Cimrôdel adjusts the strap of his bag as he steps through the bustling bazaar of Magnimar, the clamor of merchants and haggling voices filling the air. Brightly colored stalls display everything from silks and spices to reagents and scrolls, each offering a promise of arcane advantage. He glances at Molasbar, who is busy examining a set of rare crystal vials.
"Molasbar," Cimrôdel calls over, voice carrying a teasing lilt despite his normally serious demeanor, "I have been meaning to inquire—your 'burning hands' spell. Might I persuade you to part with the particulars? In return, I could offer my own 'grease' spell. It is, as you well know, quite effective at altering the battlefield."
Molasbar raises an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Ah, a fair trade. I have always admired your ingenuity with tactical magic. Very well, 'grease' for 'burning hands.' Consider it done."
Cimrôdel nods approvingly and then turns toward a cluttered shop tucked into a narrow side street. The place smells of old parchment, herbs, and a faint hint of something unidentifiable but certainly ancient. He begins to rummage through a pile of assorted magical oddities, muttering softly to himself about inefficiencies in organization and the deplorable care of valuable reagents.
His fingers brush against a firm, slightly twisted object. Lifting it carefully, he finds a copy of a Pathfinder Chronicle. The leather cover is missing, corners turned and warped, and the tome smells like it has endured things better left unspoken. Yet, as he flips through the pages, the crisp clarity of the text astounds him. "By Desna," he mutters, eyes wide, "the knowledge inside is intact… a treatise on the history of the continent, and… I am quite certain this is authored by none other than Ezren himself. Incredible."
He holds the tome delicately, reverently, as if the fragile, dusty volume could vanish with the slightest misstep. "This is the sort of find that restores faith in exploration. Truly, Molasbar, there is no telling what treasures lie beneath the grime of the streets of Magnimar."
On the third day, a pathfinder contact reports finding another missing person. Like the others, this woman had lost her memory but this time the pathfinder found her in a dead end alley near a sewer access, this one a door with a steps leading into the sewer. This, like the other missing persons happened in the underbridge area near the water.
Hmm, check out the sewers? I hate myself for suggesting that
"It seems the logical approach."
Also, in this time period, Ayala was revived and questioned. She really had little useful information beyond what the original team had discovered. The Pathfinder team had managed to open the magical doors which had stalled Ayala’s exploration of the lower areas. There had been one shard found and Natalya had stolen it. The team had since recovered it from Natalya.
You now have two reports of the dumpings of those with lost memories, one by small boat on the shore, combined with reports someone was taking boats out to the crow pylon became the reason the second team was sent to investigate. This latest episode gives another route which may or may not be connected with the first.
To this sewer entrance or back to the pylon? Any special preparations?
Shathee weighs the pile of gold after things are split up and decides to be frugal for once. He considered looking for a potion of water breathing, to go down and look through the sunken ship, but didn't want to go down by himself. It's just unnatural being under that much water.
"Do we want to finish up where we left off in the pylon then check the sewers? We already know we made it way down deep so hopefully not much further to go."
Doc thinks the sewer is the better lead, but will go along with the majority if we don't agree.
Hej, look what I got! Its some Numerian hairdryer!
Aurie waves what is actually a dragoon pistol around.
What a bargain that is!
The sewer may... sacre bleau, be better since it may feature less underwater fighting, my falcata doesnt work great underwater, I may need to buy a quick rapier for piercing purposes
Aurie offers her opinion.
Molasbar looks off in the distance, considering the options. Finally, he says "Yes, the sewer does seem the more pressing lead. While I dislike leaving the pylon off for now, I believe we were reaching places untouched for some time. We should be able to pick up there again when we've checked the sewer."
With a direction decided the team makes preparations (buy what you will) and then heads back out clean and refreshed. The entrance into the sewer is a small building in the Underbridge area near the Dockway district. The door of the building opens onto a set of stairs that leads down into the darkness (you'll need some means of light). The stairs descend some twenty feet before reaching a landing fifteen feet square with troughs of water leading out into tunnels to the north and south. The tunnels are ten feet wide with a narrow walkway on either side (to fight from the walkway without penalty takes a balance check or you suffer the penalties associated with squeezing -4 to attack rolls and -4 AC as you avoid falling into the water).
Doc lights his headlamp before they head downwards.
Do you search the area? go north or south? Leave because it seems too dangerous?
Cimrôdel will absolutely search the area.
By the light of Doc's headlamp you search the area. Cimrodel gets distracted by a unique variety of slug he has not seen before. Even more fascinating is that the pair he has found seem to be involved in some sort of mating ritual. Therefore, he misses what everyone else spots, small footprints leading down the northern tunnel.
Shathee scans the areas beyond the edge of the light with his dark-vision, making sure there is nothing there to surprise them. "Looks like northern tunnel has tracks," he says while slowly walking that direction. "Best clue we've come across so far."
Molasbar grimaces as he sees Doc and Cimrodel easily illuminate the area. He murmurs to no one in particular "I became a Pathfinder and an adventurer because of the hundreds of tales and ballads I've read and heard of heroes and their exploits. Clearly, none of them prepared me for the practical minutia needed to be successful."
He looks around the platform by the light the others are providing, looking for any pertinent clues.
Perception
Sneaking
Aurie whispers with her weapons, falcata and kukri, drawn.
Or not She adds as she steps on a frog he croacks loudly.
Shathee continues walking down the northern tunnel following the small tracks. Seeing Aurie begin sneaking he whispers back to the others, "Are you coming this way?" And then begins sneaking ahead of the rest using the darkness to better hide.
Molasbar lets Shathee get a few yards of lead before following.
The group follows the northern track. The going is difficult since they are on the narrow ledge, but they are assaulted by nothing. There are several splits in the old sewer but at each they manage to find evidence of passage and continue to follow the intermittent trail. After more than half an hour and numerous intersections you lose the trail. Searching the area, it takes another twenty minutes to find a well concealed door in the side of the sewer. It opens to reveal a stone paved tunnel. Following this you eventually come out into a large room with a flight of stairs leading up to a wide stone crossing ten feet above the dark waters below. Large pipes, sitting at level with the center platform empty waters into a large pool of dark water that dominates the middle of the room.
(map updated, far right, halfway down)
You think you hear singing coming from the northern exit from this room. Maybe a sea shanty.
Shathee attempts to get the attention of everyone and puts his finger to his lips to indicate silence. He cups his hand to his ear, then nods and points towards the northern door.
Perception
Molasbar nods to Shathee, acknowledging that he hears it too. He quietly murmurs a spell . He opens his pouch and tells Wisp, his thrush familiar, "Inside, my friend.". Once the bird is safely tucked away, he readies his bow and waits for a warrior to lead the way.
Cimrôdel prepares himself for another fight.
With a wide walkway the group moves forward two abreast. Shathee and Aurie lead the way moving quietly up the steps to the platform over the water. Almost everyone is at the top when something rapidly lunges from the north-east water pipe. The creature is some sort of snakelike creature that stretches across the opening and then its very teeth shoot out to try and bite Shathee. It misses.
Arodus 17 (late summer) 4712
1000, 73 degrees, moist (inside)
Aurie 26/26; <<<
Doc adams 36/36;<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Shathee 24/24; <<<
Cimrodel 23/23; <<<
Creature
Cave Moray, 15' strike range, ambush predator.
It has darkvision 60', lowlight vision, and tremorsense 30'
Knowledge (arcana)
With the splashing of the moray's attack, Molasbar knows they're going to be losing any chance to surprise the sea shanty singer. So he tells the group "A cave moray! It can strike twice as far as you are tall, and it isn't bothered by the dark."
He shoots an arrow at it. To hit , Damage
Shathee doesn't like the thought of being stuck in the open with a hidden enemy while another potential enemy has a chance to prepare for them. He runs up to the northern door and does a quick check to make sure it isn't trapped.
Lets Dance! Aurie rages and moves up to the Moray to strike it
Molasbar's shot skips off the drainage pipe the thing was hiding in.
Doc spits. "Mebbe back off, to lead it? Hard to hurt it up there."
Cimrôdel will fire off acid at the thing...
vs Touch
Free action drop falcata
Move action draw longbow
Standard action fire it
Aurie, instead of jumping into the suspcious water, shoots a reasonable aimed arrow
Cimrodel's casting creates a moment of inattention that the moray takes advantage of (AOO). The moray lunges from its hidden space and again its teeth seem to detach from its mouth and snap at Cimrodel but miss (picture the alien's inner teeth action). Cimrodel finishes his spell and the acid hits. Aurie's shot is a bit tighter and gets inside the drainage pipe but it just misses the creature as it slithers to the side.
Round 1
Arodus 17 (late summer) 4712
1000, 73 degrees, moist (inside)
Aurie 26/26;
Doc adams 36/36;<<<
Molasbar 29/29;
Shathee 24/24; <<<
Cimrodel 23/23;
Creature -5 lightly injured
"Or we could just keep shooting at it," Doc mutters. He pulls out his crossbow and loads it.
Shathee moves up to get closer to the northern opening, but keeps his sword out and eyes on the pipe in case the eel strikes out from that location again.
The moray strikes at the nearest target, Cimrodel. This moray must be nearsighted because it strikes and misses the unarmored wizard again.
Round 2
Arodus 17 (late summer) 4712
1000, 73 degrees, moist (inside)
Aurie 26/26;<<<
Doc adams 36/36;<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Shathee 24/24; <<<
Cimrodel 23/23;<<<
Creature -5 lightly injured
Lets try that shooting thing again
Aurie says as she rages
Much better
1 round of rage used
"I believe in Pathfinder school, they call this 'tanking.'"
Cimrôdel takes a 5' step to his SE and fires another round of acid at the creature...
vs Touch