Whether you are winding down after your last mission or taking it easy after a day's labor, you find yourselves at the Drunken Linnorm tavern in Diobel. Adventurers mix with townsfolk in the Caydenite hall as you celebrate hard won achievements or another day gone by.
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A man of obvious Tien ancestry-- as well as something else, judging by the blue tint to his skin-- enters the tavern with obvious hesitation and distaste, using his hands to lift the hem of his long, black silken garment slightly so it doesn't touch the floorboards of the tavern and any puddles of spilled ale. He gingerly picks his way through the boisterous crowd, and when he sees a man garbed in a similarly-eastern style his face briefly lights up. He hurries through the crowd to the drinker's table...
"哦！文明國家的其他人! --"
The newcomer's face falls as he takes in more than just clothes and registers instead the pale skin and coppery hair. With definite awkwardness, the blue-skinned man bows slightly and says in accented-but-fluent Common:
"--my apologies, honored sir, I thought you might be from my homeland by your dress. I see the mistake is mine."
By his own build-- slight and skinny, with hunched shoulders-- and his dress-- a scholar's robe in Tien style that reaches all the way to his feet-- the blue-skinned man is no warrior at all, unlike Conloach. He stands there, wringing his hands, looking around him unhappily after his perfunctory apology.
"--have you happened to see an-- owl?"
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A rather short human with lustrous coal black hair and a pale complexion enter the room and slides gracefully into a chair. As soon as she seats herself a mongoose pops out of the backpack and hurries onto the table in search for some tidbits.
In a voice pitched to convey drama and importance, the woman says, "Greetings heroic adventurers, ready for another profitable adventure? My name is Kitoro, or Kit if you prefer. That..." she gestures at the mongoose "... is Kane"
Kit's cloak has all kinds of mask embellishments on it. Tiny theater masks with serious and comedic expressions. At her side is a whip. No musical instrument you can see though.
She is actually a Kitsune. She seems to be having tail problems today.
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Striding into the tavern with the broad smile of the blissfully stupid stretched across his face is a tall Taldan man in traditional monks robes. Though well-muscled his prominent paunch and five o' clock shadow blend in seamlessly with the establishment's regular patrons. After scanning the room he bounds excitedly over to the cluster of exotically dressed adventurers.
"Gosh! Are you all from Tee-En Sha? I been there once. The monks there were real nice. They taught me all kindsa thangs 'bout Irori. Irori is just the best cuz he's real smart but he can kick the crap outta ya too. Geez listen ta me ramblin'. I'm Brother Cleetus! Nice ta meet y'all. I try ta be like Irori, cuz that's what the monks taught me is good and right, and I can punch real good but book learnin' is hard."
Hooking a chair with his foot, Cleetus plops down at the table with the others and bellows for a pitcher of ale.
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"誠實的錯誤。我和他的父親和姐姐在田省度過了許多年。"
"I am pleased to meet you. I am Conloach McCullagh, son of Seamus McCullagh, descendant of the lost tribes of Sarkoris. He was a missionary, trying to bridge the cultures between these lands and those. I spent most of my childhood traipsing after him."
Raising an eyebrow, he recognizes Kitoro's ancestry. "Another noble adventurer, it seems.
As Cleetus approaches and speaks up, Conloach nods and smiles. "Yes, I am quite familiar with the monks of Irori. In fact, my sister, Inira, has joined their ranks, and probably is still there as one of them. I don't suppose you met her... it has been a year or more since I have seen her. "
"Please, all of you, sit and let's share stories and drinks."
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”Or we could just drink in peace,” a grumpy voice mutters from beneath a thick hood. A tail swishes irritably below the table as a hand covered in red scales lowers a tankard. ”No? Alright, let’s get this over with.” The man pushes back his hood to reveal the horned, frowning face of a tiefling. ”Call me Torku - or even better, don’t call me at all. Damned librarians find out where I am, they’ll have my hide. Not my fault they don’t let anyone borrow the good books anywhere near long enough to actually read the musty things.” He looks around cautiously. ”Wait - you lot aren’t librarians, are you?”
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"Oooohh! Sounds like a plot for a great comedic play! Evil librarians. Give the books teeth and make them sing?"
Kit works feverishly for a few moments and springs from her chair, a hand full of finger puppets that look somewhat like books. You notice that she has an interesting kit filled with a plethora of well organized Velcro accessories that stick to her gloved hands and fingers.
The books in the left hand march on a lonely figure that vaguely resembles the tiefling on the other hand and devours him to ominous humming.
She does a much better job using her goto medium.
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Still working on her finger puppet gear, adding and subtracting things like weapons, armor, shields, hair, etc to the various fingere.
"And we do see the strangest things in our line of work. Books with teeth are not so far-fetched. So, since we are to be working with each other, tell me about yourselves. I, for one, and a trained bard - informally trained, but trained. I'll be acting as support and can usually talk, or act, us our of trouble. The rest of you look like your training leans more towards the martial. Am I right?"
At this she presents a hand full of fingers that remarkably look very much like the other members of the party. A fistful of pathfinders!
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"Hmm, well I am interested to see how you might talk us past a large, gelatinous cube that devours everything in its path... Yes, I have been trained in the arts of war. While the monks of Irori were able to take in my sister, they said I 'lacked the discipline to control my inner fires', whatever that means. I, for one, think I do fairly well at controlling and focusing the low burning rage I feel in my bones."
"When it comes to combat, I say bring 'em on. The more the merrier. I am at home when fighting against hordes." His face somehow looks both eager and sad at the same time.
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"Don't worry friend Conloach. The monks didn't think I's good enough either. Ya gotta be smart and tough to be like Irori. That's why I'm Pathfindering! This way I get to punch thangs in the face for Irori all over the place and sometimes I even learn thangs. Most times I don't learn nothin' though so I do more punchin' just in case."
Cleetus stops to take a long draw off his pitcher before continuing in a serious tone.
"One day I'll be smart enough though. I might be dumb but I ain't no quitter!"
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Li Po Wen looks, in a word, appalled. Most especially at the claims of 'too dumb to quit' and the roaring toasts that follow.
As for the question of if he is given to the martial disciplines, the blue-tinted man is first wide-eyed, and then shakes his head no, fervently.
"I-- warrior-- no," he sputters after a few seconds. "I-- I am a clerk!"
At this instant a small barn owl sails through the door being opened by a carouser, flits easily over the room, and lands on his shoulder. The Tien man exhales, pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand, and absently patting the owl with the other.
"That is to say: My name is Li Po Wen. I previously served the mighty Dragon Throne of Imperial Lung Wa, as a scribe and a clerk," he says, somewhat morosely. "It was a duty I performed with honor and scrupulous attention to detail."
"And now I am.... with... all... of you." He forces a smile of attempted cameraderie. It looks a bit ghastly. "My... my fellow agents." Helplessly forced smile.
"I-- have some small gifts of healing, even though I am much better with documents, really... I keep petitioning for a transfer into the Chronicling department..."
The blue man's voice trails off lost under the raucous noise of the tavern in full swing. He watches Kitoro's puppets with a gloomy look, especially as they stagger around drunk. "I do hope that's not predictive of our fates, going forth."
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"Oh, I assure you I am no mistress of fortune telling, though I have dabbled upon occasion. it can be quite lucrative."
Her posture shifts to something more... impressive, her gaze becomes more penetrating, her hands gesture dramatically.
"I see... I see violence and death in your future. Travel to far away places that lead to great wealth... That will be one gold."
A Little tian girl enters the tavern. She scans the dining room, searching for someone.
"Have you find them Gom-Gom?" She says to her stuffed owlbear on her back."I Heard the reunion was here."
She continues for a few minutes before finding finally the group. She goes between waitress and tables as she reach her own.
"We are here! You wouldn't start without us right?"
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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.”
"Great!... But what is this tapestry?
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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Conloach finishes making his purchases.
"I have heard of this tapestry, of course, but I have not yet been involved with it. But since we have some time, perhaps some of you can tell of your own experiences? After that, I suggest we check our gear, talk to soem other folks, and get as much information as we can."
No tales from the tapestry.
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Torku inspects the Tapestry carefully. "This shouldn't be possible..." he mutters under his breath.
He watches grumpily as the other agents "interview" the Asps, leaning over now and then to frown at them. "Stupid reckless money-blinded idiots too short-sighted to see how profits today doesn't mean a thing if you can't maintain the revenue stream..."
"...so if the Tapestry's demiplane is anything like the ones Dulardy writes about in his treatise on the interactions between the Astral plane and the Elemental planes, it should respond to stresses in a predictable manner..." The tiefling's voice trails off as he tosses ideas around with Li.
"...do you feel that?" The discussion comes to an abrupt stop as Torku holds up a hand.
Still grumbling about things that shouldn't be possible, Torku inspects a repair team up and down. "You don't know what you'll find in there, so forget the specialized reagents," he suggests bluntly. "Wormwood, sand, myrrh - all these have multiple uses, so stock up now because you won't be coming back whenever you run out of salt."
"While it is true that there are not many direct stories of the Tapestry, we can extrapolate what could be inside based on what was left behind. From what I hear, the process Hao Jin used to move locations to the Tapestry left a rather unique mark on the landscape."
"...and try not to get lost," he adds with a scowl.
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"Well that there's a shame. This used ta be a real nice rug. Somebody cut it up somethin' fierce though."
Cleetus hears Torku muttering angrily and looks over at the captive agents. "This here's the dumbass that cut up our wall-rug? Just say the word. One good punch to the belly and he'll sing like a harpy. Then again they don't sing so good...anyways he'll tell ya what ya want ta know."
"Ya think there's just big holes everywhere now once we get inside the magic wall-rug?"
"Boy do I ever feel it. I been feelin' gassy ever since I ate them nachos at the bar... hey.... is that guy starin' at us? What you lookin' at buddy?"
Cleetus sees everybody double-checking the supplies and looks down at his fists. "Got all my supplies right here!"
"First thing ya got ta know is sometimes this place'll just make ya want ta slit yer own throat. Don't do it. It don't work out so good and its a real pain in the rear ta get the bloodstains outta yer robes."
"Come ta think of it we might need more than our fists... a warm coat might be nice if it starts snowin'."
Yoon listen to the fire inside the tapestry.
She leave Gom-Gom do the good cop while she do the bad cop by showing her mastery of fire.
She goes to the adults, giggling and asking questions.
Gom-Gom looks around for the presence
Yoon tries to know about the supplies... but she doesn't know what to do.
She asks for stories for Gom-Gom.
Gom-Gom tells her all about nature.
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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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Li Po Wen tries to discuss the situation with some other scholars, but everyone is too busy to talk...
He listens soberly when Aram Zey speaks of undead, and lightly touches the cracked amethyst stone hovering around his head as if to reassure himself it's still there. Then, he looks to the rest of his team.
"We should be prepared for anything, it seems. Who intends to be in the front of battle? I will cast something on you."
The repair team, grateful for your aid, provides each of you with some individual supplies. Additionally, they are supplied well enough that they will be able to set up a rudimentary shop inside the Hao Jin Tapestry.
You notice that the largest holes appear around six of the regions that Pathfinder agents visited in the past few years and that the Tapestry is radiating warmth. Despite this warmth, those six sites are chill as the grave.
You believe the Consortium agents. They reveal that the Aspis Consortium recently tried to re-infiltrate the tapestry, but it was too unstable and they could not gain entry. You also gain information about the Consortium's past dealings with groups in the tapestry.
You recall or learn that many regions in the tapestry are pulled directly from Golarion. However, most of its denizens have lived in the tapestry for their entire lives, and some can trace back many generations to ancestors who lived on the tapestry as well.
You feel suddenly anxious and sense a malicious supernatural presence trying to enter your minds. Before fighting it off, you sense its intentions: to feed on the chaos and death in the tapestry.
You are able to recall several stories of Pathfinder agents adventuring in the tapestry and dealing with all manner of differen peoples and creatures, from ratfolk to lizardfolk to ancient mummies and manipulative demons.
You recall various terrain types from the Pathfinder Society's previous adventures in the tapestry: buildings, caves and tunnels, ancient ruins, mountains and deserts. Many more are known to exist within the tapestry as well. You share advice for dealing with different terrains.
After briefing a different Pathfinder team, Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin approaches you.
“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.”
After finishing and providing you with a letter detailing the locations further, the Venture Captain moves off to brief another team. He doesn't have time to answer questions.
" Yes, undead are.cold. Cold is evil!"
Following the instructions relayed to you from Aram Zey, you each touch the Hao Jin Tapestry and intone the command word, pulling yourself into that world.
The Muckmouth tribe’s 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.
“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. 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!”
When you are ready, Muckmouth sentries lead you through twisting passages to a ruined serpentfolk city cradled in a steep-walled mountain valley.
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Li Po Wen seems immediately nervous as they enter less civilized territory, and can be heard muttering in Tien to himself as he walks-- for those who speak the language, it's basically a litany of, Don't worry, the others are professionals, this won't be anything like the temple, even though that was ALSO in the tapestry, just don't go into any kitchens, it's fine, the others can protect you...
He does pause to read a scroll over his familiar, voice shaking only slightly, and hesitantly touches a stick that looks like it was literally just broken off a tree to Cletus's brawny shoulder. "Sorry, I have the notes for this-- somewhere-- oh here we go..."
A flickering blue glow jumps from Wen to Cletus, and the blue-skinned man looks alarmed, then chagrined. "Oh no, not again. I hate this part!" He rubs at the bridge of his nose then says, "--apparently when you get hurt now I'M going to feel it. Please don't be overly reckless with your body! I don't like pain!"
The owl hoots softly. It takes off from Li Po's shoulder and flies forward, glowing faintly...
Yanguang flies around briefly before Li Po Wen gets a strong impression of danger, though he senses the danger isn't to his companion.
Take 10 for perception.
"There sounds there!"as she points the stairs.
And she moves toward the sound.
An unearthly howl rings out from behind the stone wall, as combat is joined!