Following the trail of one of the first Pathfinders, the PCs travel to the town of Sauerton where an old ally helps them find important clues. These clues lead the PCs into a dangerous wilderness to an old tower whose history goes back even farther than the Pathfinder Society itself. As the PCs navigate numerous threats with opposing interests, will they find the hidden keys to unlock the secrets of the Open Road Pact, or just another trail obscured by the passage of centuries?
Lions of Katapesh (Maps) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Hero Points @ Amiri (□□), Kaya (□□), Natalu (☑□), Qigiq (□□□), Tandang (☑□) | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition | Contact Sheet
Devil's Keep (Round Five)
Unconscious, Duncan's chest rises and falls as he draws what might be his last breath, blood from his infernal wound gushing black onto the cold ground... ...progressing to Dying 3...
Ezren | Male NG Medium Human Wizard 3 | HP 19/32 | AC 17 18 with shield raised | F +7 R +7 W +8 | Perc +6(T) | Default Exploration ( Searching) | Speed 25ft | Focus 1/1| Spells 1st 3/3, 2nd 2/2 |Hero Points: 1/3| Active Conditions: None
"You there - elf of the cloak - not so fast!" running across his own nefarious grating, Nashaxian levies his first powerful attack at Aurelien, crashing down mercilessly with that wickedly-barbed polearm!
Ezren | Male NG Medium Human Wizard 3 | HP 19/32 | AC 17 18 with shield raised | F +7 R +7 W +8 | Perc +6(T) | Default Exploration ( Searching) | Speed 25ft | Focus 1/1| Spells 1st 3/3, 2nd 2/2 |Hero Points: 1/3| Active Conditions: None
Cleaving the elf clean in half and splattering the entire throne room in horrific gore, Nashaxian turns to the overburdened champion struggling to make a desperate escape with a fallen comrade "Now your friend will put Respect on my Name!"
Writhing tentacles of the devil's beard lash out with a cruel and cunning intelligence of their own!
Lions of Katapesh (Maps) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Hero Points @ Amiri (□□), Kaya (□□), Natalu (☑□), Qigiq (□□□), Tandang (☑□) | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition | Contact Sheet
Encounter Tracker (Round Five / Six)
Having slain the party's oracle with a single mortal blow, the devil nearly fells Khaul as well, while Duncan takes a turn for the worse beside the throne, and Emoubu waffles treading the thin threshold between realms on the stout dwarf's shoulder...
...How many Pathfinders will yet survive the wrath of Nashaxian the Bored, prisoner bound to Diggin's Rest!?
...
Encounter Tracker (Round Five / Six):
Stairs are Difficult Terrain
Statue / Throne is Difficult Terrain
Green Object is an Obstacle can provide Cover
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell w/ Normal
Ezren | Male NG Medium Human Wizard 3 | HP 19/32 | AC 17 18 with shield raised | F +7 R +7 W +8 | Perc +6(T) | Default Exploration ( Searching) | Speed 25ft | Focus 1/1| Spells 1st 3/3, 2nd 2/2 |Hero Points: 1/3| Active Conditions: None
"Inferno - blast those fools!" as Khaul hefts Emoubu over the grating, a jet of hellfire lashes out at the both of them!
(↺) Infernal Detonations (no save!) vs Khaul and Emoubu:1d4 ⇒ 4
Ysoki Witch 1 (He/Him) | HP 13/13 | AC 15 | Per+4 | Hero Pts 1/3 | Spd 25 ft | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +6 | Exploration Activity: Investigate| Active Conditions: None
Ned freezes in place for a moment, staring in fascination at the grisly scene, feeling a pang of jealousy toward the elf. It should have been him; it's what he's been longing for! Why not him??
But of course, the entity slithering in the back of his brain is there to tell him.
You still owe me, old man. Complete our bargain.
Ned clenches his jaw, shakes his head, and rushes out of the room.
Lions of Katapesh (Maps) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Hero Points @ Amiri (□□), Kaya (□□), Natalu (☑□), Qigiq (□□□), Tandang (☑□) | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition | Contact Sheet
Devil's Keep (Aftermath)
Nedri Thistle escapes with his life, Nashaxian only giving chase until the threshold of the room, and pacing just before the stairs, his beard writhing, his powerful hands grasping the polearm stained with the blood of his victims, who slowly bleed out on the floor below him, unmolested further at this time.
"You'll be back!" he assumes with confidence, then walking past with great indifference back to sit down upon his thrown...
...
Duncan (Dying 3 and Infernally Bleeding), Emoubu (Dying 2), and now Khaul (Dying 2) are Up!
NG M Dwarf Champion-6; HP 100/100; Focus 1/1; HeroP 1/3; Potion lesser healing 1/1; AC 27(with shield); Fort +14; Ref +8; Will +13; poison resist/3; cold resistance/2; mental resistance/2;Perc +11; +1 to saves vs disease,; Active conditions: Shield (hardness 13, hp120/120). Default exploration: Defend;Action Symbols: (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺); sheet
Khaul lies there, basking in the glory of dying trying to save an ally.
stabilise:1d20 ⇒ 6 Heck, may as well spend all Hero points to remove dying condition
Lions of Katapesh (Maps) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Hero Points @ Amiri (□□), Kaya (□□), Natalu (☑□), Qigiq (□□□), Tandang (☑□) | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition | Contact Sheet
Devil's Keep (Aftermath, Continued)
Duncan's life leaves him with his last breath, Nashaxian standing over him smiling "I thought you'd be one of those that pulled through - turns out I was wrong" potential excitement turning to back to idle sitting.
Ysoki Witch 1 (He/Him) | HP 13/13 | AC 15 | Per+4 | Hero Pts 1/3 | Spd 25 ft | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +6 | Exploration Activity: Investigate| Active Conditions: None
Ned has no idea if anyone's still alive. He waits a few minutes at the foot of the stairs; when no one else joins him, he shakes his head sadly and hurries out of the tower. He doesn't even spare a glance at the tied-up kobold; he simply leaves the tower to report the deaths of his teammates. Part of him feels guilty for abandoning the others without even checking to see if they survived, but the rest of him just wants out of this awful tower.
This is absolutely the worst feeling in the world. I'm so sorry guys. I just don't know what I could possibly do to save anyone. I'm squishy and that dude was way above our pay grade. :(
Tino (human paladin), Takatorra (tengu swordmaster), Yabin the Just (nagaji sorcerer), Ji-Yook (kitsune ninja)
"...tol' em whipper-snappers where'n'abouts it was, though seein' as they never came back to share their story with me, I don't suppose their little venture didn't wind up so well..." Ven Strickmund rocks in his chair on his porch staring at a second group of pathfinders (not a few weeks later) who are also seeking out Diggen's Rest, having just drained his glass empty, and making eyes with one of them to refill it with a carafe just out of his reach.
"So I guess it's all to say that you should be careful if'n you have to go" one among the rescue team refills his glass, and the team make one last stop in town to re-provision for the 100 mile trip a distraught survivor had marked on their map...
...will the Ghost of Diggen Thrune ever find rest?
...will Nashaxian "the Bored" ever escape from his throne room?
...will Nedri Thistle ever complete his bargain?
...will the Rescue Party too burn in the Flames of Rebellion?
Lions of Katapesh (Maps) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Hero Points @ Amiri (□□), Kaya (□□), Natalu (☑□), Qigiq (□□□), Tandang (☑□) | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition | Contact Sheet
Reporting Notes:
Check Box: C
If the PCs turned over Diggen’s captive ghost to the devil Nashaxian, check box B on the reporting sheet. If the PCs had possession of the deed to Diggen’s Rest when they completed the adventure, check box C. If the PCs defeated Nashaxian but did not bind him to the throne, check box D. Multiple boxes may apply.
Primary: Success
The PCs fulfill their primary objective if they recover Handouts #3 and #4. Doing so earns each PC 2 Fame and 2 Reputation for any faction associated with their currently slotted faction boon.
Secondary: Failure
The PCs fulfill their secondary objective if they either seal Nashaxian within his throne or complete the adventure with Diggen Thrune still sealed within a magic item. Doing so earns each PC 2 Fame and 2 Reputation for any faction associated with their currently slotted faction boon.
Boon: Binding the Devil
If the PCs successfully seal Nashaxian in the throne, all PCs gain the Devil’s Keep boon on their Chronicle sheets.
Treasure Bundles: 8/10
The archaic wayfinder and journal are worth 2 Treasure Bundles.
The handwraps are worth 2 Treasure Bundles.
Collectively, these coins and gemstones are worth 2 Treasure Bundles.
The archaic wayfinder and documents are worth 2 Treasure Bundles.
