Welcome! This thread is for the CORE run of #9-23: The Ghol-Gan Heresy, as part of the Gamedat IX event. Recruitment starts soon. Play begins September 1 and should end by November 10.
You each receive a letter.
My respected allies,
I have learned that despite the recent thrashing given to the Aspis Consortium and their Bloodcove operations, they have not yet realized that their operations in the Kaava Lands are destined to remain fruitless. The troublesome gnats continue to stain the markets with their ill-conceived attempts to control and influence local trade. More troublesome yet, my contacts tell me the Consortium has forged an alliance with the Vanji Prospector’s Guild. The Prospectors are an ambitious lot, and I fear that their resources combined with those of the Consortium could spell much greater trouble for the region than mere market squabbles.
I have made arrangements in concert with Venture-Caption Bellaugh to fund your passage to the city of Eleder, where you will meet with the Pathfinder field agent Fola Barun and some of our other allies in the region. Fola will have more current details on the situation in the Kaava Lands, as well as a more thorough explanation of the greater troubles I mentioned previously.
Safe travels,
Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam
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Jaïr is a petite woman in simple black robes who highlights her silhouette. She had pale complexion but her charming smile and her simple green make-up make her immediately friendly.
At her side, a short sword and several wands.
Around her neck a strange pendant with ancient osiriani designs. The tip of her fingers are lightly blackened by ink, as if she have passed several time in libraries, copying or scribing books.
Reading the letter she thought
Interesting, I've never went so south! But even there will be better than in Hell! So hot and cold at the same time... but at least I've survived, even if something is not right now.
Nevertheless she smiles at the memories of her last mission before continuing reading.
The Kava lands? Never went and don't know a thing about it! Time to learn something new and give it to my Master. As for the Aspis, the usual lot it seems. Better to deal with them before they destroy knowledge and use it before I've learn all the secrets...
Going back to her small room in the Grand Lodge, Jair took her usual backpack and try to remember if something from her previous adventures will be helpful for this mission...
I wonder who will be there...
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The small blue haired gnome perused the letter as well. She’d never been close to Eleder in any of her missions.
As always, she was thrilled to receive a new mission, especially in a new sort of the world. She’d heard about the Apsis and was happy to try to make life just a little little harder for them!
She packed her satchel with her normal adventuring gear and embarked on the first step of the journey.
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Lass! says happily Jair seeing Lasaraleen on the boat.
She approaches the fiery woman, hugging her in a very friendly manners.
Happy to be with you again! It have been too long since we were together.
Seeing the gnome she adds, smiling Doodle, good to see you too!
In addition to her black tunic, she has a strange belt with a devil's head that seems to looks at you.
A tall half-elf woman with short but tangled hair and deep green eyes beckons to a shaded area that offers some respite from the oppressive Sargavan heat. Two small, frog-like humanoids stand next to her, each observing their surroundings with sharp, bulging eyes. One seems unarmed save for a sling at her belt, while the other sports a bright, feathered headdress and has sagging skin that marks her advanced age. These three are clearly prepared for a small gathering, with simple wooden benches lined up in the clearing and a small table holding a selection of figs and dates, as well as jugs of both water and wine.
Fola, the half-elf, speaks first. “The Pathfinder Society has given me the honor of telling you about something that concerns my native land on many levels,” she says. “This stretch of the Mwangi Expanse is home to many ruins left behind by the fallen cyclops empire known as Ghol-Gan. The relics they left behind have long served as bait for treasure-seekers, but a recent expedition by the Aspis Consortium threatens to do more than simply destroy a piece of history. The Consortium recently experienced a setback when Senghor’s leadership chose to support the Pathfinder Society in opposing them. In their desperation, the Aspis have joined with the Vanji Prospector’s Guild and launched a new operation intent on tearing what valuables they can out of an ancient Ghol-Gan temple. The gripplis protecting the temple tried to warn them that it houses something terrible left behind by lost Ghol-Gan, but they would not listen, and now the ancient fiend Parveen is on the verge of finally escaping her ancient prison.”
Fola pauses and nods to her grippli companions. With a weary croak, the older and larger of the amphibian people steps forward to continue the briefing.
“Fola has it right,” says the elderly grippli. “Your Society has worked with many groups in the region, including our own grippli tribes. I am Mother Bogwynne, lorekeeper and elder of the Krihirik tribe. I know much that has been forgotten, including the history of the ruins the Consortium defiles. Those ruins contain more than cyclops treasures—they also serve as the prison to a terrible fiend known as Parveen. This creature is an asura, a being that knows nothing but destruction and seeks to destroy all that the gods created. We gripplis have guarded against Parveen’s escape for generations, but as the Consortium breaks down the wards, we can feel the monster’s influence spreading beyond its prison.”
Mother Bogwynne gestures toward the other grippli. “Purpurrup is a fiend-keeper whose tribe lives near the ruined city of Kaddodi. She and I seek to unite the grippli tribes to stop Parveen’s escape, but time fights against us. With the wards weakening, the asura may escape before the other tribes’ fiend-keepers arrive to aid us. Thus, we need you—not only to stop recklessness and greed, but to prevent greater disaster as well.”
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Already seated when the others arrive, Stormy sits popping figs and dates alternately into her mouth. She has filled a glass half with water and half with wine but it sits untouched. Her armor is of blue dragon hide and is well maintained but dusty from travel. her vestments, what show around the armor, mark her as a druid. Perhaps more-so, the large black cat beside also marks her as such. It seems some of you know each other. I am Stormy. she offers and then indicates the cat. And this is Shade. The cat is blue black and wears a darkened metal barding that seems to have been designed for him.
Ah, I see Radagast has joined us as well. Good that I know someone anyway. It is good to see you my brother.
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Jair listen to Fola and the strange froglike creature that call themselves Grippli.
She remember basis information on the Gold-Kan Empire and the Asura.
She share the few knowledge she has on what she knows.
What is our mission Fola? Stops the Aspis? Strengthen the wards of the Prison?
I think there is no hope in doing this, we will fail and the world will be damned...
As she says that, her belt buckle seems to grin.
"Your mission is to do what it takes to keep Parveen imprisoned, so stopping the Aspis and strengthening the wards seems like a good place to start."
“You must prepare for more than the dangers of the jungle,” urges Mother Bogwynne. “While Parveen remains imprisoned for the time being, we know that she has called asura servants to her aid before in an attempt to break free. Speed is important, but you must be prepared as well. Many asuras can recover from even deadly wounds unless they are struck by holy energy or a weapon blessed with righteousness. Prepare yourself as well as you can, for I fear that Parveen feels the same sense of urgency that we do.”
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Unfortunately not, only on weapon. Unless you are a monk Stormy.
Says Jair who then explains what the spell does the spell is Holy Sword
The tangled foliage of the Kaava Lands eventually gives way to a series of crudely constructed trails. Some of these trails lead nowhere, as though those who made them decided that even well-sharpened machetes could not hack away the thickest of the jungle’s vines. Instead, they eventually coalesce into a more easily cleared path. The rushing sound of the Oubinga River fills the air, even though the foliage sometimes makes the water itself hard to see. Humanoid footprints indicate that the main path saw travelers recently.
[dice=Perception DC15]1d20+7
Jair whispers Yes, I've heard.
I'm not bad at talking, so may be we can try something less lethal if we have the opportunity?
[ooc]Any other buffs? Then tell me how you approach.
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Even if there is no hope that this encounter could go well, can you give me the blessing of Sarenrae to help me in case we need it?
Asks Jair to Lasaraleen.
Let me talk first, I can confound people with words. If they are enemies, I can make them believe we are allies, if they are neutral I will let you lead the conversation Lass.
Also, let me be the first they see, but don't stay too far if something goes wrong, which I'm sure will happen.
The trail to Kaddodi opens up into a small clearing. The grassy jungle bears many signs of recent use, including ruts from wagon wheels and foliage stomped flat by the passage of many feet. Massive trees surround the clearing and bear various marks from knives and chisels, likely intended to provide direction to caravans passing through the area about where to head next and what areas of the forest to avoid.
Jair approaches and sees a man on the ground, holding his head and babling nonsense, while a lady tries to calm him down. The others are watching in exasperation, and the whole situation seems tense.
One finaly notices Jair and says "WHO ARE YOU?!?"
"Investigating what?" That apparently has their hackles raised.