The Grand Lodge of Absalom is abuzz with activity due to the summons by the former Master of Spells, Aram Zey. In familiar fashion, the summons was abrupt and brusque. "All available Pathfinders must gather in Skyreach immediately, even the woefully under-qualified. Be prepared for a critical mission in the Hao Jin Tapestry. More desperately needed instructions will follow." As you enter the tower, Pathfinder aides are on hand to direct the chaos, splitting arriving agents into standard teams.
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"Oh boy, I've heard so much about the tapestry! It'll be nice to see it at least once before it unravels! How often do you get to see all sorts of strange lands without even leaving Absalom!"
Zera is a short, blonde human woman with a cheery disposition. She is wearing a green cloak over a chainmail shirt and well-worn traveling clothes. A small crossbow is holstered on her hip. She seems very eager for any kind of fantastic adventure.
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A bizarre monsterous looking Tiefling walks in and sits down cross-legged on the floor. He has a scaley scalp sporting a pair of ridges that appear to be horns which never penetrated the skin, a long thin tail, clawed hands and feat, and a somewhat disturbing fanged smile. He wears a long chain shirt, torn leather overshirt, tattered loincloth, and a thick rawhide belt. His head sports 3 stones protruding through the skin; a jet black rune-engraved stone, a shimmering ioun stone, and a rough gold-colored stone. Around his neck hangs an amulet with a clawed sigil. Three spears are carried on his back, hooked to his backpack. His odd proportions change what should be a frightening creature into a comically mismatched physique, and his awkward demeanor does little to help.
"Uh hay! My name is..." He hisses out a gutteral blast of consonants that sounds like a cross between a serpentine hiss, saurian roar, and infantile babble.
"But mah friends just say Sarsczek!"
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"Eh, Trade Prince Captain Malachi Malarkey at your service, yes! I am here at the request of Trade Prince Aaqir al-Hakam, a great personal friend of mine, we dine together often, yes!"
A squat, broad-shouldered tengu doffs his salt-crusted tricorne hat and bows. He is equipped with an adamantine polearm, and wears a breastplate of shining blue-green dragonscale. A colourful bird of prey perches on his forearm.
"Eh, this is Polly, yes. She is a very rare parrot-hawk, yes."
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A horrendous hacking cough announces the next Pathfinder. Her face is gaunt and glances back and forth grimacing at the various adventurers as she moves toward the party. Her ears have slight points and bear the only sign of her half-elven ancestry. "Too many people. Already feel them gathering injuries even before we are sent back into that hellish fabric. Fools playing with knives." She is weighed down by a setting of breastplate, free of any luster or shine as well as a battered shield. She takes heavy breaths to fight off another cough as she immediately stares down the tiefling. "Sarsczek. Of course I would be paired with you again. Did ... did you jam stones into your hear?" She touches her face imagining the pain of the implantation before declaring, "You better not expect me to help take them out!"
She gives a quick nod to Zera as she doesn't take any special bother with the human.
Hearing Malarkey speak she immediately draws her mace and clenches her hand around the half while looking about in a near rage. "And Polly too!" A moment passes before she realizes Malarkey's directing toward the raptor before her rage calms down to the contempt of before. "Oh. That's Polly." She looks at the bird and then takes her measuring gaze to the tengu captain. "I'm Luminae. I'll be fixing up any scrapes and bruises you collect along the way, whatever we are doing."
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"Oh hai Lumin...im..in..ae? Good ta see you again! Been a long time! Ann yah, I put the rocks there so I don't lose em. Mah horns never really popped through, so figured might as well make mah own right? So... guess what? You're lookin at a Jeweled Sage now! Amanafis and Taha...um... dragon musta appershiated alla my work wiff them and I got my own sage jewel now! I'm the Iron Pyrite Sage!"
Turning to Malachai he offers a hand to shake. "Good tah meetcha! I gotta friend named Polly.... he's a bigger bird though. Lum...ae is frens wiff him too!"
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Fung paces quietly into the room, so quietly that when you notice him entering, you wonder whether he is walking on air. And when you look closely, although partially hidden by his long robes, you notice indeed that he is! When you examine him further, he realise that although there is hardly any draft in the room, his robes and long hair are constantly being gently tossed about by a gentle breeze.
He looks rather ill at ease, standing awkwardly to one side, unsure of himself, and waits for a break in the conversations to introduce himself. "Um... hello. My name is Xuan Fung, but please call me Fung. What is this Tapestry they are talking about?"
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Luminae suppresses another cough as she judges the parrot-hawk. She then looks to Fung and attempts to take stock of him.
"You have been lucky to avoid the Tapestry this long Fung. It is a the creation from long ago who had more power than sense. Loaded whomever and whatever she wanted and tossed them into her personal hideaway. In there now are a collection of moldering ruins and those still making a living there. Those I've seen in there range from meek to monstrous." The cough overtakes her and she gives a sour look as she looks about the gathering Pathfinders. "Each time I've been sent into there we have been torn at by deadly threats. Even for the most boring requests. I don't look forward to finding out what the leaders are looking to do with an army."
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I mean, I did get to talk to her, she spent the last several years being really, REALLY sorry about it. That's gotta mean somethin', right? I do hear it's pretty roomy in there though, so maybe it wasn't all bad... But still I hope we can help them get out all the same! I mean, if that's what we're here for. Why else would we be here?
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"I've only been in there a few times and I've seen no oceans or rivers. I've only seen two little bits of it. Small favors. The blasted place is large enough that I wouldn't be surprised if it had some water."
She struggles out a bit as she recalls her missions into the place, "I've seen people. Humans, halflings, and gnomes; all from Tian Xia, at least their ancestors. There were underground dwelling races too. Of course trying to kill us."
"Diabolic things too." She spitefully adds spitting out a quick addendum, "Also trying to kill us." He shoulders slump as she recalls the engagements. "Demons, devils. Not sure what I saw, but I'm sure she the plane has plenty of everything that would try to kill us."
"I'm not going to wring my hands over everything in there. I can barely deal with my own troubles and I've long since realized that you need to look out for yourself."
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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."
There are a number of important tasks that must be accomplished before everyone plunges into the tapestry, but the first thing is to Assess the Damage!
Zera's lack of expertise tells, but even without it, the canny crossbow artiste notices a key pattern. The largest holes appear around six of the regions that Pathfinder agents have visited in the past few years.
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"Oh I can hear the wailing already. If not for the incessant pleas I would be fine letting the thing burn." She glowers at the tapestry with contempt before giving another grumble. "Let me see if can help find any loose fabric for a hint. If I'm even partly responsible for this I don't want to hear anyone complaining that I didn't do my part."
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Not having encountered this mysterious and really rather amazing tapestry, Fung moves in for a closer look. Of course, a crowd of Pathfinders have similarly gathered round but Fung has an advantage - he simply floats over their heads.
As he does so, a swirling mass of air detaches from him and so hovers beside him. "Do you notice anything?"
As the rest of the agents crowd around, Fung and Malachi notice a couple of things that had eluded Zera. The tapestry seems to be radiating warmth as a whole, but there are spots near the largest tears that are horribly cold - the chill of the grave... Forewarned and forearmed, you'll know to keep an eye out for that effect once you go in.
The chill of the tapestry also brings something else to your attention; a prickling of goose bumps (or feathers) on the back of your neck.
Are you being watched?
Zera and Luminae feel suddenly anxious, but as Luminae begins to focus on it, the sense fades. Zera however gets a much clearer sense of it, some sort of malicious presence attempting to invade her mind and those of her comrades! Before they can work any divinations or other trickery to trace it back, the connection ceases, but not before she gets a strong impression of an endless, bottomless hunger seeking to slake itself on the chaos and death spreading across the Tapestry...
You'll have to keep your minds safe from further incursions...
Knowing that different kinds of supplies might be required than had been initially planned, you go to assess the repair team's supplies, making sure they're up to snuff, and also filling in any gaps that may still be there.
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Luminae takes the scrolls with a shake of her head, not enjoying contemplating the event that might require them.
"They say we can only go in once. I would be ecstatic if they held to that promise. In any case lets see what those suppliers have in place. I don't want to find out in the middle of a clambering some cliff that they haven't enough gear for people."
Zera and Malachi quickly whip the armorers and quartermasters into shape, their completely applicable experience allowing them to reduce waste and make certain that important supplies are dispersed in advance instead of leaving everything back at base.
Each of the agents receives a potion of cure serious wounds, and are able to scrounge up a special for experienced agents like them too.
Additionally, Malachi's enterprising spirit encourages them to ready rudimentary but mobile shops.
As they begin to set up the mobile shops, a conversation quickly begins as the merchants and quartermasters start worrying about how on Golarion they're going to be able to traverse the multitude of odd terrains within the Hao Jin Tapestry.
Any tips for navigating and surviving... just about anything will be appreciated!
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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.”
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Looking at their intent on setting up shops she grudgingly nods. "I wouldn't expect to be sent into without any reward for myself. Same goes for you. Make sure to keep your shops out of trouble. I don't want to come running if something is chasing you down." She goes to a bit more effort to tend to any scrapes and bruises before she goes along with her pair of potions.
"As for survival tips, just watch where we are going, and don't follow. Whereever we head, nothing good is likely to go. More useful for merchants than myself."
Peribras and especially Zera regale the other agents, whether novices or seekers with tips and tricks. After all, there are buildings, caves and tunnels, ancient ruins, mountains, deserts, and many more vistas throughout Hao Jin's masterpiece.
***
As the former Master of Spells finishes his speech, the Venture-Captain of the Grand Lodge, Ambrus Valsin walks over, tugging his mustaches in dismay. "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."
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"How can I forget. Lets get this over with. There are plenty of places to visit, but I don't want those duergar rooting in again. It was a mess to undo the damage they dealt when we last ran into them."
"Hopefully this time we won't run into any hammers along the way. That would be hoping for too much though. Lets make sure you are all tended to before we head out.
The tapestry's portal isn't as comfortable as teleportation; there's an awful sensation of being unraveled and (hopefully!) being woven back together. At first there's a moment where it seems to many of you as though you've appeared in nothingness, but a single point of light in the darkness is quickly followed by more as your wayfinders once more find a path for you in the darkness. 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, ratfolk, wayangs and dwarves all shackled and heaped around the stone.
Standing before them are a trio of gray-skinned dwarves, lightly armored, but with hammers glimmering with the promise of brutal violence. Towering above them is the walking corpse of some long rotten giant, its eye sockets filled only with red light.
The dwarfs grip the hafts of their hammer tightly as you appear, but suddenly they seem to recognize Sarsczek and Luminae, and their faces contort with rage, abandoning their position to launch themselves at the Pathfinders!
Zera
Luminae
Fung - Not lit
Malachi
Rotting Giant
Peribras
Sarsczek
Duergar Hammerers
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"Lemmie at 'em!" Zera will move forward, finding a good location to set up and begin firing. She will use Luminae's blessing on getting +2 to attack and AC this round, as she is unable to multi-shot without massive penalties right now. She will make one shot at the giant, assuming it is still up after Fung's blast.