mission 3: The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment has flourished since we cleansed it of corruption, but now its leader falters in the face of the tapestry’s chaos. Go to the temple and set things right.
Mission 4: The duergar of Slave Mountain are becoming more desperate and aggressive. They are taking slaves beneath the mountain and performing a disturbing ritual. Do what you can to understand their dark plot, and stop the ritual!
Mission 5: The Aspis Consortium poisoned many of the tapestry’s residents against us. Three factions have nonetheless agreed to meet with us. You must convince them to trust the Society in this desperate hour.
Mission 6: We know of a mystical fountain that never runs out of water and so could help with the tapestry’s repairs, but it has stopped working. Secure this eternal water source.
You place your hands upon the tapestry. With a word the world around you turns black. Finally your vision restores.
Incoherent murmurs and groans echo through this large, dark cave. Tall stalagmites emerge from the cave floor surrounded by shallow pools of water. Ahead, a dim purplish light emanating from a multifaceted black gemstone the size of a human skull illuminates several humanoid forms heaped around the stone.
As you approach, you witness thirteen unconscious bodies surrounding a solid black sapphire, dark as night itself. Four druegar soldiers surround the stone, and shout as they gather their weapons. One last creature shambles towards you, mumbling nothing but "Kill..."
Despite the enemy's zeal, they are clearly unprepared for your approach. The Pathfinders get to strike first!
Igor
Quen
Grollax
Zildaastin
Ruinor
Evelyn
Enemy
|
|
Igor quickly draws forth an alchemical packet full of flash powder and hands it to his horrible stitched-together pet.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The beetle-like chitinous shell on Scraps's back splits down the center revealing a pair of big, gossamer, insect wings. They hum to life and the paunchy homunculus rises into the cavern air and buzzes forward like an angry Valkyrie laden with the weapons war.
Evelyn wastes no time and opens fire, and the Druegar reels back as his armor fails him.
Scraps takes off to the sky like an angry bumblebee.
Igor and Scraps
Quen
Grollax
Zildaastin
Ruinor
Evelyn
Yellow Druegar (4 damage)
Enemy
The red creature shambles forward, reeking of death. He seems to ignore Ruinor's magic, yet he does not raise his arms...
The druegar draw their crossbows and call upon some magic. They turn invisible and you cannot see them.
Igor and Scraps
Quen
Grollax
Zildaastin (8 damage)
Ruinor
Evelyn
Yellow Druegar (4 damage, Invisible)
White Druegar (Invisible)
Black Druegar (Invisible)
Green Druegar (Invisible)
Red
|
|
"Oh, that's not good," Ruinor thinks to himself when he sees the druegar disappear. With nothing in his way, he decides to focus on what he can see and unleashes a jet of fire at the creature next to Zildaastin.
"Anyone know what that thing is?" he asks.
He then takes a step towards the stalagmite near him to hopefully limit what directions the invisible duegar can attack him from.
Ruinor ignites the red creature aflame. He does not recoil in pain, yet you see the fire burn.
And it continues to blaze.
Evelyn reloads her crossbow and fires at the only visible target. He goes down and his body continues to burn to ash. "Damn you..."
Quen hesitates and simply defends.
Two crossbow bolts appear as the White and Yellow druegar reappear.
Where did the other two druegar go?