"Naw, no need. I'm sure we're perfectly safe and no hostile random encounters will spring out at us."
Raspar follows along, pleased that he didn't lose or misplace any papers or pins.
Cabaguil chuckles openly. He can't help himself. "It's a city, how dangerous can it be? Or will we be harassed by every guard we meet without an escort? If the latter, we'll accept it kindly so we can get where we're going."
"Let's establish a place to stay and walk about a bit before we start causing trouble." Cabaguil walks into the city and starts looking about (link) if people agree.
"Good idea.... if it's allowed."
Raspar nods and follows along, hopeful of finding something useful to do.
|
You are allowed free reign of the city. The people wave and the guards leave you unaccosted as they notice your visitor's pins.
Promise is home to great artisans and crafters, and most of its economy is based on the various wares its citizens produce. Normally, the citizens share these items with each other freely, but as outsiders, you must pay normal prices for any items they wish to purchase.
The citizens of Promise have spent centuries perfecting fighting techniques, magical skills, and other talents. The citizens of Promise represent some of the most capable experts, greatest minds, and powerful warriors on Golarion—ideal teachers and trainers for those who want to maximize their own potential.
Apex Companion (Druid)
Aura of Unbreakable Virtue (Champion)
Bloodline Metamorphisis (Sorcerer)
Efficient Alchemy (Alchemist)
Emblazon Divinity (Cleric)
Enduring Debilitation (Rogue)
Golden Body (Monk)
Song of the Fallen (Bard)
Superior Sight (Ranger)
Spell Mastery (Wizard)
Ultmate Flexibility (Fighter)
Unstoppable Juggernaught (Barbarian)
After wandering through much of this golden city Dakapos spots a suitable inn. A very well maintained sign sways in the breeze. Inn and Out
Raspar will walk about, looking for the homeless or lost or broken people who might need his help.
Cabaguil is, for a while, floored by all the choice. He hasn’t any cash, or he’d most assuredly spend it here. Although, there is one thing. He’ll head off looking for a jeweler…
- - -
He returns to the group with a small figurine of two lions. ”Hold my beer…”
He places the figurines on the ground and calls them forth! Two massive lions streak forth to stand in front of Cabaguil awaiting his instructions.
”It worked! I mean you always assume, but you never really know until you try. Right?”
Not wanting to make a fuss, he’ll dispel the lions again and pick up the figurine. ”I’ve always wanted one of these.”
Cabaguil heads into the Inn and Out and looks for a good meal!
The prospect of good food and strong drink is all Kelvin needs to hear. "I wonder if they sell burgers?"
He follows Cabaguil in.
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This is a City of Prosperity and only the best and brightest. Kelvin finds some retty decent burgers at the Inn and Out as Cabaguil plays with his twinned Lions.
About half-way through the meal a squad of armored guards opens the doors to the Inn and walks through. Their eyes quickly scan the room as they lock onto your table. With the guards blocking the exits the squad leader approaches your table. "Raspar, Kelvin, Dakapos, Cabaguil, and Cuthberwyn, I presume." He motions to the server to bring to-go bags. "Please pack up your lunch and follow me." He speaks with the server. "Place their meals on my name." He offers a curtious smile as he waves a hand towards the front door.
Raspar nods to the squad leader, and quickly cleans up his own mess, the table’s mess, and the surrounding area before he is ready to go. He’s not going to leave a mess for others to clean up. And then returns to give the tabletop a hard scrubbing because he’s seen how Kelvin eats and no one likes ketchup stains on their sleeves.
And yes, he’s ready to follow along.
Cabaguil feels like he's being arrested, but says nothing for fear of setting off the dwarves and causing a scene. After all, they let them bring the food - interesting stuff.
He stands and puts his lions away, "Let's see what this is about shall we?"
Cuthberwyn follows along.
Dak follows along, but this whole place gives him an uneasy feeling. Personal determinism is in his bones....
Kelvin grumbles, but seeing the others comply he opts to not make a fuss. Outside of a single comment, that he mostly keeps to himself. "A bit rude to interrupt a man and his meal. Especially after a long day of travel. Some promise of hospitality."
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"I did not mean to interrupt your meal, but your presense has been requested. Please follow me." The guards escort you to the northwestern gate were he motions into the guardhouse. "The Commander is in there."
Inside the Guardhouse you find a long table with a you well-armored woman sitting at the end. She smiles politely and motions for each of you to take a seat. "My name is Inizra Arumelo, I am the Commander of Promise’s city guard and one of the city’s 13 council members."
She gives Kelvin a moment to rip his to-go bag back open. “I don’t know exactly why you’ve shown up when you did, but I suspect it’s quite the blessing that you’re here at all. I fear that many factors have caused things in Promise to run foul, and you might be able to help me take care of certain... things.” She lets out a large sigh before continuing. “I fear that Mengkare has been corrupted, and that his Glorious Endeavor must be stopped.”
"Corrupted? Explain more," Raspar asks, rocking on his feet.
"Truly, what's wrong in this city - aside from luncheon delays? It seems pretty idyllic to me. But then we haven't been here long." he looks at his burger, slowly congealing. He's not sure he still wants it. The fries are nice though, as he munches on another.
"Seems everyone is worried about Mengkare. Except maybe Mengkare," Kelvin says, basically acknowledging the problem of the dragon. "Whatcha want to do about it?"
He then looks at Cabaguil's expression. "You gonna eat that?"
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“You may look at Promise and see a utopia, but look closer. It is a place without freedom, without choice, without faith. The city’s citizens are well cared for... but in a way that treats them like livestock. Humans should not be kept as pets, should not be bred for qualities, should not be kept from making their own choices. I’ve only recently developed these convictions myself after speaking to a specialist Mengkare brought in a few years ago—a man named Jonivar. And now he’s gone missing! I need someone not bound by the Contract of Citizenship to infiltrate the citadel archive and seek anything that could provide insight into Mengkare’s plans, or at the very least learn of Jonivar’s fate. Someone like yourselves!”
Inizra grows pale. "Others have mentioned this concern?"
He slides his 'sandwich' over to Kelvin.
"Not exactly, but there are concerns about Mengkare and this utopia." He shrugs, "I guess that's what happens when you give up your freedoms to a dragon. Still, how do you propose we infiltrate this citadel archive? I imagine it's guarded."
Cuthberwyn chooses his words with great care. Others have not mentioned this specific concern, he begins slowly, but we have heard expressed concerns just the same.
He pauses, measuring what to choose to divulge. Promise's insular nature may preclude this, but: have you heard of the Scarlet Triad? They are a secretive network of slavers who have been using the Elfgates to further their flesh peddling.
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“I need you to infiltrate the archive below the Golden Citadel and seek any information you can find regarding Mengkare’s actual plans, and to try to determine what happened to Jonivar. Now is the best time to do so, with Mengkare away, but you must be quick about it—he could return at any time.”
"I need to maintain the charade that all is well, for I suspect others on the council may be working with Mengkare in pursuit of these nefarious ends. Further, if things grow bad, as I fear they might, I need to be ready to mobilize what control I can over Promise’s guards so that I can try to protect as many of the city’s citizens as I can. If you really wish me to join you, I will.”
"The citadel guards are specially chosen by Mengkare to defend the citadel and not under my command. They answer directly to Mengkare and would not be afraid to turn on us at a moment’s notice if they believed we were planning to reach the archives or the hold without proper access. When we send individuals to the citadel hold, I have to hand them off to the citadel guard as they are the only ones allowed in the hold.”
“Of course. I have access to the city’s armories and can spare weapons and armor for you to use as you need.” She hands over a written official document authorizing you to free reign of the armory.
She seems a bit lost in thought. "“Jonivar is an elven scholar from the Mwangi Jungle. Mengkare recruited him as an expert on elven magic, but in his time here, Jonivar and I became friends. When I realized that my feelings for him were threatening to go beyond friendship, I tried to put an end to that friendship, for at that point I believed in Mengkare’s plan and, under the Contract of Citizenship, my choice of mate was Mengkare’s to decide, not my own. Jonivar convinced me otherwise, and I made a promise to return with him to the Mwangi once he completed his service to Mengkare. Yet, he never returned—he simply vanished! This occurred just over a year ago, and I’ve been unable to determine his fate. Such disappearances have happened here before, but I’ve always assumed they were for good cause. Now... I don’t know what to think."
“While I’ve no idea where Jonivar was taken, I’ve learned more. I discovered that his area of expertise was not merely elven magic, but a very specific type of magic involving potent rituals, including something called the Anima Invocation—an ancient ritual that was once used to destroy a great evil.”
She lays out a map of the citadel. "In the northeastern corner is the security office. There you will find stairs leading into the prison below. And..." she spins the map around pointing to the opposite corner. "...Here is where you can find the entrance to Megkare's archives and vault." She points to the southwest corner.
I guess we should have taken our fill from his hoard. We're about to kill his guards and invade his vault.
Cabaguil is uneasy, but he hopes the loss of life can be minimized, at least until they can review the archives and decide for themselves if they're in the wrong... or the dragon is.
He wonders what it would be like to be attacked by a cow.
"Let's get going. Before Mengkare comes back and puts an end to our little rebellion."
“I need you to infiltrate the archive below the Golden Citadel...”
Raspar's eyes glaze over and he walks around in a circle, admiring the view and looking for things to do.
"...Here is where you can find the entrance to Megkare's archives and vault."
When she finishes speaking he sort of returns to the party.
"I'm sorry that happened, or I'm happy for you though," Raspar says, looking at the party and assuming they know what to do next.
Sounds like Cabaguil paid attention, and Raspar is happy to follow him.
"Should be a fun little challenge," Kelvin says, a grin on his face. When Raspar returns to the group the dwarf slaps the halfling on the back. His voice is jovial when he says, "You only live once, right Raspar?"
Cuthberwyn opts for a +3 major resilient elven chain with acid resistant (greater), swallow-spike (major), and winged (greater) runes.
Cabaguil requests a fine suit of, ah, clothing/armor.
Explorers Clothing +3, Energy Resistant Greater (fire 10), Major Resiliency (+3), Winged Greater
Assuming he can have such a thing, when not in polite society, he’ll be flying pretty much all the time. Yowzer.
Raspar gets a nice greater hoe of tilling for the back stretch, unless someone else has something they need.
Dak, his heart extremely heavy at the very thought of this mission, snaps out of his reverie long enough to requisition a blade. "If this be real, may all the gods look kindly upon us when Pharasma meets my gaze."
"I too will need to be able to always fly, not the limited amount I have now..."
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Visiting the Armory briefly you head off towards the Citadel.
The Golden Citadel, as viewed from outside, appears as an immense dome made of gold. In truth, the dome is made of magically altered stone to give the appearance of gold, but with magically enhanced strength. The building is immense, measuring a thousand feet in diameter and rising to a height of 400 feet in the center, yet much of its interior is open to the air. This gives a feeling of openness and immensity to any who enter the citadel, as the central portion is a sprawling cathedral-like space. A 600-foot-high tower rises at each the four corners, and at the base of each sits a stone complex that houses several specialized rooms. These rooms are quite large, yet are only one story high, with gently sloping roofs that angle upward at slight inclines, ranging from a height of 25 feet close to the center and 40 feet near the citadel’s walls. A 400-foot-diameter expanse directly above the center shows blue sky above with an eternal illusory sun shining golden light down below to nourish the plants and light the chamber at all times. Mengkare can will this illusory sun to fade and be replaced by a moon as he desires, and generally leaves the sun-moon transition on a repeating cycle that matches the day and night outside.
From what Inizra has told you there are 16 citadel guards on duty on the ground floor of the Golden Citadel, and an additional eight of them off-duty elsewhere in Promise who can be recalled to the citadel as needed. All citadel guards carry a warhorn enhanced with minor magic that they can use to sound the alarm.
Critical Success You significantly distract the guards away from their patrol area or post to an area in the citadel of your choice. The guards return to their original post after 1 hour has passed.
Success You distract the guards away from their patrol area or post to an area in the citadel of your choice. The guards return to their original post after 20 minutes have passed.
Failure You fail to distract the guards. Any attempt made in the next 10 minutes to distract the same guards takes a –2 penalty to the check.
Critical Failure As failure above, but the guards realize you’re trying to distract them and escort you out of the building. If this is your third critical failure against that particular group of guards, the guard instead places you under arrest.
Critical Success You learn the room’s read-aloud text, basic information, and any secret information.
Success You learn the room’s read-aloud text and basic information.
Failure You fail to learn anything about the room other than its read-aloud text.
Critical Failure As failure above, but any guards who can observe you notice suspicious activity and attempt to escort you out of the area, either to the council chamber or out of the building entirely.
"Are we looking to make a straight line somewhere or a thorough search? I'd like to get to the archives."
Rather than risk critical failure, Raspar does nothing that might be construed as actively helping.
He will, given a chance, poke around a room though.
Perception vs. DC36
Equipped: Staff of Healing
Conditions: Glibness (1/10m, +4 deception)
Battle Medicine: None
Guidance: None
Bounce Back (1/1, no wounded condition from dying)
Crafters Eyepiece (+1 craft)(repair 30hp instead of 20hp)
Messenger’s Ring: (+2 diplomacy)(1/1, 1m, Animal Messenger)
Eye of the Wise (•>, telepathy with Warbal Bumblebrasher)(•>, +2 decipher writing, disable device, identify magic, pick lock, seek, sense motive)
Goggles: (+1 perception)(1/1, •>, darkvision 1 hour)
Healer’s Gloves: (+2 medicine)(1/1, •>, cure 4d6+15)
Ring of Lies: (+2 deception)(0/1, •>>, glibness)
Cape: (+2 deception)(1/1, •>>, dimension door 120’)
Boots: (+5’ movement)(1/1, •>, quickened 1m)
Demilich Eye (1/1, •>>, fiery body (9) 1m)
Staff of Healing, Major: (10/10) (+4hp heal spells; stabilize, heal(1,2,3,4,5,6,7), regenerate (7), restoration(2,4,6), restore senses(2,6), remove disease(3,5,7), breath of life(5))
Wand of Heal: (1/1, •>>, heal)
Golden Lions: (0/1, •>>, summon lions)
Bloodline Focus: Diabolic Edict* (1/1)
Bardic Spells Spell attack +26 (T), Spell DC’s 36 (T)
Cantrips: Daze, Guidance, Inspire Courage, Mage Hand, Message
First Level: (1/1) Magic Missile§
Second Level: (1/1) Mirror Image
Third Level: (1/1) Magic Missile§ (3), Invisibility Sphere
Sorcerer Spells Spell attack +32 (M), Spell DC’s 42 (M)
Cantrips: Detect Magic, Know Direction, Light, Prestidigitation, Produce Flame*,
First Level: (4/4) Charm§*, Heal§, Purify Food and Drink, Ray of Enfeeblement
Second Level: (4/4) Flaming Sphere*, Charm§* (2), Create Food, Dispel Magic§, Heal§ (2), See Invisibility
Third Level: (4/4) Charm§* (3), Crisis of Faith§, Dispel Magic§ (3), Enthrall*, Heal§ (3), Mending (3), Searing Light§
Fourth Level: (4/4) Charm§* (4), Crisis of Faith§ (4), Dispel Magic§ (4), Enervation, Freedom of Movement, Heal§ (4), Remove Curse, Searing Light§ (4), Suggestion*§
Fifth Level: (3/4) Charm§* (5), Crisis of Faith § (5), Crushing Despair*, Dispel Magic§ (5), Flame Strike§, Heal§ (5), Prying Eyes, Searing Light§ (5), Sending
Sixth Level: (4/4) Blade Barrier§, Charm§* (6), Crisis of Faith§ (6), Dispel Magic§ (6), Flame Strike§ (6), Heal§ (6), Scintillating Safeguard, Searing Light§ (6), Spirit Blast, True Seeing*
Seventh Level: (4/4) Blade Barrier§ (7), Charm§* (7), Crisis of Faith§ (7), Dispel Magic§ (7), Divine Decree, Finger of Death, Flame Strike§ (7), Heal§ (7), Regenerate, Searing Light§ (7), Sunburst§
Eighth Level: (4/4) Blade Barrier§ (8), Canticle of Everlasting Grief, Charm§* (8), Crisis of Faith§ (8), Discern Location, Dispel Magic§ (8), Divine Aura*, Flame Strike§ (8), Divine Armageddon§, Heal§ (8), Searing Light§ (8), Sunburst§ (8)
Ninth Level: (4/4) Charm§ (9), Blade Barrier§ (9), Crisis of Faith§ (9), Dispel Magic§ (9), Divine Armageddon§ (9), Flame Strike§ (9), Heal§ (9), Meteor Swarm§, Proliferating Eyes, Searing Light§ (9), Sunburst§ (9), Weapon of Judgement
Tenth Level: (1/1) Miracle, Nullify
- - -
As soon as he sees the lay of the land, Cabaguil fingers his ring, casting Glibness .
He goes up to the guards covering the door to the tower they seek (SW, archives). ”My friends, I think there was an old man having some difficulty in the northwest tower. The guards there were asking for help - I’m not sure what the problem is.”
”They asked me to come get you.”
(ring, glibness)
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Deciding to head towards the Archives you begin to wander through the public reading rooms. This section of the library is filled with dozens of small reading rooms. Each room has a desk and comfortable chair. A dozen or so scholars are milling about, quietly flipping through pages.
The reading rooms stretch into a Library. This enormous library holds hundreds of books about a dizzying number of subjects. Raspar takes a look around and finds that these books here cover a wide range of topics.
The guards located at the door to the archive access become a bit suspicious of Raspar and head towards him. Cabaguil cuts them off with a life threatening emergency and the nod rushing out to the main corridor. "Don't worry, we will help your friend." They rush off leaving the door to the archives free for a few moments.
This large hollow tower reaches up to a height of six hundred feet, the walls carved with images of gold dragons in flight. A spiral staircase in the middle of the room leads downward.
A spiraling flight of stairs ascends in the southwest corner of this room, while three large bookshelves stand to the east.
The archive sits about 100 feet beneath the Golden Citadel. The shelves in this room hold a lengthy catalog that details all individuals who have been granted access to the archives over the years.
Connected to this initial chamber are resting rooms. Mengkare usually grants access to the archives for short periods of time, typically not longer than a week. To maximize their time in the archives, these rooms allow researchers a chance to rest without having to leave. Each room has a simple bed and a small side table.
Raspar continues to wander around, looking around. He pads around quietly on his tiny, but strong, feet.
Perception
Cuthberwyn moves as quickly as he can into the archives to begin the search.
Cabaguil joins the others below and moves up to the next door. Well, he leaves plenty of room for the front-liners of course. By which I mean he's in back!
He'll glance around as he moves through.
(goggles)
Kelvin also makes an effort to look around.
He's not sure what they're looking for, but he has eyes that work better than most and he uses them.
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Digging through the catalogue system you search for several keywords and come up shorthanded. Luckily for Raspar there are no guards on this level as it is considered private. Cabaguil searches for the scholar Jonivar's name, finding that the man has been placed in indefinite imprisonment in the citadel prison on charges of “insubordination and treason.”
Cabaguil shrugs, "There is little here to wet our appetites I fear. Shall we see Jonivar? I may have luck against the other guards too, but it'll be harder."
Raspar will pad in the direction Cabaguil indicates, happy to be moving.
Cabaguil gives the same story to the other guards, after all it worked the first time.
(ring)
Alas, he just falls short (assuming the same DC as before).
Cabaguil joins the others below and moves up to the next door. Well, he leaves plenty of room for the front-liners of course. By which I mean he's in back.