GM Badblood's Tyranny of the Winds Series (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Lance K

The suli in blue easily dodges Hskoro's attack. Grax on the other hand slices through the suli in pink's helmet, sending her flying.

At this point the one in green raises her hands and says, "We're out-matched! I give up!"

Combat over!

Smart choice. Sit down...I will see what I can do for your friends. Tie them up, guys. Therin says as he goes to tend to the fallen.

will use rebuke death if possible to stabilize any that can be saved.

Now talk...and do not deceive us...diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Ties up the healer's hands behind her back before dragging her to the others.

Rhu slowly lowers his bow, keeping an eye on the suli until they're secured.

The one that Grax just slashed is still holding onto life, so Therin calls upon his power to drive death away.

The sulis still standing submit to being tied up, while the other two remain lying on the ground, comatose but stable.

The sulis in blue says "You know who we are and we know who you are. You need to put aside your reckless plans and return back to the safety of your plane while you still can."

What crazy plan? Enlighten us...last time I checked we were quite in control of our faculties...

"Don't play the fool to us. There is only one reason that you would seek the Untouchable Opal. We know that you are planning on releasing Ranginori from his imprisonment!" the suli spits back at Therin.

Rhu pauses to scan a scrap of parchment. "I give you my word that we are not seeking the Untouchable Opal*. We are looking for--" He glances down at the parchment again. "--Jamila al-Shafah. Do you know where she may be found?"

*Venture-Captain Balentiir did say that the Society already had the Opal, right?

"As my companion stated, we could care less about this Opal. You foolishly attacked us on a misunderstanding." He spits on the ground.

What do you mean...the safety of our own plane...what is you think we're trying to do? We are simply trying to forge an alliance with other beings....not destruction. What have they told you?

"If you're not interested in the Untouchable Opal, then why are you holding that book? We know that you're trying to find the long lost Opal so that you can release Raginori. You might think you're doing the right thing, but the planes are currently in balance. You dont know what chaos your actions may bring!"

They don't seem to know that the Pathfinder Society already has the Untouchable Opal in their possession

"They only tell us what we need to know. We're not high up enough in the organization to know what Jamilah is doing or where she's going next."

"I saw her a few days ago, but I haven't seen her since," the other volunteers.

Be that as it may...your superiors might be misinforming you. Now...as to what to do with you. I suppose we could turn you in for masquerading as cit guardsmen...that might not reflect well with your leaders. What do you say, fellows?

Assuming the party searches them...

Each of the guards is armed with a sap, rapier and crossbow. The weapons are functional and well cared for but none of them are magical or particularly well made. They also have chain shirts under their uniform. They each have a pair of potions in their pouches, along with vials of elemental flux.

The elemental flux is only mildly corrosive until it has been introduced to a small amount of suli blood. Then it becomes a volatile bomb similar to an acid flask, except that it is a random element and after 24 hours will become inert. There are nine vials in total.

The two different potions can be identified with Perception, Craft:Alchemy, or Spell raft.

Also, the party can see why the uniforms looked off. They had their rank and identifying badges hidden in their belt pouches in order to conceal their identities. It appears they are actually city guards.

"Why are we interested in the book? We are Pathfinders, and knowledge is its own reward. I am no scholar myself, so I defer to those in the Society who are."

Javon pops out of the niche he is hiding in and flaps down to land on an outcropping of rock. "What exactly do you think will happen to the balance if Ranginori is released? And do you know where the gems may be?"

Knowledge, Planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"It seems like you're operating in the dark more than we are. Did your masters not inform you of what will happen if Ranginori is released from the Untouchable Opal? There are many who are unhappy with Hshurha's rule and would be willing to join Ranginori in a coup. A civil war would be inevitable. And if the Plane of Air falls out of balance, the other planes will follow."

The suli scoffs and replies, "if I knew where any of the elemental gems were, I could sell it and have a enough gold to build a palace worthy of a sultana."

spellcraft, guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
spellcraft, guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24

We are only tasked with retrieval of the book... Therin says confidently.

And your term as guardsmen might be at an end...once it is found out you are covert agents. I am sure that will not be well received...

"You said you saw Jamilah a few days ago. Did she say anything? What was she doing?"

Each of the guards were carrying a potion of cure light wounds and a potion of fly

So 4 of each.

There is no more information to be gleaned from the guards. It is clear that the Concordance is opposed to the Pathfinder Society using the Untouchable Opal to free Ranginori and that they have members who are in the city guard. They do not seem intimidated by Therin's threat to turn them into the city guard, as this would cause more problems for the Pathfinder Society than it would for them. Hshurha rules over the entire Elemental Plane of Air and all the militia and military forces are under her command, including the city guard. It has been said that it is dangerous to merely talk about Ranginori; so it is likely that the punishment for anyone suspected of trying to find out how to free him from the Opal would be severe.

Still unable to read the book, the party transcribes some important looking pages and brings it back to Jairo's palace. He is able to read Auran and after sifting through their notes the djinn finds a reference to an book called The Primordial Key of Ilyralene. Its last known whereabouts was the Azure Hall.

Any preparations before heading to the Azure Hall?

Hskoro takes one of the potions of cure light wounds just to be on the safe side and a potion of fly.

"Right. To the Azure Hall."

Rhu takes one each of the remaining potions as well.

Therin snags a potion of fly and a curative one as well...

same day? just want to know for spells purposes

"Jairo, what can you tell us about the Azure Hall? When is it supposed to reopen?"

The scenario doesn't indicate that there are any breaks between encounters. I believe that its meant to all take place in the same day.

Jairo responds to Rhu, "I know that the Azure Hall is closed to the public right now as they are still finishing up their restoration. You would need to either talk your way in or sneak past the guards at the entrance somehow. Or I could just write a letter of recommendation for you."

Getting into the library is an optional encounter. Seeing how long this scenario has already run, I am giving the party the option of skipping it if you'd like.

i'm up for whatever...if we can get a written letter to speed things up/avoid confrontation, that's fine with me...

Javon quirks his head at Jairo. "If you could write us a letter of recommendation, that would be excellent!"

Jairo clicks his fingers and a roll of parchment, a bottle of ink and a quill fly through the air and stop suspended in the air in front of him. The djini stares at the scroll for a brief moment then says, "It would be best if you headed to the Azure Halls at the earliest moment possible but I will need a little time to draft a letter. Take the next hour to rest or go on any errands you need to make."

The party has an hour to make preparations or to relax. Obviously, this would be a good time for Grax to make another mutagen but there would be enough time to make purchases.

Rhu buys more paper and ink.

After Jairo gives the party a letter of recommendation, they take the flying carpets that the djinn gave them and fly to the Azure Hall.

The Azure Hall is an immense building crafted from blue marble resting atop a crystalline dais with a central staircase connecting it to a stone
courtyard below. Delicately carved scrollwork adorns the exterior walls, which are inlaid with rows of sapphire. A silver crest hangs above an open pair of imposing doors, which offer a glimpse into the lobby beyond. The rush of water resounds from the imposing waterfall encircling the perimeter of the Azure Hall. Strings of bubbles float in the air around the Hall, faint light glowing from within the glossy orbs.

There is a troop of gnome guards watching over the lobby. Patrolling the lobby with them are several yellow furred dogs with icy blue eyes that watch the adventurers as the enter the room. The guards carefully examine the letter, then escort the party into the Azure Hall and into the wing containing the Cobalt Gallery.

Mahogany bookshelves encircle the walls of the chamber with two rows of freestanding shelves spanning its length. Desks and chairs of varying sizes offer seating accommodation for the library’s diverse patrons. Small tendrils of mist spiral up from the vapor fountain in the middle of the room—an elegant display of anchored cyclones. An open door on the western wall empties out into a hallway, and a ladder near the eastern wall leads up to the second floor balcony. The ceiling reaches sixty feet from the floor and is painted with a mural of imperious djinn soaring in the sky. The most striking details of the room, however, are the thick clouds suspended in the air between the balcony and the ceiling. Atop these stationary clouds rest additional bookshelves, chairs, desks, and podiums.

The party will need a way to fly in order to search through this room.

I think we have four potions of fly available, and there are four of us.

Therin looks around in awe and stumbles a few steps as he moves forward.

I am speechless...amazing...

He then remembers having the potions that the group found.

Well, a graceful bird, I'm mot...he says as he drinks it and flits about while searching.

perc, detect magic: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Javon flaps up towards the ceiling, then dropping back down to land on one of the podiums. "Well, I've never seen just a sight. At least, I don't think I have. Blasted holes in my memories! Gerald, you must come see this! It's like the furniture is floating on clouds." He looks around from his new vantage point to see the desks and other furniture.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

You do also have another method of flying besides the potions.

Therin's senses are momentarily overwhelmed when tries to use detect magic. Between all the floating bookshelves, swirling cyclones, and all the enchanted books on the shelves, this library is absolutely flooded with magical auras.

Therin and Javon search the library but get lost among the stacks.

Will they let us bring the carpets in?

i thought they let us use the carpets for a specific period of time...will use them before the potion if allowed...

I...need a moment...there is so many enchantments and auras...can't focus... the priest says as he sits down for a moment to recollect himself.

Sure! They roll-up just like a regular carpet and weigh 15lbs a piece, since they are the 10 X 10 ft variety. The carpets are a loan from Jairo, since you basically need some way to fly in the Plane of Air to get around town.

Deciding to save the potion of fly for emergencies, Hskoro unfurls one of the flying carpets and sits on it. "Someone else would probably be better at piloting this thing." He waits patiently for someone to join him.

"I can direct it. Where do you want to go?" The monk sits down on the carpet with Hskoro.

Wait...this is a library, after all, correct? There must be a system where we can narrow down the section to look in... Therin says as he refocuses his swimming mind.

Rhu nods, looking around for something likely as he steers the carpet from cloud to cloud.

Perception check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

"Told libraries usually have a place they keep an index of books to look for..."

Searching for 'index' like thing.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Hskoro finds what looks like an index for the library, but unfortunately its all in Auran. Meanwhile, Rhu flies the carpet around the library until something catches his eye. About forty feet above the second balcony he spots something askew in one of the shelves. Looking closely, he sees that there is a hidden carpet built into the side of the bookshelf itself. Hidden inside is a slim book with a green cover.

When he opens the book, he only sees the same phrase, written over and over again in Auran on every page.

Therin gets out his remaining scroll that enables him to read foreign tongues and gets his papers out ready to transcribe.

Therin lays the book out on a table and carefully gathers his writing supplies. As he looks down he sees the words in the book blur and shift slightly. The cleric is unsure if what he saw was real or just an affect produced by his mind after a very long, stressful, and strange day.

When Therin casts comprehend languages on himself, he can suddenly read that every page has the same poem written on it:

Without wings I soar
Without throat I roar
I can be touched
But never clutched
I am free within the skies
You cannot see me with your eyes
What am I?

Rhu ponders. "I think I have heard a similar riddle. Is the answer 'wind?'"

Javon nods. "Very astute, Rhu! I think you have it!"

Therin thinks for a moment, then ponders Rhu's answer.

By the Gods, you may just be right...wind...your time studying at the monastery was well spent, may good man...

Hskoro tilts his head in confusion, being no good with riddles he has no idea if 'wind' was a good answer or not.