The note you've been given has simple instructions. You're expected aboard The Grinning Pixie, a fast, sea-worthy ship currently docked in Absalom's harbor.
When each of you arrive at the ship, the crew directs you to a room with six hammocks and six stout lockboxes; obviously your berthing and storage for your gear during the journey. You're told that the Captain of the ship, Calistro Bennary--also a Venture-Captain for the Pathfinder Society, you know--will request an audience with you once the ship is underway.
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Akter arrives and starts organizing his things. The human ranger had already had some adventures, yet he considered himself still somewhat fresh on the business. With short brown hair and beard badly trimmed, he had that "scruffy" look of someone more used to underground caves, forests and jungles than civilization per se. He aligned his arrows and started cleaning the bow as he waited for the others to join him. In his core, he truly liked the Pathfinder Society life, and enjoyed the "little dance" that each of these different journeys would take him.
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A pale elven man with long, flowing blonde hair wearing fine silk robes, embroidered with esoteric runes enters the cabin. He looks about the confined quarters and at the scruffy looking human, then glides over to one of the bunks and lays a plain looking staff down on it.
"Greetings. I am Xusius Xometh, weezard of ze Zociety. Eet appears we are to sail zomewhere unknown. Zis weell be a welcome change from skulking about in deesgusting zewers or flooded libraries. Each time I have to buy new robes. Eet ees ridiculous!"
He then sets down a pack on the bunk, reaches into it, and pulls out a goblet and a dusty bottle. He fills the goblet and offers the bottle to the human.
"Zangria?"
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A small, wild-looking boar comes trotting up the gangplank, followed by a slightly feminine, practically as wild-looking, greenish toned half-orc woman pounding up the plank herself. "Slow down, Betsy. We'll get there in plenty of time," she huffs. With a pair of small tusks and a breastplate made of dragonhide, she is fierce looking. With that stringy black hair, though, she is just not very attractive to most.
Once aboard, and making her way to the bunks, she claims a lower hanging hammock as her own. "Betsy, you settle down there... don't be hopping up in my hammock, there's only room for one."
Turning to the others, she offers a green smile of slightly crooked teeth. "Bertha's the name. That's Bets. She's a good friend. Likes to help in a fight, but ain't bad at trackin' either. Anyone here much about this task yet?"
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A little halfling of serious expression and pink hair comes into the room and quietly sits on one of the hammocks "Hi Bertha. Hi Xusius. Hi scruffy human."
His feet doesn't arrive to the floor and he has a weird mark in the front, but he seems resolved. But resolved to what? He might have his own plans to that "A ship you say? Did you consider the length of your recruits legs when you decided to call us? If I get drown I make the Lodge responsible. Write that down somewhere in your Chronicle"
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A red headed gnome appears riding on a wolfhound. He is outrageously dressed in festive clothing. He smiles broadly at the group as his fawn colored pet walks energetically onto the ship.
He adjusts his wizard's cap so that the silver stars better reflect the ambient light.
"A beautiful day to be alive. Some new faces and some better known (nodding at Xusius). I am Sylvester and this is my friend Shaggy."
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Shaggy barks excitedly at the party. While young and full of vigor he seems exceptionally well-trained. The light golden-brown coat of the dog glistens. The muscularity and sheer size of the canine is impressive.
"Woof! Woof!
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Sylvester laughs at Ledt.
"It is going to be a great adventure. I am sure of it. Still I would worry more about the sea-creatures. Many of which could probably gobble you up with a single bite!"
He grins widely enjoying the theatrics.
"So stay away from the sides of the ship unless you fancy a swim."
"As for your hair a little fey magic should be able to condition it properly. At least it has always worked with Shaggy."
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Iladora boards the ship as though it belongs to her. A tall human with white hair, she wears a breastplate even on board and carries a variety of weapons, none more prominent than the two-handed sword across her back. "Happy to see you again Xusius, Sylvester, Shaggy." She nods at each in turn, including the dog, with an expression suggesting she doesn't quite know what polite deference should look like. "My name is Iladora," she tells the others, "champion of Sarenrae. I hope to be a great hero someday."
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After getting settled, and starting to get to know--or get reacquainted with--your fellow Pathfinders, you begin to feel motion resonate through the ship's hull. At first, it's a serious of random--and sometimes harsh--moves, accompanied at times with loud thumps. This surely must be the sounds of the ship being loosened from its ties and leaving the docks. Before long, the motion settles into something more regular, but still not quite what you'd call comfortable.
You're sailing at least a week or more without any audience with the Captain, and any time you try to get an audience, you are rebuffed. Finally, at least ten days out from Absalom, you are summoned to her quarters.
As the Grinning Pixie lurches and sways in the storm, Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry of the Arcadian Mariner’s Lodge grins widely as she slides a clay jug of strong Sargavan rum across her table. Though broad-shouldered and half a head taller than most humans, the intimidating half-orc speaks with an almost childlike excitement in her husky voice. "My apologies for all the secrecy," she says. "I had to make sure some pirate rascal didn’t catch wind of our mission. Now that Drenchport’s behind us and we’re hugging the Eye of Abendego, it’s time to give you lubbers the full run-down."
Benarry waits for the jug to make its way back to her, then takes a long swig. "The Society wants you to explore a recently discovered ruin somewhere north of the Shackles. Well, that's partly true, but it sure isn't the whole story." Benarry’s eyes narrow and her grin becomes unsettlingly sharklike. "We’re actually sending you to the Gloomspires, to Old Sevenfingers’s tomb." Chuckling softly, she slides the jug back across the table. "Here, have another nip. Looks like you need it."
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Xusius wracks his brain trying to recall what he knows about the Gloomspires and Sempet Sevenfingers.
For the Gloomspires:
For Sempet Sevenfingers:
Xusius reviews his knowledge and speaks up.
"I believe zat Zempet Zevenfingers was an old pirate who was rather infamous about 300 years ago. Zupposedly hees tomb ees in ze Gloomspire and has been well zearched for over ze centuries."
He pauses and takes a drink of Sangria from his goblet.
"I do believe zeze Gloomspires are zupposed to be hollow. Odd creatures are rumored to be inzide zem."
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"Oh, it's sure the whole story, when has it not been?" the halfling chuckles.
"In fact Sevenfingers tomb is just one of the many locations that have been explored in recent times. The area is from the time of the Ghol-Gan empire, cyclops stuff for those of you stick swingers to understand, the Gloomspires chambers are cursed or monster-infested, sometimes both" the little halfling says with strict visage while swinging his short legs on the chair.
"So what are we having to do at the tomb? Just explore it?" the halfling stretches his eyes while avoiding the jug "Has there been other expeditions before ours?"
Venture-Captain Bennary nods at the details you recall. "I’ve been researching the Gloomspires for a very long time. Before I sailed to Absalom and joined the Society, I was a Free Captain here in the Shackles. Back then I learned about the Gloomspires, Old Sevenfingers, and all the treasure and secrets the old devil took with him when he sealed himself in his tomb."
A long, rumbling growl of thunder makes Benarry pause, and she takes the opportunity to wet her lips with another swig of rum before she continues. "Since joining the Society, I’ve been able to learn even more about the Gloomspires. Most importantly, I’ve discovered that they’re tied to certain alignments of the stars, and that twice each year—beginning on the nights of the summer and winter solstices—the columns cease moving for exactly three days."
"So, tomorrow’s the summer solstice. Now that you know the ‘where’ and the ‘when’ of this little caper, you need to know why the Society’s sending you." Benarry pauses before continuing in a more conspiratorial voice. "I recently came into the possession of a logbook once owned by the pirate captain, Mazzer Thrennt. Before Thrennt ended up as lusca-bait seven years back, he was a moderately successful pirate who shared my obsession with the Gloomspires. It turns out his log contains an inventory of the plunder he liberated over the years, including the loot he found in Sevenfingers’s tomb. One item on Thrennt’s list immediately got my attention: His log described with perfect accuracy a relic from lost Lirgen called the Orb of Stars. I’m certain that this device can manipulate the alignments of the stars—or at least how we perceive them—and historical accounts suggest we could also use it to trick the Gloomspires into thinking that the solstice lasts more than just a day. The Society and I both want that orb, and it’s going to look really good to the folks back home if you’re able to secure it."
"Here," she says, passing a sheet of parchment across the table, "I’ve written down some of the particulars."
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Bertha pats Betsy on the head. "Looks like we are goin' swampin'!"
Not being the brightest torch in the castle, Bertha just shrugs and nods. Seems simple enough.
"Think there are any ghosts in that tomb?"
Other than pickaxes, crowbars, shovels, etc., she doesn't give much thought to other equipment at this time.
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"So... The Hall of the Flesh Eaters? A promising name by sure..." the halfling would like to know what's about the orb and why the Society wants it, but he has learnt by this time, those kind of questions are moot "I am ready"
"If we are able to pool renting credit, I think getting a climber's kit with us could be a good investment" Ledt comments for all preparation.
"Well, I don't know about ghosts, specifically," Bennary responds, a little hesitantly. "But Sevenfingers was a powerful necromancer. I sure wouldn't be surprised to find some kind of undead inside."
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Should we expect some sort of disease on these surroundings? Anything previous explorers came back with, maybe even poisoning or so? - finally asked Akter, trying to catch up with the details. As much knowledge as he could have, those were really not his expertise. The ranger was, however, used to guide people on this type of environment - and definitely favored fighting the undead.
"You are the first Pathfinders to be entering the Gloomspires under my watch, so I don't know much about that, Akter. Thrennt's log didn't mention anything about that in particular, at least."
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Sylvester simply nods at the mission brief. He is not one to plan extensively or to ask too many question ahead of time as it is only spoils the fun of the adventure.
"Does anyone have any rope at least? It is a little too heavy for me to carry but for one of you burlier types it would be easy work I imagine."
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In addition to the purchases that Bertha and Iladora make, Xusius and Ledt rent a climber's kit from the quartermaster to share.
...or anything else he can think of.
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"If weight worries you, I have a handy haversack where we can store most of the stuff we might need"
Ledt goes to the quartermaster and rents as promised the following items: climber's kit 80/2, crowbar 2, miner's pick 3, winter blanket 0.5, bucket 0.5, fishing net 4 = 50 gp.
Aside, he will pay from his own pouch for 3 rations of daily food and a waterskin = 2.5 gp.
"Ready"
The trip from where the Grinning Pixie anchored at the western edge of the Eye of Abendego takes about 2 days, and you experience minimal difficulty navigating the waters and reaching the base of
Sevenfingers’s Tomb in Venture-Captain Bennary's magical boat, though the final yards proved a small challenge, as the Gloomspires seem to be enveloped in a strange, wind-resistant fog that obscures visibility within 15-20 feet. You are, however, able to berth the boat successfully and begin your climb.
It takes nearly two hours to climb the narrow, winding steps to the summit of the great stone column containing Sevenfingers’s tomb. Although the swirling chaos of the Eye of Abendego lies only a hundred miles away to the east, the violent storms it constantly hurls across the seas seem to have forgotten this eerily quiet place. Surrounding the monolith are dozens of nearly identical columns, their ominous outlines stretching down into the mist. And here, atop Sevenfingers’s tomb, is a small clearing surrounded by a thick and utterly silent veil of tropical trees, hanging vines, and thick undergrowth, all shrouded in the same obstinate fog.
Most of the trees here stand 30 to 40 feet tall and consist of various types of banyan trees, corkwoods, mangroves, palms, and strangler figs. There is very little natural wildlife that you see or hear beyond insects and the occasional lost, miserable sea bird.
A lush canopy of tropical trees, flowering vines, and thick undergrowth forms a dark green wall around the small clearing that opens when you crest the column. A broad trail cuts through the foliage and vanishes into the mists to the northwest. To the south and east is the edge of the column, and a sheer five hundred-foot drop. The ground here is a soggy carpet of thick green moss and black soil.
You notice that the plants growing here seem to be stripped of all edible fruit and seeds.
You find the remains of a weeks-old campfire that contains the charred skull and bone fragments of a humanoid. All of the bones show signs of gnawing.
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The ranger does its better - he kneels down near some plants in the ground and starts tapping and speaking.
Someone already foraged here... No edible fruits or seeds, clearly collected.
He keeps walking around, looking for tracks, until he knees down again.
Here... A weeks-old campfire. - he pauses briefly - This charred skull and bone fragments are humanoid... And they had been gnawled.
He finally stands up and points north.
The tracks are humanoid, are they lead along that thin path there, towards north.
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"Ei! Are you sure is not BAB's tracks Akter? The Captain said we were the first ones sent here" the halfling halts with the team for the findings to be carefully considered "This mist is horrible, they really need to ventilate this place"
"If the tracks go there but do not return, I do advise we pass on and pick another route" the halfling points the only one he can see, the one to the west, because the others are covered by mist "What about this one for example?"
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"Not sure I like knowing someone here is eating people..." Betsy the boar responds with a snort.
"Yah, ok, Bets. I guess I now know how you feel..."
She does pull out a wand of magic fang, and gets ready to cast a Barkskin on herself, but holds off until there is a sign of immediate danger.
"OK, Besty, tell me if you smell anything weird. Let's go."
@GM Zin - Is the visibility poor due to the low lighting conditions or for some other reason?
...the Gloomspires seem to be enveloped in a strange, wind-resistant fog that obscures visibility within 15-20 feet....
You follow the narrow path that leads mostly west, and eventually come to a larger passage through the crowded, overhanging trees. The ambient sounds are still dominated by the chatter of too many insects and too few birds. Strange scents are in the wind, and the shadows under the foliage shift and stutter in unusual ways. BABS, you definitely get a sense that Betsy is similarly uneasy, though you can't quite tell why.
The larger tunnel through the trees finally opens into a clearing. In the center of this clearing stands a large standing stone, about five feet in diameter and twelve feet tall. Carved into the dark stone are dozens of leering one-eyed humanoid faces, their mouths agape as if preparing to appease some unspeakable hunger.
[dice=Survival]1d20+8
The party moved more slowly than you normally might so that Akter could forage for food as you go , and while Akter finds plenty of plants that would normally be bearing edible nuts or seeds, he finds that everything is stripped of its nutritious parts; there is no food to be foraged up here--at least not in this area of this Gloomspire.
Ledt, you determine that the stone radiates a faint aura of both necromancy and evil.
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@GM Zin - My dog has the carrying capacity in his saddle bags and would not be at all encumbered so I would like to buy 6 days of rations and 2 water skins. These will be sized for medium creatures so it will be quite a lot for my small sized gnome but the dog will eat his share.
"I agree Ledt. Let us keep moving."