Several hundred Pathfinders stand together in a long stone chamber of the Grand Lodge, following an urgent but mysterious summons. Murmurs of speculation and rumor spread out across the room until, at the precise second of the hour, the doors fly open. Silence falls as two cloaked figures enter, marching in sync, their steps echoing through the hushed room. Ornate masks obscure their faces. One mask is woven from spreading branches, while the other is a black domino mask studded with crystal tears. The silent room buzzes with anticipation, as the assembled agents wait to hear why these masked figures, two of the shadowy Decemvirate that leads the Pathfinder Society, have summoned them. The figure in the branch mask steps forward and speaks, their voice crisp but slightly distorted.
“Pathfinders,” they say from behind their mask, “many of you have already undertaken missions into the demiplane within the Hao Jin Tapestry. Numerous expeditions have gone inside that artifact since the Society acquired it seven years ago, each mission yielding some handful of the near infinite treasures hidden inside it. Our last mission found the tapestry crumbling and Aram Zey lost. You will be recovering what you can from tapestry before it is too late for any to enter—or too late for what’s inside to leave. The venture-captains will give you more specific directions in the coming days. If you wish to be part of a salvage team, prepare as best you can and remain in Absalom. May fortune smile upon you all.” As swiftly as they entered, the masked figures depart, and the crowd’s excited conversations rise into a dull roar.
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A lean and agile man with red hair walks forward.
”Hey everyone, I am Suussmaar! I see that you are already chatting! I’m ready for the away mission! What do you think? And I heard that you guys are the tapestry special forces and even are pushed through time for your missions?!? Unbelievable! I’m in!“
He has a bastard sword at his hip and a longbow on his back.
He wears a mithral chainshirt that looks like it has not seen much battle.
Resting on top of his chest is an amulet showing the holy symbol of Ragathiel which looks like a bastard sword crossed with a crimson wing.
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”Kal, pleased to have met you Suussmaar. I, like the good doctor here, am quite curious about Zey. We were only just in the tapestry- have been out just long enough to have a few items made… his eyes flit down to the silver necklace he usually wears, now much more detailed than before- you can make out engravings that appear to be fangs, before the amulet falls back into white robes.
”And he certainly wasn’t with us. I know that we had quite the bender afterwards- but you think that I would have remembered that at least.”
Kal’s black hair blows gentle, as if in a nonexistent breeze. Across the surface of his skin, energy blurts and moves- like heat rising on a hot day. His grandiose gestures also serve to draw attention to his long, dark black, nails.
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A tengu wearing an ornate tricorner hat with one large colorful plume and a much smaller drab on in the band, a sword almost as long as he is tall strapped to his back nods.
"Yes, what he said. Remember? During the Hao Jin Cataclysm Master Zey performed a ritual that bonded him to the guardian phoenix of the tapestry to reinforce it and secure the realm from crumbling."
It DOES sound familiar and yet...you've had several missions since then where Zey has given you your briefing and been there to welcome you back. Well...it's Aram Zey so "welcome" may not be the right term, but he has been there when you got back, anyway.
Has travelling in the tapestry, especially when its started unravelling started unravelling reality as well? Is that why you were able to meet and free Tanbaru AFTER Tanbaru was already freed? Will you end up being your own grandfather?!
Before you have too much time for your brain to melt (or melt more in the case of Tofu) under these metaphysical thoughts, new Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr pulls you aside from the chaos, bringing you to a lower room containing the fraying Hao Jin Tapestry.
"Because of your unquestioned experience, I've selected you to be the first salvage group to enter the demiplane," she says before growing somber. "As you know, Aram Zey used to be in charge of matters concerning the tapestry, but since he sacrificed himself within the demiplane, the job has fallen to me as the new Master of Spells."
"Earlier in the year, a group of Pathfinders exploring the demiplane within the tapestry discovered a village that serves as the home for an ethnic group from the Chang Liao Jungle, the Sunsu Godae. On Golarion, centuries of clashes between the insular Sunsu Godae and their neighbors have made the tribe particularly hostile to outsiders. As a result, the Hao Jin Tapestry may be the only place where the Sunsu Godae’s culture and language are still accessible."
"I would like you to enter the tapestry and learn everything you can about the Sunsu Godae’s culture. According to legend, the Sunsu Godae lands are home to a rare purple flower with great magical powers, said to bloom only once every 144 years. I suspect that the recent fluctuations and surges of magic in the tapestry may have triggered the flower to bloom out of cycle. We've had some agents report odd time dilations."
"Don't get me wrong, maintaining good relations with the Sunsu Godae and learning of their culture is more important than searching for the flower. That being said, if you can find the flower and can collect a sample of its pollen without angering the locals, please do so."
"Any questions? I know Aram had absolute faith in your abilities so I do, too."
"Well, if there are no questions, I will meet you in the tapestry room in 1 hour. I'm sure you know where it is. One thing to note: the Sunsu Godae speak a unique dialect of Tian. I'll cast tongues on each of you when you go into the tapestry but it will only last about 1 and three quarter hours. I'll give you a scroll for another, similar time but it will only affect one person. If you can speak Tian, you should be able to get by but if you have any other methods for speaking another language or want to buy some, it would be advisable."
When you return in an hour, Sorrina is staring thoughtfully at the Hao Jin Tapestry as though the secrets of life and the universe are concealed just under the surface of that tattered cloth. It is an expression so like Aram Zey often wore that for a moment it is like he's in the room with you again.
"Ready?" she asks before pointing out a spot on the tapestry and giving you the command word that will take you into the area near the Sunsu Godae village. Before each of you makes the transition, she casts a spell on you and you can abruptly understand the true meaning underneath a person's words without the barrier of misunderstanding their intention.
When you touch the tapestry and give the command word, you have the now familiar disorienting feeling of being in one place one moment and another, entirely different one the next...though...was there a bit of...jitter in this transit?
You find yourself on a cliff in an area of rocky cliffs and steppes, though you can see a swamp in the distance and below you is a small jungle, so small that you can see it's boundaries from here.
Nestled in that jungle is a small village straddling a small tributary of a larger river.
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A young human with some peculiar features of around 25 joins you. Observing him more closely reveals that he is quite puny and doesn't really have an attractive physique.
Only wearing a loose cloak and very light Haramaki armor, it is clear that he is not a fighter.
Around his neck you see an amulet showing the holy symbol of Chaldira Zuzaristan. On his shoulder you see a tiny horned lizard that has dark black scales. In some areas the scales have a red coloring that curiously forms a pattern that resembles the holy symbol of Chaldira and glows slightly.
He silently listens to the new master of spells‘ words.
"Hello everyone. Good to see you again! The young horned lizard on my shoulder is still my friend Baahuush ... whom you surely still remember."
He tries to look into your eyes but that obviously makes him a little uncomfortable.
He looks at the master of spells.
"Lady Sorrina, can you tell us about the past encounters and more about the poeple? Anything else that we need to know about the flower? Any other dangers?" he asks methodically.
Sorrina answers the questions as they are directed at her.
"The Sunsu Godae are a cultural group of the Tian-Hwan people from the Chang Liao Jungle in Po Li. The Sunsu Godae adhere to the warlike practices of ancient Hwanggot, shaped by centuries of violence with their neighbors. Their presence in the tapestry affords the Pathfinder Society a rare glimpse into the living past—an opportunity to access to the traditions and history preserved within it.”
“Legends concerning the flower are inconsistent. Its powers in them
range from sealing unbreakable oaths to communing with the gods to restoring the dead to life.”
"As far as other dangers, we know of none in particular. It seems one of the few places where the Apsis Consortium has not managed to infiltrate but we know of nothing precise, otherwise."
Onhae is a picturesque village of about fifty single-story buildings interspersed with tall, flowering trees and tropical ferns. The buildings are made from wood, stone, and clay, and their exterior walls are decorated with colorful red and blue tiles and feature wooden double doors and slim, grated windows. Curved tile roofs extend over the entrances to cover small wooden decks. Tian Hwan people move about the village, dressed in long-sleeved brocade jackets, wrapped tops, and high-waisted pants and skirts.
Despite being a small village, the inn keeper greets Tofu invitingly, suggesting that they get other visitors from within the Tapestry.
"I am Gao Lai Wam and this is my humble establishment. Please, have a seat. You look hungry, I'll bring some food out," he says.
Minutes later a dish of smoked trout with rice bread sits in front of Tofu. "On the house."
A bit of questioning determines that despite the fact that they do get visitors, there are none at the inn currently and the group could rent rooms as well.
There is also a library and anyone with skill in Linguistics could no doubt study the books to learn more about the people here and how they differ from their modern counterparts outside the Tapestry.
Kioshi simply pokes around the village for a bit, searching for anything unusual.
surrounded by a village in flux, crumbling away and being rebuilt before them. You recognize that your unmade reflection resemble the unraveling creatures the Pathfinder Society fought during the Hao Jin Cataclysm.
Diazepane heads for the Smithy. It turns out to be a small forge near the inn. "Can I help you?" a person of indeterminate gender asks, thrusting a red hot piece of metal into a bucket of water that causes a hiss of steam before wiping sweat from their brow and turning to Diazepane. They clean their hands with a rag that is already dirty.
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"We are looking for the Sunsu Godae, to learn more about the tribe's culture. Is this village part of the Sunsu Godae?"
Diazepane may have follow-up questions, depending on what the answer is. But either way, he's curious about what the smith is making.
"What are you making? What would it be used for?"
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Before starting the investigation, Kioshi casts heightened awareness and heroism on himself and extends the duration with his rod.
“Hey team! Look here and there in the tapestry and you will recognize traces of a silver squall, a planar weather phenomenon comprised of aggressive, competing thoughts, gusting through the village!!“ Kioshi tells you.
Kal'Ryon chats up the locals. They seem surprisingly open and friendly for being so secluded.
"Technically," the smith confirms to Diazepane, with a snort.
"The hilt for a twin blade sword," they say, clearly warming to the subject. They pick up one of two silvery blades that have already been forged, their tangs awaiting the moment they are bonded to the hilt that will secure them together.
"Once, these weapons were vital to my people. Once the jungle stretched much further, both a wise teacher and a hunter for those who could not protect themselves. The Sunsu Godae who lived outside of its harsh wonders forgot the ways of the sword and the discipline of the mind. They became soft, and when danger loomed, they surrendered their identity to invaders without a fight, becoming Sunsu Godae in name only.
"That's why I work the forge in the old ways. Both to produce weapons to protect us and to remember our traditions and identity."
"Lung Wa," they answer and Diazepane realizes they are referring to events nearly 700 years ago, when the Empire of Lung Wa conquered much of Tian Xia; in particular, they are referring to the peaceful surrender of Hwangott to Lung Wa.
"My cousin," the inn keeper answers, eyeing Kal'Ryon askance.
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Kioshi tries to sense more during his investigation!
”Hey everyone! I sense two external pulls on our own emotions: one nudging us to be more prideful and confident, and the other pulling us to be more fearful and uncertain. There are additional insights available if you can see emotional auras. But I cannot!!“ Kioshi says.
After enjoying the fish and bread, Tofu idly takes a look at the books.
Perhaps too idly...he's not able to glean anything of real interest to him.
The wooden floors of this home are thoroughly dusted with rice flour. Its windows are open to let out the heat from the oven. The village’s most skilled baker, an elderly man whose clothes and short hair are never entirely lives here. From the number of loaves of rice bread organized around the place, he must make copious amounts of rice bread for the village, and even some for trade.
He looks at Diazepane quizzically for a moment, then his brow furrows. "No one has asked for that in quiet a while. Not since Cham Hua lived here. But I remember how to make it," he says.
He gets to work and someone who knows about cooking and/or recipes can learn a lot about the Sunsu Godae from him.
A woven net underneath this bridge catches fish and debris as they travel down the stream. The Sunsu Godae check the net regularly, placing the fish in baskets and depositing the debris outside of town.
Tofu can chat with the people manning the net to learn more about their techniques.
Diazepane chats with the baker but doesn't quite follow what he's saying. (Whoever heard of using fennel to cook?! It's clearly meant to be an ingredient in frost elixers.)
Tofu only gets more embarrassed when he realizes that he doesn't understand exactly what the fishermen are doing or why.
Kal'Ryon realizes, by the glare of the inn keeper that his question is off base enough to be faintly offensive and wanders out to ask around in the crowd.
But whatever he says out there is met with no more success than inside...
Kioshi rushes around the village, catching wind of information at the library. He goes and studies the books, quickly learning much. He finds several examples of Sunsu Godae’s traditional written language, which differs substantially from that of most Hwan speakers.
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Frustrated by the poor reception of the bar, Kal stands up as if to leave- taking a deep swig of the remaining whiskey. The same as the crowd he tries to talk to simply ignore him.
Almost ready to give up, he finds a local merchant and eyes up some of the fresh picked flowers.
"So... you might have guessed I am not from around here- but I have never seen any flowers like these before? Are they unique to this area?"
This building features a shrine to the Ruby Phoenix Aram Zey, depicted in an intricate silk and gold tapestry of a phoenix.
A young acolyte of Aram Zey who introduces himself as Gao Ni Sho tends the shrine.
A fire burns in a brazier in the center of the shrine. "That flame is purifying," Gao Ni Sho explains. "Write down your sins and fears on something flammable and then cast it into the flame. Just as Aram Zey has healed and cleansed the tapestry, so too can he cleanse the rips and impurities within people’s souls."
"No," the flower merchant answers tersely before turning her attention to another customer.
Something about Kal'Ryon is just rubbing these people the wrong way.
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Diazepane writes down some of his fears on a piece of paper and tosses it into the brazier. He omits his sins - he's not that trusting of the brazier not to spill the beans.
He asks the young acolyte about Aram Zey, and the Sunsu Godae.
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If Diazepane hears about what is happening with Kal'Ryon, he laments he has nothing better to offer, but does offer a Channel Vigor extract, which could increase Kal'Ryon's Bluff modifier.
The acolyte seems eager to speak of his religion but needs a little coaxing to trust an outsider.
He is happy to brag about the tapestry, though. "All the weavers of our village came together to craft it as a sign of respect to the great god Aram Zey, the Ruby Phoenix."