Ungrounded but Unbroken begins in Absalom but quickly shifts to the Opaline Vault, the capital of the shaitan empire on the Plane of Earth.
This metropolis occupies the edge of a 30-mile-wide geode and is known for its
stunning architecture and colorful lake of acid-melted gemstones.
The Peerless Empire of shaitan genies has warred with their fiery counterparts for centuries, and thinly stretched resources leave the shaitans in need of additional aid. They have founded a new state-sanctioned mercenary company known as the Ungrounded, which draws upon free agents from across the multiverse.
One of the Society's few friends on the Plane of Earth has recommended at least a handful of Pathfinders join the Ungrounded, knowing that even a few months' service could dramatically enhance the Society's reputation (and fill those agents' pockets) in this distant realm.
The PCs travel to the magnificent Opaline Vault as the Society's first envoys, but in doing so they must survive the otherworldly threats that lurk in both this strange environment and within their own ranks.
The sun shines through the large windows of one of the Grand Lodge's best libraries, illuminating motes of dust that drift idly through the air.
It is no surprise that Sorrina Westyr, Master of Spells, would ask you to meet her here - the shelves lining the walls hold books on topic ranging from practical applications of transmution spells to analysis and predictions on rainfall several decades in the future based on astrological signs, as well as everything in between - in short, a perfect place for a wizard.
Large comfortable chairs sit scattered around the room, several nestled around small tables or tucked into reading nooks for privacy.
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A young woman with pale blue skin and even paler blue hair walks in. Her hair is long and voluminous and, though there is no breeze in the room, billows and ripples slightly.
Armed with bow and buckler and long sword, she is careful not to make too much noise when she sees that there is someone napping in the room.
Instead, she heads to the bookshelves and begins perusing them, taking down one book after another.
Given how big the pile she lays on a table eventually becomes one might wonder if she's there for the mission or several days worth of study.
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"Dawnton? What a mess that was," a tall, lithe, dark-skinned man says, as he saunters casually into the room. "Good to see you both again" he says, by way of introduction. He approaches a chair, and the chair slides out seemingly on its own accord; he lightly seats himself, then leans back and crosses his arms. "Any idea why we are here yet?"
The tinkle of a small bell announces the arrival of Sorrina Westyr, Master of Spells for the Pathfinder Society.
She bows to you.
"I've already let the pages know to send the rest of the expedition to the yard," she explains as she walks, leading you agents to a courtyard outside her office.
Large, dark boulders jut from a carpet of smooth pebbles here, with wildflowers and moss springing from the cracks between the stones in a tribute to the element of earth. The Master of Spells’ slate-gray skin seems to blend into the rock she sits on in the sun-dappled courtyard, her face upturned to the cloudless sky. Sorrina stretches luxuriously before turning to smile.
“Enjoy the open air while you can, Pathfinders,” she says. “You are to be among the first agents sponsored to explore the planes - the Plane of Earth, to be exact. Reyshal ik Jalman, the Society’s contact on the Plane of Earth, recently alerted us to a rare opportunity. The Sultana’s constant war with the City of Brass means the shaitan empire needs more soldiers, and they have begun recruiting off-world mercenaries to train alongside their military. That’s where you come in.” Westyr leaps to her feet in a fluid motion, pulling an amethyst crystal wrapped in copper wire from her pocket.
“Please travel with Reyshal to the Opaline Vault. He can pull some strings to get you in with the mercenary company known as the Ungrounded. Complete the basic training and prove to your superiors that the Pathfinders are useful allies. Reyshal and I believe that working with the Ungrounded will lay the foundation for an alliance with the Peerless Empire. What’s more, this is an excellent means for you to establish your own professional credentials and connections.” Westyr pauses to brush a fallen leaf from her hair.
“I’ll contact Reyshal as soon as you’re ready, but do you have any questions first?”
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Shenendril blinks at Ilarien for a moment, her brow furrowed and her lips pursed in confusion.
"Oh! Ilarien! And Zandu!" she says as he comes in, recognizing them both after her mind returns from whatever land of learning and mystery the book she was reading has transported it to.
"It's a pleasure seeing you both as well. Yes, Dawnton was rather unpleasant, but it was good to be able to bring some real justice to the place," she says.
"You both look well. Have you gone on any missions since then? I've just been doing this," she gestures at the books to indicate her reading and research.
"And blowing vials. It's not very interesting but you'd be amazed at how many potions the Society goes through and those containers have to get made."
She shrugs. "I haven't seen Sorrina, yet, but if she's calling us, it must be interesting."
The Plane of Earth is fixed in location and comprised of a vast network of tunnels and caverns. Though the plane itself is generally suitable for humanoid life, common hazards include cave-ins, poisonous gasses, and pockets of molten rock near its border with the Plane of Fire.
Creatures indigenous to the Plane of Earth include crystal dragons, earth elementals, mephits, oreads, shaitans, xiomorns, and xorns.
The Opaline Vault, also known as the Rainbow Metropolis, is the breathtaking capital of the shaitan’s Peerless Empire, and a planar hub for entertainment and trade. Sultana Ashadieeyah bint Khalid rules from a gem-studded palace that towers over the city’s skyline. The Vault’s diverse population includes a small percentage of noble shaitans known as pashas, as well as dwarves, elementals, elves, and oreads.
Sultana Ashadieeyah bint Khalid is driven by the desire to avenge her father, causing her to pour ever-increasing resources into her war with the efreet. In recent decades, the gorgeous and prosperous capital has declined, and corruption is at an all-time high. Efreet and ifrits are treated with contempt or open hostility in the Opaline Vault.
In addition to being the seat of the Peerless Empire’s power, the Opaline Vault is a hub for extraplanar visitors. Many organizations hoping to forge alliances within shaitan society establish headquarters there. The Aspis Consortium set up a small outpost on the outskirts of the city in recent years and has already infiltrated the empire’s military.
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Ash nonchalantly walks into the meeting with his backpack in his hand instead of on his back. He looks over the stacks of tomes stored in the place and almost misses the meeting room.
When he notices Ilarien and Zandu, he makes a change in direction and walks closer. He waves them down as he approaches. "Hey there. Back at it already?"
He briefly looks at the unfamiliar agents courteously and nods in their direction. "I see we have new friends ready to go? I'm Ash. Hi."
When Sorrina finishes her initial speech, Ash raises a hand, waiting to be allowed to ask his question.
"Complete basic training? Is that it? No... Well - hush-hush tasks?", he seems surprised. Not disappointed, just surprised.
"A nice straightforward meet-and-greet, for a change. A welcome change of pace."
She nods at you all.
"Well, I am honest that the plane of earth is not the nicest place. But Reyshal ik Jalman will surely help. Reyshal is, for the lack of a better term, an old friend of mine. He is a shaitan noble whose family was framed for the theft of the Sultana’s diamonds. I first met him when he was in exile in Orv, deep in the Darklands. The Society helped him put to rest the serious accusations against his family, and he used this reprieve to return home to the Opaline Vault. Now, he’s agreed to help us gain a foothold in the city. He’s a proud man, and he enjoys driving a hard bargain, but he’s reliable." she says.
"But you will enjoy the trip. The Peerless Empire is a magnificent and expansive shaitan civilization. Its capital is the Opaline Vault, a metropolis home to over six million. Words do not do its splendor justice, but you will soon see it for yourselves."
She sighs after thinking for a moment.
"But the basic training will be hard. The Ungrounded is an
eclectic mercenary company run by newcomers to the Plane of Earth, but ultimately managed by shaitan generals. I think the name is a bit of an insult, honestly, but the company is invaluable to the empire."
She looks at all of you.
“Completing your basic training should be enough to attract the interest of powerful allies in the Opaline Vault, not to mention ingratiating the Society with the Ungrounded. You need not make a long-term commitment to the company after that—unless, of course, that’s what you desire.”
“Can I invite my friend to join us now?“ she asks.
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The catfolk roused when the party got up to leave the library, stretched and fell in behind everyone. Upon reaching the sunny courtyard, she squinted her green eyes and pulled her hood up over her face.
"This one is called Camina. I am pleased to meet you. Sorrina, this one is not sure she would make a good soldier, but she will try if you think it best."
"Please, let us meet your friend if there is nothing else."
With a nod, the Master of Spells looks over the assembled Pathfinders one more time before holding the copper-wrapped amethyst to her face.
"Preparations are complete," she says into it, "and we are ready."
A few moments later, the boulder opposite the Master of Spells' seat ripples like water. What appears to be a towering stone statue of a muscular man clad in gold-lacquered armor emerges from the stone. He bows dramatically to the Sorrina.
“Well met, Trail Seekers,” he grins wryly as Sorrina frowns in irritation.
“Of course, I mean Pathfinders. Just a jest between friends.”
The shaitan steps forward and inclines his head in a shallow version of the bow he just performed for Sorrina.
“I am Reyshal ik Jalman, humble servant of Her Radiance, Ashadieeyah bint Khalid, and sworn ally to the steadfast Master of Spells. Today I am honored to escort you to the Opaline Vault, the glorious home of my ancestors. I hope that together we can cement the bonds between our peoples, dear Pathfinders. But first, please, introduce yourselves!”
He looks around expectantly, seeming to gloss over Shenendril 's airy form.
Reyshal hides a smile behind his hand as Sorrina shakes her head.
"It is an honor meeting you! May your brothers and sisters be blessed with many children!" he states.
"Thankfully I'm above making any comments about shaitans and their rock-headedness." Sorrina says with a smile.
Her backhanded insult gets a guffaw out of the outsider and he slaps his leg.
"You wound me, Sorrina!" he wheezes.
"Alright Pathfinders, let us depart before your Master of Spells can stab me in the back again. Now, you two closest ones take my hands, and everyone else take their hands and form a ring..."
The shaitan nods as the circle closes, winks at Sorrina, and then a distinct feeling of vertigo and an unpleasant but not-quite-painful sensation rushes through the agents as the world rushes around them.
~ ~
You are dizzy and reality shifts!!
~ ~
As the ground settles under their feet, the Pathfinders look around to see a spinning tunnel of shimmering crystals that gives way to the inside of an immense geode, a cavern so vast that the walls and ceiling appear as a distant night sky.
Multicolored twinkling lights hang in the air like stars, painting shifting auroras across the geode's walls. At the heart of the city, radiant spires of gold and platinum connected by soaring bridges emerge from a churning lake of liquefied gemstones.
"Welcome," Reyshal whispers, "to the Rainbow Metropolis."
The journey from the edge of the cavern to the city proper takes severals hours, though it might have taken less time without Reyshal stopping to point out various buildings and structures.
"See that taller building with the small colorful ones flanking it?" he asks excitedly.
"That's the Peerless Embassy, home to diplomats from all over the multiverse. And that bank of slate over there? That's the barracks where most of the Sultana's army resides. They call it the Slab because, well, that's what it is."/[b] The shaitan shrugs apologetically.
[b]"Oh, and that tower there..."
As more and more people begin the share the road with the group, the number of stares and angry looks directed at Shenendril are also increasing. Some even mutter to each other, and one tosses a stone up into the air repeatedly while staring at the Sylph.
"And this is the Outer District!" Reyshal announces happily, gesturing at the bustling street ahead that winds between shabby domiciles and buildings sporting a breathtaking array of flags.
You recognize the emblems of some of the largest nations of the Inner Sea region - Taldor, Cheliax, Osirion, Qadira, Thuvia...
Even some of the smaller nations seem to have representatives here - Brevoy, Numeria, Nidal, Andoran, Nex...
It seems that not only governments have sent people here to seek the pashas' favor - you recognize flags of several merchant guilds as well as a familiar serpent emblem used by the Aspis Consortium.
Reyshal overhears your remark.
“The war is never over and seeing opponents in your own city is sometimes unsettling!“ he explains.
~
THE UNGROUNDED BARRACKS
Reyshal continues to explain.
“Founded 4 decades ago in an effort to funnel soldiers into the empire’s constant war against the efreet, the Ungrounded mercenary company maintains a facility resembling an interconnected network of squat stone warehouses!“
He points with his finger and you can see it.
The windowless buildings rise to a uniform height of 20 feet. Banners bearing the company’s sigil, a crossed scimitar and spear on a field of yellow, mark the main entrance to the company’s headquarters.
“The Ungrounded headquarters receives prospective recruits and houses the offices of the company’s higher- ranking members. But the building’s interior is drab and sparsely furnished! Here, I’ll lead you in.“ he says.
A few engraved plaques and portraits of famous Ungrounded soldiers adorn the walls.
“You will know the place quite well soon. Covered passageways connect the headquarters to the adjoining buildings: the mess hall and the bunks!“ Reyshal explains.
At least a dozen Ungrounded mercenaries of varying rank mill about the barracks.
“Look there: full members are designated by a cloak pin bearing the Ungrounded sigil. Others are also recruits like you!“ he says smiling.
~
Reyshal and you wait for a few minutes before a young mercenary greets you and leads you down a short hallway to the training captain’s office.
A heavy wooden door opens to reveal an immaculate office barely large enough to house the writing desk and bookshelf within.
The unpainted stone walls are devoid of windows or decoration.
A stern, middle-aged human WOMAN with darkly tanned skin and close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair sits in a rigid pose behind the desk as she studies an open ledger. She lifts her chin and glares at the open door.
Reyshal looks at you.
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Shenendril is normally an outgoing, light hearted individual. After several unreturned or surly responses to her greetings of strangers, however, she begins to shrink into herself. Her hair flows less dramatically as well and you can see eyes peeking out of it furtively from different directions from time to time.
When Reyshal speaks, the sylph bites her bottom lip and furtively moves to the middle of the group of Pathfinders.
But when they are introduced to the human officer, she steps up to get it over with.
"Shenendril al-Ranginori, reporting for duty, Ma'am," she says then retreats back to where she was in the group.
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"So uhh, you rock folks, and air folk don't like each other much, I gather? Well...", he looks at Shenendril. "This should be fun."
He walks closer to the Sylph. "Just poke me if there's trouble. People don't tend to like this mug I have. It can be useful at ... dissuading?", he points to his broken, pig-like nose and tusks underneath.
Once ushered into the office, Ash looks at the human, and does a gentle bow with his head. More of a nod, really - "Good day. Kridash Magath, pleasure to be of service. Not sure whether there is a protocol, or a formal greeting. I wasn't told, but am eager to find out."
Reyshal then looks at Shenendril and the rest of the party and nods.
He produces a paper-thin, intricately chiseled stone tablet and hands it to the woman.
"Captain Marlene Othis, I assume? Please see this tablet introducing these candidates. It as a letter of recommendation describing the Pathfinders’ distinguished character and potential." Reyshal says confidently.
Captain Othis studies the tablet for several minutes, pausing occasionally to frown at you.
She then stands, "Thanks Reyshal!" she says with a servile bow, "I promise to take the Pathfinders under my wing and begin their accelerated training program."
Reyshal smiles, again nods at you and concentrates ... and suddenly is gone!
Once Reyshal exits the office, Captain Othis crushes the tablet with her bare hands, shattering it into dozens of pieces!!
“So, you think you have what it takes to be Ungrounded?” the captain bellows, circling you combatively.
“I’ll be the judge of that. You look softer than night soil to me. Your friends in high places won’t help you when you’re down in the trenches, or when there’s an efreeti scimitar at your throat. Now, get out of my sight. Your trials start tomorrow. Dinner is at six o’clock sharp. If you’re late, you can starve.” she says with a stern look.
A nervous Oread recruit named Dell Darkblade waits at the office door, flinching as Captain Othis barks orders at him to take the “fresh meat” to the “meatlocker.”
He looks at you and hopes that you will follow and the Captain does not seem to be interested in any discussion with you at the moment.
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Ash sighs at the Captain's supposed 'display' of power but remains silent, and attempts to keep a neutral face.
"Yes, I am sure we will now be chewed out by the -" he makes air quotes "- the meatgrinder. They tried to do this to me already. I'll let you be the judge of how that turned out. I assume our sylph friend will have a hard time with the other recruits, or volunteers, or whatever they want to call it here. Just keep your eyes peeled for trouble."
Dell stands rigidly until the door closes behind the Pathfinders, then smiles weakly. "She's... uh, she's tough as nails, that one. Right, let's get you all some bunks." he says to Ash and Ilarien while still looking wearily at the Sylph among you.
He leads the group out the main door and over to another squat stone building. Doors and hallways branch in regular patterns, with what look to be rooms of bunk beds spread evenly between connecting bathrooms and a few communal showers.
"R-right, here you are!"
Dell opens a door at the end of one of the hallways, then inhales sharply as he sees the mess inside.
"What the- I can't believe they left it like this!" he exclaims.
"The captain hates a mess. Well, uh, anyways, these will be your quarters. I'll, uh, come get you for dinner in a few hours."
He closes the door behind him, leaving the Pathfinders to survey their housing for the duration of their training.
It seems that there's only enough bedrolls and sheets for five people spread around the room.
The other barracks are quite tidy, with almost no personal belongings stored outside sturdy wooden chests.
After a few hours, the enticing smell of roast meat and potatoes fills the air. A knock at the door announces Dell's nervous face as he leans in.
"D-dinner's ready! Come on!"
He waits for everyone to join him before heading outside to another building, this one a single massive spotless room occupied by several dozen stone tables surrounded by stools.
A partial wall separates the kitchens from the dining room, leaving space for two serving lines - though only one seems to be in use right now.
As Dell leads the Pathfinders to the line, the group is stopped by the sudden presence of a handful of mercenaries. Each of them bear a cloak pin in the now-familiar shape of a crossed spear and scimitar on a field of yellow.
"Well well well," a obvious leader says, a wide grin showing off his half-orc tusks.
"New recruits I see. I don't suppose Dell told you that the Ungrounded have a tradition, now did he?"
The rest of the group laughs.
"See, on your first night with the company, you provide the entertainment for the evening. After all, if you won't party with us, you won't fight with us. Your call as to the nature of that entertainment, but remember..." he gestures broadly to the several-hundred warriors taking their seats or moving through the serving line, "...we don't like to be bored. So whatcha got?"
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Unlike Kridash, Shenendril is actually intimidated by Othis' display. She has not been through a meatgrinder before or served in a military so she doesn't recognize the bluster for what it is.
She sticks to the middle of the group as they are lead to their bunk room. Frowning when she sees the mess, she begins to clean it up, both because she likes things more tidy and so that they won't get blamed for it.
At dinner, she shrinks a bit as the others approach but then clears her throat and begins to speak.
"You know, there has been a tradition of animosity between the elemental plane of air and the elemental plane of earth and their respective denizens, but in truth they have much more in common than anyone realizes..."
She goes on a 3 point argument about their similarities and why they should be allies, if not friends.
The half-orc looks at Kridash and begins to laugh! "Half-breed? That is a new one here! Larssok is my name! So are you performing for us???" he asks expectantly.
~
Meanwhile Ilarien is really surprising the warriors. A low murmur of chuckles swiftly grows to cheers and whistles around the room, and several other brave souls make their way forward and want Ilarien to reveal something about their homeland's history!
Camina is definitely entertaining as well. "Hah! That's the art of dexterity that homesick soldiers want to see!" the half-orc continues. He waves Camina through to the serving line and calls after them, "Tell 'em Larssok said to give you an extra ale!"
As Shenendril steps forward, the hubbub instantly grows softer. Several stools screech against the stone floor, and the Sylph easily sees a good number of legs that just "happen" to be left sitting right in her path to make her trip during her argumentation. The crowd is silent for a moment, then shakes their head after her speech.
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Ash observes the shenanigans towards the Sylph while listening to Larssok. He turns back to the half-orc. "Um, yes. You never heard the term half-blood? Must be nice. But... I don't deal in entertainment performance. What would you like to see, specifically? A nice little handstand? I can do that."
He jumps into the air without moving and does a semi-successful backflip.
"Or you want to see me open five locks in a row without a key? Because I can do that. Or - I suppose I could turn you into a pretzel, if that's the kind of performance you are interested in."
He looks towards Shenendryl again, and raises his voice. "Or -anyone else- that tries to humiliate or hurt my friends!", this time speaking in a more cautionary manner.
"I am a team player. So let's not split the room into more groups?"
“We are brothers here and don’t deal with insults!!“ the half-orc says.
After Ash‘s “Performance” and support for his friend, Larssok resolutely claps on his back and welcomes him to the Ungrounded regardless.
“It is good to support one’s companions!!“ and you feel that you gained some acceptance today!!
You eventually retreat for the night!!
~
At midnight, Captain Othis suddenly barges into your room banging a soup ladle against a metal pot.
She continues the noise until all of you are wake and stand at attention.
She does not talk to you at all but eventually begins to inspect your bunks.
You realize that the captain likely expects you to make your beds, even though she has not directly instructed you to do so.
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Shenendril gives Ash a nod of thanks as he stands up for her and helps her garner some respect, or at least enough decency out of the other soldiers for her to get some food.
When they are awoken in the middle of the night, she wipes her eyes blearily. She is no soldier so no one will ever claim she does it perfectly when she stands at attention, but she remains quiet while Othis goes about whatever her business is.
Captain Othis suddenly shouts!
"You can’t even make a bed. How can I trust you to oil a sword or maintain armor, let alone fight for the empire?”
Captain Othis then confiscates the bedding in question and leaves without warning.
The Pathfinders are perhaps not at their most cooperative and cheerful after being awoken by the captain and yelled at.
You all have rough night after that!!
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In what feels like the early morning, the door to the Pathfinders' room bursts open again and once more the sound of loud clanging echoes off the stone walls.
"On your feet, you lazy sacks of lard!" Captain Othis bellows.
"Still sleeping at this hour? Don't you know there's work to be done?"
She doesn't stop either the clanging or the yelling until all Pathfinders are on their feet, then allows them to make their beds and get dressed before sending them to the kitchen for a bowl of gruel.
After they finish eating, the Pathfinders are escorted by Dell to the backside of the kitchen.
"C-captain says you'll be unloading these," the young oread explains, patting a full wagon and pointing at a mostly-empty larder on the far side of the room.
"Th-they go in there. A-and yes, it all fits, s-so don't try to tell anyone it doesn't." He smiles ruefully before leaving the Pathfinders to their work.
Once everything is inside, Captain Othis hands each of the Pathfinders a small brush.
"Your quarters are a disgrace," she announces loudly.
"Get some soap and buckets from the kitchen - I expect it to be spotless before you eat any lunch."
As the Pathfinders get to work, the captain takes her leave before returning a few hours later to observe their progress, the mud from her boots tracking across the freshly-cleaned floor.
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Shenendril begins to feel exceptionally unprepared for this mission. And, for others. A bedroll now seems like a very obvious item for a pathfinder to own and carry, yet she has none.
She is bleary eyed and stumbling when they are awoken early in the morning and things get no better as they are set to work, though she does her best to do her part.
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Zandu struggles through the boot camp kindness with his normal quietness, not responding much to anything and generally staying quiet and in the background. When the bedding is taken, he looks slightly cross, but calmly attempts to return to sleep using his cloak as a pillow. This does NOT go well, and he awakens with everyone else, grumpy and tired and wishing for a bed roll.
At breakfast, though, he pulls out a small packet from his pack, and dumps what appears to be salt into his drink. He grimaces as he downs the whole thing, shudders a little bit, then goes on with his breakfast. By the time breakfast is over, he seems more awake and ready for the day.
When handed the small brush, he nods solemnly, looking for all the world as if he intends to manually scrub the whole place. Once the officer is out of the room, though, he grins and nods eagerly when Ilarien asks about magical cleaning. "I do indeed!" A few quick incantations, and the room begins to clean itself.