The remaining plant is no match for the 1-2 punch of Jaxon and Kondai!
Rain steps toward the pillar, now that its guardians are defeated, "Ah, this looks like Azlanti. Does anyone speak it?"
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”It’s a language that has been dead for the thousand years, of course no one knows it. by PFS rules you can’t even take it unless you take the multilingual feat because it is uncommon I mean, let’s just take some rubbings and we can bring what we found back to the grand lodge for analysis. I’m sure Gohan some nerd back there can translate it.”
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"You all blocked my shot" rolling from his belly the bruised and gem-stoned(!?) gnoll rises once more, his enemies defeated by his friends.
To Kondai - is that authentic praise? - "Nice hit. Nasty" to Jaxon "You too" then to Dyner "You healed me" almost a proper 'thank you' - if our irreverent hero isn't careful, his actions might start to be confused for agreeable! - to Alaric "Good now" exaggerating a bit, still scratched up from slashing leaves, not to mention his matted white fur stained wet crimson.
"No" he answers Rain on Cloudy Day.
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Dyner shakes her head. "I don't know Azlanti, that's a fairly hard language to study nowadays without visiting New Thalassilon. I'm sure there's someone who can speak it in the society, but if this thing is spitting out ghouls that will attack the village maybe we should try to disable it before we leave."
"Well, I am familiar with it," Rain puts in modestly. You get the sense that he didn't want to show anyone up.
The leshy studies the pillar, "It contains venerations to several ancient Azlanti deities from the citizens of Nacar-Azen. The script specifically contains pleas for salvation from the darkened sky and confirms both the name of the site and that it was constructed in the aftermath of Earthfall. I see pleas to Acavna, Lissala, and Zura. This is undeniable proof of an ancient Azlanti settlement that survived the fall of old Azlant and made it to the shores of Taldor."
Rain stops himself from touching the pillar. "It does seem a bit dangerous, however. I'm sure it was responsible for summoning those creatures we saw, and putting the iruxi settlement in danger. Perhaps one of you could find a way to disable it?"
It takes a minute, but you are able to disable the runes to Rain's satisfaction.
"There, that should make sure the settlement is safe. And you didn't even damage it...too much. There will be plenty for the society to study in the years to come. Are you ready to return to the village?"
You poke through the caverns looking for any other summoned creatures or dangers. Rain offers to negotiate with some brown mold, which allows you to discover another cache of treasure, including an aeon stone that Rain identifies as Azlanti in origin.
When you return to the iruxi camp, the chief is pleased to hear that you ended the danger to the village, and he gratefully hosts you overnight. One of the scouts escorts you back to the fringes of Cassomir.
When you return to the Three-Legged Frog, you're met by a gregarious halfling woman, whom many of you probably recognize as Janira Gavix. (Janira is the Head Initiate of the Pathfinder Society, responsible for helping initiates survive and thrive during their years of training.) She enthusiastically greets you and hears your tale before explaining that she’s already arranged their transportation back to the Grand Lodge. The vessel is already chartered and is ready to leave as soon as you are, as Kreighton Shaine promised.
Following your journey back to Absalom, you quickly find yourselves (along with Rain in Cloudy Day) in front of the three masters in the same meeting room where your mission began.
“Well done!” exclaims Kreighton Shaine as he finishes reviewing the various chronicles assembled about the recent adventure in Taldor. “This is truly a marvelous find, and one that could well shape the lives of many Pathfinders in the future. Well done indeed!”
Sorrina Westyr gives a brief nod of her head, her circlet of floating aeon stones dipping in unison. “Though there were some stumbles early on, it appears that everything has worked out in the end. Not only did Rain complete his Confirmation, but each of you also assisted in ensuring his safety and completing the mission. One of the Society’s three main tenets is to cooperate, and I can think of no better example than the results of this mission.”
Marcos Farabellus slaps a meaty arm onto Rain in Cloudy Day’s cap, producing a distinct squelching sound from the leshy’s head. “Absolutely! Now, we just need to keep this little fungal boy from getting too excited now that he’s a Pathfinder!”
Both Kreighton and Sorrina immediately turn to their peer with stern expressions. Marcos chuckles and hunches slightly before continuing sheepishly, “Oh, yeah. I guess I kind of blurted it out... but congratulations, you’re all now recognized as Pathfinder field agents. Congratulations!”
Kreighton Shaine presents each of you with a wayfinder for your accomplishments in the field and in recognition of your new rank within the Society. Each of the masters goes on to personally thank each of you. Rain in Cloudy Day, overcome with excitement and pride, offers squishy hugs to each of you while providing ecstatic thanks. Janira, who has been quietly looking on with pride, laughs joyfully at Rain’s exuberance and joins in to offer handshakes and hugs.
You depart, Sorrina Westyr casually mentions that your actions have led to the establishment of a new Pathfinder Society base camp near the newly discovered ruins of Nacar-Azen. She follows this up by explaining that the leaders of the Society’s numerous factions are interested in meeting with the you, and they have a variety of interesting missions they need the your help with.
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Rolling his eyes and huffing in protestation, our irreverent hero follows his companions around the rest of the subterranea chasing their tails during the party's ambitious looting of the premises accompanied by strange talk about "missing treasure bundles" this or that or the other.
He drags his feet as they say their goodbyes to the iruxi camp. Remains quiet as Janira Gavix listens to everyone else's accounts of their spelunking. Broods on the ship chartered back to the metropolis. And could absolutely care less as he is promoted to Field Agent except to say "Yup"
And with little ceremony, Axel Zeldo flips his red hood over his head and departs back into the streets outside of the Grand Lodge from whence he emerged...
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Jaxon gives Rain a high-five. "Heh, now we're all official it would seem. Do we have to get tattoos? I'm beginning to like this gang. At least we eat pretty well."
Later on you spot Jaxon practicing with Farabellus against wooden dummies. The thug seems to be toughening up his hands as he strikes the wooden targets with his bare knuckles.
Just as Axel leaves the room, a courier comes in and hands everyone a letter inviting them back to the Balckwood Swamp.