|
Welcome to Level Two of the Ruins of Bonekeep. This is the second of a series of special events designed to test your characters to their limits and beyond. While it would be helpful to have played the first event before this one, it’s not strictly required. Please note that the threat of character death is very real in this event, and the potential rewards are greater as a result. You will be able to, as a group, decide to leave the event should it become too deadly, at any time except while engaged in combat. If this is not the type of event for you, we recommend you instead find an event more suited to what you want to play.
|
|
“Ah, I can see that your faculties have returned,” exclaims the Master of Scrolls, Kreighton Shaine, as he unceremoniously tosses a blank scroll over his shoulder onto a haphazardly heaped mound of discarded, blank parchment. “I can tell these things from the confused look on your faces, and these are faces I know well despite having worn them myself at the time—not all at once, of course,” he continues while turning and absentmindedly treading on the discarded scrolls as he begins to meander about his office.
“Almost a week ago, Ambrus Valsin sent you into the ruins of Bonekeep, a long forgotten siege castle not far from the walls of Absalom. We are unsure as to what happened in those long-forgotten halls, but you returned days later, wounded and without memory of what you had seen. In fact, it wasn’t until just a moment ago that you seemed to have any sense about you at all.” With that Kreighton Shaine pauses to consider an unvoiced idea before quickly jotting it down on the inside cover of the first book he can lay his hands on. Slamming it shut, he places it back on the shelf. “Regardless, everyone seemed to think I would be the best at helping you recover your senses."
“I can see that all of this comes as some surprise to you—I understand, truly, for we are just as baffled as you are. A few months ago, Valsin sent a number of Pathfinders into this dungeon to investigate the schemes of Tancred Desimire, who apparently wishes us ill. They returned, speaking of terrible creatures and some mysterious group that had set up its lair in the dark recesses of the forgotten hold. They also found a staircase leading even deeper into the earth, and that’s where we sent you.” He pauses as if waiting for some sign of recognition before shrugging and adding, “I would appreciate telling you more, but I’ve been unable to divine much more of your exploits. You were wounded and bore powerful enchantment magic that seemed to dull your senses and memories. I have been able to mitigate the effects with my own spells, and it seems you at least have your core mental faculties."
“With luck, these protections will continue to ward you against such mind magic…for a time. If you are to acquire a long-term remedy, the best medicine would be to return to the ruins once more, uncover whatever has caused this amnesia, and destroy, contain, or recover whatever that is.” He spends dusts the undersides of his bookshelves for a moment before lightheartedly adding as an aside, “Oh yes, I nearly forgot—the wards that keep you thinking straight and protect you from further mind assaulting will only last a few of hours, so I wouldn’t waste any time laying about.”
|
Deluge takes out his snack bag and his fermented goats milk and kicks back for the rest of the briefing. The milk smells pretty awful and the goodies include well seasoned dried calimari and popcorn shrimp. You are left with little doubt as to why Deluge is such a portly fellow.
Snapping his fingers, he also pulls out some refreshingly nice fresh blueberries and casts an incantation over them, though they return to his belt and he continues his loud munching on the usual edibles.
|
Ny'a looks at Kreighton Shaine with a peculiar look on her face, her armor as polished and shiny as her hair was vivid and blue. "I'm quite sure I've never been to this Bonekeep place. Are you sure?" Her dog sniffs around the discarded scrolls, quite convinced there must be treats somewhere underneath, but Ny'a shows no concern as her attention remains on the Master of Scrolls. "I guess it could be explained by this memory thing you're talking about, but I'm quite sure I'd remember if I'd been ensorcelled that way."
|
At the mention of going back to Bonekeep, Two Blades started to turn pale and sat down. "Let us hope that this time I will not be seeing my life flash before my eyes twice, unlike the last time. And, I hope that there are more fleshy creatures that I can help deal with down there," he said.
"Hi! For those that have not adventured with me before, I an Two Blades in the Shadows, although, I may have to change that to "Blade and Mace in the Shadows", given what I was using, when I was not laying down on the job." he added with a faint smile and troubled look on his face.
|
|
Bella reaches beside her to give Two Blades a reassuring pat on his hand.
"I'm happy you are alright, T.B. You did just fine and were a wonderful part of the team down in that terrible place."
She says softly with a warm smile.
"However, I hope this time you will be bringing a potion of remove fear or two in case you get so terribly frightened again."
She giggles and gives the rogue a wink.
"Good to see the two of you again, Pau and Tere!"
Bella then stands to introduce herself to the newcomers.
"Greetings. I am Belladonna, traveler and priestess of Desna. I am grateful to make your acquaintance."
She gives a respectful nod and a friendly smile to her new friends and then seats herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Up in Heaven, during another training drill to fight the forces of evil, Lite-Brite the Lantern Archon suddenly senses that Bella is going on another adventure soon. He buzzes and flashes in excitement at the thought of being reunited with Bella and her friends again.
While soaring through the azure sky in perfect formation with dozens of other lantern archons in his regiment, Lite-Brite can no longer contain himself with the thought of possibly being summoned again to help Bella and her friends in their time of need. He begins bouncing uncontrollably as he soars, bumping into the archons on either side of him, then suddenly zips out of his position in formation of his troop. The regiment of glowing white archons turn bright blue in surprise, then red in anger as they watch the little rebellious archon soar away from training. Lite-Brite skips his training and anxiously awaits his chance to be with Bella again.
|
|
Tere is a tall, slender, pale-haired elf in muted dark colors, wearing a breastplate, with the hilt of a curve blade protruding over one shoulder and a cased longbow slung over the other. All of his garments and equipment have been carefully darkened so as to provide no telltale reflections. He tends to slouch and hunch in on himself, but he moves with easy grace and near-total silence. He gives a quick half-smile at Bella. "Good to see you again, Bella. I still have your origami butterfly. And Two Blades--here's hoping we survive again. At least we have our stone fragments."
|
|
Tere shudders. "Dangerous. If I hadn't just come back from a similar place in Osirion, it would have been worse. Do everything carefully. Watch out for traps, and bring spare weapons. Expect to use a lot of healing--I spent more charges from my cure wand in five rooms than I had in my last five missions, *combined*."
|
|
Bella nods in agreement with Tere.
"Yes. Very dangerous. Guardians resistant to weapons and magic, undead equipped with wondrous items, toxic aberrations, deadly traps..."
Bella stares off into space, seemingly afraid to speak more of what they encountered.
She suddenly snaps out of her trance.
"We need to be well prepared. If any of you have any divine scrolls or wands you wish for me to hold onto in case I need to cast it on you in a hurry, feel free to hand them over. Or, if you keep them in your pack, just let me know where in case you go unconscious."
She says, biting her lip with a look of worry.
|
|
Wandering the ruins of Bonekeep—it’s clear that the Pathfinders did an admirable job by leaving it free of danger and treasure—eventually leads to a staircase that descends into the depths. Although the stairs seem familiar, you have no specific memory of this place.
The stairs come to an end in a broad chamber lit by an eerie purple glow. Flanking the stairs in the front corners of the room, a pair of fountains gush water into shimmering pools. A raised area accessible by a short staircase occupies part of the chamber, but a glowing cloud of purple vapor at the top of the stairs blocks the rest of the room. The cloud seems to swirl and broil, despite the calm, stale air within the room. Tiny wisps of fog also rise up from the pools, flowing into the curtain in unsteady streams of vapor.
|
|
"Oh my goodness!" Ny'a exclaims, looking at Deluge as if the man is crazy. "That's horrifying!" A range of emotions visibly cross her face, from befuddlement, through disgust, concern, curiousity, deep thought, and finally resolving into acceptance--perhaps with a side of... chagrin?... admiration?!?
"...and maybe a little efficient, perhaps even smart? It all really depends on what you believe the role of animals on Golarion is, and whether them being summoned changes that... and/or the relative value of their lives. The ethics are all rather complicated." She looks Deluge right in the eye. "With us both being Pathfinders, I'm going to trust that you've thoroughly evaluated this convoluted issue, and wouldn't be doing it if you hadn't resolved that there are no moral concerns. Thanks for being so up-front about it! That's very reassuring," she finishes, satisfied.
|
|
"This is but a manifestation of the real thing. The real pony will never experience this, or so I've been told... It does seem a bit ruthless, doesn't it? though summoning one for battle is MUCH more likely to cause it pain, right?" The last word is presented in a querulous, nervous voice accompanied by a worried look.
"Perhaps one of you would like to take over this distasteful duty?"
Deluge waves the stick at each of the other Pathfinders suggestively. Or perhaps menacingly.
|
|
As you enter the room to look around, there are no traps obvious t Two blades. What is obvious however are two spouts of water that emerge from the poors, sloshing water over the whole entrance hall!
Status, intiative, post an action if you beat a 10
Pau
Tere
Deluge
Two Blades
Belladonna
Nya
Water creatures - init 10
|
|
Before getting serious underway, Ny'a offers up two wands. To Bella she offers a wand of cure moderate wounds. "I can cast this myself, but I'm often in combat when healing this strong is needed; it's probably best if you hold onto it."
She joins Pau in asking Two Blades to manage her wand of mage armor. "It's for Harpua. My armor is better than that, but he's not wearing any! It will help him a lot. Remember, one now, then every hour, on the hour after that!!!"
|
|
"I can cast this myself, but I'm often in combat when healing this strong is needed; it's probably best if you hold onto it."
Bella turns to take the wand and places it in her haversack.
"Oh, no problem. I'm usually at the rear of the party casting spells. Do be careful, N'ya."Moments later, watery creatures erupt from the pool. Bella hops away from the pool and tries to get a good look at the creature to see if she can remember any tidbits of knowledge to pass on to the group.
|
|
The team, surprised by the sudden watery creatures appearance stands still. Apart from Two blades, whose lightning like reactions allow him to quickly dash forward and slash at one of the things.
Tere proves that Two Blades is not the only quick witted pathfinder, making their own solid strike at the second elemental.
The elementals return the strikes, the water sloshing around the feet of the team seems to tog at your boots and leggings, as if it too is helping the water creatures.
But neither manages to hurt their agile opponents.
Status, bold may post
Pau
Tere
Deluge
Two Blades
Belladonna
Nya
Water creatures
blue 18 damage
green 5 damage
Harpua understands Ny'a commands instinctively; he snaps his powerful jaws on the strange, animated water... but his jaws close on air.
|
|
Two blades pokes the elemental in front of him a couple of times, possibly disrupting it a little. He is joined by Pau who has less luck.
Deluge shakes his wand.
Ny'a and Harpua try to doubleteam the elemental at the other side of the room. Her sword swings true, but Harpua is less effective. Sadly Tere finds their own attack not helpful either.
Belladonna throws her starknife through the air, cutting the greenish elemental which wavers in what might be pain.
Two more elementals emerge to join the assault on the team.
A strage fog seems to float from the water creatures, clouding your minds.
Status, bold may post ;
Two Blades Will DC 16
Pau 9 damage; Will DC 14 vs confusion and will DC 16 vs something else
Deluge - summoning with wand will DC 16
Tere 13 damage Will DC 14 vs confusion and will DC 16 vs something else
Belladonna will DC 16
Nya 10 damage; ill DC 14 vs confusion and will DC 16 vs something else
Harpua Will DC 16 save
Water creatures
blue 26 damage
green 19 damage
red
yellow