You have gathered at the Grand Lodge at Skyreach, requested by Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin. The Pathfinder aide that greeted you requested you wait outside the closed doors to the office while they notified Valsin of your arrival.
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First arrived is a blond man with perfect features. His broad smile enlightens his beautiful face, as he bows graciously to each newcomer and welcomes them with an angelic voice.
Nice meeting you, I'm Nicklod, Nicklod Vassily from Westcrown, Cheliax.
Around his neck a golden key, holy symbol of Abadar.
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The little dino pokes his face at the other Pathfinder agents, trying to see who will scratch behind his eyes.
A booming voice calls out as the aide opens the wood-paneled office doors. “Welcome! Welcome my friends! Please. Have a seat.” The speaker, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin, points to a number of chairs around his desk. His tone is friendly, but his smile seems forced.
“I’m not one for beating around the bush, so let me lay it out for you. Three weeks ago, we lost contact with an expedition of Pathfinders sent into Geb, led by a researcher from Absalom named Joktan Heth. He and the other members of his group were magically disguised as undead creatures and tasked with recovering an ancient tome known as the Testament of Geb, purported to be a scholarly treatise on the creation of new types of undead—intended specifically for use on the battlefield. Joktan’s mission was to sneak into the country, locate the Testament, and bring it back to the Vaults. He’s overdue and we fear the worst."
"We need you to undergo the same process of disguise, infiltrate Geb, and learn the whereabouts of Joktan, his team, and most of all, the Testament. Pathfinders, time is of the essence. If that book falls into the wrong hands, it could destabilize the entire Inner Sea region. We need that book and we have the utmost faith that you’ll do what’s necessary to make sure we get it."
“Any questions?”
DC10
undead have the same rights as the living (or even more),
and the kingdom uses other undead as a form of cheap
labor and as expendable, renewable soldiers in the
country’s armies.
DC15
promotion of undeath, the faithful of Pharasma, goddess
of death, often conduct raids into the country in an
attempt to destabilize it, to destroy unholy sites, and
eliminate the undead abominations that call Geb home.
DC20
since they can become conscripts in the army, or used
as sustenance for the various types of undead within
the kingdom.
“The Society has in its possession an item known at the Chalice of Undeath. When used, it gives a creature the semblance of undeath, while the creature remains alive and maintains full control of its soul. Our experiments here show that until the process is reversed—by drinking from the chalice again—you will have the semblance and aura of an undead, and be affected by magic that also affects undead. Be warned that healing magic that affects living creatures will hurt you while you are in this state, just as it would any true undead.”
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The slime slowly stretches up and takes the shape of a feminine figure. Another moment and the flesh of the slime transforms and becomes the flesh of an attractive woman. Dark hair, small horns, black eyes with a red tinge... undoubtedly she's a tiefling. Well, well. I wonder if without magic and disguise, how do they react at ooze? Just thinking if I have any additional escape routes. She smiles slyly. Lilah Al-Fasi. At your service.
"An undead creature with a living companion would be out of place within Geb. Most familiars and the like are undead as well. We can't risk failure by sending anyone undisguised." Ambrus nods to Kagerou. "We have some items from the Society's crafters that could help, but unfortunately most of the funds for this mission are devoted to the ritual and transportation. We were able to commission eight inflict potions as emergency healing."
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A cloaked elf hurries into the room, his clothing torn and at least one fresh bite mark visible on him.
"I apologize for being late, there is a certain anaconda that inhabits the lodge that has taken a liking to me."
"Does anyone know if Geb bans positive energy, holy water and such? I have a feeling that we'll need them."
"Time is of the essence, such that we will be teleporting you into Geb, to an isolated position near the city of Graydirge. Not close enough that anyone should see you arrive, of course. As soon as you are clear on the mission, I want you on your way." The venture captain frowns in thought for a moment at Morait's question. "We are already crossing a line with this excursion, so I would not be concerned with the finer points of law. With any luck, no one will know you have ever been there."
"If there are no further questions, we can adjourn to the ritual chamber." Ambrus looks around at the rest of the party.
Seeing the party ready, Ambrus rises from his desk and leads you to a ritual room, already specially prepared with arcane circles on the floor. Kagerou is able to exchange payment for a wand of infernal healing from the agents within, before the mages direct you all into a circle around a large bone chalice engraved with runes of life and death.
The ritual is not long, as the leader pours water in with a few incantations, then directs you to each drink in turn. As you take the chalice, you see the water has turned wine-dark, the cool chill traveling down to you stomach before spreading out to the rest of your body. Your skin turns clammy and cold, the light around you seeming wane and pale.
To quickly apply the undead anatomy template to your PC, simply add the following to the character:
1. You gain a bite attack that deals 1d6 points of damage if you are Medium or 1d4 points of damage if you are Small.
2. You gain two claw attacks that each deal 1d6 points of damage if you are Medium or 1d4 points of damage if you are Small.
3. You gain darkvision 60 feet and scent.
4. If you are Small, you gain a +1 natural armor bonus. If you are Medium or larger, you gain a +2 natural armor bonus.
Note that in this form, you will detect as an undead creature (such as with detect undead, but not with magic that reveals your true form, such as true seeing) and are treated as undead for the purposes of channeled energy, cure spells, and inflict spells, but not for other effects that specifically target or react differently to undead (such as disrupt undead, hide from undead, and searing light).
Valsin hands you eight potions of inflict moderate wounds, directing you to step into the other circle for teleportation when you are ready.
Ambrus takes a moment to hand Morait a small token, instructing him to activate it once the mission is complete to return everyone within arms reach of the user back to the ritual chamber.
Gathering into the teleportation circle, the mages around the perimeter begin to cast the spell to transport you away to Geb. As the incantation completes, the world dissolves away only to materialize into a hazy swamp, the few plants within as dry and colorless as one would expect in a nation ruled and inhabited by the undead. Ghostly pale moonlight provides illumination and a mournful wind blows slowly from the south, carrying with it the unmistakable sickly sweet scent of long-dead flesh mixed with newly spilt blood. Only the sound of rustling brush breaks the tomblike silence.
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As the ritual completes Nicklod has mixed feeling. How strange the unlife can be? Start to wonder what could it be... but mission first!
Not enough time to change my spells but I hope they will come in handy still.
Nicklod follows his comrades to the teleportation circle. Ready.
Agreed. Let's see what's coming at us first before acting.
As the party prepares for the worst, a line of skeletal figures garbed in torn uniforms marches into view, jawbones clacking in response to the calls made by their far more imposing leader. The lead undead bears a filthy banner, illegible for the grime and worse covering the cloth as it billows in the breeze.
"Company, HALT!" The unearthly glow of the bandage wrapped undeads eyes turn to the Pathfinders as the procession comes to a stop. "Ho there! You lot are far afield. Come from Graydirge, or skulking from the fringe? The Gebbite army can always use more bones! What say you?"
"Ha, is that so? No good luck here, haven't seen any other meat in the muck besides you. A pity then, I could have used some specialists against the blasted holy raiders." One dry fist punches into the other as he speaks. "Very well, off you go then. The sooner we're all out of the swamps and among the civilized, the better!"
"Forward, MARCH!" The undead commander sets his squad in motion once more, squelching off into the swamp, leaving the party alone.
Koani examines the murky muck and can tell that no tracks would be left after more than three weeks later.
Lilah confers with Koani and agrees that any tracks made would be impossible to find weeks later.
Kagerou determines that the smell of undeath on the wind likely comes from the city of Graydirge as the largest source of undead nearby. Moving against the wind should bring the party to the city within a few hours.