The Master of Spells Aram Zey waits in a deep subbasement of the Grand Lodge, where he scowls as another group of Pathfinder agents walks into a door-sized tapestry of intricately woven but badly frayed cloth. As the last agent’s foot disappears into the Hao Jin Tapestry, Aram Zey snaps a quick order for his assistants to reconfigure the tapestry for Kyonin before turning his eyes—weary and bloodshot from long hours of work—to you.
“Pathfinders, let’s keep this brief. That was the seventeenth group it has been my grueling duty to send through the tapestry today, and words cannot express my inordinate pleasure at understanding there will be an eighteenth,” he growls through the gritted teeth of a forced smile. “Nonetheless, this mission is an important one, and the society has few others who are cut out to handle the task.” He pauses to take several deep breaths, which do much to alleviate his sour mood.
“One of my colleagues, Venture-Captain Varian Jeggare, spent a considerable amount of time in Kyonin, and in doing so he performed a considerable service for Queen Telandia Edasseril. She owes him a considerable favor in return, and he was gracious enough to use it for the society’s benefit. Jeggare is busy elsewhere, so he cannot deliver the message himself. Instead he wrote out a formal request and letter of introduction for all of you. It seems he thinks you would represent the society well in playing messenger,” Zey explains before adding under his breath, “and to his credit I can imagine worse ambassadors.
“As you can see, the letter is sealed, and it should remain so until you meet General Theila Tenasi and give it to her. In effect, it requests that she provide the Pathfinder Society a contingent of rangers specialized in hunting demons to assist us as we make our way to Jormurdun. So, that’s your mission: Go to Kyonin, meet with the general, and make sure the elves don’t back out of this favor. We have a contact in Greengold who can secure you quick passage back to Absalom or anywhere else you need to go afterward. You’ll be taking the Tapestry to reach Kyonin, and Kreighton Shaine has already contacted the elves to let them know to expect you. Any questions?”
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"I can handle diplomacy, if that is the need.", the Ganzi striking a coy smile as his suave hair blows gently in a non-existant breeze. His exposed skin has a distinct golden hue, the contrasts the sharp silver of his mithral armor.
Gripped in his hand is a long arm, the blade engraved with spirals of energy. Your eyes are drawn to long, black, fingernails that seem almost completely out of place with the rest of his ensemble.
But if it doesn't... I'll be just fine too. So to be clear, we enter the plane and deliver a sealed letter. Based on what you described, there seems little reason that the letter must be sealed- a simple request is a simple request. For what it is worth- I don't do too bad against demons myself.
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Almaas is a Dwarven archer and devout follower of Erastil.
He wears no armor, is well groomed and has a slightly arrogant and distant behavior.
"You must be Kal'ryon! I heard that you are an expert on the tapestry! I will follow your lead as experience is very important!"
He bows slightly.
”Almaas is my name! Elves? Hmmm ... but they are a strong community that keeps each other safe. Erastil clearly would approve!!"
Almaas seems to be in the mood for a lecture. He looks at his fellow Pathfinders, "I want you all to behave and be civil as this is a Society mission in a very delicate environment. The elves are arrogant and think they are better than we are.!"
He looks at all of you like a father that teaches his children.
"For once, I hope that you have listened to the preaching of followers of Erastil in your communities! It is always important to feel a spark of family, community, and duty in your hearts! I will help you with that! If we show these traits then we will have no problem in Kyonin.“
You clearly notice that Almaas can really go on one’s nerves with his preaching.
He turns to Aram Zey.
"It is an honor to work towards recovering Jormurdun. Can you please enlighten my colleagues about Jormurdun. Can you tell us more about the elves and their challenges? What do you know of the relationship of Jegarre and the power players in Kyonin that could help? Anything else about the route that is important?" he asks methodically and takes notes.
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While some of my kin might be a bit...haughty, it isn't always the case. Most maintain a distance due to their life lasting longer than others. It is a self defense mechanism to prevent developing too strong a bond. But I do see your point... a tall lanky elf says after stalking into the room. He makes no sound when he walks, even on a stone floor. A large wickedly curved blade bounces off his one shoulder, a massive hornbow on the other.
I'm Rallas...nice to meet you. Kal...good to see you again... the elf shakes their hands.
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The dwarf goes to Rallas and shakes his hand.
"Yes, you state the obvious on self defense. Important for many communities! But why don't elves usually pray to Erastil?? I never understood! We followers are so in tune with nature and strong bonds of our people. I will try to bring this to the leadership of Kyonin if possible!" he preaches.
Zey is not the friendliest, most cheerful person under the best of circumstances and he is clearly tired and in a particularly bad mood, now.
“What do you mean you haven’t heard about Jormurdun? That Sky Citadel’s the reason we’re in Mendev!” he snaps.
“Elven courtesy is simple enough. Don’t embarrass yourself. You’ll do fine.” He continues impatiently.
"When I asked if there were any questions, I meant it more as a rhetorical question. Get moving," he says, waving you on in exasperation.
He hands over the letter.
lies and judge the visitors’ integrity.
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Almaas studies the letter and starts lecturing.
"Well, you surely did know this but Erastil teaches us a lot about diplomacy! The most polite way to deliver the letter would be to show the missive’s unbroken seal, open it, and then read it aloud, giving the recipient an opportunity to parse out lies and judge the visitors’ integrity. As our integrity is clearly very high, we will surely face no issues!" he says confidently.
Beyond the novelty of entering a demiplane through a piece of cloth and exiting out of a vine trellis hundreds of miles away (not very novel at all to this group of Tapestry Travellers,) the journey through the Hao Jin Tapestry is quick and uneventful. Six elves wearing full plate armor as smooth as pearl silently watch you arrival before confirming your identities and escorting you into an elegant keep of artfully styled wood and stone. Up several flights of steps, the elves signal that they have reached their destination, knock, and open the doors to admit you to General Tenasi’s chambers.
Tenasi's spacious room provides a panoramic view of the surrounding woodlands. General Tenasi, an elven woman with chestnut brown hair and wearing medium armor over fine teal clothing, nods and invites you to enter and explain your business, saying, “As outsiders in Kyonin, I would appreciate your contemplating the rarity of your positions. As a general in charge of these lands’ defense, I expect you to appreciate the gravity of mine. This conversation would not be possible were it not for the letter in your possession.”
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Kal nods at the greeting of his new companions. "You would be right! Kal'ryon in your service Master Almaas. I am not sure that anyone has every confused me for a expert of anything: that isn't booze, of course." The charming smile remains through his half bow.
"Erastil is a bit of a bore though, if you are asking me. Too stuffy- you need to cut loose a bit. Put your hair up! But that's neither here nor there. That are the rules, no talking religion on a first mission?"
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Kal nods at the greeting of his new companions. "You would be right! Kal'ryon in your service Master Almaas. I am not sure that anyone has every confused me for a expert of anything: that isn't booze, of course." The charming smile remains through his half bow.
"Erastil is a bit of a bore though, if you are asking me. Too stuffy- you need to cut loose a bit. Put your hair up! But that's neither here nor there. That are the rules, no talking religion on a first mission?"
Almaas looks at Kal with understanding but shocked eyes.
"What? Bore? No, you sound like a follower of the drunken god! How can serving a community and building ties to have bountiful harvests and successful hunts be boring? We followers of Erastil lead by example and good deeds rather than flowery rhetoric! No! And I might be mistaken but I heard that you are an expert at time traveling ... very unsettling news to be honest." he says.
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Almaas bows out of respect.
"We completely understand you General Tenasi. You are protecting your people and everyone's saftey depends on your strength. We understand that we are allowed here with our request because of a debt that you owe to one of the Society's finest. We also understand that this debt might not be enough to legitimate your aid by letting a score of your fiend-slayers escort us to the Sky Citadel. But maybe we can provide you with something that shows you that a long-term partnership with the Society is worth something and that gives you and your people comfort to provide us the assistance that we need!? For me this is a personal matter ... we are talking about my people's history and I personally thank you for any option to win your support!" the dwarf says with a raised head.
Almaas nods at his comrades to add their view and his arrogance is hard to ignore although his words seem to find the heart of his counterpart ... it is less a force of personality that makes him convincing but a deeper view on emotions that are played based on Almaas' understanding of his target's needs.
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I might be considered an outsider to Kyonin now...it has been far too long since my shadow has seen this place. Aye...I do understand the weight of responsibility bears down on your shoulders. I am Rallas Linnderil, at your service General. And who has the letter by the way..Diazepane? he bows to the general, then looks to his friends
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"Neither Estaril or Cayden for me. Rather trust my own instinct and luck- ya know? It's gotten me this far. Chance and happenstance just seem to favor me is all. I don't need rules, or alcohol, or that to be true. But these are conversations that are deeper than a first meeting. My appologies for the disruption" First looking at Almass, and then to the others.
"I can take a hint, I believe it is time that we take off"
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"Kal'ryon at your service general. I assure you our position here is one of humility and honor. DO you have a message that you wish to convey to Count Jeggare?"
Tenasi frowns during the reading, and at its conclusion she looks at you in disgusted.
"What sort of self-centered organization are you Pathfinders? Why are you not ashamed of yourselves for asking me to forfeit my every defense to appease spectacularly armed treasure hunters?
"In case there is any doubt, let me explain in no uncertain terms: Kyonin will not give up valuable troops for a secondary objective to a mission it has already supported—especially not when that objective is spearheaded by plunderers!"
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Almaas is clearly surprised by the clarity of the general's words.
He thinks for a moment.
"I understand your position. Please look at me. Do you believe that I have interest that the Pathfinder Society plunders one of the ancestral homes of my people? I am here because we dwarves have lost a central monument of our past and I personally would die to get back our history." he says calmly.
"But my people are not your people and you surely do not want your people to die today to regain something from our past. So I ask you: Is there something that we can do for you to repay the favor that we are asking of you? Can we show you that we are not selfish but want to partner with you?" he asks and let's the question hang in the air.
Tenasi looks at you all shrewdly.
“It seems news of the Wardstones’ failure reached the Witchbole as quickly as it did Iadara, and the demons have renewed their attacks with greater ferocity,” General Tenasi explains. “I recalled the Uprooters, but one group has not returned, has not responded, and by all evidence has been lost. I signed the order to discontinue attempts to locate them, for we do not have the resources to commit even a scout to the task.
“As a result, none of my battle plans account for these thirteen lost rangers or their commander Lanverel. Were you to find and rescue them, I would assign them to assist you in reaching the Sky Citadel—after ample recovery time, of course.”
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"Now that seems more than fair. In a blunt manner of speaking, do you have any evidence that this is a rescue and not a recovery? Not that it would change my anwer, mind you. Our organization has tasked us with ensuring your support- but a recovery only mission would leave us having failed our organization"
"Very well," General Tenasi says as the Pathfinders agree to her terms then begins to answer their questions.
“I can say only what you need to know for this mission: Treerazer corrupted this once lush elven land, twisting its plants and inhabitants into abyssal mutants. Treating every plant and every insect as a threat improves your odds of surviving the experience,” she replies to Rallas and Almaas.
“It is reasonable to assume that any elf in Tanglebriar who does not appear corrupt or insane is an Uprooter. More specifically, the Uprooter emblem is an inverted black tree, roots aimed skyward, against a brown background. Most wear a clasp of the insignia on their cloaks,” she continues.
“We can't say for certain, of course. Even skilled demon hunters can fall prey to a demon ambush. If Lanverel fell or was captured, any surviving Uprooters know to go to ground. Their last known location is not far from Kethalia, a ruined settlement. There is still a cache of cold iron there according to my records, making it an ideal defensive position to hold. There is a chance they have lost their faculties. Standing orders are to leave Tanglebriar after eight days without contact from an officer. It has been more than twice that,” she replies to Kal'Ryon.
"Any other questions?"
Golarion. The demon lord Treerazer is known as the Lord of the Blasted Tarn and worshipped by dark cults within Kyonin.
"No, I won't have outsiders wearing the insignia of our troops. Who knows what you would do with it in our name?" Tenasi replies to Diazepane's request.
"I would have thought that you would have brought your own supplies," she answers Kal'Ryon.
She entertains no further questions and leaves you in the hands of one of her wizards. She takes you down to one of their aiudura or elf gate. Once activated, you are sent through...
...and find yourself on the southern edge of a partially wooded hill with numerous rocky outcroppings, including one large stone spur that juts out from the hill to create a relatively flat surface. A shallow but swift-moving stream hugs the contour like a castle moat that separates the ascent from the twisted landscape that begins about 60 feet to the south. There, in a span of several dozen feet, the pristine wilderness transforms into Tanglebriar, a mass of pus-weeping trees, serrated bark, twisted nettles, and growling clouds of gnats.
Only seconds after you arrive, before you can even get your bearings a colossal centipede comes crashing out of the forest toward you.
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Before the group leaves, Almaas shares his knowledge.
“Let me tell you what I know as I’m an expert in hunting demons! Demons are chaotic and evil outsiders originally from the Abyss, and Tanglebriar is one of their footholds on
Golarion. There is also demon lord called Treerazer that is known as the Lord of the Blasted Tarn and is worshipped by dark cults within Kyonin.
Tanglebriar’s corruption is patterned after Treerazer’s former Abyssal realm. Whether Treerazer has any connection to the Worldwound’s breach is unknown, but Tanglebriar’s reputation as a hotbed of demonic activity is known in the Abyss, and though there's no portal there, it serves as a beachhead for demonic forces.
I hope you know what’s important about their weaknesses! Demons are immune to poisons exuded by many of the plants in Tanglebriar. Lesser demons are vulnerable to cold iron and good-aligned attacks, though greater demons typically resist all but the latter. Although most demons are created in and by the Abyss, there are also rituals—typically lengthy—that can transform one or more mortal creatures into demons. If the ritual is interrupted early enough, the victims might escape transformation. So let us use this knowledge!!“ Almaas says after the lecture.
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After the rude goodbye by the elves, the dwarf shakes his head. “Etiquette is not the elves’ strength it seems!“ he says.
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“Oh dear Erastil what large creature is this?!??!“ he asks incredulously.
Almaas attacks the creature with his bow and activates his boots of speed.
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Almaas sends an impressive volley of arrows at the centipede, all but one slamming in close together.
Kal'Ryon steps up and hacks at it as well, landing a single blow.
Diazepane lands 2 bombs on it but what kind of bombs are they?
This seems to be a fairly ordinary giant centipede but it has definitely been affected by the infernal realms so neither cold nor fire will affect it.
With a combined bombardment, the group is able to bring the enormous centipede down (barely.)
Once the creature is dead, a group of six elves rise up from the ridge above them, coming out of hiding.
"Greetings strangers. Clearly you're not part of Treerazer's forces, unless the demons have gotten even more cunning in their machinations. What brings you here?" an elf woman called out to them.
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Almaas sees the longing for rescue but also mistrust in the elves eyes. He tries to fig deeper to understand their emotions.
”You have been dearly missed by your comrades and families. Erastil would want you to rejoin your families. We are his tools to make you get home!! Do we have your trust? Do you want any proof?? And where are the rest of the team?!“ the dwarven inquisitor asks.
"I suspect that you're being more generous to General Tenasi than she deserves. But if you're looking for Tanglebriar, take 3 steps that way," she replies to Diazepane and Rallas, pointing away from the hill and in the direction that the centipede came from.
She grows more somber as talk comes of the other rangers. "Two of our number died over the last few days. The demons cut us off from our safe havens and we've been fighting running skirmishes. Lanverel and four others were captured. We were regrouping in readiness to mount a rescue mission when we found orders here to not reenter Tanglebriar."
As she talks, one of the other Uprooters goes to check the centipede. He says nothing but his face grows grim as he take something from one of the centipede's legs and brings it back to his leader. The Pathfinders have little choice but to wait as they confer.
"This smacks of the work of Fihralaz, a hezrou demon that only recently carved out a lair for itself nearly a day’s journey into Tanglebriar.
"Fihralaz not only enjoys sending other creatures to do his dirty work but also delights in sending trophies of his victims back to their loved ones as a calling card.
"We know where his territory is and can draw you a rough map complete with several important landmarks, including Kethalia, which should be relatively safe to rest in.
"But even with good directions Tanglebriar is a difficult place to navigate," the officer says.
"But if you're really looking for the Uprooters, that's where you'll find what's left of us."
The elven leader holds up the object. "This is Lanverel's belt. Fihralaz is known for taunting people like this. He put the belt on the centipede so that we would know he had our leader in his clutches. No doubt to try to lure us back in or torment us for not returning."
She looks thoughtful. "We can't all go with you, that would be too obvious. And I can't go all the way with you, that would be suspicious. But, if you're willing to mount a rescue mission for Lanverel and the others, I'll show you part of the way."
One of the other elves looks about to speak up and she holds up a hand to forestall her.
"If one of us doesn't come back with the others, it's easier to explain than if we all show up late. Just tell Tenasi I got separated. It will be the truth, just don't tell her I did it voluntarily."
The other Uprooters accept the order and each step forward to shake her hand and bid her farewell. They each also hand over one or two items for the Pathfinders to use, either silently or wishing them luck in getting their comrades back.
In the end the gifts come out to be 6 antitoxins, 3 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of lesser restoration, and 20 cold iron arrows.
The leader also hands over the belt which is a belt of physical perfection +2.
"You can use this until you give it back to Lanverel," she says.
"I'm Cecilla, by the way. Come on, we want to go this way."
It takes about an hour for her to lead you to the next landmark, time she spends warning you about dangers of Tanglebriar (myriad and terrible) and telling you about the way Firhalaz transforms his victims slowly (also myriad and terrible.)
The trek through Tanglebriar weaves between trees drawn into moaning visages whose cracked bark sweats black sap. Tortured howls punctuate the constant buzzing of bloodred flies, and at times the ground itself seems to spasm as if alive. Approximately a mile from Mount Armiya, a twisting briar patch of arm-thick vines with thorns like armor spikes impedes further travel south, leaving only narrow gaps that a creature might step through.
This is the Claw Brush, one of the landmarks on the map.
"There are a couple ways to deal with the Claw Brush," Cecilla says. "If we're not in a hurry, we usually go around. That's about a 3 mile journey. If we are in a hurry, we make our way through. It's only a half mile through but the thorns are sharp and hard to avoid if you don't know what you're doing. They can cause some serious injuries to anyone not familiar with traversing wild terrain and the thorns are infested with diseases.
"Well, I guess there's a third option for you. You could fly over it."