The summons was sudden and unexpected. One moment news was traveling around Absalom of the strange crystalline ship that appeared in Absalom’s harbor, defying the Harbor Guard’s defenses and attempts at interdiction, and the next instant a young Pathfinder, acting as courier, arrived with a message for you: meet Venture-Captain Hestram at the First Harbormaster's residence for an urgent mission briefing!
As you come down the street, you see some other Pathfinders arriving as well.
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This large fellow obviously has fiendish blood on a near branch of his family tree. (If not clear down to the roots.)
He carries a large polearm and grins with a mouth full of vicious fangs.
From the rumors and the meeting point, I assume you want me to board and capture the strange ship out in the harbor. Correct?
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A handsome young fellow of slight build with tausled brown hair approaches the Harbormaster's residence. He appears to be more of the scholarly type. Dressed somewhat fashionably, a rapier swings from his hip and a barbed whip is coiled at his belt on the other side. Papers and pamphlets are stuffed in various pockets, their crumpled corners sticking out.
He cautiously approaches the tiefling standing in front of the residence.
Umm. Hello. I'm, uh, Artemis. I, um, received this message to meet here.
He searches through his pockets and eventually pulls out a folded note.
Ah, yes. Here it is. He waves the note a few times then stuffs it back into his coat pocket.
He takes in the sight of the imposing teifling in front of him.
Were, um, you summoned by Hestram as well? He asks nervously.
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Another tiefling arrives at the harbor master's office. His scaled skin is almost black and his eyes are an unsettling blood red in color. He is dressed in loose gray robes with a heavy hood to conceal his fiendish features and there is a bandolier with oversized pouches hanging across his chest. His only weapon is a gnarled black quarterstaff with he carries resting on his shoulder.
Ignatius moves noiselessly, approaching the two Pathfinders already at the wharf. When he speaks, he has a lispy whisper.
[b]"I am Ignatius, fellow Pathfinder. I imagine we are expected to investigate this strange occurrence."[b]
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Oh, my. Artemis thinks to himself when he sees another tiefling, just as exotic as the other, walking towards those assembled. He holds up a hand in greeting.
Greetings, Ignatius. I am Artemis. Archaeologist and scholar. Have you been summon...
Artemis stops mid-sentence as a look of embarrassment washes over his face.
Oh. Ha-ha. He chuckles as he glances back and forth at both tieflings.
Uhh, I mean, you received an invite from the Venture Captain as well. Heh-heh. I didn't mean "summoned" as in the conjuration sense, of course, seeing that you're both of the fiendish type.
Shut up, you fool. He says to himself, clenching his teeth with an awkward grin.
He quickly veers away from the introductions before he embarrasses himself further.
Ah. It is quite magnificent, is it not?
He says as he looks at the crystalline ship while holding a hand up to keep the sun out of his eyes.
I was probably requested to join this mission due to my expertise of obscure knowledge and the ability to deal with various traps. Well, this will be a very intriguing assignment. I'm excited to see who else will be joining us.
A woman dressed in Sarenite robes approaches the harbour master's residence. She wields the traditional weapon of her goddess and carries herself modestly, but confidently.
Blessings of the Dawnflower to you all. I am Kyra. I assume you are here for the same reason I am. It is good to meet you all. she says as she puts the hood of her cloak back and bows her head in greetings to the others.
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A large man dressed in mostly greens and browns joins the collection of strange agents gathering around the residence. A large Greatsword was strapped to the man’s back, but he also had a spellbook poking out of the large backpack he was wearing.
”Howdy, I’m Rondolpho Keene. Just call me Keene. It’s much simpler that way. I heard there’s a mysterious ship out there. Suppose we are to go look for any thing interesting on it...”
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Hello, Kyra. Hello, Keene. He says with a welcoming smile as he holds up a hand in greeting.
It's a pleasure to meet both of you.
He looks towards the strange ship in the harbor and addresses Keene.
I'm sure we're going to find plenty of interesting things on it. I'm wondering who the crew is. Is it even manned by a crew? Is it a ghost ship of extra-planar origin? If not a crew, who are the guardians? Oh, the possibilities are endless. This is very fascinating. And for us to be chosen to be the first to explore it... wow.
He shakes his head in disbelief.
The amazing wonders it must hold within. I just... I just cannot wait to explore it and to be the first author of a Pathfinder Chronicle of the discoveries we find inside.
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Well, the people in the streets didn't lie. This'll prolly involve the reported disturbance in the harbour, seein' that we're meeting Hestram at the First Harbormaster's jetty. I got 'The Voracious' moored not too far from there, so that's awright I guess... just hopin' the rest of the fleet hasn't been affected by this strange new ship... glad I got Vicar Jheen on duty right now, as he'll have the men ready for whatever we're about to be thrown at... this is the second mission in a row I've been called by Hestram, and I'm not sure it's honor I'm starting to feel with these recurring emergencies.
Approaching the First Harbormaster's house, he hands over the reins of his riding gecko to a hard looking man with a crossbow on his back, wearing leathers and carrying a cutlass. The man nods and ties it a suitable distance from his own horse, making sure to dump several kilos of desiccated giant chunks of some kind of meat from a large sack, then mixing it into the nearest trough with a large amount of greens and vegetable scraps.
"Thanks for takin' care of Mozza, Coxswain Yossk. Keep a good eye on it, at least until it falls asleep with a belly full of that stuff. I'm still amazed how many voyages the beast has seen since I bought it down south, but in a town like this, it's probably safer in the sewers than beached in a street like this. Keep that crossbow out and loaded until I can find a stable that'll take it."
Entering the establishment, the good captain shifts his eyepatch from left to right, blinking a few times and taking his gauntlet off to rub the sleep gunk out of his fresh eye. Seeing the Pathfinder warriors already assembled, he nods as he approaches, leaning his shield and lance on the wall next to him. Taking his helm off, he finally relaxes for the first time in what seems a long while, now appearing slightly less grumpy. "Well met everyone. Raynor's the name. Pirate hunter. Used to be one as a boy, until someone knocked some sense into me. I can handle that lance decently in a fight, mounted or not, but if things get too close for comfort I can handle a good knife as well. By the grace of the Harborwing, I can also piss off undead or heal a fellow sailor, depending on the need. I don't think I've had the pleasure to make your collective acquaintance before. What are your names, fellow agents, and what are yer areas of expertise?"
Your conversation is interrupted as the door to the First Harbormaster's residence opens, and his secretary waves you into the man's office. Venture-Captain Adril Hestram, a veritable bear of a man, is here as well.
"Agents, this is Goodman Hugen of House Candren, Grand Councilman and First Harbormaster," says Hestram. "We've got a situation."
The First Harbormaster nods. "I'll say!" He walks around his desk and point out his window towards an ominously shaped vessel floating far out in the harbor.
“The vessel first appeared at second watch. No one saw it enter the harbor and there was no warning of its approach through the Flotsam Graveyard. One instant the harbor was clear and the next instant it was there. According to the few eye witnesses we could find, it seemingly just faded into existence there in the water. Our gillmen and Wave Rider scouts reconnoitered it initially and reported there to be no signs of life on its decks and that it was seemingly constructed of a single piece of seamless, opaque white crystal. The Harbor Guard and Wave Riders immediately set up a cordon around the vessel to contain any threat it represented and the First Guard and Starwatch were placed on alert."
The man paces as he talks.
“When no threat appeared imminent we sent a Harbor Guard boarding party. They reported the top decks to be completely deserted and all access to the ship’s interior to be blocked off by a single sealed portal. Indecipherable glyphs are incised all throughout the ship’s hull but there is actual writing on the bow. We took copies from the bow to the city’s sages, and the script was identified as Azlanti. It translates as King Xeros, which we believe to be the ship’s name. Old travelers’ tales tell of a ghost ship that wanders the Great Beyond; it is sometimes referred to as the King Xeros of Old Azlant, a magical vessel launched by the Azlanti shortly before Earthfall. We think this may be the very same vessel here in our own harbor.”
Hestram takes over.
“This is where we Pathfinders come in. We believe the ship to be the self-same King Xeros and an artifact of the ancient Azlanti. We need to get inside the ship and find out what secrets it holds and if any danger exists. Since it’s old Azlanti, we figure it’s all kinds of magic and mysteries six ways to Oathday. The sages want a crack at it, but we think it’ll take more than just brains to get into it as it might be trapped or guarded. Pathfinders are known for our ability to deal with this kind of prehistoric stuff and handle ourselves in a tight spot. Ah, to be young again! But I'm not, so that’s why I’m turning to you. The last thing I need is a dozen dead scholars and some monstrosity from beyond time unleashed on the city. I need you to get on board that ship, find a way inside, do a bit of poking around, and figure out if this is something we should be worried about or if it just happens to be the discovery of the millennium. We haven’t got a lot of time here, so I need your answer relatively quickly before this mystery turns into a full blown crisis. Agents, are you up for the task?”
coming Earthfall, though if so they failed to grasp the true magnitude of the imminent disaster. Nevertheless, in those days many strange and mysterious endeavors were undertaken in the dweomer-shrouded halls and
planes-spanning observatories empowered by occult and little-understood energies. Planar travel was a well-known if not overly common practice then, yet nothing of the advancements and experiments done in this field
could match the christening of the King Xeros.
The King Xeros was an ether ship, a strange vessel grown from mystical crystal designed to pierce the enigmatic veil of the Ethereal Plane and plumb its inscrutable gray depths. Its mission was shrouded in mystery, and its passengers and cargo a closely guarded secret. When
the ship was launched and slowly faded from its home waters into the ether, its mystery became legend and soon sank into distant myth, for upon leaving on its maiden voyage the King Xeros was never seen by the Azlanti again. Shortly thereafter Earthfall erased Azlant from the face of Golarion and the King Xeros of Old Azlant became just an obscure bards’ tale carried on by those steeped in ancient Azlanti lore.
Despite its disappearance from known Golarion history, the King Xeros was not erased entirely from the annals of time, for it continued to roam the Ethereal Plane on its endless mission. Reports began to trickle into planar cities and Material backwaters of a crystal ghost ship that plied the gray mists, appearing unexpectedly and disappearing just as suddenly. Boarding parties never found any trace of the original crew and many vanished altogether as the ether ship made a sudden disappearance. Many an Ethereal treasure hunter sought the King Xeros and the fabled riches or eldritch secrets it was said to carry, but only the occasional report from some itinerant traveler told of sightings of the lost ship as it slipped through the Deep Ethereal.
This could be a huge boon to the Society if we can find anything historical or meaningful in it. Of course, I'm up for it. Mind you, traps are not my strong suit. Healing someone after they have set it off is, though... Kyra says with a small grin.
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"Aye Sir, we are indeed up for the task," answers Raynor, eyeing the other Pathfinders and seeing no one flinch. Nodding to Lady Kyra and agreeing about her expertise in the healing arts, the seasoned Captain approaches the nautical chart of the harbor and adds, "I'll position the Golden Gull, the Fearsome Tide, and the Voracious here, here and here to supplement the Harbor Guard and reinforce the perimeter. I'll relay those orders immediately. Gentlemen, Lady Kyra; if you'll excuse me."
Raynor steps outside into the street to brief his Coxswain on how to position his flotilla while the more scholarly members of the expedition ask their question to the Venture-Captain and First Harbormaster.
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This is very exciting. I wonder if I know anything about this King Xeros ship.
Well, interestingly, here's what I know:
Despite its disappearance from known Golarion history, the King Xeros was not erased entirely from the annals of time, for it continued to roam the Ethereal Plane on its endless mission. Reports began to trickle into planar cities and Material backwaters of a crystal ghost ship that plied the gray mists, appearing unexpectedly and disappearing just as suddenly. Boarding parties never found any trace of the original crew and many vanished altogether as the ether ship made a sudden disappearance. Many an Ethereal treasure hunter sought the King Xeros and the fabled riches or eldritch secrets it was said to carry, but only the occasional report from some itinerant traveler told of sightings of the lost ship as it slipped through the Deep Ethereal.
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Ignatius runs his talons down the black quarterstaff in his hands as he considers the strange stories around this mysterious ship.
"Yes. Pathfinders are a good choice for exploring such a strange vessel. You have mentioned that the Wave Riders and Harbor Guard have already been upon the ship and are securing the area. In what capacity are we working with them? Are we reporting to their commander or are they taking orders from us?"
As an aside, Ignatius will give his wand of mage armor to Rondolpho and his wand of cure light wounds to Kyra. "I have been training in techniques of combat that cannot be properly executed in armor but the Lodge enchanter assured me that this humble branch has been infused with a spell of protection. I am ignorant when it comes to the arts of spellcraft and cannot use the device but I have been assured by others that the enchantment is strong and true. Please use this spell on me when I need it and share with any other who may benefit from such a boon."
Ignatius bows stiffly as he hands the wands over.
The Harbormaster replies to Ignatius' question: "I think everyone can work together. The Harbor Guard are sensible chaps, and know that you're the experts when it comes to magic and relics and the like."
Venture-Captain Hestram opens a satchel bag and brings out several letters. "I'm not sure how people always seem to know what's going on before I do, but I've got some letters for you here."
Her Majestrix’s Most Loyal Servant,
What interesting tidings find me in my boudoir this day.
According to my erstwhile source, the King Xeros’ expedition into the Aether was more than a journey of exploration. A small, egg-shaped device of purest black was put aboard the ship before its departure. The
vessel’s true mission was to carry this device as far as possible from Golarion and the Material Plane.
I know not what true purpose this legendary egg holds, but if it be still on the ship I charge you with its recovery so that our thaumaturges may delve into the secrets of whatever power it possessed that made its escape
from Earthfall so important to the Azlanti. Bring the egg to me, and you shall be well rewarded.
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
As I look from my window and see the strange ship in the harbor, I recognize it as one that I have seen before, not with my own eyes but with the memory of our ancestors. In the Tomb of Ahnubar III beneath the Pyramid of Shadow and Scarabs recovered from the sands of the deserts this last spring was found an inscription of which I have a rubbing in my possession. Among many hieroglyphs of mystery is the image of a vessel with winged castle at the stern and an unmistakable spike upon its bow. There can be no doubt, this ship has crossed the path of Osirion before, sometime before the dynasty of Rekh more than 5,000 years ago.
Any clues to be found within this ship of ancient Osirian contact could do much to increase the understanding of our ancestors. Bring back any such information you find to help us rediscover the paths that lead to Osirion ascendant.
In All Sincerity,
Amenopheus, The Sapphire Sage
Goodman Hugen is a champion of our noble cause. And as the First Harbormaster, he brings great advantage to the freedom of
trade and ideas that we hold dear. It is his direct intervention with the Grand Council that provides our illustrious order with the
opportunity to have first crack as this strange vessel—a gold mine of lore and discovery for the Pathfinder Chronicles. However,
there are those among the powers of the city that would see him fail for his support of glorious Andoran. Specifically, Lady Darchana
of the Grand Council would like nothing better than to see our involvement at Hugen’s behest be an utter and tragic failure.
I urge you to take utmost care in your investigation of the mystery ship. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that no harm comes to
the city or its people and that any threat the ship represents be averted. This mission must be a success or the damage to our cause
and one of its most powerful patrons could be incalculable.
Beseechingly Yours,
Captain Colson Maldris
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After reading the missive, Artemis looks up at Kyra, Ignatius, and Rondolpho.
Splendid! Looks like we have an assignment of anthropological significance. To think that ship visited Osirion in ancient times is astounding. We must do our best to take the upmost precautions so that we do not damage any artefacts that we find.
He checks to make sure he's got his handy haversack. And adjusts it so that it's in easy reach.
Ah. There we go. Just making sure this pack is in easy reach.
Hestram laughs. "I thought perhaps Raynor would provide you transportation--he's got the largest fleet of any Pathfinder field agent I know! But the Harbormaster here has arranged a ship as well. Be at the docks within an hour. Good luck, Pathfinders. And be careful--when Old Azlant is involved, there's likely to be something nasty on board."
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"Thank you Venture-Captain. My three ships have been committed to the security of the harbor already. A transport for the land-dwelling agents here would be appreciated. I can guide those of you who are ready to the docks now. Those of you who need to gather gear or supplies, meet us at the docks as soon as possible. We will wait up to an hour."
Raynor mounts his riding gecko and guides his fellow Pathfinders to the docks.
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Ignatius looks the note over before handing it to someone else.
"Yes, we should be able to complete this favor for the Ruby Prince while we are on the ship. I am glad he has not asked anything...unethical, of us."
The tiefling opens up the bandolier hanging around his shoulders and carefully reorganizes several paper cartridges, placing them back into the pockets just so.
"Is this boat going to be here soon? I am ready to explore the ship."
Your Harbor Guard sloop makes its way slowly and cautiously out toward the mysterious visitor. As the sloop draws nearer, details of the vessel become clear. It only superficially resembles a ship, with a symbol-covered hull of quartz glowing with a rosy tint in the wan light of evening. A tall aft castle of strangely faceted crystal rises from its stern sprouting from its sides giant, winglike sails of the same crystal that hang parallel to the water. It bears a split bow, between which rises a gigantic black spike towering over 60 feet into the air. It is the only portion of the ship that does not seem to be made of the same opaque crystal.
The main deck is uneven, broken into several subdecks. From a distance, one can make out the faint lines of decks and compartments through the crystal hull, but these these fade quickly upon closer inspection.
Arrayed around the vessel at a distance of perhaps a quarter mile is a ring of other Harbor Guard vessels, from sloops to cutters to dinghies; they seem to have turned out everything that could float in order to contain this potential menace. Raynor's personal trio of ships also helps keep the harbor safe.
Within this cordon of vessels can be seen the forms of hippocampus-mounted Wave Riders patrolling closer in and even under the derelict hulk. A single accommodation ladder hangs over the port side just abaft of the fore deck, a shallow draft barge moored at its foot, a sign that at least one patrol of the Harbor Guard still remains on board keeping watch over the upper decks of the mystery ship.
The lapping of water against the ship’s hull is drowned out by the sounds of sudden screams from the ship’s main deck, and flaring bursts from fiery explosions suddenly illuminate its superstructure. The Harbor Guards already aboard appear to have come under attack and cries of pain echo over the waters of the harbor!
Kyra examines the ship as they get close to it.
At least we should be wary of magical wards and such. No telling if there any phantasmal sentries or such around. she warns as she casts a minot spell when they come alongside.
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Artemis is awestruck by the immense size of the strange ship as the boat pulls closer. When the sounds of battle and screams ring out above, Artemis jumps into action. He pulls out his wand of protection from evil, speaks a command to activate it, and taps it on himself.
And tries again...
Curses! he shouts, disappointed when the spell doesn't take effect.
He then climbs up the ladder, behind all the others.
I knew it...hurry! Before they can prepare any surprises. Kyra urges as she starts climbing up the ladder.
Rushing on board, you see eight of the Harbor Guardsmen are pinned down on the gangway of the abaft deck by three-foot-tall immobile crystal plinths shooting fire! Three other Guardsmen are battling some sort of mobile crystalline defense construct on the upper deck--four other Guardsmen have already been killed!
Initiative (Round 1)
Ignatius
Artemis
Kyra
Raynor
Magt
Rondolpho
Flame Projectors
Defense Construct
Bold may go!
Well, if fire is out, that limits what I can do. Sarenrae, help guide their hands in this battle. Kyra says as she holds up her holy symbol and casts a spell.
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"Magic folks: save the ones pinned down by the fire crystals! teleport them out of there or toss them into our ship below if need be! Warriors: help me defend the Harbor Guardsmen against the large crystal construct!" barks Raynor, spurring his gecko up the wall and attempting to fight back against the crystal monstrosity.
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With the chaos of battle all around, Artemis dodges out of the way of guards fighting or fleeing. He tries to remember if he has ever learned anything about the crystalline construct. Unfortunately, he doesn't recall anything.
He pulls his crossbow from the hook on his backpack and loads a cold-iron bolt. Wide-eyed, he scans the battle around him.
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Ignatius moves towards the stairs and stops to get into a strange combat stance, standing on one leg as he wields his quarterstaff. The tiefling raises his quarterstaff so that it is level with his eyes, with one end tucked into his shoulder and the other aimed at the crystal golem. There is a deafening boom as flames leap out of the end of the weapon and the glamour fades, revealing that the staff is actually an ancient musket made of blackened wood with a tarnished brass barrel.
With a deft movement, Ignatius slips a paper cartridge out of his bandolier and pours it down the barrel of the musket.
Raynor's lance plunges into the mobile defense construct, meeting some resistance on the way in. An instant later, a cold iron projectile fired by Ignatius bounces right off the thing's crystalline shell!
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The flame projectors still see the Harbor Guards as the nearest and greatest threat, and focus on them. Another of the poor men is incinerated!
But the mobile defense automaton senses Raynor and his gecko mount are dangerous, and slams its crystalline fists at them!
Initiative (Round 2)
Ignatius
Artemis
Kyra
Raynor
Magt
Rondolpho
Flame Projectors
Defense Construct
Bold may go!