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After a hurried summons to the Grand Lodge in Absalom, a quick conversation with Venture-Captain Alissa Moldreserva, and a wet, stormy trip across the Inner Sea to Andoran, the small, warm Pathfinder Lodge in Augustana is a welcome break from travel. “I can’t believe we are wasting our time on this matter,” says Caudron Wallace, the venture-captain of Augustana as he paces the main hall “Frankly, I want as little to do with it as possible, so I’m passing it on to you.”
Wallace nods toward a door at the back of the room. “The vagrant through there was found collapsed on our front steps gripping a wayfinder of all things. We still don’t know who he is. Talk to him, for the tale he tells is amazing if true, and then come back here."
When you enter the room at the back of the main hall, you find a small sitting room with six comfortable chairs and a few bookshelves filled with the latest Pathfinder Chronicles. An old, withered man sits in one of the chairs, half-dozing when you enter. His skin is shockingly pale and his features are sharp with high cheekbones and a jutting chin.
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Despite his incredibly filthy visage, matted white hair, and infirmity, when he awakes and regards you, he does so with a look of absolute, confident superiority.
“My loyal subjects, welcome! I know that some of you might not recognize me in my current state, but it is truly me, Gandros, the long-lost Prince of Augustana. I have been in hiding since the untimely death of my father, the Emperor, preparing for my return to glory. Unfortunately, I bear ill news. The army I have been gathering in the otherworld has been infiltrated by agents of our enemies. When last I called my forces together for inspection, dark assassins attacked me
and I barely escaped with my life."
He takes this opportunity to roll up his sleeve and reveals a series of recently inflicted claw and tooth marks on his right forearm. He then launches into a breathless retelling of how he came to be in the Lodge, without pause or acknowledgement of interruptions.
“I fled back through the magic portal to this realm. Grievously wounded, and with the assassins in close pursuit, I leapt into the dark river. I floated past the Almsman’s Sanctuary, but couldn’t climb out of the water. I did manage to grab one of the bridges, but a plank fell in with me. I held on for dear life and continued to drift downstream. I went over a waterfall and then emerged in the lake of ships and crawled to shore. Augustana has changed since I last walked my city’s bright streets, but I managed to find this house, bearing the symbol of my father’s empire.” He holds up the wayfinder hanging from a chain around his neck. “I knew I would find help here! If you remove the threat from my kingdom below and help restore me to my rightful place as Emperor of Andoran, I will grant you any boon within my power!”
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A woman, clad completely in polished metal and crimson, is the first to speak. Her voice is harsh, filled with years of strain, but demanding, that of a noble guard. "If I may, sir; with everything that's been going on here, is it the best idea to just...show up again? No subtlety, at all? You Andorans and your sudden plots cause so much trouble for Cheliax. Please tell me you have a better plan than just making an attempt to reclaim the place."
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A very tanned half-elf looks over the old man before studying the rest of the group with a slightly unnerving gaze, almost like a jungle cat. She has leopard spot tattoos on her forehead and around her eyes that further this comparision, with her shoulder-length black hair hiding exactly how far back they go. In sharp contrast, the intentionally dulled chain shirt and the hip quiver seems much too well-crafted to be anything but a recent purchase, though the backpack are older, but much-loved.
After listening to the geezer's story, she scratches her head and quietly asks the others, "This land, no king, yes?" Still, she looks over the wounds on his arm, in hopes that she can recognize the type of creature that made them.
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You both know that Augustana is an Inner Sea port city in the nation of Andoran located on Aspo Bay. It is the second-largest city in the nation, and boasts one of the largest shipyards of the Inner Sea region. As far as you are aware, this man is not in anyway an actual prince.
He turns to Andolyn, "Sir? I expect you to refer to me as 'My Prince' or 'My Liege' or 'Your Royal Highness'. As for your question, I am above the simple planning of such a venture, isn't that what you people are for? Perhaps you should ask your Captain Wallace out in the hall."
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"With all do respect, ser," Khoda addresses the old man, a scowl darkening the man’s features, "Andoran is a nation of the people. All are equal in the Birthplace of Freedom." The paladin brushes his faded amethyst cloak over one shoulder to reveal the blue and white uniform of the Eagle Knights, his chest swelling with pride. A moment later, a broad smile beats back the scowl as Khoda runs a hand through his graying hair, ”Then again, if what you say is true, you might be able to provide a different viewpoint as a member of parliament.” The older man scratches his chin and regards the “Prince.” Awfully old to be a prince, he thinks.
Khoda glances around the room at the others, ”Perhaps we should speak with Captain Wallace? I feel the Prince has provided us with enough to get going, no?”
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You return to the main hall where Captain Wallace immediately begins briefing you.
Captain Wallace: “My diviners say that there is some truth to his story. There has never been a Prince of Augustana, nor an Emperor in Andoran, but the old fellow has a surprising amount of knowledge of the pre-revolution noble families of the city. He may be the lost scion of some noble line. If so, he’s fallen far. From the filth and stink on him when we found him, we’re fairly certain he’s been living in or near a sewer. The wayfinder is also a mystery, but for now, it makes him one of ours. However, I’m more interested in his supposed gate to the otherworld. If it exists, I want to know about it. Implausible as it may seem, I’m certain that his injuries were caused by otherworldly beings. We must take the possibility of a portal seriously. I don’t want to dirty my hands with this, but you don’t have that choice.
Retrace the old man’s path through the sewers. The Almsman, whom he repeatedly mentions, is rumored to be an eccentric priest who runs some sort of hidden beggar’s sanctuary in the sewers. He may know where our prince’s portal is, if you can find him. But be warned; a local gang calling themselves the Steel Wyverns claims the sewers near the Almsman’s Sanctuary as their own territory.”
Venture-Captain Wallace shows you the spot on the map of the likely sewer outlet from which Gandros came. It’s near the north end of the crowded Augustana harbor, near where the north harbor wall hits land.
You can use Gather Information in town to learn a few additional bits of knowledge before venturing into the sewers. Venture-Captain Wallace knows nothing more than what he told you above.
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that the Steel Wyverns were once the most powerful criminal organization in the city, but they have been in decline for decades. Now they are a rag-tag gang of thugs and petty crooks. The wyverns prefer to fight with spiked chains, which they call “Wyvern stings.”
that the Almsman has recently started providing sanctuary and assistance to the city’s beggars. He is a mysterious figure who wears a mask, but most folk believe he is a priest. Most of the city’s poor do not know where his sanctuary is—those who do know won’t tell.
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The Paladin checks his pack before heading for the group sets out, ”If something has effected a fellow Pathfinder’s mind,” the older man says, ”then it is up to us to see he is taken car of, or, at the very least, that justice is brought to whatever has struck him with madness.”
Khoda slings his backpack over one shoulder and beams at the others, ”Looks like we’re heading into the sewers, eh? Never somewhere fun like the courts of Kyonin.”
Once in the streets, Khoda questions anyone that looks as if they might have information pertaining to their mission. ”It would appear that these Steel Wyverns are little more than street thugs. They’re no longer the powerful crime syndicate they once were. And this Almsman is some sort of anonymous priest to the poor. If he is truly providing shelter to the beggars, perhaps he’ll be kind enough to lend us assistance.”
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Terribly sorry I'm late...my summons got delayed. Git here as fast as I could. Shayna, if the Cassomir Therinors. Nice to meet you all. a tall woman of Taldan stock says breathlessly. Her armor glistens in the light, offset by the cold blackness of her wickedly curved blade. She walks with a deadly grace. So...can someone catch me up on the move? Shayna asks, fixing her hair into a tight tail, out if the way should combat happen.
Well, I have some experience in the sewers here...dealing with some kobolds...good thing I hadn't got my boots cleaned yet...[ooc]did Sewer Dragons of Absalom fyi....[/b]
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Nali parses the conversation while the others speak, and the late swashbuckler enters. After a momentary pause in the conversation, she speaks up. "So, enter sewers, find waterfall, find Almsman, and find portal. While doing this, fight disgraced street thugs, sewer monsters and maybe assassins?" After a moment, she adds, "Am I on point then, or scouting ahead? Can't remove traps, but very stealthy."
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Finding the sewer entrance could take a while, however Khoda comes across someone in the street that knows of its location. For a paltry 1 silver, he will show you where the entrance is. Not only does your source know where the primary entrance is, they also know of a maintenance access is that is disguised as a cellar door in an ally.
Do you take the primary entrance or the maintenance access hatch?
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Taking the maintenance hatch lets you bypass 100ft of wading through sewer water.
The smell of waste and rot is strong in this large chamber where filthy water flows in a series of cascades between tiered stone tanks. A raised platform in the east has what looks to be a makeshift alchemy lab on a rough-hewn table—beakers, glass vials, dirty bottles, and moldy buckets cover the entire surface of the table.
There are a total of three members of the Steel Wyvern gang here: two thugs sit bored near the table, fiddling with their spike chains and quietly bragging about past crimes to one another. A third, nicknamed Firedrake, stands at the makeshift alchemy lab, bent over several beakers as he slowly pours two mixtures together.
One of them stands up when he says you, "You lot better clear out, this is our turf."
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Shayna twirls her wicked blade around in her hands.
No, I think not. Were I you, I would take care who you threaten first, lest risk making a fool of one's self. Would you like to reconsider your words before I make you look like a complete idiot? she says, pointing the sword at the one who dared speak to her.
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"Yeah, sure, whatever, its that way." the thug points, "But watch yourself and don't be touching any of our things." he says as they stand at the ready, guarding their alchemist. "Ain't going to do you any favors neither, someone else catches you down there, they might kill you."
To continue, you'll need to travel east, past the Wyvern gang.
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Though Khoda bristles every time the masked woman insults Andoran, he forces himself to let it slide. After all, not everyone is a fan of freedom and equality. Who was he to judge? United in their allegiance to the Society, it would take the woman praising the merits of slavey to fully draw his ire.
”I’m not normally a fan of leading with threats but,” Khoda says to Shayna as he joins the woman, ”the scum that prey on innocents rarely respond to diplomatic missions, eh?” Still, Khoda draws his sword once out of sight of the thug. No telling how long before the trio rediscovered their courage and sent word for more of their friends.
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Ahead is a junction where a smaller sewer line once joined the main passage. The ceiling of the smaller passage partially collapsed, filling most of that tunnel with rubble. The surface of the rubble pile seems to shift strangely and closer examination reveals thousands of tiny vermin fleeing into cracks and shadows.
The ceiling here is stable, having already collapsed as much as it is likely to.
check reveals that a hollow point in the ceiling above the rubble could present a bigger danger as it traps sewer gas
This area of the sewer is pitch black, how is your character seeing if they are seeing at all?
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As you begin to move forward again, spiders, and a hell of a lot of them, begin swarming over everything and head towards you.
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Shayna
Angoldir
Khoda
Andolyn
Swarm Red
Swarm Orange
Nali
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Angoldir knows everything there is to know about locust (spider) swarms. (These are spiders, but in high tier, use the stats of a locust swarm)
His alchemist fire flies into the swarms and explodes with great effect...a little too great of an effect. The sewer gas ignites with the alchemist fire's explosion as well, causing a chain reaction, harming the spiders and pathfinders alike.
, DC 14 reflex for half
Shayna's acid flask, unfortunately misses and lands in the sewer water.
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Shayna
Angoldir
Khoda
Andolyn
Swarm Red, -10hp
Swarm Orange, -12hp
Nali
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Khoda is instantly knocked unconscious by high tier difficulty! (and bleeding out at -2hp! Sorry Khoda!)
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Shayna
Angoldir
Khoda, -14hp (-2 and bleeding out)
Andolyn
Swarm Red, -10hp
Swarm Orange, -12hp
Nali
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plus DC 12 fort save or be nauseated
plus DC 12 fort save or be nauseated
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Shayna, -6hp
Angoldir, (-13 DC 14 reflex for half)
Khoda, -13hp (-1 and bleeding out)
Andolyn(-13 DC 14 reflex for half)
Swarm Red, -10hp
Swarm Orange, -12hp
Nali(-13 DC 14 reflex for half)