Welcome to a PFS Core rules run of the Emerald Spire.
Fort Inevitable stands on the rolling plains near the West Sellen River, close to the forest. This is a rich and gentle land; the town is surrounded by green pastures and wide, golden fields of grain. A strong stone wall with battlements and gatehouses protects Fort Inevitable, and within this formidable defense, the town is an orderly collection of two- and three-story stone houses and workshops with roofs of red tile or blue slate. If the streets seem a little cheerless and drab, at least they’re paved with good cobblestones and cleared regularly.
Nothing epitomizes the essential nature of Fort Inevitable as aptly as the stone citadel of the Hellknights, which looms over the town. There is no difference between martial law and civil authority in Fort Inevitable. The senior officer of the garrison rules as the lord or lady commander, directly overseeing civic administration as well as exercising military command. The current commander is a stern, middle-aged Chelish woman named Paralictor Audara Drovust. She is the commanding officer of the Order of the Pike’s chapter in the Crusader Road region, ruler of the Citadel, high magistrate, tax assessor, director of public works, keeper of the treasury, and chief regulator of business and commerce. No important aspect of the town’s life and activity is left outside the lady
commander’s authority.
Fort Inevitable was a good-sized village with extensive trade and commerce before the Hellknights chose it as their base on the Crusader Road, and its people still work as farmers, herders, artisans, and merchants. Law-abiding citizens find the lady commander’s rule to be firm but manageable. Those who don’t find a respectable profession or who fall into debt see a different side of Fort Inevitable, as both slavery and indentured servitude are legal here.
Fort Inevitable may be an oppressive place to live, but the Hellknights are not mindlessly brutal or vindictive. They crack down viciously on public disorder, enforce curfews, and tightly regulate commerce and transactions, but they don’t harass honest travelers. But it’s a good idea to guard your tongue and watch your step while inside its hard stone walls.
You have been sent here on behalf of the Pathfinder Society to explore, investigate and report on what you find regarding the Emerald Spire nearby. As such, the Society has purchased for you letters of warrant to keep your tasks clean within the local government. There is also a small local office here, which you can use for documenting your findings and communicating as necessary with the Society.
You arrive and get comfortable, and then start your endeavor seeking out your target. The Emerald Spire stands in a broad, raised clearing in the southwest reaches of the Echo Wood. This open area is known locally as the Spire Glen. The glen is almost perfectly circular and centered on the Emerald Spire, as if some unseen hand had long ago drawn a border around the old tower with a compass more than 500 yards wide. The trees of the Echo Wood crowd up against this unseen border and suddenly halt—nothing larger than a sapling grows in the Glen.
As travelers emerge from the Echo Wood underbrush, they find themselves staring up at a ruined keep guarding a broken central tower, all made of smooth, green glass. It’s obvious that a grand battle took place here many years ago, and the clearing around the ruin lies barren, with sickly weeds struggling to rise from the magic-blasted earth. Melted chunks of twisted glass pepper the ground, lending a green hue to the clearing’s light. Despite the damage, however, the glass of the keep itself seems to have avoided the ravages of time, with those pieces that survived the initial cataclysm unmarred by pitting or cracking, clean of moss and other clinging debris.
The stone staircase that led up to the tower’s door is now nothing more than a rubble-strewn cliff. On the tower’s south side, a dirt path winds up the steep embankment to a pitch-black doorway.
At the top of a steep dirt path winding up through the rubble, a doorway opens onto darkness, its entrance seeming to steal light into its inky depths.
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A blond-haired halfling girl enters the city, walking alongside a sleek lioness. Both are wearing leather armor and geared for travel. ”Bit unsettling, don’t you think?” Lilac comments aloud as the pair make their way through the streets. ”Like… even if you know you’re doing what you’re supposed to, this place makes you think you’re already guilty.
The lioness snorts as she looks around.
”It is not, mother, it’s this city. My guess is they want you to feel that way so you’ll stay in line. Oh— yes, I have it here.” When Lilac is stopped by a town guard, she produces the necessary paperwork that permits her access. ”This is for both of us,” she adds, though the Hellknight clearly only expected one permit. ”Thank you, you as well!”
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Galandir's elven side shines through much more strongly than his human side.
He has seen Hellknights before, at the Grand Lodge, so is not entirely unfamiliar with these Chelish fanatics. Still, that doesn't make him comfortable with them.
The elf walks quietly, looking about but generally avoiding eye contact. He gets through the protocol with showing the Hellknights his letter of warrant as quickly and unobtrusively as possible.
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Galandir is much more comfortable approaching the ancient spire in the Echo Wood.
"That would seem to be our destination."
He searches the ground for recent tracks.
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Kimlo had little trouble getting into Fort Inevitable. "I'm here to go adventuring for the pathfinder society...even got paperwork... a warrant. I'll be moving on to the lodge now. Have a nice day, officer."
At the lodge, Kimlo strikes up a conversation with the fellow dwarf. "So, Capt'n, you are a Paladin, ya? So who is your god, Sir? Probably Torag, right?" "I follow Torag myself. My da' was a Paladin of Torag, and an officer, but he got kilt in the barren wasteland of the Worldwound." "Don't remember much of him, but he had big hands. Sure, that is a weird thing to remember, I know, but that is what I got. Memories of big hands."
"Capt'n, you are of the Bhuan clan? I am Grimmerkin, but my Ma is Redaxe. We hale from Larrad in the Five Kingdoms. Been working as a guard for long time. Now though I am a Pathfinder. How long you been a Pathfinder, Sir?"
Later he asks about, Lilac and the pretty halfling woman with flowers in her hair. " Kimlo, Kimlo Grimmerkin at your service. What do you feed that kitty? I have never seen a house cat get so big. Nice kitty, kitty... Can I pet the kitty? What's its name?"
As the group gets to know each other, Kimlo stands out as a straight fellow. He can't seem to stop calling the paladin "Capt'n or Sir." He also has a very optimistic outlook on their task. "We get to explore the whole place? That seems like a really important task. They must think highly of us."
As the group travels to the spire, Kimlo is uncharacteristicly quiet. As the group looks on the openning to the dungeon and their possible fame and fortune or even more likely their dome and destruction, Kimlo pipes in, "I guess we just walts in the front door like we own the place."
He takes his place in the marching order, quickly tightening a few straps and buttoning his caul of armor into place. "Time to go to work. After you, Capt'n. My axe is yours, and may Torag smile on our actions today."
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The elf had a bit of a sneer on his face as he was questioned by the guards and forced to produce his letter of warrant. These youngsters are just so frustrating, he thought as he rolled through the gate.
Upon meeting the others and heading to the keep, the elf was mostly silent as well, trying to feel out the group without volunteering too much. ”Greetings to you all. I’m Malon, here to provide a bit of arcane support to this expedition. I also hope to help a bit with Id edifying any magical items we might run across. Pleasure to make your acquaintances.”
After the semi formal introductions, he mostly held his tongue, not quite sure what he was about to get himself into.
Galandir does fine a fair number of tracks, showing that the path has had some recent use. A few bits of refuse and a broken arrow cause you to expect that the travelers were goblins.
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" Kimlo, Kimlo Grimmerkin at your service. What do you feed that kitty? I have never seen a house cat get so big. Nice kitty, kitty... Can I pet the kitty? What's its name?"
The halfling giggles uncomfortably. "Not a housecat. Lions... aren't easily tamed. I'm Lilac, Brazia's Lilac for long, and this is my mother Orchid. And no, she doesn't like being petted."
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Kimlo just looks dumbly. "Your mother is a cat? Kimlo blinks a few times as if his eyes will change to see things clearer. I don't understand? You really must have strong magic." Kimlo then shakes his head. "Well, I will refrain from petting your mother. That would be disrespectful, I think." "Can't go around petting peoples mothers." Kimlo scratches his head and looks for a less confusing conversation to have.
"I was born ready...Let's do this." "How 'bout you, Captain Sir? Ready to smite some gobbos?"
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The chestnut-haired dwarf Greets the team warmly. "Kimlo is it? A pleasure to meet you. Aye, Torag's called me to 'im, and I aim ta serve 'im well. Me father was Botimyn, a ranger by trade. And please, I am no captain. Call me Scaith, or brother." The last is added with a smile.
"If gobbos have come here, then they came to die."
Galandir doesn't see any traps, but he does catch wind of a goblin sentry and a sleeping goblin dog in the dark entrance. Unfortunately, Sciath is unaware and not particularly stealth, so they hear you coming.
+1 vs traps
+2 for unusual stonework
The goblin dog charges out to meet the dwarf as he puffs and talks, climbing up the path. The dwarf pushes the attack aside, easily.
The goblin moves out to the edge and fires at Galandir. The arrow catches the half-elf in the shoulder, causing a fair deal of pain.
Sciath and the lioness bolt up the path to get into a better position, as Malon tosses an acid magical bolt at the goblin, hitting it square in the chest. Following his lead, Galandir throws his javelin into the exact same spot, causing the goblin to drop where he stands, taken out by his injuries.
Meanwhile, Kimlo takes his retribution versus the goblin dog, cleaving his axe into the creature's head, dropping it to the ground as wll.
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Kimlo hurries to the opening. He readies to attack any enemy that tries to move through the door way.
"Could be more of 'em, but maybe the silly sod did na raise the alarm. Somebody check the body. Maybe they 'ave a map, ya?
He then peers into the darkness looking for movement or more goblins.
"Guarding...I can't escape it. It must be in my blood."
"Hmm, looks clear to me though."
As you get to the entrance, it is unnaturally dark. Kimlo isn't as bothered, as his darkvision seems to work, but not at full value. For for the rest of you, the light seems to be sucked into the darkness.
Malon discovers a potion on the goblin, and determines it is a potion of cure moderate wounds.
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Kimlo mumbles "Well for crying out load..." He then calls out into the darkness. "I am the herald of the great barghest, Appleplix. Your are here by made his subjects. Comeout now and pay him hommage or he will come in and eat your souls to increase his power and might. The grat Appleplix is waiting..."