So it begins...
Bump
Sitting in his favorite chair in Castle Lym, the dwarf is lost in thought and appears somewhat confused. What are we doin'? Why aren't we killin' more of the bad guys? Why haven't we killed this 'Karzoug' fella and put an end ta this nightmare? I don't... I don't know. Somethin's different but... I don't know. And why am I always so tired...
Polkadot.
Some time after the group's return from the Runeforge, when everyone has had a chance to rest up and freshen up, Lym calls the group to the main chamber of Castle Lym.
"Gentlemen," she says, "it is time to move on with business. Dear Aurora's body lies in state, awaiting her funeral. But after that is done, we need to acquire the keys to Xin-Zhalast we were told about by the Thassilonian general. Once that is done... we have to face Karzoug. We need to prepare.
For starters, I shall upgrade Rexil's club to a magic item.
Second, I would like to recommend we all purchase key items. My personal recommendations include potions of Heroism. I also plan to buy some potions that will allow me to cast Transformation.
Keep in mind that we will need countermeasures for Transmutation school-based insta-kill spells like Disintegrate or Flesh to stone.
I think we will need troops. In the coming days, I had planned to use my Planar binding-spells to get us Inevitables and others. If I can, I will contract at least one Marut. Of course I will need help.
Tomaru, please use Planar ally to do the same?"
The Wizard slowly rubs her hands.
"But first ... we need those keys. We may need to petition Desna for their whereabouts. Maybe Legend lore?"
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It takes Tomaru two days to prepare for Aurora's funeral. He uses spells to go to Magnimar to get the proper relics and utensils and consult with the Pharasmins. He goes to the Temple of Iomedae to tell Brother Pietre of Aurora's passing, after all, he's the one who introduced us.
When the time comes, Tomaru leads their small group over to the pillars that are the entrance to the Runewell. Aurora lays on a stone slab covered in a bright blue and white shroud. There is an ornate urn also on the slab at her feet. He stands "Aurora Ulfurdottir's first words to us were that she was seeking lore hidden in this region. I wanted to lay her remains at the place where she found what she was looking for. She was a remarkable person who had traveled the world for more than a century according to her and I suspect there was never a dull moment. Surely from the first time we laid eyes on her small frame, life has been interesting. We will miss her."
Tomaru gives some time for others to speak about Aurora before continuing with the prayer.
"Lady of Graves, our friend Aurora has gone to you. We know that she’s told you so very much about herself already, but this day we come to you on her behalf. I can’t say that I knew her long, but she made he mark on my life. Because of her example, not only do I find more joy in life, but I’ve also found someone to share it with. Mother of Souls, you have met her and surely know by now, that where most would want eternal rest, Aurora craves eternal adventure. I beseech you to allow her that, for your own sanity, if nothing else. Lady of Mystery, Aurora was small, but her verve loomed large for each of us. Her presence was energetic and electric and she was even able to tame Thordak. We pray, Goddess Pharasma, that you judge our friend like we do… brave, mighty, and awesome."
Tomaru puts his hands on the urn. "Next to her will be Nevelatu. All we know of him is that he was a human from ancient Thassilon. He was kept from your judgment far more than an age, he was made to endure terrible torment that entire time, and, when he was released, there was joy in his eyes at the thought of going to meet you. We bury him next to our friend so that they can, hopefully, watch over one another as their souls continue on in the afterlife."
There is more, but Tomaru finds it difficult to continue. He does eventually compose himself and, through magic, causes the slab holding Aurora's body and Nevelatu's ashes to sink into the ground
At the ceremony, Praxim lays a small wreath of twisted yew branches at Aurora’s feet. The wreath is crude and clearly not made by a skilled hand. To frame the wreath, he pulls a magnificent set of stag antlers from his (or somebody else’s) haversack.
”To honour a warrior brave and true, who fell to protect the innocent. A poor family, who will never know her, will eat for months on the meat of this stag I hunted in honour of her name. I offer his antlers here, because, even though she was a woman,” he pauses to shrug uncomfortably and avoids looking at Lym at all costs, ”She strove to guard hearth and home from the evils of this world and the one beyond. Lord of the Stag, though she was not one of yours, I beseech thee to admit her into the Great Hunt. Though she would probably never want to shoot an animal herself, I’m sure she would find great joy in the running, and the plaintive call of the silver horns.”
The fiery dwarf stands completely silent as Tomaru speaks, keeping his gaze fixed - as if he's in a daze - on the lifeless form of his one and only love. His gaze never wavers - one could almost swear he never even blinked - during the entire eulogy as a stray tear finds its way down his face from time to time.
Tired, the dwarf can think of nothing more to say that he hasn't already said so he remains silent the entire time. At the conclusion of the service, when her body is buried, Thordak walks to where she was interred and gets down on one knee, placing his hand upon the ground. "This isn't 'goodbye', it'll never be goodbye. This is 'until we meet again', me love." Remaining there for several moments, the dwarf eventually rises and walks over to Tomaru. "Well done, lad. Thank you," he simply says, giving a nod of thanks before turning and walking back inside the castle.
"Dread Nethys," Lym chants at the funeral, almost as though she were casting a spell, "here lies one who did not worship you in word, but in deed. Here lies one who lived and breathed your power, who carried it in blood and bone and brain. Here lies one who brought great destruction through magic, who scourged and terrorized our foes. Here lies Aurora, who was mighty in magic. As she brought great destruction, dread Nethys, so grant her your mighty protection. Guard her on her way to the Boneyard, the court of Pharasma. Let no hand be raised against her on her travels, nor lying voices speak out against her at her trial. Dread Nethys, watch over my friend, my sister in the Art, the beloved of Thordak. Benevolent Nethys, in your madness, do this thing."
The Wizard clasps her own wrists and bows her head...
During the downtime, when not crafting, Tomaru will return to Sandpoint.
He'll tithe 2000gp to the temple and gift them a Wand of Cure Light Wounds (12 charges remaining).
If able to scavenge some good bones from the dragon, he'll gift Ameiko with them. "Now the Rusty Dragon has real dragon." and tell her the tale of how they slew it.
Of course, Brodert will get a visit and gift of books and minor artifacts from ancient Thassilon.
Tomaru will spread the wealth around Sandpoint, going to shops and staying at inns and buying rounds at bars. Over time, he'll spend another 2000gp easy.
Obviously Brodert and the ancient Thassilonian library are a good resource. Plus there's books we brought back from the Rune Well.
Toamru can also cast Divination and Commune. They have limitation, but could still be helpful.
Castle Lym is bustling with the comings and goings of extraplanar allies and sources of information. Communing, divining, and studying the lore of legends keeps you busy for the greater part of a week while you prepare to find the Mhar Massif in ancient Xin Shalast.
Yet despite the prodigious resources spent in the effort to find information, the story remains the same:
- 1. Xin-Shalast is located in the towering mountain of Mhar Massif, in a valley that lies at the headwaters of the River Avah.
- 2. Mhar Massif itself is said to serve as a bridge to strange realms beyond Golarion.
- 3. Anyone who can find the River Avah can follow it directly into Xin Shalast.
"The problem, lords," one agathion scout relates to you, "is that the entire region lies in a realm where reality has frayed at the edges. We cannot pierce the haze that surrounds it, even to find the River Avah."
There are huge gaps in the knowledge in the library as well. every reference to the location of Xin Shalast has been purged from the records under Jorgenfist. It's as if Mokmurian committed all of it to memory, then destroyed it. The scholars of Magnimar are even less help, having no information beyond what you can already find in the library of Jorgenfist.
One day, well into the research effort, Tomaru is visiting Brodert in Sandpoint, and mentions Xin Shalast to him. Brodert grows thoughtful for a moment, then snaps his fingers as a memory comes to him. He rushes over to a disheveled pile of papers and scrolls in one corner of his home. It leans precariously away from the wall, a parchment calamity waiting to happen. yet Brodert digs into it with a relish, all the while speaking to Tomaru.
"I seem to recall an old account of a pair of dwarven brothers who claimed to have found a route into the fabled Xin Shalast." he says. After rooting through the pile of books and scrolls, he emerges triumphant with a letter in hand.
"I received this from the author of the definitive cyclopedia on the region of Varisia and the Storval Plateau. Cevil "Redwing" Charm's well-known volume: Eidolon. I know some have criticized it, but they are just jealous of Redwing's scholarly acumen." He hands you this letter.
"You may read it, even copy it, but I must ask that you give it back to me. It's my most treasured possession."
"What about the keys?" Lym asks of her informants. "The keys to Xin-Zhalast! Does no one have any idea where these artefacts might be? It's no good even if we gfind out how to get there if we can't enter without triggering the bastard's security measures and we're killed instantly!"
"We do not know." says one of the archons. "There is no mention of any 'keys to Xin Shalast' that we have seen. It is...a human problem after all..."
And in fact you receive similar response from any of your sources. There simply is no reference to keys of Xin Shalast in any of the histories, beyond what you already know.
"Perhaps you should go find out for yourself?" one Marut suggests helpfully.
One thing IS certain. The point where the Kazarin River comes down out of the Kodar Range - where the Vekker brothers claim to have fond passage into the city - is of extreme altitude. Climbing into the mountains there will be a difficult challenge.
"Sounds like we could use a guide. Perhaps Shalelu can help us."
"I'd love to help, it's just that I've never been to the mountains north of the Storval Plateau. I'd be in the same boat as you all."
Sharpening the blade upon his longaxe - which he's been doing quite a bit lately - he pauses a moment and speaks. "We need no guide. I'll find it. I've no doubt," the dwarf says matter of factly and then returns to running the whetstone along the edge of his blade once again.
"We all need to make sure we have cold weather gear, climbing equipment, and a tent."
I should have gotten an Instant Fortress.
The task before you is daunting. Your only lead for finding the fabled city of Xin Shalast is a pair of dwraven brothers whose may have found the entrance to the city during their failed attempt to start a mine in the Kodar mountains. The only clue for locating the Vekker brother's venture is that it's somewhere along the Karazon River.
A bit of research on the Kodars and the Karazon provides you with this map of the North East region of Varisia.
"It would be easier to start at the top of the river and work our way back, but that's surely not the way the dwarves took.There's also a chance we could learn more if we asked about them in towns and taverns closer to the bottom of the mountain."
”There are four major river forks on this map. Hopefully there are clues down river as to which path to take, or we could use divination magic at each fork until we find the correct one.”
Tomaru can aid with history and perhaps a Bit of Luck.
There are no towns near to the point where the Kazaron comes down out of the Kodar mountains. The proximity to the Hold of Belkzen ensures no permanent settlement exists in this part of the Storval Plateau. The closest city is Urglin, a den of scum and villainy mostly overrun by the detritus from the Hold. Even Urglin is 200+ miles away.
What you do know is the Vekker brothers followed the Kazaron River up into the Kodars. From there, no one knows.
"Guiltspur is a Thassilonian ruin. It's being dug up by a blue dragon called Cadrilkasta and her ogre and giant slaves," Lym muses. "Might be worth looking into, if for no other reason than to prevent whatever's buried there from falling into the hands of our enemies."
Tomaru can use Find the Path and Wind Walk to get us to Guiltspur. Find the Path does not last long, but it can put us on the correct heading and, hopefully, we'll see the city as we fly overland.
"Sounds good ta me. I'm for findin' this dragon and her giant slaves. Nothin' better than riddin' the world of a few more giants," he states honestly. "So when do we leave?"
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A thought then occurs to him. "Wait a minute... did that letter say 'Vekker'? As in the Vekker brothers? I knew those lads. They're from Janderhoff. They're clan took me in after...," he pauses, losing himself in thought a moment. What feels like an eternity the dwarf finally shakes his himself free of his reverie. "Ummm... where was I? Oh yeah, the Vekker brothers. They took off for the Kodar mountains just before I took me leave."
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”I have no problem hunting down evil dragons on the side, and I know Rexil would appreciate the chance to free some more of his people,” Praxim says, ”But Karzoug has to be our primary objective. If he breaks free or wakes up or whatever is about to happen, evil dragons will be the least of our problems.”
”Of course, we need some sort of key and maybe that’s what’s in this Guilt place.”
Further research by yourselves and Brodert bring up more information.
"I cannot find any specific mention of any 'keys', " Brodert says over a pile of books and scrolls. "but what I can confirm is that Mhar Massif is separate from the city proper. perhaps the keys you seek are in Xin Shalast itself?"
Yes. Lym offered him a year to spend at the library.
"Mostly, they cost a spell and some time," Lym says. "There is a magnificent library, but it lies in Giant territory, and nothing may be removed lest it succumb to time and fall to dust. If we find ourselves with some time on our hands, maybe we can teleport you there sometime and you can make a day of it. Or a year."
Brodert continues. "You see," he says spreading out an ancient map on a mahogany table deep in the library, "there is a definitive zone that surrounds the Mhar Massif. There are few references, but 'zone of death' is most often what it is called. Only the choice few were allowed into that zone. The vast majority of the peoples of Xin Shalast never set foot on the mountain. And they seemed to need no special keys to go about their lives in the city."
"Yes, but they're likely the Runelord's stooges and slaves," Lym points out. "Fair chance he marks them in some way so they can come and go. We need those keys. The general said so. So. Guiltspur?"
We'll start with Wind Walk and Find the Path. Once we get closer to our destination, we'll work out the best way from there.
So now...what is that destination?
I think we’re actually checking out Guiltspur first. If it’s a red herring, they can move on.
Close to where the Kazaron River enters the Kodar Mountains. I want to aim for the Vekkar brother's base of operations.
Close to where the Kazaron River enters the Kodar Mountains. I want to aim for the Vekkar brother's base of operations.
Final answer, then?
Is there somewhere else we should go instead.