The Hao Jin Tapestry has been through much over the years since the retrieval of the relic by the Society's agents. The contents have only been barely measured by the the Pathfinder Society and it is one of the most valued items within their possession.
You all have been called together to the Grand Lodge of Absalom alongside many dozen other Pathfinders all moving about and being organized into teams.
At the heart of this was a brief and aburpt summons from the former Master of Spells, Aram Zey ordering gathering of all available hands for an imminent mission into the Hao Jin Tapestry.
As you are all brought together into a team you have a moment of respite as you await orders from above.
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The half orc that comes in looks like the typical stock of warriors his race is famed for, a fine cloak over his shoulders and a smile on his face. His voice though is a remarkable even baritone.
"Greetings to all of you in Sheyln's name, I trust that you all have being well and this mission would have us all gathered for something important?"
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A tall, powerfully built woman in heavy armour and carrying a small arsenal of weapons walks in. She has the golden key of Abadar prominently displayed on her armour.
Master Zey called us all together, no doubt this is important. I understaand we are heading into the Tapetry. Has anyone travelled there before?
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In the warrior's wake, a tall, slender, pale-haired elf pads silently into the room. The hilt of a curve blade protrudes over one shoulder, a cased longbow over the other, and all of his clothing and armor has been carefully darkened to give no betraying gleam of reflected light. He glances quickly around the briefing room before relaxing. "Not I."
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A bulky Half-Orc walks into the room. His faded yellow shirt covered in blood, grim, sooth and mud making him appear as if he's just returned from traveling down a rather dangerous path.
Hearing the question he shakes his head
"Me neither"
He then nods at Tere
"Glad to see you once more"
before addressing the rest with a flourish bow
"The name is Thran, I'm sure you've heard of me by now? I'm sure my fame and exploits have preceded me?"
seeing confusion on the faces of most of the people present he seems a bit sad and his shoulders slump for a moment before straightening back up again and muttering to himself
" ..one of these days someone will recognize my name.." as he kicks at an imaginary pebble.
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A burly half-orc with a bevy of hilts and hafts sticking out at every conceivably reachable angle stomps into the room, talking to his cold iron greatsword. "Bert, look! It's the legendary Thran, teller of tales, quick with the inspiring word. Without him at our back, the Diamond City surely would have fallen. Good to see ya, mate!"
When he spots the female paladin, his tusky grin improbably widens even further. "Hortie? is that you? Good to see yer pretty face, though more welcome is that strong arm of yours. Hale and well-met. Good to see the Master Zey has brought together some proper villains for this raid of ours...Hopefully we won't be running into any more of those crazy trees, eh?"
"What's that Bert? Oh yeah, the rest of 'em. Hey everyone. I'm Urktar, this is Bert. I'm da brawn, he's da brains." He helpfully holds out the greatsword as an introduction. It does appear to be of masterwork quality, though the blade is nicked and dinged here and there. For the curious who are quick with a cantrip or orison, the blade does not radiate any magic. "If Bert starts griping about ol' Blackie, don't pay him no mind. Bert has not been retired, he just ain't used quite so much since I got this beauty." The half-orc begins to fondle the hilt of an adamantine falchion at his hip. His fawning attention to the weapon soon becomes quite...uncomfortably intimate.
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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.”
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.”
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With that the party is allowed for a moment to equip and prepare for the mission ahead with various tasks.
Various scholars and other experts are pulling out precision tools and glasses to pinpoint and examine the damage of the tapestry.
Talk around the lodge is that the Aspis Consortium is responsible for the current attack on the Tapestry. The Society and Aspis have had several major battles over the portal. A number of Aspis agents were recently arrested in Absalom and might be able to give more information on this event.
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Tere immediately sets to work with a set of thieves' tools, examining the frayed edges of the potent artifact.
After a time, he tentatively raises a hand. "Can someone write this down? Six areas of high damage, all where I've heard that the Society has worked extensively. The Tapestry is warm, but I can't tell why. These spots here, though, around the largest tears? They're cold. Really cold."
The Tapestry has been a major magical item within the Society for years and has been involved in various missions to seek out the ruins and relics within. Even not being on missions yourselves, a great amount of knowledge has been spread out throughout the Society for the party to recall or gather.
Teams are reviewing supplies, but are having difficulty wrangling the gear in such a small time frame and are in clear need of aid.
Other Pathfinder agents are preparing their own gear and swapping stories. Most are happy to share tales of their own adventures into the tapestry.
Looking at the map gives clear ideas of the terrain within the plane allowing the party to plan out their gear.
And yet, something feels wrong. Even with the vast number of people crowding into the area, you get an eerie feeling of something watching you.
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"I can't really tell how damaged it is so I'll have to trust your judgement Tere. I can't tell between a common rug and magical tapestry unfortunately."
"I did find out from the Apsis agents that were captured that they apparently knew the tapestry was unstable and they made contacts with other agents inside the Tapestry. They were manipulated into attacking us with stories made to rile the inhabitants against us. Contact was attempted but the magic used wasn't getting through."
"I asked a fellow pathfinder who's being there, she reports that the place is a bit of a patchwork mess. You can walk a couple dozen miles and go from a jungle to a desert and find yourself in the mountains. People ain’t much different either. She traded with both ratfolk and lizard folk tribes within there. Both are happy to have the Society’s hand to help them out. Some aren’t up for nice conversation and she may have had to fight her way through them."
He shrugs, "That's all I managed. I hope the rest of you have had better success then me."
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After taking some notes of what Tere mentioned Thran goes of to find some scholarly looking types to ask some more questions
..but he ends up just bumping into people and is unable to actually ask anything in any sort of polite manner.
He then goes back to thinking how best to travel
...and finds out that he bumped his head way to hard into the people he was just..interviewing to remember anything at the moment.
Thran recites a tale he heard before as he tries to focus his thoughts
As he grabs at his head he
senses that his headache might be due to some fleeting feeling of anxiety.
" Uhrm..guys...did anyone else feel like they sensed a malicious supernatural presence trying to enter your mind?. I was able to resist though as it vanished as quickly as it began. My mind was able to touch the malevolent force before it broke off.I felt its intent. The being wishes to feed on the chaos and death within the tapestry."
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After knocking a few Aspis heads together, Urktar lets the party know, "The Aspis weren't able to get back into the tapestry. Something about having no stables...what's that, Bert? Ooohh, that the place is UNstable. That makes more sense."
"Looking at the major areas in the Rug, I spotted caverns, deserts, valleys, and plains. The arrangement is strange, but it don't look like any are going to offer any hostile temperatures by themselves. Here, let me help you fellas prep for travel." Urktar sets about rearranging gear and making suggestions on how to handle the wide variety of terrain the party will face.
At Thran's words, Urktar gives a shudder. "I kinda felt something...like Blackie just shattered. It was horrible."
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Hortensia also tries to help out, although her skill set is somewhat limited.
She tries to attune herself too the weave of the tapesty.
Hortensia confers with Tere. Yes, very cold, perhaps related to the undead. She gives a grim smile and cracks her knuckles. I like sending the undead back to the grave.
She joins Seira to help with interrogating the Aspis prisoners. It would be better for you lot to talk, the Society and Aspis dont get along
She also spends some time asking around about the Tapestry.
Word around the lodge is that most inhabitants count as natives now, they cannot be got out with dismissal. Everyone knows about your eddy as well? Its the way back out for those of us who arent so is really important to remember. Dont want to get stuck in there is if collapses.
As well as listening out for tales fo those who have been there before.
Looks like a patchwork of terrain. Talk about demons and devils as well, this is sounding better and better. Maybe mummies too. You might want some sort of preparations to deal with fear or you can stay close to me.
As for the eeries feeling.
Yep, definately some sort of eeries malevolent presence. Hopefully we get the chance to smash it in its stupid face before this is done
Various scholars and other experts are pulling out precision tools and glasses to pinpoint and examine the damage of the tapestry.
Inspecting the tapestry you find that the largest holes are around the six regions the Pathfinder agents visited in the past few years. During the inspection you notice that the tapestry is radiating warmth. Despite that warmth there are spots around the largest tears that refuse the heat and feel as chill as the grave and the unliving.
Talk around the lodge is that the Aspis Consortium is responsible for the current attack on the Tapestry. The Society and Aspis have had several major battles over the portal. A number of Aspis agents were recently arrested in Absalom and might be able to give more information on this event.
You sway the agents and they do let you know that the Aspis Consortium recently tried to re-infiltrate the tapestry, but to no success. ”Believe me, they would have sent us in if there were any chance in the Hells to steal a profit. I don’t know much about magic jargon, but from the way the mages talked about it, seemed like the place was unstable, like trying to keep balance on a log down river.”
”I hear they even tried to contact some of the friends we made on our last trip through there. No word, said the magic isn’t getting through. Orders are to let them be, said no sense to put our heads on the chopping block for them.”
”Although they were a laugh to watch them charge at you. They really bought all the stories told about you all. Real laugh right around the card tables out at night. Told them that you Pathfinders were the ones that stuck them in there and bits about that. Got them all good and riled up those years back.”
The Tapestry has been a major magical item within the Society for years and has been involved in various missions to seek out the ruins and relics within. Even not being on missions yourselves, a great amount of knowledge has been spread out throughout the Society for the party to recall or gather.
Many regions within the tapestry are pulled directly from Golarion. However, most of the denizens within have lived there for their entire lives with some having many generations of ancestors born to the place.
When entering through the tapestry, Society members leave an astral eddy in their wake where they entered. They are only visible and activate for those who created them. Barring powerful magic, Pathfinders can return back to the lodge by passing through their own eddy.
GIven their history with in the plane, most creatures within are no longer natives to Golarion and their bodies treat the tapestry as their home making it impossible to dismiss them from the plane and complicating any attempt to release them out of the pocket dimension.
Other Pathfinder agents are preparing their own gear and swapping stories. Most are happy to share tales of their own adventures into the tapestry.
”I tell you the place is a bit of a patchwork mess. You can walk a couple dozen miles and go from a jungle to a desert and find yourself in the mountains. People ain’t much different either. I’ve traded with both ratfolk and lizard folk tribes within there. Both are happy to have the Society’s hand to help them out. Some aren’t up for nice conversation.” she raises her greatsword with a grin. ”But I have my blade to speak for me when that happens.”
A skittish halfling runs a blade over a whetstone as he recalls, ”Sounds like you got the nicer bunch of people in there. I’ve seen demons, devils, and mummies. They weren’t keen on talking. And anything they said is still ringing in my head even years later.” He pauses for a moment as he looks at the tapestry. ”I wonder if they would believe me if I called out sick today.”
A dwarf readies his crossbow with a grunt as he offers his own opinions. ”No sense quibbling. There are such dangers any mission. If you want to sit at a bar and nurse a drink then go for it. I’m more than ready to fight though. I’ve seen strange races out of their. Wordy bird people as well as devilish duergar,” he says with a spit. ”I’m ready to talk with who I can and end anything that has looks to harm anyone I care for.”
Looking at the map gives clear ideas of the terrain within the plane allowing the party to plan out their gear.
Looking at the major areas you see caverns, deserts, valleys, and plains. The arrangement is unusual but doesn’t look like any are going to offer any hostile temperatures for the party by themselves. You are able to take a moment to offer your expertise to the party, helping check gear and set it up for the terrain the party is facing.
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With both Tere and Hortensia well aware of the presence of the undead within the tapestry, they party will be ready for any battles with the reanimated ahead.
From the Aspis the party gained bits of knowledge about the allies they manipulated within the tapestry. The party might be able to leverage this information against them.
After speaking with many of the Pathfinders, Hortensia and Thran have more than enough information to keep the party prepared against anything the party might run up against within the tapestry.
Urktar's advice is sound and the preparations here may very well prove critical later on.
The party isn't able to locate the malevolent presence, but the knowledge does prepare you for anything more that might try to break into your minds.
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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.”
In the wake of Zey's words, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin strides up to you. Despite his well groomed hair making it seem as though he arrived here straight from the barber, his armor and blade are a clear sign that his is more than ready for battle. He confirms the group quickly before he gives out orders. "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—" Although his face shows no sign that he considers any part of this situation 'good.' -"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."
He takes a moment to look at the fraying tapestry, seemingly to direct the party to it, but it is clear he is keeping a close eye on the deterioration of the magical artifact. He dismisses the thought as he finishes giving your mission.
"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."
He hands you a parchment with a series of missions along with their locations within the tapestry demi-plane. He waits only a moment for questions before beginning to turn for another group.
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.
With touch of your hand and an incantation you are each pulled into the tapestry and quickly made your way to the cavernous homes of the Muckmouth lizardfolk trip.
Their caves are dry but littered with the bones of cave-dwelling fish. In the central cavern, a small band of bedraggled lizardfolk watch as their ancient leader limps forward.
Long strings of tiny bones dangle from her armbands, clacking on the stone floor. "I can see who you are from how you carry yourselves. Welcome, Pathfinder friends. I am Oosthic, and I remember my tribe's debt to you for rescuing our eggs and our home. We must call on your strength once more."
He gestures to his people and then down the winding passages beyond his tribe's dwellings.
"Our water has vanished. Without water, the Muckmouth grow weak. Many have perished seeking water in the ancient ruins beneath our home. The ruins are crumbling, and the living dead slither from the walls. I fear the serpent empire seeks vengeance against the Muckmouth for disturbing its ruins, but we had no choice. Destroy the undead and secure the lost magic of the serpentfolk for our tribe. The Muckmouth must survive!"
Due to the hast, their sentries are able to quickly lead you through twisting passages to a ruined city within a steep-walled mountain valley. Light is streaming down from above through breaks in the canopy. Ahead of you all see a massive ziggurat surrounded by crumbled buildings. Your guides stop short of entering the valley. "The undead claim these lands. Powerful and injured many. Our strength has waned and we rely on your aid. Good hunt Pathfinders."
You catch sight of the undead ahead. Three undead all glowing with a dull red radiance. Their flesh seemingly barely held in place by fragments of cloth and flesh. As you begin their climb they sense your approach and give an unholy screech as the combat begins.
The two undead in front are rotting corpses with bits of skeleton peeking out from their rotting flesh. They have a glowing red tint in their eyes as they begin to charge with only their claws as their weapons.
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The undead in the rear of their group is a dried desiccated corpse. The flesh of the creatures seemingly stitched together with bits and pieces of fiber that looks as though it came straight from the Tapestry itself.
Thran
Urktar
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Undead Blue
Undead Yellow
Undead Red
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Seiran is eager to follow his companions through the portal and upon meeting his lizardman allies has one of his favourite spells up.
"I have no idea what those things are but they definitely the ones we need to clear out." he says as he too strides forward and taps himself with a wand from his belt.
As Urktar approaches the utter despair in every fabric and movement of the mummy seeks to overwhelm the barbarian, even if only for a short time.
Radagast barely resists the aura himself, although Thran's song is definitely an aid.
The undead care nothing for
The undead swings carry the smell of death and rot, but they are slow and easy to avoid as they make clumsy swings. Even the powerful mummy's attacks aren't able to connect with Uktar, as long as he is able to move out the way that is.
Hortensia recalls that the wights are naturally vulenrable to resurrection magic. Magic like raise dead has a chance of instantly killing them, even without the typical reagents the magic requires.
The dry flesh of the mummy makes it resistant to all physical blows but makes it vulnerable to fire and flames.
Thran (Will Save)
Urktar
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Wight Blue
Wight Yellow
Mummy Red
Radagast's ferocious attacks tear through the undead, breaking through flesh and bone. The pieces crumble the to ground and begin to boil until they left as lifeless soil, earth, and fabric. Hortensia quickly redirect her attack to the mummy and deals a heavy blow to the undead. It holds steady though as it proves far more resilient than the wights.
Thran (Will Save)
Urktar
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Wight Blue (29 damage)
Wight Yellow
Mummy Red (20 damage)
Thran
Urktar (Will Save)
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Wight Yellow (25 damage)
Mummy Red
Thran
Urktar
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Wight Yellow (25 damage)
Mummy Red
With the wight barely able able to hold together it takes a faltering swing at the paladin. No chance of breaking through the armor.
The mummy lunges forward trying ot connect with Radagast. They give a reverberating rasp as it puts all of its power behind the attack. The attack barely misses the transformed druid.
Thran
Urktar
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Wight Yellow (25 damage)
Mummy Red (charge)
Radagast's attacks rip and shred despite the mummy resisting every blow. The undead still fights on despite the major injuries.
Thran
Urktar
Tere
Hortensia
Seiran
Radagast
Wight Yellow (25 damage)
Mummy Red (38 damage, charge)