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The Pathfinders have an extended stay in the djinni city of Armun Kelisk on the Plane of Air staying at Jairo's place while Ashasar and the Society hash out details on their new cooperation. Not too long into their stay, they receive a missive from Venture-Captain Nodren Balentiir (who was the Venture-Captain last scenario).
Ashasar, Liason to the Seat of Balance of the Concordance of Elements, keeps a modest office atop the Four Winds, one of Armun Kelisk's less conspicuous structures. He sits atop an expansive turquoise pillow, intently listening to a barely visible mass of clouds dancing near his ear. Before speaking, he stands and delicately removes a lantern from a nearby bookcase. Ashasar lights the lantern with a snap of his fingers. He gives a knowing smile as he walks a slow perimeter around the open rooftop. Seemingly satisfied, the janni takes a seat with a contented sigh. "One can never be too careful when dealing with the Duchess Hshurha. With the winds themselves at her beck and call, who knows what kind of agents she has hiding about? It appears our organizations are not as at odds with one another as we once thought.". He nods to the Concordance members in the group. "While the Concordance was initially resistant to breaking open the Untouchable Opal and freeing the Duke of Thunder, the Duchess has grown too bold and forced our hand. We must work together to free Ranginori from his prison before Hshurha throws the Inner Planes into utter chaos. As a token of our mutual goodwill, I ask your help in a sensitive mission that could prove pivotal in our fight to maintain balance."
"When the Concordance considered the Pathfinder Society to be a threat, I sent one of our agents to retrieve a powerful weapon we have hidden here on the Plane of Air. I believe you are familiar with her, no? Jamila's task was to retrieve the Horn of the Hurricane, which allows its wielder to call forth tremendous elemental force. These energies are particularly devastating against creatures native to this plane. Since the accord between our organizations was cemented, I have been unable to reach Jamila, and I fear that she may be incapacitated. Worse yet, it's possible she's been killed and the horn is now in Hsurha's hands. Since we cannot be sure, we must take every precaution to protect the horn and rescue Jamila, if she lives. I have already arranged for your transportation to her last know destination and ask that you leave at once."
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Willard reads over the missive again, nodding in appreciation. This is serious stuff, we definitely need to go after the horn. Liora, I've met Jamilla before this whole thing went awry and we all got tussled up on who was friends with who, so she might trust my word? I mean we did have a wager on who'd caused a rift to the First World once, even if that was many moons ago now... he offers.
Ashasar turns to Liora first. "Jamila does not know that our two groups have joined forces, no. But I know some of you have met her before. She has worked with the Society before. I trust you can use your own wits and charm to convince her. If needed, tell her the Liaison to the Seat of Balance has sent you."
"As for where she was headed, she left on a vessel bound for Port Eclipse, an airship harbor of ill repute. It has one of the few pieces of solid ground in the Endless Sky that is not controlled by the djinn. The port hides within a massive hollow rock, and its buildings cling to the inner wall. While Port Eclipse provides discretion from the djinn, it does so at a cost. Keep your wits and blades about you in there." Ashasar nods at Kamishah. "I've booked you passage on an airship. Captain Nix is a reliable woman I have worked with before, and most importantly, she's not a native to this plane. The gnome has been to Port Eclipse many times and I do not suspect she has any loyalty to Hshurha."
Then he turns to Yulau. "The horn looks like a tornado or a cyclone, made of opaque crystal. It allows whoever wields it to create a blast of elemental energy. Despite its electrical nature, this energy is particularly effective against creatures of air. Still, the horn must be used sparingly, as repeated use in a day is said to put strain on the item. "
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"Yeah, gnomes are great - usually," Liora agrees. "This Port Eclipse place sounds kinda rough, though. Think I'll do some asking around, see what else might be worth knowing before we go."
And once the mission briefing is largely over, she does just that.
She learns a little, but it's mostly the same as what Ashasar already shared. "Well, at least we know he's being up front with us. By all accounts Port Eclipse is a seedy port town built on the inside of a floating landmass and physically concealed from outside forces. The resident djinni of the Plane of Air lay no claim to the settlement, and Port Eclipse acts as an anarchist's haven among the otherwise lawful realm of the air genies."
Ashasar secured a passage for the party with Nix, a devil-may-care gnome with a hodgepodge airship. The gnome greets you as you board. "And hello there! My name is Nix! Welcome to my humble ship!". The first day goes by quickly, but by the end of the day, a swarm of crazed air mephits swoop in and give chase. Nix starts swearing, but her ship is fast enough to outrun them. She has to deploy some of her mechanical gadgets (a few nets and smoke bombs) to dissuade the mephits' interest. "Darn. Mephits aren't usually a problem here. Let's hope we lost them."
At the start of the second day, a cloud grows on the horizon. Nix colorfully curses in Gnome some more, as the cloud of flickering blue energy drifts further into view. It splits into several vaguely humanoid forms that constantly shift and warp, except for their impassive faces. These small figures land on the deck of the airship, buzzing unsettlingly.
Nix swears then translates what they say. "These are comozant wyrds. They work for Hshurha, nominally at least. They demand protection payment, or generally roughing up non-elemental passengers. I've run across them before..."
Nix rolls her eyes before willingly walking straight up to one of the wyrds and allows it to envelop her with illuminating flames. After a minute of speechless conversation, Nix motions for the Pathfinders to present themselves to the wyrds.
Nix steps forward while rolling her eyes, "Just do as they say. They're a nuisance."
Yulau steps up for 'inspection' next. The wyrd shrouds the upper half of Yulau in a cold, buzzing flame, similar to the creature's own. Though it doesn't speak in Common, Yulau empathetically understands a sensation of forced shame, accompanied by the wyrd's gloating.
But Yulau then senses the phrase, "What are you doing in Port Eclipse?". It's not spoken out loud, but empathetically communicated.
The other wyrd hovers nearby. In Auran, it calls out to Liora. "You're next!"
"DO. NOT. LIE. TO. US!". The wyrd's flames burst in a colorful display (though Yulau doesn't feel any different). Electric sparks fly around until a bolt of electricity flies towards a crate near the back. The wyrd probes further, "What. Are. You. Doing. In. Port. Eclipse!" it empathetically asks Yulau again.
Liora approaches the other wyrd who floats nearby. Similarly, it doesn't speak, but empathetically communicates. Liora does sense feel like the wyrds are attempting to prove their dominance over them. Instead of asking about where they're going, this wyrd taunts Liora's sylph heritage.
"You'll never be a true creature born to the Endless Sky and know the joys associated with it. The Duchess of All Wind cares nothing of you and your kind. How does that make you feel?"
Willard knows that these creatures can empathetically communicate with any creature with their Illuminating Flames ability. They can also shock any creature with a Lightning Lash that is basically a lightning bolt (deals 2d8 electricity damage and can be nonlethal if they wyrd chooses).
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Port Eclipse is a seedy port town on the Plane of Air. It's built on the inside of a floating landmass, and is physically concealed from outside forces. The resident djinni of the Plane of Air lay no claim to the settlement, and Port Eclipse acts as an anarchist's haven among the otherwise lawful realm of the air genies.
DC 20+:
Like most of the Plane of Air, Auran is the preferred language of Port Eclipse. Being a hidden smuggler haven, Port Eclipse lacks the amenities of other settlements; as a result, few of Port Eclipse's citizens speak Common. Translation services are available there, but come at a steep price. A means of speaking and understanding Auran is essential in navigating the port town.
Maud will tell the Wyrd her version of the truth: "We are looking for a possibly missing friend."
The wyrd almost pushes Yulau away. It empathetically communicates something along the lines of, "Fine. Boring. Surprised someone like you has friends."
The wyrd mumbles something in Auran, and Nix calls out. "It wants to harass ask another one of you some questions. Who wants to go next?"
Kamishah walks up to the wyrd. It envelops the hunter in a glow of light and the two are linked. "You look particularly weak.". It pulses in what Kamishah can only describe as a laugh before pushing him away.
"What does it feel like to be an inferior being? You'll never know the Duchess's full glory."
As Willard moves up and gets enveloped in the flames, it calls out to him in Auran.
"Now here's a wimpy one, even more wimpy than the last."
Then Willard joins in with the wyrd and can communicate empathetically.
"What is a Path Finder? Sounds ridiculous. Explore?! Psha!
You should just go back home, lest you feel the wrath of the Duchess."
"Pshha! You look wimpy. Port Eclipse will eat you up and spit you out!". The wyrd 'laughs' at you before pushing you away.
"Don't care. You wont earn anything with an attitude like that! Ego too big that it'll pop!". The wyrd 'laughs' at you before pushing you away.
They turn to Maud and 'laugh' before booming in Auran.
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After observing the gnome captain Nix suffered no ill effects, and based on what she could remember of this type of creature, Maud will nod and submit.
Maud is confused for a moment by their comment until she realizes they were talking about her. Ah. I see. Hostile interpersonal relations. Well it's not first or last time she's been bullied for her appearance - she chooses to ignore it.
After the flames settle, Maud gets a questioning feeling from the wyrd as to her purpose in the city "What are you doing in Port Eclipse?"
Maud ponders for a moment. There are many answers. She thinks of her following orders to investigate from the Pathfinder Society, and thinks of Jamila al-Shafah, as she was when Maud last saw her, and then she thinks about everything she's learned about this particular missing janni and the Concordance and the Planes and the Elements and herself since then... she sums it up as honestly as she can by responding in Auran "I am looking for answers from an old friend. Well, someone I consider a friend - I hope she does me as well." She frowns as a thought occurs to her. "...And that's assuming I can find her."
Knowing the wyrds are somewhat aligned with Hshurha, she will attempt to avoid thinking of Ranginori or the Untouchable Opal or any of that as much as possible, keeping her mental focus on the mystery of Jamila instead.
"WHAT DID I JUST SAY! DO. NOT. LIE. TO. US!"
One of the wyrds screams out the same message in Auran with Nix translating nervously.
The one speaking to Maud flickers intensely and lets out a ferocious bolt of lightning that destroys some boxes and crates in a fiery explosion. Both wyrds continue to flicker while staring down the Pathfinders.
They don't understand Kamishah (unless he speaks in Auran).
But they grow tired and bored of the Pathfinders. Seems like you guys weren't cowed into submission like their usual prey. Both the wyrds fly off back into the air.
With the two wyrds gone, Nix sighs. "We occasionally run across devils like that every now and then. Hshurha's minions surely are a thorn in my side. But thank you for driving them off.". She hands over a scroll and a wand. "These are a scroll of dimension door and a wand of glide (4 charges remaining). Use them with care."
After two days of travel to Port Eclipse, you finally arrive at a gigantic island adrift in the elemental currents, pocked with many craters and caverns. Nix pilots her airship around the island several times before steering her ship into one of the larger caverns. The journey inside takes about half an hour partly due to some looping and doubling back that Nix performs in order to confound your sense of direction - hopefully keeping Port Eclipse's true location hidden.
Nix's airship coasts into a world turned inside-out. What must be Port Eclipse clings to the inside wall of a great, hollowed-out stone sphere, its buildings dotting the outer edges like unnatural growths. The cavern housing the settlement is nearly a quarter of a mile in diameter. Airships jut out at all angles of the spherical city, connected to latticework of docks resembling a spider web.
Nix drops you off, "I'll be back in a week, as assured to you by Ashasar. Keep a low profile during your time in the settlement. It's a rough town and anyone who can't defend themselves is likely to end up beaten, enslaved, robbed, or dead."
The gnome also points to a squat building half a hemisphere away, indicating it as a good starting point for your investigation.
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"Those guys were...well, I won't even say it," Liora huffs after the wyrds finally grow bored of their game and depart. "I am what I am and I'll eat broken glass before I let anyone make me feel bad about it!"
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Liora nods at Yulau and Willard's assessment of the situation. "Yeah...we should probably try to avoid making a big scene around this place if we can help it. So let's go check this place out and see if we can get our bearings and maybe a place to stay or something, while we're here."
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"Those were the bluster of a summer squall. Far less dangerous than the placid waters that hide a deep current. We will not see so blatant a warning here, as the braggards have already been drowned." With the building the only obvious lead, Kamishah marches forward in agreement.
The party of Pathfinders slowly make their way to The Aching Anchor. The building itself stands out like a sore thumb - a squat, wooden building among the surrounding wild and exotic structures. Boasting square walls and an innkeeper who speaks Common, the Aching Anchor is a refuge within Port Eclipse for creatures hailing from the Material Plane. The door to the Aching Anchor is on the ground level with no aerial access, unusual for Port Eclipse.
The interior of teh Anchor is purposefully mundane, with a few notable exceptions. Each chair and bar stool has an attached leather seat belt for the planar neophytes who lose concentration, in order to prevent them from drifting away. All liquids are served in flagons with a thumb switch lid, ensuring no liquid escapes. The food is simple and manageable, served as kebabs instead of on plates or in bowls. Hunks of bread, cheese, and meat, all on thin crystal skewers are easier to manage in this setting.
A small water elemental patrols the common room, perpetually cleaning up spills and snatching floating crumbs out of the air.
The inn's proprietor, a bald dwarf in his later years, welcomes you in. Initially he greets you in Auran, perhaps out of habit, but switches to Common shortly after. "Welcome, welcome! What can I do you for? The name is Thunder Skyforge. What brings you to Port Eclipse?"
In most parts of the Plane of Air an individual chooses the direction of gravity's pull. When walking on solid surfaces, choosing the direction of the surface to be 'down' is relatively intuitive and does not require a skill check. In midair, creatures with natural flight can fly normally. Those without the ability to fly, or those who would prefer to move faster can attempt to set the direction of gravity.
Once per round as a free action, an individual can attempt a DC 16 Wisdom check to pick a new direction for gravity. If she succeeds, she begins falling in that direction, moving 150 feet in a straight line on the first round and 300 feet on each succeeding round. If she fails, she can attempt the Wisdom check again the following round. The DC decreases to 12 until she succeeds. Once an individual starts falling in a direction, stopping requires a successful DC 16 Wisdom check to set gravity in the exact opposite direction. If she succeeds, she continues falling 150 feet in her original direction for 1 round, and then stops.
Because an individual in free fall cannot stop quickly, performing actions during the fall is difficult. However, teh PCs may ready actions and perform them during the free fall, such as readying an action to grab an object or to attack a creature while soaring past it. Moving past an opponent in this manner provokes an attack of opportunity.
A PC under the effects of a feather fall spell falls at only 60 feet per round and gains a +2 circumstance bonus on the Wisdom check to change direction.
Thunder initially starts answering in Auran, perhaps out of habit. But quickly changes back to Common. "It'll be 3 gp for a single bed room here. Probably the best deal you'll find around these parts."
The dwarf continues. "And information on someone? Anyone in particular? I know quite a few people in town, but at my old age, I don't get out much these days."
"Also, how good is your Auran? I see you're a sylph but that don't mean much. I'm here a dwarf, but I can barely count to ten these days. Not many dwarves come here so I haven't really used it in a few decades." He looks down in embarrassment.
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Willard switches to Auran, and stumbles through talking to the dwarf, We're looking for an old friend, Jamila, she been through here lately?
He raises his hand to approximate her height, She's about this tall, with eyes, and this color hair? he points at his own dark hair hopeful that the old Dwarf would remember her coming through....
"I don't know that name, no. But I know of someone who will... Well she's no ordinary someone. Ceru is an awakened blue jay. She is one of Port Eclipses's most beloved inhabitants. She'll likely know a thing or two about this Jamila you're looking for. Give me a minute to send word and she should be here in a jiffy."
Lounging around the Anchor, you guys can chat with Thunder. Every now and then, he becomes lost in thought, the tip of his long beard slowly rises, wandering up into his field of vision which snaps him back to reality. "I grew up on the Astral plane you know..." his stories are intriguing and interesting.
Eventually Ceru the blue jay comes whistling in. She perches on Thunder's shoulder. In flawless Common, she speaks out, "Why hello there strangers! Welcome to Port Eclipse. I hear you're on the look out for a friend of yours in town? I don't remember seeing anyone of that nature. But I know just about everyone who's important in town. Let me show you around."